"Viktor failed," the voice said, calm but edged with annoyance. "And now Cain knows he was the true target. That means he won't stop. He'll tear apart every shadow, every name, until he finds who tried to put him in the light."
The man speaking wasn't in some dark alley or broken hideout—he was in a sleek office lined with books and monitors, the crest of nine crescents etched faintly into the glass wall behind him. One of the Circles of the Consortium.
On the desk before him sat an open file, black-marked and sealed under ███████ DOSSIER protocols. The title read:
File: VC-001/Prime
Subject: The Veil Consortium
Clearance Level: [BLACK]
He flipped through the pages slowly, the weight of centuries in every line. Notes on Constantinople, Tesla's missing patents, Cold War vanishings. A creed written in faded ink: Contain. Adapt. Control.
His hand paused on the section marked Modern Status. Lines about algorithm shifts, silenced researchers, energy suppression. Each one a blade turned before the world could see it.
He exhaled through his nose, steady, detached. "Cain's persistence is dangerous. He is not like the others we've erased. If he digs too deep, the veil itself may tear."
Another figure, unseen in the shadows of the room, asked quietly, "What do we do?"
The Circle Regent closed the file, fingers pressing firmly on its cover. "What we always do. We adapt. If Cain wants the truth… we will make sure the truth is the last thing he ever finds."
"How do we even begin?" the man asked, his voice low but firm. "Cain is the first son of Adam and Eve. He's immortal. He can't be killed. So how exactly do we erase him, as you said?" His eyes stayed fixed on the Circle Regent.
The Regent leaned back in his chair, calm, almost amused. "Tell me—what do you do with something that cannot die?"
The man hesitated, then answered, "You lock it away. And you make sure the world forgets it exists."
A faint smile tugged at the Regent's lips. "Good. That's exactly what we'll do. No matter how undying he is, Cain is not a god. He's just an immortal man. And every man can be caged."
The silence in the room grew heavy, the only sound the faint hum of the lights above. The man gave a slow nod, understanding, even as unease settled deep in his chest.
The next day—
"Did they manage to trace the sender's IP?" Marcus asked, his tone sharp as he looked up from the mess of files on his desk.
Jake walked in from the Tech department, shoulders slumped, his expression dark. He tossed a folder onto the table and dropped into a chair with a heavy sigh. "No. Every time we get close, it bounces us somewhere else. Layers on layers of reroutes. Whoever set this up… they knew exactly what they were doing."
Jake wasn't just another analyst. He was the youngest in the precinct, mid-twenties, with messy dark hair always falling over his glasses. A hacker before he became law enforcement, he had once been arrested for breaking into government firewalls—until Marcus offered him a deal: work for the department instead of rotting in a cell.
Despite his laid-back attitude and constant grumbling, Jake had a reputation for cracking codes no one else could touch. If he was saying it was impossible, then it wasn't just another criminal with a laptop.
Marcus studied him for a moment, his jaw tightening. "So, we're dealing with professionals."
Jake rubbed his temples, staring at the ceiling. "Not just professionals, Marcus. Whoever's behind this… they're playing on a whole different level."
"Our only lead right now is Kane, and he is no where to be found and even if we do know about him, he will not be cooperative enough to offer us help."
"I know a way we can get Kane on our side," a voice cut in from the doorway.
Marcus glanced up. "And how's that supposed to work?"
Katie stepped into the room, her heels clicking against the floor like she owned the place. She was one of the precinct's best—sharp, relentless, and proud of it. Everyone knew her reputation: she could charm a confession out of a suspect as easily as she could put a bullet through a target. And she never let anyone forget it.
Her hair was perfectly styled, her uniform tailored to flatter without breaking regulation, her confidence filling the room more than her words ever needed to. She leaned against the desk, arms crossed, eyes glinting with self-assurance.
Jake groaned, already rubbing at his forehead. "Don't tell me you're planning to use that so-called charm of yours. You know it doesn't work on everyone."
Katie smirked, tilting her head just enough to catch the light. "Oh, Jakey, you're just jealous it never worked on you."
Jake rolled his eyes. "No. I'm sane."
Katie ignored him, her focus back on Marcus. "The point is, men like Kane—loners, brooding types—they always slip when there's someone who can get under their skin. All it takes is the right push. And I happen to be very good at pushing."
Her smile lingered, smug and certain, as if she already considered Kane hers to reel in. Marcus studied her carefully, saying nothing yet.
Marcus leaned back in his chair, studying Katie with a look that was more caution than belief. "Kane isn't your usual perp, Katie. He's not some dealer who melts the second you bat your lashes. He's older… sharper. He sees through people."
Katie brushed a strand of hair off her shoulder, her smile unshaken. "That's what makes it interesting. I'm not here to melt him, Marcus. I'm here to get close enough to know how he ticks. You want him on our side, right? Someone has to bridge that gap. And none of your boys here can do it."
Jake let out a snort. "Bridge the gap? Please. You'll either piss him off, or worse—he'll laugh in your face. That guy isn't built for your games."
Katie turned her gaze on him, sharp as a blade. "And what's your plan, huh? Keep banging your head against rerouted IPs until you give yourself an aneurysm? At least I'm offering an approach that involves actual human contact."
Jake threw up his hands. "You're full of yourself, you know that?"
Katie smirked. "And it's gotten me further than most around here."
Marcus raised a hand, quieting them both. His eyes lingered on Katie. "You really think you can pull this off?"
Katie leaned forward, her voice dropping into something cool and confident. "I don't think. I know. Kane's dangerous, yes. But dangerous men always have a crack in their armor. I'll find his."
For the first time, Marcus allowed himself a small nod. "Fine. You'll get your chance. But understand this, Katie—if you push too hard and he decides you're the enemy… not even I'll be able to save you."
Katie's smile didn't falter. "Then I'll just have to make sure he doesn't see me as the enemy."
Jake muttered under his breath, "Yeah, or he'll eat you alive."
Katie only smirked wider, as if the thought excited her.