NOVEL NEXT Chapter 79 - Aftermath
"What. Happened. Here?" Phoenix asked.
Sydney, Aubrey, and Raf all start talking over each other immediately. Phoenix showing off their powers so blatantly gives me pause. They wouldn't kill the rest of us to cover up for Violet, right? I never did learn exactly who her parents are, and that means I have no idea how much weight they can throw around. Phoenix gave up on being an active Cape and Heroes' Union member, but that doesn't mean that has anything to do with union politics. Do her parents have enough clout to call in a favor? Damn. If Vivienne is forced to blow her cover and expose her true identity here just to fend off Phoenix, I'll have to redesign all the plans I have made for Quinstin.
"Quiet," Phoenix barked, their modulated voice not preventing the anger coming through. "You, Eryk Blakely, tell me what happened."
They know my name? My full name? That is a surprise and not a good one. Why would they know my name? There shouldn't be any reason I should be on their radar or the Heroes' Union's. This doesn't make any sense, unless Aubrey already told them about me. No, that doesn't make any sense because I would be hauled away if my identity as the man in the black mask were known. Even if they only know about my involvement in the Doublin' Down O'Rourke massacre, that's enough bodies to get me life in one of Omnimaxes. I'm fine; everything is fine. It isn't my secrets being exposed, and it isn't my life that just got upended.
The Cape cuts an impressive figure with the glowing flames dancing across their body and floating in the air like fireflies. The contrast between the all black suit and the white flames really shows off why so many Cowls are afraid of this Cape. This is one of the strongest Neuvohumans this city has had and likely will ever have. This will be my first time directly interacting with a Heroes' Union Cape, and this is going to be difficult. The full mask and modulator make reading the Cape's expressions impossible and render most of my skills useless. This is a turning point. I stand at a precipice with several branching paths before me. What I say here, how I frame what happened, will have far-reaching consequences. If I play this right, I could handle Violet permanently, get her put away forever. Get Dappur and Sydney out of the way, and then the Heroes' Union is down a couple of powerhouse prospects. Alcoholic nepo baby Neuvohuman murders an innocent stranger at a party. This could become the perfect bullet to kick-start a city-wide panic.
"Y-yes. We were playing a drinking game. Uh, Never Have I Ever, and things got heated as people started making personal digs at each other. Someone did one that supposedly related to Violet, but she didn't want to drink. Aubrey, Doug, Raf, and Sydney told her to just take the shot, and she got so angry in response. My friend, Jean-Luc, made a joke to try and lighten the mood. That's when Violet shoved him, hard. He flew across the room and hit his head against the wall. He wasn't moving, and there was blood coming from a cut on the top of his head. I ran over to check on him as everyone started arguing, and he started seizing violently. I tried my best to hold him steady until the seizure passed, b-but I failed. He's dead and I couldn't save him," I said, letting tears start to well up.
Now that the danger is over, the adrenaline would fade, so I can let the emotions overtake me from the traumatic event I just experienced. I don't know whether Phoenix even cares for other people; are their emotions and identity contained within their energy form? Has being functionally immortal destroyed any ability to empathize with other people? There's a chance that their power has had the opposite effect on them that mine has had on me. Constantly having to inhabit another person's dead body, switching genders, sexes, heights, weights, and race would do a number on their own identity.
"I am sorry for your loss. Where is Ms. Graves now?"
"She flew away after she killed him," Vivienne answered. "Sorry, first she fired her laser eyes at Shanice to prevent her from calling the police. Then she flew away."
"Okay, and why is your foot on Mr. Appur?" Phoenix asked.
"Because Dappur and Sydney sided with the murderer. Aubrey and Raf are on the right side of history and justice, so they wanted to call the police as well as the Heroes' Union, but the other two attacked them. Dappur assaulted Raf when he tried to shield the rest of us, so I stepped in to peacefully defuse the situation," Vivienne said, grinning.
"Why are you wasting time asking questions? You have to go after Violet before she gets away or hurts someone else. She's a dangerous killer on the loose. Someone needs to stop her," Aubrey exclaimed angrily.
"Ms. Iskan, I understand that emotions are high and that your desire for justice is overflowing, but do not give me orders. An investigation will be opened, and we will need statements from everyone. That includes any of your other friends who have left. Mr. Mendez, please release your wards, and then all of you need to head to the Union Headquarters. I will locate Ms. Graves and ensure she is okay, and then bring her in to give her statement as well."
"WHAT? This is bullshit. She doesn't deserve special treatment. If this were a Cowl, there would be a manhunt searching for them. Just because her parents are members, you're going to give her a slap on the wrist," Aubrey shouted at them as she limped across the room.
"Aubrey," Raf said, reaching for her shoulder to console her.
"No, Raf! She's a Legacy Cape of two Union parents and the heiress to a multi-billion-dollar fortune. SHE'S THE ONE PERCENT OF THE ONE PERCENT! PEOPLE LIKE HER DON'T PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES," Aubrey screamed, her voice growing hoarse. "There needs to be consequences for this, for her killing Jean-Luc."
Instead of responding, Phoenix shakes their head and then flies out of the hole Violet made. I don't know nearly enough about the person to even begin to predict what they're thinking or try to understand their motives. They're a blind spot, and I can't have those. Rafael's ward fades, the translucent red screen dissolving. Aubrey collapses to the ground like a puddle, crying. Her sobs are the only sound in the room, and the weight of what just happened is catching up to her. Despite everything she's gained and been through, she's still the same powerless girl underneath it all.
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Walking through the Quinstin Heroes' Union headquarters is a surreal experience unlike any other. Traipsing through the hallowed halls of such a foundation building to Quinstin's identity as a city. Hundreds of years of Cape and Cowl history exist here. I never thought I'd be here, at least not in handcuffs or a body bag. There's something that's nagging at me, though, that there is no clear reason we should be here. It's not even open to the public for tours, so why are they letting us all inside? To add to the strangeness is that they separated us into two groups: Emma, Shanice, Vivienne, Anika, and Sy are in one group with me. The other group is Aubrey, Raf, Dappur, and Sydney. There's a plan afoot, but I can't tell who's the director of this performance.
We're being escorted not by Capes, but by a few regular human security guards and some sort of support staff member who is actually leading us around. Those pistols in their holsters aren't even Tinkertech. Emma's hand is within mine as we walk together, and knowing I have her watching my back is reassuring. She played her role perfectly at Friendsgiving, and most of my hangups regarding our potential relationship have been silenced. She isn't the unhinged maniac that Tuesday is, she isn't the insecure paranoid clinger that Maria was, and she isn't the lying, obsessive brute that Violet is. Emma is something else entirely. I don't love her, I don't even think I care about her that much. Yet. But I will give this relationship a fighting chance.
If anything goes awry here, having Emma will be helpful. Obviously, Vivienne is my main support and the trump card I trust the most, but having more pieces on the board is never a bad thing. Even if all the Capes here decide to attack, Vivienne will get me out of here. My second in command is a monumental threat, and she won't let me come to harm. She would be ideal if not for a single weakness. Glancing over at Anika, I'm reminded that if we have to escape, we'll have an additional body with us. All the work I put in during Friendsgiving might be completely overshadowed by Violet's murder of Jean-Luc. The current mood is too somber and macabre to try and test the waters with our relationship.
To my left is Sy, who doesn't look like he witnessed a Neuvohuman breakdown and a murder in one night. He's pretty relaxed, well rested, and doesn't seem fazed by any of what's going on around us. Or maybe it hasn't hit you yet. He's scrolling along on his phone as we walk, like we aren't inside the base of one of the world's most influential organizations. Unlike the final member of our group, Shanice, Sy isn't a disposable piece of fodder I can use. I have grown to enjoy our time together, and being around him is easy, both rare traits for me to find in someone.
"Hey, Sy, I'm sorry about inviting you and exposing you to all of that. Especially after what you went through with your dad and then not celebrating Thanksgiving with your mom. I can't help but feel responsible for ruining your holiday. It feels like death follows me everywhere I go," I apologized.
"Don't say that, dude. And don't apologize for what happened. You're not the one who freaked out and killed someone," Sy said, pausing, clearly wanting to say something. "But did you know she had powers? That she was a Neuvohuman?"
Should I tell him the truth or lie? No, don't lie. Don't overthink. KISS. Keep it simple, stupid.
"Yes. The two of us were out shopping at the mall that was attacked by the Villains' Syndicate. The fight between the Capes and Cowls resulted in a truck crashing through the store we were inside. In that moment, Violet blocked it from hitting us with a single hand. Then she flew out of the store, came back dressed in a costume in less than a minute, and then went after the Villains' Syndicate. I was shocked, to say the least, but I didn't know she was violent. That is, until she forcibly made out with me," I said.
"That's what Emma was referencing when everything went to shit? I'm sorry you went through that, and then you still made dinner just to keep the peace. The fact that you felt like you had to apologize sucks. I'm sorry, Eryk," Sy said.
"We have to figure out a way to hang out without one or both of us having to apologize," I joked. Letting my face relax and the smile fade, I show vulnerability to him. "It makes me feel like it's my fault that this happened. She said that I led her on and blamed me for mixed signals. If I didn't already find Emma, this might've made me give up on romance and relationships."
Emma bumps into me playfully.
"But you did, and now you're happier than you've ever been," she said.
"I am," I said, kissing her head.
"See, and this is why I'm downloading Tinder. I just can't be alone anymore," Sy said, joking but only half.
"I'm sure you'll find someone soon, Sy; you're a catch," Emma replied cheerfully.
"I'll set my range as big as possible just in case," he said as we turned the final corner before reaching our destination.
The guards stop, and I wait for the other shoe to drop as we stand in front of a door. Is this when I find out what's going on here? What is the Heroes' Union's reason for all of this? The woman leading us steps forward and opens the door for us. Inside is a waiting room of sorts, and very plain compared to the rest of the headquarters. The plain blue walls, bare lighting, and a single other door make this feel like an interrogation. She steps in, and we all follow before taking a seat.
"You're all going to be interviewed, one at a time, about what you experienced tonight. Tell the truth and do what's right, especially within this place," the woman said.
We all murmur our okays and sit silently. It's awkward, not for me and Emma, but for everyone else. She's probably enjoying this circus and everyone's discomfort. She's practically radiating with glee and struggling not to smile. I kick her leg when no one is looking at us and give her a stern look. The guards take point by the door, and the woman leaves the room through the door we came in. The good news about how tonight went down is that there is no lying needed on my part; everyone's recollection of the events matches mine. I've gotten away with it.
"Sylvester, please enter the room," a voice said over the speaker system.
"Looks like I'm up first," Sy said.
It begins.