Women and men of all ages and background gathered at the foot of Nzaaris Tower dressed in their brightest and finest garbs, laughing, dance and conducting in playful sparring, drunk off the festivities. Some visibly younger men and women decorated their nipples in gems, tattoos, and piercings peacocking in the streets. “What this?” Seth asked bewildered at the imagery that played out behind his eyes. Enldris nudge Marcus playfully two paces from Seth. They wanted to make him at ease. Enldris repeated the show for his friend wearing every emotion on his face like a theater.

“Oh, will you be going? I had forgotten. Every fifty years we host a Susori to appreciate life, light, and love. It’s a week-long festival that the country enjoys. During the day there’s food, competitions and respects are made to the past. As the night falls the children, the old, and those who chose to work retire. Those who remain….” Marcus trailed off. Enldris filled in the blanks. He took a step forward to touch Seth’s back, sharing feelings and imagery of a beautifully tanned woman, darker than rays of sunlight and as smooth as butter, large lips and eyes to match rubbed against Enldris left arm devouring his face giving and receiving oxygen. Beneath her was an equally gorgeous man the opposite of her in every way, pleasing Enldris lower half. He stroked their hair lost in bliss of ubiquitous stimuli. Seth pushed Enldris away bringing them back to reality. "I’m sorry." he apologized. "I-I don't know."

"Enldris is pretty popular. I don't normally participate, myself. You can work with me." Marcus responded not receiving the imagery they shared but could imagine. Seth paused on their patrol through the city. "You offended it." Marcus looked at Enldris. Enldris shrugged in silent protest. Marcus gestured for him to fix it. Enldris tapped on Seth's shoulder, pointed at himself and tilted his head to the side. "I'm fine." Seth rubbed the remnants of Enldris touch away. "Can we keep going? Will we get to the fountain by the end of day?"

“Yes.” Marcus answered consoling Enldris with light pats on the back. “Our days are long.”

They walked the rest of way dragging awkward silence in between them. Enldris would pick fruit, offer them to Marcus along the way. He would tear vines, pick the leaves off one by one until bare rope remained then hang it on his neck. He would do this a few more times until he had enough to braid a thick whip, holding one side in his mouth. Enldris would see something that reminded him of a story, something delicious or a beautiful person because Enldris was a social and curious person by nature and want to share everything he found interesting with everything he found interesting with glee, but when he was close to tapping on Seth’s shoulder or sharing or image to communicate his hand would stop moments before. He didn’t want to scare away this newfound thing, so he walked with his head down keeping in step with his friend.

Each distracted by something: Seth, the growing sounds of the rise and fall of the approaching fountain. Marcus by the distance Seth was from he so he allowed him to walk in his direct line of view and returning salutes or nods of everyone passing by. Enldris by the space that flowed through them and how to get closer to Seth. Therefore no one was ready when a crying child ran into Seth and knocked him into Marcus. Marcus caught him purely on reflexes and years of training and stood him upright.

“Move! I have to go to the tower. I need to NZri.” The little girl sobbed. She was dirty with disheveled pigtails and swollen eyes as if she was crying the whole. “Move.” She pounded on Seth’s chest desperate. She reminded Seth of the last time he saw Alda-Cassidy moving and full of life. She was young and helpless to the world. He bent down and cradled her in his arms. “Shss…I will protect you.” A promise remembered.

She wailed louder. “you can’t I’m the bad guy. I’m the bad guy.”

Enldris and Marcus gave each knowing glances. “Child, how old are you?” Marcus stepped to the child’s right. Enldris to its left. “How old are you?” he repeated bending his knees in readiness. Enldris followed.

“Shsss….” Seth patted her head.

“Azazel-8 let it go. Let it go now.” Marcus commanded. Seth looked between Marcus then to the typically carefree Enldris. He sometimes wondered how they could be friend, but now there was no doubt these were attack dogs. Seth pat the child’s head once more and sat it down, stepping away from it.

“Child!”

“almost Six.” The little girl was trembling. She looked so tiny to Seth. He wanted to help, but this is their home and for elite soldiers’ stance ready to fight there was something wasn’t his place. “How should I call you?” Marcus asked and when she said Indigo-Zero he relaxed slightly, leaning down to the girl like approaching a wounded kitten, but she named other names. “or should I be Elric. Andreason. Mortessa.” The girl laughed and cried peeling at her skin. “Who should I be?” her screams was the only thing that could be heard for miles.

“step back Azazel-8.” Seth did as he was told. He moved away from the small thing that no longer looked like a child. It was a wolf. Something about it seemed much older and sinister.

Chains appeared locking around its tiny wrist yanking it to the ground. “it burns.” It screeched then it seemed to shift to someone else like a demon. “I remember. There was this one girl. A mortal. She was delicious, infatuated with me. A red head like yourself. I tied her up better than this. Her tears were music. hmm” a deep husky voice retelling its sins with ecstasy dubbed over the little girls.

What is the place? Seth thought. Chains wrapped around the child’s becoming shorter and shorter until she had barely an inch to lift her petite head. “I want to die. Please I need to tower.” Seth had the urge to save her. The girl was back. He didn’t know why, but she reminded him of himself.

“the war. The war. It was the mortal’s fault. Their greed. I could do whatever and no one-”

“Enldris!”

Enldris put his hand on the little girl’s head, and she immediately calmed down. “I will put you to sleep now.” The chains disappeared, inhaled into Marcus. The girl slumped over, once again appearing like a peaceful child. Marcus tossed her over his shoulder and continued down to the fountain like he stepped over a stick in his path. Enldris held Seth’s hand as they followed behind, forcing calmness to flow through him. Seth didn’t realize he wasn’t until an involuntary exhale. “what was that?” he asked but an image of a black tomb turning blue with many names scribbled on it was not enough to explain and Marcus made no effort to elaborate.

Again, they were in silence each hyperaware of the other.

The fountain was getting near and the size was becoming clear to Seth. It was huge, probably as tall as the tower and as wide as a pool and half. Still feet away he could see people drinking from the fountain. Sitting around the fountain having a meal. There was benches around the fountain for those not on the ground. People were cleaning and maintaining the area. Once they were close enough people greeted Marcus and Enldris returned their greeting. Other stared at Seth curious of the outsider.

“Take her.” Marcus laid the child on the cool clay edges of the fountain. The marble flames moved, stiffly then it was alive, heat radiating through the square. Everyone stepped back, Marcus pushed Seth back as the flame created a dome around the fountain and child.

“Enldris!” two people with long fishtail braids, one male and female ran up heaving after running a long way. Marcus turned and glared at the couple. As soon as they noticed him, took in the situation they saluted him then dropped to their knees. “Marcus please forgive us.” The woman spoke.

A quick screamed caught in their throats. It was Enldris that dished the punishment not Marcus. Enldris let go of Seth’s hand and he felt the flesh melt from his skin. Welts bubble just beneath the surface with each new bubble a new form of excruciating pain engulf his mind. when all his nerves were gone, and he was burning from memory he would gasp for air, drowning over and over again. Water filling his lungs and just when he thought he was dying, and he accepted it he would feel his peeling flesh like a hang nail that kept going until he was no more. This went on for what felt like two Seth and the couple months, but it was only a matter of seconds.

In that moment Seth understood two things. One Enldris was both negotiator and executor. Two he was showing if he wanted to hurt Seth earlier this is how he would do it. Enldris was the gun and Marcus was the safety.