Chapter 49 – Red and Violet
The ground was still trembling when the dust finally settled.
Peterson stood frozen in place, one foot half a step forward, instinctively shielding Naëlle behind him. His heart hammered so violently he thought Afre and Ravena could hear it. The cracked pavement beneath their feet smoked faintly, thin lines spreading outward from where the two Zobop generals had landed.
Afre straightened first, brushing imaginary dirt from his coat. His smile was relaxed—too relaxed—like this was a chore he'd done a hundred times before.
Ravena didn't smile.
She stood perfectly still, shadows curling around her ankles like living smoke, her violet eyes locked onto Peterson with predatory focus. She tilted her head slightly, studying him the way someone studies a weapon they plan to break.
"So," Afre said casually, spreading his arms, "this is the kid everyone's been making noise about."
Peterson swallowed hard but forced himself not to step back.
Naëlle's fingers tightened around his sleeve. "Peterson," she whispered, barely audible, "don't provoke them. Afre likes to talk. Ravena doesn't."
Afre chuckled. "Smart girl."
Peterson felt anger spark in his chest. "If you know who I am, then you already know I'm not just gonna hand anything over."
Ravena finally spoke. Her voice was smooth, quiet, and unsettling—like a blade sliding free from its sheath.
"You already handed it over once," she said. "When you revealed it."
Peterson's jaw clenched. "I put it away."
Afre shrugged. "Doesn't matter. The signal was enough. Like ringing a dinner bell."
He took one step forward.
The air pressure changed instantly.
Peterson's system reacted before his brain did.
[WARNING: Hostile Targets Detected]
Threat Level: EXTREME
Peterson exhaled sharply. Extreme… yeah, no kidding.
Naëlle leaned close to his ear. "Those two? They wiped out an entire gang by themselves in Nan Bannan.With No mercy."
[ Naëlle learned about those Loa's activities due to her connection to Papa Legba]
Peterson muttered back, "Great. Exactly what I needed on a date."
Afre laughed openly this time. "See? I like him. Even scared, he's got jokes."
Ravena's eyes flicked to Afre. "Focus."
She raised her staff. The crystal at its tip pulsed once—slow, deliberate.
Shadows rippled across the walls around them.
Peterson felt something crawl up his spine.
"Listen carefully, Peterson Joseph," Ravena said. "We are not here to kill you."
Afre nodded. "Yet."
"But we are here to take the medallion," Ravena continued. "If you cooperate, you live. If you resist…"
Her shadows thickened.
"…you suffer."
Peterson let out a humorless laugh. "You people always say that like it's a choice."
Afre tilted his head. "You're right. It isn't."
Peterson closed his eyes for half a second and reached inward.
The Veve pulsed faintly beneath his skin.
Not yet, he thought. Not like last time.
He opened his eyes. "If you want it, you're gonna have to earn it."
Naëlle inhaled sharply. "Peterson—"
Too late.
Afre vanished.
Not moved—vanished.
Peterson barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his ribs, sending him skidding backward across the pavement. He rolled, barely catching himself before hitting a wall.
Pain exploded through his side.
Afre reappeared where Peterson had been standing, flexing his fingers. "Good reflexes. Sloppy guard."
Ravena moved next.
Shadows erupted from the ground, shooting toward Naëlle like spears.
"NAËLLE!" Peterson shouted.
He didn't think. He acted.
The staff formed in his hand mid-motion, snapping into existence as he slammed it into the ground.
A translucent shield burst outward.
CRACK.
The shadows shattered on impact, fragments dissolving into smoke.
Peterson staggered, knees buckling.
[Defensive Construct Damaged: 1/6]
Ravena's eyebrow lifted slightly. "Interesting."
Naëlle stared at the broken shadows, then at Peterson. "You protected me…"
"Yeah," he panted. "That's kind of my thing."
Afre laughed again. "Oh, this is getting fun."
He rushed Peterson again—faster this time.
Peterson spun the staff, transforming it mid-swing into a curved blade. Steel met flesh—sparks flew—but Afre twisted away at the last second, the blade slicing air.
Ravena lifted her staff and slammed it down.
The street dropped.
Gravity inverted for a split second.
Peterson felt himself lift off the ground, slammed upward, then crash back down hard.
His shield shattered completely.
[Defensive Construct Destroyed]
Peterson groaned, blood trickling from his lip.
Naëlle ran to his side. "Peterson, listen to me. These two aren't testing you—they're measuring you."
Afre nodded approvingly. "Exactly."
Peterson pushed himself up slowly, breathing hard. "Then tell your boss… he's gonna need a bigger ruler."
Ravena smiled.
Not warmly.
"Bold," she said. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Her aura surged.
Afre's followed.
Red and violet energy flooded the street, warping the air.
Peterson felt it—pressure, heat, suffocation—all at once.
His system screamed.
[WARNING: Veve Synchronization Rising]
Stability: 72%
Peterson clenched his teeth. No. Not again.
Naëlle grabbed his arm. "Peterson, if you lose control—"
"I won't," he said, though his voice shook.
Afre cracked his neck. "You hear that, Ravena? Kid's confident."
Ravena raised her staff. "Then break him."
They moved together.
Perfect coordination.
Afre attacked from the front—fast, brutal, precise.
Ravena struck from behind—shadows biting, twisting, constricting.
Peterson fought like hell.
He shifted weapons mid-combat—blade to hammer to chain—barely keeping up, barely staying on his feet. Every block rattled his bones. Every dodge shaved milliseconds off disaster.
Naëlle stayed close, shouting warnings, pulling him just out of reach more than once.
"Left!"
"Behind you!"
"NOW!"
Peterson trusted her completely.
That trust saved him.
But even then… it wasn't enough.
Afre landed a kick square in Peterson's chest.
Ravena's shadow wrapped around his leg.
Peterson hit the ground hard.
Afre stepped forward, foot pressing down on his chest.
Ravena pointed her staff at his face.
"End of the line," Afre said calmly.
Naëlle screamed, "STOP!"
The night held its breath.
Peterson looked up at them, bloodied, exhausted—
—and smiled.
"You really think," he said hoarsely, "I'm going down this easy?"
The Veve flared.
Hard.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Threshold Approaching]
Afre's smile faded.
Ravena's eyes widened just slightly.
And that—
That was when they realized something important.
Peterson Joseph was not just a target.
He was a problem.
To be continued.
[ Author's Note: I know I have not been posting any chapters for the past weeks, well I work at Amazon warehouse and its prime season so I had a tight schedule, my overtime ends this weekend which means I can write more chapters now. Happy holidays yall ]