by Adam Cairney
Chapter 10.
The sun was nothing but a thin sliver on the horizon. The last few rays of light shone out across Spectrum oh so briefly before disappearing, plunging the city into darkness, with nothing but the shred of crescent moon in the sky to light the city. Azrael stood on the westernmost point of the Cloud, watching it disappear and contemplating just how simple everything had been so far, and how smoothly his plan had gone. He was in a relatively good mood, and was now only waiting for Percy to return and inform him that the only two people that could stand in his way were no more. He had known people like those before, in his first life, and knew their type well. Troublemakers, best to put them down quickly.
As if summoned by his thoughts, he heard Percy approaching. He allowed himself a large grin, full of pointed, sharpened teeth, and turned to greet his servant, ready to relish the news he would doubtless bring. As he turned, the moon's rays quickly illuminated a scene he had not anticipated. His smile quickly faded into a scowl. He intertwined his arms behind his back slowly, waiting for Percy to reach him. He walked briskly, and behind him was a limp figure, slung across the shoulders of two hooded scholars. This was not what he had been instructed to do.
Percy arrived, and a few seconds later the figure that had been slumped behind him was brought up as well and dumped unceremoniously on the ground. Azrael glanced down disdainfully at the corpse. The corpse moaned however, and he rolled his eyes. "Why have you brought someone back with you Percy? I gave you one thing to do. Is it done?"
"Please, master. I tried." He began to explain what had happened in between groveling and simpering, desperately trying to explain his failings. Azrael eventually held his hand up and silenced him. He walked past Percy and over to the body on the floor, backhanding him to the ground as he went past.Percy dropped to his knees as Azrael pushed at the man on the floor with his feet, rolling him over onto his back. Noah Groaned, staring up at him hatefully.
"Well, what have we here then?" Azrael knelt down as he said this, returning Noah's stare without a single worry. "Percy, I may not have to hurt you as much as I had planned to. You must be Noah. I know of you. You will prove useful in bringing the other two to me."
Percy was incredibly relieved at the sudden change in his master’s attitude. "I found the two you sent me to find. He was sheltering them. He...he defended them and the two others escaped, I couldn't find them. I brought him here to appease you. I'm sorry..." he was still trying to explain his failings, still nervous.
"Interesting. Well yes, you should definitely come in useful. I love having leverage. A bargaining chip if you will." And with that he flashed Noah a wicked smile again, revealing the row of horrifyingly sharp teeth.
Noah spat blood out onto the ground. "I'll never let myself be used that way. Who are you anyway? Why are doing this?"
Azrael considered for a moment. He examined the back of his hand, as if studying his long, pointed nails, and then decided to answer. Percy and the other two in attendance remained completely still the entire time, Percy occasionally turning to look over the edge of the Cloud. It would be a long way down. Something inside him was telling him...to jump? That tiny, insistent voice in his head. He ignored the thought, just like the buzzing he had heard earlier in his mind.
"I think it's only fair, if I'm to keep you around for a little while, that we get properly introduced. My name...is Azrael. I'm...well, you could say that I'm not exactly from around here, and yet have always been around here." He seemed to be enjoying himself, weighing each word carefully before saying it, taking his time. "Do you know, I've forgotten how old I am exactly? I am what you people would probably refer to as an 'ancient'. Now, you know what I really love about you scholars, teachers, conductors, farmers, whores, and shop keepers...the whole lot of you? It's your insatiable desire to learn, to know, everything you possibly can. Without that desire I would never have gotten out of that damn prison they stuffed me into all those hundreds of years ago." He started to laugh. "I mean, can you imagine...haha...me! They managed to contain me!"
And in a flash he was in front of Noah, picking him up by the throat, all laughter instantly dead and he was roaring in his face as he held him up. "I WILL NOT BE CONTAINED AGAIN! I WILL TWIST THE ETHER UNTIL IT CONSUMES YOUR WORLD. EVERYONE WILL PAY! EVERYONE!" And with that he threw Noah to the ground. He slid along the floor, stopping near Percy at the very edge of the Cloud.
Azrael took a deep breath, as if to calm himself. He ran his hands through his hair and then clasped them behind his back again. "Oh, and you will be of use to me whether you like it or not. It's not a choice, fool."
Noah had heard all he had needed to hear, and his plan, as painful as it had been, had worked perfectly. He raised himself shakily to one knee. "Thank you." He said, and Azrael half turned towards him, eyebrow raised questioningly. "You may be as old as the foundations of...of this city. Hell, you might be older. It doesn't matter." He raised himself slowly to his feet. "I know who and what you are now, and that was all I came here for. And now I know we can beat you. As soon as I tell them, they'll figure it out. You know exactly who I mean."
Azrael smirked. "Oh go ahead, old man. If you're as smart as you claim, go right past me. Make your way off of this 'Cloud' as you call it. I'd dearly love to see the attempt."
Noah shook his head. "That's not my way off. In fact, the very thing that brought me here, if the thing that's going to get me away from you as well."
Azrael shook his head. "What are you talkin-NO!" He screamed as Noah, faster than anyone would have thought possible in his condition, turned on his heel and sprinted towards Percy, who was still standing on the edge of the Cloud. Before he had any time to react Noah had reached him, barreling into his side, and sending the two of them plummeting over the edge, and hurtling towards the city below.