Seraphine Kade didn't believe in fate. She believed in patterns. And Elias Ward was breaking every one of them.
She sat cross-legged on the rooftop across from Kronis Dynamics, chewing a piece of gum like it owed her money. Her binoculars tracked Elias's movements through the workshop window. He was pacing, muttering, touching machines that fixed themselves when he got near.
"Definitely not normal," she said aloud, tapping her comms.
A voice crackled in her ear. "Report."
"Target's exhibiting accelerated mutation. Energy signature matches the anomaly from the Eastbridge collapse. He's repairing tech with his bare hands. Strength, speed, sensory enhancement. Possibly matter manipulation."
"Engage?"
Seraphine snorted. "You want me to walk up to a glowing man with reality-bending powers and say hello?"
Silence.
"Maintain surveillance," the voice said. "Do not engage."
She rolled her eyes. "You people are no fun."
She shut off the comms and leaned back against the rooftop vent. The wind tugged at her jacket. Her fingers traced the edge of the mark on her wrist — a faint, glowing scar she'd carried since childhood. STRATUM said it was a side effect of exposure. She knew better.
It pulsed when Elias used his powers.
She didn't know what that meant. She didn't like not knowing.
Below, Elias touched a broken drone. It reassembled itself instantly.
Seraphine stood.
"Okay, Spark Boy," she murmured. "Let's see what you do when someone pokes the bear."
Elias felt the pressure before he saw her.
He turned toward the window. A shadow flickered across the glass. He stepped outside, heart pounding, senses on high alert.
She was waiting in the alley.
Black leather jacket. Combat boots. A smirk that could start wars.
"Hi," she said. "You glow. That's new."
Elias blinked. "Who are you?"
"Seraphine Kade. STRATUM field agent. I track anomalies. You're one."
He backed up. "I'm not—"
"You jumped off a collapsing bridge, swam through freezing water, saved three people, and walked away glowing. Then you fixed a radio with your mind. You're not normal."
Elias clenched his fists. "I didn't ask for this."
Seraphine tilted her head. "Nobody does. But now you've got it. And something's coming for you."
"What?"
She stepped closer. Her voice dropped.
"Something old. Something that doesn't like competition."
Elias's chest pulsed. The Spark flared.
Seraphine's mark glowed in response.
They both froze.
"What the hell was that?" Elias whispered.
Seraphine stared at her wrist. "I think we're connected."
Before either could speak again, the alley exploded.
A blast of blue energy tore through the wall. Elias tackled Seraphine as debris rained down. A figure stepped through the smoke — tall, armored, eyes glowing like dying stars.
"Target acquired," it said.
Seraphine rolled to her feet, pulling twin pistols from her jacket.
"Welcome to your first fight," she said.
Elias stood, heart racing.
"Who is that?"
She fired. "No idea. But he's not here to hug you."