Chapter 22

Chapter 22

BOOM!

Ocche was thrown back, colliding with the sofa. Pain shot through his arm as he rolled over the furniture, sliding to a stop a few meters away. He grunted, grabbing at his arm. It hurt like hell but was probably only a minor fracture. He forced himself to his knees and whipped his head around. Dust from the debris obscured his vision. He needed a better view. “Verde! Veloce! Are you alive?” He demanded, You idiots better not have left me with a mess to clean up! He groused inwardly, closing his eyes and focusing on the astral eye that was set up in the room. His vision shifted and he was looking down. The dust was still clearing but he could make out a single figure standing where the wall of the manor had been caved in.

Who the hell?

“The fuck was that?” Veloce demanded, “Who’s there?!”

“I’m fine,” Verde growled, “Do you see them, Ocche?”

The dust settled a little more and he finally got a look at their attacker’s face. It was a woman. He’d seen her before. The Maid?!

“It’s the maid!” Ocche shouted, “She’s Light-touched!”

He opened his eyes, the dust had almost completely settled. Only moonlight cast down on them from outside, providing the sparsest amount of illumination. It was enough to have made out her face and now it framed her eerily. She was dressed in that ridiculous maid outfit again, her expression inscrutable. Is she wearing a domino mask? What the fuck?

He shifted to his feet, scowling at her, “How did you find us?” He demanded.

The woman ignored him and glanced towards Amos and the girl who were both on the ground. It looked like Amos had thrown himself on top of the girl to protect her from the debris. “Amos?” The woman spoke flatly, her tone laden with dangerous promise.

He shifted and looked up at her a weak grin on his face, “Hey Marta, glad you could make it.”

‘Marta’ looked down at the girl, “And her?”

“She’s fine, but she’s out like a light. It’s been a rough night,” Amos said and moved to shift the girl away from the center of the room.

Veloce snarled, “You just going to ignore us? You busted our house, bitch!”

Verde’s hands ignited with green flame and a pair of axes took shape, he swung them experimentally before stalking forward alongside his partner. The woman didn’t move. Ocche frowned, she clearly had some sort of power that could cause destruction but she wasn’t holding any weapons. A strength enhancement? He remembered a video that circulated online of a woman using brute strength in New York around the time ASTA surfaced. Were they the same person? Probably, still, something doesn’t feel right. She’s too calm.

He closed his eyes again and focused on the eyes outside his house and immediately opened them, “There’s someone else here!”

DOOM

Pressure washed over the entire building like a wave, it cascaded over Ocche’s body and sent him right back to his knees. Nausea built up in his guts and he retched, gasping for air as he caught himself with his hands, pain shooting up his injured arm. He coughed, What-? Was all he could manage as the pressure intensified, terror, absolute terror, it was like a snake coiling around his throat. He could sense death in the air, something was coming that was so oppressive it could only bring death and pain. He forced his chin up and watched as Verde and Veloce took an involuntary step back. Their bodies were stronger than his and they both seemed to handle it a bit better than he did.

Past them, though, the Maid simply stepped aside and bowed.

She stepped in with the grace of moonlight and the certainty of an executioners axe. She wore a full body combat suit, a jumpsuit made of some kind of sheer white leather. A darker coat worn over her shoulders that gleamed as if it were armored in places. She had a luxurious frame, almost sexual, awe inspiring. But it was what was above the shoulders that chilled him to the bone. She wore a helmet without a face, a pair of hot-pink eyes blazing in the dim light. Hair light starlight fell from the back of her helmet in a wild wave. Her arms were crossed behind her back, relaxed, utterly in control.

“Ishtar...” Amos breathed nearby.

“Who?” Veloce grunted, gripping her chest.

What is she talking about? Is she crazy? Start? Start what?

“What- who- you’re insane!” He shrieked, scrambling harder at her arms but finding no leverage, “You crazy bitch! Throwing your weight around, calling yourself a supervillain! This isn’t a comic book! You’re friggin nuts! Let me go!”

She tilted her head hard to the right as if she was looking at him with one eye, “People are running around calling themselves heroes these days,” She hissed, “Why can’t I call myself a villain?”

He paled and opened his mouth to speak when the most horrible sound came out of that helmet. It was a low, gentle hiss, like she was shushing a child. His arms went limp, “It really is too bad for you, Ocche,” She said, shaking her head, “You were destined for greatness. But I made a promise to that girl that I would protect her,”

His eyes went wide, “No! Don’t!”

“You made a liar out of me, Guildmaster.”

Visible electricity raced up her arms, he felt a tingle, then a burn, and then everything turned into pain.

–

Ishtar relished his screams for as long as they lasted, which she had to admit wasn’t as long as she had hoped. Of all the people to meet, She thought as she dropped his smoking corpse onto the ground. The future head of the Mediterranean Heroes Guild, hiding in a house without light bulbs. She snorted and brushed off her hands, crossing them behind her back. You bastard, you were the first to side with Otis. Good riddance.

She turned away and examined her warehouse;

<New Product Acquired: The Astral Eye>

She smiled to herself, satisfied, and looked down at her gloved fingers, “Might of Thor, huh? Not bad. I-” A pulse rushed through her head, a throbbing pain that faded as soon as it came, “Ugh, what?” She gasped.

<You have upheld a portion of your deal with Pandora. Delivering payment. New feature added: Merger>

Her eyes went wide as the words appeared before her.

<You may now combine existing products with your abilities, creating a more powerful whole. Powers must be compatible with one another in order to be combined. Some limitations may exist based on the core ability. Warning: Merging multiple abilities may have unforseen consequences.>

This is it! This is what I needed! She would have jumped for joy if it weren’t for her surroundings. She cleared her throat and focused. More interesting, it looks like my promise from before I returned is being upheld as a deal with Pandora. So if I kill more of those who are destined to ruin things for humanity, will I get more improvements to Broker? I wonder what it means by limitations and consequences. This ability isn’t exactly user friendly, is it?

She grinned, “Perfect,” She rasped and stepped into the center of the room. Oh right, I almost forgot.

“Verde, Veloce, I know you’re still alive, get up and get out here,” She commanded.

The duo did not hesitate for a moment, they zipped into the room and dropped to their knees, pressing their heads to the ground. “Y-yes ma’am!” They both barked in unison. Both of them were trembling.

Good.

“The two of you are very lucky,” Ishtar said, looking down at the back of their heads. They both flinched, “I’m considering letting you live despite what you did. I need people here in Italy and you may very well be of use to me.”

They both looked up, hope in their eyes, and were met with her outstretched hand.

“Let’s talk about the terms of your servitude.”