On a runway at Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup, Mai stood staring at a small black jet plane. She had joked when she asked if Liam really owned a plane, but it turned out to be true. As she admired the plane, Liam was in discussion with Ezekiel and his group.
Ezekiel sent Liam a sharp glance with curious eyes.
"Who is she?" he asked.
"Just a good friend." Liam replied in a flat tone, coughing lightly.
"You've never used your jet for me or anyone else, not even for the two goddesses," Ezekiel chuckled, casting a glance at Mai. He looked back at Liam.
"If you're too slow, you'll lose her."
He walked straight over to Mai.
"I'm Ezekiel." he said, extending his hand to her and giving her a charming smile.
Mai stared at him, furrowing her brow. What on earth is he up to? Everyone knew him, so why did he need to introduce himself to her? She looked at the jet again, ignoring him, and approached it, touching the wing. Her heart pounded, and she thought it might be a dream. Ezekiel came up to her and touched the wing.
"Do you like jet planes?" he asked.
"I've always wanted to fly in one, but only fighter pilots are allowed." Mai revealed, pouting.
Ezekiel stroked the wing, nodded, and repeated her words. "A fighter jet."
Liam and the others joined them, but before they entered the plane, Liam took out a large black pill the size of a cantaloupe and handed it to Mai, who blinked in confusion.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's a survival pill I've made. Otherwise, you'll die before we get there." he explained.
Survival pill? Mai furrowed her brow and looked at Ezekiel and the others, but they didn't react strangely to his words. She nodded and accepted it, but when she held it in her hands, it looked really huge even though it didn't weigh much. She remembered something important and looked at Liam, furrowing her brow.
"Do I have to swallow it?"
Ezekiel chuckled, looked away, and gestured to his group to look away too.
Liam sighed deeply and gave her a choice.
"You haven't flown on my plane before. If you want to save your sister in time, we need to get to Marbella quickly."
Mai nodded and opened her mouth, but suddenly, another important thing occurred to her, causing her to furrow her brow.
"It's too big."
Liam burst into laughter, and she heard Ezekiel and his group cough loudly.
"Nothing is ever too big."
Mai couldn't quite handle the "cantaloupe" and instead stuck her tongue out, licking it first. It tasted like licorice with a strong powder, and she made a face. What the heck have I gotten myself into? She bit into the "cantaloupe," expecting it to be hard, but was surprised to find it soft, like jelly. She quickly consumed it, and as she swallowed the last piece, she felt warmth spreading through her body. It started to tingle on her forehead, spreading to her face. She didn't think much of it and looked at Liam.
"Okay. I'm ready."
He nodded and called Ezekiel and his group over. He took out small black balls the size of Mentos, making Mai widen her eyes. They swallowed the balls, and she shot Liam a death glare.
"That's cheating! Why did I have to take the big one?"
"We've all flown in the fighter jet and taken the big pill, just like you." explained Ezekiel, chuckling.
Mai gave him a sharp look and went into the aircraft. She was surprised to find eight seats resembling a bit of a spacecraft. She settled in, and Liam placed his hand on the cockpit. A whitish glow emanated from his hands, spreading throughout the aircraft as it lifted off the ground instantly. It started vibrating violently, and Mai closed her eyes.
"Hold on." Liam shouted, placing his left hand on the cockpit.
*Vroom*
Before Mai could react, she felt a burning heat on her face, and in an instant, it disappeared.
"We're here now." Liam suddenly said.
Huh? Mai thought she had misheard and opened her eyes, seeing a dark city below. Marbella should have had city life with illuminated lights, but it looked dead, giving her a pit in her stomach.
Liam turned around, looking at her, and suddenly raised his eyebrows.
"Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay." Mai replied, her thoughts solely on her sister's health.
What about her dog, Walder?
Ezekiel and his group looked at her, also raising their eyebrows and appearing surprised. They glanced at Liam, who shook his head in silence, choosing not to say anything.
They landed on a lush mountain, but as they stepped out of the plane, Mai remembered something crucial about her sister.
"Fuck, I don't know where she lives."
She facepalmed and looked at Liam, now resembling a complete idiot.
He looked at her for a moment and suddenly burst into laughter.
"At least you know she lives here. That's something."
Mai wasn't sure if his words were meant as a balm for the wound, and she looked down at the sea, a tingling sensation in her heart as she thought about her sister.
"Ezekiel, can you track her?"
Ezekiel walked over to Mai, but as he was about to touch her shoulder, he pulled his hand back.
"If I fail, it will backfire on me."
He tapped Mai's shoulder, and she turned to the side, looking at him.
"Has she ever mentioned her address to you?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Not once."
Ezekiel looked at Liam and shook his head.
"It won't work."
Mai sighed deeply, feeling a tear on the verge of escaping. Just when she thought they had come in vain, she suddenly heard Ezekiel speak again.
"Vira. Can you track her?"
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair approached Mai, wearing a white tunic and white trousers. She extended her right hand to Mai.
"Can I have a drop of your blood?"
Mai furrowed her brow. Is she a vampire? She pointed to her forehead.
"You can take it from here."
Vira nodded and took out a gold acupuncture needle, piercing it into her forehead.
*Puchi*
Mai felt the blood flowing out and grew nervous.
"Can you hurry?"
Vira quickly pulled out the needle, opened her mouth, and stuck out her tongue. She licked the needle clean of blood.
Mai widened her eyes but chose not to inquire about Vira's background.
Vira closed her eyes, smacked her lips, and pursed them together. Suddenly, she raised her right index finger, pointing in a specific direction in front of them.
"Elijah." Ezekiel said suddenly, and a man approached them, dressed in black ninja attire.
*Whoosh*
A pair of large white feathered wings emerged on his back, and he flapped them, swiftly flying off in the same direction.
For a moment, Mai thought she was dreaming, blinking a couple of times, and looking after Elijah, but she couldn't see him anymore. First a vampire, and now a bird. What's next?
They were about to leave.
*Bip. Bip. Bip*
A hologram of a man in a black hooded cloak appeared in front of Liam.
"General, we have trouble at Kattekat near Sweden." the man reported.
Liam nodded and looked at Mai with a serious expression.
"Unfortunately, I can't come with you." He sighed deeply and looked at Ezekiel.
"Can you help her find her sister?"
They bid farewell to Liam, but before he left, Mai mentioned Kenta, whom they had left in the Spirit Temple. He promised they would take care of him until she returned.
Mai was more concerned that Kenta might cause trouble and mark his territory everywhere. He was especially good at revenge pooping, as he had done with an ex.
"Can you send someone to keep an eye on him? I don't trust him. Don't be fooled by his innocent face."
Liam broke into a smile, nodded, and got into his jet, flying away.
Suddenly, Mai felt something thrown over her shoulders and saw that it was a white hooded cloak.
"You are with us, so whether you like it or not, you'll attract attention."
Mai nodded, and Ezekiel embraced her from behind. They ascended from the mountain and flew towards Marbella, which now resembled an abandoned city. Mai felt the mild air, and she noticed that the cloak regulated her body temperature. A strange feeling enveloped her as they approached the city. There were no residents present, only an eerie silence. She tried to use her eyes to search for her sister.
They landed in a residential area, now unrecognizable as it lay in ruins, resembling a bombed city. In front of them, a pile of furniture lay, and a black snout peeked out from under a chair, which Mai recognized immediately. A lump formed in her stomach.
"Walder?"
She ran towards him, her heart racing.
*Crack*
Suddenly, a black crack opened in the sky above them, rapidly expanding, revealing a large three-eyed creature. Its skin was blue-purple, and its eyes were red. It opened its mouth, revealing sharp white teeth with visible pieces of flesh between them. Its foul breath could be smelled from a distance, and everyone covered their mouths.
"Heh. Finally. I've been waiting for an eternity. So many."
It licked its lips, and a pair of large hands emerged from the crack, followed by the rest of its body. In the sky stood a gigantic blue being with leather ankle pants, bare-chested, a large black harpoon on its back, and a brown club with sharp spikes in its right hand. It looked down at Ezekiel and swung its club.
*Swish. Swish. Swish*
Just when everyone thought it would run towards them, it suddenly released the club, which flew rapidly towards them.
"Allan!" Ezekiel shouted, rushing towards Mai, who didn't have time to react.
A man with short black hair raised his hands in the air and spread his fingers.
*Vroom*
A large golden curved shield covered them all.
*Bang*
The club hit the shield and flew back into the air, turning slightly and returning like a boomerang, this time faster than before.
*Clang. Clang. Clang*
Mai stared at the snout and began pulling Walder out. An older Västgötaspets lay with closed eyes, resembling someone peacefully sleeping. Tears welled up, and she sniffled as she began digging under the furniture. Was her sister here?
Ezekiel pushed away the furniture, revealing the light brown face of a young woman. She had long black hair and lay with closed eyes, as if peacefully sleeping. Mai placed two fingers under her nose but couldn't feel anything. Emotions exploded, and she started crying loudly. She heard sounds, but it was as if her ears were deafened by her rapid heartbeat.
Ezekiel placed his hand on her right shoulder.
*Crack*
Cracks appeared in the shield, and Allan screamed loudly, clapping his hands together.
*Vroom*
A new yellow shield formed on top of the first one, and he sat down, taking deep breaths while beads of sweat ran down him.
Mai felt something sharp pricking her heart, developing into a scraping sensation, and she clutched her chest. She gritted her teeth while staring at her sister.
"Sorry, Anya, that I wasn't there for you."
*Crack*
Visible, large cracks appeared in the shield, and Allan clenched his teeth while balling his fists.
"Ezekiel." He shouted.