"The only reason people in LV work is to keep the town running and make sure the population doesn't get bored. But in the end, gold isn't something they depend on as everything is about fair trade there. If the baker doesn't make the bread, it's not like the people can go anywhere else to get it. And of course, say the baker decided not to make his buns, the hairdresser would refuse to cut his hair." Brass looked over our surroundings, shrugging his shoulders. "That system wouldn't work here."
Clearly. On our second night in that alley we'd been robbed of the little gold we did have. That was something that would never have happened in LV. There weren't even any proper alleys in that town to begin with.
"Brilliant deduction, but that still doesn't tell us what we need to do to sleep in a proper bed tonight. The air gets humid at night here." I whined.
"We need to find jobs."
I snorted. "Oh, good plan, Brass. Do I have to point out we have no skills whatsoever?"
"So we lie."
"That won't be helping my current hobby of trying to turn you into someone nice."
"Would you stop trying to make me awesome? You're not my mother." I laughed at the way his face contorted with annoyance.
"Kay, look." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "How about we find a way to get a job the right way? I'm sure they've got some kind of program here for those who don't know how to do squat, but do have the motivation to learn something."
"That's another thing. I think LV's college is only there so that there are enough teaching positions for all the teachers there." Well, that was just creepy on so many levels. About to grab Brass' wrist to tug him back into the busy main street to try and make our way through, he stepped out of my reach, his eyes wide with curiosity all of a sudden.
"Brass...?"
"I'd so tap that." Great, he'd locked onto a target. Sighing heavily, I came to stand beside him and tried to see what he was seeing.
"Did you notice that the blonds here aren't the same kind of blonds we have in LV?" Brass murmured absently, his eyes still locked onto...of course it was a girl. Pursing my lips at the woman, I nodded at his words. Because Cobalt was bigger, it was as though the population offered a bigger variety of skin and hair colors. The girl Brass had seen being one of them. I'd thought Helix and Holly to be the lightest people in Zinc, but I'd been wrong. There was a lighter shade, closer to ivory. The curious thing here was that instead of the blue eyes Helix and Holly and all other blonds in LV had, here they had black eyes. They're skin was paler too, and they generally were extremely tall. As though a race of their own.
Aside from those blonds, there were also a lot of dark skinned people walking around here wearing many layers of colorful fabrics wrapped around their heads. They seemed to hide their hair and sometimes they wore veils to mask their mouths. But I think the most surprising type of people Brass and I had seen, were a group of tall, broad men wearing what looked to be a type of uniform. While that had been strange in itself, the funnier part had been their hair. It had been blue.
Brass and I weren't idiots, we recognized their physical traits to come from who used to be known as the terrifying Regius. What with LV being oh so limited in many ways, never had it occurred to us that there were still people in Zinc who sported these traits. It made sense though. Although the war had ended, it had only been a few centuries so it's not like enough time had passed for the race to become extinct. Then again, what did I know? I didn't really care in the end.
"Can you stop what you're planning and return to our current situation?" I shoved Brass' shoulder, hoping to get him moving. "Think of it this way. You don't even have a home to invite her back to."
"Must you always face me with the harsh truth of things?" Brass whined, but finally let me push him out of his staring trance.
"I must. I'm the only one who doesn't let hormones rule me."
Brass chuckled. "That's just a polite way of saying you think with your brain while I think with my penis."
"Well, you do." I pointed out, now becoming irritated with the many people in the street myself. "What kind of place would you like to work at?"
"You're letting me pick?"
Nodding, we finally got the flow of the walking pace set in this mass. "Let's try a garage first. I think I like the idea of that. I'll learn, make money and work out all at once."
"High freaking maintenance." I muttered, locating the garage we'd passed by yesterday.
"Oh, cause that bang of hair blocking your right eye sprung up out of nowhere by itself? I sleep in the same alley, Delph. I see you spend ten to twenty minutes on it every morning to have it hang before your face the way you think is right."
Laughing, I pushed him towards the garage. "Shut up, Brass."
* * * *
Chapter 27
Jan Jansen
A long time ago, a boy of Regius blood was born the same year as a wolf that would strive to become the pack master in his future. While the boy didn’t hold a grand dream such as the beast, there was a similarity between them that would one day lead the boy to pause in one of his dark deeds.
It is one thing to be different from all others around you, but something else entirely when you are different from those that are already to begin with. The boy was just that.
Born Regius, you were ultimately categorized as 'other' in the land called Zinc. The people that didn't have blue blood running through their veins instantly viewed the Regius as evil. It had not happened often for an Altor to think twice about this. Palliums even less. Of course, nowadays, there were some exceptions. But compassion and humanity towards the Regius had been lacking back when the boy had been growing up.
While he looked like any other Blue Blood, it was what took place in his mind that made even the Regius believe him to be strange. Being the one person who is twice the amount of different, it was safe to say that this boy understood loneliness like no other.
As he grew, the wolf did as well. Unlike the boy, the wolf was very much appreciated in his pack. The other males respected him for his stability, strength, devotion and courage. The females saw him as a very likely mate, someone they knew would offer them beautiful, smart and strong pups. As the boy grew up to be a very strange, secluded and quiet man, the wolf grew to become his opposite.
Then how was it the strange man would pause in his dark deeds to notice a similarity between himself and the beast?
One night, as the wolf and his pack traveled through Immortalis Silva, they were faced with danger. The youngest of the pack had accidentally walked too far from the others and so when the white lion roaming that particular territory saw this, the great forest king went after the pup.
Seeing this, the wolf sprung to action, running as fast as he ever had to make it there in time. And he did, the young remained untouched. The great white lion crouched down with its shoulders moving slowly up and down, preparing for an attack. The forest king did not anticipate that the wolf would jump in the way. Canines clenched down onto its back leg, a cry could be heard as pain rushed through the beast. The young had run off by then, and the others wolves, hearing their pack leader's frightened scream, ran and believing their leader wouldn't survive.
They were not wrong. Had the strange man not been up in the trees to witness the entire scene, the great forest king would have surely finished the job. But this Regius wouldn't allow it. The wolf had protected what was dear to him and those he loved ran away, leaving him to fend for himself. Alone and lonely. The strange man could relate to that.
He had dropped down from his high tree branch, stopping the white lion's second and killing blow by falling onto its back. Although the Regius could have, he did not kill the forest king. The sudden presence was enough to scare the lion away. Allowing the large animal to flee, the man focused his attention on the wolf's wound instead.
Pure blooded Regius are not healers. They do not offer any kind of comfort unless something called 'light' triggers them. Love didn't have to occur in order for the l
ight to happen. It was a gentleness that a Regius could feel towards anyone. Be it a sibling, parent, friend, stranger and sometimes even an animal. The man knew the wolf was his light, he could feel it, as could the wolf. Although the beast would never be obliged to feel the same soothing calm the Blue Blood felt, one thing the wolf knew instantly was that this man would never harm him.
Throughout the years, the wolf began to see the strange man as his new pack and because he was no longer fit, he'd accepted the Regius as his leader. They lived in the forest, tranquil and quietly. Until three years ago when the Regius man returned to their forest home with a new presence. The wolf was in charge to keep this new person within a certain area, outlined by the Regius. If the captive tried to escape, the beast was in charge of stopping him. The man tried, but soon realized he would never leave this place. Although the strange man and the captive didn't share much of what you'd call a friendly relationship, the wolf came to appreciate the captive due to his kindheartedness.
~~~~~~~~
Yet, the beast still growled when he stepped over the limit of the assigned area.
"My apologies, I wasn't paying attention." Jan whispered, reaching down to pat the wolf between the ears.
Turning around when the wolf, Lucerne, did, they made their way back to the small residence nestled between some trees. As they neared it, they instantly knew the assassin had returned. The captive picked up the pace and when they reached the front of the small home, he waited for the beast to lay down before entering. Lucerne always stayed outside, but Jan knew he should leave the door open so the wolf could see his master.
Digitalis.
Jan was no longer frightened for his life when around the assassin. He knew Digitalis didn't want him dead. He needed him, it's why Jan had been brought here in the first place.
"You are free to go, Jan." Digitalis spoke, surprising the him. "I am sure your wife, daughter and brother will be glad to see you return."
"Aren't you afraid I will speak of your location?" The assassin was a strange creature. Jan had the opportunity to get to know him somewhat during his captivity. So when the assassin raised and eyebrow, he knew that he was privy to the rare sight of Digitalis being surprised.
"I live in the middle of Immortalis Silva. None but I know how to travel through this forest without getting lost." Pausing, he watched Jan's reaction to his words before he added, "Currently there are thirty-one Altors in Zinc looking for my very self. Two of those have once been my captives as you were until a minute ago. Never did they find me. One of those thirty-one is an Elder you know particularly well. Had Rose known how to find me, you wouldn't have been stuck here for nearly three years."
Curious, Jan eyed him. There was something that had changed. "You found something to do the research in my stead."
"Honestly, now is when you finally start to show interest in my case? Humans confuse me to no end," Digitalis declared.
As they should. The assassin was like nobody else on this land. "While I never managed to find her location, I did reveal that you are most likely the only Regius who has more than one light." Three years of research dedicated to Digitalis and that was the most surprising detail Jan had uncovered.
"So I have a disease, what else is new?"
"A disease?" Jan exclaimed. "Digitalis, the fact that you are able to care for more than just one being, what with you being a pure blood, is extremely rare, abnormal and more than shocking. But it is not a disease."
Sighing, the assassin walked past him to greet one of his many lights, Lucerne. "It makes my job complicated." Digitalis murmured as he placed a hand on top of the wolf's head. "Thus, it's something I do not enjoy, and so, I view it as a disease." His eyebrows knitted in what seemed to be confusion when he added in a murmur, "A handicap."
Shaking his head, Jan stared at the strange pair. "You're wrong, it should have been a blessing. But you do suffer from something that categorizes as a disorder which numbs out this blessing that was bestowed on you for reasons I cannot possibly fathom."
Detaching his eyes off Lucerne, Digitalis offered Jan bored attention. "And what might that be?"
"Psychopathy." Ignoring the statement, the assassin nodded down at the wolf before turning his back on Jan, setting off in a run, his figure disappearing between the large trees.
"Is Digitalis incapable of lying?" If that was so, it meant that Jan was truly free to go.
Looking back into the hut, he stared at the place he'd resided in for so long. It felt strange for Jan to think about leaving. He'd given up on that thought long ago.
When his eyes landed on the closet, he remembered the assassin placing something in there before their conversation. Jan made his way over, pulling out Digitalis' bag, opening it and taking a look inside. He did not know what it was and he wouldn't be able to identify it without removing the brown paper wrapping. All Jan knew is that this thing is what had led to his freedom.
He didn't think twice about it as he slung the bag over his shoulder and marched out of the hut. The assassin knew Jan would never find his way out of the forest and Jan knew that is exactly how Digitalis wanted it. While he could appreciate the fact that the assassin was allowing him to try, he also knew this new situation was as cruel as the one he'd found himself in for the past three years. While Jan had no choice but to accept that, he had no intention of doing so without fighting back, because this time, Jan could fight back. The assassin had taken him away from everything he loved and now Jan was going to do the exact same thing.
Clutching the bag that held the object that would give Digitalis his answers, Jan walked into the forest, allowing himself to get lost, package included.
* * * *
Chapter 28
Delph Riddle
Coughing as a vespa flew by me, making the sand on the ground dust upwards, I stared after it wondering how the driver managed not to run anyone over. Although Brass thought working with cars would be something he could do, I didn't see the fun in it at all, so I hadn't followed him inside the garage, telling him I'd wait outside.
There was so much noise in this city, I'm sure I'd never get used to it. Sighing, I leaned against the garage wall and let my eyes scan my surroundings. It couldn't be dryer anywhere else than Cobalt. There was sand everywhere and what with the hot burning sun floating in the sky all the time, I wasn't all that surprised to notice cracks of dehydration in the walls of houses and shops. If the streets were empty of people, I was sure that the coloring of the architecture around here would look dull. But since I heavily doubted Cobalt could actually become empty, the burnt orange color was balanced out by the many flashy colors the people wore.
Letting my eyes trail over the canal, I checked out a bridge and then stared at the tiny details that I found along the windows and doors. People watching was a lot of fun here, much more entertaining than LV for sure. I noticed a woman holding the hand of her child, who was holding the hand of whom I assumed to be her brother, and that boy was holding onto the hand of their younger sister, who had a tight grip on a leash attached to a huge dog.
Further along an old and frail woman had decided to take a break in her walk and had sat down in the middle of the street, looking content as she sipped a bit of water, people nice enough to walk around and not over her. As I kept watching, I noticed that she seemed to be waiting for something, and a couple of seconds later I realized it was a someone. Observing the interaction, I could see a boy of about fourteen, although, I couldn't be sure since he was covered in scarves. How he didn't die of a heatstroke was beyond me.
He knelt down before the old lady, taking her hand and placing a kiss in the center of her palm, which led her to smile lovingly at him. They exchanged a few words, and then the boy gave her a package. Although I was curious to know what was inside, my eyes followed the kid as he walked through the busy street with a lot of ease, telling me he was used to it. That, and he'd most likely been living in this city for a while as he stopped on occasion to talk to someone, gr
eet another, exchange a few laughs, and then he was on his way again to wherever.
As he began walking in my direction, I decided I'd stared at the dude long enough and that I was now bored watching him. That is, until I saw him press up against a wall out of the corner of my eye. He clumsily tried to be stealthy and ninja-like as he moved into an alley, his eyes everywhere as he made sure no one saw him. Clearly he wasn't doing a good job as he hadn't noticed me.
Curious, I checked over my shoulder to see if anyone else had noticed, but figured neither he nor I needed to worry as everyone was much too busy with their own lives to notice two paranoid guys.
Deciding Brass was a big boy and could take care of himself, I slowly started to follow the partly masked kid, surprised how there was nobody in the alley except him and myself. The city noise seemed to drown out and the heat wasn't as harsh here thanks to the shadowed area between the two buildings.
He rounded a corner, and I pressed myself against the wall so I could sneakily look past the corner. At first glance it looked as though his destination was a dead end, but then he crouched and pushed a small and barred window, creating an opening that I'd have thought led to the sewers. Although that was just disgusting, it wasn't enough to kill my curiosity and stop me from following.
I waited for him to climb through then I quickly ran over to the opening, kneeling down so I could take a peek. Eyes wide, I stuck my head inside to get a better look. The tunnel was about as busy as the main street, just hidden. There were torches, candles and lanterns hung at random intervals from the ceiling, lighting up the place. Lots of fabric stands, the vivid colors of those popping out in this hidden underground shopping district. Black Market perhaps?
The first and most flagrant thing I noticed though was that this place was filled with the people that wore fabrics to cover their hair and part of their faces. While I could see the occasional Cobalt pale blond and maybe two or three mops of blue hair, the veiled ones were everywhere.
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