January 10th, Saturday. 30 minutes before their flight, the airport showed no signs of regular passengers sitting around. Instead, there were guards in fancy clothing, black and white suits supervising every entranceway. Hands over their crotch with one hand over the back of their palm, behind the two male guards, was none other than the brown-haired Reaper. The personal mop of brunet-tinted hair covering the peak of his face pushed against the cushion of the chair, tired snores emerging from his nostrils. A white-haired teenager, invisible to those around her, resting in the lap of her breathing lover, chest rising up and down. Subconsciously, August's fingers smoothed her silky platinum locks, and a gentle grin snuck onto her face, like a snake moving through the forest. To his older sister across from him, sitting on the other row of chairs, scrolling through her apps, bright white light reflecting from the screen to shine against her pale face- he only saw his hand touching his thigh. Emma stretched out her arms, limb closing against her adolescent sister's neck, her face in the side of her stomach. Pressing her pink lips to Genesis' forehead briefly, eyelids shutting over her icy cyan orbs, so she could rest her brain while the plane readied for their 15h flight. Though only for a small moment, it was worth it, because sleep is probably one of the best things on planet Earth.
Standing over August was the Detective, having stood from his seat to the right of his partner, parting from the waiting area of the airport. Sending a signal to the guards, who nodded, and watched the Detective head in the direction of the bathroom. A text was sent over to his rival partner as he slept, the vibration awakening Death 20 minutes later at 5:20. Ten minutes remaining before they could board the plane, the stamp of the message was dated only one minute before 5:19. Rubbing his eye with his right fist, he heard the loud voice of his father that echoed from the loud halls, directed especially towards him,
"Yo! Go find Azazel, we're about to board and I don't wanna lose that kid,"
He was the closest one related to the Detective, seemed easy enough, he did just text him the location of where he was after all. With the whole 'food' thing, ya know. Cracking his spine as he raised his arms to the sky, August went on a short journey to locate the older Karlo. Pocketing his cellular equipment into his pouch, the imprint visible as it continuously hit the other side of his jeans, the Rivera brother's steps growing louder and louder as the world around him faded. Only thinking of the food the Detective must've bought... the sole reason he halted his movements were due to Celine's hand, though it was usually transparent, she could use her strength for but a moment, and conjure her ever-fading spirit to aid her lover,
"The hell--?"
"Look!"
Pointing to a lone figure in the middle of the hall, stores' lights glowing and illuminating the empty chilly chamber, neon reflecting off of his skin. Digging his hand to push his spectacles over his heterochromatic pupils, the Reaper witnessed... him! Eyes widening, mouth spreading to spout out an unbelieved phrase, the 'Detective' in front of him did it for him. Thereby interrupting the teenager, as he cried out, the clock halting and time stopping for 10 seconds,
"THE WORLD!!! TIME IS MINE ALONE TO CONTROL! Augustus Rivera..."
"What?! This can't be- Azazel?!"
"I WILL OBLITERATE YOU WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT!!"
Spears jumping from the tips of his fingers, soaring through the air as the tips reached areas all over Death's body, the Impostor Azazel screamed out. Voice raspy, visibly tired from the strain he was putting on his heart,
"Time's flow shall return to normal..."
Time resuming to its ordinary movements, the spears had been pushed by gravity to an extent that they pierced August's flesh so fast that the green and red-eyed boy couldn't even dodge. Blood squirting from the wounds created, dark gore dripping onto the reflective surface beneath his feet, the superhuman dropped to the floor. Coughing up vital fluids that concealed the reflections around the ground, creating it into a ruby surface, Rivera's vision turned hazy. Body weakening, he thought for a moment, head-turning with the remainder of his strength, slowly healing as the spears had been drawn from his flesh with a loud SQUIISHH!
"That's impossible... Azazel... his... eyes..."
Fading from consciousness, he felt the sudden pull of fingers digging into his hair, causing him to yelp in anguish. There had to be something... someone able to help him- and lucky for him, there was. August needed time before he could properly heal himself, though the weapons that had been the cause of this pain were removed from his anatomy... the wounds weren't healing. That was until he saw his attacker's body flailing the same way the Reaper had come, the audio of his arm snapping echoing through the halls.
"Nngh... you..."
Lifting his partner's body from the ground and healing his cuts easily with bandages for a moment, the true Azazel with his azure blue retinas was briefly seen by August for a split second. Before he fell back into unconsciousness, that is. The Detective glared at his other malevolent self, who charged at him with a murderous intent radiating from the depth of his ruby orbs. Dodging the clawed slash, the Prince trips his doppelganger so he can fall to the ground, and then tumble slowly to the side. Sliding toward the left, the true Karlo still held his rival's unconscious body in his arms, witnessing his bloodied other-self with a shattered nose stand from his beaten position. The stain of blood that had popped out from Azazel's broken nose gave him an idea, hands gently pushing his ally's figure to the reflective ground below, there was only one true thing seen in his pupils. And that... was Dark Determination. The signature friendly look of help and aid that shone in his eyes had disappeared, there was only... ambition.
But his doppelganger was determined too! Determined to see his mother again, determined to see those he loved.... determined to save his sister from the clutches of the Crow. Nose CRACKING back into a fixed position, The Justice's doppelganger pushes himself forward into the air. Witnessing his broken technique, the Detective ducked his head to the left, knowing the kick was directed to the right dominant side of his face where he used his right eye most of the time. Utilizing his quick wit, a certain gradual breaking of a bone had entered the atmosphere... but this time- it wasn't a bone.
Knuckles destroying Azszel's testicles, the Detective held an emotionless look on his face, a pained yelp filled to the brim with agony and hate for his opponent slipping out through the hole between his pink lips. 10 seconds later, Azazel held his balls, moaning in distress from the enhanced pressure put on his crotch area, manifesting a tear to stream down his cheek from the corner of his eyelid. As a last-ditch effort to defeat his main universe counterpart, he threw a feeble little punch with some energy coursing through his bone.
BOOM- TIK TIK TOKKK! The echoing of a clock entered the doppelganger's ears, feeling the piercing agonizing feeling that was a sharp weapon digging into the flesh of his knuckles. Red fluid oozing out of the wound, a spear made of a darkened mineral, obviously named 'Konpeki', sinking deeper and deeper into the Detective's limb. Shrouded by shadow for a moment, Karlo slithered his way from the rear of his alternate equivalent and yanked the spear he wielded. In complete control of Azazel, his fingers sharpened gently against his very own throat, and the True Detective of Justice whispered harmful words into his ear,
"Think of this as a gift. A farewell gift from the heart... allow me to show the truth,"
The whispers hurt just as more as the actions he'd suffered from, his eye-widening and his pupil shrinking with the realization of the truth around him. Screaming out horribly in fear for his sister, the palm of the Detective pushed through the rear of his throat, shoving through the flesh and fluids. Tearing out his esophagus with a bloodied gloved palm, Azazel's counterpart collapsed, eyes rolled to the back of his head, the Prince dropped the piece he'd torn over the back of his equivalent's gradually decaying carcass.
Lifting August's body from the laid-down position he was in before, Karlo remarked over the death of his pathetic counterpart, whispering gently with hate audible. Footsteps of blood marking his location,
"Useless pathetic pile of trash..."
During his slumber, the sole thing he could remember was being held by his white-haired lover on her lap. Gazing into the beauty of her blood-like red orbs that glistened from the light reflecting off of his pale. The silence was one thing he liked about that... Void, how it was so very quiet as it dominated the calmness of this dark space beyond the dead. Celine wasn't the only one who resided in that shadowy location, there was... a certain woman with short brown hair and eyes. She resembled his Aunt Madisyn, oddly, though he'd never seen her before, he thought of her as oddly... beautiful. The whispers of spirits long passed fueled his recovery beyond that of his father and his healing capabilities. The very last image he could make out was a red-eyed man lifting from the ground... and the moon, shining its pale rays onto his face.
Gasping as he awakened from the chair he'd been seated against, Azazel jumped awake, audibly grumping tiredly as he dug his fingers into his bare arm.
"Woah..."
Weakly uttered the Reaper, noticing he'd been placed by his rival partner by the window. 5 hours since their plane departed from Charles le Gaulle Airport to soar through the skies of Paris, their destination: Las Vegas. Peering out the glass that protected them, he could see crows guarding their next 'target', before diving to return to their natural flight pattern. Moving the curtain that prevented the rest of his sight from admiring the sky, he could see the moon... shining as bright as ever before. The sight of such a beautiful landmark everyone would recognize usually thought of as a signal for the night... but he couldn't escape one thing. Bringing out his arm that was kept in his lap, he tore off the bandages over his chest and saw the markings over his palm... it seemed so normal,
"Feeling any better?"
Surprised from the sudden speaking of the Detective beside him, eyes closed as he leaned his head back against the cushioned headboard of the chair, August jolted to the right. Shoulder poking the glass, he winced and rubbed it with his extremities briefly, speaking to his ally, direction of his eyes snapping toward the outside darkness of the sky,
"Yeah... sorta. What the hell was that thing that attacked me? I'm sure it was... you- but different,"
"Kuno must've used some of his power and picked an alternate version of me from another world to distract you. Maybe as an attempt of breaking us apart- luckily, I killed the useless bastard before he could capture you,"
Capture... the use of that word seemed important to the Reaper, oddly, like, Azazel wasn't supposed to state that purpose for August's attempted kidnapping. A sharp exhale, filled to the brim of determination and ambition escaped his lips firmly... he was sure that Kuno would keep throwing his goons at him. However, he was ready, this asshole would pay for what he did to she who he held dear. They never even got to spend whatever was left of their life together, and that- is what pained him the most,
"We bet our lives on your little noble aspiration, Rivera. Do us all a favor and please, don't kill us all..."
That remainder of hope, tiding on the 'dream' August held in the depths of his heart, was audible. Though brief, Rivera could make out what seemed to be the 'truth' of Azazel's personality, away from prying eyes clawing away at every semblance of falseness that the Detective gives off to see what 'truth' lies beyond that persona. Though it seemed oddly harsh, however brief it was, the Reaper couldn't help but smile and nod, the duo, in unison, having the embers of 'Dark Determination' burn in their pupils.
"Question, Detective- {Azazel: Heh} What the hell are you doing this for? I mean, I get it's your job and my dad's a huge investor in the Paris Police Department, but that doesn't change the fact you almost died the first time we went to investigate that whore's house. And yet, you've stayed- like me, I suppose there's a personal reason for you to come with us,"
The thought of it sent an uncomfortable shiver to slither its way down his spine, the best way to describe it would be someone getting too close or someone silently threatening you, although they treated it as a friendly conversation. This was his equivalent,
"Honestly, I'd not rather speak about the inequities I faced in my past thanks to Kuno's... influence, to say the least. However-! I suppose informing you of the details that led to my upbringing would make you feel more comfortable about my company,"
Readying himself to tell his rival of the events to this place in time, the clouds were suddenly shrouded in darkness, giving off a grey feeling with the rain falling from their transparent nature. Roughly hitting the material of the pale aircraft gliding like a bird to its destination, though the roar belonging to the engine was loud for the crows following him minutes before,
"I was born to a poor woman in the United States, New York, specifically. Her name was Malia Rivers, a Puerto-Rican woman who had been cast out by her family as a result of being labeled a 'whore' by those supposed to love her. The reality of the situation, I'd never come to learn of it, but in her tiny apartment on the brink of falling apart, she met my... my father. 9 months later, I come out, and she's burdened with the responsibility of someone like me. A bastard child with no father to aid her in her helping of a son like me... in a desperate attempt to gain money, she noticed an aid in the papers from the US Government. Though it wasn't specific, I went back to the apartment to find out that it was subtly saying 'human experimentation'. She was experimented on heavily in the name of science and tortured. The experiments were too much for her heart and killed her instantaneously. They use me as a guinea pig, gifted with the strong soul of my Father, I'm stabbed with... a Key. It's how I'm able to stop time, I presume. They released me when I was 15, thinking it right to do so. I quickly moved to Paris, with the compensation money they 'gifted' me, where they held no jurisdiction and worked my way up the political ladder to become a pure officer of the law. I plan to get 'justice' for my mother and all those before who were slaughtered in the name of science by Kuno. That is my 'dream', so to speak,"
They truly were the same, they worked their way to become who they were now, Azazel didn't let his heartaches become him. Destroy his spirits, break him down and infect his mind, he instead used them as a way to threaten the people who destroyed his childhood. In a form, this guy was an inspiration, either that, or they were made to be identical, considering they were doing the same thing. Filled with more hope than ever before, determination sparking in his eyes, The Reaper extended out his hand, attempting to accept a handshake from his partner,
"Together, we'll bring down those corrupt assholes and take back what we lost. Don't you agree... Karlo?"
"As sure as the sun will rise in the morning and illuminate our path onwards, I agree with you, Rivera. I'm taking a gamble on your golden dreams, don't let me down,"
10 hours came and went in the blink of an eye, by the time they'd arrived at their location, it was 10 AM for those in Paris. However, for the group together, they'd landed in Nevada at approximately 4 A.M., so sometime in the middle of that period. Jet lagged to hell, everyone was determined to check-in at the Venetian, the same resort Ben, Jason, their sisters, and their vampiric comrade had checked into 18 years ago.
With their arrival, a certain man with a violet aura surrounding his very soul peered out the window, neon aesthetic lighting his face. This time, he held no beard or expression, instead, wielding Its true form of a galaxy-ridden monster. A glass of wine hovering over Its palm, the Aether dejectedly let out a breath of air that surrounded the office, shedding Itself of the truth it was surrounded by. Returning to the human mortal he was perceived as by his comradery, resembling something like his older brother, Uraku. Though different, as his hair was black with black streaks at the end of the range and tied in a man bun, with that same colored beard with white lone strands of hair, fixing a tie. A knob was twisted and a door opened to expose the light to the shadowed chilly chamber,
"I must say, I'm impressed by your efforts. I had no idea you would so effortlessly bring my nephew and grand-nephew to me in one go. With that, I suppose Father's goal will be like clockwork... with the Key too, I'm sure He'll be quite pleased. Considering what we've accomplished thus far, I suppose..."
Brushing a side of his nose with human makeup, Abaddon Kuno flicked the bun out of his platinum-tinted locks and pushed out the length so it'd hit the back of the end of his neck. A breath of fresh air pushed against the glass of his spectacles, cleansing them with a wipe, the Crow stepped from the hall to shed himself of his mask. Peering out through the window to the right of his Boss' desk, the lights flickering against his face... his gloved hand created an imprint of his palm. A bit of disdain and hate drenched with ounces of pity were visible in his pupils, as he turned to face the desk,
"Now, let us go, child. We must prepare for the Main Event,"
Cowl snapping into place around his features, the Crow followed his Boss through the same way he'd entered moments before. Nails clenching the end of the wooden doorframe, an idea manifested itself in the corner of his brain, and he eyed a certain part of Kuno's drawer... the Key to Hell.
Though in the middle of the nighttime, about to fall over and enter a deep comfortable slumber against the bed he'd been craving for so long, August couldn't help but wonder about the lights that danced in the moonlight...
I'd never seen anything like it- living in Paris my whole life, I could never see anything like it. Granted, the Eiffel Tower, I'd been there over and over again across my teenage lifespan, but nothing like this. The view of the replica of the Tower, the many Casinos' neon aesthetics brightening up my face as I witnessed the profound pleasing of this sight... the very first time I saw Las Vegas as a teenager. One thing I will never forget in all of my years of existence is that very experience... I wished to give it to my daughter, my son, whoever my lover might've birthed. Because at that moment, in that wishful dream I had, though awake- a tear dropped from the corner of my eye. The carpet was alone, surrounded by its brothers of the same variety for decades, years, and years on end with no one to accompany it. People stepping on its face over and over, until that tear. Sinking into it slowly, I witnessed the happiness of a beautiful thing and the realization that I'd never hold a normal life with the woman I'd held it dear. Holding her transparent hand in mine, alone in a room with one bed that took up most of the middle, the ghost of my girlfriend, Celine Pierce, was with me. We spun together, sitting at the right edge of the mattress together, and as she rested her head on my shoulder, we watched the lights dance together. Knowing our fates, and the answer to life's greatest question was nearing closer, I enjoyed the time with her. It was... profoundly beautiful.
It was beautiful, we felt.
To Be Continued...