Thunder booming caught the Magpie’s attention before Cordis cleared his throat. She looked at the man then at his offered hand as she mulled over his proposal. They were going to need all the help they could get to go up against a newly possessed Nuallis. She glanced at Vandal to see the man silently watching the ceiling with the slightest bit of apprehension on his face. Ignatius would go along with whatever she decided. Carlos seemed beside himself as he eyed the pink petal in his hand while the storm outside seemed to hold Talon’s gaze.
“Well, Birdie, do we have a deal?” Mismatched eyes focused on the gold pair before shooting up to the ceiling as something heavy thudded against the floor. “The longer you wait, the longer she suffers, right?”
“We have to go now, Vandal stressed as he gripped Leonette tighter, beelining it for the stairwell.
“You cannot just face Shadow alone,” Ignatius warned.
“But Nuallis is suffering while we do nothing!”
“I say let him go,” Cordis stated. “If he dies in his noble cause for love, the banana can just reclaim his soul, right?”
“That’s not the point,” Ignatius pressed. “We need to think about this care–”
“Time isn’t on your side,” the blonde reminded the caster before facing the woman in front of him. “Agree to what I proposed and I will assist you. It’s of no true effort on your part after all and there will be no personal consequences of you doing so.” There was another loud clatter. “What say you, little Birdie?”
Magpie looked back at the others before extending her hand. “I–”
“Why is that your requirement?” Carlos chimed in. “Why do you want us to tell Jayden to go away?”
“Why does it matter?” Cordis countered. “You get your help and I get what I want. I think that’s fair.”
“To everyone but Jayden.”
“Again, why does that matter?” he asked.
“He’s not here to give his say.”
Cordis snickered at that. “You’re willing to get the opinion of someone that spurned your friend to her second death?” His gaze shifted between the prince then back to Magpie. “Do you want to wait until he wakes up? On the other hand, dear Nuallis may not be able to hold out much longer.”
“As loathsome as he may be, he has a point,” Vandal conceded, “and I’m not going to standby any longer while she suffers.”
“Vandal, wait –”
“No,” he growled as he glared at the caster before turning his attention to Magpie. “If all it’s going to take is a handshake for him to help us then shake his hand!”
She looked over at Ignatius. “I’ll agree to whatever you think is right.”
Her attention then went to the portal maker that had been silent during the arguing. “Talon.” The man hardly moved from his spot by the window. “What do you think?”
“Oh…” He looked towards the blonde to see him raising an eyebrow before looking at the rainstorm. “Do what you think is right,” Talon replied as he opened a portal, “but if he wants to go then let him. I think we’re better off with Moryuu.”
“What are you doing?” Carlos asked.
Talon looked at him briefly then back at the portal. “I’m going to go get Moryuu. Please wait just a little longer.”
The blonde watch as the portal closed behind its maker. “I wasn’t expecting much of an answer from him to be honest.” There was another bang from above with bits of dust. “Magpie,” Cordis said, dropping the usual moniker, “make your choice.”
She pondered for several more moments then withdrew her hand altogether to hold down at her side. “I can’t agree to those terms.”
“I see…” Dropping his hand back to his side, he looked amongst the others present before turning to leave. “Good luck then.”
Watching as the man departed, Magpie chased after him. Turning at the hurried footsteps, Cordis watched the woman trip over the overturned wheelchair before catching her by the hand. He then spun her towards the caster as he hurried over.
“I didn’t mean to–”
Cordis waved a hand dismissively. “You declined and no means no. I have enough decency not to use a fall as confirmation.” His attention then went to the Umbra that approached from the shadows. Receiving a hurried growl, the others noted how the man tensed before he was focused on them once more. “Good luck.”
“Wait–!”
“You should’ve shaken his hand,” Vandal scolded. “Now we don’t have his help and Talon is gone!”
“But—!”
There was another bang before a crack splintered the ceiling. “No buts! We don’t have time for this!” the gunner snapped before running into the stairwell with Leonette.
“Vandal, wait!” Ignatius called before Carlos chased after him.
Watching as Ignatius spared her a troubled glance before chasing after the pair, Magpie steeled herself prior to entering the stairwell.
Umbra skittered to the far edges of the street as Cordis ran through the rain. His anger was almost palpable the further he got from the hospital but he wasn’t entirely sure if it had stemmed from not being able to secure the deal with Magpie or if it was from what the Umbra had told him. His ire steadily simmered as he came across the first signs of destruction. As his gaze wandered the holes in the ground, the growling of Umbra had him shifting in direction to walk on for some time before coming upon the crumbled pillar. Glancing up at the sky to be greeted by a boom of thunder, Cordis sucked his teeth before noting how the Umbra around him scattered. Twitching his fingers as he turned, clawed hands struck a blade from the scythe.
Swinging the weapon to increase the distance, Cordis then took a step back to see the Four glaring at him. When the other didn’t make a move, the blonde twirled the scythe before resting it over his shoulder when he noted the scar marring one of the gold eyes.
“Four.” The Umbra remained silent as it flexed its claws at its side. “I assume you heard what happened to dear Gideon, huh? Did you come to join me for his memorial?” he questioned, swinging the scythe to block when Four surged forward. “Or are you here for his core?”
“What are you here for?”
Blocking another strike, Cordis swung several times before the two parted altogether. “I asked you first, you know?” A grin then ticked in the corners of his mouth. “However, if you must know, I’m here to finish off the victor.”
“Opportunist.”
“Calling the kettle black, aren’t we?” he mused before glancing back at the destroyed pillar. “Did you–”
A tentacle wrapped around the blonde to hurl him into the side of the structure. Pulling himself up into an upright position, Cordis rolled out the way to avoid the tentacle that stabbed into the ground. Gripping his scythe with the intent to cut the thing in two, he wound up using it to deflect the sharpened tendril that shot towards him.
Dodging for a third time, Cordis rolled to his feet before barely parrying the tentacle that shot from the ground. Escaping with a scratch to his cheek, the blonde blocked the piece of rubble kicked at him though he was cut off guard by the Four’s surge forward. Backpedaling over the debris, Cordis caught himself only to be launched into the wall. A tentacle then lashed out to pin him in place.
“Where’s your other half?” Four questioned as it took a step forward.
“You’re starting to sound like the others,” he chided before the tentacle drove into his arm. “I’m starting to get the idea that you don’t like me, Four.”
“Where’s your other half?” it questioned again as another tentacle came into view.
“He’s unavailable.”
“Where’s your other half?”
Cordis reached to dislodge the tentacle before grabbing his scythe to deflect the second one that made an attempt at his other arm. “Unavailable,” he ground out as he tried to remove the tentacle again. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“Make him available,” Four said as it lashed out with the second tentacle. A third then stabbed down on his leg. “Go on.”
“I can’t,” came the reply as the blade sliced the tentacle in half, “’cause he’s sleeping.”
“Sleeping?” The Umbra tilted its head before the tentacle in the blonde’s arm removed itself in favor of reeling him in quickly. “Don’t you think it’s time we wake him up then?”
Being thrown into the wall, Cordis picked himself up before sidestepping the tentacle that attempted to entwine his leg. Cutting another that made a swipe at him, the man was taken off his feet when Four tackled him.
“Get o—!” Sharp teeth bit into the scythe staff before acidic saliva dripped onto the man’s face. “Get off of me!” he growled, kicking the Umbra off.
Rolling to his feet, Cordis kicked the Four away before scrubbing his forearm against his face as his skin began to burn. Lowering his arm to see the Four nowhere in sight, he turned last second to catch a foot to the stomach. Crashing back out into the street, a tentacle dragged him back into the structure.
“Is he awake yet? Four asked as it walked towards the blonde. It the growled under its breath as the tentacle was cut. Gold eyes then narrowed to slits before two tentacles whipped at the man. “Where’s your other half?” Watching the tears appear in the man’s clothes, the Umbra tossed the man back into the wall before slamming him to the ground. “He has to be awake by now.” A sneer then crossed its face as it watched Cordis pulled himself up onto his knees. “Where—?!”
“Aww, don’t you want to play anymore?” They locked gazes as Cordis climbed to his feet, stumbling momentarily. “I’m starting to think you like Animae more than me.”
Four flexed its claws before charging at the man. As claws clashed against the blades, the Umbra pushed the blonde into a corner while two tentacles aimed at the man. Twirling the scythe as he lunged forward, Cordis staggered as a third erupted from the ground to pierce his side. The momentum was then used to hoist him up and over before slamming him onto his stomach.
“You didn’t honestly think that I liked you, did you? The only tolerable thing about you is your durability,” Four said as it kicked the man into the crumbling wall, “but that’s all.” Claws flexed slowly as one of the tendrils snaked its way around the man when he attempted to grab the scythe. “You used to be entertaining in the beginning. You were just like Jayden.”
“Good looking?”
“Scared,” Four corrected as the tentacle dragged him across the ground. “You had a lot more humanity back then for someone who was just a byproduct of a reaper. It’s one of the few reasons I made sure you stayed alive.” A long tongue licked over sharpened teeth as claws flexed at its side again. “You had to get back with your other half or you’d be of no use after all. Gideon kinda made sure that you stayed alive because you had no idea how bad I wanted to eat you.” Gold eyes narrowed to slits. “But then you started to change.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” chided Cordis as he tried to get to his feet.
Sneering at the sarcasm, Four slammed the man into the wall then ground before the tentacle tightened around him. “You started to forget your place and there’s nothing worse than food that doesn’t act like it’s food,” it growled as it threw the man back towards the wall.
Struggling to get to his feet as the last of the painkillers wore off, Cordis flexed his fingers at his side before grimacing when the scythe did not appear immediately. Another attempt was cut short as he had to avoid the Umbra beelining at him. Claws swung to tatter the front of his shirt before a tentacle knocked him back out into the street.
“B…bastard…”
“Nggh…Cordis?”
“Animae,” the man replied as he pulled himself from the rubble, “so nice of you to finally wake up. You sleep like a fucking log."
“Ah, Jayden is awake?”
“Where – was that Four?” Cordis hummed. “Cordis!”
“Yeah,” Cordis replied as he tried for the scythe again.
“Bring him out,” Four ordered.
“Animae.”
“No, we need to get out of here!”
“I’m not running.”
“We have to go!”Jayden argued. “You’re not thinking this through!”
“You think too much,” Cordis scolded.
“You don’t think at all in these situations!”
“Don’t tell me you’re scared.” It was quiet. “You’re scared.”
“That’s not it,” Jayden groused.
“Well, I’m not scared of Four,” the blonde growled back.
“Let’s fix that,” Four suggested before a tentacle shot from the ground behind the man.
It drove itself through the back of his leg before a second did the same to the other, eliciting a pained grunt from him. Trying to get the intrusive things out as blood started to soak through his pants, Cordis looked about to see the lower level Umbra peering from the shadows.
“What are you all doing just standing there like idiots?” Cordis asked. “Attack it!”
“Attack me?” Four chuckled as a third tentacle eased over its shoulder. “When did you all start listening to food?”
The lower levels looked at Cordis. “What are you waiting for?” he growled. “Do as I say!” The others looked back at the higher level before slinking back slightly. “You worthless mounds of–!”
The third tentacle lashed out as the others removed themselves from the one they were restraining. That pain that followed dropped him to his knees before Cordis looked up to glare at the creature. His face then blanched at the sight at what the tentacle was holding before his gaze slid over to his left side to see his arm missing from elbow down. As his eyes widened, the pain of the severed limb caught up suddenly making both halves scream as Cordis grabbed at the injury to try to stem the bleeding.
“Ah, that’s the sound I like to hear,” Four mused as it observed the severed arm. “This is how it should’ve been.”
“Animae, can you fix this?” Cordis questioned mentally only to hear the screaming. “Ani—!”
“Fix what?! There’s no arm!” he replied in obvious pain. “I can’t reattach a fucking arm, Cordis! I knew something like this would happen! Why don’t you ever listen?!”
Growling pulled the man’s attention over to Four to see that he was waving the limb in front of the others. “I’m sure he’s been nothing but a pain to you all this time with no reward. Why don’t you all have a snack?”
“Wait!”
Four looked at Cordis before its mouth curled into a sharp-toothed grin as it tossed the arm to the lower levels. Cordis lunged forward only to come up short as one of the tentacles wrapped around his foot. Snarling had the man looking over at the small creatures to see them fighting over the limb before it was shredded amongst them. Watching as the last of it was eaten, a watery laugh was what had Cordis scooting back before he looked up at the Four approaching. The smile on its face then broadened as it leaned down.
“Ah, there it is,” it teased as it hoisted Cordis up by the neck. “There’s that expression I wanted to see.”
Being thrown back into the pillar, Cordis rose slowly before dropping back down to the ground as is vision blurred. He could see something off starting to pool but something seemed a bit off by it but that just could’ve been from the blood loss.
“Ani—”
“C-Cordis…” The faint sound of footsteps caught Jayden’s attention. “Cordis, get up!” The blonde remained down before slumping forward. “Cordis, you son of a bitch, get up!” There was a watery chuckle. “Cordis, please get up!” The chuckle transitioned to that of maniacal laughter. “Cordis, please get up…”
“Ani—”
“You can’t just hijack my body and then decide to die on me, you selfish bastard! Get up! There’s things I still want to do! I want to see Ru–”
“Animae—”
“I didn’t choose to be here, Cordis –” Footsteps grew louder. “ – and I don’t want to die here. Do you want to die?!” The man remained silent. “I don’t want to die, Cordis… I don’t want to die…” Cordis remained quiet. “So, you’re gonna just go out like this? What happened to that damn bravado?! What happened to you being fearless? Was it all an act?! What happened to you wanting to go home?! What happened to you getting back to Aiden?! If we die here, that’s it, and I don’t want to die!” The footsteps grew quiet before a shadow loomed over the prone man. “Cordis, please, we’re going to die if you don’t get up. Do you want to die?”
“No, you idiot.” The grave response was enough to make them both quiet. “Our arm is missing…”
“Yeah, no shit…” That watery chuckle was back. “…can you fix that?”
“Never had to replace a limb before, Animae…”
“We’re gonna die if you don’t… can you do it?”
“Not as durable as we thought, huh?” Four questioned as a tentacle lifted the man up.” You’re not dead yet, right?” The tentacle shook the blonde like a ragdoll. “This won’t be fun if I don’t get to hear that scream again.” The tendril tightened. “C’mon, let’s hear that scream.” The tendril tightened again. “Now need to be ashamed of it,” it teased, “or would you prefer Jayden to do so?” The man lifted his head slowly to peer at the smiling creature. “Aw, did I strike a nerve?”
“You’re a real… chatterbox now that Gideon is gone,” he replied before the tentacle tightened suddenly.
Four growled only to pause when it felt something snap. Seeing how the man winced followed by the shudder soon after, the tentacle squeeze slowly to confirm what the Umbra thought. Its smile grew only to falter when the blonde let out a breathy chuckle. Growling its annoyance now, Four shook Cordis when the man continued to do so before throwing him back into the wall.
“What’s so funny?”
“J-just stalling,” he muttered as he struggled to get to his feet.
“Stalling?”
Cordis gradually turned to show the oily substance leaking from the wound. As it solidified, it took the shape of the missing limb. Eyeing the newly acquired arm, Cordis flexed blackened fingers before using the hand to wipe away the black substance from the corner of his mouth.
“I’m d-doing this one favor for you, Animae. We’re gonna switch so I can heal that rib again,” Cordis said, licking the liquid off his hand as two tentacles made themselves visible. “Then I’m k-killing that damn god.”
“Cordis—”
“Fine; we’ll kill Four then I get to kill the damn god.”
ns 15.158.61.20da2
