Inertia, Part 2

Fenris is reputedly the greatest hunter in the Draconian's pantheon, so it will be interesting watching him do his work against Brutus. Strangely I think that hunter and I are going to get along very well, in spite of the terrible harm he's brought against my people. He'll be incredibly useful, at least, and I think--though I do not know--that we think quite similarly to each other.

This does not bode well for Mammon, or by extension, Brutus.

Fighting as a team is an excellent way to get to know one another because it requires reliance and trust. Fenris and I hardly know each other, but he being something of a deity has a leg up on this: he knows my soul. He knows me at my core, which on one hand is incredibly unsettling: it means he knows the wrath I'm quietly accumulating towards destroying Chaw'Haust, and he knows the stains left upon my mind by Naga, and he probably has some notion of the reasons for why I am even. I on the other hand hardly know him, and I only know that, contractually, he is now working for me until my quest is completed. Thankfully deities are very loyal to their debts.

He is behind me, doing gods know what, but doing it well whatever it is, and as Brutus's eyes watch the crystal and the chain arcing skyward, I bring my right arm to bare; the plates are spinning around my fore arm and I send them off towards Brutus, my pace not slowing, not taking the time to look back but moving instinctively towards my left to leave an open field of fire for Fenris to work with as he is behind me and to my right. I'm hoping to hit Brutus' knees and shoulders so as to disable as many limbs as I can; and I reorient the fifth plate in its orbit around my arm so that it is standing on end facing Brutus, so I can block the serpent's head he commands as well.‏

Before I could realize what was happening, I feel a rush of cold wind fly past my head, accompanied by the clinking sound of metal chains and a loud whistle. A harsh, cold blast of air bit at me even through my warm clothing. I heard Brutus quickly grunt in pain with little time to breathe before I feel the same biting air rush backwards and a loud crack and cracking like that of ice in freshly poured water in the far side of the hallway.

Fenris had made his move, quickly and without unnecessary effort. Behind us, back next to the elevator door which we had entered through, Brutus stood frozen solid in thick ice, frozen in time just before making contact with the wall in his unexpected and fast assault.‏

My eyebrows went up a little in surprise at this; four of the metal plates remain embedded in Brutus' joints, then again entombed in ice. The crystal itself lies partially embedded in the edge of the ice block too; I could pull them out I suppose, but that might shatter the tomb Ferris has built for him. I frown briefly, sheepishly almost, and then glance eyelessly back at Fenris as the one remaining plate returns to a flat position on my arm. I glance at Fenris, then at Brutus who now stands frozen behind him, and I almost open my mouth to speak, but it would be unnecessary; so I nod slowly once in acknowledgement of his handiwork and then begin moving into the inner chamber.‏

"Let's... try to leave Mammon in speaking condition, if able." I add as we reach the final door, glancing back at Fenris with faint hints of an amused smirk on my face. Fenris is going to be a very valuable asset against Chaw’Haust.‏

"As you wish" He replied, still following close behind me as we entered the room.
The room itself was rather large, but nothing if not extravagent. From what little I could tell, the room had a small stage, its own bar, a massive horseshoe shaped couch, and a large display of animal trophies, some of which I could recognize, others seemed straight out of an old fairy tale. But no Mammon in sight, or at least visible to my senses.‏

I could however still smell a faint scent in the room; not the same salty, smoky texture as Fenris, but there, and fresh.

I pause in the middle of the room, looking over the chamber; I can see where Chaw'Haust had stood when he was here only so many days prior. Strange to think that I'm working with the deity that laid waste to so many, to hunt down the deity that framed my people for the crime he was avenging--are my priorities out of order?

I take slow steps towards the wall of animal trophies. Figures of all sorts, in dramatic poses, now skinned and stuffed as decorations serve to add some flavor to the room, and it works nicely I suppose. I gently extend my arm towards a stuffed antelope and run a finger along its muzzle.

"Fenris, there is a saying that I have heard--perhaps you have heard it as well? The truth will set you free--"

--the remaining plate around my arm skewers the stuffed antelope's head, running into its mouth and out the back of its head. It twists like a bore, before returning to the wrist that launched it--

"--but only once it is finished with you." I look back at Fenris, sniffing the air--the scent remains. He's here.‏

"Mammon, I'm only going to ask you once. Have a seat on the couch, will you?" I murmur the words softly, not breaking eye contact from the hollowed out skull of the antelope.‏

No reply.

I turn to find myself facing a pure white fox among the displays, frozen in a sitting position with its right paw up. A series of 9 tails raised in display behind it, its turquoise blue eyes looking at me in a frozen glare, its mouth in a familiar fox-like grin.‏

I stare at it for a moment with a blank expression, the offer outstanding but slipping further and further away. Without a word, I send the plate into the fox's nose--I hit it flat on, as opposed to with a cutting edge.‏ As soon as the plate made contact with the fox's nose the fox's ruse was broken. He tumbled in pain using his paws to try and calm the pain which I had inflicted upon his nose, gasping and screaming as he rolled on the floor in agony.

"Augh! Damn it all you vile female!" The fox shouted at me inbetween yelps."Right on my poor nose! Augh! The pain!"

Fenris moved behind me, waiting for me to give an order or for Mammon to attempt to flee, whichever came first.‏ Collecting the plate, I watch the fox writhe on the floor, white fur palpitating under his heavy breathing.

"Do you know why I'm here, Mammon? And please answer truthfully. I don't feel like humouring you further tonight." I turn my back on him and move over to the couch, letting Fenris watch Mammon collect himself amongst his stuffed animals.‏

"No I dont know why a Flux slag has intruded on my home and broke my poor little nose!" Mammon shouted off the floor. Fenris stepped forward and onto one of the fox's tails, the slight crack of bone became audible for one brief, yet pleasing moment, followed by the pained screams of the writhing fox.‏

A look of surprise--not of great surprise, but a pleasant one--breaks out over my face, and I turn back at the fox with excitement.

"But you know my race!" And then my face goes from pleasant excitement back to blank dispassion.

"How peculiar. You see this fine fellow here," I say as I gesture to Fenris, "who made marvelous work of your bodyguard I might add, is perhaps even a better lie detector than I am, so please take this seriously Mammon because the sooner my agenda is furthered the sooner I and Fenris will be able to bid you good evening. Now, Chaw'Haust, that is to say Shaw Haust, was here recently, yes?"‏

Mammon was using his paws without success to remove his tail from under Fenris' foot now.

"I get a lot of visitors, lady. what makes you think I'd remember a 'Chaw Vaust'? besides! That's bad business just blabbing things out loud! now please, Fenris, dear friend GET OFF MY TAIL!" He yelled.‏

I feel restless. I get off the couch and move over to a mini fridge, which I open; I begin sifting through the bottles till I find a vodka and two glasses.

"He was here ten days ago, Mammon," I say as I close the fridge, and then I lie a little well aware that Fenris will smell it on my breath. "Brutus remembered that he spoke with him, and you spoke with him too--why do you make this so difficult on yourself, Mammon? Really."

I walk over to Fenris, who is still looming over the crippled fox, and I uncork the bottle and begin filling the two glasses. I hand one to Mammon's worst nightmare and I take the other, but I don't drink it; instead I stand there contemplating how to proceed. Fenris knows just as well as I do that Mammon has a guilty hand in this--I know because I watched from afar, and he knows because of that supernatural gift of his.

"If you don't tell us what we want to know," I say at last, "I will make an example of you to anyone else who helps Chaw'Haust. I will pour this on you and then I will light you on fire, and then once you are no longer on fire I will begin carving out your organs and serving them to you. Or," I propose, "you can sit down on that couch and have a drink. You look like you need it."‏

The fox's eyes widened in terror as he stared at me, then at Fenris, not moving for several moments. He was considering his options. He knew he'd live through whatever torture I dealt him, but he also knew with Fenris' help, that torture would be agonizing, even for a god.

"O-Ok....we'll talk! now please, Fenris, release my tail!" He quickly spat out. "I'll cooperate!"‏
 
Fenris looked at me for my  order.‏

About damn time. I was feeling strangely silly threatening a fox.

"Fenris, I think we're making progress at last. Mammon," I ask at last as I nod to Fenris, "ice with your drink?" I'm confident enough of Fenris' skill, and the mortal terror that's befallen Mammon, that I think things might finally be going as hoped for.‏

Fenris released the small white 9-tailed fox which then cowered over to the couch where he took his seat.

"No...no ice." He replied. Glancing over to Fenris who stayed close to me.‏

"Now, stop me if I'm wrong here; Chaw'Haust visited you ten days ago on behalf of Lord Naga, yes? And he contracted you to steal the Devastinian, I think that is the name, and have it delivered to Chaw'Haust, yes?"‏

"Y-yes..." He hesitated, leaning forward to take a drink from the glass, picking it up with both his front paws and holding it close. "I was contracted, on behalf of the soul eater, to steal Fenris' brother..." Mammon glanced over to Fenris, as though expecting a reaction from the god. Fenris tensed up, but took no forward action except for a quick barring of his teeth which scared Mammon into taking an particularly keen interest in his drink..‏.

I watch Fenris' reaction to Mammon's admission. My first thought is to inquire as to when and where Mammon gave Fenris' brother to Chaw'Haust, so that I can go back and intercept him and prevent Fenris' wrath from befalling my people. But this would mean that Fenris never eres, and thus never comes into my employ; thus I would never come to be interrogating Mammon; and beyond that Fenris might resent my inaction if I did not intervene there.

"What did Chaw'Haust give you in exchange for this?" I ask at last, considering the alcoholic fox. Come to think of it, I have to say this is becoming a very strange night.‏

"I received memories. Secrets and old events long thought lost. Good for an investment." He answered. "The memories of Chassavo and his family. Very valuable, very rare, very unique"‏

Chaw'Sah'Voh? How strange how our paths cross again, indirectly; I make brief eye contact--metaphorically in my case--with Fenris, but then again I do not think Fenris knows of my interest in the chaw', so the gesture is likely moot. I suppose Chaw'Sah'Voh could be motivated well with those memories, but keeping Mammon cooperative means not addressing that point before I have to. Even still simply the knowledge of their location is valuable.

"Mammon I didn't take you to be so sentimental," I murmur with an edge of sarcasm. His glass is empty, so I pour him another one.

"You framed my people, Mammon, which puts you and I," I say as I gesture between the two of us with the vodka bottle, "in a... difficult situation. Fenris here is atoning for his actions by working for me, but as for you I'm not seeing much penitence personally--but perhaps I need a professional second opinion. Fenris, does Mammon seem particularly sorry to you?" The stoic drake glares, and the fox cringes again and begins lapping up the drink.

"So the way I see it, we have two options. Care to guess what they are?"‏

"Is one of them where you let me go?" Mammon asked me. "because I'd like that option. very much so..."‏

"As it stands Mammon, I'm much more inclined to make an example of you to the other Draconian as towards what to expect if they so much as give Chaw'Haust the time--not that he'd need to ask," I answer honestly, and Mammon's eyes widen with apprehension. "So unless you can provide a very compelling argument why I shouldn't--"‏

"Because I would make a terrible example! In case you havent noticed, I'm not like the others!" He waved a paw in Fenris' direction. "Harming me will not avenge anyone or undo anything! I've been a good god, not a backstabbing murderer or an over-glorified bounty hunter!" He motioned to Fenris once more. "I should’ve known not to get involved in one of -their- plots! I shouldn’t be the one to suffer for one measly mistake!" He was panicking now.‏

"Ah, but there," I murmur, "there you'd be mistaken. It would avenge the people you framed. My people."

I look to Fenris for a moment, continuing to speak to Mammon.

"Do you think you could repay that debt, Mammon, or am I wasting my time with you?"‏

"I framed no one! this was not -my- plan! Merely a pawn used to further someone else's goals!" Mammon explained hurridly. " What happened was wrong! I admit this! I don’t profit off death like the others! I figured if Devastinian was out of Fenris' hands we could go a bit longer without the Herald coming! If anything I spared the universe a terrible and early fate!" Mammon wrapped himself in his tails defensively. "I swear, Fenris, I only had the best in mind for this world!"‏

Fenris looked at me, waiting for a response.‏

Well he's sincere in begging at least, I'll give Mammon that. But Chaw'Haust did tell him he was going to frame the Flux, and Mammon can't be that much of an idiot to not connect the dots between an angry god of justice and framing an innocent party.

"I'm only going to repeat myself once, Mammon: can you... repay... that debt?"‏