The Master

Trey growled as he felt the throbbing pain of his shoulder. He leaned up against a tree for a moment, looking over at the wound before reaching up. He hovered his hand over the opening. “Stezhok…” He muttered in a low and stiff voice. 

Out from his fingertips, strands of shadows slithered down onto his shoulder. He winced at the sting of his wound being slowly stitched together. 

Once healed he lifted his arm and flexed his hand. He could feel it tingling and his fingers wouldn’t curl fully. “Fuck!” He stood straight before heading angrily towards the ruins, dragging the wing with him. He arrived at the entrance of a disheveled but intact entrance to an old alchemist laboratory about an hour later. 

“Otkryto.” He hissed, allowing a shimmering veil to appear over the entrance. The veil masked what was on the other side, but he knew who was coming and Trey knelt down with the angel wing laid out before him. 

Stepping through the veil was both like man and machine, his one human-like leg paired with one that was made of solid metal that landed with a more prominent thud in the grass. It actually made Trey flinch but he did not dare to look up. “I have retrieved one of the guardian’s wings.” He says. “And the one who watches over the Whispering Ruins has been...dealt with as well.” Trey stared down at the feet of his master but soon lost sight of them as they moved around him, assessing the situation for a moment before speaking. 

“I thought I made it clear, I wanted both wings.” The deep and raspy voice spoke from behind him. 

“Yes...I understand. I underestimated her.” Trey says, stumbling through his words now as he felt the weight of his master’s stare in the back of his head. “But I weakened her enough to put the goddess into hibernation!” He spoke up on his original mission quickly before punishment could be doled out, even though he could sense the longing of that metal foot to hit him in the back. It did make his master stop for a moment before speaking again instead of acting out. 

“I see. I suppose that is adequate.” His master walked back around, picking up the angel’s wing before turning back to the veil. “I’m guessing you expect a reward.” He said with an annoyed sigh. “Come with me.” He orders before stepping through it. 

Trey lifted his head hopefully, quickly getting to his feet and walking through the veil. It felt like moving through a wall of warm water, causing him to instinctively hold his breath when he passed through. 

Once on the other side, the air felt colder, crisper and he was no longer in the forest. He was in an old castle, one rebuilt to the more modern era. Trey looked around at the piping and wiring that was strung throughout the walls and in the ceiling, allowing for electricity to surge through the building and bring power to specific locations throughout, not to mention the indoor plumbing. That was nice, he liked that. Of course, the blueprints taken from Amattia were still being improved. 

Trey shook his head and began to focus as he followed his master through the grand halls of the castle and up to the west wing where there were a series of rooms. Once bedrooms for royals or important guests, his master stopped in front of one of them. He pressed his bionic hand to the small glass panel next to the door, which appeared to slide a glowing light over his palm before beeping softly. Trey would hear a click come from the door and his master swung it open before stepping aside for him. 

Trey smiled and stepped into the room to find a little girl sitting on her bed. She was drawing in a little notebook, pens and pencils of various colors sitting in a disorganized pile next to her. She looked up when she heard people come in, dark brown eyes lighting up at the sight of Trey. “Daddy!” She threw the covers off of her, practically tossing her notebook to the side as she leaped out of bed and ran into his arms. 

Trey crouched down to embrace her, holding her tightly. “Hi baby. I’m sorry it took me so long.” He whispered. 

“I missed you.” She says before pulling back. “I made something for you!” Her big eyes lit up happily as she ran back over to her bed. She grabbed her little notebook and ran back over to Trey to show him the drawings that she’d made for him. One of them depicted him killing a man in the picture with lots of red on the page. “I drew you killing all the bad guys.” She says and Trey smiled warmly as he looked at pictures. 

“Baby, these are beautiful. Thank you.” He kissed her forehead. “I can’t wait to see more drawings when I come visit you again.”

At the mention of him having to leave, the light in her eyes died a little. “Do you have to go so soon?” She asks and Trey nods sadly. 

“Yes baby. I have to work. I have to kill more bad guys for you.” He assures her but he was interrupted in the parting moment with his daughter. 

“Oh, I think you can stay for a little while longer.” The vicious tone of his master came from behind him, sending a chill down his spine. 

“I-I didn’t...expect such generosity…” Trey says graciously but his fearful stutter was all too obvious as he could hear that metal foot softly clank along the marble floor. 

Trey watched as his master crouched down about a foot away and gestured to the little girl. “Come here child…” He ordered and that immediately sent Trey into a panic. The grip on his child tightened but knew he had to let go.

The little girl looked between her father and his boss, sensing her father’s fear. She slowly stepped away and approached him, trying to be quiet and respectful in such a presence. The man’s golden eyes look up at her,  a kind smile curving his lips, which masked the sinister glint in those eyes. 

“Today, your father did not do his job properly. I am telling you this because I want you to understand that what I do next is not because of anything you’ve done.” He says and the little girl nodded in understanding. 

Trey felt his heart leap out of his chest and he couldn’t react in time as he heard the quick snap that followed his master’s words. 

His master let the girl fall to the floor, reaching out helplessly to her broken leg as she screamed and cried in agony. Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at her father, pleading for his help but there was nothing he could do. He looked up at his master as he stood and stepped towards Trey, only to land his heel on her broken leg instead. 

She screamed again as she felt the crushing of her small leg beneath his heavy metal heel. 

“Please stop!” Trey begged, wanting to go to her but he remained perfectly still. That would only make it worse. 

His master chuckled a little before walking over to him now. Trey lowered his head respectfully. “I’m sorry master. I...what can I do? Please.” He begged, just wanting to help his daughter now. 

“I never want a job just done...adequately again.” He says moving past him and walking out calmly. 

Trey looked back as the man left before turning to his helpless daughter. He crawled to her side and scooped her up delicately in his arms. 

I have to find a way out...