Love Boat for Two [ Joint Training ]

[Deleted]

Grinding for that sweet, sweet, TTP

”Uuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhgh” came the moan that drifted alongside the steam. The sound of water splashing against the edges of the bath followed after as the source of those sounds sunk deeper into the hundred and four degrees fahrenheit water. ”Uhh this is the life. It’s been too long since I’ve had a bath.” the man moaned, resting his head against the edge behind him. His arms stretched out to his sides and resting on the edges, the man bathing looked in total bliss. Closing his eyes and letting his mind just wander into nothingness, Alexander almost fell asleep as he just let himself relax and unwind. He really had earned this.

Crawling around in the filth and muck of rural Spain for two weeks eating dried meat and what could have only been goat testicle soup, which built “character” according to the town mothers, Alex was just ready to soak. Boil away the stress. His skin pruning up only meant all that tension was being drowned out of him. He bled and fought for this right. “For the Emperor” some would say. “For my bath” was more like it. Sometime passed, Der Kaiser knows Alex didn’t keep track of such things, before he finally felt ready to come out. He was finally confident he was clean. He felt like he finally boiled off every last piece of dirt on him. Standing to his feet and climbing his baths stairs to get out, Alex walked a few steps across his oversized bathroom before the sudden change in temperatures hit him. ”Oh...that’s not good.” he commented before falling over.

Sometime later after recovering, the door to his bathroom busted open and he emerged into his home's lobby. Home, shop, both names were appropriate for his place. Like most the honored, and true, Quincy that served the Holy Emperor of the Vandenreich Alexander made his home in the greatest city in all the worlds, the Silbern. Though unlike most honored and royal blooded, yes this boy was a royal, Quincy, he instead chose a more quaint and shitty smaller place for himself. He chose to hide away in one of corners of Silbern where he wouldn’t be bothered by nosey Soldats or obnoxious Lieutenants. He finally had a opportunity to be alone. Stepping out of the bathroom, dressed only in his pants and shoes, Alex worked on getting his thick head of hair dry by letting a towel rampage across his head.

Strolling past a massive armoire that was much too big that had just been filled to the brim with various thick, and frankly ancient, looking books, Alex found his seat at a large table that was covered in various trinkets, papers, and open books. Putting his feet up on the table, Alex let the towel drop onto the floor and held his head back in his chair. The Quincy let out a sigh, enjoying the quiet for a moment, before lifting his head up to look at everything on his desk. ”From one job to another without missing a beat. Guy just can’t catch a break.” he said to himself moving some papers around for no discernible reason.

”Let’s see let’s see. Which one will it be. Whichever one doesn’t need chicken intestines to decipher.” he joked, commenting about the horrendous handwriting on some of these documents. Chuckling and shaking his head, he decided to just toss what he was looking at back onto the table. ”First things first then. Time for some real food and drink. Maybe I’ll pay a visit to the palace and hit up the head chef. I’m sure I can convince him to make me something special.” Alex had a tendency to think out loud and just talk to himself. He was fine with it. If other people found it annoying, eh, sucked to be them.

As the Quincy pushed himself to his feet though, the sudden knock at his door caught his attention. ”Tch. Figures.” he said to himself, approaching the entrance to his home and opening it up. The cold air of the Silbern hit his bare chest hard, giving him goose bumps and perky nipples. Standing over the man standing at his door, Alex raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. ”What ya want?” he asked rather rudely. ”Captain Alistair, you’ve been summoned.” the Soldat at his door replied. Making a face and grunting, Alex shifted in his place a little before walking away from his door. ”I just got back what do they want? Can’t the higher ups give a man some R and R?” he asked, practically complaining as he turned on his heel to address the Soldat once again. The younger man made a awkward expression before saying, ”You’ve been summoned by the Emperor, sir.” That made Alex freeze in place.

”Well...that changes things a bit. Let me get dressed.”

---

The doors of the Great Hall swung open once again as Alexander Alistair departed from the chambers within. His thick, furry, mantle worn over his shoulders dragged behind him as he wordlessly walked the halls of the Royal Palace. The mans general smile and optimism seemed to be gone as a rare, focused, expression was painted on his face. ”The omen that dwells beneath the sea has been disturbed.” Those words were still stuck in his head. While any other Quincy would be confused by those words, it was a message that Alexander understood completely. While it’s true name was impossible to pronounce due to its origins being Adamic, Alex knew exactly what it was. And...if this really was what it was he was...going to need help.

Stopping in his tracks, he contemplated his options. The Alistair were a clan of demon hunters. Quincies that hunted the monsters of Hell rather than Hollows like their brother and sister clans. One of the tenants of the Clan was to not ask for outside help. No other could be trusted with the disposal and management of Hell except for another Alistair. But, there were no other Alistair. Alex was alone. His blue eyes narrowed as his fingers clenched tightly into a fist, his right hand lifting to cover his mouth as he contemplated his situation. Dare he break his families code in this case? If so, who would he ask for help?

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

Amalia's outfit

Nearly half a dozen feet scurry along the polished floor, lengths of clothing trailing behind them like tails. A lumpy pile begins to form on the bed, a mixture of textures and hues climbing to the sky. In the distance, a silky-skinned Amalia was seemingly lost in her reflection. Her eyes traveled along the dusky blue fabric draping her body, a notable uncertainty defining her expression. Her steady gaze reflected in the mirror at the handmaid behind her. She gestured to the handmaid with a subtle nod and smile before allowing the fabric to fall from her body.

The sheer fabric slowly descended, as it was just light enough to ride the air like a bird. Pulling a pin from her hair, Amalia's classic red hair rushed down her back like a rose-kissed waterfall. Amalia's fingers slid across the length of a pale green dress hanging to the side. She let the fabric slide between her fingers as her eyes scanned the bust. Such delicate embroidery, but something for another day. The chill in the air warranted something heavier. Amalia's eyes returned to the mirror, spotting a murky blue item with a floral paillettes design.

Amalia turned to look over her shoulder, examining the item before gesturing for it. "What sumptuous fabric and detail." She said softly. "Have I ever worn this? I can't recall. I guess I'd remember if I had." She didn't give any of the women time to respond before answering her own question. She approached her closet and rifled through it for a moment, pulling out a trimmed fur-jacket and a pair of knee-high boots. After assembling her outfit, she gave her reflection a long stare. "This is good." She said aloud as she adjusted the jacket.

Amalia waved her hand as a way of dismissing the others. Her eyes followed them as a lioness does her pray. Even in moments like this, Amalia's cunning and ambition were never resting. Everything she did came with an angle. Once the room was empty Amalia let out a sigh. Lately, she had been overcome by the nagging realization of those around her. She couldn't fathom why the Emperor allowed himself to be surrounded by failures and half-breeds. If she wasn't confronted with impure Quincy with nearly no true lineage, she was having to restrain herself from killing nearly all others who failed at being a member of the Vandenreich.

Admittedly, she was bored. She wanted someone to play with. Someone to manipulate. Half the fun of ascending is having subordinates to rule over. "Such a pity." She said regrettably. She took another glance in the mirror and smirked in recognition of her own beauty. She lifted herself and proceeded into the long, winding corridors. As Amalia entered her garden and leaned against the balcony railing, a lieutenant rushed to her side. He whispered into her ear, easily catching her attention. "Really? Interesting." She gazed into the distance before abruptly turned to the lieutenant. "You can go now. Goodbye." She said in a tone dripping with irritation. "My God, what an idiot. Was he planning to stand and stare at me." She scoffed. 

[Deleted]

”Oh!”

Alexander exclaimed, smacking a balled fist into the palm of his hand as the realization came to him. If he was going to ask for help on this assignment, then there really was only one other person in all of the Vandenreich, besides the Emperor, he would feel comfortable asking for help from. A playful smile tugged at the edges of Alex’s lips as he stroked his chin. Sometimes my genius surprises even me Alex told himself, closing his eyes and nodding before spinning on his heels, fluttering his cloak with a shake of his arm for dramatic effect as he began to speed walk in one particular direction. He knew where he was going. It was a place he knew well. The lion’s den, so to speak.

Spending a few minutes navigating about the Grand Palace until finally arriving at his destination, Alex stopped when he stood before the great doors that contained the chambers of the one, and only, Amalia Vollbrecht. Or perhaps she was better known by the name given to her by the Emperor. The Particle. Standing before her doors, Alexander was actually in pause. He knew that in this particular case he was going to have to be on his best behavior. This meant no jokes, no innuendos, and no silliness. Alexander might have been able to get away with small antics in the company of the Emperor, from time to time, due to their history, but he knew that with this woman such things would not be allowed.

In all of the Vandenreich, if any could be considered the second to the Emperor it would be her. The woman who was as beautiful as she was powerful. The Queen of all Angels, as some called her. The most powerful of the Sternritter and Quincy. The envy of all who served the Emperor. The one that best represented the terror, beauty, and power of the Emperor. Stroking his chin, Alexander had to wonder just how many titles and names people could come up with for her. The scary part was that all of them were accurate. He’d spent some time considering how to best approach this as made the trip from the Grand Hall to her room.

Sighing to himself, Alex had to think that he was overthinking this. Everything would be fine. Sure, Amalia had a terrifying reputation but she wasn’t as bad as everyone thought she was. He’d known her long enough to know that. Being in the Vandenreich for over a hundred years, he’d gotten enough time to at least know the woman. Friends? Pft. He’d be lucky to call them that. He liked her. He was also lucky enough to never screw up in front of her. He thought back, as best he could, to when he first joined the Vandenreich. When he was saved by the Emperor.

Closing his eyes and smiling to himself, the Quincy shook his head as he cast those memories out and away. Lifting his hand and slamming it against the door a few times, the Quincy blinked with surprise when the door opened and a handmaiden was the one answering him. ”Right this way.” she said, leading Alexander down a corridor leading to Paiva’s fabled garden. The tips of his cloak dragged along the ground behind him as he followed after the handmaiden, taking notes of the various trinkets and doodads that decorated the space around him as he walked.

The frail woman leading him stepping to the side upon walking through the entranceway, allowing Alexander to pass her and gain entrance into the garden. Truly, it was incredible. Most would not expect this, but out of perhaps all of the other Quincy that proudly served in the Vandenreich it was Amalia who possessed the greatest garden. Alex had heard that upon being chosen by the Emperor and becoming a Sternritter, one would receive their own private quarters in the Grand Palace that possessed their own empty garden. Individuality was supported amongst the Sternritter, as Alexander understood it.

Gently stroking the petals of some unknown flower as Alexander passed by it, the man allowed a smile that represented his relaxation and being at ease to adorn his face. ”It’s been some time since I was last here, and it’s still as beautiful as I remember it. No. It’s even greater than before. Just like you.” Alexander remarked, turning his attention to the balcony where the red-haired beauty stood. Meeting his eyes with her and smiling, Alexander dropped to one knee without hesitation. Lowering his head and placing his fist over his heart, the Captain offered the Sternritter his silent praise and respect. ”It’s good to see you again, my Supervisor. It’s always a blessing to be in your presence yet again. My invitation still stands, just so you know.” the man commented, referencing when he had actually invited her for dinner in the human world some months ago.

”Allow me to be direct, madam. This is not simply a visit for pleasantries. I’ve been given a task by Der Kaiser. However, it is something that I was hoping to receive your assistance with. Something evil has been awoken in the Human World and I worry I am not strong enough to handle it alone.”

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

Amalia's expression was solemn, with an inkling of wistfulness, while the soft glimmer of her lucid eyes seemed to have faded. It’s been some time since I was last here, and it’s still as beautiful as I remember it. Alexander's voice echoed in her mind, plucking her distant thoughts from their playground and forcing her back into her own body. Amalia allowed a subtle grin to disturb her pouty lips as she directed her gaze to the right. There was a moment of hesitation, as though she was waiting for Alexander to finish his praise and applause before allowing her gaze to settle upon him. 

She peered over her shoulder, her brilliant locks adding a bit of mystery to her face. The fresh Atlantic blue swirled within a gold ring as she gazed at Alexander. Her eyes twinkled with a sharp gleam like that of a tiger stalking her prey. It was the gaze of both a wise woman and a bloodthirsty murderer. It possessed the power to dissect in bits with the least bit of care, as there wasn't a thing one could hide from those eyes. She allowed her posture and expression to respond in the absence of speech. Why interrupt the truth that drips from his lips. After all, Amalia loved a good grovel, especially because everyone went about it so differently.  

She cruelly remained silent as Alexander continued his plea. It’s good to see you again. It’s always a blessing to be in your presence yet again.  Saying nothing, Amalia simply walked past Alexander to retrieve a pair of shears dangling from a hook. She delicately placed them between her fingers as slid her fingers up the stem of a flower. This is not simply a visit for pleasantries. Snip! The sound of her shears cleanly cutting the stem of the beautiful flower. I’ve been given a task by Der Kaiser. Snip! Snip! She added two additional flowers to her pile, which she delicately placed on white table beside her. However, it is something that I was hoping to receive your assistance with. Snip!

A faint note of interest crossed her face, though this would remain a secret considering her back was to Alexander. She persisted in her silence as he did with his request. Something evil has been awoken in the Human World and I worry I am not strong enough to handle it alone. Snip! There it was. The reason for his visit. When did the tables turn, she wondered. When she stopped using others and they became comfortable coming to her for favors. Then again, there is nothing better than being owed a debt. There isn't as much resentment as there is in situations of blackmail. Such a messy business, really. 

Amalia scooped up the flowers and proceeded toward a large oval table. She silently made eye contact with Alexander as she seductively walked past him. She smiled as she placed the flowers in a clear vase, plumping the flowers ever-so-delicately. "Why?" She asked abruptly and plainly. She sat down at the table and poured herself some tea, stirring in some honey while staring at the flowers. She re-focused her gaze on Alexander and repeated her question with more detail. "Why should I help you with what I assume involves a demon?" She asked before sipping her tea. 

[Deleted]

She asked a fair question. ”Why?” Alex would ask that very question as well. Amalia was certainly not used to people coming and asking her for help. How often did that actually happen? With the fear and reverence that was directed towards her she no doubt rarely ever had requests like this. Closing his eyes and smiling, nodding his head a little as if to agree with her, Alex stood back up after Amalia took a seat to enjoy her tea. ”That’s a fair question. I would certainly ask it as well. And of course you’ve discerned correctly as to the nature of this predicament.” Alexander answered, letting his hand hang loosely in the air and rocking his head to the side. Opening his blue eyes back up and letting them settle on Amalia’s beautiful figure, he resumed his response.

However, before he continued speaking his attention shifted to his left as he looked at one of the many plants that Amalia cultivated within her garden. Stepping in its direction so he could better inspect it, he found the right words to answer her with. ”You’re aware of my unique standing within the rank and file. I’m not often obligated to participate with the other Captains, and those beneath them, unless our Lord requests it. I come and go from the Silbern as I please, so long as it’s in relation with my...families work.” he stated, explaining the obvious to Amalia. These were things she already knew. She was smart. She would know there was a reason he was saying the things he did. ”What I’m saying is that the Emperor never sends me away on my hunts. They are purely… personal trips. Our Lord knows this and allows this.” Alex said, gently stroking the leaf of the flower he was looking at.

His face hardened and the playful light in his eyes died out as he turned to face his Supervisor yet again. ”When my Lord summons me and orders a hunt, however, it truly displays the gravity of the situation at hand. The Emperor is busy. He does not concern himself with the dangers of Hell for it is beneath him. So when something of that nature does take his notice, it means that it is truly serious.” Alexander explained, lowering his flower molesting hand back beneath his cloak. It was not often that Alexander was ever serious. He and Amalia went back a long time. She knew his personality was one of a clown. He often didn’t take as many things seriously as he should.

”This is why I’m asking for your help. Before those monstrosities plans can be completed and before Soul Society can get involved. I need your help to rid the Emperor’s world of this filth.” He explained, before the tension in his face and softened and a playful smile pulled on his lips. ”I think it’ll be quite the party. It should be fun, and I know how much you like to play.”

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

That’s a fair question. I would certainly ask it as well. And of course you’ve discerned correctly as to the nature of this predicament. "Would you? Well, that's swell. But let’s fast forward to the importance of your visit, thereby sparing me the forced flattery." Amalia responded brusquely with the stain of venom on her lips. Her eyes closely watched Alexander during his moment of silence. It'd be a mistake to say she cared if he was offended or intimidated. She didn't worry about such things. She was instead concerned with why this was important enough to seek out her help, and what was in it for him.

People were excellent at lying to themselves. They could easily explain their actions by invoking family honor, tradition, or even a divine sense of duty. No matter the excuse, Amalia knew there was always another reason. And that reason was almost inevitably self-serving. Some liars are better than others. Some more desperate to keep their secret. Amalia wondered how good of a liar Alexander would be and whether his reasoning would become evident in the coming moments. There are those who are stubborn, refusing to reveal themselves unless cornered.

You’re aware of my unique standing within the rank and file. Amalia sported a wry expression as she furrowed her brow. Her eyes darted around the garden as she searched for any memory of what Alexander was saying. "Mmm...no, I can't say I am." She retorted quickly while leaning back in her chair stonefaced. "So, what you're saying is you do half the work of your fellow captains, instead choosing to waste your time hunting demons. In this case, His Majesty plucked you from obscurity and commanded you to hunt down this 'great evil.' Am I getting this right?" She asked rhetorically. The sound of her spoon hitting the sides of her cup broke the intensity of the moment.

"Why exactly is it important for you to resolve this before the Shinigami decide to dirty their hands?" She asked curiously. Amalia looked at Alexander with an impish grin. "From where I am sitting, why not let them do all the work, saving yourself a lot of time. Better dead Shinigami than Vandenreich." Amalia shrugged off the supposed gravity of the situation, choosing instead to remain indifferent on the matter. She didn't much care for Alexander's war call. His spats with the spawn of hell were of very little concern to her.

On the other hand, he was a devout member of the Vandenreich. But that wasn't enough to persuade her. She was going to keep him wanting. She wanted more details than he was providing. She was unimpressed by generic claims of great evil and calamitous threats. She wanted to know what was in it for him and more importantly how this could benefit her. Amalia grinned subtly as she peered off her expansive terrace. Is this the transparency I can expect? She asked herself in thought. He may not have disclosed why he wants to do this, but playing at my joy of killing was certainly readable. She thought humorously.

[Deleted]

"So, what you're saying is you do half the work of your fellow captains-”

Ah fuck.

Alexander retained his typical smile as Amalia responded to what he had to say. He should have known this wasn’t going to be so easy. “Oh Amalia go hunting me!” “Yes Alexander of course and put a baby in me while you’re at it” “No way that’s gay.” Yeah, no way it would have gone like that. Though he could always hope. Resting his hand on his hip as he listened to Amalia, Alexander watched and studied her. Looking for any clue he could use in this negotiation. Yes, that’s what this had become. It wasn’t a conversation. It was a negotiation. Alexander had become a salesman, trying to sell what he had on offer. The product and client? Amalia.

”That is correct.” Alex replied. When she asked why they should deal with it before the Shinigami did, the smile on his face lowered a little. He simply stared at her. Closing his eyes for a moment and widening his smile again, Alex couldn’t help but exhale a little bit in response. ”Because the Shinigami are a bunch of idiots.” he replied, opening his eyes once again to look at the beauty sitting before him. ”They would much rather study and use Hell than do what needs to be done. They’re desperate for more power after all, and Hell would promise them the very thing they want.” Alex explained, rubbing his chin.

”You and I both know that if someone sat Pandora’s Box down in front of Soul Society, they would just go “Well if nobody else is going to open it” and then open it. I would like to prevent them from opening a box that can’t be closed.” He couldn’t trust Soul Society with anything in regards to Hell. He was already suspicious that they were housing Nakabakki, that concern being born during the first battle with Soul Society. He still remembered, during the fight within the Seireitei, when his Fragment of the Black Key began to react to something. It was either a Nakabakki or some particularly powerful artifact. He didn’t know. But he knew that Hell had its tentacles of influence inside the Shinigami.

”The less dead Vandenreich the better is right though. Which is it would only be you and me. I’m not even supposed to be asking for help, honestly. One of my families rules forbids asking for outside assistance.” Alex said rather flippantly, looking up above him and letting his head hang to the side as he said so. ”But in this case...I think that rule has to be ignored. The Black Marker is just too big a deal.” and so Alex finally revealed what it was. Though he knew Amalia wouldn’t understand. It was time for a history lesson.

”Long before I was born and when my family was big and prosperous, my ancestors became aware of something in the Pacific Ocean. They weren’t exactly sure what it was, only knowing that it some sort of black artifact. Problem was...they couldn’t really do anything about it. It was at the bottom of the ocean. They couldn’t reach it, they couldn’t retrieve, and they couldn’t destroy it. It was too far down.” he explained. ”So they...opted to just let it sit there. The theory was that whatever had dropped it into our world was a couple hundred miles off target. There wasn’t any way to get to the thing, so we figured it was safe and contained.” and then Alex sighed.

”My ancestors didn’t much consider that the ocean floor moves. Tectonic plates and all that geometry mumbo jumbo. Someone’s found the damned thing. A bunch of humans that don’t even know what it is. I’m certain they’ll start worshipping it at some point.” he jested. ”But not even I’m certain what it does. Not even the smartest of my family could figure it out without actually studying the thing. So if the Emperor has personally told me to hunt for it that means that it’s actually a big deal. I’m certain one or two of my ancestors are just tickled about the whole thing, and the moron who said “Oh it’s fine at the bottom of the ocean” is rolling in his grave.”

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

While slightly reclined in her chair, Amalia watched in amusement as Alexander searched for explanations. She casually adjusted her posture, rotating to her right and placing her elbow on the table. With her thumb beneath her chin and fingers stretched along her cheek, she adopted a smug grin. She narrowed her eyes ever-so-slightly as if she were adjusting for better precision like one might a scope of a rifle. Her gaze traveled along Alexander's person, gathering information from his posture, attire, and expression. 

She could tell he derived a great deal of pride from his family's history. A shame they lived on through his efforts alone. Stories and exaggerated excitement over Hell and its contents helped keep them in the collective conscience of the Vandenreich, if not barely. Truthfully, Amalia never thought much of the Alistairs. It wasn't an issue of respect, but their fascination with demons simply bored her. Alexander was young by comparison to those that she had known, and she wondered how his knowledge of the arcane compared to theirs. 

Unfortunately for Alexander, Amalia would not be so easily persuaded. She didn't care about Hell as of yet. In five centuries she hadn't encountered even a handful of demons or their cursed offspring. She was taught to always be ready for conflict even by the most unlikely of sources, but their threat to the world was limited at this time. That isn't suggesting she wouldn't immediately purge their existence should she encounter them, but there has been little evidence of their influence. Perhaps Alexander knew something she didn't? If so, he was going to tell her. If he didn't offer it willingly, she would gladly compel by force.

That's the drawback for most when it comes to Amalia. She might be beautiful, but this delicate rose has razor-sharp thorns. There were few, if any, who could say they were spared. Friend or not, should you have something she wants, she'll gladly make you bleed to get it. I’m not even supposed to be asking for help, honestly. One of my family's rules forbids asking for outside assistance. Amalia rolled her eyes as she delicately played with her earing. "I don't care about your family's rules. They possess no clout with me nor the Vandenreich. You're no longer simply a descendant of the Alistair family. You're a child of the Vandenreich and therefore the rules created by your family are but dust blowing in the breeze." 

Amalia's astringent response might shock Alexander, but this wouldn't make it any less true. Amalia perked up suddenly as he explained the relic in the ocean. "Demons and airmail. How truly novel." She uttered with a chuckle. My ancestors didn’t much consider that the ocean floor moves. Tectonic plates and all that geometry mumbo jumbo. Amalia's tilted her head to the side and gave Alexander a quizzical look. "Geometry?" She said with a wry expression. "You mean Geology." She quipped with a bountiful laugh.

"So, you're clueless as to what it does and the Emperor didn't bother sharing what he might know of its origins. Interesting... And now he wants you to retrieve it so you can ensure its safekeeping and possibly better understand it, am I right? You're a 'demon hunter' after all. What demon hunter would pass up the opportunity to study such a rare artifact. It would unlock many mysteries and thereby allowing you to better hunt and purge the demons of this world. Seems to me there is a lot riding on this adventure of yours. And to avoid failure you came to the only person you knew could ensure your success. How flattering." She said with a mischevious smile. 

Amalia poured herself more tea and took a sip. She closed her eyes as if to better appreciate the taste and aroma. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, showing off her long, slender figure to Alexander. She opened her eyes and glanced at him, sliding her hands along her neck and just above her cleavage. "This is quite the quandary." She said with a velvety whisper. "You're asking me to traipse around the Human World without any indication of how I might benefit. In other words, you've yet to convince me why I should bother myself with this." She said while grinning and tilting her head.

"You're practically salivating at the notion of procuring this rare artifact, something none of your ancestors have been able to do. You're certain to be rather proud of yourself once this artifact is in your possession, fulfilling an unspoken promise that survived generations of Alistairs. So we know what you're getting out of this. What of me? You can't get something for nothing, you know?" She remarked with a greedy smirk. Amalia intensified her gaze as the wheels turned inside her mind. It was clear Alexander had nothing to offer her at this moment, but that didn't mean he was without something of value. 

"Alright." She said abruptly before he could respond. "I'll accompany you to the Human World while you hunt for this rare, demonic artifact. It'd be a shame if you failed and returned empty handed or, even worse, were killed trying. Good Vandenreich are so hard to come by. Trust me, many losers have come before you." Amalia said as she lifted herself from her chair. What Amalia wasn't telling Alexander is she wasn't agreeing out of the goodness of her heart. She would call upon him in the future for something. Anything. She was getting something for her time, but the cost and impact on Alexander would remain unknown. 

Amalia strutted toward him and slid her hand along his cheek. She cupped his face with her palm and looked him deep in the eyes. "I simply need to return to my residence for a brief moment. In the meantime, you may wait outside in the corridor." She tapped him on the cheek and smiled as her hand slid down his face as she began to walk away. Just as she was exiting the doorway she turned and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be but a moment and then we can begin hunting this artifact you so desperately want." Amalia vanished, returning to her room. A nearby servant bowed her head as she approached Alexander. "Please, follow me Master Alistair." 

[Deleted]

”You're a child of the Vandenreich and therefore the rules created by your family are but dust blowing in the breeze."

What Amalia said gave him pause. It made him stop and think for a moment more than he usually did. What she said struck a cord in the man, but it wasn’t a negative one. Instead, it made him realize something. This wasn’t one of his personal hunts. The Emperor Himself had tasked Alexander with this mission. Therefore, this was Vandenreich business and not strictly Alistair. This realization made Alex realize that, in this case, asking Amalia for help was completely fine. It wasn’t a violation of his families code. A loophole in the system that would appease all parties. It brought a smile to Alex’s face. The man loved loopholes.

Amalia finally decided to speak up after Alexander unloaded verbal diarrhea onto her and for a few moments he was a tad bit worried. The woman was as smart as she was beautiful. She accurately discerned his motivations for wanting her help. If successful then he would have either retrieved or destroyed the artifact, leaving it in the hands of someone who was most suited for possessing it or it would no longer exist to cause trouble. Bringing his hand to his chin and running his fingers along his beard contemplatively, Alexander watched and listened to Amalia with a entertained gleam in his eyes. ”You’re the only one I have any faith in.” Alexander added, truthfully, with a dismissive wave of his hand. There weren’t any other in the Vandenreich he could count on for this. Certainly not Hadrian. If Alicia was still around then maybe, just maybe, she’d have made for a decent vanguard and meat shield. But that lunatic wasn’t around anymore.

As Amalia sipped her tea and ran her hand across her chest, she finally said the thing that Alex had been waiting to hear. "You're asking me to traipse around the Human World without any indication of how I might benefit.” Alex knew Amalia wasn’t just going to do this out of the goodness of her heart. She was due something for services rendered. The man’s eyes narrowed just a little as he looked at her, waiting for her to name her price. A confident look adorned his features as he held no doubt he’d be able to pay her price. He doubted it would be monetary. But the sudden shift to his ancestors and his salivation caused him to blink.

”Hmm..” he murmured, quizzically, in response as he thought over her words. She had a point. Success meant a lot to him in this case. This artifact had been an enigma for generations of Alistair, and it no doubt infuriated a good number of them that they’d never be able to reach it. Accomplishing something that no other member of the family could have ever come close to doing did, certainly, mean a lot to the man. Smirking and crossing his arms across his chest, Alex just chuckled. ”Accomplishing this mission does mean a lot to me.” he softly confessed, thinking fondly of his family for a moment before returning to the moment.

What surprised him though was Amalia’s sudden agreement to accompany him. He blinked. She hadn’t named her price yet. His lips peeled back into a grin as he listened to Amalia compliment him, boosting his ego to dangerously high levels. ”I knew you liked me.” he joked, enjoying the brief moment of her hand upon his cheek before declaring she needed a moment to, assumedly, ready herself. Watching her leave and, without being caught, letting his eyes trail her form and shapely rump the man snorted to himself entertainingly. Hate to see you go but love to watch you walk away he thought to himself, not even he was stupid enough to say something like that out loud. At least not yet.

A little bit of playful flirting between the two was acceptable, but Alex had to know where to push and where to pull back. As much as he’d love to finally see the Particle bare of any article of clothing and be all his, there were much more pressing matters at hand. Plus he liked being alive. Being atomized by her wasn’t what he had in mind. Turning his attention to the handmaiden that requested his attention, Alex politely nodded his head to her and followed behind her. As he walked, though, his mind went back to Amalia’s avoidance of price. So that’s what she wanted he told himself, closing his eyes as he realized what she was after. Favors.

Amalia was known for much more than her power and beauty. She was as hypnotic as a viper and as dangerous as a mantis. She would no doubt see much more value in a owed favor than money or possessions. He didn’t mind. The more time he got to spend with the Queen of Angels herself the better. He was one of the rare few who actually got along with her. There hadn’t ever been any major striff between them. Nothing like what was between her and the Hour. There was opportunity with Amalia. She was the best to have favor with. He doubted she’d ask anything of him that was beyond reason or rationality.

But, he was grateful. Alexander would not have asked Amalia for assistance if the situation did not call for it. If the Black Marker had caught the Emperor’s attention, then it was much more serious than the Alistair’s might have originally realized. Reaching beneath the collar of his shirt and pulling out the Fragment of the Black Key, Alex wrapped his fingers around the medallion and closed his eyes. Father, Mother. Brothers. I will be the one to finally lay this mystery to rest. You have my word.

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

Amalia sauntered into her bedroom, her eyes fixated on her destination. A mischevious grin fell upon her lips as she examined the items at her fingertips. She let her fingers explore, sliding along the edge of the shelves. Her gaze fell upon a particular item. "This," she said before tapping another item with her hand, " or this one?" Her grin widened into a smile as she lifted both items and strutted over to her make-up vanity. She let out a breathy scoff that seemed to originate at the base of her throat.

She removed the lid of a nearby crystal vial, dabbing the liquid contents on her neck, cleavage, and wrist. She caught a glance of her servant in the background as she fussed with her hair. "Is he where he is supposed to be?" She asked casually. The woman nodded. "Good," Amalia said as she adjusted her clothing. Amalia turned and made eye contact with the woman as she stood in the doorway. "Be sure to advise Emmerick on my whereabouts. He'll know what it means." She then exited her living quarters and into the expansive corridor.

She spotted Alexander in the distance. She pursed her lips and approached him with a smile. "You look deep in thought." She commented brightly. "And what's that you have there?" She boldly approached him and placed her hand on his. She looked straight at him and smiled as her fingers pressed against his, prying his hands open with an unmistakable sensuality about her movements. "You needn't hide from me. After all, I'm taking my time to help you with this important endeavor. Secrets will only hurt our cause." She said with a modest smile.

"Perhaps this is something that will help us find the location of this artifact? You have yet to explain how you plan on finding it? Getting there is easy if we know where we need to go. Kill a few humans, maybe a couple of power hungry demons and then we'll be back here. And the artifact will be safe and sound." Amalia wondered how much Alexander was willing to share about the worth of demon artifacts in general. She'd be lying if she said it didn't somewhat intrigue her. What was all the fuss?

[Deleted]

Picking up on the freshly sprayed perfume that suddenly appeared, Alexander turned to face the beauty approaching them. ”I always look contemplative.” he joked, smirking for a moment before his eyes drifted downwards to Amalia’s fingers intertwining with his. Like a starfish assaulting a clam she pried his fingers open to see what he had in his hand. "And what's that you have there?" She was curious about the amulet that Alexander had been holding. Shrugging and smirking, Alex held it out clearly for her to see. It was a ornate, intitricantly designed amulet with some sort of black material in the center. ”The Fragment of the Black Key. A graduation gift from my father. Something that all Alistair receive once we complete our training.” he explained.

”It won’t help us find the Black Marker. At least not right now. It responds to the unique reiatsu that is put out by anything from Hell. It’ll alert me when something demonic is close by.” the demon hunter replied, returning the medallion to its hiding spot under his clothing. ”Thankfully, though, we won’t need to look too hard. His Majesty is already aware of where the artifact is. And he happened to share its current location with me.” Alex said with a little bit of smug confidence. But then he blinked and pursed his lips when he suddenly realized something. ”Well...he gave what was its current location. It’s probably floated some bit away by now.” he suddenly said, stroking his chin in thought before cringing. ”Yeah let’s get moving before we end up landing off course. I don’t feel like swimming. Hope you don’t get seasick!” the man said rather loudly, chuckling to himself before leading off with a flick of his cloak.

---

The ocean was quiet and oddly still. Sure, a wave or two would roll by and beneath the rust colored bottom of the silent ship. Rocking lifelessly in the waves like a crib, there was no sign of life atop the deck or from the engine. A thick, ominous, sea smoke drifted over the waves and cast a foreboding image across the surface of the ocean. The ship, a sizable research vessel, sat silently amongst the waves and mist as though it were a fabled ghost ship. Not a single person was seen walking or working on the deck. It was as though it had been abandoned.

A few hundred feet above the ship was a disturbance in the sky. Six points of darkness blinked into existence, remaining still for only a moment before expanding outwards and inwards towards the center, creating a six point star made out of pure darkness. The shadows quivered and shimmered as though they hummed with power before a lone shape descended downwards from the darkness and hurtled down into the air. A smile painted upon his face as he fell, the sound of wind rushing past his ears and the fluttering of his cloak being the only things he could hear. Once close enough he leaned upwards, spinning forwards and landing on the deck of the ship with a satisfying “THUMP”. Smirking to himself as he looked up, hands held over his head, Alex just had to say to himself, ”Reflexes like a cat.” before standing up straight and...looking around.

The ship wasn’t very big, now that he thought about it. Wasn’t like a tanker or a cruise ship. Was still pretty sizable, but it wasn’t anything groundbreaking. ”Hmmm” he murmured to himself, walking around the area of the deck he was on for a little bit and stepping over rope. ”Nobody in site? Wonder if they’re in the mess. Bingo night?” he said to himself. Alexander had a tendency to talk to himself, thinking out loud, when on the hunt like this. The smell of salt was strong in the air, blocking out nearly any other scent that could be around. Which was a shame. Smell could actually be very useful when hunting demons. Sinners had a weird tendency to smell like sulfur and ash.

But Alexander didn’t need to go sniffing anything. He knew they were in the right place. In fact, he could feel it. In his chest. More accurately on his chest. The Fragment of the Black Key was reacting to something. The heat and vibrations he was feeling were mild. They were close but they weren’t on top of it. Problem was….Alex didn’t actually know what they were looking for. It could be big or small. Wide or narrow. Thicc or thin. Running his hand along the railing of the ship, Alex noted that the escape boats were still here. They hadn’t been deployed. That wasn’t a good sign, he thought to himself, narrowing his eyes as he set his gaze on the ships bridge.

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

A shapely figure stood motionless in the quiet stretch of darkness. As the gaping maw split the sky further, Amalia's visage emerged. Like thick tar, the shadows oozed and dripped off her body. In full retreat, Amalia's entire person was now visible as she stood above the ship below. Glancing over at Alexander, she but scoffed as he jumped to the surface below. "Such theatrics." She said as she descended down a set stairs made entirely of reishi. Reflexes like a cat. Amalia rolled her eyes. "You could have brought us closer to the actual vessel."

Nobody in sight? Wonder if they’re in the mess. Bingo night? Amalia narrowed her eyes and glanced around the ship with a disgusted expression building on her face. She sighed as she casually walked along the ship's deck. With a frown and furrowed brow, Amalia dared to touch the ship. She knocked over an item, almost impatiently, as she looked around. "Now what?" She asked. "We're on a human's vessel, but there are no signs of said humans. What do your demon senses tell you?" She asked almost mockingly. 

"I assume you have some device handed down through the generations that disclose the item's location, or at least its relative proximity." Amalia looked around the ship again and half-mumbled to herself. "Please God let it be the former. These are awful surroundings." Amalia approached a nearby door and smacked it open with her hand. The aggressiveness wasn't necessary, but she was already finding herself annoyed by the locale. Empty. That's odd. No one seems to be navigating the ship and there are no crew members in sight.

"This is like a bad horror movie," Amalia said. "Next thing you know a dozen mutated beasts will come barreling down a darkened hallway." Amalia inspected the room, discovering a locket lying on the floor. She flipped it open to find a picture of a couple inside. "How adorable." She said before tossing it off the side of the ship callously. "Do you know anything about this item? What it might look like? What it might do? Surely you can surmise with generations of experience coursing through your veins. I'm practically walking into this blind, so I demand you tell me everything now." She said as she glared at Alexander in the distance. 

[Deleted]

Laughing at how she referred to his hunters instincts and cheating medallion as “demon senses”, Alexander looked over his shoulder at her and gave her a grin. ”My demon senses are telling me we’re in the right place. The crews probably already dead. Most likely.” he replied, taping his chest a few times with his left hands middle finger before returning to scoping out the place. As Alexander pressed onwards towards the staircase, he paused and blinked with surprise when he heard Amalia ask him if he had a way to find the artifact. He turned back towards her, blinking with confusion. Did she forget what he had told her back in the Silbern?

He decided to continue climbing the stairs, heading up towards the bridge before Amalia spoke again. ”Do you know anything about this item? What it might look like? What it might do? Surely you can surmise with generations of experience coursing through your veins. I'm practically walking into this blind, so I demand you tell me everything now." The man stopped again, chuckling to himself as a grin pulled itself across his features. Dramatically turning towards Amalia with a flick of his cloak, the man took in a deep breath. ”Generations of hard working Alistair’s poured untold numbers of hours into the study of the artifact known as the “Black Marker”. And what they discovered, what they learned, will shake you, Captain Supervisor, to your very core..” He explained, rather dramatically.

”What I know of the object we seek is…” he started to say, lifting his hand up and extending his index finger and keeping his mouth open. ”Nothing!” he blurted out, giving her a shiteating smirk before shrugging it off. ”Remember what I told back in your garden? Bottom of the sea, unreachable doomsday device, geology. Take some comfort in knowing that I’m as blind as you are. BUT! Have faith, I’ll find it.” He teased, tapping his chest a few times again to let Amalia know that he was referring to his medallion. ”Patience! We’re hunting after all. Let’s learn a little about our prey.” he proudly said down to her before slamming his foot into the door of the bridge.

Like everything else, it was empty. Nobody was manning the wheel of the ship BUT the computer panels were all lit up. Beeps were booping. The computers hummed with life. Strolling throughout the cabin and looking around, Alexander had to resist the temptation to just play with everything. So many shiny buttons. ”Hmm.” he mumbled to himself, stroking his hairy chin a little as he wandered over to the window so he could see the front end of the ship. The bow, if we were going to be technical. Looking out the window, Alex’s eyes suddenly lit up like a little kids. ”They have a submarine?!” he practically shouted in excitement, staring down at the docked, one man, submarine that was just there.

”I want a submarine. Let’s take it with us when we leave. I’ll have some Soldats come down and retrieve it. I’ve always wanted my own submarine.” Alex joked, before turning back around and continuing his investigation. Scanning his gaze around the room, his blue eyes locked onto a laptop that was tucked away on a desk being kept in the corner. ”What’s this?” he asked rhetorically, approaching it and hitting a few keys to get the screen on. Thankfully whoever was using it didn’t password lock it or anything. How convenient. Fidgeting his fingers and screwing around, Alex found the Documents folder and opened it up.

”What’s this?” he asked himself, clicking on a video file that was dated two days ago. When the video opened up and was loaded. Alex tilted his head a little in confusion. What he was seeing was a little confusing. The screen was dark but he knew the video was playing. He could hear a woman's excited voice talking about how amazing this was. Then the lights turned on. It was a video from the submarine! A camera on the front end of it. The video had footage of them excitedly finding deep sea fish and weird alien animals that lived at the bottom of the ocean. ”Ooooooooh.” Alex moaned, the picture starting to put itself together.

”Poor sons of bitches were just studying fish.” he laughed, knowing it was a cruel joke. Fast forwarding a little to skip through all the filler, Alex noticed something and began to rewind the video. As the sub travelled through the darkness of the deep sea, the pilot took notice to a red light in the distance. Alex blinked, looking over at Amalia confused. ”Did you say something?” he’d ask, as though unsure, before returning his attention to the video. As she approached the source of the light the video began to grow distorted before it finally cut out. Pursing his lips, Alex now knew what had happened and how the artifact had finally been uncovered. Poor people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The heat from the medallion beneath his shirt was still radiating against his skin, so the artifact was here. If it wasn’t at the top of the ship then that meant it was below deck. Snorting and turning his attention to a door that would let them descend below deck, Alex chuckled a few times. ”Naturally they’d hide in the darkest place they could find.” Alex commented before kicking the door open. ”Sinners are cowards at their cores, after all.” he remarked, absorbing some reiatsu from the air around them as he stared down the metal stairs and into the beginnings of a hallway below.

The large furry cloak he wore was dropped to his feet, signalling to Amalia that they were on the right trail. On the back of Alex’s tunic was the symbol of the Vandenreich, displayed largely and proudly for all to see. On the front and, over his heart, was a much smaller insignia that was the family crest of the Alistair. ”I’m not quite sure what we’ll find down there, so be on your guard. You should keep your Blut Vein activated as well.” Alexander advised, his tone not being quite as playful as usual. He didn’t mean any disrespect when he said that to Amalia either. It was out of concern. He had some understanding of the strain her mighty power put on her. ”And please don’t vaporize me or sink the ship. I’d prefer to retrieve the artifact and not let it sink to the bottom of the ocean again.” he teased, before gripping the handrail on the side of the wall and beginning his descent down into the depths of the ship.

[✱Paiva "Amalia" Vollbrecht✱]

And what they discovered, what they learned, will shake you, Captain Supervisor, to your very core. Amalia stared at Alexander and narrowed her eyes. "You're an idiot." She responded with a chuckle. "Spare me your dramatics and get to the point. Don't presume to tell me what will 'shake' me to my core." Amalia was concealing much of her growing impatience. Nothing had yet intrigued her since they arrived, and she wasn't the least bit concerned with the humans who may or may not have died on this vessel. 

Remember what I told back in your garden? "Vaguely." She said while she inspected her nails. She glanced up at him for a moment as he rambled on about knowing nothing himself. She sighed. "There is nothing more thrilling than entering a situation blindfolded." She remarked sarcastically. Amalia watched emotionlessly as Alexander inspected the ship, but did not share in his enthusiasm or curiosity. So far this felt beneath them as if it were meant for someone of lower standing. Rummaging through a ship for an unknown object was definitely not something she was used to doing. That's why soldats exist. They are good laborers. 

As they progressed through the ship, Amalia couldn't shake the feeling they weren't alone. She couldn't quite sense anything unusual, but perhaps that was the problem. It was inconceivable that such an item would be lying at the bottom of the sea untouched only to end up in the hands of humans consequence free. You have to be truly gifted at deception and sabotage to truly avoid consequences, which explains why this ship was now empty. What came aboard this vessel and kill the occupants, but left the place untouched? No blood splatter. No organs sprawled across the floor. Nothing. It was odd indeed.

Mortals were always so preoccupied with demon possession, maybe this time it was true. Hmm. An artifact that imbues those who dare touch it with demonic energy. She thought to herself amusingly. Amalia then turned her attention to the screen which had enthralled Alexander. She carefully examined the video footage, her eyes focused on the glowing image in the center. Did you say something? Amalia pensive expression intensified, ignoring Alexander's interjection. 

Sinners are cowards at their cores, after all. Amalia narrowed her eyes as she inspected the long hallway. "This artifact didn't arrive at the bottom of the ocean intentionally. I imagine whoever lost it wants it back, but waiting for some humans to scoop it up seems improbable. Even more unreasonable is why it hasn't been retrieved yet and if it has, why they remain cloistered at the base of a rickety ship, sinners or not." Much of this made no sense. Who dropped it in the ocean and why? Who was trying to keep it from whom? Amalia inherently didn't trust Alexander.

Demon hunters were secretive by nature, and she had no reason to believe he'd be less so now. He was much too preoccupied with his family name to disregard centuries of practice. Amalia scoffed at the mention of Blut Vene. And please don’t vaporize me or sink the ship. That there was what made Amalia most curious. This was a demonic artifact, why not destroy the ship and the artifact? Unless neither of them had the power to destroy it. That'd be quite the item, should I be unable to destroy it. She thought to herself. 

Amalia looked over at Alexander. "Why not?" She asked with an impish grin. "Why keep such an item intact? Can you see a benefit I cannot?" Amalia followed Alexander, her interest expanding. "You've come across demonic artifacts before, yes? What kind of power could they possess? Hellfire manipulation? Transformative properties?" She asked curiously. Truthfully, Amalia hadn't decided what she was going to do. A part of her wanted to detonate the ship with the artifact in it, but the emperor might not be pleased by her killing a pure blooded Quincy without good reason. 

[Deleted]

”Honestly? I’m a bit worried about the possibility of it having some effect we won’t be able to turn off if we destroy it. They can be pretty finicky.” Alexander explained in response when he reached the bottom of the stairs. He wasn’t that big a fan of how cramped a ships hallways were. The hall, for them, was thankfully a straight shot. Alex noted two rooms on the right and three on the left. And yet still there were no signs of the crew. This made him worried. It prompted a few theories to pop up in his head regarding what might have happened to them. Looking over his shoulder at Amalia made him smile. Her beauty just had a calming effect. She was, essentially, his guarantee of victory.

”Typically? They’re keys.” Alex answered, taking a few steps into the hall and supporting himself by putting his hand against the wall to counter the rocking of the ship. ”Sinners usually want one thing and one thing only above all else. To get out of Hell. So they, somehow, construct artifacts that are, nine times out of ten, some sort of key that will let them escape. Most of the artifacts I’ve recovered served that purpose.” Alexander explained to her. ”It’s the ones that aren’t some sort of key that are worth concern though. I’ve come across a right few pure nasty ones built solely to kill as many people as possible. But it’s never just random violence. There's always a purpose, a ritual, behind it. Creating these artifacts can’t be easy...so I doubt whatever does it won’t let the effort go to waste.” the Quincy explained as he reached the first door on the left and pushed it open.

A bedroom. Nothing of note. Pursing his lips in frustration, Alex returned his gaze to the end of the hall. ”We’re getting close. Worst case scenario it’s at the bottom of the ship. It’s here though. My medallion is reacting to something.” He revealed. ”The lack of any bodies is curious though. No blood. No signs of a fight. Humans can’t see Sinners so I doubt we’d see any signs they defended themselves..” Alex trailed off, revealing that he was also thinking about this just like Amalia was. As he pressed forward down the hall though, the two Quincy would finally have something happen. Something different would finally happen.

Alex stopped when the sound of something heavy being dragged across a metal floor was screeching from the end of the hallway. The hall took a turn at the left up ahead, meaning that whatever was making that voice was coming from the left. It was also coming towards them. Raising an eyebrow and tilting his head, Alex took a few steps forward to investigate. As though he had no fear. But, luckily for him, the source of the noise revealed itself. A human male rounded the corner, dragging a fire ax behind him. He walked like he was dazed, his head facing downwards before he turned to face the two Quincy. Was he a member of the crew? Probably? Alexander leaned his head to one side, before noticing that the Fragment of the Black Key was suddenly reacting.

The man lifted his head and now it made sense the Alistair’s demon sensing medallion was shaking. ”Aaaalistair!” the crewmen growled. His face was distorted, or he was the ugliest son of a bitch ever born. The mans teeth were crooked and yellow. His skull didn’t look...right...and his face was twisted and morphed to make it look much more sinister. Almost comically so. And his eyes. His eyes were cream white entirely. Stroking his chin, Alex looked at the man standing before him before suddenly going, ”Hah!” with surprise. Extending his arms out like he was greeting a old friend, Alex just laughed. ”Rakshas! It’s been over ten years! Or was it nine?” Alex asked, chuckling as he did so. Listening to the Quincies relaxed tone and laughter caused the crewmans features to twist into one of anger, his growling intensified and causing spittle to fly out from his teeth. ”What’s a bottom dweller like you doing here? Since when have you ever been entrusted with anything big?” Alex taunted, placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head.

”How dare you talk to me like this you goat fucker! Today’s the day I peel the flesh from your bones and suck out your soul!” the crewman apparently named Rakshas cried before letting out a roar and, lifting the ax overhead, began to rush towards Alex and Amalia. Smirking with confidence, Alex remained in place. Why move? He didn’t need to. From his feet came a streak of blue light, an arrow, that caught Rakshas by surprise and caught him in the sky. The arrow blew through him, knocking him upwards and against the roof of the hall before he landed back down on the floor.

”I’m sorry Captain Supervisor-” Alex turned towards Amalia. ”If I’d known it’d just be this guy I’d not even ask you to get involved.” he said to her. Turning back towards the crewmen with a hole in him, Alex watched as he was getting back up. ”Ah that’s right. Gotta take your limbs off.” Alex said with rolling eyes, approaching the crewmen before four more arrows suddenly fired from the floor. Two through the knees and the other two through the elbows. Forced back to the floor, now limbless, Alex bent down and grabbed Rakshas by the hair. ”So. Buddy. Let’s play a round of twenty questions. Where’s the Marker? What’s it do?”

”Go fuck yourself Alistair. Haha.” the demon laughed, prompting Alex to shoot him in the head with his shortbow. ”Nope. Wrong.” He was certainly quick to kill him if he was intending to question him. Looking at Amalia, Alex knew that she probably wanted a explanation. But as he opened his mouth, two of the hallway doors suddenly burst open. Another man and a woman, with similar distorted facial features, rushed out and faced Amalia. ”Time to die, bitch!” the same voice as Rakshas came from the woman. With a pair of sharp scissors in her hand, and a large knife in the mans, both of these people rushed Amalia with the intention of stabbing her.