DCO- Dungeon Core Online

Chapter 15

“I should say I’m surprised you arrived so promptly,” a voice said, the tone slightly amused, “and yet, sadly, I’m not.” A dark chuckle as James’s eyes blinked, slowly focusing. Sensations rushed over him, feelings, scents. He was somewhere new, but with all the realism that had he not been immersed already, he’d swear he was somewhere in the real world. “Please make yourself comfortable James, we’ve much to talk about.”

His eyes adjusted to his surroundings as he processed the words. The speaker, of course, was Hades. He’d only heard the man speak a few times, but he’d never forget that tone. Cool and calculating, oozing with confidence. Not cocky or pompous, but merely, the voice of someone who knew exactly what they were talking about, and knew they were likely they smartest person in the room.

“Hades,” James said, taking note of the man. The figure was leaning against a window, the room they were in roughly the size of a studio apartment. All about, papers and objects were scattered. On the desk that stood between James and Hades was a strange white mask with a smiling, mustached face. The rest of the room, cluttered with various chalkboards, white boards, and weird cork boards, had strings, notes, pictures, everything James could possibly think of on them. It was a room that would make the most detailed detective jealous. And purely looking about made James uneasy. This was the room of someone with an intense obsession.

“Where am I?” James asked after a long silence. The man, dressed once again in the dark trench coat James had last seen him in, pushed off of the wall. The coat moved aside, revealing his gloved hands, and an ornate walking stick. He casually walked to the desk, swiveled the chair around, and sat. Then he leaned the stick against the wood, and produced a crystal bottle from somewhere underneath the desk. Two cups appeared then, and he motioned for James to sit in the chair opposite of him.

“You’re in my personal space,” Hades said as he poured the amber colored liquid into the glasses. “A space unreachable by any, save for those who have received a personal invitation from me.” He held the glass to James. James took it and sniffed. The scent was strong, definitely alcohol. Rich notes of oak and vanilla swam about as he gently rocked the glass about. Cinnamon as well perhaps? And was that honey?

“Was that what that was?” James asked as he took a hesitant sip. He had little reason to distrust Hades. But at the same time, he had little reason to actually trust the man. Still, considering he’d been forcibly whisked to this space, if Hades did want to do anything to him, surely, he could do it at a whim, and not through trying to poison him or some sort. Could you poison someone with a drink in immersion? Persephone had used a sweet-smelling incense in her space, with her wine serving as the antidote…

“My own personal style of invitation, yes,” Hades took a drink, closing his eyes for a moment as he savored the flavor. “I’ve found you can never be too safe nowadays. And through my life, I’ve no shortage of tricks and tools learned through the years on how to ensure my invitations cannot be traced.”

“So,” James took a drink, marveling at the rich flavors that rushed across his tongue. Other than within DCO, he’d never experienced such realism. Was this space somehow using the same type of coding as DCO was? Or, maybe, had Hades played a part in developing the code of DCO? “Why have you invited me here?” He took another drink, trying to control his emotions. He didn’t want to be here. He wanted to be back safe, in DCO, happy with Rue and Steve. Not in some dark, foreboding office like room. It stunk like the setup of a bad detective drama.

“A favor,” Hades took another drink, and then poured himself more of the liquor. “Nothing more, nothing less.” He offered the bottle towards James, but James declined. He didn’t know how far the realism went within Hades’s personal space, and he’d rather not get drunk, or even really buzzed, while talking with this man. If there was one thing he was certain about it Hades, it was the fact that Hades was not his friend. This man was dangerous, and he danced to his own tune.

“Suit yourself,” Hades said as he set the bottle back down. “Though, a bit of free advice. When someone offers you a bourbon as fine as this, you don’t turn down seconds.” He took a sip and made a show of reveling in the taste. He event went as far as to let out a heavy, content sigh, as he opened his eyes to regard James again. The man’s eyes swirled strangely, the colors not really setting on a single tone. And the more James tried to focus on Hades’s actual features, the more they shifted as well. Strange.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” James said, finding he had to stop trying to discern any physical features about Hades. It was like his very being, from the shape of his mouth to the color of his eyes, and even his hair, were shifting, constantly out of focus. Was that some strange bug, or a feature of Hades’s own Avatar, to make himself impossible to identify? “But I have a feeling I want as clear a head as possible, for whatever it is you have called me here for.”

“Fair point,” Hades set his glass down, “and a practical way of viewing things. Many people may consider cynicism to be a negative trait, but trust me, it’s the best way to ensure your survival. Though,” he shrugged, “there are times when even that’s not enough to keep you safe. Or, if it is, the cost itself is a deep one. A life of paranoia, looking over your shoulder, doubting and distrusting everyone.” He sighed, “it’s exhausting. And then,” he picked up the strange mask, twisting it this way and that as he looked into its eyes, “when you finally learn the truth, you have to wonder, what was even the point?” He sat the mask down. “But, alas, those musings are the type done alone, at night, with a bottle in one hand and a pipe in the other. As for why I’ve called you here James, it’s a matter of personal responsibility. You aided me, you see, in reaching my goals.”

“Your goals?” James remembered Hades had reached out with him to help stop Cyb3ru5 because the hacking groups’ actions were a potential obstacle to his information gathering. He’d been looking into DCO, and past that, the government itself. Did that mean he’d found what he was looking for? “Are you referring to what you were trying to uncover when you last contacted me?”

“You remembered, good.” Hades grinned at him, the look slightly unnerving as his lips seemed to shimmer and shift in place. “That makes this a bit easier.” He leaned forward, both arms on the table, drawing closer to James. “I did indeed find what I was looking for. And, having found the holy grail, I’ve learned, in short, the darkest truth of the world.”

“And you thought you’d tell me?” James was intrigued, but also, couldn’t help but feel this whole situation seemed a bit…unorthodox? Impossible even?

“It involves you.” Hades said simply. “And I owed you for helping me. It’s only fair that in return I share that which I’ve learned with you.” He sat back then, slumping slightly, and shrugged his shoulders. “What you do with that knowledge, is entirely up to you.” He grabbed his glass, and in a single gulp downed the rest of the liquor. “After all, it’s your funeral.”