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Chapter 10: The Monster In The Mist

My eyes stare at the foreign object grasped in my abyssal palm.

'Why a mask? I've never needed one before.' The mask in question features two pairs of eyeslits and sports an angular shape, pointing downwards, presumably covering the nose and a portion of the cheekbone. The accessory is pitch in color, with two silver flames over the eyeslits.

'I can't believe they used my emblem's eyes for this, when was this made?'

"Use this, for it will omit the light. The very thing that opposes us." Salem's motherly voice informs, slowly circling me; as a predator would its prey.

I give it a sigh.

"If only to get some space." I dryly state, my hands flipping the… my mask around before slowly allowing it to envelope my face.

'Just what am I getting into?"

The fire licks my steel heels, the heat unbearable. I freerun up a modified crate stairway before leaping up to the metallic rafters, running along them after pulling myself up. My fox ears are treated to the heavy stomps of my chaser, his combat boots confirming his position.

The air vibrates as the bear roars. The roar is followed by a stream of burning energy, I hop backwards to avoid my possible killer, sweat forming to battle the heat.

'This guy could just fuck off with the fire!'

I slink away into the shadows, wisps of smoke trailing me. I circle behind the beast, tendrils poised. His neck cracks under the mists' force, his body standing no chance.

"For shame. If only you just left us alone." a cold, apathetic voice spues from my lips.

I remove my serrated dagger, Shard, from its place before eviscerating his throat and carving the Monstrum Caligo into his chest. The bloody smile of the familiar monster greeting my masks' matching eyes.

"The Monstrum Caligo rises today." I state to the onlooking cameras, my voice forgetting emotion, before a sadistic smirk forms.

"Who would do this?" I disgustedly ask, my icy eyes boring into the corpse. The once bold Atlesian captain now lay motionless on the ground, blood seeping from his mouth, his throat and the strange symbol carved into his chest. His face eternally distorted, revealing his final emotion… terror.

'Who was that man? Why did he kill Bertholt, why was he using Mistralian? He's only making this worse.'

I stare into the smoldering ruins of the once mighty show of power, weak cries of help escaping the inferno.

"Help me!" a soldier weeps, his arms dragging the remains of his body. Blood trails from his torso, legs nowhere to be found.

"Why would I help what I intend to kill?" I sarcastically ask, the tone is flat. His eyes widen in pure fear.

"N-no! Just let me live! We didn't do anything!" he frantically cries, eventually resorting to sniffling and low mumbles.

"That's exactly why."

'This is troubling. This is no pawn, no. This is the work of a knight.'

A shadowy figure darts to the door, it's right arm cradling a small mass of blankets. The opposing hand reaches out, followed by a loud, succinct knock. The small mass is lowered in front of the oaken door. The figure runs off, disappearing into the darkness.

The door swings open.

"Hello! Who's there?" a robed man calls out, the golden cross dangling from his neck contrasting his black robes. His white hair forming a snowy crown, with friendly brown eyes surrounded by wrinkles. He lets out a gasp at the blankets. He gently relieves the ground of its burden, cradling the mass with a sorrowful expression.

"Poor, poor child. Don't worry, I'll take care of you. The past is just that, the past.

The priest spins around, his left arm bringing the door towards him. The last seen expression being a small, comforting smile.

My hand swipes the offensive, singular tear away; all in an attempt to block out the pain my actions have cost me.

'Why did we choose this? We could've had a family, one that didn't destroy itself.' My face hardens as footsteps approach my position.

The figure soon enters my vision. He has windswept bleach hair and dark grey, almost black, set in tan skin. He's wearing a red tank top with black hills on his flanks. His pants are a dark brown leather and reach over his light brown combat boots. A domino belt encircles his armoured pants, various knives strapped to it. Two rather large daggers are sheathed on either thigh.

"Where the hell is this guy?" the man mutters under his breath. The man's eyes scan the desolate room.

I fall down in front of him in a crouch, my palms splayed in front of me for stability. I rise up to my full height and look down into his shocked eyes.

"Who the hell are you!" he exclaims, leaning backwards for more space.

"You're worst nightmare." I deadpan, my fingers twitching in barely contained excitement.

"I doubt that." the, obvious, assassin states; his face splitting into a cocky smile, his eyes glimmering with bloodlust.

"But first, I believe introductions are in order. You may refer to me as Monstrum Caligo, and you are?" I inquire, my tone's apathy slipping into curiosity.

"You can call me Marcus, and that's all you're getting!" Marcus exclaims, launching himself at me.

I thrust my arms in opposite directions, my body turning into a pair of mist clouds. I circle around my aggressor and reform. I'm then treated to his crash, the steel beam angrily vibrating in response.

He growls as his form rises. His body twists around, four of the throwing knives launched at me. I boost my legs with a pinch of aura… and leap to the ceiling. My steel heels make a slight thunk as I land on the rafters, the metal holding steady. A thud to my left snaps my attention there, my eyes are greeted by my adversary.

"You're not getting away that easily!" he growls all the while his hands are filled with two giant, hooked daggers. He begins to charge me.

I leap to the beam to his right, my hand now bearing Odium. As I plummet down I fire once at the wannabe assassin, his form being launched towards the wall. I smirk as my body crashes into the concrete.

"You know what! You can just take this one! I don't need it!" Marcus yells out, his shadowed figure racing for the exit.

"Good."

'Where is she? Can't believe I'm actually waiting for a Schnee.' I give a low snort.

*Click, clack, click, clack, click, clack.*

The heels stop… right below me. I look down and am greeted by cold blue eyes, filled with rage.

"Just what are you doing, abschaum?" the regal woman sneers, her eyes narrowed at me.

'This isn't good.' The woman snaps a white, gloved finger; the sound reverberating throughout.

Heavy footfalls approach us.

"I'm going to leave now." I awkwardly state before dashing towards the exit, the fleeting forms of James and a squadron of helmets passing me.

I reach the hotel room belonging to me… before promptly crashing in it, face first.

'That was way too close.'