THUNDERFIST : Iron Rebellion

CHAPTER 22

Cassian

Walking back to my home, I noticed the black clouds clustered in the violet sky. The hues of nasty orange and dark blue sky looked like an exquisite canvas painting that I used to spot in art museums. Suddenly, my thoughts pictured my memories of the days when I used to roam in art galleries and museums. The best times were like a vacay to me. 

Hypnotising patterns, and catchy colors, I usually get lost in them, thinking with the mind of the artist. Optical illusions were my favorite, and still they are my favorite but I got stuck in an illusion of life. And coming out from this illusion seemed like a dead end.

Found a rusty can on my way and dragged it, played with it till i reached my destination. Before I could get inside, I saw flashing lights from the car heading into the building. Curious to know why the police are headed in my locality? I followed them further inside the area. My brain was working faster when I realised they are here to get the drug dealers arrested. But, to my shock, I saw an ambulance there. And the paramedical staff were taking out the bodies from an apartment.

The crowd gathered near the spot and the police were interrogating the neighbours.

“What happened here?” I whispered to a random person standing in the crowd.

“There was a party going on last night here, in this particular apartment. But no one came out from here since morning. The neighbours got suspicious and all the police immediately. They found out the whole crowd inside the apartment were dead.” that man replied to my query.

I frowned and watched everything in a bit of shock. My head was constantly aching but I was more eager to know about this incident. Suddenly, the Police arrived with the body of someone I used to know, Otis.

It was way more depressing to me. Otis is dead and his addiction took his life. Or is it a murder? Everyone present in his apartment died? There must be something in their food or drinks.

“Take his body for autopsy. We have to inform the victims' parents as soon as possible.” 

Two of the police officers were talking to each other. 

The whole scene made me nauseous and I left immediately. Though we were on bad terms with each other, somehow I felt bad for him. Heading back to home, I felt a familiar presence behind him and grabbed him under his sleeves. Shocked, he was smiling with his thin lips while his blue eyes shining under the shallow moon’s light.

“Sucker….” I grinned and let him go.

“I heard you were looking for me?” He dusted his clothes and looked back at me.

“Who said? There must be something in your ear….” I chuckled and turned my heels.

“Your inner voice..” he said with enthusiasm,

It made me look at him blankly, as his words really confuses me sometimes.

“Otis died!!!” I informed him.

“I know.. Glad you are clean now or might be at his place, and dead by this hour.. Who knows? My hero’s story might have ended even before it started…” 

“You are weird, your words are crumbled, hard to understand sometimes..” I complained.

“They will make sense to you.. But before that, want to grab some beer? I know a place…” he offered and I accepted his offer.

“Sure, why not? It’s been a while since I had a beer…” I pressed my lips in a flat line.

We went to a bar, a silent one, the place was empty, no crowd, just us. We ordered beer and some snacks. While waiting for our orders to arrive, I kept observing Alarous’s face which looked more stressed than before I saw him earlier.

“Is everything fine? You seemed stressed..” I asked him.

He nodded his head slightly and looked back with his shining blue orbs, “yeah.. Things are under control but I can't take it for granted in the future…”

“What are you talking about? I know you brought me here for a purpose.. It will be great if you spill the beans for me..” i started him right in his eyes.

He smirked, “clever.. I love it.. You are changing.. “

I stare dead at him.

“Com’on dude, grab something first then we'll talk,” he offered again but I was getting a hint that he actually wanted to forget some pain that I could see from his eyes.

Bottles after bottles, he chugs on them like his life is depended on the bottom of the beer. Joking and babbling, I never saw him doing this earlier, or is it because this is our first time hanging out together.

“I think you had enough, Al.. we should leave now..” I suggested it to him after noticing that he is pretty drunk now.

“Leave? Yet? Is this morning? I usually get kicked out by the security…” he laughed and i felt a bit embarrassed.

Realising he won’t budge, I dragged him with me back home. Put the fact away that he is drunk and I can take advantage of it, i was helping him because he helped me save my ass from Otis.

“Dude, i think i will throw up…” he warned me right at the moment he threw up..

“Gosh.. that smells so bad…” I scrunch my nose.

The time we entered my home, he passed out on the floor. I dragged him like a dead body and took off his clothes. Tugging him in my bed, making sure he is fast asleep.

I watched him snorting like a pig and decided to take some snaps to humiliate him.

“Cassian…” he whispered in his sleep.

My ears are stiff when I hear his voice.

“I will keep him protected, your majesty.. He is all grown, he is a big man now.” he was babbling in his sleep until i realised what he was saying.

“He looks like you, your majesty… he is a brave man… I am proud of him…” 

Not sure if his beer talking to me or he is talking to his majesty is his sleep. But why did he take my name?

“Cassian’s foster parents abused him today, I will make sure they grant hell in the afterlife…” he kept repeating those senseless words, but I was terrified. 

Terrified of something that I don't know. Alarous knows way too many things about me, and I need them to be extracted, but how?

“Cassian.. She is calling you.. She needs you.. Zeus has her.. Captive..” Alarous said these words before going into deep sleep.

I was in my kitchen, making coffee for myself. I couldn’t keep my head out of it.. Those words.. Majesty, Zeus, Captive.. What did he mean? I need proper information about my existence but this weird stuff is alien to me, not sure I can find enough information about my parents but I can't wait any longer.

When Alarous woke up, he needed to give some explanation to me. Meanwhile, I turned my laptop on and searched for Zeus and related stuff.

Wasting my two hours on the internet, I haven't found enough information from which it can be revealed that this all has to do something with me. I carefully read all the articles related to Olumpians but haven’t found anything about my existence.

I recalled Alarous giving me names of my parents but so far, i remembered one word, Alaine..

I searched for it but found no beneficial information.. In frustration, I slammed my fist in the wall.

“She is not mentioned in history because she is lost in it… “ i heard his voice and I looked at him, he was standing at the doorstep..

“What are you talking about?” I asked him.

“Your mother, Alaine.. Just like your father, she is lost in history. That is the reason why you can’t find any information on her..” 

“Didn’t you say she is the bravest queen?” I eyed him..

“Yes.. she is.. But her story isn’t completed yet.. The tale that everyone needs to know is incomplete.” he stated.

“What? I guess your beer is dancing in your head...:” i frowned while looking back in computer’s screen.

“No, dude.. I was acting up, i need to get into your head…” he said with a grin i eyed him dangerously.

“You want to know the story? You have to become a part of it…”