The calm with which she entered this section of the headquarters vanished with the news the Guild Head gave.
Anger coursed through her veins. She wants to hit someone, kill something. A rage like no other circled inside her. Suddenly, she picks up speed, running along the corridors with no destination other than to get outside of this wretched place.
She ran and ran and then ran some more until her legs gave out. With a jerk, she fell hard on her knees. Anger is a mild word for what she is feeling. With a cry, she gave a roar that echoed through the dark forest near the headquarters, shaking the trees and scaring the birds.
Willow looked at the ground, her eyes unclear. She touched the grass beneath her with her hand as if holding the hands of a friend and wailed. Her body shook with the torment as she reminisced the pain, she thought buried deep within her.
After 7 long years of waiting, assuming, expecting, hoping, she finally has an identity. A face for her target. She is not crying with sorrow. She is crying because she finally got the chance something to do about it. With a newfound determination, she cried out,
"I'm going to kill that bastard. I'm going to hunt him like the dog he is. Vampire king, your days are numbered. Hide all you want. But you can't escape from my clutches. I'm coming for you"
On the other side, the guild head received the call she was expecting.
"Has it gone as planned? Did she suspect anything?" Questioned a voice in a whisper.
"No. She didn't. She will go to the vampire kingdom"
"Have we done the right thing? What happens when she realizes the contents in the file. Do you think she will look?"
"From what I know of Willow, she won't. She needs to know the identity which we provided. The rest is in her hands. It's already done. The wheels are set in motion. Let's see how it goes"
"She didn't ask any questions?" The female voice asked, surprise ringing in her tone.
"It's a shock to her system. If I know Willow correctly, she will let it fester and blind her judgment before approaching me for answers"
"It's not like she would want to approach you after this. Are we on the right path?"
"Explain 'right'. It changes depending on the perspective. I thought she would be safe without knowing the identity. But in her eyes, I did her wrong."
"You are not to be blamed for this"
Instead of answering the voice, the Guild Head asked the question that was niggling in the back of her mind.
"You asked me to say it's vampire king. But is it really him who killed her parents?"
"Are you having doubts?"
"I just want to be sure it's him. What if she kills an innocent by accident?"
"The vampire king is far from innocent. We both know that. Especially after the latest reports. Even if it's not him, it's someone close to him. You know Willow. She won't let an innocent person die in other's hands. How can she kill one? She may get angry, but she won't charge without proof, without analyzing all angles. The need for justice is embedded strongly inside her"
"I hope you are right. It just cost me another team member"
"She quit?"
"What else can you expect after I misled her to believe I knew about the killer all along?"
"And she believed it? Why would you do that? You shouldn't have said that"
"I have to. Otherwise, she wouldn't have believed it. She would have poked and probed until she found holes. And it won't take her long to reach the source with the help of her team. You. This way, she thinks I played her"
"Oh no. It's all my fault. If only I have said something sooner"
"You don't worry about it. It is as it should be. We are just guiding them. They will write the destiny with their own hands"
"How can I not worry? If she ever figures out who is behind the placing of her team in the kingdoms-"
The voice faded away, unable to continue as the woman thought about the consequences.
"No need to feel guilty. You are doing for their own good"
"But hiding like this... if they find out... how can I ever face them?"
"You need to control your emotions. All this worrying will affect your job. How are things going on there?"
Hearing the topic change, the woman on the phone stopped fretting. She was talking to a teacher before, now she is reporting to her boss, the Guild's head.
"Yes, everything is under control here. Nothing new to report"
"Good. Keep updating if anything happens"
"Will she meet the vampire king?"
"Oh, I have no doubt about that. She will meet. But the point is, what happens after she meets him? What did you see?"
"You know I can't say anything. It's still unclear. I just know that she must be in the vampire kingdom now. And it's very important for her. For her destiny. If I assume anything and it may not come to pass, then this all is for nothing."
"No. Not nothing. At least Willow will get the justice she is seeking"
"You think so?"
"I believe it. I believe in you"
"You mean my gift," replied the voice sarcastically.
"No. You. You are more than what your gift dictates. You always sell yourself short. When will you open your eyes to your own worth?"
"I... it's difficult sometimes," the voice whispered, her breath hitched at the sudden display of emotion in Guild's head's words. She never cajoles them. Never whisper kind words. Hence, it came as a surprise when she opened up. Perhaps Willow's resignation hit her harder than she expected. Her musings came to a halt when the Guild's head continued,
"Claire, it's not your fault you have the gift"
The Guild head once again became the teacher with her statement.
"Yes. But what purpose will it serve if I hide it from others? If I can't open up to my fellow teammates?"
"Everyone has their own secrets, Claire. It's in their nature to conceal one's weapon. And your gift is a weapon. Never doubt that. The fewer people know about it, the better your chances to survive. She asked whether anyone in her team knows about the identity"
Claire sucked her breath.
"What did you tell her?"
"Of course I can't tell her the truth. Technically, you are not the team member anymore"
"You lied?"
"No. I misled her. It has to be done. She needs to focus on her mission. I hope you are doing the same too. You know how important it is. Many lives depend on it"
Claire sighed, hearing the same old lecture from the Guild's head. Nevertheless, she always feels guilty about hiding this part from her team. Especially, when they look after her as their own sister.
"I'm aware of what's at stake"
"Good. Keep that in mind. Report me if you find something interesting about... you know"
"As you wish. I gotta go"
Willow entered the headquarters sometime late in the morning. Due to rogue hunting, the timing is somewhat whacked with them. They sleep in the morning and hunt the rogues in the night as they are more active at night time.
She neither looked right nor left, going directly to her room.
As soon as she entered her room, she stopped short looking at the angry glares of Brenda and Reagan.
"Where have you been?"
"We were so worried about you," Brenda said, soothing the harsh words of Reagan.
"Out,'' Willow is in no mood to talk about anything to anyone. But looking at the determined states of her teammates, she sighed.
"What?"
"Care to elaborate," Reagan probed.
"I'm really not in the mood. I have to leave"
"Where?"
Reagan stepped a foot forward, blocking Willow's path.
"Brenda... I mean we have been worried about you. It's not like you to vanish without a reason. What did the old biddy say?"
Willow's mouth tightened, reminiscing the conversation.
"I'm leaving for the vampire kingdom," Willow announced without preamble.
Brenda and Reagan stood stunned, shock etching on their faces.
"But you never take vampire cases. Hell, you always back out even when it's a team task," it's Reagan who composed herself enough to point out that fact.
Willow pressed her lips struggling with indecision. She can't say the reason behind it without hashing out her past. Hence, she gave the crumbs or the main core behind her visit.
"The Rogue issue we have been encountering lately, there is a reason behind it"
Brenda clasped her hands fearing for the worst. Reagan narrowed her eyes.
Willow revealed all the details that she had discussed with the Guild's head.
"So, you see, first it was Azrian and now me. You both will be online too. I have no doubt about it. I just want to prepare you for what you can expect"
Reagan, who didn't miss a thing, asked, "Why are you going to the vampire one? You could have chosen other kingdoms. Not that they are better than this one but you never pick 'vampire' if you have the choice"
"That's that point. I don't have a choice. The Guild's head said... something that left me with no choice but to follow the orders," Willow said happily throwing the Guild head under the bus. Serves her right. If she has mutiny at her hands when she approaches Reagan then all the better.
"She blackmailed you? That old biddy! If she doesn't die soon then her decisions will soon land her on her grave," Reagan said through her clenched jaw, misunderstanding Willow's words. Willow didn't correct her. Brenda, who is silent during the explanation, looked skeptical as to if she knew Willow was hiding something.
Willow didn't meet her eyes and soon started packing her stuff.
"Why are you packing all the stuff?" Reagan asked to check her bag.
"I quit. I won't be coming back"
"Not you too," Reagan complained while Brenda bit her lip, her face clouded with emotions.
"Does that mean we won't see each other again?"
Reagan, who was complaining, stopped mid-sentence at Brenda's statement. She then glared at Willow to answer her question.
"Nothing can stop me from meeting our team," Willow said.
Once packed, she turned to them and said in a stern voice, "be prepared. You will be next. Don't go blindly like me. Do your homework. Never let your guard down and never trust any outsider," the last sentence she said to Brenda as she knew she would blindly trust anyone.
Before stepping outside, she called Reagan and whispered to her, "if possible, keep Brenda away from 'other' kingdom. I don't know why, but I have a feeling she will land there. And that kingdom will chew her"
"Noted"
Willow looked back at Brenda who was busy frowning at the duo.
"Don't instigate her too much. There is no one left in the team to stop you"
"Where's the fun in that?" Reagan grinned as Willow shook her head.
"I mean it. Pull it down a notch"
"Fine... grandma," Reagan said, her shoulders dropping. But it didn't stay like that for long.
"You take care of yourself. If you need anything, I mean anything, call us. Where would you stay?"
"I haven't decided yet"
Reagan bit her lower lip in concentration and after a while must have come to a decision as she replied, "I will mail you some of my 'acquaintances' addresses. Contact them if you need anything"
"Can they be trusted?"
"As much as you can a vampire"
Willow sighed and said, "means no. I will keep that in mind. Reagan... thanks for your help"
"Of course, we are a team"
It's time to open a new chapter in her life. To close an important one, Willow thought to herself.