by J. L. Weil
A flash of light suddenly engulfed my eyes, erasing my surroundings, and the image of the club where Haley’s birthday was held inundated my mind. My fingers fiercely clung to the windowsill as I saw myself tackle a man with lime green hair, and then chase him out to the alley, and over the roof of a couple of buildings.
“You don’t understand! I was forced to do this… This is bigger than you or I.”
The man’s voice thundered in my ears while I panted, reliving each moment.
“You think you know this world, but trust me, you don’t...”
His statement slammed into my consciousness, awakening my mind, as reptilian green eyes blinked sideways in front of me, and his mouth opened, spewing the green toxin that had sent me to the hospital. The image was replaced by the Spider Queen while she dropped from the club’s dome ceiling on her web, and focused on me, hissing.
One by one the scenes crashed into me like bullets, clear as day, while I fought her, legs shattering with each shot I took. The iron whip flying through the air as Renna wielded it, and the inhuman speed she presented as she ran toward it.
Her startling blue eyes swirled in my consciousness. “I need you to forget…” my mind instantly giving her control.
The face of the pink-haired girl I’d seen reading tarot cards replaced Renna’s, except her body was levitating, and her eyes were a pure snowy white, without irises. Power exuded from her in waves, while the club thundered and shook like a category seven earthquake had ripped through the earth beneath us. Chairs, bottles, booths, and even the lamps flew like projectiles at her command.
The scene jumped to us crossing some kind of portal, and entering the castle, pain scorching my back, and the creatures on the paintings appeared from thin air. Dragon. Mermaid. Fae. Centaur. Oracle… Vampire.
“Witch…” I whispered as the image of the doctor appeared before me. “I’m a witch, and I’m going to heal you...”
The memory of Renna’s iron fangs pressing against her full bottom lip startled me, and I staggered back, away from the window, landing on my ass when I ran out of mattress.
“She’s a vampire… I kissed a vampire?” I panted, heart smashing against my chest, eyes wide and unbelieving. Except, I had witnessed all of that with my own eyes. I had seen it, fought it, felt it. “It is all true,” I gasped.
“I’m pleased you can finally remember.”
The unexpected feminine voice startled me to my feet, and I whirled around to find an alluring lady in a white gown. Her dress was as elegant as she, pearlescent feathers adorning her shoulders, and the bottom of her skirt. The woman’s sleek brown hair was held up in a tight ponytail, cascading over her left shoulder and down her chest, as she held her delicate hands before her.
Raw energy seemed to exude from her even when she simply stood there, the waves grazing my skin, and making the little hairs on my arms and neck stand on end. “Serenity?”
She beamed when I called her name, amber eyes sparkling with happiness. “I’m glad you remember me too. How are you feeling?”
My brows gathered in confusion; I hadn’t thought about it until she asked. “Remarkably well, actually,” I mumbled, hands roaming my chest and abs, then patted my thighs and ass, and finally cupped my junk to make sure everything was still there.
“You seem more than okay to me.” A naughty tone colored her voice, and her lips quivered while she tried to repress her humor.
Frowning, I looked down at myself to realize I stood there only in my boxer briefs. “Oh shit,” I mumbled, covering my crotch again, and she actually chuckled.
“I’m sorry, we thought we should give your body some breathing room, and space for you to be able to rest.” She gestured toward the closet. “You’ll find a fresh change of clothes in there.”
My steps instantly took me to its door, and I reached for a pair of black sweatpants, a black t-shirt with the letters “STA” stamped in a mix of blue and red on the front, and a zippered dark red hoodie. The closet was filled with them, like some kind of uniform—all in my size.
“You’ll find clean underwear in the drawers.”
My gaze dropped to the built-in dresser, and I opened the first drawer pulling a pair of black boxer briefs and socks from it.
“I have questions I need answered, but I’d truly like to take a quick a shower if possible. Will you—”
“I’ll be here, waiting,” she answered before I could finish the question, and I nodded.
Taking a settling breath, I stepped into the bathroom.
The shower wasn’t as short as I’d intended, desperately needing the relief the hot water provided. Washed and dried, I pulled the sweatpants up to the edge of my hip bones, allowing them to hang low, and slipped the t-shirt on, seeing the emblem stretch across my chest as the cotton clung to my muscles, then threw on the hoodie.
Forking my fingers through my hair I hastily brushed it and looked at myself in the mirror. The ensemble reminded me of my days of military training and Special Forces.
When I stepped out, I found Serenity sitting on the velvet loveseat as though it were her throne, a book in her hands. “You’re reading Twilight?” I asked, throwing her a dubious glance.
She gave me a single shrug, placing the book on the seat. “I love a good, forbidden love story.”
I reached for my worn-out boots that rested next to the bed, chuckling, and slipped my feet inside them. With a heavy breath, I looked into her eyes, and warmth filled my chest. “Why do I feel like I know you? Like I can trust you?” I asked, a bit unsettled by the feeling.
She had been my doctor, I knew that, but I had only seen her once. It didn’t explain the easiness and familiarity I felt with her.
Nodding knowingly, she spread her arms to her sides, and the energy crackled along her skin. “Transformo…”
With the word, her skin rippled, and her body began to transform before my very eyes. Within a few seconds, her brown hair turned grayish, and she went from a tall, young, and beautiful woman in a regal gown, to a small, older lady in scrubs. Her wrinkled hands reached for me as a kind smile took over her lips.
“Hellen?” I whispered, taken aback by the change, and without another thought I stepped forward, allowing her to pull me into her arms. Her familiar warmth engulfed me, like it had back at the hospital when she cared for me every day. She had been my nurse, my friend, and as it turned out, she had also been a witch all that time.
“I missed you, Captain America.” She squeezed me.
Chuckling, I pulled away, surprised by how strong a connection I felt to her. “I was going to ask if you were truly a witch, and then you transformed into another person.” My head shook, perplexed that those words had not only come from my mouth, but had sounded perfectly normal.
Her hand cupped my cheek, and the magic engulfed her once more, until the sophisticated and powerful woman I met here stood before me. Her hand slipped to my chest, and she patted it affectionately. “I’m so glad you are finally here.”
My gaze focused on her amber eyes, she was truly an exotic woman. “You know, you look much sexier like this. If you still want to take me for a ride, the offer stands,” I joked, just like we had in the hospital. Opening my arms as though offering myself to her, I wiggled my eyebrows enticingly.
The back of her hand slammed against my chest, and she pointed a warning finger at me. “Incorrigible,” she accused. “Not to mention that being about two centuries too old for you, that would make me a hell of a cougar.”
I laughed. “I don’t discriminate.”
Serenity tsked as though the battle was lost.
“Are you immortal?” I asked, truly taken by the wonder of it all. Supernatural beings were real, and here I was, flirting with a powerful witch. I was kind of startled by how “okay” I was with this.
“Almost. My magical essence allows me to withstand far more, but I can get hurt and die like a human. I’m just more powerful than you.” She winked.
“Hey, age is jus
t a number, right?”
“True.” She caressed her long ponytail, with delicate fingers.
“Wait, you said before that you were glad I was finally here.”
Serenity nodded knowingly. “We’ve been watching you for a long, long time, Scorpion.”
“Watching me?” My brows gathered in confusion. “What do you mean?”
For a moment, she paused, assessing something in my eyes. “Do you remember your fifth Halloween?”
My confusion grew with her question, but I nodded. “I remember begging my mom to buy me a superhero costume so I could go trick or treating with my friends, but Father said costumes were for kids, and I was a man now. An “Ethan James,” and I needed to become strong like one.”
Bitterness filtered through my veins until I could almost taste it. God, I hated that name.
“The next night, I hid in my room, watching from the window as other kids trick or treated in the neighborhood, but when I lay on my bed, I found it. The costume of my favorite superhero was there, hidden under the covers with my name on it. I was so happy. I put it on and rushed downstairs, pulling my mom by the arm until we made it outside.” I grinned at the memory. “It was the only time she ever defied my father for me.”
Serenity’s eyes sparkled as she watched me smile. “Who is your favorite superhero?”
“Oh, too easy.” I chuckled. “It’s Captain Ameri…” My voice faltered as I looked at her, eyes wide with bewilderment and shock. “It wasn’t my mom, was it? It was you?”
Emotion seemed to reach her eyes, but she cleared her throat, turning to the door. “Would you care to take a walk with me? It’s beautiful outside this time of year.”
I stared at her dumbfounded and touched for a few minutes. Had she always been in my life?
Finally, I nodded.
The door swung open without her even touching it, and as she stepped aside for me to get out first, a thick white cloak appeared over her shoulders, extending the length of her body until it covered her, grazing the floor.
Even after I complained—I was a gentleman after all—she insisted I step out first, and once I did, I almost crashed into the most beautiful brunette I had ever seen.
“Renna?” I breathed, clearly unprepared to have her so close.
She instantly halted, like she’d slammed into an invisible wall between us, and took a step back—avoiding contact. That was exactly what it felt like. Like an unmovable wall was just dropped between her perfect body and mine. Separating us. I had no idea why, but my chest constricted as I repressed the urge to reach for her, causing her to crash against my body instead.
“I just wanted to check—” she stopped when Serenity began to step out of the room behind me, and whirled on her heel, dashing away from me faster than my human eyes could track her.
Vampire… the word echoed in my mind.
“Is everything okay?” Serenity asked, standing beside me while the door closed.
“Yes.” I cleared my throat. “Everything is fine.”
“Perfect. This way.”
I followed her, my gaze lingering on the corner where Renna disappeared. When my attention returned to the front, I noticed students walked the halls around us, bowing at Serenity in respect as they saw her. Her attitude had completely changed, from the warm, funny, and caring woman I knew, to the seemingly unyielding, intimidating, and powerful leader she was for them.
“High Witch!” Tricksy gasped, coming out of one of the rooms. She seemed surprised to see her there, like it was out of the norm, but immediately bowed her head to Serenity. Her eyes briefly widened when she found me by the witch’s side, yet, she didn’t say anything.
“Run along to your artifacts class, child. One must never be late.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Tricksy replied with utmost respect, and a glint of admiration in her eyes, then rushed down the hall, gripping a large book to her chest.
“These are the witch dorms,” Serenity explained, stopping in front of a large mirror at the end of the corridor.
Before I could ask about it, symbols glowed on the frame, and the surface began to ripple like water—the same way I’d seen the mirror in Ambrose’s office do. She walked into it like it was nothing, and taking a steadying breath, I forced myself to follow.
A cool breeze fanned my face the second we crossed it, and I plunged my hands into the pockets of the zippered hoodie I wore. I took another step forward, but halted in my tracks when my surroundings completely changed. We stood on the bridge I’d seen from the window not long ago, facing the hundred waterfalls that surrounded the magnificent castle grounds.
My incredulous gaze wandered all around us, absorbing every detail. The castle seemed to float over the cascading waters, its towers standing mighty and strong against the sky. A courtyard and a large greenhouse were visible on its far left, while rows and rows of windows from the dorms were visible in the front of the castle on the right wing. I could even spot the room I’d been occupying because the window was still open.
When my gaze returned to the bridge, I realized the waterfalls also ran beneath us, their wonderful sound filling the air like a song. The bridge was long, leading straight to the castle, which meant she had transported me directly to the entrance of this magnificent place. Wonder filled eyes focused on the three large statues I had seen from the window.
They were even more impressive from here, and my neck strained to look up at them. They stood at the beginning of the archway, like guardians.
“They are the Erinyes, also known as the Furies,” Serenity offered, seeing my fascination with the three-winged goddesses, wrapped in white robes. They each held a sword with vicious serpents interweaving around the long blades, and although beautiful, their faces expressed fierceness and might. “They are also known as the deities of justice and vengeance.”
“I believe you,” I mumbled, still staring at the impressive warriors. “Wait. I know about them. I learned all of this in school. That is Greek mythology, correct?”
Serenity’s lips quivered as she watched me. “What you know as mythology, is actually the story of our races. They are not myths, Scorpion.”
As though on cue, a roar came from the sky, and my head snapped up in time to see a red dragon flying overhead. Three more green dragons followed, circling the castle before they landed atop its towers.
“Holy shit!” I staggered back, swallowing while my eyes remained glued to the beautiful creatures. They took flight once again, disappearing in the distance. I pinched myself just to make sure it was all real. “If this is a dream, do not wake me.”
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to,” the High Witch assured, grinning. “It’s all real.” She called my attention again, by gesturing to the statues. “The Furies help us guard this realm… this dimension, so all races housed here are safe.”
“This dimension?” I asked confused by her choice of words, and Serenity waved me closer to the rail of the bridge. We looked down at the cascading water, and my gaze followed its descent until it vanished among clouds of mist.
“Look closer,” she encouraged.
I focused my gaze beyond the dancing waters, and the breath suddenly left my lungs. The mist began to dissipate, and the top of the Empire State Building became clear, even from above. “Is that New York City below us?”
“It is. We are currently in a parallel dimension to your Earth.”
Shit. Blinking, I gazed at her, mind blown. “What is this place?” I whispered, captivated by the world surrounding me.
“Welcome to STA—the Supernatural Taskforce Academy,” she announced with pride. “It is an elite academy for beings with exceptional skills, and soon, it will be the only hope for humanity.”
“What?” I asked, startled by her statement. “What do you mean?”
The joy she'd just shared with me vanished. “Something terrible is coming. An evil not one of us can stop. That is why I have searched for you, watched you, and tested you all these years. That is t
he reason you are here, Scorpion. That is why we need you.”
My features hardened. “Need me, test me? I don’t understand. You have all kinds of powerful creatures here. Those were freaking dragons, for goodness sake! I’m only human. What do you need me for?”
Her words whirled in my mind as my heart began to thunder in my chest. “We need you…”
“The Spider Queen, as you call her, was released from Infernum by us—the Supernatural Council—you might know Infernum as the Underworld.”
“What?!” I barked, outraged. “You unleashed that thing, knowing it could kill humans? Destroy innocent people?”
“No,” she smiled proudly. “We unleashed that thing, knowing you would fight it, and find a way to stop it from killing innocent people.” Her hand rested on my arm, and she squeezed. “You might only be human, Scorpion, but you are more than worthy of being here. You have incredible courage and resilience. And an overwhelming need to always do right by others, to protect those who can’t protect themselves. You told me once that there was a fire inside you...”
I swallowed, my heart crashing against my ribs as I looked at her and nodded, remembering our conversation in the hospital.
“You said there had to be more to your life. That you believed you were meant for something greater, for something other than what your life had become. Did you mean it?”
“Yes, I did,” I answered without hesitation.
Straightening, Serenity let out a settling breath, and cupped my cheeks, amber eyes boring into mine.
“This is it, Scorpion. This is your destiny. The Aereum will explain everything in detail to you shortly, but I can tell you this. The world is about to face a threat so great, that the last time we faced it, all the gods had to unite forces to stop it. This time, only the most powerful team of supernaturals ever born will be able to fight it. Our Oracle has guarded the names of those we need in the taskforce for years, and yours is one of them.”
Anxiety rose through me with her words. Even as I realized it wasn’t possible, everything in me screamed that I wanted to fight with them—whoever they were. That I had to be part of it, no matter the cost. And in an instant, I knew that regardless of the danger sure to end me, I had never wanted anything more.
