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| Sebastien—Aegisguard, Dor-Sanguis, The Caederian Temple |

In the private waiting area attached to Raphael's room, Sebastien listened while his bosses talked. They were waiting for a doctor to see to their grandson, and then he assumed that they'd be heading to the conference hall to speak to Daimon's pack. Either that or they'd be heading off to speak to the council about what to do next.

"Ve can't visk sending Jackson out zhere," Lord Caedis mumbled. "Not vhile zhe phantom 'as 'is sights set on 'is body, not to mention zhe vact zhat zhe 'oly Grail is getting involved."

The Zenith sighed deeply as he glanced in through the window at Raphael. "We don't have very many options left, I'm afraid." He looked at Lord Caedis. "We need the phantom if we're going to find a way to stop this virus."

"I vhought zhe viles vould be enough," he said defeatedly.

Sebastien frowned. Had they gotten people to look through all of the files that they found at the lab already? He wouldn't be surprised. His bosses had amazing resources—they had people who could read an entire page of information in less than a few seconds.

"All they tell us is what Lyca Corp. did to manipulate and weaponize the virus. Kowalski said that we won't be able to manufacture a cure unless we can get samples of the original strain," the Zenith muttered.

Lord Caedis shook his head. "Zhis is all just fucked," he grumbled. "Ve need to take a look at our vesources; zhere 'as to be somevone ve can send avter zhe phantom."

Just then, the door to the right opened, and Doctor Sinclair walked in.

Sebastien watched him frown sympathetically as he walked towards Lord Caedis and the Zenith, and then the doctor kissed both their lips before hugging them, and they reciprocated his embrace.

"How's he doing?" Sinclair asked as he stepped back and glanced in at Raphael.

"No change," the Zenith answered.

"Kowalski said 'e 'as a brain bleed," Lord Caedis said worriedly.

Sebastien might not like Raphael very much but hearing that he suffered such a severe injury made him feel guilty, especially since he was responsible for the phantom's release.

"Don't worry, he's going to be okay," Sinclair said firmly. He glanced at his clipboard. "We're going to keep him under a little longer," he said as he flipped through the pages. "He'll heal much faster this way. Are you two okay to watch him? I don't have any nurses to spare right now."

"I can vatch 'im," Lord Caedis said with a nod.

The Zenith kissed Lord Caedis' lips. "I have to go and take care of this Forsaken situation, and then I need to talk to my dad."

Lord Caedis nodded. "Okay. I'll be zhere as soon as Zephyr vakes up."

After a swift kiss to Sinclair's cheek, the Zenith left the room.

"Did Kowalski tell you what was in the files?" Sinclair asked Lord Caedis.

He nodded as he looked in at Raphael again. "Ve're going to discuss our next move soon. Ve 'ave a lot to deal vith vight now."

"Yeah, I heard about the Forsaken. Is there nothing you can do?"

"I zon't veally know. Daimon is too var down Zhomas' line; 'e zoesn't 'ave zemon blood."

"Surely he has traces?" Sinclair asked with a frown. "If I take a sample of his blood, I might be able to find them."

Lord Caedis sighed and dragged his hand over his face. "All vight, but be carevul."

"I will," Sinclair said and kissed Lord Caedis' cheek. He then left the room.

"Do you think you can save him?" Sebastien asked, moving closer to Lord Caedis.

"Only if 'e 'as traces of zemon blood," he replied, staring in at Raphael.

Sebastien set his eyes on Raphael, too. "You know, I...I can't help but feel like this is all my fault," he muttered. "I was the one who let the phantom out all those years ago. All the people who've died and suffered since then...it's all on me."

"Is not all on you, Sebastien," Lord Caedis said, glancing at him. "Is on us, zhe Nosveratu. I vas zhe vone who sent you out zhere; zhe Nosveratu took up zhe case. You need to stop blaming yourselv."

While his words did bring a little comfort, Sebastien knew that he'd never fully accept what happened at Alder Estate. But he didn't want to sink into the despair. "What's going to happen to Jackson and the others?"

"Zhey did zheir part; zhey'll get vhat zhey're owed. As vor Jackson, I'm not sure. 'E created a Vorsaken; 'e vill 'ave to answer vor zhat."

Sebastien felt bad for Jackson, too, but there wasn't anything that he could say or do. His fate was ultimately up to the Zenith. "What...did the files say?" he asked curiously. "Was there anything in there that you can use to make a cure or something?"

Lord Caedis shook his head. "Zhere vere some documents and invormation about 'ow zhe powered volves vere created, and Kowalski said 'e might be able to give zhese powers to ozzer volf valkers."

"If that were possible, then it would make fighting the cadejo much easier."

"Yes, but ve need zhe original powered volves to vigure out zhe missing pieces, just like ve still need zhe phantom to create a cure."

With a deep sigh, Sebastien's slither of hope withered away. "And no one's seen them since they got away from Cyrus."

"Mm."

"Do we send another team out or something?"

"Ve zon't 'ave zhe vesources."

Sebastien frowned in confliction. Was it selfish of him not to offer his hand out? He didn't have any assignments waiting for him, but he wanted time off. He wanted to go and see Clementine. But should he? Wouldn't it be much smarter of him to try and find the hybrid pack so that the Nosferatu could at least have an upper hand fighting the cadejo while they tried to locate the phantom?

Before he could say anything, though, he saw Raphael move—the guy lifted his arm and placed it on his head with a groan.

Lord Caedis immediately opened the door and headed into the room.

"Strămoş Luca?" Raphael asked confusedly as Lord Caedis moved around to the side of his bed.

Sebastien stood in the doorway. He wouldn't leave yet unless he was told to.

"'Ow are you veeling?" Lord Caedis asked Raphael.

With a long groan, he replied, "Like I got smacked over the head a hundred times. Where's Strămoş Zalith?"

"'E 'ad to go and see to someving."

Raphael nodded and glanced around. "Did we get him? The phantom."

Lord Caedis huffed. "No."

"What? What happened?"

"You'll be updated later. Vor now, you need to vest and—"

"I can't rest while that thing is still out there," he insisted, sitting up.

But Lord Caedis made him lay back down. "Vest, Zephyr. Zhat's an order. I zon't vant to see you out of zhis bed until Zinclair 'as given you zhe all clear."

Raphael snarled irritably. "You know I hate sitting or lying around doing nothing."

"I know, but you 'ave to." He sighed and then said, "I 'ave to go and vind Zaliv, but vonce ve're done vith Jackson and 'is pack, I'll come back down 'ere to see 'ow you're doing."

"Can't I just—"

"No," Lord Caedis interjected. "Stay in bed."

With a roll of his eyes and a stroppy pout, Raphael said, "Fine."

Lord Caedis left the room and pulled the door shut behind him. "You can go and join zhe volves in zhe 'all," he told Sebastien. "Ve'll be zhere shortly."

"Uh...yeah, but can I ask you something?"

He stared at Sebastien, waiting.

"Can I get some PTO? I need to go and see Clementine, help him get settled in Uzlia and stuff, you know?" he asked unsurely.

It looked like Lord Caedis was thinking about it. "'Ow long vere you vinking?"

Surprised, Sebastien frowned. "Uh...like a few days or something? Maybe a week."

Lord Caedis nodded and said, "Vine. You can leave avter ve speak to zhe volves. Ve need you zhere vor zhe debrieving."

As his surprise grew, Sebastien exhaled a little in relief. "Okay, no probs. Should I head down there now, or do we need to wait for the Zenith to tell us he's ready?"

"Ve'll vind Zaliv virst," Lord Caedis said as he headed for the door.

Sebastien followed him through the hospital, which was packed full of rushing doctors and nurses, and the hallways were lined with beds of injured soldiers. The fight at the lab had been almost catastrophic, but a lot of people made it out alive.

When they reached the elevator, they headed deep underground—it was the safest place in the temple to hold something like a Forsaken. Once it arrived, Lord Caedis led the way to the end of the long, gloomy hallway lit by dim lanterns. They stopped outside a silver-barred cell, and inside, Daimon—in his human form—lay on the gurney, which had been placed on the stone slab that sufficed as a bed for the prisoners who were usually kept down there. The Zenith was inside, too, standing beside Sinclair, who was taking blood samples.

"I'll test this as fast as I can," Sinclair said as he placed the last vial into a small box and took the tourniquet off Daimon's arm. "Is there anything else you need me to do before I get to work?" he then asked, glancing at Lord Caedis before setting his eyes back on the Zenith.

"No. Thank you," the Zenith said.

Sinclair nodded and walked out of the cell with him.

The four of them began walking to the elevator.

"'Ave you decided vhether to punish Jackson or not?" Lord Caedis asked the Zenith.

With a deep sigh, the Zenith pressed the button for the main floor. "Not yet. I'd like to hear what he has to say for himself."

Sebastien wasn't sure what the Zenith might decide to do, but he was hoping that his boss would go easy on Jackson. After all, Jackson didn't know what he was doing, did he? He didn't know that what he did would turn Daimon into a forbidden creature. Or did he? He didn't know, but he was certain that they were about to find out.

Once the elevator arrived, Sebastien followed behind Lord Caedis and the Zenith as they headed towards the conference hall. But as they passed the statue, rushing footsteps came from the right, and the three of them stopped to look over there.

"Lord Caedis, Lord Zenith," called Ivor, one of the Zenith's errand boys.

"What is it?" the Zenith questioned.

"Drone images, sir," the man answered, stopping in front of them.

Sebastien frowned curiously, watching as his bosses took the folder from Ivor and pulled out several large photographs. Surprised and desperate expressions appeared on their faces moments later, but Sebastien couldn't get a glance at the photographs, and he wasn't going to try to, either—he didn't feel like a scolding right now.

"'Ow long ago vere zhese taken?" Lord Caedis asked.

"Sixteen minutes, My Lord," Ivor answered. "Not long after the phantom fled."

"They're heading in the same direction," the Zenith said worriedly. "We need to get a team out there."

"But who?" Lord Caedis muttered. "Ve 'ave no vone."

Sebastien frowned. "Sorry, but...what's going on?"

Neither of them spared him a glance.

"Ve could send Cyrus."

"But he won't trust Cyrus, not after what happened."

"So who do ve send?"

The Zenith pondered. "We only really have one choice."

Sebastien felt a little nauseous. Were they going to send him on another mission? He'd just gotten some time off approved; he didn't want to—

"Let's get this over with," the Zenith said, dismissing Ivor with a wave of his hand.

As his bosses continued towards the conference hall, Sebastien hurried after them. He tried to peer at the photographs, and when he managed to grab a glance, all he saw were drone images of the burning lab in Greykin Valley. And saying that someone didn't trust Cyrus could point to a million different people; that wolf had managed to form more rivalries than friendships, but that was to be expected from someone who was leading the Lupine Alliance in his father's absence.

He did know of someone who wouldn't trust Cyrus, though—someone who was as important as his bosses evidently made him out to be. And Sebastien wondered, had they finally found a lead after this long? In all the chaos and shit that happened in the last few days, was there finally a glimmer of hope?

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