What Lies Beneath

Warnings: I’m quite new at writing slash, frankly. This fic contains violence and some gore. If you don’t like boys lusting after boys, then shoo! Go away! There will be rape, but waaaayyy later. Sorry for you guys who crave that…
Disclaimer: Mine damnit! No touchie, unless you wanna use these bishies in one of your stories. I’ll read it then and review…

A/N: Wah! I’m getting lots of hits but no review! Come on, it can’t be that hard! Just hit the review button and write a few lines.

Chapter II
A month from now, no officials or scientists bothered us. It afforded me the space and time needed to nurture my skills. As much of a relief it gave us, I still felt uneasy at times. The constant looming presence of the leader of the Raven gang stuck to my very shadow.
Today august eighteenth was my birthday. I finally aged a year older. The excitement to be a year older forced others to consider me more seriously as well. Seth with his mother hen instincts tended to treat me like a brother and a child.

But of course, he was right. I was only eleven so this was expected. Yet considering our special genes, young age lost in comparison to our cool heads. Intelligence compacted in small innocent bodies. How convenient for the ones who dared to tame us. We did not know this yet, but we had already entered our teenage phase and into the period acceleration where our skills as killers and predators culminated.
I rose with the sun and smile chased away all of my worries. Despite all the bad things that occurred I was happy. First, we had received news of our other teammates. I remembered I had tried to get all of us together but Steve’s icy glare had promptly stopped all of this. Secondly, the business worsened resulting in increasing violence in the streets. The Ravens and Creepers declared war at each other. It had started as a few implied threats from the Creepers towards me. They had intentionally made me a target well aware that the Raven Leader, also Lukas cared for me. I managed to defuse the threats without standing out too much.

But today, I wished for a day without worries. Seth was gone on the morning weekly grocery shopping. I pouted as I rummaged through the pile of clothes I had acquired since my arrival here. This special day called for something spicier than the usual baggy shorts and t-shirts.

I dubiously eyed the pair of clothes Lukas had bought for me earlier and deemed them fit for the day. At this rate, I had not a care in the world if it attracted unwanted stares. It was my birthday and nobody would deny me anything. To complete my outfit, I opted for a silver chain from which an Egyptian key dangled that had caught my eye in a flea market a few days ago. The most interesting feature was that the top key prolonged into a thin needle, while the bottom part of the key held the sheath. I had taken the habit of poisoning it and using it for last minute uses. Yes, the assassin part of me constantly nagged me. Our hours of sparing, training with weapons and our gifts made sure of that.

After making sure the pieces were securely in lock, I casually swept a brush through my hair and pulled it into a top knot. The face in the mirror seemed foreign to me. Although I was only eleven years old, my body filled out quite nicely with much muscle tone and litheness attributed to gymnasts. My physique matched that of a sixteen year old. Our biological makeup was really starting to show. The same happened with Seth and I had to admit this frightened me. What if we aged too quickly and shriveled away?

Enough with worrying over these stupid things. I beat back my doubts back into submission and snatched an apple on the way out. I wanted to first have a chat with Finney and then maybe explore the sights of the Underworld. Seth would break into a hissy fit, but the wild side opened more possibilities I was willing to consider. Call it teenage hormones or just the excitement.

Finney dropped a glass in disbelief, marking my spectacular entrance. I grinned, grabbing a stool. He remained petrified, forgetting to bend down to pick up the pieces. In his eyes, I must have sprouted another head.

“You might want to take care of that broken glass, Finney.” I reminded him with a Chesire cat grin. When he finally got his wits about, he snapped his jaw shut before coloring a deep crimson. He tucked in his chest while picking up the glass, mostly to conceal his embarrassment.

He finally got up and turned. “Nick… I never thought you were a show-off.” He smiled, cockiness overcoming his uneasiness.

“Nah. Just feel like doing something crazy.” I leaned over and tugged at his impeccable tie. He always wore his clothes spotless despite the filth around us. “Mind offering me a drink for my birthday.” What in the world is happening to me? A part of me panicked, as I giggled at Finney’s extremely flushed face.

“Uh, sure thing Nick. Though I’m worried about you getting drunk.” He pulled out a cocktail glass and confectioned some sort of drink. “How old are ya anyway?”

“Hm… Try to guess.” Damn, I am in a playful mood.

“You sure don’t act like you used to, Nick. I don’t know, but you’ve somehow changed during these weeks.” A note of ruefulness lingered in his voice. I brushed away the guilt with a shrug of my shoulders. “Anyway, it’s none of my business. But to answer your question I’d say you are thirteen or fourteen.” He handed me the drink with a wink. “Cheers.”

I played around with the straw. “Wrong answer. Take off a few years and you’re getting warm.”

“He’s right you know.” An unknown voice erupted behind me. I jumped a mile off my seat. I found myself facing Lukas, the infamous Raven Leader. A crimson red top that molded every curve of his lithe frame reflected the blood red locks framing an elfin face. He also sported the trademark shorts. He did not wear the sword, but all the rest of the artillery was there. He smirked at having succeeded in sneaking up behind me. “If my information is not faulty, you are eleven today.”

How does he know? The question almost poured out of my mouth. Then another one replaced the other. Why is he doing this? I did not give him the satisfaction of boasting his wits as I turned eyes back to Finney. He gripped the counter edge, knuckles whitened, his eyes quivering with the familiar fear. It prettified him just as much as my last encounter with Focus corporation. Curiosity burned my very soul, itching to spill out into endless questions. I wanted to know why people of the Underworld held Lukas with such fear. I had never seen him in action. Yet.

“Oh, it’s you.” I said offhandedly, concealing emotions that could further weaken me. But the truth of the matter was that something flared. And when I let my curiosity get the best of me it always leads me to trouble. But at that moment, it overpowered all reason. I spun around, meeting his solemn gaze. “Why?” Words were not needed to elaborate the question because he knew exactly what I referred to.

His eyes half-mast swept over me in a cold chill, sparking heat deep inside my body. What am I doing acting so wanton when he’s just a obnoxious prat? Is it in his nature to prance around like a peacock?

“Nobody who has arrived here in such a short time has managed to hold such a reputation. Both of you are the talk of much of the Underworld gossip, especially you, Nick. It is rumored that you can be rather ruthless and cold-blooded when threatened.”

As I let those words stew, I leaned against the counter. Just then, Seth cleared the doorframe, golden eyes set ablaze. Lukas was hurtled into the wall with bone-crushing strength.

“Get away from him!” Seth hissed in a fit of rage I did not know he possessed. “If you so much as touch a hair of him…”

“Seth let him go!” I insisted, tugging at his arm down. He slid a fraction of his attention to me. “Really, I’m fine…”

He hesitated and grudgingly let go of his telekinetic gift. Lukas slumped to the floor hands at his bruised throat. “Hehe… Your repute
precedes you…” I watched in disbelief as he laughed ignoring the threat Seth seemed to present. “You’re a telekinetic aren’t you?”

My eyes narrowed, heart fisting in shock. I did not want some nosy boy meddling with our affairs. I pulled him up, only to push him against the wall. In a flash of steel, my knife sang against his throat. “Just how much do you know Lukas? And don’t think because I saved you from my friend that I’ll be all that merciful.” I abandoned all pretense at innocence, only fearful of the consequences. Seth made sure the bar emptied from any pesky intruders, including Finney.

Lukas glared at me, but a lazy smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll tell you…” He let the rest of his sentence hang in tense silence. The dagger whispered deeper over a quivering Adam’s Apple. Blood trickled in dainty drops down his neck but never did he flinch. I admired his control.
“Get on with it!” I hissed, impatience getting the better of me. “I won’t say it twice.”

He snorted, and the predatory glint became a kindling flame in his eyes. For a moment, I could see a glimmer of lust. What’s going on here? Then I realized how close we were to each other and I instantly flushed. “I’ll tell you for a kiss.”

My jaw fell open, but thankfully, hard-earned reflexes did not make me loose my grip on the knife. What is he playing at? My mind whirled in agitation. “What the hell are you talking about? I have no time to waste! Don’t be ridiculous!”

From the corner of my eye, I Seth bristled with barely controlled fury. “I told you. I won’t speak until you kiss me. Isn’t that clear enough?” His tone laced with mockery, gradually softening. It truly puzzled me.

I let out a sigh as I considered my options. I could either skewer him right here and now, but that would attract the wrath of all of the Raven gang. We might as well wave a bright orange flag that said Hey! We’re huge freaks with superpowers! Come and get us Focus bastards! Or I could give in. What choice did I have? Did I have even a choice?

“Don’t waste your energy on him, Nick…” Seth growled sensing my dilemma. “You should just eliminate him.”

I rolled my eyes. “And bring in the rest of the cavalcade?” I closed my eyes, and pressed my forehead against his to let his energy flood me. Once the ritual finished, I swallowed a breath. This connection allowed me to know exactly where he was and to kill him at any given moment. I gazed into those plum eyes. “I just established an energy link between you and I. That means I can track you down whenever I want, and that I can kill you with a mere thought.” I grasped his head, letting go of the dagger. “Do you understand?” He nodded, keeping that smug look. I had to give him credit for his great control. “My friend here is a telepath. He could very well dig into your head without you wanting to. If you don’t want to go through that torture, speak now. I don’t want you to see you go through that…”

He chortled, frost lilac eyes humoring me. “I thought you would not be merciful?”

He’s right. I’m doing this for a reason. I don’t want to see him die. Did this mean I wanted to kiss him or to find an excuse to get closer to him? Come off it! Don’t loose your focus damnit! But my curious side wanted out so I decided to resolve things peacefully. I wanted to know more about him and his gang.

“If I do this, promise me you won’t go after Seth. And you Seth, give me your word that you won’t go after him either.” I could not afford another stupid fight.

Both vowed hesitantly so I leaned forwards, pressing my lips ever so gently against Lukas’ mouth. To my own surprise, they were soft and pliant in contrast with his fierce attitude. He did not mind taking whatever he wanted, but I wanted to show him another way. Even if we lived in this harsh world, there were many ways not to fall into criminal insanity. Before I even realized it, he kissed back with gentleness that was so unlike him. This sensuality I appreciated despite my conscience. I felt guilty with Seth witnessing the whole scene, but I yearned for another companion other than the circle of Miracle children. A streak of him struck something in me that I could not define. I could say that he was the first friend outside of the science project children.

I pulled away after a moment, breath heaving. Blood sang through my veins from the incredibly sensual experience. I could see his eyes sparkle with malice as he grinned triumphantly. He had won this time, but there was always another day.

“I know that you are part of an experiment that Focus Laboratories put together. I know that you probably escaped and those three officials were after you in order to subdue you. You are not completely human.” It amazed me the amount of information he had managed to gather from his observations. How had he been able to spy on us without Seth being able to track his signal?

“How could I have not been able to track you then?” Seth repeated my confusion.

Lukas shrugged. “Some of my training included shielding my presence from telepaths.” His training? Then who had trained him to be so good at gathering information? What was such a good spy doing in this base place?

I couldn’t stand the mystery anymore and questioned him. “What do you mean by training? I had no idea street gangs needed specific training against telepaths…”
Lukas heaved another sigh and straddled a chair, leaning forwards with his arms braced against the back of the chair. “I am not what you think I am. I am not a simple street gang leader. This is just a cover for my current job.”
Seth squinted, narrowed eyes appraising the boy before him. “So what you’re saying is that you are not part of that Raven gang?”
He shook his head, eyes darkening. I knew there was something else than what appearances let us believe. “I work for a resistance group that is trying to undermine the government from corrupting our nation. The organization I work for has been trying for a time to recruit more skilled people.”
I arched an eyebrow, recalling what he had said. ‘In a nutshell, you want us to work for you?”
He nodded, looking visibly relieved. “Yes. That is the objective of our organization, yes.” A heavy burden seemed to have been lifted from his weary shoulders.
“Hm…” Seth mumbled, bringing a hand to his chin in though. “And why would we work for that organization?”
“Well if you need further convincing, a lot of the key people in the corruptive government are Focus corporation. When I say corrupted, I mean they use dishonest and illegal practices to gather votes, false political platforms, money embezzlement and such.”
This information was very crucial to our situation. If we needed a permanent place to stay and a salary to support our lives, this seemed to be the best. First off, we would indeed be working on the opposite side of the government and the law. However, I had never held that high regard for the present government.
“I do admit that this seems to be logical.” Seth decided to take it to a personal communication. ‘I mean, we would be finding out more about Focus and how to disable it.’
I agreed. ‘I think we should accept, but first of all, we have to make sure of our decision and learn more about this organization Lukas claims he works for.’ Seth took my caution as a good sign and finally transferred his attention to Lukas.
“First of all, I want to know, what is your organization called?”
“I am part of the main rebellion organization called Etna. It is the main branch of the Resistance. As an Etna Agent, I have been ordered to constitute a few lethal units, and my goal is to get you to work as assassins. Hopefully, if we can track the rest of you, you would be complete. You will thus be the new unit under the name of Olympus, but these are only prospective plans. But you have to remember that another organization is working against us. They call themselves Reign. They are in opposition to us, sponsoring many lethal and non-lethal units just like us, except they work for the government. Many political and government officials have deep ties with that group. I just hope the rest of your comrades will not be recruited by them before it’s too late.” Lukas all the while held his body tense, yet a tone of conviction showed his genuine intention. He was so young. How could he have acquired such a position in such a short time? Seth beside me arched his eyebrows, mulling through the information.
“I do agree that it is worth the try.” He concluded, standing up to signal the end of our conversation. “What do you say, Nick?”
I returned his gaze with an affirmative nod. “Yes. I say we try this. It is in our best interests. If I can try to contact the rest of us, I will try to convince them to work with us.”
“Fine.” Seth leaned forwards and shook Lukas’ hand. “Then it is settled. We accept.”
“Good.” Lukas replied, visibly pleased with the results. I burned with impatience to discover what would await us, but not without a mingling sense of insecurity. My worries now were not the fears of death but the fear of having to face my other friends as enemies. In our line of work, I was sure this midget of anxiety would never leave us. We were about to become assassins: taking people’s lives for money. Whether it was morally right or wrong, I did not let that worry me yet. Since this government and the law had become corrupted and obsolete, I saw nothing wrong in working behind it and against it.
Seth at that point intruded in my thoughts. ‘You know, Seth, you have a point there.’ Giving me a confident smirk, he lifted his telepathic influence on the people around and the tension loosened. Finney came around from the back rooms, watching us with wary eyes. Lukas mocked me with a disarming smile, then leaned over, one hand hovering over the small of my back only to plunge his hand into the pockets of my tight shorts. He did not hesitate to squeeze.
I yelped at the blatant grope, preparing a hand to slap him in the face but he pulled away before my hand could make contact. Seth burned livid. I was left to calm him down eyes pleading. That reminds me that I’ll have to sort out my feelings about Lukas and him sooner or later. A voice reminded me. Pulling out the slip of paper, I let my gaze wander. The instruction said to meet Lukas at the Crimson Midnight club not too far from here the next night at eleven o’clock. Seth caught my eyes and nodded crisply. We would be there, but not before celebrating my birthday.
“Hey Nick!” Finney had resumed his composure enough to engage in conversation. “If you’re eleven, aren’t you a little young for alcohol?”
I slapped his shoulder and offered puppy eyes. “I know I’m asking a huge favor, but I would like to have my shifts off. There’s something I need to take care of.”
Finney’s gaping face broke into a fierce grin. “Of course! Anything for your birthday!” Hew winked and eclipsed into the back rooms.
“It’s my special day so you’ll treat your best friend.” I nagged Seth, pulling his ear. Seth’s frown melted.
“Okay, but don’t exaggerate. It’s not like we’re rich you know.”
“If we take in that job, we’ll have more than we could ever imagine.” I sighed dreamily. Hopping off the stool, I headed to my room to prepare for the special day. Seth followed clad in simple denims and a rusty orange sweater that brought out the hints of mahogany from his hair.
Oblivious to Finney’s curious eyes, we waved goodbye and set off to explore the better part of the city. Our target was the Central District, just off the business district around the center of Deltoid City. There, we had noticed many things to do including shopping, movie theatres, and dance clubs. It was of course, too early for dancing, but Seth had decided we hit the clubs tonight. That was why he was dragging me to as many shopping galleries as possible. Skintight leather to loose clothing to sports wear, you name it. Seth dramatically reconfigured my wardrobe with many things I didn’t even want to wear.
“You deserve a splurge.” He kept insisting when my eyes bugged out at the extravagant prices.
I gave him a dirty look that could not last long with the puppy grin he used to subdue me. Instead, he dragged me into a café and asked me what I wanted to eat. It was nearing eight o’clock now, and we still had not finished our celebration. At my request, we ordered Boeuf bourgignon and a bottle of good French wine. I did not even bother to ask him how he had managed to have that bottle. It was not that much to figure out. A little touch of telepathy and that was it. That sly Seth. He always got away with it.
“To your eleventh birthday, Nick.” He grinned, showing me one of those precious smiles. I smiled and raised my glass as well. The wine was darkly sweet, with the fruity aroma that I could never have enough of. It warmed the back of my throat and loosened me up instantly. Without further notice, we dug into our food, enjoying the moment that was given to us, to rejoice in our lives.
Thankfully, Seth had saved up enough money for a taxi, as if he had predicted this. I was just too fuzzy to coordinate myself. However, by the time we reached our room, and he jostled me in the shower, I was finally awake. The cold water pierced through my haziness and woke me up. I washed without question, and then, dried off, deep in thought. I was wondering why Seth was being so nice to me, and allowing me this much. I knew that if I asked him, he would just keep on insisting it was for the sake of friendship. But what about that rigid face each time I mentioned Lukas? What did that count for?
“Maybe I’m looking into things too much.” I told myself aloud, walking back to our flat. Seth was in his own room, probably getting ready for the night out. In my room, my outfit lay fresh and new, waiting to be worn. I nearly choked at the sight of it: tight black leather pants and a silvery and green midriff sleeveless top. To go with it, heavy black army boots. As I slowly ran my hands over the articles of clothing, I kept wondering how I would look in this, in other people’s eyes. Well, enough fantasizing already. Put the damn thing on! My mind screamed. Snorting, I finally resigned and proceeded to squeeze into the impossibly tight pants. They felt so tight I wondered if it would cut my circulation.
‘They’re made on purpose to be skin tight. That’s the point of wearing leather.’ Seth replied with a note of sarcasm.
I groaned mentally. ‘So I’m supposed to be showing off more than covering?’
‘What do you think? Now get on with it, so I can fix you up!’
If I had another pair of eyes, I would have rolled both of them to emphasize my point. I was so embarrassed I wondered I would bust a vessel by the end of the night. Muttering in complaint, I slipped on the top. To complete my outfit, I adorned myself with my Egyptian key jewelry. A spiked leather handcuff to my left wrist, and a special watch I had picked up from the old weapons warehouse Seth and I had raided not too long ago followed. Inside the watch there was a roll of deadly monofilament wire that could be used as a weapon. I was certainly not expecting any gang attacks tonight, but just for caution, I always wore some weapon with me. Furthermore, the spiked leather cuff could end up being lethal if I wanted it to. The Egyptian key also added to the arsenal. It was not much, but they were discreet and skillfully hidden. I added gloves as a final touch to my outfit.
Finally ready to go out, we met up in the living room appraising each other’s handy work. My jaw nearly hit the floor when my eyes lay on him. He was drop dead gorgeous in leather pants, thick-soled boots and a golden crop top. His hair was up in a complicated knot held together by intricate hairpins.
“The pins can be used for defense.” He explained. Then gestured to his boots. “And I have a dagger in my boot.” I nodded. I also had a stiletto also in my hidden away in my shoe. “Not that I’m expecting trouble, but we never know with the different gangs running around all over the place.”
“Same thought here…” I drifted off as he eyed me approvingly.
“Nice getup, but you need a few more touch ups and you’ll be good to go.” He led me to the bathroom and I dreaded what he would make me wear. There was no way I would be putting on some makeup! I was certainly not a girl!
He tsk-tsked me and whipped out eyeliner. “Just a touch of this and some glitter and you’re fine.” He quickly outlined my eye so as to define them, and repeated the same with his eyes. I had to admit that it brought out the best in him: his mesmerizing eyes. “Like this, your eyes will stand out more.” He added some silver tinted gloss to my arms, chest and navel not without me blushing. He was touching me everywhere where my skin was exposed! He was adamant to make me look spectacular, and I was grateful for it. He repeated the same process in my hair and did it to himself as well. Finally, after much fussing and complaining, we were off. It was ten o’clock and a bit early for clubbing, but it would take some time for us to hit the clubbing streets. Seth had reserved special air bikes for us so we could get to our destination.
Down at the bar, the activity was just starting when we appeared downstairs. All the buzzing of noisy banter stopped for a while as Seth sashayed towards the bar to meet Finney. Seth deflected the hungry predatory looks with a toss of his head while I followed more nervously. Mouths fell open, eyes bugged out and people whispered approvals. Everyone stared, and this made me feel so uncomfortable.
Finney’s eyes sparkled behind a mischievous grin. “You two are definitely eye openers. Are you planning on clubbing?”
“Definitely!” I exclaimed, forgetting the stares. “You don’t mind if I take this night off, do you?” I smiled, cocking my hips in a sultry attempt to seduce him. His eyes were instantly drawn to my hips. I did not miss the blush that spoke volumes.
“Uh, sure I don’t…” He broke off lost in his own desires. Seth smirked like a little devil that he could be and pulled me away. “See ya!” I waved, before following my daredevil friend.
“Man we sure are getting looks!” Seth commented brightly. We hit our bikes and he handed me a helmet, before grabbing his own.
“And have you figured out how we’ll be able to get in the clubs?” I taunted, straddling my bike. “We are underage, you know.”
“Nothing wrong in convincing mindless robots we are of legal age.” He replied hinting at his formidable forging skills. My eyes widened at this. He had forged fake ids? Well duh! We’ve been on the opposite part of the law for quite a time! “Well, why not? I’m not a skilled computer hacker for nothing.”
I couldn’t help a mirthful smile as I pulled on my helmet and started up my bike. Soon, we were hovering over the Underworld towards the tall buildings of Deltoid City. The ride was spectacular, as we weaved and dodged lanes and slow moving cars. Seth was a master at flying bikes, but I cleaned up pretty well. After chasing each other playfully, we hit the streets of the nightclubs and chained our bikes on one of the sidewalks of the platforms. Many other clubbers dressed in similar fashion streamed past us, but none as young as us. No cares in world. We were young and we wanted to live it up. Nothing mattered but the present moment and we planned on making it enjoyable.
Streams of thumping bass and music reached our super sensitive ears and we found a nightclub with just the right music. Although the Rave was a straight club, there were a few homosexual couples, but this did not bother us. Gay or straight couples did not even make any sense to us. What mattered was getting the best music. And this club seemed to provide it. At the etrance, the robot checked both our ids. Thanks to Seth’s impeccable skills we passed without a problem. I breathed easier and started to relax once we made it inside the stuffy club. The theme revolved around dark colors. Wine red adorned the walls under black tapestries. The floor splayed before us in black quartz specked with gray and mica stone. The plush sitting area called to customers who wished to sit down with their couches and low glass tables.
“What do you say?” Seth screamed above the throbbing music close to my ear. This was the only way to make ourselves heard. “Drink or dancing? It’s my treat!”
I looked up at him with eager eyes and pointed to the crowded dance floor. “Definitely dancing!” I tugged him towards the mingling crowd. A sense of frightened excitement took over. I had never even danced before, getting the hang of it seemed easy. And besides, with the martial arts training, getting the moves right wouldn’t be a problem. I only looked forwards to feeling the music pulse from my feet to the top of my head as I flowed to the tantalizing beat. I had somehow found heaven.
Seth soon parted a way for me, attracting many gazes. A few asked to dance with him but he squeezed my hand possessively. I was not denied any less attention. I even thought I felt a hand brush my backside a few times, but when I turned around the mysterious groper disappeared. Seth chased away the leery grins coming my way with a warning gaze and we finally nestled comfortably in the alcove of dancers.
In the moment, with strobe lights reflecting off his tawny eyes, I forgot all else, and just let myself go. No fears, no faces and no need to speak. I just acted what I felt. Communication went through our bodies. The way we held each others gazes explained the connection that deepened within us. The way our limbs moved together in perfectly synchronized fashion could not have succeeded had we not felt perfectly comfortable with each other.
As English lyrics spilled forth from the speakers all around us, the laser lights fractioned our movements. We danced close to each other, letting the crowd gravitate us together. It was an act of pure bodily desire, brought on by the need for comfort in time of fear and danger. Our lives would not last forever, so we wanted to make the best of our living days.
After a couple of songs, dribbling with sweat, we went to rest and for some drinks. The dizzying heat mounted to my head in waves of pure energy. The close fitting leather did not help in the least. It stuck to my skin along with the sweat. Seth before me looked just as soaked as me, but he was undeniably delicious with the flush spread his bronzed skin. His sunny orbs sparkled, generous mouth upturned in a smile.
“How you feeling?” He asked at a more acceptable volume. The sitting area located further from the dance floor permitted more normal conversation.
“Hot and thirsty, but I’ll be fine.” I pushed away the lusty images from my mind and concentrated on the drink bar. “What do you suggest?”
He shrugged, pointing out to a few daiquiris, marguerites and others. I opted for a fruity drink mixed in with a hint of vodka and he opted for a marguerita. As we waited for our drinks to come, I grinned.
“Thanks Seth…” I replied, truly delighted. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had. At the institute, it would never have gone beyond a birthday cake.”
Seth flushed with pleasure and satisfaction. “I was worried you would not like it. I’m sorry I didn’t get you a present either…”
I halted the guilt trip with a finger to his lips. “The best present is to have you around to celebrate with me.” I flushed a little at this. I felt myself relax and loosen up after so much dancing. It sure did exhaust us as much as long hours of sparring.
When the waitress waltzed over, we toasted to my special day. It couldn’t have been any better. Taking a small sip, despite my thirst, I scanned the area. A bunch of scantily clad women eyed us hungrily, rivaled by another group of females. I rolled my eyes, seeking for Seth’s reaction. He merely shrugged them away.
“This had to happen when you’re wearing such an outfit.” His voice aimed to tease.
“Hey!” I protested. “You made me wear this!” Seth’s pleading eyes softened my already dying anger. “Look Seth…”
Two men out of the corner of my eye marched up to us before I could finish. Judging by their faces and body language, I knew they were up to no good. Seth flashed this lethal look as a cue for me to act. My hands tensed to my wristwatch. I recognized the oldest member of the Creepers gang who had cornered me at the bar I worked at. His eyes flashed hard amber and his mouth twisted in a feral grin. He came back for revenge.
“Well, well… I had no idea you’d have the nerve. Shrimps aren’t allowed in here, don’t you know?” He cocked one hip, displaying the muscled expanse of his chest and the tattoos there. Next to him, a fiery haired man I did not recognize scowled. Looking past them, I noticed that most of the crowd was reasonable enough to back away. The girls cowered.
“Oh pluh-ease!” I rolled my eyes with a theatrical sigh. Seth sneered with smug pride, always present in stressful situations. That was why we came armed anyway. “No need to pull on that act on me. It won’t work. Go back to where you came from and lick your wounded pride.” I waved him off, returning my attention to my drink. It took a pea-size brain to realize that they were ruining our evening.
Whatever reaction they had expected, it surely wasn’t open disdain. The leader acted accordingly to his enormous ego. He leaned forwards, one hand planted on the table, the other beside my head against the headboard of our booth. “I don’t think so. I intend to finish the punishment I reserved for you.”
Seth growled and went for his hairpin. “If you don’t release my friend here and now, this night is about to become very rough.” I had never seen him in such a fury. I negotiated his closeness by deflecting his hand from next to my head.
“I think you need to be taught another lesson.” I replied unperturbed. I looked around, making a show to avoid him. The crowd did not squeak a word, and some even turned away to resume their dancing. None even dared to watch or lend assistance. Apparently, dimwit ego here had a reputation. Well, we also had our ruthless image to uphold and I was not going to disappoint the gossipers. Nobody was allowed to bother me when I felt this good. I was about to turn my attention back to the gang leader when a glimpse of flashy silver and an immaculate white suit happened upon my eye.
His outfit contrasted with the settings a sketchy nightclub. Mr. Incongruity was tall, slender. His prim suit reflected well his clean cut features and the raven black hair. Eyes of an indistinct color gazed at the scene with unnatural attention. I could almost say he was watching my every move. It was so uncanny it froze me in the moment. Something about that man was inexplicably eerie and entrancing at the same time.
A flicker of movement removed me from my contemplation. I switched back to the matter at hand. One of the goons had already reached for Seth but dealt him a solid back-fist to his nose. The slow dimwit howled in pain, blood gushing all over him only to land ungraciously on his butt. I watched the blood flow dispassionately and raised my eyes to the gang leader.
“It seems I have to remind you that I can be ruthless when needed.” I stated, reaching for my watch. Evading his choking grab I shifted sideways. The razor sharp wire from my watch looped around his arms, tying him up effectively.
“You little shit!” He howled, attempting to wriggle free. It only caused more blood to flow as it ran down the wire, reaching my gloved fingers. I smirked at the useless threat he made. “I’ll cut you for this!”
Another goon ran to the rescue. The spikes in my wrist band finally got its use as it pierced his eye. He went down busy cradling his bleeding eye. No sympathy here. Not when our lives were on the line. The crowd parted in wild cries scrabbling for escape. More goons erupted from everywhere around us.
The easiest way to deal with this was to take the leader hostage. I caught Seth’s eye and an unseen agreement traveled between us. He covered me with telekinesis. He rarely used it in public, but this called for desperate measures. He severed necks from many enraged gangsters, this including a few women. During the commotion I flipped the leader around, still bound in front of me and pulled out his gleaming sword.
“Okay! You will stop this right now or I will chop off your leader’s head off right here and right now!” I followed this by bringing the finely honed blade to his throat.
One of them hesitated then scoffed. “Ya bluffin man!” He took another step forwards.
I flicked the sword deeper into the hostage’s neck as the smile on my face grew wider. I had transformed into the killer once more. “Watch me.” With a quick flick of the sword, I sliced deeper into the flesh, but the gangs immediately shouted and dropped their attacks. Satisfied, I instructed them to scram and they did.
“Let this be a fair warning! Do not come after us or you will surely meet death.” I growled threateningly, aiming not only at the underdogs but the leader. “Do you hear me?”
He spat. I backhanded him with a forceful slap to reward him. His sharp amber eyes glared at me with a mix of anger and awe. “Fine. Now can you let me go?”
I sighed slashing the wire with his sword and he fell to the ground, groveling to my feet. “I will keep your sword to remind you never to face me again.” I watched him slowly pick himself up from the floor as my anger slowly subsided. I was still furious that they had ruined my night. He walked away grumbling amidst the silent crowd. Fright and panic pulsed in the air as I sheathed the sword I had snatched from him and quickly tied it around my waist.
‘Nick, you didn’t have to hit back that hard.’ Seth chastised.
I bit back an angry reply and hung my head. ‘I am sorry, but they really ticked me off.’ I cut off the rest of the bloodied wire and followed him towards a back exit before police could arrive. As I threw one last look, a flash of white and silver came again. That mysterious man. But I could not see his eyes behind the light tinted glasses. He had been witness to this scene and had never flinched. What does this mean? Who could he be? I did not have any more time to question myself about him as we quickly grabbed our bikes and flew back to the Underworld. Why do I feel like this won’t be the last time we will meet?
Back in our apartment, Seth patted my shoulder reassuringly. “It’s okay, Nick. I’m sure they’ll give up by now.”
I nodded but this was not what I worried about. It was that unidentified man that had watched all of this without a squeak that got my head in a twist. My hands somehow found their way around the sword hilt. I had to admit the blade was a master: finely sharpened from flawless craftsmanship. I wondered how this gang leader had managed to acquire such a beautiful sword. Light danced over the lethal band of metal before I quickly sheathed it. It was half past midnight by the time we undressed declared it a night. More exhausted than I realized, I crawled between the sheets, hugging myself.
The next morning found me with a huge hangover and sore muscles. The memory of shattering blood and violence assaulted my mind. The aftermath of my actions took their toll as I repented. Although I was not to blame, I still felt guilty for such savage actions. How did my situation allow me to act like such a heartless killer? It doesn’t matter because we are what we are. Another voice answered. As I took my morning shower, the urge to cleanse myself overpowered everything else. In vain, I scrubbed at the spots on my skin that had come in contact with blood, but nothing would make it disappear. No matter how much I washed it was always there, ugly splotches dying my hands and nails an ugly shade of red. My lungs shook with sobs as I leaned against the shower wall, droplets of water streaming down my face to mingle with freely flowing tears. You’re a killer, and you know it. Don’t deny it! The dark angel inside me taunted. That voice always loved to see me submit. The only way to survive this was to give in to it. I feared I already had. There was no way I could ever redeem myself. My so called innocent eyes had already seen too much blood and violence. After a while, while the shower jets that had turned cold pounded against my bowed figure. If I did not want to end up with a nasty cold, I had to get out, I did so in a numbing haze. After I dried and dressed, I met Seth in the living room. He graced me with a sympathetic smile. No doubt had he sensed my depressing thoughts from down the stairs.
“You shouldn’t be torturing yourself with such qualms.” He ruffled my hair then slipped his arms around me in an affectionate hug. I sighed in relief, relishing the contact. “In this world, there are times when we have no choice but to be brutal. We are takers of life, nothing else. It’s the only life that is open to us.”
I softly agreed with the harsh reality of it. I had lost my childish innocence a long time ago and became a killer. A murderer. “You’re right. It will just be a waste of time to feel such remorse. I am neither angel nor devil. I am just a murderer.” I affirmed this with a curt nod. He smiled brokenly. I knew that even him felt this regret. But we hid it away in the recesses of our mind by necessity. Seth left to take a shower while I took care of breakfast.
While my hands were occupied with the monotonous movements of cooking, the events came back to me so clear it frightened me. The blood I had spilled would forever sully me. Raising upturned hands to my face, I knew that there was no amount of praying or remorse that could wash away the blood from these capable hands. In the shower, no matter how hard I had tried to wash away the dirt and grime, the guilt would never wash away. Always a sinner. That is what I will be forever. I have lost my childhood innocence a long time ago. The mantra never left my mind.
Finally done, I pushed the eggs equally into two plates and set them on the table, awaiting Seth’s return. A prickle ran down my spine, my body instantly alert.
“A killer in the form of a lovely child.” A voice I knew all too well startled me. I turned to find Lukas leaning one hip against the table. “Such deceptive beauty.” His eyes glanced over me appreciatively. “This world must be seriously warped.”
I swallowed thickly, uneasy with those eyes falling shut with brazen desire. “What are you doing here?” I tried to sound angry, but conviction lacked. Something about him made me relax and find my true self. His presence was refreshing and insightful at the same time, making me want to explore him more.
“I heard about the trick you pulled on Mantis at the Rave.” He whipped his hair away from his face with a seductive toss of his head. “I am sure the Creepers will not bother you anymore.”
“How did you know?” I inquired suspiciously.
“I sent one of my teammates to follow you.” He let the rest of the phrase hang in the air, an enigma for me to solve. I could feel the frustration build, but I put a lid on it.
“I would appreciate it if you would quit walking in on me in the most unexpected moments.”
He deflected my fury with a delectable smile. “Judging by what’s been said, you will make a valuable asset to our organization.” He took another step towards me, cornering me against the wall of the kitchen. “I will see you tonight then.” He reached for my face, tracing one delicate finger to my cheek. It felt like satin against my flushed face. Instantly, I felt myself burn under that sensual touch. Despite mental restraint, my body would have none of it. Before I had the wits to pull away from him and protest, he darted forwards and closed the distance between us with a light kiss.
My mind went on system overload with the incredible sensations. The wave of desire hit me with shivers, knees going weak. I was on my knees when I finally realized he was gone. Red hot anger came alive in my mind. How dare he make moves on me without my consent! I don’t even want him… I thought, touching my lips with my fingertips. Back on my feet, I dressed in a daze and reviewed what he had said.
Who would have Lukas sent to spy on us at the club? How would he have known? It frustrated me that I could not sense his presence. He eluded me and it irritated me. Maybe he was simply enjoying this and took it as a game. Maybe he even had no feelings for me and just enjoyed toying with me. Those questions assailed me as I walked back to our place. Is this just a playful game where I am the mouse and he is the cat?
Well, I was about to show him I would not give in to him and succumb to his desires. I was a free person and entitled the right to choose on my own. It all came clear when I remembered the priceless smile on Seth’s face. I realized I wanted to see him with that wonderful smile all the time. It made me so warm inside that it hurt. Seth had taken a place inside my heart that was more dear to me than I ever could ever imagine. He was a part of me, and I was sure that I was a part of him. In fact, I was so certain he reciprocated my feelings I was adamant on confronting him right now. Even if it cost me my pride and maybe some hurt if he rejected me, I was about to set things straight between us. I loved Seth and that was final. As I finally looked up, I realized Lukas had left. That puzzled me. Why had he arrived and left so suddenly? No matter! Take care of the matter at hand, Nick!
I found Seth looking thoughtfully out the window giving on the street, one hand supporting his chin, the other across his abdomen. Pausing for a while, I took the time to admire him in the sunlight. It spilled over his skin in hints of warm gold and his hair sparkled. Sensing me, he shifted and turned around to look at me. An eternity wore on as we stared at each other. None of us seemed willing to take the initiative.
“Did you want to tell me something?”
My breath caught. I froze. “Uh…” Very bright, Idiot! I scolded mentally. My lips simply refused to function. “I just wanted to know why…” Would I ever get my stupid mouth to work?
“Why what?” This time Seth turned fully towards me. I suddenly felt so flustered my face sizzled. The heat suffocated my flailing lungs and sweat started to trickle down my spine. I could do this! You have learned how to kill with just about any weapon and you can’t even tell him, godmanit! Why can’t you just say it out loud! Seth gave me a concerned look. “Are you alright, Nick?”
“Fine.” I shook my head, kicking away my petty fears. “Why are you so angry when Lukas makes a move on me?” There it was out and now I could just wait for his angry reply. I could have died right now.
He frowned, taken aback by my obvious questions. “Because I can’t stand somebody forcing himself on you without your consent…”
I fiddled with the hem of my shirt nervously, ducking my head to avoid his piercing gaze. “I… I just wanted you to know…” Come on! You can say it! Don’t be a wimp! By that time, I wanted to blast that annoying little voice to next week. I could sense Seth trying to prod my thoughts, but I kept my thoughts guarded.
“What are you trying to tell me, Nick?”
Oh the way he pronounced my name with such love! How I wanted him to repeat in over and over again while his hands caressed me… Stop it! This isn’t how I wanted it to be! He easily caught the flush in my cheeks. “Um, nothing…” I turned away, ashamed of myself. Coward! You couldn’t even tell him to his face. That nagging voice admonished me again.
“Really Nick, if there is something you need to tell me, don’t hesitate.” His marvelous eyes brimmed with warmth only glorified that beautiful face.
I had come to this point where I could not give up now. I had just realized my feelings for him and I did not want to leave him or myself hanging there. Steeling skittish nerves, I took a seat opposite him in the kitchen. Our eyes met and I held him there. “I need to tell you this or else I will never forgive myself.” I lowered my head, preparing myself. Heart pounding, lungs flailing, I steadied my voice. “I know we’ve been good friends for quite some time and I came to realize that…” His eyes mesmerized me, reeling me in with their emerald depths. I pushed past the ball of anxiety stuck in my throat. “that I care for you in more ways than just a friend… What I mean is, I love you Seth.” This saying was so true it blazed in my heart and nothing could be more honest. I was breathing harder than if I had run a marathon and the blood pounding heat flushed my whole body.
He seemed at loss for a moment, his eyes wide with shock. The silence was unbearable for me. Had I done something wrong? Or had I been foolish enough to spill my heart out to him?
“Oh Nick.” His face spilled with undeniable joy. “I love you too. I’ve tried to keep myself from this reality, but now it’s all so simple.” Actions followed his words.
He leaned forwards, gently depositing the lightest of kisses, but the meaning behind it told everything. I leaned into the kiss, responding with my own fervor. The overwhelming need to touch him, feel him beside me in the most intimate moments blew my senses to smithereens. One of my hands ran around his silken locks and another wrapped around his neck. His own arms laced my waist. Our breaths panted in unison as our kiss deepened. Finally, we had to come in for breath. His eyes were vibrant golden with motes of lust.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Seth whispered, brining long fingers to brush away my hair. “I am so glad I have you.”
“Me too.” I purred contently at his touch. “But I don’t like the game Lukas is playing with me…”
“He should know better than to mess with my Nick.” Seth could not keep the jealousy from creeping in his voice.
I grinned, ruffling his hair and sat on his lap. “I’ll make it clear that I’m already taken. But keep in mind that we do have to keep friendly relationships with him if we are to be teammates.” He nodded solemnly and caressed my hand. I felt so relieved and proud of myself for taking action first. After some cuddling, we stood up and proceeded to get some breakfast.
“You know, your love is the best birthday present ever.” I admitted to him, slipping my arms around his waist while he cooked on the stove. We spent the rest of the day together, barely inches from each other, celebrating the dawn of new love. We could never be far apart. Finney noticed this as we helped mop up the floor and clean the tables.
“Well I’m glad to see you lovebirds together!” He laughed. “It was so obvious that you since the time you both arrived but you just kept dancing around each other.”
Seth blushed and that was the first time I had ever seen him this embarrassed. “Were we really that obvious?”
“Of course!” Finney taunted, wiping away at a glass. “You kept giving each other these longing looks when you thought no one was looking.”
I had to give credit to Finney who was pretty observant. He managed to stay in the background, unnoticed but very watchful. I clapped his shoulder in a friendly gesture and returned to my mop. We were impatient to have our meeting with Lukas so he could brief us more precisely on what organization we were going to work on and who our enemies would be.
By quarter past ten, Seth and I were rushing to get ready. In a plain dilemma, I contemplated my clothing options. I had the choice between the shorts and tight t-shirt or my leather pants and my silver and green top. I finally opted for the same outfit I wore yesterday night. If we were to meet at a nightclub, we had to play the part.
‘Are you done hesitating here? We don’t have much time and we’ll have to take the airbus from the station.’ Seth admonished in my head.
Resisting the urge to groan, I slipped on my clothes and quickly washed my face. Seth waited for me in the entrance, hair up in pins, wearing the same as yesterday too. I had to admit he had an impeccable taste and knew what suited him best.
I sighed. “I look like a kid compared to you and you’re barely a year older than me.” He acknowledged this silently and held the door open for me. Brushing past him, I pecked him on the lips. Under the chaste kiss, he grinned maliciously.
“Let’s just hope we won’t have another run in with the Creepers or any other gangs for that matter.”
I stiffened. I did not want to get any more involved in gang wars than I already was. My earlier actions had probably spread rumors like wildfire. “Don’t worry. I have my stiletto dagger in my boot and a few disks in my jacket.” I shrugged on a black leather jacket I had come to cherish. Seth donned a long trench coat.
Downstairs and in the streets, we kept a lookout for anyone who would have the foolishness to attack us. Thankfully, the streets were oddly calm. Walking north of the Underworld, we headed for the bus station that would bring us to Deltoid city in the air. Neither of us said much during the walk, too lost in our own thoughts. We still had many doubts about our new profession and especially how they would set us up as assassins. I had an idea of what Etna agents would do. Either test us or make demonstrate our skills. What we dreaded most was whether our companions would be working with us or against us. What if they had turned against us? What would we do then?
We caught the bus to the Central District, following the directions Lukas had written in the back of the piece of paper. Seth had a brooding expression on his face. I wanted so badly to wipe it away with a smile, but I was also worried.
Finally, we stepped off in the same neighborhood we had been last night and proceeded to find the Crimson Midnight club. The place was wedged between an abandoned bike shop and a worn out used bookstore. A garbage collector robot was just finishing his rounds as we approached the place. The mechanical bouncer, assembled in curiously human like semblance spoke up.
“Ids, and print, please.”
We had no problems with digital printing id because Seth had cleverly created fingerprint id files testifying that we were legal. After a short time of waiting for the machine to transfer the data, we slid inside. The throbbing music vibrated with the rich bass of sultry beats. However, business won over pleasure and we immediately took our seats. The robots around here contained more functions. This place was upper class and probably made more money than the Rave.
A woman imitation of a robot whizzed up to us and spoke up in a soft voice. “What will you order, sirs?”
Blinking at the technology, I considered the menu. “Peach Berry futura…”
“A mudslide…” Seth followed suit. As soon as the robot walked away, I lay my hands on top of his on the table. “Are you nervous?”
“Yeah. You never know what they’ll think of us.” I replied. “Remember that we are not completely normal and our behavior might frighten them.”
“I wouldn’t underestimate them if I were you. From what Lukas’ told us, they seem to have a pretty extensive network. We may only be a useful tool to them.” Bitterness soured his voice.
“But as long as we get what we want…” I completed. “Besides, we need the money and the advantages they are giving us. They are a first step towards our goals.” But there was still to determine what were my goals. I still had to figure that out while I slowly worked up through life.
The nightclub displayed a certain amount of luxury in the form of spotless sapphire carpet, glossy onyx walls and pristine tables. Scanning the crowd, I noticed a few maintenance robots stream through the sea of humans, picking up strewn pieces of trash and fallen glasses. Bleary-eyed men ranted over the din of the music, spilling the problems of their miserable life when they had no real taste of the hardships of life.
Seth in front of me frowned deep in thought. I began to wonder how we were going to proceed because I had not glimpsed Lukas at all. Suddenly, the lights dawned and a slow sensual beat rolled forth from the wall speakers. The crowd parted, crying in unison. Bewildered, we tried to discern what would happen. A sort of anticipation thickened the air and I eyed Seth, giving him a questioning look.
‘Let’s just wait and see what happens.’ Seth reverted to mental speech, due to the overbearing level of the volume. I tensed. The dance floor cleared up and a lit pathway flashed in eerie red and black lights. Squinting, I could make out a motionless figure at the far end of the catwalk.
As it sashayed in a swerving sexual fashion, I held in a cry of admiration. The people around whispered and a few cat whistles echoed. As the shape made materialized, my jaw dropped open. Seth let out a strangled cry and his impassive mask cracked.
There in skintight black leather and silk sashes a vision of exotic beauty appeared in all its lithe glory. The creature was Lukas, grinning suggestively to his audience. He wore low leather pants revealing his sculpted hips and his muscled abdomen. Leather cuffs circled his wrists and his diamond encrusted arm-bands glimmered. Sashes of bright scarlet silk flowed down to his cuffs.
“Well I’ll be damned” Seth whispered in awe. I nodded flustered. Nobody could help blushing or heating up at the vision. He moved in another ripple of grace and somersaulted. From his hair, he produced a shower of rose petals and threw them to the crowd.
The music moved at a more disturbing rhythm as he bent his body this way and that. I could not deny he looked incredibly beautiful like this, showing off so much. But why had he invited us to this club to discuss serious matters only to dance in front of us?
Another flashy grin came my way and Seth stiffened next to me. I reassured him by grasping his hand. I was sure Lukas missed nothing of this gesture. He executed a series of back-flips and landed on the dance floor. There, he was master of the stage, stealing everyone’s attention with his seductive bumping and grinding. Sweat riveted down his hard toned body deliciously moistening his tan skin. I cursed myself for the attraction I was feeling. I needed to find a way to become immune to his charms.
To my horror, he had made his way to our table. Seth contained his anger while I blushed. I blinked in surprise when he leaned in close to me, whispering in my ear.
“Meet me in the dressing rooms after my performance.” He winked, caressing my cheek with his palm. Jealous looks came our way, mostly out of envy for the attention the gorgeous dancer was giving to me. But it was not like I had asked for it. Steam nearly puffed out of Seth with the force of his pent-up anger. Against my will, Lukas pulled me to the dance floor with a firm grip. I found myself moving in rhythm to him and dancing along. Somehow, he managed to get behind me and plaster his body to mine. Every inch of exposed skin crawled with the bare contact of his bronzed skin.
Soon, we breathed hard but not from exertion. The leers of many men made me realize with a start that this was a gay club. Why had I not noticed this before? I had been too deep in thought. Right now though, my body disobeyed my head and enjoyed the tuning sensations Lukas played on me.
“Hmm… You’re a good dancer.”
I snorted, in a hurry to get away from him before Seth could explode. He would have none of that. He spun me around so that I faced him and quite suddenly, he dipped me. As my spine arched and let my head hang back, I gasped when a hot mouth and a flash of teeth nibbled at the expanse of neck, forced in that position. I glimpsed a predatory glance from a handsome dark-featured man with a hawkish nose, wearing a navy blue suit. Then the sight blurred, as my partner righted me. The dance ended faster than I anticipated, or it was just my mind spinning crazy from the wild sensations that accelerated time. Snapping to awarenessI gulped at the mass of the stares ready to gobble me up. I tore away from him.
“You bastard! You did that on purpose!” I spat at him. He chuckled, stealing away while the crowd suddenly surged around me, rushing for invitations. I could even swear I felt a few ghost hands grope me. A startled yell and my molester was thrown aside by a livid Seth.
He herded me towards the edge of the dance floor. “Are you okay? Did he…”
I shook my head, regaining my composure. “It’s okay. I wasn’t prepared that’s all. He’s waiting for us at the dressing rooms…” With that, I tugged his sleeve towards the backstage. At the entrance of the hallway, Seth abruptly halted me, looking me in the eye.
“Nick, did he hurt you?” I gave him a negative shake of the head.
“He touched you, didn’t he?” A concerned frown overcame the jealousy.
I swallowed thickly but nodded and croaked. “Yeah… While dipping me… And we danced in a position that was not decent… I don’t know if I can take it…”
Seth growled. “That little fucker! I’ll teach him a lesson!”
“I’m fine though. I hate it when he does that. It makes me feel so weak and I hate the loss of control over my body. I feel helpless.” I nuzzled his neck, enjoying his warm presence and his particular scent.
“I promise I won’t let him make you feel like that.” He patted my head and it felt so right. After such acts of passion, I just wanted a cuddling.” I give you my word that I will never make you go through that. If you want to take it further, it will only be when you want it.” A smile of relief made its way to my face and I basked in the warmth. Eventually, my mouth found his and we stayed locked in a tight lip lock for quite some time, until someone cleared his throat.
“Well, well, who would have thought that you two would end up together?” A familiar voice said from behind us. Freezing in the doorway, I gasped, lungs suddenly breathless. Seeing the shock clearly written all over my face Seth turned, gaping as well. “Really open mouths are not graceful. Is that how you welcome me?” My friend N03 stood before us smirking.
“You!” Seth sputtered, pointing a disbelieving finger.
She crossed her arms in admonition and leaned against the wall. “It’s rude to point. And I do have a name, you know. It’s Selina Coppertone.”
“Selina? How did you get here?” I followed up, recovered from my initial surprise.
“Worked my way up from the Underworld and found good pay at this club. I’m a dancer and a flyer girl for this club.” She uncrossed her arms and leaned forwards to me, enveloping me in a hug. The smoldering energy that cried for freedom throbbed in all her body. I could hear the enthusiasm in her voice. “It’s good to see you. How did you name yourselves?”
“Well, I’m Nick Lawless now, and this is Seth Reynolds.” I gestured to him. He shook her hand then finally gave in to a friendly hug.
“Well now that the happy reunion is finished, maybe we can get up to business.” Lukas interrupted, stepping into the hallway. He wore a loose pair of sweats and a tank top now. “I gather you’re surprised to see her here.” With that, he led us through a maze of hallways to finally arrive in front of a door. Two men guarded the door there, but when they saw Lukas, they bowed their heads and stepped away.
“The others are waiting for you there, Jason. Pandora, it is nice to see you again.” The guard winked at Selina. She brushed him off with a snort and pushed past him without so much as a flinch. Jason? Pandora? What the heck is this? Codenames?
‘I would advise you to keep your mouth as much as possible and your mental walls shut.’ Seth said through the link.
I resigned myself. Inside the room, the interior screamed luxury and neatness, but I still kept my senses up. A few plants decorated the place and to my relief they were well cared for here. The crimson embroidered walls caught my eye with their oriental designs. Many intricately decorated panels outfitted the small sitting room. Couches and divans of many styles sprawled around the room, but to the far side of the room, at a black table sat a large group of people.
Scanning the place for listening devices and cameras, I had to admire their efficiency. Many would have eluded normal people’s attention. One hid behind a picture, a bug under the coffee table. Several cameras observed their movements behind Asian fans or parasols.
As we halted in front of the delegation I quickly evaluated them with keen eyes. Mostly men sat at the table, but I recognized a few females. One of the men caught my attention. I swallowed a strangled gasp. It was the tall dark-haired man with the glasses from the Rave club who had been watching me during our fight with the Creepers. At closer inspection, the golden tint of his eagle eyes seared my eyes. Squirming under his scrutiny, I yearned for Seth’s comfort. He was watchful and tense, about to act at any moment.
“Brothers and sisters of Etna, let me introduce you to the new recruits.” Lukas spoke with perfect calm, unruffled by the looks of the older peers. They all looked to be about in their thirties or late twenties. “Seth Reynolds, Nick Lawless.”
The pristine raven hair glistened in the overhead lights, a pleasant smile pasted on the man’s face. “Welcome to the organization that will be the future of this country once we overthrow the current corruptive government. My name is Hermes. My co-workers and me are Etna agents assigned to find new recruits and evaluate them.” He gave a dramatic pause, adjusting his lenses, his eyes falling on me. “If my information is correct, you accept to work for us?” We both nodded. “Very well. You know this will affect your lives?”
We had accepted this the moment we had killed the two focus agents. “We knew this the moment we accepted.” Seth replied softly. A few murmurs of surprise and approval echoed through the room. What did that mean? Were we special by accepting their terms?
“Are you aware of the terms and conditions?” One of the women spoke up. Her hair was a brilliant shade of red and her eyes flashed green. She was a buxom woman with a curvy form emphasized by her tailored mini skirt suit.
I resisted a smug smile. Obviously, they were not completely aware of our capabilities, or had Lukas withheld some information? “I assure you, we are very well aware of it.”
Hermes frowned. “Even if you had to kill the ones that you care for?”
“What do you mean?” My eyes snapped up at him expectantly.
Smug pride written all over his handsome features spelled conceit. “According to Pandora here…” He gestured to Selina, who trembled, deathly pale. Whether it was frustration or fear, I did not know. “She says that someone you knew recently accepted to work for Reign.”
Selina turned to him, patting my arm, eyes grim. “K 05 just joined forces with the enemy and the current government…” The news hit me like a cold shower: disagreeable and unbearably true. Somehow I had had a premonition that something like this would happen. But I hadn’t heard the worse of it as she went on, her eyes trembling with beads of grief. “Worse… Steve, that’s how he calls himself… He…” she suddenly lost her composure and wept into my arms. I shushed her, caressing her hair. “He killed Jordan! He killed I 05!”
He killed Jordan… Steve killed one of us… Can’t be happening! My mind echoed with those senseless words. It’s just a nightmare… All of this, it’s not real! I am going to pinch myself and wake from this horrible life. I’ll be safe in my bed at the Institute, there’ll be Jordan here greeting me with his friendly smile. Jordan defending me against Steve. Jordan comforting me when Steve bullied me. Jordan laughing with Seth and Selina… Flashes of Jordan’s generous smile splashed my mind and eyes as I blanked out. A mosaic of distorted images, his cheerful voice like ringing bells. Stop this! You’re being delusional! He can’t be dead! I scolded myself.
The world was suddenly so cold and I was sinking in a swarm of endless despair. Can’t be dead! They’re lying…
‘NICK!’ Seth suddenly called me from the whirpool of my own destructive emotions. I didn’t want to answer.
‘Leave me alone! I just want to die!’ I replied mentally. The grief was just too overwhelming and I felt the tears wetting my face. Somehow, during all this time, I had fallen to the floor in a daze. What is there to live for when such a gentle soul has been snuffed out! Where has the world gone to! It’s simply not fair! I wanted to cry out. My voice would not function. Everything shut down around me as I passed out right there on the floor.
A pit of bottomless despair.
I was falling, dropping with no handhold or hope to hold on to.
Bleak voices of darkness claimed me.
I drifted, unwilling to come back to life. This was maybe the final straw.
But out of the engulfing darkness that was threatening to swallow me in, a small timid voice made its way to my ears. A spark of hope.
‘Don’t resent Steve, Nick.’ Jordan! His voice was so real.
‘Jordan! Where are you?’ I looked around wildly but only his ghostlike silhouette came to me. A look of pleading pain plagued me.
‘Don’t give up, Nick! Stay alive for me… for us… I may be dead, but you’re always in my heart. I… I want you to forgive me for being so weak. Steve did this because of his misguided views of the world. You will overcome your grief and live on.’ He smiled sheepishly.
I remained there stunned, wanting so badly to reach out for him and join him. It would be simpler to just let go. ‘But I can’t! It’s just too much!’
‘You’re strong! I know it! If you give up now, you’ll never forgive yourself! This world is tainted and you need to fight back to purify it! You need to become strong and fight alongside your other teammates. Selina is very resilient, so support her.’
I sighed, seeing Jordan’s logic in it. It was just that the pain would be so hard to endure. But that was what we did to survive and fight. Endure the pain, swallow it and live with it. ‘Alright, Jordan, but your death will not be in vain.’ I gave him a smile, and his face melted in relief.
‘Good. Tell Selina that I love her and wish her luck.’ With a faint whisper, Jordan trailed away, leaving me to look up to the pinpoint of light. Steeling myself, I reached for it and seized it. Consciousness settled itself in my mind as the surroundings dawned on me again. A blurred shape moved over me, the voice slightly familiar.
“Nick!” I recognized Seth, looking over me with deep concern. “Are you alright?” Anguish traced every plane of his sweet face and his voice trembled.
A watery smile made its way to my face as I propped myself on my elbows. Many other people were gathered around me, including Selina. “Huh… Guess I am a wimp after all…” I sighed, giving Selina a smile. “but I’m not giving up. I nearly died out there, but Jordan…” Tears came to my eyes. “Jordan spoke to me and he told me to fight. He says he loves you Selina and that you have to keep on going.” I folded one hand over hers. She made a small noise between a strangled sob and a cough. Once the emotional scene was over, I got back to my feet with a firmer resolve. Anger now washed over me. Steve deserved whatever came his way.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Seth asked worriedly. I patted his hand, then turned back to the Etna agents waiting there.
“Of course…” The mere thought of Steve made me bristle. “I will never forgive Steve for what he did…” I fumed, letting the anger take its full course through me. “Never forgive the bad ones…” Enamored by my rage, I brought my palm upwards and a blue flame erupted from it, threatening to engulf everything in its path. An expression of awed fear erased the conceited smirk from Hermes’ face. I jumped up and quickly extinguish the flame.
“Then if you’re ready, we could maybe proceed with the rest of the evaluation.” Lukas cleared his throat to resume the course of events. I replied with a soft snort and readied myself.
“I’m ready whenever you are.” We traveled deeper into another labyrinth of hallways. A vast arena glistening with pristine metallic walls greeted us.
“This is one of the training rooms we have in handy for practice.” Hermes explained, while the rest of the agents made it to a small control room. It prsided over the arena separated by a clear glass pane. “You will each be tested separately, then the three of you will go against our attackers.”
I nodded, flexing my muscles, itching for a fight. However, before entering, one of the agents led us to an equipment room, where they gestured towards black skintight leather suits.
I wrinkled my nose in distaste. “What are those for?”
“ They monitor your vitals.” Said Lukas. Wordlessly, Seth took one. Each of us were showed private dressing room and I pulled my own as quickly as possible. My roiling insides itched for a fight. I needed to get rid of the excess adrenaline and anger flooding through me.
“If you want to, you may choose your weapons.” Lukas continued, leading us through a chrome hallway. Only Hermes remained. I vainly attempted to brush off his gaze but he stubbornly kept up with the task. Inside the weapons room, we took stock of the arsenal and I whistled.
‘Not bad! Who funded all of this?’ I asked, inspecting each weapon with wide eyes.
Hermes smiled at my amazement. “Zeus, my boss did. He is president of Crystal Corporation, if you haven’t already heard about him.”
I nodded mutely running my hands over the numerous weapons. Seth already made a bee line for the swords. I snorted. I was good with a sword but I favored other weapons. I preferred far range weapons. Seth had agreed that I had uncanny aim and grace in that area so I walked over to the far range weapons.
Throwing knives, darts, pins, throwing stars and disks.
Hmm… What to choose? I wondered idly. Finally, after much thought, I swiped the shurikens, the disks and the darts. Now was the time for me to test my accuracy. Anyways, if I was in a fix, I always had my Gift that I had not failed to practice with. I was now able to maintain control of the earth’s primary energy and stream it through my own body in order to use it to my own advantage. That was a power that was very useful and very dangerous. I ran the risk of deteriorating the world itself if I could not control myself.
“Ready then?” Lukas broke off my line of thoughts, eyeing my darts with appreciation. I remembered that he had used the same weapons. Working off the flush, I followed Seth who had opted for a flashy katana.
Hermes showed us through the arena while Lukas verified the suits and chose the order for the testing. They went by order of age. I resisted an urge to groan while Selina threw me a wink. She disappeared through the doors and flicked her wrist. She had chosen a whip with steel barbs.
“Ouch! That weapon’s deadly.” I whispered next to Seth.
He smiled in response. “Talk about a hot headed woman… I knew she would opt for something up that ally!” His mouth closed shut when she concentrated on her stance. From the roof a vent opened, letting free deadly tentacles mounted with snapping blades. “Do you think she’ll manage?”
“I think she’ll do just fine…” I chuckled, checking her progress. “Look.” In fact, flexibility allowed easier movement. Her flips and sommersaults were executed with just the right amount of control. It was an entrancing dance of death as she lashed out with her whip, neatly ripping through the tentacles around her in a haze of destruction. I admired her perfect footwork. “She’s been practicing obviously.”
“This young girl shows incredible skill and control.” Hermes remarked. “Very good constitution too. Her heart rate is very healthy.”
“I can see she’s very flexible too.” Lukas added. I watched in silent fascination as she flipped once again and twisted in midair to land on another tentacle. Out of the far wall to her back, another pane slid open, revealing an army of dummy robots. They made me pause. They looked quite highly trained.
“Are you sure you’re not pushing it too far?” I asked him.
Hermes laughed traces of worry inexistent on his face. “Of course not. We take care to calibrate them, but since your friend here is doing so good, we decided to up the ante.” I swallowed a protest and looked towards Seth. He was admirably impressed. To our own amazement, she finished them in matters of minutes with a few well-placed whip attacks.
Well I’ll be damned! I wouldn’t want to go against her whip! I told myself, shuddering slightly. The destroyed tentacles suddenly retracted back into the wall, and the robots were lifted away by clean up a crew. Selina looked up at us and waved. She wasn’t even breaking a sweat. Hermes immediately walked up to her to congratulate her. She deflected the praises and giggled when she saw our dumbfounded expressions.
“So, what do you think?” She questioned in a sweet voice.
“Er... You’re really good!” I managed to get out. ‘I don’t think I could move like you.’ She thumped my shoulder good-naturedly while Seth slipped inside the room purposefully. The trademark tentacles snaked out attracted to the sensors the suit gave out. I held in a breath as Seth easily deflected them with well-aimed blasts of telekinesis.
“What powers does Seth have?” Hermes demanded, mystified as the swarming tentacles froze. He moved in a whirlwind of slashing and thrusting, destroying a volley of dummy robots.
“He’s a telekinetic and telepath. He probably disabled the core of the tentacles.” I supplied, to Hermes’ amazement. Selina, who as toweling off grinned and gave a thumbs up.
“He’s always been one of the best of us when they used to test us.” Selina explained.
“They?” Hermes prompted. “who’s they?”
Before she could open her mouth, I hushed her with my own words. “None of your concern, Hermes.” I met his powerful gaze with my own. “Our personal lives are not yours to meddle with. We only work for you for our own reasons.”
Selina lifted a brow in bewilderment, but I shook it away by turning back to Seth. Without even so much as a glimpse of effort, he had already plowed through the mechanical dollies. That’s Seth for you! He’s really the best! I smiled to myself at the thought. ‘good job, Seth.’ I encouraged him through our link. He instantly looked up at me and jerked a thumb up. His gift was the most effective one, and the most difficult to defend against.
He walked out, leaving metal carcasses behind. I almost felt sorry for all the equipment we were destroying. Hermes’ chilling gaze fastened on me, quickly diminished that flare of guilt. He started to annoy me with his eyes. Before I could ask him why he kept eyeing me, Seth walked out. Resisting the urge to kiss him, I simply enveloped him in a hug.
“You did well…” I whispered in his hair.
“Hmm… You’ll do fine. Blow them away out there.” He ruffled my hair and licked my earlobe tantalizingly. Shuddering with desire, I pushed away trying to hide my growing unease. All eyes drew to me. Was it because I was the youngest one, or that they had no definite idea of what my gift was?
I flaunted Lukas a smug smile and slipped into the arena. Instantly, I familiarized my senses, closing my eyes. I liked it better this way and let my mind expand. I imagined myself as light as a feather and the telltale click of metal alerted me. As I opened my eyes, I sized up the swarm of tentacles. I am getting truly weary of tentacles… I slipped three darts between my fists.
Flicking my wrist, I sent the dart hurtling towards the main circuits, freezing the devices. I left off into the air in a sommersault, kicking away at a flying machine over me. Another accurate throw and my darts pinned it to the wall. The dummies that came in seemed to be more maniacal than the ones I had seen with Seth and Selina to my alarm. Cursing Lukas who had probably upgraded the level, I avoided their lethal claws with breath-taking aerial stunts. I was out of projectiles so I resorted to use my gift.
Opening my senses for my power, I flicked a hand and a tongue of flames erupted, sizzling a looming robot. I flipped my way to the corner of the room free of robots, hurling balls of energy, each targeting one of the mechanical dummies.
This was a little more entertaining and I was beginning to enjoy myself. Another few perfectly aimed energy balls and the machines crumbled down. The smell of burnt metal permeated the air, as I assessed the damage I had done. In short words, I would be costing them a lot of money. The doors slid open and I walked out. Only then did thirst start to settle in from the heat. Letting out a fraction of my powers, I summoned a water ball and swallowed it.
Seth slammed into me, congratulating me with a friendly hug. “Hey good job! I wanted to tell Lukas to stop putting the upgraded robots on you, but I saw you were having a good time.”
“You are quite the fighter…” Hermes sliced through our conversation with an arctic voice. “What exactly is the gift you possess?”
“I dunno… It’s kinda hard to describe. I guess I can tune in to the energies of the earth and I control elements. Those energy blasts were sources I drew from the planet…”
I finally noticed the disturbed looks from many of the agents. Mouths hung open, silence weighed heavily on the table of judges. Selina rubbed my arm, giving me an irresistible smile that I had to give in to. “You idiot. You’re just as good me! If not better!” We all laughed and walked outside. I was privy to the fact that if we wanted we were easily able to act cool and laid back in such dangerous situations, but that did not mean we were not serious about our work. I was glad when they let us change and shower then put on our clothes. All refreshed, we joined the rest of the judges in the initial room we had first seen the agents. Hermes presided the table, judging us with keen eyes.
“After some time, we have determined which specialization you will take. All four of you will now be Olympus, a team of assassins working under our orders. Close range will be awarded to Seth who seems to be very skilled in the sword. Intermediate range will go to Selina who can wield the whip with very deadly precision. Finally, Lukas and Nick will be far range because you both show extreme accuracy in your throws.” I bowed my head in resignation. This was it. We were now officially assassins, assigned specific posts. Lukas beside me smiled cheerfully.
“As Etna agents, we welcome you to the resistance against the government. I will be issuing you the missions through my superior. You will each be given codenames. Selina and Lukas already have them.” He motioned to the two said ones. “Selina goes by Pandora, and Lukas, is Jason.” He pointed to Seth and me. “Seth, you will go by the codename Perseus, and you, Nick, your codename will be Prometheus.” He drifted off into a lengthy pause, letting us adjust to our new identities. “any further questions?”
“Yes.” I spoke up, to everyone’s surprise. “What about our cover? What will we use as a cover?”
Hermes’ face lit up with a devious smile. “Good thinking, Prometheus. Zeus has already arranged it. You will need a daytime job since nights will be reserved for missions.” For the effect, he held the words in silence. His arrogance was really starting to tick me off. “We want you to work in an inconspicuous area so where you may not be traced to your real profession. We don’t want something too conspicuous either, which would lead people to your real job, but we also want it to get you in contact with high society…”
We all looked at each other puzzled. What job would fill this description? I refrained myself from reaching Seth telepathically. Lukas was just as clueless.
“How about you work at a petshop?” said Hermes.
Our mouths dropped open in disbelief. A petshop?
TBC…