As Percival stood, silent, unwavering to the embrace of the cold sensations running laps across his body, he watched, in waiting, in anticipation of the outcome of what was within his gaze.
Eliza stood firmly in place, focusing her attention towards Alastair. She had completely disregarded Lisa, as if she wasn't even there to begin with.
Her voice arose, sparking a detriment deep inside of Percivals heart, a feeling he hadn't even thought he knew.
"Alistair. It's been quite a long time since we've last spoken, I've no interest in any sort of confrontation. To be truthful I seek answers to some questions I've not been able to put out of thought".
Her demeanour seemed to point to her truthful statement, although her tone seemed to indicate the very opposite; seemingly how a rose hides its sharp thorns below its beautiful facade.
The same could be said for Eliza's reasons.
Something tells me she's not necessarily lying, however she is hiding something important. I've always been good at reading people, however it seems to be quite hard when it comes to her, she seemed to contradict her own body language. Perhaps that's something she's learned to do on purpose, to stray prying eyes
Such as mine.
Eliza continued, speaking elegantly, yet with much confidence. "Having said that, I'd prefer if you kept this conversation between us". She shot a glace towards Lisa, then back towards Alastair, who sat silently, in the same spot he'd been when Percival had entered the room.
"If thats what you wish" a deep groan stung the air. "Lisa, would you be a dear and give us some time to chat alone, maybe take some time to yourself in your room".
"Very well". The quick reply was short and affirmative. Lisa strode to the other end of the room and entered through the doorway, closing the door behind her.
It seems she hadn't noticed me just yet, perhaps her perception isn't very high. With that being said, I'll continue to eavesdrop for now.
"Were finally alone. My first question, which I'm sure you'll have an answer to; Is there a new awakener?".
"Yes. I've not met him myself, however I heard from some of the others that he's still unaware of his power. At least that's the way it appears from the outside. In any case, be careful if you come across him, we can't be too certain".
"It's seems as though you are aware of him. Fortunately for me, I've already come across him, and what you've heard is true, he isn't aware of his abilities yet. Not from what I could tell, he would've been a smear on the road if I hadn't found him. Although he does have a very strong presence. He's going to be strong.
"If i manage to find him before you do, i might even take him in-"
Slam!
Alastair's wrinkled covered fist slammed the table with the force of a bull, the impact causing reverberations to spill the nearly cold tea across the cards that were still lined across the table. Eliza stepped back.
"You will not be taking anyone in, you and your dirty gang of criminals can go find another city to torment for all i care! Running around acting as if you own every person, every home, every life in the districts. This is not your playground!". Alastairs voice resounded in an echo around the now silent room.
"I'm gonna ask that you leave my bar immediately, I don't need your filth to wipe off on my carpets".
Whoa.. he seemed too calm, it hadn't even crossed my mind that Alastair could speak so brashly.
Eliza took a step towards the door, before turning around with a subtle hint of annoyance plastered across her face.
She leaned towards Alastair, still hunched over, arm resting back across the table once again. "I have one last question for you. Answer this and I'll be on my way, I have no need to stick around this shabby excuse for a bar anyway. Is it true that the Soul Shatter has reawakened?.." uncertainty arose in her voice, unlike the aay she talked before, she seemed almost scared to even mention it.
In a quiet, subtle tone. Alastair lowered his voice until It was merely a whisper. Leaning towards Eliza.
Percival couldn't hear what he had said, but the shock on the face of Eliza had made itself known. This, in and of itself, was enough to keep Percival from wanting to pry further. Instead he waited for them to say their final goodbyes.
The door to the stairwell slammed shut, almost as if Eliza had no intentions of returning.
Alastair looked towards the far end of the room, a cue for Percival to step out of the closet. Percival sat back down in the chair that was still warm from the previous guest. He was silent, for he had no idea what he should say.
Should I bring up the outburst? Or maybe ask what it was that her 'gang' were up to, and how she had come to know him. I could wait until he speaks, Alastair may need time to process what had just happened.
The silence that followed seem to engluf the room in its presence. They would shoot glances towards each other, both in thought about what to say. It was at that moment that Clover, their beautiful white ragdoll cat had jumped up onto the table, licking the remnants of a once full mug of tea.
"Hahahahaha". They simultaneously broke into a laughter that echoed across the walls of the room, the mood returned and they chatted about trivial things such as the flavour of tea, or the people who lined the streets of the downtown area. Percival stood up from his chair, smiling towards Alastair.
"Ahem. Young Lad, I'd like to request something of you, you're well within your reasoning to say no. Would you like to work with us, me and Lisa?".
"I'd love to. How soon could I start..?".
"Well if you'd like how about you come back tomorrow morning, ill expect you at 8. I can explain to you our roles here. I've been thinking about doing up the bar upstairs back to how it used to look, and with a strong young lad beside us, it's not going to be such a gruelling task anymore".
"I'll see you tomorrow morning Alastair. Tell Lisa I wished to bid her farewell". Although hard, Percival contained the excitement within himself. I have a job! With this i should be earning enough to continue covering rent, i can also start to learn a lot more about these awakeners and the abilities they possess. I'm sure there's going to be a lot to learn, however i think an opportunity opened itself to me perfectly.
Percival nearly floated out the door and up the stairs, he was still in such amusement about stumbling into a run down bar and being offered a job within. Such a story could be hardly said without a light chuckle making its way out.
As Percival left the door to the bar, the afternoon sun blinded him. Not too long after adjusting his eyes to the light, he noticed the streets were filled with people, which was odd at this time.
The people lining the streets were all headed into a single direction, seemingly following each other like sheep follow sheep.
Intruiged, he dashed through the crowd, gently nudging people as he passed his way through.
I wonder what could be down this way that everyone in the street is just as interested as each other. Not much happens in the lower class streets, so of course when something does arise, everyone is around to see it.
As percival came closer to the front of the crowd, he noticed a man, tall and slender, he had a buzz cut, which elevated his facial features. His eyes, a dull grey, and his face looked thin enough to be almost purely bone.
He wore all black, his dress shirt, jeans, and shoes the same shade.
Covereing his arms, legs, neck and face, were tattoos of anything you could imagine, from weaponry of all kinds, to transportation. Percival felt sick just looking at this man, even in the lower class areas tattoos were just as rejected as the higher class districts.
The tattooed man seemed to stand there, still, as if waiting for more and more people to come and witness his show.
As the last few people stepped into the crowded streets, he raised his arms in welcome.
"What a wonderful sight to behold my eyes this evening. Every little lamb in the district has made their way to my show. And what a show it's going to be". He talked slow, with purpose, a voice that sounded too elegant to belong to the man in front of him.
The tattooed man lowered his arms silently, as if the end of his introduction was over already.
He reached with his right arm, grasping hold of something on the top part of his left forearm, he clenched his hand, seemingly ripping into the skin on his forearm. But he did not bleed.
From the layers beneath his skin, he seemingly tore out a revolver.
It was sleek in design, a thick frame, housing a short barrel, and a distinctive bird's-head grip that seemed to fit comfortably in the hand of its wielder. Its chamber held 6 shots. The double-action trigger was solid, though a bit heavy by modern standards. It wasn't such a precise intrusment, but meant to be drawn rather quickly, fired up close and to put a man down within 1 or 2 shots.
Hand tightly gripping the revolver, he lifted his arm, now pointing the barrel towards the crowd. However.. people clapped, and cheered. It was as if not a single one of them had sensed the danger that was about to arrive.
Bang!
Bang! Bang!
Screams could be heard amongst the crowd, as blood shot out from the chest of the man beside Percival. People were running, pushing into each other. Panicked and frenzied.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
2 more people fell, unable to hold themselves up, the blood slowly pooling across the streets around him.
The smell of torn flesh and the sharp, sulfurous scent filled the atmosphere; smoky, metallic, unmistakable.
The man reached to the upper part of his left arm now, seemingly pulling out fresh round after fresh round, loading them into the chamber of the revolver now firmly at home in his grip.
As he swung the chamber closed, his eyes met Percivals. The dull grey inside of his eyes seemed to be telling him that he was now the next target.
The tattooed man lifted his arm once again, seemingly aimed directly towards Percivals chest, the man smiled.
Bang!...