REBORN UNDER THE FULL MOON
Chapter 128: The last sacrifice

Antonio's POV

I attended every single one of the tournament from the begining, hoping to trace Kyle back to his room from there. It proved a rather difficult task. I waited patiently for each round, looking out for Kyle and hoping to get a glance of him before he sees me.

Then it happened.

I saw him, marking him by his appearance. He was to partake in the contest of the day, so I waited for all the rounds, waiting patiently, uninterested in the tournament. I just wanted to use his knowledge to possibly get the location of the Great witch to perform the last sacrifice that would make me immortal.

He won the tournament, "Good for him," I thought. I subtly stalked him, not by myself, but by a close friend...

Nathan.

He was to report to me at my Caravanserai by midnight.

"Good to see you....ageless, my Lord," Nathan said as he walked into my inner chamber.

"Ageless!!! I need to perform the final ritual, grey hairs Nathan,grey hairs!!!!" I said, touching my moustache in a troubled manner.

"I sense the urgency, my Lord, reason why I tried my best to extract all possible information from.... Kyle," he replied, seating on the stool adjacent my bed and crossing his legs.

On hearing that name, I relaxed back on my headrest, sure enough that the mission was successful, my first plan already at my finger tips. "So tell me Nathan, what was discussed between you two? Past, present or future? Wait, before you do that, tell me the most crucial of them all, where does he stay?" I asked desperately, looking at him intently.

"Well, my Lord he spends the night rest in a caravanserai just like you, behind the straight path leading to the stadium," he said.

"Can you lead us there sometime?"

"Of course, my Lord. Just say the word and we'll be there. So long as your promises are kept." he replied, resting his body on a single leg as he sat down.

"My words are like the air, gentle and transparent but immortal. You'll get your reward." I said, picking up my hand fan and using it the ancient way, smiling.

"Do you know Ryker? or Zeus? who's Lyra, Aria and Merida, what place...."

"Stop it already Nathan, how did you get all these names?" I asked, already sure that he must have lured Kyle into revealing his past. "Ryker, my friend and foe. He saved my life twice, and I'm heavily indebted to him." I said, rubbing my forehead.

"Hmmm. Ryker, Father of Lyra," he said, leaning closer to me and resting his head on a palm, " so tell me my Lord, what are Zeus' plan for Lyra?"

"Oh, they are indeed evil, not good at all, horrible to say the least," I replied, stroking my moustache.

"So we must protect her as much as we can," Nathan said, hoping to share a logic with me.

"We? hahaha. Now that's a classic joke, Nathan. I'm not meant to protect her from Zeus. Kyle's there to do that. Its his...... Destiny, hahaha," I laughed, amazed at his suggestion.

Leaning closer to my bed, "You won't turn back on the child of your saviour now, would you?" he asked.

"Yes, I very much would..." I gave a very quick pause, realising that Nathan was already creating a good friendship with Kyle, and he might not be of further help to me if I don't agree to this, "... listen, Nathan, these things don't work this way. Alright, when I become Immortal, I would have the courage to face Zeus squarely, conquering him. But right now I can't vouch to protect Lyra or anyone from him," I explained.

"Hmm," leaning away from my bed, " that makes more sense," he said. "So how can we be of help, I and Kyle of course?" he asked.

"Simple. Kyle and I once had a.....call it a dirty deal in time past, so he'll never trust me much again, and I won't trust him either, you know how it is," I paused, looking straight at him and giving a very sharp smile. He gave a sharp smile too, and I continued.

"So, our trust levels for ourselves are low. But I have good intentions over the lad and his lover."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you have good intentions over them?" he asked, folding his eye brow a little. "Good intentions are hard to come by these days, and certainly not from Lord Antonio, the wittiest of his kind,"

"Oh stop it, you're making me look evil,"

"...but you are evil," he said.

"Then you let me finish!!!" I said, adjusting my night dress and settling better. I formed a smile, "As you well know, good kindness are hard to come by these days, so firstly, I'm helping Lyra as a repayment for the good deeds of her father, and I'm helping to protect Kyle, because, well.... we were jolly good friends," "We've done shady things in the past quite alright, but I won't let harm come to my....my business partner if you'd love to put it that way."

I paused, hoping he would digest my words and help me get Kyle.

Looking at me and rubbing his chin slowly, "hmm, and why should I believe you?"

"Well I'm your best shot at the truth, and I'm also your best choice. All you have to do," I said, sitting upright and getting close to him, "is to help me use this on his wine," I brought out a tiny bottle from my inner wear. "You sure are a strange man, carrying tiny bottles to sleep," he teased.

"You must act unnoticed, or you'll get us all in trouble, trying to do good," I continued, ignoring his remark.

"Do good? what's that substance supposed to do to him? make him turn indestructible? or full of magic I guess," he remarked rather loosely to me. Nathan would have been dead meat a long time ago, but he was my only shot at Kyle, so I endured.

"Seems you replace it difficult to understand little things, my dear Nathan. This substance would simply make him sleep without measure, giving me ample time and space to summon his spirit and asking it for the whereabouts of the Great witch. Once I locate her," I relaxed back on the bed as I've reached the sweetest part of my tale, "I would perform the last ritual,making me...."

"Immortal," he helped me say.

"that's right Nathan, Immortal. Then I would help in protecting the lad and his lover from all the evil in the world. You help him to help me, and I'll help you to help him. Perfect story....perfect ending. So what do you say, Nathan?" "well I'm not sure about this, I've not had reasons to trust you..."

" or not trust me, "I finished for him.

Looking at me gravely for a while, "give me the bottle," he said, still locking eyes with me.

I smiled, handing it to him. 'If only men knew what lies in the heart of others,' I thought, smiling.