Episode 12: The Beast Within.

Young Gus Rencour had been a happy child, distract himself with the polished stones, twisted twigs and bits of string that tended to fill the treasure troves of young boys.

Living in Athkatla, little Gus quickly learnt the differences between those that have and those that lack. His father, Terlin Rencour Esq. had been an accountant with Council's Tax Assessors office, while not a noble rank, it afforded them a comfortable living in a small house in the Government district.

Terlin Rencour never spoke of a wife, and Gus, once he was old enough to ask, was told his mother watched over him from beyond the veil. It was not until he was older still that he understood this to mean his mother had died in labor. Despite confusion surrounding his birth, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Gus Rencour was his father's son, the very image of Terlin in all but age and height, they were both tall for their age, and slender without being overthin. Terlin's humble yet proud bearing belied his slightly built frame.

As well liked as Terlin was as a man and a professional, he never quite succeeded as a father, when ever he beheld his energetic young progeny he just took on a thousand yard stare, or dropped his gaze saddly. As little Gus grew up, mostly in the care of a succession of nurses, housekeepers and nannies, he came to believe that these moods of his father's were maudlin rememberances of his mother.

Although he was schooled with some of the noble children by the Lathanderites in the temple district, most of those children of noble lineage were not permitted to pass idle time with Gus, by the standards of their parents he was too common. Naturally the children of the slums took a counterpoint, avoiding him because in his clean and well tailored clothes he appeared a noble child, and they feared the beatings they would take if they dirtied up a noble child. Between the two little Gus Rencour had no real friends growing up.

The few friends he had were what, as an adult, he would call contacts and connections. Somebody would mention in passing that they were looking for this book or that toy, and in an attempt to impress them, young Gus would source that item, sometimes working in backrooms of stores stacking crates to pay for it. The children were always impressed, and Gus always managed to turn a modest profit. Although this earned him a reputation as a reliable young man who could 'get things done', he still made no real friends.

That, all things considered, is probably were Talon came from. Young Gus had always had an active imagination, and when he could not fill the void of love left by his father's aloofness with friendship, he imagined a playmate to keep him company. He did not always call this friend Talon, and he didn't always take the same form, but it was always the same presence. Strong and independant, Talon would look at how Gus's father treated him and tell Gus not to let it bother him.

Talon taught Gus many things as they played together, from skipping stones across the pond in the square to stealing the odd piece of fruit from the stalls in the market. Most of the time the merchant noticed and would seek payment from Terlin, but over time Gus became a competant pickpocket.

Eventually though, Talon began to suggest more and more bad things to Gus. He had paid attention in the classes with the Morninglords, and he knew that hurting people was wrong. He tried to talk Talon out it, to tell him not to take money from the poor people in the Slums. An argument insued, and Talon said some very hurtful things to Gus. Gus began to get angrier and angrier. He imagined punching his friend in the face again and again, tearing at his eyes with... his claws, yes his claws... then he would howl in victory as he tore into his vanguished enemy.

*****

Terlin Rencour was thrown to the ground as a figure burst forth from his small house. The misshapen creature snorted at him and glared through dead yellow eyes before loping off into the shadows.

"You have your mother's eyes boy." Terlin said quietly.

*****

August Rencour woke with a twitch, it was dawn and he had no idea where he was. He sniffed the air and looked around, he was lone but covered in blood. Something about the alley, and the condition he found himself in felt very familiar.

"I've been here before. I found the Beast here." August said to noone in particular.

"So have I. I killed the Beast here." Talon responded.

"But I was here first. I became the Beast here." came a small young voice, surprising both August and Talon.

"Alright it's getting crowded in here." August announced rubbing his temples in anguish.

"I think I'll imagine us as three seperate people," the young voice of Gus decided, as his ghostly form stepped out of August's shadow. "That'll make it easier I think."

"I remember you Gus." Talon said as a spectral form of himself stepped from August's body and lent against the left wall of the alley, he appeared tired, or perhaps injured. "We used to be friends."

August looked over at Talon, "What are you talking about?! I don't know this kid, and I never knew you before you took over my body in that... in *this* alley."

Little Gus stood tapping his foot in frustration. "When did I get so stupid Talon?" He asked the slumped assasin, then he turned his eyes to the confused merchant, "I am you, and so is he." he gestured to Talon.

"We are all parts of you Rencour." Talon spat the words like they turned his stomach.

"Then why am I still confused." August scratched his head. "I feel like there's still a part of me missing."

"There is August." Little Gus shifted one foot in the dirt nervously. "The Beast isn't here yet."

"You're going to have to accept all of yourself if we're going to get out of this." Talon continued.

"The Beast..." August pondered. "MY GOD! The Beast!"

August Rencour, collapsed as the final realisation sunk in. There had been no killer mercenary stalking him. It had been The Beast, some damned monstrosity withing him that had killed so many innocent people. What of his business rivals? Had his recollection of their treachery been flawed too...? Yes, they had heard reports of the vicious murders and gathered a bounty, not to assasinate August the Merchant, but to capture The Beast. He had killed them... killed then all... no mercy, no honor, for nothing.

"I have killed men and women, parents and children, saints and sinners without mercy or prejudice, I have destroyed lives and homes and futures and pasts. For what?!" Gus-August-Talon yelled, sending an echo reverberating through the alley.

The echo changed, shifting into a rumble, and then a growl, as the figure of The Beast coalesced from the shadows. Green mist wafted from it's nostrils as it snorted like a bull,

"Thou hast answered the calling of thy Blood, by tooth and claw thou hast killed, and much festering carrion hast thou left in thy wake. Thy Mother is pleased with thee."

"Mother?!" The three other voices asked at once.

"Where is my Mother?" Gus asked.
"My mother is dead." August insisted.
"I have no Mother." Talon declared.

"Thy Mother exists, and moreso she lives, and ever watches."

"Where is she?"

"Thy Mother lives wherever pestilence thrives, where the cursed and the diseased rot and die. She is the means to the end."

"Speak plainly creature." Rencour demanded, "Who is my Mother!"

"Doest thou truly not knowest our Mother's name, Godchild?"