The Leviathan

Chapter 6 ~ BILL ~ Black

There are times when I tune out every sound that I can almost hear its voice. This black "thing" inside of me. I can feel it extending its claws, laughing, and feeding on me. Whispering promises dripping with malice and hate. If I let my guard down even for a second, I knew that it would consume me. Is it a curse? A phantom of some nefarious sort? A demon?

"Did you hear what I said Bill?"

I shook myself out of stupor. "Yes. They are beautiful Tom just go and fuck them." I said as I reach for my wine goblet, a page appeared out of thin air and instantly filled it with wine.

Tom burst out laughing. "I wasn't talking about women. I was talking about the prick over there with his veiled daughters.” He motioned over to a blonde nobleman with piercing blue eyes and a scar across his left eye.

“Lord Salem of Glaxosquare. Philanthropist, businessman, and has a great influences on the nobles with his extensive spy network and underground dealings.” I said with a bored voice, sweeping my eyes over their table. It proved to be a mistake. Lord Salem suddenly perked up when he saw me looking at him.

“Yeah I know that.” Tom said, leaning closer. “Why do you think he kept his daughters veiled?”

“So, it isn’t about women huh?”

Tom playfully taps my shoulder. “They could be hot.”

“Or they could be ugly.” I said matter-of-fact. “Does it even matter? You fuck everyone that has a panty garter.”

“Not everyone, my brother.” Tom smiled mischievously. “Sometimes, I prefer them without it.”

I shook my head. My ever philandering brother is on the prowl again. If it wasn’t our very own birthday party, I would have left hours ago. But custom dictates that I should at least stay until one of the drunken guests starts to shame themselves.

“This is the most ridiculously boring occasion I’ve been to.” I sighed.

“Look lively Bill. Here comes the sucker.” Tom nudged me. Lord Salem has stood up and walked cautiously towards us. He stopped before the two royal guards stationed at the bottom of a three-tiered dais, waiting for us to acknowledge him through.

“This is your fault Tom. He thinks we are now interested to hear anything that comes out of his mouth.” I said as I give the go signal for him to pass.

Lord Salem looked like he won the lottery of the lifetime. An invitation for an audience with the two future kings could raise his status among the bickering nobles. Suddenly, all power-hungry eyes in that room have turned towards us.

"Your highnesses. Grand Princes of noble court." Lord Salem bowed and waves his hand in an exaggerated gesture. "I am Lord Salem..."

"We know who you are." I cut him off. "What do you want?"

"A private word with both of you. Away from prying eyes if you must."

"This is as private as you can get Lord Salem." Tom pointed out. "You have five minutes."

"For the past few years the Prime Minister has shielded both of you from the lies and games of the royal court. I do not blame him; he only wanted to protect you..."

"Save the politics for the Prime Minister, Lord Salem. We are hardly interested." I signaled the royal guards that they may escort Lord Salem away.

"Sorry." Tom shook his head mockingly.

Lord Salem looks like he was about to explode. I couldn’t blame him. Nobles had been eager to get on our good side for years. None has been successful yet. But what came out of his mouth got our attention.

"Ignorant fools." He hissed low under his breath.

“What the fuck did you say?” Tom rose from his seat, goblets and wine spilling into the floor. The whole throne room grew quiet; all eyes are now on us.

To both our surprise he leaned closer to me. Too close for comfort. I stopped Tom from reaching his sword.

"I am risking my life right now for both of you.” He whispered. “Let me give you a fair warning my prince, tonight, one of you is going to die.”

“Is that a threat Lord Salem?” I said quietly.

 “No, as I said, it’s a warning.” He bowed low. “I am on your side, please remember that.”

***

That night I had an interesting dream. There were three women before me. One was young, a girl whose life was about to bloom, she called herself “Future”. The other woman was in her prime, robust and glowing with health; she pointed to herself and said “Present”. The last one was an old crone, her back was bent and her hair was graying. She asked me to call her “Past”. Altogether they called themselves Fates.

I’ve only heard of the stories of the old. They said that the Fates would appear in dreams as the messengers of death.

They held in their hands a golden thread spun on an old spinning wheel. The young girl motioned me to touch it.

“Whose is it?” I asked.

“Not yours.” They replied simultaneously. Their voices were a blend of high, low and a crackle, creating a discordant harrowing sound. “A life that was to end at beginning. A life that never was.” They held a pair scissors, poise to cut.

I touched the golden thread. Suddenly memories rushed into my head. Memories of a man I knew so well.

“These are mine.” I said.

“Not yours. Him.”

A man stepped out of the shadows. His face was all too familiar. But there was something different about him. His eyes weren’t golden, but black. Darkness grew from him like second skin. I turned around and saw the Fates spinning black threads. It spins faster and faster out of their control. Their eyes turned towards me imploring me to listen. But the man in the shadows held my ears.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am the Black. I am the darkness that was born within you.” He whispered. “Wake up before you die.”

My body responded to what he said and I woke up immediately. It took me only a few seconds to adjust my eyes to the darkness. Just in time to see the glint of a knife that was coming down from above.