The Power of the Eminence grise

Chapter nine; The Lostfall

For a moment, it appeared that everyone was scared to death to dare move a muscle but it was just for a moment.

The tallest and bulkiest among them couldn't stand the idea of a single man bullying fifteen hardened murderers hence he rallied some courage and took few steps but Knox cried

“No! no! no! drago. Don't move, he is not bluffing.” He panicked, causing him to stop though he was fuming.

“Hmm, you really want to live, don't you?”

Knox nodded slowly and painfully like a kid as drops of tears dribbled down his blood smeared cheek.

“Alright then, you will live but that's after putting a call to your boss..”

“My boss?” Horror once again flashed in his eyes as he laid a pleading eyes on Idris.

“Please…please, my boss will kill me bef…”

“Shhh, he won't, not after you tell him who the culprit is. Get to it my friend, just get to it.”

Without any choice of his, Knox hand reached out for the cell phone in one of his pockets. Bringing it out, his hand was trembling fervently.

Seeing this Idris said, “Your men are watching you. Now, be a man and call the old man, would you?”

Knox swallowed hard and called Lord Kane and it connected, “What boy! Is it done already?” His grumpy voice emerged.

“Em, um..em”

“Speak out already boy! I don't have time to waste on your useless ass”

“Sorry boss..I’m.. I'm sorry boss but..but the culprit identified himself as…” he looked at Idris and he then whispered, “Mr Vader.”

“As who, bum! And how does that concer…”

“Mr Vader” Knox stained, interrupting his boss.

Suddenly, there was a brief pause and a life-suffocating silence dawned on everyone.

“Mr Vader?” His voice emerged, this time, calm and subservient “How? How did you come about that…wait, is he there with you?”

“Yes boss, should I hand him the phone.”

“No no..no, don't” he paused and continued, “Knox?” He called out, his voice more calmer, “Yes boss”

“Tell me that you didn't dare to attack him.”

Knox was mute, he whimpered, his eyes darting from Idris to his men. “I…I di … it was a mistake, boss” he sobbed like a kid not minding the presence of his men and the onlookers.

He has undermined his opponent and he is paying dearly for it.

“Oh God! Well, apologize sincerely right away and pray he will spare your life.” He said and cut the call.

He turned his gaze towards Idris and bowed, crying and begging for his life.

“You should have spared yourself and your men all these troubles if you did listen at first.” Idris said, reaching for his handkerchief.

“Go, your sins are forgiven.”

His men carried him and they left the building.

The scared customers couldn't hide their relief and excitement hence they applauded.

Idris sat back with a smile plastered on his face, staring at Bridget's dumbstruck countenance. “What was that?” she asked in awe

“Nothing to bother yourself about. Let savor the moment for I have an old friend to catch up to”

Idris dismissed Bridget who seemed to be in awe of his capability.

She pleaded to come along but Idris refused giving how sensitive the said friend he was paying a visit is.

Idris took a cab to six streets across the street he was earlier and stopped across a path leading to an ancient architecture.

The street was pretty much different from the brightful landscape in the other streets spread across Ashfall.

Its atmosphere was eerie and its landscape and architecture was shrill with ancient ruins and scribes.

Ashfall in all its abundance and grace has a huge landscape like that explained above, bustling economy and existence that pretty much seemed to have its government. This place they called the Lostfall.

Idris was right on spot in the pathway leading to this scary location.

He walked his way to the gate, guarded by two black suited men. Without straining his sight, he could see armed men moving to and fro across the building and its surroundings.

“Stop right there mister!” One of the guard’s voices echoed past the heavily formed bar gate.

“Can't you read?” The other donning dark-tinted goggles asked, his finger pointing at the metal board slightly behind Idris.

“Restricted premises dumb Fuck!” He cussed.

Idris ignored them while he ambled casually towards them.

“Stop there or you will have your brain blown out of your head.” The one with dark goggles threatened, pointing a heavy machinery towards Idris.

“Don't be obtuse my friend. Take me to your boss.”

For the first time , the two narrowed their gazes on him, accessing and weighing him.

“And who is our boss?”

“Imara, Imara Goldfinger.” This caused them to exchange glances.

“And you are?”

“Vader, Mr. Vader,” Idris responded.

They chuckled and in a trice what seemed like a chuckle turned into an outburst.

“Mister Vader, you mean Idris Vader, right?” The other cackled and laughed uncontrollably while the other begged him to stop.

“If you are going to be an imposter, it is safe to find a name more suiting to your look and status rather than a legendary name like Mr Vader.” One cautioned,

“Oh my my, Jonny. This guy is either crazy or a comedian. I will take the latter.”

“A man as great as Idris Vader would be comical if he looked young and pretty like you…” they busted into another bout of rambunctious laughter.

In all this, Idris was patient and felt indifferent about it. It was slightly amusing.

“Al.. alright, that's enough. Turn back and leave right away.” The man in dark-tinted goggles ordered, his voice growing more stern.

“Leave or have your head on a pile of sand.”

“I dare you.” Idris finally said something. He was as phlegmatic as he can be. No emotions, no actions, just words.

“You dare me Mr I'm Vader? Alright, have it your way.” He narrowed the gun at him but Idris didn't flinch.

“What's the ruckus here, Jonny?” A bearded fierce looking man emerged, “Sir, it is…”

“Oh my goodness, My Lord.” He inadvertently said at the sight of Idris, “What are you…” he turned to the guard's with a murderous stare, “Open the gate right now ... .wait,” he said with a skeptical look, halting everyone.

“Were you just pointing your gun at Lord Vader?”

Their eyes widened, mouths agaped and heads graced with hot beads of sweat. “Em..huh…em..”

Tuah!

Smoke sizzled from the bearded man’s pistol while blood oozed out from Jonny’s head.

The other couldn't believe his eyes. He trembled, back-pedaled frantically and pissed on himself as he watched life sizzle out of his colleague.

The bearded man turned his gaze towards Idris with a warm smile. Cold one second, warm the other second.

He pressed the control and the gate opened.

“Apologies my Lord.” He bowed humbly.

“Nothing to apologize for, Maggio”

“I presume you are here to see my lady?”

“I hope she is in the mood to welcome an unwelcomed visitor. Well, when is she ever in the mood to welcome anyone.” He said, and trailed behind Maggio.