STRANGULATE | Markicest

9 | X AMANI

Another drawing I did up above for reference 👀👀

The Tear Stealer clenched his jaw as the music pounded into his skull, deafeningly loud. Partygoers screamed and danced to the pulsing waves, knocking into each other and spilling their drinks. The scent of drugs burned his nose, staining his midnight garbs with sin.

Dark stared straight ahead, his presence like an invisible force that parted the sea of Evolveds. His robes swayed at his feet, merely catching on a few peoples' grabbing hands and stomping feet. He turned, walking up to a desolate, empty stone door that practically whispered with meaning. A guard stood at its side.

"Tear Stealer," said the guard, bristling. "Why are you here?"

"It's obvious," he said, voice projecting over the music with little effort. "I'm here to see Antinstine."

"State your business with him."

Dark furrowed his brows in distaste, red eyes gleaming. "I need a favor."

The bodyguard rose a hairless brow, staring at him. "The Tear Stealer—a favor? What does a High Evolved need from Anti—"

Dark rose his hand as if he were going to grab the guard's face, fingers poised and threatening. The guard flinched, quickly squinting his eyes as if it were going to protect him.

"Antinstine and I," said Dark, pressing himself against the bodyguard, "are civil in our discussions. A lowlife like you wouldn't understand."

The bodyguard huffed through his nose, wincing when Dark tightened his fingers, the hint of his ability sending a sharp pain through the guard's eyes. He bared his teeth.

"I apologize, sir," said the guard. "I'll let you through."

Dark dropped his hand, and the guard slumped with a heaving sigh, quickly trying to restore his stature as an intimidating guard. He knocked on the door and pressed on his earpiece, saying the simple words, "T.S. is here."

The guard glanced at Dark, who kept his threatening stance, pressing the ear piece again to nod.

"Five minutes," he said, opening the stone door. The Tear Stealer nodded, pushing past the guard and entering the room. Once the stone door shut behind him, everything went quiet—the music only a whisper and a faint tap.

The room was made purely of stone, blocking off the outside world.  Four walls—closed off, lit like a cell. In the middle stood a grey desk and the man he needed to talk to.

"Antinstine."

The man raised his head, gaze hostile; green and blue eyes gleamed bright against the blank walls.

    "Dark," he greeted, voice rough and jagged. He remained seated, staring at the other with such scorn that it could burn holes through the thick walls. "It's been a while."

His eyes swept up and down Dark's frame, ears twitching. "And you're unarmed, too. Good."

    The Tear Stealer stepped forward, examining the state of the other Evolved. Antinstine grimaced under his scrutiny.

    "I need a favor," he said calmly, voice deep and assertive. Anti rose a brow, grinning with fanged teeth and snickering.

    "Another one?" he laughed. "Last time you struck my end of the deal, you didn't leave without blood! What makes you think I should help you again?"

    The Tear Stealer frowned, inwardly grimacing at the memory. "I was younger then," he reasoned. "Foolish and testy."

    "Mm, well you're still foolish," he said with a giggle, glancing down at his sharp black nails. He looked up at the Tear Stealer through half-lidded eyes, reclining and swinging his feet up onto the desk. "Tell me what you want. Then I'll see if I want to help you."