Forgre

Chapter 10:

– Silas –

I slowly lowered myself into the chair across from Alexandria, my heart pounding loudly enough that I was almost certain she could hear it. 

…I felt ridiculous. My mouth dry, hands trembling slightly, and a nervous tightness gripping my chest. 

Alexandria watched me calmly from behind the sleek helmet that hid most of her face. Even with half her features concealed, her presence filled the room completely. She didn't need theatrics to intimidate me–just sitting there was enough.

Fuck, I really needed to get stronger.

The silence stretched for a moment too long, so I cleared my throat awkwardly. Before I could stumble my way through some idiotic attempt at small talk, her lips actually moved into a slight smile.

"You don't need to be so nervous, Silas," she said calmly, a small note of amusement coloring her voice. "I'm not here to interrogate you. At least, not the scary version you're probably imagining."

I blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly, relieved. "Is it that obvious?"

Her smile widened fractionally, and she inclined her head slightly, almost apologetically. "It is to me. I'm quite good at reading people."

Oh…fantastic. An expert at cold-reading. Exactly what I needed right now.

I swallowed, shifting slightly in my seat and trying to loosen up. "Alright. Well… I'll keep that in mind."

She nodded, and sat forward slightly, resting her forearms neatly on the polished tabletop between us. Despite her relaxed posture, there was a sense of precision and complete control to every motion she made. "I'm glad you decided to join the Wards," she began, her tone calm but sincere. "Not many young men who suddenly find themselves with power are mature enough to choose the hero's path. Too many are tempted by the easy road. Heroes—true heroes—are always something the world desperately needs more of."

I met her gaze, feeling my pulse steady somewhat. It was strange hearing those words from Alexandria–a woman who'd made a lot of very questionable decisions according to my meta-knowledge, at least.

"I appreciate that," I told her honestly, managing to keep my voice steadier than I'd expected. "Being a hero was always the goal. Being a villain… that's something I'd never even consider."

Hell no.

She paused for a moment, tilting her head very slightly as she seemed to study me closely. I wasn't sure exactly what she saw, but after a heartbeat, she nodded again, apparently satisfied. "I'm genuinely glad to hear that, Silas," Alexandria replied, sounding approving. She leaned forward a little more "I would like to discuss your abilities now. Specifically how they function, or at least, how you believe they function. It could be quite important for the PRT moving forward."

I nodded, steeling myself. I'd expected this question—hell, I'd gotten it from Piggot, Armsmaster, and Miss Militia already. 

Alexandria wasn't going to be any different in that regard. If anything, she'd want to know more. Everything. She wasn't going to get everything of course… Well, to be fair, I didn't even know everything.

"To be completely honest, I'm still figuring out a lot about my powers," I admitted. "It's pretty strange, actually. Basically, I see this sort of video-game interface. It gives me tasks or quests to complete, and whenever I finish one, I get rewarded. It even rewards anyone who goes along with me."

She didn't interrupt, simply watched and listened carefully, which encouraged me to continue.

"Beyond that, it's mostly guesswork. I don't have an instruction manual or anything." I chuckled.

Her head dipped once, indicating understanding. "This quest you completed with Panacea, your journey to another world? I read the reports from Armsmaster. Are you able to control when and where you travel like that? It would be incredibly useful to the PRT if you can." 

She sounded almost eager when she said that.

Before I could answer, my system interface suddenly flared to life in front of us, the familiar bright blue holographic glow startling us both slightly. 

Alexandria tensed minutely, a hint of surprise flickering briefly across the visible lower half of her face.

On the screen, glowing words formed clearly:

[Host Silas will be capable of returning to previously visited quest worlds upon successfully completing 3 System-issued quests to other worlds. Current status: 1 of 3 quests complete.]

Alexandria stared at the floating text for a second. "This is your power– your system? Is it sentient?" she asked carefully.

I shrugged helplessly. "Honestly? I have no idea. Sometimes it feels like it's aware, but mostly it's more automated. Like, triggered responses or notifications. It hasn't really shown independent thought yet."

Her lips pressed together thoughtfully, and she studied the interface carefully as it slowly faded from view. "You mentioned these quests encourage heroism, specifically?"

I nodded firmly. "Yeah. Every task it's given me so far pushes me towards doing good. It's made that pretty clear. Even if it didn't, though, it wouldn't matter. I made up my mind long before the System showed up. There are already enough bullies and assholes around without me joining their ranks."

Alexandria's smile widened again. "I'm glad you feel that way. It's not always easy sticking to that path. Especially not once you start seeing how harsh the world can really be. People often become cynical after seeing too much..." She was probably talking from experience there. Alexandria paused for a moment, the silence lingering as she appeared to think something over carefully. Her posture remained composed and steady, her hands neatly clasped atop the polished table. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured, and she chose each word with clear intent. "You visited the Dallon residence earlier today—the home of New Wave. I understand you met with Carol Dallon to discuss your contract," Alexandria stated calmly.

"Yeah," I confirmed simply, leaning back a little in my chair, grateful to have the topic shift away from my mysterious powers. "She helped me sort through the PRT paperwork. I'm glad she did, too—she caught some things I probably wouldn't have noticed on my own."

Alexandria nodded slightly, acknowledging this. "Yes, Carol Dallon has a formidable reputation as a legal expert. Her skills have proven many times before." She paused again, clearly selecting her next words with care. "Tell me, how was Panacea? Is she coping well after your… recent experiences together?"

I couldn't stop a small smile from forming on my face as I thought about Amy. "Amy's doing great, honestly," I answered, relaxing a bit more now that the conversation felt less like an interrogation. "She's actually really excited about her new abilities."

Alexandria froze for a second, her head tilting just slightly to the side. It was subtle, but I caught the shift instantly. "New abilities?" she repeated carefully, her voice tinged with sudden interest. "I'm sorry, I don't believe you explained this part in detail earlier."

"Oh," I said, suddenly unsure if I'd mentioned this clearly enough before. "Maybe I didn't emphasize it earlier. Yeah, Amy got new powers as well after we returned from the quest. It wasn't just me. She gained the ability to heal herself, and today she learned to conjure actual fire from her hands."

I decided to leave out the fact that these new abilities were literal magic, and not parahuman powers.

Alexandria visibly reacted with genuine surprise. Her jaw tightened slightly, her posture straightened fractionally, and her gloved fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly. 

I realized immediately how significant this revelation was to someone like her. 

"Silas," she said, her voice lower now, with an intensity that was almost unsettling. "Let me make sure I understand correctly. Not only are you capable of granting yourself new powers—essentially becoming a Trump-class cape— but your abilities also allow you to give powers to others?"

I swallowed, feeling suddenly on edge. The gravity in her tone was unmistakable. "Yes. As far as I know, anyone who joins me on these quests can receive rewards similar to mine."

She exhaled slowly, deliberately. Her voice was careful and controlled when she spoke again. "Silas, this information absolutely cannot be allowed to spread. Villains will not hesitate for a moment. If they discover that you can grant powers, you'll become the single greatest target in Brockton Bay. Possibly the entire world!"

I grimaced inwardly at that. It wasn't exactly comforting to hear, especially since it was probably already too late. "Yeah, about that," I admitted reluctantly. "Amy's whole family already knows. Vicky was there when Amy showed off her new abilities, and subtlety definitely isn't her strong suit. So honestly, this might already be public knowledge. Or close to it…"

Alexandria pressed her lips together briefly in clear frustration. She visibly restrained herself from showing further displeasure, instead remaining silent for a second, clearly considering her next move.

"If it hasn't spread widely yet, then you must act quickly," she said firmly, focusing directly on me. "Contact Amy and Victoria Dallon immediately. Make sure they know how serious this is. For your safety, and for theirs!"

I nodded quickly. "I'll text them as soon as we're done here."

Alexandria sat back slightly, her shoulders easing just a fraction. She regarded me in silence for a moment longer, something shifting subtly behind those carefully guarded eyes. Her posture relaxed somewhat, becoming less intense, almost thoughtful.

"There's one more thing," she began, voice softer now. Her gloved fingers gently tapped against the table as she appeared to contemplate her next words. "Your powers—the quests and missions. From everything you've described, it seems as though you may need skilled allies."

I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I guess that's true?"

I would have been fucked without Amy in Skyrim at the very least…

Alexandria leaned forward, and when she spoke next, her voice took on an oddly personal note. "I'd like to accompany you myself. On your next mission!"

My brain froze instantly. I blinked at her, my jaw dropping open slightly. First Vicky, now Alexandria herself was asking!? 

My pulse quickened, anxiety flooding through me at the very thought of it.

"I, uh…" I stammered, desperately scrambling to think of some excuse that wouldn't sound utterly stupid or insulting. "That's—uh, I mean—it's not really something I can fully control. The quests kind of just… happen spontaneously. Randomly. I don't really get a say in when or where."

She watched me carefully, reading me easily, I was sure. After a second, she raised a hand gently, stopping my clumsy attempts at a bullshit explanation. "Relax, Silas," she said softly, the tone gentle and almost soothing now. "It's not an order. Just a request. I completely understand if the thought makes you uncomfortable. Truly."

I exhaled audibly, feeling immense relief at her understanding. "Thank you," I replied, trying my best not to sound as nervous as I felt. "I appreciate your understanding."

"I realize my presence can be overwhelming. I'm aware I might unintentionally cause anxiety. I'll not force the issue."

I nodded gratefully, deeply relieved that she wasn't pressing the subject any further.

She straightened slightly, resuming her professional demeanor. "I think we've covered enough for now. You're free to leave. I'll be in Brockton Bay for some time, Silas, so we will likely speak again soon."

"...I'll look forward to that," I lied, forcing a small smile.

She inclined her head graciously, watching me calmly as I turned to leave. 

I exited the room quietly, the heavy metal door closing gently behind me. As I stepped out into the hallway, my shoulders slumped in relief. A wave of exhaustion swept over me. Alexandria being here indefinitely felt more than a little oppressive. She seemed far more reasonable than I'd expected, yet knowing she was part of Cauldron made me deeply wary…

Shaking it off, I reached into my pocket for my phone and quickly typed out a text to Amy and Vicky as I walked down the corridor, footsteps echoing softly off the metal floors.

Me: Hey, so… Alexandria's here at the Rig. Apparently, me giving people powers is a huge deal. Please don't tell anyone where Amy got her "enhancements…"

I barely waited a few seconds before my phone buzzed twice in rapid succession. Smirking slightly, I glanced down at the screen.

Amy responded first.

Almighty PanPan: Obviously. We're not dumb. We'll be careful.

Vicky's text followed immediately after.

Glory Girl: Secret's safe with me. I promise!

A second later, my phone vibrated again—this time just from Vicky. Another message flashed across my notifications.

Glory Girl: Also… I sent you something special. Check it out when you get a chance ;)

My curiosity instantly piqued. Vicky wasn't exactly subtle about her intentions, so I figured it would probably be another one of her playful teasing texts. I clicked on the notification, opened the message, and immediately stopped walking as the attached photo loaded onto my screen.

My face went hot.

Holy shit…

There, filling my phone screen, was a clear picture of Vicky standing in front of a bathroom mirror. She had a playful grin on her face, blonde hair cascading loosely down her bare shoulders. She was completely topless, her firm, beautifully shaped breasts exposed openly for me to see. Her pale skin looked smooth, almost flawless in the warm bathroom lighting. Her pink nipples stood out sharply, perfectly erect.

My pulse quickened instantly, and my eyes lingered hungrily for a moment longer than they probably should have. Damn, she was absolutely gorgeous.

The caption below it read simply:

Glory Girl: Keep me in mind the next time you want to go on an adventure. ;)

A goofy smile spread across my face. Vicky really wasn't playing around anymore. I'd been so nervous and stressed earlier, and this picture immediately wiped all of that tension from my mind. 

At least for a few moments.

Distracted as I was, I didn't hear the footsteps approaching from around the corner ahead of me. As I rounded it, my eyes still glued to Vicky's provocative picture, I collided directly into a solid body.

"Oh shit—sorry!" I stumbled backward, quickly locking my phone and fumbling to shove it into my pocket before whoever I'd collided with could see anything incriminating.

The person I'd run into had barely budged an inch, standing completely steady in his shiny armored costume. It took me a second to recognize the silver-and-blue gear and stylized helm—Gallant.

Gallant chuckled softly from beneath his visor, his voice calm and genuinely friendly. "Hey, no worries. You looked pretty lost in thought there. Everything okay?"

My stomach clenched a bit at the realization. Gallant was Dean. Dean Stansfield. 

…Vicky's ex-boyfriend.

I definitely wasn't about to tell him I was distracted by a picture of Vicky topless. "Yeah, sorry about that," I managed, laughing a bit awkwardly. "Just distracted. A lot on my mind lately. You know, new Ward stuff. Anyway, my bad…"

Gallant nodded. "I get it. You're Silas, right? The new guy who took out Rune the other day?"

"Yeah. That's me," I confirmed quickly. "Silas Thorn. Cape name still pending, though. I haven't exactly figured out something cool enough yet."

Gallant chuckled again, the tension in my gut easing just slightly. He held out a gloved hand, and I shook it firmly. "Don't worry. Picking a name always takes longer than people think. Nice to finally meet you officially, Silas. Glad to have you on the team."

"Thanks," I said genuinely, appreciating the warmth in his voice. It was a relief he wasn't trying to size me up or be overly intimidating. 

He seemed like a good guy.

Gallant gestured down the hallway behind him. "The rest of the Wards are already in the barracks if you wanna head over and introduce yourself. They're pretty excited to meet you—taking down a major Empire cape on your first day made a serious impression around here."

I smiled sheepishly. "Things kind of just… happened."

Gallant laughed softly. "They usually do. Anyway, head on in whenever you're ready. I have to go meet with Armsmaster, unfortunately."

I nodded gratefully. "Sounds good. See you around, Gallant."

He gave a small wave, then walked past me, footsteps echoing evenly as he turned the corner and disappeared down the hallway.

Once he was gone, I took another deep breath and ran a hand through my hair. Holy hell. Today was seriously giving me emotional whiplash. Alexandria, Vicky's surprise nude selfie, bumping into her ex...

My phone vibrated again, another notification from Vicky popping up teasingly.

Glory Girl: So, did you like my pic? You better say yes.

I shook my head with a smirk and typed back quickly.

Me: You're definitely unforgettable. Thanks for that.

Glory Girl: Good. Don't keep a girl waiting too long though. Talk soon ;)

Chuckling softly to myself, I finally managed to slip my phone back into my pocket, and head inside to meet the team properly.

I pushed open the door to the Wards' barracks and stepped inside, taking a deep breath as I did. The door closed behind me with a gentle whoosh, leaving me standing awkwardly just inside the entrance, taking in my new surroundings.

The place was surprisingly welcoming, well-lit, and spacious. Comfortable-looking couches and armchairs were scattered around a large central lounge area, circling a flat-screen TV mounted on the far wall. Off to one side was a small kitchen nook—fridge, microwave, coffee pot, and cabinets stocked with snacks. To my left, I spotted a short hallway that I assumed led deeper into the facility.

Shadow Stalker was leaning casually against one of the couches, her dark costume standing out starkly against the room's warm colors. Vista was sitting cross-legged in a cushy armchair, scrolling lazily through something on her phone. 

Both looked up immediately when they noticed me.

Shadow Stalker raised an eyebrow at me, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think Alexandria had scared you off."

Vista glanced up and instantly went red in the face, hastily fumbling her phone and nearly dropping it in her lap. "O-oh! Silas! You're... um..." she stammered, pushing herself awkwardly from the chair and smoothing down her costume nervously, clearly flustered. Her eyes darted shyly between mine and the floor, cheeks growing pinker by the second. "Hi—hi again. It's good, um, really good to see you again…"

I smiled down at her warmly, hoping to reassure her. "Good to see you too, Vista."

Her eyes widened a bit at that, cheeks flushing deeper. She ducked her head shyly, muttering quietly, "Um, yeah... you too. And—uh, sorry again about barging in on you when you were, you know… shirtless… last night." Her voice trailed off in embarrassment, and she looked mortified as the words spilled out.

I chuckled softly, trying to ease her discomfort. "Hey, no worries."

Vista bit her lip shyly and nodded, clearly still embarrassed but relieved I wasn't making a big deal of it.

Shadow Stalker snorted from her spot on the couch, smirking openly at Vista's flustered state. "Smooth, kid."

Vista shot her a quick glare but remained red-faced and silent, clearly too flustered to respond.

A male voice cut in from behind them, calm and relaxed. "Ignore Shadow Stalker. She makes it her job to embarrass everyone at every opportunity."

I glanced past Vista to see two more Wards stepping out from the hallway I'd noticed earlier, each wearing friendly expressions. Gallant had mentioned they'd be eager to meet me, but seeing their welcoming attitudes firsthand was still reassuring.

A tall, broad-shouldered guy with short brown hair approached first. He extended his hand toward me, offering a firm, confident handshake. "Aegis," he introduced himself, a friendly grin on his face. "I'm the team leader around here. It's great to finally meet you, Silas. You've been the hot topic of conversation since yesterday."

I shook his hand firmly, appreciating his genuine friendliness. "Thanks. Glad to be here."

A shorter boy with tousled blond hair and a mischievous look stepped up beside Aegis, flashing me a playful grin. "Clockblocker," he introduced himself enthusiastically, giving my hand an exaggerated shake. "And can I just say—dude, you literally took down Rune and joined the Wards all in like twenty-four hours. Impressive as hell."

I laughed, feeling my cheeks warm slightly from the praise. "Honestly, a lot of that was just luck."

Clockblocker shrugged easily. "Eh, luck or not, you're still awesome in my book."

Shadow Stalker rolled her eyes, still smirking slightly. "Don't get used to it. Give 'em a week and you'll see how annoying these dweebs really are."

"Hey!" Clockblocker exclaimed, throwing an exaggerated look of mock-hurt toward her. "Who're you calling a dweeb?"

Shadow Stalker merely raised an eyebrow at him. "Who do you think, dumbass?"

Aegis shook his head with an amused sigh. "Ignore those two. They're always like that."

I laughed, starting to relax properly for the first time since I'd entered the building. "It's fine. Trust me—compared to everything else that's happened today, this is tame."

Clockblocker perked up curiously at that. "Wait, 'everything else'? Dude, details! We heard you were just casually talking to Alexandria herself just now."

I groaned softly. "Yeah. And let me just say, having a casual chat with Alexandria isn't exactly 'casual...'"

Clockblocker shuddered dramatically. "Better you than me, man. She seems all nice and shit on tv, but seeing her in the hallway earlier, her presence is really intimidating."

Vista shifted closer again, keeping her eyes on the floor shyly. She peeked up at me, cheeks still faintly red. "So… now that you're officially one of us, maybe, um, we should give you a tour?"

"Sounds great. Lead the way."

She smiled nervously, quickly leading us toward the hallway. As she walked, she seemed distinctly aware of me, periodically glancing over her shoulder and quickly averting her eyes each time we made eye contact.

Yes… It was pretty obvious the younger girl had a crush on me. And I was going to do the mature thing… and completely pretend like I didn't notice it. 

Hoping it would go away on its own eventually…

Yep, that sounded pretty good. Every other character in this alternate worm Universe was aged up except poor Vista apparently…

Vista gestured timidly toward the first room. "Here's the game room. It's pretty awesome—we've got consoles, board games, comfy chairs, snacks—basically everything you need to relax after patrol or training."

I glanced inside appreciatively. The setup was seriously nice—couches clustered around a large flat-screen TV, shelves lined with games and controllers, even a well-stocked mini-fridge in the corner. 

Clockblocker immediately moved to grab a handful of chips from a bowl, munching loudly.

Aegis chuckled at my impressed expression. "Perks of the job. Trust me, you'll appreciate it after dealing with villains all day."

Vista then led me further down the corridor, pointing shyly toward a room at the far end. "That's Kid Win's workshop. You can check it out later when he's not busy tinkering. He builds stuff…usually it's cool…sometimes it's just loud. Unfortunately, he's out sick today."

Clockblocker rolled his eyes dramatically. "And by 'cool' she means 'explosive and unstable.' If he ever asks you to hold something, just run. Cause it will go boom!"

I laughed softly, making a mental note of that advice. "Good to know."

Finally, Vista guided me toward a large glass-walled room overlooking multiple computer terminals, monitors, and communication equipment.

"This," she announced hesitantly, "is the control room."

I eyed the blinking lights and numerous screens curiously. "Looks impressive. What exactly goes on here?"

Aegis stepped up beside me. "It's mostly for mission coordination—tracking patrols, emergency calls, surveillance. Unfortunately, it's also where 'console duty' happens."

Clockblocker groaned loudly. "The most boring thing ever invented by the PRT. If you screw up badly enough, you'll end up stuck here for hours staring at screens and waiting for something— anything —to happen!"

Shadow Stalker smirked darkly. "Yeah. Vista gets it all the time."

Vista scowled fiercely, her blush returning. "Shut up! I do not!"

I raised an eyebrow at Aegis, amused. "Guessing I should avoid that?"

He nodded sagely, fighting back a grin. "Absolutely. Consider it a strong motivation to behave yourself."

I laughed again, feeling surprisingly comfortable and at ease with my new teammates. They weren't what I'd expected at all. 

…Even Sophia was a lot more chill than I expected with everyone else around.

Vista nervously tugged at her gloves, giving me another shy glance. "Um… anyway, we're really glad you're here. It'll be nice… having you around more."

"Honestly, I'm happy to be here. Can't wait to start working with you guys," I replied.

Aegis nodded firmly, meeting my gaze with approval. "Looking forward to seeing you in action. Clock, grab some snacks. We've got a little downtime before patrols later..."

I popped myself down on the couch. And then Shadow Stalker sat right next to me–before leaning in closer. She smirked behind her domino mask at Vista who was pouting suddenly. 

"I hope we can go kick some ass together soon, Silas," Sophia whispered in my ear. "Now, tell me how awesome it was meeting Alexandria in person! Fuck, I'm so jealous!" she finished loudly.

"..."

– Alexandria (Rebecca) –

Rebecca stared blankly at the small plastic card in her hand. The glossy laminate felt oddly slippery between her fingertips, and she could only blink slowly, confusion etched openly across her face. Her thumb brushed absently over the printed surface, feeling the raised edges where her picture and name were printed.

Across from her, sitting comfortably on the small couch in the private conference room, Contessa casually peeled another section from her banana, entirely unbothered by Rebecca's clear bewilderment. She lifted the yellow fruit and took a leisurely bite, chewing thoughtfully as she eyed Rebecca, her expression utterly neutral.

Rebecca forced herself to speak, breaking the odd silence that had settled over them.

"Contessa," she started slowly, her voice carefully level, "what exactly is this?"

Contessa's dark eyes flicked briefly to the card, then back to Rebecca's face. "That's your student ID, obviously," she replied casually, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Rebecca made an incredulous noise somewhere between a cough and a choke. She lowered the card, glancing at it again as if to confirm it was really in her hands. The image printed there was unquestionably her own, but it was her actual face—young, fresh, lacking the subtle cosmetic touches and illusions she employed daily to appear older and more authoritative. 

The card boldly declared her a "Winslow High School Student."

Rebecca looked sharply back to Contessa, eyes narrowing slightly. "Student ID?" she repeated incredulously. "What do you mean student ID? Contessa, I'm in my thirties!"

Contessa raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the rising irritation in Rebecca's voice. She swallowed another bite of banana before calmly responding. "Biologically, your body stopped aging at nineteen, Rebecca. And technically, you never finished high school."

Rebecca opened her mouth, paused, then promptly closed it again. 

Damn. 

"Yes, I left high school early—over a decade ago," Rebecca said stiffly, her voice deliberately even. "You can't possibly expect me to attend a high school as an undercover student? What purpose would that even serve…?"

Contessa calmly finished off the last of her banana, expertly and effortlessly tossing the empty peel across the room. It landed neatly in the small trash can. Contessa leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. Her eyes focused on Rebecca with sudden seriousness. "The Path demands it, Rebecca. If you don't attend Winslow High as a student, very bad things will happen." She spoke plainly, as though stating an unshakable fact.

Rebecca stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. Contessa's Path. A tool they'd relied upon countless times over the years, a power she trusted more than anything else, even her own formidable abilities. And here it was, demanding that she, Rebecca Costa-Brown—one of the most powerful and influential capes on Earth—pose as a teenager at a failing high school…

She felt a headache starting to form right behind her temples.

"Fuck my life," she muttered finally, leaning back heavily in her chair and pinching the bridge of her nose. "And fuck your Path too, Fortuna..."

After a few moments of silence, Contessa cleared her throat lightly. Her expression softened slightly into a small, almost conciliatory smile. "If it makes you feel any better, I do have some good news as well."

Rebecca eyed her skeptically, crossing her arms firmly. "Somehow I doubt your idea of good news is going to align with mine right now."

Contessa leaned forward slightly, her face becoming oddly animated as she spoke. Her voice took on a distinctly pleased note. "I've been devoting some time to pathing around Silas Thorn," she began, her eyes brightening slightly. "Trying to nudge him toward being a reliable asset—someone we can guide toward our side."

Rebecca frowned slightly. "And?"

Contessa paused briefly, her lips twitching slightly, clearly hesitating. Finally, she sighed softly and shrugged. "Well, there's been an unexpected development. For some reason, Silas has become a dragon."

Rebecca stared blankly at her friend for several seconds, absolutely sure she'd misheard. The room fell silent, the faint hum of the air conditioning unit in the corner becoming suddenly noticeable.

Finally, Rebecca blinked slowly, her voice carefully controlled, but clearly bewildered. "A dragon? Fortuna, I just spoke to the boy. He's as human as they come. Maybe with odd powers, but certainly no mythical creature."

Contessa shook her head gently, looking oddly earnest. "He's both, actually. Human and dragon simultaneously. I've checked and double-checked. My Path is very clear."

Rebecca simply stared, eyebrows drawing slowly together. She opened her mouth, then shut it again. 

What the fuck did that even mean!? Did her friend have to be so annoyingly cryptic!?

Contessa's expression shifted again, becoming clearly excited about whatever she'd uncovered. "Well, you see, dragons have certain… unique needs."

Rebecca felt a wary sense of dread rising quickly. "Needs?"

Contessa nodded vigorously, apparently delighted with her own revelations. "Indeed. Dragons require hoards—collections of valuables they consider their own. Wealth, treasure…" She paused significantly, eyes locked onto Rebecca's. "And sometimes, companions ."

Rebecca stared blankly. Something cold coiled slowly inside her chest. "What exactly are you implying, Fortuna?"

Contessa tilted her head slightly, looking at Rebecca with genuine innocence that fooled absolutely no one. "Silas's Path clarifies that things will go significantly smoother for our goals—his integration, stability, loyalty—if he's properly provided with his own hoard."

Rebecca felt a slow, creeping suspicion settle heavily upon her shoulders. "Fortuna," she said carefully, forcing her voice to remain even, "what kind of hoard exactly are we discussing here?"

Contessa shrugged simply, as though it were obvious. "His hoard of beautiful and capable cape women, of course!"

Rebecca sputtered abruptly, coughing in shock, her eyes widening. She shot to her feet quickly, disbelief etched clearly across her face. "Excuse me!? His what!?"

Contessa merely raised an eyebrow at her mildly hysterical friend. "His harem. Hoard. Call it what you like."

"Harem!?" Rebecca snapped, eyes flashing with indignation. She shook her head vehemently, glaring openly. "No. Absolutely not. Fortuna, you've finally lost your mind."

Contessa, ever unflappable, simply gazed back calmly. "The Path is crystal clear, Rebecca. Things will proceed much better if Silas acquires a harem of capable, loyal capes. Preferably heroic women who can help him stay stable, happy, and firmly allied with our interests."

Rebecca gaped at her incredulously, entirely at a loss. "And this is your idea of good news!?"

Contessa nodded mildly, her eyes twinkling slightly with amusement. "Yes. It simplifies our objectives significantly. Honestly, it's far easier to navigate than some alternatives the Path provided…"

Rebecca sank heavily back into her chair, utterly exasperated. "I genuinely can't believe I'm hearing this. A harem. And let me guess—you have me enrolled at Winslow not only to spy and interact, but to somehow steer him toward building this… this ridiculous harem of cape women?"

Contessa smiled serenely, entirely unapologetic. "Yes, precisely. I've signed you up for several of Silas's classes. You'll be close to him daily. My advice is to simply do your best!"

"Do my—!" Rebecca spluttered, completely losing her usual calm. "Fortuna, I am Alexandria. I do not join… h–harems!" she actually sputtered that last word!

Contessa stood smoothly. "I trust you'll handle it gracefully, Rebecca. You always do."

Rebecca opened her mouth furiously to retort, but Contessa had already turned smoothly toward the door. "Door," she said casually, without even glancing back.

Immediately, a portal flared into existence. Before Rebecca could voice any further protest, Contessa stepped through it neatly, and it snapped shut behind her, leaving Rebecca alone in the suddenly empty, silent room.

For several long moments, Rebecca simply sat staring incredulously at the empty space where her friend had just stood, trying—and failing—to process the absurdity of the entire conversation she'd just had.

After another minute, Rebecca slowly rose from her seat, feeling the sharp, tense irritation coiling tightly through her shoulders. The sudden overwhelming urge to punch something surged strongly within her, and she took a slow, deep breath.

'Fuck it!' she thought to herself bitterly. She needed to punch someone right about now!

Preferably someone who could take it… at least for a while.

…It HAD been a while since she'd encountered Lung. 

Chapter 11:

– Silas –

I stepped out of the dull, unmarked PRT van, nodding casually to the two agents sitting up front. They barely acknowledged me, focused more on the boring morning radio chatter coming from their comms than anything else.

"See you guys later," I said absently, slinging my PRT-issued backpack over my shoulder and shutting the van door behind me. The vehicle drove off as I made my way toward the dreary brick building that was Winslow High.

Stepping through the school's entrance, I could immediately sense eyes on me again. Whispers broke out around me accompanied by quick, nervous glances in my direction. 

It wasn't much different than yesterday, but the fear and curiosity seemed more pronounced today. 

I guess throwing around some Nazi assholes in the hallways did wonders for my reputation—or perhaps 'infamy' was a better word.

Honestly, I couldn't really bring myself to care either way. The only reason I hadn't dropped out already and taken the GED was that apparently, the PRT frowned upon their new Ward recruits skipping high school. 

Apparently, it wasn't a "good look," according to Piggot. 

Whatever…

I made my way through the crowded hallways, dodging clusters of students who scurried aside nervously, clearing a path like I was some kind of intimidating VIP. The wary stares were just tiresome at this point, but at least no one was throwing punches or slurs today.

When I finally reached my locker, I immediately spotted Sophia leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, her face set in that perpetual smirk of hers. 

Standing beside her were Emma and Madison, the redhead's eyes glued to me as I approached, shining with either worship or pure, undiluted lust. 

Probably both.

I still wasn't entirely sure about those two—Emma especially—but Sophia was tolerable, at least. Maybe even genuinely likeable beneath the surface. I'd reserve judgment on the other two for now.

I opened my locker with practiced ease and tossed my backpack inside, shutting the metal door a bit louder than necessary. Turning toward Sophia, I let out a resigned sigh, "Ready for another boring as shit day of classes?"

She snorted softly, rolling her eyes with practiced contempt. But then she met my gaze and something briefly softened in her expression. "At least it's not as bad with you here anymore," she said casually. The second the words left her mouth, her eyes widened slightly, realizing what she'd just said. 

Emma and Madison immediately burst into giggles at her uncharacteristic embarrassment, elbowing each other and exchanging conspiratorial smirks.

Sophia's head snapped toward them, eyes narrowing dangerously, the flush quickly replaced by her more familiar scowl. "Shut up," she snapped sharply at them. "Both of you."

"Aw, c'mon Sophia," Emma teased, eyes still dancing with mischief. "It's cute seeing you get all flustered over a boy."

Sophia's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Emma," she growled warningly, her voice low.

I decided intervening was the safest bet here. I raised a hand in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm not complaining. Glad my presence makes your day better. It's nice to be appreciated."

Sophia shot me a complicated look. Then she just huffed "Don't push your luck..."

Emma gave me a sly wink, leaning in close. "Don't listen to her, Silas. She totally has a soft spot for you. It's kind of adorable."

Sophia muttered something indistinct under her breath, turning sharply away.

Just then, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, the unmistakable sensation of being watched by someone. 

I frowned, turning slightly to glance down the crowded hallway.

At first, there was nothing out of the ordinary—just more students milling around, getting ready for the day. Then my gaze fell upon a figure half-hidden around the corner. Long, messy dark curls framed a pale face, big round glasses perched crookedly over wary, intense eyes.

Taylor Hebert.

I'd recognize her anywhere. 

She was just standing there, watching me from afar. Our eyes met for the first time, and there was something surprisingly intense about the look she gave me—anger, bitterness, confusion—maybe all three. After a brief moment, her mouth twisted into a scowl, and she ducked back behind the corner, vanishing from sight.

I wasn't sure yet what my plans were regarding Taylor Hebert—especially not when Sophia and her friends were involved with me.

The shrill warning bell rang out, echoing through the halls, signaling five minutes until class. 

—

I dropped heavily into the seat at the very back of the classroom, slouching down and stretching my legs out under the cramped desk. I rested my chin lazily in one palm, gazing out the dusty window at the dull gray skies of Brockton Bay. Another boring-ass day at Winslow awaited me, and my enthusiasm was practically nonexistent.

The classroom filled slowly. The same tired faces, the same wary glances toward me. No one seemed eager to sit next to the school's resident cape. I couldn't blame them. I'd thrown Nazis down the halls yesterday, and most students didn't exactly seem eager to test my patience today.

So, I was genuinely surprised when the chair beside me slid back with a soft scrape against the cheap linoleum tiles. I blinked, glancing lazily over to my left, fully expecting to see someone who had wandered over by mistake.

I definitely wasn't prepared for who sat down. My attention snapped fully toward her almost on instinct. 

She was beautiful, enough that it struck me momentarily speechless. Dark brown hair, thick and silky, cascaded down her back in soft waves. Her eyes, dark and beautiful, flicked toward me only briefly, acknowledging me with a faint air of irritation before she looked down at her phone, her slender fingers quickly typing something out…

She wore a slim white tank top that clung comfortably to her curves, revealing smooth shoulders and perfectly toned arms. My eyes involuntarily traced downward—lingering briefly on her firm, shapely breasts before moving lower still, following the gentle slope of her stomach, exposed just enough by her shirt riding slightly up. Her short denim shorts hugged tightly around her hips and upper thighs, showcasing long, athletic legs and flawless skin.

It took me a second longer than it probably should have to pull my eyes away. And when I did, she was already looking at me again—one dark eyebrow arched high in obvious annoyance, her lips set in a thin, unimpress pout.

"Finished?" she asked dryly.

I cleared my throat, shifting awkwardly in my seat and feeling my ears heat slightly. Great first impression, Silas.

"Ah...sorry," I muttered, meeting her annoyed gaze steadily, offering what I hoped was a disarming smile. "Didn't mean to stare. Just—I haven't seen you around before."

She let out a quiet breath, placing her phone face-down on the desk and leaning back a bit in her chair. She crossed her arms under her chest, unknowingly—or perhaps knowingly—drawing my attention again for a brief instant. Then she spoke again, still clearly annoyed, though perhaps slightly less so.

"I'm new," she said simply. Her voice held a subtle accent, clearly Hispanic. "Just transferred in."

"I see," I said. "I'm Silas. Silas Thorn."

She gave a small huff, something between amusement and mild exasperation, her lips quirking slightly. "Yeah, I know who you are," she said dryly. "Everyone does…"

I felt my lips twitch into a wry smile. Right. Outed cape. I'd nearly forgotten my own notoriety here. "Yeah," I admitted with a resigned shrug. 

She gave a tiny shrug, her expression carefully neutral. "Probably not."

I waited a few seconds, expecting her to introduce herself, but she just stared straight ahead, drumming her fingers absently against her arm, seemingly disinterested in further conversation. 

My curiosity—and maybe stubbornness—got the better of me.

"So...your name?" I asked lightly, tilting my head slightly to catch her attention again. "Or are you gonna make me guess?"

She turned her head slowly toward me, her gaze sharp and faintly irritated again. But after a brief moment, she relented with a small sigh.

"Rebecca Brown," she said flatly. "Senior. Just transferred in yesterday."

I raised an eyebrow, nodding slowly. "Welcome to Winslow, then," I said sarcastically, unable to keep the slight amusement out of my voice. "Sorry to say, but you picked a really shitty city to finish your last year of high school."

Rebecca's face twitched slightly, annoyance mixing with something else—something briefly genuine. "Trust me, I didn't exactly choose this willingly," she muttered, looking away from me again. "It was forced on me."

Forced. Interesting choice of words. But I didn't pry. Instead, my eyes drifted over her one more time, not even consciously at first. She had an almost magnetic draw about her—something unique and subtly powerful I couldn't quite place. 

And yeah, okay—she was insanely attractive, too. I wasn't blind.

Before I could think too deeply about it—or embarrass myself again—the classroom door opened, cutting off any further conversation. Our teacher shuffled in, coffee mug in one hand and a stack of graded papers in the other, looking about as excited to be here as I was.

I sighed softly, leaning back in my chair again, settling in for another long and mind-numbingly boring day. But I couldn't help one last quick glance at the girl beside me.

Rebecca Brown, huh?

—

…The first-period bell rang sharply through the classroom, yanking me mercifully from the near-comatose boredom I'd drifted into. The teacher's monotone droning had nearly put me to sleep more than once, and I was ready to get out of this stuffy room and stretch my legs.

I glanced over at Rebecca, who was gathering her things quietly. Her dark eyes flicked briefly toward me when she noticed my attention.

I cleared my throat and leaned slightly towards her. "Hey, what's your next class? I could show you where it is if you want."

She gave me a measured look, clearly debating for a moment whether or not to take me up on the offer. Finally, she sighed softly and relented, her expression softening slightly. "English," she said simply.

I raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise, a small smirk forming. "Huh. That's actually my next class too."

A strange look flickered across her face for a split second—something between annoyance and resignation. She muttered under her breath just loud enough that I caught it, "Yes, what a surprise..."

I frowned slightly, wondering what the hell that was about. I opened my mouth to comment but decided against it. No sense irritating her more. 

I'd already fucked up enough with my obvious staring earlier. For now, it was probably better to let that slide.

We made our way out into the crowded hallway, Rebecca sticking close beside me, quiet and thoughtful. 

Oddly, no one seemed to be looking at me anymore. Something else was going on.

"Dude!" One skinny freshman practically shouted to his friend a few feet away. "Check it out! Someone just uploaded a new video on PHO this morning! Alexandria showed up in Brockton Bay last night and kicked the absolute shit out of Lung!"

"Are you fucking serious?" his friend gasped. "That's what all those loud-ass crashes and sirens were last night? I barely slept!"

The news traveled like wildfire through the halls, spreading from student to student in seconds. I felt a small jolt of surprise myself. Alexandria had gone after Lung last night? 

Damn, how did I miss that news? Maybe I shouldn't have gone to sleep so early last night after meeting the wards.

No wonder all the PRT agents had looked so nervous this morning.

I glanced over at Rebecca, expecting her to be either curious or impressed like everyone else. But instead, she looked oddly tense. Her full lips were pressed tightly together, eyes flickering with something that almost looked like nervousness. 

It seemed weird that news like that would put her on edge. But I didn't comment. I was already walking on thin ice after earlier. And something told me pushing her now would just end badly.

So instead, I focused ahead, clearing a path for us. 

A group of students lingered in front of us, chatting excitedly and blocking the hallway. I placed a hand on one's shoulder, lightly but firmly moving him aside without a word. The boy spun around, his face scrunched up in irritation—until he saw it was me. His eyes widened instantly, annoyance turning to sheepishness.

"Uh—sorry, Silas," he mumbled quickly, stepping aside. Immediately, the crowded hallway parted smoothly, students practically stumbling over each other in their haste to make room.

Beside me, Rebecca watched the scene unfold, a quiet, surprised giggle slipping from her lips. The sound caught me off guard.

She caught my look. "...Maybe high school here won't be so bad after all," she remarked quietly, lips curled into a small smile.

…Rebecca stayed mostly quiet, but occasionally I'd catch her making little sarcastic comments under her breath, her eyes glinting with a faint edge of amusement. Somehow, that made the next dull class slightly more bearable.

When the bell finally rang to release us from second period, I pushed myself up from my desk, stretching with a tired groan. Beside me, Rebecca smoothly rose to her feet and began gathering her things. She seemed less tense now than she'd been earlier.

I figured, what the hell—I was already in this deep.

"Hey," I started casually, slipping my hands into my pockets as I turned toward her. "You want to grab lunch together? The cafeteria here sucks ass, but at least you'd have decent company."

Rebecca paused in the middle of shouldering her slim backpack, a faint, thoughtful look passing over her face. Her eyes met mine briefly, studying me carefully before she gave me a small nod. "Sure," she said. "Might as well…"

I grinned, feeling strangely pleased at her acceptance. 

We walked out of class together, side by side, and my mind wandered, trying to figure out what exactly it was about her that made her so damn intriguing? 

Had I met this girl before? I didn't think so…

Before I could dwell on that thought, though, someone stepped directly into our path. 

I halted abruptly, my gaze snapping down to see Taylor Hebert standing there, blocking us with a determined look etched firmly onto her pale features.

"Silas," she said, her voice low and urgent, eyes flicking quickly between me and Rebecca. "We all need to talk. Right now. It's important!"

I exchanged a confused glance with Rebecca, who raised a curious eyebrow at the girl standing before us. 

Turning back toward Taylor, I offered a polite, slightly confused shrug. "Can it wait until later, maybe? We were just about to head to lunch—"

"No," Taylor cut me off sharply, shaking her head emphatically. Her voice trembled slightly. "It can't wait!"

Rebecca tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued now, studying Taylor closely. 

I glanced back to her, silently questioning, and saw curiosity and mild annoyance in her expression. Rebecca sighed softly, clearly deciding something internally before turning toward Taylor fully. "What's this about?" Rebecca asked bluntly. "Why do I have to be here for this…?"

Taylor seemed a little thrown by Rebecca's directness, her cheeks flushing faintly, but she recovered quickly. "Because you're new here too. You should know what's going on around here."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow again, intrigued despite herself, and shrugged lightly in agreement. I let out a small breath of resignation and nodded, gesturing for Taylor to lead the way. "Fine. Let's talk."

Although I already had an idea what this was about.

She led us quickly down the crowded hallway to an empty classroom off to the side. I stepped inside after the girls, shutting the door firmly behind us. 

"Listen," Taylor started immediately, "You need to stay the hell away from Sophia, Emma, and Madison. Those three bitches are pure poison. They're bullies, the worst kind—they'll use you, manipulate you, and toss you aside the moment they think you're no longer useful to them."

Her words were filled with bitterness and unmistakable pain. It wasn't lost on me that her eyes briefly flashed with genuine hurt as she spoke their names.

Rebecca glanced at me, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Who exactly are Sophia, Emma, and Madison…?"

I grimaced slightly, realizing how this probably looked. "Three girls I sat with yesterday at lunch. They seemed nice enough…" 

Taylor scoffed. "Yeah right!" she turned to me. "Sophia won't like seeing you hanging around with some new girl. They're probably already planning how they're going to destroy her reputation. Probably spreading rumors that she's a cape slut already!"

Rebecca stared at Taylor for a long moment before suddenly snorting softly in amusement. She looked genuinely unconcerned as she casually flicked some loose strands of hair over her shoulder. "I'd like to see them try," she replied calmly. "But thanks for the heads-up. I'm more than capable of handling myself…"

She wasn't exactly lacking in confidence, that was clear. But I also could admit I didn't think about any of that when I first talked to her a few hours ago…

"BEEP!" "BEEP!"

Rebecca sighed quietly, pulling her slim phone from the tight back pocket of her shorts. Her eyes scanned the screen quickly. Her expression shifted instantly to open irritation. "You've got to be shitting me," she muttered under her breath, glaring down at whatever the message was. With a faint, irritated huff, she shoved the phone roughly back into her pocket.

She turned her full attention back to Taylor, whose nervous gaze darted between Rebecca and me, clearly uncertain what was happening. Rebecca stepped forward, her expression firm, authoritative.

"Alright, whatever-your-name-was—"

"Taylor Hebert," Taylor said defensively, frowning slightly.

Rebecca waved a dismissive hand. "Taylor, then. You obviously have no idea how to handle those kinds of girls. But luckily for you, I do. So I'm going to properly teach you exactly how to deal with them—anyone who tries to fuck with you, really. And you're going to learn whether you like it or not!"

I couldn't stop the amused snort that escaped me at Rebecca's blunt, commanding tone. Both girls turned toward me.

I shrugged lightly, meeting Rebecca's glare head-on. "That's a rather aggressive way of asking another girl if she wants to be friends, isn't it?"

Rebecca rolled her eyes, clearly not amused. Taylor just stared at her, mouth open slightly in shock. Finally, Taylor recovered enough to speak, her voice weak with disbelief. "Friends…?" she echoed uncertainly, glancing between Rebecca and me. "I wasn't really—I mean, I didn't think—"

"You're getting help whether you asked for it or not," Rebecca clarified bluntly, cutting Taylor off. "So you might as well deal with it."

Taylor stared at Rebecca for another long second, seemingly lost for words, before she finally nodded weakly in acceptance, clearly not expecting any of this when she'd dragged us in here.

– Rebecca –

"You might as well go on ahead, Silas. We can talk more later…"

Rebecca watched Silas exit the room, without them, his figure disappearing into the crowded hallway. 

A quiet sigh slipped past her lips, shoulders slumping ever so slightly as she turned back towards the anxious-looking teenager standing awkwardly before her.

Taylor Hebert. A gangly, overly-tall girl with messy curls and wide, wary eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses, who carried herself like a frightened deer. A totally ordinary high-schooler, as far as Rebecca could tell. And yet, Fortuna's message had been explicit.

"Befriend Taylor Hebert," her message had said. "Protect her. Or Alexandria dies in the future…"

Rebecca clenched her teeth, barely resisting the urge to grind them together. 

Honestly, fuck Contessa's Path sometimes. She had half a mind to toss her phone into the bay and vanish somewhere remote, maybe finally spend a few quiet years reading on some tropical island.

Unfortunately, abandoning her duties to the survival of humanity wasn't exactly her style! No matter how irritating they were.

She pushed the internal irritation aside, straightening her posture and stepping closer to the obviously nervous girl in front of her. "Alright, Taylor," she said, forcing herself to adopt a softer tone. "Let's eat lunch outside. I need to get away from all these annoying teenagers for a while."

Taylor blinked rapidly. "Outside? I mean, sure, that's fine."

Rebecca motioned toward the door with a tilt of her head, leading Taylor out of the empty classroom and down the hall toward the back doors of the school. Students parted quickly around them as Rebecca walked with a firm, confident stride, maintaining a brisk pace. Taylor trailed quietly at her side, casting uncertain glances at the other students who watched them pass by.

Outside, the air was cool but tolerable, clouds still hanging thickly in the gray skies overhead. 

Rebecca inhaled deeply, appreciating even the minimal relief of fresh air from Winslow's stuffy halls. She wouldn't be surprised if the walls in that school are full of asbestos…

"Alright," Rebecca started bluntly, deciding straightforwardness was probably the best approach with someone like Taylor. "Let's go over this again, now that Silas isn't here. You've been harassed by three girls?"

Taylor hesitated, blinking behind her glasses, fingers nervously twisting in the sleeves of her oversized sweater. "Yeah," she finally admitted quietly, her voice tight. "Sophia, Emma, Madison…they're horrible people. The absolute worst."

Rebecca tilted her head, watching Taylor closely. The bitterness and pain that laced Taylor's voice was unmistakable. Personal, raw—very real. The girl was clearly suffering deeply.

"You sound like you speak from experience," Rebecca said, carefully neutral. "They target you specifically?"

Taylor stared downward, jaw clenched, her expression darkening. "For a while now," she admitted stiffly. "Ever since… well, it doesn't matter. Point is, they've made my life hell."

Rebecca sighed internally. Of course. Teen drama—exactly what she didn't need right now. 

Yet, if Fortuna insisted Taylor was important enough to demand personal protection, Rebecca couldn't exactly dismiss this. Also, the fact that one of her Wards was tormenting someone for fun didn't make Rebecca happy. Had this news actually gotten out, the PR would have been horrible. 

"And what exactly have you done about it?" she asked quietly. "Told anyone?"

Taylor snorted bitterly, a sad, humorless sound. "Oh sure, I've tried. Teachers don't care, the principal doesn't care, even the guidance counselor brushed me off. And if I try to defend myself…"

She didn't finish the sentence, but the frustration, the anger in her voice told Rebecca everything she needed to know. Taylor was trapped, isolated. And desperate.

Rebecca frowned, looking away for a brief moment. This was more complicated than she had initially expected. Fortuna's path was often unclear in its logic, but there was usually a reason behind every ridiculous instruction. Perhaps Taylor was a parahuman, or soon would become one. If so, it would likely be a dangerous or unstable trigger event—something that could end badly without intervention.

"Well," Rebecca said finally, meeting Taylor's uncertain gaze again, "then it seems you need to learn how to properly defend yourself."

Taylor's eyes widened, startled. "Defend myself? How?"

Rebecca leaned in, keeping her voice low and firm. "The first rule is confidence. Those girls pick on you because you don't stand up to them properly. You have to show them that you're not an easy target."

Taylor seemed skeptical, mouth tightening nervously. "I… I've tried. It just makes it worse."

Rebecca shook her head firmly. "You probably think you've tried. But if you want to actually make it stop, you need to learn to fight back effectively. Verbally, physically, emotionally—whatever it takes to let them know you aren't an easy victim."

Taylor stared at Rebecca as if she'd grown another head, but beneath the disbelief there was a tiny flicker of desperate hope. "You…you really think that could work?"

"I know it'll work," Rebecca assured her, voice utterly confident. "And I'm going to show you exactly how to do it."

A long, heavy silence settled between them, Taylor studying Rebecca with cautious curiosity. Finally, Taylor looked away awkwardly, biting her lower lip nervously.

"Why…why are you doing this?" Taylor finally asked quietly. "You barely know me."

Rebecca hesitated a fraction of a second, quickly covering it by folding her arms across her chest and adopting a cool, casual expression. "Let's just say I know you're worth helping." Would Rebecca have been doing this if Contessa hadn't sent her that message? No.

Taylor didn't look fully satisfied by the cryptic explanation, but she nodded hesitantly. "Okay. Um…thanks, I guess?"

– Taylor –

Taylor watched Silas leave with conflicted emotions swirling in her chest. 

She'd actually done it—spoken directly to Silas Thorn, the school's new celebrity Ward. True, she wasn't sure how much of her warning he'd actually taken to heart, but she'd spoken up! 

She hadn't just quietly endured this time. It was something new, something that felt almost powerful. Next time, she'd be more convincing. Next time, she'd make sure Silas listened. She wasn't going to let those three manipulative bitches ruin someone else. Especially someone who actually seemed genuinely decent, cape or not.

And then there was Rebecca.

Taylor glanced at the girl walking calmly next to her, studying her face quietly. Rebecca Brown. Taylor hadn't seen her coming—confident, attractive, bluntly assertive in a way Taylor hadn't expected from anyone other than those three bitches, much less a new transfer to Winslow.

Taylor almost couldn't believe it. 

She finally had a friend again, after years of loneliness and isolation! 

An actual, honest-to-goodness friend who didn't already think she was a freak, who hadn't heard the whispered rumors that swirled constantly around Winslow. 

A new start, maybe. And she'd do everything in her power to protect that friendship. She would not let Emma, Sophia, or Madison get their claws into Rebecca. No matter what.

For the first time in far too long, Taylor felt genuinely, inexplicably happy.

And of course, as if the universe had noticed and decided it couldn't allow such a thing!

The screeching sound of tires violently braking tore across the school's parking lot. Taylor spun around, her heart instantly jumping into her throat as a large, unmarked black van skidded to a rough stop, leaving dark rubber streaks across the cracked asphalt.

The side doors slid open violently, and multiple men leapt out—rough-looking, large, and muscular, all dressed in dark tactical gear and ski masks, clutching assault rifles tightly against their chests. 

Taylor's pulse skyrocketed, a cold spike of fear stabbing through her.

"Holy shit," she whispered, barely able to breathe. Her limbs began trembling uncontrollably. 

The men turned as one, immediately spotting her and Rebecca standing exposed and alone near the front of the school. A man stepped forward, taller and more heavily muscled than the rest, with pale blond hair visible beneath the edges of his dark mask. Taylor recognized him from the news, from posters and whispered rumors on PHO. 

Victor—the Empire Eighty-Eight's top assassin.

"Oh my God," Taylor whispered weakly. "It's Victor."

Rebecca stepped beside her, stiffening immediately, her jaw clenched tightly. "You've got to be fucking kidding me…" she muttered under her breath… "Fucking Brockton Bay…"

Victor strode confidently toward them, flanked by three more Empire members who kept their guns raised and aimed threateningly. Taylor's instincts screamed at her to run, but her feet refused to move.

"Listen up, girlies," Victor snarled, stopping mere feet away. His voice was harsh, commanding. "You two are gonna tell me exactly where I can find Silas Thorn and that little bitch Sophia Hess. Those two fucked with the Empire, and they're going to pay!"

Taylor's mind reeled at his words. Silas she understood. He was a Ward, he'd taken down Rune. 

But Sophia Hess? Taylor loathed Sophia deeply, but she had no idea how the Empire had gotten involved with her tormentor. For a split second, dark temptation whispered in her mind, telling Victor exactly where Sophia was would be so easy!

But no. Taylor couldn't do that, wouldn't sink to that level of cruelty. Not even for Sophia. She wasn't a monster.

Before she could gather enough courage to respond, Rebecca stepped forward from behind Taylor. "Eat shit and die, you racist fucks," Rebecca snapped coldly, every word dripping venomous contempt. "Get the fuck out of here, you disgusting vermin, before I break you!"

Taylor whipped around, eyes widening in sheer disbelief at her friend's suicidal defiance. Was she insane!? These were dangerous criminals with guns. They would kill them without hesitation!

Victor snarled furiously, lifting his assault rifle swiftly, leveling it directly at Rebecca's chest. "You're going to die for that, you dumb Mexican bitch," he spat hatefully, finger tensing visibly on the trigger.

"No!" Taylor screamed.

And then suddenly—

Something snapped deep inside her head, an agony unlike anything she'd ever felt. Taylor staggered, gasping desperately, clutching her skull tightly between shaking hands as her vision warped and twisted, reality fracturing around her.

At the same instant, both Rebecca and Victor dropped to their knees beside her, clutching their heads in pain.

A deafening, high-pitched buzzing erupted from everywhere and nowhere at once, enveloping Taylor completely, drowning out all other sounds. Insects, hundreds—no, thousands—of insects swarming, crawling, skittering around her senses, they all descended on the three armed men who raised their guns and started wildy shooting into the air.

But it was pointless because it didn't take more than a few seconds for HER insects to start stinging and biting the men everywhere. Ears, eyes, and even down their throats!

– Rebecca –

Rebecca slowly pushed herself up from the damp grass, her head throbbing painfully. She pressed a palm against her forehead, waiting impatiently for the headache to fade. Triggers were always the worst—her powers protected her from just about everything physical, but they did exactly nothing against the unique pain caused by being too close to someone newly triggered.

She steadied herself, blinking several times to clear her vision before quickly taking in the scene around her.

Taylor Hebert—her supposed new "friend"—was hunched on the grass, her body trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down the girl's pale, dirt-smudged face, leaving dark tracks behind. Her glasses lay forgotten on the ground beside her. Taylor heaved violently, retching weakly into the grass.

Nearby lay four bodies in varying states of agony-ridden death. Rebecca immediately recognized the Empire assassin, Victor, sprawled motionlessly across the asphalt. His pale blond hair was stained dark red with blood, and his face was frozen in a horrific expression of pain, mouth agape in an unfinished scream. His three companions were no better off—mangled, twisted awkwardly, skin swollen from thousands of tiny insect bites and stings.

Insects still crawled relentlessly over their bodies, moving with precise and horrifying efficiency. Ants, wasps, beetles, even some spiders—all scuttled and swarmed as one mass, steadily and methodically devouring the fresh corpses.

"Fucking hell," Rebecca muttered under her breath. 

She glanced at Taylor again, a wave of frustration mingled with reluctant sympathy. The girl had clearly just triggered as a Master-class cape, capable of controlling insects. 

A dangerously powerful ability against most other capes. 

Rebecca wasn't squeamish by any stretch, but seeing firsthand what those bugs had done was unsettling, even for her.

This wasn't good, but at least Rebecca was here personally. 

Her mind immediately went into damage control mode. The cleanup would be simple enough. She could arrange for these bodies to quietly disappear. Covering for Taylor Hebert, vouching for her officially, and steering things in a manageable direction wouldn't be difficult at all. Director Piggot would listen, of course.

She stepped carefully around the corpses and knelt beside the crying teenager, placing a calm, reassuring hand firmly on Taylor's trembling shoulder. "Taylor," Rebecca said quietly, firmly. "I know this feels overwhelming right now, but I need you to breathe."

Taylor flinched at Rebecca's touch, turning tear-filled eyes upwards. "I—I killed them!" Taylor gasped, voice hoarse and broken. "They're dead because of me!"

Rebecca tightened her grip slightly, trying to ground the younger girl in reality. "You did what you had to," she replied calmly. 

Taylor shook her head weakly, new tears slipping down her flushed cheeks. "I can't control it," she whispered. "I feel them—thousands of them—inside my head. All crawling around… everywhere!"

"You will," Rebecca assured her firmly, looking directly into Taylor's eyes with quiet certainty. "The control will come with time and practice. I'll help you through this. You're not alone."

Taylor stared at Rebecca silently for several seconds, as if searching desperately for something to cling onto. Finally, she gave the faintest nod, swallowing thickly. "Okay…" she whispered. "Okay."

Rebecca offered Taylor her glasses, which the girl took with trembling fingers, sliding them slowly back onto her face. Helping Taylor stand carefully, Rebecca took quick stock of the situation again. Time to start handling things. The sooner she got these corpses cleaned up and Taylor calmed, the sooner—

Bang!

The school's front doors were thrown open, followed immediately by dozens of panicked, screaming students rushing frantically outside!

Rebecca spun sharply towards the commotion, instinctively moving slightly in front of Taylor.

"Hookwolf and Cricket are in the school!" a skinny teenage boy shouted hysterically, pushing past a group of sobbing girls. "They're going after Silas Thorn and Sophia Hess!"

Another student stumbled outside, his eyes wide with fear as he pointed accusingly towards a nearby group of his peers. "Sophia Hess is Shadow Stalker!" he screamed. "She's been hiding as a fucking Ward the whole time! They're all fighting right now!"

Gasps and cries of shock rippled through the growing crowd of terrified students.

Rebecca exhaled slowly, feeling a sharp surge of irritation build deep within her chest. "Well, shit," she muttered softly to herself. There would be absolutely no containing this. The cat was out of the bag, identities compromised, and a body count rising rapidly. 

The entire situation was officially and irreversibly fucked.

Taylor grabbed her arm tightly, panicked eyes wide with terror and confusion. "Rebecca?" she whispered weakly. "What's happening now? What do we do?"

Rebecca gently squeezed Taylor's hand reassuringly, already steeling herself for action. "Right now, you stay out here and keep your head down," she instructed calmly. "I'm going to handle this personally…" 

She slapped around Lung last night, and now it looked like she needed to teach the Empire that they weren't allowed to go breaking the unwritten rules and attacking Wards in schools…