Chapter. 10

"Only a week in and you've beaten the amber king!" Catherine pushed the library door open, letting Vincent walk out. Once outside Catherine wrapped her hands around Vincent's arm. "Mama's so proud of you."

"Get off of me."

"Still the deal was beat more then six." Catherine rested her head on Vincent's arm. "But I'll make an exception since it was a legion leader."

"Get off me!" Vincent ripped his arm away from Catherine. "I didn't do it for you. I fought Amber Demolition because he was in my way, nothing more."

"You sure?" Catherine waved her hand around and a picture appeared in front of Vincent. It was of him smiling with his fist in the air. Vincent shoved the photo away. "So you can smile. You should do it more often."

"I'm not here to amuse you."

"Why not stay and party with the legion? It's the recognition I know crave."

Vincent spun around to Catherine. "You don't know anything about me."

"Oh really?" Catherine placed her hands behind her back and swayed from side to side. "An up and coming fencing star unable to be captain. Study day and night only to come up second best. You try to do everything fair but you just can't get anywhere." Catherine snapped her fingers. "But now a charming goddess has blessed you with a power to go beyond mortals. So why do you still resist it?"

"You only got top of the class because you cheated! If I can't do things fair then what's the point? Everything will just be a hollow victory." Vincent stepped closer. "And you're no goddess."

"So a week in and you still haven't used brain burst to get what you want?"

"No."

"Really."

"I'm not weak willed like you."

Catherine sighs and takes a breath. "It's not a weakness Vinny. Brain burst is a power that puts us above the rest. I know you want to prove you're better and this is how you can do it. Isn't there anything you want? Brain burst can get it for you."

"If I can't get by on my own power then what's the point?"

"We all need help Vinny. I'm here to guide you, as much as you act like you can take on the whole world you wouldn't have gotten anywhere in brain burst with little old me." Vincent tightened his fists. "Still, you did good. Keep it up and big things will come your way." Catherine took Vincent's hand and placed it on her chest. "And I don't just mean these."

"What is wrong with you?" Vincent pulls his hand back.

"Just looking after my champion, and making sure you're well compensated for your work."

Vincent walked to his motorcycle. "I'm going home. Don't call me."

"Don't be like that my champion. You need anything you call me. I'll make anything happen."

Vincent climbed onto his bike and rode off. He drove around the city, making sure to stay in the opal territory. He stopped at the docks to look out to the sea. When Vincent took off his helmet he found a few strands of dark hair.

"Rebecca." Vincent pulled the hair out and let the wind carry it away. "Wonder how she's doing. I'm sure I'll see her at practice, if not then it's whatever."

Vincent heard ringing and groaned. "I swear if that bitch again..." Vincent pressed the receive call.

"Hello Tyrant." The voice was from Opal Commander. "I wanted to congratulate you once more on defeating Amber Demolition. I'll be keeping an eye on you from now on."

"Okay. Anything else?"

"Rest for now, plans are being made to more against the sapphire legion. When they're done I hope to count on your help once again to crush them."

"Fine." Vincent hung up then sat on his motorcycle.

"So a week in and you still haven't used brain burst to get what you want?"

Vincent shut his eyes and shook his head. "She doesn't need to know." Vincent started his bike. "I didn't cheat, I equalized it." Vincent kept repeating that thought to himself as he drove.

...

"Hey Vin, you're home early."

"Am I? It's just in time for dinner." Vincent glanced into the living room. "Mom and dad not here?"

"No they had to go check a house up in the hills. They won't be back till late at night."

"Ah. So what are you making?"

"Guess!"

Vincent's shoulders slumped. "I didn't know we were five again."

"Come on guess, it's easy!"

"It's bolognese."

Elizabeth blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"

Vincent looks into the kitchen. "I see a stockpot so it's a soup or sauce." He then examines Elizabeth. "Second you're wearing an apron so you're making something messy or stains." Vincent points into the kitchen. "I also see a cutting board with bits of vegetables, mostly tomatoes. The knife still has tomato juice on it, so something heavy with tomato souce. Finally I saw beef packaging in the trash. So bolognese."

Elizabeth had froze during Vincent's speech, and stares at him with wide eyes. After a Vincent finished Elizabeth pouted. "That's not fair. You loss!"

"Why do I lose?"

"You didn't follow the rules and guess. You did that robotic analysis again."

Vincent shrugged. "Like I said. Everything can be broken down into a science." Vincent heads up the stairs. "Call me when it's ready."

The teen laid on his on his bed and brought up the brain burst territory map. He zoomed in on the sapphire territory. "Sapphire. Blue. Blue is close range. So I'll need to keep some distance." Vincent raised his right arm. "Too bad my aim is shit. I should make a VR shooting range to get better, or at least acceptable. Maybe sis can help."

"You need anything you call me."

Vincent cringed remembering Catherine's words. "I'd rather drink battery acid then ask for her help."

"Vincent! Get down here!" Shouted Elizabeth.

"Coming!" Vincent sat up and went down stairs. "What's-" Vincent stopped as went into the kitchen, seeing Catherine sitting at the table with Elizabeth.

"Hello Vinny." Catherine waved to Vincent.

Vincent snapped. He grabbed Catherine by her shirt and pulled her to the front door, throwing her out then slammed the door shut. "Why are you here?"

Catherine brushed her hair back. "You think in this day and age it'd be hard to find an address?"

"I asked you why."

"Is it wrong to spend time with my man." Catherine stepped closer to Vincent with her hands out on his chest.

Vincent shoves Catherine away, hard enough that she fell to the ground. Catherine sat up to see Vincent standing over her. "I'll tell you this once, ONLY once. We are NOT together. We never WILL be. I want NOTHING to do with you. You will NEVER come near my house again." Vincent turned away to go back inside.

"You still haven't told me how you got your bike."

Vincent flinched as he held the door handle. Vincent almost ripped the door open and slammed the door shut once inside.

"What was that?" Asked Elizabeth.

"She is to never come in here again, you get me?"

"You two having trouble?"

"She... someone I helped." Vincent tasted bile as he spoke. "Now she won't leave me alone."

"Okay."

The siblings went back to the kitchen, Elizabeth opened the stockpot when Vincent grabbed a pair of plates. "Hey sis, you good at making programs?"

"Sort of, why?"

"I need some help making one. A shooting range."

Elizabeth tilts her head. "What?"

"You know where a cord is, it'll be better and faster if I show you."

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