A Visit
2133 Words
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*
“Jasper?” Juliet mutteringly asks.
She goes back walking at a faster pace to where he turned. But then when she looked there, he was gone. The people who are sitting on the floor seem to have not seen anything strange. Her curiosity strikes up even more. Swallowing, she decides to confirm it. Every way he could have possibly gone, she searches them. Every room and corner, she did not let them slip by until there is only one place she has not yet checked. It is the room for the pump.
Her hand trembles even though she is not cold, reaching for the doorknob. Although sensing nothing but the hiss of the leaks in the pipes from the other side of the door, she feels this is it. She opens it and sees nothing but a dark room. Shadows are everywhere. The door closes in itself then she turns around. Jasper with his eyes glowing green.
“Nice to see you again, my little sister,” he whispers.
“Jasper!” she exclaims, embracing him with her face on his chest.
He pats her head. “I'm glad to see you're doing fine.”
“I'm glad that you're fine too! Please, come back to us!”
“I will but not right now.”
She pushes him away and slaps his face. “If I was Mother, I would've killed you right now!” she rages.
Rubbing his cheeks, he says, “Oh… that hurts, and right… Mother would've killed me on the spot.”
“Why? Why are you doing this?”
“I think you know already, my clever sister.”
“I want to hear it straight from your mouth!”
“Alright,” he nods. “I'm doing it for the sake of the Realm.”
“For the sake- How is helping a rogue goddess do what she wants is going to help?! You even dragged Hyeon's brother with you! And then Leo's friend!”
“They joined us out of their free will. And when I say for the sake of the Realm, I mean that she has the strength to change it for the better. I know how you hate the system of the ruling of Olympus as much as I do.”
“I do but what you're doing isn't the right way to do it!”
“I agree that it might be a violent way but if that's what it needs to change the Realm, then it's worth it.”
“Are killing innocent people is your way to do it?”
“No, no, no, we never killed any innocent people.”
“Then you better name every people you killed in Ra City!”
“That's impossible for me to enumerate but I let them evacuate the civilians before the attack.”
“I can't believe how casual you're letting the truth out to me.”
“Of course. You're my sister.”
“And you're my brother! And it is my duty to put you back in the right direction!”
“This is the direction that is right for me, Juliet. Believe me when I considered changing the Realm from the inside out but that was until I realized something. There are deities that are more clever and more powerful than us but they haven't changed the system even for a slight.”
“It has! King Rai is already doing it!”
“His method of doing it is something that can be undone right away when he steps off the throne. His way won't work. Simply gradually shrinking the walls between the three kinds is not the way. The House Leaders were aware of this and were not happy about it. They would've impeached him if the Apocalypse never happened.”
“How can you be so sure about that?!”
He leans forward, looking closely at her eyes in the dark. “You know I'm right and you can't even think of a way to find a reason for your stand.”
As if a fire is coming from her eyes when she frowns at him. “I'm doing this for our family,” she growls. “Before anything else, our family goes first.”
“And that would be selfishness on our part as thinkers. We think for the sake of everyone, not for ourselves. I thought Seok has taught it to you. I know because he taught me that too.”
“I hate you,” she mutters, walking away from him.
“No, don't be like that, Juliet,” he giggles. “Even though I'm a reckless brother, I can't stand being hated by my own sister.”
“You're the same as always,” she says showing her back at him. “Always tricking me.”
“Well, that's what I'm good at. I'm the God of Trickery after all.”
She scoffs. “I knew it.”
“But it's true that I care about what you think of me. I want to be a cool brother you can be proud of to talk with your friends.”
“Well, not anymore. I can't possibly be proud of you for becoming a rogue god and killing our friend's family. Now, he hates us.”
“We only killed Cleopatra and her father. The rest of their family were alive. And that was before the explosion that happened right below the Ra Castle. We are lucky we have Hyun and Lady Sayuri. We lost two comrades though. Emaan, the God of Scorpions and Jack, the Hunter.”
“What did you say?” she asks turning to look at him again.
“Emaan and Jack.”
“Jack, the cyborg… he's one of you?”
“Yes, do you know him?”
“Leo and Darius captured him with two other deities on the southern coasts.”
He chuckles in happiness. “You're not kidding, right?”
“I'm not.”
“Where is he?”
“Don't even think about busting him out!” She slaps his shoulder.
“I won't… well, for now.” He laughs.
“Now this is why Mother has to beat you every time she sees you.”
“It's not like we're dangerous to all of you. We only seek to kill Dragunov.”
“And that would be even more possible if you cooperate with us.”
“Nah… Lady Sayuri won't approve of that. She wants to do it her way.”
“If she does, innocent people will get hurt.”
“Actually and surprisingly, she doesn't want that to happen as much as you do. Every time I propose a plan to her, she won't approve if innocent people will get caught up in it. She knows pretty well how to put my brain to its limits. I almost became like Mother but Lady Sayuri stopped me even if she doesn't know. She's a keeper, Juliet.”
He scratches his head and she is a little surprised about how he described Sayuri. “Are you lying?” she questions without a tone of skepticism.
“No. This is the truth I always want to tell to everyone. Although she looks menacing at first glance, she's very compassionate. You should see her interacting with children in her own way and you'll see. It could melt your heart.”
“So, you have found your ultimate ‘Queen Piece.’”
“No, she's not my piece or something like that. Actually, it's the other way around. I'm ‘her’ piece. All of us that are following her.”
“Are you lying?”
“Why are you always asking me that?”
“Because you're the God of Trickery.” Her tone is like a slow-moving river, afraid to make rushing sounds. “You trick people and you might be tricking me now. As geniuses everyone considers me and Mila, we could never be as clever as you.”
“That's not true. I'm envious of both of you, actually. When I was your age, you're clever than I was. You will grow into cleverest goddesses—no doubt. And very beautiful too. And when you do, just don't be afraid to tell everyone that I'm you're handsome brother that taught everything you know.” He chuckles.
She smiles, saying, “You're the worst.”
“And yet I'm you're brother.” He pats her head. “So, you might be wondering why I came here, huh?”
“What?”
“First of all, I came here to check on you. Second, to talk to a certain interesting someone.”
She narrows her eyes. “You want to talk to Leonide, don't you?”
“Wow, you're so clever, how did you know?” he asks with obvious sarcasm. “That's my sister.” He rubs her head even more.
“Don't fool with me!” She slaps his arm.
“Ow!”
*
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As soon as I open my eyes, my head feels spinning. What happened? Why am I feeling weak? Argh! It's hurting now! What is this? I'm seeing something inside my head. It's… Zol. Parts of him have become stone! What is happening?
“Zol?” I ask.
He's not answering! He's just standing there like a real statue. Maybe this is because of the many times I transfer the effects of Oracle's Eyes. Maybe I should stop it. Although his wish is death, I don't know if he will die if I keep doing this or trapping him even more. I need to know.
“Zol!” I wake him up, shaking his shoulder. He still won't wake up no matter how I try. “Yargh!” I grunt punching him in the gut. No expression of pain is on his face. He doesn't feel anything.
I can't believe what I've done…
Pulling my hair, I look at his face. His eyes are closed, giving off a serene mood. Then the desert background transforms into something made out of steel. He opens his eyes and they're glowing green. And his hair… it has become red.
“Oh, just in time,” he says, smirking.
I realize I'm awake but confused. “Jasper?” I ask.
“You're right, my boy,” he says and I see Lady Juliet behind him at the door.
Oh, I'm in a cell. A new cell. This is different from what I used to stay. And I'm bound to the wall with Olympian Steel chains with no mechanism. How did I get here? The last thing I remember is going out with Mila.
“How are you, Leonide?” he asks.
“Not fine,” I answer, feeling sick of my dizzy head. “What happened?”
“You've gone crazy yesterday.”
“My lady,” I call her attention. “why am I here? Why is he here?” She looks wary and like she's looking out for people.
She answers, “He wants to talk to you, so both of you do it fast before we get caught.”
“What happened?” I ask in a whisper to Jasper.
“I don't really know but for me, you looked like you have been possessed and started to attack the Fourth Seaters of Olympus Mons and Aiko. But then you are utterly defeated when Enzo arrived.”
“He has?” I ask. He nods. “Good.”
“Shh!” Lady Juliet shushes me.
Jasper asks, “What happened to the guy inside you? Did he take over?”
“I don't know. All I know is that he can't move anymore and slowly turning into stone.”
“That's interesting and I want to help to find out what this is all about.”
“Someone's here,” whispers Lady Juliet. “I'll handle it for a minute! Hurry, both of you!”
She goes out and intercepts whoever that is. From here we can't see them but we hear their voices. Jasper shows me his right hand. Then a silver ring appears around his index finger. He pulls it out. I can sense it is his relic.
“This is my relic,” he whispers. “It will become invisible and undetectable when you wear it. You can use any relic, right?” I nod. “Use it when you need my help and that's when we talk. Right now, just try your best to survive. I'll see you again.” He puts it around my finger. It disappears.
“Who's there?!” shouts a man.
“Crap,” says Jasper.
- Writer
