Deep down in the forest far away from the residence of Benign dwellers, a large building stood. It's entrance was guarded by six men holding weapons looking so deadly. Further past the entrance, there was a post of twelve men roaming round the place. A caravan lay at the end of the post. In it were weapons and armor for emergency situations just in case scouts decided to roam too far. Beyond the posts, a mighty structure stood grandly. It was made in semblance of the scouts guild with a few improvising. A large wall separated the posts outside from the building. Atop the large wall were archers standing alert, soldiers moving to and fro the wall clad in full armour. A large gate made of steel was planted in the middle of the wall. The place looked like a military shelter. The building was surrounded with guards. This was perhaps the reason why scouts couldn't attack them.
The building itself was a square tower. At the four edges, a watch tower stood overlooking the mainlands. Strong cable ropes was hooked all across the building from the top of the walls to the ground. Everywhere outside the building, a company of four or more camped. Around each of these company were boxes housing weapons. Flags also decorated the fore entrance inside the building. The flags had the symbol of a turbulent sea and a broken ship. This was the base of the Black sea water.
A sturdily built man walked from the entrance and began to make his way into the building. He was putting on the uniform of the SS. He walked into the building unhindered as if he had been here many times before now.
" Where's Black? " he asked turning to the guard he saw at the door. " Upstairs " the guard replied briefly. The SS made his way into the building walking through halls and medium pubs. He finally arrived at a secluded hallway having only one door at the end. Surprisingly, there were no guards around. Taking a deep breath, the SS made his way to the door. He knocked twice before be was given the permission to come in.
" Yes, Alexander? " a man said. He was seated on a chair which backed Alexander who had now taken his seat. " Maxmus failed to retrieve the eye " Alexander said. " The man known as black didn't answer. He only raised his hand and put down one finger. Alexander on his seat gulped. He knew he was running out of time. To all who had talked with Black or should I say talked to knew that the significance of raising five fingers was that if by the time he closed all fingers, and you have not said anything meaningful, it meant you wasted his time meaning death.
" Maxmus was too weak to get the eye. Unfortunately, he was stopped by three mere kids and Gate. Honestly with all due respect, I wonder why you sent Maxmus to retrieve the eye. He's back in Jail now "
Black didn't put down another finger ass expected, still he turned his back as he spoke. " You question my decision? "
" No, not that. I meant... "
" Very good. Now I know I don't have people just following me blindly. But, it wasn't Maxmus I sent to retrieve the eye " Black interrupted Alexander. This was a very shocking news for Alexander, his face told it all.
" You didn't? " Alexander asked.
Black let out a deep chuckle. It definitely wasn't a laugh born out of fun or excitement. " Don't you want to know who? ". Alexander hesitated. He knew a lot about about Black to just answer his questions. Most times, there would be something behind them.
" Yes " he answered after deliberating between yes or no in his mind.
" YOU!! " Black said coldly. Alexander almost went on his knees. His face turned ashen white hearing what Black just said. " How is it possible it was me he sent to retrieve the eye when the information everyone received was Maxmus " he thought. Seeing that Alexander did not answer, Black continued
" Maxmus was a very clear decoy for the scouts. You were the one to retrieve the eye from Nican. My aim was to go in two ways but you noticed neither of them. Firstly, you make sure Maxmus deviated the scouts, and then you kill whosoever is guarding Nican and all the blame falls on Maxmus "
" This was something a very simple mind could pick and run with, something I thought you'd catch immediately. The second was for you to retrieve the eye under ' scouts order ' and bring it here. Perhaps you could have framed or set up something, but not only did you not do that, you gathered scouts to deal with Maxmus, you also allowed the scout who defeated Nican to take the eye to the scouts guild ".
Alexander shuddered and his expression paled. " Was this his plan, how come it never crossed my mind? " he thought. Jolted from his thoughts, Black's voice sounded once more
" Now, I will ask you a question and you will give me a yes or no "
" Sir.... " Alexander stuttered.
Ignoring him, Black asked his question " Did you realize of my plans? " The room was quiet. Neither Black nor Alexander said anything. Black needed not to because Alexander must answer the question before he stepped out of the room.
" Sir..... I.. " Alexander couldn't finish his words because at that moment, he felt a heavy pressure descend on him heavily. This was the coin that decided his life. He finally forced himself to talk " No sir, but I.... "
" Very good. Such a person who cannot understand simple plans and out of ignorance ruins them doesn't deserve to be among my waters " Black said " And where will you belong apart from here? "
" Well.... "
" Nowhere, so I end your life now " Black declared. The door opened, and two large men walked in. They were shirtless and had chain tattoos constantly moving on their upper bodies. " You see, the plan wasn't so understandable. You and I both know that if I wanted you to do it, I would have told you. So.. let's just say um..... I planned your death " Black said. Even though Alexander couldn't see him, he could swear he imagined a hideous smile on Black's face as he said that.
" I beg you sir.. please " Alexander pleaded. This was slow death. The tattoos on the two men's bodies forced anyone who looked at it into an almost eternal agony of madness, where there was nothing but moving symbols. Down in a place called the dungeons, hundreds of people laid, some dead, others awaiting the day when their own madness killed them.
Alexander couldn't talk much, his eyes were immediately drawn to the intoxicating and inviting tattoos. He could not close his eyes no matter how he tried. Slowly, the symbols began to etch on his mind like nail on flesh.
" Arghhhh " he cried and groaned in agony. Soon, he was on his knees holding his head and screaming about like a child. He was finally able to close his eyes, but the symbols couldn't leave his mind. There was something in those tattoos that who saw it never lived to tell.
His shouting now became more intense, he collapsed on the floor still screaming. He raised his hands his head gear that covered his face and tried to rip the his eyes off but it was only futile.
" Or.. I do have another assignment for you " Black said. Alexander immediately stopped. He slowly stood up, shaking from fear. Whatever was happening to him just now had stopped on just hearing Black's voice.
" Thank you for your mercy " Alexander bowed very low. The two men took this as their cue to leave the room and they left. " If you cannot complete this task, consider your date sealed " Black said.
" Yes sir "
" Retrieve the eye from the scouts guild for me " Black revealed his instruction steely. " Right away sir, I will steal it and bring it in tomorrow " Alexander offered.
" You don't think I want it that easy for you right " Black said, his chair was now moving slightly. Alexander's shaking intensified " Sir.... "
" I want you to organize an army enough including some of our elites, launch a war on the scouts guild. Kill as much as I trust you can and retrieve the eye in the presence of everyone, then you will be pardoned. If you fail, you know what will happen " Black said.
Alexander almost fainted " How does he expect me to attack the scouts guild. This town is tier 3 for goodness sake and in their base of all places "
" Son " Black's voice relaxed a little " You know I care a lot for you, but when you do things that displease me even the slightest bit, I feel inclined to kill you. Since I can't kill your mother, I sometimes think why not you "
" But you can stop all that. By working to fulfil all my desires and making sure you stop making stupid mistakes, perhaps just perhaps you can make me feel a pang of guilt for wanting to kill you " .
Alexander knew of this already. His father had started this organization with the hope of getting his girlfriend back for more than fifteen years. His mother Ginevra Veena was once the girlfriend of his father Black Friday. They both gave birth to him before they married, he carried his mothers eyes. Unfortunately, Lucius came along, swept her off her feet and she married him.
His Father believed that since Lucius was the son of a council member and he was just an ordinary man, Ginevra chose Lucius. Black had once claimed that he would kill Ginevra and her entire family if he saw her again, but Alexander knew better. Black had on several occasions had the opportunity to kill them but he didn't. This was because he still loves her and would nothing to hurt her even if it meant not killing the man that stood her away from him.
Their relationship had been so close even to the point that three years after Ginevra's marriage, they still had an affair and his younger brother Heron was the result. It was the reason he didn't carry the family's J as the first letter of the children's name. But only Black and Ginevra knew of this before Ginevra decided to end it once and for all. Black since then had sworn to make her see that he was the right choice for her. But looking at him now, Alexander could not see even as one bit of love in him.
" You may take your leave, take your time to do what I asked of you but make sure it is done " Black said.
Alexander knew that Black had a deadline in mind but wouldn't tell him. He took a quick bow and made his way out of the room towards his own. He stopped by the common room to relay his job to an elite who would help him gather the elites and organize an army. He walked to his own room afterwards, sat on his bed.
He took off his helmet, his dark messy brown hair, light toned skin and hazel eyes freed from the confines of his helmet. He heaved a sigh of despair as he lay down to rest.