《BLOODTHIRSTY》15. Right hand man
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It had been a long day for the both of them. Night was approaching while Winter was making her way home, and Arculus sat outside in the forest. Wide eyes never closing constantly looking around to find a clue. Anything would have been great. Sadly he couldn't remember much, all his memories had been erased before he was abandoned.
He found himself not being angry or holding a grudge against his parents. He was sure they would have had their reasons. Even if it caused his heart to break a little in small pieces. Even if he didn't know much about his origin. Arculus was sure they would have their reasons. But this started to sound more like an excuse than a solid reason. He couldn't help but wonder if it was truly okay to abandon your kid in a forest on his own. On top of that they also erased all of his memories.
Orobas was the key to finding out the truth. Arculus was good at reading people but Orobas wasn't just anyone. He knew how to mislead and manipulate people. He knows how to get whatever he wants from someone. Finding someone's weak points wasn't something hard for him. In fact he was made for doing that.
Red eyes appeared in the dark and watched Arculus intensely. "I'm not so bad you know." Orobas sat in a tree while looking down at Arculus.
Arculus wasn't surprised of his sudden appearance. Orobas had the habit of appearing and vanishing out of nowhere. It had been like this for a couple of days now. Arculus stared at the river in front of him. He took his shirt off and glanced at Orobas.
"You can read my thoughts?" He wondered and Orobas was still not showing himself completely. Only his eyes were to be seen.
"No I just figured you were thinking about me since you head that expression on your face." Orobas had a smile on his face but Arculus couldn't see it.
While Arculus took his pants off a chuckle escaped his mouth. "Whatever Orobas, but do you plan on just watching?" He asked out loud and not sure where the spirits were.
"I would love to join you Archie but there is something you have to tell me first." Orobas finally showed himself. His signature black suit and expensive watch on full display. His curly hair was in a bun on the top of his head while his hands where buried in his pockets.
"Shoot your shot." Arculus told him while getting in the river and making his black hair wet.
"Why are you holding yourself back?" Orobas red bright eyes were replaced with an orange colour.
"Why do everyone ask me the same thing? You want me to get out of control? You want me to snap and hurt everything in my sight?" Arculus asked him with annoyance present in his voice.
"If you don't let that side out you'll do worse than hurting someone. How are you supposed to control that side of yours, while you're scared of it yourself?" Orobas asked Arculus with the same irritation back.
"You seriously think by holding it back you're doing yourself a favour?" Orobas laughed and watched Arculus like he had done countless of times.
"Hell like humans like to call it and how I like to call it isn't just a place where you burn for an eternity. You only end up there if you have done something unforgivable." Orobas showed him his palm and Arculus could see a hologram of a dark place covered in a red liquid.
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"What is unforgivable? Some believe they would burn for eternity just for stealing candy." Arculus informed Orobas and Orobas laughed.
"People with no mercy, people that kill before they even think. People that would rather see someone suffer than lead a happy life. People like me Archie, people like you." Archie raised his eyebrows and shook his head in disbelief.
"I'm not like that-"
"That's what they want you to believe Arculus. The spirits brainwashed you and your time here in the human world has effected you. You do not belong here."
The last words that escaped Orobas mouth made Arculus get out of the river with super speed, he grabbed Orobas collar. His brown eyes got replaced with a bright red colour. His breathing became uneven and Orobas had a smile on his face. As if it had been his intention to make Arculus mad.
"Damn you're fast." Orobas laughed and looked Arculus in the eyes.
"Know your place Orobas." Arculus gripped his collar tightly and Orobas rolled his eyes at him.
"I know my place Arculus, I'm just not sure that you know yours. If the Queen has seen you right know she would have been disappointed." Orobas pushed Arculus off him and shook his head in disappointment.
Arculus had confusion written all over his face. "The Queen? Who is that?"
"Queen Kezhra the one that rules over the underworld."
Everything froze in the moment. It felt like the whole world wasn't turning around anymore. It felt like someone had stopped time. His eyes snapped up and looked at Orobas. "Kezhra." He repeated her name, it made his heart beat faster. He was sure he had heard it somewhere before. He was sure he knew who she was but he couldn't remember.
"Does the name make you feel some type of way?" Orobas asked him while pushing Arculus hands off of him.
"Does that recall any memories?" Arculus shook his head at Orobas question.
Orobas masked his disappointment and changed the subject. In the hope Arculus wouldn't notice. "In hell we are all ranked. We all have numbers. The numbers indicate how powerful you are. Or how good you do your job."
"Whats your job in hell than?" Arculus turned his back towards Orobas and made his way back to his river.
"Well for starters we aren't aloud to call it hell. So don't call it hell in front of the queen if you don't want to be beheaded." A chuckle asked Orobas mouth.
Orobas watched the way Arculus closed his eyes and just listened to him talking. He reminded him so much of her. It was as if he was speaking to the Queen herself. "In the underworld I don't do much. My jobs is actually in the human world."
"You kill humans?" Arculus opened his eyes and something flashed in his eyes. It looked as if he was concerned.
"I'm not a murderer Archie, it's more like they kill themselves. I'm actually the one they call when they need help or the truth. Which of course not everyone can handle."
"They as in humans?" Arculus asked him while looking around the forest.
"Yes I tell them what they want to know about the past, present and future, and I give them favours." Orobas stuck his hand out and made a book appear out of his palms. The book was covered in gold and was written in bold letters. On the cover Arculus realised there was a black horse drawn on the cover. With orange looking eyes.
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"For humans to summon me they do rituals. In the hope I could take their suffering away. Sometimes what they ask for costed their lives. All their names are written in that book." Orobas looked up to the sky and sighed. Not understanding why humans always had to be so naive and stubborn.
"You write their names down? Why, to haunt them down in the afterlife too?" Arculus raised his eyebrows and still had his eyes on the cover.
"I write it down so I can keep track with how many stupid humans there are. I also write it down in the hope I can warn the other family members to not make the same mistakes." Orobas looked down to his feet and felt something in his chest hurt.
"I didn't expect a demon to be this sympathetic." Arculus looked away from the book to meet Orobas eyes. However Orobas didn't feel like making eye contact. In fact he hated them because of his job. Always having to watch humans make stupid mistakes, always having to watch them die.
"If their deaths bother you so much Orobas, why don't you stop them from making the wrong decision?"
Orobas eyes met Arculus dark ones. The forest was quiet, too quiet for both their likings. It felt as if he was being weak. If there was one thing Orobas didn't like was being weak. It was always what they made fun of him for in hell. He was the most sympathetic one from all the high ranked demons. Even the low ranked demons would shake their heads in disappointment. As if he was a disgrace, as if he was a disappointment, but he deep down knew that he in fact was one.
"Why don't you just stop them Orobas?" Arculus asked him again while opening the book. There was a list of names never ending.
"It is not my job Arculus. My job is to tell the truth and grant them their favours. What happens afterwards is their fault not mine." He told him truthfully.
Arculus finally came out of the river completely soaked and teleported himself back to his house. Took his towel and dried himself. Orobas was sitting on his bed looking up to the ceiling as if something was troubling him.
"Archie?" Orobas called out.
"What is it this time Orobas?"
"Why do you own a phone? I mean you're allowed too but last time I checked you're completely isolated. Did you make human friends?" Orobas knew he was putting his nose into something that had completely nothing to do with him. However he couldn't help it but to ask him. Orobas would find out regardless but he wanted to hear Arculus say it himself.
"I wouldn't call her a friend." Arculus told him truthfully. "Just someone I have to protect."
"A girl you have to protect?" Orobas said out loud trying to even understand what Arculus had said. "Why do you have to protect her?" Orobas removed his eyes from the ceiling and stared at Arculus.
"I'm not completely sure myself, but all I know is that she needs me." Arculus told him while finally putting a hoodie on.
The look in Orobas eyes were the same looks that the spirits used to give him. Every time he was out trying to keep her safe, the spirits would tell him later on to stop wasting his time like that. However they didn't understand that when it involved Winter, there was never any time wasted. Even if there was, he didn't mind it that much.
It had never been his intention to be so involved in a human life, but it just kind of happened. Perhaps Winter didn't really need him. Maybe it was the other way around, Arculus needed her. He was strong enough to handle any danger, she wasn't. He was capable to stand up for himself, Winter not so much. Arculus didn't fear anything, but it looked like all Winter ever did was fear. She was so afraid of something even he couldn't grasp. All he wanted was to find out what was troubling her so much, but he had to admit. At the end it turned out to be more than just trying to help her out. At the end it was him trying to help both of them.
Arculus felt so weird being around her all the time. Humans were so bright. They laughed, went to parties. They cry and they get mad. They never failed to feel something, anything. While he had been in the darkness for so long trying to understand what he is in fact feeling. Being around Winter made him feel more appreciated. It made him feel as if he is finally getting rid of the dark side that surrounded him.
"You haven't been visiting her often did you?" Orobas asked with a grin on his face.
"I haven't." Arculus left his bedroom and sat down on his couch in the living room. Orobas sat right next to him and they were both quiet. The silence lingered in the room until a ringing phone broke the silence. Arculus took his phone and started at his screen. Just to see her name written in big letters.
He answered the phone and waited to hear anything from the other line.
"H-Hey." Her soft voice finally spoke.
"You okay?" Was the first thing Arculus brought out and Winter had noticed.
With a smile on her face she answered. "I'm fine forest boy, I'm just wanted to talk to you before I went to bed." She admitted.
"How did your day go?" Arculus asked her completely forgetting Orobas was right next to him.
"I can't believe this." Orobas sighed. "You don't even ask me the same thing." Orobas continued to complain and Arculus rolled his eyes at him.
"It was fine, however I didn't talk to any of my friends today. Apart from Isa, Brian and Rev. It feels so weird not having them by my said Arculus. I feel so alone. I don't like being alone you know." Winter laid in bed and closed her eyes, enjoying Arculus presence.
"Nothing last forever Winter. The same goes for friendships." Arculus told her simply while glancing at Orobas.
Winter was hesitating but opened her mouth either way. "W-when will you come back?"
They both grew quiet. Arculus wanted to tell her soon, but he didn't want to be lying to her. He stood up from his seat and went to his bedroom, leaving Orobas all alone. Arculus sat down on his bed, ready to break his own promise.
"You miss me?" Arculus asked surprised. He had never thought he would be missed by anyone.
"Of course I do. When you're back we can go on walks together." Winter chuckled and could feel her eyelids become heavy. "We can go bowling if you want. Or we can go on a road trip." Winter yawned and closed her eyes, but she was still listening to whatever Arculus was saying.
He noticed the way her heartbeat slowed down, which meant she was in the very edge of falling asleep. Arculus smiled to himself. "I'll be there soon Winter." He wanted to hear her talk again but she had fallen asleep. Her snores invaded his hears and he smiled satisfied. When he walked back to the living room, Orobas was staring at the ceiling murmuring.
"Report got back Arculus, their will be a change of plan." Orobas said with his eyes bright red again. Arculus could feel strong waves of emotions rolling off of him. Orobas was furious, ready to rip someone in half. If there is one thing he hated, that would be being lied to.
"What happened?" Arculus asked concerned.
"They invaded an other pack of Vampires. Which means they are only growing stronger at this point." Orobas tried to calm down and take deep breaths. Yet the rage he was feeling inside made him want to break something.
"It was reported that the leader used my knife. That bastard used my object." The house wasn't supposed to be trembling. Orobas mood swing made his house almost break down.
"Orobas calm down please. We will stop them okay? I promise we will." Orobas locked eyes with Arculus and memories came rushing in. Well only Orobas remembered, and Arculus could feel that something was happening. He knew that something was happening but he wasn't sure. Orobas wanted to just tell him everything but to avoid a rampage it was best to take it slow.
"I don't like those blood sucking creatures."
"How bad is it?" Arculus asked for information.
"The vampire pack that the Sinners invaded are called the Red moon pack. They killed the leaders kids to gain control over them. They also took the young girls and put them into cages. The kids are also in danger."
"Shit." Arculus cursed and brought his hand through his hair. "We need to do something. Who reported this?"
"My right hand man Amdusias reported this. He his also working on getting the object back, since it can harm demons even a high ranked one."
"We have to find their weakness first, and we have to know with how many they are. Can you tell your right hand man to focus on gaining information instead of trying to attack them." He asked Orobas and tried to think of a way to get the kids to safety without having a fight break down.
"I'll tell him, but you have to meet him first." Orobas took a small knife and cut a piece of his flesh.
"What are doing? I don't won't your blood on my carpet Orobas. Go bleed somewhere else." Arculus complained but somewhere he was still concerned.
"High ranked demons don't take orders from outsiders. They sure as hell don't like it when one of them are in charge."
Orobas blood that spilled on the carpet made Arculus irritated. However the irritation changed into confusion. The blood that was spilled everywhere started to form a circle on his floor. Letters and numbers he had never seen before where written around the circle. Orobas took the knife and dropped it into the circle and a creature he had never seen from his life come out of it.
It had claws instead of hands and feet. His head was one of a horse and it's eyes was cat-like. Arculus was amazed and tried his best not touch the creature. The knife Orobas had dropped was in the creatures hand. It licked the blood off and handed the knife back to Orobas.
"Did you really have to summon me?" The creatures voice was the most unique thing he had ever heard. It sounded like thunder and storms, but in some why it reminded him of flowers.
"Meet Arculus." Was all Orobas said while he was already annoyed by Amdusias.
The next thing he knew, the creature transformed into a more human like form and was watching him with the most sinister smile.
"I'll be the first one to cut your fingers off." Amdusias said amused and Arculus raised his eyebrows.
"Sorry I forgot to tell you Amdusias can be a sadist sometimes. Anyway you will be taking orders from me and Arculus from now on."
Amdusias eyes widened with disbelief. "You want me to take orders form this creature? Are you joking Orobias? I will not be taking orders form an outsider."
"Outsider?" Arculus mumbled under his breath. Realising he wasn't accepted by most people. Not even the group of people he was supposed to view as his own.
"He doesn't even know his own history and he needs you to teach him. For someone that is supposed to be stronger than all of us, he sure is weak." Amdusias raised his voice and Arculus glanced at him with raised eyebrows.
"What are you going to do? Help him find out where he comes from so he can go back running to his mother? Well if she even wants him of course." Arculus took Amdusias by his collar and pushed him against a wall. His eyes were a bright red colour reminding Amdusias who he was. Immediately putting Amdusias back to his place.
"You do not want to piss me off." Arculus warned Amdusias and he was right. Amdusias didn't want to remember what happened the first time he had lost controle. However seeing him had given Amdusias no other choice but to remember.
The graphic scenes came back rushing in and he backed down. After all it was normal to fear someone more powerful than you. Especially when you know what kind of monster he truly was.
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