Outside an old deserted building stood two older men having a discussion about their life in Soclice, their riches and their problems surrounding leadership issues. They turned towards the deserted building made of wood back in the older days. It was built by the ancient angels who now lived in the Tower of Angels far away from where they spoke.
“My old grey beard can’t take this mystery anymore than you can too. The Emperor is now hundred and six years old and he’s growing stranger and madder by the day. Has he been cured or something?”
“I’m not sure my old friend but I still have faith in Soclice and our future. The whole world has become more peaceful. The health that the Emperor has had suggests he should have died many years ago but it has not appeared. I have thought of a idea, someone who could help investigate this matter for us,” spoke the other man.
“Stolin, who are you thinking of? Do I know of this person?” he asked him.
His friend turned up to the grey skies of Soclice, “This person goes by the name of Chisoutsa. She has aided The City of Demons and the Vampire lands in the past. Many people know her, she is tough but fair in her judgment. She is known for a love of adventure and a challenge. She could help us on this matter Kalund.”
“I have heard of her name. This is the final land she has not traveled to on which the tales that I have been told about. Soclice may have attractive beaches but when you journey inside you see how the proud land has changed into cold and madding place to be. How do we get her here?” Kalund asked.
“I know the Prime Leader from The City of Demons Charles Thompson, I could reach out to him for help. He is a good person always willing to help others. Their culture has changed greatly in the past few years,”
“We maybe just are a part of the council that helps the Emperor but even he doesn’t take our advice anymore. We should do this in secret and at once.”
“I agree.”
The two men made their secret and wandered away from their deserted building back to the Emperor’s House.
It was a quiet day in the Government Square where Charles Thompson had recently had contact with Soclice concerning their problem with the Emperor. He requested that Chisoutsa come to see him. He poured himself two glasses of wine as the doors opened and Chisoutsa and some old familiar friends came inside.
“Chisoutsa! Jonathan! How are you all today? Here’s a glass of wine as a toast to my first year in office here.” Charles smiled towards his friends.
Professor Jonathan Walken nodded at his friend and took the glass of wine and had a drink, “The crime has gone down quite well since you came into the position of Prime Leader. Chisoutsa isn’t quite pleased with that result,” he replied.
“It leaves me with nothing to do Professor. Sitting around the place bored as hell is not what I like. Tell me this issue you were told from Soclice and what is this place?”
As Chisoutsa and the Professor sat down her brother Lucas Walken popped inside and grabbed a seat next to his father.
“You’re late,” Chisoutsa smirked.
“Can’t let you in this adventure and do the old kill everyone and ask questions later. Could have solved The City of Demons problems in half the time,” Lucas replied.
“Really now, this again, no one wanted to answer my questions.”
“That’s especially when you shoot them twice and bashed their heads on the table. Smooth stuff sister.”
“Anyway people, the word from Soclice are that their Emperor is bloody mad in the head lately. The last few years he had been silence most of the time but recently been vocal about issues and changing some of the laws. Some believe he’s cured or just sick in the head. Two of his close council members are wishing that you Chisoutsa would come to see them and investigate about it.”
“This doesn’t sound exciting to me.” Chisoutsa replied unhappily.
“Soclice is a nice area that is known for its beaches and number of islands circling the mainland which has a rich history of buildings, statues, and gold. This is also the only place in the world you haven’t traveled to. The ancient buildings were made by the angels who were the ones that Lucas met with Allegheri and Frithdar when they searched for The Tower of Angels. Lucas would be helpful with you on the mission,” Charles explained to the group.
“I traveled there once when I was young in my day. It is nice and relaxing spot for reading and culture. You should go there Chisoutsa and learnt a thing or two,” Professor Walken told his daughter.
“Alright I’ll check this place out but why is the Emperor been doing these strange things for?” she asked Charles.
“I have no idea why and that’s the whole point of this exercise. This man seems like he could live forever. I hope you enjoy your travels and this will keep you busy. They will pay you very well and allow you to enjoy yourself too. “ Charles replied.
Chisoutsa and Lucas seemed happy now with the deal and took off out of the office room to leave the Professor and Charles to discuss about their old days.
“She has grown up well since I first met her.” Charles noticed.
Professor Walken took a slip of his wine and nodded, “It has been a journey quite hard on her. She has given up a lot for her success. Her inner demon blood is still there. I am happy that she has been able to keep it in control.”
“I know all too well the long discussions we have had about her searching for Censilo. With mentors like you and Allegheri she is in safe hands. She is more level headed nowadays,” Charles replied.
“I’m happy for her and what she has been able to do for everyone. She might not admit it but I believe he wants to do well for people and help others. She uses a adventure as a excuse to help people who can’t help themselves.”
Charles fills up his glass of wine, “At least we’re not getting into the action us two old guys. I’m smart enough to leave to the young ones,” he smiled towards his old friend in Jonathan.
Before they started on their mission Chisoutsa and Lucas Walken had been invited to the Soclice Beach House which is known for its wild parties and its relaxed vibe to it. Inside the Beach House were crowds of people chatting and drinking the night away. Chisoutsa appeared in her red bikini wear and Lucas camped himself outside the deck in his board shorts. Chisoutsa came outside with a couple drinks as Lucas lit up a cigar watching the waters.
“Did we ever actually enjoy our past battles in the past like this? The Vampire lands and The City of Demon kept us busy to the max. I’m toasting this to my studies nearly completed. All I have left is the advanced spells and powers left by Frithdar. He’s more powerful than he looks you know,” Lucas said to Chisoutsa.
“I’ve been hearing from some of the drinkers here that the Emperor as been ordering to increases taxes by a shit load. In the past he had been quite fair on these issues.” Chisoutsa replied.
Lucas handed over his cigar to Chisoutsa as a young waiter girl dressed in a bikini arrived to give him another drink. He slipped a couple notes down her underwear and winked.
“Thanks,” she smiled walking away from the pair.
“You’re getting as bad as me when it comes to parties and partying.” Chisoutsa replied.
“You have grinded three guys already and don’t give me that I’m a half demon and I’m just going with the flow. I wonder if we can solve this problem with the Emperor than maybe world peace could happen?” Lucas thought.
“That would leave me with nothing to do. I’ll be like a character in a book retired forever and no sequels,” Chisoutsa replied back.
An older drinker came up to the two of them, he waved a drink of rum at them, “You two are friends of Kalund. Good man he is for Soclice. There’s a girl inside who has some information about the Emperor if you like to know.” He said to them.
“Well thank you dear sir. I will go and see what she wants. You stay here if you like,” Lucas said heading off back inside the beach house.
The older guy popped out a photo of the Emperor and showed it to Chisoutsa, “This is a recent photo of our great Emperor even if he’s gone abit weird in the head. Heck he’s over a hundred years old anyone would lost their mind after all those years,”
Chisoutsa looked into the photo and noticed a dark cold feeling about the Emperor, she suddenly lost balance and and banged into the side of a chair, “Hey girly! You had a few too many drinks there,” noted the man helping her up from the ground.
“Yeah that must be the reason why,” she said surprised by herself.
“Your eyes are looking red as death, do they do that often?” he asked.
“Really, they are red? That hasn’t happened for a long time.” Chisoutsa replied concerned about her reaction on the photo. She wondered why he reacted to just a photo and what connection it had to her.
Inside the beach house Lucas Walken was dancing with the girl in question after hearing some news that the Emperor was seeking to increase his army in the coming days for unknown reason only to him. Lucas grinded up to the young girl while the other couples were dancing and sitting at the lounges enjoying the action of the night.
“I will have to cut this sort but I wanna see you again.” Lucas smiled at the girl.
“Sure thing hot stuff,” she answered with a wink as Lucas left the beach house.
Chisoutsa met up with Lucas an decided that tomorrow that would visit the Emperor in person. The two men in Kalund and Stolin have given the pair access to the Emperor.
“Tomorrow we start this thing off. I think we can solve this. Heck you solved that Tower of Angels crap. I mean it is really hard work for you,” Chisoutsa replied.
“Shut the hell up. You wouldn’t have ever worked out the puzzles in that place. You’re too stupid at times,” Lucas snapped back.
“Yeah yeah, you got dad’s smart mind and wit. I know and I have half a demon stuck in me. I’m going to bed now. See you in the morning.” Chisoutsa heading off.
Lucas smirked towards and lit up a cigar thinking to himself, “We make a pretty good team us two. A wizard and a demon, who could stop that?”
Stolin was found standing outside the courtyard of the Emperor’s House waiting for Chisoutsa and Lucas to arrive to take them to see the Emperor. The courtyard was filled of bright flowers and a silver pavement that led to the front doors. A number of statues stood of past Emperors and leaders of Soclice. He started to pace around the courtyard nervous as the pair arrived and Lucas eyed off the courtyard.
“I remembered Chisoutsa that Allegheri had been here a number of time to help serve past Emperors in quests. He was also here for the angels as well when they helped build the sections,” Lucas explained to her.
“There’s some rich history alright.” She answered him.
Stolin greeted the pair and was shaky in his voice. He was nervous about what reaction the Emperor would give to the pair.
“We are all here, Kalund is inside so we will do this now.” Stolin said to the two of them.
The three walked along the courtyard up to the front doors as two guards opened them for them and they entered. A golden throne and bright candles lined the sides of the massive room. Twenty guards were around the Emperor with spears watching Chisoutsa and Lucas like a hawk. Kalund stood to the left of their leader and smiled towards his friends and Chisoutsa and Lucas.
“My dear Emperor we have two special guests one is the young wizard Lucas Walken, student of Frithdar and closest friend of Allegheri the Great Vampire. We also have Chisoutsa Walken the savior of The City of Demon and the women who defeated the Lust Vampire in the lands of the bloodlust. They have come to see you and this mighty land of ours,” Stolin said to the Emperor.
“I know of your works, the two of you,” the Emperor answered with a cold voice.
“I’m a savior, did you hear that?” Chisoutsa whispered with a wink to Lucas.
“Thank you dear Emperor, we are pleased to see this amazing place. I like to ask you a couple questions,” Lucas asked him.
Stolin’s eyes lit up worried about what he could ask. The Emperor’s appearance was in a golden robe with a staff to his right. It was a bronzed built staff with designs of a dragon around it. Thou no one in the room knew what it did it was suggested it was a cane for the Emperor.
“Go on,” the Emperor answered.
“Your latest decisions on the army seem unreasonable. Why are you expanding your armies so much? Answer me!” cried Lucas.
Chisoutsa was surprised by his tone and the guards moved their spears towards the pair. The Emperor rose from his seat and walked down to the young wizard. As he was walking towards him, Lucas had a whisper in his ear but from no one he could see in the room, “Can someone hear me, can you? He has you in his sights!”
Lucas turned around confused but than focused on the Emperor, “My decisions are not up for question. I am the voice that speaks and will never be questioned. Leave at once!” he shouted at them.
The guards jumped into action and moved their spears and small axes towards Chisoutsa and Lucas. Lucas help up his arm and a green growing shield covered Chisoutsa as he moved towards the Emperor, he grabbed a small knife from his pocket and slashed the Emperor’s arm. The spears broke the magic green shield over Chisoutsa and she quickly grabbed a axe from one of the guards and started attacking them all. Lucas than picked out a test tube from his pocket and filled it with the Emperor. Stolin and Kalund appeared in shock unmoved by the event taking before. Chisoutsa spanned around a number of emperor guards and slashing their stomachs open as Lucas grabbed her by the arm and shot a fireball towards the remaining guards. The pair escaped into the courtyard where more guards appeared. Chisoutsa and Lucas were trapped and Lucas tossed his head in disappointment.
“Stuff it!” he cried and waved his arm in the sky and the two disappeared on the spot in a spark of lightening. The guards stood around the area confused as hell and the Emperor turned on Kalund and Stolin.
“You two are to blame for this are you,” he shouted towards them.
“We are concerned for your health dear Emperor. We don’t know what happened here.” Kalund cried to his leader.
“Arrest them for crimes against the Emperor. They are plotting against me!” he shouted at the pair. The guards surrounded the pair and their hands were tied. Stolin shook in fear, “What have we done?” he said to his friend.
The Emperor turned towards his guards with a fire his eyes. He walked up and grabbed his staff. He waved it over the entire group in the throne room.
“Send the armies to seize these two people. I can’t afford to let Chisoutsa escape. She has caused much trouble in the past with people. And that dirty wizard brother of hers will burn for his crime against myself. Go now!” he shouted.
Away from the rush of army guards storming the court yards, Chisoutsa and Lucas reappeared at the deserted building that Kalund told Lucas in his written notes to him. Lucas fell to the ground as Chisoutsa helped him up, “First, are you ok. Second, what the fuck was that. I expect me to do dumb wild shit like and not you.” Chisoutsa snapped at her brother.
“I had to do it. We are here to check his health. He would never allow someone to take his blood and now we can find out nice and quickly. Besides, did you look at him. He was always going to throw us out for some reason. I will send his blood sample to Alan Richards and he will report back in the next day or two. For now I guess we need to stay away from the army.” Lucas said.
Chisoutsa toss her head and looked at the dusty desks and broken weapons inside the deserted building. She tried to remember if she did see the Emperor in the eye but maybe she said to herself she didn’t.
“Did you hear any voices in the throne room before the Emperor answered my question? Like a whisper or something in your ear?” Lucas asked Chisoutsa.
“No, no voices that I heard of.” Chisoutsa answered.
“It was a voice asking me if I could hear him. I’ve never had that before. You noticed any strange activity while you have been here?”
Chisoutsa dusted off one of the old desks and saw ripped papers of books. She read a page that was speaking about the former Emperor over fifty years ago, “Come to think of it, I remembered when I looked at a photo of the Emperor I felt dizzy and that my eyes had turned red. That hasn’t happened since the early days when my demon desires were controlling me. I can’t think that the Emperor could have done that.”
“Whatever it is I have been send off the blood sample to Alan and if something comes back than maybe the council can use its special laws to dump the Emperor and replace him.
Chisoutsa and Lucas sat around the deserted building like hunted rats unable to do much. The entire army was after them and they had little choice but to stay put.
