Favian's eye's narrowed at her words. He couldn't sense any divine power coming from her. She either was extremely strong or was lying. He decided to play along as it didn't hurt to have an ally looking for Sodom.
"Well then, let's search together shall we," he said smiling.
Astrea agreed as they started their search. They looked everywhere in Froja for Sodom. From the rest of the docks, the town square, and the streets. To the forest outside of Froja. However, Sodom was not found.
"How do you know Sodom," Astrea asked Favian
"He's an old friend,"
Astrea's face turned sour. Favian noticing this laughed.
"You're not a fan,"
"Not his biggest no,"
"Then I think we will get along just fine,"
Favian decided that meeting up with Vector was the best course of action. He tapped a mark on his neck, one that Astrea hadn't noticed before. It was black shaped like a small wheel. He started to whisper for a few seconds then stopped letting go on his neck.
"My colleague is on his way," Favian said.
Favian sat down on a bench looking up to the sky. A few minutes later a man walked up to them.
"Favian, Let's go back to Sodom's house. We might have just missed him, hurry up let's go," said the man.
Favian looking at him came to the decision that there was no stopping him from going even though they had checked already.
"Alright Vector, let's go," Favian stood up and ready to follow Vector. "Astrea, meet Vector, my sidechick."
Vector scowled and began to leave towards Sodom's house. Astrea and Favian followed. While they walked, Astrea thought back to what Sodom had said before leaving. Her eyes widened and she spoke up.
"Favian, Sodom might be selling someone today,"
Favian and Vector instantly turned to look at her. Without another word they started to run off in two different directions. Vector headed to the outskirts of Froja while Favian headed in the direction of the port.
Astrea, thinking quickly, decided to follow Vector. Favian seemed comfortable waiting. Vector moved like he expected to find something. She followed the urgency. She quickly realised that Vector was leagues above Eddie and maybe even Sodom. The way he moved echoed years of training and experience. She struggled to keep up.
The three of them reached the outskirts of Froja, Astrea had been here before and couldn't see anything different.
"We wait here until the bitch shows up," Vector said.
They didn't have to wait another second.
They heard footsteps and both looked to where the sound came from.
Sodom had arrived dragging three bodies with him. Astrea was shocked looking at him. He seemed to have aged thirty years in a day. He looked exhausted and sweat poured down his face. As he saw Vector, Sodom dropped the bodies and crouched down. Astrea recognised each one of the bodies.
One was Eddie. The others were the two men that had attacked them.
"Sodom" Vector called out. "I'll only ask once. What happened to Rectos."
Sodom stayed silent for a while then stood.
"He died. I tried to save him, but I couldn't. I'm sorry."
Vector's face contorted into something akin to a devil.
"Who killed him! Tell me now!" He screamed.
"A man who should be coming her anytime now,"
Sodom had contacted the Phantom telling him to come to the outskirts to receive his payment. He was confident that he would arrive soon.
Vector didn't want to wait, so he decided to vent some of his frustration. He activated his divine power, manifesting his mirage. He emerged like pressure before a storm, the air growing heavy as shadows bent toward him. Smoke curled from a swirling obsidian mirror where his foot should have been, its dark surface swallowing light and reflecting only the memories one wished buried. His skin held the depth of night layered with faint gold fractures, and his face shifted subtly between calm divinity and something predatory. Behind him paced the silent outline of a jaguar formed from living darkness, its gaze patient and inevitable. He did not shine or burn — he absorbed — and wherever his eyes settled, the smoke drifted slowly in that direction, as though marking the place where reality would eventually give way. Tezcatlipoca, Emperor of truth.
Astrea couldn't see the mirage, but Sodom's reaction told her everything she needed to know.
This man was dangerous.
Vector punched the ground and the earth shattered beneath him. Rocks flew in every direction like shards of broken glass. Astrea covered her face protecting herself. As she looked Vector, she saw he had black stripes on his arms.
"Sodom, where's my money," a voice said.
A man had appeared behind him, the man who killed Rectos.
The Phantom of Froja.
Vector immediately started to attack the Phantom. He punched the ground again sending rocks in the air. He then kicked the rocks towards the Phantom. The Phantom blocked the rocks with his fists. Vector followed up with a kick aimed at the head, then several more strikes to the body.
Sodom had jumped out the way immediately as the fight began. He was looking for the opportunity to use his divine power to aid the Phantom. It was just timing.
Astrea knew that she could get Eddie out of here if there was more commotion. She looked around to see if there was anything she could do. There was nothing but some old farming equipment and old tractor nearby. She took off, running towards the tractor. Looking over the tractor she realised that it was too rusted. There was no way that it was going to be able to move.
She checked the ignition — rusted through. The steering wheel came off in her hands. Useless. She looked around for anything else she could use. That's when the tractor lifted off the ground.
It was sent hurling towards Vector with Astrea in it. The Phantom had activated his divine power. Vector hadn't noticed as the Phantom kept his attention. The tractor smashed into Vector, crumbling on impact. Astrea flew outside the tractor crashing to the ground.
Vector was stunned for a couple seconds. A couple seconds he did not have. The Phantom took out his knife and in one motion stabbed Vector in his chest. He grunted in pain before jumping back clutching his chest. He put his other hand to his neck, touching the same tattoo that Favian had.
"You better be on your way," he said.
"Better yet, I'm already here," Favian replied.
Vector looked up and saw Favian, who was quickly closing the distance. He smiled before facing the Phantom again.
"You really messed up killing one of us," Vector said. "I'm going to relish in ending your pathetic life,"
The Phantom didn't waste any time. He instantly prepared to fight once again.
Astrea got up; her skin torn up from her landing. She looked around, searching for Eddie but then felt a hand clasp around her mouth with another arm wrapped around her waist holding her in place.
Sodom had her in his grasp. He would never let her go again.