novel-bin Chapter 546: Mistakes After Mistakes
Chapter 546: Mistakes After Mistakes
(Author’s POV)
Listening to Brian’s offer, a calculative greed gleamed in Garry’s eyes. He had done all sorts of menial, unethically tedious tasks for his boss and the underworld for the past ten years. A decade’s worth of dirty work and yet he still held the post of a mere dealer. His boss would shower him with shallow praise and give him empty promises from time to time, but he remained stuck in the shadows.
He wanted power~ .... he wanted prestige~ .... he wanted honour~ .... he wanted everything~ .... but most of all~ .... what he desired was to snatch away and take over the role of the boss of this underground den. He had been vying for it all along.
He extended his hand without much hesitation, as a smirk spread across his lips. Then and there, the verbal deal was signed in room 888. That was his first biggest mistake.
The following week, Brian Tape held a private meeting in one of his secluded properties on the Nocturne Coven Clan’s territory, on an estate under his domain. He had extended an invitation to everyone who was going to be involved in ’this work’ of his.
It was that day when Garry met quite a few old and new faces. Some were regular customers at the gambling houses. Some were with whom he had done business dealings in the past. Some of them would contact the information guild from time to time. But there were also some he hadn’t seen before.
All the parties were settled in a massive dining hall. The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the countless candles which were spread on the large refectory table and the chandeliers hanging above. The wood made gothic table was laden with delicacies from around the world; their aroma wafted through the tense atmosphere. Garry glanced towards the person sitting at the head of the table, and a flicker of surprise flashed on his face.
A young, poised woman sat in the centre; her sharp, golden eyes were cold as they darted around the room. Brian Tape was seated to her right, whereas a rough, brawny looking man with curly hair was on the other side.
Brian clinked his glass with a spoon and started, his voice booming, "Hello, everyone~ ... I appreciate that all of my prestigious guests are here, in one room. All of you present today, some old, some new, are here for only one purpose. But~ ... before we start the discussion~ ... let’s go around the room and do some quick formal introductions. This~ ..." he gestured towards the woman, looking at her with a bright smile, his eyes lit up, "~is Ms. Catherine Richards~ .... clan leader of the Crimson Court Vampire Clan and the one who will be leading today’s meeting."
He then glanced opposite him and pointed towards the robust man and introduced, "This is~ .... Alpha Casper Everests~ ...." He paused, then added, "From the Moon Shine Pack~"
Casper sipped his wine and didn’t react much. Though his hand on the glass tightened. His actions seemed refined on the outside, but the standoffish attitude, Garry sensed it and so did others.
Then Brian turned to another prominent figure. "This is~ .... Alpha of the Half Shade Lunar Pack, Alpha Keith Snow." Garry had met him once about two years ago~ .... he came to the illegal auction with his son, Caiten Snow. From then~ ... he looked a lot more haggard and older.
This went on for quite a while before Brian’s eyes landed on a young man. This one made Garry brim with curiosity. That person looked like he was a high schooler, too young to be in such a setting.
Garry wasn’t the only one who found his presence peculiar; others were thinking the same thing. Only Brian and Catherine’s expressions were different from the others. Someone even remarked, "Brian Tape, what is a kid even doing here? Are you taking this as a joke? Or did whatever you promised was all just a faux ploy of you vampires."
Brian spoke, "This one~ .... I will leave the introduction to him~ ...." and settled down.
The young man, sorry, teenage boy~ .... rolled his eyes, let out an exhausting breath and got up, as if they were all bothersome.
With a casual tone and a laid back attitude, he started, "Denver Brooks, Nineteen~ ..." then he looked at the person dead in the eye and added, "And the most important person needed for the mission."
"Hahhh~ ... most important? Living in a world of delusion, kid? Go to your school. You are not needed here. SOMEONE~ ... throw him out," the person commanded.
"Blabber another word, and I’ll seal that mouth of yours with molten glass. So~ .... Ssssshhhhh," with his fingers on his lips, he gestured for the person to keep his mouth shut.
But things didn’t end there. The other party was enraged and rightfully so~ .... he was a powerful shapeshifting bear. He got up from his chair and slammed his hands on the table as the food flew off the plates. The bowls and cutlery clattered and spilt all over the floor. "YOU DARE TO MOCK ME? YOU FUCKING CHILD OF A BASTARD. YOUU~~~~~ .... YOU MUTT~ .... ARE A GONER," he bellowed and lunged towards Denver.
Denver neither flinched nor did he back away. Instead, he smiled... a wide, ruthless grin. Just when the bear shapeshifter was ready to strike him with his sharpened claws, Denver threw the water glass at him~ .... which, in midair, turned into liquefied crystal. It landed square on the bear’s face as he shrieked in sheer horror.
Garry’s eyes widened in terror. The scene was truly harrowing, traumatizing even. That kid, Denver, he was no joke. He was merciless, eccentric and a total psychopath. Garry finally understood that none of the people here was ordinary. They all had powerful backgrounds, and this job, this mission, Brian had told him, might be the biggest and the most brutal of his previous works. In that moment, he wanted to run far away from this mess, but it was too late. There was no way he was going to make it out alive. So~ ... he had no choice but to stay put, and that~ .... was his second mistake.
To Be Continued . . . . . . . . .