Supernatural Taskforce Academy: Mission One, Scorpion Blood

by J. L. Weil

  “Yes,” Horus answered. “During the Bello Regna, many slaves surrendered, not deeming the fight worth their existence. As lower demons they are the least powerful of all, and most were just following the orders of their oppressors. Higher demons forced them to do their bidding, but once they surrendered, the gods gave them a second chance.”

  “Many chose Midgard, or Earth, as the place to settle, not wanting to be close to any other supernatural races for fear of retribution. And since they weren’t dangerous, they were left to live their lives,” Iara concluded.

  “Not dangerous?” I asked incredulous. “Forgive me for disagreeing, but that reptilian thing used a neurotoxin on me and my men so powerful, that it knocked us out for days, and sent us to the hospital. If it weren’t for Serenity healing me, I would probably still be there.”

  “Did it kill you?” Cressida asked blankly, eyes still glowing, and I frowned.

  “Well, no, but—”

  “Don’t misunderstand, he has the ability to end your life, but he used only enough venom on your men to get into the club, and then to incapacitate you so he could escape. Did he not?”

  My fight died as I remembered checking on my team. They were fine, sore, and resting to recover, but nothing grave had happened to them. Biting my tongue, I nodded, and folded my arms over my chest.

  “How convenient,” Renna huffed beside me, and Ambrose glowered at her. “I’m sorry, but am I the only one who realizes how messed up this all is?” She motioned to the Geata an Damanta just as a loud bang reverberated through the igneous cave, and we both took a cautious step back.

  The fissure along its surface spread a couple of feet more.

  “The freaking thing is cracking, and you guys are not doing anything about it?” Renna accused. Rage ignited in her veins. “Aren’t we supposed to stop them? I mean, the Gods are nowhere to be found. Shouldn’t we be doing something to save the humans, and our hides while we are at it?”

  “Wait. You said Earth would be the first to perish. Why?” I interrupted, getting a narrowed glance from the beautiful brunette.

  “That is your question after everything you just heard? Don’t you want to stop this shit from happening?”

  “Of course, I do. That is why I’m here. The Aereum are already doing something about it. That’s probably why they called you here too. Maybe,” I frowned glancing back at Serenity while the image of Infernum finally vanished, sucking in the blistering heat and the smell of sulfur engulfing the altar.

  The fog dissipated, returning to Cressida’s hands.

  “I’m glad you brought it up, Renna,” the High Witch offered, nodding. “Like Scorpion mentioned, we are already doing something about it, and that is the reason you are both here.”

  11

  SCORPION

  “No, he’s here because I broke the rules and brought him to the academy,” Renna argued.

  Amusement filtered through the faces all around.

  “Do you really think your encounter was a coincidence?” Serenity asked, seeming to enjoy Renna’s shock.

  “We planned for Ethan, the spider demon, and you to be in the same place at once,” Ambrose explained, leaving us both floored. “Sending you to get the witch, the third member of the team, was in part our way of having you in the right place, at the right time.”

  “Hold up. You want that witch to be part of a team with me? What team? Nope. Not happening.”

  “Renna,” Ambrose said in a disapproving voice, that sounded far too fatherly and edged with warning.

  “What? You let a higher demon loose in Vegas, free to rampage and kill humans, and I’m the one getting the reprimanding looks about the witch?” Renna barked, reacting the same way I had… perhaps we weren’t so different after all.

  Serenity’s brow arched in challenge, a glint of humor entering her eyes when she glanced at me, recognizing the same thing I just had. “No. We sent a higher demon to earth for you to stop it from killing humans. A test that Scorpion passed with flying colors,” she added proudly.

  What seemed like pure blue fire encircled Renna’s irises, and her mouth opened to argue.

  “Excuse me for disagreeing, but Renna is the only reason I was able to kill it,” I strongly interjected, stopping her before she could speak. “The Spider Queen and I had a few rounds under our belts when Renna arrived, but nothing I did in my attempt to end her seemed to work.”

  “That may be true, but you were the one to vanish her,” Albán contended.

  “No. We both did,” I rebutted. “It was Renna’s idea for me to shoot her in the eyes, and she stopped the demon with her whip long enough so I could shoot her. It was a team effort,” I insisted, giving credit where it was due, and glancing at Renna. “She also saved my life.”

  Renna looked at me for a second, baffled by my answer.

  “She brought you to the academy at the brink of death. Poisoned by the demon. How is that saving your life?” Iara contradicted.

  WTF. Why were they all ganging up on her? Ire stirred inside me.

  “She might not have realized I was hurt when she took me with her, but she endured so much in that fight, I don’t fault her for the slip. It could have happened to the best of us. Renna stopped the Spider Queen from killing me before that. When I was cornered and all out of options.”

  My gaze bore into beautiful sapphire eyes as I spoke, loving the way her neck elongated so she could look up at me.

  “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it here—poisoned or not—to be healed by Serenity.” My eager fingers reached for hers, curling around her hand and my thumb caressed the inside of her wrist, slowly. “You saved my life, Renna. I’m forever grateful.”

  Her pulse hammered under my touch as her gaze drifted to my lips, brows furrowed together as though she was confused by what she was feeling at the moment. “It was no big deal, but don’t make a habit of it.” Her lips twitched.

  A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth and her fingers squeezed mine, countering her nonchalant attitude. Her body angled toward mine, eyes never wavering from their intensity as she studied my face.

  Someone cleared their throat forcefully, interrupting the unexpected moment between Renna and I, and when our gazes returned to the Aereum, I found a few of them whispering among themselves, while Ambrose, Serenity, and Cressida looked at us intrigued.

  “The first realm to be destroyed would be Earth—Midgard—because it is the closest to Muspelheim. Once the seal is broken and the demons escape Infernum, that is the first place they will attack,” Ambrose explained, finally answering my previous question.

  “Horus believed that after fighting the demon together, you would be tempted to bring Scorpion to the academy, and we were counting on that,” Serenity offered, glancing at Renna. “Had you not brought him with you, I would have retrieved him myself.”

  “The gods meant for him to join us, and so he shall,” Cressida concluded.

  “I don’t understand,” my gorgeous brunette admitted, though she didn’t seem to like it too much, and I gathered she was used to being in control. “What does a human, of all people, have to do with any of this? Why him?”

  “I guess this is as good a time to formally introduce you to him,” Cianán suggested at that moment. “Allow me to present to you Commander Ethan James, military leader, and ex-Delta Force. Your new partner.”

  She blinked. “Delta what?”

  “Delta Force. It’s the most prestigious branch of the U.S. military,” I supplied, amused by her reaction.

  Shrugging, she crossed her arms over chest. “Sorry. Never heard of it. Besides, I don’t do partners.”

  “He is not only your partner,” Serenity informed sternly, though I could sense she seemed to appreciate Renna’s reaction. “In order to defeat the higher demons that will inevitably escape and close the Gate of the Damned once and for all, the gods have given Cressida a list of names, powerful souls, who will aid us in our feat.”

  “But he’
s human,” she argued.

  “Powerful, doesn’t always mean supernatural, child,” Cressida let the words linger.

  Was she referring to me?

  Renna lips thinned into a straight line.

  “An Elite Taskforce must be created, one superior to anything STA has ever assembled,” Ambrose explained. “Only then will we have a fighting chance at ending the threat. Knowing the names of these magnificent souls the gods deemed worthy of the task, we took them from their original families, and hid them from any lower demons still willing to serve those trapped in Infernum. They were placed on Earth, to protect them, adopted by human families who raised them as their own, without any knowledge of their mystical nature, or their god given gifts.”

  “God given gifts, as in the gods specifically created them to be the ones to defend the world in their absence?” Renna asked, while I tried to keep myself focused, though utterly taken aback by the revelation.

  “Precisely,” Serenity was the one to confirm her suspicions.

  “Sleeper cells,” I whispered at the same time. “You placed them with humans like spies are introduced to a foreign country, to learn from us, be one of us until you needed them. Now, they’ll know and care enough to risk their lives to save humanity, and stop the Damanta.”

  Cressida nodded, pleased by my deduction. “Awaken their abilities you must. It is your duty to seek them, together, and bring them forth to the truth.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Renna whispered, under her breath. “The witch. She’s one of them.”

  “And so are you,” Ambrose answered, looking at her with pride. “I brought you here much earlier, but the gods selected your soul, as well as Ethan’s for this task. That is what you have been training for your whole lives.”

  “You mean to tell me that the gods thought it would be a good idea to set me up with the world’s shittiest parents, so I would end up on the streets and it would somehow prepare me for this moment?” Silence followed Renna’s question, “Bullshit,” she added, definitely harboring some resentment about her childhood.

  Who could blame her?

  My gaze traveled to her as her confession made my chest constrict. She didn’t deserve to go through that. No one did. Yet, in that moment, I began to understand her. Her attitude and defiance… It was nothing but a wall she had erected to protect herself. To shield that girl still inside her that hated being alone, but was afraid to depend on someone, because everyone had let her down.

  I won’t... I silently vowed.

  I didn’t know why, but I felt her repressed hurt seeping into me, and the knowledge sent an urge to protect her through my being, to show her she was no longer alone.

  She had me now.

  My fingers reached for hers again, but she pulled her hand away, as though she thought my touch was the product of pity. It wasn’t.

  “That was never our intention, we do not control the will of men. But now is not the time for this, Renna,” Ambrose assured in his silky voice, tinged with finality. “You and I will talk later.”

  “You must learn to work together,” Serenity added, gravely glancing at both of us. “Train to enhance each other’s strengths, and aid each other’s weaknesses. Only together can you all defeat this evil.”

  “But first, you must find Catina Whitlow and take her to the academy. I’m afraid that with her powers unbound and no knowledge of who she is, she might be as dangerous as the higher demons we are trying to stop.”

  Alarm drifted through my mind with the severity of Cianán’s words. A sense of urgency filling my being. We needed to act now. “Yes, Sir. We’ll do it—”

  “I’d already planned to do that and was preparing to leave when you summoned me here.” Renna retorted, cutting off my words. “I have everything under control. I don’t need a human to hold my hand.”

  “I think they mean for us to become a team. United we can find the witch.”

  “No shit, Captain Obvious.”

  With a frustrated sigh I turned to glance at Serenity, trying to think of a way I could bring Renna around. It wasn’t the first time I served beside head strong personalities, who preferred to work alone and saw having a leader as a crutch, but I had my work cut out for me. It was evident Renna didn’t like authority, or being told what to do, and after hearing her story I understood why.

  She was not going to like learning I was here to lead the team. And that was going to be a problem.

  Though, I never back down from a challenge—especially not one as enticing as her.

  “This shall be you first mission. Stronger, together you are,” Cressida declared, reminding me of Yoda once more.

  Serenity and Ambrose exchanged a glance, and I noted he seemed to be warning her about something. He didn’t want her to speak, but like Renna, Serenity didn’t seem like the kind of woman to take orders from anyone.

  “As I was saying, Scorpion is one of those souls. His unique set of abilities and acquired experience make him an ideal partner.” Serenity’s brow lifted tauntingly, her attention shifting from me to Renna. “He will work alongside you, but like every member of the team he has a particular place to fill. Scorpion will not only be your partner, he is meant to lead you all, so together you can save the world.”

  Renna laughed, a hypnotic sound if it weren’t filled with vinegar. “Funny. This is all a joke, isn’t? Retribution because I failed to bring in the witch? What, is this supposed to be my punishment? Fine. But I’m warning you, if he gets in my way—”

  “Enough. Scorpion is the leader of this supernatural taskforce, which means you now answer to him,” Serenity declared unyielding, leaving no room for defiance while her eyes bore into Renna’s. “Now go. We need that witch immediately, and the two of you have much work to do.” She arched a knowing brow, while smoke seemed to shoot out of Renna’s ears. “Only, the two of you.”

  “Oh, fuck…” I mumbled.

  RENNA

  I wanted to argue. Honestly, I was just short of throwing a hissy fit right in front of the council, but it would change nothing. Besides, I might be many things, most of them not always pleasant, but I would not be the cause of the human population being wiped out.

  That much blood would not be on my hands... regardless of how much I liked blood.

  After returning to the academy—leaving Scorpion behind with the Aereum—and stomping to my room, I retrieved the pendant from Tricksy along with a few other supplies—daggers and such—before meeting Ethan in the commons.

  I ignored the curious stares from other students, the whisperings about who the hot human was, and what he was doing here. The academy was buzzing, like a swarm of bees pollinating the school with gossip.

  My eyes traced over the room until they landed on the one person who stuck out like a human among supernaturals. His chestnut head was bent over as he sat in an armchair, forearms resting on his thighs, hands folded between his knees. He seemed dead focused on something. The muscles on his back stretched against the tight black T-shirt, outlining every single deliciously ripped line he possessed—a form received only by discipline and hard work at the gym.

  The academy was filled with a variety of species, but not a single mortal dwelled among us. It made Scorpion an anomaly. Perhaps that was why I found him… Alluring? Striking? Unsettling? All of the above.

  Fumbling with the necklace in my pocket, I moved through the room at a normal pace, giving myself a few seconds to calm the sudden spike in my blood pressure. Tricksy had managed to enchant the artifact, prior to my being summoned by the almighty Aereum. I just hoped it worked, otherwise, Scorpion and I were going to be searching for the witch in the dark, with no real leads, which meant more time in his unnerving presence than I was willing to sacrifice. I couldn’t decide if it was me I was more concerned with, or him.

  “You ready to go on a witch hunt?” I asked, taking a seat on the couch across from him. Too close a proximity might scramble my already rattled brain. I had been around plenty of humans as a vampire,
having little problem with self-control, but then his eyes lifted, peering into mine and a whiff of his blood teased my nose, causing all that hard work to be whisked away on a phantom wind. I ignored the rush of thirst to taste his blood and his lips, and cursed myself for not grabbing a drink before coming to the commons.

  His head angled to the side as he regarded me, his penetrating emerald gaze intensifying on me, while he held something between his hands I couldn’t quite see. Scorpion remained silent for a few seconds as he took me in, as if memorizing my features, until finally his expression filled with intrigue. “It’s not quite a hunt, is it? Unless you plan to kill her?”

  “It’s the thrill of the pursuit, not the kill that gets the adrenaline pumping,” I challenged, unfolding a map of the US on the coffee table between us. “I get you are in charge of my mission, but before we go on a wild goose chase, I thought we could narrow down our search.”

  Straightening his spine, he gave me an enticing curl of his lips. “It is our mission, and regardless of whether or not I’m in charge we are a team. I need to count on you so we can be successful.”

  I didn’t answer, but an approving glint still entered his eyes, focusing on the map.

  “Smart conclusion. She was last seen in Vegas forty-eight hours ago.”

  I nodded. “In theory, she could be anywhere, but a girl who relies on reading tarot cards in a Vegas club probably needs money, which means she doesn’t have much to travel with, a detail that will work in our favor.”

  He ran his fingers over the map, focusing on the southwestern part of the country. “I agree with you. Most likely she skipped town, but I doubt she’s gotten far. She’s ignorant about what is happening to her, and most of all scared. My guess is she would try to find a familiar place to hide. Somewhere she can reign in her unexpected abilities, then figure something out.”