Chapter 126 : Hunted like foxes

Alessandro and Friedrich left the Clock Tower after being sent away by the magi of the Mage's Association, apparently Dorian Benard wasn't in there which greatly suspected Friedrich, he was worried that his friend had been hurt or that he was dead. The two decided to go home but on the way back Friedrich noticed that someone was following them, they seemed normal men like everyone else: dressed in a casual way and with a calm attitude. Yet Friedrich had the feeling of being stalked, every time he turned he saw them behind him.

Alessandro, however, noticed the presence of two suspicious, very young nuns who were following them across the street, then one of the two gave him a cold look and Alessandro was afraid of having been found by the Coven.
« Merda. » He muttered in a low voice: « The Coven knows that we are collaborating. »
« There are three men who work for the Rote Mäntel who are stalking us. »
« What do we do then? »
« Let's go to the station, there's a way to get away but it could be slightly dangerous and illegal. »
« Better than dead. How long does it take to the station? »
« We're almost there ... follow me. »
Alessandro and Friedrich reached a crowded subway station, entered the ocean of people being careful not to move too fast, they didn't want to alarm their pursuers and risk a clash in a place full of civilians.
« Here. »
Friedrich took Alessandro away from the people to a door whose access was allowed only to local workers.
« Can you break it down? »
Alessandro came up, snapped his fingers and said:

« Dis. »

The door was knocked down but people fidgeted and the pursuers quickened their pace. Friedrich entered immediately exclaiming:

« Next time make less noise! »
« It's not my fault! Where exactly are we going? »
« In a place I know, trust me. »
Friedrich opened another door, went down a small concrete flight of stairs, turned left and reached the tracks, Alessandro hesitated to go on the tracks:
« What are you doing? Why did you stop? »
« I don't think it's a good idea. What happens if a train passes? »
« There's no train now. Come with me or they'll kill you! »
Alessandro followed Friedrich on the tracks, they reached another door that served in case of emergency. It was stuck. Alessandro was ready to use his Magecraft again but at that moment a magic bullet passed near him, slightly missing his head.
The agents of the Rote Mäntel had arrived. Friedrich then said:
« Choose: either we fight or we run away. We don'tt have much time. »
« The Coven mustn't know, otherwise I'm dead. »
« Okay, I understand. The nuns are already joining us. » Friedrich said, pointing to the women running on the tracks.
« They aren't nuns ... they're Heretic Slayers. They're sent by the Coven to spy and eliminate heretics. »
« So maybe the Coven already knows about you. Otherwise they wouldn't have sent them. »
« Maybe you're right. Then let's run away. » Said Alessandro.
« Perfect, follow me! »
Friedrich started running with Alessandro behind him.

The two boys ran to the tracks chased by the three agents of the Rote Mäntel and the two Heretic Slayers. Magic bullets flew but the two were able to dodge them, then the shrill metallic noise of the train wheels passing on the tracks, the wagons that separated the pursuers from the pursued passed, the two used that opportunity to get as far away as possible.

Friedrich first reached a flight of concrete stairs that led up to a steel door, Alessandro broke it with magic and the two continued to run until they left the station. They were ready to leave but at that moment a black beast, like a dog made of sand, came from nowhere and attacked Alessandro making him fall backwards.
« Alessandro! »
Friedrich went down the stairs to reach his friend and then he saw the bodies of the five pursuers, dead, quartered like pigs, above those corpses was Assassin.
« I can finally kill the two Masters of Specter and Saber. It will be easy. »
« Fick dich! »
Friedrich was about to use the Command Seal but the black sand dog jumped on him suddenly and Friedrich fell backwards banging his head against the wall. He lost consciousness and Assassin took the opportunity to deliver the coup de grace but Alessandro used his Command Seal:
« Saber, come here, now! »
Saber arrived just in time, breaking through the wall, with her drawn sword she killed the dog and then tried to hit Assassin but crossed him like a cloud of gas. Assassin threw two knives and the girl stopped them both with incredible skill.
« Ne pulsato portam alterius, nisi velis pulsetur et tua. Come on Assassin let's fight! »

Assassin, Friedrich and Alessandro by Bikowolf