Don't dig into our past

After ensuring the party was running smoothly once more, Zander quietly slipped away from the grand hall. In his hands, he carried a bottle of champagne and two glasses, the liquid inside glistening under the chandelier lights.

With his usual composed stride, he made his way outside, the distant chatter of nobles fading behind him.

White Beauty stood as a marvel in the heart of a vast lake, an architectural wonder that seemed to float between earth and sky.

Four grand bridges, wide enough to be roads, stretched from the mainland to the island, their smooth stone illuminated by glowing lanterns lining their edges. The white marble walls of the grand villa gleamed beneath the silver light of the full moon, making it look almost ethereal.

The calm lake waters mirrored the sky above, reflecting a sea of stars and drifting clouds, giving the illusion that White Beauty rested between two heavens. It was as if one could step onto the water and walk into the cosmos itself.

Zander walked along the rear bridge, the soft click of his boots against the stone the only sound in the tranquil night.

At the center, he spotted Copy One perched atop the bridge's stone railing, his masked face tilted upwards, silently admiring the beauty of the night sky.

For a moment, Zander paused, watching him.

Even a creation of Zed, a being made for battle and duty, could still appreciate the night's serenity.

After meeting up, Zander leaned against the bridge's stone railing, glancing at Copy One before asking, "So, did you take care of him?"

Copy One, still looking at the sky, nodded slightly. "Yeah, I did. I can't let him leave after all that ruckus he caused inside."

Zander poured the champagne into the two glasses, his movements slow and deliberate. "So, where is he?"

Passing a glass to Copy One, he watched as the masked figure took it, glanced around briefly, then removed his mask. A faint smirk played on his lips as he answered, "He's having fun hanging under the bridge."

Zander raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding. "What do you mean?"

Copy One simply gestured toward the edge of the bridge. "See for yourself."

Curious, Zander stepped forward and leaned over the railing. The moment his eyes adjusted to the dim moonlight reflecting off the water, he froze.

Hanging beneath the bridge, bound tightly in thick rope, was Jimmy. His entire body was wrapped so thoroughly he looked mummified, suspended upside down with the rope tied securely to a lamp post above. He dangled just inches from the water's surface, swaying slightly with the wind.

For a moment, Zander just stared. Then he exhaled, running a hand down his face. "You've got to be kidding me…"

A mix of amusement, surprise, and mild irritation crossed his face as he turned back to Copy One, who simply took a sip of champagne, unfazed.

Zander, unable to hold back a small grin, shook his head. "That's a bit overboard. Whatever… Did he even see you?" 

Copy One, still gazing at the sky, took another sip of champagne. "Nah. For him, it was like a wisp of wind." 

Zander exhaled in relief. "That's good. If he had, we might've been in a bit of trouble." He took another sip before setting his glass down. "Alright, pull him up." 

Without hesitation, Copy One grabbed the rope. With a single effortless tug, Jimmy shot upward as if gravity itself had been reversed. The noble barely had time to gasp before he was unceremoniously dragged over the bridge railing, landing in a heap at their feet. 

Zander raised an eyebrow, glancing at the pitifully bound noble. "You really didn't hold back, huh?" 

Jimmy, still gagged, could do nothing but groan.

Zander crouched down, his movements slow and deliberate as he reached for the rope binding Jimmy's legs and mouth. With a few practiced tugs, the restraints loosened, and the noble tumbled onto the bridge, gasping for air.

The moment Jimmy's mouth was freed, he let out an enraged yell. "Who the hell are you?! You think you can humiliate me like this?! No matter where you hide, even if it's the farthest corner of this world, I'll find you! I swear, I'll make you pay!"

Zander didn't react. He simply leaned in, bringing his lips close to Jimmy's ear, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper.

"Listen carefully," he murmured, his tone as cold as death itself. "Don't try to find us. Don't dig into our past. Because if you do… all you'll uncover are graves. Row after row of nameless, forgotten souls—just like what you'll become."

His breath was calm, measured. "I promise you, Jimmy, if you take even one step down that path, your name will be erased, your body will never be found, and your house will mourn a son who simply vanished into the night. Now…"

Zander straightened, his eyes gleaming like a predator toying with its prey.

"Run."

Jimmy's body locked up. A violent shiver crawled down his spine. His face went pale, his breath caught in his throat—and for a moment, his knees buckled so hard he almost collapsed in his own piss.

He sprinted straight into a lamp post, the impact sending him bouncing backward onto the wooden planks of the bridge. With a muffled yelp, he scrambled to his feet and dashed again, only to collide headfirst into another post. The sound of his skull meeting metal rang through the quiet night like a poorly played drum.

Copy One covered his mouth, shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. "Oh gods… he's fighting the architecture now," he muttered between wheezes.

Jimmy, oblivious to his humiliation, kept running—if his flailing, erratic movements could even be called that. He tripped over the edge of the bridge, nearly tumbling into the lake, but somehow, through sheer blind luck, he managed to stay on his feet.

Zander simply took another sip of champagne, watching the disaster unfold with mild amusement.

Finally, after bouncing off multiple obstacles like a pinball, Jimmy miraculously found his way to White Beauty, crashing through the entrance and collapsing onto the marble floor, gasping for breath.

Copy One finally lost it. He doubled over, laughing so hard he nearly spilled his drink. "Bwahaha! That was the most pathetic escape I've ever seen! I almost feel bad for him… almost."

Zander shook his head with a smirk. "Well, at least he made it. Barely."

With that, he leaned back, letting the cool night breeze wash over him, while Jimmy lay somewhere inside White Beauty, shaken, humiliated, and likely reconsidering every life decision he had ever made.

Zander and Copy One sat beneath the vast night sky, the cool breeze carrying the scent of the lake. The moon cast its silver glow over White Beauty, making it seem as though they were floating between the heavens. Both of them sat in comfortable silence, sipping their drinks and admiring the view. 

After a moment, Zander spoke, his voice calm yet curious. 

"Why didn't you go along with my plan?" he asked, glancing at Copy One. "You didn't need to go that far. All you had to do was distract him, and I would have handled the rest." 

Copy One remained silent for a moment, still gazing at the shimmering water beneath them. Then, without turning to face Zander, he finally spoke. 

"Because your plan was too cruel," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Letting them die knowing they were betrayed… knowing they killed their own loved ones … That kind of ending is worse than death itself." 

He took another sip of his drink before continuing. "I didn't want that. I may not feel things the way you do, but even I know that some fates are too unbearable. If they have to die, let it be without that weight crushing them in their final moments." 

Zander listened, swirling the champagne in his glass. After a moment, he let out a soft chuckle. 

"You really are different from me, huh?" he mused, smirking slightly. "Mercy isn't usually in our nature." 

Copy One finally turned to look at him. "Maybe. But even monsters get to choose what kind of monsters they want to be." 

For a while, neither of them spoke. They simply sat there, watching the night sky, two shadows caught between the moonlight and the dark waters below.

Copy One leaned back against the bridge wall, gazing at the stars. "Why are you still in this form? Its purpose is done."

Zander, still watching the sky, exhaled slowly. "My boon… When I kill someone, their memories flood into me. Their past, their pain—it all becomes mine. I can take their form if I choose." He paused, his voice growing softer. "I found him in an alley. He was barely clinging to life, bleeding out, nothing but skin and bones. I gave him a painless death... and when I did, I saw everything he endured." His fingers tightened around his glass. "So, I decided to keep him alive… as myself."

There was truth in his words, but not the whole truth. The real Zander—the boy before the boon—had been sold by his own mother for alcohol and fleeting pleasures. That past, however, remained buried.

Copy One smirked, breaking the somber air. "I never knew you could be this kind."

"Shut up," Zander shot back, rolling his eyes.

A quiet moment stretched between them before Zander finally spoke again. "Be ready to apologize properly."

Copy One raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"Zed wakes up tomorrow," Zander said, stretching his arms. "And I can tell you right now—he's going to be pissed at you."

Copy One gave a faint smile. "Yeah… He took all my pain, all my broken bones. That pain must be unbearable."

Zander glanced at him, something unreadable in his gaze. Then he asked, "I've been wondering… Why are we so damn loyal to him? He gives an order, and we follow without question. Why is that?"

Copy One's expression didn't waver. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I do know one thing—no matter what happens, even if the whole world turns against him, I'll stand by his side. And I think you will too."

Zander chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah… I think you're right." Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Also, you need a name. I can't keep calling you 'Copy One' forever."

Copy One hummed thoughtfully. "Yeah… I'll think of one."

And so, they sat under the moonlight like brothers, the world momentarily at peace—unaware that from afar, someone was watching them in silence.