The sun rose over the horizon slowly, almost as if purposefully accentuating the body of the man meditating in its rays. Shinzo Hazashi opened his eyes as the light blessed them, exhaling deeply and releasing his meditation at last. He couldn't possibly foresee what, but there was certainly an odd air about the day already.

He shrugged it off, instead rising to his feet and picking up the sword he'd lain beside him. As his fingertips came into contact with it, a surge of fire flew up his arm and disappeared into his chest. The man exhaled sharply at the one thing he never got used to about being a fire claimant--the sparks.

Shinzo turned to leave, barely making it before the familiar tear in the world outlined by wisps of fire and lava leaking out showed itself to him. There was no need to send a messenger. Phita knew he would drop everything he was doing to serve her as soon as he knew she needed him.

A grave expression befell his face as he clutched his weapon and stepped through the portal. Whatever Phita asked of him, he would do without question, but he still wondered after what could make her summon him so suddenly. As far as he knew, they didn't have any operations currently being executed except for two. Those two didn't count because they were long-term and would pretty much always be active.

The tall man entered the Forge effortlessly, clearing his throat as his skin adjusted to the hellish temperatures. Shinzo was lightly reminded of the first time he'd ever come here--he thought he was in hell. The memory brought an appreciative tug to his lips.

"Phita," he called softly, trying to draw her attention before continuing onto the fiery landscape. His legs carried him across the rocky ground until he was faced with the fire Ancient's door. It was open, the latent flames billowing out in a familiar welcome. The endless, orange ombred fabrics that hung over hollowed out volcanoes that made up the Forge flowed gently overhead. They had no end or beginning Shinzo could ever see; they swayed unabashed and unbothered in an unseen breeze. He took off his shoes before continuing inside. "Phita?" His voice held a bit more concern this time, wondering what would keep her from greeting him for so long.

He finally found her deeper in the structure, a worried expression possessing her usual gentle features. It caused his own brows to lower in response, trying to make his presence known by clearing his throat rather than disrupting her.

Sharp blue eyes drew up to him, her face taken over by a look of extreme pensiveness before going back to pore over whatever documents were on her desk before her. "You're late. Didn't you see me summoning you?".

"I apologize. I was meditating and did not see the Forge calling."

She brushed it off with an errant noise muttered under her breath as she waved him closer, cluing him into the fact that she was looking at a map. "All missions must be put on hold for right now. Including the orders on Yamaguchi-gumi."

"Is there a reason I should be aware of?" He couldn't imagine a more important ongoing mission than expanding Inagawa-kai's influence and reach.

"Xainayne's Artefact has been stolen. It is... well, I can't express how important it is that we recover it."

The man's mouth shifted into a frown. "I was under the impression such a theft was impossible."

That made the Ancient of fire laugh, a pleasant sound that forced a blush to Shinzo's cheeks. He hated how she could do that with just a giggle. It made him feel vulnerable. "You must not know Xainayne." Picking up the map now, she circled a few locations before handing it to her claimant. "Marked are the last places it's been confirmed seen. But New York would be the best start to gather information about its whereabouts."

The location perked his ears up. "Isn't that where--"

Phita did a loud, extremely drawn out sigh. "Yes, the ice claimant will be there. Play nice, would you?"

He smirked. "If it is a direct order, I will not disobey. But you do remember that he murdered Junto Kazumachi directly under my charge. He is already marked, if not by me, then certainly by my oyabun."

The redhead watched him leave with an almost maternal shake of her head as she muttered, "Daenu, what in the Void have we gotten ourselves into with these two?"




Shinzo Hazashi stepped through the fiery portal provided to him by the Forge into New York, immediately fixing the collar and cuff links of his sharp suit. Since it had been early in his home of Atami, Japan, it was late in New York. The cover of darkness worked in his favor, though, as he crept to the marked building on the map of New York Phita had given him. This was apparently one of Novevu's bars and the one place in the city where bloodshed was forbidden. The fire claimant figured this could be a good start for gathering some information.

He sent a quick prayer Phita's way before continuing into the building, his sword sheathed comfortable at his side. It never left his person under any circumstance. He knew he would be seeing Haden Widweim with almost absolute positivity. There was no way the idiot would miss out on a take this big.

As if reminded of him, the old wound in Shinzo's thigh momentarily ached. Like a phantom pain that knew its master, the bullet wounds from a previous skirmish with the ice claimant served almost like an alarm.

Over six feet of yakuza strode confidently through the doors of the establishment, taking in his surroundings quickly. He'd been there plenty of times before--even had a favorite chair--but caution could only be his ally at this point. Spotting one of Xainayne's men, he walked over and tried to ask where the Ancient of Darkness was. The guy was drunk and said he had no idea because he was off his shift.

Amateurs.

The walking inferno decided to calm himself with a drink, approaching the bar and sitting quietly until approached by the bartender.

She smiled as she approached, a welcoming look on her face. "You're here."

He nodded in acknowledgement. "This is too important of a matter for all hands not to be on deck, I assume."

"Maybe so. But you know, if you and Haden fight and destroy his bar again, Novevu will throw you into the Empty."

Shinzo grinned, then chuckled as he considered what she was saying. "Jaiho and--"

"No Void. No judgment. Just you, him, and the Empty." She smiled again as she changed the subject, pulling a glass from under the bar as she explained, "I imported some sake for you, though. I'm no expert, so you'll have to let me know how it is."

His lips finally widened enough for a smile, dipping his head in a small bow. "Amarjeet, if I didn't know better, I would think you like me."

"Do you know better?" She winked as a last addition to their playful back and forth before going back to tend to her other customers.

The evening was always a good time of the day, or at least that was what he’d like to say. Haden had no idea why but it seemed as if all the ancients were in a panic behind the scenes. He was expecting to check in with Daenu at least once that day and yet he’d heard nothing from her.


“Well, slightly alarmin wouldn’t ya say? No work, no calls, I guess that means ye can all leave me the hell alone!” He yelled at the entourage of men following behind him.


“You know when can’t do that because you always manage to kill someone.” They all nodded and mumbled in agreement with one another, Haden simply rolled his eyes at the comment. “I honestly don’t know why the boss insists on keeping you around.”


Haden reached for the flask that rested loosely in his coat pocket. With a few gulps and a breath of fresh air he continued walking onward with his group of annoyances. “Well ain’t killin what we do? You’re a bunch of ingrates if ya think I’d cast aside a single feck or care for a wee bit a bloodshed.”


“Yeah, but you keep killing our own guys! You off your own company more than you do your enemies!”


“Aye you’re right. Ya keep naggin in my ears like you’re me feckin mother and I might do it right now! Unless ye think you’ve got the pairs to deal with me this very second!” They all stood in silence for a hostile moment. Not like situations of this sort were avoidable when people accompanied him anywhere, even if they didn’t follow him around he’d look for reasons to kill anyone at all. It was a stroke of luck that a few snowflakes caught their attention before they melted on the ground. “Well would ya look at that. Weather is getting pretty iffy wouldn’t ya say? I’m gonna go get a drink and calm my nerves so I’d suggest ye get the hell out of me face.” He shooed them off like dogs as they watched his childish display of dominance. “Alright, I’m countin to three and anyone still standin around like me voice don’t work is gonna get a bullet to the face!”


The entourage turned and began their leisurely walk in the opposite direction as if to spite him which he responded to in kind. Grabbing the gun concealed in his vest and firing a single shot was all it took to have the entire street running into the alleyways and nearby shops. “Pick up the pace next time! Jesus, Mary and Joseph the hard of hearin will die one day!”


A few steps forward and he turned off into an alleyway himself to find the usual homeless and drunken squatting in the places they believed they were welcome. A quick point of the gun and a gesture to leave was all it took to have them scurry off and leave him in peace. It was at this moment that ice crawled from the ground taking on the shape of an ornate door that he knew all to well, the cold air that swirled around it was as welcoming as ever. He wasted no time sliding the door open and stepping inside as the feeling of returning home swelled up inside his chest. That still didn’t keep him from jumping as the door slammed and shattered behind him.


“Christ almighty! You’d think ya could warn a lad before ya sneak up like that!” He removed his coat as he turned to see Daenu who had clearly been waiting for him and not pleased in the slightest as suggested by the look on their face. “Boy oh boy, I can already see the trouble dancin on yer skin. No time for formalities aye?”


“Haden please just shut up and listen for a moment. I’ve got something important for you to do and it takes priority over everything, I need you to focus” Daenu watch as he set his coat aside and took a seat on the nearest chair. “Your attention. Do I have your attention?”


“Aye, you’ve got it. I’m all ears.”


“Good… Xainayne’s artefact has been stolen.”


“You’ve gotta be feckin shittin me!”


“Haden please!”


“Of all the godforsaken, lowdown, absentminded crap that could happen it’s something like this? Why don’t they just bend me over turn me sideways and have their claimants take turns runnin me through! It’s like you’re the only one who uses yer feckin brain with these types of things!"

“Haden! Shut up! Bottom line is that it was taken and you’re going to be looking for it. I don’t care how you feel about the situation, just get it settled!” He made his way over to a desk that sat on the far side of the room and plopped down on the very comfortable looking chair. “I’m only going to ask one that you play nice with the others and find Xainayne's chalice.”


Haden stood and walked over to a shelf which held a plethora of alcoholic beverages and ingredients. “Not an unusual request for sure, but shouldn’t I be a bit more aggressive if I’m lookin for what I assume to be a piece of shite claimant?” He grabbed a bottle of fancy rutte dry gin, luxardo maraschino liqueur, and some grapefruit juice to stuff into a cocktail shaker. “Don’t get me wrong, discretion does seem rather important with the seriousness of the situation. Even so it would probably be easier for me to just go to the last known location and slaughter every bastard in sight.”


Daenu pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned at his claimants eccentric ideals. “While I’m sure you’d love to just kill indiscriminately there will be other claimants who are also working towards the same goal. What’s most important is finding the damn chalice, do I make myself clear?”


Haden strolled over to the ancient and poured him a small glass of the cocktail before hastily chilling the glass himself and placing a previously prepared slice of grapefruit on the rim. “Aye, you don’t have to get yer panties in a twist. I suppose I can play nice so long as the feckin lord of bullshit doesn’t show his ugly mug.”


Daenu slowly turned away whilst taking a sip from the glass.


“Oh c’mon!”


“Haden please, just this once? It’ll be the last time you have to work with him?”


“Ya said that the last time and every other time before that! Ya take me for a fool on a run sodden with your sweet words and throw me out into the wild with that damned lunatic with a sword!” He stomped back over to the shelf of drinks and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. “That man wants me dead, ya know that right? I’m pretty sure Phita in all her wisdom knows it too! The moment he even looks at me funny I’m gonna gun the lad down!”


Daenu watched as the stubborn boy gulped down the entire bottle like water, the sight of it alone making his own throat feel sore. “Haden I’m not asking you to be his friend. Just put up with Shinzo for now until the artefact is found and then you can both go back to tearing out each others throats when it’s back in Xainayne’s hands. That’s an order so make sure you just get the job done!”


He glared at the ancient as if prepared to retort, but instead released a defeated sigh. “Alright alright, I get it. I won’t make yer lass upset and I won’t kill anyone unwarranted. Aye? I’m not gonna like it though. I swear you’re tryin to run me ragged.”


“Thank you. You’re buying me another one of those by the way”, Daenu stated with a point towards the empty bottle in his hand.


"Don’t worry, I always do.”


With their conversation done he grabbed his coat and was quickly sent back to where he once was and where the people he had once ran off were now back squatting again. It was dark out by now yet heir eyes were still locked onto him as he stepped out of the icy door which shattered to pieces behind him. “Ya like what you’re seein eh? Well I’ve got somethin else for ya.” He flipped the empty bottle around in his hand and shattered it over one of their head without bothering to see who. Before they could even react to the attack he shoved the now broken and sharpened half into their neck and watched as they fell to the ground. “Now you’re all gonna get the hell outta me face and I never wanna see ya here again. I’m clear aren’t I?” The remaining few ran off into the distance leaving him in the alley with the body. He hadn’t gotten to kill anyone that entire day and it was a cathartic feeling for him to say the least.

“Oh I need a feckin drink alright. If I’ll have to deal with fuckface for the next god-knows-how-long then I might as well prepare myself.”






It didn’t take more than a few minutes to make his way to the only bar in the city that allowed him inside anymore, a miracle of its own class. He had been leading his babysitters around that entire day but without any jobs he just circled the same few blocks that were near the bar. He couldn’t even make his way inside before the doors swung open and someone he recognized only by face way making their way out. “Oi ya sack of shite! How the hell did ye failures manage to lose a feckin artefact? You’d lose yer own dicks if they weren’t tucked between your legs!”


“Is every person who passes by going to ask us about that? If any of us were there to see what happened then it would have been stopped but we weren’t. Now can I enjoy my downtime in peace?” They pushed past him and began to walk away.


“Don’t get the wrong idea lad, I’ll ask whatever and whenever I feckin want to whoever I feckin choose.” He grabbed the claimant by the collar and pulled him right up to his face. His eyes were like signals telling people to run away and this situation was no different. “When you and yer cohorts do a shite job and I have to pick up the damn pieces then ya don’t get mad and ya don’t talk back unless you’re answerin me feckin questions.” He pushed the claimant away and spit on the ground in front of his feet. “If any of ye failures figure somethin out then ya tell me so someone with a brain can get it settled. Until then I don’t want to see the likes of ya around me again. The nerve you've is astoundin.”


With that settled he quickly made his way into the bar and approached the only person he cared about inside. “If it isn’t the little sweetheart herself, dolled up and lookin as presentable as ever! I might just fall in love with ya if the stars align it!” He removed his coat and sat it on a chair next to someone else who she seemed to be having a conversation with prior to his arrival. At closer inspection Amarjeet just stared at him in what looked like a somewhat worried way. “What’s wrong? Cat got yer tongue lass?” She turned slowly and looked at the man to his left. Confused, Haden turned as well and looked at Shinzo who was now looking strait in his face.

He turned back to Amarjeet, she turned back to him, she turned back to Shinzo, Shinzo turned back to her. “Ooohohoh, let’s try this one again", he said as he turned away and walked out of the bar.


…


A few moments later he made his way back inside with a plume of cold air hitting everyone who was seated before the door closed behind him. He reapproached the bar with each of his steps leaving an icy footprint on the floor behind himself. The cold air radiated off of his person as he placed himself in the seat which he had left the coat resting on and let out a breath of thick cold vapor that faded away in moments along with the cold air around him. “Amarjeet, lass, can I please get a ward eight. Rocks. Dry?”


“Of course Haden. Would you like grenadine this time?”


“No lass, not this time.” He closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose as if it would make Shinzo disappear, but when he opened his eyes to accept the beverage which had been prepared for him the silhouette of the man was still in his peripheral vision. “Can I also get some rye?”


“In the ward eight? A glass?”


“Just the whole bottle please.” He looked over at Shinzo one more time and didn’t turn away as he downed his drink and waited patiently for the bottle. “So… yer not gonna start jumpin and kickin at me like some kind of feckin rogue are ya? I’ll shoot ya right here if I have to. Not gonna let me night get ruined because sword boy thinks I kidnapped the feckin emperor.”

Amarjeet Desdon smiled amicably at her patrons as they entered the bar, busying herself with wiping down the counters. It was the one place under her charge, so she looked after it like her life depended on it. To let anything happen to it would disappoint Novevu, and she could not have that. Not when he gave her so much. She owed him--after all, he had given her his last name when she sacrificed her own. He saved her. The least she could do was make him some money.

Her polite expression became more genuine as one of her preferred customers entered, his normally stoic features pausing to greet her with a grin. His long black hair was pulled back away from his face, his tall and slender stature outlined by a slim fit suit. His outfit was something she was used to seeing--there were plenty of yakuza around here and they all looked pretty uniform. The biggest thing, besides his accessories, that made this man different from the others was the large sword he kept on his hip at all times. She had never seen him without it. Kind of like she also never saw him get a haircut--except once. If she could put the context clues together and guess, she'd assume that haircut was what sparked the dangerous feud between the man and the Scot.

Dealing with the two was frustrating, but she could always grin and bear it because they were wildly entertaining. Their skirmishes were always something to look forward to as long as it didn't lead to property damage.

"You're here," Amarjeet grinned as she approached Shinzo. Of course she knew why. Even if she wasn't Novevu's claimant, she was a barkeep, and part of the job was keeping her ear low to the ground. There was hardly a whisper she didn't hear. There was barely a secret exchanged in the walls of this bar that she was not privy to. So it tracked that he was here--that meant it was probably only a matter of time before Haden arrived as well. And probably the rest of the Ancients' heavy hitters.

Shinzo and Haden had proved themselves formidable fighters time and time again. Amarjeet had a healthy respect for their ability, but... She couldn't help the small part of the Void that nagged at her with impossible thoughts. What if they weren't enough? Anyone with the audacity to steal the Artefact of Xainayne, of all Ancients, was either a fool or meticulous beyond anyone's estimations. The madness of the Chalice had always resonated, on some note, with the Void. Perhaps it was the madness, pain, and death; she couldn't exactly be sure. Amarjeet worked every day to ignore it for fear of becoming possessed by the Void's lust for freedom through her, but now that she couldn't feel the Chalice at all, somehow it felt worse.




Snapping back to the present, the woman remembered about the drink she'd imported for Shinzo and went to get it. She'd gotten it to remind him a little of home since New York didn't really have any good sake, according to him. Haden was certainly easier to please when it came to drink choice. She left the Japanese man to drink in peace, instead going back to a group of Darkness claimants that had taken up residence in a corner to lick their wounds. They were pretty drunk now, so she was going to be preparing to tell them she was cutting them off. Not just yet, though. She figured she could squeeze them a little more before they got belligerent. They joked about how this was their 'last night of freedom' before shit got hectic looking for the Artefact. She hated how nonchalant they were about it. In reality, their last night of freedom was the night before.

But it was not her place to correct them, so she kept her mouth shut.

“If it isn’t the little sweetheart herself, dolled up and lookin as presentable as ever! I might just fall in love with ya if the stars align it!”

Amarjeet's brows rose in excitement--she could pick that voice out of a crowd of a million people. She chuckled to herself at his flattery, finishing the drink she was pouring and excusing herself from the counter. How long would it take him to notice? Her eyes cut expectantly between the two longtime foes, giggling once they did finally look at one another.

“Ooohohoh, let’s try this one again," Haden declared incredulously as he backtracked out of the bar. Shinzo grumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes; all of it left Amarjeet in stitches. She couldn't believe how consistently petty the two men were.

The pale-haired woman served Haden dutifully but lingered around the two in case things descended into blows. She'd given Shinzo a warning about roughhousing in the bar, so hopefully he'd be reluctant to let Haden get to him. Of course, she'd be extending the same warning to the ice claimant, but in due time.

“So… yer not gonna start jumpin and kickin at me like some kind of feckin rogue are ya? I’ll shoot ya right here if I have to. Not gonna let me night get ruined because sword boy thinks I kidnapped the feckin emperor.”

Shinzo grunted in annoyance. "You could have sat anywhere in the bar." He thought about it for a moment before raising his glass for Amarjeet to fill again. He didn't usually drink on the job, but Haden was always an exception. "I have a mission and I won't let some fake cowboy and his empty threats distract me from it."

“Sorry to interrupt you guys in your little..argument or whatever the fuck you may call it. But are you Haden? And are you Shinzo?”

The dark-haired man turned to see a woman standing there with a slight scowl on her face, looking frustrated and expectant. He didn't know her from a can of paint. His expression remained even, though he did eventually raise his brows at her. "I don't remember requesting company tonight," he finally said after a moment. "Is she yours?" He elbowed the man pointedly. If he wanted to sit so close, Shinzo was going to annoy him. Well... more than usual.

Amarjeet returned then, offering the new addition a humble smile. "Athea," she said in both greeting and acknowledgment. "How lovely it is to finally meet you. Yes, these two would be Haden and Shinzo. Please do let me know if there's anything you'd like from the bar."

Shinzo scoffed in disbelief. "She's a claimant?" He turned to look at Athea, the fire in his eyes flaring for a moment as he examined her from head to toe. "You are the best your house could muster for the likes of this chalice? What are you, forty-five kilograms soaking wet?"

The doors swung open again but Shinzo was too preoccupied to pay much notice. Amarjeet's expression dulled a bit as she watched the newcomer enter covered in blood. Some of the other people in the building stared at her as she walked, but Amarjeet held fast behind the bar, her lips beginning to tug back up in her familiar smirk of greeting. The woman pulled out a wad of bloodied cash to pay for her "heavy and strong" drink, prompting a look of disdain from the claimant of death. She didn't want to sort through random blood just to get a tip. But then again, she didn't want to get shorted, either.

Compromising within herself, Amarjeet instead decided to just make a drink of the middle grade stuff. It would at least be strong, though, and well paid for.

She produced the glass for the new mystery woman, surprised to hear a thanks in return. Something about the woman just didn't make Amarjeet feel like 'thank you' was a part of her inner lexicon.

As the bartender was considering their interaction, the woman began introducing herself. Amarjeet watched on in disappointment as a glass got shattered against a wall and a woman killed. So much cleaning and money going down the drain, and for what? Just what the hell was this supposed to be?

Zyphinex approached Shinzo, Haden and Athea as she continued to talk, explaining that she was looking for Xainayne's Artefact as well. Amarjeet found herself annoyed with that revelation--what was anyone doing sending someone so clearly unhinged after something already so evil? It didn't make any sense. And to make matters worse, she still felt she didn't truly understand how terrible the chalice's power was. If it was important enough to recover it that they'd force Haden and Shinzo to work together, send Athea for backup, as well as separately assign this demon Zyphinex to it, then just how much trouble were they in?

Shinzo stepped in front of Athea as if he didn't expect her to be able to defend herself. He frowned as he drew his sword, finding this display of violence distasteful and annoying. Haden cocked back the hammer on his pistol. For a long, drawn out second, nobody moved. Then everyone did.

Amarjeet instructed Athea to move for the simple fact that Haden and Shinzo could get destructive when riled up. Of course, she'd rip their heads off for tearing up Novevu's bar, but she supposed it was kind of necessary to deal with this new threat. She still couldn't stop the scowl that was working its way onto her features.

Zyphinex's whip came flashing out of nowhere, almost like it could cut the very air in two. It wrapped around Shinzo's sword, engaging him first in the battle. Haden began firing at her, but she was quick. Fuck was she quick. She was using the environment to shield herself from the shots as well as trying to force Shinzo into Haden's line of fire. She laughed maniacally when it almost worked--the swordsman had barely gotten free in enough time to cut the bullet before it struck him. That save left him open to Zyphinex, who knew Haden had to reload and took the opportunity to take Shinzo out of the fight. She was a blur of giggles and bloody limbs as she maneuvered her whip, targeting Shinzo's hands to relieve him of his weapon. He grunted with effort and exertion, but she still bested him. He couldn't even tell how it happened. He just knew that one second he was keeping up and the next he had his own katana through his shoulder.

He grunted in pain, fire flaring up from his very veins as he got angrier. He was trying to keep calm for the sake of not burning down the bar with everyone inside it, but he really, really hated losing.

The man did his best to try to help Haden with Zyphinex's attacks, but it looked like she was overwhelming him as well. If they were all looking for the same thing, what the hell was her problem?

A loud clap made Shinzo's eyes slide to whoever was coming to join the fray now. He was ready to incinerate them where they stood just to let off some frustration, but when he recognized Evyette, he immediately stood down. If anything, he was embarrassed for her to find him in such a state.

She apologized to Amarjeet for the damage to the bar, who simply dipped her head in acknowledgement. She had been getting ready to get into the fight as well but she had been trying to wait. Seeing Evyette was a relief. One of Amarjeet's eyes had already gone black as she started to give in to the Void to deal with the issue.

Evyette pulled the sword out of Shinzo's shoulder and he cauterized the wound by putting a hand on it and sending out a flash of flame. The treasure continued to deal with Zyphinex, throwing her out of a window and onto the street. Shinzo watched after her solemnly, awed by her raw power. It was amazing. He could only get a fraction of her potential when he unlocked Phita's Rage. It was disheartening on one hand; on the other it was inspiring.

The bar was at a standstill until Evyette returned. It was largely in shambles because of the altercation, but Amarjeet continued to serve drinks. At full price, too.

"Do you reckon she'll come back?" Amarjeet asked the treasure after a moment. "Novevu has never spoken about her."

Shinzo shrugged then winced. "I want to know why we are all looking for the same thing and she attacked us. How does someone like that become a treasure?" He moaned again in annoyance at the pain in his shoulder, steam literally rolling off of his body from his temper. "Now I wish I did arrange for a companion. This is less than satisfactory."

The evening and start of the night had managed to be rather enjoyable… even Shinzo was quite tolerable after a few drinks in.



"You could have sat anywhere in the bar. I have a mission and I won't let some fake cowboy and his empty threats distract me from it." He responded to Haden's earlier insult. The audacity!


“Oh my, how scathin. If ya weren’t dressed for the opera then I might have taken ya seriously.” He shot back, ill content with the thought of ever allowing him the last word.



It wasn’t until they were approached by a new, unfamiliar face that his mind even strayed from the process of crafting insults he could use to annoy his rival. Petty to his very core for certain.



“Sorry to interrupt you guys in your little..argument or whatever the fuck you may call it. But are you Haden? And are you Shinzo?” The newcomer injected herself into the conversation. Not unwelcomed although slightly troubling that she knew their names. 


"I don't remember requesting company tonight. Is she yours?"



“Christ lad, I’ve never seen the lass in me life! I don’t own her like some feckin dog.”



"Athea. How lovely it is to finally meet you. Yes, these two would be Haden and Shinzo. Please do let me know if there's anything you'd like from the bar", Amarjeet cut in. It was almost as if she were trying to stop them from involving the newcomer into anymore of their conversation.


"She's a claimant? You are the best your house could muster for the likes of this chalice? What are you, forty-five kilograms soaking wet?"



“Jesus, Joseph and Mary! Don’t mind the bastard, he’s just too used to fightin alongside samurai warriors and the like!” He turned his attention to Shinzo without missing a beat. “You could at least treat people ya don’t know with more civility sword boy. We can't all be ninjas like you”, he proclaimed as if he were one to talk himself.



Someone he didn’t know being around was a giveaway that Athea was most certainly one of their illustrious group of treasure hunters. At least she seemed to have a good bit of spunk in her veins, not to mention he was glad to know it wouldn’t just be him and Shinzo running errands together.



His attention took a shift however at the sound of shattering glass which, although rather common, he would have taken the moment to at least warn whatever idiot did it how much Amarjeet disliked destruction of her property. He turned to let out the words, oblivious to what was even taking place around him and just like that he was instantly sobered up. The felling of shards of glass blasting him in the face was… unpleasant at most, but it grabbed his focus rather quickly and ruined his good night in moments as if Shinzo wasn’t enough already.


"Who in the fuck?!" His temper was as volatile as ever and his patience was a matter of the past. Shinzo had already taken Athea into consideration which freed him up from the responsibility of focusing on anything but slaughtering whoever this person was. He’d have to repay Amarjeet in some way for this one, it was almost a given that the bar would be ground zero for this little skirmish.


Gun drawn, sword unsheathed, collateral removed from the equation and this newcomer Zyphinex to annoy him the moment she arrived. Daenu told him to play nice, but standing around in this scenario wasn’t going to bode well. He was already ordered to not use his abilities in the past due to extensive property damage so this wasn’t going to be easy to deal with in general.



Just as all fights do it started before he could really get a decent grasp on the scenario. Shinzo was quickly pulled into combat and he deftly took the rear for support, taking shots where he could. She was apparently their ally so why couldn’t she fucking ask for the information she wanted before all of this nonsesnse?



She was no claimant for certain, how many of them could possibly handle this scenario? He had to reposition himself so many times in such a short period due to her consistent use of cover and manipulation of the battle field. Not to mention that the synergy between him and Shinzo was never on the optimal side of things. She had almost made him hit the guy more times than once, thank god he wasn’t a useless fighter!



“Well shit! Sorry about that one lad, she's movin around like a feckin snake”, he shouted out as Shinzo had to defend against his own bullet. “This entire fight is feckin bullshit by the way!”



This lunatic was moving so quickly and flawlessly that it was hard to even keep an eye on her more times than he'd ever give her credit for, as if she needed it. The moment he paused to reload it was clear that things were going downhill for their side the moment Shinzo’s sword had managed to run through his own shoulder. How many times had he fought him and he ever even allowed the thing to leave his own hands?



He could see the fire claimant was also losing his temper, this wasn’t the most prestigious situation they could find themselves in. In fact it was fucking madness and they could barely fight! His top priority was taking Zyphinex down, but now there was also an injured and fuming Shinzo, Athea who had been prioritized as to be protected for now, and Amarjeet who he had never really known to fight unless there was no other option in sight and he wouldn’t want to get the latter two involved if it were at all possible.



The scenario was far too restricting for his tastes and his thoughts were running wild, his focus was straying to his allies and now he was forced into close range combat with someone Shinzo could barely keep up with which meant a loss without the use of abilities.



She was using a whip of all things! He had more than enough trouble dodging swords, knives, even fucking fists! He couldn’t manage to count the amount of times he managed to get scraped or outright hit in the fight.



All he could do was dodge and shoot in between said dodges, and few shots at that. “What an absolute annoyance” is what he wanted to say yet words weren’t worth the slightest ounce of blood at the time. The most he could muster in terms of reducing collateral and controlling the situation was keeping her away from the others and using his abilities to attempt cooling down Shinzo before the floor around him erupted in a blaze, but that was even difficult to focus on with the stinging pain across his body.



"Fuck this!"


Why in the entirety of the world was he holding back? He couldn’t find the answer to the question himself and at this point his heart was racing, trying to leap out of his chest! A feeling that he held considerable hatred for which made his body feel warmer than he was proud to admit, disdain for this Zyphinex was at an all time high! He’d just blast the entire area with ice and deal with his ancient’s anger for it later! Or at least that was what he'd thought.


It was by the grace of Daenu, or more properly Phita, that a familiar face had managed to get him out of this losing situation. He had already sustained more than enough damage trying to fight this monster and simply standing wasn’t something he could easily manage for the time being anymore.



He fell to a knee, another thing he absolutely hated, and watched as Evyette delivered a royal beating to the person they were just struggling against. The difference between claimants and treasures was admirable and yet he was more pissed than anything that he was reduced to this state.



His eyes like volatile amber with a focus still on Zyphinex, his breath a biting cold, he was almost having trouble breaking his focus on her at this point. His instincts were screaming at him to build up every ounce of strength he had and throw it at both of them without a single care for anything. Bystanders, Evyette, the street itself and everything around it wasn’t even slightly on his radar for all of a period of time that seemed like it was moving in slow motion. He already had more than enough trouble dealing with people and the entirety of this situation felt like a giant slap in the face only for to be SAVED at the very end of it!


It was as if Evyette could sense his hunger for violence as the moment he even slightly looked in her direction she shook her head as if rejecting his decision outright, a warning. An action he could only respond to with a sigh and a struggle to his feet. He didn’t dislike her as much as he did Phita so there was no point in getting on her bad side, as if he could put up a proper fight in his current state anyway.


The conflict between the two didn’t even last long before Zyphinex retreated and things returned to a calmer state, Evyette offering to pay for repairs herself which Haden would have normally protested against. He never minded to pay for damages, especially since he caused them often, and he had more then enough money to spare. However he wouldn’t oppose a decision made by a treasure that just saved his hide.



He nearly stumbled back to the ground as he attempted to move yet refused to fall again. His body felt as if he had been run through the gauntlet and the pain still shot through his arms and legs as if he were still locked in combat. This was all but satisfactory and the moment he found a seat that was still intact he sat himself down and proceeded to place his hand on his forehead.



“Everybody alright? No broken bones? Shinzo, yer arm still workin lad?” His eyebrows furrowed at the thought of the damage that could have been caused if no one had shown up to aid them.



He watched as everyone conversed and hypothetically licked their wounds, Amarjeet still doing business although he assumed she was not pleased. No one really had a reason to be pleased.



"I want to know why we are all looking for the same thing and she attacked us. How does someone like that become a treasure?"

He noted the question Shinzo had asked Evyette and made sure to keep an ear to their conversation. If she was really on their side then it would be the deciding factor in him attacking her on sight the next time he saw her or keeping his word and ‘playing nice’. He wasn’t one to question the decisions made by ancients, but he wouldn’t be bringing his personal concerns to anyone else who was present.


Those questions he’d reserve for Daenu who decided it would be best not to warn him. No doubt too distracted by Phita to even take into consideration the scenario they were in if, he had to guess.

"Now I wish I did arrange for a companion. This is less than satisfactory."

"Satisfactory? Oh this is everythin but satisfactory lad. Why did they even tell us to search for this damned chalice if Xainayne was just gonna send her lunatic treasure after it anyway? Treasure, mind you, who doesn't give a single solitary transcendent fuck about all the rules and regulations that have been placed on the rest of us?! I knew I had heard that stupid feckin name somewhere before! The lass over there just got here and could have died!" He proclaimed his distaste regardless of who could hear or their feelings as he stood and pointed towards Athea. "All I wanted was a drink and we all were pulled into mortal feckin combat against an enemy who should be locked away! Fuck!"

The boy almost fell over when the feeling of dizziness hit him. Too much damage, too much blood loss, he'd have to calm down for the time being if he wanted to stay conscious. He sat back down in his seat but not before grabbing his coat and took a few long, cold breaths. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his personal flask of considerably strong alcoholic contents and took a long drink before taking another breath and slouching in his seat.

"Oi! Sword Boy! Want a taste of a real man's drink to take the edge off lad?" He spoke in an unusually playful manner as he unusually offered Shinzo some of his personal drink with an outstretched arm. Maybe it was the lightheadedness, but he couldn't be bothered to be too difficult to deal with... for now.

Shinzo groaned to himself as he rolled his injured shoulder, taking stock of his various injuries with an air of extreme aggravation. The battle had bothered him so much he was fresh out of smart remarks to throw at Haden. When the white-haired male offered a flash full of mystery liquid, Shinzo didn't hesitate. He took it and gulped down as much of it as he could before his burning throat stopped him.

"What is this, cat piss? It's disgusting," he complained to Haden before throwing back another swig. Evyette explained that the woman that had just dragged them through hell was the treasure of darkness, Zyphinex. Of course Shinzo had heard whispers about her, but she hadn't been allowed to be active as far as he knew. She was too dangerous. Now it made sense why the Ancients thought that. So to allow her out to chase this Chalice... Well, they must be in deep shit.

He took another swig from the flask before realizing he had been hogging it. He didn't care, though. It was the least Haden could do. Evyette's barking at Athea made him look up, giving the water claimant a fresh once-over. She looked more useless than Misnia but at least she didn't have some weird, perpetual cough. Mostly he felt bad for the ice treasure but it wasn't his place to say so. Still, when she got close, he emanated just a little more heat in the hopes of warming her up.

“As for you. Well. Mother has a message for you. Come. Time, we honed that flame a bit more. Leave the children to be children.”

Shinzo groaned and mentally kicked himself. Fuck, he should've seen this coming... No doubt Evyette was going to relay every detail of the fight back to Phita. He knew he was in more trouble than he could imagine and Evyette knew it too. She laughed as he took his last swig of Haden's flask.

"Thank you," Amarjeet said to Evyette as she took the thick envelope from her. Explaining how all this destruction had befallen the bar would surely be annoying and unfortunate, but at least she didn't have to come up with a plan on how to raise funds to fix it. Novevu's annoyance, if he bothered to care at all, could be curved with this. She idly wondered if he was even awake yet or still fucking off somewhere in a drunken stupor. Then again, she supposed she could check on him after she closed the bar for the night... Well, as much as she could close it with all the holes in the walls.

"I didn't know you knew how to share," she teased Haden as she came around the bar with a broom. The patrons that were left passively cleaned up around themselves but otherwise couldn't be bothered to move.

Amarjeet hummed to herself as she cleaned, oddly content with doing it all herself. She figured she could at least let Haden rest after the ordeal they'd had. She pitied Shinzo a little because it seemed he never stopped training and Phita was much harder on him than Daenu was on Haden. But then again, the Japanese man thrived on his regimen, so she didn't feel too bad.

The door opened behind her and the woman nonchalantly announced, "Excuse the mess and I'll be right with you!"

"She cooks, she cleans, she makes drinks. How are you not someone's beloved wife yet?"

The woman audibly gasped, turning to face the owner of the voice as the broom slipped from her fingers. An ear-splitting grin crossed her lips as she recognized her old friend, running to him and jumping into his outstretched arms. "Lucas!! What--How--Why--?!" She squeezed him and giggled as he lifted her and spun her in a circle.

"Oh, you know I can't resist you," the blonde man responded smoothly, placing a kiss on her forehead when he put her back on the ground.

She swatted his shoulder playfully "Could've fooled me. I haven't seen you in months."

"You know I'm working, woman."

Amarjeet rolled her eyes and gave him a look up and down. "Is that what you're here for today? You're working?"

"I'm always working, beautiful. You know that."

"Well it seems like everyone's here for the same thing. Xainayne's Chalice was stolen, they freed Zyphinex to look for it, and you, Haden, and Shinzo have all been called on." A wry laugh escaped her mouth. "We must be fucked or something."




"What colour is your true flame?"

Shinzo didn't look up from his position, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried not to imagine what Evyette had in mind for him. He knew his performance at the bar had been less than ideal, but he truly hadn't meant for it to turn out so poorly.

"Blue, sir," he answered Evyette confidently, his muscles straining from the kowtow he presented his superior with. His forehead rested against the floor in shame, the only clothes on his body his underwear as he awaited his punishment. His back was littered with cuts and welts from Zyphinex's whip, his shoulder screaming with the way he bowed on the floor.

Evyette nudged him with his foot, gesturing for the fire claimant to rise and come over to where the treasure was standing. The red-haired male held out a ring, introducing it as an artefact and explaining its abilities. Shinzo envied Evyette for all his power but also admired the hell out of him. He was almost too powerful for Shinzo to even wrap his mind around and that was the worst feeling of all. No matter how much he worked on himself, he was still just a claimant.

The black-haired Japanese yakuza enforcer watched in amazement as a ring matching that of his treasure appeared on his right hand. He raised it and stared at it, wondering what made Evyette and Phita trust him with it. Of course it seemed like he needed it, but it was something precious nonetheless. He felt accomplished to be worthy enough to even be considered for it.

"You... honor me," he breathed in awe. All of it sounded so wonderful it was like a dream. Of course, he would have to work to make sure Phita never saw fit to come to his aid. That would be a disaster.

He was still ogling the bright ring when he felt it. Evyette's smile distracted him for a split second, but not nearly long enough. White flames crept out of the ring like serpents, spreading up his hands and to his arm. It disappeared into his veins and lit up under his skin as it coursed through him. It felt like he was being burned from the inside out. He couldn't hold in his screams as he struggled with it, holding his arm away as if it would stop the spread. His screeches only grew as the pain did and he tripped over his feet in Evyette's basement apartment as he writhed in pain. It was like time slowed just to allow every single nerve ending to individually catch on fire. Evyette simply watched on in silent approval.




Something smelled like it was... burning.

Groaning and fighting a terrible headache, the swordsman Shinzo Hazashi opened his eyes with much difficulty. His entire body felt like it had been submerged in a vat of acid, melting away not only his skin, but also disintegrating his bones. After a moment of gathering himself he realized he was still in Evyette's basement apartment.

"Get up."

Shinzo scrambled to his feet and then to another kowtow even though his vision was spinning the world around him. "Ph-Phita, I--"

"Shut up." She kicked him in the stomach as she paced back and forth next to him, her hands tucked neatly behind her back. Her frown was more pronounced than Evyette had seen recently. "Do you know why you have been given the ring?"

He instantly resumed his position of vulnerability at her feet. "Yes--"

She kicked him again. "Shut up. It's not because you deserve my power. It's because you are weak. You disappoint me."

The man grimaced, thankful for his kowtow lest Phita punish him for seeming to disagree.

She stared at him for a long time before moving again, stomping on his outstretched hand. When he yelped, she kicked him again, but harder this time until he was laying on your back. "Didn't I teach you to die before ever letting go of your weapon?"

He coughed and wiped at some blood dribbling from his mouth. She didn't give him a chance to recover, stomping on his other hand and then his chest. "You still can't control your flames?! You embarrass me. You are embarrassing. How many times are you going to have Novevu knocking down my door demanding to know what's happened to his bar?"

It went on like that for several more minutes before Evyette stepped in and put a hand on Phita's shoulder. He didn't think Phita was this hard on him so to allow him to mercilessly beat Shinzo didn't feel right. Besides, the guy was still just a human.

Phita finally stopped, panting with the exertion, and looked down at her claimant. He lay there a bloody mess, his breathing labored and uneven, looking quite worse for wear. Zyphinex hadn't done nearly as much damage as his own Ancient.

"Take him to Eviax," Phita barked, and returned to the Forge without another word.

Evyette scraped a weezing Shinzo up off the ground, feeling bad for the man. He looked quite defeated but he'd never say a disparaging word against Phita. If anything, Evyette knew he'd be thanking the Ancient for the beating later on down the road. That was something he never understood about him just like he didn't understand why Phita was so unforgiving when it came to him. It hardly felt like she cared about her other fire claimants as much as she put effort into Shinzo. Even if it was usually to tear him a new one.

His drinks downed and his annoyance still present, but far less than before. He has quickly managed to get himself back into a state he could feel relaxed in which may have lasted longer if Shinzo hadn't drunken almost all of his personal drink! While he wanted to get more upset about he was far more focused on his mistakes in combat. This should have been far easier and yet he found himself holding back. Why? For what purpose? Just to not destroy the property or cause collateral damage? He didn't throw everything he had at her and now here he was in a state so poor he didn't even want to look at anyone. What an embarrassment. All he could do was watch and listen for instructions.

Evyette's action against him made him feel even more inferior, but he held his tongue regardless. She spoke of Zyphinex, this person he couldn't help but feel he had to make sure paid for this shit in some way or another. Fighting her was clearly not a good decision, but he wanted to freeze her skin, her flesh, her blood and bones two or maybe three times over.

At some point he found himself canceling out her words, his concentration was bouncing off the walls. The sounds of all the movement, voices, it was all ringing in his head and for a moment he felt like the drink might have been hitting him a bit too hard. Abnormal to the the least, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose for a sense of relief.

"Dad's glad you're safe. Sorry I couldn't do much..."

Her voice was like a gentle snow pouring over him. He almost couldn't bring himself to look up and meet her gaze after a failure this magnificent and yet he wouldn't disrespect her like that. Oh how it reminded him of his mother every time he saw her, a comfort he felt he didn't deserve. He wanted to open his mouth and speak, say that there was no need to apologize for his own failures. Say that she didn't need to do anything as she shouldn't have to run to his aid and it should instead be the other way around! It all just managed to make him feel like even less than before. He felt so defeated, so weak. He kept the words to himself as in the end what meaning would they truly have to a treasure? His treasure who was sent to help him in his time of failure.

“Dad says you should take some time to scope the city out… and find out who’s on whose side before you blow any heads off… not that he’s protesting your style of work… he’d just rather not upset… the fire ancient.”

"Aye, it will be done. Also thank you... for being here I mean. I appreciate your presence regardless of if you push yourself or not and I'd personally prefer you didn't." Of course Daenu wouldn't. No doubt too busy tending to Phita, both of which could have easily warned them of this situation and it could have been avoided or properly handled with care.

He focused on what he'd have to do now, a new order which would be a good chance to clear his head at the very least.

"What is this, cat piss? It's disgusting", he heard Shinzo's voice through his thoughts as if he tried to pierce through his focus with them like a fine blade through paper. Then he had the audacity to continue drinking it! The nerve!

"And who the hell do ya think you are? You insult a man's drink and then go about yer marry way chugging down even more of it? Give me that you renegade fecker!" He snatched the flask from him the moment he seemed distracted by anything else. "You'll have to earn another drink from me."

"I didn't know you knew how to share", Amarjeet intruded upon his person with such a cruel remark. How could she do this to him? 

"I'll have you know I'm a very generous person... when I want to be... which is almost never."

He seated himself again to think up a plan, a way to go about information gathering and scouting but did it really matter? He'd no doubt just go about it the way he always did and go roaming about doing whatever he sees fit, so long as he doesn't decide to shoot anyone then daddy dearest shouldn't have anything to whine about afterwards so it would be easy enough. If all he had to do what figure out who was on who's side then this would be rather easy, surely everyone was on each other's side when things were in such a terribly sensitive state. There wasn't much time to even think about it really. His plan was as sloppy as ever but he'd work out the fine details along the way.

He stood quickly and retrieved his coat to make his exit before a familiar face found it's way in. He had been so focused on the plan that he hadn't even noticed Shinzo had left as well as Evyette and Misnia. The fuck happened? What did manage to catch his attention however was the next person who entered. Lucas. How often had he managed to even see that one? While the urge to throw out an insult the moment he saw him was strong he also knew that their friendly barkeep would be very displeased so he stored it away into the vault. He'd save it for a later date. It was time to leave, but not before addressing the last remaining factor.

"Hey, Athea! I'm heading out to do some scouting, recon, whatever ya want to call it. You can come with me or you can stay here and meet up with us later. The choice is yours. You're on our team so don't pay much mind to the others, just do what you gotta do", he spoke just before taking his leave. He felt bad that everyone treated her like a child. It was bad enough that most ancients and treasures already treated claimants like children, but having other claimants treat you the same way? He'd at least give her the benefit if the doubt until he saw her in action.

Outside at last.

Haden enjoyed the late night bar scene but nothing beat the cool night air brushing against his face. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips as he walked yet before he could even grab his lighter he bumped strait into someone. He stumbled back a bit, it felt like running into a wall, they didn't even move and inch. His cigarette fell to the ground after being smashed between his face and this unknown person's chest which he looked at as if his very hopes and dreams had fallen to the cold cement.

"Are you feckin serious? I can't even walk out the damn door without some cuck ruining me... night..." Well this was a huge mistake.

His eyes looked up to catch the towering silhouette of a person that familiar wasn't capable of properly describing. All black, eyes that felt as if they were piercing through his very head. What was Gahbreal even doing here? From what he knew the man always managed to stay busy by choice and yet here he was looking at him in a way that seemed as if he were simply a form of prey to be swept from the tide of lives that flowed throughout the city. The way he simply stood there was even imposing.

"So... how's it going Gahbreal? I trust work has been treating ya well of course."

"Watch where you're goin. I ain't gonna say it again. If you have the time to throw out insults everywhere you go then you got time to watch your step."

Haden laughed at his words, an attempt to at least appease the growing anger on his face and yet at closer examination that wasn't just it. The darkness claimant was tired, exhausted, he couldn't even hide it. The dark circles around his eyes and the scruffy, unkempt beard that covered his maw made him look as if he hadn't slept or taken care of himself in days. His clothes were covered in dust and dirt, coat covered in blood that had dried and blood that was still fresh. He looked like a mess to say the very least.

"Hey, are you alright? Ya don't looks so good laddie. If you're going inside you ought to take off that coat as well. Have you been sleeping? Eating?" Haden couldn't hide his concern, Gahbreal rarely ever came here to begin with but in a condition like this it was startling to say the least. His eyes were a dim shade of red and he seemed as if he were barely even paying attention to the words coming out of his mouth. "You hear me? Gahbreal? Lad!"

"Huh?" His focus snapped back to the boy. "Oh, yeah. I've got you... Just takin a small break. I still have work to do."

He removed the coat from his back and tossed it into the nearest alleyway, it wasn't useful anymore as it was. He pulled a cigar from his pocket and handed it to Haden who slowly took it from his hand. The lighter Gahbreal pulled out was rather old and looked as if it were covered in blood. It had a name on it that was unrecognizable, did he take it from a body? Well there was no point in questioning it now since it had already lit the cigar in his mouth.

"And let Phita know that if she has somethin for me to do then she should go into her own fuckin realm next time you see her. I can't keep track of where she's gonna be if she keeps moving back and forth between your ancient and the forge, the fuckin annoyance."

With that he treaded his way into the bar, even his steps looked as if he were pushing past sleep for work. No doubt it was a demanding job, but just how demanding was it?



Gahbreal not questioning him about the chalice seemed to be more troubling than anything else and yet he pushed the thought aside, he had work to do after all. Daenu wanted him to see how things were doing and that was exactly what he'd do. Do a bit of rummaging around and then make his way to a place he hated more than anything, the suburban area. While he enjoyed killing off people he didn't like the thought of leaving someone to die and finding that the ancients took it upon themselves to make them well again. It sent a shiver up his spine to even think about it and yet it did give him the fun of encountering unfortunate enemies again who didn't take his jokes very well.

The sound of distant groaning made his heart stop for what felt like a few seconds as he paused in his tracks. A slow turn later and he caught a glimpse of what seemed like a regular person roaming about in the dark. Some drunk or something, but it wasn't his concern... or at least he thought. We're they looking at him? He leaned to the side and squinted his eyes, gaining a more focused look at this individual. A few steps to his left, a few steps to his right, ducking behind a wall and peeking around it. They were looking at him! Who in the hell was this person and why were they still moaning and groaning like some kind of zombie. Thought alone sent a shock to his head.

"Hey! Areshole! You uh... you alright?" They simply continued to hobble forward as if ignoring his question. "Hey I'm not gonna ask you again! Me nerves only have so much patience for some creep approaching me down an alleyway in the dead of night!"

As much as he tried to seem tough in the scenario presented the moment the thing began charging at him and he got a better look at it the look of perpetual fear could be seen on his face. What the hell was going on with this person? He didn't hesitate to jump back and with a full swing of his arm coat the entire alley with a blistering cyan flame that left small traces of frost on the brick and concrete that surrounded them. The flame only lasted for a brief moment as it was only a creation of ice in the end, but it should be effective at slowing someone down enough to figure something out.

"Eeeeee", he exclaimed as they continued to rush forward regardless of the surely burning cold on their skin.

A mix of surprise and shock was all it took to have him throw forward a wave of pure crystalline ice that engulfed the entire alley. He looked at the person for a moment and they were still trying to move! By now his body temperature had begun to drop drastically and he wasn't having anymore of whatever this was. With a swift motion the ice cracked and snapped before bursting into a white powder of ice shards, the victim included. He looked around for a moment, making sure that nothing else was nearby before relaxing himself. Something about whatever that person was doing only made him feel more uncomfortable the longer it persisted. It would have been nice to capture them but it didn't even look like that would be an option. They fought as if they weren't alive, a thought that made his stomach turn. He knew his fair share of death, but that was just scary!

"On second thought I'm gonna go pay the suburbs a visit, scouting can happen a wee bit later."



He didn't pay much mind to anything else going on around him and opted to simply make his way to an empty table where he could be alone and sit himself down steadily. The sounds of people talking was rather calming, made him feel as if he didn't need his job and yet it was always so short lived. A drink was all he wanted, a drink was all he needed and then he'd be back to work. Coffee and moonshine, something that not many people could drink but with the things he did manage to drink it was only really a means to keep him awake and give him a light buzz. He could see that the place had seen a scuffle before he had arrived just from approaching the place and he was prepared to wait as long as he needed to for Amarjeet to get the place in order.

He began to doze off, his eyes had been struggling to stay open and yet the moment he sat down he found them closed. When his eyes were shut it was as if he could feel every single strand of wind against his skin. It was as if it were blowing right through him, separating the fibers of his being and attempting to lull him to sleep. He may have gotten some rest if it weren't for a certain someone's voice sundering his hopes at quelling the exhaustion.

"I am fine. Nothing major."

His eyes opened in a rather interested manner. He hadn't expected to find Lucas here and yet it was a good chance to see him fail at lying. In the darkness claimant's eyes he was as frail as a pile of sticks, but it was nice to see him at least trying to look strong for someone in a sense. Even so Amarjeet noticed it just as well as he noticed it himself, she had the eyes for seeing things like this and it wasn't as if Lucas were really hiding it in an effective way. It did seem as if she'd let him take his pride and run with it for now however, but was it pride? Maybe it was a sense of something he couldn't remember that drove him to take the pain and push on with it. His posture was off, there was at least a few broken pieces in there, but he wouldn't throw him under the bus so soon or so outwardly.

"Why don't you two just kiss already", his voice bellowed through the room as it always seemed to do. He hated everyone paying attention to him, but there was never a way to really avoid it when talking normally. As if it mattered to begin with. "I'm already here so why not let me see a love story in the makin. I don't get treats like this very often."



His head poked around the corner with a smile that could move the heart of anyone... if they already didn't know who he was.

"Hey there Shinzo, buddy, I came to visit you. Thought I'd come by and call ya a fecking failure and ask why you're laying about like a mother about to give birth!" He laughed as if he had accomplished a great act of justice as he strode into the room. Eviax and Evyette were clearly less than pleased.

"Haden if that was all you came here for then I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I need to focus."

"I was going to tell him to leave because he's being an annoyance and a nuisance but that works too."

"Oh ha ha! Well I'm sure you'd both be glad I came here to talk to you two actually." He could leaned against the nearest empty wall he could find and took a deep breath, the cool air that accumulated on his person leaking off into the surrounding air. "So ya see I ran into a person who was particularly not doing normal human things? I thought it was a drunk until they started running at me like a fecking rabid dog! So I hit em with a good wave of ye old frost-fire, wanted to slow em down and bring the weirdo here so you could look at the lune Eviax."

Eviax looked at him as if he were speaking gibberish. Evyette giving him a look that said just about the same until Eviax herself decided to speak up. "So does this story of yours have an end that doesn't involve murder? Will I actually get to see this patient?"

"Heh, well ya see."

"And here we go", Evyette sighed at his start. "Is it even possible for you to hold back in the slightest?"

"Oh well mister high and mighty how about ya go and capture the next one because this one didn't stop! In fact they didn't even slow down! It was like I didn't even do anything to em!"

Evyette laughed in response, an action that only served to get the boy agitated. "Well maybe that's because you're too weak. Did that ever cross your mind?" The sound of mixed coughs and laughter from Shinzo filled the air as well. The nerve of this guy! Even while laying down injured he'd think there would ever be a time of peace for him?

"Oh so sleeping beauty can talk? Well fine, I've got more pressing matters to address not including the man who looks to be hospitalized for what I'm assuming was falling down a flight a stairs since ya looked just a tad bit better off last I saw ya", he retorted as the cold air ceased from radiating off of his person. "Anyway, as I was saying, I froze their skin solid and they refused to even slow down. I could see the damn skin tearing and falling apart but they didn't even look like they felt it so I just froze em solid, but... you guessed it! They were still trying to move while incased in a solid block of ice. No abilities, no abnormal strength, just not caring about their wellbeing or their survival. I don't even know if it was a claimant or not!"

The two ancient's expressions became far more serious once he had finally explained the meat of his experience. If what he was saying was in fact true then a more dire situation may have very well already begun, cogs set in motion for disaster before any real progress towards the chalice could be made.

"They fought as if they weren't really alive because anyone living probably would stop the moment their skin started falling off. Shadowy fecker was weird as all hell and I mainly came here to let ye know I'm killing em all on sight. I'm revoking Daenu's order as of now and I don't care for whatever punishment I get later, I'm throwing everything I have at these people because I'm not gonna die to some drug addicts in the streets or some shit today."

As soon as she hugged him she knew something was wrong. He tried his best not to shy away, but he recoiled just the slightest bit and that was enough to tip her off. He saw the exact moment the realization crossed her mind, dread pulling over him as her brows lowered in confusion. He was trying to figure out how to rebuff her suspicions but it was starting to look impossible.

She squeezed him again, then pressed on his ribs until he couldn't take it and grimaced, throwing a hand over his chest as if it would stop the pain. It caused her to frown, the fingertips on her right hand turning black as the Void fed on her agitation.

"I hate when you lie to me," the British woman grumbled.

"I'm not. Really, I'm okay!" He chuckled amicably, throwing his hands up in the air as he attempted to appease her with his charm.


"I know what a crushed ribcage feels like, Lucas." She tried to calm herself down, looking at the floor in an attempt to lighten her mood back up. At least he was there, right? Then again, he should've sought help from Destodai or Eviax first. Who knew how much internal damage there was? It was difficult to shake the Void as her thoughts consumed her with how hurt Lucas could actually be since she couldn't trust him to tell her the truth.

"Why don't you two just kiss already?"

The voice of her old friend managed to drive away the leech that was her Void Posession. Amarjeet looked up to follow Gahbreal's voice to the source--he had the type that was easy to pick out in a crowd. It attracted the attention of a few other patrons as well, booming throughout the ruined room of the bar. Amarjeet wanted to smack him because she could hear the layers of exhaustion in it.

Sighing, Amarjeet simply shook her head to herself. None of these men took care of themselves and they were all going on her shit list because of it. Haden drank himself into a stupor and acted reckless; Shinzo trained himself to the brink of death; Lucas never wanted to ask for help; Gahbreal and sleep were complete and total strangers. It felt like she was the only one that cared about them.

"He doesn't get a kiss until he tells me who did this," the bartender responded smoothly, staring directly at her significant other as she said so. It was a double-edged sword because more than anything she wanted to kiss him but the chances of him telling her what happened were slim. Asking Novevu was a lost cause: he never told her the details of Lucas's missions. It was only once that she had chased after Lucas but she had been confined to the bar unless she had Novevu's express permission to leave ever since.

The light-haired woman sighed as she went back behind the bar, whipping up a quick drink for Gahbreal. It was tea with dark liquor; she knew it wasn't his favorite but she wasn't in the business of keeping him awake any longer. He was already dozing off at the table and he'd just arrived.

"Here," she said as she set the mug down in front of him. If she looked hard enough she was sure she could see the bags under his eyes from across the room. "You should crash at my flat while you're here. I'm not asking." An encouraging smile lifted her lips after she was done with her idle threat. Amarjeet came around the table and placed a soft kiss on his cheek before returning to Lucas.

"I forgot to ask how long you're staying this time," the death claimant mused once she was back cleaning glasses.

Lucas groaned internally. Of course she'd ask so soon... "Does it matter? It's never long enough."

That gave her pause and made her frown. "You're avoiding the question and trying to charm me because it isn't long at all, is it?"

"Why do you worry so much, lover? Can't I just charm you because I'm charming?"

"Bold of you to assume I honestly find you charming. Maybe I just wanted to use you for your body but I can't because you're broken."

"Of course you--wait, use me for my body?"

She laughed and gestured for him to come closer until he complied. Then she leaned across the counter and gave him a peck on the lips, drawing out a "Where's the rest of it?!"

The woman shrugged and grinned tauntingly. "The same place as my answer to who did this to you, lover."




He couldn't tell if he was dreaming. Shinzo teetered in a place somewhere on the spectrum between consciousness and unconsciousness. He could hear things happening around him but he couldn't open his eyes. Every single part of him hurt. It felt like he'd been flayed, torn apart, and pieced back together by an idiot child. One moment he saw Phita smiling at him and the next he saw his Inagawa-kai underboss sacrificing a finger for his transgressions. It was a burden the underboss was willing to carry if it meant Shinzo could handle a sword unhindered. It was a debt the fire claimant still did not know how he could repay.

His body was being carried by someone one second and set down on a floor the next. He didn't need sight to know where he was. Not only did it smell familiar, but he'd been there so many times, he figured he should start pitching in for rent. Eviax's voice floated around his head as if it were a cloud, though he couldn't exactly make out what she was saying at first. He shuddered when she put her hands on his chest.

"Tell me where it hurts. Let me try and help. Deep breath in. I can get some morphine."

The mans's breaths were labored and harsh. While Phita had mostly left his face alone, speaking still required a tremendous amount of effort. All he could do was groan at the mention of morphine. It would've felt significantly better to have it yet he refused because he wanted to remember this beating. Eviax could heal his body but what would that do if he made the same mistakes because he didn't learn his lesson?

"Arigatōgozaimashita. Watashi wa... anata ni watashinojinsei o... karite imasu," the yakuza enforcer muttered between deep breaths per her instructions. The pain his chest that accompanied the breaths were a punishment even he was not fit to receive. But he endured it because Eviax asked him to.
thank you. i owe you my life.

The treasure of the house of Life didn't have to speak Japanese to know what Shinzo was saying. He'd already said it to her so many times before that she knew without question what he was getting at.

"At this rate I think you only have one left," she retorted pointedly. "I should start a collection."

Just then Haden burst in like a blast of cold air. The fire claimant's eyes slowly opened when he heard his voice; he would've frowned if he had the energy to dedicate to it. Just leave it to Haden to ruin any moment, mood, or scene.

"Kuso kurae," the long-haired man spat.
eat shit.

Haden continued on with his explanations about how he'd apparently fought someone that actually gave him a run for his money. From the sound of it, he was coming off courageous but whatever creature he faced had startled him. To think that the reckless, impulsive idiot Haden could have fear instilled in his heart was unnerving. It certainly could not bode well for their future. The only amusement that Shinzo could find in the situation was that Evyette still called Haden weak.

"Oh so sleeping beauty can talk? Well fine, I've got more pressing matters to address not including the man who looks to be hospitalized for what I'm assuming was falling down a flight a stairs since ya looked just a tad bit better off last I saw ya."

Of course he'd say something like that. He had never been privy to Phita's... training sessins. It wasn't often that she came down herself to punish the fire claimant but he supposed this time warranted her presence. He could honestly consider himself lucky she cared about his performance at all.

Shinzo coughed weakly as Eviax pressed harder on his chest. She gently placed his broken hands over his stomach so she could focus on them as well. This wasn't the worst Evyette had ever brought him to see her but that didn't mean it got easier.

He focused on his senses then, his breaths deepening as he slipped into a light meditation. Eviax's healing wasn't instant though it was a great time faster than his natural ability. His wheezing was already beginning to disappear, the bones in his broken fingers straightening themselves slowly.

Then suddenly, his expression grew into one of intense concentration. Eviax wondered what gave but figured the pain must've been making him delirious. "What's wrong?" she finally whispered.

"I hear something outside." He strained to get up and Eviax firmly pushed him back down.

"Are you crazy? You can't go out there. I'll send Haden."

"There are a lot of them. I hear shuffling and..." His head tilted to the side, ears straining as he put all he had into that one sense. "Noise like moaning. Someone moaning."

"You can hear that?"

"Yes... Phita's training has its advantages." He grimaced as he forced himself to sit up against Eviax's protests. "Please do not worry. I'll be fine. I must ask one more thing of you."

"You're in no shape to fight. Let Evyette and Haden handle it."

"All I need to survive is to be able to hold my sword. Please." His red orbs looked deep into her light, impossibly innocent eyes as he tried to plead with her. "Do this for me and I won't disobey you again." Then, to Haden: "Either you led them here like the dumbass you are or we have been found."

Eviax frowned in annoyance. She didn't like this plan at all. Besides, she could take care of herself. Judging from the look in his eye there was no way to talk him out of whatever stupid idea he had.

"I need one alive," she finally relented. After thinking about it for a moment she repeated the statement to the other two in the room.

"Yes, ma'am."

She blushed, swallowing awkwardly. "Stop calling me ma'am, Shinzo. I'm not your mother."

"Sorry, ma'am." When she slapped the back of his head to accentuate her point, it pulled a light smile from the man. "You're right."

Now she could hear it. Somewhere out in the night was a screeching noise. At first it was faint, presumably because of distance. It faded away and picked up again closer though this time with more voices. It was a cacophony of groans. She could understand why it would be a point of concern.

She helped the long-haired man up from the floor, watching him grit his teeth and try to act like he wasn't in unbearable pain. A sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead as he tried to look around for his pants.

“Oh, that's what I forgot!" Evyette exclaimed from somewhere behind the two.

"You forgot my clothes?!"

“Well you could've gotten them yourself if you weren't so busy getting your shit kicked in." He shoved one last piece of food in his mouth before making his way for the door. “Haden, back me up. Shinzo, don't lollygag."

He groaned his disagreement as Eviax rushed into one of the bedrooms suddenly. He moved sluggishly to where his sword had been leaned against the wall while clutching his torso.

"He's supposed to do somethin' all twisted up like that? Yer out o' ya wee minds." Haden marched up to Shinzo and pushed him to mark his point, disrupting the man's balance. "This isn't like fightin' humans, Fortune Cookie. I froze their skin off and they kept coming. You get me?"

Shinzo's red eyes trained on his longtime rival in an unblinking glare. They stayed like that for a stretched minute, just staring each other down, until Haden turned and left. Eviax returned from the back room with a pair of pants and shirt in hand. Florita had slipped out sometime while Shinzo was drifting in and out.

"You can wear this. Nammay polished your sword."

"Nammay...?" He let his unfinished question linger as Eviax helped him into the clothes she brought. Whatever monsters were approaching them were getting closer and louder. Some seemed to be saying words, almost. It was like someone was trying to speak with their mouths wide open.

The fire claimant kept his complaints to grimaces and grunts as she dressed him. He was surprised the pants she brought fit because he'd assumed they were perhaps Evyette's and the treasure had a height advantage. The shirt she helped him into, however, made her laugh. She'd grabbed the wrong thing... Instead of a regular T-shirt she'd grabbed one of her tank tops. He noticed the mistake and simply frowned. There was no time to fix it now: Haden and Evyette were already engaging in battle. Getting the his arms through the appropriate holes in the shirt was an excrutiating task. Eviax did her best to continue healing him before sending him out but there was no way she could mend all his broken or cracked ribs so fast. She was so much smaller than him that the tank top was skin tight on him and refused to go much further than his second to last rib.

He lurched toward his weapon and groaned before finally forcing himself to stand up straight. He took in a long, sharp breath before taking up his sword. Long, black hair was swept over his shoulder as he opened the door to an icy wind.

"Alive!" the Life treasure shouted after him.

Stepping outside, the world looked like it couldn't decide if it wanted to freeze over or catch on fire. Haden and Evyette were on opposite sides. The redhead was up in the air staving off a wave of at least ten attackers. One of them was trying to jump up to her and she was burning them alive to no avail. On the right, Haden was holding his own, his gun smoking in one hand and the other trapping five of the monsters right where they stood so he could reload.

"Took ya long enough! While you were lazin' about--" Haden quarter turned to be able to look at Shinzo and froze in his tracks. His pale eyes slowly scanned Shinzo from head to toe: hair wild and free instead of its usually pulled back style, a shirt that was 5 sizes too small and was clearly some girl's, high-waisted pants, and no shoes. "I think I'm havin' a stroke."

Shinzo rolled his eyes. "We need one alive for Eviax. Evyette is killing them all."

"Yer the ugliest woman I've ever had the feckin' misfortune of layin' me eyes on."

Shinzo gripped the guard on his sword and began moving forward until he was running at Haden.

"Are ya mad and ugly, comin' at me like that?!"

The fire claimant ignored him, sailing past him to cut down an enemy that had torn its foot off at the ankle to be free of Haden's ice. He didn't have any response for the white-haired man's insults. One part because he did feel just as ridiculous as Haden was saying but also because he had to focus every fiber of his being on staying upright.

The edge of his blade caught fire with a brilliant dark blue flame. It was so dark it was almost black. It glinted in the light before spreading up his sword to wrap around his hand.

Shinzo rolled his eyes. "Get me close."

Haden knew what that meant. He nodded, cocking his pistol and cracking his neck. With his free hand he crafted ice skates around Shinzo's bare feet and a trail for him to skate on. Shinzo accelerated quickly, maneuvering between the monsters Haden had trapped to hack off limbs. He figured if he could prevent them from moving, they wouldn't have to worry about the fuckers being indestructible.

Posts for Bloodstain Chalice can be found here!

Phita POV 


“Good morning, mi amore.”  


She placed chaste kisses over his collarbone, his neck, his cheek. Before she could reach his nose, his pale eyes cracked open and she felt frozen; often this was the case when Daenu’s gaze crossed her’s. It was the only time she ever felt less than boiling. Once she was sure Daenu was awake, though his eyes fluttered close, she rose up not caring she was naked. Stepping out of the bed, she strolled towards the kitchen; humming under her breath.  


“Espresso?” 


“Please. I think my skull is going to split in two.”  


Daenu’s voice was melodic, even when he had changed from male to female. From female to male. Phita had never bothered to switch to the opposite gender, Daenu did so occasionally.  


“Come back to bed.” 


“If I do, we’ll be late.” She continued to hum under her breath.  


“So, what if we’re late. Novevu can wait.”  


“Sugar, Novevu is not a patient man.”  


“Xainayne will keep him busy. Lord knows apart from you.” Daenu’s voice trailed off.  


Opening the fridge, she reached for the glass bottle, which was almost empty of its usual contents. She would have to remember to buy more later. She could, of course will it into the apartment but she enjoyed living like a mortal. They always did drink so much coffee. Daenu emerged soon after, a robe adorned and bed hair to the nth degree. As Phita moved through the kitchen, handing him his mug. She sat at the table — cracking open a can of sugar cookies. Daenu on the other hand, who was not as much a sweet tooth as his partner began to prepare his own breakfast. The mere aroma of bacon, made Phita drool, she was going to steal a piece from Daenu’s plate, fuck niceties. 




“You’re both late.”  


“Good morning to you too Novevu.”  


“Damn you both smell like sugar and cinnamon.”  


Normally, they would only be within Novevu’s realm as part of the yearly conference — that or when they were choosing souls, nevertheless it was difficult to do anything unnatural around mortals; even with many of the individuals involved in their criminal enterprises being their own children, claimants. Alas, Phita had gotten distracted attempting to steal Daenu’s bacon, and so Daenu had punished her. Though the ache below was nonetheless satisfying.  


“Now, we can begin.”  


“Not before I eat something!” Quinnox mewled  


“I thought you just ate.” Xainayne spat back 


“I did, but I’m air. If I’m not drinking, smoking or otherwise I’ll float away and forget to ground myself.” Quinnox uttered under her breath.  


“Enough. Do what you have to do, just be quiet about it.”  




‘Definitely in a foul mood.’ Phita leant against Daenu, whose hand clasped her own. Novevu began to speak, and whilst they should have been paying attention neither of them bothered to do so. Nammay and Chaemai were the only ones taking any notes — they would inform the others on what was on Novevu’s mind after the meeting in simple succinct notes that didn’t involve tangents.  




Novevu POV 




“Pay attention.” 


“Novevu, we’ve been here three hours. The humans will have bound to have noticed by now. If they haven’t then the damn children. Unlike you. Whose seemingly uninterested in all of the fun of New York. We have businesses to manage. Clients to meet.”  


Alvax mused, and he felt his granddaughter would have continue to speak; if not for the hostile glare he sent her way. Alvax swallowed another swig of whiskey before dismissing herself and going back to Earth. Rubbing his temples, he watched as each of the Ancients involved in human business disappeared to Earth until finally he was left with Xainayne. Whose hands, were now busy massaging the knots in his shoulders away.  


“Won’t you come visit. Just for a night.” 


“You forget, I am death. I am everywhere. I do not need to visit to be in a certain place. Shadow.”  


“Yes, but it’s not the same as actually being there.”   


Xainayne’s voice was soft, like velvet and her scent usually brought him comfort, but now all it did was irritate him. He pushed her away and she fell onto her rump. A hiss leaving her lips. Novevu gave her an apologetic glance before leaving the conference room — he needed a drink.  




Novevu usually visited the mortal realm when he wanted a drink, usually because it meant no judgement and he could drink in peace. Today however, he was in no mood to be in a bar with all the hustle and bustle of humans, the element of life bothered him particularly so — especially on days like this. He stepped into one of the many hundreds of bars he kept within his residence, there one of his claimants stood behind the counter polishing glasses and whistling. The only other individual was Noxvon, who was hunched over nursing a hangover with a Corpse reviver on the counter.

  “Aviation, without ice. Negroni, on the rocks.”


“You sure you should be drinking so much father.”  


“You look and sound like death Noxvon.” He retorted.  


They drank in silence, occasionally a murmur when another drink was needed, alcohol did nothing for Novevu, usually when he drank himself stupid he was too tired to care, and when he was actually on the brink of actual ‘death’ Xainayne or someone else was already there to sober him up.  


“Sir.”  


“What is it.”  


Novevu’s bloodshot eyes met a Darkness Claimant, entirely out of place within the void. The claimant skittered back and held out a charcoal colour slip of paper, how strange. He grasped the piece of paper and licked his lips clean of alcohol before unfolding the slip, reading it once. Twice. Three times.  


“Noxvon. Take the helm. I am going to New York.”  


Noxvon who was now sober enough to comprehend the English Language barely got a protest out before his father was gone, he looked to the Darkness Claimant apologetically before thanking the bartender and moving towards his father’s study. Tis was going to be a very long day.  



Xainayne POV 




“WHO. WAS. IN. MY. OFFICE.”  


She grounded out the words, her fists clenched upon her desk as she glared at the two meek appearing security guards, both of them were trembling neither dared to speak. Her eyebrow rose, she hated waiting. Where was the other one, what was his name? Tommy? Theo? Taron? Fuck if she knew— fuck if she cared! The two security guards further panicked when the door behind them swung open to reveal Novevu, whose hands were covered in blood. 


“The next time you summon me, tell your staff not to fire at me.”  


Tsk. Mortals. Xainayne gave Novevu an adoring look as the two security guards shuffled away. The office was a mess — mostly because Xainayne had arrived back mere moments ago to find her chalice missing, usually it sat in it’s safe waiting for its mistress to return to make a drink. Hence the panic, hence the shouting and the destroying, the killing, the maiming, the threatening calls and the orders to find the damn thing before Xainayne lost it and destroyed the entire American Continent in order to find her beloved chalice.  


“So, you have no idea who could have taken it.”  


“No of course not, do I look like I have a clue? I can still feel its presence but they’ve masked it with something! I tried just calling it back but the damn thing is literally unable to!”  


“Then it must be in a position of being held by one of Alvax’s brood.”  


“Alvax wouldn’t do such a thing.” Xainayne snarled  


“No, but one of her children would.”  


This caused the desk to be flipped, Xainayne had Novevu — drunk as he were, pinned against the wall, normally this would have invited a make out session which would have led to more; but she was in a foul mood and wanted someone’s head.  


“We should not worry, someone will think it’s a trophy, they’ll try drinking out of it. They’ll die doing so and the fear will have them sending it back in its overly ornate case before the day is over.”  


“You fucking don’t understand Novevu! If that gets into the wrong hands. Particularly a Claimant who knows what it does they could create an involuntary army. One we’d have to put down.”

Alvax POV

“Frankly, if I had it Xainayne. I would not nothing to do with it.”

Alvax waved the cigar smoke away, she had done her best to accommodate her Aunty, in hopes it would appease whatever rumour had been started. Xainayne and Novevu in tow had arrived shortly after the news spread through nearly all of the houses that Xainayne’s precious chalice was missing — presumably stolen by some hotshot light claimant hoping to cause a war. Alvax stood up from where she had placed herself and poured another cup of coffee, lacing it with a good dose of whiskey before sitting down and waiting to see what two of the elder Ancients were thinking.

“I know!” Xainayne clapped her hands together

“What?” Alvax tilted her head, somewhat curious but mostly concerned considering how foul Xainayne had been mere moments ago.

“We’ll let dear old Zyphinex find it. If she does. Then we’ll give her, her freedom and all of this will be forgotten.”

Alvax did not have to say nor do anything to provoke Novevu into screaming at Xainayne, over how ridiculous an idea that was, it had been nearly four hundred years since Novevu had uttered a single word in their ancient tongue, for him to do so meant that whoever it was being directed towards had fucked up royally. For once Alvax was glad that she was his granddaughter – not really, but ancient family connotations meant… unenviable complications. 




Zyphinex POV

1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Novevu’s dead and the throne is mine.

1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
I’ll have Xainayne head

1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
I’ll find a way to dominate.

Her nail etched these words into her prison, the walls — what she presumes to be walls, were covered in such sprawls of words and other such things. She examined her work with the criticality of her own creator, betrayer, non-relevant disabled beggar— she was getting lost in her thoughts again and stood up. She’s barely moved by the time she finds herself whisked into Novevu’s throne room. He’s not alone however and she swings atop the balls of her feet as Xainayne and Alvax stand beside him on either side of the throne, whores. Sluts. Petrified— she shakes her head again.

“What do you want.”

“We have a task for you.”

“Don’t want it.”

“Even at the price of your freedom and never having to see us again?”

Now that was tempting, she gestured for them to continue offering her the terms of this so-called task, only the most important words reached her ears and she gave them a wolfish smile.

“So, I find it and you let me go.”

“Yes. Without assistance. If you fail or you attempt to do anything outside the confines of this particular task—”

“No need to threaten me mother.”

Zyphinex licked her lips, as the clothes she usually adorned as one of Novevu’s prisoners melted away and her own clothing was given back. She waited to be offered her weapon back. Holding her hand out in wait.

“It’ll come to you when you call for it. No time else.”

She rolled her eyes, of course they had to make sure she didn’t try anything whilst she was out and about doing their bidding. Once they were assured — she lied for most of the oath. She dissipated from the void and found herself in the middle of broad daylight, on a busy early afternoon strip of cafes and restaurants. She was going to find the Chalice and then make good on her dreams. If she had to make New York and it’s denizens her bitch, then so be it.