Chapter Two - The Deal, Part Two - Asuya
After leaving the strange dungeon we were taken to, Kiname and I headed to the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel using a taxi. I had money left over from before my slumber and paid cash, but the cash was left in a lockbox used for the company. That's where we went first, so I could pay the cab driver. Then I purchased a shared room for the night, Kiname had his bed and I had mine. Thankfully, the vampire blood that was all over us turned to ash, so we didn't get flagged for police or that rather annoying detective, Walter Dowell.
He let me shower first, but he seemed... confused by this. "You know we don't need to do things like that right? With what we are made out of, showering is just for humans. We don't accumulate such things on our skin and inside our bodies," he commented.
I paused when hearing that. "...Is that so? Well, I still enjoy the feeling of water upon my skin." I didn't say this part out loud and he probably caught it, but it also made me feel sexy to shower. It didn't take me long to finish my shower as he was right, I never carried an unpleasant scent for as long as I could remember. I had my hair wrapped and my body wrapped, both in the towels provided by the hotel and even that, Kiname seemed confused again as I sat down on his bed for the moment. We had a nice room: Two beds that felt very comfortable, a widescreen TV, a strange set of windows that seemed pushed outward to have a better look at the city view even while closed, a bunch of lamps, one on each nightstand and one standing lamp and a small table with two chairs. It even smelled nice, as if they got all of the cigarette smell out of it from times when smoking was allowed.
"You know we have absolute control over water, right? Do you really know nothing of your abilities?" His question carried a bit of frustration in his tone. "Our species, we were created with this paradox, this... power called "Munakou". It allows us to have ineffible control over four aspects: Water, Void, Chaos and Dimensional. The speed you used when fighting those undead? Innately, you were using dimensional energies. I was using void as I have more talent with void than the others."
I see this was going to be exposition for me as I didn't know diddly squat about my powers. I was just using what I needed to survive all these years, but I did need to know more. "There's a catch isn't there?"
"Ah, so you felt it? Yes, we have to manage our temperature. We also have to manage our aspect levels as well as Mithic energies. That's Mithic with an 'i'. It may sound like a lot, but once you've opened up to your powers, it will come natural to you, sis," he answered, then gave a little sigh. "Here, let me show you something." With that, he stretched his hand out and with a soft glow surrounding it, the water in my towels began to flow from them, before the water would dissipate in the air. "I'm not as talented with water as I am void, but you get the idea."
"It seems I am just... a late bloomer, Kiname. I don't feel a connection to such things," I scoffed after a wildly surprised expression on my face! I was impressed with that water ability!
He stared at me for a moment, then a hint of a smile appeared on his face. He had this perfect kempt goatee and it accented the smile he gave, before he asked a question he asked before. "What is with the accent again?"
I chuckled. "Well, as I said, I learned from a woman named Anna Bingley. She taught at Girton College way back when. I never lost the accent since..." Now I had a question and it was a valid one. "Where did you learn English?"
He paused a moment, both of us now feeling a sense of dread when I asked that question. "...I'd rather not talk about it."
Seems I hit a nerve, so I didn't pry any further on that subject. He stared at me for a long moment while I sat there on his bed and slowly reached for my face with both hands! I blinked and asked, "What're you doing?"
He smiled once again and said, "Just... trust me? There is a lot of things I need to show you and this is the easiest way to do it."
I stared at him for a long moment, my abilities were telling me to relax. My reflexes to grab his hands settled and I kept my hands in my lap as I watched him take hold of my face. I noticed that he had smaller claws than I did, probably a feature of male Sil. He was teasing me like big brothers do to their little sisters or at least that's what I thought at first, but then, my sight was not my own! I saw this beautiful place filled with flowers, but these flowers were not native to Earth! They had this glow to them and while I stood there, I felt so much energy flowing through me! The sky was blue, a hue of blue that could never be here on Earth, because the sky had a blue sun and it looked so far away compared to how Earth's sun set in the sky. It almost looked like some sort of calm event horizon of some sort with strange pink clouds in the sky. I began to remember things that I had no memory of: What our power actually was, how to use all of it---this was a rush and I wanted more!
Then there were five shards that were a glowing bluish color and this... woman surrounded by lights hid from a man surrounded in darkness. I knew these five shards to be "The Original Five". They were Sil hidden away from the man surrounded in darkness, one I received a malicious feeling from. It seems they were awake now and it was Kiname that found them. It was incredible to see other Sil! We all had the same type of glowing blue irises with no distinguishing pupils, but with slightly different details within and we all had varying colors of hair within the spectrum of white, black or red. It was as if they just appeared like past memories Kiname held of them: Majen was shorter than most male Sil, about five-eleven. He was skinny, muscular and looked powerful with faded red hair. His wife was standing next to him, Obora, who was short as well, about five-ten with a more deep red hair. She was definitely smaller than I am in bust, but still had that signature Sil muscularity. She was very cute, clinging onto Majen, but something told me not to underestimate her. Terin, whom my brother married it seemed, was a tall woman, but not as tall as I am. She was six-two with a lighter grey-black hair, slender and had a bust that rivaled my own, same Sil muscular build and was quite beautiful. Aijen and Sesshin appeared next and looked as if married as well. The wife, Aijen stood six-three, an inch under my height with white hair that had hints of red in it and Sesshin was taller and bigger than Kiname, around six-eight with completely white hair. Sesshin was quiet and hard to read, whilst Aijen gave a genuine smile. I did not wake up from this strange cluster of memories Kiname was feeding me, because I had someone else to meet as well.
Next, there was a powerful being that stood with a flamboyant stature, but a very tall one, at least eight feet if not more. He had beautiful sparkling blue skin, glowing green raiments affixed in asymmetrical ways and bright yellow hair that also was aglow with power. It was as if he held miniature galaxies within his hands and that surrounded them like an aura and his feet were aflame with a green glow. I knew his name to be Dimiki, Mithic of Tricks and Illusions through Kiname's memories, however, went off the rails! He was actually staring at me, not as a memory of Kiname! That caused my heart to beat even faster than it normally does, because he even smiled, before disappearing in crackling green flames.
At this moment, Kiname finally released me and I stared at him with a bewildered expression. This made him chuckle a bit. "I know this is a lot to take in, sis. Those are the only Sil left and---" I cut him off. "I know, you were very thorough in letting me know the deal."
We had a habit of doing this since we met; we sat in silence just looking each other over. We both were just happy to see each other after such a long time! "What in the bloody hell, Kiname? Why did you show me this? I am glad I have a people now, but what is my part in all of this?" He stared without saying anything for a long moment this time and even if that was our habit now, I needed answers, so I frowned. "Kiname, what are you not telling me?"
Kiname frowned at me in return, before he sighs. "Dimiki... he wants you to be the Sil Queen. He says that while Sil are shards of the broken Mithic, Dalada, you are her main shard. You are her, technically."
I took a moment to process what he said. "Are you serious right now?" I asked in rhetoric, because I knew he was serious. He stared at me with that same pensive, stern expression, saying nothing. I actually smiled and that took him off-guard. In fact, I chuckled and explained why I smiled, "Y'know, Anna said I was destined for great things, but this? This takes it all the way to the top. I must admit, however, I'm not ready for something like that."
Kiname tilted his head to his right, a habit that we both seemed to share. "Dimiki wants to train you in something he calls 'The Queen's Trials'... he didn't give me any details and the other Sil don't know anything about this either. Terin, since I'm married to her now, you and I. That's all. That is how you will be ready to become our queen, Asuya."
I squinted my eyes at Kiname. "When do I go and how long will I be gone?" I asked with mild curiosity.
Kiname smiled. "It doesn't matter. Where Sil go, if it is in other realms or dimensions, a day you spend there is a minute anywhere else, by Earth measurements. The realm or dimension has little say in how time works for us."
I blinked to that revelation. That was actually incredible! "So... we're basically omnipresent, in a sense?" I asked with a sense of awe in my voice.
Kiname gave a light shrug. "What did you expect as we are beings created from the shards of a Shattered Mithic? Now that you know what I know through my memories, you know the scale of a Mithic in power." He smirks, before adding, "Though I do see you have some things to do first. Your company and employees don't deserve the mafia ties, so what are you going to do?"
I smiled a bit in reaction to how nice it was of my brother to consider my company and employees. I looked to the ceiling for a moment, using my breath to blow my hair from my face after taking off the towel that wrapped my hair. "I have evidence against the Gambini crime family, but it's circumstantial. I'm hoping to turn them to my side... cut ties with illegal activities. Sure, they'd make much more running guns, but they would avoid the illegality of it all."
Kiname continued to smirk at me, now with a more wry expression. I interrupted anything he was going to say, because his thoughts reached me first. "I know! He's not going to go for it and I'm going to have to wipe them out, but I have to try, Kiname." With a sigh, I look to my right at nothing in particular, due to frustration. "For now, let's rest. I've noticed we only need five hours."
Kiname nodded. "Alright," he said with slight exhaustion in his voice. With that, I got off of his bed and into my own bed... giggled a little, because of how cozy it was and lay there, thinking about Kiname's memories. I could feel my power now: Water, Void, Chaos and Dimensional. This was going to be a big responsibility, but for some reason, deep within myself, I could feel I was ready for this now. Perhaps, Kiname was right. I am the "main shard" of this Dalada person.
Time would tell.
Chapter Two - The Deal, Part Two - Harold White
I found myself sitting in Bobby's office. He had one of those dark offices with a bunch of books that he likely never read, bust statues and fake plants, because goodness knows he'd never water real ones. Thank the stars he didn't have any of Asuya's mind reading powers or he'd likely kill me for thinking all of this!
He was staring at his desk, sitting there with his hands clasped together with his elbows on the desk planner, saying nothing. This time, he was smoking a cigar. Seemed he liked these best, especially since they were the illegal kind. I could tell his men were outside, listening for anything their boss was going to say---and to be honest, so was I. He was just sitting there, quiet. I fidgeted and he looked up from his desk, dead at me and asked, "Did you know about dis? Dis... supa-broad with gigantic breasts and long stems?"
I paused. I did know about Asuya, but in passing. I thought she would be dead by now! Who knew she was some sort of supernatural creature! I kinda ignored what he said about her breasts, even if it was kinda true, but they were so not-fake looking and perfectly shaped! "Bobby, y'gotta know that I didn't know she was some sort of jumped-up super-creature that can catch desert eagle bullets! Who could have anticipated that?!"
He frowned at me. "So you did know and didn't think ta tell me?! ...Dis... dis bitch owns da company that I've been takin' from you?!" I found it a little funny he just out and said he was stealing the company from me, though he was making me nervous right now. Since I was wearing casual dress clothing now, I hid a candy bar in my shirt pocket and pulled it out to eat it. He looked at me with wild anger now, so I put the candy bar back in my shirt.
He started to pace now. "There's gotta be more ah dem creatures out there... I just gotta find one that works as a hitman, one that can kick that broad's snobby ass!" he exclaimed with that loud anger of his. I would have laughed if I was not the one in the presence of his yelling. I also didn't think Asuya was snobby at all. I thought she was gorgeous, cute and a little funny, though a little bland in personality. I had to give my two cents---I hope I don't regret it. "Mister Gambini, perhaps you could just... make a deal with her? Perhaps, you two could work together to make the company a success?"
He looked at me with this strange look in his eye. "Get outta here before I shoot y'fat ass!" I blinked and stood up, scrambling out of the door, to which, revealed his men listening in. He saw them and waved them in with a violent motion of his arm. "Get in heeeeeeh!" he yelled. By then, I was outside in the garden. I don't know why, but I started to laugh. Bobby was about to get what was coming to him and I guess I just couldn't help, but find the humor in it. At least Asuya wasn't going to kill me as she already told me what she had planned for me. That brought me a little comfort in all of this. Bobby was right, though. If there are beings like Asuya out there, there has to be some that can fight her, right? If Bobby can find someone like that and kill her... I don't think I'd like that. She wasn't very mean to me, unlike Bobby.
Now, it was snack time. I pulled that candy bar out of my shirt pocket, opened the wrapper and started to chow down, savoring the flavors. Mmm! So good. Chocolate, nougat (not that cheap kind) and caramel (also not that cheap kind)! Well, I hope for Asuya's sake, if Bobby finds someone? She can take whoever it is, because she promised to take care of me and leave me without criminal charges and that, I would appreciate. Bobby? If he doesn't get someone strong, he's probably not getting out of this alive.