He's a Mess of a Man

Prologue ~ Two

Leviathan had seen many strange things in his time as a magician. But the events of that night were certainly one of the strangest yet. Seeking a moment's rest, Leviathan and Sandra decided to go upstairs to lie down and slip away, lost in their dreams. When Leviathan woke, dawn's light filtered through the dusty windows. He spent his early hours preparing his things and getting Julius ready for the day. Leviathan was to meet The Countess at the palace for some unknown purpose. He gently kissed Julius on his forehead, "Be good for Auntie Sandra while I'm gone. I won't be long."

Julius smiled brightly and nodded, "Okay, papa!"

Leviathan threw on a traveling cloak and hurried outside, dragging the door shut behind himself. He was about to leave when the hair at the nape of his neck rose in alarm. Someone was right beside him. A dark shape loomed in the alley. The form was certainly human. Though, it was enormous. The figure's flesh was scored with scars. Clean and jagged. Shallow and deep. Shrouded in a pall of weatherbeaten furs, it was hard for Leviathan to make out a face. But the person was most certainly watching him. The figure stood between Leviathan and the road to the palace. Leviathan took a step forward, watching the figure cautiously. Stormy green eyes followed his movements as he entered the alley, but the stranger made no moves. A voice like distant thunder rumbled from beneath the person's robes, "You are in grave danger." The earthy scent of Myrrh washed over Leviathan. He stopped in his tracks, "He will return uninvited. He will offer you a gift when you need it most... Turn it away. Or you will fall into his hand... Just like the rest of us." After that, the figure was gone.

Leviathan blinked, trying to process what he just heard. There was shuffling behind him, the dragging of rough cloth, then silence. Leviathan looked up and down the foggy alley, "I left the shop, and then... wasn't someone else here just now?" Leviathan asked himself. He shook off the fading thought. He didn't have time to dawdle. The Countess was expecting him. Exhaling deeply, Leviathan continued toward the narrow, mossy steps to the marketplace.

It was early, yet the marketplace was already wide awake. All around Leviathan were the sounds of bartering, laughter, and vendors hawking their wares. A voice Leviathan knew well called out to him over the sea of noise, "Leviathan! Have you eaten yet today?" the baker by the name of Joque Davies asked with a bright and caring smile, "I've got that pumpkin loaf you like in the oven. Won't be long now. Come, sit down, talk with me for a while!" he offered.

Leviathan sniffed the air, his stomach twisted in hunger, "I should be time cautious..." Leviathan thought to himself, "Thank you, but I've got to meet someone. Maybe on my way home!" he said with a friendly wave. Joque nodded, ducking back inside the sweet-smelling booth. A raven that was perched overhead met Leviathan's gaze. Its fathomless eyes looked beyond him and over his shoulder. Leviathan glanced back, and his heart shuttered in shock. Julian moved casually through the crowd, without his mask. "He doesn't seem to have spotted me..." Without a second thought, Leviathan went after him. But traffic was moving against him, and he didn't want to make an obvious disturbance. Julian looked unguarded, surveying the market with leisurely interest. "What is he doing unmasked in broad daylight? Does he want to get caught?" Leviathan thought, "The wanted posters never came down. People around here must know his face." The raven shrieked again, and Julian turned around. His and Leviathan's eyes locked. Leviathan froze in his tracks, his pulse quickening. Suddenly, Leviathan felt a sharp pain as a wooden wheel rolled over his toes. A cart moved between the two, blocking Leviathan's view. When it had passed, Julian was gone. Leviathan stopped, letting the herd of patrons weave around him, "What am I doing? Why am I chasing him, putting myself in danger?" Shaking his head, Leviathan turned back to join the flow of traffic. As he climbed the well-worn steps, something caught his eye. A small fortune teller's booth, tucked away in a shady corner.

Seconds later, a patron emerged from the booth, "Lucky numbers, check. Groceries-" they mumbled. Leviathan didn't notice the stranger backing into him until the two crashed into each other. The impact made Leviathan stumble. He teetered on the edge of a step. The two colliding also upset the basket balanced on the stranger's hip, which sent a dozen pomegranates rolling down the stairs, "Oh, perfect! As if I wasn't already late..." the person groaned.

Leviathan yelped, "I'm so sorry!" he apologized as he dropped down into a crouch beside the stranger to help. He spotted a pomegranate as it was about to be stomped under a stray hoof and swiped it at the last second. When Leviathan handed it back to the stranger, their eyes sparkled with delight.

"Ooh, thank you! How sweet of you to help!" the stranger grabbed the pomegranate from Leviathan's hand, "Especially after I bumped into you in the first place..."

Leviathan shook his head, "No, it's alright! I wasn't looking where I was walking." Together, the two of them hunted down the rest of the pomegranates. They were still a little bruised, but no worse for wear.

"I can't thank you enough!" The stranger said, offering Leviathan a hand. The skin of their small palm was rough against his. Calloused. "Probably shouldn't do this, but..." Rubbing it off on their sleeve, they offered Leviathan a fruit from the basket.

Leviathan smiled, "Thank you."

The stranger gave Leviathan a smile that warmed his chest, "Take care!" But just when the stranger was going out of sight, they stopped, "Wait, wait, wait! I know you! You're Leviathan, the magician! Countess Nadia said we were expecting you!"

"We?" thought Leviathan.

"You can call me Portia. I'm The Countess's head servant," she explained, "Well, how lucky are we? Come on. I'll show you the quickest path to the palace," Portia said with a kind smile.

Leviathan smiled and nodded, "Alrighty. Show the way!"

As the sun journeyed across the sky, Portia and Leviathan climbed stair after seemingly infinite stair. The higher they ascended, the fewer travelers the two encountered along the way. By the time they reached the top, Leviathan could barely stand. However, Portia seemed as energetic as ever. She paused to let Leviathan catch his breath, "I'm glad you're here. The Countess could use good help."

After a few more minutes, the two finally reached the palace. The sky had tones of blue that faded into purple, then yellow, then orange. Before them was a towering gate of twisted iron. Beyond that, the palace rose in a swirl of glittering spires. Two guards stood on either side of the gate. Their eyes glinted at Leviathan from behind their helmets. However, they lowered their weapons once they saw Portia with him. "Ludovico, Bludmila, this is Leviathan. He'll be staying as our guest." Portia turned to Leviathan, "This is Ludovico and Bludmila." When Portia introduced the three to each other, the guards' stiff posture relaxed. In unison, the two pushed open the heavy iron gate, "After you," said Portia.

Once Leviathan was through, the gates slammed shut behind him, "There's no turning back now," he thought as he inhaled through his nose and exhaled out his mouth.

Portia led Leviathan across a long and steep bridge. Some kind of eel Leviathan had never seen before twisted through swirling waters below, glowing like a bloodless ghost. Portia tugged on Leviathan's arm, leading him away from the edge of the bridge, "Come on. We don't want to keep milady waiting!"

"Right. My apologies," said Leviathan sheepishly. As the two approached the intricate doors, anxieties started to rise like bubbles coming to a boil within him, "Is this wise? What awaits me in this fortress so far from home?" he thought. But it was too late. The two were standing before the grand doors of the palace.

"Here we are!" Portia said as she swung her fist against the copper plating—three skull-rattling strikes. As the last echoes faded, the pendulous doors swung inward.