Page 34 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

“Right. I do,” Erving replies before meeting my sympathetic eyes and sighing.

He drags a tired hand down his face. “The words mentioned the ‘clans.’ More importantly two clans that don’t exist, at least not in any of our present-day texts or archives.

There were words like ‘oldest,’ ‘dangerous,’ and ‘betrayal’ that I could make out .

.. but that was all I could get from it. ”

Something tickles the back of my mind before Erving continues to talk again.

“I told you it didn’t make sense. It was a waste of time.”

“Useless shit, alright.” Annex scowls. “Waste of my time having to listen to it all?—”

“Is there anything else, even something small that you might remember?” Creed cuts Annex off, his focus fully on Erving. “Something that seemed out of the ordinary or stood out to you?”

Erving leans back in his chair, his brows scrunched together as we all wait.

“There seemed to be some importance and emphasis on the two clans. The words that always followed beside them were written over and over throughout the parchment. It might have been their clan’s name, but I’ve never seen it before and can’t translate it.

” He leans forward in his chair. “That’s all I’ve got.

You see now why I said there was no way the attack was over that?

I didn’t get anything of importance, just nonsense. ”

The attack was definitely related though. I can feel it in my gut.

It’s too coincidental otherwise, and things like that don’t line up so perfectly. This parchment or text had some connection to them. I’m almost positive of it. I just don’t understand how, or the full importance of it.

“Why would the clans and Council keep that a secret though?” Ezra asks, pulling me from my thoughts as his brows pinch downward. “Two whole clans that possibly existed, and they were just wiped from our history?”

He turns to meet each of our gazes. “If it’s real, then doesn’t that alone seem suspicious?”

“It’s not the first time the clans have swept things they don’t want under the rug.

And the Council ...” Creed scoffs darkly.

“They’re ripe with corruption. What’s a little historic cover up to them?

” His tone is laced with disgust, his expression dripping with disdain before he turns to Erving.

“Where’s the collector of all these parchment pieces?

Maybe we could get more information or details from it if we had it all in our hands. ”

“You think it’s real?” Erving glances around the room. “ Really? That there’s some big cover up, trying to hide two lost clans that are long gone?”

“Or not gone at all.” Everyone turns my way with my words. “Maybe one of them is behind all these attacks.”

I look to each of them before continuing.

“It makes sense. Someone slowly working away, rebuilding what they once had while moving in the shadows. Their names were never known until you found them. They were completely hidden until you went looking.” I meet Erving’s gaze as his eyes widen.

“If it were the Council or the clans trying to keep things hush, they would only have to remove the collector, not you. You would be insignificant to them if you had no evidence to back up your claims. But someone that wants to stay hidden ...” I shake my head.

“Leaving you alive wouldn’t be an option.

You could run to the Council or clan heads, and maybe someone there would believe you if they knew the past.” I narrow my gaze.

“If it was me ... I wouldn’t take any chances. ”

Erving shivers with my words and their implications.

“You’re saying all these attacks are from some hidden clan that is supposed to be dead?

And that they’re attacking us ’cause we got too close to exposing their existence and shit?

” Annex looks around the room, a look of confusion in his eyes.

“But ... didn’t you say you were looking into them because supes were going missing?

” He turns to Creed. “Why would they take anyone? Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of staying hidden?

That shit would definitely draw attention. ”

Ezra steps forward, his eyes flickering between Annex and Creed. “Except they’re not going for the larger clans. They’re taking weaker supes. Ones whose presence and disappearance goes unnoticed. Or at least it has for Gods know how long.”

“Micai’s theory of The Facility could be closer to the truth.” Mallyn looks my way. “There might be a reason they’re taking supes. If they are this hidden clan and were supposed to be wiped out but instead were weakened, then maybe?—”

“They’re using the supes to gain some kind of power.” Ezra’s eyes widen, cutting Mallyn’s words short. He suddenly twists my way, his eyes frantic. “Like the bracelet. It absorbs power and life.”

“Wait a minute,” Erving calls, standing from his chair.

“This is all a bit much, don’t you think?

How did we go from shadows moving in the background to fallen clans resurrecting by sucking the powers out of other supernaturals?

” He shakes his head, disbelief in his voice.

“This isn’t some horror movie. Tales of The Facility is just that . .. fairy tales .”

Erving glances around the room, waiting for someone to agree. But when no one does and all he’s met with are genuine stares of worry, his face begins to pale. He slowly slumps back down onto his chair.

“Seriously? This shit is real? Then how the hell are we supposed to fight them?” He looks around the room, panic setting into his voice. “We can’t even find them. Other than those damn parchment pieces, I couldn’t find anything tangible, and even they’re gone now too.”

“What do you mean?” Creed questions, his eyes darkening.

“I-it’s all gone.” Erving twists around in his chair, quickly typing on his computer to show images of a “no longer available” webpage notice on all eight of his monitors.

“The collector pulled all his posts a couple of weeks ago. I can’t find any trace of the original copies online for us to follow back to the source and get our hands physically on them.

” Erving flicks his gaze toward Creed. “He also took down all his profile info and anything else I could find before. And he’s not responding to any of my messages either. He’s gone completely dark.”

“A couple of weeks ago?” Ezra steps forward. “Around the time your place was attacked?”

Erving turns toward Ezra, his eyes wide as a tremor starts in his hands. He jumps from his seat. “Fuck ... I-I didn’t even think?—”

“And you’re supposed to be smart and shit.” Annex shakes his head. “They probably tracked the guy down and got rid of him.” Annex slides his thumb across his neck, making a deathly sound as Erving’s tremors worsen.

Annex steps closer, patting Erving on the back. “Aren’t you lucky you have us to protect you, Erv?”

Erving looks like he wants to pee his pants or run to another continent.

“It’s true.” I meet Erving’s gaze, trying to help ease his mind a little.

“You’re in the best place. If these assholes say they’ll protect you, they will.

” I glance around the room, my grin growing.

“I’ve seen them cause more destruction and carnage than anyone else I know.

And they’ve also taken this group down twice before.

Hidden clan or The Facility, we won’t let them hurt or take you. We’ll make sure you’re safe, Erving.”

Annex chuckles as the atmosphere in the room lightens a little.

“We have a little more information in our hands than before. Two lost clans ...” Creed looks to each of us. “Let’s go find out what we can about these shadowy bastards.” He makes his way to the door. “And this time, we’ll permanently wipe them out.”

We leave the safe house, making our way back through the lane-way as Creed, Mallyn, and Ezra talk about reaching out carefully to trusted people with the new information we have.

Annex wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in closer and brushing his lips across mine. “I can’t wait to get home an?—”

Annex’s words are cut off as we’re lifted from the ground, a loud blast ringing around us as an explosion knocks us all to the ground from behind.