Blackstripe

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

7:28 PM, January 18th
New Orleans

The Delphine estate was vast, stretching out across New Orleans like a festering wound against an otherwise pure patch of skin. A cobbled path winded through from the main gateway, leading past the rows of cypress trees and barren magnolias to the star of the estate, the mansion.

Painted in beautiful shades of white, and roofed in navy shingles, the mansion had not a single chip in sight. Pruned bushes surrounded the perimeter, and a perfectly manicured lawn stretched out front. Children played, and mothers kept a watchful eye on them, as well as the gate, from where they were seated on the porch. It was at least three stories, with a proud tower rising above the rest. Clio knew that was where the Head of House lived, but it likely looked like just another fixture on an extravagant manor to others. Yellow light shone through the windows, warm and inviting.

Around the mansion were houses, contained within the wrought iron fence of the estate. They were far more simple than the mansion itself, but were all painted in dark colors that matched the aesthetic of the main building. Smaller paths led to each house, with every path leading back to the main one. It was symbolic, in Clio's mind, at least. All paths lead back home.

To get through the fifteen foot tall, wrought iron gates was simple. You only had to be accompanied by someone with Delphine blood. Cars were allowed through, but had to be parked right away. The gate opened automatically for Clio, and the car crawled through them slowly as a black raven watched them from its perch on top of the gate. She turned on a dime, parking against the side of the gate.

"So...what do you think?" She asked, not sure if she wanted to impress Star or not.

Her bright green eyes took in as many details as possible flicking back and forth from place to place. This was where Clio grew up. ”It is like a palace. Beautiful, and old, and imposing.” This building looked like it could be older than Starfire herself. It was wonderful that they could maintain such grand buildings over many generations. She stopped looking at the mansion and turned to her friend expectantly.

Clio was scratching at her skin, picking away at the nerves bundled up beneath the outermost layer of her flesh. She didn't know why she was so afraid. Perhaps it was because she felt so powerless. She was going to be beaten in any challenge thrown her way, unless Makaya's strength returned. She felt like a child again, vying for attention and power.

"Ready to meet the family?" She asked, her forced grin souring. Starfire nodded eagerly but compressed her lips as her friend’s expression turned grim. Clio walked forward, feet pulsating as they hit the cobble path. She could do this, she knew she could. How bad could her family be?

As soon as they got past the final row of trees, the first challenger approached. A child, no older than six, lashed out at her knees. He attempted to summon up shadows, but all that came to him were little droplets of darkness. Clio stared down at the boy, blinking.

Whose kid was this?

Clio reached out, gently shoving the child by the shoulder. He fell onto his butt, and proceeded to pout. The child's mother, presumably, approached. Clio recognized her immediately. Cousin Zyra, daughter of Aunt Sophia. She was a year older than Clio. How could she already have a grown child running around?

"Cousin Clio," Zyra said warmly. She wrapped her arms around Clio, pulling her in for a tight squeeze. There was no aggression, thank goodness. Clio had already displayed her dominance over Zyra years ago. She was just glad she didn't want a round two.

"Zyra, it's a pleasure. This is my friend, Starfire. Starfire, Zyra." She gestured between the two, before Starfire or Zyra could ask.

Starfire had her own arms behind her back, holding her left wrist with her right hand. She smiled and waved at this cousin, Zyra. ”Hello, Zyra. It is good to meet you.” There was an optimistic anxiousness in Starfire’s voice. She was not comfortable but she wanted to keep going.

Zyra gave the alien a good, long look, before finally smiling at her. She was wary of the newcomers, but perhaps this was who Clio wanted as her second? It wasn't a matter she could pry into, not now, at least. "The rest of the family's been awaiting you, Cousin. Nou rate ou."

Taking Clio's hand, Zyra lead the girl up past the playing children and the mothers who gave Starfire uneasy glances. Opening the door, a familiar flush of scents hit Clio's nose. Earthy herbs, spices, fresh baked bread and desserts. Clio's face relaxed almost immediately, the scents of her childhood wrapping around her.

Family members of all different ages and sizes surrounded them. They had seemingly been alerted to her presence, and Clio knew who had informed them. The two teenagers from earlier that afternoon were leaning against one of the upstairs banisters, watching with smirks on their faces. Clio shot them a glare, despite her pettiness being ridiculous seeing as she was far older.

Clio glanced around the room, and swallowed. She wasn't sure what to say, or do. Matriarch Zaalia wasn't around, so she couldn't get on her knee and swear fealty again. To her left, she heard someone stomping rapidly down the staircase. Shadows wrapped around her body, pulling her forcibly toward another person. She forced herself not to cry out or struggle, even as she was tucked into the arms of her Cousin Theo.

"Cousin!" He roared with laughter, and the rest of the Delphine clan followed as he began to give her braids a noogie. At this, she did put up some resistance, crying out and throwing her hands up over her head to keep them from getting disrupted.

At last, Theo released her from his hold, only to spin her around, hold her by the shoulders, and give her a hard stare. Clio kept her eyes ahead of her, staring him down and hopefully making him just as uncomfortable. It had been a while since they had seen each other, but everything came rushing back.

From the open window to the right of the door, the large black raven that had trailed them since they entered the city entered. Flying directly for Theo, it beat its wings lightly before settling onto his shoulder. It, too, now stared at Clio alongside him.

Clio squinted at the large avian creature, then back up at Theo. "Have you been watching us?" She asked, recalling Starfire mentioning a bird earlier. It could've very well been a different bird, but coincidences were unlikely here.

Theo scoffed. "What type of Cousin do you think I am, estipid?" He asked, poking at her. "I don't control Effy's actions."

"Alright," Clio said, obviously not accepting this answer, but leaving it in the past. She batted away at Theo's arms, applying more force than necessary. Theo may have been her favorite, but this casual power move had been ridiculous. She had set herself below him long ago, due to him being the Matriarch's son.

Turning, she looked for Starfire. The girl had been approached by several family members, and was currently being observed from an arm's distance away. Someone had offered her a slice of sweet potato pie, which Clio huffed at. She loved the stuff, and they were giving it to someone who couldn't even eat!

Starfire shook her head politely at the offer. ”I am sorry, I do not eat food.” Infact, ever since her encounter at that restaurant 18 days ago, the stuff looked disgusting to the alien. But she did not want to say that, because that would be rude. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it. Everyone else was also looking at Clio and her and Starfire felt like she was sticking out even more than she usually did.

"You don't eat? How do you not eat and you still look thicker than Clio?" Asked one of the males who were observing her. ”Thicker…?” The woman who had offered up the pie looked a bit upset, but slowly moved back toward the kitchen.

Clio stepped toward them, putting a hand on Starfire's shoulder. "Please, don't mess with Star. If she needs something, I ask that you give it to her. My place is hers." The alien looked appreciatively over at Clio.

One of the women opened her mouth to say something, but Clio assumed her words and cut her off. "If anyone wants to challenge me again, feel free." She raised her voice, even though she felt like crawling within herself, assuming the fetal position and hiding.

The raven’s head darted about the room, seeming almost curious as to which of them would offer a challenge to Clio first. At no point did she ever caw, or make any sort of noise that would disturb the palpable tension in the room.

The gathered family then began to step aside, like trees forced apart by the movement of some large animal. The source of this disturbance was soon revealed to be none other than Caleb, standing at an impressive six feet and six inches tall. His black shirt grasped tightly at his defined, muscular frame, his face angular and handsome, in a “classic hero” sort of way.

“I’ll challenge you,” he said, grinning with a mouth of gleaming white teeth. It looked as if he was posing for a sports magazine cover. “Though, it might be the last one you’re able to accept for a while.”

Clio let out a string of mental curses. She glanced at Starfire, though, and knew she had to take the challenge. Not doing so would be a sure sign of weakness, and it would put Starfire in a precarious position of weakness. The alien looked worried, not knowing how destructive this challenge would be. She took a few nervous steps backwards.

Clio straightened, adjusting her hair like it wasn't a big deal. Mentally, she was panicking. While Makaya seemed up for the challenge --currently doing a series of mental push-ups and flexing her strength-- Clio was anything but sure. She begged Makaya to work whatever was ailing her out.

Shut the fuck up, I got this. Her better half said, and Clio nodded at Caleb. She tried to recall his face, recall him. It hit her, and she stumbled, face dropping.

"Cal?" She asked, the nickname for her younger cousin. He had been such a cute baby, lacking this animosity. She supposed everyone had to grow up. "I accept, Caleb." She said proudly, summoning up her daggers. It was like summoning through quicksand, but she ignored that. Makaya would get through it.

With those words, the home shifted. Suddenly, the entire area was covered in a thick blanket of shadow, produced by the surrounding family members. It was a protective measure, for when challenges were performed in the home rather than the Breakdown. Many children fled, alongside their mothers. Some stayed, settling against the new wall of shadow to watch the fight.

Those three words were all Caleb needed to hear from Clio. He didn’t seem to be in the mood to reminisce about the old days. Sucking in air, he flexed his considerable musculature, and the surrounding shadows immediately wrapped themselves around him like armor, leaving only his eyes visible through a narrow slit.

Lowering his head, he stepped forward with such a force that the floorboards beneath his feet audibly cracked. The distance between them was closed in an instant, the vastly larger Delphine rocketing towards Clio shoulder first like a battering ram. His face was tucked down, likely to protect the only vulnerable part of his body.

While Clio was struggling magically, that tea had made her feel better physically than she had in awhile. Coupling that with her actually eating something for the first time in a day or three, she was practically in her prime. Knowing that Caleb's momentum prevented him from drastically changing course, she jumped to the side, shifting into a roll midair and launching back up to her feet. She launched her first dagger at the back of his neck, sure her accuracy would be off with the sheer amount of force she exerted in order to get through his shadow.

Don't evade! Get back in there, we don't jump around! Makaya roared, willing Clio to step in. Clio's feet remained firmly planted, though her body was screaming at her. "We evade, when you're struggling!" She hissed under her breath.

Caleb grunted when the knife struck the back of his armor. He had apparently felt it, but it had nevertheless failed to do any meaningful damage. Rounding on her, he roared out a laugh. “Think your fast, do you? You haven’t seen speed yet, cousin!”

“ARE. YOU. READY?!” he shouted, flexing proudly for the “audience”. Clio stared at him, shocked. He then crouched, launching himself into the air with a powerful leap. Spinning rapidly, spikes rapidly grew along his shadow armor before firing in all directions like deadly quills, each one capable of killing if it struck a vital area.

The audience suddenly summoned up shields of shadow around themselves. Up until this point, they had only been watching. Some seemed bored, in fact. Others mumbled to the person next to them, giving their two cents on the fight. It was obvious that this was normal.

In the split second Clio had to glance around while the spikes were being launched her way, she noticed that no one had gone to protect Starfire. Why would they, when she was only worth as much as Clio? Forcing herself to ignore Makaya's request to protect their body, rather than hers, she summoned up a shadow barrier that coated Star. It moved slowly, encasing her in a thin layer of darkness. The quills would still penetrate, but they wouldn't do nearly as much damage. It was all Clio could do, she felt her head ripping to shreds at the exertion.

Clio awaited her anticlimactic death, staring at the shocked Starfire, but it never came. She looked in front of her, and a thick wall of shadow had been placed before her body, absorbing each quill. She didn't reveal her shock, but she felt it in every nerve of her body. Someone had interfered.

That was the one rule. No one could tamper with the fight, or support their favored family members. Whoever had broken that rule would've been in big trouble if Clio had decided to snitch. Luckily for them, she was more grateful than furious.

Focus, Clio! Makaya snapped, struggling to take control. She was completely and utterly pissed. Not only because Caleb had performed an attack that damaged her charge, but because Clio was a blundering idiot. As the shadow barrier fell, Clio launched another dagger at Caleb, summoning her previous one and rushing forward while his armor was still down.

She could do it. They could do it. As she neared, she suddenly went low, kicking out at Caleb's legs in an attempt to sweep them.

The sweep connected with a distinct, bone withering crack, like a wooden bat slamming into a brick wall. Caleb’s massive leg remained unmoved. Furthermore, the dagger she had thrown had also met its mark, striking him directly in the chest...where all but the very tip protruded, the end having been literally seized by his flexing pectoral muscles.

Immediately reaching down to seize Clio’s extended calf, he gripped it tightly and began to swing her wildly overhead like a cowboy with a lasso. Laughing, he plucked the dagger held between his pecs free with his other hand. “Your toys won’t be enough to fell me, cousin!”

He then reared back and hurled it far into the darkness surrounding them. With that taken care of, he slammed Clio down onto the ground, before lifting her high again to repeat the attack for several more rounds.

Finally releasing her, he leaped into the air once more, recalling his shadowy armor as he fell in an attempted bodyslam.

Clio knew she was light, but he tossed her around like a feather. She kept her arms around her head each time he slammed her into the ground, protecting her cranium. Her body was on its own. Luckily, the shadow beneath her was cushiony, but it still hurt like hell every time she was brutally thrown against it. Her calf screamed, his grip so tight she was concerned her knee would dislocate.

Her vision was blurred, and as he went through the air to catch her in a crushing bodyslam, she lazily rolled. Her right arm didn't follow, and was caught beneath him. She screamed as it snapped, but pulled it out from beneath him anyways. It was already broken, why care about it now? She forced herself not to look at the bone protruding through the skin, scrambling to her feet. Starfire gasped and grimaced at the horrible wound. ”Get up, Clio!”

Her world was spinning, the pain was agonizing, and she was ready to give in. Before she could force herself to her knee, the chilling grip of someone pushing their will over her consciousness overtook her.

"You're fucking dead, Slave!" Makaya roared. The proclamation was serious. Calling a family member a slave before they were dead was ridiculously sinister. But so was breaking a family member's arm with a bodyslam. At least, in her mind.

Caleb glared down at her, but nevertheless backed away several paces. He knew that drastic change in tone--it was Makaya. Still, he wasn’t scared of her demon! His MUSCLES were demons, and he had dozens of them ready to pulverize her! He flexed imposingly, even though his armor largely hid this fact.

Caleb's mother, who had been standing alone in one corner of the room, scowled at the sudden resurgence of Makaya. Leave it to Clio to use her demon against a regular member of the family. That being said, if her child didn't take this seriously, he'd end up a true slave.

"Sispann pitye alantou, ti bebe mwen an!" She shouted, trying to penetrate the thick skull Caleb had when he was fighting. She knew it was wrong to interfere, but she'd take the punishment over the death of her son.

Caleb’s shoulders slumped at his mother’s admonishment, and he ceased to flex. Casting a sheepish glance in her direction, he mumbled, “Regrèt, manman.”

With that, his shadow armor partly faded. His head, neck, and crotch remained protected, as were most of his joints, but the provenly endurant muscles of his pecs, abs, and limbs were now unguarded.

He raised his hands, also armored, in a ready fighting stance, awaiting Makaya’s move.

"Really? You're gonna listen to your Manman? Where's your pride, Slave?" Makaya asked, taunting him, she began to prowl around him, keeping her left side toward him. Her right arm hung limp, a constant source of pain.

“Some of us still respect our family, traitor,” said Caleb, making sure to always face her as she circled him.

"Your respect is forced, remember when you wanted to run off and be a professional fighter, like your father?" Makaya asked, pausing and staring at her manicured fingers. She stroked her chin in wonder. "Wasn't your manman the same woman who made you stay, and grovel beneath the rest of the family? That was the year I left, yeah?"

“Of course you would say that,” he growled. “You’re a vile snake of a woman, just like the rest of your branch. That’s why…”

While Caleb's eyes were focused on her, the shadows behind him began to shift. It was a slow process, but with his attention on her, she managed to make three, thick tendrils. They were sharper than daggers at the ends. In a swift motion, they dived toward his back.

Caleb rolled to the side just as the tendrils were nearly upon him, the trio plunging into the floor. “...I KNEW YOU WOULD ATTACK ME FROM BEHIND, COWARD!”

Launching himself forward again, Makaya would note that her shadowy tendrils had been ensnared by Caleb’s own--the shadows he hadn’t used for his armor. They weren’t attempting to disperse them, but rather to force them to retain their forms and remain stationary.

Meanwhile, Caleb was upon her. This time, he did not unleash any of his fancy wrestling moves, having assumed a disciplined boxing stance. Like industrial pistols, his armored, spiked knuckles shot out at her with inhuman speed and power, a rapid succession of straights aimed at smashing her face to a pulp.

With the same level of speed, Makaya bobbed and dodged the assault. From the sides, two tendrils of shadows launched out like battering rams, slamming into Caleb repeatedly. She kept a firm hold on them, so he couldn't take control.

Caleb grunted, falling back under the assault as he was smashed into repeatedly by the rams. It hurt...but he wasn’t afraid of pain. Raising his arms as the pistons were coming in for another attack, he crouched and angled his body to the side to allow them to slip past before seizing them beneath his arms. Using his momentum, he swung his massive feet forward from this position to deliver a double kick to Makaya’s chest.

Makaya grunted as she was launched by the kick, her body flailing as she attempted to catch herself. She couldn't really use her right arm in the catch, but she did so anyways. The bone stuck out further, but she didn't seem to care. That was Clio's pain to deal with, for being weak.

Launching forward after shaking off the attack and sucking in a breath, she summoned up her daggers and feigned a throw. It soared past his head, close to his ear, but she threw up another ram of shadow to pummel into the other side of his skull, hoping he'd move to the side to dodge the dagger and slam himself into it.

The results of this attack played out exactly as Makaya had hoped, with the ram impacting Caleb’s head with enough force to send the giant of a man toppling over onto the ground with a mighty grunt of pain. His eyes crossed from behind his helmet, which began to fade along with his armor, due to his lack of focus.

Makaya took this as her time to strike. She let out a battle cry that ended in a twisted laugh, pouncing through the air to land on Caleb. She encased her left fist in thick black shadow, and began pummeling his face.

"Koulèv la touye ti bebe mwen an!" Caleb's mother screamed, rushing forward. A barrier of shadow pushed her against the wall, and she was forced to watch through a small slit in the void.

At the sound of his mother’s voice, Caleb’s eyes snapped back into focus, even as he was pummelled. He could feel the firing burning through his face. It hurt. It hurt incredibly bad...it would be quite reasonable to give up.

Reasonable, yes…but not honorable.

He hated the sound of concern being levied in his direction. He was a proud champion. He couldn’t go down like this. Never like this, on his back.

No. The three count wasn’t up. The bell...HADN’T SOUNDED YET!

“GRYAAAH!” Caleb suddenly roared, rising to his feet with such a speed that Makaya would not have time to dismount him. His arms snapped forward to encase her in a bearhug, beginning to squeeze as his eyes went bloodshot. Shadows wrapped around them both in that moment, strengthening his grip further.

“MUSCLE...FOREVER!!”

Makaya roared out in pain as her right arm was crushed by his musculature. Her body writhed, panic threatening to consume her. Panic that wasn't hers.

No! She forced their body to calm, easing her will over Caleb's shadows. When that didn't work, she forced it. She was more powerful, she was older. She was superior. Her head split, her scalp threatening to explode with the burning pain of control. She screamed, ripping the shadows away and loosening his hold. She forced them back onto him, squeezing between the sliver of a gap that separated them and exploding outward. She was ripped from his grasp, and thrown onto the ground. Her body was an aching mess, she struggled to lift herself up.

Her fight was almost over. She could feel It.

He could hear it. Their cheers.

The children in the audience, carrying signs that read “Hardcore Caleb” on them. Even though his mother had pleaded with him to stay, and even though he had relented...he still hadn’t truly let go of his dream. The sight of himself standing in that ring, his arms held high.

If he lost, he would never reach it. His only chance was to ascend. To rise until he was great enough that none could tell him how to live his life.

He would hear their cheers. He would bring them their smiles.

Roaring with such a force that the shadows around them trembled, he pit his will, his determination against Makaya’s and wrested his shadows free. Encasing his hand in a massive fist of darkness, he launched himself at her with all the force of a speeding locomotive.

This was it. His everything. His heart, his passion, his determination.

“STOP IT IF YOU CAN!!” he shouted. “THE FIST OF A CHAMPION!”

Caleb would never give. It wasn't his nature. Nor was it Makaya's. Clio, however, didn't feel the same way. Gone was her past, the days when she relished in these fights. The only thing that kept her going was Starfire, her respect for her friend. Her desire to keep her afloat in a family of intrigue. Glancing over at Starfire, she felt tears bubbling up in the corner of her eyes. She had failed her.

Makaya was eager to finish this, but their body was broken. In the moment before the charging fist connected with their body, Clio used her demon's weakened state to take over. She sat up, taking a knee. A tendril of darkness locked around Caleb's waist, trapping him before he could finish his attack.

The darkness around them faded, and the family entered the arena. Matriarch Zaalia entered with them, clapping her hands together once.

"Someone, take Clio to the infirmary. Caleb, congratulations." She said, her voice extremely commanding.

Someone swept Clio up into their arms, and she collapsed against their chest. Tears dripped from her eyes, but she said nothing as she was whisked away.

But though the darkness had faded, Caleb continued to struggle against the shadow tendril, intend on delivery his last, desperate punch. Frighteningly, the shadow started to buckle, until a loud clang rang out through the room.

Instantly, sense returned to his eyes, and they fell upon a boy standing in front of their mother. His little brother, Jacob. He had just smacked a ladle against a pot. The bell had sounded.

Allowing the shadow to fade from his hand, he began panting. Now that the fight was over, all of his injuries were quickly reasserting themselves, and he was forced to find a table to keep himself upright.

Starfire was in the corner of the room with her arm behind her back and her defences up. Seeing Clio clearly injured and the man named Caleb no longer engaged in combat, she quicly tried to follow her friend into the infirmary.

No one prevented Starfire from joining Clio. They were all busy congratulating Caleb and doing what they could to patch up the victor. The man who had taken Clio turned to Starfire, flashing her an apologetic smile. It was Theo.

"Mind telling me what's wrong with her?" He asked, a subtle annoyance in his tone. "Before she left, she would've been able to take out Caleb as he is now."

Clio mumbled something, but her tongue was thick in her throat and it came out unintelligible. She was laid down on a bed in the infirmary, which was filled with cabinets that contained bandages and medicines. On top of each cabinet were two small cauldrons. After Clio was laid out, Theo turned to one and filled it with a green liquid.

He began throwing items in the cauldron, mumbling under his breath in Creole. It bubbled and thickened, smelling of herbs.

Starfire was about to shook her head, but then thought for a moment. ”I believe she was poisoned recently.” She remembered, giving a knowing shake of her finger. Or rather, Makaya was. Makaya who was mean, though Star still had not seen her yet. Clio mentioned needing Makaya to win that fight.

”Also, her arm is broken. Can you fix that?” She asked, looking concernedly over his shoulder and at her hospitalized friend.

"Poisoned? With what?" He asked, eying Clio. Poison may have explained her extreme loss of weight, too. She had been so...full of life, before she left. Still struggling with depression, and her inner demon, but hopeful and strong. This wasn't the same Clio. Something had ruined her.

When Starfire asked about her arm, Theo nodded. "I plan on doing just that…" He said, taking a spoon and stirring the mixture. It was like a thick paste now. Forest green and smelling so strongly of herbs it hurt the nose.

Lifting the cauldron, he placed it beside the bed. Taking Clio's arm, he gave her a soft look before snapping it back into place roughly. She cried out, and he ran a hand over her braids to soothe some of her pain. After a few moments of that, he took the paste within the pot and began slathering it over her broken flesh. Clio felt a strong burning sensation, but she kept herself still. It took her mind off her mental pain.

Grabbing some bandages, Theo wrapped the arm up tightly, and looked over at Starfire. "Should mend itself soon enough." He said, shrugging. That was all he could do for her. "But she's weak. If she weren't so thin and lacking in energy, it wouldn't take near as long."

Starfire cringed at the crude but effective fixing of her broken bone, and then went to the side of her friend.

”I believe the poisoning was a miscommunication. It was supposed to be helpful. I also did not know Clio was thin and lacking of energy. You were not always like this, Clio?” She asked, leaning slightly over the side of the bed.

Clio looked over at Star, her face hot. She nodded slightly, ashamed but unable to speak on it.

"Before she left she was…" He resisted the urge to say beautiful, something his other half wanted to put out into the world. "Healthy. No one's been taking care of her, obviously. You're her friend, aren't you? You haven't been able to tell she's not been eating?" He knew it wasn't their responsibility to force feed her, but when she had lived with the family all it took was gentle encouragement to make her swallow down a meal. Clio needed positive reinforcement, it was who she was.

Starfire regarded Theo sadly. She was not paying any attention at all to Clio’s eating habits. All she did was offer her some cookies, and Clio refused those. ”No, I was not. I am sorry for not taking good care of your cousin. I will do more in the future, I promise.” Just like she promised to keep Karen safe. She did not even know where Karen was.

Since Clio lacked the strength to comfortably speak, Starfire withdrew from the bed and began to wait at the wall. This was not going at all how she expected. They had only been at Clio’s house for half an hour before she was grievously injured.

Staring down at them from the medicine cabinet, Effy gently cawed in Theo’s direction, the first sound she had made. She had been perched on his shoulder for the entire fight, and had only moved when he went to take Clio to the infirmary. Her head craned towards Clio, her black eyes practically boring into her.

Clio stared back at the bird, lifting her hand to disturb a shadow next to it in the hopes of making it flee. "Why? She attempted, but it came out throaty and slurred.

To Starfire and Theo, it would appear as if Clio had randomly raised her hand without purpose, for the shadows did not move. It wasn’t because Makaya was too weak this time, however. They wanted to obey, but something was...forcing them not to.

Clio's brow furrowed. She didn't like this bird, at all. Whatever was messing with her shadows had something to do with that creature.

Theo glanced at Effy, shrugging. "Maybe she likes you?" He waved it off, turning his attention back to Starfire. "Thank you, Starfire. That being said, the best thing you could do for her is to leave her here to recover."

Starfire twisted her mouth to the side. She once again subconsciously performed her anxious tick, holding her arm behind her back and rocking back and forth on her heels. ”Will my presence bother her? I would rather make sure she is safe. I do not need to sleep or sit, I will be fine here.” Starfire also felt safer in here. She did not believe she was in danger in this house, but what if someone decided to challenge her? Or Starfire made a mistake? She already refused the sweet potato pie. Plus, Clio was the reason she came down here in the first place.

Clio glanced at Starfire, sympathetic. She felt like a failure in her presence, she was surprised the girl was still around. The fact that she wanted to protect her was endearing, but she couldn't take the pressure. Still, where else could Star go?

Theo took in the silent exchange. "Your presence here is fine, but why don't I show you around the estate? Clio needs rest, she won't be able to relax until she knows you're safe. You'll be safe with me."

Starfire bit her lip. Theo knew more about this than she did. She considered Clio briefly and then looked over Clio’s cousin. The last thing the alien wanted was to be a burden. After a moment of thought, Starfire nodded. ”Okay.” She said quietly.

Clio waved her goodbye, and fell against her pillow as they left. Theo closed the door behind them, locking it. He motioned for Starfire to follow, and began their tour.

Now alone, Effy flew down from her perch atop the medical cabinet, landing on one of the lights near Clio’s bed. Staring down at her from this closer vantage point, the raven loomed in silence, seemingly searching for something within the bedridden girl.

Clio's nostrils flared, and she reached out with her left hand to shoo away the familiar. "Leave me be, Effy."

But the raven didn’t budge. Her black eyes continued staring deeply into Clio’s. Deeper and deeper, until they were looking past them. Into the very depths of her being, until at last Makaya herself could feel them upon her.

Clio gasped, and Makaya responded with her usual aggression. She closed herself away, mentally flipping off the bird.

“Struggle,” a voice whispered inside Clio, not directed at her, but Makaya. It was a coercion spell, but it might as well have been on another dimensional plane in comparison to the one her younger cousin had used earlier. It was, simply put, overwhelming.

Makaya screamed, rising to the forefront and manipulating the shadows around herself. They launched toward the bird, sharp and volatile.

And yet...they didn’t?

The shadows, though they felt her call and seemingly desired to obey it, refused. Effy, seemingly satisfied with this show of strength, spoke again. “Relax.”

"Fuck off, Effy." Makaya said viciously, despite her body being entirely calm. Her mind was screaming, realizing everything that was going on.

“Now, sleep,” commanded Effy again, the voice not a physical one, but within her mind, commanding Makaya to go dormant. For the time being, at least.

Makaya struggled uselessly, before collapsing in Clio's mind. Clio stared at Effy, feeling defenseless and frightened. She prodded at Makaya, but she was out cold. Clio had the urge to scream or run, but she couldn't.

Effy raised her head slightly, and the shadows off the room sprang to life, consuming the infirmary in much the same way that the “arena” had consumed the house earlier. Once this was done, the raven leapt from the light and flew down to the floor, vanishing from Clio’s sight.

Like a snake slithering up from a charmer’s basket, a cloaked, humanoid figure began to rise above the edge of her bed until it loomed over her.

Clio threw a punch at its face as it rose.

The cloaked woman blinked when she was punched, reflexively reaching up to touch her face, even though it hadn’t hurt. Shifting somewhat awkwardly on her feet for a moment, she cleared her throat. “Well, you certainly ruined my ominous introduction, didn’t you?”

Clio scowled, sitting up straight. Picking up the cauldron, she swung it at the woman's face, followed by a bedpan and whatever else she could get her hands on. Whoever she was, she didn't belong in her home. She had entrapped her, and shut down Makaya. If that didn't make her bad, then what did?

The cauldron made a distinctive bong as it struck the woman’s head, the other medical equipment similarly shattering or breaking against her. Sighing in frustration, she pursed her lips. “Yes, yes. Can you perhaps not?”

The shadows that covered the floor shot up to bind Clio in place. Their hold wasn’t painful--they had take special care with her arm, it seemed--but they would hold her firmly in place. “There, that’s better. Now, would you please permit me to speak without attempting to bludgeon me further?”

"What do you want?" Clio asked, struggling against her binding for a moment before resting.

“Potentially? To help you,” she said, smiling. Reaching up to lower the hood of her cloak, Aelia shook out her light blonde hair, which fell a short way beneath her shoulders. Taking the ends of her cloak, she performed a rather formal curtsey. “My name is Aelia Marcella Lumena. I am from the Mage Consortium, do you know it?”

"No, I don't know it. And if you want to help me, I suggest you release me. These bindings aren't helpful." Clio's voice was full of spite.

“Will you continue heroically smashing the medical equipment on me if I do?” asked Aelia, folding her arms.

"Pa gen manman, pa janm." Clio said, batting her lashes.

Aelia smiled, releasing her bindings. “Trè bon, ti fi."

Clio huffed, sitting up straighter and cradling her arm. "Okay, please explain why you're here."

“Well, I was here before you, technically speaking,” said Aelia, curling a blonde strand of hair around her gloved finger. “I have been for more than a week. It’s a part of my assignment, you see; but I digress. None of that really matters to you, does it? No, you wish to know why we’re having this conversation.”

Aelia called a chair over to Clio’s bed before sitting in it. Her posture was impeccable, her legs politely closed and her hands folded neatly in her lap. “I would be lying if I said my first week as ‘Effy’ the raven familiar was all that I had hoped it would be. I learned precious little about the Delphines, or their goals. A hundred idle conversations about often morbid, but unambitious topics. It was very frustrating work, maintaining that form for occasionally hours at a time for naught. Do you know how often ravens must relieve themselves? Too often.”

“But that all changed a week ago, when you called your mother,” said Aelia, smiling coyly. “Suddenly, one couldn’t stop speaking of their family’s great destiny, and how you were ‘threatening it with your foolish disregard for their traditions.’ Oh, the things I learned...their plans to turn dear Theo into a demon who could lead their family to glory, and how you--or rather Makaya--might have been in his place, had you stayed.”

Aelia chuckled, raising her hands in a shrug. “Of course, we both know that’s impossible, yes? Makaya could never be what they wish for her to be. Even if she consumes you entirely.”

Clio struggled to take all of this in, her brow furrowing. This was a lot of information to process, but she appeared to take it with ease. She knew that Theo had a ‘demon’ as well, but he was far away from being consumed. At least...she hoped so. As for what she said about Makaya...Clio pursed her lips. ”And what do they wish for her to be, exactly?” She asked, wondering why Makaya wouldn’t be able to fulfill that role.

“Oh? So it’s true--they haven’t let you in on the family’s ‘great destiny’?” asked Aelia, though she didn’t seem to desire an actual answer from Clio. “Well, essentially, they were hoping Makaya would consume you completely, and become their new demonic Head of House. From there, they would assist the Blackthorn Coven in at last overthrowing New Orleans, in exchange for a position of power and privilege within the ranks of the Three-Horned God’s followers.”

“Of course, since you left, they had to find an…alternative.”

Clio considered this, then busted up laughing. ”You’re really accusing my family of working with the Blackthorns?” That was absolutely ridiculous.

Aelia shrugged, standing from her seat. “You don’t have to take my word for it. Spend enough time around Theo and the rest of your family, and you’ll discover the truth--as I did.”

“Just...make certain not to lose yourself in the process,” said Aelia, smirking. “Remember, it’s not you they’re interested in, Clio. Though, as I said--Makaya will fail to meet their expectations. She is...incomplete; defective. Theo’s demon is more of a threat. He works in harmony with his master.”

Clio looked away. Everyone kept saying these things about Makaya. It was starting to work its way through. And while she didn’t believe everything Aelia was saying...she wanted to know why she presumed this about her second half.

”Why do you say that? What makes her...defective?” She spat the last word out.

For the first time during their conversation, Aelia seemed to be genuinely surprised by her question. “You’re not aware? She’s your demon, and you’ve surely felt the effects...”

Shaking her head, Aelia reached out to poke Clio’s stomach. Clio cringed, the slight touch enough to make her gag. “You’re not a great journey away from being emaciated. Do you think that’s normal? Furthermore, during your battle, Makaya seized complete control over you, even though you wished to surrender.”

“Do you really think that’s how Chaos Magic is supposed to work? Losing yourself to the embodiment of your power? Becoming ill with its use?”

Clio frowned, protecting her stomach with her hands. She wanted to curl up in a little ball and disappear. ”Well...how do I make it stop?” She asked with a small voice, feeling traitorous for wanting the best for herself. She knew that Chaos Magic didn’t affect everyone in the way it affected her. But no one had told her she was wrong, before. Except Karen...and that had been a large blunder.

Aelia sighed, once again brushing a blonde tress behind her ear. “A Chaos Mage who reaches their full potential is one who has achieved an understanding with their inner demon. It embodies the power, yes? But you, Clio, wield it. It marches to the beat of your drum, because it respects you. Such is the relationship I have with my demon, Clarissa.”

“But Makaya has become parasitic. For whatever reason--self-doubt, feelings of inferiority, childhood truama--she views herself as being superior to you,” continued Aelia, pacing the room as if she were a lecturing professor. “She is a manifestation of your own self-loathing, in a way; and thus strives to be everything you feel you’re not. You made her this way through your lack of confidence. At least, that is what I suspect to be the origin of the problem.”

Clio cringed, rubbing at her chest. She could feel her heart beating softly. Could this all be true? Was Makaya really the result of her issues? She didn’t want to believe that, but she felt like this woman was smarter than she. The fact that she had her own demon solidified that. ”Okay…” She said slowly, gently. Her heart was aching now. ”How do I fix her?”

“As I said, your inner demon must respect you, Clio,” said Aelia firmly. Leaning forward to look her directly in the eye, she asked her next piercing question. “Can you envision Makaya ever doing so? Ever agreeing to embody the power you wield, instead of demanding control?”

Clio couldn’t, but she didn’t want to admit that. Makaya was headstrong. She believed she was better in every way...she was right. ”I don’t know...but she’s my friend. She’s a part of me, I can’t just throw her away.”

Aelia gave her a coy smile. “Ah, but I did not say you had to get rid of her...and yet you already know that is what must be done, don’t you? Even if you don’t wish to admit it.”

“No, Makaya is not your friend. She is a parasitic demon using your body to grow strong enough to overtake you,” explained Aelia, resting her hands upon her hips. “Any perceived kindness or protectiveness on her part is simply due to the fact that you share a body. It is self-preservation from an entity with very base, instinctual desires.”

She then raised a finger before Clio could offer up a counterargument. “But you must be thinking--’without Makaya, I’m powerless!’. Not so. You must have wielded Chaos before she manifested, yes? You can do so again, and, in time, a new demon will manifest within you. And if you follow my advice and find the strength to value and respect yourself, it will do the same. It will be your lifelong partner. A true partner.”

Clio shook her head immediately. She couldn’t wait, not when she had Makaya there right now. She knew it would sound silly, but she needed someone. She had never been alone, ever since she turned thirteen. She couldn’t even sleep without knowing Makaya was there. How could she wait for a new demon, and what if they were even worse? ”I-I can’t…” She mumbled, looking at the wall.

“Then you will die,” said Aelia simply. “Makaya will consume you, and your family will have not a leader, but a mad attack dog that must be kept on a very short leash until she can prove to be useful in some simple capacity. Is that the life you desire for yourself? Is that the life you’re willing to accept, just so you can cling to the companionship of an entity that will gladly devour your soul when the day finally comes?”

”She-” Clio nearly finished with ‘wouldn’t do that’, but her voice fell flat. Karen had been trying to tell her something similar. She had trusted Karen before, but it was Makaya that had torn them apart. Now, this complete stranger was attacking her with supposed facts. Clio had to consider the truth of the matter. She also had to consider that if she wasn’t lying about this, she probably wasn’t lying about her family’s collusion with the Blackthorns.

Tears began to pour from her eyes. The thought of removing Makaya mortified her, but her death at the hands of someone she loved were enough to petrify. ”Give me time...to think. I still don’t know why you’re helping me.”

Aelia tilted her head to the side. “Well, it would be the very height of cruelty to do nothing when I see someone destined for such a gruesome fate. I would also rather not wish to see a city of more than two hundred thousand people become sacrifices for the Blackthorn Coven, and so I’m hoping you will help me to save poor Theo as well.”

“In the meantime, would you please lend me your gaze for but one moment longer?” asked Aelia, leaning over to stare into her eyes.

Clio faced Aelia head on, opening her eyes a bit wide so she could enter her mind.

Aelia once more descended past Clio’s eyes, to the sleeping Makaya. Once there, she extended her finger and swiftly etched a strange rune Clio had never seen before on the back of the inner demon. It glowed red for a brief time, before fading.

Stepping back from her mind, Aelia smiled. “That will keep Makaya from accessing any memories you do not wish to share with her. I would highly recommend keeping our conversation confidential.”

Clio thought about this, then nodded. ”Thank you...give me until the end of the week. I’ll have made up my mind by then.” At least, she hoped she would. Otherwise, she’d be long gone.

“Of course,” said Aelia, stepping towards the door to the infirmary, the shadows now receding. “If you need me before then, simply look for Theo. I’m usually with him.”

Turning the handle, she allowed the door to swing open. Her body then shrank, her robes becoming a black coat of feathers and her face elongating into a black beak. Effy now sat on the floor, and with a quick beat of her wings, she launched herself into the air.

Slowly but surely, Clio allowed herself to fall into a deep slumber. She didn’t turn in her sleep, but her face was scrunched in thought.

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 10th, 8:45 P.M.
Caernarvon Central Station, Old Bludhaven

“Your military is very strange to me, mortal,” said Aelia, watching Sergeant Carter scream at the smiling Gomer Pyle. “Why does the sergeant not simply incinerate the worthless private for his dangerous levels of inefficiency and incompetence?”

From his half-laying, half-sitting sprawl on the other side of the couch, Mal raised a brow at the blonde crazy person who lived in his house.

”One, murdering your subordinate for being an idiot went outta style some point after the Middle Ages,” He explained. Dryly. ”Two, we mortals ain’t that great at farting hellfire on command.”

The boy cast his eyes back to the idiot box, sipping from his cola.

”And three, watching Pyle burn to death’d be less fun than watching him screw up all the time, no?”

Aelia stared at the television screen for a long moment, as if seriously considering his question. “Perhaps so. But then, the Consortium doesn’t employ living soldiers. Not as infantry of the line, at least. A revenant that behaved in such a way would be viewed as defective.”

Drawing a long puff from her pipe, she casually blew the smoke off to the side.

It took a solid three seconds or so for what Aelia just said to fully click into boy’s brain. But as it did, he found himself casting another sidelong glance the titan’s way.

”...Revenant?” He asked simply, after a half-minute more. ”You people raise the dead to fight for you?”

Aelia dipped her head in affirmation. “Of course. Why throw lives away in combat when you can utilize the soulless forms of those who have already passed? I find it rather horrifying that in the past century or so, you mortals have sent millions of still living humans to their deaths in your wars.”

”I mean, fair.” Mal conceded with a little shake of his head as his eyes turned back towards the continued misadventures of Private Pyle. ”...But ya gotta bear in mind that drones and stuff like that only really came around about ten… twenty years ago. Hell, we didn’t even have toothpaste yet when we were fighting the world wars.”

Another sip of his drink followed that.

”...But that doesn’t make using war-zombies or casual incineration any less creepy, Aels.”

Aelia quirked a brow when her referred to her by that nickname, though she didn’t bother to look at him. “What’s ‘creepy’ is the way your militaries must destroy the individuality of their soldiers before they can be properly utilized. Such brutal treatment can cause lasting psychological damage--though perhaps mortal psychology lacks such an advanced understanding of the ramifications their actions may have!”

Mal’s eyes turned to her again at that. Flickering orange again as he put down his drink, though he said nothing.

She finally turns slightly, smiling at him. “But don’t feel disheartened, Malcolm. Your society has at least come a long way from accusing everyone of desiring intercourse with their mothers.”

Malcolm stared at Aelia a long while after that.

”Individuals have a habit of only thinking for themselves. Military training breaks down and rebuilds your individuality to break that mindset. To make you put the mission, the lives of your comrades and all that you swear to protect before yourself.” He finally said, turning his eyes back to the show. ”It has to be harsh. Sending someone to war otherwise would be cruel in itself.”

A pause followed that, as the boy clicked his tongue in thought.

”Or… shit, I dunno. That’s how my dad explained it to me, anyhow.”

Aelia blew another puff of smoke into the air, which quickly reshaped itself into an exclamation point as she turned to fully face him. “Your father was a soldier? I suppose that would explain your distaste for a head of well-groomed hair. Tell me, what sort of man was he, then? Did you live in Bludhaven even when you were under his care?”

A low hum rumbled in Mal’s throat as he bobbed his head slightly from side to side thinking if he should answer or not… before finally bracing his noggin on his palm and adopting a thoughtful look.

”Well… for starters, he wasn’t my actual dad, just the guy who found me in a dumpster as a newborn.” The boy explained, still keeping his eyes on the TV. ”We lived in a little shantytown in an alley— me, him, a few other families. It was… nicer than you’d think.”
For the first time in… well, longer than Aelia had known him. The boy’s eyes glassed over with a bit of nostalgia and a tiny little smile crept onto his face.

He hadn’t spoken aloud about his old man in years. No less to another person.

”He was… kind of a paradox. Gentle and tougher than iron all at the same time. Smarter than you’d guess, but humble enough to hide it.” Mal explained, with a little snort. ”Taught me to read— in three languages, no less, taught me to fight, how to play music and... well, how to be a decent person.”

The young hero’s brow furrowed for a moment. And he bit his lip a little.

”He was… well, my Dad. That’s about all I can really say about him.”

A low, sharp exhale escaped him at that.

”And I miss him.”

Aelia had listened quietly while he reminisced about his father, having never really heard him speak of his past before. While she didn’t know if she could agree with the notion that living within a “shantytown” could be a pleasant experience, the important takeaway was that he seemed to almost be happy during his recollections.

Smiling softly in the end, she placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you for telling me about him, Malcolm. His memory is clearly dear to you, so I am honored that you would share it with me.”

It was, after all, universal among all cultures that sharing important memories with another person was a sign of trust.

”Yeah, well, he was a good man.” Mal said, smiling, though a little bit sadly. ”Letting him be forgotten would be a damned shame.”

Quite literally wiping that look off his face and replacing it with a more characteristic cheeky grin, the lad turned his eyes back towards his impromptu roommate’s own.

”So what are your folks like? Do they dance and sing and get confused by mortal things, too?”

Aelia shook her head slowly, easing back into the couch. Where to even start with her family? It was quite a mouthful. “No, though my father does love to engage in swordplay with his shadow when he becomes excited. My mother...is nothing like either of us. Though, neither are my real parents--something I suppose we have in common.”

“The Lumena family was once the ruling House of what you would know as the Kingdom of Lemuria, some fourteen thousand years ago,” she explained, taking another puff from her pipe and blowing it into the air, where it formed into their family’s crest--a crescent moon over a four-pointed star.

She laid her head back on the couch, watching the crest slowly disperse back into smoke before speaking again. “Like every other civilization from humanity’s Golden Age, it was destroyed at the hands of Prometheus, the Firebringer and scourge of man. Following this, our family pooled their resources with the other survivors to create the first Megatropolis, and fled this world.”

“We have helped to govern the Consortium since that day,” she finished, appraising his reaction.

For a moment, Mal just kind of… stared at her in silence. That was a bit of a mouthful after all.

That was… a bit to take in.

”Sooo… you’re not just a literal deity… you’re a Space Princess to boot?” Was about all he can say, raising a brow. ”That’s… a whole lotta hats to wear at once.”

Cocking his head to the side slightly, he sat up.

”...And what was that about a ’Scourge of Man’?”

Aelia chuckled at his question, waving her hand dismissively. “Oh, he’s thankfully gone from the realm of the living now, you needn’t concern yourself with him. Suffice it to say, during his reign of terror, he claimed far more human lives than even the Demon King currently ravaging this world--and he was supposedly a being of Order.”

”Well, that’s… good, I guess.” Mal responded with a slightly skeptical look. ”...But is that the same Prometheus who stole the fire of knowledge from the gods and passed it onto mankind? That guy is the ’Scourge of Man’?”

Aelia nods simply. “The very same. He is called the Great Betrayer for that reason by our people. Upon escaping his confinement at the hands of Zeus, he was set upon the other great kingdoms through the machinations of King Triton, ruler of Atlantis.”

”Huh…” Mal toned flatly, before pursing his lip and nodding his head along in agreement. ”Well, okay, that one checks out. Us mortals don’t exactly have a good history with Atlantean Kings, either.”

Scratching his head a little at the sudden wild turns and… interesting takes on history this conversation had thrown at him, the boy cast his eye off to the side in thought.

”...You are very good at making me question reality, you know that?”

Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, Aelia threw her head back and reached a hand to the sky above them. “Oh Malcolm, I am good at everything I set out to accomplish, including making your adorable little head spin!”

”...And perving on me in the shower.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head slowly and placing her hand over her heart dramatically. “I’m exceptional at perving on you in the shower! Ooohohoho!”

A week ago, Mal would’ve been just a little disturbed by that. Now, though? He just kinda snorted and laid back down again to cast his eyes back toward the TV, grinning a little the whole while.

”Well, by all means, Aelia. Whatever floats your boat.” He joked, giving the deity a friendly little half-hearted kick. ”But if ya wanted to see my mortal ass in the nude, you could’ve just asked.”

Upon being kicked by Malcolm, Aelia was suddenly lifted from the couch and sent flying through the air, crashing through the nearby wall to leave a perfectly Aelia-shaped hole. For a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the chatter from the television and the slowly clearly debris.

“...My, what a terrible brute you are, to strike a young maiden,” she joked from her hole. “Why, I don’t think I shall ever recover from this.”

Mal just stared after her and the perfectly carved silhouette of the woman in his wall for a moment… before that same cheeky grin made it’s way back onto his face. Looking quite like the cat that swallowed the canary.

”A fate worse than death, surely.” Mal said with a chuckle, turning his eyes back to the television. ”Imagine! Being trapped down here in this dreary place with as cruel a savage as I! The horror of it all!”

He might’ve been laying it on a little thick, but after that reaction? He couldn’t help himself.

After this week, he’d earned this, goddammit.

“Well,” said Aelia, slowly climbing from her hole--which was easier said than done since it was shaped exactly like her in that moment of entry--before commanding it to rebuild itself with a snap of her fingers, “I must confess, you wear honesty well, Malcolm. Unfortunately, I may be spending more time away from this place in the coming weeks. You see, I’ve recently been assigned a new task within the city of ‘New Orleans’.”

Reclaiming her seat on the couch beside him, she neatly folded her hands in her lap. Somehow, not a speck of dirt or dust was on her. “Dreadful business, really. I’m not looking forward to it. Still, I shall continue to visit when I’m able until it is over.”

At her tone, Mal sat up. Looking just a bit more serious, though still smiling slightly all the same.

”New Orleans, huh? I can only imagine what you’ll be stepping into down there.” He said eventually, that grin of his taking a slight dip downward. ”Should I ask, or would ya rather not talk about it?”

Aelia stared down at the floor for a long moment, looking strangely sombre for someone so unrelentingly cheerful and in-control of themselves. “It’s an undercover assignment. Observation only at the moment. Should it become more than that, however...well, I’m hoping to find a way to avoid that.”

For a moment, Mal was silent. Reading the young(ish) deity’s features and body language, as one of his abilities was apt to do. Eyes clearly flickering to their characteristic glowing orange in the dim light of the rec room. Before his face broke into a little half-smile again.

”Well if you need help, or just someone to talk to, you know where and how to find me. So don’t be a stranger.”

He said raising his hand for a moment, and then paused. Face now adopting a forcefully deadpanned expression.

”...If I put a reassuring hand on your shoulder, you’re not gonna go through another wall are you?”

Aelia stared back at him for a moment, before slowly smiling. “No, Malcolm, I promise.”

”Good.” Mal stated flatly with a little nod and the triumphant return of that little smirk of his… before putting his hand on perhaps the opposite shoulder than she was expecting and pulled her in a little closer. ”Means I haven’t gotten completely rusty in the whole ‘deception’ department.”

Though his tone took on a more sombre note as he gave her shoulder a little squeeze and pulled his arm back into his own lap. Adopting a more thoughtful expression.

”I’m… Look, I’m not going to pretend to pontificate at someone with nearly two centuries of living over me, but… well, sometimes all you can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and hold onto that hope with everything you’ve got.” He finally said, speaking somewhat more slowly than usual as he clearly tried to articulate what was in his head. ”Because hope is the only absolute that you can control. And without it, you’ve already lost.”

There was a beat of silence after that, as the boy just sat there, scratching the back of his head.

”...Or something like that, I’m just a kid with a flakvest and a chip on his shoulder who lives in a subway station— inspirational speeches ain’t exactly my bag.”

Truthfully, Aelia had been planning to launch herself through the floor when he touched her. But after he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and actually tried to comfort her...well, it felt as if it would have been wrong to ruin the moment. He had been surprisingly kind and sincere in the things he had said.

It was almost like she had somehow made a friend.

That was a strange idea for her, who had always been either loathed, or at least respectfully feared by her own people. Still, Malcolm was a strange mortal--or whatever he might be. Hopefully, they would have time to watch television together again before she had to leave permanently.

“Regardless of how lowly your status may be, I do appreciate your kindness, Malcolm...thank you,” she said, smiling warmly to him. “I will keep your advice in mind, and perhaps return with a souvenir from New Orleans for you.”

Assuming, of course, she ever wanted to remember it.

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 18th, 10:30 AM
Detroit, Michigan

Clio stretched out from where she had been curled up on the bathroom floor. Shortly after Karen and Starfire had put her to sleep, she had crawled to the bathroom to retch a bit more and periodically rinse with mouthwash. It wasn't the most graceful scenario, but she was the first to admit she wasn't graceful.

The cold tile felt amazing against her cheek, and she lingered in the spot until it turned warm. Slowly but surely, she sat up from her awkward position and stretched. Her entire body cracked, and the aching in her head momentarily lessened, before coming back in full force. Standing, she turned on the shower. Considering it, she turned it off and walked into the kitchenette.

Nothing looked good, she decided after ten minutes of staring. Eventually, she made her way to her phone and sent a text to Karen. There was so much she could say. Thank you, being one of the better options. She settled on:

Good morning. I didn't die.

Well, that’s a relief to hear.

Have you eaten?

Clio's nose scrunched up, her face souring. Food just didn't sound good. She knew she'd have to eat eventually...but, later.

Yes. Ordered room service earlier.

Was that too much? Did it make the lie obvious? Would Karen track her room service? No...she was too nice.

Have you heard from Star?

Not yet. I haven’t tried, though. I only woke up a little bit ago.

You should come over in a bit, though. I wanted to talk to you about something.

Clio didn't respond, but she did hop in the shower and quickly changed into her bodyguard attire. After brushing her teeth twice, she practically ran to Karen's room.

Knocking on the door, she stood outside patiently.

Karen opened the door almost immediately, smiling warmly to Clio. “Come in, I made some tea. It’ll help with any headache game you might have going on.”

Closing the door behind her friend, Karen gestured to the table that was filled with a silver tea set before claiming a seat on one side. Pouring a cup for both herself and Clio, she offered it to the other girl.

“Give it a try, it’ll help.”

Clio followed, relieved that she was being offered something for the pain that seemed to scratch away at her sanity.

Sitting on the other side of the table, Clio smiled over at Karen. She lifted the teacup to her lips and took a hearty sip.

The tea, despite Karen’s joy at serving it, was not in fact laced with anything that Clio could perceive. It had a pleasant aroma and a soothingly warm taste that helped to open her sinuses.

Drinking of her own cup, Karen lowered it down onto the silver plate. “These belonged to my mother--my adopted mother,” she quickly clarified. “I’ve wanted to use them for quite a while, but I rarely get the chance.”

Clio's family had many heirlooms, some stranger than others. Like the teeth of the first undead slave of each family member, all stored in one trinket box. Or the family spellbook, something passed on to each Head of House. Clio's daggers were heirlooms. It was always interesting to see what other people held dear.

"I'm glad I got to use them with you." She smiled, her head feeling less swollen the more tea she drank. "Your mother must've been reluctant to pass these on. They're so nice."

Karen giggled, nodding. “She gave them to me after my first album went gold. She said that she had never been prouder of her.”

Observing Clio in silence as they continued to enjoy the tea, she was happy to see her friend drinking it so heavily. It was her own recipe, though it was admittedly rather simple. She simply enchanted the tea leaves to relieve migraines. For most people, it would end there.

In Clio’s case, it would serve another purpose. She might not notice it immediately, but it would help acclimate her body to Arcanum, and hopefully weaken Makaya as well.

Clio cupped her chin in a hand, propping up an elbow on the table and continuing to sip. This tea was truly amazing, she felt revitalized. "I wish I could make my mom proud like that." She could, but it meant risking her sanity.

“Well, my adopted mom loves me for who I am,” said Karen, sighing. “It has to start with that. Our biological moms are both users, who wanted us to become what they wanted us to be. People like that...they’ll never be proud of any decision we make that isn’t theirs.”

Of course, her own mom was dead, as far as she knew. But even still, the point held true. Her mother had wanted to raise her into a good little cultist that would sacrifice people to their precious Three-Horned God.

“But I think you’re awesome, Clio,” said Karen, grinning. “You. You’re kind, caring, and loyal. You’re a great friend.”

Clio cringed deeply at Karen so blatantly offending her mother. Karen was...passionate, and didn't have a good grip on her mouth. Clio couldn't be too mad at her about it, though. Her mother was misunderstood.

"Thank you," She said calmly in response to the compliment. A small smile played on her lips, but nothing more. "You've been very kind to me...thanks for that, too. Especially after last night. I-we...she, was out of line."

“Yeah, she sure as hell was,” said Karen. “But that shouldn’t be a problem from here on out. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.”

Clio had drank quite a lot of tea by this point, so it should be alright to tell her. It shouldn’t take a whole pot or anything to work. Of course, she had never tried to poison a Chaos entity before, but she had placed her strongest enchantment on it.

“I couldn’t tell you up front because Makaya would have never let you drink it, but I enchanted the tea leaves with a spell to relieve migraines,” explained Karen. “It should majorly weaken her hold on you, so nothing like last night ever happens again. Though, you’ll have to drink some every day to keep it up--at least for a little while.”

Clio began to chuckle, but it swiftly died the further Karen went into her explanation. She stared at the singer, her friend, blankly for a few moments. "You're not serious, are you?" She asked at last.

Karen stared back at her for a moment in confusion, wondering why she looked so stunned. “Well, yeah. She violated your body last night, Clio. That’s pure evil! I mean...I found you in the bathroom crying your eyes out, what am I supposed to do?”

Clio looked incredibly flabbergasted. Her jaw was slack, her eyes were glossy with confusion. She was processing, evidently. When she finally did react, it was clear she was upset.

Her hands curled into fists, and she stared at them, tears welling in her eyes. Her lips were pressed in a firm line, she didn't know what to say. Reaching within herself, she searched for Makaya, frantically. The entity was evidently pissed, but where she had been so strong and full of vitality moments ago, she was now withered and silent.

It felt lonely.

Makaya pulled against her new chains. Clio felt that unyielding fury rise within, but it was dulled and the shadows did not rise at her command. She glanced up, tears flowing down her face freely. "Karen…why didn't you...y-you-" She rose from her seat, beginning to pace. Raising her hand, she stared at a wall and attempted to raise its shadow. The magic responded weakly, and at a snail's pace it shifted. She released it, disgusted.

"This...no! Karen, you can't make these c-choices for m-me!" Her teeth chattered, and like a weight had suddenly been placed on her, she slumped to the floor.

Karen’s heart sank at the sight of Clio falling to the ground, and she quickly rushed to her side. Why was she so upset? After everything that had happened the previous night? She just didn’t understand--

--No.

She had seen this before, somewhere. A long time ago.

Karen felt her stomach twist into a knot as the sight of her ten year old self being dragged away from her father’s home by social workers flashed through her mind like the reel of an old movie. She was bruised and battered, yet full of life as she bit and clawed at them, sparks of magic crackling from her fingers.

Her mother had enthralled her father for the first eight years of her life. Then, after she was killed in the Two Month War, the charm was broken. For the next two years, she lived alone with her father.

He remembered everything. Everything her mother did to him over the past decade. He tried to drink in order to forget.

But he couldn’t.

So he took it out on Karen, the physical memory of what she did to him. For two years, until he could stand the sight of her no longer. He then called social services himself, so he could be rid of her.

Despite all the pain he caused her, though, Karen had still begged to stay. Because he was her daddy. Because she loved him still.

“Clio...do you…” she swallowed heavily. “...do you think...you need Makaya?”

Clio's body trembled. She kept reaching for Makaya, and each time it scared her even more. Karen was killing her. She was in pain, and it showed through her immense anger.

At Karen's question, Clio froze, before continuing to shake. Did she need Makaya? No, that was the wrong question to ask. What Karen should've asked, was, did she love Makaya. "N-No, Karen!" She cried, not elaborating. She knew she must've looked childish, and horrible. She was a grown woman, and she had collapsed on the floor. She didn't care.

“But you do think that, don’t you?” said Karen, thinking back to how she felt that day again. “Because you feel that, in some perverse way, she cares about you...and so you care about her too.”

Karen sighed, kneading her temple with a finger. “I’m sorry, Clio, for using your trust like that. But I want to help you, because I do care for you, unlike Makaya. People that care for you don’t do what she did last night. I don’t even think she's capable of love.”

At least with her father, she could understand why he behaved like that, in hindsight. While she didn’t understand it then, she at least knew now what her mother had put him through. But this demon inside of Clio only seemed to be driven by a desire to grow--in one way or another--until she was able to take control completely.

Even she had trouble considering Makaya a person.

Clio's body spasmed, and her eyes lit up with hatred. The shadows crept forward, but they moved slowly and were paper thin. She wanted to let Makaya continue, just to know that she was okay, but the being within her seemed tired. Makaya relinquished her hold, remaining in wait.

"Karen," Clio sniffed, shaking her head. Makaya did care. Their relationship was symbiotic, they needed one another. She had been there for so, so long. Longer than Karen, and Starfire. Makaya was capable of love, because she had to be. "Karen, please, just stop." She looked away, unable to face the lies coming from her friend.

“CLIO!” said Karen, louder and more forcefully than Clio had ever heard the song artist speak before. “Makaya took control of your body and stole your first time. Forever. Because she wanted to, even though you didn’t. Makaya didn’t care one bit about how you felt. Stop hiding away from the truth!”

“Makaya made you drag us all into danger. Made you nearly kill people. Every time she takes control, you become sick and lose more of yourself...it’s like a drug.”

Or alcohol, her father’s choice of escape.

“If you think they care for you, then please tell me, what do they do that’s so caring? What love have they shown you, really?”

Clio closed her eyes against the force of Karen's words. She shook her head, not wanting to argue. Karen wouldn't understand, because they weren't in the same situation. She dragged herself to her feet, not looking at Karen as she did so.

"I'm...I'll, be back." She said, a promise to herself more so than Karen.

Karen deflated, exhaling sharply through her nose. She wanted to say more, but...she really didn’t have anything else to say. “...Fine, Clio. I tried my best, but in the end, it is a decision you have to make yourself.”

“If it makes you feel any better, the effects of the tea will wear off in a few days. If that somehow makes you feel better,” she said, turning her back on Clio.

Clio glanced back, her face dropping as she was met with Karen's back. "Alright." She muttered, low enough that Karen may not have heard her. With that, she walked out the door, trying to decide between going to her room, or Starfire's.

In the end, she decided to go to Star's. Knocking on the door to her friend's room, she straightened herself out and forced a smile.

A few moments later the door opened and Starfire returned the smile. ”Good morning, Clio.” Star said, stepping out and hugging her friend. Star disengaged just before the amount of time she had learned Clio preferred over the few times they had done this greeting now.

"Morning, Star." Clio murmured after they unlatched from the hug. It was welcome, after all the emotional turmoil. "Ya know, Star...I was thinking...well, why don't I come in and explain this to you?" She wasn't even sure what she was thinking. She had an idea, but nothing was set in stone. She was being impulsive, but she had to act soon.

”Okay,” Star replied, letting Clio into her apartment. The apartment was almost exactly like it had just been moved into. No food needed to be eaten so there were no washed or needed to be washed plates, Star kept her extremely limited wardrobe tucked into a closet in her otherwise untouched bedroom. The TV was on and the news was reporting a story about heroic firefighters.

Star gestured to the seating arrangement. ”Did you want any snacks? I bought some.” She offered.

"Snacks? You don't eat...did you try again?" Clio was genuinely concerned, which was good, because it took her mind off the pain in her heart. She took a seat on a couch, waiting for Star to join her.

Starfire gave a short bark of a laugh. ”No, Clio. I bought them incase someone came over! I think I bought cookies.” She said, trying to recall her 3 AM visit to a nearby gas station. ”Did you want them?” She asked again now that Clio’s concerns were alleviated.

"I'm alright," She said quickly. Now wasn't the time for snacks, and the thought of food made her stomach roll. "Star, I actually came to see if you…" She took a deep breath. "Wanted to, uh, go on a vacation?" Yes, she had made up her mind. Finally.

Starfire had taken a seat while Clio spoke. She raised her eyebrows upon hearing the suggestion. ”A vacation?” It was a safe assumption that Clio wanted to go on a vacation with Starfire. She wasn’t coming in her to ask if Starfire wanted to go on a vacation by herself. It was ‘implied.’

”Just you and I?” She pondered. ”Where would we go?” Star asked.

Clio cocked her head, seemingly making up her mind in the moment. "New Orleans...my home. It'll just be us, I think it'll be...fun."

Star looked honored. ”You would invite me to your home, Clio? Of course I will go! We will have as much fun as we can. When do you want to leave?” This was an important invitation. To invite someone into your home was a show of great trust and friendship by its very nature. It would be rude to decline and Star wanted to come anyway. New Orleans.

Wow, that was easier than she had thought it would be. Good. Great, actually. She didn't need to argue with her only friend. "Whenever you can get your things together. I'll...book the plane tickets as soon as possible." She sighed. This was really happening. She was abandoning Karen. Speaking of which…

"If you need to, you can go say goodbye to Karen." She wasn't going to prevent her from doing so, even though she probably should. It would just raise questions.

”I can gather my things very quickly.” Star said eagerly. ”I will go say goodbye to Karen, she needs to know where some of her bodyguards are going. How long will we be gone for?” She didn’t want to abandon Karen with no warning at all. It seemed like taking vacations was a common, casual thing given how spontaneously Clio offered the soon-as-possible vacation.

"I'm not sure, pack for...a week, I think." Clio replied, clearing her throat and standing. "I'll be in my room." With that, she took her leave, thinking over her decision. The worst Karen could do would be to take her friend from her and leave her on her own, but that was...basically what she was doing. Shaking her head, she sighed and entered her room to begin packing.

Starfire smiled and quickly slipped on her long purple boots. Within five minutes she was at Karen’s door and knocking upon it with her knuckles.

Karen had just finished cleaning her tea set when she heard a knock at the door. Her heart leaped in her chest and she quickly rushed across the room to open it, hoping to see Clio on the other side. She felt terrible about turning her back on her in the end...she had just been so frustrated in that moment.

It was, however, Starfire.

Exhaling, Karen nevertheless smiled. “Heya Star, what’s up?”

”Hello, Karen. I want to go on vacation with Clio! We will be back in a week. Will you feel safe without us?” She asked. She did want to go on this vacation, but if Karen was going to feel unsafe, or even worse, she is actually attacked by those who wish her harm, Star would have to stay. But hopefully that didn’t happen.

Karen blinked.

It took her several moments to process what Star had just said, as she had dropped that bombshell on her so...so casually!

”...Vacation? With Clio?” she asked.

Was Clio trying to run away? Did she hate her that much for trying to suppress Makaya? Where was she going to go? Back to New York? No, that probably would be much of a vacation. Maybe she was going to return to her family? God, she hoped not.

”Star...could you come inside for a minute?”

The alien looked a little concerned. ”Okay, Karen.” Her employer and friend had a strange look on her face. Star went inside nonetheless and turned around to face Karen. She knitted her fingers together behind her back and began rocking back and forth on her heels.

Karen closed the door behind her, her mind wrestling to find the right words. From everything that she had seen, Clio had been keeping a lot of information from Starfire, for whatever reason. Up till now, she had respected that, even if she hadn’t truly understood why she didn’t want her other friend to know. Star was, after all, probably the least judgemental person she had ever met.

“Star, has Clio told you anything about...Makaya?”

Star knitted her eyebrows together. ”No.” She thought back. Makaya, Makaya…

”Wait, yes. When we first met, she asked me to call her that after our fight. Then she asked me to call her Clio and then I used that name from then on.” Starfire understood this desire to use different names completely. After all, Starfire hadn’t told anyone her birth name. Names carried great weight, and people might want to be liberated from some names or attached to other names.

Karen sighed again.

Well, she had figured as much.

How was she going to even start explaining all this to her? It would sound insane to just about anyone that didn’t understand magic. Still, she had to try. She couldn’t let Star just go off with Clio without telling her. She cared deeply for both of her friends, after all.

“Have you ever noticed that Clio sometimes starts acting…different?” asked Karen. “Like, when she suddenly dragged us from the bar back in Boston to fight those guys? Didn’t she seem far more aggressive and violent than Clio normally is?”

Star looked confused. ”I did not notice that, Karen. How come someone act differently from who they are?” Karen wasn’t making sense. It was not like Starfire herself never had issues formulating her thoughts into words. Star was also wondering what this had to do with her vacation.

Right, she shouldn’t be surprised that Starfire didn’t get it. She would have to explain everything about Chaos Magic to her for it to make sense. But still, she had to try.

“Alright, Star, let me try again. You are you, and I am me. But Clio’s body is actually shared by two minds,” explained Karen, beginning to pace as she wracked her brain for the right words to explain everything. “One is our friend, Clio Delphine. The other is Makaya.”

Folding her arms, she leaned against the back wall, her eyes never leaving Starfire’s. She must have looked so serious in this moment. “Makaya is what is called a ‘demon’. She thrives on violence, pain, domination, and apparently sex. She was born inside of Clio due to her using Chaos Magic, and she wants to take Clio’s body from her. Last night, she forced Clio to have sex with someone against her will.”

Starfire narrowed her eyes and looked at the floor. ”Uhm...” There was a long pause.

Karen didn’t hold the silence against Starfire. How did one respond to that bombshell? Still, she pressed on. “The reason we had to leave so suddenly last night is because I found Clio crying alone in the bathroom after it happened. I...didn’t think that Makaya would be able to take control at the club. I thought she needed violence to do so, but I was wrong.”

Karen looked away, feeling her eyes grow moist. It was still difficult not to blame herself for what happened that night. If they had just stayed in the hotel, Makaya wouldn’t have had a chance to hurt Clio. “So this morning, I tried to help Clio.”

The alien was at a loss for words. Demons? Chaos Magic? Sharing minds? This all sounded so bizarre. Clio seemed just fine to Star. ”...Did Clio tell you a secret? All of these things?”

Karen slowly nodded, wiping her eyes with a wrist. ”Remember the morning after we fought those guys? When Clio told you to get some rest in my bedroom? That’s when she told me all about her family in New Orleans. How they taught her to use Chaos Magic, and how...how Makaya started growing inside of her because of it. Eventually, after years of using Chaos, she grew strong enough to start taking control.”

“I tried to warn her then that Makaya sounded dangerous, but she didn’t seem to believe me. She even called her mother on the phone, put it on speaker and everything so I could hear,” said Karen, pursing her lips at the memory of the woman’s voice. “Her mother...was very abrasive. She basically demanded Clio keep using her magic and give in to Makaya.”

Star took a moment to process the information. ”Well, Karen, I think it is not very nice to tell someone another person’s secret.” She said first of all.

”I will have to watch out for this Makaya.” It was all she really could say. Clio hadn’t brought Makaya up to Star, so Star assumed she had good reason too. Unless Makaya was keeping her from telling Star, but not Karen, but that didn’t make any sense. Clio had always been Clio, so the alien was having a hard time putting this into any context.

”Clio will tell me more when she wants too. It’s her secret. If I told Clio a secret I wouldn’t want her saying it to you.” She said resolutely.

Karen’s jaw fell open.

Was...was she for real? She had just told her that Clio had been violated and was potentially going to return to her Chaos-using family who wanted to make said violator stronger, and she...she was mad that she told her secret?

“Star...I told you because I’m afraid that Clio might DIE!” she spelled it out in the simplest of terms she could think of. “If she returns to her family, they might empower Makaya and allow her to completely erase Clio! I think stopping that is more important than keeping a secret!”

Starfire looked frustrated. ”Well, what are you going to do now? She wants to go to the new Orleans. She trusted me enough to ask me to go with her to see her home and her family. I also know that the only person who truly knows what Clio is going through is Clio.” She stood to her feet. Starfire didn’t want her friend Clio to suffer. But Star thought that perhaps, Karen telling her this information could hurt Clio even more. Things can get complicated quickly when meddling in other people’s personal affairs.

”Did you want to talk to her about it? What do you want me to do with these secrets?” She asked, crossing her arms.

Karen wasn’t sure if her explanation had gotten through to Starfire or not. She still didn’t seem to quite understand Clio’s situation, though she was right on several accounts. What did she want? Was she going to ask Star to help her tie Clio down and force-feed her tea? What could she really do to help her friend?

“I don’t know, Star...I’m just afraid if Clio goes to New Orleans, I’ll never see her again. At least, not as Clio. I just know her family is going to do something horrible there,” she said, unable to hold back her tears.

Shaking her head to try and maintain her composure, she continued.

“I don’t know if you even believe me, but j-just know I would never do anything to hurt you or Clio,” said Karen, choking over her words. “You’re the first friends I’ve had since I was little.”

Starfire relaxed and contemplated everything she was just told. Karen was just doing what she thought was right. This was all very worrying. Some kind of inner demon, vying for control of Clio’s mind was a terrible thought. It was also something Clio sought to keep secret from Starfire. ”You are telling me the enemy is someone who is apart of Clio. Does that not make the enemy Clio herself? She knows everything that you do, and more, and yet she seeks the new Orleans anyway.

Star nodded to herself, seemingly coming to a conclusion. ”...and she asked me to come with her. I think I should. Just like Clio wants. ”

Karen dried her eyes, sighing. She wandered over to the couch and collapsed in it, her face resting in her hands. “Well...it’s not like I can stop you. But sometimes, Star, being a friend means being willing to make people do things they don’t want to do. Especially if the things they want will hurt them. I tried to weaken Makaya with the tea after what it did last night. After it hurt Clio...but Clio...well, she’s going to New Orleans now because of that.”

“If you really want to let her go, then...I don’t know. Just watch over her, please,” said Karen, not bothering to look up.

Starfire nodded thoughtfully. ”You tried to make Clio better without asking, and now you fear you’ve made things worse. With the tea, and now telling me her secrets. I will watch over her.” Star was nervous about the entire vacation after this conversation. She hadn’t even heard Clio’s side yet.

”I will ask Clio about Makaya and see what she has to say.” Starfire turned and began heading for the door.

“Thank you, Star.” said Karen, slowly looking up at her alien friend’s retreating form. ”And Star? I care a lot about Clio, but, just so you know...she has tried to lie to me before. Good luck…”

Star looked back over her shoulder and did a single wave before leaving and closing the door behind her. This was a bad situation. If Clio didn’t want to do anything about this inner demon, there was nothing short of full on assault that Star and Karen could do. That would undoubtedly make things worse. What if they hurt Clio? It was complicated. Extremely complicated. Vacations, from Starfire’s understanding of the word, were supposed to relieve stress. This was already becoming quite stressful.

Starfire made a quick stop in her apartment and packed a few extra set of clothes in a suitcase and then made her way nervously to Clio’s room. She knocked on the door and waited. Setting the suitcase down by her feet and folded her hands behind her back and began rocking back and forth on her heels.

Clio neatly folded the clothes she was setting in her suitcase, prepared to go on her own if it came to that. She'd have to fly to the city near New Orlean's, then make the drive the rest of the way. It would be lonely, but seeing her family at the end of it would...hopefully, be worth it.

At the knock, Clio perked up. She nearly ran to the door, slowly down and calming herself as she got closer. Opening it up, she glanced first at the floor beside Starfire. Seeing a suitcase made her heart leap. "You're coming?" She asked, voice full of emotion. Reaching out, she grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her close. "I-I have so much to tell you on the way. About my family...and everything else." She was almost certain Karen had said her piece. It was time to give her side.

Star gave a nervous nod and squeezed Clio. Backing up and holding Cli by the shoulders, she then began to blurt out a long string of words. ”Yes, I would like to come. Clio, I must tell you, Karen already told me all about Makaya. She did not want you to go to the new Orleans. She fears they- your family- will kill you. That this Makaya will kill you. I told her she should not have told me your secrets, but she was very worried about you. Now I am worried, too. I will come with you to the new Orleans if that is what you think is best. I do not want you to die, Clio.” She said, clearly earnest and worried.

Clio nodded. This only made Makaya more pissed at Karen, but the demon was too weak to do anything. "I think I've got this handled, Star. There's a lot you don't know...thank you for your concern, but I need my family right now. And that includes you."

Exhaling, Star gave a weak but genuine smile.”Okay. I’m here for you.” There was a lot she did not know. Hearing this vital information from the source meant it had a lot more weight than whatever Karen might think or fear for Star. She had to be loyal to her friends, making them do something they didn’t want to do, like Karen said, didn’t make sense to the Tamaran. She would wait patiently if Clio needed to gather her thoughts.

"Alright, let's get to the airport and hope we don't miss our flight." Clio forced a grin. Picking up her suitcase, she walked with Starfire out of the hotel and hailed a cab to the airport.

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 2nd, 04:15 AM
Caernarvon Central Station, Old Bludhaven, NJ.

”Okay, Mal. You’ve had a long night.” The boy spoke finally, after a long hour or so of staring at the wall of his ad-hoc shower with a big dumb look on his face. Made all the more silly by all the water pouring directly upon it. ”Let’s recap before ya lose yer head.”

Shutting the damn thing off with a bit more force than necessary and stepping out, still talking to himself as he grabbed up his towel.

Funny habits you pick up being alone so often and all that.

”Woke up in a bus station, in a blizzard, ate fried chicken, stare at some big ol’ bronze booty and then fought a fucking lunatic cannibal with a big magic knife.” He continued, drying himself off and wrapping the towel about his waist as he meandered over to the mirror. ”Saved a cop, went to the land of soylent green enthusiasts, fought a bunch more asshole maneaters with big magic knives, got called ‘mortal’ and ‘peasant’ a lot and then had dinner with a fucking deity.”

He took a minute to catch his breath, before staring into his reflection and taking on the roughest voice he could muster.

”And let’s not forget; You’re a wizard ‘Arry!”

He wanted to laugh, he really did.

The best he could do, though, was softly planting his head against the mirror and letting out a sigh.

”Could’a had a nice night of just watching the idiot box with Mog on a nice warm couch, but noooo…” He growled. ”you had to go and get yer ass involved with cannibals and onis and demons and fucking stalker gods, you dumb asshole.”

His shoulders slumped a little where he stood. Where he remained in silence for more than a few minutes.

”...Fuck me, I need a holiday.”

”Oh my,” said Aelia, covering her mouth behind him. ”How bold! How scandalous! And after but one meal! Tsk, tsk, Mr. Talhaiarn!”

”...Seriously, Aelia, do you just not have the concept of knocking where you’re from?” Mal just deadpanned in reply, not even bothering to look up at this point.

Aelia laughed softly into her hand. “Of course not, mortal! We use arcane seals to protect our sanctuaries from unwanted intruders! Your primitive locking mechanisms are far too easily subverted through common spellcraft!”

Spinning about his bathroom in the direction of his shower, she briefly peaked inside of it. ”Yet there is undeniably something almost cosy about your dreary living arrangements! It has a definite personal touch to it that many aspects of my home severely lack!”

Making sure his towel was quite secure, the lad (somewhat awkwardly) turned towards his impromptu guest… though he avoided her eyes and started inching back toward his clothes.

This was still the first time he had ever had a guest over, after all.

And here he was without his fuckin’ pants.

”Well, that’s... probably because I had to actually repair and rebuild a lot of this stuff from scratch.” He admitted, even while trying as hard as he could to both protect his decency and subtly inch his way back toward his underoos. ”The plumbing was actually pretty easy, most of what I needed for it was already there, after all...”

Another controlled breath, another inch towards salvation. But still, he kept on talking.

”So, uhh… can I help you?”

Aelia glanced back at him, having just finished sniffing of his shampoo. Something that was totally not weird. At all. No sir. “Hm? Oh, no. I’m quite alright, but thank you for asking!”

”Ah. Well then. Alright.” The usually-controlled teen managed, trying to be polite as he possibly could given the circumstances as he took another, oh-so-careful step towards his clothes and the freedom from this hell they promised. ”Can I ask why you’re here, then?”

’Specifically while I’m in the damned bathroom?’ He added internally.

Aelia had turned on his shower by this point, and was spraying herself in the face with the head. ”Ohohoh! I had forgotten you mortals still used water to bathe! Ahhh!” she sprayed her tongue, before turning to answer him.

With a wave of her hand, the water that had dampened her hair and face were instantly dried. “It’s quite simple, really! We are both investigating the same demon, yes? And so it is far more efficient to pool our resources, so that we do not stumble over one another’s feet, as it were. Thus, I shall be making this my temporary headquarters for the duration of the investigation!”

The Hound, with all his skill, mastery over his own body and all that other crap that went with his (apparently magical) brain… damn near tripped over his own feet at the woman’s words.

’Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding.’

”Wait, seriously?” He asked raising a brow slightly at the woman… even as he put his back to her and bent down to finally get ahold of his clothes. ”You can clearly show up anytime ya want, why bother moving in?”

Stepping past Malcolm on her way out of the bathroom, she snatched the clothing from his hands only to throw them back in his face. Despite this, she smiled. “Even for one such as I, it’s inconvenient to constantly travel from one end of the universe to the other, so I require a place to live while I am on this planet. I do have other assignments, in other cities, but I’m rather fond of this derelict of a metropolis. It’s so very different than anything I am used to!”

It was about that time that Malcolm realized he would never have the upper hand in anything ever again.

Still…

”Could ya at least learn to knock?” He called after her as she went, even as he hastily dressed himself in her absence.

Aelia stops, once again looks back, and slowly raises her hand to knock on the side of the bathroom. “There you are, my friend.”

---

January 8th, 7:32 PM
New Shanghai, Bludhaven, NJ.

It had been... a long week, Malcolm had to admit.

Between uncovering the big damned disurbing meat market of magical murder, being accosted by his own personal stalker-deity with no apparent concept of personal space, who graciously informed him she was now his roommate and perhaps more importantly, the whole damned world learning that he existed... things had gotten just a tiiiiny bit out of hand real quick.

Namely in that now that his existence was common knowledge, the Aquilas didn't have to even try being discrete about dealing with him anymore.

Mal had been a very busy boy since.

The day after that whole fleshmarket fiasco, the Aquilas responded by having the police precincts in their employ go after the Sisterhood of the First Flame, out of uniform but not out of arms, for the coven's part in helping Sasha and her less-than-bought friends that night. Which said friends weren't exactly fond of, which led to a rare standoff between the two halves of the Bludhaven police... with a bit of mages, non-humans and even a few guests from the fire department thrown in for good measure.

That was twelve hours of siege he wasn't going to be getting back anytime soon. But eventually Bludhaven’s dirtiest packed it up and called it a day… or rather, were made to when the white witches of the Sisterhood had finally had enough, opened a portal behind their attackers’ parked cars and sent him, Sasha and a few others out there to raise as much hell as humanly possible.

A fun time was had by all… save for the Hound himself, who was still getting used to this whole ‘actual bonafide superhero’ shenanigans and having that many eyes on him at once.

This set the tone for the rest of the week; bank robberies, arson, the whole nine yards as the Aquila tried hand over fist to grab his attention and then attempt to kill him. Fun times all around… unless you were Mal, then you just hadn’t had a good night’s rest all damned week.

Tonight though, was different.

All day. All damned day he’d been skulking about the city keeping an eye out for something, anything bout to go tits-up six ways from sunday… and found nothing.

That was… a nice change.

So there the boy stood in the middle of the New Shanghai bazaar in his plain street clothes just… enjoying himself for once. With a cup of hot chocolate in the middle of all the nightly pandaemonium of a place far from the dictates of Washington; where Terrans— man, magi, non-human and demon alike— went about their lives in something out of an old Karen Hernandez cartoon.

...Just, y’know. With a bit more grime smudged on than Disney was ever willing to animate.

To his right, a pair of succubi in bright red cocktail dresses enchanted to keep them from freezing their literal tails off and big damned winter boots waved down everyone and anyone their eyes met in the crowds to come on inside where it was nice and warm— To look at their handmade fashion wear, before you start assuming.

To his left, an orc and what looked suspiciously like one of Sasha’s men, both drunk as all hell, tried their level best to heave a damned minotaur who had clearly had much more than they had, home on their shoulders. The snowy ground not exactly doing them any favours there.

His head perked up suddenly as he heard rapid, albeit light footfalls approaching him from behind and on instinct, he dropped his drink and quickly dodged left, getting ready for a fight… only to just stand there like some dumb asshole with his hands up when it turned out to just be some kids, one human and the other purple-skinned and hooved, playing tag.

Pausing there for a moment, hands slowly falling to his sides, Mal’s eyes turned towards his now spilled cocoa. Deciding one thing in that moment.

”I need a day off.”

---

January 8th, 8:30 PM
Caernarvon Central Station, Old Bludhaven, NJ.

Going through the same old routine as he always did, deftly spinning the trio of combination locks he’d rigged up on what amounted to his front door with one hand and slapping them to a stop when they found their mark, the boy wrenched the heavy steel door with just the faintest of grunts and stepped through, letting the weight of the thing slam itself shut behind him with a loud ‘BANG!’ followed by a series of mechanical clicks as the locks reengaged.

Making his way down the old stone steps to the station proper, his duffel on his shoulder and a plastic bag with the image of a particularly cheeky looking cartoon ogre on it on his hand, the boy rounded a few corners, walked along the old train platform and finally made a right through the first doorway he came across into the old rec room- Modified over the course of four years or so to be his kitchen/dining room/mancave-within-a-mancave. With a remodeled sink, countertop, rebuilt vintage oven and fridge against one wall, an old tube television against another in front of a couch he’d swiped, brought down and reassembled in pieces from an abandoned Ikea and the big damned mahogany boardroom table sitting dead centre.

It wasn’t the Ritz-Carlton by any means, but the boy still found some pride in making it work all the same.

Still, swallowing that little sliver of pride and remembering just what he’d gone out of his way to buy and why, he got to the hard part.

”Hey Aelia… ya home?”

The television was on, playing an old black and white sitcom--I Love Lucy. Lounging across from it, spread across the couch like a languid cat, was Aelia Marcella Lumena. Smoke billowed from the end of a long, golden pipe (resembling a kiseru) engraved with dimly glowing runic symbols. Grasped lightly between her fingers, she idly puffed on it while watching Lucy attempt to con her way into her husband’s show for the umpteenth time.

When Mal spoke, her dark blue eyes slowly tore themselves from the screen to focus on him. Slowly sitting upright, she cleared her throat. “Yes…‘Honey, I’m home!’”

She seemed quite pleased with herself for saying this.

“I have been learning a great deal about your modern culture through this television entertainment device here. Tell me, can one still obtain large groups of mortals to laugh at their attempts at humor on command? I feel as if that would grant you some much needed validation within your life!” said Aelia, smirking playfully to him.

”To be fair, who needs a live studio audience when I have the great Aelia Lumena, goddess of couch-potatoes and voyeurism, lounging on my couch, high as balls, to watch me fail my way to glory?” Replied Mal, without missing a beat and waving his hand about the air as if he were pontificating to the world… and smiling. Maybe. Just a little.

Goddamn, he was starting to get used to this.

Dropping his duffel and making his way towards the kitchen, he continued over his shoulder. As he set the plastic bag down on the counter and bent down to go fishing through his cabinets.

”Did’ja eat yet?”

Aelia observed him making his way into the kitchen area, a blonde brow rising. “No. I do not require food under ordinary circumstances. I normally only eat for the enjoyment of doing so, or for social occasions. Why? Do you wish for me to cook something for supper?”

Preparing meals for them had been a regular activity of hers since she had first arrived here. She did this without much forethought, most days.

At the woman who had to constantly remind himself was (allegedy) some kind of deity’s words, Mal briefly paused- He didn’t know that.

...Awkward.

Still, not willing to give Aelia the joy of flustering him for the nth time that week, he nonetheless found what he was looking for— a deep fryer— and pulled it out onto the counter.

”Actually,” Mal kept on talking, seemingly unabated. ”After waking up and going to bed with luxurious food in my gut every single night this week, I thought I’d... try and return the favour for once.”

Actually looking back at the woman now, with a grin that looked a little more sheepish than he’d like, he added-

”...If you’re fine with mortal cooking that is.”

Aelia tilted her head briefly to one side, surprised by his offer to cook. This lasted for only a moment before a smile slowly returned to her face. “I am happy you have been enjoying the meals I have prepared.”

Spinning away from the couch to present a dramatically outstretched hand in his direction, she lightly dipped her head. “Very well! I look forward to trying your mortal cuisine, Malcolm! I am always eager to experience every sensation today’s Gaia has to offer!”

That was just about all the prompting Mal needed as, with a widening grin and eyes crackling up with their usual fire, he rolled up his sleeves and set about his task- It’d been a while since he’d bothered to actually try when cooking, usually opting to just make up whatever he could to sustain himself, but tonight was a bit of a special occasion.

And though he hadn’t bought anything near the caliber of Aelia’s usual fare, she was about to receive a stern lesson on the lad’s principal, uniting talent—

Doing a whole lot with very little.

---

”Alright, here we are!” Mal said, trying not to look just a little bit pleased with himself as he set down the fruits of his labours in front of the woman with way too damn many titles on a vintage plate. Deftly tossing and catching a lemon with his free hand as he did so. ”A local favourite; beer-battered fish and chips with Cajun spice.”

And, not to let Aelia have the absolute monopoly on theatrics, he moved on from tossing the lemon to juggling it along with a pair of knives for a few short seconds before snatching the airborne blades out of the air and cutting two neat slices out of the still-airborne citrus, gently placing one in the corner of her plate as he slid a small bowl of tartar sauce toward her as well, on the way back to the fridge to grab some drinks.

”Don’t worry, it tastes a lot better than you’d think looking at it, knowing what you’re used to.” He explained, sitting down. ”We’re poor, but we know how to make a meal.”

Aelia had watched Malcolm closely when he began preparing the meal, always eager to learn a new recipe. Most of her knowledge was of gourmet dishes from her home in the Consortium, from many of the alien worlds she had visited, or what she had learned during her initial time on Earth--which she had been practicing in the past week.

Compared to the genuine chefs of the Consortium, who had been refining their craft for five hundred years or more, her cooking ability really wasn’t anything impressive. She still had a lot to learn before she could hope to reach their level, and she had to focus the majority of her studies on a more distinctly magical line of academia.

“Brilliant!” she said, clapping hands as he juggled the knives and lemon before skillfully slicing it apart in the air. “I greatly look forward to trying your peasant-mortal cuisine!”

Unfolding a serviette beside her plate, she took up her fork and stared down at her plate. Deciding to try one of the sliced potatoes first, she jabbed one with her fork and bit the end off of it. Humming with a subtle delight, she quickly finished the singular chip.

That little hum didn’t go unnoticed by Mal, who was trying his level best not to look too pleased with himself (and failing spectacularly) as he reappeared with a pair of cream sodas in the old-fashioned glass bottle in one hand and a bottle-opener he’d made out of a fifty cal bullet in the other.

”Well, I’m happy to know my peasantly skill with potatoes, at least, pleases the great and terrible Aelia Marcella Lumena.” The boy commented, his words dripped in that confusingly unique blend of sarcasm and warmth he shared in those rare times he was actually relaxed, as he popped open both bottles and set one down by his apparently-divine roommate, before heading back to his own seat. ”Hopefully you’re as fond of the haddock. Benefits of not having the federal government around to give mages a hard time— there’s always fresh fish and it’s half the price of anywhere else.”

He was… talking a lot more than usual right now, Mal realized. Well, more than he did with anyone who wasn’t Mog or Eddie he’d admit, but again, this was kind of a special occasion; it wasn’t every day, or in fact, often at all that he ever got to cook for anyone. Save, maybe Mog once or twice. But, well… last time he did that, he watched her outright inhale the whole thing in a half-minute flat and made the fatal mistake of asking her where she put it all. To his dismay, she looked him dead in the eye and responded-

”I’m glad you asked.”

She then used her succubus physiology to inflate her butt to cartoonish size and spent the rest of the day randomly teleporting behind him whenever he was in public, on the street or even riding the bus to scream ”I PUT IT IN MY ASS, MALCOLM! I PUT IT IN MY ASS!”, while jumping up and down and pointing at said part of her anatomy with a crazed expression.

Lesson learned, never call a two-thousand and something year-old demon out on their eating habits. They generally give little in the way of fucks.

Mal shook his head.

’Ohhhh, so that’s where I’ve been hiding all the suppressed childhood trauma. Neat.’

But that was neither here nor there. Point was, the boy was happy to cook a damned meal for someone else a change… even if it was for the cosmic demon-deity that invited herself to live in his house, smoke magic space-weed and watch I love Lucy all day.

He snorted a little. Finally starting in on his meal.

...For all his internal griping, this set-up was bugging him less and less as this ride of a week rolled on. Maybe the cheery, all-powerful Demon-Goddess of Magical Whoopass was rubbing off on him a little.

Aelia had continued to partake in her meal as Malcolm was consumed by his own internal reverie. Slicing into the fish, her eyes flashed briefly with delight when she bit into it. When coupled with the tartar sauce, this effect was magnified. Though she didn’t say a great deal while she ate, once her plate had been cleaned and her mouth properly dabbed with her serviette, she offered him a warm smile.

“A splendid meal, Malcolm, thank you! Your ability to produce a delicacy from so very little is most impressive!” she said, raising a finger into the air to command her plate and fork to go and wash themselves in the sink. “Mortal peasant ingenuity is rather fascinating in and of itself, truthfully, and it would take a great deal of it to survive in such a dreadful place as Bludhaven, to be certain. But then, you do at least have the aid of the mages living here.”

Mal raised a brow at that as he took a swig of his drink and swallowed down a mouthful of fish.

”You’re welcome. And to be fair, we’ve also got a fair amount of demons and all kinds of non-humans helping out as well... though I guess that ain’t quite right either.” Malcolm replied, eyes weaving off to the side a little in thought and a finger idly tapping on the glass bottle in his hand. ”I guess it’s less that they’re here helping us and more that they are us.”

His lips pursed at his own words.

Computer-like brain and that’s the best he could come up with to explain his town?

”This dreadful place, as you call it, has a funny way of making people it’s own. The mages, demons and non-human whathaveyous? They’re not just here ‘aiding’ us, they’re a part of us. And hell, this is probably the only place outside of a wildland where they’re allowed to be.” He finally said, after a bit more thought. ”And for all the crime, horror and general bad business that this city is, that’s just kinda how it’s always been— the last refuge for the lost and the damned, if ya wanna be poetic about it— even before the war.”

Taking another gulp of soda, the boy rested his chin on his palm and offered the blonde a small, but genuine smile.

”...But that’s hardly decent dinner-talk, I’m just glad you enjoyed the meal.”

Aelia hid well the inherent displeasure she felt when he lumped himself and the humans of this city with the lesser creatures that lived beside them. While species native to this world could remain when Consortium arrived to cleanse this world of Chaos, they had to understand that their role in life was to serve the interests of the human race.

“I did enjoy it! Thank you kindly for going to the effort, Malcolm. I look forward to helping you improve the situation within this city, and eventually Gaia as a whole!” said Aelia, extending her hand dramatically towards him again. “Now, would you care to join me in watching the ‘Leave it to Beaver’ marathon that is soon to begin? I wish to see the penultimate results of June Cleaver’s subtle manipulations of her husband.”

No one would force themselves to endure high heels and makeup on a permanent basis unless it were part of some elaborate scheme to seize control of the household.

Mal cocked an eyebrow her way for that one.

’Two thousand channels at her fingertips, and she settles on the Golden Oldies network…’

But still, with a light shrug, he stood and made for the couch.

”Ah, what the hell. Why not?”

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

@Jasonhero No problems I can see here! Approved!

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 1st, 10:02 PM
Corner of Fifth and Keele, Mealtide District, Bludhaven, NJ.

’Well, Fifth and Keele, just like Jericho said.’ Mal thought, a bit of a humm reverberating from his throat as he cast a glance down towards the street below, the glow of his eyes turning slightly lop-sided beneath his goggles as he raised his brow. ’Aaaand if I were a bettin’ man…’

His eyes scanned a bit to the right from his perch on the water tower atop an old apartment complex before coming to rest on one building in the non-human bazaar below in particular.

One generating a whole fucking lot of heat and whose interior was painted with so many goddamn magical runes to hide it from any curious mages that it may as well have been a big neon sign attached to a speaker screaming ‘BAD GUYS HERE’, being the one structure for miles around that was actually completely opaque to his eyes.

’Yeah, that’d probably be a good place to start.’

Exhaling slightly and stretching, only to wince a little at the cut that magic canniba (something he was still coming to terms with now apparently being added to his list of ‘Shit I’ve fought’) had put right through his vest an hour prior, the young half-hero, half-myth took stock of his situation.

That Sardinian lunatic had actually managed to give him a work out… but now he was about to break into the fucking fleshmarket— Not ‘a’, THE— where, if his eyes weren’t decieving him (and they rarely did), they’d be totally useless for his usual ambush tactics. So he had no way of knowing how many were in there, what exactly he’d be up against, where he was going or generally anything at all to even begin scraping together a plan.

Bracing his elbows on his knees, the teenager allowed himself a double facepalm.

Because somewhere in the midst of all that mess, there was a kid. And Mal had told Sasha he was gonna get him back. If not for his own, apparently increasingly suicidal sense of right and wrong, then for the fact that the borderline-amazon flatly refused to tell him a word about why the Aquila family and snatched the boy and tied her ass down to a chair in the first place until he did, even as she was apparently rounding up every clean cop she could find and even a few White Mages to get their asses down here for the party.

A low sigh rumbled in the Hound’s throat as he pulled his mask halfway up to get some unrestricted air for the first time in a few hours.

”...Fuck my life.”

This was going to be a shitshow.

---

To Mal’s surprise, breaking into the damned place wasn’t actually that hard.

...Okay, well, the joy of John McClane-ing his way through vents had run out it’s novelty long before he’d ever actually seen a Die Hard movie, when he was a twelve-year-old huddled up, half-asleep next to Mog on the shelter’s couch one Christmas… and maneuvering around all those magic wards stuck in awkward places around the inside of the ducts he very clearly recognized as the kind you could go out these days and buy in bulk from the hardware store on a big adhesive reel if your home was infested with rats of unusual size made it a bit of a slow, tedious slog… and it was hot as balls in that vent because it was fucking winter and the heat was on full blast, but still...

Surprisingly easy.

Dropping out of that sauna-like vent into what seemed to be some kind of storeroom, judging by all the boxes, the flak-clad boy silently hugged himself against the wall alongside the sole opening into the room, pulling out his k-bar as he did so he could get a look at what was around the corner via it’s reflection.

What he found was a big damned hobgoblin— at least six goddamn feet tall— clothed in a leather apron, some ratty sweatpants and not much else as he sang along with (and absolutely butchered) the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody coming over the radio with his fellows, who were in other parts of the room he couldn’t quite make out from where he was hiding, as he hacked away at what looked like what was once some poor guy’s upper thigh with a big damned-

’Oh, goddammit.’

Mal grimaced.

Another magic fucking cleaver.

Evidently, he’d landed in the storeroom for the kitchen. And was very suddenly very grateful his eyes weren’t active when did so, even as he let out a soft, controlled exhale to steady himself.

’Well... a whole lotta things just started making sense.’

He didn’t have much time to ponder that one, however, as one of the swinging doors at the absolute corner of his line of sight were suddenly slammed open by another, slightly larger hob dragging the limp form of a girl who couldn’t’ve been much older than ten clad in some kind of mage robes behind him by her long, pale hair.

Very suddenly, Mal didn’t need to concentrate on his breathing.

“Oi! Rocktongue! Found ‘is one tryin’ to ‘scape again. Be a sport an’ do sommin’ ‘bout it would ya?”

The boy’s grip on his knife went from front to reverse as he now actually poked his head around the corner, scanning the room for anything to even the odds in the increasingly likely event he’d have to charge in there like an absolute idiot and most likely get himself killed saving that fucking kid.

In his search for opportunities to inflict a bit of pain on the flesh traders, something distinctly organic caught his eyes high in the rafters. Focusing, he could see clearly that it was a raven...or at least, it was shaped like one.

His eyes crackled to life again at the sight of it, almost involuntarily.

’What in the goddamn…’

There was something very odd about—

“Wait... you smell ‘at?”

Aaaaand, back to reality he went, gaze snapping back down to the two hobgoblins again who were now… sniffing at the air in an almost cartoonish fashion. And slowly turning their heads in his direction.

Ducking his head behind cover again before he could be outright spotted, Mal took a minute to pause… and then pulled up his collar a bit and took a whiff.

Sweat and fried chicken.

’...Oh.’

Glancing around the corner again with the reflection of his knife all but confirmed what he’d already realized, as he now very clearly saw his two would-be adversaries now staring straight at him and looking more than a little bit pissed off, the larger one even just casually tossing the little girl off to the side like old trash just to give the hero the courtesy of his full attention, infact. It didn’t exactly help his odds any that the pair were promptly joined by yet more hobgoblins who seemed to have much the same unspoken mindset as the first two as they all glared violent death in his general direction. Seven in total, from what he could see.

...The fact that the radio station was apparently on a Queen kick of sorts and started playing yet another song he was familiar with was a pretty nice bit of punctuation for the situation he found himself in now though, he’d admit.

Letting out a long sigh, fingers dancing along the hilt of his knife in one hand as the other pulled on that nightstick he’d lifted off of Muller earlier, he resigned himself to what was to come.

”Cowabunga it is.”

And thusly, did the shit hit the fan.

Opting to push forward instead of lingering in one spot to be easy prey for the gaggle of hobgoblins who already knew he was there anyway, the Hound all but launched himself from his now-defunct hiding spot towards his foes, via toward the top of the counter in the centre of the room, bootfucking a heavy steel pot towards the face of one unlucky hob in particular as he charged ahead without stopping. Leaping off the other side and planting his knee directly into the face of another on the way down and whirling around to crack another upside the jaw with his nightstick as he landed.

For their part, the gaggle of somewhat surprised snaggle-toothed gobbers, were not idle. Quickly grabbing up whatever pots, pans and yes, magic cleavers were in arm’s reach to take a swing at their unexpectedly aggressive intruder. One knife-wielding hob in particular managed to get a lucky swing in and carve straight through Mal’s freshly-acquired nightstick with his glowing man-chopper, letting out a shrill cry of victory at his success.

...For all of about three seconds before the now irate teenager whirled on him in the midst of dodging a swing for his neck from another foe, and made a point to all but flatten the creature’s hook nose with the handle. Knocking the creature back a good six feet, head over ass and into the side of a sink against the wall. Sending it’s weapon soaring vertically into the air, until it came back down with a neat little ‘Thunk!’ into a cutting board near where that first hob was still nursing it’s head after making it to first base with a cast-iron pot.

Who, of course, shook itself to clear it’s head and went for it.

And, of course, had his hand abruptly pinned to the counter by Mal’s knife. Being accorded a good half-second to scream for help before the boy’s hand came back down in an axe-fist to slam it’s face into the hard surface as well. The one hob that did try to respond, lunging forward in a spear-tackle at the last possible moment?

He got a frying pan to the face.

As did the one who came after him… well, not before breaking his hand on it and taking a steeltoe’d boot to the balls first.

One of them, the big guy who was dragging around a child earlier, and incidentally, the last one standing, did manage to find an opening, however. Slashing at the boy’s back and clean through his flak vest with his cleaver before tackling and pinning him to the ground with enough force to knock a few things, including the radio off the counter as he spun around.

And perhaps more importantly pressing down on the Hound’s armoured chest with his cleaver with all of his strength and weight. Something that Mal, still just a sixteen-year-old, mind you, was having just a bit of trouble fighting back against; tired as he was from the night’s exertions, wounded now on his back and his front, and still sore from what he got up to the night before, there wasn’t a whole lot he could do to stop the damned thing from slowly sliding through the layers of his flak vest and starting into his flesh but let out a pained hiss.

But salvation has a funny way of showing up at the weirdest times.

“And that was Queen’s ’Don’t Stop Me Now!’”

Mal’s eyes snapped to his right, locking in onto the radio he hadn’t noticed land by his head in all the commotion.

“Coming up next, ’Work that Fur’, by Karen Hernandez! Only on 102.1 the Wacky Mix, Playing whatever the hell we wa-!”

And that was about when the lad picked up the damned thing and broke it over his attacker’s head, knocking the creature clean off of him and giving him a moment to just lay there and finally breathe.

Which he spent proclaiming one thing to the world with all the vindication he could possibly muster between coughing sucking in all the air he could into his lungs—

”I… am not dying… to that... fucking song.”

That bit of vanity aside, Mal did manage to get himself to his feet again after a solid minute or two of just trying to remember how to breathe, the pain of three separate chaotic wounds to the torso making the endeavour a whole lot less easy than it sounded. Wincing as he went.

He had priorities, after all, and now that there wasn’t a bunch of ’Non-Human Terrans’ (as was apparently the proper term) trying to carve up and most likely devour him, he also had a job to do.

Namely, checking to see if that kid from earlier was alright.

He didn’t have to go far, it seemed, as she apparently hadn’t moved an inch from where that hobgoblin he’d beat over the head with a radio had tossed her. To his relief however, one quick glance and a flicker of light from his eyes told him that she was alive, though bruised, battered and sporting an ankle that was broken in at least three places.

Also that she was awake and just pretending to be dead because she was scared absolutely shitless.

That... made Mal pause mid-step. Head cocking to the side slightly as if not entirely sure how to proceed, fist clenching and unclenching in the only indication of some kind of personal turmoil.

Whatever was going on in his head, it elicited… something rare from the young man.

He pulled his mask up clear of his mouth.

He slowly knelt down, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

And, in an act that’d absolutely floor anyone who actually knew him… he spoke softly.

”Hey… are you okay?”

To his relief, a single eye, bright pink in colour, cracked open slightly to stare right back up at him from underneath the mess of pale hair covering her face.

“Hilthyri… Ysannaech gaemal thacht, qrovan tacq…”

And there Mal went pausing again. This time for a whole lot of different reasons.

”...Come again?”

He didn’t have much time to ponder that one further, however, as he suddenly became aware of a periodic shaking coming from the floor, with a rhythm that could only be the cadence of footsteps. And they were only getting stronger.

The hairs on his neck stood up as one.

Something big was on it’s way.

Slowly, wearily, his head and eyes trailed to the doorway behind him, and he got to his feet. Unholstering his gun for the first time that night and disengaging the safety, letting a long, slow breath to collect his bearings and get his shit squared away for whatever the hell that was.

Which was ironic, because that was the next thing he noticed about it. Just how loud it’s breathing was, which started off yet more alarm bells in the back of the boy’s head as his brain began subconsciously running what he was hearing through his memory and comparing it to anything he’d experienced before. Coming up with one particularly succinct, yet also incredibly worrying observation.

’Bigger than an ogre.’

Which also meant longer gait… probably strong enough to plow clean through walls, and, more importantly, something he was not going to outrun in a confined space, in his current state, while also protecting a kid.

It was getting close now, he racked the slide of his pistol and took aim.

And not soon after that, he finally saw the damned thing- Casually strolling around the corner, eyes bloodshot and wrenched open by some strange apparatus latched onto the back of it’s head, festooned with a myriad of narrow drills pointed directly down toward it’s own skull at the end of transparent tubes leading toward some big metallic contraption strapped to it’s back. At least eleven feet tall. Probably around eight hundred or so pounds of pure muscle. Holding a club covered in chaotic runes and spikes that was longer than Mal would be standing on his own shoulders.

A red goddamn Oni.

Specifically, as the drills suddenly came to life, boring into it’s skull and delivering a constant stream of scarlet fluid via the tubes from it’s back directly into it’s brain, prompting the colossal creature to let out primal howl of pure fury as magical fire roared into existence from the pores of it’s skin, somehow not burning it… one that was on a metric fuckton of red dust. And had the magical talent to survive it.

Faced with this, Mal could only summon up one response;

”Nuts.”

The Red Oni stormed towards Mal, each step of its ponderous feet sending subtle vibrations through the floor that foreshadowed the strength that it would soon bring to bare against its diminutive opponent. Drawing back its massive club as if it were a mere baseball bat, he prepared paint the walls with the blood of the Hound.

“CAW!”

The Oni stopped in its tracks, its bones rattling within its towering and muscled form. It was not alone, for the windows now clattered violently in their frames, the floor trembling with a rhythm far more steady than the footsteps of the creature had produced. Reverberating off the walls and filling the slaughterhouse, it was a power that demanded attention.

”...What.”

And it had sprang from the beak of the raven perched above them both, its black eyes now trained upon the Oni.

Turning its gaze on the tiny pest that had dared to give it such a start, the Oni screamed, swinging its club at the bird instead of the dog-themed superhero.

The raven did not retreat, instead raising its feathered wing to intercept the club in a bizarre block that stopped the overpowering attack dead in its tracks--until the rafter it was sitting upon began to buckle beneath the Oni’s strength.

”What.”

Before the rafter could fully collapse, the raven pushed back against the club and took to the air, landing somewhere behind the oni. The great beast turned, apparently having seen where it landed, yet its bulk blocked this information from the Hound, who could not see through the seemingly endless rivers of Chaotic magic that coursed through its veins.

The oni then paused, as if it had seen something even it had not expected. This did not last long, however, for it then charged at what was presumably the raven with its club held overhead in both of its powerful hands.

It would never make the swing.

Glistening like a crystalline cavern, the great red oni had, in the breadth of a second, been completely encased in ice.

”What.”

That was… just about the only real response the boy could offer to what he’s just witnessed, really, as his arm and the weapon clenched in it fell limply to his side. As he just stared at the miniature iceberg before him, so dense in magic it took a hammer to damn near everything he knew about arcanum and left him just standing there, jaw hanging comically slack.

He was… dumbfounded. Something he hadn’t felt in a long while now.

The kid behind him? Less so, apparently. Something he discovered when he felt a slight tugging and his ankle and cast his eyes back to find her huddled behind him, trembling and, more importantly, trying to use him as a shield.

Though to be fair, if he’d seen all of that at her age, he might be a little spooked, too.

Well, maybe. Them’s were dark days.

Still, reengaging the safety on his weapon and holstering it with one quick motion he glanced back toward this brand new piece of winter art before him, trying to think about what exactly he was going to do about the magic murder bird that had just saved his ass. Or whether it had even meant to do so in the first place.

At the very least he found some small, fleeting comfort in the fact that one way or another, if that thing had wanted him dead, he’d’ve been so already.

Still, for lack of literally any better course of action, he went to the very first thing that came to mind—

”Err… thanks?”

As if in response, a shadow appeared atop the oni--not a bird, but a cloaked woman. Her features obscured by both clothing and distance, she planted a foot on the broad shoulders of the creature and stared down at the room. ”You’re--”

Her voice rose into a startled yelp as she lost her footing, sliding down the back of the great beast she had just frozen in place, only to manage to land firmly on her feet between its legs. Standing as if nothing had happened, she returned to staring down at the room. ”--welcome, mortal!”

If Mal was dumbfounded before, now he was just… confused.

The fact that just as when he first laid eyes on the raven earlier, there was an odd crackling in his eyes that forced him to put actual effort into winding them back down again wasn’t helping. Nor was what they were actually showing him; Features, not as obscured to him by the hood as they would be to anyone else, that appeared almost… mathematically calculated and designed to look appealing. Not to mention the swirling vortices of both arcanum and chaos, that flowed through her body to the tune of her pulse, propelled by no less than three goddamn hearts.

And he couldn’t be certain, but he started to suspect that it had something to do with how the kid behind was now clinging to him even tighter while mumbling hurried words in native tongue.

So focused on all this was he, that he almost missed what she had actually said.

...Almost.

”Wait… ’mortal’?”

Benefits of having a brain like his, you could fit a whole hell of a lot of thought in the time it takes to say one word. And hot damn did the implications of that particular statement bring him hauling back to reality, and allowed him to finally reign in his vision.

”Not to pry, or potentially piss off the woman who just saved my bacon and single-handedly… did all of that.” He said, indicating toward the big block of frozen, drug-fueled Japanese fury behind her. ”But, err… what exactly do ya mean by that?”

“You’re not a mage, are you?” she asked, yet didn’t let him answer for himself. “No, of course you’re not! Oh, but that girl behind you…”

Aelia leaned to her side, smiling warmly to the child. ”Hello, little one! Do not be afraid, I have come to rescue you from these foul creatures.”

The woman’s words, if the child even understood, just made her grip onto her human shield even tighter now.

For his part, said human shield just levelled a blank stare at the woman before him that could be felt even through his mask and goggles.

”When I came outta that vent, you were already here.” He pointed out, tone becoming increasingly dry as he cocked his head to the side a little and folded his arms. ”What exactly were ya waiting on, Mage?”

And on came the glowing eyes again. The light behind his goggles shifting from her, back to the fancy ice-sculpture she’d made in the middle of the kitchen and back to her again, clearly raising a brow at her with how lopsided they became.

He knew for a fact just by looking at her that this woman was no simple mage, but he kept himself from outright saying it.

He wanted to see where this was going.

”Why, I was waiting on you, mortal!” she said, extending a gloved hand towards him in a dramatic gesture. She then spun towards both him and the girl like a stage performer, though never actually came within arms reach. “You see, I have been observing your activities in the fine example of urban decay you call a home for some time!”

Dancing and pirouetting about the room as she spoke, the woman continued. ”I wished to see you engage in fisticuffs for one last time before I made you aware of my presence! But this dreadful creature behind me seemed to pose a grossly unfair challenge and so I, to borrow a mortal phrase, had to put him on ice!”

”Riiiiiight…” Was just about the only sane response the young man could give the, admittedly, very eloquent, very lively woman as she literally danced about the room and outright admitted she’d been stalking him. ”That’s not… just a little unsettling.”

Somewhat at a loss, he cast a glance back down at the child clinging to his waist, who seemed to meet him with a look of her own that was just as incredulous.

“T’vanaeth para draan.” She explained with a whisper. He had no idea what that meant, but he agreed, giving her a little pat on the shoulder.

”...Dare I ask why?”

Before Aelia responded to him, her eyes once again returned to the child. She seemed surprised by the words she had whispered, having apparently heard them perfectly well despite the distance between them. ”O’nath, fala amanura tho Yisi! Kaleena mona kvara pesh.”

She turned her gaze on Malcolm, offering him a reserved yet cheerful smile. “Because you, mortal, fascinate me!”

Extending a hand towards him suddenly, as if to cut him off, she placed a trio of fingers against her face, turning her eyes to the floor. ”Now, now, I know! That’s a great deal to accept! That I, Aelia Marcella Lumena have had her eye captured by your heroic quest to vanquish the unjust! But it is true. Breath, it shall be alright, my good...”

She tipped forward on her heel, as if she were performing ballet. This continues until she is inches from his face. ”...Malcolm.”

Malcolm, for his part, just froze. Face going visibly pale from what could be seen of it from his still slightly pulled-up mask. Something the woman obviously saw, considering they were currently in eskimo-kissing distance.

’...Shit.’

”I’m, uhh… sure I’ll find a way to manage. But-” The lad finally managed to get out, pulling his mask back down. Pausing for a moment as he felt a slight tugging at his sleeve, looking back down at the child still clinging to his waist, slightly less so for protection now and more to keep herself upright on her one good leg.

“Mael’Kohm. Tava raachad vos gaeth.” She said flatly, pointing to the iron collar around her neck.

The fact that she’d apparently picked up on his name from that little exchange despite not speaking a word of English was not lost on him, though he chose to stow that. For the moment at least, instead focusing on what exactly she was pointing at… and feeling another pang of irritation.

Namely at the fact that, for the umpteenth time today, he was clearly looking at—

’More scartech. great.’

And he had a pretty good idea what that was for, though not the foggiest idea how to deal with it while it was attached to a little girl’s throat, opting instead to lift the girl up onto the counter so she could have a seat at least… before he turned to his ludicrously powerful, admittedly ludicrously beautiful, stupidly powerful, magical stalker who was sometimes a bird and for whom his life was apparently pure entertainment.

”Not to... disappoint you, Aelia, but magitech’s a bit beyond my expertise.” He said, slightly uneven and still not entirely sure how to take this… very unique individual. ”...Can I get a hand here?”

A crimson bolt of energy struck the girl in the throat, and the collar shattered into pieces with a crack that was reminiscent of a cannon backfiring.

”...Please tell me you have something a little more gentle for her ankle.”

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 13th, 10:18 AM
W Hotel, Boston

Hider

”Ugh…” Karen groaned, rolling over in her bed.

She felt like hot garbage. Everything ached. Everything was stiff. That was still an improvement over how she felt before going to bed. It was the first time she had ever experienced what was commonly referred to as “Mana Burn” in mage circles.

It wasn’t something she cared to make a habit out of.

Throwing back her covers, Karen stepped down onto the plush, thankfully heated floor and staggered her way towards the bathroom. Wearing a tanktop and shorts, she had carelessly discarded the rest of her clothes on the floor--a sign of just how weary she had been, as she was usually a bit of a neat freak.

After showering and brushing her teeth, she hobbled out of the bedroom to make for the kitchen. A bowl of cereal would be enough, she didn’t really feel like eating much more right now.

As the kitchen came into view she noticed Starfire with her back turned, examining a collection of silverware. Right beneath her left shoulder blade the fabric was ripped outward and slightly dark with liquid, revealing the orange skin and quarter coin sized hole in that said skin, though Star didn’t seem to mind too much.

”...S-Star? What are you...” Karen’s words trailed off as her eyes fell to the wound in her shoulder. ”Oh my God! You’re bleeding!”

Rushing over to her bodyguard, she started to frantically examine the wound. She knew she’d been hurt last night, but she had no idea that it was something this bad! Why hadn’t she told anyone? This would need medical treatment!

”We...we need to get you to a doctor, or something!”

Starfire perked up in surprise and set the fork down, turning to face Karen. When she heard what Karen was so frightened of she smiled reassuringly. There were faint bags under her eyes and their natural bright green glow was duller than normal.

Karen! Karen, relax, I am fine. I can heal from this. For at least...eight more of the Earth hours, I believe, I will be fine.” She blinked a little slower than normal.

Karen frowned, eyeing her wounds for a moment longer. She had never heard someone be so dismissive of a gunshot wound before, but then...Starfire was an alien. She knew how her own physiology worked, no doubt.

“Wait, if you could heal like that, why didn’t you? You had all night to rest!” said Karen, resting her hands on her hips.

Nevermind why she was still in her hotel room.

Starfire shook her head. A wound like this would take two of the Earth hours to heal. Once I am healing, I can’t stop. I am...vulnerable during that time.” She confessed awkwardly, like she was admitting a weakness she did not want to admit.

”You would be vulnerable too during that time. If those people in the van sought satisfaction during the night, I would have to be awake in order to fight them. I promised to protect you, Karen. So I did.” She finished confidently.

Karen’s shoulders sank, her lips pursing.

Star’s heart was in the right place, and it really was rather touching. Still, she doubted the people in the van could recognize her in the dead of night, with her beanie on. They probably were too busy panicking to take in many details about them, anyhow.

”Well, I’m awake now, so you should really get some sleep--”

A knocking was heard at the door, causing Karen to turn. Who could be disturbing her during the morning hours?

Starfire’s face went serious. Quietly she went past Karen. Her right hand began to glow with energy, the energy required to make her martial arts far more effective. Carefully she approached the door of the hotel and moved her eye over to the keyhole, only to see Clio’s face in the glass. Relaxing, the energy in her hand dissipated. ”It is Clio,” she announced to Karen. She opened the door and stepped to the side to let Clio in.

”Hello, Clio!” She greeted warmly.

Clio cringed at the greeting, her head pounding despite the copious amounts of Advil she had taken. Despite this, she managed a small, wary smile in return. ”Hey, Star." She stepped forward, finding herself awkwardly reaching her arms out in order to wrap them around Starfire loosely. She didn't know why she decided to hug the girl, but it felt...alright. Calming, to say the least. Starfire accepted the hug, giving her friend a quick squeeze.

Stepping back and looking around the room, her eyes fell on Karen's and quickly averted them. ”Karen...I-I came here to apologize." She stepped further into the room, waiting for Starfire to close the door. She tugged on the hem of her business attire, having woken up very early that morning in order to shower and start her shift. The door gently shut behind her.

Karen eyed Clio up and down for a moment. She looked like she was feeling even worse than herself, judging by the pained expression she made in response to Star’s greeting. It was understandable, after the night they all had.

“It’s fine, Clio. I was just...really confused. And worried. You ran off from the bar so suddenly without explaining anything, and then all of that happened...and you kept talking to yourself,” said Karen, recounting her odd behavior. “Are you...feeling any better?”

No. ”Yes. I'm feeling a lot better...more myself." She was slipping, and it hurt to admit it. Last night, she had had an ounce of control. She had been able to utilize it. At what cost? She didn't want to think about that, not when her head was pounding.

Karen frowned, stepping past Clio to take a seat on the couch in the living room area of her hotel room. Patting the spot beside her, she smiled up at her fellow mage. ”Come on, have a seat. I feel like we need to talk about a few things.”

Clio considered this, but figured it would be best to just sit down and chat before she got fired or lost a friend. Edging closer, she plopped down on a chair, her body throbbing once at the movement. ”Alright…what about?"

“Probably what you’re thinking,” said Karen, rubbing her arm awkwardly. She was no magical expert by any means, but it didn’t take one to see that whatever Clio had been using last night really did a number on her psychologically.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned back against the couch. “It’s about that magic you were using, and the things you were saying. ‘Not Clio!’, and arguing with yourself. I won’t lie--I’m really worried about you.”

Clio's brow furrowed. If there was one thing she didn't like, it was a confrontation. She could recall the first time her parents had reprimanded her for using her magic wrongly. It had stuck with her, and she had feared it since. Pressing her lips together in a thin line, she nodded.

”Yes, well, thank you for the concern. It means a lot, but there's nothing wrong with me. Really." She glanced over at Starfire, wondering if the girl was just as concerned. She caught Starfire rubbing her eyes.

Karen’s eyes narrowed, her posture becoming a little stiffer at the obvious deflection. “So, are you saying it’s perfectly normal for you to get angry when somebody uses your name? Or to snatch my phone because you want to interrogate a criminal? Or cackle while we’re in the middle of being attacked? I can go on…”

She really didn’t want to be harsh with Clio, but it seemed like asking her gently wasn’t going to get her anywhere.

Clio kept her gaze on anything and everything except Karen. ”That's not who I am." She glanced quickly over at Starfire, not wanting to get in depth while the girl was around. She wasn't uncomfortable, she just had a hard time explaining, especially in front of those she cared about. Noting the wound in her shoulder, she realized she had a scapegoat. ”Star, why don't you heal up while I talk to Karen? I'll be here to protect both of you."

The wounded woman tilted her mouth to the side, considering Clio’s words. This wound was growing tiresome, and Clio was here. There was no one on Earth Star trusted more than Clio, after all. Star didn’t want to admit it but she would be fighting at less than optimal were she to continue on like this any longer.

”Very well, Clio.” She agreed, switching her less-than-vibrant gaze to Karen. ”Is there anywhere you would want me to do the healing, Karen?”

Karen smiled to Starfire, happy to hear that she was going to do something about that gaping wound in her shoulder. “You can rest in my bedroom, if you like. I just woke up, so I won’t need it again anytime soon.”

Starfire nodded, turned around, and walked into the bedroom. She closed the door slowly, keeping her face in the door frame as long as possible before it finally, quietly shut.

Karen watched her depart, only turning back to Clio when the door was safely closed. Folding her arms, she gave her friend an expectant look. “Alright, it’s just us now.”

Clio watched Star leave, her head suddenly pounding. She turned back to Karen. ”Whatever it was you saw last night, that wasn't me. It's been like this ever since I turned thirteen."

Frowning, Karen didn’t breaking eye contact with Clio. Her answer had surprised her, but she was trying not to show it. She had assumed that...whatever that was...had been something recent in her friend’s life. ”Well, that’s one way to suck all the fun out of your teen years. Do you know what caused it to start happening?

”I…" Clio croaked, sucking in a breath. ”Overexerted myself. And it felt good at the time, but it left me like this. It accelerated the process." She gestured at herself. At her slightly sunken eyes and thinning frame. She had looked extremely full of life last night. ”It stopped for a while, when I started using my magic less."

That wasn't entirely true. Upon stopping her magic usage, she fell into a bout of depression, but it hadn't been terrible. Each time she overdid it now, she ended up like this.

Karen leaned towards one of the arms of the sofa, resting her face upon her hand in thought. They had both overexerted themselves last night, but the resulting effects on their respective bodies had been quite distinct. Was that the difference between Order magic and Chaos magic?

”By any chance, did you start using Chaos magic more heavily around when you were thirteen?”

Clio quirked a brow at this. ”Well, yes, but I've always used chaos magic. It's a family thing."

“Did anyone in your family suffer from something similar?” asked Karen. Maybe if she knew a bit more about Clio, she would be able to figure out a way to help her.

Clio squints, more to stop the light from filtering into her eyes and focus than anything. ”Yeah, there's been a few Heads of House who have gone through something similar." Matriarch Paulina, Patriarch Temple. A few lesser members of the house had experienced it as well, and climbed through the ranks to co-head or assistant to the Head as a result. They were all revered, she had looked up to them as a child.

”But that was more...extreme. They started growing, ya know, extremities, and taking long retreats where they...asked for things." The family history books depicted these extremities as extremely gorgeous, curling horns and dainty claws, a beautified face. The offerings they requested were gifts to someone of true power.

”Why?" Clio asked at last.

Karen chewed on the corner of her lip as she listened, a chill snaking its way up her spine at the mention of extremities being grown. That didn’t sound good at all. Clio thankfully hadn’t growth any extra arms or anything yet, but the fact that it had happened to her relatives didn’t bode well.

”Well...what if their more extreme ‘reactions’ started out as something closer to what you’re going through now?” said Karen, giving voice to her concerns. “And if that’s the case, it must be the result of using Chaos magic, right? Maybe...maybe you start out changing on the inside, and then it eventually changes you on the outside?”

Clio considered this, then barked a laugh that rattled her bones. ”Karen, my pop-pop's been using Chaos magic since he was born, and he's in his seventies! Looks no older than forty, though." And that was a result of Chaos magic. Not to mention the fact that her own mother and father had been using it for almost as long, and they were fine. It just wasn't something that happened in her branch of the family. No one had ever been 'blessed' enough, as they said.

”Plus, don't you think it would have started happening by now? It's been ten years since that first time." She seemed convinced.

Karen faltered slightly, considering if perhaps she had been mistaken. While she was a mage and had…experience with Chaos growing up, she was still quite a novice in the subject. It wasn’t something she had exactly devoted herself too, since she mainly just wanted to be accepted growing up. People didn’t tend to react too kindly to magic in the years following the Two Month War.

”...Then, when does this other side of you usually appear? What causes them to ‘take over’ from the normal you?” asked Karen, curious if she would also have an explanation for that.

Clio blushed, a bit sheepish about talking specifically about Makaya. The other girl had no qualms about making herself known to the world, but it wasn't the same the other way around. ”Well, she's just...there. Always. She wants me to use my magic, and she usually does it for the greater good, but in her own way. We both want to be heroes. I just view that differently than she does." She recalled that feeling, the tingling within her to go out that first night and fight.

”And when you use that magic, she gets stronger, right?” asked Karen, recalling how she had started to assert herself more once Clio started creating pathways for them along the rooftops, and especially once she had started fighting. ”And what exactly do you mean by ‘differently’? How does she think heroing should be done?”

”As long as you get the job done, and the criminal caught, there's nothing wrong with going around the law." Clio pursed her lips. ”I know that sounds bad, but I try not to let her. She enjoys her time out more than she does crime fighting. If she could, I'm sure she'd stay in charge all the time. Just to experience things."

Karen sighed.

She liked to go around the law. If it was just petty stuff, she honestly wouldn’t mind that. But this “other” Clio seemed to revel in violence, from what she saw the previous night. Her giggling laughter still rang in her ears. That definitely wasn’t alright. “Has she ever tried to get you to, you know…kill someone?”

Multiple times. But how could she tell Karen that without seeming crazy? ”No, she's violent but not that violent."

Karen regarded her skeptically, but decided not to press the issue. Things weren’t going quite how she had hoped. She felt like Clio still wasn’t quite ready to open up to her. Thankfully, she did have an idea. “...Does this other side of yours have a name? She certainly doesn’t seem to like yours.”

”It used to be just 'her' but I gave her a name whenever I became a hero. Makaya. Like the Great Sorcerer in voodoo culture. I think she likes it, because she's pretty egotistical." Clio giggled, but realized how crazy she sounded and stopped.

Karen perked up slightly with this. “Oh! So it’s not just a superhero name, but the name of the demon!”

She only realized what she had said moments after it was too late. She had been thinking aloud in that moment. “Err, your other self. Her, I mean.”

At the name, something within Clio reared its head, something ugly and hot and utterly insane. She forced her palms flat on her thighs, though this presence that she knew all too well begged her to curl them up into fists.

”Demon?" She asked, tone slightly hurt. ”She's not a demon, because that would make me one too, by extension."

Karen felt a pang of guilt grip her heart. That definitely wasn’t what she meant to imply. Still...there was no point in sugarcoating things. “You’re not a demon, Clio, and I would never call you one. But...well, I’m no expert on magic, but I do know a thing or two about this subject in particular.”

She swallowed hard, preparing herself to reveal something she had never told anyone, not even her adopted parents or siblings. Any “normal” person would react with utter revulsion, more than likely. But Clio wasn’t normal, and that wasn’t a bad thing.

“My mother...was a member of the Blackthorn Coven. For most of my early childhood, she kept my father under her thrall, and raised me to join the Coven when I was older,” said Karen, grasping the arm of the sofa with curled fingers. “I didn’t get too far into it--I was too young. But I do remember that she told me that all who embrace Chaos are destined to one day stand beside the Three Horned God as a demon.”

Staring directly into Clio’s eyes, she leaned forward. “So no, I don’t think you’re a demon, Clio...but I do think whatever is growing inside of you might be.”

”I-I…" Clio spluttered. Her heart hammered against her ribcage, and she was sure it would explode if she went on much longer. Tears stung her eyes, and she hung her head so Karen wouldn't be able to see them. ”I'm sorry about your mother," She began, failing to find the right words to say. She knew one thing, though. ”But I think I need to talk to mine."

Karen swallowed hard at this.

Clio was going to talk to her mother? Did she mean magically, or would it just be a phone call? Either way, it could be prove insightful--if rather awkward and nerve-wracking. What sort of woman was the mother who apparently encouraged such changes?

”Do...do you want me to go to another room? I don’t mind staying, of course, if you don’t mind,” said Karen, sitting up straight again.

Did she mind? No, it would be better with someone else around. ”You can stay, just, don't say anything unless I give the go-ahead. My mom's strange about these things."

She pulled her phone out of her pocket, spreading her fingers wide to cover up a majority of the Karen case. She hadn't changed it out like she said she would. Dialing up her mom, she pressed the speaker button.

After the third ring, there was a noise on the other end. "Ki jan ou fè ti bebe mwen an?" The voice said. It was full of honey, if not a bit gravelly. Before Clio could answer, the voice continued. "Poukisa ou rele m 'epi yo pa lè l sèvi avèk chodyè ou a?"

The tips of Clio's ears burned, and her cheeks turned a shade of red. ”Manman, I can't use my scrying pan right now. Could you uh, speak in English?" She glanced at Karen, apologetic.

”New York has tainted you, bèl." The heavily accented woman on the other end tsked. "You've lost your language, your ability to use your magic. Damn it all, you've nearly lost your voice! Everything about you that made you, you-"

”Manman, please. I have to talk to you about something important." Clio looked to Karen, wanting some support.

Karen winced at the woman’s domineering tone. She could tell that this particular mother was more of a teller than a listener. She certainly could relate to having a parent like that.

Seeing Clio stare at her, she immediately reached out over the arm of the sofa and gently grasped her friend’s free hand, offering her a reassuring smile. However this went, she would be right here the whole time.

Clio stared into Karen's eyes, her own slightly wide at the touch. She quickly looked away, clearing her throat. She could practically see her mother's expectant look on the other end of the screen. ”Well, Manman, my magic's been acting...unusual. And I need answers."

"Ask me anything, my love. I'm just happy you're still using it."

”I sought guidance. About the other presence inside of me, and, they said it was something bad." She released a heavy breath. ”A demon, they said it was a demon."

There was silence on the other end, then laughter. "Bèl, this guide you sought is mistaken. This is the natural progression of your magic, something many of us strive for but can't quite reach due to our own fears."

Clio looked unsure. What was that supposed to mean? Before she even asked, her mother was continuing. "Where do you think we get this power from?" Clio nearly answered, but it was clear her mother just wanted her to listen. "The realm of Chaos. The denizens there are demons, yes, and while we attempt to match their greatness, only a certain few can. This is a gift, love."

Clio's brow furrowed. It was a gift to feel like this after using her magic? A gift to have a half that yearned for destruction? This was confusing. Maddening. ”What if I don't want it?"

Karen frowned, not liking anything that her mother was telling her. It didn’t even make sense, when you really thought about it. It’s not a demon, but it’s going to make her “great” like the denizens of Chaos who were demons? She was stumbling all over herself. Just how long had Clio’s mom been drawing upon the Realm of Chaos?

"Eske ou fache?" Clio's mother asked, voice full of venom, and Clio flinched. It was like when she had first been reprimanded, all over again. Now, though, her mother was encouraging her usage of magic.

"Clio, this presence within you is power. Don't you feel good using it? She's the truth of you."

Clio felt wholly conflicted. She didn't like the way her mother was speaking to her. It reminded her of the way Makaya spoke whenever she was in control. ”Manman, I don't understand. I need-I need to go."

Karen nodded firmly, making an “end call” motion with her hand. She was already having to bite her tongue to avoid telling the old woman off, and if this call continued on she wasn’t going to be able to remain silent.

"Si ou rakwoche, pa anmède rele jiskaske ou lisid." Her mother hissed, and before she could continue, Clio was pressing the button to hang up.

Her body was completely still for a moment, before she cocked back her hand and sent her phone soaring toward the wall. Halfway there, a shadow mitt came up to catch it, before sinking to the ground and leaving the phone unharmed. Her chest heaved with labored breaths, and she shook her head. ”Sorry about that."

Karen shook her head slowly and squeezed the hand that she still held. ”You have nothing to apologize for, Clio. She’s the one wh o should be sorry. Nobody has a right to speak to you or anybody else that way.”

It was honestly a little chilling. The way she spoke to Clio during that call stirred something within her. A memory of her mother’s commanding voice as she directed her father to do her bidding.

“I’m sorry I put you through that, though,” said Karen, her posture deflating alongside her anger. “I just...I don’t want to lose one of the first friends I’ve made in years to...to something terrible.”

Clio bit her lip, moving from the chair to the couch. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around Karen's body, patting her back. She kept a bit of distance, but something within her warmed at the touch. Maybe she was a hugger. ”It's alright. You're not gonna lose me." Her voice was unsure, but there was meaning behind the words. ”I'll figure this out."

Karen had no such hesitation, and pulled Clio fully into the embrace. It felt good to see--and feel--that she was still the one in control right now. “And I’ll help you do it, if you ever need my help with this or anything else.”

She had a notion of how they might counter Makaya, but she wasn’t going to push it on Clio right now. She had been through enough already after that phone call.

”Thanks, boss, but I'm pretty sure that goes beyond the limits of the employee-employer relationship." Clio chuckled, pulling out of the hug. She still felt horrible, but that was alright. She had her support group. ”What say we wait for Star to wake up, then go out and do something fun? No fighting this time."

Karen gave her first whole-hearted smiled since Starfire went to bed. Hell, since before last night, really. “Sounds like a plan!”

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 7th, 12:34 PM
Conrad Hotel, New York City

To say that Karen was excited would be an understatement.

Pacing about her hotel room, she eyed herself in the mirror to make absolutely certain she was ready to greet the pair of girls. Not that she would have much time to change anything, if she wasn’t.

She had all but given upon on Clio and Star accepting her offer. It would have been perfectly understandable if they had turned her down, after all: that night at the concert had been quite frightening. There weren’t a great many people that would wish to place themselves in that sort of danger on a regular basis if they could help it.

Sitting down on the edge of her bed, she shot a glance towards the door. Normally, Jones would be right outside of it, but he had been called in by management to discuss the additional security measures being implemented for her upcoming concert. Of course, he had left guards behind to keep watch in his absence.

The timing was rather unfortunate; she had hoped he would be here to help with the interview process. He would undoubtedly be unhappy with her for hiring them without his approval.

But she needed this, for her mental health, if not her physical.

While Jones was a great bodyguard, she couldn’t exactly relate to him on a personal level on most things. He could be quite aloof, and would likely find most of what she had to say needlessly preachy or vapid. He wouldn’t be alone there, she knew.

With those two, it felt like she might be able to actually form a lasting friendship.

When was the last time she had one of those?

---

Clio shifted in her pantsuit, walking up to the man behind the front desk at the hotel and telling him that they had a meeting with Karen. She found that, whenever she dressed professionally, people took her more seriously. Today was no different. The man gave her an appraising look, and did a double-take whenever he saw Starfire, then said he’d see what he could do.

Clio turned, offering Starfire a smile. ”This is really what you want to do?” She asked, voice soft. She hoped Starfire understood what was being asked of her. Clio certainly did. She didn’t know why she was planning on uprooting her life to travel with a famous singer, but she had already made plans to call her clients and tell them to seek out a new accountant.

Starfire was holding her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels as Clio spoke to the manager. When her friend turned to look at her, Starfire nodded. ”Yes, this is really what I want to do. Is this really what you want to do?” She mirrored the question back upon Clio. Starfire had been preparing to say goodbye to Clio, as she seemed like a very busy person who wouldn’t want to leave, but her friend was apparently coming along. This was good news but Starfire was curious nonetheless.

”Do you not have friends or family you are leaving behind?” The alien asked.

Clio wasn’t prepared for the question to be thrown back in her face. She blinked, smile faltering for a moment. ”Well, my family lives far from here. I left them behind a long time ago.” She hadn’t even told her mother she’d be leaving New York. Well, it was going to have to be a surprise. As for friends..she was quite a hermit. She supposed Starfire was her friend, and that would mean they’d be going together. Starfire nodded solemnly.

The manager returned, with a security guard who asked the girls to stand with their legs spread and their hands out. Clio sighed, but did as she was told, and allowed herself to be patted down for weaponry.

Starfire complied, raising her hands as the guard awkwardly patted her one top and her one bottom. Apparently the real trouble were her thigh high boots. Everything seemed to be in order. Checking for weapons almost made Starfire giggle. She could shoot lasers out of her hands and they didn’t even know.

Once that was over with, they were guided into the elevator and taken up the floors to where Karen was staying. The whole time, Clio stared begrudgingly at the guard. He was just doing his job, but he sort of put a damper on things. She didn’t feel comfortable talking in his presence.

When they made it outside of Karen’s hotel room, they were made to wait while the guard entered and asked Karen if it was alright for them to come in. Clio nearly groaned. This was quite a lengthy process, and if she were being honest, she hadn’t taken enough advil to deal with it.

It took a good five minutes of waiting, but eventually Karen popped her head out of the doorway and greeted the girls with an enthusiastic smile. The security officer had taken great pains to ensure that she understood that her “guests” wasn’t to be alone with her just yet.

”Sorry for the wait, you two! Come on in!” said Karen, holding open the door for the both of them.

Inside hotel room was the security guard, who now stood beside the sofa with his arms folded. The room itself was quite luxurious; the company had paid for it as it did with most of her travel expenses. It all seemed a little extravagant for Karen’s tastes; she missed the simplicity of her family’s group home.

Taking a seat on the sofa, Karen, who was dressed rather casually, crossed her legs and gestured to a pair of plush leather chairs that sat across from her.

”Have a seat! I hope the guards didn’t give you too much trouble. The company insists on having them with me whenever Jones isn’t around.”

Starfire had taken a seat on the left chair, and crossed her legs like Karen did. ”They did not give me any trouble.” She said simply. Starfire didn’t know what to say. They were in an apartment that was much larger than Clio’s. It reminded her of home- especially the large windows. Karen wanted the both of them there, so Starfire assumed she had something in mind. So the alien looked expectantly at the singer with her glowing green eyes.

Karen smiled to the alien girl and Clio, folding her hands in her lap. ”Wonderful! I’m so happy you both decided to take me up on my offer!”

“Honestly, the two of you did an amazing job the other night protecting everyone at the concert!” said Karen, her eyes flashing with excitement. She then glanced to the tall, broad-shouldered man beside her. ”I, myself, am quite well-protected as you’ve seen, but I’m getting really worried about my fans.”

Exhaling through her nose, she suddenly shot up straight. ”Oh shit, I almost forgot! Would either of you like something to drink before we get down to business?”

Starfire was startled by Karen’s outburst. Then, she shook her head vehemently. ”No, no thank you. I don’t want anything to drink.” She politely but firmly denied the offer. Starfire learned her lesson. Human food was not for Tamarans. She glanced up at the guard next to her, then back at Karen. ”You can give a drink to him.” She said cheerily.

The security guard grunted towards the alien. “No drinking on the job. Something you’d better learn if you’re going into this line of work.”

“¡Se amable!” said Karen sharply to the man, before turning back to the pair. ”I’m sorry about him!”

Clio, who had been staying silent during all of this, shrugged. She had been staring off out the window, starting to feel how tired she was. Refocusing on Karen, she offered a wry smile. ”It’s not a problem, really. So, what would this job entail? Other than...protecting the fans. How would travel work?” Her intention wasn’t to rush Karen. It was more to get answers for Starfire. She was almost completely certain the girl wasn’t going to ask on her own. Karen was sweet and all, but she had to look out for the friend who’d been living with her for the past week first.

”Right, right, the job!” said Karen, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She had gotten a little carried away with the hospitality, she supposed. “So, Jones is not actually on my payroll. He’s on the company’s. They hired him to protect me, which he does really well! All of the other security guards you’ve seen were also hired by them.”

Karen eased into the sofa, leaning against one of the arms as she continued. ”For you two, I want to hire you directly! I’ll pay you each one hundred grand per year, and cover all of your travel expenses! Unlike poor Jones, you’ll only have to answer to me, not Sterling Records! I’m afraid I don’t have a medical or dental plan to offer, though...but who does anymore?”

She snickered at her own joke.

”In all seriousness, I’d be happy to pitch in if you ever get hurt or need any kind of operation!”

Starfire listened intently. It all sounded good. It sounded like something to do, and if it was anything like that night at the concert, Starfire would be good at it. Fighting was her speciality. ”One hundred grand a year, hmm?” She pondered aloud. After a moment she leaned toward Clio and whispered. ”Is that a good amount of grands?” She asked.

Clio listened intently to everything Karen had to say. She didn’t react outwardly to the pay raise, but in her mind she was doing splits and cartwheels. As Starfire leaned over and asked her about the ‘grands’, she grinned and nodded. ”It’s a great amount, Star. You’ll be earning a proper income. I’ll..explain more in the car.”

”Karen, would we be going across the Scar?” She knew the singer had never crossed before, but who knew if she’d get bold now that she had powered bodyguards.

Karen blinked in surprise at Clio’s question, her eyes reflexively darting out the window, as if she could somehow see the scar all the way in New York. ”The Scar? No! Sterling Records would never allow that. I mean, I’d love to visit the Pacific Federation, but you know how difficult travel is these days between the Coven and Atlantis…”

“Not that I’m doubting your abilities or anything!” she said, holding up her hands. “Though...I will admit to being rather curious. What, exactly, can the both of you do? Clearly, you can handle a very…aggressive mage if you have to!”

Starfire looked over at Clio and then back at Karen. She’d never really had to explain her powers to someone before. ”Um...Okay. My people use the powers of the stars. I can shoot balls of fire that explode, or ones that don’t. Or I can run faster. I can release this energy in the form of force, or heat, or both if I concentrate hard.”

Some of the words escaped her to make this explanation easier. The more she spoke a language, the easier it became to explain more complicated concepts.

”I can use it to jump. Jump in mid air. If I jump long enough I can jump out of the planet.” She added casually. If I rest for a night, I can heal from most wounds.”

”I draw this power from four different places.” She began pointing to the different places on her body. ”My mouth, my heart, all of my skin, and the most important one, my Emerald.” For the Emerald she gestured to her belly button. Clio had seen the object in Starfire’s body light up once before when she collapsed suddenly on her couch. There is quite literally an Emerald embedded in there, and it’s the most critical source of her powers. The other drawing points being mostly supplementary to it.

”I think that’s it. All I need is your bright day star. Unfortunately it seems like yours goes away for about half the day, but as long as I’m careful that shouldn’t be an issue.” She assured Karen.

”...and I know how to do the punching and the kicking.” She added.

Karen stared at Starfire in awe, taking in her laundry list of powers with a sense of wonder. ”Wowsers, you sound really powerful, Star! I’m certainly glad you’re on my side!” The alien smiled and nodded excitedly.

She then glanced to Clio. ”And how about you? You’re a Mage, right?”

”I am.” Clio said simply, still working through Star’s list of powers in her mind. Finally satisfied with her understanding, she began to elaborate on her own abilities. ”I specialize in Voodoo...it’s the family’s thing.” Her talents were a bit more...gritty than Star’s. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk more about it. It was an interview, though, and this was part of her resume.

”I can summon things to my person,” Start out small, so you don’t scare her. ”And, uh, I can manipulate the shadows.” She cleared her throat, scratching the back of her neck. Might as well get to the darker bits. ”I can bring corpses back to life...but only if they’re fresh. And if I have DNA off a person, I can stuff it in a doll and control their bodies. And then there’s the...^curses.”

If Karen was at all put off by Clio’s description of her powers, she didn’t show it on her face. Instead, she merely cupped her chin in apparent consideration. “Curses, huh? What sorts of curses? Like, long term ones? Instant ones? Curses that require rituals?”

These were not the questions someone that was completely unfamiliar with magic would normally ask about being told of such abilities, and the security guard standing next to Karen eyed the song artist warily.

Clio perked up at the lack of fear in Karen’s voice. The way she talked made it seem as though she was a mage herself, one of the family! Clio didn’t mind one bit. She loved to talk about her work, and hadn’t had anyone to discuss it with since she had left home. ”Long term, usually one to three weeks, depending. No ritual, just a cauldron.”

Karen smiled at this, nodding. ”Great! You certainly sound like you know a wide variety of spells! You must be prepared for just about anything!”

Glancing between the two girl in front of her, Karen scooted forward on the sofa. She seemed to be ignoring the uneasy posture the security guard was displaying, his hands now lightly clenched at his side. “You both sound like you’ll make amazing bodyguards for both me and my fans!”

Reaching across the pair of small tables between them, Karen offered the both of them her hand to shake.

“You’ve probably figured it out by now, but this is kind of an informal sort of agreement. We’ll shake on it, and I’ll write you two a cheque every month! You can work for me however long you want, and if you find something else you’d rather do with your life, you can leave! No dumb contracts or anything to get in the way! Sound good?”

Starfire reached out and clasped Karen’s hand.”This sounds like it will be exciting. No one will hurt you as long as I am around, Karen. I promise.” She took her promises very seriously and that was evident by the look in her emerald eyes.

”Likewise,” Said Clio, as she held out her hand and took Karen’s offer.

Karen smiled warmly to them both, though she was a little surprised by the seriousness in Starfire’s tone. It certainly wasn’t unwelcomed, however; taking one’s duties seriously showed a lot of character. ”I know I’ll be in good hands with you two, as will my fans.”

She then leaned in close to whisper, so that only the two of them could hear her. ”And maybe we can find a way to slip out from under the nose of Sterling Record’s goon squad on occasion.”

Randy, the security officer, raised his brows at the whispering, but said nothing.

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

@Zoey WhiteGlad to hear it!! It makes me happy to know what of my "squad" is still about!! ^^

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

January 7th, 10:14 AM
Blink Fitness, The Bronx, New York

@MsMorningstar@Zoey White@LokiLeo789@DC The Dragon

BAMPF! BAMPF, BAMPF, BAMPF!

The crisp sound of her nylon gloves striking against the coach's pads was undeniably cathartic in the way that it cut through the clinking of the gym equipment and the strained grunting of the weightlifters surrounding them. Although it had been nearly a week since the concert, Karen was still dealing with the full ramifications of the attack. The local media had all but camped outside the hotel she had been staying at, eager for any word that they could no doubt twist out of context.

Politicians had predictably been using the incident to call for harsher scrutiny towards Mages attending public events. Some even tried to lump it in with that whole mess down in Bludhaven to target non-human Terrans as well. Uncool. None of them could understand that the people they called "monsters" were actually comprised of hundreds of distinct species with completely different cultures, traditions, and beliefs.

Some naturally violent or cannibalistic species shouldn't be allowed in cities, or around civilians in general. She could agree with that. It was how they lumped the more peaceful species of Terrans in with them that pissed her off to no end.

"YAH!" roared Karen, delivering a kick to the pad that caused her coach to nearly fall from the impact, the crack causing several people to halt their workouts in confusion and alarm. Breathing out through her nose, she snatched her towel from the bench and wiped it along her brow.

"Whew! Christ, girl, you nearly took my arm off!" said Coach Jensen, dropping the mitts. "You sure you're just doing this for health?"

Karen smiled, shaking her head. "Sorry. I've been a little stressed lately. Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine," said Jensen. "I'm not so old that I can't still take a few bumps here and there."

Removing her gloves, Karen sat down on the bench and snatched up her water bottle, taking a long and heavy drink from it. The cool liquid washed over her tongue and streamed down her dry throat. It was said that lukewarm water was better to drink during workout sessions, but she could never stand that. Tasting warm water after two hours of exercise was like being given a parka for running a marathon in the summer.

Of course, she was dressed like it was summer despite being winter; but so was everyone else here. It couldn't be helped, Blink Fitness always cranked the temperature up way too high during the colder months. Ironic really, given how mild the winters had become as of late. Whether it was global warming, or all the chaos magic in the air, she honestly couldn't say.

Checking her phone, Karen's lips pulled down into a frown at the lack of any message from Clio, Star, or V. She had hoped they would ask about her bodyguard offer before the time came for her to leave New York, but that was starting to look unlikely. It was a shame, she had really enjoyed hanging out with Clio.

Of course, she had never seriously expected V to drop everything to come protect her fans, given who he was.

"I'm guessing that's it for training, right?" asked Jensen, his weathered eyes pleading for a "yes."

"Yeah, I'm good," said Karen, offering him a wave.

Jones had proven himself to be more than capable as a bodyguard. No harm had ever come to her when he was around, and she suspected that would remain the case. But at the same time...she hated feeling so weak and helpless. Up until the concert, Muay Thai had only been something she had pursued to stay in shape, but this past week she had been hitting the mitts harder than ever before. It felt so pathetic, to have to be watched over like she was still a helpless little flower.

She wasn't a small girl by any means, and she was a mage on top of that! She should be able to defend herself more readily.

Shaking her head, Karen pushed herself up from the bench and began to make for the showers. Her next concert was fast approaching, and she desperately prayed that it wouldn't turn out like the last one.

Her fans might love her, but everyone had their breaking point.