Chapter 2: Brewing Storm
(Lyon's P.O.V.)
"Yes… I know… Murphy, if this is how you are going to think, answer this for me then, where does someone get antique armor in condition as good as his own?" The phone was silent for a little while, and I backed up and looked over into the living room, and saw the lady in her fur-suit still looking outside. After a buzz filled the speakers, I once again heard Murphy ask me yet another question. One bad thing about requesting a detective, they ask all these questions…
"Well if he is awake, talk to him… if you wish to discuss the matters of how I found him, then just stop by my place tomorrow." After that, I hung the phone up, and leaning on the table, I let out a massive sigh as I hung my head, knowing that even though it was about eight at night, I still had much more to do. Today had been so great, yet now… now that I did a good deed such as saving that man's life, it seems I somehow have struck it big with bad karma.
Well, time to go see what the plans are with that lady. Wish she would give me her name already. Lifting up my head, and exhaling until I had no more air, I walked around the wall, and prepared myself to talk another guest into choosing to either stay. She must've heard me walk into the room, as she turned her head to look towards me, and I sat in an armchair beside the couch she was sitting in. "I need to know now if you are going to be staying here, if not, then now is the time to leave. If you are staying, then I can go make a bed for you in the guest room while you wash up, and by the time you are done, I should have dinner almost made then. But, if you wish to leave, I can take you to the nearest road, since I know for certain it can't be safe out there… this is a wild forest anyways."
She turned her head away from me, and I only leaned back as I closed my eyes and rubbed my shoulder. "I'll… I'll stay."
Looking back towards her, I nodded, and I stood up and began to walk towards the stairwell as I said, "Follow me then." Moving up the stairs, I flicked the switch that was halfway up it, illuminating the entire hallway. It wasn't as much as needing it, rather I knew the lady behind me shouldn't know my staircase by heart like I did.
Upon reaching the top, I turned and walked over to the bathroom, and as I walked in and turned the lights on, I said, "Alright, I must warn you, the water from my showers will burn you if you're not careful, so try to test the water before you just jump on in. The extra towels are in here, and if need anything else, just call me." When I looked towards her, she nodded, and I walked out of the bathroom and shut the door, and I turned towards the bedroom and walked over to it so that I could start preparing it.
As I walked in, I noticed there was a bag in the corner, and I wasn't quite sure how long it had been there, but I knew it must've been from one of the previous guests that had stayed here, maybe from last week. I will give that to officer Murphy when he comes by tomorrow, maybe put up a few notices as well or try to see if the owner left any contact information in it. Turning and walking over to the foot of the bed, I opened up that large wooden chest that was sitting there, and I opened it up. inside was clean sheets and pillows that I had stocked for whenever a guest or someone happened to stay overnight; they had come into great use a few times already for when unprepared campers came into the forest.
Grabbing the sheets first, I threw them up onto the bed, before I reached over and grabbed the pillows and threw them to the head board of the bed. Now that those were out, I grabbed the blanket and pulled them out and closed the chest, before placing the blanket on the lid. I walked over to the side of the bed, and grabbed the sheets and started to unfold them. First comes the sheets, and then I will work on the blankets… but what will I make for dinner? Maybe I can use some of those herbs on burgers or something, as I had just gone to the market last week.
As I worked on making the large bed, I couldn't help but let my thoughts turn back to what had happened earlier, and what it would probably mean for later on. What does a man have as his incentive for wearing armor like his into the forest? And what does he need a sword as sharp as his for when there is just wildlife and other people walking through the forests? Maybe a workout since that stuff must've weighed so much, but still, there are easier and faster ways at getting a good workout than just lugging that much metal around. Maybe when he gets better, Murphy can find out, or I will just ask him myself…
Finishing the sheets, I turned my attention to grabbing the pillows, and placing them horizontally at the head of the bed, before moving and grabbing the blanket form off the top of the chest. And not only that, but where did that lady come from, and why was she wearing a costume like that in the forest? That could have easily have gotten her shot if there were any hunters around, and then I would've found yet possibly another body in that forest. It is bad enough that I hear all those rumors around the bed along with all those mythical sightings that everyone claims to see. Looking towards the now finished bed, I couldn't help but think maybe I overdid it with the furniture I had purchased when putting this home together.
"S-Sir?" I turned and looked outside the room, and saw the lady standing there outside the door to the bathroom.
I walked out of the room and leaned against the door frame as I asked, "What can I do for you?"
"How do I start the bath?"
Before that moment I had thought she was a little off to be wearing that kind of costume out into the forest, but after that question, I truly knew that perhaps she didn't have a clue to what civilized was. She took my slight curiosity, and turned it into a big 'wtf' after that question, and I couldn't help but ask a little incredulously, "Are you joking?"
When she shook her head, it was like my jaw dropped, but only mentally as I walked towards, and then past her and into the bathroom. Going over to the shower, I looked in it and saw that indeed, the knobs weren't even turned in the right way. Looking back at the lady, I said, "Come over here and watch…" turning back towards the tub, I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "And this isn't even one of the complex shower systems…"
Grabbing the knob and twisting it, I said, "This one is the hot water, and see, it is red above it." Even though I knew it was impolite, I couldn't help but treat her like a child, since even a kid knew how to use a shower. Moving my hand towards the cold knob, I said, "And see how this one is blue, that means it is cold water…" looking back at her, I saw her expression, and I said, "Now don't give me that look, you asked a question that every single person knows. In all seriousness though, how could you not have known how to use a shower?"
"Because the bath's would always be filled when I went to get in one." She said back, a little hotly. Oh, so she is one of those rich kids that always had things done for her; that would explain why she wore that death wish for a costume into the forest.
Looking back towards the shower, I placed my finger on top of the drain blocker, and when I pulled it up, the faucet stopped flowing with water, before the hose started to spray water. "Alright, well there, the shower is ready… now, I will be downstairs, so if you need me, then you will need to shout louder then, and if you do need me, my name is Lyon, not sir." If I had wanted to remain being called sir, then I would've chose to stay longer in the military.
Making my way past her, I decided that now was the time that I could take my leave as I left the bathroom and made my way towards the stairs. I started to descend them, until I heard her say, "Thank you, Lyon."
Twisting my head slightly, I nodded as I said, "Don't mention it, I help everyone that needs it when they come by." Unless they are trouble makers searching to only create problems for me…
-:Richards Foundation Hospital:-
(Murphy's P.O.V.)
I sighed as I set the phone down, and I looked at the man as he slept in the bed with the IV tube slowly pumping water into his system. The man in that bed was something else entirely, and from what the staff had told me, strange things happened around him and anything electrical. This man has a lot of explaining to do when he wakes up, and some of those things can't wait… we need to know what animal took his arm, and why he was walking around in something like that suit of his. That suit was authentic… needed to call in a professional just to get that thing off.
Turning towards the door, I began to walk towards it, where the Sheriff was waiting, and when I approached him, he looked up from his phone and said, "So, still no word on where that armor was made?"
"Bill… they say that is pure metal armor; it weighs the same, looks the same, but has better durability. Wherever he got that thing made, it wasn't in a factory or by any metal worker that we know of." Looking back at the man as he slept, I saw an eerie blue glow seemingly reflecting around him, but I pushed it out of mind as lack of sleep. Turning back to Bill, I said, "If you want to get out of here, I will wait until he wakes up and get some answers."
"Ya sure Murphy, aren't you still running off of Mondays sleep?"
Nodding my head, I stifled a yawn as I said, "It's only Wednesday Bill… we both know I have been up for longer."
"Murphy… only because I have so much to do will I take up that offer. After you get those answers, I want you to go home and rest… I won't have my top deputy walking around with sleep deprivation." Bill chuckled afterwards, but he laid a hand on my shoulder as he slid his phone into his pockets, and as he took something else out, he placed it in my chest pocket and said, "That should help you stay awake… have a good night Murph…"
As he walked out the door, I took out a small energy shot packet, and I smiled as I shook it lightly and said to myself, "God Bill… you will still tease me about that…" Turning around and opening up the packet, I walked towards and chair that had a table and newspaper beside it, and I knew what I was going to do while I waited for the man to wake up.
…
(Lyon's P.O.V.)
Smiling as I looked behind me, I saw the lady had put her wolf outfit back on after her shower, and as I nodded towards her, I said, "Dinner should be ready in a few… if you want to just sit at the table, then I will be there shortly." Looking back at the pan as I finished cooking the meat, I flipped some of it over, and as I went to do so again; I stopped and smelled the air. Taking in a few more sniffs, I recognized that smell, and even though it wasn't overpowering, it was still something that made me worry for that ladies mental well-being. If what I smelled was correct, it was almost like she took a shower with her suit on, as that smell was what a wet dog smelled like. Moving my hand over and rubbing the back of my neck, I could only fathom what was wrong with her head that she took a shower like that. This is an issue I don't know how to deal with… but I will need to deal with it before I let her use the spare bed…
Taking the meat off of the flame and grabbing the spatula, I walked towards a doorway, and went into the dining room. When I saw the lady sitting there, I realized I didn't even know her name, and as I set the pot down on the padding I set on the table, I heard her ask, "Lyon, are you alright?"
Looking up, I nodded as I stood up and walked towards the kitchen, and I couldn't help but grimace inside. Grabbing a hot pad from the countertop, I walked over to the microwave and threw it inside, and set the timer for two minutes. Turning and walking over to the pantry, I reached inside and grabbed a loaf of bread, but I stopped and leaned my head forward and set my forehead against the wall. By mother of God… why is my shoulder hurting so much today?
Hearing a ding from the kitchen, I pulled my head back and turned around, before walking out of the pantry with a loaf of bread in my hand. Moving over to the microwave, I opened it and grabbed the pad, before walking into the dining room. I set the bread on the table before I placed the heat pad onto my shoulder, which did cause me pain; before that slowly eased into relaxation… very slowly. "Lyon?"
"Don't worry, it isn't anything bad… go ahead and start eating. I need to let my shoulder ease up a little."
"Why, what is wrong with your shoulder?"
Opening my eyes and looking over, I couldn't help but frown as I saw she still had that suit on, and I said, "I'm retired military, but I was my squads heavy weapon support gunner… and over the course of my career, my shoulder would get dislocated occasionally." I let out a sigh as I grabbed the spatula, and placed some seasoned meat onto my plate, and as I looked at the loaf of bread, I added, "One time, we were stuck in heavy fighting, and my shoulder came out, but I needed to keep firing, or my squad would've been overrun."
If it wasn't for the sudden jolt of pain in my hand, I would've kept thinking of that battle and how much pain I had been in by the end of it. I yanked my hand away from the pot as I looked at the now red skin, and I heard the lady ask, "Uh… what is the name of this war?"
Looking over at the lady, I could only chuckle as I said, "It wasn't ever a way, rather it was just one of those times fighting against rebels… it was in the mid-east in the mountains. I can't remember what the name of the country was; probably Pakistan."
Moving my seat back and taking a seat, I let my breath out as quietly as I could, and I looked over as she asked, "Did you participate in the keidran war at all?"
Let's see, is that slang for something or someone? "What's a keidran?"
The muzzle to her outfit dropped open, and I felt my hands stop lifting some food to my mouth, and she just shook her head. Sighing, I placed my hand on my forehead as I said, "I'm too old to be memorizing all those terms you kids use… hey, by the way, what is your name?"
"My name is Samantha, and I'm a keidran."
Looking back down at my plate, I said, "Well Samantha the keidran, please eat dinner…"
…
(Murphy's P.O.V.)
Walking over to the side of the bed as the man finally opened his eyes, I placed my hands behind my back as I asked, "Glad to see you finally awaken. Are you feeling alright enough to chat?"
"Where are we citizen? I must resume my search for an escaped keidran." The man said as he began to push himself up, but I was instantly pushing his shoulders back down.
"Whoa there, you are in no condition to be moving around, as well as even trying to search for whatever this keidran thing is." I said, until I felt myself flung away with some unseen force, and as I hit the glass panels of the hospitals room, I heard the rooms' electrical equipment starting to go haywire.
As I got to my knees, I clutched my ribs as the man said, "A Templar's work is never done, how dare you even lay your hands on me for such an insult! Now, tell me, where is the keidran whore?"
I grabbed my radio and clicked the sender button as I ripped my pistol from my holster, and I shouted into it, "I require back-up!" Just as I said that however, another police officer slammed the door open and stormed in with his pistol drawn. It was one of the new recruits I was supposed to be training, but I had no idea why he was here, though how he was here, I didn't know; but I was glad I had some back up at least.
"So you are allied with the keidrans are you!?" The man shouted, but at the same time, a streak of blue light shot from his hand. I stood up, but at the same time, I felt something wet spray onto my cheek, and two gunshots echoed within the small room. Almost immediately a blue orb appeared around the man and the two bullets ricocheted into the ceiling. I looked over to my side and saw Phil standing there as blood dripped from his abdomen, and his gun smoked while he slowly sank to his knees.
"NO!" I shouted as I dove, and barely caught him from hitting the ground, and I grabbed my radio from the floor and shouted into it, "Man down. This is officer Murphy at the Richards Fou- ARG!"
I was lifted into the air as a force was applied to my throat, and I dropped my radio and pistol as I clutched my constricting throat. My vision began to blacken around the edges, but I did see the strange guy claiming to be a Templar step in front of me, "I may have lost an arm to that cursed (curse-ed) Interference Mask, but I am by all means not going to be hindered. Where is my armor, traitor to your own kind?"
The force lessened from my throat, but not enough to form proper logical thoughts before I said, "I-It is a-at the police s-station…!" With my brief sentence that I managed to choke out, I felt the force being slowly applied again.
With a dark sounding chuckle, the Templar spoke as I lost all vision, and my hearing was slowly starting to cut out as well, "After I have my armor, I will find that keidran whore you were so keen on protecting, before I slowly kill her and all that she holds dear…"
(Samantha's P.O.V.)
I couldn't help but smile as I sat in the human's living room, listening to music coming from his strange magical device. While he cleaned up after our meal, I couldn't help but smile as I leaned back against the soft cushioning of his couch, and it was probably one of the more relaxing times I had ever had in my life. From running away from my old owners, and the crazed Templar, to now relaxing in this kind man's home, enjoying life like I had thought would be impossible. I wouldn't mind being his slave if this is how he always is to those he just meets, but then I would never truly be free…
When I let out a sigh, the music changed, and this time, it sounded something that was used to set a romantic setting, though a little less formal. 'Lo-ove transcends boundaries…' I felt my ears perk up at that part, but at the same time, I also heard a curse from inside the kitchen before a clatter of metal echoed from inside the kitchen. I looked over the edge of the couch, and I stood up as it sounded like more clattering came from the door frame. 'N-ooo boundaries, fa-or our looove!'
Walking towards the kitchen, I began to ignore the music as it started to actually have an effect on me, and one I would rather not have bother me. Moving closer to the doorway, I was immediately regretting my curiosity. Lyon had ran into me, and now as I store up at him, I couldn't help but feel annoyed, angry, confused, and embarrassed. Moving my hands into another position, they were immediately pressing against his chest, and I was surprised to feel as much muscle as I did, since he didn't look that strong. "Oh, s-sorry…"
When he stood up, he grabbed my hand, and I was soon pulled back to my feet, but before I knew it, I was leaning against his chest. I blinked in surprised at the sudden transition from my feet, to the ground, and back to my feet in such a short amount of time. When I looked up and saw the humans blushing features, the music decided to say with a deep voice, 'I love yo-ou, b-aby…'
Moving away as soon as coherent thoughts entered my mind, I felt myself starting to warm up across my muzzle as I said, "W-Watch where you're going next time…"
He didn't respond right away, but he moved around me, and I followed his movements and I was surprised. That must be why I couldn't hear him, he almost makes no sound while he walks, and he his walking fast with boots, and across a wooden floor too. With knowing that, I was pleasantly surprised, and when he began to fiddle with his magic music boxes, he said, "Y-yeah I know, sorry. I didn't think you would be coming to the kitchen, so I didn't bother to make sure you were there." As he slid a different disk like thing into the magic box, he said, "I don't usually have guests listen to that song, I forgot it was part of this mix."
Hmph… clumsy and forgetful like all humans… I think I retract my previous statement about being alright if I was his slave. Even though his excuse was pitiful and it wasn't something I wanted to believe, I asked anyways, "What was the name of that song?"
When the new music began to play into the room, it sounded strange… it was, energetic sounding. Lyon looked back at me, and there was a reddish blush on his cheeks, and he said, "Um, it is 'Love Transcends Boundaries' by someone I don't know the name of…"
I felt my ears perk forward at the name of the song, and I couldn't stop my curious side from asking, "Do you believe in that?" When he looked into my eyes with a confused gaze, he seemed to try and think about what I meant, so I clarified, "Do you believe love can go past the boundaries?"
The look on his face was one of surprise, but it seemed to contain hints of relief as well, and when he nodded, he said, "What is to stop love from blooming between two people? No matter the differences, great or small, anyone should be allowed to love who they want." By the time he was finished, he was looking towards one of the windows, and I followed his gaze, and saw he was staring out a window. He walked over to it, and when he placed his hands on the window sill, he said, "But that is just my belief, and it has already proven me wrong once…"
(Aldor's P.O.V.)
As I walked down the street to this strange world, I knew what I must do to get back to Templar controlled lands, and I knew just the outpost to get reinforcements from. First however, I required my armor, and luckily, whatever energy these lights ran on provided me with an unlimited supply of magic. It was a source so strong, it left an electric tingle in the base of my skull, but I felt the strength of a dozen men in my body from how powerful I was feeling. The few citizens that did cross me did well to avoid me, and every light post I passed would dim, if not explode from the amount of magic I was draining from them. So much power, so much potential, and it is all WASTED!
Stopping in front of a tall building that had many of the transportation vehicles I had seen being used around this city; I knew I was in the correct location from the sign that said 'Police Station' above a pair of large double doors. Walking into the center of the main cross roads, I heard a loud obnoxious noise, and saw a man in his vehicle. He stuck his window out of the window, and I guessed him around the age of twenty five as he shouted, "Get out of the way ya moron!"
Frowning, I looked back forward, and when I pressed a finger into my throat, I used magic to amplify the power of my voice as I said, "Local citizens known as police officers, bring forth my armor, and I shall spare your pitiful town from the onslaught of the Templar." My voice reverberated all around, and echoed tenfold, and I knew without a doubt that they had heard me, along with the fact that a few of the black cloth wearing officers outside the building suddenly drew their weapons. When they slowly started to approach me, I heard drained the magical power from the vehicle of the man's vehicle that had finally stopped its annoying noise beside me.
"Put your hands in the air!" One of the older looking citizens shouted towards me, and I stood there, looking towards him with a small grin. I moved my hand away from my throat, and as I raised them into the air, I began to focus on various magical spells that would come in use. I chuckled as I relished in the amount of power I had, before laughing loudly, and I began to let my magic expand all around me, feeling the tendrils of unbelievable forces touching the edge of my mind.
"You really believe with your weak metal crossbows that you can defeat I, a Templar!?" Letting off another short chortle, I said with more malice in my words, "You are wrong!"
Letting my magic out, I felt myself starting to rise into the air as a shield of purely refined magika surrounded me, and the vehicles around me began to slowly levitate as well. I felt the vibrations of multiple shots hitting my shield, and I looked towards the pathetic 'police officer's' firing their metal slug throwing crossbow weapons into my shield. I looked past them, and saw the police station was now blaring off a loud noise, and red lights were flashing from within the windows and doors, before I looked towards the frightened man in the vehicle beside me. He was shaking where he sat, and I grinned as I held out a hand towards his vehicle, and as I used magic to levitate it higher, I was willing to sacrifice his traitorous life to achieve my goal. With a final thought, I sent his vehicle flying towards a pair of officers that had stopped firing their weapons, and as they were flattened by the metallic vehicle, I let one more thought enter my mind that fueled my rage even further, Keidran lovers…!
…
A.N.: Alright everyone, this is that chapter you have all been practically begging for to have posted, and alas, here it is, written with a nicely done 5k words, and I'm sure not a single one was disappointing. This chapter took me a few days to type out, as I had gotten stuck, and scrapped two other ideas to figure out how to make this story progress how I wanted. Just a small heads-up, that song that I had used earlier, it does not exist, so if you go to look for it; you shouldn't find it. If you DO find a song with the few lyrics I provided, then damn, that is a huge ars coincidence.
3-D Jak (1): lol, how does it feel to be a daddy to a story then? Oh, and by the way, I did leave a note in the previous authors note that I wasn't going to update this for a while… lol. Attention to detail my friend, it may just save your life someday.
GrimlockX4: Man, it has been a while since I have seen your name… only seeing it now because I'm replying to reviews! Oh, and I fixed that mistake as soon as I first read your review! In my defense, 'U' and 'I' are close to each other. (Pun intended, lol…)
Rylak: Oh, that Templar is going to be more than a problem… I'm thinking of bringing in the military near the end of this story… maybe some attack helicopters… lol!
Xdrezienhnx: Lol, and with you also watching this story, then you will see a good story blossom… I'm going to try any keep every chapter above 4k words, and this one is longer than chapter 1 too!
RoWnAnNiEuWoUdT1: lol, exilent should be excellent bud xD. And as for Damaged Knight, that was intended to be a one-shot, rather than a full-fledged story.
P.S.: I have a fellow author that is writing a story in the Slightly Damned section as well, and I would like to recommend his story for all of you wonderful people to read. His name is 'Timeless Dreamer Neo', and his story's name is 'Slightly Damned: Wind of Redemption and Rebirth'. It is a good story by my standards, and that is a lot coming from me, just look at the work I write! It is hard for me to find stories I enjoy reading, but this is one of them; and I'm not just saying that.