Chapter 11

Coral and the unknown constable defeat the Mortalitas grunts, Marcel ambushes Tom, Lolly, Molly and Anna, Coral prepares a police force to capture Marcel while Xagraver sends Rita to take care of the

Chapter 11

 

“Accigre!” Coral cried in shock as the tiger fell to the ground unconscious as Giovato appeared out of nowhere, sending the cat flying.  She quickly closed her eyes, and the tiger soon disappeared, though she now appeared visibly weakened, “...You may have taken him down, but you have not won.  I’d like for you to meet Glacidola.”  The pearl on her ear glowed again, and a surprisingly large lark emerged in front of the police officer, facing the opponent Praestia.  One seemed to be half transparent, the other currently looking like a liquid.  The young boy beside her remained standing confident, his panther had come very close to killing Giovato thanks to quick reflexes, but then Tenird had interfered.

 

“Futera, this has gone on long enough...” The young boy snapped, and the panther in front of him turned its head at the voice, “You’ve only used your claws so far, but you are a Praestia... Use your power! Go!”  The dark fur of Futera suddenly glowed orange, before bursting into flames as it let out a ferocious roar.  The panther pounced at Tenird, its owner now looking afraid.  “Now!” A large swirl of fire blasted from Futera’s mouth, consuming the presently acidic bird in hot flames.  The scrawny grunt screeched in pain, falling to his knees and writhing in agony.  “That’s enough!” Futera broke the attack, and the bird was left twitching on the ground, looking very burnt.  The grunt moaned in pain, too weak to even recall his Praestia.

 

While this was happening, Glacidola and Giovato were in battle, Giovato constantly vanishing and re-appearing, while Glacidola used its speed and reflexes to constantly dodge.  “Enough of this!” Coral snapped in frustration, before commanding, “Time for you to use your power... I suggest summoning your panther back and moving.” She looked to the boy, who nodded, before jogging away to watch at a distance.  Glacidola began to glow, and the first grunt frowned as the temperature dropped significantly, “Little bit cold for you, sir?”

 

The grunt sneered, “Your ice attacks are useless with no target...  Giovato could be miles away for all you know!”

 

Coral raised her eyebrows, “Well then, as soon as your stupid rat does appear, you’re screwed.  Excuse the informal speech.  So I suggest you surrender, because you know as well as I do that there’s no guarantee you will survive.  I am authorised to use deadly force should you force me to.  Surrender!”

 

“Never!” The grunt shouted, eyes flashing dangerously, before his voice rose in volume even more, “NOW!” The rat appeared right in front of thin air, slashing at the lark, who dodged nimbly.  The lark cawed in her musical voice, before glowing even further.  Glacidola’s voice grew louder, before a solid beam of ice emerged from the bird’s body, slamming into the rat’s stomach and freezing the entire animal’s body.  The grunt gave a gasp, moving forward, before being frozen to the spot.  Giovato began to fall, before Glacidola dove down and caught it with her talons, lowering it gently to the ground.  She then returned to Coral, landing on her shoulders and ruffling her feathers.

 

Coral folded her arms, looking to the frozen first grunt, and the second who was still writing around in pain, “...Not exactly the result I wanted.”  She turned her head to the young constable as he returned, “Give me your coat.”  The boy frowned, before nodding and removing the clothing item, handing it to her.  She nodded, before approaching the frozen rat, wrapping it in the blanket and lifting it up, “I shall return to the station to get back-up, do your best to treat that burnt bird, and help the second grunt in recalling it before they both die.” 

 

“Yes, ma’am.” The constable nodded as she walked away, before turning to glare down at the two grunts.  He approached the unfrozen one, looking at him with disgust, before sending his foot down on his nose, smiling as he heard a satisfying crunch.

 

*             *             *

 

“You know, this doesn’t really sound very fun.” Tom commented as he folded his arms, looking around the clearing, “I mean... training seems really dangerous.  All we need to do is accidentally wake up some dangerous Praestia, and we could all die.  Are you sure we should even use them except for emergencies?”  He turned to look at his three companions.  Him, Lolly, Molly and Anna were a kilometre or so out of Aurin Village, in a small clearing that Josh had apparently made up on the spot, “And I hope I’m not the only one worried about what Josh has planned for us.  I mean, like... is he writing what we’re saying right before we say it?  All this is stupidly confusing, I don’t like just being a character of his book.  I’m... me, I always have been me.”

 

Molly raised her eyebrows, stepping past him, “Well, if you’re worried about that... Josh wouldn’t kill any of us off while training. Not only would that make a crappy story, but he’s not... that cruel.”

 

“Unless he wrote it before we came here.” Lolly murmured, her monkey’s arms wrapped around her neck and legs her waist.  “In which case, I may just murder him when we return~  Even if I’m the one that dies... But in seriousness, I dunno... I find it doubtful that we have no control over what we do here.  I mean... I am going to randomly say potatoes right now, are you suggesting that Josh actually wrote that before I said it?  Heh, doubt it.”  She pet the monkey’s head, and it climbed off of her and down to the ground, looking around curiously, “So what are your Praestia called anyway?  Mine is Reomia.”

 

“Ghipo, the stupidest name ever.” Molly replied dully, before  looking to the mouse, “No offense... you didn’t choose your name.”

 

“Chicotra!” Anna exclaimed happily, hugging her duck tightly, causing it to flail about to get air, “And the best name for the best duck ever!  Chicochicochicochicochicochicotratratratratratratra.  Tralala.”

 

“...Shut up.” Tom snapped, shaking his head, before saying, “Well, you know my otter’s called Qualontra, so yeah... I suppose we’d best get training...”

 

“Allow me to help with that...” A voice spoke from behind the four, and they all turned in shock to see a group of people emerging from the trees.  The leader, the one who had spoken, smiled at them, baring pearly white teeth.  His hair was a bright green in some strange kind of bowl-cut, and beside him was an enormous rhinoceros.  He was dressed in forest green clothing, in a rather medieval kind of style with a tunic and cloak.  At his sides were a pair of daggers, the hilt of the longer glowing slightly along with the rhino.  Four others were next to him, two on both sides, though they had no Praestia summoned.  The leader stepped forward, before bowing deeply, “Greetings, children...  Or perhaps that is too condescending for you?  I apologise if so, but...  you are very young to be wielding... such power.”  His smile faded slightly as his green eyes examined the group’s Praestia, “My name is Marcel, and it gives me great honour to introduce myself as one of Mortalitas’ four leaders, under the magnificent Lord Xagraver... the true king of Otellus.”

 

Silence followed, as the four teenagers regarded him warily.  The silence was broken when Anna suddenly began hopping up and down, “Oh, oh, oh!  You have awesome hair!  Not as awesome as Callum, but he’s a good guy, and you’re evil, so really you having better hair would be reaaaaally bad but then again every story needs to have a super hot and sexy villain so maybe you take that role?  I don’t know, but the point stands that I love your hair and I wish you were a good guy so we didn’t have to have a totally epic pow pow fight and maybe even kill you and stuff.  How big a villain are you gonna be?  Cause I think the readers of Josh’s book are going to loooooove you and you’ll have fangirls and people making pages on facebook aaaand expressing their immense desire to have your babi- Pthpthpthpthpth!” Anna’s ramble was cut off as Qualontra, on his own apparent will, sent a jet of water at the girl’s face, shutting her up.

 

An even greater silence followed the ramble, as Marcel stared at the now-drenched girl incredulously, eyes widened and mouth slightly opened.  Tom forced a smile, looking down at the ground and back up, fists clenching and unclenching.  Molly moved closer to Anna, before pushing her firmly backwards and standing in front of her, muttering, “Smooth, Anna, smooth... now shut the hell up.”  Lolly, however, brings the palm of her hand to her forehead in a facepalm, before moving to Tom’s left with Reomia at her feet.  One of the men besides Marcel let out a chuckle, before the leader shot him a glare and he quickly shut up.  Eventually, Molly spoke loudly, “And lemme guess... You’re here to try and defeat us, and we’re going to win because we have only just started our journey.  Sorry, dude, but thanks to story logic, you are totally screwed even though we’re ‘children’.”

 

Marcel frowned, staring at the short girl, “...I fail to understand what you are talking about, little girl.  But fear not, for my goal is not to kill you.  Merely to scare you... or maybe even torture you.  But alas, you will still be alive after this encounter, so how about a smile, child?”  Molly frowned, now appearing angry, and Marcel chuckled, “I strike a nerve... children are so easily annoyed.  Foolish.  Anyway, we are done talking-“

 

“Yeah, we are.” Molly snapped angrily, her mouse trotting forward along with her, “So why don’t you screw off back to your precious master?  You honestly have no chance against us.”  The whole enemy group, minus Marcel, burst out laughing.  Molly looked to them, “Looks like your leader doesn’t find it funny. I wonder why that is?”

 

Marcel moved forward close to Molly, crouching down quite a distance to meet her eyes.  Tom and Lolly immediately moved forward, otter and monkey hissing angrily.  Marcel dismissed their threat with a wave of his hand, “Listen, child... I do not know who you think you are, but do not treat me as if I am an idiot.  I know very well of the prophecy, and what it entails.  More than you, in fact...  Just because you are part of something so important does not mean that you are invincible... In fact, I shall tell you a little secret.  At least one of your pathetic little group will be dead by the time this is all over... So do us all a favour, kid, and shut up.”  Marcel suddenly spun around, dagger whipping out and slashing through the air towards the pouncing monkey, cutting it from shoulder to hip.  Both Lolly and the monkey screamed in pain, collapsing to the ground. 

 

“Lolly!” Tom exclaimed in panic, dashing over and falling to his knees beside her, helping her sit up.

 

Lolly winced in pain, looking down, “...I suffered no injury.  Only pain.  Forget me.”  She quickly summoned the monkey back, shuddering again with deep gasps for breath, “...Guess I can’t help you with this one...”

 

Marcel chuckled evilly, soon changing it into a rather insane cackle, “Fools...  Do you not see the reality of your situation?  Do you not see how over-matched you are...?  I do not deny your importance to this world, but you are no heroes.  Not yet.  But... as I tried to say, we are done talking.  Men, summon your Praestia.”  Marcel smiled chillingly to Molly, who for the first time looked afraid.  As a gorilla, great dane, crocodile and black bear appeared, Marcel continued to say, “Hold.  Children... prepare yourselves... to face the rise of Mortalitas.  For you are all doomed!”

 

Marcel turned away from them with a click of his fingers, and marched away to watch from a distance.  Tom remained hugging Lolly close, watching the four enemy Praedux approaching them.  Lolly continued to grit her teeth in pain, eyes wide, while Molly backed away to join them, trying to regain her confidence.  The only one who seemed determined and confident was Anna, who for once looked fully serious, with no silly antics.  The four Mortalitas agents came closer; the only other sound to be Marcel’s insane cackling.

 

“Ladies, and gentleman...” The leader hissed, “Let the chaos begin...”

 

And said chaos begun.

 

*             *             *

 

“Sergeant!”  Coral looked up from her computer as an officer rushed over to her, quickly saluting.  Coral gave a gesture for him to continue, and the young man quickly began talking, “Ma’am, I’ve received a report from Aurin Village talking about a few suspicious men wandering around... said one of them had green hair... they also took a photo, if you’d follow me.”  Coral frowned, looking briefly back to the report she had been writing on the two grunts they’d just recently put under hospital arrest.  The young officer who had been with her was currently, across the room, working hard on some papers and oblivious to Coral’s conversation.  She gave a nod to the man in front of her, and followed him across the room to his own computer. 

 

“Him...” Coral murmured, eyes narrowing as she looked at the rather blurry photo appeared on the computer monitor, “Marcel... one of the leaders of Mortalitas.  He had been one of Xagraver’s top spies and assassins during the dark days seven years ago, and was responsible for several deaths of Estellia’s top generals and agents.  He’d escaped arrest numerous times, yet here he was, allowing himself to be seen in plain view of public citizens.  The man was dangerous, and if he was back outside the borders of Voxilitis borders, it could only mean trouble.  “How old is this image?” She asked quickly, looking to the man impatiently.

 

“Just came through, ma’am.” He replied, before clicking on the image details, “Says here the image itself was taken by a simple phone thirty-two minutes ago.”

 

Coral sighed, “Great, he could’ve already killed the entire village in that time.  Gather up a group of fifteen, quickly. Doesn’t matter who... this is a top priority mission, and I want everyone ready in five minutes top. Understood?”

 

“Yes, sergeant.” The man saluted, before hurrying away.  Coral sighed, grabbing her gun and strapping it to her belt, and touching her ear to ensure her ear-ring was still safely there.  She could still feel Accigre’s pain from before, and she knew that if Glacidola became too weakened to fight, she would be useful in the upcoming battle.  Hopefully, of course, there would be no need to battle.  But if everything she had heard of Marcel was true, then he wouldn’t surrender just like that.  What worried Coral the most, however, is what in Otellus business Marcel had in such an insignificant location as Aurin Village.  The only reason she could think of, was that he wanted to stop people travelling between Pacaris and Industrictus for whatever reason.  The motive was unclear, overall, and that was worrying.

 

She took another look at the image on the computer in front of her, as if to confirm that the man was definitely Marcel.  There was no doubt about it, at all.  The clothing style, the bright green hair, the evil smirk.  Even the way he stood was all too familiar, yet Coral had never even seen the man.  She gave a deep sigh, before placing her cap on her head and grabbing her jacket.  She then hesitated before moving away, looking to the young constable at the back of the room, “Hey, you.”

 

The boy looked up with a questioning frown, pen still in hands, “Yes, ma’am?”

 

“Get yourself ready.” She ordered, and the boy immediately got to his feet and got to it, “We’re heading for Aurin Village.  One of Otellus’ most dangerous criminals is on the loose, and I want you to help us catch him.”  The boy hesitated at the description, before giving a confident nod.  “And grab yourself a gun, you may need to use it if it calls for desperate measures.”  She turned away now, leaving the police station and onto the dirty streets of Silagost, “...And by god, this will call for desperate measures.”

 

*             *             *

 

“Oh my god, get off my back!” High-heeled boots tapped the floor impatiently, as the red-headed teenager folded her arms, glaring at the old man in front of her, “Like, seriously... I know what I’m doing, okay?  I know you only, like, recruited me recently... but I’m a professional!  A mission like this is nothing.  So shut your ugly mouth up, before you give yourself a heart attack, old man!”  She puffed her cheeks out childishly, dark brown eyes fixed on the evil lord in front of her.  The girl was around nineteen, with long, loose, red hair that reached to her lower back.  Even though she was an agent of the rebel group, Mortalitas, her choice of outfit made her appear to be any ordinary teenager on the streets, and unthreatening.  A ruby red short skirt exposed her pale and thin legs to all, her feet slipped into matching colour high heels. 

 

And this was what Xagraver chose to comment on next with raised eyebrows, “...I knew from reports that you were young and inexperienced, girl, but do you really expect me to let you go on such an important mission dressed like a... s**t?”  His eyes lowered to the short top she wore, exposing quite a generous amount of her breasts, and the lower half of her slim stomach.

 

“Ew, look up, you pervert.” The girl snapped crossly, hands now moving to her hips, “Old men looking at me down there is just creepy, y’know.  But you can believe what you want, sir, but I’m telling you the truth!  I am an expert with technology and hacking, I could hack into Otellus’ top security network in thirty seconds flat, leaving no trace I was ever there!  I’ve done it before, of course~  And that’s just one of my skills!  I can be the most persuasive, most manipulative, aaand the most flirtacious person you’ll ever meet.”  She smirked at him, “You want to get rid of Estellia’s guards on the borders of Voxilitis, right?  I can do better!  I can persuade them to join me, so when Estellia comes a’calling, she’ll think everything’s just hunky dory.  And please never use that expression, by the way, it so won’t suit you.”

 

Xagraver put a couple of fingers to his temples, sighing and looking away, “You do yourself no favours with your appearance or lack of discipline.  Very well, Rita...  I will give you this mission to get rid of the guards.  But if you fail...” He turned to face her menacingly, towering over her, “The loss of your life will be your punishment, do you understand?”

 

“Relaaax!” Rita giggled childishly, moving closer to him rather flirtaciously, as disgusted as she felt inside, “I can get anyone to like me... Now don’t you worry your handsome little head about it, I’ll be back with a couple of hundred new guards for you before you know it!  Don’t miss me too much.” She stood on tip-toe, giving the old man a small kiss on the cheek, before skipping out of his hall and into the fresh air.  Once outside, she immediately spat on the ground with a look on the ground, “Never doing that again... like, ew...”

 

She then hummed to herself as she continued skipping west, towards where Estellia’s garrison of two hundred guards were posted, the captain blissfully unaware of what was likely going to happen to him tonight.  Rita quite looked forward to it.

Author's Note

...So, writing a slut is really quite... interesting. But anyway, this is possibly my favourite chapter so far, but maybe that's just because I love my villain characters so much. Except Annie, she's just gross. But aye, this character introduces Marcel properly, as well as Rita.