Chapter 5: The Unknown World

I wore the necklace and ran as fast as I could to Lavieve. Thank God I arrived there on time, so I don’t need to make my boss angry.

And with his scary look, Coélzé stood next to me during my shift and sometimes he commented stupid things about the customer, which made me almost laughed my head off.

“Could you just stop commenting the customers?” I whispered really quietly.

“Hmph...Sorry...I just couldn’t stand looking at them! Look at that lady, she’s so ‘skinny’!” He whispered and he pointed to a REALLY big fat lady. I saw that lady and I smiled.

“Shut up, will ya?” I whispered again, “Don’t make me lose my concentration,”

He shrugged. “Fine,” he said.

“Anyways,” I murmured while making a vanilla frappuccino, “Does this necklace make the same effect like the sword?”

“I thought you told me to shut up,”

“Alright!” I hissed, “Just...tell me...”

“Well...actually, yeah. It’s kinda funny you know, so when people are attracted to your necklace or bracelet or earring and they actually touch it, their skin will be shredded,”

I poured the frappuccino into a glass and imagined what if Lythea touches it. Oh wow, that’ll be nice. I just couldn’t wait to see her face after she got her skin shredded.

“You shouldn’t really do that to her, you know,” Coélzé said suddenly.

I raised my left eyebrow. “You can read minds?”

“Not everyone’s minds, just the sword holder,” he explained.

“Why does it have to be so unfair for me?” I asked quietly.

“Well...that’s the way we work, you know...”

After Coélzé said that, we didn’t really talk until I change shift with Rioe, my friend at Lavieve. Or perhaps, my only friend.

When I went home, it was already about 8 pm and I went to a store to buy a mask. Coélzé helped me in choosing the mask anyways.

After a few short arguments, I bought a white mask that only covers your eyes and half of your nose. So it’s like a mask that people wear to mask parties. About the color...well, I can paint it black when I got home.

At home...

I walked to my room and locked the door. Then, Coélzé transformed into his humanoid look. Wow, he’s so gorgeous.

With that short, spiky brunet hair...those sparkling hazel eyes...Even I admit it.

Okay, let’s forget about it.

I sat in front of my computer and did a little research about the high-level criminals. I don’t wanna kill someone (or shred their skin) who only did a small mistake.

While waiting for the whole research data, I painted the mask I bought earlier in black.

“You know...” I said to Coélzé, “I think you’re still hiding something...can you tell me a bit more about yourself?”

Coélzé seemed like he was shocked to hear that. He cleared his throat and he said, “Do you mean that you want to know more about Devengails?”

I nodded. “I’d love to hear that. I think it sounds kinda mystique...”

“Alright then,” he began his story, “Devengails are half-breeds. You know, like Devils or Angels...but we’re not like them. We’re not commanded by God directly,

There are some Lagens, they’re Devengails’ bosses, and they’re just a bit below Angels. There are The Sword Maker, The Element, The Ring Keeper, The Flower Mistress and then...The Key Master, The Prophecy, The Wiseman, The Fairy, and The Joker. They’re Lagens with their own special powers and they’re commanded directly by the Angels. And as you know, I work for The Sword Maker...”

“So...there are only 9 Lagens?” I cut him.

“Well...there is one more Lagen...but she betrayed the Angels and now she’s commanded by the Devils. She’s The Night Hunter,”

“Oh...I see. But the Devengails aren’t like slaves, right?”

“Of course we’re not slaves! We work for Lagens, and they pay us with our own special powers – like I can transform into a human – and immortality. I won’t die except The Sword Maker kills me,”

I just nodded in an understanding look. “Well...how about your friend? You know, the one whose name was borrowed by me?”

“Oh...Do you mean Lhoécca? Well...we don’t really work together...she works with The Fairy,”

Chapter 4: The Rules

I gasped. “WHAT?! Wouldn’t that be TOO MUCH?!” I said.

“I know. Kinda vulgar actually, but that’s the only way it works,” Coélzé explained and shrugged.

“But I don’t wanna do that to anyone!” I protested.

“Your protest is leading us to rule number 2, which is, this sword has to be touched with human skin everyday. Everyday you don’t use this sword to fight crime, it’ll take your energy and on the twelfth day not touching this sword to human skin, you’ll be dead.

Here’s a fun bit. If you cut someone with this sword, their skin will be shredded till the last of the bones, but it won’t do whatsoever to you! If you don’t believe me, just try it,”

I looked at him in disbelief. I looked at the sword and shivered a bit. “Naah...I believe you. I’ll try it later. So...what’s the next rule?”

“Well...you can give this sword to someone else. But if you do, you’ll be the first person to be hunted down by the next holder, you got it?”

I nodded. “So, that means I’ll go to Heaven?”

“Depends. I’m not gonna say your life is gonna be easy with this sword. Instead, I think it’ll make you lots of trouble and pain,”

“You still have time to consider though whether you take this sword or you’ll give it back to me and I’ll give this sword to someone else. The Sword Maker gave you compensation because you’re the first holder. So...what do you think?”

I looked at Coélzé and thought hard. I’m really interested in this, but I don’t know if I really should take this sword. It took me a few minutes before I finally said something.

“Coélzé, I’ll take this skull sword,” I said. Coélzé smiled.

“Wonderful. From now on, I’ll go to your school and be with you to control and to guide you in using this sword...”

“But Coélzé,” I cut him, “If you go to my school, where will you stay?”

“Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. With this humanoid look, everyone can see me. But,” then he transformed back into the scary-looking creature, “Only you can see me when I’m like this,”

My jaw dropped. “Hey, that’s not fair!” I protested.

“Come on, Constantina, if everyone sees me like this, people will be shocked like you did! I don’t wanna kill people just because of my look!”

I sighed. “Alright...so...when will I begin killing people?”

“You don’t have to start tonight, you can start tomorrow night,”

“Oh...then I’ll have plenty of time to design my clothes, and my name...”

“Wait, what do you think you’re doing???”

“I’m gonna be a superhero, right? I need my style,”

Coélzé changed into his humanoid look again and sighed. “Alright...”

I walked to my wardrobe. “Let’s see...how about a black sleeveless leather jacket with three skulls printed in front of it...and then...black leather jeans...and...a mask,”

I sighed. “I don’t have a mask,” I said, “but maybe I could just buy one in a shop after part-time job,”

“Yeah, mask is an important thing. You mustn’t let anyone know your identity or any details about skull sword, okay?”

“Uh-huh,” I murmured, “and what will I call myself? Ummm...how about...SKULL? Naah...everyone in Eternity High recognizes me as that. Hmmm...I think...my name should be...Luskayne! What do you think, Coélzé?”

“Bad name,” he said while sitting on my bed, “I have a better one, it’s from the anagram of my friend’s name, how about Choélla?”

“Choélla? Hmmm...That sounds nice actually. Great! From now on, people will know me as, Choélla!” I said energetically.

“Yeah! And you better be hurry because you’re gonna be late for your part-time job!” Coélzé said pretty loud, and that actually made me almost fell to the floor.

“WHAT?!?! AAAAARGH!!!” I yelled and didn’t change my clothes but I ran downstairs when someone knocked the front door.

“Yo, sis! Open the door, will ya?!” Ekren yelled while still knocking on the door like mad.

“You have a brother?” Coélzé whispered and transformed back into his scary look again.

“Yep, his name is Ekren,” I said and opened the door.

“Look, Ekren. After I leave, lock the door, okay?!” I said and ran to ‘Lavieve’.

Then, Coélzé stopped me. “What are you doing?!” I hissed.

“You forgot the sword!”

“WHAT?! Where is it?!” I panicked.

“Here,” Coélzé gave me a necklace, “the sword is portable, you can just change it into a necklace or earring or bracelet and bring it everywhere you go! It’s a new function actually,”

I almost laughed my head off when I heard that, but I stayed cool and said, “Well...thanks...I’ll wear this necklace,”

Chapter 3: Skull Sword

With that guy sitting on the floor in pain, I picked my bag and said, “Anyone wanna taste that?”

Then, Lythea showed up. “Don’t think you’re so strong, SKULL...”

“Oh yeah?!” I cut her, “Then why didn’t you step up and fight me, huh? Don’t wanna break a nail? What if I break your legs?”

Without waiting for any answer, I walked through them and walked home.

On my way home, I just couldn’t stop murmuring to myself that my seniors are idiots. And...oops!

I think I stepped on something.

I lifted my foot and saw a sword. A real sword, and it was the first sword I’ve ever seen in my life.

I bent down and picked it up. It was actually really cool, you know. The sword was shiny with no stains, it wasn’t too long or too short, and the coolest thing is: the hand-hold is skull-shaped.

I took a good look on it carefully, didn’t want my hand to get cut.

Then, I walked home with the sword in my hands. When I arrived, Ekren and Dad hadn’t come home yet. Maybe Ekren is now having a date with his new girlfriend.

I took the key from beneath the white rose vase and went inside and locked the door again.

I walked upstairs and still holding that sword with extra-care. When I got inside my room, I locked the door and put the sword on my table.

I sat on a chair in front of my table and took another good look at the sword.

“You’re actually really cool, I’m really lucky to have you,” I said slowly and caressed the sword. But then I stopped when I felt something was weird about the sword.

On the blade, I saw a writing that said ‘SKULL’. Whoa, does it have anything to do with me?

I finally gave up because I’m supposed to go for my part-time job in an hour. But when I turned my back, I saw something...really shocking.

There it was...a tall, skinny, scary-looking creature...standing in front of me. I yelled by reflex.

“AAAAARGH!!!”

“Ssssh...it’s okay, I’m not gonna hurt you, Constantina,” it said as it covered my mouth with its cold hand. Funny, it was the only one who calls me Constantina.

After it made sure I’ve calmed down, it let go of my mouth, but I was still speechless.

“Sorry if I shock you, but before I tell you anything more, I think I’ll just change myself,” it said and it suddenly changed into a REALLY DROP DEAD GORGEOUS guy, “now we can talk freely,”

I took a deep breath and I encouraged myself to ask him, “Who are...you?”

“Ah...well...my name’s Coélzé and I’m not a human, I’m a Devengail,” he explained.

“A what?”

“Devengail. It’s hard to explain. Anyway, congratulations for picking that sword,” he said and pointed to the sword I élzé. I was wondering, why didn’t you just show up as a guy?” I asked, already got rid of my nerves.

“Technically, this isn’t my real body. The scary me that you saw earlier was the real me. I’m sorry,” he grinned.

“Oh. No, I’m cool with it. Anyway, what is this sword?”

“That’s the Skull Sword. Maybe you haven’t heard of it, because this is the first time ever for the Skull Sword to be thrown onto the earth,” he explained.

“This skull sword was thrown to the earth?” I raised my left eyebrow.

“Yep. And then, The Sword Maker chose me to guide this sword, and I saw your fight with your senior at school, and I was truly impressed, so I put the skull sword on your way home,”

“Oh...thanks. Anyways, what does this sword do?”

“As you see, this sword is called the skull sword, and you have to use it to fight criminals. Here are some rules though that you should remember:

One, if you cut someone else’s body or any parts of their body, their skin will be shredded down till the last of the bones...”

Chapter 2: School Rumble

“So...here it is...the infamous SKULL,” one of the girls with PINK shirt and white mini skirt said and folded her arms. I don’t even know her name.

“Yeah. And excuse me if you have no business with me,” I said emotionlessly and walked through them.

That ‘senior’ who talked to me cleared her throat. “Well...that’s not really how you do it in Eternity High,”

I turned around. “What?” I challenged them.

“You see, all the freshmen have to know the seniors’ names,” she said.

I sighed. Here we go...

“Second, you don’t walk through us like you did,” she continued.

I curled my fist as I really wanted to punch that girl.

“So, SKULL, I’m afraid I have to punish you. For this entire week, you have to obey what we tell you to do, understand?” she said again. Geez, she’s so annoying.

I didn’t say anything and turned my back on them and just walked away to my class. Yeah, what happened to the ‘Friendship, Brain, and Soul are Eternal’ motto?

I thought I heard them called my name a few times, but I just kept walking.

At lunch break...

I always have my own seat for lunch. When I was about to eat, that senior walked to me again and sat on my table without my permission.

The different thing is that, she’s alone now.

“Look, I don’t know you. Could you just go away and let me eat my quiche?” I said, not even looking at her.

“First of all, the name is Lythea Faragid...”

“OKAY, LYTHEA,” I punched my fist on the table, “If you DARE come to me again, I swear I’ll make you feel so sorry that you ever talked to me, you got it?”

Lythea didn’t reply for a few seconds. Instead, she stood up and said, “Remember SKULL. You’re a Goth nerd and a freshman. I am a cheerleader and a senior. Let’s see who’ll be sorry,”

I raised my left eyebrow and sighed. Yeah right. I don’t even think she knows how to curl her fist the right way.

What a loser.

And all she can do is just waving pom-poms. She can’t even do a simple backhand spring. Come on.

That’s just plain ridiculous.

When I ate just about half of my quiche, the bell rang. AAAARGH! I love this quiche! Thanks to Lythea, I don’t get to finish it.

I grumpily stood up and threw the rest of the quiche into my mouth and chewed it quickly.

I rushed to my locker and picked my history books. I just hope I won’t be late for class so Mr. Shirc doesn’t have to punish me.

After school...

After I put my books back in my locker and was about to go home, another gang of seniors blocked my way.

But this is the guys’ gang.

I sighed and said, “Okay, did I make another mistake or what?”

One of the guys (he sure was a big one) walked to me and grabbed my collar. “You made Lythea mad, didn’t you?” He said.

I looked at him with no fear at all (not even in my heart, I’m not scared of big guys like him) and tilted my head to the left. “Ah...you must be her boyfriend,” I mocked him.

I felt his grip on my collar tightened. “Look, SKULL, I don’t care if you’re a girl, I can beat you up in ease,” he said and smirked. Boy, he still looked ugly.

“You know what, ‘senior’? I think you should consider brushing your teeth 3 times a day or eat a fresh mint candy,” I mocked him again.

He threw me onto the floor. That didn’t hurt at all. I stood up and folded my arms as I challenged him.

“Oh, so you think you’re so tough, aren’t you, SKULL?” he said, “Oooh...here’s SKULL, aaaah...I’m so scared...the SKULL is coming...” he continued with this annoying, mocking tone.

I sighed and shook my head. Definitely a stupid guy.

When he was about to punch me squarely on my face, I was ready to ward him off and I kicked his groin as hard as I could. Gah, this is too easy.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

The song ‘Shot’ from The Rasmus rang through my ears from my hand phone as it woke me up.

I yawned and walked lazily to Ekren’s bedroom. I knocked the door.

“Ekren, wake up now, you have to go to school,” I said from outside and after he replied, “Alright,” I walked to my bathroom and took a shower.

By the way, where did my manner go, my name is Constantina Serenity Kayne Uhryngel Leia Lonavee. I don’t know where the heck my parents got my name. As a result, my friends call me Constantina SKULL from the initials of the 5 last names.

Well, they’re not really my friends, they’re just my schoolmates in my school, the Eternity High.

Oh, and I’m still 15 while Ekren is 13 so I have to take care of him because my mom passed away after she gave birth to Ekren while my dad is a laborer.

I think my life is quite satisfying because of my Grandpa’s money. At least we still have something to eat. I also have some money from my part-time job salary.

I never liked school, I’d prefer working full-time job because I love my job. I work in the biggest café in Gornéz, the town where I live. The café is called ‘Lavieve’.

After I finished taking a shower, I walked to my room and dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt with a skull printed at the front of it, my favorite black jeans, and a black jacket.

I brushed my shoulder-length hair and used a semi-permanent highlighter on them so now my hair is complete with red strikes.

After I got dressed, I went downstairs and cooked breakfast.

“Ekren!!! Breakfast’s ready!” I yelled. Ekren ran downstairs and walked to me.

“Heya sistah!” He greeted. I just looked at him.

“So, new girlfriend?” I asked. I already knew, if Ekren talks to me like that, he has a new girlfriend.

Ekren just grinned. “Uh-huh,”

“I would’ve guessed,” I said and continued eating my French toast, “So, is she the fourth girlfriend?”

He shook his head. “Nope, she’s the fifth. By the way, sis, when will you get a boyfriend?”

“Not even close. I better waste my time to work for you and Dad or to keep my role as a straight A+ student,”

“Sis, I think you’re the first Goth girl and a straight A+ student ever,”

“Whatever,” I sighed, “Where’s Dad anyway?”

“Gone for work, I didn’t see him in his bedroom or anywhere else,”

“Oh,” I stood up and washed my plate, “So, don’t forget to lock the door and...”

“...Leave the keys under the white rose vase before I leave, I know, sis,” Ekren continued. I shrugged.

“And MAKE SURE you do that. Or I’ll make YOU be responsible if someone went into the house and took MY leather jacket AND my stupid highlighter!”

“Sis! I’m not a kid anymore, ‘kay?!” Ekren protested.

I sighed and walked out of the house to school. Fortunately, Eternity High is just a couple of blocks from my house so I can just walk.

I have no friends at school, no one wants to be my friend. I don’t think I want one either.

I haven’t found someone who is as Goth as I am...yet.

Most of the girls in Eternity High are the oh-so-pretty girls or cheerleaders. I hate them.

I’m not even close with the boys!

No one would actually talk to me or look at me in the eye. And no one calls me Constantina, they call me SKULL.

When I arrived at school, I walked to my locker and picked my math book. But when I was going to the class, some girls got in my way.

I looked at them. Ah, the seniors.

I’m sooo gonna have some fun.

Prologue

I’m trapped in the rose field,

Is this just another stupid dream like I used to have?

I raised my arms and I saw them bleeding,

The roses’ thorns cut my arms,

Oh great.

I ran and got rid of the roses from my way with my hands,

But this is just impossible!

Why are my hands bleeding, too?

Yeah right.

Not only the thorns, but also the petals are sharper than a razor blade.

I stopped running, this is just plain ridiculous.

I just stood there, and still bleeding.

Wait, what’s that light?

Come on, don’t tell me that’s Angel.

That is WAY too cheesy.

Besides, I’m not even sure I’m going to Heaven.

Oh, that’s not an Angel, thank God.

That’s...a guy???

Yeah right.

This is even cheesier than before.

“You have no choice,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“If you keep standing there, you’ll die because of massive blood loss,”

“Yeah right,” I teased.

“But if you move, you’ll still die because of the same thing,” he didn’t listen to me.

“Then what should I do?” I asked.

“You’ll find it out soon if you’re smart enough to guess and to find it,”

Before I could say anything, he disappeared.

I sighed. Yeah right.

So the main point is, I’ll die.

The only difference is the matter of time.

Fine, then I’ll just keep walking.

Then, I felt like I stepped on something.

I looked down and it turned out to be a sword.

I picked it and smiled in victory.

“So he thinks I’m not smart enough, eh?” I said to myself.

Then, that guy appeared again.

He grinned.

Yeah, he grinned.

“So, this means I’ll survive?” I asked him.

He still grinned.

What’s that supposed to mean?

“Not really. My guess was right,” he leaned closer to me.

“I guessed you’d pick that sword instead of the white rose at the end of this field,” he continued.

“So...”

“You picked the wrong way. But that means it’s your path,” he smiled.

“You tricked me!” I protested.

“No, you tricked yourself,”

I frowned and was thinking about throwing that sword away.

“Not the solution, sweetie,” he said like he could read my mind.

“Then what?!” I yelled.

“Walk along your path, it’ll lead you to your death,”

“WHAT?!”

“You have no choice, remember? But you have to accept this gift whether you like it or not,”

“YOU CALL THIS A GIFT?!”

“Yeah. Thanks to that sword, you’ll save a lot of people before you die,”

“I was actually hoping I’ll be immortal with this sword,”

“Nothing is immortal, everyone will die,”

“Okay now stop messing around with me, what sword is this?!”

“I thought you’d already know when you picked it, maybe you’re not smart enough,”

“This sword...” he continued, “is the Skull Sword..."

[End of Prologue]