Gods and Games

"You hit me in the head on purpose Carlton!" Bryant yells out, holding his palm to his head.

"It truly was an accident Bryant." Carlton scuffs, rolling his eyes.

"No..no! You were floating those cans about, I was looking right at you. I'm SICK of your games Carlton. You want to to muck around and and play these idiot games. Like the rest of these these imbeciles. Like your one of these humans. It's it's infuriating." He holds his chin high, "You you think you -"

It had come to this the final straw. Bryant stands tall, all 4 foot 2 inches of him. He holds one hand to his head while the other tries to fix his cute little tie and calm himself. His cheeks blistering red. He was trying his best to maintain composure, keep himself gentlemanly. It seemed to not be working. Seething and shuddering, holding the side of his head staring daggers into Carlton, he was finally finished with all the little games. Carlton had only been at the keep for a few months but yes he was obnoxious, arrogant, cocky, a down right bully. Lacking structure, discipline, or the respect for his peers. Bryant had been more than lenient with him but now that was finished, now his patience had finally run out. He speaks formal and respectful but is interrupted by Bryant as if his words and obvious anger meant absolutely nothing.

"Bro, relax. It's a can of Spam" Carlton rebuttals sitting in a red chair still twirling another two cans of Spam around the air.

Janice continues to look through Fathers grand library oblivious to the usual squabble. She removes an overly sized blue book and begins to examine the intricate spine lacing. Behind her, rows of book cases ahead, Bryant is pacing around the sitting area. His boots heard clomp hard on the fine oak laid floor. Bryant sticks out his tongue. Carlton still continues his smug reactions sliding his fingers along the silk fabric speaking things like "Just relax", "Its was just a can", "Stop being a little wuss", "Its just a joke". Flames erupt in the eyes of Bryant visibly engulfing the sockets as they dart around the room seemingly for something to throw back. Instead, he hustles over to the encased platform and grabs a black notebook from under the glass. He grips the book in his hand and at the moment, Janice stops feeling a sense danger and takes notice. She clutches her large book and hustles around the tall rows of bookcases, lifting her formal dress for haste.

"Yo, Yo, relax Bryant. Your eyes are like all fire and shit." now Carlton perks up to a more serious tone, not having seen this side of Bryant. He wasn't scared of Bryant at all, just trying to make sure Bryant could see his oversized teenage frame. A little show of force is all he thought was needed. He hadn't fully mastered his powers but as usual his ego was as powerful as ever.

"Oh no Carlton. No, its all fun right. Its its all a joke right." Bryant places the book in his pocket in his little front pocket then his hands behind his back. He tilts his head and with a few blinks the flames in his eyes slowing subside. In its place a wide grin, creeping to an impossible size emerges upon his face. The small one stands there and stares at Carlton with this odd smile for a moment without movement. The cans drop to the floor as Carlton goes to his feet losing focus. He begins to flex his chest and put his fist in his hand repeatedly. His thoughts were that his 7 foot frame had intimidated Bryant all this time. That all this time Bryant was a small weak child. Janice rounds the bookcase and as she steps out she notices the black notebook sticking out of Bryant's front pocket. This makes her freeze dead in her tracks. Her eyes widen as she takes in the scene unsure of what to do.

Bryant looks at her then back to Carlton, "Oh, I know. Let's say I'll give you the book back if you give me say, $20,000. $20,000 human dollars. You like playing right. You want to just play games all day don't you Carlton. Well. Well I want to play. I'm going to play too. Give me $20,000 now!" Bryant screams just as the door to the room burst open.

Malen charges inside screaming about the noise. Her long dress sends out a blast of light has her ivory staff hits the floor. Bryant using this moment of flare as his opportunity, spins on his heels in retreat. Carlton out stretches his arms and some force moves across the room, pushing the long desk and chairs into Bryant's path. Bryant dives forward, going prone in the air right over the desk, continuing another 10 feet out the open window. His body goes stream line one hand over the other the whole way out, as if he were diving into a pool. He now holds the black notebook between his clasp hands and the weird wide grin on his face out then over the ledge. Janice and Carlton sprint to the window as a flash of lightening erupts below. They make it just in time to see a streak of light shoot pass, partially blinding them yet again. They pear down but all that is left is dense dark clouds below them with a long stretch of earth fitted beneath the towering stone keep.

"Bryant has taken Fathers book" Janice speaks looking over to Malen with tears coming down her face. Tears more from the 2 high level flashes that she took and also the fear from Father's book being taken. A face of fear and confusion, with a hint of temporary blindness. Melan stands in the doorway with her mouth agape unable to speak for the moment. "Carlton what have you done" Janice looks to him then looks at the empty case.

"Me, the hell I do. Sheesh" Carlton rebuttals as he walks over to right up the chair. He gets it sturdy then sits averting the death stares from the two sisters while he rubs his eyes. "Its just a book who gives a shit."

"That was Father's book. That was fathers personal writings. The words written have all the powers from ancient lords. If he reads upon the book...." Melan begins to speak stepping towards them closing the door behind her. Looking around like she was hiding from prying eyes as she moves in.

"No one other than Father can read the scripts Melan." Janice reassures, her pacing now begins.

"There is no concern for him reading Father's book. Just the mere possession of the book is dire. The more scripts are written the more powerful the beholder is you fools. We must get that book immediately. If Father returns and the book is not here, these things are unspeakable. If Father feels the book? You will make amends this instant, Young Bastard" Melan exclaims setting her sights on Carlton.

"Dude do I look like I have $20,000 come on. What's he going to do with human money anyway. I'll got find him real quick and take it back. Bam bam and were done. What so he can fly or disappear or whatever I'll find him". Carlton goes on about his strength and how his powers are unmatched. Melan and Janice look at each other in disbelief. "I'm going to find you buddy!" he begins yelling out the still open window trying to make a mockery of Bryant but seemingly only himself.

"My apologize Carlton. I now realize your ignorance in all this. You believed Bryant allowed you to continue your petty jokes and squabbling because you were stronger? Bigger? I'm amused honestly. I don't think you quite understand since you haven't really been here all that long but he has done everything possible to make you feel welcomed. Try to give you time. Bryant doesn't restrain himself because he is weak, nor because you are stronger. His size is of little matter either. Bryant's restraint is his strength or rather his strength is his restraint. I'm really not quite sure but I can tell you without restraint, it could possibly mean the death of us all." Melan tries her best to explain. As the older of the sisters she has always been more astute. If she had been present she would have definitely not let things get this far out of hand. She continues to explain walking to the window and looking down into the darkness. Dense clouds still cover the rocks below as hard winds begin to bellow inside. She closes the window turning waiting for a response.

"He cannot read the book. Yes! Yes, only father can translate the inscriptions. It's useless to him." Janice finally adds. Trying to reassure the others.

"We need to get that book Janice. I just explained that it matters not if he can read it, the book exudes pieces of fathers powers. Pieces of the power that we couldn't imagine to control" Melan scoops her dress and sits on the desk. "Father will be home soon and if the book is gone, we are all doomed"

"Ok. I'll go and smack little dude around a bit. Don't worry I won't hurt him too much trust me. I don't know what you guys are talking about I would know if this dude was tough. Just relax, I'm going out and be back in a second." With that he opens the window and perches himself on the ledge looking into the sky.

"Have you not been listening Carlton. Have either of you not been listening as usual. MY WORD!. You could never match Bryant even before he held fathers book." Melan speaks with a look of a little concern but annoyance.

"Girls relax. I got this. Trust." He winks then shoots into the air out of the window.

"He is a complete imbecile. But where are we going to get human money!?"Janice still holds her book to her chest, staring at the floor.

"Human money? What could Bryant possibly want with human money" Melan starts to drag the table back into place as she mutters questions to herself. Janice abruptly shouts out "I've got it!"

Bryant sits with his legs crossed on a large rock overlooking a cliff side. The crash of waves heard below with the cracks of ice that have formed periodically break off the ridges, crashing into the black water. Bryant breathes deeply. In and out. The black book lay at his feet. Carlton falls from the sky landing with a shake throwing dust and dirt past Bryant. Carlton stands from his knee with the usual smug grin on his face as he swaggers over towards Bryant.

"Bryant my boy! It seems your really bad at jokes and looks like I'm going to have to take that book back now." He stops a fair distance away still smug and cocky as ever.

Bryant still sitting, calmly responds, "Unfortunately for you fool, YOU are the one who shall have something taken this day."

Carlton's mouth silently moves around "boy" which unleashes anger in his eyes. Digging deep into the dirt as he sprints towards Bryant he leaps into the air coming down swift to strike. Bryant appears to still be seating calming as the elbow of Carlton strikes through. His arms sweeps through the apparition of Bryant who appears now to be standing in the same spot which Carlton began. Bryant grins while Carlton looks confused. Carlton steps down from the rock and begins to clap. His cocky nature demands he continue to puff his chest. His ego would demand he not look weak or fearful. All of a sudden Carlton is struck by a violent unseen blow. He feels his sternum burn with pain just as Bryant, a second or two, now appears right in front of him. Bryant's fist tucked deep into Carlton's ribs as he follows through sending Carlton flying right over the cliffs edge. He soars back up a moment later floating down slowly, trying to hide the pain in his body. His hand clutching his wounded torso begins to glow as a small bit of relief is dealt.

"See now I'm going to have to beat yo ass" Carlton grits as his hands erupt with a glowing energy. Lifting from the ground he hovers forth with dirt pushed aside from his force as he targets his foe. He reaches Bryant then follows through with a front kick that Bryant effortlessly avoids slightly stepping to the side. Another strike comes down that misses again, then an uppercut followed by another. They all miss their mark. As Bryant moves dodging a flurry of blows Carlton can see him studying, watching his movement as if Carlton's speed were minuscule. He seems to creep past at the last second, following his strike along with a grin as he stares at Carlton's face. The energy from Carlton's hands made its way up to his shoulders all the while they were fighting. Now charged it shoots out, inches right past Bryant's face. Beams flare out in direction after direction while Bryant continues to effortlessly switch stances and maneuvers. Finally Bryant advancing jumping between the beams going right enter to Carlton. He grabs Carlton by the face, his small body between the beams, spinning him around before throwing him head first into the large rock from where Bryant originally sat.

Moments passed but eventually Melan and Janice arrive to save what was left of Carlton. They make it just in time to see Carlton, battered and bruised, crawling towards Bryant who stomps his foot hard on Carlton's back. The contact of his small boot sounding of a meteor strike cracking the earth beneath. Janice yells out with a blue suitcase waving in her arms. Bryant stops, foot still on the back of Carlton, looking up at them with the huge grin. They glide down to the fighters and Janice holds out the suitcase.

"No No. The deal was that he gives me the money. Carlton has to give me the suitcase." Bryant stares down at Carlton.

Janice moves forward and drops the suitcase at Carlton's feet. He slowly turns grunting and moan before gripping his large hand around the strap. He slides it to Bryant who picks it from the ground. He drops his wide grin turning back to his normal bright smile and cheerful young face.

"I didn't want the money Carlton it was all a joke right. What could i possibly want with human money?" Bryant looks up from Carlton at the two sisters throwing them the suitcase. "Gods and games. I swear I have forgotten how much fun you young ones can be."

"Then I don't understand? You said you were going to take something from me?" Carlton groans as he rolls to his side.

Bryants voice and demeaner abruptly change "I have taken your innocence boy. You now will begin to see that your pride, your bronze, your strength tis nothing when you are blinded by your own ignorance. You will be a true God someday, you should start to act as such. But I assure you, you shall never be as powerful... as me." With this Bryant extends his arms outwards to both sides as lightening cracks through the sky. A massive strike of light comes down which engulfs Bryant in an electrical explosion. In that instant you can be seen in his true form. Towering before them for a split second was an Energy Giant, massive 10 foot tall being of light and energy. But just as they see him he is gone, back to the keep no doubt thinking he had of course won the last joke. Janice and Melan fully descend to aid Carlton who lie looking into the night sky. Standing over him with worried looks he smiles back which eases them slightly.

"Where did you guys find human money. Why would you even come help me. I'm such an ass, pathetic, weak. Look at me." The broken Carlton curls himself up in the dirt.

"Oh this!" Janice grabs the blue suitcase from the ground," Lets just get home, before father returns."

They reach down to retrieve a broken Carlton. Janice swings the suitcase and like opening a bag and it turns into a large blue book with an intricate spine. Carlton laughs and says "So I still win the dumb game! No I'm kidding I'm sorry really." he groans even louder clutching his body as they grab him in their arms lifting off back to the keep.