Chapter 31 - Acquantance

  Corvus’s head snaps to the side as the group moves through the tunnel. Neither Alex nor Hara seem to notice whatever had garnered the crow’s attention. “Too soon.” Corvus says softly, then snaps his head around the other way to look at Alex. “I had hoped to avoid my business earlier impacting your journey, however that appears to no longer be possible”

  Alex can’t tell what had spooked Corvus, but the crow’s tone immediately sets his nerves on edge. “What should we do then?” He asks, picking up his pace. The connecting tunnel they’re traversing doesn’t offer long enough sight-lines to make Intent-movement jumps worthwhile, so Alex and Hara had been jogging along the winding pathway.

  “Continue along this path, then once we reach the next chamber, deviate to the side and put as much distance as you can between yourself and the direct route we are traveling. We will find a place to shelter and observe.” The crow explains, the quickly spoken words carrying an uncharacteristic level of unease. “You should not be in direct danger, but I wish to avoid you becoming a casualty of convenience.”

  That’s all Alex needs to hear. He’s grown so accustomed to running since arriving in Hell, that shifting gears from an easy jog to running again comes naturally. Hara matches pace, staying at his side as she had since their time in Last to Burn’s territory. “You said this next cavern will be the last open area before we reach the city?” Alex asks and Corvus confirms it. “How much further then?”

  The question goes unanswered, as within seconds, the group rounds a corner in the tunnel and can see the opening ahead. Alex nearly stumbles as the ground underfoot transitions from compacted soil to loose sand for the last fifty or sixty feet of the tunnel. Regaining his footing, Alex prepares to jump. The others catch onto his intention and as one they burst through the opening with an intent-movement jump.

  In the heartbeat between jumps, Alex takes in the surroundings. White sand covers the ground in all directions. But unlike a few of the previous areas, it’s extremely fine-grained, almost a powder. The trees are another matter entirely. Tall and hearty with thick trunks. Their white bark is reminiscent of birch or poplar, but the leaves are crimson red. The contrast creates a stark delineation of red and white that blurs each time Alex initiates another jump.

  A few more movements into the sandy forest, Alex pivots to his left and starts moving away from the line they’d been traveling. Jump after jump, the trio keeps going, the world around them a smear of white and red. Only after a dozen or more leaps carrying them far from their direct route does Alex take a chance to pause.

  The powder-like sand crunches under his boots as Alex takes a few normal steps. The use of the Intent-movement with all three might not be as draining on his mind and spirit, but making so many jumps that quickly still has Alex’s legs feeling like jelly. He puts a hand out, bracing himself against one of the strange trees. The bark is cool to the touch with a texture like paper. The sand underfoot seems to radiate a bit of warmth though, creating an odd inversion of what Alex’s intuition would expect.

  Corvus glides onto one of the tree’s lower branches to land, spreading his wings wide before giving a little shake and settling back down. “We should be far enough from the direct route by now. Though care should be taken to avoid drawing undue attention.” He says, then looks Alex over. “I must apologize again, Alex. I had not anticipated my… acquaintance… acting so soon. I was operating with the impression that we would not only have arrived at New Europa, but would be putting the city behind us before this happened.” Despite having the face of a bird, Corvus manages to look quite contrite.

  “Given that this condition is partially my responsibility, should any of the greater powers take undue interest in our presence here, I will shield you from suffering any ill effect.” He continues in a grave tone.

  Alex frowns, looking up at Corvus. “Is it really that dangerous?” He asks, still leaning against the tree for support. There’s a subtle tickle at the back of Alex’s mind, and before he can even consciously realize he’s speaking, the words have already left his mouth. “What did you do that could have caused this danger?”

  Corvus regards Alex with one of those black-marble eyes before spreading his wings and dropping from the tree. He lands in his true form, the tall and sleek humanoid crow standing in stark contrast to the white and red of the surrounding environment. Alex has a moment of concern that his question had offended the demon, but the worry passes when Corvus begins to speak again.

  “I suppose a bit of a history lesson is in order.” The crow begins to explain. “There are various accepted stages in the power hierarchy of Hell. The sort you will be dealing with for the most part are just average souls and demons doing their best to survive here. But once someone crosses the third threshold and can claim a territory, we regard that person as a ‘Lesser Power’. At that stage, you become a true part of Hell. You will exist here for as long as you choose to, and you’ll have the capability to make a real impact on how things operate around you.”

  He pauses for a breath, letting Alex absorb that detail before continuing. “Above the ‘Lesser Powers’, there are ‘Old Powers’. These are beings that not only have that stage of power, but have mastered the use and exploitation of it. They may still be at the third threshold, or be several thresholds more advanced. But regardless of that, it is their mastery that makes them powerful, not the raw might they can wield.”

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  Alex listens along, nodding at various points to show he was listening. “Sort of like me learning the ‘minor’ skills gives me an advantage over other faded souls?” He asks when Corvus pauses for a breath.

  “That is correct. But at that stage of Animus accumulation, the difference is extremely magnified.” Corvus picks back up. “Above those are beings typically regarded as the Lords of Hell. All of them will possess at least one Title, if not more. On the Animus scale, they’ll be at the fifth or sixth threshold at a minimum. These beings will have a significant territory, and be able to exert their influence quite strongly. Shalmond is one such Lord.”

  Corvus crouches down to scoop up a handful of the loose sand. “Standing even above those Lords, are what we call the Apex. To an Apex, the power held by a Lord is just one of the grains of sand here. Apex are typically content to play the long-game, to scheme and plot for eons. Most have at least two fully empowered Titles, and Animus enough to no longer need to bother with counting it. And it is those Apex who will take notice of these events, it is the Apex I may need to shield you from.”

  Alex blinks, then something clicks. “Counted in the tens of millions…” He mutters under his breath. Corvus catches his eye as the sand cascades through the demon’s fingers back onto the ground. The crow simply nods. Alex’s mind whirls for a moment at just what type of monster had been accompanying him so far. Suddenly Corvus staying out of sight in Last Stop made more sense, Mora’s reaction to him too. Alex had suspected Corvus was powerful, but this puts things into an entirely different perspective.

  “You’re one of them, the Apex.” Alex says, his brain catching up to the revelation.

  “Yes. I am.” Corvus answers softly. “And one of the older of my kind as well. I realize that may be a shock for you, but I hope that we can…”

  “That’s so cool!” Alex blurts out, cutting Corvus off mid-sentence. “Like, I knew you had to be insanely powerful from the things you said before, but one of the most powerful? That’s insane, hahaha.” Alex laughs, his grin growing bigger and bigger.

  Corvus cocks his head to the side in an overtly avian way. “You are not afraid?” He questions the mortal soul.

  Alex shakes his head. “Intimidated, sure. Afraid, no.” He says with a chuckle. “If you were going to do anything to harm me, you would have already. Instead, you’ve been immensely helpful to me, answered all of my questions, and even apologized when things didn’t go quite right. You’re a friend. You shouldn’t be afraid of your friends.” Alex says, but the smile he puts on is a bit fragile.

  “While I appreciate you accepting my nature with good candor, I must correct one assessment.” Corvus responds after a brief pause. “I am one of the Apex, however among the Apex, I am far from the most powerful. A being stepping beyond the scale of a Lord into being an Apex compared to one of the most powerful among us is as wide a gulf as a freshly arrived soul is to a Lord.”

  Alex mulls that over before asking, “So where are you on the Apex scale then?” He barely manages to keep his voice steady. Internally, Alex struggles to keep a grip on his impulses. The revelation is like finding out the hand-grenade he’s holding is actually a nuclear device. The grenade is dangerous for sure, but the other is a completely different classification of danger.

  The crow-demon tips his head, considering how to answer. “In terms of raw personal power, I am not that mighty. Most others would out-class me in a direct confrontation. However, if you consider political and reputational power, I fare far better.” He pauses, examining one of his hands. “My age and experience give me a significant advantage in taking the long view. As we have discussed before, the right nudge at the right place at the right time. That is my true power.”

  Alex gradually relaxes. Corvus being an Apex shouldn’t have come as quite that level of shock. “And you think I’m one of the nudges that will matter?” Alex asks, unable to keep the tinge of sarcasm from coloring the words.

  Corvus shifts, his true form melding down into his human-like guise, still wearing the business attire. He smiles and gives Alex a coy wink. “I have an impression that, in time, you will grow into something splendid.” He is about to say more when the canopy of crimson leaves above them ripples like a wave across water, and even Alex is able to feel the accompanying pressure as something moves through the region along the path he would have been on.

  In a lower tone, Corvus speaks up as the overbearing presence passes. “Events set in motion by my acquaintance may lead to another Apex war. Most of my colleagues would rather avoid another open conflict between us, but there are some matters that would demand they act. I am afraid that one such event is in the process of coming to fruition.”

  Wide-eyed, Alex stares back towards where that unsettling presence had come from. Before he can respond to Corvus’s words, another wave of pressure washes over the trio. This time, even the sand dances in rippling patterns, the trees shaking down to their trunks. Before it can pass by, a third presence appears. Unlike the other two, it isn’t just moving through the area, but coming straight towards them. Some part of Alex’s soul can feel it growing closer, and he turns to Corvus, eyes making a silent plea.

  For his part, Corvus doesn’t seem bothered, turning to watch as a figure comes gliding through the forest towards them. Alex and Hara both follow his gaze, noticing a regal looking demon approaching. Tall, clearly feminine, and with an intensity that demands Alex pay attention to her. Corvus merely gives a nod of acknowledgement and the other demon pauses her approach. The pair lock eyes, clearly having some form of wordless communication before the other breaks the gaze and turns away, angling back towards the direct route through the region.

  With her disappearing from view, Alex lets out a breath. Before he can speak, Corvus pats him on the shoulder. “That was Gravitas. An old friend of mine. We had actually been discussing you not long ago.” Corvus says, grinning. “I believe she was simply curious about the mortal soul that had caught my interest.” Then he leans closer. “And I suspect she may take an interest in you as well. She is not malicious by nature, but she is ultimately self-serving.” He warns, then motions further into the forest of white and crimson. “Perhaps we should move further off the direct line. She found us far too easily.”