Supernatural Taskforce Academy: Mission One, Scorpion Blood

by J. L. Weil

  Reaching for the edges of her shirt, Renna tugged it off until it fell to the floor with a soft whoosh, her bra joined it, while my gaze admired her stunning form. Taking my hand, she smiled, dazzling me, and pulled me with her to the bathroom—turning on the hot water.

  “Do I finally get to do delicious and sinful things to you, for as long as I want?” I asked, seeing her eager fingers slip into my waistband and pull.

  “I fully expect you to, Commander Ethan James.” Taking my pants off, she gave me a playful grin, sapphire eyes gleaming, and we stepped inside the shower together.

  “Mmm, I’m liking that name more and more all of a sudden.” I brought her to me, hands massaging her back and ass while her arms wound around my neck again.

  And Renna claimed me as hers. Not that I was complaining.

  Tilting my head, I deepened the kiss, savoring the tenderness she offered me. I gripped her bottom, carrying her against me, and pinned her with my body to the wall. I so enjoyed doing that to her. Renna’s soft breasts pressed against my pecs, the feeling giving me life. Her legs curved around my hips, and I began to love her.

  Making love to her, I felt my essence renew, along with hers—our connection flourishing—and as the hot water washed away our past, we became one.

  “You and me against the world?” I whispered, kissing her neck, and she tilted her head to hold my gaze.

  A slow smirk captured her lips. “You and me against the world.”

  The moon shone high in the sky while Renna and I lay on my bed holding each other, legs intertwined, and wearing the academy sweats we changed into after our perfect shower.

  Fully enjoying the rush our redefined relationship incited in us, we made out like hormonal teenagers all afternoon. It was new and exciting, and we could hardly keep our hands off each other. There was no high in this world like feeling Renna surrender to me with every kiss. We’d even had dinner in the room.

  Renna’s eyes shifted to the windowsill, seeing the display of rainbow paper cranes, and she pushed against my chest—where she’d been laying—to reach for them again.

  “Do you like them?”

  “I love them,” she admitted, placing them on the bed.

  “Good, because I did make them for you.” I laughed when she rolled her eyes at me. Reaching for a tiny blue one, I placed it on her hair—behind her ear, like a flower—and kissed her lips. Something told me blue was her favorite one.

  The door suddenly opened, and Serenity walked in, her eyes falling on us. Shit! Renna scrambled over me to the edge of the bed and got to her feet, clearly startled. I stood next to her, but we weren’t fooling anyone. Renna’s hair was messy, her already full lips swollen and pink from our kisses, and my shirt was riding up while my sweatpants sat slightly crooked on my hips—from her hand being on my abs while we lay in bed.

  Serenity arched an inquiring brow as she glanced at us, and Renna tensed beside me, but frankly, I didn’t care. My hand reached for Renna’s, and I had to admit that when Serenity’s eyes fell on our joined hands, a part of me feared Renna would pull away again. Instead, she interlocked our fingers together. Her chin lifted in a gesture that said, you-got-a-problem-with-this? at Serenity, using that same fierce spirit that pushed me away before, to defend our relationship from anyone who challenged it.

  “Renna and I are together,” I informed the High Witch, who had become like a second mother to me. Bringing Renna’s hand to my lips, I kissed it, and when our eyes connected, she smirked.

  To our surprise, Serenity smiled, walking closer. “I’m pleased.” Reaching for Renna’s hair, she carefully plucked the paper crane from behind her ear, and glanced at it on her palm. “I love when you make these.”

  The next second her golden magic flared to life, engulfing the little bird, and the crane shook his body, coming to life. His wings began to flap as though he was real, and he took flight, performing one loop around the bedroom while leaving a sparkling gold trail behind him, then returned to Renna’s side. He landed on her hand when she lifted it, becoming nothing more than a paper crane again.

  “Hold on to what you feel for each other, it will keep you grounded and strengthen you both,” Serenity offered, yet her smile tinged with sadness and the weight of our destiny. “You will need it for what's to come.”

  17

  When we entered the headmaster’s office again, I noticed two of the council members were there with him. Albán, the Priest of the Order of the Dragon and Cianán, Fae King of the Summer Court. They stood by Ambrose’s desk talking, but when they saw us, they quieted, turning to face us.

  “Scorpion,” the Dragon Priest greeted with a smile.

  “Albán, Cianán, it’s an honor to see you again.”

  “Why do you keep calling everyone by their first name… to their faces?” Renna whisper-hissed beside me. “They are the freaking Aereum.”

  “Well, they don’t have military ranks, what else am I supposed to call them?”

  “Lord—”

  “That’s alright, we don’t mind,” Albán offered, stopping our bickering.

  “Please, sit down.” Cianán motioned to the sofa, which had been nothing but a hospital bed since I’d been at the academy.

  We did as they asked, and I saw them nod after exchanging a cryptic glance.

  “Scorpion, Albán and Cianán are here because they have something for you,” Ambrose announced, and they produced two large packages. One a tubular leather case, like those you carried rolled up paintings in, but wider, and the other clearly a large garment bag.

  “After consulting with the rest of the council, we decided you are ready for these, and you will need them for your next mission.”

  “We have another mission?” Renna asked before I could, and we sat at attention, exchanging a worried glance. “Does this have anything to do with what happened earlier with Catina?” Renna added. She knew I’d told them what I could.

  “Yes,” Ambrose answered. “We spoke to Catina and we realized that her supreme magic, combined with the pendant’s, caused a fissure in the veil and it transported both your spirits to Infernum.”

  “What?!” Both Renna and I barked.

  “Unfortunately, that is the reason you were hurt,” Serenity added. “Even though your physical body was here—like with astral projection—going through the veil allowed your souls to materialize, so the demons trapped there could touch and harm you.”

  “The one that attacked you is called Ebonee,” Ambrose explained. “He was an Egyptian God who killed all the mortals in his kingdom. Claiming their souls, he fed from their energy to grow more powerful. He is half man, half dog, with sharp and poisonous claws, and presents the head of the animal under his golden crown. Ebonee also has two deadly hounds at his command. He is one of the most powerful Damanta trapped there, so we are glad only his hand was able to breach, and that you suffered nothing more than a scratch.”

  “Due to the seal’s magic weakening, allowing it to crack, we fear the gate will burst open much sooner than expected. That means we must complete your team as soon as possible, so you can begin to fight together, and close the gate once and for all.” Serenity concluded, and I understood the burden I saw in her eyes back in my room.

  Renna reached for my hand, and I squeezed it as we glanced at each other again. An unbreakable resolve fell on us, and we knew that no matter what, we would face it together. We stood, ready for our orders.

  “What do you need from us?” I asked.

  Serenity smiled, while Ambrose nodded in his approval of our readiness to act. “You, Renna, and Catina must travel to earth to awaken the next member of your team. And let’s just say he is…” Ambrose paused for a moment, as though trying to find the best term to use. “Uniquely gifted.”

  “Awaken, like we did with Catina?” Renna asked, and they all nodded.

  “He thinks he’s mortal, so he has no idea of how powerful he is,” Serenity added.

  “Which brings us to our gifts,” Ci
anán announced, calling our attention back to them. “Scorpion, if you would…” he motioned me to him, and I let go of Renna, stepping closer. Cianán he opened the thick garment bag first.

  Wonder filtered through me when he unveiled a full-on armored suit. It wasn’t armor like in medieval times, with chainmail and chest plates, no. Instead, a black leather suit hung before me, with a modern design to it in the way the top and pants were made, but it still had shoulder and arm guards in what seemed like an onyx alloy. Straps held the guards to the suit across the chest and back, and there was a special belt along the waist that held what appeared to be a sword scabbard. Long gauntlets in the same onyx metal and tall boots completed the outfit.

  My hand lifted to the suit, and when I grasped it, a glimmer of blue rushed along the material, as though reacting to my touch. “It has magic?” I gasped, eyes wide.

  “It was made with fae magic, combining the top attributes of our royal armor, which happens to be the best in all nine realms.” Cianán smirked proudly. “It was designed, crafted, and hand stitched by my very own royal tailor, with a modern, earthly touch, so it will fit your personality.” He smoothed the pristine jacket he wore. “After all, first impressions are important.”

  “I also infused it with a special enchantment that will repel any spells, or any other type of attack against you,” Serenity offered.

  “It’s… incredible. Thank you,” I whispered, floored by their gesture.

  “Our pleasure,” Ambrose answered. “It will help you carry out your missions without having to worry about your own safety, allowing you to be more effective.”

  “Now, my gift,” Albán interjected excitedly.

  “It’s the council’s gift,” Serenity reproached, and he narrowed his eyes at her.

  “This has been in my family for centuries, it was forged by my father and even if the council is giving it to him, I’ve taken care of it ever since. So, it’s mine,” he roared, and everyone in the room rolled their eyes, except Renna and I.

  “Dragons like to hoard precious items,” Cianán explained, and Albán’s nostrils flared.

  “I’m not a hoarder, I’m an avid collector!”

  My lips twitched at their exchange.

  “Would you just give it to him already?” Renna huffed impatiently, and Albán scowled at her.

  Walking closer, while almost hugging the leather tube to his chest, Albán stopped in front of me and opened it, taking something long out of it that was wrapped in fine golden cloths. He began to unwrap it, and my gaze went to the scabbard on the suit Cianán had given me. I internally cringed.

  Please don’t let it be a sword, please don’t let it be a sword.

  It was a sword.

  “I present to you, a Sárkány Szem Kardja”—the Dragon Eye Sword.

  A groan almost escaped me with Albán’s statement—I was many things, but “a sword guy” was not one of them. That was, until he peeled away the last layer of cloth, and pulled it out for the world to see. My jaw dropped. That wasn’t a sword, it was a piece of ancient art, taken from some lost treasure.

  The hilt was made of gold, presenting the head of a dragon at the very top, with ruby eyes. What appeared to be the dragon’s wings, served as a guard for a piece resembling an actual dragon eye, that sat in its center. The oval was made of gold too, but it was carved to show scales, and a large yellow stone, perhaps a diamond, took its rightful place as the iris. It glinted in the light of the lamp above us, making it look ethereal.

  The Dragon Priest pulled the sword from its sheath, and the silver blade extended from the dragon eye. Lengthy and smooth, probably made by a master craftsman, it looked every inch the sharp and deadly weapon that it was, no matter how elegant it seemed.

  “Hold it,” Albán encouraged, and I eagerly lifted my hands to receive it.

  He lay the blade horizontally on my palms, and I was surprised by how light and perfectly balanced it was. With unexpected excitement, I let my fingers curl around the hilt, and lifted it. The second I did, a powerful zing of energy shot from the sword, sucking the air out of me as it rushed through me, and bringing me to my knees.

  “Scorpion!” Renna called, alarmed by my fall, but Ambrose held her back.

  “He must bond with its power,” Serenity informed grimly, while all their eyes remained glued to me, expectant.

  Barely breathing, I felt the power crash into me over and over again, like raw lightning, but I clung to the magical sword as my body shook, understanding this was a test I must pass. Bring. It. On. Teeth grinding in pain, and using the sword as a crutch, I forced myself to stand again, though its energy only increased, not diminished.

  What kind of fucking bonding was this?

  My chest began to rise and fall shakily with my shallow breaths, and I glanced at the sword to see the diamond eye glow with a dull throb, its blade still perched on the floor. My gaze connected with Albán’s and he stared right at me.

  “Hold on, Scorpion… just a little longer. You can do this.”

  His words rang in my mind so no one else would hear them, but I had no time to gasp or be shocked by his mental ability, every cell in my body felt like it was on fire, the weapon’s power searing its way through me. My muscles tensed on my back, my chest, my thighs and arms, yet I forced myself to remain standing. No matter what.

  The veins in my arms began to fight against my skin once the fire reached them, and the others just watched me. Everyone seemed frozen, holding their breaths, like they expected the sword to do something. The fiery pain coursed through my arms, traveling down to my hands while my heart thundered against my chest. Everything inside me burned.

  Intense scorching engulfed my hands and I shook, feeling the blisters forming on my palms, skin tearing, bleeding, but I didn’t let go of the damn sword.

  Fiercely blazing, the heat reached its peak, and a ragged roar erupted from my lips as I lifted the magical weapon in the air—surrendering what was left of me. It felt like flames exploded out of my fingers, licking across the blade until the entire sword was aflame, and a golden light burst from the diamond eye, bathing the entire room and everyone in it.

  “Let go!” Albán shouted immediately, rushing to me, and I dropped it, fearing it might be too late.

  “Yes!” everyone shouted, applauding and hugging each other as though I had just performed a freaking miracle.

  Perhaps I had.

  I stumbled on my feet, feeling the ghost of the fire still burning me, but Albán caught me before I collapsed, inspecting my hands. The skin was red, blistered, and torn from my fierce grip on the magical weapon, but Renna appeared at my side that second, making me drink from a large vial Serenity had given her. Every drop.

  The potion was far more potent than any other I ever drank of hers, and instantly, a cooling force rushed through my being, both healing and relaxing my body. The skin on my hands mended, until it was soft, and cream colored again. Like nothing had happened.

  No longer feeling the effects of what had just happened, I stood to my full height—if anything, I felt alive and energized. Powerful. Wrapping Renna in my arms, I kissed her lips to bring her some relief after what she saw me endure, and the others smiled at our gesture. All but Ambrose, who watched me with a cool gaze that brought a phantom chill into the air.

  “We are truly sorry we had to force you to go through that,” Albán offered sincerely. “But in order for the sword to ignite, it had to connect with your essence, your soul. We needed you to withstand it and overcome it. There was no other way.”

  “I understand,” I replied, still holding Renna to my side.

  “What you just felt coursing through you is the power of the gods,” Ambrose informed me. “The sword was forged with dragon fire, and after the Bello Regna—the Battle of the Realms, the gods infused what was left of their abilities into it, before disappearing from the nine realms, never to be seen again.”

  “Holy shit,” I whispered, glancing at the sword now on the ground.
It’s fire still blazed but it didn’t burn the wooden boards below. Why?

  “Its power is meant for one thing, and one thing alone,” Cianán explained, as though hearing my silent question. “Offer the an Damanta a true death.”

  “As in killing the demons forever?” Renna asked, as shocked as I was.

  “Yes,” Serenity replied. “It is the only weapon that can actually kill a demon, extinguishing their souls forever.”

  The notion sobered everyone in the room, intensifying the gravity of what we were about to face.

  “Your human body can’t withstand the might the blade contains, that is why it burned your insides as it coursed through your body, as well as your hands,” Ambrose informed with a clipped tone in his voice.

  My eyes widened. “You mean it wasn’t just a feeling, it was truly burning me from the inside out?”

  “Yes,” Cianán answered. “You were only required to hold it until it ignited, a moment longer and it would have consumed you into nothing. It is too much for any human to take.”

  “Then how do you expect him to wield it?” Renna hissed, clearly pissed off by the confession, but Cianán only grinned, handing me the suit.

  “I’m glad you asked. The fae magic lining his armor will absorb the brunt of the Dragon Eye Sword’s might into the suit, letting it course along the fabric like it would through his body, in a continuous cycle. Only a small quantity of the power will actually reach Scorpion, allowing him to connect with the weapon at his command. The gauntlets will also protect his hands, just in case.”

  “Put it on,” Ambrose instructed, gesturing to the restroom behind him.

  I had no idea why he was pissed off at me all of the sudden, but I didn’t feel like finding out now. Letting go of Renna, I took the garment bag, walking in to change.

  The moment the leather and onyx alloy touched my body, they molded to my muscles like a second skin, soft and comfortable. A blue light shimmered along the fabric every so often, accompanied by the zing of magic over my skin. The boots and gloves fit me perfectly, and I glanced at myself in the mirror, feeling more like the warrior I knew was inside me.