CRUSH
Chapter 4
An Unexpected Twist
Dr. Barnabas Mandragore was working in his laboratory on another of his endless creations for his clientele of super villains. His last robot had been used against the Commander in an utter disaster that would have been comical if not for the fact that the check for it had bounced.
But Dr. Mandragore was not worried about it; as wealthy as he was money was not important. The principal, however, was. He knew that particular client was good for the debt…in any event they definitely didn't want to meet the doctor's debt collectors.
It was then that Loki, the youngest of the Mandragore children, made his way in. The little eight year old was dressed as his father was, complete with a white lab coat, big rubber gloves and a pair of oversized goggles he had resting atop his shock of black hair.
He put his elbows on the table his father was working at and rested his chin in his hands.
"Daddy," he said deep in thought, "I'm having trouble with my flying octopus."
"And what is the trouble," asked Dr. Mandragore without looking up from his work.
"I don't know if I should give it vestigial lungs or make it totally amphibious."
"Well, I've always found that the more versatile your creation is, the better."
"Right Daddy, totally amphibious…both air and water. Thanks."
Loki then darted out of the lab like a shot, and Dr. Mandragore smiled at seeing his son's eagerness. Ah, to be young again.
About an hour later a tremendous, bellowing roar echoed throughout the castle, followed by the rumble of a wall being smashed and the flapping of great leathern wings that grew fainter in a few minutes.
"I suppose," said Dr. Mandragore to himself without having looked up once at all the sounds of chaos, "I should have asked him just how BIG his octopus was."
Marduke Mandragore was laughing
He couldn't help it. No one could have resisted it.
Not when they were watching the scrawny little punk who had embarrassed him yesterday in front of everyone in LIMBO get pelted by first a mountain of over ripe tomatoes, and then an even bigger blitz of green watermelons that had to be hard as rocks from the way they were smashing into Will Stronghold and the front porch of his house.
Marduke was actually a mile away, watching the entire thing via a combination of two of his vision-based powers; his "telescopic vision" that allowed him to see things over a great distance, and his "x-ray vision" that let him see through things, such as the houses, cars and trees that would normally block his view of this morning's entertainment.
Behind Marduke stood his two friends, Drake and Aaron. They were also seniors from H.A.D.E.S., the Harkonin Academy for the Development and Education of Super-villains, but they were not "really" villains; they were minions, the villain version of the sidekick. Drake had the power to fly, but unfortunately he also had an intense fear of heights and could not bring himself to rise more than ten feet off the ground. Aaron could control and manipulate emotions, but the only one he could do was make people feel all "warm and fuzzy" inside, which was hardly useful to a villain.
While others may have considered them lame and useful only as servants of a real villain, Marduke had been raised better than that. Sure their powers weren't that spectacular, especially compared to his, but they were his friends and he treated them as such.
"I wish I could film this," snickered Marduke as his eyes were tearing up from the combination of laughing so hard and fighting the urge to blink, as he didn't want to miss an instant of the fun.
One hour later, Layla was still fuming.
She was walking through the park, trying to cool down after having let Will know her true feelings about how he had treated her.
She was trying not to cry, but her emotions were playing out around her as the leaves on the trees turned brilliant fall colors then fell to the ground. Flowers lost their color and wilted as the plants seemed to go into dormancy as if for winter.
She finally sat down on a bench, totally uncaring about the beautiful morning. The sky might as well be clouded black for how she felt. The tears began.
"Hey beautiful," she heard a familiar voice say, "what's wrong?"
It was Warren. He stood there in his usual singed leather and denim, a look of concern on his face.
"Hi Warren," she said as she tried to wipe the tears away. She didn't want him to see her like this.
Warren sat down next to her and looked into her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he whispered softly, genuine concern shining in his dark eyes.
Layla couldn't hold it in. She told him everything. Finding Will kissing another girl then disappearing with her even as Layla sat in LIMBO and desperately waited for him. The sleepless night after she saw Will fly home and not stop by or even call her to try to lie to her about what happened. She also told him about gathering the seeds and using her powers to make them germinate and grow in seconds what would take months to normally do, then have them attack Will when he came out of the house at his usual time to mow the lawn every other Saturday. THAT he was dependable for.
"He doesn't deserve you," said Warren, leaning closer and giving Layla an intense look that sent a chill up her spine. "You deserve someone who really loves you…appreciates you…worships you…"
He kissed her on her lips, firmly but tenderly.
He then withdrew, smiling gently as he saw Layla's eyes were closed. She then dreamily opened them.
Then slapped him so hard he fell off the bench.
"Layla…?" Warren asked as he sat up, holding the side of his face and looking at her with the eyes of a wounded deer.
"You're not Warren," said Layla, standing tall and her eyes blazing.
"What do you mean? Of course I'm…"
"The truth," said Layla, her voice accompanied by the creaking of the limbs of the trees surrounding them as they started reaching for the young man with eager wooden claws.
"Okay, okay…" he said, holding up his hands in surrender, "I deserved that. I give up."
He then made a motion that looked like he was pulling something off his ring finger. In his hand a silver ring did appear, then "Warren" suddenly changed.
In his place sat a tall, athletic-looking young man with jet black spiked hair, wearing leather shoes, designer jeans, and a red and black letter jacket emblazoned with the strangely glowing "H" of H.A.D.E.S.
"I know you," said Layla, "you were the one I saw being carried out of LIMBO yesterday."
"Yeah," he said as he got slowly to his feet, "after Will Stronghold nearly put me through a wall."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he thought he was defending…my sister."
Layla realized the boy did have the same striking black hair as the little ogress Will had been kissing. She had never got to see her face, but imagined she had the same bright blue eyes her brother did.
"Actually," he said, "I guess he was, because I was going to take her home before she embarrassed me."
"And Will did it instead."
"Yeah," he grinned sheepishly, "by the way, my name's Marduke…Marduke Mandragore."
Layla gasped. Everyone with any connection to the super world knew who the Mandragores were; Dr. Mandragore had been the archenemy of Baron Battle when he was a hero, and his wife Lucretia Mandragore was the old foe of Angelica Peace. Layla had heard they had children about her age, but to actually meet one was not a pleasant surprise.
"Why are you after Will," she said, taking a safe step back, "I'd think you two would be after Warren…he's the son of your parents' enemies."
Marduke smiled, amused by what she said. Layla couldn't help but notice the boyish dimples that appeared when he did.
"We're not "after" anyone Layla," said Marduke, "well…maybe not the way you're thinking anyway."
Marduke gestured if she would sit with him on the bench, and Layla nodded.
"It's like this," he chose his words carefully, "my little sister Victoria is in love with Will. She's…well, she's the only girl and…"
"What princess wants, princess gets," said Layla.
"Sort of," Marduke smiled again, "she's not really spoiled just…determined. At first I thought it was just a stupid kid's crush, but it's looking more and more like the real thing."
"Well," said Layla, crossing her arms, "it's nice she thinks that the rest of us will just stop the world while she tests her little theory."
"Please," he said, "don't think of her that way. Under all the muscles she's very naive and soft hearted. We don't let her watch "Bambi" because she cried so much and wanted to tear into the television to bring the little deer home after his mom was killed."
"That can be traumatic for a little kid."
"Little kid? That was just last week."
Layla couldn't stop from smiling at that. Was this young man lying to cover and help his sister, or was he being honest? Why would he be doing any of this at all?
"Why were you pretending to be Warren?"
Marduke turned beet red from embarrassment.
"It…it was Mom's idea."
"What?"
"She…she approves of Victoria and Will, but she also knows you and he are a…couple. She thinks you and Warren actually belong together because he loves you so desperately, but doesn't want to hurt Will. But since Will is obviously falling for Victoria, and you also love Warren…"
"I don't love Warren," she said defensively, "actually I do…but as a friend, that's all."
Marduke held up the ring for Layla to see it, and she looked through the silvery loop to see his glittering blue eye looking back at her.
"The doppelganger ring enables me to duplicate whoever I want. How did you know I wasn't Warren?"
"What do you mean?"
"What gave me away? How did you know?" His voice became a whisper, and his eye glittered brighter, almost hypnotic.
"The way you moved."
"What else?"
"The way you…smelled."
"What else?"
"The way you…never mind."
"Say it."
"You…you didn't…"
"Say it."
You didn't…taste like him."
"Like you imagine…or like you know?"
Layla snapped out of the daze and instantly slapped Marduke, knocking him to the ground again. She then recoiled, shocked at what she had done. Why had she reacted to violently?
"Okay, I deserved that one too," said Marduke as he got up, rubbing his face. "But the next time you hit me, could it be on the other side? I think you cracked a tooth with that last one."
"I'm so sorry," she said, "I…I don't know why I did that."
"No, it's okay," he said.
"You do love him, don't you?"
"Yes," she whispered, admitting it out loud to even herself for the first time.
"But you also love Will."
"I…I thought I did. I'm so confused."
"Yeah," he said, "love will do that to you."
They sat there in silence for several minutes.
"Why would your mother care about Warren and…me?"
Marduke sighed heavily and looked off into the distance.
"When Baron Battle…well, you know what happened. Warren's mom also had a nervous breakdown and…something else happened. Warren was really stressed and his powers manifested far sooner than they should have. He was badly sick…maybe would have died if Dad hadn't been there to save him. He cured him and Mom helped Warren's mom recover. They…all of us actually…have a soft spot for him…and his friends."
Layla didn't know what to think, much less say. She knew the story of Baron Battle; it was a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions that had been told and retold since she was little. But she had never heard about Warren's mother or what had happened to him.
"That's…"
"The last thing you expect a villain to do?"
"Yes."
"Now you know what I've got to live up to," said Marduke, "you, Will, all your friends have it easy…just be heroes like your parents. Even Warren's got his parents' past to draw on. Me and my brothers and sister…we've got to be villains…with hearts."
"That's…wow."
"Well, I'm trying to be, anyway. I think Victoria's heading towards being a hero, but Balthazar…my younger brother…is going for straight villain. Our littlest brother Loki is…well, Loki's just weird."
"I envy you," said Layla, "you've got so many siblings, while most of my friends and I are all "only childs". I'd love to have a brother or sister."
"Spoken like someone who doesn't have any," grinned Marduke.
Layla smiled again, and Marduke knew why Warren was so deeply in love with her. She was so beautiful…not just cute like he first thought, but really beautiful without any makeup or anything. There was her fiery red hair that glistened in the morning sun…her deep green eyes that matched any emerald in his family's treasury…the faint freckles that dotted the cheeks of her elfish features…
Marduke shook himself awake. Why was he having these thoughts about this little red-haired girl? He was in love with Anastasia…wasn't he? He had always admired her from afar, but never had the nerve to talk to her, especially when she seemed to start going with Warren.
Warren. That was another matter he didn't want to think about at the moment either.
"Listen," Marduke said, "thanks for not making the trees use me for a volleyball about the whole…Warren…thing. I've got to get going. Could I give you a lift somewhere?"
"No thanks," she smiled, "I think I'll stay here and fix the little mess I made with the leaves and flowers. After that…" she shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay," he smiled, and walked away.
Layla waited until he was out of sight before she got up off the bench and started revitalizing the plants she had unintentionally put into dormancy. Within minutes the entire area was lush and green and the air filled with singing birds and buzzing bees.
Layla decided maybe she'd head down town…find a place for lunch.
She was in the mood for Chinese.
As Marduke made his way through the park, he met up with Drake and Aaron.
"What was that stupid stunt back there?" he snapped at Aaron.
"What do you mean?"
"You were supposed to hide in the bushes and zap Layla with your "lovey dovey" power so she'd go totally under when I was Warren. Then a quick flash of my hypno-eyes to put her to sleep for a second while I got away, and she'd wake up thinking she had a dream, then go looking for Warren. You zapped ME instead, you jerk. What, you can't aim now?"
"M…Marduke," stammered Aaron, "I didn't zap you…I didn't zap anybody. We got…lost."
"Lost? It's a freaking park, and you," he turned to Drake, "you can FLY. Why didn't you just fly up and look around?"
"I…I tried," blushed Drake, "but I got up to the top of this tree and there was…this squirrel and…"
"Squirrel?"
"It…it was a BIG squirrel, Marduke…"
"Oh no…you're not…"
Drake nodded his head in shame.
"SCARED OF SQUIRRELS TOO!"
Marduke now understood why his father was given to such over the top tirades as he was famous for. He could feel his first one coming on right now, and it was going to be a major one. How could these two stupid, inept, bumbling morons screw up such an easy job like this? How could they get lost and Aaron not zap Layla OR him…
Wait a minute…
"You DIDN'T zap me, even accidentally?"
"No…"
Marduke stopped and thought again about Layla. The strange sensations began again as he thought of her hair, her dazzling eyes…of taking her lithe form in his arms and…
His eyes snapped open.
"Oh no," he whispered, "I've got it too."
"Got what?"
"Hero fever."
Hero fever. The term used around H.A.D.E.S. and throughout the underworld whenever a villain (usually a female) fell in love with a hero (or heroine). Victoria didn't qualify as she was not a villain, but Marduke was a senior at H.A.D.E.S. and definitely did. Of course he had a crush on Anastasia…who? Oh, the Freeze Girl. Yeah.
But now Layla…wondrous Layla with the hair of fire, eyes like emeralds and soft, succulent lips he could still feel on his own even after getting slapped twice.
Layla who was meant for Warren Peace, who also loved her.
Warren Peace, who Marduke…had certain feelings for as well.
"Oh no," whispered Marduke to his cohorts, "my Mom is going to kill me."
Will was at a total loss.
There was no way to clean up the monstrous mess of smashed water melons and tomato pulp that had battered and soaked him to the skin and stained the front porch of the house to the point of needing a new paint job. Luckily none of the windows had been broken, but it would take a lot of work nonetheless.
How could everything go so crazy in a little over twelve hours? He had gone from sore with a "C" in gym to euphoria with a muscle princess who made him feel so strong and confident to being the main victim in a remake of "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" because his friend was mad.
His GIRL friend.
Will had done it again.
How could he be so stupid? It seemed like the instant his super strength had kicked in his brain had gone into neutral. Of course being a teenage boy didn't help, but not like this. He realized he couldn't think of any super strong guys that were also very intelligent…even his dad, while hardly a moron, wasn't exactly a rocket scientist like his mom. It had to be a guy thing…too many hormones and industrial strength testosterone by the tanker truckloads had to make you stupid.
At least it only affected guys. Victoria was stronger than Will and very intelligent…and smelled great…and tasted like strawberries…
ARRGH!
He had done it AGAIN.
Even standing up to his knees in sticky, wet pulp and attracting more and more flies and bees by the second as the morning continued to warm, he had started spacing off about Victoria again.
It wouldn't do any good to shower then try to clean up the mess as he'd just end up sloppy again. He sloshed his way down the slippery stairs and made his way across the lawn, which had been restored to its rightful state by Layla before she stormed off, and went into the garage to get the snow shovel and all the garbage bags he could find.
When he came out he was surprised.
"Hey Stronghold," said Warren, who was standing on the front walk, "what happened here?"
"Layla," said Will, "I made her mad again."
"Gee, just because you ditched her and ran off with that muscle girl?"
"Does EVERYBODY know about that?"
"Let's see…busy hangout…Friday afternoon…beat up a villain kid AND making out in front of everyone…yeah, I'd say by now everybody does."
Will thought he felt like garbage before. That was preferable to how he was feeling now.
"Hey," said Warren, bringing Will back to reality, "how about a hand cleaning this up?"
"Yeah, dude," Will said, the gratitude lighting up his face, "I could kiss you," he joked.
"Whoa," grinned Warren, "you're cute but not my type. Besides, those hot lips of yours have already got you into enough trouble."
They both laughed, then started scooping up the slop and putting it into the garbage bags.
Will was so busy he didn't notice the silver ring that was on Warren's left hand.
"So," said Warren, "has Layla always been so…passionate?"
To be continued
Marduke is referring to the events in "Little Boy Lost"