Power of the 8 Elements

Chapter Fifteen

Thrax POV

"Do you ever get the feeling that we're being used?" 

"We're always being used," I said to Nereid as once again we were being sent out for one of the Evil Angel's many, many...many tasks.

"I think we should rebel."

"Forgetting something?"

"No, I don't think so."

"You have nowhere to go to. I need the thrill of causing damage, and you're too young to live on your own." 

Nereid's head lowered. I rolled my eyes, trying to keep myself from feeling bad for her, but I honestly couldn't help myself.

"What does she want us to get again?" I asked, trying to bring her spirits up. I already knew our assigned task, I just wanted to make her feel useful when I knew that she wasn't.

"We need a nuclear bomb."

"And I know where to get one."

"And where is that?"

"There's a not-so-secret underground facility run by a not-so-secret virus, who I just happen to know. I ran a few errands for him a few months ago, and I know for a fact that he's illegally manufacturing dangerous weapons." 

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I don't know EVERY virus, but I certainly know this one.

"Remember that he's a jerk, and he's full of ego."

"Like you," Nereid said.

"Shut up!" 

She froze in fear.

"Now, I'm going to talk to him while I want you to sneak around back and look for any kinds of nuclear bombs. They keep them in a small box in the back rooms, I think." 

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It's a great idea; I came up with it. Now scram." 

I let her run lose as I walked up to the wooden desk that sat in the back of the room, right in front of this huge tank with several long and sharp-looking pipes that occasionally sprayed gusts of steam. I slammed my hand on the desk.

"Dengue!" I said, grinning widely.

He folded through a deck of cards, holding a cigarette in his mouth, and wearing sunglasses. 

"Long time, no see?"

"Anthrax," he snarled. 

I continued to grin, glancing at the armed bodyguards walking closer to me.

"Anthrax...Lucifer?" I presume. 

He took off his sunglasses, glaring at me with his bright pinkish red eyes.

"Actually, it's Thrax."

"You've got a lot of nerve comin' back here." 

"Either I've got a lot of nerve, or I'm just plain old stupid, am I right?"

The other viruses, workers, and bodyguards began laughing, even Dengue.

"What brings you here?" Dengue said, taking the cigarette out of his mouth to blow the smoke in my face. 

I coughed and blew the awful smelling fumes away.

"I am here on official business. Can I use one of your weapons?"

Dengue's face fell, the smile disappearing into a scowl. He puts the cigarette back into his mouth and puts the sunglasses on his face again. "Boy...I give you a job. I make sure you're well paid. I keep you away from the cops, and this is how you repay me."

"Technically you treated me like a scrawny teenager---although I was one---made me pick locks and steal the dumbest items, putting my life and my freedom on the line, while paying me two dollars a week. Quite frankly, I'd say that we're even." 

"Anthrax."

"THRAX!"

"Whatever."

"You might think that you're some kind of big-shot virus, but you're not, and you never will be."

I snarled, making a clicking sound that caused Dengue to pull down his glasses and drop the cards. "SHUT IT! I'M KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS BACTERIUM KNOWN TO MAN. I'M A LIVING WEAPON TO THOSE IDIOT HUMANS, ALRIGHT?! A BIO-WEAPON, BABY! I'M LIKELY TO START A PANDEMIC IN 1 IN 5,000 ODDS, AND ALTHOUGH THAT MIGHT SOUND PATHETIC, IT'S BETTER THAN YOUR MEASLY 1 IN 10 MILLION ODDS!!! YOU GOT THAT, DENGUE!"

Dengue stood up from his chair, staring into my eyes. I hissed. 

"Boys, get him," He shouted, pointing the cigarette at me. 

I turned away and began walking without looking, knowing that all kinds of viruses, germs, and wizards were charging towards me. I grinned. I turned around and stabbed them with my tendrils. I sliced one open with my claw, eating his heart for a quick snack. I kicked one in the face, and slammed them into another germ. I climbed up onto the ceiling. Those with wings flew up and began trying to attack me. I dodged them easily. One pulled out a crowbar. I stepped on their foot, knocking the bar out of his hand and knocked him out with it. I extended my claws and sliced open several other guards. One shot a bullet at me, but it bounced off. I snatched the gun from them and shot them in the head before pulling out my own weapon from my coat---a machine gun and firing it repeatedly at anyone else who walked towards me. 

(image from Wikipedia)

Dengue leaped over his own desk and began charging towards me. I tossed the gun to the side, knowing the real fight was between him. He scratched me once, and we both spun around giving each other one last glance before we stood, face-to-face.

"You never touched me," he said.

"Oh, really?" I said. "Well, then what's that there?" I pointed at his arm. He stared at the tiny cut. I tapped my fingers together, emphasizing the longest one on my left hand----the glowing one. Anyone who's been a victim of my wrath knows very well that it doesn't matter how big the cut is from the finger. It'll kill you nevertheless.

Dengue laughed. "You really are something, Anthrax."

"It's Thrax." 

"Heh, of course it is." He let out an exhale before collapsing to the floor, skin bubbling up and setting aflame. I let out a half-hearted laugh before turning away and looking at the damage I did. I walked towards another one of my victims, the one who attempted to shoot me. I kicked at their lifeless body as blood pooled underneath and sighed sadly. Lucifer, although I didn't want to admit it, was right. "There's gotta be more to life for us dark ones than killing." 

"I've got it!" Nereid said, running towards me, holding a jar with neon green liquid that had a pulsing glow.

"I thought you were getting a weapon."

"I was, but I found this. It's nuclear."

"The Evil Angel will be glad," I said, leaving with a grin, but thinking about Dengue.