A wicked smile forms on Kamen's face, one that would send a chill down anyone's spine.
"So with this,
I can fully grow into my true potential." "I say, looking down at the book."
"Sigh, I guess you can say that, but I'm not sure that it's necessary, fortunately."
Confusion forms on my face. "What do you mean? Won't this help me out greatly?" I say it with assurance.
Jasmine stammers. "I-it would. However, based on what I can sense in you, this would only turn you into a true monster. Something that this really doesn't need."
"Let's say I did read this and fully grow to the maximum; how strong would I be?" I say it with a grin. Jasmine looks at me and asks, 'Should I really have shown him this?'
"If, and this is a big if... If, by chance, you did reach your full potential and reached your maximum, I'd say that you could easily be categorized as an 'END being'."
"What do you mean by END being?" I don't think I've heard of this classification." I truly lack understanding.
"It's basically when a being has enough power to destroy the world, bring it to a new horizon, and let the planet start again. There are instances of this in various religions and mythologies. She explained enough that I could understand.
As if to ponder this, I place my hand on my chin.
A wicked smile appears on my face. "This is wonderful; I've always wanted to be an all-powerful being. Not really, but it is in the top 10 of my wants."
Jasmine cracks her neck as if a huge weight is now resting on her shoulders. "I knew this was a bad idea. Well, anyway, Kamen—or maybe I should call you a monster. This has been great; I'll give you what you want."
A great strength of knowledge enters my mind; I can see everything that Jasmine has seen over the thousands of years she's been 'alive'. I search my thoughts, and I still can't find who or what took my parents.
"It doesn't matter." I think of myself. "I'll find them one day and make whoever took them pay."
Everything turns black, and I awaken on the ground in front of the tree. "I really hate that feeling." "I really hate that feeling," I say as I roll my neck to break the tension and turn to face everyone staring at me.
"Don't look at me like I'm a piece of meat you want, you sickos!" I say it out loud with my hand in front of my face, feigning embarrassment . "Jesus, sometimes I wonder why I'm still with you." Alistair says this while rubbing his head and sighing.
Jenny runs up to me and hugs me tight. "How was the world tree?" You never told me what the others looked like."
I clear my throat before answering.
"Ugly, absolutely ugly." As I finish my sentence, a branch from the tree strikes me in the back of my head. Turning around, I stare at the tree. "I'm only kidding, you know that." I'm thinking about Jasmine.
Sighing I look down at the ground, and thoughts of my parents flood my mind. Seeing this, Jenny puts her hand on my back. "What's wrong, Kamen?"
"My parents are still alive. "I don't know where they are or whether they're still safe, but they're alive." I say this as I look into Jenny's eyes.
She looks at me, shocked by what she just heard. "How is that possible? From what I saw and heard, they were dead."
I look at Jenny with confusion and a slight ping of anger. "What do you mean,'saw''?" Anger creeping into my voice.
Jenny looks worried. " I was there when I saw them die, or at least I thought they died. I didn't know they survived."
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"Master, I think she's lying." Ruby speaks up, sensing deceit.
I look at Ruby, then back at Jenny. "Are you telling me the truth, Jenny?" Anger fully taking over. Pulling her even closer. "Tell...Me.....Now...." The anger in my voice slowly distorts into something more evil and sinister.
She gulps, her head slowly dripping with sweat. "It's just.... Yes, they are alive; I won't deny that. But I'm under an oath. I can't say anything else, Kamen. "Please believe me; I would if I could." Jenny says she is pleading with me.
"So you knew this all along, and you never told me anything." I thought I trusted you. We made love, Jennifer!" I screamed, and my body began to radiate dark energy. Everyone senses this and tries to intervene.
"Please, Kamen; she says that she was under oath." I agree that it was wrong of her to not let you know. But please, don't do anything drastic." Elizabeth says she is stepping in front of me. Looking into her eyes, my anger slowly starts to deflate.
"Fine, but don't think this is over, Jennifer." Turning around and walking away, I say.
Jenny was in shock. Kamen had never used her full first name before. "I messed up big time." She says she is looking down, full of sadness.
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Somewhere in the underworld
We see a man approaching a cell housing two humans. The man bangs against the metal cell. "Wake up you two; it's feeding time." As he drops the food into the cell, the man says this. The man and woman look down at the food and slowly get up. "I really miss him, Richard." The woman said this as she reached out for a piece of bread that was on the plate. The bread looked old and stale, but it was better than nothing. The woman takes a bite of the bread and winces at how hard it is.
"I know Marie; I miss him too." I wish we could've seen him go through high school; I miss everything about him. If only I could have him in my arms one last time. I wouldn't mind dying." The man says this, and he reaches for the other piece of bread.
Richard starts thinking about the past—the last day they were on earth with his son. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the wind was on the mild side—not too strong but not too weak—so there wouldn't be a breeze.
He sees his son running around in the grass in their backyard, trying to catch their dog. Richard was so happy that Kamen was alert and always active.
"Hey buddy, it's time to go in; Mom's made dinner for us."
Kamen turns around with a smile on his face. "Yessss! I'm so hungry!!!"
He runs into the house, eager to eat whatever his mother has made him. Marie turns around and sees Kamen running towards her. She bends down, picks him up, and gives him a bear hug.
"Hey there, sweetie. I hope you're extra hungry. I made hamburgers tonight." Marie smiled as she looked at him.
A cell phone rings. Richard picks it out of his pocket, looks at it, and sighs. "Honey, it looks like we have another job headed our way."
Marie looks back at Richard. "Oh. What kind of job is it?" She inquires without appearing suspicious. Richard looks over at Kamen, who is eating his hamburger, and smiles, showing beef in his teeth.
The man sighs. "It's another one in NG; it would seem that there are a few vampires that are running amuck, and someone has sent out a letter for them."
Marie looks down at Kamen and frowns. "How long do you think it will take?" Richard shakes his head. "I'm not sure, Marie; it could take a couple of months or it could take a week."
"Hey buddy, Mom and Dad are going out for a bit, okay? Your best friend, Jennifer, is coming over to spend some time with you while we're gone. I hope that's fine with you." As he gives Kamen a big hug, Richard explains.
The door bell rings. Marie goes over to open the door. Outside the door, Jenny is very excited to be spending more time with Kamen.
"We are going to have so much fun! I hope you guys are safe on your trip." Jenny says this as she hugs both of Kamen's parents.
Marie and Richard both smile, as does Jenny. "We know you guys will have lots of fun together. Just please be safe, Jennifer; he still doesn't know what you are." Marie whispers to Jenny.
Jenny nods her head in excitement. "I will, I promise!"
"We're leaving, buddy; just remember we love you a lot." As he and Marie leave the house, Richard says this to Kamen.
Outside the house, Marie and Richard run towards their car and head to their headquarters.
They pull up to a building that looks like a bank but is the secret headquarters of the Hybrid Humanoid Agency.
Richard sighs. "I wish we could leave this life; each mission becomes more and more dangerous. If something happens to us, what will happen to Kamen?"
Marie puts her hand on his shoulder. "Everything will be alright, Richard. I have faith that nothing will happen. It should be a normal job; nothing too risky."
Richard nods before exiting the car and heading inside.
Inside, the bank looks ordinary and bland. The walls are porcelain and shiny, with pillars holding the building together. Behind the counter stands a man.
"We're here for the job." Richard says to the man:.
The man looks at Richard and smiles. "Right this way, sir and madam." He leads them to an elevator and presses B for basement.
"How many times is this?" The man asks the couple. "Too many," Marie says while sighing. Reaching the bottom level, the elevator door opens up to a room that is 20 times bigger than the building up above.
"If OSHA knew about this, they would have had a shit fit." Richard laughs out loud as he and Marie walk into the briefing room.