Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The surface
The next morning, Veretta rose feeling a sense of dread. Did she really do that? Did she really ask that demon for a favour? Veretta dressed quickly that morning and found Errik waiting outside her door. She tried not to show any trace of her unease.
They all took breakfast together and discussed the plan as usual. Tomas was making progress with his spell and all seemed to be going well. Even Errik appeared to be in a better mood than the day before. Everything proceeded as a blur. It was only Veretta that was rattled with the impending sense of doom.
After they had finished, she told Errik to go ahead without her to the library. She told him she had forgotten something but that was a lie. She waited a while apprehensively and followed. This time he didn't seem to notice.
Luckily the library was quite crowded and Veretta was able to slip inside easily enough. She took a place behind a shelf of books. It was far but she could see Errik sitting just beyond. As the bell for classes rang, all the students began the march back to class. The library once more became quiet. Veretta feared Errik might notice but luckily at that moment, a familiar figure appeared at his desk.
"Are you busy?" the general leaned over his shoulder.
"Yes," Errik frowned. He had a book in hand and was staring down with a concerted effort to ignore the person in front of him.
Nevertheless, the general took a seat, "And here I thought you had something you wanted to say to me," he grinned.
"I don't, "Errik dismissed.
"I thought you would have many questions after discovering I was your student," the general huffed.
"Even if I did, I'm not convinced you would give me a straight answer," Errik continued with his eyes glued to the page.
"How do you know if you don't try?" the general smirked.
"I'll pass," Errik replied flatly. "Doesn't the general of the army have anything better to do than piss me off?"
"Can't you call me by name?" the general lamented, "'general' sounds so weird out of your mouth'?"
"What was your name again?" Errik remarked callously.
"Ace," the general answered.
"Well then, Ace," finally Errik's eyes came up, "Fuck off,"
"Well that's interesting, " Ace smiled darkly, "you have no interest in learning about who you were but you're little witch seems to have enough interest for the both of you?"
Errik's eyes returned intently at the book behind his glasses."Why don't you just cut to the chase? What do you want? "
"She is a lovely girl," Ace ignored him, "but you are not so lovely. I think it's a strange match. I wonder what you get out of it?"
Errik maintained his gaze on the page but a slight flicker of annoyance crossed his expression.
"You once told me, relationships were an exchange," Ace carried on, "You get something, they get something."
"Why don't you stop sticking your head in the past and get a grip?" Errik uttered viciously.
"You really don't care about who you were?"Ace smiled,"Then why are you reading a book about yourself? Vain much?"
"You want me to beg you to tell you who I am?" Errik slammed the book down viciously, "If everyone keeps fucking looking for me, I guarantee they'll find me. And if this book is anything to go off, you'll all regret it," he threw the book across the room in a fit of rage.
The sound of hitting the ground made Veretta jump. She covered her mouth just in time as she listened apprehensively.
"Ha! You can't expect me to drop it with that temper," Ace laughed, "I'm getting chills, it's like a journey back in time,"
Errik inhaled suddenly with realisation and his usual cold composure returned but his jaw remained rigidly clenched.
"You're trying to provoke me, "Errik exhaled," to what end?"
"Maybe I just miss you screaming in my face, "Ace smiled, " it's like being a student all over again. Or maybe it's because every now and then I get a glimpse of who you used to be, and I go chasing it down like a bloodhound,"
"For what reason?" Errik glared at him.
"My own amusement," Ace returned with an unrepentant smirk.
"And when you track down this ghost of me, does it make you happy?" Errik asked coldly.
"Happy?" Ace replied thoughtfully, "I wouldn't say that. It just gives me some nostalgia. A respite from this version of you, this version of things,"
Errik regarded him seriously. Ace was leaning on one hand across the table with a distant look in his eyes.
"You talk so much about who I was before," Errik turned his full attention to him, "but I wonder who you were before?"
"Me?" Ace glanced up at him.
"Yes, what were you like before? It's been 300 years. I doubt you're the same person as back then either,"
"I was..." Ace had a glazed look in his eyes, "perhaps I was a fool or maybe just a child. Not that it made a difference to you or anyone else. I thought I knew what I wanted and what I was doing. I kept taking bigger and bigger risks. Trying to find meaning... Then one day I woke up and realised the world wasn't as I expected. People weren't as expected and I wasn't as I expected,"
"So what did you do?" Errik asked.
"I decided to change," Ace smiled widely, "I finally took your advice and I stopped looking for the great wins and terrible falls. I went after freedom with just one step at a time,"
"And did you find it?"
"Not yet," Ace pulled closer with a serious expression, "but I will,"
"So then what step is this?" Errik asked quietly, "how can you go forward if you're here with me in the past?"
Ace's eyes widened and a strange smile crept over his face, "Are you trying to give me advice? Or is this some new kind of manipulation?"
"It's not advice or manipulation," Errik dismissed, "It's just common sense,"
"Oh, but common sense isn't all that common these days," Ace laughed but there was no laughter in his eyes, "how refreshing. Shall I give you some advice too?"
"You seem to do as you please regardless of what I say," Errik sniffed.
"Well then don't take it as advice. Take it as common sense," Ace stared at him with intense black eyes, "You were right the first time about relationships. They are an exchange. You said man or woman it didn't matter, none appealed to you. You just took what you wanted, then you left them. That girl won't last long, I already know because I know you. Not you in the past. I know you right here, right now even though you think I don't. The truth is people don't change so easily, memories or not. Eventually, you'll take the reins again and you'll trample over everyone in your way like you always do. If you care about her at all, you'll put her out of your path before you hurt her too,"
Errik's jaw clenched and he leant forward viciously, "By your own logic, why would I do that? Right now she has something that I need. I don't intend to give her up. Not for you. Not for anyone,"
"Ah..and there he is again," Ace scoffed, "I knew you weren't far from the surface. She has what you need, huh?"
"No," Errik reneged quickly, "My life is bound to hers but that doesn't mean..."
"Oh, I know exactly what it means," Ace cut in severely, "it still doesn't matter to you who it is as long as you get what you want right? Well, then it doesn't have to be her,"
Ace threw his hand around Errik's neck and pulled him in roughly. Errik blinked slowly but became very still. Their lips touched for a moment before Errik pulled away with wild ferocious eyes. Ace sunk back into his chair with a smile.
"I expected you to scream or throw a punch," Ace laughed, "what a lukewarm reaction!"
"Why did you do that?" Errik asked in a small voice.
"I thought it might bring back some memories?" Ace smiled darkly.
Errik stood up stiffly and uttered in an exceedingly vicious tone, "Don't ever do that again or I'll kill you,"
He turned swiftly and took off out of the library.
Veretta's heart was racing. She let out a small uncontrollable gasp and the book dropped from her fingers. She stared down bitterly with tears in her eyes. She felt like she might be sick. She started towards the door but Ace blocked her way. She glared up at him with wide spiteful eyes.
"Why do you look so sad, miss witch?" he grinned. "Wasn't this the answer you were looking for?"
"What are you talking about?" Veretta stared at him in disbelief. "That's not what I asked you to do,"
"If he did remember," Ace said thoughtfully, "he would have killed me just now. I guess he really doesn't know who I am, but I already knew that,"
Veretta's brow furrowed, "what?"
"I did that for your benefit," Ace replied with a remorseless grin, "I already knew he didn't remember from the first moment we met,"
"Then the mistake that Errik made..." Veretta uttered the words without conviction. Veretta's eyes froze as the general lifted a lock of her hair and stared down.
"It was manipulating silly girls like you," Ace answered icily, "Don't feel too bad though. He's lured in more discerning women than you. I'd rather this time he focused his energy more productively. That's why I'm giving him some better options. I've been told I'm quite a looker. What do you think? Would he go for me?"
"You forced him to kiss you," Veretta answered through gritted teeth.
"You think I could force a man like that?" Ace replied with an inscrutable expression, "I guess I have you to thank. You've broken him in. I told you, the old him would have killed me. Not because I'm a man, mind you. Just because he never gives anything away for free. Not even a kiss.
What you saw now was just a reflex. Even if he doesn't remember, it seems the cunning side of him remains. I imagine he thinks I have something that he wants. That is why although I am grateful to you for bringing my master back to life, I have to tell you that some things don't change. He doesn't do anything without a reason. I wonder why he let me kiss him? Maybe you should ask yourself the same?"
"You never had any intention of helping me," Veretta said in a low voice.
"I did what you asked," Ace dismissed, "You should be grateful. I'm saving you from unnecessary heartache. Now you're going to do the same for me. I expect that you'll keep your end of the deal,"
Veretta's eyes came up venomously, "Why should I?"
"Because little girl," Ace's smile receded under his hard gaze, "you don't break deals with demons. Not if you know what's good for you,"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone