Heroic Betrayal: part six
They walked in a tense silence that made Hero squirm. The two of them were always chatting, or having banter back and forth. When they fell into a silence it was an easy one that never felt awkward or uncomfortable. Now, with Flynn marching Hero up a set of stairs, it felt as if they were two strangers. As if Flynn was actually a Villain.
He is, a voice sniped in the back of Heroâs mind. Flynn is a villain. The lie was his Hero façade.
Hero kept their guard up as they stepped through the door at the top of the stairs. Hero expected to be greeted with the view of a warehouse, or some top secret villain base. Maybe something from the movies, or an equal to the Hero tower HQ.
Instead, their gaze found a house. Hero frowned, wanting to turn their head and comment on it to Flynn but they didnât. They refused. Flynn didnât deserve their comments or thoughts on anything anymore.
âThrough here,â said Flynn, pulling Hero to the right. Hero caught only a glance of the framed pictures hanging on the wall, of Flynn and Villain as children and a man and woman smiling in the picture above them. Hero swallowed.
Were they in Flynnâs childhood home this entire time?
Itâs not what Hero expected at all. It was clean, almost pristinely so with wooden oak floors and a warm, homely feel to it. Clean and yet lived in.
Hero closed their lips, and just let Flynn guide them through another door into a dining room. Heroâs brows raised to the ceiling, looking at Flynn in question before they could help it.
Flynn curled his top lip inward, his tell for when he was embarrassed. âSupervillain insisted,â he said by way of explanation and brought Hero to the end of the table. It sat six people, two chairs on each end and two on both sides.
Flynn pulled out Heroâs chair and quirked his lips at them. âCan I trust you not to do something stupid?â
âYou can always stop me if I do,â Hero replied sweetly, sugared smile not quite meeting their eyes.
Flynnâs smile was cold in return. âI can. Or Villain, whichever is quicker.â
Hero felt that cruel pang of betrayal bloom in their heart like a roseâs thorns wrapped thick around it. Hero didnât reply to that, they just sat down on the chair lifting their handcuffed hands onto the wooden table and let Flynn push in their chair.
Flynn sat beside them, on their right. Hero could have laughed at the horribleness of it all. Flynn sat on Heroâs right because after endless sparring they had both realised it was Heroâs weaker hand. If Hero was going to do something stupid, going for their right hand side would be easier to subdue than their left.
How had they not seen the warning signs? How had they not realised that Flynn was working against them this entire time?
Hero trusted them. They thought if the world ever went to shit, or turned against them, Hero could turn to Flynn and still find a home in him.
Now all their trust was twisted against them mercilessly, and Flynn was a stranger who could smile at them with a bloodied face â and possibly broken nose â and threaten to have the person who broke it hurt them more.
Hero heard movement and voices behind the two doors in front of them, different than the door that Flynn and Hero entered the room through. There was a lively bustling of movement and then a man in his late thirties, early forties walked through the doors with a wide friendly smile holding two plates of something.
He had wavy brown hair, slightly overgrown around the edges, some strands tucked behind his ears Hero noticed. His eyes were sea-coloured, somewhere between green and blue, but shining with a happiness that Hero didnât expect of Supervillain.
Then it hit Hero that they were staring at Supervillain. The Supervillain! Heroâs nemesis, their foeâ the man who was always one step ahead of Hero. Hero glanced at Flynn, almost mutinously before Supervillain drew Heroâs attention back to them.
Supervillain set a plate of food in front of Hero with a big smile, then walked around Hero and placed one in front of Flynn. It was what looked like roast chicken and green beans and roast potatoes. Hero stared down at it, their mouth watering slightly and a gnawing yearning in their gut for food.
How long had they been here? Overnight at least because it was day time at the moment. Hero looked at Flynn. Flynn glanced at Hero then to Heroâs plate and dragged it over to him.
âHeyââ
âRelax, Iâm just cutting up your chicken. Youâre not getting a knife.â
Hero waited, watching Flynn cut up the food. Then they sat back against their chair, eyes going to the doors to see Supervillain was gone. Flynn pushed Heroâs plate back in front of them. Then Supervillain came through again followed closely by Villain, a shadow like fist holding something that was dropped in front of Hero. It smacked against the table lightly with a bounce and Hero realised it was a plastic fork.
Everyone else had proper utensils.
Hero waited until Supervillain and Villain sat down before speaking. âIf you think Iâm eating this, youâre dumber than I thought.â
Supervillainâs smile didnât dim. âAs you like it, Hero. Though, if I drugged you with the chicken or the vegetables I would have drugged us all.â
Hero didnât move to grab the fork, no matter how much their stomach wanted them to. Flynn grabbed Heroâs plate, âwe can swap if you like.â
Heroâs head snapped to him. âAnd how do I know this wasnât all some planned ploy?â
âYou donât,â said Flynn honestly, meeting Heroâs gaze earnestly. Hero had to look away before they cried. Stupid fucking Flynn.
âIf I may,â said Supervillain, his voice smooth and steady, drawing Heroâs gaze. âIf I wanted to starve you, I wouldnât have plated you up a meal. I would have handcuffed you to the chair and let you smell the food and watch us eat.â
Hero swallowed, gaze hardening into a glare as Supervillain tilted his head and shrugged lightly. âHowever, if you donât want to eat I wonât force you.â
Hero sat back stubbornly, eyes not leaving Supervillain as he tucked into his divine smelling meal.
âFlynn said you wanted to talk to me.â
âI do,â Supervillain replied. âAs soon as we have eaten. Itâs bad for the stomach to mix work and pleasure.â
Hero blinked at him, then stared back at their plate. The steam was still rising from it, begging for Hero to eat it. Hero swallowed again, finally reaching for the fork that was discarded in front of their plate.
Nobody at the table made any remarks as Hero took their first bite of chicken. They didnât even feel eyes on them as they ate, and with every bite the possibility of the food being drugged became less and less important as they filled the hole in their stomach.
All too soon their plate was empty and Hero set their fork back on the plate, sitting back in their seat, satisfied. Supervillain smiled at them from across the table.
âWell?â
Hero swallowed. âReally good.â
Supervillainâs smile beamed at them. âGood. Flynn, would you and Villain mind cleaning up?â
Flynnâs eyes went between Hero and Supervillain, and he opened his mouth to protest, but Supervillain looked at him. It stifled the words in his throat and he nodded and gathered his and Heroâs plate. âSure.â
Villain did the same with their and Supervillainâs plate. âThank you. We shouldnât be long.â
Flynn cast one last look over his shoulder at Hero, eyebrows drawing together in a frown. Then the double doors shut on both of them and it was just Hero and Supervillain alone.
Heroâs chest got tighter at the realisation. How many times had they longed to get to sit down with Supervillain and pick his brain on his strategies and plans? How long had they wanted to know his motivations behind it all? What the bigger picture wasâŠ
Now, Hero wanted to be anywhere but here.
Supervillain leaned forward, elbows resting on the table hands folded in front of him. âFlynn tells me youâre a fan of mine.â
Hero scoffed and looked away. âIâd hardly call myself a fan.â
âOf course,â he replied pleasantly. âA hero would never admire a villain after all.â
âThatâs in the job description.â
âTell me, did you ever admire Flynn?â
Heroâs eyes snapped back to Supervillain. His smile was less pleasant now, more shrewd. Intelligent, inquisitive, intimidatingâ his eyes narrowed in curiosity, the corners of his lips still quirked into a smile.
âI guess it doesnât matter anymore, does it? He was always a Villain.â
âYes. However, that is not what I asked you.â Hero swallowed in reply. âDid you ever admire Flynn?â
âYes,â said Hero patiently. They couldnât lose their cool now, they had to match Supervillainâs relaxed demeanour. âHe was my partner. Obviously I admired him.â
Supervillain let out a breath. âTut, tut, Hero. Heâs a villain. How can a Hero ever admire a Villain?â
âIf you want to get into some philosophical debate Iâd rather Villain bash my nose against the bars of my cell again.â
Supervillainâs lips pursed. âIf you like.â
The words ran like cold water down Heroâs spine. âHowever,â he continued, âIâd rather pick your brain before Villain rips it from your skull.â
Hero swallowed the lump that was rising in their throat. How can he be so nonchalant about telling Hero that he had no reservations about Villain killing them? It isnât anything like Hero thought he would be.
âYou wouldnât let them,â said Hero licking their lips, making an effort not to make a face at the taste of salt and iron of dried blood dancing along their tastebuds.
Supervillainâs smile was pleasant. âNo?â
âNo,â Hero echoed then swallowed. âEven if you did let Villain hurt me or torture me, or whatever, you wouldnât let them kill me. Youâd rather draw it out slowly.â
Supervillain raised his hands, elbows on the table and intertwined his fingers, resting his chin on them as he stared at Hero. His sea green eyes looked stormy now, the twisting murky colour piercing through Heroâs soul. His smile was anything but friendly now.
Now, he looked like Supervillain, like Hero expected him to be. Confident, perspicacious, formidable. This was the opponent Hero had been playing alongside across the city for months now. Hero noticed their heart beating faster in their chest.
âAnd you say youâre not a fan,â Supervillain said, a perceptible knowing coating every smooth syllable.
âIâm not a fan of you hurting people. Killing people.â
âAnd yet itâs all you heroes ever seem to respond to.â Heroâs retort died in their throat. âIf it takes violence to goad you out of your precious hero tower, then I will resort to violence.â
Goading? What goading? Heroâs brows furrowed down over their eyes, shadowing them slightly as their mind ran over Supervillainâs words.
âHmm,â Supervillain hummed fondly. âFlynn said you have a look when youâre trying to solve a riddle, this must be it.â
âI donât have a look,â Hero spat, ignoring the blush that coloured their cheeks.
âOf course you do, dear Hero. We all do. Thatâs why in poker you have to learn to mask your tells.â
âAre we playing poker, Supervillain?â
âNo, hardly. Though Iâd wager I could win your money as easy as it took me to tank that developmental property on seventh.â
Hero hope their glare was burning a hole through Supervillainâs skull until they realised they were playing right into his hands and dissolving. Hero licked their lips and leaned forward in their chair too, hands clasped on the table in front of them.
âThis wasnât a spur of the moment thing, was it? You wanted me to follow Villain. You wanted them to catch me,â Hero said. Them was much easier than saying Flynn out loud.
Supervillain smiled appraisingly. âYes.â
âAnd bring me here to meet you.â
âYes.â
âWhy?â
Supervillainâs eyes flashed, something glinting within them. âBecause Hero, Iâve wanted to meet you as much as youâve wanted to meet me.â
Hero held up their cuffed hands. âCouldnât have done it more civilly?â
âOh please,â Supervillain scoffed, resting his palms flat on the table and pushing his chair back. Heroâs heartbeat quickened as Supervillain stood up and started making his way slowly, predatorily slowly, towards Hero like a cat playing with a mouse. Hero wanted to not move, to not show him the effect he had on Hero, but their body didnât get the message. The closer Supervillain came to Hero the more they shrunk back into the chair, hands braced on the table ready to spring to their feet and â and then what?
Supervillain stopped beside Heroâs chair, one hand on the back of it, the other hooking a finger around the small length of chain that kept Heroâs wrists locked together. He pulled it up, Heroâs arms going with it involuntarily until Supervillain held Heroâs arms up high over their head.
Hero grit their teeth as their shoulders strained from their sitting position.
âWe both knew one of us would have to be in chains for us to be able to chat,â said Supervillain tilting his head. All friendliness had melted from his face leaving a cold grin and hungry eyes feasting off the sight of Hero at his table. âI just decided it wasnât going to be me.â
Hero tugged their arms down suddenly but they may as well not have for the lot of good it did them. Supervillain leaned down, his face close to Heroâs as he grinned.
âYou should have struck first, little Hero. Then maybe the roles would be reversed, but as of right nowââ Supervillainâs eyes darkened. âI control the board.â
*~*~*~*~*
Orphanage roll-call: @princess-bubble-blossom @morning-star-whump @revrevrew-personal
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Your art is always a blessing on my feed :;D It is so good
Seek Lady Maria. she hides the real secret, the grim truth nobody should know.
(Made some alternates to the shading and lighting to this old art)
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Civilian x Crush kidnapped
TW: lady whump, lady whumpee, male whumpers, multiple whumpers, broken bones, kidnapping, kidnap whump, physical violence against a woman,
please be aware of the tags and don't engage if you don't like lady whump! Thank you :)
*~*~*~*~*
It was pouring out, Civilian realised with a groan, resting her forehead against the office window. âAnother late night, Civilian?â
Civilian turned her head to see her crush stopped in the middle of the cubicle, his sweater draped over the crook of his elbow. He was just in his tee shirt that showed his defined arms.
That was just unfair, Civilian thought. Why does he have to have a nice face and body?
âYeah. Iâm trying to finish the report on the increase of Villain activity.â
Crush hummed with a nod and a pretty smile. âIt seems weâre always the last two to leave,â said Crush.
âProbably because we have no lives,â Civilian said with a small laugh. Oh god she just said that. Out loud. To her crush. When he was probably gonna think she was a weird, boring loser now. Great. Perfect. And it started to rain heavier. Perfect. As if on cue.
To her utter surprise Crush laughed in reply, and not a forced laugh, like a proper, real one. Civilian could listen to that laugh all day.
âYou donât have to expose us like that, Civilian,â said Crush with a small shake of his head. He cleared his throat and then turned his body more towards Civilian. âSince weâre both workaholics and have no lives, how would you like to grab a drink with me?â
âNow?â Civilian asked, eyes going wide.
She looked like shit, and probably smelled like ink.
âYeah. Now. Why not? I mean⊠like only if you want toâŠâ
âYeah, no. Now works,â said Civilian with a smile and Crushâs shoulders relaxed. Civilian quickly shut down her computer and started to gather her things before putting her jacket on and grabbing her crossbody bag before walking to Crush. He gestured towards the lifts and Civilian smiled and walked with him.
When they got into the lift, Crush pressed the ground floor button and the pair of them leaned against the back wall in silence.
Then they both tried to fill the silence at the same time.
âSo what doââ
âThis report youâreââ
Then they laughed and both said: âyou go first.â
Civilian laughed again as a blush climbed Crushâs neck and coloured his cheeks pink. âI was asking,â Civilian continued. âWhat keeps you in so late every night?â
âOh,â said Crush, then opened his mouth and a hesitant hum fell from his lips. His eyes almost nervous at Civilianâs question. âOkay, look. You canât say it to anyoneââ
âMy lips are sealed,â said Civilian innocently, miming locking her mouth shut.
Crush smiled and leaned in closer to Civilian his voice dropping to a whisper, âyou know the new guy? He covers politicsâŠâ
âOh yeah. Iâve seen him around,â said Civilian, eyes bright as she looked at Crush.
âYeah. He is such a shit writer,â said Crush and Civilian let out a startled laugh. âDonât laugh. Itâs not funny. Iâm in late every night trying to fix it up and make it presentable.â
âNo rest for the wicked,â said Civilian with a grin. Crush laughed.
âNo,â he agreed. âWe must be very wicked.â
âExtremely,â said Civilian, then as the doors open, she looked straight ahead as she added, âIâm going to tell him what you said.â
âAh no. You canât do that! Iâm supposed to be an unbiased editor.â
âStill,â Civilian teased. Crush grabbed Civilianâs arm, stopping her from going out into the cold wet night. Civilian looked at his hand then up at Crush as he pulled an umbrella from his bag. He stepped out first into the little roofed area and opened the umbrella, holding it high enough for them both to fit under.
Civilian said, âyouâre so prepared.â
Crush shook his head. âI just listen to the weather after the news.â
âThen what surprise is left in life, Crush?â
Crush brought her to his local bar just down the road, The Public Domain. Crush told her that a lot of lawyers around the area come drink here too. Civilian smiled politely. Crush always had a good network of people that he trusted for his sources. It always seemed like a secret, and now that he was bringing Civilian here, it felt⊠well, like he was willing to share it with her.
The bar was buzzing with chatter and life. The smell of carpet dust and stale beer greeted their senses the moment they stepped into it. Crush held the door open with his foot, shaking the excess rain off the umbrella before closing it. He smiled slightly when he caught Civilianâs eye and nodded towards the bar. Civilian got the hint and walked up to it with him. The bar was quaint and bustling with patrons, chatting animatedly, laughter occasionally punctuating the conversations leaving a nice rhythmic lull to the pub.
The barman grinned when he saw Crush. âAnother late night, Crush?â
Crushâs hand went to the nape of his neck and rubbed it bashfully, it endeared Civilian to him even more if that was possible.
âYeah, you got me.â
âThe usual?â the barman asked, and Crush smiled and said, âyes. A Guinness please andââ Crush said, looking back at Civilian. He leaned into the barman and held up two fingers. âActually, two please.â
âTwo Guinnesses,â said Crush again, and took out his wallet as did Civilian. Crush pushed her hand back and said: âput that away, Iâm getting it. Weâre here on my invitation.â
âFine. I get the next round,â said Civilian.
Crush cocked an eyebrow at her. âSo confident weâll have another.â
âIâm just ensuring you know what youâre in for,â said Civilian with a wink. She thanked Crush for the drink, and they went to a small booth in the back. The conversation flowed easy, easier than Civilian flirting with him in the printer room. Or at the office offering to get Crush a coffee from the canteen because she was going anyway. It was better, more intimate.
The conversation got back to work on her third round of drinks and Crushâs smile was far better looking and almost irresistible. Civilian realised halfway through a story Crush was telling her of work that she could just reach over the table and crush her lips to his and all would be well.
His lips stopped moving, then turned up into a grin. âCivilian?â
âYeah?â
âI was wondering when you got into current affairs?â Crush asked, his husky laugh making an appearance. Civilian blushed at being caught staring.
âOh,â said Civilian, trying to think back to when she got interested in current events. âI mean⊠with all the Hero/ villain stories going around, and our paper not really being Pro or Anti Heroes I just wanted to start reporting the facts. As it happened, so people can witness the unbiased information, the before and after, and make up her own minds about it.â
âAnd?â Crush asked and Civilian let out a small laugh, lifting her hands in a shrug.
âAnd⊠Alice liked the idea and told me to handle the HeroâVillain side of things. It got a lot of positive feedback from our readers too.â
Crush leaned in, resting his elbows on the table. âBut why were you interested in it to begin with?â
âI was reading about Hero and how good it is that we have them to help us and stop the Villains running around our city. Praising them to the brim, it was bordering on sycophanticâŠâ Civilian trailed off, taking a sip of her Guinness. Crush smiled and reached over the table, wiping some of the foam off of Civilianâs upper lip with her thumb.
It was as if the world had frozen in that moment between them. Civilianâs heart stopped beating for a fleeting second that stretched into eternity. Crush retracted his hand and licked the foam from his thumb with a secretive smile.
Civilianâs face burned redder than cherries, her cheeks heating up. From all the drinking, Civilian told herself, not anything else. Not how hot Crush was, not at all⊠they barely noticed.
âAnd you didnât like that?â Crush asked with his perfect knowing smile. He knew exactly what caused the blush covering Civilianâs face scarlet and continued on the conversation while they were distracted. As if he didnât do anything at all. Â
Oh no Civilian loved that, she wanted to get more foam on her lip just so he could wipe it off again.
What were they talking about again? Oh god, she was making it so obvious. Think Civilian! Oh yes, Heroes and Villains, oh god, she was making it so obvious. Play it cool, Civilian. Â
SPEAK CIVILIAN! A voice screamed at her from the back of her mind, and she blushed again.
âNo,â said Civilian, turning the clammy glass around in her hands. She continued thoughtfully, âI donât like when things get shoved down my throat before I know what shit theyâre shovelling. Turns out the Hero agency had donated a very generous sum to the publication and thatâs why there was a sudden exposĂ© on how good Heroes were.â
Crush sat back when Civilian stopped talking, a small hidden thing twinkling behind his smile. âWhat?â Civilian asked, cocking her brow.
âNothing,â Crush said with his handsome smile.
âNo what? Whatâs that smile for?â
âI just didnât realise you were so passionate about Heroes and villains from reading your pieces. Itâs⊠youâre very surprising, Civilian.â
Civilian bowed her head and Crush laughed, getting to his feet. âCome on. Letâs get you home.â
Civilian nodded, following Crush out of the booth then out the door to the pub. It had stopped raining. A sheen of water covering the streets the only remnant that it had ever rained. So, when water splashed on the pair of them from a passing car, they could do nothing but laugh.
That laugh got cut off as into a scream as something suddenly slammed into Crush. Civilian whirled a scream of horror in her throat. âCrush!â
Civilian was running after him, deeper into a side street, shoes splashing the puddles up her feet. At the bottom of the alley Civilian saw Crush engaged in a struggle with someone. Civilian pulled pepper spray from her bag and ran up on the pair.
Crushâs eyes found Civilian and widened as he yelled: âCivilian! Noâ ngh, run! Go!â
âCivilian, hmm?â Civilian turned on her heel, pepper spray aimed and ready at the newcomer, but her wrist was caught in the attackerâs hand, and he twisted it roughly. Civilian cried out, as her attacker twisted her wrist further and plucked the pepper spray from her hand with ease. Her only defence. âHow lovely to make your acquaintance.â
Civilianâs eyes went hard, and she balled her hand into a fist. She found her centre in her feet, bending her knees slightly. Then twisted her whole body with the slap that she threw straight for the attackerâs cheek.
The attacker simply caught that wrist too, smiling down at her with a grin that exposed too many teeth. Civilian yanked her wrists down, trying to break free of his grip, but her attacker yanked her forward suddenly and Civilian stumbled, her balance thrown off. Her attacker spun her, so her back was to the attackerâs front, her arm twisted behind her back and pinned there. Then there was a gentle hand on her throat, holding her head up, and when Civilian tried to struggle the attacker lifted her captured arm higher and Civilian cried out.
âCrush. You might want to stop,â said the man holding Civilian. The scuffle came to a pause, Crushâs head lifting to see Civilian and whoever was holding her. His eyes narrowing at the person behind Civilian, but he stopped fighting, nonetheless. Then he got a punch to the face for good measure from his attacker.
âI thinkâŠâ the man behind Civilian said, âweâre all going to go for a drive, hmm?â
âNo,â said Civilian. They were in a public place. Her best weapon was her lungs. So, Civilian opened her mouth and screamed at the top of her lungs for âHelp! Help! Somebody help us! Police! Ple-â
The coolness of a blade biting into her neck cut her off. âKeep screaming, theyâre so pretty⊠but I would hate for my knife to slipâŠâ
âOkay. Right Hand,â Crush said, glancing between Civilian and Right hand behind Civilian. âIâll go with you, just⊠just let Civilian go.â
A rumbling chuckle from behind Civilian sent a shiver ran down her spine. âOh no, no, no, Crush. Civilianâs coming along to make sure you behave.â
Civilianâs blood went cold as she looked at Crushâs resolve shattering right in front of her eyes. She wanted to fight. She wanted Crush to fight. To try. To struggle to punch to do somethingâŠ
âHenchmen take Crush, donât worry. He wonât put up a fight,â Civilian was pushed forward, and she resisted. Her hand was twisted further up her back, and she winced as she was forced a stepped forward.
âKeep walking or Iâll break your arm, Civilian,â Right Hand said into Civilianâs ear. Civilian obeyed because what else could she do?
At the end of the alley there was a black car parked where they had come in. Which meant these guys had been following them⊠for how long? Right hand kept pushing Civilian forward and when they got to the car, he pushed Civilian into the backseat then slammed the door shut. They did the same to Crush on the other side and Civilianâs panicked eyes went to Crush who just whispered: âeverything will be all right.â
âWhy do I get the feeling you know these people?â Civilian whispered back. Her hand went to the door trying to open it, but it wouldnât budge. Locked. Child locked, no doubt. Jesus fucking Christ, what the fuck is going on? Crush opened her mouth to reply when the two front doors opened and their attackers, Henchman and Right hand, got into the front of the car.
Henchman was in the driverâs seat and took off, while Right Hand turned in his seat and smiled at Civilian. She couldnât really tell his features from here. It was too dark. Did he have blue eyes? Or brown? And his hair⊠sheâd need to remember something concrete to tell the police when she get free.
If they get free.
âSorry to interrupt your date, Civilian.â
âGo fuck yourself, Right Hand,â Civilian said in reply. Right hand just laughed and stared forward again.
âYou got a keeper there, Crush. You tell her who you are? Or does the little reporter want to figure it out all by themselves?â
Civilian looked out her window, but it was all blacked out. She couldnât even see her own reflection. Of course. Of fucking course.
Crush spoke next. âRight Hand, let Civilian go, okay? Iâll come willingly.â
âYouâre coming willingly now, Crush.â
âFor now,â Crush threatened, his voice taking on a completely different tone than Civilian was ever used to. Ever knew Crush was capable of.
âPut your claws back in,â said Right Hand dismissive. âWeâre almost there now anyways. Besides⊠you wouldnât risk putting poor Civilian in danger by trying to stop the car and be a hero now, would you?â
Civilian glanced at Crush from the corner of her eye, her heart hammering in her chest but he wouldnât look at her. Civilian put her hand out, resting it on the middle seat. Crush put his hand in theirs, lacing his fingers through hers and squeezing gently.
When the car stopped Henchman and Right Hand got out of the car. Civilianâs door opened first, and she was grabbed by the arm and pulled out. She looked into the face of Right Hand, who was still smiling down at her. She mustered up her best glare in return. Right Hand just pushed her in front of him again and told her to walk.
Civilian did just that, trying to take in everything around her. Figure out where they were but all she saw was a garage made of cinder bricks and concrete floors. Then a door opened to them, and Right Hand pushed her through. It just led to a larger room. A man stood at the opposite wall, his back to them as they entered. Right Handâs grip tightened on Civilianâs arm when he felt Civilian almost stop.
âThe prodigal son returns,â said Right Hand to the man ahead of them. Civilian looked over their shoulder, trying to find Crush, but a hand squeezed her cheeks and dragged their gaze to face forward again.
Crush spoke and Civilianâs head flooded with relief. He was still here. Civilian wasnât alone. They were fine. He was fine.
âIâm not saying shit until you let Civilian go,â said Crush to the room. Then a grunt of pain and Civilian shot forward to help and was yanked back by her hair with a yelp.
The man finally turned to face the group and Civilianâs breath caught in her throat. That was Supervillain. That man was the Supervillain. Civilian and Crush were taken here to see Supervillain?! But then that means the person holding Civilian was⊠Right hand⊠Supervillainâs right hand. Civilian felt all the blood drain from her face as a small laugh sounded above her. Civilian took an involuntary step back, but just hit Right Handâs chest.
âOh, not so brave now, are we?â Right hand asked and Civilian couldnât find it in herself to reply.
Supervillain approached them. Fine shoes clacking off concrete, echoing. Civilian didnât dare breathe as Supervillain came closer and closer to her. Supervillain was taller than Civilian. Taller. Broader. Crueller. Instead of going to Crush he walked right up to Civilian and Right hand pushed her forward, letting go of her hair and arm.
Civilian felt very cold and exposed like this. She nearly missed Right Handâs brutal hold on her. Supervillain looked down at her without a hint of an expression on his face. He looked almost alien. Cold.
Supervillain took Civilianâs hand in his and pulled it up as if to inspect it. Civilian let him. She hated herself for it, but Supervillain killed people, this wasnât a time to be brave.
âYouâve been gone too long, Crush,â said Supervillain simply. His voice sent shivers down Civilianâs spine. Then Civilian was screaming, white hot pain burst behind her eyes as a resounding crack tore through her hand. Her legs went to jelly, and she wanted to be sick, but she just put her other hand out for support against the only other solid thing there: which happened to be Supervillain.
âLET HER GO! She has nothing to do with this!â Crush yelled. Distantly Civilian was aware of the scuffle behind her. That Crush was probably trying to get to her, but it didnât matter because that wouldnât stop the pain in her wrist from burning.
âAre you going to keep making demands, Crush? Because there are 206 bones in Civilianâs body, and I can break as many as you need to remind you of who has the power here.â
Civilian was shivering at the threat. Or the pain. She didnât know.
âPleaseâŠâ Crush again. âPlease let them go.â
âNo,â said Supervillain, and Civilian wanted to throw up. She wasnât sober enough to deal with this shit. A hand on her chin tilted her head up to look Villain in the eye. âJust a hairline fracture, my dear. Nothing to worry about. Right hand?â
Civilian felt Right handâs hand on her shoulder again and she nearly sagged against him. âIf Crush decides to make any more demands break something else of her.â
âI wonât,â Crush said quickly, the words rushed out panicky and desperate. Then cleared his throat and said again: âI wonât, sir.â
âGood,â said Supervillain, eyes going between the two of his captives. âLetâs begin again then, shall we?â
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Heroic Betrayal - Part five
Read part one here
Continued from this part here
*~*~*~*~*
What kind of idiot were they to be stuck here? Hero should have told Sidekick when they got the tip about Villain⊠they should have told them that they were going to rough Villain up a bit, get the information they needed on Other Villainâs whereabouts and beat the shit out of them. Just a little revenge for touching a hair on Sidekickâs innocent head.
Even if they managed to catch Villain and mete out justice on Other Villain, they would have beaten the ever-living shit out of the wrong person, and that was something Hero didnât want to think about in that moment.
That FlynnâŠ
Their Flynn was the one who put Sidekick in the med bay.
Sidekick, who was still in the med bay, where Hero should be, but no. Instead, they were here, powerless and bleeding and it was all their fault.
Hero didnât know how long they sat and stewed on that thought. Long enough that their nose stopped bleeding anyway. Hero tentatively reached up to their upper lip, their hand came away from it dry, the blood caked and flaked onto their face now.
âWhat happened to your face?â Hero angled their head down from where they stared at the ceiling to see Flynn standing on the other side of the cell bars.
âFuck off, Red,â Hero grumbled, and fought the wince at their casual nickname for Flynn slipping out of their lips. âIâm not in the mood.â
A jangle of keys and the cell door was open, footsteps approaching Hero in their cot in the corner. Heroâs heart ached with every beat as Flynn came into their line of sight, concern drawing their features together.
How many times had they seen that same concern on his face? Told Hero it was going to be okay. Cleaned their wounds, laughed about the bruises the next day?
How much of it was a lie? â Hero wanted to ask. The question burned a hole on the tip of their tongue, but they didnât dare speak it. They just stared up at the ceiling as best they could.
âWhat? You piss someone off already?â
Hero sighed. Flynn sat on the edge of the bed, moving closer to Hero hands going to inspect the damage. Hero slapped their hands away, tears burning in the back of their eyes.
âDonât fucking touch me, Flynn,â Hero bit out. âYou donât get to betray me and then pretend to be my friend and concerned about me.â
Flynn stared; eyes sad as he said: âokay. Guess I deserve that.â
âYou deserve so much more,â Hero said, eyes burning with hatred, voice barely above a whisper. âHow many of our friends died because of you? Hmm?â
âHero, not all of itââ Flynn began then stopped, huffed out a breath of air through his nose, hand running through his hair. âNot all of it was a lie. I am your friend. I do care about you.â
âOh really? Then youâd never use your power on me, right?â Hero demanded, echoing back Flynnâs words against him. Flynn had the audacity to even look guilty at that, and Hero leaned forwards, hands on Flynnâs as they said: âI forgive you, okay. I forgive you if you let me go. Flynn, please.â
Flynnâs eyebrows knit together, clearly conflicted but he said nothing. After a moment, Hero let out a breath of disbelief and sat back against the wall again.
âYeah,â Hero scoffed, âweâre friends.â
âYou have blood all over your face, Hero. You really want to just leave it?â
âWhy the hell not?â Hero said, trying to force their tone into some form of neutrality.
Flynn sighed and stood up from the cot. âSupervillain wants an audience with you. I was sent to retrieve you.â
Hero rolled their eyes but got to their feet no less. âOf course,â they said, pushing past Flynn to the door. âGod help you actually wanted to see how I was doing.â
âHeroââ
âI donât want to talk to you anymore. Letâs just go.â
âHero thatâs notââ
Before they could get the fourth word out, Hero had whirled on them eyes blazing hotter than any hells furnace.
âFair?!â They asked incredulously, their voice jumping two pitches at the sheer audacity of the word on their lips. âIs that what you were going to say?â
Flynn didnât back down this time. Instead they stepped forward, looking down their nose at Hero.
âYes. That is what I was going to say.â
âYou are unbelievable!â Hero snapped matching Flynn with a step forward of their own. They held their cuffed hands up in Flynnâs face as if to remind him exactly why Hero was there in the first place. âIf youâre my friend youâll take these off.â
âHero you know I canâtââ
Hero didnât let him finish. Instead they placed their palms on Flynnâs chest and shoved them as hard as they could. Flynn looked about as bothered as if a fly had flown into the room.
âI canât uncuff you Hero,â Hero said, lowering their voice to mimic Flynnâs and shoving him back again. âI canât let you go Hero.â And again. âI canât fucking thinkââ shove âfor myselfâ shove âHero.â
Hero glared up at Flynn trying to fight back the frustrated tears building behind her eyes. Anger was easier to focus on in the moment rather than that vast aching pit twisting uncomfortably in their gut.
âBut I promise Iâm your friend, Hero,â Hero mocked, shoving him back again until Flynnâs back hit off the wall. Flynnâs eyebrows curved down and it left a pang in Heroâs chest that they hated. âAnd then you have the gall to look hurt. As if I betrayed you.â
Hero ignored the tears that fell at the last sentence, or at least tried to. They tried to be firm and act tough, but saying the betrayal out loud, acknowledging it when it was just the two of them was too much.
âWould you trust me if the roles were reversed?â Hero asked, not even wanting to look at Flynn for the answer. The more they saw the conflict on his face the harder it was to hate him. Flynn however, didnât take this into consideration when he put his hand on Heroâs face and tilted it back to face him.
Hero narrowed their eyes at him, pushing every ounce of anger into their gaze hoping they would turn into actual daggers and stab him.
âNo,â Flynn breathed softly, thumb wiping away the tear streaks from Heroâs face. âI wouldnât trust you if the roles were reversed, but I would hear you out of you tried to explain it to me.â
âAnd if I took you to Supervillain?!â Hero asked, their voice low and furious as they stepped out of Flynnâs touch. âThe enemy weâve been trying to stop for months?â
âYou.â
âWhat?!â Hero demanded hotly.
Flynnâs gaze had hardened, his face devoid of all emotion now except for his usual mask of easy confidence, smirk on his lips as if he didnât just wipe Heroâs tears away.
âThe enemy youâve been trying to stop for months,â Flynn said again taking a step forward, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Hero matched it with one back, cautious, hackles raised. âI mean the man you borderline obsessed over, Hero. Donât you want to meet the genius who eluded you, the great detective, for all that time?â
âNot particularly,â Hero said through gritted teeth, with another step back that Flynn matched, getting closer and closer each time.
âThatâs what you called him though, right? A genius,â Flynn teased, his grin showing his teeth. âI mean, fuck, Hero some of the moves he made you were damn right impressed with. You even said youâd have done exactly the same thing ifââ
âI was in his position,â Hero cut Flynn off. Flynnâs smirk grew wider as he took another step closer, dipping his head conspiratorially.
âNow you can be,â said Flynn with a wide gesture of his hands. Hero followed his hand to the cell door that they happened to be right beside. Hero was keenly aware that Flynn was backing them towards the door the whole time. âEven just for the intellectual stimulation if nothing else.â
âGo fuck yourself, Flynn. Iâm not willingly walking into the Lionâs den.â
Flynnâs eyelids fell half over his eyes. âIt is less dignified to be dragged, Hero, but if you insist.â
Flynn made a grab for Heroâs arm but they dodged at the last minute, turning to shoulder Flynn out of the way. Flynn didnât so much as budge from their spot. Instead he caught Hero by the strap of their scabbard and yanked them into Flynnâs chest.
âThe hard way, wonderful. I wouldnât expect any less of you Hero,â Flynn said, wrapping an arm over Hero's chest and keeping them close as they stepped out of the cell, pushing Hero forward with their own body weight. âLet's go introduce you to Supervillain.â
*~*~*~*~*
The Orphanage, or, the tag-list: @princess-bubble-blossom @morning-star-whump
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Heroic Betrayal: part four
Read part one here
Continued from this
TW: Blood
*~*~*~*~*
The next thing Hero remembered they were in a cell on a bed, the cuffs still firmly around their wrists. They didnât remember how they got there, or where they were, something Hero could no doubt credit to Flynn. Though Hero felt the salt trail of tears hardened around the corner of their eyes and down their cheeks.
So much for not using their power on me.
They were thankful Flynn had left them with their scabbard at least, straps still wrapped tight around their chest, scabbard reassuring on their back. They could grab their daggers anytime.
As soon as Flynn took these stupid handcuffs off, Hero thought mulishly, staring down at their trapped hands balanced in between their bent knees.
There was a door opening somewhere nearby and Hero raised their head to look at the cell bars, waiting for whoever it was to come gloat. Somewhere, in the dark side of their mind, a sad, quiet voice wanted nothing more than to see Flynnâs stupid face on the other side of the bars.
Instead, it was Villain who appeared. Hero struggled to keep their face neutral. They didnât want to show Villain what impact they left on them. Villain and their stupid fucking shadows. Hero fixed Villain with a bored stare, resting their head back against the cold wall.
âMiss me?â Hero asked, wanting to celebrate that their voice didnât betray them. Unlike Flynn.
Villain just stared, cocking a brow at Hero. Then the shadows slipped from their palms and under their clothes, slowly, dreadfully slowly, dripping, slithering along the ground and through the bars of the cell. Heroâs heart hammered against their chest, but they forced themselves not to move. Not to react. Thatâs what Villain wanted, for them to scream and cry.
Fine. Maybe they would, but Villain would damn fucking sure have to work for it.
âIf you want to give me a hug, Villain you can come in here and do it yourself.â
âCute,â said Villain, cocking their head to the side, a smile slipping onto their face, âbut I think Iâll leave that for Flynn.â
Heroâs heart panged at that, and they hated themselves for it. They shouldnât be sad. They should be angry. Pissed off, but their stupid little heart ached at the mention of Flynn, and they couldnât wrestle the feeling away.
âWhat was it like?â Villain asked, leaning their hands through the bars and clasping them together. Their eyes shining with malice, ârealising your best friend and greatest ally was all lies. Did it hurt? I bet it hurt.â
âEhh. You win some, you lose some,â Hero shrugged, subtly retracting their feet to their chest to evade the shadowy claws that were crawling up the legs of the bedframe.
âAh. You seem more confident than before. Have you had time to process it all? Compartmentalise? Is that what they taught you during Hero training? Maybe Iâll ask FlynnâŠâ
Hero smiled, the result humourless and wan. âYou do that.â
The cold was the first sign that the shadows were on them. A hand wrapped around Heroâs ankle, slowly pulling their leg down. âWhat about you?â Hero asked, wanting to take their focus off the shadows pulling at them.
Villainâs eyebrows raised in question. âWhat about me?â
âYou must have missed him,â Hero continued, nonchalant. âI mean when Flynn was pretending to be my friend. The late nights, the early mornings. The stakeouts⊠we got close. Maybe they were lying to me about being a villain and a traitor, but still⊠all that time they spent with me they werenât with you. How does that feel?â
Villain didnât answer. Instead, they drew their arm back sharply and the shadows yanked Hero down the bed. Hero kicked and fought, but they were struggling against air and shadows. With their hands locked uselessly in front of them and without their powers Hero could do nothing as the shadows kept dragging Hero towards the bars where Villain stood.
âYouâre not worth the effort,â Villain spat as they reached up and pressed their actual cold hand to Heroâs throat, keeping their chin up and forcing them to look into Villainâs cool black eyes, burning with an old kind of hatred.
âMmm,â Hero said, clearing their throat with a slight cough that highlighted Villainâs hands on their throat. âMaybe you should ask Flyââ
Villain cut Hero off by squeezing their hand around Heroâs throat. Hero pulled back, but it was as if a wall was behind them squishing them towards the bars, to Villainâs hand and their unyielding grip. Hero couldnât even use their hands to free themselves because they were squished between their rib cage and the iron bars of the cell.
Eventually Villain let go and Hero pushed back a little, gasping in lungfuls of air.
âI donât even know what he sees in you,â Villain hissed, and Hero looked up through their lashes, still wheezing for oxygen and said: âmy devil may care charm, perhaps.â
A hand gripped the back of Heroâs head and slammed their nose into the bars in front of them. Hero gripped the bars on instinct when a loud resounding crunch echoed through Heroâs head, along with their sharp cry of pain. Warm blood started flowing down their nose and lips, dripping passed their chin and onto their shirt.
âMotherfucker,â Hero gasped out. Then their head was shoved down again and Hero cried out in pain, the impact hitting their bridge square on the bars and causing the blood to gush, some going down the back of their throat and Hero coughed, the taste of iron staining their mouth. Enraged Hero spit some of the blood into Villainâs stupid, smirking face.
Villain smiled and it seemed to suck all confidence from Heroâs very soul. A smile so dark it struck fear straight to Heroâs heart.
âAh. I see now what he likes about you. You look perfect when youâre bleeding and scared.â
Hero couldnât help themselves as the words spilled from their mouth: âyou creep. At least buy me dinner first.â
Then Hero was forced onto their knees by the shadows holding them. Villain grabbed Heroâs chin, tilting their head side to side, examining them. Hero tried to push back, to stand up, to do anything. But the shadows kept them exactly how Villain wanted them.
âThere. Beautiful,â Villain said. Heroâs blood was dripping onto Villainâs hand, but they didnât seem to care. Hero sucked in a breath through gritted teeth and choked on some of the blood, sputtering slightly. Villainâs eyes seared into Heroâs soul, watching them struggle and revelling in it. Villain pressed their hand that was soaked in Heroâs blood to Heroâs cheek, wiping the remnants on Hero before straightening up properly.
Villain released them and Hero fell to all fours, coughing out the blood onto the concrete floor. Painting the miserable grey, a bright red. When Hero looked up again Villain was gone, but the fear they had trapped in Heroâs chest was still very much there.
Lingering.
Hero retreated to the back wall of the cell, sitting on the cot again and resting their head back against the wall, waiting for the blood to stop falling and cursing themselves.
What kind of idiot were they to be stuck here? Hero should have told Sidekick when they got the tip about Villain⊠they should have told them that they were going to rough Villain up a bit, get the information they needed on Other Villainâs whereabouts and beat the shit out of them. Just a little revenge for touching a hair on Sidekickâs innocent head.
Even if they managed to catch Villain and mete out justice on Other Villain, they would have beaten the ever-living shit out of the wrong person, and that was something Hero didnât want to think about in that moment.
That FlynnâŠ
Their Flynn was the one who put Sidekick in the med bay.
Sidekick, who was still in the med bay, where Hero should be, but no. Instead, they were here, powerless and bleeding and it was all their fault.
*~*~*~*~*
Continued here
The Orphanage, or, the tag-list: @princess-bubble-blossom @morning-star-whump
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Heroic Betrayal: part three
Read part one
Continued from this part here
*~*~*~*~*
They stopped at a car parked right on the edge of the park, pulled in on the other side of the road. Secluded, and remote. Villain was already on the other side of the road, and when they saw Hero and Flynn they walked around the car and opened the boot, then turned to smile at Hero.
Hero stepped back unconsciously, shaking their head. âNo. No. No.â
Flynn grabbed the crook of Heroâs elbow and pulled them forward but Hero made themselves grow heavy, dead weight. Flynnâs hand slipped off Hero when they landed on their arse on the frozen muck. They pushed themselves back on their feet, trying to escape.
âNo! No! Flynn donât, please! Please donât do this!â Hero cried. They kicked out a leg at Flynn when they came closer. âPlease, please donât put me in the trunk please.â
Flynn put a placating hand out to Villain as they crouched down in front of Hero. âIâll make you forget,â Flynn said softly. Heroâs heart slammed against their chest as tears pooled in their water line.
âNo, Flynn. You canât. Iâll know! You canât please, pleaseââ
âHero,â Flynn said, tone a little more firm. âIf you drive with us in the car, I canât trust you not to crash the car or do something stupid.â
âIââ Hero said but the words were whisked away with the hitch in their breath. They couldnât go into the trunk. Hero reached pathetically for their power as Flynn advanced but it was silenced by the power dampeners and Hero cursed.
They didnât notice Flynn getting closer until it was too late. Flynn wrapped a hand around Heroâs ankle and yanked them forward. Hero yelped, then screamed for âsomeone! Someone help! Soââ
âFlynn shut them up!â Villain yelled, as Flynn grabbed each side of Heroâs head and locked their gaze on Heroâs panicked ones. Hero felt their body go numb with Flynnâs gaze alone.
âSsh, there we go. Hero youâre going to forget the journey to Supervillainâs house. You wonât remember you were trapped in the boot the whole ride there. Tell me.â
âI wonât remember the journey to Supervillainâs house. I wonât remember being trapped in the boot.â
âGood,â Flynn said with a smile. Then he took the opportunity to get the dazed Hero to their feet and walk them over to Villain.
âItâs so creepy when you do that,â said Villain. Flynn flashed a grin in reply. Villain grabbed Hero's arm and said, âstart the car. Iâll put them in the boot. Knowing you, youâd let them ride in the passenger seat in a heartbeat.â
âYouâre not wrong,â Flynn laughed. He left the pair of them and walked around the car to the driverâs seat before sliding in and shutting the door. He let out a sigh as he turned the key in the ignition. He forgot Hero was claustrophobic. How could he forget that? He remembered Hero telling them that fact in confidence, during one of their late night stake outs. How scared they sounded.
He should have made them forget before they saw the car, but it was too late now anyhow. Villain climbed into the backseat where the windows were blacked out, and closed the door. Flynn put the car into drive and pulled out onto the road, as nonchalant as ever.
*~*~*~*~*
Continued here
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Heroic Betrayal: part two
Continued from this
Hero stared at them; mouth open in silent confusion. Which all ended when they felt cold metal press against the back of their skull. Other Hero beamed at someone behind Hero, then fixed their smug gaze on Heroâs eyes.
âYou wonât because youâre coming with us.â
*~*~*~*~*
âDonât move,â came Villainâs voice over Heroâs shoulder. Hero lifted their head slightly, only to have the barrel press into their head and push it down again to face Flynn. âI will shoot you. Give him your handcuffs.â
Hero glared down at Flynn who looked entirely too pleased with himself. The barrel pressed Heroâs head down further impatiently.
âNow.â
Still Hero didnât move. They didnât know what to do but they knew they couldnât just stay frozen like this forever. It was so hard to think with their heart beating fast against their chest. They needed to do something.
Flynn was a villainâŠ
Forget it. Focus.
Flynn moved below Hero drawing them out of their trance. Flynn removed his hands from behind his head, reaching up to Heroâs waist and slid his hands to Heroâs back, unclipping the power dampening cuffs from their belt. He opened them with an easy flourish of his wrist.
Hero dodged to the right, one foot on the ground while they rounded their other foot out to Villainâs hand kicking the gun out of it. They followed the movement through, their second foot landing on the ground behind them so they stood with their knees slightly bent. Hero pressed their heels down into the dirt and lunged for Villain, catching them around the waist and they went rolling. Hero threw a punch once they stopped, but Villain caught it and clamped their fingers down on Heroâs fist, not letting go.
The corner of Villainâs lips quipped into a smile before shadows engulfed Hero's fist like a glove, and Villain squeezed Heroâs fist crushing it with their shadows. Hero cried out, ripping themselves away and stomping a heavy boot down on Villainâs armpit. Villain let go with a grunt, and Hero fell backwards, catching themself before they hit the ground. Hero stepped back, their shoulder hitting a tree, as they cradled their fist against their chest.
From Heroâs position they could see Flynn who was now standing, smiling, holding Heroâs handcuffs in their hand like it was a sure thing, like they werenât afraid of Hero getting away from them. It made Heroâs skin crawl and blood boil at the same time.
How could he just stand there and be so nonchalant about being a villain. How did hero never notice? Never see! They were such an idiot.
âDonât make this harder than it needs to be,â Flynn said as Villain got to their feet. Hero had to fight. They had to.
Hero stood up straighter, shaking out their wrist before reaching one hand behind their back, the other over their shoulder and drew their long, curved daggers from their sheaths. The black blades glinted beautifully up at Hero, an extension of their arm and the world seemed to right itself once more. The familiar click of their power humming once their blades settled comfortably in their palm.
Hero set their jaw, glaring at Flynn, and said: âgo fuck yourself.â
Villain rolled their eyes, reaching down to pick up their gun. âI told you theyâre more trouble than theyâre worth,â said Villain, tone bored.
Flynnâs head tilted to the side. âI know, but arenât they just adorable?â
Hero lunged for Flynn, and Flynn ducked out of the way. Hero manoeuvred back easily, shooting their right up in a feint, Flynn dodged to the left and Hero grinned as they got the blade of their left under Flynnâs throat.
âHeroâŠâ Flynn said with their beautiful voice and Hero could feel the edges of their vision blur. They shook their head quickly, shoving Flynn away. âStop fighting us, Hero. Come willingly.â
Hero stopped, feeling weak, their guard lowering just a smidge. The compulsion moving through their mind like molasses, making them sluggish. Hero bit down hard on the inside of their cheek, drawing blood and the taste of iron sharpened them again.
They drew their daggers up.
Only one blade raised. Hero frowned, their head turning slowly down to their side to see a glove of shadows enshrouding their arm up to the middle of their forearm.
The shadows pulsed darkly and squeezed around Heroâs wrist until they let out a sudden painfilled cry. Hero reached over trying to claw the shadows away with their free hand, but their hand went straight through the shadows to their arm. The shadows intangible. To Heroâs horror when they pulled their hand away the shadows had wrapped around both.
Hero had barely a second to register it before the shadows pulsed again, a deep all-encompassing black and the pain intensified tenfold. The shadows were so cold, too cold and empty but they burned, as if Hero was submerged in the Arctic ocean. It felt like the shadows were burning cold under Hero's skin. Ice raced through their veins as white flashed behind Heroâs eyes, and they were screaming the only thing that seemed to bring any heat back into their body. Hero didn't even notice that they dropped their precious daggers beside them.
Every muscle in their body seized up with the blinding pain as Hero fell to their knees, gasping in shaky breaths as the excruciating pain ebbed into a sickening cold that left Hero shivering. Tears they didn't know had fallen turning cold on their cheeks. Hero was exhausted, even breathing was too much effort: their breath dredged up from their lungs, Hero heaving in heavy air. Even the darkness seemed too bright all of a sudden.
A pair of boots advanced before them, a hand went under their chin tilting their Head up to see Flynn standing above them, regarding them with a mimicry of pity. âI told you to come the easy way, Hero,â he said.
The cuffs of shadow raised Heroâs wrists to meet Flynnâs hands and he locked the cuffs down snug against Heroâs wrists. Hero felt the familiar sizzling of power beneath their veins fade and become nothing but a knowing ache, like there was something missing that is supposed to be there. Powerless. Hero barely had it in them to care, mind still hazy from the pain as the shadows dissipated under the cuffs.
Flynn reached down, scooping up Heroâs daggers and sheathed them behind Heroâs back. The action alone made Hero want to sob, the cruelty of having the opportunity to fight back so close and not being able to reach it.
âLetâs not dally any longer, Flynn. We donât know if they called for reinforcements.â
âDonât worry,â said Flynn, looking down at Hero with a fond smile. He tucked a stray piece of hair behind Heroâs ear as he said: âthey didnât.â
Hero shivered at their easy confidence. Hero knew Flynn and Flynn knew Hero, inside and out, they were partners... Flynn put their hands under Heroâs elbow and started guiding them up, but Hero pulled away. âGet away from me,â Hero spat, venom lilting every syllable.
The shadows reappeared at Heroâs arms, and they glared up at Villain, though they thought they were going to have a heart attack at the simple threat.
âHe likes you. He wants you. He is the only thing keeping me from unleashing the shadows to wrangle some more of your pretty little tears, and cute little screams from your lips. So, if I were you, Iâd listen to him and stand the fuck up, Hero.â
Hero glared at Villain, then looked down to the shadow still clinging threateningly to their arms and sucked in a sharp breath. When Flynn offered to help them up again, this time Hero let them. Hero felt bile rise in their throat when Flynn touched them, but they sucked it up for the moment. It was better than having Villainâs shadows torture them.
âThere you go, Hero. See how nice it can be when weâre civil? Trust me, weâll have fun together,â Flynn said, disgustingly chipper. âThe three amigos!â
The cold air bit into Heroâs skin as they walked through the woods, Flynn walking beside them and Villain striding ahead, alert, and ready. Their muscles still shaking after the unnatural use of Villain's shadows on them.
âHow long?â Hero croaked. They didnât mean for it to come out as broken as it did; like they were a wounded dog, a stupid puppy who got kicked and kept coming back for more.
Flynn was gentle as they said: âas long as weâve been friends, if thatâs what you mean. Longer, before I even joined the academy. I guess Iâve always been a Villain, the rouse was the hero business.â
âWe met at the academy. When you told me that you wanted to help people from the dregsââ
âI do,â said Flynn sincerely, and it sounded so convincing. âI just donât think being a Hero will let me do it. Supervillainââ
âTerrorises the city!â Hero bit out. Flynn just sighed.
âWell, youâll understand when you meet them.â
Heroâs blood ran cold, their feet slowing to a stop. Flynn glanced at Villainâs back, then stepped in front of Hero, their once kind eyes that were so reassuring now only served to terrify Hero, as if they looking into a stranger's. âYouâre bringing me to Supervillain?â
âOf course. After I told Supervillain who was single handedly thwarting our every attack, seeing through every diversionâŠâ Flynn said with a coy smile, eyes flashing with something Hero had never seen in them before. Flynnâs voice dipped as they said, âwell letâs just say they were intrigued.â
Heroâs blood was pumping in their ears as they swallowed the lump in the throat, forcing themselves to speak, not to cry. Donât cry.
âYou⊠you were always with me⊠following my lead. I thought you trusted me. I thoughtâ but after,â Heroâs eyes hardened as they shoved Flynn in the chest, pushing them back a step. âAll this time you were just keeping an eye on me! You fuckingâ you knew Sidekick wasââ
Heroâs eyes widened then, and they wanted to get sick. âYou went with Sidekick⊠they didnât meet Other Villain at all, did they?â
Flynnâs intelligent eyes turned cruel, drawing a sadistic smile onto his face. He reached up and grabbed Heroâs chin between his index finger and thumb, pinching it. He didnât let Hero escape as they tried to move their head back, he just tightened his grip until it turned painful. Hero reached up again to shove Flynn back, but Flynn caught their arm and held them down, as if Hero's struggles were non-existent.
âSee what I mean, Hero? So intelligent. So clever. Supervillain will love you.â
Flynn grabbed Heroâs elbow again. This time his grip was harsh and tight as he dragged Hero along with him to catch up with Villain, and Hero didn't bother to waste their energy struggling anymore. They had to relax and save their energy for the right moment.
*~*~*~*~*
Continued here
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Heroic Betrayal: part one
Hero followed the villain through the winding trees, arms braced in front of them at the oncoming bushes and branches they had to wade through before they got to a clearing.
Hero stopped, breath hitting off cold air, surrounding them in smoke. They listened for any sound but heard nothing.
Then â there.
A sudden movement.
Hero bolted after Villain again, hot on their heels as they sprinted after them. Villain was so close. Hero had to push a little faster. Hero reached out to grab Villain when someone knocked into them from the side. The trees extended above Hero, the world seeming to stretch as they fell.
Heroâs head hit off the frozen ground hard, rattling their brain, the world growing hazy for a moment. Heroâs assailant landed on top of Hero and while Hero was momentarily stunned, they sat up, knees straddling Heroâs hips effectively pinning them. Hero swung a closed fist up, but their wrist was caught, and their attacker pinned the other to the ground as well.
âWell, well, well. As I live and breathe, Hero. Itâs been a long time.â
Hero would recognise that stupid drawl anywhere.
âFlynn?â Hero asked, their brain trying to catch up with their mouth. âWhat are you doing here? Get off me! Villainâs getting away.â
âI know,â Flynn said with an easy smile. âIâm meant to distract you.â
Heroâs blood ran cold. âWhat?â
Flynn tilted his head down at Hero.
âI didnât hit you that hard, did I? If I want you to not remember something I wonât beat the memory out of you, donât worry,â he said, leaning down to get closer to Hero, whispering, âIâll take it.â
Hero threw all their weight into their hips, as they shifted, rolling Flynn off them so they were on top.
âAs you like it, sweetheart,â Flynn chuckled. Hero threw a fist out and this time it landed.
âYouâre a traitor?â Hero breathed when Flynn smiled up at them. âYouâre one of them?! Thatâs why supervillain knows every move before we make itâŠâ
Flynn put his two hands behind his head, grinning up at Hero with a charming smile. âI always did love when the mystery was solved in the end. Especially by you, that look on your face.â
âWe were friends!â Hero snarled, fists grabbing the collar of Flynnâs shirt to make him listen. This wasnât some game or joke they could just disregard. How could they be so calm? This couldnât be happening. Everyone loved Flynn, everyone. He was always so nice. Â
âWe are friends, dear Hero.â
âNot if you do this. Not if youâre one of them. Sidekick got hurt because of you!â
âAnd theyâll heal, wonât they? I warned them not to be put their nose in other peopleâs business.â
Hero sagged a bit. Their grip loosening.
âAre you going to take my memory?â Hero whispered quietly.
Flynnâs gaze softened and he put a gentle hand on Heroâs wrist. âNo. I would never use my powers on you. It would take away all the fun.â
Heroâs eyes widened in surprise.
âBut⊠but I know now. Iâll tell Superheroâ do you want to be found out?â
Flynnâs smile turned secretive, like he knew something Hero didnât. âNo, you wonât.â
Hero stared at him; mouth open in silent confusion. Which all ended when they felt cold metal press against the back of their skull. Flynn beamed at someone behind Hero, then fixed his smug gaze on Heroâs eyes.
âYou wonât because youâre coming with us.â
*~*~*~*~*
Continued here
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The Hero and the Infant: Part Three
Read part one here
Continued from here
*~*~*~*~*
Hero threw their arms wide as they strut onto the roof in a gesture of questioning: âhey! What the fuck are ya doing?â
That got Villainâs attention. Violet eyes snapped to theirs, floating a couple metres off the roof. Out of reach for Hero.
âSilent treatment? Really? You just tried to kill a kid, Villain.â
âSuperheroâs new sidekick. I did warn them about the mortality rate of such a job before I dropped them,â Villain said with a shrug. Hero looked back over their shoulder at the sound of the roof door opening and Sidekick stepping out, fury winding all of their limbs tight.
âSee?â Villain said, getting Heroâs attention again. The Villainâs hand was spread to Sidekickâs appearance. âTheyâre fine!â
Hero rolled their eyes, scoffing. âIs that supposed to be a justification for attempted murder?â
Hero felt the strong invisible hand wrap around them and yank them up into the air straight into Villainâs awaiting arms.
âMaybe I just donât like the company they keep,â said Villain, grabbing Hero by the lapels of their duster and pulling them close.
Villainâs nose crinkled up as they said: âyou smell like whiskey and cigarettes.â
âIt was never a problem before. In fact, I think I remember you enjoying the smell at one point,â said Hero with their dashing smile reserved for only Villain.
âWhy are you running around with Superheroâs new scapegoat?â
âWhy are you disturbing these good people just trying to do their jobs?â Hero shot back.
âI am a Villain, my dear. It is what we do.â
âAnd I am a hero, at your every public beck and call. To make sure you donât do irrevocable damage. Such as killing a child,â Hero admonished and yelped as they felt Villainâs power vanish from under them and they were falling.
Villain held them with one hand over the precipice in their usual showmanship of power. Hero narrowed their eyes and shifted their weight, so they were almost a perfect 45-degree angle to the ground thirteen stories below.
A challenge coated their words as they spread their arms wide, âif you want to kill anyone Villain, do us both a favour and kill me.â
Villain searched Heroâs face for any weakness. Any sign that they were lying and found none. The next thing Hero knows wind is whistling through their ears, stopping only when their back cracks off brickwork and they crumbled to the ground hands catching themselves on the ground, gasping for the air that was wrenched from their lungs.
âHero!â Sidekick yelled in surprise from the opposite roof.
Hero barely had time to force themselves to stand again before Villain was in front of them, fist bunching in the collar of their shirt. Villain threw a solid left hook. Hero countered, taking the brunt on their forearm before an invisible hand grabbed Heroâs wrist yanking it above their head and keeping it there. Heroâs toes barely scraping the roof below them.
âNo fair,â said Hero with a grunt, levelling Villain with a knowing scorn.
Villainâs smile was more of a snarl as they said: âwhen have I ever played fair?â
Hero threw their other hand out, but Villain caught it and slammed it back against the brick wall, drawing another grunt from Hero. Villain stepped in close, close enough that Hero felt Villainâs breath on their face as those violet eyes peered down at Hero, tightening their grip on Heroâs wrist.
âYou look good, Vil,â said Hero softly. âWhat happened that made you rage against these innocent people today, hmm?â
Villainâs free hand settled on Heroâs cheek and Hero leaned into the touch. âI donât need a reason.â
âWe both know youâre not like that,â Hero said, smiling sadly.
Suddenly Hero was released, and they dropped to their feet, knees bent. Villain was recoiling to the side, hand on their cheek as a once invisible Sidekick became visible again.
âYou alright?â Sidekick asked as Hero straightened and nodded.
âYes. Thank you.â
âYou looked like you needed help,â Sidekick said, a little breathless and Hero searched the opposite roof wondering how Sidekick had got there so fast but didnât question it. They could ask later.
Hero fixed their jacket, rolling their neck as Villainâs gaze turned to face the pair. âI had it handled.â
âSure, you did,â and Sidekick was invisible again. Villainâs eyes burned like the cold fires of hell down at Hero and Hero shrugged with a smirk.
âKidâs annoying,â said Hero. âBut sure, what can you do?â
âDrop them off a building again. Maybe it will work this time.â
âProbably not,â Hero said with a flash of their teeth. âNot as long as Iâm here.â
âWell then perhaps I will force you to watch,â said Villain as they shot their hand out. Hero sucked in a breath and felt the pop in their ears as they reappeared behind Villain. They whistled and Villain turned. Hero threw a punch which Villain caught, clenching their hand down around Heroâs fist and stepping forward, pushing Hero back. âYou always did think I relied too much on my power.â
âEh,â Hero shrugged with tired eyes. âItâs an off day.â
Villainâs eyes narrowed, their tone dipping dangerous as they turned Heroâs arm. âMaybe you should have answered my texts then and we could have arranged this on a non-drinking day for you.â
âCome on, Vil. You know me better,â Hero said with a toothy grin. âThey are no non-drinking days.â
Villain pulled Hero in and brought a sharp knee to Heroâs stomach. Hero gasped, as Villain leaned in. âWeâll sober you up yet. Just like our academy days, huh Hero?â
The comment had barely registered when Villain squeezed Heroâs fist with their hand, their force backed by Villainâs unfair power.
âNo wait, Villainââ Hero protested just before there was a resounding crack over the roof. Hero screamed bloody murder as Villain kicked them back, and unable to catch themselves, Hero stumbled back and fell, their head hitting off the stone roof. White spots burst behind their vision as Hero shuffled back on their good arm. âMotherfucker!â
Hero looked down at their hand, their index and middle finger bent backwards. A deep purple and black colouring the battered flesh. They had to get off the ground. Hero sucked in a sharp breath closing their eyes. Then a boot came to their chin and Hero cursed as their world rocked and their head hit the ground again.
A headache was already forming, and Hero just wanted to lie on the ground and give up then and there. Then he thought of Sidekick who would no doubt lecture them which would only make their headache worse. A rock and a hard place, headache, or worse headache. Before they could decide, Villain stomped on Heroâs ribs, and Heroâs eyes shot open. Their good hand pushing at Villainâs ankle to alleviate the pressure.
âNo popping out if your brainâs clouded with pain, ainât that right Hero?â
âNormal people just say: I missed you,â Hero hissed, they let out a harsh cough. âThey donât try and kill you.â
âWhat can I say? Iâm not normal people,â said Villain with a smile of their own. Then their hand shot out on instinct and Sidekick reappeared two feet away, gasping on no air. Their hands went to their throat with wide eyes. Hero sat up suddenly, but Villain just put more pressure on their leg keeping Hero pinned. âNo. No. Donât get up. Stay.â
âLet them go, Villain!â Hero cried. Sidekick dropped to their knees, face going purple as they choked on nothing, hands clawing desperately at their throat.
Villain tilted their head at Sidekickâs struggles. Hero reached their hand into their pocket, taking out their lighter. âItâs not every day I donât kill someone first try. The last, and not to blow my own trumpet, but only time that happened Sidekick was withâŠâ Villain turned back to Hero. âWell, was you, dearest.â
Hero shot their hand out, setting fire to Villainâs trouser leg that was currently weighing on Heroâs ribs. Villain gasped, concentration broken, stepping back and Sidekick sucked in a lungful of air. Hero looked at Villain.
âIâll be back,â they said to Villain as they lunged for Sidekickâs arm, hand clamping around their wrist. Hero closed their eyes, sucking in a breath.
Then pop.
*~*~*~*~*
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The Hero and the Infant: Part Two
Read part one here
*~*~*~*~*
âVillain.â
The hero didnât shout it. They didnât need to. Villain would hear them fine even over all the destruction and screaming and emergency services. Hero just stared from the street up at Villain and Villain looked down at Hero. Hero lifted their hand in a wave and then pulled the cigarette from their lips, exhaling a lungful of smoke.
âHero ââ sidekick began but Hero shook their head.
âItâs okay kid. I got it from here,â Hero said still staring at Villain. âSo, you gonna invite me up or do I have to climb twelve flights of stairs?â
Villain just stared. Sidekick moved forward, suddenly hesitant in bringing Hero here. Just as they opened their mouth to say it to Hero, Sidekick was wrenched into the sky by an invisible hand and suddenly Hero and the street were below them.
âFucking shit,â Hero cursed, flicking their cigarette to the ground as they started running to the apartment building to the left of Villain and taking the stairs two at a time.
Villain stared at Sidekick with a probing, scientific kind of curiosity, like they were able to look under Sidekick's skin and unravel all their secrets with enough determination.
âYouâre new,â Villain purred. Their voice like liquid silver dancing its way through the sky to Sidekickâs ears sending a shiver down their spine.
âYeah. Iâm Superheroâs sidekick.â
Villain tilted their head to the side and asked, voice deadpan, âdo you know the mortality rate of Superheroâs previous sidekicks?â
Sidekick stared Villain in the eye as they said, âI do.â
âAnd you took the job anyways?â
âI did.â
âHmm. Not very chatty. You remind me of an old friend of mine.â
âForgive me, I don't usually chitchat while floating this high in the air."
"Hmm," Villain rumbled, "how about falling?"
For a single terrifying moment, Sidekick felt gravity's effects on them, yanking them back to earth and they gasped, reaching forward and grabbing Villain's leg like their life depended it.
"NO! Nononononononononono, wait! FUCK!" Sidekick cried as their grip on Villain faltered and they slipped. They fell an inch further in the air before they were suspended again, this time with their back to the ground below, staring up at Villain with wide frightened eyes. The only thing keeping them from the hard tarmac below thirteen stories below and being alive.
Villain turned over in the air, rolling onto their stomach and lying like a schoolgirl on their stomach with two hands supporting their head as they grinned down at Sidekick, drinking in their fear.
"You sound just like my favourite hero, Sidekick. I knew letting you fall would loosen your tongue a bit."
Villain was fucking insane, Sidekick realised, their heart still pounding like a rabbits at seeing a hungry dog catch their eye.
"Hero, Iâm guessing?" Sidekick said eventually, though their voice still came out higher than it should have.
Villain smiled a fond smile that went to their eyes and lit up their entire face. âYes. My dear cantankerous hero, so foul-mouthed."
âI met them today," Sidekick said, just trying to keep Villain talking and keep themselves suspended until Hero was able to talk Villain into hopefully letting Sidekick go. Where the fuck were they?
Villain's interest was piqued and they dove slightly towards Sidekick, grabbing Sidekick by the collar of their shirt and sitting on their waist, legs dangling over either side. Somehow, Villain made sure that even flying in the air, Sidekick could still feel the restrictive weight of Villain on top of them.
"And what did you think of them?" Villain asked.
What did Sidekick think of Hero?
"They were... difficult," was the first word that came to mind. Villain grinned and nodded sagely, agreeing with Sidekick as if it was a sacred moment.
âNothing easy is worth having, Sidekick. Some parting advice.â
âYouâre letting me go?â
âOh yes,â said Villain with a disarming smile. âQuite literally.â
Sidekick didnât have time to process Villainâs words before Villain shoved Sidekick down below them and wind rushed through their clothes, through their hair, through them as they fell like a comet to earth. This was how they died.
Then their momentum stopped suddenly, and they were swinging into a brick wall, their arm yanked out of its socket and Sidekick cried out in pain. Craning their neck up, they tried glancing up to see Hero above them, leaning half out a broken window, two feet planted on the sill and pulled Sidekick up despite their cries and cursing.
âGod, I know. Iâm sorry Sidekick. You shouldnât have been here, god where the fuck is Superhero in all this!â Hero pulled Sidekick in the window and into their chest before stepping back and setting Sidekick down on the window sill.
âFucking what the fuck?!â Sidekick mewled cradling their arm to their chest.
âI'm sorry, Villain doesnât usually act like this,â Hero told them.
Sidekick blinked, pain lancing through their shoulder and down into their chest. âWhat?â
âThey donât usually act this way. First impressions are everything, but I swear thereâs good in them.â
Sidekick blinked at Hero, shaking their head. âYouâre defending them?!â
âWell, itâs my fault you see. This whole temper tantrum. I havenât been returning their texts.â
âYou havenâtââ Sidekick asked, then blinked and let out an exasperated âwhat?!â
âYour shoulderââ Hero said. âItâs dislocated.â
âNo fucking shit!" Sidekick mewled. "You yanked it out of its socket!â
âWould you rather be a splat on the concrete? Cause I can still push you out the damn window, kid.â
Sidekick walked to the stairwell, fury and pain mixing in their heavy breaths as they braced themselves against the wall. Hero stepped forward a warning on their lips: âkid, I wouldnât do thââ
It was too late. Sidekick had already thrown themselves against the wall. A resounding pop echoed throughout the stairs, followed by a sharp shriek of pain from Sidekick as they slid down the wall, breathing harshly through gritted teeth.
Hero opened their mouth, but Sidekick just held up a finger from their good arm and wagged it in Heroâs stupid face: âdonât. Say. A thing.â
Sidekick braced themselves against the wall, sliding up it with a groan of pain and rolled their shoulder. Forwards. Backwards. Then they set their furious eyes on Hero and without a word turned and started ascending the stairwell to the roof.
Hero laughed, stunned at the kidâs resilience, and followed them up the stairs. âDo you want someââ
âJust shut the hell up,â Sidekick said, kicking the door to the roof open and looking down pointedly at Hero who was midway through taking a bag of sweets from their pocket. âAnd go out and do your job.â
âYes boss,â Hero said with a smile, putting a fizzy lace through their teeth. They emerged onto the roof, arms spread wide and yelled: âHey! What the fuck are ya doing?â to Villain who was no doubt still floating in the sky, and Sidekick sat down heavy on the steps and took a few deep breaths.
They nearly just died.
Villain almost just killed them.
They would have killed them if not for Hero, and all they wanted to do was cry, but they were too angry.
âJust go out and do your job,â Sidekick chastised themselves, standing and wiping the remnants of tear trails from their cheeks before joining Hero on the roof.
Crying could come later if they lived that long.
*~*~*~*~*
Continued Here
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The Hero and the Infant: part one
Is this title my cheeky little nod at EPIC the musical? Absolutely, enjoyyyyy!
*~*~*~*~*
The heroes came running when the world was on fire. They always came running. Hero was at the bar, where they always were, watching the news. A neat whiskey clutched between bandaged fingers.
The door slammed open. Hero didnât have to turn to know it was Superheroâs sidekick. âHero ââ
âNot interested.â
âBut Villain ââ
âI know. Donât care,â Hero replied. Daryl, the bartender, shot Hero a look and Hero pretended to not see it.
Sidekick sat on the stool next to Hero and ordered another: âwhiskey; neat.â
âMmm, I love being bribed,â Hero smiled, winking at Daryl.
âVillainâs destroying the city.â
âI didnât ask.â
âAnd youâre here, drinking.â
âPerceptive,â Hero purred, taking the whiskey glass from Daryl and pouring the honey liquid of it into their glass. âTheyâre a minor,â Hero whispered to Daryl conspiratorially.
âIâm not.â
âWell, then. Youâre on the clock. Canât fight crime if youâre impaired.â
âAnd yet somehow you manage.â
âSomehow, Iâm always called in on my day off. Blame your boss for disrupting my plans. Not the other way around, sunshine.â
Hero took a sip of their drink. In their peripheral vision they saw Sidekick turn their body to face Hero. Mmm, getting serious. Hero loved serious Sidekick. Itâs like a puppy trying to be mean.
âYou know Villain best ââ
âBullshit. Your Superhero knows them longest.â
âVillain likes you best,â Sidekick amended, and Hero nodded.
âSo? Are we match making heroes and villains now? Is that Superheroâs excuse, hmm? Will that same explanation slide if I come up against a new villain?â Hero put on a high-pitched voice as they said: âoh Iâm sorry superhero. This new villainâs rising sign is Virgo. Iâm a Scorpio, weâre gonna clash.â
âThis is different, and you know it.â
âHow is this different? Because your beloved Superhero says so? Are you just a little dog with no mind of your own? Does Superhero whistle and you come?â
âIâm not here to trade insults, Hero. God knows that could well be your superpower,â Hero took the words as a compliment as the kid continued: âIâm here to ask you to help me stop peopleâs lives being ruined. Normal peopleâs lives. Fuck Superhero. Fuck villain. Fuck the whole fucking system. Iâm here to ask you, to help me. Please.â
Hero looked at Daryl and Daryl looked at them. Hero rolled their eyes and tipped their head back, the whiskey running hot down their aching throat. Then they stood. Empty glass on the bar. Hero shrugged their trench coat on and patted Sidekickâs shoulder fondly.
âPay Daryl for me will ya? And a big tip, for the inconvenience. See you tomorrow, Daryl,â Hero waved over their shoulder. Whistling as they walked out the door of their local pub.
âThanks Daryl,â Sidekick said, paying the man and leaving a generous tip.
âThank me all you want kid. Heroâll just be back in here after the fight. Itâs good to see them getting out, even if it is under these circumstances. Yâknow ever since ââ
âI know, Daryl. Thanks.â
âLater kid.â
Sidekick followed Hero out the door, where Hero was waiting a lit cigarette hanging from their lips.
âSo,â Hero asked, flicking their zippo lighter shut with a satisfying click, shooting Sidekick their signature lazy smirk. âWhatâs Villain up to today?â
*~*~*~*~*
Continued here
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The Immortal Hunter: part five
They walked in silence except for their shoes crunching off of gravel. That was fine. Killian had been through enough already today and last night, and Heath didnât really want him to talk, he just felt like Killian needed to.
Or Killian was going to talk anyways once he found the right words. There was the taste of anticipation heavy in the air between them, but Heath was fine with basking in the silence for now. Happy to let Killian mull it over as they walked down the archway of trees that lined the driveway to Felixâs estate. It was rather beautiful, a perfect place to wander and ponder, a good place to find words to speak.
The light was filtering through the treeâs leaves like shattered gem shards of topaz and the birds were chirping in the trees. It was shaping up to be a nice day, and with it, Heath felt a heavy longing for his mortality and let out a soft sigh.
âYouâŠâ Killian began, then faltered and stopped when Heath looked at him. âThank you for everything you did, uh, did for me back there.â
âNo problem,â said Heath easily in reply.
Killian spoke again and said: âno. I meanââ then he sighed and broke off again, so Heath stopped walking and turned to face the boy, pulling his little metal cigarette case from his back pocket.
Killian looked at Heath, an embarrassed blush colouring his cheekbones, right above where Wolfe had sliced into his cheek with his claw. Heath focused on the dried blood caked under the wound from the coagulation in his blood as he lit the cigarette between his teeth.
âI feel like âThank youâ isnât enough for what you did for me.â
âIt is enough.â
âNo,â Killian protested, meeting Heathâs eyes with his blue ones and then looking away sheepishly, a hand going to the nape of his neck and rubbing it. âIt isnât. You said you would protect my sâ my family no matter what happenedâŠâ
Heath nodded, exhaling smoke through his nostrils. âItâs what I would have wanted someone to do for me.â
âBut you meant itâŠâ Killian said, like it was a challenge and a gift much too sentimental and overwhelming for knowing someone for such a short time. âYou said you would protect herâ even after I didnât tell you my first name orââ
âHey, kid. Itâs okay,â said Heath, voice gentle as he extended his hand to Killian. Killian looked up at Heathâs face then down at his hand and took it in his. The warmth of Killianâs palm was almost addictive, Heath longed for that comfort. He doubted Killian even valued how much his body worked to make sure it was heated at all times, not too hot, not too cold just perfect human temperature. Heath knew he never appreciated it, not until it was too late.
Something settled over Killianâs features, resolute and accepting as he gave Heathâs cold dead hand a good, firm shake.
Heath smiled softly, a little sadly, then dropped Killianâs hand.
âI was in the same position as you,â Heath continued, turning to walk further away from Felixâs mansion and prying ears. Killian easily fell into step beside him.
âIn debt to Felix for family reasons that donât matter anymore because my family is dead. Felix tried to tell me that before I signed my soul to him, but I refused to listen,â Heath said, voice turning wry towards the end of the sentence. He shot a smile over to Killian whose eyebrows were knitted together in sympathy. âWho knew, right?â
Heath took another long inhale of smoke into his lungs, filling his dead tissue husk with the burnt remnants of tobacco. Somehow the two dead things twisted and combining together warmed him and made him feel as close to alive as he was ever going to get.
Except for maybe blood⊠blood sang to every nerve and muscle and organ in his body, craved it, clung to it, and was never satisfied no matter how much or how little he drank. The point of satiation would be producing his own blood in his body, like back when he was, yâknowâ alive, and that wasnât ever going to happen so yes.
Blood and, a close second, smoking cigarettes, made him feel alive.
Or as alive as he could feel.
He remembered last night. His old knife in his hand, his blood lighting up the runes of the Huntersâ blade. Remembered his heart beating and the blood rushing through his ears like phantom limbs. Remembered the rush of breathlessness as he sunk the blade into Wolfeâs strong body and watched him crumble around it.
Remembered zoning out during the Hunterâs high and crashing back into his body with a wave of nausea and exhaustion hitting him like a truck.
Heath knew he was made to kill vampires, as all Hunters are. As the Immortal Hunter he knew he would spend eternity fighting and killing every last bloodsucker on the planet, protecting humans as best as he could, and when all the vampires are dead, so too could Heath rest in peace eternally.
That was his purpose.
His sole mission.
When Felix killed him, he thought that was the end. That he failed and he doomed humanity to endure the vile, ruthless creatures in the night with no protector.
Wolfe yesterday seemed like a test, like the world was trying to figure out if he really wasnât the immortal Hunter anymore, or if he was.
Heath nearly scoffed at his own thoughts. âLike the world was trying to figure outâŠâ if the world was currently sitting at his dining table enjoying breakfast with Celeste and went by the name of Victor, then yes, as Felix would like to think of himself, the world really wanted to answer that burning question, and answer it he did.
It gave Heath something he forgot he ever had.
Hope.
Hope that one day, someday soon, he could repay Felix the favour of death and be able to continue this life without having to suffer sadistic vampire.
Heath paused in his steps, eyes staring at the gravel road in front of him. Killian stopped too, looking over his shoulder at Heath. Heath realised he looked a bit crazy then, so he tapped his cigarette and watched the ashes flutter to the ground, mixing with the wide-ranging palette of small grey stones.
The worst part was that Heath remembered. He remembered gripping the knife as Killian helped him to his feet, remembered holding onto it like a lifeline. He pushed Killian away and then tried to take a step and collapsed, and the knifeâŠ
âHeath? You okay?â
âMmm,â Heath grumbled in reply. Maroon eyes finding inquisitive human ones peering back at him.
âThe dagger that I killed Wolfe with,â Heath said, tilting his head, âdid you see what I did with it?â
Killian turned to face Heath, folding his arms across his chest. âYouâ well, Felix told me it was part of some ritual you needed to complete.â
Heath let out a huff of breath from his nostrils, shaking his head. âI must have dropped it when I collapsed,â Heath said, taking in a quick puff of his cigarette. âDid you hear it clatter?â
âWhatâs so important about it?â
âItâs â uh, itâs like an extension of the Hunterâs arm. Very sacred, the dagger and the blood of a Hunter are whatââ Heath looked at Killian and smiled, not wanting to get into it in detail. âSorry. Long story short, it kills vampires.â
Killian frowned. âAnd Felix had it?â
âYes,â Heath said with an exhale of smoke, slipping the cigarette between his teeth. âHe did. But if you didnât hear it clatter to the ground then Felix must have it againâŠâ
âI doubt heâs the type to just leave it lying around, even if you did drop it.â
âYouâd be right,â Heath said, stretching his hands to the sky and cracking his back, letting out a loud satisfied sigh as his wound up muscles loosened and cartilage cracked. âAh, problem for another day. We can worry about that later.â
Heath started walking down the tree lined drive again with Killian following and falling into step beside him. âHow can you be so nonchalant about that? Canât that knife kill you?â
Heath shrugged. âA lot of things can kill me. That knife is not one of them. Itâs the whole point of Hunterâs blood being needed for the dagger to work. Otherwise, itâs just a normal knife. If it killed Hunters, it wouldnât be that useful.â
âBut youâre a vampire now,â Killian said, and Heathâs dead heart stuttered at the blatant truth so easily flowing from Killianâs lips. âFrom what Felix was saying today you, well, it seemed like you should still be human.â
âMmm, first of my kind. Iâm truly unique.â
âDoes it not scare you?â
âDeath?â Heath asked with a breath of laughter. He stopped waking, took the last pull of his cigarette, down to the butt, close enough for his fingers to feel the burn before dropping it and extinguishing it beneath his shoe. âThatâs a bit too philosophical of a topic for a Thursday morning, Killian.â
âNo, I meanââ Heath smiled and put a hand on Killianâs shoulder silencing him.
âI know what you mean but trust me when I say that there are things worse than death when it comes to Victor Felix. You almost experienced it firsthand last night.â
âI⊠Wolfe attacked me last night; he was the one who took me and tied me up in the basement. He was the one who hurt me andââ
âFelix was the one willing to let Wolfe turn you or torture you to prove a point to me.â
The corner of Killianâs lips turned down into a scowl. âIâm not a pawn to be played in your and Felixâs game.â
âNo, youâre not,â said Heath straightening up and taking his hand from Killianâs shoulder, to run it through his hair. âIâm just saying you should be more careful about what jobs you take for Felix.â
Killian went silent after that, and Heath didnât press him further on it as they walked out of the imposing wrought iron gates that sealed the estate away from the local town.
The gates that made it such a formidable foe when Heath was running, trying to escape Felix in the night. Worn and tired, human lungs gasping for air and heart pounding blood and adrenaline to fuel his body. He remembered coming up to see the always open gates shut and padlocked tight with chains.
He remembers shaking the gate and cursing under his breath and then throwing caution to the wind, gripping the iron bars, and pulling himself up. He had only got a foot off the ground when a hand tightened in the back of his shirt, clenching the fabric into bunched up cold fist.
Heath froze.
He remembers hearing the low tsk of Felix and the smile in his voice. Felix didnât do anything else. That small contact was enough to humiliate Heath, show him how powerless he really was.
âYou can come back willingly, and I promise Iâll only bleed you a little,â Felix purred, voice as deadly as Heathâs vampire slaying blade. He remembers tightening his grip on the bars until his knuckles turned white. Heath pressed his forehead against the cold bars, lamenting his freedom which was right there in front of him. He couldâve reached out and grabbed it.
If he was fast enough.
If he was strong enough.
If he was better.
Heath shuddered out a shaky exhale, feeling less of Felixâs cold dead hands on him. Unnatural hands.
âOr you can do this in your own special way, Heath,â Felix continued, voice almost fond. âIn your penchant for raising Cain and really make me work up an appetiteâŠâ
Heath let out a pathetic cry of frustration into the night, rattling the gates along with his scream at the gates that were closed to him by Felix, for Felixâs own amusement. He liked his prey to run, he had told Heath that much after he tried to run so many times, told him he liked the high that adrenaline gives to the blood. Makes it sweeter, almost frenzied.
âI donât know if Iâll be able to stop feeding on you after you pass out if thatâs the route you want to take, and you know, I would have to punish you for running away again once you wake up. Youâve been so good for me lately, HeathâŠâ Felixâs fingers walked up Heathâs spine as far as they could and yanked Heath off the gate as if he wasnât holding on at all.
Heathâs feet had barely hit the ground when in a flash he was pressed against the gate, his cheekbone digging into the metal as Felix rested his now clawed fingers on the nape of Heathâs neck. Heath pushed with all his might and struggled to get Felix off him, but Felix didnât falter. It was as if Heath wasnât struggling at all.
Felix leaned in and sniffed Heathâs neck, smiling against the thin skin between his major veins and arteries, pumping the blood, the terror, the adrenaline, the life through his veins.
âHard way it is,â he hummed, yanking Heath off the gates and dragging him away from them, kicking and fighting and screaming. âDear boy, a chase and a fight and a feast. Youâre really spoiling me tonight.â
Heath remembered it like it was yesterday. It feels like it was yesterday. Or maybe it was the fact that even after Felix took his humanity and turned him into an unnatural immortal thing, last night when it came down to it, when it came to Heath being able to protect Killian from Wolfe and Felixâs schemes, he couldnât do a thing to stop them.
The moment Felix threw a casual arm over his shoulder and wrapped it tight around his torso he knew he couldnât fight him off, let alone Wolfe.
His humanity, his dignity, and his familyâ all traded for eternity as a leech, and still he was too weak to fight off the sadistic fucker who took everything he loved from him and left him with nothing except misery.
Heath looked at Killian walking beside him and he hated himself because he knew even now that the only reason Killian was walking with him back home, and not still tied up in Felixâs basement, is so Felix could dangle another good thing in Heathâs life to rip away. To leverage against him, to torture him with, to keep him in check and make sure he behaves.
Or else, went unsaid.
Behave or else Killian dies, or gets turned, or something worse that Felix could conjure up in his twisted mind. Heath just knew whatever it was would involve suffering.
The worst part was that as far as Felix was dangling another good thing in front of him, Heath was too stubborn or too stupid to not take the bait and get in too deep.
Maybe their sick little game was doomed to continue for eternity, with new calamity as collateral with every new generation of humans.
âMy home is justâŠâ Killian began, tearing Heath from his thoughts. Killian stopped himself short, glancing over his shoulder at Heath. Heath nodded encouragingly, waiting for the answer for a beat too long before he realised, and a smile spread across his face.
Heath nodded again, tilting his head at Killian. âYou donât want to tell me.â
âNo,â said Killian after careful thought. âI donât.â
âThatâs okay.â
âIs it?â
âIt is. Can you promise me youâll get home safe?â
âYes.â
âCan you promise Felix wonât come after you?â
Killian hesitated. Heath nodded and said, âthen Iâm coming, kid. Trust me itâs safer for us both.â
âHow is it safer for me?â Killian demanded, nostrils flaring stepping closer to Heath, squaring up slightly. Heath grinned showing his fangs and took a small bit of sick pleasure at the slight falter on Killianâs face.
Heath stepped forward, closing the gap, exposing Heathâs clear height advantage, and stared down at Killian waiting for him to back down.
Killian didnât.
Despite it all.
He didnât back down and Heath couldnât help letting out a soft happy laughter.
Killian frowned. âWhat?â
âIâm just impressed is all.â
âThank you?â Killian asked.
Heath shook his head. âNever impress a vampire, Killian. If you listen to anything I say, listen to that. Theyâre obsessive things. Possessive things. Theyâll steal your life to keep you because youâre entertaining.â
âYouâre barely a vampire. Youâre basically human.â
Heath sighed. âI was never human. I was a hunter, and then I was a vampire. Such is life. Now, you can either agree to show me where you live or I can wait â trust me, immortality gives you great patience â and I will follow you home when you eventually relent to check on your family ââ
âOkay!â Killian huffed, throwing his hands up helplessly. âFine! Why do you want to know so badly anyways?!â
Heath felt his face grow solemn, eyes turning poignant and lips almost pouting.
âI want to make sure Wolfe is dead and not coming for revenge, and I want to make sure Felix doesnât come and take you away in the night. I donât even need to go inside, just⊠let me watch over you tonight, and your family. Keep you safe.â
âI have work in the morning,â Killian said.
Heath shrugged, âthen Iâll walk you to work.â
âYou canât protect me every minute of every day,â Killian reasoned, and Heath just shrugged again.
âI can try.â
Killian huffed, crossing his arms across his chest. âIs this another Hunter ritual thing?â
Heath smiled, a small genuine smile. âYeah, something like thatâŠâ
Killian nodded, then turned and started walking. He gestured over his shoulder for Heath to follow and Heath did so in a comfortable silence, listening to the boy as he rambled on about how annoying the walk to work is in the morning, or when itâs raining.
Heath smiled as he spoke, unaware of the figure that was watching the pair between the trees.
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The Immortal Hunter: part four
âWhat can I say,â Heath said easily. âIâm an honest kind of guy,â then he plunged the knife deep into Wolfeâs heart.
Heath relished in the wide grey eyed surprise of the bastard who had orchestrated his own demise. He wouldnât admit it later on, but Heath even smiled.
He stuck the blade in nice and deep, and still holding the handle followed the momentum through, his other hand grabbing Wolfeâs shoulder and pushing him onto his back with Heath breathing heavily over him.
It was strange being a vampire. He had no heartbeat, yet he swore there was something slamming against his chest, thundering euphoria around his body. His ears, which shouldnât have a pulse, pounded like an exalted drumming, drunk on the thrill of the kill of another rotten bloodsucker. The hunterâs high was always a little unhinged, but in that moment Heath didnât care.
His body responded as if it was still alive. Adrenaline keeping him going, not blood from last nightâs party. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose, eyes closing in a moment of bliss.
He missed this.
âHeath?â
Heathâs head turned with a hyper energy to the sound, where his unfocused eyes found Killian tied to the chair staring at him with human eyes full of uncertain fear.
Killian shouldnât be afraid, the voice in his head said. His heart still beats. He is sacred.
Heath stood from Wolfeâs body and turned full to face Killian now, ears homed in on his heartbeat speeding up. Which was ridiculous. Heath would never hurt a hair on his head.
Heath bowed to Killian, knife flat on his two outstretched palms.
âAn offering,â someone said. Who wasnât important to Heath. No all that mattered was that precious human life he saved. âIâve heard of the hunterâs high, but I thought it was a myth.â
âThe hunterâs high?â Killian asked.
âIt happens after a hunter kills a vampire when saving a human life. Itâs like a high we could never begin to understand. This is his promise to you.â
âPromise?â
âYou need to accept the knife to complete the ritual.â
A pause.
âOh wait, your handsâ let meâŠâ
There was the sound of ropes being cut, then falling limply to the floor.
âI just take the knife?â Killian asked.
âNo. Well yes, donât take it from him. Just grab the handle. Itâs like a thank you, if you want to think of it like that.â
âI thank him for saving my life?â
âNo. He thanks you for giving him the opportunity to slay another vampire. Do it. Now.â
A pair of black runners appeared in Heathâs view. Not that he could really register it, but in a faraway part of his brain he recognised them as Killianâs from the day before.
Then there was a warm hand on his, fingers wrapping around the hilt of the blade and Heath wrapped his hand around the ownerâs human hand.
Then it felt like Heath crashed back down onto his own body.
He looked up at Killian who looked down at him with a weary expression, as if he was afraid Heath might hurt him. Heath frowned, eyes flicking to Felix who stood behind the chair Killian was tied to, watching the exchange with that awful cat like interest that made Heathâs stomach turn.
âHeath?â Killian asked, and Heath looked back at him. Heard his heart beating. He was still alive.
Heath got to his feet with Killianâs help, feeling very weak from the Hunterâs return. He looked down at Wolfeâs grey ashen body at his feet, blood seeping steadily into a stream from his wound.
âAh fuck,â Heath muttered, looking over his shoulder at Felix. âI didnât mean to kill him.â
Felix waved the death of his friend away as if it was spilled milk.
âDonât be daft. I never liked him anyways. Letâs have breakfast, Iâm famished. Killian will you join us for breakfast? Please do. Actually, as your boss I insist. I hope the cook prepares some pastries. I feel like a nice croissant right about now.â
Felix kept talking and gesturing as he walked out of the door to the basement and waited there, holding it open for the others to follow.
âAre you okay to walk?â Killian asked after Heath let him go.
âYeah. Iâm fine. Donât worry about it,â Heath said, then took an independent step and collapsed. Killian was bent double trying to catch him, but before Heath hit the floor Felix had a hand under him, putting Heathâs arm over his shoulder and helping him out of the basement. âShit,â Heath whispered as his head swam. The rush from the Hunterâs high zapping his energy.
âHush, dear boy,â Felix said quietly enough so only Heath could hear, âI got you.â Heath didnât have the energy to argue or repress the shudder at Felixâs old pet name for him, and just let Felix half carry him out of the room.
Felix didnât turn as he said over his shoulder, âChop chop Killian.â
Heath heard an immediate: âYes sir.â
Then he zoned out knowing Killian was safe and let Felix guide him to the dining room.
Celeste was already at the dining table, knife and fork in hand, hair in a simple low bun and she didnât as much raise a brow when the three men arrived. On the table before her was a small feast of pancakes, fruit, bread and pastries that still had steam rising from them.
âYouâre just in time,â she said simply. âThe pastries only arrived.â
Killian walked through the door after Felix and Heath. Following Felix around the table after he had deposited Heath onto the chair next to Celeste, and then sat at the head of the table on her other side. Killian sat opposite Celeste on the other side of Felix, her perfect eyebrows raised at that.
âOh hello. You must be Felixâs new employee. Iâm Celeste.â
âCeleste, Killian. Killian, Celeste. Weâre all acquainted now letâs eat,â said Felix plating himself some pastries from the table and a side of grapes.
âIâm sorry youâre in debt to him,â she said as Killian sat down and Killian nodded in response. âYou have a bruise on your cheek, and a cut⊠and blood on your shirt and nose. Felix, did you do that?â
âI would never.â
âNo. A guy named Wolfe,â said Killian.
âOh,â Celeste said her voice taking an edge to it as she looked to Heath at her side who was a little out of it. âYouâre lucky to be alive.â
âIâll remember that,â Killian said, taking a croissant and biting into it. âItâs all thanks to Heath.â
âDefender of the Humans that man,â Celeste said with a secret smile. She dropped her voice conspiratorially and added, âHe must like you.â
âI donât,â Heath said, voice raw, reaching across Celeste and taking a pancake from her plate.
âNow thatâs a lie,â Felix said, eyes on Heath even as he continued talking with Celeste. âYou should have seen him down there, Celeste. He was exquisitely noble.â
âWhen is he not?â
Heath grunted in response. Killian for his part was mostly famished and weirded out by the three vampires sitting before him. He ate quietly, every now and then grabbing something when his plate was empty as they fell into silence.
âTell me,â Felix began, cutting a pancake with his knife and fork and easing a piece to his mouth, âDid you know he was the Immortal hunter?â
Celeste froze for a split second, imperceptible to the human eye, the brief halting pause in her limbs. A split second was all it was, but that was all it needed to be for Felix to notice. Silence descended on the table, even Killian stopped chewing as he noticed the change in tone at the table. Felixâs eyes were sharp as a felineâs as he watched Celeste process the information.
âYes. I was shocked too. I would have thought heâd tell you of all people,â Felix said conversationally, as if he didnât just drop the bomb of the century on her over breakfast.
âIâm right here,â Heath said. His eyes were shut, his head tilted back on the chair and staring at the ceiling.
âWould you prefer we talk behind your back?â Felix asked.
âIâd prefer if I didnât have to hear your voice for another decade, Victor.â
âYou wound me. Itâs not even 9 a.m.â
âIâve had a long day,â Heath said. He looked at Killian then from across the table. âAs have you. Would you like me to walk you home?â
âHeath ââ Felix began but was cut off immediately by Heathâs chair scraping against the hardwood floor.
âGive him the day off. Itâs my treat. Plus, Iâll be here to wait on you hand and foot.â
Felix shrugged in response. âFine,â he said in an exhale. âHowever, me and Celeste will be talking about you behind your back.â
âAs all good friends do. Come on Killian.â
Heath was out of the room before Killian had even stood up. He did so a bit awkwardly, bowing his head to Celeste.
âIt was nice to meet you, Celeste.â
âEnchantĂ©e. Donât be a stranger, Killian.â
Killian didnât know what to say to that, so he said nothing, just nodded again and followed Heath out of the house. He wouldnât be prey to another Vampireâs stupid contracts and customs in the span of 24 hours.
Celeste waited until they were out of earshot to turn to Felix staring daggers into his face which Felix just blinked unfazed at.
âWhat do you mean Heathâs the immortal hunter? The immortal hunter canât be a vampire. And that boy? You let Wolfe hurt him in your own house?â
"Wolfe is dead now, Celeste, so any disrespect he caused me in my house is currently bleeding out of him in my basement. As for how the immortal hunter can be a vampire," Felix said, taking a sip of wine and looking at her over the glass, âI have a few theories...â
*~*~*~*~*
Continued Here
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The Immortal Hunter: part three
âLet the boy go, Wolfe. He doesnât know anything about the immortal hunter,â said Heath, barely suppressing a growl. âHeâs innocent.â
Wolfe laughed. âYou say that as if innocence means anything to me, fledgling. Iâve been alive so long innocence and guilt bleed into the endless stream of time.â
âWould you like me to end your suffering then, or are you just going to make others suffer for your amusement?â
âBig talk for a bloodless vampire currently trapped by their sire,â said Wolfe, cruel grey eyes finding Heathâs and relishing in his wide-eyed surprise.
âFelix told me, of course. Your love for humanity, to the point where you abstain from drinking their blood. I bet youâre more attuned to it than even Felix or I, hmm? I bet you can hear poor Killianâs heart racing at the thought of being turned, at the injustice of it all. Every beat of blood pumping through his veins. Your restraint is astonishing.â
âIf youâre trying to flirt, I have to let you know I draw the line at psychopaths.â
âAnd yet you just crawled out of Celesteâs bed.â
Heath lunged for the grey eyed vampire, but Felix managed to restrain him with such ease Heath thought he deserved Wolfeâs smug laughter.
âTouchy subject?â
Heath still struggled in Felixâs hold, but Felix just held him against his chest. Arms wrapped around his waist and shoulder like iron not budging in their grip. The helplessness transported Heath back to when he was human, and Felix would toy with him. Showing him how weak of a human he was, and how his heart was only still beating out of Felixâs mercy.
Heath vowed to never be so weak again, and yet here he was. Powerless, like before. He couldnât even save the same fate from happening to Killian. A boy he had just met yesterday and doomed with an exchange of a couple words.
âHush now, Heath. Calm down, youâll only tire yourself out,â Felix whispered in his ear and Heath threw an elbow back trying to hit Felixâs face.
âYouâre a bastard, Felix,â Heath seethed. âYet you claim to have loved and missed me.â
âI did. Youâre so cute when youâre riled up,â Felix said sweetly, ducking his nose into the place between Heathâs neck and shoulder and sniffed in a lungful of air. Heath froze. Paralysed from a forgotten fear, of when Felix was toying with him. âI sometimes regret turning you, itâs true. I miss when you were powerless to stop me. Frozen like this beneath me. Muscles tensed. At least you still have that amazing scent of the old blood.â
âFuck you,â Heath muttered when he found his voice again, and he thanked the gods that his voice didnât shake. Lifting his head, he looked at Wolfe through narrowed eyes. âYou want to know about The Immortal Hunter? Fine. Heâs dead.â
Wolfe blinked at him. Then he started laughing, that same booming laughter ricocheting around the basement. Felix behind Heath however, tightened his grip ever so slightly.
Good, Heath thought. At least one of these idiots believe me.
âYou really wanna gamble poor Killianâs life on the hunter, the immortal hunter being dead? Do you take me for a fool, boy?â
âYes,â Heath said easily. He wanted to throw a parade when his cool façade slipped over his face, he could do this. He could save Killian. âBut Iâm telling you the truth. The Immortal hunterâs blood runs through my veins, thatâs why my blood even now is a beacon to you bloodfuckers. Iâm your natural enemy. My blood sings to you so you come close enough to get drunk on it, and then the hunter kills you.â
Wolfe stared, looking over Heathâs shoulder at Felix then back to Heath. His face morphing into a more serious expression.
âYouâre not saying that you were the immortal hunter?â
âYou were always very strong for a human,â Felix murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
âNo. Thatâs not true. Youâre lying,â Wolfe growled, crossing the room in an instant with two long strides and getting up in Heathâs face. âYou canât be. The immortal hunter canât be a vampire. They canât be turned.â
Heathâs expression turned grim. âYeah. I guess we both thought wrong, hmm?â Heath said, voice cracking in the middle. He looked away from Wolfeâs unsettling stare.
Felix shifted behind Heath. Slowly he took his cage like arms away, releasing Heath. Heath turned in surprise, but Felix wasnât looking at Heath. He was looking at Wolfe.
âWolfe. A word,â he said, and he didnât wait for a response as he walked towards the basement door. Wolfe looked at Heath, then at the wall Felix disappeared behind. He grabbed Heath by the collar of his shirt and brought him close.
âIf you untie the boy, Iâll make sure he is turned. Stay here.â
âWouldnât dream of it,â Heath replied, hands up in surrender. Heath waited until he heard the basement door open and shut a second time before looking at Killian still tied to the chair and strolling over.
âIâm sorry,â Heath said, plopping down onto the ground in front of Killian sitting cross legged.
Killian shrugged. âI know the risks of partying with vampires.â
âStill. Iâm sorry. Here,â Heath bit his wrist, deep enough for the blood to flow and offered it to Killian, but Killian sat back further in his chair, shaking his head. âItâll heal you.â
âI donât do vampire blood,â Killian said. âI donât want to risk it.â
Heath looked at him for a moment then smiled sadly and pulled his wrist back.
âI didnât either,â he said softly. âAs a human I mean. Felix would force me to drink his after he was done torturing me. He wanted me fresh every day, to be clean. So, he could start from scratch again the next day.â
âJesus. Iâm sorry.â
âItâs okay. But I admire your principles. Except telling a vampire your name. How did Wolfe find out?â
Killian looked away. Lips scrunching up in annoyance.
âHe told me he was human. Didnât have red eyes. Didnât know vampires could have normal eyes. He said he was staff too.â
âIf itâs any consolation, I didnât know vampires could have normal eyes either.â
âYou mean you donât know what he is?â
âVery old?â Heath offered, watching the blood drip down his wrist, stopping the wound from healing. âPerhaps familiar with magic. Contacts? Who knows.â
Killian started laughing. It was light and airy, and full of mirth, and when he caught Heathâs eyes, he started laughing harder. Heath smiled, and unbeknownst to himself the wound healed.
After the last couple of stray laughs died on his lips, Killianâs face settled into a fond smile. Then the smile faded, and his face turned sad. âWolfeâs going to kill me, isnât he?â
Heath let out a breath through his nose. âNot if I have anything to say about it.â
âMaybe I should drink your blood,â Killian said. âAt least then my sister wouldnâtââ
Heath shook his head, and Killianâs breathing became harder. âRight,â Killian said, his voice breaking. âFamily isnât worth it, right? They wonât thank me for it, right? Death is preferable. Maybe in your experienceâŠâ
âKillian. . .â
âBut itâs my life! My death! I should get the choice at least?â he said, but it came out as more of a question. Heath searched his face with sad eyes. This was cruel. At least when Heath was turned his choice was taken from him. He knew what he was getting into. This boy didnât. This human boy, so afraid of death because he didnât want to leave his family behind.
âIf they kill you ââ Heath began softly, looking Killian in the eye. âIf they turn you, no matter what they do⊠tell me your family name and I will make sure your sister lives a long, happy life.â
Killian broke down into sobs then, and Heath was there, patting his leg uselessly.
âThank you,â he mumbled gratefully. âThank you, thank you, thank you.â
âTouching.â
Heath was on his feet in a second, back to Killian, standing protectively in front of him as Felix and Wolfe strolled back into the room.
âCatch.â
Heathâs hand shot out before he registered what Felix had said. He looked down at the object and saw a sheathed dagger. The same dagger Heath had brought with him to kill Felix when he was still breathing.
He pulled it out an inch and saw his red eyes staring back at him with a pale face. Then he looked at the two vampires, Felix stood leaning on the wall with his arms crossed while Wolfe stood closer to Heath making himself as imposing as possible.
âCheers.â
âItâs not a gift,â Wolfe said, voice low with that unstable growl. âProve youâre the immortal hunter.â
âHow can I prove it? Do you want me to kill you, Wolfie?â
Felix laughed catching everyoneâs attention. He only reacted to Wolfeâs death stare. Felix raised a hand in his defence, âWhat? It was funny.â
Wolfe rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to Heath. âThe Immortal Hunterâs blood activates the knife.â
Heath shrugged. âSo?â
âSoââ
Heath didnât have time to react before Wolfe was in front of him, claws out and slashed them down Heathâs arm.
âFUCK!â Heath yelled, dropping the knife in surprise as his eyes went to his arm. Wolfeâs claws had torn from the top of his elbow to his wrist which was currently gushing blood. âYou bastard that hurt!â
âCry me a river,â Wolfe said leaning down to pick up the knife and pressed it into Heathâs other hand. âActivate it. Now.â
âA little patience never goes astray.â
Heathâs head rocked back after Wolfeâs swift punch, forcing him to one knee as the world shook around him.
âNow, please.â
Heath shook his head out trying to reorient himself and then he looked down at the knife. âWell since you said pleaseâŠâ
âI donât even think youâre worth the trouble alive,â Wolfe sneered, and Heath sniffed, blood running down his nose from Wolfeâs powerful punch.
âTechnically Iâm dead.â
Wolfe brought his hand back to punch him again, but Felixâs voice stopped him.
âHeath. Please. Just prove youâre the hunter or Iâll snap Killianâs pretty little neck.â
Heath glared at Felix over Wolfeâs shoulder, but he might as well have glared at a wall or a fish. Felix returned his stare completely unbothered. He even looked amused.
âFine,â said Heath. He unsheathed the dagger and allowed the stream from his wrist to bleed down onto the knife. The black, red blood turned almost luminous when it hit the knife, the runes previously unseen igniting as Heathâs blood ran through every invisible crevice now made visible. When the blood had run its course over the surface instead of dripping to the floor, it sank into the metal as of the blade itself were liquid and grew heavier in Heathâs hand as he made his arm heal with the last of his energy.
He glanced up at Wolfe then, who looked on in an angry sort of shock, while Felix who had been far away before was suddenly right beside Heath watching the runes being revealed before his eyes.
âIncredible,â Felix whispered in awe, looking at Heath with something indiscernible in his eyes.
âSo, itâs true,â Wolfe gruffed.
âWhat can I say,â Heath said easily. âIâm an honest kind of guy,â then he plunged the knife deep into Wolfeâs heart.
*~*~*~*~*
Continued Here
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The Immortal Hunter: part two
Wolfe was waiting outside once the party had started dissipating and the crowds became less and less. Grey eyes searching the happy party goers, drunk vampires and drained humans stumbling from the party, looking for a familiar mop of brown hair trying to sneak away from them. He did not see it however, even as the dregs of the party left, leaving only passed out vampires and venom-induced-high humans inside.
âWould you like me to close the doors, sir?â Wolfe looked to the servant beside him who had been quiet as a mouse until now.
âYes. If you see a man in a red mask run, do call for me.â
âOf course, sir.â
Wolfe walked back inside, the doors closing behind him and there in the middle of the ballroom a woman on his arm stood Heath, his eyes meeting Wolfeâs with the same defiant expression they had when Wolfe had hurt him earlier.
Oh, Wolfe would enjoy breaking the young pup in again.
Felix was beside the pair chatting idly as Wolfe approached, footsteps heavy in the near empty ballroom.
âWolfe, I was wondering where you got to,â said Heath with a charming smile, eyes lacking any emotion.
âWolfe?â The girl asked with a warm voice, âI donât believe weâve met. My name is Celeste.â
âCeleste, enchantĂ©e,â Wolfe said with a low bow. âIâm Wolfe.â
Celeste cocked a perfect brow, âWolfe? Your reputation precedes you.â
âAll good things I hope.â
âOne would hope,â Celeste replied easily, tone clipped.
Felix clapped his hands gathering everyoneâs attention. âNow that the party is over, Iâm sure we can pick up business tomorrow. Let me show you to your rooms.â
Wolfe hummed, eyes narrowing at the setback to his plans, but it was no matter. He would get the information from the boy. Be it tonight, or the next, or the next. Wolfe was very patient, and it seems Felix still cared for the boy. As long as it didnât interfere, Wolfe could wait.
                               *~*~*~*~*
âSo, who is this Wolfe?â Celeste asked after Felix had shown them their room. Heath shrugged his suit jacket off and onto the chair in the corner of the room.
âSome guy thatâs a friend of Felixâs,â said Heath noncommittally.
âRight, and what does he want with you?â
Heath looked at her, and she turned her back to him, pulling her hair to the side. Heath walked to her, pulling the zip on her dress down.
âHeâ wants to know about the Immortal hunter, and the ancientâs blood.â
Celeste turned, eyes big and a red so dark they almost looked brown. She looked up at Heath with that old knowing look that everyone around Heath seemed to share.
âHe wants to know about your past.â
Heath nodded. Celeste began unbuttoning Heathâs waist coat in silence, then undoing his tie.
âAre you going to tell him?â Celeste asked.
Heath sucked in a sharp breath when Celesteâs cold hands settled on his chest. There was a comfort in her touch, looking down at her and placing a hand on her beautiful cheek.
âDo you think I should?â Heath asked with a small, sad smile.
Celeste leaned up pressing her lips to Heathâs, and Heath leaned into it. His hands went to her dress, pulling the straps off her shoulder as she shimmied out of it, the fabric pooled on the floor beneath their feet. Celesteâs hands went to unbutton his shirt and pull it off.
Heath turned them so Celesteâs back was to the bed, his hands trailed down her waist and her sides to her back and then her arse. He had barely got hold of her then she jumped on him, arms slinging around his neck and legs crossed behind his back, hooked at the ankles until they were entangled and moved to the bed.
Heath broke the kiss for air, and Celeste said: âYou drive me crazy when you do that pout.â
Heath smiled in return. âI know other ways to drive you crazy.â
âOh, I know,â Celeste hummed when Heath leaned down to trail kisses down her neck. Her hands looped around him tighter, pulling him closer. âDonât get yourself killed, Heath,â she whispered softly.
Then moaned when Heathâs tongue hit that sweet spot between her neck and collar bone.
âI wonât,â he promised. Voice husky.
Thatâs all they said on the matter for the rest of the night, as they moved from conversation to other things under the sheets.
                                   *~*~*~*~*
Heath woke up to the sound of blood. The smell was putrid. Stinking. He got to his feet clumsy, pulling on a jumper from the dresser and his shoes and socks before following the scent down the stairs, then he stopped. He was staring at the heavy iron door that led to the basement, the scent of blood taking him there, and he hesitated.
Celeste was still in the bed upstairs.
He could just get back into bed.
But he raised a shaking hand to the door and pushed it open, descending the stairs again.
When he reached the last step the smell of blood hit him full force. He heard the small intakes of breath as well and with each step into the darkness a pit grew in his stomach, slowly getting bigger and bigger until he got to the source of blood.
A boy sat in the middle of the room, the collar of his white shirt painted scarlet. To his credit the boy wasnât crying, and when he lifted his head thatâs when Heath saw the full-face jester mask.
The boy from the door yesterday.
âSorry I didnât mean to wake you, Heath.â
Wolfeâs smiling voice boomed around the room. Heath immediately forced his posture to relax, hands easily sliding into his pockets, though he kept his eyes on the boy in the chair.
âYes, you did.â
âOkay,â said Wolfe, coming up behind Heathâs left shoulder. âMaybe I did. But come on, Felix made me wait a whole other day for our little chat.â
âYouâre telling me Felix isnât here?â
âOh no, Iâm here,â Felix called, his voice distant, behind them. Then Heath heard the close of the heavy iron basement door. The iron bolt sliding into place, the only way out of Felixâs cold basement.
âGreat! The whole gangâs here hmm, Killian?â Wolfe asked, and the boy raised his head slowly.
Heathâs heart sunk. Maybe the boy wasnât smart enough to deny every vampire his name. Wolfe stepped around Heath and walked towards the boy as Felix turned the light on, and Heath met those cold grey eyes head on. Wolfe stopped behind Killian, grinning, unnatural grey eyes alight with malice.
Then again, maybe it wasnât Killianâs fault at all.
Wolfe put a hand through the boyâs hair and brought it up so Killian was looking forward. Killian groaned, groggy as Wolfe took his mask off and it fell to the floor.
Wild blue eyes met Heathâs red and he shrunk back a little in his seat. In the light Heath saw the kidâs hands had been tied behind his back, keeping him in the chair.
âAfraid of a human, Wolfe?â Heath asked, tilting his head.
Wolfe chuckled. âNo, but it does stop the struggling when I do this.â
Without pause Wolfeâs clawed finger came out and cut a sharp line into Killianâs cheek. Heath took an unconscious step forward at Killianâs hiss of pain, but a cold hand landed heavy on his shoulder keeping him in place beside Felix who slinked up behind Heath.
âYou told him,â said Heath quietly. It didnât matter that everyone heard him, all that mattered was the fact that Felix hadnât changed. He told Wolfe about his weakness to humans just to torture him again. Heath should have never come back. He should have stayed in fucking bed with Celeste cuddled next to him.
Heath could feel Felixâs quiet laugh in his back.
âYour heart was always your fault old friend, especially little helpless humans.â
âSo, Killian this is how itâs going to go,â Wolfe said, looking at Heath the entire time. âWeâre going to ask Heath some questions. You recognise him from yesterday, right?â
Killian said nothing. Wolfe pulled his head back sharply, until he took a sharp breath of pain. âI said, you recognise him, right?â
âYes,â Killian ground out through gritted teeth.
âGood. Well, he has a soft spot for humans like you, or so Felix tells me. Do you know why, Killian?â
âNo.â
âBecause he was a human himself once. In fact, he was just like you, under the employ of Mr Felix himself.â
Killian met Heathâs eyes with a sad kind of sympathy. Heath returned the same apologetic stare. If it wasnât for him Killian wouldnât be here.
He was such an idiot.
âHow was the pay?â Killian asked and Heath let out a startled laugh.
Wolfe slapped Killian for his outburst and Heath stopped himself from moving an inch. He didnât want to give Felix the satisfaction of restraining him further.
âWhatâs going to happen, Killian, if Heath doesnât answer my question, is Iâm going to bite you right here,â Wolfe said pressing a thumb against Killianâs carotid artery, âand Iâm going to inject my venom into your bloodstream. You know what happens then Killian?â
Watching the realisation settle on Killianâs face was enough torture for Heath to endure, and Killian started trying to pull his arms free. Struggling against Wolfeâs hold on them.
Wolfe finally let go of Killianâs hair, a cruel laugh booming around the room. âThere we go, Heath. I think he gets it now. Do you?â
Heath rolled his eyes. âAre you always this dramatic, Wolfe? Is that how youâre friends with Felix? You could have asked me over coffee, and I would have answered your questions.â
âI did try to tell him that,â said Felix to his right, and Heath nodded.
âExactly. Thereâs no need to bring the boy into this. Just let him go,â Heath continued casually, stepping forward. Felixâs arm snakes around his chest like chains further restraining him back against Felixâs chest. Wolfeâs eyes shined with an awful glint of glee at Heathâs face as he watched Killian.
âI think this is the perfect place for him, Felix. Wouldnât you agree?â
âIt is the more fun way of doing things,â Felix agreed.
Wolfe smiled with all his teeth then. âShall we begin?â
*~*~*~*~*
Continued Here
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The Immortal Hunter: part one
Heath stalked up the marble steps to the ostentatious mansion. The annual masquerade party was in full swing, the smell of blood permeating the air was intoxicating, and for a moment just outside the open doors Heath hesitated. Slowly closing his hands into fists and opening them again. It occurred to him that he could leave, and the idea was all too enticing.
Maybe coming here was a mistake.
âMay I take your jacket, sir?â Heath looked at the servant and was glad for the red mask obscuring part of his face, it would make the night go smoother.
Though the servant wore a full faced decorated mask, through the eye holes Heathâs maroon eyes met blue ones staring back at him.
Human. Interesting.
âThatâs quite alright, thank you.â
âOf course, Mr Cain. Mr Felix has been expecting you and would like a private audience as soon as you have mingled.â
âWould he now?â Heath asked, going to stand beside the servant leaning against the wall and pulling out a metal case of cigarettes.
He clicked his fingers lighting the cigarette between his teeth and took a drag, as he watched the boy from the corner of his eyes.
âWhatâs your name?â He asked, and the boy hesitated.
âForgive me, Mr Cai ââ
âYou can call me Heath.â
âOf course. Forgive me, Heath, but with all due respect youâre a vampire⊠if I tell you my name- well, Iâve heard the stories.â
Heath let out a snort of laughter, looking at the boy plainly now.
âSmart boy.â
âIn this line of work, I have to be.â
Heath smiled, taking a long drag then offering the cigarette to the boy.
âDo you smoke?â
âNo sir.â
âGood lad. Smart lad,â Heath said genuinely, then cocked a brow. âNot smart enough to be as far as possible from a vamp party, though?â
The boy swallowed and looked away from Heathâs penetrating stare.
âWhat do you owe Felix?â
âUmmâŠâ
âYou donât reek of any thrall,â Heath began, exhaling a lungful of smoke into the cool night air. âWhich either means youâre in debt ââ
The servant hesitated. âThe party is in full swing inside, sir.â
âIâm aware,â Heath said easily, humour lacing his voice. âFull of loathful bloodsuckers like me who eat people like you. So, either- youâre one of Victorâs pets waiting to be turned, which Iâm guessing not because you knew not to tell me your name⊠Or you owe him something. Feel free to correct me.â
The servant said nothing for a moment. Then faltered. A dip of the head. Then back to their rigid posture, head held high.
âFamily?â
âHow ââ
âItâs always family that fucks you. Whether you like them or not,â Heath said, throwing the cigarette to the floor. Crushing it beneath his shoe. âYou live a few centuries; you see the same mistakes. Iâm not saying your family isnât worth it. Iâm just saying, there will be no thanks for your sacrifice. For the years you give up.â
âYou say that as if you know from experience.â
Heath smiled again, winking at the servant. âLike I said, smart boy.â
With that Heath pushed off the wall, fixing his suit jacket and mask before turning to the servant, extending a hand.
âIf all goes well, I hope I never see you again,â he said, and the boy looked as if he had just solved all his problems. Like his words had somehow lifted an invisible weight from his shoulders.
âI hope so too.â
Heath nodded, taking a deep breath before breaching the doors of the building.
*~*~*~*~*
âAh, if it isnât Chaos himself, hmm?â Heath turned and saw the familiar face of an elegant woman strutting towards him. Wicked grin painted in red, hair immaculate as always and delicate hands outstretched to greet him.
Heath took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. âCeleste, is it me or do you get more gorgeous with the centuries?â
âOh darling, itâs not just you. I age like a fine wine.â
Heath chuckled, letting her lead him through the crowds of blood drunk vampires and love drunk fools who let the vampires tap them like maples.
âWhen did you get back?â she asked over her shoulder, her sultry tones carried like the word of God on a breeze, making music in his ears as they walked.
âIâm not back,â said Heath, eyes scanning the room for the reason he was here at all. âJust visiting Victor.â
Celeste laughed her beautiful laugh, both scathing and genuine at once.
âWhatâs so funny?â Heath asked, the Irish accent leaking out when he got defensive.
Celeste turned to Heath then, a manicured hand on his chest as she said with knowing eyes, âeveryone knows what Just visiting for you means. No one can seem to get you out of that â oh what is it called again?â
âIreland.â
âJust the same who seems to have captured your heart. Normally you have to be dragged away,â her eyes narrowed as she looked at his lips. âJust what could it be thatâs piqued your interest this time?â
Heath smiled his dazzling smile at her and took her hand in his. âCanât you just say itâs good to see me?â
âItâs good to see you,â a new voice said. Both Celeste and Heath looked to the left to see the host of tonightâs festivities.
Victor Felix stood to their left, a wine glass of blood in one hand, the familiar hint of a smirk on the corner of his quirked lip. He was dressed in a velvet navy suit, a purple cravat tucked into his wine waistcoat that matched his wine domino mask that had horns growing from the top. The devil himself.
âFelix!â Heath exclaimed, stepping out of Celesteâs arms and went to kiss each of Felixâs cheeks.
âMio vecchio amico, itâs been too long.â
âToo long indeed.â
âWe were just discussing his absence in favour of the Emerald Isle,â Celeste added walking towards the pair, her hand extended to Felix who took it and pressed a kiss to her now gloved knuckles.
âCeleste, gorgeous as always.â
Celeste just hummed, stepping back to be in line with Heath. Heath threw an easy arm around her waist keeping her close as he shot a megawatt smile at Felix.
âHow have you been, Victor?â Heath asked, smile only half forced.
âIâve been⊠busy,â Felix replied, looking between Celeste and Heath with golden eyes. âWhere are my manners, dear boy, you donât even have a drink! Waiter!â
A waiter appeared in less than a second, with a tray of wine glasses half full of blood. Heath took one, holding it at his side. Celeste took one too with a smile and a thank you, before taking a sip. Felix watched the exchange with calculating eyes, that same amused smile now shining in his eyes.
âI met your boy outside,â Heath said casually, and Felix looked towards him, daring him to continue. âSmart boy.â
âHe is,â said Felix bringing the glass to his lips. He paused right before he took a sip, stare cutting through Heathâs and said, âreminds me of you way back when.â
âI was just about to say the same thing. Do you plan on turning him?â
Felix shrugged. âI donât know yet. Perhaps. Itâs always good to keep the sharp ones, Heath. Speaking of⊠I have a friend Iâd like to introduce you to.â
âDo ya now?â
Felix let out a short breath of a laugh, as if there was a joke that Heath wasnât privy to. âI do. He even asked for you by name.â
âWhat an honour.â
âYou boys are so boring,â said Celeste, stepping out of Heathâs hold. She placed a hand on Heathâs cheek bringing him down into a short, sweet kiss and said, âcome find me after youâre done doing business at a party.â
âOf course,â said Heath. Celeste looked back at Felix then.
âDonât keep him too long,â she ordered, and Felix nodded. Then Celeste turned and disappeared into the crowd once again.
Heath looked to Felix who turned and walked into the crowd, expecting Heath to follow, so Heath did. Through winding crowds, occasionally stopping to greet someone, or someone stopping them to greet Heath and welcome him back.
âItâs good to be home, no?â Felix commented as he led him to the back of the ballroom out towards the gardens. Heath kept his head up, eyes forward.
âIâve made my own home Felix. It was never here.â
âYou wound me. After everything Iâve done for you,â Felix said with a pantomime pout.
âThat boy. Outside, the human ââ
Felix stopped, stepping in front of Heath, a cruel glint in his eyes. âLet me guess. Youâre going to beg me not to turn him.â
Heath shrugged. âYeah.â
âAnd what would you do for me?â
âNothing. I just wanted to stop you from making the same mistake twice.â
Felix hummed, starting to walk again to the balcony overlooking the garden. When they got to the edge, Heath leaned his forearms over the rail looking out over the green expanse below. The garden was his favourite part of Felixâs mansion. It was the one place that was peaceful. When he was human, it was his brief reprieve from Felix and his orders, out in nature with the animals and the insects, the smell of the flowers calmed him. With his vampire senses, everything was too much, and the garden became too bright, too beautiful, too smelly.
âYou wouldnât like a little brother?â
âHe wouldnât like an older one more like,â said Heath taking a sip of the blood. Tastebuds tingling with iron. It was fresh. Heath hadnât drunk fresh blood in so long.
Felix put his back to the railing looking at Heath from the corner of his eye. âI did miss you, you know,â he said quietly. âEven if you didnât miss me.â
âWho is this person that wants to meet me? Have you been telling stories about me again?â Heath asked without missing a beat.
Felix cleared his throat, taking a sip of his drink looking back into the ballroom. âHis name is Wolfe. Ah, and here he comes.â
Heath turned as Felix stepped away, going to greet Wolfe. He was tall. That was the first thing that struck Heath, that he was tall, taller than Felix. But where Felix was slim, Wolfe was broad. He was muscled to the point of being ripped under his white collared shirt and waist coat. A half smile was on his lips, stubble lined his strong square jaw that went up into his hair line where shoulder length purposefully messy hair lay perfect.
He also wasnât wearing a mask, Heath noted, eyes narrowing slightly. A loose tie hung around his neck untied, a mask in one hand and his drink in the other.
âFelix,â his voice rumbled smooth. âItâs been too long, mate.â
English accent. Northern. Thatâs about as much as Heath could discern before Felix led the hulking stranger over.
His eyes were a piercing, opaque grey colour that sent Heathâs mind reeling. He listened for a heartbeat but heard none and when Wolfe outstretched his hand Heath took it robotically and felt no warmth. No pulse of blood. Yet his eyes were grey.
âYou must be Cain, Felixâs boy, yes?â
âIâm Heath,â said Heath. Not friendly and not unfriendly. âYouâre English.â
âVery astute. Youâre Irish.â
âFor the weather I am.â
Wolfe let out a booming hearty laugh, hand tightening around Heathâs with mirth. He cupped his other hand around Heathâs and pulled him in close for a hug. Wolfe swamped Heathâs frame, his strength unnatural even for a vampire and for the first time in a long time⊠Heath was scared.
âGood, good. The weather is shit in our parts, innit?â
âNever any sun to contend with,â Heath laughed, but at the joke or the fact that Wolfe finally released him he didnât know.
Wolfeâs face levelled into a happy neutral expression. The same expression he walked up to them with. âSorry about the mask, I didnât want to greet you without you knowing what I look like.â
Heath glanced at Felix and nearly hated himself for it. Looking to Felix for a command. An order. A silent question. Does he need to take his off too? Heath decided against it because he could, because he was his own man. He didnât need Felix to tell him what to do anymore.
âFelix told me youâre young. What is it? A couple decades?â
Heath opened his mouth, but it was Felix who answered. âHeâs 149.â
Heath shot Felix a look, but Felix just smiled back like a proud father.
âBarely out of your fledgling days!â Wolfe laughed.
âOr maybe youâre just ancient,â Heath said twisting his lips into a smile. He could do this. Donât show any fear. Play it up. Itâs fine.
Wolfe laughed again, some ancient knowing settling into his eyes as he said, âmaybe.â
Heath couldnât hold the stare long, glancing at Felix beside Wolfe instead. âFelix said you wanted to chat with me?â
âYes. I do. If you wouldnât mind.â
âNot at all, what about?â
Wolfe fixed Heath with a pinning stare, his grey eyes enthralling Heath just a little bit to keep his attention and for a moment Heath felt his feeble humanity humming in the back of his mind. That primal fear of predator watching prey. The same look Felix set on him when he decided he didnât want Heath to leave him.
âThe immortal hunter.â
Those three words hammered through Heathâs skull, and if his heart still beat, heâs sure it wouldâve beat faster at Wolfeâs confident words issued through a cool, casual tone that demanded Heathâs attention with those cold grey eyes.
Heath looked at Felix, mouth open, looking like an idiot and Felix tilted his head â a smile on his lips watching Heath squirm before stepping closer to Heath, and Heath could have preened at the familiarity of his sire so close even after he broke the bond.
âFelix told me you had history with it,â Wolfe continued, his voice a low rumbling drawl, smooth as gravel and gentle like a lion just before it was about to prance. Wolfe tilted his head regarding Heath with inquisitive eyes. âAnd with the old blood. The ancient blood, of course, thatâs what enticed Felix to you in the first place Iâm guessing.â
Wolfe glanced at Felix then. âI can still smell it on him, even after heâs turned- what was it, 140 years or so? That ancient blood is always tricky. Especially for a fledgling.â
âIâm not a fledgling anymore.â
âNot to you, perhaps,â said Wolfe eyes going back to Heath. âBut when you live as long as Felix and me, a century is nothing but a blink of an eye.â
âSo, what do you want with the immortal hunter?â
âIsnât it obvious, dear boy?â
Heathâs hand tightened harder on his glass. âObviously not.â
Wolfe hummed, bringing the glass to his lips, and swallowing a gulp of blood. Then he smiled showing his teeth and the blood staining his lips and canines nearly made Heath sick.
Wolfe looked at Felix. âI forgot how impetuous the youth of yesterday can be.â
Felix shrugged, âit can be fun to get them in line.â
âYou have the patience of a saint, Felix,â then his eyes slid back to Heath, void of the humour it had been full of before. âI, however, do not.â
Wolfe took a step towards Heath and Heath took one back, his lower back pressing into the rail trapping him, with Felix on his left caging him in.
He felt so small. So weak, so human.
âWe should chat, Cain. After everyone is gone, perhaps? Are you staying with Felix while youâre here?â
âNo,â Heath said at the same time Felix said, âYes.â
Wolfe grinned, a big hand clamping down hard on Heathâs shoulder. The grip turned bruising, but Heath didnât wince. He didnât flinch. He kept Wolfeâs cruel stare, even when Wolfeâs claws penetrated flesh and cut through his shoulder.
âI like you, Cain,â Wolfe said, withdrawing his hand. He put his mask on finally, and it felt like Heath could finally breathe again.
Wolfe looked at Felix then, âIâll stay here too if you have a room.â
âOf course,â said Felix his eyes on Heath again. âDonât disappear on us now, Heath.â
Heath said nothing as he pushed passed Felix, his mind swimming as he stalked back into the ballroom, downing the glass of blood before looking for Celeste. He needed to calm down and she was the only one who could soothe his nerves right now.
*~*~*~*~*
Continued Here
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DoppelgÀnger.
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