The Devil Wore My Name

XI. REVOLUTION

Was it the moment that Eflric walked out of the Gotham Tower that he had made up his mind? Or did it go even before that? The moment when he saw that blonde girl on the tiled floor, trembling in her father's arms. Her eyes begging him for help, she looked broken…that expression of superiority that she had on in front of the Principal was ripped off her face harshly.

It wasn't the system that this worked with that was wrong, it was the people themselves that are corrupted. What has this got to do with Elfric? All he wanted was to have peace. But that wasn't the case now. Something in him changed.

Maybe it was like what Crane said, he has gotten a taste of what he is capable of doing…with Orathan. His life was never going to go back to what it was before that cursed night. Was it indeed cursed? Elfric doubted.

His brain was else whereas he roamed the streets of Lauxdale, trying his best to blend in with the crowd of Nobles. He was ignorant if anyone was after him or not, but he got a feeling that if Crane sent someone after him, it wouldn't have been that obvious.

Orathan…Elfric couldn't get his question out of his head. "What is it that you truly desire?" Orathan asked back then.

'Power'

Elfric halted amidst the street, ignorant of the glares and curses that revolved around him as he interrupted other people's paths. That voice…was that Orathan? He thought…but this time it was different; he couldn't blame Orathan for this one. This one was him.

It was his true desire.

His revolt against the state in which he is. A revolution on the way he is living.

Fighting for a better place. He can't hope for the better if he doesn't work for it.

How naïve was he to think that the universe would change into heaven while he stood there still? Giving in to the forces of those people.

But that was before…before he got what he got. Before he got the Devil on his side. Now, he had the power to do it.

~~~~

"Are you going to leave it at that, my Lord?" asked Zeph, keeping a good two meters between him and his pissed-off Boss. Despite knowing the response, he just couldn't help but question what Crane intended to do next after his plan was ruined. "And the Frankensteins are we going to…"

"Don't touch them," Crane hissed. The back of the leather chair was the only thing that Zeph could see. It was sufficient to know that he was furious. "There is no knowing what he could actually do. That teenage bastard might actually blow up this place for all I know!" he twisted the chair around to face Zeph. Putting his annoyed face on full display, his hands fisted over the cup of whiskey as he tried to calm his inside by burning them with alcohol.

Zeph couldn't deny the truth in his Lord's words. The thing that he saw back there in the alley was definitely cable of doing that…and worse.

"We can't risk this to reach the Council or my father's ears, do you understand?"

"Of course, My Lord!" exclaimed Zeph as he bowed his head while tensing his muscles. "We can't just let that boy go like that."

Crane sighed as he leaned back in his armchair.

"You think I haven't figured?" he rubbed the bridge of his nose, pouring himself another shot.

"I didn't want it to come to this. I figured that he might settle with some money. Damn it! How much has he gotten from that thing!"

'That thing..'.

how much did the devil offer him to the extent that he turned down an opportunity like this?

But Zeph couldn't blame Elfric either…having the devil on your side…what else would you need.

"Sorry, but it sounds kind of stupid that you believe in the presence of God but still choose to dine with the devil," Elfric told Zeph on his way here…He couldn't properly answer him but just now he believes that he has finally gotten the answer.

"God…he never mingles with the affairs of us humans. At least not in the way that we want him to. On the other hand, the devil would do anything given the right price," he mumbled under his breath.

Crane was so into thinking to notice his mumbles.

"Jake and Ash,"

Zeph felt his heart sink to his knees. These names… weren't something that should be easily said like that.

"W-what about them, my Lord?"

"I heard that they will return soon from their mission," said Crane, watching as the other simply nodded his head.

"Call them in first thing when they return," he added. "They are going to be sent on their next one."

"S-Sir, but they don't…"

"Something a matter, Zeph?" snorted, cutting the conversation short. He knew that what he had asked for was an impossible thing to do, but…no one within the family had the power to do what he wanted.

Zeph stepped down. "No, sir," he stated. "I'll make sure to get it done."

"Leave,"

~~~~

"Huh?" Joanna scoffed. "Why are you curious about Carol?" she narrowed her eyes at her brother. Not cursing her out loud took a lot of mental strength when all she wanted to do was rip that girl apart. In addition, here she was with her brother talking about her over breakfast.

"I'm not curious I was just wondering if you heard anything about her after what happened," he casually said, the way he was able to keep his composure after the wild night that he had was shaking him to his core.

After all, there was nothing to fear anymore.

Joanna scoffed. "I didn't hear anything, and I am thankful!" She rolled her eyes as she gulped down the glass of juice on the table.

"Just the thought of her makes me sick!!" she slammed down the glass.

"Watch it," he glared. "We can't have Mom hear you."

"H-Hear what?"

Elfric sighed. Just what was it with him and luck that was so foul that this happened to him?

"Nothing, love," he faked a smile, pushing back his chair dumbing the dishes in the sink.

"I'll be heading out now." Out of habit, he engulfed his mother in a hug before he headed to the door.

"W-wait, Joanna, aren't you going with your brother?" Lorena frowned. "Why are you still in your pajamas, young lady?"

"O-oh," she stuttered ." That's because…" she glanced over at Rick who was busy with the shoelace of his sneakers. She had no idea what she could tell her mother that would convince her why she was going to stay home.

Her eyes darted back and forth between her mother who was eagerly waiting for a reply, and her brother, who seemed to have forgotten how to tie his shoe.

"It's her first day," Rick said, rising up after finally getting his shoelace done.

"D-day one?" the two females said in unison. Silence rose in the air as they tried to decipher what he just stated, but it wasn't long before Rick broke it with his chuckles.

"I can't believe that you still haven't caught on when you are the female, Mom."

"O-oh, you mean that…" Lorena giggled as she turned to her daughter, who seemed to still be in the dark on what was happening.

"You should have just told me that it was your period, sweetheart."

"P-period…" Joanna tested out the word on her mouth. Her eyes dilated but by the time that she cursed her brother to hell, he was already gone. "RICK YOU IDIOT! YOU ARE DEAD IF YOU STEP FOOT HERE AGAIN!"

The scream reached all the way to Rick, who had almost reached the staircase. His smirk was hidden underneath the shade of his black hood. Enjoying the smile that he believed would be the last one for today.

As he finally made his decision…

What he wanted to do.