The Devil's Crown

XLVIII Bright Blue Sky.

“They know something that the world doesn’t know,”

Orathan was silent which was something that Elfric was truly grateful for as he gave him a moment to think carefully. His mind was displaying the plan that he saw earlier in the room with West. It has barely been minutes so he still has it clearly pictured in his mind.

As he glanced down he knew instantly that they were heading the wrong way. The wrong way…which meant it wasn’t the way that Allen has stated earlier. Were they perhaps taking care of something on that side? He thought but it seemed like wishful thinking, it was so unlikely with the way that they were dressed and already.

In 30 minutes they were able to put a plan, gather the men, and get them ready. It all seemed too impossible to happen this fast. Elfric tsked as he poked the inside of his mouth if only he could go back there to know what was going on!

He needed to go back inside that tent. His mind was sent but his body was too heavy with a fever that he barely got to his feet and glanced down at the dark-green tent.

‘Are we finally going to do something useful?’ Orathan asked.

“I have to go back to that tent,” said Elfric his eyes fixed on the tent while his hands were clenched into tight fists next to him. Something was eating at his insides as he felt that this wasn’t going the way he nor the Rebels had planned. Worry, almost. Was he truly worried at the Rebels? He hasn't even talked to them. That couldn’t possibly be the reason, he thought.

He feared that what they have got to offer was going to disappear the moment that they cease to exist. Where else would he find the suitable vessels…his own vessels. They were a perfect choice, they had everything that he has got to offer. With a little convincing he would have got them forever on his side. But most of all, they had the same goal. Who else would be so willing to jump right into the Capital city of the Nobles, in the den of their gathering and go to the extent of threatening them?

He shrugged. This was not time to think about why he wanted them on his side. He has already made up his mind, there was nothing to think about. He needed them to know that their plan won’t work! While they would be busy looking at the wrong spot, the White Cross’s forces are going to be on top of them.

“I have to get back inside that tent!” he yelled out as if Orathan was standing right there. Fortunate that his voice was swallowed by the emptiness around him as he almost touched the sky.

“Everything would be doomed if they are dead!” he protested despite hearing nothing from Orathan, his index finger pointing at the hotel as rage took over his mind.

“Why are you suddenly so quiet when you always have something to blab about, Demon?” Elfric snorted. If he meant for that to be an insult, he would have to do better than that.

‘You could die,’ Orathan uttered. ‘As you can see, your body isn’t doing well either.’

“It will have to work!” Elfric insisted as he walked back and forth trying to deny the fatigue that was washing over him like rain. “Just enough to know where they are going to hit them from!”

‘Then what?’ Orathan asked. ‘Are you going to waltz your way inside and tell that West guy that he was wrong? What makes you think that they are going to believe you?’

“They would have to. They haven’t any other options,” said Elfric. “I’m there only chance of survival. Far as I remember I didn’t believe that you were truly inside me until it was happening.”

It was human instinct. West wouldn’t help but listen to him, it was too much of a risk not to. With that look in his eyes, he cared deeply about the crew that he got with him. He will never risk their lives, even if it was a one-in-a-million chance.

Elfric couldn’t quite say if the sigh that he heard was from him or from Orathan. Did it even make a difference? He had no idea but he was thankful for any gesture to try and calm his body and mind. He needed to concentrate.

‘Alright,’ Orathan agreed. ‘But I will pull you out when I need to.’

Elfric nodded, taking a deep breath. “You just threw me in there a while ago knowing that there was a possibility of me dying,” said Elfric. “What has got you all worried now? You were completely fine before,” he smirked as he felt a little at ease to be doing something.

Before he could hear the reply from Orathan he was already surrounded by darkness that he lost sight of his own hands.

Then came the reply…reminding him of that night in the basement of the club. The whisper that came to him from the darkness that moved soundlessly on the blood-coated tiles.

“Because now I know for certain,”

Elfric shuddered. Orathan’s voice seemed like his own inner demons talking to him, it made him feel sometimes that there was no Orathan and that was just him…he was the devil. But no, there was just too much proof to think that. But…now, the voice came through his ears like the whisper of the cold wind in a winter night.

He didn’t reply despite the threat. Well, it didn’t matter anyway because Elfric wasn’t going to back down and it was too late. Before Elfric the darkness started fading into the inside of the tent. The once crowded space now had only two people, the only two people that Elfric recognized. General Akimov and Toptenov.

Before them on the wooden table lied a blueprint of the Casablanca. No…something was something different. Elfric narrowed his eyes as his feet followed his curiosity and advanced towards the plan.

It isn’t the plan that Allen showed West, Elfric came to the conclusion. There was no doubt about it. His eyes darted over the paper as he stood a step away from the older men. The naming of the blueprint was as clear as the sun, just like the one he saw back at the hotel.

Which one was the right one?! There was no need to think of such a question. The people before him are so determined to show their dominance not only to the unwanted guests in the house but to the world. Did it make any sense that they would have the wrong layout of the place?! That is if they didn’t have the only accurate plan to the place.

Allen was right. He would know every corner and hole in the hotel – only if the plan they have was indeed the right one. He had to find the difference! There was no time left, the forces might have already headed out!

Elfric leaned forward to find his own answers, the two silent generals seemed to not be of any help. Yet, his body had another opinion as he felt his knees give up underneath him. Being the shadow he was there was nothing to grab on to avoid the fall. Elfric felt his breath trapped in his chest.

‘Elfric Woods your time is up,’ Orathan warned.

“NO!” Elfric screamed. He forced his eyes to focus trying to breathe whatever air was available for his lungs. His conscience was working at double the power as his eyes scanned the paper and comparing it with the one that he has already seen.

There it was…

“The secret entrance is right next to the main entrance,” General Akimov mumbled under his breath at the same time that Elfric came to the conclusion.

No, he thought. It wasn’t just a secret entrance. It was a complete tunnel plan beneath the hotel. Elfric wished that he had enough time to be shocked but his body gave in. His hands falling to meet the coldness of the floor, acting as the last thing keeping his body from collapsing completely.

‘No more’ Orathan stated leaving no room for argument.

Elfric came to meet the ground – the rooftop by the time that Orathan said those two words. He has never been so grateful for the air that he was breathing until he felt oze his slamming heart and veins that felt to be on the edge of bursting. His heartbeat was clear in the throbbing in his head, the mere flow of blood was too sensible to him to the point that he might go crazy. It was almost as if he was feeling the life pump through him once more…just Orathan warned. If he dared to stay too long…

Elfric used the little strength that he gained from the brush of life soothing him and flipped to his back. Eyeing the bright blue sky, so shameless as it lit the world brightly with a beautiful day completely ignoring what was happening right beneath its feet. So beautiful. So arrogant as it thought of nothing but showing off the beauty and warmth that it had to offer.

The corner of his thin-dry lips curled up into a smirk.

“I have found it,” said Elfric.