This is a requiem for the harlequin
The great pretender crashing down with style
Here's to the fall of man, fame to dust, fortune to sand
The great surrender, finally arrived
This is how the requiem loves the harlequin
Wake up, your chains are porcelain
Like a phoenix, from the ashes, we will rise again
This is what the requiem loves to hear you sing
To the beat of your fool heart hammering
One more time, we'll cry into the night again
This is a requiem for the comedian
The one who used to deftly dodge in time
You cut a sparkling gem, never heeding the warning
Of the silver glint of knives in hungry eyes
The sun was descending in its descent through the windows of the conference room, and Tala and his teammates were gathered near the back with the twins from F-Dynasty seated to their sides. Despite the monotone of Tatsuya's voice lulling him into sleep, he received a sharp jab from Julia who was sitting beside him.
"Ouch!" He hissed, rubbing the area where Julia had prodded him.
"If I have to stay awake, you do too," she replied.
"Why don't they have to?" He peered over at Spencer and Brian, whose mouths had opened wide enough for drool to start dripping down on the table. Ian had already buried himself in his phone, probably checking stocks as he always did.
"Well, you're the team leader," Julia said. "Set an example."
He had to contain his laughter, as there was only one individual on the planet who was brave enough to put him in his place, and that person was Julia Fernandez.
After half an hour of chattering, the group was granted a break. Julia wanted some fresh air while Tala knew they wouldn't be returning to that meeting room ever again.
They strolled down the promenade of Thessaloniki, admiring the statue of Alexander the Great and catching sight of the white tower until reaching the old pier. Julia became unruly, running back and forth as if she had already retraced her steps twice. Tala hardly minded; it was better than enduring another tedious conversation about the same problem yet again.
These meetings were a respite from the FBSC and all that caused strife in the world–a mere two weeks a year when Tala could forget their persistent presence.
But most importantly, Julia provided that distraction.
A few hours earlier
As Julia checked her reflection in the mirror, she adjusted her frilly collar. For this special occasion, she and her brother had decided to dress in something reminiscent of their old costumes but with darker colors. No longer children, they were making a statement about the state of the world.
Julia designed two long coats that split at the back—she went for black velvet with red lining and white diamonds on the bottom like playing cards.
She remembered how Raul always liked their frilly collars, so she repurposed it and added a silver brooch loaded with gemstones.
Julia opted for a body suit in red and white stripes with black details covering her legs; plus, overknee boots and metal covers around her knees which gave off quite a menacing look.
Her brother chose regular trousers that matched his sister's outfit. They each grabbed an armored launcher glove, bulky at the top with a crest painted like a pegasus.
As Raul had his back turned to his sister to lace up his shoes she quickly took a peek at her phone. Still nothing.. She sighed a little disappointed. Two days had past and she hadn't heard a word from him, he just vanished after that evening she was at their house and it left her wondering.
"You ready?" She heard Raul say.
She forced the idea out of her head, nodded at Raul and tucked her phone away. One way or another Tala always turned up in the most idiotic time and place. Only to vanish again at random; she just hoped that he was alright.
There wouldn't be any spectators at this match besides the teams already enrolled. Mr. Dickenson had told her and her twin brother that FBSC representatives would be here today, so they couldn't use Thunder Pegasus and Torch Pegasus in the arena. It felt decidedly strange not having them by her side for a battle, though it wasn't anything particularly special - still, she was a bit anxious. It was probably nothing, she tried to convince herself it was just normal pre-game nerves.
Raul and Julia strolled down the hallway together, smiling at the sound of their friends cheering their arrival. Mariah, Mathilda, and Hilary had even made a sign for them. Tyson and Dachi were standing quietly while Hiro and Tatsuya kept them in line-this was so typical of them, but it still managed to bring a warm feeling over the two siblings.
On the balcony above, Mr. Dickenson sat with another woman whom he had told the twins was from the FBSC beforehand. This made Julia feel anxious, although she didn't have much time to think as Florente and Mihai approached them halfway to the beydish. Even from afar, one could tell how different these two were: Florente appeared cheerful and outgoing while Mihai seemed timid and almost reserved; his dark brown hair never quite covering his eyes which stayed downward most of the time.
The participants arrived at the arena, exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands in mutual respect. DJ Jazzman joined them shortly afterward to commence their battle. As soon as he finished his preamble, a circular shape formed on the floor and split in half, with a metallic dish steadily rising out of it. It was the stadium
they would be using for the match.
"Alright!" He yelled excitedly, prompting the surrounding crowds to cheer for the four players.
He bellowed his voice through the dome-shaped stadium, and on cue, all four players grabbed their Beyblades, set up the launchers, and prepared for launch.
"Three," he said, counting down.
"Two.."
Then "One..."
A chorus of voices rose up in unison: "Let it rip!"
Julia and Raul's Beyblades immediately sprang into action, as the twins had a tendency to start off in a rather aggressive manner – something that Julia had made her brother commit to after her defeat at the hands of Kai and Tala back in Australia. This tactic seemed to work, too: they were quickly able to gain control of the first half of the arena, almost like they were herding cattle as they managed to contain Florente and Mihai's Beyblades' movements.
But the rookie competitors weren't just put there for show; they made their Beyblades collide, sending sparks flying on impact, which enabled them to generate enough power to get pushed away in opposing directions. Now it was Belladona who was circling F-Dynasty.
Raul grumbled as he suggested, "We need to launch an attack on one of the teams. Knock 'em down and take 'em out!"
Julia nodded her head in agreement. If they failed to regain their footing in the match, it would mean certain defeat. She couldn't stand losing a game, especially against a rookie team. Striking at only one would make them vulnerable to an assault from the other side, so they had to trust their agility and adaptability to make a quick switch of direction.
"My word, the both of you are truly something else," Florente shouted from the other side.
A confident smirk stretched across Julia's face as she rested one hand on her hip. "You're no slouch yourself, Florente!"
Raul chuckled, feeling the biting sarcasm coming from both girls. However, he was somewhat apprehensive when he noticed Mihai's behavior. The younger male was in sync with Florente; indicating that they had trained together for a very long time.
The battle got fierce and Florente and Mihai kept pushing Raul and Julia around, clashing without doing much damage. Raul and Julia had too much experience to fall for those tricks. Something big was going to happen soon.
Raul whispered something to Julia and she nodded in agreement. They knew what they had to do, but they needed to carry it out with perfect timing and coordination.
Abruptly, Raul tossed his Beyblade towards Mihai's, causing it to go flying off somewhere far away. As Mihai struggled to recover, Julia ordered her Beyblade to launch an attack at him from the sidelane. It was almost like they were a machine with each knowing where the other was located and what their mission was supposed to be.
The spectators stood up in anticipation. Florente went after Julia from behind while Raul who had managed to get back into position quickly sped over to help her by engaging his Beyblade in a heated battle against hers.
From the sidelines, Mr. Dickenson beamed with pride as he observed the match between the two teams. The twins had certainly come a long way in terms of synchronization and skill; meanwhile, Florente and Mihai, rookies that they were, were displaying remarkable abilities for their age. All in all, it was an invigorating game to witness and reminded Mr. Dickenson why the BBA existed in the first place.
Mihai stayed calm despite the onslaught. He directed his bey away from the twins, who were currently being cornered by Florente. Pausing to regain his balance, he positioned himself at the edge of the stadium.
Raul realized this and scowled. Why was Mihai not coming to Florente's rescue? With his arm, he elbowed Julia. "I think I'm gonna play it safe. Mihai must have something up his sleeve."
"I'll take care of Florente," Julia declared confidently.
The twins nodded at one another and got into place.
Julia concentrated all her energy into one attack - maybe a bit arrogantly - but she was sure her sheer power would be enough to take out at least one of them entirely.
With a loud thundering sound, Julia launched her Beyblade straight at Florente's, causing a massive explosion on impact. But to her surprise, Florente's Beyblade was still spinning, albeit slower than before. Julia gritted her teeth in frustration. How could she have underestimated her opponent like that?
Suddenly, it felt like everything came to a halt. The air thickened. And then it started. A low, hypnotic beat that seemed to come from nowhere, slowly growing louder and more intense. It was as if a storm was brewing. The joy in Florente's smile slowly morphed into a malicious one. "I'm getting so tired of looking at that perfect face of yours," she purred, her tone filled with an enthusiastic hatred.
Julia could feel her guard rise, a warning sign flashing inside her head.
A black circle lingered threateningly around the beyblade, and from within it two long, razor sharp vines descended to the ground. From the veil of darkness, Raul and Julia were horrified to see a monstrosity emerge. It was huge and cloaked in a dark mist. The vines emerged from what seemed like an abyss of shadows and coiled around the figure's form with menacing ferocity. Its body composed of sinister vines with wicked thorns that glinted in the light. Two blazing red eyes glowed ominously from behind the veil.
The monster drew closer, its skull-like face looming out of the shadows. Its forlorn voice reverberated through the arena with a piercing screech that sent shivers down their spines.
Raul desperately plugged his ears, but he could still feel its call shaking through his bones.
In a last ditch attempt, Julia tried to summon Thunder Pegasus to defiance, but before she could even reach for her Bitbeast another vine lashed out at blinding speed towards them.
Julia managed to evade it, yet it clung tightly around Raul's leg like a vice from ankle to just above his knee. He wrestled desperately against its grip, yet it only constricted further and tighter until there was no escape.
"Let him go!" Julia screamed at Florente, her words echoing loudly across the stadium.
But instead of listening, Florente stood silently with an evil smirk on her face and raised her arm as if signalling them to stop in their tracks. "Bifrons," she uttered darkly, "Adorn this land with their blood." And then she curled her fingers into a tight fist.
Suddenly, the vines stopped moving and vicious thorns erupted from the bark all around them; hellish daggers skewering Raul's flesh and splintering his bones apart until nothing remained inside his leg alive.
He instantly dropped down onto his back, knocked out by the intense pain coursing through his body. His skin flopped around lifelessly as there was nothing left inside.
Julia fell to the ground next to Raul, her screams so loud that she couldn't tell if she was making any sound or just imitating the motion. There was so much of his blood everywhere. She cupped his face in her hands and shook him gently as her own tears rolled down from her cheeks onto her bloody hands and on to his face. "Please Raul, please," she begged softly.
When her defenses had lowered, the thick darkness engulfed Julia. Her already heavy heart was stifled by the inky blackness. She felt icy cold, like life had been completely drained from her. The sun-kissed skin of her face grew pale and her lips quivered with the chill.
Never had she ever felt such terrible dread, such immense sadness and despair. Seeing her brother lay there, barely alive was too much to bear. Her whole world had just crumbled down and she didn't know how to pick up the pieces. As she looked around, everything seemed to be in slow motion, as if her surroundings were mocking her grief.
But then the smoke suddenly dissipated, leaving her feeling empty and hollow. Before her stood Tala, his wild red hair seemed to burst out of his strange attire - it was almost like the uniform of those dreaded FBSC agents.
Before Julia knew it, Bifrons had already attacked them, but then there was Tala, blocking Bifron's attack with a single arm. He swatted it away from them with such ease that it made him appear near-invincible.
Tala's eyes bored through her soul, dark and intense as they narrowed upon her. She could hear dogs barking close by, but in her shock wasn't able to comprehend what was happening around her. Or was she imagining it all?
He saw the sheets of tears streaming down her face, yet he stayed back, frozen in place by an unfamiliar sense of protectiveness that he couldn't ignore. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading for help. She had never felt so vulnerable in her entire life, and yet there was something comforting in the way he stood there, tall and powerful, like a shield against the horrors of the world.
The hounds had created a defensive circle surrounding the twins, shielding them from Bifron's power. He was only making an educated guess that this fiend's power had similar effects. If people were able to wield such strength, it would also verify what happened two days ago at the church. That was something he could think on later; he had to focus his attention on disposing of the enemy in front of him.
He quickly assessed the situation; the FBSC crew and Rachel were present, as well as several beyblading teams who had just witnessed him strike a bit beast. In no time his façade that he had crafted for years had been exposed, but this was not something he could have ever ignored. There was no way to know if those two people were associated with any cults; however, he had some reservations. Now things were personal. And he resolved not to let them get away with their actions.
Suddenly, quick footfalls caught his attention; Spencer was heading for the twins, and their eyes briefly met. Spencer obviously wasn't too pleased with Tala's move, and would probably want answers later. But he trusted Spencer to take care of them first before asking questions.
Brian and Ian followed him closely behind without saying a word; Brian stood next to Tala while Ian aided Spencer by wrapping a makeshift tourniquet around Raul's leg.
The silver-haired man gazed intently into Tala's eyes while exhaling a deep sigh. "I can't fucking believe you sometimes," he said.
"Then don't," Tala shot back sarcastically, as he calmly reloaded his weapon.
Brian shook his head, wondering why he felt no anger towards him. After all, their captain had been hiding the truth for years. Most people would lose their shit in this scenario, but not them; they thrived in the chaos.
"Make sure the twins are safe and don't get involved," Tala commanded rather than suggested.
Brian was quickly putting things together. He could tell that unlike Florente, who summoned a massive creature, Tala was preparing to shoot it down. This meant he didn't have anything to counteract her attack and would have to fight it himself. Then there were the hounds; although not quite the same, they were definitely otherworldly. But this didn't faze Brian either; after all, they had learned at the abbey with Boris that the abnormal was their normal.
"Give them hell." Brian said as he stepped away from Tala.
Until they had succeeded in evacuating the twins he remained holding down the ground steadily. The atmosphere was tense as Tala readied his weapon, his eyes never leaving Bifrons. The beast towered over them, its thorny vines writhing in the air like serpents as it let out another ear-splitting screech. With a few rounds he succeeded in keeping it at distance, but eventually he had to start to engage.
The moment Tala knew they were far enough away from the battlefield, he charged forward at Bifron. Their clash was so intense that the ground shook beneath them. Tala's movements were precise and calculated, in contrast to Florente's wild and uncontrolled style. She commanded Bifron as he swung vines at him like a whip, but Tala dodged effortlessly, countering with quick and lethal strikes.
The two of them moved so quickly that it was difficult for anyone to keep up with their movements. Tala managed to land a few hits on Bifrons, but the beast was still standing. Its vines were now littered with deep cuts, but they showed no signs of slowing down.
From the balcony, Mr. Dickenson, Judy, Tatsuya and Kai watched as the battle ensued below them. Mr. Dickenson looked rather concerned, while Judy was busy studying the data on her laptop.
Kai wanted to help Tala out but Tatsuya held him back. "We can't just jump in without knowing what could happen," he said.
"Tatsuya's right," Judy added. "The Gehennalis are vastly different from Sacred Beasts."
"But we can't just stand here and do nothing!" Kai objected.
"I understand your feelings, but look at what I've found," Judy said curtly, pointing at the info she had gathered from the system. "The wave detector registered one major Gehennalis—Bifron's—plus two similar signals that may be from Florente and Mihai. But this fourth one is completely off the charts."
Mr. Dickenson stroked his chin in thought. "It almost matches up with an anomaly we've detected for a while now before it continuously disappears again."
"And if I compare it with my old data from eight years ago... it's the same," Judy continued.
Kai's eyes widened in surprise. "You're saying that he's been linked to a Gehennalis all along? But that's impossible! Wolborg is a Sacred Beast!"
"Artificial," Tatsuya corrected him. "It would explain why both of them work together so well." The blue-haired male paused for a second before he added, "Although we haven't seen any trace of her after Australia..."
"Yeah..." Kai murmured.
Out of the corner of his eye, Mr. Dickenson could see Rachel commanding her team to get into place. He tightened his grip on his cane as he watched her assert her authority in what should be his stadium. It infuriated him, but he couldn't let anyone else know that. The BBA had to show dominance- if they didn't, the FBSC would just take over. This match was supposed to bring all beybladers together, but it was descending rapidly into chaos- a chaos caused by one butterfly effect.
He heard heavy footsteps coming from behind him and turned around to face the tall man. "Boris..." he acknowledged quietly. He wasn't happy to see him here, but it wasn't surprising either that he'd weasel his way back into the situation.
"You dare come here!" Kai snarled immediately.
With a wave of his hand, Mr. Dickenson motioned for them all to stay calm. It was clear everyone was not pleased with Boris's presence. "It has been a while, William...," he said before nodding to the other two people. "Looking good Kai; corporate life must be suiting you well." His usual maliciousness dripped from his words like poison.
In his palm was a worn-down book, and in the other something wrapped up in cloth. At the sight of this, Tatsuya grumbled. "Where did you get those!"
Boris smiled. "I took a walk around the stadium. William, you sure know how to make a place look good. Quite by chance I stumbled across Professor Tate's incredible collection."
Mr. Dickenson spat out words full of anger. "You have no right! State your purpose then leave this place!"
Moving closer to the railing, Boris looked at William. "So, what do you plan to do about it?" he asked in a teasing tone as he glanced at the battle below. He had been astonished by Tala's ability during these past few nights; why hadn't he ever exhibited such power before and how had it been sparked? Boris figured out that Tala must be connected with the Gehennalis instead of the Sacred Beasts; this became more evident when he realized that the redhead was his late brother's son, Also didn't he have any problem wielding Black Dranzer. In addition, it was surprisingly docile under his control.
When snooping around the laboratory, Boris found an Ars Notoria and a blade made from riftstone. Both objects were indispensable against the Gehennalis, but there was an issue: Tala still wasn't friendly with Boris yet and wasn't likely to take any advice from him. Boris mumbled quietly to himself, "Patience..."
Tatsuya sneered in disdain at Boris yet he pulled out the book immediately as if in response. "Tell me," he said with a challenge, "how could a third degree archeologist lay their hands on this?"
Tatsuya scowled menacingly and spat out, "And what will you do if I don't?"
Boris' eyes flashed with spite. "Tatsuya, you know better than to make promises you can't keep. You've always been a coward, and we both know it."
Judy silently fumed at Boris and Tatsuya's behavior, and even Mr. Dickenson had become uncharacteristically flustered by the man. Everyone in the room knew that Boris was a psychopath, but they'd been remiss to prepare for his return. Was he working with FBSC? Judy figured probably not; he seemed determined to do things on his own.
Gazing down at the battle, her eyes flicked to where Tala was fighting. Tala had shown loyalty to the BBA before, and even if that wasn't enough, he was still firmly in support of the Hiwatari firm - or more specifically, Kai himself. As long as Tala was within their grasp, Boris would always be nearby, keeping a watchful eye on both Tala and the situation at hand.
She let out a small hum and stepped between the two men. "A man like you would know the truth behind the Ars Notoria, no doubt," she said with honeyed words that always worked well on men with enormous egos. "Since we're all relying on one person here, wouldn't it be better to strike a deal?"
Boris laughed, dismissing her proposal. "What do you possibly have to offer?" he sneered.
"Black Dranzer," Judy replied confidently, unfazed by Boris' reaction.
"You cannot possibly!" Tatsuya protested.
Mr. Dickenson relaxed himself, knowing that Boris had more experience and knowledge than anyone else in the room. Judy had probably already taken into account that where Tala was, Boris would follow - and vice versa. With the Gehennalis rapidly approaching, they were going to need all the firepower they could get. "I agree," Mr. Dickenson said eventually, much to everyone's surprise.
Kai remained silent; he trusted Mr. Dickenson's judgment but knew there was much at stake here. He also knew that Boris wasn't one to be trusted. It was about time he confronted Tala himself; his firm had been gathering information on the FBSC for years now. He even had a man on the inside, though his integrity was noble. The redhead had saved him on a few occasions and now the man went around saying things like "soldier's honor." But Kai knew he had to sit this one out for a little while longer - even if it went against his nature.
Boris's eyes narrowed as he considered their offer. To him Black Dranzer was useless, but in Tala's hand a lethal weapon, one that could restore the family name and his to its former glory. "Black Dranzer, you say?" he repeated slowly, as if testing the words on his tongue. "Very well, it's a deal."
Mr. Dickenson felt a lump in his throat, not at all pleased with the deal he was making. It gave them an edge against the FBSC, but if Rachel got wind of it, she'd surely take action. Still, he held onto one sense of comfort: having some form of control over the situation - for now.
The loud crash caused everyone to rush to the railing and observe the brawl. Florente had managed to pin Tala up against the wall, leaving his face dripping with blood. However, Tala was able to keep his composure and wiped away the crimson fluid from his skin as though it were nothing. Her anger reached a peak as he refused to surrender at her feet.
One side of her face was now completely black, a terrifying sign that the madness had consumed her. Bifron moved in sync with his partner, as if controlled by the same force. In one swift motion, the vines took out all the hounds at once.
Tala clenched his jaw. The endless fight had started to take its toll, and he knew he couldn't keep up this level of exertion much longer. As much as he loathed the idea, it might be time to accept defeat.
The FBSC agents surrounded them with guns drawn. Rachel was too smart to simply execute them on sight; she wanted them alive and imprisoned. The problem was, Tala wasn't sure whether she intended to capture him or Florente - either outcome would be disastrous for him.
Much to his dismay, Tala was forced to acknowledge the resemblance between Florente and himself. If she were taken into custody instead of him he would lose control over the situation, it could still work against Tala in the end. There was nothing else for it: he had to take drastic measures and eliminate Florente from the picture...and prepare himself for inevitable capture by the FBSC. Everything else could wait until later.
Tala took a deep breath and readied himself for the final strike. He charged at Florente with his weapon raised high, but she was ready for him. Bifron's vines lashed out once again, but this time Tala was unable to dodge them all. One of the thorns pierced his shoulder, causing him to stumble and drop his weapon.
Florente took advantage of the opportunity and lunged at him, but Tala was quick to react. In his other hand he accumulated enough energy to unleash an attack of frost. The cold blast hit Florente and she was momentarily stunned, giving Tala the chance to pick up his weapon. He swung it with all his might, aiming for her neck. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the arena but it wasn't Florente who he had hit.
Everything became as bright as the sun in an instant. A black wingspan wrapped thickly around Florente, who was already unconscious. He was dumbfounded by the change that had occurred so quickly. In front of him stood a bird-like creature that was nearly the same size as a human with sharp talons and a beak like that of a crow. The man who had been standing beside his companion stepped forward to Tala, raising one hand. "Please put down your gun, this fight is over."
This kid had stopped him without him even realizing it.
Mihai kindly placed his hand on the wing of the crow-like creature and said, "Thank you Raim, take her to the teacher." With a bow, Raim disappeared in a flurry of feathers.
Tala was still wary but thought better of it, slowly lowering his gun and switching the safety back on. He remained quiet and guarded.
Mihai removed his hood and adjusted his sweater before folding his hands behind him. His brown curls gently swayed around his youthful face as he looked at Tala with wise eyes. He let out a small chuckle. "I never expected to meet the huntsman like this."
"Huntsman?" Tala frowned.
"It's the nickname that they give you, you're rather infamous among us."
"The cults you mean.." He filled in.
Mihai smiled. "Cults, it's a rather condescending title for what we are. We're devotees to the faith of Solomon."
"Zealots."
"That's quite harsh to say, but perhaps if it helps you understand, yes."
"I see," Never had they gained evidence that the cults were connected to one another. were more gruesome, while others were peaceful. They preached the same thing, yet they didn't practice it. So far everybody he encountered that he meddles with the Gehenallis had lost their minds, some commit suicide, some turned into serial killers. There was even a case of one who bashed their own head in at a door in a psychotic rage. Up until today he had firm believes that everybody that came in contact would either be corrupted or turned into a fiend themself "You two seem to handle them just fine, how come."
Mihai spoke of the teacher as if they were an embodiment of holiness, mentioning how "some are born to serve Sanctus and others the Gehennalis. It is all part of life's balance."
"Nice way of putting it," Tala replied sarcastically.
"The teacher would be saddened if you chose this path, however, your past has made you into a strong person. Everybody has a role to play in the grand scheme; The teacher can help you find your place among your own kind, if you are willing to listen."
Tala's brow rose skeptically. "What do you mean by 'my own kind'?"
Mihai exhaled heavily. "Those who hunt, kill with no remorse, or are controlled by their fury and anger-that isn't what Solomon's faith preaches. The Teacher urges people toward true power."
Tala clenched his weapon tightly. Conversations like this had landed him in BioVolts' clutches and disgusted him deeply. "I can handle things on my own," he declared stubbornly.
"Of course you can," Mihai said with a smile, "but imagine what you could achieve with The Teacher's guidance. Don't you want to rid yourself of suffering?"
He saw the same traits in both of them that he had. He was aware of the distinction between Sacred Beasts and Gehennalis. Therefore, his story appeared to be reasonable, particularly the part where he did not sound like a crazy devotee. "If balance is what you crave so much, then why didn't you stop her?"
"Florente," he elucidated, "she is... very determined. A diamond in the rough." Then he asked, "Has Boris ever stopped you before then?"
He was completely taken aback by the remark. Was he seriously comparing him to that psychotic girl now. For a bunch of followers they were damn well informed about many things, it was pretty damn frustrating.
A rumbeling sound echoed making them both turn their attention briefly towards the vastness of the white space around them. Tala saw how panels of white were crumbling down, as if the dimension itself was breaking.
"Seems I am at my limits here." Mihai laughed. "I'm afraid this is as many answers as I can give you for now."
The same beast by the name of Raim had appeared behind Mihai again. "Please consider which side you are fighting for," He pulled his hoodie back over his head and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I'm sorry about those twins though, it was unforeseen damage. Raim will take away the corruption in their minds. I'm afraid that in your situation it has severely regressed already though nothing you cannot revert."
"Let me guess, not without the help of The Teacher."
Mihai smiled. "You catch on quickly. If you change your mind," He paused and let out a small chuckle. "I'm sure you will know where to find us."
As the dimension started to fall apart, Raim spirited Mihai away. Then it all bruised and exploded like glass. "Fuck, I ain't going there." Tala mumbeled.
Next thing he knew he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder from where Bifron's vine had jabbed him earlier as one of the agents had jumped him and tied his hands onto his back. As he slowly caught his breath and got his senses back to reality he noticed how before him Mr. Dickenson and Rachel were standing face to face. The old man was fuming in anger.
The agent restraining him leaned in close and whispered in his ear, and Tala recognized the voice as belonging to Matteo. "Do you have any ideas about this?"
As it turned out, the situation had quickly become a disaster, but at least he now had answers. "They call themselves the 'Faith of Solomon'. All these little cults are linked."
Matteo's eyes widened. "Then why wasn't the evidence ever consistent? The rituals were always different, except for the aftermath - blood everywhere."
"Beats me," Tala sighed. Their whispering drew the attention of some other agents standing nearby, so Matteo quickly pressed his knee onto Tala's wound as a ruse to keep their cover going. Despite the pain, Tala kept silent.
"You have allies within the FBSC," Matteo continued in a hurry once their observers looked away. "Rachel's administration has been making enemies among her staff and it doesn't look good for what's to come."
"Great. As if the Faith of Solomon isn't enough trouble already," Tala remarked sarcastically.
Matteo swallowed hard. "Your best bet is to stay out of sight for a while."
"So much for my plans of enjoying a night at the FBSC," Tala said dryly.
"Heh, I don't doubt you would've loved that," Matteo chuckled.
The exhaustion started to take its toll on him, though he tried to listen to Rachel and Mr. Dickenson, he simply did not have the energy or interest in doing so. Years of trying to avoid conflict between the FBSC and the BBA had dissolved in a matter of hours. Even though it may have been too late, Tala was thankful that he had taken action when he did. It would have been worse if he hadn't, especially for the twins. His own prospects were looking a bit bleak at this point, but what really made him feel despair was Julia's expression of never wanting her to be caught up in something like this, however hiding from it was no longer an option. The Faith of Solomon had become a danger to everyone; so he knew that he had to do something himself. Something which he should have done much sooner.
But he doubted it was going to be as easy as smashing down crazy girls like Florente. He had a sickening feeling that Mihai could prove to be even more trouble if it were to come down to a fight. And the cycle of striving for greater power repeated itself yet again. His eyes scoured the arena, desperate for that man's presence, fully aware that the idiot still lurked around the stadium. He didn't trust Judy; Tatsuya was useless; and Mr. Dickenson was still pushing for a peaceful solution. The thought of it made him sick, but what choice did he really have?
Matteo's gentle shove snapped his attention back to the present. The shouting had stopped and, based on the looks of everyone, it seemed that the FBSC and BBA had reached some sort of agreement. As soon as they removed his restraints, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Once he was standing again, he scanned the agents; some familiar faces were present, others were new. If what Matteo said was true and some agents were siding with him instead of Rachel, then it could be an invaluable asset in facing the next challenge — which wasn't going to wait long, he knew.
Rachel shot him a hostile stare before her men departed, to which he responded with a smug smirk. "See you soon," he said, as if to add insult to injury. He was wary about the woman—she was sly, malevolent, and smart. It was a relief to be rid of her, though the situation had grown more perilous in the process.
He glanced over at the other teams; never had the gap between them and him been so wide. The people that he used to consider somewhat as friends- although the term was still very much foreign to him; were now strangers . All he could do was hope that when the time came they would have sufficient means to protect themselves.
"Tala," Mr. Dickenson called him over. He shifted his weight to move despite the pain in his arm and followed the elderly man down a few hallways until they entered a small office. Mr. Dickenson closed the door behind them with a deep exhale, as if he was releasing all of his stress into the air.
He looked up at Tala, his lips trembling slightly as he placed a hand tenderly on the redhead's good shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered.
Tala stared back in surprise. He never expected to be thanked by this man, if anything he was prepared for quite the lecture.
"I now understand it was you who held them off for so long, but my boy..." Mr. Dickenson paused, catching his breath. "At such a heavy cost. I wish you would have come to me sooner."
The young man rested his arms against the table next to him, letting out a sigh as he took some of the weight off. "It's a fact that the BBA didn't have the resources to stand up to the FBSC in the first two years," Tala stated. Indeed, it was true: after Australia, the BBA were still rebuilding themselves. It wasn't until the Hiwatari corporation began to flourish that they had enough power to hold their own in court.
Mr. Dickenson smiled weakly. "I had just wished for you and your team to lead peaceful lives," Tala said."They do."
"So you acted on your own?" Mr. Dickenson said a little confused.
He believed in Mr. Dickenson, but he didn't feel comfortable telling him every detail, especially not how he had found out about the Gehenallis situation. Right now, the BBA was going through a lot of upheaval and he didn't have it in him to deal with any more. Though things were starting to cool down, two thoughts kept popping into his head: he wished he could get his hands on some serious painkillers and he wanted nothing more than to see his brothers and Julia again.
"Let me just sleep off this headache and I'll come find you tomorrow." Tala suggested. "Rachel is still licking her wounds and I doubt that girl will be back on her feet any time soon."
Mr. Dickenson nodded with a smile. "Of course, Tala. Get some rest."
As he sauntered down the hallway, Tala was glad that Mr. Dickenson had filled that loophole and enabled him to slip away from the stadium unnoticed. He hugged the shadows like a loyal friend, hurrying to return to the open air. But Boris caught up before he could escape.
"Seriously.." Tala sighed, patting his pockets for cigarettes only to remember he had none. "For fuck's sake.." he muttered under his breath.
Boris offered him one instead; with a mocking tone he said, "I bet your grandmother wouldn't approve of that!"
Tala gave him a withering look in response, but said nothing. How typical for someone like Boris to bring up family references as if they even mattered! Taking a deep drag from the cigarette, Boris asked, "So did you have fun fighting around your old stomping grounds? I know I did - I ran around those perimeters like a kid on an outing."
"Indeed I did," Tala responded with a sharp edge to his voice. "What do you know of the Gehennalis?"
"Ah, so now you're using that brain of yours again," Boris jested. "I'll tell you all you need to know and more..."
Once more, the tone that Tala detested had returned. Although he was no longer in a position to cause them harm as he had in the past, it still made him sick to his stomach to have to ask Boris for help.
The two then arrived at where Tala's car was parked, and judging by the appearance of nervousness on Boris' face, Tala guessed that his first ride was probably his last one too. Smirking at this small accomplishment, Tala muttered: "Serves you right."
"It's a nice evening out. I'll go for a walk instead," Boris declared, unwilling to admit how horrified he was when riding with Tala. Had he even gotten a driver's license?
"Have it your way," Tala chuckled.
A/N
Song: Poets of the fall - Requiem for my Harlequin
For those willing to listen to the music, I made a special playlist on Spotify! And I shall update it with every chapter's latest song. Feel free to send me a DM if you want the link.
Special thanks to: Thank you again MKverse for putting up with my endless editing, you're a blessing for every writer!
Lesser key of Solomon wiki:
Bifrons is a demon of sciences like wood and gemstone. The word "bifrons" literally means "two-faced" in Latin. He also moves bodies into different graves and lights candles over them.
Raim (Or Raum) Steals treasures out of kings' houses, carrying them where he wishes, and destroys cities and dignities of men (he is said to have great dispraise for dignities). Raim can also tell things past, present and future, reconcile friends and foes, and invoke love.
Announcement: First of all I want to thank all of the loyal readers so far! The comments I have received are incredibly heartwarming and really push me to bring out the best story for you to read.
As the holiday season is just around the corner for me I wanted to let you all know that it might be a little longer for me to update the next chapter. I usually try to update somewhere between two to four weeks. But due to my vacation it may take up to six weeks or more. So please bear with me a little and I will promise to bring you a banger of a chapter!