Hiya there! Sorry for not uploading midweek since I had Spring Break and needed the week to recharge after a stressful half of the semester. Luckily there shalt be no giving up on my watch! Thank you for the reviews and I appreciate your continued support. Enjoy the read! (^_^)/
Saint Henry lied on his king sized bed like the title implied, enjoying the future benefits he was about to receive as the next leader of the nation of Inkopolis. He felt extremely arrogant and accomplished in having accomplished the goals he placed for himself in the past year, rising to political prominence faster than any politician ever and becoming a cultural figurehead for the blind Inklings who were desperate to keep the power they had over octarians tightly in their grasp. Starting back as the leading caretaker in the cuttlefish orphanage those many years back where he found success in pretending to love and care for the lost youth who'd been abandoned by those that brought them into this broken world, now he was about to replicate that same process on a larger scale and spread his ideology and influence. As he stared up at the popcorn ceiling, a massive grin of deviance sprouted as his body shook with joyous laughter. The three things he treasured the most he got at his very first start: Money, Power, and Lust. The funding he received to renovate the institution in attempt to take care of the select inkling children there despite the overflowing number of cuttlefish, he instead spent on himself and his agenda-making the children suffer in return. The power to control the undeveloped minds of the youth and make them bend to his will, or break them completely. Unsatisfied with only the nuns, he took that same abusive power and turned to harming the children in other ways, punishing them for the smallest of things and robbing them of the freedom as children-bringing them into the adult world when their minds were nowhere near ready. The highlight of those days for him before he became a politician was the time he spent tormenting the sibling pair in Azule and Sky, subjecting them to extensive and intense punishment for being born to Agents 3 and 4, respectively.
"I thought my time as a politician would be the most exciting time of my life since I could have unlimited resources of everything...so why is it that I always think about those two children? Is it guilt? No, I enjoyed ripping their bodies to bits and numbing their minds. Perhaps, it's that sense of power that's led me here. Taking advantage of the offspring of some of the most powerful people alive...refreshing to think that I can attain an even higher achievement!" he laughed maniacally, covering his face with his hand as his body bobbled in response, marveling at all the possibilities he could abuse once he becomes the Prime Minister. He was confident in his negotiating skills to bend the parliament to his control.
Lucky for him in regards to his room, his power didn't go out since the room he was staying in was the royal suite reserved for only the most important of patrons-hence it being the very last, largest, and most luxurious room on the very top level of a high class hotel. As for the entire floor as well, the power was still on for them too since they were on the highest floor where the nicest rooms were. Dressed in a royal red robe with fur on the trims and belt, a patch of chest hair visible, and white socks on his feet-it seemed as though he was wearing nothing else under but as he shuffled his hairy legs, a skin tight pant leg of his brief was visible briefly. He looked at the wall with his arms crossed-continuing to talk to himself, "I heard that place got burned down after I left, and there were no survivors...I wonder if that boy got engulfed by those flames?"
A few moments of silence pass before he hears a knock at the door from one of his security guards who told right afterwards that Agent 5 had arrived as he requested, he grants her access-beady eyes illuminated as his favorite toy entered the room in her agent uniform with disgust written all over her face as she tried her best to not make eye contact with him. For Sky, the stench of a loser filled her nostrils the moment she stepped foot inside-feeling instant regret for submitting to her role as an Agent. A memory to a conversation she had with Cap'n Cuttlefish only made her skin crawl even more. For he, never knew the truth about Saint Henry until he brought it to Sky's attention earlier that day that he had been doing an extensive and very personal background check on him along with her siblings and uncovered disturbing facts about him and what he's been linked to. The face he gave Sky when he told her that by no means must she allow her emotions to overcome her-she had to tough out this day as his personal guard by any means necessary. He was an unpredictable man who would do anything he wanted as long as it was entertainment to him.
Saint Henry grinned with enthusiasm as he welcomed his prey, motioning the guards to close the door behind them and leave them be. Sky showed hesitation in everything she did; she tried to hide her fear and hunger for revenge, but it was frustrating to restrain herself while he looked at her so lecherously like a perverse old man would a young lady. On the same floor, Azule finally arrived there-crouching behind a wall as he observed guards leaving the room. He surveyed the halls and spotted a vent nearby the room of interest, but he wouldn't be able to just sneak in through there, he'd need to find another point of entry.
"If the lights are still on up here, the odds are that these guys won't budge…" Azule whispered to himself as he continued observing the situation at hand. Just beyond those doors were his sister and the man who'd stained them with the sins of an adult. Just the thought and anxiety of strangling him until his last breath enticed Azule to proceed forward and throw caution to the wind, his blue eyes beginning to sharpen with conviction. "Don't get in my way…" he said as a blackened aura began to emit from his tainted soul-vengeance present. But before he could uncover his wrath on worthless foot soldiers, Pastelle stopped him with sternness.
"Keep your eyes on the target, Azule. Don't lose your way after getting this far. Remember that we've all gambled on this for you. Don't screw it up now that you've gotten so close."
Azule stopped, his eyes widened with shock. Even after she was done being his mentor, Pastelle still looked out for Azule like he was her own little brother. Azule remembered all the experiences he shared during his training with Pastelle, the personal conversation about her deceased younger brother that she shared after placing enough trust in him. The multitude of ideas and concepts they shared about many of the wonders and mysteries of the world and their origins. Before, Azule really only saw Pastelle as Sky's rival who just tried to beat her at everything. But after learning and bonding through training, Azule knew a different side of Pastelle-a philosophical and wise genius who was as sharp as even the smartest of inklings. It'd be wise if he listened to her. His muscles relaxed, as his breathing calmed down-returning to a normal state and the black aura disappearing.
"I...understand." he muttered in a disappointed tone.
Pastelle's tone didn't change, "Assess the situation, and look for another option. Always remember that there is another way to accomplish your goal, don't become blind to only one route." she said, abruptly changing her scope of focus to Kosami's task on turning off the surveillance cameras. During this time, Cobalt, Tangie, and Violet had all accomplished their deeds and were now returning to the van to mark their escape. Kosami sat alone in the coffee shop, her fingers moving automatically with a poker face-the reflection of the coding in her glasses. "I'm just about...ready!" she whispered with excitement, trying to contain her sense of accomplishment. "Cameras will shut down on my command, be ready to find your route and take it, Azule."
Azule nodded while searching for another possible route, "Gotcha. Let me know how much time you can buy me by shutting the cameras off."
Kosami nodded in response, "I can assure you that ten minutes is the safest. I can push for an extra ten added minutes but I can't assure you that I can do it successfully since the others will probably wake up by the time the initial time is completed."
"Either way, get it done and get out of the area." Pastelle commanded afterwards, feeling the pressure in her gut as midnight approached. Crunch time was getting closer.
Azule continued scoping around before finding a vent far down the hall right under the window, he was unsure of whether to stay with the route since the vent seemed too far from the desired room which was located adjacently to left down a long hall. He watched to pair of guards manning the door and decided to open the vent and take the risk. The lid of the vent was sealed tight, but as Azule wrapped his fingers around the metal edges-his thumbs on the top of the frame. He grunts in response to the struggling, veins pulsing from his arms and head-eyes bulging as his hands hands shook. Shoooooh he went as he exhale, inhaling deeply to take in as much oxygen for his cells. On the following exhale, he tore of the vent, nearly falling backwards with the frame in his hands. He managed to get the frame off and crawled into the vent. Making his way through the vents, he tried his best not to make too much noise as he worked his way to the room he assumed to be his target's. following the light, he arrived at a room where the vent was placed high. Looking through the design of the carving, he saw the bed across from him, the tall shelf right below him, and over to his right of the bed, he saw his target and his sister. Azule's focus zoomed in once he saw his sister, seeing the pained expression on his face was enough for him to get riled up as the agonizing memories came back. He was just at his fingertips.
"You're good to go Azule. You have ten minutes. I'll try to grab more time during those ten minutes but let me know if you get the kill."
"Understood, I'll be turning off my mic. After I kill him I'll come back on." he said in a predatory tone as though his personality had been warped.
Silence fell through the line, everyone understanding the tone in his voice was more than just composure. This was his chance to get freedom from the binding pain of memories, knowing the attacker was still out there. At that moment, the only thing in Azule's mind was to stop him from collecting any more victims than he already compiled. Placing his finger to the earpiece, he pressed a button and turned off his mic. He had ten minutes with the surveillance cut off to get the kill. His hearing got clearer as he kept his ravenous eyes on the back of the prime minister.
"My...don't you look quite stunning in that uniform. I'd prefer a maid outfit or a bikini, but this works as well." Saint Henry said in a laughing yet ravenous tone, as he rubbed his hands together.
"You're a sick man." Sky said plainly, trying her hardest to restrain her emotions; her blood felt like fire swishing with fury.
"Don't blame me. Blame the food and environment that you're in. It's hard for people like me to resist someone who ripens before expectation. You might be 16, but that body of yours is much older than 16...especially thanks to me, wouldn't you say? Experience pays off, doesn't it?"
A nerve got struck for both siblings, Azule clenching his fist-eyes trembling with rage as the needle under his sleeve slid out, Sky's composure weakening as the images of that disturbing past became vivid yet again. Saint Henry could smell the strength of Sky fade, his grin widening by the second. "Since my entertainment won't be here for some time, you'll be my warm up. There's only two ways to respond: try and fight again and risk the consequences, or accept what enjoyed like last time. Either way, I'm winning." he said licking his lips.
For Sky, it was painful and humiliating. Unable to do anything about this without making matters worse than it can be. Unlike then at the orphanage, she now had unbelievable strength to easily assault him brutally. But could she live with the consequences afterwards? Processing everything in her mind from the dozens of scenarios that could fall depending on her actions, to the painful flashbacks, to her job as an agent. Forced to obey, she submits with no response-tears trickling down her face-forcing herself to look him in the eyes. Regardless, she'd stay strong and show him that she wasn't the same girl he violated back then.
Saint Henry's expression turned merciless as he observed her figure, taking off his robe and showing his bare skin. He motioned his hands lower, trying to get Sky's attention there, but she only kept her watery eyes on his face. " . ." he said chillingly raising his chin with arrogance; Sky didn't obey. "Fine, then I'll do it for you." cupping his hands into bear claws with a shine in his eyes. As he approached her with each footstep, Azule couldn't hold back any longer-refusing to witness the same thing he saw when he was younger. Sky felt his sinister aura overcome her defensive aura with each lick of his lips he gave.
In the blink of an eye, Azule crashed through the frame-doing a roll as he landed-capturing the attention of the both of them, flashing his ravenous appetite for murder. Azule lowered his head, bent his knees, and like the power of his parents, he delivered a thunderous right hook to the gut of Saint Henry before the man could react. Blood came out from the priest's mouth instantly as the force from Azule's punch had enough magnitude to completely rupture a person's internal organs, his body hunched over in pain as his eyes popped out in response to the unbearable impact, unable to scream in agony. Azule wasn't done though as glint shines intensely, the pressure in the air thickening as the climax approaches.
That's for harming my sister.
His left hook connected with the priest's chin, send his head bobbing upward as a stream of blood flew in the air. Azule destroyed the priest's jaw as the man struggled to register yet another high intensity of pain.
That's for harming me.
The needle appeared from his sleeve and as smooth as though a seasoned assassin, he flicks his wrist upwards-his two fingers making a "V" as the needle shoots, sending the venom straight to his throat. The needle pierced his skin like a sharp object would to a soft surface, getting lost in the adam's apple. Immediately, the venom worked its magic as the priest struggled to breathe-gasping for air as he fell to the floor crashing face first. Clawing at the ground, his eyes widened as fear of the unknown approached at his doorstep with a sharpened scythe ready for reaping. Saint Henry nervously pleas with Azule asking for mercy and forgiveness and the antidote. But Azule kept his cold glre on the man, watching him squirm-taking his final breaths as the pain expanded to all regions. After giving a dying screech of pain, his clawing fingers and dropped jaw both expanded, his eyes rolling back and rolling over on his back. He was dead. Keeping his glare on the man, still, the viciousness dulled away-softness returning to his hue. It was over. Unlike his previous attempts to move on from the past, this time felt different. Freedom tasted better than he could ever imagine. The horror he and his sister suffered back then would never go away, but at the very least, he got revenge worth easing the pain away. Breathing a sigh of relief, euphoria captured Azule. That predator took his last breath in complete agony and never again would he harm anyone. In the blink of an eye, a politician had just been assassinated right before Sky. Sky's body tensed up from paralysis, stunned by what she'd just witnessed. Instinctively, she didn't sense any harm from the killer and instead felt something resonate between them. Observing the features the killer gave away, horror fell over her once she connected the blue eyes, tie-up blue hair, tan complexion, and his size. Sky-although she didn't want to believe it, identified the killer as none other than her younger brother. How did she figure that out so quickly? Praised as one of the sharpest young minds in the country, she wasn't a prodigy for nothing. Her hands trembled in anxiety as she covered her mouth, preventing herself from saying his name since she thought the cameras were catching footage. Except the feed had been cut for only two minutes. Azule's calmness didn't mean he had any remorse as he stared down his victim coldly, not even giving him the respect of closing his eyes for peace. Never does he look in Sky's direction, instead looking at the floor as he rushed at the door-kicking them down on top of the guards. Azule knew he wasn't going to be able to take the same route as before, and now that he got the kill he wanted, no need to be so careful since he had eight minutes remaining. The guards got up from under the collapsing doors, and without hesitation curse obscenities at Azule and then rush at him; neither thought about calling for backup since they felt personally attacked for being ambushed.
"The best way to slaughter a helpless animal is to startle them into attacking in a desperate attempt of self-defense…" Azule said cryptically as he dodged the punches of both men, then caught the hand of one guard and redirected him backwards, quickly dodging the swift jab of the other guard-crouching and transitioning to a spinning leg sweep, bringing the guard off his feet and into mid air for a millisecond. That millisecond felt like an eternity as Azule cocked back his fist and launch a brutal blow to the guard's face in midair, sending him down hard on the floor and knocking his teeth out. The next guard recovered from earlier.
"You damn pipsqueak!" he yelled rushing towards Azule.
"..."
Like a boxer, Azule used his size to his advantage and crouched yet again-avoiding the strikes from the aggressive man, ducking and delivering a dozen brutal blows to the guard's abdomen before quickly grappling him by the head and bringing it down to his thrusting knee, knocking him out on impact. Trembling eyes of fear widened as Sky watched her brother in action, shaking her head rapidly with disbelief as the horror of what'll await her brother's future materialized in her mind. He just committed the biggest crime possible as an inkling living in the nation of Inkopolis, once news got out about this assassination, the hunt for the killer would become prominent. The nation would spiral out of control having to once again select a new leader after the government's questionable removal of the previous leader.
Sprinting away from the scene, Azule turns back on his mic hurrying out of the hallway struggling to find a proper exit. He confirms the kill and his status, to which Pastelle responds with her location and tells Azule to meet her at the elevator. With no time to think of another route, Azule zipped to the elevator trusting his mentor. Pastelle appeared in the elevator a few moments later, her pastel green hair bobbing up and down with impatience as she waits for Azule to make it.
"C'mon dude, I can't hold this up for long." Pastelle said with her finger holding down on the button. Their escape route was surprisingly plain, depending on the factor of luck. Azule crashes into the elevator as Pastelle closes the door frantically. "We're going to the fourth floor, from there you'll need to escape through the stairs on the opposite side of the stairs you took."
Azule was perplexed-catching his breath, "There was another set?"
"Yeah, that one has an emergency exit there. Take that route and disappear into the snow, meet back up with everyone at the rendezvous point and head straight to your homes. Don't worry about me, I'll have to stay here regardless." She said in a commander-like tone, reading Azule's mind once she saw his confusion.
"Understood." everyone else said on the line; Kosami was making her way back to the van since the kill on her stepfather was confirmed.
"You still have six minutes before camera feed comes back on. The lights and power have been back on, so be careful but know that you're free." Kosami said trekking through the snow as snow began to fall. Azule responded with enthusiasm, similar to the innocent joy he had before getting shot in the head or performing illegal and undercover missions.
Back at the scene of the murder, Sky collapsed backwards sitting in shock. Her eyes quivered with a flurry of different emotions overcoming her. Shock, sadness, fear, and a strand of relief all were jostling for control. Taking a glance at the dead body of her attacker, she choked up on the tears of relief at the deed done. Although there was a nagging feeling that she couldn't kill him with her own hands, she felt closure to know that not only were the problems from her past extinguished. But the future of the nation was also somewhat saved thanks to her brother's actions. Sky took a deep breath and calmed down, getting up and looking at the door, then the bed, then his lifeless body again. Crossing her arms, she raised her chin-unforgiving eyes lowered at the corpse. "Rot in the deepest abyss..." Sky said coldly, closing the final chapter of darkness in her life-no longer looking back now that all traces were exterminated.
