Part 28 (1/2)
He invented a number of things for Atourum. Among them, Quips, which are bullets filled with a liquid substance that attacks an angel's soul.
The other invention Hun is known for is the Zan. Zans are boxes that keep a soul alive without needing a body. Hun invented the Zan and gave it to Atourum, who then used it to store the darkest of souls before re-releasing them on humanity.
Hun's most famous invention is called the Peel. It is a black-powdered substance that peels away the face and soul of an angel and impresses them on someone else. Think of it as identify theft for angels. The Peel lasts a few hours and then the soul will be returned to the angel from whom it was taken.
A few cycles ago, a demon used a Peel and took the appearance of a Traveler. The demon got as far as the gates of the council. Soon, Paras came with word from Omnis that there was a darkness in the light. The demon was punished and Atourum was made to destroy Hun.
Many have theorized that Atourum never got rid of Hun. The conspiracy nuts think that he's still on Earth. They go so far as to say he's still inventing things for his master. Everyone claims to have seen Hun at some point. Hun sighting are as common among angels as Elvis sightings are among humans.
”What did you sell from the Market?” I ask, fully intending to carry out my threat.
”Okay, but don't get mad.”
I ram my hand into his chest. He gasps as the pressure I am putting through his chest becomes more than he can handle.
”I sold him a Peel.”
I pick him up from the ground and throw him across the street.
”You sold a Peel to a Runner?” I ask.
”He paid me extra not to say anything. He may or may not be a Runner. And anyway, it was Human Peel. The Runner can only pretend to be another human being, not an angel.”
”Why would an Akon send a Runner to impersonate a human?”
”I don't know. What can a human get Emmy to do that an Akon or Runner can't?”
”Trust,” I say as it hits me right then. The Runner is going to Peel into someone Emmy trusts and take her to the Akons.
Once I land on the roof back at the house, Jay comes running up to meet me. His face is dark with rage, which is not a common thing to see on Jay. It alarms me instantly. Ameana comes up behind him.
”Where's Emmy?” I ask.
”She's fine,” he spits out.
”What's up? What's going on?” Miku asks.
He looks at me like he wants to rip my throat out.
”Jay, what's up?” I put my hands on his shoulders. He shrugs them off.
”Back off me,” he says.
”Jay what's up?”
He speaks in a cold and unforgiving voice.
”I want a yes or a no answer to this question. And don't you lie to me, Marcus. Did the Sage see you Turn and this mission failing?”
”What?” the twins bark at the same time.
”Answer the question, Marcus.”
”No, Marcus would have told us if the Sage had said that,” Miku says with certainty.
”Marcus?” Rio asks.
They are all looking at me. Jay is frozen in anger and disgust.
”Listen guys-”
”Did the Sage say that to you?” Jay asks accusingly.
”Jay, calm down,” Ameana says.
”Answer me,” he shouts, ignoring everyone else.
”Yes.”
Their reactions ranged from anger to hopelessness.
”How could you not tell us?” Jay asks.
”I was going to when the time was right.”
”And when was that, Marcus? When New York was littered with bodies?”
”I was planning on telling you.”
”How dare you keep that from us,” Miku shouts.
”You knew this whole time? I knew you had a secret but I thought it was... How could you not tell us?” Rio says dumfounded.
”It's not a big deal. We'll figure it out.”
”We? Man, b.u.mp that. You decide to hold out on us and now you sayin' 'we' like we're all a team?”
”We are a team.”
”No, we ain't. If we were, I wouldn't have to hear this c.r.a.p from a bunch of Travelers. It's all over the d.a.m.n Splash. Had I not overheard it, we never would have known.”
”I was gonna tell you.”
”That's a d.a.m.n lie. You weren't gonna tell us nothing.”