World of Io

4. Vigilante

 Milo forced himself to stand absolutely still, silently cursing the twitches that danced across his features. He needed a minute to process the news without displaying his sudden excitement. Fate was a tricky thing, and so far it had never worked in his favor. Perhaps this was a turn of events... It was too much of a coincidence. Someone or something tugged at their strings.  

He wasn't particularly spiritual, but he knew very well how this world worked, or at least he thought that he had figured it out. The Creator just couldn't keep her fingers in check and that's when you noticed these weird occurrences. The Destroyer was less subtle in his dealings, more predictable, more reliable. You knew what to expect from the Destroyer, and as strange ast it was, that held a kind of comfort. He didn't offer his prayers to any of them, never would, but if, he knew the Creator wouldn't receive them after all he had done. After he had killed this Qumo, she probably wouldn't like him any better.

To buy some more time he turned towards Annie and away from the young man's penetrating stare. The girl stood with a straight back, her eyes gleaming with excitement as if she couldn't wait for something to happen. She was definitely odd. He didn't know why he had turned back to the tavern, not until now. It wasn't his decision, it was because of the Creator's interference, and that settled his agitation somewhat. Not that he liked her meddling, but at least he wasn't becoming soft.  

"So, who are you?" 

The young man's question grabbed hold of him and lured him out of his musings of deities, murder and odd girls. Inside, he smirked the man's brashness.  No one wanted to know who he was. The knowledge could get you killed...

"You can call me Villain," Milo offered, not knowing if he should laugh at or pity the young man's innocence.

"So, not your name then, fair enough I guess. You'll not hide it from Qumo though, he knows such things," the young man replied merrily, as if he didn't care at all. "I'm Vito by the way. Are you ready to set out immediately? I would like to reach Southwood Forest within the week, so we should get moving as soon as possible."

Milo didn't respond, but he wondered briefly what the young man had in store for Annie. She seemed to be included in their plans.

 -----

Vito bit into his tongue to prevent a cheer from escaping his lips. He couldn't believe his luck. However, this was not the time, nor the place. If the tension were any thicker you could have cut through it with a knife. Despite that, he was still happy. Nyxes were a secretive bunch, and the chances of meeting one here must be slim to none.

As Villain looked away, he took a moment to study the Nyx's dark and imposing features. He was close to take a step backwards when he realized just how tall this one was, and how menacing he looked with those piercing green eyes and all those sharp angles to his face. A braid of long black hair rested against his back, and Vito had to fight an urge to touch the silky lengths and the raven-feathers at the end. However, what struck him the most was the color of the Nyx's skin. He had never seen such a dark blue tone before. It was as if it swallowed the light around it, luring it in to ensnare it. Judging from what he knew about Nyxes he also imagined intricate tattoos winding their way across the Nyx's body, a pattern barely distinguishable from the skin itself. He had seen it on others, and had been mesmerized by it. All in all, the Nyx exuded power and darkness in the way Qumo exuded light, but Vito refused to acknowledge the fear that crept up his spine. He was here for a reason, and he wouldn't shirk away from his path just because the Nyx in question seemed a little...well, in lack of a better word: dangerous.    

He snapped his eyes away as Villain turned towards him, not keen to be caught staring. His gaze landed on Annie, and for a second he forgot to breathe as the wind caught her red hair. It was stupid, and he knew it. He shouldn't think about her in any sort of way. However, he had promised that he would take her to the next village, so he would, after that...well, that was then. It irked him that she looked far braver than he felt, but instead of finishing that thought he decided to borrow some of her bravery. He headed off towards his horse with his back held straight. He would see her safe, and then he would take this Nyx'gaian to Qumo. It was as simple as that.