by Raven Steele
I followed Kristen out the door. She led me to the Halo where Roman sat. He wasn't in his usual spot meditating in the center. Instead, he leaned against the side, his head tilted up as if he was listening to a million sounds. He probably was.
"You've had quite a night," Roman said.
"How much did you hear?" I asked.
"Enough to know that you're working for Victor now."
"What?" Kristen blurted.
"It's not like that." I walked across the room away from them both and pulled out the diary. "Why didn't you two tell me the truth?"
An awkward silence followed. Kristen spoke first.
"We didn't want you to have a negative image of your father."
I stared at her in surprise. "You thought it was better for me to believe a lie?"
They looked at each other.
Kristen kept talking. "Your father was a good man once. He just let his thirst for power control him. Daisy even wondered if there was something in the V blood that could've changed his personality."
I glanced at Roman, a ray of hope ignited. "Is that possible? You studied V blood as much as my mother."
"There's no way to know for sure without extensive testing, but I do not believe it changes a person's personality. It can, however, amplify one’s emotions—especially anger." He lowered his head. "Jonas became who he was because he craved attention. I remember him once telling me about an interview he did with the city's top reporter. It was about a time when he had saved people from a burning building. All but one. A kid he couldn't get to in time.
"Not once did he mention or show any remorse for the seven-year-old boy who died. All he cared about was how the reporter had called him a superhero. That’s when I knew we had lost him." Roman's voice was hollow as he spoke.
Fingers trembling, I dropped the diary to the ground, no longer wanting to hold it. "The last thing I read was my mother wanting to confront my father. She was going to take me and leave. How does it end?"
"Why don't you sit down?" Kristen suggested.
I remained standing while she lowered to the floor as if she could no longer support herself.
"I was with your mother that day, helping her pack,” Kristen began. “Daisy had been crying for weeks leading up to this. Not because she was going to leave him, but because she was saddened by how much he had changed. It also broke her heart to take her child away from his father, but your safety came first. She was afraid of the influence he would have over you. She'd experienced his cruel side and didn't want you to."
When she stopped speaking to catch her breath, I said, "Keep going."
I had to know everything. I couldn't move forward, couldn't even begin to make right choices if I didn't know the whole truth.
"Your father wasn't supposed to come home early. They were going to meet at a restaurant for dinner. In public, so she could talk to him. But then he was just there, like he knew what she was going to do.
"Daisy handed you to me and snuck me to a back bedroom. She told me if Jonas started yelling, I was supposed to take you out the window and get out of the building. She said that no matter what I heard, I had to make sure you got as far from the building as possible. Your safety was all that mattered.
"I begged her to come with us, but she said it had to end. She also told me to find Roman." She glanced over at Roman, who was back to looking up toward Coast City. "She said I could find him underground, and all I'd have to do is say his name and he would find me. This had surprised me because everyone thought he had left the city, or had been killed. No one had heard from him for weeks."
I paced the room, trying to picture the scene in my head. What fear they must've both felt. I'm glad I was too little to remember.
She continued. "I heard some of what they were arguing about. Jonas talked about becoming a god among men. Because of his special abilities, he would rule the day per the orders of the Principes Noctis."
My eyes flashed to Roman. He flinched at the phrase, but a second later his expression was unreadable.
"I don't know what he meant, nor do I want to. When Daisy told him that his abilities should only be used for good and to help men be free, he laughed at her and called her naïve.
"They continued to argue and Jonas began throwing things around. When I heard him say he was going to take you away from Daisy, I texted Victor and snuck out the window. Victor replied right away that he was coming." Her eyes filled with tears. "I hated leaving my sister there. If I didn't have you with me, I would've rushed in to help her even though Jonas could've killed me with one punch. And I don't doubt that he would have. He hated the influence he thought I had over her."
She paused and wiped at her wet cheeks.
A cold and dark emptiness grew inside me, making my stomach swim. The thought of anyone, especially my father, hurting Kristen made me physically ill.
She continued, “Anyway, I escaped out the window and made it to the bottom of the fire escape just as an explosion went off in the building." She spoke quickly. "I screamed and held you tightly while the building burned. I was still there when Victor showed up. He didn't see me, but I saw him. I watched that man break in the middle of the street. Without any confirmation, he knew your mother was dead.
"I almost went to him, but then you said your mommy's name. That's when I knew I had to get you away from all of it. Everyone knew you were the son of the great Jonas Crow. People would try to use you. Even Victor. Your mother wouldn't have wanted that for you. So I took you to Roman, and we gave you the best life we knew how while also keeping you safe." She sniffed and drew in a breath. "I'm sorry we lied to you. We did what we thought was best."
"The fire. What happened?" I asked through clenched teeth, not wanting to point out that Roman, too, had used me in his own way. My whole life he had trained me to be a fighting machine. I was never given another option.
"I don't know for sure," she said, "but an investigation showed a bomb had gone off in the apartment. I don't know where it came from. Maybe it was one of Jonas', or maybe your mother had something going on I didn't know about."
I stared at both of them, anger coursing through my blood. I turned and punched at the brick wall. It shattered, leaving a giant hole. I smashed it again and again, letting all my rage flow into it.
Roman’s hand rested on my shoulder, stopping me. I swiveled around, wanting to punch him. Why didn’t they tell me this earlier? I spent my whole life believing my father was a hero. I dropped my arms and slouched my shoulders.
"Your father was a great man," Roman's quiet voice said. "He may have lost his way in the end, but he still did a lot of good for the city. You mustn't forget that."
I shrugged Roman's hand off my shoulder and stepped away, rage still coursing through me. "My father should never have found that blood. You should never have replicated it. All the blood that has been spilled is on your hands."
Roman lowered his head. "Don't you think I know that? Every day I regret what your mother and I did. We thought we were helping the world. Instead, we were destroying it."
"And I'm a part of that creation. It makes me sick to think I have this monstrosity inside me."
"But don't you understand?" Kristen quickly came to her feet. "It's not the V that's making these people monsters. It's what's already inside them. V only heightens what's already there."
I shook my head, not wanting to think about it anymore. "I just want this to end. And then I want nothing more to do with any of this, with any of you. In fact," I paused, thinking of Emma's words. There was no reason I needed to stay in the city anymore. There was no reason for me to protect it after I destroyed Victor. "I'm leaving Coast City."
Kristen curled her lips inside her mouth, but she nodded as if she understood.
"And how exactly do you plan on killing Victor?" a voice said from the open doorway.
We all turned around. Oz was leaning against the rock wall, his arms folded to his chest. "From everything I've heard, Victor is incredi
bly strong. He's also guarded night and day by thugs almost as powerful as him."
"I'm not worried about them. As for Victor, he may be strong, but he's also older than me. I think I can take him."
Roman's head snapped in my direction. "You underestimate him. V affected us all differently. He may not have your speed or heightened senses, but he's far stronger than you. He also seems to have some kind of sixth sense. Over the years, I have hired several hit men to take him out."
"You did?" I clenched my teeth. One more thing I was never told.
"Not a single one could kill him. Victor got to them first. Bullets were shot at him, arrows, knives, but he dodged them all. The only way he could've sensed them coming is if he had some kind of unnatural ability."
"Okay then," Oz said, and moved into the room. "A public execution isn't the best idea anyway. People could get hurt. I say you pop him in his own house while he's sleeping. I know a lady who used to work there. Maybe she knows something about his sleep patterns that could help us."
"But it's surrounded and has an impermeable security system," Kristen said. "Aris will never get in."
"Let me worry about his security system," Oz said. "I can get past anything electronic. It will be up to Aris to get past Victor's men."
No one said anything as we considered the plan. If I could catch Victor when he was asleep, then I would have a really good chance. I would also be fighting him in his home where there was no risk of a third party getting hurt. But most of all? I wasn't going there to drag him to the police.
I was going to kill him.
30
"You must ensure your success," Roman said to me.
I shook my head, already knowing what he was going to say. "I will not turn. I have enough darkness inside me. I won't add to it."
He regarded me steadily with his all-white eyes. "Are you prepared to kill Victor? You know the police will never hold him."
"I will not hesitate." I was certain now. I could easily kill Victor, especially knowing he was trying to replicate more V blood. There had to be an end to his destruction. So many lives would be saved by his death.
"Then it's a plan," Oz said, slapping his hands together and rubbing them. "I have a lot to do."
"When are you guys planning on doing this?" Kristen asked me.
"As soon as possible. Oz, you think you can have everything ready by tomorrow night?"
"Absolutely. I've dreamt about breaking into the Devil's Playground ever since I was twelve years old. I'm very familiar with their security system."
Kristen wrinkled her brow. "Why did you want to get into the Devil's Playground?"
"Every boy wanted to get in there. We heard they had the hottest chicks." He winked at her. "But now that I've been there, I don't ever want to go back."
"It's late. I'll walk you home, Kristen." I came to her side, but turned back to Roman. "When I return, there's something else we need to talk about."
He nodded. "We can speak while you train."
I cringed, half tempted to tell him I was done with his obsessive training sessions, but Kristen took hold of my arm and pulled me along.
We walked through the tunnels in weighted silence even though I had more questions. I was still too mad to speak.
She glanced at me several times as if she wanted to say something, but it wasn't until we were almost to the closest entrance to her apartment that she spoke. "I want you to know that your mother loved you very much. You are all that mattered to her. I think she would be very proud of who you've become."
I stopped moving. "I need to ask you something, and I want the truth."
She nodded slowly. "Okay."
I inhaled a big breath and on my exhale, asked, "How close were Victor and my mother?"
It took her a moment to answer. "Your mother was very private about him, more so than anything else in her life. I do know they had a special relationship, but I don't know if it was romantic. He was always there for her, and I could tell he cared a great deal about her. She seemed to feel the same way. I used to think that if she ever left Jonas, she would turn to Victor."
"I always thought Victor took V to take out my father, and then my mother got killed in the crossfire."
"That's what a lot of people thought."
"So when did Victor change for the worse?" I asked.
"After they died, he disappeared for a few months. When he returned, he was a different man. Angry, cruel. Even toward me. He had always been kind before."
I didn't say anything else the rest of the way to Kristen's apartment. There was just so much to process. I made sure she was safe, then returned to Ironwood. Roman was exactly where I had left him, still staring up, but his eyes held deep sadness I hadn’t seen before.
"So much noise," he said. "I don't know how they live with it."
I watched him for a moment, surprised by the pain in his voice. I didn’t know how to respond.
As if sensing the awkwardness, he cleared his throat and lowered his gaze. “What did you find?”
"At Victor's club, Blue Fire," I began, averting my gaze, "there was a box full of blood bags in the back room. That wasn't the first time I had found something similar. What are they for? And don't lie to me."
His white gaze dropped from the ceiling. "Tell me what you believe they are for."
"I don't know."
"What do you feel?"
I lowered my eyes, taking a moment to think through everything I'd seen and heard. I thought of the strange feeling of supernatural power I got around the Physician and Hacksaw. I remembered the blood draw kits I'd found where they had delivered barrels of rhino dust, and the judge's words of something different coming to the city. And finally there was my mother's journal speaking about Principes Noctis, the Rulers of the Night.
I looked up at him. "Vampires and other creatures. They aren't extinct. Victor must be working with one or more. The Principes Noctis. Who are they?"
He turned around and walked to the center of the room. "I learned of the group when we were in Rouen, what little information there was. In fact, up until the last twenty years, they were thought to be a myth."
"Who are they?"
"They are demons. All kinds of supernatural creatures that worship darkness. They feed on human blood and flesh." He swallowed, an uncharacteristic action for him.
"Are they already here?"
"They must be, and yet, I cannot sense them. They are quieter than humans."
"Why didn't you tell me about this group?"
"They were never worth mentioning, a fly on the other side of the world. But they have flown to our doors, and someone has let them in."
"Victor?"
He didn't answer me, which meant he didn't know.
"Is everyone like me and you mostly evil?"
"First, there is no one like you and me. We are the results of a science experiment. The others have been around for centuries, if not longer. From what I know of their creation process, it is difficult with little success. Our work would be very valuable to them."
I repressed a shiver. Was that why Victor was so intent on duplicating V1996? For the Principes Noctis?
"As for being evil," Roman continued, "everyone, no matter their species, has both light and dark inside them. It's only a matter of which one they choose to entertain."
He smoothed down his dark robe. "Tonight, our training will be simple. I want you to fight me."
Despite everything going on, I chuckled. Fighting him was one of the most difficult tasks he could ask me to do, and he knew it.
"I'm glad you can joke at a time like this." I removed my shirt, preparing to fight him.
"That's when you should tell jokes. To remind yourself that joy can be found in hardship." He lowered into a defensive position and motioned me forward.
Before the sun rose, I managed to slip in a couple of hours of sleep. Roman had kept our sparring session short, but that just meant he didn't hold back. Neither had I.
Wh
en I woke up on the hard bench across from my home, I crossed the narrow street attempting to stretch the kinks out in my back. I think the ground would've been more comfortable to sleep on. Oz was already awake and speaking with Amy. They were laughing about something, and he shoved her in a loving, big brother sort of way. I would've liked having a sibling.
We said our good mornings, and while Oz made breakfast, I showered and dressed, making sure my tattoo was properly covered.
When I returned, Amy asked me, "Can I explore the tunnels today?"
"I'm sure Roman would be happy to take you when he rises at noon. There are some beautiful places to see. Did you know the tunnels go all the way to the bay?"
Her eyes grew big. "Serious? How come no one ever comes down here?"
"There's a section on the east side where some homeless people live sometimes, but the majority of the city have forgotten about what lies beneath them." I looked at Oz as he swallowed the last bite of toast in his mouth. "Where will you be all day today?"
"I have to get my laptop and backpack at my apartment. It has what I need to get past Victor's security system. There are also a few other gadgets we'll need. I want to get them all ready before we do the real deal tonight."
"How do you plan on doing all this? Everyone's looking for you."
"I was hoping you could help me with that," he said. "I thought you could sneak me into my apartment, help me get what I need, then get me back here. Easy. No one will see me."
I thought about it. "It will be safer if we drive. We can get closer to your building that way, plus we can see who's watching your place."
"But my car is back at my apartment."
"We'll take mine."
"You can drive?"
"Of course I can drive. I may live underground, but I wasn't raised under a rock. I took driver's education as soon as I was able. I bought my first car shortly after."
He laughed and shoved me. "You have a ride? I can't wait to see this hunk of junk."
"This way then."
Oz said goodbye to Amy, and I reminded her to ask Roman about showing her around. He might not like the task, but it would be good for him. Amy had a special way with people, and I couldn't wait to see how she handled him.
