(Chapter 1: Judès)
No one will ever, really, understand that you could be from some place and thrive from the alternative…
My visions of the prier life have been blurred since I have been thriving in the world above Heleim's lethal gates for quite some time now. However, I often feel that awful, nagging, desperate voice screaming my name, demanding and urging me to come home. Even though I have accepted Reims, France as my home base, I would never receive it as my homeland. Hellion is and always will be close to my darkened heart; even though it will never accept me in return I love it to death.
" Judès! Pay attention, you could have killed us this time!" Mykæl hollered as we toppled over onto the dampened grass of the parking lot. "Damn, that's my favorite bike... Why you insist on traveling so fast? Now I'll buy a new bike!"
It amused me that Mykæl was so flustered about the bike we had 'borrowed' from a boutique a few rues down from where we consistently held camp.
The parking lot of the abandoned body shop had been ours since the power had been shot and the owners had given up hope for their side business.
Not only did Mykæl and I receive the body shop, but the lounge areas connected to it. It was a good venue for a demon and anima to co-inhabit, I got the side lounge and Mykæl got the perch above the garage.
"I prefer my feet... but it's me," I chuckled trying to hint that I wasn't the one who wanted this collection of scrap metal to begin with, "So what do you want to do with this?"
"Hmm... I wanted them for my collection of wheels in the garage" Mykæl gave me a look of pure exasperation, which made me laugh even more. "What do you want with the bike?"
"I want nothing to do with it!"
Trying to catch my breath I began to saunter over to the doorway of what we now called home…
"Mykæl, what time is it?" Even though I was perfectly aware at the eve of the night, "I was thinking of trips for tomorrow."
Mykæl swiveled around in his bar stool I had gotten us last Christmas and cocked his head inquisitively, "j'ècoute... mais je ne sais pas quelle heures il a… c'est domage."
I had always admired the way that Mykæl dressed, with his Nordic vest and huge scarf he used as a belt to his baggy cut offs. The thing that intrigued me the most was the feather in his long jet black hair that somehow wound up turning into a long, woven braid that trailed and swung back and forth when he danced across the floorboards.
"Quoi de neuf?" Obviously interested in our local travel schemes, Mykæl's golden eyes danced in their sockets. Whenever he was interested in a topic on the table he would put one of his long legs across the other and twiddle with the multicolored feather tied onto a tuff of his thick hair.
"Are we actually going to go outside this time?" He gave a few sarcastic chuckles and spun around on the painted bar stool. "Someplace where we can actually borrow some real crap this time?"
More pitiful laughter from the bird Anima.
Finally, realizing that I was actually being serious this time, "but seriously; are we actually going to make a creator this time? You know how much I've wanted to get out a spread my wings again- not that I don't love Reims and all- however going someplace outside of here would be ecstatic."
"Oui, Je vais proposer ce nous voyagons a Paris…"
"Ah, oui, Paris... Paris. La ville de l'amour" Mykæl looked like he tasted the words, he seemed to like the plan of taking Paris.
It was around noon, the next morning when we decided it was time to strike out with a bang, making headlines across the universe shiver in terror when the time came to revive our true nature.
The world needed comical and unusual outbreaks, except Mykæl and I would only be taking on Paris. Flooding and engulfing that city would be my greatest delight. The two of us had been without a job as long as I can remember; come to think of it, people were afraid to hire us for some reason or another. That aside, I had always dreamed of taking over the world by force- well in this case an Anima and a Demon.
When it came time to test the drop, Mykæl and I excelled with triumph. "When do you think we will hit someone?" Mykæl inquired sarcastically,
"I donno maybe when someone gets in our way or when they get curious as to why we are diving off this arch!" Judès smirked and grabbed at the side of the ancient arch, hoping that it could still be manipulated.
It had been forever since I had been back to Paris; a ton of stuff had changed. For example, there were a lot more cars than bicycles. Fewer people were out with large groups and, above all, there were not as many pubs around this part of France.
Mykæl shivered when I draped my, now talon, hand around the small of his back.
"Hvorfor...?" I heard him mutter in Norse when he realized it was just me and not another Anima like before.
Mykæl had been attacked by a rouge Anima a few months prior to our Criminal anniversary. Since Mykæl is of royal descent, he gets picked on a lot when he is around the other Animas, for some reason it is really obvious when he has his great hawk wings spread.
He never told me why he fled his stammen in Norway; I have narrowed it down to a couple of variables- so I feel accomplished. When Mykæl was younger, before I met him of course, his family would perform this angelic ritual to give them strength for a voyage. I never witnessed this, unfortunately, and he does not like to revisit his past. I understood completely, I have some much regret and anger about mine as well...
"Let's head up where we can scope out probable schemes, OK?" hanging to the necklace that acted like a reign for me. I did not really care for Mykæl's flying techniques but if it was a mode of transportation, it would suffice.
When we landed on top of the Champs Aliser, Mykæl shook out his feathered arms with great might and let them dissolve back into their human limbs again. Mykæl seemed to do this effortlessly; however I could tell it pained Mykæl to see the source of power and grace leave him. I never mentioned anything since I had to do the same process, even though mine was of smaller physical notice. The ram-like horns and sinister talons disintegrated into their shadowy purgatory until I desired them once more.
"I cannot believe we are actually in Paris" Mykæl was still in awe of the city. "Why don't we just stay here?"
"'Cause it would not be special to come and visit" I cut in bluntly, trying to snap him out of his dream.
"Sorry... It is just that I have never been here before and it shocks me that you are not thrilled like I am, Judès. It is almost like you did not actually want to come here, did you only do this for-"
"Mykæl, I do not want to talk about this right now. Maybe later, over a glass of Mead- but not now, alright?" I tried desperately not to make eye contact with him; those golden eyes reminded me of my past- the past I wished I had forgotten...