“You would have beaten me if you had kept up the pressure. But you go too big too soon. When you use waves and beams and streams…all that stuff. Yeah, it’s a large attack, and it hurts, but then you’re exhausted and you have to cool down before you can do it all over again, giving your enemy too much time to recover. Those waves may work against Teller or Grain, but not the rest of us. What if you made fire gauntlets?”
“Gauntlets?”
“Yeah. Gloves. But make them all spiky like your hair and infused with magma. Nice and hot and hard. You could have whaled on my face for a couple of minutes and I would have been done. No time to channel my energy back at you.”
“Hmmm.” Aidan thought about the idea as he let the liquid fire pour out of his hands. Within seconds, he had a large, spiked gauntlet on each hand. They looked like the hands of a dragon, but black and red in color. The traces of lava pumping along their talon-like edges glowed against the dark surface, and Aidan held them up proudly for all to see, wiggling their horrific fingers.
“Like this?”
“Exactly,” Jin said, poking a spike. “That is quite sharp,” he laughed. “Occasionally at night when you’re not able to sleep, you should develop a few new techniques.”
“So you won against everyone?” Aidan asked.
“No, Jess won, like always,” Jin replied, pointing behind him. Jessica was already riding on Isaac’s back. She waved to them cheerfully as Jin muttered: “It’s easy to win when you can just force everyone to lie down and go night night.”
“Stop your crying, loser!” she shouted from atop Isaac’s back, kicking at his ribs like he was a horse. Leah and Grain giggled from nearby. Teller was as stoic as ever with his arms crossed.
“I take it we’re heading out?” Aidan asked. Jin nodded.
“Even at a quick pace, we won’t reach the city until dark. I tried saying good-bye to Sylvester, but he was sound asleep at the table. Didn’t have the heart to wake him. For all I know, it’s the only time in which he can truly be himself.”
“I know the feeling,” Aidan said. He could hear the rhythmic snore of the elderly young man coming from inside. “Maybe someday we can free him of his burden.”
“One can hope,” Jin said, turning to face the others. “Alright, everyone! Let’s head out!”
***
It was hard to miss Onyx Major. The valley eventually dropped down into a crater so large that the group had no idea just how far down it went. From the top one couldn’t see the city, only an obscure shadow that was so intimidating, it caused many weary travelers to consider returning from whence they came. But upon heading downwards, the civilization emerged like an ancient beast that had been summoned from a dark pit.
The major structures were made of black onyx, diamond, and ores of obsidian, fashioned into large spikes at awkward angles. At a distance, it was like the back of a sea urchin, and the population down below moved so quickly that it made the city itself seem alive. During the day, Onyx Major was lit up only by what little sun reflected off the diamond structures, but at night, it became pitch black, and the inhabitants mainly retired to their quarters. Once you entered the city itself, you could see that it wasn’t as terrible as it had seemed from a distance, but it still kept its horror vibe.
The small corner stores and businesses were in tiny houses made of flesh-colored onyx with stripes of red, brown and white thrown haphazardly across their surfaces. Brooding citizens without shelter of their own sat on the sides of the black roads, covered in dark purple clothing and heavy make-up. Still, no one questioned these individuals or tested the strength of this mysterious world. Though the people interacted as well as any neighbors would, it was understood that all those who made this city their home either had a terrible secret, a horrible power, or were running from something so heinous that they would do anything to prevent capture, including killing every person within the polished spiked walls.
“It’s so different from Lowsunn,” Leah said, rubbing her hand down one of the structures. “Everything is so cold and hardened. There’s no life at all.”
“People don’t come here for vacation,” Jin replied. “It’s to escape. Just like we’re doing.”
They had entered the city well enough. There were no gates or guards. The entire populace was a provisional army in the making.
“The main buildings are like crystals,” Grain observed. “How is that possible?”
“They’re hollowed out,” Jin said. “They’re actually quite spacious once you’re inside, and looking out is like seeing through glass, except it paints the world in a dimmer hue. I’ve been here on a couple occasions to see what it was like. The people aren’t as cold as you might think. From the homeless to the leaders, every person is willing to help as long as you respect their past, and you leave them alone at night.”
“A city after my own heart,” Aidan said, pressing a finger against the flesh-colored building. To his surprise, it was sticky and soft. “Are there anything other types of buildings here, that aren’t made of spiked crystal or...whatever this is?”
“In Onyx Minor, which is located further in the heart of the city, you can find the kind of houses that are typical in Lowsunn. They’re still made of Onyx, but they’re compact and cubicle. Most of the children roam free there until they decide to gain employment in the city or go off on their own.”
“Does anyone raise them?”
“They raise themselves mostly. Children especially have questions, and you don’t question anyone here about their previous life. Even if you are blood-related.”
“Sounds harsh,” Isaac said.
“And yet it arguably prepares them for the world more than Lowsunn ever could. There are no handouts. No favors. Once you leave, you can be satisfied that there isn’t much else on this continent you haven’t already faced. Hunger, the cold, lack of shelter, the occasional disease – you would have already become immune to these things before you reached puberty.”
“I can only imagine,” Leah replied.
“When it’s all you know, you get used to it.”
“So what now?” Grain asked. “If we’re not supposed to talk to anyone, how are we going to find a place to sleep?”
“We sleep on the streets with the homeless tonight. Don’t worry. No one will rob you. There is a very delicate respect in place here. One crime committed could unleash chaos.”
“And in the morning?”
“We try to get our own place. I don’t care if it’s with the children. As long as we have shelter and maybe a field to train in. Worst comes to worst, we could go outside the crater and spar there, but that’s a long trek.”
“The street will be fine,” Aidan said, choosing a crystalline wall and leaning against it. He slumped down it until he was well-situated on the ground and then threw his hood over his head. “Here,” he said, creating an individual fire for each of them to sleep by. Across the street, curious eyes peered at them from behind the onyx crystalline walls, but they vanished as soon as they appeared. Leah sat next to him and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Didn’t think we would be living in a place like this,” she muttered, her teeth chattering.
“It’s only temporary,” he said, warming her skin with his hot-pad hands. “We’ll find a permanent home.”
“Are we ever going to see where you came from?”
“I doubt it,” he said, dropping his chin down into her hair. He gave her head a kiss. “I didn’t come from this continent, remember? And I don’t see a reason for us to travel over there.”
“Is it anything like here? What place is it most like?”
“To be honest? It’s not like any place here at all. It’s tame around here. Lowsunn. Onyx Major. Otalli, the valleys and the fields. It’s all peaceful and timid. Over where I came from – Pandemon. That place makes this continent feel like an oasis.”
“Yeah, let’s never go there,” she whispered. “This is wonderful right here.”
Chapter 18 – Red and
Blue
“Hey there,” the guy next to them whispered. “I saw you guys come in last night. You looking for a place to stay?”
“We are,” Aidan said, tapping Leah so she would wake up. The man next to them had so much mascara around his eyes that the residue had spread across most of his face, giving it an unnatural purple and black tint.
“Go talk to Kaylen. After you go down this road, take a right at the first intersection and go into the second onyx building on your left.”
“Does the building have a name?”
“And make it easier for bounty hunters to collect? They don’t label places like that here.”
“But you just told me that Kaylen is in that building.”
“That’s not his real name of course. No one knows his real name. Just like you’ll never know mine.” Aidan, still heavy-eyed, leaned over to look at Jin.
“I think I’ve died and gone to paradise.”
Jin laughed as they all stirred awake. After they had brushed themselves off and thanked the nameless man, they headed over to the building he had directed them to. They passed fifty people on the way, all headed to their respective jobs. At least half of them waved hello. A few even asked if they needed help with something. It was strange to receive such love and warmth from strangers without them being intrusive or having an ulterior motive.
When they entered the onyx structure, they were thrown off by how the building leaned to the right, but the concrete platforms on which they walked stayed straight. Aidan had the urge at times to lean his head to the right to match the building, but doing so would just make him look stupid, so he didn’t.
There were no rooms, just desks at which people worked feverishly: filling out paperwork, signing documents, and outlining their next duties. Aidan suspected that the building was this open on purpose – so that if a staff member was attacked, the whole department would know and be able to act on their behalf right away...but that was just speculation. The first person they came across directed them upstairs and they went back and forth on the platforms from one end to the other, going up the stairs and traveling across the floor and then doing the same thing all over again. Eventually, they reached the sixth floor, and the man sitting at the desk at the far end stood to greet them.
“I heard you were looking for me,” he said, extending a hand to them. Jin shook it and Kaylen rummaged through his papers. “I understand you’re new to the city. Are you looking for a job as well as a place to stay?”
“Not yet,” Jin replied. “But if there is a field or open area we can train in, that would be great.”
“If you want a more permanent residence, the only property available is in Onyx Minor with the children.” Kaylen chuckled. “Nobody wants to live around children.”
“So it would seem,” Jin said. “I did see a lot of others sleeping on the streets last night. Why do they choose to live homeless in the city when they could have a residence of their own in Onyx Minor?”
“They were probably trying to get a residence here in Onyx Major. Inhabitants come and go as they see fit. When evening arrives, everyone claims their spots. If someone has left the city, their spot gets taken. Those sleeping on the streets were probably too slow to secure a site. And, as I said, nobody wants to live around children, so they chose to sleep on the streets and hope for better luck the next night, rather than go to Onyx Minor.”
“I see: so first come first serve. How do you keep that kind of order here without people beating each other up over it?”
“Every so often a ruckus occurs, but I assure you, it’s quickly squashed. If someone dares to upset the balance, they are immediately squashed. Keep that in mind if you are a man of great passion.”
“We’ll take a spot in the children’s quarters,” Jin said. “That’s fine. We do have one more question though. Do you know of a woman named Mace? A friend of ours told us she would be here. We’re not trying to start any trouble, and we’re not bounty hunters. We just have a couple of questions.”
“Inquiring about one of our inhabitants is usually strictly forbidden and grounds for dismissal, but Mace has told us that if anyone comes to Onyx Major asking for her services, we’re allowed to reveal her location. If you leave this building and continue down this street, not the way you came, she is in the last building on the right. Here is the number of the house you have requested for residence as well. Please burn this paper and rip the number off the face of the house as soon as you have arrived there. Have a wonderful day.”
“Thank you,” Jin said, and they began heading back down the stairs.
“Should we go see her now?” Grain asked as they made their way to the ground floor. Jin nodded.
“No telling how long we’ll be here. Might as well.”
As they exited the building, they noticed that the streets were even busier than before. The mobs bustled around like ants, all with purpose and focus. By sticking to the middle of the road, the group had no problem making their way to Mace’s house.
“Hello?” Leah asked, opening the crystal onyx door. Her voice echoed inside the chamber. There were no platforms in this left-leaning crystal building. Only several stakes positioned in a semi-circle with a fire resting upon each one. In the middle of the floor was a symbol. A symbol that was familiar to everyone. Six organs and a sword. Like the granite flooring in the Judge’s chamber, this floor possessed the same design, and the woman that could only be Mace sat in the middle of it with her legs crossed and eyes closed. Her eyes opened once the seven of them were all inside and the door had closed.
“What do you see?” she asked. Her voice was thick and authoritative.
“The symbol for the seal,” Aidan replied. “The seal that is branded into each of our right arms.”
“Then you are here about the Choate,” she said. Her eyes did not waver from Aidan’s. The same mascara that covered the citizens’ faces covered hers. Her dreadlocks also shielded the sides of her face, making her visage appear all the more mysterious. All he could see were the whites of her eyes.
“We are,” Jin declared. Her eyes darted to his.
“You would not be able to see the seal on the floor if you were not. But this does not mean you are worthy of its possession. What do you offer me in exchange?”
“There are others searching for it. Men that would use it to satisfy their own greed. We’re trying to prevent that from happening.”
“Then you have nothing for me,” she said.
“But they could –”
“What does it matter?” she snapped at him. “The artifact will ultimately fall into the hands of whom it is destined to belong. Perhaps you are not the one. Perhaps none of you are the rightful owner.”
“What would be a worthy exchange?”
“A Yen. A wish would suffice.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“Yet necessary. If you manage to collect all four pieces of the Choate, then you will get your wishes back. Though the odds of this happening are non-existent. Only one of your Yen would satisfy me.”
“I’ll do it,” Grain replied, stepping forward and rolling up her sleeve. I have one Yen left.”
“Why can’t someone with two or more give theirs up?” Jin asked.
“Because I don’t want this anymore. It’s too much of a hassle. And I’m not a fighter. At least here, I’m using it for a great purpose.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Jin said, but she gave him a smile.
“I want to,” she said. She turned to Mace. “What do you want?”
“I wish to forget everything I know about the Choate and to no longer be bound to this building. I’m tired of just sitting here waiting for travelers to come through. I want to explore the world again. Before you do that though –” Mace stood up on her feet and walked over to one of the stakes of fire, put her hand through the flames, and produced a wooden triangle. On its surface were the ends of a couple of organ pipes. She walked over to Jin and handed it to him.
>
“Protect it well,” she said, then turned to Grain. “Now grant my wish.”
Grain closed her eyes and concentrated. After a couple of seconds, she opened her eyes and lunged right at Mace. Aidan and Jin caught her in mid-flight and held her back.
“She tricked me!” she screamed. “She tricked me!”
“What happened?” Jin asked as Grain ran over to one of the stakes, pulled out an exact replica of the wooden triangle Mace had pulled out earlier, and threw it to Aidan.
“That’s the real piece,” she huffed, glaring at Mace.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Mace smiled. She gave a curt wave and then ran out the door. Grain shook her head and closed her eyes as tears began streaming down her face. Jin ran over to console her.
“What happened? Tell us.”
“I’m the new keeper of information,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m bound to this building now. I made the wish, and the Judge asked who would take her place. It was either accept the job or lose my seal and the Choate piece as well.”
“You can’t leave this place?” Jin exclaimed. Grain shoved him away.
“Not likely.”
“Well, try it! I’m not going to just leave you here.”
Grain walked over to the door and placed a hand upon it, but the moment she touched it, she grimaced and snapped her arm back. “I don’t think I can.”
“You can’t be stuck here,” Jin cried, searching frantically for an exit. “There’s nothing here! There’s –”
“– nothing you can do,” she said, taking his hands into hers. “We came here for a reason right? Look at it this way. For now on, whenever you visit Onyx Major, you all have a place to – to –” Grain broke down and cried, thrusting her face into Jin’s chest. Jin’s face scrunched up in anguish, but he fought against the tears. With shaking hands, he wrapped his arms around Grain and held her tight.
“We’re going to make this work,” he whispered into her hair. “I promise.”
The others said nothing, and did nothing, except for Leah, who found her hand grasped tightly by Aidan’s. When she was done weeping, Grain wiped her eyes, put on a brave face, and grasped Jin’s arms with her hands.
The Works of Julius St. Clair - 2017 Edition (Includes 3 full novels and more) Page 51
