Kabanata VI

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"Legend has it that Earl Dracula was the best knight in the middle ages. He lead his followers to defeat the Pagans. But according to the record of the survivors...."

"Let me guess, he killed all prisoners with a stick."

I was hoping a fight or an awkward conversation with them but for seven sins this is ridiculous! Why is he telling us bedtime stories? I bet Jewel already dozed off or ranking his game. The only thing that keeps me not to walk out is the marvelous grace in my hand. Turning down food this good is highly impossible! It's been almost an hour now not to mention the diversion I made earlier wore out ten minutes ago. If his real motive is to corner me with food then it worked I tell ya.

"Penetrates the whole body once it was erected."

"So what, he inserted a long stick? to the buttocks of a prisoner for it to... ughm." Gavinn shift on his seat uncomfortably staring at my plate.

"Comes out from the mouth." Triton finished making a point.

"So Gavinn, why don't you eat rather than staring?" The said guy turned fifty shades of red. "I might melt."

Only once in a blue moon you'll see the heartless Lucifer flustered. Not to mention this red. As quickly his blood rose the fast the hues vanished. Taking a light sip he act like nothing happened.

"How can you eat like that?"

"I always eat like this." I said throwing murderous look before fixing four sticks of kebab in one hand and a mug with quarter left of Russian vodka in the other

-the large beer mug type that can carry a liter and half of content-

"Gavinn we eat food. Not play with them."

"I don't have the appetite for it, uncle." He deadpanned. Yeah and the story was that appetizing.

"Uh-huh." I suspiciously raise a brow.

Did Triton's stupid story bothered him that much? It was his turn to glare back at me. Stopping me from teasing him as if reading my mind like an open book.

"Remind me when did the subject leads to the ancestor of Vampires again?" I pushed.

"Because you my child is no different from him."

That made me snap. I nibble harder on the meat wishing it was Triton's neck to prove his theory before stabbing the table with the skewer. Surprisingly it impaled halfway the furniture.

"Not all nocturnals are vampires, old man." I do have sharp canines but not long enough to be fangs.

"That's.. not what I had in mind." Triton palm faced. I had a perplexed expression as he spoke again. "Both of you are an Earl." He pointed.

On the other hand I already plotted once I finish off my kebab he'll be next on that grill sizzling. Long eerie silence drape among us. I'm totally aware that every human has their right to be weird. Especially in the perks of being old.

But this imbecile just abused the privilege. No, the word alone isn't enough to describe him. I say the old man is an imbecile of equal proportion.

"I knew you'll come back to me on your own will. Especially your curiosity claws for this~" My jaw clenched.

Lip in thin line. Fuck him and his antics. I hate it when he's right. No matter if I fight back he can still manipulate me like a marionette in his strings mercy.

"So what if I'm here for the diary? That doesn't mean I'm joining your lunatic organization any soon."

"We'll see." He spoke in monotone.

I clime to my feet only to be pushed back on my seat. I glared at Lucifer who did it. Probably to stop me from taking over the world or just plain stupidity but still we all know that I hate the guy with burning passion.

"Not so fast. I'm sure Jewel wouldn't mind—"

"Leave him out of this." Slamming the table, I growled. They seemed a little startled.

"Then listen before you judge."

Once I calmed down he cleared his throat signaling I'm about to hear an earful.

"The Heisē family was well known in hotel, casino, and business industry. Black market excluded. That's why mostly assassins and bounty hunters across the globe are after them, specifically hired by your family's rival in business. You were supposed to unite the two families but your brother didn't agree with the rest."

"Barf. How cliche." I already knew some of it excluded the brother part. "Why can't I remember all of my memories? How sure are you about my past?"

"Because I was there in the fire too Lazuli." Traitor!

"Wait. I thought... you people said that I'm the only survivor."

"It's fine. We already knew. No need to keep the act Lazuli."

"Tch..." I slumped back. Now what?

No need for me to pretend so I took of my mask and tuck the hair strands covering the right side of my face revealing my other heterochromatic eye and the white long mark that resembles a sleeping rugged 's' like scar that runs across quarter and half of the right side of my face. Unlike other girls in Korea I don't have porcelain skin tone. Basically my origin is from hybrids. Not supernatural type of hybrid guyz. In a matter of fact my father is part Latin and Italian while my mother is half Russian and German where I inherited my sunkist complexion and made the cicatrix more visible. Answering why they were both workaholic and abnormally strict. Sadism runs in the blood I guess.

I kept covering it with my bangs cause they mistook it as a silver tattoo and won't stop asking where I got it. The other reason is both my eyes are intimidating enough by it odd colors. The left eye is brownish red while the right orb is mint chalcedony. Not really helpful when you're pulling a charade of being the clueless danger zone idiot.

"It seems that you knew this already. Is that why you won't be joining us?"

"Nope. I just don't like him." I flick at Gavinn who narrowed his eyes on me.

"If it's about that guy again I regret nothing. He was sent to kill you!"

"Rogue is far from my concern." He's all tied and locked up for all I care.

"Why you let him get away?"

"Because I'm still alive, breathing, and about to kick your ass if you keep leaking informations about me again without my consent."

"Then why do you hate me so much?"

"Correction, I said I don't like you. Hate is such a strong word." I say before leaving them on a cliff hanger.

How can I answer him if I can't understand myself anymore? To be honest I'm lost.

I don't know what's real from faking it. I guess I got use to the lie cause it is better than the truth. But one thing I know for sure that I honestly forgot I have a brother.

Maybe after the incident when the explosion happened two years ago traumatized me that much. Maybe my brain forbidden me to remember. To protect me. Or was I brain washed?

How ironic that I struggle so much to remember now  when I choose to forget it before.

Tch. Humanity is rubbing on me.

───────•••───────

"Cat's out of the bag?" I just glare at the silveret to shut up.

I already have a migraine, probably for using my brain cells than necessary yesterday, because I am three seconds away from killing Jewel.

"I'll... take that as a yes."

We continue to walk towards the metal door of the refrigeration truck we just snuck. Cold air bite my skin the moment we closed it. Don't wanna wake up the whole neighborhood now would we?

"Still ain't talking?"

For a second there I thought the guy died from frostbite, we did left him here since yesterday but the small cloud tells us Rogue is still breathing.

"Is.. your brain not able to communicate with your ears? For the last time, I. Don't. Know!"

"It takes a liar to spot it's kin mutt. Only the difference between you and me is I'm not the one who's hanging around." I can smell his fear leaking when he met my gaze.

"Did you just made a pun?" Jewel killed the mood. I gave the guy the 'really?' look.

He put some gag on him and secure it with duck tape.

"Oh don't worry huskie this interview is over the moment—" Crack! "He pulls the rope." Just like breaking toothpick he can kiss his backbone goodbye. Prey immobilized.

"Now keep acting pretty. I wanna see how long can you last." He keeps talking with him as I prepared the nails under Rogue's heels.

"Where's the hammer?"

"Nah, mallet is better." I wink.

"No way! Is that the present we got from that crook judge six months ago?"

"Yep. I'm still baffled about that kid who robbed a bank just to spite his mother." Torturing him in his own court was highly satisfying.

"Let's be honest. The boy has guts to do it in their own bank." I keep on nailing all of his toes in the plank underneath him before beating his feet senseless with the mallet.

The screeching guy keeps wiggling and jumping every time I miss -on purpose- impaling the metal deeper in his flesh and bones. Even blood gushed down from the tapes.

"By the way I brought lemonade!"

"Cool."

Rogue is making faces between grossed, anguish, and terrified as we enjoyed the pulpy juice. Torturing someone makes you really thirsty ya know.

"Hmm.. needs salt." I say then Jewel gracefully sprayed his drink at the mutt.

Oooh~ that's gonna sting. His scream and curses where muffled under the gag. I'm amused he still has conscious because the others already have passed out or passed away.

"Ptoo—Hell I forgot adding sugar. Pwe!"

"Pfft no wonder chicks are turned off." I just laughed at his glorious mess.

Some of the drink came out from his nose. Ahh, classic Jewel.

───────•••───────

"Did he confess?"

"Yeah but we already knew most of it. And I think he will be disabled permanently if he survives." Say Jewel emphasizing the survive part, closing the car's door.

You might be wondering what really is my purpose. Well for starters I am not a mindless bloody murderer, that's Old Nick's and the Hierarchy's thing, what I do is giving informations.

An Informant. The main reason I managed to recall my past. Not some lousy rat or lowlife rumormonger. It's no different from assassins and agents we are professional at work. In fact our tips are highly valuable wether how clean or dirty the works takes, satisfaction is what we bring.

In the line of our work killing is just a hobby. Well for me at least. I only kill if necessary. I may be a sadist at core but only my luck is rotten. What I hate the most is meaningless violence. We can stop or start wars with an information. Pretty much I don't take sides as long as they can afford the debt I serve the sin.

One of the reasons why Triton and Rogue are after me is because my work is the finest. Efficient. Clean. No trace.

"Why so glum? You didn't even break a sweat from the task." I finished off making three rings of smokes before blowing the rest.

"Aw c'mon L, not it my baby!"

"Who told you to bring your Lykan Hypersport anyway. Be thankful it's midnight or else we'd be swarmed by peasants." I threw my vape back in the bag. The chloroform is kicking in.

We're supposed to be on a stake out yet the idiot plans to attend a parade. We coop additional Intel about the said high grade elixir that driven the black market hectic. Haven't seen it first hand but rumors say it transfigure the host into an invincible being with great ability that is unimaginable. Of course it's source remain unknown. For now. I left him earlier for smoke and to hide his car in a secluded corner away from the city cams.

The clock ticks three when we reached the old bunkhouse that even Siri couldn't locate. It's in a covert land where I stayed for a while after I ran away from Triton's manor years before after I discovered they kill for a living. That half naked woman who jump off the window was the last straw. I can't stand staying in the same roof knowing someone is being held captive for torment. I don't know why Jewel sided with me. Probably he felt the same for he lived longer with him. He admire keyboards than guns and was more of a house nerd in total. We may fight a lot but in the end surprisingly we stick together.

I sit on an old worn rocking chair, feet off the ground with the diary secure between my hands. Maybe reading will shake off the jet lag.

╔═════ ࿇ ═════╗

August 12 cloudy,

My therapist said I should make friends, get out and try to give society a chance. I did and shit happened.

P.S: Never trust shrinks.

October 5 sunny,

Father was furious. Another attendant quit because I've lost control again. Mother and brother Taki bickered in the hospital because of my other accident.

P.S: It was only for self defense.

October 29 windy,

I sneak in the garden to fly kite but it got stuck in the fifth balcony. I lost the kite but I found another secret room with three strangers in white coat. They have many giant cylinder thingy with glowing murky water in them and a massive plasma tv. Does it have games?

November 23 stormy,

Father and Taki fought again. He was badly injured. Something about critical malfunction. He keep saying 'It will be over soon'. I hope he'll be okay.

December 4 cloudy,

It was getting worst. Father locked me again in the incinerator for three weeks. I miss Taki.

December 20 snowy,

Father and Mother left Busan to meet someone they call 'last resort'.

December 23 cloudy,

They both died in a plane crash. The news said engine failure. Taki said everything will be alright. All I need was him he say.

December 24 stormy,

He died.

╚════ ≪ •❈• ≫ ════╝

That's it.

That's where the journal ends. Almost every page tells how important my brother is to me. How could I forgotten him? He was my rock from the beginning. There was nothing more clue I could find how he died. I couldn't stop myself from crying.

I choose to forget but why him?

I can't completely remember yet I felt our connection. How much my brother valued me. All these years I thought no one gives a damn. That everyone from my past abandoned and disowned me that's why I didn't focus on remembering. But someone cared for me.

"My brother loved me." Unconditionally.

───────•••───────

I head out in blue-white trench coat and chestnut baggy trouser paired with naivy blue commando boots to open the garage door where my ZX-14R Kawasaki Ninja awaits for me to drag in the road. I know the bike is old and out of date these days but it kinda grew with me. Straight forwardly speaking it's the first memento from an important heist in the Interpol base back when  I turned 13.

There is no place for mourning cause right now Jewel is heartless enough of a boneless devil who didn't do the groceries for some second rate out-of-the-way cyberpunk. His fridge only contains beverage cans of Monster, few bottles of Kopiko 78, and bags of Rebisco honey butter crackers. Good call for him that my old room screams for deep renovation because I was 6 inches away from garrotting the guy with those cable wires. Might as well grab the materials and supplies before we head out to Gangnam. Highlighting coffee pudding and new spray cans of paint.

"Modest desktop" I lean closer.

Twenty Meg RAM gives or take. Powerful with clockspeed of eighty megahertz. Piled in every available space was flotsam of files, envelopes and other documents jammed with take out boxes, plastic cups and other materials held in place by a gordian knot of cables and wires and highly possible even a snake hibernating somewhere inside the junk and power bars that only it's original lunatic installer could ever untie. Alone with the place I can tell the guy was brilliant but erratic.

The weather has been very hot so all the windows are wide open. AC would be too noisy, intolerable and would box the place in. One of studio's charm was that, despite the tight quarters, the number of window create an impression of space. Even though Mr. Xion's studio has windows on two walls and is elevated on the third floor, there is still no movement of air for there is no breeze.

In this hear wave no one was closing windows these days. Making sense why he left every window open— but why the door too if he supposedly dashed back to his house? The Incorporated retained  Edren Gabriel Xion three weeks ago and thought they'd made a 'steal' which had a whole new meaning this morning.

"Is this hell or what?" Leaving the back door Jewel complain making his way across the back yard to the shed where the studio was built.

To avoid mashing the lazy head in the computer I counted his steps. Thirty under twenty seconds.

"What did you find?" Another fifteen up the stairs.

"Apparently Winter Kenzō, who called us was the director of research of project Resurreccioun. The company specializing in development and production of highly advanced and complicated drugs and medicines." Xion had said he'd gone back to the house for bathroom.

Forty seconds each travel, allow about say, five minutes in the bathroom. Then he got a phone call. Long-distance, his words. I lifted the paper weight from the papers. Medical reference texts.

Easy to verify, call took another five minutes.

"By means of computer models they where developing some kind a vaccine. Definitely not just to protect against common cold viruses— theoretically— could be the bigger since the Salk vaccine."

"Biggest one yet the trouble was no one can put all the strands together to be compatible for a living host. Board of directors had severely limited access to the models for security reasons. I say it was pirated to make the high grade elixir. Just need more clues whom completed the formula for it to be accessable for doping."

Using encryption scheme wasn't good enough. Two squadron from high ranking mafiosos already died.

The project must be that big deal.

"Possible but we need more evidence than suspicion." He was out of the studio for nine or ten minutes.

Not enough time to no matter how good. Not even if he knew where to go and how to get in.

"No doubt the man needs to be questioned."

We come to the place to verify our suspicion. Oddly Jewel haven't annoyed me on our way. He used to play songs in the radio that ticks me off.

"We're here."

Who ever this Xion is, I like his taste. The pad was themed monochrome with gravel brickwork path. He rang the doorbell while I daydream about the interior design.

I could use some inspiration to add in the bunkhouse.

One two, his coming for you~

Tree four, better lock the door.

Five six, get a crucifix.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?"

Seven eight, gonna stay up late~

"I don't have phone." I deadpanned.

Nine ten, never sleep agai—

He fish his mobile in his pocket and answered the call.

"Hello? No you've got the wrong— oh.... It's for you." My brows arced when he pass the phone to me. Unknown caller ID it says.

"Five seconds." Nonchalantly I say.

"Spatha nightclub. Quarter before midnight. Don't be late." That's all what the mysterious caller said before hanging up. To fast to recognize the fucker.

"Want me to track—"

"Don't bother. It takes ten seconds to pin the caller's ID. We got more important matter to deal with than a stalker." On cue someone finally opened the gate.

"Um... can I help you?" A man in his early twenties say.

"Sorry for the disturbance. Naeirumun Cianimnida and this is my college officer Silvern. Xionsshi chibe kye ssimnikka?" Showing our fake ID's Jewel made the excuse.

"That's me. Turooseyo." He lead us in but before we followed to the living room I patted Jewel's shoulder.

"Hey Cian." With his fake name of course.

"Nice ringtone~" I wink then got inside leaving the tomato behind.

"Ch'a rul mashigessumnikka?"

"Ah, kamsahamnida."

"I'm good." I kindly refused the offer. I— I mean, we aren't planning on staying longer than necessary and dare to say It was white tea. And when there is victuals, Jewel the devil of gluttony can't focus well than pigging himself up till he drop.

"Nice place."

"I like to apply my best works in my home."

"Doesn't it afflicts with your work?"

"Business these days have slacken."

"I see... Talented. Yet.. lying isn't one of your forte."

"Excuse me?"

"Convince me to believe your lie Mr.Xion."

"I have no idea what you're talking about offi—" I threw the file in the coffee table.

"You intended to be out of the studio for longer than you claimed. Why?" The prints from the paperweight matches his.

"Are you accusing me as the thief?!"

"Calm down. The police aren't involved yet." We don't need them for I know he is.

His tone and petty actions exposed him followed by few mistakes. If he intends to be out for only about six or eight minutes, he didn't knew he'll get a phone call— or did he?, why place a paperweight... unless he expected that they might be blown around. Even if you put conditions at the time he left the studio, it ain't gonna be an immediate possiblity.

"Tch, Kenzō sent you, didn't he?"

He has been having difficulties with his freelance so a cleverly arranged theft makes it possible for him to garner more fees with a top secret medical discovery. He got some issues as well with their director. Another reason for his traitorous act. The door got our attention.

"Oppa I'm... home?"

"...Nadedja?" Well fuck.