The Author's Playground
Chapter 38: A threat (2)

Chapter 38: A threat (2)

"Finally I’ve found you."

Elijah remained perfectly still, with the sharp edge of the scythe pressing lightly against his throat. One wrong move, and he’d be depacitated on the spot.

He knew for sure, to who belonged this voice, this scythe, and this sense of bloodlust.

’Calliope...’

"Did you get lost perhaps? If I remember correctly, this is the men’s room right?" Elijah replied.

And then as soon as he finished those words, he moved.

With a sharp twist of his wrist, he smacked the flat side of the scythe away from his throat, creating just enough space to duck under the blade. Calliope’s grip was strong, thus Elijah decided to use it as an opportunity to open the distance between them.

But...

She anticipated it.

Spinning on her heel, Calliope redirected the strike with her forearm and retaliated with a knee to his ribs.

Elijah barely managed to sidestep, but the impact still grazed him, stealing his breath for a second. He staggered back, but Calliope didn’t let that up, as she continued by flipping her grip on the scythe and swung the handle like a staff.

’Whoosh!’

Elijah ducked just in time, feeling the air shift above his head.

’Fuck... she’s too fast!’

Using her own momentum against her, Elijah surged forward and grabbed her scythe just below the blade.

Calliope’s eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift, but she didn’t panic. Instead, she yanked it back— forcing her to let go of the scythe.

Which was exactly what Elijah wanted.

But there’s something Elijah never expected.

And that is... Calliope’s raw strength.

’Crack!’

Elijah barely had time to process her next attack as Calliope’s knee slammed into his abdomen.

The sheer force of the impact lifted him off the ground and sent him flying backward.

His body crashed into the wall, the air in his lungs escaping in a painful huff. His back ached from the impact, but before he could even think of recovering—

’Slam!’

Calliope’s hand slapped against the wall right beside his head, her fingers barely grazed his ear.

Elijah flinched, not from fear—okay, maybe a little—but mostly from the fact that his entire body was still reeling from the previous attack.

Before he could even duck to run away, Calliope’s leg swiftly came up, her knee brushed dangerously close to his hip as she pressed it against the wall, locking him in place.

A weird ’kabedon’.

If this were a different situation, maybe one of those romance novels, Elijah would’ve had a completely different reaction.

But right now?

His heart wasn’t pounding because of the proximity.

It was because Calliope, slowly dragged up the hem of her skirt—

And revealed an arsenal strapped to her thigh.

Daggers, knives, and needles.

"Are you planning to run away?" Calliope asked, leaning inches close to his face.

"Aiya dear senior~ if you get any closer than this, we might kiss you know?" Elijah answered in a flirting manner.

"Why not? I do not mind."

"..."

An awkward silence stretched between them.

Neither seemed willing to move, nor did they appear eager to break the tension. In the end, Elijah took the initiative.

"Do you want to kill me?"

"Good question." Calliope didn’t flinch, her red eyes locked onto his. "I simply haven’t decided yet—whether you’re worth discarding or not. Whether it would changed to something I want or something I fear."

"That’s murder, you know. A felony."

"I’m good at hiding bodies."

Elijah’s lips twitched. Then, he broke into full-blown laughter. "Pft—AHAHAHA! And here I thought you were some hero wannabe."

"Was that a compliment?"

"Not exactly," he replied, grinning. "I just prefer seeing the dirty side of people."

Calliope’s expression remained unreadable. "I’ll cut to the chase—Elijah Noe Shahrazad. Are you an enemy or an ally?"

Elijah tilted his head. "Depends on your perspective. I can’t answer that." His grin faded slightly as he added, "But one thing’s for sure—I want the best outcome."

A beat passed. He wasn’t sure if his answer satisfied her, but after a moment, Calliope finally backed away, retrieving her fallen scythe.

She turned towards the window, opening it wide before stepping onto the ledge.

"I’ll tell you something interesting," she replied with a voice slightly quieter. "The first Mahika spell I ever received..."

Elijah watched as the moonlight traced over her features.

"I can see the future."

She turned slightly, just enough to gauge his reaction.

"And the problem with seeing the future is that it keeps changing."

Elijah’s smile returned, softer this time. "Then, tell me—has our meeting changed it?"

Calliope studied him for a moment before smiling ever so slightly.

"It must have... but whether that’s good or bad is up to you."

She lifted her hand, revealing something between her fingers.

"Also I’ll take what’s respectfully mine."

Elijah’s eyes narrowed.

The Nightmare Core.

Somehow, she had taken it from him without him even noticing.

"And just so you know," she added playing with the core. "telling you my secret was a warning."

Her expression darkened.

"Don’t disappoint me."

Then, without another word, she leapt from the window, vanishing into the night.

The room fell silent once more.

The smile finally faded from Elijah’s lips as he muttered under his breath—

"A warning, huh...?"

His fingers curled slightly.

"Calliope Revenant. I will unveil everything about you."

*****

Red Light City.

In a bustling city. Laughter filled the air, together with the clinking of glasses, and the occasional cry of desperate gamblers.

The scent of roasted meats and cheap liquor clung to the atmosphere, but none of it seemed to faze the gray-haired lad who stepped into the a certain establishment.

His red eyes flickered under the dim lights, his pointed ears twitched slightly as he observed the scene before him.

Everyone was adorned in animal skins—goats, lizards, pigs— the only thing different, is him.

His pristine white school uniform, embroidered with the logo of the prestigious White Tower Academy, made him stand out like an outsider. Yet none dared to raise its fang, nor to stare at him.

Soon two fox-masked figures emerged from the shadows, bowing slightly.

"Welcome back Master Mammon."

Mammon’s fingers moved to the collar of his uniform, removing his shirt and revealing the snake tattoo that coiled around his lean frame. Later, the rich folds of a green robe obscured the tattoo.

He strode forward, his presence parting the sea of gamblers and drunks until he reached a secluded table.

A lone rat-masked figure sat across from him, beady eyes flickered with despair and nervousness.

"Let’s start the game."

The game was poker, a simple enough deception for those who thought themselves clever.

The rat had confidence at first, placing his bets high, convinced that luck was on his side. But with each turn, Mammon’s pile grew larger, and the rat’s dwindled into desperation.

Beads of sweat formed on his temple as he threw in the last of his coins.

"Call."

The cards were revealed, and the rat paled. Mammon’s hand was flawless. The rat’s match seemed merely a joke.

"You have nothing else to offer?" Mammon asked almost sounding sympathetic.

The rat swallowed hard and nodded. His hands trembled as he clenched his knees beneath the table.

"Then that’s a shame. Feed it."

Two cat-masked figures stepped forward, one holding a black gem in its palm. A nightmare core. The rat’s eyes widened in pure horror.

"No—please! I—I can pay! Just give me time!" he wailed, scrambling back in his seat.

The cats remained silent as they forced his mouth open.

The nightmare core was shoved past his lips, his screams muffled as the gem lodged itself in his throat. His body seized, veins bulging unnaturally as something popping surged through his flesh.

Then he burst.

Exploding like a bomb as his torso split apart like a rotted fruit, showering the table with viscera.

Bone fragments clattered to the floor, and the scent of burnt flesh tainted the air.

After few seconds of the scenery, an owl whispered in his ears.

From that moment, Mammon’s bored face grew to a smile as he murmured.

"It seems luck was at his side, I wonder how long can that human entertain me."