[IC] Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic (Page 4)

𝔸𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕂𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕠

𝔸𝕪𝕝𝕒 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕖

&

𝕒 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕖

The man continued to walk down the halls, entering and exiting elevators and stairwells, and his brother continued to follow him like a lost puppy. It was irritating. Why couldn’t he go bother someone else or come around and just hang out? Not beg for jobs or opportunities. There were so many opportunities for him, lined up, and would give him such a fulfilling and semi-safe life. A safer life in Nocturnia compared to what he was doing. Rubbing his temple while he continued to walk and zone out all the words his brother was spitting out. 

He swiped a card over a little camera at an elevator and it opened up after confirming that it was Asterion Kairo — he turned around and put out his hand to stop Jax. “Please…” he started when staring into his little brother’s eyes, who seemed semi-disappointed and prepared to hear something that he didn’t want to hear. A sigh came from him, “Please, Jax. I want you safe. I need you safe. Just please do not do anything stupid. Okay?” 

Jax rolled his eyes and shook his head, “Fine. I won’t do anything ”stupid” okay?” he sounded more like a twelve year old being scolded and trying to find a happy medium. It made Asterion’s face twist and question his little brother. He clearly did not believe Jax’s words but he wanted to so badly. 

“Thank you, I love you, now go have fun in one of the activity rooms or something. I have business to do,” Asterion stepped back out of the detectors of the elevator and as the door was closing. Jax and Asterion’s eyes met and Jax mouthed the words, I love you too… 

Asterion rubbed at his temples while his eyes closed, the elevator ride felt like it was taking years, and once the ding of the elevator echoed out. He opened his eyes and dropped his hands before walking out into the basement, the same floor that had Ayla on it, and he nodded his head at the guards before the holding room was opened. “Good morning, Ayla. I am sorry that I could not get to you earlier. I wanted to speak with you last night but I got very b —” he rolled his eyes and a hand smacked to his face with a stressed energy. 

“Close the doors,” he ordered while the guards did so and he approached Ayla. Taking off her gag and tossing it to the side. “I am sorry. They should have taken that out of your mouth,” Asterion was prepared for her to use her abilities on him. She would still have a very difficult time getting out of this place. 

Then he undid her chains as well. It’s not like she needed to be hooked to the floor while in a holding cell. They were pretty sturdy. “There you go,” he gestured out as if to say it was better. Stepping back and away from her, “Would you like to talk?” 

Ayla ran her tongue over the roof of her mouth, everything dry as paper. Ah, he really had been busy. No matter. She had assumed she'd be wearing the thing for the duration of her time here, so this felt more like a bonus.

A hand swiped over the skin of her neck, feeling much better without the collar attached. Two acts of kindness. He really was hoping to get her grateful lips to talk. Lucky for him, she had already planned to.

She folded her hands in her lap as she sat at the edge of her bed, staring up at Asterion. She didn't shy away from his gaze this time, though it still sent a bit of trepidation through her system.

”...Thank you. Yes, I would. I imagine you have… questions. I'll answer them as best as I can.” Her voice was a bit hoarse, but sincere-sounding enough.

“I do have a few,” he confessed. Her willingness to answer them to the best of her ability was somewhat suspicious. He wondered if she wanted to be caught and he hoped his men thoroughly searched her for trackers and what not. With the lack of taking out the gag and putting a collar on her — he felt like they probably didn’t do everything they were supposed to do. 

Asterion walked over to the door and knocked on it before a speaker kicking on echoed out, “Yes, sir?” a guard could be heard over the intercom. 

“Can you please get us a bottle of water?” he could hear the raspiness in her voice because of how dry her mouth and throat had to be. He felt a little bad. That wasn’t supposed to be the case, since he hated treating people so awfully, even if they did terrible things — he did terrible things too. It was such a conflicting thought process. 

Glancing back over to Ayla, he smiled almost charmingly, “Will you be good for me?” 

Ayla's eyes half-lidded, her only tell. Before her decorum returned and she said evenly enough. ”We're playing your game now, aren't we? I don't have any tricks up my sleeves, and I'm not going to try anything. Whether my boss tries something, well, that's fairly out of my control.”

She shook her head softly, that slight smile on her face. ”He'll let me stew here for some time though, so you needn't worry. Why don't you ask what's really on your mind?”

Asterion could not help the smile that appeared on his face, “It can be considered a game,” he admitted. The man loved playing games. Hearing about her boss seemed to get his eyes to sharpen a little in thought while he glanced at the door and back at her. Considering what she could mean by that — was the man going to try and get her out? He wondered. That would be fun, wouldn’t it? 

“Why do you continue to work for your boss?” That was the first question he wanted to ask. The first one that popped up when she asked what was really on his mind. “Why do you work for him at all?” Asterion was gauging how much loyalty the woman would have or how much of a fake personality she would expose to him. Either way, he would get answers by any reaction she would give him. 

Ayla's eyes slightly crinkled. ”That's not the first question I expected. Maybe something more like ‘why are you targeting me’, or something to that nature.”

Her head tilted. ”Unless you're used to these sorts of things by now.”

A slight pause, while motes of memories flashed behind her eyes. ”Who wouldn't be grateful to the one who… well, I suppose ‘raised’ is the right word here, who raised you? It may not be biological, but he is the closest expression of family I have.”

Asterion watched as she seemed to fall into memories, her eyes had that look about them, and he smiled lightly. At least she had good memories or she had memories that she didn’t understand were good from bad. Either way, her eyes didn’t seem haunted like plenty of others in Nocturnia. “I was curious and I am very familiar with people attacking me,” he shrugged. “That leads to my second question, I suppose, why did you do it?” he asked simply. It wasn’t a question he truly wanted to ask or not one of the first handful that he thought of first. 

That made a little smirk cross Ayla's face. ”Why else does one play chess. Pieces have to move across the board, and actions have to be taken.”

And she left the answer as that, wondering if he would take the vagueness, or if he was smart enough to sense a nonsense answer when it presented itself.

The man stood there, the emotion falling off his face, “Either you are stupid or you are deflecting my actual question,” he shrugged with a tone that sounded disappointed as he let out a sigh. “Why did you do it?” He asked again plainly. 

“Listen to me, Ayla. Why. Did. You. Do. It.” Asterion didn't want the philosophical bullshit that she was giving him. He wanted to know why. Not because she was told to do it either. He wanted to know why and if he kept having to ask that question. He would. 

He was too clever for his own good. Ayla watched him for a moment, before that small smile was back on her face. She leaned forward slightly, as if she was confiding in a secret. ”Because my boss wanted to send a message. A very specific one.

“Would you like to hear it?”

Asterion shook his head, “Why did you do it, Ayla?” he asked again. “I am not asking for vague descriptions or why your boss did it. I am asking why you did it,” Asterion repeated himself. His stare was hard to read while he looked at her. That was when a knock on the other side of the door could be heard and he allowed them to open the small placement area where food, water, and other items could be deposited into. 

He grabbed the bottle of water and opened it while he closed the distance between him and Ayla. Taking a drink of it before closing it and handing it to her. “Why did you do it?” 

She accepted the bottle, watching him carefully again. Another power move. She'd be inviting that weakness, taking a sip from it now. Her gaze dropped to the bottle, feeling the dryness in her throat. There was a fine line between compliance and fighting. A line too soon to cross.

She unscrewed the cap. ”We needed to get you out of the tower. Glade connected to your tower's feeds while performing, and we learned a few things…”

She watched him, judging his reaction before partaking of the water bottle.

There was no reaction but a glint in his eyes as if he assumed there was more and that gave him an answer, an answer he wasn’t really searching for. “Why did you do it?” He leaned against the wall. “I do not want to hear about any of that, Ayla. I want to get to know you. I want to know why you did it. Who you are at your foundation.” 

Ayla stared for a moment, before her hands holding the bottle fell limply into her lap. ”What, you're not trying to ‘save’ me, are you?”

A pause, before she shook her head. ”I was genuinely happy for your expansion. I was looking forward to playing pretend, playing house. Having a nice little dinner. I would have never hurt June, you know.

“But I needed that information. Well, my boss did. And I had my role to play in that.” She said, feeling the guilt trip coming on.

He shook his head in response, in the negative, “I know you are capable of saving yourself. I do not try to save people, Ayla. I am not that good,” he chuckled a little while nodding to the rest of her words. “So you enjoy playing pretend and enjoy being fake?” This question didn’t sound like he was trying to belittle her or anything but he was genuinely curious. 

”I thought I was being pretty genuine…” The perfect smile was gone, replaced with a slight pout. 

“Have you ever thought of not playing pretend? I do not find acting fun. I was never a theater kid,” he shrugged his shoulders. “Were you a theater kid growing up? Were you able to attend school? I was able to attend a school for orphans… It was not much. Nothing really past the basics,” he confessed though Asterion loved learning so he continued his education on his own for the most part and the basics from the public school he was allowed to attend when his parents were alive helped with that. 

Asterion’s eyes thought about it and he chuckled, “Also, you say you were being genuine. Yes? Then you tell me that you were enjoying playing pretend, Ayla. Which is it? Pretend or genuinity? Maybe a little bit of both? Maybe neither?” 

Ayla actually seemed a bit flustered at that, and heat rising up in her cheeks. ”It's my job to engage in all kinds of conversations,to be as personable a person as possible. That's what being a negotiator is! If I say what's actually on my mind that's…”

Ayal cleared her throat, fingers twisting around the throat of the bottle. ”It's bad for business…”

Before she took a breath, ”I was… homeschooled.” She said, pointedly avoiding Asterion's gaze briefly.

The little explosion coming from her showed the emotions she had. He stared at her, “Do you want that in life? Only that to be your job?” He was curious. Staying curious. The man wanted to know more about Ayla and who she was at her foundation. He did similar with Hailey, Reid, and he even played with others in such a way. 

“And…” he said while he noticed she avoided his eyes. “I want to know what is on your mind. I rather know what you are really thinking even if you want to stab me to death. I value honesty, Ayla,” he smiled a little bit. Tilting his head. “And I do not think you want to stab me to death or kill me. I do not think you wanted to bother all those civilians in the Golden Palace. And I do believe you, a little bit, that you were genuinely happy for my expansion into Yellowbrick. However, I know you have a job to do,” he shrugged his shoulders. 

Holding out his hand, “Also, there is nothing wrong with being homeschooled. It just means you are smarter than ninety-five percent of us. Even me,” he teased. 

She listened, head tilting. He got all that just from ten minutes of talking with her? 

She glanced down at his hand, then back up at him. Well, if he wanted to torture her, he would have done so at least five minutes ago, or now. Now? She was unsure what game he was playing. It wouldn't be painful, right?

She swallowed dryly, before she accepted his hand. ”Are… we going somewhere?”

“We are,” he led her over to the door and knocked on it. “You want me out of the tower, right?” he asked while leading her out of the door that was opening and slipping through it. Keeping a hold of her hand while leading her down the hall. 

One of the guards seemed surprised, “Sir, are you okay? Do you want me to follow?” 

Asterion waved the concern in his voice away, “I will be fine, Daniel. Thank you.” he pulled out a keycard and swiped it over the elevator buttons as the elevator verified it was him and opened up. Leading Ayla into the elevator. Then pressing a button and smiling at her. 

Ayla was flustered again. ”Well, yes, but that was for the mission. What… Where are we…?”

Now she really had no idea what he was doing, and hadn't anticipated it. As Asterion held onto her hand, he would notice it was cold and clammy, a case of nerves.

Ayla cursed her own weakness, she felt rattled and Asterion hadn't even done anything. Yet.

Standing in the elevator, he smirked, “Clearly, we are somewhere in the tower,” he teased her and noticed how her hand that he was holding was beginning to feel cold, clammy, and showing how nervous she was. He didn’t realize that he was making her nervous but that made sense. He was a stranger, they were holding hands, he was being way too happy, and he nodded his head at the thought of that while the elevator continued to go up. 

This was when the elevator opened and he stepped out, leading her down the hall, and taking her down a stairwell. “If you were on a mission last night, would you not still be on a mission tonight?” he was being playful with his tone while leading her down a stairwell that went right to an elevator before he swiped his card. Stepping into it and leading her in before pressing a button. 

”Well, yes, but that's more of a play-by-ear thing. You know, ways to avoid uhm, torture, and such.”

Ayla mentally kicked herself. Her decorum she usually carried was entirely lost. Walking into blatant unknown, physically and spiritually, did that. Her eyes could only stare as the scenery unfolded around her. She really had no idea she was under a tower, but-

”I really should have guessed. This is your home, isn't it?” She said, wracking her mind on the file Ezra had given her on Asterion.

The man laughed a little, “I do not care to torture people. People find it fun, I guess. I do not care for it,” he shook his head. “I rather just kill someone and get it over with if that is what the situation calls for,” he confessed while the elevator opened to the ground floor of the tower and he led her right out into the lobby. It revealed Asterion looking ahead while Ayla was just giving him the most shocked look ever.

“Good morning, Mitzie. If anyone asks if I am here. Tell them I am out,” he waved his free hand. 

Mitzie smiled, “Yes, sir! What are you doing exactly?” 

“Leaving the tower,” he left it at that while leading Ayla right out the front doors of the tower and his eyes shut for a second with how bright it was. His twilight blues opened up and looked down at her, “Yes, physically, I do live there,” he looked back into the tower before leading Ayla down the street. 

“However, I would consider Nickel…” and he thought about it. “And now 93rd and Yellowbrick as my homes and the people there as part of my family,” he mentioned casually while continuing to lead Ayla down the street. 

A half-chuckle dared to leave Ayla's lips. ”So, with that logic, it's fair to say all of Nickel is my cell?”

It was strange, to say the least, to be outside again, walking carefully in her bare feet, the train of her dress gathered in her hand with the water bottle so it didn't drag. Glancing at other people going about their business. They had no idea. And, even though she could feel stray-away impulses demanding her to break away from Asterion and make a run for it, something else told her that was simply an incredibly poor decision.

Well, at least the streets were clean. The only thing she was stepping on was smooth cement.

Asterion's mention of merely killing his problems rattled around in the back of her mind. ”...What are you planning on doing with me, Mr. Kairo?”

The man seemed to think about it for a second, “You could say that, yes,” he agreed with her. “I rather Nickel be seen as a safe haven of sorts than a cell, if we are being honest with each other,” he found that amusing. Yet, he thought about Krish and how he always referred to the tower as Asterion’s cell. Quite a few people that worked around him would jokingly say that or bring it up. He kept himself inside too much for the most part or hidden from most of the world but he did get out and help his people too. 

While he was leading her into a better part of Nickel, they entered through a gated community, and he seemed to look around. There was no trash on the streets in the community, laughter could be heard, and people seemed to be relaxing without a worry. For the most part. People in Nickel didn’t have to worry about much even when there was danger. The guards were trained to deal with issues. “It is a surprise,” he teased. 

Asterion led her up to an area that looked like a park, it had grass, trees, a few flower beds, a few benches and sitting areas, and a playground. Children were playing and having a wonderful time. He slipped off his shoes and socks without using his hands and stepped onto the grass. “I want to show you Nickel, and I want to show you that life can be good. Better than just doing jobs. Moving pieces on the board,” he stated, encouraging her to follow him onto the grass, but he let go of her hand. Not pulling her up with him but letting her choose to do so. 

He took a handful of steps onto the grass before turning towards her and looking at her. He gestured his hands out. 

Despite the weather saying it was going to rain the majority of that day, somehow, there was a small sliver of sunshine piercing through the clouds, and the locals were taking full advantage of it.

Ayla stared, her eyes going wide as she saw it. Greenery in Nocturnia wasn't often seen, after all. And she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen grass, never mind enjoying it.

Before she stared flatly at Asterion. How did he…? What gave her away?

Her worries, suspicions and doubts melted away the moment her bare foot touched grass. Toes curling in the blades, before she took another step forward, lifting her dress up a little so it didn't trail. The water bottle, of course, was left by Asterion's shoes.

As Ayla stepped a little further into the grass, she slowed, stopped, her eyes far away. Flashes of images of rivers of honey and wine, of pink grass, warmth from the stream, sitting and listening to the sounds.

A single diamond rivulet escaped her eye. Then her other eye. And she let go for her dress in an effort to hide her eyes, pressing her hands to her face, taking in a long, shaky breath.

The sensation of grass under her feet was her happy place. It was what brought her home.

Asterion did not expect the woman to start crying and he looked around to make sure no one was paying attention. Would she be embarrassed? He wasn’t sure then she started trying to hide her eyes. The man stepped closer to her, “Are you okay?” his voice stayed low while he cautiously approached her. He wasn’t sure why she was crying then he realized that many people hadn’t touched grass before. Some of the parts in Nickel had grass and that’s because of the many different efforts of him and his team trying to make the communities good and keep people in here that wanted to be productive citizens. 

He glanced up when he felt a chill and realized that storm clouds were beginning to come into the zone — that was nice — and he stood right beside Ayla. “Do you need a hug?” Asterion wasn’t sure if she wanted to be touched at all, especially when getting emotional. Maybe leaving the tower was not a good idea? 

Ayla took another steadying breath, gritting her teeth for a moment, before she wiped away her eyes, trying to regain her composure. 

”I'm fine… I'm okay.”

Before she glanced up at Asterion. ”...Thank you. You don't owe me a single kindness, yet…” She glanced over at the park, sniffling as she smiled. Actually smiled. ”Yet you did this for me. You're right, maybe I have been working too hard recently…”

He looked around, “I am trying to do this for everyone,” he confessed. “And I brought you out here because you showed that you were not just causing problems to cause problems. You are listening to orders. You have a job to do. Everyone does. I understand that,” he explained himself with a sigh while looking around. His eyes landed on a few children who were running around the playground while their parents sat on the benches and talked. 

“I want more of Nocturnia. I want everyone to be able to experience laughter, experience grass beneath their feet, and some form of peace,” he continued to speak without hesitation while he looked back at Ayla. 

And he gave her a half smile, “I try to forgive the actions of people. We are humans. We all have done things that we are not proud of. We all need a little understanding at times,” he felt raindrops beginning to land down on them. The coolness spotted his skin, hair, and clothing only lightly but it would come down harder within minutes, he bet. 

“Would you consider making changes so your job would align with creating more of this for others?” he wondered what her response would be. He had no understanding of Ezra, for the most part, but he assumed the man wasn’t good. At least from Ayla’s words of having to make people move and do things. It sounded like he wanted chaos. 

Ayla bit her lip, looking away for a moment. She thought about it, about the possibility of being a bit more peaceful. Considered her words carefully, looking at Asterion, before she straightened up a bit, giving him a pained look.

”As nice as that sounds, I feel… well, in an ideal world it's possible. But-

“-To claim the source of power, the thing that makes gyfts… tick. You'll have to fight Ezra for it.

“Unless you make him a convincing offer.

“He keeps you busy fighting each other so you won't find it.”

She could feel the rain dropping down again, causing dampness to her hair and chilling her bare shoulders.

”It's only a matter of time before it is discovered. And if you want any hope of leaving Nocturnia… you'll need it.”

His eyes seemed to grow heavy with thought when he replayed what she just said to him in his head. To claim the source of power, the thing that makes gifts… tick. You’ll have to fight Ezra for it. What the hell was this guy up to and doing? “I do not want to control others' gyfts,” he shook his head. That was not his priority. “And what does Ezra plan on doing with it?” His tone sounded somewhat serious.  

“Also, why wait for a perfect world? Life is too short for that, Ayla. If you ever decide you want to come be a citizen of Nickel, tell me,” Asterion offered. His eyes wandered around as people were beginning to leave the park because the rain was starting to get heavier.

Extending his hand out, he allowed droplets to start collecting in his palm, “I do not feel like Ezra plans to do anything good with that source of power. Is he?” his voice sounded like he wasn’t completely there while he was in thought. 

Ayla grimaced slightly. ”He exploits the sources’ run-off to create gyft-based weapons. But to actually exploit the source? That's… a very expensive process. Ezra hasn't done that. I don't think he plans to use the source itself, he's already fairly powerful on his own. I believe he's just… Safeguarding it. I saw him, long ago, talking with the one they call the Beggar Prince. So, I think they have some sort of deal…”

The man continued to think while Ayla spoke to him of this, “By the tone of your voice, your pauses, and how you are telling me this. You doubt him. You are not certain he will not use it. Are you?” his hand came back towards him and stopped catching the raindrops. His twilight eyes heavily focus on Ayla. 

Ayla pursed her lips. ”He will certainly use whatever means necessary if he feels threatened…”

“Why are you telling me this, Ayla?”

”Because the Door has already been discovered. And it's only a matter of time before a new game, a new race, begins. Better to get ahead of it, and see if a peaceful resolution can be reached, rather than do nothing and see us blow each other up…”

Asterion didn’t want to know this information to an extent. There was nothing that he could do about it, especially right now. If the man known as Ezra was using the source to make weapons that were gyft based, having access to this source of power, safeguarding it, and having a deal with at least one other about it — what was he able to do with such information? If he was fairly powerful on his own. What could he do? Asterion knew he was quite weak when it came to being someone with a gyft. Others could kill people within seconds of using their abilities. He could just take over others bodies, read their minds, search internally, and sometimes grasp the knowledge on using gyfts through other people. 

Shaking his head, “Do you know who the Beggar Prince is? By any other name?” He wondered. 

Ayla paused, wracking her brain for a moment, before she shook her head. ”Unfortunately I don't. Only his alias. And that he's as old as the day gyfts arrived in Nocturnia, but it doesn't show on his face.”

The woman began speaking vaguely again and his eyes sharpened towards her. His eyes were not threatening, only a tad suspicious, and very thoughtful. She clearly wanted to play games. Her and her leader. He shook his head with disappointment, “From my understanding, you are working for someone that does not want peace. That wants to watch everyone blow up. Acting like this is a board game with pieces that he forcefully has to move and you seem to be a very important figure in that game of his,” Asterion spoke evenly while glancing around before his eyes landed on her. 

“You cannot play both sides, Ayla. You either have to want better for Nocturnia and do your best to get it better or you can continue in helping the destruction of all the lives in this city,” he sighed. The sigh was heavy with emotion that showed he was disappointed and let down once again by his own thoughts. 

Ayla pouted a bit. ”That's what I'm trying to do. And I have tried to speak as plainly as possible. When you see the Door for yourself, you'll understand.” She crossed her arms, momentarily vexed. 

Gesturing, “Come on. We should get out of the rain, we do not want to get sick,” by this time, Asterion’s hair was weighing down, his shoulders were soaked, and droplets were soaked into his clothing in a natural pattern of rainfall. He is as old as the day gyfts arrived but it doesn’t show on his face, those words played over and over in his eyes. Beggar Prince. 

Ayla's dress was rather soaked at this point, and she gathered the extra fabric in one hand, prepared to follow Asterion. 

”I have tried to give you an advantage, a way to navigate the coming storm with a little more finesse. But it is up to you if you take my advice or not.”

She flashed a knowing grimace. ”Ezra won't care, either way.”

Seeing the grimace on her face, he shook his head, “I have no advantage in that fight even with the information you have given me. There are too many variables. Too many…” he was trying to think of what he should say but he fell silent while continuing to walk with Ayla before waving at the guard at the gate. 

“And if I take your advice or not, I do not know how much trust I can give you on the information that you provided,” he explained. “I cannot go in blind to anything, Ayla. That is not how the world works and if you do such things, you end up not in this world,” he chuckled a little as if that was supposed to be a joke of some kind. 

The man continued to walk, “Are you going to willingly come back to the tower with me or am I going to have to fight you?” he casually asked. “I cannot willingly let you leave, yet,” he added. 

Ayla was a bit disappointed. Perhaps she had not spoken well enough, or forced her opinion enough. But, at the end of the day, she was the enemy. And Asterion would be crazy to actually trust her.

But, she did pause, her feet hesitating to move further. The rain poured down in between them. 

”Will you keep me here indefinitely?” She asked.

Asterion realized that he left his shoes and socks at the edge of the park but he decided it was a waste of time to go back and get them. His expression tied into thought when she asked such a question. “Do you want to stay here indefinitely?” That was such a strange thing to ask the man that was keeping you captive but he did strange things all the time — The Nocturnia Affect. The city was always putting people into positions that they might never react in such a way in, if they were not in this city, but he wouldn’t think about it too much. 

He might have been a little confused by such a question though he would hear her out. There was no reason to give a reply until understanding why she was asking such a thing. 

There was the most delicate narrowing of her eyes. She was freezing. She was wet. She wouldn't mind going back inside, but to be locked up again…

”No one wants to be be a prisoner, Mr. Kairo.”

Asterion continued to look at her, “Think of yourself as a guest, Ayla. A guest of sorts. You are a guest that cannot leave, currently, but you are a guest nonetheless,” his voice was unmoving and a little stern in tone at this moment in time. 

“However, I was not planning on returning you to your cell. Not yet,” he confessed. “Follow me so we can get you into something not as wet,” he casually continued walking towards the tower while glancing back at Ayla. 

Ayla's fists white-knuckled around her dress, her muscles tensing. Before, with a deep sigh, she resigned herself. Gathering up her dress again, she shuffled after Asterion, the sidewalk now slicked with rain. 

Goosebumps collected over her arms, and she couldn't feel her toes. Seven degrees weather would do that. She tried not to think of her situation, being a ‘guest’. She tried not to think of fighting her way out. She tried not to think of her cell waiting for her.

Her insides twisted. Having someone with this much power over her, it certainly made her nervous, humiliated. Maybe… The right opportunity hadn't presented itself. Right, right. Maybe, she just needed a better opportunity.

That's what she tried to tell herself, as she followed after Asterion.

It was such an odd sensation for his feet to be getting cold but his body off-shooting how it was processing the little pin-pricks of pain and numbness. There was a tight rope that his body danced on when it came to his nerves and pain receptors because of his ability — constantly jumping in and out and bringing issues in and out with him — that was when he stepped. Not wrong. Just stepped down and it felt like a lightning bolt of pain surged through his leg and up through his body into his head. Asterion stopped when that happened and bent over a little, almost looking like he was going to throw up for a few seconds before he inhaled deeply, and covered his mouth with his hand. 

Once his system seemed to reboot as if nothing happened at all. He began walking again, before pulling out his phone, “Are you still at work?” 

“Can you get me a few cloth options,” he glanced back at Ayla. 

“Something that is modest and classy, please,” Asterion walked into the tower again with Ayla while waving at Mitzie. 

“She looks smaller, petite, though I would say she probably wants to be comfortable. I would say get her medium or more loose fitting. Yes. That will work. Thank you,” then he hung up the phone and he grabbed out his keycard to open up the stairwell that was somewhat around the corner and out of direct sight. Opening the door and gesturing for her to go in and putting his phone back into his pocket. 

“Someone is bringing you clothes,” Asterion vocalized even though that wasn’t hard to tell from the conversation he was having on the phone.  

Ayla was staring at him with a tempered look. He had appeared… in pain outside. Just briefly. Whatever it was had passed by, it seemed.

Staring at him carefully, she entered the stairwell, her dress leaving puddles of water behind her. She stared at it for a moment. Very unclassy. But, it was much better being inside. The heating of the building already felt better, though her dress kept her body temperature down a number of degrees. She refused to let her teeth chatter, though.

”...Thank you.” She said, still watching him carefully. ”That's the fourth kind thing you've done for me.”

It made trying to find an opportunity to escape just a little harder.

Closing the door behind him, it sounded as if it locked in place, and he stared at her, “Is it kind or is it treating you like a human?” He questioned while approaching her closer, reaching out as if he was going to grab her dress, but he stopped himself, and looked at her for a second. That was when he scooped her up without any issue, holding her bridal style, and walking up the stairs.

Ayla’s eyes went wide, ”W-wait-”

“You know. It is quite odd to wear such a dress. It is a lovely dress, do not get me wrong, but I would recommend a dress that is as classy yet not as… binding. You could have probably escaped if you did not have such a dress on,” he teased her while a crooked grin appeared on his face and he continued to walk up the stairs. 

Ayla was a bit stiff in his arms, still staring at him wide. Before she pouted a bit. ”Says the one who held a gun to my back.”

He picked her up because he was impatient and didn’t want to be waiting for her to drag her dress up the stairs while it was wet. This would be quicker. Asterion then thought about it, “Why do you and everyone else say that?” he questioned. “I had another guest not that long ago say similar things. That I do kind things but I do not see them that way. Kindness is the act of being friendly, generous, or whatever. One of your men said something similar to when I gave them the options to live and incorporate themselves into a balanced society or not. They all took it, becoming citizens of Nickel…” that was when his expression sharpened in thought. “I lost what I was trying to say. I was going somewhere with this… mhm…” Asterion sounded slightly disappointed with himself. 

Ayla tilted her head slightly as she was carried. So not all of her boss’ men had died, and hadn't been executed like those on TV. That was good, at least.

”You might not see it as kind, but there are many ways to treat a prisoner. A lot of them are cruel. No food, poor conditions, torture, beratment.”

She glanced up at him. ”These things are very common in our world. So, you not doing these… it's very fair of you.”

“I might have held a gun to your head in that restaurant though you held control over my entire body,” he chimed in with a chuckle. It was interesting to have your whole body frozen and listening to someone else’s mouth like it was natural. He was surprised that he was able to break out of it but he honestly believed that he only did that because June was there — anyone else in danger like that? That didn’t matter. It would have been different. 

Getting to a stairwell door, he opened it by nudging it, and entering a hallway. Walking down it, “I do partake in those things, depending on how the person is, but I see no reason to treat you that way. You did not kill anyone in that restaurant. You only threatened. There is no reason to show you cruelty when you were not cruel yourself,” Asterion never understood why people would go overboard with torturing someone even to death. There had been times when he did those things but it was never on people who did not deserve it. 

Ayla nodded, ”Then I was right to go non-lethal…”

Setting her down when he got to a room door, he opened it up to a beautiful lounge and he gestured for her to go inside. “There should be drinks in the mini fridge and snacks around it as well, if you want anything, help yourself,” he offered while flicking the light on. There would be a few outfits already laid out on the back of one of the couches, option one, option two, option three, and a more comfortable option that was more fitted for sleeping in, nightgown. 

He stood there, “You will be locked in this room until I get back. I need to get out of these wet clothes. Make yourself comfortable,” he informed her of his plans. 

Ayla glanced over the room, taking a few steps within. The dresses caught her eye immediately, and her stomach rumbled at the mention of food. She hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday, as dinner had, of course, been skipped. 

The room was beautiful. A beautiful little cage. She turned to Asterion, understanding his need to switch out of his own clothes, but also had the lightest smile on her face, figuring something out.

”You're treating me like a pet and less like a prisoner. But yes, you needn't worry, I will wait here.”

A curl to the one side of his lips could be seen at her comment. “I have always wanted a pet but I would be such a bad owner. I do not have time to feed, water, or take care of a pet,” he teased though there was a little bit of seriousness in his words and tone. “Do not worry. I will not keep you unless you give me reason to,” he chuckled a little before closing and locking the door with his keycard. Going up to his penthouse. Since it would be colder out, he decided to throw on a more dress-casual turtle neck look before going back to Ayla in one of the lower rooms of the tower. 

Ayla felt her stomach twist at Asterion's quiet confirmation. She really was some sort of glorified pet here. 

As the door shut and locked behind her, she found she had, unfortunately, lost her appetite, somehow. So she skipped raiding the mini-fridge and instead went over to the dresses set out for her. They were actually all very nice, and she was torn, looking at option two. But eventually, she settled with options three, attracted to the print and the feathery long sleeves. 

She went off to a discreet corner of the room to change, her gown from last night falling in a wet puddle around her. Changing in to option three was instantly refreshing. The clothing was dry, and had an immediate warming effect. It was a near perfect fit, too.

Ayla did a little twirl in the room, appreciating her dress, before setting her wet gown on the floor, stretched out. Perhaps it would dry this way. No need to get the couches wet, after all. Then, she went to sit on one of the couches, eyes affixed to the rainy windows and foggy streets below.

Roughly half an hour later, he would be back, and knocked at the door. There was not a hesitation or wait for him to go in, he was knocking to warn Ayla that he was coming in, and he opened the door and closed it behind him. Looking around the room, “I am going to ask a few more questions but is there anything you want? Food? Water? A toy?” he was playing around because she referred to how he was treating her like a pet. 

Ayla made a slight grimace, standing from the couch. ”Perhaps I ought to regret saying something now.”

Before she shook her head, hands clasped in front of her. ”I am fine for now, thank you. You're welcome to ask your questions. And… Thank you for the dress.”

Asterion rolled his eyes, “I am only playing with you. You are not a pet,” he confirmed when seeing her grimace. “I do not keep pets nor do I keep prisoners. I only have guests. Whether or not how willing that guest was to enter the tower was up to them,” he scuffed at the grimace of the woman. Everyone had to play a game. Be pieces on a board in people’s eyes and they took that so seriously. 

“Fine. Let us get back to business,” he sighed at such words before walking over to the coffee table that had the remote on it. He grabbed the remote and turned on the television. Changing the channel a few times before getting to a channel that he could pause, play, rewind, and skip forward. Quickly, pictures of Asterion brutally slitting the throats of the men in Yellowbrick went by — it slowed down to real time. He stared at it as if he was in a trance while watching himself cut the throats of the men. His brows furrowed at such a sight. His eyes looked like he was looking at a stranger, someone that he disapproved of, and he glanced away as if he was bothered by such a sight before quickening the footage up, skipping it, and a handful of frames showed glimpses of what was happening around the tower before he got to the footage he wanted. 

Pressing play, it was the footage of last night at the Golden Palace. “You have a remarkable ability, Ayla. It was somewhat invigorating on how you can control me. It reminded me of my own,” he glanced over with a smirk. “Though I am not here to praise your ability. I am here to ask you about Glade Brey. Where is he or where do you think your leader has him? He did not go back to his apartment and I have questions for him that I want answered,” Asterion explained. 

“And…” he glanced back up at the television screen. “I want you to tell me more about the Dark Aces, about Ezra, about everything. All the hiding spots. How powerful your group is. What I should be looking for. And you said Ezra is powerful,” His twilight eyes locked onto her lighter orbs. A flash of pinkish-purple went through his eyes. “What is his gyft?” 

Ayla appeared to pause in thought for a long moment, before her mannerisms changed entirely. She smiled wide, orbous eyes crinkling. 

”Now you're finally asking the right questions, Mr. Kairo. Shame this little soiree is done.”

And just like that, Ayla appeared to vanish into thin air. At that same moment, a helicopter roared, diving down in front of the windows of the lounge. A door gunner aimed a machine gun right into the heart of the lounge, and opened fire. The bullets shattered through the glass, tearing holes through furniture and walls. They were aimed at waist height, so Asterion would have a sliver chance of survival if he dove to the floor.

Seeing Ayla disappear like that caused his brows to furrow. Trying to figure out who had a power like that — must be Ezra or someone else on his team. That was when he started to hear yelling from outside but before he could fully turn towards the window, glass shattered, and pain flared up through the side of his leg and hip. Multiple bullets cut through his flesh. 

All that pain at once along with his body reacting, he ended up tripping over the leg that got shot multiple times which caused bullets to strike all over his body. Lying on the floor, he crawled to behind the couch and by that time, the windows were shutting with their protective metal sheets. 

Guards outside started shooting at the helicopter and a few threw grenades. One ended up catching and getting onto the inside of the helicopter before blowing the whole thing up. The helicopter could be heard exploding outside and people were freaking out. Asterion couldn’t process everything, his body was shaking so much, and he was trying to grab his mobile device to alert but he found it to be destroyed. Blood was everywhere and his vision was getting hazy and fading. He heard a few things that sounded like voices. Concern. Yelling? He couldn’t tell. Not really. That was when everything began to go cold and everything went dark. 

Everything was ruined in that room for the most part, blood was everywhere, and it all belonged to Asterion Kairo. The men that rushed into that room once getting the door unlocked found their leader bleeding from everywhere, blood was on his lips, and his body was beginning to seize. Would they be able to get the medics to him in time? 

Meanwhile, invisible to those who were too close, Ezra had the hand of Ayla with two armed men behind them, walking quickly to a limousine that just drove up. Ten seconds later, they were gone.

Collaboration@Estylwen
[IC] Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic Page 4

Estylwen The Villainess

SporkoBug The Cosmic Engineer

flux Tuna Tube

The Savant The darkening
