“Let me get this straight. You have a piece of glass bolted to your wall and it will show you anything happening in the world? And you even have a smaller version that can fit in the pocket of your trousers?”
“That’s right,” I answered the hyena’s incredulous question. “Pretty much everyone had one. I mean, some of the old folks never got around to owning one. Said they rotted the brain or whatever.”
We were on one of our regular patrols. An immediate consequence of tolerating Capitaine was that we were now paired up on every patrol until the end of time. During those boring patrols, Capitaine and I had taken turns explaining a facet of their previous life. While my explanations of guns and cars and toilets were met with wonder, Capitaine’s way of life was a bit less glamorous. I was not a history expert, but I was reminded of a school tour to Jamestown in Virginia and learning about the colonists.
“And the average citizen of your nation has access to any of the content on this invention? They can view plays, orchestras, horse racing, war, and even sex on this piece of glass?” Capitaine continued to press. “All of this without even needing to leave your home?”
“Correct on all fronts.”
We paused our conversation for a moment to exchange nods with another patrolling pair representing one of the other groups. Some still had the energy to use it as an opportunity to puff out their chests and try to show some semblance of dominance. But, most just looked at each other with eyes glazed over with boredom.
“How bizarre that my existence bears more similarities to my forebears from over a thousand years ago than my descendants but a couple scant centuries in the future,” Capitaine said in wonder before gesturing at the station we inhabited. “Even this staging area was something that was less than a century beyond my own death. If I had lived a fuller life, I may have been able to see the transformation that changed the world so drastically.”
“Yeah, well, depending on who you ask, those times set us on a collision course with the apocalypse.”
“I’m sure that they will eventually discover a technology that could fix the situation,” Capitaine assured. “You put humans on the moon for God’s sake.”
We stepped over limbs and tails that encroached on our border. I so badly wanted to stomp on one of the limbs and instigate a fight to the death, but I knew I’d be thrown to the wolves immediately.
Brother Roderick paid close attention to everyone in the group, even the ones that didn’t pull their weight. He would speak to anyone that appeared to be struggling and offer them guidance. Either he was a man who erred terribly a single time or someone that was adept at hiding their sickness from the light.
“People smarter than I am said that we already missed the boat on fixing it. We are just walking around with a hole in our chest and only noticing when the blood loss is about to kill us. I’ll tell you this much, it was always fucking hot where I lived so I couldn’t tell a difference.”
“Me as well,” Capitaine said with a chuckle before pulling on the collar of their jacket. “Speaking of, are my memories making me hallucinate or has it gotten warmer?”
I scratched at my scales. Capitaine wasn’t alone. I could feel heat seep into my body and see other demons look uncomfortable. For me, it was the perfect temperature to lie down in a hammock with a beer in hand. Memories of peace and tranquility bubbled into my mind before popping. There was no comfort down here.
“Maybe something is finally going to happen,” I said with a shrug. “It’s about time that damn train shows up.”
But, as we returned from our patrol, it wasn’t the tracks that the demons of the Grigori’s group were watching, it was the stairs behind them. Brother Roderick and his ilk already had weapons drawn, sweat dripping down their grimacing, spiteful faces.
An inferno in leather boots descended the steps, leaving scorch marks on the white stone. Their torso and finally, their face came into view. A sun-bleached skull of a horse housed two blazes that burned from either eye. A fireball ignited in each hand and illuminated the entire section with searing light.
“Ah, shit,” Capitaine cursed to themselves as the other lounging demons hopped to their feet.
I did not share the hyena’s concerns. I could feel the eyes of the other groups move our way. One of their enemies was close showing their neck and all their teeth were bared to strike as soon as the flesh was exposed.
“Vendetta!” Brother Roderick screamed at the newcomer. “What drove your infernal form from your cave?”
Vendetta flames dampened for a second before the ferocious aura that surrounded her turned into something that resembled joy. She cackled, shooting flames into the ceiling and sending the Grigori on a tentative step backwards.
“You don’t know, do you?” Vendetta continued to giggle. “How would you know, being stuck here? Allow me to share the good news with you. I finally achieved my revenge. Armaros died at my hands and the holy city of Brunswick was obliterated and taken over by the Emperor of the Desolate Plains.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Spare me your lies, demoness!” Brother Roderick screamed before going silent.
Vendetta’s attention moved from the Grigori and in my direction. Brother Roderick’s head flipped around to find what she was staring at. As his eyes narrowed, other gazes followed him until much of the group was looking my way.
“Why did you look at him?” Brother Roderick demanded as his head flipped between Vendetta and myself. “Why the fuck did you look at him?”
“Ask him, he was there too,” she laughed.
“Get ready to shoot anyone that moves,” I advised Capitaine under my breath.
“Giving orders is my thing,” Capitaine murmured in response. They subtly shifted their arms to be able to catch their gun out of thin air.
“Ishmael, what is the meaning of this?” Brother Roderick asked with confusion, his face wavering between rage and despair and disbelief. “Such news should be impossible. Tell me that she lies to harm our minds.”
The neutral expression that I had maintained for much of my internment down here had suddenly flipped. A toothy grin crossed my face and a choppy chuckle escaped from my lungs. It wasn’t anything personal to Brother Roderick that I laughed in his face. He didn’t annoy me or disrespect me or look down on me. But he was a mostly-good man who cared about the community. I was not suited for such a place.
“What she says is true,” I confirmed with a nod. “The slave legions of that dragon smashed through your gates and invaded your city while your chapel burned down along with your leader.”
The Grigori of the group were already incensed by Vendetta’s appearance, my answers only pushed them dangerously close to the edge of violence. Weapons descended from inventories and were snatched into mailed fists. But, they did not charge. I could see them strain to maintain control until their leader ordered them to act.
“So, you were our enemy all along?”
“It wasn’t personal. I was just a mercenary who had a grudge against Sir Leal,” I said with a shrug. “But, if you want me to be your enemy, all you have to do is ask.”
“You brought thousands to the mercy of a man like Yóulóng over a grudge with a singular man? You destroyed a group that pursued the betterment of all for a reward?” Brother Roderick asked in disbelief. “All that suffering, for such a selfish reason?”
“Where do you think we are?”
Brother Roderick released an exasperated sigh and looked towards the ceiling. He ran his left hand through his mane and laughed a nervous laugh like a man who stumbled across a fatal car accident.
“Ah,” he said. “I had spent so long speaking to the unfortunate and the misguided that I had forgotten that not all of us have been misplaced.”
“What are you going to do about it?” I challenged.
“Yes, Brother, what are you going to do?” Vendetta wondered aloud after her laughing fit had subsided. “I have no qualms with taking a few more of you with me.”
Stress vibrated Brother Roderick’s pupils. The hatred he harbored conflicted with the duty he felt to keep the group together. But, in times like these, when your very essence as a fighter is put on the line, pride often defeats compassion. Fingers tightened around the hilt of his weapon and his mouth opened to give his command.
“Ah, what a stunning scene,” a disembodied voice rumbled through the station. “Stay right where you are.”
Instantly, the new presence stole the attention of all the demons. The voice compelled stillness from all who heard it. I sighed, seeing Brother Roderick’s rage simmer into confusion and inaction.
“The audience is going to go crazy for this sort of promotional material. Animosity, personal grudges, rivalry; all the best components of a good show. But, how about we all behave for a few more moments? Nobody is going to like it if they missed a passionate kill before the show even starts.”
“Who are you?” A demon demanded; a question heavy on the minds of all of us.
“Me?” The voice replied playfully. “Why, I am but a humble shepherd meant to take all of you little lambs into town and showcase your worth to wealthy clients. Some of you are already claimed, but others…have options. While you are here, you are in my care. So, please refrain from tearing out each other’s throats before I tear out yours.”
Just as the voice finished talking, the sign for the next arrival changed to: Arrived. Tremors shook the ground and an ear-piercing horn that sounded like a chorus of wailing rattled my teeth and temporarily deafened me.
Bright light shone like a beacon from the void to one end of the station and bathed the structure in light that rivaled the sun. A black locomotive screeched into the station. Limbs and pieces of humanoids were lodged in the slits of the cowcatcher. Outlines of warped faces could be barely seen dancing in the smoke billowing out of the smokestack. Cars painted red trailed an impossibly long distance behind the train. The windows were tinted black, blinding those inside and out from seeing each other.
“I didn’t expect to see you so close to a group that you had spent so much time killing,” Vendetta commented. I could feel the heat from her presence before she even spoke.
“It was a surprise to see you so late. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were the last to arrive,” I retorted.
“I will admit that I had some…difficulties in the between regions this time. But, if I am truly the last one to arrive, then where is Yoshitsune?”
I furrowed my brow at her retort. So far, all three of the ones I knew came through the same Portal and all arrived at the same platform. Unless that was a coincidence, then she should have arrived here as well. Did she have difficulties passing through that misty realm as well?
“Worry not, friend,” Capitaine chimed in unnecessarily. “I’m sure that she is somewhere nearby.”
Before I could retort, Brother Roderick and his fellow Grigori shoved through us to get closer to the train. Looks of derision were flashed our way.
“We’ll settle this later,” he declared as he walked by.
“I look forward to it,” Vendetta replied. “I agree with Capitaine. Better to trust in her and wait on the train than look for her and miss it.”
I closed my eyes and sent a message to her. Then, I took a step forward. We followed not far behind the group. Those that already reached the train had disappeared in thin air with a flash of light. As the ticket stated, the train would assign you to your appropriate seat.
Our turn soon followed. I felt a burst of mana envelope me. My body felt like it was being dispersed in a puff of steam. The feeling in my limbs turned numb and I had no control over my body. Then, I was greeted with a flash of light as I felt myself pulled along by an invisible string that would lead me to my destination.
image [https://i.imgur.com/6Kshc4R.jpeg]