UKKO
One minute. He let her out of sight for one minute. And in one minute both her and all his money were missing. The last thing he could remember was seeing two pairs of daring eyes looking around his room and his figure.
The room that the strange man gave to him was four floors above with an almost cracked ceiling. The copper chandelier was shaking from the chain as the people from the upper floor made half of the ceiling shake with loud gasps getting out. Ukko’s face turned red, being embarrassed by the room all three of them were in. Even the smell was foul, like rotten meat.
He was now sitting on the cranky old bed, letting the dust out to the air, with his mouth wide open. His eyes fell on the mechanic named Hephaestus. As they had seen them last time, their faces were adorned with a ridiculous, nervous smile. But their clothes were more colorful and wide. But that didn't worry him as much as the person right next to them.
He was wearing a dark cape, white mask, and leather covered hands. White mask as Hestia said but the rest of the strange person was a mystery.
‘’Can you..’’Ukko gulped, clenched as he looked at the person. ‘’Take the gloves out?’’ He finally let out his breath. He already lost two people who were hiding things from him.
None spoke for a few seconds. The gunsmith looked at the masked person by nodding. He then groaned, undressing his hands, revealing his left wrist which was painted with a white rose. A priest.
Ukko took a deep breath looking up sharp.
In a flash, he remembered that Hephaestus was working in a workshop that was making deals with the army.
''How can I be sure that I can trust you?'' He asked both of them. The last thing he wanted was more enemies to fight.
The one with the cloak moved and undressed his face.
Oh, he’s beautiful. Ukko restrained his blush by frowning his brow and clenching his lips. The priest emerged closer to him with eyes drawn with interest.
He licked his lips and jerked his head in the front'' I would like to know the same thing. You work for the army'' He rose his brow cockingly. ''Correct?'' He then moved his mask up to his face.
‘’How do you know?’’ Ukko tried to smile.
‘’Hestia said that might the Royal…’’
‘’Lucifer, her name is Lucifer.’’Ukko corrected them. And they ignored him.
‘’Not be alone. And if you know her you might work at Elysium. And based on your fighting skills’’ The brooding person stopped talking and gave half a shrug. ‘’It doesn’t take a genius’’His head turned to Hephaestus. Their face turned dark red from humiliation. ‘’To figure it out.’’
Ukko frowned and moved his fingertips front and back. The serious person swallowed. But Ukko stared at Hephaestus' hand, which was also placed behind their back. Once he had enough, he extended his hand towards them, absorbing the spark of electricity from the lamp, and directing it directly at them.
''Wait'' The brooding person shouted at them. When Hephaestus placed their hand back and then front, a sharp piece of steel flew toward it. The lighting surrounded the steel and hung in thin air. They let out a groan of pain and breathed restlessly, relaxing their slim shaking arms down to their knees.
''Are you alright?'' Ukko stood up and moved away from the fallen piece of steel. He tried to help them out but the brooding person offered them his hand. They took it and stood up slowly, placing the cane right in front of their body.
''Is this enough proof?'' Hephaestus smiled deviously.
''Wait, how did '' Ukko tried to ask them and they showed another piece of steel that was inside their bag.
''A mechanic with steel incantation?'' Ukko asked them. ''You didn't think of a better cover?''
Hephaestus let out a scoff and leaned closer to him ''You are the one to talk. Who idiot would be a soldier and also a warlock?''
Ukko did not speak, thinking that they were correct about it.
‘’Let’s start again’’He moved his hand to them. The gunsmith looked up to him. ‘’I am Ukko, a pleasure to meet you’’
‘’Hephaestus’’ they shook his hand. Their heat hand, sweaty with harsh scars.
Hephaestus pointed with the tip of their cane the brooding one and sighed.
‘’This shy, sad person is not important’’ They scoffed bored. The person replied by hitting the top of their head like a scold making them burst into laughter.
‘’I am not sad.’’He corrected them. ‘’Or shy.’’
Ukko snorted too unironically, drawing the brooding one’s attention.
In the end, he cleared his throat and looked up at Ukko. ''So your name is Ukko, correct?'' He asked him.
Ukko agreed. ''And you are supposed to be the one that Hestia mentioned?'' He responded with a question and moved his hands around, pointing at both of them surprised.
‘’Something like that I suppose.’’ He answered
You suppose?
‘’Can you tell us where the artifact is and…’’
‘’Lucifer has it.’’ He answered quickly. ‘’She is gone and I…’’
‘’You lost it?’’ The person did not hide his shock and anger.
‘’She got abducted,’’’Ukko insisted.
‘’Oh, so you failed to protect her.’’
‘’No, I mean…’’Ukko took a deep breath and faced Hephaestus.
‘’Who are you again?’’ He asked, holding every restraint and thought of him throwing the person from the window.
‘’Because I know nothing about you and you seem to think that you can run me all over.’’
‘’I am certain better than following basic instructions’’He explained with a shrug
Fuck it. I will throw him from the window.
‘’And that is the reason none talks with you’’Hephaestus elbowed him looked at Ukko and grinned.
‘’Let’s find answers to the questions shall we?’’
Now Ukko was alone with Hephaestus while the brooding one was downstairs, talking to the receptionist, asking questions. He looked at the ceiling, letting his shocked breath out.
''Take your time,'' Hephaestus suggested. Ukko nodded his head and smiled. ''Just... a place where warlocks live in peace? I mean'' He stopped talking and stared at Hephaestus's face. ''I thought that you were working on Aztlan''
''It is a bit complicated''' They let out a chuckle. ''But let's just say that right now I am helping you and your friend uhm'' They paused and took a deep breath. ''Lucifer right?''
He thought about Mordred's concerned but furious glare. But Ukko couldn't care less about what he was thinking but then again.
''I am sorry'' Ukko apologized. ''She was my friend and I let her...''
''Don't apologize'' Hephaestus replied with a calm and sweet voice. They sat down next to him and smiled nervously while they stretched their wrists.
''We will find her'' Their tone was energetic and joyful, making Ukko motivated again. But he stayed silent for a while as he stared at their rough face.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
''What?'' They asked, lifting their brow. Ukko stretched his neck and let out a sound of satisfaction.
''It is just weird that you and '' He showed with his head the door. ''That guy partnered up'' He could see how energetic and happy they were acting next to him. He had only spoken a few times and asked a few questions. Nothing more. And it was now pretty clear to him, the reason why they were putting the posters away from the walls, while most of the wanted warlocks were kids. Because they didn't want people to find the kids. They found them strangely kind. The suspicious type. Hephaestus let their head down and sighed with boredom.
''I am as surprised as you actually'' They chuckled, talking about their friend.
''Let me guess'' He grinned. ''Complicated?''
''Complicated'' Hephaestus laughed and opened their bag, showing their inventions. He had his jaw open as his eyes lent to them. He was very familiar with a few of the weapons, and yet with some of them, he wasn't.
''Don't touch any buttons'' They warned him and grabbed one machine and a screwdriver.
Hephaestus heard someone coming closer to the room. There were many footsteps. They looked inside the bag and saw that there were some of their inventions there. ''My babies'' They grabbed one electric glove and hugged it tightly. Ukko stared at them confused. ''Babies?'' Hephaestus responded with a nod and showed him the glove.
''I called it Zeus'' They announced and walked closer to the door, putting the glove once more inside the bag. Ukko got up from his bed and stretched their neck.
The door opened and fell as people around their age came inside, holding guns.
''Greetings'' A proud playful voice shouted.
The girl with white hair looked down at Ukko and Hephaestus with a carbine twice her size that was decorated with gold, getting ready to shoot Hephaestus's head.
''My name is Petbe''The girl called.
''We don't want any trouble'' She said with a warm smile.
''We just want you out of Diyu...''Hephaestus stretched their wrists and moved with their cane back, staring at Ukko. He on the other hand walked closer to the girl.
''Or what-'' The girl pulled the trigger and hit Ukko's long- till his shoulders - wavy brown hair, cutting a few of his wild locks. His ears started ringing. He felt like he had seen death right in front of his eyes
Hephaestus nodded their agreement to her and attempted to walk out of the door with their cane in hand. Petbe smiled proudly.
''I am sorry for him...'' Hephaestus said as they picked Zeus out of their back and touched Petbe's torso ''And for myself''
Her voice gasped as her small body started shaking and yelling. All the others looked at her who was now down on her knees. As they were about to fire at Hephaestus, they kicked one with their cane to the legs and fell.
''I can't believe I did it'' They screamed with a wide smile and stared at Ukko. He smiled back and ran towards them grabbing Petbe's carbine from the floor and shooting one man's arm. After three shots there were no more bullets to attack so he held the carbine with both of his hands in the grip and swung it to the men's heads
Zeus stopped working after two tries, and the people didn't stop emerging from downstairs. Their cane didn't work most of the time as they were now taller and more powerful than them. An iron bullet struck Ukko's shoulder, pushing him to the floor with his knees kissing the ground.
''What do you want?'' They asked the mortals to keep their composure. They moved their blue eyes fast to see if they could find any piece of steel. Nothing.
''Our boss told us to kick you out..'' The woman who shot Ukko explained. She pulled the trigger and tried to shoot Ukko again.
Due to the pain, he closed his eyes. He could feel his blood getting poisoned by iron. ''Shit'' He groaned.
He just stood there waiting for another bullet but he just heard someone falling to the ground. Someone else was gasping for air and then they fell.
When he opened his eyes and turned back, he saw the woman on the ground with the white masked person holding a gun. There was no blood coming from her body.
He hit her head. Ukko hoped. But then he saw others whose blood was spreading across the ground. Seeing that each of them had a sharp piece of steel in their throat, he narrowed his eyes. In his reflection, Hephaestus resisted their hands and face that was shaking.
''Are you alright?'' the brooding figure asked Ukko, offering his hand to rise. Without any second thought, he took it and stood up, eyes staring at Hephaestus. And back to the masked person.
''Thank you..'' Ukko made a long pause, waiting to learn his name.
''Mordred'' He replied. Ukko shook his head and then turned to Hephaestus.
"You saved my life", he murmured. Hephaestus remained quiet and Ukko saw them tapping their fingers at the top of their cane.
Mordred was praying next to the fallen mortals. After that, he explained that there were more people downstairs but he stopped them from coming closer to them.
When Hephaestus realized what had happened, they admitted, "I did it." Ukko flinched and patted them on the shoulder.
''What are we gonna do?' He started panicking. ''We fucking caused a big scene'' He whined. Hephaestus got up and panicked with Ukko. Mordred checked the others and saw that the woman was waking up. They turned back and saw the others overthinking.
''We are off to Naraκa'' Hephaestus complained.
''We are dead. That's it'' Ukko followed
Mordred walked closer to them and hit both of them on their backs. ''Quiet'' He said and showed the woman.
A few moments later as the woman was now tied up to a chair she looked around shocked.
''KOSANAS''She yelled at them.
Mordred turned to Ukko and Hephaestus confused.
''She called us monsters'' Hephaestus explained to them and moved closer to the woman.
''How do you know that?'' Mordred asked.
''If you weren’t shy, you would know too'' They grinned.
‘’Tell her if she won't be corporate’’ Mordred showed the chain of his pistols. ‘’It will be her new necklace. He exposed his left, forcing her to look at his honesty. Hephaestus shrugged with disagreement. But Petbe understood their words clearly and her fat tears bailed from her round eyes.
‘’I am loyal to Mammon’’ She said, jerking her head to her left hand. A silver rose was exposed to her skin.
‘’Please tell me it is fake’’ Ukko complained
But when Mordred marched to her side, moving her wrist up to study her mark and a few seconds later, he sighed as mine.
‘’It is as real as mine’’ They lifted their head, sounding disappointed. ‘’A dagger blade made the first and then someone drew it with silver ink the priests use’’
‘’It can still be fake’’Hephaestus said. ‘’That is she using it for an excuse to not speak’’
Ukko found the girl smiling. His blood boiling and his hands were right at her collar, pulling her up from the floor. She kicked her feet, struggling as her eyes darted, looking at him.
More tears fell to her now red face.
‘’Tell me where she is’’Ukko took a deep breath.
‘’Mammon is a priest’’ She rasped. ‘’I can’t say anything more’’ More tears and pleading.
‘’Hey,’’ Hephaestus shouted as their hand patted his stiff shoulder. An image of his sister appeared in front of him, covering Petbe’s form. Then it was Lucifer’s figure.
His mind snapped, letting Petbe fall to the floor with her hips. She tried to kill them. Maybe she was forced to. Maybe she was not and liked the idea of killing. But she was still…
‘’I am sorry’’Ukko gasped, turning back.
‘’Don’t be’’Hephaestus moved their hand up and down, calming Ukko from his panicked thoughts. As he turned back to the girl to apologize, he found her smiling beneath her tears, sticking her tongue out.
Mordred’s steps, silent to the room, approached Petbe with both of his pistols pointing at her head, perfectly.
‘’How about no shedding blood’’Hephaestus pushed both of them out of the way and walked behind Petbe.
‘’She doesn't know anything’’The chain is loose and the girl gasping for air.
‘’And she is too afraid of a priest’’
‘’I am not’’Petbe disagreed with a pout.
‘’Tell yourself that, you might believe it too. " They patted her head as their lips had a big grin. A snarky one.
‘’ I am not close to him to know everything’’Petbe laughed.
‘’Then who is?’’Hephaestus stood up with the help of their cane. Petbe’s smile faded instantly.
‘’I..’’Petbe stuttered. ‘’None’’
‘’Are they scaredy cats like you?’’ Hephaestus asked, confused.
‘’She is not’’ Petbe shouted with a flustered face.
‘’So it’s a girl’’Hephaestus sighed amused. ‘’We are getting somewhere’’ They tapped their fingers to their knees. Petbe gasped her pale face becoming even more red like a strawberry.
‘’Did you know that it takes one heartbeat for a bullet to travel from the pistol to your heart?’’ Their tone snapped all excited as few of their words were in the Diyu dialect and a smile that kept Ukko worried. His eyes turned to Mordred whose hands were slightly shaking. They were as much shocked as he was by Hephaestus' actions.
‘’They are crazy’’ Ukko whispered, surprised with chills hitting down his spine.
‘’Or idiots, '’Mordred continued.
‘’I know violence does not work’’ Hephaestus said to her with a burned rasp. ‘’You are used to it’’They stretched their wrists. ‘’But let’s find out if you are used to losing your life shall we?’’ They looked back to Mordred who snapped from the same shock as Ukko.
His mind looked back on what happened. He went inside the area with Lucifer. Walking to the marketplace, they found a fake necklace. A girl with a helm offered them a place to stay. At the same place where she got abducted. The girl. The girl worked with the priest. Ukko had fallen asleep but he could hear a crowd of people taking Lucifer away. But he didn’t. Because there was only one. The girl. Why should a priest trust a simple girl to take an entire job alone? Unless.
‘’I know how she looks’’ Ukko snapped from his thoughts.
Petbe nodded, disagreeing with him.
‘’I have money to give you’’ Ukko told the girl. ‘’Just tell us where to find…’’
‘’I will never betray her’’
Ukko took a slight back and looked at Hephaestus as they heard her shout clearer of all. There was a mere second of regret. Regretting that they pushed her to talk. Regret that they had to be the ones to.
‘’You won’t’’Hephaestus stretched their wrists, speaking shakily. ‘’We just want to talk to her. No betrayal’’
The girl looked them in the eyes and then back to Ukko and the brooding man. Back to Hephaestus. This time they were forcing a kind smile with their eyes shining from warmth.
Her eyes, kept the color of fear deep inside them as she managed to speak once more. This time, cooperating.
Petbe took a deep breath. ‘’His daughter’’She gasped. This time her voice, was broken and she spit on the floor as she tried to stand up with her hands.
‘’I can send you to her but I do not promise that she will help you’’
After that, Petbe was gone. And Mordred moved their hand to their white mask, groaning to Hephaestus.
‘’You are stupid’’ They complained.
‘’Sorry’’Hephaestus lifted their hands, surrendering but their grin still intact.
‘’You think that you can trust her’’ He asked.
Hephaestus moved their hands lower and Ukko noticed something peculiar in their eyes. Something that without their smile could not figure out. Fear.
The threats would not work for the girl. To a girl that she grew up with violence as punishment. And probably so did the girl they were going to meet. This time, they had to be smart. And Hephaestus proved that they could do that part.
‘’They did great’’ Ukko moved his arm around Hephaestus’s shoulder, encouraging them.
Ukko looked at the masked person with a glare. And then at his hands. The silver mark was covered again with the gloves. He hoped to see what emotions he was hiding behind the clay object. Was he mad? Was he smiling? Crying?
‘’If you don’t find your friend it is on them’’Mordred pointed at Hephaestus. Ukko shook a no, feeling the heat of the gunsmith’ back.
‘’She will try to find us too’’ He said. ‘’She is far too stubborn’’