Chapter 22: The Infiltration.

Truce smiled at Anna's cautious disposition and he studied her quietly.

She wasn't like other girls he knew and he wanted her to be with him. But there was still a bit of digging he wanted to do, to search her out. What was her goal? What did she care about most in her life? Why was she reminding him of Miriam?

He stood up and stepped behind her. "You know we have to get married to seal this blood covenant?"

Her heart galloped in her chest as his words cut through her. "Married?" She cried in alarm and turned to face him. "Is that really necessary, sir? I thought... I thought," she didn't know how to arrange the sentence properly.

"You thought what, Anna?" He voice was low.

"You would just transfer the blood and all? Why should there be a marriage?" He laughed at her. How sweet she was

"Is it not written in your 'human Bible' that a man shall leave his family and cleave to his wife? And shall they not be one? When you're one with someone, won't you share the same blood, Anna?" He twirled her hair in his finger as he spoke, and she swallowed. He was right there, but sleeping with him? Hell this was really a bad idea.

"Thinking about quitting already, Lady Ruby? Hmmm, finally got the right name. Anna sounds too... Bland for your specie." He said, staring straight in her eyes, as if daring her.

A cold breeze wound around her and she shuddered. It was dark already and she thought Cliff would be raging mad at her by now. Truce wrinkled his nose, sensing her thoughts.

"Let's get you home alright? We'll talk more about this later." He said, his arm lightly holding her by her sides. She nodded and he took her hand. Together, they walked out of the garden.

He dropped her off by her apartment and while he was still on her street, about to make a right turn, a call came into his phone. It was Chen. Earlier he ordered Chen not to call him except for emergencies. Truce answered.

"What's the situation Chen?" Truce asked, his voice firm and controlled.

"Uh, infiltration sir, in the lower levels of vitalis and lumina. Data breeches and unauthorized access." Chen replied in a crisp and professional voice.

Truce's eyes narrowed. "What kind of infiltration?"

"It appears... someone, is trying to gather sensitive information about our transportation routes and communication protocols."

Truce's face darkened immediately. "Get me the details. I want to know who's behind this and how far they've penetrated. Where are you now?"

"At the mansion sir." Chen replied.

"Wait for me there."

When he got to the mansion. He burst through the front door, startling Chen who was replying a message, his phone dropped.

"Welcome sir." He greeted, picking the phone up, but Truce was in no mood for any greeting.

"Explain." He ordered, and sat on a plush armchair in the waiting room.

Chen's hands flew across his tablet. "I've enhanced security measures, and I ran a thorough sweep. I suspect a diversion sir. The real target might be Nexus. If they compromise our health and natural resource acquisition protocols, it could be... catastrophic."

Truce's expression turned icy. "Assemble a task force from Vigilia and lumina. Contain the threat now, before it spreads and keep me informed. I want updates every hour."

"Understood sir." Chen nodded, and swiftly exited the room, leaving Truce to ponder on the gravity of the situation. The infiltration threatened not only TAE's operations but the lives of his employees and also, the public. Truce's determination hardened. This had just become a top-priority emergency.

Anna stepped into her apartment, the smell of pancakes wafted through the air.

"Cliff, I'm home." She called out, but there was no response.

"Cliff?" She said in a low voice, keeping her racing mind and emotions at bay. She knocked on his door before she opened and stepped in.

She didn't recognize this part of her house at all.

He repainted the walls to deep, rich gray and the floor was a polished dark wood.

When did he have the time to redecorate? Cliff was laid, facing the ceiling in bed under white sheets, his feet sticking out. Panick immediately rose in Anna and she breezed to his side. "Cliff? Are you okay? Did something happen at the studio?"

He whimpered at the feel of Anna's cool hands on him. Sasha's announcement really did him in and he hadn't recovered from it.

"You're burning up." She flung the covers away and tried to get him out of the bed but he felt too heavy to move. His heart was shattered, and so were his movements. When he spoke up, he didn't recognize his voice at all. "How's king Truce holding up?" Huh? King? Did the fever also affect his memories?

"Can you lift yourself? Have you had anything to eat yet?"

"No, I can't move. I can't breathe at all." He said, near tears, surprising Anna who stopped struggling under his weight.

"What are you saying?"

"You know, I've always had this thing for Sash. She came by today," swallowing a lump in his throat, "we...uh, we kissed and sh-she..."

Anna, who was amazed at the source of his sudden illness, asked. "She what?"

"She said she was going out, with my friend. Uh, that was after the kiss?" Anna couldn't help herself. She laughed at Cliff's expression, though the situation didn't call for it.

"Oh Cliff, you're something else." She said, walking out.

Yeah, something else.