CHAPTER 9: MAFISTO EXPLAINS IT ALL (MAFISTO AND ZOMBATO)

MAFISTO’S NOT SO SAFE HOUSE, DOWNTOWN, NEXERIA

“Blech, you couldn’t have a more pleasant, safe house?” Zombato questions, wiping away the cobwebs in his way.

“You think I would pick this place? I have some semblance standards, not exactly high ones...but definitely higher than this.” Mafisto smacks the webs out of his way too. This condemned safe house, formerly of The Circle, was the best he could find; it’s an old one they used in their early days, not on any list newer members could find.

They make it to the decrepit dining room. A giant broken table and chairs that are barely staying up surround the room. Demonic spiders, weird roaches, and other creatures scurry around. Mafisto grabs a chair and places it down for Zombato. He sits down on his favorite of the crappy chairs and offers Zombato to sit. Zombato crosses his legs after sitting down in the rickety chair.

“So let’s move on from the décor and let’s get down to business. The essential questions I have are: What do you know about the Deathborne? What is the deal with the Circle and why you can’t pronounce its other name? Do you know anything about the person who hired me? And possible follow-up inquiries based on the answers you give.” Zombato stares at Mafisto, raising his eyebrows.

“All business with you bounty hunter types, eh? I’ll start with the Deathborne as that is the shorter of the stories.” Mafisto says, taking a deep breath.

“The Deathborne are this rebel group that’s started a few months ago. The Circle’s spies have only seen three members at each of these attacks. They haven’t been causing the attacks, they have been stopping the ****cle’s; saurk! I mean Circle’s plots around the city. The Circle is pretty pissed about it.” Mafisto says, he puts his hand on his chin and tilts his head.

“The Mine incident recently was The Circle’s attempt to de-stabilize one of the biggest revenue sources of the country. However, what happened was not in the plans; The Deathborne definitely disrupted what was supposed to happen.”

“That lines up with the information I have gathered. The assemblage seems split on them; it seems they are helping the city if they are taking on this Circle. However, The Circle hide themselves so well, they make The Deathborne seem like the blackguards.” Zombato conjectures.

“The Circle’s spies are unmatched in their stealth abilities. As for The Deathborne; their motives are anyone’s guess. From what I’ve heard, they are heroes that want to make a name for themselves, and taking down The Circle is the best way to do that. It sounds like the Dusk Clave’s forces can’t deal with some of the underground threats that The Deathborne can.” He answers, with the intel he’s learned before leaving The Circle.

“Their man, Lord Itellier, is known throughout a lot of the dark parts of town, but it seems he wants all the parts to know who he is.”

“Ah, one of those types, I see, but why not expose the Circle? I mean, if rumors are going around the city about the Circle, wouldn’t it be advisable to let them know they exist? I know there’s no such thing as bad press, but it seems counterintuitive for people to think they’re scoundrels.” Zombato speculates.

“You make a good point, but the Circle is smarter than that. Just like I said earlier; their spies are basically invisible. Don Dimetro keeps his hands clean. People like me, we do the dirty work.” Mafisto looks down at his hands, feeling the bloodstains on them that can’t be washed away. Too many cracked skulls, too much blood spilled; for what? The path he believed in doesn’t seem within reach anymore.

“He has made me do unspeakable things in the name of the Circle. I thought we were doing the right thing, y’know, but as time went on, only blood was spilled and no progress on why we started in the first place happened.”

“The guilt has gotten to you? Is that why you came to me for help?” Zombato asks, his eyes tracking Mafisto’s body language.

“That’s only part of it. I am tired of living in the shadows; of being stuck in Nexeria. I want to see the world; There is a great bakery in Warridge I hear stories about. I want to have a better life that doesn’t involve fighting anymore.” Mafisto clenches his fist, tears form in his eyes, and his veins throb. All he wishes for is freedom from his old life, to make up for the damage he has done.

“But when you are sworn to the Circle, you are sworn for life. I ain’t allowed to leave. Don Dimetro doesn’t allow that.”

“Don Dimetro is quite the person; it would be rather fortunate for him to schedule an appointment with my fist as soon as possible. I was hired to take out the Deathborne, but the person who hired me was a duplicitous dungsicle. So, I didn’t accept his job, and he added some much needed pigmentation to my office. Based on your testimony, I was accurate in my decision.” Zombato looks over at Mafisto; seeing his tears and throbbing veins. It eats at Zombato; seeing people in situations that are inescapable makes his desire to help grow more.

“If the Deathborne are heroes, as you say, then I have no business with them except for collaboration. I’ll work for you then; I already received remittance. So it’ll be gratuitous for you, while I liberate you from The Circle and your suffering.”

“Heh heh, I was right to follow you. You might be the craziest person I ever met to hunt The Circle; but I might take that title because I’m leaving them.” Mafisto chuckles.

“Here’s what I can tell you about The Circle: They have powerful members throughout their network here, lead by Vogelryx, she runs the drug ring; that distributes this drug known as Saurcery; it makes anyone who uses it uncontrollably strong; it’s made through a special gem and weird flowers together. Most of the Saurcillians wield Arcanus energy, which has a slight immunity to Mageus energy, giving The Circle an advantage over most of the Mageus users in the city. Hopefully, we don’t have to worry about my former team: Hellasaurus Rex; they’re the black ops group of The Circle and extremely dangerous.” He sighs, remembering his former team; they were a new family for him, but even with family he has to do what’s best for himself.

“Oh yeah, about who hired you; Terynox, another elite member of The Circle, heard the whispers of your agency and came up with the idea that outside help could keep the Circle hidden easier than confronting the Deathborne ourselves. He’s powerful but lazy.” Mafisto explains.

Zombato’s eyebrows raise after hearing word of the Whispers.

“I have to inquire; did you hear the call of The Whispers?”

“I dunno what Terynox heard, because I could only make out parts of what they were saying, sounded like see the hounds or something. Thought it was for a dog show.” Mafisto responds.

“Ah, fantabulous to hear. If you could fully hear The Whispers, then I would have added more pigmentation to these walls, too. The Whispers don’t work perfectly all the time, but are beneficial when they do.” Zombato explains with a smile.

“Now, going back to what you stated, The Circle sure enjoys its puns — Saurcery, and Hellasaurus; I can hazard a guess on what you can’t say now. Levity aside, The Circle sounds like a treacherous threat, and they’re going to be difficult to deal with. Hopefully, the others will contact me when they finish their current mission. We’ll also have to look into and stop this Saurcery too; anything that helps The Circle needs to be dealt with. Also, about your former team...” Zombato quiets himself, looking to the side. He stands up, preparing himself for battle.

“We’ll finish this dialogue later. Your safe house isn’t safe anymore.”