"It has been confirmed that a family of three has been murdered in their homes. The murderer has been unidentified, However local police have some theories on that. The bodies have also been unidentified, being heavily mutilated in the process. We will release any more information we may gain upon identification, On further news-," I shut off the tv, looking down at my hands. Mutilated... My mind flashes back to Lyras knives.. The pain that came with it. There is too much overlap right now to rule out that possibility... I shrug on a coat, stepping out into the street.
I walk silently, ignoring the stares following me. I bite my cheek, keeping my head lowered.
"Hey Lio! I was just coming to see you.. I saw the news, I thought you'd might want to check it out.. See if it has anything to do with Flare," I heard Magnus call behind me. I turned, seeing him saunter happily up to me, his hands stuffed in his pockets. I nod, smiling at the floor.
"Thank you...," I whispered. He smiled, reaching over and squeezing my hand.
"Yeah of course. Are you ok?," He asked, his face filling with concern. I nodded, shaking his hand off with ease. I've become so accustomed to shutting him out lately, I dont know how I feel.
"That's a lie.. ," His face darkened, but he remained silent. We continued our stroll in silence. After a moment, a alleyway came into view. As soon as we were passing it, Magnus yanked me into it, practically pulling my arms out their sockets.
" I know you want to see the bodies for yourself.. But tI recommend against it. The news twisted it because my mother asked them to, But they weren't just cast out like it made it seem. Their bodies were found inside their homes," He started. I fell back against the wall, looking at my hands.
"Who is it?," I demanded, my voice cracking.
"It was Ryan," He answered earnestly. I froze, the world around me practically freezing. I looked down, my lips parting, blood drumming in my ears.
"No..," I murmured. My eyes burned with unshed tears. My hands trembled. Without another word, Magnus hugged me, burying my head into his chest.
I wrapped my arms around him back, closing my eyes as steadily the tears began to fall. After a moment, it sped up, becoming more rapid, my silent cries turning into sobs.
"I'm sorry Lio..," He whispered in my ear. I clenched my eyes shut, pulling away and wiping my tears.
"Its fine.. Thenpolice can catch them right?," I asked. He slowly nodded his head. I slowly leaned back against the wall, sliding down it. I wrapped my knees up, pulling them to my chest.
"This world is fucked up... I hate it.. I hate the cruelty that living life by the rules brings.. I hate that there are people out there who murder innocent people... Its unfair," Incried, burying my head into my knees. I heard shuffling, before Magnus sat next to me, his head cast downwards.
"The world is unfair Lio.. Casualites are a necessity to bring about change. It doesnt matter whether it's good, or bad. All that matters is that you adapt, so you dont become a casualty yourself," He preached, leaning back and facing the sky.
"It hurts like a bitch sometimes... But that pain will only guarantee your strength tomorrow. Always remember that," He murmured gently. I looked up at him, my eyes widening with admiration. He smiled at me, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Now come on. Let's get a bite," He ordered, standing up. I nodded, rising to my feet.
"I dont think so," A robotic voice called out from the end of the alley, I turned, seeing a female shaped robot stalking towards us. I bite my lip.
"Who are you?," I demanded. She giggled, knives shooting out her metallic palms.
"You must remember my babies... You had so much fun with them remember?," She cackled. I stepped back, my eyes widening. Her.. Babies... Blades... Lyra called them her babies..
"How are you alive?," I demanded. Magnus looked at me confused.. Lyra grinned.
"Flare gave me new life.. New promise. I owe him the world. And he wants your little friends head on a pike," She cheered. Her red metallic eyes seemed to glow even brighter.
"I always wanted to cut you Maggie... Now the boss gave me permission to remove your whole head!," She cried. I shoved Magnus back, spinning around and stomping the ground. A wave of ice short forward, launching her back. I turned, grabbing Magnus's hands.
"Let's go!, " I yelled, grabbing his hand and sprinting out into the street. Behind me, I heard my ice shatter, and Lyra stalks closer, her knives gleaming in the darkness.
"You wont get away, Darling!," She cried. I sprinted even faster, fear thrumming in my chest. I stopped, shoving Magnus ahead of me.
"GO!," I ordered, summoning double ice swords. He glared at me.
"I'm not going to leave you!," He refused, Letting his hands reignite.
"Magnus go.. Please. Im begging you... She isnt someone to toy with. I know that for a fact," I begged him. He shook his head, standing his ground.
"I left you alone last time and you got tortured Lio. You left home for months dragged into a world you shouldve never been involved in. Im not letting you go again," He says with a glare. I look around me, looking back at Lyras approaching body. People screamed on the streets.
"Magnus...," I stopped, looking back. Lyra approached, fixated on us. I noted the weird pumps. She has our blood still. If the person who turned her into this wanted, they could've infused our powers into her. No single attack could work alone.
"Shoot your fire bullet at her," I ordered. He looked at me like I was crazy.
"Just do it!," I screamed. He nodded, raising his palm. He fired, and almost instantly, I touched my chest, the world erupting into blue and violet. Frost curled up at my fingers. Time is frozen.. I have to make this quick. I run up to Lyra, lifting her up and putting her right in front of the bullet with no room to spare. Then as soon as I set her there, I create a wall with a single icicle sticking out of it. If this works, shell be exploded point blank and impaled.
Time returned to normal, and Lyra exploded, flying backwards and piercing herself on my wall. I gasped, half my body covered in frost, but not thick as ice. I smiled.
"I DID IT!," I cheered. Magnus glanced at me with shock.
"You did it again, didnt you," He demanded. I smirked and grabbed his hand.
"Yup," Without even bothering to check if she was dead or not, we ran off, hoping to escape the streets.
Little did we know, We would later come to regret that decision.
Flare.
"What's the intel you gathered?," I demanded, looking at an extremely torn up version of Lyra. She remained frozen, some of my minions repairing her as we speak.
"Well, the ice guy can freeze time.. Or hes just incredibly fast one second I'm in one place, the next second I'm being blown up by a fireball and launched straight onto a giant icicle. That doesnt just happen when I was literally less than a block away," She growled. From her voice I could tell she was angry. Who's idea was it to let her keep those pesky emotions?
"He pulled a similar move on me not too long ago.. There has to be a coinciding weakness," I mumbled.
"Half his body was frosted over. I think the longer he freezes time the higher expense it has on his body. I would'nt be surprised if it's almost killed him at least once by now," Lyra answered. I smirked. So there is a cost to that power. I wonder... Is there more to it than that. I grinned at Lyra.
"Good work. Minions, give her whatever upgrade she wants, but only one," I ordered. They nodded and scrambled about her. I turned, cracking my knuckles. I'd like to see how this one plays out.
?????
I hummed, brushing the hair of the new puppet Incollected, admiring her lovely black hair.
"Oh what a doll," I sung, brushing her hair over one shoulder. I smirked, turning to the youngest I collected. Maybe a teen in highschool.
"You were my target... You're so beautiful... You're going to be my loyal companion... Forever!," I cackled, tossing the mother aside and sauntering over to the boy, kneeling down in front of him. He opened his eyes, a look of death passing over him.
"Let's get this over with. You're a dead soul caught in my pretty little dagger. Unless you want to stay here.. Bored. And unused for all eternity, make a deal with me. Join me on the battle field, and I'll let your soul out as often as I can. As long as you agree to my contract," I promised. He nodded. I snapped my fingers, a mark appearing on his shoulder.
"What's your name?," I asked. He turned his head.
"Ryan," He replied, his voice cold. Dead. I leaned over him.
"Your power?," I asked. He looked up at me.
"Alter... I can change anyone's appearance or power for up to six hours depending on the amount of strength I have," He answered honestly. I grinned.
"I have some great plans for you, Alter,"
Lio
I slammed the door shut behind me, watching Magnus collapse on the floor. I grip my burning chest, watching as the mark grows bigger, expanding to my shoulders.
"Lio I told you not to use that power... It isnt what your power is meant for," He growled, looking up at me angrily from the floor. I looked back at him, making eye contact.
"She would've chased us to the ends of the earth if I hadn't. Trust me," I responded, locking the door and stomping to the kitchen, grabbing an up from the cupboard.
"We could've dealt with her a different way!," He yelled. I turned, slamming my cup down on the counter with a scowl.
"She had our blood Magnus, if some goony from their makeshift gang Flare created had a transfer power, shencouldve had both of our abilities," I roared back. I turned, filling my cup up with water.
"You're unbelievable. Shes a robot, she doesnt have powers anymore. You need blood for that. Running through living veins, not tubes. If there were such things as robots with our powers, we'd all be fine for," I insisted. I shook my head, before chugging down my water. After I finished, I set it down, turning my gaze back to him.
"Oh she was very much alive," I retorted, leaning onto the counter with my head down.
"Lio please listen to me.. You're being paranoid. It was a robot. And I dont care how dire the situation is, I told you I dont want you using that time freeze thing," He begged. I slammed my fists down on the counter looking up at him with a glare.
"WHY DOES IT MATTER!"
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!,"