by Strand, Kai
“They call me Polar. I’m an S.V. with opposing abilities. I have fire and ice, levity and gravity. I’m good and bad.” His eyes snapped up and locked on Mystic. “I’m good and bad!”
Mystic smiled. “Yes, you are. That’s why I’m here.”
The front line intruders with the blue flame advanced toward Jeff. He ignited his hands and threw an arc of fire toward them. Red flame collided with blue and fireworks ignited, but neither flame reached its destination. Jeff filled his lungs and blew cold air. The blue flame froze into hail balls and fell to the floor, sparking and bouncing away ineffectually. He gathered gravity to lock the advancing intruders down, but found their feet didn’t touch the ground. Four of the intruders stood off to the sides of the main group and appeared to be levitating the front line. Jeff threw the gravity into the air, hoping to grab the feet of the advancing line, but the gravity scattered as soon as it left the ground.
Deep within his body, Jeff tapped magnesium from his muscles. His hands lit up a blue so bright it was almost white. He shot the flame at the three closest intruders. His brilliant blue flame drove through theirs and right into the hands of those that cast it. The three people yelled in pain. One was knocked over backward and lay hovering off the ground, glowing a ghostly blue-white. The levitator let the three injured fall to the ground.
Jeff shot at another group of intruders. His mark hit two, but a third ducked and his shot hit a levitator. Four of the front line intruders fell to the ground while two crumpled from the electric pulse.
Jeff tried to gather gravity, but he was tiring fast. He’d tapped too much of himself to create the powerful blue flame. His arms and legs were like lead and it seemed as if his abilities were mired in a tar pit. Yet seven intruders with blue flame remained. Jeff gathered enough gravity to stick the four advancing intruders to the floor, but he couldn’t produce a powerful enough flame to attack the three that levitated toward him. He blew cold air at their shot of flame and more electric hail rained down between them, sounding like a bug zapper on a summer night. But the intruders recovered quickly and shot again. Jeff had nothing left to defend himself with. The three bolts struck him, riddling his body with static electricity. He convulsed as pain shot through him. The gravitational hold he’d had on the four intruders released as he lost consciousness.
Chapter 21
When Jeff awoke he found himself tucked into a warm, soft bed. Pale mustard walls and chocolate colored blinds that were pulled closed against the sun gave the room a comforting feel. Jeff sat up and shoved a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face. It had been raining when they’d abducted Jeff. Had the rain stopped? Had he been out a long time? Did they take him somewhere far away?
Jeff wore only his boxers. He frowned, wondering where his clothes were and who’d taken them.
“You’re awake.”
Startled, Jeff squinted into the shadowed corner where the intoxicating voice had drawled and he growled, “Stop suaving me.”
“I’m not.” Mystic reached over and yanked hard on the bottom of a blind, making it roll open.
Jeff closed his eyes against the sudden bath of sunlight. Then he blinked them open again to glare at Mystic. Her long, bare legs hung over the arm of a cushy chair and glistened in the sunlight. “If you aren’t suaving me, why do I still…”
Her rumbling chuckle stirred his groin. He closed his eyes again.
“You’re probably experiencing residual effects. It’ll go away.” Mystic smirked.
“Where are my clothes?”
“They were a bit crisped. We sent someone out to buy you new clothes. No one here is as tall as you.”
“Where’s here?”
“We are currently residing at F.V.A, Future Villains of America.”
“What?”
Mystic placed her hand over her heart and leaned away from Jeff. “You’re surprised?”
“I thought you were good?”
“No, Polar, you’re good, not me.”
“I’m not good!” Jeff spat with indignation.
“You said it yourself, Polar-boy, fire and ice, levity and gravity, good and bad. Therein lies the problem.” Mystic swung her long legs around and stood.
Jeff stood too, not wanting to be at a disadvantage. But standing there in only his boxers left him feeling vulnerable regardless. So he squared his shoulders and puffed up his chest to look as intimidating as possible.
Mystic chuckled and lifted an eyebrow.
His cheeks burned.
Stepping in front of him, Mystic trailed a long finger down his chest and belly. She hooked her finger into the top of his waistband and stopped. She looked up into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you, Polar. Remember, I know everything about you.”
Jeff grimaced. He removed her hand from his boxers and shoved her away. “So what if I’m good, too? Why would that matter to you? I might not ever have acknowledged it if it hadn’t been for you.”
“You see, my little flame thrower, that’s where you’re wrong. You were on the verge of discovering it when I got myself thrown out of the academy. I was worried I wouldn’t get back to you on time. If you’d discovered it while you were still there, you’d have been in serious trouble.”
“I was in serious trouble anyway. Your sudden heroics left me with a reputation as some ‘harbinger of goodness.’” Jeff made finger quotes in the air. “In case you forgot, all those kids back there are villains. Villains aren’t nice to kids they like…”
There was a light knock on the door.
“Come in,” Mystic said.
A beautiful redhead entered, carrying a pile of clothes. She snuck glimpses of Jeff from under her lashes, so he flashed his crooked grin and her cheeks glowed redder than her hair.
Mystic chuckled. “Come now, Polar, leave the poor girl alone.” She took the pile of clothes from the girl.
The girl’s manner changed completely. She dropped her gaze to the floor and curtsied before backing out of the room. “What, are you royalty around here, or something?”
Mystic smirked. “Or something.”
She placed the pile of clothes on the bed and took the shirt off the top. She shook it out and asked, “Would you like some help getting dressed?”
Her eyes smoldered as she lifted her arms to pull the shirt over his head.
Jeff snatched the shirt from her hands and spun away from her. “No, I’ll take care of it, thanks.”
Mischievousness lit her eyes. “You and your manners.”
Jeff frowned as he pulled on his clothes. Oceanus always teased him about his manners, too. Almost like he was the “bad boy” version of an S.V. He dared to be good and that made him appealing. Oci. He ached with the memory of her crumpled form and her piercing scream. He hoped she was okay. He couldn’t ask Mystic; she hated Oci and wouldn’t answer honestly.
When he was dressed, Mystic led him down softly lit hallways covered in sage-colored wallpaper with a buff-colored bamboo design. They entered a warm kitchen with rouge-colored stucco walls, a slate floor and large stone ovens built into the walls. A plump woman lumbered from the pantry, laden with a huge sack of potatoes. Jeff rushed over and took the potatoes from her.
“Where do you want them?”
The woman blushed and stammered, “Um…well…the large sink.” She pointed across the room.
“There you go.” He dumped the sack onto the counter.
Mystic stood next to the woman. “Glenda, this is Polar.”
Glenda’s eyes grew round. “Oh!”
“Do you have any food for the kid? He eats a lot,” Mystic asked.
“Oh, yes, I guess he would,” Glenda said. She shuffled to the stove and took down a cast iron frying pan. Then busied herself breaking several eggs into a bowl.
Mystic said to Jeff, “Why don’t we sit over there while she whips up your meal?” She settled at a small table in the far corner of the kitchen and gestured to the empty chair on the opposite side.
Jeff sat, but f
elt out of place. The cook’s reaction to him was odd. Had she recognized his name because Mystic had assembled such a large group of people to capture him? Was she impressed by his strange, good manners or was it something else?
Mystic lounged as casually as ever, her legs stretched straight out in front of her and crossed at the ankles. Gleaming sable waves tumbled down the front of her to her waist. Though he’d never actually touched her hair, Jeff knew from the implanted memories that it was as soft as silk and tickled in all the right places.
Her abilities annoyed him. He purposefully shifted his attention from her intriguing presence to a multi-colored brick at the foot of the wall. Though she had no choice as to what her root ability was, it irritated him to be so susceptible to it.
Glenda set a plate overflowing with a fluffy, steaming omelet in front of him. The scent of sautéed onion wafted up and his stomach growled. He smiled up at Glenda. “Thanks, I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”
Glenda flushed, nodded and staggered away.
Mystic chuckled.
“What’s with all the girlie reaction?” Jeff asked, nodding his head after Glenda as he stuffed a fork full of egg into his mouth.
Glenda placed a plate of toast and a glass of orange juice in front of Jeff and hustled away before he could say anything.
Mystic said, “If I’m not mistaken, I think you are developing another ability.”
Jeff cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“Your goodness appears to have its own polar effect. Not only is it good, in the stomach turning sense of the word, but it seems it is the ultimate weapon of charm for females.”
Jeff made a face and then bit into his toast. “Girls just like manners. That’s what Mother always said, anyway.”
“Well, S.V.’s don’t usually have them, so it appears to have a dramatic impact.”
“But I’ve always had manners. Why would they matter more now?”
“First off, your manners have always charmed girls to an extent. Why do you think Oceanus wags her tail whenever you’re around? But I suspect now that your goodness is emerging, the charm is deepened.” Mystic’s eyes hooded and she smiled. “I admit it even works on me. I’ve always found you attractive, but now you are almost irresistible.”
Jeff blushed.
Mystic sighed.
“What’s next?” Jeff asked around a mouth full of omelet. “You didn’t go through all that trouble to bring me here just to have me attend a new school of villains, did you?”
“Not exactly. When you’re done eating, I have one more surprise.”
“Oh joy!” Jeff tried to channel the spirit of some old goody toe-shoes character, like Opie Taylor from the Andy Griffith Show.
Mystic rolled her eyes and watched Glenda bustle around the kitchen.
He suspected his last surprise was Source, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment by guessing. He looked forward to seeing him again. This whole time, he’d pictured Source in a dungeon somewhere being forced to work for evil people in horrible circumstances. But this place was quite nice actually. Maybe things hadn’t been bad for Source after all.
Chapter 22
Mystic strode down another long hallway with her arm linked through Jeff’s. “After the attack you survived I know you have a strong heart. I hope it is strong enough to withstand this surprise.”
Jeff smiled politely, wondering why she was making such a big deal out of this. He’d be happy to see Source, but not that happy and certainly not that surprised.
The hall they walked down had more of an administrative feel. Gleaming wood floors, paneled walls, framed certificates and display cases crowded with awards. Jeff guessed these doors opened to offices instead of posh dorm rooms. They walked to the very end of the hall and into a small office with a tidy desk occupied by a bespectacled, nerdy, man. He tapped away on a keyboard and pushed his glasses up his nose when they entered. As soon as he saw Jeff, he popped out of his chair and bowed. “Welcome, sir.”
Jeff frowned.
“How’s it hanging, Hans?” Mystic said.
Hans glowed as red as one of Jeff’s ignited fingertips, but didn’t reply. He walked over to a door, opposite the one Jeff and Mystic had entered through. It stood ajar and Hans stuck his head through and said, “He’s here, sir.”
He pushed the door open and gestured for Mystic and Jeff to enter. Mystic ruffled his hair as she passed and he turned purple from embarrassment.
Mystic stepped aside, turned halfway, and said, “Polar, I’d like to introduce the president of Future Villains of America.”
Jeff’s stomach plummeted to the floor and his head spun. For a split second he realized that Mystic was right to have wondered if his heart was strong enough, because its sudden acceleration seemed life threatening.
“Hello, my boy!” His happy, casual, surfer-dude father, complete with loud Hawaiian shirt, walked out from behind a large cherry wood desk. “Surprise!”
Was this whole thing a practical joke, Jeff wondered? Was this really a school for villains or the corporate offices of a bike shop? “Dad?”
Frank slapped him on the back. “Good to see you, boy! Have a seat, have a seat.”
Jeff felt his dad steer him to a leather armchair that faced the big desk and he sat down automatically. A burst of air burped out from the seat in a sound that ordinarily would have embarrassed Jeff, but that he barely registered.
“Mystic, thank you for all your work securing my son. You can go for now. I think Jeff deserves an explanation.”
Mystic bowed formally to Frank, freaking Jeff out even more. He’d never seen her well behaved. When she turned to leave, she winked at Jeff and he felt better.
Jeff turned his attention back to the man in front of him. Though it was definitely his goofy dad that stood there, something was different about him. There seemed to be a hardness or coldness that Jeff had never noticed. Had he missed it before or did Dad usually mask it better?
Frank walked back around the desk and sat in the high backed chair. He folded his hands together on the desk. “Jeff, I never told you I was an S.V. because I didn’t know which route you’d take. I was pleased beyond words when you were recruited by Super Villain Academy. Almost told you right then and there. Considered offering a place for you here at my school. I’m not sure why I didn’t, but turns out it was a good thing after all.
“Certainly Tubs and I know of each other from having run in the same circles all these years. What I hadn’t expected was…well…let me back up a bit.”
Jeff watched his dad in growing confusion. Frank was all business. No casual, surfer-dude personality now. For the first time in Jeff’s life, the Hawaiian shirt seemed inappropriate.
“I gave up villainy the day I met your mother. She took my breath away the moment I saw her and I realized that to commit to a relationship, I would have to quit my thieving and conspiracy and live a somewhat upstanding life. That’s when I opened this place with the bike shop as my cover.”
Frank looked at Jeff as though expecting him to say something, or ask a question. Jeff only blinked at him. Frank steepled his fingers together and pressed them to his lips. Then he sucked in a deep breath and pressed his palms onto the desk as though fortifying himself.
“We came to visit you at the fake school on the family weekend. Everything was fine. I was even impressed with the sham. Tubs does a good job. But Source’s mom recognized your mom.”
“What?” Jeff interrupted. “How do you know about Source? Recognized Mother?”
“Source’s mom is an S.V. I went to academy with her. His dad was a couple years ahead of us. Source’s mom was involved in a bank heist about five years ago. The white hats got wind of it and showed up.” Jeff’s dad bowed his head as if at a funeral. “Your mom was one of them.”
“Huh? Mother’s a super hero? A good guy? Mother?” Jeff jumped out of his chair and paced. Raked his hands through his hair. “Mother. The cold one.”
His dad gave h
im a warning look. “Tenet, Cource’s mom, told Tubs, Tubs told me. After some investigation, I confirmed it. Not only is Sarah an S.H. She’s one of the S.H.’s Seems your lines are even more royal than even I’d thought.”
Jeff stopped pacing. “What does that mean?”
“Well,” Jeff’s dad puffed up in his chair, looking more like his usual self, “my side comes from a long line of successful and respected S.V.’s. If there were royalty among us, our family would qualify.”
“That explains why everyone here treats me differently, but why didn’t anyone at school?”
“Oh, yeah, um…I changed my name before I married your mom. Just in case, you know? So I changed my name to Frank Mean. Now I understand why your mom was so hesitant to take my name when we got married.”
“What’s our real name?” Jeff asked.
“Tohler. They call me Chill.”
“Why Chill?”
“I have the ability to relax people. Even to the point of cooling their bodies or slowing their heart.” Frank shrugged. “I make people not care that I’m doing bad things around them.”
“Kinda funny that you’re Chill and I’m Polar, even if mine isn’t the ‘cold’ definition everyone thinks of first. Though I don’t really like being Polar Tohler.”
Frank snorted. “Hadn’t thought of that; that’s funny.”
“Dad!”
“Sorry, son.”
“What about Source? Where is he?”
“Oh! I don’t know where he is. Is he missing?”
Jeff started pacing again. “Yeah, he’s missing. The same kind of group of intruders that showed up for me, complete with blue fire, came in and snatched him right out from the middle of a gym full of super villains. Nobody even cared. The only kids to fight were the ones who just wanted a good fight.”
His dad growled. “Son, you really need to stop those kinds of thoughts right in their tracks.”
“What kind of thoughts?”
“Nice ones about saving people and stuff. I heard about your good side. That’s why I snatched you out of S.V.A. I didn’t want your good side to develop in the middle of an academy of super villains. At least here I can help you squash it.”
