That shift, like any other, really screwed things up in this place but the vague glow of red lettering up ahead at least gave me a little insight to where I was.
After a bit of deliberation and examination of my tattered clothing, I opted in entering the Mott Hotel as lightning lit the oddly colored sky. Despite the random shuffling of this realm, the building was still relatively intact as I went up the stairs to the floor we had all been staying on at some point or another. Several of the smaller Umbra could be seen crawling along the floor but, as I made my way down the corridor, they did their best to make themselves scarce and out of sight.
I then heard Cordis chuckling as we watched two Umbra collide in their haste to hide. “They’re way more skittish than usual. I love it.”
Not having those things watching me with the intent of food was a nice change.
“They’re afraid,” I mused as I nudged an Umbra out the way.
“As they should be.”
I pushed open the door to our little save point and looked down at the hole in the center of the floor. Walking over to it to see the floor below, I glanced up to see holes spanning several levels before turning my attention to the gash in the wall. Cordis laughing had me turn my attention from the damage to get to one of the bedrooms further in the back.
Opening the closet, I stepped back when several Umbra toppled out. Raising an eyebrow as one growled, I was taken aback when one lunged suddenly to latch onto my right arm before biting back a growl as the second latched onto my leg. As the third went to lunge, I grabbed it before slamming it into the wall. It snarled angrily before I narrowed my eyes as it did it once more. Its growls then transitioned to that of what could be whimpering as I tightened my grip. The whining grew louder before it stopped altogether. The low growling from the others soon came to an abrupt halt as I examined the dark substance coating my hand.
I glanced down at the puddle on the floor before turning my attention to the one latched onto my leg to see it too was staring at the puddle. It let go immediately once we locked gazes before trying to skitter off. It was stopped by the pillow I kicked at the door before I yanked the other Umbra off my arm.
I watched it wiggle around before grinding it against the wall until it was just a stain on the wallpaper. My attention then went back to the Umbra pressed into the corner of the room. It let out something likened to a growl and a whimper as I made my way up to it. It then went to bite down on my outstretched hand before huddling in the corner again.
It looked terrified
“Let’s kill it.”
I looked at the jagged bites leaking blood before the punctures were filled in by that oily substance.
“That’s not necessary.” My attention went back to the Umbra as it shuddered before turning back to the closet to grab a pair of clothes. I then doubled back to snag the Umbra on my way out the room. “You’re coming with me,” I told it as I walked to the bathroom. It wiggled about but didn’t try to bite me again once I sat it down. “Stay.” It stared. “Don’t make me track you down.”
It averted its eyes but not much else as I entered the bathroom.
“Do you think it will actually stay there?”
I looked down at my left hand before holding it up to examine it before washing off the dark liquid. I then set about cleaning the dried substance on my chest. A sudden pang had me press my hand against the healed injury before I set out changing my shirt. When the pain came a second time, I grabbed at the area as I sank down to the floor. Several moments passed before I finished changing. I then rummaged through the cabinets below to pull out a first aid kit. After a quick examination of its contents, I opened the door to find the One still nervously sitting there.
Cordis muttered something about it being stupid for not running as I knelt in front of it. “Open your mouth.” It stared at me. “Don’t make me say it again,” I stated as I held up my left hand.
Yellow eyes widened as I flexed clawed fingers before it opened its mouth. Once it was opened wide enough, I shoved the kit into its mouth before getting to my feet. It seemed to have a bit of difficulty but it swallowed the case entirely before trailing behind me as I walked back into the kitchen.
Rummaging through the cabinet, I found a bottle of wine and glass before leaning against the counter as I poured some out. Eyeing the label, I took a sip before frowning to myself.
“Merlot?” I couldn’t really taste it. “I think there was a vintage bottle back home,” Cordis recalled thoughtfully. “Oh, there was a nice Sherry that we were going to share with Aidan after filming our last movie, remember?” I took another sip as I made my way to the shattered window. “Animae, I want to go back. I want to go home.” I stared down at the large mass of Umbra making their way down the street. “You want to go back too but there’s just a small snag, right? We can fix it. It’ll be easy.”
“You think so?”
“Would I lie to you?”
I poured the wine out before looking at the One at my feet. “Let’s get going.”
“Vandal…” Ignatius glanced at the gunner passed out before pacing the floor. Sharp eyes then looked towards one corner of the room to see several Umbra watching from the shadows. “Now is not the time for this.” Skittering along the rafters had the caster looking up to see more Umbra staring down at them as they chewed on the wiring. The lights flickered and went out soon after. “That’s not good,” Ignatius muttered to himself as he made his way back to his companion.
The rest of the warehouse fell silent.
“I smell it~”A grating voice growled in the dark. “Smells like blood~” Ignatius protectively stepped over Vandal. “Smells like prey!”
The caster looked in one direction.
“Smells like food~”
Ignatius looked in the opposite direction before hunkering lower as he heard movement from all around. All too soon did he feel something wrap around his forelegs and the base of his wings. Rearing up onto his hind legs, an eagle screech echoed throughout the warehouse when something snagged Ignatius by the neck from either side. Before he could react to it, the sudden burning sensation threatened to topple the gryphon, but he reminded himself that Vandal was just below him.
“Not good…”
Lowering himself carefully, Ignatius did his best to keep his footing before finally toppling off to the side to avoid landing on his companion. Free to move a bit better, he stepped down on one of the things wrapped around his foreleg before biting back a hiss as it burned the pads of his feet. He then raised a paw to swing.
“Don’t hit your friend~”
The gryphon stiffened before noting the warm sensation accompanied by a coppery scent. Tugging at his forelegs then throat threatened to offset Ignatius until he raised his leg.
“Don’t hit your friend~”
He looked to the left.
“But if you don’t swing, you’re gonna die!” He looked to the right. “You’re both gonna die and become food either way~”
Ear-piercing laughter filling the darkness had Ignatius click his tongue. The searing pain on his legs had him bowing his head before he bit down on the thing binding it. A small shriek in the darkness sounded as Ignatius freed one of his legs before another sounded as he freed his other leg; however, the taste of blood flooded his mouth. Bringing a claw up to his neck, he tried for the acidic appendage digging into his throat before the things tightened to hurl the beast up and over to crash into one of the shelves a distance away.
Several other shelves toppled over in the darkness as the gryphon got to its feet. The scent of blood soon strengthened before Ignatius heard a gurgling laugh.
“This one has been injured already~”
“Vandal!” An eagle cry resonated throughout the warehouse before the acidic appendage wrapped around the base of his wings. “No, no, no!” The burning of his injuries threatened to cripple the caster before he tried shaking off the offensive appendages. His worry then went back to the unconscious gunner. “Talon!”
Screeching metal from the far end of the warehouse made Ignatius look in that direction before his legs bowed from injury. The metallic sound of something hitting the floor gave way to light coming through the newly opened entryway. A silhouette was seen before unhurried footsteps echoed over the low growling.
The growling grew louder before Ignatius felt the oppressive burning let up. The clatter of shelving and wares resonated before it grew silent momentarily. The sound of crumbling then had the gryphon looking around before the west wall gave way.
A weak groaning had Ignatius look down at the prone man before squinting as his eyes adjusted to the light. “Jay—”
“You’re not welcomed here,” Cordis glowered at the telepathic intrusion. “Get out.”
“Jay—”
“GET–”
“It’s fine,” I replied. “What do you want?”
“Vandal is severely injured,” Ignatius began, “and I can’t change back to heal him.”
“That’s unfortunate,” I replied, “but what does that have to do with me?”
“Wha… Vandal’s injured!”
I tilted my head. “Ok, and?”
“Who am I talking to?” My head tilted in the opposite direction as I slid my left hand into my back pocket. “You may look like Jayden but I’m talking to Cordis right now, aren’t I?”
“Cordis?” I turned to look at the caster before resting the scythe over my shoulder. “What makes you think that you’re talking to Cordis?”
“Your eyes.” I hummed in acknowledgment before recalling how Four said something similar. “You’re not acting like Jayden usually does either but, for now, please let Jayden take care of Vandal.”
So, I'm not allowed to be irritated?
“Why?”
“Because Vandal is injured!”
“Well, I can see that,” I replied as I glanced at the man. “My question is why I should help you.”
“Cordis, please let Jay–!”
“I am Jayden,” I stated. “Is it really that hard to get that through that bird brain, Ignatius?”
“Why won’t you help him? You have to help him!”
“Why?”
“Because he’s your friend!”
“Friend?” Cordis chuckled after I repeated the word. “You want me to help because we’re friends.” The corner of my eye twitched at the thought. “Why do you think we’re friends?”
“Wha – I don’t understand,” Ignatius confessed in confusion. “Why…? I can’t heal him in this form but why… why won’t you help?! We’re supposed to be allies! You can’t just abandon him when he’s like this!”
I lowered my head. “It wouldn’t be all that different from what you and the others did back at the hospital.”
“Jay–”
“Think about the terms that Cordis gave you all before you decide to lecture me on abandoning someone.”
“Only one person bothered to defend Jayden and he’s dead now. How unfortunate,” Cordis added. “Vandal agreed with no hesitation. Birdie would have taken the deal and you would’ve agreed to whatever your little girlfriend said, right?”
“She didn’t take the deal.”
“Yet your silence speaks volumes,” Cordis countered.
“Time wasn’t on our side,” he pressed. “We needed the numbers. We were desperate, Jayden.”
“Look what desperation got you!” I fumed. “Carlos is fucking dead, you’re an overgrown turkey, Vandal is fucking injured, and whatever plan you had had obviously fucking failed! Yet you want me to tend to his wounds because that’s what friends do?!”
A quiet groan of pain had Ignatius looking at the unconscious man before he stepped towards me. “Jayden, please?”
I looked down at the gunner then at the gryphon. “You want my help that badly, huh?” He nodded earnestly as I walked over. “Fine; but seeing how everyone loves to make deals, I have a question then a proposal for you.”
“If it gets Vandal seen to then ask.”
“Do you think the living should interfere with the affairs of the dead?”
“P…pardon?” He looked puzzled. “Um… I would say that that is quite the question; however, given the current circumstances–”
“I’m not asking for justification. I asked a simple yes or no question. So I will ask again,” I interrupted. “Do you think the living should interfere with the affairs of the dead?”
"I agree it's unnatural that the living meddles with the dead yet here I am with Magpie and we were sent by Shadow who is now Dark Weaver, remember? I don’t think the particular situation is as black and white as you’re trying to make it."
I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s a yes or no answer, Ignatius.”
He remained silent before he glanced at Vandal. “Jay—”
“I don’t need a roundabout answer. I’m asking for a simple yes or no response,” I interrupted angrily. “Do you think the living should interfere with the affairs of the dead? Your response is going to determine if I help Vandal.”
“So, you better pick carefully or his blood will be on your hands, Iggy~” Cordis teased.
“So, what’s your answer?”
Ignatius remained silently before looking at me. “No… no, I don’t think the living should interfere with the affairs of the dead but, dead or living, we have to work together to defeat Dark Weaver. Before we can do that, we need to tend to the injured.” He then looked back down at Vandal. “I cannot heal him like this so please help him.” I looked down at the man. “Jay—”
“I have three options for you, Iggy.” I could tell I had his attention. “Option one is I walk out of here and you figure out how to heal him. If he dies, his soul will just wind up in one of these damn warehouses anyway, right? No harm, no foul. No memories of this hellhole. He wouldn’t have to worry about missing his girlfriend or anything else so he doesn’t have to deal with that heartache. That sounds nice, doesn’t it?"
“You said you’d help him.”
“Option two is something that I’m curious about.”
“W…what’s that?” he questioned hesitantly before I held up my left hand. His gaze shifted towards it before his eyes widened as the tips of my fingers grew and sharpened. “What—”
I flexed my hand before dropping it back to my side as it went back to normal. "Wanna try giving him an Umbra and see how effective that is? It'll be interesting to see, wouldnt it? Would it heal him or…?" I dragged my thumb across my throat. “It’s a gamble but I’m sure you’re slightly curious now.”
“Jay—”
“Option three is that I tend to his wounds.”
Ignatius nodded quickly. “Yes, option three!”
I looked at him. “Option three is that I tend to his wounds under the pretense that you do not interfere with what happens next.”
“Under the pretense of what?”
"I have a medkit with me to tend to his injuries but you have to agree not to interfere. You can do that to save an ally, right Iggy?" He looked at the gunner to see him starting to sweat. “You might want to make your choice sooner rather than later. If his injuries get infected, there’s not much I can do by that point. So, what’s your decision?”
Ignatius remained quiet before nodding.
“Good choice, turkey.”
I whistled before a One came shuffling forward. I knelt to retrieve the kit from its mouth before shaking off a bit of the saliva. I then removed the yellow makeshift bandages to get a look at the injury before setting out to clean and patch it. I also set down a bottle of aspirin before turning my attention to the gryphon. Examining the burns to his mouth, I then cleaned them up before tending to the burns on his neck and forelegs.
“Remember what you agreed to,” I replied.
“Jay—”
“But just for insurance…” I snapped my fingers before other Umbra peeked out from the corners of the building. They growled quietly but their attention was focused on the other pair as I headed out the warehouse. “I recommend not straying from Vandal to make sure he remains in one piece. You can do that, can’t you, Iggy?”
I stepped through the hole in the wall to see a glimpse of yellow coming around the corner.
”Oh, this is just perfect timing,” Cordis laughed as I headed towards the man.
Talon stopped. “Ah…Jayden?”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “No one else seems to know the difference by this point.”
“Well, you haven’t threatened to kill me yet so I’m assuming you’re Jayden.” I hummed thoughtfully. “Anyway, I need to get this first aid to Vandal.”
“That’s not necessary.” Talon shook his head before going to pass me. I then swung the scythe out to rest the blade just beneath his chin. “I just told you that it’s not necessary,” I repeated as I rounded the portal maker. “He’s been dealt with for the time being but let’s have a chat.”
“I don’t have time for a chat,” Talon replied irritably.
“You’d have time if you didn’t take forever to get here in the first place. I recommend making some lest you want your head separated from you neck.”
“Cordis—”
“Jayden,” I corrected as I felt the corner of my eye twitch, “but let’s start with a simple question. Why are you here?”
“Cordis—”
“I’m not Cordis,” I griped, “so answer my question.”
“You know why I’m here.”
“No, seriously; why are you here?” I asked.
“If you’ve forgotten, we’re all screwed if that sleeping god wakes up and I don’t just mean us. Countless lives are going to be lost!”
“So, if countless lives weren’t at stake, would you have bothered to come at all?” His silence was infuriating. “You would have left us here.” The idea of that made me grip the scythe tighter. “I can’t say you came due to convenience but you would have seriously just left us here, wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not—”
“How long have we been here?” I then chuckled drily. “Iggy and Birdie are obviously new to this cycle but how long have we been here? How many times have we gone through this maddening cycle? It’s improbable that this is the first fucking time. Is it the second? The third, maybe?” I lowered my head at the possibilities. “What if this I the twelfth cycle? Hundredth, maybe?” I glared at him. “But that’s not really top priority for you is it? It’s probably not your job to worry.”
“Did he only come to save the ones who were alive?” Cordis mused. “Is that his job?”
“Cordis… or Jayden or...whoever I’m talking to right now, now is not the time for you to be angry.
“Angry?”
“Angry?” I repeated as wiped away the black liquid from the corner of my mouth. “No, I’m not angry. I’m pissed because someone who is alive is interfering with my work as a reaper. That shouldn’t be possible! Do you think the living should interfere with the affairs of the dead?”
“What–”
“It’s a simple yes or no answer but I can tell you the correct answer,” I said as I took a step as I raised the scythe. “It’s no! What right do you have to interfere?” What do you have to gain from collecting souls?!”
I swung at him before swiping at his legs to make jump back. “I’m trying to keep them safe!”
Cordis scoffed. “Safe?”
“That’s my job,” I growled. “I ensure that souls get from point A to point B with no problem so they can be processed! It’s supposed to be a quick process with simple rules that has now been completely messed up with your interference!” I swung at him again. “I have to do this goddamn job for fifty years per my contract with Omega. Fifty!” He jumped back as I swung at his head over and over. “And I have no idea how many times I have gone through this fucking cycle while still trying to follow the rules I’ve been given.” I laughed once I recalled the rules set in place for reapers. “Don’t share personal information with charges. God, how many times have I done that by now? How many times have I sat and chatted happily with them just before being traded off like it’s a draft pick.”
“You’re weren’t exactly good at sports.”
“Don’t show aggression to your charges.” Cordis laughed at this as I swung at Talon’s legs. “Kinda passed that point but I think it’s well warranted!”
“Stop swinging at me!” Talon ordered. “You’re mad; I get it, Jayden!”
“If you did, I wouldn’t have had to waste so much time taking hits for certain people! You would think they’d be a bit more careful but, seeing how this is a repeating cycle, it was probably inevitable, right?!” I snapped as I slammed the blade into the ground, splintering the concrete before wiping the dark liquid from my nose. “Damn, now I get why Omega made those rules. Doesn’t matter if a person is dead or alive, people are just selfish assholes! However, short term rules don’t apply to long term problems. Why should I have to be the one to risk my neck for people like that who are going to trade me off or just leave anyway?! ”
“To be fair, the only two that wouldn’t are dead.”
“Why should I –?”
“That’s enough!” Talon snapped as he held his hands out to make a portal. “You have to go!”
“I’ll say when it is,” I retorted as I dodged the portal that appeared at my feet, “and I’m not going anywhere!”
I then rounded the second and third halting a swing as Talon opened a portal in front of me. I swung the moment it closed before slicing the front of his shirt open. Looking at the blood on the edge of the blade, I narrowed my eyes at him when he made a portal to escape. Not chancing that, I slammed the blade into ground to offset his balance. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcqanG4D6E
As he made another to separate us, I slammed the blade into the concrete as he entered before he paused as something wrapped around his ankle to violently yank him back out.
He glared before rolling out the way in time to dodge the second blade that attempted to stab down where he had once lay. Talon then rolled to his feet to avoid another swing before I pivoted at the last moment.
A portal appeared to deter the scythe though the edges of the rift distorted as the blade ripped through it. Twirling the blade as I saw the man on the other side, I swung at Talon before watching him go down as his legs gave out beneath him. I raised the scythe over my head as he tried to get up before realization donned on him that he didn’t have the strength to move. When he tried again, he noted what appeared to be dark tentacles protruding from the cracked pavement to keep him place. The portal he summoned had distorted edges though it vanished the moment I tilted his chin up with blade.
The look he had as his face paled was priceless.
“Oh, he has the same look as the Umbra when they’re beaten,” Cordis mused as I towered over the man. “Let’s kill him.”
Kill him.
“Let’s kill him.” I gripped the scythe tighter before tasting blood. “Kill him, Animae.”
All I had to do was swing and take his head off.
It’d be easy.
He wouldn’t be able to interfere anymore.
“Jayden!” I looked over at the warehouse to see Ignatius a bit bloodied from fresh wounds with Vandal draped over his back. “Please don’t!”
“What are you waiting for?!” Cordis griped. “Kill him!”
I looked back down at the portal maker to see the tip of the blade a hair away from his throat before taking a slight step back as I lowered the scythe.
Talon watched warily as I backed off before I dropped the scythe altogether.
“I…”
"Do it."
I was going to kill him.
“I…” I raked my hands through my hair as I recalled the rules given. “I…”
I was going to kill Talon.
I almost took his head off.
The rules – this situation and everything else – was maddening.
It was so unfair.
“Animae.”
I covered my ears as I crouched down.
This was so unfair.
“Talon.” Said person looked at the gryphon as it slowly made its way over. “Are you ok?” Ignatius asked, never taking his eyes off the blonde-haired man only a small distance away.
Talon wiped the bit of blood from his chin before observing the tattered shirt and injury he had received. “I believe so aside from feeling drained. Is Vandal still ok?”
Ignatius nodded. “He’s ok for now,” he replied. “Jayden saw to his wounds before he… attacked you. He left a medkit in the warehouse before coming out here. Maybe you can use some of the items yourself.” His attention then went to the older kit that Talon had brought. “Where– ”
“Dammit…” Talon stiffened while Ignatius took a step back as the other man sighed to himself. “Why are you out here, you overgrown turkey?” Cordis asked as his gaze panned towards Ignatius. “All you had to do was stay in the goddamn warehouse. You promised. All you had to do was wait in there. I tended to your wounds in exchange.”
“Jayden did that.”
“You sure, Iggy?” he asked. “You all can’t really tell the difference so how you know who tended to what?” Cordis then heaved a frustrated sigh as he combed his hands through his hair. “Goddammit… this was supposed to be fucking easy but it’s not like Animae has killed someone… as far as I can recall.” He scrubbed his hands through his hair again in an irritated manner before composing himself. “I should’ve just done it my damn self” he concluded as the scythe appeared in his hand. “I should thank you all at least for giving him a fucking mental break.” A sharp grin then appeared on his face as the black substance leaked from the corner of his mouth. “However, I didn’t think this all would play out this well and now there’s less interference.”
“What do you mean?” Ignatius questioned to be met with sinister laughter.
“Hey, Banana.” The man looked up from trying to pry off the tentacles keeping him rooted in place. “Do you still have that oxytocin I threw at you earlier?” he questioned as he twirled the scythe overhead. "You're gonna need it."
The pavement gave way to several of the tentacles surrounding them before their sharpened points pointed at the trio. As Cordis stepped forward, the tendrils closed in before coming to a halt as the blonde grinned.
“Jay—”
Cordis tsked the gryphon as he wagged a clawed finger at him. “He’s having a mental–” The dark hand clasped against his mouth throwing even the blonde off for a moment. “Really now? Why won’t you just give up, Animae?” he chuckled as he lowered his hand. "You can't keep that up anymore."
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