Five - Shadows

Tondo, Manila, Philippines

In the lines of the impoverished neighborhood, a lot of families have considered it home for many years, even for their entire life. People raised their own as to what they see fit to their growing environment. Dangerous, but they call it home. As the night grew deeper, mysterious men came. Five cars stopped at a particular street. Their dark auras came with a dark purpose.

The drunkards near a retail store went eerily quiet noticing the odd gentlemen sweeping the area, checking every house. The hunt is a bit challenging. Given the financial standing of most inhabitants, the houses were inconveniently identical. Men grew impatient as people begin to notice their intentions.

Looking out of the window, having the only entertainment they can afford, a young man watch over the streets. The unforeseen danger draws upon them. He heard his neighbors scream in panic, disturbed by unfamiliar men walking down the neighborhood. His adopted father suddenly snapped him out of his position. Worried that he may encounter what's looking for him tonight.

The young man felt the tension of their household as he watches his parents scramble to prepare. Preparing for something he did not seems to understand. A situation no one bothered to explain.

The pressure heightened. Bernard, the acting father for long years of the foreign-looking young gentleman, felt their inevitable demise. This is what he fears most. Not so long ago, a missing child exploded on the news which he ignored until tonight. He had so long to prepare for this moment and the only thing they can afford tonight was a goodbye. He dragged the puzzled boy out of their dilapidated house.

"Papa! Where are we going?" Asked the confused young man.

"No time to explain, boy!" Bernard glanced nervously behind him. "No matter what happens! Do not look back! You are bigger than this! The last hope of your kind. Remember, son, no one can tell you who you should be! Kindness will get you far."

His response was swallowed by the fear he channeled from the eyes of his father. Living in the slums of Tondo, fear is always the side dish of their everyday lives. Fear of having no meal for the rest of the day or fear of not having enough. Tonight is a different kind of fear. It was all terror.

All of a sudden, his father was no longer with him. He turned around to see his old man standing behind him. It was the farthest he can make. Bernard had to go back for his wife and children. The young man stopped, teary-eyed at the moment. His eyes were begging. Bernard shook his head and smiled.

"Go, Luthor," he placed his right hand on his chest. "You will always be here, son. Now, find who you are."

With one last nod, he left to go back to his real responsibility which he set aside to save the one he doesn't even own. Luthor was left standing, crying for something he wouldn't understand, yet. The Gods didn't sympathize with him. The rain started pouring hard.

Ironic, however, rain is pouring ominously but his house is burning. He looked up, questioning his faith. What did he do for him to suffer this? The rain may have covered the painful scream of his dying family but it let him hear the sound that broke him. Too far to save them but near enough to watch them die. The last shadow weakened his knees. His father closing the door as he heard the last gunshot that haunted the eerie neighborhood. With his remaining strength, he left. Broken but alive.

***

News covered the blazing fire that demolished an entire neighborhood. Men with an ultimatum to find a young man that belongs to a powerful bloodline struggle to accomplish between the panic in the street. Their sources gave them the exact location of the said boy, but what they found was reduced to ashes. Others with the same purpose were there first. To avoid suspicion, they slowly went out of the chaotic environment. Looking for a young gentleman that fits the description of their mission.

People were scattered in the street. Finding something to hold on to. Some are praying. Some lost hopes. Hope, it was also the last thing they have until they saw a foreign-looking young man sitting idly on the sidewalk. The man riding in the car looked at him in pity. The boy was on autopilot. The lights are out inside him. In the disaster that happened, it is safe to assume that he had a house, or worst, a family in those ashes.

Few men from the other car approached the unfazed boy. He didn't nudge nor revolt. He stood when the unfamiliar gentlemen held him carefully. They slowly brought him inside the car. Dirty clothes and a rugged face. He looked at the neat-looking gentleman beside him. The only comforting words he heard tonight were from the mysterious man that saved him, everything will be different from now on.

He was brought to an exclusive village. The huge gate opened, welcoming the long-lost master of the house. Vast garden with solar lights illuminating the grounds. The car stopped in front of a mansion. He was ushered inside the enormous house, completely amazed by the interior. Temporarily blinded by the sparkling surroundings. From the marbled floor to the gold-plated ceilings full of diamond chandeliers hanging above them. Maids bowed slightly to him with warm smiles.

"Prepare the young master's room, please." The man ordered. He introduced himself to the poor boy. "I am Attorney Adam Jackson. The legal counsel of the Drax family in the Philippines."

Luthor felt like he is inside a fantasy novel. Everything happened so fast. With everything he seems to have in a blink of an eye tonight, it will not replace the real treasure he lost. The treasure that will not allow him to sleep a wink.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Adam chose not to insist on the truth. The boy suffered enough. After all, he is finally home. He handed him the letter he had held for so long. The young man accepted the letter.

"What's this, sir?" The boy asked quietly.

Adam was appalled by the humility of the boy. He did not expect that attitude from a proud family. He hid his amusement through his cold expression.

"It's a letter from your uncle," he smiled at the boy reassuring him. "No worries, kid. I'll explain everything tomorrow. You seemed to have a long night. A good night's sleep would be nice, I suppose."

"I don't know who this is." The boy sadly stated. Still confused with everything that happened. Lost a family and gain another, in one night.

"Your uncle Hector. He's alive."

The letter stated that all the remaining heirs of the Drax bloodline should be part of the decaying Hiatus clan or they will suffer a terrible consequence, hand signature by Hector himself. Adam promised his good friend Louis that he will make sure that his only son will not be involved in their family drama, but hell itself is coming for Luthor.

***

Budapest, Hungary

The entire courtroom went wild when the news about Hector being alive exploded inside. The terror spreads. The fact that the evilest person that controlled Samira for years is still lurking in the dark shivers of every lordship.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Catherine is still alive!" One member revolted in anger.

"Order! Order!" Marcus, head of Samira legislation and the only person leveling the rank of any Samira head, hushed everyone. The panic started to subside.

"The news about Hector is still a rumor so we should stop worrying about it." Marcus amplified his calling to those who are spreading worries in the chamber.

"But there is a possibility that he is indeed alive. The beast is weakened but not dead." One of the High Tables said his concerns.

Dominic Brown, the one who replaced Renard as the head of the Samira Clan after the mayhem that happened to the family stirred on his seat. Warily watching his constituents shouting their justified worries. Everyone looked at him expectantly.

"I will ask our informants from Hiatus headquarters to confirm this issue. In the meantime, we should be extra careful. Hector may be still gathering his forces and we should prepare too."

"What about the son of the Samira whore?" One of the Apostles boldly asked. All of the people inside the room gasped at his audacity.

"I beg your pardon, my lord?" Dominic maintained his composure but his tone counters the condescension of the member.

"As far as we know, Samira is still tied to Hiatus! Lord Renard has a son from the Drax bloodline. They're going to use him against us." The brave lord continued, ignoring the unimpressed expression of Dominic.

"Lord Renard is doing his best to keep Devonne away from the Hiatus Clan. He made it clear to this clan." Dom defended calmly preceding his mouthful warning. "And there's no need to condescend. We are quite aware of our young lord's lineage."

"Devonne will not sit as the High Lord. Renard made a decree regarding that." Hendrix Dufur, one of the horsemen and a close friend to Dom and Renard, added to the closing statement.

Everyone was a bit relieved with what they heard. They didn't further inquest on the subject as the two powerful high ranks are growing impatient. Hector may be dangerous to be an enemy but adding another is pure stupidity.

"We sure hope so. We never know how the beast inside that boy reacts once he wears either of the crowns." Marcus interjected.

"Your job is to keep this chamber in order and opinions neutral, lord Marcus, not add the hysteria that is boiling inside," Hendrix calmly said with head held high, but every word contains a warning. "I believe you need no reminder of that."

"Dismiss." Dominic finally said.