006

6. A Razorlike Blue

Relief washed over Eden’s face when she saw that breakfast in Elysiana consisted of things like pancakes, fruit, and cereal.

"Well, what did you expect?" Cliff laughed, noticing her delighted eyes. "Some sort of futuristic nutrient goop?"

"Well, this place seems so high-tech..." Eden shrugged shyly. "Now I feel really hungry all of a sudden."

"Relax, then, and eat up while you can," Cliff said with a smirk. "We only have goop for lunch!"

Eden gave Cliff a playful kick in the legs, and the two of them filled their plates with food from the cafeteria counter. Even though so much still seemed to hang in the balance, she seemed eager to lighten the mood in any way possible, and Cliff felt the same way. If there was an opening for any kind of humor, be it a light-hearted comment or an awkward joke, he’d take it. It helped to fortify the comforting feeling that everything would somehow be okay in the end.

Once their meals were ready, they walked across the spacious dining area and sat down at a rounded table with the Seneschal. At other tables sat other members of the Guild in shimmering blue uniforms, eating and talking with each other regardless of rank or station.

"So, how did you sleep?" Cliff asked.

"Surprisingly well," Eden replied. "That bed was comfy. The Seneschal helped me get used to the facilities, too. You know, this place isn't as bad as it first seemed."

"That's good to hear." He adjusted his hat, then glanced at Eden’s new clothes. "He sure gave you the royal treatment. How’d you get a custom tunic made so quickly?"

"Oh, I have my ways," the Seneschal replied with a sage smile. "I didn’t see her carrying any luggage, so I figured it was the least I could do."

"Please don’t remind me..." Eden moaned, shoving her fork into a piece of cantaloupe. "Are you sure we can’t go back to Earth and pick up some of my stuff? Maybe just a few pairs of shoes?"

At that, Cliff let out a loud guffaw, laughing far more than he needed to. "Or, you know, I could just recommend some good shops to you here."

Eden raised her eyebrows. "Says the guy in the cowboy hat."

This time, the Seneschal joined in the laughter, and for a few moments, it really did seem like everything was going to be okay.

After breakfast, Eden accepted Cliff’s offer to take her shopping, and the two of them headed toward the elevator down to Ieon, the city that existed below the towering guild headquarters.

They stepped onto a circular fuschia platform situated within a transparent blue tube, which began to whirr and move. Eden’s legs flinched, and Cliff instinctively placed a sturdy hand on her shoulder, preventing her from wobbling as the elevator shot down through the tube. She shot him a quick glance, and he smiled back awkwardly.

I never thought I’d get another chance to protect someone like this... The thought stabbed Cliff like a knife, twisting, wrenching out the guilt that filled his heart. I don’t deserve it...but serving someone, protecting those who need it...that’s all I can do. I’ll never make up for what I did...but I might be able to save someone else from befalling the same fate. If only I had some way of letting her know how much this means to me...

Cliff stared at Eden, already thinking about the future, and she stared back, unsure of what would come next.

Soon, the elevator platform sunk into the ground floor, and Cliff and Eden stepped out into a curved hallway. At the end was yet another brain scan machine.

"The Seneschal's added you to the system," Cliff said. "So you'll be able to access all the facilities around the city whenever you like. Some of it requires psynergy to activate...but we’ll get to that later."

The sphere let out a beep of confirmation, and the door slid open. Light flooded the hallway, and the two stepped out into the city. Streets, walkways, and buildings all built out of æsotech criss-crossed and intersected one another. The city looked sleek and clean, and it buzzed with people. Eden looked up toward the clear blue sky, studying the elegant, radiant towers that rose up through the clouds.

As they moved down the nearest walkway, Cliff pointed out the holographic mini-map screens that decorated each street corner. Instead of street signs, the maps showed pedestrians exactly where they were and also highlighted nearby points of interest. Elevators leading up to higher levels also dotted the paths.

The people of Ieon mostly wore the same fashion of clothing. Pastel colors with light shades of blue, purple, and green, mixed in soothing combinations. Their outfits kept limbs free and unobstructed, allowing them to march on as if enlightened, concentrating on something much more important than walking.

Some women wore dazzling, shimmering tiaras, bangles, and different-colored lace around their arms, but not a spot on anyone's body was pierced. Some had multi-colored hair, long and shimmering, while both men and women wore makeup on their faces.

"Just like with everything else," Eden said, "I see some similarities...but everything else looks so exotic."

"See anything you like?" Cliff asked. "I know the guy who owns the boutique down there, so he’ll probably give us a good deal."

"I guess I can’t use my credit card, huh?" Eden mused, peering over to the shop’s windows.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about money." Cliff tried to let the line come out as nonchalantly as possible, despite his grin. "Despite how I may look, the Guild pays me quite well for my services."

Eden stopped and turn to face him. "Cliff, I appreciate the thought, but I can't let you pay for me. That’s not right."

Cliff shrugged. "If it bugs you that much, then you can just remember it and pay me back later somehow. The fact of the matter is, Eden, you don't have a single credit to your name in this world. Who else is gonna pay for it?"

Eden squirmed, turning her eyes away. "But..."

"Please," Cliff put his hand on Eden’s shoulder. "I’m happy to do this."

"...Thank you," Eden forced out the words, although her eyes remained averted. "I really am thankful for everything you’ve done, Cliff. It’s just...these last 24 hours have been such a blur. I think my mind still needs to catch up with everything."

"I get it," Cliff said shakily, trying to push back the compassion he felt swelling inside his body. "Now come on, let’s have some fun!"

"Okay," Eden said quietly, and the hint of a smile returned to her face.

Moments later, the duo ducked into a boutique lined with elaborate carpets and clothing displays.

As Eden began to look around, Cliff let out a sigh. "This is it."

"What do you mean?"

"This is what I live for. The times when I can laugh, smile, and not worry about whether or not I'm screwing something up," he answered with a dark chuckle. "I'm a bit of an dork, if you haven’t figured that out yet."

"No...really?" Eden teased.

Suddenly, a voice called out from within the store. "Hey, Cliff!"

The Knight turned to see a tall man with slicked-back blond hair, mirrored sunglasses, and a painfully bright green suit walking out from the racks. He gave Cliff a friendly slap on the shoulder and looked him over.

"It's been a while since you've journeyed down to the surface, hasn't it?" The man quickly shifted his eyes to Eden. "Oh, and you've got a new lady friend too! Hey, isn't she a bit young for you? Don’t tell me – you stole her from Caleb?" he chuckled, shooting her a wink.

"Johnny, shut up..." Cliff stammered. "She's a special guest of the guild. Have some respect, man!"

Once she saw how embarrassed Cliff looked, Eden broke into her own laugh and stepped forward. "Nice to meet you, Johnny. But you should really be nicer to Cliff...dorks need love too, you know."

"Hah!" Johnny shook Eden’s hand with gusto, then looked back to Cliff. "Hey, she isn’t just cute, she’s funny, too!"

"Remind me to call you next time I need to do some target practice," Cliff muttered.

"Forgive my manners," Johnny said, moving his hand to his chest and giving Eden a mock bow. "I’m Johnny Cantania, a good friend and tormentor of Walden over there. And you are?"

"Eden Gardener, at your service," she replied, with a mock curtsy.  

"Alright, now that we're through with all the niceties, how about I show you what we’ve got?"

Johnny led Eden and Cliff further into the store. Soon, Eden was inundated with new styles, colors, and materials. Before she knew it, she had a shopping basket full of different outfits.

Cliff glanced at her haul. "Find everything you want?"

"Well, almost everything," she said giddily. "But we haven't picked out any underwear yet."

"W...we?" Cliff’s face grew pale. "You...um..."

"Geez! I'm kidding, obviously!" Eden laughed. "I already picked out some stuff while you were talking with Johnny. You really need to lighten up, Cliff!"

Cliff let out an exasperated sigh and walked over to the counter to pay. Meanwhile, Eden stepped back into a dressing room and slipped into one of her new outfits: a sleeveless green turtleneck with a long white skirt.

Three seconds later, a huge crash from within the store. Eden slid on her new sandals and rushed out of the dressing room. The south end of the store had caved in. Above the pile of rubble, pieces from the roof shook unsteadily, as if to follow. It looked like a huge wrecking ball had swung into the structure, but the ball was nowhere to be seen.

Some customers screamed and ran out. Others stepped back warily, with vigilant looks on their faces. Cliff weaved through the aisles, knocking down clothes as he tried to reach her.

"Cliff!" Eden moved out into the center of the aisles.

"Stay back!" he shouted.

"Wha..." she was about to ask him something, but a movement from the rubble diverted her attention.

Eden whipped her head back to the south end. On top of the ruined pile, there now stood a hulking man with red, eye sockets and blue, blade-like hair that extended from his scalp. Stitches tattooed his dark, scarred skin, from his nose to the tips of his fingers, like a living rag doll. The only article of clothing he wore was a messy conglomeration of belts wrapped around his hips and thighs. Converging with the scars around the rest of his body was a tattoo of a long, twisting dragon.

He flexed his fists with anticipation, sharp steel claws extending from where nails should have been. Yellow teeth peeked through purple lips as he grinned menacingly at Eden. Panic had her paralyzed, frozen and suffocating. Never in her life had she seen anything this frightening in real life.

Cliff’s jaw dropped as he saw the monster and followed its gaze. The Dragon...another Zodiac...but how did they find us so quickly?! Was it the car? They must have bugged the car...how could I have been so stupid?!

Johnny yanked his sunglasses off and stared at his ruined wall in shock. "Who the hell is that?!"

"The Dragon," Cliff explained, rushing to Eden's side. "Xarles Klavier Van Kaen...the only member of the 12 Dark Zodiacs who’s ever been publicly identified."

"A Dark Zodiac?!" Johnny shrieked. "What the hell is he doing in my shop?! Just who did you bring in here with you, Cliff?!"

"I... " Cliff faltered. "I honestly don't know."

The gnarled muscles in Van Kaen's arms rippled with anticipation as he raised his bloodstained claws. It looked like he was preparing to jump.

"Get down!" Cliff shouted.

The Knight hooked his left arm around Eden’s waist and rolled, then used his right arm to pull the shotgun from his back. Simultaneously, the Dragon leapt down to the ground, easily digging through the tile with his bladed hands and shaking the foundation. Baring his fangs in a sadistic grin, he ripped both arms upward, unearthing the floor with inhuman ease and sending a flurry of rubble flying toward the three. He pointed at Cliff, laughing crazily, then ran his other hand across a deep scar that encircled his throat.

"Hey, asshole!" Johnny shouted, stepping out from the aisle. "You think you can trash my store and get away with it?"

He pulled a long black cord from around his waist and slapped it on the ground with a loud smack. Electricity surged through his hands, crackling around the cord with a blue glow.

"This is your last chance to get out." Johnny slammed the black cord down again, singing the floor with electricity. "I warned you."

"Wh-what is that?" Eden murmured.

"Psynergy," Cliff replied, as he slowly escorted Eden to the entrance. "A type of energy created by channeling psychic and kinetic energy together. Train yourself enough, and you can even develop your own unique abilities, just like Johnny has."

Eden watched the two men stare each other down. "Is he going to be alright by himself?"

"No," Cliff answered. "I’m going to back him up. Meanwhile, Eden, I need you to run back to the Guild as fast as you can. You’ll be safe in—"

Cliff’s voice abruptly cut off as he watched Van Kaen lunge toward Johnny. Gnashing his teeth, the Dragon swiped out at the man’s midsection. Johnny flung his whip at the beast's claw, catching it and diverting its aim. Van Kaen rolled with the new momentum, spinning through the air and eventually coming to a halt as he crashed into another wall, collapsing it. The Zodiac erupted with laughter as he brought himself out from the rubble, completely unscathed.

"Shut the hell up!" Johnny lashed out with his whip once more. This time, it wrapped around Van Kaen's stomach. Johnny yanked it downward, smashing the Zodiac's face into the crushed tile and dragging it through the rubble.

"He's toying with you, Johnny!" Cliff shouted, as he ran in and took aim. "Just keep him still, and then I'll have a perfect shot at him!"

Johnny jerked his whip up commandingly, and Van Kaen rose to his feet. The assassin continued to grin at Johnny, pausing for a moment to spit a chunk of tile from his mouth.

Then, Cliff let a tan blast of psynergy explode from his gun. The psychic bullet soared right into Van Kaen's shoulder, but there was no visible effect. The Zodiac didn't even turn his head to acknowledge the attack. Smoke sizzled off his leathery skin, but it seemed as if Cliff's attempt had been utterly in vain.

"Why isn't he getting hurt?!" Eden cried. "This makes no sense!"

"He’s shielding himself with his own psynergy," Cliff called back. "Johnny, stop! We need to take him together!"

Johnny focused more psynergy into his hands. Stronger surges pulsated through his whip, jolting up to Van Kaen's abdomen. As they struck home, the beast began to shake and convulse. He threw his head back and roared as his body was electrocuted.

Johnny glared at the jittering beast. "Yeah, that's it..." he growled. "That's what you get, you damn monster!"

As the electricity continued to flow, Van Kaen stopped shaking and slowly lowered his head. His glowing sockets focused on Johnny, and a wide, mocking smile spread across his face.

"Wha..." Johnny gaped.

Van Kaen reached down with his left hand, ripped the cord from his body with ease and tossed it to the ground. He walked forward, licking his claws excitedly, seemingly in perfect condition. Realizing that his psynergy had been wasted, Johnny dropped the useless remains of his whip and backed up against the east wall of the shop in dread.

"No!" Cliff dove forward, but it was too late. Van Kaen wildly slashed his hands out toward Johnny. Cliff’s friend tried to defend himself as best he could, but the Dragon’s glowing blades sliced through his appendages, and then his stomach. A bloody cough escaped Johnny's throat as Van Kaen followed through with the blow, tearing the man's body in two clean parts. A long purple tongue shot out from the Dragon’s mouth and tried to catch a splash of blood as the man's entrails spilled from his body.

Eden screamed in terror, while Cliff descended on the monster. Van Kaen raised a gnarled fist in response, smoldering the remains of Johnny’s insides with a blood red aura. Power that had been kept hidden during Van Kaen’s charade with Johnny exploded now, crushing Cliff's shoulder and sending him flying. Turning back to his prey, Van Kaen fished out Johnny's heart from the bloody clump of flesh, then slipped it down his throat.

I can do this... Cliff pulled his shaking body up from the ground. I killed one of them, only yesterday...but that was on Earth...that guy wasn’t shielded at all...

Finished with Johnny's remains, Van Kaen turned from the human mess and looked expectantly at Cliff.

I said I’d protect her... Cliff raised his shotgun once again. This is my chance.

The Vice-Captain of the 4^th Division of Dimensional Knights watched Van Kaen slowly approach, desperate

*************

for some kind of answer as Vance poured over Caskett’s journal on his bed.

I hate this place. I hate them. Why do I even stay here? Mom, where did you go? Why didn’t you take me with you?

He scanned the messy writing, paying close attention to the part that concerned other dimensions, ‘tunneling,’ space-time threads, and any sentence that had the lone letter ‘V’ in it.

He must be writing about my mother...Victoria...what were they working on? Did they really figure out a way to travel into other dimensions somehow?

The clock ticked loudly, and suddenly it was 12:50.

I know. I’m running out of time. Tomorrow my dad’s moving us to the opposite side of the country...right when I finally found some sort of clue as to where mom went. And he doesn’t even care. I’m not going with them...I’d rather die.

A spark entered Vance’s mind, and he turned back to one of the pages he’d dog-eared.

Mar 4

Death was not the end for her, that I must believe. Otherwise, how could I go on, knowing that my greatest source of strength is now dead and gone? Whether or not it was on purpose, V reached something that night...something beyond the realms of death.

Death.

Is that the answer? Vance began to tremble as his desperation took a new turn. Mom, is that what I need to do to find you? Will death take me somewhere else...somewhere away from all this?

Vance stared out his bedroom window, past the overgrown bushes in his house’s unkept yard, out to the muggy Sunday afternoon sky. In the entire world, he didn’t have a single person he could call a friend. No one loved him, and he loved no one. He’d felt for a long time that he didn’t belong...but at least when his mother was around, he had one person that made him feel at home.

"Mom...I’ll be with you soon," Vance whispered, feeling his throat tighten up.

Half an hour later, Vance sat on his bed cradling the biggest knife he could find in the kitchen downstairs. His breath was strangely calm as he gazed across the room to the clock on his desk. 12:51. Progress.

Vance closed his eyes, prepared to separate his mind from his body, prepared to return to she who had made him. When the knife penetrates my skin, severing me from this world, I’ll finally be free. I’ll finally be happy again.

Vance couldn't have been more wrong.

Next: And Death Converges...