There had been a bet going as to which of us would win a fight against each other. We played around a few times sparring, but, in the end, I was only more lethal than she because of how long I’d been training. She was not far behind though.
“Rain check.”
She winked at me and walked over to the weapons corner to throw some knives at a target, making a perfect heart shape around the bull’s-eye.
My eyes looked over to Rose, who was jogging on the treadmill, with Mina sitting next to her on an exercise ball eating from a bag of pretzels. I walked over to grab my drink and sat on the mat to stretch out my aching muscles.
I’d been thinking about our future together lately.
The uncertainties of it all.
If by some miracle everything was fixed, and the upcoming war never came, we would live out her life together, and then she would die. I would be alone again.
She deserved the perfect future. Whatever job she wants, maybe in psychology like she went to college for. Maybe even get married and grow old with her husband. Have kids.
There was nothing in the world that I wanted more than giving that future to her. Immortality had always been a gift and a curse.
A gift because I lived long enough to meet my true soul mate, but a curse because one day I would outlive her.
I’d try though, to give her whatever she wanted. Even kids, if she desired. I didn’t want her giving anything up for me if I could do something about it.
She glanced at me briefly and smiled before turning her attention back to her task of running while listening to Mina ramble on about whatever she was consumed with now.
I loved her smile.
Hell, I loved everything about her.
The more I watched her smile and laugh at Mina, the more I started to smile. She was still hurting from our loss, but she was my warrior, finding her happiness again.
Fuck it.
I hopped up and walked over to the girls.
My finger quickly pulled the emergency stop cord, making Rose stumble a bit from the change of pace, but I caught her and lifted her in my arms.
“Marry me, beautiful.”
I should have probably picked a better way to propose to her, romantic and shit, but I couldn’t stop myself from marching over here and blurting it out.
Her eyes were wide, and her arms gripped my shoulders as if she was trying to steady herself from falling over. I was holding her, so that last movement was strange.
“Draco, what are you—”
“I don’t want to waste any more time without you being my wife. Be mine, Rose, in every way possible. My woman, my lover, my friend, and my wife?” I smiled and leaned in to kiss the tears that started falling onto her cheeks, spending extra time on the cheek with her beautiful birthmark, as I always did.
“But what about everything else going on?” She looked down at Mina, and a small expression of guilt passed over her face.
“Do you want to marry me, beautiful?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Of course I do, old man.”
I laughed, and she was smiling from ear to ear, just the way I liked her to be.
“Then none of it matters. Let’s get married.”
“Probably a good idea before you get hard of hearing. Don’t want you to miss hearing me say I do.” She teased at my age as always, but it didn’t deter me from leaning in to press my lips against hers.
“Maybe you should moan it to me; I hear your moans particularly well,” I muttered against her lips and heard a groan next to us.
“You guys are too much. Honestly. I’m trying to eat here.” Mina ate another pretzel then stood to congratulate us.
“A Hero Society wedding—first of many, I’m sure. Congrats, guys!”
Chapter Thirty- Three
Draco
It was amazing how quickly everyone put together a wedding for us.
Phillip had booked some fancy wedding barn months ago for this occasion, should it be the right one, which of course had made Rose squeal and give him a big hug. It was a start to mending the rift between them.
Lilith went into executive mode, designating people to get to work shortly after we told everyone. Echo and Asher showed up later, hugged us, and offered themselves up to do whatever we needed. I didn’t care where we got married—I just wanted Rose as my wife.
It was an intimate wedding: our crew, plus Phillip and Rose’s parents and grandparents. That was it. I had no true family besides them.
I stood beneath a snow-covered tree by the barn, wearing a tux for the first time. It was cold as hell outside, but Asher was pulling some magic that buffered us from the cold. Actually, it felt like spring outside to us, it just didn’t look it. Everyone was dressed in stunning dresses and tuxedos, which for everyone except Phillip was like playing dress-up for the night. They all enjoyed it.
Then she stepped into my view.
Rose and I stared at each other as her dad walked her down the aisle. She was breathtaking, and she was really going to be mine.
She was a vision of beauty in a long-sleeved lacy top that cut off at her waist and a ball gown bottom. I wished I had my camera to immortalize this moment, her looking at me, accepting me, flaws and all.
I heard the clicking of the photographer Phillip hired and wanted to roll my eyes. Loud shutter button.
Rose smiled, and I grinned back at her. I’m sure she knew it was driving me nuts not being able to shoot this wedding for us. But I was the groom, and my hands would be full of my wife. No camera needed to make this moment better—it was already perfect.
Her dad kissed her cheek and went to stand next to her mother and the rest of our little crowd.
I didn’t pay attention to what the pastor said, I knew the whole spiel. My focus was just on her, taking in every detail, searing it into my memory forever.
Of course, I couldn’t stop myself from teasing her when she said “I do” with that sweet but mischievous look on her face.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that? I’m kind of hard of hearing at my age, young lady.”
Everyone laughed, and I could tell by Rose’s face that she wanted to kiss the shit out of me. So, my first job as her husband was to enable that look.
“I do,” I hastily said, and then, not caring about the parts that came after, my fingers lightly touched her cheek before taking that small step to close the distance between us.
Everyone and everything else around disappeared as our lips touched.
She had been mine ever since I had found her in my chicken coop. I’d fought it at first, but then gladly gave in. Now she was my wife, my world. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
Hooting and laughter filled the air around us, making Rose pull back with blush staining her perfect cheeks.
We were surrounded by hugs and congratulations in minutes.
Afterward we moved to the barn that was decorated with white material hanging down from the rafters and a chandelier that was tied to the middle rafter. There was only one long table, since our group wasn’t large, placed near a big stone fireplace that was burning bright, heating up the space for us.
We jumped right into dancing our first song as husband and wife, thanks to the last-minute DJ doing what he does best.
The whole evening was filled with love, happiness, and laughter. The chaos in Seahill was forgotten for one night. Feelings of woe and helplessness were put on hold while everyone danced and enjoyed this moment with us.
“This is amazing. I love you so much.” Rose wrapped her arms around me as we danced, much like that one time in Club V when we were staking out Emanuel. It seemed so long ago.
“Thank you for finding me and dragging me back into the light.”
“You became our sun, Draco, like I said, but you’re more than that to me. You’re my sun, my moon, and all the stars in the universe. You are my world.”
“And you are mine.” I leaned in for a kiss, both of us smiling blissfully.
�
�I’m sorry, everyone, but we have to see this,” Phillip announced to the room and turned on his phone, tapping something on it that made the screen project on the wall.
Dorian’s face appeared in a room that looked much like the Oval Office.
“What is this?” I asked. Everyone’s dancing stilled and watched the projected screen with complete attention.
“This is on every channel—he’s at the capitol.”
Dorian gave the camera an evil smirk, like we were all his toys and he was choosing who to play with first.
“Hello, world. It’s time for you all to wake up. People with powers are among you, and we aren’t going anywhere.”
This was it—the darkness had finally come.
I looked at Rose and found her looking at me, both of us wishing we had more time to be happy in this moment together. But that peace was over.
It was time to get ready for war.
“The time has come for some changes to be made. There is no need for us to be hidden in the shadows; we are being set free. Fear us if you want, or you can join us. Either way, we are here. Tomorrow is the solar eclipse of the century. Darkness will cover the earth, and the age of the gifted will begin.”
He leaned in closer, and I could feel he was staring at me directly.
“Heroes: try to stop us if you want, but you will lose everything if you do.”
And just like that, he was gone, in a bright flash of light.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Dorian
I was dressed and ready to start implementing the next part of my plan.
The main set of my crew was waiting in the large training room, horsing around until it was their turn to be set free.
“Time to cause a little trouble. Ajax, you and Monica head to the bridge. Let’s turn this island into a playground.” I gave him the word, and he grinned. Monica walked over to me and touched her hands to my face. Just as she leaned in to try and kiss me, I turned my head.
“Get out of here,” I gritted through my teeth and knocked her hand away from my skin.
She didn’t look one bit regretful as she turned around and walked off with Ajax.
“Roady, do your thing and start the system shutdown. I want it all out.” He got to work on his laptop, even though I knew he’d soon be moving to the large computer area I’d supplied him with.
Jesse was the host of Echo’s gift. He had been able to shift into any animal at will after much practice, and with his strength, I knew any in his path would fall. He was sitting on the ground meditating, and hadn’t looked at me since I walked in. That was fine, his time wasn’t now.
Ajax and Monica would take out the bridge, and then the true chaos would start.
I flashed to a nearby rooftop to watch them work. It was very early in the morning, and the bridge was empty.
A large boom reverberated through the air, and piece by piece, the only way onto the island fell into the freezing water.
Phase two started immediately after the bridge fell. All the lights started to go out in the city, block by block. Electricity was no more.
You’d be surprised how much chaos can be caused just by cutting off people from electricity. The majority of mankind didn’t know how to live without it—never had to fight to survive, or live off of the land like I had many years ago. It was time to take them back to those days.
The morning sun was just starting to crest over the mountain, and while police sirens and fire trucks were out in full force, and everyone trying to figure out what was happening, their efforts were futile.
Then I spotted it.
Light glaring in the sky from one section of the city.
I knew which one it was, and I had to give it up to them—I was impressed the kid had it in him.
AJ, the boy genius that Phillip had saved.
Roady and he would fight in the virtual world while the rest of us handled reality.
But for now, I would watch as humans destroyed themselves, as was their nature to do.
It wasn’t long before the governor levied a mandatory curfew. Police were driving slowly around the streets, speaking to people through their radio speakers.
Of course, people didn’t listen. They were in panic mode, which only intensified when word spread about the bridge being knocked out.
Looting, fighting, and fires were taking over.
I laughed. People loved to blame evil and bad deeds on the devil or some supernatural force, but really, it was all them. One little nudge and they did all the work themselves, damning them to whatever hell they were going to. I’d seen it all in my lifetime. Violence, greed…and when in pure desperation, they will do anything.
Kindness was harder to come by than the others, as everyone was so focused on themselves, unwilling to take the time to look up and be nice. To care for one another. Hell, I saw it plenty in the hospital. The elderly were dropped off and treated like old dogs who needed to be put down. The old became nuisances. Doctors being serial killers, and nurses being rapists and murderers. Or a doctor being the villain. Man didn’t care about man, so there was no reason to protect them when the threat was really the person standing next to them.
Over the course of a few hours, cities all over the world were having battles of their own. The men and women I’d recruited were free, doing as they wished. Roady had done his job well, infecting the main systems of government with a virus that would take them at least two hours to break. It would be just enough time.
I stood on top of Griffin Enterprises, the tallest tower in Seahill, and watched as the moon started to cross into the path of the sun.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Draco
“I love you,” I said as I pressed Rose hard against my chest, kissing her forehead.
We’d managed to stay together all morning, but she was needed somewhere else now. She was going to help Asher calm the city, although I feared it was impossible now. Dorian had created seeds of panic in people with his TV stunt. Now with the bridge out, and the electricity gone, people were in a state of feral terror.
She tilted her head and gave me a smile before leaning up to kiss me sweetly.
My hands gripped her soft green sweater, keeping her in my arms, where I could keep her safe. But she gave me a look.
“We need to help them. It’s why we have these gifts—you showed us our true purpose, and we can’t let them down. We can’t let you down.”
She always knew what to say. I hated her leaving me right now, but she was right.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said as she untangled herself from my arms and jogged off in Asher’s direction.
Leon and Lilith were trying to find a way to get people off the island on some big hotshot’s yacht. The day was only going to get worse, and the more casualties we could stop, the better.
Charles had once again been working with the police force in hopes that they could find the source of trouble and how to handle the riots in between.
AJ and Mina were battling the work of whoever Dorian had on his team, and last I heard they were getting ahead. The electrical grid of the city would be back up in half an hour.
Phillip had been helping the politicians, before they left via helicopter. Only the governor stayed behind to help evacuate people if we could secure the boats. He was an honorable man.
“It’s all going to work.” Phillip was pacing and then took off without another word to us.
“Come on. I’ve spotted Dorian at the top of Phillip’s building.” Echo had just changed from a hawk to human again, wrapping herself in a towel since there was no point in putting on real clothes when she’d turn right back into another animal soon.
“Phillip said we have to let him start whatever game he’s playing with the sun, and allow him to bring about night. Then we attack. It’s the only chance for righting this,” I said, and while I could tell she was struggling with accepting my absolute trust in Phillip, she nodded then asked what we should do next.
�
�Let’s get as many people as we can away from Griffin tower. I’m not sure talking will work, so scare tactics might be best. Got anything scary?” I asked, and she rolled her eyes.
“I’ll do my best once we are there.” She shifted shortly thereafter, morphing into a bear, and together we ran toward the largest tower in the city.
Leon showed up as soon as we got there and told us that they secured some boats to get off the island. Lilith was doing her best to keep everyone calm while loading them up.
“Everyone get to the harbor! You’ll find a boat to get off the island!” I started yelling at every scared group of people I could. A police officer nearby noticed my words and started repeating them as well. Despite everything that had happened before, we were still heroes in the eyes of some people. We’d stood our ground and were here to help when shit hit the fan.
“Leon, go pull all the fire alarms, get people away from this tower and out of it,” I directed, and he was off in a blur to do as told. The bells started ringing and shortly thereafter people came pouring out. I was glad to see that a lot of people had already left the island before today, fleeing inland after Dorian’s warning on TV. The people who’d been rioting and looting had also disappeared from this area. I hoped that they’d heard about getting to the water, where they’d at least make it to physical safety. Their actions would probably cause mental anguish, but that was treatable if they lived.
I looked at the bear to my right that was doing a great job at scaring people to the harbor. She saw my look and changed into a large python. Several people saw the snake and began screaming hysterically and running for the water.
Well, it was cruel, but it would get the job done.
Echo slithered around, and everyone ran for their lives. Gone was the threat of the world ending—all they cared about was escaping the giant snake.
I don’t really know how we did it, to be honest, but an hour later a majority of the people had been evacuated off the island successfully. Anyone who had stayed behind was accepting the fate that came to them or wanted to fight beside us.
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