Bryn: Hey Jo, would you like to update what happened after my torture?
Jo: Yup, but I have to write some of the other stories.
Bryn: Oh, well what is this monthly update, I'm pretty sure Weekly Shounen Jumps is harder. I'm cuter than Luanne, plus I'm nicer than Rehema, plus I rock Marik's socks, plus—
Jo: Oh, Ok! I will update you!
Bryn: Woohoo! Enjoy!
meijosui's Authoress Notes on Universe Play no.6
huma in British: noun
"A bird in Persian mythology similar to the Phoenix and believed to bring good luck." – Collins Dictionary
"Huma' means: With a name number 7, you're administering planet is Neptune. You work naturally and have a mental and yielding nature in investigating your objectives. You jump at the chance to individuals in need when you find the opportunity and have the open door. Likes to dream of the numerous potential outcomes of life you could embrace. Your psyche possesses solid internal recuperating powers particularly when you experience disappointments. You ricochet once more from difficulty and sad occasions like nothing ever happened. Your fantasies are in some cases uncovering and prophetic. You have an individual love for water and do numerous ocean/shoreline trips throughout your life. Your otherworldly interests may now and again command your common wishes." –Definition of Meaning
In the Universe/ Dimension/Fate of Huma that is 'An Emerald Phoenix Renewed', Marik and Mirah officially meet in Ataahua's OC Universe. I call it Huma because I am playing with Dimensions like all good shounen writers do.
Name: Ebony 'Spawny', 'Hayley' Clarke
Age: 16
Occupation: The Cobras sales representative, Member of the Huma Ring in Kenosha, Clarke and Pearson's Auction
Name: Daniel Pearson
Age: 19
Occupation: The Cobras sales representative assistant
Chapter 11- Spawny Enough to Name the Price!
"Of course sir, I will commission the artefact for the Cobras for over £60 Million Pounds." The girl suited up had a few others followed her.
As she listened again, the man who is the head of the Cobras and Phoenix explained his dissatisfactions about the recently stolen item. He didn't want it anymore.
"This is the last train, 'Spawny'." The boy said to her.
"I know that it's the Kobrahlah boss in London. If I could get to the London Phoenix Castle and find some clues, I could just…" The girl hissed.
The train was about to recommence its trip again. "Don't you think you should confront him since Hayley's disappearance?" The boy next to her said. The girl looked lost as she was an undercover to help the perpetrator that is responsible for her sister's disappearance. She had the Huma Ring label approved by the Kenosha as well as her own company.
"Mark my words… I will have my revenge, believe me. Someday there will be an end to the Cobras." The girl with a think Estuary Accent said.
"I think this is going to be a long trip, the mysterious R.H. might be here." The boy mentioned it as he remembered vividly the broadcast made it to the news.
"Ebony, promise me you will approach them with vigilance for if Hayley were here—
"Hayley would have contacted the Kenosha and she did and now she is gone…" Ebony almost cried.
"I'm sure she is safe…"
"Like you would know, everyone says she is capture or even sentenced to life but if rumours are true, let's just hope that registering as Huma Ring under Kenosha will give us some lead." Ebony sighed as she had a large briefcase full of merchandises.
The cruelty of Marik towards Bryn never ended. He wasn't hurting him physically now but the insulting him for betraying his values. Bryn sat in the corner of the cabin as Marik stood over him.
As the steamy train tooted to start again, "Now I know how you've betrayed me with your imbecilic promise to your Monk. My suspicions never faltered. What a shame Bryn… I hope you do realise I am not the lenient Master you always knew." Marik's fingers dig into Bryn's shoulder cruelly then backhanded the boy. Bryn was cried.
"Master Marik… please don't take that from me…" it sounded ridiculous in Bryn's part as that was the very thing Marik wanted. Bryn deprived it of him and now the consequences suffice.
The fury Marik had was enough to destroy anything in his path. "THOSE STONES RIGHTFULLY BELONG TO ME, YOU FOOL!"
The poor Rare Hunter felt a large sting once again. Marik sat and crossed his arms with his Millennium Rod across his chest.
"Would you still claim it if I give them back to you…? Marik finally asked. Bryn looked up and slowly shook his head. He could have sworn he felt Marik enter his mind for a while. The gleam caught was directed to his mind as the tendrils shocked him. He knew Marik wanted a truthful answer that will resolve what his loyalty to Marik.
Bryn glanced up and grunted with discomfort. He trembled, as Marik's judgement was always swift. "I think ultimately I wanted to give it to Master Marik because he looks after me. Monk Phi Long only cared for himself." Bryn thought to himself.
"And why would I hate you, Bryn?" Marik stood up as he left. Marik smirked, as he wanted to track Odion and Keren. Bryn swallowed his saliva hard. He knew this was Marik's mercy.
Meanwhile, Abbey and Carissa saw Marik looked quite pissed as he walked past their cabin. They were having their breakfast bowls of oats. Emmet was sleeping in the cabin as both girls glanced at each other. Then they saw the bridge that says 'Wales' again. Something isn't right.
Marik slammed the door to open and Odion and Keren were startled by the boy's impulse. "Next it is the Hemsut Sceptre that!" Marik disrupted Odion and Keren.
Keren bowed as she provided a slip of paper that Emmet gave them. 'Be careful of the Walmuda Track-tangle… The slithering baits you all." In the corner of his eyes, Emmet, Abbey and Carissa went to see Bryn. Whatever it is he couldn't care less.
As the three saw Bryn sad, Abbey hugged her brother. "Bryn, are you okay?"
"Monk Phi Long, I failed him… I FAILED HIM", Bryn sobbed. Marik was not meant to take those stones.
"Bryn, it's okay, the stones were going to either be my mum's or Marik's. We can't protect the world like that." Carissa said timidly.
"Well, it's no time to think about that. We are in the middle of a strange track." Emmet showed Bryn his phone. "Wow! This can't be happening!"
"I didn't think the sisters hate each other?!" Abbey gaped.
"My family didn't have any structure. My dad secretly served the Rare Hunters, as he knew Marik was looking for the same stones as my mother.
Bryn quickly looked out and then they realised the same sign was there. "If Master Marik knows you are helping me, he will be pissed! He's already pissed at me for concealing the truth about Monk Phi Long."
Carissa's jaw dropped and helped Bryn up. She helped tidy Bryn's look and help him sit. "My mum wants to use the stones to take her sister's powers because of Auntie Emalia."
"Firstly we have to find a way out of this track. Secondly, we need to retrieve the stones from Master Marik, and thirdly...thirdly, we have to make sure the Justus is found by the right person so that our world doesn't get destroyed!" Bryn blurted his thoughts. He discounted the fact that Layla was the reason Marik wanted her resurrected. "Could you guys help me?"
Abbey hated to admit, part of Bryn is suffering ever since the race began. "Bryn… I can't help you with Master Marik, but I can help you to stop the messing of the world and save dad now that mum is a Justus".
Marik was listening to their conversation with his Millennium Rod. It was unbeknownst to them. As he consumed his Corn Fritters, he stabbed one and huffed. Keren and Odion were whispering to each other as they were eating. "Odion… what happens to the little leprechaun if he disobeys me?" Marik hissed.
"Master Marik, perhaps talking to Bryn about his importance as a Justus might clear up some issues," Odion advised Marik.
He salvaged his corn fritter as he kept stabbing his food into pieces. He stared at Keren as she seems to understand his dilemmas. "Bryn must be very important to you…. Perhaps clearing some air would add a thinker layer of trust instead of betrayal."
"I know that… also… t-thank you for saving me, Keren. I didn't realise that a mere stranger could harness such loyalty." Marik finally said. He was grateful that during his stresses, Odion and Bryn looked after him. He had to admit he wasn't himself as he was planning the last minute getaway.
"I hear that you are in charge of Rare Hunter and holding onto ones close to you, you can achieve many things. I believe you are an intelligent boy in your age." Keren complimented him.
Inside another cabin on the other end, thin fingers were tracing a toy train in circles. Her play with the train was directly controlling the movement of the train. She took a sip of her champagne and smirked at the company she has. Her turquoise eyes glistened with disdained mockery as she turned on the switch below the table.
"A purposeful mission of with ease…" She kicked the stationmaster who was all tied up and muffled with a gag. She focused her eyes on one of her sales team and then to the one beside her. The man blows the table groaned as the disturbing kick impaled the man in agony. "Justus has yet to know of our existence. I hope we do receive a Justus position. I was sure the Stormont Parliament held some of our clues."
"I win this time! I attack your Blade Skater with my Cyber Angle Dakini". The boy beside her smirked as she purposely blew the cards down. The other opposite him grunted as he wasn't taking the game seriously.
"Game over for both of you… I need to think through a few things. There will be organisations that want this position desperately. I hear that there is the woman from the Drukpa Order that is currently in position. More so, there is an Auction soon and we shouldn't be late" She smirked.
The one beside her sighed, "I wish it were simple. Our orders from our boss back in London are specific."
"Blah Blah Blah… like I care what your brother thinks. I'm always on top of my damn game." She stepped on the hostage's abdominal. "He can fuck all the girls in his castle, I'm going to make sure I claim a position in Kenosha without him." The teenage girl said wryly as she was watching the reactions of the boy beside him.
"What if the new organisations want the position?" The boy diagonally across her asked.
"Just as well, I can guarantee you that the R.H. is one of them." She sipped her champagne again.
"The sweet little Samhain Black kid was easily persuaded by our antics, M'lady Hayley."
"This train is ours, I wonder how long would anyone notice this detour, Gilbert?" She mused, "Passing the same sign, as we loop track… I wonder if they are here on this very train we're in."
"Clara Harkin is the Justus and I want to claim that position for myself." She narrowed her turquoise pools.
"You know we can't beat her… she's faster than us and her Khukuri Kung Fu has killed the almost 89 people in one day!" The girl exclaimed as she turned on her.
"But my dear, your charm is enough to lure them in." The boy beside her said.
"Boys… as the sales representative newly hired by the Cobras, I have to keep this Sceptre in a safe place. The boss didn't want this artefact sold at first but he was ready to advance the sale.
"I think this is your chance Miss Clarke to restore the Huma Ring name with the Gandharva." The boy next to her said.
"Daniel, I have all that I have needed to restore our name. The Gandharva, whom I owe my life to…"
Marik sat alone reading the book, "The Norse Capitalist' and checked again. The same scenery was bypassing his eyes a few hours ago, was it Déjà vu? Odion and Keren fell asleep, which he didn't mind. Emmet was an interesting clue maker. A Samhain Black that perceives a clue before it happens. As he was about the open the door, Bryn and the others stopped pacing.
"M- master… are you still angry with me…" Bryn said shyly.
Marik smiled at Bryn, then he pulled him roughly along the corridor. The Egyptian teen was way too fast as he power walked his way.
"So you want to stop me from the splitting the universe?" Marik chuckled, then he slammed him into the wall. He inched forward.
"I am not telling you that—" Marik's Millennium Rod's blade was unsheathed.
"Do you not know about my real intentions? Is the daughter of the Tainted White persuading you to go against me?" Marik's hot steamy breath caressed the boy's ear. Marik took the box out of his pocket. "Do you honestly trust your Monk Teacher more than me? I thought I made it clear to you that all I wanted is to resurrect Layla!"
Abbey saw that Marik was harassing Bryn so she stomps towards him. She was about to kick the blond teen until Bryn blocked her kick and he defended their Master. Marik laughed as she saw siblings turn against each other. Marik then punched Abbey to put her in her place. Emmet and Carissa helped Abbey up. Marik smiled, as his loyal servant Bryn trusted him again.
"You all should know that I do not tolerate any kinds of conspiring against my orders in any ranks," Marik said. "Bryn… my intentions are clear, I hope you do hold true to your servitude. Monk Phi Long in truth wants to hold your family captive. When he finds the Original Justus, he wants nothing more than to sever all Gandharva existence."
"I- I do Master… I want you to believe you."
"The truth of the matter is you and Abbey are the next heirs to the Justus," Marik revealed to know the cost of his chance to be one.
"I'm a… Justus?" Bryn in his array of shock stumbled. Marik leaned towards the wall nodding.
"Yes, that is why I chose you to be in my ranks." He looked at his nails.
"So that, I can give you my position as a Justus?!" Bryn asked vehemently. "And you were the one that caused my teachers to go against me!"
Marik simply nodded and smirking, "I hope you don't hold it against me."
Bryn then looked pissed and approached Marik. He looked up at him and suddenly hugged him. When Marik realised Bryn graciously accepted what was said and Marik he squatted down and looked into the boy's olive eyes. He gently wiped the boy's angry tears that were expressed from learning the truth. Although Bryn didn't yell back, he still disapproved of the secret kept from him because of his loyalty towards Marik.
"Master… Marik… I want to help bring Layla back… and I will bestow—"
"No… we will bestow that Justus to you…" Abbey joined in.
Carissa approached her and bowed. "Sir, it is my mother that you need to stop…" Marik smirked remembering how her as the captive of his was trying to turn Bryn against him.
"What is your intention against me, Gissi?" Marik's question was direct. She could feel the weight of Marik's interrogation through the Millennium Rod to loosen her tongue.
She opened her mouth as she tried to resist revealing the truth. Marik sighed as he approached her. "You want vengeance from as you hate Layla, don't you?" Marik smirked.
Carissa was about to scream on the train until Bryn held her hand. "Carissa is considered our Rare Hunter family now Master Marik…" Bryn said sweetly.
Then Bryn received a sharp flick of Marik's finger to his forehead. "I don't think so… that is for Layla to decide, as the sorceress Rehema had once entered two realms at the same time… she would have a better judge of who is in her family." Marik said rather cryptically.
"Master Marik, did you know that this train is a hitched circuit?" Abbey addressed him.
"Absolutely, I knew from Emmet's note." He eyed at Emmet as he averted his eyes. Marik knew that there was something wrong with the train.
Marik approached the Station Master's operating cabin and found a trail of blood on the wall. He was about to kick the door until he said, "Bryn could you kick the door?"
Bryn did so and no one was there. Marik and Bryn peeped through and there was an alert in red signalling, "detouring".
"Bryn, what kind of trickster would put us on an autopilot trip around Wales?" Marik glowered.
They both looked back and Abbey, Emmet and Carissa as they are spotted the room with the captive. Marik then followed suit and heard laughter from the roof of the train.
"Master Marik, there is a man bleeding!" Abbey whispered. Marik ran towards the room they were at and hence there was an engineered model of a train on the table operating slowly, a glass of Champagne that was already drunk from hours previously. The Station Master was unconscious and people who previously were there had climbed up out of the window.
"Like I care, I just want to confront the culprit that is causing this detour," Marik growled.
Bryn was frightened of the casualty so he hid behind Marik. The Rare Hunter Overlord turned off the mini model and the main train also halted.
Then Marik turned around and smiled at Bryn. "What kind of train is this? While I was unconscious and all of you aboard this train?"
"It was the cheapest ticket we could find Master Marik…" Bryn blushed.
Marik cackled. "This is fun…" He eyed on Abbey. "You two tell Odion, there is a matter that he needs to attend to." Marik pointed to Abbey and Emmet.
The pastel blue and pink haired girl bit her own lips as she stayed with Marik and Bryn. Bryn approached the man and untied him. In the middle of the untying, Marik helped in the process. He tested the man's breath. Perhaps a CPR was worth it.
He grabbed the napkin and placed it on the man's face. "Bryn you know CPR right?" Marik asked casually.
Bryn shook his head supposedly trying to avoid breathing into the man's mouth. Another laugh was heard from the roof of the train.
Marik went straight to resuscitating the man because he needed an operating driver for the train. Marik grabbed Bryn to not go anywhere without him. "This man is our key to Germany and if we do not keep him alive, we won't be able to go anywhere!"
Bryn stayed as he watched his Master dreading the CPR. He compressed the lower chest area of the man. Marik finally felt the man twitched. He was bleeding and filled with gashes, it must mean there is another criminal syndicate on board.
"Master, there is a girl up on the roof!" Bryn peeped from the window. Carissa followed him. Marik untied the man's bounds and gag. At last, he was breathing but letting him lay there. Marik saw a silhouette of a girl. She was slim and trim; a lengthy stylish high ponytail was tied up high. There was more than one company; there were four in total.
Bryn was fascinated about riding on the roof but the trained had stopped so he held on to one of the glass, although not advisable but he was skilled enough. Marik was pissed so he yelled, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU FOOL?"
The boy did a flip jump on the train and then saw a tall and older teenage girl. She placed her hand on her hip and it could be interpreted as a smirk.
Marik saw that this was a trap so he climbed out of the window. He glared at Carissa before she did anything.
Then Marik tucked his Millennium Rod in his belt and climbed up the train.
Bryn sat with the girl as silhouettes with another three boys. Eventually, Marik came to a stop as the girl was whispering to Bryn's ear. Marik leapt to the other carriage as Bryn turned around.
"I see that he is your boss, the ARR. ETCHCH," the girl said. She had distinct turquoise eyes, however, the rest was undiscoverable. Bryn laughed as he then hugged the girl.
"She handcuffed me, Master!" Bryn cheered as he showed Marik. The gang chortled.
"WHY WOULD YOU BE HANDCUFFED? THEY ARE OUR OPPONENTS, YOU IDIOT!" The girl handed another clue to Bryn. Marik remembered Emmet's heeding about the slithering cohort.
Bryn held a lollipop and a deck of new cards and cheerfully showed Marik as he twirled around. Marik growled, "WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT? YOU CAN'T ACCEPT LOLLIPOPS FROM STRANGERS!"
The girl whispered in Bryn's ear again and Bryn giggled as though he had forgotten they were bad people. Marik approached Bryn and the four strangers carefully.
"I doubt that the R.H. knows how to duel for his little lackey…" One of the boys said.
The exotic features of the girl were awestruck and Marik gaped at the turquoise eyes. "Are you sure he is the R.H?" Hayley asked doubtfully. She cuddled Bryn like an old bear.
"He is the one R.H that announced the turmoil to Tasara…" One of the males informed the girl with emerald eyes. Marik narrowed his eyes and perhaps gave his uneasiness away.
"Good! Then I shall kidnap his darling lackey here…" She snuggled Bryn and ruffled his hair like crazy as though he was a puppy. Bryn giggled, as he kinda liked being kidnapped by Hayley.
"Bryn! You better explain yourself now!" Marik growled. Then he realised Emmet was right about some clues. The clue was his opportunity for the taking as this was the Slithering clue that was supposedly meant to be in France and now it came to him.
"I hope Emmet wasn't too much of a hassle… I merely wanted to see the boy behind the camera and see if he is really what he claimed he is." The girl clucked her tongue and traced a finger at the thirteen-year-old boy boss's collarbones she wanted to play with. She was seductively playing as her tongue licked Marik's tanned left ear. "I am your prize, Blondie…" She moaned. Bryn was awkwardly in the middle as the girl's breast pressed against his head when she leaned forward to his Master.
Marik smirked as enjoyed her banter. Was she really seducing Marik, or hinting a deeper bond? "Name the price…" Marik hissed through his teeth.
She wrapped her arms around Marik's waist and touched his ass. "As you… wish…"She daringly squeezed Marik's ass. She then continued, "Hmm hard to believe these hands have tortured the Station Master." She pouted. Marik's trademark smirk widened as he inched closer to the girl who reflects similar sadistic traits as him.
"Damn it! Just name the price now!" Marik was now easily vexed.
"Desperate are we?" The female mused, "If you, allow me to borrow this little boy with some technology to warn some idiots about us because he went into a restricted section of the deep web, join us in a quote for an unwanted artefact, punish a random passenger and duel Daniel in a 1000 point duel… then…" She fanned herself as though she was fantasising about a victory. "My cohort will assist you to a flight straight to Germany without the hassles of catches. Did I mention it's entirely rain checked? Even Brynzibun agrees…" Hayley squeezed Bryn's cheeks. The Egyptian Boy was shorter than her but she could tell he was already pretty tall for his age.
"No, because there isn't anything I want from you or from the organisation you are working for," Marik said. He finally scowled. Odion, Keren, Abbey, Carissa and Emmet climbed up to track where Marik was. Marik sighed as he had learnt that they were there to assist him. Hayley on the other hand trip Marik and the other three boys with her grabbed Marik and leapt off the train roof and Hayley leapt with Bryn. Abbey attempted to take her brother back so she leapt also to a truck with hay. Odion knew of the mysterious Hayley so he and Keren noted their number plates. Carissa and Emmet followed Odion's directions and hoped for the best outcome.
An anonymous driver drove the truck away and to an anonymous warehouse.
As they dialled the number, Marik was pinned by Hayley, "That was not nice of you!" She began to kiss the thirteen-year-old Egyptian teen passionately.
Bryn realised he was letting the girl have her way because she posed a dangerous threat. He had to pretend he was happy to be captured.
"I wasn't trying to play nice and indeed you're a Kenosha member of the Huma Ring." Marik narrowed his eyes and Hayley smirked.
Bryn sat staring at Marik's dealing with Hayley. She sighed and cackled. "I want to be part of the Justus, R.H… that book is Emmet's promise to me. I mean, nah! I just want to meet one particular Justus. Your mother… And I'm not part of the Huma Ring. I'm just a sales representative. The Auction will be tonight…"
"You mean Clara Harkin…?" Abbey asked.
"I hear she is the almighty Clara Gandharva, no wonder you're vicious." Hayley cracked her fingers. Then she pulled Abbey's short hair and soon enough they were in a full-fledged catfight.
Abbey then dropped kicked on Hayley but she dodged it hard. Now in a full-fledged fight, Marik was impressed with his Rare Huntress' Martial Arts against the girl with turquoise eyes.
Hayley's actions matched Abbey's and neither was able to yield. Abbey's signature moves in Wing Chun stunned most of the straws were flying. Marik chuckled, as the girls were great fighters. Bryn was devastated and ran in between Hayley and Abbey. Hayley realised it was too late as she threw the last punch and finally Bryn's shielded his eyes. Marik stopped and Hayley did as well. Abbey knew Bryn would earn a black eye.
"OW!"
"OH! MY BABY BRYNZIBUN! I AM SO SORRY!" Hayley yelled with great concern. Marik rolled his eyes. He pulled his hand out and pulled Bryn towards him.
"Are you okay Bryn?" Marik hugged his Rare Hunter, as he groaned. Hayley's face then changed into a guilt form, as she did like Bryn a lot. Abbey then slapped her across the face.
"It's not as bad Master…" Bryn uncovered his eyes and a swollen black eye appeared on his right.
Marik held his Millennium Rod against Bryn's eye, as it was cooler than his hand. "You need an ice pack… for now, I will play her little games."
Abbey glared at Hayley, " What do you want from us?"
"I want to meet her and have her train me better. I know another few minutes; I could have been fucked up by your skills. I have an artefact that is hard to sell. I mean Huma Ring or the Cobras wanted the artefact and they stole it from the auction and then Grayson, my boss contacted Sa— will sell it for 40 Million Pounds." Ebony reduced the price unfaithfully.
As Marik heard that this particular bird wannabe wanted to meet Clara, he knew she wasn't interested in the Justus position.
"Supposedly, if you have used Emmet to lure us to you…" Marik held the boy to make sure he was okay. Criminals alike think alike so he wanted to check where Hayley is leading them.
"I heard from you and your little rivalry with Tasara Dane. Let's say you had quite an unpleasant reputation left by technology and I want the same for myself. Most of all, I want to be taken under the wings of a Gandharva so that I improve my skills. I am also aware of the Cosmic split that woman intends to cause… Who knows if our meeting will be the same here?" The sale's representatives revealed colleagues Hayley herself.
Marik understood that the Book of Theurgists' Reverie was the pinnacle creating two universes. As long as it is in his hands, Tasara will not dare to meddle with him. He gripped his Millennium Rod tighter. "I wonder if I'll ever meet you again…" Marik muttered.
"So is it a deal, if those games are played, we will take you to Germany?" Hayley said.
Marik smirked; he thought it was interesting how destiny was playing well for him. As Hayley mentioned her knowledge of the Cosmic Split, he felt a surge of premonition flashing from his Millennium Rod.
"I want genuine results… what should we start with then?" Marik smirked.
Soon she opened the gate to the Warehouse. "You know if The Cob— I mean Huma is an organisation…"
Soon enough Bryn was holding an Icepack against his bruised eyes. Hayley had leather jackets wheeled in from a rack as Marik checked his lackey's black eye.
"Marik, I'm fine… I just need to place it longer." Bryn pouted and Marik perceived his discomfort as the boy as in pain so Marik gave Bryn a peck on the cheek. Hayley then picked up her phone as she had an urgent call. Marik watched as she excused herself from them. Marik found her shadiness to be indiscreet but she meant well.
There was the next question: "What is another word for this bird from the Islamic Persian literature?"
Marik knew of a phoenix other than Hayley that is of Ra. He remembered the Aviary book called 'The Conference of the Birds." It was an allegorical masterpiece in itself from Attar of Nishapur. "That Iranian Literature…. Hmm, the bird starts with 'H'…" Marik was trying to recall everything that he had read about the pre- Islamic monarch.
Abbey turned to Marik and gave him a quick sign language and Marik remembered. "I remember now… the Huma bird. He wrote it in the paper that was provided.
There was the next question: "What is the location of this mosaic and what realm does Huma travel in?"
Marik knew what it was. He knew the monument well enough as he remembered kidnapping his first politician. 'Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasa in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.'
Marik gave Bryn thumbs up as Hayley returned with a pistol and a high ponytail. She looked like a 60s Bond Girl. She had green flared sleeves and a heart-shaped sunglass.
"It's Game three now boys… and girl…" Hayley announced as the overhead changed signals to pass them.
Marik bit his nails as he realised how much more time he needed to play this game. Daniel brought half his deck to the duelling arena and Marik sighed. He grabbed his own… wait; his deck was back on the train. 'Shit!'
Then Daniel came in with his Marik's bag and Bryn's bag as well as Abbey's bag. Hayley slyly shrugged and tilted her head.
"Like I said, I like my games to be complete…" Hayley chortled. "Did you know a girl who is French and Greek descent? I'm full English but one of my clients... nevermind..." Marik sighed and gave a bobblehead nod.
Hayley threw her arms over Abbey and then she twirled her hair. She gave Abbey a nice hair tie with a pink pom-pom.
"I bet you should visit London, where all the groovy hippies are girlfriends…" Hayley tied the hair in two halves. "I think we can be best friends bob head…" Abbey blushed as she had never had a girl at her age say that to her. She had always been a lone ranger with animal advocacy.
"Then should I ever visit you?" Abbey raised her brow and felt the criminal steadily tied her hair.
"Bey Bobby's hair is stunning Master…" Bryn complimented her. Marik and Bryn checked Abbey's hair.
"WOULD YOU BOYS QUIT STARING AT MY HAIR?" Abbey yelled at their incessant staring of her hairdo.
"Shall we commence Round Three my darlings...?" Hayley gestured pointedly at the duelling arena.
Marik unzipped his bag and took out his cards to duel with someone. He loved how all of them wanted a duel. He had not duel since last week. All of which, being a duelist would teach Bryn how to play well.
"Why did you disclose your own identity again? My bewilderment is as good as yours Bryn." Glaring at Bryn from the corner of his eyes. Marik knew that Hayley wanted a handful of Bryn's adorableness.
Bryn looked perplexed as Marik shuffled his deck. Hayley gave her leather jacket a brush of the dust and placed it beside him.
Bryn stared at Marik wordlessly and sighed. "You do realise that these jackets are Gucci…" Bryn tried to change the topic.
"Yes… and I'll be duelling in those fancy jackets, I suppose this means we wear them to gratify ourselves." Marik placed his cards on the desk and wore them. Although it was a little too big for him, he didn't mind the style.
"Let's just say, R.H, Sir, I know that they are the Harkin Siblings you have employed and I am interested in taking them for a little while. I know that Bey Bobby and Brynzibun are a great collection of the 'B' team. Call me Spawny for all I care, I just want Bryn to aid a client in technology hacking." She smirked.
"You don't know my name yet…" Marik chuckled as he carelessly slapped his hand on the Hayley but she grabbed his hands with a fast reflex and squeezed it hard.
"Tat… that, I do know everything, Marik Ishtar… I'm surprised you do not know mine yet." She wickedly burned her glares into the Lavender pool.
Marik shook his hand, as her grip was unyieldingly painful. "How did you—?"
"Fuck! How did I know what? If you were smart enough to travel with Emmet, then you wouldn't have an argy-bargy thing happening. Sorry, darling, I earwigged on his laptop. By the way, the SNL thing was my idea too." Hayley in her British accent sassed Marik right off the bat.
"Then what is your name then, Hayley?" Marik huffed.
"Lady Spawny," Bryn butted in, which earned Marik an eye roll.
"No… Hayley is my sister's name… she past away and I swear to take revenge on Sa— him! My name is Ebony Clarke. I suppose that is a lovely nickname for me. Abbey, Bryn and Marik…" She bit her lips thinking about her past. Abbey perceived Ebony's glumness so she glanced at her.
"You know, my brother and I used to sing 'Rattlin Bog' by the Irish Descendants when we meet new people." Abbey looked at Marik for approval. He shrugged and nodded.
Bryn then starts,
"Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Well in the bog there was a hole,
A rare hole and a rattlin' hole,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o."
Marik smiled as Bryn transitioned his very own Canadian accent to genuine Irish ones. Marik stopped Bryn for a second.
"Wait a minute, isn't this a drinking game where you sing and pass on the mug or the jug and it goes accumulatively faster?" Marik huffed.
All three Ebony, Abbey and Bryn nodded. Daniel then came with three jugs of non- alcoholic apple cider. Ebony's lip curled with a smirk.
"All good! My fellow 'U.K' triplets shall serenade." Ebony lifted her slender legs and placed it on the table in an unfashionable way.
All three sang the chorus whereas Marik just glared at them. Ebony seemed to know the song well.
"Well in that hole there was a tree,
A rare tree and a rattlin' tree,
And the tree in the hole,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
on that tree, there was a branch,
A rare branch and a rattlin' branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the hole,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o."
Marik arched his brow with amusement as they took a long-winded breath.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
on that branch, there was a limb,
A rare limb and a rattlin' limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the hole,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Well on that limb there was a nest,
A rare nest and a rattlin' nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the hole,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Now in that nest, there was a bird,
A rare bird and a rattlin' bird,
And the bird in the nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the hole,
And the hole in the bog,
down in the valley-o.
Ho, ho, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
In that bird, there was an egg,
A rare egg and a rattlin' egg,
And the egg on the bird,
And the bird in the nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
In that egg, there was a bird,
A rare bird and a rattlin' bird,
And the bird on the egg,
And the egg on the bird,
And the bird in the nest,
And the nest on the limb,
And the limb on the branch,
And the branch on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o.
Meanwhile, Marik soon felt giddy not from the alcohol but the overdose of sugar that was from the Apple Cider. He looked at the time from where the sun is positioned and it would have been around 4 pm. Bryn was just chatting with Ebony who is a mysterious outlaw like him. Although she probably knows how to have fun more than him and Abbey, she sat by him. "Master Marik, when are you going to duel them?" Abbey glanced at Marik.
"Honestly, she is having too much fun with your brother. I think… pft… like never…" Marik and Abbey looked at Ebony and Bryn as they are playing 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' on an iPad.
"Abbey… would you betray me to save your mother and father?" Marik finally asked.
"Huh?"
"When I started Rare Hunters, I didn't know that I would bring along traitors. The fact that family and rites are almost the same." Marik morbidly expressed.
"Marik, I would rescue my family urgently but if my service to you depends on my brother's life… I have to listen to you…" Abbey noticed Marik's acknowledgement of her family is as important as serving him. It would affect Bryn and even her if their personal affairs were jeopardised.
"I do not normally say this, but I promise I will have your father rescued. It's just that I need to find the real former Justus to settle some issues— No I mean…" Marik sighed.
"Sir, if you are stress, perhaps it is best you send Oliver and Rivah over to aid him. If I am being too blunt, please be honest."
"Not at all… Bryn just needs me to mentor him. I had it all planned out. By contributing to this race, we find the former Justus to collect my— I mean our status in the Kenosha as Rare Hunters. Use our authority to great use to release your father and other hostages. That would also stop the captor Tasara Dane from taking over the world. I still need to find the Sceptre of Hemsut so that I may… call a friend… a beloved friend back. Not to mention I have some scores to settle with Eon and Monk Phi Long…" He said in great confusion and spite.
"So is my question spoken out of line?" Abbey asked again.
"Leave it to me, my Dear. I assure you, that everything is going to be alright." Marik spoke as though she was younger than him. Abbey gave a disobliging look.
"Oi! Sir! The break is over! Or we have an early dinner" Ebony held two bags of taking out. Bryn was doing the same. Marik's face was filled with relief as the aroma of Cauliflower and Cheese creeping to the Egyptian's tan nose.
"There is also Shepherd's pie, which I absolutely love." Ebony chimed as a British.
"Abbey, didn't you make the Best Shepherd's Pie in Auntie Gloria's Show?" Bryn reminded his sister of her hobby back in Toronto.
"Shush! Not everyone needs to hear that!" Abbey countered. Marik just smirked, as he knew the Harkins were culturally capable of many things.
"Oh? I hope you didn't just queer my pitch in ordering this pie. However, I would love to try your pie, Abbey." Ebony smiled.
"Surely you don't mean…" Abbey blushed as she thought of making something for the archrival.
Marik and Bryn whispered to one another as Ebony started opening the kitchen and grabbed some of the ingredients out.
"Spawny indeed, Daniel only bought this two days before the Best Before date." Ebony giggled. She handed the base to Abbey.
"Hey listen… I was hoping you do come to London someday. If you ever come across Euston Road, that is my Airbnb accommodation. Britain is a lovely place and I cannot fathom ever leaving that place. I also was hoping that someday, your Gandhaiii— roots and PhoeeeeeLantropists— Actually I FORGOT MY BEATER IN THE BACK DOOR!" Ebony nearly disclosed her identity and scrammed nervously. Making things cryptic between Abbey and her she had to conceal it from Marik.
"How do you know about—"
"Marik, this is STEAMY!" Bryn felt the steam encapsulate his face.
Abbey started cooking her own Shepherd's Pie for Ebony. Not that the one she bought was bad but when she opened it, POOOF! The staunch filled the warehouse.
Marik helped Bryn open the lid as his eye was still swollen. He gave Bryn a smile as he forked some for his lackey.
In the other room nearby, Ebony spotted Abbey's bracelet with an ornament of a headless Eastern Phoenix with a Disk as the head; in addition, there was an Oak tree. 'The Harkin chick is a Gandharva after all… I must make myself know to Clara so that she could teach me her ways… It looks like my own!' She cocked up a brow.
Ebony took a Katana with a winged disk on it. She smirked as she remembered that Abbey is her archenemy. Smirking at her advantage, she tested the sharpness with a finger. She smirked as she thought of killing Clara's daughter.
As she slid past the doorframe, she drew her Katana with a Phoenix and a lotus was graven on the sheath. She twirled and Abbey used an eggbeater to disarm Ebony. The blade made a loud clank, which the boys all looked to Ebony's way. Abbey used her chi and block her and it sent her flying. Ebony crashed into a pile of dust and urn.
Abbey walked over to Ebony and held her hand out. "Do you want your pie or would you like a slice of your own scalp." Ebony was baffled again about how the Heir of the Gandharva Justus could defeat her.
She gladly took her hand and hoped none of the boys asked about what happened.
"I would like my pie…" Ebony smiled.
"Good, just make sure your Martial Arts is not a failure to Clara…" Abbey grabbed her Katana and observed the details. "This is one snazzy blade… but did you know there is a hidden device in there?" Abbey twisted the hilt of the sword and out comes two more blades from the hilt as a double-edged sword. Ebony observed Abbey's twists of the katana and she took off her ornament and tied it on the hilt after hiding the other side of the hilt. She tied her bracelet and gave it to Ebony. As their hand's touched, a strange sense of longing lingered about them.
"The Gandharva and the Huma Ring have been allies for generations…" Ebony averted her eyes.
"I have another… one of those but it involves…" Ebony grabbed her mouth and pinned Abbey down. She drew a large vibrator from her bra and placed it in Abbey's in between. Ebony smirked, as the Harkin didn't have time to fight back nor resist as Ebony grabbed Abbey's hand and stuck it under hers.
Abbey felt that her insides were longing for stimulation. Ebony subconsciously smirked as this teenager like playing with archenemies. It was definitely the Gandharva thing.
"I will get what I want, Miss little Harkin!" Ebony screamed but Abbey calmed and then drew closer to her face and spat on her face.
"Abbey grabbed Ebony's long hair pulled it. She felt her chi and disarmed her vibrator as well. She then grabbed her hair again and drew the sword to Ebony's nape of the neck.
"OKAY, I YIELD!" Ebony shouted. Abbey then kicked the vibrator high up into the air and landed near Marik and Bryn.
"What's that?" The girls heard Bryn ask Marik.
"That's a… dildo…? And it's still vibrating. I wonder if Shepherd's pie was a carnal excuse for your sister's lustful thoughts with that Ebony... Makes me wonder what is going on in that kitchen over there…" Marik cocked up his head.
"Nah! I think it's a heavenly dildo." Bryn chortled.
Marik had his arms crossed amused at the sight of a sex toy. "Perhaps for a misbehaving Rare Hunter, I might stick this up their Asses before tormenting them in the Shadow Realm," Marik smirked and pick the dildo up. Bryn gagged and laughed as Marik reached to pick the sex toy up.
"Seriously… if you learn the ways of the Gandharva, you wouldn't have these issues. You use this to haze strangers and torture them?" Abbey gaped and whispered.
Soon enough Ebony sighed and closed her eyes. "So it is true then… you can fight better than me but you are too compassionate." Ebony sat by Abbey. Abbey knew that she was taught to fight well without harming anyone.
Abbey said seriously, "Indeed, I can screw someone up but only on the basis of danger."
"But you are not daring enough, with the soft heart of yours… you don't belong to this world of crime you see. I may need to learn how to harness your Chakra." Ebony clucked her tongue.
"Here is my mom's number… if you need to contact her for guidance… she will be glad to take you in." Abbey wrapped her bracelet on the hilt. Ash, she passed on the sword, Abbey's drew closer to Ebony's lips but she remembered she has Oliver to answer to if the girls lock their lips together.
Ebony said, "Sorry…" They both averted from the strange feminine attraction. "Excuse me…" Abbey walked away.
"If you are in my ranks, we'll teach you more discipline than your boss," Ebony whispered to Abbey and strokes her ear. The sadistic personality took the katana.
Abbey wondered why she was the one listening to a girl that was just about to kill her, give her carnal pleasure tell her otherwise that she needs to be tougher. Abbey commenced cooking and she had a long hard thought about Ebony's will to afflict pain and pleasure onto others and yet she envied her fighting skills.
Moments after cooking, Ebony wore the bracelet that was tied around her sword. Ebony kissed Abbey on the cheek and placed a large box on the counter.
"This is another clue, Miss Chakraborty…"
"What do you mean?"
"It's your Master, silly… I'm no longer interested in the position of Justus. I wanted to seek my own path. I want your mother to refine me in my Martial Arts skills…" Ebony grinned. "My early year in Martial Arts hasn't improved and so…" Another paper written in Nepali was placed on top of the box titled, 'Lady Lazarus'.
Ebony recited the poem like she wrote it quietly to the half Nepalese, half Irish girl. "I wish to have my sister back… she was working for a company not far from London. And… she disappeared…
"Lady Lazarus Sylvia Plath,1932-1963
I have done it again.
One year in every ten I manage it—
A sort of walking miracle, my skin
Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
My right foot
A paperweight,
My face a featureless,
fine Jew linen.
Peel off the napkin O my enemy.
Do I terrify?—
The nose,
the eye pits,
the full set of teeth?
The sour breath
Will vanish in a day.
Soon, soon the flesh
The grave cave ate will be
At home on me
And I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat
I have nine times to die.
This is Number Three.
What a trash
To annihilate each decade.
What a million filaments.
The peanut-crunching crowd
Shoves in to see
Them unwrap me hand and foot—
The big strip tease.
Gentlemen, ladies
These are my hands
My knees.
I may be skin and bone;
Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
The first time it happened I was ten.
It was an accident.
The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.
Dying is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.
I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've a call.
It's easy enough to do it in a cell.
It's easy enough to do it and stay put.
It's the theatrical Comeback in broad day
To the same place,
the same face,
the same brute Amused shout: 'A miracle!'
That knocks me out.
There is a charge
For the eyeing of my scars,
there is a charge
For the hearing of my heart—
It really goes.
And there is a charge, a very large charge
For a word or a touch
Or a bit of blood
Or a piece of my hair or my clothes.
So, so, Herr Doktor.
So, Herr Enemy.
I am your opus;
I am your valuable,
The pure gold baby
That melts to a shriek.
I turn and burn.
Do not think I underestimate your great concern.
Ash, ash— You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there-
A cake of soap,
A wedding ring,
A gold filling.
Herr God,
Herr Lucifer Beware Beware.
Out of the ash,
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.
" So you like Sylvia Plath, that poem does not describe a Phoenix… it is a dead woman who is lost and dead and she came back to life…" Abbey glared.
"You see… I have up to my name. I am going to find the man responsible for my sister's disappearance… and I have hoped that you will aid me, my Sweet Fellow Gandharva Abbey." Ebony pulled her head and forcefully kissed Abbey on the lips and grabbing her chin. Her lips were soft and supple with Cherry Chapstick. Ebony smirked as she was teasing her arch nemesis.
"What are you doing?!" Abbey gasped, as this is the second kiss in her whole lifetime.
"Better now…? Because… you kissed a girl and you like it… and I hope your boyfriend won't mind it…" Ebony smirked at the Rare Huntress. She licked her lips as she had the Katy Perry song hit 'I Kissed a Girl' in her head conveniently from the background music.
"I DO MIND IT! Oh my gosh!" Abbey wiped her lips with her sleeve, as Ebony was showing her affectionate side. "It felt so wrong, it felt so right, but it didn't mean I'm in love tonight…" Ebony's head was so in tuned to the lyrics that she then hugged Abbey. "Tell a single soul about this deal… I. Will. Take. Your. Boyfriend. Got it, babe?" She threatened her, as her position in a criminal syndicate is higher than Abbey's. Ebony whispered in a threatening and yet with sweet sadism.
"Like, he'd want you… In that case, let out family name carry out the allegiance though this generation." Ebony chuckled, as the Gandharva girl is all she needs to gain strength in her fighting skill.
Later Marik entered as he glared at the girl. "I hope you're not harassing my Rare Huntress over your own pie consumption by stalling by those feminine altercations… I figured this is the time you reveal your true identity. Ebony with her mouthful of Shepherds' pie., said "Huh?" As she devoured every single trace made by Abbey. Abbey left and re-joined Bryn.
"Oh, tosh that! Everything is hidden in plain sight, I'm not Barmy Ebony for no reason…" She winked at Abbey as she raffled Marik's blond locks.
"You're a Phoenix! You are Ra's gawd damn bird!" Marik growled.
"No, I'm a Kenosha representative of the Huma Ring… I work closely with organisations that need their account raised. And 'Spawny' is my middle name! Hey, this is yours!" Ebony gave the box to Marik. It was an eighteen-inch box with a Turkish box engraved with the same crest that is behind Marik's leather's jacket.
"This Spawny Riddler knows all that is beneficial…. Oh, looks like you will win the short pointless 1000-point duel… Hmm, not too shabby…" She chuckled and twirled her brunette hair.
"Of course I will! I'm always ahead!" Marik snapped. He then opened the box and there, behold the Sceptre of Hemsut.
"If you really want to see the cosmos split, this Ancient Turkish/ Egyptian Artefact is the thing that will call even the most loved ones to come to life by luck and time. I bought it from an auction for Eight Billion Euros, but he doesn't know that I stole it from him so I give this to you…. I believe those stones are needed to distribute more universes but without them there are many." Ebony passed a note.
"Who is your boss?" Marik asked as he glanced deeper into the engravings. They were of the phoenix biting a cobra. Although he remembered being bitten by a Cobra when he was younger. Odion was the one that killed the cobra when he was nine years old.
"You shan't know that Blondie. Just know that I'm doing you a favour." Ebony hissed.
"Peachy…" Marik rolled his Lavender pools.
"Nor shall this peace sleep with her, but as when
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
Her ashes new create another heir
As great in admiration as herself;
So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,
Who from the sacred ashes of her honour
Shall star-like rise as great in fame as she was,
And so stand fix'd."
"That you don't need to know… I'd just like a little Shakespeare to further a relationship before the 'End Times'", Ebony used the quoting fingers on either side.
"So you've read Shakespeare's Henry the VIII? I was sent Shakespearean text last month and—
"TESSA!" Ebony called out for a girl harshly, a slave girl came by with stacks of books that Shakespeare. Ebony pulled the girl's red locks, making her kneel.
"I doubt a boy like you would spend time on Videogames so I gathered you should have them. William Shakespeare is figuratively my literature jam."
"Yes Ebony…" she wailed.
"Who is a worthless girl?" Ebony hissed, making the girl squirm harder.
"Dimensions in the latter of Hemsut's might… would result in creating more sub Dimensions… I just know whatever you see here, you will end up having the same kind of relationship in the latter. Indeed it is mystifying but…" Marik felt uncertain of the future.
Ebony stared blankly and slowly nodded.
"Ebony, let me know where the prints of the Divine Ka are. Perhaps if we do meet in the future, I will aid the seeker and also help you to find Hayley Ileana Clarke. Huma favours me, sweetie." M. Phoenix, Kobralar. Except Ebony kept a note from one of the Clients and secretly placed it hastily back in her pocket. She took her hand out of the pocket of the trousers.
"Perhaps by acquainting with Clara Harkin, who is the current Justus of the Kenosha, you will be able to get hold of the Divine Ka for me, the images once Pegasus have painted them." Marik grinned suggested, as he knew of Ebony's blackmailing tendencies with the last few hours of staying with Abbey.
"Oh, so Clara has the prints… I think I will stop being a sales lady for once and pursue my career in auditing." She sighed.
"You can do whatever you want, dear… I just want to continue my journey with the Kenosha." Marik huffed.
"This plane can go autopilot with more than ten people. The Samhain Black and the Huma Ring work pretty closely together in the Justus Council. Just don't get your head chopped off by Eon. He is too lethal for even my Clients discouraged me from partaking the race.
"Then I'm glad we have less competition now," Marik smirked drolly.
Marik felt as though the luck of meeting Ebony was destiny's way of showing its kindness. He felt another bump and it was a key to an aeroplane. When he opened the box, it was the real Sceptre of Hemsut.
So far Marik felt the empowerment of luck. He wore the jacket that was supposedly a Phoenix crest. Bryn was chilling with Daniel as he jammed with him. Daniel and Marik were duelling. Marik had already taken 700 points from Daniel and Daniel had already taken 900 points.
"Pst… Marik, use this card…" Bryn whispered. Bryn showed Marik his favourite card of the day, 'Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir'.
"I don't need to because I can activate, 'Black Pendant'! And that leaves you with…. Zero life points." Marik smirked and Bryn was lost as he chuckled harder. Bryn then imitated Marik's hysterical laughter, as Daniel was defeated.
Daniel sighed and grunted at his defeat. He knew he could do anymore after this round. Bryn then took his hand out and Marik glared at him and gave his lackey a reluctant high five.
Ebony watched Abbey on an acoustic guitar as she was playing Spice Girls', 'Who Do You Think You Are.' As she followed the chords with the radio and so Ebony turned it off.
"Hey turn it back on!" Bryn said. Bryn then danced as he took Ebony's hand. Abbey places the guitar down as Ebony danced along with Bryn. She then joined them as she saw Marik smirk at his Rare Hunters.
Ebony then secretly disappeared again as she passed a note to Daniel. Marik rolled his eyes and turned back to Daniel coldly, "You know if I won, could you do me a favour?"
"Y—yes sir…anything!" Daniel said.
"Give me your recent victim or slave so that I can stick this delightful instrument up their asses," Marik said nonchalantly as he held the glittery black dildo up. Bryn heard Marik said the unthinkable so he watched as Daniel led Marik to a room.
Marik entered a room full of slaves in Ebony's supposed warehouse. Their souls seem beaten as the girl Ebony doesn't let up with poor performances. She would rather afflict the weak like he does to Farah and his other slaves. Bryn followed Marik cautiously wondering why Marik would suggest such a plan.
"I suspect that you, Ebony love to torture you little slaves like me," Marik said as Ebony had already joined Marik and Daniel in the scene. Bryn was shocked as he was learning more about the criminal ways.
"No, but you do…there are more in my dungeon if you want to see more…" Ebony snickered as she spotted her dildo in Marik's hand. She furrowed her brunette brow as she remembered the last conversation she had with one of the slaves. The little girl no younger than eight was flogged as her clothes were stained with blood. Marik was definitely impressed with Ebony's ways. He then grabbed the girl's wrist.
"That thing is not going in the girl's part is it?" Ebony smirked.
"Of course not, but it is tempting. So you flog this little runt for misbehaving too?" Marik grinned wickedly.
"Who doesn't…? I make sure they beg for mercy!" Ebony grabbed the girl's chin roughly as both Marik and Ebony were frightening her. Bryn spotted Ebony holding a nine-o-tail whip in her other hand as he spied on the scene.
The blonde chuckled as he was enjoying the sadistic fetish abnormal teenagers love. Bryn eyed on a chain and a pan then saw how Ebony and about to strike the slave and Marik pulling her hair. Bryn pushed the chain and it dropped into the pan.
Both Marik and Ebony turned around as Bryn embarrassingly tripped as he frightened himself.
"BRYN?!" Marik dropped the girl. Daniel then was about to chase Bryn but Marik stopped him.
"Is there a p-p- the place for uh… for me to have a nap?" Bryn timidly stuttered, knowing full well he should be where his Master is.
"Come here, Bryn…" Marik curled his tan index finger. Bryn was about to ask but the girl's state prevented him from inquiring.
"Okay!" Bryn replied shakily as Marik requested.
"Brynzibun must know of your supposed torture." Ebony mused as she kicked the girl and she cried out in pain.
"Not all the time… my Bryn knows that I hate Farah." Marik boasted.
"It must be great of you to put them in place." Ebony kicked the little girl 's abdomen.
Bryn hid behind Marik as Ebony and Marik chuckled when the girl collided her head on a crate. Bryn tapped on Marik's shoulder, "I really don't get what is funny about torturing her."
Ebony and Marik lowered herself to Bryn; "Everything is funny when you have kidnapped the lowest of the low, Brynzibun. Slave trade is one of the best activities in criminalisation."
"Ooooh, then can I try to be bound and you wack me with that thing?" Bryn thought it was a play for a second.
"My Dear Bryn… No, this is real torture." Marik evaluated Bryn's emotions as he realised Ebony and Marik were not kidding.
Bryn's tear rolled down as he watched the girl in pain. Marik wiped the boy's tears and asked him, "Are you still tired? There is the couch where we had games so you can rest there."
"Okay, but I can make coffee for you Master Marik, it might be a little cold though when you come out, I also have written some notes on the tailgating system you required of me." Bryn offered.
Marik gave Bryn a peck on the cheek and hugged him, although he remained serious.
Ebony stepped in and said, "Yes, the lounge is sufficient. If you let me assist you, Marik, I will meet you at the Rosewood Hotel in London…. Let's go, Daniel!"
She left both Marik and Bryn wondering how they are to meet with Daniel passing the final not to Marik. Marik's pocket was bulky from all the notes being passed around. Not to mention a bag is outside containing his Millennium Rod and the Sceptre of Hemsut are finally together again.
Odion, Keren, Carissa and Emmet successfully found the warehouse and soon they could hear laughter. Odion broke the latch and broke the shed door. All were eating and not tied up.
"Why Odion, fancy of you to drop in and crash the uninvited party," Marik smirked.
"I apologise for the lateness, sir," Odion blushed as the texts as screensavers were floating with lewd messages from the R.H and Ebony. Bryn cackled as he pointedly the display; Marik noticed Odion's dismay of the games played.
"I see, then I don't see the problem of watching SNL with lube now..." He glared at Emmet who suggested that once.
Bryn saw Carissa and he smiled at her as he grabbed the napkin and wiped his mouth. He got up and took her hand towards the dining table.
"Oh, I see… well, there is nothing to save now…" Odion dropped his Zooka and sighed.
Ebony and her gang left the warehouse earlier. Marik led his team to the aeroplane Ebony left for them. Marik gently interrupted Bryn as he and Carissa were spending time together.
"Can you fly a plane?" Marik asked Bryn. Bryn's mouth was left ajar, as he is only eleven years old.
"Hah! I wish I'm only a kid, so not yet." Bryn pointed to Odion.
"I thought so but this plane is going to Germany. Wait a minute, how far are we from London, Odion?" Marik asked.
"Not far at all, sir. Some of our Rare Hunters in that region are waiting for your cue." Odion answered Marik. "I think the plane will be over convenient for a fifteen-minute drive…" Odion almost smirked at his little brother for going on the private jet.
"WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE NOT CATCHING A STUPID TRAIN AGAIN!" Marik yelled. Bryn covered his ears when Marik did so.
"Yes sir, I will inform a Rare Hunter to send the plane to London when we leave for Berlin," Odion said.
Marik walked past to find two jeeps awaiting them. When Marik grabbed his bag, he made sure his bag was still in a jeep and placed the smaller bag in the bigger one.
Abbey, Bryn and Carissa chose a jeep were Keren was driving. Marik then whispered to Odion to bring Bryn over. Odion carried Bryn to Marik, as he was just tired to even protest. Carissa followed and Emmet sat with Abbey.
Bryn kept rubbing his eyes, as he was too tired. Marik helped Bryn up while Carissa sat in front with Odion. "Master Marik, I'm still very tired…"
Marik sighed and gave Bryn a pat. He smiled and switched on his phone. It was charged up as Odion looked after that aspect of logistics on the train. The hostages in Budapest are still in danger. The race is slower but after meeting this lot, things seem to be less hectic.
Bryn rested on Marik's shoulder as he read Bryn's notes. Marik was pleased with the outcome as he followed each step with his own phone. There were more information gathered and more that should not be revealed. Information about the Kenosha's hidden histories retrieved from the Deep, Deep Web, including executions, Drukpa Order, Huma Ring, Samhain Black, Forseti Foxes, The Jade Feist and last but not least Alsiyadun Allayl meaning Night Hunters, which Emalia with Kjetil had once led as a resistance.
Marik knew how much Alsiyadun Allayl was just a coupled gang when it first started until they had Layla. Kjetil and Emalia were the Original Rare Hunters that were unranked. If Emalia did not meet him during that fateful night, The current Rare Hunters would not have formed.
Rosewood Hotel London
As they arrived in Rosewood, one of the grandest hotels in London, Marik carried his bag but Bryn took it first. "It's okay Master, I will carry this to our room.
"Welcome, my pretties…" Ebony smirked as she was seductively dressed in leathered opened back dress and she had knee-high stiletto boots. For some reason, she recognised the pink and blue pastel hair girl.
"Gissi? Oh My Goddess, it's you!" Ebony greeted her as an old friend. She embraced Carissa as Marik and Bryn stared awkwardly at each other.
"Ebony?" Carissa beamed as the two girls greeted each other with hugs and kisses.
"You've grown up so much baby girl… nawwww!" Ebony cuddled her like a little sister. When Ebony pinched Carissa's butt teasingly. Ebony then turned her attention to Marik and Bryn.
"I met her when I was seven okay? She is like my sister!" Ebony took Carissa's hand and led her to a crowd of formally suited employees of hers.
"So you are thinking of retreating here for a while Marik?" Odion asked
"Looks like we are about to meet more people…" Marik rolled his eyes. He turned around and held Odion behind, as he wanted to book the hotel here. Odion nodded and helped Marik book two rooms.
Marik and Odion were in one hotel apartment and the rest were held in the other downstairs. Bryn had to wait, as Marik needed rest too. He watched Emmet and Abbey chatting. Keren was making hot chocolate for everyone else. Carissa, on the other hand, was accompanying Ebony. Bryn lay on one of the beds missing his friends and parents. If he told Marik, he wouldn't accept any excuses to see any of them. At least he has Abbey right now…
Bryn's Point of View
"Master Marik is quite stressed lately with organising our trips. Then let alone infiltrating the Kenosha programme further. I was sure giving his the information but he didn't seem to thank me. Or at least I think he hasn't. The top guys are having a meeting now. I wonder where Miss Clarke, Lady Huma came from. She is like Marik but sassier. She is pretty cool and perhaps Marik and her can get married…?" Bryn laughs at my own thought. The hotel is a haven for Bryn as he stretches like a cat. On the side of the door, the vanity table in mahogany. The light from the daybreak seeped through the curtain.
" I turned on the British television and it feels weird seeing how we were at Ireland a few days ago. Master isn't fazed by it of course. Abbey is also hiding something. They could have been something Lady Huma Ring and she may have been chatting about. She was quite funny when she told me to pretend that I was kidnapped and Master Marik's reaction was priceless." No one dares to disturb Bryn at least for now. Bryn then hears Marik knocking on the door downstairs.
"Master Marik!" Abbey addresses him. Bryn sits alone as he ponders on how he locked the door previously.
"I hope he is resting well…" Bryn twiddles his thumb as he eavesdrops on his conversation with Abbey.
"Yes Master, he is and I hope we would rest as well." Bryn hears Abbey's wish for Marik's wellbeing.
"If you do meet Oliver before we rescue your parents, this is what I want from him."
"A tracking device?"
After all this adventure, we will all return to Belfast. My prized rare cards are still on that ship."
"Okay, sir…"
"Night." Bryn hears Marik slam the door.
"Marik seems tired as well. He was sleeping in the bathtub the other night. I didn't fully explain to him what really happen but he was almost dead. I remembered when I entered the room of the Launch; his Millennium Rod was brightly lit. Shadows surrounded the bay as well as the Launch. Many of us didn't know where we were going and let alone trip on objects. I yelled for Odion as Marik was unconscious and he came to me. However Odion couldn't get past the barrier, another barrier Marik had created around himself and nor could I. Then a lady came over to the Launch. Keren knew of Abbey and Odion and for reason, I didn't know. She was beautiful and assertive and she fought through the barrier with a chant. She then delivered CPR." Bryn's tear rolled as he remembers some parts of the scene.
"Soon we were able to take him to a car Keren was driving with a heater on. Abbey, Emmet, Carissa and I just watched Marik recover. Odion retrieved all our bags despite the plans Marik wanted to see happen. Soon Emmet and I discussed a way to cut through to Germany and that was to come over to Britain. We knew Master Marik was breathing but another thing was clothing him in his robe. He found out that I have been hiding the two stones from him all this time. I wasn't being discreet; I actually wanted him to know. For part of me is to listen to Marik over Monk Phi Long. Marik my current Master and whom I will own my entire life to as another brother…"
The next dawn, Marik woke up and had already gone. The clothes that were on the floor were recollected. The wakeup call brought Marik to a state of indignation. He drew the sheet closer and grabbed his white shirt. He grabbed his pants and hastily zipped it up. He went downstairs to his room and Odion's alone but he had already gone.
He slammed the door shut and went one level down via the elevator. As he knocked on the door, he could already hear Bryn crying alone. "Bryn opens up, it is Marik!"
He could hear Bryn sniff and ponder whether to open the door. When Bryn did open the door, his eyes were puffy with so much crying.
"What's wrong, dear boy?" Marik asked.
"N- Nothing, I, m-miss people…"
"You miss your friends and your parents isn't nothing, Bryn…" Marik stated with a genuine statement. He patted his back as he cried a little more.
"Just a little longer and we can go back to the ship…" Marik reassured him. Marik stared at the mirror opposite him and realised his hair was in disarray. He sighed and broke the embrace.
"London assembly is meeting me today, get ready okay?" Marik squeezed Bryn's face and he shut the door.
"How come we can bring more artefacts? I did help Lady Spawny. I know you weren't expecting her help but Emmet was right about the slithering clue." Bryn sighed
Marik took a look at the destination again and the morning should be fresh to leave London for good.
"I know that and I also know a few other Rare Hunters muck up in one of the other missions." Marik rolled his eyes.
"Are you going to send them to the usual S.R?" Bryn and Marik made their way to the elevator.
"Maybe and it depends on my mood to send them to the Shadow Realm, but today is your special day Bryn." Marik stopped pacing; he placed his hand on Bryn's shoulder.
"Oh, what is the special day?" Bryn asked.
"I'm a fool for doing this unceremoniously but I… Marik Ishtar, the Leader of the Rare Hunters will be promoting you to Rank 9," Marik said as he smiled.
"YAAAAAY! WOOHOO! But you skipped three ranks!" Bryn pointed at Marik.
"Try the word 'exempted' as an exemption is more formal and instils a purpose in one's actions, Bryn… that's a far better word than 'skipped'. I can't possibly degrade my ranking system for no particular reason."
"Oh wow, I'm happy I guess. Like speechless."
"You deserve it Brynny."
"Master Marik, is your position the final? It does feel kinda cool to be top of the rank and all." Bryn giggled.
"It's quite lonely up the peak, Bryn…" Marik sighed.
"I think it will be interesting to put our name in Kenosha and continue it as something…"
Marik thought for a while, "How about Chasseur Rares?"
"Bingo!"
"Absolutely but you know, I need more time to seek Tasara Dane first. I just hope we can make it in time to rescue your father." Marik said.
"It'll be fine Marik, today we just saw destiny playing in your favour," Bryn said.
"In our favour Brynny, in our favour…"
MJS/AN: Ataahua's character in 'In A Name: Act I,' and 'An Emerald Phoenix Renewed,' was my promise to her in this chapter conceptually. The Universe of Huma and hints of it begins in Eystein. She also had appeared in 'The Heiress Mantle' and 'Not as I Know Him' where her Bryn Harkin continued from my story 'Downfall to Affection' just as a cameo and not in the spotlight.
I will explain my universes in my profile or through Rehema: The Book of Theurgists' Reverie soon when the time is right. She will be reprised into the Universe of 'In A Name: Act I' in this story but for now it is a clue. While I play with the universe, this will not affect Ataahua's storyline but a stem line towards arc/universal play.
During my days of writing Downfall to Affection, I have built some friendships with both of them as Name Twin Lauras. One through writing, The Duelist's Heiress and one through drawing, Ataahua who is my Aries Down Under Twin to whom I draw her covers with gladness.
This chapter is dedicated to Ataahua, for I know… we wouldn't have met each other if I didn't read, write or draw. XOX MJS