Paramythi I: City of Glass

The relationship between the Rebellion and Capitol civilians was a delicate subject.

It was decided long ago, during the early years of the Rebellion’s creation, that Emvolo’s capital would be unable to do anything to damage young Kane Ruskin’s band of thugs should he exceed over at least one hundred and fifty members. It went without saying that most of Kane’s previous teammates had been executed or arrested by the day in order to keep the number at a low digit within the Rebellion. Capitol civilians liked to think they had ’quarantined’ the situation within Emvolo’s city and were proven wrong the day Kane had petitioned for the Sylvannix to return to Emvolo, thus restoring one of the many broken alliances.

It was only after such a recognised achievement had occurred did Kane gain followers from all twelve kingdoms of Galaxis.

Understandable as he was, Kane never held any resentment against the Sylvannix for not joining in the hundreds. It was a plausible way to settle back into other kingdoms without having to openly exploit how they would only join forces with those who restored their freedom. The Sylvannix were a kind race in Kane’s eyes, despite the bloody past of their species, and the last thing he would like to see was for Capitol to take them all out after he had gone through so much trouble just to let Emvolo’s gates open up to them after so long.

The day Kane Ruskin recruited Theo Dante, however, was a life changing event for the both of them. Alas, such an encounter is a story for a different day.

Kane was quickly recognised by the other kingdoms and was highly listed as every single council, bank and Capitals’ ‘worst nightmare’ throughout Galaxis. A resistance had every means to destroy a political build, so long as it was done right. Kane was, sadly, not exactly handling things right until he met Ciiria Zabitha-Adrestia, a political dropout from Emvolo’s educational institution.

Ciiria had left Emvolo’s grand academy when Capitol had elected a new Governor who thus decided to stop ‘teaching women how to rule the world’ and had tried to coax her with the untasteful opportunity to study how to manage a desk and become a receptionist instead of a lawyer or magistrate. It was shortly after their meeting – yet another story for a different day — that a council was made within the Rebellion’s ranks and order was presented through controlled justice.

With different races coming from different countries and kingdoms to join forces with Kane and his resistance, it became difficult for Capitol civilians to publically do anything without asking for an uprising from Tentrail or Kane’s gang of thugs. It was only final about ten years ago that the Rebellion would reside within Emvolo’s kingdom above ground and the ridiculous rules of ‘taking no steps within the city or country after dark’ became child’s play.

Emvolo’s capital would never openly admit it; though it was obvious that their so-called kindness and hospitality towards the Rebellion had only sparked due to their increase in market buyers and higher values in the coin when it came to Recruitment Day; the only day when any race could come through Emvolo’s borders, so long as they were going to join arms with the Rebellion and thus their fame as a kingdom and capital increased.

It became a mutual alliance which was never spoken aloud. Kane knew many different contacts within Emvolo’s banks and hospitals. He trusted them just as much as they trusted him. To many, it was a love-hate understanding which knew no bounds.

Such a titled quality as that would have Kane level-minded and calm enough to walk on through the bank doors if not for the savage attack on his recruitment party the night before last.

“Gods above…” Kane groaned the small prayer and rolled his eyes.

The interior of the place had not changed in over the twenty years he had known it and was starting to get to the stage where such luxurious décor and golden architecture flowing around the edges of the walls and polished picture frames was just…too out of place in such an advanced part of Emvolo’s city. White marble floor tiles stretched across the room and finely carved desks and cabinets were set off to the side with snobbish, golden faces sitting behind them. Such snobbish individuals who would have been eager to please a customer if said customer had not been Kane Ruskin.

“I have a meeting,” Kane announced, making his way up to the nearest desk. “I called last night.”

“We know, Mister Ruskin.” The desk clerk turned up their nose to the Rebellion captain and, with an exaggerated grace, reached over to the old-fashioned telephone sitting in front of them. “…Ruskin is waiting in the main hall.” They murmured down the line, golden lipstick dangerously close to sticking against the device whenever they moved their lips.

The clerk’s hair and eye shadow shared the same shade of gold, yet the usual merriness that would complement the colour was not apparent as they put the phone down and looked back up at Kane with a disgusted look.

“Please do wait. Someone will be down to collect you shortly.”

Kane hardly bothered to thank the clerk and shoved his hands into the large pockets of his coat. He pivoted on his heel and walked away, moving slowly in order to prolong the exploration of the over-the-top layout and sighed. In order to stop himself from walking right out the ivory doors, he pictured Enzo’s trusting face and the promise he had granted yesterday. It would be beyond Kane as a friend, as a captain, and as a man of his word to run away now.

“Ruskin?”

Averting his gaze from the cream ceiling tiles carved above him, Kane looked towards the front doors where a familiar voice echoed. A man stood in the grand bank’s doorways, dressed in all black, white and red with a pair of glossy lips that pulled back into a wide, cocky smile. His polished shoes made a sharp sound against the marble floor as he moved, checking in with the golden-attired clerk, who seemed utterly in awe to see the man, and then walked over to Kane.

“You haven’t been in this part of the city for a while.”

“Deimos,” Kane nodded his greeting, pulled his hands from his pockets, and folded them behind his back. He hated the whole fronts and etiquette required to keep his head upon his shoulders whenever he was within Capitol’s clutches. It was even harder for him to even force a smile and continue the conversation in any way. “I have a meeting with your Governor.”

Deimos raised his brows and shifted his weight to one leg, a hand propping itself on his hip with a casualness that made Kane sick to the stomach. “I’m afraid the Governor’s away at the moment. Abroad, in fact.” Shifting his hazel eyes, the man looked back towards the desk clerk and scoffed. “These golden fools never know how to keep themselves in check.”

“Are you saying my journey was a wasted one?” As hard as it was for Kane to swallow down his annoyance, he managed to keep his voice impressively low and his chest rose slowly. “Gods…you people.” Stepping forward, his shoulder brushed against Deimos’ smaller one. “I won’t overlook what happened just because your Governor isn’t here to defend you.”

“Please, be at least a little more specific.” Deimos rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “I don’t know what you’re even here for. If I’d known you would be here, I would have bought a reasonable drink and would not have you dilly-dallying in the waiting room for someone who would never show.” A clean ’squeak’ echoed as the man twirled on his heel and he took a stride over to Kane’s side, gloved hand falling upon the taller man’s shoulder. “Now, when Damon and Pythias get themselves inside, we can all go to the back room and sort this whole mishap out.”

Kane shrugged off Deimos’ hand with a swift, stubborn motion of his shoulder and shook his head. “Even if I had come here to speak with you, you’d still need your bodyguards to stand watch, huh? Don’t try and be my friend if you don’t even trust me near you.” His words rolled in low growls, tones which he was not unaccustomed to using; especially in Deimos’ presence. “We’re enemies, after all.”

“We used to be friends.” Said Deimos, “even if my men are standing by, should it really discourage you in any way if the outcome is all for the sake of your own men? At least inform me of, I dunno, something. We rely on this kind of connection so long as it profits both parties. The Governor has begun to doubt your understanding of this.”

Kane felt some stability reattach itself in the back of his mind long enough to keep down the readied insult towards Deimos’ Governor. His shoulders slacked, and while he had been pretending the desk clerk was not listening in on their conversation – even when it was quite obvious the clerk was doing just that — Kane could not so easily ignore the rumbling aura rising up from the front door as a man stepped inside.

He was ridiculously tall compared to Deimos’ short height and the thick soles of his stomping boots made it only twice as ridiculous. With long blonde hair tied into dreads, and skin a dark, sandy colour, the man waltzed over to the desk clerk and signed his name in.

“You got company, boss?” The new addition to the room boasted. He stomped his way over to Deimos and his expression changed to that of disgust. “Oh…it’s you.”

“Damon…” Kane grunted. He raised his head as if to make himself appear taller and less inferior to the giant as he struggled to smile. “Is Pythias not with you today?”

“She’s here,” Damon replied with a loud crack of his knuckles. “Next to ya, fool.”

Kane shot a glance down to his right where a small woman stood.

Her hair was a shortened buzz-cut across her head, visibly displaying the rather nasty scars which trickled down the back of her neck and the crown of her skull. Her right eye was a stunning blue, while her left was a murky brown. She always wore a glare in her expression despite her eccentric features and a small scoff left her lips at Kane’s speechless notification to her presence.

“Rebellion dogs are so rude.” Uttered Pythias. She skipped to Deimos’ side, a cruel sort of smile lifting her lips. “Are you here to declare war, pretty boy~” Cooing softly, the woman made a tiny wave with the tips of her fingers and blew Kane a kiss.

“That’s enough,” Deimos commanded. His notable glare was sent in either direction to make things clearer than crystal for his bodyguards not to even try and lift a finger while Kane was in their hospitality. “Ruskin and I have a matter to discuss. The two of you shall attend so long as you keep your mouths shut the whole time, got it?”

Damon and Pythias were visibly reluctant to comply with Deimos’ conditions and held a bright, sceptical twinkle in the depths of their eyes when they murmured their affirmation. They shared a look behind Deimos’ back and pulled a face almost identical to the other when Deimos strode forward and led Kane along the marble tiles, towards the back door, and out of earshot.

“Come now, Ruskin.” Smiling widely, Deimos tucked a lock of his washed-out coral hair behind his ear and reached over to open up the door, revealing a metal staircase heading down into the cold basement below. “There are no secrets here.”

“It’s like I said, Maxa…I’m just using the best of my summer with a new band of friends. It’s kinda like summer camp. You always wanted me to join some kind of group back when I was at school.” Elias forced a smile towards the visible image of his sister’s hologram. “Besides, I’m sixteen now, you know the law.”

With fear of being gobbled up by a Prowler on the way out of the city, Elias had taken shelter within the Rebellion’s airbase for the night and had woken early hours to the sound of his phone going off every five minutes. He had nothing to fear when he finally answered the call and Maxa’s face, albeit angry, appeared before him. She would have no clue on what the interior of the Rebellion’s base would look like, so it has not like Elias was ready to hold a sheet in the background just to ward off his sister’s suspicions. It was the verbal lying part that hurt so much.

“I wanted you to join a club when you were in school so I didn’t have to worry about coming home so early from work. And yeah, I know the law. You’re an adult now and can do whatever, bu still...” Maxa groaned. She pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled, locks of her dyed-aqua hair falling over her shoulder. She looked tired. “You could have at least warned me about all of this earlier. I was afraid that you ran off to…-”

“To join the Rebellion?” Elias cut in. His voice was surprisingly soft and understanding, despite it being meant in such a spiteful way. Closing his eyes to hide the guilt, he pretended to stifle a yawn and scratched the back of his head. “I’ve made friends here. I think I’ll make it a permanent thing, like a new college or something.”

“I thought you said this was like summer school, not a college.” Maxa raised a brow and crossed her arms, the glove upon her left hand highly noticeable due to the sunshine bouncing off of its leather exterior.

The sight of it made Elias wince when his eyes fluttered open.

“So how long will you be staying there? And when will I get to meet your so-called…teachers?”

“I’ll try to be home whenever I can.” Pursing his lips, Elias shifted upon the soft comforts of his mattress and rearranged the phone sitting in the centre of his crumpled blankets. “Maybe you could make dinner for my, ugh, new teacher one evening. Apparently, the first year here is pretty strict!” Chuckling softly, Elias looked into his sister’s eyes and swallowed down the lump in his throat.

“First year? How many years are there? First, you say it’s for the summer, then college and now-”

“You’ll be proud of me.”

Maxa’s eyes relaxed somewhat. “Oh, Elias…” whether it was due to her exhausted visage or the fact she was beginning to believe her little brother’s lies, she was calm in a matter of fleeting seconds. “I’m always proud of you.”

A wave of muddled emotions both joyous and full of sorrow washed over the young man. Elias swallowed, feeling his throat dry up and his eyes swell with tears. He could have laughed aloud due to such an obvious mixture of feelings for leaving Maxa in the dark and living all the way above ground just to earn himself some pride. He would like nothing more than to have all three of his sisters up here with him. At least that way they would be safe and honest with each other.

“I have to go now,” Maxa spoke. “The docks are never really closed up but it gets kinda crowded in an hour. I need to be there for the managing.”

“Yeah, okay…” Elias whispered. He forced the back of his sleeve to wipe away the unfallen tears; arm covering his eyes when he said, “I’ll have someone call you later and I’ll come see you when I get the chance.”

“Alright, kiddo.” The sounds of Maxa’s phone shifting on the other end of the line were audible, along with a collection of familiar sounds within the kitchen where Nino and Pepi were getting themselves washed up and making their breakfast. “Say goodbye to your sisters.”

Elias sniffled and lowered his arm, keen to see his sisters’ faces. “Bye, guys.” He mumbled, looking between Pepi’s pink and purple dyed ponytails, then to Nino’s perfectly flawless face and wavy chestnut hair. “See you later.”

“Oh, do be careful wherever you may be.” Nino sighed, blowing her baby brother a kiss.

“Yeah and stay clear of the pubs in the city.” Pepi snickered, shovelling a slice of toast into her mouth. “Young man like you can just waltz right in but we’ll be having none of it!”

Elias had been momentarily stunned at Pepi’s mention of the pubs in the city. He expected her to announce the giant massacre that had occurred the other day; the same massacre which Elias had been present at. He swallowed down the fear and silently prayed that the Rebellion had covered the whole thing up and Maxa would not be informed of it down at the docks later in the evening.

If Maxa were to catch even a hint of what Elias was really doing, or if she thought there were Prowlers within a ten-mile radius of her brother, then this little story would come to an end much quicker than Elias intended it to.

“Don’t worry,” Elias laughed. “I’ll be good. You guys just take care of yourselves, too. Alright?”

“Will do!” Pepi grinned.

“If you get the time, please do write to us.” Nino sighed.

“No-one writes letters these days, sis.”

“Pepi, don’t you know anything about being thoughtful?”

“Course I do! I’m an artist, ain’t I?”

“If you can call such things art…”

“Will you two just stop?” Maxa groaned, stealing away the focus of the phone once more and filled the hologram’s image with her face. “Now, Elias, I’m expecting a call from your teacher within twenty-four hours, or so help me I will come after you and drag you home if I have to.”

Such a threat would have almost been a friendly sort of thing if Maxa had not actually dragged Elias home once when he had snuck out to a small Rebellion enthusiastic club in Tentrail. He had been twelve at the time and was a terrible kind of kid at such an age, which had put more strain on Maxa and the rest of them. Elias could never find himself getting the idea that he was almost burden-material to his sisters when he was younger.

This time around, things would all work out!

“It’s a deal, thanks.” Elias crossed his legs beneath him and leant over, finger pressed against the disconnection button. “I love you, Maxa.”

“Love you, kiddo,” Maxa smirked and finally hung up, breaking the connection before Elias could.

It was a lonely silence which rolled on through the room without the sound of his sisters’ voices filling the void. It did not even feel like the bittersweet sort of loneliness that Elias had read about in books. It was the kind of silence that made you sit back and collect yourself. The kind of silence which caused you to stop and think about why you had made all of the ridiculous choices in the past.

For Elias Kara, he did not necessarily think about the past, but rather the future and how he would possibly go about convincing one of Kane’s Rebels to speak with his sister without gaining any suspicion.

“Ruskin, tell me, what is it like living above ground every night? Does it make you feel alive and free?”

Kane had hoped the process of small talk would be left untouched after he had followed Deimos down into the bank’s basement. It was a particularly miserable place with metal poles keeping the construction above mighty and strong. There was a dampness in the air and the floor was equally murky and unwelcoming. The large fish tank off to the side was almost eerie with how the lighting built into its lid provided the room with its only light source, along with the single light on the floor beside a large, box-shaped compartment covered in a blue tarp.

“Why are you so keen to help me, Deimos?” Kane asked outright. His hands were curled into fists within his pockets, reminding himself that he had a weapon if Damon and Pythias intended on making a wrong move. “The last time I saw you was in court for Merine Trezla’s arrest.”

“Indeed.” With a nod, Deimos hopped up onto a nearby crate and crossed one leg over the other with a fluidness that screamed casual and relaxed. “What a horrible man, that Trezla…honestly, I’m surprised Capitol was so oblivious to his schemes.” Smiling, the man glanced Kane over once and clicked his tongue. “But I know Trezla is not why you’re here.”

“You’re right, I’m here for a more personal reason,” Kane said through harsh tones. “The other night my men held the annual recruitment day for the Rebellion at a local pub in Tentrail. During the event, we were attacked by a band of Prowlers sent by Capitol and lost many young people, along with some of my best Units.”

The horror written on Deimos’ face could have won him the award of best actor, followed up by his baffled voice. “Capitol hasn’t sent any Prowlers on the run for a year. We have an agreement for your terms on being in the city when you’re recruiting…surely you’re mistaken, Ruskin!”

“I am not mistaken!” Barked Kane. “I saw the corpses of those wretched things laying in the wreckage. They belong to Capitol and they had no right to have been anywhere near my people! If your Governor sent them out, I will bring it to light. The newspapers would have a field day!”

“Please, Ruskin, calm down—“

“How could I possibly calm down?!” Kane took one long stride forward, cornering Deimos on the crate he was sitting on.

The hairs on the back of his neck rose when he noted Damon and Pythias shift in the background, lurking in case their boss were to sustain any abuse.

Kane did not move.

“The Rebellion’s existence only credits to you and your city! You should be thanking us for everything we have done for you! We raise your customers, glorify your terms on the union, but instead you throw your lapdogs on us as if we’re leftovers!”

“Get off of me.” Gloved hands shoved the Rebellion captain a few feet away and Deimos straightened himself out before jumping off of the crate.

Motioning for his bodyguards to stand down, Deimos calmly walked over to the covered compartment in the centre of the room. “Do you understand what Prowlers really are? How difficult they are to handle? Take a look.” Pulling off the blue tarp, Deimos unveiled the glass tank beneath where a single, eerie-hunched Prowler thrashed around inside. “They are the result of people who deserved punishment, or the unfortunate mishaps of what Capitol’s scientists had created when citizens volunteered for certain experiments that went horribly; which later became routine outcomes for people brave or stupid enough to volunteer themselves. I, for one, absolutely despise them.”

Kane swallowed down his boiling fury, keeping it tight in the pit of his stomach as he stepped over towards the glass cage and watched the bent limbs bounce off of the interior of the walls and noted its horrible teeth covered in saliva and foam. The growling and crackled sounds it made quickened his heartbeat and he was unable to even appoint his discomfort in Deimos when the smaller man joined his side to stare at such a freak of nature.

“If they are as unstable to tame as you say…then why do you keep them? Why won’t Capitol just put them down?” Kane whispered, horrified with his own reflection in the tint of the glass tank. “…you people just keep giving me reasons to burn you to the ground.”

“You’re always so quick to label something as unified, aren’t you?” Deimos smirked and crossed his arms over his chest, his own eyes glancing over the monstrous figure. “Whatever I say won’t reach their ears as easily as you might think, Ruskin. I don’t control Capitol.”

“And I don’t control the Rebellion!” Kane barked. His words echoed against the metal contraptions around them and broke the numbing serenity they had been sharing; despite the circumstances. With a sigh, Kane leant his forehead against the cold tank’s glass exterior and shut his eyes. When he spoke, it was lowered to a mere whisper for only Deimos to hear. “Not anymore... I need to go back to base with something. Ciiria won’t lower her guard now that our agreement stands in ruins. She could be thinking of a counter attack as we speak.”

“I admire your concern for us,” Deimos sighed. “I shall see what I can dig up on the whole ordeal. There could have been some kind of breakout or tester day for the Prowlers. Someone could have screwed up with the dates, or maybe it was-…” The man trailed off in his sentence and bit down on his tongue to hold back his own theories.

“If it was intentional, Ciiria will not play nice.” Kane drew himself away from the tank at long last and turned on his heel. “We had to explain to over twenty families why they would never see their children’s faces ever again. They’re looking for answers; for some way of avenging the deaths of their loved ones. I shan’t paint myself into a corner if it had anything to do with your Governor.”

“You make a fair statement, Ruskin.” Deimos seemed on the verge of laughter, albeit nervous. The sounds of his clean shoes scraping against the dirty floor echoed as he pivoted, tossed the tarp to Damon –since he was tall enough to readjust it back over the Prowler’s tank—and followed Kane up the stairway. “The Governor will be informed of your visit. I will make sure of it, myself.”

Kane hid the disbelief in his person as he carried himself back into the bank’s grand hallway. He never really thought how appreciative he would prove to be upon seeing it’s ridiculous décor glittering above his head once again. In contrast to the horrid basement below, he was actually relieved to see gold and inhale the smell of polished wood and clean, marble tiles.

“I expect a quick reply from you, Deimos.” Kane announced over his shoulder. He did not spare the man a glance or a second notice as he strolled on through the wide space of the hall and past the golden desk clerk. “I don’t know what Ciiria might do if she gains zero feedback on you or your Governor’s alibi.”

“Nice doing business with you, Ruskin!” Deimos countered, hissing the words through white teeth. A loud scoff of breath left his glossy lips when the Rebellion captain forced himself out through the front, ivory doors and away from sight. “Damon, Pythias!”

As if on cue, the duo appeared from the basement door and ran to the bottom of the grand staircase in the centre of the bank’s hall where Deimos was solemnly trudging up, taking his time with every step he made as if everything depended on it. He was in thought and his bodyguards knew it.

“What is it, boss?”

Deimos glared over his shoulder and shot his index finger out towards the empty hall. “Clean up that floor. The Rebel dragged dirt into our house.” Grumbling the remainder of his insults to Kane under his breath, Deimos continued his journey upstairs and balled his gloved hands into tight fists to lessen the tension he felt nagging at his brain.

“Deimos,” a husky voice echoed from the top of the staircase. “Was that the Rebellion’s captain?”

Deimos felt the need to steady himself as if such a voice could blow him away. His hand reached out to the banister and clung to it with such ferocity that he had no doubt his knuckles were turning white beneath the leather of his glove. Steady, hazel eyes traced upwards from the plush velvet of the expensive red carpet, which decorated the stairway, and he forced down the nervous lump in his throat.

“Yes,” replied Deimos, respectfully nodding towards the tall woman dressed in a white suit with black, flowing hair cascading past her shoulders. “He came to see you, Governor.”

The woman’s lips puckered with a smug, keen motion and she propped a hand upon the curve of her hip. “That so…?” She cooed. The misty green hues of her eyes followed the marble tiles along the floor and all the way towards the ivory doors Kane had dismissed himself from. “You might as well come and tell me what he had to say, little brother.