Sol Na Rouu 006

“ I toiled years

Honing swords against kings and common folk

I bled tears

Rending brains and tearing tattered cloaks

I walked miles 

Searched for the quietest opposing voice

I pushed shame

On keepers who never had a choice

I bought words

And read

From former lashing tongues

I studied

And Bled Tears

Holstered my warming gun

I pleaded

Repented

Turned inward my flimsy knife

I beg

O beg

Lord spare my wretched life”

~R.T. Richman

New Eos

The city of New Eos was popular for its bright streets and dark vices. The glow from the neon-lit buildings and the Cy-cars below lit up the fronts of PodShots, FineRanges, DreamSpheres and other lust houses. The colorful display illuminated the pathways to these places of desire, but were unable to highlight the evils dwelling within.

A long, sleek and black vehicle hovered to a stop. The windows were unapologetically tinted beyond the city’s allowance, but there they were, boldly fashioned nonetheless. The eastern rear window rolled down in time for a puff of smoke to be released into the night’s air. A wrinkled hand crushed a strange cigarette into the ash tray near the seat.

“For the last time, it’s not just for show,” the person stated, frustratedly.

Across from the voice, a young, beautiful, brown skinned woman sat with her legs folded and her cheek cupped in her palm as she gazed out the window.

The man sighed and wrestled out another cigarette from his pocket. The paper was black and styled with light blue stripes around its muted cylinder. He coughed as he took out his lighter from his jacket pocket. It was a disgustingly prestigious thing. Fully gold plated and fashioned a large dragon head that bit down into the image of a weeping face at the top. He pulled back the neck of the dragon and the head cocked back before slamming its teeth into the despairing face causing a spark to burst forth. He groaned as he repeated the process several more times in frustration.

He continued speaking to the woman, “The FarRunners group see themselves as not just above the law, but even more powerful than all of the ‘Acuti’ crime gangs combined. When they say come, we come. As simple as that.” 

*Spkk*

The teeth of the dragon finally ignited a tall flame and the man relaxed as his cigarette became lit.

“Sometimes, appearance carries more weight than the function of a thing,”  he stared down at his lighter before tucking it in his jacket.

The woman turned her head toward the man with her eyes squinted. He was older, but still frightening. A cream colored, pasty face and a pair of shallow-set eyes plopped into it. Not to mention the triangular scars that lined either side of his mouth that appeared like dragon teeth on his face. His frame was well built. It had to be for a man of his status. But his mannerisms still showed an unusual gentleness. It was something that made their accursed marriage easier. 

The Red and Blue factions of the Acuti crime family had decided to form an alliance over a decade ago. This of course meant that their heirs had to be ‘accessories’ to that treaty. Him, the prince of the Red faction and her the oldest daughter of the Blue. Back then, even though she was just fourteen years old, she understood the importance of her duty. However, she never expected that the then forty year old crime prince would leave her to her own devices. Ten years later, and he has never touched her in any manner under the sun. Something about “keeping it professional”, but she knew the truth. He was soft, and she appreciated the risk he took in being so. It made her wonder why she couldn’t stop treating him the way she did. Her venom, ever present in the world he tried to make her happy in.

 “You’re a fool,” she began.

“What other purpose could this party serve than being a show of power? And all of you “men” tuck your tails and come running when the Farrunners call.”

The man sighed and took another hit of his cigarette.

“You're missing the point. In this world, there are those who have power, and those foolish enough to oppose them,” he stated assertively.

The edge of the cigarette lit up in a purple hue with another hit, and the scars on his face pulsed a violet hue before receding.

“We are the smart, third kind of people.”

“The cowards.”

He looked at her with disappointment.

“The ones who do what we need to for survival.”

He rested his hand on her head and ruffled her hair slightly. He did it often and she hated it. It made her feel as if she was some naive child who didn’t understand the inner workings of this world. He continued,

“So please, for the sake of the Red and Blue sides of the Acuti Family just do what needs to be done. Look dazzling, close that pretty mouth into a permanent smile, and most importantly…don’t get us killed,” he finished, crumpling his cig in a nearby tray.

The woman sighed and rolled her eyes before swatting his hand away.

“How can I do that if you’re messing up my hair?!” She scowled, causing him to apologize.

The man exited the limo and held out his hand for her to take. She smacked it away and exited on her own, pulling her shawl around her shoulders aggressively. The two walked along a red carpet to the luxurious entrance of the building that laid before them. The woman stopped abruptly as she looked down to see two men dressed in black suits laying on the ground, unconscious. Her face changed from confusion to panic.

“Are…Are’nt those the security?” she asked, terrified. However, before she could get an answer, she heard a loud cry of pain.

“ARRRGgggh!”

The woman looked down to see her partner crumpled on the ground and a light blue electric current faintly crackling around his body.

Tap Tap Tap.

A voluminous drape of beautiful blue hair came into view. The female member of the Saint’s crew stepped towards her calmly. She wore an elegant lapis blue dress with accompanying heels and her hair was styled beautifully into a waterfall braid. Her expression was deathly calm…almost cold.

“Who…are you?” she asked nervously.

“The ones with strength," a voice answered from behind her.

The woman turned around just in time to see a palm flowing with electricity cover her face.