Skado

Skado twirled his titanium knife between his fingers, the same one he had used to end Marcus’ life. The metal gleamed, reflecting on his eyes. He still carried the scars Ronner had gifted him that night, especially on his neck, where the infection had just begun to disappear.

As he wandered the hallways looking for his brother, he counted the number of people he had sent to the grave that week. Humans were disposable. Unfortunately, Viper and Ronner had grown a liking for inferior beings. Such a shame.

Without knocking, Skado walked into his brother’s room.

A shirtless young man sat on his brother’s lap, both hands wrapped around his neck. Their faces lingered dangerously close. Viper shot a glare at Skado, who observed the scene with amusement.

“New toy?” Skado asked, stifling a chuckle.

Viper gestured at the young man to move. The boy rushed to stand up, gold hair falling over his shoulders. His slender figure and androgynous face matched his brother’s type. He bowed to Skado and bolted out of the room.

“What the hell do you want now?” Viper snapped, frustration in his voice.

“It seems like the young Nephilim has been training lately.” Skado dropped on a cushion and smirked. “She’s growing so fast.” He licked his lips.

Viper adjusted his coat and stood up. “You better keep your filthy eyes away from that child.”

Skado sniggered and bobbed his head. “Anywho, the so-called Crimson Project is almost complete. How does that make you feel, big brother?”

Viper shrugged as he ordered the sheets on his bed. Nothing was out of place in his gloomy room, and it always smelled of roses.

“Is that it? Doesn’t it bother you at all?” Skado leaned forward, crossing his fingers between his knees. “That cunt will achieve the ultimate power. You know what that means, right?”

His brother said nothing and opened his crystal windows, allowing the fresh breeze of the night to fill his room.

Skado scoffed and sprang from his seat. “It means we’ll be his fucking servants for the rest of our lives! Don’t you get it?”

Viper unbuttoned his coat and grabbed a glass from his nightstand. He filled it with a blue liquid. “We’re not servants. We’re allies. Have you already forgotten why we agreed to this?”

“Keep telling yourself that!” Skado scowled at him. “What makes you think he won’t get rid of us as soon as we are of no use to him anymore, uh?”

Viper tightened his lips. “He needs us. We’re his strongest allies.”

“Exactly! We’re the biggest threat to his empire.” Skado stood in front of Viper and scanned his gray eyes. “C’mon! I know you’ve considered this plenty of times.”

Viper pushed Skado out of his way and sauntered toward his window. He remained silent, his gaze lost in the darkness. “Unlike you, I use my brain. Do you think going against him would be wise right now?” Viper gave him a sidelong glance. “Do I need to remind you of that night? If I hadn’t been around, Ronner would’ve crushed your skull like a fucking pumpkin.”

Skado clenched his teeth, his eyes turning red like blood. He held back not to smash his fists against the walls. “Has anyone removed your balls, big brother? Ronner won’t hesitate to annihilate you if he wants to! He has no honor at all. He’ll do anything for power!”

Viper let out a deep sigh and shook his head. “Okay, big-brained idiot. What do you suggest?” He sipped his drink, waiting for his answer.

“It’s time to take what’s ours!” Skado raised his voice. “Ronner might be strong, but . . . “ He smirked, taking one step forward. “Together, we’re unstoppable. Don’t you see it?”

His brother lifted one eyebrow and tilted his head. Skado knew this was his chance.

“Soon, the recruits from Karx will arrive. I’ve been doing my research, more than one of those pricks is eager to see Ronner’s head on a spike. We don’t need a huge army, just the right people to do the dirty job for us.”

Viper’s lips twisted into a frown as the glass in his hand shattered. “We can’t take him down. I’ve considered this option too many times.”

“That’s why I have a plan.” Skado’s lips quivered. “Ronner likes to act tough, but I’ve come to realize he has a soft spot.”

“A soft spot, uh?” Viper scanned his brother’s eyes for a moment until he understood his intentions. “You mean that maid, Brisa, right?”

A sinister smile spread across Skado’s face as he nodded. “Once I turn the recruits against Ronner, it’ll be easy to abduct his bitch and use her as bait in our rebellion.”

“How are you gonna convince those deviants from Karx?”

“Sharing is caring, my brother.” Skado raised his hands, his yellow teeth sparkling. “We’ll share that Nephilim with them.”

Viper widened his eyes. “Wouldn’t you mean . . . “

“Yes!” Skado sniggered. “We’ll share the Netomics with our allies, after we’re both enhanced, of course!”

Viper scowled. “She wouldn’t survive. That’s madness.”

“Oh, she will!” Skado walked up to his brother and leaned both hands on his shoulders, joy gushing out of his eyes. “She won’t be the only Nephilim we will use. In fact, we’ll create many, many more!”

Viper grimaced at him and slapped his hands off him. “That’s too much for a girl her age.”

“What?” Skado giggled. “Since when do you care about little girls? She’s a fucking Nephilim! Can you imagine the monsters we could create with her body? Can you imagine how powerful we would be?” Skado guffawed, his voice thundering throughout the room. “We could even rival Debrin Kavram with such an army!”

“Skado, you . . . “ Viper shook his head. “Are you fucking crazy?”

“Yes, Cassius, yes!” Skado clutched his brother’s hand and stared deep into his eyes. “Please, dear brother. Say yes to me. Let’s take that piece of shit down!”

Viper dropped his gaze to the ground. He bit his lips and remained silent for a while.

A sharp breeze whistled through the window.

Finally, Viper’s eyes met his brother. “If we fail, we’re dead men. You know that, right?”

“No.” Skado held Viper’s face between his hands. “I’ll be a dead man. If everything else fails, I promise you I’ll take the whole responsibility for it. You have my word.” His voice sharpened as his eyes narrowed into a profound gaze. Skado had never broken a promise to his brother.

Viper’s expression softened, and then he let out a deep sigh. “Fuck that.” He grabbed his brother’s hand, squeezing his fingers. He smirked. “If we die, we die together.”

Skado pulled his brother against his chest and wrapped his arms around him in a powerful embrace of darkness.

*°*°*

Remnya

A gust of wind blew dust and sand into the morning sky, covering the sun with a layer of haze. Remnya closed her eyes while the hot air messed up her hair. It hadn’t rained for two months, and that part of the mansion had turned into a desert; an immense terrain of lifeless soil spread beyond the garden, ending at the massive walls marking the limits of the property.

That neglected field was perfect for Remnya’s training. No trees or animals nearby gave her the freedom to be as reckless as she wanted.

Remnya glanced at the walls. It seemed too easy to escape, but she knew better. An electric barrier of barbed wires and deadly traps separated her from her freedom, along with alarms that would go off as soon as she landed a foot outside. Plus, heavily armed men guarded the surroundings, ready to take anyone down.

If by any chance, she managed to get through that fortress, the consequences would be nasty. Ronner had been clear. If she dared to try such a feat, he would cut Zeo’s ears.

Remnya gritted her teeth and dropped onto a wooden bench, frowning as she waited for her best friend. Ronner allowed her to see Zeo once every two weeks. It was better than nothing. Although, for the first time in years, they couldn’t spend their birthdays together.

Half an hour went by, and Remnya became impatient. Where is that jerk?

Finally, she caught a glimpse of Zeo in the distance. Her face flushed red. Remnya had never felt the urge to hide before; it was always Zeo the one doing it.

Zeo beamed at her, closing the distance between them. Remnya stood up, returning a twist of her lips, and narrowed her eyes not to give away her joy. She noticed the odd confidence in his steps.

“Why aren’t you wearing glasses, four-eyes?” Remnya asked, a mischievous smile escaping her lips.

“I don’t think I need them anymore,” Zeo replied, his teeth shining as he stood before her. “Ever since that night, my eyesight has improved. It’s as if my whole body is fixing itself.”

“Weirdo,” Remnya joked, peeking at the bag Zeo carried in his right hand.

“Yeah, I know.” Zeo chuckled and blushed as his eyes scanned her from head to toe.

“Stop looking at me that way!” Remnya glared at him and raised a fist, threatening to punch him.

“I’m sorry.” His gaze fell to the ground, but a sneaky grin escaped his pretty lips. “By the way, this is for you.” He stretched his arm at her, where a colorful bag reflected a rainbow beam of light. “Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you.” Remnya took the bag and regarded him with a tender smile. He blushed.

Faithful to their tradition, she didn’t open her present and left it on the wooden bench.

Remnya smirked. “I gotta show you something!” She snatched his hand and dragged him toward the dry open field.

Zeo observed how Remnya drew a small bottle from her pocket and poured alcohol on her left hand. She grabbed a lighter. Zeo’s eyes widened when a blueish flame engulfed her skin and danced between her knuckles.

Remnya hovered her fingers above the fire, and suddenly, the flame jumped from one hand to the other like a little tamed animal. Zeo’s jaw dropped.

“As you can see, I can keep the fire alive in my hands now.” Remnya turned her right hand, and the flame dropped back onto her left palm. “I think of it as a slime.” She giggled.

“That’s impressive, Rem!”

Remnya rolled her eyes. “The problem is, I can’t create fire on my own. I need fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. The triangle of fire you told me about, remember?”

Zeo nodded and studied the flame as he rubbed his chin. “Rem,” he said and took one step forward. “What happens if I touch your fire?”

“Are you crazy?” Remnya scowled and hid her hand behind her. “You’ll get burned, of course!”

“Let’s find out how much control you have over it.” Zeo smirked and took another step forward.

“No!” she roared, taking one step backward. “You just recovered from your wounds, and now you want to get burned too?”

Zeo lowered his head and nodded, an unreadable expression on his face. Remnya fixed her eyes on him for a moment and then sighed.

She uncovered the fire. “I know you want to help, but—”

Before Remnya could finish, Zeo darted at her like a bullet.

She tried to dodge him, but he snatched her wrist, pulling their hands together.

“What are you doing?” she yelled, trying to yank her hand away from him but couldn’t. His fingers wrapped around hers in an unbreakable grip while the fire engulfed their hands. When had he gotten so fast and strong?

“So,” Zeo beamed at her. “It seems like you can’t burn me.” He squeezed her hand and giggled.

Remnya gaped and scanned the flame for a moment. No way he was immune to fire, too. Her eyes met with his. “What are you feeling?” she asked.

“Uh . . . It’s hard to explain.” He observed the flame caressing his skin. “It’s an odd sensation, like warm water, I guess?”

Remnya blinked and remained silent, contemplating their hands together.

“Now, try to burn me,” Zeo demanded in a firm voice.

“Zeo, you!” Remnya was about to scold him, but the sharp look in his eyes stopped her. She took a moment to digest Zeo’s words until she understood his intentions. Remnya gulped as a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. “I’ll try,” she mumbled and focused on the fire.

A long silence.

The timid flame began to crackle and grew. It flickered in orange and yellow, and suddenly, it gained a strange red tint, almost crimson.

“Ah!” Zeo let out a muffled grunt of pain and snatched his hand away.

“Zeo!” Remnya rushed toward him, concern filling her eyes. Tenderly, she grabbed his hand, terrified of the damage she had caused him. His skin was red and hot, and his fingers throbbed. “I’m sorry, Zeo!” She pouted, tightening her lips.

Zeo let out a loud chuckle and smiled. “You’re impressive, Rem.”

“Shut up!” She smacked his chest and scowled at him. “Have you gone crazy lately? Stop doing stupid, reckless things!”

He smirked and gestured with his eyes at where the fire still crackled. Remnya lifted her hand and witnessed how her flame had turned crimson. “This color . . . “

“Do you feel any different, Rem?”

“I don’t know . . . “ Remnya focused on the mesmerizing color. A smile escaped her lips. “It’s so pretty,” she whispered as the crimson flame merged with the color of her eyes.

Remnya tried to lift the fire with her right hand, the same way she had been practicing lately.

But the crimson blaze darted from her left palm like a bullet, dodged her right hand, and exploded against a leafless tree.

A crimson fireball destroyed the trunk, slicing the wood in half.

The tree collapsed and burned like a crimson torch.

Remnya and Zeo exchanged worried looks and rushed toward the disaster. Remnya let out a sigh of relief, seeing no animal harmed by her mistake.

“Try to pick it up?” Zeo suggested, standing next to the burning tree.

Remnya kneeled and stretched her arms to touch the flame devouring the wood.

Timid like a crimson snake, the fire wrapped around her hands and wrists, abandoning the tree, which turned into ashes and embers.

The fire seemed to stare back at her as it flickered and spat white sparks.

“I told you, you’re impressive.” Zeo’s eyes shined with pride.

Remnya smiled at him and stood up, cradling the flame between her hands like a puppy. “Thank you, Zeo.”

Zeo took one step forward and stared deep into her eyes. “We can do it, Rem,” he said sharply.

His words and body language made her shiver. When had he become like that? Remnya barely recognized the shy boy from the orphanage. She nodded and blushed.

Their pupils connected in an intense gaze. His green orbs touched her soul, and his silence told her everything she needed to know.

Zeo reached out for her hand. She lifted her hand, where the fire still burned, and slowly wrapped her fingers around his.

Zeo stood still, no hesitation on his face. She squeezed his hand while her crimson flames caressed his skin. Her heart beat faster, filling her body with joy and something else, a feeling she didn’t understand.

Remnya leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “We can do anything with together.”

*°*°*