by K T Kaye
Jason calm down and save your mental breakdown for when we get back to the base, Angel’s voice boomed into my mind. I quickly calmed my thoughts after that.
“What are you doing?” the fairy asked.
“The Master of Darkness is half-demon. And while we’ve locked Jason’s demon up well, it still gets restless at the sight of blood,” Angel lied. I knew she was lying, not because of some special sixth sense, but because she had stood on my toe, the moment I went to correct her statement.
“Really? For a moment I thought you were trying to hide the body from the Master of Darkness.”
“Not at all. If Jason wants to stare at corpses, then he is welcome to do so. However not in a public place where we would be unable to control his demon self.” With that Angel removed her hand from my face. The stretcher and Paris’ body had vanished by the time I opened my eyes.
“Thinking about it, I don’t remember seeing you at the execution,” the fairy turned to me, her eyes studying me carefully.
“Yes, well you also didn’t see Mr Jet. Perhaps you should get your eyes tested,” Angel retorted. Before the fairy could respond, Alexander ran over to us.
He grabbed hold of Angel’s shoulders, “Angel! Are you alright? What happened? What happened to your face? And what happened to your hand?” Although Angel’s hand was no longer broken, it was still a horrid blue colour.
“Ah, Mr Jet broke my hand. It’s healed, just a bit sore. What’s wrong with my face?”
“It’s scratched, and you have a weird red mark on your forehead.”
Angel slapped my arm, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you knew!” I exclaimed.
“If I had known about it, I would have healed it already!”
“Angel this mark on your forehead is really strange,” Alexander took Angel’s face in his hands and studied her forehead, “It looks like a symbol.”
“What kind of…?” The fairy coughed. Alexander broke away from Angel and turned to face the scary fairy.
“Anita. I didn’t see you there,” Alexander said coldly.
“Clearly,” the fairy, Anita, smiled bitterly, “My team are going to do a search of the courthouse. So you three should re-join your squad and wait for further instructions.”
“Do a good job,” Angel sneered as she grabbed my arm and pulled me past the fairy.
Once we were back inside the courthouse, I asked, “Who was that scary fairy?”
“Anita is the head of the Emperor’s private guard,” Alexander explained, “She also once tried to kill Angel.”
“She did what?”
“It’s a long story but the short version is…” Before Alexander could tell me, he was interrupted by the sound of Fern’s voice.
“Hey! That’s not fair he started it!”
“You punched him! And broke his nose!” cried another loud voice.
“I think I know where our squad is,” Angel sighed as she pointed to a door, “Why can you always hear them before you see them?”
She opened the door and stepped into the chaos within. Fern, Willow and Elsa were arguing. Ethan and Roger were stuffing their faces with food. Sue, Roxy, and Clover were crying. Sophie was sat quietly in the corner, fading in and out of visibility. Danny was sat watching the situation amused and Araminta was missing. The room was small with blue furnishings and walls. It was elegantly dressed and looked like a noble gentlemen’s study. The squad looked rather out of place in such a grand setting.
“What’s going on!?” Angel exclaimed.
“Fern broke a reporter’s nose!” Elsa cried.
“Fern!”
Fern grinned, “I know! Isn’t it awesome! I didn’t realise my right hook was so good!”
“No Fern it wasn’t awesome. That guy was a reporter! This incident is going to end up all over the morning papers and you’re going to get sued!” Elsa hissed.
“A reporter? As in a reporter for a newspaper? You have newspapers here!?” I asked.
“Yes of course we do you idiot!” Fern looked at me like I was the stupidest person on the planet (which I probably was in that moment).
“Why did you punch him?” Angel asked.
“Because he insulted you, and Jason. I didn’t care when he was insulting Jason. What he said was actually rather amusing and not completely unfounded, however then he insulted you. So we had an argument and I broke his nose!”
“Fern.”
“He said you were a…”
“I don’t want to know. You can’t just go around punching people. Especially not reporters and not when you’re on duty!”
“So what I take from that is, I can punch whoever I like as long as I’m not on duty and they’re not a reporter.”
“Fern!”
“Alright, it was just a joke!”
“Where is Araminta?”
“She went with the Colonel,” Elsa explained, “They should be returning soon.”
“What happened to your face?” Roger asked getting to his feet and walking up to Angel.
“Nothing, it’s just a scratch,” Angel brushed her brother away.
“Did you fight Mr Jet? Alone!? You could have been killed!”
“But I wasn’t and that’s all that matters right now,” Angel turned to Clover, Sue and Roxy and asked gently, “Why are you crying?”
“Why do you think!? Paris just…You just killed Paris!” Clover exclaimed, “Even though he was a terrorist, he was…he…”
“We’re not all as cold hearted as you! We can’t just feel nothing!” Sue cried. I had expected Angel, or one of the werewolves, to refute this claim but, to my surprise, none of them did. Roger looked like he was about to, but Angel raised her hand to silence him. She then walked over to where the three crying girls were sitting and knelt in front of them.
“You’re right. You’re not as cold hearted as I am. You all have big warm hearts that embraced Paris as a friend. So of course you’re upset. Of course you want to cry. But here isn’t the place to mourn. We’re surrounded by reporters and investigators who might easily mistake your tears for treason. So dry your eyes and put on your brave faces. Later, later when we’re back home, I’ll unlock Paris’ room and you can go in there and mourn him, okay?”
As Angel wiped the tears from the girls faces, I suddenly realised just how much Angel cared for the members of her squad. Although Roxy, Sue and Clover constantly spoke back to Angel and questioned her leadership, Angel didn’t seem to bare any grudges against them. Instead she dried their tears and spoke words of comfort. I have to say I was rather impressed. Angel was a lot cooler than I had realised.
“What happened to your hand?” Sue asked.
“Ah Mr Jet broke it,” Angel explained, she then stood up and addressed the squad, “Currently we’re not allowed to leave the courthouse. Until we hear from the Colonel, I want you guys to stay in this room and rest.”
“What about the reporter Fern punched?” Willow asked.
“I’ll deal with it. Don’t worry,” Angel then turned to me, “Jason can you do me a favour? There’s a first aid box on the wall in the corridor, can you go get me it?”
I nodded and quickly left the room. It was only when I was outside of the room that I realised that Angel hadn’t told me which corridor. Did she mean the corridor on my right or the one on my left? I didn’t want to look like an idiot and go ask her, so I took the corridor to my right and began my search for the first aid box.
After twenty minutes, three dead ends, five wrong turns, and a bathroom break, I finally found the first aid box and began to head back to the room. However when I got back, I found Angel sat on a table in the corridor having a serious conversation with Alexander. Here I found myself in an awkward situation. I didn’t want to interrupt their important conversation, nor did I want to eavesdrop, but I also didn’t want to walk away as then I might end up completely lost. While I debated what to do I accidentally, and it really was an accident, ended up overhearing their entire
conversation.
“Jet has magic!” Alexander exclaimed.
“And it’s powerful, really powerful. He could very easily take out a warlock,” Angel muttered, “You’ve not heard of a vampire having magic before?”
“No never.”
“He also had something. I’m not sure exactly what it was. It was an object. It was orange and glowed. I got hit by it multiple times and each time I was forced to transform back into this form.”
Alexander swore then grabbed Angel’s head and began to stare at the mark on her forehead.
“I thought I recognised this symbol. Angel, you know how shapeshifters used to be considered enemies of the empire and they were…”
“Massacred.”
“Yes well during that time the government created weapons that would force a shapeshifter to involuntary transform. It looks like you got hit by one. You currently have the symbol of the former Emperor marked on your forehead,” seeing Angel’s bemused expression Alexander explained, “The weapons were designed to brand a shapeshifter, so they could be tracked down even if they escaped.”
“Great! Can I get rid of it?”
“Luckily you only got branded lightly, from a distance people won’t notice. I might know someone who may be able to remove it. I’ll talk to them and see if they can do anything.”
“Thanks. I thought all anti-shapeshifter weapons were destroyed.”
“If only. The government claimed they got rid of them all but to be honest I wouldn’t even be surprised if there were a few at the base.”
“Oh thanks Alex! Now I feel really safe!”
“If Mr Jet has one of those, if he has anti-shapeshifter weapons, then why didn’t he kill you?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing. He clearly needs me alive for some reason.”
“You need to be extra careful. Anti-shapeshifter weapons are extremely dangerous.”
There was silence. I was about to use this opportunity to make my entrance but before I could, Alexander asked softly, “Angel, this may be a very stupid question but, are you okay?”
To my surprise, Angel grabbed Alexander’s shirt, pulled him forwards, rested her head against his body and burst into tears. The vampire wrapped his arms around her and held her close. At this point I felt even more awkward than I had done before! I really wanted to leave however I didn’t dare move. I didn’t want Angel and Alexander to hear me and think I had been purposely eavesdropping. As I really hadn’t been! I just wanted to hand Angel the first aid box and go rest, why was that turning out to be so difficult!?
“I killed him, Alex. I didn’t even hesitate I just…I killed him. And everyone saw…I…am I a monster Alex?”
“No,” the vampire said firmly taking Angel’s face in his hands, “You’re not a monster. You’re…This isn’t your fault.”
“I killed him Alex. I did that. It doesn’t matter that he was, I killed him to save myself and the pack, what kind of person does that make me? I killed a person to save myself!”
“He was a terrorist…”
“He was still a person! Not a zombie or a demon…a person. A person who I shared a house with for nearly four years,” Angel buried her face in the vampire’s chest once again.
I sniffed back my own tears. I have never been very good around crying people. Other peoples’ tears always make me cry! So as I stood there, holding the first aid box, I felt my eyes prickle with sadness. Pity also rose in my chest. Angel hadn’t had it easy. Be accused of treason or execute Paris, those had been her only options. I was still internally having a massive panic-attack over the fact that Paris had been executed; I didn’t want to process it or admit that it had happened. I wanted to forget all about it. However my panic was suppressed by Angel’s sorrow. How could I panic when the person who had been made to complete the task was sat there calling herself a monster. I didn’t think Angel was a monster. She was just a person who made a hard and terrifying decision, the outcome of which she would have to deal with for the rest of her life.
When Angel eventually calmed, Alexander held her face in his hands once again and wiped her tears away. He lightly ran his fingers against the scratches on Angel’s cheek, “You should heal these before they scar.”
Angel nodded. She glowed white and the scratches on her face quickly healed.
“That’s better. You should put a bandage on that hand too. You may have healed it but if it…”
“I know. That’s why I sent Jason to get me the first aid box…actually where is Jason?”
Finally! My chance! I was just about to make my entrance when…
“Jason what are you standing there for?” Araminta asked as she and Rowan walked down the corridor.
“I wasn’t standing here. I was getting a first aid box,” I replied.
“Jason why are you speaking so loudly?”
“I’m not speaking loudly.” Actually I was speaking louder than usual in the hopes that Angel and Alexander would hear and break away from their, easily to misinterpret, position.
“You are. Are the others in the room?”
“Araminta you’re back,” Angel greeted as she walked up to us, taking the first aid box from my hands, “Jason, what took you so long?”
I wanted to retort that I had been there ages, waiting for her and Alexander to finish having their little moment, but I gulped down my bitterness and replied, “I got lost.”
“What do you need that for?” Rowan asked gesturing to the first aid box.
“My hand. Fight with Mr Jet. Don’t worry it looks worse than it is,” Angel muttered as she wrapped her hand in a bandage, “Rowan, why are you here?”
“The Colonel wants us to head to the Polar warehouse. I’ve been assigned to go with you as an onsite healer, just in case.”
“Are we free to leave?”
“We are. There’s just one slight problem. Outside is swarming with reporters.”
“Damn it! Right, no matter what happens don’t let Fern anywhere near them, otherwise those poor reporters are going to end up in therapy for the rest of their lives!”
* * * * *
“Master of Darkness is it true that Mr Jet killed your mother?”
“Is it true you plan to rid the world of demons?”
“Where’s the Mistress of Light?”
“Captain Night how did Mr Jet get into the execution today?”
“Why have you stayed hidden for so long?”
“Is it true you don’t have a sister?”
“Captain Night is it true that Mr Jet knew about the Master before we did?”
We had to push against the mob of reporters all shouting their questions and flashing their cameras in my face. I did not enjoy this one bit. The reporters were rude and kept demanding that I give them answers. But I didn’t have any answers to give! I didn’t know why I didn’t have a sister and I certainly didn’t have a plan to ‘rid the world of demons’! Only three weeks ago I was a nice normal boring human! Admittedly not all the questions were directed at me, some were directed at Angel who just acted cool and completely ignored anything that was asked. Fern, however, had had enough. She took out her gun and fired twice into the sky. The reporters fell silent as they all turned to look at her, giving me and Angel time to jump in the back of the truck. Fern was the last member of the squad to get in. She sat down with a massive smile on her face.
“Please tell me you didn’t shoot one of them,” Angel exclaimed.
“What? No! But I’ve just seen the guy whose nose I broke, it’s put me in a good mood,” Fern grinned.
“Alex get us out of here,” Angel ordered. The truck rumbled into life and slowly we pulled away from the courthouse.
“Glad that’s over,” I muttered, “Where is the Polar warehouse?”
“It’s a couple of miles out of the city,” Angel added, “There isn't normally many people there, just a couple of security guards.”
“Do they know we’re coming?”
“Jason, for all we
know this warehouse could be filled with Mr Jet’s followers, do you honestly think I’d call them before hand and tell them to put the kettle on?”
“Ah I guess not. What happens if we find something?”
“Then we’ll be taking a field trip to the Polar Base.”
* * * * *
My bum had gone numb by the time we reached the Polar warehouse. It was a very uncomfortable truck!
As the truck finally came to a stop, Angel explained, “Right, so I haven’t been completely honest with you guys. This isn’t a routine check. There’s actually a high possibility that this warehouse is filled with Mr Jet’s followers. So get your weapons bags and put your bulletproof vests on.”
We quickly did as Angel ordered then clambered out of the truck. I was extremely nervous! I didn’t like this situation at all. Also my bulletproof vest wasn’t particularly comfortable which was making me panic even more.
“Okay guys listen up…” Angel started but she was interrupted by gunfire. From one of the warehouse windows someone had started shooting at us. We quickly took cover behind the truck. Guns, shooting…I really didn’t want to be here! This was not for me. My training hadn’t prepared me enough for this! I didn’t want to be…before I could fall into the terrifying realm of panic, Angel slapped me hard across my sensitive little belly. That quickly brought me back to my senses.
“Where is he?” Elsa yelled to Angel.
“Far left window,” Angel then shouted at Sophie, “Turn him to stone!”
Sophie smiled, she jumped to her feet and made eye contact with the shooter. She took off her sunglasses causing him to turn to stone. The gun shots stopped, and it all went quiet. I sighed in relief and tried to sneak away back to the truck, however Angel grabbed hold of the back of my shirt and stopped me from escaping.
She then ordered, “Everyone get with your partner. You guys take the back entrance, you guys take the front. When you get inside, you four will head to the second floor and I’ll take the side entrance. Ready, let’s go. Jason, you’re with me.”
Before I had time to panic, Angel led me to the big metal doors that led into the warehouse. She tapped some numbers into the keypad and the doors opened. The warehouse was smaller than I had originally thought. It looked…well like a warehouse! It had rows of shelves stacked high with boxes and large metal containers balanced on top of one another. It was lit by sharp electric lights and the ground was grey concrete. The squad quickly split and went off in different directions. I followed Angel as she led me through the rows of containers and wooden boxes.