The Stelter City Saga: Ultranatural

by Stefany Valentine Ramirez

  Lotus shrugged but didn’t look up from the water. “He’s going to talk to the other remaining Council members. Most likely he’s going to have an election where the gangs vote on who they want to be in the Council. But he also mentioned that Ithaca didn’t like the way things were working so she wanted to change the system.”

  Kasper grumbled something under his breath and Lotus looked up. “Nothing,” he admitted and Lotus shrugged it off.

  “He also gave me a letter.” She continued, “Mirage wrote it and he said she wanted me to have it. Didn’t I tell you?”

  “No, you didn’t. What did the note say?” he asked.

  Lotus chuckled to herself as she continued to play with the salty water.

  “What?” pestered Kasper and Lotus shook her head. “Tell me!” he splashed her playfully and she glanced up at him.

  For the first time in a long time, Kasper hadn’t seen her eyes glitter with joy so naturally. She smiled up at him. Her teeth seemed exceptionally bright against her tan skin. “My sister is alive.”

  Chapter 5 Pele

  ~From the window of a Honolulu tower there was nothing but the vast expanse of ocean and Heleow’s jagged towers against the horizon. Hotaru MacKay gazed out at the distant city, his callused hands clenched behind his back with his shiny shoes planted shoulder width apart. Tattooed flames erupted from beneath the collar of his pinstripe suit, swirling up until it threatened to burn the side of his almond shaped eyes. Dark spots decorated his face from age; even his short goatee was sprinkled with grey. But even for a Japanese man in his early fifty’s he carried himself upright. His posture was always erect and for an average height man, that made his overall stature seem like a threat.

  His eyes remained glued to the scene. With his supernatural hearing, the sound of helicopter wings jetted through the ceiling. Moments later he saw the shadow of the company copter slide down against the glass then sailing swiftly towards Heleow. Moments past and Hotaru watched as the expensive machinery shrank into Hawaii’s vast blue sky until it was nothing but a faint dot. It was several miles out by now, and almost sailing perfectly between Honolulu and Heleow. A family on the beach could have assumed it was a flock of rogue balloons, if they could see it at all.

  Silently, Hotaru began the countdown. Three… two… one…

  Just like that the copter exploded in a fiery ball. It would have grabbed a lot of people’s attention if it weren’t for the fact that the sky was so vast and bright that it blanketed the brilliant explosion. Clumps of fire freefell into the flat ocean and not even ten bystanders would have noticed. Within seconds everything had been swallowed up by the different blue hues. The grey smoke was only something Hotaru, with his keen eyes, could see and the fiery chunks of metal had plummeted deep into the ocean.

  It had happened so quickly, if Hotaru had blinked he would have missed it. But he didn’t. The gang leader let his hands slide back to his side and humbly he bowed in the direction of the murder. It was quick, which meant it was painless. The young corporate director aboard that craft was dead before he could feel a thing. Even though taking his life was strictly business, Hotaru couldn’t shake the fact that it was still a life- two of them, counting the pilot.

  MacKay’s head hung there for an extra moment as he acknowledged another pair of lives that had fallen in the hands of Pele. When he stood back up, even his eyes couldn’t detect the faintest hint of homicide. That was how Pele operated. Death by fire without leaving a clue. A couple of his gang members had strapped explosives into the engine. It was an explosive that was programmed to detonate quickly and destroy all. His gang had once again proved to do a wonderful job.

  Hotaru turned on the spot and his eyes immediately shot for the corner of the large room. It was empty now when a moment ago the invulnerable Council member had stood there. Ithaca tended to appear and disappear without a trace. Even as he stood alone in the dimly lit conference room, he could sense her powerful essence as if she were standing beside him.

  She had known he would come up here to make sure the helicopter detonated and right when Hotaru had pushed the door open, Ithaca was there with a proposal. Their chat didn’t last long. She simply told him things were going to change and she would be delighted if he helped her out. It wasn’t the first time she offered and Hotaru knew it wouldn’t be the last. She wasn’t going to stop until she got her way.

  In several quick strides, Hotaru MacKay crossed the room and entered the busy corporate hallway. In his suit he almost blended perfectly. Almost. But no one looked up from the clipboards or glanced past their computers long enough to notice that Hotaru- with his fire tattoo- looked out of place.

  He reached the thick steel elevator. As if the system knew he was coming, the doors opened and he stepped in the empty space before jabbing the lobby button. Hotaru stood alone, thankful that there wasn’t any elevator music to turn his peace into a migraine. With a slight jolt the elevator began it’s decent. Through the reflection of the steel doors, Hotaru watched as he stripped out of his suit. But he didn’t have to move to accomplish that. He was a supernatural. A supernatural with the gift of fire.

  A fine ember ring sprung up from around his collar. It didn’t burn, instead it singed away at his clothes. As the ring sank down his chest, flakes of ash fluttered into the air revealing his true attire. The flame had finished running down his torso and now he was sporting a black leather jacket with an even darker V-neck beneath. The flames burned his waist revealing a metal belt looped around his tattered jeans and finally stopped charring around his ankle to divulge black boots. A pile of ash had appeared at his feet and with a snap of his fingers they too erupted into flames and burned until there was nothing left but the faint perfume of smoke.

  The door binged and Hotaru stepped out onto the lobby. From inside his coat pocket, he pulled out a pair of Ray Bands and slid them up his nose. Now he blended perfectly with the street dwellers on the first floor. He walked past the large indoor water fountain until the revolving glass door had spat him out onto the Honolulu beach.

  A native kid rushed passed in a pair of too-big swim trunks as he tried to launch a kite into the air. The kid hadn’t seen the fire, and as Hotaru glanced around, apparently neither did anyone else.

  The sand that accidentally fell in his boots incinerated as he strolled along to the perimeter of the beachside corporate tower. Hotaru didn’t walk too long before he was in a narrow alleyway. The gang leader practically had to squeeze himself against the office tower’s steel wall to stand beside the long glossy limousine.

  He didn’t have to say anything. The limo window rolled down at his approach and a suitcase was shoved into his hands. That was all. Hotaru grasped onto the handle as the glossy black window was slid back up. Slowly the car rolled away and turned out of the alley to melt with Honolulu traffic.

  Hotaru stood alone in the small alley. He found a trashcan to rest the briefcase against and popped open the lid. He knew his wealthy customer wouldn’t dare cheat him out. If he did, Hotaru would send his gang to burn down everything the man owned. The lid came up, and Hotaru smirked at the seven bars of pure platinum.

  And to think this was just the first payment.

  ~“But maybe we should at least say something.” Lee whispered from the cock pit. “I mean, I’m sure they are gang affiliated too if they got on this plane.”

  “Gang affiliated rock stars, Lee? I don’t think so.” Ace answered back.

  “But we can’t just stay here all day.” She paced by the door of the cockpit as Ace sat in the co-pilot’s seat. His gaze never moved from the jet’s noes.

  “Bottom line is,” she continued, “we are going to Heleow and there’s a pair of celebrities sharing our plane. Neither of us knows who the other is, and I feel really awkward just hiding out in the cockpit after a staring contest.”

  The four of them might have stood there for a solid five minutes just staring at one another as a billion questions raced through each other’s minds. No
ne of them had said a word, of course, until finally August asked, “So I’m guessing you know Dohnatello?”

  Ace still hadn’t said a word by that point. He was far too flustered to even consider lying. He had glanced at Lee who shrugged then bluntly said to the strangers, “Um, I don’t know if we can trust you so hold on a sec.” He grabbed Lee and they had darted back into the cockpit.

  Ace glanced up at the countdown above his head. They had been discussing whether or not they could trust them for almost an hour now. “What are they doing now?” he asked swiveling around in his seat.

  Lee poked her eye into the peep hole, “Eating,” she replied.

  At that word Ace’s stomach grumbled and Lee giggled. “I don’t see what’s wrong with them. If they meant us harm, don’t you think they would have broken the door down by now?”

  “But we still don’t know who they are.”

  “Caring Diaz,” Lee remarked then glanced back through the peep hole, “They have Oreo’s and I’m starving. I’m just going to say hi.” Her hand went for the door but Ace had sprung out of his seat to catch it.

  “Wait, promise me you won’t tell them anything.” He said, “I just think it’s odd that Dohnatello knows a pair of singers.”

  Lee wriggled her hand free and placed it on the doorknob. “Don’t worry about me.” she said, “I’m not going to say anything. It’s you I’m worried about. You’re such an awful liar.” She flicked her wrist and the door swung open.

  “Oy!” Michael called from his place on the other end of the cabin. “You finally realized we’re all right, have you?”

  Lee nodded, “Sorry, it just kind of threw us off guard that there was a pair of rock stars sharing the same plane as us when we’re borrowing it from... A friend.”

  Michael nodded and flipped the red tipped hair from his eyes. “I know what you mean, mate.” He announced cracking open a bottle of something purple and fizzy. “We thought we were borrowing too. Come have us a seat. We’re dyeing for some good entertainment!”

  Lee glanced up at Ace and they held eyes for a moment before Lee advanced. “Alright,” she agreed stepping over the fresh carpet and taking a seat on the far end of the sofa. “So you’re Caring Diaz.”

  “The one and only.” August replied taking a swig from the bottle after Michael was done chugging. “And you are?”

  “Lee,” she replied with a smile. “And this is Ace.”

  Ace gave a slight wave and snuggled down beside her as August’s eyes stayed glued to Lee. His head tilted to the side giving him the appearance of a confused puppy before saying, “Well, Lee has anyone ever told you, you look like Lotus Stelter?”

  Pieces of Oreo cookies projected out of Michael’s mouth as his head spun around to stare at her. “She does not!” he objected then snatched the bottle from August’s big bass playing hands. “Why you got to bring Lozey up every chance you get?” he wailed glowering at his bandmate, “You’re the worst friend ever!”

  August grabbed hold of Michael’s chin and spun him around to face Lee. His brown eyes glared at hers for a moment, then went wide with surprise. “You’re right she does!”

  “I get it all the time,” confessed Lee modestly.

  “Lozey lives in Heleow.” Michael went on to grumble as August recoiled his hands, “Wonder what would happen if you met.”

  Lee shrugged, “I doubt we will ever meet. I mean she is a celebrity.”

  "And what are we to you?" August exclaimed, "The dust atop the mantel?"

  “She likes to surf.” Michael cut in before Lee could laugh. He stared blankly out in front of him and spoke as if no one was around him. “And she’s good at it too. It’s like she knows where all the right waves are. I could watch her surf all day…” his voice faded and his body went limp against the couch. His head hit the wall but all he managed to utter was a careless, “ouch.”

  Lee raised her eyebrows then glanced at the bass player quizzically.

  August opened his mouth to answer then snapped it shut when Michael sat up quickly. “Is that where this plane is going then?” he asked, “Heleow?”

  “You mean you don’t know?” questioned Ace.

  Michael shook his head, “We were supposed to be going to Italy, but then I saw that we were flying over the ocean when we should have gone east. I have no service up here so I can’t call Dohnatello-” the boy stopped then stared at the pair with wide eyes. “How do you know Dohnatello? I don’t know him personally, but I know him enough to know he wouldn’t just fly anyone. Who are you?”

  Once again Lee glanced up at Ace. "Who's that?" she snapped reflexively trying to keep their agenda private.

  “Oh, you’re keeping secrets.” Michael concluded with a sly nod, “no matter, we’ve got a pair of secrets too. Right, Auz?”

  “Don’t drag me into this!” exclaimed the mocha skinned Australian. “I’m just riding a plane with a bandmate.”

  Michael sucked in an enormous breath, held it, and then let it out slowly. “Well, what’s next? Recon the four of us are just gunna have to kill time?”

  Lee nodded, “We’ve still have another five hours. Can I ask you some questions?”

  Both rock stars cocked their eyebrows.

  “It’s just a game we used to play at the orphanage.” Lee explained, “I’d ask a bunch of silly questions and we’d-”

  “Orphanage!” exclaimed August. He tilted his head slightly as he studied Lee. His eyes scanned every detail of her face and even examined the locket around her neck scrupulously. Then his eyes darted toward Ace. As August quickly studied, he managed not to show any expression. Finally without another word he sat back and removed his eyes from their faces.

  “Gone off your rocker have you?” Michael asked sarcastically, “What’s this about?”

  “Nothing,” August snapped with his eyes glued to the carpet, “Just thought I remembered something.” He let the moment linger before finally saying, “Actually I have to make a phone call.”

  “We don’t get service up here, fruit loop.” Michael pointed out.

  August slapped himself in the forehead, “Right, well never mind then,” he turned back to Lee, “What’s this about a game?”

  Lee grinned, “I’ll just ask a question and you just answer.”

  “You’re not trying to interrogate are you?” August asked skeptically.

  Lee shook her head, “I’m just trying to kill time.”

  Just then Ace’s stomach growled once again.

  “Here’s some Oreos.” Michael announced handing over a half-eaten box.

  Ace snatched up the box so eagerly, he had a cookie in his mouth before he even realized everyone was staring at him. “What?” he asked as crumbs flung from his mouth. “Don’t look at me like I’m the only one here who gets excited about cookies.”

  ~Larissa had never seen anything like it before. The sand was so white, and the water was so clear it looked like liquid topaz. When the gentle ocean breeze rippled through her hair it brought in the smell of crisp ocean water and smoke from a nearby tiki-torch. Children ran all around her spraying puffs of hot fine sand. Giggles and laughter rang through her ears and melted in with the chirping of seagulls and the crashing of foamy waves.

  Her feet dug into the sand and she felt each grain tickled between her toes. The sun was high in the sky now only casting a small amount of shadows beneath the deep green palm trees. Behind her stood the towering Honolulu Stelter Hotel on Waikiki Beach. It was the place they would be staying at for the first couple nights anyway before Cassie’s aunt hooked them up with a hotel in Heleow. The gang had just arrived and hadn’t even put their belongings in order before they had jumped into their swim gear and ran out onto the beach.

  Flash!

  Larissa turned and wasn’t surprised to see Cassie sporting her hot pink monokini and the DiAchi Tec. camera pressed to her eye. “You look adorable!” she squealed, “But don’t you have a swimsuit?”

  Larissa looked down at her almost too bagg
y romper. She had never gone swimming before and so the idea of prancing around nearly naked wasn’t an appealing thought. She was exposing as much skin as she dared at the moment.

  “What about sunglasses?” Cassie continued pointing to her own white Ray Bands.

  Again no. There was something about being a supernatural that made intense sunlight tolerable.

  “Oh, my Latino friend we need to go shopping!” she exclaimed. Cassie tucked her camera in her athletic bag then laced her fingers with Larissa’s.

  At first Larissa was so caught off guard that she almost yanked her hand away. Ammon was the only person ever to hold her hand. She didn’t like Cassie’s touch at all, but at the same time Larissa knew Cassie was only taking her hand because she was in a bubbly mood. If Larissa withdrew, that might set off a chain of upset feelings so for now, Larissa let their hands be intertwined as Cassie lead her to the waterline.

  Out only a little ways away Larissa could see Josh and Ammon bro-bonding as the ocean water lapped against their waist. She had never seen so much of Ammon’s skin before and even from the distance she could count the lines in his oblique’s and see the curves in his throwing arm as another glop of wet sand flew Josh’s way. Ammon tossed his wet brown hair out of his eyes and Larissa could see the droplets of diamonds flinging back in the ocean. His eyes caught sight of Larissa’s half smile and he turned to wave.

  Larissa couldn’t help but to blush as a wave crashed over her feet. When the water receded she could feel herself sinking into the wet sand as grains were dragged over the top of her foot with an exfoliating sensation. She pulled her hand away from Cassie to wave back and when she did, a blob of dark sand splattered against Ammon’s ear.

  Josh and Cassie both rolled their heads back with laughter as Ammon yelped and shot a nasty glare at the big wrestler. “It’s in my ear!” Larissa heard Ammon exclaim which only made Josh laugh harder.

  Larissa shook her head as Ammon ducked his head under the surface. When he came up his face was clear and he splashed salty water to clean out his ear.