He leaned casually against the side of a polished, shining orange sports car. His arms were crossed, his confident gaze cast slightly upwards as if he was looking beyond the city buildings, as if he knew that something awaited discovery there, in the sky.
Anthemion fumbled in his pockets, repeatedly flexing his jaw muscles and grinding his teeth—a habit that always surfaced when he was nervous regardless of his efforts to suppress it.
"Hey, Ant!" the man called out, his gaze wandering over Anthemion's school uniform with an unmasked mix of amusement and perhaps a trace of hidden disdain.
Anthemion brushed off the nickname "Ant", which he just couldn't seem to escape. When an admitted murderer and supposed psychopath bestowed a ridiculous name upon you, the best strategy was most of the time to just accept it.
"How's it going?" Anthemion inquired, forcing a slight smile. Dealing with other members of LUV was always a hassle, especially with those higher up the hierarchy. Not that he had encountered anyone of real importance. Well, not until his failure and encounter with Aurelius, anyway.
"I heard you made quite the mess, huh?" Lucian chuckled, patting Anthemion on the shoulder so forcefully that he had to conceal the pain flaring in his upper arm.
"Yeah. I messed up pretty bad," he confessed.
Lucian's grin widened, a sadistic glint flickering in his brown eyes. "Indeed you did. But you were lucky, weren't you? So fortunate you're oblivious to it. Instead of punishing you, and I suggested some real great ideas by the way, they've granted you the greatest pleasure of all time!" He paused, adding melodramatic flair, stretching his arms wide as if he were an eccentric orator awaiting applause after a fantastic speech. "Working on assignments with me!"
Anthemion's heart seized with cold terror, yet he managed to hide it from creeping into his expression. Only a brief twitch of his brow betrayed his seemingly happy demeanor.
"That's great, man!" he managed to press through clenched teeth, fully aware of the madness and risk that collaborating with Lucian would entail.
"You don't even know the best part! Our first job starts now!" Lucian roared with laughter and in that moment Anthemion could glimps the madness in his eyes. He reminded himself to be cautious around the maniac, someone who craved violence as much as a drunkard longed for alcohol. The stories about Lucian were gruesome, full of horror and fists and fire. Rumor had it he felt most alive when bathed in blood, and he did little to dispel these nasty stories, instead only encouraging them. Yet, the most chilling aspect of all was his status as a Conduit.
Lucian instructed Anthemion to get in the car, and Anthemion didn't even bother explaining to the man that he actually needed to return to class.
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Gazing out at the streets, Anthemion found himself captivated by the city's transformation around him. The squalor of his home gradually morphed into something resembling a clean city, with a complex and expansive structure, not shadowed in darkness but welcoming the light. There was elegance to be found in the complexity and order permeating the architectural design of the towering skyscrapers. Gone were the monotonous corporate factories and dilapidated ruins that might have been homes once, but now only neared the brink of collapse.
He scarcely registered Lucian's bragging and chattering, too mesmerized as they traversed from the 9th District to the 4th.
Only when they finally came to a halt in an area that only remotely resembled the city Anthemion knew, with multi-story houses and flowery gardens larger than most forests he was familiar with, did he pay attention to Lucian's remarks. A rare seriousness had overcome the brute as he turned to face Anthemion.
"You better not fuck up this job, alright? If you do, I'll kill you. Slowly," the promise of a grim fate and miserable death was spoken with a voice that remained unchanged, a calmness that conveyed to Anthemion clearly Lucian's readiness to follow through on his pledge without hesitation.
He gulped, and nodded. "Good," Lucian said, the playfulness returning to his expression. "Let's have some fun!"
He clapped his hands together, gleaming anticipation springing from his eyes like sparks.
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Anthemion wore a plain dark mask to conceal his identity and intimidate their contact, as Lucian had ordered, who, of course, went without one. His school uniform was stashed in the back of Lucian's car, replaced by a black hoodie and trousers. Nervousness gripped Anthemion's mind, yet he managed to steady his trembling hands and avoid the cracking of his voice. In the presence of someone like Lucian, he wasn't allowed to show fear, for it was a testimony of weakness, and Lucian preyed on the weak, always seeking a new victim. Anthemion had no intention of becoming the next person in the row of unfortunate people who had fallen prey to the man.
Despite his reservations there was also a tinge of excitement within him as he prepared to witness a Conduit in action—no longer just through the screen of his family's meager computer. This was not merely hearsay from classmates discussing the mysteries of the supernatural or useless chatter. It was his first, true encounter with this part of the world beyond his brief conversation with Aurelius, and he was quivering with curiosity.
Lucian led him to a three-story house, coloured egg-white, with large glass windows and framed by towering hedges that shielded the property from prying eyes. Anthemion's role in this job was solely that of an observer, a reminder Lucian had hammered into him countless times. Originally, the plan had involved Anthemion intervening if anything went wrong or if Lucian needed help. However, in his arrogance, Lucian hadn't even mentioned it, considering such a suggestion an affront to his pride. He didn't need backup, especially not from a little kid.
Relaxed and hands in his pockets, he strolled toward the metallic gate—the sole entrance to the garden and the residence within. All too aware of this fact, multiple cameras in addition to two guards monitored the gate from the safety of a small, robust hut.
Lucian signaled Anthemion to stop and approached the guards alone. Anthemion attempted to eavesdrop on their conversation, but the distance and the wind thwarted his efforts. Only isolated words reached his ears, offering no insight into the purpose of their visit. He half expected Lucian and himself to be denied entry and turned away, but within seconds, a guard pressed a button, and the gate electronically swung open.
With a satisfied grin, Lucian turned to Anthemion and entered the residence. Hesitant at first, Anthemion followed, keeping a watchful eye on the guards from behind his mask. Nothing unusual happened and the gate slowly closed behind them.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Never before had Anthemion seen such lush greenergy. The sun basked the garden in a golden glow, highlighting the orderly array of flowers in their myriad hues. Pollen floated in the air like little clouds, performing a delicate dance before being caught by the wind and carried elsewhere to spawn beauty anew at another place. Bees buzzed and birds chirped, harmonizing in chorus.
A lone tree obscured the sun's zenith, casting a shadow beneath it and offering a place of refuge and relaxation. Loosely placed gray stones formed a path that meandered through the grass, swaying in the wind as if welcoming them. Flower thickets lined both sides. During Anthemion's trance-like walk he even caught a glimpse of a small pond of clear-blue water, its surface adorned with arcipluvian fish. Gentle ripples glistened with the rays of sunlight, conjuring a shimmering reflection. The house stood at the garden's far end like a parent watching over its child, windows open to embrace the breeze. Anthemion could make out the silhouette of a child running amidst the flower fields, exuding the joy and carefree spirit only children could possess.
It was beautiful—something Anthemion had never encountered or even imagined. A paradise. Yet, dread tightened its grip on him as his gaze flocked back to the man in front of him, whistling with contentment, and the trajectory of his gaze, away from the house and toward the little girl.
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Lucian moved through the place as if he owned it, disregarding the laid-out path to stride over flowers, leaving flattened earth in his wake.
"Hey, little one!" he called out, a crooked grin splitting his face.
The girl heard his shout, and turned to face him. Anthemion guessed her about 7 or 8 years old. Her face was still round with traces of baby fat, a testament to her youth. Big, brown eyes radiated the innocence of a girl raised under strict yet affectionate parental reign.
Anthemion noticed a faint but painful similarity to his own sister. He mentally urged at her to flee, shouted even, but she paid no heed, blissfully ignorant of the danger emanating from Lucian. The foolishness of youth, a trait most 10-year-olds Anthemion knew had already lost.
"Who are you?" she inquired, her head tilted slightly.
Lucian extended his hand toward her, his fingers large enough to engulf her entire head, and strong enough to crush it like a fragile fruit. Gladfully, he merely offered his hand, and the little girl, in all her innocence, took it. She giggled, obviously relishing the oddity of the situation.
"I'm—" He began his response, only to be interrupted by the shouts of a man and a woman, their voices tinged with dripping concern.
"Elene!"
"Where are you?"
A somewhat portly man appeared around the corner of the house, small but astoundigly fat for his size. He stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing them and his shout died in his throat. Color drained from his face, and Anthemion observed beads of sweat forming on his temples, unsure whether they resulted from him moving too quickly for his body or fear. A woman joined him, anxiety flickering in her eyes. The man wore a billowing white robe, and his wife sported a plain dress of the same hue. "Lucian, my old friend!" the man called out, failing in his attempt to steady his voice. "It's a pleasure to see you again!"
Lucian laughed, though the mirth didn't quite reach his eyes. His hand still held the child's. It was an odd sight—the ruthless giant paired with the diminutive girl. Anthemion detected something primal, predatory even, in Lucian's smile, and knew that something was about to go terribly awry.
The man must have sensed it too, as he hastened to speak. "Please pardon my lack of preparation. My guards informed me of your arrival, but I needed a moment to make arrangements, I hope to your satisfaction."
A shadow passed over Lucian's face, but Anthemion could tell that the immediate danger had passed. For now. "I certainly hope so—for your sake," he murmured quietly, but his deep voice carried the promise of violence even to the afar parents. Anthemion hadn't thought it possible, but the man seemed to pale even further. A truly astonishing feat.
Then Lucian's expression brightened like a lightbulb, and he said, "Well, your daughter has been such a delight, keeping me company. She's quite the charmer. A real nice lad."
For a brief second, an uncomfortable silence hung heavy in the air. Anthemion fidgeted with his pocket, tracking every shift in the expressions of the man and woman—from horror to anger, back to horror, and finally stuck to observing Lucian, who absorbed it all with a small smile and gleaming eyes, as if sipping a refreshing drink. He feasted on their fear, drank their misery to fuel a perverse high. Then his gaze cleared. He sighed at last and released the girl's hand. With a pat on her back, he nudged her toward her parents. "Go along, little one. Daddy and I have some business to discuss. Maybe say goodbye before you head inside." A faint chuckle accompanied his final sentence, leaving Anthemion profoundly unsure if it was Lucian's attempt at a joke or not.
Unaware of the situation, the girl flashed a wide smile at Lucian and darted indoors after hugging her parents and offering her goodbyes, convinced it was all part of a grand game.
The father attempted a reassuring smile, exposing a row of blazing white teeth as he turned back to face Lucian, still pale but more composed. "How may I assist y—?" His words bore a blend of reluctance and urgency, but he never finished the sentence.
Spiritual energy surged through Lucian's limbs, bulking his muscles. In just a few strides, nearly too swift for Anthemion to follow, he loomed over the man and let his fist dig into the his abdomen. Gasping for air like a fish out of water, the man crumpled, enduring another brutal blow to his ribs as he fell. The woman gasped and then shrieked. A seemingly effortless wave of Lucian's hand silenced her cries and dropped her onto the flower-strewn ground, unconscious.
"Cornelius, my friend, what did you expect?" Lucian asked with an almost convincingly curious tone.
The man, Cornelius, grunted. He struggled to steady his body and raise, but a blow to the back of his balding head evoked a burst of sparkling night sky with countless stars to cross his vision. The stars faded slowly, revealing Lucian's face once more—eyes gleaming with a murderous spark and his voice lowered menacingly. "I fancy myself an easygoing and understanding man, but even I have my limits. You had deals with us, promises to uphold, and you violated them. You betrayed us."
While Aurelius' control of spiritual energy had appeared polished and refined, elegant even, Lucian's was raw and untamed. His power surged forth like a wild beast, pouncing on the man. Like a sudden tempest, the wave of telekinetic energy hurled him backwards, flinging him onto the wall of his own home. The audible snap of bones yielding beneath the force sent a chilling shiver down Anthemion's spine. Had it not been for the man's superhuman condition as a Conduit himself and his keen foresight in infusing spiritual energy into his body to provide some semblance of protection, the impact would have surely sentenced him to a life confined to a wheelchair.
Lucian motioned for Anthemion to follow as he strode to the man barely clinging to consciousness. He seized Cornelius by what little was left of his hair and brutally yanked him up until they stood eye to eye once more.
"There's no bargaining with us, understand? You're as much a part of this as I am, as everyone else involved with LUV. We expect you to uphold your end of the deal. If you want to keep your legitimate business separate from us and our dealings, that's fine. But try something like cutting us out again, and I'll make you watch as I unleash my fury on your daughter and wife. This is your one and only warning."
Leaning in, Lucian whispered mockingly into Cornelius' ear, a cruel smile etched onto his face, "I really hope you ignore it. You have a fine daughter."
With one final push that sent hair spiraling, floating to the ground like a cloud of snowflakes, Lucian released him. Cornelius slumped against the wall, hopelessly falling to the floor. Lucian turned to leave but a low whisper stopped him dead in his tracks.
"F-Fuck you…" Cornelius muttered, each word squeezed out with a mix of agony and fury, and spat blood onto Lucian's black trousers.