by J. L. Weil
When I stepped out, everyone’s eyes widened, filling with approval. Renna smirked, biting her lower lip as though my outfit enticed her, and I made a mental note to wear it for her tonight, or let her take it off me, either way worked. If we survived the mission…
“So, what’s the mission?” Catina asked, and only then did I realize she had joined us, probably while I was changing. She wore a black leather top and pants reminiscent of armor too, but far more feminine, with shoulder guards and long boots. It clung to her curves while a gold shimmer ran through it.
“It’s much like yours, but it will help her control, balance, and guide her magic,” Cianán explained.
When Renna joined my side, I noticed she too had changed into a black corset top and leather pants that hugged her curves, enticing me, but I blinked, forcing myself to focus.
“We are going to get the next member for unit Scorpion Blood,” I answered Catina, grinning. “That’s what I named our taskforce, like it?”
“So badass,” Catina replied.
Renna rolled her eyes. “You are such a dork.”
“For what is worth, I think it’s very fitting,” Albán offered, while Ambrose walked to his desk; the others agreed.
“Okay, so it doesn’t completely suck,” Renna admitted and I chuckled. I’d take that.
My gaze fell to the sword still on the floor and I reached for it, knowing we had to go. My body tensed when I gripped it, unsure of what to expect, but the fire never returned. Instead, the energy already surging through me with the suit increased, but it was dull and entirely bearable, nothing like it had been before.
“It’s perfect,” I told the others. “I can barely feel it.”
They breathed in relief.
“How do I, um, turn it off?”
The Dragon Priest chuckled, coming closer. “Your will commands the sword, but if you need a word to aid you until it becomes instinctual, use Kiszáll to alight and Elsötétít to darken. It’s bonded to you so it will respond only to your commands.”
“Thank you.” Nodding, I silently memorized the words, hoping nothing would go wrong.
“Elsötétít…” With the word, I witnessed the fire vanish, sucked into the blade, and the diamond stopped glowing. Whoa.
When the portal flared to life, showing an alley in the streets of a high-class neighborhood, we knew it was time to leave. I slipped the sword into the holster at my hip.
“Here.” Ambrose handed a paper to me while Renna and Catina came closer to look at it. “This is all you need to know about the next member.”
I glanced at it, while the girls read with me, it had a picture on it and a list of details about him.
Kyro, Cox.
Male.
18 years old.
6” tall.
Red hair.
Eerie golden eyes.
San Francisco.
“Um, yum!” Catina whistled, looking at the picture of Kyro, while twisting a lock of her pink hair around her finger. “Does it say if he’s single?”
“Girl, keep your eyes on the prize,” Renna hissed, as I handed Kyro’s profile to her.
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” Catina grinned cheekily.
I chuckled, getting a set of small vials from Serenity, and she began to secure them into tiny loops I hadn't noticed on my utility belt.
“Why didn’t we get one of these when you sent us for the witch?” Renna snapped, waving the paper at Ambrose.
“Um, the witch has a name. It’s Catina,” Catina retorted, but Renna ignored her, fuming at the Vampire Lord.
“Because we needed to see how you would work alone, and figure things out as you went, without any help from anyone. But now, there is no time to waste.”
“These are healing potions,” Serenity informed while I watched her place the last tiny vial in my belt, for a total of ten. “The suit protects you, but just in case you or any humans are hurt, you have enough for one sip on each. They will take care of any injury.”
She patted my arm, looking at me like an overprotective mom sending her kid to school for the first time, then handed a large vial to Renna.
“This one is the Expergo, the awakening potion. Remember Kyro must drink it while still on earth. You can't bring him through the portal until after he drinks this.”
Renna nodded, sticking the vial in her corset, between her breasts, and my attention peaked.
“Off you go,” Serenity said, guiding us to the mirror.
“Have fun!” Albán added and we frowned, walking through the portal.
“Wait, what is Kyro’s power?” Catina yelled back, just as the inside of Ambrose’s office disappeared, and we were left on a dark street.
The sound of loud music reached us, blaring through the night and we stopped at the corner, noticing a vast mansion in front of us bathed in white lights. It occupied an entire city block, resembling more of a castle than anything else. A red carpet extended the length of the main path, from where the valet service was set up, and along three different levels of stairs until it reached the door.
People dressed in tuxedos and fancy gowns handed an invitation to the host at the entrance of the first terrace, where the party seemed to unfold. Guests hung out on the lawn just beyond, while servers offered champagne or appetizers to them. Others strutted straight into the mansion that enjoyed perfect views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, and even Alcatraz.
“Holy shit, he’s filthy rich!” Catina whisper-screamed next to Renna and I.
I huffed. “This is Pacific Heights. The houses here cost over 20 million dollars, easily. Filthy rich doesn’t even cut it.”
“How do you know all that?” Renna asked.
“My uncle lives here.”
“Holy shit, you are filthy rich!” Catina gasped.
“My family is filthy rich. Not me. There is a difference.”
“Wait a second. Lord Ambrose said your name was Ethan James. Ethan James as in the Secretary of Defense and the Congressman?” Catina asked, shocked.
“My grandfather and father. Don’t remind me,” I groaned, and continued to scan the area, taking in all the details I could, to figure out what our next step would be. My eyes returned to Kyro’s picture.
“Sooo, are you single?” Catina asked me, and Renna hissed. Loudly. Iron fangs and all, forcing Catina to step back. “Girl, I’m just kidding! I know he’s taken.” She winked at Renna.
Ignoring them, I glanced one last time at the line of obscenely expensive cars parked all along the street and turned to look at them. “Okay, there are too many people here. We need to blend in. Catina, can you use your magic to make our suits look like gowns and a tux?”
“I can try, but I’m not sure how successful I’ll be. I got a mini lesson from the High Witch before I was told we had a mission, but I only learned two moves. How to stop things, and putting people to sleep.”
“Those will come in handy,” Renna assured and I nodded.
“Okay,” I sighed, redirecting my efforts to a human approach, my team wasn’t magic ready yet. My eyes widened when I saw a catering truck turn the corner, heading toward the back of the mansion. “Change of plans, we are going to hijack that truck and use their uniforms as disguises to infiltrate the party and look for Kyro.” My gaze searched Renna’s eyes. “Can we do this together? Will you follow my lead?”
Her lips twitched as she narrowed her eyes at me. “I mean, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you, but sure.”
Chuckling, I kissed her. “Okay, let's move along the shadows of the street toward the truck. Catina, Renna is my second in command. If we get separated for whatever reason, or anything else happens, follow her lead. I’ll find my way back to you.”
She nodded, while Renna looked at me half surprised, but pleased by my acknowledgement of her. I wasn’t stupid, she was as important to the team as she was to me. A good leader recognized that.
With their acknowledgement, we cros
sed the street swiftly, and headed for the side street along the mansion, using the night and the shade of the vast trees as our cover. Passing the valet stand, we rushed to an open gate where the truck had stopped, seeing the caterers unload the food, all dressed in large, white chef jackets and black pants. Those would be enough to cover our uniforms so it would have to do.
“Catina, knock them out girl.” Renna instructed, and I nodded pleased when she glanced at me.
Stepping forward, Catina extended her hands toward two women and a man arranging trays in the back of the truck, while the rest entered the mansion. “Here goes nothing…” she mumbled. “Quiesco!”
A white stream of mist shot out from her hands, slithering along the ground until it reached the caterers’ feet. It swirled around their legs, entangling with them as it traveled up their chests and entered their nostrils. The three bodies swayed a second before collapsing, and looking all around us, we rushed to them.
Renna and I began to undress the men and women swiftly, and I couldn’t help but feel remorse, but sometimes you had to do what you had to do.
“Uh, guys?”
“Are you kidding me? Get these and put them on.” Renna threw the first set of clothes over her shoulder at Catina, while I looked around the truck to make sure no one was coming and slipped the chef’s jacket on top of my suit.
“But guys…”
“Not now, Catina. We need to hurry. Put the outfit on,” I urged, getting the pants on while Renna finished buttoning up the jacket.
“Okay, but he’s getting away.”
My gaze flew to Renna’s and we whirled around to see Catina point to the street. “That’s the redheaded hunk from the picture. He’s not rich, he’s one of the valet guys.”
FML.
Renna hissed, and we looked at the people drugged by magic at our feet, in their underwear. Cursing under her breath, we stood and ripped the clothes off again, throwing them over their bodies, then rushed to join Catina on the corner.
And there he was, Kyro, taking a set of keys from a couple, and handing them a ticket. He waited until the couple went inside, looking up and down the way, and seeing there was no one else in line—the other valets were still parking their assigned cars. Swiftly, he tugged the uniform jacket off and rushed around the car, getting inside the Maserati and turning it on.
Muffled sounds reached me, and I glanced behind the valet stand to see a guy tied up, tucked into the bushes. My eyes widened. “He’s not parking the car, he’s stealing it. Stop him!”
The roaring of the engine reached us when he stepped on the pedal, and the car went from zero to sixty in a matter of seconds.
“Catina!” Renna screamed as the young witch ran to the middle of the street, and lifted her hands to the incoming death machine, driving straight toward her.
“Desisto!” Catina shouted, just as Renna flashed toward her to push her out of the way, and now the car was gunning for them both.
The girl had guts; I’d give her that. Meanwhile, I was going to tie Renna to my back.
WTF.
In that instant, what seemed like a white semi invisible force shot out of Catina’s hands, engulfing the car a second before it could hit her, and successfully stopping it. The car swiveled on the pavement, burning rubber, in place, while a stunned Kyro stared at Catina through the windshield, mouth agape.
“I did it! I stopped him!” she shouted excitedly while I ran toward them. Renna flashed to the driver’s side of the car and opened the door, gripping Kyro by the jacket and yanking him out of it.
“Grand theft auto, really?” she asked, ready to punch him. She was pissed he almost ran over Catina.
“Renna, no!” I called after her and she rolled her eyes. “Fine, you deal with him.”
“Who the hell are you?” Kyro demanded, looking at all of us. “You want the car? Fine, take it. I can just steal another one.” He threw the keys on the ground, and turned around to leave, but not before letting his eyes rake over Catina’s tight outfit.
I walked toward him, hearing him curse, startled, when Renna appeared in front of him out of the blue, moving faster than he could see.
“Where do you think you are going?” she snapped. “First of all, no stealing cars. Second, you are coming with us.”
He blinked, still trying to figure out where she’d come from then swallowed. “Thanks, but no thanks.” Kyro turned around again, only to slam against my chest. Catina joined us, standing on his other side and we cornered him.
“Like my girlfriend said, you are coming with us,” I assured, seeing Renna grin with the title. “I can explain everything if you let us, we just need to get away from prying eyes.”
Looking to the mansion beside us, he noticed a crowd had formed, looking at the luxury car in the middle of the street—hopefully, they hadn’t seen anything else.
“It's much easier if you cooperate,” Catina offered from experience. “They mean you no harm, and they’ll get to you sooner or later. Trust me.”
Kyro seemed uncomfortable, but he looked at Catina, and something in her eyes must have told him it was okay. He was also smart. He’d just tried to steal a car, the last thing he needed was to call more attention to himself. “Fine. Let’s go.”
We rushed along the street we had taken there, shrouded in darkness and trees, and took him to the small side alley between a house and a building, where we had arrived. I turned to face him, noticing people already gathered along the abandoned car, some with their phones out as though they were calling the police.
“I’m very sorry, I didn’t want you to find out like this, but I think we ran out of time,” I explained just a few security guards stepped onto the corner, and someone pointed in our direction.
“Shit. We need to hurry this up,” Renna urged, handing me the vial, and the portal began to form behind her, responding to our presence just like it had in the woods.
“This won’t make any sense, but you have special abilities that make you more than human. Supernatural,” I informed, and Kyro looked at me like I had grown a second head.
“Wow. Okay, big guy. I don’t know what you are smoking but you seem to be having fun, so good for you, and... I’m going to go,” he whispered, pointing behind him with his thumbs then turned around and began to run, but when he saw the other dimension through the portal he stumbled to a stop. “What the hell is that?”
“That is our way out of here before the police arrests your ass,” Renna snapped. “So, take the damn potion and let’s go.”
“I promise you everything will make sense, and you’ll be safe with us, but we really need to go,” I urged.
“They are coming!” Catina yelled, pointing to the guards running in our direction.
Kyro’s eyes widened when he caught the vial in my hand. “What kind of psychos are you? What are you going to do, drug me? Oh shit, is this an abduction?” He blinked, looking between us and the guards. “Fuck this. Help! Help me!” he yelled at the top of his lungs and the guards ran faster.
“Damn it!” I growled, tackling Kyro to the ground, and locking my thighs around him as I forced the potion down his throat.
“Desisto!” Catina shouted behind me, and just like before the force expelled from her hands, pausing the men mid-stride as though they were suspended in some kind of magical substance.
“Swallow, damn it!” I roared, holding Kyro’s nose shut.
Renna folded her arms over her chest, throwing me a knowing glance. “I don’t know why, but this all seems sooo familiar.”
“It’s Déjà vu, girl,” Catina answered, joining the sarcasm fest. “It happens to me all the time.”
“Shut up!”
They laughed.
Unable to breathe, Kyro finally swallowed the big gulp of potion in his mouth, gasping for breath. I dragged him into the portal while he kicked and writhed, the girls running in with us. We watched it close just as the police parked in the alley, and the guards were set free, all shouting in our dire
ction.
“What the fuck did you people do to me?” Kyro demanded, stumbling to his feet.
“I’m so sorry, dude. I wanted things to go differently, trust me,” I assured, “but look around. You are safe. This is the Supernatural Taskforce Academy, and like them, you have powers.” I motioned to Renna and Catina.
“What?” He coughed, looking around him and finally seeing the waterfalls, and the grand castle. “What is this pla—” he began to cough again but looked up, just as two yellow dragons flew above us. “Holy shit! Is this real—?”
A hacking cough took over him, interrupting his words, and he began to gasp for air, falling on his knees and hands.
“What did you—” Kyro wheezed, eyes widening while he tried to regain control of his breathing. “What did you give me? It burns!”
“What is happening to him?” Catina asked anxiously.
Kyro’s eyes began to glow gold, and his hands flew to his throat.
Renna and I looked at each other, rushing to him. “Kyro, focus! You have to try to breathe! Please, breathe!” I urged, but he shook his head.
“Can’t,” he choked, his face turning bright red.
“What did you do?” Renna asked.
“I just gave them the vial, nothing else,” I swore, fear for the boy gripping me. He was just eighteen years old. “Catina, go get Serenity, hurry!” I shouted but she didn't move. She couldn’t. Catina seemed frozen in place as she looked at him.
“It bur—” Kyro tried to speak but the air wasn’t making it to his lungs. “Hel-help me!” he gasped, his glowing eyes boring into mine as he desperately gripped my arms, clinging to me.
“Hold on!” I urged, heart thundering, and not knowing what else to do, I grabbed one of the healing vials and emptied it in his mouth, but he coughed it out… it was too late.
The air left in his lungs escaped him in a scream, and red and orange flames suddenly burst out of his skin, engulfing him.