AN- Hey bbs. I'm a super sorry that this took longer than it should have. School really kicked my ass with finals. It's good to see you all again, I missed writing fanfiction. So hopefully you like the chapter. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FROM THE BEGINING OR HAVE JUST STARTED OUR ON MY TRASH TRAIN I WANTED TO SAY THAT I LOVE YOU ALL! You guys bring a big smile to my face and it makes me proud to unveil new chapters. Also also i'm sorry about not posting the Q&A it will come out soon. I'm currently working on that, I'll post it on my tumblr and when this fanficition is done I will post it as the last chapter! I want to thank all those who participated :) ALSO ALSO happy holidays and happy snowdown bbs! ~~~ Enjoy!~~~~
(2 hours before the attack) {Way Back Home- Mako}
The image in the mirror made a scoff escape her lips. Chocolate brown eyes looked at the freckles peppered along her tanned cheeks and slim nose. Her rose coloured hair, let loose from her usual tight bun, was chaotically out of place with her massive curls. Her fingers brushed through the morning mess, trying to tame the wild beast of her hair.
With a sigh of defeat, her long arms reached for her hair tie, until she felt arms wrap around her waist and a forehead being pressed into her shoulder.
A small smile crept up her thin lips and she let a gentle chuckle breathe out.
"Morning."
It still surprised her when she heard his rough and drowsy piltovian accent in the mornings. When they were younger, it was something to be picked on, but now, it was a staple sound to her mornings. She enjoyed the way his voice changed throughout the early hours going from high Piltovian to rough Demacian.
"Mornin." She drawled.
She felt his nose nuzzle into the wild mess of rose and his lips went to her ear.
She turned her body and faced the handsome blonde with a wry grin.
She pecked at his sun kissed cheeks and gently pushing his hips away as she strode out of their shared bathroom.
Elric made a sad noise in the back of his throat.
She chuckled lightly. "Easy, love. We have work to do, we can't fool around."
Elric nodded. "We have the entire day, and an old mansion to explore."
Abbie reached for a thick leather and cotton hoodie, pulling it over her muscular torso. She looked back to the blonde man, who leaned his back against the threshold of their bathroom. His large palms dug into his closed eyes, rubbing out the stress.
Abbie frowned and strutted over to Elric, taking his chin into her hand and locking her chocolate brown eyes with his sapphire like pools.
"We don't have to do this, Elric. It's just a silly suspicion that could be absolutely nothing. We're just being overly protective and it's making us paranoid."
Elric took a deep breath and settled himself as he got lost in her irises. "I need to know." His square jaw tensed in determination. "I can't get it out of my head. Ever since you mentioned it, I just..." He took another large breath. "It would make so much sense."
Abbie gave a sympathetic look. "You're one hundred percent sure?" She asked, letting her hues dance over his features to find any signs of doubt.
He didn't even hesitate with his response. "I need to do this, Abbie. I need to know the truth."
"Ok." Abbie replied pressing her lips to his giving a soft gentle peck.
The corners of his lips turned up in a slight smirk. "Besides, I've been wanting to show you where my childhood reigned. Hopefully I can find pictures and show you how adorable I was."
Abbie rolled her eyes and pushed off of Elric's chest. "I wonder what happened to that adorable boy. He grew up into a real piece of work."
Elric chortled as he grabbed his dark gray over coat and slipped into a pair of leather shoes. He tugged on a black beanie, letting his tongue slip out of the corner of his lips as he pushed strands of blonde into the material.
He reached for the door handle, pulling back the heavy oak and stepped out of their room. Abbie followed after him as she wrapped a pink scarf around her neck. The two of them stopped short as they were met with Matais, holding a very large stacks of books. He eyed the two young adults with a cocked eyebrow.
"Where are you two headed off to?" He asked suspiciously.
"The Cafe on Orion Avenue, want to come with us?" Abbie answered without skipping a beat.
Matais rolled his eyes. "And watch you two necking for two hours straight, like desperate teenagers? Yeah, no thanks. I'll stick to my texts."
"Have fun being surrounded in boredom and torture." Elric called back as the two of them walked down the long hallway hand in hand.
"It's not torture if you enjoy it, dumb ass!" Matais called back, closing the door behind him.
"Good save." Elric whispered to his taller girlfriend.
Abbie shrugged. "Years of practice."
Elric grinned as he buttoned up his over coat. He tipped his head to the guard by the front desk, who tipped his hat to the couple. They entered into the elevator, pressing the steal button to get to the ground floor. The elevator jerked downward and began it's smooth transgression. The two of them gasped at the beautiful sight before the glass casing of the elevator. The sun was rising off the distant horizon, gleaming off of the glassed and metal buildings, creating the city skyline. Off in the distance the growing sun glanced off the bright blue waves of Gulch Bay giving a clear view of the far off pirate city of Bilgewater. You could catch a glimpse of the the silhouettes of schooners and massive ships sailing along the waters.
Something tightened in Abigail's chest as she looked to the distant image of her former home. Something akin to fondness and pure hatred clenching at her heart strings.
Then with a blink, a nearby building blocked the rest of the view, making the redhead frown slightly.
"How much do you miss it?" Elric asked placing his palm into her open hands and entwining their fingers together. He rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand, doing small slow circles to calm the wave of emotions crashing inside her.
Abbie sighed."More than you know. But I would never set foot in that decrepit city again." She hissed out angrily. "It was never safe there. Not with that piece of razorfish chum, Gangplank, ruling the streets. My father worshipped the very mud that crap stain stood in."
Elric watched as Abbie's jaw tightened in agitation as memories flooded into her mind. "What an idiot." She growled under her breath.
The elevator gave a short cheery ping, notifying its passengers that they had arrived to their destination.
Silently, the two exited the elevator, striding out of the way of wayward politicians and police personnel milling toward the free elevator. They took to the sunday morning streets of Piltover. There was little to none hexmobile traffic and plenty of pedestrians taking there time to inspect the markets and just opened cafes and diners. Elric paused at a small stall, eyeing a delicious looking pastry, glistened over with warm and fresh gooey icing.
He tugged at Abbie's arm and brought her over. "I'll take two of those delicious things, and two teas please" He asked the stall keeper, who chuckled and went to work quickly.
"Best snowdown cakes in all of Valoran, boy. They're a month early, but folks order em round this time. Gets them all fuzzy inside. You two looked like you were hankering fer some good ole sweets, and ya came to the right place." The stall keeper placed two of the pastries into individuals bags and winked over to Abbie. "Ya got yerself quite the beauty, kid."
Elric chuckled. "She's rather moody at times." Elric teased.
Abbie responded by thwacking Elric's chest with the back of her hand.
" Wouldn't have her any other way though." He replied quickly, giving a mischievous smirk toward the red head, who rolled her eyes dramatically.
The stall keep chuckled lightly. He passed over the pastry bags and take out cups of tea, toward the young adults. "I hope y'all have a lovely day. We're to have sunshine and good temperatures throughout the morn and evening. Even though the trees are bared by leaves, I'd reckon that Founder's park would be quite the place fer a stroll."
Abbie gave a sweet smile. "Thank you, that may be a good idea, love. Let's venture over to founder's park after we've finished our errands."
Elric nodded and raised his cup toward the keeper. "Thank you, sir."
The shop keep waved as the two departed down the bustling sunday morning market square. In the centre a large clock tower tolls out the hour. Piltovian doves flutter from the sound as they traverse to a nearby rooftop. The birds coo and huddle close as an early winter breeze pushed through the streets. Abbie's arm is looped around Elric's. She has the hood of her hoodie pulled up to fight off the breeze. It carries smells of baked goods, fresh herbs and the sea.
She freezes at the scent of dried seaweed and fish hits her nostrils like a ton of bricks.
"Preston? Abigail Preston?" A voice calls out, making Abbie turn her head to a wagon in the corner of the city market square, stuffed with dead creatures of the sea. Her chocolate eyes widen as the tall man with a grizzly salt and pepper looking beard and tattoo of an anchor on his exposed neck, waves her down. He is wearing a fisherman's sweater knit with intricate designs and a leather overcoat. The leather of his jacket is as old and worn as his weathered face. His soft sea green eyes are hopeful and hold the young spirit captured in his tired body. He removes his tri-corn hat, and brushes back his greasy chestnut hair. "My, my, ye look just like yer mother."
"Gerald?" Abbie questions, furrowing her brow as the man nods his head. He is smiling widely with some of his front teeth missing.
"Ye grew up. Yer father and mother would be rather proud, I reckon." He spits to the left and steps on the glob with his black leather knee high boots. It's a Bilgewater tradition, when speaking about the dead. "Rumour had it that ye joined the Company."
Abbie gave a sad smile. "I did."
"And young Alexander? I don't see 'em, unless he turned blonde." The old fisherman questioned squinting his sea like eyes to Elric, who put a protective hand at the base of Abbie's spine.
"Alex had joined with me. He's currently in the barracks, doing what teenagers do best; sleeping." The old man throws his head back in laughter and claps Abbie's shoulder with a roughened hand.
"By the sea gods, I've been blessed to see ya, love. The last time I saw ye, you were clutching yer first galleon ya earned, with the cockiest smile in all of Runeterra. Have you had any kindlings toward home?" He asks with a hopeful voice. "I could use some roughened experienced sailors out on the seas. The Mists took out me skipper this year." Again the fisherman spits to his left and stomps his foot on the glob.
"Not with the Saltwater Scourge running the streets. It wouldn't be safe. If he catches a glimpse of us, we'd be done for." Abbie hissed.
The man is taken a back. "Gangplank is dead, Abigail." He repeats his tradition, spitting to the side and stomping his foot.
Abbie's face falls into an open jawed expression.
Gerald looks at her with a shocked expression. "Ye didn't know that?"
"In all honesty, Gerald, after mother and father were killed, I had severed all connections with home. I do not want to return there. It's obvious that with the scourge dead, it's probably just as dangerous as it was when he was alive. The gangs will be fighting for dominance and I have no need to be stuck in a war, that I want nothing to do with. The last thing I need is my brother being dragged back into that hellish place. If my idiot father had done what I had done and left that razorfish cesspool long ago. If he hadn't of put his faith in that scourge, he would be alive and so would my mother. " Abbie growled.
"Yet ye joined the Company of a place that wasn't home of yer birth?" Gerald questions with a raised eyebrow.
Abbie's jaw tightened, her nostrils flared. "Piltover had been my protector from the ones that seeked us. It has been my home since the day I stepped onto the city streets. It gave me opportunities to keep my brother and I safe."
Gerald gave a low chuckle. He looked over to Elric with a wry grin. "The thing about red heads, boy, is that they have fiery tempers. She got that from her feisty mother. Tarra Preston lives strong in you, girl." He spits again and reaches into his overcoat, taking out a seashell pipe and stuffed tobacco into the bowl. He placed the pipe between his chapped lips and patted his pockets for a pack of matches. His old fingers took one of the fragile sticks and hits the flint along the purple striker patch. Flame licked at the small stick as it was transported over to the bowl. Smoke billowed out and the fisherman gave a low sigh. "Yer too much like yer mother, Abigail Preston. You have her temper and her way with words. Don't forget where ya came from, lass." He repeats taking another long drag from the pipe. "You may be disregarding your birthplace, but ya still have folks that'll give their last breath for ye. Don't forget the ones that got you to where ya are today."
Abbie nods carefully. "I understand, Gerald. I do count my lucky stars that you helped us get out of there."
"Aye, Lass, no need for that. Yer mother had helped me in similar ways and yer father's netting skills aided me many a times. It was only the right thing to do." Gerald takes another long puff of his pipe and points toward the tall girl. "However, if ye change yer mind about comin' home, I have more then enough accommodations and work for yer brother and ye. Even the lad here, he seems like he could haul large nets."
"I appreciate it, Gerald." Abbie says politely as she steps back, pulling Elric by the hand.
"Wait now, lass." Gerald pushed forward and wrapped his arms around Abigail, putting his palm onto the back of her head and squeezing her reassuringly. "I come to the market quite often. Pop by anytime, lass. It's good to see yer face and I would love to get a glimpse of young Alexander."
Abbie closed her eyes to the embrace. Gerald smelled like the sea and tobacco, a familiar scent that made her heart lurch. "I'll bring him round. I think that would be good for him, to see you." Abbie whispered.
Gerald patted her back reassuringly. "Now, take your blonde boy and continue on yer way, lass."
"My name's Elric." Elric greeted, putting his hand out in front of him.
Gerald chuckled. "I don't care, boy. What I do care about is that ya keep her safe from harm, or I'll gut ye like a snag."
Elric grinned wryly. "Of course, sir."
"Don't call me sir, boy." Gerald scoffed. "That was me father that ye would've called sir. Not aye, ya blonde dimwit."
Elric replied with a throaty laugh to which Gerald raised an eyebrow. Abbie rolled her chocolate brown eyes and tugged Elric along, raising a small wave to bid goodbye to the old fisherman.
"I like him." Elric mentioned as they continued along their path.
"He was my father's best friend and my mother's cousin. He was quite close with us. When Gangplank murdered my parents, Gerald took me and my brother out to sea to hide. He took us here, while he figured things out in the city. I never heard back from him again." Abbie admitted letting her eyes focus on her feet as she moved languidly among the market's small crowd.
Elric gave a slight 'oh' as he followed beside her. He reached for her, clasping her freckled hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze. She turned her head to him giving a small sad smile.
"He's a good man." Elric noted.
"The best of them." Abbie remarked with a sigh.
The large manor loomed over the two figures. The wrought iron gate, was rusted and entwined in forest green vines. A large golden griffin, hung poised, guarding the gate, with carefully sculpted eyes. An overgrown hedge took to it's wild growing ways and splayed over the overgrown grass accommodating the front of the manor. A small stone path led the way to the Dark blue doorway. Window panes looked cracked and beaten from years of neglect and hard weather. The three story tall manor, even through it's years of abuse, stood tall in it's marbled grace, resting on to the great hillside of the Piltovian upper city, giving a clear view of the Gulch. To the East of them stood the tall megalithic buildings of Piltover city and the two towers of city hall standing side by side at founder's square.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Abbie asked again as she stood in awe to the manor.
Elric took a large breath as he regarded his childhood home. "I need to do this. We need to learn my father's secret." He mumbles out as he digs his hands into his overcoat pockets.
Abbie nodded.
She centered herself, and raised her fists up to her face. With a grunt she leaned into her back leg and slammed her heel into the rusted gate, breaking the lock. With a high screech, the gate swung open.
Elric took quiet steps up the manor pathway. His sapphire eyes, regarded the front garden where his mother would spend countless hours with their beloved maid/nanny Rose, peeling away weeds and watering the flowers. He turned his gaze to a very large willow tree, where a decrepit looking tire swing, swung eerily with the oncoming winter breeze. He smiled widely as his mind recounted the days spent under the bows of that tree. Him and Dakota would scale the lengths and huddle together by the roots as the sun would stream through the willow's veil of leaves.
He would have to take her to their secret hidey hole again.
His heart clenched at the sight of a gazebo that made home beside the gardens. His father and mother would spend their summers with a good book and tea, lounging in the gazebo's safety while their two children played among the throws of hedges and lawns.
Elric hadn't realised he froze, until Abbie pressed her fingers into his wrist. "Come on, love." She whispered as she led the way to the front entrance. Their boots thud against the wood of Elric's porch.
"I'll have to break the door down." Abbie muttered as she tried to open the door. She shouldered it a few times before Elric clapped a hand on her waist.
Abbie trained her gaze on Elric as he bent low, reaching underneath the wood slats and pulling out a rock. He flipped the rock upside down and dug his thumb into a latch. With a few shakes the latch opened up to a compartment with a silver key.
Abbie rolled her eyes. "Of course. A front key."
Elric gave a mischievous grin. "I was quite the forgetful child and would lose my house keys. So I hid a spare just in case."
"Smart."
Elric tapped his head. "I'm not just good for looks, you know."
"You doorknob." Abbie giggled as Elric unlocked the front door and entered.
Elric took a deep breath in. It smelled of sunshine, mint, honey and dust. "It still smells like them." He whispered. His eyes travelled to large a family portrait that hung above the marble staircase. A white sheet hung over the canvas. His eyes then went to the massive den. The burgundy walls covered in dust and the carpeting untouched. White sheets hung over the furniture like ghosts trapped in the manor.
He pointed toward the marble steps. " My father and mother's study are up the stairs. That's where we will be able to find the information we need."
Abbie nodded and followed Elric up the stairs. At the landing they came upon the dark heavy double doors. With a grunt he pushed them open revealing two large desks at either side of the massive room. A gold chandelier hung from the high ceiling. Book shelves lined the forest green walls. At the very center of the room, the Sampson family emblem was engraved into the marble tile. A golden griffin perched proud and strong with one leg raised and wings pulled back. Elric strode over to the farthest desk and wrenched open every drawer. His hands came upon anatomical magazines and texts of human and yordle bodies. Abbie stood behind him looking at the massive room around them.
"I knew your father was a doctor, but I didn't know Doctors made that kind of money. Did your mother also share a similar profession?" She asked.
"My mother was a civil engineer. She designed city hall and helped out with the construction on the University." He gestured to the drafting table beside the desk that was across the room. "She was paid much more than he was. " Elric then turned his attention to medical manila folders. "Well look at this, they didn't remove any of his files." He thumbed through the names, taking care not to bend or disturb the personal files of Dr. Eli Sampson's patients. "Ahh found them." He pulled out a particular set and slapped it on the desk.
"Good find." Abbie pursed her lips as she cocked her head to the side.
The folder was of the Sampson family. The names of Elric, his mother, father and sister, placed into one yellowed folder.
"He had a file on himself?" Abbie asked.
"He had copies made of all of his patients, so that he could study them. He had a file on himself so that if anything were to happen to Dakota or I that involved a genetic disease he could study our mother and himself to find the carrier and act upon it swiftly."
"That was wise of him." Abbie mentioned her thumb going over Elric's name. "He made the search one hell of alot easier." Her eyes then travelled to Dakota's name, her fingers gliding over the thick paper of the folders.
"Indeed he did." Elric replied as he pulled his father's folder in front of him. His calloused fingers flipped through reports and past notes of former doctors. His eyes glanced over every loop and dotted 'i'. "Well you were right, Abbie." He whispered silently, letting his fingers trail over the words: Healing Mage Class 2.
"Dad had magicks, just like you thought." He said with intrigue lining his voice."Did you see if they said anything about that in my file?" He looked up to the redhead who stood frozen with Dakota's file open wide.
She covered her mouth in shock.
"Abbie?" Concern lined his vocal cords as he stood from his father's desk and approached the taller woman.
Her chocolate brown eyes widened in fear as he reached for the file folder. She quickly clapped the folder closed in a desperate haste, hiding whatever it was from his inquiring eyes. "Elric, no. Please." She clutched the manalia to her chest as she locked eyes with him.
"Abbie, what is in Dakota's file?" He asked calmly, reaching his hand out.
Abbie furrowed her brow. She sighed heavily and passed the file over. "Elric, jus-"
Elric gave her a scolding look, making her shut her mouth instantly.
He opened the file with caution, as if whatever the terrible news was, was going to attack him. he took a large breath as his eyes crawled over the first page explaining everything about Dakota.
Name: Dakota Sarah Sampson
Birthdate: October 28th 14CLE
Birth Hospital: Piltover General Public Hospital
Sex: F
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Black
Body type: Mesomorph
Blood type: O -
Vaccinated: Yes
Mother: Caitlyn Marian Deramore
Father: Unknown
{Cryptex- Nightwatch}
The explosion rocked the city with a terrifying clatter.
Her eyes snapped to the scenery before her. Plumes of smoke rose to the city skyline, like dark grey dragons, snaking their way to the clouds. It didn't take long for the beautiful sunny day to turn dark and desolate as screams echoed from the market square. The two teenagers looked up to the sky as the civilians rushed past them, like cattle escaping the slaughterhouse.
Terror rained down on Piltover.
And it was the second most beautiful thing she had seen in her life.
"Well, there goes our trip to the sword store. We better get back to HQ!" The tall boy clapped her shoulder in earnesty. "We'll be getting orders!"
She raised a lilac eyebrow toward the red headed boy. "And why the fuck do you think I care?"
He gave a cocky side smile as he took quick bouncy steps backward. He extended his long tanned and freckled arms as he put his head back and laughed to the darkening sky. "Because we get to kick the shit outta the poor unfortunate asshole, who decided to fuck with Piltover!"
She pursed her lips and nodded thoughtfully. "Well now that you put it like that, Alex. I certainly get to give a fuck in this terrible dilemma."
"Damn straight sister, now let's go break some teeth." The Eighteen year old crooned, putting his arm around Illya's neck.
"For the first time since meeting you Alex, that has been the most intelligent thing you said."
{Koda- New Blood}
He overlooked the city with Amber eyes, letting his optics clack and whirr as they regard the rushing city streets. He focuses in on the town square, reviewing facial recognition sequences as he goes through every running civilian. He was on the roof ledge of the University of Techmaturgy, his metal hands curled behind his back and his third hand holding his great staff. He allows his eyes to sweep the market one more time, before he begins his search some place else.
It is then that he catches the familiar mop of shoulder length lilac hair moving fluidly against the rushing mass of humans and yordles trying to escape before the terror comes their way. Behind her is a tall teenager, who excitedly bounces on the balls of his feet.
"Move out of the way people, fifty-first trying to get through!" He could hear the young man bellowing out.
"Heh, poor company you have chosen to surround yourself with, raven child." He growls under his breath. He takes a step off the ledge, letting himself drop the fifteen stories to the cobbled streets. He hears bloodcurdling screams as he rises from his crater. The townsfolk scurry away from his form as he strides forward, pushing them out of his way as he quickly approaches the lilac haired girl.
Within seconds he is behind the tall red headed boy. He grabs at the young man's jacket pulling him back and throwing him into the base of the clock tower.
Illya is quick to turn on her heels as she hears Alex's scream. Her emerald green eyes slit into focus as the machine herald grabs her by the shirt front and drags her to a nearby stall.
With a sickening crunch, he slams the seventeen year old into the brick wall of the city centre, crashing through the stall's wooden sides, splintering it's remnants and digging sharp wood into her spine. His third hand wraps it's metallic fingers around her neck, pinning her there.
"Your father is very displeased." Viktor hisses out angrily.
Illya's eyes travel to Alex's unconscious form. His gangly limbs are sprawled out onto the cobbled street and blood spills in a stream down the side of his face.
"Morning, professor." Illya grits out, keeping her gaze steady as she locks focus with his amber optics. "What brings you to this fine city of progress?" She manages out. She is trying to control her instincts from writhing out. If she stays calm she could find a way to break the machine herald's grip round her throat.
"Don't be coy with me, girl." He seethes, tightening his escapes her lips as her face begins to redden. "If you had went ahead with your alterations, you wouldn't have to deal with me choking the life out of you."
"But..this...is..my..plan." She wheezes out. Why wasn't the ruin magic working. Shouldn't she be all green and glowy right now.
"Plan?" He asks curiously.
"Let….breathe."
With a grunt he releases her. She gasps out as air returns into her airways.
"Speak, or forever hold your tongue." He crosses his arms over his chest, looking at the girl with a scolding expression. She felt like a child being disciplined.
She stands up straight and dusts off the front of her light grey long sleeved shirt. An arrogant grin spread through her full lips.
"You're lookin' good, Viktor. Got any new improvements lately? Really works well with your form."
"Get on with it!" He snarls warningly raising his staff threateningly to the Noxian.
It's then that she feels it.
The fire comes into her veins like a tsunami. She pulls her head back and gasps at the sensation as it washes through her. The runic scars under her skin glow bright green, and her emerald eyes turn into a wash of light.
A sinister smile plays on her wicked lips. With a thundering crack, she slams her knee into Viktor's stomach. She hits the still squishy humanlike flesh making the machine herald gasp. She turns their position and with a deafening thud slams him into the brick and mortar.
"You will tell my father, that I am still working toward his goal. You will notify him that I am behind enemy lines, gathering vital information. You will inform him that I am with the enemy's elite soldiers and that I am learning how to destroy them one by one. You will explain that I will be sending a raven over with a report at the end of the month." She bares her teeth and presses her face into his personal space. "Is there anything that seems unclear, machine herald?" She hisses out.
Viktor is unmoving and emotionless.
"You understand that he will be furious, right?"
Illya chuckles darkly as her knuckles tighten around his dark blue tunic. "Let him know that I've gained the trust of the Sheriff of Piltover, as well as her spawn."
"Spawn?" Viktor raises an eyebrow. "Caitlyn Deramore, does not have any children." He scoffs.
"Not officially. Her own daughter has no idea of her lineage, but the Sheriff is attached. She is very close to her soldier." Illya snickers evilly.
"And how did you learn of this?" Viktor asks with great skepticism.
"It's painfully obvious." Illya checks her nails. "But to be safe I checked into the soldier's family private files. The have the same blood type for Valoran sakes."
This throws a great opportunity for their master plan. She could easily annihilate Piltover's only hope of survival. A pleased noise comes from the back of his throat.
"Your father is very wrong about you." Viktor begins. "You are quite the powerful heir. Well done, raven child."
Illya's face turns into a snarl. "You will never call me that again, machine herald, if you plan on living to see your plan come to works." She threatens. "I will not hesitate to tear you apart."
A remnant of human fear registers into his brain.
He watches as Illya's expression changes. "I hear one of them approaching." She whispers hurriedly. She changes their position again, making Viktor pin her to the wall. "Let me go, Machine Herald!" She bellows nastily.
She tries her hardest to look like she's struggling.
"Viktor." A young man bellows.
He is rather tall for a mage. His dark skin is aglow with intricate purple vines. His sea green eyes are fearfully focused onto the machine herald. He is lanky and thin, looking like he could handle a small scrap, but if it came to it he'd rather fight with his power than anything. His short black hair is shaved at the sides, with wiry curls at the top of his skull, just like his fallen compatriot by the clock tower. He is wearing very light chest armor along his short purple mage robes. He is levitating from his perch, twirling purple glowing energy in his wide hands.
"Matais get Alex out of here!" Illya pleads, as she breaks the machine heralds hold and sweeps his feet underneath him.
The young man nods his head as he moves forward ducking under Viktor's laser. He slides to his knees and grabs the younger man's arms. He drags the skinny teenager out of the square with haste.
Illya flips backward and avoids another beam of energy lazily being directed her way. She has her back pressed against the wall and it seems like eternity until Matais comes back, wailing curses and hexes as he throws up shards of crystal into the air. Energy cascades and bombards the machine herald. With an explosion of dust, the machine herald disappears, into the chaotic fray escaping out of the City of Progress unscathed.
It isn't long until his 'partner in crime' or so she called it, had returned to their meeting spot. She is sporting a rather nasty looking break in her collar bone and femur. Her smile is bloody and psychotic with passionate energy. As she limps toward the machine herald, she places the strands of hair in his palm.
"I did what you said. I have Hat Lady's doppelganger's DNA. She did this to me ya know." She spits to the side with a malevolent smile. A tooth is in the bloody sludge. "I need to fight her again, metal man. Holy jeeze, it was Exhilarating!" She croons in a sing songy voice. "She had the blood lust! The passion! I want her!"
Her breathing is laboured as she flails her arms, ignoring the obvious agonizing pain she was in.
He chuckles darkly as an idea strikes his mind. "How would you like some improvements before you go into battle again, menace?" He asks, watching the maniacs psychotic energy increase even more.
(fifteen minutes after the explosion) {Koda-The Warmth}
Her icy eyes snap open to the sound of maniacal cackling.
Then she hears the roar of pain and anger.
She's hanging upside down. Her seat belt is keeping her dangling and from falling to the glass shrouded roof of the rolled over hexmobile.
Headlights reflect off the raindrops, blinding her. Her mother's scream echoes in her skull. Her sapphire eyes lifeless and cold. Blood, so much blood. Elric screaming her name as he is dragged out of the wreckage.
Blood, so much blood.
She tries to shake the images out of her head. She looks to her hands, they blur from her now grown hands, to the bloodied hands of a seven year old.
No.
She uses that word to anchor herself as she focuses. She calms her beating heart and the oncoming anxiety attack.
"Caitlyn. Listen to me." It's Vi's voice. It's husky and pain filled, on the verge of breaking, but filled with rage induced determination. "Take the fucking shot!"
"Jinx, let her go now!" Caitlyn's voice demands with a fury unlike anything she has ever heard before.
"Where's the fun in that, Hat lady." The psychotic voice sings out playfully.
There's a sickening crunch and Vi bellows out.
"Vi!" Caitlyn calls out with extreme urgency. "This is your last chance. Let her go, or I'll shoot!"
She reacts with her training. She quietly unclips her seat belt. She holds herself from falling face first into the glass pile. She's crouched low and slithers out of the broken passenger window. She cranes her neck to the scene inspecting the stand off. Vi is on her knees. Her arms look dislocated and her head is bleeding. Behind her is the loose cannon, holding Vi down with her feet on the back of Vi's calves. Her small hands have snared her finger's into Vi's pink locks pulling at the longer side of her mane. Her other hand holds Zap directly against Vi's skull.
Caitlyn stands in front with her hextech pistol raised and loaded. She's shaking in fury and fresh tears fall from her face. There are scratches all over her pale arms and legs.
Her gut clenches with protective power. Her anger rises in a tide of flurried ice and blood lust.
Dakota, takes a large breath, trying to shake the fury rising in her. She begins to formulate a plan in her brain. She slides onto her stomach and crawls quietly so that she positions herself behind Jinx. She pushes her back up against a chunk of blown out roadway, using the rubble as cover. Her fingers grab at a medium sized stone that litters the stretch of highway. She tests the weight as she tosses the stone up and down, feeling satisfied and comfortable, she goes over the plan through her mind one more time.
She hurdles over the rubble causing enough noise to get the attention of the loose cannon who turns to face the unexpected teenager. Dakota gives out the loudest battle cry and whips the stone forward.
It connects into the middle of Jinx's forehead, causing the bluette to fall backwards with a terrified cry. Dakota closes the distance and spear tackles the frail marksmen into the ground. She slams the tiny woman into the road with as much force as she could put into it.
The loose cannon gasps out in surprise and rabbit kicks Dakota, trying to scramble for some kind of escape.
Dakota roars out in anger and lashes forward, grabbing the bluette's whipping braids. She turns her hips and connects her heel into the smaller woman's collarbone, making a sickening crack and the howl of the maniac ring into the dark sky. She flips Jinx onto her back and straddles her hips. Her knuckles tighten into white knuckled terrifying balls.
Jinx whimpers as Dakota begins her tyrannical punching spree into the bluette's face.
It feels good to lose yourself in the blood lusted rhythm of anger and rage. She watches as her helpless victim tries to fend off her fists and it fills her with masochistic joy .With a snarl so terrifying, she swats away the loose cannon's attempts to defend herself.
Dakota rises to her feet, dragging the maniac by her belts. Her icy eyes are shards of the arctic winds. She slams her foot into Jinx's thigh, causing the loose cannon to scream in agony as her femur is split in half.
"You don't fucking touch them!" Dakota snarls, her chest heaving as she lifts the loose cannon into the air. Like a rag doll, Jinx sails into the darkened sky and lands a few feet away.
Dread rises in the loose cannon as the teenager approaches with fiery fury. Her fists gather round blue braids and she yanks up causing Jinx to yelp. If the bluette doesn't do anything, this angel of fury would surely take the maniacs life with disturbing violence.
With shaking hands the bluette pulls onto the belt around her waist extracting a chomping grenade.
With a sadistic laugh, she pulls the pin.
Dakota's eyes widen at the recognition. She dives away just as the explosion goes off, throwing her into the side of the rubble chunk, her head cracking into the concrete, taking Dakota into the land of the unconscious.
( Five hours later) {Koven-Final Call}
He reports the incident without fear, letting his robotic third arm scrawl along the parchment. AuG sits patiently by his right side, letting his metal legs swing absentmindedly. He finishes the final sentence, signs it and seals it with wax.
He turns his attention to AuG. "Ensure that this gets in the hand of the grand general. Only to him, is that understood AuG?"
The robot boy nods his head. "Yes father. I will deliver this to only the grand general."
"Now be gone, I've work to finish." Viktor demands as he opens his leather bound book. He flips to a blank page and begins his sketching as his brain conjures up his next genius. The figure he draws inspires a slight turn of his lips to go toward the sky.
"She will lead our war machine." He mutters to no one in particular. His pencil scratches in armor, weapons and even the possible mechanisms that may or may not be used in the design. For now he has the basic concept, the basic shapes, but give him a few hours and it will turn into the most detailed document created in Valoran.
(The next day) {Imogen Heap- You Know Where To Find Me}
She freezes in the Hallway as she regards the two soldiers. Their backs are pressed into her door and their head rest on each other. Abbie is huddled in an over sized hoodie, while Elric is in a tight knit shirt and a pair of training shorts. His knees are pulled up to his chest and his arms are folded onto of his knees.
Their forms are seated in a blissful rest that relies solely on the support of each other.
She sighs heavily and strides along. She has a cup of tea in one hand and a pile of paperwork in the other.
"Ahem." Caitlyn calls out.
Elric jumps immediately and shoots to his feet. Abbie groans, but when she realises Caitlyn is standing in front of her she stands beside Elric. Her face focused and emotionless.
"Sheriff." Elric calls out. His groggy voice is heavily accented by his birthland, just as Dakota's is when she wakes up. Her lips turn up slightly at the fact.
"Good morning , Elric. Why in the void are you and Abigail, camped out in front of my office?" She asks raising her brow.
Elric's usual smiling face has befallen to seriousness, which sets Caitlyn on edge. "Is everything ok, Elric?"
"We need to talk." He jumps to the point moving out of the way as Caitlyn sets the key into her office turn and turns the knob. "I understand you're busy, but I need answers. And since Dakota isn't nearby, we can have this conversation without her interrupting and finding anything out."
She raises an eyebrow to Elric's challenging stance. "Speaking of Dakota, how are your siblings? Have they released them from the hospital yet?" Of course Caitlyn knows the answer to this, she had spent the night at the hospital with Vi, waiting to hear from the nurses that Dakota had awoken from her unconscious state.
"They won't let us near them, until they wake up and are ready to discharged." Abbie growled, clearly agitated and frustrated.
"I see." Caitlyn says as she enters into her office. "Well let's chat quickly then. They may wake soon, and I do have to deal with these damage statements."
Elric nods. He faces Abbie and she bobs her head in agreement as she waits crossed armed in front of the door. Elric shuts the oak and strides over to the arm chairs at the front of her desk.
"Why does Abbie need to guard the doorway?" Caitlyn questions, taking a sip of her take away tea.
"Because this must not be interrupted in anyway possible." Elric replies calmly. He reaches into the pocket of his pants and produces Dakota's basic medical information page. "Can you explain to me why you are listed as her mother?" His sapphire orbs pierce into Caitlyn's soul as her heart freezes.
"Where did you find this?" She asks quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I was looking for some information about my father. Abbie and I went to the manor to see if we could find anything. We did, but it wasn't what we were expecting."
Caitlyn places the sheet of paper before her. She drags her fingers through her long raven black hair. She exhales and looks directly into Elric's eyes.
"Are you sure you want to know about this, Elric Sampson?" Caitlyn demands keeping her gaze steady with his.
"I do." He replied without any hints of hesitation.
"Dakota is my daughter and your parents adopted her from me." Caitlyn began.
AN- How will Elric deal with learning about Caitlyn's secret? *cue soap opera theme song here* Find out next time!