Author: So there are a lot of key-hints in this chapter; things that will spawn out later on into one of several main plot twists. Make sure to pay it special attention and try to figure out the clues I've left; some obvious, some more subtle. Read to find out. :P I'm actually dreading everything I have planned, haha. Any questions feel free to ask! But I can only answer vaguely if it pertains to the plot itself (unless you're really curious to which you can just PM me and I'll discuss it with you, lol). Oh, one other thing I wanted to point out cause it's hilarious; Cecilia was actually originally a character from my Prototype story (for those of you who may have read it) but when I was first making this story I decided to use her because; A. I love her, she's awesome. B. I wanted to see her in two entirely different situations and how the character itself would respond in each situation (to which both situations have no relevance to the other). Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: DC totally isn't mine. I just own the Energy Court users and whatever else I create.
[MaraJade57]
Yus, time gap! xD I debated a longer time-jump buuttt... realized I still wanted them to be young-ish, instead of middle adulthood. I'm not saying anything about whether or not Ruba accepted his offer OR if she signed or not; you'll find out about that later on. :D Haha, I'm so cruel for making this so complicated. Thanks for reading! cx
Ugh, he was obviously lost again! He always seemed to end up in the wrong area from where he was supposed to be. Head north, they said. You'll find the place, they said. You can't miss it, they said. Bah! He must have gone south on accident, he had such horrible sense of direction, because this was definitely not Cherry Street and these houses were not brick. Hell they weren't even rock!
A groan escaped from his lips as he leaned against a tree, hands lifting to rub his face as he wanted to so badly scream in frustration. He was in a bloody trailer park in God knows what part of the city. On that note he wasn't even aware of what city he was in. He'd forgotten. Lovely! Joy of all joys.
Valence Halloway wasn't exactly known for having patience.. or a relative state of calm. His emotions were very.. narrow-ranged. He was an eccentric man, quite dedicated to portraying himself as 'mad', 'loony' and whatever other word people dared to associate with him. He ditched the trailers and moved out to more city-like surroundings.
A smirk creased his face as he saw a young girl moving down the sidewalk, heading toward a bakery shop, probably for a snack. He trailed along silently, hands stuffed into cargo short pockets.
The door chimed when he pushed it open and saw the girl seated at the counter, hands linked on the top while she spoke with the cashier.
"Pack of white donuts, please." She ordered and he scurried off to fetch the requested item.
"Well, well." He said softly, sitting beside her on the stool to her left. "Donuts are delicious." His words drew her eyes to him.. and he liked what he saw.
Long chestnut hair was pushed back into a low ponytail, twin bangs framing the face. She was pale with deep brown eyes. He studied her further and she wore casual jeans and a blue tank-top, a crescent moon scar just inches away from her collarbone.
She arched a brow at him, a bored expression on her pretty face. "They are.. and who are you supposed to be, mm?"
He chuckled softly and noticed the slight sparkle in her eyes. He had to admit that he was dangerously handsome. He had deep blue eyes that seemed to have black specks in the center. He had light brown hair that was long, bangs brushing down his forehead to just above his eyes. It was straight, soft and the top back was partially braided. The strong jaw countered a hawk nose between perfect lashes. He had a slight mark beneath the left eye, horizontal, an old scar he got in a fight years back.
He had grey cargo pants with a loose fitting faded black and red designer shirt with a grey scarf. He had sunglasses propped in his hair and wore regular tennis shoes that were dark grey and red.
He shrugged. "I'm many things, most o' which are not important. All you need ta' know, fair lady, is that I've noticed your lack o' company and 'ave graced you with mine." He extended a hand, a playful smile stretching across his lips. "I am Valence and you, madame-" He made a sweeping gesture to the room, hinting at all the other people. "-are the brightes' star in 'ere." She detected a slight British accent.
Her lips twitched and her eyes held this spark to them, like she was fighting between laughing and being irritated. "Such a gentleman!" She cooed sarcastically, a witty glean to her bitingly simple words. "Well monsieur.. I am no fair lady nor am I subject to such luxury of companionship currently. Now if you don't mind I-" She slammed her hand against the counter, glaring at him. "-would like to eat in peace." Just as she said that the package was set before her and she turned to it, handing the cashier the money and he returned the change.
He scowled before leaning toward her. "Look, lady. I was jus' tryin' ta' be nice. I don't want what the others in this place desires." Her eyes flashed as she turned to him. "I jus' wanted ta' talk. I'm lost, actually." He moved to stand, making to leave, but a hand grasped his wrist, stopping him.
She sighed and looked up at him. "I'm sorry for my rudeness. Please sit." He relented and sat back in his chair, she releasing his hand while he folded his across his chest. "Lost?"
"I'm supposed ta' be on Cherry Street right now, in a brick 'ouse that 'as the number 1478.. with two otha's like me." He explained, eyes flicking across her blank face. "Do ya know where that is?"
She didn't say nothing for several seconds before smiling. "Yeah, I know where it's at, but I get the impression even if I told you where it was you'd get lost again." She chuckled.
"I'm not good wit' directions." He half smiled back. "Perhaps, if ya 'ave the time ta' spare, could ya show me?"
She shrugged, opening her bag to pull out a powdered donut to nom on. "Perhaps." She said before taking a bite. She chewed, then swallowed. "I'm Sidra, by the way."
That was how he found himself walking down the street with her at his side, she leading the way to his destination. He was heading to meet his friends, fellow.. unique beings like him.
Valence smiled at the thought of them as they rounded a store corner, weaving through people like fish in the sea.
An arm shifted, sleeve drawn back, watch brought to light. It was roughly 1 PM. Where the hell was he? He said he'd be here at 11, that was two hours ago. Was this male angry? Fuming! Irritated? Hell yeah he was. Upset? Terribly so.
He spun on his heels, slamming his clenched fist into the wall, denting it. "Damn him!" He cursed aloud, drawing his female companion's attention.
"Calm down, Alvin." A low voice slipped from the woman who seemed to glare at him blankly.
He rounded on her, pointing a finger in her direction. "Your boyfriend's late, Eryn. Vhy ze hell vould I remain calm? Zis is outrageous!" He said with a twist to his words. This German was easy to anger. He grit his teeth, fuming indeed. "I bet he's lost und has no vay to get here. Bah!" He stormed outside onto the street and his step faltered as his eyes narrowed in on two forms approaching down the sidewalk. "Eryn, Eryn. He's here!" He said, a sigh growled out.
She came out and looked in the designated direction, indeed spotting Valence making his way toward them, but with a strange woman at his side. She arched a thin brow at the walking pair, curious of why he was walking with an outsider. She wasn't all that pretty.
"Ah! 'Ey guys." The Yorkshire British male lifted a hand to wave, smiling. "I brought company." They paused before his friends, who scrutinized her. Who was this brown haired female?
"Who is she?" The English Eryn asked, her voice clipped and cold.
"Hello, I'm Sidra." The girl held out her hand, the other clutching a bag of white donuts. She smiled, but Eryn was not fooled.
She grabbed Val's hand, tugging him aside. "Why is she here?"
Val rolled his eyes. "I was lost, eh. She brought me 'ere."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're going to have to ditch her. She's normal, don't bring her into our lives, our problem." She pressed, her tone stern.
"Yes mom." Now it was Eryn's turn to roll her eyes, but at his sarcastic words.
The pair rejoined Sidra and Alvin, who looked uncomfortable standing by each other. "Come inside. You can leave." Eryn pointedly stared at Sidra.
San had to admit something was off about these three young adults. She sensed something.. oddly familiar about them and yet couldn't place what it was. A vision suddenly hit her and she cried out, grabbing her head as she collapsed to the ground, Val half catching her. The sound of Valence's voice was an incoherent murmur that faded into the background as she was pulled under.
"Get her inside." Eryn commanded, taking charge of the situation. Alvin helped Valence move Sidra inside, depositing her onto the couch before scanning outside for any observers.
This vision was extremely intense. She saw an island, an underground facility.. and Ruba, lying on a beach, her brown hair easily depicted. Beside her there was a shadow, but as it moved she couldn't make out what it was. It was like she was incapable of seeing this person- yes it was a person, seated beside the red user, that much she gathered.
Sidra was standing before the pair and Ruba looked up, frowning as she bristled. "San? What are you doing here?"
Sidra furrowed her brows. "This isn't real, it's a vision. Something's going to happen.."
A soft chuckled came from that shadowed outline of what seemed to be a male, his voice speaking up as he rose to his feet. "You're correct, little girl." He approached her, she standing her ground. He couldn't hurt her. He lifted a hand to grab her chin, holding her. She could faintly see eyes that were both green and brown.. and a grin formed. "I seek revenge."
"Against who? Why?" She demanded, glaring at him.
He leaned in, whispering into her ear. "Someone stole something from me.. and I will see to it that he pays.. dearly." He shoved her back, turning to Ruba. He held out a hand, willing her to take it. "Ruba will help me. won't you, dear?"
Ruba didn't respond, merely stood to join his side, a glazed look to her face.
"Ruba!" Sidra's stomach told her something was wrong about this male. "Get away from him-"
He smirked, a ghostly outline of white teeth in shivering blackness. "She can't. I'm in control."
She noticed Ruba was smiling at his side. She bristled, her senses flaring. This man was trouble, that she was sure of. He was obviously going to appear, but when? Where?
The vision shifted and she stood at a park, towering archways spilling over paths that curved through the green foliage of bushes, trees and plants. Just beyond was the city, which encased this park like a cage, the chirping of birds signaling some animal life lived here. This was calm, a show of serenity in such a hectic world of cars, jobs and pollution, among other things that inhabited this city.
A tall building stood situated behind a figure who had a soft smirk on his face, his shadowed features indicating him as the male from the prior one, and across from him stood another shadowed form, clenched fists shifting at his sides (this one was male as he lacked the space of a feminine chest).
"You're supposed to be dead!" The second snarled.
"You failed in ridding me." The first chuckled softly.
"I won't fail this time, I will destroy you."
"Will you? Can you? Should you? Answer me these questions."
"No, you are a monster, like me, and I will not have competition." The first lifted a hand and suddenly black energy shot forth to strike down the male that had been with Ruba, but he lifted his own hand and what happened next.. well.. it was certainly interesting.
The black energy shot back at the second, hitting his chest and throwing him to his side on the ground.
"It's truly a shame it has to end like this, it really is. We could have done so much together had you only been a good boy all those years ago, but now.." The first turned to level those strange eyes at Sidra, who was watching the two, frozen to the ground she stood on. "..we end this here, with your death.." He lifted a hand above his head, black energy rippling to life. "..Jack."
Lightning flashed in the sky, somehow illuminating the fallen one.. and she gasped, realizing just who it was. Jack Zendric.. Ody, black energy user.. the prince rank.. and across from him, the first person, the one who had been on the beach with Ruba.. was a look-a-like, with the exception of the clothes, hair style and brown texture to the strange male.
Her eyes widened as the strange one flung the energy at Jack, smirking.. and that was when Sidra was thrown from the vision, awareness returning to her as she panted, jerking up to sit on the couch.
She was met by three sets of curious and confused eyes.