Clockwork Aura

Note: Hey all, this is my first fiction here and my first Steampunk-based story. So as much as I’d like constructive criticism I’d really appreciate it if people to be nice about it. I’m learning about the era and time and the fashions. Not to mention the lines of work. So, work with me here!!

Clockwork Aura
Chapter I

“We’re moving again?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” There was the shout he was waiting for. “TO HELL WITH THIS! WHY ARE WE MOVING AGAIN?!”

“Will you shut your trap, Vassago? You’ll wake the entire house and our neighbors!” That was Amdusias. He was always polite but could be stern when he needed to be.

“Agreed, there is no need for this senseless arguing.” That was the other reasonable one, Paimon. “So we’re moving again, it’s not like this is something new.”

“Still, it seems like we just got here.”

A sigh escaped his lips as he turned in his bed to ignore the fight and get some sleep. He knew his brother was right. It did seem like they just got here and they were already leaving. Time was such a bitch when she wanted to be.

“Oh well…it’s not like time stops for us.” He said but then a laugh escaped his lips.

Time stopped for no man…that was a laugh.

///

Belith Moclair was sitting on a train with a slight smile on his face. The fight from last week was literally a thing of the past now. They were moving to another country to experience something new.

“You alright, Belith?” It was Amdusias. That soft but stern voice of his was easily told apart from the rest. “You’ve been silent almost the entire time.”

“I’m fine, brother. Just wondering what awaits us in our new home.” Belith said as he allowed a crooked grin to come to his face. He could tell Amdusias was smiling because the air around his seat got a lot calmer. But something outside that calm bubble was pent up anger and tension. Probably between Vassago and Paimon. They had their days when they got along but at other times, such as this, they couldn’t stand being in the same room.

“You and I both. But hopefully it will make these two shut up.” Amdusias said as he looked over at Paimon and Vassago. They were crammed into the same seat thanks to Classybolas and Crocell, who were sitting across from each other. Next to the angry pair were Ose and Purson, the former was staring out the window the train with pure amazement. Belith had chosen to sit away from his brothers. Amdusias seemed to follow suit.

‘Wherever this brings us, let’s hope it’s somewhere better than where we have been…’ Belith thought as he closed his eyes and let darkness take over. Amdusias stared at his brother. He was never dealt a good hand in life. Especially after the accident. His blue-grey eyes looked over at Vassago.

A jagged scar ran from his temple to the top of his cheek bone.

No, none of them were ever dealt a good hand at one point in time. He looked down at his hands that were folded in his lap. He could remember the night it all happened. Vassago’s loud shouting, Belith’s tears and the other brothers all running around to get everything under control.

They needed something better…

///

Belith was jerked from his sleep as the train stopped. He felt a hand grab his and allowed it to pull him along. Only his brothers would dare grab him. He sniffed the air. A rush of smoke and water filled his senses. Various voices and other noises drained out any thoughts.

“Bel!” He turned in the direction of the voice. It was Crocell. As soon as he felt wet hands he knew it was his brother. The only brother that loved water more than anything. “Come on, the others have our luggage! Let’s go!”

He allowed his brother to pull him away from the crowded train. He could only wonder where they were going or where the hell they were in the first place. Belith pulled his hand back and kept them at his side.

“Come on, we have a place to stay until we can get our own place.” He heard Paimon said. A nudge against his arm made him move forward. He could feel someone bouncing alongside him, most likely Ose.

///

Amdusias nearly had a heart attack. The place was filthy and out of order. He started mumbling to himself and told everyone to leave their things packed until he could make the place more presentable. A few of the brothers chuckled but said nothing. Cleanliness was something their brother valued besides music.

“So, what do we do while we wait?” Purson said as he sat on the dusty couch. Classybolas sat next to him with his arms weighted on his legs.

“How about we find work, genius? We need to make money if we want find a more decent place.” The tallest brother said as his orange eyes glanced to the side. “One where we won’t have Amdusias running around like a woman, cleaning mounds of dust every five seconds.”

“Good point…but where?” Paimon added in as he leaned against a wall. The room fell silent. The only noise was of Amdusias’ rushing around to clean off the dust.

“Well…think about what you’re good at or what you like.” Belith said with a smile. “I’m sure they’ll have a use for an alchemist such as me.”

“…Meat don’t cut itself.” Classybolas said with a sick, twisted smirk. “I’ll find work in a butcher shop. At least then dinner is promised.”

They each went around talking about what they liked or what they were good at. Some were a bit harder than others but they found something. Anything was acceptable right now.

///

3 years later

“PIRATES?! YOU’RE PIRATES NOW?!” Belith chuckled from his room. Apparently Ose and Crocell had become pirates but of opposite spectrums. Crocell had a strong love for water and ships so he headed for the docks the other day with Classybolas to pick up fish meat. He got caught up in a ship and the crew mentioned they needed a captain, according to Sybol.

As for Ose, he loved to fly. He may have been a complete nutcase but he was calm during breezy days so being up in an airship might be good for him. He joined the crew of a captain that required a second pair of hands for navigations. It seemed Ose made the cut. But it seemed Amdusias wanted nothing to do with.

“Oh work is work! As long as they do it and get paid…well, in this case they strike out with treasure. But it’s money on the table for us! Unless you want to go back to living in that dust heap!” Low blow Sybol, low blow.

“No…but I don’t want them getting hurt.” Amdusias muttered as he looked over his brothers. “So please you two, stay safe.”

“Remember, Amdu…we’re not exactly normal.” Crocell mentioned but the musician slapped his hands over his brother’s mouth.

“Don’t say that out loud! You never know who will hear you!” He exclaimed as he pulled his hands away. “Now, I need to go get ready. Paimon and I are performing for a little social gathering in a richer part of the town. So everyone, please…behave! AND NO BLOWING UP THE HOUSE, BELITH!”

The alchemist snickered as he continued to sort through his books. It was only one time and one tiny explosion, or a couple of medium sized explosions. He shook his head and continued to go through them.

Okay, so he blew up the neighbor’s cat.

But he was a good boy and apologized for it, he even paid for a new one! Wasn’t that enough? Apparently not if Amdusias was bringing it up three months later. He sighed as he ran his fingers over the brail. A very odd ingredient popped up and wondered briefly if he had it. He grabbed the books and headed for the basement where he kept his lab equipment.

He plopped the book on the table, walked over to a shelf and gently ran his fingers over each ingredients label. Of course he didn’t have it.

Nightshade was in the slums of this city.

Amdusias would never let him go to the slums alone. He tried reasoning with his brother that he’d be fine, that he could fight but the musician put up a fight. Belith gave in and stopped pestering him. A crooked grin came to his face. He was leaving soon with Paimon, so he would too.

No one would ever know.

“I know that smile, Bel.” He turned. Classybolas was standing before him, a few inches away. “If you’re going to go, be back swiftly and unscathed. Or else I’ll leave you to deal with Amdusias alone.”

The alchemist brother nodded his head and left for the kitchen. His stomach was yelling at him for food. Had been for the past couple of hours but he held it off. Now it was time to feed it before he made his journey to the slums.

///

Belith made sure his two brothers were indeed gone before he pulled his goggles over his eyes and left the house. He had a cane in his hand. It looked like a cane to the naked eye but if you unscrewed the top it acted a dagger as well.

Amdusias didn’t need to know though.

He made a few turns here and there and even got lost once but he didn’t care. Getting that nightshade was a lot more important. A cold breeze ran over his body. He knew he was getting closer to the slums. The lack of protection that the buildings provided from the air was growing increasingly small.

“How people live in the slums…I’ll never know.” He muttered to himself. He finally made it. The smell of sludge and excrements filled his senses, it wasn’t pleasant. He walked forward carefully to avoid stepping in any unwanted messes.

Luck wasn’t on his side right now.

He groaned as he scraped his shoes on the side of a building. He started to carefully sniff the air. Nightshade had a very distinct smell that overpowered all others. It wouldn’t be hard to find the plant amongst vile smells. Soon a sweet but deadly smell filled his nose and a grin came to his face. He bent down and felt for the plant until his fingertips brushed against something frail and soft.

“Got you.” He said as he pulled up some of the leaves and shoved them into a canister he brought with him. Making sure he had plenty to avoid a trip here for a while he rose to his feet. Before he could leave he heard a whimper.

“Who’s out there?” He called out. The whimpers became more frequent and he could make out choked sobs. “Show yourself!”

He started walking towards the source of the noise. It brought him inside a broken down apartment building and into a small broken room on the first floor. He crouched down and sighed. He knew he should have turned and left but something tugged at him to stay.

“Is anyone out there?” He called out again. The whimpers stopped and little hiccups filled his ears. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

Still nothing.

“Come on, I’m not going to harm you.” He tried to reason.

Little feet padding along the floor.

“That’s it.” He muttered. The little feet stopped. “Where are you?”

As soon as the words left his mouth he felt tiny hands touch his. At first he jerked back and rose to his feet. The little feet jumped back and the whimpering came back. Little sobs rang through the empty room. Belith was confused. He wasn’t good with children.

“WHO’S IN THERE?!” A loud voice bellowed. Belith and the small one were on alert. “THIS PLACE IS CONDEMNED AND NO ONE SHOULD BE IN HERE! DON’T MAKE ME COME IN THERE AND ARREST YOU!”

Belith cursed under his breath before reaching out, feeling for his little company and scooping it up into his arms. He slowly and quietly made his way to the back of the building hoping to find an exit. Surely there was another hole in the building they could leave through. As luck would have it there was. He felt the tiny arms wrap around his neck and cling to him, little tears soaking the side of his face and jacket.

As the cool breeze hit him he started to make his way back home. Pondering what to do with the little being in his arms. It was a girl, which he could tell. But what was she doing in an abandoned building by herself? Her little sobs and hiccups filled his ears. It wasn’t as annoying as most people thought. It actually made him a little sad inside.

What to do, what to do?

///

Belith was sitting in his room with the little girl curled up in his arms fast asleep. No one saw him come in with her, luckily. He removed his gloves and started petting her hair. It was soft like silk but clumped in some areas. The smell of filth and other various germs was beginning to become unbearable.

Milky white eyes glanced around the room.

He headed outside his room and for another room that was a couple feet away. It smelt like lilacs, courtesy of Amdusias. He said if they ever had guests their bathrooms needed to smell decent. Especially if Purson had been in there. The man was an engineer/mechanic, what did you want from the guy? He set the little girl on the floor and started run the water. It was hot but not scalding, didn’t want to leave burns on her right?

He lifted the little one up and began to set her into the water, holding her up so she wouldn’t drown. But that wasn’t needed since she jerked awake as soon as the water hit her skin.

She let out shrill cry

“Belith! You in there? What was that?” It was Classybolas and he didn’t sound too happy. The alchemist cursed under his breath. Oh well. Someone was bound to find out. A door opened and footsteps stopped behind him.

“Belith, you have five seconds to explain why there is a child in our tub?” The taller brother stated. It left no room for an argument. So the shorter brother turned and started to gently wash the little girl, trying to find the right words. He poured water over her head and used his fingers to help scrub out the grime before grabbing a bottle of goo. It was aloe, at least that’s what Amdusias said. He poured some over the little one’s head and scrubbed.

“I’ll be fine.” Belith muttered as he soaked away the suds. The little one giggled and squirmed in place.

“How do you plan to take care of her? You can barely take care of yourself, Bel. And you’ve been blind for…” Sybol tried to reason but Belith slammed his hands down onto the side of the tub and rose to his feet. He now stood mere inches away from his brother.

“I can take care of myself. Hell, I help keep all of you in line!” Belith shouted. “Besides, I don’t even know if I’m keeping her. She might be someone’s child and they’re looking for her. So leave me alone until I figure this out.”

Classybol sighed and walked out. Belith knelt back down and continued to wash the little one. She seemed to sense his uneasiness since she placed her tiny hands on his exposed arms. He sighed as he reached for a towel, yanked the plug and pulled the little girl out of the tub.

“Come on, we need to find something for you to wear tonight…” He said. The girl rested her head on his shoulder, little hands gripping the front of his now soaked shirt.

What to do, indeed.

End of Chapter I

End note: There you go. My first chapter…and it didn’t fully go as I planned. But I hope you all enjoyed it. Leave a nice review if you want or even some polite constructive criticism. I could use it. Thanks! =3