Becoming Marked

A couple of days later while walking down the street I suddenly smelled smoke and ash. It was my only warning before I was pulled into an alley and slammed against the wall with a hand around my throat.

My head cleared up after a couple of seconds. When I came to, I saw my new friend.

He had bone white dreadlocks, the same color as his skin.

I would almost say his eyes were ice blue, but his eyes were made of flame.

He was gaunt, tall, and bone thin.

He was wearing a brown peacoat, a grey vest and pants, and an unbuttoned black shirt. All of it was coated in ash.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Elijah, one of the Hades Familia's four demon kings." (Elijah)

"Hello Elijah. I don't believe I've ever heard of your familia before." (Nemo)

"Yeah, we could do with better marketing. But I digress. Let's get back to business." (Elijah)

"How may I help you this fine day?" (Nemo)

"You see some of my subordinates have unfortunately passed away." (Elijah)

"That's too bad." (Nemo)

"Yes, it is very unfortunate. The Soma Familia were good earners." (Elijah)

"What's this have to do with me?" (Nemo)

"I think we both know why I'm here." (Elijah)

"Can't say I do." (Nemo)

"The nifty magic that tracks those who shed soma blood, it continues post-mortem." (Elijah)

"That magic really is the curse that keeps on giving." (Nemo)

"I can imagine." (Elijah)

"So where do we go from here?" (Nemo)

"You get the sales pitch. You eliminated an entire familia by yourself under leveled. That gets you a spot in the Hades Familia." (Elijah)

"Sorry. I've lived as a Hestia Familia member; I'll die a Hestia Familia member." (Nemo)

"That's unfortunate. Very unfortunate." (Elijah)

"Indeed it is." (Nemo)

"Now you see here comes the issue. Usually I would just kill you, but that witch said you are off limits. So, we go with plan B." (Elijah)

I have a feeling I know who the "witch" is.

"Something tells me that I won't like plan B." (Nemo)

"You won't" (Elijah)

His hand then lit up with a pale blue flame. His hand burned through my clothes before the hand even came close, then came the pain.

He then dropped me to the floor. After I hit the ground, I looked at the handprint on my chest half delirious with pain. Somehow, I knew that unlike my other scars this one would never fade, no matter how much I leveled.

"Aww. You gave me a gift to remember you by, how sweet." (Nemo)

"You see I was going to just leave this encounter at this, not worth angering the witch you see. But now, I'm willing to risk her wrath." (Elijah)

His hands lit up again. The flames then jetted from his hands and turned my hands to charcoal and my swords to slag, somehow.

<Regalia Broken: The Devil's Right Hand>

<Regalia Broken: The Angel's Left Hand>

My regalia being broken coupled with my injuries caused me to lose consciousness.

When I woke up, it was in a run-down house on a straw bed.

"I see your up. Perhaps you would have been better off not." (Unknown Man)

When I turned my head, I took in the man. He was a giant with tan skin, blood red hair, and an unkempt beard. He was shirtless which showed off his chest and arms that were covered in tribal tattoos.

"Who are you?" (Nemo)

"I am Akema. Who are you?" (Akema)

"Name's Nemo. Thank you for taking me out of that alleyway, but I must be going. My goddess is probably worried about me." (Nemo)

"You should stay, you need the rest. Also, you will not like what you find if you were to go home." (Akema)

"What do you mean?" (Nemo)

"Hades had to make an example out of you. He burned down that church of yours and killed your goddess. She is now unable to return to earth for a hundred years." (Akema)

"What?! I must go home and see for myself." (Nemo)

"There is nothing there for you and you will only attract attention to yourself. Hades is not a merciful man. You should stay here out of the limelight and heal. Afterwards you should leave this city and never return." (Akema)

"Thank you for your advice, but I must see the remnants of my home and family. I owe it to her." (Nemo)

"You know that is not what she would want, but that is your choice. Before you go, grab your weapons. I picked them up in case they had sentimental value." (Akema)