Hey guys.
I'm sorry for make you wait for so long, I've been really busy. But I will try to post chapters more quickly.
…..
On a Saturday morning, 7:45am, Ben was already awake, sitting on his bed, feeling free of tiredness but with that strange feeling of waking up in a place other than his bed, in his room, in his house, in Bellwood, not even in his universe.
The incident in the forest was enough for Ben to understand that it was high time to take action, or rather, hero time.
At night, Ben entered Luiza's house the same way he left, took off his sweatshirt, shirt, shoes and pants, leaving only his underwear so he could sleep comfortably and not wrinkle his clothes.
Ben would love to know how Bellwood was doing without him, if any threats to the universe or multiverse had loomed, if his position as top Sumo Slammers player was claimed by someone, just plain homesick.
"Hopefully time in this universe and mine aren't connected somehow. One day is all it takes for a multiversal plague to appear." Ben was already dressed and tying the laces of his green Converse All Star.
A good way for Ben to alleviate that feeling of homesickness was to enjoy a delicious breakfast. As usual, Ben missed the Sumo Slammers box of cereal that he always consumed in the mornings, but because Luiza had surprised him with her cooking skills at least three times, it wouldn't be any different when it came to the most important meal of the day.
….
Ben opened the bedroom door so he could leave, closing it right after, so that once again the smell of coffee that Luiza had made reached his nostrils, inducing him to go to the living room. When he got there, he was faced with the abundant table, where in addition to the coffee pot, there were also slices of sourdough bread, toast, butter and a glass bottle half full of milk. All that was enough for four people, which would be Ben, Luiza, Ernest and Iulian. The three were already at the table when Ben arrived, being noticed by them.
-Good morning. Ben greeted them, with a wave of his hand and a slight smile on his face.
- Good morning, Benjamin. I thought I wouldn't wake up, I was almost going to call you. Luiza said, before taking a sip of the hot coffee that was in the china cup in her hand. Luiza's statement made Ben worry about knowing what time he woke up. He saw the Roman watch reading 7:45 a.m., which he was relieved to know he hadn't woken up too late for.
-Yeah, I really needed a good night's sleep. Ben said, approaching the table where everyone else was present, joining them.
- It's good to know that our guest room served you well, Ben. Feel free. Luiza said, as Ben sat in the vacant chair next to the table.
-So, Benjamin, how's your, you know, staying here going? Ben heard the gray haired man ask, prompting him to look at him. Ben thought Luiza's husband, Ernest, was referring to the village itself and his impressions of the place.
- Everything is going well. I really thought finding a place to stay would be a lot harder, but thanks to Elena and Luiza, I'm here now. And it's good to know that youngsters here like newcomers. Ben told what his first good impressions of the village were when he arrived.
- News spreads very fast around here. I didn't believe it when they told me about a foreign boy coming here alone. That forest isn't the best place to get lost, if you know what I mean. Who Ben thought was Luiza's younger brother, Iulian. He was wearing a faded long-sleeved shirt, brown pants, black shoes in his feet, and a dark green beret on his head. said something that made Ben have brief flashbacks in his mind, remembering last night's events.
His ambush in the cave where the village leader and her subjects were meeting, the meeting with the Dimitrescu Sisters and the burial of the remains of the man who died at their hands. And what was worrying Ben most: the new DNA sample the Omnitrix scanned... and the brazen insult that was the spit by one of the sisters, something that not even Ben's worst enemies had the audacity to commit. Ben sure as hell wasn't going to let this one slide.
-Well, nothing a great sense of direction can't fix. It's not the first time I've ventured into a forest. Ben said, surprising those at the table with him.
- If so, you won't have a problem finding your way home. Or maybe your parents come looking for you. Ernest said, a little in awe of Ben's supposed ability to navigate dense forests only instinctively, thinking that he too might have learned that from his father or mother.
- My parents know that I know how to get around very well, and that I don't usually get into trouble that I can't solve. Whatever it be. Ben's words caused a certain impression that couldn't be missed by the others who were there, like if trouble or dangerous situations were part of his routine somehow.
- He's a very responsible boy. Luiza said, confirming the veracity of Ben's words, based on what she heard about the not-so-true story he told her and Elena.
- Unlike most youngsters here. It's no surprise that some want to meet you in person. Iulian said something that Ben was actually pleased to hear. In his universe, he was an idol as a superhero, acclaimed by his fans of all ages and alien species, and obviously hated by his archenemies, aliens and humans.
But in that village, the only thing he had to do was simply appear as a lost stranger looking for a place where he could rest, and that alone was enough for him to have some kind of "fame" there. Perhaps the fact that he was a teenager was what most impressed everyone who found out about the presence of a newcomer.
- It was also great to meet you. Not just them, but one of the Lords personally. Ben said, before taking a sip of the coffee Luiza had prepared, as naturally as if meeting the most dangerous of Lords was no big deal. Obviously, saying that after everything he'd seen and heard in that cave wasn't something Ben was going to mean.
A brief silence hung over that living room, surprise and curiosity was expressed by every line on the faces of the other three who were also at the table.
-For an outsider, it's quite a privilege to meet one of the Lords. Iulian decided to break the silence as best he could.
"And survive". Iulian, for obvious reasons, knew better than to frighten the guest with such a statement, even though it wasn't something to be omitted.
-I make his words mine. It's not often that you see one of them strolling through the village, especially Lord Heisenberg. Like the others, he's very busy. Ernest reinforced Iulian's statement, which for Ben, was suggestive enough to guess what was going on in that factory, and what the Lord seemed to work tirelessly with, and pausing only for a brief stroll through the village.
-Sooo, what's your schedule for today? Luiza asked a question she already knew, and feared the answer.
- We were thinking of going fishing at the reservoir. It's been months since I've enjoyed that fish, the exceptional Milanese you make. Ernest replied, suggesting what Ben already knew about Luiza's talent when it came to cooking.
- This last winter was long and boring, and the weather outside is very pleasant. The boy was lucky to get here in early spring. Iulian, he said referring to Ben, before eating a piece of bread that was in his hand.
- You two know very well that I don't approve of this idea, but since you two insist, go at your own risk. Luiza said, with a face of dissatisfaction. She had good reason to disagree with the wishes of her husband and her brother.
- It's okay, honey, there's nothing to be afraid of. Ernest said, a slight smile on his face in an attempt to reassure his worried wife.
- Yeah. As long as we're not in sight of that "devil sucking mango", it's fine. Iulian said, gesturing quotation marks with his fingers, referring to someone well known for his unusual appearance and that Ben knew very well who it was. This served to give him the idea of going to the reservoir in search of anything that seemed dangerous to someone.
"Moreau… if what the legends say about him is true, I will have the honor of introducing you to an old friend of mine." If Ben wanted to discover what inhabits the waters of the reservoir, he would have to use some of his transformations, be it the Piscciss Volann form, Amperi, or even some new transformation that he achieved thanks to the activation of Master Control.
"And if the Lords have such macabre legends about them, Why are they so acclaimed and revered by the villagers anyway? I'll find it out somehow." Ben thought.
-Well, the breakfast was delicious, honey, but we want to go fishing while it's still morning. Ernest said, before standing, inducing Iulian to do the same.
- Yeah. We have to stop by Leonardo's house to get the fishing equipment and tools, and wake him up if he's still sleeping. Iulian said, before emptying his coffee cup and placing it on the table.
- Take advantage and tell Elena that I called her here to talk. Luiza suggested, which for Ben meant that his privacy there would not be assured. He really wanted to see his new transformation.
He also knew that Luiza requested Elena's presence so that she could help her with the dishes and other household chores, and that's why she didn't offer to help, no matter how good her intentions were.
However, Ben noticed Luiza's nervousness regarding Ernest and Iulian's insistence on going fishing in the reservoir, where one of the Lords lived. Even though the legends about the Lords sounded more like bedtime stories for children, "follow at your own risk" seemed more like a warning than advice, as if there really was a real danger there.
Ernest and Iulian had already left, while Ben and Luiza were alone in the living room. This was the perfect time for him to ask questions about where her husband and her brother planned to go fishing and why that worried her. Even if he already knew the answer somehow, he wanted to hear different versions that were more objective than what the legends said.
-Uh, Luiza? Can I ask you something? Ben asked, attracting Luiza's attention.
- Yes, Benjamin. Luiza nodded, ready to answer the question that would come next.
- Is this reservoir, where your husband and your brother are going fishing, a good tourist attraction for outsiders, or does Lord Moreau not receive visitors? Ben made his question sound as relaxed as possible, with a slight smile on his face, so that the conversation didn't feel like an interrogation. Luiza sighed lightly, before responding.
-Well, the reservoir has always been a favorite fishing spot for fishermen, although it is not a sensible choice. As for Lord Moreau, let's just say that his relationship with mirrors is quite complicated. Luiza's last statement made Ben remember how unpleasant the Lord was even to his so-called brothers and that he was probably repudiated by them because of his appearance.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he actually got scared of his own reflection." Ben thought, as he filled his cup with coffee, before ingesting it.
-The fact is… Luiza paused, wondering if she really should continue giving more details about the Lord in question and how Ben would react to it, which attracted his attention.
- Both he and the other Lords have a not very good reputation according to some of the most skeptical. While others are equally devoted to them and Mother Miranda. I think by now you already know what I mean. Luiza assumed that Ben knew about the legends, bearing in mind the time he spent walking around the village in the company of the friends he made there, as well as his brief meeting with Lord Heisenberg.
-Yes. I would definitely stay away from someone who transforms into a giant man-eating fish or has one as a mascot, even if it seems too far-fetched. Or he just doesn't like visitors. Ben said, wanting to create an impression of fear on himself, assuming that Luiza advised him not to go to that place.
- If there really is a monster in that place, I don't know. But I, as a sister and wife, still fear for their lives and safety even though I make sure they know what they are doing. Luiza said, while looking at the coffee cup in her hand, with a thoughtful and worried look on her face. She was distressed, afraid, for reasons Ben knew very well.
-Don't worry, Luiza, nothing bad will happen to any of them. Ben said, smiling, giving an impression of confidence.
- How do you know that? Luiza asked, her distress went away when she heard those words.
- In moments like this, optimism, faith and courage are essential. It was thanks to these three that I managed to get to where I am today, here and now. Just hope that nothing bad happens to them. No fish will devour them, I guarantee it. Ben said, with conviction in his voice, not just referring to the supposed fact that he had walked a long way through that dense forest to reach the village, as his story said, but to all the problems he had already faced as the greatest hero of your universe.
-I'll follow your advice, Benjamin. Luiza nodded, admired by such wise words coming from the mouth of someone so young, as if he had already seen and experienced a lot.
As much as he wanted to satisfy the longing to say "it's hero time" and star in a showdown, he would have to be cautious. Patience and caution were essential in that delicate situation. Ben and Luiza continued talking for a while about more pleasant topics than man-eating monsters until Elena arrived.
However, Ben had two things to worry about: 1-his new transformation.
2- he had an appointment with a trio of witches, or Heisenberg would probably be passing through the village. Either way, he had to be ready.
Meanwhile this…
……..
Somewhere there, there was a small room whose lighting came from a roaring fireplace, but this was not a room in one of the village's humble huts. The large king-size bed with pillows, a large, thick comforter that touched the brown carpet with gold details on the wooden floor, the white colonial wood with golden details that covered the walls and various decorative items with porcelain wedding decorations, they were evidence that this room belonged to someone whose taste in decoration was very specific and elegant, and of course, rich. The person in question, if her large stature allowed her to be considered as such, was sitting in a large armchair whose colors matched those of the wood on the walls, with a crimson cup decorated with silver flowers filled with... freshly drained blood in one of her gloved hands. She had sips of the thick red liquid that was gradually consumed. This was one of her morning habits and it was what she liked to do while thinking about everything.
"All these meetings are so exhausting. I don't know how I managed to endure this for so long, and how much more I have to endure. Being treated like a sister to those scoundrels… especially Heisenberg. Anyway, I still have a job to do." Alcina Dimitrescu survived yet another meeting that was often scheduled at inopportune times, but to make up for it, she had a pleasant night's sleep. She was watching the flaming ember burning inside that fireplace when a loud buzzing sound suddenly came echoing throughout the room.
Swarms of flies invaded the room, and each one materialized into a woman wearing a black hooded dress. Alcina's daughters, Bela, Cassandra and Daniela, presented themselves to their mother as soldiers before a captain, awaiting orders.
-On orders, Mother? Bela, the eldest of the sisters, called, causing Alcina to place it on a small shelf next to her armchair and then get up.
- Very well, girls, you have one, I mean, two special tasks for today. Alcina said, keeping her gaze on her daughters, with an authoritative tone in her voice.
- And what would they be, Mom? Cassandra asked, imagining that they were two very important tasks.
- Well, the daughter of one of the villagers is old enough to do domestic work here in the castle, according to reliable sources. You know very well what I'm meaning with this. Alcina said, so that her daughters nodded, indicating that they understood the order given to them.
- And what is the second task, Mother? Daniela asked, making clear her curiosity about such an order.
- An outsider arrived in the village yesterday morning with means and reasons still unknown, and Mother Miranda wants him in order to carry out experiments on him. The most interesting thing is that the stranger in question… is a boy-thing. Alcina said something that for the sisters was like a snap in their minds. Last night's incident in which they smelled a boy's blood, which instantly changed to something as foreign to their hyper-acute senses of smell as the creature that appeared in their path.
At that moment, the pieces of the puzzle seemed to be starting to fall into place, although how the smell of the boy's blood or himself was replaced by that of the creature or itself was still a mystery. The three had the same dilemma in their minds, Making them distracted for a few seconds. Alcina noticed her daughters' strange reaction to what she said and cleared her throat, drawing her daughters' attention back to her.
-Uh, yes, Mom? Bela was the only one to respond to the tall woman's call, who suspected something strange that could have happened to the three of them or between the three of them.
- How was the hunt last night? Alcina asked, already predicting that her intuition was right. The sisters looked at each other for a moment, before Bela responded.
- We dealt with an… anomaly last night, which we believe had something to do with this same boy-thing. Bela replied, while her mind was focused on telling the details of what happened that night, just like the other two. Alcina was really interested when she heard that. She could extract more information about the boy and communicate to Mother Miranda.
-Tell me more. Alcina said, wanting to know more about this anomaly.
- We were still in the forest. We had just shot down a man-thing that was roaming the forest late at night. When we finished and were ready to go home, we smelled the blood of a boy that wasn't too far from where we were. When we were already there to capture him… Cassandra paused briefly so that Daniela could continue to report what had happened.
-The smell of the boy-thing's blood instantly changed to something completely different, strange and unpleasant. But what happened next was even stranger. Daniela told all the details that were still fresh in her mind. From the smell, she and her sisters described Wildmutt's blood as inedible, not to mention disgusting.
-We couldn't say how this happened and what replaced the boy-thing. We only knew what it was when that… freak appeared right in front of us. Cassandra said, keeping a neutral expression on her face while she remembered her contact with the strange creature from last night.
- Freak? Alcina asked, raising an eyebrow.
- Yes. As soon as the smell of the boy-thing's blood disappeared, that bizarre creature came running right from where the boy-thing was, and only stopped when it saw us. At first, we deduced that the creature could be the result of a supposed partnership between Uncle Heisenberg and Uncle Moreau, as the relationship between them appears to be peaceful. Bela said, knowing a good part of what her so-called uncles' work consisted of and how it somehow made sense if some dots were connected.
- About the creature, could you give a description of it? Alcina asked, masking her curiosity with a serious posture. Daniela had a large rolled-up sheet of cardboard in one of her hands. She took the time to draw a picture of the creature she saw last night, with every detail, from its grotesque appearance to the collar around its neck. She had an incredible talent for drawing and painting on canvas, two of her favorite hobbies.
"Wildmutt, by Daniela Dimitrescu." She told herself in her mind. She considered herself an artist and took pride in each representation of her ideas that pencils and brushes produced through her hands. Alcina was waiting for an answer, which came to her when her youngest daughter handed her a rolled-up sheet of cardboard. She took it while looking at the youngest redhead's face, where there was a shy smile. Alcina unrolled the sheet and held it with both hands, unable to contain the expression of surprise and confusion that was visible in every line of her pale face.
The sisters wanted a plausible explanation for what was happening, and they trusted that their mother had the answer.
"As much as this seems to be Moreau's handiwork, he is more concerned with being useful to Mother Miranda with what she wants than producing aberrations like this. And I don't see why Heisenberg would want to help him either." Alcina observed that draw carefully and analyzed it, associating it with the information she had about what she was seeing.
-Mother? Bela called, making Alcina roll up the sheet of cardboard carefully so as not to crush it with her big hands. She was also confused by the whole situation, and thought of the only justification that made sense. -Well, I could be wrong, but maybe this creature and the boy-thing are… connected somehow. Alcina deduced something that the sisters had never considered and that actually made more sense and explained better what was going on there. Naturally, they were confused by the answer their mother had given them.
- But, how is this possible? Bela asked, still trying to see how that creature could have replaced that boy so suddenly. She really didn't want to believe that boy just turned into that freak and wanted a more rational explanation for this, just like Alcina.
- It's exactly we'll find out when you bring the boy-thing here, and this has to be done very carefully. Mother Miranda wants him unharmed, which means you will have to persuade him to come to you with words. Any question? Alcina had her question answered immediately with a unison "no" from her daughters, making her smile in satisfaction.
- Great. Now go, while it's still early. The sooner our guest is in our care, the better. Alcina said, before sitting down in her armchair and continuing to consume her drink while watching the fireplace, so that her daughters could leave that room.
The three were walking down a hallway where there was red wallpaper, with pictures attached to the walls, carpets on the floor, dressers and even more porcelain wedding pieces serving as decoration. Even medieval armor adorned that hallway.
-Well, we'd better decide who's going to do what while we're still here. Bela suggested, thinking of a way for the three of them to carry out both tasks at the same time.
- I'm in favor of one of us going to get the boy-thing while the others go get our new maid. Cassandra said, making the other two look at her suspiciously as they knew her sister very well and her wicked character.
- Since it's like that, I'll deal with the boy thing. Daniela said confidently pointing one of her thumbs at herself, with an arrogant smile. - And what makes you think that you are best suited for this job, huh? Cassandra asked, with an eyebrow raised and her arms crossed, a serious expression was on her face.
- Don't get me wrong, Cass, but persuasion has never been your, you know, strong point. Daniela said that although she was choosing the words she said well, her mockery was notable in her tone. Annoying his brunette sister who had an extremely short fuse could be pleasurable.
- No, Cass. She's right and you know it. We are going to look for our new maid while Dani goes to get the boything, am I clear? Belle held Cassandra by the arm, a stern expression was on her face while she looked at her brunette sister, who slowly calmed down before nodding in understanding.
- Excellent. Bela said, before letting go of Cassandra's arm.
Then, the three dematerialized into swarms of flies and left the hallway where they were, heading towards the castle gates, determined to fulfill the two missions given to them.
…..
"Fuck it, I'll do it right there." Ben was determined to go to the forest, in the same place where he had buried the remains of the unfortunate man who had the misfortune to be caught by the witches, and see what his new transformation was. Elena had arrived at Luiza's house while Ben was brushing his teeth. He greeted her before leaving, leaving her with her friend. Ben was already walking near the statue, and saw some children playing tag around the monument, none of them saw him as they were more focused on the game, which seemed to be quite fun.
He was careful not to go too close to where the children were playing, but that didn't stop them from stopping to watch the teenager walking, heading somewhere. None of them considered greeting him because he was an outsider or someone strange to them, but perhaps they would do so in the future.
"It could have been one of them." A frown formed on Ben's face as he thought about the possibility that he might have been burying the remains of one of those children instead of that man last night. He avoided making eye contact with them so they wouldn't notice and was ready to face anyone and anything that came across to hurt someone in that village, no matter who it was.
Because he was too preoccupied thinking about who the next victim could be, he didn't realize that there was someone else watching him walk besides the children, hidden by the shade of a tree and leaning against a wall, smoking his Montecristo Cuban cigar: Lord Heisenberg. He was waiting for Ben to leave Luiza's house and wanted to ask some questions, although he didn't know how he would take a correct approach that wouldn't threaten him if Ben refused to say what the Lord wanted to know and even brought his hammer in case it was useful. He waited for Ben to get away before starting to follow him, and as they walked, the Lord suspected the reason Ben was heading towards the forest was to meet or communicate with someone.
The hypothesis that Ben was some kind of spy still didn't leave his mind, and that his watch was some communication interface that worked in places where there were no radio receiving antennas, which in a way, wasn't wrong.
It didn't take long for both of them to arrive at a point in that forest that was further away from the village, the same place where a funeral had been held and there was no tombstone to demarcate where someone had been buried, exactly where Ben stopped to look around him and ee if there was anyone lurking.
Heisenberg noticed this and kept himself at a safe distance, hidden behind some bushes and under the shade of a tree, so that he could see without being seen.
The leaves of the trees prevented sunlight from illuminating the place where Ben and Heisenberg were, which made the place partially dark. Ben activated the Omnitrix, making that green holographic disc appear and illuminate only the point where he was.
"Holograms?! Are they already making watches with holograms? It must cost a fortune. I think he's going to make a phone call or something." Heisenberg continued to observe Ben, deducing what the true functionality of that strange watch was, but what he would see next would surprise him like never before.
The silhouettes of the aliens' faces were being displayed as Ben searched for one he had never seen before, until he found the one that would match his new transformation. The silhouette in question was very different from the others in that it looked like the face of a human, although that really wasn't the case. The Omnitrix never transformed its user into a specimen whose species they already belonged to, and this caught Ben's attention. The holographic disk disappeared and the retractable core was ready to be pressed.
"Something's going to happen if he presses that. I don't know if I should just stand here and watch or…" Heisenberg was torn about the idea of just lying in wait and seeing what the hell this kid was doing, but his indecision went away when he went. surprised by a flash of blinding green light appeared from the watch, covering Ben for just an instant before the light faded.
Heisenberg was wearing sunglasses that protected his eyes from the effects of high light. He was definitely shocked by what he had just seen.
The boy he was following there was gone, being replaced by something that in Heisenberg's eyes was strange and inexplicably familiar, making him wonder in his mind, still trying to process what he was seeing.
"What the fuck is that?!".
….