Chapter 21 - A Mysterious Black Letter Arrives At The Gate
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of violet and gold, the estate gates chimed.
Nathaniel walked down the long gravel driveway to retrieve the evening mail from the automated delivery box.
Inside the metal slot lay a single, thick black envelope sealed with a heavy glob of crimson wax.
There was no return address or postal mark, only an unfamiliar geometric crest carved sharply into the red wax.
He picked it up with a gloved hand, walking back toward the porch under the glow of the security lamps.
He sliced open the seal with his pocket knife, unfolding a crisp sheet of heavy cardstock inside.
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Scrawled across the paper in sharp, elegant black ink was a chilling, unexpected message:
“Vanessa was only testing the outer perimeter, Nathaniel... the true debt to the underground syndicate remains unpaid. We are coming for your new family next.”
