Black Hood: Season Three by Nick Venom (books to read now TXT) 📕

Baxter Croft, the leader of the Holy Grail team tasked with cleaning up the mess Spec made in the Slums, bowed his head and kneeled in front of a throne. The throne was lavish, contrasting Croft’s more humble appearance. 

The man sitting on the throne lifted his head slightly, staring at Croft. “Your report?”

“Raide Sartori, Wick’s successor, has been killed. His corpse is on transit here and should arrive soon. We have taken care of any buds threatening our control and we now have the Slums.”

The man nodded, rising from his throne. He was King Jayden of the Edurdale Kingdom. He stood confidently, staring at Croft. “Spec?”

“After some struggles, he was able to kill Raide. He took care of every target he was assigned and did as told. There was no problem in his performance.”

“I wonder how you managed to snag such an obedient toy.” Rock, an assassin hired by Jayden, remarked. “He did his job flawlessly, though I had to hand feed him his targets little by little or else the Slums would be drowning in blood. I wonder how he became that strong.”

“It’s most likely because of his environment or that weapon, as you reported Croft,” Jayden remarked.

Croft nodded, his head dipping. “... I-It’s properties are strange. It’s not a normal weapon. As of yet, Spec is the only one who could touch it without being disintegrated. One of my… Kaye lost her life returning the weapon to Spec during the battle. The weapon disintegrated her. We weren’t able to return her corpse to her family.”

Jayden nodded solemnly. “I understand, Croft. I will send your team their rewards and Kaye’s rewards to her family. You are dismissed.”

Croft nodded, rising to his feet and trudging out of the room. Rock tracked every step of his before he vanished around the two grand cyan-colored doors. As soon as he was gone, she turned towards the king. “I feel bad for him, lost one of his comrades in the battle. He values that team as his family.”

“I understand,” Jayden muttered. “It’s strange how you could make the best of friends in combat. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rushing through our bodies or having a shared fate of death that makes you connect with people easily.”

“I wouldn’t know, your majesty.”

“Ah yeah, your profession doesn’t allow you to mingle with people much.”

Rock nodded before tilting her head, furrowing her brows. “Aside from Arlo who I’ve taken in as contraband from the Slums.”

Jayden nodded. “Can I ask what you plan to do with him? Release him into the wild?”

Rock shook her head, turning away and heading to the door. “I don’t know.” She responded before reaching the door, turning towards him. “He’s kinda cute.” She then disappeared with a wink, bewildering Jayden.

“That woman,” he muttered to himself as he shook his head. “I pray for Arlo’s safety with her.”

Now with Rock and Croft gone, Jayden coughed into his fist before sitting down, facing the entrance to his room. “Blue!” His voice boomed, calling in one of his most trusted maids. She entered the room, bowing her head. 

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Summon Spec for me.” 

Blue nodded. “As you order, your majesty.” She said before turning away and returning with Spec in tow. She nodded her head at Jayden before disappearing, closing the doors behind her, trapping Spec in the room.

Jayden stared at Spec who glared at him, dressed in a black dress shirt that squeezed his body tight, with matching pants and shoes that did the same. His overgrown and messy black hair was cut at the insistence of Jayden. His hair was shorter, now only a quarter of its original length. His hair drooped over his forehead, but less so than earlier. He appeared well-groomed in contrast to his earlier appearance, his dress clothing making him out as a noble. 

“Spec. I’ve heard of your achievements. You slew Raide and brought an end to the corruption in the Slums.”

“Corruption remains,” Spec muttered, unheard by the king.

“What rewards do you want?” 

Spec tilted his head, his eyes screaming at Jayden to repeat his words. “A reward? I want nothing. Just give me my next mission.”

“You wish to continue fighting?” Jayden asked him with a raised eyebrow. “Why?”

Spec lifted his chin. “I want to finish our contract and be free.”

Jayden nodded, taking in Spec’s words. “I insist that you asked for a reward. I would even give you a break. Perhaps to be with your sister.”

Spec stiffened at the mention of his sister. “Don’t you dare mention my sister!”

Jayden scoffed at him. “I understand your love for her, but have you ever considered her feelings? How she feels being left by herself in a new world?”

Spec furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?” He spat.

“I’ve had my men carefully watching your family from afar in the name of protecting them. Fortunately, the only threats to them have been mild stuff, though there is one threat we can’t protect them from. Your sister is suffering from depression.”

Spec brandished Deathstriker, pointing it at him. “I wanted you to leave my family out of this. One of my conditions was that you left my sister alone.”

“And we have. Monitoring your family is to ensure their safety, not to use as blackmail against you. I’m simply doing this for the benefit of both of us.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth? You used blackmail to force me to become your assassin and kill. Why wouldn’t you use more blackmail to trap me further under your grasp?”

“Because I have never intended on making you a killing machine. I wanted you to remain human even throughout this. I understand your insistence on keeping away from your family and not involving them with your new dangerous life, but have you ever considered what that’s doing to them? Matthew understands everything, since you only contacted him, and he won’t hold any grudges but what about Lin or Maddie?”

“Don’t you dare say their names! Don’t you dare do that!”

Jayden shook his head. “One conversation isn’t enough to bring them into the darkness, Spec. They deserve that much at least.”

Spec opened his mouth, prepared to shout at the king more but no words came out. He tried again, his mouth expelling air. Jayden smirked as he realized what was happening. Spec squinted at him before looking away. 

“If you want a mission, Spec, I’ll give it to you. But you have to promise me to take a break and try to get in contact with your family. Your sister’s future won’t turn out well if you’re not there for her. Don’t be an idiot and believe that she’s strong enough to deal with you not being there. Even if she was strong in the past, it was because she knew that you were always at her side. Now you’re not. Tell me how strong she is now Spec.”

Spec bit his tongue, staring at the ground, Deathstriker at his side, dipping dangerously close to the floor. After a long pause of silence, Jayden smirked before opening his mouth again.

“Here’s your last mission for now. There’s a string of robberies occurring in the Nobles District. Put an end to this robber, kill them if necessary. This person has caused much distress and chaos in the district. Get rid of them.”

Spec nodded, not looking Jayden in the eyes. He turned away, leaving the throne room without speaking another word. There was no time for words as Spec raised Deathstriker.

She’s strong, I know she is. I’m sure of it… I’m sure. Spec thought as he left the palace. She can handle it. I know she can… Yes, she has to be strong enough. Like how I had to be strong to protect us. In the past.

TBC…

Spec perched himself on a tilted roof, overlooking several blocks in the Noble District. The building he found himself on was a church that surpassed all but the castle and a few other buildings in terms of height. It allowed Spec a perfect position to survey the area for his target. 

There’s been a string of robberies in this area? I don’t have a description of this person, though. He thought to himself as he skimmed the area in search of someone standing out. He needed to find someone trying to avoid detection, blending into the shadows, and the type of person you would usually overlook. He assumed this would be his target. 

Spec glanced at his surroundings, staring at the foot traffic around him, noticing a familiar sight that entranced him. A blonde woman some years younger than him walked with small but quick strides down a sidewalk, joined at the hip by a black-haired woman. Both women appeared to be around the same age but looked fairly different from each other. The blonde woman had long hair that curled at the ends, going down to her waist, while the black-haired woman had shorter hair that barely reached her shoulders. The black-haired woman was also significantly taller than the blonde. However, none of these features was what caught Spec’s attention; the blonde looked familiar to him. It was his sister, Lin. She had on her school uniform of a royal blue skirt that went past her knees, and a white polo that was mostly consumed by a royal blue blazer. She was staring at her friend, laughing at her joke. 

He was watching her from the church’s roof, able to make her appearance out fully. He instantly recognized her, his eyes glued to her. L-Lin… It’s her… She’s grown up so much since I-I… I last saw her. He thought to himself. “She grew up into a fine lady. I… I didn’t… I can’t believe it.”

Lin dropped off her friend at her house, a wealthy-looking two-story house, before strolling down the sidewalk and towards the crosswalk. Spec’s eyes watched her every movement even down to the tiniest of details such as her shifting her weight onto her other leg and biting her lip for a moment. His eyes refused to look at anything else than her, a strange feeling rising through his body. His throat grew dry and his breathing became heavy. He felt his heart wanting to escape and his body wanting to move forward. But he stopped himself, shaking his head. 

“I… I can’t. Not until…” He started before trailing off. Jayden’s words re-entered his brain, rattling around his somehow empty but full brain.  Don’t be an idiot and believe that she’s strong enough to deal with you not being there. Even if she was strong in the past, it was because she knew that you were always at her side. Now you’re not. Tell me how strong she is now.

“He’s right… I’m an idiot for thinking that me leaving her was the best option. She probably hates me.” He thought out loud. “I should visit her… at least once.” 

Spec nodded to himself before he turned his eyes onto the area, in search of anyone suspicious. Though, his attention quickly shifted to his sister before backtracking and looking at her friend who had been knocking on the front door