For the first time in a long while all of the five main families are gathered in one place. Without them nothing in this city would be working.

Yet all of them seem to listen to the house of Radwill, even when they're suspicious of its true intention. 

Normally Radwill didn't want anything a to do with these meetings so everyone was curious as to what is going on for him to ask for all of them.

This time there's a new priest to make them swear an oath to keep everything that's happening inside this meeting a secret. He always thought that this tradition is just a waste of time, but there's something oddly comforting of hearing the same phrases every time he's here. It helps him calm his nerves, because he only has to focus on his voice.

The young priest on the other hand is nervous. It's rare to see the face of one of the family heads even when you're extremely high ranking, but seeing all of them at once feels unreal.

At the end of the table there's Radwill, his white seat fitting their family crest.

From what the priest before him said Radwill is known as the ghost family. Radwills current head is Claude Radwill, also known as Thalis. While being the family head he's also the only member of that house that's still alive. All the others before him commited suicide, just like his father. 

There's this fantasy going around about the five main families, that all of them have special abilities. According to it every member of house Radwill is able to see ghosts. 

But if you'd ask the priest he'd say it's because of their white hair and unnatural pale skin that they're called ghosts.

There's rumours like these going around about every one of the houses.  

For example Erat, known as the red house. There's rumours going around that they're actually vampires and enjoy torturing their victims before killing. Based on that there's a theory that that's the reason Radwill who's been neutral the past few decades decided to form an alliance with them. 

So that they give him every information he needs through their torturing and he cleans up the messes they make in return.

Crazy right? But it gets even better!

Some say that Igund the weakest of the houses is made out of sirens. Apparently the reason their crest is a light blue and shows a mermaid tale is because they miss the ocean. It's even said that they can control everyone that has ever heard their voice.

Then there's Solin. It has a dark green and silver crest and honestly it's probably the most elegant of all the crests. The rumors say that their shapeshifters and can't wear one face more than once, that's why they always cover theirs with a mask. 

The most gruesome part about this myth is that they have to cut off the faces of the person whose appearance they want to take and that's also part of the reason they don't show their face.

Lastly there's Velveraz. It's the only one of the houses that's able to compete with Radwill. Velveraz is by far the richest family in the whole city, if not even compared to other places as well. But what's strange about it is that there are no rumors going around about it.

No one has ever found anything sketchy about them, maybe that's why they're so popular under the residents of the city. But who knows, after all the ones with the cleanest facade are always the ones hiding the dirtiest secrets.

Sadly the priest had to leave the hall after making them swear the oath, so he wouldn't go around telling everyone about what he heard.

"So, why did you call for us?", asks Damian, the head of Velveraz.

"It seems a drug has gotten on the market, that is supposed to boost your physical abilities", says Claude, looking way more composed than he actually is.

"I've heard, do you want to know what else I've heard in connection with this new drug? They say you offer to sell an upgraded version of it to the leaders of the districts. So I'm wondering, how is it that you already have a better version of this drug when it's supposedly new to the market?", Damian questions him. 

He had always been suspicious on how Radwill managed to stay on top when they had the weakest ability of all of them, but this drug and the research behind it would explain everything.

"Are you suggesting I'm the one who made this drug?", Claude says in an icy tone.

"Of course not, you can't even stand the sight of blood, so the sacrifices required in order for it to be successful would be way more than you'd agree to. But the same doesn't go for your father and his little pet, right?"

"Little pet?", asks the head of Solin.

"Yes, the scientist or was it doctor?"

"I can assure you neither I nor her have anything to do with it and she's not his little pet", Claude says anger swinging in his voice.

"You're right, by now she's probably yours since your father killed himself", Damian says riling him up even more.

"Since she's mine she's nothing you need to worry about, this drug on the other hand is rather concerning."

"Maybe for you, we're more than capable of taking care of it", Velveraz comments.

"Even you can't go up against hundred of pumped up men."

"Since you're so worried about me I suppose I have no other choice, but to buy it all, so that no one can get his fingers on it and threaten me anymore", Damian says with a smile.

"If that's all I'll be leaving now, I have a drug to buy up."

He stands up and walks up to Claude leaning in to whisper something in his ear.

"Once I've bought all of it I'll have my scientists take a look at it. If I find out you're lying and you have something a to do with the development of the drug I'll make you wish you were never born, is that clear, newbie?"

"Of course, all clear", he answers with a calm smile.

"There's no need to be nervous if you truly don't know anything", Damian says patting his shoulder, his hazel eyes glowing.

"I'm not nervous."

"And why would you be?", he says with an amused smile on his face as he leaves the hall.