Truly: First Omnibus

Chapter Eight: Bad News

The next day Lanyle felt a horrifying sadness from yesterday's events. But this gave way to the nice feeling that he could correct his mistake if he got the other keys. He had a new resolve to get the keys to the abyss, if only for the sake of the honor that Skalesha had showed that day. He sat there trying to think of what to do next. He wasn't sure, but he felt that a clue would drop in on him sooner or later, if not by Plight herself. Eventually the quiet was broken by a knock at the door. Lanyle got up and answered it. There was a military uniform clad girl standing outside.

"Myla Milometer, Military reporting for briefing, sir!" Lanyle was shocked, but not surprised. Myla had been in the army for way too long and hadn't quite gotten it out of her head to salute people she thought to be superior to her.

"So, what's up Myla and how's the job with the Assassins going?"

" Just fine, but me and Aria heard about your recent trip to the state fair and wish to inquire about the key to the abyss." She said.

Lanyle knew immediately to change the subject, but to what?

"You've blundered again," a voice comes from a girl on the other side of a hover car.

"Aria, how long have you been there? Nice to see that you're still alive. Have you hit up the bar scene since you've been here on earth?" Aria smirks.

"Well, guess you haven't changed, still as lazy as ever. Though I do think you should have an idea of what you're looking for at least." Aria opens the door as a huge man with long black hair step out of the hover car with and says "Let's talk business, shall we?"

Lanyle steps back into the house as the others followed him in. Myla and Aria sat on the couch and the big man puts a suitcase on a nearby coffee table.

"So what would you guys like to drink? I know Treyoshi for Aria. Myla would like to have something that at least sounds alcoholic, but what about you, Train?" Lanyle said to the big man

"Nothing for me please." The big man said.

"By the way, how's your narcolepsy and ADHD treatments coming, Train?" .

"We are not here for chit chat, Lanyle, we are here to talk about the key," Train announced.

"Man, I can't retire worth spit can I?" Lanyle said .

"It must be your karma," Myla offered.

Lanyle poured three drinks and put them on the coffee table. "So what do you guys want with the key?" Lanyle finally worked up the courage and said.

"Oh, we don't want your key. We sure don't want to fight our good friend for something so trivial," Aria said.

Lanyle breathed a sigh of relief. Aria nudges Myla who promptly says, "We were just wondering if you knew that the Countess would pay a fortune for the key and would probably hunt you down if you refused her offer?" Lanyle looked at Myla, and then at Train, who had fallen asleep. "So you guys are here to warn me," Lanyle said

"Well, it's not like we don't want to profit off the key, but we feel that it's more important that you and your family be safe." Aria said worriedly.

Lanyle gets a serious look on his face. "What do you mean by me and my family be safe? Is there something that you're not telling me?"

Aria set down her drink and looks right into Lanyle's eyes. "You know I don't like wasting words so you must know what I'm about to say to be the truth. The so called keys to the abyss are in your family's possession, and the Countess has hired the people you truly fear the most in order to get the keys."