Chapter Thirteen
Ives was summoned back to the white room for the final evaluation of his test.
Once again, the bunny mask came out and the device scanned his mind, retrieving the events of the test from the recess of the mind before relaying it in a perfect clear visual image.
"Have you completed your task?" The bunny mask began.
"I believe so. I investigated and found the one responsible for the death of the deceased Arman Julio. He was an ex-convict charged with battery and assault of his girlfriend Vivian Nicola on the suspicion that she was cheating on him. His suspicions turned out to be false after it was revealed that she was merely meeting with her cousin over a baby shower for his wife but by then Marcus had already over reacted and assaulted Vivian in their apartment leading to his immediate arrest and imprisonment. He served for three years before being released on good behaviour but by then his social image was ruined and there wasn't much of a life for him to return to."
The Bunny mask continued, "How then did he get his hands on the weapon?"
"That is what isn't quite clear. I believe he was approached by someone to investigate and potentially retrieve a new addition into the Armans storage facility and ended up gaining access to it after seducing Selene Arman and using her to grant him access to the sensitive object. If it helps, I believe the main incentive used to gain his services was revenge.." The room transitioned to show the visual perspective of Ives looking down at a picture showing plainly Arman Julio in a nightclub with Vivian Nicola.
"Mister Arman and Vivian Nicola were in a adulterous affair during the time Marcus left prison perhaps he saw this as a form of retailation for Vivian leaving him for Julio. Most likey, Marcus was just a regular person who got involved with this events and unfortunately he became the scape goat."
"How did you then take down Marcus?"
Ives explained without emotion, "I retrieved every piece of information I could on Marcus before compiling a list of his victims and how they might have entered his sights. I knew from the kind of votaile person, he was Selene would no doubt be his next target to even the score. I monitored Selene Arman, staying close to her persons till the attack came at their estate."
"And how did you dispatch of the target?"
"Simple, the way Marcus used the weapon showed plainly the capabilities and limitations of both the weapon and himself. The weapon most likey followed the motion of his body to guide its actions and it did this by reading the activity within his muscles and nerves. A direct assault using firearms wouldn't be effective enough so I prepared a special metal wire and generator. The wire would restrain his movements while the generator would send enough current to paralyse his muscles and nerves enough to leave him vulnerable for a fatal hit."
The scenes showing Ives stalking Marcus as he violated Selene in the open were displayed. Ives moved with grace and wrapped the metal wire around his neck strangling him before the current was passed through then he plunged the sharp garden shear into Marcus' skull ending his life.
Even in death the look of agony on his face didn't let up, the horrifying experience in his final moments forever stamped into his soul till the end of time. A tragic end which was duly deserved.
"With whom did you execute this test with?" This question was more imposing than the previous ones.
"Most of the investigative work was done on my own then for the execution I hired the help of some acquaintances. A gang that had formerly helped me dispose of some individuals."
"I see. That will be all. Please stand by." The Bunny mask ended the interview and left alone in the room.
In the same grand hall, the final voting was done. The white robed animal masks each held up a golden coin or remained still showing their satisfaction or indifference in the results of the initation.
Soon nearly a hundred coins were up and barley thirty remained still. Ives had gained their support, the masks on the throne drew out their hands and gave a thumbs up.
The door opened and several robed masks walked in, one held out his palm to Ives who placed the gold coin he had received from Beelzebub into it.
He nodded and began walking back, "Follow us."
Ives walked into total darkness and candle lights, he entered the hall where the animal masks watched with eerie interest.
The red robes who led him knelt before the golden masks and Ives knew to do the same thing.
Everyone began chanting in an unknown language, a gauntlet was passed around and all the members slit their palms and dripped a single drop of their blood in.
By the time it arrived before Ives, it was three pints full and Ives drank from the gauntlet.
Then a featureless mask was brought forward, the golden mask of the sun came and wore it on Ives, it morphed into the face of an eagle signalling that he was now one of them.
"One of us." He heard numerous voices chant in the unknown language and somehow he understood them.
— — —
Later, Ives returned to Beelzebub's area. He met the intriguing gentleman sitting on his chair sipping an empty cup of tea like it was full. He never took of his mask for even that privilege.
"Well done. Mister Rothschild."
Ives came up to him and said, "Should I also put on my mask?"
"No, that won't be necessary. So tell me what do you think of the test."
Ives explained, "Marcus dealt the finishing blow but it was the Cabal that killed Julio." The bombshell was dropped, "Julio was a part of the Cabal but for some reason he decided to betray your rules, he stole the suit from you possibly to mass produce it to fight off your retailation. He didn't think that the Cabal would come at him openly but you all risked revealing your existence but also at the same time made several measures to ensure nothing is traced back to you. You used Marcus to gain access to the suit and use the weapon to kill him in front of the world, using him to cover your dirty deeds then used me to dispose of him. If I failed I would have died but if I succeeded, one less thing to worry about and a useful new pawn to add to your collection."
Beelzebub paused, "I am genuinely terrified at how much you figured out but know this here we prefer stupid people. Stupid people are loyal, they don't ask too much. As long as you give them exclusivity and privileges, they will follow the agenda without question. Julio wasn't stupid so we made him stupid, if we really wanted him out of the picture, all it would take is a single snap of a finger."
Beelzebub snapped his finger and the tea cup in his hand broke apart on one end while the other suddenly boiled and melted.
"What we wanted was simply a show for the other members to see and celebrate their loyalty."
Beelzebub snapped his finger and a black coffin was rolled.
"Consider this your reward for good service. There is no backing out now and this should be good enough to make you stronger so you can keep it." Beelzebub gave Ives his new instrument and a cryptic warning, "My advise is that you should cut away everything that would hold you down."
-- -- --
At midnight, a black object broke down the ceiling at the Flecks household. Ives' anut, uncle and their son, Curtis ran out to see what happened.
"Nice huh.." A steel rod was driven through Ives' anut who fell helplessly to the ground, her husband was about to react when a hand caught his blow and snapped his arm like a twig and his attacker sent a kick to his leg breaking it like a tree branch.
His mouth was covered, he couldn't scream before his neck was snapped.
Before the aunt could react to her husband's death, her head was smashed in by a heavy blow from the attacker foot. Her brain spilled out through the cracks and pieces of her skull pierced the skin of her head.
Curtis held his tongue and knelt down, pleading for his life but he wasn't spared. A thin wire wrapped around his neck and he was dragged to the kitchen where he was hoisted from the ceiling to dangle. The attacker sent blows into his stomach till he died.
Satisfied, the black shadow turned on the gas stove and placed all the bodies over it and flew out the window.
Ives arrived back at his penthouse with a hollow stare and Zeke was there to greet him.
"Welcome home, Mister Rothschild."
Isolde came out and walked to him, she fell on one knee before Ives and took his hand.
"Master."