He arrived in his apartment and collapsed onto the floor. He pulled off his mask and freed himself of his clothes now lying on only his underwears.
'who is he?' he questioned himself. He had encountered different Advocates but none like him. He was only able to survive because of his reverse summoning technique summoning himself out of the arena immediately he got the slimest of chances. He was lucky his opponent wasn't that quick witted if not, he'd be long dead by now.
He cursed that stupid grade two guild for failing in his mission In the first place and putting him through all this trouble. He shook his head, deciding not to blame anyone for his failure, he was simply not strong enough and not competent enough to face anyone who was as strong as the man he had just encountered now. He had no idea why they wanted these siblings so badly that they would send him after them instead of a lesser Guild member now he had tainted his reputation. Not only did he fail in abducting them, he had received the best down of his life in the process. He was very confident that a grade two Advocate wouldn't be able to beat him, even though he was the second least strongest grade one Guild member, he had full trust in his capabilities. It was either this man was was grade one Advocate, or he was just inhuman.
He had also suddenly taken interest in the siblings, also wondering why an advocate was with them when he arrived. It couldn't be coincidental, it was well past midnight.
He decided not to over think anything and attend to his wounds for now. He was lucky to not have sustained and broken bones or any major injuries. He crawled to his room, opened a drawer on his desk and reached for his first aid box. This isn't going to be the last time, he was definitely coming back for them.
*********
Ashley spent the next two hours with Charles, the two of them getting along pretty well. It was as if he had read her mind earlier and decided to scare her but he hadn't lost his mind, he was just being playful.
She had learnt that the police officer Wilson, was his younger brother and he had also confirmed that they were indeed in a secret society but he refused to go into details about their organization until she said she wanted to join
They had laughed it out as a joke until she repeated her words confirming her seriousness.
He arched a brow and watched her curiously trying to read her to find any doubts or fear in her eyes but he didn't see any. Joining the advocate meant doing a lot of things that someone like her would not be able to handle. First, she will learn to take lives like she was breathing and this was no easy feat. Against the Satan's Guild, it was always a do or die situation and if she wasn't man enough to end someone's life then she possibly couldn't be a member.
Secondly, being an advocate also meant cutting away from your friends, your family and your loved ones and this also was no easy feat. If you didn't stay away from them, then you were constantly putting them in risk of either being attacked and being used as a means to get to you or they might caught up in fire exchange in you were ever to be attacked when they were around. The Satan's Guild loved a clean job so they always made sure to kill any living thing alive around wherever they struck to prevent their identity being exposed.
And thirdly, she must be emotionally strong, she must be ready to accept death and also the loss of any one who got hurt because of her and this was why emotional attachment between members of the Advocate was highly prohibited unless you were already married before initiation.
He had elaborately explained these points to her and for reason she seemed unshaken. There was definitely something unique about this lady, Charles thought to himself. Most people would demand for time to process things while others completely left and were obviously wiped of their memory about anything about them. But she still maintained her words, she wanted to join.
If the Advocate was the reason while these men were this strong, then she wanted to join them, she wanted to be strong also. All her life and still now, her parents and Justin had taken care of her but now, it would be her turn to take care of them.
Despite even after her resolve, Charles had told her to take two days to think about everything. Maybe she was too excited about how strong they were or her thoughts were clouded with vengeance at the point and after two days, she might be able to sought herself out. She wanted to protest but she couldn't, he had completely changed the topic and acted like they had never ever discussed about it.
They continued chatting with Charles telling her about Wilson's embarrassing moments as a child just before her brother and Wilson arrived.
The two of them had suddenly acted like they weren't just gossiping with the two men before casually standing on seeing them.
She could easily notice that her brother wasn't looking so cheerful as he did and she had completely forgotten to ask where they went to. She didn't also want to ask now seeing the expression Justin wore on his face. A sad and at the same time angry expression.
She turned to Wilson using her eyes to question him which he replied with a shrug of his shoulder telling her that he did not know anything about it. Justin eventually faked up a smile before walking upstairs doing his best to avoid being questioned.
Ashley chased after him, determined to find out why he was all gloomy and angry but the minute she took a step towards the stairs, Charles had stopped her, if she went up there, then they'll be a sibling quarrel and he didn't want that. He had already seen this and he didn't like siblings conflict.
"Give him a little time" He advised at the same time clearing out of her way Incase she didn't want to heed to his words.
She had turned around almost immediately as if already sensing the outcome of what would have happened if she went up after him, they were siblings after all and she probably knew him better than anyone.
He just couldn't tell but he was certain that these siblings were unique.