Wayfare to an Uncertain Asylum, Chapter VI

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This Chapter is Incomplete

Chapter VI - Even In Death

Arkanian followed Saros up the steps of the building until they reached the landing before the entrance way, two guards manned the set of double doors but appeared to be letting any who desired to exit or enter. The two exalts passed the guards without a second glance, once through the doorway they found themselves in a grand hall that continued the white marble, pillar based construction. The hall was rather crowded and not all that wide, a number of doors lined the outside walls of the hall and several winding staircases wrapped around individual pillars up through the ceiling to an apparent second floor.

“Saros, this is the Council of Entities building, what are we doing here?” Arkanian asked as he followed Saros towards a set of spiral stairs on the back left side of the building.

“We have little time, and this is where the target is.” Saros paused as he started to climb the narrow set of stairs at a light jog, “Takeshi Irugawa is a member of The Council of Entities, it would be wise if we could convince him to leave this place, it isn’t exactly secure.”

“A member of The Council of Entities? I thought it was The Emissary’s job to protect them?” Arkanian also paused as he followed Saros up the staircase at a jog, “This is going to be a disaster isn’t it?”

“Most likely.” Saros responded flatly as he reached the top of stairs and walked out onto the second level. As they reached the second level of the building they found themselves in an open waiting room with comfortable seating for a number of people along the walls. A glance up would reveal that the ceiling was a glass tank, filled with crystal clear water and varieties of colorful fish not native to this part of the world. Several people sat in the comfortable seating in the room though they appeared to have been waiting for quite some time as they looks of dreary boredom, one of which had drifted to sleep with an occasional snore. A tall desk greeted them straight ahead; the only door in the room behind it, the lone figure that reacted to their presence attended the desk. A young, attractive girl, though probably no older than 16 sat behind the desk, she was dressed in courtly clothing of fine silk, though not very much of it as the attire left little to the imagination. She greeted them in a friendly, high pitched tone asking them if they had an appointment.

“Of course we do, I was here just earlier today in fact to meet with Councilor Irugawa. He sent me to find a friend of his,” Saros stopped briefly as he indicated back towards Arkanian, “a prominent musician whom he needed for a ritual. I’m sure you remember, it was only a few hours ago.”

The girl at the desk had a rather perplexed look on her face as she looked back and forth between Saros and Arkanian, clearly having no memory of an encounter if in fact there had been one. “Well he has had several visitors today already, he’s with several right now. You will have to wait Mr. - …. What did you say your name was again?”

“I didn’t.” Saros responded as he turned to give a sharp look back to Arkanian, clearly the two had the same thought. Arkanian bowed his head for a moment as he closed his eyes and attuned his essence to the flow around him. His eyes quickly shot open as he raised his head, drawing the Plasma Tongue Repeater from his side in a single swift motion he blasted a bolt of fire into the wooden door behind the desk. The boom of the shot echoed throughout the stone room, the girl behind the desk fell to the ground with a scream as the fire traveled harmlessly past her. The wooden door was blown cleanly off its hinges, splintering fiery pieces of wood into the Councilors office; Saros quickly rushed through the doorway followed by Arkanian to find three men scattered hiding on the floor. Saros rushed to the man he recognized as Takeshi, picking him up from the floor and dragging him to his feet; Arkanian addressed the other two as he forced them to roll over at gun point. It didn’t take long to realize they’d been mistaken as the two men appeared to be mortal merchants, unarmed and terrified they were certainly no assassins.

“We are not here to ham you Takeshi, we are here to protect you.” Takeshi struggled briefly with Saros, who despite being the smaller man was by far the better combatant. After only a few moments Takeshi was subdued, at least willing to accept the fate that he would not be able to escape on his own.

Arkanian turned back to the door as he spoke softly, almost more to himself, “They are still here.” With his gun still gripped tightly in hand he peered into the waiting room outside, it appeared to be empty; the people waiting seemed to have run down the stairs. It was then that he noticed a pool of blood spreading into his view from just out of sight, from behind the desk. The girls blood? He was sure his shot was well clear of her and Saros went straight for the door, a horrible and familiar feeling swept over him. “Run! Find a way out!”

Arkanian slipped his gun back into its holster as he quickly drew Mugenjin from its sheath, in one quick motion he leapt into the air making a long vertical slash running towards the door. The soulsteel pierced easily through the glass of the fish tank, cracks spreading along the entire ceiling until it could hold no longer and with a crash of shattering glass gallons upon gallons of water fell from the ceiling of both rooms. Takeshi had led Saros over to a closed cabinet at first sign of trouble, opening it to reveal a bar, but as he quickly knocked the shelves and their contents to the floor a secret passage was revealed behind it. The passage was more of an escape chute than a passage way, Saros pushed Takeshi through first and gave a glance back into the room as he saw three figures emerging from the rushing water headed towards the office with only Arkanian to stand between them.

“Go! They’re just ghosts, the deathknight is still in hiding somewhere. Watch your back.” Arkanian looked away from the approaching enemies for only a moment before looking back to the ghosts with a smile, starting to whisper a poem laced in hatred in old realm.

Saros did not wait around to see the effects of Arkanians words as he dove down the chute after Takeshi, closing the cabinet door behind him hoping no one would follow. Black tendrils sprang forth from the water as Arkanian finished his whispered words immediately lashing out at the three nemissaries that approached. The effect lasted only a moment but allowed Arkanian to redraw his gun and prepare for battle.

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