Tales of Avanturia 1

Chapter 20: Through Thick And Thin

„Psst. Hey, over here..!"

Lucia had somehow successfully convinced Bella and Brynjolf to put their argument aside for the time being to rescue Fenrock. They were wandering aimlessly through the streets of the upper district when someone suddenly called for them..

„I can bring you to your friend!" the mysterious man said.

„What do you mean?" Lucia asked, pretending not to know anything.

„I know who you are and I know, where they keep the Shinigami." he replied.

„What? Shini-what?" Bella wondered confused.

„Shinigami, you know him under a different name.. Scarlet Demon."

The three Blood Roses looked at each other and went, „Fenrock!" They then followed him through the alleys towards the royal palace.

On the side of the massive building, the stranger opened a secret door and they could enter.

The way lead downwards into the mountain and it got darker and darker, and the air was getting thicker, making it harder to breath.

„Wait, how do you know of this place? And how did you know about Fenrock?" Lucia asked. To her, this all seemed odd.

„He's probably a member of the Jiyū no senshi, that spied on those snobs." Brynjolf replied.

„Not particularly." the man replied, „I'm Jin, and I used to work for a secret organisation, that serve the king as some kind of elite guards, the Inbou. But since this organisation is under new lead, I left, but I'm now heavily tracked, so I won't say too many things that I shouldn't say."

„Then why are you telling us that?!" Bella asked histerically.

„Because I don't have anything left to live for.. I have no home, my wife left me and I'm too poor to set foot elsewhere, so if I should die, at least I died for a just cause." Jin replied.

„Don't worry, we'll try to keep you alive," Lucia assured, „And make sure, you get to live a better life after all this."

A few minutes passed and they arrived in some kind of hallway with many doors. The light was very bad, but Jin pressed on a button, that lit various torches, which emitted this strange green light.

Fenrock was at the edge of endurance, not much longer and he was done for. He couldn't see, nor hear properly, everything appeared blurry and dull..

„Ah, looks like they've arrived..." the interrogater said, „I think it's time, that I welcome them."

He then turned to one of the torturers, „But one thing before I go.." He drew a knife and shoved it deep inside him, „Don't think, that I wouldn't recognise a traitor when I saw him! You are a member of the Jiyū no senshi and only waited for an opportunity to assassinate me!"

The punisher got down on his knees, but before that he spit him in his face, „Freedom for Kirishu!" then he dropped dead. Not without making a little swift movement...

The interrogater and the remaining torturer then exited chamber. As they opened the door, light streamed into the room.

„Who are you?!"

„Welcome, Blood Roses! Welcome to my chambers of truth! I am Feng Lao, leader of the Inbou!"

„Doesn't the emperor know about any of this?!" Lucia wondered.

„Hahaha! The emperor is just a puppet! He listens only to what I tell him and only believes what I tell him!" He walked further towards him, „Oh and one little thing before we start..." He briefly looked at Jin..