THE DEVIL HERSELF
Chapter 43

Scarlet walked out of her apartment with Diego by her side. Both wore expressions of cold determination, their footsteps echoing ominously in the hallway. As they approached the courtyard where Dracula awaited, a glint of fear flashed in his eyes, though he quickly masked it with a bravado that fooled no one.

Dracula took a deep breath, stepping forward as if to apologize. "Scarlet, I..."

But Scarlet cut him off with a slicing motion of her hand. "Save your apologies, Dracula. They mean nothing now."

"Rachel!!" She thundered.

"Yes boss" she ran out of the training center

Rachel stood at attention, ready for her orders. Scarlet turned to her. "Create a furnace on the lawn. Make him kneel on it for 24 hours. No exceptions."

"Yes, boss." Rachel bowed slightly, then grabbed Dracula by the arm, leading him away. Dracula cast a venomous glare at Diego, his eyes burning with resentment.

Diego held Dracula's gaze, his face impassive. But inside, he felt a flicker of satisfaction. Dracula's plan had backfired spectacularly.

Dracula's mind raced with bitter thoughts as Rachel led him to his punishment. This was just like Atlanta all over again. Scarlet had chosen Diego over him, and now he was determined to eliminate his rival once and for all. He vowed silently that Scarlet would see him in a different light, even if it meant removing Diego from the equation permanently.

000 COMPUTER LAB 000

Chance was in the computer room, his fingers dancing over the keyboard as he completed his work. He was about to take a much-needed break when Luna, Lyric's cats ran into the room. Ever since Lyric's untimely death, Chance had taken care of Luna, seeing the cat as a precious memory of his lost love.

Chance sighed, leaning back in his chair as he watched Luna weave around his feet. His thoughts drifted to Lyric, and the weight of her absence felt heavier than usual. Suddenly, the door opened, and Zenith walked in. She was a recent recruit, brought in a few months ago. Though her combat skills were lacking, her IQ of 130 nearly matched Chance's, making her a valuable asset in the lab.

Zenith had striking features-bright green eyes, a cascade of auburn hair, and a petite but athletic frame. Her presence was immediately felt as she stepped into the room, a wide smile on her face.

"Oh, Luna!" she exclaimed, bending down to scoop up the cat. "I just love cats. Did you know that cats have been domesticated for over 9,000 years? And they can make over 100 different sounds! Dogs can only make about 10." Chance raised an eyebrow, amused despite himself. Zenith continued, seemingly oblivious to the awkwardness of the situation. "I read somewhere that having a cat can reduce the risk of heart attacks by one third. Isn't that fascinating?" She suddenly realized she had been babbling and looked up at Chance, blushing. "Sorry, I tend to talk a lot when I'm nervous."

Chance chuckled, a sound that hadn't escaped his lips since Lyric's death. "It's fine, Zenith. You bring a lot of... energy to the room." Zenith grinned, relieved. "Thanks. I just-I'm really excited to be working with you. Scarlet mentioned you're the best at what you do."

Chance felt a rare warmth in his chest at the compliment. "Well, let's see if we can make a good team."

Zenith set Luna down and began to fiddle with the computer equipment, her nimble fingers moving with surprising skill. Luna purred and rubbed against her legs, and Zenith looked down, smiling.

"You know," she began again, her voice soft, "everyone here is so intense. It's a little intimidating."

Chance nodded, understanding. "It's the nature of the work. But you'll get used to it. Just stay focused."

Zenith nodded, though she couldn't help but continue talking to the cat. "Luna, you wouldn't believe how strange everyone is. They all act like they're in a constant state of war."

Chance laughed again, a genuine laugh that echoed in the small room. "You have no idea how true that is."

Zenith's face lit up at his laughter. "It's good to hear you laugh, Chance. I think Luna misses it too."

Chance looked at Luna, who was now sprawled comfortably on the floor. "Yeah, maybe she does."

Their conversation was interrupted by a buzz from Chance's computer. He leaned forward, his expression becoming serious as he scanned the information on the screen. "Looks like we have some activity from Lord Ace's men. We need to keep an eye on this."

Zenith straightened up, her demeanor shifting to match the seriousness of the task. "What do you need me to do?"

Chance smiled, appreciating her quick transition from light-hearted to professional. "Start by monitoring their communications. We need to stay a step ahead."

Zenith nodded and began typing rapidly, her focus intense. Chance watched her for a moment, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. With Zenith's help, he felt they had a real chance to stay ahead of their enemies.

Meanwhile, outside, Dracula knelt on the furnace, his skin blistering from the heat. Rachel watched over him, her expression stoic. "This is what happens when you betray the Clan," she said coldly.

Dracula gritted his teeth, his mind filled with thoughts of revenge. "This isn't over," he muttered under his breath, his eyes burning with a mixture of pain and rage.

As the night wore on, Scarlet stayed in her room, contemplating her next move. She leaned back in her chair, a small, determined smile playing on her lips. "Let's see what you're made of, Lord Ace," she whispered to herself, her eyes glinting with fierce determination.

She had barely settled into her thoughts when her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was Jack. She answered quickly, her voice sharp and to the point.

"Jack, what do you have for me?" she asked.

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Jack's voice was steady but urgent. "Scarlet, I've found out the connection between the Hunters Clan and Smith."

Scarlet's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"Smith is actually Stone. He's been working closely with Lord Ace and is his second in command in the Hunters Clan."

The news hit Scarlet like a punch to the gut. Stone, the man who had betrayed her trust, was now revealed as a key player in the organization that sought to destroy her Clan. Her grip tightened on the phone, her knuckles whitening. "Stone," she repeated, venom dripping from her voice. "Of course, it all makes sense now."

Jack continued, "We need to be careful. He's dangerous and has Lord Ace's full backing."

Scarlet's mind raced with possibilities and plans. "Thank you, Jack. Keep digging. I want every detail on his movements and his connections. We need to be ready."

She ended the call and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Stone's betrayal was personal. It fueled her anger and determination to bring down the Hunters Clan and anyone associated with them.

000 CLAN'S HOSPITAL

In the Clan's private hospital, a crucial operation was underway. In the sterile environment of the operating theater, three doctors and several nurses were meticulously preparing for an intricate eye surgery on Scar. The goal was to replace his damaged eyes with artificial ones that possessed enhanced capabilities.

Dr. Reynolds, the lead surgeon, stood at the head of the operating table, his hands steady and precise. "Alright, team, let's proceed with the initial incision," he instructed.

Nurse Simmons handed him a scalpel, and with a delicate touch, Dr. Reynolds made a small incision around Scar's eye socket. The operating room was filled with the soft hum of machines and the occasional beep of monitors.

"We need to be extremely careful with the optic nerves," Dr. Reynolds reminded his team. "Any damage could impair the functionality of the artificial eyes."

Dr. Lee, another surgeon, assisted by carefully retracting the skin and exposing the damaged eye. "Optic nerve exposed. Proceeding with removal," she said calmly.

The team worked in perfect synchrony, each movement precise and calculated. They removed Scar's damaged eye, taking great care not to disturb the surrounding tissues. Dr. Reynolds then took the artificial eye, a marvel of bioengineering, designed to integrate seamlessly with the human nervous system.

"Prepare the implant for integration," Dr. Reynolds ordered.

Nurse Thompson carefully handed over the implant, which was sterilized and ready. The artificial eye was a sophisticated piece of technology, with micro-circuitry that would connect directly to Scar's optic nerves, providing him with vision capabilities far beyond that of a normal human.

Dr. Reynolds positioned the artificial eye in the socket, aligning it with the optic nerves. "Begin neural integration," he instructed.

Dr. Lee activated the integration device, which sent tiny, precise electrical impulses to connect the artificial eye's micro-circuitry with Scar's optic nerves. The process required absolute precision, as even a slight misalignment could result in failure.

"Integration at 30%," Dr. Lee reported, her eyes focused on the readouts.

Sweat beaded on Dr. Reynolds' forehead as he monitored the process. "Maintain steady impulses. We need a flawless connection."

The team held their breath as the integration progressed. At 50%, Scar's body twitched slightly, responding to the new sensory input.

"She's responding well," Dr. Reynolds noted. "Continue with the integration."

As the integration reached 90%, the tension in the room was palpable. The final phase required perfect alignment and calibration of the artificial eye's sensors with Scar's brain. "Integration complete," Dr. Lee announced, relief evident in her voice.

Dr. Reynolds stepped back, allowing the nurses to close the incision and secure the implant. "Excellent work, everyone. Now, we monitor her response as she wakes up."

Outside the operating room, Piper and Lucky waited anxiously. They paced the hallway, their faces etched with worry.

"I hope everything goes well," Piper murmured, glancing at the clock.

Lucky nodded, her eyes never leaving the door. "Scar is strong. She'll pull through this."

After what felt like an eternity, the door to the operating room opened, and Dr. Reynolds stepped out, pulling down his mask. "The surgery was successful. Scar is in recovery now."

Piper and Lucky exchanged relieved glances. "Can we see her?" Lucky asked.

Dr. Reynolds nodded. "She's still unconscious, but you can stay with her until she wakes up."

They followed the doctor into the recovery room where Scar lay, bandages covering his eyes. The room was quiet except for the steady beep of the heart monitor. Piper sat by her side, taking her hand in hers. "You did great, Scar. Just rest now," she whispered.

Lucky stood at the foot of the bed, her eyes filled with concern and fear. "We'll be here when you wake up."