Chapter 29
[Emily's POV]
I felt a sharp tug in my heart as I watched the QuinJet slowly rise and leave, heading off into some unknown area. A gentle hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my sulking. I turned and Laura gave me a small smile, one which I returned.
"You really do want to go with them, huh?" she asked, taking a seat on the porch's steps. I followed suit, nodding slowly.
"It's basically all I've ever really wanted to do," I said, shrugging. "When I got my powers, it used to be everyone versus me and my best friend, Lizzy. But now, now that I know there are others like me...I want to protect them all."
"What are your powers?" Laura asked, cocking her head. "Clint went all Mr. Mysterious on me and never actually gave me a straight answer." I laughed and stood up, walking down the path a little, before turning around. I released my concentration and my wings came out. They stretched themselves so they could look bigger and Laura gasped. "T-That's your powers?"
"Among other things, yeah," I grinned sheepishly, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "I got them when I was twelve or thirteen...times kind-of blend together for me."
"And you're eighteen now?" Laura asked, and I nodded again. "Wow...they're beautiful." They fluttered happily behind me, and Laura noticed, laughing. "And they can hear what I'm saying?"
"It's not like they're sentient," I told her, resuming my seat. "It's just...you know what, I have no idea why they act like that." Laura laughed again and I smiled. I liked hearing Laura laugh. My mom never really laughed like that...wait...
"My mom," I whispered, my eyes widening. I leapt off the steps and took to the air, figuring I could go faster. I flew as fast as my wings could take me towards the barn, and once I reached the entrance, I landed. I strained to open it, but successfully pushed open the large double doors. I gasped at what I saw.
Broken pieces of ropes were lying around everywhere, and a small section of wood in one of the stalls was missing. It was big enough for a person to crawl through. I gulped.
Discord was missing.
"Emily, what's wrong?" gasped Laura, panting as she caught up with me.
"We have to go get the kids," I whispered, my eyes widening with panic. "Now!"
I turned around, grabbed Laura before she could protest, and jumped into the air. She let out a terrified scream, but the ride was over before she could even process what was going on. I set her down on the steps and said, "Do you have a bug-out bag?" She nodded, still shaking from our ride. "I need you to grab it and the kids'." She nodded again and the two of us raced into the house.
"Cooper!" she yelled out, grabbing a nearby backpack before slinging it over her shoulder.
"Lila! Nate!" I cried out, rushing through the house. Cooper and Lila came racing down the stairs, tears in their eyes. Cooper had a long scratch on his arm. "Cooper! Where's Nate?"
"Someone took him!" cried out Lila, her chin wobbling as she tried to contain tears. "W-We don't know where he went." I nodded and gave them instructions before rushing out of the house. I spread my wings open before racing into the air. I looked around and closed my eyes, focusing on my mother. I could feel a shift towards the north, so I went off that way. Sweat was dampening my brow as I strained my muscles, flying fast and hard. Before she had married my father, my mother used to be a track-runner as well as many other things. She could have been ages away and I wouldn't reach her.
I slapped the side of my head, ridding myself of all the negative thoughts. I will find Nathaniel, and I will put an end to my mother.
Once and for all.
:/:\:
[Clint's POV]
"Where's our extraction!" I hissed as I let another arrow fly. It slammed right into the robot's eye, causing it to malfunction. So, real quick update: Steve, Loki, and I were able to find Wanda and get her out of her cell. Problem: When we did so, we alerted Ultron that she was escaping and he sent all kinds of robots to stop us. Another problem: Wanda was so out of it, she was like in a catatonic state. A coma, basically.
So, go team.
"They've overtaken the QuinJet!" growled Steve, flinging his shield. It bounced off two robots before returning smoothly to him. "We need a new evac. Loki, status update?"
"Busy!" came the reply. A burnt robot flew past me and Loki came beside me, his armor singed in multiple places. "I am seriously regretting not bringing my daughter with us."
"I am too," I grumbled an agreement as I notched another arrow. "With Wanda out of commission, I don't any know possible solutions." Loki grimaced. "I know that face: Emily makes the same one when she has a stupid, good idea."
"I have a solution," Loki said. "We might get arrested, but..."
"Do it."
"Bring the captain over here."
I sent my arrow flying. It embedded itself into the chest of the robot that Steve decided to start fighting. He turned around and looked at me and I motioned him towards us. I knelt down and picked up Wanda bridal-style.
"Now!" I ordered.
"Heimdall, if you would!" Loki shouted. Suddenly, all the robots were bathed in a rainbow-colored light and I felt a dropping sensation in my gut before everything went white.
:/:\:
[Emily's POV]
I landed and brought out my claws, trying to suppress the rage that was growing. My mother stood across the meadow, a small crying child on her hip. He sniffed and reached his arms towards me, but my mother yanked him back to her.
"Let him go," I growled, taking a few steps forward. "This fight is between you and me."
"I wouldn't keep moving if I were you," my mother called out, and I froze when I heard a ticking noise. "Darling, this is a minefield. I purposefully picked this arena for our fight. I know where all the bombs are, but you don't." She looked in mock surprise at Nate and gasped. "Neither does he."
She smirked as she set him down. Immediately, Nate began running towards me.
"Nathaniel, no!" I screamed, leaping into action. I grabbed onto him just as an explosion rippled underneath us.
No! I screamed in my mind as I wrapped myself around Nate. Not today...
Shall we, my dear?
Time froze and I looked up and around. All the flames were still loose, but they were frozen. My mother was also frozen, a sick smirk on her face. Who are you?
Call me a friend, the voice hissed. Goosebumps prickled on my arms. You know who I am.
The professor promised me that you were gone and dead, I hissed, my hair standing on edge. What do you want?
Blood, the voice purred. You want it too. You want to see your mother pay for what she put you through, what she put Nathaniel through...
I-I can't. If I do, I'm no better than she is.
Darling, do you really care if she lives or dies? She beat you, she justified it, she wanted nothing more than to kill you. So, what do you choose?
Make her pay.
Make her bleed.