127 Eye For An Eye

District-C, Welter Street, Delmar city

A man who is tired is the best way to the best way to describe Roberts personality. He's tired of paying his insanely high bills every month. He's to tired after work and assisting The Purifiers to be a better father to his wife, son and daughter. But above all he's tired of the treatment mortals receive from mages and cultivator's.

That trait of his affected every aspect of his being all the way from the way he talks to the way he walks. He is a man who gives off an aura of someone who has been drained of all he had, but in the end he still works as hard as ever. Robert gave everything he could to ensure a better future for his family and he would give more if he could to make sure they got to see a better tomorrow.

In an average apartment the smell of an almost finished dinner filled the room. While the panicked steps of a home wife thumped on the floors with much vigor. She searched threw ever cabinet including the fridge, but couldn't find what she was looking for.

"Robert were's the chocolate I thought I saw it here not long ago?". Daisy said with a perplexed look on her face.

Robert was sitting on the couch in the living room watching T.V. He had just finished eating the last bit of chocolate in the house when his wife suddenly called out to him. A ting of fear filled his heart, but he had been married a long time and knew just what to say to escape with his life safely.

"I saw Dash eat the last of it a litte while ago". In times of crisis it is a fathers right to sacrifice his own hid to his mother to save himself.

"What, I'm trying to cook us a nice dinner before the war with the elves starts and were all forced to stay underground. All flights on the Nimbus have been taken and the stargate is to expensive for all of us to use. How in the world am I going to make this meal perfect without desert?". Daisy was very up set she had worked hard to make the perfect meal and her kid ruined it.

"You don't have to worry about it its just chocolate i'll go to the store right now and get some".

"Also pick up milk why your there I just realized were almost out".

"Already".

As Robert hurried his way out the door to safety his 12 year old son along with his teen daughter walked thew the door.

"Dad, were are you going". Dash said in a sweet tone. While his daughter ignored him as all teen do.

Robert after seeing Dash had a wonderful Idea. Robert bent down and placed his hand on his Kids shoulder then said to him.

"Your mom's been cooking all day I'm going down to the store to help, but you have to do your part as well. So, take this and go help your mom".

Robert then handed Dash the evidence and quickly made his escape, before he was dragged into things as well.

...

At a department store Robert exited with a few groceries that he needed and a pack of cigarettes as a reward for his brilliant planning. He was enjoying his reward when someone he Knew passed by him.

"Gresham what are you doing here you don't live near here?". Robert said with a joyfully, it was always a nice sight to a familiar face on the streets especially one you got along with.

Gresham had a look of surprise on his face he wasn't expecting Robert to be there. "Robert I wasn't expecting to see you here either. It really is a small world".

"It is, so are you grocery shopping as well?".

"No, i've been assigned to help fix up a new base ever since the last one, well you known went boom".

"I thought everyone was hiding ever since what happened, but its nice to know there are people still out there working. So, were is the new place?"

"Its not far from here its only a few block away. Hay, since were about to announce the location mind helping me shop and carry some things back there".

Robert felt Gresham's request was kind of sudden, but it wasn't difficult, so he agreed.

"Sure I'll help I need to make sure my wife has time to cool down after what I did anyway".

"That's greet there's a place that sells the tools I need across the street lets go".

...

Once Gresham and Robert arrived inside the other store Gresham began picking out the tools he needed while remembering to always be mindful and always get Roberts opinion on things.

"Hay Robert which tool do you think will be the best for pulling out nails". Gresham whole heartedly wanted Robert's opinion he wanted to use only the best tools he had available.

"obviously that hammer over there".

"Yes, typically I would agree with you, but these nails are a bit harder to remove. I was thinking about using pliers, yet then again Its probably safer to get both just in case".

Gresham continued to brows the store until he found the safety equipment he was looking for.

"How many feet of chains do you recommend to tie down something thats about this big".

"I would say 6 feet, but you should always get a little more just to have some wiggle room".

"Thank's for the tip, but I'm not so sure about the locks they sell here. I'm gonna go see if these are really the best heavy duty locks they sell here. Do you mind seeing if they sell any saws good enough to cut threw metal and first aid kits". Gresham asked Robert kindly with a wide smile on his face.

"Sure I'll get right on it".

...

By the time Gresham and Robert finished shopping they had filled up two carts full of thing. Gresham had Robert help him borrow (steal) a few carts from the grocery store nearby just to carry everything.

"Jeez, Gresham didn't you say the place was almost done why do you still need, so much stuff". Robert looked down at all the things he helped Gresham buy and felt awkward pushing everything down the street. Gresham bought a blowtorch, a bunch of different knives, barbwire, even a mini battery.

"I was just as shocked when Jerry gave me the list, but it turned out he's just sending most of this stuf to other places. Were trying to get everything set up right before the war starts, so you can see the urgency for everything. The war's got everyone doing what ever they can to stay safe.

I've doing everything I can to protect myself as well, but I've had little luck getting the things I need. All the places I usually go to buy magic equipment have had all there good stuff sold. Hay, Robert you wouldn't know about any mid level black maket trade groups would you". Gresham had a desperate look on his face he was truly desperate to find a decent black maket trade group.

Robert thought for a moment before he said, "ya, I know a few places for mid and high level deals, but most of them are invitation only. I Recommend you go to Corvo's shop in The Underground if you say the code words in the right order he'll point you in the direction of whatever you need for a price".

Gresham eyes lit up after he leared Robert actually knew what he had been searching, so long for.

"What's the code words"

"Its ...". Words can not describe how overjoyed Gresham felt after leared how to obtain what he needed.

"Are we almost there?".

"Ya, were almost there we just have to pass threw that alleyway".

As Gresham and Robert entered the alley they saw a man standing in the middle of it tagging a wall. The man's painting was beautiful the one who painted it was so focused in what he was doing it looked as if he was in a trance as he continued to paint. After a few seconds he noticed Gresham and Robert the three of them locked eye's for a brief moment before he ran.

"Its another refugee".

"How can you tell Robert?".

"Ever since the refugee's came here there was a major spike in the amount of graffiti found around town and all there art is somewhat similar, so after a while you can tell them apart. But that doesn't matter lets just go".

As Robert continued to move forward Gresham said, "there's no need were already here".

"We ar ...". Before Robert could finish Robert felt something hard hit him on his head causing him to fall to the ground. A terrible pain washed over him as blood spilled into his eye. Gresham stood over Robert grabbed him by the throat.

"Yo_r ... n_ot" Robert struggled to get his words out of his mouth words as Gresham squeezed tighter .

"[Air Compression]"

Gresham created created a sphercal ball of air around Robert head. The sphere cut off all of Robert's air suffocating him.

"[Muffle]"

As Robert struggled Gresham cast another spell that greatly reduces the amount of noise in an area reducing the chance of someone hereing his screams. Not long after Gresham towered over Robert's weak body then took the time to once again look at the graffiti on the wall. The graffiti gave him an odd feeling, but he had no time to inspect it and he also didn't care that much about it anyway.

"[Invisibility], [False Image]"

Gresham's magic made the alley seem normal to the naked eye as he made his escape into the sewer with his captive.

...

Back inside Desmond's secret base the sound of a fist pounding on flesh echoed out clear. It hadn't been long since Desmond captured Robert, but he had already beaten him to a bloody mess. Desmond had Robert chained up to a wall as he continued punching him.

"Hay, stop trying to fall unconscious I just got you and I haven't even used any of the stuff we bought together. I was thinking about starting with those stubborn finger nails, so I took out the pliers. But I value your opinion so lets first see what the hammer can do". Desmond had a sadistic smile on his face as he assaulted Robert.

Robert's gaze was unfocussed the world span around in circles even when Desmond grabbed him by his hair and forced Robert to look at him Robert's gaze shifted which only made Desmond hit him more.

Zane's will watched from the side quietly until he said, "you've let those wills influence you to much you were not like this before. I recommend ...".

Zane's voice made Desmond angry he lashed out and said, "you shut the fuck up if I want your opinion on something i'll ask for it".

Those word brought out the dark side in Zane's will, before Desmond even knew what happened his entire body was implanted inside of a wall.

Zane's will released a terrifying dark aura that petrified Desmond as he walked towards Desmond.

Desmond looked at Zane's will fearfully as he said, "how did you do that aren't you basically a hologram?".

"Do not speak simply listen. I may simply be a will, but I am the will of someone you can only dream of matching. Currently I have been very kind, but mark my words speak to me like that again and I will kill you. Your nothing in the eye's of someone like me. Now nod if you understand".

Desmond noded just like Zane's will said fearfully. What Zane's will did drew up all of Desmond's fears of him, but it also made him rational.

Reluctantly Desmond said, "Thanks".

"I don't need your thanks all I need is for you to remember you've been warned. Now do you want to learn how to properly torture someone or not".

"Yes, I do".

" That's good, but to learn how to torture someone that comes with a condition".

"What is it?"

"The condition is whatever you want to do to someone you must first do to yourself".

" What?"

Desmond felt Zane's condition weird and it made him a bit worried about the days ahead.

"What did you think that's everything you want is just going to be handed to you? Magic comes from pain. Every sacrifice you make, every loss, every win, scrape, bruise, death all of it strengthens your soul, it makes you stronger in turn it makes you a better mage. so, I will say it once more do you wish to learn?".

Desmond hesitated for a moment, but then he realized he had already suffered so much pain and loss to get where he is today, so what's a little more.

With unwavering conviction Desmond replied, " yes".