 
Order of the Acolyte

Sins of Generations Past

By Joshua Pinon

# Preface

This is the second installment of the Acolyte, Dawn of a New Hero. The Acolyte returns from his trip with his extra ordinary allies, only to return home to chaos. However, he wasn't alone with additions to his cause against the newest enemy and the real enemy, the Faceless Foe.
This is dedicated to everyone close to me, my incredible parents who are two of the most selfless human beings in the world, my family, my nephews and nieces, my coworkers, and last but not least all my friends and fraternity brothers for being so supportive throughout the years. I also dedicate this to all my superhero inspirations that sparked this idea in my mind to write this novel.

Love,

JΦshua

(Cindy, Oscar, Brett, Landon, Alexa, Melanie, Ryan, Tina, Shawn, Richard, Kenny, Marta, Brandon, James, Todd, Sara, Eric, Amanda, Christine, Ian, Cisco, Luis (RIP), Kreg, Kyle, Veronica, Jamie, Kimmy, Bethany, Aaron, Robyn, Chris, Mark, Susan, Dominic, JC, Jen, Jeremy, Missy, Vince, Minh, Neil, John, Nathaniel, Kyle, Josh, Sean, Mike, Jesse (RIP), Jessica, Stephanie, Amy, Nikki (RIP), Pat, Brianna, Antoinette, Jennifer, Huitzi, Jerry, Demetrus, Priscilla, Andi, Amanda, Dominique, Jenna, Adam, Eric, Nicole, Maya, Sam, Bouvier, everyone I cheered with and to the cheerleaders I coached throughout the years, any of my family members friends, and fraternity brothers not mentioned but I'm running out of room sorry)

To all readers,

This original story was written with the intentions of introducing a new superhero character to the world, in the hopes of the main character, the Acolyte, to become a part of the sensational Marvel Universe through a series of fictional novels hopefully to become Marvel's The Acolyte. This is the second installment of the storyline. I understand that introducing a superhero is typically done as a graphic novel or comic book. However, being an adult in my thirties I wanted to introduce the new superhero into the world through a series of novels. I believe adult aged readers who enjoy the excitement and adventures of superhero stories would prefer to read about these great adventures in a novel form, since graphic novels and comic books are meant for a younger audience, having been inspired some of my favorite novels of our time especially the Twilight series and the Sookie Stackhouse Novels series. I want to create something different from the normal superhero typical formality of imagery.

Being a Marvel fanatic throughout my life growing up watching their amazing movies, television series, and comics, particularly the superhero team the X-men, became my leading inspiration to write this story. More importantly two actors who portrayed iconic superhero characters in the X-men movies, Shawn Ashmore who plays the role of Iceman and Daniel Cudmore who plays the role of Colossus are the main inspirations that sparked the idea of the Acolyte. I utilize Iceman (Bobby Drake), Colossus (Peter Rasputin), Northstar (Jean Paul), Magik (Ileana Rasputin), and Marvel Girl (Rachel Summers), Husk (Paige Guthrie), Deacon Frost, all Marvel characters that are trademark heroes of the incredible Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Chris Claremont, John Byrne. Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan, and Jackson Guice. Once again I am publishing this for free following the guidelines according to Marvel's website with no ill intent, only to share my story to the public that in hopes they would enjoy it:

(While we can't accept your unsolicited submissions, please know that Marvel is always looking for new comic book artists and writers. We constantly read and review indie, self-published, creator-owned, and web-comics, review popular online art communities, ask other artists for opinions and recommendations, and host portfolio reviews at conventions from time to time. If you are an aspiring comic book artist or writer, we suggest you publish or publicly post your material, continue to create, and if you have the right stuff...we'll find you. http://marvel.com/help/category/17/topic/30)
Preface

Prologue

Chapter 1 Takedown

Chapter 2 Going Back to Cali

Chapter 3 Cryptic Message

Chapter 4 Lines in the Sand

Chapter 5 Back at the Secret Base

Chapter 6 Seeking Answers in the Late Night

Chapter 7 The Coven of Angeles

Chapter 8 Back to Life, Back to Reality

Chapter 9 Escaping into the Underground

Chapter 10 Interception Depiction

Chapter 11 Illusion of the Mirrors

Chapter 12 True Face of the Enemy

Chapter 13 Sins of Generations Past

Chapter 14 Earned Appendages

Chapter 15 Downtown Showdown

Chapter 16 Finding the Light

Chapter 17 On the Down Low

Epilogue

Biography of Joshua Pinon

# Prologue

Six years prior to the ascension of the chosen ones, a young adolescent boy is sitting at the dining room table with his mother in his home. He sat there desperately craving for his one birthday wish to come true, to be destined for greatness. At the stroke of midnight just as the young boy blew out his candle on the cupcake, they were disrupted by the crashing sounds from the front door. It smashed into the floor as blurred figures began to encircle the room as the face of death presented itself during this bitter sweet milestone moment. The young boy watched the dark monsters of the night invade his home. Snatched and pinned down to floor while his mother was charged being lifted up against the wall as the creature squeezed tightly around her neck screaming at her with rage. Within seconds the quick strong monsters decapitate his mother's head off right in front of his eyes, witnessing the horror of her head falling to the ground as he gazed into her eyes filled with terror one last time. The boy screamed with pure rage and hatred in his heart. He struggled to break free from the stone like grip of the one holding him down, when his capturer clenched his hand around the boy's neck, slowly suffocating him to death.

In a blink of an eye the boy was back on his feet by the quick intervention of another blurred figured, pulling the distraught adolescent boy now struggling in the arms of his savior, screaming at the gory and blood sight of his mother now torn apart, her head upside down lying on the ground. After a long pause of hissing between the monstrosities, they backed down as the savior removed the boy from the home instantly. Why this one chose to save the child's life is still unclear, only to learn that very night from this younger looking yet obviously older vampire, informing him of his great power and great destiny he was meant for. The boy, merely a teenager, young and innocent, was ripped away from the only family he ever had because he got his wish for greatness. He learned many secrets and lies were concealed in order to protect this child from the truth of the real bonds that exist in his course of destiny, only to lead to this tragic moment. Whatever the reason for fate's cruelty paving the path to greatness, one thing is absolute as the story of the chosen ones unfolds; the revelations of these secrets of our generation's past would forever alter the course of his destiny. This will lead him on a path of vengeance, a path of retribution, a path of recompense!
Volume Two

Sins of Generations Past

# Chapter 1 Takedown

Almost one year ago an unforeseen yet miraculous change took place in my once ordinary gay male colligate cheerleader and fraternity socialite day to day life. That is until the day of my twenty first birthday, or what I call the ascension. On that very day I gained incredible supernatural gifts and abilities after the stroke of midnight, from telekinetic and telepathic abilities, with a slight bit of superhuman strength. Oh and my technopathy, the gift to communicated with machines with a simple touch. Since the incident after that night when I discovered on top of the numerous powerful gifts, I was also the very entity whose very blood could destroy a vampire by mere drops of the marvelous aura that flows through my veins. It was the thing they feared once only to be rumors and whispers finally came to pass. Since that day the vampire race has targeted me almost every time the sun set with one goal, to obliterate me, only to fail time and time again. Unable to accept a life of hiding from the dark creatures of the night, I struck back taking to the streets of my city, the City of Angeles fighting back.

I learned later on they wouldn't be my only enemy when I encountered an unusual ally on the vampire's side, the green eyed Faceless Foe who time and time again proved to be an equal match. Although he rolled with the vamps, I still questioned his true agenda still speculating to this day why he broke into the archive of the governing body of the vampire species. He stood with them both at the Homecoming Halloween and the National College Cheerleading assaults, which became infamous bizarre massacres that made headlines. Even after the Faceless Foe launched a rocket at me which instinctively sent me to survival mode, his attempt on my life did allow me to gain the ability to fly and escape from harm thanks to that prick. I managed to defeat the well schemed assaults finally sending a clear message to the vampires what fate awaits them if they cross my path. I, the Acolyte, a name I took from the rants of my Faceless Foe, am now a self proclaimed protector and defender of the humanity, doing what I felt was right utilizing my gifts to save the precious lives proving we were not to be fucked with.

I also had discovered there were many more supernatural and gifted people living secretly amongst us. As it turned out, my past mentor and his friend that work at the university were quite extraordinary themselves, good old Professor Bobby Drake also known as Iceman and Pete Rasputin also know as Colossus. With their aid and guidance, they took me under their wing, training me to the best of their abilities and rescuing me several times from the overwhelming attempts on my life. I joined the two after the school semester ended for the summer, not entirely by choice, when I was taken by the two on a jet that picked us up from the parking lot near Greek Row where I used to live, bringing me into their previous home in their hearts. They took me to a private school facility in Upstate New York where they spent most of their lives as it turns out. Although I should have stood in Los Angeles in order to continue my quest against the vampire race not to mention my daytime obligations and responsibilities, cheerleading being the most important of them all, instead I once again would find myself high above in the night sky as the black jet blasts its way in route to our mission.

"We're about twenty minutes out of Latverian air space." our pilot for tonight Marie also known as Rogue informed us. "This is the closest to the drop zone I can get you to. Bobby, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Excuse me," I interrupted rudely due to my lack of care for this one particular person who happens to also be our pilot. "I believe I'm the one in charge of this group!"

"Calm down there Chicano Claire Bennett," Pete teased as we prepared to take a plunge out into the dark void of the unknown terrain below.

"We're sure Rogue," Bobby interjected. "Besides, you can just put this on autopilot and swoop in as backup if something happens," he gleamed at her. Whatever!

"That's okay Bobby, I don't do vampires and that Twilight shit!" she snapped.

"I'm team Jacob, bitch!" I taunted back. "I would have take your for a vampire lover!"

"Bite me poms poms," Rogue snickered back.

"I bet you one day he may just turn into his beloved wolf." Pete joked with the others.

"You know," I started saying, but couldn't find a good come back other than, "hash tag go fuck yourself!"

"The mission," Bobby yelled in his scolding professor tone like when I was his student for one semester in his lab class. "We infiltrate and eliminate as many vampires as we can until the kid can do his thing with the computer hacking."

"Technopathy, my ability to talk to machines," I reminded Bobby since my break into the archive that eventually brought us to this secret destination.

"If you are so good at talking to machines, how come we're all the way out here," our pilot asked in the background in an annoying tone. I simply put my hand out to her with the classic Talk to the Hand gesture. Geez, I gave her like five hundred dollars to fly us out here when bitch should have done it for free, being Bobby's friend and all.

"I got stabbed in the back thus the data I uploaded was disrupted," I reminded everyone, "but I was able to encrypt enough of the information bringing us to their possible headquarter. Plus I do need to obtain something from inside."

"Like what darling," Paige Guthrie inquired, or more commonly known as Husk, another young attractive black haired blue eyed young woman with the most unique ability of transforming her entire body into any substances she desires by removing the previous form, shedding it off and morphing into another element such as wood, granite, and steel, and one other particular secret weapon she could transform into that would change the game going against a number of vampires.

"Computer hacking thing," I replied blatantly.

"Everybody remember their jump zone?" Rachel Summers also known as Marvel Girl asked the circle of five as we anxiously waited for the hanger door to open. Rachel had once instructed me via telephone how to manipulate someone's mind with telepathy, one of few abilities we seemed to have in common as well as telekinesis, but she was much more trained than I was.

"Pete and I will land on the far side of the facility and help distract the bloodsuckers while Bobby and Rachel extract the hostages." Paige informed us.

"Ms. Guthrie," I smirked in my overly confident voice, "please hold off on lighting up in there if possible dear."

"Sweetie, I don't need to light anything up to take out some damn bloodsuckers," she replied as reached for her shoulder, shedding her skin off into a metallic form which would be considered a turn on, if your into that.

"Wow that was either really hot or really disgusting!" I exclaimed jokingly.

"Coming from your mouth, I'll take that as a complement!"

"You're welcome," I snickered back.

"Anyways," Mr. Drake interrupted in his Debbie Downer tone, "Rachel and I will drop by the hostage holding area according our secret source."

"Who is this secret source?" I inquired curious who the hell their insider was with the bloodsuckers.

"Rachel, you'll need to get into every human mind inside, are you sure you can handle that?" Bobby asked sincerely ignoring my question completely like an asshole.

"I've got this," she sneered cockily. "Hey, it's not my first rodeo! At least I've jumped out of this jet many of times, unlike our fearless leader over here." she teased obviously jabbing at me.

"I'm sorry, most regular schools curriculum's never require jumping out of a moving jet on the first day," I barked back still bitter at Pete and Bobby, who initiated me by pushing me out of the jet the day we arrived in Upstate New York. "Besides, what school doesn't have a cheerleading team?" I asked rhetorically as my stomach knotted once the hanger door opened.

"Cheerleading," Pete mocked in a creepy voice winking at me. Knowing tin man for a little over a year now, I knew when he was about to do something stupid and is probably going to piss me the hell off, his daily goal.

"Watch yourself tin man, you're not completely impenetrable!" I barked back all too familiar with his antics.

"I bet you want to penetrate..." he started, "well, I don't want to get Elsa over here all jealous," he stated with pure enjoyment of his hilarious bantering.

"We all know the kid wants me!" Bobby boasted.

"So Bobby's your Edward and Pete's your Jacob," Rachel blurted as I rolled my eyes every regretting ever revealing one day my comparison with the two that's turned into an annoying inside joke. It's like their egos got bigger once they heard me say I found both of them equal attractive, now it's banter flirting. Dicks!

"There's that damn Twilight shit again," Rouge muttered under her breath.

"Drop zone coming up darlings!" Paige informed us as she walked pass the larger metallic figure pushing him with ease in the shoulder. "My bad!"

"Right, drop zone." I gulped reminded that any second now I would be airborne freefalling vertically down very fast. I was blessed to have seen these insane drops playing numerous hours of Xbox, but this was really only my second time going airborne downwards from this height, versus my usual upward bounds from the skyscrapers back in Los Angeles. "I'm going to drop and head right for the very center of the compound, enter through the vertical shaft I located from the schematics that leads to the main tunnel access way. Then I just walk right on in from there."

We had drilled this for a week after I had discovered the secret bases hidden here between the European countries, holding up defensive measures to keep the last of their main governing body safe. I had siphoned massive amounts of data when I broke into the vampire archive back in Los Angeles with the use of my technopathy. Unfortunately, with the unexpected surprise attack from the shadowed hell hound stabbing me with its disgusting plasmatic dark mattered skeletal hand, a good portion of the data was still encrypted which took us some time to decrypt.

Once learning that the compound housed various holding cells filled with hostages they had locked up ready to serve as a meal at any given time of day, I knew we had to act. Hostages on top of the lethal assaults against me that led to many casualties in the crossfire, I decided it was time to come knocking on their front door, well the five of us I should say. I gazed out the hanger into the dark night sky feeling the nervousness inside, gulping and look back at the group that had positioned themselves in place for the freefall dive. Of course I was distracted from being warned by my super enhanced sixth sense giving my metal friend ample time to sneak right behind me. Before I knew it he pushed me right over the hanger edge plunging me into the dark night sky.

"Assholes," I cursed as I maneuvered my body flipping and tucking with the power of gravity on my side into a head diving plank position. I squeezed my entire body core locking my arms tightly by my sides in fist. I turned to glance behind me to see four figures falling behind me now fully deployed. The sensational rush of the cool night air plowed against my face freefalling fast reaching as I reached maximum velocity. Thanks to my stellar new blue tinted night vision thanks to the ascension of my abilities, the once black skies became visible once again passing through a few clouds being able to make out the dark spectacles below in the distance as we closed in on the darker area away from the dim light areas of civilization as we plummeted towards our target coming into view. My body tingled, pumping with adrenaline as the wind brushed my skin pores while hearing the speed of our momentum, each of us not needing a parachute of any sorts for different reasons.

Bobby knows how to ice slide through the air with ease, while Paige and Pete both transform making them indestructible even if their landings weren't so graceful, but that was the idea when going on the attack like we were tonight. My friend Ms. Summers and I had one particular supernatural gift besides our telepathy which was our telekinesis and its energetic shielding force enabling us to slow down our momentum to the speed of our desire. In my case I allowed myself to freefall conjuring the slightly blue telekinetic aura to shield me. I twisted around locating the vertical shaft that was on the rooftop of this strange secluded old school looking compound. Bingo!

Spotting the shaft, I flipped in the air positioning my planked body with my feet pointed down. I hollowed out my core now like a cheerleading flyer would do, aiming my feet completely vertical towards the opening. Hearing not only the chiming sound of ice particles forming from the thick mist and the clanking of metal transforming, on top of sensing another telekinetic force nearby indicating my other teammates had made it to ground safely. Here comes the fun part! The five of us were going to tear this place down to rubble!

I felt the mass of my body weight pushing against the small four walled shaft as I entered no longer seeing the open outdoors. I glided down the old stone made shaft sliding at a fast pace ready to make a nice loud obvious entrance into the main tunnel. I of course was being the main distraction next to Pete and Paige, while Bobby and Rachel extracted to the human hostages inside. Now seeing the vent to the tunnel dead ahead, with a powerful blast I landed feet first hearing the collision through the vent cover, landing with a loud bang onto the cement ground. The surges of energy flowing throughout my body amplified, combined with the adrenaline rush from the intensely awesome jump. I could feel my eyes glowing in their new natural vibrant blue. I gazed into the dim lighted tunnel surrounded by several blood red eyes from every direction, jumping quickly into a defensive stand.

"It's him, it's the Chosen One," screeched one of vamps.

"Call me the Acolyte," I announced charging into action leaping towards the blurred figures engaging in full combat. It's show time! I flipped forward kicking my first target knocking him back while blocking an attack from behind me using a swift blow to the head with a backward head-butt. I threw both of my hands up towards onto another oncoming attacker, literally grabbing onto the vampire's face crushing it with my bare hands for a few seconds before snapping its neck right off. I engaged the last two, I immediately stabbing one with a silver stake while the other met my nice silver double edge dagger, finishing off my first group of attackers now signaling through via my telepathic connection, "I'm in."

I stalked through the tunnel fighting my way through various attack groups of highly trained fighters, unlike the many vamps I encountered in the streets at night back in Los Angeles. However I held up pretty well, especially after spending this last month and a half at the training school for the supernatural was hell and back. Don't get me wrong, being in a mansion so distant from civilization made practicing my skills a lot easier from the confinement of the underground Grand Hall, but the training these dicks put me through prepared me exactly for assaults like this, so I guess it wasn't all that bad. I finally made it to a large double stone made door obviously leading into the main chamber filled with members of the governing body of the vampires awaited my abrupt unannounced arrival. I paused for a minute realizing I had no interference at the entrance meaning they were rallying up inside for the battle. I scanned from my teams mental thoughts connecting easily with my new companions.

"I've made it to the chamber entrance," I informed everyone telepathically, "everyone in position?"

"Rachel and I are right behind you kid," Bobby informed me, "just got the hostages out to safety."

"Good work! Pete, Paige?"

"There's a little more of these bloodsuckers than we anticipated," Pete stated without hesitation, "but we got this. We'll be there shortly."

"Besides kid, don't you want to make a solo grand entrance?" Bobby asked in a smart ass tone.

"Oh, I will make an entrance alright!" I informed all of them. "Everyone please be careful."

"Likewise kid, good luck," Bobby stated before I disconnected my telepathic link from their minds standing exactly right in front of the two massive stone doors in front of me.

Stretching me neck and arms out in a cocky manor, I placed my hands together point outward with my fingers aimed straight at the crack between the doors, ready to pry open the heavy doors without touching the locked handle. I could hear the vibrations of the stones vibrating as it began to slowly open in unison with the motion of my hands now twisting inwards with my palms facing out. It opened to reveal the large circular corridor exposing the large head count off vampires all in position. I marched into the room with grace in my walk, keeping my head up the entire time. I knew this was going to be crazy unfair battle. Hearing the doors slam behind locking shut as they had hoped for, I was trapped inside this large European underground stronghold with the enemies surrounding me in a continuous momentous pace.

"Good evening! Did I catch you all at a bad time?"

"Let's see you survive this you little shit," yelled the female vamp sitting on a thrown chair, obviously a royalty of sorts. I assumed these must be the other remaining children of the benevolent king of the vampires that in my opinion still might be a myth.

"So I see were going to do this the hard way, so be it!" With one dagger in my right hand and my wand slowly emerging in my left hand, I engaged the massive group all charging holding nothing back.

Throwing out my left hand towards three blurred figures racing towards me, I blasted them with a powerful force from my wand throwing them all the way back into the stone walls crashing on contact. Turning quickly, I jabbed the bloodsucker behind me but not before he gave me a swift foot to the face tossing me to the ground. I scanned around taking the opportunity seeing the free space a few feet away. I rolled myself away just in the nick of time from being slammed by his massive legs stomping down, now log rolling under a few of my attacker knocking them onto the ground. I leaped up to land back on the floor already dodging another near blow to the face. I was lucky quickly grabbing another female attacker by her leg right before I twisted her leg right off, hearing the breaking sound of vampire flesh quickly tearing apart with a nice cracking sound. Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

I continued to engage the massive angry vampires, going hand to hand with several assaulters. I couldn't help but wonder where the hell my backup was? I needed to find something here before we bounced, but I needed my distraction of a team in here. I held up with a few of the oncoming vamps using new fancy moves I learned over the summer, only to be pummeled into the stone tiled floor being pinned down by four vamps that charged at me all at once. Oh hell no! I hate it when they pull this shit! Gathering all my inner strength coursing through my veins, I repulsed a brilliant blue aura knocking everyone back flying as I stood back up once more to face the enemies surrounding me. The room came to a sudden halt when loud sounds behind the locked down caught everyone's' attention. The doors quickly began to freeze right in front of our very eyes followed by a loud explosion. It erupted into rubble evidentially by a telekinetic blast from Rachel as Bobby quickly slid into the battleground taking down a few of the bloodsuckers as he glided in with Rachel following, kicking her little legs right into a vampires stomach without holding back.

"It's about damn time!"

"We're here aren't we," Bobby mocked in the distance.

"Rachel, behind..." I started to shout catching a glimpse of a surprise attacker from behind, but before I could say another word she took out her opponent after squatting on her attackers shoulders and twisting his head right off.

"I've got this cheerleader," she responded cockily taking on her next opponent. After working with her over these last few months I have no reason to worry about her. If there was one thing young Ms. Summers demonstrated in front of me many times was her impeccable telekinetic and telepathic strength, now violently taking out her frustrations via her fist and legs. She's bad ass!

Although we managed to clear out the room it kept filling back up with more vermin that must have been hidden somewhere deep within the compound. After I was smashed into the ground by several attackers, I lied in place sensing the trembling of the ground below me, not being caused by the commotion inside the chamber. In seconds the wall behind me exploded. I watched the mighty Colossus rush the crowd demolishing the stone wall like it was paper. Paige stalked in from right behind Pete however this time entering the scene in an all wooden form as she staked two vamps with her wooden stake shaped hands now turning the tables on this battle. The five us went into overdrive with the chamber engulfed with the sounds of vampire limbs being torn apart; heads, arms, legs, torsos, ripped apart.

"Enough," screeched the other vampire that was sitting on the other throne, standing in front of his crown darting hated filled eyes at me. The room paused once again revealing the change in numbers from when I first entered the chamber, now down to a two to one ratio which was unfortunate, for them. Even the female that was sitting in the other thrown vanished. "You truly are an anomaly, Chosen One. The ones whose very blood can annihilate my species with a mere few drops," roared the vampire standing now from his thrown seat realizing I was heading straight for them. "You killed my brother Vlad Tepelus!"

"Lord Janus I presume," I sneered back having done some research on the royal family of this supposed king of the vampires.

"Yes, and from my understanding you call yourself the Acolyte of humanity? Look at you standing there with your allies pretending to be a damn superhero. I know what you really are you fucking faggot fairy!" Snap!

"You ignorant undead mother fucking piece of shit," I yelled out purely outraged as I bolted at him causing the chaos of this battle to continue once more. I charged with both feet forward aimed right at the royal asshole. I barely grazed his chest when he dodged me ducking less than a nanosecond before I made contact. Then he grabbed me by my leg and lifted me mid air, following it with up by slamming me into the stone ground footsteps leading up to the elevate throne area. This mother fucker is strong and fast! I swung my arms back and pushed off the ground back onto my feet.

"I put a large hole through your brother's chest you know. Let's see how I finish you off!" I shouted with my fist in the air as we went hand to hand once more. After jabbing and kicking, I finally roundhouse kicked him right in the chest making him soar back into his throne, destroying it as slammed into the stone rubble. He rushed back up as I stalked forward realizing the fact that he was not ready to give up, and neither was I. Reaching my hand out and swiping it towards me, I motioned a large piece of the broken up stone soaring through the air. It crashed right into the back of the vampire causing him to head dive right into the stone tile ground. Finally getting him in a vulnerable spot, I raced at him with dagger in hand as I telekinetically leaped at him landing right next to him. I pierced the blade right through his undead cold heart. Not satisfied, I continually severed him numerous punches to the face and chest then lifted him up from the ground only to quickly slam him down with all my might, twisting his neck around while his body was falling. I finished it off with a built up blast of telekinetic force exploding the already flickering ash and dust that once was Lord Janus.

Examining the entire room I realized that I was only surrounded by the four others that joined me on this mission, obviously swiftly taking care of ensemble of vampires with ease. They all gathered around me scanning the room only to see that we had defeated everyone in here. Quickly I turned and walked over to the broken throne, searching for the item I came to retrieve from the remaining governing body of the vampires. Not finding it in the first throne, I began digging through the rubble of the second stone particularly by the hand rest until I felt the object that was stashed away hidden underneath. "Jackpot," I shouted in excitement as I held up the tiny device in my hand.

"A flash drive," Bobby joked. "We came all the way out here for a flash drive?"

"This is very important since this little drive might just hold many answers I seek," I responded blankly already trying to sneak a peek at the data with my technopathy, but held off deciding it would be better to take it to the safety of the highly secure computer system back at the base, the Grand Hall.

"How did you know that where to find that," Paige asked puzzled.

"Inside the files I hacked from the archive were logs that showed me the files were backed up on this little drive in my hands. Since it held valuable data, the computer system back at the archive had programmed the drive to transmit a signal of its exact location once it was plugged into, leading us here."

"What's so important in that drive you need that bad?" Pete asked trying to grab it from me knowing me well enough seeing how I held it staring at it intensely.

"Do you think it will have more answers about what you might be," Rachel inquired bluntly since she happened to pick some of my thoughts during a telepath exercise once.

"And maybe more," I replied now walking towards the group huddled together.

"You mean this notorious green eyed Faceless Foe we keep hearing about darling," Paige asked in a rude tone.

"You should speak about things you don't know about sweetie!" As much as we butted heads, I actually enjoyed having a girl with a sense of sarcastic humor with us.

"Look who's talking rookie," she mocked back. I replied with double middle fingers with a smile!

"A small handful of the elite vampires escaped kid," Bobby interjected. "It seems like they might have gotten a heads up, but not by much."

"The female vampire that was sitting there," I remarked.

"I noticed she slipped out during the commotion. They had a secret escape route the vampires used to remove her from harm's way." Bobby noted.

"That's alright, I am sure we will get the pleasure of meeting her majesty in the near future."

"I don't get it, if you've taken down most of their governing body by now," Rachel began, "why do you need more information?"

"Unfortunately the defeat of Vlad Fuck-Face wasn't enough, since shortly after another vampire of hierarchy moved their way to the top of the chain of command. If anything, this data will lead me to their real headquarters and shut down their main source of operation, permanently."

"I thought this was their stronghold?" Pete asked.

"It was the old school headquarters, but not anymore." I informed them.

"Can we get the hell out of here now," Bobby insisted, "and let's discuss this on the way back."

"Agreed, let's get the hell out of here!"

#  Chapter 2 Going Back to Cali

We arrived quickly back to the mansion to pick up are packed bags. It was our last stop before we headed back to Los Angeles after spending a little over a month and a half with my new allies training this summer rather than my typical summertime schedule of cheerleading practice for summer camp. I was actually looking forward to returning home and cheerleading since my mentors convinced my coach that I was doing a special program through the university that required I missed a few weeks of practices beforehand. I was shocked they were able to get my cheer coach, the same coach who loved throwing shoes if you were talking and held tryouts shortly after the massacre of College Nationals when most other universities took weeks off to morn losses. However I am pretty sure they used a special power of persuasion to make the trip to the supernatural school of hell possible. Truthfully, as much fun I had here for the weeks I stood, I did manage to learn so much more about my abilities and the depths of their capabilities. They were unlocked thanks to help of my newest mentors.

My telekinesis shaped up quite nicely here. I learned how to multitask while executing my abilities to levitate and grip several objects at once, while focusing my mind on something else entirely. Larger objects became much easier to lift now once I had surrounded myself with others that had similar gifts, using my observations to better understand the full force of my telekinesis. I was now obviously strong enough to launch myself out of a jet and control my momentum as I make way to the surface. My telepathy was better but still a work in progress since this particular gift was my least favorite. I was always able to somehow pick up on the thoughts of people around me which always was a bit disturbing. Not to mention the fact that I hadn't had a real smoke break in awhile since being transported by force to New York. It was a crutch I used to help drown the voices out. It reminding me once again that there's no place like Cali. Thankfully I had several telepaths around me these last few weeks helping me to better understand and control the ability to do as I will rather than my usual eavesdropping of the mind.

Mischievously on one of the nights I stood in the mansion when I was bored out of mind, I started wandering down the various halls and corridors seeking a little liquid spirit. I stumbled onto a few incredible things hidden beneath the surface of the facility, particularly the metal door with an X embedded in the design. Behind the door was a large round dome circular room with a single walkway that led right into the center of the room with a computer platform at the end of the walkway. It was equipped with a strange headset connected to the computer console. Curious of course at what exactly the system was for, I made my way inside the dome with ease completely bypassing the retinal scanner thanks to the unique gift of technopathy, taking mental notes of every single detail of this room. I fired it up and realized this machine was uniquely designed for telepaths, capable of amplifying their abilities.

I had first stumbled onto this underground level in my never ending search for the secret stash of booze that they locked away from the kids when school was in session, but discovering this was way better. It was the most insane feeling the minute I put that headset on. The grey walls formed into holograms that mapped out first the world then zooming in on the United States with numerous little light figures representing every individual in those areas. I realized this allowed me to locate anyone I damn well wanted to. Picking out a handful of people in my head, I began focusing on them to watch as the hologram zoomed in on them. I went down the last as it feed me glimpses first of what my parents were up to in the Inland Empire. Then it shifted to the LA area on the map, checking in on a few of my teammates on the cheer team, some of my fraternity brothers, and even Justin Timberlake because he's fucking awesome. I had a good four minute run if that when the system powered down. I was caught red handed somewhere I guess I wasn't supposed to be.

I was scolded for hours when I told them I concentrated hard and they flipped out on me like I was committing murder. Now I thought Bobby alone was annoying enough whenever he went into scolding professor mode, but now I completely understand why! I swear some of the older staff members here had permanent sticks lodged up their asses, droning on and on like I hadn't heard this shit before but they were much more pensive going about it. They were just so obnoxious at times I wanted to scream Regina George style on them. And they wondered why I was searching for the secret stash of booze. At least Bobby and Pete would join me for a drink or a smoke afterwards to smooth things over, however not the case up here in the hellish school.

My time here opened my eyes to the crazy and vast supernatural world that lived in discretely amongst humanity, learning of so many different entities that existed amongst us, good and bad. I understood why I ascended into whatever it is I really am, since many things were changing around the world. It became public knowledge to a small degree that there were people out there with extraordinary gifts but was still a topic of speculation. It was understandable why humans questioned the supernatural existence when CGI is capable of making something we see on screen look completely real. However, thanks to the extraordinary allies I knew a little more about the facts versus the myths. For instance, one of the supposed superhuman was a figure of ancient mythology, a few acquiring their abilities from science, and the arrogant billionaire who flies around the sky in his technological suit of armor like he owns the oxygen we breathe. However, none of them compare to the marvelous superhuman creatures I surrounded myself with over the last few months.

The group of staff and students that remained living here for the summertime had all came out to say goodbye to us as we loaded up our bags. Some of them were quite relieved being how overwhelming my stay might have been, not anticipating my fun and vibrant personality and antics. I gave them one hell of a summer. A few weeks after my break into the telepathic amplifier machine, I was banned from it without expressed permission. I devised a plan only with the cooler not so uptight people here. After careful planning, I snuck back into the machine one late night and telepathically inviting a group of superheroes in the nearby area to what I called Superhero We Deserve a Night off Party BYOB, since I never found the secret stash of booze.

We got the word out to a handful of people that the cooler kids told me to invite, making sure not to invite any Debbie Downers or squares. This was one of the best nights in my life! The turnout was uncanny making the night an epic one. We all were wasted from the jungle juice and who knew how cool it would be to party with the good guys. It actually went off pretty well, even though it wasn't a sanctioned event at all with the staff members. It amazed me how well the older staff members kept their cool and even partaken in the festivities, catching up with old friends and acquaintances. It brought us all together, even though there were a few incidents happened that night. Superheroes and booze is insanity. I paid for it the next two days locked inside the simulator room as punishment which was totally worth it after taking shots with a super solider, a size changer, a blind man, and an arachnid. I wanted to take so many pictures, status updates, and tweet about the amazing time, but they took my phone from me when I was distracted. Word got around to some of the other heroes who were butt hurt they weren't invited. Oh well, we got wasted for them!

Besides if it wasn't for the little kickback I wouldn't have this slight awkward parting with moment with Julio Richter. He is Mexican descent like me, with the impeccable power of causing objects to begin vibrate and crumble by the mere touch of his hand. He is strong enough to cause an earthquake like force once reaching full power. We bonded over the course of time here especially the night of the party where we had our own little fun time. He being a gentlemen had my last box in his hands staring at my with a grin on his face.

"Thanks Julio," I said in awkward but sincere tone.

"You're welcome," he replied looking me right in the eyes. "Well it wouldn't have been a great summer without you."

"Indeed, it was a pleasure getting to know you. Too bad you can't join us back in LA!"

"Nah, unfortunately that's not possible with my private investigative business out here and all, but if you ever get in a tight spot, I'll be there."

"Thanks Julio," Bobby interjected as he passed us by, "I think we'll be alright," he boldly stated giving him the cold shoulder, metaphorically this time. "How's Ben doing?" He did not just do that. Cock block!

"Ignore my frosty friend, he's on the rag!" Of course I knew my snide comment would result in a middle finger, but I got the pleasure of two today. I fired back with two middle fingers and my tongue out. "Julio, thank you."

"No, thank you" he whispered as we hugged for a quick moment, "we'll keep in touch."

I was the last one on the jet making sure to show everyone my absolute gratitude for everything they had done for me. I took my seat in the private jet next to Professor Stick-Up-His-Frozen-Ass. We both tried exchanging dirty looks back and forth in silence but both shook it off when he broke the tension looking at me with his brilliant blue eyes and his smile asking me the one question I really needed the hear.

"Are you ready to go home?"

"Yes," I blurted out as we both giggled as the jet started rising high above before propelling into the sky.

"You're a slut," Pete boasted the minute we were airborne.

"Slut," the girls said simultaneously.

"What did the two of you do that night darling?" Paige asked throwing me completely under the bus.

"What are you talking about?" Deny till you die!

"This topic is really pissing off frosty over here," Pete snickered directing that to me and the girls.

"Blow me!" Bobby shouted back looking down at his phone trying to ignore the banter.

"Now's your chance kid," Pete shouted back.

"Or are your team Julio now," Rachel jumped in.

"I'm sure he already blew Julio," Marie shouted from the front as everyone motioned with their hands inappropriately.

"Mister Promiscuous, tell us what you guys did that night darling," Paige inquired trying to butter me up.

"Hey," Bobby snapped, "I'm his Edward, remember that."

"Oh hell no," I barked, "I am nobody's bitch."

"No you're just a bitch," Pete added.

"Thanks," I replied gratefully. It's kind of true. "You're going to regret that one," I muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, after I check my Facebook," I shouted before digging for my smart phone.

I made them pay as promised; purposely touching the electrical panel next to my seat sporadically changing the radio station to annoying pop songs of the nineteen nineties and early two thousands. Several hours later I looked out the window of the jet to see the beautiful sight of the west coast seeing the Pacific Ocean gleaming in an array of blue in the distance. The skyscrapers of the Downtown Los Angeles surrounded by clear blue skies made me rise out of my seat and put on "California" by Phantom Planet, the intro song to the hit television show "The OC" one of my favorite clichés that defined what being a Californian was.

"You dick," Pete barked half asleep," I am going to tie your hands up next time we travel again son!"

"I ain't your son, son," I joked back.

"At least it's not NSYNC again" Bobby muttered.

"I second that," Paige stated. I changed the radio several times after the first thirty minutes of our back and forth roast. I knew how to get under peoples skin regardless of whatever else the change transform into.

"I liked them music choice," Rachael admitted sitting there in her seat staring out the window off in another world.

"See, this is why Rachel is my new favorite, no offense," I started ranting, "she'd be a perfect cheerleader." Speaking of cheerleading, home!

Any moment now we would first be dropped off in the parking lot near Greek Row where my car was still parked at the fraternity house. I kept going back and forth if I was going to stay in my old room at the house where I used to live where I could crash anytime I wanted, or I could go to my new empty apartment nearby. I followed up with some of my brothers before our arrival to find out the house was pretty much vacant since it was still weeks before the new school semester.

"We're going to a frat house?" Rachel asked way too enthusiastically.

"Yeah," I replied, "and they say I'm the slut."

"Is that where we are staying?" Paige asked in disgust.

"No," I informed my new friend, "although my room is still nice and clean."

"I'm totally down to party there, just not sleep there," she replied back.

"Trust me, I get it!"

The jet descended into the empty parking lot since school was out; on top of the fact this private jet had a cloaking device that was already activated. We hustled our stuff quickly off the jet once Rachel and I nodded after we checked for anyone nearby, in order to move our stuff outside in privacy. In less than five minutes we were standing in the parking lot, boxes and bags in front of us while the jet ascended upwards into the clear Southern California sky. We waved goodbye to Marie showing her absolute gratitude for offering to take us in the jet rather than having to take a commercial flight. Filling up our hands with our entire luggage, we made our way on the short journey through the parking lot into the single story neighborhood leading up to the cluster of fraternity and sorority houses. I could see the disapproval when they saw our small sizes of run down houses of Greek Row, having expected one of those huge estates they have at larger universities and on television.

"I wish I could RF those houses with my abilities..." I started saying.

"What's RF," Rachel asks curiously.

"Rat fucked," I answered, "Fucking their shit up in a cordial manor."

"How civil," Paige mocked.

"You mean like what they did to your house," Pete chuckled at first until he came to sudden halt. I bumped into him with my head down not really looking at where I am going. "What the hell?"

"What?" I rebalanced myself after the collision before I glanced up to see why there was a sudden one eighty in his tone. Looking up now facing the very front and center of my previous home, a white house with blue trim was now covered with red stained words. At first I thought it was a prank or RF like I was explaining the girls, but once I made out the message clearly I realized just how dead wrong I was, the message clearly directed to me,

"I will drench the City of Angels and stain the streets with the blood of the innocent..."

#  Chapter 3 Cryptic Message

"Blood," I remarked recognizing the familiar stain of red on the walls of my fraternity house, my home and my brothers' home! I proceeded to walk right for the front door getting a glimpse of what looked like an envelope taped up with the letter "A" in blood across it, but was stopped by Bobby before making my way up.

"Wait, you don't know what's inside." Bobby warned.

"That's more than enough reason to run right in there." I scorned back. Yet here I stood still as requested, gawking at the damage done to such a sacred place, now infuriated with rage. I looked over at Rachel who nodded silently back at me as we scanned for any form of life inside only to come up blank.

We walked slowly up the walkway all on alert even though the sun was still out. Word of what happened in Europe must have spread a lot faster than anticipated, the only explanation of their readiness for our return. I led the way with Bobby and Rachel flanked behind me while Paige and Pete walked through the grass yard to the sides of the house. We made it to the doorway that normally was humble and welcoming that now gave off a dreadful vibe from the other side of the door.

"The blood has dried up already but some of it looks slightly fresh," Pete informed us after examining the walls, "like they did it last night right before the sun came up."

"Do you think the neighbors would have noticed already?" Rachel asked.

"Not necessarily on this block since most of the houses here are all fraternities or sororities. People that passed by probably assumed it was another stupid prank without even taking the time to read it."

"Understandable with these guys reputation on campus," Bobby interjected. I retracted the letter into my hands telekinetically, quickly opening the envelope to retrieve the hand written letter of blood, a blatant sign this cryptic message was for me. I handed the letter over to Bobby who read it out loud:

-A, you don't know me yet but I've definitely heard about you and trust me, we will meet very soon. We hear you've been rather busy. If you think the pathetic excuse of a government body was bad enough; just you wait until we cross paths. For I am your worst fear, I am more than vampire and by the time this is all over I will drain every human down to the every last drop, and I will drench the City Of Angels and stain the streets with the blood of the innocent. Your days our outnumbered, Acolyte of humanity. Welcome Home, F-

We all paused gazing back and forth at each other.

"That's a bold message this F is trying to tell you." Pete noted.

"What's with the A and F crap?" Paige asked.

"Gossip Girl reference, go figure Regina!" Rachel answered hearing the response in my mind. Like I said, she is a much better telepath then I am.

"A for Acolyte obviously but who the hell if F?" I asked out loud.

"Faceless Foe," Pete inquired.

"Not his style, per say, he's more of a green type of guy." I admitted as I reached for the code pad to enter into the house. "That's a good sign, still locked. Nobody's probably been here for days."

I wedged the door as it opened slowly. I moved it at a cautious speed just in case there was anything hiding on the other side. It opened up to familiar front room with the soda machine inside by the entry way and still intact thankfully.

"Hello," I called out only to hear dead silence. After a few seconds we walked in single filed. The lights inside now turned on automatically as we enter the unusually quite house. "Pete, would you check the back yard for me?"

"No problem kid," he responded quickly heading out with a hustle while Bobby headed towards the kitchen area. I moved towards the bedrooms. For the most part, everything inside had seemed to be intact and undisrupted from what had possibly taken place outside. I made my way towards the door to my old room. I opened the door stalking inside without hesitation to find it clear. It was partially emptied out now other than the basic furniture as I had left behind due to my departure for the summer. Everything looked alright inside the room itself, but I was disturbed when I saw one word written on my window that faced out to the yard, Death!

"Mother fucker," I cursed at the top of my lungs now furious at the entire scenario screaming at the top of my lungs afterwards.

"We know that scream," Pete said in the distance as the sounds of footsteps approached. Huffing and puffing, I reached inside the hidden compartment in the desk where I stashed some pre hand-rolled cigs that I sealed up tightly to keep them fresh for any emergency smoke break, this being one of them. I opened the stained window for some fresh California air. I sparked up in utter relief from the stressful return home so far. Son of a bitch! This was the absolute last thing I wanted to deal with since I was already worrying about my hectic schedule coming up. To my surprise, Bobby knocked on the door politely.

"May we come in?"

"Of course," I responded sitting by the edge of the window with cig in hand staring blankly outside worried about this nightmare of a life returning. My allies walked in taking seats around the room quietly seeing my mood had changed so dismally within the last few minutes of returning home. We had thankfully returned mid afternoon giving us ample time before dusk, now becoming handier since the agenda for the rest of my day changed. I extended the cig out to Bobby who surprisingly took a few puffs.

"House is empty," Rachel informed me.

"One of the room looks like someone might have spent the night here but I cannot be sure." Pete added, having been here many times now since he started working at the university.

"Good, we need to clean this up before any takes this more seriously."

"Clean up..." Paige complained.

"Relax! I might have a quicker way to take care of that."

"How," Rachel asked.

"Something I never technically conjured before but I've been told I might be capable of," I fibbed not knowing for sure if I could cover this up.

"From whom," Bobby added.

"Don't worry about the money player," I stated.

"I like the sound of that darling, I'm not dressed for painting anything or scrubbing," Paige threw in as she reached out for the cig.

"After we get this cleaned up, what do you plan on doing boss?" Pete questioned me as the leader for once.

"As soon as we're done here we'll drive out to..." I stopped myself mid sentence when I did a double take out the window at the distant bushes and trees that covered up part of the property next door. My sixth geared up to high alert that danger was present. I scanned with my telepathy until a high pitch tone began deafening my ears for a millisecond, followed by an onset migraine pain. We were being watched but by someone who was able to telepathically block themselves from both Rachel and I.

"What's wrong," Bobby inquired from my shift in weight as I stood up to face the window.

"I feel it too," Rachel stated, closing her eyes trying to concentrate on whoever was hiding outside.

"What do you think it is darling?" Paige asked trying to look from the side of window.

"I don't..." I started to say before the glimmer of two green lighted eyes peeking through from the bushes gave it away, The Faceless Foe at last.

"You," I yelled while sliding out of the window running straight towards the rapid movement taking place. I hopped into the yard of the other house next door, an empty house that was vacated many years ago. Landing on the dirt surface into a defensive stance, I held my position as I let my hearing guide me. I stood scanning the abandoned property, vacated after the family that once lived here moved out after a horrific murder that took place leaving the property to ruins. I felt like an idiot just now realizing this house is a perfect hideout spot for spying on the fraternity house. It was filled with all sorts of junk like an old pickup truck, some tires, gardening tools, and lawn furniture worn down from the outdoors. The screen that once covered the patio from the outside was torn in half from various trespassers over the years.

Suddenly sounds from inside the house had my attention fully towards the opened back door. I made my way towards it, only to nearly get hit by the pickup truck's door flying at lightning speed. I ducked arching my back to avoid getting a blow to the head. I watched the metal chunk fly above my eyes only inches away from near impact. I snapped back up standing on two feet facing the truck to see another object, a lawn chair from behind. I repulsed it away from me with my telekinesis as I threw my arm out sending a blast of energy out from my hand, causing the objects in its path to scatter around the yard. Asshole!

"Is that all you've got you green eyed pussy," I cursed loudly in what seemed like a vacant property, only to feel the movement of my foe very close by.

" _I've got plenty more for you Chosen One_ ," he snarled back at first what seemed like yards away only to turn around in a three hundred sixty degree turn to find him now standing a few feet away. We were finally face to face for the first time since the massacre at Nationals, sort of. He was cloaked by the fog like substance covering his face as those fierce vibrant green eyes stared back at me with absolute hatred. " _Or should I say the Acolyte?"_

"That's right you little bitch," I growled as I lunged for him with full strength, upper cutting him with my right and bending my left knee jabbing him in the stomach. I roundhouse kicked my left leg at him getting inches away from his head when he reached out for my leg, grasping it with his superhuman strength. He then tossed me down to the ground, but not before my fist met his face. He charged at me as I repelled myself off the ground with a blast propelling me back to my feet. Doing a one two step, I kicked him with my right leg with all my might getting him right in the stomach sending him flying crashing through the patio and colliding with the wall of the house.

" _Temper temper Acolyte_ ," he laughed as he got back up to his feet cleaning off the debris he was covered in. " _I really do admire the fact you chose the very term I once called you if I am not mistaken as your new superhero alias. You seem to have a fondness for me already, how cute_!"

"The only fondness I have for you will be the day I get the true honor of slitting your throat you fucking monster!" I shouted back with pure rage.

" _Murder me, you the all might and benevolent Acolyte of humanity, oh my! I don't think you have it in you_!"

"There's always an exception," I shouted charging right at him entering the patio area with both feet hovering off the ground. I launched myself at him with both fist firmly tight in position ready to beat the shit out him!

Now both of us engaged each other with full force entering an intense hand to hand combat. After a minute of going back a forth, he managed to maneuver around me just right, grabbing around my body then slamming me inside the house into the laundry room of the house. I landed right into the washing machine. Facing the metal lid, I grasped it tightly waiting for him to get a few feet closer when I ripped the lid right off, swinging it around in a circular motion. I banged my enemy hard in the head stopping him in his track as I used my last minute shield again hitting him on the side so hard he slammed into the wall behind him. I pushed him up against the wall all my might using the metal lid to hold him up by his neck with his feet dangling inches away from the floor. "I should just take care of you right now," I threatened feeling my eyes pulsating in its true vibrant blue color, "but first," I started say as I reached my hand towards the cloaked mask covering his face.

Feeling the mask for the first time, I realized that it was an illusion of magical proportion. Before I could reach further, a sudden green electrical charge zapped my hand stunning me on the spot. I watched is leg flung out getting me right in the gut sending my airborne into the next section of the house, the kitchen.

" _Not just yet,_ " he laughed back.

"What's a matter, your face that fucking ugly you have to cover it up?" I taunted while rising cautiously to my feet.

" _The day this mask is no longer needed is the day you wish you'll never have seen the face hidden underneath this cloaking spell_."

"Looking forward to it," I mocked back as I approached him ready for round two. He came right at me but held his hand out. I watched a sharp butcher's knife zip into his hand aiming the blade at me. I quickly extended behind me grabbing the first object I could use both as a weapon and a shield, a frying pan. As soon as my weapon of choice was in my possession, I swung the handle right at the blade just in the nick of time, clanking with the butcher's knife as the two of us struggled against one another's might.

We reengaged in combat clashing our kitchen utensils at each other as sparks flew out from the collisions of kitchenware. Catching another great opportunity, I held him in position managing to bring my foe's armed hand down to the belt level. I twisted the both of us around to where I was now standing right behind him. In seconds I snatched the butcher's knife from him and was now being pressed down right at across his neck with me locking him down as the frying pan tumbled to the ground. We both paused silently once he realized his neck was pressed so close to the blade it skimmed a layer of flesh until he stared laughing hysterically.

" _I am impressed! You've learned much in New York I see."_

"How do you know where I was?"

" _That's none of your damn business_!"

"You made it my business," I whispered darkly into his ear as I pressed the blade a little deeper into his neckline. "I should just take care of you once and for all."

" _How dark, can you really kill me in cold blood_?"

"There are exceptions in this line of work," I threatened hoping this scare tactic would remind him how determined I was to rid the earth of him. "Give me one good reason why I should let you live, and not just because you are a living creature unlike your undead henchmen?"

" _If you kill me you will never find out anything about what you might really be,"_ he gleamed in an evil tone, _"and you will never find it as well_!"

"Find what?"

" _Find the paint brush that was used to decorate your fraternity house last night of course_!" It clicked in my head a second later realizing what he was referring to, the source of blood used to write the cryptic messages in.

"What have you done?" I asked in shock of the horrific possibilities that had take place. Prepared for my initial reaction to the revelation, he took my vulnerable moment tossing me forward, making me flip over and land right on my back into the tile ground.

" _Did you really think those filthy vampires brought buckets of blood to write you a memo you foolish moron?_ "

"Well then why don't you tell us where the paintbrush is you son of bitch," Rachel demanded behind the Faceless Foe, now pressing one of my double edge sliver daggers into his neck locking him down with her telekinetic might.

" _What a lovely treat,_ " he gloated back amused by the unexpected sneak up from behind. " _This isn't that beautiful teleporter from before. I am quite curious to gaze at this new very attractive feeling young woman._ "

"I am your worst nightmare prick," Rachel threatened as she inched the blade closer to his neck once more, "now answer the damn question!"

" _Let me go love and I'll do whatever you desire,_ " he taunted.

"I'm sorry I must be deaf," she said sarcastically pressing down harder as tiny drops of blood started forming from the blades piercing edge, "where is it?"

" _I asked nicely_ ," the Faceless Foe announced before doing a quick one eighty degree turn overpowering Rachel as he now dropped both his knife and hers. Moving quickly he held his arm around her neck locking her solidly in his grasp. " _My, aren't you beautiful site for sore eyes? What is your name young lady?"_

"None of your damn business," Pete shouted from the dining room area as he was cornered inside now from the main entrances of the house. "Let her go!"

" _If it isn't the man of metal himself; if I recall the last time we met you and the Ice Queen were following this one like his two sidekicks. All of you are absolutely pathetic_!"

"Pathetic, look at yourself," Bobby stated walking in from the hallway, "You're the one who is going to be beaten the shit out of."

"Rachel tuck," I instructed her having one knee on the ground. I punched the floor with my fist sending a telekinetic shockwave through the tile splitting and cracking the tiles as it headed right towards my Faceless Foe. I watched Rachel tuck her legs up off the ground as the blast collided with green eyes. She maneuvered herself in an acrobatic style landing at over him lying on the ground, holding her arm out grasping his entire body with her telekinetic strength while he examined her head to toe.

" _Impressive gorgeous!_ " he gloated, " _I must say this is quite to match up_."

"You have no idea darling," Paige joined in, shedding her normal skin into granite like substance. "Why don't you try taking a swing a me bad boy, I dare you!"

" _Another hero, female no less, I'm shocked your new additions aren't of the same sex. Holy shit! Five of you now, that's impressive indeed Josh, you and your new Order!"_

"Shut your mouth!" I demanded," Is this bullshit your doing," I commanded waving the blood stained letter pretty much addressed to me.

" _No, I will admit this wasn't my doing for when our day comes it will be more than these foolish idle threats. At the end of all this, I will rip out your very heart and watch you perish before my eyes. That is unless I decide to slit your throat. Depends on the mood I'm in_."

"Whatever you have planned won't matter you punk ass little bitch," Bobby lashed out, "because in order for you to get to him you have to go through us first! Now prick, where is the supposed paintbrush?"

" _Oh let's just say he's right here with us. I'm sure you might be able to save this one! I hate to just run off after everyone just got here, but I've got other things to tend to,_ " he ranted when I noticed an object appearing in his left hand enabling him to break from Rachel's grip. He surged a massive force of energy inward then propelled out from his wand that descended into his hand. He slid from the floor then angled himself upwards as he took flight crashing through the rooftop. The he positioned his body just right, speeding off into the sky out of sight.

"Did he just cramp my style, again?" I asked rhetorically absolutely outraged at the progress he made over the past few months, on top of the fact I never figured out how he managed to obtain a wand after our first major dual at Halloween Homecoming, something I was definitely checking into as soon as I could.

"When did he learn to fly?" Pete inquired stunned by the sudden fallback.

"I know you hate hearing this kid," Bobby stated, "You two seem more alike than we first thought."

"I know! Rachel, did you get anything from him?"

"No, I didn't touch him directly. If he is also a telepath and was anticipating my intrusion, he could have harmed me in the process."

"Very true statement Ms. Summers, now let's focus on finding anyone else in here!" It was strange that we couldn't pick up on a mental signal, but for all we knew the Faceless Foe was probably the cause of that.

"Already on it," she replied quickly as the group scattered around the house to search. "The signal is weak. This person is barely conscious and hurt badly." After a few minutes of splitting up and searching I heard the screams coming from Rachel and Paige.

"Everyone in here," Paige cried horrifically from one of the bedrooms. I raced through the hallway into a bedroom where I found Paige bent at her knees sobbing at the sight of whatever was stashed inside the closet, something I feared from the moment I learned that a person was in the house.

I slowly crept into the room as I stood right in front of her turning slowly, scared to see the tragedy that lied within. Blood covered the ground and walls leading into the closet only to discover my good friend from the fraternity, Justin, beaten to the brink of death somehow still barely holding on. He was covered with large lacerations, bruises, and wounds all over his red stained flesh. His stomach had been slashed open large enough for the fucking vampire to take the blood stained brooms tossed over him, apparently dipping the ends of the broom to use as a paint brush having left one broom wedged inside him.

"No," I screamed as tears rolled down my eyes. My worst fear had finally come to pass. They tortured him, probably for hours while he laid there defenseless against the monsters that did this.

"Is he alive?" Pete asked who had arrived seconds after I did.

"He's barely holding on," Rachel announced while her eyes were still closed. "There may be time to save him if we get him to hospital right now!"

"Wait," I barked realizing that there were a lot of circumstances that were unexplainable to the authorities. "I have to do something first, come with me," I explained as I got up and walked right outside jumping back over the fence to the fraternity house then back inside through the window. Stepping once again directly in front blood stained fraternity house, I glanced around to see that the commotion of our confrontation wasn't heard by the neighborhood, giving me ample time to attempt this trick of the wand. Rachel and Bobby were right behind me curious as to my unusual behavior, but I had to remove the blood stained message written on the wall. "Rachel, is anyone in the area?"

"No, not that I can sense, but what the hell are you doing?"

"Creating a believable story," I replied.

"How," Bobby asked. He suddenly realized that during our quick exchange of words my wand had retracted from my arm. "What are you going to do with that Hispanic Harry Potter?"

"Just watch," I scorned now aiming my powerful stick towards the blood stained letters. An essence vibrated inside the wand as drops of blood separated from the wood into the air as my right hand guided the red cells towards the cement sidewalk that lead from the fraternity house to the front of the abandon house next door. As I moved from one side to the other watching the trick at work in awe, the stains made a series of footsteps that led inside the house to the walk in closet indicated by the surprised sounds of my other two comrades keeping eye on Justin.

"What the hell," Pete shouted as he passed through the stream of floating blood joining us outside with Paige right behind him obviously spooked by the blood.

"If the police came here and saw this cryptic message they would have a lot more questions of what really went on in there. Thankfully the neighborhood is empty since its summertime, so luckily nobody heard anything."

"We need to get our story straight," Bobby announced.

"Agreed, but we need to get him to the hospital now!" Paige exclaimed.

"Doing it right now," I answered already dialing the three numbers. "This I all my fault, they almost killed him," I muttered to myself feeling a cringle in my stomach.

"It's not your fault kid you have to remember that," Bobby sincerely stated. "He's still alive for now and we've pretty much have done all we can. Let's hope we got here in time to save him. Go back inside and stay with him Josh." I dashed back into the creepy house along the trail of red that led back to my friend Justin. His body was twitching slightly giving me some relief that he may survive this act of terror cast upon him. I stood in front of him speechless now bent down next to him seeing the pain and agony in his eyes, somewhat looking back at me acknowledging my presence.

"I'm so sorry, help is coming. You're going to be all right." I whispered softly to him, hoping some words of encouragement that he was going to alright.

"You're back," he managed to utter.

"Don't say anything, save your strength. Just focus on keeping your eyes open, stay with me, and stay alive. Please!" True tears of sorrow and rage rolled down my cheeks. Less than a minute later the sounds of sirens approaching amplified. "I am so sorry! Do you hear that? Help is close, just keep holding on." I dropped down sitting close his side, rocking back and forth, devastated learning the level of cruelty these dark soulless creatures were capable of. I turned to hear the ambulance pull up seconds later, followed by the footsteps of the paramedics hustling to observe the horrific situation.

"Oh my god," the paramedic stated taken back from the gruesome scene, until rushing to him as I moved back to stay out of his way.

"Please save him, that's my fraternity brother!"

"What happened?"

"I don't know, we came home from a trip and when we arrived next door we saw the bloody footsteps that led in here. I think he was attacked, I don't know!" A few police men made their way inside and observed the crime scene and then their attention was focused on me. One of the cops was ready to retract the guns when Bobby's voice called out,

"He's the one who called." He must have informed the police men of what had happened before they stepped inside. Sure enough he popped into the room right after. He reached out grabbing my hands to get me onto my feet, hugging me tightly for a moment. "They're going to do everything they can to save him."

"Is he going to live?" I asked out loud hoping someone could give me a simple response.

"We're doing everything we can," one paramedic shouted as they gently get Justin onto the stretcher with the broom still lodge inside his stomach, a painful sight.

"I'm going with you sir!" I snapped at the paramedic rudely, overwhelmed with emotions.

"You're not family and these officers need to take your statements beforehand."

"Are you serious, my friend is dying? I can give the real police the statement at the hospital and not with the damn campus security." That sounded pretty bitchy but I did not care for the campus police that tended to be hostile and over-deserving behind their badges, but I knew I shouldn't have said that.

"Actually Mister Lobos," a recognizable cocky and snide voice yelled, "Joshua Lobos, I'm campus police," he emphasized, "and I have jurisdiction here. I need to statements from you and everyone else here first."

"His last name is Lobos?" Pete asked Bobby off to the side, never having revealed my last name due to my obsession with wolves, werewolves in particular, but the ones from fiction. I had yet to encounter a real werewolf yet but I assumed they existed with who knows what else is out there. I know after ordeal is over I was never going to hear the end of it.

"Officer Barry, this isn't a good time for one of your bad cop routines, please show some compassion for once and let us go." I pleaded having known him on a one on one basis for years via cheer and fraternity life.

"We all give you and anyone else a statement," Rachel added sincerely. "He just arrived to find his friend is nearly killed, give him a break."

"Officer King," Bobby intruded right on time.

"Professor Drake," he remarked changing his tone slightly.

"If you would please, let Josh at least go to his friend. We will all stay here and give our statements. He's distraught." Bobby Drake to the rescue!

"Stay here," Officer King demanded.

"Watch out for him," Rachel noted after he walked away from us." He's think that there is something off about you, on top of the frat shit."

"Officer King can hash tag go fuck himself that racist ass mother fucker!" I cursed knowing that bigot would hear.

"Relax Josh," Bobby whispered holding onto my shoulder from behind. "Justin is already at the hospital."

"Plus we are the good guys darling," Paige added. "I don't think we are supposed to curse at a peace officer."

"We're the Order of the Acolyte and we're not some kiddy fucking team here. And we can bark at bigots like him anytime we want."

"Let's not go to jail our first night in California," Pete muttered.

We were interrupted when another officer, an actual officer of the law showed up and did quick interviews from each of us. As I waited while the others were being interviews, I stood there silent, struck with grief and despair. I could only imagine the agony he was in, scared and afraid all alone for hours while he was terrorized, treated like a punching bag while using his blood to write me a vividly cryptic message.

An hour later the police had left the fraternity house. It was yellow taped all over the house next door up to the walkway surrounding the trails of blood on the cement ground. Once the officer was done with the others, he waited to question me last based on my heated shouting match with Officer King, the dick. I explained to the officer that I called numerous times before our arrival only to get the answering machine; something I didn't think at first was a sign of trouble since it was still summer break. Rachel and I had kept mental tabs on the response team making sure none of them had any suspicions or doubts before they left trying to make sense of this odd attack, but the timeframe of his attack was apparent. It moved us out of any spotlight other than just the group of people who happened to discover the scene just in time, however it was still unforeseen if Justin would survive the fatal brutality unleashed on him.

It seemed that even after our initial takedown governing body as well another ranking hierarchy, the vampire race was still functioning all too well. I suspected that the superstition of cutting off one head and two more rising spoke for itself, feeling as if the new authority was one with lack of discipline and concern for their race's wellbeing based on the actions that have taken place so far. Now it appeared that whoever this F person is along with the Faceless Foe both seemed to have moved up in ranks since the downfall of their governing body, a vicious cycle that seemed to never end.

In no time we arrived at the emergency room seeing that news had spread quickly. I met with one of my fraternity brothers to fill me in on his condition. He was in intensive care unit from the vicious cuts and wounds inflicted around his body. So far he was in critical condition, his fate still unsure. More time went by as we waited in the lobby as the roomed filled with more friends and associates in dire shock of our friend's brutal attack. I was silent sitting in my chair staring straight ahead at the wall, at the blankness reminiscing on the horrific circumstances we returned to. I ached inside having to sit in front of these people and one by one explain a white lie. It was a lie that was unfortunate but a necessary evil if we wanted to keep all of them safe. It was bad enough having the thought of what happens and what he does wake up linger inside. Would he remember the attack and what really took place that night? As much as I wanted to spend the entire night there, I knew that they wanted us to come after them tonight. As soon as dusk comes along were ready to do our thing. Great start to my first day back home, not!

Shortly after, my inner turmoil was interrupted by the blasting sound of the TV reporting news of a mysterious and strange dead bodies being dumped on the shoreline of the beach areas. The carcasses were discovered particularly around the Venice Beach Boardwalk. So consumed with everything swelling up inside, it hadn't occurred to me to check in on what has been going on in my city since I've been gone. It was the vampire F, and they just gave the area away of the where to start searching. I gathered everyone together marching quickly to the car ready to haul ass down the four o five.

As soon as we make it to the parking lot Bobby mentioned,

"Hey, you do realized we are about to walk right into a trap?" Bobby inquired.

"I do Bobby but I am willing to take that risk. These vamps want to play dirty, so be it!"

"He's got a point kid sweetie," Paige agreed with Bobby.

"They crossed the damn line," I shouted loudly still outraged.

"Relax kid." Pete said calmly. "We're going wherever you go!"

"We need weapons," Rachel blurted.

"We already have weapons," I hinted as we loaded up the car to our next destination.

"Are you sure they are going to be there tonight," Pete inquired curiously unsure of how I knew they would be. Hearing the faint nose of a breaking news story on the radio, I turned the volume up with my telekinesis so everyone could listen to the announcement firsthand. It was another report of more bodies being dumped on the sand throughout the beachfront as the lethal attacks continued.

"We have to stop them," Rachel added backing me up.

"Trust me Rachel; we are demolishing these fangers like the bad asses we are. This just got personal and now they will face my full wrath... and vengeance."

#  Chapter 4 Lines in the Sand

We arrived less than fifteen minutes later, purposely parking a few miles away while we scattered and entered in through different entry points of the Venice Beach Boardwalk. I needed some alone time as I paced slowly through the main entrance looking out at the waves crashing on the sand under the bright full moonlight. To my surprise the beachfront was pretty much vacated only with one or two people way off in the distance. I wondered if the citizens of the area had become frightened after the numerous deaths that had broken out keeping themselves indoors and safe. What if the vampires simply cleared all the humans out prior to our arrival using their methods of persuasion?

I strolled onto the sand passing the infamous workout area you see in the movies all the time, going towards the water anxious to feel the Pacific Coast breeze hit my body. It was nice to be home again, back on the West Coast after my unexpected trip for the summer, taking in the beauty and peace of the ocean waves while it lasted. Of course less than three minutes later my peace was disturbed from the alarm warning me of imminent danger. I was not alone anymore and it was definitely not a human. I glanced around not finding any blurred figure anywhere in the vicinity, now on full alert. I placed my right hand on my left wrist pressing down on the wooden wand lodged inside my left arm. I reminded myself I had a powerful object in my possession to defend myself with. I passed a little lifeguard post inching my way closer to the water when a tiny movement from behind made my stop dead in my tracks.

"I see you got my message," said the cool steady voice of a man in his mid thirties prior to his turning. I looked around to find myself staring into the face of the newest enemy. As I had predicted, the man with pale white skin and dark brown hair was dressed in a nice suit that reminded me of the nineteen eighties. That was another vampire quality when it came to fashion, there outdate sense of style.

"So you are F, as in Fucked, which your about to be!"

"Is that a threat or an offer," he taunted back, "I've heard all about you prophet, the mighty Acolyte, from your incredible ascension into your abilities, your highly toxic blood that runs through the delicious smelling veins of yours, your new allies who I'm pretty sure are arriving at any minute, and even your sexual preference." he ranted while I watched him move rapidly from the top of the lifeguard tower coming face to face with this strange monster.

"Who the hell are you? What are you?"

"Frost, Deacon Frost," he introduced himself in an enthusiastic and narcissistic tone while hearing a gasp from one of my teammates behind me once they heard his name. "And I should ask you the very same question. There's only scent I've ever come across with that enticing plasma and yet there is something different about you."

"Well from what I know about you," Bobby called out from the distance now yards away on the outer corner of the lifeguard tower.

"If it isn't little Bobby Drake, the man of ice, my you've grown up so much." he laughed in pure amusement.

"You were a fucking monster who eventually was destroyed by the Daywalker." Bobby stated, "How?"

"Very impressive," he gloated, "it's nice to know my reputation has held up all these years as one of the bad guys."

"You shouldn't be so amused Deacon," Pete threatened, stalking in from the opposite corner of the tower, "since we already took out some of your henchmen hiding in the alleyways before any of them could come to your aid!"

"My how grown up everyone has become, I must say you three are quite the mash up." Deacon Frost boasted.

"Four of us," Rachel interjected coming in on one side of the beach.

"Make that five of us darling," Paige stated as she moved in from the other side in her granite form.

"Well well, who are these lovely, stunning, and powerful young ladies that have taken place in your new Order?"

"I see you've been chatting with my green eyed Faceless Foe," I inquired having put two and two together a long time ago. "If you were defeated oh so long ago, I would assume my nemesis was involved in your return."

"Smart and pretty too aren't you, you cocky little cheerleader. I was revived to bring back order to the vampire race from the epic failure done by those arrogant assholes governing body of ours. Thanks for taking the mainlanders out for me. That took a ton of pressure off me and my new ranking amongst the vampires. Now I'm here to clean up the fucking mess, and take care of the threat, you, once and for all!"

"And what makes you so damn special that he brought you back?" Paige barked back at him.

"Let's just say, he and eye are in agreement with each other, but for now that's not a concern of yours."

"Why is that vamp," Rachel hissed back.

"What does he gain bringing you back?" I asked.

"That's a surprise, if you all survive what's coming next." he answered sternly.

"Listen to me you arrogant son of a bitch!" I growled, "You crossed the line last night. You hunted my friend, tortured him. You cut him up and used him like a fucking bucket of paint to send me a message. You and your kind have crossed the damn line and now it's time to pay the price!"

"Take your best shot, Acolyte!"

"Okay," I responded taking his invitation with pleasure. I jumped with my right fist clenched tightly; punching him so hard in the face with my telekinetic might that hit him so hard I could see the vibrant blue aura of my abilities glimmer. I continually barraged him with powerful punches and kicks that I executed while he fought back leading us into an intense combat. After several jabs, I finally pinned him down with the help of my telekinetic strength onto the ground. I swiftly drew my sliver dagger stabbing him right through the heart while hyper-extending his arm backwards breaking it instantly with a twist. We stood around for a moment when Deacon Frost collapsed to his knees, still alive but in pain. He screeched in agony grasping the silver handle burning as he gripped on. He appeared to have been defeated when his sizzled hand retracted to blade out of his chest as he burst into laughter.

"Like I said," he snarled, "I am so much more than just a vampire you little prick!" In shock, I initiated with a lung motion forward sending a wave of energy that blasted him several yards flying toward Rachel. She tossed her hands out stopping him in place then proceeded to slam him into the ground several times before launching him at Pete who threw out a metal punch sending him flying back by the water's edge.

"That was a silver stake. I watched it burn your very flesh," I snarled at Deacon Frost.

"Yet I still remain standing before your very eyes." he laughed getting back to his feet appearing slightly injured from the smash down. All of our attention was caught by the rapid chill of the night air as screeching sounds boasted from the dark ocean sky. Oh no! "Well it looks like my real back up has arrived." Frost boasted, "Your green eyed friend really hates you if he and his associates conjured the hell hounds and now he brought me into the picture. Thanks to you there would not have been any way of bringing me back if it wasn't for these little bad boys." he gestured at a necklace with a set of fangs crested together on an orb.

"Fangs," I inquired wanting him to continue his rant while we slowly moved into a defensive circular flank.

"Not just any fangs, the fangs of the vampire Vlad Tepelus. You put a hole through his chest with a lightning bolt after he forced you to battle against your own teammates, given they were possessed of course. That's pretty dark of you my friend, what would your fellow cheer team members would think if they acknowledged the fact you were the one who bruised and battered them on that rooftop I hear?" His words brought me back to that night trying to remember how I left the son of the king. I recalled the fact Vlad did not flake up in flickering ash and dust like the rest. The Faceless Foe must have returned to the Sport's Complex for that very reason.

"My team members, my friends, my fraternity brothers, and my family you leave out of this, do you understand me Deacon Frost?"

"I hear you loud and clear." he taunted back.

"You have crossed the line!" I barked.

"This line," he asked drawing a line in the sand between us and him. Shortly after Frost stomped right over the line drawn in the sand showing his metaphoric defiance, "I crossed the line again, what are you going to doing about Order of the Acolyte?" Sensing the shadowed hell hounds getting closer, a large number of blurred figures from all directions had also joined in surrounding us on the beach. Soon the clanking sound of metal and chiming sound of ice formed. Stone slabs clashed hearing Paige's fist pound together, meanwhile Rachel levitated two daggers with her fist in the air. It's show time!

"You want to know what we are going to fucking do Frost," I cursed pausing for a moment in suspense. "Orders kick their fucking asses!"

I leaped over the Deacon to his surprise once feeling the footsteps of Pete gaining momentum right for the super vamp. "Remember, the hell hounds hate light and can be killed as long as you grab them preciously by the spine and crush it!"

"Light it up?" Paige asked curiously as she gazed at the cloaked shadowed skull figures approached inbound.

"Not yet Husk," I reminded her, wanting to save her secret weapon for another night, "why don't you spark up instead. Electricity works just as well!"

"Don't worry love, I have plenty more tricks underneath," Paige stated as shocks sparked from her granite skin ready to zap the enemy at hand.

"Girls, we take down hell hounds, guys hold off the vampires please," I instructed the team.

"Got it," Bobby shouted as he engaged two vampires in his ice form with his hands formed into ice stakes as he shoves them right through two bloodsuckers charging him.

"Rachel, your telekinesis will work against them and your telepathy makes you invulnerable to any of their shadow possession. Just be careful!"

"Now you tell me." she snapped back watching her pulling one shadowed hell hound closer to her with her abilities then upper-cutting with her hand as reached underneath the dark matter. She cusped the skull tightly in her hands and twisted it with all her strength hearing the painful snapping sound as it screeched in pain before evaporating into the air.

"Good shit Marvel Girl." I emphasized with pride.

"Right back at you Acolyte." she replied.

I engaged the two shadowed hell hounds coming straight towards me. Crossing my left arm bent across my chest then snapping it straight forward, the wooden stick that was lodge in my arm bolted out at bullet speed towards one of the hell hounds jabbing it right through the skull's eye, piercing through it like paper. Twisting my body at just the right second, I somersaulted tucking and twisting my body full around reaching my arms around at the perfect angle. I grasped the skull locking my hand and arm in place as I continued my dismount, landing and hearing the snapping sound of bones breaking off. I held onto the skull as the spine cord separated in my hands destroying it instantly. I could feel another headed straight for me with my back turned to it, only having to extend my hand up as the whistling sound of my wand propelling backwards cutting right though my assaulter before he could get near me. I grabbed my wand as it zipped through the air securing it in my left hand.

I turned around to watch the entire beach front now turned battle ground as a handful of vamps came to Deacon Frost's defense only to be destroyed in the crossfire. Bobby and Pete were tearing it up watching the two extraordinary men battle the oncoming foes with ease. The girls continued to take on both types of enemies, having to focus their attention on the hell hound at times. Paige smashed up one vampire simply by clasping her two stone hands together, squishing the head of the bloodsucker into ash and dust adding in a little shock from her electrical static, shooting out a bolt at one of the hell hounds blowing it up on contact. My attention was drawn when I saw Rachel finishing off another hell hound until she was face to face with Deacon Frost, she of course ready to take him on.

"You really want to fight me little girl?" Frost taunted her, something very stupid to do in my opinion since Rachel was powerful enough to fend for herself, but tonight I would rather not take the risk.

"Did your friend the Faceless Foe not tell you who took him down earlier today? I almost slit his throat. Too bad I didn't just take him out right there, but you'll do!" She roared, double roundhouse kicked Deacon attacking with full force. It tried to hurry over to her but got knocked back into the sand by three vampires charging me with full strength. I swung my arms back and telekinetically pushed my body back to my feet facing my three female vampire assaulters.

"Ladies, I see the three of you are eager to meet your maker tonight," I threatened.

"Right back at you hero," one of them spoke then once again charged at me with their incredible speed.

"No place like home." I muttered under my breath. I launched both feet at them in a kick stance, happy to finally take three vampires at once. Thirty second later I staked the last of them and headed straight for Rachel's confrontation. Bounding with a simple bend of the knees, I launched myself over a large distance coming right at Deacon who was distracted by his female attacker. I planted both my feet into his chest extending them with all my strength sending him flying into the lifeguard tower. Rising to his feet once more, he aimed his palms at us blasting a powerful red wave of energy sending Rachel and I flying several feet back slamming into the ground. What the Hell!

"What's the matter Chosen One didn't see that coming?" Frost taunted in laughter. I turned to Rachel who looked pissed as we nodded at each other pumping our palms of sending a powerful force right back at him once again launching him into the lifeguard tower pillars, causing the structure to collapse and fall right on top of the Deacon Frost. Oh shit!

Crashing sounds engulfed the area as the lifeguard toward imploded on impact. Seconds later the sound of sirens went off the distance a few blocks away indicating it was time for our departure regardless if the battle hadn't ended. Suddenly wooden panels tore apart from the broken down structure as Deacon Frost emerged from the wreckage, unharmed from the large wooden piece piercing right through him.

"Told you my friend, it is going to take a lot more than your Buffy moves to eliminate me you prick! We will meet again Order of the Acolyte and when this is all over, the whole city will be drenched and stained red with blood!" With a graceful leap he bound into the air taking full flight, the first vampire I ever crossed with the ability to fly in that manner. Some vampires can levitate their undead bodies from the ground, but nothing like this.

"Holy shit," I blurted out.

"They're falling back." Pete announced.

"We have to go now!" I ordered.

"What is it?" Bobby asked.

"Authorities have been dispatched," I answered. "We need to split up. Rachel goes with Pete and Paige while Bobby and I split up. We meet back at the spot," I informed them. "If anyone questions you on the way, you'll need to get into their minds Rachel, understood?"

"Crystal clear" she acknowledged.

"Alright, let's roll out!"

#  Chapter 5 Back at the Secret Base

I raced through the streets of Los Angeles hauling ass back to the Grand Hall hidden underneath the canyons nearby. I was relieved finding the dirt access road off of Old Topanga Canyon that led to the vine covered tunnel. It was wide enough to allow a car to enter easily through, if the vines granted you access of course. That is part of many defensive wards around the perimeter to protect this sacred ancient underground hall, clearly never discovered by anyone until now. It definitely was created something an entity much more than an ordinary human that paved this massive structure of stones and pillars. This secret base was left to me by the infamous Voice, a mysterious yet familiar mental projection in the form of a voice that first came to me when my powers ascended, eventually leading me to discover this place. It was custom designed with enhanced technology including the modernized area that extended the hall. Obviously whoever installed the add-on room did it during the modern era adding necessities like a bathroom, shower, electricity, even wireless internet. It also had this insanely stocked up weapons vault filled with an array of armory and mystical objects.

As soon as we parked the car, I made my way up to the center stone meeting table where at the head chair was one of my laptops already synced with the system that controlled the inside and outside of the Grand Hall. I immediately plugged the flash drive into the port as the hologram booted up, creating an extended projection screen. There were several screens monitoring various tasks. Bobby looked at me sincerely with concern as I examined the different screens.

"Welcome home," I muttered under my breath as the two of us settled in while the others were still heading our way.

"It's good to be back." Bobby stated to my surprise. "It's nice to even be back here."

"Bullshit!" I mocked knowing my mentor all too well.

"Seriously, I've missed this place. There's just something about California that feels like a second home to me now," he added in pausing for a brief moment as we sat at the large stone table. "We haven't talked one on one in awhile since the summertime, how are holding up kid?"

"Peachy," I snapped with a slight bit of frustration, "other than the fact that my good friend was beaten to near death all because of me."

"None of this is your fault," he responded back. He sat right next to me and put his hand on my shoulder trying to ease the tension and anger flowing inside. "You couldn't have predicted what we were returning to."

"I didn't see it coming," I whispered under my breath feeling the tears begin to swell up. A few drops rolled down my cheek. "Why didn't I see this coming?"

"You are not perfect, as much as you want to be or pretend to be at times, you're still human just like the rest of us, and don't forget that."

"There was no warning this time, no dreams, no glimpses of what may come to pass," I reminded him with a faint hint of despair in my tone.

"Look at it this way, what would have happened if we didn't arrive today at that very time or even at all. Your friend would have passed away and you would be at his funeral, that's if we even found him in the first place. You saved him today, regardless of the terrible and cruel pain they inflicted on him, because if it wasn't for you he would have never made it to the hospital in time."

"Bobby, what if he doesn't make it?"

"Then it will be up to use not to seek vengeance for Justin, because a path of vengeance can lead to a down a terrible path. We seek justice."

"Justice," I laughed, "how? Call the authorities."

"You are the Acolyte, the Chosen One. You made a vow to protect humanity from those they couldn't defend themselves from, am I right?"

"Yes." I answered.

"Then I have complete and utter faith that you, we, will seek proper justice for those we have lost from those lives that have been taken by the vampires over this ridiculous conflict in time."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I do, because I have faith in you more than you'll ever know." I sighed with relief from the comforting and deep words from my one of my best friends, who time and time again has helped me in so many ways. Too bad he doesn't play on my team from my understanding, if you know what I mean. Although sometimes I wondered about the all too macho egos played out when I am around, since it's more of their way of getting me to feel more comfortable with myself. It was hard not to like the company I keep, even if sometimes I could hope for something more. However my life is a little hectic with the supernatural nightmare of a life to deal with this topic of conversation. Well not counting Julio Richter, because that was a summertime fling.

"Thank you Bobby!"

"Of course kid."

"No, Bobby, not just for this, thank you for everything you have done for me since we met. You have no idea how much of that faith and hope comes from having people like you in my life to guide me towards the path of righteousness."

"Josh, you're welcome, and keep your head up. Things will get better, I promise," he reassured me looking at each other face to face. He gently lifted his finger to stop another teardrop from falling turning it into a tiny flake once it touched his skin. Damn, he's good! "You're a good kid and one of my best friends, remember that. I am going to freshen up real quick before everyone else gets here and hogs up your bathroom especially since there are girls on the team now," he exclaimed dismissing himself for the moment. "Are you okay kid?"

"Yeah Bobby, I'll be fine," I responded quickly not paying much attention at first.

"Are you sure? You have that look on your face." he pointed out.

"I'll be alright, I promise. I just want to sort this all out and make sense of it all." I explained in a monotone voice.

"Alright," he muttered slowly walking off. "You know you are welcome to join me," he teased on his way up the spiral stairs pausing grinning at me for a moment.

"Don't tempt me Professor Drake because hooking up with a teacher is on my bucket list, and these days kicking the bucket could very well be next week." I giggled back now trying to hold back my smile.

"I'll be down in a minute." he hollered back.

"I'll be up in a minute." I joked back.

"That's more like it kid!" he shouted back hearing the sound of the shower turning on. Fucking tease these boys! As much as I wanted to dash upstairs and open the shower door by surprise just to shake things up, my mind couldn't let go of the situation at hand. Why did all these horrible things happen the minute we headed home? Why did the Faceless Foe revive Deacon Frost? What's his angle with all this? Where was he tonight if he went through the trouble of bringing that asshole Deacon Frost back into the game? I had many doubts that he brought him back just because of me, there had to me more.

"Computer," I commanded.

"Welcome back sir," the female digital voice responded.

"Begin encryption of the flash drive and match it up with the data originally obtain from the archive."

"Already started encryption program sir, also there have been reports of a break in at a local branch of a highly secure secret government agency during the battle."

"Computer, why would I give two shits about a government agency being robbed, no offense?" I snickered back at the voice commanded system. "Keep monitoring all activity that took place tonight on the beachfront. Wipe out as much as you can."

"Of course sir," the digital voice replied as the sounds of another car engine now made its way through the vines into the tunnel. Pete's car emerged a few seconds later parking on the adjacent side where I parked.

"Welcome," I shouted at my guest, particularly my two new members who were stepping foot in here for the first time.

"Holy shit darling," Paige blurted in awe.

"What is this place?" Rachel asked having the same reaction.

"I call it the Grand Hall, and it's our secret base." I announced, "I was directed here by an unseen entity I simple call the Voice. Once I found my way here he began projecting himself through the surround sound speakers that was so conveniently installed into this ancient place."

"I heard about this infamous Voice," Paige admitted, "and he just left this whole place for you?"

"How is that possible," Rachel questioned curiously walking up towards the extended, "this place looks ancient but it was somehow modified and modernized?"

"Hell yeah he left us this place," Pete shouted as he made his way to the mini fridge throwing his shirt on the lounge chair as if he never left and owned the damn place.

"Apparently the Voice made this room a little too welcoming." I joked with the girls who watched their friend just turn into a jock guy, running for the Xbox 360 with a beer in his hand. I followed him to grab a few shot glasses after the night we had.

"What," he asked dumbfound, "the kid loves it when we get comfortable here if you know what I mean." he boasted while flexing his human flesh muscles for once as if it was something that would please me enough to let these two do as they want. Okay, I am not going to lie; Pete is hot, muscular, strong, and incredibly awesome.

"As I was saying before aluminum foil over there decided to go all Magic Mike on us," I continued, "the hall itself has been here for longer than anyone knows since the only hint of the origin was that it was built by creatures who used to live here long ago and blah blah blah blah blah," I bantered before taking down my shot with the girls who had no hesitation to partake. "Honestly, I started tuning the Voice out once I realized he is kind of a dick. He did train me though and did say the Grand Hall hidden under the canyons was mine to inherit as a base of operation and seclusion from the outside world."

"Don't you ever wonder where all these new technology came from?" Rachel asked walking around taking a tour of the base. "And the origin of this place, since that may find you the answer you've been looking for?"

"All the time," I respond truthfully, "other than what I've been told by the handful of different creatures asking me the same damn thing, what am I? I've got nothing."

"Have you searched through these books darling?" Paige inquired annoyingly. "If this Voice took the time to leave all this behind for you, I bet you this century old looking library might give you an idea. Have you taken the time to read any of these, they all look fascinating?"

"Sure," I fibbed maybe having glanced around one night when I had to research the shadowed hell hounds. Other than that I've been lazy using the most useful tool of this century, Google."

"Ever figure out who this Voice really is?" Rachel wondered.

"I have my suspicions but at this moment in time, it's still a work in progress. Unfortunately, my time here is limited to the day schedule of school that Ms. Summers and I will be starting in a few more weeks, plus I spend most of the time either researching, practicing..."

"Practicing on the Xbox," Pete added in.

"Prick," I snapped back.

"No, Bobby's the prick!"

"Why is that Colossus," I inquired grunting out that last word.

"He rode with you because he called dibs on the shower first once we got here. He used you," Pete informed me like a child ratting on a sibling.

"Not surprised." I laughed out.

"Besides, I would at least let you join me out of common courteously since I really wanted to use the shower first."

"I did offer him shit head!" Bobby hollered from the second floor as he descended down the stairs half naked slowly putting his shirt on as if he was modeling once he heard Pete ranting. The two girls and I all look at each other with that Are-They-For-Real face. These guys were so full of themselves I could see the swelling in their fat fucking heads from where I stood.

"Did you guys need to be alone?" Rachel joked holding back the laughter building inside.

"Look at the ambiguously gay trio," Paige bantered, "you've got these two running around like they're trying to win your affection, and it's adorable."

"Isn't it," I joked back. "Now, if we can set aside all this nonsense, I believe we have to work to do before we leave here tonight."

"Agreed" Bobby added in, "Since many things have taken place the minute we arrived back here. We gathered taking seats around the large rectangular stone table as we all exchanged glances at each other.

"Well for starters, we returned to find a rather cryptic message written with my friend's blood, leaving him beaten to death in the closet of an abandon house with a broom lodge into his lacerated stomach." I stared recollecting the events that had taken place.

"Not to mention your rumble inside," Pete reminded everyone.

"Yeah, you dueled with kitchenware." Rachel stated, "I've only known you for these last few months, but damn I've never witnessed such anger inside you before. You must really hate this guy!"

"That's what happens when someone launches a rocket at you during Cheerleading Nationals out of all events, so fuck that green eyed prick."

"Damn, who knew cheerleading was such an occupational hazard." Paige said.

"You have no idea," I replied boldly.

"Frost," Pete grumbled when the group went silent, "what is his angle in all this?"

"It doesn't add up," I noted, "There are many people with amazing abilities he could take advantage of, why this particular bloodsucker? Why go through the trouble of restoring him to his undead self?"

"Not to mention the Faceless Foe's thoughts on his current company," Pete added, "the way you've explained your previous encounters with the Faceless Foe, you sensed distaste between him and his undead allies?"

"You're right Pete. The manor of his tone, he sounded as if he loathed them. In fact," I paused once again recollecting events from the past, "he stole from them the first time we crossed paths at the archive."

"I remember that night," Bobby reminisced, "you caught them red handed looting the place."

"He was after information boys," Paige added in, "at least from the way you describe it."

"You weren't able to find that information with your machine talking ability?" Rachel inquired.

"I was able to scan some of the files while I physically touched the screen to siphon the data; however that was the first encounter I ever had with a shadowed hell hound that stabbed me from behind."

"Ouch," Paige remarked.

"So what exactly do you think they are up to, anyone?" I begged the question once more hoping for some hope of insight.

"Maybe he needs Deacon Frost for something else," Rachel interjected. "He went through a lot of trouble reviving him and I highly doubt it was for the vampire race's interest."

"She's got a point," Bobby added, "Even though the two have moved up in their rankings of the undead, that doesn't necessarily justify the need to bring Frost into play. I've heard about this guy and he is bad news. They considered him a maniac, a radical who despised the governing body for their ultimate rule of the discretion of their species existence. For years he terrorized city after city, organizing his own followers and familiars who wanted one thing, to kill the humans and become the superior race. He was hunted down by the Daywalker for years until he finally subdued him."

"The Daywalker told us that he wasn't like most vampires, hard to kill, at least not with the usual tricks," Pete noted, "so simple decapitating him or a stake won't do much but slow him down."

"How do you know so much about this again," I inquired still trying to solve the mystery of all this secretive information that was being revealed. No answer. "So as far we've got the newest player, Deacon Frost who was revived by the Faceless Foe by the use of some sort of conjuring with the use of the fangs."

"I thought you destroyed that vamp?" Pete questioned with confusion.

"I did, he went up there afterwards to retrieve the fangs." I paused for a minute to pondering the possible scenarios that might be unfolding. "It makes sense, but the question remains, why? What does the Faceless Foe truly have to gain from his new ally besides power?"

"Speaking of him," Rachel pointed out, "he was missing in action earlier on the beach during our little brawl on the beach. In fact, he was nowhere near the vicinity."

"How can you be so sure Rachel?" Bobby inquired.

"I scanned the whole beachfront several times with my telepathy. I would have picked up on his mental signature even if he was a few blocks away from his obvious mental shield."

"I thought you didn't get close enough to him..."

"I didn't get a chance to touch him and pry through his complex mind, but I was able to pick up on his thoughts when I pinned him down with the dagger." she informed us just when a light bulb turned on in her head. "I hate to say this, but his mind acts very similar to yours making it distinct to pick up on if he was watching from the distance."

"Wrong, now Rachel, let me see the dagger." I ordered extending my hand out.

"It's still a little bloody from earlier," she responded as she passed the dagger over. I reached for the handle to examine the blood on the tip still fresh from earlier. "Sorry I didn't clean if off earlier today."

"No, this is exactly what I needed, his blood." I informed them as I reached of a glass vial from a draw inside the extended room, allowing the remaining drops to hit the bottom of the glass.

"Why do you want his blood?" Pete asked.

"Before everyone else had arrived when I was first alone with Frost, he was babbling about the fact that I smelled different to him but he also said one other scent was similar he had ever come across."

"Don't they all tell you that?" Bobby interjected.

"Very true Professor, but the way he went on and on it was as if he had come across this scent before however there was something different about my blood. I bet you anything he was comparing me to that green eyed dick head."

"Are you going to take that to lab or something," Rachel inquired confused.

"Not exactly," I stated, "I have an acquaintance of the vampire persuasion that might be able to shed some light on this."

"What vampire," Pete barked.

"Are you referring to the vampire you had came across that didn't kill the human he was feeding off of," Bobby asked intently. "Are you sure he's even trustworthy?"

"No, I don't to be honest, but every time I encountered him so far all he has done is help me," I said catching myself before mentioning anything else that occurred during the strange encounter a year ago.

"He kissed you!" Rachel shouted reading my thoughts that must have been loud enough for her telepathy to pick up on.

"Son of a bitch, I forgot I'm not the only telepath here anymore," I announced as I reached for a fresh hand rolled cig and sparked it up.

"Sorry," Rachel said in a low voice.

"You never told us about him making a move on you," Bobby grumbled.

"When did this happen?" Pete asked with an overly shocked expression on his face as if I just spun his damn world upside down.

"Don't worry about the money player," I responded back cockily.

"You hate vampires, remember," Bobby scolded instantly.

"He made the move on me, not the other way around," I replied rolling my eyes, "for once."

"Slut," Rachel added in already catching onto the many puns and jokes we made towards each other.

"I know," I responded with a grin on my face giving her a high five then passing the cig over, "thanks for the compliment."

"Word," Paige stated.

"Now back to business," I snapped.

"Yeah back to business," Pete repeated as usual. "Bobby looks pissed!" To my surprise the only come back was two frozen middle fingers.

"I want my undead acquaintance to tell me what the differences are, and something tells me he'll be truthful."

"Don't trust him just because you locked lips with him," Bobby blurted afterwards.

"I don't, but I'll take my chance on it. Besides, maybe if we're lucky this vamp Mordechi might give us some insight on Deacon Frost. Frost is already a difficulty opponent, but the fact he was revived by the hands of that green eye prick, we really don't know what to expect."

"He has his own agenda," Pete noted, "that is obvious by now. If you say he was the one digging around the archive where I saved the kid from..."

"Objection," I protested, "you ruined my perfectly good victory. You were just the getaway car."

Suddenly our banter came to halt when the annoying ringtone on Bobby's smart phone started blasting Ice Ice Baby. I glanced over to see it said the word Agent on it before he snatched the phone up.

"Shit," Bobby cursed.

"Who is it?" Paige asked.

"Agent..." Pete shouted after seeing who the caller was.

"Well, you were bound to come across them one day," he reached out ready to answer his phone.

"Wait," I commanded, "computer, make sure this call is not being traced."

"Of course sir," the digital female voice responded.

"Go for it Professor." I instructed Bobby as he pressed on his smart phone. "Hello?"

"Hello," shouted a women's voice from responded.

"Hello," Bobby repeated in a confused voice.

"Mr. Drake, this is Agent Hill calling on behalf of Director..." the tough sounding woman answered in a stern voice

"Agent Hill, what a nice surprise, how can I help you today," Bobby replied cutting her off instantly with a cynical voice.

"The boy you've been training. Did he find what he was looking for?" she snarled back, "Why is he looking for more people like you?"

"Did that bitch just call me a boy," I growled back.

"I did," she yelled back through the phone.

"Oh hell no, put that rude bitch on speaker please," I demanded.

"Agent Hill, just call me the Acolyte, and not boy please. Now, I don't what the hell you are talking about and who the fuck gave you the right to order my friends around? Just because you're some sort of official agent does not give you the right to blow up my friend's phone in the middle of night accusing me of something they or I had not part in."

"Really, so earlier tonight you didn't break into a highly secure secret facility and hacked into a database filled with people like you?"

"I beg your pardon," I said blankly. "I'm sorry; I've been way too busy to break into your office. I've been with these guys all night."

"Agent Hill, Colossus here," Pete joined in, "in case you haven't quite gotten the hint, our group here had been together all day. Plus if you really want to know where we were, just look for the destroyed lifeguard tower on Venice beach after we were attacked by a bunch of damn vampires. We both know your agency is well aware of their existence."

"Liars," she yelled, "you're covering for him."

"They aren't lying darling," Paige confirmed.

"Then explain this," she hissed back as a picture message came through to Bobby's phone. I could see from the expression on my frozen friend's face there was more bad news ahead.

"Computer," Bobby shouted, "project the image onto the full screen for everyone to see."

"Did you tell my computer what to do," I protested before shooting my head up at the face in the surveillance image of a guy that looked just like me in so many ways it was disgusting. "What the fuck, that's not me!"

"Agent Hill," Bobby expressed with a deep serious tone, "I can assure you this man who broke into whatever facility you are referring to is not the man I stand beside at this very moment."

"You expect me to believe that someone else who is looks almost exactly like you is running around?"

"Yes dear we do." Paige answered. "There are much stranger things that go on in the world sweetie. Maybe you should get yourself educated."

"You are lucky that this agency hasn't taken you in yet son since we are the ones who kept your face off of every media outlet."

"You said he was looking for people like us?" I inquired.

"If you don't know anything then I have work to do!" Agent Hill snapped back

"Good luck with that dumbass bitch." I shouted.

"Agent Hill," Pete announced before she was about to disconnect, "Try and remember we serve the people, not you. Don't lash out at us, we aren't your agents."

"Neither is the kid, understand," Bobby added back right as he hung up on the bitch.

"Well, this has been the best welcome home day ever," I laughed grabbing another cig. "So I guess I can be in two places at once now, who knew!"

#  Chapter 6 Seeking Answers in the Late Night

I paced back and forth silent for at least twenty minutes while the team dispersed to the other areas. I stood in front of this image although not entirely ten eighty quality, but from the various angels of this face shot, there was no way around the fact this person resembled me in so many ways I wanted to vomit. The team could feel the anger boiling inside as I gazed up at the fraudulent poser that should have waved to the camera while he was at it. I was overwhelmed looking at the different screens projecting in front of me. They showed various images and video feeds from different sources, some monitoring various news outlets while others displayed results of the searches I had running, including the status of the encryption of the flash drive which was taking longer to encrypt than I had anticipated.

Regardless, my mind was stuck on the perpetrator who tried to frame me. I was amazed that the photo was kept from the media, completely covered up by this government agency that obnoxious agent worked for. I technically owed them one not leaking this picture out to the public, except for the pure fact it wasn't me and they seemed like a bunch of government assholes. How is this possible? Is this some sort of trick? This devious scheme must be by the hands of my Faceless Foe somehow assuming an illusion face mask of sorts similar to the magic he uses to cloak his face. The big question of the day, why? First it was the threat in the form of a bloody cryptic message, my now comatose friend, the scrimmage on the sand, the break in to acquire stolen secret government information, why? From my observations over each confrontation, my enemy had sided with my natural enemies, the vampires. He aided them on the several attempts of my assassination wanting the very same thing.

Yet, behind the scenes he had his own agenda, reminded of his unusual behavior throughout the National Cheerleading Championship Massacre. He was enjoying the chaos, which was typical; however he essentially delayed my final battle with good old Vlad by shooting a rocket at me. I hate his fucking guts don't get me wrong, but I did end up learning how to fly because of that unforeseen motivation. I returned to find him and his vamp henchmen trying to abduct Jean Paul, the assistant athletic director at the university and his lover rather than directly aiding in the assault. My mind flooded with possible plots and ploys stuck on each factor unable to connect it all together. Looking at the time, it was close to three thirty in the morning and I expected that there was nothing more we could determine by our debriefing, but I had one more thing I had to do before I rested for tonight.

"Computer," I said hearing the computer fans run in the distance.

"Sir," she responded.

"Bring up the map and highlight all areas where my vampire admirer has been spotted within these last few months." Within seconds a large hologram map of the Greater Los Angeles Area appeared as it started to pinpoint areas on the street grid. I noticed numerous areas running along Santa Monica Boulevard near Robertson that had me laugh instantly at his hunting ground of choice this summer. "Seems like someone moved out of Downtown and moved on up to the Westside."

"Where are you going?" Bobby interrupted me before I even moved a foot towards the tunnel.

"Out," I replied.

"Are you going after that vamp," Rachel asked standing a little ways back. I need to keep my mental guard up around this one!

"Yeah, to be honest I think everyone should call it a night." I explained as the others came out once hearing my voice.

"You should do the same." Paige insisted.

"Once I take care of this I am going straight back to my new apartment."

"Fine, I'm crashing at your place tonight and the girls are going to stay at my apartment since they didn't get a chance to get settle in." Bobby insisted.

"Fine, I'm in no mood to argue even though I don't need a babysitter."

"I'm not coming as your babysitter," Bobby muttered, "I'm coming as your friend!"

"We'll meet again tomorrow." I announced to the others, "I'll text everyone after I get some sleep."

"Okay love," Paige agreed yawning with dark circles around her eyes.

"I'll drop the girls off at your place." Pete told Bobby as we loaded up our cars and headed out into the early morning as I stepped on the petal racing though the twisting canyon road hauling ass through the streets getting to the west side in minutes. Thankfully the roads were empty, a rare thing for any part of Los Angeles. That's how early morning it was.

"I want to truly thank you again for everything you did for me over the summer," I said sincerely breaking the drained silence between us over the lack of sleep. "There are no words that can describe the true gratitude and appreciation I have for you."

"You're welcome, now can we please just go home?"

"Home," I repeated. "Can you have a little faith for once? I promise we'll get some answers from this, just fifteen minutes at the most."

"Do you truly believe he is going to divulge their plot to you?"

"No shit Sherlock, come on give me some credit here. However I think he might give me a little more insight on these." I snapped back flashing the vials of blood in my pocket.

"Whose blood is in the other vial?"

"Mine!"

It was close to four in the morning and rather than taking everyone's advice and calling it a night I found myself perched on the rooftop of a building on the boulevard overlooking the West Hollywood area. I watched as a very small handful of clearly intoxicated colorful bar patrons wandering the streets from a fun night of drinking, dancing, and getting some. Lucky them! Not that I haven't had my WeHo experience of crazy and wild nights, but tonight I found myself hunting, and not the fun hunting that was taking place below on the streets, if you know what I mean. Bobby was waiting around somewhere in the distance being a complete prude ass. I don't even want to get started trying to understand the moods of Robert Drake lately. Sometimes I just want to bitch slap him.

So far everyone was human for the most part, although a few of them were dressed completely out of this world, something common here. However that was not out of the ordinary in particular for what I was seeking tonight. Instead I searched around high and low finding a creature that should have been taken out when I first encountered, however his genuine help and admiration changed my point of view on him at least for now. If he is telling the truth, then he is only seeking peace. I could sense the anxiousness of the frozen pair of eyes watching over me from the distance who insisted on keeping watch over me tonight. Sure enough I turned at the sound of the bar doors opening as two figures exited holding each other up. One was a tall young man in his early twenties, and the other shorter that looked like he was also in his twenties but dressed in a suite from the nineteen nineties. They strolled down the empty street as the two carelessly fooled around back and forth until turning onto a side street into an alley way. Bingo! Just like the first night we crossed paths, he was luring a young handsome delicious looking man into a dark corner to feed on. If there was one thing I had to agree with the vampire race is their disregard of discrimination of sexual preference amongst their kind. They are fully aware of the fact that there are many out there in the world who desire the same sex, seeing that as such a petty topic for mankind to make such a controversy over. I dashed the rooftop hoping with ease to the next as I made my way in the same direction of the couple.

I paused on the ledge overlooking the alleyway they had stumbled into on their intoxicated tango. Although I felt like a pervert gazing at the two from the distance as they locked lips passionately with each other, it was what he did after that I wanted to observe once more. As I suspected, the passionate affection of display came to a halt as the two locked eyes into one another. The smaller man's spoke softly while the other remained stone solid in a trance. Seconds later the smaller man clamped down on the taller man's neck. My impeccable hearing caught the sound of the flesh tearing from the wounds inflicted by the venomous fangs. Normally the stake would have already been half way through his undead heart right now if it wasn't for this particular individual who maintained complete control, keeping the good looking prey silent during the painful process.

Less than a minute of this, the smaller man released his hold as he wiped the wounds gently with his fingers. Meanwhile the taller man gazed down at him with a blank look on his face. Unbelievable, I've felt the nasty bite of vampire fangs piercing my flesh and it hurt like a mother fucker. This guy must be under his power of persuasion to keep him so calm to endure such a sting. Within seconds they return to their public display of affection relocking lips once more when I leaped off the ledge landing yards away from the two in a shaded area.

"You know you really know how to make a guy feel jealous!" I blurted out in the darkness facing the two up against the wall. The two slowly separated and turned in the direction of my voice startled by my disruption.

"You're welcome to join..." the taller one started in a seducing voice before the hand of the smaller man raised it to quite him.

"Run along handsome," the vampire ordered, "forget these last few hours from your mind as well," he instructed as the guy let go and slowly turned and cruised away towards the street without a word.

"My apologies for the interruption Mordechi, he was a very attractive young man."

"He doesn't appear to be the only attractive one out tonight, sexy and benevolent Acolyte." he replied with lust in his voice. He dashed and was face to face with me nanoseconds later. He paused silently as he took a breath in as he gazed at me from head to toe. "Welcome back, it's been awhile hasn't it?"

"Indeed it has." I responded a little thrown back by his sudden closeness.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes Chosen One? I must say I am quite surprised to see you tonight out here out of all places."

"Marvelous," I gloated, "Can we cut right to the chase?"

"Relax," he stated as he pressed the lower half of his torso forward pressing himself into mine, feeling the excitement he was surging below, "I mean you no harm. I can't say the same about the others of my kind, not since your takedown of the mainland stronghold."

"Word spreads quickly," I snickered, "I am well aware of your species disliking of me, but I want you to tell me more about these." I grunted as I revealed the two vials of blood to him. "You've been around for hundreds of years; surely you must have come across creatures with this particular scent of blood."

"You have his blood," he stated under his breath.

"Yes I do," I snarled back acknowledging that we were both on the same page as I waived the vials in front of his nose. "What can you tell me about this?"

"It seems our green eyed companion couldn't wait for your return," he remarked. "Such a seducing fragrance the two of you bare in those veins of yours, it's quite uncanny. In all my years have I ever come across creatures with the combination of exquisite entities until recently. I cannot even compare it to any one particular thing when it comes to these two different samples of blood."

"Combinations," I asked confused.

"Yes, for although both of you so very much have some human blood inside, the mystical essence of your blood is unidentified to this day. Only one thing is absolute, both of those blood samples although may be rare, they are also miraculously similar even by scent."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I think I've said too much already my friend." he stuttered as his head started turning from side to side distracted suddenly by a faint noise.

"You said some parts are identical, what parts of our blood scents aren't?"

"Very perceptive of you Acolyte; you ask the right questions." He got closer to the vials and took a deep breath in absorbing the scents now puzzled by the results of his sniff test. "That's strange, there's something else amongst the scents masking the faint parts that are human."

"Spit it out vampire!" I demanded now revealing a silver stake aimed for his chest.

"I can truthfully say that there is truly something special about your blood besides the similar essence you share. In his blood however, there is something there I have come across before." he admitted pausing for a moment waiting for me to ease up on my threat

"What exactly is that?" I inquired as I released the stake down.

"The scent of witch in his blood," he answered making me step back a foot.

"What about my blood?"

"Powerful and unique, but unknown of its origin." he replied. "It will be daylight soon; I must go to ground soon if that is alright with you good looking?" he begged in weird seductive voice.

"One more question?" I stated, "Why did he bring Deacon Frost back?"

"Why did he break into the government agency tonight?" he asked not answering my original question however obviously cluing a slight hint of connection between the two.

"So it was him who tried to frame me?"

"Is that what you think he was up to tonight?" he asked rhetorically while he moved closer to my only inches away face to face. "Unfortunately, I wish I could answer more of your questions but I must depart before I burn up by the sunlight. You wouldn't want that now would you? Besides, I sense another gentleman nearby who has been keeping his on us for quite some time now."

"Of course not my attractive undead admirer, until next time Mordechi," I answered knowing he would be of no value to me meeting his absolute death. To my surprise he gave me a peck on the cheek before dashing off into the alleyway at a rapid speed causing the debris scattered around to fly through the air.

Within minutes I found Bobby on one of the nearby rooftops keeping watch of me like the good guy he is. Without exchanging a word we headed straight for where the car was parked and loaded up quickly. I zoomed through the empty streets of the city in the early hours of the morning. I could feel the questions building up inside his head allowing his thoughts and concerns open for once with his mental guard down, recognizing the doubt and skepticism in silent facial expression as made our way home. After my incredibly long day returning home what felt like ages ago, I deserved some quite time to meditate on the confusing clues of what was unfolding in this plot along with the nagging pestering unanswered questions from the beginning of this all.

Within twenty four hours of touching Southern California soil, horrific and terrible things have occurred. I was left a cryptic graffiti message in blood over my fraternity house, only to find myself facing my greened eyed Faceless Foe in the abandoned house. I found my near fraternity brother stashed away beaten half to death, encountering the new self entitled hierarchy of the vampires Deacon Frost on the sands, and learning more about what I might be from my vampire admirer. That was on top of discovering that I was framed by my green eyed nemesis that was caught breaking into a supposedly highly secure secret government facility while I was brawling on the beach. That was a lot of shit to process that was sinking in all at once, boggling my mind as I pulled up to the parking entrance of my new junior one bedroom apartment a few blocks from both the university and Greek Row, in perfect walking distance of both locations.

This was going to be the first night I could finally sleep in my new apartment. Once we reached the seventh floor at the top of the building, we made it to apartment number eight twenty seven at the end of the hall, home at last! I was surprised when I turned the lights on to see all my stuff was moved in already with a note on the table. Bobby walked in behind me rushing to the bathroom before I had the chance. You would think he could freeze it or something. I turned out my fraternity brothers including Justin had been gracious enough to move my things while I was away, a nice surprise I was truly grateful for. I ached inside for a moment still knowing there was no change in his condition from the hospital.

Relieved from the amazing gesture, I tossed my luggage onto the living room couch waving my hand turning on all the essentials with the flick of the wrist. The television, the main lights, and the laptop on the desk of the living room booted up. I crossed my fingers as I reached for the coffee table drawer to find the pre hand rolled cigs prepared for my return home. Thank you brothers! I sparked up as I blinked one keep continuously scanning the channels for something to put on the TV. The early morning news was on reporting once more about the break in of the facility, but still having no leads to the perpetrator. Bobby walked in and sat next to me as he observed the report playing, reaching for the remote and changing it to an old episode of Family Guy.

"No more tonight." Bobby demanded, "Let's relax," he stated winking at me with his blue eyed grin as he inhaled the cig. "Besides, you need sleep my friend."

"I concur oh Jedi Master," I replied with a low drowsy voice, "I'm just trying to get some things straightened out in my mind in order to get some real sleep."

"What troubles you my apprentice?"

"These," I pointed out levitating the two vials up then onto the table. "They have very similar qualities in many parts, but there is a slight difference as well according to my vampire admirer."

"Did he tell you that while you were making out?"

"Funny Bobby," I taunted back, "but you were leering with your own two glass eyes.

"So what you are saying is that you and your green eyed rival are the same, according to your friend?"

"He was confusing in his dialect. The way he described the comparison was like he had broken down the scents into parts."

"Like a hybrid?"

"Essentially, the way he described it. He says the part the makes us this incredible entity was the similarity he discovered from the scent, calling it unknown of origin, but ancient and strong. The differences between the scents however are the major issue at hand."

"More so than the pure fact they are similar?"

"Don't remind me, but yes there is more concern now raised. He stated that even though we both had the scent of human in both of our blood samples, there was something else masking the scent on top of these two parts."

"What were they?"

"He said that whatever is running through my veins is also unknown to him, but our green eyed friend had the scent of witch in his blood." A long pause took over the room except for the low sound of the news on the television.

"Let me get this straight, you and the foe have one part of your blood that is superhuman of some sorts that is similar. Meanwhile, the different scents in both your blood also indicates some traces of human blood as well, but still mixed in with another part all together."

"That sums it up right." I commended my mentor.

"He has witch blood, but you have another thing. I can see why you are so conflicted. How are you interpreting his partition of your blood scents?"

"Well," I started, letting out a sigh before speaking, "if I understood him correctly, he basically is referring to bloodlines, or more specifically family blood ties."

"I know this is a touchy subject for you," Bobby began, "but have you given any thought to what the connections all mean?"

"Could you elaborate on that please?"

"I've known you longer than anyone else, and I know that you don't know much about your real father if I recall. Have you given thought to the true possible origin..." he started.

"Not now Bobby," I interrupted his last words. "It is bad enough we have similarities in our blood, let's not add any more to our imagination for the moment next to the witch thing. No need to dwell on baby daddy issues of the past, those skeletons should stay right where they belong, buried."

"Who gives a shit if he has witch in him," Bobby blurted, "because if there is one thing he has demonstrated many times is his fear of you."

"You think so?"

"I know so." he remarked with smirk on his face. "The sun is about to go up any minute now."

"Oh the days of seeing the sun come up, such fun times it used to be, before running around taking on vampires until the sunrise."

"I know," he started laughing, "We've even had a few of those wild crazy nights before all this."

"Fun times indeed!" I agreed as I lifted myself off the couch. I stretched out yawning ready to jump in the neatly arranged oversized bed. "Are you going to be comfortable on that couch? It's hard as a rock."

"I bet it is." he replied sinfully.

"I'll take that as a yes," I responded walking away into the small bedroom where I quickly changed into some basketball shorts and lied on the bed. "Good night Bobby," I shouted with a low voice.

"Good night kid, I'll be there in a little bit." Some things never change.

After getting at least four hours of sleep, I woke up feeling rested for the first time in days. I glanced around my new bedroom that replicated my old room in the fraternity house for the most part, expect bigger in dimensions with a fresh clean look inside. I stood lying down in my bed for a few minutes when it hit me that I was not alone in the room after hearing the familiar sounds of my frozen friend tossing and turning, mumbling something in his unconscious state of mind. I turned over slowly to face my overprotective mentor that in reality I truly adored, finding him peacefully dreaming on my overly comfortable recliner chair with his head faced towards my direction. Even though Bobby and I had become close friends prior to the ascension of my abilities, it never occurred to me until this moment just how great of friends we had become.

From the earlier days when we first met after enrolling in Bobby's lab class becoming one of his first students. Then afterwards he tutored me free of charge around the time my grades began slipping due to my extensive research in fraternity life, he had always been by my side. Even now, after the chaos and madness that has consumed our lives ever since becoming the Acolyte, he once again took me under his wing to guide me through the difficult transition into the supernatural world, saving me in so many ways I truly could never repay him for his genuine gratitude and willingness to help me once again. It was hard to imagine someone who could instantly turn so cold into ice could have such a warm genuine heart beating inside, but he did. I imagined he snuck onto the recliner while I was passed out just to make watch over me, one of Bobby's many amazing qualities.

Ever since he witnessed the first attack that took place on campus, the night of my twenty first birthday, rather than approaching me right away Bobby had hesitated taking several months to reveal his supernatural form, a decision that he regrets to this day punishing himself for failing to aid and guard one of his own students, let alone being one of his closer friends. I understood where the guilt came from once he learned of my agony and confusion after the ascension. More importantly the fact he could have prevented the first attempt on my life that very night in the campus quad but held back when he saw I had taken down my vampire assaulters single handedly. I continued to this day reassuring him that I never felt like he failed me just because he was protecting his own self from learning the truth of their extraordinary gifts on top of the fact it was fate for me to cross paths with those vampires that very night regardless of his actions, or lack thereof.

I reached my hand out for my smart phone on the desk as it whisked through the air into my hands with a graceful movement. Of course, dozens of text messages, emails, and a few missed calls already. What a lovely way to start the day! I skimmed through the text messages quickly most asking how I was doing, but replied to Paige's text asking if Bobby and I had finished spooning in my comfortable new bed. I responded instructing her to meet at here at my new apartment in thirty minutes so I could spoon with Bobby for another fifteen minutes and then elegantly told her to shove her granite middle finger up her wooden asshole. It sounds pretty harsh, but we are totally joking and kidding with each other, something the five of us are all really bad at around each other. We had a tendency to be foul mouthed but in a joking and kidding type way. Paige and Rachel caught on after spending a week with the three of us and have added so much new puns to throw in. After levitating my phone back I reached out for the hand rolled cigar but after scanning the room there wasn't a lighter in sight, damn. Just my luck!

I was at a point of pure laziness not wanting to get out of the bed. I opened the window with my mind and then placed the cig between my lips ready to try something I've only attempted once or twice. During the final battle at the College Cheerleading Nationals Massacre, the pulsating surges of supernatural energy enabled me to conjure and harness light and electricity at the climax of the battle when my adrenaline had peaked up about two hundred percent. The Voice had mentioned during our training sessions in the Grand Hall about elemental control and that was proof I was capable of it. I stared at my mentor to make sure his eyes were still closed then proceeded to point my finger at a precise angle that was aimed toward the wall, just in case. Here goes nothing!

I focused the surging essence inside feeling the amazing sensation of the energy's magnificent tingle inside now flowing through my arm as it made its way through my right index finger. I held the force suppressing it from a full blast concentrating on a small portion causing the tip of my finger to radiate in a brilliant blue aura of light. Allowing more of the force to pulse out from the glowing essence, tiny bolts of blue tinted lighting sparked out so a few seconds feeling the blue in my eyes reflecting the same essence as I gazed in amazement. Holy shit!

"What the hell was that?" Bobby shouted jumping from the recliner chair witnessing the charge not sparking up the cig coming from my finger.

"My bad, did I wake you?"

"Your finger just..."

"Relax," I stated after inhaling a puff, "I couldn't find a lighter."

"You couldn't get up five feet out of your bed to check your pant pockets?"

"Nope," I replied truthfully. "I didn't want to get out of bed and there wasn't one in telekinetic sight." I informed him as I passed him the cig. "That's pretty convenient gift I've got here," I boasted observing my bright blue finger tip before releasing the energy back inside my core. "Good morning!"

"Good morning. Did you sleep alright?"

"I should be asking you the same question?"

"Your couch is not very sleep friendly. I prefer the recliner."

"Too bad, I thought you came in to be closer to me."

"That's just a bonus, although I was ready to push your ass over." he teased with his mischievous grin.

"You should have," I shouted out as I walked into the bathroom to get ready for the day.

As soon as I got out he took my place having a pair of clothes on him since he hadn't been home yet. Within five minutes I heard the sound of Pete's car that had distinct noise to its engine and were at the door shortly after. The three walked in and at sat at the living room table where my laptop was.

"I can't believe he spent the night and he didn't even bother to invite you to join him in the shower," Pete stated sarcastically, "the audacity!"

"Good morning to you too," I responded as I sat next the big guy already leaning back on the couch getting comfortable. "Ladies, did you sleep well?"

"Yes sir," Rachel responded.

"Fabulous dear," Paige added. "How did hunting go last night, find what you were looking for?"

"I did in fact!"

"Did he try kissing you again?" Rachel interrogated.

"No he was overly friendly as usual, but helpful for once. He confirmed in our conversation that the Faceless Foe was in fact the one who tried to frame me breaking into that stupid supposed secret base. What was more intriguing however is the fact that whatever my green eyed nemesis wanted is connected with the reason why Deacon Frost was brought into the picture, any thoughts?"

"The agent slipped up last night," Paige opened up, "but I wish she could have clued us in on what type of information he obtained darling."

"You're right; she accused me of stealing that information." I recalled. "In fact, she asked us why were looking for people like us."

"What do you think she meant by that?" Paige asked.

"People like us," Rachel repeated, "she said it twice. Do you think she's referring to supers?"

"Most likely," Pete added. "Bobby and I have both dealt with this organization before and they scout around the globe for anyone with supernatural abilities. They are well aware of us and what we represent."

"Not to mention all the other superhuman and supernatural beings out there," Paige stated," but how would resurrecting Deacon Frost have anything to do with information about supers?"

"Don't forget we still need to figure out the connection with the green eyed douche bag." Rachel reminded us.

"She's right," I agreed, "Deacon has taken the ranking hierarchy of the vampire race, by the hands of the Faceless Foe who is clearly calling the shots. I don't believe for one second that Frost is here to become the leader of an undead race whose government had already been torn to shambles."

"Mad props kid, you're being a big boy now!" Pete boasted.

"Word," Rachel concurred.

"So what do we do darling?" Paige inquired putting us back on track. "Besides, take a look at the morning news, you might want to see this."

We turned our attention to the television now with the volume fully up finishing up a report on the break in. Following the report came another Oh Shit moment when the anchor was standing right in front of the fraternity house that was still taped off. They were filming about the incident showing the blood stained footprints. I felt like I was punched right in the stomach as they describe the attack verbatim as we told it.

"I am a terrible person, what is wrong with me." I shouted as I dashed out of my chair to grab my smart phone, hearing the news anchor noting that the victim was still in critical condition.

"You're not a terrible person," Pete yelled as the news commented about their inability to contact any of the brave citizens who discovered the fatal injured young man. "We can visit him whenever you want boss man."

"Since today is my only free day before I return to cheer, we all have things to do. Once the sun sets, we'll hit the streets taking areas of the cities divided up in teams for now with Deacon Frost out there."

"Do you think they'll be out there?" Rachel asked.

"I'm counting on it. They have something bigger up their sleeves and they will throw everything they've got at us to keep us distracted. But we can worry about the vamps later; we have another task at hand."

"Where exactly are we going after this?" Bobby questioned me curiously.

"We're going to go visit a little coven of witches!"

#  Chapter 7 The Coven of Angeles

The world we lived in is fully of mysteries and tales of the unexplainable, passed down for years told in the form of fables and fairy tales. Only little did the human race know that many of these legends and folklore lived amongst them to this very day, blending in with society looking just like the everyday individual to the naked eye. It was only until recently did my eyes open widely witnessing the underground world that surrounded us, some more commonly living amongst us more than others. Stories of witches, sorcerers, wizards, gods, elves, dwarfs, vampires, shape shifters, werewolves, zombies, ghouls, hell hounds, fairies, trolls, demons, and warlocks have existed since the beginning of documented literature. Who knew that even to this day and age their kind existed among us living right here in this very city? It is true that there are humans out there that followed the scriptures of the occult, mostly chanting and meditating at the most managing to levitate a feather from my understanding.

However there are those born with the mystical witch essence in their blood. It makes them naturally capable of impeccable gifts, keeping their true covens close to the heart and home. Since the members were nearby, they have multiple summoning of the coven members various nights throughout the month in discrete locations using shops as their cover. This brought us to the Melrose district of the city near a strip of variety shops including a clothing store, a computer repair center. Next to those establishments was an unusual two story house fashioned with wind chimes, dream catchers, and strange objects and trinkets of sorts. From the outside it would have appeared to been a themed craft type store that casual sat around the other businesses seeming normal in every manner, but based on the occult like symbol it was evident that this was a witch shop.

Finding a restaurant across the street, we ordered and sat on the outside patio as we waited to be served. After ordering I quickly ran next door to the shop with the familiar green cross on it to get some more cigs anticipating the need for a relaxing smoke after our next destination. As soon as I returned to the outside patio of the café style restaurant, Pete immediately inquired,

"Why is this witch occult shop so different from the many others around here in Hollyweird? Is it because it's so conveniently by one of your special stores here in California?" I swiftly replied to the sarcastic tin man with a silent but obscene jester throwing up my middle finger.

"He has a point," Rachel and Paige noted simultaneously.

"Relax everyone. Give him a chance," Bobby demanded getting everyone's undivided attention.

"Thank you Bobby!" I gleamed. "When I first acquired my abilities, there were a few months that I was training solo only with the Voice during simulations. At night I had several dreams of this very establishment until finally one night during my patrols did I stumbled onto this place. I was coincidentally tracking a bloodsucker nearby. I spent several nights observing the store trying to recognize the difference between this place versus the other creepy shops, and sensed powerful entities coming in and out of here."

"What's so special about you dreaming about this darling?" Paige questioned.

"We think his dreams might be precognitions," Bobby explained to the side, "usually comes in fragments and glimpses."

"How can you be so sure?" Rachel asked.

"Easy, he dreamt about the massacre at the Cheerleading Nationals," Pete remarked, "he just didn't know it yet. I figured it out that night when the computer had identified more information from the encrypted data he hacked that matched some images he uploaded with his machine talking thing. The bid, the time slots, and everything else they had planned out carefully."

"Impressive darling, what can't you do?" Paige teased.

"So that's how you figured out what was happening." I announced now putting two and two together from before.

"Not shit Sherlock, that's why I called my sister and begged her to teleport me there and help back you up that night." Pete snickered in a cocky tone as if he was deserved a little gratitude, but not with that attitude my metal hunk of muscle.

"We really could use your sister right about now," I stated as I reached over and took some of Pete's fries from his plate just to be a dick. I remembered vividly Pete's blond hair blue eyed little sister with the uncanny ability to teleport using mystical methods of energy. She topped my chart on bad ass supernatural creatures even having her own mystical sword. There aren't many people out there who own swords anymore being that was a predated weapon of choice compared to the firearms of our time.

"Honestly I haven't talked to her lately." Pete confessed.

"Stop stalling and explain to us the reason why you haven't entered this witch shop so far!" Rachel demanded catching onto my hesitation.

"Honestly, because the last night of my stake out I stood right in this very stop but before I moved an inch, blurred figures rushed inside without hesitation bursting in like wild animals with someone behind them..." I stopped reminiscing on the incident that felt like it was decades ago.

"The Faceless Foe," Pete cringed.

"Possibly, but at the time he had never revealed himself to me. I could feel he was different but this was prior to any our confrontations. But once I saw the vamps there I knew the place wasn't right. It had a dark sense to it, and the company of the undead had me turn the other way."

"You made a good call," Bobby said with enthusiasm. "Good job kid!"

"Thanks, I try."

"So they have ins with the vampires." Paige remarked.

"It appears so my friend," I stated boldly.

"Unfriendly," Pete inquired.

"Unsure," I replied, "so be ready everyone."

"I'm not afraid of some witches love." Paige remarked.

"Rachel," I ordered, "help me scan the inside the building, let us see how many we are up against," I nodded indicating it was time to use our telepathy to get the inside scoop from the mental waves inside. Regardless of their wards and spells, we both knew that wasn't going to be a problem what so ever.

Both of us closed our eyes, releasing our minds allowing them to absorb the thoughts floating around projected from the minds inside the dwelling. We both were picking up on a few brain waves from the shabby looking two story shop, all having a gloomy and wary tone coming from the vibes.

"I'd say two inside," Rachel spoke moments later. "They appear to be on alert but their wards aren't making it easy."

"How do we approach this one?" Pete asked out loud.

"The sign on the door says it's open," I pointed out.

"But you said they we're on guard." Paige reminded us.

"True," Rachel admitted, "But whatever has them on edge doesn't appear to be a threat during this moment in time."

"How can you tell?" Bobby asked.

"One word," Rachel answered, "sunlight" tilting her head up towards the bright afternoon sun.

"Interesting," I responded now pondering what the vampires were conspiring with this coven. "From my understanding, the two despise each other however neither would go against one another due to their supernatural gifts. True witches are just as equally capable of taking out bloodsuckers just as easily as all of us can take them out."

"Then why even bother with the vamps to begin with?" Paige questioned.

"Well everyone, we are about to find out!" I stated as I stood up placing my money on the table for the bill.

"We're just going to storm on into the creepy ass old shop that we have no idea what is in store for us the minute we step foot in there," Pete inquired with a cocky tone.

"Exactly my metal friend," I responded as the others begin to get out of their seats as we squirmed through the patio lounge onto the sidewalk.

"This is why I roll with this kid," Pete boasted, "I like his style."

"Let's see how these true witches compare to the Order of the Acolyte." I announced as the group nodded in approval from my bold confidence as we headed once again into the unknown.

We marched across street using the crosswalk making our way closer to the run down shop as we all stood silently at the front door of the business, the House of Druid Mystical Emporium of the Angeles. Even though I had no idea what to expect once inside, after learning about the Faceless Foe having traces of witches blood running through his veins, it made more sense now that my dreams led me here to find some answers to the numerous questions that still remained a mystery to this day. Would this group of supernatural beings hold the answers I've so desperately been searching for? If the Faceless Foe is part witch, then what exactly did that make me? After a brief pause I turned the door handle to pushed the door open ready to tackle this issues first hand. Here goes nothing!

I wedged the door open slowly gazing inside examining everything in sight. A small shop of sorts with two small isles filled with candles, incents, a sections of books that led up to the counter that divided the room. Behind the counter seemed to be off limits, the same area that also led to the upstairs room however was covered by drapery hanging from the ceiling disclosing whatever was hidden behind. I assumed it was probably where they had the secret powerful mystical items such as voodoo dolls and preserved organs used in spell conjuring and rituals.

Only having my newfound extraordinary abilities, it was hard for me to believe that there was a defined split line of good magic and bad magic. It was how we used our gifts that made us greater. Unfortunately there are those few bad apples who craved anarchy and chaos. Those out there that used their abilities to hurt, tortured, and murder the innocent and defenseless for personal gain and lust for absolute tyranny and destruction. From obtaining these gifts, I've come to strongly believe that it is the true nature and diligence of the intentions in our actions that truly defines the good and the bad for all of us. Regardless of being human and superhuman since were born with both a light and a dark side of our souls.

We slowly marched inside in a single file line as an old school bell chimed as we entered. The shop was entirely empty, including behind the counter where the register was. We stopped as the door closed behind Rachel as we gave her that did you just use your powers look. Recognizing our silent signals, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "They're upstairs."

"Do they know we are here?" I asked.

"They think we're tourist or some punk ass college kids snooping around looking for a spook," she whispered as we crept around taking mental notes on the various objects on the shelves.

"She got one thing right," Paige blurted.

"This place is creepy," Pete stated with a hint of fear in his voice, "they have fucking tarantulas! I hate spiders."

"Seriously," Bobby said, "you're the mighty Colossus and you're tripping out over some bugs?"

"Yes I am," he whined back, "can I smash them up?"

"No," I whispered under my breath as my sixth sense heard movement heading towards the stairs. We continued to browse around while I had my smart phone out capturing images of the items pretending I was texting.

"This place is creepy," Rachel added while looking at the trinkets in front of her. "Does anyone know what any of this stuff is?"

"It's called merchandise," sneered a very unwelcoming voice of a young woman that appeared from the behind the curtain first eyeing Rachel, unhappy by the fact she picked up one of their items. "Is there something I can help you people with?"

"I'm sorry we were under the impression this was a witch shop, not a bitch shop darling," Paige blurted rudely back ready to punch the girl right in her face.

"Excuse me!" shouted the young light skinned Hispanic girl in her early twenties, short but thin dressed in black pants and a regular blouse, nothing fashioned like the occult like décor that surround us.

"Ladies please," Pete pleaded with his hunk like charm.

"If you aren't here to buy anything you need to leave." the girl demanded with no desire for our presence.

"Not so fast you rude fouled mouth stupid little girl," I growled back at her outraged as I stormed towards her now facing her in clear view, "I have some questions that you will answer before my friends and I walk out that..."

"What the hell are you doing here," she roared now causing a small vibration shaking the objects around the room, "especially in the daylight you asshole?"

"I beg your pardon?" I asked her confused.

"Don't play dumb," she hissed back, "How dare you come back here after making us..." but before she could form another word out of her mouth, I heard her faint voice mentally screaming one word, gun. In the blink of an eye she pulled out her arm that was lingering behind the counter holding tightly a revolver as she extended her arm aiming the weapon right at point blank range.

"Are you kidding me?" I questioned the girl boldly.

The room went completely dead silent in suspense not necessarily from the gun itself, but her initial reaction the moment she laid eyes on me. I had no idea who this girl was or who the hell she thought I was, but she needed to really take a step back before she hurts herself. I put my head down for a second squinting my eyes and nose together in pure irritation at this overly aggravated mistaken witch.

"Did this dumb bitch really just pull a gun out on me?" I asked out loud rudely pretending she wasn't in right in front of me.

"Yeah love," Paige snickered, "she did."

"Miss you need to calm down." Bobby demanded as his hand already began to ice up. "I think you're mistaken."

"Seriously, you don't want to fuck with us slut!" Rachel lashed out in a burst of rage.

"Don't threaten someone holding a gun at your friend foolish child," the young witch snapped back being the stupidest words to say to the offspring of, well let's just say you don't want to piss this young lady off.

Rachel's body shifted in an unusual manor that I had been warned once before to prepare for, now witnessing for the first time the countless cautions I was told firsthand. Her eyes began to ignite in blue flames. All the tables and shelves began shaking as the curtains swayed back and forth as the wind chimes twirled at an unnatural speed.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Don't threaten me!" Rachel growled trembling in her spot.

"Calm down love." Paige pleaded getting closer to her friend.

"Rachel," Bobby said in a mellow voice, "it's all right. She'll put the gun down."

"Like hell I will!" she shouted back not helping the situation at all, creating small vibrations throughout the room.

"Who said anything about putting the gun down?" Rachel hissed as she stared down the witch that taunted her with the little use of magic.

The room became quite again as the girl's arm began to shake vigorously as the gun originally aimed at me now crept up to her head. Rachel was in a full telepathic lockdown forcing the witch's arm to move the gun pointed at her very own head, scaring her half to death. "What's the matter Sabrina the teenage bitch, can't block me out?"

"Rachel calm down please," I begged her now, "you've made your point, that's enough," I stated sternly now feeling my telepathy trying to connect with the witch as a precaution.

"I am in control!" Rachel insisted, "I promise. Now, little girl, are you going to believe us now that this man is not the person you claim he is you mad bitch?"

"Please," the girl begged. The gun caulked back right after.

"Rachel," Pete yelled.

"That wasn't an answer!" Rachel snapped back at the girl.

"Yes," she answered as the connection was let go as the gun reverted back to safety.

"I'll take that," I interrupted motioning my hand as the gun telekinetically glided into my hands, "So, witch girl. I don't particularly appreciate the fact that someone I have never done any harm to or have ever met for that matter pointing a gun at my face. You weren't on a rival cheerleading team?"

"Do I look like a cheerleader?" she laughed back.

"It was meant as a compliment," I jabbed back, "now who the hell did you mistake me for that compelled you would pull out a handgun in the middle of the day on Melrose none the less?" I inquired disassembling the weapon with my mind.

"I think we all know who that is." another female voice from the background asked as the curtain opened to reveal another lighter Hispanic woman, older than the disarmed witch. "You and your marvelous friends here have encountered him many times, but you don't know him by his face."

"The Faceless Foe," I responded acknowledging that we were on the same page. "Who are you?"

"I am Katrina of the Coven of the Angeles. Now has my daughter been harmed?"

"Maybe you should keep your firearm locked up from children lady," Paige roared back.

"Serena, go out the back now." Katrina demanded, the daughter following the instruction without hesitation, "I will deal with you later girl." She turned towards us with an uncomfortable and saddened expression on her face. She looked at each individual of the Orders silently before letting out a sigh. "I must apologize for my daughter. Things have been quite difficult during these pressing times for the Coven of the Angeles ever since..." she strayed off losing herself in the moment.

"It's a pleasure," Rachel commented rudely.

"You were saying." Bobby hinted at the witch.

"The true madness began shortly after the ascension. Since then our coven has been coerced by the mysterious foe you seek, the reason you are here right now."

"You are a coven of witches, how can you not protect yourselves from him and the vampires?" I asked.

"It is more complicated than that Chosen One." she replied.

"How so," Pete interrogated.

"He's my nephew." she confessed to everyone's surprise. "His mother was my sister therefore we are his only family he has left."

"What happened to his mother?" I asked now totally intrigued finally gaining some substantial information.

"A terrible tragedy took place from her dealings with the vampires due to unfortunate circumstances."

"She is dead," Bobby inquired, "care to elaborate?"

"It is not my place to discuss these issues with you, from in time you will learn the true depths of what has taken place from my kin, when he chooses." I could tell by the stern tone that she would seal her lips shut before expressing how the Faceless Foe's mother had passed, so I turned my attention to other topics on my mind.

"According to an undead acquaintance, I was told that his blood had a hint of witch in its scent." I stated await her response while I noticed the reaction from the others that I forgot to inform them about.

"That is understandable for his mother was a witch of this very coven, and a powerful one at that."

"What about his father?" I questioned now digging deeper in my investigation.

"His mother was very secretive especially when it came to her only son. We only know that he is a bastard child of another entity of magnificent powerful being unknown to us witches." Where have I heard that before? I couldn't grasp the fact that we once again had another similarity to compare and contrast. Its bad enough he shot a rocket at me during the cheerleading competition. I had no desire to have any more attributes that were relative to his. "You know I had visions of you coming here over a year ago," she added. "My visions are usual quite accurate, it is impressive that never came to pass."

"Well then it seems your visions are not always accurate darling," Paige blurted.

"That is because I've witnessed your coven collaborating with the vampires."

"It is more complicated than that." she defended.

"Wait a second; what did he force your coven to do that made your daughter so terrified she tried to shoot my friend here point blank?" Bobby asked reminding us of the topic she drifted from.

"The shadowed hell hounds." I announced figuring out who most likely summoned them to aid the vampires.

"Yes, that too," she muttered in shame under her breath. "He used our blood ties as well as threats to do his bidding, having his vampire followers terrorize us if we did not cooperate." she stated reminiscing of the traumatic experiences.

"What did he make you do," Rachel demanded.

"I can't say," she cried. "We made a vow. He is one of us by blood."

"Can you tell me anything else," I roared now unsatisfied with her responses, "at least explain what the hell my green eyed nemesis and his witch mother have anything to do with me to begin with, please?"

"You and my nephew are connected by a bond since your birth, a deep secret I fear may be too complex for you to handle," she replied with a hint of concern in her words.

"You would be surprised what this man can handle madam." Bobby protested in my defense. "It's time you start talking witch!" I demanded.

"Don't make me bring your precious daughter back in here and finish the job she started." Rachel threatened in a scary tone levitating the gun a few inches for her to see.

"Okay, please just let us be if I tell you as much as I can," she begged.

"We will," I assured her, "since my arch nemesis has entrusted you with the various unwilling task of summoning the shadowed hell hounds and whatever else he did to upset your coven and it's ways, I'm sure you wouldn't mind letting us in on his top secret plan. What exactly is your kin up to?"

"I would be very wary Order of the Acolyte, for horrific times lies ahead for you with what he has in store," she warned, "for his wrath that will soon be unleashed will terrorize the streets of the beloved City of Angels unless you, the Acolyte of the human race and your Orders truly live up to the reputation of great and immense powers each of you possess."

"You sound as if you don't want this family member's of yours to succeed darling." Paige remarked.

"We just want to live in peace child," she snapped back.

"Tell us what he is up to then." Pete growled in frustration.

"I apologize, but other than the actions he has coerced to perform, he has little regards to informing us of his intentions." the witch expressed honestly by the nod from Rachel listening in on her thoughts telepathically.

"Is there anything more you can tell us," Bobby pleaded. "A name at least?"

"Why does what he goes by matter," she questioned, "for his signature mark of madness and recompense will lead you to him, and soon you will discover the truth of your Faceless Foe."

"Maybe because it is about time we unmask my green eyed enemy and finally put a face to that smug arrogant prick," I snarled, "no offense."

"Why don't you stop wasting our time lady and answer the damn question," Rachel demanded, "now or else..." she boasted without using her words however was clearly heard by everyone.

"Fine, if I must. His name..." she started to speak when a loud blast from upstairs erupted. Purple colored flames enveloped from the room moving in from the back of the shop. I watched to purple flames speed towards us forming in the shape of a hand as the fire steams quickly engulfed the shop. Rachel and I had flung our hands out creating a telekinetic barrier while the others transformed into their supernatural abilities to protect themselves from inflicting any damage. We watched to streams now circling around Katrina the witch as she began screaming in horror.

"We have to help her!" Pete shouted as he tried to inch his way closer to woman now encased from head to toe in the flames only to be thrown back by a fire hand knocking him to the floor.

"Something's not right here," Bobby shouted, "I can't feel any heat."

"It sure looks like it," Paige insisted.

"They're right, it's an illusion," Rachel confirmed sensing the not so hot fire hitting us was a mystic force. Instantly a figure appeared in the thick clouds of smoke directly behind her reaching through the crackling flames. They circled and twisted around both of them. It imploded inward witnessing the two to disappear from sight as the bright purple tint and smoke that had appeared to have scorched the inside of the first floor vanished along with the two. The shop returned to the regular appearance as if nothing had taken place other than the disappearance of the two.

"What the hell was that?" Pete questioned dumbfounded by the strange display of pyrotechnics. We inched around the shop that appeared to be perfectly intact not showing a single scorch mark from the odd colored flames.

"She's gone," Rachel pointed out as she reopened her eyes, evidentially seeking any signs of the witch in the nearby vicinity. "She just vanished."

"You mean they just vanished?" Paige noted. "There was someone else within the flames."

"We noticed," Bobby stated sarcastically as we moved around the empty shop until our attention was directed towards the back when the young clerk, Serena, the daughter of the witch reemerged hearing the commotion standing in shock as she discovered the shop was now empty except for the five of us.

"Where is she?" Serena demanded gazing back and forth at each of us. "What did you do to her?"

"She vanished little girl," I sneered back at the rude bitch.

"And ditched your skank ass," Rachel instigated.

"You're lying," she argued back. "What did you do with her?"

"We haven't done anything sweetie," Paige insisted. "She was taken by someone."

"Liars!" she screamed once again causing the room to vibrate at the pitch of her voice.

"It's true." Pete confirmed, "We all witnessed it firsthand."

"Who took her than?" she asked suspiciously.

"To be honest we did not see the other figure that appeared," Bobby informed her, "Since we were occupied with the purple flames that had engulfed this entire place before they vanished into thin air, you must believe us." I could see the rage building up inside of her as she speculated the developing circumstances that led to her mother's disappearance.

"I am sorry." I apologized sincerely seeing the distraught look in her expression.

"You're sorry," she hissed out. "You're sorry!"

"Please believe us, we had nothing to do with whatever happened to your mother," Bobby added.

"This is your fault!" she screamed directing the angered words right at me. "You never should have come!" she growled leaning forward on the counter dividing us apart. "She's gone because of you! He took her because of you! Your existence is the reason this madness has been brought here and now my mother might be dead all because of you!" she roared as her volume had intensified now surging a piercing and deafening high pitch sound.

It felt as if my ear drums were clamped down being compressed in the sharpest of pain. I collapsed to my knees holding my ears tightly trying to shield them from the identifiable sounds, the cries of creatures known as sirens. I scanned the room to find five of us were down all holding similar struggling poses on the ground all clasping our hands to protect our ears from inflicting damage. The glass tanks and jars exploded around on the shelves including the one containing the live insects and reptiles sending sharp pieces of glass flying through the air. I could feel drops of blood start to roll down my palm finding that my teammates were experiencing the same agonizing pain. However Paige had stealthy crawled her way towards the girl, reaching for her sleeve yanking it off along with the rest of her flesh morphing into a grey brick woman with closed ear canals standing up face to face with the wide opened mouth girl, striking her across the face with a classic bitch slap, then grabbing her by the neck and slamming her head right down into the counter surface causing her to silence as she tumbles backwards ready to collapse at any second. Once the piercing sound stopped the pain faded away, I watched the rest of Orders rise back to their feet along with myself.

"You're a siren." I announced staring at the delusional witch.

"Not for long," Rachel blurted as her right hand cusped out crushing the siren into the wall levitating her up at least a foot about the ground as the girl tried to grasp her air without the capability to move her arms.

"Rachel that is enough," I ordered now frustrated by her outburst and lash outs of power.

"She made me bleed." she replied.

"Not an excuse." Bobby stated. "You're better than this." All the dialogue came to a screeching halt when the back door slammed shut as a shadow with green glowing eyes emerged from the distance.

" _My my, look at what we have here,_ " he gloated strutting in like he owned the place. " _I thought you were supposed to be the good guys!_ "

"Why am I not surprised?" I said expecting his arrival. I glanced back at Rachel with a mean demanding expression to release the siren of her grasp.

" _My cousin's siren cry can be quite obnoxious,_ " he expressed sounding pleased with the scenario at hand. " _I completely comprehend your reasons for apprehending this siren witch since I am sure she provoked it knowing her_."

"Next time this bitch siren of yours threatens us again," Rachel began explaining as she slammed the siren down at the Faceless Foes feet, "I will finish the job!"

" _For being the good guys, you are all pretty dark,_ " he repeated annoyingly. " _By the way, Rachel is it, thank you for this lovely little scar on my neck from your pretty little blade. I feel honored to have been scarred for life by the loveliest goddess I've ever laid eyes on._ "

"Don't mention it," Rachel sneered back, "I can't wait to slice your throat again."

" _How enticing,_ " the Faceless Foe remarked lustfully giving me a terrible feeling that he was very interested in my new companion, fearing he might have figured out certain things about Rachel he would exploit if necessary.

"My mother," the witch managed to mutter out to my nemesis.

" _She's fine,_ " he snapped. " _Serena you are coming with me_!" He paced back and forth in his cloaked outfit behind the counter. " _So what brings the Order of the Acolyte to these parts? I didn't find anyone of you as witch lovers."_

"We should ask you the same question punk ass?" Bobby lashed out.

" _Rumor has it you've been asking interrogating the coven about me. Although I wonder how exactly you discovered this place, I knew it was inevitable. So, what did the older woman divulge to you?_ "

"You mean your aunt," Pete asked rhetorically.

" _Don't speak of affairs you or I will destroy your body and tear you part if your silver tongue speaks a word again,_ " he demanded.

"Back off fuck face," I cursed outraged by his tone. "Let's cut to the chase, what does a green eyed prick too afraid to show his face and his witch mother is related to me at all?"

" _I should kill you right here and now if it wasn't for the fact I didn't come here today to brawl with you, as angered as I may be at your annoying disruption of my busy schedule_ ," he threatened but then grabbed the witch up by her shoulders bring her back to a standing position. " _Cousin, let's go_!"

"Stop," I growled throwing both hands out sending a pulsating blast at the two bring them back down on the ground. "Answer me coward!"

" _Everything you son of a bitch!_ " he snarled when he returned fire throwing a blast right back at us, somehow managing to deflect myself from the force before it tossed me to the ground. " _Oh, have fun at cheer camp_!" In a flash they had made their escape hearing the sound of telekinetic flight propulsion. We stood there in the empty occult shop getting back up all staring at each other.

"Damn it!" My entire body became engulfed with outrage and frustration that had built up from the minute we returned to this very moment stand in this god forsaken dismal shop when I finally snapped, screaming so loud for at least a minute straight similar to infamous snap of the mighty leader of the mean girls.

"Wow he really is Queen Bee," Paige regarded after a few minutes of dead silence while I huffed and puffed surprised steam wasn't rising from my body burning up with anger.

"We're used to it." Bobby informed the girls as Pete motioned everyone to stay a near distance from my tantrum and rage. "Are you done princess?"

"Watch it Snow Queen," I snapped back now easing the tense depth in my voice, "it's been one hell of a day so far!"

"That's some screwed up family if you ask me," Rachel noted breaking the ice, "cousin siren wanted to kill him five minutes ago before he came in and rescued her from us."

"That's if he came here to rescue her." I added fearing her extraction wasn't for her safety at all.

"What about the witch?" Pete asked tip toeing around dreading each step with the glass covered ground crawling with all sorts of unusual insects.

"You are such a bitch," Bobby blurted.

"They're just bugs big guy," Rachel reminded him levitating one in the air close to his face as he began squirming until a sudden smash killed the bug letting it fall to the ground.

"That is disgusting," Pete shouted. "You need to calm down over there hot head, and you too princess!"

"He's right," Bobby agreed. "You should never have caulked the gun even if you think you have yourself under control. Your mind could have slipped and you would have crossed that line with no turning back, you know murder."

"I'm sorry," Rachel pleaded not enjoying lecturing Professor Drake tone in his voice. "I wasn't going to actually..."

"No excuse," I added, "good plan, but still that was too risky. Regardless of her being a witch, she is still is living person." A silence swept the room all of us taking in the undamaged isles slowly heading for the door.

"What about upstairs darling?" Paige asked.

"Another time, for I fear that the other coven members have been alerted and are probably on their way to do some damage control." I announced getting the vibe from everyone we needed to leave this creepy place that for a few minutes was filled with purple flames.

"Why not take them on?" Rachel asked hesitatingly.

"First of all little miss violent over here we done using our fist for now. Second, it is the middle of the day and the last thing we need to do is draw any attention to ourselves. I think we've all had our share of thrills this afternoon. Besides, we've learned all the information we could have from these witches, their fellow groupies won't have any more to tell. Let's get out of here!"

Within thirty minutes we had scampered out of the old occult shop and were back inside the safe confinements of the Grand Hall, now once again the five of us have take our perspective seats at the massive stone table passing around the freshly hand rolled cig passing it around while wrapping our heads over what just took place in the little shop off Melrose. All of us were exhausted and just a little overwhelmed by the constant new developments unfolding for the past few nights.

"So," I began, "although we still have no idea as to why our Faceless Foe has brought back our new undead friend, at least we have figured out some interesting details about our green eyed bastard," I paused contemplating the last word I used, "literally."

"His mother was a witch," Bobby added.

"They knew who you were," Paige stated, "and by the sound of it, for quite some time, even longer than you had estimated."

"The animosity in the room could cut a diamond in half," Rachel noted reminding us of the little incident with the siren and the gun. "She wanted to kill you," she paused, "well him I should say. It's interesting how hostile the siren was about our enemy. Yet he came in and swept right in for her."

"That's probably because they're family." Pete remarked, "They are tied by blood, just like the older witch stated."

"Blood didn't stop that crazy bitch from trying to shoot you point blank," Paige added, "as if he did something to make himself unwelcome amongst his own family."

"In fact," I started analyzing our conversation, "it sound like he forced the coven to do something they wanted no part of."

"Deacon Frost" Bobby shouted.

"Exactly," I announced enthusiastically, "the one thing that does add up. There was no way he could have revived Deacon Frost back without help. Katrina, the older witch, pretty much admitted that to us just by her choice of words. We also now have confirmed our friend has part witch in him and of course for some reason whatever happened to my Faceless Foe's mother somehow as to do with me."

"Doesn't explain why siren bitch jumped the gun when she had the wrong person to begin with, damn screaming whore." Rachel muttered.

"Something tells me reviving Deacon is the reason for that. On top of that there is still the insane purple fire illusion that swept up the older woman." Pete reminded everyone, "Conjured by whoever snuck up behind her. Do you think it was green eyes?"

"Negative," I replied, "I highly doubt he knows how to teleport plus purple is never really his style. Whoever intercepted her was warned before that green eyed asshole could arrive to the distress call I'm sure the witches transmitted."

"So basically on top of vampires, the Deacon Frost, and the Faceless Foe, but now we've got witches and sirens to watch out for as well?" Paige inquired listing all the enemies we had yet to face, "peachy!"

"What do you think they were hiding?" Pete asked after a few minutes of silence. "Purple flame conjurer and green eyed prick went to great efforts to hide his identity yet again."

"The connection," Bobby answered for me already knowing what I was going to say, "His last words he said to you kid were that he and his mother had everything to do with you. This guy is after you and it pertains to this as the bond between the two of you."

"I understand Bobby." I said agreeing with his words but denying the facts that kept pointing out similarities between my nemesis and I. "I have the computer looking into the witches backgrounds and hopefully shed some light on these unanswered questions, but for now all we can do is continue researching and patrolling for our bloodsucker enemies for the meantime and hope we can intervene on whatever scheme is at hand."

An alert disturbed our conversation reminding me of the upcoming events. "That's me reminder that cheer camp is tomorrow everyone!"

"We noticed." Pete chuckled.

"It's taken care of," Bobby noted, "We worked out patrol schedules while you're gone. Are you sure you don't want any of us to come up with you just to be on the safe side?"

"No thank you." I responded. "I highly doubt they will try anything since I will only be forty minutes away driving distance. For now, I need everyone on high alert."

"What if we cross paths with Frost on patrol?" Paige asked.

"Do not engage." Bobby stated.

"He's right; he's a lot stronger than the average vampire which he demonstrated last night. We can defeat him better together, as a team. Tonight will be might last patrol..."

"No you are not." Pete demanded.

"You are getting real sleep tonight." Bobby insisted.

"I'm rested." I defended myself.

"Listen to them," Rachel muttered.

"I want you to get real well deserved sleep." Bobby commanded.

"Bobby..."

"The reason why I want you to take the night off," Bobby began informing me, "is not just because of cheer camp, but from what I've learned about your precognitive dreams, once you get real rest the visions will be clearer." Wow he had a really good point. I guess that is why on top of being my best friend he was also my greatest mentor. I looked at him with a half grin trying to persuade him with my expressions hoping he would give me some slack.

"Okay," I agreed hesitantly.

"I'm staying with you tonight to make sure you don't go running off sneaking out of your apartment." Bobby warned.

"You don't have a key," I reminded him.

"Why can't I be the one who stays with him?" Pete muttered under his breath.

"I don't need a key to get in," Bobby noted then turn to Pete, "Plus I have quieter methods of breaking and entering that doesn't involve breaking smashing my way through shit." I knew he would use my balcony to get inside, even though I had picked out the rooftop unit to avoid intruders after the break in of my room at the fraternity house.

"Fine," I concurred.

"You're breaking in the new apartment with Bobby?" Pete whined.

"Here we go again," Paige commented dreadfully.

"Get over it Pete, we know the kid likes me way more!" Bobby boasted cockily.

"We'll see about that snowflake."

"Can it metal mouth," Bobby barked back. "Everyone remember their task?"

"Yes sir," Rachel announced to the group.

"Ditto," Paige noted.

"Alright Orders, let's bounce!"

#  Chapter 8 Back to Life, Back to Reality

Finally some normalcy! I was ecstatic when I woke up the next morning taking my mentor's advice getting a great nights rest rather than my typical two hour sleep night. I got ready quickly, jumping in the shower then frantically packing at the last minute since I was preoccupied the other night. As I pulled up into the parking lot, I was surprised when our assistant athletic director was standing amongst the huddled group of cheerleaders, Jean Paul of course being in charge of the cheerleading team. It bothered me already that we didn't get a bus again for a second year in a row and in large part due to the hiring of this prick, something I tried really hard resenting him for it, but I found it harder to do each time we ran into each other.

He strolled up to me casually dressed well with a slight grin on his face. He had a concerning look in the depths of his piercing eyes as I asked politely, "What brings you here assistant athletic director?"

"I came to see the team off of course," he bragged as if it was an honor, "besides I also wanted to see how you were doing?"

"I'm fine," I stated boldly.

"I heard your fraternity brother..." he reminded me, feeling an instant jab in the stomach forgetting to check in on Justin's condition.

"I know," I fibbed, "it's a good thing we found him."

"You're one little trouble maker I see, always in the face of danger."

"I tend to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"It appears so. Well, I will be seeing you up at the camp later tonight," he announced to my dissatisfaction. It was not that he wasn't a nice good looking guy and all but it was just awkward. "I want to support the team so I thought I'd take Kyle along with me and attend a cheerleading camp. I'm looking forward to it!"

"Likewise, well I guess I'll catch you later than," I shouted as I waved to a team member maneuvering my way out of the conversation.

"Yeah, and if you ever need anything," he stated getting a little closer to me gazing me in the eyes, "I'm here for you."

"Thank you," I responded taken back. "Well I better get over there; my teammates have to catch me up on some material I missed."

"That's right I forgot about your trip. How was it?"

"Um," I mumbled unsure of what farfetched story he was told about my absence for the summer. "I'll tell you all about it at camp." I shouted back hustling over to my teammates. Sorry good looking but I'd rather not discuss the events of my summer excursions with him. We aren't friends really, just acquaintances.

Thankfully this little run in didn't change my mood for the day since it was the first time in awhile I was doing something ordinary like the old days. After checking in with Bobby and Pete I reassured them that I would be fine and only a quick trip away. With my newfound ability of telekinetic flight propulsion if I needed to return it would be a quick flight back. I was off with the team to our away trip to join all the other university cheer teams from across the west coast that all come together for a three day training course. If you think cheerleaders just show up for these three days of hell, you are wrong! University teams spend months practicing and preparing for this three day event, most having material and cheer routines ready to demonstrate. In reality, it was like a summer pre competition to size up the teams before the entered their football season.

My coach, a tough but amazing cheerleading coach was not the happiest person with me at the moment, even though my two mentors had used supernatural powers of persuasion to convince her I was on an academic required summer program, a fibbed story that clearly had her second guessing the decision to allow me to miss pretty much every practice up until now. She punished me in her own way, making me one of the sign guys during our routines because I had missed so much material. I was bitter as ever now, wanting to punch Bobby and Pete in the face for this because that was a big kick in the ass, since I should be in one of the main stunt sequence as a vet on the squad. Damn those guys!

I took the punishment in stride, content with the fact I was at least back to my old normal life. I had a blast reconnecting with my fellow teammates boasting of made up fibs of my summer trip, playing it off as if it was nothing more than all school work leaving out the jumping out of a jet part of course. The day was kept busy with basket toss courses, stunt courses, pyramid courses, and cheer and crowd leading courses. Before I knew it the day had already came to an end without any dangerous or harmful scenarios for once. We had wrapped up the first day of camp when my cheer coach approached me, causing me to worry instantly that I was in trouble or was about to get chewed out for my summer absence.

"Hey there stranger?" she approached me in unusual friendly manor.

"Hi coach, what's up?" I asked casually hoping her demeanor wouldn't drastically change to her normal tone when she threw me off with a random question," I heard you were chatting with the assistant athletic director before everyone left early," she inquired with a hint in her voice.

"I wasn't hitting on him," I responded quickly.

"I heard it is the other way around according to some of the girls," she laughed at my reaction. "No I was wondering if he told you anything about not being able to attend camp at the last minute."

"Oh," I stated with a confused look on his face, "He told me he was going to be coming down later tonight with his boyfriend, maybe he's running late."

"Incompetent asshole," she muttered under her breath. "I can't get a hold of him and his phone is off."

"I can call my old lab professor, I think their acquaintances. Would you like me give him a ring?"

"Could you," she pleaded having the same feelings about our assistant athletic director as I did. "Is this that same professor who took you way too long into summer practice season?" she asked in a nasty voice.

"Yes," I responded with slight fear in my voice. I may have been super powerful and all but this woman scared the shit out of me.

"I hope you enjoyed your time off," she sneered walking off slowly towards the dormitory area. "Let me know if he's able to contact Jean Paul."

"Does this mean I can go back to my old stunt group and not have to do signs like a rookie?"

"No!" She stalked away as I searched from my smart phone in my cheer bag grabbing it out now being able to check my phone for the first time since the lunchtime break.

I pressed on my speed dial and placed the phone by my ear scanning around to see most of the other cheerleaders had headed towards the main dormitory having plenty of privacy to talk without acting shady and discrete.

"Hey kid," Bobby answered his phone quickly, "what's up? How's spirit fingering going?"

"Did I tell you how much I hate you snowflake? I'm about to drive back there and stick this spirit finger up your ass," I snapped back.

"Why now?"

"Because your mind tricks on my coach seem to have worn off." I informed him, "She's punishing me by making me do signs!"

"Isn't that where you wave the letter around?"

"Yeah, it's embarrassing! I'm a veteran, I should be in all the main stunt sequences and all my original groups, but no, I have to do signs!"

"But you're a cheerleader!"

"That's beside's the point." I argued. "Just thought I touch bases with you, how are thing out there?"

"We're all out patrolling but haven't come across much more than one or two vamps feeding behind some buildings; how about you?"

"Everything is pretty typical here, cheerleading chaos like usual. However, there is something I did find out about from my coach that I thought I should run by you."

"What's that kid? She doesn't want to interrogate me again about the summertime?"

"Most likely by the way she is acting, but no. I ran into Jean Paul this morning when the team met right before we carpooled out here."

"Of course you did," he sneered.

"He is our assistant athletic director dumbass! Now listen, he told me that he and Kyle would be attending cheer camp with the team."

"Why?"

"He's obsessed," I answered sarcastically. "Anyways, he never made it here and my coach came up to me asking his whereabouts because we were spotted chatting in the parking lot."

"Flirting," he muttered under his breath.

"Robert Drake," I sternly stated.

"Maybe he's just running late."

"That's what I told her however with everything that has been going on lately it is something to check up on if they don't show up by morning." There came a sudden pause when I said this to Bobby now obviously reconsidering the possibility of something being wrong. "We'll check it on it."

"Everything okay," I inquired aware of the silence before Bobby spoke again.

"Yeah, you have a good point that's all." he responded quickly.

"Any signs of our large list of enemies so far?"

"Negative, but we'll keep looking. Any warning signs on your end?"

"Nope, but I'll keep you updated."

"Remember, if you need me I'll be right there," Bobby reminded me.

"Thank you Bobby!"

"You're welcome. Good night!"

"Good night!" I ended the call quickly now releasing all stress and tension off my shoulders for the night placing the possible hint of trouble onto my fellow teammate. Now, since it was college cheer camp, not this silly high school camps you see on movies like Bring It On, it was the end of the day and time for the festivities of the night. In other words, it was time to party!

The second day of camp went like it usually did, being the longest waking up at the break of dawn gathering for early warm up before starting our intermediate to advance level classes, this day being the most grueling since these day teams had to incorporate their own routines for performance evaluations at the end of the night session where each team got judged, keeping me busy entirely throughout the day. It wasn't until we were in the lunch hall when I had a chance to check my smart phone to see Bobby had texted me asking me "any sign of Jean Paul?" I scanned the room reminded for the first time of his unexpected absence, hoping I would meet his usual gaze from the distance, even feeling around for his telepathic brainwave only to come up with a blank.

"No, he never made it," I texted back. My stomach knotted inside now feeling terrible having swept this under the rug too selfish about my needs that I completely forgot about the missing Olympic star.

"According to some people here, he and Kyle were headed there as of last night." Bobby replied in his text message. I paused not sure what time reply not sure what to say in response.

"Don't worry about it. I'll look into it and keep you posted." Okay, well that appeared to be the end of that conversation. I was now concerned for the rest of the day as to the whereabouts of Jean Paul and Kyle. I was hoping that the two found some romantic place off by the beach and blew off attending the camp. That must be nice, and let's hope that is what happened and nothing else.

When the end of day two's camp session came to an end I found myself alone once again lagging behind the rest as took my phone out to find no calls or text messages. Given the timeframe I would have assumed Bobby would have checked in by now. I was reluctant yesterday to tell my coach I had Jean Paul's number to begin with, but I dialed his number up that went straight to voicemail. I tried Bobby next only to get the voicemail as well. Although I was troubled by the unusual disappearance, I accepted the fact that as of that moment it was out of my hands and for now just enjoy the rest of my time here that was already closely coming to an end. I made my way inside my dorm that I was sharing with two of the other guys on the team, one of them also being in my fraternity. We spent the rest of the night hanging out going over our different adventures over the summer, the recent incident at the fraternity house, and our upcoming school term. They guys grilled me at every chance they got trying to understand what summer program I had attended, since both had known such programs never existed, at least to common knowledge.

One of the guys in the group, who happened to play on the same team as I did if you know what I mean, had interrogated me immensely several times questioning the bond between me and my professors, in particular Bobby. His mind was blurting out suspicions of a secret affair going on between the two of us since we became such close friends even before the ascension, something all too common when I bring new friends around. It bothered me when I discover that those around me, who although may have the best intentions at heart, assumed things especially someone's sexual preference just because of who they are associated with. Not that they aren't one hundred percent wrong in regards to how I may personally feel towards another close male friend, particularly one as genuine as Bobby Drake, someone so pure hearted I could only dream of meeting somebody that I could bare my soul to with an open heart and who loved me for who I am, one day.

Unfortunately, my life so far has been so chaotic and crazy I could never truly bring myself to getting intimate solely with another, having the weight of their safety and wellbeing on my shoulders. I could not live with myself falling in love with someone only to put them in fatal danger just by association. As horrible as it may seem, putting off complications of the heart was the best solution for the time being. This was a personal issue I had struggled with internally for many years prior to the manifestation of my abilities. For myself personally, I had known long ago in the back of my mind I was gay. I always consumed all the time I had with scholastic and extra circular activity during my years of high school, wanting the chance to discover who I really was when the time was right, after heading off to college as an adult. It was not the fact that women weren't attractive; for they truly are in their own way but I found it in my heart that not only was I physically attracted to men, but emotionally as well.

It took the support of my friends from the heterosexual fraternity I joined that in its own way taught me to accept who I was, since being gay didn't define who I was a human being. Instead it was just one of many qualities about me that was a part of what made me the being that I am today. Cheerleading was also a big factor into the easing in the acceptance of myself, since the stigma about some male cheerleaders is true, not all of them but of course. However, for the ones who do play on my team, they were accepted with open arms allowing them to demonstrate their true athleticism, even in some of the more feminine ways incorporating their personalities in the dancing parts better just as well as the girls. I was pleased to be able to sit comfortably around the room as we continued our gossipy conversation and small talk when I began pondering about my love life now these days.

This lingered in the back of my mind as we got ready for the final night extravaganza. We were all getting decked out for the night as soon as the girls from the team arrived to use our bathroom to do their hair. It didn't strike me until one of the girls asked me about any flings I had over the summer that reminded me about Julio. After that splendid night with Julio, the idea of finding love was not as farfetched as I once believed. Theoretically I had my supposed Edward and Jacob, of course the inside joke between Bobby and Pete who flirted purposely not necessarily to tease and make fun of me, rather to loosen me up to help me become extra comfortable with myself. I had to confess, the two did match up similar to their Twilight comparisons, cold Bobby being Edward and huge bulky Pete as Jacob minus the vampire and wolf business. I toyed with the idea of them crossing that line but I wouldn't hold my breath on it as much as the two behaved at times.

We had finished getting ready and walked out towards the location of the final night party when checked my smart phone to find zero messages. I assumed that we were in the clear. I kept going back and forth on whether or not to check in, still not hearing a word about Jean Paul's whereabouts, but I trusted the others to handle it. They did insist. Minutes later I joined the mass of collegiate cheerleaders overwhelmed the nearby bar. It sounds bad however it was a tradition on the last night. Shots went around the bar as we toasted to a good camp experience. Next thing you know, I was wasted!

I surprisingly woke up early the next morning for the final day. I was ready to get through the day so I could return home to the dangers and plots awaiting my return. That shouldn't be a thing anyone should look forward to, but after two strenuous days of training and learning new skills lifting cheerleaders infinite amounts of times, I wanted to get our final evaluations done and get back and rest. My body ached from the workouts of the strenuous drills of this sport, and I was ready to go home. I got ready quickly in my football cheer uniform, a tradition on the last day when for the final performance of the morning.

I had packed my stuff in the car early before breakfast when I noticed a police car parked out front of the dormitory, an odd sign when no super sixth sense went off about any danger. I continued on my way and in the blink of an eye it was time to warm up our routine for our final evaluation. Our team had gathered quickly however I dragged behind once I noticed my coach was nowhere in sight which was a bad sign in itself. The captain had instructed our warm up, a position that would have been mine if it wasn't for my absence from the summertime practices. What the hell was going on? Our coach was never late let alone nowhere to be found, however the captain had spoken with her this morning. The first teams started their performance as I continued scanning the field for any sign of our coach. I saw her emerge from the dormitory building with a few different people, a police officer, a security guard, Rachel, and Bobby all in deep discussion. What are they doing here?

This went from a bad sign like our coach got sick to the obvious of course; something terrible has once again happened. Just my luck! It must be about Jean Paul and Kyle, but what? I reached out with my telepathy to tune in on the thoughts running through the groups mind's but Rachel intervened instructing me to focus on the final routine and then they would fill me in, not responding back in an uplifting tone worrying me even more so. Why are the police here? What happened to our athletic assistant director and his lover? Are they hurt, or worse? Rachel walked over standing behind the other teams to observe for the first time in her life live cheerleading in action. I waved her over as she sat down giving me a hug transmitting some of the details of what was going on. To sum it up briefly, the disappearance of the two since that night they were meant to arrive. She blocked out the rest too intrigued with what was taking place in front of her ecstatic at the routines in front of us.

"This is incredible," she remarked gazing at the new experience in front of her since there weren't many sports programs at the mansion. Just by the look in Rachel's face, she always wanted to be a cheerleader growing up. "I could do this easily, it doesn't look that hard!"

"You say that now," I expressed with a hint of soreness in my voice. "It is a lot harder than it looks, trust me, this is the big leagues here. No high school crap!"

"How exciting, and then you going to all those football and basketball games." she exclaimed.

"That's not even the best part, competition is so awesome once you get started working on the comp routine."

"That sounds exciting."

"It is, except this last year with the mishap at nationals."

"I would love to do try out. I could totally be one of those flyers!"

"You have the perfect flyer body, but this requires training, believe it or not. Stunting and tumbling takes some practiced skills."

"Well I have flown before," she hinted.

"So have I sweetie," I boasted lowly. "So, what the hell is going on? Why is Bobby here?"

"To support you of course," she lied, "at least I am!"

"Let me guess, he is making you wait until after the performance is over?"

"Yup, your coach is insisting on it. She thinks you have a thing for Jean Paul," she admitted. I put my head down in discourage already having these thoughts of happiness flooding my head. "Bobby is setting her straight but is too afraid to pull you out to tell you now."

"She's crazy," I added. "Why do they need to talk to me?"

"You just so happened to be the last person to have a conversation with him prior to his disappearance. There's more but after you are done. We're taking off right after, sorry you can't stay for the awards."

"Well good thing we are up next."

The announcer called our team up as we rallied onto the field, set in our positions awaiting our queue. I did not mind splitting early at all still bitter than in a second I would be shouting cheers with signs for the most part, although my coach gave in putting me back into the main advance pyramid at the end of the routine because the rookies couldn't stick their side of the stunt. Putting on my big bright smile, I echoed so loudly across the field going overboard with my spirited enthusiasm, annoyed that I pretty much a sign guy, waving it towards the crowd. I headed to the pyramid, tossing it up with perfecting hitting out last motion ending our near perfect performance for final evaluations. After a few moments of applause we rallied off, and then I was greeted now by the police man, my coach, Bobby, and Rachel lingering behind the three preparing to break some bad news to me, something not uncommon anymore.

They filled in the blanks that Rachel had already informed me telepathically, asking me about our conversation and informing me that the two were last seen by their neighbors leaving for this very place. The policeman had added that Jean Paul's car was located abandon having crashed into a ravine off the freeway demolished entirely; however there was no sign of the missing pair. Bobby claimed he had come on behalf of university and wanted to debrief me, a scapegoat to get me out of watching the remaining teams perform. Been there, done that! This takes precedent since the disappearance may have appeared to everyone else as a mystery, but given our history with Jean Paul, having saved him right in front of the Faceless Foe more than once. I had a good feeling he and Deacon Frost were behind this kidnapping.

As soon as we made it out of to the parking lot able to check out with ease from the camp, I looked around trying to find Bobby's car to see where he had parked so I could follow him back.

"How exactly did you get here Bobby," I inquired curiously wondering how the two found transportation out here.

"After you told me about Jean Paul, I went around asking but was told that he was for sure coming here. I didn't want to alarm you, so I checked around the city to be sure. When you told me he didn't ever make it, I grabbed Rachel and we flew out here."

"That's when we spotted the wreckage scene off the freeway," Rachel added.

"I recognized Jean Paul's car so we swooped in to assess the damage. They think it was an accident, maybe lost control, but after examining the car thoroughly it appears to have been staged by incredibly strong individuals."

"He told me they were not driving up until night time when we spoke in the parking lot. They had to have followed them up here and snatched them both up."

"There are no signs of blood at all," Rachel remarked. "I don't think they've killed them."

"At least not yet," Bobby added, "We'll ride with you."

"Do I look like a taxi?" I snickered simply nodding now, reawakened to the madness I was returning to in Los Angeles.

"Are you ready to get back to life?" Bobby inquired.

"Back to reality," I hummed the classic song dreading the fact it was exactly where I was heading, the reality of this insane life!

#  Chapter 9 Escaping into the Underground

Rachel, Bobby, and I made our way quickly out of the camp and sped down the freeway headed back for Los Angeles. We stopped at the crash site off the overhang pulling off the side climbing down to analyze the crash. I recognized Jean Paul's car immediately now feeling the tightening of my insides throbbing in pain from the devastation that was sugar coated when I was told initially. I had witnessed many automobile accidents and to the normal human eye it would appeared that the driver lost control, but once I reached the car I noticed the finger grips on the door window where the vampires obviously grabbed it from before tossing it down to make it look like an accident. There was no sign of struggle most likely because the two were extracted from the vehicle right before they disappeared apparently by the usual suspects.

"This wasn't an accident, was it?" Rachel asked in her innocent voice.

"Not at all," I replied.

"Vampires have a way of making fatal disasters to look like accidents with their strength and speed," Bobby informed us.

"Not even a drop of blood in sight." I noted pacing around the demolished car studying the dents smashed into the sedan. "The question remains, why were they taken?"

"It's hard to say," he replied quickly, "but after digging deeper after you told me Jean Paul and Kyle never made it I came across this."

"Maybe he's trying to get under your skin," Rachel explained simply, "you did save both of their lives before."

"Twice actually," I stated, "but who is counting? It doesn't make sense, coming all the way out here just to abduct these two particular gentlemen just doesn't add up."

"She might have a good point kid," Bobby interjected. "Jean Paul is slightly connected to you and is also..."

"Like I said, there are plenty of more important people in my life that I would assume are on the top of their kidnapping list, however the bloodsuckers wanted these too and this isn't the first time either."

"Should I try seeking them telepathically?" Rachel inquired.

"No," I answered after circling the turned over vehicle already concluding this was a lost cause in regards to finding any answers. "My intuition tells me we will discover the whereabouts of the missing duo once night falls and we return to Los Angeles."

I motioned to the two that it was time to depart. My mood was distorted quickly from earlier this morning, already in distress over the unexplainable vanishing after the accident. Could the vampires really made that great of an effort of hurting them just to get back at me? Why out of all the people in my life after summing up a large group of close friends and family members that would have boiled my blood on the very spot, why these two? As we loaded up back in the car various thoughts and scenarios played in my mind. The feeling of anticipation was tearing at me inside acknowledging that the true answers wouldn't be solved until we returned. My mind flooded with all the problems throughout the drive back that was nearly silent for the most part. When this first started my only antagonists were the vampires and their government considering my poisonous blood as a threat to their existence, but putting together these complex puzzle pieces made it clear there was a lot more to the story than I had once assumed.

It was obvious that the Faceless Foe needed help in order to resurrect Deacon Frost, something the witches evidentially resented ever being a part of from the impression I got from staring into the barrel of their hand gun. In all honesty I pitied the Coven of Angeles having been put right in the middle of this feud by blood obligatory bonds and ties, not seeming dangerous rather fearful for themselves and the members of the coven. The sister of the Faceless Foe's mother was the head of that coven both her and her sibling baring the supernatural essence that flows through witches' blood giving me some explanation of the few difference of gifts between us, however it didn't shed any light on what else is a part of us that makes us whatever we are, more importantly, what I am.

From the start my green eyed nemesis always referenced us as unique entities unknown to most of the supernatural world, yet somehow he was connected to the vampires always having been at their side. Now it is clear he had his own agenda appearing to desire more than just acquiring more political gain amongst the rankings of the fallen vampire government. For a developing devious plot, it had its moments of twist and turns but nothing defining or relevant leading up to the master plan. Honestly what was this guy's damage? I've been on this earth for over twenty one years and in all my time I have never come across anyone in my life to have done malicious wrongdoing in any way, shape, or form. Ever since the ascension the only true enemy that tagged me as a threat were the vampires not just because of my supernatural gifts but the poisonous blood that coursed throughout my body. At that moment it dawned when I thought about blood, reminded of the conversation that had led me to the idea of interrogating the witches to being with.

My vampire stalker and I had discussed both the similarities and differences in the essences based of the various scents, cluing me in on the green eyed foe's descent now acknowledging which part of his bloodline was different, the witch part of him inherited by his mother. However the key factor was the other part that according to Mordechi who stated our blood smelled the same, that was the part that made both of us whatever we were. I hated thinking of the explanations since the similarities between us were adding up more and more. I should have tested the effect of his blood on the vampire's flesh, but I needed to hold onto the small amount I had left until I put the formula of this equation together.

I glanced at the upcoming freeway sign realizing we were close to the city merging from interstate five freeway onto the one-o-one freeway that circled around then went through the side of the Greater Los Angeles Basin and Downtown Los Angeles.

"How the hell do you guys stand all this traffic?" Rachel complained when I noticed how much time had passed during our dreadful near bumper to bumper infamous drive from the OC back to LA.

"I know," I replied, "where isn't there traffic now a days?"

"Plenty of places," Bobby answered in his typical icy smart ass tone.

"Whatever, California is awesome," I boasted not caring about these non Californians point of view.

I was born and raised here and unlike the numerous civilians that constantly complain about it, I loved living in Southern California no less. Life out here is just awesome, well except for traffic, crowded places, and deadly vampire assaults, but I loved this place, it was my home. I was born here in the area but my mom and dad, although he was technically my step dad, but that was never changed the fact he was my father. As for my sister, she's off doing her own thing. My parents moved us out of the area into the suburbs of Redlands in the Inland Empire, a town like city located at the bottom of the mountain ranges with Big Bear Lake high above. It wasn't until I was in turned eighteen when I moved back toward the city when I went off to college. I knew this entire state like the back of my hand, for the most part.

"Trust me, don't bother arguing," Bobby warned Rachel noticing she was about to debate my loyalty to my home state even though he had his head focused on his smart pad.

"I really admire your bromance with one another," she joked, "How much longer until we're back? I haven't figured out this city at all." I scanned around for the next upcoming street sign noticing we had just crossed over the one-ten freeway just passing the massive freeway interchange continuing on the one-o-one freeway when I announced,

"We're about to pass under Rampart so I'd say ten more..." but before having the chance to complete my sentence a shimmer of light drew our attention as it dwindled ahead. It shined revealing the stature of a women now falling from the sky slamming right into the front hood of my moving car. The three of us screamed from the sight of the young blond girl slamming down into the hood coming out of nowhere. As much as I wanted to slam on my brakes and pull over, we weren't unfortunately in the middle lane along with the flow of traffic was forcing me to continue driving.

"Ileana," Bobby gasped removing his seat belt sticking his upper half out attempting to grab any part of her body.

"She's hurt bad," I shouted connecting with her mind feeling the weak signal from her condition.

"Did someone throw her off the bridge," Rachel asked looking back to see if there was any one on the bridge behind.

"Looks like she teleported," Bobby noted, "But she is beaten badly and is unconscious, we have to pull over before we're noticed."

"No," I demanded.

"Are you crazy," Rachel stated.

"There's only one thing Magik keeps repeating, drive," I informed them.

"You're right," Rachel responded after closing her eyes for a second.

"Are you mad," Bobby asked.

"Trust me," I shouted back. I sped up in the lane swerving right in the center of four cars surrounding us. "Rachel I need you to get inside the minds of the four cars around us and make them shield us, understand?"

"Got it," she answered closing her eyes as the cars moved to their places.

"Bobby we need to cover her," I told him getting some more insight from Ileana's mind. "Can you cover the car with snow?"

"I can but won't that be obvious," he questioned.

"Make a layer just enough to cover Magik from sight while Rachel has the cars around us escort us to the closest exit near the canyons. Besides, the ice will help her with the pain so please do it!" In seconds the chiming sound of ice particles morphed in front of us creating an ice shield over my terribly hurt teleporter friend who helped saved the night back at cheerleading nationals.

"What happened to her," Bobby inquired.

"She's been beaten badly," I stated trying to pry more about the incident from Ileana's mind. "From escaping..." I paused having difficulty driving and homing in on a partially passed out mind.

"Escaping from where?" Rachel asked.

"Rachel focus," I scolded although needed some quite in order to multitask myself, "we need to keep our cover until we can safely get off the freeway."

"Safely," Bobby exclaimed.

"I'm trying Bobby, but I would suspect whoever she just evaded from is looking for her as we speak. If we stop too close by they could spot her. We need to somewhere off the grid."

"Do you think we will make it to canyons like this," he asked with doubt in the make it up as we go plan.

"As long as the two of you keep up the camouflage, I will get us to one of the other ways to get us to the hall." I explained driving along the interstate, completely tripping out but managing to keep it together from the fact that my ally, who once not only saved me but a large group of competitive cheerleaders at the nationals massacre, was now lying battered and bruised on my hood clearly fighting her way to safety. I still held my connection with Magik finally getting a few words out of her thoughts that horrified me.

"Who did this to her?" Rachel asked defying my request as usual.

"Where exactly did she come from," Bobby asked as we got off the freeway. "Um..."

"Relax," I boasted. "You both are asking the wrong question. She keeps saying it is too late."

"What happened?" Bobby inquired more sincerely.

"She was bitten!"

Minutes later we took the nearest exit into the Hollywood area as I turned in underneath an overpass secluded from sight. Bobby retracted the ice shield while Rachel and I carefully examined her before attempting to move her in the passenger seat. Ileana, the young blond teleporter and younger sister of Pete, now completely passed out in front of us on the hood of my car looking dreadful from whatever chaos she managed to escape from. Her clothes were torn and cut through, covered and stained with blood from the lacerations over her body. There were no visible signs of any broken bones or major injuries however it was too close of a call to make. Turning her around gently, I was able to find multiple bite marks on her skin that had steam rising from the puncture wounds inflicted by the venom. Her body was clearly fighting the consumption of the vampire venom which would turn her into the undead in few days time if we hadn't take precautions for this situation.

"A vampire bit her?" Rachel inquired in shock having never witnessed the piercing wounds left by the sharp venomous fangs of the bloodsuckers. "Were they trying to feed off her?"

"It looks like something much worse," I replied, "because they would have drained her dry and tossed her carcass on our doorstep if they wanted to kill for the fun of it. She's still alive and good reason for it. After the national's massacre, I administered an injection with the essence of silver as a failsafe if they ever came after her in retaliation for aiding us in battle regardless of her abilities," I informed them.

"That explains the steam coming out of the multiple bite marks," Bobby noted. "Ileana's body is rejecting it trying to naturally fight it out of her system."

"They tried to turn her," Rachel stuttered in a horrific sound.

"Looks like it," Bobby stated with a deep concerned look on his face. "I'm calling Pete and Paige right now."

"Tell them to meet us at the Grand Hall right away." I instructed Bobby.

"Shouldn't we take her to a hospital," Rachel questioned unable to keep her eyes off the hurt teleporter, scared for her life.

"Negative, we can't just run her into the emergency room and explain to them that she not only was beaten and cut apart but bitten by vampires as well, they'll have us locked up."

"How is taking her to base any different, she's dying?"

"Trust me Rachel," I assured her, "when I first discovered the Grand Hall it was filled not only with weapons and technology, but some emergency medical equipment as well. The Voice thought things out carefully when upgrading the Grand Hall from its original ancient form for situations just like this. Now, help me get her into the back seat with our telekinesis gently."

"I trust you Josh," Rachel responded, "together." The nervousness in her voice made me understand why my telekinetic companion was shaky when lifting Ileana, fearing that she might hurt her even more so by the slightest lack of concentration. We stood at opposite ends of the hood as we connected our minds with Ileana's body. We lifted her in unison as we marched with the floating body inching our way to the passenger seat carefully placing Ileana in a sturdy position for the rest of the drive.

"They'll meet us at the Grand Hall," Bobby announced as we loaded up the car now dented with the imprint of Magik's body slamming down on the moving vehicle. "We're still quite a distance from the entrance; you think she will be okay for the car ride?"

"Like I said Professor Drake, I know a shortcut!"

I had originally hesitated to expose one of the secret routes I stumbled upon one random night in the very beginning when I searched through the entire perimeter. I had located a hidden entrance behind one of the large walls that curved underneath the canyons unveiling a smaller concealed passageway meant as an apparent escape route. Not that I didn't trust any of my other teammates in anyway, however it was something I felt best to keep to myself until necessary, that day being today. I slightly felt bad never revealing this information to Bobby and Pete sooner, however they keep plenty of secrets from me. I hauled ass on the freeway seeing the off ramp within a quarter mile stretch. In no time we were on the streets heading to the park that base of the hills. I drove up the driveway feeling to transition of our road changing from pavement to dirt as I continued up the windy dirt road I turned suddenly and parked my car under a handful of trees and shrubbery.

"We're nowhere near the entrance to the Grand Hall," Bobby protested obviously having doubts in my navigations of the area.

"From the main entrance," I gloated as the three of us scrammed out of the car. I peeked through the green bushes to the slanted hillside park to double check that we were alone here before turning back and instructing, "Bobby, I need you to make a ice sized stretcher because we have to go the rest on foot and have to hustle her down there. This pathway is much more complex and I need Ileana secured tightly once we get her on there, got it?"

"Yes sir," he responded with well deserved respect in his voice pushing out both of his arms. I watched them morph into solid ice hands then flattening his palms towards the ground as ice particles streamed down as the flakes bonded together.

"Rachel, once he's done we will need to lift her gently onto that stretcher as soon as Bobby is done..."

"Done," he shouted cockily as the two of us gazed impressed by his precision.

"Shall we," she asked opening the car door.

"Gently," I reminded her as the two of us took opposite ends of the car as I pulled her towards me with my telekinesis levitating her at a steady pace while Rachel pushed slowly with caution. Thankfully I noticed as Ileana's slender body began moving out of the car the ice made stretcher was already repositioned right underneath the spot I was pulling from. Hey, he's a great mentor.

"Thank you Bobby," I said sincerely now feeling the dwelling of agony now beginning to show feeling a single tear began to drop. Within thirty seconds we had Magik secured on the cold flat bed when I added, "restrain her please with a few ice blocks as a precaution."

"I beg your pardon," Bobby snickered back.

"This other pathway requires a small bit of walking until we make it to the entrance and then we have to descend downward in a much more narrow and treacherous trail. Please just trust me on this, okay?"

"I trust you kid," he reassured me.

"Let's move out," I barked as we paced rapidly through the outskirts of the park.

I kept one hand out behind me to ensure Ileana's safe passage through the bumpy hillside until we found a small storm drain covered up by the greenery around the enclosed bars that was obviously left unattended for quite some time. We came to a halt when the two gazed at each other with skepticism.

"Just wait," I announced immediately waving my hand as the leaf covered bars began to bend inward opening the way into the drain. "Stay behind me and together at all times," I warned.

"It is pitch dark black inside," Rachel remarked, "How exactly are we going to see where exactly we are going?"

"Follow me and I'll take care of the lights," I instructed as I surged the essence lighting up my palms slightly. "Just hold on tight once we drop."

"Drop," Rachel asked.

"Inclined, slightly vertical," I noted.

"A vertical drop," Bobby started shouting, "with Ileana like this!"

"Chill frosty freeze, you'll see." I stated already reaching the fork.

Spotting the right passage way by the flickering of light in the distance, I slowed my pace as we shifted through the storm drain spotting the flames moments later. Once we reached the bolted up wood that covered up the path, the two stared me down with anger as if I had taken them on a wild goose chase.

"The wooden blockade is an illusion just keep walking," I noted now switching the hand that helped levitate the ice stretcher so I could telekinetically hold onto the front portion as we prepared ourselves to go thru. "Bobby resist he momentum, and Rachel help control our speed then give us a cushion once you spot the end of the drain, understand?" Without a word both nodded agreeing having no choice but to have faith and trust in my actions. I turned and stepped forward passing right through the transparent blockade hearing the gasp behind now inches away from the incline in front of me.

"Everyone has to sit at the exact same time on my mark," I ordered through the illusion, "and use those abilities of yours to hold on tight!"I shifted myself properly having a tight telekinetic grip on the ice stretcher pleading in the back of my mind this last minute rescue wouldn't do any more harm to Magik in the process.

"Whenever you're ready kid," Bobby shouted after they finished rearranging themselves to become synchronized with myself.

"On three," I told them.

"One, two, three!" we counted in unison.

"Hold on," I shouted now scooting forward with my bottom still keeping the connecting with my one hand behind me. I felt the jolt forward as gravity quickly pushed our telekinetic log ride down the chute. The screams from behind indicated how unprepared they were for this rollercoaster-like slide as we dipped, curved, spiraled, and corkscrewed down what in actuality was thrill ride. Just not in these particular circumstances. It had been maybe a little less than three minutes of our underground journey when I could hear the computer detectors going off catching a glimpse of the blue lasers that guarded the secret tunnel nearby. I could see lights in the distance, the modern electric ones similar to the ones set up in the main tunnel. I gracefully landed meeting the surface of the marbled floor of the room that connect us to the Grand Hall as I stepped cautiously forward giving the others ample space to control the speeding ice stretcher from flying out of control.

"I never should have doubted you kid," Bobby emphasized, "That was incredibly breath taking and exciting. To top that off you had the crisis under control even when we were criticizing your judgment from the start. I'm proud of you, even though you've been keeping secrets from me!"

"Don't preach to the choir Professor," I taunted back.

"You may be a rookie" Rachel stated, "but I see why you call the shots around here. Good job cheertator!"

"It's not over yet," I mumbled as the hidden door split open revealing the secret passageway that was located between two walls down from the library of books of the Grand Hall, feeling relief once inside the massive void. We levitated her towards the second floor. Once the ice stretcher was secured on the second floor, I gently released the ice platform gently onto the ground. Bobby retracted the ice as it dispersed at his command. Rachel followed me up and we finished placing Ileana on the bed in the same position she laid when crashing onto the hood of my car now lying on a comfortable bed finally safe from her captures. I sat down on the chair nearby while Rachel kneeled next the Magik fearing for her wellbeing.

"Is she going to..." she started asking.

"No she won't turn into one of them, but her body is having a much harder time fighting off the venom. Look at her; she's out cold but shaking frantically sweating like she has a fever." I answered honestly feeling helpless unsure of what I could do to help her body heal itself from the vast amount of venom trying to corrupt every cell in her body.

"It was Frost," Rachel announced having placed her palms directly apart from each other holding them inches above Ileana's head now telepathically linked with her mind.

"That makes sense," Bobby interpreted, "even with whatever silver concoction you injected her with she is struggling. I fear..."

"It's not going to happen," I shouted refusing to allow any more lives to linger over my soul. "She was bitten multiple times and still managed to teleport her way out of her imprisonment and found us somehow. She survived this long, now we need to save her."

"There must be something we can do?" Rachel pleaded.

I quickly ran down the stairs heading straight for the vault remembering the trinkets and random mystical objects inside that could clearly help heal our friend for sure. Although I had to admit I had been lethargic when it came to studying the literature handed to me here, but if there was one topic I did seek out here was anything and everything about vampires, including their venom. I had read before a handful of ways someone with supernatural and mystical abilities could extract the dark venom out of a human if they were still alive from my understanding, however in this world you never truly knew. I grabbed one of the diamond-looking objects trying to visualize the scriptures I skimmed.

I already heard the screech of Pete's brakes as he and Paige bolted up the stairs.

"My sister," Pete roared in an agony I had never heard from him before. "What happened?"

"We don't know just yet, Bobby explained while I stood above Ileana on the side of her with the diamond in hand mentally preparing myself for the channeling. "We were driving back from the accident when she teleported onto the kids hood."

"Save her," Pete demanded as I immediately grabbed her bitten arm with one hand and the diamond trinket in the other.

"I need every to be quite please," I asked the room waiting for absolute silence before I mentally connected with Ileana to perform this exorcism.

I closed my eyes not shifting my grips once the surging essence inside flowed intensely. I could feel the darkness inside her grasping to hold onto every inch of her body once it felt my disruption of its course. After a second her entire body began to convulse profusely causing us to jump back. I panicked scared at the outcome watching her twitching in front of us as the venom fights against her internally but held on tight.

"What's happening?" Pete asked from behind, however I was overcome with the multiple forces now lingering inside consumed me as I mimicked my blond friend as I twitched and convulsed landing on the ground next to her. The agonies of the sharp stabbing pains were monumental. The tightly tensed muscle cramping, along with the hot cold burn that enveloped my body all at once as I was channeling the venom until I blacked out.

"You did it," Rachel roared with glee awaking me minutes later from a haze of what had taken place lying on the ground still grasping Magik's arm with the trinket the other. "I can't feel it anymore, just her inside."

"It worked?" I asked watching as the rest of the room remained awkwardly. Pete started heading in our direction. I grew nervous fearful of his anger that his own flesh and blood was put right in the middle of this by the outraged look on his face. Rather than the lash out I was anticipating, I was grabbed by both of his huge muscular arms lifting me up hugging me ever so caringly pecking my forehead several times then hugging me once more.

"You saved my sister's life," he finally muttered with joy in his voice. "Thank you so much kid. I fucking love you so much I will sleep in your bed anytime you want, better yet every night this week! Get over it Bobby!" He held me for a few more moments as I felt his heart beating rapidly through his strong and warm chest. I should have let go but it was comforting to be in such strong arms holding you in admiration.

"I love you too Pete, all of you." I responded looking at all of them in the eye one at a time. "Maybe after we stop whatever the hell is going on, we just won't tell him." Pete joked.

"Like hell you are," Bobby muttered under his breath as I gazed into his eyes last.

"How cute darlings," Paige announced jokingly until she stopped staring at my hand. "Is that the venom?" she asked. I got caught up in my words that I didn't bother to check the diamond trinket now blackened inside with the venom floating condescend inside. I levitated it up through the room and placed it on the table on the ground floor below.

"Right now everyone we have much more pressing matters to attend to," I informed the Orders all quite once again awaiting my plans. "Even if it's broad daylight the vamps and Faceless Fuck will have people looking for her as we speak. We need to find out exactly where they took her and more importantly why."

"That make's time a huge factor," Bobby added. "Do we know if they are tracking her?"

"Doubtful," Rachel replied returning to her open palms pose. "They didn't expect she would be able to teleport let alone escape at all." she stated glancing into Ileana's mind.

"Well the only way we can go pursue this matter is when we can get some more answers from her thoughts." I admitted hating the fact of having to wait around.

"It's more complicated than that now," Rachel stuttered.

"How so," Pete jumped in.

"Deacon Frost," whispered a faint and weak but now conscious Magik. "They think that he is the one who can turn them..." she warned.

"Ileana it's alright," Pete shouted being the first to reach her with joy. "Stay still, you've been hurt badly..."

"You have to save them! You have to rescue them, tonight, before he continues turning more."

"Save who?" Rachel asked the group.

"Ileana, you were being held prisoner?" I inquired.

"Yes, a group of people like us," she muttered taking several breaths. "They kidnapped us during the night. Northstar, Caliban, Warpath, Karma, Black Cat, Avalanche..." Ileana began listing the hostage names shocking all of us hearing each name.

"Holy shit," I cursed out loud when certain events clicked in my mind when I placed my palm on her forehead to confirm my suspicions connecting with her mind once more. "The break in to the government facility, the up rise of Deacon Frost, and now kidnapped supernatural beings. When I had my final confrontation the night of Nationals, I faced vampires that were capable of more than just the average vampire. Deacon Frost is an addition to this group."

"What does the break in have to do with this?" Paige inquired a little lost.

"They needed a diversion before they could obtain information on the whereabouts of the supers," Bobby started saying taking the words literally right out of my mouth.

"I'll bet you anything every one of those people Ileana just mentioned was inside that stolen data." Pete noted.

"No, he can't be..." Rachel began to speak but drifted back into the doubtful skepticism clear as day from everyone's facial expression.

"The Faceless Foe didn't just bring back Deacon Frost for political hostile takeover," I stated now playing out the fragments of scenarios now coming together. "The two of them are bent on creating an army of superhuman vampires at their disposal..."

The severity of this manipulative plot would turn into a bloodbath leaving the streets stained just like their initial threat all along. The Faceless Foe must have stumbled onto this information under the alliance he had with the vampires, using this to his advantage finding the right opportunity to seize control with the downfall of the government by my hands in order to gain full political power over a race not of his own kind. He wanted weapons, stronger and more powerful than the existing undead that could over throw the Order of the Acolyte.

"Ileana, I know you are hurt bad, but if there is anything more you can tell us about the enemy, please tell us" I begged. "Did you happen to come across some young men, a couple, Jean Paul and Kyle?"

"I said that already," she replied looking at me confused.

"You did?" I responded puzzled.

"Those that were a success were relocated to another location from what I overheard. They're looking for me this very moment with a group of henchmen going street by street."

"Maybe we could use that to our advantage loves," Paige suggested.

"We are not sending my baby sister back in..." Pete demanded before he was hushed by Paige's hand.

"Not your sister, send me in," Paige offered. "Put a tracer one me and follow me once they snatch me up. All I have to do I change form into a different hair color and try matching her wounds and scars."

"That is a great idea Husk darling." I applauded at her keen knowledge.

"No," Rachel protested, "Husk it is not that I don't doubt you and your amazing gifts but the Faceless Foe is a telepath, along with a few of those names listed. He might try to manipulate your mind regardless of the contents of your skin. Besides, from the impressions I got he won't hurt me even if my cover's blown, as long as we do it tonight," she paused to glance at the time, "and the sun goes down in a few hours."

"But how are we going to disguise you like Ileana love, you have red hair," Paige added.

"If you can change your eye color back at any given moment," Rachel pleaded pointing her index finger my direction with no shame, "then all you have to do is change my hair color."

"What about the wounds and scars?" Pete question rightfully.

"The henchmen that are looking for Ileana are human," Rachel reminded us. "If we can infiltrate them before the sun sets we can ensure the guards are all susceptible. Maybe swap one out if need be with one of us." Wow, that's actually a good plan, but I didn't exactly know if I could temporarily change the color of her hair but it was worth a shot.

"I am impressed," Bobby stated, "but Rachel it is too dangerous."

"No it isn't Bobby, I can do this," she insisted now walking over to me grabbing my hands, "you all have to start trusting me, this one is still a rookie too. Does that sound like a plan Acolyte?"

"How do you expect me to change your hair color on the spot?" I asked her.

"I don't know, you're the one than can change your eye appearance."

"That's transforming the color of my own eyes, not another person, as far as I know."

"Haven't you seen The Craft," she responded back mimicking the hand movements along with my own. "It's worth a try, isn't it fearless leader? The clock is ticking?"

"I'll try," I shouted after a minute contemplating the well thought idea. There was a reason this was the group I wanted around me.

I gulped placing my hands over her head and started to concentrate. I had no clue as to what I should be doing, thinking, or feeling, so I just closed my eye tight releasing everything out of my mind only allowing on thought, blond. I imagined my telepathic friend with highlighted hair feeling the surging energy flowing through my palms.

"Unbelievable," Paige gawked

"What the fuck!" Pete cursed.

"Uncanny," Bobby boasted. I opened my eyes to see the once fierce vibrant hair had altered into a blond color matching Ileana's tone. I released my palms and absorbed my energy back in as I stood shocked at the outcome. Rachel moved over to a mirror on the side.

"What are you," Rachel inquired well aware of how I felt about that particular unknown and still unanswered concern. "You may not have witch in you, but whatever you are is marvelous."

"Now, how exactly are we going to find the henchmen looking for my sister," Pete asked.

"Ileana, I need two things from you, one I need you to let the girls take you out of the clothes so we can pull this off. Second, do you remember where they took you?"

"Yes, we were taken into a skyscraper in downtown," she muttered.

"Did she just say downtown?" I asked while the girls slowly helped her exchange clothing.

Once they were done I reached out placing my hands over her head digging for the men sent to return her to the downtown skyscraper where she was held captive. Skimming the horrific images of what she saw inside, I could tell that they were well prepared. I glimpsed at her capturer getting a few faces. Then she was brought to an all glass conference like room, where she met the Faceless Foe. The worst image of her experience of course was witnessing Deacon Frost lethal bite into her flesh. Shortly after being inflicted by the venom, she struggled out using a chair to break through the window. She jumped freefell before teleporting onto the streets on the other side where she limped in pure pain and agony. An unmarked van emerged from the streets as a number of the henchmen leaped out once spotting her. She ran as they chased her when she teleported again this time onto the Alvarado bridge underpass where she sensed us passing through. The henchmen had screeched up in their van when she teleported again now watching the fall onto the hood of my car before I broke the telepathic connection.

"I could have done that," Rachel sneered.

"I know you are obviously capable of that Ms. Summers but I don't know if the professors ever taught you this," I informed her as I waved my hand hearing the vault underneath open as the crystal ball levitated its way to the upstairs corridor landing gently on the table. I sat on the couch in front as I set my hands accordingly. "Computer, get ready to upload and began an immediate scan of all city street cameras looking for these henchmen!"

"Of course sir," the voice command responded.

"Is he serious loves?" Paige snickered.

"You can project up here," Bobby asked.

"What does he mean project?" Rachel asked confused by the mystical object.

"Watch," Pete yelled. "It's really cool actually."

"Thank you!"

Utilizing my telepathy to connect to the crystal ball, a trick I learned from a fortune teller who directed me here to the Grand Hall. I seconds the images of the henchmen reflected first through the glass but the expanded in the room thanks the extra projectors on this level I installed after fooling around with the equipment. I could hear the dropping jaws as the images appeared as flat paneled holograms now identifying faces with facial recognition programs.

"Amazing," Rachel gasped.

"Impressive darling," Paige added.

"That's if it works," I remarked. "Computer, did you locate our vampire henchmen yet?"

"Yes sir," the digital voice responded. "Furthermore, after hearing Ms. Rasputin's description of the building she was held hostage, it resembles a square all double sided windowed skyscraper located in Downtown Los Angeles. The schematics coincidentally happen to be in the flash drive you obtained from the European stronghold. On top of that sir, the tunnel that exploded over one year ago happens to runs directly underneath this building. That is most likely why the underground tunnel was destroyed once you got near it sir."

"Wow, impressive computer," I stated in shock at the details it gathered while I was away.

"You mean the tunnel that is filled with rubble and debris," Bobby stated clearly not forgetting the incident.

"I can handle some debris darling," Paige volunteered.

"Well then ladies and gentlemen, I think we've got work to do," I announced hinting for everyone to get on their feet. "Does anyone have anything else to add in?"

"Wait a second," Bobby interrupted, "are we sure this is a good idea?"

"We have little time to argue," I stated boldly aggravated by the constant double questioning. "Right now there are a handful of people in that building that we have an obligation to rescue as soon as possible. Even though they were only targeted for their abilities, it is my doing that they are now hostages to these undead fucks! I will not allow them to take their lives over some devious plan to that all leads down to one thing, me! Last time they brought the battle to us, this time we are bringing the battle to them!"

The room went completely silent as each member acknowledged their role and part of the last minute plan. I informed them of my entire idea after they nodded in approval of what was required, having the blue print schematics of the secret headquarters that had been so blindly hidden right in the heart of downtown, ironically in the City of Angeles no less. I kept note of the time knowing in order for this extraction to go well we needed to act fact. Once I had summed everything up I asked the room noticing the change of expression once I was heard out, I asked, "any more input before we head out?"

"He's after you," we heard Ileana whisper from the bed. The entire group turned slowly and faced her hearing the chill in her caution. "The Faceless Foe, I overheard him say this was all because of you. He is doing this because he blames you for..." she paused for a struggling to speak her last word, "his..."

#  Chapter 10 Interception Deception

Bobby and I had arrived at our destination right on time. Nightfall snuck up on us quickly having to scramble with the little amount of time allotted from our departure from the Grand Hall. Rachel was placed in perfect position disguised as Ileana in order to infiltrate from the inside for however long she could hold up the cover. We were keeping a constant telepathic connection while tracing her with a GPS device installed in her bracelet. Feeling that we shouldn't send Rachel in all alone we had perfectly planted Rachel in an area that was enclosed enough to stage the trap for the team of henchmen with Pete nearby keeping very close by, right under their noses. Paige was on route to the underground tunnel that I discovered was a secret underground passageway that led straight into vampire headquarters.

Bobby and I on the other hand were going to air dive straight down through the skyline of Downtown Los Angeles and crash right inside the building having our precise destinations once we bombarded our way in unannounced. My frosty friend will head for to the mid level floors where the schematics pinpointed a possible laboratory where the hostages were most likely held. Meanwhile I would land on the upper level floors taking out as many guards on that level as possible to allow clear passage for the others. Plus I had a feeling they would take Rachel straight up to the top floor where we noticed a larger two story sized room at the very top floor. We stood at on the sidewalk of the cul-de-sac with the massive fence surrounding the Van Nuys Airport.

"Are you sure about this," Bobby inquired me unsure of this last minute idea. "We could always just fly on the down low you know?"

"Thought about it, but they'll spot us flying by from miles away having that incredible view, so we'll need other means of transportation if we want the element so surprise."

"What exactly is this means of transportation?"

"We're catching a ride," I replied nodding towards the fenced off runaway at some of the commercial airplanes and jets landing and flying off from the runways.

"You want to hijack one of the planes?"

"No, just catch a ride sort of speaks," I repeated myself once more totally focused on a departing aircraft that was heading east giving us a quick speedy ride straight to the city. "Besides we also need a cover and one of those bad boys will be exactly that."

"How should we do this?"

"I figured we make a dash from a few yards back and propel ourselves quickly underneath the wings of the airplane and let go once we reach the our drop zone." I informed him as I began taking more steps back. I noticed a large freight plane about to take off exactly in our direction.

"I'm assuming you've spotted one already."

"Yes I did, that bigger one taking off over," I nodded pointing out the plane I was referring to when I notice a smile on his face.

"I'm impressed kid, not a bad idea," he confessed.

"I try," I joked back putting out the hand rolled cig as we both paced backwards in our steps scanning the perimeter of the street beforehand to make sure we were all clear.

"Are you ready kid?"

"Count of three, together."

"One, two, three..." we counted down and in seconds we sprinted rapidly before launching ourselves into the night sky zooming fast at the plane taking off. We reached the wings taking opposite sides gripping on the sturdy part of the underneath now observing the city glimmering with lights. Soon the buildings became smaller as we climbed in elevation. Within five minutes I caught a glimpse of the tower now just a drop away, the real headquarters of the governing body of the vampire race that was in shambles, yet it still was in full operation.

"Ready," he shouted from the opposite end knowing my super heightened hearing would catch the sound of his words over the engines.

"Three, two, one..." I let go once again freefalling this time through the beautiful night sky brightened by the lights of skyline. I flipped and tucked around into a head dive position reaching maximum velocity as the breeze hit my face in the plunged down through the cool summer night. Although the other jumps from the jet were quite exhilarating this had to be whole new thrill ride seeing the true beauty of the vibrant City of Angels in a whole new perspective. My telekinetic shielding force glowed around me keeping the drop under full control now spotting familiar establishments in the vicinity of the Los Angeles Great Basin knowing the entire area all too well spotting the Hollywood sign, the Staples Center, LA Live, Union Station, and many more all in sight reminding me how much I loved this city.

I tilted in the direction of the skyscraper that from a distance looked like any ordinary business type building. In actuality was the secret domain of the dark creatures this entire time based right in the heart of downtown. Helpless humans walked around the establishment throughout the day and night not realizing the deadly and brutal forces lurking behind closed doors. I caught glimpses of my frozen companion several yards away also holding his planked position as the rooftops of some of the towers became visible in sight.

"I have a visual on our designated drop zones," I shouted to Bobby telepathically.

"Let me guess, the fully tinted reflective windowed building," he asked as we sped past now flying parallel with Sixth Street.

"Exactly, the tower just past Grand Avenue then we make our entrances."

"I am making out way through the tunnel as we speak darling." Paige informed via our telepathic connection that pretty much acted as a two way radio.

"Rachel?" I asked telepathically feeling her presence getting closer and closer to us.

"We're in," she replied hesitantly. "They're bringing me up the elevator to meet with the Faceless Foe as we speak. I was separated from Pete once they brought me inside."

"Plus you've got a lot of foot traffic down here in the tunnel already." Paige added, "Damn bloodsuckers!"

"Are you going to be alright?" I asked now concerned about sending her in alone.

"Sweetie I can change into anything if you don't remember, I'll be fine dear," Paige replied back cockily.

"There is a lobby once the elevator doors open than go towards the conference room doors. It's hard to miss, a big room filled with mirrors." Mirrors, the décor of this place just might actually come handy!

"This whole place is decked out with mirrors, "Pete stated," Hostages are on the thirteenth floor of the building west end of the laboratory," he debriefed us finally giving me relief, now connected with every one of my friends. "Rachel was taken to the two story chamber at the very top of the building which is just like the schematics indicated. I'm in place, ready when you are boss!"

"Getting closer," Bobby shouted to me out loud knowing I was in a conference chat via telepathy.

"No shit Sherlock," I joked back before rejoining the telepathic conversation. "We're coming is fast, be there any second. Can you handle them up top until we get...?" I started as asking when I felt our mental connection break suddenly. "Rachel? Rachel?"

"What's wrong kid," Bobby asked.

"We need to get in there now! Remember Bobby, get to the hostages."

"No shit Sherlock," he repeated, "Are you just going to telekinetically blast your way through the window?" he asked curiously seconds before hitting are marker.

"Isn't that they way you're doing it?"

"Yeah but I'm at least going to freeze the window before smashing through it!"

"Whoever said I was smashing through the window?"

"Be careful! See you inside kid!"

"Catch you later, Iceman," I replied as we now began twisting around the very top of the building in a circular ring orbiting in a downward spiral, another distraction figuring we would be spotted at one point flying by so why not do it in style. I took a deep breath as I spotted a perfect window I was plummeting towards it now reaching my arms out in a perfect form having my palms ready to touch the glass in order for this to work.

For some reason one night over the summer in my room alone, I had my back against a full length mirror when I slipped backwards. I assumed I would crash into the mirror that would bring me to a halt once I hit the wall behind it. That was until I crossed through the mirror and landed on the other side of the reflection. After a few seconds scrambling up to my feet, I realized something was terribly wrong where I stood at that moment. It was almost as if I had walked into another dimension with the mirror as the doorway, or at least that's how it felt. Shortly after another incident took place in the city but that story would have to be for another time. For now the one thing I knew for sure is that I if I did it before, I can do it again!

Now I was going to attempt to do the same, although charging at the window hoping the trick works allowing me to dive inside the glass and tuck and roll back out on the other end to the inside. I was praying this would work and not send me crashing into the window head on. "Everybody ready," I shouted telepathically to all the others I was still connected with. "Interception in five, four, three, two, one," I counted down, swiftly managing to press my palms at precisely against the window. I felt as my body cringed from the touch of the flowing liquid substance of window. I flowed through it finding myself tucking and rolling onto the hallway floor with the momentum of the initial freefall until managing to use my telekinesis to bring me to a halt. I flipped into a defensive stance landing solidly with both feet on the ground. I gazed down the stretch of the hallway filled with the shadowed hell hounds keeping guard of the premise now focusing on me. "I'm in!"

"I'm in," Bobby informed me.

"Waiting your command darling," Page insisted eagerly after anxiously waiting all this time to use her one other form that was our secret weapon, waiting for the exactly the right time to unleash it.

"Showtime ladies and gentlemen, let's light this mother fucker up!"

Instantly the power to the entire building shut off to emergency shutdown mode, darkening the majority of the tower only leaving the dim lights of the backup generators on. Good job Pete, who did exactly what I had expected the minute he and Rachel took over the henchmen earlier. Pete disguised himself with their gear in order to stay with our covered up bait. Rachel had control of all the men with her telepathy. Once inside I figured it was better for him to separate from Rachel making to obvious if he was pretending to be one of the guards, so I instructed him to find his way to the main power grid reminding him to wait until we breached the inside floors before he went crashing away through the control room. As I stood in the dim room filled with some nasty looking hell hounds ready to charge, we all came to a sudden halt when the ground beneath us began rumbling and vibrating underneath us.

Explosions from the very bottom could be heard all around, indicating Paige finally demonstrating her true uncanny ability changing into a fiery flame like form. She blasted the entire bottom level igniting the flames engulfing the underground tunnel leading up to the basement of the structure. That one shot probably took out every vampire that traveled through it! Soon after I could hear another explosion on floors below but much more closer in range, hearing the chiming sound of a massive cold snap consuming the laboratory equipment along with majority of the rest of the level that my iced friend was on. Unfortunately I could already hear the sound of some chaos taking place up above sensing a powerful blast of energy just went off up there, Rachel.

Looking straight ahead, I felt my wand dislodge from the inside of my left arm placing the handle firmly in my grip. Immediately I projected a surge of energy pulsating out of my wand creating a vibrant blue aura. It sent out a blast of light knocking many of the shadowed hell hounds floating out of control. I reached my right hand out grabbing one directly around the spinal cord, holding it tight before it had a chance to attack then stabbing it with wand causing it to evaporate in nothing. Soon doors flung open throughout the hallway as numerous blurred figures came charging at me. Finally, a real challenge! From the looks of it, this was turning into a very unfair fight for the bad guys, as various levels of the skyscraper from top to bottom were now intercepted by members of the Orders now causing havoc and destruction taking down this operation multiple stories at a time.

"I'm releasing the hostages as we speak," Bobby informed me telepathically from floors below. "They had a head start, a few off these coffin-looking devices were emptied out already, and one of them is completely torn through. No sign of Jean Paul or Kyle either."

"Paige," I shouted, "Make your way to Bobby's level and help with the extraction of the hostages. As soon as you two are done make your way to the top floor where they have Rachel."

"On my way," Paige noted.

"Pete," I shouted telepathically while combating the vampires managing to dodge several shadowed hell hounds process.

"Yeah," he responded a few seconds later. "Sorry, been a little busy."

"Understandable," I added flipping over another oncoming vampire maneuvering my arms just right to pull his head off in the process. "Get up to my level before we make our way up the main elevator to the top floor."

"Will do boss," he replied as more commotion from below started up again. "Hold on tight kid!"

"Don't worry I've got plenty of company to deal with!"

"Rachel," I hollered both verbally and telepathically hoping to send a stronger message across to her. Nothing, damn! I continued battling my way through the stretch of hallway unleashing pure rampage against my assaulters. I kept both hands brightened up with light blue essence, pushing the energy towards the shadowed hell hounds that hated any sort of light including the blue aura that flowed through my entire body. I turned towards the hallway further down to find an elevator door that rang; opening up to four bodies dressed in swat gear that came flying out of the elevator as the mighty Colossus rushed in right behind them.

"What's up kid," he boasted engaging some of the vampires that he noticed.

"I've lost my connection with Rachel; we have to get up there!" Although I was relieved to cross paths with my ally, he ended up fueling the shadowed hell hounds as the four knocked out men were quickly possessed, their eyes darkening into black as their skulls began to glow adding more numbers to this hallway scrimmage.

"Well, what are you waiting for cheerleader?"

"Let's bring it," I taunted as the possessed men came rushing towards me while some of the vamps and hell hounds went after Pete. We both engaged the enemy ready for moments like these. I took on two of the men as we went into full hand to hand combat although I continued throwing in some new moves I learned over the summer. After defeating the two knocking them unconscious I focused on the other two using my telekinesis to knock the other two sideways into the opposing walls, then I nodded at Pete who gave me the look telling me it was time to try out another move.

He placed both his arms together covering his face as I began to build up the surging energy inside me ready to repulse at any moment. Waiting for a few more seconds, I finally released the immense energy directed at Pete's metallic arms that caused a massive reflection of the blue essence into various beams to spark bouncing off of my metal friend's hands causing many of the shadowed hell hounds to evaporate instantly once touched by the aura's powerful blast. Pete moved his two clamped arms together back and forth, causing more beams of light to engulf the entire hallway as it emptied quickly defeating majority of the attackers. I paused in my spotted using my telepathy to scan the perimeter for any mental signs of Jean Paul, someone who I for some reason was able to pinpoint now with accurate precision for some odd reason, only to draw a blank.

"What's wrong kid," Pete shouted heading towards me slowly stepping over the knocked out men he tossed like rag dolls.

"Just was looking for Jean Paul and Kyle. No sign of them so far!"

"Any luck?"

"No, something tells me he has them close by."

"Why do you think that," he asked me as we headed towards the central elevator we needed to take up to the top floor.

"It's probably because I have saved them more than once before, basically another low blow on their end!"

"Ouch! Are you ready to go kick some more asses?"

"Hell yeah I am! Back me up once we make it to the top!"

"Do you think it's smart to be riding up the elevator?"

"Of course I do, when I'm able to tell the elevator exactly what to do," I noted cockily as we entered as the noticed immediately the mirrors surrounding us in the small confined area. "When we arrive at the top and I tell you to hold on, do not hesitate, do you understand?"

"Why?"

"We're reflection jumping our way in!"

#  Chapter 11 Illusion of the Mirrors

"Repeat that one more time," Pete harassed me while I stood on the side of slightly touching the video camera so I could get inside the surveillance video directly. It allowed me to find the camera footage of what was taking place upstairs, in particular what lied ahead after the elevator doors opened on the top floor leading to some sort of main chamber. I released my grip shortly after then stepped back down reaching standing back on my own two feet.

"Reflection jumping," I responded.

"What..."

"Not now," I yelped back grabbing the two daggers while handing him some sliver stakes equipping ourselves for the upcoming fight. "They have about twenty men with automatics ready to annihilate us with a shit load of bullets. There are two corridors but the one to the right enters to main chamber and it looks like that is where they have Rachel."

"Bullets," Pete laughed hysterically. "Do you think she's holding up?"

"I'm sure she hasn't been harmed, but I am more worried about them making the mistake of hurting her in any way, shape or form." I paused remembering the cautious words of about what powerful entity truly runs through her veins. Once we reached the top I waved my hand over the control panel holding the door from opening before the barrage of gunfire waiting for us. "Do not hesitate when I tell you to hold on tight."

"Are you absolutely sure this will work?" he asked skeptically.

"Trust me; I just did it a few minutes ago. Once those doors open I need you to stand right in front of me. I will have one hand on your shoulder and the other on the mirror. I'll pull you out once the doors fully open so we have the right opportunity to jump to the other wall."

"Jump," he said horrified in his tone.

"Exactly, just as long we spot that mirror on the opposite wall at the precise moment. You're going to have to trust me on this one."

"Reflection jumping," he repeated to himself under his breath. "Shit!"

"Here goes nothing!" I noted enthusiastically placing one hand on his big metal shoulders then pressing it on the mirror behind us. Taking a deep breath, I counted out loud anticipating the doors opening, "five, four, three, two, one!" Ding!

The metal doors opened setting off massive rounds of gunfire that engulfed the elevator. I heard the clanking sound of Pete shifting back into metal form with bullets flying off of him. I felt a few already making impact on the mirrored wall of the elevator. I waited a second using Pete's massive shielding body to preserve a large enough section of the mirror remaining intact from the rounds of gunfire. Thick clouds of gunpowder instantly consumed the inside. I leaned my weight into the mirror feeling the hard substance turning into the liquid form now pulling us inside the mirror itself. Now came the tough part. We stared intently through the thick layer of ash and soot from the gunpowder clearing that allowed us to get a clear visual of our reflections across the room, seeing shattered glass particles around us being destroyed on our wall inside this dimension.

"Focus on being in that reflection now and don't let go," I shouted. "One, two, three," I now gazed at the copied reflection of myself across the room now moving with a vibrant force. We found ourselves standing on the other side inside the mirror now watching as the vampires from the view. They slowly moved inside the car of the elevator in confusion of the empty space. We watched another figure march in at a regular pace from behind now inspecting the situation at hand. I didn't realize it until his back was facing us that it was the Faceless Foe that passed by. I would normally pick up on that son of a bitch strolling on by right in front of me but something was different that caught me off guard while I was still processing the fact I actually jumped us behind the main lobby front desk. Holy shit, I did it!

Keeping an eye on the crowd of vampires moving in on the elevator car, I timed it perfectly moving Pete onto the other corridor. I maneuvered and stood right in front of the entrance door of the chamber without a single one of them noticing two new figures appearing out of nowhere, well technically from inside the mirror but that's kind of like nowhere.

"Good evening gentlemen, did we catch you at a bad time?"

" _Cute trick boys,"_ the Faceless Foe taunted us from elevator car still staring forward having his back to us before he yelled, " _Kill them!"_

"Bring it," I growled back watching the vampires spilt up rushing at to us with their incredible speed.

"Said the cheerleader," Deacon Frost snickered while he came right towards me.

I threw out one hand sensing an incoming blow from a vampire trying to come across our overdue brawl, twisting the random vampire's neck turning him into ash and dust after hearing the snap of his neck cracking off. I found myself close to Deacon Frost only a few feet away. I flicked my wrist throwing a dagger I had in my hand as it landed solidly piercing through his flesh into the heart. "Did you really think a simple silver blade to the heart would kill me dick?"

"No, I just really wanted to stab you in the mother fucking for my friend, the one you battered up with your little message," I replied with a dark tone in my voice. I grabbed the handle of the dagger pulling it in a downward motion, slicing through his abdomen moving its way down before he punched me right in the gut throwing me back a few feet. He removed the dagger dripping with his undead blood tossing it to the floor.

"You little prick," he hissed propelling himself at me with no holding back. We went hand to hand combat mode continually throwing blows back and forth in a choreographed like movement. Unlike most of the vampires I even encounter, he did fit the profile of being a little bit more than a regular vamp, based on the numerous blocks I had to integrate into my punches and kicks. His strength felt almost double in strength, but I held my end up pretty well. Finally I pushed my hand forward causing a powerful telekinetic blast he clearly didn't expect coming.

"Brought it dick," I shouted back as two more bloodsucker henchmen came to his aid, dodging one while staking another in my quick steps. I checked Pete only to see him tearing his group apart like a show off, how typical. I turned around again only to find Deacon Frost nowhere in sight, only to see the Faceless Foe marching his way towards me.

"As for you," I started to say when we quickly engaged each other not wasting time with words. There was no holding back feeling the intensity of each jab thrown with the collision of our two hands causing sparks out telekinetic energy.

" _I see your time away is proving quite resourceful Acolyte of humanity, you and your Orders. Absolutely marvelous,"_ my green eyed nemesis bloated while we exchanged massive hits and blows _._

"I see you still have a proclivity of find ways to really piss me the fuck off!"

" _The full wrath of the mighty Chosen One, looking forward to it,"_ he shouted back while the two of us went at.

"Where is she?" I blatantly asked.

" _Where's who?"_ he sneered back when I felt my super sixth sense informing me of the very large object flying my way. I broke off our hand to hand combat seeing the figure flying over me crashing into the Faceless Foe. He then quickly snapped the vampire's neck right off rather than pushing him away like a complete asshole. Shows how much he cares for the vamps.

"The telepath we disguised as my sister the teleporter you piece of shit," Pete growled back as I came to realization that he cleaned up pretty well, leaving only a handful of vampires and leader of this operation in sight. Everyone rushed towards one another quickly going at it again. I heard commotion from inside the closed doors followed by yelling so familiar since I was around cheerleaders most of the time, a girl fight. Seconds later the room was put into a trance once the loud high pitch screeching sound of the siren's cry took hold of almost everyone. Some began falling to the floor from the painful scream. I still was able to maintain a standing position but frozen solid only to see my opponent affected as well although not nearly as much everyone else only to hear him yell,

" _Serena!"_ He headed towards the door pushing it open when the sound came to a sudden stop only to now hear the screams of another woman followed with some sort of blast as we watched the siren witch slam into the wall by the blast.

"Rachel!"

Fear consumed me as Pete and I scrambled our way into the unforeseen scenario taking place inside of the chamber when I noticed the siren was still lying on the floor. I took the opportunity and I brought her up to her feet with my telekinesis now gripping her up with one hand as leverage on top of calming down the beast that lies within my telepathic friend raging angry inside. She must have been provoked by this dull ugly witch I have clenched in my hand. I moved in now with my stomach tied in knots, cringing in pain over the sight before me. It was a large vast room probably two or three stories high with a large stone table with seats all around with the Faceless Foe standing focused on the girl yards away from him fuming up.

" _Taking my dear cousin hostage,"_ he gloated, " _that's pretty dark of you. I thought you were supposed to be a good guy!"_

"Hostage," I shouted back, "like my friends. Or the one's you had downstairs!"

" _Meer pawns in this game we've been play, you and I!"_

"This isn't a game," I roared back.

" _Right you are, however I need them for a strong resistance."_

"Resistance," I repeated, "against what?"

" _Everyone,"_ he answered coldly causing chills to go down my spine, " _Why don't you ask the really question on your mind Chosen One?"_

"Rachel," I asked turning my attention to the very hostile and angry friend that was radiating with rage levitating a few feet off the ground. "Rachel," I questioned again when she failed to respond the first time. "Look," I shouted pointing the siren I was holding up, "you did it! You stopped her!"

"She's lucky I didn't tear out her fucking throat," Rachel cursed in a devilish raspy voice.

" _My my, what a temper,"_ the Faceless Foe remarked standing closest to her.

"Rachel, calm down." Pete added in a level voice, "There's no need to rip out anyone's throat."

" _It's perfectly healthy to act on these emotions from time to time,"_ he muttered egging her on.

"Silence witch," I blurted out, "I think you've done enough damage." At that moment my super heightened senses caught the faint sounds of movement coming in from the lobby area coming our way. "Rachel, are you alright?"

"I will be," she growled in the ominous tone as I watched her eyes began to glow with vivid blue flames.

" _What are you,"_ the green eyed prick badgered now recognizing the superb entity that lies within her. She unleashed streams of energy blast from her eyes making direct contact with the Faceless Foe sending him flying into the side wall, smashing into the mirrors that shattered instantly. The doors leading into the chamber burst open from the commotion as a small band of vampires and possessed henchmen by the shadowed hell hounds charged into the large two story chamber. Rachel immediately screamed and rushed the cloaked asshole as the two went into full one on one combat. I tossed the siren towards the oncoming attackers knocking a few of them down for a second. Before I realized it, the entire room became a massive battleground as the three of us took on our opponents.

"Here we go again," I announced while blocking the first two jabs thrown at me. Ducking and dodging my way through the large room, I managed to get a little bit closer to Rachel who was still on the other side of the table battling it out with green eyes, a fight that from my view was at a draw. Unfortunately, shortly after I glanced over after hearing a moaning sound coming from the siren. She was slowly regaining consciousness after being tossed at our oncoming attackers. I maneuvered my way towards her hoping to get to the girl before she charged at Rachel but more vampires began entering.

" _Backup,"_ the cloaked nemesis remarked cockily until he heard what was following his henchmen inside the chamber.

"Backup," I repeated gloating at him with devious smirk on my face. Bobby and Paige strutted into the room already transformed into their other natural forms taking out whatever vampires were making their way inside the large arena immediately running into the action. Turning my attention once again to Serena the siren, the witch had already made it the other side of the room across the large vast stone table catching her right behind Rachel.

"Rachel, behind..." I started shouting when she instantly shot her head in a backward motion, reverse head-butting the siren before she had a chance to make a move. Pushing my way through, I finally leaped onto the top of stone table only to find a few more fighters following in my footsteps. One vamp came charging at me when I gave him a swift roundhouse kick in the face causing him to fall back and slam into the table. I gave him another kick the gut causing him to slam so hard against the wall his I could hear his entire diaphragm crushed by the impact before flickering into red ash and dust.

I gazed around the chaotic room getting a glimpse of everyone checking on each teammate for the split second when a body came slamming down onto the other side of the table. The Faceless Foe was now in a complete headlock from the tiny little girl as she banged his head into the table a few times before somehow managing to flip him over causing his back to land straight onto the concrete like substance.

"Trade you," she shouted as I acknowledged with a quick nod watching her hurdle towards the siren ready to continue their brawl. He shook off the massive blows taken as he returned to a stand position now facing me once more.

" _The Order of the Acolyte,"_ he roared with laughter so loud everyone had glanced at the two of us now ready to face off once more. " _I am truly impressed Chosen One! You have brought together this powerful group of uniquely powerful entities, some more powerful than I truly gave them credit for."_

"You have no idea," I growled back now charging him with all my might. I started out with a few kicks he blocked instantly before nailing him with a fist right to the face followed by a bent knee into his stomach. Soon the hand to hand combat between us intensified as we danced around the table top both desperately trying to take the other out. After he attempted a few telekinetic blasts only to be blocked out, I managed to sweep my legs underneath him causing him to once more to land onto the surface when I pinned him down keeping my body weight on him.

"Why," I asked the question that was on my mind while grasping one hand around his neck.

" _Why,"_ he yelped out while his face turned red with anger. " _Why,"_ he shouted once more at a louder volume this time causing the room to go dead silent. I stared right into his eyes now fierce with the green essence similar to my blue essence staring back at me. I felt the hatred from the intent death stare as if I just scratched the surface of a fairly open wound inside. " _Why",_ he engorged with a tremble in his voice this time throwing me off guard, twisting me around now pinning me down against the stone table as the back of my body slammed onto the surface feeling the back of my head thumb followed by several cheap shots the face as both arms continuously swung back and forth as he pounded down with all his might. " _Why you ask,"_ he sneered, " _you!"_

"Me," I replied dumbfounded by his vague response. I felt my face starting to go numb and drops of blood began coming out of my nose while I struggled to loosen up his grip. "What the hell have I ever done to you?"

" _You were born!"_

"I don't even know you let alone have any reason to have caused you any harm and suffering."

" _Suffering,"_ he repeated violently, " _it is solely because of you I suffer everyday!"_ His hand reached out to the side summoning a large sword that was placed perfectly nearby. It telekinetically zoomed into his hand as he initiated the first swing remarking, " _This has always been about you and I, now it's you turn to suffer mighty Acolyte of the human race!"_

"Trying me prick," I gloated taunting him for his moment of stupidity allowing one side of my body just enough freedom. I propelled the free side with a quick telekinetic shockwave tossing him off my body while I launched myself a distance away, landing on the end of the table.

"Hey asshole," Pete shouted just as he finished tearing a vampire in half from the waist as he barged through the dust and flickering ash. "That sword belongs to my sister you son of a bitch."

" _A family affair I see, how poetic,"_ he muttered under his breath. I scrambled to my feet seeing he was about to do the same with the sharp blade in hand. Pete circled around in a run then jumped onto the other end joining our battle, reaching out for the sword stopping it with all his strength. He squeezed tightly around the Faceless Foe who held on tight, now hearing the crushing sound of a bone or two. Out of nowhere Rachel snuck onto the table now grabbing the Faceless Foe from behind in a headlock.

" _I really like this one,"_ he laughed.

"I'm not through with you yet sorcerer," she screeched with rage.

They struggled as I scanned the room to evaluate the situation since we began fighting. Other than the fight taking place on the table top, the room was heavily damaged. It emptied out except for the Order of the Acolyte, the siren, and the Faceless Foe. Bobby and Paige were behind me now at opposite ends flanking around while this little feud was taking place waiting for the moment to intercept. I turned my attention quickly back at Pete attempting to nudge his way between the two but having little luck with the constant resistance and movement. Once my attention returned directly to them Rachel placed her palms one the sides of his head.

"No more games," she ordered when he screamed in terrifying agony seeing him convulse for a second in place then shooting a stern look my way. "Acolyte, be cautious from what you are about to see before your very eyes, for the truth sometimes is better left unknown." She's possessed by her powers, it's cool. Not a great time to have a breakdown, giving her cryptic warning and all.

" _You're a..."_ he attempted to say still bound tightly by the telepathic strength Rachel had inside. " _A..."_ he stuttered again only this time the once dark smoke like substance that covered his face slowly began dissolving in front of us. I began to make out his chin and mouth as they moved with his words. " _Pho..."_ he muttered unable to make out the last word in a state of concussion, letting his mystical guard down from the mental attack.

When the smoke full evaporated only, his face now completely revealed. I one hundred percent wished I never learned this sick twisted truth. My body felt paralyzed at the sight of the true face of my enemy, feeling the bottled up emotions inside ready to explode. I wanted to believe it was a trick, but I knew inside it wasn't. I wanted to tell myself it was a mirage of a reflection, but it wasn't. The gasps and silence from the peanut gallery confirmed the disbelief inside all of us.

"That's not possible," Bobby stated breaking the ice, metaphorically this time.

"They both..." Paige whispered to herself out loud.

"They look..." Pete trembled in unease.

"They are..." Rachel stated releasing her binding grip from his head pushing him down to the ground with her telekinetic nudge.

" _Well I guess this marvelous creature behind just ruined the big surprise. Well than, let's cut the formality, shall we... brother?"_

#  Chapter 12 True Face of the Enemy

"I don't have a brother let alone someone as wretched and appalling as you! Is this some sort of illusion sorcerer because I grow tired of your foolish trickery dick?"

" _Half brother,"_ he added in, " _however we are something much more you and I!"_

"We are not brothers!" I roared stomping my foot down into the tabletop surface. It caused an unexpected shockwave of energy smacking him in the face taking in the full image of the man who aided the vampires in my wanted untimely death. The man who shot a rocket at me and a large light fixture meant to kill all of my cheerleading teammates caught in the crossfire.

Yet I stood there baffled and confused not sure what to believe anymore. This very man who in so many ways before had many resemblances to my own self feeling my stomach cringes from the pain of absolute hate and denial. His skin tone, his body structure, his face, all resembled me. It was like I had stepped into the mirror and had a conversation with myself, expect this wasn't a mirror or an illusion, he was very real. We gazed at each other for several minutes in cold silence, he occasionally grinning at me with his devil-like smile of deceit in his sick and twisted mind.

"How," I simply asked while everyone else stood in a defensive stance ready to pounce on him the second his twitches.

" _You and your Orders need to stand down first!"_

"And why should we do that," Bobby barked back.

" _The way I see it, if you want the truth dear brother than you really don't have a fucking choice."_

"He's telling the truth," the siren muttered softly standing in the shadows after sustaining minor injuries from the rumble.

I intently glanced around the room breaking my two eyes completely focused of the green eye photo copy of myself to get a facial expression response from my colleagues.

"We should be alright darling," Paige remarked, "They are outnumbered."

"Tell your bitch over there to stand down before I finish you both off instead," Rachel threatened.

"Don't try anything funny," Bobby threatened.

" _I must say I like that you've become so fond of my dear brother. His very own personal snow queen,"_ this alleged illegitimate sibling of mine taunted.

"You said half brother," I repeated his words holding onto that much of my now questionable doubts consuming me all at once.

" _Let's be civil about this. Please have seat and we can discuss this like adults not standing on the top of this table. Besides, it is obvious you have outsmarted me and defeated me here tonight anyways."_

"I'd rather stand," I protested as he slowly inched his way backwards before he levitated into sit position then glided backwards into the high end table edge sitting comfortable in the elevated chair.

" _That's fine by me, although there are plenty of seats available thanks to you bro!"_

"Stop calling me that," I growled back furiously as we inched our way back now surrounding the table, me at mid point staring at the replicated sibling. Other than different colored eyes, some slight differences in our facing structure and feature, his overly slicked back hair style that wasn't short like my fade cut, and our chins and noses only have slight dissimilarities it was uncanny, I repeated my question, "How?"

" _Obviously we are brothers from another mother since that foolish wench over there is my cousin and you were raised by your human mother. If you didn't figure it out yet, we were conceived by the same father and born at the exact same time almost twenty two years ago. Bastard children we are, both you and I, conceived from the seed of ancient immensely powerful being only for destiny to bare two precious children into the world. Isn't fates twisted sense of humor completely fucked up and ironic, am I right?"_

"Bullshit," I protested now in disbelief of the words spewing out his wretched mouth. "You're lying!"

" _I wish I was,"_ he answered blankly being taken back by the trip down memory lane. " _I too was once like you, living a normal life with a single mother doing normal human things, for the most part. One night I overheard the coven during a secretly held an emergency session. They believed I was asleep during my early teenage years. In that session the coven discussed that death itself had come seeking only one thing out, the chosen ones that would become so powerful their existence would pose a very threat to many of the dark creatures that roam this very earth."_ He paused for a moment letting out a sigh of displeasure in the tone of his voice.

"I've heard the shit before," I announced unsatisfied with his answer so far. "Are you going to get the damn point?"

" _Except for the fact that whatever translators who told these rumors and whispers need to learn the meaning of conjugation, because it wasn't just one that chosen dear brother, we both are chosen ones! It was never spoken of again, at least not ever in my presence until one night when they came, years later. They attacked us decapitating my mother's head off in front of her only adolescent child."_ A chill took over the atmosphere of the large room as each of us stood dead silent only exchanging various facial expressions at each other.

"The vampires," I added now feeling a fragment of sympathy at sorrowed look in his eyes. "I don't understand, why would they kill her, and not you?"

" _One of those vampires spared my life for reasons unknown to this day, using his political jurisdiction insisting that it was in the best interest to keep watch of me until the time was right. That night I was captured and taken hostages by these filthy vermin. I was put into a car when that very vampire who saved me that night sat with me and told me a very long fascinating story as we headed to a little city ninety miles east from here."_

"You mother fucker," I growled clenching my first so tight wanting to hop over this table and return a few of those cheap shots he threw earlier.

" _Now you know how it feels,"_ he mumbled under his breath. " _I discovered that night about the supposed prophecy amongst the supernatural world about our ascension in greatness, inherited by the entity that gave us life, which makes us what we are."_ I held back for a minute or two as the room went silent again as I gathered my thoughts before continuing with our conversation.

"Say I did choose to believe all this coming from you," I started saying, pausing giving it careful thought. "What made you believe a word the vampire had told you?"

" _That was the first night I saw you, when Mordechi took me and showed me first hand, watching you in your ridiculous cheerleading outfit for a football game. I had that same look of disbelief you have right now. They had to show me in order for me to understand what was going on after watching the brutality that took place. Once the vampires became aware of the fact that two children were born that night they searched high and low trying to find these anomalies of the world, tracking us down doing their best to understand exactly what we are."_

"Mordechi," I muttered under my breath now doubtful of my stalkers intentions.

" _I see my eldest friend couldn't help himself, he's quite fond of me so I could only imagine his desire for you. He is your type!"_

"It doesn't really matter you zealot lunatic," I interrupted. "Regardless of whatever the hell we are doesn't justify this lives lost by your actions. Just because we are gifted doesn't give us the right to running around causing chaos and madness were ever we go acting like gods."

" _But we are gods brother,"_ he roared back with self-centered pride, " _We are gods! Descendants of ancient entities that once roamed this very land, the bastard children of ancient higher creature, and not some low life dead beat mortal dad that we were made to believe."_

"Like the Asgardians and the Olympian gods?" Bobby interjected with a legitimate question. "Are you actually buying this?" Rachel added finally breaking her silence calming down a little bit from the tension earlier. "He has no idea what real power is!"

" _I would love to find out, if you are demonstrating of course,"_ he flirted.

"Well that's another difference," Pete chuckled to himself even though his words were heard throughout the room.

"Continue," I disrupted.

" _I must say I truly admire your tenacity for embracing your heart's desire as you rightfully should as a god. Humanity is the one who brings such controversy to a rather dead end topic, one of the many things that separates us versus them, god versus human."_

"My apologies brother," I lied, "but did you not forget that we are still human asshole?"

" _Part god and man, but the fractions of science can't determine how much of this fantastic essence surges through our very veins. As white washed as you and I maybe cheerleader frat boy superhero, our heritage alone tells us much of the gods we descended from. Unlike these vapid Anglo gods of the Nordics, Romans, and Greeks, the gods I speak of are much closer and far more ancient that that Asgardian fool that from my understanding is going through the same phase you are, pretending to be a hero rather than embrace your godlike stature."_

"Well what other gods could there be," Bobby interjected, "since not a single individual in our time has ever once came across these supposed gods."

" _You're Bobby, am I right,"_ he inquired cockily.

"I said continue you son of a bitch," I demanded having my wand pointed right at him consumed with all sorts of emotions.

" _Careful there brother,"_ he cautioned me as I noticed a wand slowly moving its way up into his hand.

"Since you seem so sure of your sources why don't you get on with it already," Rachel challenged him.

" _Are any of you familiar with the story of the Five Sons?"_ the Faceless Foe, now my supposed half brother inquired.

"Do I look like an encyclopedia darling," Paige answered nastily. Pete and Rachel stood quiet, all of us unfamiliar with the mythological story.

"The Aztec Gods," Bobby exclaimed, "the story of the first god of existence, according to their legends. He bared four children that were considers the suns presiding over the four cardinal directions; north, south, east, and west if I remember correctly." Everyone started awkwardly at the all knowledgeable Professor Drake.

" _Please don't tell me that you secret base you've been running off to has a library too? How cliché,"_ he teased _, "like a Chicano Buffy."_

"Stop stalling with your banter," I shouted back with a grumble in my voice. "What does this folklore have to do with us?"

" _One of those four is our real father and these abilities are our birthright, this sensational extraordinary essence and energy flowing through every cell in our body."_

"That's not possible," Bobby noted, "The entire Aztec religion was eradicated by Christianity when the Spaniards conquered the Americas."

" _Sure they did, and yet here we stand today now learning of the Nordic and Greek gods who very much exist, how can anyone truly be sure they were eradicated? According to my undead acquaintances, they like so many could have simply went into hiding, blending in with society pretending to be normal in fear of humanity's wrath. They like many disguising themselves with false names on government pieces of paper, like our birth certificates with the identical fake identity used under the box titled father."_

"According the vampires," I interrogated fighting every urge in my body to siphon the information out with some form of torture to learn more of this knowledge. I back tracked to the conversation when it came to me one question still unanswered. "Why did the vampires take your mother's life?"

" _You of course,"_ he remarked snidely.

"I didn't do anything!"

" _They killed her because of you, because she lied and betrayed the bloodsuckers because of you, she died because of you. Now brother, time for you to pay the price!"_ His arms came out once more but this time instead of punching the surface he hoisted himself up to the table top. I hopped up standing on opposite sides of the long stone table ready to kick his ass. We collided into one another meeting at the center of the table fist and legs, engaging each other once more. This time however was different, for this was our first confrontation with each other as brothers. This time I knew the true face of the enemy, partially understanding where the animosity and hatred had sparked from all this time. Even as we struggled against one another on this table top, fighting each other now with every ounce of rage inside, it felt like I was fighting myself. However, this wasn't a case of cloning or a dark version of me. He was born and raised in a completely different family and lived his own life that somehow led him to this dark path of vengeance against his own flesh and blood.

I scanned the room to see why not a single one of my teammates had intervened. Deacon Frost had returned on top of the fact that the siren and Rachel just went into round three. I attempted a double round house kick, but he caught my leg. He instantly slammed me hard on my back into stone surface. I could feel the cracking of joints throughout my body. I tried to get up but my arms came crossing in front of my head when another jab was thrown, and then another, and then another. Finally I got tired of the crazy punch and block dance when I opened up my right hand and knocked him back on his ass with a little extra push.

"Sorry, did I push you to hard?"

" _Two can play at that game"_ he yelled sending one right back me. I luckily threw my right arm out fast enough to absorb some of the impact. A bright light switch turned on in that moment when I got back on my two feet charging once more, only this time focusing the telekinetic energy radiating through my clenched fist ready to unleash some fury. Of course I should have known by the expression on his face also he was having the same idea. Soon both of our right fists met at stomach level now at a draw but neither of us let go. It created visible energy of blue and green auras pulsating from the continual force being surged out. Damn he was strong, having that pure look of hatred in his green eyes.

"I get the green," I snickered loudly over the sounds of battle, "green with fucking envy!"

" _Envious, of you,"_ he roared back outraged by the comment. " _The only thing I'm envious of you about is the fact you have a proclivity to somehow stay alive time and time again rather that just dying once and for all!"_

"I apologize my existence is ruining your perfect life. It's called deal with it," I paused for a brief second, "Hash tag go fuck yourself!"

" _I don't have to deal with it brother! I do not play by the rules of meaningless mortals, I am a god you son of a bitch,"_ he boasted being one hundred perfect serious about the last part. He launched his left hand towards me when our left fist now met halfway to a double handed telekinetic standoff.

"I don't give a flying fuck what you believe. We are not gods. We were born human you deranged megalomaniac sick fuck. You crave power as if you are entitled to it."

" _We are entitled to by birthright!"_

"We are not gods!" This time I stepped one foot forward giving a thrust through my palms throwing him off course tossing him back a few feet in the air landing on the side of table on the floor. I leaped down inches in front of him now reengaging. I could see from my peripheral vision, catching a glimpse of Paige and Rachel having a little brawl with the siren on the side of the room. Bobby and Pete took on Deacon Frost at the opposite end of room and table. I was surprised the siren witch had any fight in her left but she was keeping up with the multiple combats taking place. I paced slowly towards my brother after rebounded back a few feet after releasing our telekinetic attack when I noticed a shiny large object in his hands. The sword that belonged to the teleporter and sister of Pete, Ileana he now pointed my way marching arrogantly towards me with a grin on his face. Is that how I looked when I being a cocky asshole? What a cheater! I was armed but only with two silver double edge daggers. I noticed how short they really were, trying my hardest not the show the skepticism of my weapons of choice.

" _Should have brought your frying pan, you would have had a better chance,"_ he taunted rudely _, "Two little daggers versus this bad boy!"_

"We're about to find out," I roared back swinging the daggers mimicking any sword fighting moves I could visualize. My right dagger met the tip as the two of us found ourselves in another midway struggle of might and will. The clashes of the blades vibrated throughout my body sensing the immense force we surged in every strike against one another. I noticed him start to ease up on the dual when his attention was somewhere else. "You think we're gods, and even if you're right, it doesn't matter what we are, it's about we do that differentiates you and I. I made a choice to use my abilities for the greater good, the path of righteousness unlike you. You are consumed with misguided the hatred inside, filled with darkness and despair."

" _That darkness and despair is no thanks to you,"_ my brother shouted huffing and puffing seeing the pure rage in his dark stare as his swinging intensity increased. " _I figure since you have an impeccable way of living time and time again, I'd just take one of their lives instead,"_ he gloated while aiming the large pointed sharp sword ready to come rushing towards Bobby Drake whose back is turned giving him a perfect opportunity.

He released the grip as I watched the blade in slow motion began zooming across the room at the perfect angle ready to make contact any second. I was too far from where I stood to leap cross the table and land anywhere close to Bobby when I felt the cold surface of the mirrored wall behind me. The mirror! I moved inside the mirror, catching my other reflection in the nick of time jumping across. In seconds I propelled out of the mirror feet away from Bobby's back. My chest went in his place not wanting Bobby to have risked his life for mine.

I saw my feet made it all the way out of the mirror when the impact of the large sword slit through the left side of my chest to my surprise not hitting the heart. Yet the sharp blade sliced through coming out of my back side. Streams of blood began dripping down from the wound as I attempted to grab the sword, still falling for the ground but the sharp pain was too much. I felt my body instantly go numb from head to toe collapsing to the ground quickly to be caught by the arms of the man I just saved, good old Professor Bobby Drake. He now braced my fall, stopping my wounded body from smacking hard on the floor. He looked down at me with absolute horror realizing my unexpected sacrifice to save him, as tears started to swell in his eyes. I felt a small grin perk up on my face once I saw my best friend, my mentor safe and sound from the surprise attack, the last clear image I saw before everything faded away then everything went pitch black!

#  Chapter 13 Sins of Generations Past

" _At last," I laughed witnessing every second of his unexpected departure. My brother, the Acolyte, being the super hero he now title's himself doing the must selfless act. He took his own life to save his ice princess using mirror magic, a trick well known the witches, pierced swiftly from the marvelous blade killing him at last. The Chosen One my ass, defeated by a mere sword! The whispers and secrets surrounding this obnoxious creature and his path to greatness to be subdue so easily some god he turned out to be. After all this careful plotting and manipulating I defeated the one person who could get in my way to inheriting what is truly mine. How ironic life can be, a great and powerful entity destroyed by a single stab to the chest. I have sought my revenge, my recompense, my vengeance, and now I can proceed on taking what is rightfully mine, starting with the island of Los Angeles. How incredible I felt watching the tragic faces amongst his allies. What a shame!_

"What did you do," _the man of ice shouted grasping my brother's freshly dead body seeing the streams of blood starting to dip to the ground. The chaos that was taking place throughout the large chamber came to sudden halt when Deacon's disgusting vampire self kicked in as he went into a frenzy indulging the scent of fresh dripping blood speeding through the crowded room of the heroes scattered around._

" _Frost," I commanded stopping him dead in his tracks before he made it near the deadly poison that flows in our veins._

"He's dead," _the tin man confirmed as they set the body down carefully on the ground._ "You killed him!"

"I could have stopped it," _the frozen one roared in agony._

"He tried to save you Bobby." _the other girl, the transformer if I remember correctly._

"You killed him," _the magnificent red head growled launching a tremendously powerful telekinetic blast sending me back into the wall no longer mirrored from the sustained damage in the last hour or so. Deacon Frost made his way to my side while the four heroes flanked around their friend to observe the obvious unexpected turn of events._

" _Quite observant beautiful, but can you all get the fuck out of here," I demanded have no desire to deal with them enough to even slaughter them on the spot, "oh and take the corpse back with you, he's bleeding on my floor."_

"Why," _demanded Iceman._ "Tell us why you did it!"

" _Because if it wasn't for whatever ability within him that stopped my mother from killing in the first place," I responded feeling the need to inform them the truth behind my successful vengeance, "she would have never felt inclined to cover it up. She would have never been forced into persuading the coven to use their gifts to breach his mother's mind, erasing the accident from ever taking place. They then instructed her to move from the area all the meanwhile my mother convinced the leaders of that the boy had perished. Until one day..."_

"They found him," _the lovely redhead finished the end of the story right from my mouth._

" _Yes, the practical duplicate was alive and well, discovered by one of those filthy creatures and I watched them decapitate my mother right before they took me hostage for all these years..."_

"You piece of shit," _the metal man growled heading my way._ "You blame him!"

"He had nothing to do with the death of your mother," _scolded the icicle, "_ He had no hand in your mother's untimely death. Blame the fucking vampires you stand next to!"

" _Fuck the vampires and their pathetic excuse of a species!"_

"All you are is a sick twisted, deranged, and very misguided little boy who's playing an incredibly fucked up game of sibling rivalry," _Bobby Drake screamed, "_ This ends now!"

" _Like the dead cheerleader bastard brother of mine would say, bring it!" Within seconds Deacon, my siren cousin Serena, and I engaged in combat once more with the four remaining members of the Orders, already down their pathetic leader. Iceman took the place of his best friend coming straight for me in full ice form. Spikes of ice now took form out of both his hands. I blocked his first few swings throwing them right back at him while he unleashed his fury proving to be a worthy opponent. Deacon Frost was faced with the metal man and the girl who now took the form of fire, now understanding who sparked up such a massive amount fire to take out the backup. Of course my cousin had gone right for her new arch nemesis the telepath._

"Did you really think we were going to get away with this," _he shouted at me during out back and forth brawls._ "

" _Who's going to stop me, the Order of the Acolyte, minus the Acolyte?"_

"Damn right we are prick," _he snapped back picking up speed swinging his ice solid arms at me once more managing to sneak in a few good jabs with iced fist this time. I defended myself from the overwhelming unforeseen strength the snow man truly had in this supernatural form. After spreading our duels out in the large conference room, the fights had moved towards one end of the room away from the body lying on the ground, his teammates not wanting to disturb his never ending slumber as if preserving him in that condition would do them any good. Seconds later we were disrupted once more in the middle of combat when an explosion ignited from one of the floors beneath us causing the lights to flicker as the walls around trembled immensely causing many of the already broken pieces of mirror and glass to crumble to the ground._

" _What the hell was that," I roared behind me at Frost who was cornered by the metal duo._

"These assholes destroyed this entire place like savages." _he snickered back as he kicked the metal man hard in the stomach following it up with a kick to his groin._

"My bad darlings," _the female transformer taunted back rudely rejoining the fight with Deacon Frost._

"We're just getting started," _hissed my favorite redhead having the siren tumbling at me in midair. I managed dodging her just in the nick of time; ducking right underneath before she could collide with me._

I stood back up ready to leap and bound pummeling my attacker when another sound made the entire room stop whatever they were doing at the utter shock of what they heard. I could feel the blood start to rush to my face burning up now, hoping that the sound came from anywhere else inside the room. Another jolted sound came from the same side again. Something was moving around on the other side completely covered from everyone's view. It couldn't be! It' can't be!

"What was that?" _the tin man asked paused standing completely still. We all held our position as the room went silent again. The others had kept quite freaked out by the strange noises coming from the other end._

"Is he..." _his frozen companion exclaimed with a hint of joy in his tone._

" _No..." I yelled when the sound of a metal scraping the ground turned everything that had just played out now completely upside down. Soon a figure emerged from the floored, the mighty fucking Acolyte slowly rising to his feet in a stagger, the sword lodge so nicely in his chest, when he firmly gripped the handle with both hands. "No!" With one hard yank he pulled the blade instantly removing the first half out of his chest, his eyes glowing in a blue aura, when I noticed something peculiar developing from his back side. As he removed a portion of the sword, two strange objects slowly ascended from the center of his spine outward. I witnessed as Josh, my brother still alive, tugged once more now fully removing the entire weapon from his chest that was healing from the inflicted wound, but the sight of what he now had attached to rest of his body put me in absolute shock, and outrage. Two appendages emerged from his back now stretching out completely making out the objects before me clearly now. At first I thought I had imagined it, for when he stepped forward standing once again on his own two feet, these appendages unveiled the chosen one now for what he truly was, the Winged Acolyte of humanity. Son of a bitch!_

#  Chapter 14 Earned Appendages

Seconds turned into minutes as I still stared into the void of darkness covering my vision. Is this afterlife? Unlike the numerous stories of people passing usually seeing a bright light before departing this world, this was the total opposite. As soon as the sword pierced right through my chest, the last thing I could recollect was the person that I saved right before falling into the absolute darkness. The pain was excruciating numbing my organs inside. Words could not describe the pain. Being bitten by a vampire was like a mosquito bite compared to this. The passing of the vampire venom channeled through my body was nothing compared to this. I was dumbfounded at the length of time I had spent without sight when it dawned on me, was I really dead?

If I was actually gone then death sure wasn't what I expected it to be, unless of course I was sent to purgatory which fit this scenario. My mind flooded with hazy flashbacks of the past; however the tormenting pain made it difficult concentrate on a particular moment in time. I could sense the fear consume me overwhelmingly, torn by the consequences of what might happen next. I had sacrificed my life for one of my best friends, someone who I would take a bullet for any day, however it was what they were up against that had my emotions running wild. What if my brother, the man who apparently time and time again tried having me annihilated, now decides to prey on the Orders with my defeat? What if the Orders retaliated for my unexpected death? What if my brother becomes so powerful in my absence that he does something drastic like take back this land he claims is his birthright? What did he mean by that?

So many questions and concerns consumed my mind I felt like I would blow at any minute, when a sudden shaking of the ground from underneath distracted my train of thought in this dark space. Another trembling took place when it hit me that my consciousness might still be inside the very room I perished. If I was right, I was lying in the exact spot where the sharp sword sliced through me. After another minute a larger rumbling confirmed my suspicions, both my body and soul still remained intact having never left to begin with. The question is why am I still here? If my whole self is capable of this much thought process than maybe I didn't die from the indescribable stabbing. Maybe I'm in some sort of unconsciousness state of mind preserving my train of thought while my actual body was physically shut down from the sustained injury. Maybe I'm on that fine line between life and death. Then it occurred to me, I never once felt like I was slipping anywhere, everything just went completely black in excruciating agony.

In seconds my entire body started tingling awakening ever nerve in my body. It was the essence of energy flowing inside me. I was on complete overhaul, giving me a more vibrant sensation as if it had increased in power ten folds. I recognized the immense force taking hold of me having experienced this type of anomaly once before, the night of the ascension, the day my powers manifested and I was brought into this chaotic world of the supernatural. My first memories of this amazing phenomenon was the incredible over the top feeling that was almost euphoric, a side effect I did not mind once getting used to. This felt even better than before! I started to feel my body parts with the pulsating force sending signals to my injured appendages helping to heal and strengthen the wound. In seconds I could wiggle my toes a little bit. I concentrated on the areas I needed to heal as the legs and torso followed. Without any verbal commands, my legs slowly twitched in a motion that was trying to get me back on my two feet. My sight slowly returned into the blue aura night vision capable of spotting my hand trying to find the right spot to get the rest of my body standing upright. The pain was still present the entire time but I had to fight it, right now just focusing on getting back up. I struggled for another minute or two when I finally managed to stand up one foot at a time, now trying to look around but my sight was still fuzzy. After I felt I was upright completely, the room came to a halt to a dead silence but the figures were too blurred to make out.

" **Remove the sword,"** the infamous Voice whispered in my mind. " **Remove the sword and use the gift you earned to stop this and save the one like you, the one who bares light."**

Normally I would have tried to argue back with some sort of nasty remark to the entity that handed me my secret base of operation and trained me until I was joined by Bobby and Pete over one year ago, but not today. My hand trembled from the excruciating pain as fought to get a grip on the handle of the sword. I understood now why I needed to stand up from eyeing the length of the blade stuck inside my chest. I held the little breath I had in my lungs firmly gripping the handle now tugging it backwards as I felt the re-cutting through my tissues and organs. I tried to scream but nothing came out. My sight at that exact moment gleamed with a bright light followed up by images that began swarming my vision taking me to what appeared to be glimpse of the future, a very dark future from what I saw. Battles became wars, death and despair consumed the land by horrific events. None of it made any sense as usual when the flash forwards came to a halt.

The sword was still halfway inside me although I felt something heavy weighing down on my back but my sight had not fully returned. I grabbed the handle tightly once more pulling the remainder of the sword out sending me back into the trance of possible futures ahead of us. The visions were scattered, large assaults somewhere in the forest, a city under siege, and one hell of an ally roster that stood on our side during these massive assaults according to the fragmented glimpses. I could feel my muscles and joints again now standing tall never feeling more alive when a fluttering sound from that strange weight pulling me down got my attention. I closed then re opened my eyes to discover two marvelous appendages that now sprouted out of the center of my back and spine, wings! Not only am I alive standing throwing my head up to the crowd that witnessed my not so untimely death as I removed the sharp sword letting it drop to the ground hearing all say the same thoughts in their minds, Oh my god! I finally snapped out of the foggy haze completely when I realized the room had focused all attention on me waiting for me to speak. I'm alive, and I have bad ass looking wings! Brother!

"That hurt," I blurted out after panting a little, getting more air back into the lungs, "dick!"

"What the..." Deacon Frost stuttered dumbfounded by the turn of events.

"Holy shit," Pete cursed gawking at the new and improved me.

"You're alive," Bobby expressed hearing the concern in his voice.

"Oh my god," Rachel and Paige exclaimed simultaneously both in shock.

"I thought he would change into a wolf..." Pete began his bantering under his breath.

"Shut up Pete," I growled emphasizing the animal like grunt.

" _No it can't be,"_ my obnoxious Faceless Foe half brother pleaded. _"How did you survive that? How did you get those wings?"_

"I didn't get these wings..." I paused for a second before glaring back hatefully at the man that nearly replicated me entirely, my own flesh and blood outraged and overwhelmed with the outcome of his plot, "I earned them bitch!"

I stepped forward again keeping both hands out with my palms up when the sounds of electrical currents sparked throughout me. I saw the surges of electricity pulsating out of my fingertips. I flinched re throwing out my palms causing more little blue bolts developed, showing them off to my nemesis.

" _Try me oh mighty Acolyte,"_ he sneered facing me. He now mimicked the demonstration of power, although his voltage didn't seem nearly as strong, " _or as you would say, bring it!"_

"Bring it", I repeated snidely, "bring it!" I paused for a second letting the rage inside build up. "Bring it!" I shouted one more time, "With pleasure you mother fucking asshole!" Instantly we both darted at each other leaping back onto the stone table surface, our eyes glowing with the full essence of the magnificent force flowing through our veins. I scanned the room watching as the scattered group around us had fallen back, pushing themselves against the closest wall in anticipation for the damaging dual. The first time I had fought against the Faceless Foe now revealed as brother from another mother, our surges of energy collided coming to a draw, but as we continued trying to overpower one another with telekinetic streams, the stage where we battled began splitting in half causing the ground to crack open eventually cutting the building in half. We stood at the ends of the table top both pulsating electrical charges, showing off to one another.

" _You should be dead you son a bitch!"_

"Yet here I stand, alive and well, brother!"

" _I should thank whatever entity continuously keeps saving your life over and over again, this time reemerging with this new set of wings, when we both know how to fly already. They're pretty useless in my opinion."_

"These bad boys have much more to do with that just flying and I think you know that as well."

" _Wings you earned; for what, saving your precious Bobby Drake in the ultimate act of selflessness?"_

"Envious I see!"

" _Envious,"_ he roared back as the green bolts of electricity pulsating from his palms intensified as both arms flung out sending the charges coming towards me when I placed my open palms out aiming right back sending numerous bolts of blue electricity as the two streams of energy smashed together in the middle causing several volts flying haywire around the room as we unleashed to full might of our force. " _Let's see if those precious wings can save you now!"_

The streams of electrical and telekinetic energy brightening the room with the vibrant colors as we dueled with our abilities supercharged. I continued pushing through feeling his resistance every step of the way. His anger fueled the magnitude of his shocks, amplifying by the second making his end start to creep closer to me seeing the extra surge he protruded out. Releasing the energy blast, I put up my arms in a cross like manner right in front of my face and chest. I absorbed the forces being thrown at me. I held it back for a second building up for the return fire, stepping forward now propelling the massive amounts of energy back at him. The repulse was so strong that every last piece of mirror that was still hanging on the wall completely combusted shattering into tiny little pieces crumbling onto the floor.

It sent my opponent flying back knocking him several yards off the table as he tumbled to the ground. The table top from my end had collapsed the center, most likely destroyed our duel of powers.

"These wings seem to be holding up pretty well," I gloated, "brother!"

" _Do you really think this little burst of extra power those wings are giving you will be enough to stop me?"_

"Looks like it," I shouted in agreement. It was true, the minute I acquired these bad boys I sense the increased magnitude of powers, something completely unexpected when we first entered this place.

" _The only way to stop me is to kill me! Is murder truly inside your heart brother?"_

"Sometimes exceptions can be made!"

" _Well then,"_ he blurted after a second of silence, " _let's take this outside!"_

He lunged at me in full flight mode. He grabbed me with both of his arms swiftly passing over my head. We darted out smashing through the window now airborne freefalling downward heading into the concrete surface of the streets of Downtown Los Angeles. He held onto my face pushing me against every window on the way down, cracking and breaking the side of building as we sped downwards getting closer to the ground level. I looked back and forth frantically already hearing sounds of screaming from the pedestrians passing underneath ruptured skyscraper with debris falling off from various points of damage. I could see the numerous fire fighters and paramedics flooding towards the wreckage having blocked off the perimeter around getting a clear view of Fifth Street and Grand.

I struggled trying to free any part of my body pinned down with a telekinetic force from my dear brother who apparently has wanted me dead even more so than the vampires he claims to loath. He pounded at my face and chest using our velocity to intensify each blow I took in. It was too risky to try absorbing my fall with telekinesis with the condition of the tower above when I glanced up to see a possible landing zone nearby. Bingo! At the right moment once we reached the fifth floor, I expanded my wings from underneath knocking us back with a momentous speed. It separated the both of us from each other's grasp as we tumbled right into the center Fifth Street, kind of the direction I had intended. That was good enough. I looked up seconds later from the sound of a horn of an oncoming car ready for impact at any moment. I leaped up managing to catch the breeze of the cool night sky, a breeze that helped save my ass from getting smashed one on one with a car. I thought I was in the clear but was mistaken once another vehicle was airborne rushing right towards me. I took the advantage I had being midair when I felt my new appendages flap boosting me onto the hood of the falling vehicle. I continued my movement closer to my faced foe. I'll have to work on what to call him now besides an asshole.

" _I'm going to break those fucking wings with my bare hands prick,"_ he cursed from the distance out of sight.

"I'd like to see you try," I shouted when several bolts of green lightning struck me and the car, causing the car to erupt on impact with me in the crossfire. Before I knew it, I was plummeting straight back down into the asphalt of the street. I was ready to take care of the engulfed car when ice beams began smothering the flames cooling the vehicle off and breaking apart before slamming into another building. I watched the iced figure sliding his way between the buildings.

"Thanks Bobby, now get back to the others," I shouted as I tumbled around surprisingly landing perfectly on two feet facing the chaos on the street in front of me.

"You can't do this," he commanded from a distance, "you can't bring this fight outside in public!"

"That's out my hands Bobby," I replied telepathically rather than shouting from the distance. "I have to stop him! None of this madness would have taken place if it wasn't for me!"

"Bring him down then! Contain him from the bystanders before exposing yourselves not to mention before anyone gets killed!"

" _Let's see if the Acolyte, the mighty cheerleader can stop me,"_ he taunted with his telepathic sinister voice. I watched him stroll away through the public park at the other end of the corner.

"Bobby, get back to others and sweep through that building for Jean Paul and Kyle." I ordered back reminding him of the two missing hostages before turning by attention of the perpetrator ahead.

"Once we finish deal with the siren and Frost, we'll be right behind you kid. Good luck!" I stalked forward having landed on the side walk. I made my way into the park I purposely directed us to. Let's hope this would be a suffice battleground compared to the middle of the busy streets, Pershing Square.

#  Chapter 15 Downtown Showdown

I found myself walking through the entrance leading into the park located in the middle of downtown. I watched as pedestrians ran by frantically from all directions trying to find safe cover from the explosions that erupted throughout the area. Although I couldn't see my foe as I slowly paced the sidewalk I could sense him close by, not to mention more people flooding out of the park itself gave it away. Earlier today I was enjoying my so called normal life, returning home from an exhausting three days of college cheer camp, only to learn hours later just how not normal my life truly was. From Magik teleporting and landing onto the hood of my car once we made it into the city, to discovering the terrible plot that had unfolded bringing us here to the vampire headquarters in an attempt to extract the hostages that were meant to be turned by my arch nemesis little bitch Deacon Frost.

The face of the true enemy was finally revealed, only to be my unknown half brother from another mother seeking his vengeance out for the unfortunate death of his mother, something he claims was my doing. I wish he was a clone having a remarkable resemblance to myself. An artificial duplicate formed to be my enemy would have been better than fate's twisted sense of humor. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, for even with all the blood ties he was his own entity who has taken his wrath to a whole new level with his lust for power and supremacy. He wanted the fall of the vampire governing body. He needed the fangs of Vlad Tepelus in order to do his real bidding. As soon as his revelation came to pass, I understood his reasoning for going through all this plotting and scheming to create vampires out of the living supernatural beings with extraordinary gifts. I assumed he most likely needed to enhance the abilities of the hostages by turning them with the venom of the Deacon Frost the super vampire to seal the deal. His choice of hostages also proved just how much this was about me, kidnapping and targeting particular individuals he knew would make this personal. Too bad! I am putting an end to this tonight!

Pershing square cleared quickly as sounds of emergency vehicle sirens engulfed the downtown district. I walked slowly into the park taking tiny steps listening in with my keen super sixth sense awaiting my brother's next assault. Of course my foe took cover somewhere lurking in shadows, cloaked out of sight in a typical manner. My sight had converted into the blue tinted night vision mode, giving me a better perspective of the perimeter catching quick movements from different directions when I heard a snap of chains behind me. Two large benches on the side of came pummeling towards me, one managing to smack me from behind but I blocked the other letting it fall to the ground before it had a chance to strike me. After a few seconds taking in the pain from the impact I charged forward this time spotting the glow of his two beady green blazing eyes of envy, stopping in the center of a grass square lawn only to find emptiness again.

" _Can your lovely angelic wings make you fast enough to catch me,"_ he gloated sarcastically hidden now playing an obvious game of cat and mouse.

"Come out and fight me, witch!"

" _I am a god!"_

"We are not gods!"

" _Still too much of a pussy to embrace what we really are I see! It disgusts me, choosing to degrade yourself as one of them when we are so much more. Yet I wonder, all this time you've been the hype of this absurd rumor of the almighty chosen ones. However I was born with magic in my blood, and not just from our bastard father. Witch's blood also flows through my veins, what can we saw about your very ordinary human mother?_ " He had a point, one that I never put together up until this very moment. He had both the blood of a god and a witch flowing through him now raising the question of whether or not this makes him more powerful. Regardless, this wasn't the time to dwell on the matter since he was ready to attack from his hiding place at any moment and I had to fight back. I would not allow a single doubt in my mind of the possibility when the words once told to me by the infamous Voice.

"You are blinded by you arrogance. If there is one thing I know deep down inside," I scolded, pausing for a moment, "regardless of what we are, god, witch, sorcerer, it doesn't matter. It is our humanity is what truly defines the incredible entities we are. Just because we maybe special doesn't change to fact we were born human, raised human, and are still part of humanity, not above them. Continue with this mentality and I promise you that your path to greatness will be a short one."

" _Fuck humanity. Mankind has always seemed to entitle itself above its own kind, degrading those humans amongst them who they define as different from their standard of normalcy..."_ his voice paused switching from direction to the other still hiding from sight. " _You of all people should understand. Even if humanity accepted you as their Acolyte, their savior, they will still look at you differently simply because of whom you are!"_

"Because I'm gay," I shouted back to the darkness, "I'm afraid your time sheltered from reality with those bloodsuckers has kept you in the blinded from the tolerance of today's society."

" _Has it really? I've watched you for quite some time now and you seem to struggle still to this day to embrace who you truly are, just like you are now."_

"Silence half brother," I roared back furiously, "stop acting like you know a damn thing about me. I am comfortable with who I am!"

" _You are a god, you shouldn't have to belittle yourself over petty human controversy, you can be with whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do!"_

"Words of a true psychotic megalomaniac," I roared back, "are you done hiding?"

" _Look at you, Acolyte, running around pretending to make a difference. What the hell do you think this is, save the cheerleader, save the world?"_

"No you son of a bitch, this cheerleading is going to save this damn world!"

" _I'd like to watch you try, and fail,"_ he taunted once more shifting his position from place to place still concealed amongst the trees, bushes, and dark unlighted areas.

"If you really think you are such a high and mighty god, come face me, witch!" I inched forward some more making my way into the middle of Pershing Square coming up to a large area of grass, stopping right on the edge of where the concrete and grass met. Low and behold directly across the lawn stood my brother, once the Faceless Foe now unmasked. He was standing still with both hands lowered, palms now glowing green similar to the color of his eyes. He was preparing to blast me with another charge.

"Bring it," I sneered instigating him to take his best shot.

" _My pleasure, cheerleader,"_ he boasted aiming both his palms in my direction as the stream of pure green tinted telekinetic energy darted across the lawn.

I initiated my hands to do the same, creating a powerful ray of blue telekinetic energy propelling from my palms as we engaged once again in a surge of energy struggle. As soon as the streams collided with each other once again at a draw in the middle, I could feel the massive amount of power he was protruding slamming hard, almost like several sledge hammers pounding away. I resisted doing my best to take each hit without releasing my pulsating energy waiting for the right opportunity to overpower him. Just like the first time we had engaged in this form of supernatural power struggle, the ground beneath the colliding streams started cracking cause a trench to form. I wanted to stop fighting acknowledging the damage being caused but neither of us let go.

I scanned the area now a little more visible thanks to fantastic light display we had produced when I noticed a few trees a few yards behind him. Good enough for me! Keeping the pulsating energy flowing. I focused on one of the trees, concentrating on moving it without the use of my hands all the meanwhile continuing the duel. After a few seconds I could see the tree slowly began to tilt in his direction. I kept constant eye contact on the tree feeling it vibrating from my telekinesis when the branch snapped off darting right at him from behind. The branch hit him causing him to fall forward but not without an extra blast from my hands tossing my brother back several yards disengaging the dual as the vibrant glow of the energy streams evaporated into the night sky.

Instantly, we charged each other rapidly as we charged into full combat mode, starting with a nice turning kick into his stomach while his hand swiped my cheek knocking my head to the side. I blew up and snapped, letting him have it. I tucked in the air front flipping pressing both feet into his chest followed by a quarter twist allowing myself to land back on my feet swinging both arms now, somehow managing to grab him and slammed him hard right back down into the ground.

"Had enough yet brother?"

" _I'm just getting warmed up,"_ he laughed back as he slid several yards back telekinetically balancing himself back on his feet before my foot met his face. The two of us stood still face to face once again. I glared into his vibrant green eyes sharply looking back with the stare of hate. He we ready to open his foul mouth when the sound of a gun caulking near us had our attention to the bushes where a gun pointed out followed by a uniformed officer emerged.

"Freeze," a voice commanded the two of us when we glanced around to see how much attention we had created, counting several police cars now surrounding the square. It was officer Barry King shaking vigorously realizing he stepped into the wrong fight, his only weapon against either of us a mere handgun. I could tell from his expression he recognized us, or me I should say.

"That is hilarious," we both stated, bursting into laughter simultaneously in an unusual perfect sync, like we were brothers. Damn! King inched towards us slowly like criminals, when I sent his pistol flying from clear sight as his face went pale white. Then I felt the delight mood change from my arch enemy across when the bastard sent out another wave of energy aimed right for the unarmed officer.

" _It's your move, Acolyte!"_

"With pleasure, dick", I shouted leaping several feet into the air landing in front of King still frozen solid from shock. I knew a simple deflection wouldn't completely protect the man in harm's way so I repulsed a telekinetic energy out wave from every inch of my body creating an expanding dome barrier surrounding our radius, watching his green electrical blast being absorbed and diminished on impact with the telekinetic shield. "Holy shit," I mumbled not expecting the massive size of the barrier to work so efficiently that I had conjured. I gawked for a second at the vibrant blue aura before releasing the surge of energy as it dissolved into thin air. I looked back over my shoulder and without a word I heard officer King scrambling and fleeing back into the bushes he came from. Damn, that's not good!

" _Cute trick frat boy,"_ he sneered charging at me at full flight speed yanking me up into the sky moving quickly upward. We proceeded further into downtown hovering over what looked like Seventh and Grand, zooming our way quickly passing the Ritz Carlton with LA Live and the Staples Center yards away lighting up the night sky. I could see the streets filled with people. I had to ground us somewhere when I twisted us around in a spinning motion aiming us right down on the rooftop of the LA Live Center, all the meanwhile continuing our heated hand to hand combat in flight. We crashed inches away from the letters on top of the building. We tumbled around still moving with the velocity of our fall. I felt that sneaky bastard reach around my side the second I looked away. He swiftly rolled me in a twisting motion that sent me flying off the rooftop spinning out of control onto the Staples Center large circular rooftop. Sound of screams and shouts from the people beneath us confirmed they definitely just witnessed a man get thrown from one building right to the other. He leaped shortly after not giving two shits if anyone below saw him as he landed with his right leg already pelting me hard in the stomach. " _I remember how much you like to battle it out on rooftops; it seems to be your thing brother from another mother."_

"Oh hell no," I shouted back, "Quit cramping my style!"

" _Your style,"_ he taunted back in a condescending tone. I charged at him again. We went into another round of back and forth blows using the large circular surface to do our deadly tango. Sirens sounds came closer around once the audience below saw two Hispanic men flying from one rooftop to another, one of those men having wings. Humanity was already becoming aware of the existence of the supernatural world that has lived amongst just recently with past incidents that other supernatural beings caused. One of those incidents was just like this, a similar type sibling squirrel between Nordic Gods. Well it looks like the cat was out of the bag for us from the minute the two of us emerged from the devastation taking place in the skyscraper.

It was hard to focus fearing the consequences after whatever unfolds, wondering where my teammates were, and my other enemies of the night, the vampires. This wasn't like the cheerleading competition which was so secluded from the public the vampires knew the only witnesses to their existence would be a handful of neurotic college cheerleaders. We were right in the middle of a highly populated area causing destruction every step of the way. Bobby's scolding words earlier were right, this has to end now. This was the worst place for us to land but at least I had the advantage of large space high above from the crowd below to fight it out until the ghetto birds arrive. I intensified each punch and kick pushing through every bit of energy throwing him back a few times. He sucker punched me twice in the face with a stone like force, making me dizzy as hell when I noticed he was open for a quick attack. My hands reached out grabbing the back of his head when I head butted him then proceeded to yank his neck and chin firmly into my bent up knee then tossing him back.

"Are you done yet? Give it up already, you are not going to win this little god complex of yours!"

" _I'll show you what a real god can do!"_ His hand gripped for his wand that quickly emerged from the lodge position in his arm. He pointed it at me with a flicker, igniting a ball of green flames heading straight for me. Distracted by the unexpected attack, I acrobatically maneuvered to the side quickly but a part of the flame caught the end of my wings sending a sharp pain down my spine. However the substance of the wings shielded itself extinguishing the green fire. That really pissed him off when he went a-wall, shooting several dart of his witch like flame this time my wand had extended at just the right moment deflecting the attacks _._ He laughed pausing in his barrage when his laughter silenced noticing that I was inflicting little damage. " _Damn you Josh, why won't you just die already!"_

"Well fuck you..." I stopped completely stumped by his use of my name just realizing I didn't even know this prick's name.

" _It's Jeremiah asshole!"_

"Seriously," I asked in total disgust by the fact the first letter of his name is the exact same as mine.

" _Fucking fate, right?_ _Well then mighty winged Acolyte, son of a god, try this out for size."_ he roared as both of his hand burst into large numerous green flames burning vibrantly as the two streams of fire raced at me. I threw out both hands also holding my wand to absorb the flame throwing, feeling every scorching blast in the processes. The pain became excruciating as the flames sizzled, burning the top layer of my skin with only my telekinesis to shield me from combusting. Suddenly something inside me erupted with a super surge of massive energy pulsating throughout every nerve of my body. The feeling of electricity in my blue eyes transformed as the essence flowing within intensified its way up now fueling my bright eyes with what felt like flames.

They clashed and flickered inside my pupils as it built up causing every joint in my body to repulse a supersonic charge of energy exploded into bright blue flames flickering out from my skin quickly engulfing the green flames. I examined the flames as I watched them burn around me, the sting of his attacks suddenly cooled off as steam began to rise up. Then it hit me, these weren't flames of hot fire, they were flames of cold burning ice! I was conjuring it as a defense, as if I was partially mimicking the same abilities as my best friend Iceman. Jeremiah's face dropped even though he still pushed whatever spark he had left in him, but the substance my unforeseen defense mechanism was becoming his undoing. The blue fire of ice swarmed around him as he began panting and yelling from the pain falling to his knees.

"How does frost bite feel, brother?"

"That did not just happen," called Bobby, ice sliding onto the rooftop with Rachel by his side as the two stood gawking at the incredible display of power.

"Those flames are ice," Rachel emphasized.

" _Mimicking the man you sacrificed your life for, how romantic,"_ he taunted back his voice trembling from the pain of immense cold burn. I turned back my attention towards my sibling when I closed my eyes for a second releasing the burst of frozen flames watching the blue and green auras dispersed into thin air of the night sky. My teammates stood on opposite sides of us keeping watch over our defeated once Faceless Foe.

"Enough of your foul tongue, it's over," I ordered him. I pointed my wand right at his face not allowing him to get up from his kneeled position. "You have been defeated, brother!" Sounds of police sirens came closer as the buzzing of numerous helicopters had approached. They were circling around the commotion, both police and news choppers swarming around.

"We lost Deacon Frost," Bobby informed me as he stepped closer.

"And that skank siren too," Rachel growled with hatred in her words.

"Where's..." I started to question.

"Pete and Paige are sweeping through the building as we speak before the authorities make their way in," Bobby interjected. "We'll find them."

I glared back at the one responsible for everything that transpired with a look of absolute rage, examining his dumbfounded look as if he forgot about the hostages still unaccounted for.

"Boys, I hate to interrupt," Rachel announced, "but we need to get out of here before we get detained ourselves." The three of us returned our attention to the perpetrator grinning staring down at the floor. "What should we do about him?"

"We can't leave him for the police to apprehend," Bobby exclaimed, "He's too dangerous for them to handle."

"Hey asshole," I shouted, "get up slowly! You're coming with us!"

"You're not bringing..." Rachel started to say.

"I know the perfect place to dump this prick off," I replied before she could say anything about the Grand Hall in front of him. "Bobby, contact those government agents. I'm sure they'll have room for this son of a bitch."

"You heard the man, get up," Rachel barked as she walked up closer to him giving him a very swift kick in the nuts, "Now!"

" _Oh my, aren't you a keeper,"_ he chuckled in pain. " _I can't wait for the day you'll be reaching around down there again you marvelous creature!"_

"It's Marvel Girl," she snapped back charging him while still grounded. With both hands she ringed his neck tightly, "let's finish this right now!"

"Rachel," Bobby scorned, a tone usual reserved for me.

"We're better than that," I admitted in a calm tone although I knew I was lying to myself.

"You're lying!"

" _You are lying and I said it before, there's only one way to defeat me. Maybe she has to balls to actual do it!"_

"Fuck off!" I replied ignoring any of his remarks. "We can't Rachel as much as I'd like, but he's still a living soul. Besides, we are not truly capable of killing in cold blood. Let him go!"

"He's right," Bobby concurred. "Rachel, release him and we take him to Agent Stick-Up-Her-Ass and they'll throw him in the Vault, a place incredibly hard to escape even for gods or pricks who think they are."

" _I am a god you frozen piece of shit_! _And so is he,"_ my brother managed to curse out completely out of breath and being choked with more than just her bare hands.

"I thought gods are immortal," she gleamed back hearing his gasps for air. We slowly inched our way closer to her without throwing her off in this state of mind, when the bright glare of spotlights from one of the ghetto birds above started point on the rooftop that looked like it was on fire moments ago. She loosened her grip as he collapsed catching his fall with his arms. I turned for a second exchanging an expression of relief silently with Bobby as we watched Rachel fall back distracting us from the unexpected.

" _You should have let her kill me,"_ he screamed. Suddenly he leaped up having his left hand clenched to something he must have retrieved while he was being choked to death. Before I knew it the green glow of his wand scorching with the green flame came slashing at me with full force. I managed to tilt my head just in the nick of time, seeing it was aimed for my throat but instead slice the front of my face. It pierced through the flesh of my skin with ease from the sting of the deep burning wound. Bobby rushed at him pummeling my brother to the ground grabbing his wand arm, freezing it causing the wand to extinguish as Rachel hurried to my side. I screamed in agony feeling drops of blood dripping onto the burning flesh still sizzling from the slice. Although our wands were similar in the rounded edge of the point, a magical object like this can slice through most surfaces being as sharp as butcher's knife. I grabbed my face for a second just to stop any blood from dripping into my eye when witnessed Bobby flying several yards back. Low and behold, that son of bitch brother of mine rushed me airborne with a super telekinetic bound sending us high above clearing some of the buildings in full flight mode again. " _I'm not through with you yet!"_

"I'll kill you," I grunted back trying not to tear up from this stinging pain on across my face. I wasn't too worried about the wound since my abilities allowed me heal quicker than most humans, although it wasn't rapid cellular regeneration necessarily, but consider superhuman like. Regardless of the fact, I was outraged! It's my face! My nice tone skin was now defecated by this whiny asshole that took this sibling rival bullshit too far! We struggled twisting and turning in all directions. I caught a glimpse of our flight path spotting a very busy one ten straight ahead. We crashed through the guard rails finally halting on the asphalt of a top level of the interject structure of the major freeways, landing on the top level where the freeway merged into the other. I tumbled forward stilling twisting from the momentum when sounds of cars honking made me instinctively push off the ground telekinetically just in the brink of time. I somersaulted backwards in the air over an oncoming car distancing myself from the two lanes. I landed on the side lane spotting the enemy across the way on the other side of the freeway as a car swerved around him. He threw his hands out causing one of the cars, a compact pickup truck, to spin out of control toward me. I planked all my weight into my legs, planting my feet firmly on the ground as I prepared myself for the impact. I needed this pickup to come to a stop before it took a head dive down to the one o one free underneath us.

I may have been delirious from the excruciating sting from the cut to my face but I couldn't just dodge this pickup and only save myself. I gulped as the bumper came in sight. I glanced through the windshield to find just a young male driver inside, who I would have probably checked out for longer if it wasn't for the fact I was trying to save his life. My hands perfect gripped the bumper grasping with all my strength. I held on tight being tossed back as my feet made skid marks like tires. We smashed through the guard rail once I slowing down the truck's momentum, but it started tipping off the end of the bridge. I kept pushing with every ounce of energy in me when the fluttering sound of my newly earned appendages that now joined in allowing me to bring the car to a halt. I panted for a few second to catch my breath. I looked back inside to see the driver's uncanny expression, his jaw dropped once he registered the horrific events that had taken place. I nodded towards the side doors repeatedly trying to signal to him to get the hell out of there but he was petrified. I guess it's not every day someone can say they were saved by a Mexican guy with wings.

I was slowly easy my clenched hands on the bumper while I levitated in the air waiting for the good looking guy to exit the vehicle when I heard a large crash from behind. Another car had crash into us, most likely the work of my devilish half brother. I was freefalling off the end of the junction pass, plummeting backwards with pickup in a nose dive position with only a few yards in between us as we dropped towards the busy one o one freeway many stories below. I had microseconds to react catching a tiny glare from the windshield than it hit me. I let my instinct take over before allowing my thought process to let any doubt linger from this crazy idea on how to get the man out of the falling vehicle and out safely. The reflection jumping was easy when it came to mirrors and think double sided mirrored windows, but I was going to attempt something slightly different. I tucked and rolled, spotting the glass. I flipped backward feeling the liquid form of the window transforming as my body flowed through the windshield, out into the truck cabin. I grabbed the guy by the shoulders with two hands continuing to tuck motion spotting the rear windshield, praying I could pull this off one more time. I focused on the two of us rotating together as one that would allow us to pass through. In a snap we melted through the rear windshield miraculously popping out of the other end, just in time to watch as the car smashed head on right into the slow lane of the freeway causing another pileup on the heavily trafficked interstate.

I found safe ground on the emergency lane witnessing the devastation caused the flattened pickup truck now taking a beating from oncoming traffic that had no time to move around the large obstacle. I looked at the guy that was standing there in the spot where I set him down when I yelled at him, "run!" More vehicles piled up when I saw the figure leap down landing on the opposite end of the freeway keeping his eyes locked on me. I listened around before making any move trying to find a way to take him down. I realized that further below over was the one ten freeway underpass. I glanced around as if I was trying to find some sort of weapon lying around. I checked over the pass to noticing a large concrete center divider that was a pretty painful fall from this height. He was shifting in his spot trying to anticipate my next move when I leaped over the cars straight towards him. He darted towards me to intercept sending us both on another downward spiral to the one ten freeway center divider. He pushed through viciously getting a clear view of the concrete he was sending me towards, acting on the very impulse I had anticipated. We did look alike, I'm sure we have that in common as well.

I opened my hand feeling the handle a silver dagger I had hidden on the side. I jabbed it right into his shoulder blade following it by a switch around releasing me from his control. He yelped in pain first from the stab increasing to a roar after he thudded into the concrete ground.

"Let's see you try getting back up from that, dick!"

" _Fuck you Acolyte,"_ he cursed lying belching in utter agony watching him twitching on the broken up cement, struggling to move grabbing firmly onto the dagger stuck in his shoulder. I stood over him a few feet behind cautiously my foe once again having wand in hand in preparation for another surprise assault.

"It's over Jeremiah," I insisted with a tremble in my strained voice. "Your vengeance, your recompense, your god complex, your sibling rivalry, all of it is done! You will be brought to justice! "

" _To justice,"_ he snarled back, " _are you mad? You want to hand me over those government pricks, are you insane?"_

"I'm sorry but was that an actual question? No shit Sherlock! I'm sending you off with Agent Mega Bitch."

" _Please tell me someone in the supernatural community explained to you the dangers humanity could unleash if they ever obtained enough of our blood?"_

"Shut your mouth and stop stalling!"

" _I'm telling you the truth! The contents of our blood do not belong in the hands of humanity, especially in the hands of shady ass government. Even the vampires feared the day you might willingly give it up in some bullshit righteous act of stupidity thinking you are doing the right thing."_

"Maybe I should right after I dump your ass off with them," I instigated wanting to examine his reactions to his concern and warnings. "After all, mere drops of our blood are capable of destroying the undead in seconds..."

" _It's more than that! You cannot trust humanity with something of this magnitude, not with their rap sheet."_

"And what, I'm supposed to let you go?"

" _Might as well finish me off now rather than risk that. I'd rather die!"_

"Don't tempt me!"

" _I'm serious! The essence that flows through our veins should never make it into human hands. Heath my caution brother, not even the drops of blood slowly dripping down your face from that impeccable battle wound should ever be obtained by the humans! You're quite welcome by the way, your face. Think of it as an early birthday present. I hope it leaves a nice scar, you earned it my winged brother!"_

"Earned it," I yelled back jumping on top of my brother now squirming underneath when I placed my wand firmly across his face vertically. "Time to return..." I started saying when I was abruptly interrupted from the piercing sound of an amplifying high pitch noise. It intensified developing into a sharp migraine like pain. It swamped my mind causing me to stand back up grabbing my ears in hopes it would block out some of the sound. Another kick of pain took place on the inside. My hearing was deafened by cries for help, fearing death, hoping to escape for the possible inevitable, of perishing and becoming the undead. Whoever this person was seemed to be face to face with a vampire, nowhere nearby yet my telepathy had gone into some sort of frenzy. I twisted around scanning frantically when I stopped looking back at the half destroyed skyscraper in plain view when it hit me. "Jean Paul," I muttered under my breath.

" _Ha ha, it is always good to take out an insurance policy."_

"Frost..."

" _Not bad for a filthy bloodsucker or whatever the fuck he is! I'm assuming he must be killing them as we speak. The question is, are you going to save the innocent men who were simply bystanders in this little feud, or are you going to finish with me?"_ Damn it! Seconds after I felt a burning sensation being absorbed through my body starting from my neck line spreading quickly. I recognized the sting from the first time I had was bitten by a vampire. Jean Paul was in eminent danger, not being bitten by just any normal bloodsucker. I had to save them!

Luckily there happened to be light pole nearby. I reached out to it telekinetically yanking it down as it crashed onto the concrete divider barricading my brother's legs down before he could react.

"It doesn't look like you are going anywhere for awhile oh mighty god!" I blasted off instantly zooming through the air with my wings extended. I felt the drastic change now that I was in full flight mode thanks to the aid of my new appendages. I soared through the night sky swiftly right back to the building where this downtown showdown began having one more job to do, save Jean Paul and Kyle.

#  Chapter 16 Finding the Light

The sound was agonizing rushing back towards the partially destroyed skyscraper with holes on various sides and floors bashed up throughout the headquarters that was practically demolished. Downtown Los Angeles was now consumed with smoke, fire, and debris as the city lights became dreadful from the flashing red lights of emergency response units swarming throughout the chaos of the devastation caused from our battle. I must flew by Pete when he shouted at me via telepathy,

"Don't go back in there," he warned, "the structure's unstable and surrounded by a ton of cops."

"Jean Paul," I responded trying to focus on the sounds of the assistant athletic director's calls for help.

"We searched everywhere," Paige added in.

"Where's Jeremiah?" Bobby asked. Apparently the team had come together once again.

"One ten freeway pinned down by a light pole on the center divider. There's a car that fell from the freeway above, you can't miss it."

"I've got that son of bitch," Rachel interjected hastily.

"No, I need you to stay with us," Bobby stated. "Stick together! Wait for us to back you up kid," he barked.

"No time Bobby!"

"We'll be right behind you. Be careful Josh," Bobby cautioned sincerely.

I spotted an area of the building near mid level that remained intact covered by the dual mirrored window. It was the source of the sound as it became louder once I approached. Not caring this time, I crashed through the glass of the floor finding a large open space darker than the other rooms. Inside were large containers, mounted at an angle lined up all the way down to the very end of the room. I noticed one of the large rectangular units was bashed through from the inside as if something had exploded out of there. Holy shit, they're coffins! I stopped in fear dreading now what possible type of vampire awakened from that particular large sized coffin at the end. The vast room was filled with them all lined up turning the corner to another wing of the level. The noise vanished being replaced with the sounds of a struggle and horrific sounds of agony close by. I raced over turning the corner to find another row of coffins with three figures in the distance.

Lying in a large puddle of blood was the body of Kyle, the lover and husband of Jean Paul. He was face down with his head tilted off to the side. His eyes still opened wide from staring blankly with fear. Oh no, he's gone! Standing above him was Jean Paul who was being drained from the neck by Deacon Frost appearing to still be alive for the time being. Deacon Frost released him once spotting me grinning with desire, his mouth red and gushing red with fresh blood shooting me an amused expression on his undead face.

"What happened to you, things with your half twin brother get a little too rough for you oh no so Chosen One," he snickered.

"He's not my fucking twin, now put him down!"

"I'm full anyways, although he is delicious. I see why you dig him," he laughed tossing Jean Paul mid air. I dashed feeling my wings push me forward bending one leg underneath just in time to help catch his fall, my arms opened up being able to cradle him gently. Jean Paul was drenched in blood having several lacerations on his arms and neck. He convulsed repeatedly screaming in pain grasping his bite with one hand trying to hold down the wound. "Good luck with that, he's been pumped with more of my venom that most regular vampires would need to turn a regular human. I'm surprised his hasn't died yet, but we both know that's might be because he's not a regular human," he stated confusing me for a second before I returned to tackling the situation at hand.

"No, I won't let you turn him!"

"It's too late, I mean unless you find a way to cleanse his bloodstream from the venom, but I highly doubt you're that powerful even with you newfound appendages. So long, Acolyte! We'll meet again, oh and sorry about your face!" In seconds he blurred out of sight hearing the sound of another window shattering.

I stared down at Jean Paul maintaining the little spurts of breathe he could, grinding down on his teeth so hard grunting and panting from the sting.

"I'm so sorry," I pleaded, "I'm so sorry." This was my entire fault, this all happened because of me, relatively speaking. His lover was murder by the hands of these filthy monsters just because I saved these two on more than one occasion. I was too late to save Kyle. It tore me apart leaving me at a loss, trying to cope with another tragedy as another might happen right in my very arms. I could see shimmers of lights in Jean Paul's eyes that gleamed for a second. I gazed into them making sure he was still with me. "I'm going to save you!"

"Run," he muttered obviously worried about my safety, presuming his life was coming to a dark end that could lead down a darker path. Tears swelled up feeling helpless for the first time not knowing how to save him from turning. I closed my eyes for a second finding myself praying inside for some sort of hope when another flash of white light reminded me of the words told earlier by the infamous Voice. I opened my eyes back up although it was still bright for another second when I focused in on Jean Paul again. I stared into his eyes and grabbed the back of his neck to hold the bite wound, gently stroking his soft black hair.

"I'm not leaving you," I reassured him thinking of only one possibly solution. If I could channel the venom, and if my body can resist it, that means I need to absorb it. I shook my head remembering that required a mystical object that was powerful enough to extract the venom. No, I have to try. Fuck it! I didn't have time to speculate. "I'm going to save you," I promised him relying now on faith for this to work. I held my hand firmly down on his wound planking myself over him. I closed my eyes focusing the energy flowing through me now sensing the darkness trying to consume him inside. A static charge pulsated out of my hand through the two wounds connecting with a dark matter inside. I yelled in agony as the sharp pain of the venom overwhelmed me. I could feel the internal struggle between the essence and the venom having so major after effects. This form of agony had a wrath of its own, almost as painful as the sword that stabbed right through me. Numbness spread inside the venom continued its wrath paralyzing parts of my body. I was stuck holding Jean Paul chest to chest. I noticed the twitching on his end began to relax as I absorbed it in. It was fire hot, than ice cold, than hot again, hotter, than cold burn. My body was fever like in the epic internal battle of good versus evil. I felt movement from my lower side but my sight had went into a haze, until I felt my free hand that was dangling by my side had been held by Jean Paul's trembling hand as he held it tightly. A warmth for his grip sent surges of energy having a familiar feel to it, spreading throughout every nerve from our joined hands. Now my vision faded in and out from reality to glimpse of flashbacks, but not memories of mine I think. It was hard to say in the state of convulsions taking place.

A sharper pain returned me to the room still in the same position, but something was wrong. Although we were convulsing from the venom's curse, an entirely different kind of shaking disrupted the stinging rhythmic flow deep down inside. Things around us were crumbling down smashing through the floors. Oh shit, the building's collapsing. I panicked but I was still stiff as a doornail, paralyzed even as I tried to force movement in my limbs. Nothing! I looked at Jean Paul who was in the same boat. I could tell from his expression that we were done lying here; our bodies too busy fighting off the vicious torment of the vampire venom.

I tried to gather some sort of thought from this chaos in my mind but I couldn't summon the strength to telepathically send for help. Then I was drawn into a trance of bright light illuminating from Jean Paul's body. It was a glimpse of thoughts that were taking place in his mind, revealing his dirty little secret. It was Jean Paul, he was producing light. The one that bares the light! I was supposed to save him but in any minute we are going to be buried deep within the rubble of debris. "I'm sorry Northstar," I whispered to him. I managed to grip his hand back tightly as we held each other in silence starting to feel the ground crack from underneath us. Even with the numbness couldn't mask the feeling of us falling inward sinking into the floor beneath us. I could feel my wings expand but it was no use, I could barely move my hands let alone these new things.

I felt a jerk pull from my wings as we were sucked into a black void losing all sight, my insides twisting and turning with the countless unnatural sensations taking place until I felt us land on a large granite surface. Now I was completely unaware of what had just taken place. I rolled over landing right on my wings and back with my hand held tightly with Jean Paul's, collapsing instantly hitting the ground. From there, my mind slipped into unconsciousness blinded by another bright light.

#  Chapter 17 On the Down Low

Like a never ending nightmare, I felt trapped in this continuous loop reenacting everything that had transpired in such a short amount of time. It replayed starting from my initial return to Los Angeles after spending time away. Then it started flashing back memories of the my friend's blood stained over walls of my fraternity house where I used to live prior to the beginning of the new school term, followed by haunting images of my friend stashed away in a closet beaten and bruised on the brink of death in the abandon house next door. As each moment was relived, I became consumed with remorse and sorrow, hating the fact that anyone had been put through such torture just because they were associated with me. I was brought back to the moment when I last saw Jean Paul right before cheer camp when he came to console me over the tragedy that had taken place.

If only at that moment could I have warned him of the imminent danger to come. I was fooling myself at that point in time actually believing that returning to my normal reality of school, cheerleading, and socializing was a life I would probably never have again. Not even an hour after leaving cheer camp we, The Order of the Acolyte were summoned to the call for help when Ileana escaped her captures, uncovering the devious plot learning of the hostages taken, Jean Paul and his lover Kyle included. All of this horror, this pain, and this agony were all caused by one person, the Faceless Foe. He was finally unmasked revealing a terrible truth, the enemy that schemed and plotted all this time was my own half brother from another mother. Our resemblances were disgustingly similar. He could be mistaken for me every time I see his face. Then sharp pains shot through my body as the memories of being stabbed through the chest when I jumped in front of the flying sword intended to kill my best friend Bobby Drake.

Witnessing it again was brutal, recollecting the fact that I did perish for a small amount of time, only to resurrect back to life equipped with wings I apparently earned based off my selfless act of sacrifice. My insides began going haywire followed by a burning pain from my face thanks to my newfound sibling in a desperate attempt to escape. Then there was the radiating burn I endured to save Jean Paul from the inevitable, extracting the nasty venom into my body knowing I had the power inside to diminish the dark curse of Deacon Frost's bite. Everything after that was still a blur, finding myself in this unconscious state of mind not knowing what happened to me or where I was. I couldn't have been dead since the aches and pains were real. I was mentally awake now, desperate physically wake from this trapped inter turmoil when I felt the hand that I last remembered was still holding onto Jean Paul was gripped tightly.

The touch of his hand triggered a spark of energy causing my entire body to jolt. In seconds I gasped heavily as my eyelids popped open from the sudden rise of the new appendages expanding open up. They propped me slightly upright as my hand clasped even tighter with Jean Paul's, finding myself staring up at the ceiling above lying on a bed. My body ached as I slowly shifted in place not moving from the space as I regained full consciousness and awareness. I continued panting frantically still catching my breath from the exhausting slumber. I was too distraught to immediately jump to my feet and examine my surroundings. After a minute or so staring at the recognizable color and texture of the panels above hinted to our current location, determining that we had not only survived the collapsing skyscraper, the two of us were somehow brought to the safety of what appeared to be the Grand Hall.

I glanced over checking on the second man I had rescued from near death to find the Jean Paul was still passed out. He was bruised up and battered but definitely alive and well with his head resting comfortably on my shoulder. I sighed with relief starting to feel a little better knowing I was able to save his life, however it didn't change the fact that I wasn't able to save the life of his husband Kyle. I feared the devastation he would endure once he woke learning that the man he loved was gone, his life taken by that monster Deacon Frost and my terrible brother. Whatever petty ill feelings I used to hold against Jean and Kyle vanished inside knowing that the two were good people that were targeted because of our association through the university. Guilt had swept through me as tears swelled up in my eyes immediately rolling down my face. They dripped down over the somewhat fresh wound inflicted by the burning slice of the fiery wand. Oh no, my face! I wanted to leap up and dash over to the bathroom to get a look in the mirror but I didn't move, not wanting to disrupt the man resting comfortably next to me even keeping our hands intertwined for a moment, fearing when we wakes from his slumber only to be faced with a pain worse than any other, the loss of his lover.

"I'm so sorry Northstar," I mumbled to him as I recollected the memories that were shared during the extraction process. It dawned on me that the man before me was extraordinary, just like Bobby, Pete, and all the others. Those glimmers and flashes of lights I thought originally was my sight being tampered with by the different energies flowing through me turned out to be Jean Paul conjuring the light himself, a unique superhuman ability I had never encountered before until now. The infamous Voice had told me to save the one who bared the light, and here he was, right before my very eyes. I sank into deep thought trying to understand everything before I gave up minutes later turning around to the other end of the bed seeing for the first time my surroundings.

Sure enough we were inside the extended room of the Grand Hall both placed on the bed. I faced the other way to find the overprotective Bobby Drake passed out on the recliner watching over me like so many times before. I couldn't help but smile sincerely feeling blessed to have Bobby in my life. I scanned the room to see Pete on the larger sofa snoring loud enough I was shocked I didn't wake up earlier. There was some movement going on below but I was too out of it to do a mental scan for whoever else was present, but once I noticed a freshly hand rolled cig on the table near Bobby's recliner. Both the cig and the lighter next to it levitated in my direction as I grabbed the cig, sparked it up and inhaled many puffs feeling the relief of my aches and pain after a few drags. This is why I love Bobby Drake so much! He knew me so well. I looked at him as I my eyes crept around trying to keep my movement to a minimum when I simple mumbled, "thank you Bobby."

"Welcome back kid," he yawned waking from the scent of the burning cig and the tiny crackle of my hoarse voice, "are you alright?"

"I don't know," I admitted.

"Don't ever scare me like that again! I thought I lost you!"

"You're not that lucky," I teased back.

"He's awake," I heard Rachel announce from down below as they scrambled to the spiral staircase that led up to our floor. Seconds later Rachel, Paige, and Ileana walked into the room spreading around as they all circled around the bed.

"That was a close one darling," Paige stated.

"We thought you were dead," Rachel added with a little frustration in her tone.

"Five more minutes," Pete bickered still half asleep.

"Get up douche bag, he's up," Ileana ordered her brother. I noticed that someone had retrieved the sword stolen from her, the very one that stabbed me right through the chest intended to kill me.

"What happened? What time is it? How did we get here?"

"After you went into the back inside the building exploded," Bobby explained. "They anticipated your reaction to the ultimatum, keeping Jean Paul and Kyle hidden from Pete and Paige. They needed a diversion if we succeeded."

"Not that we didn't light the place up prior to the big bang love," Paige added, "but they had explosives planted all around the structure having every intention of bringing the building down."

"Yeah, with you in it," Pete stated joining in on the conversation. "Welcome back sexy," he smiled winking at me. "You look good with wings stud muffin." Well at least I could tell some things were still the same.

"Thank you Pete," I replied back. "If the building blew up, how did the two of us manage to end up here safe and sound?"

"You're welcome," Ileana boasted. "I teleported the two of you out just in the nick of time from buried alive. Thankfully you grew some new appendages because your wings were the only limbs I could manage to get my hands on."

"Yeah, thank your sword for that," I joked back glaring at the blade. "I'm grateful you were able to building up enough strength to catch us and move us to safety. You weren't in any condition after they tried turning you. I felt us sinking down but if you couldn't tell Magik, I was under trance of a whole new level."

"What happened to you," Rachel inquired. "We tried to help but you were in so much pain I couldn't even break through into your mind to understand what you were experiencing."

"To sum it up quickly, Deacon Frost was up there feeding and attempting to turn Jean Paul. Kyle was already dead on the floor but not Jean Paul. If I didn't try saving his life he would have turned into a soulless monster, from becoming another puppet of the undead."

"You absorbed his venom," Bobby asked somewhat already knowing the answer. "That's why you were paralyzed with your hand clamped onto his bite mark." He expressed. I nodded silently in agreement glancing back at the scar on Jean Paul's neck. "That explains..." he started to elaborate but stopped suddenly worried about my reaction.

"That explains what," I demanded.

"Your wings had retracted during the process of the extraction. You've been out for close to twenty four hours fighting internally. They just emerged the minute you woke up."

"They're retractable, that's a relief," I admitted. "I don't think I'd be able to hide a set of wings, especially from my cheer coach. At least I heal faster than most," I giggled as I placed the cig in a nearby ashtray now placing my free hand gently towards my face. Oh no!

"Don't freak out kid," Pete said, "Bobby figured you had the venom in you and we think it might have affected some of your super healing, temporarily." All the aches and pains inside vanished feeling the blood boiling inside. I slowly loosened my other hand that was still holding onto to a sleeping Jean Paul. I rested it on his stomach than proceeded to levitate myself to the floor so I didn't jerk him by accident. I strolled over to a mirror feeling the soreness all over. I looked at the reflection to see my now defecated face with a large burn scar now running across it diagonally from cheek to eyebrow.

"Mother fucker," I cursed loudly feeling steam coming out of my ears. Although it didn't look as bad as I felt when my brother Jeremiah snuck in the assault, the battle wound is something I can't hide. It stuck out to me like a sore thumb. "How the hell am I going to explain this? School is in a few weeks and football season is starting," I pouted not taking my eyes off the reflection staring back at me. "My cheerleading coach is going to kill me! Where is he, where's Jeremiah?"

"Your brother," Rachel hissed just from hearing his name, "he escaped. A vampire saved him before we had the chance to reach him."

"Mordechi, he's still out there," I muttered. "We have to find him!"

"We have a lot more problems to deal with right now kid," Bobby interrupted directing our attention to the television already on a news channel showing footage of downtown and the destruction caused from the incident. The volume was muted but I didn't have to hear the words.

Live shots of the torn down building, feeds of the fire show on top of the Staples Center. Pictures of blurry figures flying through the city battling it out scrolled on the screen. Some of images had clearer snapshots of us almost capturing our facial profiles.

"We've been monitoring all the channels and so far none of them seem to have a clear picture of you or him but it's only been a day." Bobby added.

"Our phones have been buzzing all day from those wanting answers of some sort," Pete noted.

"This is bad," I remarked as my head started spinning in disbelief. "Do you think we've been exposed?" I asked dumbly dreading the answer.

"We don't know yet darling," Paige answered.

"All we know for sure is that people want answers," Bobby stated. "There will be consequences for a disaster like this, regardless of who started it."

"But Bobby," Rachel questioned, "We didn't cause all that destruction. If anything we saved several superhuman hostages before they were killed and turned into monsters."

"Regardless," Pete interjected, "The truth is unfortunately we cannot explain to the world, not without exposing more than just ourselves of the existence of the damned and other creatures like them."

"It's not just the world I'm worried about," Bobby noted. "We aren't the bad guys here, but in the state of things, we have to stay on the down low at all cost. For now we return to normal lives until this blows over. To be completely honest, staying here for at least a few days wouldn't hurt."

"At least until school starts," I replied. "I agree with you though Professor Drake. I inherited this establishment for this very reason. We have about a few weeks until school starts, and with Ileana here we'll take turns going into the city if we need to until we play the role of the norm."

"What about him," Bobby inquired nastily.

"You mean Northstar," I growled back, "A man who can project and create light on top of what appeared to be super speed who oddly enough has all these memories of you, care to elaborate?"

"He doesn't know that Jean Paul is one of us," Ileana stated confirming my suspicions.

"Um, you knew we were old acquaintances," Pete reminded.

"That was not our business to tell," Bobby informed us. "All I know is, he and Kyle wanted to live normal lives and that's why I never said anything."

"Damn," I replied blown away by his truthful response that jabbed inside. "I took that away for him. I took away that normal life he wanted and once he wakes up he'll hate me as soon as reality kicks in." I felt terrible now, the tears starting to roll down once more.

"No, stop," Bobby demanded getting out of his chair coming right in front of me now blocking my constant view of the mirror. Of course I was still standing next to examining every inch of my scar. He grabbed my chin up and looked me directly in the eyes before wiping a tear off the cheek near the wound. "That wasn't your fault, no that's not what I'm saying. I just worried that's all. You look great Josh; stop staring into the damn mirror."

"No more mirrors," Pete shouted obviously still disliking my secret trick.

"I did save the driver in that car my faced foe chucked off a bridge thanks to a form of reflection jumping chicken shit!"

"Chicken shit," he repeated jumping out of the sofa pretend tackling me from behind in an inappropriate gyrating hump. "He sounds a lot better. This is going to be a fun few days down here all together handsome."

"Watch it, Bobby might get jealous," I taunted.

"Here we go again," Rachel muttered.

"You really expect us to exile ourselves down here love? Not that the place isn't overly spacious and luxurious," Paige inquired blatantly observing our unusually comfortable friendship.

"For a couple days at least," Ileana added. "We all had a hand in this and I personally do not feel like we should have to answer for the crimes of your satanic half brother. Josh, count me in. Let's obliterate that son of a bitch."

"He's misdirected," Rachel snapped, "He's a fucking asshole who thinks way too highly of himself, kind of like some cheerleader we all know," she teased, "but his power has sent him on a rampage of vengeance for the death of his mother."

"She's right I guess," I responded unsure as to why on earth Rachel would come to his defense so instinctively. "He is misdirected, and our down time is going to give us time to research what led to sent him on this dark journey and put an end to..." I stopped being reminded of the clear and vivid glimpses of what appeared to be the possible future when I removed the sword from chest as my wings ascended. I clearly recollected one of the six or seven images that made my eyes widen as my sudden dead silence made everyone worried.

"What's wrong," Pete interrogated.

"We have to prepare," I answered quickly trying not to lose focus.

"For," Rachel asked.

"All of us, all seven of us have to be ready," I responded now revisiting the image in my mind.

"Be ready for what Josh," Bobby asked placing his hands on my shoulders.

"War!"

The End

#  Epilogue

The early Twenty Twenties...

I was awakened abruptly in my slumber in the underground barricaded bunker. I scanned the dull dismal quarters dumbfounded by the sensations taking hold of me inside. Everything had appeared and seemed to the same. I was in the bed of the hidden confinement we exiled ourselves to after the Siege once majority of the cities were wiped out by the darkness during these apocalyptic times. Horror and terror swept throughout the world causing countless deaths, leaving world in ruins. It was a world that I would recently discover was never meant to take place, and I did what I had to in order to the right the wrongs of the past. Indeed my actions have now proven to be successful, but I did not anticipate such quick results. Is it possible? Have I accomplished the hopes of changing the mistakes of the past? My train of thought was distracted when my companion awoke next to me in our limited quarters we exiled the Orders and allies to once civilization perished under the bloodshed of the Siege.

"What wrong," **Bobby Drake inquired.** "Did you have a dream about another city?"

" **No," I responded waiting for a few seconds. "The past, it's changed."**

"What do you mean? Is it because you..."

" **Yes," I replied truthfully, "The wings."**

"What about them?"

" **How do you recall the story about the ascension of the wings?"**

"They were earned because..." **He started to answer when he drifted off to a trance digging deep for the memory. Any other day before I was awakened he would have answered that question instantly, but it proved my theory to be taking place.** "You saved me..." **he answered unsure.** "You earned them..."

" **It appears I did. That means it is working."**

"That means there's a chance. There is a way we can stop the Siege, stop this from taking place."

" **Earning my wings this soon is a good sign, but certain events must occur beforehand. We both know the scheme for the island of Los Angeles was set in motion from the beginning. Those events must take place before I can return to him once more, we both know that."**

"Why Josh, if we can change the course of the Siege, why not Jeremiah before he enacts this plot?"

" **Because the world needs both Jeremiah and I fully ascended if there is a chance of surviving this..."**

The Order of the Acolyte will return...

#  Biography of Joshua Pinon

A gay young man in his thirties born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in Redlands, CA, now a resident of Northridge, CA. During his senior year of high school he became a cheerleader leading him to attend Cal State Northridge where he continued perusing his passion for cheerleading as well as joining a prestige fraternity on campus. At nineteen, he pursued a career as cheerleading coach at the high school level for eight years working with various high schools in the San Fernando Valley Area throughout the years. Meanwhile this entire time he also maintained a part time job as a clerk at a local community pharmacy, becoming a full time employee after my eight years of coaching. Shortly after he enrolled in classes quickly becoming a national certified and state licensed pharmacy technician now employed for thirteen years still working to this very day. However, after finding himself still ambitious to explore his horizon, he was reminded of a hidden passion, writing a fictional superhero novel. One day he woke up and told himself he did not want to look back at these years down the road and only say he merely worked for a living, that sparked the initiative inside to open his laptop and began writing, starting at the beginning of the year. Seven months he is ready to self publish for free as an amateur fictional superhero novel writer, **The Acolyte Dawn of a New Hero**. Now publishing the second novel, **the** **Order of the Acolyte Sins of Generations Past** , he is ready to continue writing the epic saga of the Acolyte and his team for the story is not over.

