The swirl of darkness and blood drifts through his mind before the blond heard the growling of something demonic.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Rust waded through the red mist in the darkness, trying to find the source of the growl. All his surroundings is complete darkness, only the red mist can guide him through. His eyes wandered and then stares straight ahead. Where the fangs and eyes came rushing at him.
"AH!"
"Rust, you're awake!" It was Ophelia who clasped her hands as she looked relived.
"O-ophelia, is that you?" Rust asked as he slowly stands up but feels groggily.
"Don't sit up, just lay down." Ophelia gently pushed his shoulders down to which Rust obey. "You looked like you suffered from injuries. Let me get you some potions."
"What happened?" Rust asked.
"You don't remember?" Ophelia blinked as she opens the cabinet with her head glanced over to the blond.
"I remember the party and Libra crashing it followed by that Blood Breed crashing too." Rust responded as he rubs his head.
"What about the fight with it?"
"Ugh..." Rust closes his eyes, "Yeah...I think me, Ink and Oblivion ran into it and he was almost winning...and... wait is Ink and Oblivion, okay?!" Rust now widens his eyes as he remembers what went down in that fight.
"They're fine, thanks to you! Ink told us everything." Ophelia responded with a ensuring smile.
"Good...how long was I out?" He asked.
"For the entire night and morning, it's almost noon now." Ophelia answered. "We were worried, I was glad that you're still breathing and your wounds has closed but hearing how you coughed blood after that attack, it must of drain you." Ophelia said.
Drain? Rust blinked. For some reason, it didn't feel like that. Then there is a knock on the door,
"Ophelia! Did Rust wake up?" It was Ink.
"Yes, he did." Ophelia responded to which everyone, not just Ink, went inside. Not before, crashing into each other and end up knocking the door off their handles which resulting everyone yelling and fall into the floor. It was pretty comedic. In the pile was Ink, Navarro, Gerald, Taz, Maggie and Fosh. There were louds of 'ows' and 'watch where you touching!' from the teens.
"Honestly..." Shdwkyz rolled his eyes as he and Hellmare are the only ones not going to rush inside like the rest, preferring they stay out. Hellmare can't help but giggled.
"RUST! You're okay!" Ink crawled herself out of the pile up and stands up happily.
"Yeah, I'm okay!" Rust smiled as he can't help but snort at his team's reaction.
"You almost scare the shit out of us!" Navarro yelled. "Hell, you made Oblivion worried."
"Very worried." Oblivion said monotonically.
"How you feeling?" Maggie asked.
"Good. I think I feel better." Rust answered then he turns to Ink, "Ink...what happened last night?"
"What happened last night?! What happened last night?!" Ink asked incredulous to which Rust nods his head, "I will tell you last night! You just beat that Blood Breed with that big blood dragon dog thing!."
"Dragon...dog thing?" Rust repeated as he looks dumbfounded.
"That's what she saying all night and all morning." Shdwkyz explained. "She said that your arm, Destroyer changed into a blood metal monster that bites off that Blood Bleed's lower waist when you're trapped in his blood wed of his?" Shdwkyz looks to Ink for confirmation to which Ink nods. "Yep, that's what happened!"
"Huh...I did?" Rust blinked.
"OF COURSE, YOU DID! IT WAS SO AWESOME THAT I MANAGE TO FINISH HIM WITH VALOR SLASH AND WE BEAT HIM!" Ink exclaimed. "If it weren't for you, Rust, we would be in big trouble!" Ink grinned.
"Yep." Oblivion nods, "I didn't see it but I believe that you really beat that guy." Oblivion said.
"And...what happened when I beat him?" Rust asked.
"Well..." Ink twiddles her thumbs not sure how to say it.
"You were throwing up blood and lose consciousness.." Hellmare said looking, worried.
"At first, we all thought it was from injuries but there was nothing serious..." Shdwkyz stated.
"Yeah but at the same time, I was looking at your injuries and they were healed like nothing happened." Ink added. Rust looks to Ophelia nodding in agreement, "Just like Ink said, I looked over your injuries based on what Ink and but there were none." Ophelia explained. " As if nothing happened..."
"That's what the doc said to me, too." Rust frowned.
"Wait...doc?" Ink blinked.
"Yeah, remember I was in hospital and she said the same thing. So did Zed."
"The merman..." Hellmare recalled. Rust nods. "Yeah, they told me that injuries based on the blood stain on my clothes, it was serious. Yet, the doctor said that nothing on my body happened when I was brought in."
"I see. And I supposed that happened the second time in the hospital?" Hellmare said. Rust sighs, "I think so...I don't know how and why. I mean remember getting hurt somewhere in the chest when I saved Leo and was put on the stretcher by him and the doctor. I don't know when it happened but I was so pissed, I want to kill something."
"It must be the reason why Libra is so interested in you because of that." Shdwkyz asked.
"Speaking of which!" Fosh speaks before groaning, getting up from the pile and dusting himself off, "Also! I looked up based on what you said and look up fang hunters on certain forums on the internet," Fosh brought up his tablet as he scrolls down on the forum, "it said that fang hunters hunt down vampires, in this case, Blood Breeds. There isn't a lot of information but it was said Blood Breeds are really tough, creates ghouls and tough to kill. Plus, it's rumored that they're all over!"
"No shit! That guy from last night keeps coming back!" Navarro said. "But those Libra fuckers didn't kill him. So far, Ink and Rust managed to kill it."
"I mean I did cut his head but I didn't check to see if he's dead or not." Ink shrugged.
"Maybe...Rust and Ink's attacks combined slowed down his healing process or hopefully we did killed him." Hellmare assumed. "But it's highly unlikely after what we just saw last night at the penthouse.
"So now what?" Oblivion asked, which is billion-dollar question. "I mean we're not sure if that guy is dead or what should we do if Libra is chasing down Rust?"
Nobody answered that question because it was difficult one.
Then someone came over, it was Jaron holding a tray of food. "Hey guys! Sorry to butt in but I got some food for the Rust." Jaron walks in and sets the tray over Rust's lap. Jaron take the lid off the plate, revealing baked half-chicken, mac n' cheese, green string beans and mashed potatoes. "Awesome!" Rust grinned to which he starts to eating. "Your food is the best, Jaron."
"Hey! You deserved it after what you been through, man." Jaron replied with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.
"We should leave you two for now." Hellmare said to which everyone got out of the room. But then,
"Ink..." Rust speaks making Ink stop at her feet. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure, Rust! What's up?" And so the three, Ink, Rust and Ophelia are left alone in the medic room.
"WHAT THE HELL!?"
Steven chuckles, listening to the rant of the HLPD lieutenant, Daniel Law who is ticked off that he didn't catch the teenaged criminals last night, having to deal with a penthouse being vandalized and destroyed followed by the wreckage of a street near Central Park due to the fight between the Blood Breed and the DBT followed by Libra soon after.
"YOU SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE AND THOSE PUNKS ARE NOT THERE! WHAT THE HELL, STARPHASE?!"
"Now, now, the Blood Breed we sealed yesterday interrupted with our custody of Rust Knight, you see. No need to worry. You will get them next time."
"NEXT TIME?! WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE?! HUH?! HOW AM I GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS?!"
"At least say that the owner of that penthouse is found complicit in fraudulent practices that includes money laundering, guardianship abuse and massive fraud along with illegal substances that he's trading outside of the city. If anything, you should thank these kids, they made your job a whole lot easier!" Steven replied cheerfully.
"FUCK YOU STEVEN!" With that the call just hanged up. Steven sighed as he sets the phone down. Well...last night was eventful. He never thought a Blood Breed would get involved, much less a Blood Breed related to the Elder Breed from the hospital.
These kids are sure a handful, especially that Rust kid.
Steven checked the cameras last night thanks to other fellow members of Libra, it seems the kids are getting directions based on whoever is calling them by the phone. Heh...it seems they have a hacker on their side.' His assumption is proven correct that the cameras around Central Park has suffered some inference to which it shows that the teens are not there. He wondered how many members that DBT has exactly.
"Was that Lieutenant Law?" It was Klaus as he looked up from his computer and paperwork.
"Sure is, he doesn't sound too happy though." Steven laughed.
"Maybe I should apologize once I see him again."
"Don't worry about it. He will get over it, Klaus. Don't beat yourself up." Steven ensuring the other.
"I wonder if Rust and his friends is doing alright, I hope we didn't scare him off." Klaus continues, "I am impressed that they fought off that Blood Breed, Zacheous Malachi. We were lucky enough to find him still weak and sealed him right away." He said.
"I'm surprised to see how they fought him off." It said that Van Ink the Dragon and Rust The Machine Destroyer, did a major blow on him. A crimson monster with metal and a flaming blue sword." Steven read the reports of witnesses who watched the fight based on police reports.
"BAH! It doesn't change the fact they're still brats!" It was Zapp who was lounging on the floor, cranky from last night. "If anything, they need to get their asses kicked! Especially that little shit they called Navarro the Bomber! He pisses him off!"
"Yeah but you did call him midget..." Leonardo pointed out. "He didn't take that very well."
"He's the one yelling about some Jingo game and it isn't my fault that he looks like a damn twelve-year old!" Zapp complained. Then suddenly, his lower eyelids begin to expand as if someone is stepping on it. "OW! KNOCK IT OFF, YOU DOG BITCH!" He cried.
"Shut up, trash bag!" Chain responded as she became visible in the office as she jumps off from Zapp and hands a report to Steven. Zapp grumbles while Leonardo begins to snicker. "Glad he tore you a new one."
"Shut up, penguin!" Zapp retorted.
"I'M NOT A PENIGUN!" Leonardo shouted. Zed could only sigh in exhausted, listening to their antics. Klaus's smartphone vibrates and his green eyes glanced over to an unknown caller, curious he picks up.
"Hello?" Klaus answered. He widens his green eyes, "Rust, is that you?"
This got everyone in Libra to stop what they were doing.
Hours earlier...
"I think...I should go visit Libra."
"WHAT?!" His entire team yelled except for Ink who held a blank expression as she looks over to the blond with grey eyes and Ophelia whom frowns a bit with worried eyes as she grips her skirt.
"Where the hell is this coming from?!" Navarro yelled and then points at Ink, "AND YOU! Why did you guys talk about?"
"I think we should listen to Rust and listen to what he has to say." Ink said.
"Ya see... ever since last night, I don't think I have total control over my powers like I thought." Rust sighed as he scratches his cheek and looks away. Feeling all eyes on him is hard enough but his friends deserve an explanation. "Libra has Blood users so I think it's best to learn from there and get stronger like the rest of you guys."
"So you're leavin-"
"No, Navarro! I ain't leaving the team!" Rust cuts him off as he frowns, "I just want to learn more about my powers, okay?" Rust then groans as he scratching his neck, "Look, when I asked Ink what happened during our fight against him and she told me what happened, it got me really thinking. It's not just Libra we got to worry about, we might have to encounter that Blood Breed guy, again." He sighed and goes to say it, "I am doing this for the team."
There is silence in the living room until,
"If anything, that makes sense." Shdwkyz speaks up, "Truthfully, we don't know much about Libra based on the rumors we got going on and Fosh is trying to find out more about them." He said. Fosh nods in agreement, "Like Shdwkyz said!" But Fosh shakes his head, "But all I got is comments about them in certain forums. None of them are good though. A lot of Beyondians hate them because most of them want to get out of the city and saying they're like the secret police."
"If the rumors are true, then they're not wrong about that." Maggie said. Fosh nods vigorously, "It makes wonder how lucky we are that we aren't caught yet with our parties outside of the city." He said as he can't believe how lucky they are.
"And that's why we won't let you meet them, Rust! We don't trust those Libra fuckers. Look what they did! They crashed our aftermath and tried to take you in? Even AFTER that Blood Breed motherfucker attacked us?! One of them had you tied up." Navarro frowned as he crossed his arms, "Hell...how do we know that they're not corrupt as hell?" That was the question which everyone shared the same concern. The DBT fought fraudsters, shady businessmen, mafia gangsters, corrupt officials and dealing with corrupt departments. But they haven't deal with secret organization like Libra before. They only got a glimpse of their powers and it made them worried.
"It's a gut feeling, Navarro." Rust answered. "I don't think... they're bad. Well...that jackass, Zapp is an asshole but the rest of them? I mean, I met their boss, Klaus and...he isn't that bad." Rust sighed. "It's hard to explain but he looks like he wants to help me out." Rust explained.
"And that's what you're going with? A gut feeling?" Maggie asked as she looks really concerned.
"To be honest, I don't really like them." Oblivion stated.
"I am on the fence but I do understand where you're coming from, Rust. Some of the members don't seem to be corrupt but we don't know how their operations worked." Hellmare added.
"How about this?! How about I come with you to Libra and check them got out especially Klaus guy?" Ink proposed with a smile. "WHAT?!" Everyone yelled.
"That's too dangerous!" Fosh cried.
"Don't go saying things like that, you idiot!" Navarro shouted.
"Yeah! We don't know what they're made of!" Maggie asked.
Shdwkyz chuckles and shakes his head, "Why I am not surprised, you're always like this. Even if you two want to go Libra, do you have an idea where to find them?" He questioned.
"We let them come to us." Rust asked.
"Huh? How?" Hellmare questioned as she blinked.
Rust brings up the card, the business card that Klaus gave him. "We're going to call them, that's how."
"Eh?! You can't be serious!" Fosh asked, "Are you sure they're going to pick up? I mean- I haven't checked the phone number but at the same time, I'm worried that we might trigger a trap or something that might get us located!"
"Yeah! We're not sure if the phone number is real!" Navarro argued.
"I messaged him after I came back." Rust said which got everyone gasped and lost their names.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Fosh and Navarro yelled. Quickly, Rust waved both of their hands, "Chill! After it was sent, I just smash the smartphone. Plus, it's one of the phones I grabbed from some guys who tried to mug me."
"That's not the point here!" Navarro ruffles his own hair furiously, "Have you ever thought...oh I don't know-that a freakin SECERT organization might find out our hideout by tracking the message?!" He demanded whereas Fosh nods furiously in agreement.
"Well...I thought he should know and besides...they might try to find me so I thought...you know.." Rust trailed off as he wasn't sure how to explain it.
"Could of been worse." Shdwkyz shrugged, "As long as you smashed the phone and GPS tracker inside, then there's no way to track it."
"Anyway, we're getting off tracked and besides...even if they did find out, why they didn't come here after a week?" Hellmare asked as she points it. Fosh rubs his temples while Ophelia pats his back in order to comfort the poor stressed soul. "I don't know but I'm starting to think we're really lucky. Anyway...we can't call them here; we need a place where we can meet them." Fosh advised the two.
"But where?" Maggie asked.
"Central Park is cleaned up but I don't think it's a good idea to go back." Hellmare stated.
"What about Bryant Park? Rust can call them from there since there's a lot of people there." Jaron asked. "It's pretty busy since it's near the library."
"Good idea, Jaron! Let's try that. Everyone! To Bryant Park!" Ink pointed.
A hour later as the team spread out when they got to Bryant Park.
"So are you ready, Rust?" Ink asked as she and Rust are sitting on the bench while people are enjoying their day at Bryant Park. The blond nodded and then calls the phone number. Both are waiting for the call to be picked.
"Hello?"
Ink heard a deep voice and sees Rust widen his eyes a bit.
"Klaus?"
"Rust, is that you?"
"Yeah...it's me. Sorry for calling you out of the nowhere..."
"It's quite alright, I heard from my colleagues about what happened also night." Ah, shit. How is he going to explain that, "Yeah...sorry about that, I didn't mean to-"
"No need to apologize, young Rust! If anything, are you and your friends alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, we're fine. Me and my friends are fine! Nothin to worry bout." Rust replied right now. Ink is listening to the conversation.
"I'm glad that you and your friends are doing alright. I was worried about your well-being." Klaus said with relief not before asking, "Is there a reason why you're calling me, young Rust?"
"Well...uh..." This is hard. Why is this so hard to ask for help? "I might...need help with my powers and I decided to give it a try."
There is silence on the other line before he speaks.
"Of course! We will be happy to help you with your powers. Where are you?"
"I'm in Bryant Park with a friend. She wants to meet you too."
"Ah, I see. I would assume your friend is no other but Van Ink The Dragon? Your leader, yes?" He asked.
They both blinked. How did he know that?
"Yeah...that's right." The blond said with a slow nod.
"Very well, your friend is welcome to come. Zapp, Zed and Leonardo would be there to escort you both to our HQ."
"Thanks."
"Your quite welcome. We will talk soon."
"Same." Rust said before the call is hang. Now it is time to wait and see.