Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Sonya and the others stepped out of the portal and into her office. She reached up and brushed her hair out of her face, as she deactivated her armor. Ironsides’ power is convenient. She thought with a small smile. That smile faltered when her senses picked up on someone standing in the room. She turned her head towards the door with a frown and saw her standing there. Her lips turned down in a frown and she tilted her head forward, “Black Lotus,” She said evenly, “What are you doing in my office?”

“You left,” The hero said.

“I had a meeting to attend to, it’s not your concern,” Sonya said, tilting her head up to look down a bit on the taller woman. “Just go to bed or whatever and leave me be. You hound me enough as it is,” She said dismissively and turned away, waving her hand.

“I’ve been making up for it for a year, doing what you asked,” Black Lotus said, “Please, just talk to me,” She asked, her voice cracking a little.

Sonya closed her eyes tight and clenched her fists as Marta, Colin, and Cass came through the portal. Cass froze and frowned, a warhammer appearing in her hand. Marta held up her arm and blocked the girl from attacking as she glared daggers in Black Lotus’ direction. Sonya tilted her head up again and prayed to whatever would listen for patience before she turned around and plastered a forced pleasantness onto her face, “That’s the problem,” She said with poisoned sweetness, “That, what you just said, is precisely the problem and you know it.”

“Sonya-”

“Get out. Don’t make me say it again,” Sonya said and turned away, “I’m tired. I haven’t slept in two days because of you, I took it out on Carla, again.”

Black Lotus stiffened and frowned, her eyes downcast. She stood up straighter and bowed, “Miss Chernovna, have a good night.”

“Thank you, hero,” Sonya said, looking down at her nails as the door opened and shut quietly behind her. Her fingers curled and she carved rivets into the table's surface, “Damn it. Not only do I have to deal with her being here but he decided that this was the best place to start his ‘rise to power’.” She spat bitterly, “That buffoon, I never realized how stupid he was until I met him like this. What the hell kind of power does he have that he was-” She stopped as Marta put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She turned and threw herself into Marta’s chest and her dearest friend pulled her into an embrace, “I’m so angry all the time now, more than before, I can’t take it, it hurts,” Sonya croaked.

“We understand,” Marta whispered, resting her chin on Sonya’s head. “It’s okay to be angry. Are you ready for sleep tonight?”

Sonya nodded mutely into her embrace, “Mm.”

“I’ll ensure Cassiopeia gets back to the dorms without a disturbance,” Marta said, “Colin has the office. Go rest. Carla will take care of you.”

“Mm.”

–

Sonya walked down the hall alone, blessedly alone, finally some quiet. She drifted past the hall leading towards the girls' dorms and towards the small set of apartments attached to the rear of the building for the instructors and VIPs. Some of them were shared among the instructors while a couple had been set aside for exclusive use. She tried to let her mind empty a little as she wandered, reaching up to run shaking fingers through her hair. Even with all my power my hands are tied, the whole point was to avoid using it at all, only to- she paused and stood up straight. Her senses felt him as he stepped out of the turn leading to the restrooms behind her. She turned slowly and looked at him, glowing pink eyes met luminous sapphire blue.

Otis.

“Miss Chernovna, you’re up late!” He said brightly.

I’ll kill you.

She smiled, “A bit of late night business!” She said merrily. “You’re up late too!”

Break you.

“I’m glad we got to talk today,” He said, scratching his head, “That stuff about scouts gave me a lot to think about!”

Ruin you.

“Oh?” Sonya said, “Why don’t we talk about it over breakfast tomorrow? I really should be getting to bed.”

Your dreams!

“That sounds great!” He said, rubbing his shoulder, “Definitely could use some rest myself, being Mythic doesn’t exclude me from soreness!”

Your beliefs!

“Mind if I do drills with you?” She asked, walking over.

Lillian glanced at her, she was unarmed, “You don’t have your-” Jessica held out her hand and a blade of ice stretched from it becoming very solid and releasing a faint white mist. “Oh!”

Jessica grinned at her, “I’m always armed.”

Lillian returned her expression with an awkward smile, “That’s kinda scary when you say it like that.”

Jessica blinked, then laughed, “You’re right! Maybe I should save that kind of thing for villains.”

“Probably,” Lillian agreed and reached down to grab her sword, “Shall we?”

“I’ll follow you, I’m curious about what she taught you,” Jessica said, “Hope you don’t mind me stealing a bit?”

“Not at all!” Lillian said, tilting her chin up a bit, “We’re all training to be heroes, every little bit helps, right?”

Jessica let out a weary sigh and gave her an almost patient smile, “You are too good for your own good, thanks,” She turned to the guy she was talking to, “Hey Reek! Can we get some water?”

The guy on the other end of the room crossed his arms and frowned, the brown hair on his head falling down just past his eyebrows as he stared back flatly, “That is not my codename and I am not your porter,” He turned away with a huff, “Try again, princess.”

She scratched her nose, “Sorry Luke,” She said, “Please?”

He glanced her way from the corner of his eye and let out a long suffering sigh, “Fine!” He said and held out his hand, it looked like the air parted like curtains and a gallon jug of cold water landed in his palm. He set it down and then another appeared before he knelt, grabbed them, and carried them over.

“Was that some kind of storage power?” Lillian asked, amazed. There are so many cool powers out there!

Luke tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, “Huh? No. Well, sorta,” He shook his head, “I can pull things that I’ve marked to me from any distance, pretty much, I’ve got a whole storeroom back at my house full of stuff instead of carrying it with me. My folks are going to keep it stocked while I’m here,” He said, “If the item’s close enough I can draw it to me physically and at high speed if I want. I’m partially here to figure out if I can do it the other way. Fire projectiles.”

“Aren’t you being a little detailed?” Jessica teased him.

He shrugged, “We’re all heroes here and I’ll be blunt, you two are the last people I’d suspect spilling their guts, Jess is on my team and no offense Lillian, but Jess is kinda right. You could stand to be a bit more selfish.”

Lillian flushed, “Just kinda hard reconciling being a little selfish with being a hero.”

“Aw! That’s why I like you!” Jessica said, clapping her arm, “Come on, let's do some drills, thanks Luke.”

“Sure sure,” Luke said and walked off, hands in his pockets as he ambled his way over to the treadmills.

They got right into it, Lillian showing Jessica the way that Black Lotus had taught her to stand, breathe, and swing. It took a little bit for Jessica to get the hang of it but soon the two of them were doing overhand cuts over and over, their eyes focused hard on the wall in front of them. Lillian didn’t let her mind wander as she did, after some sleep she finally had a bit more of a clear head, it was a good feeling. She let out low breath after low breath, the meditative breathing coming naturally as she brought it back from the previous night’s training. A warmth began to rise up in her chest as she swung and sweat dripped down her temple. The heat intensified, but it felt good as it spread out through her body and into her arms.

“-ian!”

She frowned and kept swinging, one at a time, up, down, up, down.

“Lillian!”

She paused, Jessica’s voice? She sounded upset. She turned and blinked at the girl, “Yeah? What’s up?” She asked, confused.

Jessica stared at her frankly for a moment before pointing at her shoulder, “You uh... you got a little something on your...”

Lillian turned her head, confused, and looked down at her left arm. Flames. Fire was burning on her shoulder. Brilliant yellow-orange-gold flames. They were small but... Wait. “I’m on fire!” She gasped and reached up to pat it off before pausing again. Why doesn’t it hurt?