Being a hero was not a job for cowards. It was only for the brave who would never back down from helping a citizen in danger. It literally demanded you to throw your life on the line at an unknown threat, day in day out, just for somebody who ninety percent of the time you barely even know. Lia was proud to say that she rarely felt scared. She had jumped off buildings and chased a flaming corpse through a desert.
But now she felt it for the first time in a long time. True unbridled fear. The crown dome was basically a giant amphitheater designed to house ninety thousand people. It also doubled up as a killer conference room as the seats were actually grown from the concrete using meta-abilities. It was an engineering marvel at its core.
Sadly, Lia`s gaze was transfixed to the giant crowd that followed Leon as he stepped out of his car. His curly black hair ruffled in the wind making him seem like he stepped out of some action scene in a cheesy movie. His sharp gaze scanned the crowd that circled him begging for autographs and pictures. He flashed them an innocent grin and they exploded in a deafening cheer.
He looked healthy as he strode behind his security detail signing shirts, posters and whatever else crazy fans threw at him to sign. Although through the shining lights from the illuminated exterior of The Crown Dome Lia could still see the gruesome scars that lined his beautiful face. She could still see the way he walked with a slight limp although he tried his best to hide it from everyone. Everyone else but his big sister who he could never fool. Lia`s heart ached. He seemed to be so happy being away from her. It hurt.
"Come on! Cheer up! You`re making the mood sour." Aya whined as she tugged on my sleeve.
"Wait. You can read the mood?" Lia asked with mock surprise.
Aya gasped in shock.
"Well, she`s not totally an airhead." Mikey joked.
Aya whined as she looked at her feet. She kicked a stone into Mickey`s shin making him stumble. Aya caught him as he almost fell. They looked at each other and started laughing.
Lia could feel Aya`s joy. She smiled. Mikey was not really that much of a looker honestly. He had always looked like a little elfish to Lia. His meta-ability did grant him gremlin-like abilities but they also impacted his looks too. He always had an impish grin that was mildly unsettling and piercing green eyes which always seemed to hide something. His black hair stuck up in odd angles and he had bags under his eyes. He was dressed casually in a simple shirt, sweatpants and sneakers. He looked like he could collapse from exhaustion at any moment.
"How`s work in the support department?" Lia asked as Aya helped him to his feet.
"Brutal." he said painfully," I had to pull four all-nighters to finish making new suits for the graduating hero students." He mumbled.
"OMG! You`re making our suits!" Aya squealed in joy.
"Yeah. I`m trying to. I`ve also got to repair Titan`s suit and upgrade it before the weekend." He said his voice downcast.
"But Titan`s like, what, fifty feet tall?" Lia asked, a note of worry in her voice.
"Yeah. Plus, he wants a fully automated battle armor carrying enough artillery to supply a small army. I`m doomed, so please let`s just get along with this." Mikey said quietly.
"Don`t worry Mikey. I know you work extra hard so today we`re here to make sure you have a blast." Aya chirped.
She shot Lia an evil look that sent chills down her spine.
"Y..yeah. We`re here just for you Mikey. We want to show you how much we appreciate the illegal upgrades you make to our suits, free of charge." Lia said with a strained smile.
Mikey laughed as he led the way into the dome. Aya fell back to walk beside Lia. Her eyes darted around furtively as she scanned the crowd.
"No sign of burning corpses." She muttered.
"Figures. Hellracer`s too distinct. An attack at a public event needs a bit more class and finesse." Lia said under her breath.
Although she still had her doubts of the truth of the message on the card, she still couldn`t shake the sense of dread that followed her like a shadow.
"I wish we could have backup." Aya complained as she handed over her ticket to the guards.
"I know but you know that spreading false reports will give us a lower rating on the Hero field study. The higher the rating the better our chances of joining a top agency." Lia said as she covered her eyes to block the bright lights shining onto the audience.
"Yeah. But so does retaining crucial evidence. Come on Lia you know how dangerous these guys are. They`ve been going around killing heroes and important people in the country. They are a threat that put even The Wardens on high alert. We can`t do this on our own." Aya said as she took Mikey`s hand as they entered the crowd.
Suddenly, the lights went out. The far wall shimmered with white dots making it look like a starry sky. Then there he was standing on the stage. The blue light spilling towards him made his scars glow faintly. The audience cheered deafeningly. Even Aya was bouncing on the balls of her feet barely able to contain her excitement.
An explosion suddenly shook the entire building. The crowd went silent. The lights flickered back on. A gunshot rent the air. A glowing bullet cut through the air heading right for the stage.
The world fell silent.
Lia moved—and suddenly everything else was late.
Light curved gently as it slid past her, bending instead of breaking. The crowd became a gallery of almost-motions: hands reaching, drinks hanging mid-fall, faces caught between shock and joy.
She ran through them like a thought no one could finish, weaving between outstretched arms and floating debris without touching a thing.
The railing rose to meet her. She caught it, vaulted, and landed on the stage in a single breath.
The bullet was already there—cutting through the air toward Leon, impatient and sure of itself.
Lia reached out and plucked it free.
She turned, scanning the arena, the moment still weightless and quiet, searching for the hand that had tried to take something precious from her.
Then the world caught up.
Sound crashed back in all at once—gasps tearing through the crowd as reality reasserted itself, confused and breathless, wondering how she had crossed an impossible distance in the space of a heartbeat.
"Lia? What are you doing here!" Leon screamed with a level of animosity that made Lia`s heart ache.
She took a deep breath. She had to focus. They were under attack. Another bullet streaked towards Leon but Lia plucked it out of the air casually.
"Aya!" she cried.
Aya grabbed Mikey`s shoulders and vaulted over his head to land on a yellow panel she had conjured in front of her. She blasted off in the direction the bullets had come from. She smashed into the bleachers sending up a plume of dust. A cloaked figure jumped free from the smoke. It leveled an amethyst sniper rifle at Aya.
The world slowed as Lia bolted towards the two. She pushed down the rifle just before he could pull the trigger. She felt the rush of wind as Aya flew over her and smashed into the cloaked figure.
"Nice save." Aya called back to Lia as she headed for the figure who was crumpled up on the ground in front of them.
The screams of the crowd filled the air as they evacuated.
Suddenly, a flash of amethyst light blinded Lia. She blinked out the spots in her eyes and saw Aya inside a purple crystal. She was trying to break free but the crystal didn`t budge.
"Welcome to our event dear fans." A sweet sultry voice announced happily.
Another figure stepped onto the stage with the calm certainty of a predator. Her skin was deathly pale, almost like snow, and her pitch-black hair was braided neatly into a long ponytail that swung over her shoulder with each measured step. She wore a form-fitting black turtleneck and skirt, the slit running up to her thigh showing off her black boots that reached all the way up to her thighs. They clicked sharply on the stage, her movements were deliberate and unnervingly smooth.
The mask on her face was carved into an expression of pure joy, but it made Lia's stomach twist — joy twisted into something sinister, a promise of chaos hidden behind perfection. Even from across the stage, the crowd's roar seemed to dull around her, the lights flickering as if the world itself hesitated at her presence. Shadows stretched unnaturally around her feet, and the air felt heavier, charged with an energy Lia could sense but couldn't yet name.
She moved like she owned the arena, but there was no arrogance, only a quiet, terrifying control. Every step, every tilt of her head, spoke of a calculated predator who could strike without warning. Lia's heart pounded, adrenaline spiking, as she realized the person behind the smiling mask was here for more than spectacle — she was here to hunt.
"To me. Violet." she said calmly.
Suddenly, the room lurched sharply. All the air in Lia`s lungs got forced out. The auditorium was now full of the audience who had just evacuated moments ago.
She reached out and took Leon`s face in her palm.
"Shall we dance, pretty boy?"