Defy The Alpha(s) novel Chapter 858

Chapter 858: The Festival Of Souls - 2

It wasn’t until later that Vera discovered stepping out with the car was a bad idea. The streets of District One were flooded with its residents, who had stepped out in large numbers for the Festival of Souls.

Not even the soldiers preaching isolation and evacuation were in sight. They were no match for the number of people out tonight.

"Get the fuck out of the way!" cursed the mercenary serving as her driver for this journey. He hooted relentlessly for the nth time, his patience dangerously reaching its limit.

But no amount of hooting could clear a path in a sea of excited people.

In the backseat, Vera sighed heavily. She asked, "How long would it take us to get there if we walked on foot?"

"Fifteen minutes," he said. "An extra five, tops."

Vera looked out at the crowd of ignorant humans—faces painted in bright colors, strange outfits draped over their bodies, screaming, shouting, drinking, and dancing in wild exhilaration. It wasn’t until a few of them began banging on the windows, laughing and making faces, reveling in their freedom, that Vera decided enough was enough.

"Find a safe place and park," she ordered.

It took them almost five minutes to inch through the crowd without hitting anyone—although they came close a few times—and finally find a relatively safe spot to park.

But one thing was certain, if the crowd continued at this rate, they would have to trek back to their residence after the deal was done.

"We should be grateful if the car parts are still here when we get back," the second guard snorted in amusement.

Car theft was common in District One, and in a ceremonial environment like this, there would be a whole lot of thieving happening tonight.

Except Vera did not appreciate the dark joke, and the glare she shot him was enough to shut him up.

Every trace of laughter vanished from his face, and he cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. "Excuse me, ma."

"The suitcase," she demanded, stretching her hand out for it.

Trying to find her way through this crowd, they were bound to get separated, and Vera was not trusting the Ignis with any of them. Just because she had hired them didn’t mean she trusted them. The only thing holding them together was the terms of their contract, and the money involved.

The moment the suitcase was handed over to her, she began to push forward, roughly shoving anyone who got in her way. Her men knew the location and would find her there if they got separated.

Of course, holding a suitcase in a crowd like this was bound to attract attention from pickpockets. But Vera had expected that and stayed on high alert.

The instant the unsuspecting teenager bumped into her and, in one smooth motion, tried to slip her phone from her pocket, all he got in return was the suitcase slammed hard into his face.

"You little piece of vermin!" she snapped, kicking him in the stomach.

Gasps rippled through the nearby crowd as attention briefly shifted toward the scene.

However, no one interfered. Pickpockets were everywhere, and Vera was far from the first victim tonight. Still, some were unsettled by the sheer violence of her response, and as she moved forward again, the crowd instinctively parted, giving her a wide berth.

Music blasted from everywhere, the noise swelling around her until it felt almost suffocating. If this was how these people honored their ancestors’ sacrifices, they had to be joking. No wonder the festival held no appeal for her.

Call her old-fashioned, but the ancestors’ efforts in the Great War deserved solemn commemoration with trembling awe and profound honor. The history should be recounted endlessly to the young, reminding them why they should never yield to the wolves.

The celebration should mean more than drinking and dancing. District One was one of the few districts unsullied by the wolves, and it should stay that way.

The further Vera went, the thicker the crowd became. Her eyes moved constantly, scanning, watching and calculating. No one here mattered, they were nothing but distractions.

A group of brightly dressed dancers spun past her, nearly knocking her off balance. One of them laughed, reaching out to grab her arm, trying to pull her into their circle. Vera yanked free with a look that could kill.

"Don’t touch me." She hissed.

The girl only laughed, already lost in the madness of the night as she disappeared back into the crowd.

Vera muttered something under her breath, still moving. Nothing was going to deter her from her mission tonight.

It wasn’t long before she found the pub where she was to meet up with Williams.

Though it sat amid the festival’s roar, not a single reveler lingered nearby. For good reason.

Williams’ men guarded the entrance, armed and vigilant. Locals knew better than to wander too close.

Vera’s lips curved to the side. Finally.

She adjusted her posture, straightening just a fraction as she approached them. It annoyed her that her so called guards were not here but Vera was confident of her skills.

One of the guards stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Unless you’re one of the partygoers, get lost. Otherwise, state your business, woman."

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