Frankenstein sat in his helicopter, still wondering how he'd gotten himself into this. His Master liked their life now, he liked the household they'd built together. And Frankenstein would never do anything to jeopardize that.
But he'd already pledged his word that he would help Tao and Takio. Well… 'help' might not be the right word. What they'd asked him for could kill them.
Frankenstein closed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. Why… why had he let them talk him into this?
"You okay, Boss?" came Tao's voice.
He looked up. Karius, Regis, and his three kids were all watching him warily.
"Not really," Frankenstein said flatly.
He tapped his fingers on the book in his lap. He never thought he'd have to use something like this again.
"We're not going to let it kill us," Takio promised. "We'll pull through."
"You say that now… but you have no idea what you're asking for," Frankenstein sighed.
"Well… then why don't you tell us?" Tao asked. "We're going to be in this chopper for a while."
"Yeah… you told us we just had to ask you if there was something we wanted to know," Takio said thoughtfully. "Well, we're asking you."
"I did say that," Frankenstein sighed. "Fine… let's make this quick."
He rubbed his hand over the book of black magic. Science hadn't always sufficed back then…
"When I was in the Union all those centuries ago, I began developing a theory for how to imitate the nobles' soul weapons. However, the project required too much sacrifice, so I abandoned it… Only for it to be picked up by the other Union elders."
He held up the crumbling old book for them to see. Even the family leader leaned forward curiously.
"It wasn't exactly the best theory… It required a combination of science and black magic to make it work. Not to mention the deaths of tens of thousands of humans. And guess who carried it out behind my back?"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"They… you mean the Union slaughtered tens of thousands of people just to put them into some imitation of a soul weapon?" Regis asked, looking appropriately horrified.
"That's exactly what they did," Frankenstein said bitterly. "Wars, famines, epidemics… nothing was beneath them. But there are consequences to such actions."
"Yeah, I'll bet," M-21 muttered.
"Right. You put that much evil into one place and it can cause… well, problems would be putting it lightly. The thing they created… they couldn't control it. So they begged me to stop it."
He bowed his head.
"And… I did. But I paid a hefty price. My mind, body, and soul… the dark spear would devour them all if it could. Even now, I can feel it trying to do so."
Both Tao and Takio looked especially concerned at this point. Frankenstein completely understood why. They were asking to take a piece of his burden.
"To be honest, I'm not sure how I managed to tame this thing," he continued. "All the trapped souls in the dark spear… they've all gone completely mad. They're full of anger, greed, and hunger. As you've seen, the weapon will attempt to consume you the longer you hold on to it. Those souls have a will of their own, whispering in your mind, causing you an immense amount of physical and mental pain… unless…"
"Unless…?"
Frankenstein looked at them seriously.
"Unless you are stronger than they are," he told them. "Once I give you a piece of the dark spear, it will lurk in the back of your mind forever, trying to convince you to let it devour you. You must keep the core of who you are at the front of your mind, always."
Both Tao and Takio nodded just as seriously.
"What it's for you?"
"Hm?"
"The core of who you are. The thing that keeps the dark spear from devouring you. What is it?"
"Heh… it changes over the years. People aren't static, you know. But lately… well…"
He sighed. Part of him didn't want to answer. Except… he'd hurt these three young men. He supposed he owed them a truthful answer… or at least, a partially truthful answer.
"Master Raizel considers all of you to be his family. And… so do I."
Everyone looked rather touched. M-21 suddenly became interested in his knees. Frankenstein had a feeling the young man was trying to hide a few tears.
"Ah… don't look at me like that," Frankenstein said. He flashed them one of his usual evil grins. "I owe it to all of you. I know I don't say it often, but… I am truly grateful to have a chance to make things right with the three of you."
"We don't blame you, you know."
"You should."
"I doubt the Union would have stopped trying to make humans more powerful, even without your research," Tao argued. "I don't think anyone would have survived their crappy experiments if they'd based it completely on their own research. At least using yours, some of us made it."
Frankenstein let that sink in. Tao was probably right, but it didn't make him feel any better about all the blood on his hands.
"If you feel that bad about it… then why'd you agree to help us?"
Frankenstein ran a hand through his hair.
"Why did I agree to help you? Because you wanted it so badly. Because I couldn't say no to the children I'd wronged. Because… we are family, just the way Master wanted it."
He looked around at each of them. M-21 with his scarred face, Takio and his sad blue eyes, Tao's unusually concerned expression…
"Just know this… Even if this world turns its back on you, I never will. And neither will Master."
"Who knew you were such a softie, Boss?" Tao joked lightly.
"Don't let it go to your head."
Everyone chuckled. He was back to being the Frankenstein they all knew. Why they couldn't figure out that his sharp tongue was only superficial, he wasn't sure. As if he'd ever done anything to harm them. At least, not once they were members of his household.
Frankenstein was jerked out of his thoughts as the chopper landed on his private island. The island was home to a private lab hidden inside the dense woods that covered the space. He'd conduct the experiments there. The kids had wanted to know why he'd had to use this lab instead of the one hidden beneath his home. Truthfully, the lab beneath his house wasn't soundproof. He hadn't wanted his Master to hear their screams.
"All right," he told them, taking over his role as director. "Takio and Tao, take this equipment to the bottom level. Use the elevator. Karius and M-21, there's a clearing you should be able to use to practice. Regis, come with me for a moment, would you?"
"All right."
Everyone set off toward their respective tasks. Frankenstein strolled out over the tarmac, Regis trailing behind him. He glanced down at the young noble's shining silver head.
"I know this is going to upset you," Frankenstein said without preamble.
"Yes," Regis said bluntly. "This could kill them."
Regis looked up at him, his blood red eyes shining with worry.
"You have to save them. Please."
"I won't let it kill them," Frankenstein promised. "If the power proves too much, I'll contain it."
He put a hand on the boy's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.
"You know... the humans have a lot of stories about you," Regis said, following him into the lab. "They say you're a monster and you slaughtered hundreds of innocents. They say you made a deal with the devil. They call you the traitor of mankind."
"I'm sure they do," Frankenstein said evenly.
"But… it's not true, is it?"
"Heh," Frankenstein chuckled. "Well, I don't think I've ever met the devil, so… no."
"So… why do you never correct anyone when they say that stuff about you?"
"It doesn't matter what they think. Most of those people who think that sort of thing don't know me, nor would they care what the truth really is." He looked back down at the boy. "Besides, there aren't many people I'd share my past with."
Regis smiled at him. The boy had seemed arrogant when they'd first met, but he was still just a child. He looked to the adults around him for guidance. It occurred to Frankenstein that he'd mentally included Regis and Seira in his family. He knew the two young nobles would have to return to Lukedonia eventually, but still… the house would feel much emptier without them.
"Go help Tao and Takio with that equipment, would you?"
Regis nodded, running back to the helicopter.
Frankenstein turned away from them, heading down the elevator on his own, turning over his book of black magic in his hands. Naturally, he'd already found what he'd needed.
Once the elevator reached the lowest level, Frankenstein walked down the sterile hallways until he reached the very last door. He'd perform the experiment here.
Before he did any sort of messing around with evil spirits, the room had to be prepped. He had promised that no harm would come to his Master's family… but if harm would come to anyone, it would be himself.
Stepping into the room, Frankenstein summoned a sliver of his power, fashioning it into a blade. He carefully sliced open his hand, watching as his tainted blood pooled in his palm. Murmuring the incantation under his breath, Frankenstein walked around the room, smearing his blood on the door and walls.
There. That would trap the evil spirits in this room, keep them bound to him. If Tao and Takio couldn't handle his power, his blood in the room would draw the spirits back into him.
And… it would hurt, sure. But that was better than seeing his children die.
"Hey, Boss… You ready for us?"
Frankenstein turned to face Tao and Takio. They were both peering suspiciously at his blood on the walls.
"What the heck are you doing in here? Finger painting with your own blood? That's a little morbid, even for you, Boss…"
"Just a little insurance," Frankenstein said flatly. "Put on those hospital gowns, would you? You won't want to ruin your clothes."
"Why would getting part of the dark spear ruin our clothes?"
Frankenstein sighed. They really had no idea… well, that wasn't their fault, but still…
"Because the dark spear will tear you apart from the inside out, that's why. It can be… messy."
His face twitched as something else occurred to him.
"Did you guys bring spare underwear?" he asked abruptly.
"What? No…"
"Then make sure you go to the bathroom first. I'd rather not end up cleaning your bodily fluids off the floor," Frankenstein sighed.
"Are you serious?"
Frankenstein gave them a blank look.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Tao and Takio glanced at each other, but they both consented to leave and come back only after they'd shed their clothes and used the restroom. When they finally returned, Regis came trailing in after them.
"I just saw M-21," Regis said, his voice tight. "He and Karius are really going at it."
"Then we'll have to try harder, too," Tao said stoutly.
"Yeah," Takio agreed.
They both looked at Frankenstein.
"What do we do now?"
Frankenstein patted the tables.
"Hop up here, lie down and get comfortable."
Both Tao and Takio eagerly climbed onto their respective tables.
Frankenstein didn't think he'd ever met anyone so eager to die. Well… except for himself, perhaps.
"All right… I am going to give each of you one powerful soul to augment your powers. As soon as this power enters you, it will attack you. The soul will attempt to take you over."
"Hey, will this make our personalities like yours?" Tao asked suddenly.
"Is that honestly what you want to know right now?" Frankenstein snapped. "And no, my personality has nothing to do with the dark spear… although it does piss me off sometimes."
"Ah."
"Anything else?"
"Um, no, I'm good."
"Then focus, please," Frankenstein ordered.
Frankenstein closed his eyes, tapping into the dark spear's energy. Thanks to his improved control over his power, darkness immediately began crawling up his arms. His hands morphed into their demonic form, complete with dark, curved claws.
"So, get yourselves ready… and try not to go insane."
He raised his hands and placed one on Tao's head and one an Takio's. With an immense amount of effort, he called up the powerful souls of the union elders he'd absorbed.
And… he hesitated.
"Um… Boss? You fall asleep or something?"
"No," he said quietly. "Get ready, now... And remember: You chose this."
With one massive push, he relinquished some of his power into both of his children.
Their screams kept him awake for the next five days.
