The War Without Fate

Chapter 1- Got My Head on Straight

My feet padded along on the pavement. My breathing was ragged and strained. The rain and sweat were swirling and mixing on my skin as I ran down the street at full speed. I saw the field coming up on my right. I increased my speed and found my feet squeliching in the mudd between the grass in the field. 

I slid in the mud and came to a stop. Taking in sharp breaths, thirsting for oxygen. I plucked my ear buds out of my ears and shoved them in my pocket. Taking a deep breath and smelling spring on the crisp morning air. 

I sat down in the mudd and it spalshed up on my clothes. I began running my fingers through it and squishing it in my hands. I heard my phone buzz and knew it was time to go home. Phoenix would be going to school soon enough. It was his first day and he had asked me to come along. 

I walked the rest of the way to the house. It was a sweet little two story with plenty of green around it. But that was the same with every house on the block and almost every house in New Zealand. At least the rainy areas of New Zealand. 

Thats where I was residing now. With Castor, coincidently. I had called in that one last favor to Claude who  had accomodated happily. He brought Castor back and with some help from Cordellia, Claude, and a few more of our old friends we had gotten his head straightened back on. He still hated Fate, yet it he had come to terms with the fact that it was everywhere. And therefore an unstopable force.

He had turned his life around when he came to terms with the fact that he could not take Fate on by himself. He had found this girl while he was going to college. They fell in love, got married, and had a kid.  His name was Phoenix. It meant risen from the ashes and Castor chose it over Castor jr. Which his wife, Deana, had prefered. 

It had been 5 years since Phoenix had been born. He had grown up to look alot like his dad. He had the same blond corkscrew curly hair but he had his mothers vibrant green eyes. His face had the traditional Scagilla look to it though. The square jaw and cupid bow pink lips. He was a great kid and I was happy to be able to be around him. 

I walked through the door to the geust house where I lived. Castor had built it for me to have my own space, but really I think he was getting tired of me stealing his cereal. I had decorated it for myself on the inside. It had hard wood floors every where and a sun room I had converted into a workshop with concrete flooring. I had mostly contemporary things around. In fact my house was pretty empty, but to be honest I didnt spend much time in it.

When I wasnt being with Phoenix and my cousin I was out bar hoping. It might seem hard in lightly populated areas like New Zealand was covered with but I managed. To be honest for the first couple of years away from...him... I had a one night stand every night. Then I would get up in the morning and go to work.

I worked as an engineer for the Australian government. I designed anything they asked, from weapons to cars for important people. I still found myself lacking enough work. I found myself at home in my workshop alot of the time. Re- creating the guns I had left behind in the states and creating newer more improved ones. 

I wont lie. The last few years had been hard. I had turned to alchol to numb the pain and though I tried to hide it from Castor he saw. He just wanted to make sure Phoenix didnt see. There were alot of nights I woke up crying. They have subsided considerably, but have not disappeard. I still carried around a flask, though I didnt drink from it as much it was really a security blanket. The first few months were the hardest. Castor and I repaired each other. Though he came out of it in one whole piece I was still falling apart. 

I peeled off the muddy clothes and left them in a pile on the floor at my front door. I jumped in the shower and got ready. I had breakfast alone and while I filled up my flask for the day Deana came through my front door. I stowed the bottle and slid the flask into my bag. I went around the island in the kitchen to see Pheonix run up shouting and hollering.