"Bonjour everyone!!! The almighty Python has arrived!!! Bow before the snake that burned the dragon!!!"
His light amber eyes complimented his pale skin. He was wearing a red suit the color of blood and a black tie. The man wore a smile on his face as he approached Jacob and Nicolas.
Around them, low whispers were exchanged by the onlookers. Some wore the same uniforms as the guards at the entrance of the city, while others wore suits or old fashioned clothes. Without exception, everyone was looking at the red dressed man.
'Ugh. I'm not in the mood for his bullshit.'
'A second time today? Quite persistent bastard.'
The man was being decorated with many blessings but he paid no mind to them. His eyes were locked on Jacob.
"Good morning, Python. I hope you had a wonderful day, unlike the snowman standing behind you."
Nicolas wasn't sure how to react to him. He stood behind Jacob and returned the gazes of the people in the nearly silent, claustrophobic room.
The bright lighting of the room made him uncomfortable as all the light he saw the past few days was dim.
The red dressed man raised his left hand as he started to speak again now with a firmer yet just as elated voice.
"Have you considered my proposal, Python? It's not a bad thing to expand your business."
"... Listen, Mikhail. We can talk later or another day. Right now I'm giving a tour to the snowman, so if you don't mind."
Right then, the man named Mikhail scanned Nicolas from head to toes. A look of disbelief overcome his face as he grimaced.
"He seems like walking trouble... If you change your mind come see me after. Enjoy your...tour."
With slight hesitation, Mikhail walked away and disappeared behind a wooden door.
Afterwards, Nicolas grabbed Jacob's shoulder from behind, making him turn to look at him. His white hand pressed the shoulder intensely as he said menacingly.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do...mister Python."
With a sigh, Jacob started explaining. His voice had a tinge of boredom, as if he'd done that again.
"Hooo. Okay, listen closely. I'm going to say this only once because I have a...how do they say it?...an assembly, with the blondie."
Nicolas got closer to Jacob. Cold and his eyes full of distrust yet anticipation, he scrutinized Jacob's every facial expression change.
"This might sound weird and you will probably think that I'm nuts, but that's the truth... At least what I know. There are people with some kind of energy that use it to create supernatural things. Those people are mentally unstable... They're somewhat crazy in other words. A couple make unreasonable judgments and the rest are just bipolar."
With a move of his hands he brought his worn-out watch close to his eyes and immediately turned around. The time was 8 hours and 3 minutes.
"Oh. Gotta go. Hope you don't have any questions because I don't have time. I brought you here so you can meet some people similar to you. Have fun making friends."
He waited for a reply from Nicolas for five seconds before he disappeared in the crowd.
Nicolas had nearly opened his mouth and was looking blankly at the place Jacob had been standing. He remained stunned for a full minute until he was brought back to his senses and muttered a few words.
'He's crazy... Ugh. Fuck this. I'm out of here.'
I won't stay in this stinking city and crawl like a rat, a coward, while the persons that framed me are walking freely aboveground,on their own two feet and live a life of luxury. I'll fuck them over and kill them these sons of bitches.
With that resolve, Nicolas headed towards the exit to leave. He was completely unaware that Jacob had been staring at him this whole time from a distance. Jacob hadn't followed Mikhail at all.
*
Nicolas had already taken whatever he had left at his room, which was not a lot since he had no luggage or anything of the kind, and arrived at the checkpoint. His clothes were now grey and he had cleaned his face.
This place was one and the same but nervousness had filled the air. The market beside had turned silent. It was suffocatingly different from the lively market from before. The few people on the street were whispering - their eyes full of fear.
Nicolas immediately asked the guard but the answer he got only piqued his interest even more.
"Check it yourself outside."
His unpleasant expression made Nicolas silent. He took the things he'd left behind when he got to Atlantis and then left. He entered the stinky sewers once more and was immediately welcomed by its pleasant smell.
It smells worse than shit... And I'm gonna puke.
The very next second he supported himself on the wall as his head faced downwards. His mouth opened and then he spasmodically vomited his breakfast.
"Retch"
Normally he would've been alright but he felt nauseous today for some unknown reason.
At least no one is near-
No sooner than he finished this thought, Nicolas saw a pair of shoes accompanied by a pair of legs, a meter away from him. He slowly rose his eyes and he saw him - he saw Jacob.
"... Didn't you have some business, Jacob or should I say Python or should I say I'm leaving. Have fun with your mentally ill and psychopath friends."
Nicolas straightened up, wiping his mouth with his naked hand. Following that, he passed by Jacob who stood there with a slightly displeased expression but keeping his cool he replied to Nicolas.
"... You're my business... I didn't bring you here for a fun tour or to keep you or any other bullshit reason. I brought you here because you're special and I need you... In other words do you want to work for me?"
Jacob extended his hand towards Nicolas and patiently awaited his response.
Meanwhile Nicolas was in deep thought, taking him a few seconds to understand this situation - completely that is.
"What you need isn't myself, but my power. It all makes sense. Why you gather people similar to me. Why you need all of that firepower. Why you brought me here in the first place...
It's because of the fucking Chinese, cause of the fucking Americans, cause of the fucking government!"
Without wasting a moment Jacob cut in on his monologue - unintentionally raising his voice alongside Nicolas'.
"But I can offer you nearly anything you want! After all, I'm at the top of the food chain now. The only thing above is the government."
Jacob took a deep breath and regained his calmness. His eyes locked on to Nicolas full of determination and confidence. Nicolas stared at him silently with a serious gaze - his eyes unyielding.
"I'll give you a million right now and one hundred thousand per month, on top of other services of course. What do you say? Pretty tempting right?"
The moment Jacob finished Nicolas turned around and walked slowly towards where he thought was the exit of the sewers. He didn't even give it a second to think it through.
"Bye bye, Jacob. It was nice seeing you even for a short time."
As Nicolas started getting further and further away Jacob sighed defeated.
"Are you sure you want to leave? There are quite a few dangerous persons out there. What are you gonna do all alone in the middle of the city while being a criminal?"
"Hmmm... I guess you wouldn't understand. First of all, I'm not a materialistic person. Secondly, you gave me a great idea previously.
If there are people with all kinds of supernatural powers, why shouldn't there also be someone who can wield the power of death, life, resurrection and such. With it I will get her back- my lover, your sister."
And then he calls them phychos... I'm having a headache.
Jacob was looking at Nicolas' back as he was nearing a turn. He could almost feel him smiling with his eyes glowing blue. But then Nicolas turned and started walking backwards.
At that moment Jacob saw his eyes. They were the same old pale blue eyes whose purity was unmatched but they weren't glowing. At the same time, Nicolas had a faint smile on his face, a smile so normal yet so sinister that made his blood run cold. Nicolas wasn't affected by his abnormal condition. These were his true thoughts and feelings.