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It was the best kind of luck, I decided, to have my birthday come on a Saturday. There were just so many good things that happened on Saturday, no other day of the week came close to matching.
For one, I didn’t smell cooking meat or hear the whirr of my mother’s blender. That meant Helga had the day off, and I didn’t have to worry about her choking a chicken in my backyard as the band played. That in itself was a nice birthday gift.
“Why are you up so early?” Elysian half-rose from his curled up position at the end of my bed.
I almost laughed, seeing him with the dragon version of bedhead.
“You’d think of all days to sleep in, it would be your birthday.” He rolled over and stuffed his own face back into the covers.
“I have a couple of hours of work this morning,” I explained, pulling on one of my nice shirts and looking for my nicer pair of shoes.
“Ugh, really?”
I smiled; while I did have to work a bit at the mayor’s office, filing away some police reports, I didn’t mind. Having a job made me feel like an adult, and I was seventeen years old. I wasn’t a child, and I knew it was time to put more childish things aside now. The feeling of maturity, coupled with respectable responsibility, was another one of those nice birthday gifts from the universe.
Years later, I would think about that and realize I was still an idiot, seventeen years old or not.
Fortunately, there were plenty of good things that did cushion my ego throughout the day.
I was going to stop by Rachel’s on my way home from City Hall, though more out of habit than anything else. Gwen and Mikey were going to come over to my house while I was at work and begin setting up for the party. Jason and Rachel were going to come later with the cake. Drew, Poncey, and another one of my friends, Simon Gangel, were going to bring their extra gaming systems and help Kyle and his crew set up the stage for their performance.
“Tonight’s my party,” I reminded Elysian. “We’re going to have a super-fantabulous time, with good friends, loud music, sweets, and treats from Rachel’s.”
Elysian perked up at the mention of sweets (his weakness) and then narrowed his gaze. “We have that meeting tonight with Aleia, too. Don’t forget.”
“Please. I wouldn’t forget that.” Although it might get pushed back some with the party stuff, I acknowledged to myself. “You don’t need to worry. I have everyone leaving at ten. That gives us an hour to get down to the marina, and that will keep the neighbors from calling in the police if the party gets too loud.”
Neighbors. That reminded me.
I pulled back the curtain and smooshed my face against the window, trying to get a look at the house a few doors down.
“What are you looking at?” Elysian asked.
“Dante’s house is just down the street, remember?” When he got that look on his face, the one with one part outrage and the other murderous frustration, I buckled down. “I specifically recall telling you about that months ago. We were at Rachel’s and we saw him walk by.”
“Yeah, well, the importance of it was lost on me at the time.”
Recalling how fascinated with Rachel’s new muffins Elysian had been, I wisely hid a smirk. “I’m more worried for Mikey than anything else tonight.”
“Are you crazy?”
“No, idiot. But come on, SWORD doesn’t seem to be camping out in his backyard, and they haven’t bothered us since that time they—”
“Captured you and Starry Knight.” Elysian rolled his eyes. “Did you forget how they’d poisoned your friend when he was in monster form? How they tortured you, more or less admitting they are in it for nothing but power? That’s not something we ‘don’t need to be worried about,’ kid.”
“They sent out some agents afterward. They always help with clean up, nothing more.”
“Evil is much better at hiding and waiting than you think.” Elysian’s somber tone struck me hard. “They might not need to interfere just yet. We don’t know what they want, other than power.”
“Dante wanted me to protect Mikey,” I argued. “That’s something.”
“Isn’t he also the guy who ran out on his family some time ago?”
Elysian had a point, but my argumentative skills were competitive.
“Maybe he was blackmailed,” I offered. “Or tricked. Or bribed. Maybe he didn’t want to go.” Despite my love of debate, I hated defending the man Mikey and I had grown up hating together.
“There’s no room to be working with ‘what-ifs’ here.” Elysian was up now, fully alert as he joined me at the window. “Besides, I doubt that would be a nice blanket way of dealing with SWORD. One man’s weakness in a company like that won’t matter.”
I checked the time. “I have to go,” I said. “Look, I know we’re trying to figure more stuff out. Maybe I can see if there’s something in the mayor’s office or the police reports.”
“Like what?” Elysian huffed.
“I don’t know,” I shot back. “Couldn’t hurt though, right? I mean, the mayor’s the one who is bringing the charges against Wingdinger and Starry Knight. Maybe he knows something we don’t.”
“That pudgy man with the beard?” Elysian asked. “Who always wears a suit?”
“I suppose that’s how you’d see him.”
“I doubt he knows anything. Politicians only worry about two things. Themselves and their careers.”
“You’re awfully cynical for only being here for what now, six months? How often are you watching the news?”
“I haven’t been lying around doing nothing!” Elysian objected. “I’ve been looking after you.”
Before I could make a mean retort of how that was why he needed a replacement, Cheryl interrupted us. “Hamilton! I’m headed out for the office. Stefano’s expecting you at nine sharp today. Don’t make me look bad.”
Elysian and I exchanged looks, and we silently, mutually agreed to continue the argument later. We would have to worry about things as they came along.
“Happy birthday,” Elysian muttered as I left.
I ignored him for the most part, and only felt a little bad about it when I walked outside and looked around.
The morning of my birthday was beautiful. The early morning sunshine was warm, but not oppressive, and there was enough of a breeze to make the wind seem playful.
I sighed, noticing the contrast. Outside, everything was simple and elegant. Inside of me, it was a storm of complications.
I was glad Elysian and I were able to talk more without arguing quite so much; generally, it was more informative than when we fought. I suppose I had more of an appreciation for him after what happened a few months earlier, when I briefly broke ties with my supernatural self.
But I didn’t want to think about that. I thought about our plans for the night instead.
From all my friends’ homework and test prep practices, I knew very well it was never efficient to be reactive. But Elysian and I were largely unable to plan things when it came to the Sinisters, because what we did know was based only on our observations and experiences. And, until recently, I hadn’t wanted the extra stress.
Throbbing pain suddenly lit up my nerve system, as my wrist burned.
“Augh!” I screamed, immediately regretting the outburst. I clenched my teeth together, trying to get myself under control, even as the ache on my arm fluctuated wildly. “Ouch.”
The underside of my wrist glowed as my stress levels involuntarily slid up the supernatural spectrum.
“Not now,” I grumbled. “Ugh, I have work!”
But I knew, even as I said it, I would be late. I desperately hoped Cheryl didn’t find out.
After ducking into an alleyway for cover, I pressed into the four-point star and felt a lightning strike of power swirl around me as my clothes were transformed into armor, my black wings sliced out of my back, and my sword appeared in a scabbard at my side.
It never felt the same, but even at seventeen years old I knew it wasn’t any different, either. Transforming would always be an adventure with which I never had to worry about growing bored.
Elysian suddenly appeared at my side again, his own metamorphosis from tiny lizard to fire-breathing sky dragon complete. “Let’s go!” he roared, scooping me up.
I cheered a bit and allowed myself a moment of enthusiasm; there was nothing like riding a dragon’s back, facing into the wind.
I leaned close, looking for the aura.
“It’s a Sinister,” Elysian said. “I can tell. It’s a powerful one, too. We have to get to her before the harvest.”
Not sure how I feel about a Sinister’s attack being referred to as a “harvest,” but okay, I mused. “I’m looking for it.”
“It’s close,” Elysian agreed. “Look carefully. Remember? Evil is powerful, and better at hiding than good.”
I rolled my eyes. I was getting tired of the good and evil stuff. It was so common everyone knew about it. But then again, I suppose that’s why not everyone knew about all of it.
Sighing to myself, I briefly glanced over at City Hall as we came up to it. If this hadn’t happened, I would be there by now, I thought.
It was the strange, orange-colored fuzz around the building that made me falter in my self-gloom. “Elysian,” I said. “There’s something at the mayor’s office.”
“Yes. I see it now, too,” Elysian agreed. “It seems to be inside.”
“Oh, no.” I groaned. “It figures. We need to make sure we don’t do any damage. The mayor can’t have any distractions at the moment.”
“I’m not sure that’s going to work,” Elysian told me. “Be realistic about it.” But even as he said it, he began his descent, heading toward the back of the building.
“Hey!”
“You there. Stop!”
There were policemen around as we flew over them. Elysian swung around the corner swiftly, and I could hear them start to follow.
“What are you doing, Elysian?” I yelled up to him. “Trying to get everyone’s attention?”
“It might help keep them safe.”
“Huh?” I looked over to see Aleia had arrived and was waiting for me, already garbed for battle in a white tunic of her own. Unlike Starry Knight and myself, she did not have any wings. There was a circlet made of silver chains and starlight that held back her dark blonde hair. Her twin daggers were bound at her left side, and a pure white battle dress covered with body armor similar to my own hid all but the toes of her protective boots. A lady warrior, I thought. “You’re here.”
“Of course,” Aleia said with a smile. “I told you I would help. Have you seen the aura?”
“Yes.”
“Can you find the heart of it? The strongest point will be where the demon’s power resides; that would be its heart.” She looked up at Elysian. “We might need you a bit smaller for this one, Elysian.”
“All right,” he agreed, and I felt a budding resentment at him being so willing to follow her directions. He was never that submissive to me.
“Where’s Starry Knight?” I asked, looking around.
Aleia pulled out her orb, filled it with her power, and searched through the power of time to find our mutual ally. “She’s coming,” she said quietly. “It seems like she had a harder time getting away than you did.”
“You can see her? Can you tell me ... ?” My voice trailed off as she shook her head.
“Hey, you! You need to stop.” The police officers were back.
“Let’s just go,” I said.
Aleia nodded. “Elysian, lead these guys and the others away from here. No teasing,” she warned as Elysian smirked. “Wingdinger,” she said, turning to me, “I’d like it if you led the way to the demon. It’s a powerful one, and its Sinister is here as well.”
We started running, breaking away from Elysian and the police. Thanks to my job, I knew the layout of City Hall pretty well. Aleia and I headed up into a side stairwell, as I punched forward toward the heart of darkness.
“If the Sinister is here,” I suggested, “I think we should just go get her. You know, like the killing the snake by cutting off its head philosophy.”
“I can see they are close,” Aleia said. “We’ll have to fight together when we get there.”
“All right.” I wasn’t going to argue with her on that. I spurred ahead of her and charged through the door.
And ran straight into Starry Knight.
In the split second I saw her before we crashed, I could see her eyes grew wide in surprise, and then sharpen as I launched into her.
Even as we collided, my arms were lacing around her and I pulled her close; for the longest, shortest second of my life, it was like we were dancing rather than falling. We toppled together, tangled up; I hit the floor hard on my shoulder, then squeezed her closer, protecting her.
When I looked up a second later, her eyes were blazing their violet gaze into mine, and even as I could tell she was reprimanding me for running into her, my gaze was transfixed by her mouth rather than her words.
Does she remember? I wondered again, for the millionth time, whether she remembered that moment where we were trapped inside her starlight, bound between the heavens and the earth, when I kissed her and she willingly kissed me back.
I wish it didn’t bother me so much. But I didn’t just remember the kiss itself; I remembered the feeling of home and longing, the simultaneous pain and pleasure, something unparalleled in all my life. And it ate at me, how she pushed me away, how she didn’t feel the same way, how she didn’t dream of it so vividly when she woke up that she could still taste the remnants of the warmth blazing between us . . .
Reality brought me back with sound waves, and I started hearing her words.
“—need to watch where you’re going!” She pushed me off and I relented. “We’ve got to hurry.”
“Yes,” Aleia agreed, moving alongside me and pulling me up by the arm.
“It was an accident,” I heard myself say. I brushed some imaginary dirt off my tunic, making a show to get a moment to reorient myself. “Let’s get going again. It’s up here.”
“Do you know which Sinister it is?” Aleia asked Starry Knight.
We pushed through the door. “It’s Elektra,” I said, causing the Sinister before us to turn around and sneer at us.
Her skin was slightly orange, a weird color that made me think of burnt pumpkins. Her black hair was long and pulled back at the neck. A small jewel-like shard glimmered at the top of her arm, marking her as one of the Seven Deadly Sinisters. I noticed quickly she had a glowing confection of pure energy in her palms, and I suddenly wondered how many people she’d managed to steal souls from.
“Well, isn’t it nice to see you again?” Her voice was silky smooth, even though it grated against my nerves. “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Starry Knight spoke up. She pulled out her bow, and Aleia stood ready for battle.
I have to admire the ladies I work with, I thought, watching them out of the corner of my eye. They were real warriors, serious about this. Next to them, I felt like a stage extra for a fight scene in a low-budget film production. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they had trained for years to develop their skills.
Elektra moved quickly, shifting back from our blows, dodging the arrow by the merest of millimeters. Aleia shot a dagger through the air; it sliced into the wall directly behind Elektra as she laughed and took to the skies.
She turned and licked up the power still residing in her hand. I grimaced as she swallowed it whole. I could see her throat expand as it went down. Did they really have to do that? That’s an appetite killer. I worried my birthday cake was going to be force fed to me later. “Tasty,” she purred, pleased with herself.
“You’ll pay for that,” Starry Knight vowed, bringing her bow to the front.
“I doubt that,” Elektra said, laughing still. “You know, Sister, while I might have once been happy to share with you, I cannot tell you how nice it is to have all this power.”
“It is not yours.”
“That did not stop me from making it my own.” Elektra cackled to herself.
“That was wrong.”
“Well.” Elektra alighted down onto the floor once more, obviously teasing us. “We both know what it is doing wrong, don’t we?”
“Some of us refuse to enjoy it,” Starry Knight sparred, slashing out with her weapon.
Her bow crashed into Elektra, who used her power to keep it from cutting through her.
“You always were a stickler for rules,” Elektra teased, obviously trying to bait her.
“Here!” Aleia stepped in. I watched in wonder as Starry Knight and Aleia ambushed her from the front. I circled around, waiting for my opening.
A strange force wrapped itself around me before I could move. I suddenly gasped, coughing as an invisible hand reached around my throat and choked me.
Starry Knight glanced back. “What’s wrong?”
Her moment cost her. Elektra’s power smashed her. I could see the moment of surprise and blatant pain play out in slow motion, before Starry Knight tumbled down to the floor.
“No!” I breathed, more determined to break free. I grappled with the invisible monster at my throat. I could hear a sort of chuckle from him as I fought.
“One down, two to go!” Elektra cried. She ducked low and tripped Aleia, who stumbled into a railing. Elektra reached out and pushed her hard, sending her flying backward.
My breath caught back into my throat as Aleia fell. I didn’t have the strength to protest this time. A strange straggle escaped me as I thrashed around on the floor.
“Krono, don’t kill him,” Elektra warned. “I need him alive.”
Instantly, the force holding me still released me. I doubled over and sucked in air like a reverse-engineered balloon. I clutched at my chest and fell to my knees, still captured but able to breathe normally. I peeked up to see Starry Knight’s hand twitch.
Help me, help me, please. I found myself more than slightly uncomfortable, to say the least. “What was that for?” I asked, my voice scraggly, and still unable to move very well.
“Orpheus wants you dead,” she explained. “And I want to know why.” Her power slid around me like a string of orange lightning, paralyzing me, and lifting me up to meet her gaze. “It’s strange. Normally, he would want your power, which is considerable, I see.”
Elektra reached out and put her hand over my heart, and I squirmed. A bright flame, bursting out from inside me, shot out at her. She only laughed.
“Yes, you have powerful heart,” she said. “How about I take a closer look?” Her eyes, dark and sharp, narrowed as she reached into me.
This time, I didn’t just choke. I felt my blood surge. Power lashed out at her, but she continued to press. I could feel it as she reached around and latched onto my heart and soul. My physical body was raked with pain, and, despite the invisible restraint, I cried out.
Elektra just smiled. “Yes. Orpheus was a fool,” she muttered. “Your power is too great to just let it die. I must have it for myself.”
My eyes blurred over and my body went limp as my own power, the power of my heart, the burning life force inside of me, began pouring out. I would have recognized it anywhere, even if I had never seen it before.
From the beginning, I had wondered what my soul looked like, I vaguely recalled. Most of the ones I’d seen looked like glowing candlelight, burning with different patterns and colors, or small, brightly shining stars.
My Soulfire was a blazing ball of energy; not just a flame but burning with life, time, and tears, all wrapped up in blood-colored Soulfire.
“Yes ... ” Elektra’s eyes reflected my power, lighting up her obsession.
It was the last thing I saw as I closed my eyes. Or at least, it was the last thing my eyes saw.
☼8☼