Inverted Deck

Inverted Deck (Chapter 19)

Chapter 19

"What-!" I mutter as I stand there idly in shock, as I'm unable to follow up with any words.

I knew his Aether Signature stuck out to me, but I had no idea that he was a Joker!! Maybe the Aether Signatures of Jokers are irrelevant to other Jokers, other than the fact that they can be felt by only other Jokers, but feeling it and knowing what class they are from their Aether Signature alone, is two different things. Same reason why I didn't know BlackJack was a Joker at first either.

"You heard me... we're the same." Quinx repeats while stepping over the Elvien Officer's body to get closer to me.

"You're wrong.... I'm no MURDERER!!" I yell out of some sense of desperation.

"What and you're some saint!?" Quinx begins to chuckle holding his left hand up to the left side of his face. "You might not have killed YET, in this kill or be killed world, but you ARE a little theif, aren't you?"

"You don't-!"

"IN FACT, it's YOUR sticky fingers that got us doing this job in the first place, am I wrong?" Quinx asks as he proceeds to get closer enough to where I can feel his hot breath on my face.

I open my mouth but I can't even begin to think of anything to say, he's left me utterly speechless.

"I thought so. You're a Joker like me, nobody expects you to be some valiant hero of truth and justice anymore than they expect me to be one. What's that line your father is always saying, you reap what you sow? This broken society has sown seeds of disorder, depravity, prejudice and anger, and what it reaps, is us. We steal, we deceive, we manipulate... we kill, all in the name of Order, am I right?" Quinx quickly drops his smile, transforming his face into a serious one.
"To balance out the scales between those shining in the light, destined for greatness, and those trudging through the murky waters of the darkness, gasping for air. I see by your face you have no idea what I'm talking about, eh? You'll learn soon enough. In the meantime, I'll give you something you can comprehend, you've sown seeds of spite and opposition to my boss, and now that you know your place in this world, you must reap the spoils that you owe him, or you'll end up just like that officer over there." Quinx says pointing at the Elvien Officer's shriveled up lifeless body on the ground.

"Alright Quinx, I think he gets it. Let's just get on with the job." Rei walks over between us attempting to stop whatever feud this is.

"Yeah, let's Finn. The sooner we do then you can run back to being your father's errand boy in that dump of a diner."

I instinctively lunge forward shooting my hand out before firmly grabbing Quinx by the collar of his shirt and yanking him closer to me.

"Say that again. I dare you!" I grumble, feeling hot with rage.

"Are you guys serious right now?" Polaris says walking up to the right of us.

"Oh Wolfie boy, gots some bite to him Eh? C'mon show me you really are the son of The Red Eyed Wolf of Rosenthorn!" Quinx yells in my face. "Or are you just gonna' be weak your whole life."

My bawled up fist begins to twitch, and I begin to grit with my teeth with anger, something dark quickly qualms up inside of me. I don't know what this feeling is, the feeling of being shrouded in darkness, but it feels familiar some how.

Quinx lifts his nose up and inhaled deeply.
*SNIFF SNIFF*
"Ahhh sweet sweet Miasma, so you are capable of stepping over to the dark side a bit, eh Finn?" Quinx says as he lifts his hands up open palmed and grinning.

A sudden cool, calmness overcomes me, almost forcing that seeping and shrouding darkness back inside.

"What... are you talking about?" I ask as I release Quinx's shirt.