Chapter 129 Open the door
Chapter 129 Open the door
Grand Elder Ragab sat in heavy silence within his special cell. The black quartz walls pressed in on him from all sides, as if the very stone sought to crush him. A soft scrape announced a visitor. A servant from his own fortress slid a simple meal of fruits, berries, and bread through the narrow latch in the door.
Ragab straightened slightly, his voice rough with urgency. “Have Lady Hamisa and Safura returned yet?”
The servant shook his head quickly, eyes downcast. “No, my lord. They have not come back.”
The servant bowed and withdrew without another word. The latch clicked shut, leaving Ragab alone once more. The weight of his 42-hour deadline pressed heavier than the suffocating quietness around him. Time was slipping away far too quickly, and every second of silence only deepened his dread.
Not long after, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor. Grand Elder Dalien appeared at the reinforced viewing grate. Her elegant features held a satisfied smirk as she gazed upon his fallen state.
Ragab’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Have you come to mock me, Dalien?”
She laughed softly, the sound cold and filled with delight. “I admit it freely. How the mighty have fallen. I always knew you did not deserve the title of Grand Elder. I will enjoy watching them throw you into a deeper jail at last. Your arrogance has finally caught up to you.”
Ragab leaned forward, chains rattling, his voice low and venomous. “You are bitter, Dalien. That is the truth, is it not? I never chose you as my one and only wife. Instead, I chose your two friends, who happen to be far more beautiful than you. You will always be beneath them in looks and status. Mark my words. I will come out of this mess unscathed.”
His words struck a nerve. Dalien’s face twisted in raw anger, her composure shattering for the first time. “Your days are numbered, Ragab. Twenty-four hours of your precious 42 have already passed. Soon enough, you will lose everything.”
She laughed mockingly, the sound echoing harshly through the corridor as she turned and swept away, leaving him in the dim, suffocating silence.
\---
Back at the Unseeing Faith Sect, chaos had erupted under the cover of night. Flames roared across several rooftops, casting flickering orange light over the sprawling compound. Guards shouted in alarm as they were slaughtered where they stood. Blades flashed and blood sprayed across stone pathways.
Several individuals wearing matching forest green robes moved with deadly purpose. They fought the sect guards in coordinated strikes, their movements precise yet unrelenting. Others slipped through the shadows like swift ghosts, silent and lethal. These attackers targeted preachers and seekers with ruthless efficiency, cutting them down before screams could fully form.
The attackers were incredibly fast and stealthy. Some among them possessed thick, powerful lower jaws that seemed unnaturally strong. In the heat of battle, one such warrior clamped down on an incoming sword, biting clean through the metal with a sickening crunch before tearing into the guard’s flesh.
Their fighting style was savage, raw, and overwhelming. They showed no mercy, pressing the assault deeper into the heart of the sect. Screams filled the night air as more buildings caught fire. The once peaceful grounds of the Unseeing Faith Sect had descended into a battlefield of blood and flames. The attackers pressed their advantage, their coordinated savagery threatening to overwhelm the remaining defenders.
\---
Elsewhere, Mei Mei stood on the dock facing Lady Hamisa and Safura. She maintained a calm expression on her face, but within her brewed ultimate turmoil.
Searching every boat in the harbor was a bold and thorough move. While she had stood talking with them, they had already dispatched some of their elite guards to begin the task. She only realized the full extent when Hamisa spoke so openly about it. The net was closing faster than she had anticipated.
Moments later, the assigned elite guards returned to the dock. Their armored boots echoed against the wooden planks as they approached Lady Safura and delivered their reports in crisp tones.
“All the ships we searched are clean, my lady,” one guard stated. “No signs of the escaped prisoners anywhere. We checked every cabin, hold, and corner.”
Safura’s expression remained cold and unyielding. “Good. Then only one vessel remains.”
Her sharp gaze shifted directly to Mei Mei’s ship. Mei Mei’s heart sank. She kept her face neutral, though tension coiled tightly in her muscles.
“No hard feelings, Mei Mei,” Lady Safura said smoothly, though her voice carried clear authority. “This is merely procedure. Your ship must be searched as well. We cannot leave any possibility unchecked.”
Mei Mei had no real choice. Refusing would only confirm suspicion and likely lead to immediate violence. She forced a polite smile and nodded.
“Of course, Lady Safura. I understand. Please, follow me.”
The group moved onto the ship, elite guards flanking Safura and Hamisa. Mei Mei led the way, her steps measured despite the storm raging inside her. She guided them through the upper decks first, showing empty storage areas and crew quarters. Every door she opened revealed nothing out of place, but her mind raced desperately for a way out of this trap.
Deep down, she knew there was almost no chance to talk herself free if they discovered Vandal and his group. The Devourer’s Choir’s delicate alliances would shatter, and her own life would likely end on this bloodstained deck.
Escape remained her one bold option. She slipped a hand near her belt, fingers brushing the hilt of a concealed dagger. She made sure to stay within striking distance of either Lady Safura or Lady Hamisa as they walked, ready to act if the situation exploded.
The air grew heavier as they descended to the lower deck. Lantern light flickered across the wooden walls, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with threat. Mei Mei’s pulse thundered in her ears.
She continued the tour room by room, opening doors to supply closets and minor crew spaces. Each time the hinges creaked, her breath caught slightly. Safura and Hamisa observed everything with sharp, calculating eyes. Hamisa in particular seemed eager.
Finally, they reached the corridor leading to the rooms where Vandal and his companions were hidden. Mei Mei’s heart pounded so hard she feared the others might hear it. Sweat prickled along her spine. This was the moment. Her mind spun through possible excuses, lies, or sudden attacks, but every scenario ended in bloodshed.
She stopped in front of the critical door. Her hand hovered over the latch. For a brief second, she hesitated, frozen by the weight of what lay beyond.
Lady Hamisa noticed immediately. Her sharp eyes narrowed, and her voice cut through the tense silence like a blade.
“Open the door.”