“As I see it, I have one vial of cure and three wanting ex-Embracers. I seem to have the opportunity to choose.”
A quick hint of smile on her face. Something he said amused her. Something she knew that he didn’t. It was so obvious that he wondered if it was intentional. A brief hint about another of her hidden cards. “Seems to me you’d want to give it to the one on your side?” she replied.
“I would if someone were. Let’s not lie to ourselves about where everyone stands, Crystal. You and I are playing two different sides of the same coin, but in very different and non-complementary fashions. No. For now, it stays with me. My enemy will be one of my choosing when the time comes, and let me tell you, you’d likely be last on my list.”
“Why show it to me? I know you have it. Why taunt someone like me? There’s nothing to gain.”
“Isn’t there? We both know death for any of you three would be a meaningless gesture. No. I want to keep it for a time I know will do some damage. The time and place of that instance hasn’t played itself out yet, but it will. I just want you to remember what’s on the line. At some point, perhaps you’ll understand.”
“You’re as enigmatic as your father,” she said, stinging with more venom than he thought possible. “Always planning for outcomes he couldn’t see. How many elaborate schemes have you two come up with that never panned out?”
Comparisons to his father were always met with rage. He was not his father. He had never once considered any course of action like Ryu’s. Where was the honor? What was the point? To live so long only to die like a fool. Shameful.
“I’m done with you now. You keep doing as you promised and I will as well. That is all we needed from each other, and that is something we still have.”
“We do,” she agreed.
“Good, then if that is all…”
“It’s not, Izuku.”
He had already risen to leave, preparing to fly off back to the front lines of his war. He looked at her, hand still on the blade at his side. He wasn’t certain he could take much more of her without using it.
“What’s left?” he asked angrily.
“Aryu. What do you plan on doing with him?”
“Ha. You’re very bold, Crystal. Who says I have a plan?”
“Tell me, or we leave here enemies, Izuku. No alliance. No plan.”
“Why? Why throw it all away for an answer I may not even have?”
“I don’t believe you. And even if I did, you will be involved in all of this in some manner still. Why him? Why someone who can do so much damage to you? To everyone in the world?”
“There’s little chance of that. If he gets some heroic idea to kill me man to man, maybe. The only thing worse than a hero with the Shi Kaze is a fool with the Shi Kaze. But the world, Crystal? Shame, shame. You know better. He’s here. He has chosen his own path, and chosen it very well I’d like to add. The tapestry of his fate isn’t spun by me. He’s no threat to the world. I am!”
“He could be if he goes home,” she persisted, knowing she didn’t have what she wanted yet.
“He has no idea where or what home is. Unless you told him?”
“No,” replied Crystal, “that’s not a truth I’m willing to give him.” Izuku believed her.
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, Crystal. It’s interesting that he’s here, but did I have a part in it? No.” He didn’t mention how amazingly overjoyed he was when he first found out about Aryu, like a drop of gold from heaven. He had become a ticket to something so much greater. One of his kind never left their home.
She studied him, searching for any sign he was lying. Although she was the one person who could likely see his treachery, all he could do was smile now. She would find nothing, because there was nothing to find.
This obviously upset her. “I suppose I have to believe you,” she sighed. “You wouldn’t risk losing just for one part of the whole picture.”
“Losing? Not likely. But you’re right of course. It’s unexpected, but these days what isn’t.” He nodded to her, confirming their business together was concluded. “Adieu, Crystal. When next we meet, should that day even come, may it be at the end of all things.”
“Get lost, Izuku. Just the thought of you makes me sick right now.” With one last malicious grin, he flapped his metallic wings and was off into the night.
It seemed everything was still on course; the road had just become a bit bumpier. So is life, he supposed. What other deviations had she set in motion, either against him or in general? Would she even witness his series of masterstrokes now firmly set in place? He hoped so, and he hoped each was more startling to her than the last.
With a last glance to the distant fire below and the guest he’d had at it, he pushed off again and was gone.
HORROR
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Edgar Taft was badly beaten. He was bruised and scarred, his head hurt, and his left leg was heavily wrapped from the battles he’d seen. His dark eyes were flash-burned in places that may never recover and the strength of his broad, stocky frame threatened to leave him on an hourly basis.
He was also grinning from ear to ear.
For weeks they’d fought the relentless hordes of the mechanical army, demons from a time and place he’d been raised to fear
