The Ace

by Majestroke

  The inside of the house reeked of foul breath. And Ryan swore he smelled a faint scent of urine in the air. This was a house for beggars. The more he thought about it, the more he felt like the bastard should pay.

  “I think I need to throw up,” Olsen muttered.

  Braun sighed. “Could you stop crying like a baby for a second?”

  Olsen opened his mouth to speak but then closed again.

  “What?” Braun asked after witnessing his reaction.

  “Nothing.”

  Braun looked directly at his friend’s eyes.

  “Just fucking say it. What the fuck’s wrong?”

  “I think you need to calm down,” Olsen said without piercing his glance away from him, which pissed Braun off.

  “You seem to be getting a lot bold lately you know,” Braun said, advancing towards him so they were nose to nose. “You didn’t seem to be cocky back in the days.”

  Olsen kept looking him in the eyes for a few fleeting seconds before finding his own voice.

  “What can I say? I’ve got tired Braun. All of this about following you and being with you. I need to meet other people. Heck, I don’t even have a girlfriend. I can’t always be with you—”

  Braun pushed him to the wall.

  “Don’t forget whose spending money for your goddamn education.”

  “I know man, but I feel like I am not enjoying this anymore. You know-”

  Braun took a few steps back from him. He needed to rip himself to shreds along with Olsen. The people around him have been pissing him a lot lately. First Adrian then Olsen, even his father seems to be angry about him not heading out to the university.

  “I’m sorry man,” Olsen said, as if reading Braun’s thoughts. “I’m trying hard not to piss you off these days. But I think I can’t sacrifice myself anymore.”

  Braun fisted his arm to aim a punch strong enough to break the boy’s nose when the door of the house creaked open. Both of them froze.

  A blond haired boy with a blazing sword in their hand were staring at them intendedly.

  “Are you one of the people who are supposed to train us?” Braun asked, keeping a slight step back from the door. “As I recall the rule was no weapons.”

  The boy kept staring at them for a few seconds before raising his voice.

  “Where’s Diana?”

  “Who?”

  He advanced forwards, dragging his sword along the dried wood, leaving a trail of fire behind him.

  “I’m going to ask you rich blooded motherfuckers one last time,” the boy pointed the sword at them. “Where is she?”

  “L-look man, we don’t know what you’re talking about,” Olsen was struggling to find words.

  Braun had heard rumors about people with special powers living inside the Outercast, but he never thought myths like that would turn real in front of his own eyes.

  The blond boy lifted his sword up in the air to strike.

  “Then why is her location signal being emitted from this hous—”

  He stopped and lowered his sword as if he realized something.

  “Drop all the equipment both of you have.”

  Braun and Olsen didn’t hesitate to follow his instructions. Braun dropped all he had - his purse, a pocket knife and a pistol. From Olsen’s side came a pistol and a few drawings of some nude girls.

  The boy raised his eyebrows after seeing the drawings.

  “Seriously?”

  Olsen knelt down. “That’s all I have. Please don’t kill me.”

  Braun felt a bead of sweat tickling from his forehead. The small fire around them wasn’t the only reason he felt so hot. He knew his life was about to end one way or the other. He could say it from the look of the boy’s eyes. But if he had a weapon……

  The blond glanced at the fallen materials.

  “Nothing as I suspected,” he muttered to himself. “Just what the heck-”

  In the dead silence around them, a high pitched scream echoed around the area. The boy seemed to recognize that voice. His head automatically turned to the exit and Braun took the chance.

  “Die, you low blood!”

  He gripped the pistol and aimed it at his attacker. His aim slightly wavered, but he gripped it hard and pulled the trigger.

  Braun waited for a second, but nothing happened. It took him a few moments to realize the gun wasn’t loaded, or something was blocked in the barrel.

  It’s fully loaded, he heard Adrian’s voice in his head. If something happens, all you need to do is to pull the trigger.

  “He lied,” Braun muttered, barely conscious.

  What followed his muttering was a painful scream. The boy brought his sword down, cleanly cutting through Braun’s arm - blood spurting and the lifeless pile of meat falling to the ground.

  Braun screamed and frantically moved backwards until his body hit the wall. As he fell down, his hysteria overcame his pain.

  “Adrian, Adrian!” he yelled frantically waving his blood spluttering hand. “Adrian you dog! Adrian you lowborn scum!”

  Seeing the situation Olsen dashed to the exit. But before he could reach the door the boy slashed the empty air from his sword and the fire around him grew and twirled until a column of fire sped towards Olsen, burning the boy alive, his screams dying along with an ashen corpse.

  “Fuck! Fuck!” Braun screamed. “I want to live! I want to live!”

  The boy turned towards him and lifted his sword; ready to hand him the same fate as Olsen, but just at that moment a dead body came crashing towards Braun’s attacker from the door. The body was slashed and cut open from multiple areas.

  “Angelica?” the boy sent an alarmed cry seeing the misshaped dead body of a girl.

  As Braun watched with his fading vision, Minerva emerged behind the door, two swords in her hand, her skin and clothes tattered with blood.

  “She’s dead,” Minerva smiled. “It’s your turn next you piece of shit.”

  Braun’s eyes began to close, and his last sight were the two of them clashing swords as the blazing fire environed around them.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Consequences

  Adrian hated Minerva. He absolutely loathed her. If there was any way to kill her right then and there, he would no longer hesitate to do it.

  He didn’t know the reason for her obsession with him, but from the very first day they met at the academy she seemed to hold a grudge against him. At first he had ignored her, thinking her obsessions might fade away after he made one or two sneaky comments, but the girl seems to be adamant on clinging on to him no matter how much he wanted to shake her off.

  Currently they were sitting in the center of the Cathedral, the very place where Adrian had kidnapped Diana, who was now safely tucked in a basement below. It was because of this very reason he had chosen the Cathedral as the exchange spot. There was a secret maze running down below the city and only a few people knew its existence.

  This maze expanded like a labyrinth giving entrance to hidden basements of most buildings. No one knew who built it, and Adrian hadn’t known about the maze until a certain someone showed it to him.

  “You seem to be thinking a lot,” Minerva pointed out.

  Adrian didn’t reply. He was getting tired of teasing the girl. His plan was supposed to be a simple one - when the mages enter the cathedral they’ll sure be surprised to see military academics inside it, and because of the trick Adrian pulled in the market, Quinton would recognize him and in return Adrian could use the moment of doubt to check if the person with Quinton is really the person they call the Father.

  “You seem to be really angry with me,” Minerva said.

  Adrian couldn’t let that comment pass off so easily.

  “I really wish you would stop acting like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Following me. Trying to snuggle with me for everything.”

  Minerva stretched her hands, yawning.

  “Consider these as inspection rounds.”


  “Why me?” Adrian snapped. “Inspect Joe, Inspect that weird guy called Iato, or even Braun or Olsen. What the hecks so special about me?”

  Minerva looked at him, then her expression changed in a blink of an eye. Suddenly she was alerted.

  “Door,” she said.

  “Huh?”

  “There’s someone behind that door.”

  As if on cue, a soft knock was heard on the door.

  “Could that be the soldiers that were supposed to train us?” Adrian asked, knowing exactly who it was.

  Minerva didn’t reply, and Adrian took the chance to make his move. Signaling Minerva to stay silent, he picked up his pocketknife and headed to the door.

  “Ask who’s there,” Minerva muttered in a low voice.

  But that would ruin things. If Adrian happened to ask that question, if the party on the other side were the mages they would know something was wrong.

  Adrian pretending not to hear what Minerva said and opened the door, to be greeted by the familiar face of Quinton. Beside him was a hooded figure with slightly white hair.

  Is this the father?

  As he saw Adrian, Quinton’s face widened. “Y-You’re that boy at the market.”

  Adrian decided playing along was the best option.

  “Oh, it’s that girl’s brother,” Adrian said, making an equally surprised face. “What a coincidence. What are you doing here?”

  “I should be the one who’s asking that,” Quinton’s expressions became guarded. “This is the Outercast, you are an Innercast.”

  Adrian pretended to make a doubtful expression before saying,

  “We are here on a military training,” Adrian said. “The guidebook says any Innercast can use land in the Outcast for military purposes. Now, why don’t you answer my question?”

  Adrian gleed from his mind. He had trapped him in a perfect spot. Now all he needed was to take a glance at the man inside that hood.

  “Do you know each other?” Minerva appeared behind Adrian.

  Adrian wanted to kill himself. She had to come at the best possible moment.

  “We are just acquaintances,” Adrian cleared her out. “Isn’t that right Quinton?”

  The boy started to nod but stopped suddenly.

  “How do you know my name?”

  Adrian cursed. They say what ruins a person is his mouth.

  “Who’s he?” Minerva asked, throwing a glance at the hooded figure.

  “H-He’s just a beggar I found along the way,” Quinton replied, moving his gaze away from Minerva. “I normally like to invite them to my house and provide them with dinner. It’s such a merit act you know.”

  Adrian figured out Quinton wasn’t a good liar. Even thirteen year old Ryan told better lies than that.

  Minerva moved to open the hood but the figure stepped back. Adrian smiled from the corner of his mouth. He thought Minerva was a nuisance but now she seemed to be doing the thing he exactly wanted.

  “What’s so much there to hide?” Minerva questioned, moving forwards.

  Quinton blocked her way. “His face is all burnt up. He is too shy—”

  Minerva pushed him away and pulled out the hood, revealing a—

  Boy?

  He was about Adrian’s age with slightly graying hair. Anyone who saw his hair and the slightly overgrown mustache might think he’s an old man, but from the looking at his face and the rest of his body, it was obvious he was a boy.

  So they cheated on me, Adrian gritted his teeth. Very well, it’s not like I came without a backup plan.

  “Wait a minute,” Minerva pondered. “I have seen your face somewhere before.”

  The boy stepped back and lifted his hand to the sky, with his thumb and ring finger folded.

  “No, Joseph!” Quinton yelled, but before he could speak another word Adrian heard someone yell Attack! And from the rooftops came several hooded figures.

  Adrian wanted to laugh out loud. So that was their plan. Grab Diana and send an all-out attack. It wasn’t bad…… for kindergartners.

  “Minerva,” he said, maintaining his composure. “Military alarm bell! Now! We are under attack!”

  “No, wait, please listen,” Quinton begged, but none of them were in their right minds.

  Minerva picked up the horn from her belt and blew it twice. The white haired Joseph lunged towards her but Minerva ducked, grabbed her pocket knife and stabbed the boy in his Adam’s Apple.

  “Joseph!” one of the hooded figures dashed towards the boy who was choking his last breath - blood spurting from his throat - while the rest of the crew surrounded Minerva.

  “Come on,” she pulled out her swords. “I’ll take you all on.”

  Adrian never knew how Minerva became so cold hearted to stab a boy but he had to praise her confidence. Still, these were mages. And they had magic.

  A fiery gust of wind surrounded the area as one of the hooded figures lifted his hand. The air around them were sucked above him as if getting dragged into a wormhole. His free hand crackled with electricity and behind the hood Adrian could see two eyes filled with blue electric energy.

  Interesting, Adrian mused. He’s using the air around him to create lightning.

  But the man’s reflexes were too slow. By the time he had pointed the lighting crackling hand at Minerva, she had already launched herself at him, blades drawn. One of the other hooded figures lunged at her, with what looked like a rope in his hand, but Minerva dodged the attack and brought both her blades at the electric user, slashing the man’s arms in half. He let out a hollow scream before falling to the ground. Minerva took the chance and with one rapid movement, sent the blade through the man’s heart.

  One down. Four more to go.

  Adrian never knew Minerva was that much of an expert in melee combat, but he was glad. From the corner of his eye, he saw several military soldiers heading in their direction, Jay and Katherine leading them.

  “Shit,” Quinton yelled. “Military is here.”

  Adrian looked around one last time. Quinton was distracted, the hooded figures were focusing on their offense, and the military was focused on the attackers and his baby sitter Minerva was surrounded by mages. This was the perfect time.

  Without throwing another glance, he slowly retreated to the shadows inside the cathedral. Walking to one of the walls that was slightly blotted, he kept his hand and altered its structure. The wall began to split open and Adrian stepped inside. Near him was a lighted lamp. He picked it up, closed the walls and began to descend the stairs. This flight of stairs were much longer than the ones at the Rat’s Hole, so Adrian hastened his footsteps. Down below was his mask and his costume and after a few steps was Diana’s new cage.

  “Time for the climax,” Adrian muttered as he moved his hand to his head to brush his hair.

  ◆◆◆

  Diana was trapped again, but at least this room didn’t have any rats in it. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was gagged. Up above she heard noises of the battle and she believed she heard the voice of her brother.

  Are things going wrong?

  She was blindfolded and gagged before Ace took her through a long walk. She didn’t complain, instead took her effort to memorize the pathway. If she got the chance to escape, she knew where to take turns.

  Diana heard the door being opened.

  “I’m glad you didn’t do anything stupid,” she heard Ace’s voice. “It’s time for us to move.”

  Diana didn’t make a move. She felt Ace’s gloved hands touching her face and the handkerchief that tied her eyes fell down. In front of her stood Ace, fully dressed with jeans and a black sweatshirt. His face was covered by a hood and in the dark she caught the glimpse of a mask and white hair.

  White hair, she memorized. Someone with white hair.

  She stood up. Both her hands were handcuffed so even if she had any possibility if winning against Ace, she couldn’t move her hands. As usual, her kidnapper pulled out a pistol from his back.

  “You
know the rules,” he said, poking her skin with the gun. “Start moving.”

  Diana didn’t argue. She moved to the door, Ace closely following him from behind. Outside was a corridor that extended to a great distance from both left and right.

  “Turn right,” Ace ordered. “Don’t try anything stupid.”

  Diana kept moving, occasionally being motivated by the pistol poking her back.

  Moving forwards and taking another turn to the left, she was met with a flight of stairs. Ascending, she found herself emerging from a door that led to an alleyway. A few miles away from her, she heard noises of the battle.

  “Let’s move.”

  Diana obeyed. There was no point in resisting.

  “Where are we going?” she asked. “At least tell me that.”

  “Back to the place you were trapped,” Ace said. “The deal isn’t complete. I asked for the person you call your father, but your tricky friends gave me a copycat. And now you are paying the price for it back again.”

  Diana wasn’t surprised that Travis and Quinton would pull out a trick, but by the way Ace said it, she couldn’t help but feel slightly angry towards them.

  “Take me to my brother,” Diana decided to use her final card. “I promise I won’t do anything rash. Just take me to him. I’ll make sure you’ll meet father.”

  She wasn’t sure her brother or Travis would agree, but it was worth the try.

  “That’s quite a nice voice you have,” Ace’s voice had a hint of sarcasm. “Your brother pulls a trick on me like that and you tell me to take you to him? I’m sorry if you weren’t paying attention but that’s exactly what he wants.”

  “And don’t you want to know where father is?” Diana asked. “I know what I am doing. Quinton will hear what I say despite the situation.”

  Ace stopped for a moment. At first Diana thought it was because of her comment, but she soon realized there was someone blocking their path.