I hate this human body I cursed as I shivered from the early morning frost. Why humans are content to live in bodies that feel cold, heat and pain is beyond me. I can't wait for the day that Sissnaska rules the world and I don't have to live this sham anymore.
Dismissively I looked at the damage done to the stage erected for the school band competition tomorrow night by Hunk and Cessiro as I'd ordered. Revenge seemed irrelevant to me after last night and human events such as these incidental. I'd tasted the power of evil and now I wanted more.
Soon these human weaklings that inhabit this town will know who their master is, and I intend it to be me. Those other wizards that are aspiring to plot against me will also know the meaning of pain. Tomorrow at the ritual of 'Moon Harvest' I will be anointed as the 'Priest of Death' and I will show them no mercy. I was born for this role and intend to relish every moment
I felt exhilarated my time was near, as the 'Priest of Death' and leader of the Underlings I could flaunt my superiority over Hunk. No longer would I walk in the shadows. I was the first born of the new generation of the 'Ancients' and I would make sure that none forget it.
I Swasie, am the son of an 'Ancient'! I carry the genes of the most powerful Sorcerers in the known Universe. I was born to rule!
This is my mantra!
Elated I paced up and down thinking of the momentous events unfolding. Tomorrow at the Sacred Hour of Three the holy ritual of 'Moon Harvest' would begin. The 'Holy One' would seek to draw the great powers of the 'Universal Mathematical Equation of Thirty Nine' equating over Braden to empower those born and bred to receive it.
I could hardly contain my excitement, as at last I would experience this mysterious phenomenon that was foretold in the scribes of the 'Ancients'.
Then later at the thirteenth hour the celebration of Unity would commence in Tuloosa's underground world. Here at last I could flaunt my success in obtaining Tuloosa's acceptance of the 'Scribe of Unity' to Cessiro. Our battle stations had been drawn and I was determined that it would be me who won.
Tomorrow all will know I am one to fear! At the celebration of Unity I will demonstrate my powers as the 'Priest of Death'. As entertainment I will exterminate those Underlings rejected by the demons.
The thought of the blood bath I would create sent the juices of devilment coursing through my veins and I hissed with pleasure at the familiar sensation. My mouth began to salivate with acidic waste and my eyes glistened blood red as I felt my body involuntary morph into my true form. Freed from the restraints of my human body I let out a bloodcurdling howl.
Momentarily I allowed myself to luxuriate in my reptillian skin knowing the risk in doing so. I stood there exulting in the premise of being a Priest in the 'Secret Society of the Crines'. At last I would have access to the Crines secret files where I hoped to discover the identity of the Crines enemy Asa. My gut told me that it was he who'd intervened with the Basliks to save Hunk and I was determined to find out why.
Returning reluctantly to my human form I shook my dreadlocks in frustration. I had to solve the mystery of Asa. However I knew without access to those secret files, discovering his identity would be difficult as it was forbidden to speak of him.
All I knew of Asa was the myth whispered among the rebellious younger members of the 'Secret Society of Crines' that Asa was a powerful sorcerer who was immortal and had once been Sissnaska's most covert ally.
Asa, I mused, would be a force to reckon with. I had no knowledge of the extent of his powers and my first mission as the 'Priest of Death' was to seek out a mighty sorcerer who I suspected was he.
This sorcerer whose identity the Crines had withheld from me, was rumored to be the leader of the Inbreds, whose ancestors were those of the super race of beings that William Braden had bred alongside the Crines centuries ago. These humanoids had escaped when William Braden disappeared and had fled to the vast regions of Apogee Mountain where legend has it they are ruled by a Sorcerer. The sorcerer the Crines want me to find.
This mission was a test of my powers of wizardry. If I failed, the Crines would rescind my priesthood. I couldn't let this happen being the 'Priest of Death' meant I would be elevated to the Crines breeding program. Participating had always been my dream; the breeding of humanoids had fascinated me ever since I was a kid. And with access to the Crines ancient records I could begin my own secret experiments.
I had to speak to Tuloosa. According to my father Tuloosa had worked alongside William Braden breeding the super race that had evolved into the Inbreds...but dare I test the bounds of our alliance by asking for his help?
Frustrated I hurled the broken microphone and instruments off the stage. Discovering the secrets of the Inbreds evolution into ones that fed on the blood of the weak was as elusive as uncovering the identity of the 'Power of Three' I cursed.
This mission was going to interfere with finding the 'Power of Three'. I'd lost so much time already on those two kids my father has me investigating. As far as I could see there was nothing supernatural about them and today I intended to end my father's speculation once and for all.
I looked at my watch, Hunk was supposed to be here. He knew that he was to line up those two kids, Jamie Peters and Liam Powers for testing before school started! Where the bloody hell was he? I swore angrily.
"Hey Swasie", Hunk yelled, "Where's your head at? I've been yelling your name for ages!"
I spun around to see Hunks infuriated face. Was I losing it? This had never happened to me before. How did Hunk and those idiot friends of his get here without me knowing?
"Enough insolence! Why haven't you come alone?" I demanded masking my confusion with anger.
"Cool it Swasie, how do you like our handy work?" Hunk said smugly as he gestured towards the destroyed stage.
"Yeh, I reckon old Marty will be pleased!" I sneered coldly.
"Hey, what's with you Swasie you seem cheesed?" Hunk asked suspiciously.
I glared at my cousin; there was something different about him, cocky almost, was he remembering last night? Quickly I scanned Hunk and his friend's minds' checking that the 'Spell of Forgetfulness' the Crines had ordered me to cast over the Underlings was still in place.
It was imperative that these Underlings remember nothing of their 'Awakening' until the ritual of 'Moon Harvest' tomorrow when the powers of the 'Universal Mathematical Equation of Thirty Nine' were evoked by the Crines.
Relieved I found no memory of their 'Awakening.'
"Alright my flunky cousin, listen up. Seeing that you've dragged those idiots along they can round up Jamie Peters and Liam Powers with you. I want those two tied up in the toilet block pronto...understand?" I commanded.
"Crikey Swasie what's with you and these kids" Hunk asked curiously.
"Do not question just act!"
"Jamie Peters has been asking about the Crines. Find out the reason why!"
"But Swasie..."
"Shut your trap Hunk! At midnight tonight at the sacrificial stones the Crines are invoking the holy sacraments in preparation for the sacred ritual of 'Moon Harvest'. Make sure that kid doesn't get wind of it or your blood will be on my hands."
"It has been ordered that all gang members attend the ritual of 'Moon Harvest'. All are to meet at the old Cemetery Rd at the first hour after midnight that means you Hunk and those idiot friends of yours."
Hunk gasped in disbelief. Swasie was demanding that we all attend the sacred ritual of 'Moon Harvest'? None other than the Crines participated in this secret ritual. Had he gone mad?
Hunk looked at his friend's stunned faces. Pudge was picking his lips like he always did when he was scared, and Nick just kept flicking his knife. He wished he knew what they were thinking.
"Okay Hunk, what are you waiting for? Jamie Peters and Liam Powers will be arriving at school any minute. I'll see you all in the toilet block. Go!"
What idiots, I c
ackled as I watched them walk away. I couldn't wait to inflict the pain of the shedding of their human skin upon them.
I heard the bells ringing for assembly and stepped off the stage and strolled laconically across the sports oval to where kids were beginning to line up.
I looked at my watch; Hunk should have those two kids, Jamie Peters and Liam Powers cornered by now. If they are two of the 'Power of Three' the test of the 'Black Box of Death' will sort them out, I cackled derisively
The race to uncover the identity of the' Power of Three' with the other wizards to win the place that I aspired by Sissnaska's side was heating up. Still I held the advantage, my father was 'Keeper of Records' and I was sure among them were clues to the identity of the 'Power of Three.'
However I had a big problem. Even though I'd heard my father utter the combination to the safe many times it was of no use to me. Those words spoken were in the ancestral language of the 'Ancients', a language I'd failed miserably in learning.
I had to find a way to gain access. The records of the breeding of Sissnaska's super race were also kept there and I needed them to prove my suspicions that Hunks mother wasn't one of them.
Bloody hell I needed Bugzie, he excelled in universal languages!
Bugzie was a fellow student in the 'Crines University of Wizards'; a loner, shunned and vilified by the other students because of his speech impairment. I reckon he'd keep his mouth shut if I befriended him.
Bugzie had always been a mystery to me, as imperfection meant eradication, yet Bugzie had not only survived but had been accepted into the 'Crines University of Wizards'.