“Yea you can take advantage of people who come from the streets. You don’t have to try hard, and no one would miss them. My parents never missed me. They never tried to contact me, but I did fine without them. I just needed a pipe, some cigs, and just a place to crash when I was feeling cold. Most of us come from places where we were not wanted. They will do anything almost if you gave them food or a nice warm place to sleep for the night,” Alice said massaging the other woman's leg.
“Jake, do you remember why I got into this sort of arrangement with you? Why I let you get away with all the bullshit that I don’t let others get away with?” Beta said crossing his thick armored arms.
“You wanted to see god and to meet the spirit king. But they won't let you in even if you are a god breaker. You wanted to talk to god, to ask them the questions that mankind has asked themselves for thousands of years,” Jake said taking some powder from the pocket of his robe and rubbing it in his nose. “Fuck that’s going to feel good.”
“I think the spirit king is one of god’s biggest regrets. A being who just tells others what to do, and looks down on them.Someone who doesn’t try to aid the world and help spread the message, and belief of our maker. Instead, the spirit king stands far away and waves, as the world slowly burns, ” Beta said to him. “A person who calls themselves king but can only stand and stare instead of lead.”
“So you want to be the new spirit king? You want to be in the land of the light and follow their orders like you are some dog waiting for their bone? Is that it? You know, and I know that they would never allow anyone mortal or even vorpal be part of their grand palace of glass,” He said letting out a chuckle. All the god breakers are the same. They just want power and control. Beta can try to cover up that he wants to do what’s best for people, but I know deep down that he just wants to rule. He wants more power. The more power that he can have, the more people can fear him, and his little club of fanatics. He knew that working with people like Beta had its perks, but it also had its dangers. That he could only trust him a small amount. Because like anything in the world, his kind has seen when it comes to man good or bad, the one thing that was fought, sought, and obtained was power. Power corrupts ultimately no matter how noble the goal. He didn’t care how someone tried to dress themselves up as sheep, he knew that humans were all wolves, hungering for blood. He’s no different than any other religious freak who tries to use hatred, fear, or violence to get what they want. Beta wants to just rule with an iron fist, at least the count does what he does to try and make sure our people live a long and joyful life. Humans are impatient, they lack view and clarity. He thought.
“No, that is not what I want. I don’t want to be the spirit king, no not at all. I want to start a war. I want them all to know that just because we are mortal doesn’t mean we are weak, and they should know better than to see us as just little worker ants. They will fear us. Just like you. You should have known better,” Beta said grabbing his hammer and slamming the face of it into the skull of the female, killing her in an instant. He then took a dagger from his side pinning Jake to the wall, the blade stroking his throat.
The blood moon shined through the room and illuminated their faces. The room was silent with only the sound of metal and legs kicking against the wall.
“What's going on? What did you do? You killed her. wheres the other girl? Where did she disappear to?” he said, his eyes widening. He starred at Beta and saw his smile widen. He tried to kick and push the brute off, but he was stronger and heavier. Thoughts of his father sitting at the table drinking his coffee in the morning flooded his mind.His friends that he knew and talked to about dreams, hopes, and other bullshit.A reel of life that had his name tagged at the end.
“I’ll get her soon don’t you worry. You thought that you were going to get out of this alive? That the god breakers would let a bloodsucker like you continue to plague topside freely?” Beta said pressing his forearm against him.
“Don’t do this, please. The count will find out you did this, and he will come looking for you. The other vorpals will not let you get away freely,” he pleaded with Beta.
“Sorry kid, no hard feelings. You are just a footnote for what’s to come. I don’t care who comes after me. Let them taste my hammer. They will also die. If they want a purge, so be it,” Beta said. pressing the dagger through Jake's throat and twisting it as a scream shot through the night, and his body went limp.
Beta took his bloodied dagger and placed it back in its home, its hunger satisfied for the time being. He left the room in a hurry, leaving behind a corpse of a human, and a corpse of a vorpal. The only living things in the room that night were the worms and the rodents.
10
Nick and Jenni walked into a small dark building in the undercity. Statues across the walls, mages holding their staves outwards greeting them. They wore the long typical robes, and pointed cap, with their faces shielded by a veil. There was a red, blue, black, and white mage starring at them. Cats ran into their hiding places behind the different statues that were along the walls. Their yellow eyes stared at the two as they walked past. A woman sat at the counter her eyes fixated on Nick.“You’ve finally come. I have been waiting for you two, but especially you boy,” The woman said getting up from her creaky wooden chair. She walked around Nick examining him from head to toe. She was a tall and slim woman, her skin umber, a dark yellow-brown. A black hood with a red lightning bolt covered most of her head. The curls of her dark brown hair came swimming down to her shoulders. She wore a golden amulet around her neck with two stars and a moon inside of it. Her dress was long and black with part of it red and the other half black, and her arms showed scars that she wore from her past with tattoos that represented the order of the magi. She had dark brown eyes that reminded him of a Bronzette Star. “So much more to give, so much possibility that you hold, but you haven't seen battle truly. You’ve been in a few fights, many that you have lost, but you keep standing,” She said wrapping her bony hands around Nick's head massaging it humming to herself.
“ Can you not touch me? Sorry, it just feels weird to me,” Nick said moving away from her. That’s so weird. Just going up to someone and touching them randomly. I can still feel her bony fingers on my skull. He didn’t like people touching him unless he knew them and even then it was still weird. He liked them to be away from him. Far away. He liked to just observed people from a distance. It was just something he wasn’t use to and felt awkward when it came to physical contact. If she could never do that to me again that would be just nice. He thought. Mage’s in the undercity, that’s something new. Usually, they kept to themselves in their small community on the other side of the globe. He didn’t understand why a member of the order was standing in front of him.
“Mary, we came here for some help, not anything else. Nick here needs your help when it comes to this powder,” Jenni said grabbing the vial from him and handing it to Mary.
Mary held it up to the light, in the ceiling. The ceiling had an image of the different outsiders battling against one another. “This does not belong here, no not at all,” Mary said grabbing some of the powder and sniffing it.
“I found it on an aerion in an alley topside. I went to a friend and he said it came from the underworld. He also said that a will wisp was involved,” He said scratching his forearm. “But I'm not sure what it was doing topside, and why they had the powder on them.”
“No that can not be, not from Lucidian,” Mary said going to the counter and opening a book.
It had to be from Lucidian. Cameron told me it was and he seemed so sure. He did not know where the magical powder would have come from if not the underworld. Magic that called to him, that made him want to open it and to hold it. It made him want to use it, to let it consume him. If it didn’t come from the underworld maybe I could use it? It could help me if I’m attacked, and it seems more powerful than the powder I use now. He thought.
“This is for the most part fake magic. There is som
e magic, but the majority of that is gone and that magic isn’t from his realm,” Mary said motioning to Nick to come closer. “But if that aerion had a will wisp after them, then they really must of pissed someone off.”
“Why would it be fake? Where did it come from?” Nick said leaning on the counter, looking at the vial.
Mary opened the book she was looking through to a particular page. A person hanging on a cross, along with many others. Their skin sticking to their bones from not eating or drinking, as two guards pierced them with spears. “The powder came from the first sacrifice, the beloved one. The one that god truly loved. Some believe that his death is the reason the beings beyond the skies don’t answer people's prayers. Only the spirit king would have this dust, no lone guard or anyone else should ever handle it. If they did god themselves would destroy them,” Mary said as her eyes narrowed on the pages.
“So holy magic got outside the magical land of the light?” Jenni said letting out a small chuckle.
“Tell me about the aerion. How did they die?” Mary asked, her eyes beaming in wonder. Her hands shook as she rubbed them together.
“As I said, we think it was a will wisp, who assassinated them,” Nick responded taking the vial and placing it in his coats pocket.
“That seems like it is the best way to kill someone holy. Someone who has been around for many years, hundreds maybe, would have access to them. Tales growing up the old men in our town would have will wisp on standby in case the citizens tried to revolt. They used them as weapons of fear and those that did get killed never saw it and would die with their mouths stretched open, completely in fear. Our town's motto was to not be out after dark or else the faceless would make you scream,” Mary said closing the book and putting it on a shelf near her. Her eyes were cold, and sad looking talking about her town. A memory that she probably kept inside of her, and rarely let out to live.
“The vorpals have been around for that long, they have seen kings rise and presidents fall,” Jenni said going to a shelf behind the counter and going through the different spices Mary had.
“Yes. the vorpals have been around for that long. So have the wolves, and the humans. But the shadows kept our worlds separate. We didn’t know about magic and the eternals. It was much simpler, the vorpals were on top of the food chain even higher than humans. They have been forced to try alternative methods to feed. Relying on donors for blood, but the suffering continues. The vorpals in Grendil’s castle are well off, but not the other vampires from the different clans, some become feral and end up in the badlands,” Mary said to her.
“The humans wouldn’t set foot in the undercity, and if you did you were crazy. Why would they even want to place an aerion where regular police could see them?” Nick said rubbing his hands together. It was truly not a lot of humans who went to the undercity unless they were wanting to try going on an adventure. Many of them were still afraid of eternals.
“Not sure.Not sure at all with the why. Maybe they wanted to show humans the magic that they should fear. Maybe they wanted to leave a message to the spirit king as a middle finger. Could also be someone who had a bad relationship with that aerion and wanted them out of the picture. The police are different when it comes to someone that isn’t human. Even if someone was part human, they would look at that person with suspicion,” Mary said to him.
“Well. I guess the first thing we have to do is start asking questions. We can go back topside and start with the humans and make our way back to the undercity,” Nick said walking towards the door to leave.
“You know you remind me of someone,” Mary said to him, sitting down and grabbing a cigarette from one of her drawers.
“You probably think that with a lot of people. Thanks for the information you gave us. I appreciate it, and if we find anything we will let you know,” he said opening the door and walking out of the building with Jenni trailing behind him.
“I know your father, and boy do I know your mother,” Mary said smirking as she lit the cigarette taking in the smell of fresh tobacco and the thoughts of her past running through her mind.
11
Nick and Jenni walked into the open streets, both standing around starring at the eternals as they passed them by. “I guess we have to go topside now. Gonna suck having to come back here. I don’t belong here, the stares they give me just scream at me that I’m not welcomed,” Nick said grabbing the vial and staring at it.
“Oh hush, it’s not bad down here. The food takes some getting used to and the smell is something that grows on you, but there are some nice people, not outsiders. They only look at you that way because they don’t know you. They have never seen you, you can’t be mad at them for that. Just give them some time, they will come around and if they don’t, who the fuck cares?” Jenni said rubbing her hands and blowing into them. The air was cold, the moon starred light a warning light. The smell of grease and oil sucked into the air.
“Right, like your friend the Gargoyle? who almost kick both our asses,” He said to her clapping his hands together.
“Yea, yea. I had him where I wanted him, just so you know. He just needed to get his head on straight. He and his family ain’t bad, and his daughter is kind of cute too. I did try to avoid him because I owed him though. I would be piss at me too, but it was quite a fun fight don’t you think?” Jenni said smiling, nudging Nick's arm. “You got a lady you’re sweet on back topside?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Just don’t have the time, that’s what I tell myself. The truth is I don’t know. It just never really happened, and the last time I was with someone it didn’t end well for me. They said they cared and loved me but always kept tabs on me, kept me away from friends and family. It took me a few years to break away from that mentally.” Like many young love stories, there is heartbreak, but it is a part of life.
“Ah, so you just gave up after a bad breakup? I get you, man. Life can be a bitch, but you have to have something that keeps you going. Like for me, it’s just the people in this shit hole that I fight for, to hope days get better for everyone” Jenni said starring at two female gargoyles holding each other on a bench.
“I just…never think much of it. Maybe I want to be as strong as my father, he was my hero growing up. People tell me stories about him and his mom, but all I do is draw a blank when I try to remember. Maybe one day I will find that person to share my time with. I just don’t think I can right now,” He said grabbing the locket around his neck. Relationships are hard work, they take a lot of dedication and right now I feel the work I do to help others is more important, plus you would have to be bat shit crazy to deal with me and the baggage that I carry. He knew love was a battlefield, that it was something people fought for. He just never truly connected to someone emotionally, not truly. He knew it was something he wanted to experience, to be loved, to be wanted, and needed. It was usually him who asked people how they were doing, hardly it was the other way around. One day I will know the feeling my parents had when they would see each other, a nice dream to have and to strive for in the end. He thought.
“I’m sure you will find that lucky lady. You aren’t a bad-looking guy. I mean you do have that I can kiss you, and play some board games with kind of cute. I don’t know, don’t listen to me,” Jenni said to him putting the palm of her hand in her face, turning away from him.
“Don’t worry about it. You are just as awkward as me. I just like to let something like that come without me expecting it, love that is,” Nick said letting out a chuckle.
“Ladies, gentlemen, young kids, tall kids. I hope you are doing well today. I come to fill up the aether fountain, so rest easy and know that you will continue to enjoy the fruits of our labor,” A tall vorpal said coming out from a vehicle. His hair was slicked back, he looked like a businessman by the way he carried himself and dressed.
“Who is that?” Nick said stopping dead in his tracks. His eyes starring at the long bony fingers petting one
of the kid gargoyles on the head, like a spider wrapping around their prey.
“That right there is Count Grendil. We just call him the count because he runs this place, the whole undercity, with a few of the other families, but he is the one with the most power. He likes to come out from his castle every few weeks, and be around the young ones, just something throws me off with him,” Jenni said grabbing some dirt and tossing it to the side.
The way she said that she doesn’t seem to like the Count. She sounded angry. But he is so tall, taller than Cameron. He has a long jacket with suit pants and his skin is so light. It also looks like he hasn’t aged a day past forty. He had never seen a vorpal of the count's size. All he could think about is just how tall he was, and just looking at the count smile gave him the creeps. God that smile is going to be in my nightmares for a while. He thought.
“You never met the count have you?” Jenni asked, placing her hand on his shoulder shaking him out of his trance.
“I try to stay away from the people from the undercity. I don’t know who runs what or pay attention to the main figures here. I have seen him a few times on the news so I knew he was important, just not how important,” Nick responded, taking out his phone and taking pictures of the count.
“Well, maybe one day he will bless you with his presence. He and his family do like it when people kiss their asses,” Jenni said turning away and walking towards the sewer. She called an elevator that was nearby. “It’s so nice not having to walk through shit.”
“Maybe he will be someone that we talk to, him and his family. They could have some answers that could aid us,” Nick said looking at his phone and seeing he had twelve missed calls. Really? Janet called me. She is probably pissed off at me for even being around one of her officers. I better go see what she wants. It’s best to explain myself in person, that way she could show some mercy to me. He didn’t want to get on the bad side of Janet Jones. Not his tia, she would yell at him until the sun came down, twice. He knew that he could get some help from her if he showed her everything he found out so far about the dead aerion. He just really did not like having a conversation where he knew there was going to be some yelling. Maybe I should bring her some candy. I could try offering some as a sign of peace so she doesn’t have to chew me out. He thought.
The God Breaker's Ruin Page 7
