by Sergio Black
“Kiilliaann Grayyeessoonnss booyy! Sooo Youuurrrr-” Nefarious brandishes his eyes to show how serious he is, giving testament to his strength.
“Yes, I was, and now I have ascended into something greater. Don’t ever say that name, he was pathetic, weak and I killed him for his naivety long ago…” The behemoth looks back to its cohorts and snaps with confirmation, before turning its head and focusing the Deadeyed stare in my direction.
“Yyouurr sttrrennggtth iiiss immpprrrressiive!” Nefarious drops his head to the shadows so only his eyes can be seen illuminating with strength.
“Yes, it is. You live within me. I absorbed your souls. My father, Killian, as you know, could absorb energy. I can not only absorb energy; I can absorb souls. Superior souls. Once inside me, the souls bind with my own, granting me their Superior-Ability. I can’t face what’s ahead if you insist on waging battle against me. To fight a war on two fronts would end in disaster. Your physical life is at an end, so deal with it… The only solace I can offer you is retribution.” The Deadeyes cackle wretchedly.
“Yeess, yyoouurr rriigghhtt wwee aarree ddeeaadd, bbuutt ssoo aarree yyoouu. Noo hheeaarrtt bbbeeaatt. Oouurr ssoouullss wwiill bbeeccoome oonne wwee ooffeerr yyoouu tthhee ffuull mmiigghtt ooff oouurr ppoower. Unnddeerr tthhee aassuummppttiioonn yyoouu pprroovviiddee uuss oouurr vveenngeeaannccee. Tthhee sssouls yyyoou ttake hhhereaaafter weeee sshhall mmake aalliiggnn wwiitthh oouurr oobbjjeeccttiivveess.” The Deadeyes jolt forward on four legs like Komodo dragons, intent on sealing the unbreakable deal with Nefarious. The Deadeyes are a blur as they leap through the air and knock me to my back. One by one, each of the Deadeyes rip, tear, and claw into my body as if I were nothing but a disectable lab rat. I can do nothing but lie still, mouth open, sputtering, convulsing while thick strings of drool run down my cheeks. From within my body, I can feel my soul being shred to pieces. My lungs feel contracted to the point of excess, I am suffocating but unable to die, a prisoner being waterboarded. I pass out from extensive exhaustion.
“Nefarious... Nefarious?” I open my eyes, stare up at the sky, lying on my back. The sunny sky that was bright and fruitful is now moonless and dark, with the exception of the stars that shine brighter than ever, like twinkling sunlit diamonds….
CHAPTER NINETEEN
REVELATIONS: MEETING WINSOR MAGNUS
Fang flaps his wings, gliding through the chilly night, blowing rivets of hot steam from beneath his scales, attempting to make Lisa Ann as comfortable as possible. Fang’s white eyes swivel 360 degrees and think back to his eldest owners absent from his original handler. Fang had been quite taken by Lisa Ann’s character, instilling in him a great desire to please her but above all, a powerful ambition to protect her with his life. Fang chortles loudly from both nostrils, waking Lisa Ann abruptly from her well-deserved state of temporary hibernation. Winsor Magnus stares upward from the forest floor as Fang’s massive shadow blots out the moon. Winsor fixes his spectacles and smiles glumly to himself.
“Would you look at that? Never would I ever have thought the day would come soon enough that we would reunite the Superior Knight.” Whenever Winsor had asked the book anything regarding the Superior Knightz, he’d get the same annoying repetitive response: SOON, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE. Who would’ve thought it would be almost 5,000 years later? Winsor remembers the very hour he and the Maned Wolves forged the Book of Fate. The pride he felt in creating something that held infinite knowledge like he had seen in himself. But at that time, Winsor never thought about the ill judgements if the book had ever fallen into the wrong hands. Throughout the centuries he was with his back against the wall when it came to keeping the book or destroying it. Ultimately, he decided for now the book remained very useful so long as he could keep its knowledge sacred.
Fang flaps his wings in place with light flutters that kick up sediments of leaves, dirt and other debris that lie about the ground before landing softly. The distinct cracking of bones and detachment of ligaments can be heard ringing through the forest night as Fang slowly morphs back into his terrifying wolfish self. Lisa Ann jumps off Fang’s back, landing to the ground with a soft thud. The Mad Doctor is still out cold, sleeping soundly like there isn’t a care in the world, Fang pops his back and bucks Andrew high in the air. He hits the ground and rolls like a basketball before coming to a sluggish stop. Lisa Ann pokes the Mad Doctor with her foot.
“Wake up.” The Mad Doctor opens his eyes, looking at his new surroundings then stares up at the night sky that is filled with hundreds of stars.
“Oh fuck. And here I thought I was having an unpleasant dream. Only to find I am here with a red haired, traitorous, cunt.” The Mad Doctor laughs callously at his own crude jive. Lisa Ann quickly snatches Andrew by the collar of his dirty peacock coat, gripping so hard her nails begin to pierce the linen. Lisa Ann leers into the Mad Doctor’s eyes as she speaks.
“My father is dead, you piece of shit!” Lisa Ann lets go of his collar and throttles the Mad Doctor’s throat, his face turns beat red, but still he cackles maniacally.
“HAHAHA! Do it! You don’t have the bones!” Lisa Ann curls her right fist and pulls it back, ready to shove her fist through what remains of the Mad Doctor’s teeth. Winsor Magnus speaks sternly from behind Lisa Ann.
“That’s enough.” Lisa Ann reluctantly withdraws, tossing the Mad Doctor into the dirt who continues to laugh raucously. Lisa Ann turns and looks down at Winsor Magnus.
“Have we met?”
Winsor simply stares and replies flatly, “All will be revealed, Lisa Ann. Have Fang gather some firewood. You’re owed an explanation.” Lisa Ann looks back to Fang.
“I’ll go, Fang, you have done enough for now. It's time you rest. If Andrew tries to run, like the coward I know he is, you have my permission to eat him.” Fang looks to the Mad Doctor and smirks, then licks his chops, whetting his appetite. The Mad Doctor’s pupils widen, his lazy eye goes wild and his face cringes as he lets out a subtle UGH.... Lisa Ann walks into the Mountain Park gathering fallen branches and beds of moss to use as tinder, holding out both arms as she stacks them one by one until she is satisfied. She makes her way back to where she left Fang in the company of both Winsor and their prisoner, the Mad Doctor, who sits on the ground, picking at his nails like it were just another day. Lisa Ann drops the dry wood and Winsor Magnus fixes his spectacles then sets about piling up the moss and scattered wood. Lisa Ann holds her hand forward and hones her mind, slowly she creates a flaming spark that zips from her hands and catches the morass aflame; the small wood pit burns through the poorly lit forest. Winsor Magnus watches Lisa Ann with admiration.
“That’s quite good, kiddo.” Winsor clasps both hands together and smiles brightly and for the first time since Nefarious’ kidnapping, it is genuine. Winsor looks back to Fang who lays about in a careless manner. “And you! By God, what takes you so long, you’re a shapeshifting friggin’ wolf, you’re lucky your protector is here or I would…” Winsor raises his hand then lowers it as if he would actually do something. “Never mind.” Winsor goes about grumbling as he sits cross-legged. Lisa Ann looks to Fang who just simply winks and gruffs lightly, forcing Lisa Ann to once again crack a smile. Winsor makes himself cozy around the bonfire and urges Lisa Ann to sit down.
“Yes, yes, sit, Lisa Ann.” Lisa Ann hesitantly sits and tries as best she can to smooth her skirt over her dirty leggings, which are almost nothing more than mere tatters. Lisa Ann pulls her hair back and tucks it behind her ear, then gazes up from the woodland floor to Winsor.
“How do you know who I am?” Winsor pauses momentarily and watches the words form from behind intelligent eyes.
“I never stopped knowing, Lisa Ann. We are all bonded together. You, me, Nefarious and the other Saviors. Prior to our beginning, let me formally introduce myself. I am Winsor Magnus, the keeper of Fates Instruments for more than 4000 years. And this wretched beast that lies before you is your House Animal. You’re bound by an oath of a blood contract. They have obligations
to protect you. That's the deal they made all those centuries ago.” Winsor quickly changes the subject, for he wants not Lisa Ann to question the blood pact. “I see you’re adapting to your Starpower quite well and that’s good. You’re further along than Nefarious was when he and I formally met. But, unfortunately, time is of the essence, so I cannot fully train you in the ways of understanding the bond you share with those wolves. Now, you seem to have some compliance toward that Starpower. Have you been found to have any inhibitions yet?”
Lisa Ann sighs, glancing toward Winsor. “Yes. The Starpower itself is very touch and go. Sometimes I can use it just fine, like the small thing I just did with the fire, then at other times when I really need it, nothing, like there was some magical force denying me access. But in other instances, it’s as if the abilities themselves are organic and could feel what I was feeling. I also noticed there are very often changes in color, like when I was happy, the energy was almost whitish blue and not so happy, it grew red then dark red. I sound so silly; I am sure you don’t get what I am trying to say.”
Winsor nods intelligently. “It is okay, my child, no doubt. Your set of spiritual talents is quite unique. Indeed, you’re right in assuming the Superior-Ability you wield does respond to your feelings, more like it was a living thing, like you, me or Fang. I would say the Mad Doctor, but I suspect he is no longer human.” Winsor Magnus looks toward the Mad Doctor who sits on his butt still picking his ugly fingernails. The Mad Doctor puts on a poor act, acting as if he hadn’t heard Winsor’s words.
“Huh? I didn’t catch that. I was pondering how to fit your demise into my busy schedule. Once my team finds me, you’re dead! D-E-A-D! Dead!”
Winsor grins satirically, “Oh really? You no longer fear a human death, do you?” Winsor shifts his eyes toward Lisa Ann. “Lisa Ann, have you noticed that Andrew seems to get drastically uglier every time he commits an atrocious act?” Lisa Ann looks closely at him and for the first time notes the extreme changes - most of his human teeth are no more and his skin looks like its declined about 20 years.
“Yes, actually, now that you mention it. He has been smelling rather more awful than usual, too.” Winsor nods yes, indeed, he does.
“Lisa Ann, I have a favor to ask you, but heed caution. Andrew is still very dangerous.” Winsor Magnus stares through Lisa Ann with such intensity it could scorch the air. “Remove the Doctor’s shirt. Let me show you what I know, my child.” Lisa Ann stands up from the fire and walks to the Mad Doctor who sits looking up at Lisa Ann with death in his eyes.
“Stand up. Take your clothes off.” The Mad Doctor licks his lips and grumbles.
“You’ll pay for this. Doesn’t matter what you see here. Won’t live to tell anyone about it.” The Mad Doctor stands, stripping off his tailored clothing but making a point to stay in the shadows of the warm campfire. The Mad Doctor flaps both arms from his sides. “See, you’re crazy, nothing to see.”
Lisa Ann walks behind the Mad Doctor and jams her elbow into his back. “Walk forward now.” The Mad Doctor looks around as if to find a way to escape but plays along, walking forward into the light. Winsor Magnus’ eyes widen from small buttons to large ovals.
“My God, do you see it now, my dear?” Lisa Ann stares at the Mad Doctor in disbelief, as not enough designer makeup on the planet could hide what was under Andrew’s clothes. The Mad Doctor’s body is in a rapid state of decay, rotting from the inside out, and his heart is noticeably beating through the riven flesh and decomposing skin, as worms dine on his flesh, they slither between infected, oozing sores. Winsor’s face turns sour, tight, and taunt.
“Darkness has corrupted you to the core. Now you truly look as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside. I wondered why you didn’t seem to have visibly grown older years back when I saw you raid my cave, stealing my Starkeeper and the book from me which does not belong to you. Sit down.” When Winsor says these words, there is no confusion, it is a command and not a question. The Mad Doctor’s lazy eye begins to swivel about in assorted directions, he licks his lips repeatedly, as it’s now more of a reflex, that they had outsmarted him. Andrew sits down then cranes forward staring off into the crackle of flames.
The three remaining human teeth Andrew retains rots out of his mouth and fall to the ground, his vacant teeth quickly replaced by sharp teeth that look like pieces of caramel corn. The Mad Doctor quickly covers his mouth. “Laugh now but you’ll see, HE has promised me a spot at the table and…” Winsor laughs hearty at this remark, rubbing his thigh.
“You’re right, that was laughable. You think HE or his band of demented Killers give any rat’s ass about you? Let me tell you something. You’re expendable to HIM, a means to an end. You’re only alive because you’re useful and nothing more. In many ways, I want to feel sympathy for you. But I know what you are. A man who kills his own flesh and blood, regardless of the circumstances, is beyond morality. Now, your information in regards to HIM... I want the truth and nothing but. Or so help me you’ll regret it!”
The Mad Doctor looks over his shoulder to Lisa Ann who steps from the darkness and sits by him. “Lisa Ann, if he lies, I want you to taze him. I can tell if he is lying. I can’t read his thoughts, too much darkness, but I have been alive long enough to become a human lie detector. First question. Where is HE now?”
The Mad Doctor looks around then nods his head, giving away a small chortle of laughter. “Don’t you get it? HE lives on through all of us. I’m a Neu German agent who belongs to the Illuminati and everyone whoever is or was a prominent pillar in society are devout to the Illuminati. The Order of the Eye owns the Illuminati who controls the actions of Neu Germany, which by default owns everything else. The biggest individual empires that infect everyday society are run by his first Devotees. Take the triangle for example. A triangle is not just a triangle but a series of four triangles. You take a slightly smaller triangle and place it in the center of the big triangle, and you get three outer triangles and one in the center. Each triangle represents an individual empire, one more important than the next with his unwavering Generals running the Regimocracy’s Super Companies. But the center triangle is his strongest. Then there’s the triangle itself and the entirety of it, which pays tribute to HIM, and what he lost. Then you have the all-seeing at the very center, the eye represents his ability to see and control everything as God once did.
“Following homage is knowledge and power, they go hand in hand, knowledge equals control, and authority equals knowledge. He and his Immortals control everything that runs or destroys society: Drugs, Politics, Law Enforcement and Medicine. HE, who is at the center, controls Religion which is the most important of them all. The biggest lie consumed daily is modern medicine, vaccines, the so-called cures. Think about it, everything about the medical field is meant to turn a profit, and suppress the mind of the willing, through self-infection with the deception that it’s making you better. As civilizations advance under the tutelage of HIM, the minds of the hordes keep getting dumber and dumber, until eventually HE will breed out all feelings of revolution and knowledge. You’ll all be too lost in technology or the next best materialistic thing to even care about what’s transpiring. Meanwhile, HE poisons your food and warps your mind, then HE takes over everything with little resistance or no struggle at all, making everyone slaves to his desires, and by that time it will be too late. That is a true victory, winning a war with no battle.
“Ever notice the Twin Snakes that coil around the Scepter between the Sabbatical Goat’s legs? The same snake and rod used as the modern symbol for medical science is the ultimate symbol of wellness and health. The eye on the face of the dollar bill you need to survive, pays homage to control, greed and suppression. The snake pays tribute to betrayal, lies and a silver tongue. I learned this through years of research and traveling the world. You won’t believe the things I know. With my resources, I am sure my knowledge rivals your own, Winsor.” The Mad Doctor shows a cocky, vacant smile. Winsor Magnus takes off his
spectacles, squints his eyes and gives Andrew’s face the eagle eye, before deciding he was indeed being truthful. Winsor rubs his eyes as he sighs hard. “But why serve HIM and his Immortals? Why choose an avenue of misery, death and darkness? You have a choice you know. You always have a choice.”
The Mad Doctor rolls his head and scoffs hard. “Isn’t it obvious? Self-preservation, those who are in collusion with HIM and his objectives, knows that you have a much better chance of fairing in this world, if we align with his goals. We know we’re going to Hell, but serve HIM faithfully in this life and maybe you’ll be rewarded. Just think about it, I could be his next Immortal. I think I have proved my mettle; I am after all the reason High Heretic exonerated Nefarious of his crimes all those years ago, technically without me. Your savior would be lost!”
Winsor Magnus stares at the Mad Doctor, thinking over the revelations made.
“You think you’re the reason Nefarious was spared? Let me tell you something, you vile sodomite, anything that has happened in this world for the past 5,000 years has been because he has either fueled the sins of man, or because he has allowed it to be. Your fish piss in a Neptune of sharks, nothing but a lacky!” Winsor stares at Andrew whose lazy eye whirls out of whack. If Andrew had it his way, he would kill Winsor at first chance he got. “Mock me now, but you will all see, I will be the most extraordinary deity in history.” Winsor finishes the back and forth retort by grumbling at Andrew, then turns to Lisa Ann, speaking slowly and with surety.
“My dear, this is beyond bad, the Illuminati I thought was nothing special and snuffed out long ago, it was said to be a conspiracy unified by the former Greek state to topple Julius Caesar’s rule, but from what I know, all the conspirators were rounded up and executed on grounds of treason, only to find the embodiment still alive and thriving and they’re buying out the world’s powerhouse of influential people. Lisa Ann, I knew the Order had a lot of pull in religion and politics but this easily surpasses that. This changes everything. We are not just fighting the N.S.W.P. and the Order, we are fighting the majority of the world and we need an army. You, me and Nefarious can’t do this alone.”
