Captain Love read the report in his hand.

Witness: Ameri

Testimony: saw the suspect flee the city through the front gate. Suspect ran straight for the forest heading westward towards the old village ruins.

suspect expected to be 4'11-5’3 in height. Wears a long robe with tattered ends. Black hair and brown eyes. Brown skin, possibly on the darker side.

Private Timothy.

Captain Love didn't say a word or react in any way. He stood up from his chair with the report in hand and walked to the burning flame in the fireplace. He took one last look, analyzing the parchment until he could memorize its contents.

It was his job to take all reports as seriously as possible to bring in the young thief. But his mind was preoccupied with another matter. The word lifetimes kept pounding at him like a hammer. No matter how much he tried to focus on his current assignment he couldn't get what Lord Ephidel had said to him.

Does it even matter? The man probably made a grammar mistake while talking. Everyone has done it once in their lives. Captain Love rubbed his chin as he stared into the fire. The paper report was burned to a crisp with nothing but small scraps that were blackened remained. It was the order of things. Paper burned and it could not fight the intense heat from the flame. Just like humans and their tenacity to survive. It's why the walls were built and the creatures kept on the other end. And noblemen like Ephidel were too posh to make a mistake as trivial as grammar. Especially in the presence of peasants and a city captain.

Ephidel said lifetimes because it's what he truly meant. No doubt about it. Captain Love thought. He tapped around his pockets and Captain Love felt a wave of disappointment hit him as he came to the realization of his empty pockets.

I wish I had a cigarette.

Captain Love turned back to his desk. There was next to no room left except for a small space at the edge for an ink jar and his quill. The rest of the desk was covered in stacks of reports from eye witnesses who each had a different tale about the boy thief. Captain Love doubted any of the reports would help him in any case. His next best course of action would be to track the boy himself with his otherworldly abilities.

Before he could gather up the energy to start the activation there was a knock on his door.

“Not now, I'm busy!” Captain Love shouted.

“You'll want to hear what I have to say.”

Captain Love recognized the voice and mentally sighed before straightening himself. This was the last person he wanted to see. He made sure he didn't look stressed before saying, “come in.”

Captain Love kept his office as tidy and neutral as he could. None of the colors popped out or looked gloomy. It helped him think and he would avoid any social activity if he could. But the moment his visitor walked through his door a sudden gold light, that only Captain Love could see, radiated throughout his office. Jewelry jingled with each step.

“I see you're still the same old grumpy son of a bitch captain.” Said the man as he made his way into the room. He wore a smile that showed his bright white teeth.

“You're still an annoying bastard who can't take a hint. What do you want, Pablo?”

“Is that any way to speak to me? I am your brother.” Pablo looked around the room. “No tequila?”

“Isn't that a little too economic for someone like yourself?”

Pablo eyed Captain Love and chuckled. “Just because I'm a don now doesn't take away the fact that I have good taste. In comparison wine does get you ready for a good tumble with a woman but it tastes like shit.” Pablo walked behind Captain Love’s desk. He gave Love a shove as he reached for the compartments. “Ah here it is. Just like a true brother, we have similar tastes.” Pablo said as he examined the brand on the bottle.

His words made Love want to chuckle but he held himself back.

“I can guess you heard about the zapojin running around. Why else would you be here?” Love said with a low growl in his voice.

Pablo poured tequila into his glass and took the shot. “I have. But that's not why I decided to come visit my baby brother.”

As if you knew what that word meant.

“Then why are you here Pablo? You should know I'm very busy looking for the zapojin.”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“All this trouble for a boy. He stole a bit of gold, so what? We've done worse back when we were kids. Living off the streets like outlaws. No one could stop us as we robbed food stands after food stands.” Pablo said with a reminiscent tone. He glanced at Love who remained stoic. “Before you decided to become the law.”

“Only after you left us. I—”

“How is mom? Is she holding up?” Pablo interrupted. Somehow he knew what Love was thinking.

Captain Love wanted to wring Pablo by the neck the moment he brought up their mother. The new don left them alone with no money while he enjoyed the high societal life behind the inner wall. He had heard gossip from the nobleman from time to time that he was doing well and prospering. The news only fueled his resentment for his brother.

“Like you care.” Captain Love growled.

Pablo took another shot. The tequila must've burned because his face started to scrunch up. “I do care. You don't know the sacrifices I made—”

It happened in an instant. Captain Love was holding a blade up to Pablo's neck before the chair he was sitting on managed to hit the ground. Pablo seemed unfazed by this as he continued to pour his next shot.

“I need your help.”

“Where were you when I needed you?”

“I'm afraid you'll slice my neck open if I try to explain.” Pablo said with a stoic face.

“You got a minute.” Captain Love lowered his blade and pulled the fallen chair towards him.

“The situation at the palace has changed. Zephiel has begun taking actions. The other dons have been given orders to find and capture the Zapojin.” Pablo’s high pitched voice from earlier was gone. His natural pitch told Love he was serious.

“Why would he go after the boy? My men and I can take care of this.”

“Not the gold thief. Somehow Zephiel knows there is another one in the city. I don't know his age or where he is but Zephiel confirmed he's a Zapojin. Not through words but I understood, in the way he spoke and acted.”

“What do you mean there's another one? Are you saying there could be more living in this city?” Captain Love almost shouted. If it wasn't for Pablo holding out his hand to calm his brother down he would've.

“I got spies all throughout the city. I doubt there could be more than one or two of them living in the city. But the new one is not from here. He's an outsider.” Pablo whispered.

“I still don't understand why you came here asking for my help. Are you trying to capture this outsider yourself? If so, that's your problem. I have my own duties to perform.”

“There's only one reason why Zephiel would send his freaks out. This city is going to be a battleground. Just like that settlement a few years back.”

Captain Love took a moment to process everything. Then it hit him. “Wait. The gates were closed since the robbery. How did the outsider get in?”

“Take a guess. If the dons are out looking for him then he's probably just like you.” Pablo said as he eyed the tequila bottle.

There was something building up inside him. Something that he hasn't felt in a long time. Was it excitement? Love wondered. Captain Love looked at Don Pablo and couldn't help but think how things had changed between them.

“What do you want, Pablo?”

“All I want is the location of the old bastard.” Pablo said.

Love's eyes widened as he heard his brother's words. “Why do you want that? What do you want with him?”

Pablo locked his fingers together as he sat back on his chair. “That old bastard has more experience training soldiers than anyone else in the city. If this city is going to fall then I would like to be the one who's left standing. For that I need an army. I would ask you but Zephiel has his eyes on you.”

Pablo stood up as he walked towards the flame. Love couldn't help but think he was pondering on something hidden. “There's only a few people I can consider an ally in this city.” Pablo pointed at Captain Love. “You're my brother. I have no choice but to trust you. Even if you are an asshole.”

Captain Love smiled when Pablo wasn't looking. “And that old geezer never did turn us in. Even after we were caught robbing him.”

Captain Love remembered that day. He thought their lives were over the moment the old commander opened the door to his cellar. Thieves could be hanged, imprisoned or punished by cutting off a limb and he thought they were going to be hanged in front of a crowd for trying to steal from the commander of the city. A hero of a time only remembered by the elderly.

“He saw potential in you.”

“In us brother.” Pablo corrected. “That's why I trust him. I won't lie to you. I'm going to overthrow Zephiel and take over. This whole zapojin situation is the perfect opportunity to make changes in this city. To do good for the people.”

“I can have you executed for treason, Pablo.”

Pablo placed his fingers on his heart. “Make it quick.”

Love clicked his tongue. “I will do it if you keep annoying me.”

Pablo smiled and widened his eyes like a puppy.

“On one condition.”

“Anything.”

“Lord Ephidel is King Zephiel's successor. He came to me when I was interrogating the witnesses of the robbery a few days ago—”

Pablo had a curious expression on his face.

“What did he want?”

“He came to hand me a letter saying he was next in line to inherit the throne. And that I should act like he was the reigning monarch. That and to continue looking for the Zapojin.”

“That's typical of him.” Pablo said as he scratched the back of his head. “So what is it?”

“He mentioned lifetimes. Plural. His lifetimes.”

Pablo's jaw dropped. It was the first time Love was able to surprise his brother. It felt good to be on the winning end for once. “O-oh. You want to know about that huh?”

Captain Love scribbled the address of the old man on a piece of parchment and held it in his fist. “Tell me what he meant by that and I'll give you the commander's location.”

“You really got me by the balls here. I knew you took my lessons to heart.” Said Pablo with a prideful smile. Love did the same.