Here's Chapter 18, guys. Hope you like it. As you can see, I'm moving a bit fast, aren't I? Hah, it's because I've had quite a bit of free time lately, and I can work on this story more. Anyway, we're finally getting back to our plotline here, so enjoy.

Chapter 18: Possessed Massacre

He walked down the dark streets. Tsau was 24 years old now, and his assassin life has really been in the fast lane. Contracts were thrown at him left and right, and at times, he found himself completing more than five contracts for a day. The name he had given himself, the Reaper, has become almost a household name around these parts of Aswad. The poor venerated him, and the rich needed him, but they were fearful nonetheless. The rich could pay him money to go and kill someone, only to find that they themselves would be killed soon after. With a surprising demand of assassins, all rich people were nearly enemies to each other. Tsau kept his pace as he started his way down an alley, before he was met up with a group of three strangers; ones that he could have expected.

"Are you lost?" one of them asked. "Maybe I can help you, sir."

Tsau stayed quiet and did not speak to any of them.

"You must be an idiot. You look like a monk from one of those cathedrals. Even in this city, holy men are sinners," the seeming leader spoke. He took out a dagger from its sheath. "I'll need your money if you can pass through here. If you don't give me your money, I'll have to get rid of your fingers…one by one."

The man under the hood kept quiet and motionless, watching them carefully.

"Don't you hear me talking?!?" the leader asked. "Huh?!?"

At a split second, Tsau's foot shot up and kicked the dagger away, and at the same time, he drew his trigun. After the dagger was kicked away, Tsau shot the leader in the head, and then switched chambers and shot another man in the chest. The last man started running off in total fear, but fell when Tsau shot him in the back of the leg. He started crawling away out of the alley and into the street. The only visible lights were the torches and the apparent moonlight that shone over them.

Tsau walked up to the crawling man and knocked him over.

"No, please!" the man exclaimed. "I have a wife and child! I was just doing what I can to survive, please! Don't kill me!"

"Perhaps you can help me," Tsau said in a calm, deep tone.

The man realized that they tried to rob the wrong man tonight. "I'll tell you anything! Just let me go!"

"Where is the Manifest?" he asked. "I have a contract there."

"Contract…?!" the man reacted.

Tsau gripped his shirt. "Contract."

"Go past the alleyway and to the right. Go straight down the street, and an old man will be standing with a dog. There is another entrance on the top of the building! Please! Let me go!"

The newly installed wristblade sprung out from his wrist, causing the man to flinch.

"I thought you'd let me go!"

"Since when did I agree to that?" Tsau stated in that dark tone. "Sleep tight."

He shoved the wristblade into the man's chest, piercing the lungs. The man couldn't breathe, and his life slowly passed as Tsau cleaned the blade with his shirt.

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"The years haven't been polite," Will said. "There was a lot of cleaning up to do after Davy Jones left."

"And did you finish?" Elizabeth asked, sitting on the bed next to him.

He nodded, and stared straight forward. "Yes. 8 years…it felt more like 80. Every day seemed longer, harsher…and every day was another day away from you."

"But now you have returned," Elizabeth said, wrapping her arms around him. "Your father is quite the grandfather."

Will grinned slightly and held her in his arms. "Yes, he is. They'll spend lots of time together. When this is over, we shall return home, where we belong."

"Everything will be normal," she replied. "Hopefully."

"Do you think Jack is alright?" Will suddenly asked.

Elizabeth looked up. "Come to think of it, he's been a bit reserved lately."

"No, not that," Will said. "It's about him, and your friend…the assassin. Before our two ships parted, I saw something."

She listened intently. "What?"

"He was going to give Jack that black dagger," Will stated. "But instead, he kept it. The gesture was odd. It was as if your friend noticed something."

"Tsau?" Elizabeth asked. "What about him?"

He nodded. "I don't trust him. Nor do I trust Jack right now. They're a bit secretive. And that girl…"

"You can trust Zi," she told him. "I trust her. She seems a bit innocent…and naïve."

"It's been a few days," Will informed. "Maybe we can go check up on them…"

"But, you—"

"It's alright," he said. "I'll be fine. I won't stay long enough for the curse to return. It'll be just a few hours."

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"Okay, that's it, then," Hassan said. "I have one more waiting for you if you're willing to take it."

Tsau stood in the room with his employer and Zi. "Details?"

"The last Death of Zhao," he said. "Goes by the name of the Psychosis. He seems to be able to control people's minds, along with wielding the power of telekinesis. This one won't be easy, Tsau."

"I'll do it," Tsau replied.

Hassan tilted his head in slight disbelief. "You'll do it? Look at you. You're in totally bad shape right now, Tsau. You are still suffering from your wounds, and you are lucky to have taken down that psychopath of a woman!"

"I didn't kill her," he said. "She did."

Hassan looked over Tsau's shoulder towards Zi, then looked back. "Then why am I paying you?"

"Uh…because she's not a killer…" Tsau started. "…right?"

"Oh, it's alright," Zi said from behind. "It was Tsau's contract anyway…so…"

Hassan sighed and placed the money in his protégé's hand. "Now, are you positive you want to take up this last contract?"

"Without a doubt," Tsau firmly replied.

Hassan walked over to his desk and opened the long drawer, bringing up a wooden box that seemed to be a sword case. "Come here, Tsau. I have a gift for you."

Tsau walked over to the desk and watched Hassan open the case, which had a very nice saber encased in it. He held it up and gave it to him.

"Wow," Tsau acknowledged. "For me?"

His employer nodded. "Of course. It is not as heavy as your Japanese katana, nor is it as clumsy as other cutlasses. This one is specially made for you. The lightweight metal, the one handed usage…but with the cutting power and durability of your previous blade."

As Tsau held it in his hand, he could feel the perfect balance. The handle wasn't overly protected, but had enough to keep other blades from catching his hand. It was not curved all the way like other sabers, but was slightly curved towards the end like his katana was. This was the finest sword Tsau ever held, but will he live long enough to use it?

"Why?"

"You have exceeded everything I've dreamed of," Hassan stated, pacing around the room. "You weren't lying when you said you'd become the best assassin in the world."

"Yeah," Tsau said sarcastically. "It sure is glorious."

Hassan looked down. "I've never pushed the issue on to you, Tsau, but I guess I'll just say it. I think you should retire from this business."

"Well," he started, looking at him. "What else will I have to do? I mean, I'm not even in the type of age to quit working yet. I'm still fairly young. The demand for hired killers has skyrocketed ever since I started."

"Obviously it's hard for you to continue," Hassan replied to his statement. "I think you're hitting your limit, Tsau. Plus, with new law nowadays, the contract business is heading towards a recession."

Tsau shook his head and sighed, seemingly ignoring his words. "No, I think I'll be fine. Is your stash still around? I need to restock before we leave."

Hassan nodded. "Yeah, I moved it to the third floor. It's in the closet to the right."

Tsau walked up the stairs to the third floor, leaving the two alone. He seemed pretty busy now, which was the perfect time for Zi to talk to Hassan.

"He's stubborn," Zi said.

Hassan smiled while cleaning up the paperwork on his desk. "Tsau was never the type to listen. He's seems to give advice, but doesn't take it."

"I wouldn't hate him as a businesswoman," she commented. "He seems to be doing fairly well by himself."

"Perhaps too well," he said, turning around. "But I can see what is happening to Tsau."

"Like?"

"It's not always anything obvious he's doing," Hassan said. "It's the subtle things that give it away. Tsau is losing himself. I can see this job taking him apart little by little, and as time goes on, the small damages become large wounds."

Zi smiled faintly. "Giving him a new toy isn't helping either."

"This world is a world of freedom. I am not Tsau's father, therefore, I cannot give him orders as one. I can only give him recommendations and advice as a friend. He can do as he pleases," Hassan explained.

"No," Zi refused. "You share similar faults, as well. You're letting him fall apart without helping him."

"—and you?" Hassan said with a smirk.

"I'm doing what I can."

He nodded with a sigh. "I am too old. The truth is, the contract business is not in recession. The demand for hitmen is higher than ever. Politicians gladly hire them to stab each other in the back; to eliminate competition. We just take out the trash."

Zi shook her head. "Contracts, contracts, contracts."

"This contract…" Tsau said from behind, seeming to have heard their small conversation. "…is a contract for everyone. There's a time and a place, a when and a where…and a how…and a why. Fidelity is irrelevant. Contracts exist…I'm there to execute them."

Hassan let out a sad smile. "As you can see, Tsau's friend…there is always a place in the world for people like him."

"Let's go," Tsau commanded. "The contract I am given is imperative to my agenda."

"Agenda?"

"That's right," Tsau said, finally realizing what he just said. "We have to…destroy the Necromortalis and stop the potential threat."

Zi nodded begrudgingly and headed with him downstairs towards the exit, leaving Altair Hassan alone to his office. While alone at his desk, about a good fifteen minutes passed. He was thinking a lot about his protégé, and how the future was going to be. This issue with the Dutchman was odd. The way he acted around that girl was different, too.

"Perhaps I can relieve him of the sudden light he's found," a voice spoke from the dark corner.

Hassan gave a piercing stare over to what he saw. A blindfolded samurai. His hair was tied in the ponytail fashion, and his face was moderately scarred.

"You," Hassan started, standing up. "The Psychosis."

The samurai smiled and walked forward. "That's right, Altair."

Hassan immediately stood up and drew his blade, causing Psychosis to draw his katana. "You know that it is too late to stop Tsau. If you kill me, you'll only drive him further."

"I enjoy a challenge," the Psychosis said.

"You don't understand," the Altair smiled subtly. "Tsau is more than a challenge. You should be glad that you're breathing."

Psychosis smiled again. "Last time I checked, that girl killed the Predatory."

"All he needs is one reason," Hassan said.

"And so do I."

The Psychosis lifted his hand up, and at the flick of a wrist, Hassan was blown backwards into his office. Hassan stood back up, but noticed the figure standing in front of Psychosis. The hooded, dark figure removed its hood that revealed its black eyes and undead face.

"Death is the only way out," it said.

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"So, this is where you found him?" Will asked. "Eh, this city suffers a rather increasing abundance of civilians. I can see why assassins exist."

Elizabeth chuckled. "The place should be down there a bit more."

She turned around to look at him, but noticed that he wasn't there. "Will? Where are you?"

She scanned the area a bit in slight confusion, but spotted him over at a merchant's setup. Hastily she walked over to him and stood right in front of him.

"Don't you just walk away like that!" she pouted. "That's rude!"

Will smiled softly and lightly pushed her out of the way. "The food here is quite exotic."

He reached over to some odd-looking food and started chewing on it, giving the merchant a coin of currency. Munching on the meaty appetizer, Will looked up a bit in a state of thought.

Elizabeth gave him a slightly disgusted look because of the food he ate. "Not quite devil's eggs, Will."

After swallowing, Will looked at the merchant. "What was that I just ate?"

The merchant smiled. "Best food all city. Private camel."

"Camel?" Will asked. He then looked at his wife with a smile. "I'm starting to like this city already. What part of the camel?"

"Private," the merchant said. "Private camel. Private…eh…testi…testicles."

Will's sudden smile turned into a frown upon hearing the merchant's words. He swallowed nervously. "Testicles?"

"Ah," the merchant nodded. "Camel, no private. You eat. Eunuch camel now."

A nauseated face appeared on Will as he had a hand over his mouth. Elizabeth began to laugh out loud.

"Eunuch?" she said while laughing. "I'm sure you can relate, Will."

Will, at the point of throwing up, regained his stomach. "That was sickening."

"Exotic," she stated, heading back in the direction of the Gilded Fountain.

Her husband looked at the smiling merchant and shook his head. "That was a dirty trick."

"You like?" the merchant asked.

"No, of course not," Will stated firmly, walking away.

Elizabeth giggled as he caught up with her. "You should've seen your face."

"There was no dignity in that moment," Will replied. "You won't see that happen often…almost."

She kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry. That was cute."

He blushed from her words and looked away.

As they reached the small plaza, Elizabeth directed Will towards the Gilded Fountain, where they watched as a dark figure wrapped in robes walk away from the entrance. The subtle sense of suspicion gave Elizabeth a second feel for that moment.

"Hmm," she reacted.

"What?"

She shook her head. "Never mind. Let's go."

As they walked up to the entrance, they also noticed that there was no one guarding the door, nor was there any sound or racket from the inside. Will edged the door open just a slight bit to see the inside. As his eyes dilated to adjust to the dark, close-blinded room, he watched in horror as dead bodies scattered around the room, sucked dry of their life. Their skin was shriveled up like raisins, and their eyes were torn out, nowhere to be found.

Elizabeth had her hand over her mouth and turned away. "What happened here?"

Will opened the door a little bit more so that he and Elizabeth can sneak inside. The only bodes that weren't drained, oddly, were the ones in white coats. Elizabeth guessed that those were more assassins, because the attire they wore was almost identical to Tsau's. Blood was splattered indiscriminately in the room, and blood only came from those dead Falcons that were equally numbered with civilians in the bar. Will inspected the scene, and noticed a similarity in wound patterns.

"Odd…" he said. "Are these the assassins? They are dressed like Tsau."

Elizabeth looked around. "Yes. They must be. What's so odd, then? They were fighting someone…I think…"

Will shook his head. "No."

"And…your explanation?"

He walked over to a few dead assassins. "These wound patterns can only be done with a scimitar or rapier. The only ones that wield rapiers here are these assassins."

Elizabeth looked at him oddly. "So…what are you saying?"

Will looked back down. "These assassins attacked each other."

"What?!" she asked bewilderedly. "How?!"

He shook his head. "I don't know. The blood seems fairly fresh…I'd say a good 15-30 minutes ago that this happened. And…I suppose you can explain the drained, dead bodies?"

Elizabeth looked down at a victim. "…Necromortalis. It has to be…they look exactly like the undead soldiers."

"Undead?" Will asked. "I was attacked by one of those things."

"So were we," she stated. "Prior to meeting up with you."

Will's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You never brought it up," she replied.

Shrugging regrettably, Will noticed the difference in the way the people were killed. "Why would these people here be drained…and these people be killed? I don't understand. If the Necromortalis was here…then all of them should've been drained."

"Unless someone else was here, too," Elizabeth said.

Will rubbed his forehead in thought. "Hmm. Maybe Tsau would know. Hell, maybe even Jack, but none of them are here."

"We should check upstairs for Muhammad Hassan," Elizabeth said.

"Who?"

"Altair Muhammad Hassan," she initiated. "Former Pirate Lord of the Persian Gulf, and leader of the Order of the White Falcon, which is the name of Tsau's employer. He's the only one who might have a clue where Tsau lives."

He nodded. "Let's go upstairs, then."

Drawing his blade and gun, Will signaled for Elizabeth to follow him upstairs, where the dead bodies led to. Causing little or no noise, they successfully made it, and opened the door to Hassan's office. Inside, they spotted Hassan's undrained body, and the man that held it in his arms. Hassan had several impaling wounds in his chest, as if someone repeatedly stabbed him, and possibly enjoyed the process of it. The man's image was faint due to the lack of lighting in the room.

"Tsau?" Elizabeth asked.

The man in the white hood stood up and set Hassan's body down. He drew his blade as if prepared for a fight. "No, I'm someone else."

"What happened here?" Will asked. "What happened to your leader?"

"You're a Falcon, aren't you?" Elizabeth asked next.

The man began breathing hard, almost maniacally. "No…I didn't do it…I didn't want to…he made me…I tried…"

Will cautiously approached. "Easy there. No one is here to fight you. What happened here?"

"I don't like you being here…" the Falcon said in a whisper. "You should leave before—"

The man suddenly felt a rush of headache, and a piercing noise rattled his eardrums, causing him to grunt with pain. He let out a grisly scream, then was back into a relaxed state.

"A-Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked.

He looked up and stood up straight. "I-I'm just fine. Do you like to hear the screams of death?"

"Was the Necromortalis here?" Will asked, ignoring his question.

The man uneasily laughed. His voice seemed to have an eerie tone, as if something had possessed him. "No…not the Necro…you are all too scared. I was here, you fools. I did this!"

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.

The Falcon laughed again, maniacally. He swiftly drew his dagger, causing Will and Elizabeth to ready themselves for a fight. "Are you scared, younglings…? I do not wish to take your lives…yet. I want you to watch me take my own!"

Almost immediately, he shoved the dagger into his gut, groaning with pain that thinned out to somewhat a groan of pleasure. Will and Elizabeth watched horribly as he began to stab himself numerous times.

"Don't do that!" Elizabeth shouted. "Are you mad?!?"

The man looked up with a growl and spit out blood. "Mad?!? No, of course not! I am a Falcon! I'd like you to see me fly!"

He went over to the windows and opened them, leaping out blindly as far as he could. Observing with much fright, they watched helplessly as he fell all the way to the ground, killing himself. Whatever happened here was truly horrific, and more questions popped up in Elizabeth's mind. They had to find Tsau, quick, before they, themselves, become another chapter in this ghoulish experience.

If you haven't noticed yet, the plot is indeed thickening. Please ask any questions that you have (except for spoilers, of course) if you don't have a clear understanding of the storyline. Thanks for the reviews and hits. I'll bring 19 up soon.