CHAPTER 2: Ambushed In The Slums (1)

"Alex," Said the masked man "What are you doing here?"

I took the mask off my face, revealing a youthful face that looked to be in the early teens, long blonde hair that was tied behind my back in a ponytail and yellow eyes.

I walked to the low table that was at the center of the room and sat down on one of the cushions there.

"Nothing, just relieving a little tension." I replied casually.

"That's not the problem," Replied the man as he slowly took the demon mask off his face. "Relive as much tension as you want, just don't do it in a fight where you either win or die."

Behind the demon mask was an angular face, with short, straight brown hair and pale blue eyes. And although the person looked to be about my age, he had a look in his eyes that didn't match that. It was almost like he was an old soul in a young body.

"Calm down Alistair." I said as I raised my hands in the air. "Sit down, relax, it's not good to be stressed all the time."

I then beckoned at the cushion across from me.

Alistair then sighed and sat down.

"Isn't that better?" I said with a smile.

Alistair gritted his teeth and gave me a pointed look.

"Cut the bull Alex. I thought you agreed not to take part in death fights again?" 

"Did I really say that?" I replied with an innocent look on my face.

"I can't have you dying in one of these matches." Said Alistair with a frustrated look on his face. "Do you know how close we are to getting out from under his thumb? You can't can't afford to die now and screw everything up at this late stage."

My eyes lost the teasing look and grew cold.

"I know exactly how close we are," My eyes clouded over as I thought back on the past two years. "I won't mess things up now, not after all the sacrifices I made."

Alistair nodded his head.

"Then we're in agreement?"

I sighed. 

"Yes, I'll avoid these fights for now, at least until we break away."

"Good." Said Alistair with a satisfied look on his face. He then picked up the menu that was on the table. "Now let's order."

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Thirty minutes later Alistair and I walked out of the restaurant, now wearing our masks again.

Alistair glanced at me.

"Are you ready to leave?" 

I nodded my head and began walking.

"Yeah, I am."

As we walked down the street I looked around at all the people who were traveling between the restaurants, guilds, auction houses and many other buildings.

'It doesn't matter how many times that I come here,' I thought with a shake of my head. 'I still find it hard to believe that we are underground.'

That's right, this city was actually a place where criminals gathered, also known as The Underworld. It was a huge cave that had all kinds of buildings inside. In fact some people lived here and never left it because everything they needed could be found in The Underworld.

And this wasn't the only Underworld in existence, every major city had one.

And although I had said it was underground, I honestly wasn't sure where this Underworld actually was. There are a few entrances to this place but all of them are in alleys in unassuming locations. In every alley there is a door, and to enter the door you have to give the password for the day, or have a necklace that shows that you are a member.

I reached down and touched the necklace around my neck.

Getting it hadn't been easy, it was only a year after I had first come to The Underworld and I was more or less trusted, that I was able to get it.

Anyway, after you enter the door you walk down a long flight of stairs and eventually you reach The Underworld.

Honestly, I have a sneaking suspicion that everytime I go down those stairs, I am somehow teleported to The Underworld, since I can't imagine that an illegal den of criminals of this size can be under a city and the city officials wouldn't know about it. And even if they were in cahoots with the criminals they couldn't ignore something that was right under their noses if only to save face.

That's not to say that The Underworld is a safe place, on the contrary it is actually very dangerous and if a person shows any sign of weakness they are likely to get robbed, and that is at the very least.

So when moving around in The Underworld it is best to keep an open eye and watch your back, lest you find a knife sticking out of it.

Alistair and I walked down the streets, passing bars and brothels, and soon enough I saw the familiar stairs that led out of The Underworld.

"Next week we have a meeting with him." Said Alistair suddenly.

My eyebrows twitched.

"Where?" I replied with a sigh. "I hope I do not have to go all the way to Satin City for it."

"No," Replied Alistair with a shake of his head. "We're meeting him here. And strangely enough it's the same restaurant we just came from that we are going to meet him at."

I sighed and walked up the stairs.

I was not looking forward to that meeting next week.

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Four and a half hours later I was in a carriage staring at the night sky while I was on my way back to the academy.

Then suddenly, just as I was about to doze off my head jerked back.

I hurriedly sat up and turned to Alistair who was sitting across from me.

"What happened?" I asked in irritation as I reached for the carriage handle. "That coachman is going to regret being born if he doesn't have a good reason for waking me up like that."

But before I could turn the handle Alistair put his hand on mine and shook his head.

"I don't think he is going to regret anything ever again." Replied Alistair with a grim look on his face.

From the tone of Alistair's voice I was immediately able to tell that something had happened.

"What happened?" I said, this time more quietly.

Alistair put a finger to his lips and shook his head.

"Lower your voice, I'll check it out myself."

Despite the situation I raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea, I am pretty certain that I can handle myself, but I can't say the same for you. Like you always love to remind me, you're incredibly weak and only at twenty-five percent Hani refining completion."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I think it only makes sense that I should be the one to check."

"Be that as it may," Replied Alistair with a look of determination on his face. "It is my duty to check if there is any danger as your right hand man."

He then gave me a sly look.

"And if it proves to be too dangerous then I'll just leave you behind and save my own skin."

I gave Alistair a look of fake hurt.

"And not so long ago you were saying that I couldn't afford to die."

"Sure I said that," Said Alistair with a nod of his head. "But I can't die to save you, my life is more important."

I sighed.

"I should have you killed."

Alistair then reached for the carriage door handle and slowly opened it.

"You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to form a faction with me."

Alistair then slipped out and closed the door behind himself.