Becky looked on at her castle rather, Natas' castle sadness cloaked her face
"You haven't lost it now the boss' " Asher said
Becky looked at him with nothing but pure rage
"Now, now calm down young lady your still queen but he's now your king is all," Rhys said
Becky took a deep breath and sighed
"If you're all done bickering we need to get moving the other members won't be easy to find," Mary said marching forward
"I agree pretty," Asher said following her behind. Becky looked at her castle again and sighed
"Where are we going?" Becky asked
"We were sent to island taured," Rhys said smiling
"How do we go to a place that doesn't exist?" Becky asked irritated
Rhys smiled and clapped his hands. A large head sprung from the ground mouth open and rolled its tongue out.
"Ladies first" Rhys gestured
"Thank you," Becky said sarcastically and stepped in.
I know the location of two more fingers for now that is all we can handle bring them back alive and cooperative if you come in contact with interference kill them. Natas' distinct instructions regarding their assignment
"Your boss is a real piece of work," Mary said
"He's scary he's strong his ambitions can't be wrong," Asher said
"Alright, alright really why did he send us to the one place more black that burns like hell?" Mary said
"That's a hit to the face Nigeria isn't a bad place in the fact that's where I'm from it's my home base," Asher said
"I meant the place is too hot," Mary said
IIt'ss'st good for a tan man" Asher said
"So how are we getting there?" Mary asked they stopped near a pond and Asher cleared his throat
"Daughters of the waters connected to sisters of the seas take us to our destination this is my proclamation," Asher said and the water swirled and they jumped in.
"Is this OK?" Bexley asked over Aaran's shoulder
"Of course, it owned by the church after all" Aaran said torch in hand leading them down the long dark spiral stairs walls covered in ivy stairs littered in moss each step echoing more and more going down then Aaran abruptly stopped
"We're here," he said
"But the stairs doesn't continue, ley said
"Yes this is what you might call a step of faith," Aaran said and with that took a step into the void his torch going out Bexley looked down
"A test of faith huh?" Bexley sighed closed his eyes took a step into the void
"Why are your eyes shut it wasn't a long fall," Aaran said
Bexley opened up to bright golden light and the smell of books and wood
"A library?" Bexley said underwhelmed
"Solomon's library, "Aaran said
Bexley smirked
"I hear it contains true wisdom one that would give you whatever you want and the understanding of life itself," Bexley said
"If that is all you want but let me say it contains much much more," Aaran said
"I see you want to know about where the other members are," Bexley said
"No" Aaran walked towards a large globe thatslowlyun around on its own and had a mix of light and shadow around the globe.
"The shadows are everywhere magic, and demons roam free the rest is where the angels and the godly live" Aaran said
"There are so many angels"
"Naturally everyone is assigned a guardian angel"
"But with all that light why is there darkness?"
"Darkness surrounds wherever there is light but cannot engulf it it's the user who decides what to do with it"
"I see so how does this help?"
"The places most dark are the members themselves they mostly stay isolated or surrounded by darkness"
"They're a lot" Bexley fixed his eyes on light and darkness moving towards the darkness
"Exorcists?" Bexley asked
"Yes looks like they caught wind of what's going on"
"It seems like everything is going well so let's address the elephant in the room"
Aaran sighed
"I never wanted this day to come the day we find demons among saints but I guess it was coming but we have bigger problems to solve" Aaran concluded"
"I agree," Bexley said and they looked on as light and shadow approached each other a clash was waiting to happeTTTravelling
"So I take it I'm bored to be around Dimitri?"
He rolled his eyes and ruffled his brown hair
"No Franny, we just have this bond that eases the tension"
"I make you uncomfortable is that what you're saying?" She asked bluntly
"Of course, you haven't spoken to me and I'm bad with people" he tripped on a tree root
"You're not going to get what you want unless you speak up" she stretched out a hand
"After all we all need something from someone," she said
he grabbed her hand and was helped up
"Yes, yes that's why I started this to begin with" he dusted himself off and walked on
"Besides with him around there's no guarantee that-" she stopped talking noticing the pain in Dimitri's eyes
"Sorry"
"No worries there's no guarantee he won't bring me back there"
Silence fell and they kept on going and eventually saw buildings not far off the end of the forest and ended up rolling down a low hill at the end of the forest and stopped right in front of the town. Dimitri started laughing and got up
"Perfect entry it could get anyone off guard," He said
"No we could have if we paid any attention," Franny said dusting herself
Dimitri sighed and walked into the town
Hee strict with himself but it's good to see him in high spirits
Franny thought and rushed up behind him.
Come to think of it...
"Dimitri are you familiar with this place?"
"No, you?"
"thouthoughere but at least you know the person we're meant to meet"
"Y-yes," Dimitri said stuttering
"You don't know do you?" Franny said sternly
"Yes I don't," he said in defeat
"I see" She turned to her left and walked away
"I'll find myself a place to sleep," Franny said
"Thank you you're so reliable- Wait I heard you say yourself what about me?"
She looked back and smiled
"You can sort yourself out"
"Wa,itanny!Dannyynny.
"Now what am I meant to do?" He sulked
"Excuse me sir" a little girl called to him
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"You new here aren't you?"
He straightened up and sighed
"Yes, do you know a place I can crash for a while?"
"Yes I'll take you myself but first would you like to meet the fortune teller?"
He shrugged
The foreseer that must be him
"Of course, I'd be delighted to"
She grabbed him by the hand and led him through the town
If it's him the mission will end faster than expected
Meanwhile
"Asher could you tell these barbarians to stop gawking or else I'll turn them into mincemeat," Mary said referring to the guides they have
"It's not often they get to see another race among them walking"
Asher said
"I got that but it's making my blood boil" She growled
"Anyway are you sure there's a finger here I feel a lot of magic here but I don't think there's one here"
"He's their king they have hundreds of years of songs about him they sing sing"
"Nowould is interesting then," she said they stopped in front of attires leading to a man on a throne of some sort and men seated opposite each other wearing red beaded bracelets and necklaces. Asher bowed and Mary reluctantly followed the man beckoned the others should go and Asher and Mary stepped forward
"Welcome, Asher!" The king said
"Oduduwa long time no see glad to see your free"
"They couldn't catch me if they wanted"
And both let out a hearty laugh. Mary looked at them mouth open words failing to come out.
"I and Asher go way back," Oduduwa said
"Back to when I first started, we were buds for years even when I departed," Asher said
Mary unable to respond sighed.
"If he's a finger that means there may be more even other members Oduduwa do you know if there are any more?" Mary said
Oduduwa went silent and looked at her dumbfounded
"There aren't any" he finally said
"Sure what of among your godbrothers"
"There aren't any"
"Huh? How are you so sure?"
"Because I killed them"
"You..... What?"
"Well to put it more accurately we did"
Asher smiled
"It was a hassle but we won both war and battle"
Well I shouldn't be surprised really to attain the title of the member you need the minimum of a legion but these guys are something.
"Why are you guys looking for members anyway?"
And they told him all about Natas and his plans.
"This data is something else"
"Yes, he is would you come with us please?"
"Sorry I have my kingdom to run but it looks like all you need is a way to give him more demons in that case" he gave them his beads
"I've infused many in there"
"Thank you," Mary said
"Let's be on our way Asher"
Oduduwa put his hand on Asher's shoulder
"Goodbye my old friend I hope to see you in a long time from now happy"
"Me too Odudu," Asher said looking perplexed
"Great earth take us to our master's turf" and they were swallowed up by the ground
"Please live a long life my friend," Oduduwa said a tear rolling down his cheek
Asher and Mary arrived at the castle and met with Natas who was seated on the throne. Asher gave him the beads and Mary started walking away when Natas asked
"How was he?"
"The king was acting weird almost as if he was scared"
"I see so it's that time"
"What time?" Mary asked stopping in her tracks
"Heh? You don't know? I thought of all people you would know about the old geezer the foreseer who could see so much of the future he's said to have seen thousands of years into the future and because of him many members have lived longer than intended"
"What does that have to do with odds?" Asher asked
"The left thumb has survived by using these predictions for a thousand years he threw himself a party to celebrate and proclaimed of how he would live for more. That night he passed away in his sleep. A book of the foreseer's predictions for him lay beside him and when checked over and over again to find out why the old geezer passed away, it was found at the end it was written death cannot be cheated which means everyone in possession of his predictions are liable to die soon your friend is no exception"
Asher froze never had he been hit hard by the thought of mortality, among members, for they lived long somewhatseemedlaseteasother lived so long the question of death never phased them for their lives seemed as though death was not allowed to take their souls to the afterlife. Never had he pondered about his mortality as of that moment, never had he prayed for a life other than his then at that time. Mary who normally had her irritated or indifferent expression across her pale face, scarlet eyes either glaring or relaxed was now much more pale and wide-eyed realizing what Asher did that although they had powers that cheated death, being of flesh and blood meant that a day would come for them to pay their dues to the grim reaper.
Meanwhile
The town wasn't as Becky would imagine it she thought it would be more like a dark underground city with the smell of death and rotting corpses but instead, it was more like their world more than anything the sun gently glowing the people going about on normal business on carriages and children playing games on the cobblestone streets Becky observed at the back of the carriage.
"For such a different world it seems more normal than anything," Becky said
"Of course it does it would be suspicious if it wasn't, Rhys said
"But it doesn't exist," Becky said
"That's not entirely true," Rhys said
then cleared his throat
"The pinky of the left hand wanted to show his power so he used his magic to open a dimension of his own with nothing inside and nothing to do with it he created a replica of the outside world and brought people here to live as they like so it's only accessible if you can open dimensions or control space," Rhys said
"I see that's quite impressive but what's that thing on their doors that purple flower"
"Well in return for living here they pray to him feeding him more so, we're,", id
"I see"
This is to show how powerful we are as members if only a finger could do this the thought of other members such as a hand or a wing is something else.
They stopped in front of the castle decorated in the purple flowers and banners they walked in through the draw bridge and into the palace with each step Becky grew more anxious to get it over with to get him on their side and be done with it finally they stopped at a golden door beyond it was the king Becky nervously pushed the doors open and on the throne above sat a king, head with a peaceful expression in his hands, with spikes of transparent threads protruding from him and a pool of blood flowing down. The king was gone and in his place a gruesome display of what happened to him. The sight made Becky green in disgust legs now shaking like grass in the wind expression horrified at the scene numb all over Rhys was devastated and cold as ice than in a moment of instinct pushed Becky back and was covered in flames immediately but snapped them away with his fingers. His skin was scorched but reverted to normal.
"Becky go! Let's go" he said clasping his hands making the head appear again. He ran in and looked back at Becky frozen in place, he grabbed her and pulled her in along with him and arrived at the palace both stumbling to the floor before Natas and the others.
"Rhys, what happened?" Natas asked surprised
Rhys told them everything and everyone except Natas was in disbelief.
"So it begins"
"What does boss?" Asher asked
"The more demons you have the more magic you have meaning your rank increases with each there are many ways to get demons by infestation, possession, by initiating yourself to magic and the more grotesque killing other members for their demons and a few more. Looking at the report it was most likely a hand and another member came for the king and one of them left with the spoils. A hand has the power to beat and attain the power of all five fingers along with his special magic and the list goes on and on making it reasonable that a hand and another member came for him"
"What does this mean?" Mary asked
"Members are hunting members for power which means everyone we need to get stronger and be on our toes we don't know who is coming for us nor when but we do know they will reason enough to be scared and on guard, we are now at war," Natas said. Flesh and blood are what we're made of and dust and sand are how we return the time to pay their dues to the grim reaper were t.
"Care for some tea?" The foreseer asked
"No," Dimitri said
"Well wait a moment while I get mine," the foreseer said and hobbled away. Dimitri looked around and found the place underwhelming. Normally these people who can see the unseen have a grand building set up in their honour and people crowded asking practically begging to know their future and would pay heavily for their predictions and spread the news of the wondrous foreseer who was praised as the town celebrity. But instead, there was no grand building but instead, an old cottage, wood creaking with each step threatening to break if stepped on too hard, the place was dusty and in desperate need of cleaning and the foreseer had grey hair all over his head his back slightly arched and walked slowly and moved delicately as if he was lighter than paper and more fragile than glass but in his small pupils glistened a look of knowledge. Knowledge of people, who they are and how they end. and although he humbled there was a calculated and methodical way as to how he walked revealing a somewhat diabolical nature to him.
"I don't get many visitors these days," he said softly
"Really? I thought yourfamilyylyy would visit once a while" Dimitri feigned ignorance to the truth about him and his age
"Unfortunately they passed away a long time ago but you already knew that Dimitri," he said and sipped his tea
"I'm a foreseer remember? I already know everything and the purpose as to why you're here to exorcise me and send me to the afterlife but you don't have to my time is up anyway"
"Heh? That makes it so much easier than old man what happened to your predictions? And where are the remaining?"
The foreseer chuckled
"No mortal is above death as for the remaining I've given them out but I've left one here for you" he pointed at a notebook on a shelf.
"I see well then I have one more question why do you accept death now?"
The foreseer sipped on his tea, took a deep breath began
"The thing about life I know through these powers is all we humans don't want to die no matter how bad it is we all want to live for a reason either money, power, love or meaning we all use those to give ourselves a reason to live but the truth is our lives hold no meaning and we are to give it one give it a worth but we grow greedy and think life isn't long enough so we chase after more of it looking for a form of immortality but the thing is immortality is a curse in itself you live watching everyone you love die you give yourself the worth you want but can't rest knowing you can't join others who completed the same task and you realize that the fragility of life and how it can be taken away is what makes it so precious so value able and after you figure this out you realize that there's nothing more for you to do but you keep on living irrespective. What I want to say is all that's important in life is being the person you're proud of then you will rest in peace knowing you gave yourself worth unattainable by anyone else" old man slouched in his chair and closed his eyes for the last time. Dimitri looked at him and thought
Ever since I started this his kind have always been depicted as monsters I guess they're human
With that,e got up and carried the notebook and walked out of the house and was approached by Franny
"I see looks like he went out with a good heart"
"Yeah, but he left us this book. I looked at it a bit and there was something that I didn't understand" Dimitri said opening the first page.
"This is an ode and"Doesn't that mean a god is dying?"
"Yes so it seems"
Back in Nigeria
Oduduwa walked through the forest admiring the vast land he acquired for his people he relieved the thoughts of war and conquest against his fellow god's
"Everyone it seems I may join you soon" he let out a hearty laugh
"You've grown senile oduduwa," a man said, his grim reaper rather dressed in all white blood red fingernails neon green eyes the only facial expression seen as the remainder of his face was covered and a sickle on his back
"Ah it is to be expected of an old man but my mind is still as sharp as ever and my strength is the same as I was years ago Mr reaper" Oduduwa proclaimed
"You talk as though you saw this moment then tell me why don't you run to save your skin?"
"A god does not run from mortals but watches down on them and a god fears not even death for death is a gateway to herheroheronryspecially don't fear a false reaper"
"Foolish old man" he held the sickle on his hand
"You should have chosen life"
"No you should have chosen a better opponent," oduduwa said the sky turned grey the sun blocked out and the two men stood in anticipation of the fight to begin tension thick in the air then..... Lightning struck the reaper scorching the earth. The reaper was nowhere to be seen making oduduwa relax but at that moment he felt something from behind and out of instinct jumped to the skies avoiding the reaper's sickle which harvested the trees surrounding them, from above oduduwa stood on a cloud and waved down streams of lightning down at his target who dodged in a flailing dance but the damage, sure enough, had been done, for he was surrounded by nothing but an inferno oduduwa with a snap of his fingers made the flames converge to the reaper burning him or so he thought
"So you have a trump card up your sleeve," the reaper said amid the flames
"This would have been boring without it" oduduwa saw his flames get absorbed by transparent threads coming from the reapers clothes.
The threads formed wings like that of an angel and in one flap of the wings he spared towards oduduwa grabbing him in his arms going higher and higher he looked dead in the eyes of the god and pierced him with spikes protruding from his body and his eyes lit up more as he squeezed the god the cracking of bones the squishing of organs granted a form of pleasure to the reaper who looked on in content as oduduwa struggled now above the clouds he dug deeper and deeper into the god and laughed in triumph.
"Is this how it ends, I the reaper and you the mortal? I expected much more from you god but just like everyone else your nothing more than flesh and blood" with one final squeeze the god was motionless. The reaper eased his grip allowing the god to fall yes indeed the victor was decided. As he looked down at the descending god he jerked his head back as the body turned to smoke and from behind he was wrapped from head to toe with chains, mummifying him, and was flung down gravity lending an extra push weighed on him more and from the skies streams of lightning was sent through the chain to the reaper. Absorbing the attack would be of no use as the onslaught continued overpowering the absorption instead left him open to the raw energy which passed through him unending and then he crashed with a thud and the stream was stopped the god came to his side
"I fear no false reaper"
"And I fear no god" the reaper wheezed scorched beyond recognition. Oduduwa walked away but with his guard dropped the final strike came... His side was stabbed from the back with the sickle pain racking his ribs and the squishing of his organs greatly ringing in his ears
When he noticed the fake he must have thrown it before being chained up
He deduced and in much pain and anguish Oduduwa removed the sickle and limped back to his royal home in the village and concluded his time was up he went into his hut and lay on his mat covering himself with a cowskin for a blanket. A god dying on a bed slightly smaller than his frame indeed this is not how I pictured my end he thought chuckling and keeping as footsteps approached him it was a youth of about 16 years of age
"My king, how are you feeling today?"
"Ah I'm fine young one sir down"
"What brings you here?"
"I came for a humble greeting my king"
Oduduwa looked at him closely
"Ah Enan my boy I remember your parents a brave set of people and you remind me of a young me"
"Thank y over here," oduduwa said weakly time running out
The youth sat beside him and oduduwa put a hand on his head
"Live long and protect everyone you can this life is long, hard and complicated young one I've lived eating and drinking and slept with the best women I could find a stupid because digging none of them is at my side but you don't have to live like that you can live doing what you want and making a way for others to live a good way where people don't have to die alone will you do that?"
"Yes my king"
"You're a good boy for that you're blessed"
"Thank you, my king"
"Now go I need to sleep a deep sleep"
"Yes my king" and he went away oduduwa stared at the roof of his hut and smiled his last smile
"I did one good at least" and he spoke no more
Solomon's library
What happened between oduduwa and Enan was seen differently on the globe oduduwa's darkness turned to light and was passed on to the young man
"It looks like we have an African born exorcist on our hands send someone to train him," Bexley said
"No I have a better idea it looks like some of these recruits have met and saved or beaten legions or members I think it's time he held a test to see if they're ready to be admitted to the guild"
"Looks like everything is going crazy from here"
"Yes it is"
And so new lights were born more darkness spread and death has started taking its debts. Time is no longer following itself and chaos has been spread looks like the journey of the heroes is a long one indeed