“Oh, I’ll play alright,” Lucuris said to himself in a light whisper as a smile started to spread across his face. He just felt like punching Joey, and punching him, until he gave him the truth.
Lucuris ran faster and faster towards Joey, and at first Joey was smiling at Lucuris but he then saw anger and rage in Lucuris’s face and began to prepare for an impact. Lucuris swung a punch for Joey’s face but before it could connect Nick jumped on Lucuris’s back trying to bring him to the ground.
“Look bro, you don’t want to do this! Come on Luc what the hell is wrong with you?” Nick said to Lucuris as he struggled to keep him contained.
“Let go of me Nick, this is none of your business,” Lucuris said talking loudly and then grabbed one of Nick’s arms and flung him onto the floor.
“Oh god, Nick,” Oracle said as he rushed to Nicks aide, trying to help him up.
Joey looked into Lucuris’s eyes and could see he seemed enchanted, his anger was willing him and making him pursue these acts of hatred. “Lucuris, this isn’t like you, not at all, why are you doing this?” Joey said as he tried to slowly back away from Lucuris.
“You did this Joey. You led the demons to us, and now they are attacking like it’s some sort of war. They want to feast on everyone. Everyone I love and care for is in danger and it’s because of you,” Lucuris said to Joey as he started to walk closer, his eyes darting thru Joey like a bullet. “This transformation you said was supposed to help me figure out who I am, what my family was like. But all you did was use it as some sort of curse,” Lucuris said as he charged Joey and started swinging at him with his left and right fist, but Joey was fast and dodged his attacks, but barely.
Joey could sense something happened with the transformation. He knew that the transformation itself could leave a person vulnerable, irritable at most, but this was rage. He didn’t know why Lucuris was so angry, but he knew he had to stop it, before something bad happened. Joey started to mumble something to himself as his staff started to materialize in front of his face. “Brother, I am sorry you feel I deceived you, but I have not. Someone is though, and we will find out,” Joey said out loud while grabbing his staff which floated in mid-air and as he grasped it, his outfit appeared around him covering him from head to toe in a pitch black trench coat and The Hat of a Magi, and also covering his face with a black veil.
Abigail decided to rush to Nick’s aide along with Jessica to make sure he was doing better, since he did take a big fall when trying to stop Lucuris.
“Get out of here now friends,” Joey commanded as he looked back at them. He knew they could summon their familiars, and help him with this fight, but he felt that was not the way to do things. He brought upon this pain on Lucuris and felt by doing it the fast way that they would have time before the great evil appeared before them.
Abigail was reluctant to listen to Joey, especially when she felt like she was abandoning her brother, but she feared for Nick and decided to listen to Joey and take her friends out of the area and somewhere safe.
Lucuris could feel his fury burning within his body, the pit of his stomach lit a blazed ready to burn Joey down. “Who are you working for Joey?” Lucuris said in a calm voice slowly approaching Joey.
“I work for the Order,” Joey said as he pointed his staff at Lucuris preparing to cast a spell.
“That’s a lie Joey, WHO are YOU working for? Who sent you and why, why did they sent you,” Lucuris said to Joey as his voice started to grow louder and louder, irritation setting in him.
“Enough, you are blinded by rage brother, but I will set you free,” Joey said to Lucuris as he started to charge Lucuris head on, with staff in hand.
Lucuris did not think with his brain, and knew what he was doing was wrong, but did it anyway. He grabbed Joey’s staff before he could cast a spell, but by grabbing the staff it started to burn Lucuris’s hand and he had to let go, it felt like he was getting electrocuted. Lucuris fell to the floor puzzled by what happened but then got up and tried to charge Joey again.
“So that is it huh? I see what is happening. You dare enter my friend,” Joey said out loud as he thrust Lucuris off his staff and slammed him into the ground. Joey knew what was going on now. It was Lucuris alright, but it wasn’t him too. Some demon had possessed him, and thought trying to play this game would be funny. But Joey saw thru the demons antics.
“I knew Lucuris could handle his transformation, but what I should of been aware with was how vulnerable he was after it,” Joey said as he jumped onto Lucuris and placed the staff on him pressing down trying to keep him from moving, or getting up.
“You killed them all, you’ll lead them all to the slaughter fucker! you think you will win this war; you think you will come out as saviors. Master doesn’t like what you have been doing Magi, the day is where your world will die, and you will be left with nothing but ashes,” The possessed Lucuris said to joey as he was laughing and moving violently trying to get away. His voice was different it felt like it was his voice, but it also felt like it was a different voice overlapping his.
“Tell your master this has not ended. You think you demons can win this war? We have something you do not, we have those we will protect from you all,” Joey said as he started to lower his voice down close to Lucuris’s head and whispered a few words softly into his ears. At that moment Lucuris began to scream in agonizing terror, his body was trying hard to escape from under Joey’s staff, blood started to trickle down the corners of his eyes. His mouth spewing yellow liquid gushing out and landing right next to him.
“Wha-what is going...oh crap,” Lucuris said out loud as he looked to his left and saw yellow liquid and then looked in front of him and saw Joey dressed up laying his staff on his chest.
“I’m sorry Lucuris, sorry for putting you through this,” Joey said to Lucuris grabbing his staff from his chest and getting off of him.
“What happened, why do I feel like I got hit by a car? And that yellow stuff did that come out of me?” Lucuris said to Joey as he looked over his body from top to bottom making sure he didn’t have and cuts or missing limbs. He couldn’t remember much after going inside the cave with Abigail and Nick and was wondering why was he near a basketball court.
“You were possessed Lucuris, your sister and friends had to leave for their own safety,” Joey said to Lucuris.
“Come by me again? Possessed? No way…,” Lucuris said to Joey and then slumped on the ground again on his hands and knees. He felt like he messed up again, that he worried those around him. Not knowing what was going on or sharing how he felt with other people, seemed to just explode right in front of his face.
Joey could see the distraught in Lucuris’s eyes and felt like he was more to blame than anyone else. “I couldn’t let that demon take you over. I could not stand by and see you in pain anymore. I am sorry for everything that has happened to you,” Joey said to Lucuris while trying to recover from the altercation.
Lucuris could feel inside of him, some part of his body was empty. The demon left a void within him, and also tried to harm the ones he loved. “I can’t believe they were able to do that to me...I just don’t know what to do Joey,” Lucuris said looking at Joey seeing if there were anyone around them.
“You just have to move on Lucuris...learn more about yourself, and just carry on friend,” Joey said to Lucuris patting his back.
“No Joey...I don’t know what to do about all of this. I don’t think I want this anymore. I can’t handle this sort of pressure and danger,” Lucuris said as he looked up at the night’s sky pondering what to do now. He felt like nothing would be the same, that he couldn’t help his friends. This night was a rude awakening for him, and all that he saw was just how vulnerable he was and just weak in general.
Joey was angry by Lucuris’s statements taking the easy way out, but then stopped to think. He knew that Lucuris has been thru a lot, and that he was from a different world with different beliefs and ways of dealing with stuff. “Look Lucuris.
..I’m not going to punch you or try to make you do this. But I was sent to prepare you, and I have failed you my friend. You are a brother in my eyes, and in some ways, I see myself in you, but listen to what I have to say. When you feel the time is right, I will help you,” Joey said to Lucuris. Joey then searched his robes for something for a minute or two, and then brought out a White Crystal and handed it to Lucuris, then walked away and disappeared into the dark forest closest to the basketball court.
Chapter 15
It was another day at school and Lucuris had been avoiding his friends completely for the last few days. He felt what he did was something unforgivable, and even hardly spoke to his sister besides the little chats they had during dinner. All he could think of was just being a failure. “Man, I can’t believe what I did,” Lucuris said to himself softly placing the palm of his hand to his face, trying to hide his shame. “They trusted me, but all I did was fuck up. I fucked it all up,” Lucuris whispered to himself pretending that he had an audience listening to his problems.
“Ohhhhhh Lucuris!” A friendly voice said from behind him. He turned around sharply and was glad to see Diana’s face, especially with all that had happened.
“Oh, hey Diana, what a great surprise running into you, how’s class going for you?” Lucuris asked Diana as he began giving her a big bear hug.
“Ya know... pretty boring. I mean yea classes I have with you is pretty awesome, especially that time we skipped together. But I think my favorite class right now is just History,” Diana said to Lucuris as they started to walk down the filled hallway looking for a place to sit and catch up.
The both of them decided to go to the cafeteria inside the college campus and sat a few feet away from everyone else. “Sorry if I seemed so distant these few days,” Lucuris said to Diana as he started to look thru his backpack.
“Hey, don’t worry about it, just seems like you needed a break. I mean you look like hell Lucuris,” Diana said to Lucuris as she started to tease him. The truth was she was really glad that they were talking again, she felt pretty lonely in school and having him just be there brighten her day.
“I don’t know Diana, just feeling lost lately. Feeling like I let my sister down,” Lucuris said to Diana as he was pretending to look thru notes.
“I see your sister Lucuris. She is pretty protected of you, but I don’t think you let her down,” Diana said to Lucuris. She then grabbed a comic from her backpack and threw it in front of Lucuris. “Have you ever looked at this story?” Diana said to Lucuris trying to start a conversation with him.
“Galactic man: A Tale of Two Worlds. Sounds pretty cool, I mean the cover is pretty wicked,” Lucuris said to Diana as he started to flip through the pages looking at the art style within the book.
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite comics right now. It’s about this man that protects the planet earth, and despite the evil things that people do to him, or what other creatures do to him he keeps on going. He is really awesome,” Diana said to Lucuris as her face lit up with excitement.
“So how does this have to do anything with me Diana?” Lucuris asked Diana looking at her not really understanding what she was trying to say.
“The thing is Lucuris, this man came from a place he felt he didn’t belong, and he did things that were selfish, or people didn’t like, heck he didn’t even want to be this Galactic savior, he had no choice. But he never stopped and even if people didn’t like him or his loved ones disapproved, he kept on protecting them. What I’m trying to say Lucuris is, your sister loves you and she would do anything for you. She isn’t mad at you for whatever happened. She is pretty much your Galactic Savior in a way. We all screw up buddy,” Diana said to Lucuris as she grabbed Lucuris’s hand and held it tight.
Lucuris was glad to have Diana as a friend. She seemed to understand him, and his problems. He didn’t want to show weakness but when around her that is all he felt was being shown. “Thanks a lot Diana, sorry we haven’t hung out much I’m sure you probably have better things to do than spend time being my shrink,” Lucuris said to Diana as he started to chuckle.
“Please I love seeing my patients! Just kidding Lucuris, hey don’t worry about it. Just remember you have people there for you. As they say, it’s dangerous to go alone,” Diana said to Lucuris as she started to smile.
“My boy, it’s my friend from the bookstore,” A familiar voice said behind Lucuris.
Lucuris knew who that voice belonged to. He turned around and saw it was the old man that he met at the bookstore that one time. “Whoa Matius, what are you doing at my school?” Lucuris said out loud shocked at seeing Matius.
“Looks like we can hang out sometime this week Lucuris? Maybe a movie?” Diana said to Lucuris as she was packing up her bag.
“Oh, yea sure Diana just let me know,” Lucuris said to Diana and gave her a big hug before she left out of the cafeteria.
“Oh, young Lad, you are so fortunate. What a beautiful flower you have there,” Matius said to Lucuris as he started to sit down.
“Yea, she is pretty awesome, she’s just a friend though,” Lucuris said to Matius sitting back down. “So, what brings you here all of a sudden?” Lucuris asked Matius.
Matius didn’t want to reveal that he was at the school to see Lucuris. He felt that there was no need for him to know. “Ah well you see my boy, I have been thinking about taking some classes just to get some more information about cultures,” Matius said to Lucuris as he smiled.
“Well that is pretty cool. You know I was wondering where you went that day, you are pretty quick,” Lucuris said to Matius looking around the cafeteria.
“Ah yes, well you see I had an emergency come up. My employer that I have around here needed me right away for some information. But you boy, you have looked better. I see something has been bothering you,” Matius said to Lucuris grabbing his cane and massaging the head of it.
“Yea, just some problems with my friends and sister that have happened recently,” Lucuris said to Matius trying hard not to feel bummed out by what happened a few days ago and the rage and anger that was lashing out from him. But he had to remember that it was a demon that was making him do that.
“Ah, yes, normal in any relationship my boy. I too have been one to have issues with their own siblings. You know people don’t really understand you I see. Well from what I see on your face and the way you present yourself. You my young lad are a bright spirit, but it seems like some people may be holding you back, no?” Matius said to Lucuris while giving him a small smirk.
Lucuris kind of got what Matius was saying. Maybe that was not just the demon but him also, the sadness he held in from jealousy, bitterness. “I... I don’t think so Matius. I mean my friends and sister love me, really they do,” Lucuris said to Matius.
“Of course, my boy, of course they love you. No, that was not what I was saying. All I was saying is there’s five of you and you have to wonder, maybe there just isn’t enough room for you in their close-knit group,” Matius said to Lucuris. He then put his hand on top of Lucuris’s and looked directly into his eyes. He could feel his plan was starting to gain momentum, all he needed to do was plant the seed. The seed to help Lucuris doubt himself even more. To make the young man feel despair and pain that would stab him to the bone. So, the people around him could suffer.
Lucuris could feel something going on inside him, he felt sick and didn’t know what was going on. “UhIgottago,” Lucuris muttered trying not to barf, and then bolted out of the cafeteria trying to find the nearest restroom.
“Plans...so many plans. So little time, this will be fun my boy. Darkness is coming to you, and you have no idea what is in store for you,” Matius said to himself in a quiet whisper as he got up from the table and started to whistle out loud with a wicked smile on his face, as he headed out of the cafeteria.
Chapter 16
The day was ending, and the air grew colder. The wind breezing thru the trees and flowers, brushing them, hugging them and letting
them go. Lucuris decided to go see Nick and Abigail, he knew that they should be at the house since they were practically dating. Lucuris didn’t know what to say to Nick, but luckily, he had plenty of time to think. Walking from the college campus to his house was no small feat, it usually takes him thirty to forty minutes to get home. A long time for him to reflect and come up with a half decent apology. “Nick look I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me, you know I would never hurt you,” Lucuris said to himself trying to practice his lines.
It was getting darker by the minute, and at times like this Lucuris wished Abigail wasn’t so moody, but she had a pretty damn good reason to be this time. “Man, how am I going to apologize to everyone...I couldn’t help it, really sucks thinking how mad they are,” Lucuris muttered to himself as he started kicking the air in front of him.
The Book of the Magi Page 11
