Vecherinka was The City's hedonist hotspot. There were three smaller districts within Vecherinka; Nizhnyaya was the southernmost area with many restaurants and various retail stores; Verkhayaya was the northernmost area, a residential area reserved for the wealthy and powerful; and Tsentralnaya at the center with the most live music venues, bars and clubs. Tsentralnaya was a fashionable spot, and during the daytime there were often pop-ups and art galleries showing. Tonight, Tsentralnaya was my destination.
Public transport didn't go too far into Vecherinka and neither did cabs, so from Nizhnyaya right before Tsentralnaya, almost everyone was on foot. It wasn't too far of a walk, although drunkards would disagree.
When I stepped out of my transport, the unfiltered sound of Vecherinka at night graced my ears. Laughter, music, chatter. It was the same sights and sounds as a year ago and the red street lamps shone as brightly as ever. The feeling of being watched was still there too.
Never mind the state of this place — I really just ignored this odd feeling before?
Maybe it'd just been too long and I was desensitized to it.
Shaking off the feeling, I made my way deeper into Tsentralnaya where Kandelika was. It wasn't hard to find; the bright sign has a candle next to its large letters. I spotted Deja and the others right where they said they'd be. Their faces lit up when they spotted me.
Kandelika was in Tsentralnaya, and wasn't too hard to find; the bright sign had a candle next to the name that was already big enough to see. I spotted Deja and the group looking around and they all lit up once they noticed me coming over.
"Kodeko! It's been so long!" Tamia quickly wrapped her arm around me in a hug.
"Hey, Tammy," I said as I returned her hug.
Kalm, Tamiah and Leilah had barely changed from a year ago. Kalm still buzzed his hair, Tamiah still had a bob and glasses, and Leilah's hair had only grown longer.
"You got bigger," Kalm squinted at me. "Your hair and your shoulders."
"I didn't really notice," Deja murmured.
"That's 'cause you see him so often," Leilah responded.
"I think it suits you," Tamia smacked my arm softly.
We chatted as we waited to enter Kandelika and I felt some of my nervousness melt away. It was a bit of a wait to get inside but the first impression of Kandelika seemed all the better because of it. Kandelika had high ceilings and large windows. Thick pillars lined the center and sides of the main room, and the main stage was toward the back center of the room. Each of the pillars was connected by a pointed arch which also seemed to match the candle theme going on. The arches and stained windows made Kandelika feel like a renovated temple. The stained glass windows and the purple lights on the ceiling as well as the lights shining through the floor seem almost kaleidoscopic. Warm, white lights over tables and seating areas offered a break from the rest of the colorful displays.
"Isn't it cool here?" said Kalm as we settled into our table.
"Yeah," I said, noting the texture of the banquette.
Comfortable.
Kandelika was quickly filling up while my group discussed their choice of drinks and going to dance. I tried to keep up but felt myself sidelined — through no fault but my own. A ticklish feeling plagued my chest, but I couldn't pinpoint if it was anxiety or anticipation.
"What do you mean she's out of my league?" Kalm blurted, incredulous.
"I mean. Have you even, like, spoken to her? A little? She's got this classy vibe like... Royalty!" Tamia mimed a crown on her head.
"Who?" I interjected.
"The Monster girl at the bar," said Deja.
She was easy to spot. The bartender was busy at work, evidently tall, with two proud, dark horns sprouting from the front of her forehead and pointing straight up. Her thin figure and straight, long dark hair as well as an aloof expression on her beautiful face made her look like a supermodel. She had a totally "untouchable" vibe.
"I dunno, man," I turned back to Kalm and smirked, "She does seem pretty high class?"
"What happened to camaraderie?" Kalm let out an exaggerated sigh.
The rest of us laughed as Kalm continued his mock annoyance.
Like their appearances, my friends' demeanors had barely changed.
Well, maybe not entirely.
Kalm was as high energy as he'd always been. He'd taken Tamia and Leilah to dance, leaving Deja and I on our own. The night had reached full swing, but it felt quiet despite all the noise. Deja would look out to the dance floor, but would eventually turn away and look at our table, her hands or me.
"Do you want to dance or something?" I asked when she looked back to the dance floor again.
"Huh?" she looked back at me, startled. "Oh no, I'm just thinking a little, Hey- you enjoying yourself?"
"No, not really," I said, deadpan.
She looked momentarily shocked before I grinned.
"Ugh, Kodeko. You piss me off," she said with a bashful smile.
"You gotta stop falling for it," I laughed. "You don't gotta worry 'bout me. I'm happy to be here — just adjusting."
Deja spoke as she looked down at her lap, "Good. I was worried."
"I'm just taking it slow. I don't wanna go all in and feel like shit later," I explained. "Since you're probably wondering why I haven't gone to dance."
Deja nodded, her expression still a bit sheepish as she looked at me, her head tilted downwards. Deja was like this every now and then, even when she visited the shop. I noticed it months ago after I reopened the shop and she started coming by again. I couldn't remember if she was always like this, but now it was obvious. While the others were still the same, I figured Deja had developed feelings for me. The thought of it made the uncomfortable tingling in my chest worse.
I'd rather be wrong.
"Thanks for inviting me, though. It's a good change of pace," I said to her.
"I'm just happy to see you again. Not just at the shop, so… thanks for coming," Deja grinned.
Deja and I chatted lightly as the night went on.
***
"It was nice seeing you again. Next time I wanna see you dance again," Kalm and I exchanged a quick handshake as he spoke.
"Yeah, for sure. Just let me know whenever," I responded.
We parted at Nizhnyaya. Kalm left with Tamia and Leilah while Deja and I got a ride together. It was a quiet ride with the sound of the driver's radio to fill in for the silence. When Deja's stop came, I decided to get off with her and walk the rest of the way home.
"Goodnight, Kodeko," she said to me, "I'll talk to you later."
"See you," I waved.
I waited for her to get inside before I started to walk home.
The district Deja and I lived in was called Sklep. It was the largest district in The City and was a mixed bag where safety was concerned. Due to its size, you could imagine that there were many neighborhoods in the district. The size of the neighborhoods varied but where they were small and clustered together there were issues. Deja lived at the edge of our neighborhood which was bordered by another that was considered a "Monster Village," which was a neighborhood populated primarily by Monsters who didn't feel the need to blend in with Humans. Not all Monster Villages were the same but there was an understandable and undeniable tension where Monster Villages bordered "Human territory."
One consequence of this tension meant that some things were neglected around the neighborhood, like the street lights near Deja's family's townhouse. The near silence of the street at this time of night was unnerving when your light sources were flickering or completely out. I walked briskly, figuring I should've just taken the taxi the rest of the way home.
In the distance I saw two people walking towards me. I considered crossing the street, but it was darker across the street. That was my first mistake. As we got closer, their silhouettes changed shape, but I wasn't so sure I was seeing horns on their heads clearly. By the time they were no longer silhouettes, there stood two Monsters before me.
They weren't much taller than me, even if you counted the horns on their heads. They stared at me with slit pupils and I met their gazes. Perhaps that was my second mistake… or maybe it was that I didn't listen to my instincts screaming to me to turn and run away. We got closer and closer and alarms rang in my head to turn away, turn away, turn-
I barely blocked a punch that suddenly flew towards me. Caught off balance after blocking, I stumbled but before I could regain my balance, another heavy blow came at me, connecting with my abdomen. It hurt like hell and forced the air out of my lungs. A kick to the same spot sent me crashing into the nearby alleyway with the clamor of displaced junk following.
"He actually blocked the first one," I heard one of them say.
I quickly got up and braced myself for a fight. A dull, hot ache permeated my forearms but my abdomen hurt even more, making me wince. On the other hand, the Monsters stepped over the displaced junk in the alleyway nonchalantly. The one who punched me had one small, conical horn growing on the front left of his head, and she shook his hand around as if it ached.
"You're actually going to fight?" he said, his amber eyes widening.
The other Monster snickered, and I stayed silent.
I have to be really careful here…
The one-horned Monster quickly closed the distance between us and tried to kick me again, but I blocked his leg with my own and he instead connected with my shin.
"What the shit…?" the Monster spat, his voice dripping with annoyance.
I could tell that this was simply a lazy and half-hearted assault on his side, but the strength of Monsters was not to be trifled with. His body felt like concrete. I quickly glanced to the side. I had to run away from this. The Monster attacking me wasn't going to let me, though.
The one-horned Monster tried again, throwing punches this time. I dodged what I could and blocked what I couldn't. I hadn't moved like this since sparring with my father, but this was much higher stakes. I closed the distance between us all while avoiding his fists. I finally threw my own punch at his jaw, connecting solidly.. As he reeled back, I pulled him back towards me, guiding his head to my knee.
"Hey!" his bi-horned friend barked at me, running at us.
I quickly let go of the one-horned Monster and nimbly hopped to the side before aiming a kick at the bi-horn's legs, making him crash to the ground. Without missing a beat, I turned tail and ran. Throwing the recycling bins and trash behind me as I ran, I went towards the lights at the end of the alleyway, my heart beating in my ears.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I cursed.
A million thoughts ran through my head in an instant. How would I get home? How far should I run? Should I hide? Don't turn around. Just run. The only thing I was sure of was that if I stayed, I'd die, and if I couldn't run away, I'd die.
Suddenly, the world was spinning and the yellow street light was out of sight. The pain of my head connecting with concrete didn't register immediately, and before I could even open my eyes, the one-horned Monster was already on top of me. Stunned, I couldn't even cry out before his fists slammed into my face. One after the other, punches rained down on me. At one point, I couldn't feel the hits anymore. Without even being able to comprehend the abruptness of my demise, I died.
***
When I opened my eyes I was standing on a vast plane that stretched on endlessly. The ground reflected the sky… or whatever was above me. There was a tapestry of twinkling stars both above and below. When I looked around I saw this plane wasn't as empty as it initially seemed.
Standing a few meters away from me was a person… or at least I thought it was. They seemed to glow, and beckoned me to approach when all else was dark. Tentatively, I stepped forward. My footsteps didn't make a sound on the reflective ground.
I got closer and it became clearer that this… person wasn't Human. But they didn't look like a Monster either. Their features were all pale, like skin devoid of blood. Their eyes were covered by hands — of which they seemed to possess three pairs of. Their other four arms hugged their body which was covered in robes just as white as they were. They were beyond beautiful, making them both otherworldly and terrifying. I opened my mouth to speak but froze.
"You're here," they murmured.
Their voice was equal parts beautiful and grating, pressing against my heart like an indescribable emotion.
"W-who?" I stuttered, wincing.
"Kodeko Piveto. I am Karma. You should be aware of who I am. After all, you are one of my few worshippers," said the being.
Dumbfounded, I continued to stare at the beautiful being until their words started to make sense. Karma… and I, their worshipper. My eyes widened as realization dawned on me.
"Karma… you're the God of Fate," I whispered.
A wave of emotions washed over me. Awe, elation, confusion then anger. I remembered why I was here. I was dead, and it seemed I'd met a god at last. And just liek my family, I was killed by Monsters.
"You're angry," remarked Karma.
"Yes," I said stiffly. "Have you been watching? All along?"
"Indeed."
"Then why don't you do anything? Where are the others? Aren't there seven of you?" I looked around.
"Were seven of us. They're too busy fighting," Karma maintained their indifferent tone.
"So what am I here for?!" I snapped.
Karma was silent, their expression still unchanged. Then they smiled. It was even more beautiful than their neutral face.
"Your family is in the spirit land, watching over you. I offer you two options, Kodeko Piveto," Karma monotone. "You can join them… or I can imbue you with Ase and you won't die."
"Wait, my family? Where are they?" I questioned, still confused.
"You may recall your father and mother teaching you what little they preserved of their culture. You have great potential. Your Chi is strong. You know who I am so you know I can see your fate. Allow me to imbue you with Ase, or follow your family to Ala Mmuo."
I'd never heard these words outside my father and mother's lectures and stories, so I was still in shock. Chi was supposed to be me but in some cosmic sense while Ase was some sort of authority I held on the world. It was a profound, spiritual thing to us but here was the God of Fate telling me my Chi was great and that he'd imbue me with Ase.
"What's the catch?" I said after a long pause.
A pair of Karma's arms unwrapped themselves from their body and they held up their hands as if they were a scale weighing two options.
"If you choose to join your family, there is no catch. Your soul will naturally venture to Ala Mmuo if you die. When you die. But, if you choose to come back to life with my Ase, I will have a job for you," Karma explained.
"And that is?"
"Well, it is of benefit to you as well. You must defeat the overlord of your city: The Tsar. You see, the only reason I could come to you like this was because you worshipped me, and with your body on the boundary of life and death, material and immaterial, now I can visit you. But my reach is still weak and all of the gods have limited power in The Tsar's Domain," Karma clenched one the hands they were holding up. "Will you do it?"
I stared at my reflection on the ground below me.
I didn't want to die. There was a time where I did. Gods knew if it was just a few months ago, I might've been relieved to join my family, maybe even relieved I got to go out the same way they did. But not anymore. I either waited and died or died doing something instead of just staying hopeful.
"I can do it but… I don't think taking down the Tsar is a one man job," I said after a long pause.
"The others of the Pantheon have agents who've infiltrated The City and there are others who'll help you. You just need to know where to look. Now…"
Karma leaned forward, their face leveling with mine.
"I'll see you again." The void closed in on me, and everything went black.
When I could feel again I was on the ground, gasping for air.