Festive music echoed through the place. A group of elite looking people chatter among themselves. They are each wearing either a suit and tie and extravagant dresses for the ladies, one distinctive piece of accessory they had is a black mask with gold linings. They sat on chairs and tables decorated with velvet satin cloth and ribbons with expensive table napkins, plates and utensils.
The place was massive and high-end. It was big enough to cater two hundred people and still have space to move around and fill. Hailing at the front of the place was a stage and a podium with the same velvet colored motif. The podium was still empty but based on the expressions shown by the rather excited viewers; laughing with each other, eyes sparkling in anticipation—there might be a glorious show that is about to commence. Worthy enough for elites to waste their time and spend their money.
And worthy enough to feed their individual interests—no matter what it is.
One of the elites present was a man in his fifties. The man was wearing a half mask; only covering his upper face. He has a plump face, lips coated in grease from eating a wagyu a5 steak. He also has a round body wearing a suit with a mismatched color palette; yellow and red. Making him look like a pimple that was about to burst.
The man, a rather famous editor and owner of a renowned publishing company, Mr. So, impatiently went to look over his gold watch. Frowning; he tapped his fingers on the table. He paid a ridiculous amount of money just to see the show and it is taking a rather sweet amount of time to begin.
He even considered this as a stress reliever for him not to remember one of his incompetent writers—Anthony Carson, who didn't update him about the progress of his novel for DAYS!
"Fuck that trash! " he gripped his hand tightly; faced in a sour expression.
Mr. So looked around impatiently for the master of the ceremony to walk into the podium. He reached for the wine glass begrudgingly and took a few sips.
At last, a tall man in a black suit went into the podium. He was holding a small paper. The man cleared his throat and took the microphone. The people present who were busy a while ago stopped what they're doing; all eyes in front in anticipation. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! We're honored to have all of you here. This event is a gift from our beloved Mayor Vhong Martin to ease our souls that we're still safe in our city! " A sound of applause and cheering could be heard. Soon; a petite man in his mid fifties walked gallantly on the red carpet. He was smiling ear to ear as he waved his hands to the crowd.
The mayor, Vhong took the microphone from the mc. Before speaking, he smiled at the crowd; almost as angelic as he could be...appealing to the masses that they could count on him. The crowd, upon the arrival of the Mayor to the podium, stood up from their seats and clapped their hands.
The Mayor signaled the people to take a seat. Tapping the mic; he spoke, "We all know that all of us have a lot of worries due to the killings that are happening right now and as your Mayor, I am deeply saddened for the victims. " He paused his speech, fishing a white handkerchief from his pocket; he wiped his tears.
Sniffing and eyes deeply in 'misery', he continued, "I did everything I can do and believe me I never failed you. I already have captured one of the perpetrators of all of these! And he was brought here for all of you to witness! " The Mayor bellowed loudly, in his speech; he always emphasized the word 'I'.
Upon hearing the Mayor's remarks, the crowd went wild. Some were speaking to each other; faces filled with fear. They're afraid that those creatures will come at them. Some were angry; their fists tightly gripped.
Mr. So, on the other hand; who got deeply interested in the topic and wanted to appear good to the mayor, stood up from his seat. He raised his fist in the air. "We have nothing to fear! As the Mayor told us, he was able to catch one. And that one he has caught right now must be killed! " His loud voice echoed to the place. He heard whispers from the crowd until one of them also stood up from their seat and shouted, "Kill them! "
Soon, the whole crowd joined in almost like villagers ready to charge in and kill wild bears. The Mayor upon hearing it; secretly smirked. Quite happy that his plan is working.
With a dramatic expression; he wiped away his fake tears again. "Quiet, everyone! I do feel sorry that we need to dirty our hands like this but it is for the safety of our community. Because of them, my beloved people are suffering! " The crowd never listened and continued with their chanting for carnage; they were out of their seats, ready to charge in and do the crime themselves. The Mayor's expression changed into 'distress'. As if he had nothing to do anymore in the situation; he placed his hand on his forehead.
The lights soon faded; a spotlight was placed on the center of the stage where there was a huge rectangular box covered in velvet satin cloth. The mayor signaled two of his men near the box to ready and reveal the surprise. "I cannot do the deed alone without the help of our ever enthusiastic patron Señor Greg who didn't wish to be seen but you all know him. " The Mayor laughed nervously upon his mentioning of Señor Greg on which he nearly had forgotten to thank.
Everyone has their hidden intentions and that includes the Mayor of the town who was so willing to be used if he was given an equal benefit.
The Mayor counted one to three until his two underlings uncover what's inside the cloth; inside was a huge cage with a wounded person inside. Collective gasps were released by the crowd upon witnessing who or-more appropriate what it was.
A cat-person was lying on the cage, chained from his hands and feet. The person is also bathed in his own blood with numerous wounds, his once white tail smeared in blood and a part of it was missing, either chopped or clipped. One prominent wound he had is his swollen face and blackened eye. He was beaten black and blue before he tossed him on the cage and paraded him to the masses.
But despite the look of abuse the person suffered... No one was moved from the crowd—instead, deep in their hearts they believed that 'it' deserved everything it had suffered.
And as long as it didn't personally affect them or they were the one being held... a narcissist wouldn't even dare to care.
Amidst the uproar and everyone's surprised expression on what they had witnessed; at the back of the stage stood a man in a black suit and cape; he was sipping his glass of red liquid while watching the whole scene; a faint smile etched on his lips, a pair of fangs were evident from his smile; his crimson eyes registered pure mirth.
A vampire taking his meal being entertained by an impending murder he planned in cohorts with the foolish Mayor.
"Everything is according to plan! They will be blamed and killed! What a perfect scapegoat! What a perfect way to harvest souls! " The man laughed maniacally. He sighed, a wide smile still plastered on his lips. His cheeks painted red with a disturbing expression; he licked his lips in ecstasy.
He also couldn't help but to moan in pleasure as thoughts of more deaths plagued the whole town of Styx Kaleido. It is one of his heartfelt wish... and he's glad that it's currently being set in motion.
The sight of him seeing more blood pooled on the alleys and victims begging for their lives makes his blood pumped in pure happiness and excitement.
'Ahh more! Give me more! '
"Humans are such foolish creatures! No wonder they're loved by our God. They're easy to manipulate. " He shook his head in amusement; giggling like a little child.
"A little bit more and he'll be ready to be reborn! " He beamed and stared at the scroll he earlier threw on the ground. Laughing, he wolfed down the blood from his glass.
The God who will help him reign over everyone.
The scroll contained a prophecy from a nymph seer his djinbes brought from their recent battle against the nymphs. Upon taking the prophecy by making the seer begged to be spared; he ended her life in a swift second—an act of mercy actually—her head rolling on the ground with eyes wide opened.
He remembered its content clearly. It's a waste that it'll become meaningless when he'll reap the soul of the raven himself. The raven who he already saw before; a young man. Such a pointless struggle. The prophecy descriptively described who it is.
Chuckling, the man decided to recite it word per word. Maybe he'll even sing it when the time comes the one in the prophecy will be the one begging for his life. He'll even be the one generous enough to drain the man's blood.
He took a deep breath; index finger on his head as if he's thinking.
"Ominous as how one paint emptiness and misfortune,
Black plumage one secretly want to hide in distortion,
This aching frustrations creeping in the heart to burgeon.
Choking into one croaking call of pure disproportion.
Pleaded to be in an empty white space yet met by madness,
Tired of the countless pointy fingers, blamed for their sadness.
As if I had courted the night and live their life leadless.
Charged with utter disdain, soon it woven a tale of dumbness.
One will never know what's sound without seeing all options.
Equipped with a sound mind yet ironically headless.
Humans dressed in white yet drive others to desperation.
Running from hypocrisy, blaming it to the voiceless.
This aching frustrations creeping in my heart to burgeon,
Observed as an opportunist yet aware of portions.
Choking into one croaking call of pure disproportion.
Unkind, not greedy, unlike those afraid of ill fortune."
"What will you do, little raven? Esquio il o. " Licking his lips; he raised his index finger, soon a black flame swallowed the scroll whole.
The man bowed and danced almost like he's being watched on a theater stage. Soon, a scream could be heard followed by a loud bang.
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