'He hasn't said anything yet.' it had been minutes since I walked into this dark, dreary alleyway. Jonathan was waiting for me, his silhouette blended into the darkness a bit too well. I waited for him to speak first and now we were in a weird deadlock. The silence had turned awkward. I didn't feel like speaking first, but I had to, after all I was the one that requested this meeting. It was vexing to admit, but I needed more from him than he did from me.
"I have a few questions and I want you to answer." I pressed on, he seemed bored barely meeting my eyes. After a bit of silence I got a small nod in confirmation. So many questions, where did I start from, but before that there one that hung on me since I discovered my abilities many years back. "What are we?" It was a simple question, one that carried a lot of weight, but still a simple question. Jonathan's reaction though was concerning. He blinked, stood straight and furrowed his brows in confusion. "That's your question?" He still looked puzzled, it made me doubt myself, made me feel stupid, just for a moment though. I wouldn't back down nor make myself seem uncertain, especially not now, "Yes that my first question."
He noticed I was being serious then his demeanor changed. He hunched over slightly, his shoulders trembled, he was laughing. When he raised his head again, gone was that lazy, misplaced look. No what stood in front of me was the sickly sweet, sadistic Jonathan, the one I knew. 'Something has changed.' but I couldn't decipher what it was, not right now at least. He reached into his pocket and to pull out something. I stiffened, 'It could be a knife.' Something about that smile told me he wouldn't hesitate to harm me anymore.
It was a ring. A beautiful ornate piece, with complex patterns inscribed on the signet. The metal was like none I'd ever seen before. It was dark, like obsidian but it didn't have its lustre. It's texture was like granite yet it looked far more solid. I stretched the veil to inspect it with further detail. As the veil brushed over the rings surface it was repelled, just slightly not much force to it, something I could power through with an inkling of force. Still the veil was repelled, this had never happened before, whatever material this was made off it was special. For now I would just file that into my long list of questions.
"Why are you showing me this?" I really needed more information. These questions were useless if I had nothing else to go on. I had to accept whatever came out of his mouth as law. Jonathan raised a brow and took a while gauging my reaction. "You really don't know what this is?" The hope was literally dripping from his voice. "Should I know what it is?" Immediately I gave my reply his smile turned feral. He clenched the ring in his fist and hunched over again. This time he didn't bother to stifle his laughter. First it was a low chuckle then quickly escalated to a rumbling cackle. My hand itched to slap him back into his senses.
His laughter died down eventually and I had to listen to all of it. "You still haven't answered my question." "Yes your question what was it again?" The fool was toying with me. Either way I had to swallow my grievances and ask again, "I asked what we were?" "What else would we be. We are humans." He answered with that smirk playing on his lips. My face fell even further, "You expect me to believe that.". "You can choose to believe me or not Lukehiem." He said it seriously, so seriously I took time to reflect. 'Having strange abilities didn't necessarily mean not being human. Why did I assume that I wasn't one in the first place.' Either way it didn't really change much, finding out I was some sort of monster in human skin wouldn't change who I was.
"What do you want from me then. Why can't we just settle whatever it is we've been doing for the last couple months now. If you promise to stay clear of me and my loved ones, I won't bother you any more." I was being honest. I'd overlook all of the things I'd seen, even what happened at his house that night as long as I could guarantee that he wouldn't come after my family. "I do not think that is an option anymore. You're much too interesting Lukehiem, I have so many things planned out for us. I made extensive preparations, you wouldn't want to waste all my effort now would you." He lost his smile, now all that remained where those blank, stomach churning eyes. The alley suddenly felt much darker, much smaller than it should.
He wouldn't give up. 'My last chance to peacefully resolve this just went up in smoke. At least I tried.' I really didn't want to deal with this anymore. It was so mentally exhausting, was there something I could have done to stop this. I thought it through, every interaction I'd had with him over the years. No I did nothing wrong, yes I avoided him because something felt off about him. Maybe that wasn't enough reason to avoid him, but everyone else did the same, they judge people based on first impressions and the 'vibe' they got from them.
So was it really my fault, maybe. The truth is I was still young and inexperienced when it came to life. I did not have all the answers, sure my abilities gave me more of an advantage than most, but still I lacked the answer to the philosophies of life. So maybe this was my fault. But that didn't justify or give him enough reason to threaten me or those close to me.
"You really aren't going to back down." I asked one final time "It is unfortunate but no, I won't." That was all the confirmation I needed. Without hesitation I ran my first into his face with all the force I could muster. "That was for attacking Willis this afternoon." Since he wasn't backing down, there was no need to hold back, no need to look past his taunts. Jonathan staggered back and raised a hand to his nose. He wiped the blood off and inspected it. "Haha you really got me good. Ahh.. what am I going to do with..." He mumbled the last part, I couldn't hear him. He wrapped a handkerchief around his split nose. I didn't do as much damage as I wanted, while I could lift tons with my mind, I barely knew how to throw a punch. Reading about punching and throwing techniques didn't mean you could inherently apply it it seems. Well no worries this was enough for now.
"Are you going to explain the ring." He probably wouldn't but it didn't hurt to ask. "Hmm good question, should I? The less you know the more this is for me you know." His haunted smirk had returned. He snorted some blood and mucus into his handkerchief before folding it and shoving it into his coat pocket. "I guess this is fair though." He said, referring to his cut nose, "I did touch a sensitive subject." "Is that confirmation that you won't do it again?" I sincerely hoped it was. "Is it?" He answered with a question.
"It's gotten very late, I'll be heading home now, you should do the same." He walked towards me and set his hand on my shoulder. I recoiled at his touch and tightened the veil pulling it even closer to my body. "One more thing before I go. Here to return the favour." By the time I comprehended what he meant his fist had already struck me square in the liver. I doubled over in pain. That shouldn't be possible, I had the veil at full power, my focus set solely on defending my self. 'How did his fist pass through.' That was when I saw it, the black ring on his finger. He punched me with that. Without sparing me a glance he left.
That ring is dangerous, the feeling as it sailed through the veil and right into my gut was one I pondered all the way home. It was like and unstoppable harpoon, one that parted the veil like it parted water. That strange pressure I felt when I inspected it, it definitely wasn't as strong as when DeLark used it. Did he amplify it then, was it something unique to him or could I do it as well? 'Ahh.. today was such a waste, now I had much more questions than actual answers and an aching belly to go with it.'
I stepped into my room. Tobias was sound asleep, but his damp hair told me he fell asleep just minutes ago. I sat on my bed and raised my shirt,the bruise there brought a smile to my lips. 'He certainly knows how to throw a punch. Next time I won't disappoint.'