A fight for dominance and nobility

Chapter twenty- seven: the personification of death

We walked silently to Murray's office. I can tell he is still struggling to process the information I told him which makes me wonder how would Zadie react. Is she going to be livid, or would she have expected it? I want to help her badly, but I fear her rejection, and refusal to do so and it pains me.

Murray's office is full of shelves filled with books. It is not a huge space but a medium-sized space. Murray sits down on his chair; I stare as he runs his hands through his hair clearly frustrated and confused. I do not understand if he perceives the matter as cogent. There is a long drag of silence I dread. I wish he could say something. Communication is key at times like these.

'How?' he questioned. Finally, he asked. My own origin is a mystery to me. Father never told me more about my existence but I am very aware of the monster living in me and the so-called curse that everyone seems to notice.

'This matter is ambiguous.'

'Ambiguous in what way, Blanchet?' Murray snapped. 'All these years you were spewing lies. Now that the cat is out of the bag what are you going to do?'

I slowly walked toward him. 'I will do what I do best, hunt.'

Murray gave me an incredulous look. 'Hunt? We are talking about a human here, not some animal to be devoured.'

'Since you are the blabbermouth of the day, produce ideas.' I ordered. I lowered myself to his height and clutched tightly at the edge of the table. 'We are both facing one common enemy here. You want her father's head as much as I do. It will help you with your irrational popularity and it will help me heal. Think wisely, Murray.'

Murray stepped back. Glancing from side to side. It is a bittersweet deal that he cannot refuse. He desires fame, popularity, and riches. If he manages to find a monstrous being that has the whole of England talking, he will be praised. Human beings are easy to manipulate. They feed off their selfish desires and I already know what he desires most. Their emotions are more powerful than their brain which makes it easy for them to agree to anything especially when it is aligned with their sinful wants.

'How are you certain that we are going to find him? He is a trickster.'

'The kind of trickster I decipher.' My eyes switched from black to golden brown again and I noticed Murray shudder in fear. 'He is an easy kill.'

'Then why have you not killed him yet?' good question. He came prepared I see.

I smirked. 'I was planning to, but you interrupted.' I pointed out.

Murray furrowed his eyebrows diving deeper into the pits of confusion. 'What do you mean?'

'The only way you can kill a man without a dagger is to crush his most prized possession. Something that he loves most. Something he cannot let has made a path to protect.'

Murray started pacing around the room. 'His prized possession you say, his wife?' he asked.

'Zadie.' I stated.

Murray stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened. 'If I did not rescue her, would you have done it?'

'I Do not kill, Murray. People kill themselves by their stupid actions.'

'wouldn't you raise suspicion when you kill Anthony Davidson?'

I chuckled. 'He is already a miscreant, just like his daughter.'

Murray sat down in his chair and stared at me. I can already tell that there are multiple questions in his brain. He is lost.

'Why were you out at sea?' I ask. He has been gone so long I even forgot he exists. He never wrote letters like he used to. After a father's death, he left London and rumour has it he ventured into the Pacific as well as the Atlantic.

Murray rubbed his temple. 'Is what I do with my life any of your business, Blanchet?'

'Absolutely not. You loathed your father. You watched from a distance during his funeral. You never uttered your final words to your father before he was given to join the dead.'

Murray laughed. A real laugh that mocked my words. 'That man never loved me, and you know it. He wanted to give his riches to a stranger. He was in politics, enemies everywhere waiting to finish him, but I stood beside him and fought for him. I protected a complete oligarch, but he never thanked me.'

I sighed. 'He loved you. We, men, have a funny way of showing it and you know it.'

'Stop!' Murray shouted. 'Stop defending him. He liked you mainly because when it comes to business etiquette you strive greatly. I was nothing to him but just a smile to protect him from his enemies. '

'You wasted your Law degrees for a mere adventure out at sea for nothing. What were you even doing at sea?' I asked but he kept quiet.

'Like I said Blanchet, it is none of your concern. What you should be concerned about us finding that girl's antidote or more.'

I glanced as Murray started searching his notes. Papers covering the table like snow fell. 'What mark did Zadie develop first when you touched her?'

'A theta.' I stated as I sat down.

Murray instantly stooped rummaging through his files and stared blankly at me. 'Please tell me you do know who the mark belongs to.'

'Thanatos.'

Murray gasped. 'That cannot possibly be true.' He whispered to himself. He reached into his pocket and put on his reading glasses. He continued searching his files for who knows what and stared at me. 'You have no idea, do you?'

I did not respond. For the first time, I feared for the worst. I know he is going to say something horrible and that scares me. I can see it in his eyes. The way he is staring at me, his eyes full of pain and sorrow I cannot explain. No one died, yet. Zadie is very much alive I just saw her descend the stairs earlier. It cannot be her.

'Are you going to say something Murray or are you going to stall?'

Murray shakily handed me a paper. I immediately snatched it.

Theta

Symbol of Thanatos. (Personification of death)

He who that attains the symbol shall be slowly marching towards inevitable death. It can be an indication of fate and destiny. Once their acts have been fulfilled, they are to depart from this world. It is brought by a curse.

To break the curse, the relic must be found and destroyed. Only one person can wield it, the bearer of the theta.

'Zadie can wield it and break the curse.' I whispered.

'Yes, but this document does not specify what exactly is the relic.' Murray sighed as he took the document from my hands. 'I have to inform Zadie.'

'What will happen if the curse is not broken?'

Murray glanced down the table in silence.

'She is going to die, isn't she?' I asked but he did not respond. He stood up and started searching for a book to give me answers but he slowly turned to gaze at me.

'It is not here.' He stated and I furrowed my eyebrows.

'What is not here?'

'The book about the theta curses.' Murray lookeddown and picked up a shiny bracelet and placed it on the table. 'She took it.