The Collector and Her Steed

Chapter 15

(A/N this chapter does contain spoilers for the game so if you haven't finished it, I will put an asterisk line before the spoiler filled area.)

Looking up at the grizzled older man, Mira nibbled on her lip nervously. His features remained cool and collected, however there was a glint of mischievousness in his eyes. Rushing herself to respond to him, she stammers out, "I- uh I wasn't really planning on having any erm, visitors, in my bed. Which would make them unplanned." Groaning slightly at her answer, she tried to step away from him but his hold on her was firm but gentle enough it didn't cause her any pain.

"Yes, that would make them unplanned. Now answer my question, would you invite any unplanned visitors into your bed?" His yellowish grey eyes bore into her dark chocolate ones. The tension between the two could be cut with a knife. Reaching up, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Mira flinched away from his touch, causing him to frown and let go of her.

Taking this chance, Mira stepped back a few feet and looked at him with wide eyes. "I do-don't think so, not at this moment. If I knew whoever it was better then maybe, and that's a huge maybe." Running her fingers through her hair again, she let out a soft sigh. "D-do you want to go sit down and maybe actually get to know one another better? I barely know anything about you and I'm sure you have questions about the outside world."

Heisenberg watched the shorter woman carefully, mirroring her as he ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. "I guess that would be the best, especially since you've been in the factory and have seen things no one else in the village has seen." Taking a step back, he waited for her to exit her bedroom to show him where they'd be having this conversation. The shorter woman shut the door as she squeezed past him, letting out a soft "eep" as he placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her nerves. "I'm not going to hurt you Mira, I'll..." he lets out a sigh, "I'll try to work on keeping my temper in check when around you. Most I'll do is bite, and that's only if you beg me." He lets out a deep chuckle as Mira hurriedly made her way over to the couch she had set up in her little living room. He watched her as she plopped down in a corner and tucked her feet up so she could sit criss crossed. Sitting himself in the opposite corner of the couch, he turned so he could look at her while resting his arm on the back of the couch. "Go ahead and ask me anything you want, I'll try not to get upset over anything but I can't make any promises. Especially if you ask about that bitch Miranda."

Looking over at him, she slightly turns her body so she was now facing him. "Well, the first thing I want to know is are you the only lord with powers or was there something that made you all the way you are now?" Leaning over to a basket sitting next to the couch, she pulled out a blanket and set it over her lap. She hesitantly offered up the other half of the couch to Heisenberg, which he declined.

*******

"Well, to be blunt about it Miranda found this massive mold growth she calls the megamycete about a century ago after her daughter died at a young age. The mold can transform the human body. Miranda spent years experimenting on townsfolk and other unfortunate fuckers who got ensnared in her trap. All of us lords were experiments, she put cadous inside of us which were like small bits of the mold she could use to see if someone's body was a good candidate for her daughter Eva to come back into. Most experiments turned into lycans, but us four lords turned into who we are today. Each of us has our own set of powers and whatnot, mine is the ability to use the electromagnetic current inside of me to control metal. Us freaks were 'adopted' into her family and she took control over the village by pretending to be a prophet. The megamycete is somewhere in the area apparently so it only makes sense for her to take over the sad fucks that live here." As Heisenberg went on about the creation of him and the other lords, he clenched his fists tight enough that his knuckles turned a bright white.

Reaching out to gently set a hand on top of Heisenberg's, Mira continued to listen to his tale. "I was just a fucking kid when she got me. It was during the second world war and I was maybe seven or eight." Pausing, Heisenberg grimaced a bit at the memory. "Miranda turned me into what I am today. I never fucking chose this life but here I fucking am, just another play thing for her."

Rubbing the back of his hand gently, Mira frowned as he said the second world war. "So wait, how old are you, Heisenberg? You don't look older than maybe being in your forties to fifties."

"Ah shit, what year is it?" He reached back with his free hand to scratch the back of my head.

"Oh it's 2019." Mira said, watching his movements. She could tell he was uncomfortable with the topic of conversation so she tried her best to comfort him without overstepping it.

"Then I'd be turning 84 this year. Shit, I'm old enough to be your grandpa." Chuckling softly, he looked to the side. "Since Miranda took me when I was a kid, I never really got to go through the normal stuff that happens in life. I never got to finish school, I never got married, or had kids. I was too busy becoming a bioweapon for a crazy bitch." Looking back at Mira, he tried to force a smile but couldn't. The memories were too painful.

Taking a hold of his hand, Mira wrapped both of her hands around it. "Thank you for telling me this Heisenberg, it means alot that you trusted me enough for me to hear this. I'm sorry she put you through this hell. Though to be fair, without her I would have never come to this village when I was a kid."

Hearing this, Heisenberg cocked an eyebrow up. "You've been to the village before and you got to leave?"

"Well yeah, my mother was kind of like a student to Miranda. She would bring my father and I along with her on trips, until they got divorced. Then it was just me and my mother until she suddenly disappeared along with all of her own research. I was forced to move to America since that's where my father had moved to. I dreamed of returning to this village because as a child I was always fascinated by everything, especially the castle. But then again what little kid isn't thrilled to see a real castle?" Laughing softly, she looked down at her lap. "I know my mother cared deeply about me, so now hearing your side of things it's baffling knowing that Miranda is such a horrid person and that my mother let me be around her. I couldn't imagine being able to make it through all of the shit she put you through. I am glad however that despite how shitty Miranda is, she did technically bring the two of us together. And yes, I am glad I met you despite you scaring the shit out of me a couple of times, and all of the threats on my life."

Giving Heisenberg a reassuring smile, Mira gently let go of his hand since she could sense the tension leaving his mind. Resting her elbow on the back of the couch, she cradled her head in her hand. The two sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Mira spoke back up. "Do you want anything to drink? Water, whiskey, any other alcohol. I do have some freshly squeezed apple juice as well."

"No, I'm fine Mira. I'm just thinking." Heisenberg reached over and took her free hand absentmindedly, rubbing his calloused thumb across her knuckles. "Okay, now it's my turn to ask you a question."