Bright Legacy of the Divine Shadow: Chapter 2 – Mercy’s Rewards

Chapter 2 – Mercy’s Rewards

Fixing my suit, I look into the mirror to make sure my appearance is presentable. My long black hair is in place, and my white suit and grey dress shirt, and tie are all even and without a single wrinkle or blemish. Walking up from behind me, Darcy holds me and looks into the mirror.

“You always look handsome. There’s no need to fret over the little details,” she says.

“It’s fretting over the little details that got us to where we are. Besides, I have an appearance to keep up,” I say.

“True, but those striking dark eyes of yours are all you really need to impress people. Just make sure that other girls don’t see them,” Darcy says as she kisses me. “You’re all mine, after all.”

Darcy has always been possessive of me, even when we weren’t officially together. I’m glad that our many children prove that her love for me wasn’t just her love for a romance with a dark hero, and returning her love was the right choice. I kiss Darcy and my kids goodbye, transform into L’Obscurité, and enter the undercity within seconds to reach today’s meeting place. The undercity is comprised of old and forgotten buildings ranging from a hundred years ago to the first founding of the city in the seventeenth century. Most of the people here are superhuman, and its residents are a mix of the hidden six and seventh families of Meridian.

The repentant members of the sixth family all have removed bunt horns on their limbs, bodies, and faces after removing the demonic influence from their bodies, and their last name is now Jude rather than their original and now forgotten last name. As for the seventh family, the Cadaverosa, some of them are ex-members of the Jude family who repented before the rest of their family did, superhumans, and penitents who do penance for the sake of Meridian, both the undercity and surface. The meeting place for today is a rundown church that’s under repair and being sanctified. Here, I find one of the leaders of the Cadaverosa family, Interitus Cadaverosa, and the only leader of the sixth family who repented, a man simply known as Jude. Jude is dressed in ruined rags as an act of penance for his past actions, while Interitus is dressed in one of the snazzy suits I gifted him.

We all take a seat as Interitus says, “Now that we’re all here, let us start this meeting.”

“I see that you’re wearing that suit well, despite the cut-off horns on you,” I say.

“The adjustments you made to it so I can fix my form are most appreciated, Timeo.”

“I can get you one too, Jude. I still have plenty more to spare.”

“No, thank you, Timeo. I do not deserve one yet, or require one yet,” Jude says.

“Perhaps you will when you go to the surface, one day,” I say.

“I do not deserve that honor. It’d be better if I lived the rest of my life down here for what I’ve done.”

“We’ll see about that. You’ll deserve something better since my work with Meridian is almost complete, but it still needs some finishing touches. Yesterday, a criminal group attacked my family twice during the day, until they were finally taken care of by my apprentices with a little help from me. Right now, they’re sweeping through the streets, punishing any other criminal groups and solo actors.”

“You won’t be able to completely scrub Meridian of crime, if that’s what you’re trying to do. This city still has high crime rates, even after everything you’ve done to cleanse it, and it’s lost its status among the top ten crime-infested cities. Crime is something embedded in the soul of humanity, and someone or some group will eventually try to challenge the peace you establish here,” Interitus says.

“I know. I only seek to form a group of allies who will take over for me while I’m gone or taking a break. There’s also the fact that I’m limited as I am, even with my powers, with my private identity, and all the resources I have with my public face. Once it’s established, I will be satisfied, and Meridian won’t be close to being in the top one hundred of crime-infested series.”

“Have I told you about the history of heroes in Meridian who tried to do the same as you?” Interitus asks.

“I’d like to hear it.”

“To keep the lesson short, heroes have risen and left legacies like yours. For example, the fifth powerful family of Meridian, the Ellory family, brought order when the four families were in chaos because of the sixth family. However, they couldn’t sustain it for long until the seventh family established true order, at least for a time, and things have fluctuated since then. Even though the sixth family has changed and many criminals and villains are locked up or dead, more will appear in time. I’m not saying that what you’re doing is useless. I’m just making sure you’re set in being part of this cycle.”

“I am. If anything, I seek to ensure that the times of peace when good people are in control last longer this time. Through the example I’ll set, I hope that generations will pass before Meridian becomes a notorious place for crime. People will see it as the example to follow rather than a place to avoid and be disgusted about.”

“I like that mindset. What part do we have to play beyond what we are already doing?”

“Yes, give my commands so I may offer up my actions as penance,” Jude adds.

I smile and say, “Soon, that night will come. For now, here are some files you should go over for my plan.”

Giving the papers and USB drives over to the heads of the Jude and Cadaverosa families, they go over the files with their hands and devices. What they see makes their eyes widen and puts a smile on Interitus’ face.

“It’s a bold plan. Will it draw the ire of the government?” Interitus asks.

I laugh and say, “Maybe, but they’re always concerned about powerful people they can’t control or negotiate with. Mayor Jeph and his assistant are on my side, I’m allied with over half of the city’s protectors, and most of the people root for me, so if anything, the powers that be will have a tough time punishing me for what I’m going to do.”

Jude spits on the ground. He says, “That’s what I think of those people. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were under the influence of the demonic like I was. I see it in their actions and what I’ve heard them say. Who cares if we get into hot water for doing this, if it means doing the right thing?”

“I don’t disagree with you one bit, my friend, but we still must be careful. Virtuous zealotry is the right choice only in certain situations, and we’re trying to instill peace in Meridian, not anarchy.”

“That’s my whole point,” I say. “I’ve inspired people to become extremists in my first few years of being a hero, and I won’t make that same mistake again. Go over those files and make preparations for the time that I’ve written down. I’ll see both of you again soon.”

The two agree, and the meeting is adjourned. Turning back into L’Obscurité, I use my powers to head back to the surface and start going about my normal job as if I were always there. It’s still early in the morning, after all, and there’s always work to be done with the sick, needy, and poor. First, I help my knight’s council make lunches for those in need and help my parish priests and nuns hand them out to people in the streets. Along with food, we offer clothing and shelter at our many poor houses, take the sick to be cared for by our medical staff free of charge, other than what I pay them, and jobs for those who want them. With that done, I head to one of the schools that my family owns, where I teach them what I’ve learned and how to go about business and deal with failures.

I remind them, “Remember to always keep your faith in mind in everything you do. That is how you pray for every moment in your life and make sure that you are always doing the right thing for your life.”

Next up, I go to one of the hospitals I own and make sure everyone is given proper care and the right price for the service they’re getting. Those who are unable to pay the cost are given a lesser price, while those who can are given a reasonable one. Of course, no one really wants to pay or think about hospital bills, but it’s something that my parents taught me to be transparent about. Other hospitals and billing companies kick people while they’re down and overcharge people for services and usage of medical equipment, forgetting that the point of the medical field is to help people and not make money and increase profits and people’s salaries. The Severe family may be poorer than the others because we put people first, but that is the nature of the work. We put others first and ourselves last. Increased profits and wealth should be a reward for good work rather than the goal of work.

Once my work at the hospital is done, I head off to meet Lancetto and Klinge at one of our favorite barcades in the city. We have a private table in the corner of the restaurant where we can eat and talk in peace with very few people coming up to us for autographs or praise or criticize us for our actions and who we choose to ally with.

Looking over at what I’m drinking, Klinge says, “I never thought I’d see you drinking anything other than red wine. What made you want to drink a chocolate milkshake?”

“I just want to relax and remember older times when I could casually go to places like this, have fun, and put aside our responsibilities. Do you want one?” I say.

Klinge gives me a weird look.

“Try the strawberry one. I prefer it over the chocolate,” Lancetto says, only to get an even weirder look from him.

Not getting an answer from him, we order one of each milkshake for Klinge, who tries them and drinks them faster than the three beers he’s already had.

“You guys weren’t lying. I could have another ten of these,” Klinge says.

“Go ahead. Dinner is on me,” I say.

“No, it’s on me since you paid last time, Timeo,” Lancetto says.

“Ah, who’s keeping track of that?”

“I am so we don’t always fight over the check.”

The boys and I joke around and eat, with work being the last thing we talk about, and even then, we just joke about it since there’s a time for blabbing about it and time for serious talk, and this is a time for fun. We finish eating and give the waiter a tip from each of us, which probably adds up to what they make in an entire year, since we’re feeling good and extra generous. Heading into the arcade, Lancetto and I introduce Klinge to the games we played as kids and make sure he doesn’t get too into the games so he doesn’t break the games with his mutated strength. As we continue to have a good time, the loud sound of gunfire and conflict gets the attention of the people in the barcade and ours as we look out the windows to see my apprentices fighting villains. Kane switches between firing his revolvers to knock out those who deserve mercy to his pistols to kill those who deserve death, Raziel manages his flames so they only burn his enemies, and Polina fires her guns to incapacitate her foes, while using her mental powers to change their minds or kill them from the inside out.

Everyone in the barcade is cheering them on, while I watch them with pride in my heart. My apprentices push the fight away from the civilians, even as people keep their distance as they follow them to record and see heroes in action. Meanwhile, I urge Lancetto and Klinge us go back to playing games. After a bit longer of playing, we see that the time is late and head back to our cards.

“That was the best time that I’ve had in a while,” Klinge says.

“We should have boys' nights out like this more often,” Lancetto adds.

As I am about to agree, a group of three criminals emerges from the dark to try to rob us, saying that, “You’re all charitable men with lots of money on you. Why don’t you give us three thousand each since we need it as well, and don’t say that you don’t have enough cash on you? We take cards as well.”

“If you wanted charity, then you should’ve shown up to one of my charity houses, but charity isn’t something you want. You don’t want three thousand each just to get by. You want it for your own pleasures,” I say.

“Pleasures are something that everyone needs to get by, like how you guys had fun at that barcade. We’re not going to ask nicely again for the money.”

“And we’re not going to say, no, again nicely. So, what’s it going to be?”

We stand off with the men until I reach into my jacket pocket for my pistol and start shooting them, while Lancetto uses his cane gun to shoot them, and Klinge charges at them to take one of them down. With the men injured, I sneakily use my dark powers to drag them into a dark alley where they can’t be seen as my powers punish them. The only thing that comes from the alley is their screams and the sounds of tearing flesh and breaking bones.

Looking back at me, Klinge says, “That soured my mood a bit. I could use another ten milkshakes to wash it away.”

“You’ll feel better after you get some sleep,” Lancetto says before looking back at me. “Timeo?”

I look at the ground as I recall the day my parents were attacked by robbers and the times I was too late to assist others. Even though these punks were nobodies who didn't belong in their league, what they tried to do still bothers me for some reason. No, I know why it bothers me. It’s because men like this will always be around, and some tragedies are unavoidable. Still, I have to keep my head high and focus on all the good we’ve done and will continue to do. My apprentices have probably saved others in our situation or worse, so there’s no need to be too upset over a simple robbery attempt like this.

I smile at Lancetto and say, “I’m fine. I think I’ll drink my usual glass of wine when I head home, though. Would you guys like to join me?”

“Only if there will be milkshakes there,” Klinge says.

“Darcy knows how to make them. She trained herself to cook everything that Timeo likes, so he wouldn’t have a reason to eat out without her.”

“So, he’s going to get in trouble when he heads home? Now, you’ve given me an even better reason to head over to his house.”

“She allows for boys’ nights out like this because she knows the importance of guys to just be with other guys every now and then,” I say. “She does the same with her girlfriends from time to time, which makes me the one to watch over the kids.”

“Okay. Whatever the case is, I’m headed over to your house for more treats.”

“Haha, just try not to get a sugar rush or cavity, big guy.”

“My mutations make my teeth and body immune to those sorts of things. I can handle it!”

We all laugh as we get into our cars and head to my house. Meanwhile, the need for justice stirs inside me, which I have to suppress until the night of my terror against crime arrives, and it will come soon. Very soon.