The elevator descended into the ground. Avery closed his eyes and took a relaxing, deep breath. A ding emitted from the door. It was time.

  The door opened. Avery opened his eyes and stepped out of the elevator.

  The surrounding area was cave-like. Archon’s area was an underground lair located below SCAR’s Headquarters. It had high ceilings and a spacious layout, with rugged, carved rock walls reinforced with steel and concrete. The lair was equipped with various technologies that Avery couldn’t comprehend. A large computer was at the center. Multiple human–sized monitors that were off, surrounded the man in all black.

  His hood covered his hair, and his mask protected his identity. The cloak he wore went down to his ankles. From his pants to his shirt was all black. Everything was black.

  As for the smell, it was quite pleasant. A hint of lavender and vanilla. Archon went crazy for lavender, and the amount of purifiers backed those words even further.

  He turned around. Avery couldn’t see his expression since Archon wore a blank, black mask, but he imagined him not being too happy.

  “You’ve returned, Avery.” He said in a calm tone.

  Archon stepped down from the multiple monitors that surrounded him and slowly walked towards Avery.

  Avery’s sweaty fingers dangled from his hands. He rubbed his fingers together, which didn’t feel pleasant. He wanted to take another shower.

  “Yes, I have,” Avery responded, although he didn’t sound happy.

  “I assume you killed the king of the outsiders, otherwise, you wouldn’t dare to speak to me.”

  Avery nodded. “I did.”

  “Excellent. This is beautiful news. The outsider world will be going into a frenzy. When that happens, we have the machinery to record and post those savages killing each other. We will show our people the outsiders' true colors.”

  Avery nodded with a quick smile that was faker than the propaganda Archon planned to spread.

  “Yah…” He clasped his hands, completely switching the mood. “So, what are you doing here at this hour?”

  “A question of interest? I refuse to say. Just know, that my research is almost there. Soon, I will have everything I want.”

  “And what is that?”

  Archon placed his hand on his mask. He pulled it away from his face and slightly lowered the mask to where only his eyes were visible.

  And then he opened them.

  Avery took a step back. He knew this wasn’t possible. He was looking right at it, so it had to be possible.

  He took another step back, his fingers fiddling behind his back.

  It was like looking at the impossible. Something straight out of a fantasy story.

  But it was right there, clear as day.

  It shined brighter than the sun itself.

  Archon’s eyes were from another world. They were a deep and mesmerizing shade of purple, flickering with an inner fire and casting a radiant glow on his forehead.

  In other words, they were a flaming purple, which wasn’t humanly possible.

  Avery spoke in a stutter. “How… how are they like that?”

  Archon put on his mask and adjusted it accordingly.

  “It isn’t how I got these eyes. It's what I am going to do with them. These eyes will help me protect this beautiful city and the people within it. I will do whatever it takes for my people to lead a life of satisfaction.”

  “What can those eyes do? Are you preparing for war with the outsiders or something?”

  Archon chuckled, which was a one–in–a–billion sighting. “Only a fool would declare war on SCAR. I’m preparing for my safety, in case anything ever happens. These eyes will protect me from harm.”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Avery wanted to speak, but he didn’t know what to say.

  Archon’s eyes were a flaming purple. He achieved power Avery didn’t know of. He’d heard of red and blue eyes, but not purple.

  Those who possessed red eyes were the attack type. Their immense strength complemented their quick speed and agility. Blue eyes were the defense type. Those who possessed blue eyes regenerated through almost any injury and felt less pain. They’re much stronger than red eyes, but not as quick on their feet. Was the combination of the two results in purple?

  Judging by how and what Archon was saying, it was something along those lines. Was he invisible? No, couldn’t be. He wanted to ask, but he didn’t at the same time. A part of him didn’t want to know the creature Archon had become.

  “Enough about me. There is a reason you came to visit. Say, what is the reason for you being here?” Archon asked, standing invincibly as if nothing could ever take him down.

  Avery lowered his head. “I didn’t complete my mission. I was supposed to kill Tim, but…”

  “The half outsider and half Ionian. A mixed breed like him should never be allowed to walk this world. You failed to kill him last time.”

  “I know. I just can’t kill him. I shot him in the leg and left him in the rain, but that won’t be enough to kill him. He’s definitely alive,” Avery said apologetically with his head down.

  “You shared the same womb as him. It is only natural to not kill a relative. But make no mistake. That child is not a proper relative. He contains outsider blood. Killing him prohibits him from reproducing offspring with mixed blood. I offered a chance of redemption, yet you came up short.”

  Avery nodded once more. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say.

  He looked at the floor. It was rocky with uneven footing, giving it more of an outsider world vibe if anything.

  Avery knew he messed up. If only his mother had never stolen medicine. None of this would have happened. She would be living here in Ionia in harmony with Avery and his father.

  But no.

  Everything changed the moment when Avery’s mother was caught stealing antidepressants from SCAR’s laboratory. In Ionia, no one is above the law, not even the Chancellor’s wife. As punishment, she was exiled from the City of Ionia and forced to live in the outside world. She made love to a man, an outsider, and brought Tim into the world. When Archon heard about this, he was enraged. He impulsively ordered the execution of Avery’s mother. Kajo, Avery’s father, pleaded on his hands and knees for something less harsh. It took a lot of convincing, but in the end, he managed to cool Archon’s furious mind.

  Archon ordered Avery’s mother to live in a house on the hill, isolated from society. That house was there for multiple decades for human SCAR agents to rest at. To protect her isolation, a robotic SCAR agent was deployed and commanded to kill everything and anything that threatened her isolation.

  Kajo believed his wife and her son were safe from harm. However, it didn’t stop there.

  On his first stunt into the outside world, he was tasked by Archon to stay there for two years to collect information on his half–brother Tim, and Tim’s father. To do this, Avery stumbled his way to Tim when he was playing by the river. Avery claimed his family abandoned him and he had nowhere else to go. Tim had a giant heart and brought Avery back home, where Tim’s father agreed to shelter him.

  Everything kicked off from there. They did everything together. From eating at the same dinner table, sleeping in the same room, playing by the river, and fighting about the tiniest thing; they did everything. At one point, Avery forgot he was there for a mission.

  Two years passed and Avery was given a message that it was time to return home. But before he could return, he had to kill Tim. Avery waited until Tim slept before making his move. He knocked Tim out cold and gently placed him in the basement. From there, he spilled some oil and lit the place on fire.

  It wasn’t until Avery returned home that he learned that Tim’s father was dead, but Tim was still alive. He internally felt relieved but saddened by his brother’s suffering.

  Avery took a deep breath. He recalled the times with his half–brother. Memories flooded his brain like an unexpected wave at the shore.

  “I will never kill my brother,” Avery said with his head high. “No one will.”

  Archon took a step forward. “Is this a threat?”

  Avery gulped and stepped forward, trying to not back down. He appeared to be strong and fearless, but on the inside, he was shitting his pants.

  “What if it is?” Avery asked in a deep voice.

  Archon scoffed. “You are very interesting.” He stepped back to the multiple monitors at the center of the cave. “I suggest you leave and go home. Your father is waiting. A ride will be outside.”

  Avery balled his fist, squeezing tighter than ever before. He took a rigid breath and let out a furious groan.

  “You made me kill the king. You wanted me to kill my brother. Am I a pawn to you? Someone who you can manipulate and use? Guess what, Archon, one more of your manipulation antics and I swear to God I will shoot your eyes out.”

  “Power means nothing if you cannot put it to use. I leveraged what I had. That is all.”

  That response made Avery’s mind go berserk.

  “2A! P-09, now!”

  2A transformed into a handgun. With his arm shaking, he pointed it at Archon’s head.

  “Do you think I am playing games?!”

  Archon stared at the gun. His demeanor didn’t change. He stood tall as if nothing would happen. After all, he knew Avery all too well.

  “Your arrogance will cost you. I suggest casting the weapon aside before things get… rather interesting.”

  Avery took one last deep breath before demanding that 2A morph back into its original state.

  He silently stepped back into the elevator. Before the door closed, Archon said his final words.

  “I appreciate your presence. I hope our future isn’t forged in conflict.”

  The elevator closed.