Seeking to test herself, Maggie even dove into the fray, engaging with only her fists. She had not taken up any official martial arts instructions, but even without an ability like Centrepitus, she was a quick study. She could never be Pryshka’s opponent in a full out fist fight, but she had progressed enough to hold her own for just under a minute, which was the time it took for Pryshka to become able to see through every move she intended to make.
In the months since they had begun training together, Maggie had noticed Pryshka’s powers becoming stronger and stronger, by virtue of the window of time in which she could be beaten became smaller and smaller. In the beginning, Maggie had enough time to work up a sweat and change weapons a number of times before it was impossible to win. As it now stood, if she expected to defeat Pryshka, it would need to be all in one shot. She wondered if she had been inadvertently been building herself an archnemesis.
From talks with Anaar, Maggie came to a frightening epiphany. She knew that Pryshka’s abilities allowed her to become very proficient with ease, but it was always abstract to her. In Maggie’s eyes, her ability only worked in that fashion when learning skills. Once she realized that Pryshka was also becoming familiar enough with Maggie that her fighting style would practically become Pryshka’s own, she considered ending their sessions completely.
Anaar convinced her that it would be moot, as there would be no way for her to evolve so completely before the School Ranking Tournament that it would leave Pryshka completely blind. He also reminded her outside of that singular event, she and Pryshka knowing one another’s skills to such a degree was extremely beneficial. The camaraderie and synergy it would bring would be invaluable. Though she had not discussed her feelings, Maggie was sure Pryshka felt similarly in some respects.
Putting her mind back into the fight, she managed to block Pratikaar with Tachikaze, followed up by an immediate gust to throw Pryshka off balance so she could close the distance for a hammer strike. Because most of her training was done with Pryshka, she had not realized how much she had truly grown. Her speed, strength, and resilience had skyrocketed, which was brought to her attention in her combat class when she was asked to hold back. It took her some time to understand their request, as she was already only operating at about 50% of her capacity.
In a battle where neither of them could do whatever it took to secure victory, they finally decided to end the vigorous session once Pryshka had become visibly fatigued. Under normal conditions, the nature of Pryshka’s ability would allow her to triumph against her opponent long before she wore herself down. In the case of her training with Maggie, she was at a clear disadvantage since Maggie had far more stamina to draw from. If not for Centrepitus, there would be no way for Pryshka to outlast someone who could always find a hidden reserve of energy like Maggie could.
The two women sat on the floor, sweating and winded. Pryshka handed Maggie a bottle of water, which she accepted gratefully. Once they had collected their breaths, Maggie asked Pryshka about something that had been rumbling around in her mind all day.
“Do you think it is right for someone to expect you to change to satisfy their image of what they want you to be? Like is that even fair to ask of someone? Is it weak if you just change, simply because you don’t want them to leave you? Are they even someone you should be fighting for if that is how they treat you?”
Pryshka sighs, then takes a long swig of her water. “I suppose it depends. Maybe you could ask yourself if what the person is asking, designed to make you a better person. I think it is important to help the people you love grow and be their best selves. Didn’t you force Dan to be cleaner when you two became a couple? Should he have left you for making him change who he was?”
Maggie had not thought of it in such a manner, which caused her to take a moment to reflect on all the things she had Dan change, but did not acknowledge she forced it upon him. Since the worst she had done was throw out all Dan’s underwear with holes in them, she considered that acceptable, especially since she bought him new ones to replace those she had thrown away. Satisfied she did not seem like a complete monster, but still lacking the answers she was seeking, she decided to be more direct in her questioning.
“Zen’s boyfriend broke up with her, and she is completely torn up about it because he left her for another girl who is the exact opposite. She feels as if she would have known he wanted something different, she would have changed to accommodate it. She is now seeking to change her entire look, just because of some guy. It isn’t helped by Stef and Shonte taking her out to do exactly what she shouldn’t be.”
“Love has a sick sense of humor. It makes us do things that we would never usually consider. We ignore glaring problems because of it. We would throw everything else in the world away just so we can hold on to it. I couldn’t say whether Zenia’s actions are right or wrong, I don’t think I’m qualified to judge that, but what I can say is, most of us have or will fall prey to the angst love puts us through for its enjoyment.”
Maggie looked to Pryshka confused. “Wait, I thought you and Codi have the perfect relationship. Are there really things wrong?”
Pryshka laughs so hard she topples to the side as she holds her stomach. “Of course there are things wrong! It is a relationship! I think you see it as perfect because you are comparing it to something like Phavian and Anaar’s relationship. I think problems are necessary in relationships. Problems are like taking a shot after sipping on beer all night. You feel something is there, but it is subtle enough that you move past it. Then the problem comes, and hits you so hard, that once you get past the initial burn in your throat that you think was the issue, the wave of disorientation hits you that shakes up everything. Everyone needs a shot here and there.”
Maggie was not confident she could make sense of Pryshka’s words, but she got the sense they held wisdom. She thought back to Zenia laughing at her when she said Dan would never ask her to change, and responded with how beautiful she was, even at her worst. In her eyes he would be an idiot to not do so. She thought Zenia was beautiful, but it was not the first time she had been confronted for turning her nose up at women who choose to do their makeup, or place large amounts of time and energy into clothing and hair.
Though she wanted to help Zenia, she was beginning to feel she was never the right choice to do so, and was happy Stefani and Shonte were available to do what she could not. She ran her hand along her hammer as she thought about what she truly brought to the table for her friends. Setting a personal goal to be more cognizant of where her skills were focused, she looked forward to being a better friend, now that she better understood what she had to offer.
25
The previous night was nothing but a blur. In the past few months, his life had become nothing but a never-ending whirlwind of activity. The sense of purpose he had was welcome despite being constantly in motion. He rose from the bed, staring at his naked body in the mirror, and the mop of tussled hair all around him.
It was time for another day, no doubt just like all the others. He would meet up with his crew, and they would go shake someone down, usually because of late payment. He had come to suspect he was relegated to these tasks since he was too new to be trusted on his own, and the money they were collecting was counted down to the last cent. As he started his morning routine, a call interrupted him.
“Yeah.”
“Hey kid, change of plans, I want you to come see me at the club ASAP. Don’t keep me waiting.”
The call ended abruptly, and Yefferson stared down at the phone in confusion. Ace could be short, but something seemed to have upset him more than usual. Curious what could be wrong, he began to move quicker throughout the small apartment.
Ace had promised him that if he did well, he would be able to move into something more lavish, but Yefferson was perfectly content with the one bedroom apartment. Since he did not know how to cook, the kitchen was of little use, and the company he had usually only saw the bedroom. He would have been comforta
ble just having a room, as long as he had a bathroom he could use.
Since he was only fifteen, all his affairs were handled by Ace. He was given the option to live with Ace himself, but at the time he was not comfortable with the arrangement. As their relationship had been deepening, he thought it might have been a better idea to situate himself closer to the man as he continued grooming him. He had even taught him how to drive, and given him a car. It was nothing fancy, but it was what was needed to get him around.
Upon arrival to the club, he noticed everyone was on edge and skittering about, doing their best to at the very least, appear busy. As neared Ace’s office, he understood the atmosphere. Ace could be heard yelling at someone, but the reason for his anger seemed so incoherent, it was unclear whether the person had done something wrong, or if they had simply been unlucky to meet Ace’s gaze at the wrong time.
Though Ace was not a menacing Quintessence that exerted his influence through sheer power, his wrath was famous for making the toughest, most grizzled men wet themselves. When he first met Ace, he could not begin to understand how weak people like Ace gained such a following and demanded such respect. He lost count of all the ways he could kill Ace in an instant, however he never tried. There was something about the man that inspired loyalty without the need for inherent physical superiority. Yefferson felt that if he could learn what caused that, he would become unstoppable.
He entered the office, and the other man was immediately dismissed. Ace rushed to Yefferson’s side, clasping him on the shoulder with one hand, and cupping his face with the other. He had started growing again, which had now put him taller than Ace, but only by a small margin. Ace looked into his eyes with that fatherly warmth Yefferson had become accustomed to, but deeper inside he could see the fires of rage.
“Kid, I’m glad you are here. I got a job for ya. It’s time I let you spread your wings. This ain’t no ordinary job though. You will be flying solo, and this is extremely personal to me. That little shit Jeckyl-”
Mid-sentence, Ace exploded, pulling away from Yefferson, throwing anything his hands came into contact with. Priceless art, chairs, nothing was safe from his fury. In his fit, he threw a chair directly at Yefferson, which was lazily batted away. When Ace realized what he had done, it pulled him from his fit, in which he rushed back over to the boy.
“Sorry ‘bout that kid. The slimy motherfucker has really done it this time. I told that fucker to stop provoking me. He thinks he is safe because he has been amassing power. Well that little punk bitch has another thing coming. I want you to make an example of him. I know you got all this power just waiting to cut loose. It’s time I let you do it. Go fuckin’ nuts. Nothing is off the table. When you are done, I don’t want there to be a single person in this whole fucking state that will ever think of crossing me again. You got that?! I’m sending you in solo which means you can do whatever the fuck you want, however the fuck you like. Understand?”
Yefferson had learned the price of allowing others to know he had two attunements. It always ended with that person dead. Though this did not bother him, if he were going to stay in one place, it would be a burden if too many bodies accumulated. Ace seemed to be aware of his Earth attunement, or at least he had suspicions, which he simply ignored. In this moment it felt as if he were telling Yefferson that he not only knew about it, but he was completely accepting of it. There was something narcotic about this acceptance that made Yefferson instantly crave for more. He knew if he did a good job, he would likely get more of what he wanted. Flashing a toothy smile, he nodded and grinned with excitement as he left to begin his task.
His initial thoughts were to simply level everything he knew Jeckyl owned to the ground, one by one. He then realized how it would likely draw attention too quickly and the police would get involved. Ace had scolded him about killing too many cops, since it made the deal he had with them difficult. He also figured it would not bring about the pain Ace wanted Jeckyl to feel. Once he realized what he should not do, it gave him a wonderous plan for moving forward.
After a bit a light coercion and a few bodies, he had finally extracted the information as to Jeckyl’s whereabouts. The man seemed quite pleased with his recent display, and was still high off a plan properly executed. When Yefferson had finally gotten his hands on the man, he quickly crushed both legs to prevent him from escaping. There were a number of naked women about, and Yefferson thought about having a moment with them, but forced himself to remain focused. Rather than have them ruining his work, he decided to kill them instead, as a safety measure.
Jeckyl’s wails of pain were extremely loud, and annoyed Yefferson to no end. Before stuffing him into the trunk of his car, he removed the gag, as it was of little use anyway. Precision was never his strong suit, he was more of a butcher than a surgeon, but he was truly over all the screaming. He was not sure how it would work, but he attempted to sear the man’s vocal cords. Jeckyl’s eyes went wide, and the noise immediately stopped, but just as the noise stopped, the man slumped over. Checking his pulse, Yefferson confirmed the man was still alive, just unconscious.
Since the man was still alive, Yefferson figured there was no need to waste the opportunity, so he closed the trunk and made his way to the posh mansion in which he lived. By the time he arrived, a few light slaps were enough to rouse him, then Yefferson dragged him up the walk. The guards immediately recognized their boss and opened fire, but no bullet had any effect on Yefferson’s tough skin. The men were torn because they feared for their boss’ safety if they continued firing carelessly, and in that hesitation, Yefferson had thrown Jeckyl aside and rushed the men, crushing their skulls in his hand as if they were wads of paper.
Wiping his hands on Jeckyl’s clothes, he continued dragging the man into the house. Maids and other personnel quickly died at Yefferson’s hands as he made his way through the house. Yefferson finally came upon what appeared to be a nursery, with two children, one a toddler, and the other no older than six. The six year old saw his father, but did not register the state he was in. The woman tending to them tried to stop the little girl, but was not quick enough to catch her. Through his pain, Jeckyl could be seen frantically mouthing something, but no words coming out. As the young girl neared them, Yefferson gave her a swift kick, the force of which was so strong against her tiny body, that she was reduced to nothing but a spray of blood and viscera all over him, Jeckyl and the room.
The mixture of emotion on Jeckyl’s face gave way to only a singular pain. The woman tried to clutch the toddler to her breast to shield him, but she was grabbed by the head, still holding the little boy, and both of them were crushed with a series of blows. The agony on Jeckyl’s face was undeniable as he saw all that was left of his children were splatters of their organs. As mechanically as one might pick up a sack of grain to feed animals, Yefferson collected Jeckyl, and continued their way through the mansion.
No one who witnessed Yefferson’s attack was left alive. Those who were obviously just workers going about their business, such as chefs and maids were given swift deaths, while those who were involved with Jeckyl’s more nefarious deeds were tortured slightly. Yefferson finally found who he was looking for, Jeckyl’s wife, who was lounging in a luxurious jacuzzi, with candles and aromatherapy about. With her eyes covered and the smooth music blasting, she never had the opportunity to attempt a defense against Yefferson.
He grabbed the woman by the throat, pulling her from the water and slamming her to the ground. He took in the splendor of her naked body as she rolled around on the floor, screaming. One thing was certain about the bosses in his line of work. Though they went through them quickly, they kept a gorgeous wife to entertain them. Sitting Jeckyl’s up so he could watch in horror, Yefferson took the opportunity to entertain himself. He had come to realize he must be extremely careful, lest his own monstrous strength kill who he might be with, but this time, he showed no restraint as the tore through the woman, her screams dying down as the blood pooled on the floor. He was
not sure at what point she stopped breathing, but by the time he was done, she was definitely lifeless and losing the warmth of her body.
Yefferson also found it annoying that somewhere during the process, Jeckyl had fallen unconscious again. Since he had finished what he came to do, he did not bother attempting to rouse him, as they had many more stops to make. Setting the entire mansion ablaze in an instant, he turned up the intensity as to ensure there was nothing left by the time first responders arrived. It would also make it unlikely any stragglers would survive. Jumping from a third story window, he walked back the car, dragging the still unconscious Jeckyl along, then stuffing him back into the trunk.
Yefferson then set about visiting each enterprise owned or operated by Jeckyl. For the first few visited, he still could not wake the man, so he made quick work of them, silently slipping in and slaughtering everyone then burning everything down if there were multiple buildings, or if there was only one, simply erasing it with one dazzling explosion. At various intervals, he would extricate Jeckyl from the trunk, taking selfies in front of the destruction with the unconscious man.
This continued for the greater part of the day, as Jeckyl was the second most powerful boss after Ace. Yefferson had given himself a pat on the back, as his swift and thorough extermination left few opportunities to warn others of the situation. At one carwash that Jeckyl owned, Yefferson found the man in the trunk was lucid once again. Finding this most agreeable since the show was created especially for him, he sat the man against the windshield of his car so that he would have a good view of what was about to happen.
Revelations (Song of Sophangence Book 4) Page 45
