The Scarlet King

Deals in the dark…

No one would assume a man of such high standing, like the High Priest, would be travelling to such dark places at the darkest time of night. Yet, rare few knew of how monstrous he truly was, and how he secretly enjoyed these dark nights. His movements were lithe and trained, a tiger stalking his prey. He was on a particularly dangerous mission tonight. An individual of interest had appeared on his radar. The man was a fellow creature of the night – an assassin who could be of great use. Unfortunately, the man was fighting for the wrong side... Vampires… The thought brought a vile taste to his tongue.

Viktor stood outside the abandoned arcade, which his target called his base. He held high hopes that he could persuade this unique individual to fight for Viktor’s cause; however, he was prepared to thin the ranks of his enemy if the situation called for it.

His business suit remained unruffled as he walked softly through the dark, creeping ever closer to the arcade. He may not possess the power of sight or detection; nevertheless, he could see energy itself and had become adept at differentiating the source. His piercing blue orbs saw everything… Every magical trace and rune the assassin left on his domain. Viktor knew how to deal with each and every spell with ease. He was an assassin himself, after all, despite it being a couple of centuries since he was in practice. Also, as High Priest, he felt it was his job to learn everything he could about all venues of magic in order to better instruct or handle any situation.

It did not take much effort to dispel the warning system that lay about the arcade. Simply absorbing the magic was all it took, and it would not alarm the resident of his tampering. After that was dealt with, with a wave of his hand, he became a shadow, an apparition. He cast illusion over the entrance so it made no sound as he passed through.

The smell of dust and neglect lingered over the old machines that looked untouched for years. While Viktor was a fan of video games, he was unable to indulge in them due to his time constraints. He was the sad owner of very little downtime.

His senses flared for the smallest signs of life. He may have been born human, but his humanity was lost long ago. His senses were on par with that of other supernatural beings, making him a ferocious enemy. His bloodlust was almost equal to that of a Vampire; he had more control, however.

It did not take long to find the basement, and with a few more waves of his hand, he had broken in. At long last he found himself in the company of a dark-clad man who was unaware of his presence. Viktor looked like nothing more than a shadow, yet this man was smart. The High Priest was curious as to the reaction his intrusion would yield; nothing less than aggression he assumed. If Viktor were ever startled, the one who had startled him would certainly pay the price.

”A curious home you have here... A man of your standing and repute, I thought you would be living in a little more luxury.”

Cool and collected even in the face of surprise… Viktor liked this man already. A hint of what might be arrogance, but Viktor would let it slide… This time. Viktor could feel the potential within this man. He simply required to be moulded, and then he could become an arrow that Viktor fires at his enemies.

”You might know of me, but we certainly have not met…”

He dropped the illusion and the shadows dissipated as he stepped into the light. His piercing blue eyes regarded Garrett, assessing him. He began to draw closer to the seated man. As he moved towards Garrett, he allowed a small fraction his own power to break the seal of containment and resonate around him. Each step he took cracked the ground beneath him and caused the walls of the arcade to creak and moan. This was a demonstration of what Viktor was – a being unmatched. He wanted Garrett to know he meant business.

Before Viktor would go any further, he wanted to test the man before him – to see if this man was worth investing in. Viktor never made a bad investment.

”You and I could become great partners, but first... I want to see what you are capable of…”

”I tend to work from the shadows, like yourself. My name is Viktor Ealdor, High Priest of The Scarlet Council.”

The Scarlet Council was renowned throughout the supernatural world, even some humans knew of them. Like Viktor said, however, he prefers to pull strings from the shadows. That is why he sought a partnership with the man. He would not tell the man this directly, but Viktor would be able to use him yet keep his distance from the aftermath.

”If you still wish to prove yourself, I will meet you there.”

On that note, Viktor disappeared once again into the shadows. He hoped his name and his display had not frightened the Magi off. Nonetheless, if the issued challenge had scared the man off, perhaps it was for the better. Viktor had no use for cowards.

Viktor’s speed was bolstered by his magic and he could match – or even exceed – a Vampire’s own agility. He was outside and at the warehouse without a moment’s passing. He waited in the middle of the warehouse, fully visibly and bathed in moonlight. He was curious to see how this man would proceed with the challenge. Would he fight Viktor out in the open or wait for opportunity in the shadows? Only time would tell, but Viktor stood at the ready.

A three thousand year old monster, waiting to be slain…

”I am about to be more honest with you than I have ever been with anyone… I, like yourself, seek vengeance, but on a much grander scale. I seek to avenge the fallen, the weak, against those who claim to know what power is… I am here to show them what true power is.”

When Viktor said “honest,” it has a slightly different meaning. Frankly, Viktor has no other purpose than to control and conquer. He is a warrior of old. All he longs for is battle and victory. Over the centuries, he learned how to earn people’s trust and loyalty. Manipulation and displays of power usually did the trick.

”My purpose for you and why I seek to test you? Well, again to be honest: I seek devoted soldier to aid me in my quest. You seem to have some potential, but I want to know that you can endure.”

”So, Garrett Stone, assassin of the White Fang Order… Can you endure pain and still fight on? Will you live on past this day and taste the sweet victory of revenge? Prove to me you are of worth, and I will aid you in your personal vendetta. Fail this test… Well, you know the stakes.”

Viktor was getting excited and it could be seen in his eyes. Their typically brilliant blue shimmer now darkened, and the colour almost became red, like blood. His movements were smooth, almost like a dance. His right arm drew upward from his hip and rose above his head. The ground around him quaked and shook. The foundations of the warehouse groaned dangerously, signs that it may give way anytime soon.

”Be steadfast, assassin, and prove your worth!”

With a swift motion, Viktor dropped his arm and punched the ground at his feet. The rock and concrete gave out and a mini-earthquake rupture through the vicinity. He typically had more of a defensive fighting style, but in this situation he needed to throw the first punch. He felt like if he waited for the assassin, this battle might take a while. Viktor’s time was pressed, and as much as he wanted to do nothing more than battle, he had urgent matters he had to attend. He had to provoke the assassin into action.

If the assassin did not make a move to attack Viktor, Viktor’s next assault would be much more direct.

His icy orbs watched with delight as the boy demonstrated his speed. He certainly had trained reflexes, which was a good sign. What else was he capable of? Well, that was for Viktor to test. Until he was satisfied, he would grant the boy no rest.

With graceful ease, Viktor narrowly stepped out of the path of the majority of the oncoming projectiles. The few stones that he could not dodge with a small side step were disintegrated as a wave of his hand sent a shock of energy through the air that disintegrated the incoming rock.

The High Priest pressed his attack – he wanted to stress the assassin and see how he worked under pressure. To do this, Viktor resorted to the extreme…

”You’re quick, boy. But how do you move when things get chilly…?”

Now it was time to play head games…

Raising his hands, he made swirling motions and as he did… A devastating gust of cold air began to swirl around the room. Snow and hail began to form and wreak havoc in the old warehouse. Chunks of debris joined the swirling mass that was now becoming a blizzard. The temperature seemed to drop incredibly as well. Viktor stood unfazed in the eye of the storm, but how did his adversary fair?

This scene would play out in Garrett’s mind, but in truth, it was all an illusion. While Viktor did put some effort into it, it was not his strongest attempt. Viktor had killed people before with his illusions. While he did not want to kill Garrett, if the boy was not strong enough to handle the trick, the elements – as fake as they were – would be his demise. As real as it felt, the truth was discernable. Would Garrett discover this truth before his body tricked him into believing he was actually freezing to death?

Viktor watched with much anticipation. The boy passed the physical test. Now it was time to see how strong his mind was…

@garrettstone

”Impressive.”

In the blink of an eye, the illusion dissipated. The warehouse returned to some normality, obviously a little more damaged than before. The monster inside Viktor wanted to truly get into the spirit of battle and rip this boy apart. Nevertheless, Viktor still had some control of his sanity and would put away his killer mentality.

This boy may have been successful in his endeavours in the past, but Viktor could “see” this boy’s future and its vast potential. There was much improvement to be made, but it was definitely a possibility. Viktor could hone this young body into a useful weapon – a pawn.

”Yes, we are done here. Now to move onto the future,” Viktor reached into a pocket inside his jacket and withdrew an amulet. This amulet was imbued with a tiny fraction of Viktor’s power, yet would bolster the young Magi’s abilities greatly. He offered it to the young man. ”Here is the deal: take this and have a small taste of the power that I can offer. The energies inside will not last forever. You can use it for vengeance and be done with it, or… You can train and become a more capable assassin under my tutelage, and have no need for this amulet in the end. Ultimately, what I offer is power, not only for vengeance, but to shape a better future for yourself, and the future of your own kind – Magi.”

The High Priest’s icy blue eyes did not stray from the young Magi’s as he spoke. He was solemn and clear.

”I understand if you need some time to think this over. If you need some time to think, you can take the amulet, and when your decision is made, it will lead you to me.”

”Excellent. Straight to business, I appreciate that.”

”Before the two of us move forward, however, you shall receive training from another – Marissa Thanatos, Head Inquisitor. When she deems you ready, she will pass you on to me… Be warned: this test was nothing compared to what Marissa will put you through. Be prepared to fight for your life. She is not as… merciful as I am. Nonetheless, if you survive, you will emerge stronger than you can imagine.”

Turning away, he left on a final note, ”Train hard… I will be watching. I’ve made an investment in you… Do not disappoint me.” An instant later and he was engulfed into the darkness of night, as if he was never there to begin with.