Tenebra Zeta #3: The Devil of Osaka

By Justin Bedard

Mysterious sightings in an otherwise tranquil park. The earth shaking beneath the feet of all those upon it. These curiosities and more bring Tenebra Zeta to the Land of the Rising Sun in what proves to be their deadliest and most awe-inspiring challenge yet. From a calm air bursts a mighty hydra, fully prepared to raze Osaka to the ground and slaughter whoever gets in its way. The team battles on, all the while unaware of the smirking mastermind hiding in the shadows.

And the surprises yet continue. As Lance is separated from the group via his own carelessness, he stumbles upon a great power that proves herself to be Zeta's greatest asset to date. Uncertainty and conflict occur, but when the innocent are caught in turmoil, the daughter of the legendary Shuten-doji refuses to look away. With their strength combined, the full strength of Tenebra Zeta is brought to bear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Justin Bedard
• Release date: Apr 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463594902

Justin Bedard

Justin Bedard (born September 11th, 1995) is a Canadian author that has lived in southern Ontario most of his life. To talk broad strokes, he's your average geek and has a very strange and slightly immature sense of humor that may be the result of insanity. He currently resides in Kemptville with his parents and two siblings.

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The following contains strong language, sexual content, and scenes of violence. Reader discretion is advised.

The characters and scenarios depicted in this work are either fictional or derived from mythology. Any resemblances to any person living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Some dialogue appears enclosed in angle brackets (< and >). These symbols indicate that the character is speaking a non-English language.

©Justin Bedard, 2019. All rights reserved.

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Select cover assets provided by Dark Shadow Artworks.

Support him on Patreon at patreon.com/DarkShadowArtworks.

Tera, Queen of the Succubi ©TeraS, 2007 – 2019. Used with permission.

Visit her at succubus.net.

Additional editing provided by TeraS.

TENEBRA ZETA

ISSUE #3

THE DEVIL OF OSAKA

CHAPTER ONE

August 21st, 2198

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

*****

The Old Burial Ground was really beautiful this time of year. I realize that statement is a touch ironic considered the place was a graveyard, but it was true. The sun was bright, the grass was green. Everything was perfectly polished and reeking of extensive care. All except the one tombstone tucked away in a far corner, wrapped up in vines and littered with leaves as if the tree it laid under was protecting it with all the sincerity of a parent protecting their child.

The sight disappointed me when I found my way over, but it only took a few sweeps of my hands to clear off all the junk. I couldn’t blame no one for looking after it. No one besides me knew who was laying under the ground, and I didn’t expect them to know. It felt almost like my own secret that way, but hardly a good one. Looking at the epitaph never ceased to break my heart.

Jared Parker, 2136 – 2189

I crouched down and stayed silent for a while, the soft breeze and my softly beating heart serving as the only sounds. I ran my hands over the tombstone and sighed, praying for a minute that the grave’s occupant would step up behind me for a second before I pushed the thought out.

This was how things were, and I had to deal with it.

Hey, Dad, I said. I haven’t been here much lately...and I’m sorry about that.

I still hadn’t gotten used to talking at Dad and not to him. He always lingered in the back of my mind, but I never thought of saying anything. People already knew I had anxiety. I didn’t need them thinking I was a schizophrenic, too.

So what did I have to report besides...well, everything? That was how he was when he was alive. Whenever I came home, he wanted to know everything that had happened that day. Back then, there was never too much to report, but how times had changed.

Lotta stuff’s been going on, I said. This whole Tenebra thing’s working out a bit... differently than I thought. Not really sure if that’s good or bad...

I went silent again. If he were there with me, I’d know exactly what I’d want to say. An unsettling chill ran up my spine, and I stopped to compose myself before coming around and figuring I was better off just saying what was on my mind.

I keep...thinking, Dad. I feel so out of it sometimes...and I’m feeling that way more often now than ever. And I’m like, how is that even possible? Monica’s always with me and making sure I’m doing alright. I’ve made a couple new friends...

I grinned as I thought about them. There was one thing he’d love to know. I never made any real friends as a little kid, but gods knew he encouraged me every chance he got.

You’d like Rayyah. She’s really sweet...y’know, when Monica’s not doing something completely off the wall. And Jack? Man. You two woulda hit it off right away.

My heart was still heavy, but the weight became a little more bearable as I thought of such a thing. My smile grew. Heaven knows he would’ve loved the Harlitas especially.

Monica’s still Monica. Still needing me to make the big decisions for her. I guess that’s good. Gives us a reason to stick by each other...and...getting to travel around the world. It’s something to dream for. I mean, we’ve only been to Egypt and the United States so far, but...it’s...it’s been fun...

The loop of negative thoughts devoured me yet again, and I squeezed my eyes shut for a second to try and ease my bones out of their sudden rigidity. I caught myself just before the nosedive my brain was aiming for, and I settled for everyday sadness. I couldn’t help it this time. I’d been stuck like this ever since that talk with Mom. I know it’s unhealthy to dwell on things, especially those you have no control over, but in case you weren’t aware, my brain doesn’t like me. It was a shame, because this particular loop wanted to take everything Mom and Jack and all them had told me and spin it into something scary.

They’re all putting a lot of faith in me...and I know I should feel good about it. But they all say that I’m stronger than I think I am, and...I don’t know if I believe them. No matter what...I still feel scared about what’s coming next.

Gods...I was such a wimp. Not for breaking down in a graveyard, but for still being so anxious despite not having to face anything going forward alone. Why couldn’t I just accept that? I had Rayyah. I had Jack. I had Monica. I had Tina. I had Sandra (sort of). I had Mom. I had everyone I needed. Why was it so hard to face it all like a man?

No...I knew why. It was because ten years hadn’t made a difference. No matter how hard I tried to think otherwise...the results were always the same.

I guess...I’m still not ready to be without you...

He’d tell me the same thing Mom and Jack had told me, and still some part of me would reject it. It was just life and I had to deal with it, but that was under the assumption that life was as easy as just living it. I tried to make the shaking stop, but it kept on going and soon roused a round of tears from my eyes. I started to wipe them when I heard footsteps. Not approaching me, but nearby nonetheless, and I looked up and all around the yard before I spotted a certain furry figure as he walked slowly through the rows.

Jack. A freshly plucked rose in one hand, a tall bottle of wine in the other. The latter was still sealed and really expensive by the looks of it, and I wondered what in the world he’d need it for until I saw him step up to a rather large tombstone. He patted it with his hand, then laid the bottle down at its base. I took a few steps closer. Not so much that Jack would be able to hear me, but close enough that I could make out the three epitaphs carved into the stone.

Robin Flynn, 2076 – 2131

David Flynn, 2083 – 2131

Travis Flynn, 2084 – 2132

Gods...I knew Jack was having it rough, but...

Here ya go, boys, Jack sighed once he’d placed the bottle. It’s a real bitch to find this stuff these days, pardon my French. Don’t think they even make it anymore.

He ran his paw over his eyes, and I took in the somber look on his face. I’d call it so unlike him, but I knew better. Everyone had their sad stories that they’d rather keep hidden, and it only takes a brief glimpse to understand why.

Of course, that was hardly the worst of it. He looked at the smaller grave beside him and smiled, and I could just barely make out a single tear running down his face.

Ah, Marina... he said softly as he kneeled and placed the rose on the tombstone. My darlin’. It’s been too long.

Marina Alva. She’d died five years ago, and it was a major blow to all of us. She wasn’t just a close friend of my family. She was one of the greatest artists of our time, a huge help with Tenebra’s integration into many European nations, and most importantly and