“Dick what the heck was that?” Lisa asked pointing a finger straight at him and he shrugged his shoulders awkwardly. “Don’t give me that! What was that!”
Dick looked over at Samantha and Lily and neither of them had a better answer for this situation. She glanced at Lily who was shaking her head as well. They were sitting in Keenen’s living room, Lisa and Gav near the couch. Dick was at the chair while the Lily and Samantha were sitting together on the love seat across the room.
“Let’s go through what happened,” Gav said holding up his hand and ticked off with his fingers. “A giant shark headed monster jumped out of the water and then you brought out chains and fought it. You killed the thing and then refused to answer our questions about it until we got back here. To top it off you begged for Lily and Samantha to show up. You got some explaining to do Dick.”
Both Lily and Samantha glanced at Dick at that point but it just went to show how bad things were. Shaking his head, he sighed. “Bien. I guess I’ll come clean on this secret right.”
He held his hands up and thought for a moment glancing back and forth between his hands. “Alright since you already saw it. The thing that attacked us is known was a wraith. Big monsters that hunt regular people like you guys.”
Gav blinked, “What hunt? Like-“
“Like comida yeah.”
“That’s not horrifying at all,” Lisa said shuddering. “And what the heck are you then?”
“I’m a geist warrior. Just like Samantha and Lily,” he pointed at the two of them and smiled. “We summon our geist to help us fight and kill those monsters and protect regular people.”
“Wraiths? Geist warrior? Who picked these names?” Gav mumbled.
“I could have come up with better names.”
“No you couldn’t”, Lisa cut him off. “Anyway you’re saying that you guys are super heroes?”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Samantha said finally interjecting. “But yes that’s one word for the job.”
“How long have you been doing this?” Lisa asked glancing at each of them.
“Since Samantha got here,” Dick said. “Lily didn’t get involved until a few weeks later. Me and Lily kinda stumbled into this but its our life now for sure.”
“I knew something was off with you since Samantha got here,” Lisa said glaring at them and puffing out here cheeks. “Thought you were just losing it over the new girl. And you too Lily?”
“I didn’t sneak around as much as they did,” Lilly said defensively.
“Remember those times they just up and disappeared around the same time?”
“You mean they’ve been pulling a Spiderman every single time?”
Gav groaned, “I feel like an idiot. It should have been obvious! Dick’s a horrible liar.”
“He really is,” Lisa groaned with him. “I thought he and Samantha were sneaking around to bang or something.”
“Me too,” Gav mumbled.
Dick threw up his hands, “Oye I’m not saying we didn’t do that once.”
“Dick,” Samantha took a very slow breath and clasped her hands together. “Please stop talking.”
“Just because you’ve been saving people and us doesn’t mean I like that you’ve been lying to us for all this long.”
He scratched the back of his head and frowned, “No es mi culpa. The legion has rules. I’m kinda getting myself into trouble telling you guys about this. Usually people forget after getting attacked by the wraiths. Their spirits protect them. No idea why you guys still remember.”
“It’s probably because they’ve been hanging around the three of us so often. It’s given their spirits some residual resistance without fully developing into a geist,” Samantha suggested. “Which is good. I’d hate to have more people brought into this.”
“Who else knows about this?” Gav asked standing up. “Keenen? Lily’s parents? Samantha’s aunt?”
“My parents don’t know. Nor does Keenen,” Lily said. “As for Samantha’s aunt. She’s not really her aunt. She’s actually a captain in the legion who’s close to Samantha.”
“So that stuff about working with your aunt?”
“Working for the legion across the country,” Samantha replied.
“What about you guys?” Lisa asked.
“Honestly I probably won’t. I want to be a counsellor to much to give it all up,” Lily replied. “No matter how good it feels to help people.”
Dick didn’t respond but he glanced at Samantha and frowned hard. “Undecided.” He said finally.
Lisa let out a groan and rolled over on the couch clutching her head. “This is dumb. Dumb dumb dumb. How did we miss this Gav? I’m actually ashamed.”
“We’re gutter trash. Hot hot trash,” Gav lay himself across the back of the couch. “We’re the worst.”
Lily laughed softly as she got up and reached out to the pair of them, “Come on you two, let’s raid Keenen’s fridge. I’m sure he has something sweet we can snack on.”
“Don’t try to bribe us with food!” Gav shouted.
“Wait!” Lisa reached toward her and raised her hand. “Does Keenen have any more of those Spanish tart things?”
“Who knows?” Lily chuckled “We’ll have to go check.”
“Gav my love can be bought. What say you?”
“You betray us all Lisa,” Gav sat up slowly and looked at Lily. “I must over see this venture to see just how deep the betrayal runs.”
Lily chuckled and led the pair of them out into the kitchen. Dick could loosely hear the fridge open and then the back and forth bickering of Gav and Lisa. He glanced over at Samantha and she was at the moment just staring at her phone. Dick brought up his phone and scrolled through his chat rooms before just letting out a breath and texting her directly.
Richard: Hey
Samantha paused and stared at the message then glanced up at him but he was looking down. He was nervous and didn’t even want to risk looking up at her. Smiling she went to the text and replied.
Samantha: Hey.
Richard: How are you?
Samantha: I’ve been worse.
Richard: Yeah?
Samantha: Yeah.
Lily and I have been patrolling.
Talking.
Richard: You and Lily.
Whys that scare me
Samantha: Lol
Richard: Anyway sorry about dragging you guys into this.
Samantha: Oh you mean calling us to explain away your mess?
Richard: Uh
Right.
Didn’t mean to have exposed everything.
Samantha: I know
You were protecting your friends.
I’m not mad at you.
Richard: You’re not?
She sighed and realized just how true that sentence was. Setting her phone down she stood up and walked over to him. She was standing in front of him before he realized she was up. Nearly dropping his phone, he looked at her and his blush was aggressively red on his cheeks.
“No, I’m not mad Dick,” she said softly and sat on the arm of the chair. “We’re partners right? And despite everything that happened there’s no need to stay at arm’s length anymore.”
Dick looked up at her and Samantha finally smiled. But Dick frowned harder looking at the ground, “I’m really sorry about what I said Samantha. It wasn’t right or fair. I was a bad boyfriend and a bad partner. There’s no one that I trust more than-“
She placed a finger against his lips and smiled. “I know. I forgive you”
That finally made him smile back and he let out a sigh. “Thank you capitana. Don’t think I could have taken much more of the cold shoulder.”
She raised an eyebrow as she watched him, “Was that a joke?”
“What?” the understanding dawned on him and he shook his head rapidly. “Wait a minute no. I was just saying.”
“Mmhm. I had enough of those jokes from Lily. Don’t want them from you too,” she tapped his cheek gently.
He took her hand and kissed it lightly and that made her blush slightly. “So what are the odds that Gav and Lisa awaken their geist?”
Samantha shook her head, “Considering they didn’t awaken when that geist attacked the chance is still there. However, it could be just as well that it doesn’t happen at all. Being normal isn’t that bad.”
“No, it’s not. Sometimes I miss it,” he sighed but glanced at her. “But being a geist warrior feels right.”
“It fits you. Better than I’ve seen others,”
“You think so?”
She nodded and then looked toward the kitchen hearing a sudden excessive amount of commotion. She got up, peeking around the corner but the other three came back into the living room passing small triangle shaped pastries to the pair of them. They were warm and tasted like strawberry. It was like pie but sweeter and drier.
“So guys I’ve got a fantastic idea,” Gav said hoisting a piece of pastry like a slice of pizza.
“You mean my idea,” Lisa interjected crossing her legs and chowing down.
“Hush Lisa,” he waved her away. “Anyway, my idea. We’ve been struggling to find a good time for us to all meet and hang out right? Well look at us right now. We’re all gathered together. So, let’s keep it going!”
“Keep it going?” Dick repeated chomping at his pastry.
“Yes Dick,” Lily sighed. “We don’t have plans as a whole today. So, we can do the original plan. Go to the beach together.”
Dick and Samantha exchanged glances and both just shrugged in response. “Why not?”
“Why not.”
“Hot damn! We’re going to the beach!” Lisa shouted then paused. “Oh wait, I don’t have any swimming clothes on hand. Should we split up and go get some?”
“Nah let’s just go straight there and play it by ear,” Samantha pulled at her ear and grinned getting to her feet. Grabbing Dick’s hand, she pulled him up as well and motioned for everyone to follow. “Come on. Follow la capitana.” She said and blushed at how wide Dick smiled at her.
“Ah, if I weren’t so infatuated with Dick I could fall for her too,” Gav said finishing his pastry and licking his fingers.
“Hey back off she’s definitely mine.” Lisa said slapping him on the back.
The five of them left the apartment boarding the train. They all leaned against the far window watching the sun set over the city. Dick watched it go by and knew it would always be home. No matter how much he traveled with the legion he would always come back here.
Looking over at his friends and then Samantha he smiled. He’d come back just to see them and his uncle. Traveling for the rest of his life was daunting but traveling with Samantha would make things more bearable. More than that. It would be fun.
The train jolted him out of his thoughts and he started almost falling out of his seat. Piling of the subway they crowded through the tunnel and took the stairs above ground. The moment they went above ground they could smell the lake and just barely hear the waves.
“Ah yes. Smell the water! Feel the sand! It’s gorgeous!” Gav said kicking off his shoes and pushing his feet into the sand and sighing.
“It’s really nice,” Lily sat down kicking her shoes off as well and leaned back into the sand. She dug her fingers through the sand slowly and tossed it lightly. Despite it being a public beach this part of it was well maintained and clean. A famous tourist location for the city.
Dick and Lisa ran toward the water before each of them kicked off their shoes and rolled up their pants legs and running into the water. “Ah cold!” both of them jumped forward going deeper into the water shivering but letting it soak in. Water splashed Dick’s back and he stumbled turning around and Samantha grinned splashing him again.
“Hey cut it out! That’s cold capitana!”
“You got in the water yourself!”
“Not to get splashed by you!”
“Get him soaked Samantha!” Gav shouted from the beach. “Make him take it off!”
“Will do Gav!” she kicked at the water and sent a huge wave of water at him. He covered his face and stumbled backwards laughing. Suddenly though she was splashed with water from the side and watched as Lisa grinned her way.
“Haha! I have allies!” Dick said losing footing in the water and falling with a gurgled laugh. He lingered under the water for a moment before being dragged out by both the girls and they laughed as he coughed. “I’m good.”
“What are we going to do with him?” Gav asked looking at Lily.
She shook her head, “He’s our idiot but somehow he’s found a way to become pretty capable.”
“I guess becoming a super hero you do or die huh?”
“We’re not super heroes,” she said putting a hand to her face. “But you guys are going to keep calling us that aren’t you?”
“Eh probably,” he shrugged pushing his hands through the sand. “Knowing him though he’s going to patrol the country with Samantha. I’ll miss that loser.”
Lily looked down at that and frowned, “Yeah. Me too.”
She watched the three of them in the water and they were contagious in their happiness. Even the thoughts of not seeing her best friend as often couldn’t bring her down in the moment. Looking over her shoulder at the sound of a car horn she rolled her eyes and then froze.
She could see him working his way toward them, each step a stumbling jerking gait. The spitting image of his brother but with glowing eyes. Getting to her feet immediately Gav caught onto her panicked face and then gasped. He looked at Dick in the ocean and the other Dick make his way over to them. Scrambling to his feet he shook his head.
“Oh boy. That one of those wraith things?”
“Yeah it is. Get out of here,” she said to him then shouted toward the water. “Samantha! Dick! We’ve got trouble!”
Both warriors turned back toward the beach confused but they both saw Rey approaching on the beach and paused gritting their teeth. Seeing his brother coming was like watching a ghost appear but he had prepared himself for it. At least as much as he could.
“So, he showed himself here instead of making us find him. Are you ready for this Dick?”
Dick steadied himself as he stared at his brother. He could feel his brother’s burning gaze on him but he looked at Samantha and nodded slowly, “As ready as I can be capitana. Lisa.”
“I know. Get out of here and get to safety with Gav. Do your thing you guys.”
She splashed her way back to shore and joined Gav. Both of them retreated from the beach onto stair case and then a few steps further back. Samantha and Dick moved to stand beside Lily. Standing with the girls on either side of him Dick took another breath and watched as Rey came to a halt in front of them.
Rey stared at them and his skin was cracked with orange streaks. It was like there was fire beneath his skin and it was bursting at the seams ready to explode. He growled and flames spat forward from his mouth but his hands were closed into fist.
“What are you doing here hermano?” he asked and glared. “Or are you still in there?”
His brother glared and tilted his head to the side. Raising a hand, he manifested his whip the tip connected by a length of fire. “You brother is gone. And as I face down death’s door I’ll do what I have to do to survive. I’ll devour you. Blood of my blood. And I’ll make myself whole.”
Dick closed his eyes and felt his hand shaking but forced himself to still it. Staring at what was once his brother he pressed his hands together. “I’m glad we had a little time hermano. But I won’t roll over and let you devour me. Likewise I won’t let you devour anyone else to keep yourself alive. You’re my burden Rey. So I’ll stop you.”
“No Dick, we’re gonna stop him,” Samantha said raising her fists and letting the geist form around her hands and feet. Her mask locked into place as she took a step forward glowering.
Lily lowered her arms and her geist manifested around her. A cloak dropped around her shoulders and a mask over her eyes. Both claws burst into life beside her and she glared at Rey. “That’s right Dick, we’re a team. We’re gonna do this together.”
Dick looked at them both and felt his smile. He crossed his arms in front of his face and called his geist to his side. “Lily. Samantha. Thank you. I couldn’t do it without you. Manifestar!” The chains spiraled to life around his wrist and he grasped them both. “Come on hermano! Let’s finish this!”
The Harlequin Library 