Chapter 33

-Brian-

"Think that's the last we'll see of her?" I asked Tattletale when we left Emma and Shadow Stalker - Sophia - behind. Finding out the psycho had been just as bad behind the mask - bad enough to trigger someone - had been disappointingly expected. I felt a phantom twinge where the bolt had hit, what seemed like a long time ago now.

"Probably not. Even if they're probably not going to lock her up and throw the key away forever," she said, grabbing on to one of Rachel's dogs, "a few years is a - long time in the cape scene. Who knows - where we'll be by the time she gets out?" she asked, pausing a couple of times to pull herself up onto the dog's back.

Hopefully far away from Coil, was what I suspected she meant by that. He hadn't caused trouble since the conversation with Taylor, as far as I knew, but I didn't know how long it would last. Especially if something were to happen to the crazy vampire.

Perhaps I should find somewhere else to go, I thought as the dogs took to the rooftops. Nothing really here for me but Aisha, if it comes to that.

I tapped the steering wheel impatiently. Aisha was taking a long time to come down from Mom's apartment. It gave me time to think.

Aisha's fine, despite what happened. At this point, having her keep going after the Empire is what would put her in danger. Especially if they start catching on to her existence and start laying traps.

The rest of the team is in danger too. The Empire's lost quite a fair bit to us, but they still have all of their capes, and they'll be spread less thin. It only takes Lisa being wrong enough once.

What's the game plan, even? Coil won't be able to overthrow them until they lose capes. Same for the Protectorate, if they even tried. And if we solve that…

Well. We probably wouldn't. Not without the Empire retaliating harder than we could deal with.

Each of these questions pointed the same way. Perhaps it really was time to slow down, settle for the wins we already had.

The passenger door slammed loudly.

"So, whatcha thinking about?" Aisha asked, popping up in the shotgun seat. I didn't even flinch.

"Nothing in particular," I answered. Now wasn't the time. "How's she doing?"

"Once upon a time, I'd have said - achoo! - I'd have said things are looking up." But it wouldn't be the first time, she didn't say. "Anyway, take me back to the loft now?"

"No," I shook my head. "My place, this time."

"Hey, just because Lisa's power tells her exactly how many germs I sneeze up—" she started, but I cut her off.

"And because you'll follow Taylor out into the rain again."

"It's not even raining!" Aisha protested. "And that was important!"

She sneezed again. I just glared at her. Not too long, of course, since I had to drive.

"...Your job's easier if I sneeze on every Nazi in a base a few days before you hit it?" she suggested sheepishly.

"Dammit, Aisha, no," I said firmly. Then—

I was driving alone - no. I shook my head. No, Aisha, I'm getting used to your tricks now.

I drove on towards my apartment. Hopefully Aisha won't feel like taking a bus all the way to the loft… hold on. I made a mental note to keep a very, very close eye on the car keys.

Alec and I had been enjoying a spar - well, I had been enjoying it, him certainly less so - when Taylor slammed the loft's door, less than an hour after she'd left. She'd been splashed hair to waist in something dark red. Before anyone could process it, she stormed through down towards the bathroom, growling all the way.

Oh fuck, don't tell me she killed someone. If—

"Don't worry, just paint," Lisa called out from her seat on the sofa. The corners of her mouth twitched into a smile.

I took a calming breath and stared at the glistening red handprint on the door.

"How does that even happen?" I asked. I could not imagine a mugger carrying a bucket of red paint around while going about his business.

"Not gonna burn my power for that," she answered. "Making sure the PRT didn't happen to suspect us in the whole Shadow Stalker business was enough for tonight, thanks."

"I'll take it they didn't?"

"Nah. No developments with Emma, either, as far as I could tell." She paused thoughtfully. "Not from the PRT's side, at least. Her and Taylor… something about that still gives me the creeps."

"True love does that," Alec cut in. "Makes people go crazy, you know?"

"...and if we take out this shipment, there's a big payoff," Lisa finished presenting the boss's latest offer. A boss she couldn't go against, and who I needed for now. Or, if nothing else, I needed the money he was paying in case I really did have to grab Aisha and get out of town.

"Seems like a good deal," I said. Then I took a breath. "But I think that we should stop after that, at least for a while."

"What's this? Our fearless leader getting cold feet?" Alec asked from over by the sofa.

"What's this? Feeling eager to put your ass in danger for a change, Alec?" I shot back.

"Fight, fight, fight!" Aisha started chanting, before— Where was I?

"Doesn't matter much to me, I suppose," Alec shrugged. "The last few paid off well, I'm just fine with taking the time to enjoy it."

Rachel just grunted noncommittally. "Still breaking up dogfights if I hear about them."

Lisa looked me in the eyes. "This fight's always been yours, Brian. If you say we're done here, it works for us."

"Hey, don't I get a say in this?" Aisha piped up again.

"Do you disagree, then?" I asked her. Even if I was tempted to say "no".

"Nah, it's cool. Taylor?"

"My own nightly hunts keep me entertained enough, and the serpent's silver serves me little. We can pull the curtains closed." The vampire chewed on her nail thoughtfully. "But the final act of a play must be a true performance, no? Let us earn a standing ovation from our audience."

That counts as agreement, I suppose.

"Very well, then. Now, do we know if…"