Post by Nathan Saniti on Aug 10, 2014 11:17:33 GMT -5
The Dark Arcana – Chapter 4: The Emperor
Kelli parked her new candy car next to the entrance of Nathan’s mansion-esque house. After a mere few blocks, she had adapted to the way the car handled, driving the transport like an expert. Nathan hopped out, moving quickly to the driver’s side to allow his newfound love to exit as well. Kelli took his hand as she stepped out, a slight blush in her cheeks. “You drove very well indeed, my dear. You are very nearly a natural.”
Kelli turned a bit rosier briefly at the flattery, but then Nathan could tell one of her odd thoughts had made its way to the surface. He waited patiently for her to process what she wished to ask, knowing she preferred to word herself very carefully. “Nathan,” she finally began, “Why do you bother competing in the PCW at all?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I mean, you have enough money to do whatever you wish, and if you can’t buy something, you can conjure it. So why wrestle at all?”
Nathan pondered this for a bit. He knew why, but was never really certain exactly how to word it. “I suppose it would have to be the thrill of competition.” Kelly puzzled at the revelation, so he continued. “Take our loss against the Brothers Dillinger, technically our first defeat as a duo. While we went into the battle with our heads held high and left the same even through defeat, it was the feeling of that resulting defeat that reminds me of what it was like to be ‘mortal.’ Even the exhilaration of victory can lend itself to remind me of my humble beginnings.”
Kelli nodded her head, looking at the ground. “So how do you feel about our upcoming match? I noticed you weren’t quite as playful on Twitter this time around.”
“Indeed.” A deep remorse settled on Nathan’s face, and he allowed it to nestle in. Once the emotion was thoroughly settled, he answered. “I fear losing you, my dear.” He breathed a deep sigh. “One of me already did quite enough damage to you in the past, a feat I don’t wish to repeat.” His eyes welled up as he choked back still more emotion. (Building wells under the eyes so quickly and unnoticed can only be done by union well builders of the most miniscule variety, but their work is unparred. As for the emotion Nathan was choking, worry not. It deserves it. Abusive things, some emotions.) Kelli gently rested her arm on his back, patting to reassure him. “I know things like this happen in our line of work, but the fear resides nonetheless. I could lose control during the heat of battle and do something I may regret. If Mr. D or that reprehensible underachiever Mr. Cosmos hurt you, I may also be unable to restrain myself. This match has too many variables for me to be comfortable with it until it’s over.”
“Let’s change the subject,” Kelli fought back her own tears. (Luckily, she has ninjas fighting for her. They won against the tears rather easily.) “Why did you change your name from Octavius to Nathan?”
“That was simply evolutionary.” Nathan righted himself, the worried look finally getting bored and leaving his face for new territory. “I was born Octavius, but as time progressed, I had to continue to change my identity as I traversed the world so that my inability to age wouldn’t arouse suspicion, a trick that is getting more and more difficult for me and my ilk.”
“There are others like you?”
“Oh, absolutely!” declared Nathan. “In fact, a couple of them you may know very well.”
“Like who?” Kelli’s eyes brightened as if she were about to be let in upon a trusted secret.
“Nicholas Cage. I’m sure you’ve seen that social media picture comparing his side-by-side to a man with an uncanny resemblance that lived well over one hundred years before he was ‘born.’” Kelli got an astonished look. “And then there’s Elvis Presley. He tired of fame, faked his death, and got back into a healthier form in order to conceal his identity a bit better.” Nathan thought for a second and chuckled. “I guess each of us crave the spotlight at some point in our long lives. I’ll stick to a more modest form of limelight in PCW, thank you. If they ever get to have too large of a following, I may have to leave. I don’t wish to have my life quite so thoroughly examined.”
Kelli nodded again. This time when she looked down, she saw a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat tugging at Nathan’s pants leg. She squealed with delight, nearly causing both Nathan and Tarrant to do a rousing rendition of synchronized self-urinating. She clasped her hands across her mouth to suppress the sound, and then all three laughed, though Tarrant a bit more nervously. “Aw. What a cute bunny! Can I pet it?”
Tarrant removed a cigar, lighting it with a match in his trembling hand. He puffed deeply, being extra careful to expel the smoke away from the pair. The cigar took the edge off of his jangled nerves. He examined it briefly, looking up at Kelli after a bit. “If you weren’t so damned cute for a human, I’d say no and bite your toes like they were carrots.”
Kelli let out another happy peal, quickly scooping Tarrant up and hugging him tightly, causing him to accidentally drop his stogie. Nathan caught it before it hit the ground as Tarrant struggled to gain a breathable position. “HE TALKS TOO!” Kelli squeezed him tight enough to get a whiff of cigar smoke, making her wrinkle her nose in disapproval. “Ew. Moment wrecker.” She set the rabbit gently on the ground. On his decent, Tarrant got another dose of the same familiar scent that he experienced back at Nova Pharmaceuticals, setting his hackles on edge ever so slightly.
Tarrant straightened his jacket out from the unwarranted show of affection before turning his attention to his friend. “Nathan, may I talk with you once you’re done with your visit?” Kelli worried whether she had offended Tarrant, but he assured her that she hadn’t.
Nathan looked determined. “If you need to say something, please don’t hide it from Miss Starr here. She’s as much part of my life as you are, my dear friend.”
Tarrant pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes, unsure of where to begin. He tilted his head to Kelli. “Kelli, do you have a sister?”
Shame overtook Kelli. She shuffled her feet on the ground as she quietly whispered, “Yes. She’s mean.”
Tarrant scoffed a bit before he could stop himself. “She’s more than mean, sweetie. She’s got it in for both you and Nathan.”
“WHAT?” exclaimed Kelli. “WHY?”
“I’m not sure exactly. She just doesn’t seem to want you and Nathan to be happy.”
Nathan piped in, “What could she possibly want to tear us asunder for?”
Tarrant became even more deadpan. “It gets worse. She’s in league with Rasputin. He came to her while I was there.”
“Rasputin?” Kelli queried. “The creepy Russian dude who was hard to kill?”
“Indeed,” informed Nathan. “He is also one of my kind. He is also responsible for many of my past heartaches.”
“Why?”
“He blames me for the death of my sister and his lover. Ever since that fateful day, he has sought to reap the very sadness into me that he feels. He doesn’t know just how deeply I ache over her demise. Or his kinship.”
“Nathan,” Tarrant warned sternly, “whatever they have planned, it isn’t gonna be pretty. I think they mean to do you harm. Both of you.”
Nathan’s eyes darkened with a hate unfathomable. “If they know what’s best, they will never harm a hair upon Miss Starr’s body. I’ll stop them by any means necessary.”
“Leave Iska to me,” Kelli ordered. “I don’t like her, but she IS my sister. I can’t allow anyone to hurt her.” Kelli directed her attention to Tarrant. “Did you happen to hear what they plan?”
“No. I think they knew I was there. Rasputin led her off into another doorway. I’m not even sure which dimension he took her to.”
“What makes you think they found you out?” Nathan inquired.
“Zaichik?” Kelli interjected. Tarrant nodded. Kelli’s heart sank. A lonely tear fell down her lovely cheek. “I think I need to go Nathan,” she supposed.
Now it was Nathan’s turn to do the comforting. He pulled her tight. Kelli began to weep in his chest. Once her heaving breaths subsided, he cupped her chin in his hand. “We shall get through this just as you assured me we shall endure our upcoming match, my sweet.”
“How, Nathan?” Kelli felt crushed by the weight of the events, the burden spilling over onto Nathan’s heart.
“By giving them exactly what they want.” Kelli stopped crying, confusion the predominant emotion surrounding her, Tarrant nearly as perplexed in his own right. Nathan had a plan. “The Black Hand aren’t the only people in PCW who can hatch schemes. I’ve many years of experience in the art of war. Let’s see if I can remember how to do this.”
