“People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage, they will get their revenge, but if you cripple them, there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.”

― Niccolo Machiavelli

Cabo San Lucas, or simply Cabo, is a resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Cabo has been rated as one of Mexico's top 5 tourist destinations; it is known for its beaches, scuba diving locations, balnearios, the sea arch El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, and marine life. The Los Cabos Corridor has become a heavily trafficked vacation destination for tourists, with numerous resorts and timeshares along the coast between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

It was New Year’s Eve in Cabo San Lucas as everybody was celebrating on Medano beach in the afternoon. Medano is the main beach of Cabo San Lucas, pictured here with Land's End in the background.

The atmosphere was still lukewarm since everybody was yet following the aftermath events of the holy fire-bombing in London. Preachers around the area held a universal sigil, praying for the victims involved in such a terrorist attack.

That single act of terrorism changed the world of how they thought about other species in general, including nephalems. Of course, the Crucis Sentinels were discovered by the public and became heroic icons in the world where people needed a simple of positivity and unity.

The global spread of positive support of the Crux Nexus and the Crucis Sentinels, women of all ages, took inspiration for their bravery and sacrifice of stopping a potential third world war.

The only two that were not so thrilled about the festivities and how the world perverted itself, where two men sulking at a beachfront, sitting on beach chairs.

One was a prominent and muscular male jackal kemonomimi with long platinum blonde hair, purple eyes, and olive skin. He was with another muscular male who passed for human with long salt-and-pepper hair covering his green slitted eyes with sunglasses.

There are trying to make their best of a situation that was way beyond their control. They wanted to relax, but they couldn’t rest. There was no time to mourn or to even celebrate. The jackal kemonomimi, as big as he was intimidating to some passersby, was the timidest out of the two. He acted like he was a kid that was too big for his age.

The brunette looks over to the blonde jackal kemonomimi and sees this behavior, “new year, new me.” He joked, trying to stir up a conversation.

The jackal kemonomimi tried his best to laugh it off, but it didn’t work, “I never really believed in that…”

“Well, you should. That man to be perceived as good enough for this society is gone, Bĕhēmōṯ.” The brunette was calling him by his real name.

Bĕhēmōṯ just shrugged his burly shoulders as he shook his head, “I never really belonged anywhere at all, Daemon Archduke Endspiel…”

Calling him by his rank and namesake, the brunette balked at such formalities, “you don’t have to say the whole thing, you know!” A part of him chuckled at that association. “I don’t think I can call myself royalty after what I have done either. And you know what, I am a better man because of it. To hell with my namesake. Yet alone, my rank…”

“You think the Royal Nephalem Order would ever forgive us?” Bĕhēmōṯ, becoming worried.

Endspiel shook his head, “I don’t think—no… I know for a fact they are not going to go after you… I mean, you did try to warn everybody about what was going to happen… And I sent them to their deaths. They’ll be after me. I’m sure of it…” He theorized.

“I didn’t know Daemon Queens had such big hearts about humanity and taking care of others…” Bĕhēmōṯ feeling remorse.

As many people like Bĕhēmōṯ, Nephalems are not as evil as they are made out to be. Those accusations were all propaganda produced by the Catholic Church centuries ago. Nephalems, in general, usually never commit crimes like murder or rape. They are often ultra-progressive, being the ones who build better civilizations than humans, practicing acceptance, and create a sense of equilibrium within their territories. Even the Royal Nephalem Order governs better than any sovereign and or governmental power in the world, making many politicians and lawmakers envious.

This was a good time for Endspiel to tell the young man the truth about his kind, “I know for a fact you came from a broken home, so this might be a little bit foreign to you. Every Nephalem family has a code and a destiny that they all follow and adhere to. Maybe you never realize this, but my family always protects their own, which is common for many Nephalem families-- both Royal and common. Blood is never really an issue; it’s the connection that we have with others that makes us family. Do you have any idea how it feels to have your life turned upside down?”

As if Endspiel was speaking from experience, Bĕhēmōṯ answered with confidence and a heavy heart, “As a matter fact I do, sir.”

However, Endspiel wasn’t buying it, “I don’t think you do. Between that Nazi wolf slut and that discounted version of Sailor Moon, it was only of matter time before people like us would be demonized and bastardized by such toxic natures… Masculinity and femininity. Like that even matters anymore. Maybe I’m not the one that should lay out what it means to be either a man or a woman in either society-- my own or theirs. Out of all of this… Nonsense as I see it now… The only one that was worth saving-- to keep such innocence-- was my daughter.”

Reminding him of such a blessing was a burden, turned Bĕhēmōṯ’s stomach into knots, “that’s right. You have a daughter… So how is she holding up?”

It was Endspiel’s turn to shrug his shoulders out of uncertainty, “as a child, she deserved to have somewhat of a happy and productive life. Even if it’s not with me, I don’t want to cheat her out of it. If things go the way I know it is with them, I want my little girl to be spared.”

“And not her mother?” Bĕhēmōṯ wondered.

Even though Endspiel was wearing sunglasses, he could still see the glow of his green eyes as his eyebrows strained, “you mean that mountain of bullshit I knocked up? She was nothing more than a hole to me now. She never loved me, never wanted the kid in the first place. I begged her not to have an abortion… It was pure providence that the doctor decided against aborting the late-term pregnancy.”

During that made Bĕhēmōṯ’s heart broke into pieces, “you think she would ever contact you again?”

“I don’t give a fuck if she wants to see me again or not. Unless she wants to break her arms and legs and back again, then by all means.” Endspiel threatened. “Killing her would be far too easy. It would have been like me forgiving her. No, nephew, there are fates worse than death for a bitch like her. That is why I killed everyone that she ever cared about instead. If they wanted to be closer to God, then so be it. I made that to a reality. I don’t give a damn what she calls herself now or what she does; she needs to stay the fuck away from me…”

The hatred between the Holy Mother and Endspiel was well documented to whoever knew about the relationship. Politics was involved, sex was involved, violence was involved, and children were involved. A volatile mix of an uneasy truce between two people who will never see eye to eye about anything, to only use and abuse one another for their own satisfaction.

Endspiel was no saint, but that was the point. He knew what he was doing, perverted the code of conduct the Royal Nephalem Order followed wholeheartedly so that he can climb the ladder of royalty and seize power that came along with it.

Bĕhēmōṯ was different then Endspiel, in every way. All he wanted to do was become a positive member of society. Abused when he was a kid, he tried desperately to escape the tumultuous life, only to be ripped away from him by a deceitful woman. He, too, was not a saint as they turned him into a monster.

Still, the difference between Endspiel and Bĕhēmōṯ is that at least the latter was remorseful-- somewhat remorseful…

“How can you be a loving father to a child, even though you brutally beaten her mother in such a way she will never forget or forgive you?” Bĕhēmōṯ sincerely questioned.

Endspiel took a deep breath as he stared out into the ocean, even though it wasn’t hard for him to find an answer, “I loved her mother, don’t get me wrong. But that’s just it. Emphasis on ‘loved.’ I had to make an example out of her… just like you had to make an example of the entire Oleander Syndicate, leaking out all of their dirty secrets to the public. Especially, Natalia; the same bitch who ruined your life and tried to kill you twice. And don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy hurting all of them either, because you did!”

This somewhat disgusted his nephew, “but how can you turn it off and then turn it back on again, becoming normal?” Bĕhēmōṯ asked.

“Like a butcher can slaughter hundreds of grass-fed pigs and still have a pet piglet back at his farm?” Endspiel analogized with a chuckle. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Bĕhēmōṯ. I have been a father who has always talked and listened to my little girl. Been truthful and loving to the girl. I have always been there when she needed me the most, since the day she was born. I didn’t see her as either a burden, unlike the Holy Mother. When she came into my life, I had my doubts; if not, I was able to be a father that my daughter deserves.”

“That easy, huh?” Bĕhēmōṯ heckled with a sense of skepticism.

Endspiel just shook his head as he continued his lecture, “Last time I checked, I’ve always been there and taught her from right and wrong. I gave her a sense of safety, where she can grow to be a woman with values. Real parents raise their children to be productive members of society.

“They don’t berate them, because they are different; they don’t create them to be tools of destruction or what they want them to be through fear. I can go on and on and on about real parenting. Let me be the first one to tell you, nephew; it’s not hard loving someone that is a part of you or loving someone else who is different from you. Its people like the Holy Mother and Natalia that make it difficult.” He concluded.

At least, Bĕhēmōṯ was trying to make sense of it all, “You would rather have your daughter live a perverted sense of justice instead of telling her the truth on how she came to be?”

“As in, ‘I wanted to spare her that pain for her mother not being in her life’ or ‘for not knowing the monster that gave birth to her?’” Endspiel mocked as he laughed. “Only to realize, the only monsters that I saw before me were only in my mind. In. My. Mind. However, I, too, had to conquer the monster inside of me and let go of my past trauma to be a better man. It was till then, I would be able to face her and not look at her as a reminder, but as my daughter. She is one of the few people in my life who saved me from myself.” Endspiel explained with a genuine smile.

With a slight shake of the head, Bĕhēmōṯ was still confused about his uncle’s compartmentalizing, “I don’t think I could ever do anything like that… Being able to be cool with it… I mean, this is going to haunt me for the rest of my life…”

“Then you’ll always be that ‘big dog’ to all the little wolf girls of the Oleander Syndicate.” Endspiel insulted.

Uncharacteristically for a guy like Bĕhēmōṯ, he just laughed it off as he got up from his seat, “Well, this was both educational and depressing… I’m going to get us something cold to drink…”

Endspiel raised his head and looked up to him in disappointment, “If it were anybody else who looks like you, they would be beating the living hell out of me right now.” He pointed out. “You need to start acting what you look like-- what you truly are deep inside!”

With a broad smile, Bĕhēmōṯ looked down at his uncle, “I guess… Besides my sister, you’re the only one who ever would say such things to me, and I wouldn’t give it a second thought…”

“Well, she’s right!” Endspiel yelled. “You, your sister, and I have the blood of the beast coursing through our veins as we are one. Just as the nephalem beasts, we take what we want and who we want without compromise or question. However, at the same time, you are indeed one of the royals. You better start acting like one while not being afraid of how it will perceive you and fuck humanity!”

Bĕhēmōṯ nodded with a smile as he walked away and headed to the nearest concession stand.

Good lord… Sabtoen and the rest of those Daemon Queens are going to eat him alive or make them their bitch, Endspiel thought as he lay back into his chair.

Bĕhēmōṯ was indeed looking around the concession stands behind something cold and pleasant to drink. He settled for a couple of pineapple sodas as he was going to make his way back to the beach. He saw a couple of petite females dressed in Crux Nexus soldier outfits who are armed with guns and swords.

As big and strong as he was, Bĕhēmōṯ was terrified at the site. It is a good thing they had their backs turned. Bĕhēmōṯ wanted to warn his uncle, but his greatest fear was realized; he saw a tall, dark-skinned woman with long shiny jet-black hair wearing a Crucis Sentinel uniform approaching Endspiel from behind. She had to be a teenager, but she handled herself with such maturity and sophistication.

It was pretty apparent that the Crux Nexus had the Holy Mother in custody, awaiting trial. The United Nations sent out a most wanted list on the Daemon Archduke Endspiel. Also, they were looking for Bĕhēmōṯ’s former alias that he went by, Alastair Copeland. For what reason they wanted him, Bĕhēmōṯ didn’t want to stick around for. Reluctantly, he used self-preservation as Bĕhēmōṯ slowly backed away.

Unbeknownst to Endspiel, his nephew fled the beach. Unfortunately, someone would indeed take Bĕhēmōṯ’s seat as the dark-skinned woman in a Crucis Sentinel uniform sat next to him.

Oblivious on what was going on, he looked over to his left and seen the young lady. Of course, Endspiel was baffled by this.

The young Crucis Sentinel made herself known, “Walter Dunne.” She spoke in a sophisticated voice with a British accent.

Endspiel hated when people called him by his “real” name.

The nerve of this little pipsqueak, he thought.

To everyone, he was Daemon Archduke Endspiel of the Royal Nephalem Order and made everybody remember that.

As he looked over to his right, there were several Crux Nexus members, armed to the teeth, willing and able to take the Daemon Archduke down by force if necessary.

As if he was admitting defeat, he took a deep breath, “I knew you were following me for days, Sentinel. However, I want to know how you found me.”

Then, the Crucis Sentinel shrugged her shoulders, “a colleague of mine once said, the hardest part of breaking up is getting back the stuff your lover purchased together.” She said.

Hearing that, Endspiel immediately knew how he was discovered so quickly. This made him groan in disbelief.

“Many Royal Nephalems easily pass for humans while using their ‘government’ names… Since you made it your business to expose the Holy Mother’s identity to the public, and since she is a convicted war criminal, we quickly gained access to her financials. She bought a lot of haciendas and properties in South America with all of that blood money you guys made together. I just took a wild guess…” The Crucis Sentinel explained.

With a smile on his face, Endspiel shook his head in disbelief, “so what happens to me now, Sentinel?”

The Crucis Sentinel didn’t mince words, “well, we are going to take you back to London. Get you processed and notify the United Nations and the Royal Nephalem Order of your apprehension. And I am forced to take a vacation here due to a lost bet with the Aethereal Queen.” She dreaded.

“Let me guess, little Lolita will decide my fate?” Endspiel guesses.

The Crucis Sentinel didn’t find any humor in his backhanded comments, “No, someone else.” She corrected and not too much surprise by the young Crucis Sentinel, Endspiel showed no emotion. She wanted to ask him an important question. Even though she knew the answer, she has to hear it from him, “Aren’t you a bit curious about Maria and how she is doing?”

This made Endspiel laugh out loud, “Like I give two squirts of piss. You Sentinel bitches always stick together…”

The Crucis Sentinel shook her head in disagreement, “she is still alive… From what I heard, she’s on suicide watch. I don’t think she’s ever going to recover after what you’ve done to her… However, if we can be honest for a moment with each other, I never liked her either. She reaped what she had sowed being broken beyond repair, and I don’t mind at all…”

He couldn’t help himself but laugh at the young girl’s apathy towards her former colleague.

The young Crucis Sentinel looks around the beach as she was trying to find somebody else, “so where’s Alastair Copeland, your supposed nephew?”

“Well, you know about those predatorial kemonomimis. When they catch the scent of danger, they run…” Endspiel deadpanned.

This got a chuckle from the young Crucis Sentinel, “yeah… There’s a lot of mixed feelings about that one. However, guys like Alastair, don’t last very long. We will find him and his sister eventually…”

The Crucis Sentinel gets up out of her chair as Endspiel was escorted off of the beach, being flanked by Crux Nexus members. Even the local authorities assisted the Crux Nexus. As he was helped into the car, he’d seen this nephew onboard a bus going south. Weirdly, he was proud of his nephew’s selfishness. Bĕhēmōṯ was going to have to be selfish if he wants to survive.