Damien Thorn (sonofajackal) wrote in parabolical, @ 2009-12-20 20:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | damien thorn |
Who: Damien and his fourth ghost [OPEN to any]
Where: Park
When: Night of Dec. 20th
What: Talking with the deceased
Rating: R (mostly profanity)
Status: In progress
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Damien Thorn was walking in the lot where he had parked. His car still stunk of alcohol. His home smelt like lavender.. every room now, not just his master bedroom. He had sent his hired help away out of respect. No one should work with that. His moral compass might be south, or maybe even southeast, but even he wouldn't be that cruel. This spirit visits had certainly shaken him. The first wasn't so bad now. It just left him annoyed and a little pissed off. Second was the worst. He saw someone he'd loved to have seen again.. but it was all wrong, it was.. twisted. He was acting in a way that Damien didn't like or approve of, he wanted it like before. But it just went bad from there.
And then last night, his own foster father. With murder on his mind, and those daggers. Damien knew he was right in everything he said to him.. mostly. Much like he was correct when he talked to others. But people didn't like thinking that the antichrist was right.. even when he was correct. He found that a bit lame. But as he drove to this spot, he could swear he heard trumpets in the distance. He wondered if anyone else could hear it. With a sigh, he left his car and made his way into the park. It was the same one he had been to several times before. He tiredly walked in the park's areas, looking at his Blackberry that was connected to the boards, seeing if there was anything new. He heard a trumpet again.. closer now. "Do you mind?" He looked to his side and jumped up. "Oh my God, you.. it's.. YOU."
It was a younger male, in his early teens, with light blond hair. He was holding a trumpet in his hand. And wearing a cadet uniform that many young men wore at military school, yes, even the cap. "You don't like it, you can just cover your ears." He paused, stepping closer to him. "I hear you've been thinking about me. Talking, too."
Damien stepped back uncomfortably, as if a touch from him would burn. He was positively speechless, unsure of what to say or how to react. "But.. but how.."
The boy said, "Greek legend, you know. when you think about the dead.. they can hear you. Or at least, that is what they said on that Xena show." He stared at him then.
"Mark.." Damien took a tentative step forward. "I.. I never.. I want.." So much he wanted to say, but not sure how to, as he held up his hands.
"I know," Mark said as he stared him down. "But tell me anyway. Please, tell me. I'd like to hear about why I had to die."
Damien gasped, stepping back. "I didn't want to! I didn't want to do it. But you refused. You.. broke that bond. I was trying to explain.. but you.." He shook his head. "You didn't listen to a word I was saying. All you cared about was.. what you heard about me. What you read about in the Book." He suddenly felt like stepping closer. "Really, did everything up til then not matter? Did you forget?? Because as I recall, I was the one who got Teddy to get off you in the hall."
"You.. you did," Mark said, fumbling with his trumpet. "But you're the Beast! Everyone died for you, you killed.. everybody died, because.. well, look at you."
Damien sighed. Looking up with another sigh, and another one as he looked back at his cousin. "How many times do I have to say this. Honestly! I didn't kill your uncle, it was the police.. while he was about to kill me on an altar. And newsflash, your stepmom Ann killed your Dad. And here's a free tidbit, she was the Whore of Babylon, at least that time. She died after."
"B-but.. but.. you were born of a jackal!" Mark said defiantly. It always came back to that.
Damien laughed. "And you think I had a choice there? Oh, Dad? Think you can go with a lady instead? I wasn't born yet! What if you were born of a pig? How you like it if I dissed you for that? For something you had no say in. I mean, for a guy who loved comics, you are very narrow to reality."
"But.. you're evil," Mark retorted back. "I died because of you. And.. well, you're the Beast. It says so in the Book. And you will destroy everything, the whole world. All of it.."
"You still don't get it." Damien was a step closer to him. "You act as if I had a choice in my part. But according to the Bible, everyone has free will. Except maybe angels. And me, of course. I didn't choose this, it chose me. And what happened to you.. you think I wanted it too. Can I tell you something? I never mentioned it."
"Er.. okay.." Mark nodded, not sure what to say. He always thought, Argh, antichrist, evil cousin, must destroy in the name of God. He'd never thought of how it would be like if he had that path too. "Go ahead. Not like I can tell anyone. Unless you plan to knock God off His throne.."
Damien paused. "When I first found out.. you remember? That day I took off like a bat out of Hell, from my room?" Seeing him nod, he continued. "That was when I found out. I wanted to know.. why me? Me, out of all people in the earth. I tried to outrun it. I couldn't. Went as far as the docks. But there is no escaping what you are. And.. first, I thought I could use it to be a hero."
"What?" Mark blinked a couple times. "Really? Wow, that's.." His eyes narrowed. "But maybe you're lying. It's part of your job, anyway.."
"Why would I lie to you??" Damien looked incredulous. "What reason?! I'm here, you're not. You have nothing to threaten me with. I have nothing to gain. That's the truth. And when have I ever lied.. oh." He sighed. "I know, that one time when you asked but was wrong. But to be fair.. I just found out about my Biblical fate. Thought you might react badly. Oh wait.. you did! Remember?"
"And you.. killed me for it," Mark said. "Maybe if you told me earlier.. maybe.. Jesus, I don't know! But you did it. Why.."
Damien paused, hesitant. "I didn't want to. I overreacted. I did love you, you know. But your thinking was a bit flawed. That damn book. And when you said the Beast has no brother? I guarantee you this.. that hurt more than those daggers could. I would have protected you. But you refused my offer.. refused me. Like nothing we ever shared mattered."
"You can't just kill and hurt anyone that goes against you, or crosses you, or says no," Mark said in retort, shaking his head at it. "Well.. you CAN. But you shouldn't. That's really messed up."
"I know, I know," Damien said, rubbing his head. "I know I'm a little.. theatrical at some times. But I can't help it. I just.. fly off.. when people do that. Or when they speak about you. Tell me this: did I ever have my way with you, defile you in my room?"
"What?" Mark flinched, looking like he ate a bad fruit. "God, no! That's disgusting! Why.. who would.." He stopped. "Oh, right. So because someone said that about me, you lose control. Why, Damien? That wasn't someone you listen to anyway, and you know his opinion doesn't amount to much in your mind anyway. Should have ignored him. Walked away."
"Right.." Damien sighed. "Besides, not like he was always clean anyway. Funny how that doesn't matter. But I guess everyone is like that. Human nature, you know. And I walked away a couple times, honestly, but they didn't let it go. One even went as far as to zap me and prevent an escape... going against the deal his boss agreed to. So.. what do you think of me going to clubs and getting laid? With men and women. It's hot! Are you.. ashamed of that?"
"Well.." Mark thought for a moment. "Not really. Do what you want. I guess, yeah, it's a bit.. sinful.. naughty.. and morally bad. But not ashamed. It's a free country, people can do what they want."
"And besides," Damien said with a chuckle, "why should that be a surprise? I mean.. hello, antichrist here. Why wouldn't I do that? And yet it's a shock anyway. Hilarious."
"Yeah, totally," Mark said with a laugh too. "It'd be more a shock if you were celibate or a priest.." He stopped as he realized he laughed at his cousin's joke. That probably wasn't good. But on some level, it was a bit funny.
Damien stared blankly too. It had suddenly hit him. For a moment, it felt like they were brothers again, like before Mark had died. There was a flicker of emotion on his face, eyes felt like a bit wet. He turned his back to him.
"Err.. Damien?" Mark asked, cautiously, and slowly walked closer. "Hey?" When no answer came, he slowly set a hand on his shoulder. "What is.. it.."
Damien usually didn't like it when that was done without his consent. But this was Mark. He didn't care. He placed his own hand over Mark's as he turned to him. "It's just.. you know, I didn't.. Mark. I really am sorry about what happened. IT.. took me over. I didn't even know until after you fell. And I know, I took it from you, your company. I'd like nothing more than for you to rise again and own it with me."
Mark was looking into his eyes. He was unsure of how to react. "You mean that? You had no control?"
"None, hardly," Damien responded. "Remember, I had just learned about all that stuff? I didn't have full control over it. Like that time in class, when I knew the answers? I could not stop. But if it was right now.. I do have more control over my abilities. I miss you, more and more.. lately. And in a future, in maybe one out of a possible thousand futures, you could have been an uncle."
Mark stepped closer than before. He could somehow feel that his cousin wasn't lying. He could see something in the eyes. Something that, very likely, no one else would see in him. There was feeling. "Really? How.. nevermind. I get that this place is bizarre."
"You'd like him," Damien said with pride. "But.. he is in danger. I don't want him to be slaughtered. Have to stop it. And at the same time, I don't want him to be exactly like me. I want him to at least have free will. Maybe he can do better than me. I don't know, Mark.. I don't even know if I'll have him. It's possible, not definite. Not in stone. But at the very least.. if I can stop the thing that would have killed him, then.. well.. it's a threat against others too. So maybe taking it out helps them too."
"Right." Mark nodded. Him, an uncle. But he was dead. "You know, if that works.. if he does even pass.. he'll see me.. up there. Maybe. I don't know the rules. I mean, he's part of you. I really don't know."
Damien agreed. "Well, wouldn't be surprised if God kept him away from up there, just to spite me," he said. He blinked, noticing that he could feel his cousin. He whispered into his ear. "I wish I could change it. I'd go back. I'd stop myself. I can't.. I know I can't ask you do forgive me for it."
"I can't," Mark said in a whisper back, as he started to embrace him. He quickly continued, "Not saying I won't. There's a difference. I can't.. because you have not forgiven yourself."
Damien trembled, feeling emotion from within him. Mark was actually.. hugging him. And he knew this would not last forever. "But.. should I? I mean, aside from me having to keep my evil reputation intact. Should I? What I did, it was cold, cruel, worse than anything. I destroyed you.. should have let you walk away. How can I.. I mean, for something like that. I could probably do it. But if I do.. I don't know."
"I don't know, either," Mark said, speaking into his ear. "It does hurt, what happened to me. Remembering it. But I can't tell you. You know it was wrong. And you regret it. And I could forgive you. I'm in a really good place. But as for you.. only you can decide if you should forgive yourself for it. You're the only one who would know that."
"Alr-alright." Damien pulled back, hesitantly and cautiously. "It's just.. other people, they.." He sighed heavily. "I've always loved you. And after I killed you.. it was like..."
Mark offered, "Like you killed a part of yourself? Humanity. Like you lost a great part. I remember the old times, I do. But.. your fate is foretold in the book."
"You know, if one more person brings that up to me again.." Damien rolled his eyes. "Seriously, I'm this close to saying 'screw it' to my father. And I've avoided it thus far. I rejected the Horsemen in the end, gave hints about their cycles and their weaknesses. I've had an offer before, to own this city, with the Slayers out of it... but I refused that. And I'm not about to destroy this city, it's my home. And my Satanic people? I more or less tell them to forget the devil and focus on me instead."
"Wow, so.." Mark looked confused. And then impressed. And confused again. "So, you just.. you have.. wow. Just, wow. That isn't like you. I mean, come on. The Book says in Revel-- okay, okay, sorry. Not bringing it up." he wanted to laugh at Damien's look, but resisted it. What about the factory, and Ann..and.. umm.."
"This place," Damien said with shrug. "It's unlike any other. Stuck here with everyone else. I serve the Senior Partners. Which is really, probably, on the same level as my real father. The law firm is their tool.. and I'm a client. I probably dug myself in a hole. But whatever, the perks are great. Good benefits. But, Mark.. it's like this. I don't care about that book or what it says about me. If I do anything, good or bad, it's not because of some ancient dogma, or pages written by old men that saw a burning bush in a desert. I do it because.. I choose to to, for me, for myself alone. And.. my people too. What I'd really like is to have power to share. I saw myself as a lone ruler. Wasn't pretty. Real asshole, cranky, utterly lonely and bitter. No, I don't want that."
Mark nodded, taking this in. He really did not expect to hear the rejecting of Biblical things. "Well.. technically, wasn't your father also a rebel back in the day? Guess it runs in the family." He laughed. "As for other people.. come on. You should just focus on yourself. On your own crap.. err, stuff. What you really ought to do is get a piece of paper and write down a list of everyone you know on it. Then.. put a number beside each name. The numbers are how high their input means for you. Lowest number is like.. most important, whereas double digits is shitty. Then make another list, and write those in order to how you put the numbers."
"Right, right," Damien said, a bit with a smile and excitement. He realized how much he missed being around him. He truly missed that now. "And, like.. yeah, I.. get it. Only pay attention to the top five names?" Seeing the nod, he went on, "I can do that. House smells like lavender, though. You can thank Marion for that. I know, she did warn you.. but come on. She didn't like me even before everyone knew about me."
"I know," Mark said with a frown, "she was a bitch. No one liked her. She just.. I don't know. You know how she was. Not even Dad and Ann liked her. Would you like to sit down somewhere? Fells like we past this area twice now."
"Sure." Damien nodded, pointing at the bench nearby. Where pigeons were roosting on. But as he stared.. they seemed agitated and flocked far away, flying up into the sky. "See? Being me does have some uses on occasion."
"Cheater," Mark said with a snicker as he moved to sit down on the wood. "So, you have a.. Blackberry? How's it work?"
"Yeah," he said as he sat down beside him. "Costs 600 dollars, but there's a six percent tax fee, as long as I don't go over six minutes." He paused and saw Mark try not to laugh. "Well, not really, just kidding." He smirked and turned it on to see if he missed anything, while showing it to his cousin.. he just wished he knew how long it was until the spirit left him..