[STORIES] Chiaroscuro: Chapter 1 (LORCAN)

“You’re joining the Consortio? You? A Santana?!” The disbelief and the rage in the Capa’s voice were almost palpable. 

Afraid that I was, I held my grandmother’s stare and my ground. She and the rest of the family would never understand. The psychiatrists were never the answer nor the expensive vacation to Granite Falls and Selvadorada. But joining a noble cause would give me some sort of relief…relief at the thought that I’m doing something for Lucia and Roy.  Even remembering their names gives me an agonizing jolt. 

“Yes, Grandmother. And since I will be undergoing a Consortio training, I will also be leaving Uni as soon as possible,” I explained in a whisper.  I didn’t plan on telling her about Uni today but dragging the issue until next week would only aggravate the problem.  I have tried negotiating with the Consortio agents about my training schedule so I could still get my degree but the only reply that I got was: ‘The end of the world is coming and the demons will kill any thing in their path, degree holders or not.’

If Grandmother’s looks could only kill, I would’ve been dead a few seconds ago. 

“Joining the Consortio and leaving University? Have you gone mad, child? Your Papa is counting on you. Your Mama is counting on you. We are all counting on you. And what about the business and the Cosa Nostra?” 

I winced when Grandma banged her fists on the opulent table. Had I been a mere crew, I would have fled from the room as fast as possible.  But I am a Santana and all my life, I have been trained as the Capo’s heir as my mother before me, her father before her… 

I wanted to kneel and ask for her forgiveness but Capos don’t apologize so I shrugged. “I have my own life, Grandma. Besides, Lobella is more than capable—“

“Capable?!” Grandma snapped, her eyes bulging. “I love your sister as much as I love you but she is weak. The Cosa Nostra will consume her and leave nothing… not even her bones for us to bury,” she said in a matter-of-factly voice. 

“Because you never gave her a chance… you coddled her like a princess,” I almost retorted but stopped myself. My conflict with my sister is mine to settle alone. “Training registration will start tomorrow so I’ll be heading for Brindleton Bay tonight,”  I told her instead.

Her eyes widened. “You…You…How dare you…? Get out! Get out! Shame on you…Our ancestors would’ve never…After all the things that we have… Get out!”

So I left even with my knees shaking, my breathing ragged.I want to go back and apologize…

I want to call Mama for guidance…or ask Papa for consideration but they would not understand. They would not understand that I no longer sleep at night for fear of seeing Lucia and Roy in my dreams… 

That I’m driving the prices of garlic in the market to sky high since I have refused to eat anything else other than the spice… 

That I have spent every waking moment studying Vampire Lore… 

That I’ve gone crazy experimenting about the best methods of trapping sunlight so one day, I’ll be able to put a hole on those stone cold, unbeating hearts.  

So I went straight for my room and started packing.

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[STORIES] Chiaroscuro: Prologue

If my squadmates knew where I am right now, they would probably die of envy. I even have to restrain myself from whistling and jumping with glee as I stood there…facing a large, green rock enclosed in a glass. As the sergeant of SXIGP-S1, I am expected to display utmost discipline, obedience and respect no matter what the circumstances are.  Even if that circumstance involves me being called inside this room…the Ivory Cathedra. Ok, I’m ready to die now. 

Now, what do they say about the Ivory Cathedra? ‘The cathedra awaits those who strive and excel.’ As an inhabitant of the Planet Sixam, it is my—and practically every Sixami’s--lifetime goal to be excellent at everything. Our race continued its galactic supremacy by perfecting everything… our names, manner of birth, language, gene pool, military, planet leadership, etc.  So if the beasts tell you that no one is perfect except for the Enlightened and Merciful Llama, then they’re pulling your pants. We, Sixamē, are beyond perfection.

And what better way to prove such perfection? By being here… the seat of the most powerful being in the galaxy, SIXAM-000, Sovereign, Grand Imperator, Supreme Minister, and Lifebringer of the Cenaerere. It’s a mouthful I know but we, Sixame, just call him MoFa, a rather tacky combination of the words ‘mother’ and ‘father.’ Though I was silently disappointed that I’m only facing the MoFa’s rocky aspect, I’m still honored and beyond thankful for the opportunity of being here. Most Onesers (and even up to Threesers) like me would live and die without seeing this room in our lifetime. 

“You understand why you’re here?” The rock asked after the necessary greetings and small talk. 

I resisted the urge to nod enthusiastically because honestly, I did not understand any of the instructions given to me by General CKFJ-299 (except the part where he told me to come here at once) a few hours ago. “Forgive me, Blessed MoFa, but the General’s instructions were vague.” I also opted for a vague answer just to be safe. 

The rock hummed and emitted a soft green glow. “There is someone that you need to find in Simmeria,” the rock said quietly after a few seconds. 

That gave me pause. “The planet of the beasts, my blessed MoFa?” I clarified. Though it’s not unusual for Sixam to send spies on other planets, it’s unusual that the target area is Simmeria.  It’s a highly polluted and uncivilized planet. Though it’s under the jurisdiction of SIXAM-000, he and all the Sovereigns before him have let the planet manage (or more like destroy) itself to focus the galaxy’s resources on more profitable endeavors. 

“Though it pains me to send a child of mine to a doomed planet like Simmeria, I have no choice but to do it. So, yes, my child.”

I swallowed. I can already imagine the manner of my death with the mission I’m going to undertake. But I’d rather welcome death than face the prospect of living in any of the nations of Simmeria and dealing with the beasts. Alas, I am only a soldier whose life I owed to the Lifebringer.  So I nodded. 

“Any helpful information about this someone, my blessed MoFa?” I asked while making sure that my voice held the enthusiasm of a siq though my insides were anything but. 

The rock hummed and glowed again. After a few more seconds, the glow broke into tiny light crystals that spiraled like the leaves of the Fang Flowers, then, coalesced into a slight figure. A beast. 

“The target’s profile will be sent to you through the HoloPortal. Destroy the data once you have understand and memorized the details. And soldier, this mission is Code Ivory-X.”

Code Ivory-X. Well…well… as the beasts would say, I am beyond fucked. 

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