A Master of Deceit

A smile was plastered on Remiel's face as he sat at a table near the center of what had been the festivities. Though he went into party hesitant and withdrawn, his spirits had lifted significantly. Hours had passed now and all but a few of his family had left and gone to bed already. I'll make sure they have tomorrow off, he thought pleasantly as he raised a glass of wine to his lips and took a sip. He surveyed what was left of the party area and his smile became less pronounced, but at least it was genuine. If only I could protect the world as I protect them. His smile fell away. If only I could protect them better. He took another sip, this one deeper and shook the thoughts from his mind. He can protect them better, now that is. With his newly acquired relic he could protect them. And perhaps now he could begin to protect everyone.

"Aren't you too young to be drinking, Rem?" Mathew's voice asked from behind him. Remiel grinned slightly.

"Are you here to begrudge me a single glass of wine, Matthew?" Remiel asked jokingly. Matthew chuckled softly.

"Nope, just to tell you we've found space for that new car you ordered." Remiel kept smiling but now his eyes took a more serious look to them. Matthew had just given him the code phrase saying they had moved the relic to the bunker and were ready for him to come inspect it. This relic was one piece of a group objects referred to as the "Fragments of God" due their destructive and mystical properties. Some controlled different aspects of nature, others commanded seemingly otherworldly powers, and a select few held the potential to end all life in the world. As far as Remiel was aware there were twenty four of these 'Fragments of God' in existence, and he now possessed six of them.

"I shall be along to see it in a moment," he answered as he set his glass down and rose from his chair. "First let us give our regards to the birthday girl one last time before we depart for the night."

"You mean 'lady", right?" Remiel laughed softly. To him it seemed like yesterday Sophie had arrived here with her parents and nothing else. Such a shy young girl, now she was fifteen. Even though he wasn't much older than her he wondered if this was how a patent should feel as they watch their child grow. Only twenty years old but Remiel felt each of those years as if they were two ton weights trying to crush him. Should he be thinking of himself as a father to his family when most were his seniors by at least six years? Perhaps he should look as though an overbearing brother. Would that be more appropriate? "Rem, stop thinking or I'll smack you back to the real world." Remiel smiled at the threat, knowing full well Matthew would follow through with it.

"What would I do without you and Jensen keeping me tethered outside of my mind?"

"Starve to death." Remiel gave a hearty laugh at that.

"Oh ye of little faith," Remiel said and began walking towards where he last saw the Flores. He found them surrounded by the family members he had recently reunited them with, chatting away in their native tongue. At his approach Sophie tore from the closely huddled group and charged straight at him. When she reached him Remiel was thrown off balance as she hit him at full steam and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. Remiel's mind went blank for a moment, stunned at the enthusiastic display of affection, and nearly fell. Fortunately the young man kept his balance and neither of them collapsed to the grass. For a moment he stood there in shock, but quickly recovered and returned the embrace. The fake smile he had been wearing was replaced by a slightly more authentic one. "Careful, Sophie, you almost knocked us both down and spoiled your beautiful dress with stains." Sophie immediately became flushed and stepped back from Remiel.

"I-I'm sorry!" she stammered out, but Remiel only gave her a soft smile.

"Think nothing of it, my dear friend. I only worry because a beautiful lady deserves an equally beautiful dress. One not sullied by stains." The blush on her face get ever darker and Remiel wondered if he over did it.

"Th-Thank you," she stuttered, blushing profusely.

"I'm afraid I'm only here to give you my best wishes on your birthday one last time before I depart for the night." Sophie's face fell at the news.

"Already?" Remiel nodded sadly.

"Going to bed so early, Rem?" Juan shouted loudly, laughing.

"I'm afraid so, my friend," he answered, smiling. "I fear I overextended myself of the partying." The large man leapt to his feet and quickly walked over to Remiel.

"Come on, we were just beginning to celebrate," he said throwing an arm around Remiel's shoulders, nearly crushing him. Remiel smiled warmly and was going to respond when a sudden fit of coughing wracked his body. Remiel's left hand shot up to cover his mouth as he could feel the sickly red liquid leap from his throat. Were it not for Juan holding him up he undoubtedly would have fallen, but the large man kept him standing as several gasps of alarm appeared around him.

"Remiel!" Matthew shouted. Keeping his left hand over his mouth Remiel waved him off with his right.

"I'm fine, Matthew," he said suddenly sounding weak. "Mere coughs, nothing to fret over."

"I'm sorry, Rem," Juan said from beside him. Remiel tried to laugh but it came out sounding broken and wet.

"Do not act as though you have power over my condition, my friend. This is in no way your fault. However, I do believe I will be retiring to my room for the night."

"O-Of course," Juan said hastily. He hesitantly let go of the boy, fearing that he may fall without him holding him up. Fortunately, save for a few wobbly steps, Remiel was able to hold himself up. Matthew quickly grabbed a napkin and handed it to Remiel. He thanked him and quickly wiped off his mouth clean of some of the crimson liquid before cleaning his hand.

Despite his attempt at nonchalant mask for his family inside he was furious with himself. How could he have an attack in front of them like that and on Sophie's quinceañera no less? Why did he have to make them worry about him? He knew his condition was out of his control, but that knowledge did nothing to dissuade the rage he felt at himself. He never would forgive himself for slipping up two years ago when he had an attack in front of some of the people that worked in his mansion. After that he was forced to come clean about his terminal illness, a strange disease with no cure that was slowly killing his organs. His favorite doctor gave him another five years to live. It was yet another lie he fed those he called family.

"Juan," Remiel said before turning away from the large man. Juan almost jumped at his name. "Would you please do me a favor and pass along word that everyone has tomorrow off?"

"S-Sure thing, Rem," he answered.

"Oh, and in the morning take our new arrivals shopping, on my tab of course. Something tells me they did not pack nearly enough clothes. I'll see to it my card is delivered to your room later tonight."

"Y-You don't have," Juan started, but Remiel cut him off.

"You are absolutely correct Juan. I do not have to, I want to." That was one good thing about his illness, he no longer had to justify throwing his money around, simply quoting 'You can't take it with you'. Before Juan could argue anymore Remiel waved goodnight to them all and slowly made his way back to his house. Matthew was never more than half a step behind him lest Remiel needed him for support.

"Rem," Matthew said once they were safely inside his mansion and none were around to hear, "you should get some sleep. It will still be there tomorrow."

"Perhaps," Remiel replied in a tone void of all emotion. "Then again the Council may tire of waiting for evidence of my hand in the theft of the relic and attack us tonight. I am the only Gifted we have here on the estate. I must see if it was worth the risk or if I doomed us all with naught to show for it." Mathew's only response was a grunt of disagreement but otherwise remained silent. Remiel wasn't satisfied with that. "I know you only worry for my health, my dear friend, but we both know my time on this earth is limited. I must do what I can in what precious time I have left. At the very least I will make sure the family we have made here is safe from the Council of Kings when they come to battle for the land my death will leave behind."

"You need an heir, Rem."

"I have already named Josh Longman my successor."

"You know the council won't acknowledge him as the Grey King. At most he'll have a few days before the council makes their move."

The Council of Kings, a shadowy organization that has pulled the strings of the world since before recorded history. Very little happened in the world without their blessing. Nations and empires rise and fall with their whims. The Council consists of eight families, each with their own territory to do with as they please. Remiel was one of these kings, the Grey King. If he had his way, soon there would be only one king.

"Even if they refuse to acknowledge him as king and challenge his rule they will not move against him so long as he has the relics I have acquired." At least he hoped they wouldn't.

"But what will keep him from using them?" Remiel's voice took on a dark tone as he answered.

"You will." Matthew was silent and didn't respond. He knew what Remiel meant. He would give Josh the keys to the world, as well as his own Sword of Damocles.

"What about the family? I've seen his reports, but do you think he will care for them as well as you have?"

"Have I?" Remiel asked. "I gave them a home and income, but have I really cared for them? Just because they live in ignorance of it does not dispel the danger they are in this very moment. At any moment the Council could decide to harm one of them just to hurt me."

"They wouldn't dare, not after what you did when they killed Kyle." Rage hotter than any flame erupted in Remiel at the memory. Kyle had been a loyal and dear person to Remiel since he was a child, but one day he was killed as a message from the Council. In the week following his death, dozens of agents working for the other kings had unfortunate accidents that resulted in their deaths and the Red King narrowly avoided a similar fate. The Council never came after his family again. That was the moment he knew what he must do: Destroy the Council, even if doing so cost him his life and his soul.

"I am not willing to take that chance." They walked in silence to the corridor that connected the foyer to the ballroom and stopped at the elevator. Remiel pressed the bottom and it opened with a light 'ding'. They stepped inside and Matthew proceeded to unlock the maintenance box where a hidden button lay. He pressed it and the doors to the elevator closed. With that they could feel themselves beginning to descend down past the basement and into the subterranean part of his estate.

"How long?" Matthew asked, breaking the silence. Remiel took a moment to answer it. He couldn't feign ignorance, Matthew was far too intelligent and knew him too well for that.

"Long enough," he answered. "Hopefully."

"How. Long." Damn that man, was he really going to make him say it? Remiel couldn't bring himself to say it, he wasn't strong enough.

"I was thinking how next year Sophie will be sixteen. I was considering getting her a car, a really nice one." He gave Matthew a bright smile. "Will you please make sure she gets one, Matthew?" The ex-soldier's face was hard as stone, but he nodded his head. "And Matthew, when I depart I am leaving the protection of our family to you and Jensen." Again he nodded his head. Remiel put his right hand on the man's shoulder. If only he or Jenson had been Gifted. He wouldn't have hesitated to make either his heir, but it was one of the few things in the world he could not control, and a curse he would never wish on anyone.

The Gifted are humans born with an inherited gift of power that could only be described as magic. They were all of above average intelligence, as far as medical research went it was speculated this was so because their minds had to be more developed in order to comprehend the forces at their disposal. This 'gift' was more of a curse though. For the more gifted the person was, the shorter their lifespan. It was believed they lived shortened lifespans due to the fact that their bodies needed magic in order to function properly, and magic in this world was all but dead. Remiel was one such 'gifted' person, and had magic been a plentiful source,  he would have been terrifying. But since magic is gone, he is merely a man doomed to die young.

He has spent countless millions of his wealth on finding ways to cure this ailment, or at least slow the progression, but science could only do so much. The team he had researching a cure thought they had a breakthrough not four months ago, but the trial ended in disaster. After that failure they directed their focus on other routes, but if they found a solution it would come too late for Remiel.

"Rem, I know I said it before, but-"

"I will not use that abomination, Matthew, even if it is the only way to save myself. The price is too high."

"You know there would be no shortage of volunteers." Remiel snapped on his friend.

"And who knows how much time their sacrifice will buy me? A year? A month? How many do you expect me sacrifice with that knife?" Matthew didn't back down from the challenge.

"You're no stranger to killing Rem," Mathew's voice was cold as ice. Remiel narrowed his eyes as some of his rage began to bubble to the surface.

"Neither are you, Reaper," Remiel countered. Reaper had been Mathew's nickname during his tenure in the military, and it was well deserved. Three hundred and five confirmed kills and another one hundred and twenty six unconfirmed. "What was it you told me after you arrived here and I asked how you kept your humanity after wading through so much blood?"

"It's not how much blood you spill, but who's blood it is," he answered. Remiel nodded his head.

"I have no qualms about killing those who need to die, but I will not butcher the same people I have vowed to watch over!"

"Then use the prisoners." Another angry retort was about to surface, but Remiel was suddenly wracked by another attack. Mathew's anger was gone as he quickly caught him and held him up. Remiel's hands covered his mouth to keep the blood from spraying out. Moments later the doors to the elevator opened. "C'mon Rem, we got to get you to Glasses." Matthew carefully put one of Remiel's arms around his shoulders and carried him off the elevator. Remiel could only see bits and pieces, but he saw enough to see Matthew scan his hand and prick his finger for the security measures. Then he heard the massive, three foot thick, solid steel door slowly open as the sound of running feet approached them.

"Your Majesty!" a voice shouted. Another set of hands grabbed him, but he used his now bloodstained hand to wave him off.

"I'll be fine," he answered. "Bring me a chair so I may rest a moment. And do not refer to me as King or any other formalities, Rolf. Rem works just fine."

"O-Of course!" Rolf answered before running off to fulfill Remiel's request. Matthew slowly walked forward, still supporting Remiel, and stopped to help Remiel sit in the chair when Rolf returned.

"Go get Glasses, Rolf," Matthew said as the young guard saluted then took off to go fetch the professor.

"You really must stop calling her Glasses, Matthew," Remiel chuckled softly. "The good doctor is a sweet lady."

"Heh, you just like her cause she's stuck in her head like you." Remiel chuckled at that. Matthew walked over to a counter and grabbed a handful of napkins. He returned and handed them to Remiel.

"Thank you." Remiel then set about cleaning the blood off his hand and wiping his face. "So my friend, have you asked her yet?" Matthew smirked a little.

"Gonna do it in a couple days," he answered. "Got everything ready. Fancy restaurant, a spot at the park to watch the stars, ring nice and polished." Remiel smiled broadly at the man.

"I am happy for you my friend, she is a good woman."

"That she is."

"Are you two gentlemen talking about me?" a feminine voice asked. Remiel looked over to his left and saw the professor entering. Her name was Kylie Summers and she was an attractive woman with long red hair and gorgeous green eyes. It wasn't hard to see why Matthew was attracted to her. Remiel mentally smiled to himself, thinking how she was a good match for him as she wasn't afraid to challenge him and Matthew was a good match for her because he kept her from living in her head. Remiel easily put on a mask to hide his surprise, but Matthew was not so quick.

"Alas no, my dear professor," Remiel said, trying to keep her from focusing on Matthew. Her proper title was Doctor Summers, but she insisted on being called 'Professor' instead. "Matthew here recently purchased a new car and I was merely comparing it to a woman."

"And what would you know about women, Rem?" she asked playfully. "Have you even been laid?" Rolf audibly gasped but Remiel smirked at her.

"A gentleman does not kiss and tell." Kylie laughed at him.

"Which is code for no," she declared. Remiel laughed with her and Matthew for a moment while Rolf looked stricken.

"Come now, Rolf," Remiel said, some laughter still in his voice, "what she said was indeed humorous." The guard almost jumped when he heard his name.

"But sir," he said hesitantly, "is it really the time for jokes?" Remiel sighed and nodded his head.

"Yes, you are correct," Remiel conceded. "We must proceed with examining the relic."

"Not so fast," Kylie said as she pulled out a small syringe. Remiel inwardly gulped at the small instrument. He hated, no, loathed needles.

"As you command, Professor," Remiel dutifully replied as he rolled up his right sleeve. She walked over and proceeded to take a blood sample. Remiel kept his cool, but his heart was racing and beating so loud he could have sworn that Kylie could hear it. He was unsure where his aversion to needles came from, but he knew it scared him like nothing else could.

"And there we go," she said as she put a small gauze pad over the needle's injection sight. Remiel held the small pad in place while Kylie capped the needle and handed it to Rolf. "Would you please place that in the cooler in my lab?"

"Yes ma'am," he responded before quickly running to do her bidding. Remiel smirked at the young man.

"He is a good man. A little high strung, but a good man none the less." Kylie and Matthew nodded their heads.

"Boy will go far if he keeps his head on right," Matthew added.

"How did he even get to guarding the shelter anyway, Rem?" Kylie asked. "He's still so young." Remiel smiled softly.

"His heart is strong and noble," he replied.

"Ah, you used your 'Sight' on him," she said. Remiel nodded his head. Remiel's 'Sight' was one weak bit of magic his body could manage in this weakened world. The only way he could describe it was that it was like touching the person's soul, their very essence, and reading it like a book. It was a tiring and painful ordeal, but he subjected each and every one of his guards and scientists that worked in the shelter to this examination. "I really wish you'd let me examine that power of yours." Remiel smiled at her.

"Perhaps someday, Professor," he answered. She sighed and shook her head.

"And that's code for never." Remiel and Matthew softly laughed at her. Removing the gauze pad from his arm Remiel rose to his feet.

"I do believe we have spent enough of our time on pleasantries, my friends," he said as he dropped the pad on a trash can. "We should examine the relic so I may go and rest."

"You got it," Kylie said with a smile, but Remiel saw through the mask she wore to the worry underneath. She was good at the art of subterfuge, but Remiel was a master of it. She knew, Matthew knew and Remiel knew that every time he used what little magic he had whittled away a little more of his already short life. But there was no way around it, this had to be done. "This way boys." Remiel and Matthew fell in line behind her as she walked through the brightly lit white hallways. Something else they all knew was that this may be his last time using magic, and when his magic runs out his life will not be far behind it.

For a few minutes they walked in absolute silence, greeting guards and other researchers as they passed. The 'Shelter' was massive underground complex that spanned almost all of his estate and had several floors. It was designed to be a last resort for Remiel's little family in case of any emergency, be it an attack by the Council or a natural disaster. It housed hundreds of residential areas, dozens of labs, and his guard's armory. There were more than a dozen escape routes so his family could be safely evacuated. Many of the guards had taken to calling him the ultimate doomsday prepper.

After walking down several hallways they finally arrived at a massive steel door. Kylie walked up to the terminal and placed her hand upon the scanner, then allowed for the retinal scan. After completing the necessary security measures the door slowly opened and two guards in the same grey uniform as Matthew stepped out with large automatic rifles and proceeded to pat down the professor before moving over to Matthew and relieving him of his weapons and patting him down as well. Even Remiel was subjected to the search. It was perhaps a little excessive, but there were reports of people being driven mad by merely being exposed to the relics.

After the pat downs the guards escorted them inside to an observation room with thick, tempered glass windows and another stout steel door. On the other side now lay six of the most destructive objects in the world. The two guards approached either side of the door and inserted two keys into separate terminals before turning them together. A loud beep echoed through the room and a hiss followed as the guard on the right grabbed the large door and pulled it open. The guards then stood aside and allowed the three to enter. Remiel held his breath as he entered the room, a feeling of unease washing over him. It happened every time he came here. It was as if the relics were calling to him, demanding they be used. Perhaps this was what drove those people insane.

Inside the room the relics each lay on their own podium as if they were trophies and not abominations. Once Remiel crossed into the room he heard the large door behind him shut, and only then did he dare breathe.

"Remiel," Matthew said breaking the silence, "if you're not up for it we can do this tomorrow." Remiel shook his head.

"We are already here, let us be done with it," he said, betraying his nervousness. Matthew looked like he wanted to say more, but held his tongue. Kylie led them past the relics, Remiel's eyes lingering on a dagger that was black as night and had two blades at opposite ends, one long one short. It was the relic he hated most and the one Matthew wanted him to use. They had dubbed it "Death's Knife" for it had power over life and death. With one scratch it could kill instantly, and if the short blade were to pierce one's heart and the long blade pierce another then the person stabbed by the long end would die and their life be transferred to the other. Even if the one pierced by the short end was already dead. It was truly an abomination that made a mockery of life.

At the very end lay the relic they had come for. In all appearances it seemed harmless. It was a golden ball small enough to fit in one's hand with thick ebony lines that ran across it in a cryptic, yet memorizing design. Despite its appearance Remiel could feel its call above all the others, and its pull was almost intoxicating.

"Do you sense anything, Remiel?" Kylie asked. Remiel nodded his head.

"It," he started before stopping to think of how to describe it. "It is strange."

"How so?"

"The other relics, they have this sense of drawing me in, but at the same time I can feel their power leaking out of them. With this the pull is so strong it is almost too much to bare, but I do not feel power leaking from it. To be frank, it is as if it is drawing power to it, even from the other relics." Kylie looked astounded while Matthew looked impassive.

"Could that be its purpose? To absorb ambient magic?" That was a terrifying notion to Remiel. If this orb drew in ambient magic then was it possible it was the reason for the decline of magic in the world? And if it was then did it simply neutralize the magic it gathered or did it somehow manage to store the magic inside of it? And if it was somehow storing all the world's magic, then its potential for a weapon was limitless. Should he be able to tap into its reservoir of power he would be invincible, and even if he couldn't, it could potentially be used to absorb the power of any relic the council used against him and render them useless. It may even give him the power his body needs to survive. The possibilities!

Remiel had to shake his head to bring himself back to reality. This was the danger of these relics to the Gifted. The allure of power would would creep into their minds and tempt them. And it had almost worked on him. Remiel had thought himself a master of self control, but this relic almost took him without even a fight.

"If it is then this relic is more dangerous than I originally believed," Remiel said. Perhaps it would be foolhardy to attempt to divine its purpose by the usual means. But how then should he go about it?

"It almost got you?" Matthew asked, concerned. Remiel nodded his head. "Maybe you should try it, Rem." Both Remiel and Kylie looked at Matthew as if he had grown a second head.

"Did you hear me just now, Matthew?" Remiel asked him, incredulous.

"Yeah I heard you, Rem," he replied, serious, "but I also heard Kylie say it might be taking in all the magic around it. So maybe it's storing that magic inside it and if you can tap into that it might just save your life." It was almost eerie how Matthew had been thinking along the same lines as he. No that wasn't right, Matthew's first thought was of how it could help Remiel, his first thoughts were of making it a weapon and gaining power.

"Or it could absorb what magic Remiel has left and kill him," Kylie said. Damn, Remiel hadn't thought of that, but it was definitely a possibility. Damn this relic! It was clouding his mind by just being near it!

"Rem's dead even if he doesn't," Matthew protested. Remiel looked at his friend with concern. This wasn't like him, not at all. He was normally the voice of caution, but now he was pushing for Remiel to use something that even seemed dangerous. Granted he pushed more than once for Remiel to use the knife, but he didn't even want him to come down here tonight. So why... It was then Remiel noticed it, his pupils were dilated and the corner of his mouth was twitching.

"Matthew, you must calm down," Remiel said warily. How could the relic be affecting him? He had no magic.

"Rem, what're you talking," Kylie started before Remiel cut her off.

"The relic is warping his thoughts, you know he would not normally act this way." Kylie regarded Matthew with worry as she slowly backed away from him.

"What are you talking about, Rem?" Matthew asked eerily calm. "You know this is the right choice, the only choice you have."

"You must think rationally, my friend," Remiel said as he slowly approached his friend. "The relic is twisting your thoughts. You know this is how they gain control over people." The twitching in Matthew's lip grew more pronounced.

"Rem, it's the only choice we have, please," he pleaded. "It can save you, Rem. We need you here. Everything we've built will fall apart without you." So that's what it was. It was using Mathew's fears against him.

"No Matthew," Remiel consoled. "Our family is stronger than that. We made it stronger than that. When I pass it will certainly hurt them, but they will survive." Remiel put his hand on the larger man's shoulder. "And they will look to you for leadership. You must be their pillar of strength even if you are denied a crown. " Tears began to roll down the man's face. Remiel was shocked but he didn't let it show. He had never seen the man cry before, and a part of him thought it impossible, but here it was.

"I'm sorry, Rem," he said in a small voice.

"There is nothing to forgive, my friend," Remiel said with a bright smile.

"I'm sorry," he repeated. Before Remiel could respond Matthew grabbed him and pulled him towards the relic before taking it in one hand and shoving it into Remiel's. Remiel was so shocked he didn't think to let go of the orb and merely looked at it in shock. By the time the thought had crossed his mind it was too late.

The golden sphere began to glow with a searing white light and Remiel suddenly felt very weak, as if his very life was being drained from him. He tried to release the accursed orb but his body was no longer obeying his commands. And then he felt it. He felt the last little bit of magic he had flew out of his body and into the orb, but it didn't stop. Suddenly the painful white light turned pitch black in color and the pain increased tenfold. Remiel let out a primal scream of pain as the relic continued to leach away at his life. And then his whole world went black. The pain suddenly disappeared and a sensation of falling washed over him.

Is this, is this how it ends? he thought to himself. I, I still had so much left to do.

So the inevitable has come to pass.

What was that? He thought he had heard something just now, but that couldn't be possible. Could it?

*This day was fated to happen, but the future is yet unwritten. Take care with your steps, Callous Reaper, for you lay the path that all will follow. Be it paradise or oblivion, you now guide the fate of the Broken World.*

Wh-What, who are you? Whatever that voice had been it gave him no reply. Slowly his mind faded out consciousness and the darkness engulfed him.