14
Diana's POV
"Bye…" J'onzz's voice lingered in the air.
He left in such a rush; I wasn't able to ask him how to get downstairs. Everything was a blur after that. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of a door that opened automatically. Dressed in a simple white blouse with a deep 'v' and loose-fitting pants, I cautiously looked at the small-cramped room, what was this? It too was made of glass, but metallic ropes and cables were everywhere.
"Step inside,"
I heard J'onzz's voice.
"What is this?"
"An elevator," he continued. "It will bring you downstairs."
Again, I looked into this 'elevator' with great suspicion.
"Is it safe?"
J'onzz laughed, "Of course. Just step inside and I'll handle the rest..."
I grabbed onto my wrists.
"Gaia keep me," I muttered.
I stepped inside.
Ping.
I jumped. Turning around I saw the number 1was already lit. The doors closed and the elevator began to tremble. The movement of the elevator made my stomach float into my throat. Trying to shake the unsettling feeling in my gut I looked out of one of the glass walls; metal beams and doors pass by. Panicked, I grabbed onto one of the metal bars on the wall and shut my eyes. I held on tightly until the elevator came to a stop. Ping...
The doors opened and I tumbled out. My legs were still wobbly.
"Accursed machine!" I spat.
"Diana?" J'onzz's voice echoed.
Looking up, I saw J'onzz standing outside of the building. There was a line of armed guards in between us. He, however, waved for me to join him. The closer I came to them, the armed guards, I noticed they were large me. Taller than the men I'd last night, but still shorter than Ultraman. They all wore similar tattoos on their arms. The pattern looked familiar but I couldn't quite place it. Rectangular in shape, the tattooed men lowered their heads as I approached.
At the door I was greeted by...
"Xanderfos…".
Cousin? I looked up to see a blond man with a long-braided beard.
"You speak Greek?"
The bearded blond man nodded, "I'd know 'our' blood anywhere."
Something in the blond man's face was comforting like J'onzz.
"Our blood?"
The blond man shook his head, staring daggers at J'onzz.
"If I'd been informed of your coming, I could have greeted you properly,"
"Enough!" J'onzz ordered.
The blond man leaned closer, whispering.
"You'll understand soon enough, the ocean rumbles happenings from Olympus..."
"It isn't your place to give out information, Arthur," J'onzz yelled from the outside.
The guard grunted as he opened the front door for me.
"Then is it your place to be taking her out of this building?" the guard said with a smirk. "I'm sure 'he' would have approved this little trip of yours…"
J'onzz scoffed, "It is of no concern of yours,"
The guard laughed, but somehow, my gut suggested something wasn't right.
"Am I not allowed to leave the grounds?" I asked as I walked to J'onzz.
He ignored my question, merely smiling as he noticed me wearing one of the outfits he purchased. Reaching out to me, he adjusted my blouse. Saying the 'v' went right in the middle.
"Perfect,"
His words brought me no comfort. His lack of answering my question let me know I wasn't supposed to leave. While J'onzz continued to look me over, I looked back at the building. A glass tower, it surged to the heavens. Taller than everything around it. Ultraman could see every part of the city from here.
As the guard closed the door behind me. Something within me told me to turn around and go back inside. I didn't want to anger Ultraman more than I already had.
"White is your color, my dear," he said.
"But I don't want to anger…"
J'onzz cut me off as he opened the door to a large black car.
"Arthur is just being Arthur," J'onzz replied. "Ultraman enlisted me to take over your care while you're his guest. This care involves you getting to know your new home."
J'onzz extended his hand to me.
"He wants this place to feel like your home…." he added.
His green face told no lie, so I took his hand. Entering the car, I was greeted by a boisterous, hello.
"Hello again,"
The ginger man from last night was seated in the driver's seat.
"Jimmy Olsen is the name,"
"Diana," I replied. "I'm sorry about the mess..."
My face flushed as I remembered he was there for part of last night. He was the one who was forced to remove Circe's dead body. Why were all of Ultraman's men treating me with such kindness? Didn't they know I tried to kill their boss?
J'onzz entered the car on the passenger's side. He shook his head as he looked back at me.
"No need to be too nice to the ginger," J'onzz said. "He's dealt with far worse than what happened yesterday as Ultraman's personal assistant."
The man named Jimmy laughed.
"You can say that again J'onzz," Jimmy said. "Nothing much you can do when Big Blue gets into a mood."
Jimmy sighed.
"The big guy understands doing something against your will better than you think Ma'am."
Looking at me in the rearview mirror, the ginger driver smiled. This was the second time I'd heard someone bring up Ultraman's understanding of my situation. I thought to ask them more but I knew my questions wouldn't be answered. What I wanted to know would only come from Ultraman himself.
"Good to know," I said. "It's nice to meet you Jimmy."
"Likewise..."
There was a cheerful nature to Jimmy, a strange notion given he'd just cleaned up a dead body last night.
"Do you know where J'onzz is taking me?"
Jimmy shook his head, saying he didn't know. How was he going to drive us anywhere if he didn't know where we were going?
"It's a surprise," J'onzz said as the car drove off.
With Jimmy driving us, J'onzz showed me the city. It was beautiful. There were buildings so tall I couldn't see their tops. He pointed out all the buildings that Ultraman owned and there were many. From towering buildings to small neighborhood businesses, Ultraman had his hands in everything. It was clean and everyone gave a level of respect as we drove by. Whether it was out of fear, I didn't know. Ultraman truly was the king of this city.
The drive was peaceful enough yet, I couldn't help but wonder if Ultraman would be angered about me leaving. Lost in thought, I barely noticed a ringing sound.
"Good morning, Selina," J'onzz said.
I looked at Jimmy puzzled. He mouthed…
"Bruce's lady friend,"
Jimmy made a hand gesture I didn't understand.
"I've already handled it..."
At a stoplight, Jimmy turned his head around.
"She owns a few gentlemen's clubs across the US," he said winking as he said 'gentlemen's clubs'.
I wasn't sure what those were, but they sounded rather fancy. Jimmy once again winked at me. I didn't quite understand his reason for doing so. Before I could ask, J'onzz's voice grew loud.
"... Selina calm down," he said. "I told you; I'd handle it and I have..."
J'onzz sighed as Jimmy continued driving.
"Somebody's in trouble," Jimmy muttered.
"... I'm bringing her by right as we speak…"
As J'onzz spoke I felt my heart sink. He was talking about me.
"...See you soon Selina," he said
Lowering the phone from his ear, he started rubbing the sides of his temples.
"Damn Bruce and his games," J'onzz hissed.
"You know he's not going to like this," Jimmy said.
"I don't like this," he replied. "But that drunken owl has tied my hands."
J'onzz looked back at me. The gentle nature of his face was gone. I wrapped my arms around myself and lowered my gaze.
"I can't bring her to Selina's,"
"We have no other choice," J'onzz replied. "He's up to something dangerous, Jimmy. It's better to do it personally so I can get her out of whatever mess he's planning."
Jimmy looked up at me, pulling his thin lips into his mouth.
"He likes her, J'onzz," Jimmy said. "I can feel it and he's going to lose his shit the moment he finds out."
"And this is Bruce's game, Olsen," J'onzz said coldly.
"Big Blue needs to kill him,"
J'onzz sighed, "I know, but he still has some usage... Sadly..."
Jimmy lowered his head. I truly was surrounded by lions. What type of game was this Bruce playing? Wasn't he loyal? From their grumblings, I took it that this Bruce wasn't. My first impression of him was right. He was the true evil of this city. Why did Ultraman keep him around?
"Do you know how to dance Diana?" J'onzz asked abruptly.
I was taken aback by his question. It took a few moments before I finally nodded.
"Yes," I answered. "I was trained to dance for various festivals for the gods."
"Brilliant," J'onzz said with a clap. "Jimmy head on down to The Cat's Den…"
Jimmy looked back at me and then looked at J'onzz.
"You sure you want play his game?" Jimmy asked.
"Oh, I plan on ruining his day because of this stunt," J'onzz said his voice firm. "I too play chess and he's about to lose."
J'onzz looked back at me. He let out a deep sigh.
"I know it is a lot to ask of you, but will you help us?" he said. "All you have to do is dance for Selina and we'll bring you back home."
I looked down at my hands.
"Will this help Ultraman?"
J'onzz nodded.
"I'll be sure he understands this was Bruce's doing," he replied. "He'll be put in his place and out of your hair."
I'd tried to kill their boss, I thought. It was one little dance. What harm ever came from giving a dance?
"I'll help," I replied.
J'onzz leaned back in his seat.
"Going to tell Ultraman about this J'onzz?" Jimmy asked.
"Does it look like I want to die today?" J'onzz replied. "Have Arthur inform him about Bruce's little game."
From the tone of his voice, he was dead serious. What would make him say such a thing, it was only a dance.