Zeo

Zeo saw the blue sky for the first time after weeks of isolation. He waited in the courtyard as ordered by Edo. Mountains loomed over him, building a fortress around The Hunters' territory. Zeo ignored his location, but the falcons gliding above his head and the thin air told him he was from the city. A perfect hideout to carry out the most brutal crimes against defenseless creatures.

A thick collar around his neck prevented him from any attempt to escape. It served not only as a tracker but also released a powerful electric shock through microscopic needles hidden, ready to pierce his neck had he tried anything stupid.

The chilly wind against his skin gave him goosebumps while clouds circled the sun, threatening another gray day.

Edo showed in the distance, striding in his direction. After him, Zeo recognized Alayna.

According to rumors from behind the walls, The Hunters had rescued Alayna and treated her wounds. However, she had been stripped from her warrior title and downgraded to mundane and humiliating tasks, such as cleaning cells or serving food to prisoners.

Without her Hunter uniform and badges, she dressed as an ordinary servant, a plain yet elegant long dress with a dog emblem on her shoulder that let everyone know she was The Hunter's property.

Alayna glanced at Zeo with lifeless eyes and twisted her lips, covered by lipstick someone had forced her to wear.

A shadow of the prideful warrior she had once been.

Ordered by Edo, Zeo followed them into a large hall located in the main building.

Zeo stood behind them and observed an exotic table in the middle of the room decorated with diamonds. The Hunters' emblem shone high on the walls: a wolf-like creature with horns, engulfed by the five elements of Earth, finely crafted in gold and gems.

They waited for the second Lieutenant, the third in command of their army. Zeo knew she had an announcement to make but ignored why he had to be present.

Alayna squirmed next to Edo and crossed her arms behind her back while Edo hissed and tapped his boots against the marble floor.

Half an hour passed until loud steps echoed from the open door.

The second lieutenant sauntered into the hall, holding a notebook and a smile plastered across her face.

Her name was Marakudra, or Mara, as Edo called her, along with a dozen insults. She wore the classic Hunters' black coat and emblem on her shoulder. Her coffee eyes sparkled with joy, so Zeo assumed the worst.

Alayna bowed to her while Edo snarled, pointing at the clock on the wall.

Mara took her time to stroll around the room and sat at the furthermost end of the table. She beamed at them, her perfect teeth and fangs highlighting her mocha skin.

She twirled a curl of her hair and stared at Edo, enjoying his displeasure. Zeo noticed the horns sprouting from her head.

"Eddy! Long time no see!" she said, leaning on the table like an excited child. "Guess what!"

Edo bared his teeth. "I don't fucking know," he spat, gesturing at her to spill the news.

She pouted, but her eyes expressed something else. "Our beloved captain Leuko is dead."

Edo widened his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"It seems like he couldn't find the Nephilim kid and instead found a gruesome death." Mara shrugged and shook her head in disappointment.

Edo clenched his fist, burying his nails into his palm. "Bullshit! Nobody out there has the power to challenge our captain and live!" he roared, taking one step forward.

"So. . . is this bullshit too?" Mara pushed the notebook across the table toward Edo, who snatched it mid-air.

As he read the papers, the veins in his forehead bulged on the verge of blowing up.

"No way this is true!" He slammed the notebook against the table, cracking the crystal and wood. "Who? Who could do this? Answer me!"

Marakudra sighed and shook her head. "Who knows, but whoever did it turned our beloved captain into a bloody pulp." She giggled.

Edo kicked a chair out of his way, breaking it in half, and stomped toward Mara. "Watch your mouth when talking about him, bitch!"

Silence.

Mara's expression darkened, and her eyes began to glow red. "Your captain is right before your eyes." She shot a deadly glare at him and stood up. "And if you plan to keep your remaining hand, you better learn how to talk to me more properly."

Hatred seemed to erupt through Edo's veins while his clenched fist trembled. Zeo could feel the bloodlust emanating from his body.

Suddenly, two men with black masks and robes broke into the room.

The whole atmosphere changed.

Death filled the air.

The men stood still by the door like statues, but their hollow eyes pierced through Edo.

Edo stared back at them for a moment.

They didn't seem human; their presence resembled something else, ghastly and rotten, forcing Zeo to avert his eyes from them.

Not even Edo dared to hold his gaze on them. In the end, he loosened his fist, let out a silent sigh, and lowered his head.

"My apologies, captain Marakudra," Edo murmured.

She chuckled and licked her lips. "Good boy."

Within the tension of the moment, a smile forced its way across Zeo's face; with Leuko dead, Remnya was safe.

"Who do you think killed Leuko?" Edo asked calmly.

Mara shrugged. "No idea, but we know a thing for sure. There's someone out there with powers that surpasses ours. The Great Lord is eager to find out too. He has sent several expeditions into Crysalton and Penzey to locate the responsible."

"Penzey. . ." Edo twisted his lips. "That province is controlled by Karx."

"Which is why the Lord sent a Rank A Squad into the city." Mara sauntered over to them and stood in front of Edo. Zeo noticed she was the same height as him in her heels. "You know what's the best thing about this, though?"

"What?"

She leaned forward as a sinister smirk drew across her face. "The Lord authorized us to eliminate any Karx member we find in our way." She giggled, caressing Edo's cheek with the back of her hand.

"What about. . . Debrin Kavram." Edo's voice hesitated when he mentioned him.

"Debrin Kavram. . ." Marakudra swallowed. "That monster wouldn't dare to step in our territory and kill one of us. . . Right?" She narrowed her eyes. "Are you telling me he took the Nephilim girl with him?"

"If that's the case, he needs to be eliminated as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we have not managed to find his main base yet."

"I believe you have the source of such valuable information with you." Mara's gaze landed on Zeo.

She grinned and walked to him, scanning him from head to toe. Marakudra stood before him, her toxic perfume of peaches burning Zeo's lungs. She patted his head. "I plan to be a good captain, Eddy, better than our dear deceased Leuko."

"I believe that," Edo whispered.

"I'll lift your restrictions regarding this cute Anglish."

Zeo's blood froze.

"Obtain as much information as possible from him. I don't care what means you have to use for it." A sinister smirk spread across her face.

Edo turned to Zeo, his pupil penetrating his body like a rusted sword. "I'll get to it, captain."

Marakudra returned to Edo and placed her index finger on his lips. "Though, there's a rule." She leaned closer, and her nose touched his. "You can't kill him."

Edo took one step back and bowed to her. "Thank you very much."

"One more thing," Mara added, her smirk displaying a hint of wicked intentions. She walked to Alayna and ruffled her hair. "This pretty one will be my personal pet from now on."

Edo's whole body became stiff. He turned to Mara, his eye quivering. "Why her?"

"Because. . ." Mara sniffed Alayna's neck and ran her fingers down her chest, stroking her breasts. "I like to break prideful toys."

"That's. . ." Edo started but bit his tongue. However, Zeo noticed how his face changed every time he looked at Alayna.

Marakudra glared at him. "You don't seem too happy about it, Eddy."

"It's not that," Edo rushed to say. He stared at Alayna, who locked her eyes on him and seemed to shake her head slowly. "If that's your decision. . . so be it, captain." Words forced their way through his lips.

"Perfect!" Mara beamed at him, her fangs reflecting the sunlight coming from the door, and then her eyes returned to Alayna. "Don't worry, little crossbreed. . . I'll be gentle with you."

*°*°*

That night, sleep arrived sooner than expected. Insomnia vanished, and something strange in the air drowned Zeo's nightmares, giving his mind a break from the chaos.

After one month, he could finally rest.

However, peace was a leisure a crossbreed like himself didn't deserve.

Distant voices echoed in the darkness like faceless ghosts. Soothing at first, but as Zeo's senses began to wake up, they intensified, hammering his brain repeatedly.

Silence.

A metallic smell mixed with decay filled his nose and mouth.

Zeo woke up to screams of terror, drilling his ears with unintelligible words of mercy.

As his eyes adapted to the blinding lights surrounding him, he glimpsed two legs drenched with blood and a crimson pool growing beneath them.

A young man with horns hung from the wall, restrained by locks around his neck and limbs. Both his hands were missing, torn apart as they lay on the ground motionless.

In front of him, a massive Nephilim held a broken sword. Shirtless, his veiny arms were the size of Zeo's torso.

The young man panted, his body shaking uncontrollably and his lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.

"Where am I. . ." Zeo murmured and tried to walk forward, but his body didn't move an inch. He understood his situation; metal devices held his limbs and neck with brutal force.

"You woke up just in time, crossbreed," The Nephilim said, shooting a contemptuous glance at Zeo, and then his eyes returned to his prey.

With a violent thrust of his arm, he buried the sword into the young man's stomach.

His victim let out a short cry, quickly drowned by a dirty rag the Nephilim shoved into his mouth.

"Stop!" Zeo roared, glaring at him.

The Nephilim sneered. "Watch closely, crossbreed, because this is the fate of those who dare to challenge The Hunters." He twisted the sword in his flesh, giggling while the man contorted and grunted in excruciating pain. "How ironic, though. Stabbed by his own sword." The Nephilim guffawed and licked the fresh blood spilled on his face.

"Fucking coward. . ." The sharp locks around Zeo's wrists began cutting his skin like knives as he shook them violently in a futile attempt to break free.

A beep followed by a clang in the distance announced the arrival of another monster.

The large gate opened, allowing a gelid wind to fill the room, freezing the sweat on Zeo's skin.

Heavy steps drew near until then the nasty figure of Edo emerged among the shadows.

He stared at Zeo, like a lion stalking his prey, and strolled in his direction, holding a cross-shaped knife. Its blue gleam reflected on Zeo's pupils as the sharp edge swung in Edo's hand.

A grim atmosphere engulfed the place.

"Lieutenant Edo," the Nephilim said, bowing.

"Leave," Edo ordered, not taking his pupil away from Zeo.

His subordinate nodded and rushed to leave the room, ignoring the dying man in front of him.

As the gate closed, an echo persisted in the distance, slowly fading away.

Everything remained in absolute silence for the next minute.

The splatters of dried blood painting the walls told Zeo several tragic stories while the reek of death lingered around them like the heavy mist of a macabre tale.

Without words, Zeo understood his destiny.

. . .

At last, Edo spoke, "I'll be clear and concise with you. Reveal Debrin Kavram's location, and I'll allow you to go unharmed." He twisted his wrinkled lips, hatred dripping from his disgusting demeanor. "I give you my word."

Zeo stifled a chuckle. "What makes you think I care that much about my life?"

Darkness consumed Edo's face, sinking it into a deadly glare. "I can't say I am surprised, crossbreed." He leaned closer, his hot, humid breath hitting Zeo's skin. "You're too stupid to understand your pitiful position. But unfortunately, your trial is over. Today your promised hell begins."

Silence.

Zeo lifted his gaze, locking his eyes on Edo's red pupil. "So be it." His words erupted from the depth of his throat, cold and fearless, resounding throughout the room like an earthquake.

Edo's hand trembled around the hilt of his knife as his fingernails buried into his skin.

For a moment, he seemed to hesitate as if his hatred had suddenly disappeared.

With a grunt of frustration, Edo lifted the knife, placing it in front of Zeo.

Zeo observed the beautiful cobalt gleam of titanium alloy inches away from his left eye.

"Last chance," Edo whispered, his words weaker than expected, almost refusing to leave his mouth. His hand quivered while a bead of sweat rolled down his skin.

"You care about Alayna, don't you?" Zeo said, looking his executioner straight in the eye.

Edo bared his teeth and gripped Zeo's face, clawing his cheeks. "Are these your last words, crossbreed? How stupid can you be?"

"You can try to fool yourself all you want, but I saw through it." Zeo smiled, defiant. "Despite all the shit you spit, you care about a crossbreed."

Edo buried his fingers into Zeo's skin, drawing blood. "Whatever you or I believe means nothing. Crossbreeds are what they are, inferior creatures, mistakes of nature that should not exist."

"Pitiful, isn't it?" Zeo chuckled, almost disappointed. "Being a prisoner of yourself must be sad."

Edo released his face and remained silent for a moment, the veins in his forehead bulging.

Slowly placing the knife in front of Zeo's face, he whispered, "Eventually, you'll understand why we, Nephilims, are cursed with carrying the weight of this world." Edo spat to the ground with contempt. "Alayna, your friend, and I have all been doomed since the day we were born. I already gave up on trying to change my fate. You better do it soon too."

. . .

"Unlike you, I'd rather be free," Zeo sentenced, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

. . .

Edo swallowed and nodded. For the first time, he looked at Zeo with something other than contempt.

. . .

If there's an afterlife, I'll meet you there, Rem.

. . .

A violent thrust into Zeo's face.

The knife penetrated his eyelid and broke through his eyeball.

Hot blood, like boiling water, streamed down Zeo's cheeks while an electric pain paralyzed his body and forced him to let out a grunt, yet he clenched his teeth and focused his strength on not giving those monsters the satisfaction of hearing his screams.

Zeo's whole body trembled and contorted in agony as shivers traveled throughout his back like electric waves.

The metallic flavor of blood filled his mouth and nose, choking him.

Air slowly left his lungs.

Edo said something, but Zeo couldn't hear him.

His body shut down, and the pain turned into numbness and a gelid sensation in his heart.

The reality, once again, faded to black.

*°*°*