Slice through Fate.

Chapter 16. The damned.

Although it wouldn't be thought, being underground with a killer is better than being with a uncaring father.

Or, that's what Tem thought as he wandered through the underground land.

He had learned all its secrets. Who to avoid and who to go to at certain times. All the shortcuts around, and every nook and cranny has been explored. In a short month, he had explored what takes a damned one three lifetimes to explore.

He noticed a blood red mist ahead, and slipped into a alleyway, his dark clothes blending in. Even his usually glowing white hair was covered by a black hat. He was basically a shadow. A unnoticed shadow. Quickly, he left underground and went to the surface.

The only bad thing about living underground all the time is the sun seems almost painful. He squinted in the light, but walked quickly to Kauto's cave.

The boy looked up from the fire, noticing his friend. "Yo, wassup?" He asked as Tem sat by the fire.

"Nothing." He grumbled as he warmed his hands by the flame, watching the bat that lay within reaching distance. Like always.

The two sat in silence for a while, with Tem sitting board and Kauto staring at the fire in a almost hungry way. His still bandaged hands were so close to the flames that the white cloth was almost catching fire. Finally, Tem spoke up.

"Why do I have to keep coming here?" He asked. Kauto grinned at him in a sneaky way.

"Cuz... Somethings' cuming up. And chu don't know bout' it. And I have been waiting for three God damned years for you to ask that question. I wanted to say..." He leaned closer to the fire, not taking his eyes off it. The light flickered of his blue eyes. "I wanna help in the war."

A moment of silence filled the cave, disturbed only by the crackle of the fire. Then Tem sighed.

"What do you have to offer?"

Kauto stood up, finally taking is eyes off the flames. "Are ya a idiot? Chu forgotten that time I knocked ya out twice in a row? Bro, the flip?" He asked, angry.

Tem shrugged. "Is that all? Bat play?" He asked. Kauto shook his head.

"I... Can man this." He pulled a small sling shot out of his back pocket. Tem stared at it, smiling thinly.

"And..?" He asked expected. Kauto held a finger up, and stared into the darkness, taking a scatter of rocks of the floor and aiming the sling shot. He shot the six rocks through the air. A squeak could be heard, echoing from the back. Kauto ran back and returned with a dazed looking bat.

"Enough for ya?" He asked, tossing the bat into the air so it flew away and picking up his wooden bat, putting it over his shoulder and grinning.

Tem shrugged. "Guess so. Fine then. Your in." He said. Kauto grinned triumphantly, and waved his hand.

"Chu can bugger off now, moron." He said sassily. Tem rolled his eyes and exited the cave, heading back to the underground.

The quickest way in was near Sevlata. Tem thought about visiting Lumi. It had been almost a month since he had seen her, seeing as he now got sword lessons in the underground. He snuck into a Bush near her house as a sledge whizzed past. Then he descended.

The shadows engulfed him. The path-maker to the underground, Chell, looked at him, nodded and let him go past without a word. Him and Chell were on good terms, seeing a he came past so often.

Tem checked the 'sky'. The moon (because it was always night there) was halfway up the 'sky'. That meant it was almost time for the daily visit to Deka.

He walked to Deka's house quickly, keeping his head and eyes down to avoid any unwanted fights. Before he knew it, he was outside Deka's hut.

Knocking quickly, the door opened and he slipped in. The ghostly figure of a boy missing a eye friend at him. "Hey, Tem." He said. "How's it going?"

He shrugged, taking the coat and hat off. "Good, I guess. What is it today?"

Deka grinned. "I was just thinking that. I think.... Spears today. You know what to do."

The ghost floated into a huge hallway, letting the boy follow, until he stopped. "Go."

Tem quickly and efficiently summoned a ball of darkness, thinking it out into a stick like figure and turning that into a spear. Deka watched silently, smiling.

"Good. Now... Hit that Apple!"  He commanded. Tem looked at the rotting Apple he was pointing at and threw the spear of darkness. It pierced the top of the rotting flesh, making it fall from the pillar. Deka nodded.

"I think your good enough for spears. Next week, I'll start on melee combat. You may go."

Tem paused. "Already? But it's hardly been a minute!"

Deke nodded. "I know. But it's all you need for today. Next week. Goodbye."

Tem sighed but headed outside, picking up his hat and coat on the way.