Chapter 140 Clarissa
Melissa could sense something was off with the entire setting. Hance had escaped death yesterday and as obvious as it would seem, his council were chief amongst those who conspired against him. The only person he trusted within his council was Arya. If his entire council were trying to murder him secretly, there should be easier ways than plotting an assassination.
They could slip something in his drink. Kill him directly and blame his death on someone else, and also before Arya would even continue her story, Melissa wanted to know why Vampires were on Hance's council.
Vampires were the mortal enemies of wolves and that statement cannot be stressed enough. It is something even Melissa felt the moment she noticed those creatures were a member of his council- a primal hatred that stemmed from deep within her.
It was the same way darkness is just to be feared, that hatred was just as natural. She cleared her throat before speaking. "Before she goes on, can I ask something?"
"Sure, go ahead," Hance replied.
"Those vampires we captured, you claimed they were a member of your council," she said and Hence replied with a nod. "How do you not know Vampires existed within your council," she asked.
"I knew, " he replied. "There wasn't just anything I could do about it though. They had a way of hiding their scents too," he said. "Practically the Vancr pack has been overrun by the Oracle already."
Melissa exhaled, this was worse than he'd made it seem earlier. She nodded gor Arya to continue her story. She wanted to hear how a victim captured by an organization so powerful is still living fine and well.
"Arya exhaled and started. "I am going to do this very quickly, I feel like we don't have much time," she said.
"I was kidnapped by a bunch of traffickers when I was ten, they turned me over to this shady looking doctor who promised me I was going to improve the world." She began, exhaling, her face contorting as if she was reliving a painful past. "I was knocked unconscious and when I would open my eyes, I was in this small building with nothing but walls around me. The only source of light was from two tiny holes in the middle of the walls."
She paused and looked at everyone before she continued. "For days I was there, without food or water. Even werewolves could barely survive an entire month without water. And if I calculated correctly then, I spent two weeks there, just slowly withering away," her voice changed a bit and Hance placed his hand on her lap to give her comfort. "I was then brought out at last and for the first time in weeks. I couldn't even open my eyes at first. All around me was just strangeness. I was dead and clothed. Something that made me very happy. "
She swallowed. "That was how they began to break you anyways. They made you appreciative of things you took for granted. They made you feel as if your entire life, you've been committing a dangerous sin. They gave you happiness then snatched it away. That is their way and that way is for those lucky enough to be recruited as a member." She said,
"Recruited?" Melissa exclaimed.
"Yes. They have believers all over the continent. " she said.
"Believers?" Beateice exclaimed this time.
"Yes. The Oracle is a god. At least a twisted version of a god. They believe they serve this god and they would die for him. Their techniques at brainwashing are unparalleled, " she said.
"Okay. Taking all these in will take a while. Understanding them a little more than a while. Because all these don't even sound realistic," Richard said to everyone's surprise.
Even Melissa turned to him in surprise just to confirm he was the one that spoke. Normally, Richard was always the calm and reserved one who just made sure to make logic of everything, him speaking right now did voice out everyone's thoughts and also in a way increased their panic.
Melissa turned to Arya. "How are they able to run all these, the funding… their hierarchy of command… how did this start and has it always been like this?" She asked. It was time they got an actual truth to reference all Margaret had told them.
"They fund through trafficking. Organs, live children, vampires. Name it. They traffic anything. They are also being used by different governments. They have a subsidiary that works for them outside. A group of vampires that are expert in infiltration and exfiltration. They call themselves the survivors of the sun."
They all turned to Margaret and she smiled back at them. The survivors of the sun were indeed a subsidiary of the oracle. "So I am guessing you got brainwashed and all…" Melissa said. "How are you here?" She asked.
"Okay. In there. They have two departments mainly. The science or engineering department. The ones that help with their bioweapons and improving species. But as it turns out science as it limits but Magic doesn't." She told them. "They had a witch running a magical department. She did a whole lot for them. Write their runes, do rituals to turn vampires into beasts that they don't even have names for. She does all sorts of things for them. As it would turn out though. This witch didn't really work for them. She was forced to work because her mother had been captured by them."
Melissa sat up immediately. Her senses piqued. She didn't say anything yet though she let her continue.
"She helped me escape. Told me if I could come back and help her mother I should try. Her mother was held in a chamber, blindfolded by venom… literally," she said and everyone made that disgusting face.
"Pray tell though, what is this witch's name?" Melissa asked.
"Clarissa, " she said. "Her name is Clarissa." She replied softly and Melissa bulged her eyes. She found the witch's daughter.