THIRTY: FAILURE (The origins of Bourbon. Featuring: Jozzuah/Bourbon, Jezzeff, the Witch, Zutan, Zell, Serafine, Laby, Daphne, Grayzee, the Huntress, Aphell, Percival, Rinton, Mayor Freyst, and others.)
His first hundred years were not pleasant. Jozzuah of Eltar was abandoned outside of an orphanage the day he was born. No one knew who his parents were or why they'd left him there, but that was where he spent his earliest years.
It was a special kind of hell to grow up unwanted and abandoned on Eltar. Mayor Freyst and Aphell Treygan forced Jozzuah into their trafficking business before he was old enough to remember any other way of life. He was tortured and abused in every possible way. Most children broke under those circumstances, but not Jozzuah. Every beating, every rape, every time they told him he was worthless only made him more determined to fight and escape one day.
At twelve years old, he killed his first victim. The man had been torturing Jozzuah for six days. He'd paid for a week. Jozzuah couldn't stand the thought of what might happen on that last day. When the man came back on the sixth night, Jozzuah put his hand on his chest and spoke a single word...
"Perish," he said.
The man suddenly backed away and clutched his chest in desperation. His eyes went wide in horror. Seconds later, he fell at Jozzuah's feet. The boy was stunned. He hesitated for a moment before checking for a pulse. The man was dead.
When Mayor Freyst retrieved him at the end of the seventh day, he determined the man had died of a sudden heart attack. This was exceedingly rare on Eltar, but sometimes it did happen. Freyst chalked it up to the man getting carried away with his fantasies, but Jozzuah knew the truth. With a single word, he'd somehow killed a man.
At first, he was scared. Was he some sort of monster? He refused to let himself do it again for a while, but when he was thirteen, he panicked after an especially brutal assault. When the three men came toward him with terrifying new torture devices, he touched them and shouted, "You will use these devices on each other!"
He watched in shock as the men tortured each other to death until only one remained standing. "Impale yourself on your sword," Jozzuah said as the man came at him.
The man struggled to resist. Jozzuah added, "All is well. You have no reason to be afraid. It will be enjoyable for you."
The man laughed like he was having a grand old time as he shoved his sword through his chest. He continued laughing as he bled out. Only when the laughter stopped did Jozzuah know he was safe.
When Aphell found him, he immediately became enraged. "What did you do, Boy?" He demanded.
"I made them stop," Jozzuah replied.
"How did you do this? You are still a child. Surely you haven't the strength to slaughter three fully grown men!"
"They killed each other. I simply suggested they do it."
Aphell's eyes widened in surprise. "Did you touch them?" He demanded.
"I..." Jozzuah hesitated.
Aphell slapped him across the face. Jozzuah grabbed his arm as he moved to do it again. "Stop it!" He commanded.
Aphell hit him even harder. Jozzuah flinched. Aphell shook his head. "I'll be damned," he mumbled.
Curiosity got the better of Jozzuah. "What is it?" He asked.
"You possess an extremely rare gift, Jozzuah. The proper name for it is actualization. It is passed down through only one bloodline."
"Which bloodline?"
"'Mine." Aphell paused, watching him closely like he was searching for something. "That is why I am immune. Not everyone has the gift, but those of us who do are extremely powerful. My father has it as well. He was the first."
"Wait... Are you suggesting that-?"
"You've got Treygan blood in those veins, Jozzuah. I am surprised I didn't sense it sooner. Do not worry. You have nothing to fear from me so long as you behave."
"If I'm a Treygan, who are my parents?"
"That remains unclear. I shall look into it. Come."
"Where are we going?" Jozzuah asked nervously.
"Home, dear Jozzuah. You come from a Founding Family. It is not appropriate to leave you in an orphanage."
"Does that mean...?" Jozzuah paused.
"Ask your question, Boy."
"Do I still have to be sold?" He asked softly.
"Of course not. You are a Treygan, Boy! You must not lower yourself to satisfying the urges of any random being willing to pay the right price."
Jozzuah thought that was the end of the torture, but it was only the beginning. He lived in a nice house, but Aphell never let him leave it. He stopped selling him to random men, but he continued abusing him and sharing him with Freyst.
The day he finally met Rinton Treygan, he was terrified. Rinton examined his energy for a long time before finally leaving the room. Jozzuah overheard him talking to Aphell.
"He does not descend from me, Aphell," Rinton said.
"He comes from Rygano's line?" Aphell asked in surprise.
"It seems that way. Stop torturing the boy. He may be of use to us. A little affection went a long way with my brother."
"I'm only making him stronger, Father."
"Aphell, I mean it. This boy is different. You don't want to push him."
"My uncle is gentle. Are you suggesting his descendant is not?"
"I am simply pointing out that he has a lot of power inside of him as well as incredible darkness... That darkness doesn't come from my brother, so it must come from the boy's mother. I do not think it would be wise to see what happens when that darkness takes control of him."
The torture stopped. Aphell tried to win Jozzuah over to his side by showering him in praise and gifts. Jozzuah wasn't interested. When that failed, Aphell turned cruel again.
It was Aphell's younger brother, Percival, who gave Jozzuah a way out. Eternally jealous of his father's first-born son, Percival decided to take Jozzuah away from him.
"If you work for me, you'll gain your freedom," Percival vowed when Jozzuah was fourteen.
"Why should I trust you?" Jozzuah asked.
"I despise my brother. Taking away what he views as his is something I enjoy doing."
"What would I have to do?"
"Become my assassin."
Jozzuah blinked. "What?" He'd expected Percival to use him for sex like so many had before.
"Technically, I can use Azzian, but my father and Aphell monopolize his time. I want an assassin of my own."
"I'm not a killer."
"I know what led to Aphell's discovery of your heritage, Jozzuah. You are a killer."
"It wasn't intentional."
"Don't lie to me, Boy. I'm not a fool. Look, the men hurt you, so you hurt them. That's a good instinct. It just proves to me you have what it takes... I'll take care of you until you can do it yourself. After that, you'll be free to do as you like. In the meantime, I'll train you to be a warrior."
Percival wasn't going to hurt him. He was certain of that. "I'll do it," he agreed.
Percival took him from the house while Aphell was away on business. He set Jozzuah up in a small house of his own. He kept his word and didn't harm the boy, and for the first time in his life, Jozzuah truly felt safe.
After months of training in simulations Percival set up to teach him to fight both magically and physically, Jozzuah was extremely skilled in both areas. He'd learned that, in addition to actualization, his powers included reading and manipulating energy, pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and telepathy. He built strong psychic shields that kept everyone out of his mind. He learned to use weapons like they were extensions of his own body. Nearly any weapon in his hands became deadly. He was agile, swift, and strong. As Percival trained him to be extremely charming, however, he became even deadlier. No one would dare to question him as long as he spoke kindly to them and smiled.
When Percival finally started having him kill people, Jozzuah found it wasn't so bad as long as he flipped a switch in his head. It was easy enough to detach and get the job done.
For two years, Jozzuah did everything Percival commanded. One day, Percival told him to apply for a job at the Counsel Building. Although he was set to interview with a random person, it was Zell who held the interview.
He was nervous. Zell was Eltar's Great Wizard. If anyone would see through his act, it was Zell.
"Relax, my dear boy," Zell said soothingly. He was only about a hundred years Jozzuah's senior but seemed much older and wiser. "All is well."
"I'm eager to work here. I would like to contribute to Eltar's continued success," Jozzuah said, giving him the line Percival had drilled into his head.
"And you shall, my boy." Zell smiled at him reassuringly. "You shall be of great use to me, Jozzuah. I would like you to report to me directly for your assignments."
"Directly?" Jozzuah was startled. He was also relieved. He'd been terrified he'd end up working for Freyst.
"Yes. It is a position of great prestige, and it will pay far more than you should ever need. It will certainly offer enough income to get you out of your deal with Percival Treygan."
"You... You know about that?"
Zell laughed. "Of course I do, dear boy. Percival is not nearly as stealthy as he believes. I also know he intended to send you here as a spy until he ultimately had you assassinate Jinnifer Farmell."
Jozzuah was startled. "He didn't tell me that," he said.
"Of course he didn't. Jinnifer is no easy mark, my boy. I would not suggest you attempt to harm her. You won't survive. You most likely won't even get more than one attack in before she ends your life."
"Why are you telling me this instead of arresting me?"
"You have not yet committed Treason, Jozzuah. Besides, I am rather fond of Jinnifer, as is my cousin, Hanry. I prefer she not have to waste her energy eliminating a boy who wouldn't harm her of his own volition."
"I might. There is great darkness inside of me."
"I know that as well, Young Jozzuah... However, there is also much light. You have a choice. Allow me to free you from the control of the Treygans. You are meant for greater things."
Within two days, Zell moved Jozzuah into a new house. It was larger and in the city, not far from the Counsel Building. Because Percival had worded his deal so specifically, he couldn't stop Jozzuah from leaving him. After all, with his new income, he could stand on his own. He was free.
For the next several decades, Jozzuah did everything Zell asked. He had his freedom most of the time, and he didn't mind the assignments Zell gave him. Most were simple, and even when he had him kill, he only sent him after people who seemed to deserve it. He treated Jozzuah with great kindness and ensured he had everything he desired.
Jozzuah grew popular with the local ladies. It seemed only Grayzee could out-charm him. They'd never directly met, but the day they did, Grayzee froze in shock.
The flashback hit Grayzee hard. It had been a couple of centuries, but it felt fresh as he relived it.
Someone was pounding on his door. "Open the Goddamned door!" A voice shouted.
Grayzee was very confused. He might have tried to ignore her, but then he heard her scream in pain. Their dynamic had never been good, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her outside when she was obviously suffering.
"Eris, what's going on?" He asked as he opened the door. He had been avoiding her for the most part since he'd killed their father six months earlier.
His sister stared at him with desperate eyes. "Get it out of me!" She cried.
His eyes widened at her round belly. "You're with child?" He asked.
"Obviously! Get it out, get it out, get! It! Out!" She screamed as another contraction hit.
Grayzee let her into the house. She collapsed on the floor. She was bleeding severely.
"How far along are you?" He asked.
"Nearly full term. I progressed it, but something went wrong... I can't do this alone. I'm losing too much blood."
"So you came here?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't turn me away, Little Brother." She cried out in pain again. "Ugh! Get it out of me, Grayzee! I can't take much more of this!"
"Who is the father, Eris?"
She laughed then. "Rygano," she replied.
"Rygano Treygan?"
"Do you know any other Ryganos?"
"He wouldn't cheat on his wife."
"You're so naive, Little Brother. Rygano cheated on his wife for decades. He is smitten with Levi Yizak, but that hardly matters. Rinton would never allow them to be together." She screamed again before taking a moment to catch her breath.
"If he is attracted to men, then why would he share a bed with you?"
She smirked. "It is adorable how innocent you still are, Grayzee. Rygano would not give himself to me willingly. I drugged him, tied him down, had my way with him when he came around, and that was that. He was far too ashamed to tell anyone what I'd done. I think he's been forced before... His mind kept flashing on his father. He went sobbing to Rinton afterward, but he refused to tell him who it was that violated him and gave him a few new scars." She stopped bragging as she screamed again. "Ugh! Just get this thing out of me already!" She shouted.
Grayzee was horrified by his sister's actions, although he wasn't entirely surprised. She'd begun hunting men before Grayzee killed their father. She'd execute some immediately, but they were the lucky ones. The others were abducted, tortured, and kept as her pets until she tired of them and ended their lives. She'd never targeted someone so high profile before, however.
"Why did you let him live?" He asked. Eris never let her victims live.
"He was fun. He's been blessed in certain areas. I might like to do this again." She laughed. "Besides... He's a broken man. Killing him would be doing him a favor. Allowing him to survive was actually far more sadistic."
As she screamed again, Grayzee knew it was time. "The baby is coming," he said. "Push, Eris."
She pushed as she screamed, "Get it out" again.
Grayzee freed the newborn from her body and wrapped him in a blanket. "You have a son," he said. He smiled at his nephew, who watched him with curious eyes. The baby was tan but not dark-skinned like his mother and uncle. He took after Rygano. As Grayzee checked to see if he was healthy, the infant began to cry.
I'd cry, too, if she was my mother, Grayzee thought. He gently rocked the infant to soothe him.
"Bring it here," Eris said. She was already healing and was much calmer now that the baby was out of her body.
Grayzee handed her the child, wondering if she'd change now that she had a little one.
Eris studied the infant. "Handsome, just like his father," she said. She then pulled out a knife.
"Eris, no!" Grayzee cried, snatching the baby away from her.
"He's evidence of my crimes, Grayzee," she said practically. "Rygano refused to talk, but Rinton won't take kindly to figuring this out. The only person he gives a damn about other than himself is Rygano. I have to destroy it."
"He's your son, Eris!"
"I'm not the maternal type. In fact, I'm going to sterilize myself so this never happens again. But first, it dies."
Grayzee waited until she was distracted by trying to murder her son before he cast a spell to knock her unconscious. "I'll make her forget," he promised the baby. "I'll hide you in the future. She won't harm you." He kissed his nephew's forehead and cast a powerful spell to do just that.
Eris had still felt the urge to sterilize herself, so Grayzee knew she had no other children, but he also knew he was looking at his nephew now.
"Grayzee, this young man has enormous potential," Zell said. "I would like for you to mentor him."
"Of course, Great Zell," Grayzee replied. Left with no choice, he did exactly that, training Jozzuah in the darker side of the Alliance. He hoped he'd be able to help the boy but knew he could never reveal the truth to him.
As time went on, Grayzee and Jozzuah began to be tasked with horrible missions. They tortured and killed people on Zell's orders. Together, the pair was fairly unstoppable.
One day, they were told to target a family. Zell wanted them severely punished for daring to speak against him. When it came time to torture the youngest, a fourteen-year-old girl, Grayzee stopped Jozzuah.
"Go handle the father," he said.
"Do you want the girl for yourself, Grayzee?" Jozzuah teased him.
"I want to spare you this, Jozz. You are still a boy. You do not need to become the monster I have."
"I can handle it, Grayzee. It is my duty."
"Not this... This task is mine alone. Go. Eliminate the father."
Jozzuah did as he was told. This would become common for them. Although Jozzuah did many horrible things for Zell, Grayzee tried to spare him the worst of it. He never allowed him to torture or kill anyone under fifteen. Realizing Jozzuah tensed in situations where a target was to be violated before they were killed, generally to harness their energy in sexual rituals, Grayzee decided he needed to speak up.
"Great Zell..." Grayzee began after one such attack.
"Is something on your mind, Grayzee?" Zell asked pleasantly.
"I believe Jozzuah may have experienced some sort of traumatic abuse as a boy," he said. "He has a strong fear reaction to certain tasks of a more mature nature. He gets the job done, however, I believe it would be harmful to keep subjecting him to that sort of thing."
Zell paused. "Send him to me. We'll discuss it," he said.
Jozzuah found himself alone with Zell soon after. "What can I do for you, Great Zell?" He asked.
"Jozzuah, I am going to ask you something, and I insist you be honest with me."
"Of course."
"Were you violated as a boy?"
Jozzuah tensed. "Why are you asking me that?" He asked.
"Please, my dear boy... I do not tolerate the abuse of children. I shall punish those who harmed you."
Jozzuah was genuinely confused. "You have ordered the abuse of children, Great Zell," he pointed out before he thought about it. He was positive Zell would attack him for that.
"Have I?" Zell asked. He seemed confused. "I do not believe in certain things... Those who take children who are not yet teenagers to their bed are vile."
Jozzuah had to admit that Zell had never ordered him to violate anyone who was under thirteen. Even children that young were rare. Usually, he targeted those who were fifteen or older, which made them above Eltar's age of consent.
"Jozzuah... You can tell me the truth. You are in my care now. No one shall ever harm you again," Zell insisted.
"Yes," Jozzuah replied softly. "There were many... I lost count. It began before I can recall."
Zell looked genuinely horrified. "Tell me their names," he said.
"I cannot. I have no evidence. It is Treason."
"Treason?" Zell shook his head, clearly knowing that meant it was someone who came from a Founding Family or held a position of power on the planet. "I will go around the law as necessary, Jozzuah. Tell me who harmed you."
"I don't know most of their names. I was... Sold," he admitted softly, refusing to look Zell in the eye.
"You were a child!" Zell shouted. Flames shot up around them. As Jozzuah trembled in terror, Zell took several deep breaths and calmed down. The flames vanished.
"I'm sorry, Great Zell. I did not mean to upset you," Jozzuah said quickly.
Zell softened even more. "Nonsense, dear boy. What was done to you was not your fault. Tell me who is responsible. I shall punish them myself."
"Why do you care?"
Zell looked surprised by the question. "I did not take you under my wing and bring you into my Alliance on a whim, Jozzuah. I feel a great need to protect you, and not only because you are of use to me. Now I understand why I felt that way upon my first vision of you. You were desperately in need of my help." He paused. "Was it Percival, my boy?"
"No. Percival may have been using me, but he saved me from a bad situation. He never harmed me."
"Very well. You will tell me who it was when you are ready. I promise I will handle them accordingly. Now... There shall be no more forced sex magic for you."
"I can handle any task you assign me, Great Zell."
"I have seen that, and you have done very well, however there is no need to torture yourself. Grayzee can handle that aspect. You will stick to research, interrogations, and assassinations. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Great Zell... Thank you."
Zell nodded and dismissed him.
For a while, everything went well. He flipped the switch to kill and torture as needed, but it wasn't anything he couldn't live with. He began spending more time around those who worked at the Counsel Building. Zutan and Jezzeff were around him the most often.
Zutan was a nervous boy, little more than a scheming, petulant child who believed he was entitled to everything Zell was giving him. Jozzuah tolerated him because he wasn't completely awful and he was fun when they weren't on missions. He was almost like a regular kid, something Jozzuah had never gotten to be, and Zutan showed him how to have fun once in a while.
Jezzeff was creepy. On the surface, he was charming and one of the greatest citizens of Eltar, but Jozzuah didn't completely trust him. Zell did, however, so Jozzuah was often forced to put this aside as they were given assignments together.
Things began to change as Serafine started coming around the Counsel Building. She was beautiful and funny, and everyone adored her. Jozzuah was no exception. She always put him at ease.
One day, she asked him to spend time with her outside of work. They spent the entire day together. Jozzuah had never laughed so much in his life. He was genuinely happy for once. At the end of the day, he leaned in and kissed her.
Serafine was stunned for a moment. She kissed him back slightly before pulling away from him. "Jozz... I adore you, but as a friend," she said. "I am in love with Zell."
He felt something odd in her words, almost like she'd said them because she had to.
"My apologies, Sera," he replied in embarrassment. He refused to look at her. "Everyone wants something from me... I either accept assignments, or they desire my body. No one has ever just wanted to spend a day with me without a catch. I assumed..."
Serafine looked sad. "You must know some awful people, Jozz." She kissed his cheek. "Have you no friends?"
"Zutan is my friend."
She laughed. "That is all? You poor, poor boy!"
"Zutan is not so bad."
"True. He is also not so good. While he can be delightful and fun to be around, he can also be far too immature and arrogant sometimes. You could do with another friend."
"I suppose Jezzeff and I are friends."
"That is better, but it's not enough." She took a deep breath. "I shall be your friend, Jozzuah. And with me, you automatically get Ash and Laby. You cannot beat that offer!" She smiled at him.
Jozzuah automatically smiled back. "Why do you want to be my friend, Sera? You have so many others."
"So what is one more? Besides, I like you, Jozz. The real you."
"The real me?"
"The one you hide. I see through it. I see your sorrow, and I see how good your heart can be. You simply need for someone to believe in you."
Serafine had no idea how much her words meant to him. She kept her promise and began dragging him to the parties Zutan had always raved about. Soon, he discovered another side to himself... A side that connected to people and enjoyed having fun and relaxing.
Their friendship continued to grow stronger. Ash and Laby seemed to enjoy his company as well, but it was Serafine who truly saw him. Somehow, she understood him, and that gave him something he'd never thought he would have... A friend. One who wasn't just using him.
The day Elgan died, Jozzuah noticed the change in Zell. He'd been struggling with something for a long time, but it was clear now that the darkness had consumed him. This set off a reaction in Talon. Even Serafine seemed to notice.
She was shaking one day when he found her. Powerful magic radiated from inside of her. It was struggling to do something.
Zell appeared before Jozzuah could reach her. He grabbed Serafine a bit too roughly for Jozzuah's liking. He'd never seen Zell touch her unkindly before. He desperately wanted to intervene, but he stayed in the shadows watching them instead.
"Come along, my Bella," Zell said firmly. The spell she'd clearly been trying to break was reinforced at his touch.
Serafine smiled at Zell with love in her eyes. "Are you well, Zell? I know your grief is powerful," she said with concern.
"I must journey on," Zell replied. "Eltar needs me to remain strong."
"I'll help you, my love." She kissed him. Zell pulled her closer and returned the kiss hungrily, almost like he needed to connect to her.
He's feeding on her energy, Jozzuah realized in horror. And he has her under a spell. She doesn't love him!
He couldn't interfere, but he swore to himself he would find a way to help her. Serafine had done more than she could ever understand by befriending him. He had to return the favor. He was loyal to Zell, but he couldn't let him hurt Serafine.
My gift, he thought. If he could just get Serafine alone and touch her, he could free her mind from Zell's control.
Unfortunately, Zell did not let Serafine out of his sight for long after that. A short time later, Talon was killed. That was when Serafine's heart shattered along with Zell's spell.
Jozzuah desperately wanted to comfort her, but Laby did it first. He got her away from Zell, bringing her home to her family's village for the night before Zell could realize she was no longer under his control.
It wasn't long before Jezzeff told Zell that Serafine and Ash were investigating him. They were gathering evidence to convict the Great Wizard of every horrible crime he'd ever committed.
Zell didn't want to believe it. He thought his spell was too powerful for Serafine to betray him. Soon, however, he was convinced.
Jozzuah tried to think of a plan. If he could warn the siblings without alerting Zell, he might be able to save them. Unfortunately, he ran into a problem.
Mayor Freyst scowled at him as he tried to sneak out of the Counsel Building through a portal. "Going somewhere, Boy?" He asked.
"Leave me alone," Jozzuah said bravely.
Freyst slapped him across the mouth. "Don't talk back to me, Jozzuah. I know what you truly are. Without the Great Wizard, you are nothing."
"What do you want from me?"
"It has been a long time since I have been alone with you. I owe you quite a punishment for running off on Aphell."
Jozzuah didn't have the time or the patience for this. He grabbed Freyst by his throat and said, "You will let me leave, and you will forget you saw me here."
Freyst's gaze was blank as he stopped protesting. Jozzuah made it out of the building, but he couldn't find Serafine or Ash. He realized Zell must have cloaked them from detection. He was about to search for Laby instead when he fell through a portal into a pocket realm.
The sound of cackling echoed through the realm. "Not so fast, Little Hunter," the Witch taunted him. "You don't get to mess up the game."
She came toward him and stroked his cheek. "I know who you really are, Little Hunter. I won't hurt you... Not unless your mommy wants me to. But if you get in my way, I might just change my stance on that."
"You know who my mother is?" He asked. He wasn't sure if this was a distraction tactic or not, but she seemed genuine. He continued trying to sense a way out of the pocket realm as he kept her talking.
"I do, Little Hunter. For whatever reason, she doesn't know, but I'd recognize my dear friend's energy anywhere. Just as I recognize your father's energy."
"Why are you calling me Little Hunter?" He demanded.
"You'll find out one day. Until then, just know this..." She grabbed him from behind and instantly put him into a deep sleep. "You failed Serafine today. You are as worthless as your tormentors claimed you were. She will die a painful, horrific death because you could not save her."
Jozzuah awoke back in his room some time later. The first thing he felt was the absence of Serafine's energy in the world. It hurt him in ways he hadn't expected. He let out a scream of rage before sobbing as grief overwhelmed him. He ran into the woods, not sure where he was going or what to do. He only knew he needed to release the emotions building inside of him or he would destroy everything and everyone in his path.
The soft meow beside him was surprising. Jozzuah looked down and saw the blurry image of a small cat beside him. She rubbed her face against his leg, demanding his attention. Confused, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms.
She began to purr as he snuggled her. It was oddly soothing, and soon, he buried his face in her fur. If his tears made her uncomfortable, she gave no indication.
"Thank you, Kanna," he said softly when he was calmer. The word meant little cat or kitten. She seemed to embrace it, as her purring grew louder.
Someone entered the woods. Suddenly, the cat grew to an enormous size and began growling in warning.
Zutan swore and jumped back several feet. "Is that a hezkan?!" He asked in shock.
Jozzuah studied his new friend. The not-so-little cat tried to swat Zutan away. He cried out and surrounded himself with a small tornado, keeping her paw from getting close.
"All is well, Kanna," Jozzuah said soothingly. "He is a friend."
It might be ironic to keep calling her little cat when she was the size of a small house, but that didn't matter to Jozzuah. It felt right.
Kanna looked at him with an almost skeptical expression on her face. That might have made Jozzuah laugh, but he suddenly remembered why he was upset. Serafine, his first true friend, was dead. Zell had murdered her, all because Jezzeff sold out a girl he claimed was his close friend.
He is loyal to Zell, as you are, Jozzuah scolded himself.
No, he argued. Jezz is loyal only to himself. He betrayed Sera. He betrayed her and she's dead and-
"Jozz, calm down," Zutan said suddenly in an urgent tone. Jozzuah realized he'd started a fire. Zutan began frantically pulling the air out of it to try and keep it from spreading.
"Sera's dead," Jozzuah said tonelessly, trying to flip the switch and ignore his emotions. It wasn't working. His grief was too powerful. Kanna nudged him with her head, knocking him forward a bit. He began absentmindedly petting her as she curled up beside him. Slowly, she shifted back into her dormant form. He sat down and allowed her to curl up in his lap. "She's gone..." He added softly.
"I know," Zutan said. "Zell brought her back to Terrio Vas. He's, um... He's saying Ash did it."
"Ash? Is he a fool? No one would ever believe that!"
"They will, actually. Jezz came up with a story people are accepting. He says it was vizu-induced psychosis."
"Ash knows better."
"You know Jezzeff's silver tongue. Most people aren't questioning his version of events."
Jozzuah was furious. "How is Ash doing?" He asked.
"He's not speaking," Zutan replied. "I think he made him watch."
"What about Laby?"
Zutan paused. "He's in bad shape. I've never seen the guy so broken. He's a stuttering, crying mess."
Jozzuah sighed. "I should go to him... He's my friend." He didn't know how to face Laby after he'd failed Serafine, but he knew she'd want him to check on him.
"He's staying close to his parents. I think that's the only thing keeping him going. That, and poor little Daphne."
Jozzuah knew Serafine and Ash's baby sister. He'd met her once when he visited Terrio Vas with them. "Is she alright?"
Zutan looked genuinely sad then. "Not really, but she's trying to be brave."
"You care," Jozzuah realized.
"She's a sweet little girl... And she sees the good in people."
"Zutan, are you regretting your choices?"
"Of course not," Zutan replied too quickly. "I just hate seeing the kid upset."
"You liked Sera..."
"Everyone liked Sera."
"You feel bad about this, don't you?"
Zutan shrugged. "It's not my doing... But I didn't want her to die."
Jozzuah sensed there was more to it. "Zutan, you turned Talon in to Zell. Just between us, do you regret it?"
With a sigh, Zutan said, "Perhaps slightly... I was jealous of him. He had everything... However, he was my friend. He looked after me and believed in me when others simply dismissed me, and I turned on him without hesitating." He shook his head. "Talon betrayed him. I did what I had to do."
Jozzuah knew Zutan had doubts, but he didn't push him. The conversation ended there. Jozzuah went in search of Laby, but he didn't approach him. It was clear the boy was in shock, and there was nothing he could do to help him. Serafine was dead. Jozzuah had failed her.
I'm worthless, he thought. Freyst and Aphell were right. I couldn't even save Sera. She was my friend. I loved her, but I couldn't save her, and I work for the monster who slaughtered her.
Kanna had insisted on following him. She meowed as if she knew where his thoughts had gone. He snuggled her, trying to soothe himself, and forced himself to move forward.
As time went on, Jozzuah's grief grew worse. He flung himself into working for Zell because he didn't know what else to do. More hezkans came into his life, and soon, an enormous herd of the hell cats became loyal to him. He took comfort in their presence, and Zell seemed pleased by his new power.
It wasn't until Zell announced his new relationship that Jozzuah began to resist his loyalties again. Daphne, Serafine's sweet and innocent baby sister, was barely thirteen when they went public. Jozzuah was horrified, but there wasn't much he could do. What concerned him was the pain in her eyes and the bruises on her flesh. Daphne was notoriously clumsy, but that didn't explain all of her injuries. Someone was obviously abusing the girl.
Jozzuah decided to befriend her. He figured he owed it to Serafine. Very few people got close to Daphne, but Zell trusted him. He allowed him to spend time around her. Despite the dark acts he routinely committed for Zell, he was always kind to the girl. Part of him desperately wanted to protect her.
One night when she was twenty, he found her cowering outside of her house. She was bleeding from her head. "Daphne, what happened?" He asked in concern as he automatically began to patch her up.
"I... I stumbled and hit my head on the door," she lied. "It's nothing, Jozz. I shall be fine." She was trembling violently.
"Tell me the truth, Daphne," he said softly. He touched her shoulder, gently using his strange family magic to force her to answer.
"I angered him," she whispered. "I found him with the Witch and was concerned by the things I heard them say... I cannot recall them now." She touched her head and Jozzuah knew the injury had erased the information from her mind.
"Zell hit you?" Jozzuah asked.
"He tried to just send me away... The Witch ordered him to slam my head against the door. She took his hand, and he attacked so suddenly... I... I should not have angered him." She had tears in her eyes.
"Daphne..." Jozzuah sighed. He wrapped her in a tight embrace. "You fear him," he said.
"Sometimes," she admitted, still unable to resist his order that she tell him the truth. It would take time to wear off. "He cares for me... I am certain of that, however... When he is angry, he becomes irrational, and sometimes he becomes violent. He doesn't mean to. He always apologizes afterward and takes care of me. Today, he seemed to be in a daze after he attacked me, but normally, he regrets causing me pain. It seems to almost hurt him more than it hurts me. He... He loves me, Jozz. I know he does."
"Oh, Daphne..." He shook his head, his heart breaking for the gentle girl whose beloved and revered husband was a monster behind closed doors. "How often does this sort of thing happen?"
"It happens more often now that I am older."
"Has he ever hurt your son?"
"Zordon? Of course not. He adores Zordon. Besides, if he hurt our son, I..." She hesitated.
"Go on," Jozzuah coaxed her.
"I would leave him. That is the one thing I can never allow. Zordon is just a little boy. I must protect him."
"Daphne, why do you remain with him? He has no right to harm you. You are the gentlest soul I know."
"He needs me, Jozz. I get through to him. Even when he is irrationally angry, I can reach him eventually. If I left him, he would have no one to pull him back from that blind rage."
"You should not endure such suffering at the hands of one who is meant to love you."
"I love him, Jozz. There are almost two Zells at times... The angry, uncontrollable one, and the gentle, benevolent one who cannot bear to see me cry. He takes excellent care of me. He has been the one person I could count on since I was ten years of age. He is a good man, but he needs me to help him remember that. I do not understand it, but I see it."
Jozzuah realized that, unlike Serafine, Daphne's love for Zell was genuine. She was not under any spell. She was simply a girl who had desperately needed someone to care about her after her parents had seemingly forgotten her, and Zell had come to rescue her from a rather lonely existence.
"Daphne... I want you to be careful," he said. "If things get bad, you will call on me for help." He touched her shoulder. She nodded slowly.
From that day on, if Zell hurt her especially bad, she would reach out to Jozzuah. She did not admit what happened, but she allowed him to take care of her. On a couple of occasions, he had the urge to check on her and was able to calm Zell down before he hurt her. He could feel the chaos in Zell's mind and he would force him to think rationally again.
It worked for a while. Then, one day, Jozzuah sensed something was wrong. He tried to get to Daphne, but once again, the Witch pulled him into a pocket realm. "I know you think you're doing the right thing, Little Hunter, but this path must be followed," she said. "One day, you'll understand. We'll become good friends, I'm certain of it."
He fell unconscious as a spell overwhelmed him. When he woke up, he knew she was gone, but no one else seemed to. Two days had passed. He ran to check on her and spotted little Zordon curled up on his mother's corpse and covered in her blood.
His chest tightened. He forced himself to turn off his emotions. He was too late. There was nothing he could do. He'd failed Daphne just as he'd failed Serafine. He needed to be practical now, not emotional.
Jozzuah knew he couldn't be the one to officially find them. He also couldn't bear to leave a six-year-old boy curled up catatonic on his mother's corpse. He waited until he saw one of their neighbors and grabbed her arm.
"You need to check on Daphne and Zordon," he said. "You came up with the urge on your own and do not recall this conversation." He walked away, hiding in the shadows and waiting. When he heard the woman begin to scream, he knew she'd done as he'd instructed.
As news spread of the horrible crime, Jezzeff somehow convinced everyone Ash's ghost had returned just to slaughter Daphne as he'd slaughtered Serafine. Jozzuah was furious. He might have taken it out on Jezzeff, but he found Zutan first.
The arrogant boy looked as fragile as a child as he wept hysterically in the woods. Jozzuah saw the mess next to him and realized he'd thrown up. He looked absolutely terrified and devastated.
"Zutan... You need to pull yourself together," Jozzuah said.
"He... He killed her, Jozz," Zutan said.
"I know."
"He killed Daphne..."
"Zutan, calm down before he sees you like this."
"But... He killed the woman he nearly loved... What do you think he'll do to us if he ever doubts our loyalties?"
"Is that why you're upset?"
"No..." Zutan took a deep breath, trying and failing to calm himself down. "I liked Daphne. A lot. And she was innocent. All she did was love him."
"Zutan..." Jozzuah touched his arm. "Breathe, Zutan. Embrace your element. Let the Air soothe you now. You will calm yourself."
Zutan was suddenly much calmer. "Thank you," he said softly. "I needed that."
"I know. Keep yourself calm and focused, Zutan, or he'll kill you."
Zutan nodded. Jozzuah took him to Hezzo and Tinny's closest bar and they drank their pain away together.
Left with no one to fight for, Jozzuah stopped questioning Zell's orders. He continued working with the Alliance, especially Grayzee. As she'd worried it would, Zell's rage grew worse without Daphne to calm him. He began ordering more and more horrific things. For the next several years, Jozzuah was Zell's perfect enforcer.
Zell fell nearly a decade later. Zordon killed him and revealed the truth to the world. Good for him, Jozzuah thought. The boy had owed his father that much.
"Jozz... Jozz, you need to leave Eltar," Zutan said urgently as he ran up to him.
"Calm yourself, Zutan," Jozzuah replied. "What is the issue?"
"They're trying to find Alliance members. Jezzeff's fine, because no one believes he could have done anything evil. Grayzee has Maegus and Branz covering for him, and no one would ever believe they were involved, so that is good enough for them. They arrested Felina, but Zordon is asking for them to pardon her because of her age and the way Zell basically raised her. They were looking at me, so I pinned everything on someone else."
"Who?"
Zutan hesitated. "Plurri," he said softly.
"Plurri?! Zutan, you cowardly son of a bitch, how could you?"
"I panicked, alright? I didn't want to die, and he was the easiest one to frame."
"Plurri would not harm anyone! Why would they believe you?"
"I planted all the evidence that should have implicated me on him."
"He won't last ten seconds in prison, Zutan! He's too gentle... Mayor Freyst will break him."
"Stone's already trying to clear him. It's fine... He won't do any real time, and they won't execute him."
"He's supposed to be your friend. That guy has always been good to you."
"I already feel like a monster for it, Jozz, but it's too late. Unless I confess, I can't undo it, and if I confess, they'll kill me, and Rosemary will be alone. I didn't come here to be lectured. I came to save your life. Freyst took the opportunity to put your crimes out there for everyone to see. They're coming for you, and they will execute you. You have to run, Jozz."
Jozzuah knew he was right. He sighed. "Thank you, Zutan. I appreciate the warning."
"Of course. Now go. I will distract them and send them in the opposite direction to buy you time, but that is all I can do for you."
Jozzuah fled to the first place he could think of. Earth was an unusual planet, but he adapted fairly well. He was already excellent at blending into places, and his power meant anything he claimed while touching people would become their reality. He also realized he could genuinely alter reality with his power, but he tried not to do that unless he had no other choice.
He moved from place to place, living in every major city on Earth. He fell in love with the various cultures, but he never stayed anywhere for long. Eltarians aged too slowly. He couldn't settle down for eternity in one town.
At the turn of the 1900s, Jozzuah discovered New Orleans. He immediately fell in love with the unusual city. He stayed longer than he should have, but no one questioned him. Eventually, he was comfortable enough to call New Orleans his home. No one seemed to realize he never aged. To be safe, he used his power to ensure no one ever would.
It wasn't until 2014 that Jozzuah ran into a problem he hadn't expected. At first, he didn't recognize the very charming, very intoxicated Eltarian who walked into his bar, but as soon as he got close to him, he caught just enough of his energy to realize who he really was.
"Hit me," Laby said, putting a significant amount of cash on the bar. "Let me know when I owe you more than this covers."
Laby had never been much of a drinker. Jozzuah wondered what the hell had happened to his old friend. He set down a shot. Laby tossed it back and motioned for more. Jozzuah served him over a dozen drinks in far too short an amount of time.
"What do they call you, Friend?" Jozzuah asked.
"Johnny," he replied.
"As in Walker?" Jozzuah joked.
Laby smirked. "That sounds good. Pour it if you've got it."
Jozzuah poured him some of his best Johnnie Walker. Laby downed that, too, before he said, "Doe."
"Doe?" Jozzuah repeated.
"Johnny Doe."
"Like an unidentified corpse?"
"Exactly. Nice to meet you, Mr. Bartender."
"Joshua," Jozzuah provided.
Laby still didn't recognize him. "Another Johnnie Walker, Joshua. And chase it with a bourbon. I'm on Bourbon Street, so it seems like I should have at least one."
"Listen, uh, Johnny... I think you've had enough."
"It won't kill me. Trust me. I can handle it. Are you going to serve me, or is it time for me to hit up the next bar?"
Knowing Laby would make good on the promise to drink elsewhere and that he was truly immortal, Jozzuah caved and served him more alcohol. He continued to do this until Laby passed out. Jozzuah closed the bar and carried him to one across the street.
"Hey, Josie," he greeted one of the owners. She was probably the most trustworthy person in New Orleans. She was a spunky Southern Belle. In some ways, she vaguely reminded Jozzuah of Serafine, but without magic. "Do me a favor and take care of this guy? I think he's been through a lot."
"Of course, Sugar. I'll set him up in the bed upstairs so he can sleep this off," she replied.
Knowing he couldn't stay, he touched Josie's shoulder. "Johnny walked into the bar tonight on his own. You are going to hit him with so much of your Southern hospitality he can't help but stay here."
She nodded slowly. He kissed her cheek. "Bye, Miss Josie. It was good knowing you."
He went home, packed up his things, and left town. He drove until he hit Las Vegas and decided it would be easy enough to blend in there. He set up a place he called Bourbon's. When locals asked about the name and realized he spoke with a Southern drawl, they started calling him Bourbon. He liked the nickname more than he liked the name Joshua McKian and decided to adopt it, allowing everyone to use it.
For the next five years, he threw himself into life in Las Vegas. Upon discovering Garron had a Chapter of the Rebellion there, Bourbon used his power to ensure reality bent in a way that prevented any of them from noticing him. Everything was perfect until the day that Jezzeff walked into his bar and invited him to join his Guild. That was the last thing Bourbon wanted to do, but Jezzeff had someone with him, and as soon as he saw her, Bourbon realized she was one of Serafine's incarnations.
He'd failed to save her on Eltar. Now, she stood with the bastard who'd betrayed her and gotten her killed. Bourbon finally had a second chance to protect her.
Fuck it, Bourbon thought. I guess I'm all in.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Jozzuah/Bourbon's story continues in Chosen Destiny.