CHAPTER TWO
Ives stood alone in an empty city.
The cars, buildings and streets were still in perfect condition, only there was not a single soul anywhere using them.
"Where the hell am I?" Ives knew this situation wasn't normal even more was the emotional weight of this liminal space.
There was an intense charge of sadness and grief hanging in the atmosphere like an invisible curtain of Melancholy draped over this surreal dead world.
Something bad was about to happen, Ives knew this and waited helplessly with bated breath to find out. And it came.
"Ives.. Honey!!"
He heard his name being called from behind and turned to see a lovely woman rushing to him with a smile.
Ives' face paled and his heart sank. He knew who this was and also that she wasn't supposed to be here. Alive.
Ives reacted and screamed at her.
"Mom!!" And began and ran over to her like a man possessed.
He had to get to her or else.
Ives' mother paused without warning, right as a shadow grew out of the ground behind her.
Feeling the malicious creeping cold trailing up her skin, she turned around.
A splurt of blood painted the concrete floor and the woman fell to her knees clutching her waist.
The shadow stood over her with a bloodied dagger in his hand and a sickening maw of a mouth smiling in ecstasy at the tragedy he had caused.
Ives ran and ran but this awful world wouldn't let him reach her, the distance between them stretched and contracted rendering all his efforts useless.
Ives' mother turned to him with a knowing smile and mouthed, "So close" before everything melted away like spoiled paint and Ives woke up with a scream hanging from his lips.
The Bed was wet with his sweat despite the expensive Air conditioner blasting at him over his enormous silk bed.
Ives stumbled through the house till he reached the bathroom and retched into the sink. After he was done, a sensor flushed out the waste leaving him alone with his thoughts.
That Nightmare hung over him like a phantom and his expression reflected it.
The smart bathroom mirror had already been showing him a detailed analysis of his emotional state and various ads for products and services for him to get better.
Ives swiped and all the icons disappeared, leaving only himself in the reflective surface.
A few days ago, just this fixture would have cost more than he could earn in ten lifetimes but now it was just an interesting add on to the building he had paid for.
Should he be happy or saddened by this, Ives couldn't decide.
He looked at the boy in the mirror staring back at him and saw how deeply he had changed.
His complexion had become smooth and fleshed out. No more hollow cheeks bones or droopy eyes from fatigue, cracked lips from bullying or a soulless gaze.
Ives looked alive, his hidden beauty had now surfaced-nourished and pampered by the conveniences of his new life and most importantly, the hope he could now hold onto.
"I will become someone they can never hurt again" Ives swore with a fist clenched so hard, it drew blood.
An oath made in blood, tears and fiery hateful ambition.
His uncle's family.
Luke and his crew.
The person who took his mother's life for no reason.
And the world that looked down on him.
Ives would trample on them all till he had his fill.
And he had already began, the house phone rung and Ives answered.
The receptionist informed him of a visitor.
"Send him in"
Minutes later, Ives waited on his couch, decked in an expensive white shirt and black trouser.
The elevator door opened and his visitor walked in.
"Good morning, master Ives. I am Zeke Igles" The blonde haired man with glasses said reverently, hunched in a bow.
Ives nodded in satisfaction, "Have you taken it down?"
Zeke assured him, "Yes sir. We have removed every trace of that incriminating photos and those responsible have been dealt with. They will be arriving shortly for inspection"
The meaning was clear and equally grim but Ives had long desired this but was powerless to do anything but watch as the world trampled on him.
A boy without backing, now he would do the same.
He refused to be the better man when everyone else played unfairly.
Ives' eyes darkened at this thoughts and the sight of this intrigued Zeke who still had questions of how this young man barley nineteen had acquired such vast wealth enough to buy a building like this when mere days ago he was a nobody being treated worse than a dog still he didn't want to spoil a good thing. He hoped to get close to Ives and use him to rise in society but for this he needs to make sure Ives stays at the top where all the real decisions that determine the flow of modern society are being made.
Zeke pressed against his temple and rubbed his glasses, offering Ives an option.
"How about this? Will you agree to change your identity?"
Ives' interested was piqued immediately and he inquired further.
"What?"
Zeke smiled and pushed.
"You are beginning a new life and what you have experienced could hold you down and seriously affect people's future impression of you if revealed. Changing your identity could mitigate those risks"
"Why would I care?" Ives was open to this idea but seriously doubted if such a thing was possible.
"If you wish you grow further, separating yourself from your past would be better for your odds. Who would want to negotiate or work with a kid with such a past" Zeke hit the target and Ives fall all in.
"Fine. Can you get this done?"
"Already have, sir" Zeke brought out a new birth certificate and other crucial documents.
Ives was now officially Ives Rothschild not fleck.
Zeke also dropped another bombshell.
"I also scheduled a plastic surgery to ensure the face matches the name. Wouldn't that be more convincing, young master"
Ives blinked with uncertainty before calming his inner turmoil and accepting.
"Sure, thanks"
Zeke bowed again.
"Always at your service"
Ives understood what Zeke was pulling but admired it rather than feel insulted.
He was persistent and smooth, traits he should have exhibited but failed.
Zeke's wellbeing relied on Ives, betraying him now wouldn't be in his own best interest so he no choice but to be as useful as possible and help him progress so he too could be close enough to benefit considerably.
Ives needed to keep Zeke by his side and learn.
"Zeke. Are you interested in being my assistant?"
'Finally' Zeke rejoiced in his heart.
"Yes, sir. I can provide you things that most others couldn't come close to and one of this is information on where a rising star like you should put his head"
Zeke hinted at his connections in illegal and even dangerous circles associated with the ruling powers of the wealthy and powerful, most likely from his past engagements with those from there and Ives was his newest investment.
"Then show me something I didn't know existed" Ives challenged Zeke to prove himself and he fell in. Hook, line and sinker.
The Xenith stood at a staggering height overlooking Valkyren city.
Similar glass towers like this spread out in the distance, all unbelievably luxurious, advanced and unaccessible to the common man.
These were the divine kingdoms of the prominent where money, secrets, resources and innovations circulated before a whiff of it reached the ears of anyone else and currently, Ives emerged from a limo decked in a black tuxedo picked out by Zeke who marched confidently besides his new employer walking into one of these kingdoms.
The newest player in a game where the law and decency was optional.
And the reward for a good bet was more of everything to add to your stockpile.
Ives moved around the line already loitering the entrance and was ushered in immediately by a small nod from Zeke to the security.
People made way and the fairer sex whispered, fantasizing of belonging to money like his but Ives' didn't have eyes for them.
Their beauty was skin deep, their demands endless and hearts hollow like those who oppressed him.
He saw it in their eyes, skulls eaten away by vanity and baseless relevance.
It was so unsettling that Ives could swear that it had it's own kind of scent.
Zeke studied the reactions of his master towards these things and took note, he knew Ives would be so much more than he expected.
This was good since it meant he had a thinking head not the reactive arrogance that most rich did.
'It's people like this that rule over everything eventually' Zeke noted within his heart.
They arrived at the elevator and Zeke surprised him as promised.
Entering the elevator, Zeke pressed on the bottom edge of the control panel rather than a working button and the elevator reacted.
The doors closed and they were taken down not up far into the depths of the Xenith.
"Right this way" Zeke led Ives down a white corridor to an enormous curtain draped in front of an entrance.
Two individuals wearing faceless masks without holes for breathing and seeing welcomed them.
They were offered their own masks. An unholy white and smooth without any discernible characteristics native to masks.
Zeke took his and suddenly the smooth surface grained and writhed into the face of an owl.
Ives questioned if what he saw was real but it was and Zeke commented.
"It's customizable"
Ives took his and it reacted, morphing into the face of an eagle.
Too realistic and detailed to be circumstantial.
Zeke explained, "I requested that one, it suits you"
They both walked in and Ives was stunned. It was an underground world.
This place stretched close to a kilometre in diameter underneath their city and housed an endless variety of sparkling crystalline towers built on a smooth soft sand.
Others with masks moved around, the waiters had theirs without traits and the guests enjoyed those tailored to their preferences.
"Welcome to the Xenith. The real one"
Zeke said, obviously satisfied with himself.
Ives stared in shock but thankfully his mask hid it.
It didn't have noseholes and yet he didn't have a problem breathing neither in vision. It felt like he wasn't even wearing one at all.
Ives didn't know what to make of this but he knew this world wasn't what he thought it was.
"Hello. Are you new here?"
A chubby individual wearing a tiger mask walked up to him holding a girl without a mask by a lease.
The girl was stunning but her face showed a blank soulless gaze.
Zeke hurriedly introduced Ives, "Yes. Yes. Master Rothschild is still in his drifting phase, he isn't accustomed to this new life."
Ives was given a nudge by Zeke to enter the fray. He stretched his hand towards the chubby individual and said.
"Pleasure"
They both shook and conversed.
Turns out that places like this were common and shattered across the entirety of the nation.
Private biomes were special figures meet and trade without the public eye.
Ives still couldn't understand why they would into such lengths but the next event showed him that his understanding of these kind of people was lacking.
"It's starting" the chubby tiger squealed and dragged his pet and subsequently Ives and Zeke to a clear space in the middle of Xenith.
Everyone stood in a safe position and watched what unfolded.
A man wearing a golden fly mask and a labcoat walked out. Everyone save Ives and Zeke whispered excitably.
Ives asked why he was so special and the chubby tiger answered, "He's a golden masked. If the masked are people you shouldn't mess with, the golden masked are closer to gods than men".
Ives was dissatisfied with the explanation but the next events convinced him.
The Golden fly began a speech.
"Good evening to you, My esteemed brothers and sisters. I am Beelzebub as some of you may know. For a long time, I have dedicated myself to a peculiar fascination with a recently engineered exotic substance and it effects on the living. My years of research have borne fruit and I hope tonight you will witness it and think of investing into this new enterprise"
The crowd clapped and Beelzebub stepped aside as two individuals walked in.
Both dressed like story characters-one like a Spartan and the other, a female like a princess.
This odd combination came out as competitors against eachother and they didn't seem to be playing.
This was a real combat.
The gleam of the Spartan's sword said it and the murderous gaze in the princess' sweet eyes.
There was another interesting addition, there was a chest mantle on the Spartan that seemed too futuristic for his getup and the princess had a spinal core on hers that connected to her sceptre.
"I have heard good things about Beelzebub's works." The chubby tiger barley containing his excitement but Ives felt uneasy watching while Zeke looked with interest.
The Spartan began his first attack, his chest mantle turned on and began exuding a deep hum and a flowing purple glow.
Everyone gasped including Ives answered watched as the Spartan launched himself at the princess with the speed of bullet; so fast that an explosion was left in his wake.
The Collision happened and dust was thrown up when it settled; they saw it the Spartan in the aftermath of his movement and the princess unharmed.
The Spartan grunted and attacked again, slicing at the princess' figure but the entire Xenith watched in horror as the princess now clad in a blue glow gets deformed and scattered by the strikes but something was wrong.
The strikes phased through her, not hitting anything tangible. Her body was distorted like a cloud of dust, pulled apart by the passing of the sword but ultimately falling back into place once the strike went it's way.
Ives watched with wide eyes.
The Spartan stuck thousands of times, occasionally using his powers to the hit at the princess but it was all for nothing.
After he was on his knees panting and his mantle exhausted from use did the princess finally make her attempt.
Her spinal implant whirred loudly; and her blue glow flared.
The Spartan was lifted off the ground by her invisible vectors to the terror of the observers.
Then came her finishing-the Spartan disintegrated into butterflies piece by piece till only his helmet and mantle remained.
The princess now with a bleeding nose turned and gave a bow and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Beelzebub returned and declared the match over. The princess restored the Spartan whose pieces reassembled back into his previous state now only with a gaping hole in his chest where wires sparked and blood gushed.
Faceless waiters took him away.
"I hope you enjoyed yourself and you have been convinced of my results. If you have more questions then I have to reveal to you that there is a limit to what I can disclose but with the right incentive I should be able to see what I can do.."
Laughter swept through the crowd and Beelzebub ended with and iconic greeting.
"Thank you and good evening"
The chubby tiger couldn't contain himself and rushed towards Beelzebub as he was walking away forgetting about the pet on his leash.
The girl was dragged down and so was he to the amusement of the crowd and Beelzebub's temporary notice as he looked at where the commotion was coming from.
The chubby tiger was embarrassed by this and began assaulting the girl with kicks, promising even more inhumane punishments when they return.
Ives moved by instinct but Zeke stood in his way and stopped the scene.
"Excuse me sir, I think the miss should be allowed some repreive. She had been standing when you suddenly plunged forward if anything both of you are victims. So shouldn't you offer your sympathies as the benevolent lord you are"
The chubby tiger was taken back and regained himself but the crowd had been their gossip and yet none of them came to the aid of the girl.
Ives came forward and helped her up.
"How much?" Ives suddenly to the unprepared chubby Tiger.
"What?"
"I would like to buy her. Is that alright?" Ives asked as if it was a professional exchange and the chubby tiger thought for a bit before agreeing.
"Sure just pay for her family's debt and she is yours. Consider this a consummation of our new friendship."
Ives shook chubby tiger and took the girl before paying two hundred million pounds to the chubby tiger.
Zeke was visibly disturbed by this purchase but still respected Ives' decision.
And from that moment, Ives now owned a person.
"I will send over the paperwork later, Mister Rothschild" Chubby tiger said as he ran away to try and meet up with Beelzebub.
Ives turned to the girl and asked, "Your name?"
She answered with an accent so perfect it made you wince.
"Isolde…Isolde carpenter. It is an honour, Mister Rothschild"