30. Luckily, Murder’s An Option
Luckily, Murder’s An Option
ALEX
Training was more or less ideal, with no fatal injuries or deaths. Most fays, if not all, had multiple partners to match with, whilst Angie and Alise monitored. Among other things, our display of combat became motivation, thus everyone felt inclined to show off, making this session a worthy event.
All others are gone, leaving me to ensure our training room is well prepared for its next use. With the cleaning spell ‘tersus’, I’m left with minimal work.
Kyra’s response to my opinions still linger from the earlier events. Though she managed to sway my hand from removing Horus’s head, I’m reminded of how close she was to potentially losing her life. A shameful act which shall be enhanced soon.
Elder vampires ‘hurry mode’ takes longer to deplete, along with having advanced speed. A level I’m not set to reach until years of training, but somehow I need to find a way of obtaining it in haste. Out of the six-thousand students committed to memory, Horus would be the one to point out my flaw.
Not long after everything is organized and spotless, a golden glow brightens near the entrance .
“How’d she do?” Ethan asks, stalking forward and dawning a bothersome visage.
“As expected, don’t question my teachings as though she’d be anything less than exceptional.” Granting him a side-eye, I notice his steps end a few paces from my position where I’m perched upon center stage.
“You’re ill-informed on my intentions of asking, brother. I care not for your teaching abilities, but more for Kyra’s official ranking match. I’ll set it up,” he says, summoning a sigil and preparing to depart.
“Your arrival means you found what we’re seeking?” I stand to meet his gaze.
“I’ll advise you against asking as though I’d fail.”
Between the two of us, an insurmountable amount of aura clashes, and Ethan’s eyes hide behind a goldish tint. My own–black, and a deranged grin lifts his lips before he vanishes. My fists clench, knowing one day this feud will seek both of our ends.
I prepare to leave when a buzzing sonance vibrates my pocket. Retrieving it, I see a message from Kyra, or rather the name saved in my phone.
Since Angie introduced me to ‘mortal T.V.,’ more like forced it upon me, my first encounter was a movie titled Sucker Punch . A heroine, despite her many hardships, became a formidable and most powerful little being. A reminder of this very fay.
BABYDOLL
How are you feeling?
Our first text, and in an instant, my mood appears to have shifted.
I’m fine now, despite Ethan’s intrusion. How about you? Is everything okay?
BABYDOLL
Yep, and trust me, I know how you feel. Hearing his name alone exhausts me. LMAO.
What does ‘LMAO’ mean? Luckily Murder’s An Option?
I share those sentiments, LMAO, on an everyday basis.
BABYDOLL
It sucks more for you since he’s your brother. But what can you do? Anyways, I was just checking on you. Making sure I didn’t hurt you during training. LOL.
Another abbreviation but this one is familiar. I think Angie said it means Leaning Over Laughing. An exaggeration of a cheerful moment.
Surely you don’t believe that. LOL.
BABYDOLL
I don’t. Maybe. All I’m saying is, you trained me well. And I look forward to the day you’re lying beneath me, in my grasp, and begging for me to release you.
A small picture follows her text. A purple face with horns, smiling. Does this mean she is thinking with a devilish mindset? Hinting at unleashing her murderous ability? I find myself smiling, knowing she won’t hold back in the future, and I welcome the challenge.
I look forward to seeing your many ways of bringing me to my knees. The day you pin me, Kyra, is the day I’ll submit to your every command.
Seconds pass without a response, and I summon a sigil, figuring she second guessed the idea of taking me on when my phone pings again. No words, just a single, small picture of a yellow head with wide eyes and a hand covering its mouth.
Pride swells knowing I’ve rendered her speechless.
I nearly forgot. No training tonight. Everyone’s heading to the hangout spot to celebrate another week’s passing. Angie will give you the directions. See you there.
Not a bad week with only four students losing their lives. I stuff my phone away as darkness surrounds me, and I vanish.
Silence has been our companion as Ethan and I finish up in the ‘Missing Room.’ He sits in the back at his desk, scrummaging through papers whilst ‘LMAO’ tempts my hand.
This hideout allows an undetected, safe passage for fays going on covert missions. It’s surrounded by layers of cancellation magic. Anyone inside these walls is rendered powerless from their traditional magic. Which means no sigils, spells, or incantations. Neutral ground.
Only those who have sigil magic, and know of its location, can transport in but not out, leaving just two ways of exiting. Through the door, or using a transport ring, which is granted to those designated for that specific purpose, transporting items, intel, or goods.
It’s been said, when the wards over Rebirth were placed, a forgotten Elder enchanted this room, using it for all sorts of nefarious reasons. A blank spot so diminutive, it’s unseen by the Queen’s High Council’s radar as though this rectangular anomaly went missing. Hence the name created by Angie .
“Where is it?” My voice echoes as I face Ethan who scribbles away.
“Here. Next time, retrieve it yourself.” He scoffs, holding out a hand without bothering a glance.
“I was busy instructing, so unless you’re suggesting you handle our training sessions little brother, stop pestering me.”
Retrieving the contents, I see him shift his attention and growl with a loathsome, hooded leer. But I’m beyond these child-like qualms and return to my desk.
“Have you taken a look at these numbers?” I plop down, rechecking the information.
Over fifty thousand glooms are reported across Valirene.
Which, this intel does not include nor reflect those underground or elites.
Osiris is building an army, and at this rate, a war can manifest at any time.
Impossible. How have they gone unnoticed?
“Of course I have. Who do you assume this letter is for? My trust in magic delivering this to our Queen is less than none.”
“And what of the fay spying on Osiris?”
“We spoke. He states they’re planning on converting however many shifters before targeting the four lands, going after weaker fay or those traveling alone and in small groups.
” He sneers, “And you, dearest brother, have decided against killing those weaker. Allowing them to depart these walls and become a target for taking. How many of our kind have you faced?”
I turn, meeting his scowl with my own. “Don’t lecture me on my ethics, Ethan. For even a weaker fay can be just as deadly under the right teaching. After all, our eldest brother took a chance on you.”
He leans back and smiles. Not in a forgiving way, nor a truce or declaration of defeat. No. I know my brother’s expressions. He is envisioning my heart at the end of his spear. A cacophony of my screams in the many ways he will end me.
“Regardless, Osiris’s spy was purposeful. His intel, amongst other useless information, is vital. Afterwards, I removed his head. You’ll find it in your bottom drawer. ”
Glancing down, I notice my oak desk is now stained with a darker tone.
I am not foolish enough to ask the cause behind ending our most trusted spy.
If he killed him, there is only one reason why.
He turned on us. Ethan may be hot tempered, but this mission is essential to us surviving.
Killing an informant would be dire to our cause otherwise.
“Do you have a replacement for him?”
“A fay by the name of Kale. And yes, she’s aware of her role and what’s expected,” he says, sealing the letter with wax and stamping it with a Legacies emblem.
“On your departure, remove this head.” Opening the drawer, I find a leather bag soaked in blood.
I grab it and toss it at him. “Your idea of jokes has become tiresome. We don’t need anyone finding out about this.
Plus, you’ve grown sloppy. I’ll make preparations for visiting the last location in this letter.
The glooms will look to return for those away during their attack. ”
He catches the bag and smirks. “I’m aware. Make your preparations quickly. We leave tomorrow at high moon. Procure the team, but keep it small. Let’s hope they take the bait. I’ll join you here after I’ve taken care of something first,” Ethan notes, standing to exit.
“Before you go, be aware Kyra’s joining us. A courtesy warning. This strife you have with her, leave it here. Whatever vengeance you’ve plotted, remember the contract you’ve signed.”
“And you wonder why rumors are spreading about the two of you. We’ll discuss this another time.” He glares. “Not having access to my magic is making it difficult not to find reasons for killing you,” he adds before walking out.
Since the passing of our father, or murder as Ethan often puts it, I can’t recall a time when he and I weren’t at odds.
Months and years collapsed with me justifying no mere fay can kill a God, even in the God’s fay form, but his hatred for me grew stronger in the time since.
He was obsessed with finding those responsible while proving another child inhabited our home. A sister.
Supposedly, there were four of us, three males and one female, but there were no signs of her. None I recognized anyway. Ethan and I shared both parents, while our half-brother had our mother in common. He passed, sending our mother in search of a soul coin in hopes to reach beyond the dead.
She never returned.
Despite Ethan’s efforts, no spell or fabricated pictures could bring back memories that never existed of a family we never had. Yet I spent the better part of my teens indulging in the insane mind of my brother.
No longer.