The light from the lamp shone onto his features, reeling back from the radiation, August groaned. Blinded momentarily, raising his palm to shade himself. This wasn't like he was at a desk, and the brightness that emerged from the bulb attached to the item woke him up. It was something entirely different. The chamber he had been placed within was cold, hands cuffed to the metal table by his wrists, with a glass rectangular window to the rear of his brown-haired head. A change from his usual apathetic expression, the son of the Emperor seemed disgusted at the thought that these 'enforcers of the law' thought it could be him. The clock to the left of him, engraved to the top of the wall by names ticked repeatedly, reading the time, '2:57 P.M.' And from the interrogator's Rivera Manufacturing given watch, he could also tell the date, but there was no need to. Because it was still, 'January 2nd, 2037,' the memory wasn't that old, he still remembered the way the officers strutted into the school as he planned to leave. And threw him into the back of their cruiser like he was any sort of random thug,
"{I won't ask you a second time, kid! Where the hell were you?! They saw you coming up, then the girl followed. The next thing you know she's dead! So don't lie to me, you pathetic little brat, WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?!}"
As August readied his response, his fist tightened, slowly seeing through the steel to create obvious circular marks. Pupils radiating with a distinct heterochromatic green and red hue, green for the right, red for the left. That was when he realized that he didn't have to say anything..! With his father being who he was, he didn't have to answer to this useless henchman, if anything, he could just slaughter him right then and there. And his father would cover it up for him, it was as simple as that. After all, he was his one and only son- but that was when the door was barged open, the remants of August's umbra-shaded tendril slid itself back into his shoulder. Surprised to witness who had come in through the door. It was none other than the Ace Detective Prince, Azazel Karlo, who he met two months ago in November. Panting with sweat oozing from every gland of his pours, he slammed a folder of information onto the table.
"{What's this?}"
Born American, Azazel had no intention of speaking French to this corrupt asshole of an officer. Even if he did, then he'd most likely tear right into this despicable being... that was for sure,
"This is evidence..! Haah... haah... I went over to the reported crime scene and asked around the area, and located the perpetrator. Obviously, more work than you could do, and if you'd like to know who he is, it's obviously not this young man right here! SO GET HIM THE HELL OUT OF HERE, GODDAMMIT!!"
None of them had ever seen him like this, his persona in the media was the 'calm, calculated' type... August would have never expected him to yell at such a high and meaningful frequency. Veins visible in his neck, the Rivera child had never seen such tenacity in a human being before. Needless to say, he wasn't complaining, instead, he stood and left the interrogation room, following the Detective as he led him out of the station. It wasn't that long of a walk, but they had a few moments to discuss the events that'd just occurred,
"You don't have to thank me, by the way, it was just my way of showing thanks,"
Quirking a brow, August tilted his head, had he given some sort of gift to this man before? Sure, he remembered meeting him, but- there was nothing specific that would warrant thanks. Then again, it was over two months ago, maybe he'd just forgotten in the time since then. Nevertheless, he'd no intention of questioning Azazel any further, nor did he have any time. The next thing he knew, they'd both exited the station, and there was a certain white-eyed old man with a long brown beard and straight hair leaning against a car. No glasses, but a long black and white suit. It's weird to say that considering the only white thing on the piece of clothing was the tie, but it was that. This was his father, of course. CEO Ben Rivera, the Emperor, and the first 'Requiem Superhuman' to exist in centuries. It wasn't JUST him though, there was another girl, a blonde woman that had vibrant blue eyes. Widening his own, August groaned with an annoyed tone, arms wrapped around by the former High Priestess, Ella Garcia. Using her usual trademark no pants, jean shorts, and a dark blue turtleneck with a lightning bolt over it. Squeezing her godson with all of the strength she had, she spoke quickly,
"OhImsogladyoureokAuggyImissedyousomuchhhh!"
"Yeah, yeah, missed you more,"
For the first time in a while, Ben saw his son smile at his godmother, moving to ruffle their hair for a moment. Azazel tapping his gloved finger against the side of his leg, visibly impatient, that was until Ella slid to the side and locked eyes with the young Detective. Instantly, he reeled back in reflex, before there was this ethereal pull that connected their minds, and Azazel couldn't help but have a tear slide from his eye.
"You knew my father?"
She didn't just know him... she loved him, though it was over 17 years ago, she still remembered the final words Ryder could manage out of his mouth. The very fact that he could still be alive and this was the final remnant of his lineage he left onto the Earth, she had to do something for him. She didn't know anything of his past, but if this was Ryder's son, then she could tell from the way he stared and cried as he gazed into her eyes- he'd been through PAIN.
"I'll tell you about him when I can. When you get back with August. But, for some food for thought, he always used to care about those who were dear to him. Though you might not have seen him since you were but a child, I promise, he loved you dearly,"
Azazel's head hung in shame, knowing that somewhere in the depths of the Universe, his dad was watching. Shameful for what, the trio of superhumans didn't know. Witnessing Azazel get into the driver seat of the car the Emperor was leaning on, the son of Rivera materialized inside before him. Sending a wave to his father and godmother before they seemingly zoomed down the road, darkened rocks from the concrete road kicking up to their faces. Wincing softly, the Emperor dropped his extended hand out to the side and dropped the pebbles into his friend's palm.
"Thanks..-"
Looking up from the rocks in his palm, she noticed a very distinct look in his eyes, one that rang with curiosity. As if forming a new hypothesis in his head. Not of his son, of course not, but of the Detective... though he'd known Azazel for quite some time, now, the way he cried and hung his head. There was something different about it. El reached up to touch her friend's shoulder, moving her extremities back, knowing they were thinking of different things.
"Follow them. There's something about Karlo that's... odd, like he's giving off the same energy as The Outcast,"
Morally, this decision was questionable, hating to keep secrets from anyone. Especially her former lover's son, but, in the end, Ben was Ben. He hadn't been wrong so far, and she trusted his intuition with her dying heart. Turning to see the look in his eyes, still overcome with the guilt of Ryder's passing, her palms lifted his head. She was just a few inches shorter, but just tall enough so they could bump foreheads, and hug while sharing the loss of the Moon. His memory lived in, still 17 years later, and though he couldn't see what was happening, elsewhere, beyond the fabric of space and time, Ryder had a smile twist from the corner of his lips. Spreading across the entirety of his face, head-turning as his green glow returned to him, visibly happy for the first time in years... They remembered him.
In the suburban neighborhood, the one Iana once resided within, the Detective and his partner investigated where she was murdered. They were permitted to do so, thanks to his superiors and August's father. After all, this involved him, and it'd be wrong to not bring the true perpetrator to justice by his means. Azazel slid out of the car, flipping through the folder he'd slammed onto the interrogation room's table, before halting. The paper he'd been searching for concealing his pale thumb, holding a picture that'd been taken by one of the residents located near this location. He was tall, obviously older than any of the two, wearing a vest suit with a purple tie. Glasses hiding his true eye color, the lenses shaded by the sun,
"The testimony I was given by one of the residents was, 'After I turned around, he seemingly vanished.' Either he's hidden around here and escaped, or we're dealing with a Government-engineered superhuman,"
For a moment, August stopped at the mention of 'superhumans', how some were 'government-engineered.' Was that even possible? The only of those he'd come across was his friends and family, but then again, Azazel could only know of them if he was one of them himself. So, Karlo chortled, noticing the stop in Death's movement, and extending out his arm. Palm flat, an azure glow surrounded his forearm, thereby extending throughout his entire soul. Only visible to superhumans, the Detective smiled, noticing the astonishing expression covering August's face. He was in awe.
"I've had these powers since I was but a boy. From what I remember, I don't think I was born with it, like you or your siblings. I was experimented on by the United States Government. Given superhuman-like capabilities such as energy bolts, teleportation, etc... though, there's another power I have. I call it 'The World'- would you like if I showed you?"
That mention of this other ability, 'The World', there was no doubt about it. It was the same name as Genesis' time stop, either it was just a coincidence, or he shared the same power. How, though? His father's 'The Universe', his sister's 'The World,' August believed the halting of time exclusive to his family. An aura of mystery surrounded Azazel's body, oozing from every pore of his body, as if holding something back he hated to say out loud. Or better yet, on the brink of yelling it out, but his mind was holding him in chains. Nodding as an answer, Detective Karlo understood, before the duo sensed something. This... feeling. As though another shared their collective enhanced strength around this area, that was, until suddenly, it was revealed.
"MOVE!"
Darkened tendril morphing into a fist, using the remainder of his spirit power, August punched Azazel down the strength with the tentacle-like weapon. Blood spitting out of his mouth, Death quickly spun to see the car they'd come in heading for him. Watching curiously, the Justice winced in pain, slowly, his broken cheekbone healing. Abruptly, the representation of the Death Tarot had moved out of the way of the car. His immediate reaction to the quickened pace the vehicle was turning, it was nothing like teleportation, it was almost as if time stopped for mere seconds. And the Reaper could move to the side, irritably growling. Spinning to the right, the car had destroyed the front entrance to Iana's home.
Attempting to straighten his position, Azazel's wounds gradually treated one another. That murderous glare in his eyes visible, staring at August across the sidewalk, curious as to what he'd try next. Then, he simply stepped to the side, for the shing of metal soaring through the air to halt as it touched the iron fence to his rear. Instead of standing there, without moving, menacingly pushing the concept of fear into his camouflaged attacker, he smirked. Announcing, not only to his elder Detective comrade but to their invisible adversary,
"I have a very particular set of abilities I was given by my CEO Father; I'm sure you've heard of him. One of those powers is called Golden Wind, a personal choice. Not only can I transfer other people's life forces to another person, grow back limbs or even give life to inanimate objects- I can also sense other life forms. Even without my ability to see-"
The Detective caught a glimpse of Death's moving hand, eyelids shutting over his emerald pupils, the teenager's hands moved so fast, the latter of the duo couldn't even register anything. Instinctively, Karlo tilted his head to the left, gloved hand reaching to grab hold of a gliding dagger. Rather, that's what he believed it was. The wind disguising the metal weapon evaporated like steam around boiling water, and as Azazel suspected, it was indeed a dagger. Glaring up from the knife in his hand, the young enforcer watched August, and the unpredictable enemy duke it out,
"I can dodge whatever attack you throw at me, you useless piece of shit,"
August's fingers dug into the knuckles of the fist he'd caught, the extended arm of his opponent's bones slowly but surely breaking. Panting, sweat emerging from his pores, their superhuman air-manipulating fighter revealed his true form. Almost as if it were visible to the human eye, air slid itself away from this man's body. Ruby liquid oozing out of the corner of his eyeball, dripping onto the umbra road below him, the enhanced adult groaned. Gritting his teeth, the unnatural audio that crept its way from the interior of his mouth entering August's ears. Usually, 'humans' would reel back from such a noise, but not him, not the Son of the Emperor. Thrusting the grip he had over the blonde being, his hand let out a loud SNAP! as it broke, turning upward. Loosening his tight hold, the representation of Death took one step backward, then laid a heavy kick to this man's ribcage.
CRACCKKKK-BOOMMM!!! The blow was so juiced up with power that it let out an immediate crack of thunder into the atmosphere, remainders of his dormant lightning manipulation awakening momentarily. Chilly winds sending his curly brown mop of hair to sway to the right, their blonde enemy was now incapacitated, writhing in pain and agony on the other side of the sidewalk. Blood spilling out from his broken arm, bone visible with his ripped skin over his bare-skinned chest, revealing his skeletal ribcage. Cauterized burning flesh infecting the air with a horrendous smell, Azazel used a car parked beside him to head toward his pistol.
"Rivera... throw that to me!"
Pointing at his firearm seated on the ground, a silencer hiding the barrel, Death kneeled to lift it from the concrete walkway. Turning to throw it at his friend, August's actions were briefly interrupted by the pained groaning of his 'victim'. A voice echoed in the back of his mind, to him, everything went dark. Dark enough that the bright afternoon sky, tinted with orange and pink like the sunset on this side of The World, was shaded by his mind. The shadow of The World manifested behind her, appearing from his back, the Detective tilted his head. Almost as if he could see her.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, snaking her forearm across his face, she covered his mouth with her palms. No way to detest, he listened to her words, venom seeping and stinging his heart,
"Your inaction led to her demise, don't you remember? Because you wavered, her body laid limp in your arms. If your heart is wavering, don't shoot... but if it isn't- take the shot,"
Finger against the trigger, bullet ready to exit the barrel and soar into this man's flesh, Celine's glowing crimson pupils suddenly returned to normality. Extending her arm so she could take the gun out of his hand, there was no need- as Karlo had snatched it out, cracking his neck back into place. Holstering the firearm, the Detective exhaled, a burst of adrenaline restoring him to his once-natural state. Kneeling to steal their incapacitated enemy's wallet, he dug through the cards to find what he'd been searching for: his ID. Bored of standing around, August peered over his ally's shoulder to examine the name, Jacob Neuman. Born in 2015 on December 7th, he was blonde, with a birthmark underneath the left side of his bottom lip. Some scruff forming under his chin, he didn't have a beard. Everything seemed ordinary about this man, apart from the tiny bits of white clothing over his neck barely visible in the picture in the ID.
It seemed like a lab coat. Though from what branch of Government in what part of the World, he wasn't sure, it was safe to say that whoever had hired this man was the one who murdered Iana and her family. Without much else to do, Azazel pocketed the wallet, sliding out his cellular device to replace the item he'd once held in his gloved right palm. Scrolling through his contacts, he multitasked and spoke to his ally,
"Let's head to your place so we can give this to your father,"
Seeing as how the police's tech was insufficient compared to his dad's, August agreed. The duo quietly and unanimously deciding it best to walk together to the Rivera Penthouse on the other side of Paris. The Detective walked beside his younger ally, hands swaying from side to side confidently, as opposed to the quiet style of the Reaper. Hands disclosed on the pouch of his black hoodie gifted to him by his adolescent sister- the two partners continued.
As the sunset on the city of Paris, across from there, two girls were together outside of the American School of Paris. At a make-shift stand with a banner made by the girl on the left's younger sister, written in messily with a pink marker, 'PETITION SIGNINGSSSS !!!' like that exactly. Also with glitter and stickers like stars, tiny cuddly white bears, and a tomato for some random reason. Protected by a roof made of wood, Mary looked over their board of signings; almost everyone at the school had signed. Thanks to his past actions of helping everyone with their struggles, schoolwork, personal issues, they all banded together to support him, in his time of need,
"Can't believe we've got over a hundred signatures in less than a day,"
Stated Mary, chuckling, astonished after she spoke that fact, pushing over the first slip of paper. Revealing the other plethora of petitions, Mary waved to a couple walking past the school- you might think this was random, however, it wasn't. This couple was from the United States and knew the Riveras since they sold Jason's house to him when they moved to France, not to mention were some old friends of theirs whenever the kids needed babysitting. They were the Amaras, they were Spanish- Puerto Rican, to be specific, likewise with herself and her father, to Rican, to be specific, likewise with herself and her father,
"Yooo! ¿Qué pasa? How's Paris treatin' you two?"
Hearing the familiar voice of that woman, the husband, Pietro Amara ran over to Mary and Emma. As if on command, the dark-skinned Mary's arms embraced the couple. Same with Emma hugging the wife, Iris,
"Not too bad, I mean, it's very crowded- never seen so many white people to be honest,"
Mary laughed at the comment, he wasn't lying- but, they weren't white as they were French. But, then again, what's the difference? They shared a moment, together, the Daughter of the Emperor pulling up some chairs as they all sat down together. To discuss old times, Emmy listening to the wife of the couple,
"I remember when you were soo tiny, look at chu now. Te has vuelton grande, Emmy,"
The Priestess couldn't help but smile, thinking back to those simpler younger times, when she was but a toddler and had nothing to care about except the wanting of love and attention from her mommy and daddy. It seemed like Heaven, part of her wished to go back to those times, to be honest,
"Yeah, lots of shit's changed. Can't say I'm the same 5-year-old you used to babysit and give milk to... to be honest, I wish I could go back to when things were better. But, ya know. Es lo que es, right?"
Iris could see it in her eyes, Mary's hand rubbed her cousin's shoulder, as a way to comfort her. But it didn't do anything, all it did was remind her of what a failure she was as a sister, even more so as a daughter. If her father were to die, she would become the next to inherit everything- she was the eldest. She had a responsibility, to make sure everyone is okay... to protect her siblings. But she couldn't.
"I was-"
"Oy!"
That voice, it was one not recognized by none of the quartet, although it was particular enough that it caused Mary to peek her head out of the wooden roof of the petition signing stand. From this person's figure and their long platinum locks, the cousins could determine- this was a female. Just from that word, that hook that grabbed the girls' attention, this woman's voice was raspy, messed up- as if she'd gone through some sort of trauma recently. One that destroyed her vocal cords, the way she struggled to croak out just 'Oy!', as it pained her to even say one word. The cowl over her face, shadowing her features was apparent, she was scared beyond belief, but revealing the truth of her face would damage her pride.
"Get them outta here. I can deal with discount Celine,"
Mary instructed her older cousin, believing her powers to be more suited for this sort of task anyway, she leaped from the chair she was seated in. As if on command, cars parked behind the platinum blonde hovered from the ground, about to blindsight their enemy. Instead, she leaned herself back so they'd act as platforms as they went for Mary, eyes radiating with a dark orange hue, Emma's cyan aura encased Pietro and Iris in bubbles of water. Suited with oxygen, of course,
"Adios,"
As her cousin was jumping from the flying vehicles, infusing her palm with vampiric strength, one of the automobiles was sliced in half. About to do the same with their female enemy, at the very last second, she weaved and slid to the right across the snowy concrete. Surprised, she continuously threw multiple punches, at the same time, pieces of metal like lamp posts thrust themselves at Mary's rival. Since this would be a long one, Leah, their superhuman adult female enemy, did a spinning backflip. Snow kicked itself up from the flip, aimed directly into the corner of the teenager's eyes. About to intervene, the Priestess was suffered from a jaw-shattering blow to the face, and as she fell back in pain, blood flowing from her bottom lip, she watched her cousin.
Mary witnessed this, confused- there was no possible way this woman could halt the flow of time. Even then, she would also have to be paired with the power to teleport, because- right now, Leah, was crouched on the lamp post The Sun threw at her. Heading right for the School to her rear, hands pocketed in her hoodie, eyes downward, then flipping off the holder of the light. The pose she took in mid-air, head facing the concrete, legs up into the air. Barely dodging, the Sun grunted and moved her head to the side. Though the power was camouflaged with light, she figured it out, but- she doubted she would be able to finish her off,
"Emmy! I know you can do this! Think of August, do this for him... I believe in you, ¡cabrona!"
Sticking up her two middle fingers, Leah took this as a free hit, but instead, knowing she would use her signature attack- she disappeared. Abruptly, the woman's hoodie had been torn off, and as Mary skid to a halt, orange lightning pushing itself off of her shoulders, the hoodie burnt up in her hands. Leah's bare boodie, uncovered by anything else, was revealed. Eyes, lips, tattoos of arms and legs covered her arms. Blinking, real, alive... eyes.
"BITCH!!!"
Cried out Leah in anger, tears pouring out from her eyes, not the ones just on her face, but instead- all over her face. Creating a pool of transparent liquid, Emma glared at this... demon. Sure, she might have been an experiment, a failed one- but that didn't change anything. She hurt her cousin, but she couldn't help but shake her head at her cousin's confiding in her. Hearing the thud of someone's shoe land onto the ground beside her, she could see Mary's younger sister, covered with a jacket as she readied to leave school. Stomping her foot down and revealing her eyes- lit aflame with the spark of 'Dark Determination' her father had years ago,
"Mary Rivera... you're one crazy bitch, ya know that? Risking your life to beat this pathetic whore..."
Scared for her life of that look in this girl's eyes, Leah stood back... afraid of what'd happen next, Emma finished... soul and body radiating with an icy cyan glow. Bright enough that it could light up an entire mall,
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
To Be Continued...