The smell of tobacco filled the air. He could feel the vibes in his heart. The peddlers in the street shivered at the sight of him. His eyes had reddened making him look even more dangerous. The kids on the street hid behind their fathers seeing their idol in such a state. He was not someone anyone could mess with.
His suit looked disheveled. His brown hair was messy. He gripped a bottle of vodka in his hands. He was sitting near one of the gambling tables cheering the gamblers. They gamblers and everyone else on the street were scared to the bones. They had never seen him drink in public. Neither had they seen him near gamblers. That was not his place of work. They knew that something was not right.
The gambling went smooth. Losses and gains came and went. One of the drug peddlers hopped in, in between. He started with 1 dollar. Everyone mocked him, for he was gambling with just a dollar. Not even 10. He played and won the first time. Then the second time. Third time. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth.... He played on until everyone on that table lost everything. A huge uproar arose from the table.
"You cheated." One said.
"No I didn't. Today, was my lucky day." The winner said proudly.
They had all forgotten the dangerous presence beside them in the thrill of the game.
"You did. Cheat." Another one shouted.
"This is unfair. I didn't cheat."
This was a common commotion. The winner is declared a cheater everyday.
"You! Give back our money." Another said.
Everyone's expressions turned grim. They were ready to thrash the man to get back their money.
"N... No... I won this. I w...won't give this b...back." He was already trembling with fear. He took a step back. He could see the men talking a step forward in rage. He clutched his money in his hands. He held it tighter not ready to let go of his earnings.
One of the loosers moved towards the man and demanded the money.
"Give it now."
"N...n...n...no." He stuttered.
"Give it back, I said!"
"No." He looked more fierce now. They others' rage had lighted the fire in him.
The other one spoke through gritted teeth. "Give it back, you #*^%."
"What if I don't?" He asked back.
The other one pulled the winner's collar and said, "You will know now."
"Guys, let's teach his bastard a lesson."
The others assembled near the man and were ready to thrash him.
"No please. I will give it back."
"Too late."
A punch landed on the winner's face before he could try and run. He groaned in pain. All the men in the street were living on alcohol. So none were in their senses. All of them started hitting the man hard. The man groaned in pain as consequent punches landed all over his body. At some point he fell down and the others started kicking him with all their might.
Suddenly they heard a sound. Something shattering. That was when they remembered the dangerous presence behind them. That was when they remembered that he was watching. Their heart beats rose. Their knees started hitting each other. They were trembling with fear. They stopped trashing the man on the grouns and turned to look at the devil.
They knew that they had awakened the devil. They could see a shattered bottle on the ground. No liquid was spilled. He had drunk a whole bottle. He stood up from his chair and gave a threatening look to the men. Suddenly he came forward and lifted the table in front of him and threw it away. All the things on the table were now on the floor.
The others could do nothing to stop him. He had such influence on the people. Both high and low. He was a king of the underworld. He and his friend indirectly controlled the world. He pushed past the men and helped the man lying on the ground to stand up.
The others didn't even dare to flee. He pulled one of them to the front and pulled his collar. He glared at the man. He punched on the man's face. His nose bled from the punch. He pushed the man hard. He was sent flying and then he landed on the ground.
The king was about to kick the man when, someone stopped him. He was pulled back by someone. It was clear that the king was agitated. The man's actions agitated him even more.
He was turned around and was about to punch on the man's face. But, his hands retreated when he saw the man's face. He pulled his hand back. The other one was stout with a puffy red cheek. He had a 'please control your anger' expression on his face. He tried hard to control his anger and held his hand back.
"Where the f*ck is he?" Thd man asked him.
"Aren't we searching Edward? We will find him." The other one asked.
"Your men, those f*cking bastards cannot do even that?" Edward was clearly enraged.
"They are trying. But they left no trace."
"Louis, bring those bastards who were searching for Hogman. Bring them here! Now!"
"Just think for a moment, Edward." It was rare that they addressed eachother with names. If clearly shows that they are angry.
"We no longer need their service. Shoot them down."
"Edward listen...."
Before Louis could complete his sentence, Edward had freed himself from his grip and had walked away. Louis could only watch his friend's tall figure walk away. First merging with the dark shadows and then completely disappearing. Louis could only sigh.
He took out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
"Jackson, shoot those bastards dealing with Hogman's missing."
Without waiting for a response, he cut the call and walked away from the street. The men in the street were relieved as the two powerful non mages in the world walked away.
But not many knew that they were actually mages in disguise.