[Ravenfall: Hydra(luce), Leviathan(lev), Phoenix(ishaan), Griffin(veer), Valkyrie(avni), Cerberus(sayaka), Kraken(erik), Wyvern(raiden), Nymph(saira), Sphinx(dev). Others: Amber(isolde), Azure(damien), Basilisk(Vance), Pegasus(Sol)]
Umbra’s safehouse in Vatican City was one of those buildings you could walk past a hundred times and never notice.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxaJkmqu5x
From the cobblestone street, it looked like a quaint, two-story home with flower boxes in the windows. But inside, it was a fortress—reinforced doors, bulletproof glass, and a command room that hummed with encrypted comms.
Hydra had keyed them in, scanning the perimeter twice before closing the heavy steel door behind the group.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLIJThQK9f
They were all here—except for Valkyrie and Phoenix.
Leviathan dropped into one of the armchairs in the corner, arms folded across his chest. He was silent, but there was a storm brewing in his eyes.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJfjxhCsxC
Wyvern glanced his way and decided against making eye contact.
Griffin, however, had no such survival instinct.
“Man,” he said, leaning casually against the wall, “when Phoenix gets here, he’s going to burn from Leviathan’s anger.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YxFWapJwr
Nymph burst into a laugh. “You make it sound like Leviathan’s about to turn him into ashes on sight.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkKb4ybJ3c
Griffin shrugged. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
Kraken snorted from his spot by the window. “You’re not wrong.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBZhhi4CMQ
Sphinx raised an eyebrow. “You’re definitely not wrong.”
Leviathan’s head turned just enough to fix Griffin with a slow, dangerous stare.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKQ5ZMzNlS
“Shut. Up.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy1CQEuinT
The words were low and deliberate, the kind that could freeze a man mid-sentence.
That only made Griffin grin wider. “Oh no, see, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Phoenix isn’t even here yet and the temperature’s already dropping.”
Hydra tapped the table, trying to steer things back to something resembling focus. “We’ll wait for them before we move. No one cracks the Codex until the whole team’s here.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2rL2yleLk
He set the steel case down with a dull thunk. The Codex might have been the most valuable thing they’d stolen in months, but right now, it wasn’t the center of attention.
Nymph tilted her head, a smirk playing at her lips. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say Leviathan’s not mad about the mission delay. He’s mad about… something else.”
Wyvern raised an eyebrow. “Something involving Phoenix, maybe?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SMTDehJuw
Basilisk, leaning casually in the doorway, let out a quiet chuckle. “Definitely Phoenix.”
Leviathan didn’t answer. He just crossed his arms tighter.
Griffin clapped his hands together. “Oh, I can’t wait for this. Picture it: Phoenix walks in all casual, right? Then boom—Leviathan’s death glare hits him like a sniper shot.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPCtvlk1Da
“Bet you five credits Phoenix tries to talk his way out of it in under ten seconds,” Kraken said.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFHsvoBYEf
“I’ll take that bet,” Sphinx replied instantly.
Amber’s voice came over the comms from the surveillance room. “You people are aware I can hear all of this, right?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9R6XZLbQT
Griffin looked toward the ceiling. “Good. You can help keep score.”
Hydra exhaled slowly, clearly regretting letting the banter run this long. “Focus. We’re in Vatican City. I want bags packed and transport ready the second they arrive.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw4iW8zvgJ
“Roger that,” Wyvern said, but he was still smirking.
Minutes passed. The sound of soft footfalls on the stairs above meant Pegasus had finished checking the roof access. He stepped into the room, raising an eyebrow. “Still no lovebirds?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj6oB8VeTE
“Not yet,” Nymph said. “But don’t worry. Griffin’s planning their welcome parade.”
Leviathan muttered something under his breath that probably wasn’t complimentary.
The sound of the back door clicking open cut through the room. A moment later, Valkyrie and Phoenix stepped in.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03GSRYrMYd
Both looked… tense. Like they’d just survived an interrogation.
Griffin’s grin returned instantly. “Ah, the happy couple finally arrives!”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lWSN67IEK
Phoenix froze mid-step. “Don’t start.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH6zV2St37
“Too late,” Nymph sang from the couch.
Valkyrie brushed past them and dropped onto the sofa. “We ran into Raghav Rathore,” she said bluntly.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKbDP980yz
The room went quiet for half a second before Griffin broke it. “And…?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8xcCPgSSh
“And he thinks we’re together,” Phoenix muttered.
That was all it took. Kraken doubled over laughing, Sphinx had to cover his face, and even Wyvern let out a short bark of amusement.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAaAFKmL2r
Griffin clutched his stomach. “Oh, this is so much better than I imagined.”
Leviathan stood, looming over Phoenix like a shadow.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xLrbRtZN0
Phoenix glanced up. “What?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9itY009M9
Leviathan’s voice was flat. “Nothing.”
Hydra clapped his hands once, ending the moment. “Alright, now that we’re all here—we move in ten. Leviathan, Wyvern, you take point. Kraken, Griffin, clear our trail. Basilisk, Pegasus, rear guard. Nymph, Sphinx, stay on comms. Valkyrie and Phoenix—minimal public interaction until we’re out of Vatican territory.”
Phoenix groaned. “Thank you.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74uk4okalV
“Don’t thank me,” Hydra said. “Just move.”
As the team began gathering their gear, Griffin leaned close to Phoenix. “You know, if you survive Leviathan, I’ll buy you a drink.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBrxndAVr6
Phoenix shot him a tired glare. “Make it a double.”
Outside, their convoy of unmarked vans waited in the shadows. The safehouse lights went dark behind them.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTScS9AJP23
Whatever awkward tension still lingered, Ravenfall was on the move again—Codex secured, tempers mostly contained, and laughter still echoing in the air.
and then Add to home screen.