I stayed up there for ten more minutes stewing in rage, just to be sure, listening to all the same familiar sounds, until it looped again, and I heard my daughter’s voice asking for me. I was positive then, that she was not in that house.
My thoughts weren’t kind at that point, and my own desire to destroy them kind of broke me out of it. I’d never kill again if I could help it, and surely not out of petty spite because I missed my daughter. Not superheroes that were most likely only guilty of trusting their bosses and government with blind faith. They were just doing their jobs, trying to catch a murderer and crazy person, and keeping my daughter safe from the crazy me that only existed in their minds.
No, if I ever killed anyone else, it would be because they deserved it and I had no choice.
With no better alternative, I listened to the two hero teams for almost a full hour, bitching and complaining about how stupid it was, because I should be dead by now. I wondered how many of them would heed their doubts when I gave an interview in two days, forty-eight hours after I should be dead.
Actually, there were six hero teams in total, each hero team was a pair, and there were six in each house, for twelve superheroes in total. That thought made me wonder why Freefall was patrolling alone the other day, maybe if he hadn’t been then my husband would be alive.
My patience and discipline paid off then, as one of them called in to give a report. I was even able to listen to both sides of the conversation. I’d make a hell of a spy and thief, if I ever truly did go bad.
He said, “This is Snowstorm. No sign of her yet, everything’s just peachy.”
Peachy? I chuckled, it had to be a code sign, because men didn’t say that word. Perhaps if he was under duress, he’d have said great, good, or fantastic. It was kind of Zen, or it would’ve been, to float effortlessly at two thousand feet. Flying was pretty awesome actually. I just hadn’t been enjoying any of it in my grief. That, and I’d never wanted to be a super. Supers were dangerous, but I wouldn’t be fighting anytime soon if I could help it.
Another replied, “Your orders haven’t changed, maintain position.”
He asked, “She should be dead right now, and the owner isn’t going to be happy at the hotel forever.”
The other ordered, “Just do it. The boss is on the warpath about this.”
He sighed, and then hung up the phone.
A woman’s voice asked, “Still stuck here?”
He must’ve nodded, because I didn’t hear anything else until she said, “That sucks, this is a waste of time.”
Things went on in that vein for another minute or so, until the male asked, “Want to have dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack when we do get out of here? It’s right next to the hotel.”
She replied, “Sure.”
I smirked, and listened a few more minutes, but then took off. I didn’t have a hotel name, but how many could there be right next to Joe’s Crab Shack? I’d been there before, and there was only one in the city, and I flew quickly to downtown in the restaurant quarter. The answer was two, a Radisson and a Marriot Suites. I didn’t let that get me down, I was closer than ever, and I felt a little excited as I hovered at two thousand feet and started to listen at windows for my daughter’s voice.
It didn’t take me all that long to find her, but I listened for a while to make sure she was alone with the foster mother. And of course, she wasn’t. My old friend Freefall was in there, with a second female heroine that I almost recognized but couldn’t quite place it until he said her name. Or part of it. He said Jade, which put to mind Jade Lightning.
Freefall wouldn’t be a problem, I knew I was way stronger than he was, but Jade Lightning was an energy wielder. As I’m sure you’ve figured out already, she fires what looks like green colored lightning at people. It could kill, subdue, or control. Not mental control, but she could control her target’s body like a puppet against their will.
I’d never been so close, yet so damned far. I spent even more time listening to the surrounding rooms on the same floor, and the ones below and above, for more supers. I also listened to the lobby area, but there was nothing.
Which told me they hadn’t expected me to get this far, they were just guarding her as a precaution. They thought I’d be dead, or quite possibly might make it to the guardian’s house, but not there. That was good news as far as I was concerned.
I dropped down out of the sky to the right window, but they’d been smart enough to close the curtains. Still, by soundwaves I knew they were all in the same room. Green Lightning could overcome me if I gave her a chance to. With no magic or energy resistance I’d be her puppet in short order. Then I’d have to kill her to escape, with control of my mind I could still control my powers, and for me that wasn’t an option.
At the same time, I couldn’t turn away. My sweet Wynn was on the other side of that glass.
Then my daughter solved the problem, as she demanded, “Bathroom!” She was potty training, which wasn’t all that unusual in a child that young, but most did so closer to three. I could hear her soft steps as she moved that way. I also felt relief that the foster mother didn’t follow her into the bathroom.
I immediately flew to the window of the room next to that one, then deadened sound in the area, and smashed the window in. I flew into that empty hotel room’s bathroom as I became visible, and deadened sound again as I ripped through the wall. Punching through the wall then pulling the wall outward so I didn’t put my daughter at risk.
When I broke through, my daughter gaped up at me in shock, and I winked conspiratorially as I leaned through the hole and held my arms out. She squealed mommy in delight, but I deadened it before the sound could go behind her, but I left it so she and I could hear it. I had to push back sobs of joy for a change, though still laden with grief as well, as she ran forward in that awkward way two-year old’s do and I scooped her up.
I said, “Try to stay calm, we’re going to turn invisible.”
She looked at me skeptically, until I disappeared and her too. She quieted down though, when I shushed her soothingly, and then told her to close her eyes until I said she could open them.
Then I took off out the window, and I flew for the safehouse.
Chapter Nine
What can I say about the next forty-eight hours? I’d gotten through my crazy to-do list, all without getting into a major fight, and the job and the new address and life could wait a bit. At least until after my press blitz. I didn’t want to make any decisions until I felt steadier.
Because of course, I’d been all but declared dead by the press. The SAB covered up the fact my daughter had gone missing right under their noses at all.
It would’ve been a wonderful two days if I hadn’t fallen apart, but I won’t bore you with the details of my devasted grief, or turmoil. I finally felt like I’d reached a safe space, and that let the tide of grief sweep me away so I could mourn my husband. That grief would go on, but the worst of it was gone, and acceptance that he was gone was mine before that two days were up.
Enough about that, instead I’ll focus on the positive of those two days.
My daughter was a naturally cheerful child, and although she threw a few fits about daddy being gone I don’t think she fully understood, nor would she for some time. Still, Debra, Maria, and Sarah were a godsend, especially Sarah to my surprise. She loved all three of them, but the teen’s sarcastic shell totally disappeared around my Wynn, and my daughter was thrilled with her new playmate who spoiled her outrageously.
Point was, everyone in the house was a blessing to me for those two days, and beyond in truth, but let’s not get ahead of my story.
Glenn got in touch through Germaine, who’d passed on a couple of things.
First, Glenn had come up with a plan for the press better than any I had, though it required four hours of solid work on my part on that third day, both on my light and sonic powers. It’d be worth the effort to save lives. Specifically, my own, and who knew how many when the supe
rs showed up take me down.
Second, as Debra suggested to me that first night, Glenn made me an offer of full support, not just a salary but tech and support, along with a place to store my suit and any toys to keep them out of the home that I shared with my daughter. Also, a couple of people to alert me of trouble in the city, my own dispatcher kind of thing. In short, he was offering me a lair with minions and scientists included as well as a salary. Lastly, I’d be given training in fighting, and would have to develop my powers even further.
Not just to keep pushing for investigations and a top down review of the SAB, but also to actually fight crime and help keep the city safe. He believed with my power I could do a better job than most, with little collateral damage. That in and of itself was something he wanted, but he also suggested by doing so I’d grow famous, or perhaps infamous would be more accurate, as not only an illegal super but also a vigilante super. Point being, I’d be more likely to gain more attention by doing so, instead of the story getting swept under the rug and the government getting away with yet another coverup.
At first, I was completely dismissive of the idea. It would be horribly risky, and I’d never wanted to be a superhero. I didn’t even like superheroes, they were dangerous and got people killed. All I wanted to do was start a new life, get a boring and safe job, and raise my daughter to be the amazing woman I already knew that she’d turn out to be.
But it’d nagged at my mind most of that second day, between the crying jags and playing with my daughter.
Karma had thrown a challenge in my face. I was stronger than most everyone in the city, a faster flier too if not on my feet. I also had control of sound and light, and I was all but immune to physical damage. I’d been so down on heroes, so convinced that there had to be a better way, and Karma had challenged me to find it. There was also my discipline and integrity, something I was proud of. I thought I could do it better, and I’ll tell you a secret, that wasn’t my naivety speaking for once. Though many on this world might argue otherwise.
In short, the whole idea was a challenge, to my beliefs, to my new abilities which would otherwise go to waste, and to make the city a safer place. A safer place for my daughter. I also wasn’t a coward. I didn’t want to run and hide from it, even though it did scare me a little. Anyone who wouldn’t be scared in my situation and because of what I faced would be an idiot.
Still, I wondered how much of my shifting thoughts was a sense of responsibility toward my power and toward the people I knew were being murdered. Not to mention the thousands of bystanders every year that died, and how much of it was a sense of arrogance because of my power.
That was one of my faults if you’ve been paying attention to this account, obviously. I believed I was stronger, and I believed I could fight smarter, that I could save those that otherwise would’ve died. That hadn’t changed noticeably, even to this day, I still thought I was both. I was far from perfect however, and the ability to lessen most collateral damage didn’t mean all.
Back to the point.
I’d be fighting to end the senseless murder of thousands of supers in that seventy percent margin every year. I’d be making the city safer for my daughter and everyone else. I’d cut down on collateral damage, and I’d stop the ones that needed to be stopped if I could.
I’d also looked damn good doing it too, in that black super-suit. Talk about a total turnaround in a couple of days, but my life had blown up that day, and I had a chance to make a difference. I’d also be making a deadly enemy in the government. Even deadlier than they were at that moment, but I was confident I could keep my Belladonna persona separate and safe.
On a practical side, I had five built in babysitters for the moment, when I went out to start trouble. If I took the job, I’d continue to live at the mansion as Bella with the black hair.
It was a bit bemusing to me, that I even considered it, given everything I’d thought and said before, but life changed all the time. Life’s changes didn’t get any bigger than what I’d just gone through.
It was the late on the second night, and I found Germaine and Debra in the living room. I wasn’t sure where Maria was. I was fairly sure she was on a date, though. The teens were in their rooms upstairs and my baby was sleeping upstairs already. I didn’t need a baby monitor, since I could hear her breathing from anywhere within a third of a mile.
“Hey, tell Glenn I’m in, if he’s crazy enough so am I.”
Germaine snorted, and Debra gave me a long look.
“You sure, honey? You can take longer to think about it. You’re still grieving.”
I nodded, “And will be for a long time, but I have my head on straight, I think.”
Germaine said, “In that case, so are we.”
“Huh?”
Debra said, “We’ll be your support, and if necessary, your backup and rescue.”
Germaine added, “We’ll monitor you when you’re out, get with Glenn for any tech needs, and I’ll also be your trainer for martial arts. You can turn it off, right? Both your strength and shield. You’ll need to learn the old-fashioned way, that means repetition, discipline, and most likely pain.”
I sighed, “Stop trying to make me feel better about it, you smooth talker, you.”
Germaine snickered.
Debra laughed, “Any ideas on what you’ll need?”
I frowned, “I think stealth is important. I need to cancel my heat signature as much as possible. So if you two are my training and support, who’s going to monitor for problems when I’m not already out there?”
Debra replied, “Not sure, but he’ll let us know when he tells us about the location I imagine.”
I answered Germaine’s question from earlier, “I can turn those powers off.”
He nodded, “I’ll just be teaching you the basics to start with, that’ll take a month or two. That should be enough with your strength for most opponents, but you’ll also get better with time as we get more and more advanced. Your stronger than just about anyone, so I’ll be teaching you rather direct and brutal martial arts, the yang styles. Krav Maga, Tai Chi, a little kickboxing, and so on.”
“I never imagined you knew martial arts.”
Debra chuckled, “Because he’s so calm and peaceful? That’s because he’s a blackbelt, honey. Martial arts teaches discipline and a peaceful heart, to be ready for violence but only as a last resort. It’s his training that made him so calm and observant. You already have discipline, so he’ll teach you the easy part.”
I nodded. The easy part that involved pain, right. Well, I did have discipline, and a little pain wouldn’t hurt me. Plus, unlike a real trainee it’d only sting for a second or two, I wasn’t going to turn off my super healing anytime soon, or ever.
Debra said, “I can see you wondering why we hadn’t done it ourselves. The only reason we haven’t done so is because we can’t turn invisible, nor flee at Mach speeds. You can take down the criminals both in the government and without, while avoiding the rest of them. It’s that second part that would’ve had us dead or in the jail cells beneath the SAB building in days, if not hours. Point is, this is what we want, to make a difference, and if we can do that in supporting you that’s what we’ll be doing.”
My mind was spinning a bit, but as with so much lately I just rolled with it. Accept it now, figure it out later, had become my new mantra.
She added, “Plus, my power is defensive and healing in nature.”
I nodded, “So, when do we start?”
She chuckled, “Why don’t you start your training tomorrow afternoon, after the interview assuming it goes something like the plan. As for the rest we need to wait for a facility, along with those support personnel. A comm tech to keep in touch, and perhaps that heat suppression tech. You’ll need to learn to relax, as outside of patrols you’ll always be on call, so take it easy when you can.”
Germaine said, “When you aren’t training.”
“Of course,” I said with a calm I didn’t feel, at
the same time I felt a little excitement, “Maria?”
They both exchanged glances, then Debra said, “The girl’s got a lot of power, but very little discipline. Nothing wrong with that, she’s a lovely person, but she’d rush in where angels fear to tread. She’s the same as those superheroes you profess to be dangerous. Her heart would be in the right place, but the collateral damage would be inevitable, not to mention her own fall.”
“Patrols… I’ll have to do invisible, or the government would be fighting me all day and night.”
Debra nodded, “Mostly. You could do a few cameos around the city during the patrol, and then go invisible and continue patrolling before their response gets there.”
Yeah, assuming the SAB didn’t implode after tomorrow’s press interview, but even I wasn’t that naively optimistic. It would also only work if they came through on some kind of heat blocker that defeated thermal vision, either super or tech. So far it hadn’t been an issue because of circumstances, but if I patrolled daily then it’d just be a matter of time before I was caught without it.
“What can you do Germaine, if I can ask?”
He winked, “Thought you’d never ask.”
Debra rolled her eyes playfully as the couch rose up off the ground, a tablet rose up off the coffee table, and several other objects in the room began to float. Then they all settled back down.
He said, “Telekinesis on a macro level only. I can use it to fly, though nowhere near as quickly as you can. I can shield myself from physical harm, and of course hit things really hard, or throw things. It doesn’t do anything against energy though.”
I looked at Debra and raised an eyebrow.
She said, “Healing, almost instantly, of others and myself. I can also throw up a force shield that can withstand just about any physical or energy type as long as it’s not powerful enough to overwhelm me. I also have superspeed, and I’m extremely tough. There’s one more, please don’t be mad I didn’t tell you sooner, but I have empathy and can’t turn it off. That’s all defensive and healing, so I wouldn’t be much good in taking down a supervillain.”
Death's Mistress: Origins of Supers: Book One Page 9
