Reckoning

(Plot teaser for Alex! Usual warnings apply: violence, torture, foul language. So read at your own risk.)

Alex reached for his linkpearl the moment his armor was all in place. Blades resting against his hips. "Hey, Anata? It's time. I'm heading to the Shroud to deal with a pest problem. Watch out for Sanagi for me."

"You better be safe out there," she called back over the pearl. "And you call for backup if you need it. Don't make me go hunting for you if you're not back after a while."

"Will do. I should only be a couple of days. Don't worry until you ain't heard from me in two days. Two should be enough to deal with this."

"You'll do good, Alex. Will keep Sana safe while you're away."

Alex tucked the linkpearl away in a pocket. One last glance towards the rest of the apartment. A mental check to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Nothing came to mind. He'd fed the cat and the fish. Left the snowman toy in a safe place away from Shadow's paws.

Nope he was all set. He'd told Sana he had a job he'd taken. Not entirely a lie. This job was just personal. Even if he had told Ana the complete truth. He was afraid that if he had told Sana, she'd have wanted to come help. This was something he needed to settle on his own though. These were people he used to work beside at one point. People who now called him a traitor for choices he had made. Now was time to settle the score with them. Before it escalated and they started targeting the people he loved.

Not that they'd have much luck if they went after Anata or Aeri. Those two could hold their own. He was more worried about those he cared about that were more like Sanagi and L'ania. Not weak or helpless. No definitely not. But not used to dealing with people like his ex-friends.

Alex locked the door behind him as he left the Mists to head over to the South Shroud. 

Once there, he halted just south of the first scout camp. He'd slaughtered this camp moons ago to send a message to his 'old friend'. Likely by now they had replaced the men. One look confirmed that they had. Only three men right now for this shift to watch out for any Wood Wailers. They weren't expecting a lone man who could easily take them by himself. 

Daggers drawn. Cocky smirk on his face. Alex stepped towards the small scout camp. Two of them had drawn their weapons. Yelled at the third to warn their boss. Clearly one of the two standing against him knew exactly who he was.

Good. Let them tell their boss that he had come knocking. It was time for a reckoning. 

Alex wasted no time with the two pathetic scouts. Their blood coated his blades and the forest floor. He stalked towards the camp that waited beyond. Right where his 'old friend' would be waiting. 

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Alex cut down most of the weaker men they sent after him. But... There were fewer then he expected. Much fewer. It made him hesitate a fraction. Something was off with this. They were setting him up. They had to be. 

It was like all the men so far had been bait to lure him further in. Not that he had any intention of stopping. He still needed to have this confrontation. Now though he was feeling more cautious about what was to happen. 

He made it up to the final gate. Could see his 'old friend' waiting just beyond. A smug little smirk on Ferrus' face. Oh this was definitely a trap. Still Alex swaggered up the path. As if he wasn't wearing splotches of blood from the men he'd cut down. 

"Ferrus." Alex said the name with a casual tone. Though his eyes remained wary as he watched the Keeper male. 

"Alexois. It's been a time, hasn't it?" Ferrus kept cleaning under his nails with his dagger as he watched Alex. "Welcome back. I hope you realize that you're going to suffer for all the trouble you've been causing me since you stabbed us in the back."

"I never stabbed you in the back, Ferrus. You decided that just cause of that bitch I fell for." Alex shrugged and rolled his eyes. "The camp scouts were just cause you ruined my night at the bar and threatened that I'd get what was coming to me. I thought you'd like that little calling card I left you."

"Just like you." Ferrus sighed as he shook his head. A flick of his hand. A signal of some kind. 

Alex moved to step forward. Only to find he couldn't. He felt suddenly restricted. Bound. A snarl as he struggled against whatever magic was holding him. Ferrus laughing as he stood and sauntered over to Alex but remained just out of reach. 

"You see... After that calling card... I recruited some help. Or more like your old mentor gave us her calling card. Now I don't really like outside help. But she was just so very... Persuasive. Jacques said she was powerful. Let's find out just how powerful, eh?"

If the binding hadn't restricted him before... Hearing his mentor's name from Ferrus did just as effectively. Alex had frozen. All those moments of torture flashing through his mind.

"Now I heard good ole Jacques bit the dust. Good thing we got this little gift from his pretty connection before he got himself killed. Reliable bastard. Too bad he's gone now." Ferrus laughed as he pulled out a black mask. It looks similar to many of the ones Wood Wailers wore. Except for the color and blood red stone in the forehead of it. Ferrus sneered as he slapped the mask onto Alex's face. 

Alex howled in pain as the magic hidden in the mask shot through him like fire in his veins. Felt the binding magic give way just so he could collapse to the ground. Could hear Ferrus' taunting laughter.

"This should be fun. Just give in and make it easier on yourself. It will be just like sleeping. Stupid Alex will fall asleep and be forgotten. The Jackal will come back and be my obedient lap dog."

Whatever magic was in this mask... It felt like pure agony as he writhed on the ground. It felt like each wound Jacques had given him was reopened. Yet he didn't bleed. This magic was more in his head, not that he believed that. Eventually sweet darkness claimed him.

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The pain had stopped the moment he drifted into unconsciousness. He felt like he was floating through water. Falling endlessly. Adrift. But there was no pain here. He couldn't remember why he had been hurting. What he had been doing. He struggled to remember. Struggled to hold on to something. This wasn't right. It couldn't be right. He wanted to scream but something also kept making him feel calm. It was just so hard.

"Sleep now. Rest your weary head. No more pain. No more suffering. Just peace. Struggle will only bring you pain."

Alex struggled but the whispered words of a woman were... Hard to resist. Slowly his eyes drifted closed. 

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Crimson eyes opened to the stormy Shroud sky. Empty and devoid of their usual spark. Alex climbed to his feet and bowed his head to Ferrus. The Keeper laughed boldly at this display.

Once he had his chance to laugh, Ferrus held out a pair of dangerously deadly looking blades. Specially crafted by the Shroud Witch. Specifically for this purpose. "Welcome home, Jackal. Now let's get you some toys to chew on. How about some of those pretty girls my spies say you favor? I think that one that gave you that ridiculous snowman toy. The girl living with you. And your precious little blood sworn 'sister'."

"Oh though one more thing before I forget." Ferrus sneered as he stepped behind Alex. Roughly grabbing Alex's hair but Alex didn't budge against the Keeper. A flash of a blade. Several strands of blonde hair falling to the dirt where they stood. "This should do as proof. I always told you to keep your gods damned hair short. Too easy for an enemy to use against you or get caught in branches. Stupid dog."

Three letters were sent out. Each with a strand of blonde hair. Alex's hair. The writing was very rough. Especially since the Keeper was not very skilled in writing. Yet he wanted to hand write these himself. Each letter was basically similar to the other. Though it would likely take his scouts a day or two to get them delivered depending where these girls were. 

You,

Come play. Jackal needs a chew toy. We have someone you want back. South Shroud. (Location enclosed.)

- Ferrus Thorne