The Ardent Saga Omnibus

by Nathan Howe

  The three ducked in and went to a corner that couldn't be seen from the door. Once in the corner, they huddled together trying to be as small as possible. A door slammed closed in the building. Not good. Several pairs of footsteps sounded. Remy swallowed. He held up his finger to his mouth so make sure both girls stay as silent as possible. His hands were clammy, Remy feared they would be found.

  The steps got louder. Soon voices sounded. Remy couldn’t make them out. His heart smashed against his chest. Remy stopped breathing. He closed his eyes. Pulled the girls in tighter. Please, God doesn't let them find us. Several doors opened and closed. Seconds dragged for Remy. A lifetime sounded. Never in his life did he imagine he'd be in a situation like this.

  The handle on the door to his room rattled. The door slowly opened, creaking. Remy worried this would be the last time he spent with his girls. His chest tightened. One more pull on the girls to keep them safe.

  The door stopped. A grunt sounded. “Fuck.” Then the thug fell into the room. Trapped just like the one at Le Beau. Heldonhaft had arrived. A Second later he stepped into the room.

  “You got here just in time,” Olivia said. Relief covered her face. Remy’s as well.

  Shallice ran to him and hugged him. Remy stood. His body shook. He needed air, space. “Thank you.” Remy walked past Heldonhaft and the thug. Another in the hallway laid on the floor, tied in a similar fashion. Remy grasped his girl's hands and directed them outside. “I can't take any more of this.”

  “Me either,” both girls said.

  Heldonhaft joined them. “I'm so sorry.”

  “It's not your fault” Remy wanted to blame someone but not Heldonhaft. It was that crazy neighbor and that Ardent that took his job and his former boss Hammers fault.

  “I might be able to help,” a large tattooed man said. He carried a giant stone mallet. He wore only a kilt and combat boots. Remy had seen his picture before. Invincible, the leader of the Hero Coalition.

  “Uh. How?”

  Invincible turned, “Walk with me.” He gestured away from campus. Remy joined him. “Heldonhaft said you are a coder.”

  “I was.”

  Invincible nodded. “Well, the Coalition employs as many non-Ardents as Ardents.” Remy knew that. After college, he had applied for a job but never heard back. “I happen to be hiring.”

  “While that will help with one of my problems. How will that help with the Withering?”

  “The job isn't here in Cynosure.”

  Now Remy understood. They couldn't stop the attacks. Not easily at least. Sending him away might be the only real option they have. “I get it.”

  “I'm sorry. This shouldn't happen. We have let you down. I failed you. The Coalition will do better with the Faith of the Withering. But we both realize it will take time. If you move, you'll be safe.”

  “Where and what is this job?” Remy loathed admitting that he was excited about the prospect of a new city and new job.

  “Azure City. We have several coders there. I'll pay for the move. You'll be paid well. It's a lovely city. I'm there often. Inferno is the leader of the Coalition there. He is a good man. A fair man.”

  As much as Remy wanted to say yes. He didn't right away. “I have to ask my girls before I say yes.”

  Invincible nodded. “I understand.”

  Remy left Invincible and walked back to his girls. Olivia eyed him. “What did the most powerful Ardent in the world want?” Her face giddy, some of her worries whipped away. Remy was thankful for that.

  “A way to solve our problem.”

  Shallice jumped. “Yippee. We can go home.”

  Remy kneeled next to her. “Not exactly.”

  Olivia's eyes burned Remy. “What do you mean?”

  “Hun. He doesn't think the Withering will stop.”

  “So, we go on the run?” Olivia asked. Her voice was weak and frightened.

  “No. He offered me a job.”

  Olivia's mouth hung open. “That's great news.”

  “In Azure City.”

  Olivia tilted her head. “Azure City is beautiful. It could work.”

  Shallice didn't look as certain. “Honey. We'll be safe. In a new place, that is just as good as here.”

  “I don't know daddy.” Shallice hung her head. Remy knew she loved it here. That all her memories were here and she’d have to start over. It pained him, but it was the best way.

  “Trust me it will be great.”

  “Okay.”

  Remy turned to Invincible and gave him a thumb up. Now they needed to get a few things, and soon they would be free of the Withering. Free of the fear of uncertainty. It wasn't the way Remy had pictured it. But he was thankful it was over. Ready to start the next chapter in his life. Help his girls move forward. Today was both a horrible day and a great day. The ending is all that mattered to Remy.

  Haunted Date

  Kayla walked into the restaurant, Dantonio’s. It was one of her favorite places to go out to eat, but she hadn’t been there in a while. Work with the Hero Coalition had kept her busy the past couple of weeks. She was an Ardent, a person with superpowers, and she worked with the largest group of superheroes in the world and loved it.

  Butterflies floated in her stomach tonight because she was meeting a blind date her mother had set up. Her mother wanted her to stop focusing on her career and pay more attention to her personal life. It wasn’t that Kayla hadn’t tried. She had dated a few men since she started working as a hero. One was very serious, but it ended badly.

  It took her over a year before she was willing to date. She knew that was a bit of an overreaction, but Kayla had her heart broken. Shattered really. Now, she was just willing to try again.

  Tonight, Kayla wore a little black dress that clung to her body and showed off her curves. Since she was a hero, she worked out all the time, and this dress was the one that showed it off the best. It gave her confidence, and Kayla needed that for the date. She had no idea what to expect.

  Kayla waited for the hostess to escort her to the table her date was at. The young girl was half of Kayla’s age and was nearly as tall. Kayla wasn’t a tall woman, but she was fierce in her appearance. Even when out of her hero uniform. Kayla's long flowing copper colored hair rested on her shoulders. She parted it, so it didn’t cover her face. Most of the time she pulled it back into a ponytail. Her eyes were a brilliant deep hazel that glowed in the candlelight.

  There were times like this when Kayla felt attractive, and she loved that. Not like she was when she wore the Hero Coalition uniform. It wasn’t that she felt unattractive in her uniform. She had a say in what it looked like, and she made sure it wasn’t god awful.

  She was led to a more isolated part of the restaurant. A man stood up from a table and smiled when they came into view. “Hello, Kayla. I’m Tony.”

  “A pleasure to meet you,” Kayla said.

  The hostess left, and Tony took his seat at the table and Kayla did as well. The man wasn’t too bad looking, but looks weren’t the only thing that mattered to her.

  Kayla’s mom knew Tony’s mom from their bingo hall. Her mother went every Tuesday, as did Tony’s. He was just as her mother described. A tall man with broad shoulders, and a square chin. He reminded Kayla of her ex in appearance.

  “May I get you something to drink?” a familiar voice asked.

  Kayla turned her head to see her ex, Adrian. He was lean, and his chiseled face was the lone bright spot in the area.

  “Kayla?” he asked musically and friendly. Kayla both loathed and loved his voice.

  “Adrian,” she replied with a hiss.

  She had walked in on him with another woman. It had been too much for her to handle, and she had left without letting him explain, not that there is a good reason for cheating. She ignored all his calls and text. Deleted them all.

  “I didn’t know you worked here,” she added.

  That had been over a year ago, and he had been the one who had broken her heart. Kayla loved hi
m and had thought she was going to marry him and spend her life with Adrian. She had thought they would have a family. Yet, he had other plans, and she wasn’t a part of them. That had hurt more than she had let herself admit for a long time. Letting that pain go was hard.

  He took a step back. “Needed a change after...” He didn’t finish the thought.

  Tony sat there watching. “I take it you know each other.”

  “Old friends,” Adrian said. He cleared his thought, and Kayla was sure he wanted to say more. “Anyway, would you like a drink to start?”

  Tony went over the drink menu. “A bottle of the Napa Merlot and two glasses.”

  He didn’t even ask her if she wanted any wine or if she even liked merlots. Kayla started to open her mouth to say she wanted water when Tony cut her off. “That will be all.”

  Kayla wanted to say something. Tony was already making her angry and upsetting her. Never in her life did she enjoy men who walked over her or made her feel inadequate. Kayla didn’t need him to make choices for her.

  Adrian paused and looked at her longingly. He knew she wasn’t a fan of wine. One last knowing look into her eyes and he was gone. She could look into Adrian's eyes all night. They were beautiful, the color of the ocean, but she still didn’t like him. She felt burned by his betrayal, and yet she was still drawn to him. She still wanted him. Adrian had a pull on her that she just couldn’t explain. Was it love? Lust? She didn’t know, but it was there.

  Tony leaned forward, “I’m not sure if your mother mentioned, but I’m about to be a partner at my firm.”

  He went into a long drawn-out explanation about himself and how great he was, but being a lawyer didn’t impress Kayla. It wasn’t about what a person did for a living, it was how they did it and the way they treated people.

  Adrian returned with the bottle of wine, two glasses, but he also had water. Kayla smiled. He set it up for them and poured a sample drink for them. Tony picked up the glass and swirled it. A moment later, he pulled it up to his nose and breathed deeply. Finally, Tony took a sip. He set the glass back on the table and looked up at Adrian. “It will do. A little too earthy, but that’s okay.”

  Adrian nodded. “Have you decided on your meal for the night?”

  Kayla hadn’t looked at the menu, but she didn’t need to. She got the same thing every time she came here. It was what it was renowned for, the chicken lasagna. It was her favorite, and not many places made it. She felt the dish was better than regular lasagna.

  “I have not,” Tony said. “I’ll summon you when I’m ready. Be gone.”

  Kayla crinkled her nose. She didn’t like the way he was treating Adrian. He was a waiter, not a slave. Tony was treating him like dirt, and he knew that Kayla and Adrian had a history. One would think Tony would go out of his way to be nice to Adrian.

  “As you wish,” Adrian said.

  “I can see why you aren’t friends with that guy. A waiter and not very good at it.” Tony had barely even looked at Adrian or talked to him. He really was a jerk who didn’t treat people nicely.

  Kayla started to defend him, and again, Tony began to speak before she could. He had to know he was interrupting her. Kayla sipped her water, ignoring the glass of wine in front of her.

  “The firm handles some of the biggest clients in the city,” Tony went on.

  He had been going on about how great the company was and how valuable he was. Kayla listened with little interest to what Tony was saying. He might be attractive, but that was all she could say was good about him. Tony held himself in a way that oozed sleaze, and he spoke the same way. The man reminded Kayla of the few politicians she'd met in her life. None of them could be trusted.

  Kayla's stomach rumbled. She was famished. It had been hours since she had eaten. Tony droned on and on about himself, not once stopping to ask her anything. He didn’t even hear her stomach. She peered around for Adrian. He was nowhere to be seen.

  “Am I boring you?” Tony asked.

  Kayla blushed. “Uh, no. I’m just hungry. I was looking for Adrian.”

  Tony fingered his menu. “I guess I can order for us.”

  Kayla clenched her fist. “I can order for myself.”

  Tony tilted his head. “What! Am I not good enough for you?”

  Kayla took a deep breath to steady herself. “It has nothing to do with good enough or not. I am a grown woman and can take care of myself.”

  “Is that why you ignored the wine I selected for us?” He had been eyeing her glass since it arrived, clearly displeased with her lack of interest.

  “If you had asked me before ordering,” Kayla started. She glanced quickly behind her in hopes of someone approaching. “I could have told you I don’t drink wine.”

  “Hmm. You aren’t at all like what I was told.”

  Tony’s voice was scathing and cruel. It hurt Kayla to her core, and she hated that she felt hurt. He wasn’t worthy of being hurt over. The man was vile, and she could do better than him. Kayla needed to have a talk with her mother about this date.

  Kayla closed her eyes. It wasn’t often, but sometimes, she wished her time manipulation powers worked differently. She wanted nothing more than to go back to the start of this night and leave, but it didn’t work that way.

  A moment later, Adrian arrived. “Ready?”

  Kayla didn’t give Tony the chance to speak. “Chicken lasagna, please.”

  “Figured as much,” Adrian said. He gave her a knowing smile. “For you, sir?”

  “Chicken carbonara,” Tony said.

  Adrian gave a slight bow. “Very well.” He slowly backed away, staring Tony down. Kayla was sure he didn’t like Tony one bit.

  Tony turned back to Kayla. While he had been talking her ear off, he hadn’t asked her a single question about herself.

  “Still don’t see how a woman like you can know a guy like that,” he said.

  “I know lots of people,” Kayla said. Part of her wanted to defend Adrian, but she couldn’t. He might be nicer than Tony, but Adrian had hurt her. The pain of the relationship still hurt Kayla. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. He’s in the past.”

  Tony’s nostrils flared, and his face was red with anger. If Kayla didn’t know any better, she'd think he hated Adrian.

  “Doesn’t look like the past to me,” he said.

  “It is.” Kayla gave him a confused look. She didn’t know what was going on.

  Silence fell over them, and Kayla was thankful for it. She wasn’t sure she could take hearing him talk anymore. His voice grated on her as he spoke, and listening to it was torturous.

  Tony reached across the table, grabbed her hands, and pulled them to the center. His grip was firm. “Kayla, I like you,” he said.

  He could have fooled her. She didn’t like where this was going. He seemed like a guy who wanted another notch on his bedpost, and that wasn’t going to happen. She tried to pull her hands free and couldn’t. His intensity scared her and made her squirm on the inside. She feared this was going to be one of those encounters she’d be telling horror stories about for years.

  “I feel, for the most part, this date and evening has gone well,” Tony continued.

  Kayla gulped. This came out of nowhere. It hadn’t been a pleasant night for her. There was no way he could really believe what he was saying. The night hadn’t been good, and she had worn that on her face the whole time. Kayla wasn’t good with hiding her emotions. She never had been.

  Adrian hovered over the table and cleared his throat. “Breadsticks?”

  Tony pulled his hand back, freeing Kayla’s. Adrian placed the basket of bread on the table in the place her hands had been. With a quick smile, Adrian winked at Kayla and then turned to Tony and sneered at him. Kayla couldn’t help but feel grateful even though it didn’t make up for his cheating.

  Adrian lingered longer than he needed, and Tony glared at him. “Can I help you?” Tony asked.

  “Just making sure you didn’t need anything else,” A
drian said.

  Kayla had been impressed with him the whole night and was glad to have him here. Even though he had hurt her, she missed him.

  Tony pursed his lips before answering. “Just bring us our food.”

  Adrian nodded. “When it is ready.”

  With a quick bow, he backed away slowly from the table without looking away from them. Kayla wasn’t sure what to make of it all, but she couldn’t wait for this night to be over. This had been a disaster on many levels. It couldn’t get much worse than it already had.

  She would rather be staring down the worst of Ardents than be here. Kayla would prefer to go toe-to-toe with any of the ones locked up in Remnant Heights, the prison for evil Ardents. It was home to some of the vilest people on Earth, and it sounded more pleasant than being here stuck between Tony and Adrian.

  Tony scanned the table for a place to pull her close again, but Kayla made sure to keep herself as far as possible from him. He started back up again with his speech about liking her.

  Kayla tuned him out since she wasn’t going to see him again. She would have a long talk with her mother about this and tell her to stay out of Kayla’s love life. She would make sure her mother understood how horrible this night had been.

  The only saving grace of the whole night was that soon, she would be able to dig into her favorite dish. If she weren't at Dantonio’s, she no doubt would have walked out already and been calling her mom to complain.

  The aroma of the meal wafted over to her, and her stomach roared in anticipation of the food. She glanced behind her to see Adrian carrying the steaming plates over.

  “You haven’t heard a word I said,” Tony interjected.

  Kayla frowned. “Sorry. Distracted.”

  Tony grunted.

  Adrian moved with grace and placed the dishes in front of them. “Chicken lasagna for the lovely lady, and a chicken carbonara for the man. Can I get you anything else?”

  “No,” Tony said.

  Kayla smiled and dug in. She was so hungry. The sauce was sweet and spicy as usual, and the mix of vegetables and chicken with pasta was to die for. She savored every bite. It was almost good enough to make up for the awfulness of the night. She paced herself and ate slow. She didn’t want to look like she had been raised by a herd of pigs. Her mother would be furious with her if she did that. She’d accept that the date didn’t go well, but to hear that Kayla had eaten like an uncivilized person would be too much for her mother. She’d lose focus on the other parts and complain about Kayla’s manners.