Apocalypse game, p.18
Apocalypse Game, page 18
I shrugged. “I don’t mean anything negative by that, but from what I’ve seen, Adeline’s had it rough. I think that’s made it hard for her to trust people. And that means that she only really cares about herself. Adeline will put Adeline before anyone else.”
“But didn’t she join you to save her friends? That’s what she told me. Doesn’t seem like a selfish action to me.”
“Yeah, but she also got a class change out of it. So, she had something to benefit from agreeing. She wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
Finn paused over my words as he swallowed his mashed potatoes. “I don’t know, man. I think you might be judging her a bit too harshly. I don’t think she’s as cold as you make her out to be. You saw how she laughed a few minutes ago. I think she just needs to know that she can depend on people. Trust is the rarest thing to find in this new world of ours.”
Yeah. Maybe he’s right.
We both stared at each other without saying anything. Finn went to open his mouth but looked to his left and quickly shut it as Adeline came back with her tray piled high with food.
“What are you two talking about?” she asked, snagging a green bean from her plate and tossing it into her mouth.
“Guy stuff,” we both said at the same time and burst out laughing.
“Weirdos,” Adeline said, and started on her meal.
As she ate, the two of us composed ourselves, and when we were done laughing, Adeline leaned over and lowered her voice.
“Alright, so you have some explaining to do, Kill.” Adeline cast her eyes over to me. “I know we had a half-assed plan, but you seem to be a few steps past that at this point. Where’d asking for a Humvee come into play?”
Oh, dammit. I completely forgot to tell them. In all that’d happened since we’d fought the Charade Beast, I hadn’t told them of my conversation with it. There’s actually a lot we need to go over.
I looked around the mess hall at the many soldiers coming and going. I shook my head. “Not here. Let’s talk when we have a bit more privacy.”
“Well, what’re we waiting for?” Finn asked.
I thumbed over at Adeline, who was currently stuffing her face. A green bean stuck to the side of her mouth. She just stared when we glanced over.
“What? I’m hungry.”
“We can see that…”
She gave us both the finger and continued eating, but at a faster pace while we waited on her. When she was finished, we all got up, threw our trays away, and headed for our rooms.
There were separate buildings and houses for military personnel who lived on base and small one-unit apartments. I didn’t know who they were for, but I doubted they were meant for the long term. Most likely, they were used as lodging for high-ranked military personnel or those of similar status when they came to visit the base.
We got better rooms because Reynolds was trying to butter us up into convincing us to stay on.
As long as I get a nice bed to myself, I don’t mind the reason.
My room was on the first floor and the second to last door in the hallway. As we reached our rooms, I touched the door.
[Permanent Home] Room 103
Cost: 250 Coins
Use Apartment Key
Y/N
Yes.
The door unlocked and opened by itself. I walked in. It was pitch black inside, so I turned on the light and shut the door. The room was modest but clean with a full-sized bed, a cheap black desk and chair in the corner, and a TV mounted on the wall.
It had the same fake feel of a hotel room, but it was nice enough. A small kitchenette was by the door, an island with a couple of stools separated the bedroom from the dining area. It had a sink, microwave, and fridge. There was also one of the coffee makers that took the pods, which were beside it in a rack. No shower, but a half bath was just beyond the kitchenette. It was quaint, cozy.
I dropped my bag and rifle next to the swivel chair and waited for the others to join me after they checked out their room.
Guess Finn and Ade are going to have to shack up together. Because I’m not sharing. I grinned. Though I doubt Finn minds.
I shrugged off my coat and tossed it on the desk and went to make a cup of coffee.
I need a nap, but I’d rather have coffee. I’m sorry, eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. I’m having an affair with caffeine. It’s not you. It’s me.
I laughed to myself as the coffee maker dinged.
“Man, I need friends,” I said as I poured a cup and took a sip.
It was cheap, but coffee was coffee, and I practically inhaled the cup as Adeline and Finn entered without knocking.
“Coffee.” Adeline moaned.
I picked up a plastic pod off the rack and tossed it at her. “Make some your damn self if you want any.”
She caught it without looking and smiled. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“Okay, so what’s so secretive that we couldn’t talk in the mess? I know those guys. They’re good people.”
“And I’m the Demon Lord, not exactly something I want to go around advertising.”
“Okay.” Finn held up his hand. “Point, but still, let’s hear it. What’s the game plan?”
“There’s one order of business we have to take care of first.”
I need my pieces, Callisto.
For a second, nothing happened. Then a soft breeze filled the room. I turned as the briefcase appeared on the cheap desk. Finn followed my eyes and did a double-take.
“Where’d that come from?”
“Which one are you giving him?” Adeline asked, sipping on her cup of coffee.
I opened the case, and the glistening black chess pieces stared back at me. I didn’t know what the pieces did, but Finn was a soldier, so I thought the Knight would be perfect for him. I picked it up and held it between my thumb and index finger.
“First thing you need to decide is if you want to be a part of my team.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I held my hand up. “I know we got past our differences, but this isn’t something you can accept lightly. You know what my endgame is. I can put the world back when all this is over, but we’re probably going to have to do a lot of bad things before it’s all said and done.
“I’m not ready for this responsibility, so no way can either of you be. But I need you on my team, Finn. I need both of you.”
“Give me the damn thing already, Kill.” He held his hand out. “I decided the moment I chose to come back this morning. You guys aren’t getting rid of me that easy.”
I smiled and tossed him the vicious piece.
He caught it, and when he opened his hand, it was gone.
“Well shit, there goes half my levels.”
I cursed. “My bad. Forgot to warn you.”
“Hey, it’s cool. I’m just glad not to be a Soldier anymore.”
“What class did you get?”
“It’s called Revenant. My level is now six, and I have a few skills to choose from.”
I wanted to ask what they were so I could help him choose, but it was his choice to make. It was his class. After a moment, he stopped staring off into space and cleared his throat.
“I picked Abyssal Armor and Void Shield. Both are made to stop attacks. It seems my class is designed to take damage.”
I nearly shouted. “Yes! We have our tank.”
“That’s a gaming thing, right?”
I nodded. “Yep, you are going to be our frontman, soaking up damage so Adeline and I can dish out the pain.”
Finn shrugged. “Works for me. It’s a hell of a lot better than Phantom Grenade at any rate. What about you, Ade? What are your stats?”
“Class is Demoness. Level is five. My skills are Hellbent, and the one I picked up after we completed the sewer quest is Conflagration. Both are fire spells. One is a single target, and the other seems to spread out over a few feet.”
“An AOE attack. Interesting.” I scratched my chin, which reminded me I really needed a shave.
So, with a tank and a spellcaster, that leaves me as the in-between. In my Demon Form, I’ve got good combat ability, and as soon as I get some spells, I can pretty much cover any role needed.
My thoughts further solidified what I’d been considering for a while now. With my stats more or less evenly distributed, my role was quickly becoming a jack of all trades. I wouldn’t be specialized, but I’d be more versatile than anyone else in my party.
“Okay. I’ve got a decent grasp of what you both can do. We’ll need to test your abilities and figure out how to fight as a team, but that can wait until later.
“Let me tell you what I learned from the Charade King.”
I filled them both in on what he had told me about New York and my plan to head in that direction, leveling up along the way.
Finn was against the idea, but he had more info than we did, considering he was in the Army. He told us both a few horror stories about the monsters that annihilated the state. His words chilled my blood, but we really didn’t have another option.
“I get that it's dangerous, but we can’t play it safe, not when I’m a month behind everyone else. We’re on a clock. The Archangel has already had plenty of time to grow strong, and the more days that pass, the stronger they get. Waiting around or playing it safe just isn’t an option.”
“Not to be a dick, but why don’t we just let the Archangel and the White clean up the world for us. They’re the good guys, right?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “On paper, you’d think so, but look at me, at us. None of us are evil. Hell, I’m the furthest thing from a Demon Lord, yet here I am.” I stood to go make another cup of coffee, scooting by Adeline just as she grabbed one of the pods.
“Don’t mind if I do,” I said, parroting her words with a smile, already picking another one up for her even as she opened her mouth to complain.
“Steal my coffee again, Kill, and those beans won’t be the only thing that get roasted,” she said with a fierce grin.
I laughed as I waited my turn for coffee. As we all sat down, I sighed as I got back to the conversation at hand. “I don’t know who the Archangel is, what their beliefs are, or goals. But I damn sure know mine. If the fate of the world, of my family, is in my hands, I’m not going to pass that responsibility onto someone who might not have the same goal in mind.
“I’d rather just do it myself.”
Adeline held her mug up. “Well said, to Team Killian!” she shouted with laughter in her eyes.
“Team Killian!” Finn echoed.
I threw my hands up. “Okay. Both of you. Out. Go and do the no-pants dance or whatever social, well-adjusted people do and let me get some sleep.”
Finn roared with laughter while Adeline blushed red and grabbed the pillow off my bed and chucked it at me.
”I’ll smother you in your sleep, Killian!”
“How about you go smother Finn with your thighs instead?” I said, giving her a saccharine sweet smile.
Finn had to drag Adeline out as she hurled obscenities at me, but he slid me a wink before he shut the door.
As soon as they left, I hit the light switch, bathing the room in muted darkness. The only light came from the fading glow of the sun through the open blinds. I flopped down on the mattress and folded my arms under the pillow. It was soft and clean, and a whiff of lavender clung to the fabric. It instantly soothed my heavy mind, and I wanted nothing more than to sleep like the dead.
“Good evening, Killian.”
“Ugh.” I groaned.
I forgot that she said she’d stop by.
Dammit. I’m tired.
Death laughed, and her weight settled next to me. “Is the prospect of conversing with me so unpleasant?”
“No, it’s just been a long few days, and this is the first chance I’ve actually had to get some proper rest.”
“Well,” she said, stretching out the word as her warm breath broke on my neck and crawled over my skin. “I think I can let you sleep, just this once. Do you mind if I stay here beside you?”
“Knock yourself out,” I mumbled, already following my own advice.
I slept hard, and when I finally woke back up, it had to have been many hours later. I went to reach for my phone only to realize I’d tossed it.
“Damn, need to get a watch,” I muttered as I rolled over.
“It’s just after five in the morning. The sun will be rising shortly.”
Death smiled at me from the pillow next to me. “Good morning.”
“Morning. Five? I must’ve slept for, what, nine hours?”
“Ten, but who’s counting?”
I shifted on the bed, sitting up on my elbows and turning to her, stifling a yawn. “Sorry about that.”
She smiled wider. “Don’t be. I don’t sleep that often, but just resting beside you was…nice. It was something I’m not used to.”
“I’m sure you could find a skeleton or two to cuddle up with.”
She laughed. It was throaty and rich. “I’ll have you know I’ve never once slept next to a skeleton, thank you very much. Too bony.”
I snorted, which devolved into full-blown laughter.
“You should laugh more often. It’s lovely.”
“So, what did you want to see me about?”
Death sat up and crossed her legs. The folds of her black dress bunched up to her thighs and gave me a good view of her pale skin. “What makes you think it was anything more than me wishing to spend time with you?”
“Because you’re the literal Incarnation of Death, and I’m just me. A nobody.”
“That may have been true once, though I would have never called you such. But you’re very important now. The fate of the Earth rests in either your hands or the Archangel’s. That’s quite the responsibility.”
“Still doesn’t explain what you want with me. Up until a few days ago, I wasn’t the Demon Lord, yet you act like you know me.”
She came closer to me, close enough that our noses almost touched, and her sweet breath drifted past my nose. “Because I do know you. I’ve known you for many years now.”
I tilted my head as I squinted at her. “And what, I just forgot about it?”
“Of course not. I took your memories.”
“What?” I bolted upright. “Why?”
Death shrugged. “Because I technically wasn’t supposed to interact with you at all on the mortal plane. So, I kept my visits to your dreams. I visited you often there.”
Several half-remembered dreams came to mind as she spoke, flashes of nothing but disjointed and blended dreams and nightmares, but one thing I remembered clearly was a flash of purple hair and a kind smile.
Nothing more than that, but I never remembered my dreams beyond little snippets. However, her words rang with truth. Even if I couldn’t remember myself, I knew she wasn’t lying.
“Can I have them back?”
She shook her head. “Nope.” She smirked, mischievous. “Like I said yesterday. It would ruin things. I want to get to know you without them influencing you.”
I scratched at my mess of shaggy hair and groaned.
I need coffee if I’m going to deal with this.
With another groan and a slew of pops, I shuffled out of bed and went into the kitchenette. I made two cups of coffee and set them down on the island that separated the kitchen from the rest of the room. Death climbed out of bed, fixed her dress, and came to sit next to me.
As I offered her one, she took it with a grateful smile. “Thank you. It smells good.” She took a cursory sip and recoiled in disgust. Her face scrunched as she stuck her tongue out, which was adorable. “It’s bitter.”
“It’s delicious,” I said, trying not to laugh at her face and chugged the steaming liquid.
When I’d drunk enough to suitably handle the conversation, I turned to her. “So, I’m guessing by what you said that we were pretty close?”
“Maybe.”
I grumbled and finished my coffee. I held my hand for her mug, and she slid it to me with a chuckle.
“Be my guest.”
“Well, we were close enough that you felt comfortable kissing me. And you said it wasn’t the first.”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t. We often kissed, though not as often as either of us would have wanted.”
“That answers my question. So, very close, then?”
Death frowned. Her expression soured into almost a pout. “Hey, no. Stop that. You’re not supposed to know that.”
“It’s not my fault you slipped up,” I said with a laugh.
I could tell she wanted to be mad that she’d messed up, but my laughter brought a smile to her lips, and soon she was laughing next to me. “Okay, that one was my fault. But no more tricks. I really would like to get to know you again. A fresh start.”
“So, you won’t be giving my memories back?”
“I will eventually, but not right now.”
With one last gulp, I finished her cup of coffee and sighed. “Then what do we do now?”
“I’d like for us to get to know each other again. But considering what I already know about you, how about you ask me whatever you want? And I’ll answer.”
“Asking whatever I want of the Angel of Death.” I snorted. “This might take a while.”
And it did. Though, to my surprise, much of her life was pretty dull. She collected and harvested souls and brought them to the Land of the Dead all by herself for more years than I could fathom.
“Really? Being Death kind of sounds like a pain.”
“It is sometimes, but more than that, it’s boring. So incredibly boring. Especially right now.”
“I figured you’d be busier than ever, this being an apocalypse and all.”
She shrugged and tapped her pale fingers on the countertop. “You’d think, but I can’t do my job right now. Not while Callisto is playing his little game.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
“Well, that doesn’t make me curious in the slightest.” I paused to take a sip of coffee. “What about before all this started?”
“It was busier, but not by much. Any job can be streamlined after you’ve been doing it for a few millennia, even death itself.”
