He's a Mess of a Man

Prologue ~ One

There was once a magical man who went by the name, Leviathan. He had a 6-year-old son named Julius from a partner long gone. The two lived in a medieval Spanish-European city called Vesuvia. That night, he was visiting a friend of his. The fog was thick. It blanketed the street in an ethereal, milky glow. Leviathan lingered at the shop's window to appreciate the scene outside before gently drawing the curtains shut. "I'll miss you," said Asra. He had been one of Leviathan's closest friends for the past three years. He and his currently very pregnant partner, Sandra, had taught Leviathan many new and fascinating tricks involving magic. Asra was a fortune teller and a fairly powerful magician. Leviathan knew next to nothing about Asra's past. The only things he did know were told to him by Sandra.

"Do you have to leave tonight?" she asked as she gently held Asra's hands.

"It's the dead of a moonless night. The right time for beginning a journey," Asra said as his eyes twinkled in the low lamplight.

Sandra sighed, "Why did I guess you were going to say something like that..?"

Asra chuckled, "Hey, Levi. I have something for you." He got up from the couch and placed a tarot deck in his hands. "A gift. For you to play around with."

"Your tarot deck?" That was the last thing Leviathan expected Asra to give him. That tarot deck was Asra's own creation. It had been imbued with strong power. "I-I can't possibly accept this," said Leviathan as he tried to return it.

"Oh, yes you can," said Asra, pushing the deck back towards him. "It's a gift, so I expect you to keep it 'cause I'm not taking it back."

Leviathan sighed and nodded, "Alright. I'll take good care of it then."

Asra smiled, "I know you will."

"And why wait? A quick session before you go?" Leviathan suggested.

Asra smiled and nodded, "Of course." The three of them walked into the back of the shop. A few rays of starlight peeked through the gauzy curtains, "It's been a while since all three of us have done this."

"Because you're always gone?" said Sandra. Leviathan stifled a laugh.

Asra sheepishly looked the other direction, "That could be the case..."

Sandra laughed, "Oh, you know I'm only joking with you."

Asra nodded with a small, nervous smile, "Now, Levi. Let's see your perfect technique in action."

Leviathan smiled, playfully rolled his eyes, and nodded, "We'll see about that. Your confidence is certainly heartening, though." Something brushed up against Leviathan's ankle, smooth and cool.

"Oh?" Asra reached down from his chair and held out his hand. A long purple-tinted albino serpent winded her way up Asra's arm. She flicked her tongue at Leviathan. Her name was Faust. She was Asra's familiar. She seemed very pleased to be there. Asra smiled, "Now, if we're all here... let's begin."

Leviathan started shuffling the deck. Sandra and Asra's gaze followed the cards as they slipped through his fingers. "...The High Priestess."

Asra leaned in closely, expectant, "And what is she telling you? Is she speaking to you now?"

When the cards spoke to Leviathan, it wasn't in any human tongue. Nonetheless, when his mind was clear, the answer came to him; "You've forsaken her."

"I have..?" Asra paused for a moment, then asked, "Could The Priestess be talking about Sandra?"

She shrugged, "It wouldn't be inaccurate."

"No. The High Priestess. You've pushed her away and buried her voice." said Leviathan. Asra frowned but said nothing, waiting for him to continue. "She calls out, but you won't listen. Asra... if you ignore her..." A sharp knocking interrupted Leviathan, startling all four of them.