"Come in, Lucifer," the council leader's voice broke the silence in her office. "I sensed you the moment you entered the complex. You are hardly discrete," she remarked before the door opened.
"Pardon me, Miss Tepes, for my apparent lack of tact," a velvet-like man's voice sounded. "I must have become rusty throughout these years spent in the tomb," he added, slipping into the room in one fluid motion.
Even though the lights remained off, Akali had no problem examining the newcomer. Lucifer was slightly above-average height, built like a martial artist, and obnoxiously handsome, something the white-haired woman would never admit aloud. His relatively short and raven dark hair was slicked back, undoubtedly styled with some gum. The man's eyes were intriguing, that is, if someone did not know the secret behind them. At one moment, these soul mirrors could be compared to a depthless abyss, only to be wholly replaced with the purity of silver in the next. Akali saw a playful flicker behind them, which completely contradicted the professional and down-to-business attitude his current pose gave. For a brief moment, she wondered how long he had been awakened; after all, his noble and defined cheeks were covered with neatly trimmed stubble. One glance at him was enough to prove he had more than an ounce of royal blood in him. Lucifer, even when relaxed, seemed imposing, radiating with a mixture of confidence, wisdom, and something much darker. It was a potent mix that could and, in theory, should frighten even the most idiotic creature on this planet. But … as we have experienced numerous times, the theory rarely matches up with reality.
The man stood proud and tall, awaiting the vampire's response. He was clad in an ashen suit matched with a dark grey vest. Underneath it, a snowy shirt could be seen with the top buttons undone.
"Are you trying to fool someone into believing that you are a lawyer, not a killing machine forged to wage wars?" the council's leader questioned after a long pause. "If so … please remember about a tie the next time," she added, placing her hands on the desk and preparing to stand up.
"Oh, I must have forgotten about it," the dark-haired man replied nonchalantly, closing the door behind him. "Can we drop this farce? This game starts to wary me. How have you been, Akali?" he added, changing his tone from playful to serious in the blink of an eye.
"Could have been better," Akali retorted, sighing heavily. "I do not know how to deal with this situation," she added after a brief pause as if she needed to gather her thoughts. "With everything I have … it should have been a breeze. Yet … it is not. People around me die in various macabre ways, only fuelling someone's ego as they repeatedly throw the gauntlet at me," she confessed, discarding her usual mask of emotionlessness.
"I have heard some bits about it," Lucifer started quietly, slowly approaching the desk. "However, I think it would be best if I hear it right from the source."
"Practical as always," the white-haired woman scoffed, then chuckled. "I do not know. It simultaneously feels like we have a lot and no evidence. No matter what I do or plan, the mastermind behind all of this is at least one step ahead of me," she added, finally standing up and painfully slowly turning towards the windows.
"Sometimes … things do not go our way," the dark-haired man remarked, joining the council's leader by the rain-stained glass and stilling to her left. "Sometimes, we need to fight an uphill battle, but … if someone can pull it off, it would be you."
"It is appreciated," the vampire commented, extending her left arm and seeking the man's larger and firmer hand. "I wish I did not have to wake you," she whispered.
"It is completely fine," Lucifer said, squeezing the woman's hand. "On an entirely different matter, though … I have heard some rumours about you," he added, whispering as well.
"What do you mean?" Akali questioned, genuinely surprised.
"Precisely speaking about a developing relationship between you and one of your assistants," the man retorted, chuckling as he kept his response rather vague.
"Could you elaborate?"
"Please, do not act all that surprised," Lucifer remarked. "This Asian assistant of yours, you seem to care about her deeply. Or … perhaps what happened between you was but a mistake on your side, and I read the signs poorly?" he asked, but from the start, it felt more like a statement than a question, rhetorical at best.
"No … you are right, she dear to me," the white-haired woman whispered after fully processing the last response. "And … it terrifies me. I have not allowed any women to get this close to me since Evelynn. Partially, I feel like I am betraying her … I feel like I am betraying Evelynn's love and trust put in me," she added, closing her eyes and looking downwards. "But … I have a better question: who is spreading these rumours?"
"You want to deal with him personally?" the man chuckled.
"Duncan," the council's leader commented, balling her fists. "I should have expected that. How many people know?"
"Only me and Loghain," the dark-haired man said. "Do not worry; he will not spread news like this to anyone who can not be absolutely trusted," he added reassuringly. "As for your doubts, it is only natural for you to have them. After all, it has been years since you have opened up to someone. Even though you hold everyone working underneath you close, only a handful amongst them can say they know you even to the slightest of extends."
"I fear that accepting her might be a mistake," Akali said after a pause. "The moment the wider public learns about her, she will be a target. People too cowardly to face me will try to hurt me through her. I feel like breaking her heart is a small price in exchange for everything she will not have to go through."
"She lives here, does she not?" Lucifer asked, turning to the side to look at the distressed council leader. It was an understandable fear. Her life would turn upside down, but she would have you and the best protection one could ask for."
"It would have been thrilling to see the world in such colours," the white-haired woman commented, chuckling quietly. Though … mine is painted in black and white … maybe there are some shades of grey in between, nothing more. I wish …"
"I will interrupt that thought," the dark-haired man cut in, his tone cold suddenly. "We have discussed it many times, have we not? Even though you keep calling yourself a monster, you are not one. You have been born as a dormant vampire; it was only a matter of time before you would have been turned. So … why are you constantly doubting your humanity? Believe me … I have seen real monsters, and you are not akin to them. You can be ruthless and even cruel, but for all that you have done throughout the years, I could not have cared less if you dealt slightly inappropriately with your enemies. Akali, why are you doing this? Why are you adding yet another problem to this seemingly endless list you are dealing with each day?"
"Thank you, Lucifer," a whisper faded into nothingness, allowing the silence to retake the reign.
Vayne kept pushing herself even though her limits had already been exceeded, shattered and mauled into a speck of dust. Her beyond-exhausted body was driven by some indescribable power, perhaps born out of necessity and desire to overcome her shortcomings, proving herself useful. Nonetheless, the progress was marginal and painfully slow, which irritated the dark-haired woman. She wanted to impress, no … to meet even the bare minimum expectations the council leader had set for her. But … no matter what she did, it was never enough. Despite trying her hardest, Vayne found herself unable to overcome the prototype. The dark-haired woman thought it was only natural to see herself faring better after each encounter, but in reality, it was a vastly different story. Each time she clashed with the robot, it felt as if she had never crossed a blade with it before. It was a depressing sensation that increasingly spread throughout her body and mind, seemingly making it a trauma of sorts.
"Why can't I beat this damned prototype?!" Shauna screamed at some point, filled with regret and anger.
"Let me answer this question, Miss Vayne," Aria's synthetic voice filled the air. "This prototype is adapting to its opponents by default. So, your struggles and seemingly lack of progress are expected."
"Thank you, Aria," the dark-haired woman replied automatically without an ounce of gratitude in her exhausted voice.
"Your tone does not match your words, Miss," the AI commented immediately. "I take your frustration already spiked?"
"Isn't it apparent, Aria?" the RDT officer replied with a question of her own. "I lost count of how many times I've lost to this robot. No matter what I do, it's a fruitless endeavour."
"It is understandable," the synthetic construct replied momentarily. "After all, breaking its opponent's mentality was one of its prime requirements. However, if you find its current combat style and overall prowess too difficult to deal with, we can set it accordingly. Although, it will affect your development in the long run," Aria remarked, keeping her emotional tone.
"Is there anyone who could help me with the training then?" Vayne questioned, allowing her frustration to stain her voice. For her, this whole conversation was eerily similar to a university lecture where a seemingly intelligent professor kept on spitting things they deemed trivial, yet at the same time, inconceivable for the students. "What should I do? What should I sacrifice to be of any use?" she continued as her voice broke down.
"It would be highly advised for you to speak with one of the Reapers; perhaps Duncan would be willing to oversee your training," the AI responded.
"Don't bother trying to reach me, Aria," a strong and loud man's voice pierced through the silence. "I've been here for a while, observing our newest recruit," he added vaguely.
"Mister Rinereth, I take Miss Tepes altered the schedule?" Aria questioned immediately.
"Most likely," Duncan replied nonchalantly. "Akali's rarely informing me about the plan beforehand. Not that I mind, though."
"What are you doing here, then, Mister Rinereth?" Vayne cut in, irritated that, once again, someone was sneaking behind her back. "Are you here to train me, or did Miss Tepes have some other plans regarding me? Considering her eternal wisdom, she must've undoubtedly found some use for me," she allowed herself to mock.
"Oh, I liked that," Rinereth chuckled. "But, at the same time, you wouldn't have said that to her face," he added, finally descending from some platform. "Moreover, I'd have advised you to think twice before mocking Akali. She's nice, but her patience isn't unlimited. If she snaps, you'll know why she's currently the biggest fish. She's terrifying if she sees an advantage in it," the man continued, slowly striding towards the officer.
Duncan was a tall man, at least according to Vayne's hasten estimation, who could have been around two meters high. His relatively long, dark-brown hair was put into a ponytail, revealing a silver piercing on his left earlobe. The man had sharp facial features partially hidden underneath his thick beard. He moved with an ungodly level of self-confidence, as if everything his vivid green eyes saw belonged to him. Clad in dark suit pants, a light-navy shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a grey vest, he resembled a gang member, not a guardian. But … perhaps he did not need to. After all, Aria called him a Reaper. What was that, Shauna wondered.
"So … would you train me?" the RDT officer repeated her previous question.
"That depends," the Reaper replied, creasing his jaw.
"That depends on?" the dark-haired woman asked urgently.
"Whether you're ready for sweat, tears, and blood," the man retorted, shrugging nonchalantly. Compared to the other council agents she had met, this one was extraordinary. He seemed to pay no attention to professionalism, his actions driven presumably by emotions or mere whims. "If you want to participate in these kinds of actions, you need to be strong. As of now, all I see is a conflicted and weak woman who dares to dream big. The question is: are you willing to put in some work to make these dreams a reality?"
"I'll do anything that's necessary," Vayne replied confidently.
"I don't like words," Duncan remarked. "One can speak as many words as one desires, but they have no value. If you really want to make these dreams of yours a reality, you'll show me this devotion."
Mia hid all her worries behind a mask of joy and contentment, something she unwittingly had gotten used to throughout the years serving the council. Though it would have been the first time, she would be present during the gathering. Miss Tepes … no, Akali, she needed to remind herself that their professional relationship was no more, decided that it would be beneficial for her to participate. Considering the investigation was hardly progressing, and the white-haired vampire could not postpone these meetings indifferently, adding her to this highly selective list of individuals who usually attended the sessions made sense. If Mia were to guess, Akali would have to take a backseat and pull herself away from this criminal case. After all, these past few days had already impacted the delicate balance within the council and, frankly, around the world. It was so trivial to give people a reason to doubt, to plant a seed that would eventually bloom into something far more sinister than the little concern they currently displayed. No, even within the council, Miss Tepes was a taboo of sorts. Had she not been as influential, she would have been crushed long ago. But … as there was a matter clearly preoccupied the white-haired woman's mind, these cowards saw a chance to strike, to benefit from the leader's temporary weakness.
Tayaki had met Lucifer Schatten only a handful of times before. These encounters had a somewhat expected and repetitive pattern of exchanging pleasantries, and then the assistant would guide the imposing-looking man to her superior, closing the door softly behind her. However, it did not mean that she was completely clueless about who Schatten was or how much trust Akali put in him. No, when the vampire mentioned that Lucifer would accompany them to the gathering, it sent a sublime yet clear message: he would take over the investigation. And … even though these words never sounded, Mia wholeheartedly believed the council leader would announce this decision during tonight's session. It made perfect sense for Miss Tepes to keep her cards covered until the exact moment she would be comfortable using them.
Still … what role would Mia play tonight? It was a puzzle she had trouble solving as she stood beside the enigmatic man, awaiting a summons.
"Do not overthink this situation," Lucifer's rich voice stirred the assistant back towards reality. The first and most likely the most important thing you should know before we pass this door is that you should not speak unless Miss Tepes personally asks you to. The other council members will try to find a way to scare or manipulate you for their own gain. Let Akali speak; she has far more experience dealing with these hyenas than both of us combined," he added without turning. His cold gaze was still fixed on the blackness of the door.
"I think I understand," Tayaki replied after a brief hesitation. "Have you ever been to the gathering?" she asked, driven by an emotional rush.
"A few times," Schatten retorted reservedly. "However, I would have preferred not to be on the receiving end of this `honour`," he added, putting a solid emphasis on the last word.
"Are they that bad?"
"Frankly, you have no idea," Lucifer remarked, finally averting his gaze off the still-closed door and turning towards the assistant. "Behind this door, a lair of monsters resides. You take one wrong step, and they will swallow you whole," he said harshly.
Author's notes section:
I have a small announcement for you. I will try my best to return to posting only the already completed pieces. Please be mindful that it will take longer, but you will not be left with many WIPs as I struggle to conclude them. That being said, I will post a small WIP and then a finished chapter for the next couple of weeks to adjust to the new workflow. I'm sorry in advance for any inconvenience.
As a side note, please be informed that I'm actively trying to rewrite `The Endless Night` story that I posted a few months ago. Once I have both chapters adjusted, I will repost them, most likely with one additional chapter as a bonus of sorts.
I have mixed feelings about this chapter, to be honest. On the one hand, I like the fact that I can slowly start explaining the setting, but at the same time, I feel like I need to revisit the previous chapters, as their quality is hardly satisfactory, and I made some blunders unwittingly.
Please note that the dialogues written in italics are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2024-03-28]: A preview has been released.
[2024-04-03]: A major update applied, focused on enriching the story and preparing the stage for the further chapters.
References:
- Heroes of Our Time - Dragonforce (chapter's title inspiration)
- Gunslinger - Ax7 (my writing companion)
End of the author's notes section.