Zak quietly cried in his room. Wasn't he important? Doyle spent his eleven years of his life caring for him. And now a girl means more to him? Not a girl he could marry. But his sister? Didn't siblings fight? Why would he want her more than him? He knew that if his parents just showed up one day he'd stay with Van Rook. Because of the intense bond they share. His eyes were in pain because of his crying. As a mercenary, or at least a mercenary in training, he had been told never to cry. But he also remembered that Van Rook had mumbled 'in front of others'.
Sleep eventually came. He hoped it would be dreamless. He had no such luck. He had a dream. Well, more of a nightmare. It was of him. Working with Van Rook. He was standing in front of Argost. Argost looked him over. As if he saw something in him. He felt proud because of Van Rook. But frightened by Argost's power and influence. He stood still. He held the hand of Tsul 'Kalu in his hand.
Argost smiled evilly. Behind him was a naga. And from what he could recall from history in cryptozoology, she was Rani Naga. Her eyes were dark with joy. Her tongue flickered close to him. He felt disgusted.
"In time, you will," she said. Zak didn't know what she was talking about. In time he'll what?
"What makes you sure?" says Van Rook.
"His heritage. His parents. What they did when he was still in the womb. His destiny is set in stone. There is no way to go back on it now. He is the one," she hissed. Zak just stood. Not daring to move a muscle he moved his eyes. Van Rook looked scared. As if something really bad was going to happen he couldn't control.
The walls then seemed to drip blood. Zak was paralyzed. He heard screams. Loud and clear. Human screams. He finally turned around to see people lined up to die at the hands/paws/claws/teeth/flippers of cryptids. He saw the Wadi. He saw, the Saturday family, including his uncle. He felt pain rip threw his body. But outwardly he had a smile. It was like, he was two people. A compassionate boy and a cold blooded person killer. He wanted his "uncle" to suffer. But he didn't want to see him dead.
He then sat up in a jerking motion. His breath was heavy. His eyes wide. He clenched the sheets of his bed. He thought about Doyle leaving. He felt like it was his fault. If he never stole the hand, they wouldn't have moved. And he left, right after they moved. He knew it wasn't his fault. Reality was just being a bitch. He released his grasp on the sheet and got out of bed. He glided across the floor down the hall to the kitchen. He stopped to see Van Rook talking with a woman. She was around Doyle's age. Long black hair and a seemingly warm smile. But Zak knew it as the smile of betrayal. She was hard ass.
"Good morning miss," said Zak politely.
"And you are?" she asked in the same polite manner.
"Abbey, Zak. Zak, Abbey," said Van Rook.
"I'm Van Rook's nephew," said Zak adding more explanation.
"I'm his new apprentice."
Zak gave a dark grin, "I hope you aren't a traitor like the last one."
"Last one?" she asked cocking an eyebrow. Her arms crossed as if she didn't believe him.
"Doyle Blackwell," answered Van Rook. Zak reached for his ring and started twirling the chain around his finger. Zak Blackwell. It sounded so wrong now. He was left by Blackwell. But he was also raised by Van Rook.
"From now on he won't be talked about," said Zak still upset. He walked out. He had a bond with Van Rook. Even though Abbey was attractive, well, hot… he wanted to avoid creating a bond that would hurt him later. And she had this aura of happiness and suffering. She seemed like the kind of person who got in real close, and then killed you quickly. Like a snake. Or a naga. He chuckled. She was going to make life interesting.
He walked into the training room. It was low tech. Simple weight lifting. A track. Some aerial rings. The usual style for such a room. He changed his warm jacket and pants to cool running shorts and a T-shirt. The shorts were black with a red stripe up the sides. His shirt was a tight shirt with claw marks over the front. He started making laps around the training room. His breath was steady, matching the pace of his feat in a rhythmic form. For a time, that was all he could hear. But reality loves being a bitch.
He hears hissing from what sounds like, a large group of snakes. Zak loses his rhythm and ends up tripping over his feet. He lands painfully on his left shoulder. He lies there for a moment, waiting for the pain to numb. His breathing slowly went back to an even pace. The sound of hissing still lingered in the room. He slowly pushed himself up. In a sitting position he looked around the room for the mysterious hissing noise. He had trouble moving his neck after landing on his shoulder. He moved his right hand where he had landed. It was warm with pain. He could tell it would be a nasty bruise.
He eventually got to his feet to look for whatever was hissing. He thought that it could be a prank from Van Rook's new apprentice. Maybe as revenge he'll start calling her Aunty. More as a joke than anything else. She was pretty young after all. He would've thought that, if he hadn't seen the tail. A naga tail. He stood straight. Van Rook walked into the training room with Abbey and Argost.
"What is this about?" he raged.
"Business," he answered. Behind some of the weight lifting equipment came an elegant naga. One that looked all too much like Zak's dream.
"Rani Naga," bowed Zak once he realized who she was. She smiled a cruel smile.
"A human with manners? A first in my life," she laughed mockingly. Zak cringed. Nagas were known for their cruelty and hatred for all of man kind.
"I'll ask again, what is this about?" demanded Van Rook.
"I didn't know you had a son," answered Van Rook. Zak looked at Argost. He was never called Van Rook's son. But they did look similar. Both had darker than white skin tones. Darks and light hair. And very similar eyes. Other than the fact that his glowed.
"Not by blood," corrected Zak, "But he has raised me since I was small."
"How small?" asked Argost with little interest.
"Few days."
"How nice. We were able to secure the Kur stone. But I need you to get something else for me," said Argost talking to Van Rook.
"And that would be?" he asked.
"The hand of Tsul 'Kalu."
Zak suppressed a smile. He was helping his uncle with an act that he shouldn't have done way too much. He noticed Van Rook doing the same.
"And payment?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Five thousand dollars and injury cost."
Van Rook gave Zak a look.
"We'll get it for you."
"Excellent," he said leaving. Rani Naga looked closely at Zak. She gave him a close gaze. He felt weird with her eyes looking over him. She let out a small smile.
"You might be worth keeping alive as a slave," she said as she left. Zak's face flushed bright red. Even though he was a kid, he knew that wasn't good.
"How old is she?" asked Abbey.
"About a… five hundred years old give or take a week or two."
Okay people, you wanted this so here it is. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Please review!