Legend of Ransera

Gel’Grandal, 37th of Ash

The aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, the rhythmic popping of the meat’s fat on the cast iron skillet. The evolving drizzle outside seemingly tapping in unison. Alexei leaned forward and took a closer look at the meat. When it was evenly golden brown, he turned it standing on its side, holding it with his tong and using a ladle to bathed the meat with its own juice, a golden-brown syrup. He then lay the flat on the uncooked side and took a piece of garlic, smashed it and threw it into the pot, along with a tied-up bundle of thyme and assorted herbs.

Leon opened the door and inhaled deeply, a grin forming on his face, “Hmm, you really should open up your own restaurant” he walked over and sat down on the counter opposite of Alexei.

Alexei scoffed as he turned the meat standing on its other side again. “And to have you lot come in for free bites? I’d rather stay with Rieger.” His voice annoyed.

“Well, at least you got a chance to make your mark rather than being under Rieger’s shadows. Besides……“ the conversation interrupted by muffled screaming coming from the room where Leon just exited from. Leon pounded on the wooden door.

“Oy Tommy, keep it down, will ya? Claudette’s not here yet. She’ll be furious if she found out you started without her.” Leon said in a loud voice to match the energy of the now raging downpour outside.

Scuffling on the wooden floor followed by a loud thud then a grunt. Tommy emerged a few moments later drenched in sweat, “Fuck. Persistent bastard. I’m doing him a favor, if he spilled the information before the she-devil came, it would be a quick end. But if-”

The conversation was cut short as a petite figure cladded in cloak followed by a much larger figure stepped into the kitchen. Both drenched from the raging downpour outside. The three of them instinctively reached for their weapons, Leon and Tommy reached for their guns which were both raised and aimed at the two figures, while Alexei picked up a kitchen knife and another cast iron skillet.

“Tch.” The petit figure scoffed. “You know those won’t work on me.” Claudette’s voice called out from the marionette. The marionette lowered her hood and Leon recognized it as the same marionette that he met at Hotel Haiven, but more human-like instead of the porcelain contrast last time. The lumbering figure behind also lowered its hood. Revealing another familiar face of sorts. The marionette resembled one of the O’Grim ogres. Not exactly down to the minute detail, but if one were to witness in passing, they would think that it was one of Skullcrusher’s underlings.

Leon holstered his gun and gestured at the room behind him. “This one’s a bit stubborn. I’ll leave you to it.”

The two marionettes silently nodded as if confirming that they understood what was implied and head to the room. Tommy and Alexei still have their weapon drawn until the two marionettes disappeared behind the door. A collective sigh of relief.

Tommy placed his gun on the kitchen counter close to him as he took out a cigarette case. “Fuck, still give me shivers, even after all this time.” He muttered and offered a piece to the other two.

Leon took one, lit it and let it dangle on his lip, “Don’t we all? She’s the only one who could still make the geezer uncomfortable.”

“So, who,” he began before shaking his head in disbelief, “No…..no……, what the fuck was that?” Alexei blinked still clutching the kitchen knife. His knuckles turned white.

Tommy gave him a slight slap on the back. “That my friend is the reason why you don’t want to be on our naughty list.” His tone half-serious half-joking.

Leon took a long drag, a line of smoke escaped his mouth and dissipated into the ceiling, “What he said. Although, since she saw you already,” he shrugged, “Welcome to the club, I guess. We’re all on her watchlist.” Leon then pointed at the meat still sizzling on the skillet. “I think I ordered it medium-rare, chef. Not well-done.” He chuckled.

Alexei regain his composure as he skillfully lifted the meat out and placed it on a platter which he had prepared earlier. Dumping the burnt herbs and cloves on the side. He took another cut of meat that he had stored in the icebox. He let it thawed naturally as the temperature inside the icebox had been calibrated by him. “So,” he began, as he nervously glanced at the door. “Why’s there no sound or anything?”

Tommy took a drag, took out his knife and grabbed the platter. “Well,” he leaned down to inspect the meat, poking it a few times with his knife and took another knife out. “There’s only two times you would hear a sound from someone encountering her.” Tommy thinly sliced the top layer of the steak. The cut was almost as thin as the Daily Imperial newspaper. Using his other knife, he slowly and skillfully rolled the sliced layer until it’s all rolled-up before dipping it into the burnt sauce. “First, is when they met her for the first time.” Tommy continued as he took a bite of the rolled-up piece in half, “Second, is when well….”

“Before you breath your last…..” Leon continued letting the words lingered in the air. Smoke curling up into the ceiling.

Tommy pointed his knife at Leon and nodded in agreement. He made another slice of layer and offered it to Leon.

Alexei crossed his arms and leaned on the counter, “Guess I’m part of the shitshow whether I like it or not.”

Tommy shrugged knowingly, and offered a rolled-up piece to Alexei, “You’ve been a part of this shitshow ever since your sister got into the geezer’s shortlist. Even that other ‘cook’ out there in the Reichtum.” He looked at Leon as he mentioned the other cook, referring to Billy.

Leon nodded, tapped the ash of his cigarette and sighed “Good thing she’s pickier than the geezer. Or else the shortlist would still be around.”

Tommy had just picked up the thawed meat when an inhumane blood curdling scream came from behind the locked door. The thawed meat fell from his grip into the floor. Both Tommy and Leon reflectively reached for their weapons, hand hovering over it.

The petite marionette entered first. Blood streaked her damp cloak, the crimson vivid against the fabric’s dark folds. The hulking figure behind her ducked under the doorframe. Tommy’s hand hovered near his gun, fingers twitching, but he didn’t draw. Alexei, pressed against the counter, gripped its edge so tightly his knuckles were white. Only Leon moved, taking a slow drag from his cigarette and exhaling, the smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling. “So?” he asked.

The marionette didn’t acknowledge Leon’s question, but her gaze swept over the room and eyes locking onto Alexei. Leon could’ve guessed what Alexei must’ve been feeling. Uncomfortable, frighten, disturbed. He felt the same thing when he met Claudette’s marionette back at Hotel Haiven. The picture was still seared on his memory.

“Hmm.” Claudette’s voice carried from the marionette, soft but cutting, the sound of it sharp enough to make Alexei flinch. She stepped closer, head tilting, her faint smile devoid of warmth. “You look just like her.”

Alexei stiffened he didn’t need to ask who. He already knew that the marionette was talking about his sister, Katya.

“Claudette, what did the poor bastard said?” Leon repeated his question, breaking the uneasy silence. He then stepped in between Alexei and the marionette. The lumbering marionette in the back shifted its weight as if reacting to Leon’s action. Tommy’s hand pressed on the cold metal of his gun. Reassuring himself.

The marionette’s gaze lingered on Alexei a moment longer before shifting to Leon. “Persistent,” she shot a look at Tommy who raised both of his hands and acted innocently. “Could have been faster”

Leon shot a I-told-you-so look at Tommy. To which Tommy only shrugged in reply.

“Anything useful?” Leon continued.

The marionette turned slightly, “Hasan,” she said, letting the name settle like a weight in the room.

“Fuck, that Hasan?” Tommy cursed under his breath. He pulled out another cigarette.

“Hasan?” Alexei repeated, glancing between them. He couldn’t place the familiarity of the name, but it felt familiar.

“Yep, the one and only, Hasan. Joko Tek’s hunting dog.” Tommy muttered as he lit a fresh cigarette. “Thought we buried that bastard along with Joko.”

“I should’ve confirmed it myself, rather than letting you two.” Claudette replied, her tone clipped. “And he’s surfaced.”

Leon exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Shit. But is it possible that Joko Tek.....”

The marionette’s head snapped immediately and stared at Leon, “You doubted me?”

“It’s not that...” he paused, “Yeah, I should’ve confirmed the kill on the rest of Joko Tek’s underlings.”

Tommy took a long drag, “Now that geezer’s gonna come back from the dead and haunt us all, due to having unfinished business.” His tone half-serious half-joking.

The marionette visibly sighed, “Find the rest and I’ll contact you again. We’ll finish the mission. This time, for good.”

Leon sighed, the cigarette dangling between his lips. “I’ll tell Guthenberg there’s a slight change in plans. We need to strike first. And Tommy, have you heard anything about Jack?”

“Jack? That psycho Jack?”

“Yeah, who else?”

“Last I heard there’s a bloodbath at one of the River Rat’s businesses in Trashtown. Similar modus operandi as our Jack. Know anything about that?” Tommy gaze shifted to the petite marionette.

The marionette blinked, “Could be our Jack. I’m tied up in my research. It’s pointless and a waste of resources to send my research subjects to contain Jack once he’s or they're fully awoken.”