Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Absolute Power and Corruption Incarnate ❯ {Part I} ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Absolute Power and Corruption Incarnate - Part 1
by Mishaela

Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm not holding them hostage or anything. The characters involved are doing this of their own free will. I'm not making a profit, so suing me would be pointless. This story is not intended for those under the age of 18 or for those who have a problem with homo-erotic activity.

{Act II - Part I}

Some men have to be pushed to their breaking point. They have to go through every type of pain possible before their carefully constructed exterior cracks and shows signs of weakness. For some, the death of a loved one is enough. For others, it takes so much more…

It was not quite the case for the man who now was known only as Crawford.

He had, as a child, endured famine in his native kingdoms. As a teenager, his promised bride was brutalized and murdered before his very eyes. Even the members of his surviving family were slain for alleged crimes to the king of their region. As a man, he had found a new wife and even managed to have children with her. Those little joys in his life were ripped from him by bandits who had ransacked his village.

He knew he'd been broken when he visited the same punishment on the one who had been backing the murderers. By that point, Crawford didn't care. If someone got in his way, he would remove them… by any means possible.

Schuldig had pushed very carefully, manipulated the man's life so that he'd come to this. He was very fond of his little prophet. Crawford had always been gifted with the Sight. At the height of his trauma, it had broken fully free and now he saw visions at will. It was the will of the God of Lies…

By the time Crawford had found out the truth, he was so far under the God's influence that there was no turning back for him. Nothing else mattered after that save for his deity's power base and how he could build it. And build it he did… The Prophet of Lies had been responsible for the downfall of quite a few royal families in the past. He was Schuldig's greatest mortal asset.

And that was why the God of Lies made sure that Crawford never got ill or remained injured for long. His powerbase was such that he could insure the man's life. His power had sustained the prophet for over a five hundred year time line.

Like any intelligent God, Schuldig knew the value of his conduit.

On his throne, in his immortal realm, the orange-red haired deity gazed into a scrying glass. His jade eyes marked how Crawford had become so skilled at manipulating the rest of the mortals. Schuldig smiled and tapped his nails on the armrest, impressed by how the prophet was playing King Takatori. The man's power for hunger was delicious and arousing.

The dark castle that served as the God's home was always crumbling around him. That was what those who had venerated him in life were used for. All the supplicants who had failed to meet Schuldig's expectations were required to constantly patch the walls, ceiling, and floor after their deaths. He had many, many, many such repairmen.

Schuldig had incredibly high standards as to what his expectations were.

He shifted in his seat, his robes settling around him, and blew a few locks of stubborn hair from his eyes. The last war had been very satisfying… so much betrayal had gone into setting it up and even more had gone into sustaining it.

And then, that little pissant who had been dubbed the 'Ruby Demon' had gone and blown the whole thing to hell.

Shuichi Takatori, the younger brother of Reiji, had been duped by Crawford, as he had been supposed to. Unfortunately, he'd also paid a very high sum to hold the loyalty of the crimson haired mercenary. Damn the prince to hell for his foresight, but he'd known somehow that the prophet who regularly counseled his brother was pulling the strings.

He'd had the too-curious younger brother killed and sent soldiers after the Ruby Demon, but they were slain. Schuldig couldn't even find out who their killer was. That didn't sit well with him. That only meant that another God had stepped in and taken a hand in the situation. The deity glared at his scrying glass.

"Crawford," he said imperiously, "find out what happened to those soldiers. I hate not knowing who's stepped into my playing field."

The face of his conduit reflected through the glass. "I understand, my master. I've already sent a reconnaissance team to follow the trail. I should know something in a few days." Crawford threw the cowl of his robes back and looked right at his God. "Reiji Takatori is following along with the plan nicely. Any other commands before I return to see him?"

Schuldig thought for a few minutes before he answered. "Yes… find out where the Ruby Demon lives and send soldiers to eliminate him. I want him dead… and, if he has any living relatives, I want them to suffer completely before they die as well."

He smiled and sent a surge of addicting power to his conduit. "Make him pay for his interference in my plans."

Crawford nodded and disappeared from view. In the castle of Takatori, he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. His God was so very displeased with the situation. If his Sight were only able to get something on the young man, it would be so much easier. Unfortunately, something was inhibiting his power. Something or someone very powerful indeed.

It made the Prophet of Lies nervous. He didn't like surprises anymore than his deity. He turned away from the scrying globe and went to his window, brown eyes marking the setting sun with a smile in them. The dark of night made men nervous and more susceptible to his guidance. Crawford knew that he would be able to further manipulate the foolish king into endeavors that would lead to Schuldig's growing power in this world.

Takatori was too firm in his belief that he was a competent ruler. Crawford knew so much the better when it came to that fact. The man was boorish and stupid, thinking of himself before any thing or any one else. 'That could only get you so far,' the prophet reasoned.

Soon, the man would make a mistake that the God of Falsehoods could capitalize on and then the king would no longer be necessary.

{End Part I}

Mish: And so begins the second part of the 'Mythology' story arc.