The First Age

He'd done his due diligence. He'd scoured those he'd collected. They all had their uses and he'd work with them to accomplish what he wanted, but Durante fit his needs. Not only was he Atharim. He was visible to the world. And all Eliot had to do was reveal to the world what he actually did. Not the building collapsing or the killing of godlings at their behest, but the saving of people. Of using his power. And that was where he would use him -- he was the face of the New Atharim, his Reliquiae, as it were. 

But first he had to approach Durante, and that was truly the easiest part of it all, even courting Helena proved to be more difficult than it would be to finding the boy, and convincing him to help. And even if he said no, Eliot was going to give him no options.

That was why he had asked one favor of Jacob Dean. One favor to keep his little secret about harboring a godling. It was easy to manipulate folks when they had such juicy things to put out there.  Durante, he hid nothing, he was an open book. Though it was hard to make things stick with his pet hacker, but Nox hide nothing except his extra-ciriculars for the Atharim.  And the Atharim kept those hidden more so than he did himself.

Three days before Eliot approached Durante outside his home on his daily run, he released a multitude of videos into the dark web. And into the virtual sphere. There was some raw footage of Nox clearing the tunnels. Fireballs flying from the sides of the screen as creatures of the horde fell. Sometimes they came from other angels that weren't Nox, but Eliot cut away any glimpses of the others. It was easy when it was just him and Carpenter flinging fireballs. They stayed out of each others way and the horde melted under their attacks. It was epic.

There were no names, but there were subtle queues that this was the same 'angel', who had been fighting at the Almaz and dancing at Kallisiti. The change in name had been most beneficial.  An Angel, though not the angel Nox perhaps wanted.  But still the footage had been linked to him, and he to it perpetuity now. Fighting monsters was part of his persona.

Now all Eliot had to do was give him a proper face to the Reliquiae. He would lead even if he didn't want to. But he'd have the choice first.

It wasn't long before Nox crossed the street and in front of the bench he sat. Eliot called out. "Nox Durante. Might I have a word?" Eliot pulled his left sleeve up revealing the snake biting his own tail as the boy passed by. Eliot was frail and feeble, he was no threat to him, but he drew upon the power that they both shared. It was not a threat, but a welcome invitation to sit and talk.

The world had come full circle in a matter of weeks. He was accused of assassinating the president by a few acquaintances, received a new arm, lost the horde and the ability to channel, and now only a few weeks later he had them both back. What the fuck!

He was pissed. Not at anyone in particular though Hayden came as close to someone to blame. Sage was begging for forgiveness and there at the drop of a hat should he need him. But it was neither of their fault. No one made him do any of it. It was his fault -- like every fucking thing else in his life.

He tried not to think about Raffe. About the presents he'd left. About the song he wrote. About his feelings that he wished he didn't feel. He wanted it to be done and over. And in his heart of hearts he knew he was no good for Raffe. They'd never been on the same page. And he had to accept that. Raffe wasn't talking to him, so it made things easier. He wasn't just incommunicado with Nox though -- no one heard from him. His sabbatical left everyone without knowing more. Not that Carmen would tell him otherwise or not.

Life fucking sucked. But he felt love again. And he cherished the smiles and coos from Lily. He loved the hugs from the kids and even their back talk. He was careful around Liam. But not so much as to make the boy feel unloved. Because he did love him, just not in the crushing romantic sorta sex way Liam wished for down deep. They both accepted things and they were learning a new norm.

His runs were times to drown in everything. His thoughts no longer collected on the outside, he felt everything. It hurt. He hated it. His nightmares plagued him again and he slept like shit. He was running on fumes and on caffeine. He didn't need to fight or fuck or feed. At least not more than normal. Nox was grateful for that. He could eat properly again. He didn't need to call Ori, though he did miss calling her. He did ring a few times for a fight. Sparring was always good for the soul -- both of theirs.

And he fought at the Almaz. It was an outlet, and it made him money he wasn't about to turn down. Not that he was struggling -- Sage saw to that, but he liked it and he was good at it. Gave him a reason to let loose.

Nox hadn't returned to dance. The scars left him less agile than he liked and he was still working through it. It was better but not the best. He'd get there though -- he'd see to it.

So when the videos showed up Nox began to wonder what Sterling had done. But Sage insisted she had nothing to do with it and he was looking for the bastard who had gotten them. The onlyu person who had been asking about that particular footage had been Jacob and Nox hadn't thought anything about it when he handed it over.

And then Eliot Lagueux showed up on his run, sitting on the bench displaying his tattoo and reaching for the power all in the same motion. Nox slowed and stopped at the far end of the bench but he didn't turn around. He thought about it. What did the rich son of an Atharim benefactor what with him? And did his family know he could channel?

Nox turned around. "You might be able to have one or two. But I have a few questions. First: why did you release those videos?"

Eliot smirked. He was a bright boy. "Because I want you to be the face of the New Atharim. And I need you invested in it."

Nox sat down. "New Atharim?"

"Yes, the Reliquiae of the Atharim. We'll be here in Moscow at first, maybe branch out later, but Moscow is where we'll start. And I'm hoping with your connections to those in power..." Eliot nodded towards the Kremlin that was just in view over the nearest buildings. "Will allow us the freedom to pursue more open justice."

"So that's the why me answer. You want my connection to the Ascendancy."

"That's one thing I want from you. But you don't need to do anything more than what you are already doing, Mr. Durante. You aren't the Angel of the Undercity, but you are an avenging angel should people get in your way. Like in the tunnels. You are already a public figure. I only want to use that to the Atharim's advantage. You are a god. You are Atharim. You are what is new. You are young, have that American cowboy in you. You save the masses without ever asking for thanks. All I want to do is put you in front of the camera."

"What do you want exactly?"

"First, I just want an introduction. You can call me the Praeceptor of the Reliquiae. Think of me as the New Regus of the New Atharim, that's how you should ask for the meeting. I want you there Nox. Can I call you Nox?"

"I'd prefer it. You want to meet with the Ascendancy as the New Regus of the New Atharim?"

"I have plans, Nox. Big plans. But I want the Ascendancy's sign off. We will be working underneath his nose, in his own city. I want him to know. To be apart of it even. I just ask for a meeting. I will grace his presence under his guard. No neutral site required. I'm at his mercy should he decide to kill me on site. Though I don't think my betrothed would like that too much."

"And after that?"

"After that. You be you? I might need you to read a few scripts, put on a show for me from time to time. My face. My name, can't be part of this. My family doesn't know what I am. Or what I'm doing. You will be for all intents and purposes the face and voice of what we will stand for."

Nox laughed. "You want me to be a fucking leader?"

"I want you to be my puppet Nox. I want you to do what you do. What you've always done. I want you to hunt monsters, kill the channelers the Ascendancy and the Atharim send after you. You'll just be doing it under a new banner. My banner. You won't have to worry about Zephyr and your Uncle Jake. You already have the ears and eyes of the Ascendancy, and soon you'll have all the eyes of Moscow as we bring the Atharim into the new world, this world. A world where gods exist in truth. And we get to build that future."

Eliot smiled. "And I want you to help others like you and me be the best they can. All you have to do is say a few words now and then for me, be the face of the Reliquiae. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"I don't have a choice here do I?"

Eliot smiled. "You have a choice. But you will be the face of the New Atharim. Even if you don't say the words I want you to say or make that introduction. You will be the face of the Reliquiae even if it's through shadowy and viral means."

"So no choice really."

"There is always a choice Nox. But in this, I will make it happen one way or the other."

Nox sighed. "I'll see what I can arrange for you with the Ascendancy." He stood up and took a few steps in the direction he'd been going. "As far as being your puppet. We'll see how things got with the most powerful man on the planet. Cause like you said, he could wipe you off the face of this god forsaken bucket of ice for good and then I don't have to worry about your words or your cause."

And with that Eliot watched as Nox Durante took off at a slow job as he headed down the street to finish his run.