Hollywood Zenith

Talia and the woman descended from the plane. Talia looked around and found that it was a private airport with minimum facilities right in the middle of the forest.

"Are you wondering why such a large place remains hidden? You will see soon enough." The woman seemed to sense her thoughts.

Talia saw many people start to get busy right after they left the plane. Using fake tarps and trees, they meticulously covered up the run way to make it look like just another open grassland. She couldn't see everything because it was still middle of the night but they worked diligently keeping their light exposure to a minimum.

"There are set times for taking off or landing, keeping in mind the location of satellites, avoiding detection. You already know about these black planes so I don't need to tell you no one would find it unless we want them to."

"Why this much secrecy? If you say you are so powerful, there is no reason for us to hide."

"We are assassins. It's not right for us to promote ourselves beside, this division is not listed on any books. If you had not been elder Raani's student, you wouldn't even know about it."

They walked for few hundred meters, the pathway barely visible through small illuminating objects that would vanish once they cross them, they arrived at their destination.

The forest opened up to a clearing, now bith were facing the side of the mountain cliff which looked menacing under the moonlight but Talia expected a well built base along with top notch securities but there seemed to be nothing here.

"I know what you are thinking-"

"Do you have power to read minds?" Talia asked.

"No, it's because everyone goes through the same thing when they stand here. The forest that we easily traversed would be hell especially at night for someone who is not authorised by below. And the entrace-"

Right on cue the surrounding area started vibrating. Talia was surprised thinking something was wrong but she saw the whole mountain split apart like a gigantic door

She couldn't imagine how such a heavy thing was moved but it was happening right before her eyes. She could also see what was inside, people were walking back and forth busy with work but more than that there was a woman watching them seemingly waiting for her arrival.

Since there were only two people, the door didn't open fully so as to not waste energy. It was made with some black technology, they pulled out a scientist target and incorporated it to their bases.

They couldn't research and develop these tech as it would make them more visible employing top talents so the next big thing was to steal thr secrets. Even their laser rifles were product of similar endeavour. Talia was unaware of such development.

They walked and met up with the woman who smiled graciously at both. The woman was beautiful and had a certain grace about her which matches her mentor Raani but considering how young she looked, she didn't expect her to be the person whom she would study under.

"Ariel. It nice to see that you returned safely. This must be Talia. I have heard so much about you." The woman was also covering herself up with her hands behind her back.

Talia knew she must be one of the Vishkanyas as they were the only ones who would avoid skin to skin contact.

"This lady?"

"Master. She is your new master." Ariel replied like she expected her confusion.

"Huh?"

The woman tapped something around her neck, after which her face began to flicker before it changed into a completely different person.

Her face was full of scars but the beauty hidden beneath it was barely dampened. There were some extra wrinkles but still, she looked no where close to her real age, at most in her fifties.

"I am Samara but you can call me master from now on like others. I understand that you would have questions and even hate me for taking you away from Raani but it was necessary. You will understand that the work we do here is much more important and revolutionary than anything you have been doing in the organisation as their top agent." She said softly.

There was a certain calm about her and a peace which was brought in by her smiles. It was enough to melt and fool even the coldest heart but Ariel who had been with her master for decades knew her character well.

She was a perfect embodiment of the devil, one who would make promises of better and more noble life but it was all on the surface.

In her view, her master was a supreme cult leader who could decide someone's fate on her mood swings, she could make empires fall or make someone generation wealth on a whim. Maybe her eccentric nature comes with old age as she might not look like it but she was approaching ninety years of age!

Areil had learned to stay in her lane not willing to go against her master knowing how ugly her anger was. She didn't like her half sister but since her master had set hee sights on her, Talia would not a good life.

"No, It's by your grace that I avoided capital punishment. Me and my master couldn't thank you enough for it. I am willing to serve you whole heartedly trying to follow your teachings." Talia knelt on the ground proclaiming her loyalty.

Looking at her, just for a fraction of second, Samara's evil smile resurfaced but she quickly replaced it with her gentle one.

Not everyday, she had the luxury to test the ritual on such fine products. What's more intriguing was Ariel had passed the ritual many years ago and she was connected to her by blood.

Maybe she could finally create a new breed of Vishkanyas and with this breakthrough break away from the shackles that restrained their clan for centuries.