亚洲综合中美

“No,” he crawled from what seemed to be a cozy hole in a swimming motion, setting sun’s hue hit the man’s vibrant red hair into a reddish-orange. He stood, shy a few inches off the railing, arms in the air and stress on the face, “-who are you, the devil?”

“Doth thee wish for mine true title?”

“...”

“Then, no can do,” he smiled, “-your guardian deity, your founder, the daughter of Rah, Intherna – is very much present. Her strength grows on each day spent in a realm of true power.”

“Lord Igna,” said the hectic fellow, “-I need to know,” he leaned, “-I want to know more about my legacy.”

“Then,” the kept smile kindled, “-council of wisemen. What is thy decision on the way Marinda should move forward?” he glanced to the side, located a cloaked figure, and pointed, “-you, I smell of the blood of Xinfe from here,” he laughed, “-did thee run for the council as to halt thy end?” the hoodie pulled and from within came a beautifully dressed lady – her hair was blue as the ocean, the eyes, lighter in hue, added texture to her sharp jaw and rounded nose, she gritted, the dimples added a hint of maturity, “-why must you interfere,” she vaulted over the railing, climbed the throne and leaned with an arm on her waist and another in a stern finger, “-will the end of Marinda suffice thy lust?”

.....

“Though I appreciate a strong will woman,” he glared and pushed, her body flung across and crashed onto the first curtained seat, “-I very much disapprove of those who willingly display disrespect,” the crowd gawked in awe, there laid a sudden pressure drop.

“Lord Igna,” motioned the speaker, fear overlapped his visage, “-the lady is the daughter of island’s guardian,” as he said so, her blue-ocean hair cracked into splashes of water, her wounds healed and took another step, the water gathered at her feet and channeled into raw essence.

“Father is going to be angry,” she smiled.

“You were set up,” fired Gustv, “-Lord Igna, run!” he brazenly announced, the crowd, on another look, were gone. A gust blew, exposed the remainder seats, and inside were none but emptiness. A greater aura of doom hovered behind; a pillar of water lain with rock fragments spiraled.

“So much for being smart,” snickered the lady, “-I won’t stand by and allow you to hurt my love’s family. I will save the Xinfe name and prove my love to Djen.”

“Deary me,” he listlessly rose from the seat and turned, wings sprouted – the throne shattered, and he hovered to a land. A vague outline stood before a growing tornado reaching the skies, lightning echoed.

“Cthulhu,” he walked nonchalantly, “-listen here, it’s me,” the bicolored pupils turned purple, “-doth thee wish to be starved for the rest of thine life or answer to that brat’s whim?” the tornado dried, the sky cleared instantly – as for the outline, it took on a more recognizable appearance – long hair grew from the head of a beautiful man/woman, there was no telling for it held no similarities to either sex or known races.

“I-Igna,” it stuttered and walked – leaving behind muddy footsteps, “-helloooo,” the tone dipped throughout the greeting.

“Not much control over the body,” he opened his arm invitingly, “-come ‘ere.” They locked in a tight embrace, “-good on you to show up. Tell me, friend, what happened?”

“My d-da-daughter, help?”

“You mean her?” he threw a thumb over the shoulder, “-don’t worry, she’s strong, she’s your daughter. I guess I might have pushed her a little hard.”

“Igna hurt my family?”

“No, it’s called a love tap,” he smiled, “-come on, buddy, would you fight me?” the purple regard pulsed, “-you know as well as I do if we were to fight earnestly, stability of the worlds may be jeopardized.”

The still na?ve Cthulhu, unassuming to the world’s ways, blinked emotionlessly, “-no more hurting my daughter?”

“If she gets in my way, then I might hurt her, just a little?”

“Okay,” he nodded, “-just a little, don’t hurt her too much.”

“I won’t,” they laughed. “-Head on home,” said Igna wrapping his arm around the guardian deity, “-listen, Celestials tried to use your daughter to manipulate you into killing me. Be wary about them,” he warned, “-get used to the body and learn to speak properly. There may come a time where we face a combined army – when that day comes, I’ll need you by my side, friend.”

“Understood,” he said, “-I will be ready,” they shook hands and the spirit dissolved into a puddle. Igna spun on his heels and glanced at the daughter, “-father will be angry?” he returned in jest, “-don’t be a fool.”

She ran from the elevated seats and dropped shy of the arena, her hands and legs tied by white-glowing elemental chains bound to the arena wall, “-father didn’t-”

“Why would he kill the man who has kept him alive for all this time? Daughter for naught, thee didn’t realize how much pain he suffers on a daily. The tentacles are stretched from realm to realm, I don’t dare imagine the sufferance. To soothe his pain, I offered a little something I made, a painkiller, a drug,” he smirked, “-till the day arrives where the monster ought to be let loose from the shackles set by gods and demons alike, I’ll make sure he lives painlessly.”

Devasted, the lass lowered her head, the chains unbound and the arms dropped. Her soles turned to water, the body followed afterward; in the end, nothing save a puddle marked her appearance. Up the wall, a petrified speaker sat with rolled eyes and saliva down the chin.

“Lord Igna,” gasped Gustv, “-please, tell me more about Goddess Intherna, I want to know more, I need to know more!”

“Quit the begging,” he hailed the skies, a floating manor broke the clouds, rope ladders dropped – the shadows on the arena were frightening, “-climb,” he ordered, “- I have a few things I must settle.”

Night grew into a darker atmosphere. Inhabitants enjoyed warm meals beside a kindly lit lantern. Music performed live, lined the seats of a renowned and expensive pub, centered on the road leading to the castle. Located in the upper district, a place for the elite, separated by a drop in height(a sharp cliff) – they lived above the rest. Access was through lifts or escalators dug inside the precipice. The latter, outside, was carved expertly by craftsmen and bore various pieces, portraits, and family crests.

The musically inclined pub blitz the ballroom, couples, and younger folks, taken by the music and rhythm, lost themselves. Igna shortly appeared at the front door. The tunes muffled outside, ‘-clearer streets and beautiful buildings,’ he observed, ‘-guess I forgot to take in the scenery after the manor was built.’

Two guards with features to bears spoke with chest, “-who stands there?”

“The Devil,” said Igna leisurely taking steps. Shades covering the figure rose as he approached, “-good evening, gentlemen,” he charmingly said.

“Never seen you around here before,” added the stronger man.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” he reached down one hand and pulled the sleeve, “-here’s my symbol of power,” he showed the crests of Kronos, Nike, Origin, and Death, “-does this suffice?”

“A Celestial,” gulped the second, “-please, my lord, we’re happy to welcome.”

Igna took the first few steps, stopped at the middle, and scanned both, “-if I were you, I’d skip tonight,” gold coins summoned above the palm, “-here, tis a treat on me. Go enjoy the night, I heard the Ava brothel’s brought new ladies from the volcano,” the tone shadily lowered, “-I heard they’re celestials.”

“Celestials?” the noses sniffed as did the ears, “-with pleasure,” rage flashed the corner of the fierce socket, “-let’s go, we ought to teach ’em who’s boss.”

“Right with you.”

‘Temptation,’ he stopped at the handle, ‘-I think I’m truly becoming the devil?’ the straight-face greatened in a smile, ‘-so much for staying away from religious texts. Well,’ he pushed, a blast of sweat, fun, and booze sprinted outside.

At the bar, kept deeper into the pub, sat two men, “-our family’s going to die.”

“Don’t be pessimistic. We lost the battle, not war. I made sure the wisemen knew who I represented. That imbecile brat of mine is set on pursuing those miscreants from Danio. He has a living demi-goddess vowing for his affection, they marry and we’ll easily shoot through the ranks. The imbecile doesn’t understand.”

“But Uncle, why not force the marriage?”

“We can’t. It’ll be in bad faith, word spreads quickly.”

“What about the devil, he’ll come to collect?”

“No, I don’t think he’ll survive the meeting,” the empty seat suddenly held a patron, “-I made a promise to her. If she succeeds, Djen’s hand will be hers. I don’t care about him anymore, the Xinfe familia will rise from the ashes again, and I’ll make sure Marinda knows who they’re facing.”

“Good idea,” added the new patron. The disheveled head of Xinfe turned with a smile, “-see, someone else agrees, “-get him an ale on me.”

“-my, Lord Fife, thou art much a sponge for ale.”

“By god,” the drunken stupor vanished, “-you’re him...”

“In the flesh,” he rose the mug, “-and I very much appreciate the drink,” turned to the side, “-shall we discuss business, my lord?” Fife looked sideways, the feet and hands itched for action, “-don’t think of running,” a string rose from the floor and tied around the lord’s feet, “-one move and I’ll take the leg. Refuse and I’ll take your life,” he bolted forth, millimeters from the forehead, “-and thy soul if tis needed.”

“Okay, okay, I yield. What do you want, Lord Igna.”

“Good,” the tone turned friendly,” -a few drinks here,” he ordered.

Time passed in haunting silence. Igna drank with back against the bar counter and face on the dancing crowd, “-look at them,” he said after a few minutes, “-enjoying their time, just like us, wouldn’t you say?”

“...” nothing but fear, the duo drank, the expression laid on the verge of crying. “Tough crowd,” he sipped, “-Lord Fife, as you know, the army, the air supremacy tied to the Xinfe Familia has been smothered and crushed. The outcomes are the same save a little change in plans. Instead of taking the family’s crest, I want the leadership to be swapped over to the young Djen. He will lead the family hereon. I’m sure you know,” the string turned snake and bite, “-I’ve injected a poison. It won’t kill, but it’ll certainly make you feel like you were dead. Long as my orders are obeyed, you’ll be free to live a relatively peaceful life, that much is my promise. All your resources, political contacts, and favors will be mine – in other words, you’re mine, I own you.”

“If I refuse?”

“Let’s see,” he looked around, “-there, that’s your niece,” he rose a hand, “-she’s pretty, and has a good future ahead of her. God forbid,” at that instant, a decorative piece from the ceiling dropped and sliced her cheeks, the music cut and the crowd panicked, “-if something were to happen to her,” the nephew ran into the crowd after his sister. “-Today it’s a few inches away, tomorrow, or the day after, one by one, I’ll make certain the family falls slowly and painfully. The hate of the natives, they love the see Celestial’s crash and burn. Imagine her, the pretty face, in a brothel at the edge of town – ravaged by monsters, tortured for pleasure, and stoned for being part of your family. Sickening, isn’t it?” he sipped, “-well, dear ‘ol Fife, tis what lies in the future.”

“Fine... I’ll do what you want.”

“Good, first order of business,” he leaned onto the counter and looked at one of the private rooms, “-inside there sits the general of the Danio familia,” a weapon summoned above Fife’s thighs, “-take that, go in there, and shoot.”

“K-K-Kill a-a m-man?”

“Yeah,” he cheered, “-onward to Death.”