by K. L. Lewis
He ran toward the smoke rising from the blast, but when it cleared, only a smoldering crater remained. He dropped to his knees, staring at the crater, feeling a hole in his chest over what was his second failure to save her. “No…”
Someone grasped his shoulder, yanked him away, and slammed him to a wall where he kicked and thrashed, then froze as the pale, raven-haired woman came into view. Her grip squeezed around his neck, and her knife flashed in his eyes as she raised it over his head. “The world could use less of your kind.” She said, ripping the air with the slash of her blade.
“AAHH!” DeMarcus launched up, panting and sweating as he searched himself for the slash mark. Nothing was there, no pain or anything. And when he looked around, he saw that he was inside the shuttle on the way to the British Isles. It was just a nightmare, a bad memory still scarring his mind.
“DeMarcus? You okay?” Yue asked, with Tyrone and Jun looking at him in worry.
He wiped away his sweat and rechecked his body for any strange marks. The old scar on his stomach was still there, but there was nothing else out of the ordinary. “Yeah, I’m fine,” DeMarcus answered.
They didn’t look convinced with their worried gazes still on him. “Okay,” Yue said. “Well, we’re here.”
Already? He saw everyone else departing the shuttle at the front, and he grabbed his backpack and followed them out. They were here alright—the grassy hills and trees past from the windows of the airport were nothing like those in Grand Detroit. There were fewer skyscrapers too, most of them solar towers along a system of rivers flowing under the streets and walkways. But there was no shortage of aerocars zooming above the buildings.
After picking up the rest of their luggage and stepping out into the city, he noticed there were a lot more people going on foot or riding their bicycles than back in the NAF. Some things were as familiar as home, with highwalks and ads projecting on the building walls and directory fountains, but it was a more compact view, with the only sense of wide space being plazas and squares through the plains and trees.
Amidst all of them were a few ancient structures that had been around since the Anno Domini era, old decaying churches and stone homes amidst the solar trees glimmering throughout. Yue dragged him and Tyrone along to snap a few photos. “Now this is a change of pace,” she said as she took out her DroneGimbal for vids and snapshots of the view around her.
DeMarcus thought so too, until he looked out to the edge of the city at another familiar sight scarring the land: scorched, blackened landscapes and blasted decaying buildings, with some of them collapsed on one another—the Solar War touched this place too. The sight made him miss his mother that much more, but now wasn’t the time to gloom. Once their time in the city ended, the families rented autocars for their next location, Cape Brighton, where they’ll be staying much of the week.
“Some old friends of mine wanted to meet us there,” Keith said. “Partly why they came to the UK. A perfect chance for us all to get together.”
It was a wonder who he was talking about as the trio travelled with Jiao and Shen in their autocar. Everyone slept along the way, everyone except Shen, who continued working on his computer, and DeMarcus, who didn’t want his earlier nightmare resurging.
Chugging a Stimulade to fight the sleep away, he looked out at the streets ahead glowing a bright blue and green glow as the night sky fell over the horizon. It was a serene view, although it betrayed a harsh past as they passed a few war-torn towns and villages long since abandoned. And rather than let the urge to sleep take him once again, DeMarcus passed the time watching a few comedy videos on his OmniMorph, covering his laughter so as not to disturb the others.
Tyrone gradually woke up, looking over at the video on DeMarcus’s screen. “What ‘chu watching?” he asked before covering his laughter at the video.
“Now arriving in Cape Brighton,” said the autocar’s computer.
Gazing out the window was a view straight out of a travel brochure: on their left rose white spires and green buildings towering over the orange lights between them, with lights shining ghostly reds and blues over the city; to the right teal blue waves crashing over the sandy shores where people of all walks strolled and lounged around in their swimwear. Beyond the waters of the shores stood a blue and pale grey dome forming a colossal crescent, it’s large tips touching the east and western roads as if it were hugging the entire city.
It was a view that had the two in awe as DeMarcus nudged Yue awake. “Watch it!” she said, nudging him back.
DeMarcus pointed at the city. “We’re here.”
She looked out the window, her jaw dropping at the outside. “I’m glad we skipped the Sinic Republics for this,” she said as she recorded the scene with her monocle.
They arrived at their destination, the Romchell Hotel, a tall white and blue pyramid with flat terrace-like balconies stacked above each other near the western tip of the crescent. Everyone departed their autocars and stretched their exhaustions away as they looked up at the massive building. Keith went inside to check their reservations only to come back out in disappointment. “Well, our rooms are ready,” he said. “But it looks like Abrams isn’t here yet.”
“What are ya talking about? I’m right on time,” said a voice at the patio.
Keith turned around to a long-eared parahuman man in a white collared shirt waving at them. Tan hair framed around his cream-colored face, with brown hair sitting on top of his head. Two parahuman girls stood behind him as the man flashed a smug look upon Keith greeting him.
“Abrams,” Keith said, arms stretched out. “It’s been a while!”
“You don’t seem any different yourself,” said Abrams.
“Nothing but diet and exercise.”
Abrams blinked. “That’s bull. I know all about the Iuvian lifestyle.”
They shared a laugh, then Keith turned to the Suns and Iyrons. “Well, come on over everybody!”
Everyone gathered on the patio, introducing themselves to each other. DeMarcus locked eyes on the two girls behind Abrams, both sturdy teenage beauties that made his tail, hair, and other parts of him rise. One looked like Abrams’s daughter, her long ears standing tall over her head. Her midnight-grey complexion shined under the moonlight, her deep blue pants and pale white shirt hugging the curves of her body.
It was hard to keep eyes off her. DeMarcus didn’t think it was possible, but the girl was more stunning and beautiful than Crystal Shay! But knowing that, he hesitated to move, having already been down this path before.
The girl looked back and smiled at him, her teal-green eyes narrowing at his. Something was on her mind, and the way she stared at him through the wavy curtain of her onyx hair seemed like she was enticing him to come closer. Of course, that gaze could mean anything, and DeMarcus wasn’t sure he wanted find out. He didn’t seem to have much of a chance with Crystal, so he wasn’t expecting one with this girl either.
The other girl was shorter, sporting a green short-sleeved shirt and pale grey pants. Smooth apricot skin, bushy copper-red hair, and dark stripes on her body like a tiger, she was much more bottom heavy, wrapping her fluffy orange tail around her wide hips as she made a nervous whisper to her long-eared friend while shirking from DeMarcus’s ogling eyes.
Catching himself acting creepy, he averted his eyes elsewhere. It was better to stop drooling and say hi, maybe get to know the girls and—what the heck was that leaping from the rooftops?
His eyes caught dark shapes blurring over the buildings nearby. They ran along the edges of the rooftops and seemed to stop behind the bright lights. He squinted up, hoping to catch the shapes again, but the moment was interrupted by Keith calling him over. “DeMarcus, come say hi,” he waved.
Did he not see what he saw? Did anyone? DeMarcus kept his eyes on the rooftops as he joined everyone gathering around. Something was off, he knew it. But calling out to it wouldn’t do anything if he couldn’t prove it.
“And this here is DeMarcus Maahes,�
�� said Keith, “the latest child of the Suns.”
“Wait, latest?” Abrams asked. “He looks…different. And older than Amy here.” A reminder DeMarcus noticed Amy still wasn’t happy about as she puffed a slight fit.
“Yeah, he’s adopted,” said Shen.
“How did I not guess?” Abrams joked.
DeMarcus shrugged, then he looked back to the roofs where he saw more of those dark shapes leaping along the rooftops. He couldn’t be the only one seeing this.
He felt a smooth voice lick his ear. “Enjoying the skyline?”
He flinched and leaned away from the midnight-grey girl leaning toward him, giggling as she came closer. She didn’t sound like she was from here—she didn’t carry the accent or anything he expected from the people of the country. More than that, he thought he was supposed to be the one to make the first move, but that was the least of his concern right now. “Sorry, just thought I saw something jumping on the roofs,” he said, pointing where he last saw the figures.
The girl squinted at the roofs and shrugged. “I don’t see anything,” she said.
“DeMarcus, you sure you okay?” Yue asked. “First you freaked out on the plane, now you’re seeing things.”
“Hey, I know I saw something,” said DeMarcus.
“I don’t see anything either,” said the timid red-headed girl behind her friend.
“Quit stressing man,” said Tyrone. “The Iuvian soldiers are on lookout.”
The midnight-grey parahuman turned back to DeMarcus. “So, what brings you to the Isles? See anything you like?”
Her voice made his ears melt like butter, and his legs locked in place as she stepped closer, her shoulders a small gap away from his. This isn’t what he was used to with the girl he liked back home, but he saw no need to run away from this. “I’m…just traveling here with friends and family,” he said.
“Really? Where from?” The girl asked.
“The NAF,” he answered.
“That’s funny,” the girl said with a giggle. “You seem shy compared to the usual NAFers I’ve seen.”
DeMarcus scratched his neck, nervous of what to say. “Well…I haven’t gotten out as much as I liked to.”
The girl brushed her shoulder against his. “Well, I’d be happy to show you around if you’d like. What about you, Jade? You interested?”
The red-headed girl furrowed at her. “Why’d you have to tell him my name like that?” Her voice was squeaky, and her words sounded like she skipped a few letters as she spoke. This is how DeMarcus expected the people here to sound. Although she sounded as if she wasn’t fond of him at all.
It was expected, of course. He was ogling them earlier after all. But he didn’t want to be rude. “Look, I’m sorry for what I was doing earlier,” he said. “I don’t really know what came over me.”
“It’s okay,” said the midnight-grey girl. “She’s shy too. She’s like that with everyone.” She held out her palm and her smile grew wider as she looked him in the eyes. “I’m Gabriella, by the way. Thought I’d let you know.”
DeMarcus gave her a firm handshake on her soft, supple hand. “Um…hi…Gabriella.”
The girl giggled. “Oh, you can just call me Gabby. It’s much shorter.”
This was turning out better than DeMarcus expected. He got to say “hi” to a girl without embarrassing himself this time.
Gabby turned to Jade and waved her over. “Not going to introduce yourself, Jade?”
Jade gave a rough sigh and walked up to DeMarcus, clenching her arm and looking away before getting the courage to look him in his eyes. “Um…hi. I’m…Jade Zheng.”
Now she sounded prim and proper, not like the sass she gave Gabby. She avoided his eyes, looking at Gabby smiling and waving for her to continue. Then she looked back at DeMarcus with her hazel eyes, and a faint smile grew on her face. “Um…you have…your eyes are very pretty.”
DeMarcus tail flicked as a slight warmth flowed through him. “Um…wow. Thanks! So are yours.”
He wondered if he came off too hard after seeing Jade blush at him. Without a word, she shrunk her head to her shoulders and backed away behind Gabby with a whisper to her ear. Whatever it was she said to her, DeMarcus didn’t expect a compliment like that. Her words echoing in his mind made his stomach tingle, and he earned a slight nudge from Tyrone. “I think they like you!” Ty whispered.
“What makes you think that?” DeMarcus whispered back.
Tyrone’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t be that dense. Were you paying any attention to that Gabby girl smiling at you?”
Gabby interrupted them. “I can still hear you guys.”
DeMarcus and Tyrone jumped and pretended nothing happened, sweating at Yue shaking her head at them. Gabby giggled on her way to her father, hugging him as she made a request. “Papa? Is it okay if we went to the shops?”
Abrams took a stern look at DeMarcus and Tyrone, sending a shiver through their spine as a sharp smile grew on his face. “Be safe.”
Gabby turned back for DeMarcus, wrapping her arm around his and dragging him along. “Follow me.”
And here he thought he’d have to work for Gabby’s attention as he gave a nervous smile at Yue, whose face scrunched in disgust. She, Jun, Jade, and Ty followed along, but then DeMarcus realized he didn’t get permission from his parents. “Wait, let me ask my—”
“Oh, don’t mind us,” Jiao interrupted. “Have fun!”
Shen winked at DeMarcus before turning back to Abrams. “She’s quite direct.”
“She’s been careful nowadays,” said Abrams “But she has better judgement than most.”
The adults’ voices faded in the background as the gang took their steps for the shops near the beaches. DeMarcus’s head was already high in the sky, until Yue ran up and crashed his moment. “Okay, hold up!” she said, pointing at Gabby. “You’re pretty bold for someone we just met.”
Gabby smirked. “I don’t see DeMarcus complaining.”
And he most certainly wasn’t given how easy this was going.
“She’s no Crystal at least,” said Tyrone.
“Please don’t mention that stuck-up bitch,” Yue grumbled.
“Yue!” Jun shouted.
And now the mood was sour. Why are they seriously bringing up Crystal around Gabby? He was lucky she didn’t seem bothered—in fact, Gabby looked more humored by the banter as she kept her arms locked with his on the way to a gift shop with Jade and Yue keeping watch. With her hair brushing against his face, he caught a dizzying whiff of jasmine that threw his head further in the clouds, only coming back down to earth as she spoke to him in the store.
“So, how come you don’t get out so often?” Gabby asked.
“Well, I try not to cause a scene,” he said. “I was always told to avoid attention, and it’s never been my thing.”
Gabby pressed against him. “Are you saying you don’t like my attention?”
DeMarcus found his body heating up as Gabby pressed closer gazing into his eyes. “Well…no,” he said. “I meant crowds of people, not just one person.”
No way he’d complain about this kind of attention from a girl who was beyond drop-dead gorgeous. Now if only Yue wasn’t scowling and crossing her arms at them, waiting for the slightest screw up to step in.
As the group gathered outside the store, DeMarcus brushed past a man in a black jacket on his phone walking by an alley. He apologized, then overheard the man on his phone. “Got the Amazons up.”
Amazons? Strong, beautiful women like in the ancient myths? That was the first thing that came to DeMarcus with that word. Then he saw more of those strange shapes from earlier on the rooftops again, jumping down into the tight spots between the buildings. He broke away to see and he heard a quiet chatter in an alley.
“Any sign of those rogues of Fara Torres’s?” asked a woman.
That name made DeMarcus’s ears stick up. Who was Fara Torres?
“No luck,” said another woman. “They might have
already sold Red Phoenix by now, unless someone else in the Amalgam Concord caught them.”
Red Phoenix. DeMarcus remembered that thing from his mother, and from those red-eyed pursuers that attacked him back in Grand Detroit. He also remembered the last time he eavesdropped on something like this, and quietly backed away before bumping into a blond parahuman man in a grey jacket. “Oh, sorry sir!” he said, walking around.
But the man grasped his shoulder. “Sorry? What’re you doing here?”
“Hey, let go!” DeMarcus demanded.
“Or you’ll what?” the man growled.
The man’s grip tightened on his arm, and DeMarcus dropped the man with a kick to his groin. The man reeled from the pain, his head low enough for DeMarcus to grab and thrust his knee to the man’s face. With the man down, DeMarcus ran to his friends, and his ears caught a woman shouting behind him. “It’s him! Charlie-One, we’ve found him!”
DeMarcus turned back, and his heart jumped in terror, wishing his eyes were playing games with what peeked out the alley: white and yellow exo-suits, red eyes dotting their faces. He recognized them anywhere: those red-eyed, masked pursuers from Grand Detroit!
The pursuers leapt to the roofs and gave chase, with the blonde parahuman rising up and running the moment he spotted them. As the pursuers moved closer, DeMarcus broke into a sprint and rushed past his friends. “RUN!”
The group wasted no time and took off with him. “DeMarcus, what’s going on?” Tyrone asked.
“IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO KILL ME!” DeMarcus shouted. “THEY’RE HERE!”
Yue glanced back and recognized them bounding from the roofs. “Oh crap!”
They made haste through the streets, cutting through the crowd for the Romchell Hotel. As the group caught their breath at the patio, DeMarcus ran up to Keith. “KEITH, SIR! IT’S THEM! THOSE GUYS! THEY’RE HERE!” he shouted, pointing into the city.
Keith grasped DeMarcus. “Easy, easy! Who’s here?”
“Those guys who tried to kill me months ago!” DeMarcus explained. “They’re after us!”
Loud pops of gunfire came from the streets, where police jumped to action and guided the scattering crowds away. Keith, James, and Abrams flipped the tables to use as shields, and the Iuvian soldiers readied their guns. “Get down,” James shouted.
