Chapter 7

Riding the elevator down Julian took out a cigarette from his left breast pocket and carefully put it between his lips, using both his index and thumb. He ran his long fingers through his hair, pushing his locks of curls back while using the other hand to search for a lighter. Slowly he checked all his pockets including both his lab coat and pants pocket. Yet nothing was found causing him to sigh. He didn't have his lighter on him which ment he left it in Haru's apartment. Going back up to go get it was a possible option, an option he'd rather not choose. The lighter didn't mean much to him anyway, it was something easily replaceable. So in the end, he didn't take it to heart and quickly forgot about it.

Reaching the 1st floor the elevator door opened and he walked out into the empty lobby. Yet his footsteps didn't falter as he headed towards the south wing of the facility. The south wing held an midnight garden. It was a beautiful place with crystal clear rivers and ponds, holding a huge forever blossom tree in the center, paired with lovely exotic flowers surrounding it. Flowers that only bloomed at midnight once the clock striked 12am. It was a sight to be seen at least once in a lifetime.

As Julian walked with swift steps he couldn't help but once again rake his fingers through his nest of hair in slight agitation, shoving back locks of escaped strands from the messy bun of curls. He really had the urge to smoke but came into two wall blocks. One he didn't have his lighter on him, two he didn't want to turn around and go to his office for one. His office was located on the north wing, all the way on the other side of the building. If he turned around now he might as well stay in his office and go another day.

But that's just it. He wanted to go now.

With an high IQ of 180 and being able to solve the most hardest equations, sicknesses, poisons and more he couldn't even solve this small problem. Troubled with this he became so infused in his thoughts he didn't even notice when he had walked through the entrance of the garden bumping into someone he knew all to well. He didn't know if it was a coincidence or just plain o'l luck.

It was Aera, she was leaving from the hallway connecting to Leo's office.

He checked his watch noting that it was late, a quarter to 12 . It was a bit weird she was usually in her office at this time or in bed. She frequently retired early and woke up early, wanting to always be on time. If she ever went to bed late it had to be because of work. But what work?

Aera smiled waving to Julian and approaching him. She looked at the cigarette that hung between his lips leisurely. "Need a light?"

Julian nodded stopping in his tracks. "I misplaced mines somewhere." he looked around.

She handed him her lighter and watched the other cup his hand over the fire to block out the small blows of wind, causing him to light the cigarette with more ease. He lightly shook his hand closing the silver capsule of the lighter. Inhaling a huge puff of smoke through the mouth he exhaled through his nose, a small smile of contentment showed as he gave the general a quick once over. "Did I disturb you?" He asked out of small curiosity, seeing how she changed her direction once she saw him.

Aera shook her head. "No, I've about finished up here."

He lightly raised an eyebrow at her. "At this time of night?"

"Yeah, we're having a press conference tomorrow."

He looked down at the floor following the trail of ashes from his cigarette. Using his two fingers he removed the stick from his mouth blowing out a long river of smoke. He had already come to a conclusion as to why a conference was being held. It was most likely do to the victims family, the other families whose members are still missing and the citizens sudden worries. Fear is what it was. A seed of fear and doubt was now planted within the city. Who would be next? Can the Bureau fix it? How many bodies will it take for them to stop? Why is it us humans instead of Elites...Werebeast!? So much worry, so much questions, and so much fear would soon turn into hatred. A huge amount of it.

It didn't take Julian a whole day to figure that out.

Soon enough every one will be on edge and that's the last thing they need right now. "What time will it start?"

"9am sharp. You coming?"

He settled the cigarette between the edge of his lips and shrugged. "I've never been one for crowds." he handed Aera back her lighter. "You know that."

"I know very well but just thought that you'd be a bit curious as to how everything will play out."

Julian shook his head glancing back up at her. "Not even a bit." He gazed up towards the sky. His emerald eyes shined bright as a jewel under the moon light illuminating his chaotic smile. "I could really care less about how things will unfold tomorrow. In the end everyone there are nothing more then tree branches..... They'll swing which ever way the wind blows. And besides." He narrowed his eyes sharply presenting a cold glint. "I've got a feeling that this is only just the beginning."

He gazed out into the far distance sensing something dark but inwardly shrugged as the feeling disappeared as fast as it came.

"His senses 'r surprisingly sharp." What Julian and Aera didn't know was that they both were being watched from a far distance for quite sometime now. Though it took long to notice, Julian had sense the direction of their presence but because he couldn't see them he second guessed it. Causing himself to think he may have been imaging things. But he wasn't.

A moment before Julian had noticed, one of the cloaked figures had unleashed a small amount of aura as a test and Julian had past unknowingly. "He's impressive, nae a lot o' people kin notice such a small chaynge in th' air frum a far distance." He looked down at his partner who swung her tiny legs back and forth with a loli pop in her hand.

Both members watched from the roof top of an tall office building from a far, staring down at the huge facility that stood blocks away.

"He may have high senses for a Werebeast but in the end he's weak like the rest of them. Like everyone there he'll soon be collateral damage."

"Yeah, bit not now. Zero said in 'n' oot." He looked over at her warningly. "Noo fun fur th' nicht, strictly business."

Masuko bit down hard into her candy, viciously breaking a huge part off. "I know." She stood up keeping her gaze locked on the facility. "No need to remind me."

"Don't worry." He smiled towards her showing a bit of his fangs for encouragement. "We'll git th' fun job next time. Bit ye can't deny that stealing frum the most high tech, guarded facility in the continent isn't a wee bit fin." His smile became bigger. "Especially when it's a body, Aye?."

Her eyes glowed a dark red. "Too bad we can't kill it."

"Soon." He rubbed her head in comfort. "We'll hav a bloodbath."

Masuko nodded and jumped high off an 100 story building, crimson wings emerged from her back gliding her through air of the night. Her partner followed suit, vanishing from his spot, both figures heading in the direction of T.T.A bureau.

~*~*~*~

When the morning came the front of the entrance as well as the inside of the T.T.A's lobby was crowded with reporters wanting front line news. The major general stood in his office surrounded by Generals Asura, Aera, and Wright. He looked at the three from head to toe they all were dressed in their midnight blue and red uniforms, ready for the press.

"I take it your all prepared." General Leo said. "And will present the press with this past weekends events in a well manner."

They all nodded except Asura who's mind wondered off. He was trying to make sense of all this, the incidents, the press, the victims. Was it something he wasn't seeing here.

Maybe it was, who knew. Whatever it was he realized in time all would soon be revealed, so he didn't ponder on it for long. With swift steps he followed behind the three Generals, heading towards the conference. He wanted to quickly get this over with.