James Mallory was a busy man. Never in his life did he think that he would be spending his morning drinking the heaviest drink he could find while staring at a painting in his office.

As he took a sip from his glass, he thought back to the numerous years of his life. Back to when he was a soldier, having had to leave his wife and daughter behind in order to fight against beasts that he barely believed were real.

Clenching the glass tighter, he took another sip. He refrained from drinking most of the time. Doing so only whenever he couldn’t control his anxiety and needed to calm down. When he wasn’t in control of the situation.

But even in those years, he had Chiron, alongside the memory of his wife and daughter to guide him. As he started to rise through the ranks, they were the only thing to truly keep him grounded.

He eventually became a Rank One Commander. The highest honour a military man could achieve in the whole of the Association. And one day, the chance for him to be a hero presented itself.

He felt a handful of tears roll down his cheek. That was the same day he lost his very life. His wife and daughter. For no other reason than the fact he was an overambitious fool that made the most dangerous beings in this world his enemies.

He clenched the glass tighter.

And not even a full day had passed since Chiron himself proved to be a traitor.

Since then, he’d learned that the Magesmiths had forbidden him from seeing Marly, supposedly having a meeting to debate the Association’s next move. Ava on the other hand, had been completely absent since the other day.

For the first time in his life, James Mallory was completely alone.

He looked at the painting decorating his wall. A human surrounded by a dhampir and a werewolf. Painted in an age long gone, a symbol of status and power across the supernatural world.

Letting out a wordless scream, he threw the glass at the damned painting.

“Why did you leave me?” he screamed at the painting.

“Why-Why did you leave me?” he spoke quietly, placing his hands on the desk for support.

Much like the day before, knocking on the door broke him out of his thoughts.

Sighing to himself, he wiped his face with his hands, making sure to make it a mask of neutrality, and sat down on his chair. The painting was ruined, but he didn’t really care. He barely had enough energy to put up the facade he did.

“Come in.”

“Grandpa?” Through the door entered, to James’s eternal gratitude and relief, a seemingly completely unhurt Ava.

Allowing his shoulders to drop just a tiny bit, James motioned for the girl to come further in. Doing so, Ava looked up at the painting and back to the elder man, looking him in the eye.

“Are you alright? Did something happen to Marly?” she asked, her tone becoming increasingly frantic.

James clenched his fists at Marly’s mention. “I have not seen her. The Magesmiths are playing their own little games. Where were you, granddaughter?”

“That was odd. They actually let me see her briefly.”

“I gave that order. And it seems the old fools were too busy to overrule it. Is that all you did?” asked James apprehensively.

Ava being able to visit Marly was possibly the only good news he had gotten these past two days. He still had some control over the situation, and the two girls being together was good for them as well. Together they were stronger than apart.

Still, he couldn’t afford to get complacent. Having Marly and Ava on his side was the most crucial part of this, but not the only part. The autonomy and power of his position was almost as important but, since the Magesmiths were getting directly involved now, they weren’t things he could take for granted.

“Marly wrote a letter. I tracked down Marvin’s family and handed it to him. Kon and Rockwell were there, as well as Adam and CB.” she said, rubbing the back of her neck. “Don’t worry though! I’m perfectly fine!” she added hurriedly, as if that made everything better.

It took all of the willpower he had left to not explode right then and there. Ava looked as though she had even more to say, but he could worry about that later. Chiron and Eobard didn’t particularly like each other, but he was willing to bet his right leg that they were working together.

“We shall change our plans.” announced James, standing up. “And what we discuss here does not leave this room.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” said Ava, patting the air in front of her in a placating manner. “What about Marly? What about her friends or-or Chiron?”

“Marly will come with us, there is no other being I trust other than you two. We shall wait for Kon’s faction to make their move. It won’t be long before they do. I’m certain they are an insurgent group that he was sent to infiltrate. Chaos will ensue, and we’ll use that chance to enact our plan.”

“But what if we talk to them? Maybe they can work with Chiron to-”

“Chiron is a traitor!” snapped James, slamming his hands on the table. “And I will personally make sure he burns in hell! I told you once that this was a possibility. I didn’t really believe it back then, but here we are now. He’s not needed for what we’re going to do even if he, and his lackeys, forced my hand.”

“But what if you’re wrong?” said Ava, using her hands to cover her mouth almost immediately after.

No, no, no. He couldn’t lose Ava. Not now.

Barely keeping himself in check once more, he let out a deep sigh. “This has been our family’s work for generations. I had to fight, bleed, risk my life, send countless people to their deaths and lose most of the people I ever cared for in order to bring everything together. I can’t lose you too.”

“You were willing to let Adam and CB, who were thirteen year old kids, die. Not that I’m any better, but maybe, just maybe we could-grandpa, are you crying?” said Ava in shock, rushing to his side.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” said James, putting his hands on her shoulders.

Of course, that was a lie. He had lost control over everything, and he was starting to lose control over himself. Even Ava and Marly wouldn’t stay with him if he continued like this. And it would then be that he’d lose everything.

“I swear to you, this is the last thing I will ever ask. And this isn’t hyperbole. After this, we shall finally be at peace.” he said and this time he meant every word.

The end was near, and he wouldn’t accept defeat. Not after everything he had done.

Retribution was at hand.