Diana lead Marcus and Jericho to the old railroad warehouse. It was there where three masked keepers set up base. Each wore the same armor as Diana up until the detailed animal masks. They made a circle around Marcus who just sat in the middle, legs crossed and patiently waiting for their chanting to be done.

“What’s with the masks? Is there a masquerade party they’re missing or what?” Jericho whispered, he didn’t really know what they were doing but he didn’t want to be the reason they messed up and Marcus becomes a toad.

“Keepers have different factions, the field agents like myself wear our battle uniform, while the Summoners and Grudges wear masks.” Diana replied in a hush tone.

“Grudges?”

“They preform or break curses and deal with collateral damage, erasing memories and cleaning messes. Curses usually take one Grudge, but the one that was put on Marcus is old and powerful.”

“It’s safe. Right?”

“Perfectly, Grudges know what they’re doing, don’t worry.”

Jericho watched as the Grudges chanting came to a stop and the leader, who was wearing a mask that resembled a plague doctor, nodded at Diana before her and her entourage had left through the silver knob door.

“That was anticlimactic…”

“Not everything is a big spectacle.” Marcus announced. He brushed his pants off and flexed his fingers, “It might take a while, but it’s slowly coming back to me. How you feeling Trish?”

“You’re talking to him?”Diana asked, eyebrow raised, giving him a questionable look.

“Yup, he still isn’t happy about the whole curse thing but he agrees to help find Akande’s murderer. He says he can get ahold of Anansi, but you need to trust us.”

Diana looked to Jericho, who didn’t know what to do. He never knew Trishula or had anything on him. “Up to you Diana.”

Diana rubbed the bridge of her nose and nodded, “You have to wear this first.” Out of thin air, she pulled a golden band, “It’s a safety precaution when Trishula is driving.”

Marcus took the band and inspected it, “This was made from the monkey king’s headband… Xuanzang used this to keep him in check but you can trust us. We have a common enemy.”

“Having you wear this was the only way we can lift the curse Marcus. It was what they agreed to” Diana pleaded.

“Then why didn’t you put this on me before the curse was broken.”

“Because I trust you. I trust you not to drop the crown and run. I trust you see this through, and so does Jericho.”

Jericho trusted Marcus with his life before, he wasn’t so sure on the god, “Marcus, please. Give us a reason to trust Trishula.”

Marcus sighed and fitted the ring around his head, which instantly shrunk tightly around Marcus’ head. Marcus tapped the newly fitted crown like ring atop his head, “This isn’t the full thing, is it?”

“Yes, but the Grudges modified it. The scripture you’re supposed to chant was lost eons ago so they stripped it down to its bare essentials. It won’t be able to keep beings such as Sun Wukong in line anymore but it works just fine with vessels.” Diana announced as she inspected the new crown, “Instead of reciting magical text, a Keeper just needs to simply snap their fingers. Should I demonstrate?”

Marcus shook his head nervously, “No need. I got the gist of it.”

Diana chuckled and ruffled Marcus’ hair, “That’s what I like to hear beanstalk.”

Marcus could hear Jericho’s muffled snort in the background, and even though Jericho was out of sight, he could feel Jericho giving her a thumbs up. “Jericho is a bad influence on you.”

Jericho scoffed and moved to sling an arm around Diana, “I am a wonderful influence.”