......
Eidolon P.O.V.
I didn't plan to get involved with the "Monsters" so early, preferring to first set the groundwork by putting some of my people here and on Monster Island first. Then, build some influence from behind the scenes when I confront them.
Now I will skip all that and be direct, using power instead of diplomacy… Well, using power is a form of diplomacy, I guess.
As long as I don't need to massacre too many people to set an example, I will consider this a victory.
After I told them to pay attention, I allowed the monsters watching me some time to focus before I started talking business. And silence is always very intimidating to those without power in a tense situation.
"Good… It seems that communication is possible. I am very happy seeing this, after all, this is the prerequisite to everything that I have in mind." I relax my features to disperse the tension a little
Clapping once, like someone who is gonna give a lecture and wants to raise the level of attention of his listeners, I start. "First of all, to those that don't know me, I am Eidolon. A Hero, Protector of the Planet, Champion of Humanity… you get the gist." I point to the surface before pointing at them "Now… Normally, this would make us at odds, no?"
My tone goes from enthusiastic to neutral in one phrase, as if changing from an engaging teacher to a monotone office worker.
More than half of them flinched at the subtle change, and the rest flinched at the meanings of my words.
"..." Once again, I let the silence stretch before talking again.
"But it really needs to be this way?" I ask
"...what do you mean?" Someone finally engages, the queen herself.
It seems Shiklah understands power dynamics and is unwilling to just let me passively control the conversation.
"What I am saying is that, before being proved wrong, I consider all of you as part of humanity." I smile friendly
"..." But it seems they are not falling from it. Each one is giving me strange expressions.
"Using good faith, I see no problem in considering anyone who lived on this planet for thousands of years as part of our population as a whole. Many monsters are also ex-humans, right?" I explain my perspective to them "But there is only one problem, right? You guys are the predators of the average human…"
And once again, I drop the enthusiastic act and change my tone. This time, though, I am not talking neutrally, no… My tone grew cold as my eyes scanned them accusingly.
They tremble, but Shiklah is not the queen for nothing. She has more courage than the rest and speaks. "... where is this going?" By the way her eyes narrow, I am pretty sure that she can guess it already.
"Simple… I admit that you guys have a great advantage against the average human, but… now I am here." I declare strongly
"..."
"Not that I am needed that much, let's be frank… There is a reason why you guys are holed up underground. Humans outnumbered you guys long ago, and we advanced technologically enough to make you all not that comfortable in acting as you want, right?"
"..." Bullseye.
"So, even if we ignore the special humans that exist here and there that kept you all at bay since the dawn of time, now the human race can't be underestimated that easily. I bet none of you want a nuke down here, right?" I chuckle darkly
"..."
I don't wait for an answer "And that is what I am trying to prevent. I don't want conflict between the 'humans' living on this planet. The opposite, really, I want everyone to get along and work together."
"So you are seeking coexistence…" Shiklah says in equal parts amusement and disbelief.
The realization made her relax enough to lean on one leg and cross her arms beneath her big breasts. It is unclear if she is doing it on purpose or just out of habit.
Maybe I am too egocentric for thinking every woman I meet tries to seduce me… But… all "femme fatales" kinda tried though…
"That would be the ideal…" I nod to her.
This time, there is no silence even if I stop talking. The monsters start looking at each other and murmuring among themselves. They probably underestimated my hearing because I can tell that they are mostly scoffing and mocking my notion.
But my ego is not that fragile that it will make me overreact to the subtle disrespect. I let them talk, just staring at them… Recording everyone in my mind.
My eyes meet Shiklah, though. She is not whispering and not even interacting with anyone in her retinue; she is just staring at me as I stare at her.
After our gazes meet, we keep eye contact.
She must be trying to get a measure of me… Pfft, fat chance.
You can't understand me like that, woman. But if you wanna see that I am serious, I will give you that…
I don't blink. The situation is similar to when someone says a certain thing, and everyone laughs without knowing that it is serious.
The people around only started slowly realizing that is not a joking matter when the person who "joked" kept the face completely unmoved and with a blank stare.
Eventually, even the monster peanut gallery voices can't win against my silence. It grows oppressive, overwhelming them…
One caught a glimpse of me and instantly shut up. Another sees the change in his companion and turns to me, only to see the same. Others need to elbow the most raucous ones. As more and more get taken by my silence, the quicker it spreads till eventually… everyone shuts up without me having to do a thing.
"..."
"....."
"..."
Now I let the silence fall on them till their shoulders sag and their knees tremble. Till the ones that can physiologically sweat get drenched… Even the ones that don't sweat should be discovering now how it is.
I finally speak with a soft voice "I don't understand… I really want to give this a try. Why be against it? Is such an attractive idea make an enemy of me?"
I let my Conqueror's Haki slip; it is not only my presence that will affect them, but a real power. The difference is like that between Hell and Earth. The air trembles, and they are hit by the wave
"Because that means that you are denying any attempt at coexistence… Which means that you want to keep things hostile… And I am on the other side." Each phrase is punctuated by an increase in pressure.
It gets to a point that there is a really strong wind moving from me, a storm brewing even here, underground.
"Then… Why shouldn't I simply wipe out all of you and be done with it?"
*Boom*
I stop holding back. The release of Conqueror's Haki is making Monster Metropolis city tremble, and I am showing my intent to destroy them.
It is not a bluff… I can do it right now, and they are just now realizing that fact.
I really would not mind, but I am trying to be a good person, so I don't immediately act to give them a chance… This is your cue, you know? Go on… About now should be good… I am really gonna do it, you know?
They need to see my arm emerging from one of the slits of my cloak, my palm shining with a blinding light, for someone to finally react.
"Wait!" Thank you, Shiklah. You are doing good work in destroying the bimbo stereotypes. "Hold your horse! We still haven't said anything about… your proposal."
I pause, slowly lowering my hand while alleviating the pressure.
"Being honest… it is more of a demand. But it is hard to see that way because, in truth, you are the ones benefiting from it." I say
"Benefitting, you say?" An overly courageous vampire comments scornfully, flinching when I turn to him.
To not pass the image of a brute authoritarian, I don't answer with violence and simply address his statement.
"Of course. Maybe you all lived down here for too long, but the monsters don't reign anymore… You all don't even reign the night, we conquered that too." I shrug. "And why do you even attack humans again? Do you really need to kill us, or is it just your power over us awakening the sadism inside you all?"
"..." Now, if you answer, you will look bad, huh?
"If vampires need blood? There are non-lethal ways to get that. We could even provide. If a succubus wants a guy's life essence… Pfft, I am pretty sure there will be a long line of volunteers." I can't help but joke, making most of them laugh, even Shiklah giggled in her hand
"Don't talk like violence only came from our side…" One points out timidly, now a little more comfortable because I joked
"Exactly!" I point at the mummy guy who seems friendly with a Frankenstein Monster. There are multiple of them or just this one? "I will not deny the past. The hunts with pitchforks and torches, but that happened too long ago… What happened first? Did a monster kill a human, or did a human attack a monster because of the fear of the unknown? Was the monster out of control because of the transformation, or was he always an evil being? What is justified? Who threw the first punch? We can't get this answer now… All humans who hunted you in the past must be dead." Unless there is some immortal hunter around. "And that is why we have a very good opportunity to coexist now."
Again, they can't really argue with that, and I am seeing my words are starting to sink… They are starting to see that it makes sense!
And after you make someone see that what you are saying makes sense, to convince them, you just need to sell the appeal…
"But seriously, what is the big deal against coexistence? We are all sentient beings that can communicate with each other; some are ex-humans, there is no irreparable feud, no need to kill ourselves…" I list "There will be a lot of advantages to the monsters if we coexist. All of the surface will be accessible and everything there, the world open to you, no more obscurity… You think being strong gives you freedom? Then why are you in this hole? True freedom will come from the day you can simply walk on a street without being attacked or having to attack anyone." I open my arms to them
It doesn't matter who you are; people always desire what they don't have.
A struggling college student would say that they would give anything for a billion dollars. A billionaire says that they would give up all their fortune to go back to being in his early twenties, at college age. A famous person desires anonymity, and a nobody wishes to be popular. It is always what you don't have that has the most appeal.
Those powerful immortal monsters… what do they desire? I would dare to say that maybe they wish for a normal life…
Maybe simply something different from the stale routine they lived for who knows how many years. In any way, I know that they yearn for more than living down here.
Of course, I also know that what they yearn for is ruling the humans like servants or even cattle. That would be the ideal for them, but that is not possible anymore, suckers… Sorry, but not sorry.
Coexistence, take it or leave it (leave this plane of existence).
"You speak like it would be easy." Shiklah says, her tone slightly challenging, but not confrontational.
"I speak because it is feasible." I retort "It may sound highly optimistic after lifetimes of this dark status quo, but now is the moment."
"Now?" Someone asks
"If you are keeping in touch with the surface in some way, you must know that the world is changing. More and more fantastical things are happening in broad daylight; people's reactions to you will not be the same as they were in the past." I say
"Hmpf, why would we want that?" Despite feeling that I caught the interest of the vast majority, there would still be some that is very against it.
"Why would you not want that?" I challenge back "There would be only advantages. Just expanding your opportunities and possibilities… Are you so unwilling to mingle with the weak, stupid humans? Newsflash, you are not that superior anymore. We are not the unwashed, illiterate, and superstitious people from a thousand years ago. Do you fear that history would repeat itself? There will obviously be resistance and distrust for some, but many also like the idea of monsters. And with my stamp of approval, it would not be starting from zero."
"Your stamp of approval?" Shiklah tilts her head with a sly smile. "Are you so important that you can guarantee that?"
"Yes." I nod without hesitation
"..."
"I have a lot of sway with the public, and I even talked about monsters. Said that you are not all bloodthirsty savage and are sentient beings, but at the same time warned to keep a safe distance from their security… Basically explained that there is good and evil even among monsters, and that it is not good to generalize."
"That doesn't sound that helped much…"
"It obviously helped." I retort "Now your public image is neutral, people will need to see for themselves to make their own decisions… Some giant monsters attacked cities, but I did a good job of passing the message that it is a matter of compatibility. The next step is the most important…"I pointed at them "To coexistence happen, monsters will need to give a good first impression…"
"..." It seems that I am throwing too much at them at the moment.
Okay, I know when to retreat… I made enough ground today.
"But this is a matter for the future… I will not say for you all to go act buddy-buddy with humans just to sell a friendly image."
I can see some faces relaxing.
Time for the final and most important blow…
"What I will demand is that all of you not attack humans in any way." My voice goes back to sounding hard.
"... in any way? Are you suggesting…?" Shiklah starts
"Exactly… I said that first impressions are important, right? I don't know how it will proceed from now on, but I am sure of one thing… If a monster from here harms a human… the talk about coexistence will be over." I threaten.
"Are you threatening us?" Shiklah frowns
"Yes."
She recoils slightly at my bluntness.
"It is okay to not mingle and completely deny my suggestion of coexistence. I just wanted to believe that we can become a better planet if we work together." I sigh "It is my vision for the future, but I understand that not everyone shares the same sentiment… The same can't be said about the peace that I desire for the future. That is non-negotiable." I declare again, putting pressure on them.
"So our options are to be assimilated or be good boys in our corner?" Shiklah asks
"What 'assimilated'? Stop trying to make it sound bad…" I shake my head "Look at your own city, look at yourselves… We share many more similarities than you want to admit. And I dare to say, you are already copying us. Just assimilate what you deem useful or cool. I am only asking you to do the bare minimum of any social creature and not kill your equals indiscriminately. Are you all really no different than beasts?" I purposefully provoke them
"How dare you?!" A vampire suddenly gets incensed, gaining some courage from somewhere.
"Then prove me wrong." I immediately shut him up "If you really can't let go of your savagery, superiority complex and useless cruelty… Then, I am the one who doesn't want to mingle with you."
"..."
"Are you all so superior and sophisticated? Then why are you still hanging on to the ways of the past? Ways that only create trouble for both sides at this point?" I ask "Why don't you grow up?"
"..." And the vampire doesn't have an answer.
"Hmpf. In any case, feel free to ignore everything I said, with the exception of nothing hurting humans. I will come back in the future to talk again, depending on what happens."
Now that I said what I wanted, no need to discuss any further. They probably have grievances and personal biases about getting involved with humans… I would be the first one to say that the human race can also be horrible(but I am stuck with them), so I will just leave and let them discuss among themselves.
Maybe nothing will happen, maybe everything will change… Whatever, I gave my shot. I really don't wanna - because I consider them different and endangered species of our planet - but I will not hesitate and lump them together with the demons that want to invade and use the human race as toys and cattle if they force my hand.
And then… extermination.
I turn to Selene and raise my hand at Michael Morbius. The recently turned vampire was immediately encased in a forcefield sphere.
"I am taking him with me." I don't ask for permission. I am just stating a fact while Morbius tries to break free of my hold.
Sorry, dude. You are strong, but only for the Spider-Man villain gallery. You are completely out of your element now.
"This vampire has crimes to answer for…" Shiklah suddenly says, stepping forward.
"And he will answer for them." I don't even turn around to reply.
"He needs to answer for them here." She presses
"No, he doesn't. What he needs is help. First, I am gonna hear his story and help him the way I can… As a recently turned vampire, he is under my protection and jurisdiction." I turn my head to her finally "And this is non-negotiable."
"At some point, you are preaching like a reasonable person, and in another, you are acting like a tyrant." She speaks. Props to her for being honest
"Yeah, that is me. I already introduced myself, right? Eidolon…" I say with a hint of sarcasm. "But if you can't understand that coexistence and this recently turned vampire are different matters that need different approaches, then the issue is on you."
"I think those matters are surprisingly similar and a test…." She argues "He killed citizens of my city. So am I not allowed to get angry at that fact as you would get if one of us killed a human?"
Hm, she has a brain…
"Did he kill them as a human or as a vampire? And how would he meet justice here? By death?" I am not one to back down from an argument. "At this point, it is unclear if this man is a vampire or human… You want to try him as a monster, but at the same time, saying that he is a human just to throw his crimes in my face. Your dishonesty and shamelessly is impressive, but it's not gonna work." A good way to deal with those people is just expose them
Shiklah smirks a little. Not bothered that I called her out.
"I said that he will answer for his crimes, but before that, I am going to help him with his situation. Human or vampire… We still need to see what he really is before putting a wooden stake in his heart, and then we will study his circumstances before passing a verdict."
Her smile widens. "So you are gonna bring him back here to answer for his murders?"
I narrow my eyes and put my face close to hers. Hats off to her; she doesn't back down or show fear.
"Don't try to use him in any way to tie me, Queen Shiklah." Once again, I call her out. From our talk is not hard to guess that I care about humans, and she is trying to use that. "I can see that you don't care too much about the ones he killed… You are playing a dangerous game, trying to complicate my life. You really don't want to invite me to your home to play this game."
"Hm~, I don't know about that… I don't mind playing with it at any time." Her smirk changes seductively
"No, you don't." I don't react to her bait ."I am very competitive, with a high probability of flipping the board."
"..."
"This matter can be solved if all of us use a little common sense… Is purposefully making things difficult a hill worth dying on? Emphasis on the dying part."
"Hehe~ I like dangerous men." Outwardly, she looks unaffected by the threat, but I can see that her emotions are treading the line between fear and… excitement. Ah man, another one who likes playing with danger.
She raises her hand and runs a finger through my jawline and down to my neck and chest.
"But okay, I will fight over something so small with a handsome man like yourself. You can take him." She says sultrily
Ah, no, you are not gonna make this look like you are making me a favor. And don't touch me, bitch. I saw what you do with his hand, filthy succubus. This is no innocent flirty action either.
*Whoosh* *Splat*
Her eyes suddenly widened when she lost the feeling of my chest, which was because her hand was separated from her body by a cut in the wrist.
"I would appreciate it if you don't casually touch me." I say coldly while she immediately took two steps backwards, clenching her stump and her face morphing into one of pain and shock.
Before she can say a word, I reattach her hand telekinetically and heal her.
"Next time you try to use one of your succubus tricks on me… It will be the last." I say with a calm and cold tone.
"..." She doesn't argue. She knows what she did.
"But I forgive you." Now I am the one with the last word "We are probably gonna see each other again… let's hope to be in good circumstances."
I turn around one last time and bring Morbius and Blade to me. Selene also approaches, and I make a mass teleportation.
It obviously needs to be cool. First, a burst of dark mist that quickly recedes into a spinning ball before diminishing till completely disappears.
......…
I reappear inside an abandoned building in New York.
"I didn't ask for your help." It is the first thing Blade says
"I didn't offer, I just did." I reply in the same tone. Just saved the guy from being jumped, and that is his gratitude, funny guy. "It is called being a hero, you know? Helping even when not solicited…"
"It couldn't be me…" He shakes his head
Morbius stirs inside the bubble that is holding him, and I just let him go.
"I hope you can understand that I want to help you too." I say as the pale, deformed man falls to the ground "Don't be like this guy and accept the help." I gesture at Blade with my thumb.
"I, indeed… can understand…" He says slowly, raising up.
"Hm, at least you are not running away… There are a few things that are more annoying than trying to help someone who doesn't want to be helped." I comment, "We are gonna go over your situation, be patient."
Then I turn to Blade again "Taking advantage of the opportunity… Would you mind offering a sample of your blood, Mr. Daywalker?"
Morbius and Selene both turn to him. Not that I am using peer pressure, but you would deny a man the cure to his affliction?
"Is this why you brought me here?" He asks while staring straight at my eyes. I think… he is wearing sunglasses indoors.
"No, I just thought about it now." I say the truth "But it would make sense, right? You are immune to sunlight because you are half-vampire, so the answer is in your blood."
Selene is also immune at this point, but because of my cheats. It would be much better to study someone native to this universe.
"..." Blade continues to stare at me in silence. That silence of a person who wants to say but simply doesn't want to open his mouth.
"Please…" Morbius cuts the silence with his pleading, raspy voice. He is a smart guy, so he must understand how big it would be to study Blade's blood.
Blade turns to him, and Morbius' begging face must have cracked his hard heart because he eventually sighs.
"All-fucking-right." He finally says "But if you do anything weird with my blood, I will be hunting you till the end of the Earth." He threatens while poignant at me.
"Thank you…" Morbius nods gratefully
"Tsk. Just because I was hunting you earlier…" Blade shakes his head. Look at this guy… He is a tsundere!
"I knew that you were a good guy." I can't help but say, with a big smile beneath my mask.
"Shut up." He then decides to change the subject "And you really mean that shit you are saying there? In Monster Metropolis, about coexistence and all that…" Once again, he looks at me intently
"Of course. Why would I lie? If I want, I can exterminate all of them… What would be the reason to use tricks? I really wish for no more conflicts just because of our differences."
"Humans and monsters coexisting? Heh! It would be better if you simply exterminate all of them." He says darkly
"Calm down a little. I checked, and most of the monsters are not that different from humans… The great majority just stays out of the way like the mummies, centaurs, etc. They are weird, and even the ones that are hostile are possible to be brought into the fold." I explain "In truth, the vast majority of the attacks on humans nowadays come from vampires. Like, over 95%. And the vampire population on Monster Metropolis is very small. So it makes sense I give the first step to coexistence there."
After explaining my reasoning, he laughs again.
"Well, you are not gonna hear me defending the vampires even if I am half one, that is for sure." We both laugh slightly "And damn, so I am part of two groups that statistically do most of the bad things."
"Pfft!" I was caught so off guard that I almost choked on my spit. "*Ahem* At least you are one of the good ones…" I pat his head and say in a patronizing tone.
"Fuck you." He says without any heat, and we both laugh a little.
"... I don't understand." Selene comments on the side
Blade and I both turn to her, and we stop laughing.
"So innocent. Continue like that." I pat her head, making her fidget a little.
Aah~ racist jokes, sometimes I forget that even when I consider the fact that this world is some years more advanced in many things like technology, than my old one, I am still like ten years in the past. A little before things get boring, and when we are able to joke around like this. In my time, movies like Rush Hour couldn't be made anymore.
Not only that, the world was progressing on those issues, but suddenly, everything became extremist. The pawns hate each other while the two chess players are good friends, huh?
This time, I will prevent the elites from turning the people against each other.
The world doesn't know, but there is a "John Sublime" to every group on this Planet.
......…
Queen Shiklah
After Eidolon left with Blade and the others, the Succubus Queen stared at the place where he disappeared… and then released a shout of anger from her throat.
"Hmpf!" Then, without another word, she turned around and flew back to her palace at high speed, leaving everyone behind.
That display was half real and half performative.
First of all, seeing her angry like that obviously made the rest cower in fear and give her space, instead of following and trying to incur her ire.
Second, she is really angry with the guy, not only cutting her hand, but also completely brushing her aside. His eyes are like he is looking at dirty on the floor instead of the beautiful succubus she is.
And as the saying goes: "Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned".
Especially to someone like her, who is used to having men dancing in the palm of her hand.
In her mind, she was already making plans for the hero and Dracula meeting and fighting for her. She would not even need to deal with either of them.
"...but the guy is gay." She sits in her throne with a huff.
She is lying to herself. Better than anyone else, Shiklah knows that her charms works in either gender, independent of their sexual orientation… It works on anyone who is slightly attracted to her.
So if it didn't work on him…
No, the thought alone is impossible even to cross her mind. There is no hot-blooded male that would not be attracted to her, especially a specimen exuding testosterone like that one.
She bites the nail of her thumb while sitting modestly on her throne.
"That guy… his idea was not even bad, but he irks me."
Shiklah was never the type to kill humans by sucking them dry. He considers them her partners, even for only one night, so coexistence is not a bad idea… just an unrealistic one.
Most of her subjects would, at last, have an unmotivated stance on it, if not being completely against it.
But now someone other than her brought it up… Someone who already made a show of how strong he is and how he can just erase Monster Metropolis.
"I can use that…" She starts scheming
She can play the two sides… Maybe even use him to deal with the opposition to her rule… Maybe even using him to deal with Dracula, not by seduction, but with politics.
If she can make her enemies provoke him… She can also play the part of the subjugated queen, so if he fails, she can come back as a victim instead of an ally of the hero who fell.
Her smile widens the more she thinks about it.
"Hmpf, you could have at least bedded me, but now I am gonna make you work without any reward~."
......….
Third Person P.O.V.
Close by, in another building, Joshua the Nosferatu enters a dark room and kneels.
There is no light in this small space till Joshua ignites a candle that shines with a strange aggressiveness, as if there is gunpowder in it.
"My Lord… I come to report." He says humbly, lowering his head to the limit
"Did she accept?" A distorted voice, probably male, came from the candle.
"There is… an interruption…" Joshua starts nervously
Even if it is just a flame, it is almost possible to feel it frowning. "Explain…" It sounds dangerously calm
"A hero, from the humans, appeared… There was Blade too… and a recently turned vampire…" Joshua hurries up to explain, but he is only making things even more confusing.
"Recently turned, you say?" The flame asks with a strange tone.
"Ah, yes, a guy that was killing-"
"That doesn't matter. Explain the interruption." The voice stops him.
"As your wish…" He bows his back and again starts explaining.
Joshua tells everything that Eidolon said and what he did, even about his power.
"Coexistence?? HAHAHAHAHAHA!! I haven't heard something like that in a long time! When was it?! Before Atlantis sank??? Hahaha!" The voice sounds highly amused, the flame rises in height, and gaining incredible potency.
Sensing the other good humor, Joshua also laughs a little to fit in.
But that seems to be the wrong move, because the flame suddenly goes completely still and silent.
"...why are you laughing?"
"Eh…" The sudden shift scares Joshua.
"A weakling like you has no right to laugh…" The voice continues.
Joshua immediately goes on all fours, his forehead bashing against the hard floor.
"I apologize deeply!!" He says with clear panic in his voice.
"..." The flame stayed still for some time, almost looking down on him.
The only sound heard was the inevitable gulp sound that Joshua made while waiting.
"A lesson for you… Only the strong are allowed to talk about coexistence of any kind." The flame finally speaks "A worm like you is not even allowed to laugh at the prospect."
"O-Of course! I-I am only an insect!!" Joshua has no shame in humiliating himself.
People often disdain to even step in disgusting worms, and that is the way of survival of the weak without pride.
"Hmpf. To even talk about coexistence… Do you wanna know what kind of strength is needed to achieve it?" The voice asks
"I wouldn't dare!" Joshua says immediately, afraid of stepping into a trap.
"It is fine… I can tell you…" It paused dramatically. "The only way for coexistence is if someone completely controls the world."
"..."
"That is the kind of strength necessary… Only someone powerful enough to control the world is allowed to spout such words. Know your place."
"Y-yes!"
"That hero looks interesting, but he is not our focus now… What will be your next move?" The flame asks
"W-well… Shiklah made a demand." Joshua starts hesitantly
"..."
"She wants to meet Lord Dracula."
The flame made a sound like it clicked its tongue.
"Prideful people love to complicate things…" He says "I don't care how, but make it happen… Whether you convince her to visit him, or vice versa. This union is extremely important to me."
Joshua gulps loudly again. How the hell will he convince one of those two lower their pride for the other?
And a new piece of information appeared in this talk… This person talking through the flame is not Dracula.
Joshua apparently serves a different master, but it remains unclear how his loyalty really works.
"I… I… It will be done, My Lord." Joshua almost argued, but in the end, he just decided to lower his head and accept the mission humbly.
The flame dismissed him, and with one last bow, Joshua left the room and closed the door behind him.
Now, the flame remains, burning inside this dark space…
As it slowly diminishes, it mutters some names. "Dracula, Shiklah, Blade, Morbius, and now this hero… I have options…" And then it goes silent after the last ember disappears, leaving the room completely dark.
......….
Brazil
Next Day
On his family farm, Hector is saying his goodbyes to his grandparents.
"Call me every day." His grandma says while hugging him with tears in her eyes
"Of course." He nods while hugging her back.
He then exchanged a handshake with his grandpa "Call me if you need anything." The old man says
"I will, but I can handle things on my own."
"That is how men are, but no shame in relying on your family."
"True…"
On the side, Shego and Helena are also being hugged by his grandma while saying their goodbyes.
"Thanks for having us." Shego says well-mannered.
"Yes, sorry for imposing." Helena adds
"Oh, of course you didn't impose. Come back anytime." Grandma says "Hector, when are you coming back? Bringing them too, fine?"
"Okay, Grandma. I will come for Christmas." Hector salutes playfully "I will even bring more." He smiles widely
"Hector…" The Grandma starts saying with a warning tone
"At least four next time, doubling the-Ouch!" He was interrupted by a pinch on his side
"Don't talk like that. They are such nice girls."
"Yeah, Hector." Shego nods
"We are nice girls." Helena also jumps in
"Treat us better." They are loving having grandma as a backer, feeling invincible.
"They know that I love them." Hector laughs "But I simply have too much love to give. They don't mind shaaaAaaring!" This time he dodged the pinch
As he walks to the taxi, he waves them goodbye one last time.
"Bye! Love you two!" He is almost running from his grandmother now.
Shego and Helena follow with an amused smile while also waving.
Later in the car, Hector relaxes with Shego in his arms. The same robot is driving them, so they don't need to hide.
"So, we are gonna teleport now?" Helena asks after the taxi moves far enough to lose sight of the house.
"Eh…" Hector pauses, his relaxed expression getting tense. "Why don't we go to the Space Station?"
They turn to look at him strangely. "Why don't you want us to go home?" Shego asks suspiciously
"Well… I have a visitor." He answers while looking at the scenery to avoid her focused eyes.
......
America
Early That Day
At his home, another body of Hector walks to the door and opens it with a smile.
"Ready to pose for me like one of those French girls?" Hector asks playfully.
Mary Jane rolls her eyes at him, but she can't hide the amazing blush that covers her slightly flecked cheeks. She can't even answer because her mind is not on that bet or the painting…
Her mind is on the fact that there is a high probability that today is THE day for them.
.......