The Sacred Meets The Cursed

Damiano Augustus

The sounds of gunshots, men crying, and laughs of my men, cries for help and the sound of machine-gun firing in the distance are the music to my ears. My men are laying the groundwork for me, preparing my prey. I want the fear of death grazing through my target, so when I enter they know for the fact that they are going to hell; and I the devil will give them the ride. I threw the door open and for a second there was pin-drop silence in the room. My men were up on their feet while the Russians were passed out, dead spread all over the floor.

“Vasili is not here now, I am assuming that he escaped.” Marcus, my right-hand man broke the silence.

“Shame!” I looked around the room. “Kill everyone and get him,” I pointed my gun to a man standing on the other side of the room injured but full of courage and arrogance. I like breaking such people who are too smug to give up. I shot a bullet right on his left knee and a sharp cry of pain echoed through the room. I walked towards him.

“To make sure you don’t escape like your coward boss.” I made my voice rough like Vasili to mock him. I turned around, put back my gun, and was about to exit. I wanted to see Vasili here and have some fun of my own. Looks like, he and I will be continuing this game of hide and seek for a bit long.

“He is not a coward, Vasili is only fighting to get what was his. You are the one who is a coward, living a dual life.” I faced him again and was ready to shoot right between his eyes but I kept on chanting that I need to keep him alive to get the information in my mind. “You are known for endgame Damiano but the plan Vasili has for you and that girl, I forgot her name…” That’s it. I pulled my gun and shot right at his chest, exactly where that filthy heartbeat.

“Boss!” Marcus exclaimed with concern. “What did you do? He was our only chance to get to Vasili and to know if Russian cartel is back in States.” I gestured to him to check his pulse rate. Marcus was sure that he was dead but he still went there with a confused look on his face. I highly doubt this imbecile will say anything and if I am not wrong he is supposed right-hand man of Vasili. Marcus and Giovanni will never betray even if held captive by our enemy. But that doesn’t mean I will let him go.

Marcus felt the pulse and looked at me with a widened eyes.

“I can’t let that bastard get away from life this easy. The bullet is very near to his heart and he is passed out due to shock. Get him to our doctor and make sure he is alive only to speak. If he doesn’t, I will make sure to give him the torture that will scare away the actual devil, am I clear?” The sentence was more of a growl than a statement. All my men saluted and yelled ‘yes boss’ loud. Good! I saw Giovanni, my other best soldier and a right-hand man from the corner of my eye. He stood there quietly observing everything around him. His best strength was that he was so meticulous that he could find out the tiniest of the detail with just one look that many people will miss most of the time. Marcus is a more muscle guy who is also one of his kind. Except for me, no one has ever defeated Marcus in combat.

“That rage and anger on your face, did he threaten your girl?” Giovanni commented. I gave him a sharp look that rendered him silent and brought him back to his stern position.

“Hey, I didn’t say anything. There is nothing to worry about, she is safe.”

“I don’t trust Vasili, let’s not forget he did rule the underworld for a fair amount of time and he is definitely above average mafia leader. What’s the latest update?” I asked him while I got in the car and loosed a few buttons of my shirt. He got in the driver's seat and started the engine.

“Well, the southern part is on high alert. Many higher-ups are getting Intel that Vasili is preparing to make a comeback.” Giovanni caught me up on all the latest Italy, States, and all other areas under me. I have been out of the mansion and our family home for almost 3 weeks now, following on a lead to Vasili.

“Check on every lead and bring that bastard to me,” I ordered. Giovanni nodded his head and focused on driving. This issue was long gone but has decided to show up again and unlike last time, I do have something to lose this time. I should have solved this problem when he was weak, now god knows what preparation he has done in hiding.

I was 17 when I got into this dark world where the walls are painted with blood, people are fighting to get to the throne and there is nothing but pain, dread, torture, and evil. People who rise to the top and triumph over this world, are the most alone of all. I can have anybody with my one command but that is not what I long for. One thing I want most in my life is impossible to achieve. I can only look out and manage to satisfy myself thinking that she is safe and happy in her beautiful world. People call me the King of the underworld, Hades, Devil, and many more similar names. It was not an easy job and neither was I handed any of this as an heir. I fought and battled for years to get on top and run this underworld on my terms. I can’t bear the thought of not having control over the illegal activities. If people like Vasili are left open in the world, then things will spiral out of their axis. I am not saying that I am some saint doing god’s work. In fact, 70% of my work is pretty illegal in the constitution but everything should be in a line, under certain control.

I could see myself as Hades with my Hypnos and Thanatos fighting to survive. I ascended the so-called throne when I turned 22, removing Vasili Yuri of the Russian cartel. Russian have always ruled the underworld without any competition but that was until I arrived. Almost all the cartels bowed down and joined hands with us but Vasili’s cartel escaped and now my mistake of letting him go is biting me. I collected few gangs of Russia and made a new cartel under my rule. The rules of the underworld are high above any government and the governments co-operate with us for peace in their territory.

These are all the black parts of my life where Hades is stuck in the underworld all alone and like Persephone, I have the white and colorful part as well, a pure part of my life but she is out of my grasp or rather I have kept her away from me. Hades brought Persephone to his world but I can never be that selfish to uproot her life and push her into the arms of danger and evil; even if that means I have to live a half, I am fine with it. My needs are met by many girls I have in my mansion who are more than happy to be with me but there’s no lovemaking in that. My life changed its way and color four years ago. I open my phone and open the hidden album in it. One glance at her face is more than enough for me to spend the rest of my life in the contentment that I didn’t drag her away from her innocence. I swiped through the little photo collection I have made on my phone.

“Giovanni, you go back to Venice and do a thorough research about what that imbecile Isaac was talking about,” Suddenly a fear got in me, the word fear only existed in my dictionary for her.

“I can assure you nobody knows about her and he was just trying to get on your nerves by making up bullshit.” He tried to reason with me.

“I don’t need your assurance, I need proof and if even a single soul is a threat. Make sure they don’t see tomorrow’s sun.” I will not risk anything when it comes to her safety.

“Yes, Boss!” Giovanni replied. Marcus and Giovanni are closest to what is called friends to me but even they know when to stay quiet and not push my buttons. “When will you return to Venice?”

“I have one last thing to take care of, then I will be on my way.” I got off the car and reminded him of the task. I came to Sicily following a lead that Vasili was residing in my home territory. I can’t return till I am sure that Vasili is out of here or in my chains.

I got to my room and walked inside my closet. I pulled a box buried deep under the wood. I walked to the living room with the box and scotch in my hand. I can’t leave any loose ends that will expose any of my secrets. The fire was lit up and I gave leave to all the workers. Except for the security, I was all by myself in this huge house. I poured the scotch and opened the box, sat beside the fireplace. I gazed at every picture, every little detail of it. It is painful but it has to be done. I started to throw the photos, papers into the fire, one by one. This is all for the best, I don’t need any physical superficial things to remember her. Her picture is carved in my brain and heart since the moment I first saw her. God! I don’t think there has been even a minute in these four years where she was not in my mind. Any decision I take, any action I do, I always have one thing in my head; what would she think of me?

Huh! Who am I kidding? I am nothing but a monster and she will think nothing else than that of me. It’s better if she doesn’t know me, I don’t think I can live knowing that she thinks so low of me, even if it is true. I throw the remaining content and box in the fire together. The fire escalated emitting yellow flames lighting the room in twilight color. I laid back on the couch and closed my eyes. Sometimes, this thought always makes the way in my head; “Why am I doing this?” If I want I can easily leave this life and disappear from this identity of Damiano and lead a simpler life but I never got the answer which satisfied my heart and mind. Guess, I will keep on looking until I am content with the answer.

Marcus brought in Isaac and threw him in the cellar. I kept my eyes closed to give it some rest because the things were about to very nasty. Isaac is rumored to be an important man to Vasili and to get information from a high command man is a job near impossible. Good for me! I like challenges.

“Do you want me to take care of him?” Marcus offered. I got up and folded the sleeves of my shirt.

“No, he went a little too personal. I will take care of him myself.” I was about to descend down to the cellar but I saw Giovanni rushing towards us. The words he said next made me lose all the control I have mastered.

“She is nowhere to be found.”