Bab 15: Chapter 15
Chapter 15: An Old Friend
Sam's knuckles popped in the silence, the sound sharp as broken glass, echoing off the wooden beams of the dim lake house. The air between him and Enzo felt electric, thick with a violence waiting to erupt. Fists blurred into motion before Sam even blinked, Enzo lunging forward in a flurry of tight, precise strikes. His movements were honed, deadly—each punch a piston firing in perfect rhythm. But Sam flowed with the attack like water bending to the shape of a rock, slipping just out of reach, his body swaying and twisting in effortless evasion.
Enzo's frustration flickered in his eyes, the tightening of his jaw betraying the strain. He spun low, sweeping his leg in a vicious arc aimed at Sam's knee—a move designed to cripple. But Sam had already shifted, reading the attack before it could land. His footwork was seamless, a backward glide that left Enzo kicking empty air. And then, Sam was there—blurring forward, his fist a piston driving into Enzo's ribs. The thud was solid, bone against bone, forcing a sharp grunt from Enzo as he staggered back, clutching his side.
"You're getting slow, mate," Enzo rasped, a dark chuckle on his breath as he wiped blood from his split lip. His words were casual, but his eyes burned with challenge. "What happened? That heart of yours finally gone cold?"
Sam's silence was its own answer. His stare was ice, his body coiled, and before Enzo could blink, Sam was moving again—smooth, lethal. A right hook arced toward Enzo's jaw, barely intercepted by a desperate forearm block. The impact vibrated through Enzo's bones, and before he could recover, Sam spun, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick that crashed into Enzo's side. The force sent Enzo skidding across the hardwood, boots squealing against the floor.
Enzo grimaced, pushing himself up on one knee, his muscles quivering under the strain. Pain etched into his features, but his grin was defiant, a fire still sparking in his dark eyes.
"Bloody hell," he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. But even through the pain, that smirk remained—daring Sam to come again.
Before either could continue, a sharp knock came from the door.
Both men paused, their gazes snapping toward the sound. Sam's senses immediately sharpened, every nerve on alert. He exchanged a quick glance with Enzo, who raised a questioning brow. Sam nodded silently, signaling it was safe, and walked over to the door, his footfalls eerily quiet.
When he opened it, Jade stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe. Her eyes locked on Sam's with a smirk, her dark skin radiant even in the low light. Her presence was magnetic, as always, her beauty striking yet almost intimidating.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite weapon of mass destruction," Jade said, her voice laced with amusement. She looked him up and down. "Looking sharp as ever, Sam."
He stepped aside, allowing her in, but his eyes were already narrowing slightly as she entered. Jade wasn't one to drop by unannounced without reason.
"What is it?" Sam asked, his voice low and controlled.
She glanced at Enzo, then back to Sam. "We need to talk about the Bayou mission. The one from two months ago."
Enzo's brow furrowed at that, but Sam's face remained unreadable. He knew what she was referring to—Marcel and his army, creating a new order with vampires at the top, massacred and nearly wiped out the entire werewolf population in Bayou centuries ago. However some escaped. Recently a branch of the crescent wolf pack, thought Marcel had forgotten them, so they returned to the bayou, walking right into a trap. A group of werewolves had sold them out to Marcel, and what followed had been nothing short of a slaughter.
The babies and children were spared, sent off to orphanages across the country, but the adults…they weren't so lucky. Sam's mission had been to recover and kill. He had a few skirmishes with Marcel and then later his right hand men - Diego and Thierry, after a day or two, Marcel took his army and left, pleased with what little he had left of the werewolves.
Jade's expression darkened as she folded her arms across her chest. "I'm not here to drag up the past. But Katherine's been asking questions. You're on her radar now."
Sam's gaze flickered at the mention of Katherine Pierce. She was a dangerous one—manipulative, intelligent, and as self-preserving as they came. The kind of vampire who didn't just survive; she thrived at the expense of others. She was now looking for him, and that meant his every move was being watched.
"She wants to meet you," Jade continued, her tone serious. "She's been curious about the infamous Red Hood for a while."
Sam's jaw tightened. "How do you know?"
Jade's smirk returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Let's just say I have my ways. But that's not the point. The point is, she knows who you are, and she's interested."
Sam didn't flinch. "And you? What are you doing in her employ?"
Jade raised a brow. "You figured that out, huh?"
He gave her a silent look, and she let out a soft chuckle. "I should've known. You're good—better than most. But don't worry. I'm not here to throw you under the bus. Katherine's… an employer, sure. But I have my own interests. And for now, our interests align."
Before the conversation could continue, Enzo stepped forward, his eyes flickering with curiosity. "What's the real game here, Jade? Why Katherine? What does she want with Sam?"
Jade's eyes met Enzo's, and for a moment, the tension thickened. Then, she shrugged. "That's for Sam to figure out. I'm just the messenger."
With that, she turned on her heel and made for the door, pausing only briefly. "Stay sharp, Sam. You'll need it."
Once she was gone, Enzo exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Well, that was cryptic. Seems like you've got a lot of fans these days."
Sam's gaze was still fixed on the door, his thoughts churning. "It's not just Katherine."
Enzo tilted his head, curious. "What do you mean?"
"I've been watching her," Sam said, his voice quiet but firm. "Spent years building an information network—hacking police systems, intelligence agencies, anything I could find. Katherine thinks she's good at hiding, but even she leaves ripples. Every disturbance, every move she makes, I've been tracking."
Enzo gave a low whistle. "So you're saying you've got eyes everywhere now?"
Sam nodded, his gaze distant. "I've been preparing. But Katherine… She's different. She's careful. She won't be easy to pin down."
Enzo leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Sounds like you've been busy. But what about this organisation of yours? Who are they?"
A flicker of a smile crossed Sam's lips, though it was brief and humourless. "Hackers. The best of the best. None of them know about the supernatural world, but they don't need to. They get paid to find information, and they do it well."
Enzo raised an eyebrow. "You've been playing the long game."
Sam nodded slowly. "I had to. Jason taught me that much."
A shadow passed over his face at the mention of Jason, memories of grueling days and nights spent coding, learning, fighting. It wasn't just physical training. Jason had pushed him mentally, forcing him to develop a skill set beyond combat. But Sam's thoughts darkened, recalling the relentless pressure, the endless demands. Jason was a brutal teacher.
"Yeah, well," Enzo said, pulling Sam out of his thoughts. "Looks like you've got a hell of a web spun. Just be careful. Katherine's not someone to take lightly."
Sam's expression hardened. "I know. And I'm ready."
But as Enzo pushed off the wall, ready to get back to training, Sam's mind drifted back to the darker days. The nights spent coding until his eyes bled, the constant vigilance, the burden of knowing he was always being watched. Jason had prepared him for this life, but even so, Sam wondered if he would ever be ready for what was to come.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone