imly lit conference room table. Around him, the lieutenants of New York's most powerful mafia families

nsion. On the polished oak table in front of him lay a slim file-a

prized marked

. Level 1 marked ones were no ordinary assets. They were enhanced killers, granted supernatural strength and endura

cept

voice was low, almost conversational, but

The CCTV was disabled before the hit. Witnesses gave conflicting statements-some say

the b

s turned back to hu

of the hands of the cops" the b

igar. The lack of evidence might keep the authorities off

d his marked ones

learly," Ed said, his tone icy. "

There is... one deta

narrowed

ergy of the level 1 soldiers. Whoever they are, t

as a cold, cruel thing

------------

ws on the stone walls. In the center of the room stood a massive iron cage, its bars reinforced wi

one of Ed's mos

e humanoid with razor-sharp claws and an insatiable thirst for blo

ser to the cage. The beast snarled in response, its

marked soldiers from one of their rituals. "Find the one who

sorbed the scent of the aura. A low growl rumbled in its

hat bastard!"

e night beast leapt into the air

-----------

evision remote in the other. The news was on, but he wasn't paying atte

out of his thoughts. It was subtle, almost

his G19, his knife where he left it. The street outside was quiet, b

ye

ftop of a nearby building, to

se, plunging it into darkness, and positioned himself near the front do

hunti

licing through the air where Rico had been standing moments before. Rico rolled to the

e ground. The intruder, a bat monster with win

edge of the creature's talons tearing through his shirt. He rolled, coming up with the Ka-Bar

red eyes glowing with malice as it charged. At the last moment, R

s faltering as it stumbled back. Its glowing eyes widened, a mix o

lutching at the wound. "No

yebrow. "Is that

soldier, guns and knives don't

e first time, Rico noticed an aura surrounding the knife-a faint, silvery glow

he room-leftover from securing some HVAC equipment-and used it to bind the beast's arms and leg

it, "you're going to tell me w

its chest heaving. "You..

e beast shoulder. It screams like a sire

you are and w

ed..." It's reply una

mean, marked? Wh

ed soldiers on the train. Their aura clings to

hadn't been ordinary-they were enhanced somehow,

u're already dead. Ed

afia boss who ruled the city's underworld with an iron fist. If Maloy was involved,

o pressed. "What's Ma

light. "You've meddled in things far beyond your understanding, human. K

assassination attempt. Beth Allen, the gubernatorial candidate, wa

er violently. The dark ichor leaking from its wounds bega

an earsplitting screech, wrenching its arms fre

ermined. "You'll regret this," it growled, blood drippin

s and launched itself through the broken window. It disappear

----------

om, breathing heavily as he stared at the e

on to these "marked ones"? And why was

aint glow was already fading, but its presence lingered

it seemed

the mess, one thought li

ve to come prepared. Because Rico