Project 22, Tentative title...

[Gideon Avery]

So here's a new story I'm working on! Sorry if the grammar is somewhat bad, I have yet to go through and edit. Either way, read...lemme know what you think!? Gracias!!

~*~ Chapter 1 – Family Drama ~*~
For the first time in her young life, Evangeline Cooper was considering her own mortality. “YOU SON OF A BITCH!” a voice screamed from down the hallway. “God I can’t believe you’d lie to me like that Colt!” Evangeline flinched and ducked to the side when ‘Colt’ came sprinting down the hallway, his shoulder length brown hair flopping as he grabbed the edge of his door and swung himself into his room just quick enough to avoid the Stiletto boot that imbedded itself into the wall his head had been in front of moments ago.

“Her aim is getting much better.” Evangeline jumped when another body appeared next to her out of nowhere.

“Hey Zo.” Evangeline said, nodding at the Indian boy. He grinned at her and dipped his head into a nod, sighing to himself when another boot went flying through his body and hit the wall behind his chest.

“You best be glad that I’m incorporeal.” He said, glaring down the hallway. He rolled his dark brown eyes, flashing another calm smile at Evangeline, who was cowering in a doorframe. It was amazing to her that Zo could flip from chastising someone to emitting a feeling of peace so quickly.

“Shut the fuck up coma boy.” Zo turned his attention back to the angry presence stomping down the hallway. He shook his head and looked back up at her.

“Damia, anger towards Colt isn’t the way to solve your problems. Nor is insulting my current condition.” Zo had been in a coma for the last two years, but had managed to find a way to stick around despite the fact that his body was on life support. He frowned when Damia seemed to ignore him completely. Evangeline pressed herself further towards the door as Damia stopped in front of them. The older girl scared her quite a bit, however she had been assured by everyone that Damia would grow on her. Evangeline had only been living in the house for a few weeks, and the amount of chaos amongst the others still threw her sometimes. By her count there were 8 others living there, not counting Zo, and all 8 of them were the most incredibly different people you could ever imagine. It was a shock to her that the house hadn’t been blown up by one of them yet. The members of the household varied in age, and race, and came from all over the US, having been drawn together by the oldest member of the house Gideon. He had sought them all out individually for the two things they all had in common; they were each orphans or runaways, and each one had a special ‘ability’. One that most people only thought existed in comics or movies. Zo for instance had the ability to project his spirit anywhere he wanted, even when he was in a coma. Evangeline was telekinetic, and had always felt that was the most bizarre thing ever, until she had been introduced to the rest of the house. Damia, who still stood fuming in front of them, had the ability to control anything natural. It gave her control over the elements, plants, animals, and sometimes even people if she tried hard enough. She was like Mother Nature times 100, but with an attitude.

“I have every right to want to kick Colts ass.” Damia said, adjusting her fishnet gloves, and retying the laces around her wrists, the black lace standing out starkly against her pale freckled skin. “I SAW HIM WITH THAT LITTLE SLUT!” She shouted through Colts closed door, her dark blue hair falling into her face. Damia was a formidable looking girl, with her fingerless gloves, blue hair, and knee-high boots, she gave off the air of a badass, and at 23 years old she had all but figured out how to work it.

“I…I thought you and Colt weren’t dating.” Evangeline said, speaking softly and then regretting it, making an attempt to hide behind a few strands of her long blond hair. She tensed when Damia turned and glared at her.

“We’re not.” Damia said sharply. “And that’s not the point. The point is that he lied to me.”

“I don’t have to tell you everything I’m doing Damia.” Colt said, throwing open his door, standing his ground when Damia turned and glared at him. In the past few weeks Evangeline had observed the tumultuous relationship between the two and still didn’t understand it. It was obvious the two of them were hopelessly in love with each other, but both of them fought tooth and nail against it with rather explosive results. She couldn’t decide if it was the 7 year age difference keeping them apart, as Colt was 30 and the second oldest of the bunch, or if it was just the fact that they were both stubborn as pigs. Colt was a cowboy at heart, with the ability to understand the thoughts of both humans and animals alike, he’d developed the ability to communicate with just about any form of life. Except apparently Damia. “And what the hell does it matter to you if I go out on a date every once in awhile? I’m not allowed to have fun?”

“It matters because—“

“Whose boots are those in my wall?” The four of them all froze when Gideon stepped into the hallway, raising an eyebrow.

“Mine.” Damia sighed, her head dropping as she glared at her feet.

“Damia we’ve discussed this.” Gideon said, running a hand over his neatly brushed thick brown hair. “If I find one more sharp object in the walls, you’re getting a job to pay for all the damages. You can’t throw things at peoples heads and not expect repercussions.”

“Sorry…” Damia sighed, biting her lip. It was amazing how quickly Damia submitted to the older man; he was the only one she ever listened to. At the age of 38 he was the oldest of the bunch, and had authority over all of them. Evangeline had to hand it to him; he was a charming son of a bitch. Armed with a devilish smile, and twinkling blue eyes, Gideon could have talked anyone under the rug. It had taken Evangeline all of a millisecond to trust him completely; it was obvious he cared deeply for everyone in his care. Evangeline hadn’t believed there was anyone else out there like her, until he literally landed on her doorstep a few months ago, his impressive set of wings folding neatly behind him.
“Why don’t we go get some tea and have a chat?” He said, flashing his obscenely attractive grin at Damia and holding out his hand. “Give you some time to cool down so you don’t behead Colt. I kind of like him.”

“Thanks.” Colt muttered, looking up at Gideon. “…I think.” Gideon laughed as Damia gave him her hand, and looked over at Colt.

“We’ll talk later.” Gideon said, as Damia opened her mouth to say something. Gideon gave her a quick glare and dragged her down the stairs, pulling her away before she could say anything.

“What exactly occurred between the two of you?” Zo asked, turning and raising an eyebrow. “I’ve seen her angry at you before, colt, but never angry enough to attempt to skewer you with a pair of her stiletto boots. She did quite a good deal of damage to the wall.”

“None of your damn business.” Colt frowned, shutting the door in Zo’s face. Zo sighed, shaking his head and looking back to Evangeline.

“I get absolutely no respect in this household.” He said, folding his hands behind his back and walking down the hallway. “It’s a wonder I still choose to reside here at all.” Evangeline watched quietly as his form flickered at the end of the hallway, fading quickly into nothingness. She wondered briefly where Zo went when he wasn’t present in the house, but it didn’t seem appropriate to ask. Staring at Colt’s closed door for a moment, she frowned to herself. He seemed to be more upset that he’d angered Damia, then that she had thrown shoes at him. She couldn’t figure out what was keeping the two of them apart, but if their arguments were that explosive when they were just friends, then there was no way the house would remain standing if they began dating. Biting her nail, she walked down to the other end of the hallway, stepping meekly into her room.

“Got caught in the middle of the storm didn’t you?” Evangeline looked over to see her roommate, Brea, sitting on her bed and leafing through a magazine.

“ Does she throw shoes like that allot?” Evangeline asked, sitting down on her bed and looking across the room at Brea. Brea smiled at her through a few strands of her chin length brown hair and shook her head.

“No, shoe throwing is usually reserved for something epic.” Brea shrugged, “Colt’s probably taking Lizbeth out again. She’s the manager at the coffee shop down the street, and Damia hates her with a passion.”

“Really?” Evangeline asked, raising an eyebrow. She scooted towards the edge of the bed, eager to her more from Brea. She had never had a roommate before, but the two of them had warmed to each other very quickly. Though she was only 18, Brea was the most parental person in the whole house, possessing both the ability to see into the future, as well as an empathic ability. She knew how someone was feeling the moment they walked into the room, and it gave her an edge up on understanding everyone.

“Yeah, Gideon had to actually drag Damia away from the coffee shop once because she flipped out, we all thought she was going to kill Lizbeth.” Evangeline blinked a few times and Brea explained further, “Lizbeth can be kind of mean spirited sometimes, she insulted a friend of Damia’s, and that’s like the worst thing you can do. I don’t know why Colt would be dating her again, he doesn’t like her all that much, and he knows it bothers Damia.”

“Are you sure that’s not why he’s doing it?” Evangeline asked, the gossip helping her to feel more like a normal 16-year-old girl.

“If it is then he’s making the stupidest mistake of his life.” Brea shrugged, “I love them both, but he knows he shouldn’t screw with Damia like that, it’ll only upset her.”
“She’s already upset…” Evangeline said, not sure how things could really get worse, Damia had already tried to kill him.

“No, I mean eventually it’ll make her cry. She’ll get herself all worked up into a fuss and burst into tears at the dinner table and lock herself in her room.” Brea said, with an authoritative nod. “And then he’ll worry himself sick over it, because he hates upsetting her like that, and she’ll be even more upset that she upset him—it’s a vicious circle. Happens allot really, at this point it’s starting to get ridiculous.”

“Why do they do that to each other?” Evangeline asked, “I mean, it’s obvious they both like each other.”

“It’s more complicated then that.” Brea said, setting her magazine down. “Allot of…shit has gone down over the last three years.”

“Like what?” Evangeline couldn’t help but be curious about the people she was living with now, she felt like she had years of history to catch up on in order to fit in here.
“It’s hard to explain.” Brea sighed, “A few years ago there was—“

“Hey do you guys know why there’s boots stuck in the wall next to my door?” Both girls stopped when the door opened revealing a tall, lanky, blonde, 21 year old boy.
“Edan you don’t know how to knock?” Brea asked, looking up at him with a frown.

“What?” Edan asked, looking back at the door in confusion.

“The door.” Brea said, nodding to it. “Normal humans tend to knock before just walking into someone else’s room. It’s how polite society works Edan.” Edan blinked at Brea a few times and she laughed, “What if I had been changing.”

“Right.” He said, biting his lip and nodding, as if absorbing the information. “Sorry, I didn’t think about I was just concerned over the boots—“ Edan was a sweetheart, and the smartest boy that Evangeline had ever met in her life, but he could be a bit of a scatterbrain at points, and had trouble blending in with normal society. He had spent allot of his childhood bouncing through different homes because of the fires that seemed to follow him everywhere, it wasn’t until he was about 13 that anyone managed to explain that it was his causing the fires. Apparently he had trouble settling in anywhere because of it, but he’d been living here 5 years and was doing fine so far, despite the fact that he became paranoid every once in awhile.

“Damia thought Colt’s head could use a few new holes.” Brea said with a slight smile, “Fortunately he’s a faster runner then she expected.”

“Jeeze, he must have really made her angry.” Edan said, glancing back down the hallway, “Is she okay? I mean she’s not still upset is she? Colt knows he shouldn’t be mean to her.”

“Gideon is talking to her downstairs.” Brea said with a nod, “I’m sure everything will be fine Edan, don’t worry about it.”

Downstairs in the kitchen, Damia tapped her fingers on the table as Gideon focused on making tea. It was the only thing he’d ever found that managed to calm Damia down enough to let herself relax. “You want to tell me why you were putting new ventilation holes in my walls?” He asked, turning around and setting a cup in front of her before placing himself on a stool across the table from her. Most of the chairs in the house were made to his specifications, since his wings didn’t always allow him to sit in normal chairs without having to hold them open. He was the only one of them who couldn’t walk around easily in normal society, but over the last 38 years of life he’d learned to deal with it. It was one of the things that made him uniquely qualified to watch over his little team of misfits.

“He’s dating Lizbeth again.” Damia sighed, frowning across the table at him, quickly fessing up to the real reason she was upset. She’d never managed to keep things from Gideon very well, he always knew just what button to push, or just what look to give her in order to get her to crack. “I don’t care that he’s dating, I don’t ever really care that he didn’t tell me, just…why her? He knows I think she’s a bitch—“

“Damia, honey, you don’t have say over who Colt dates.” Gideon said, taking a slow sip of his tea, and making eye contact with her over the rim of the glass. “If he wants to date her, then that’s Colt’s prerogative.”

“I just don’t think she’s right for him.” She shrugged, looking down at the table and swirling the tea around in her cup. “He’s too good for her, and—“

“And you’re the only one he should have eyes for.” Gideon said, cutting her off mid-complaint.

“No, that’s not what I meant Gideon.” Damia said, looking up at him with an exasperated sigh.

“But it is what you thought.” Gideon said, letting out a long breath and setting his cup down on the table. Folding his hands neatly in front of him he leaned forward, so his face was a few inches from hers. “Damia, may I remind you that you are the one who refuses to date him.” He said, making sure that his words got through to her. “I know you’re afraid to get close to him—“

“I’m not afraid—“

“You’re terrified.” Gideon frowned, seeing right through her attempted bluff. “But kiddo, you’re already close to him. I know the accident with Colt and Zo shook you up but you can’t live in fear of always losing someone—“

“He could have been killed.” Damia said, “And Zo practically was.”

“Damia, I’ve told you time and time again that it wasn’t your fault.” Gideon said, sending a harsh glare in her direction. “None of us were on our game that day, Kieran took all of us by surprise.”

“I should have sensed him coming.” Damia replied, “It’s my fault he was able to do as much damage as he did.”

“Yeah you should have sensed him coming,” Gideon said, raising his voice as he became increasingly frustrated with Damia. This was a tired conversation at this point, she couldn’t say anything he hadn’t already heard, but he couldn’t get her to stop blaming herself no matter how he replied. “But it’s my fault Zo is in the coma, and its my fault Colt was hurt. Maybe you should have been able to give us a warning, but it’s my job to protect all of you. I couldn’t do that could I?” He paused letting out a long breath, it had taken him months to get over the feeling that he had failed them all, and he still fought against it every day. He hated that Damia still held on, even two years after the fact. “You’re not strong enough to control people yet, you know that.”

“I should be.” Damia said, frowning to herself, “I just think that if I could work myself into Kieran’s brain, I could find a way to flip off the evil switch or something—“

“People don’t have switches in their brains Damia, you’d have to kill him.” Gideon frowned. A long silence passed between the two of them as both tried to find something to say.
“Whoooah, awkward silence.” Both Damia and Gideon turned to see the two boys standing in the door of the kitchen. “What the hell were you two talking about.”
“How you get more difficult to live with every day Thanos.” Damia said, breaking into a smile after half a second.

“What are you talking about, I’m perfect.” Thanos said, flashing her a brilliant smile, his starkly white teeth standing out against his dark skin. “Is it cus of my hair?” Thanos asked jokingly, running a hand over his closely cropped hair “I know you like the ones with the long hair.” He said with a wink.

“Where is Colt anyway?” Asked the other boy, who was still standing in the doorway. Damia shrugged, taking a few sips of her tea, and ignoring the question.

“Lev I think Colt is upstairs.” Gideon said, nodding at the ceiling. Lev ran a hand through his already mussed up red hair, and looked back at Damia.

“You saw him with Lizbeth didn’t you.” He said with a frown, “I told him that you’d kill him if he went out with her again, but he told me to mind my own business—“

“Maybe you should.” Damia said, turning around and giving the younger boy a dark glare. Lev frowned, backing up slightly, he was still trying to figure out when she was serious and when she was joking, but she seemed actually upset this time.

“Sorry?” He said, biting his lip and shrugging. “I was just trying to help, I mean, I know it bothers you, I don’t know why he won’t listen.” Lev let himself trail off, his words all coming out in a rush. “…Maybe I’ll just go upstairs then…”

“Yeah I think that would be a good idea Lev.” Thanos said, giving the boy a nod. Lev shifted for a moment, wanting to add in something else, but knowing that Damia might throw something at him if he did. With a nod he turned towards the stairs, bolting up them as fast as his legs would allow. “That boy can’t tell where his own business ends and everyone else’s begins.” He said, shaking his head.

“I thought you two were down at the arcade.” Gideon said, looking over at Thanos and pulling out one of the chairs at the table.

“We were.” Thanos said with a shrug, “Lev got a little excited and shorted out half the games, so we left in a jiffy.” Lev had the ability to control electricity, and sometimes shorted things out by accident. It was something he was learning to control, but it was harder for him when he was under emotional stress. Apparently video games were a source of stress. “You should really work with him some more on that, or I’m never letting him near my x-box again…”

“I’ll make a note.” Gideon said with a slight laugh. Taking a sip of tea, and glancing over at Thanos, he nonchalantly brought up a subject he knew would cause Thanos to become moody. “How about your powers? You ready to work with me yet?”

“You know I’m not using them unless I have to.” Thanos said, glowering at him darkly. “I hate them.”

“Well you can’t avoid them forever.” Damia said, knowing that his powers were a touchy subject.

“You have an ability to produce life, Damia.” Thanos said with a glare, “All I do is kill things, you had my power you’d say the same damn thing.” Damia sighed, looking into her teacup. She wished there was something she could say to him, but essentially he was right. Thanos had the ability to pull the life out of things just by touching them. It wasn’t a power anyone would rightfully want to have. “You want to work on hand to hand, I’ll take up your offer any day of the week.”

“Alright. I’ll take that deal.” Gideon said, giving Thanos a pat on the back. Because Thanos hated his ability, he spent allot of his time working out, and learning out to fight. The African American cut a very interesting figure, being both lanky but muscular at the same time. He was probably one of the biggest teddy bears on the planet, but you wouldn’t want to piss him off in a dark alley either. Silence fell between the three of them for a long moment, not awkward this time, but platonic and relaxed.

“…So.” Thanos said after a long moment, “It’s getting pretty boring around here, everyone being all family like a peaceful.” Damia nodded, glancing across the table at Thanos, knowing instinctively what he was about to ask.

“Your point is?” Gideon asked, feigning interest in his tea once more.

“You got another mission yet?” Thanos asked, looking off in the opposite direction. “‘Nother bad guy we can go take out? I mean that is why you gathered us all together right? Special team, all that jazz?”

“I gathered you guys together to give you a chance at being normal.” Gideon said with a sigh, looking over at Thanos.

“And to kick some paranormal ass.” Damia said, cracking a smile despite herself, this was an argument she’d been having with Gideon since she was 10 years old. They needed a purpose in life, and as a team they were uniquely suited for fighting off the evils of the world.

“And for kicking the non-magical bad guy ass.” Thanos said, “Can’t forget about them. They’re just as prominent as the paranormal ones.”

“Evangeline is still adjusting.” Gideon said with a sigh, “I’m not sending you out as a team until she knows how the team works alight?”

“But you will send us out when she is team oriented?” Damia asked, tapping her fingers on the table. She lived for the missions; they gave her an outlet for her anger. She also enjoyed getting to help people, but at the moment the thought that she might get to kick someone in the face was very pleasing to her.

“Yes.” Gideon said after a long moment, “If something comes up, I’ll send you guys out.” Gideon worked for a special branch of the government, that specialized in all things weird and dangerous, it was how he had managed to track down all of his ‘adoptees’ for lack of a better term. It was also how he knew that there were people out in the world that you couldn’t fight with a badge and a gun. Which was where his team came in. He hated sending them out there sometimes, but it made them feel needed, and the best thing he could do for them was give them a purpose.

“Thank god.” Damia said, “I was starting to think you were going to keep up this Leave It To Beaver on acid act up forever.”

“Hey I kind of like the Leave It To Beaver act sometimes.” Thanos said, as both he and Damia broke into smiles.

“Gideon can’t cook though,” Damia said, “Hence the illusion is shattered, if he was a real dad he’d learn to cook.”

“Hey now that’s not fair.” Gideon said, glaring at her, but knowing she was joking. She’d always given him a hard time, she felt entitled to since she viewed him as her father. He’d picked her up off the street when she was 7 and she’d been poking fun at him ever since. Not that he minded, he was just happy to see his kids functioning like normal young adults did. “I tried to cook that fish thing last week.”

“It came off the grill black and green.” Damia said, laughing at him as she finished her tea.

“Yeah what the hell did you do to it to turn it green anyway?” Thanos asked, “You should just let Colt do all the cooking from now on, that boys got a gift with the grill.”

“Yeah well Colt can go and fu—“ Damia stopped mid sentence when Gideon’s cell phone when off, its shrill ring tone causing her to jump. “Jesus Christ.”

“I have to take this.” Gideon said, sighing and looking at the caller ID, his face falling into a frown.

“Something wrong?” Damia asked, looking him up and down.

“Its probably nothing.” Gideon said, excusing himself. “Go ahead and keep insulting Colt, I’ll be back in just a sec.” Damia and Thanos watched him walk out of the room, with frowns on their faces. He didn’t normally look that serious.

“Who do you think called?” Thanos asked, looking back at Damia after a moment.

“Probably his boss.” She shrugged, turning her attention away from the door. “Who knows.”

“So what’s up with you and colt?” Thanos asked, knowing by instinct that Colt had done something seriously wrong.

“Nothing.” Damia shrugged, “He’s just being himself. And going out with Lizbeth…” She sighed, chewing on her fingernails, a habit she had been trying desperately to break.
“You know he’s doing it just because you won’t date him.” Thanos said, “Colt’s my best friend Damia, I know what the boy’s thinking.”

“Yeah well, he’s being a dumbass.” She muttered angrily. “Just because I won’t date him doesn’t mean he has to go out with that bitch—“

“Colt doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.” Thanos said, “He’s just trying to fit in, you know he’s always gotten on better with animals then he has people. He just has to learn to communicate.”

“Yeah well if he gets along better with Animals then he should just move to that damn ranch he’s always wanted.” Damia glowered. “Maybe then we could both just move on.” Damia began chewing on her thumbnail, unaware that Gideon had hung up his phone and started listening through the door. Shoving his cell phone into his pocket Gideon quietly walked up the stairs to the second floor of the house, walking down the hall and quietly knocking on Colt’s door.

“What?” Colt called, unwilling to move an inch, as he already knew what Gideon was going to say. “Gideon just go away.”

“I want to talk.” Gideon said, standing firmly outside the door. “C’mon man, just let me in.”

“I already know what you’re thinking.” Colt said, opening the door and glaring at Gideon.

“Yeah, I know.” Gideon said, pushing himself around Colt and into the room. “That’s the problem with living with a telepath. But we still need to talk.” He said, nodding for Colt to sit down. Colt frowned, sitting back down on his bed and raising an eyebrow. “You’re 30 years old, Colt, you don’t need to stay here if you don’t want to.” Gideon said, coming right out with it. There was no point trying to dance around the issue when Colt could easily read his mind.

“Gideon, I don’t want to go anywhere else.” Colt said, “You know that. This is the only life I’ve ever known, I’ve been here since I was 14.”

“I know that.” Gideon said, rubbing his temples. “But maybe getting out of here would do you some good.”

“Gideon the most good I can do is staying here and fighting with the team.” Colt shot back, “I can’t even begin to comprehend doing anything else. You guys need me, I’m not about to abandon you, not when Kieran is still out there—“

“This has nothing to do with Kieran,” Gideon sighed, and crossed his arms. “This is about Damia. You don’t want to abandon Damia.”

“Nah, that’s not it at all.” Colt said, shaking his head. Gideon raised an eyebrow and glared at him for a moment, waiting for Colt to break. They both knew the only reason Colt had stuck around the last 5 years was because of Damia. Although she talked tough she would die if he ever left, and it would hurt Colt too much to be away from her.

“I would take care of her.” Gideon said, “You know I love her like she’s my own kid, I wouldn’t let her self destruct if you left Colt. We’d be okay.”

“You know that’s not true.” Colt said, “As much as she denies it, she’d fall apart if I left.” Colt shook his head, looking away from Gideon. “I love her too much to put her through pain like that.” Colt said, voicing what the both of them already knew.

“Yeah well maybe you should.” Gideon replied, “Might make her realize how much she actually needs you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Colt said, looking back up at Gideon. “You want to kick me out then fine, but I’m not moving of my own free will.” Gideon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t about to play the bad guy in this situation.

“You can stay as long as you want, Colt.” Gideon said, “But if any other furniture breaks, or I have to repair anything else in the house, the three of us are going to have a long talk and we’re going to resolve this. I won’t have your drama bring down the whole house.”

“We’ll work it out.” Colt said with a nod, running his hands through his hair. “I promise.”

“Good.” Gideon said, giving him a firm nod. “And while you’re at it, stay away from that Lizbeth girl. She’s a bitch.”

~*~ Chapter 2 – What a piece of work is man (And Damia) ~*~

“Mrs. Robins, if you don’t water your plants…they are GOING TO DIE.” Damia said, tapping her fingers on the check out counter of the plant nursery she worked at.

“You said they were low maintenance.” The older woman said, giving Damia’s hair a disapproving glare as she pushed the half dead pot of flowers at her.

“I said they were low maintenance.” Damia said, picking up the plant. “I didn’t say no maintenance.”

“Well I was told that you had the healthiest plants in the city.” Mrs. Robins said, frowning at Damia. “Obviously my sources were wrong.”

“Lady I’m not that one who killed your plants.” Damia snapped back, “You are.” ‘You dumb bitch.’ Damia added silently in her head. What kind of person didn’t know to water their plants, it was like she was trying to kill them.

“It was dead inside a week.” Mrs. Robins replied, “I want a refund, and to speak with your manager.”

“I am the manager.” Damia replied with a long suffering sigh. “And I’m not giving you a refund for plants that you killed.”

“Well then I want another plant.” Mrs Robins said, “These flowers were obviously defective.”

“Plants can’t be defective.” Damia said, “Just people…”

“Excuse me?” Mrs Robins asked, barely picking up the fact that she’d just been insulted. Damia stiffened, sensing that she may have just crossed a line, Mrs Robins had a reputation of being herd to work with, rumor had it she was the richest woman in the city, and she certainly acted like she had the right to anything she wanted. “Young lady, if you do not replace my plant this instant, I’ll have you fired.”

“You can’t have me fired for telling you the truth.” Damia muttered, wishing she could throw a flower pot at the womans head. Maybe it would shut her up.

“You should probably just replace the plant.” Damia frowned when one of her male co-workers leaned forward and growled into her ear. “I think I’d have to quit if you were fired, you’re the best manager here.” Damia turned, and eye contact with him. “Lemme see what I can do to placate her.”

“Can you watch the counter for just a moment Jack?” Damia asked, smiling sweetly for the benefit of Mrs Robins. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get a new plant for Mrs. Robins here.”

“Sure thing.” Jack replied, his light blue eyes twinkling at her. Damia sighed, grabbing the potted plant off the counter and sauntering to the back. If nothing else, Jack would be able to calm Mrs Robins down easily. He was the prettiest boy she’d ever met, and a charming bastard. It worked in his favor at times like this. Stepping into the back room, Damia shut the door behind her and closed her eyes. She hated giving this poor plant back to Mrs Robins, but it was easier then giving her another one, knowing that she’d just kill that one as well. Taking a deep breath Damia focused on the plant, pulling energy from the air around her and funneling it into the pot. She hated bringing plants back to life, it took far to much focus and energy. It was easier to help things grow, but this poor plant was far past that point. Feeding her energy into the plants root system, she opened her eyes, and watched it slowly pop back to life. When it was fully healed she let out the breath she’d been holding, and allowed herself to relax. Taking a moment to gather her energy back up, Damia pulled the door open and walked back up to the front counter.

“You okay?” Jack asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. “You look a little pale…”

“I’m fine.” She grumbled back, placing the plant on the counter. “Here ya go.” Damia said, giving Mrs. Robins a sarcastic smile. “Bright and shiny new plant. I suggest you water it every other day.”

“That wasn’t so hard now was it.” Mrs Robins said, grabbing the plant back from Damia and glaring at her. “Have a good day Jack.” She said, turning her attention back to him, her look softening. “Call me if you ever need anything.”

“Come back any time Mrs. Robins.” Jack said, waving as she walked out of the store.

“She damn well better not come back.” Damia said, once the door was closed. “That’s the fourth plant she’s asked to be replaced this month. The woman is a plant killer, I feel bad selling them to her. Poor things, they didn’t do anything to deserve her. Or having to hear her voice every damn day, maybe that’s what’s killing them…”

“You should really learn better customer service skills Damia.” Jack said, smiling at her despite himself. “You’re the best gardener I’ve ever met in my life, but my god are you bad with people.”

“Plants don’t complain.” Damia said with a shrug. “Or judge you.” She smiled tightly, looking up at him and raising an eyebrow.

“I apologize.” Jack said, shaking his head. Damia let go of her faux anger after a minute and laughed, looking back at the door.

“You really mean what you said about me being the best manager?” Damia asked, it seemed odd of Jack to compliment her like that. She never had to much contact with him, other then when they were scheduled for the same shift.

“Hell yeah.” Jack said, with a nod, going about cleaning up the counter so they could lock up for the night. “You’re nicer then Jeff, and easier to work with then Freddie, not to mention by far prettier to look at then the both of them.” Damia paused, tilting her head for a moment.

“Thank you?” She said, unsure of how to respond. “I mean, that’s not really all that difficult of a feat.” She finished, having to find a way to make his comment sound more normal. It wasn’t every day someone called her pretty, even if it was in the context of comparing her to someone else.

“Nah, I mean it though.” He said, popping up from the other side of the counter. “What the hell is someone like you doing working here? You’re too exotic for this place, its probably why you piss Mrs Robins off so much.”

“…I could say the same to you.” Damia replied, wondering why the hell he was suddenly pouring compliments upon her. “Is there something you want Jack?” She asked, figuring that had to be the answer. “Day off, or a raise or something?”

“No nothing like that.” He said with a shrug, “Just coffee.”

“Coffee?” Damia asked with a blink. “We have Coffee in the back room, if you want better coffee you’re going to have to pay for it yourself—“

“No Damia, that’s not what I’m asking.” He said with a laugh, shaking his head. Damia blinked again, honestly not understanding where he was going with this conversation. “You, I want to get coffee with you.”

“Seriously?” Damia asked, her face going blank. She’d never really been asked out before, and if she had she’d always been to busy pining after Colt.

“yes seriously.” Jack said, nodding slowly. “I’ve been trying to ask for like 3 weeks, I swear you’re the most difficult person to get through too.”

“Sorry.” Damia replied, shifting awkwardly. “I’m not to good with the people thing…”

“Yeah I know.” Jack laughed, running a hand over his short brown hair. An awkward moment of silence passed between them before he asked again. “So…how ‘bout it?” He asked, looking up at her slyly. Damia frowned, she couldn’t begin to understand him, he was far to attractive to be honestly asking her out. Not to mention she was head over heels in love with Colt, and always had been.

“You know I really don’t know if—“ She cut herself off with a sigh, biting her lip. Colt was still seeing that Lizbeth bitch. And in her book, turnabout was fair play. “Sure, coffee sounds…fun…”

“Awesome.” Jack said, givin her a smile. “Tomorrow? Is that okay? I know you’re day off is tomorrow—“

“Tomorrow would be good.” Damia said, smiling herself now, unsure if it was because Jack had actually asked her out, or if it was because she had the opportunity to make Colt feel the same pain she was.

“Cool…” jack said, shoving his hands into his pockets and rocking back on his heels. Damia looked around the store for a minute, biting her lip.

“Lets get out of here shall we?” She said, both of them having finished their cleaning before Mrs Robins had ever shown up.

“Sounds good to me.” Jack said, nodding towards the door. “After you.”

“Thanks.” Damia laughed, grabbing her keys and heading for the door. “Such a gentleman…”

“Well I try.” Jack said, flashing a smile at her. Damia blinked, still unsure of how to read him. She couldn’t seem to wrap her mind around the fact that he had actually asked her out, it all seemed too sudden. But then she’d never been the most observational girl in the world when it came to boys, a fact that Brea and Thanos never allowed her to forget. “I’ll call you tomorrow?” He asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“Yeah…” She said, managing to give him a smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Have a good night Damia.” He said, nodding at her once before moving to his car.

“You too…” Damia said, watching as he got into his car. “Shit!” She muttered to herself as soon as he had driven away. Covering her face with her hands she groaned loudly. “What the HELL did I just get myself into…” She sighed, running her hands through her hair. Angrily grabbing for her motorcycle helmet, she shoved it on, still cursing at herself under her breath as she kicked it into gear and headed for the house. Colt would know what had happened as soon as she stepped foot into the house, she’d never been good at blocking her thoughts off from him. If nothing else, it would make for an interesting night.

[Fyrre Alessian]

(I like your people. They make me giggle. Write MOAR!!!)

[Gideon Avery]

~*~

“What did you do?” Damia blinked, pausing in the front door and raising an eyebrow. She hadn’t even taken two steps into the house yet, and already Gideon was calling her out on something.

“Excuse me?” She replied, tossing her motorcycle helmet on the loveseat and trying to play up her innocence. “I went to work. That’s all.”

“Are you kidding?” Gideon said, following her as she walked towards the kitchen. “You have that naughty puppy look on your face.”

“You did not just call me a naught puppy.” Damia said, turning and glaring at him.

“You know I think I did.” Gideon said, tilting his head to the side and furrowing his eyebrows. “Yeah I did.” He nodded, letting himself trail off. “What did you do Damia?”

“I did nothing! Why do you always think I did something wrong? Jesus Christ Gideon, I’m not a five year old, I can make my own choices.” She shouted, throwing her hands in the air, and turning to walk away from him. “Fuck!” She muttered, running into Colt before she could stop herself.

“You agreed to go out with Jack tomorrow night.” He said, looking down at her with a frown.
“Shit.” Damia muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose and making an attempt to step away from him. “This isn’t gonna be a problem is it?” She asked, as Colt grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back in front of him.

“Jack?” Gideon asked, raising an eyebrow. “Jack Ellis? The guy you work with, the one that Brea is always telling me is pretty? That Jack?”

“Its possible.” Damia said with a sigh, looking back at him.

“You’re dating someone Brea refers to as pretty?” Gideon asked, raising an eyebrow. “You’re kidding…”

“We’re not dating.” Damia shot back, “He just asked me out for coffee.”

“You’re not going.” Colt said, shaking his head. Damia’s jaw dropped slightly, as she turned to look up at him.

“What the hell?” She asked, “What do you mean I’m not going? Since when did you decide where I go, and with whom I go out with?”

“I don’t like him.” Colt replied with a shrug, “Ergo, you’re not going.”

“I can’t go out with someone because you don’t like them?” Damia asked, slightly taken aback. Gideon bit his lip and stepped back, sure that she was about 20 seconds from exploding on Colt. It wasn’t something he was about to get in the middle of, not unless it started looking like it was going to get violent, which sadly with Damia was always a possibility. “Excuse me, but let’s reflect for a moment shall we?” Damia asked, tilting her head to the side. “I ask you to stop seeing Lizbeth, because she’s a raging bitch and you know it, but I can’t get coffee with Jack because you don’t like him. How is that logical? Or fair? Let’s go with fair, how is that fair Colt?”

“Has he shown any interest in you before?” Colt asked, “He hasn’t has he? Just asked you for coffee out of the blue didn’t he?” Colt sighed, growling as Damia turned to move away from him. Grabbing her wrist he pulled her back, “I’m not done with this conversation?”

“Oh my god are you joking? Of course you’re done with it!” Damia snapped, turning back to him. “I AM”

“You need to hear me out on this.” Colt grumbled, frowning at her and pushing his hair out of his face. “Damia why the hell would he ask you out like that?”

“You don’t want me to go because you think it’s weird he asked me out?” Damia asked, scoffing at him. “Jesus Colt that’s actually pretty insulting.” She said, yanking her wrist out of his hand. “Go ahead and date whoever you want to, but I have to stay at home and be alone because I’m un-date-able, and its absolutely inconceivable to you that someone else might actually like me? Is that what you’re thinking? That I’m some sort of hideous thing that no one else would ever in their right mind ask out for coffee?”

“Damia—“ Colt stepped forward, but she held her hand up, pushing him away.

“No!” She snapped, “You know what, fuck you Colt, I can’t believe you’d sink that low.” She snarled, turning and stomping away from him.

“Damia, that’s not what I meant.” He said, following her down the hall. “Damnit Damia, you know that’s not what I meant!!”

“Leave me alone Colt.” Damia shouted, slamming her door in his face so hard that it made the entire house shake.

“If she broke the door again, you’re paying for it.” Gideon said from the bottom of the stairs, crossing his arms and glaring at Colt.

“Son of a bitch Gideon!” Colt shouted, turning and glaring at him. “Leave it alone!”

“She’s right you know.” Gideon sighed, “You have no reason to act like you are.”

“STAY OUT OF IT!” Colt snapped, pointing at Gideon with a glare. “This is none of your damn business.” He snarled, stomping down the hall and slamming his own door. Gideon sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Leave it to the oldest kids in the house to act the most childish.” He muttered, trying to fight off a headache.

“Hey at least they didn’t break anything.” Thanos called from the living room, where he had apparently been hiding out the whole time. “Or flood the kitchen again, that’s always a bitch to clean up.”

“Now is not the time.” Gideon said, looking over at him.

“Want me to run damage control?” Thanos asked, crossing his arms. “Talk Damia out of killing Colt?”

“Would you?” Gideon asked, his shoulders drooping. “I’m gonna wait a few minutes and talk to Colt.”

“Sounds like a plan boss.” Thanos said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Pray for me.” He said with a sigh, knocking softly on Damia’s door. “I’m going in.”

“Good luck soldier.” Gideon said, giving him a pat on the back. “I’ll memorialize you if you don’t make it out alive.”

“…Thanks.” Thanos said with a blink, “That doesn’t really help.” Gideon snickered and shook his head.

“Just don’t turn your back.” Gideon said, “You’ll be fine.” Thanos sighed and knocked on the door once more, flinching when Damia flung it open.

“What?” She asked, glaring at him and clenching her jaw.

“I uh…just wanted to see how you were feeling, sunshine.” Thanos said, flashing his pearly whites at her.

“I’m fine.” Damia said, plastering a fake looking smile on her face. “Colt is an idiot though, and a jackass, maybe you should talk to him.” She said, pointing at his door, and moving to slam her own.

“Wait wait wait…” Thanos said, grabbing her door before she could shut it. “Damia talk to me for a second, just a damn second alright?”

“I don’t want to talk Thanos.” Damia said, growling when he forced the door open. “DAMN IT! Let go of the damn door!”

“Fine!” Thanos yelled, overpowering her and jerking it open so he could step inside. “Happy now?” He asked, grinning at her sarcastically.

“Fuck you.” Damia grumbled, flopping back onto her bed and glaring at him.

“That seems uncalled for.” Thanos said, leaning against the door and crossing his arms. “You want to tell me why you’re so upset? Is it cus Colt inadvertently hurt your pride, or cus you think he might be right?”

“He’s not right.” Damia sighed, letting her hair fall in front of her face. “He’s just being a little bitch because he can’t stand to see me going out with anyone.”

“Hey I’m not debating that.” Thanos replied, pushing himself off the wall and sitting next to her on the bed. “I’m just saying that if that’s what you really think, then why are you acting like such a wounded duck right now?”

“I am not acting like a wounded duck.” Damia replied, looking back at him. Thanos raised an eyebrow, giving her his infamous ‘oh really?’ look. “Its his damn fault, he insulted me.”

“He didn’t mean to.” Thanos said with a sigh, “He’s just trying to look out for you, doesn’t want you jumping into anything.”

“I didn’t jump into it.” Damia said with a frown, “He asked me out for coffee, I said yes. That’s not like, a life changing sort of thing Thanos.”

“Yeah well, you don’t go out with people very often.” Thanos said, looking down at her. “Not to mention, the only reason you said yes was to bug Colt, and that’s not really a solid reason to date someone.”

“That is not the only reason I said yes.” Damia shot back, cracking when he gave her another look. “Okay, it’s like 95% of the reason. I will admit to that up front…”

“You really need to stop this Damia.” Thanos sighed, “It’s starting to get a little ridiculous.”

“I’m not the one you should be saying that too.” Damia grumbled, “I happen to know its ridiculous.” She sighed, covering her face with her hands and falling back onto the bed. “God, maybe if I did have a boyfriend all this fighting would friggen STOP, I hate fighting with him. It’s like we both think we shouldn’t date other people, but we don’t want to date each other either. Like what the fuck good is that going to do for either of us?”

“I dunno.” Thanos replied, falling silent. It really was a terrible situation, and it seemed to be escalating every day. “Wish I could tell you what to do but I can’t.” They both fell silent, staring into space for a few minutes. “I’m sure it’ll work it’s self out.” He said quietly, “You just need to relax.”

“I’m trying.” Damia grumbled, biting her thumb nail. After several minutes of silence she spoke up again, sitting up and looking at Thanos. “I’ve never really been on a date.” She said, “I should probably just call it off shouldn’t I?”

“Nah.” Thanos said, shaking his head. “Don’t call it off cus of Colt. A date is a date, go out and have some fun. You have every right to go get coffee.” He smirked to himself, “’sides it might make him break up with that Lizbeth bitch, and you know how much we’d all love to see that.” Damia smiled, leaning her head on Thanos’s shoulder.

“You always know just what to say to me.” She laughed, “Way to be.”

“Hey, I won’t deny my awesome-ness.” Thanos replied with a laugh. “You want me to help you get ready tomorrow?”

“Yes, definitely.” Damia said, rolling her eyes.

“I’m here for you no matter what.” Thanos said, giving her a wink. “Never forget that. Especially if you decide to go on a rampage and kill us all…”

[Serenity]

~*~ The Beginning Is The End (Is The Beginning)~*~

“Electra, darling, must you insist on making such a mess?” Kieran Walker sighed, adjusting the jacket to his black business suit and straightening out his silver tie. With a slight frown, he risked the well being of his shoes to kick a body out of his path before the blood leaking quickly from its throat spread far enough that he would have to walk through it. Stepping over the small pool of crimson blood, he calmly surveyed the carnage that Electra had left in her path. “There’s only three bodies here, where are the other five?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“How should I know?” Electra asked, pushing a few strands of her long, dark brown hair out of her face. “Demetrius and Harding went upstairs, go see if they know.” She grumbled, pointing up the stairs of the quaint six-bedroom home they’d broken into.

“Watch the exits.” Keiran snapped back at her, stepping over another body in order to get to the stairs. “It does us no good if any of them escape, I’ll be highly disappointed if you’re outwitted by a group of school children.” He said, rolling his eyes as he noticed a few fist-sized holes in the wall leading up the staircase.

“HEADS UP!” Keiran blinked, side stepping and pressing himself to the wall when the body of a 17 year old boy went flying down the stairs next to him. “Sorry boss.”

“Harding, you’re a solid piece of glass.” Kieran glared, “Why must you throw people when you could just as easily break them?” he said, looking Harding up and down. Hardings power had always fascinated him. The man had the ability to transform himself into what looked like a solid piece of glass, one hard enough that no matter what you hit him with, he would never break. In the 16 years they’d known each other, Harding had never suffered from so much as a chip.

“Throwing is more fun.” Harding said with a shrug, “Besides, he’s dead isn’t he? What difference does it make?” He asked, watching as a pool of blood spread out from underneath the boy’s head. Kieran rolled his eyes, continuing his journey up the stairs. “Oh and be careful up here, Demetrius got a little carried away, the whole floor is covered in ice.” Kieran let out a long suffering sigh, and glanced down at the floor, a wave of heat spreading out from underneath his feet, quickly melting the ice away.

“Much better.” He muttered, as water started dripping down the staircase. “Fantastic, now I have to take this suit to the dry cleaners.” Picking his feet up out of the puddles, and shaking them on at a time, he looked back at Harding. “There are still four more—“

“Two more.” Harding said, pointing his thumb into the room behind him. Kieran raised an eyebrow, and stepped around him, glancing into the room. It was coated in a thick white layer of ice. Two bodies stood frozen in the middle, like some sort of morbid commemoration of their dismal lives, both reaching out as if they had only sensed the danger seconds before it had hit them. “Demetrius is looking for the last two.”

“They’re not up here.” Demetrius said, stepping out of a room towards the end of the hall. “They must be in the basement.” He shrugged, running a hand through his already disheveled and wild looking brown hair. He let out a sigh, his breath visible in the air around him, which was at a constant temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Wonderful.” Keiran said, turning oh his heel and walking quickly down the stairs. “Are you coming or not?” He called, Demetrius and Harding looking at one another for a moment before scrambling after him. “Electra?!” He called, as he turned the corner into the living room of the house.

“Still watching the door!” She snapped back, glaring at him through her dark brown eyes.

“Good.” Keiran replied, straightening his tie once more before opening the door to the basement. “Stay here.” Electra opened her mouth to protest, knowing it would be no good. She had already done her share of the killing for the day as it was. “I assume Oliver is still missing?” Keiran asked, looking up at Harding and Demetrius as he walked down the stairs. The both nodded at him simultaneously.

“You told us to leave him alone til you got here.” Demetrius said, “We didn’t want to make a move without your directions first.” He said, worry showing ever so slightly through his blue eyes, the rest of his face a solid blank expression. Anyone normal would question if Demetrius had emotions at all, but a keen observer would note the quick expressions that reflected themselves only through his eyes.

“Yes, you are correct.” Kieran said, giving him a reassuring smile. “Oliver and I have a few things to discuss…” He said, stopping on the stairs and scanning the basement. It was fairly barren, with a television, a futon, and a pool table being the only things immediately visible.
“Well this puts a twist on things.” He said, scanning the room. “Come out, come out, wherever you are?” He asked, in a sing-song voice. “There should be two people down here.” He muttered to himself, walking the rest of the way down the stairs. “Demetrius?” He asked, looking back up the stairs. Demetrius nodded, jumping off the stairs, a thick sheet of ice spreading over the entire floor before his feet hit the ground. Kieran smiled when he heard a whimper from underneath the entertainment center that held the television. Looking back up at Harding, he stepped out of the way to allow him past.

Running a hand over his temporarily glass goatee, Harding smiled, striding across the room. “Hello there.” He said, smiling and reaching into the large storage space underneath the entertainment center. “You didn’t think you could hide did you? Under a TV stand? That’s just impractical…” he said, hauling a small blonde girl out.

“Leave me alone.” The girl said, pleading at him with her violet eyes. “Please?”

“How old are you?” He asked, wrapping a hand around her throat and lifting her off the floor several inches. “19? Old enough to know better sweetheart.” He said, clicking his tongue and looking past her to Kieran.

“Ask if she knows where Oliver is.” Kieran said, giving him a nod.

“You wouldn’t know where Oliver is would you?” Harding asked, watching the girl convulse in his grip, struggling for air. She choked something out and Harding frowned, “Can’t hear you…” He said, as her fingers scratched at wrists, her nails quickly slipping off the glass.

“She can’t breath you dumbass.” Demetrius said straight-faced, a glare quickly flickering across his features.

“Oh.” Harding said, looking at the girl, and placing her feet back on the ground. “Right.” She immediately lashed out at him, her hand striking the center of his chest, causing her to cry out when it broke. “Oh for gods sake.” Harding muttered, “You’re going to get blood on my shirt.”
“What did that shirt cost you?” Demetrius asked, blinking at him. “A dollar?” the only thing Harding every wore was a gray wife-beater and a pair of jeans. It wasn’t exactly hard to come by.

“Hey I like this shirt.” Harding snapped, glaring at Demetrius. “Its worn in.” Keiran coughed lightly, in an attempt to get the two focused back on the topic at hand. “Right sorry.” Harding said with a nod, looking back at the girl. “So Oliver? You know where he is?”

“Like I’d tell you.” She spat, hitting Hardings face. “Fuck you.” Harding growled, looking back at Kieran again.

“I’m not interested in watching you play with your prey Harding.” Kieran said, shaking his head.

“Oh well…” Harding said, looking back at the girl and tightening his fist around her throat again. “Sorry kiddo.” He said, a crunch sounding through the room as he crushed her neck, and tossed her onto the pool table.

“Well would you look at that?” Kieran said with a smile, as a man quickly became visible through Hardings clear chest.

“Hey!” Harding said with a smile. “You must be Oliver!” He said, grabbing for Oliver as he tried to dart for the door. Oliver grabbed for one of the pool sticks, swinging it into Harding’s arm, and causing wooden splinters to fly everywhere. “…ouch.” Harding said in a deadpan, a grin flickering across his face. “Oh wait, that didn’t hurt.”

“She must have been shielding him.” Kieran said, glancing over at Demetrius as Oliver lifted the futon off the floor and tossed it at Harding. Harding sighed, turning away from it as it hit his shoulder with a large crash. Harding stepped out from behind it, climbing over it and throwing a punch in Olivers direction, which Oliver quickly ducked. “Enough of this.” Kieran grumbled, spreading his fingers wide and glaring at the floor.

“Dammit, I thought you said you’d warn us!” Harding growled as the room began to shake violently, and hail the size of golf balls came raining from the ceiling. Demetrius frowned, his face remaining fairly stoic as he swatted them out of his way.

“Just grab him.” Kieran shot back, as Oliver quickly lost his footing, not used to the instant earth quakes that Kieran was capable of producing.

“Fine.” Harding snapped, maneuvering around the broken futon and making a grab for Oliver before the man could scramble away again. “Got the bastard!” Harding snapped, tightening his hands around Olivers arms and dragging him across the room.

“Oliver!” Kieran said, giving the man a smile and snapping his fingers, bringing the earthquake and the hail to a quick stop. “How good to see you again.”

“You son of a bitch!” Oliver yelled, struggling against Harding’s grip. “You killed my kids!”

“Yes well they weren’t actually your children where they?” Kieran said, glowering at Oliver darkly. “And you didn’t do very well at protecting them either.”

“FUCK you.” Oliver shouted, twisting in attempt to get out of Harding’s grip. Harding growled, tightening his grip around Oliver’s forearms, only stopping when a crunch sounded through the room. Oliver shouted, his struggling quickly coming to an end. “What the hell do you want?” Oliver snapped, through gritted teeth.

“Where is Project 22 Oliver?” Keiran asked, cutting to the chase. He wasn’t in the mood for a long-winded interrogation. “And there’s really no point in denying you know it’s location, I know you know.”

“What makes you think I’d tell you?” Oliver replied, hissing when Harding squeezed his already broken arms.

“I don’t know really.” Keiran replied, with a long-suffering sigh. “Maybe you’re tired of all the death? I mean, lets consider this for a moment; I’ve already hit 5 of these little homes the government has set up. At roughly 8 people a household, that’s nearly 40 people we’ve killed. And think if one of you would just tell me where it is, instead of being so protective, the blood shed would come to an end! Simple really.” He said with a shrug, “Don’t you think that’s incredibly simple Demetrius?”

“Incredibly.” Demetrius replied, with a slight nod.

“Screw you.” Oliver grumbled, choking on the words because of the pain in his arms. “None of us are ever going to tell you where it is.” Kieran sighed again, rubbing his temples.

“No you won’t. At least not this easily. It’s never easy is it?” He said, running his hand over his neatly combed grey hair. “ELECTRA!” He shouted, turning back to the stairs.

“You called?” She asked, slinking half way down the stairs. Kieran nodded, gesturing towards Oliver. “Ooh! Goody! I love it when they don’t crack!” She said, a smile plastered over her face as she flounced the rest of the way down the stairs. Oliver eyes her wearily as she walked over to him, grinning all the way. “You know you should really just tell him where it is.” She said, faking a slight pout. “It would be far less painful.” She said, reaching a finger out and running it along his jaw line. Oliver blinked in confusion for a moment, screaming inadvertently as his face started to feel like it was burning away. “Ohh sorry, was that painful?” Electra asked, pulling her hand away as she feigned shock. “I’m sorry, it’s the acid. I can’t seem to stop it from seeping out of my skin.” She said with a blink. “…Well actually I can, I just don’t really feel like it—“

“Electra.” Kieran coughed, cutting her off. “Lets just get the job done shall we, darling?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “And may I remind you he needs to be able to talk…”

“What?” She asked, looking back at Kieran for a moment. “Oh…right.” She paused for a moment, as if trying to find her place again. “Well then, back to business.” She said, turning back to Oliver and smiling. “You still don’t feel like sharing?” She asked, reaching up to his cheek.

“No-.” Oliver muttered, his response cut short by his scream as she burned the shape of a heart into the side of his face.

“Oh well that’s just lovely isn’t it?” She asked, tilting her head and laughing slightly. “I think I’ll do a star on the other one.” She said, grabbing his chin and turning his face to the other side. Kieran took a deep breath, looking down at his watch. If Oliver didn’t break soon, he might as well just kill him. It wasn’t worth the time. “What was that Oliver?” Electra asked, snapping Kieran back to reality. Kieran watched wearily as Electra ripped the front of Olivers shirt, running a finger down his chest, the flesh sizzling away moments later.

“Stop playing with him already.” Kieran snapped, the entire thing starting to get on his nerves.

“You’re no fun.” Electra pouted, glaring at Kieran for a long moment. “Very well.” She muttered, pressing her full hand to his chest. “I assure you, if you don’t say anything, I’ll be able to pull your heart out in about a minute.” Olivers eyes fluttered as pain washed over him.

“He won’t be able to take it.” Demetrius growled, shifting forward on his feet. “He’s the 6th person we’ve tried this on, none of them make it long enough to talk—“

“Stop—“ Oliver suddenly shouted, his breathing labored. “Just stop.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic Demetrius.” Keiran said, stepping forward and smiling warmly at Oliver. “We just hadn’t found a weak one yet.” Taking his place next to Electra, he grabbed Oliver’s chin in his hand, forcing him to look up. “So…about Project 22 then?”