Chapter 11: Hard Fought

Sophie rolled out of bed landing on her side again, she cursed angrily and rubbed the abused hip as she stood up. Her hair sported many escapees from the braids the night before, she was sure she was going to have a bruise on a bruise now. Her phone started to ring as she shuffled to the bathroom and she groaned loudly as she turned around to answer it. She reached for the phone hiding underneath a pile of clothing.

"Sophie."

"Sophie, how are you?"

"Chief, how lovely to hear from you again. Your call is early, is something wrong?" She was awake instantly.

"I asked you first." He chuckled.

She smiled a tiny bit. "I'm sorry, I am good, I just finished up a week of work placement for our school. I caught a fever again, but I'm all better. My placement went well, I proved my abilities to manage a hero, I am quite proud of myself." She informed him.

"That is wonderful, you make us proud young daughter. I am calling early because I saw what happened in Hosu, I am sorry." Her chief expressed his condolences. "I know that was not how you wished to see him."

"Yes, I was there when he went down and I saw him again after privately."

The Chief sighed on the other side of the phone. She was pleased he had called; she knew he was a busy man and had only ever once come out to see her in her stay home. He had enjoyed the trip immensely and even stayed a whole week for vacation. Sophie had enjoyed having him stay with her, it was an honor to house the Chief of her tribe and show him the sights.

"Shera came by the other day with her special batch of cookies and expressed her joy in your recent email. Why are you sponsoring this Kacchan person? Who is this Shoto Todoroki? Isn't that the name of that one man?" He wondered.

"Kacchan is a new young hero who has a lot of potentials, and I hope to help him become the best. His goal is to be better than All Might, I really think he can too." She shifted through her clothing to find something clean.

"That is wonderful. Your Aunt told me you already sparred with him; I hope he is up for the job."

"He is, he can only go up from here, next week is the exam for the training camp, I am excited to see how well he does." She sniffed her clothes and wrinkled her nose.

"And this Shoto?"

"He is the son of that man, but nothing like him. He is a bit strait-laced and serious but he can be quite thoughtful and he certainly has no problems getting down to business and speaking plain. I approve of him, he has potential." Finally, she decided on a wrinkled top and slightly mussed skirt.

"That is good to hear then. How is the Tokoyami family? You still get along with their son Fumikage right?"

"They are well, Tokoyami-obasan is always making me food, and Kage and I are still good friends. They have been nothing but kind."

"That is good to hear; your uncle, Howe, will be coming by in a month. I hope you cleaned your house up." He chuckled, and she knew he knew her house was a mess again.

"Yes, Chief." She shook her head, she needed to clean. Though she did not wish to be around her uncle, it was her duty as the daughter of the family to house visiting relatives.

"Goodbye young daughter. Our spirits are with you."

"And mine with you." She smiled.

After the call she rushed to get ready, her hair was brushed fast, her clothes tossed on and her books stuffed hastily into her messenger bag. She didn't stop to grab food on the way out, she shoved her feathers into her hair and slammed the locked door behind her as she rushed out of the house. She adjusted the feathers as she headed down the steps, twists of darkness wrapped around them to keep them still. Tokoyami stood outside waiting for her.

"You are late." He stated in disapproval. "I can't miss a class you know; I am a hero in training."

"I know! Let's go jerk!" She rushed past him.

"My mother made you a breakfast bun." He phished it out as he matched her fast pace.

"Thank you, mom!" She tore into it, the juicy eggs and sausage coupled with the potatoes and wrapped in a delicious dumpling bun made her taste buds go nuts. "By the moon, I love your mother. Maybe I should steal her from you."

"You are welcome to try." He chuckled. "Need help cleaning again?"

"I would like to deny that but I do need help…unfortunately…I suck at cleaning." She breathed out between bites.

"Okay." He nodded.

Once at school she rushed off to class waving to him, she had class reports to turn in first thing but when those were done, she arranged to use the library for some research. Rushing through the hall she slammed into a body, someone taller than her.

"Hello, young Griffin!" All Might grinned down at her.

"All Might! How are you?! I heard you are going to fight Midoriya and Bakugo! I can't wait to see it! Don't hold back okay!" She looked up at her idol with a straight face, odd, she was certain the person she hit was skinner, she must still be tired.

"Right!" He gave her a thumb up. "How are you? I heard you were there from Izuku."

"I was, I'm fine." She leaned in close, rising up on her tiptoes to whisper to him. "Midoriya and Todoroki were amazing. They showed amazing control under fire and performed well against Stain. You did a great job training them." She pulled back and gifted him with a half-smile.

"You saw that much huh? They are quite amazing." His grin was huge. "Was it wise for you to be on the scene though?" He leaned forward to whisper.

She nodded slowly; he would be worried about that. "I better hurry up! I have to go study right now. Can't wait to see your part in the exam this week!" She rushed off after a quick bow.

"Careful running through the halls!" He watched her go and shook his head. So full of energy.

Sophie had been searching for some information on anyone with abilities like her own. As far as she knew the school databases were filled with all registered Quirk users, those that were registered. For staff only of course, but she got clearance from the principle to look them up, she felt that principle Nezu knew more than he let on. He knew what she was looking for, maybe she should ask him directly. But would he be honest with her? This arrangement was one that only benefited him and the government as long as she remained behind the scenes.

Sophie grew frustrated as she searched thousands of people with powers like her own but none of them were who she was looking for. Her phone buzzed beside her hand. Who the hell would text her now? She opened the messages and gripped the phone tighter.

We searched inside the building; there is a problem.

She knew something was up when they didn't call her right away. So, it was time, was it? Not quite yet.

After class ends, I will be there

She sent back. Her heart began to thrum in her chest, the blood raced in her veins and she fought to quell the warrior within that demanded she attacked now. She needed to wait, there was still much to do, she needed to find him. She needed to be patient, she had waited this long, the taste would only be sweeter the longer she had to wait. After a while, someone showed up in the library and her time was up, she closed it all down and shut the computer down. She got up and nearly collided with Shoto who had come up to greet her.

"How long have you been here?" He asked her quietly.

"Since the first period." She answered back just as quietly.

He smiled. "Skipping class, are you? I wouldn't have thought you would miss a lesson."

"You won't be telling anyone, now would you? I do have a reputation." She raised a brow in challenge.

"Hmm, tell the whole school that the magnificent Griffin skips class? Perhaps I should use this as blackmail?" He grinned now.

"Perish the thought." She mocked; tilting her head slightly.

He chuckled. "I won't tell anyone about it, as long as you have lunch with me tomorrow." He told her.

"Hmph. Blackmail it is then, would you like cafeteria food or shall I make you something?" She folded her arms, amused but not showing it on her face.

"If you are willing, I would like to try something you make." He turned and walked away.

"Very well, I will make you something." She watched him go shaking her head, smothering a smile with her hand.

xXx

After classes ended Sophie rushed behind the school, looking around to make sure no one saw her she pressed her hand to the wall of the school and opened up a portal, it was a swirling mixture of dark and light colors. This ability was nothing like a teleporter, only she could enter this and in order to travel, she had to have a connection to someone in the location she intended on. She needed to be thinking of them, though sometimes the darkness put her in different spots if it was acting up. Her mother could do a small form of this power, she could only go short distances and had to have been there before. Sophie entered now and appeared inside a broken-down building, windows were broken or gone, the floor covered in rubble and ash from long ago.

"Griffin, I was worried you were not going to come soon enough. The countdown started a few minutes ago." A young man approached her, he wore black from head to toe, his head covered beneath a large hood. Only one symbol rested on the breast of his shirt, a Griffin rising up on its hind legs in gold.

"Count down?" Sophie frowned, which dragged her scars further down her face. "Take me there." She ordered, accepting a black trench coat another person handed her.

She yanked it on as they led her to a staircase that was partially reconstructed, it seemed like it was done after the destruction but long ago as well. Sophie yanked the hood up over her head and descended the steps ahead of them. Down at the bottom a group of people waiting for her, they stood and bowed to her as she passed them.

"My lady, it looks as if this was meant only for one person." One man approached her; his hood and mask covered his face but she knew who he was. Dragon.

"How?" She approached a door that had a timer above it, the time was going down faster and faster. Five minutes. Take a wild guess.

"The lock is coded, Manticore tried to break into it but it started to count down the second he tried."

She nodded, so it needed a more aggressive approach did it? Sophie held her hand over the device, darkness converged on it quickly and twisted into every crack it could find. There was silence for ten seconds and then the timer stopped, the door clicked open. Several people rushed around her, opening the door and filing in fast. She brought her hand down to collect her darkness, it snaked up her arm into the darkness again.

"Any information or papers are to be taken to the base, not read here." Sophie entered the room.

"There is no evidence of anyone being here in a long time." One informed her.

"He really doesn't want anyone to know where he is. Very well, hurry up." She signaled, bodies were in a flurry as they carried out stacks of papers and samples.

"Miss the codes on these mainframes are not breaking." Someone called out, standing before a massive computer set up that could not be removed as easily.

"Gather what you can take whatever device has the memory if you need to." She ordered.

"Griffin! We have a problem." One ran up to her and pointed to the door at the far end. "There is…a living being there."

"WHAT?!" She rushed over slamming the door open.

Lying on the floor behind metal bars was a creature, not human not a beast. A cross between, a grotesque being that was not meant to exist. It rose up, eyes of gold stared at her behind black hair so long it covered the floor everywhere. Sophie swallowed hard and slammed her anger down with force.

"Get it out, we are taking it with us." She ordered.

"Miss? We can't- "

"Do it!" She barked.

They jumped to it. Then they heard a snicking sound and everyone was turning to the sound. Sitting in the corner of the room where no one had seen him before was an old man watching them all with milky eyes. His body was bent over, legs folded and arms loosely holding what looked like a crude staff handmade. He wore simple clothes of brown and black and a pair of sandals. Sophie watched him slowly smile.

"Now, we can't have that little miss." The man spoke in a gravelly voice.

"Who are you? How did you get in here!?" A woman growled, her hands immediately had a weapon made entirely of light, a Warhammer.

Sophie flinched, her hands fisting as she stepped forward towards the man. "Who are you?"

"Names Rok, and you are the Griffin. You wouldn't mind letting me see your face, would you? Been pretty curious about the one who's hunting my master down." He stood slowly and rested heavily on his staff.

"Miss don't—"

Sophie held her hand up, then slowly pulled her hood back to reveal her face. The man let out a laugh, his mouth was missing a lot of teeth.

"Well, this is certainly interesting. He's going to be pissed off." The man let out a sigh in the end.

"So, your master is the man I am looking for it seems, be kind enough to tell me where he is." She fisted her hands at her side again and glared darkly at the man.

"No can do, I was only sent here because someone messed with the lock on this place, and the Doc wants me to collect Nana here and blow this place up." He chuckled. "So, do an old dying man a favor and let me leave with the little one, he's no use to you anyway, can't even talk."

"Neither of you will be going back to your master. You are coming with me." Sophie signaled to the others who prepared for battle, weapons came out, guns and knives. Quirks fired up. "I'll be gentle though, out of respect to an old man." Her hand darkened with darkness.

The man chuckled. "I'm a bit tired from running here, these old bones can't do all this moving around as much." He snapped a gnarled finger and something popped behind them, then a metal door opened.

Sophie turned to see the creature had risen and was stepping out of the room on wobbly grotesque feet…talons? She twisted her whole body to face it, its head snapped up to look directly at her, its mouth split open and it let out a scream that sent shivers down her spine. It launched itself at her with a powerful lunge she did not expect. The others launched their attack in her defense. A massive barbed tail whipped around and slammed two of them down while a clawed hand struck the third across their arm. The fourth struck with her Warhammer, but the creature moved with a speed it should not have with such a mishmash of body parts. Sophie watched it dispatch her comrades with little effort in this tiny space. Her eyes glowed as it approached her now, the others stood in the doorway shouting for her to run.

"Take the others out of here, I will deal with this." She ordered.

The creature launched at her again but yawning darkness slammed down on it from above and held it down. The old man watched with a smile on his face. The downed were taken out quickly, two stayed behind to help her but she shook her head at them, they retreated quickly. The creature fought to rise; its talons fought to free itself from the darkness that did not even flinch at the attacks on its form. Sophie turned to the old man; her chin tilted up.

"This creature, did he create it?" She asked.

"Nana is one of the failed ones, poor thing, he can't help being half-mad. Doesn't even know what he's supposed to be, can't think or talk, can only fight." The old man shook his head sadly.

"I'm not letting you leave this place without a pair of handcuffs. Resign yourself to it." She informed him.

"Now that little lady, I cannot allow either." He snapped his fingers again, something large fell with a metal clang.

"My lady there is a bomb! It just started counting and we can't defuse it! Please escape, we will hold the creature back!" A woman flew into the room.

"Peryton, get out of here, I will take care of everything," Sophie growled.

"But Griffin!"

"Nue! Take her!" Sophie yelled.

Another hooded figure dragged her out of the room kicking and screaming for Sophie to come out. The darkness groaned beneath a new attack; this one was causing it a hard time. She turned back to see the thing had begun to press down on the ground and lift itself with increasing strength, pushing against the darkness. Sophie was impressed and she decided to watch it, it had been a long time since she had a good fight. Too long really, Bakugo was great, amazing even but she needed to let totally loose.

The creature wiggled loose from the darkness and launched at her again, this time Sophie was prepared to battle it head-on. She quickly ducked and then grabbed the creature around its neck, her hand slid across slimy scales and she was forced to dig her nails in to hold it. Once she had a strong enough hold, she moved her body into a position to slam the thing through the wall, darkness lending her strength to make it through the concrete. Sophie followed it out into the large research area, it was empty of bodies, ransacked cabinets, and desks left open. The creature twisted and turned angrily screeching. She didn't waste time, lunging at the creature and pulling back her arm for darkness to swirl around her fist, it grew in size, taking the form of a large fist. The creature struck as well but her reach was longer and it was thrown against the far wall this time. Sophie didn't stop, she followed the thing punching again and again with the same fist until the creature was deeply dug into the wall. She pulled back to view the damage she had done.

The creature was still alive, its body twisted hideously, bone popping from its broken form. Sophie decided this battle was over, the darkness receded to her shadow and she turned to the old man. He was standing in the doorway watching her with his eyes steady. She started towards him before she felt something wrap around her waist and before she could stop it, she was whipped one way against the huge computer terminal, the hard plastic and metal bit deeply into the back of her as she was thrown hard enough to go through it a bit.

"I think if I bring you both back, Master will be pleased. Nana, don't kill her." Rok informed the creature.

The beast had in the time pulled its body through and limped on broken parts towards Sophie who watched it, her eyes slowly darkening. Sophie wasn't sure she could hold back anymore, she wanted to take them alive. Her hands twitched, head swimming with darkness.

"K—Kill."

Sophie looked at the creature sharply, for it was the creature that was trying to speak words passed a tongue more like a snake than a human. Kill? Was that what it learned? Images began to fill her mind, painful ones, wordless and not her own. What? So much agony filled her at once, this was not her pain that slammed away at her mind.

"Kill—me…please." Its head tipped back, black hair spilling away from its face. It was tired, hurt and so sad.

Everything stopped, daggers thrust into her chest painfully, the memories were this creatures. Sophie looked into the golden eyes of a being that looked so much like herself. The room darkened until the only light came from her and the twisted creature before her. She slid down from the monitor, knees buckling and bringing her down before it. Sophie reached her hand out slowly; her fingertips touched the smooth cheek. The old man said this was a male. The first tear slid down her cheek, followed by more as she moved closer and cradled the head to her chest, it shivered through its whole body and she let out a sob.

"Nana…" She whispered quietly, afraid to raise her voice and let him hear how much it hurt her.

"Kill…me?" He croaked in his throat.

"Okay, Nana…" She hugged his head a bit more, stroking his hair slowly. "Close your eyes, relax. It won't hurt."

His whole body relaxed and he let out a content sigh. Her eyes blurred until she couldn't see anymore and with a slow intake of breath Sophie jerked every part of her hold hard one way. The snap was instant, his body shuddered once and stopped moving. She sat there with the ticking of a bomb near her, quietly mourning the loss of this life. The darkness receded around her until it was behind her again, its hands rubbing her shoulders, comforting her.

"So, you killed him?" Rok asked approaching slowly.

Her eyes turned to him, enraged now. The darkness roared behind her, growing larger, cracking the ceiling.

"No, I won't fight you now girl. I didn't know Nana had learned to speak; always thought he was just a monster." He looked down sadly.

"Where is your master?" Sophie asked.

"Don't go looking for trouble, it will find you in time." Rok nodded to her and turned away, slowly walking off. "We will meet again."

Sophie frowned darkly, she looked down at Nana, moving him to lay him down properly. She stood up to deal with the old man but he was gone. She had a moment to be surprised before the beeping sound suddenly increased speed. Time was up. The timer clicked and the bomb exploded behind her as she walked out, fire licked at her back but her powers kicked in, darkness and light-shielded her from the blast as it threatened to take her stability. The steps eroded away but new ones formed from light and dark as she stepped up. The explosion grew huge as she walked out of the flames unharmed while all around her was devastated.

Her allies rushed to her from a safe distance. She walked past them as one whipped a hand out to stay the smoke and ash. She followed them to cover and waited out the rest of the destruction. Ash rained from the sky as the building crumpled deeper around them.

"Miss, we sent the information ahead already. We will immediately start researching, your back is bloody. Peryton, come and heal her."

"Find him this time." He will die for this. She turned away as glowing bright hands reached for her, the light pushing away the darkness and bringing in a lightening of her shoulders.

"Yes, Griffin." They all bowed to her.

XxX

Sophie returned to her house directly. Jammed into her mailbox was a square Tupperware bowl and a letter. She took them into the house, her lights flickered on of their own accord as she went from the entrance through the living room and to the kitchen. She let go of the bowl and opened the letter, a hand of darkness leaped forward to open the bowl and stuff it into the microwave. The lights turned on instantly causing the darkness to recoil, it slapped the microwave as if affronted and receded to Sophie as she sat down at the table. The Kitchen glowed with a pulsing light that cast shadows all over the room, the walls crawled with grasping fingers twitching in the lights flickering.

"Enough, proper light." She ordered.

The light stopped and became still, the lightbulb the only thing that glowed now, darkness pooled around her feet where it belonged.

"Warm it up and eat it.' How lovely, even in a note he is so serious. 'Also, someone strange was outside your apartment. Be careful.'" She shook her head annoyed. "That was quick."

Sophie set the letter down, the darkness at her feet began to spike out and the light twitched. She placed her hands on the table flat and closed her eyes. All the light shut off at once, the darkness yawned loudly around her, something crashed into a wall and someone cursed loudly. They let out more than a curse as they suddenly went crashing into something else and the light flicked on to reveal Sophie still sitting in her chair but the table very much broken with a body laying upon it.

"So, once more a fool has entered my abode. Do you people never learn?" She folded her arms beneath her breasts and crossed her legs. Obviously not.

"Kill me! I won't talk." The man spat in her direction but it was deflected midflight.

"That is where you are wrong. Like the last one and the one before them, by the time I am done with you, you will tell me things you didn't know you knew." Her twin eyes took on a harsh gleam.

The microwave dinged and the food was brought to her by a dark hand that receded once she picked up the bowl.

"Ah, nyumen. I love this woman; she makes the best meals for me." She blew on the noodles and started eating. "You may start." She threw out before stuffing food into her mouth.

As she ate the man screamed in pain, darkness and light played along his skin and veins burning, twisting, tearing, and gouging. Blood pooled over the marble floor of the kitchen. Sophie simply ate her meal and watched on with her eyes uncaring. She had given all of her compassion to Nana tonight. Once her meal was finished, she walked it to the sink and cleaned the bowl. That done she got herself a cup of tea and sat down to drink it. The screaming had not once stopped, the blood only stretched further and further.

She held up a hand when she felt she was done and the torment stopped. The man was lying on the broken table a mess of torn flesh and sobbing man. Satisfaction welled up inside her, the feelings of blood lust and rage had gone down quite a bit with this little bout of torture. The beast had been fed for now.

"Ready?" She asked calmly.

"You are not human." He cried out in pain.

"No, I am not, I am the Griffin." She smiled and brought her hand up to wave it.

The pain continued for another few minutes before she stopped it again.

"Are we ready to give me information instead of new nicknames?" She asked loftily.

"Please stop, I'll do anything." Blood curdled from his lips.

"Good. The man who sent you, do you know his name?"

"No, he never told me his name, only told me to call him the doctor."

"Did he show you his face?"

"No, always a phone call, or a recording."

"What were your orders?"

"Kill the girl with the scars on her face, gather any information she had, return it all along with her dead body."

She closed her eyes for a minute, then her shoulders shook with mirth, her laughter had the darkness around her trembling. The light dimmed in the wake of her terrifying laughter, a sound from hell to be sure.

"Did he tell you what happened to the last two people he sent to kill me?" She leaned over to peer into his terrified eyes.

"No…" He croaked in fear.

She grinned darkly, her scars twisted, eyes turning dark. "What do Griffins do with their prey?"

"Oh God Please NO!"

She thrust her hand against his chest and chuckled. "Just kidding." She stood up. "Boy, you look really hurt, you should probably see a doctor." She pulled out her cell phone. "Tell anyone and everyone, the Griffin will take in any information on the Doctor, that it is better to appease the beast than to obey a quack." She watched him blankly until the phone was answered. "Come get him. Leave some scars."

Sophie watched her comrades take the man away in a black utility truck. Her plan was going to bring him to his knees even if it killed her in the end. She cleaned up the mess and set about fixing her table for the third time. This time had happened sloppily, he was getting desperate to stop her, the tip that Stain gave her was enough to finally get on the right path. By now Rok must be telling his master all about her. Sophie felt her chest constrict, she needed this to go right, time was running out now. Soon, soon he will pay.

This chapter got an extreme makeover.

To, Zikashigaku, I am really loving all your comments, thank you so much. I'm super happy you are enjoying the story so far, I'll keep doing my best! ^-^