come sail away with me (new update)

8/4/2019 Come Sail Away With Me (new update)

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Come Sail Away With Me

Or

Koscheis Island.

By Steven S. Stevenson

Orange Sweater P!lications"#$$

$


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Prolog

Koschei the Deathless, Koschei the Immortal

He never worries

Nor would you if you had that nameNor should you

Hes been out of this world for a whileLiving in stories

Like this one

HumanHes been live

Hes been Dead

!usinessmanHes been Poor

Hes been "ich

Daemon

Hes been !ored

He still is#

"


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Cha%ter ISomewhere in the Mediterranean &ly' "#$$

Ca%tain (or)emore r!!ed his *orehead' he wasnt sre what had ha%%ened' onemoment he was giding the crise liner %eace*lly across the Mediterranean on his way

to +reece the ne,t he was on the *loor o* the wheelhose searching *or his hat. As he

searched arond the ca!in *loor *or his *avorite sym!ol o* athority he tried to remem!erwhat had ha%%ened.

-e remem!ered a smooth tal)ing !sinessman' a %arty' a gold circle' and then a

!right *lash o* orange' the smell o* !rning %lasticthen the *loor(rstrated with !oth

the loss o* his hat and his ina!ility to recall the events that landed him in this sitation' heslammed a *ist on the wall. /he im%act sent a message o* %ain *rom his hand to his !rain.

/he %rocess !y which a hand sends a message to the !rain is a very com%le, one. 0%on

im%act the nerve endings in the area a**ected start to switch their sodim ion gradients

ma)ing a charge *low down and ot the a,on and into the dendrite o* another nerve' thatnerve then re%eats the same %rocess' and again' and again' millions o* times over. /he

!rain then sends a message !ac)' !y the same means' to the hand con*irming the %ain./his all ha%%ens within a millionth o* a second. /o all hmans this %rocess is

s!conscios and does not re1ire mch thoght on their %art. Ca%tain (or)emore

reali2ed that he had !een very aware o* this %rocess. It was the reali2ation that remindedhim o* something very im%ortant

-e loo)ed down at his two hands' they had *ive *ingers each. -e moved them

arond in an almost hy%notic manner' *ollowing them with his eyes ma)ing sre that they

!elonged to him. /hen he *elt his *ace' his ten *ingers searching slowly across the roghleathery sr*ace' loo)ing *or any cles as to what he was.

3Onetwothre4 no. 5o third eye6 he said to himsel* 1ietly

/hen he remem!ered. (or the %ast twenty years he had !een hman. Well almosthman' he !leed' he %issed' and oo2ed all sorts o* interesting *lids. -e ate' sle%t' and

occasionally *c)ed. -e then remem!ered that des%ite these 1alities he was not hman'

he was a daemon. /hats what the real hmans wold have called him' althogh the term3daemon6 was not e,actly correct. /he word 3daemon6 was one o* the words invented !y

mortals to try and descri!e things that were !eyond their nderstanding.

Still *22y on the details he stood % and investigated his re*lection in the silvery

shine o* the shi%s control %anel.-e was tall' a!ot si, *oot in height' a little !it o* *at arond the middle

!t !y no means over weight. -is short' white hair was receding7 a shar% widows %ee)

had *ormed. -is !eard melded seamlessly with his head hair' short white st!!le went*orm the to% o* his head all the way down to his nec). -e ran his *ingers across the

st!!le. Occasionally he wold sto% and *allow a wrin)le in his s)in' admiring them. -e

li)ed to loo) old. 5ot too old' 8st arond 9#7 the age where yo were not too old toworry a!ot death !t not too yong to worry a!ot money. /here was one as%ect o* his

a%%earance he wasnt ha%%y with' his eyes. -is irises were crrently a sim%le shade o*

!rown. -e closed his two eyelids and concentrated *or a *ew seconds' %ictring the

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%er*ect color. -e o%ened them again7 they had !ecome a dee% !le. 5ot 8st a sim%le !le

!t a dee%' %re !le. Imagine a !le so rich that it almost glows.

Satis*ied he then went a!ot *igring ot where his shi% had ended %. Ot thewindows o* the wheelhose the ocean had !ecome dra%ed in *og. Slowly he scanned the

hori2on7 throgh the thic) mist he s%otted the sha%e o* an island. /he island was small'

8st a mere mond o* yellow sand rising ot o* the sea. It was the %er*ect deserted island'the )ind where the only resident is one %er*ect %alm tree sitting in the middle. It sat

%eace*lly' as it mst have !een doing *or years all alone. /he tree swayed !ac) and *orth

in the wind' %ossi!ly e,cited !y the %ossi!ility o* com%any. It seemed to !e waving at thecriser' ho%e*l *or someone or something it cold tal) to. It had a lot o* time to thin) o*

many interesting things to tell its *irst visitor.

/he ca%tain tried to start the engine. It crea)ed and moaned and s%ttered' it was

slowly dying' torn % !y the %eace*l islands less %eace*l ree*s.3Shit.6 -e said alod.

3Pro!lems !oss;6 A voice came *rom !ehind the ca%tain. -e trned to see his

trsted servant and *irst mate /homas &. &ones.

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3I )now yo wanted to go arond the earth stri)ing *ear into yor *ellow man'

!rning ra%ing' and all those other wonder*l things that landed yo % in hell the *irst

time arond' !t I le*t hell to esca%e all the *ire' and ra%ing.6 /he ca%tain scolded. 3I*yore !ored I can always send yo !ac).6

(or all o* /homass tal) o* )illing and love o* *ire he did not li)e hell. 5o one did'

that was the %oint.3Im 8st saying I wold li)e to do something more than 8st set % )arao)e and

sh**le!oard tornaments.6

Be*ore the ca%tain cold re%ly a man entered hastily throgh the threshold.3I thoght Id *ind yo here.6 /he man addressed the ca%tain.

-e was 8st slightly taller than the ca%tain. -e was yong' a!ot :#7 he was trim'

and dressed in only a %air o* !le stri%%ed !o,ers. -is !rown hair was neatly %arted down

the middle. -e smiled !ig at the ca%tain' this made the ca%tain neasy. -e did not )nowthis oddly na)ed' mortal' who a%%arently )new him.

3Can I hel% yo;6 Ca%tain (or)emore as)ed.

3o yo not )now;6 the man re%lied' still not losing his smile.

/homas hng !ac) staring intently at the tall man' he was thin)ing a!ot how hewas going to )ill him.

3Do wor) *or me.6 /he rich man said.3


6/32

Cha%ter II

-ell' $??$

A22a2el sighed. /his was this *or thosandth year serving in hells army. Only

once had he ever seen any actal com!at. /he war !etween heaven and hell was mostly a%olitical one. A*ter the *irst !attle at the !eginning things had cooled o** considera!ly.

-ell was more a!ot %roviding a %lace *or sols to tortre themselves and

daemons a %lace to call home and less a!ot contining the war with heaven. Sre hellstill had its army o* the dammed !t it was all *or show. /his came as a disa%%ointment to

A22a2el who was there at the *all and had e,%ected to contine the war with heaven ntil

the end o* time. -e had %lanned on slicing % angles' dying' and !e reincarnated

contless times on the !attle *ield. Instead he had %itted his )in in s)irmishes againsthman who died com!at. /he !attles were 8st massacres he was not training *or the

+reat War at the end o* days he was 8st *l*illing the masochistic hmans desires. -e

soon discovered that even a shallow %ro,y war had made him sic) o* *ighting.

A22a2el wanted a vacation' he thoght a!ot going to other realms. Prgatorywold hel% him get away *orm the *ighting' !t there was nothing to do in %rgatory not

even any good theaters or restarants. Falhalla or the *rost giants realms wold !e all*ighting all the time. -e thoght a!ot 8st hanging arond the nowhere and try his hand

at !eing nothing *or a while.

-e had once !een to earth *or a *ew years !ac) when the hmans were 8stlearning a!ot the %ossi!ility o* heavier than air *light' and gearing % *or their *irst !ig

war. -is time there had endedinterestingly7 at least it ended in a way that sr%rised

A22a2el. In short he had to leave a little sooner then he wold have li)ed. 5ow it was ?:

years later and A22a2el *ond that in that short time he had !ecome weary o* hell oncemore. esiring to retrn to the mortal world he %t in a re1est *or a leave o* a!sence and

went a!ot *inding a mortal that wold act as !oth tor gide and !odygard.

-e *irst noticed /homas as he was lanched throgh the air !y a s)eet shooter thathad !een modi*ied to *ire hmans. -e watched as /homas *lew throgh the air !e*ore

!eing !lown in hal* !y the large laser ri*le wielded e,%ertly !y one o* his 3men6. What

made /homas stic) ot among the other hman sols is that he didnt seem to see)*orgiveness or any re%entance at all *or any wrongs in his %ast li*e. All hmans who

entered hell did so !ecase they !elieved themselves to have committed terri!le crimes

worthy o* eternal %nishment. /homas on the other hand went to hell !ecase he was

convinced that thats where A@@ hmans !elonged.A22a2el li)ed this. -e coldnt 8st ta)e any hman sol !ac) with him' they

wold most li)ely !e see)ing *orgiveness and s%end all day whining a!ot how evil they

were and mo%ing a!ot all the loves they cold have shared or the lives they rined./homas wold s%end all day not giving a shit.

A22a2el a%%roached /homas a*ter his %%er hal* had !een reattached. -e laid ot

the details o* his %lan and e,%lained the rles /homas wold have to *allow. /here was8st oneE do what I say or I send yo !ac) to hell. /homas agreed and a !eati*l

*riendshi% was *ormed.

9


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Interlude

$homas %# %ones#

He was once a human

He was once a s&irit'hat he is now(

soul in a )hell(

nightmare thing(*r sim&ly a man who cheated death(

>


8/32

Cha%ter III

"#$$' # miles soth o* +reece' on a lovely crise liner' "E$: AM

/homas was sitting in the engine room. -e li)ed the engine room. It was hot and

dam%. It was not as good as the older shi%s that still had the large !oilers. /homas li)edthe o%en *lames that they %rovided. Still the heat was there and thats all /homas really

needed.

-e lit a cigarette. /hen he e,tended the %ac) to his com%anion.3Want one;6 -e as)ed.

3Mm%hhhhmmm6 re%lied his com%anion.

3Oh right sorry.6

/homas removed the gas soa)ed gag *rom his *riends moth. /he !londe hairedman gas%ed and s%ttered.

3/hat !etter;6

3+a4 (c)G What the hells wrong with yo;G6

/homass *riend was laying *ace down on the hot metal *loor o* the engine room.-e was hog tied. /homas was sitting on a crate over him' still o**ering him a smo)e.

3What yo dont smo)e;63(4*4*4*c) yo man6 /he !londe haired man strggled against his !onds !t

it was no se. -e was dressed in a %in) *lowered -awaiian shirt. -e had won several lays

in the )arao)e contest earlier in the evening7 they were dra%ed lim%ly arond his nec).-is soc)s were soa)ed in gas. So were his sandals' even the ro%e that !ond him was

dri%%ing in warm gas.

3Oh come on'6 /homas teased' 3Smo)e % !e*ore yo go %.6

/he man did not res%ond instead he strggled even harder. /wisting and grnting!t the ro%es held.

3Pathetic6 /homas too) ot a )ni*e *orm the waist o* his 8eans. It was not a

*ancy )ni*e 8st a sim%le !lac) switch !lade. It was only two inches in length. /he manseyes widened at the sight o* the )ni*e and he let ot a so*t crse.

3amn.I didnt even want to get on this !oatI get sea sic) too easy6

30%set stomach aint what yo need to worry a!ot.6/homas &m%ed down o** the crate and leaned in close to the man.

3ont worry !ddy I aint gonna ct yo.6 /homas cooed. /hen he ct the mans

!onds. 3Why wold I go to all the tro!le o* soa)ing yo in all that gas i* I was 8st going

to ct yo;6 /he man )new he was *reed o* his restraints !t *ear still held him in %lace./homas leaned in close and whis%ered into his ear.

3Hn.6

/he man o!eyed. -e %shed /homas down and !olted away.It shold !e noted that the ro%e /homas had sed to tie the man %' which was

also soa)ed in gas' was *i*ty *eet in length. (or *eet o* that *i*ty was sed in the )nots'

the rest was coiled neatly 9inches !ehind the mans *eet. /homas ct the ro%e in sch away that three o* that *or *eet *ell o** the man !t that remaining *oot stayed tied arond

the le*t an)le. When the man ran he dragged the heavy wet ro%e !ehind him. -e made it

thirty *eet !e*ore sli%%ing. /homas laghed and light the end o* the ro%e. /he man did not

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)now he was still attached. -e eventally *igred it ot. It was one o* the last thoghts

that went throgh his !rain.

/homas inhaled dee%ly. -e did not need to !reath !t he cold still smell. With alarge !reath he smelled the gas' the *lesh' the *at all !rning in a e%horic mi, o* aromas.

/homas was a!ot to clean % when the shi% lrched and he was *lng *orward. -e

awo)e a little later with no memory o* the last *ew minets. Con*sed' he went to see theca%tain' leaving the %in) shirted man with a good )arao)e voice melting into the *loor.

?


10/32

Cha%ter IF@oisiana' $?:=

/homas stood on the %orch o* his home. It was a 1iet' cold morning.


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voca!lary o* inslts. /he only thing (enster was a!le to get ot o* him was the name o*

the %erson we was going to shoot with the large /ommy gn.

3&ones' Im going to waste that *c)er &ones.6 /he )id had said.(enster had no idea i* this was a *irst or last name. All the other co%s thoght that

is was 8st a street rchin messing with the co%s. 5evertheless (enster had told the men

nder his command to %t together a list o* every 3&ones6 in the area where the )id was*ond. It never had amonted to anything. 0ntil now there were no incidents that *it

(ensters theory. (enster was interested' it was the closest thing he wold ever have to a

lead.3Poor )id.6 /he *ire chie* sighed wi%ing the soot *rom his *orehead.

3Is it o)ay i* I tal) to him now;6 (enster %rodced a !lac) leather %ad and a thic)

!lac) %en. /hese were not standard isse' he had !oght them himsel*. -e was one o* the

co%s who !elieved in diligent note ta)ing.3Do can i* yo want' I dont thin) yo need to thogh.6

3Why; Do dont thin) there was any *ol %lay.6

3Well I gess I cant rle it ot !t the stove is a de*inite %oint o* origin' loo)s

li)e a gas lea).635o one cold have tried to ma)e it loo) that way;6

3Well i* yo want to get all %aranoid I gess yeah it cold have !een engineered!t in my e,%erience the sim%le answer is always the right one.6

3Im still going to need to ta)e a loo) arond' as) a *ew 1estions.6

3Its yor crime scene now o**icer.6 /he *ire chie* had a low o%inion o* co%s' all%aranoid gn nts loo)ing to !e heros in their own crime drama. It shold !e said that

(enster li)ed *iremen !t did not li)e the *ire chie*. -e thoght he was a la2y'

incom%etent man' who was only in the *ire*ighting !siness !ecase he was )ic)ed ot o*

the army.(enster wal)ed over to /homas who was still standing in the doorway to the shell

o* his home.

3My names etective &ohn (enster' everyone 8st calls me (enster.63-ello.6 /homas said his voice carried no emotion.

3Im with the %olice I 8st want to as) yo a *ew 1estions a!ot last night.6

3Do thin) I did this;6 /homas had !ecome sddenly hostile7 he had 8st lost hisentire *amily and was not dealing with the emotional weight o* the sitation as well as

someone longer lived might have. It made him a%%ear !i4%olar in the eyes o* the detective

and even a little gilty.

35o' nothing li)e that I 8st want to ma)e sre we can catch whoever did this.6/his was a lot to ta)e in *or yong /homas. (irst he had seen his *ather and

mother !rned alive' *allowed shortly !y the cries o* his !rother m**led !y the sond o*

a colla%sing ceiling. -e did not *eel that he shold !e alive' and now the idea that a*ellow hman may have !een res%onsi!le seemed to raise the *ire in his !lood.

3/he *ire chie* said it was an accident.6 /homas stared coldly at the detective.

(enster met his ga2e' loo)ing *or some cle as to the !oys motives.3I 8st want to rle ot the %ossi!ility6

/he two stared at each other. /homas was *elling something re%lace the cold

em%tiness o* his loss7 it was the hot *lames o* an angry' naive )ids revenge. (enster was

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seeing the rage !ild in the yong man moment !y moment. -e decided that now was not

the !est time to 1estion the yong man.

3May!e now isnt the !est time.6 -e said alod. -e handed /homas one o* his!siness cards.

3+ive me a call when yo want to tal).6 -e crac)ed a smile. /homas did not

reci%rocate the gestre !t he did ta)e the card and then trned his !ac) to the detective.

etective &ohn (enster wold never hear *rom the yong man again' nor wold he

ever !e a!le to %rove that the *ire was arson' which it was./homas was now set on his %ath o* destrction. -e stayed at the door to his hose

*or the rest o* the day watching as the *ire crew cleaned ot the r!!le' and eventally

carted ot the smoldering remains o* his *amily. /he *iremen each o**ered him a %lace to

stay or a ride to some relatives hose' he trned down each o* them %olitely. It was notntil the ne,t morning that he decided to leave.

/homas wondered the streets o* 5ew Orleans *or the ne,t month' the rage was

!ilding' he no longer wanted to !e alive nor did he want anyone else to !e. It was toward

the end o* his nomadic month that he s%otted a recriting station where he saw a chanceto die and may!e even ta)e some o* these %athetic hmans with him.

-e came % with the name 3/ony Smith6 and told them he was $=. /he recriterhad a ss%icion that the )id was lying !t did not want to trn down what a%%eared to !e

sch a %atriotic yoth. /homas was well !ilt *or his age and easily %assed his %hysical.

-e was sent to (ort Barrister to train where he met a *ew other yong men. Some saidthey were there to )ill others said they wanted to %rotect their contry' no matter their

story /homas saw them all as enemies.

When he did get his chance to *ight he contained his e,citement. -e was loaded

onto a %lane which carried him to the *ront lines in sothern Italy. -e was %art o* the#$stheavy wea%ons s1ad. -e was given a *lame thrower' and was sent into to mo% %

srviving enemy soldiers that managed to live a*ter the Air (orce !om!ing rns. -e went

on one mission. /he village he was sent to never hosed any soldiers' it was a smalltownshi% thats only strategic asset was a single distillery. /he air *orce was nder orders

to level the %lace anyhow' and they did their 8o! to near %er*ection. When /homas and

his s1ad got there every !ilding loo)ed e,actly as his hose had !ac) in @oisiana./homas smiled at the destrction. -e led the charge into the a!andoned distillery. -e saw

a sha%e move ot o* the corner o* his eye' laghing he %lled the trigger. /he monster he

held in his hands roared to li*e lashing ot at the sha%e with tonges o* *ire. /he sha%e

was a $ year old !oy who wor)ed %art time in the distillery. -e was going to come otto srrender. -e was met with the vengeance o* /homass *ire. /homas however wold

not !e directly res%onsi!le *or the !oys death. -e had missed the !oy and instead hit a

large tan)er o* alcohol. /he tan)er was sealed and as the *lames lic)ed its side thetem%eratre inside rose drastically. /homas had only !een in high school *or two years.

-e never stdied the %hysics o* %ressre' heat' and energy. -e never learned that as the

tem%eratre in an enclosed environment rose' so did the %ressre. 0n*ortnately *or/homas' ignorance o* the laws o* %hysics does not ma)e them any less tre' or

dangeros. /he tan)er e,%loded' sending hot' *laming chc)s o* metal in every direction.

One o* the chn)s deca%itated the sha%e' another logged itsel* in the side o* /homas' he

!leed ot almost instantly.

$"


13/32

-mans have a lot more choice then they tend to thin) they do in the a*terli*e.

A*ter all' the sol is the reason they have *ree will in li*e why wold it !e any di**erent in

death; When /homas died he *ond himsel* in hell. -e had never )illed anyone nlessyo cont the Italian sha%eJ nor had he ever stolen' cheated' a!sed' or violated anyone.

/homas went to hell !ecase he saw all hmans as worthless' evil' scm' himsel*

inclded./here were all )inds o* wonder*l %nishments that the hman sols' cold %ic)

*rom' sta!!ed' !rned' *ro2en' shot' hng' eaten' and everything in4!etween. /homas had

wanted to !e dead *or years now and now that he was he 8st wanted to see what%nishments awaited the other hmans. As with a lot o* sols that die on the !attle *ield

the daemons that inha!it hell' s%eci*ically the ones who are tas)ed with contining the

war with haven' li)e to se the hman soldiers as live ammo %ractice. /homas was

handed a ri*le and told to %artici%ate in an endless war against daemons. -e 3died6contless more times while on the *ield. -e didnt seem to mind. It was while serving as

hman s)eet that he was a%%roached !y a second lietenant in the o%%osing army. /he

lietenant called himsel* A22a2el. /his was not his real name7 daemons never told

mortals even the sols o* mortalsJ their real names. 5ames have a great deal o* %oweres%ecially *or daemons giving % that %ower was a mista)e that wold almost certainly

rin a daemons day. /he real A22a2el was actally a d)e o* hell. -e made the mista)eo* giving % that %ower and as sch had !een tragically )illed !y an assassin hired !y the

(ate Cor%oration.

A22a2el e,%lained to /homas that he was !ored o* *ighting and was going towander the mortal world *or arond a thosand years or whenever he got sic) o* it. -e

told /homas that he cold retrn to the world as his loyal servant. /his was not

acce%ta!le to /homas. 3Why wold I want to go !ac) there;6 /homas re%lied

3


14/32

Interlude II

Koschei the Deathless, Koschei the ImmortalHes been out of the world for a while

Hes coming back

+oming back to his favorite vacation s&ot

$


15/32

Cha%ter F

"#$$' Somewhere in the Mediterranean

/he three men did not say anything *or a long time. /he ca%tain was

glaring at the tall man who was meeting his ga2e with a wide smile o* sel* satis*action./homas *irst glared at the smiling man' and then trned to glare at the ca%tain.

3Do )now this gy;6 /homas as)ed.

35o.6 the ca%tain tried to sond at ease./he tall man !egan toying with the !llet7 rolling it arond in the %alm o* his

hand' r!!ing the s)eleton with his thm!' *elling the weight o* it.

3-oly shit. Do dont remem!er.6 /he tall man laghed. 3Bt yo seem to

remem!er this.6 -e shoved the !llet in A22a2els *ace. /he ca%tain *linched at thegestre' he was *rios at himsel* *or giving away his discom*ort so easily.

3Des. Des yo do and yo )now what it means6

Be*ore the man cold contine however a *ist landed in his chest and he *ell to the

grond. /his was *allowed swi*tly !y another !low to his !ac) casing him to smac) his*ace on the cold *loor o* the wheelhose. /homas stood over him trim%hant !t !y no

means done with this scm. -e %roceeded to slam the toe o* his !oot into the ri!s o* theman *or times !e*ore the man on the *loor cho)ed ot a word that sonded li)e !t was

not 3ser%ent.6

/he ca%tain held ot a hand and /homas sto%%ed. -e was starting to hate this%artnershi%. -is *irst legitimate )ill in years and the ca%tain is denying him the %leasre

!ecase o* some !llet.

3Control yor goon.6 /he tall man s%ttered.

3Answers nowG6 /homas !ar)ed' this was a demand *or !oth the ca%tain and thestranger he so !adly wanted to !rn.

3/homas this mortal has somehow come across the means to destroy me. Im

assming that he will do so i* I do not coo%erate' that means yo coo%erate.6/he na)ed man slowly got to his *eet. 3/hats right' so no *c)ing *nny

!siness.6

/he ca%tain ste%%ed closer' staring directly into the eyes o* the slender' almostna)ed man.

3When Ive done whatever it is yo want me to yod !etter destroy me !ecase

i* yo dont I will not only )ill yo !t ma)e sre yo end % in hell as my %ersonal

tortre toy.63Oh' dont worry I will.6

/he ca%tain ste%%ed !ac) not removing his ga2e.

3What do yo want *rom me;6/he man smiled. 3I am a !siness man' a sccess*l !siness man. Im very

wealthy' have access to women' %oliticians' cars' 8et' %lanes' everything a sim%le mortal

cold as) *or. Bt what I dont have is s%ernatral recorses. 5ow I have yo and yowill hel% me condct !siness' negotiate' and *ind other !its o* s%ernatral to add to my

arsenal6 -is s%eech sonded li)e something that he had %racticed in a mirror *or months

on end.

3S%ernatral things li)e what e,actly;6

$


16/32

/he man seemed stm%ed' %erha%s he had not thoght this ot all the way.

3St** li)eI dnno the %ower o* immortalitymagic swords' gems that )inda

thing.6/he ca%tain smiled and let ot a relived lagh.

3Do *c)ing mortals' yo dont have any idea what yore doing. I !et yo

didnt even mean to enlist my services.6/he rich mans smile seemed to *ade a little.

3Do didnt did yo;6 /he ca%tain had regained all con*idence7 he strode % to

the man grinning the whole way.3I !et yo were 8st messing arond with some trin)ets yo *ond in yor

grannys c%!oard and throgh some ama2ing loo%hole yo actally managed to ca%tre

me6 -e was so close their noses almost toched. 3/ell me how e,actly did yo go

a!ot getting yorsel* into this mess;6/he man %ased' having lost the high grond and his !alls' he s!mitted to

A22a2els re1est. -e stc) his hand !ac) into his nder%ants and removed a gold

rimmed monocle *orm the stri%%ed %oc)et. /he ca%tain loo)ed down at the trin)et. /hen

!ac) % at the man.-e cold not !elieve his eyes.

3Shit. So thats where that ended %.6 -e said alod.

$9


17/32

Interlude III

Little Niki Dolarota &oor kid from a &oor country

rich man from nowhere

Now an unlucky man with a lucky charm

$>


18/32

Cha%ter FI"#$$' # miles soth o* the coast o* +reece on a lovely crise liner' "E$" a.m.

5i)i olarota was a wealthy man7 he had access to women' %oliticians'

cars' %lanes. &st a!ot anything a mortal man cold as) *or. Hight now he was

vacationing on a crise liner !ond *or +reece and was sing his money to en8oy thecom%any o* *or women. /hey were not %rostittes' at least in the traditional sense' they

were sim%ly attracted to his money. -e was lying in his *irst class site with the girls o*

the evening as they giggled and chatted' removing varios articles o* !oth theirs and his

clothing. -e was not %aying them mch attention. /hey were sim%ly set dressing. -eli)ed having constant reminders o* his sccess arond.

5ow it is im%ortant to note that 5i)i olarota did not and never had !elieved in

the s%ernatral. -is grandmother had taght him a!ot daemons and *ortnetelling'

amlets' crses and all the other wonder*l things that hmans sed to !elieve in. -e hadonly concerned himsel* with con1ering the %ower o* the dollar. Something tangi!le

something that he )new had %ower in this world.-owever the evening was dying down and 5i)i still remem!ered a *ew little

tric)s that he cold se to amse his conc!ines. -e %rodced *orm an old wooden !o,

on the *loor' a golden !llet with the sigil o* a daemon whose name sonds a lot li)e !tis not 3Ser%ent6 as well as a gold rimmed monocle.

3Whats that;6 A !lond girl giggled

3@adies6 -e addressed the whole room' %re%aring to wow them with a *ew

little tric)s to get the %arty rolling. /he tric)s in 1estions were not actal magic. 5i)i didnot )now how to se the items his grandmother had le*t with him %ro%erly. -e 8st said

something he *ond mysterios and s%oo)y and then when the tension was high may!e

give the light switch *lic)er and !ring ot the drgs. /his had wor)ed anywhere he went.-e slowly revealed the two arti*acts and %laced the monocle on his eye and the

!llet in the center with its golden %oint stic)ing straight %. -e trned o** the lights

letting the room go dim' lit only !y a select *ew candles. /he ladies were giggling ande,cited !t very con*sed. 5i)i !egan to ma)e % some tale a!ot a crse' a gy%sy

woman' and a daemon. /he ladies all laghed' he did too.

/he niverse is a mysterios %lace7 things can ha%%en *or seemingly no reason'

de*ying all )nown sciences and statistics. @eading e,%erts have yet to attach a singlename to this %henomenon. Some call it *ate' others god. In this case well 8st say that the

niverse was getting !ored and decided to *c) with 5i)i.

5i)i *ond himsel* chanting' in the langage o* his homeland. -e had almost*orgotten that he )new it. /he monocle %erched on this chee) !one reveled to him a

strange version o* the world. -e cold see the women' at *irst they 8st a%%eared to have

a red tint a!ot them. /hen he saw only their !lood7 still %lsing throgh their veins notin one *lid motion li)e he once !elieved. It tgged and s1ee2ed throgh their !odies

%shing *orward in time to the thm% o* their hearts. 5i)i was scared' !t he coldnt

sto%' his !ody was no longer nder his control. /he grotes1e sha%es !e*ore him changed

again' now he saw their !ones' 8st their !ones. 5o 8oints' no cartilage 8st clean white

$=


19/32

!ones ss%ended in air. -e heard the words that came ot o* his moth !t he did not

nderstand them. /he !llet on the *loor then er%ted in *lames. 5i)i thoght he heard

someone screaming. -e was getting light headed. /he thnderos cla% o* an e,%losionri%%ed threw the air. 5i)i *ond himsel* on the *loor. Standing over him he thoght he

saw the ca%tain o* the shi%. It was the ca%tain' short white !eard and all. /hen a*ter

another lod !ang he saw a grotes1e *igre where the ca%tain sed to !e. It had the heado* a *o,' i* a *o, had two rows o* si, inch teeth all e,trding at %erverse angles *rom its

moth. Its !ody was reminiscent o* a large !eetle7 !lac) chitin %lates overla%%ed and

weaved themselves over its torso. It had si, lim!s one o* a hman' it carried a !rningscimitar. /he /wo lim!s toward the !ottom o* the torso were %ro!a!ly the legs. /hey

were long7 covered in !rown *r' and ended in dar) !lac) hooves. /he lim! o%%osite the

hman one was reminiscent o* a cra!7 the %incer was as large as the creatre itsel*.

es%ite this it li*ted it with ease. /he *i*th lim! was hman *or all intensive %r%oses. Ithad the same strctre' a sholder' an el!ow' a hand' and *ive *ingers. /he !ig di**erence

was that this lim! was on *ire. It carried a large !lac) hnting ri*le. /he si,th and *inal

lim! was %rotrding *orm the monsters !ac). It had si, 8oints' and contorted arond and

arond in odd sha%es. Moving in a way that made it a%%ear that it had a will that wasse%arate *orm the rest o* the !ody.

-mans wold call it a daemon and leave it at that. 5i)i had a mch mores%eci*ic name *or it. -e did not )now what it was or why he shold say its name !t

something in his gt screamed. So he did too. -e screamed a name. -e did not )now

what it meant. -e 8st )new he had to say it. It sonded a lot li)e' !t de*initely was not3Ser%ent.6

/hen 5i)i !lac)ed ot. At least thats what he thoght ha%%ened' he *ond

himsel* on the *loor o* his ca!in' con*sed. -e had no memory o* what had 8st

ha%%ened. -e loo)ed arond' he saw that his conc!ines were also slowly wa)ing %'they too had no idea what had ha%%ened. -e sat %7 he saw the monocle and the !llet on

the *loor. -e %ic)ed them %. /he second that his *ingers toched the !llet he *ro2e. All

o* a sdden he )new. -e didnt )now why he )new !t he )new. -e )new a daemonsname. 5ot only that !t he )new that that daemon was the ca%tain. -e also )new that i*

he )e%t the !llet with him he cold command the daemon.

5i)i olarota had never !elieved in daemons' magic' crses or any o* thosewonder*l things that hmans sed to !elieve in. -e !elieved in the %ower o* the dollar'

something tangi!le something that did have %ower in this world. 5ow something had

changed. -e still didnt )now why !t he didnt care. -is gt still screamed at him' told

him the trth o* things' he !elieved. -e !elieved in daemons' crses' magic' talismans'and angles. -e still !elieved in the %ower o* the dollar' it had gotten him to the to% o* his

world. /he %ro!lem now was that 5i)is world had 8st gotten !igger.

Withot a moments hesitation he headed ot o* his site in search o* the ca%tain.@eaving *or con*sed' hal* na)ed girls alone and scared.

$?


20/32

Cha%ter FII

C2echoslova)ia' $?==

5i)i olarota was having a wonder*l $"th!irthday. -is grandmother had thrown

him not one !t two %arties' one *or him and his *riends and one *or him and his *amily.5i)i olarota had not mch in the way o* *riends or *amily. -is grandmother was the

only *amily he had ever )nown. -is mother had died in child!irth7 his *ather had rn ot

on them !e*ore that. /his le*t his grandmother' Stella olarota' in charge o* his care. Shedid her !est with what she had. /o ma)e ends meet she did tarot readings and made

charms to hel% those who did !elieve in sch things. A*ter a *ew moths o* saving % she

had enogh to %ll ot all the sto%s *or her grandsons !irthday. She had made two ca)es'

made him a *a!los !rea)*ast com%lete with eggs' cheese' and !acon. She evenmanaged to get some chocolate mil).

es%ite the %overty and the loss o* most o* his *amily 5i)i olarota was not an

nha%%y child' es%ecially not on this day' his twel*th !irthday. -is grandmother reached

% on a high shel* and %rodced a %ac)age wra%%ed in !rown %a%er and twine. Smilingshe handed it to 5i)i. -e glee*lly too) it and tore o** the %a%er. Inside was an old

wooden !o,. It loo)ed as thogh it might trn to dst in his hands i* a !ree2e !lew !y.5i)i care*lly %shed the sim%le rsted loc) % and the lid crea)ed o%en. /he interior o*

the !o, was lined with a cloth. It might have !een a !right red at one time !t now it was

a *aded' dirty' maroon. @ying neatly on the cloth there was a golden !llet with the imageo* a s)eleton on *ire' dancing on a grave. 5e,t to the !llet there was a monocle. It was

rimmed in gold. 5i)i did not want to seem ngrate*l !t still !egged the 1estion 3What

is it;6 -is grandmother )new that he might not a%%reciate the gi*t and she was o)ay with

that. Althogh she had !een teaching him a!ot the myths and legends o* her cltre heregarded these stories sim%ly as sch' myths and legends' nothing more. It was a %ro!lem

with the newest generation. /hey woldnt !elieve in Santa Clase let alone Koschei the

eathless. Hegardless Stella olarota loved her grandson and calmly smiled and told himthat i* he ever was attac)ed !y evil s%irits he cold see their tre names and with that

con1er them. 5i)i smiled' althogh he did not nderstand 8st how se*l these trin)ets

were' he was grate*l.3/han) yo grandma.6 -e !eamed and em!raced her.

/he two o* them ate ca)e' and %layed with some o* 5i)is more child a%%ro%riate

gi*ts ntil late in the evening. 5i)i went to !e that night e,hasted and ha%%y.

5i)i was still yong and ignorant o* the world. 5ot only o* the s%ernatralelements in %lay !t also o* the %olitical ones. C2echoslova)ia was in the middle o* a

revoltion. It had !een nder soviet control *or too long and its residents were nearing the

end o* a 3%eace*l6 resoltion. 0n*ortnately *or 5i)i ignorance o* the %olitical %owersdoes not ma)e them any less tre' or dangeros.

5i)i awo)e to the screams o* his grandmother. -e !olted ot o* !ed. -is home

was small' only a two room shac). -e did not have to go *ar to see the intrders./hree soldiers' no' %olicemen' in a way. /hey had !een at the candle

demonstration in Bratislava 8st a *ew days earlier. /here' %wards o* $#'###

C2echoslova)ians had gathered to %rotest. /hey held candles and marched' and !loc)ed

streets' demanding an end to the starvation and o%%ression. es%ite the *act that not a

"#


21/32

single %rotestor threw a roc) or threatened the %olice in anyway the %olice sed water

cannons' then when the %rotestors did not dis!and they charged the crowd' !eating' and

arresting thosands. 5i)is grandmother had not !een at the rally. She had never shownany hostility toward the government. /he soldiers' or %olice' or secret %olice what ever

yo want to call them were nder orders to rond % as many o* the %rotestors as they

cold. It had !een a long night and the three o* them had had enogh. /he old womanshose was lined with old trin)ets and charms that made the soldiers neasy. /he trin)ets

were meant to %rotect against the s%ernatral. /hese soldiers had nothing s%ernatral

a!ot them.Stella olarota was shot' in the head. At %oint %lan) range' in *ront o* her

grandson' !y a mortal man with a gn made !y another mortal man. 5o magic was

%resent' no charm' no crse' no daemon' 8st a man and a gn.

5i)i saw the soldiers arge *or a *ew moments !e*ore ta)ing his grandmothers!ody away. As they le*t one o* the soldiers saw him hiding. /hey loo)ed in each others

eyes' only *or a second. /he soldier' or %oliceman' or K+B' or man' or whatever yo

want to call him' smiled. A*ter that second he contined to drag Stella olarotas !ody

ot o* her hose' leaving 5i)i alone in the dar).(rom that day on 5i)i olarota wandered the streets. -e carried with him a small

wooden !o,. -e did so not !ecase he !elieved in the magic' !t ot o* res%ect *or hisgrandmother. In *act he was done !elieving in magic' ghosts' daemons' crses. -e saw

his grandmother )illed !y a man' !y %olitics. 5ot magic. -e set ot to control that %ower

o* %olitics' o* man. /he easiest way' he soon *ond' to do that was with money. 5i)istarted ot as a small town %ic)%oc)et' a street rchin. -e was !right thogh' soon he

8oined organi2ed crime' when he was twenty he ran a small gang o* his own. A*ter that

we went to America' then to -olland' China' India' Me,ico' +ermany' Astralia' nder

the gise o* a sccess*l !sinessman. By the age o* thirty he was a sccess*l !sinessman' a sha%eless *igre' a C


22/32

Cha%ter FIII

Somewhere in the Mediterranean' "#$$

/he ca%tain *li%%ed the gold monocle over and over in his hands. -e was

!eside himsel*' how cold one mortal' 8st one mortal' %osses !oth his *avorite sigil andthe one monocle he had wished he wold have never seen again.

3What is it !oss;6 /homas as)ed' he was %issed' he needed to )ill 5i)i.

3I dont )now' as) the man in his %a8amas.63Alright yo got me. I didnt mean *or this to ha%%en. Dore right. I didnt even

)now daemons e,isted an hor ago. Bt I )now now. I also )now that I own yo' and yo

are going to hel% me con1er this new world.6

3I dont )now what yo want me to do...6 /he ca%tain was nim%ressed. -eneeded to !e rid o* this mortal as soon as he cold. /ro!le was as long as that mortal

)new his name he coldnt )ill him' nor cold /homas. -e stared at the monocle.

3Come on A22a2el yo )now yove seen this !e*ore' 8st thin)G6 -e thoght to

himsel*.3Well loo)s li)e were in a *c)in stale mate.6 /homas lit a cigarette. 3Dore a

*c)in %rodigy ya )now that;63/his *c)in %rodigy has yor ass nder his thm!.6

3Sht %. Both o* yo.6 /he ca%tain sna%%ed. 3Do' na)ed hman' I need to )now

what yo did.


23/32

3@isten yo st%id' st%id manG Im the (0CKI5+ ca%tain o* this shi%G I always

call the *c)ing shotsG Do thin) 8st !ecase yo got my name and a *ancy little trin)et

yo can command meG; I am nine BI@@IO5 years older than yoG I have seen so mchG/hings that wold melt yor nimagina!ly small mindG Do want to destroy me; o itG I

wanted a vacation may!e !eing dead *or a while is the !rea) Im loo)ing *orG6

/he ca%tain charged 5i)i. /he ca%tain stc) his *ace so close to 5i)is that theirnoses toched. 5i)i noticed that the ca%tain was now mch taller than him' and had to

!end over to com%lete the threatening gestre.

3Do got s into this *c)ing mess. Im getting s ot.6 /he ca%tain snarled.A22a2el stormed !ac) to the controls' and threw one giant lever as *ar *orward as

it cold go. /he shi% lrched. It moved a!ot *or inches !e*ore a large e,%losion ri%%ed

the %ro%ellers a%art.

3What the hell was that;6 5i)i was ashamed o* how easily he had let the sitations%in ot o* control. -e was not sed to !eing given orders. 5i)i decided then and there to

get these two daemons nder his control.

A22a2el was still %shing levers and !ttons. -e )new that he had no engines' and

no ho%e !t he re*sed to give %' he was getting ot. 0n*ortnately 5i)i had other %lans.5i)i clenched the !llet tightly and shoted *orm his gt the name o* the !east. /he

ca%tain *ell to the *loor' conscios !t immo!ili2ed.3I am yor master and yo will answer meG6 5i)i screamed. -is voice was not

entirely his own. It was a side e**ect o* channeling sch energies. /o command a daemon

%ro%erly yo needed a rage not commonly *ond in 8st one hman. 5i)i had channeledthe rage *orm all his ancestors into his words. /homas made a move toward 5i)i !t 5i)i

gave him a loo) that /homas recogni2ed. It was the loo) /homas had when he was

*i*teen and angry. 5i)i )nelt down ne,t to the hel%less ca%tain.

3Who is Koschei and what does he have to do with this island;63Koschei the deathless' Koschei the immortal-ewell I gess yo wold

call him a daemon. -e cant !e )illed' not !y daemons' not !y mortals7 even gods have

learned to leave him alone.6 -e ca%tain stood %. -e reali2ed that he cold not *ight 5i)ianymore. Slowly he was devising another strategy.

3I heard there was a way to )ill him.6 5i)i said.

3S%%osedly i* yo *ind his island' and dig % his chest a dc) will *ly ot' and i*yo )ill the dc)' a ra!!it will start rnning away' and i* yo )ill that an egg will a%%ear

in its %lace. I* yo !rea) the egg yo will *ind a sowing needle. I* yore very lc)y and

yo %ric) Koschei with that needle he will die.6

3/hats his island ot there isnt it;6 /homas as)ed.3Des. Des it is. Bt were 5O/ going there' we are leaving. /he shi%s dead !t

we can43

35o.6 5i)i ct him o**. 3Were )illing him. Do me and whatever the hell thatthing is.6 -e motioned to /homas.

3(c) yo !ddyG6 /homas went to the ca%tains side e,%ecting to !e !ac)ed %

!y his master.3O)ay.6 /he ca%tain said calmly.

3WhatG;6 /homas e,claimed.

3Well go with yo and we will )ill Koschei the immortal.6

":


24/32

3What; All that Im the ca%tain shit and now were 8st going to go with this

%ric)G;6

3/homas what are yo so worried a!ot; Do cant die' I am a daemon withntold %ower' and6 /he ca%tain loo)ed at 5i)i' scanning him *rom toes to nose. 3Im

sre this gy here has many se*l 1alities.6

3amn right' I am 5i)i *c)ing olarota' the wonder child' the nameless )ing o*the world' the43

3Wait6 A22a2el had not heard a word %ast 3olarota6 althogh i* he had he

wold have !een even more ashamed. 5ot only had a sim%le mortal ca%tred him' whoses %hrases li)e 3magic st**6' !t now he was calling himsel* 3the nameless )ing o* the

world.6

3id yo say olarota;6

3/he god o*4what; Deah' 5i)i olarota yor hm!le master.6 5i)i !eamed.3Shit6 A22a2el said alod 3So thats where they ended %6

"


25/32

Interlude

ael, the bored daemonHaving an e-citing night

night seemingly caused by coincidence

ael, the bored daemon

He can esca&e coincidence

Not fate#

"


26/32

Cha%ter I

/he newly *ormed contry o* C2echoslova)ia' $?$=

A22a2el was glad to !e ot o* hell. /his was his *irst time in his entire nine !illion

years o* e,istence that he had ta)en hman *orm. It was a new sensation7 the lac) o*lim!s' the closed circlatory system' the need to !reathe' the aging' everything.

A lot o* daemons *rom time to time ta)e hman *orm. Most do so to mess with the

heads o* mortals. A lot o* the time the hmans assme the things that torment them arethe devil. /his is incorrect the devil never leaves hell' never %lays the daemons games. It

never !oght or sold sols' never tric)ed hmans into giving themselves to it' they did

that themselves. -owever a lot o* daemons en8oyed %itting their wills against the yong

hman race' o*ten claiming to !e the devil itsel* to stro)e their egos. /he hmans weresally no match e,ce%t in one nota!le incident involving a *iddle contest.

A22a2el did not come to earth to case mischie*. -e was sim%ly a torist in a

*oreign land. /here is a %henomenon that %ro*essional torists have called 3+oing

5ative.6 While this is never a %ro!lem *or hman torists' it is a !ig %ro!lem *ordaemons.

aemons have no genes' no cells to !e designated 3ha%loid6 or 3di%loid.6 Mosttimes they dont even have genders. /he rles o* !iology and natral selection do not

a%%ly to them. /hey have no !iological desire to re%rodce. /he instinct some hmans

have termed 3animal lst.6 aemons dont have that. /hats not to say that that dontre%rodce. Since the day o* their creation daemons have !een mi,ing their !lood with

8st a!ot everything in the niverse. Some se their children to gain stats and %ower'

others se them *or *ood' and a rare *ew do it *or revenge. A reason that yo wold never

*ind !ehind their actions was love. A22a2el was no di**erent. -e was a daemon7 he wasnot actally attracted to anything he only cared a!ot himsel*. -e )new nothing o* love.

0n*ortnately *or A22a2el ignorance o* love does not ma)e it any less real or dangeros.

-er name was


27/32

!een 8st that. On her it *lowed. It *lowed o** her sholders' *ollowing her crves. It was a

!right !le. /he %er*ect !le' imagine a !le so %re that it almost glows. It shone

throgh the dst )ic)ed % !y the crash.


28/32


29/32

Interlude

Koschei the deathless, Koschei the immortalHe never worries

.aybe he should /ust this once#

"?


30/32

Cha%ter /he Island o* Koschei' "#$$

A22a2el has rarely !een content with anything in his nine !illion years o*e,istence. Bac) at the !eginning he was e,cited *or the *all and the creation o* hell. A

!illion years in hell drove him % the wall so he le*t. ring his *irst tri% ot he

!ac)%ac)ed arond the golden montains o* Atlantis. A*ter a hndred years o* that hewent to a retreat *or all !eings *rom all dimensions who wished to !ecome %oets. It was

held in a dimension hand cra*ted !y a !eing made o* %re thoght. At *irst he loved it.

/here were no rles' no %hysics 5ewtonian or otherwise' and no colors e,ce%t the ones

that yo *elt li)e seeing. 0n*ortnately a con*rontation with another %artici%ant casedhim to !e )ic)ed ot. A22a2el 8st cold not *igre ot why the o%%osing %arty thoght

that iam!ic %entameter was the !est *orm o* writing. A*ter retrning to hell *or a

mandatory sta** meeting that lasted a million and a hal* years he set o** once again this

time to %artici%ate in an religios war on a %lanet many light years away *orm earth. /he%lanets inha!itants were *ighting over weather or not to worshi% the s)y. /he s)y itsel*

did not really care weather or not it was worshi%ed. It ended % leaving the %lanet alltogether to esca%e the gilt that it *elt *or casing the war. /his %attern o* coming and

going contined *or A22a2el *or many more years. &st !e*ore his nine !illionth !irthday

he heard some daemons tal) a!ot a very *resh %lanet whose %rimary inha!itants had notrecogni2ed all the %owers that lay otside their world. It sonded li)e *n so he le*t. At

*irst he en8oyed it. (or a measly two months then he *ell *or a hman' )illed her *iancL'

and then %oted all the way !ac) to hell. 5ow he was !ac) a*ter 8st ninety years and

now what; -e was enslaved !y the asshole great' great grandson o* the mrdered *iancL'and was now !eing sent to )ill an n)illa!le !eing. /his time thogh he had a %lan' a %lan

that wold not !e com%romised !y love !t *l*illed !y hate.

3-eyG Do coming;6 5i)i shoted % at the ca%tain who was still standing on thedec) o* the crise liner. 5i)i and /homas had clim!ed into a li*e!oat and were waiting

*or the Ca%tain.

Slowly the ca%tain ste%%ed over the railing and landed in the small motorless !oat.-e threw the release o%en and the !oat screamed toward the %ale !le water. /he three o*

them each too) one o* the white %lastic %addles and slowly made their way to the island.

/homas was glaring at 5i)i. -e had !een glaring at 5i)i ever since he *irst

wal)ed into the wheelhose. 5i)i' the once %oor !t never again child' did not care what/homas did. -e was at the *ront o* the !oat7 he did not %addle !t rather held his oar at

his side standing %rodly. Imagining himsel* leading an army to victory against

insrmonta!le odds. In some ways this was tre. /heir chance o* sccess was incredi!lylow. 5i)i did not )now this. -e once again !elieved himsel* in control over all the

%owers in the niverse.

A22a2el was silent and e,%ressionless. -e )new they wold not scceed in )illingKoschei the deathless. /hat was not his %lan however. -is %lan was sim%leE get 5i)i over

to the island' *ind Koschei and ma)e sre Koschei )illed 5i)i and 5O/ him.

As they a%%roached the island the %alm tree shoo) e,citedly. It was nclear i* the

tree was reacting to them or the sdden !rst o* wind that greeted the three as their !oat

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scra%%ed against the !ottom o* the now shallow ocean. 0na!le to %roceed any *rther !y

!oat the three got ot and tgged throgh the 1iet water.

@ead !y the !rave and naive 5i)i the three reached the so*t yellow sand o* thetiny island. 5i)i had carried his %addle *rom the !oat to the shore7 his %lastic sce%ter' his

mighty sym!ol o* dominance. 0nsre o* what to do ne,t the three stood in silence. /he

*og had !een removed !y the howling wind. /he wind rattled the %alm tree. It !ent andtwisted. It made /homas nervos. es%ite the wind rstling the tree and !lowing throgh

their clothes the yellow sand remained still' their *oot%rints still *irmly %ressed into the

grond. 5i)i *inally !ro)e the silence and trned to his com%anions.3AlrightG @ets )ill s a KoscheiG6 5i)i !eamed.

5ether /homas or A22a2el had a res%onse they sim%ly stared at the ama2ingly

ha%%y man in *ront o* them.

3-eres my %lanE /homas yo go le*t me and the ca% will go right.6Again he was met with silence. /homas )e%t his glare *ocsed' and then he s%o)e %.

3I* yo live throgh this Im going to )ill yo.6

5i)i said nothing. -e sim%ly smiled and motioned to his le*t.

/homas shi*ted his ga2e to A22a2el who only win)ed and motioned to his le*t.

/homas mttered something a!ot how this li*e was !oth e,ce%tionally more dll and%ain*l.

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Cha%ter I

/homas )ic)ed the yellow sand. -e had !een wal)ing in a straight line *or a!ot

an hor now. /he hori2on had not moved closer' the %alm tree had not moved *rther

away. -e had lost sight o* 5i)i and A22a2el a!ot *orty minets ago. /he wind stillhowled. /homas %lled ot a cigarette lighting it in his c%%ed hands %rotecting the *lame

*rom the winds.

3+oddamned asshole.6 /homas mttered to himsel*. 3Sholda stayed in hell6

/homas sto%%ed and loo)ed arond. /he water was as still as the sand. /he %alm treecontined to *lail in the wind.

3And yoG6 /homas shoted over the wind waving his cigarette at the %alm tree.

3What the *c)s yor %ro!lemG; Calm. /he hell. own. 5othing else here cares

a!ot the wind why do yo;G6/he tree' still twisting and contorting' trned toward /homas. /he wind *allowed

sit. A gst o* wind hit /homas *ll on in his *ace. /he cigarette !lew ot o* his mothand *lttered into the still rela,ed sea' *ading with a si22le.

3&esssG (ine' *orget I said anything.6 /homas %oted and %lled ot another

cigarette. Be*ore he cold ta)e his *irst %ll /homas *elt something wriggle throgh thewidth o* his nec). It was cold and 1ic). /homas saw the hori2on tilt down and sin) ot

o* view. -is eyes then ga2ed at the grey s)y !e*ore *illing with yellow sand.

come sail away with me (new update)

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