A LEAGUE ABOVE THE DEVIL | PART 12 | FATE'S END

It was the moment when he left that he was momentarily blinded by a similar flash of golden light.

— A League Above The Devil, Part 11, World’s End.

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A FEW MINUTES AGO. . .

The ring.

The flash of golden light.

The League.

Sebastian’s eyes were blinded by its reflection back at the police station, but he didn’t bother to check who it belonged to. With journalists swarming all around him, it was impossible to divert his attention elsewhere.

It was all about getting away from the crowd, to a place where he could be alone with his thoughts.

To a place where he could decode things more clearly.

But it seemed he missed the chance of fitting the crucial piece of the puzzle—thus the picture was confusing and incomplete.

The one who held the ring must have entered the police station when Sebastian came out, and he wondered the reason for the visit.

Why did a man of high calibre come to the police station? What link could The League have with the cops?

The cops..

Zayne Berkes.

Sebastian never heard of him since the last conversation they had.

‘Make sure to send him in the darkest cell. He has forty-eight hours to confess to what he did.’

“My ass.” Sebastian murmured to himself as he glanced at the photograph one more time, yet his mind never stopped wandering to the clown who interrogated him.

What was Zayne Berkes actually doing when he had crimes to solve?

He appeared to have been hell-bent on finding the truth. Why back away now?

Did The League buy him off?

Was he the coward Sebastian knew he would be?

“Idiot.”

Shaking his head as he removed his phone from his pocket, Sebastian texted Alina to come over to the Arslan Mansion. If there was only one person who could help him on this never-ending quest, it would definitely be her.

They were both witnesses to Sharna’s insanity, and they couldn’t trust anyone with what they experienced.

Not even the cops.

Eventually leaving Shelly’s mansion as it was, Sebastian stood on the front porch this time, admiring the pending ruins the property would be if the owner didn’t make it back home.

No one seemed to be poking holes around the area, so it would be a waste of time hiding himself for nothing. Besides, he had everything he needed now.

A photograph. An organisation to look for. And the man who held all the answers.

But where was Shelly.. And why was it difficult to track her down?

If she was indeed dead, the body was bound to appear somewhere, right?

It has been three days already.. damn it.

As if on queue, the rain started falling, every drop steady and soft at first, with the sun slowly disappearing behind the clouds.

Was the sky weeping for things going awry?

If yes, he did not have any time for pity.

Placing the photograph in the back pocket of his jeans, Sebastian covered his head with his hoodie before leaving the premises.

And it was at that moment he caught sight of the similar flash of golden light from afar, blinding him in its intensity—bringing him back to the man on the photograph.

The gold reflected from the sun’s last rays was similar to mirror reflecting sunlight, and Sebastian did make note of a shape walking towards a car.

The sky was darkening, and the slow droplets started building up into a heavy downpour.

Sebastian couldn’t make out the face through the heavy rain, but the adrenaline which rushed over him brought him forward, making him shout at the top of his lungs.

“STOP!” 

But the person was already in their car, ready to leave.

That was Sebastian’s only opportunity—to catch the person and make them answer for everything that had happened.

Even if the only answer he would receive was Sharna’s location.

“STOP!” Sebastian shouted again, but the sound of heavy rainfall washed away his voice, and he knew the person neither saw him nor heard him, because they were already driving away.

They didn’t make any sign of stopping, and with only a few seconds left, the car was out of Sebastian’s sight.

Fucking hell. I was so close.

“Don’t go…”

The more Sebastian pleaded in the rain, the more impossibility closed in.

He lost again, and after several minutes of running, Sebastian eventually crashed onto the ground..

…and he screamed.

He screamed with everything he had.

He screamed for the life that was thrown at him.

He screamed for his parents, for all the lies that have been told to him.

For trusting the wrong person and destroying the right one.

He screamed until his voice turned hoarse, and the only accompaniment was the thunder and lightning muffling his frustrations. 

And then he wept, with head bowed, as if surrendering to fate’s end.

There was a sudden coldness enveloping him as he went still, the adrenaline dying down and leaving him weak.

Leaving him in harm’s way.

But all he received was an umbrella over his head, protecting him from the fierce droplets of rain that viciously burned his skin with its iciness.

Looking up with blurred vision of tears, Sebastian finally made out Alina who kneeled next to him, offering a kind smile—the first of many he had ever seen.

It was the way she smiled that brought him inner peace—a reassurance that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

If such reassurance was temporary, then he would eternally take it and preserve it, in order to relive it over and over again.

“I know it’s not okay, Sebastian. And it probably won’t be, but at least know that you’re not alone.” Placing a hand over his shoulder, Alina spoke whilst looking at him.

His eyes held all the pain of a tormented past, a childhood unlived.

Because of revenge.

If justice was revenge, why did it break him even more?

Justice—even if merciless, was meant to balance everything out for him.

Yet he was caught spiralling down with no beginnings or endings.

“Come, let’s get you inside.” Lifting Sebastian up as much as her strength could allow, they stood together for a moment, under the vicious pouring rain.

Sebastian didn’t notice he was already in front of his mansion when he received the sudden breakdown, and he was grateful to walk into his property and away from any prying eyes that were possibly looking at them.

“What happened, Sebastian? I read your message. Sorry I couldn’t come earlier, Ezelle was helping me sneak out without dad’s knowledge.”

Alyas Soliovos. With all the troubles Sebastian brought Alina into, it was obvious her father wouldn’t allow her to come to him.

Sebastian even noted that she didn’t ask about his weak moment, which he was definitely grateful for. It was embarrassing, especially to let her see this side of him, and he hoped she wouldn’t use it against him in the future.

Be careful who you lend the knife to, Sebastian. It might end up coming back to stab you.

Yet there was something about Alina that made him know she would never hurt him.

Besides.. He still owed her an apology for using her because of Sharna.

“What are you waiting for? Open the damn door, idiot! I can’t be freezing out here.” Shivering, Alina closed her umbrella as Sebastian eventually did as told.

“Here, your highness. After you. And don’t you dare leave your shoe marks on the floor.”

The light atmosphere was back again, and Sebastian was glad they got rid of the earlier tension.

“Don’t worry, Sebastian. I will walk on air. Anything else?”

Being amused by Alina’s retort, he told her to leave the umbrella on the stand and guided her towards the living room where they went through a drastic change in their lives three days ago.

Shots fired. Fake disappearance. Interrogations. Captivity.

Sebastian couldn’t wait to know what was next on the list. Sharna’s ultimate death, maybe?

“Would you like anything to drink?” Sebastian asked as he went to open one of the windows facing the Soliovos villa.

“Would you like anything to dr—?” He asked again, but the question remained incomplete as Sebastian turned to look at Alina, who stood frozen in place and looking somewhere else.

From where he stood, it was difficult to know what Alina was staring at, but he knew it was not a good thing.

“Alina?”

No response. It seemed as if she was in shock.

“Alina, are you okay?” Sebastian asked again.

But all she said was..

“Sharna?”