Chapter 9 – A SECRET PASSAGE
Julien appeared in an alley in Kerning City without anyone taking any notice, even the shadows in the dark didn't seem to pay any attention. He wandered around the city as everyone else walked around watching each other suspiciously, that was the way it was in most of Kerning City. He noticed before he left the alley way a spray painted red hand was tagged on a side of a building, but he dismissed it as a lot of buildings had all kinds of graffiti which tagged many other places. Kerning City was the biggest town on Victoria Island and most modernized by everyone else's standards. Small cabs roamed the busy streets along with small scooters and small black limos. The streets were narrow and required high driving skills to be able to get around without getting into a pickle.
Everyone seemed to be making a beeline for the subway. Most were constantly going to Kerning Square to do their shopping in the business district. That was also where the richest folk of Kerning City lived. Then there were the multiple construction sites as Kerning was constantly expanding for its ever increasing population of migrant workers from different parts of the world. Then there was another destination which took them under the channel between the two islands. It was a continent like island called Masteria which had only been colonized within the last twenty years. The continent island was a mysterious place that attracted a lot of veteran adventurers going to explore the mysteriously haunted Crimson Wood.
He continued down the street watching car loads of people getting out of the cabs that were in operation at the subway while others were simply walking at a brisk pace. Kerning City's tall buildings cast their shadows and a haze seemed to hang over the city.
"Gees I love this place!" Julien laughed as he spotted his destination at the Jazz Bar in town which hasn't had any jazz musicians in quite some time.
Julien walked in the low key bar while a shifty young man was cleaning the counter with a few patrons enjoying a drink. Julien noticed a tacky curtain hanging in front of a small hole in the wall that had always been there but yet no one was allowed to go behind.
"Something for you Julien?" the young man smiled.
"Yea, I want a Kerning's Lager Greg" Julien's eye sparkled.
"Coming right up!" he said grabbing an ice cold mug.
Julien scanned the rest of the bar looking around at the faces he hadn't seen before, but he saw no one really of interest.
"So, what's been happening?" the short bartender said with a pencil thin beard. He wore a black shirt that said Jazz on it and wore a black toboggan.
"Doing another 'Non' paying job for my Elder" Julien said dryly.
"Again huh?" Greg laughed wiping down a cask.
"Something about investigating some freak things happening in Lith Harbor" he shook his head taking a nice long gulp.
"Where is Jaster?" Greg asked used to seeing the long red haired mage with him.
"He went to Perion with some really hot girl and one of the most annoying fairies in Ellinia" Julien shook his head.
"How long is that job supposed to take?" Greg asked as he discreetly refilled another customers mug full of beer.
"I dunno, but I hope it's not more than a few days…" Julien shrugged his shoulders taking another long sip.
"So is it a major job or is it something serious?" Greg interrogated.
"Serious…maybe, at least the priest in Lith Harbor says so…" Julien said dreamily chugging his lager.
"A priest?! I don't get involved with people of the cloth although they are nice to have around. Well tell me!" Greg said almost impatiently.
"I really can't tell you, it's that serious…at least that's what the Priest says" he answered emptying his mug.
"Yo! We'd like to get our drinks filled down here!" a patron said rudely.
"Yea, our glasses ain't goin'a fill themselves up!" a couple of youngster shouted at the end of the bar.
"Shut up nubs! You'll get it when I'm ready!" Greg growled at them. A couple of hoodlums had just walked in no older than eighteen, one a tall lanky boy with stringy blond hair wearing a leather coat, and the other a young black kid with a red hoody.
"One word" Greg said filling Julien's mug.
Julien went to reach for it, "Nah, give me a word" Gregg taunted.
"Balrog" Julien whispered.
"We want two beers!" the black kid with the red hoody demanded.
Greg's eyes widened in awe and he silently grabbed two more mugs and filled them and set them in front of you two wannabe thugs.
"Yo dude! This is ROOT beer, not BEER!" the kid in the red hoody said spitting out his drink.
"Yea, you'd better get us what we want" the lanky boy with the stringy blond hair grumbled.
Without warning two subi stars went flying past their heads and stuck in the wall missing them by a few inches.
"Yea, what are you going to do about it?" Greg said nonchalantly.
"This dude's crazy!" the boy in the red hoody accused. The other young man was still stunned by the action.
"Now, that will be four hundred mesos please" he smiled mockingly as the two youngsters quickly put their payment on the bar.
"Thank you, ENJOY your drink" he smiled again. The older patrons at the bar acknowledged the stunt with a chuckle.
"Is there treasure involved?" Greg whispered.
"Possibly… that's actually what I came to talk to you about" Julien finally revealed the reason for his visit.
"So you need a scout huh?" Greg narrowed his eyes turning Julien's lighthearted smile turned serious.
"This will be dangerous" Julien said seriously then ending with a smile.
Greg threw his hand up, "Danger is my middle name, don't you guys have any warriors with you?" the little guy questioned. Julien stood almost six inches taller than Greg.
"Not yet, I have a feeling that may have been a reason why Jaster went to Perion" Julien shrugged.
"How come you haven't asked your brother?" Greg asked a bit confused.
"Let's not talk about him right now, that's still a bad subject for me; besides, he's not a warrior, just a useless thief" Julien said plainly.
"Most of us here are thieves…" Greg raised his eyebrows pausing. "Fine, well listen, my shift ends in a couple of hours, so just hang loose until then" he said walking away to refill the other patron's mugs with beer.
"That's fine with me" Julien said taking a long drink.
A crowd shuffled their way in the bar and before too long the bar was full along with the eight tables scattered around the place with five high chairs around them. Neon signs and colored lights lit the place with an aura of color. The two younger men at the bar joined a couple of others at a table. One guy had a tattoo of a red hand on his arm, but Julien took another drink not thinking anything of it. Greg was running around the counter mixing and shaking drinks with ice and passing them out all over the bar. Julien was enjoying his little buzz until a younger woman showed up behind the bar with with a younger man.
"Ah! My relief" Greg smiled shaking a drink in a shaker.
"Yea, another day another meso" the guy replied about Julien's size with dark hair.
"Are you new here?" Julien smiled.
"Actually, no, this is my second week" the young woman shouted over the people as Greg and the other guy were busy making transactions.
"Really? I was just in here a couple days ago" Julien responded unable to make eye contact only about half way up.
The young woman had an hour glass frame with brunette hair and bright green eyes. She had a tattoo of a subi star on her shoulder. She wore a low cut black top and blue disco flared jeans.
"Nice Tatt you got there" Julient commented and the young girl only smiled before having to go to the end of the bar where the customers were coming up and waiting in line to order a drink.
"Greg the boss wants to see you down below" the young woman yelled across the bar.
Greg nodded acknowledging her, "Enjoy your pile-driver" Greg smiled disappearing into the back.
Julien's attention was focused on the young woman running around the bar.
"Hey bro" the other guy finally said getting in earshot of Julien. He looked away from the young woman just long enough to see who it was.
"Dude, don't talk to me!" Julien snapped. All the sudden Julien's buzz went away and he could feel his temper flaring up.
"You're still pissed I see…" his brother noticed. His brother stood the same height but only his eyes were more of a green than blue like Julien's.
"Um you might say that Andy" Julien said finishing his beer. "Dude, that was almost two months ago!" his brother exclaimed.
"I don't think you realize the trouble you caused me, Dad still thinks that shit you did stealing the cab and wrecking it was me" Julien replied sternly and Andy was silent.
"I had to basically pay over eighty thousand mesos, until you finally took over the paying for that guy's cab. Dad wouldn't speak to me for over a month—it's still fresh in my mind. I gotta go! You're ruining my buzz!" Julien stood up and walked out of the bar trying to keep his cool.
The streets seemed to be fairly calm with the sounds of scooters and cabs carrying people around town. Julien still couldn't find it in his heart to forgive his brother as he could not forget how his father was still furious with him for what his brother did. Julien was startled as he finally noticed a really quiet man leaning against the corner of the building wearing an oriental straw hat. He had a medium sized katara on his belt and a silver dagger on the opposite side. He watching everything around him while standing near guarding an alleyway.
"What's up man?" Julien greeted trying to not seem like he was being nosy.
The man turned his head slowly the other way and continued surveying the area ignoring him. Julien shrugged his shoulders, "Whatever…"
An hour passed by and his buzz began wearing off, "Shit Greg, hurry up!" he muttered to himself.
The other guy stood in his white ninja looking outfit like an owl perched up over everything scanning for its prey. Julien began to really get antsy as the sun began to set. He was about to go back inside the bar but luckily Greg popped out in a gray knuckle vest which was two leather studded straps with meshed leather under it, and had a pair of gray pants to match fashioned the same way with the studded leggings contrasted by a pair of black red lined boots. He sported a black bandana on his shaved head.
"Dude! We got to hurry! Can we get a cab or something?" Julien began freaking out. "The cabs quit leaving town after sunset, so we will have to find another way to get there" Greg said lighting a cigarette.
"Give me one?" Julien pleaded.
Greg handed him one and lit it and they both took a long puff and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Ok, so how are we going to get to Lith Harbor without walking?" Julien asked calmly.
"What about those scrolls you always have?" Greg asked taking another puff.
"Out" Julien inhaled.
Greg contemplated for a couple minutes while smoking, "I got it, wait here"
"Don't take too long—we either need to find some quick way or start walking now" The last half of the sentenced was lost to Greg as he was already back in the bar. He quickly made his way to the out of order bathroom stall and climbed down through the secret entrance. He quickly climbed down the ladder and knocked on his master's door.
"Dark Lord?" Greg whispered. The door opened by itself as the room was dimly lit and the Dark Lord hung upside down with his eyes closed.
"What is it Greg?" he asked almost as if he already knew.
"I need a favor master" The Dark Lord nodded.
"Go on…" the Dark Lord replied absently.
"My buddy and I need to get to Lith Harbor fast and…" Greg was cut off by his master's reply.
"…And you want to take the secret way through the connecting sewers to get there using one of my scooters?" he finished.
"Yes" Greg nodded.
The Dark Lord jumped down from his perch in his dark ninja uniform. His amber yellowish eyes were all Greg could see of his face in the dim light. He walked to a corner of his room where he had a couple of daggers stuck on the wall.
"Can you tell me why you need to get there so fast?" the Dark Lord narrowed his eyes.
"My friend has an issue concerning Balrogs, and that's all he would tell me" The Dark Lord paused for a moment and chuckled to himself.
"It's only been a few months since I had you tested to become an Assasin, and you're already talking of powerful demons?" Greg listened to his master's logic.
"There is a difference between heroism and plain stupidity" the Dark Lord continued.
"I really don't know what's going on, but my friend who is a mage asked for my help" Greg argued as the The Dark Lord paused again.
"Go get him" he whispered.
Greg agilely sped out of the room. Julien paced nervously outside. "I need you to come with me" Greg poked his head out the door.
"Why?" Julien threw up a hand.
"Don't ask questions, just follow me" Greg insisted. Julien quickly moved through the crowd as they finally disappeared into the bathroom with the out of order sign.
"Ok, so what do you need from me in the bathroom" Julien smiled awkwardly in a mock like fashion.
"Shuddup" he said opening the toilet seat cover climbing down the ladder in it.
"What the?! I'm not jumping in a shit pot!" Julien shook his head.
"Quit being a bitch and come on" Greg's voice echoed from the chamber below.
Julien reluctantly climbed down pulling his robes close to him afraid that fecal matter could be on the walls. Finally once he entered the lower chamber he realized it was all a disguise.
"Damn, you never told me you had a secret hide out under the bar" Julien laughed.
"I know, and don't go telling everyone…" Greg warned.
Greg led him into the Dark Lord's chamber as he sat Indian style in his boxing ring.
"Is this the mage you spoke of?" the Dark Lord asked not flinching an inch.
"Yes master" Greg nodded.
"So mage, what's all of this I hear about Balrogs?" Julien had heard of the Dark Lord before and knew that he was a person who almost never mingled with civilians; also, a rumor had it that he may be half demon. Julien didn't believe he was half demon, but then again he had never seen a half demon.
"I have an errand which my elder has sent me to do since Ellinia was attacked by Balrogs" Julien explained as the Dark Lord opened his eyes in intrigue.
"Yes, I know of the assault on Ellinia…So you're going to Lith Harbor to investigate why my sources have told me could be an even more powerful demon?" the Dark Lord asked.
"It is part of the Maple Pact we made, I'm only honoring what my Elder has asked me to do" Julien replied.
"So the two of you are going to investigate?" the Dark Lord chuckled again.
"No, I have two other associates waiting on me and I need to get back to them before dark" Julien corrected.
"More mages?" the Dark Lord almost said with a shameful tone.
"Yes and no…clerics…" Julien answered.
"Cleric, mage, all the same to me… you don't have the support of any warriors?" The Dark Lord asked a bit flabbergasted and Julien shook his head.
"Fine" he said tossing a dark claw with two gold colored stripes to Greg.
"A dark avarice? Thank you master" Greg nodded.
"You'll need it" he said walking to the wall turning three of the daggers attached until one of the walls gave way to a secret passage.
"Both of you should be able to fit on that scooter. I have business I must attend to. Take the southernmost passage and you should be in Lith Harbor very quickly. Don't linger in these sewers, who knows what denizens roam them" The Dark Lord warned as he threw a set of keys to Greg and they followed him into the dimly lit secret passage which led into the sewers.
The wall closed behind them, "Don't deviate, and good luck" the Dark Lord said as he jumped on the other scooter and quickly vanished into the darkness.
"Have you ever been down this way before?" Julien asked scanning the area warily.
"No" he answered starting the quiet motor of the scooter.
"Well get on and hold on tight!" Greg warned. Julien got on the back and held onto Greg as he throttled the motor, and within a moment they began quickly rocketing deep into the dark sewers. Julien felt his eyes water from the speed they moving down the long stretch. Luckily the light was powerful on the scooter which shone a couple hundred feet ahead. Julien held on to Greg's shoulder as they flew. The sewers were dark, dank, and smelly and to make matters worse they passed something that was huge. Julien glanced back and could only see a set of eyes as they sped ahead.
"What the fu-?!" Greg blurted out.
"That's exactly what I would like to know" the two of them said startled.
Julien looked back quickly and could see the reddish eyes were moving towards them, even at the speed they were going.
"Greg, we have a problem" Julien said nervously.
Greg glanced back, "Shit! Julien—steer and take that left up ahead" Greg turned around pulling out a handful of stars. The eyes continued to follow. Greg threw three stars getting a growl from the thing chasing them. As they continued to the left, light from some of the holes above revealed their pursuer.
It was a dire rat with huge teeth and claws. Its dingy, oily, gray matted fur was covered with open scabs and grotesque dried blood. Greg wrinkled his face in disgust and threw the other three stars this time getting a high shrill squeak from the giant rat. Its eyes began to glow again and it began moving faster trying to close the gap between them.
"Damn it!" Greg shouted.
The sewers began getting smaller. Greg grabbed three more stars and slung them furiously at the beast. The beast screamed in pain as Julien and Greg's ears began to ache from the piercing shrieks. The rat slowed down for just a moment.
"Shit, I can't handle the bike riding this fast in these corridors!" Julien complained as it become more treacherous to maneuver. Greg noticed how the corridor narrowed.
"What are you doing?!" Greg demanded turning around to take control of the scooter again.
"I can't drive this thing like you can" Julien snapped.
"We got a hungry rat wanting to make diner of both of us!" Greg gritted through his teeth as he said giving more power to the motor.
Julien grabbed on tighter as the corridors began to get smaller. Julien turned for a moment and saw two tentacles burst from the dire rat's back as they began reaching ahead of the grotesque monster. The rat shrieked louder and louder with a deafening sound.
"There's an exit ahead" Greg yelled.
"Great, now we can get the hell out of this dark place and escape!" Julien shouted.
They approached the end, and the circular exit led to a small ledge which had a small path that led to the left. Dead ahead was a cliff which the ocean waves smacked the rocks at the bottom. They quickly got off the scooter and moved it out of the exit. The creature was still shrieking at them as it raced towards them. Julien and Greg poked their head back to look behind and the creature still running strong.
"We can't let this thing follow us into the harbor" Julien said taking out his wand.
"I hope we know what we're doing" Greg took out a couple stars.
"Aim for its right eye, I will get its left eye… and don't miss or…" Greg said gravely.
Julien prepared to summon his flaming bird arrow and waited for Greg's signal. Greg aimed his stars carefully at the beast as he watched it zoom towards them.
"NOW!" Greg screamed as he let his star fly from his hand as Julien summoned his flame bird arrow as they zipped and each hit their mark.
"Bullseye!" Julien shouted as they moved out of the way.
The giant rat squealed loudly and chomped madly as it continued running blindly ahead with its tentacles feeling in every direction until it ran off the ledge falling sixty feet before smashing and bouncing off a jagged boulder then sinking beneath the sea. A few bubbles came to the surface then they stopped.
"Whew, that was a close one" Greg wiped his brow as he and Julien walked the scooter up an old dirt path until they came to the harbor. The sun was already half way set behind the horizon.
"Where we going?" Greg asked with a bit of exhaustion.
"To the chapel" Julien answered.
"You know the way, the scooter will get us there in a minute, you drive" Greg said getting on the back.
"Ok…" Julien took a second to start the motor. The seafaring people of Lith Harbor noticed the scooter suspiciously. The town's militia guards had their guns readied just in case. The people were very wary of strangers, especially after dusk. As they arrived at the chapel Julien noticed a scroll jammed in the door handle. He quickly jumped off the scooter to read it.
Julien,
If you get this, wait here, we went to the cemetery to investigate. We should be back not too long after dark. Please just wait here.
Father Shober
Julien threw the scroll down and shook his head.
"They left without me! We got to go" Julien freaked out.
"Go where? We just got here?" Greg asked puzzled.
"To the cemetery, fire that scooter back up…shit!" Julien cursed himself.
"The cemetery?! What the hell!?" Greg exclaimed.
"No time to explain, just come!" Julien shook his head.
The scooter motor started for a moment and then died.
"It's out of juice" Greg sighed.
"Well, come on, we got to hoof it" Julien said leading the way.
"We can do more than that" Greg said making some signs with his hand and with a small green flash of symbols they were moving twice their speed.
On lookers watched nervously as they ran to the edge of town where the cemetery was. An old couple observed the young men as they rushed away.
"Guards!" the old lady shrieked. A guard dressed with a vest, a bandana, and a pair of cut jeans and boots came to her aid.
"Someone tell Olaf and Vikin we got a pair of fools going to off their deaths" she told one of the guardsmen. The sailor looking guard nodded with his pistol in his hand he dashed off. The sun began to disappear making way for the dark cold night.
