“You know I love you guys but why are you both making me do this?” Lisa glanced over the top of her book and glanced at Samantha and Lily who were on the other ends of the round table with hardcover books and notebooks in front of them. Lily and her rough shot penmanship and Samantha’s carefully done notes.
Lily had two piles of books on either side of her, one pile significantly higher than the other. The trio of girls were in the library and it was relatively empty. It was late enough in the day that no one else took their free time this late in the day. They were in a side room but with it being so empty they didn’t need to be quiet and it let them talk freely.
“Because it’s a group effort and we need to equally get the job done,” Samantha said. “You’re our research member since we both know you’re good at getting to the point and skimming and Lily’s the best typist but she sucks at actually writing the notes. Which leaves me to write the notes that Lily is going to type up.”
Lisa stared at her and then looked at Lily. “When did she get this way?”
“She went to leadership training when she went to visit her family remember?” Lily glanced at her and smiled.
“Yeah yeah. Fine fine.” She put a book down and shoved another two books toward Samantha. “Here’s the next ones that I think are good for the project. She pushed a piece of paper toward her. “Jump to these chapters to get to the main idea.”
“Thank you,” Samantha said turning to the page and immediately underlined the page numbers and then cracked open the books to find the chapters and started reading, her pen against the page.
Lisa scooted over toward Lily and put her head down against the table and looked up at her. Lily didn’t say anything at first but after a long moment of Lisa’s gaze mixed with soft whimpering noises she looked at her. “Can I help you Lisa?”
“Maybe. I am in pain. Slept like crap and coach is pushing us extra hard.” She groaned and rolled to the side slightly and rubbed her thigh and leg slowly.
“Well after how well you guys did at regionals she wants to make sure you’re ready for state. Especially after you said you were going to go above and beyond after the suspension.”
Lisa made a face but nodded. “Got two second places finishes. I want that first place medal next meet. And then win the whole thing for state.”
“I know you do but that means no pain no gain. You have practice after school today don’t you?”
“Yes,” she said. “We’re almost done right?”
“Yes. Once Samantha finishes finding the last answer I can type it up and we’ll have our final paragraphs taken care of.”
“Cool. Idea,” she said and leaned back in her chair. “Come with me this weekend to the spa. You too Samantha. Girls day out.”
Samantha looked up and glanced at Lily then her and shrugged. “I’ve never been to a spa before.”
Lisa sat up slightly her leg pain being ignored as she reached over to Samantha. “Never? Not once? You’re definitely coming. Not going to accept no for an answer.”
“Wait what?”
Lisa reached out and grabbed her hands, her own eyes shining at the idea. “Yep. It’ll be great. You’ll feel like a new woman. My mom and I used to go to this one place all the time. The hands on those women are magical. You’ll sleep like a baby.”
Samantha blinked quickly and looked at her and then looked at Lily who shrugged. “It sounds like a nice time. I’m game for a nice day out. I’ve been spending too much time with Dick anyway.”
“Exactly. Let the boys fend for themselves this weekend. We’ll have a good time together.”
Samantha shrugged and could hear Betty’s voice in her ear. “Sure why not. I guess it would be nice to do it once.”
“Atta girl,” Lisa grinned in triumph then pulled out her phone. “Also here. This reminds me.” Samantha’s phone buzzed a moment later and she glanced at the text. “This is a list of shows for you to be watching. The top three are things I know you’ll like.”
Samantha read them over and tilted her head to the side. “What is this one? Fall of the six Kingdoms?”
Lily perked up and shook her head. “Oh no.”
Lisa’s eyes glowed and she almost jumped out of her chair and grabbed her phone typing up the name of the show. “It’s only the best anime I’ve seen in my life. Forget the list. You’re watching it first. No. We’re watching it together. What are you doing tonight?”
Blinking quickly Samantha smiled and shook her head. “I’m meeting with my advisor. For the program I’m a part of.”
Lisa deflated slightly and pouted. “Fine. I’ll find you when you’re free. Maybe after the spa day we can start it.”
Samantha smiled and nodded. “Sure. Sounds fun.”
“Good,” Lisa rotated her phone and opened a video. “This is the trailer. See him? That’s the prince of the fifth kingdom. The stories about him trying to become the king of the sixth but to do that he has to relieve and learn from the previous rulers of the other four kingdoms and his own father. And the animation is just beautiful. You’re going to love it.” She made a squeal of excitement. “I can’t wait.”
“Let me get back to work so we can finish this up,” she said pushing her back and Lisa slunk away back to her corner of the table and spun around leaning against the table.
Samantha finished her note taking and handed them over to Lily who walked them toward the computer and immediately started typing. In the meantime, Lisa was back to showing her videos and explaining her show.
About forty minutes passed and Lily swiveled around, “We’re all done girls.”
“Woo,” Lisa got up and groaned rubbing her legs but smiled. “I’m going to run toward the gym. Get an early start on warm ups for practice.”
“Don’t forget to email me those college applications, Lisa.”
Lisa rolled her eyes as she walked out, “Come on Lily. We still have a year before it’s important.”
“Just do it,” Lily said puffing out here cheeks.
With a wave Lisa got up and left the library leaving Samantha and Lily to pack up. The pair walked out of the school together. “That serious about college huh?”
“Definitely. I’m ready for higher education,” she said without irony and laughed. “So where are we meeting Betty?”
“There’s a coffee shop that she really likes,” she replied. “I think it’s a few bus stops away.”
“Is it called Java Craze?”
“Yeah how’d you know?”
Lily smiled as she shook her head. “My mom goes there all the time. She has this weird sugary thing that she always gets.”
“Some sort of frapachino?”
“Exactly. With foam and drizzle.”
Samantha made a face. “Captain likes those. I don’t understand it either. She got me one and I was wired for hours.”
The got to the bus stop and Samantha sat on the bench checking her phone and saw the text from Dick in their chat.
Dick has renamed the chat G.L. Corp.
Dick: So where are we meeting Betty again? Some sort of café right?
Dick: Samantha Lily one of you help me out here
Dick: See I’m going to get in trouble because you guys didn’t help me
out
She glanced over this and rolled her eyes and looked toward Lily. “This is your friend,” she said waving her phone.
Lily looked at her phone and skimmed through the messages slowly and shook her head. “I’m not claiming him.”
“We don’t have much of a choice,” Samantha said as she turned her phone sideways as she began to type.
Samantha: You’re obnoxious Dick.
Dick: Finally. Someone cares about me.
Samantha: We’re going to Java Craze Dick
Dick: Where’s that
Samantha: You have a map app
Dick: Fiiiiine
Dick: I’ll be there in like twenty minutes.
Samantha: Take your time. We’re waiting on the bus.
Samantha glanced up as the bus arrived on the curve. She jumped to her feet and the pair of women got on board working their way toward the back. Lily sat at a corner spot while Samantha stood holding onto one of the rungs.
With a gasp the bus jerked forward and started down the street. It groaned away and Samantha stumbled slightly with a glare but squared her feet as it kept going. She glanced out the window and the streets were active with kids on the side walk and taxi’s angrily honking.
The sky was a little grey, the clouds hanging like lazily drawn pastels and not clouds of condensation. There was a tiny bit of ice along the windows but it was melting and closer to dew. She turned around and found her eyes wandering around the bus, lingering on the warning signs, on the emergency exit before just looking at the street signs as they passed.
The bus creaked and wheezed again as they eased to another bus stop. Lily tapped her side and they both walked off. The moment they left the train there was a loud echo of activity around them. Groups of people on the streets, congested traffic ahead and venders shouting their wares.
But the coffee shop was across the street. Annoyed Samantha craned her neck over the cars and then pointed before just skipping across the street and darting through the cars with their honking horns. Lily stumbled behind her and glared. “A little more warning next time Samantha.”
“My bad,” she smiled and looked at the softly glowing white sign. Just the outside had a few colorful logos of coffee beans, tropical plants, and books.
Lily nodded and said, “I hope Betty is here already.”
“When we had training sessions she normally was.”
“Yes, when we had to do missions always the first one there. But when we had to do a meetup on a regular day she always took her time. So, I wonder which this one falls under for her.”
They pushed the door open and the place had a soft quality to it. That was partially because most of the people within were wearing headphones or reading books. There was action behind the counter from the baristas but other than it was quieter than Samantha initially imagined.
“Ladies over here,” both turned and a dark hand waved at them from a pocket booth. Betty was there her braids swept to the side, a coffee in front of her, and a tablet against the wall. She motioned to the empty area and both of them slid into the booth, Samantha next to her and Lily opposite her.
“I don’t know what it is about these but I find them invigorating,” Betty said sipping from her cup and smiled. “Absolutely tasty. How’s school treating you two? Adapting back into it, Sam?”
“Yes captain. It’s good to be back,” she said looking at her. “Though I’m still waking up in time to drills.”
“Yes those will stay with you for a very long time,” Betty chuckled. “I still sometimes wake up before dawn just to go for a run.”
Samantha shuddered. “I’ve almost done that a few times.”
“You never really get out of the habit. But let me get to the reason of why I asked you to join me.”
“What about Dick?” Lily asked checking her phone.
“He’ll catch up,” she waved her hand and leaned back frowing. “There have been reports of attacks in nearby cities that have left many warriors severely injured. The reports have been varying in the assailants but it’s been unlike wraith attacks. And they’ve been on a course toward the city.”
“Unlike wraith attacks? What does that mean?” Lily asked.
“The attacks haven’t been savage or from claws or burns. It is possible that some wraiths can fight without fire but this is,” Betty stopped and frowned. “What it seems like is something that I desperately hope isn’t on the rise.”
“You don’t mean another one of those groups?” Samantha asked her voice lowering and eyes narrowing.
“I hope not. But I fear they may be working their way to the city,” Betty said.
“What is going on?” Lily said leaning against the table. “Explain what this is.”
Before she could respond her phone started ringing. The song trouble played around their tiny booth and Lily frowned. Reaching toward her pocket Lily got her phone and answered. “Dick, where are you?”
She heard a grating noise against the phone and a muffled explosion of noise. It was garbled for a moment and she finally heard his voice. “Fifth… Avenue… Hel-!” The call dropped out of nowhere and she was left staring at her phone with wide eyes and then looking at the other two. “Dick’s in trouble. He mentioned fifth avenue.”
“Did he mention anything else?” Betty asked already moving to stand up.
Lily shook her head quickly. “No. Just fifth avenue. I heard something like an explosion.”
“I’ll check the news. Something like that should at least be online and trending in some way,” Samantha got her phone out and scrolled through it quickly when a news article flashed along the top of the screen. She tapped it and watched as it took over. “Fifth avenue and Jefferson. An explosion at the middle of the intersection with more trailing. People don’t know if it’s a terrorist attack if it’s some sort of gas explosion,” Samantha glanced up and Betty nodded.
“I’ll go there now. I can get there faster on my own. Meet you both there,” she smiled at the two of them and waved before darting outside. Samantha and Lily glanced at one another and followed but she was already gone.
Dick bounced across the ground and ducked his head low as he darted into an alleyway. Another explosion rocked the ground and he heard screams behind him but he wasn’t paying any mind to that. He knew they were chasing him down. Holding his arm, he kept running and rounded a corner to stop and catch his breath.
“Alright any time now. Lily, Samantha. Betty. One of you better show up soon,” peaking around the corner his eyes widened when he saw an orb flying toward him. Ducking down quickly it sailed over his head and then exploded blasting him forward. Knees skidding across the ground he groaned and looked up.
A face that appeared that was slightly tanned, features sharp, one eyebrow raised and inches away from him. Tilting his head to the side the stranger made a face. His hair was black and braided back in a thick pony tail but with long bangs. His skin was brown and eyes bright red like tiny flames. Rubbing his jaw, the stranger cocked his arm back and punched Dick in the face.
“You’re a real disappointment warrior,” he said with a chuckle. “I was expecting a lot more from you. Especially one tasked with protecting this city.” Tossing an orb up and down he smirked and tapped the top. “Can’t even manifest your geist on demand, can you?”
Dick groaned as he sat up and then glared. “I don’t know who the heck you are but that was a cheap shot. Manifestar,” both bracelets formed around his wrist and he swung one arm forward. The chain came to life and wrapped around the man’s arm. Yanking his hand back the man stumbled forward and Dick punched him back with a snort. “Not so bad now huh?”
Rubbing his jaw slowly the man smirked. “Smart ass.” He opened his palm and stared for a moment but nothing happened. “What the hell?”
“Yeah doesn’t work like that,” Dick grinned and punched him again. “Never met a wraith like you before.”
The man reeled back then headbutt him in the forehead and then threw another punch catching him in the chest. “That’s cause I’m not a wraith. I’m just like you. Just wasn’t dumb enough to sign up with the legion.”
Stepping forward the man moved to kick him but the other chain zipped forward wrapping around his leg. Turning Dick threw both arms to the side tossing the man into a nearby wall. Getting up, his chains slinking around at his feet he scowled. “What do you mea-“
He didn’t get to finish an orb was suddenly in his face. His chains moved to wrap around him but were too slow, the explosion blasting him backwards into a nearby wall. Sinking to the ground he gasped as the other chain slinked across the ground toward him.
The front of his clothes were singed and he heard some bricks clack against the ground. Coughing he pushed himself to his knees and saw the man rubbing his arm. “Oof. Not bad, I see why he calls you a King. Gonna have to deal with you for real.” He said as another orb appeared in his hand. “Buh bye.”
Dick saw the orb flying toward him and his chains tried to move but they were even slower than before. Before the orb could get to him a black shaped dropped in front and the orb exploded but in a much smaller contained way. A stranger in black armor appeared, the metal smooth and helmet angled with a pony tail of metallic braids. She glanced over her shouldered and waved a glowing hand.
“You’ve looked better Dick,” she said with a chuckle.
“Betty. Dios Mio,” Dick said almost collapsing forward onto his hands.
She turned to stare at the man again and raised the glowing hand and tilted her head. “I’ll say this once. Surrender yourself. It’ll be much easier on you that way.”
“Ha. I don’t know who you think you are lady but you’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to back down that easily,” he said and crossed his hands in front of him creating two orbs.
“Ten cuidado Betty. They’re like grenades or something,” Dick said his chains wrapping
around him preemptively.
“That’s exactly what they’re like!” he shouted throwing orbs at them. Betty jumped forward catching one of the grenades and the other one exploded in her front. One went off in her hand without much damage but the other caught her in the side sending her spinning toward a wall.
Instead of slamming into it she jumped running along the side and jumped at the man. She threw her fist at him and she missed slamming into the ground. The ground exploded, chunks of concrete flying at all of them. Betty darted forward and kicked the man in the chest swinging him toward the wall and lifting him off the ground.
“You’re going to talk. Now.” She said holding him up by her leg.
The guy chuckled and shook his head, “I know about you Black Betty and no can do. If I get captured they’d kill me. Besides. My ride is here.”
Betty raised her eyebrow when something struck her helmet hard. Her head jerked backwards and she scowled jumping back. The man was dragged into the air quickly and both of them looked at the roof.
They barely were able to see another man up there with a hammer before both disappeared over the top. Betty jumped to the roof and she swore under her breath. Shaking her head, she stepped back and hopped to the ground glancing at Dick.
He was on his feet now leaning against the wall rubbing his stomach. His face had a few scrapes and his hand was bleeding from a burn on his palms. But he wasn’t looking at Betty, he was looking in the distance like he wasn’t all there. “You alright?” she asked.
Shaking his head startled he nodded quickly. “He sido peor. Who was that guy?” he asked as he limped over. She let her geist fade away and cracked her neck and shook her hands out.
“I don’t know who he was exactly. But I may know what he’s related to. And it may spell trouble for us,” she frowned and then glanced down the alleyway. Samantha and Lily both appeared there looking like they’d run a marathon.
“Dick!” both shouted and ran toward him.
“What happened to you?” Lily asked. “Was it a wraith?”
“Worse,” Samantha said and glanced at Betty who gave a short nod. “Let’s get back to my place. We can get some bandages for Dick and go from there.”
“That sounds nice. And a beer,” he added and he winced when Lily pinched him but he laughed. “Okay just the beer then.”
“He gets blown up and he still makes jokes,” Betty laughed. “I knew I liked you.”
The Harlequin Library 