New Zion

Cole carefully got out of the bed. He slipped the pillow where he used to be, and Aria hugged it tightly. Cole walked up to his room and pushed his bed to the side. Lifting up the floorboards he pulled out a full set of black armour with an overcoat and mask along with the weapon that he’d taken from Alkira Jovana after killing her. Getting dressed, he made his way to the field, his mask under his arm. He found Ryan talking with a familiar group of people, similarly armoured in black.

“Hey, don’t you still have a couple of hours?” Cole looked up at Peter.

“I’d like to get going before she wakes up,” Cole replied. Simon walked over.

“Hey, sleepy-head! It’s about time you joined us,” Simon said.

“Better late than never,” Cole said.

“I bet you were just enjoying your time with Aria,” Simon said.

“Who else would he spend it with?” Callum said. Levi shook his head.

“So Ryan, what’s the plan?” Levi asked. Ryan looked at each of them in turn.

“I’m sending you lot to West City. Don Namhaid has decided to use an underhanded method to try and take us out, so we’ll respond a little more… aggressively,” Ryan said, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“How do you propose we do that?” Cole asked.

“Well, he’s rallied the gangs across the nation against us, so how about we do something a little more dramatic to him. I give you full control of this assignment, Cole, but I do have one requirement,” Ryan said.

“What is it?” he asked. Ryan smiled.

“Make it public, and make it bloody. See if you can’t get the leadership all at once,” Ryan said. Cole nodded.

“What’s our cover?” Ryan blinked. “Well, if a bunch of Avalon Family members show up in town, there’ll be a number of questions raised,” Ryan shrugged.

“Like I said, this assignment is entirely yours to control. Do whatever you have to. Within reason, of course,” Cole nodded and turned to go, when Ryan grabbed his shoulder. “By the way, Arik is in West City right now. He’ll rendezvous with you at this address,” Ryan handed Cole a slip of paper. “Memorize it, then burn the paper,” Cole nodded and stared at the paper for a moment before pulling out the hilt for his sword. Pressing one of the many buttons a small blade of pure plasma arced out of the hilt. The paper was vaporized, and Cole turned off the blade. Ryan turned to walk away when he paused. “Well, I suppose I could give you a few pointers. Use your recent punishment to its fullest extent. Next, you’ll have walking alibi’s with you if you don’t go alone,” Cole sighed.

“I’m not sure it’s the best idea to take them along,” he stated. Ryan shrugged again.

“Doesn’t matter to me. It’s entirely your decision. Although, if you do take them with you, you will be held personally responsible for whatever happens to them,” Ryan said, walking off. Cole turned to his friends who were smiling at him.

“What the hell are you guys doing here?” Cole said, anger seeping into his voice. Their smiles faded.

“We’re here to help you,” Simon said. Cole shook his head.

“Do you guys have any experience at all?” Cole asked. Callum laughed.

“Yeah, we’re gonna go on a special mission with one of the most experienced members of the mafia with zero experience of our own,” he said. Cole sighed.

“Fine. Pack your things. You’ll need at least two sets of other clothes apart from the outfit you’re currently wearing. We leave in exactly two hours. Also...” Cole thought a moment. “Say your goodbyes,” Cole turned and began walking back to the house.

“What? No Thank you for helping, or Good to see you?” Cole turned to Callum.

“I didn’t ask you guys to get yourselves killed alongside me,” Cole retorted. He could see Aria sitting up in the bed through the infirmaries window. Cole shook his head and walked over to her. She looked down at him.

“Why are you mad at them?” Aria asked.

“I’d rather not drag my friends into the Family’s business,” Cole said, looking past Aria into the room. Summer was sitting at a desk looking at her computer.

“You didn’t do anything. They got involved because they wanted to. What happens to them isn’t on your head,” she said. Cole shook his head.

“But it will be on my hands,” Aria placed her hands on his jaw, forcing him to look up at her.

“You are only responsible for what you do, ok? Don’t take on a burden that isn’t yours to bear,” Cole looked into her crimson eyes.

“As their leader, I will be responsible,” Cole said, looking off to the side. Aria sighed.

“Stop using your head and use this,” she stated, leaning down and placing her hand on his chest. Cole still didn’t look at her. “Would you rather them get killed by some random gang member, having not accomplished anything against them? Do you want them to just become nameless corpses in the ditch, or a nameplate on a wall of the dead?” Cole’s shoulders dropped.

“I’d prefer neither,” Cole said. Aria tilted her head and smiled. “Then lead them. Take them with you to West City, and take down the one causing all of the problems here, ok?” Cole nodded, and met her eyes. Her face was really close to his.

“Thank you,” he said, pulling her forward and hugging her.

“When do you leave?” she asked.

“In three hours,” he replied. Aria nodded as she started to turn around.

“I’ll be ready in one,” she said. Cole blinked.

“You’re not...” he started. Aria pulled her face back, less than an inch from his.

“I’m coming with you, and that’s final,” she stated. Cole sighed. “Also, don’t lie to me. I know that you’re leaving in two. I heard what you’d said over there,” Aria interlocked her fingers behind his head.

“Ok, I’m sorry. I won’t lie to you anymore. Have whatever you need ready to go. I’ve got to prep everything, so I’ll see you later,” Aria didn’t let go.

“Promise me,” she said. Cole tilted his head.

“Promise what?” Aria sighed.

“Promise that you will not lie to me ever again, and that you won’t ever leave me behind,” Cole looked her in the eye, but didn’t respond. “Promise me, or this is done and over. I can’t live with a man that will leave me behind,” Cole closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

“I promise that I won’t leave you behind. I can’t promise to never lie to you,” Cole said. Aria sighed.

“I suppose the lies come with the territory. That’ll be enough,” she said.

“And you need to promise that when we leave, you will do everything I say without exception. No messing around and no running off on your own. You will always tell someone in the group where you are going, when, and for how long. Promise?” Cole said. Aria nodded.

“I promise,” she said. Cole stared into her eyes, not looking away. Aria stared straight back. Cole eventually sighed and looked to the side.

“Ok. Get ready. I’ll see you in a bit,” Cole said, leaving the window. He was about to enter the main house when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Cole, these men are willing to risk their lives to help you. The least you could do is show a little respect,” Cole shrugged off Levi’s hand.

“There is a difference between stupidity and loyalty. None of them have any idea what they’re getting into,” Cole said as he grabbed the door handle.

“Then show them what it means to be the next Don of the Avalon Family,” Levi said. Cole stopped.

“This is a world that they shouldn’t be involved in,” Cole said. Levi grabbed Cole’s shoulder and spun him around. Levi raised his hand and back handed Cole.

“Sir, get your head out of your butt, you prideful sack of shit, Sir!” Cole shoved Levi away, and cracked his neck.

“What part of me is prideful?” Cole growled, jumping at Levi. Levi stepped to the side and pulled out a baton, bringing it down on Cole’s back. There was a loud crack as his spine shattered. Cole dropped to the ground, biting through his tongue to hold in the pain. He healed and he stood up.

“Firstly, you specifically choose not to acknowledge some of the few people that are choosing to put their lives on the line for you,” Cole lunged at the baton. He received a smack to the temple, and he collapsed. He lay still for a moment, then began to stir. “Second, you simply dismiss these men’s bravery and loyalty for stupidity,” Cole started to get back up, but Levi placed his foot on his back, holding him down. “Thirdly, you seem to think that you can do it alone, when you can’t even beat me in a fight,” Cole jolted up, pushing Levi back.

“Firstly, I don’t want my friends to die! Secondly, I won’t acknowledge decisions made out of ignorance. Thirdly, you’re using a baton, while I’m using my hands!” Cole snarled, circling. Levi shook his head.

“Do you think that the enemy is going to play fair? We’re going to have to fight underhanded, and in the most despicable ways as can be conjured up by the human mind. We can expect nothing less from the bastards that we’ll be fighting,” Levi said. Cole stopped circling.

“I know that already,” Cole said. Levi shook his head.

“Then why in the hell are you having issues?” Levi asked with genuine confusion on his face. “Wait, you just don’t want anybody else to see just how deep into the darkness you can go. Is that it?” Cole strode to the door. Levi shook his head. “You are going to be the next Don. You’re going to have to do worse things than what we’re going to do in West City. If they can’t accept that, well, nobody ever said that the path of a Don wasn’t a lonely one,” Cole opened the door and stepped through. The door closed with a click. Peter was waiting inside.

“When’re you going to accept that we aren’t going to abandon you?” he asked. Cole shook his head.

“Probably when I’m dead for good,” Cole responded as he tried to walk past. Peter stepped in the way.

“I saw what happened out there. Is there anything you want to say?” Cole looked up at Peter.

“Yeah. I don’t feel like dealing with all of this crap right now, so I’m gonna go get ready, and I recommend that you do the same,” Cole pushed past Peter and continued on into the house. Peter shook his head and shrugged before walking away.

©2017