(A/N: Sorry late! Here ya go! See ya in the next one!)
After being contacted by Myra, Ethan left the hotel by himself to meet up with her at an abandoned warehouse back in Crime Alley.
It was a bit rundown, but that was the case for just about anything in the area as it was hard to find anything in decent shape.
The years of neglect and crime would be to blame.
Two burly men in suits guarded the front entrance and when they saw Ethan approach they quickly got out of the way without such a peep.
They were probably warned ahead of time by Wizard.
Once Ethan entered, his eyes were graced with dim lighting from the overhead lights and about 30 different people sitting down on the cold hard floor dressed in just their black undergarments.
These people were the Talons, assassins that were brought to this location with the help of Myra and Wizard's friends. As soon as they were brought here, their armor and weapons were stripped off of them.
During the process, a few tried to escape, but they were immediately stopped by Myra with minimal effort.
They were stronger and faster than the average human, unfortunately for them, Myra wasn't human.
"Master!" Myra beamed as she saw Ethan's figure approaching. She then dashed over to greet him with a hug, picking him up off the ground.
"Ugh! Myra! Down!" Ethan groaned with a wry smile on his face. Normally, he wouldn't mind such affection, but now they were in front of potential workers for his company.
He had to keep his scary image intact or at least try to for the moment!
"Oop...Sorry!" Myra chuckled and quickly puts him down, however, she begins to stare at him as if she wanted something, something important.
Ethan knew exactly what she wanted and smiled while placing a hand on top of her head, "Good job."
"Mn~" Myra sweetly hummed as she felt like she was on cloud nine just from being praised by Ethan.
Something simple, but it meant the entire world to her.
>>>><<<
At first, there was only silence, the Talons had no idea why they were kept alive...
That is..until Ethan spoke.
"I'll make this simple. ." He started to release his killing intent, setting the tone for what is about to happen next.
"Work for me or die." Once those words left his mouth, the Talons became stunned.
Why would someone want them to work for him?
It was quite simple really.
Ethan wanted a comfortable future for him and his wives and creating Jester was the first step of many.
It was still more of an idea instead of something concrete, but hopefully, after today it will get picked off the ground.
A lot of his ideas were placed in the back of his mind due to his need to become stronger quickly, but an opportunity came knocking at his door, and he would be a fool not to answer it.
The captured Talons thought this to be some sort of joke, a prank of some kind.
Betray the Court of Owls?
No one betrays the Court of Owls!
And even if they did, they would eventually be dealt with by them, it was an unavoidable outcome.
None of them were safe, especially after they failed their mission...
Each Talon is embedded with what is called Electrum which gives them the ability to reanimate their dead tissue and heal from fatal injuries. Essentially, it is immortality, but it can be taken away as easily as it was given which ultimately leads to death.
'I realize that either way they'll probably be put to death...but I just have to make my way seem worse...' Ethan stepped toward one of the Talons, it was an African-American man with a long scar across his nose. The man was fit like all of them were, but he was a bit bulkier in the muscle department.
He didn't know when it started, but his body began to tremble as Ethan approached. Soon, he was standing in front of him, and the man couldn't even look Ethan in the eye. Breathing quickly became a chore, and sweat started to trickle down his forehead.
"So, which is it? Work for me or die?" Ethan asked again while invoking his essence within his body to conjure golden flames within his right hand, illuminating the warehouse.
Talons weren't afraid of flames but for some reason, he instinctively inched back to avoid being close to it. Their enhanced senses told them that it was extremely dangerous, and if touched they will surely feel excruciating pain like they never have before.
Work...
They rather work!
Work is the way to go!
>>>><<<<
After Ethan 'suggested' that the Talon's work should work for him, he then realizes that wasn't enough to just go off their word, they were assassins!
Only a fool would trust them unless there was some kind of special relationship. He then wondered if he could make a contract with humans the same way that he made one with Teekl.
'That would be best...Only one way to find out.' And with that, Ethan started to experiment first on the man with the scar across his nose.
"Don't resist or I can't guarantee your safety." He said, placing a hand on the man's shoulder while circulating his energy within his body.
The man was startled from the sudden contact, but then he started to feel a strange power within his body. He couldn't control it nor could he touch it as if it was locked away in an unbreakable steel cage, however, he did feel invigorated like he just had taken several shots of caffeine.
Soon after, a golden light flashed from the man's body, signaling that it was a success!
'Good...Now to do this...29 more times.' Ethan sighed, shaking his head.
If past Ethan knew that the current him was forcing people to be slaves then he would have probably been against it.
'I can't leave everything up to chance right now...I need to be stronger and more reliable...There's no turning back now.'
>>>><<<<
After laying down his rules, Ethan then left the warehouse with Myra to sleep at the hotel, but not without leaving his now servants with money to buy things such as clothes, etc.
The man with the scar was actually named Xavier, and he's been alive since the 1900s. And like most Talons, he was trained to be a killer after running away from home. He didn't have a lot of talent or ability so when he was chosen to lead by Ethan, he couldn't believe it.
Him? A leader?
Xavier looked back at the Talons who...
'No..we are no longer Talons. We are no longer just tools to kill..' He mused, gripping the duffel bag full of money he was left with by Ethan.
A new feeling came over him...
All he wanted was freedom, but just as he thought he obtained it, he was shackled once again by the Court of Owls. He was so young and naive then, and before he knew it he was assassinating anyone he was told to along with the others...
Still, his situation doesn't look any different from when he worked for the Court of Owls. However, somehow he knew things were going to be different when he was able to walk outside and feel the cool night breeze against his actual face.
The stars that night were exceptionally bright and he was able to stand there and admire them for their beauty.
When was he able to do something like this?
To just enjoy these small serene moments and just feel glad to be alive.
"Let's go," Xavier said, addressing the 29 others standing behind him. All of them were full of energy and ready to go to complete their new mission given to them.
"We'll make him proud."
>>>><<<<
Morning quickly came, and Ethan awoke with Myra smothering him with her half-naked body. She looked like a kitten with her head laid on his chest and he couldn't help but stroke her head as she continued to sleep.
In the past, Myra never had to sleep nor had to, but now she enjoys every minute of it especially if it was with the one she holds dear to her heart.
After escaping the clutches of the sleeping Myra, Ethan started to look over the items inside of his storage ring and he wasn't happy.
"I'm officially broke." He sighed as he started to put his clothes on for the day which was a black t-shirt that showed the outline of his muscles, light brown cargo pants, and clean white sneakers.
"What should I do about it-"
*Knock Knock* Ethan looked to the door and grinned as he approached it.
"Who is it?" He asked.
"You know who it is! Now open the door!" A familiar voice said while holding back a laugh.
"Really?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I don't know...you sound a bit suspicious."
"Open this door or I am going to break it down you ass!"
"Oh, I'm an ass now?" Ethan chuckled.
"I'm serious open the door please, Honeybun!"
"Well...you said please." Ethan felt they suffered long enough and opened the door for a pouting Harley. However, once she looked at him, her lips turned to a grin as she jumped up, wrapping her arms and legs around him like a koala would on a tree.
"I'm mad at you." She said, stroking his cheek gently with her right hand. "You didn't stay in bed with me."
"I know. I'm s-mm!" Harley abruptly stopped him from talking, pressing her soft pillowy lips against his, kissing him passionately as if she hadn't seen him in years.
Ethan didn't know why, but every time he kissed one of his wives, he just always had this feeling that it was just right. It was a slight ticklish feeling that started near his heart then spread throughout his body.
He didn't quite understand it, but it didn't stop him from enjoying the kiss. The temperature felt like it was increasing as the two continued to kiss, causing Ethan's desire to spike.
"Ehm!.." A cough was heard, kicking the two out of their own little world to pay attention to an annoyed Pamela who was standing in the hallway.
Ethan awkwardly laughed and put Harley down despite not wanting to at all.
"There's a time and place for these things. And it certainly isn't now." Pamela frowned, pulling Ethan's ear. It obviously didn't hurt physically but it did hurt mentally that she was treating him like a misbehaving child.
"Aww shut up! You want him just as bad as I do. I'm just more proactive about it!~ " Harley said in a sultry manner as she wrapped her arm around Ethan's arm.
"C'mon~ Forget about her." She whispered against Ethan's other ear. "..I know you want me..."
"No...Pamela is right. " He replied, causing Pamela to smile with a nod of her head.
Harley was about to say something, but then she heard Ethan's voice inside of her head.
[I'll take care of you later you minx!]
A low growl escaped her lips at the mere thought of him 'taking care' of her, she wanted him badly.
Pamela wasn't a fool, she knew exactly what he told Harley and pulled on his ear even harder with a slight blush across her cheeks.
'This guy!...Ugh...I want you too..'
>>>><<<<
Thirty minutes quickly passed, and everyone except for Slade was wide awake. All of them were hungry so they decided to order room service for breakfast.
It was going to cost extra...but he'll tell the hotel manager that Wizard will take care of the bill.
The table in the room was large enough to seat four people while the others used the beds to sit down and eat.
They all talked about non-important topics while garnering a few laughs here in there like they were one large family. Cassandra did nothing except eat, however, there was a smile on her face although it was hard to notice.
Mera watched on with a stoic look on her face, she was hungry as well, but it didn't feel right to eat among them.
Ethan happened to watch the silent princess a few times while he ate. If it was a secret then it wasn't now, everyone could see how he eyed the Atlantean and knew that there was a bit of attraction there, but someone had something to say about it.
"HELL NO!!"