Spectra: A Cynical Superhero

by Amy Sumida

  I blinked in surprise. “You don't need it, but yes; you have my word.”

  Malik visibly relaxed.

  “Did you really think I'd leave you for someone else right after we shared that amazing night together?” I asked.

  “It was amazing, wasn't it?” Malik started to smile.

  “Eternity, remember?” I smiled back at him, “I think I can wait a few weeks in light of that. I'll even put the transporter in my bedroom.”

  His smiled brightened. “I'll look forward to stepping through it.”

  Then Malik pulled me into a tender kiss that he ended before it got too passionate.

  “Amara, I...”

  “Me too,” I whispered. “Hurry back, Mal.”

  “Mal?” He asked and chuckled. “As my lady commands.”

  Then he picked up the final body, stepped through the energy sheet, and disappeared. A few moments later, it zipped off and the lights went dark. I sighed deeply as I collected the discs.

  “And just like that; he's gone,” I whispered.

  “I'm sure he'll return with all speed,” Kyrian said as he stepped into the room.

  “Kyrian,” I murmured as I stood from collecting the last disc.

  “Hello, Amara,” Kyrian said. His halo was in place again. “I asked Landry if I could set up my transporter in The Wilds, and he directed me to this room. I'll be staying on my ship, and I needed a stable location to jump to.”

  “That sounds familiar,” I said as I stepped back. “You might want to place it further back in the room; the front section gets accessed more often.”

  “All right.” He stepped past me and set up something similar to Malik's transporter, except Kyrian's was composed of thin, clear rods that unfolded to make a freestanding doorway. “It won't work until I turn it on so there's no chance of someone accidentally falling through.”

  “Good to know,” I said and started to leave.

  “Amara.” Kyrian laid a hand on my shoulder. “I don't want you to think that I forgot about the conversation we were meant to have.”

  “I know that you haven't forgotten, Kyrian,” I said softly. “But—”

  “But things have changed,” he cut me off. “I understand. I don't think you're making the right choice, but I respect you, and so I must respect your decision.”

  “Thank you.”

  “That being said,” he went on, “I cannot continue to watch over you with so much left unsaid between us. So, I will say it to you once, and then you can do with it as you will.”

  “Kyrian, it doesn't have to be said.” I laid my hand on his arm. “I've seen it in your aura. I know how you feel.”

  “Colors can't express everything, Amara,” Kyrian said sternly. “I love you. You are unlike any woman I've ever known. You're brave, graceful, stubborn, beautiful, and powerful in the most elegant way. The sound of your voice makes my heart speed up, the scent of you makes me shiver, and the sight of you is nearly enough to drive me to my knees. I have never felt such wondrous things before, and never been hurt so deeply, but the pain is worth the wonder. I love you, Amaranthine Madison, and I won't stop. Not because of the Bleiten Prince or the Stone Man or even you, the cynical superhero. My heart has been given and that is final.”

  “Kyrian, I...”

  “You don't need to say anything.”

  “You get to say all of that, but I don't get to say anything?” I asked in irritation.

  He laughed; a sudden, surprised sound. “I'm sorry, Amara, what would you like to say to me?”

  “You're an amazing man, Kyrian,” I said softly. “I don't know how I managed to inspire love from you, and I don't know if I'll ever be in a position to love you back, but I'd be a liar if I said that I didn't want your affection. You're honorable, kind, strong, and one of the most beautiful men I've ever met. I do want you; I want you very much. But I also want Davorin, and I especially want Malik. But we can't have everything we want, can we? So, I made a decision, and I'm happy with it. I'll do my best to be mindful of the way you feel and not be cruel, but I'm not changing my mind.”

  Kyrian smiled and nodded. “I understand, but life has a way of changing our minds for us. I'll wait for it to change yours.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Now, back to my mission,” he said. “It really would be best if I could lodge in one of your spare bedrooms. Nothing lecherous; it will simply be easier for me to watch over you.”

  “Kyrian, I think we both know that I don't need watching over,” I said gently. “I'm allowing this situation because I don't want to argue with my uncle before we've met in person. But you're not going to stay in my home, and you're not going to follow me around.”

  “Well, you've got half of that right,” Kyrian said calmly.

  “Have you forgotten so soon?” I asked him with a shake of my head.

  “Forgotten what?” He asked with a frown.

  I wrapped myself in the colors of the room and ran out the door. I heard Kyrian cursing in Triari behind me, but I was out of The Wilds before he made it out of the back room. I laughed all the way home. Again.

  Some men never learn.

  Chapter Fifty

  Four days later, Davorin, Lily, Leo, Jason, Kyrian, Malik, and I were invited back to the White House. Malik hadn't returned yet, but the rest of us accepted the invitation. We were picked up by secret service agents in nondescript black vehicles and driven to the White House, where we were led through several layers of security. The White House was buzzing with activity, but it was supervised and tense.

  Despite the measures taken by the Secret Service to defend the White House against supernatural attack, their defenses had been breached easily. They were having to up their game and do it quickly. At the moment, the ambiance was half war-room and half war-zone. Men in black lined the halls—hands nervously clenching and eyes constantly scanning—and administrative staff scurried about with armloads of papers and frantic expressions. Most of them were new hires who'd been thrown in the deep end, and all of them eyed us with a mix of wariness and relief.

  “This doesn't look good,” Davorin whispered to me.

  I just shook my head; it was about what I'd been expecting.

  We were escorted to a large meeting room where the President was speaking with several people, including the Secretary of State, Annette Johnson. I didn't recognize the others but some of them had the unmistakable bearing of ex-military.

  “Thank you all for coming,” President Colton said to us warmly as he came over to shake our hands. “Under the circumstances, we've been able to rush through the process of creating a new special operations team. Please, have a seat, and we'll go over the details with you.” Then he frowned and looked over us again. “Where's Prince Malik?”

  “He's taken his dead warriors home for burial,” I said.

  “Oh.” Colton nodded somberly. “Yes, of course. Please convey my deepest condolences to him when you next speak. I'm afraid that I wasn't aware that I should have expressed them when I saw him last.”

  “I'll let him know.” I nodded.

  “All right, let's get to it,” Colton said. “I'm sure you've noticed the increased activity around here. We're in the process of redesigning several things; security being our biggest concern. The first thing we did was move the transporter to another location.”

  “But that's not how they got in, is it?” I asked in surprise.

  “No,” Colton said. “They came in using a combination of supernatural skills that we're now trying to find ways to counteract. But that's not what you're here for. Let me introduce you first to Terrence McKinley, Chairman of the Joint Special Operations Command.” Colton waved a hand at a barrel-chested man in his late sixties with ruddy skin and a balding head.

  “JSOC; that includes all of the special ops units,” Davorin said with interest.

  “That's right, son,” the Chairman said. “We handle joint special operations tactics using the elite forces of our military, and we'd like yo
u to become one of those elite forces.”

  “What does that mean exactly?” Kyrian asked. “I can't commit myself indefinitely or completely to America. I'm first and foremost an Arc; here only to watch over Duchess Amara.”

  I winced a little at the title; I was still getting used to it.

  “We understand that,” Colton said. “This is a special situation and your team will have more leeway than other military units. Not only that, but you'll also be working with both the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. When needed, you will work with the DOD, but for the most part, you will be working with the DHS, in their newest division; the Supernatural Service. This is Miranda Holmes, Secretary of Homeland Security.”

  Colton indicated a fifty-ish woman with dark hair, brown eyes, a fair complexion, and gray stripes at her temples. She was dressed smartly but not extravagantly, and she looked as if she ate men like the Chairman for breakfast.

  “If you choose to join us, you'll be the first team in our Supernatural Service,” Miranda said with a proud smile. “You will be leading the way for other supernaturals to come forth and serve their country.”

  “You'll be given a monthly salary and a contact who will be more of a liaison than a commanding officer,” President Colton continued. “When a threat arises, you will be called in to consult with your Supernatural Service Support Unit and then determine what actions need to be taken. If for any reason you're unable to help, you will need to give good cause, but we can be flexible in that regard as well.”

  “You're saying that we'll be on the Government's payroll but will retain an independent contractor's right of refusal?”

  “Just so,” Colton said. “In fact, you'll be listed as 'armed contract protective security officers.' This is in its early stages so we may ask to change the arrangement later. But basically, we want you to be available for action at a moment's notice. To do so, you can't be distracted by a day job. We're willing to support you if you will support America.”

  “Does that mean that I won't be doing my interpreting work anymore?” I asked Colton.

  “Translating supernatural languages is one of your talents, Amara,” President Colton said. “I'll still need you for that, but your other work will take precedence.”

  “All right,” I agreed. “That sounds more than fair.”

  “And the rest of you?” Colton asked the others.

  “We've secretly been supporting this city for free, Mr. President,” Lily said. “If you want to make honest superheroes out of us, I'm all for it.”

  Davorin, Leo, and Jason nodded in agreement.

  President Colton chuckled. “Superheroes? I like the sound of that. Miranda, would you care to explain their superheroic duties?”

  “Yours will be the first unit within the Supernatural Service. As such, it will be known as the First Extraordinary Abilities Regiment: FEAR for short,” Secretary Holmes began.

  I exchanged amused glances with the others.

  “Yes; it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?” Miranda asked with a grin. “You'll be tasked with special missions involving the security of this country and perhaps even that of the entire world.” She nodded to the Chairman to take over.

  “We may send you on joint tactical missions with other units such as SEAL Team Six and the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta,” the Chairman said. “We may also send you out as a lone unit or even a single agent. These will doubtless be dangerous missions, but we will offer you as much support as we can and send you in only where your talents are needed. For your work with the JSOC, you will be liaising with Lieutenant General Jack Oneal.”

  He waved a hand at an older African American man with curly, graying hair and a weathered face.

  “I'm sorry, did you say 'Oneal?'” Leo asked as he looked pointedly at the Lt General.

  “I was adopted,” Lt General Oneal said dryly.

  “Oh,” Leo murmured. “Sure. Sorry.”

  “But since we're talking about names,” Lt General Oneal went on with a glance and a nod at the Chairman, “you will each be given a codename. We understand that several of you have already been using aliases, and we find these to be acceptable: Gargoyle, Maestro, Tempest, and Veritas.” He nodded at Davorin, Leo, Lily, and Jason in order and then looked at Kyrian and me. “Do you two have a preference?”

  “I'm fine with Arc,” Kyrian said.

  “Arc, it is,” Oneal agreed. “And you, Ms. Madison?”

  I sighed deeply as Davorin chuckled.

  “I told you that you needed a superhero name,” Dav said with glee.

  “Spectra,” I said grudgingly. “You can call me Spectra.”

  “Excellent choice,” Oneal said. “And what about Prince Malik?”

  Davorin, Leo, and Jason started tossing out names like Hellion, Demonspawn, and Dante. I just rolled my eyes and waited for them to tire themselves out. Finally, after the list became achingly ridiculous, and the Lt General was looking to the President for help, an acceptable codename came from the most unlikely person.

  “Call him 'Nightshade,'” Kyrian said. “It's the English translation of his surname.”

  “I hadn't realized it, but you're right,” I said in surprise. “And Malik can't argue with that.”

  “Huh,” Davorin huffed. “I figured it meant 'Morningstar' or something more devilish. Not a pretty flower.”

  “A deadly plant,” I corrected him and then blinked in surprise. “With violet flowers,” I added in a whisper. “How prophetic.”

  “Thank you, Arc Kyrian,” Lt General Oneal said gratefully as he wrote down Malik's new codename. “We have kits of specialized equipment for all of you; computers, cell phones, bug detectors, surveillance gear, and so forth. Please go through these as soon as possible and use them to clear your homes. If you prefer, we can have a professional team conduct a search for you.”

  We all shook our heads; no one wanted strangers in their personal space.

  “For DHS, your liaison will be the new Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Supernatural Service; Mr. Alexander Connolly,” Secretary Holmes introduced the man beside her.

  Under Secretary Connolly was surprisingly young, but he still looked older than the President. He was in his early forties perhaps, with dirty-blond hair, blue eyes the color of faded denim, and a tan that looked as if it had been earned from a hard day's work rather than a leisurely day at the beach.

  “I'm excited to get to know and work with all of you,” Connolly said. “I'm still interviewing people to comprise your support team, but I intend to get you the best of the best.”

  “Thank you, Alex,” President Colton said and then looked back at us. “Annette has some paperwork for you to sign and then Alex will take you to get your badges made.”

  “Superheroes with badges,” Davorin whispered to me with an impressed look. “We're legit.”

  I sighed and rolled my eyes. What had I gotten myself into?

  Secretary Annette Johnson passed out the paperwork, and we all signed. Yes; I signed as well, despite my misgivings. Only Malik's papers were left in the Secretary's folder. I hoped he signed them; I was looking forward to seeing what his badge would look like.

  “Welcome to the fold, FEAR,” President Colton declared.

  It was all I could do to hold in my groan. Landry was going to give me so much shit over this.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  I thought I had escaped having an awkward conversation with Davorin but later that night, after celebrating with FEAR at The Wilds, he caught up with me. I was heading out of the ladies' room, and Davorin was waiting in the hallway outside.

  “This is kind of creepy, darling,” I said to him. “You shouldn't lurk outside the ladies' room.”

  “It was the only way I could think of to catch you alone,” he admitted. “Can we talk?”

  “Come along then.”

  I headed back out to the bar but then angled around it and into Landry's office. Davorin followed me
in and shut the door behind him.

  “What if he doesn't return?” Davorin started off with a bang.

  “Wow; you're going straight for the jugular,” I noted. “Okay. Well, Malik will come back. But, for sake of argument, if he doesn't, I will need some time to think things through. I'm not going to jump into bed with someone else.”

  “You know it's never been about sex with me,” Davorin said. “If that's all I wanted, I would have given up on you years ago.”

  “I do know that,” I admitted. “But it's only been recently that I've started seeing you as someone I could be interested in romantically so I suppose it seems fresh to me.”

  “And it seems to me as if you cut me off before you gave me a real chance,” he said.

  “I had to make a choice,” I said simply. “I'm sorry that it wasn't you.”

  “It is me,” he protested. “We have something real, and I wish you would let me prove it to you. People date, Amara. You don't have to settle on Malik immediately.”

  “I know,” I said gently. “But it's gone past casual dating with us, and I'm not the sort of woman to sleep with more than one man at a time.”

  “I see,” he whispered.

  “I do care about you, Dav,” I admitted. “If things were different, I think we might do well together. But...”

  “There's Malik.”

  “There's Malik,” I confirmed. “He's what I want right now. I don't know if that will ever change—it very well might—but I'm not going to string you along on the off-chance that Malik and I don't work out.”

  “All right, Mara,” he gave in with a sigh. “I gave it one last try. If you're intent on the Bleiten, I won't interfere again, and I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

  “Thank you, Dav,” I whispered and then hugged him.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  The next night was Halloween.

  Supernaturals loved Halloween; not for any kind of religious reasons, but because they could walk among humans as themselves without the fear of discovery. It was one of the few times that the Market became a ghost town. Landry and Mama even closed up shop for the night.