Here's Chapter 13 for your reading pleasure. Chapter 14 is up in one week.
Deep inside one of Atlantis Prison's storage rooms a meeting between some of the most dangerous inmates was underway. It was an easy thing to manage, it just took a bit of planning and some bribing of the right guards.
There was close to twenty people standing inside. Around the room were Elves, Gnomes, Spirits, Dwarves, and Goblins. Naturally they had each segregated themselves away from the others. Ben Gince, Ark Sool, and two Elves who were loyal to Sool stood in front of the entrance.
Ben stepped forward, "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy days to allow me to offer you a proposal. I want out of this slum and I require help to do it. Each of you has been invited to this opportunity for your connections or your own abilities. Mr. Sool here has vouched that no one here shares any love for the LEP so that extends you a small amount of trust." Ben started pacing the room, "The only question is if I get you out what will you do after? I offer you more than just freedom from this prison I offer you life in glory and power. Are you not tired of hiding? Are you not tired of skulking underground? Why are WE not the ones ruling the surface? For too long The People have sat under the boot of an inferior species unfit to keep themselves alive let alone the planet. Join with me and we can raise an army to take the surface from the grasp of the Mud Men and send them to the destruction that has been too long coming for them."
The group was starting to be enthralled but the momentum was broken when a low sarcastic laughter came from the group of Goblins. Ben turned to the sound and saw the culprit. He was a beast of a creature even by Goblin standards. Ben approached him with determination and an obvious authoritative aura. The Goblin looked down on Ben like he was nothing. He extended his tongue and licked his eye.
"I'm sorry have I missed something amusing?" Ben asked.
"You're just like that other pixie Opal. And you're gonna fail just like her too." The Goblin said.
Ben stepped even closer, close enough to smell the fowl aroma that was before him. The Goblin readied for Ben to fight him. Then something happened no one expected, Ben laughed hysterically. No one knew how to react. The Goblin relaxed seeing that this Pixie was just crazy. Then like lightning Ben got silent and serious. Ben pounced on the Goblin and started shoving a shank into his neck several times. With each jab more and more blood spewed from the Goblin's throat. His last breath left him with a wet gurgling noise that set everyone's stomach on edge.
Ben stood up, his hands completely coated in dark red blood. He began rubbing his hands together as if he was washing them in the blood. All the while he was humming an upbeat tune.
"Now let me make something clear to everyone. Opal was an amateur. She was motivated by her emotions and self-interest. I seek the glory and restoration of The People by whatever means it takes." His eyes panned the room, "and make no mistake… I will give the surface back to the People. I offer you freedom in exchange for assistance in this endeavor. Any who would agree to these terms remain, any who would not, leave now. But know that if anyone speaks to the LEP as to my intent will die in a much more gruesome fashion than our decomposing reptilian friend here." He said indicating the dead Goblin. Each individual looked around the room but no one wanted to move.
"Good. Now that we're all in agreement this is what I require of you…"