"I pray I am chosen joey" Will muttered his shaggy hair black parting to show his eyes. Rare as it was, a muted gesture showing his sincerity. Those pale red eyes he inherited from his mother, a "lowly demon" or so the walls whisper. "Yeah? And which patron will chose us? We're Grey's! 3rd class citizens! maybe even 4th if you count the pets hehe." I said, much louder then I intended "My thoughts exactly!" we turn to see Aasir. "the pride of Lady Satanella" I say whimsically accompanied by an exaggerated curtsy. "Will you joke until the end clown?!" he snorted. "Maybe" I shrug. As we continue to bicker amongst ourselves. "STOP! He's here." "Will's nose is still sharp, as expected of a mutt" Aasir always loved having the last word, today was no different. As the director walks towards the podium I swallow my retort. His presence alone forces all to straighten, not even the parents who came to spectate were immune to the respect he commanded. "Today is the day you children have anticipated for 6 long years" the directors voiced boomed across the audience. "Haven't you waited long enough" he said with a smirk the sent a chill down Will's spine. I could easily tell, he once told me how much that man terrified him. Students started being called to the giant ornate alter in the Cathedral of the All Moons Blessing. "Aasir Satanella" he walk towards the altar trademark confidence in tow. "Stand in the center and hold out both arms" the director commanded and Aasir followed. Aasir is bathed in golden light as white feathers fall. One lands on the back of hand and suddenly it turns black. The crowd gasps as the golden light shifts to red. "ARGGHH" Aasir screams as two horns shoot from his scalp, Two sharp horns now red with blood. Aasir stands with a huff, his aura already enough to overpower a few of weaker students. "L-L-LUICFER" the Director stammers, "Demon Lord of Pride, Fallen Arch Angel" the director regains his usual stoic demeanor.
The crowd explodes in oooohs and ahhhh "Pffft of course it was pride" I chuckled "Joey get serious for once! We're gonna die today!" Will barked at me. "if today is my last, I wont spend it serious" I said. "I can't wait to test my power on the clown and the mutt" Aasir said to his lackeys Lucy and Lucky Luestra two siblings who terrorized us for 6 years, Both sporting high ranking demon patrons. Lucy was chosen by Lilith the first Succubus, Lord of Lust. Lucky was chose by Lilim the Dream Demon. "Apparently all nightmares come from Lilim and his followers" Will said is his trademark panicked whisper. "Joey" he said, something in his voice gave me pause I looked at him. "yeah? " I asked "I had fun thanks to you" he said with a smile. Before I could reply "Josef Grey! Its your turn." I walk to the alter amidst the usual hushed whisper about my last name the mocking laughs of Aasir and his group. "Stand in the center and hold out both arms" I do as told. I wait for the golden light of an angel, The red light of demon, or hell even the scent of iron the follows the warrior. "Of course not, That'd be too easy" I laugh to myself. "oooooohhhhhh is everything a joke to you? Khehehe You'll do juuusst fine little jester" I whip my head around to find the source of this mocking tone, I find nothing, Nothing but frozen time. "I'm Preriot, and you are?" "Josef Grey" I say while tipping my Imaginary hat. "how interesting are you!" Preriot starts "Laughing and crying all at once" I tilt my head to display my confusion, then I feel it a solitary tear rolling down my cheek. I hadn't noticed, how long had I been crying? "What are you? Angel or Demon? Warrior or Mage?" I ask "I'm just a clown" Preriot says with a dismissive wave "just like you little jester".
"Haven't you noticed?" Preriot say with a exaggerated sadness accompanied by real tears "no golden light, no scent of sulfur" Preriot says while pinching their nose "then…what?" I asked "whaattttt???" preriot responds with a huff. "haven't you noticed??" I suddenly notice the warmth on my skin, a spotlight?. I notice a low murmur growing into a deep rumble in my chest, a crowd? A deep emptiness grows in my heart, "what's-what's this?" I ask while gripping my heart "oh that?" Preriot says with a knowing smile "That's the price of playing a character" Preriot says. "haven't you noticed?" Preriot says confused that I'm confused. Looking deep within the swelling emptiness inside me, the tears fall again without me noticing .
When did it start? "how long have I been acting" I say to myself, "Who knows?" Preriot responds with a shrug. "But know this little jester. You're the best I've seen in thousands of years!! That's why I chose you. You can become the best clown of history with my guidance" Preriot says excitedly. "oh great! I can make my opponents laugh until they die right?!?" I say sarcastically "exactly" Preriot says seriously. "wait, you're serious???" I ask "as serious as people like us are allowed to be" Preriot says. "Doesn't inspire much confidence" I say. Before I realized time had continued to flow "KHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA" Aasir lets out a genuine laugh, one that comes from the stomach "I always knew you were clown, now you have the make up to match your true character" the crowd explodes in laughter, at my expense. But somehow I never felt better. "hehehe one of many perks my little jester" Preriot's voice coming from my head. I smile, deeper then I thought possible as power swells within me. The face paint wasn't the only change in my appearance, "my clothes?" I say to myself. My previous rags replaced by fitted red suit jacket and pants complete with a black dress shirt underneath accentuated by a red bow tie. "oooh pretty sharp little jester" says Preriot from inside my head.
"William Grey" the director silences the crowd with ease. Will saunters to the front accompanied by ever present whispers about the nature of his parentage. "Stand in the center and hold out both arms" Will obeys the director. "wouldn't it be funny if he got a powerful patron" I laugh. The thought of Will, the subject of mockery suddenly gaining immense power was a funny thought to have, funnier then it should be. As I whip away the tears from laughter the air shifts. Suddenly the Cathedral was quiet and cold. Instead of light golden or otherwise. The torches and chandelier meant to light the ancient hall, all blown out at once. A low screeching grows louder and closer. "somethings coming" the attendances say anxiously "LOOK!" someone shouts "Bats?" Lucy says. A swarm of bats, hundreds at least swallow up Will his figure vanishes under hundreds of flapping black wings for feels like hours. "they're flying into….his shadow?" the students say, obvious fear and confusion in equal measure in the voices.
In the darkened hall Will's red eyes shone much brighter then before. "what a kind gesture little jester" Preriot says almost pridefully "What are talking about?" I ask "I had something to do with….that" I asked in a panic "Well duh dummy, clowns have a certain …lets say influence over fate" Preriot says this time obviously prideful. "fate?" I say confusedly "yeah, but you aren't supposed to be this strong yet, I knew I chose well" Preriot says "To drag old Vlad outta deep sleep. Hehehehe those angels are gonna kill us both hehehehehehe" Preriot's laughs so loud my ears ring. "DO NOT OVERUSE THIS SKILL! It lead the fates direct intervention. That would mean the end of us both!" Preriot says "okay okay" i say dismissively
"I didn't even know this was possible" the Director says stunned. Will returns to his spot next to me. The crowd parting dramatically. "KHAHAHA! Destined to be outcasts aren't we friend!" I say with a loud laugh. "It seems so Joey" Will says with a big smile. "But aren't we different now" he says with the same puppy dog look he mastered over the years "the more we change the more we stay the same" I say while throwing my arm over his shoulder. As we talk about our newfound powers, Lucy approaches " alone? That's odd" I say while glancing up. Lucy was quite tall for a girl her age, and very attractive despite her bad attitude and scars covering her entire body. Her green eyes accentuated by her long red hair. A small 7 tattooed under her left eyes, all members of the Luestra Clan get one the day they turn 14. Proof the bloodline they hail from, direct descendants of the 7 deadly sins. "The Jester and The Mutt, both of lowly birth. One born from a whore another from a maid" Lucy says as if she telling a bedtime story "you writing our biography, or is this how demons flirt?" I say "does the serpent flirt with the mouse, or does it taunt before it devours" Lucy says "DEVOUR??? B-But Lucy we hardly know each other. Shouldn't you take me out first" I say while clutching my imaginary pearls. Will stifles a laugh and says coldly "what do want Lucy?". "who's your patron? You must've heard their voice" Lucy askes impatiently with one hand on her hip "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't" Will says dismissively "not like it concerns you, weren't you gonna kill us?" Will continues "keeping your cards close eh mutt?" Lucy closes the distance between them and whispers in Will's ear "it wont matter, I'll send you to hell myself. Without the academy to protect you won't last long. I'll make sure you die slowly for what you did to me" Lucy says before walking away. "did you feel that romantic tension? I think she likes you Will" I say "hehe shut up jackass"
"Can we even beat them? What good is a clown in a fight" Will askes genuine enough to offend a lesser man "HEY! Rude" I reply with faux sadness "I'm serious!" Will says "ME?? What can you do bat boy??" I fire back "my patron is Vladimir Dracula, the progenitor of all vampires" will says coldly and calmly "Ummmm Preriot did I really do all that?" I ask "yes and no, fate loves you for some reason don't get me wrong but Vladdy did owe me a favor" Preriot says "ummmmm who are you talking too??" Will says looking me like I'm insane "my Patron, Preriot" I say "Wait you can talk to your patron?" Will asks "yeah cant everyone" I say. Will defeatedly drops his face in his hands "no Joey. Patrons are higher beings some of them have hundreds of thousands of mortals to watch over! How would they have time to answers your questions!?!?" Will says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "hmmmm…Hey Perry! How many people do you watch over?" I ask "uhhh like 4 I think…no 3 one of them JUST died hehehe" Preriot says with a giggle. "Mines only has 3" I say to Will.
After a bit of stunned silence will says "un fucking believable" I shrug at his disbelief and suddenly a dumb little thought crosses my mind "try to talking to Vlad….he's been asleep for so long I doubt he has many people to look after" Will opens his mouth and then immediately closes it. Without replying he closes his eyes and remains silent for a while. While he's talking to Vlad I watch the remainder of the Selection. The remaining 6 deadly sin are chosen by bloodline so its never a surprise, the 4 demon princes tend to chose noble demons or the occasional elf. Elven Warriors are after all "the original demon" or so my mother use to say. She saw things a certain way and never bothered to explain why, though I never asked. I shake away thoughts of mother, tears came with thoughts of mother, and just like that the remaining selection passes in a blur.