*Do not read unless you have read GOLDGREED by The Mad Poet. 

CHAPTER 1: BLINDING HATE

Pain.

Anger.

Hate.

Nothing. Nothing to be felt. Nothing inside. Nothing, except for pure, blinding rage, at the people, at the world, at that damn thing they call life.

"Master," Liana murmured, bowing her head low. Darkness pooled off of her feet, lazily drifted off of her skin as it rained down from the icy throne he sat upon. It sent a thrill through her, her numb skin swelling with goosebumps.

"Rise, Puppet." Deep and melancholy, as beautiful as the rage inside her. She gracefully stepped to her feet, but kept her head slightly tilted forward in respect. She dared not look up, but carefully peered through her eyelashes so that she could see the black boots.

Sleek, dark, like everything else about him.

She felt the movement, so slight yet so imminent, so powerful as pain exploded across her back.

She once again collapsed to her knees while blood as black as the boots before her joined the darkness beneath. She dared not make a sound, even as her eyes watered and the pain continued, each racking her body and sending the thick, inhuman sludge flying like spittle and landing in clumps. It made no sound, yet each hit sank deeper and deeper into her skin, tearing flesh and muscle to shreds. After twenty long, agonizing lashes, the invisible whip vanished and she was left shivering in the empty cold.

"You have disappointed me, Puppet." Each syllable vibrated through her bones, filling her more and more with rage until it dared to blister and pop on her skin like angry puss. And she hungrily drank it in.

"Find her. Bring her to me. Do not disappoint me again." This time she could hear it. The crackle of energy as once more, barbed metal attacked shredded muscle, taking chunks of skin away with it as a reminder, a warning, of what would happen should she disappoint him again.

And she would not.

CHAPTER 2: WELCOME TO EVA

Angel kept her lips sealed, pressed so firmly together it cut off circulation and she felt her chin ache in response. But she was angry. And she was stubborn. And a little cranky, she supposed, as no one seemed to be answering any of her questions.

She didn't really remember much, or at least clearly, her mind a groggy cloud of opaque vapour.

But she did remember something.

"Listen! She hissed. "I am your mother. I gave birth to you! And do you know what your stupid Dr. Orne did?! He took you away from me!"

Her mother. Delm was her mother. All this time. It made her want to kill Dr. Orne even more.

All this time. As Dr. Orne told her he had rescued her, that her mother had hated her from the very start, had been disgusted with her very being.

All this time. Delm had been looking for her daughter. Dr. Orne had stolen a baby right from the arms of its parent. Yet at the first cheque he laid his greedy little eyes on, he discarded it like an old toy.

All this time.

All. This. Time.

But like these past few weeks, she shoved the cracks in her heart deep down, deep inside, where not even dear Alice could find them.

Angel gave her most murderous glare to the guard beside her. She glanced down at her imprisonment. Metal clasps connected her hands together, preventing her from using her powers. And then, these special shoes they forced onto her. Or moreas, a sticker or tattoo they placed on her bare feet. It was transparent, with little gold circuitry that, upon skin contact, melted into her flesh. As she had climbed off of the bed and they undid the chain connecting her to it, a turquoise beam of light awoke, as if an LED wire was attached to the bottom of her foot and connected to the guard's foot. Like a rope, but one that stung her when she went too far from the guard, and left faint, turquoise and azure imprints on the floor where she had stepped. It was nothing she had ever seen before. But she supposed, everything she had witnessed this past month, (or at least she believed it had been a month) had been nothing she had ever seen before.

They were leaving the building. They may not be, but something deep in her gut told her so. At this, her mind buzzed and her heart beat frantically. She had only been out of her room once, and it was the first time she had awoken, in which she had attempted to escape. Since then, the orphans had come and gone, but refused to be within five feet of her, then refused to answer her with a nervous glance to the guards when she inquired why.

Angelina, you are a ticking bomb.

Is this the place Eriko had referred to? A safe haven, she recalled her naming it. What was it called again? Eva, yes.

There was a ping, and they stepped through a sliding white door into a comfortably furnished room. The walls were pure white, made up of that smooth, shiny, blinding white material that everything seemed to consist of. On one wall, there was a large blue diamond with two lines intersecting the middle. She had seen this symbol before. Everyone wore it, placed right over their heart and imprinted on their white robes.

There was a curvy sofa, and bluish white light came through the little slits on the wavy textured walls. Angel plopped on the sofa beside her guard, in which the turquoise light rope thing immediately switched over from the guard's foot to the couch itself.

Interesting.

She gasped. The waves on the wall adjacent suddenly rippled, until they simply, disappeared––like a mirage in the sweltering heat of the desert. Angel glanced astonished at the guards, but their faces remained absolutely blank.

And then she turned her face back towards the now window, so transparent she almost imagined the breeze that would drift inside.

For they were moving. So smooth she hadn't even realized they were as it drifted light as air. But who cares about that? Because beyond that, everything screamed impossible. Tall spires pierced the clouded sky, which was more green than blue, and as their pod weaved between them, she could see bursts of green and colourful plants drifting off of their curves and crevices. They dipped lower, flying past large platforms that peaked out of the spires holding parks and more buildings, some even simply mysteriously floating on their own. Bridges connected them, allowing people to move from spire to spire, some holding transit––subways that seemed to move at the speed of light. Thousands of other pods of different sizes and colours flew past.

But what struck her most was the culture, the colour. It was organized, yet chaotic. Sides of buildings were painted with mermaids, evil fairies, sea monsters, flowers, trees and what seemed to be breathtaking alien creatures that moved of their own accord and glowed on their walls. Lanterns were strung beneath the bridges thats light bounced to the rhythm of the various types of music booming from invisible speakers. And the people, too. They weren't human, and dressed nothing like she had ever seen before.

Angel had the sudden realization that she had had only human caretakers, and maybe that was for a reason.

Because now, she had never been so overwhelmed.

With frustration, that she had been so close-minded to believe that Earth was the only thing bursting with life out there.

With anger, that there was this whole world outside and she had been cramped in a medical room these past few weeks.

With terror, at how insignificant she was compared to this place.

With wonder, at all of this beauty and creativity and peace that thrived so perfectly.

After about two minutes, Angel shut her mouth as she noticed the pod slowing down. Her jaw ached after being so wide open for so long.

It was the largest spire, and it stood out in stark difference for it was black as midnight, clean and elegant and crisp. It had little longitude strips on it that lit up with all of the colours of the rainbow which shifted in pretty ombres.

The pod slowed to a stop, landing quietly as ever on one of the platforms jutting out from the spire. The guards abruptly stood. One of them walked over, pressed something on their wrist, and the turquoise beam flickered, then died. Angel stood up, stretching her muscles, and without wasting a moment, charged forward.

Only to slam into solid. With a flash of blue light, she collapsed backwards, then scrambled to her feet, eyes wide as she studied the air that had turned to solid yet still transparent wall. One of the guards smirked, the only expression she had seen on them other than a blank stare and with a hiss, Angel bared her teeth at her. Barbaric, she knew, but once again, she was angry and stubborn and a little bit cranky.

The guard's face shifted back to blank and tapped their wrist gently. The air on the "wall" rippled with turquoise light in hexagonal patterns that folded away into nothing. With ease, the guards then stepped through and waited outside the pod for Angel. Angel hesitated, swallowed, then carefully placed her foot through. When nothing happened, she allowed herself to fully exit, stepping onto a hexagon of floating stone. It hovered with her weight on it, and she stepped onto the next, noticing how each was slightly lower then the one after, while taking her across the small expanse of lush grass and flowers in full bloom. Trees stood tall on either side, their backs curving and arching over her and obscuring her view from what lay ahead. When there were no more, she stepped onto concrete, pushing past the drifting vines. With mischievous thoughts, she began to dip her pristine white shoe towards the grass still sparkling with dew aching to see a smudge of dirt on it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

She blinked, then turned.

Renata.

Suddenly, there was a hissing noise, and she felt a burning sensation. She looked down and saw that a couple flecks of grass clung to the tip of her shoe, and it was corroding at it. Smoke sizzled up and the fabric bubbled. Angel yelped and quickly threw off her shoe.

"What the hell!" She growled, whipping around and glaring at Renata. Renata smiled kindly.

"It's to prevent attackers," She explained sympathetically. "All of the platforms have them. If you didn't have authorization, those stones wouldn't have come out, and you'd be dead." Angel noticed how she was dressed differently than her guards. It was still the same uniform as everyone wore––sleeveless knee-length dress, military collar, slits that reached to your hips on either side, white pants, white boots, and the diamond logo on the left breast––but Renata's was navy, and the right intersecting line had seven diagonal ticks along it, obviously some form of status.

Renata noticed her staring and grinned. "Sergeant Fior, at your service," she said, and squared her shoulders. Angel simply cocked her head. It made sense. When she had first met Renata, she had sensed a bit of a fighter in her, some wise experience. Everyone who has ever been on the brink of death and has fought their damn way through it has a certain look in their eye, and Renata did well to cover it.

"Explain," Angel commanded with a curious tone. Renata merely winked and pivoted around, long braid swinging, motioning her to follow. Two tall, shining black doors split with a hiss, and with one look around at this whole new yet mysterious world, Angel stepped through, too.

CHAPTER 3: MESSY MANES

"Good morning, Maika! Today is the start of a brand new day here in Eva Capital! Today, you have a meeting with Sergeant Fior at 11 o'clock, and tonight, the annual anniversary of Eva's founding! Would you like to hear more?"

"Fuck, no!"

"Alright, then. Have an absolutely terrific day!"

It was 9:30, and Maika Jeffords did not feel good. His head ached and he nearly collapsed as he rolled out of bed with a loud groan. Sensing he was up, the automated glass sprung to life as sunlight poured into the room and holographic flowers bloomed and dispersed into colourful particles that tinted the sparkling light. He rubbed his eyes, running his hand through the thick tangles of his mane, then completely threw the blanket off and stormed off to the bathroom.

He stepped out of the closet, running a hand over his uniform and flicking away a smudge of eyeliner off of his cheek. With a wink at the mirror and a tight, yet practised swivel, he sauntered out of his apartment.

Angel stared calmly through the window. They were in a large conference room, with a magnificent floor to ceiling, ten foot, crescent shaped window. But it wasn't a window, because she could hear noise, meaning it was the same technology used on the ship. Not quite a window, but not quite air either, because when a strong wind came by, it flashed in turquoise hexagonal patterns in an area––like some sort of defence system. It was satisfying to watch, her eyes straining to see how it worked and catch those quickest of flashes. Like lightning in a thunderstorm, heart thundering in anticipation as you searched the atmosphere for that thin light slicing the air.

There was a hiss, and what couldn't even be called a man stepped through. He was huge and his hair was a big mess that reminded her of a lion's mane, with dark brown and strands that flashed rainbow in the light. And his eyes were a kaleidoscope of colours, constantly shifting; so beautiful one could get lost in them. Noticing Angel's stare, he grinned, flashing fangs, and Angel couldn't even believe what happened next. He changed. A thin coat of golden brown fur sprouted out from his skin, his hair grew longer and bushier until it reached his thighs, and two shiny gold antlers popped out from his forehead. He let out a low growl that sent her little heart racing with horror and his eyes swirled with hot pink flecked with crimson and gold.

Angel looked over to Renata to see if she could see what Angel saw, but Renata just rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.

"Maika, lay off, would'ya?" She said, eyebrows furrowed then continued to read what was oh-so-important on the tablet. Maika smiled and shifted back, then took a seat next to Renata and kicked his feet onto the table until Renata shot him a glare and, sheepishly, he sat up properly.

What in the world was he? Angel peered at him through the corner of her eye. Somewhere in a mix between a lion, a unicorn, and a deer. And a shapeshifter. And a wizard.

There was another hiss, and Angel trembled at what might come next. The doors slowly peeled open. A spot of wavy dark hair, light brown skin, hazel eyes...

"Marian!" Angel cried. She raced over to her and threw her arms around her sister.

"Hey, Angie," Marian said, squeezing her tight. Annabelle stood next to them, but Angel noted the haunted look in her eyes. She sent a questioning look to Marian and she simply mouthed, "later."

Marian made to turn and Angel's breath caught as her hair shifted and she saw a large, jagged scar on her forehead, now visible in the light. But she obeyed Marian. Later.

Next Ike and Joice stepped through, each taking a seat. About ten other people in uniforms and with slightly strange features like patches of silvery fish scales, fuzzy ears that were two feet high, multiple arms, multi-coloured skin, and a variety of others, came and took a seat.

And finally, her.

Slitted eyes, ruthless and cold. Sword pressed painfully into her neck.

And there she was.

General Bloom. As soon as she stepped through the doors, a hush fell over the room, all of the warmth succumbing to the shadows. Her cheekbones were so sharp they looked as if they could cut, her eyes a mixture of yellow and lime and slitted like a snake, her platinum hair coiled in a braid on her head, and her uniform, the blackest of the black with the crest being a shimmery gold and instead of just one diamond––it was two, one around the other and imprisoning the intersecting lines.

Renata leapt to her feet and saluted. The others followed, all except for the orphans.

"Sergeant Fior," the general acknowledged. Renata lowered her head in respect, and once again, everyone else followed.

The general then fixed her attention on Angel. Angel shivered, using all of her might not to tremble. Her eyes were so sharp she felt she could see right into her soul. There was a darkness, so deep and evil that for the first time, in a long time, Angel felt––

Fear. Dark and cold, it trickled down her spine as if someone was pressing a block of ice to her neck.

"I see you have brought the child." Her voice boomed, her eyes refusing to move off of Angel. Now, Angel trembled.

"Yes, General." Renata dipped her head, squaring her shoulders.

"She has no place here. Why isn't she dead already?" She demanded, and her eyes flashed with an endless void of anger, swirls of dark green and pricks of crimson filling up the limes and yellows.

"I apologize, General. But I––and Commander Fior––" there was a slight hitch in Renata's voice. Renata had referred to herself as Sergeant Fior. Oh, Angel thought, as realization dawned on her. Her sister. What happened to Eriko? "––believed she could contribute to The Successful Government of Eva as a GEGA soldier." Angel forced herself to look back to General Bloom as she contemplated Renata's statement. She was about to interrupt, saying she would never work for this monster, never wish to work or be indebted to anyone ever again, but fear, fear, held her back, held her eyes straight ahead, held her back straight and her mind blank.

"Fine. Next time, you will not go behind my back and disrespect my command. However, you have recently come back from a mission, and I must acknowledge your bravery and success." Renata beamed. "But," the general warned. "If even one Evan is even tripped by her, she will be––"

"I understand," Renata promised. The general stood there for a moment, assessing Renata. At last, she took a seat at the head of the table. Darkness descended on the room, until the only light came from the window, but soon it also turned to black, and there was only the soft glow of Maika's tablet.

"Maika," Renata ordered. Maika nodded and typed something onto the tablet. In the centre was a small black cube, about the size of a fingernail, and light unfolded from it in an upside down pyramid. The walls also flickered––including the window, and Angel quite loudly gasped as they were suddenly screens, swirling with data and information.

She glanced at the other orphans. They hadn't even flinched. There was a touch of anger, of envy, that they had obviously had much more freedom than Angel.

Hate. Anger. REVENGE. She felt her eyes begin to glow, but then she stopped herself before anyone could notice.

"Get it together," she mumbled, pinching her wrist. Ike sent a worried glance her way, and she ignored it.

"There have been large increases in criminal activity in the city. Robberies, hostages crises, data missing, small things. But," Maika paused, then decided to pull up an image, in literal 3-D. "Most recently, the burning of South Brenda Lee." It was one of the spires, this one with paintings of daisies, children holding hands, and colourful geometric patterns. Vines blooming with purple, magenta, light blue, and orange flowers hung from its platforms, in which there white pods, larger than most of which she'd seen, with the letters South Brenda Lee and the Caduceus of Hermes icon, a winged sword with two snakes entwined around it.

A children's hospital. The photo then switched. It was obviously the same spire, but this time, black smoke climbed out of its openings and pitch black fire embraced the structure. Red lights flashed off of yellow emergency pods.

"Two hundred injured, seventy eight dead and still counting. It took almost forever to finally turn it out as it was strong enough that it wasn't susceptible to our chemicals. The fire was strange, unlike anything we've seen before, well at least..." He went quiet, and Angel saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. Silence descended upon the room.

"I thought we had more time," an officer worried, eyebrows furrowed.

"'Should've killed 'im when we had the chance!" Another growled, slapping their knee with frustration. The whispers grew louder until everyone was shouting at another. Fists violently pounded on the table, words twined through the air, sharp as arrows and alight with furious anger, thickening the air with opaque smoke that choked Angel.

She

couldn't

BREATHE. She clawed at her neck, begging her windpipe to open, to let precious air fill her lungs. But no one seemed to notice, everyone's eyes were turned away from Angel.

Anggggeeeelllll. Darkness poured out from the shadows beneath the table. It called up the walls and snuffed out the glow of the holograms, filling the room with cold.

Wherrreee arrreeee yoooouuuu Angggggeeelllll?

Pain splintered through her mind and she felt her nails grip her temples, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She screamed.

Iiiii neeeeddd yooouuu Ang––

Shut up!

Shut up!

"SHUT UP!" She shrieked. The room instantly quieted. She opened her eyes and looked around. Everyone had been panicking, standing up and shouting, but there was no darkness, no voice, and definitely no invisible hand choking her. Angel panted, and noticed her knuckles were clenched, golden energy alight and bulging out of the veins on her arms, her eyes glowing with power. She then realized that no one was moving, and she released her hands, and everyone sank into the chairs, all staring at her with wide eyes. A woman was first to react, shrieking in some strange language. She reached her hand back and threw it forward, and a vine of prickly green shot out from beneath her sleeve. It was so quick, Angel had no time to defend herself as it slashed her arm. Blood oozed out, and Angel cried out in pain.

"Wait," Angel growled, nursing the wound by pressing it to her chest, she threw up her hand and gold ribbons leapt out, tangling around the woman's wrist before she could hurt Angel again.

"I simply want to speak," was all she said. She looked around at everyone. She motioned to the hologram, still showing the smoldering hospital. She breathed deeply, shaking the voice out of her head, and licked her lips nervously. "I recognize that darkness," she said. "On, um, Earth, Delm was able to kidnap my family for what I believed was experimentation. Fortunately, I was able to escape, but the others weren't so lucky," Angel paused for a moment, and gathered herself, summoning more confidence. "Delm's facility was located off the coast of Antarctica. When I finally arrived in order to rescue them, I had to face off m––my s––sis––ister. Her eyes were like two black marbles, blank and emotionless. Her powers were completely black, when they're usually blue––like her eyes. And when I hurt her, her blood was black, too, and strangely textured, and she healed almost instantly. Delm also had these powers in which she could summon darkness to do her bidding.

"That fire," Angel nodded at the hologram. "Looks. Exactly. Like. It." Angel felt her voice grow louder. "And my family is still under her control! Who knows what they are going through? And you all just left them, left an entire planet to fend for itself from my––this monster! We need to act now before she grows stronger, before she grows crueler, and before another innocent becomes her mindless puppet." Angel stared down every person in the room, jaw clenched, and she knew her eyes were glowing.

"And if you don't, I swear I'll hunt each of you down and rip out your––"

"Oh-kay!" Renata clapped her hands together.

"I wasn't finis––" Ike slammed her into her seat by her shoulder and pressed his index finger against his lips, eyebrows raised expectantly, a little humour in his eyes.

"When she says Delm, she refers to the Victim I presume?" An officer asked Renata.

"Yes, I believe Dr. Tonya Delm?"

"Victim?!" Angel hissed under her breath. Messy platinum blond hair streaked with black, square jaw, pointy nose, emptyless black orbs. A madman. A MONSTER.

Her Mother.

There was silence, then:

"If your theory is accurate, Sergeant, then it may be true. Organize a task force, and send them out to investigate. I'd like a report on my desk in six weeks." The general stood up, nodded once and, not waiting for Renata's answer, walked out of the room. The holograms immediately switched off, and the room lightened. Renata patiently waited for the general to leave.

"Alright, everyone. We have about three weeks to prepare. Maika, Saysa, Riefel, Tyalo, Da'aneer, and Yuseef, we will meet at the same time tomorrow. You have all been chosen for the task force. Everyone except for the Earthlings and Fei, I'll see you later, and enjoy the rest of your day!" She clapped her hands, dismissing everyone with a kind smile and they all got up and left. Maika was the last to leave, with a little wink at Angel and a flash of fangs. Renata rolled her eyes again.

"Hi, so you've all met me, either on the mission or these past weeks in which you have gotten to enjoy the city. But in case you've forgotten who I am," Renata chuckled. "My name is Sergeant Fior, but you may call me Renata." Her gaze then landed on Angel, and turned sympathetic with a hint of alarm as she realized her mistake too quickly. Angel's nostrils flared and she glared at her, now allowing her temper to take hold.

"I'm sorry for your seclusion this past mon––"

"What the FUCK is going on?" Angel shrieked, standing up with fists clenched. The table rattled, gold sparks dancing on its surface. "You are telling me that everyone has had free reign over this goddamn city and I've been in PRISON?!?!" But Renata was staring at her fists. Angel paused, then looked down at them. Rivers of gold ran through her veins, lighting up her skin from beneath as sparkles trickled down the bones. The table stopped rattling.

"That is why you have been kept in captivity, and you must control yourself. You are lucky the general didn't shoot you on the spot after that stunt you just did. You are a danger to yourself, to your family," she gestured at the other orphans. "And to Eva citizens." She gestured at the window behind her. "Again, I apologize. But remember, I am the only one standing in your way from being executed. I have fought for you to have your place here." Renata held her gaze, and Angel saw truth in them. Renata was really fighting for her. She swallowed, then looked down, calling back her power as much as it felt so good to have it free.

"What do you want from me?" Angel mumbled.

"If you allow the specialists here to train you, you can become a GEGA soldier and work for me. After your service is complete, you can do whatever you want to do with your life."

Angel looked up, feeling bold again. "I want my family back," she said without hesitation. Renata's eyes filled with sorrow, and Angel knew she was thinking of her sister. It was then that Angel knew that, like her family, Eriko had been captured by Delm.

I am your Mother.

"If you train and work for me, I will do my best to ensure you will be part of the soldiers sent to retrieve them," she swore. Angel pressed her lips tightly together, eyebrows furrowed. She jumped as someone tentatively touched her shoulder. Looking over, she saw it was Ike. He had the same hurt look as Angel in his eyes.

He missed her too.

"Alright," Angel said quietly, and there was a moment of hopeful silence. Angel cleared her throat, then said, "Now will you explain to me, what the hell this is?" Renata smiled.

"Take a seat," she said, then, "Forget everything I told you. It was all a disguise to get you to come with us," Renata blurted. Angel opened her mouth, then pressed them together in a thin line.

"I mean," Angel lowered her eyes. "It wasn't that believing, anyway." Renata smiled, eyes alight, but then her face grew serious again.

"Ten years ago," she began. "Oh, well this doesn't remind me of anything," Angel rolled her eyes. Renata's lips twitched.

"Ten years ago..." Renata paused, then looked over at someone standing in the corner. She had long black hair that almost reached the floor, and her face was pale as moonlight. She was thin, looking as if she were malnourished with bones oddly sticking out beneath the skin. Hunched over, she was looking down at the ground as if chastised. "Fei?" Renata said softly. Fei looked up, then quickly glanced back down. Her pupils were two large black beads, and Angel had a sudden flashback to when she had to fight Liana, her eyes like an emotionless abyss. Angel held her hands up, eyes wide, and let them glow menacingly. Fei squeaked and curled up into a ball, burrowing herself even further into the shadows.

"Angelina!" Renata snapped, then understood. She explained, "She's not one of the...puppets. She's an alien."

"Oh," was all Angel said, and she slumped back into the chair. Renata walked over to Fei, and kneeled, muttering softly. Fei looked up, and Angel saw trails of dark violet ink running down her cheeks like tears. She stood up, shaking, then stood at the head of the table. Now Angel could get a better look at her. Her eyes were bigger than a human's, almost the size of tennis balls, and she could see silver flecks like confetti in them. She had no eyelashes or eyebrows, with eyelids that closed in sideways, and dark purple veins bulged beneath her cheeks.

"I'm Fei," was all Fei said. Renata stood straighter, then, once again, began. "Ten years ago," she said, loud and clear. Fei raised her hands, and the purple veins on her face went black as night. Angel's eyes went wide as the world around her rippled, and before she knew it, she was standing on a grey cloud. Some force made her get down to her knees, and curiosity overtook her. She peaked over the cloud, where she could see the city down below. It looked the same, but with less spires and blockier builds. It was dirtier, and smog clogged the air. Black fires raged, the atmosphere was polluted, and rivers of toxic green flooded the streets. She squinted, and it seemed to come more in focus. People of all types rampaged, weapons in their hands and madness in their eyes, wicked grins alight, and their eyes two utterly empty black voids.

We lived in the Dark Ages. No one knows how it came to be, only that it was utter chaos. Eventually, a rebellion was formed. Again, the world rippled, and pods with diamonds roughly painted on their sides in blue paint raced through the sky, bombs dropping from them with explosions that rattled the planet. Flashes of colourful light fought with wisps of black, shadow monsters right out of a nightmare screaming in rage.

This was two hundred years ago. Ever since, Eva has lived in peace. But we were unable to kill The Possessor, for he is part of an ancient powerful alien species, thought to have long been extinct. But they do not die easily, and so he was sentenced to rot in prison.

Above Angel, a bomb dropped from a pod, racing right towards her. Angel wrapped her arms above her, squeezing her eyes shut as she screamed for her life. But then the sounds of war quieted, and cold licked her skin. She dared to open her eyes.

She was standing in a white room. But it was an illusion, for a wall was ripped off and everything was being sucked out. Beyond that, were billions of billions of stars and galaxies. The ship she was on shook as it struggled to stay together. Angel looked around, and saw there was a door, wide open, inviting her to run through. And she did.

It was a massacre. People of all species in blue uniforms were slumped over, parts dismembered and eyes staring blankly ahead.

Their eyes were completely black. And they all had weapons, all pointed at themselves as if they shot it at their own bodies.

This same alien, also known as Eva's deadliest criminal, escaped from captivity. The Possessor, we call him. He has the ability to enter one's mind and illusion their surroundings to control their thoughts, their feelings. He could illusion one to kill their spouse by making them think they were being attacked by a monster.

And then, they were in a place of darkness. Angel trembled. It was the same place Delm had kept her family in, had kept her in.

"I am your mother."

Darkness swirled at her feet and Angel clenched her fists as tears threatened to fall.

It is an illusion. It is an illusion. She reminded herself. Renata's voice echoed throughout the abyss.

He is an alien, but his powers come with consequences. He may only take his true form in the eighth dimension, the same dimension your friend, Alice, can enter.

The world spun, and then she was floating in space. Stars winked into existence and she saw the moon, far away and ethereally beautiful. Below her, a blue orb of white and green and so much beauty. Hundreds of satellites lazily orbited the planet, and behind her, brilliant light warmed her back. It was absolutely breathtaking, reminding her once again, how truly small she was compared to...Everything.

To get to our own world, he must enter the mind of someone else, someone with enough hate and madness to submit to him. But he craves to have power here, to not rely on some mere creature's form.

And then, she heard screaming. So pure, so full of pain and hate and loss. Angel noticed she was moving. The Earth was growing bigger and she was moving faster and faster. And then, she was in a hospital room. Blood soaked the bed sheets, and a woman lay curled up on the tiles, screaming and crying. Nurses banged on the door, pleading for her to unlock it. Her dark hair lay in sweaty clumps, and her blue eyes were bloodshot.

"Listen! She hissed. "I am your mother. I gave birth to you! And do you know what your stupid Dr. Orne did?! He took you away from me!"

It was her mother. Right after Angel had been kidnapped. The world rippled, and then what happened was weird. In one eye, she could still see Delm, shrieking and crying, breaking her heart with every tear. But in the other, she could see only swirls of darkness.

And a man, messy platinum blond hair streaked with black, a square jaw, pointy nose, with emptyless black orbs for eyes.

Him. He looked different though. Weaker, eyes sunken in, hair stringy, and the skin seemed to hang off his bones. Angel remembered how one moment, it had been Delm, and the next it was him, eyes crazed and filled with greed.

Back in the hospital room, dark smoke seemed to float around Delm's head, seeping into her ears, her mouth, her nostrils. She gasped, eyes wide, and for a moment she wasn't breathing as she seemed to stare into empty space. But then, her eyes filled up with black, and her lips twisted into a cruel smile.

He craves revenge. And all he can do for now, is wait.

And then, they were back in the conference room. Angel fell to her knees, rubbing her eyes until they stung.

"He is weak from his time in prison, but with every day, he gains more and more energy."

"Angel?" The world tipped, and Angel felt as if she were going to puke.

"Angel!"

Darkness.

Jessie peered into the darkness. It was unbearably cold, since there was no need to keep the storage units comfortably warm. She huffed, bored, feeling the little mist exit her lips. They were there––almost there, achingly slow. Her muscles grew tight and sore from being cramped up for so long, buzzing with galaxies of energy. She had never felt so alive, yet so useless.

Patience, Sister.

She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against the cool metal. She could see the shadows spinning there––sense them, and knew her brother was doing the same. It was strange what she felt for her brother. Always, the boiling hate, wave upon wave violently crashing in chaos in her mind, but there was a connection between them. Hard twine that bit her skin, but impossible to remove, a constant reminder––and warning...

Someone was watching.

"Hello, Angelina," Jessie said, lips curling. Her voice echoed in the metal crate. "Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you." Her eyes narrowed, and she cocked her head to the side, wolfine ears twitching.

They were sent here for a reason, and when it came, she wouldn't be useless.

She would be free.

Patience.

"NO! Angel gasped. Her eyes fluttered, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

"Shhhhhh.....It's alright." Somewhere, far away––so far away, said. "Go back to sleep, now. It's okay, everything's okay. It was just a nightmare––only a nightmare. Remember that?"

It was only a nightmare. You will forget all of this.

"It was only a nightmare. I will forget..." She breathed deeply, swallowing a knot. She was so tired, so very tired.

"Finish it!"

"I will forget all of this."

Very good. Now, go to sleep, my darling.

Angel stirred. She was impossibly comfortable. It was warm and cozy, and the world smelled like lavender.

Hey Angie.

She let out a groan, something between Shut up and Leave me alone. There was a soft laugh, sweet and full of love. Angel opened her eyes, which were two heavy weights, and glimpsed two big hazel eyes staring back at her. Alice smiled, and brushed away a loose ginger wave from Angel's face.

I missed you. Her voice echoed in Angel's mind, so full of warmth and familiarity.

"I missed you, too," Angel croaked. And then, her arms were around Alice, and her face was buried in her braids. They were woven with pink, like the magenta lipstick she had on. It felt so good to be held after these last two months of hell.

To think, only three months ago she was still living in Orne Mansion, wearing expensive clothing and sipping tea, thinking all was right with the world. Three months ago, there was no alien mutant planet spying on her and trying to kidnap her. Three months ago, she was still living with all of the other orphans. Three months ago, she thought the world of Dr. Orne.

Three months ago, she didn't have a mother.

But where she was now...Was it better?

Or worse?

Angel pulled back, and sat up, leaning against the headboard of the bed.

She was in an apartment of sorts. The walls portrayed moving pictures of a wildflower field in the dead of night. Stars and nebulae littered the ceiling, a brilliant meteor shower taking place before them. Tall grass and luminescent flowers swayed in an invisible breeze, and crickets happily chirped.

The bed was large, covered in soft speckled white and grey furs, with a sleek ivory night table lined with fairy lights to the left, and to the right an armoire of similar design painted with watercolour blossoms of the deepest navy and delicate splatters of black paint and shimmery gold.

In other words, the room was beautiful.

"Khlorea, day time mode please," Alice said, as she sat up as well.

"Of course," a deep, British voice responded.

"Khlorea?" Angel asked, lips quirked.

"How may I help you?" The AI responded, as the walls lightened into day. The stars disappeared, reconstructed into a bright summer day consisting of fluffy white clouds, green and yellow hot air balloons, red kites, and exotic birds. To the left, the wall turned transparent, so that it was a floor to ceiling window of the city. They were high up, and she watched with curiosity and satisfaction as pods crammed with people zoomed by, children played on platforms with grass and jungle gyms, and couples strolled and biked along the bridges connecting them all. Between the buildings, the dying sun could be seen, and three moons shone in the lazy lilac sky.

Alice simply shrugged, a small smile on her lips and said, "We had the option of naming the computer system, and I was a bit homesick." Angel smiled grimly, then stared down at her hands. But something was bothering her. Alice sighed, somehow––well, maybe not somehow, Angel knew exactly how––knowing what she was thinking.

"They wouldn't let me visit you, thinking I might enhance your power. You're strong, Angel––more than you realize. Your powers may be beautiful, but they're chaotic, and unpredictable." Alice furrowed her eyebrows, as if she would like to say more, but then her face turned remorseful.

"Yeah?" Angel said quietly, eyes lifting.

"Yeah," Alice replied, a small smile tugging her fuschia lips. Angel hugged her again. But there was still something bothering her.

"Look, back on Earth," she said. "When I finally got to the facility. There was an explosion, and you saved me, and left me in the snow to rest. You told me to stay there, but I...didn't. And I'm so––"

"Yes, what you did may have been wrong," Alice interrupted. "But I get it. You were angry and frustrated, and had probably been under a lot of stress, not to mention...Look, I didn't mean to, but it's literally blaring out like an alarm in your head and––"

"You know," Angel said quietly. "About...Delm and..."

"Yes," Alice sighed. Then, "Angel, I am so, so sorry. You shouldn't have to go through this, no one should have to go through this. But um..." Alice went quiet for a moment, and Angel waited patiently for her to gather herself, gazing out the window.

"You know, Orne didn't do that to just you." Angel looked over to her, eyes wide, mouth parted, but no words came out.

"When I was younger––it doesn't matter how it came to it, but I had only recently developed my powers and, I lashed out, not realizing what would happen next. I, I killed someone, an innocent. Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital, in which there had been a car accident, and I was the sole survivor." Alice went silent for half a minute, sniffed, then continued.

"As I sat in the police car while they consoled my parents, across the street, I watched a black car pull up, and three people stepped out. One, an old man, with gelled back grey hair in an expensive suit, followed by two bodyguards." Angel's heart beat fast, and the blood rushed to her ears. "The first, with black spiky hair and green eyes." An arrow, piercing her chest, pain exploding through her body. But she knew, oh she knew, what was to come next: "The second, blond hair pulled tightly in a bun, faded blue eyes..."

Rage filled Angel. Nevermind Dr. Orne, but how could Liana? Her family, killing her family.

Liana was the one who also took her away from her mother. As Dez had informed her, she had known what had happened to Delm, saw she had gone crazy, and determined that Angel needed to be protected from her.

If Liana hadn't kidnapped Angel in the first place, The Possessor wouldn't have found a victim, and Earth would be safe.

"He was an awful person, Angel, and we'll get revenge one day––I promise." But Angel was filled with hate.

Liana.

Her family.

Her sister.

Her mother.

Also,

A liar.

A betrayer.

A murderer.

She basically started her own demise.

Angel's demise.

Angel threw back the blanket, ignoring the fact that she was only in a nightgown (she would have to thank Alice later for ensuring she was out of that ridiculously stupid uniform). She stormed over to the window, brought back her arm, her temper flaring, ready to burst through it and cause some trouble, to spew out this endless sea of anger.

And punched––

You don't want to do this. Angel paused, blinking as her mind went all fuzzy.

"I don't want to do this..?" She said, voice going high at the end. She furrowed her eyebrows.

You are calm, and tranquil, and life is good.

"I am calm, and tranquil, and life is good," she gritted out. Everything was fine. Everything was good. Life was as good as it'd ever be.

You love your whole family, particularly Liana who was only and has only ever been doing her very best to ensure you live an amazing life.

"I love my whole family, particularly Liana who was only and has only ever been doing her very best to ensure I live an amazing life."

You will NOT destroy Alice's beautiful and spectacular apartment, and be disrespectful to this peaceful society who has graciously taken you in.

"I will NOT destroy Alice's beautiful and spectacular apartment, and be disrespectful to this peaceful society who has graciously taken me in."

You will pinch yourself on the wrist.

"I will pinch myself on the––hey!––ow, ow, ooowww!!!"

Now, stop!

Angel sighed in relief, glaring down at her wrist which was now an angry purple.

"What was that for?" She snapped, eyes bright. Alice stood there, halfway between the bed and the window, arm out, and eyes glowing with rainbows. But what shocked Angel the most was the surprise evident on her face.

"What?" She demanded. Her eyebrows furrowed to remember what had happened a moment ago, but it was all a blur, wavy lines of greens and pinks and yellows taunting her, but all she could feel was her everlasting love for Liana, and, for a moment, her cold heart warmed.

"Nothing," Alice muttered, running a hand through her sleek braids. Then, her pink lips quirked.

"That reminds me," She said. "I was put in charge to ensure your attendance."

"To what?" Angel asked, dubious.

"A party." Alice grinned.

Light filled the small cracks of the box as the ship rumbled. There was talking, in some alien language Jacob didn't know. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them, and he was standing in a pool of darkness. He gathered it at his feet, stuffing the majestic energy into his arms, then returned back to his body, the goo overflowing down his legs. About twenty minutes later, the crate began to move on the belt beneath it, through the cargo room and down the loading ramp. A cool, September breeze drifted through the crack, bringing with it the smell of people.

Anxiety, stress, exhaustion. Not everyone was happy in this paradise.

Jacob's teeth itched to sink into soft flesh which he knew only awaited several inches from his crate, to feast on bloody muscles, tearing away tendon and vein, to sharpen his teeth on splintered bone. Oh how his teeth ached.

Jessie's voice flashed through his mind: NOW.

Jacob roared and jumped up, metal breaking on contact with his muscle, power coursing through his veins. There were several screams as workers in salmon coloured uniforms scrambled to get away. The dark goo dripping down Jacob's arms leapt to life, throwing itself at those closest. Nearby, Jessie did the same. The goo burned through skin, and the screams increased. Soon the goo made its way through their bodies in which they dropped to the ground, dead. Everything went quiet, and there was the nearby echo of sirens.

"Rise, Puppets!" Jessie commanded, claws bared. Muscles violently twitched and thrashed, and they all climbed to their feet.

Their eyes were two depthless black marbles.

Jacob cackled.

Shimmery, black silk, ballooning out, every move rippling the gentle fabric, and sending flashes of rainbow hexagonal patterns. White tulle puffing out from a silver sash where she wore a black blouse, sparkling with neon planets.

It was stunning. Her red hair was in a messy french braid, woven with stars of pure gold, and thin gold ribbons were tied not too comfortably around her bare arms. Alice stood next to Angel, in black wide leg pants cinched at the waist with a thick, square, red belt. Her top was made of white lace, with a long lace cape flowing in a train behind her. Her hair was braided with red, matching her lips and kohl.

Alice grinned, offering a gloved hand, and with one dark glance behind her, ushered Angel through a sliding door where a pod awaited them. Two uniformed guards stood on either side of the entrance. There were no chairs or couches in this pod, and it was quite small. The wall before them rippled, and once again, Angel was amazed. It was dark outside, yet the world was bursting with light and celebration. Music so loud it could be heard through the walls blared, glowing graffiti coated every inch of the spires, and giant holograms of aliens the size of entire spires bedecked in jewels sung their hearts off in strange languages. Lights flashed, so bright they fried her brain even when she closed her eyes, and all around, the world was crammed with people who cheered and danced.

Angel gasped, knees threatening to buckle.

"Breathtaking, isn't it?" Alice whispered. Angel nodded, and she felt the stars in her hair shift, poking her in the skull. They were sharper than she expected, so sharp she felt the warm tickle of a bead of blood.

Why would Alice put something so sharp in her hair?

Angel's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced at her, and this time she felt a tickle on her arms. She looked down at the gold ribbons tied tightly around her arms, ending with a snug bow looped through her fingers. Upon further inspection, the ribbons were thicker than satin, and rough and uneven, too.

A breeze of sparkly confetti blew by, and the "window" flickered with turquoise hexagons. It reminded her of her ever so changing skirt. She looked down at it, but it looked perfectly normal. She gave it a swish, and, also looking at Alice in the corner of her eye, examined her sash. It held a layer of ivory tulle that puffed out, and when she brushed it aside, she saw the thinnest metal wire sewn into the circumference of the skirt, flickering with dull turquoise lights. She gave her skirt another swish, and, detecting motion, they lit up like stars.

She was wearing armour.

WHAT THE HELL?!

She looked at Alice again, alarmed, but she just kept staring forward, hands respectfully clasped.

Angel looked at the guards, who were both staring at her. She gave a grin, then twirled, letting out a childish giggle. Their lips twitched.

Relieved, Angel turned her attention back to the window. The pod began to dip forward, slowing its momentum.

Angel licked her lips. Alice knew something, or else she wouldn't have given her this dress to wear. Unless someone had given her this dress, and she didn't know a thing...

Whatever. What Angel did know was that something was going to happen tonight, and someone wanted her to be prepared.

Someone wanted her to fight.

And oh, Angel would fight. Once again, that endless sea of anger filled her body, drowning her in adrenaline and madness. Her muscles, sore with disuse, buzzed to life. And then, looking upon all this beauty, something else occurred to her.

She was free here. As Eriko had explained, this was a sanctuary. A sanctuary for mutants. On Earth, they were hunted, killed, experimented on. They were mere objects whose lives were just in the shape of money.

But here, powers seemed to be celebrated, instead of honed into weapons. Mutants were stronger, faster, smarter. And look what came out of it! This extraordinarily beautiful civilization! Angel finally had a place where she belonged, where she was accepted. Here, she didn't have to run from Ornes and Delms.

But then, the general's eyes appeared before her. Cold and searing. She wanted Angel dead. But Angel would prove to her just how beneficial she could be to this wonderful place. To Eva.

And so, she let her eyes glow. Gold and beautiful, and so, so powerful. She could sense the guards shift, sense Alice's look of surprise as Angel let them fill with more power, until they were as bright as the stars and moons above. But then Alice smiled, pride in her own hazel eyes, and let them glow slightly.

The pod finally landed beside a platform. It was on the rooftop of one of the spires, and seemed pretty big, but it was covered with a large cerulean dome. Alice held out a hand for Angel, and Angel took it as they stepped through. To her surprise, it parted in a flurry of bubbles. They were bigger than her head and flickered with glitter in shades of pink, purple, and orange. One of them grazed one of the stars in her hair, and popped in a flurry of lime fire. Angel laughed, popping a few more, each erupting in a small flame and then burning away to confetti. Something caught her eye, and she looked down at the floor, which was the colour of midnight. Jellyfish swam lazily on it. One of them pressed up against the glass, then swam fully through. Angel gasped as it continued to swim through the air.

"Holograms," Alice explained. "See?" She waved her hand through it and it flickered. "Just some nanotech." She kept her hand there, and the jellyfish dissipated into violet particles, then reformed before Angel.

"C'mon," she said. "We're late." Alice grinned, taking her hand and leading her through the bubbles and jellyfish. As soon as they broke through, she realized that this was an actual party. Here, there were hundreds of people, of all different shapes and sizes and species. Some of them wore uniforms in dark blue or white, others dressed in finery. Angel spotted Ike and Marian who stood with glasses of bubbling champagne. Ike wore a neon green suit that matched his eyes with long obsidian jewels streaking down it, and two gold loops stood on his shoulders. Marian wore a light pink dress with green and red butterflies whose wings actually moved. Silver twine was woven into her hair.

They were wearing armour, too. The gold loops on Ike's shoulders had spikes, and the black jewels were obviously hiding some sort of bullet vest beneath his suit. Whenever the wings which were sharp as knives on the butterflies opened, they covered the entire span of Marian's dress. The hard twine in her hair could also do some good damage as well. She also noticed they were all wearing boots with rubber soles.

And Alice wouldn't even need armour.

They were all involved in this.

Angel tensed, and unease filled her stomach.

"Angelina!" Angel turned around. Renata stood there, a big smile on her face. She was wearing her white uniform, but her hair was curled, and dyed with streaks of red, orange, light blue, and gold.

"I see you like the dress I picked out for you."

CHAPTER 4: FIGHT, OR DIE

Angel's lips parted in shock. Renata smiled sweetly.

"Would you follow me, please?" She held out her arm for Angel to take, but she simply looked on darkly. Alice nudged Angel with a swift kick to the ankles and Angel stumbled forward, latching onto Renata's arm.

Angel followed Renata through the crowd. Up above, the dome swirled with exploding stars––supernovas, she recalled. The death of a star. She also recalled how some had such immense explosions, it would cave on itself, dragging everything around it until its mass was so great, it became a black hole, so strong that nothing could ever escape its depthless, terrifying nothing.

When it died, it took everything down with it.

Renata dragged Angel over to the far side, where the crowd had cleared. The floor changed to turquoise and blues, and up above was the emblem all those in uniform seemed to be wearing, though it was up in brilliant light blue flames.

Looking ahead, Angel saw twelve large chairs, all ivory, though decorated with what seemed to be hand carved decorations, each different to fit its occupant. And those that sat on the chairs were all different as well. Some had several arms and legs, dripping in robes, in which she noticed that some of the chairs were shaped weirdly to fit their odd shape as well. Others wore shiny helmets, or had tubes running out of their nostrils to help them breathe.

But what captured her eyes was the seat in the centre. It was a person, neither male nor female, with skin pale as moonlight, green eyes lined in silver. They wore layers of flowy peach fabric which seemed to float around them as if aimlessly suspended in water. They had no hair, but their cheeks and lips were rosy and full of life. They seemed to draw all the light around them, glowing from the inside and filling her with warmth and happiness.

"Sergeant Fior!" They exclaimed with a voice of pure honey, so beautiful it was like music. Renata's face lit up and she grinned.

"Prime Minister Bloom!" And that's when Angel's lips parted and her mind spun.

Prime Minister.

This was the Prime Minister of Eva.

Bloom. Wait.

Bloom. No!

BLOOM. Green eyes. Though lighter, she could see the hints of gold and yellow that swirled.

Her SIBLING. This was General Bloom's sibling!

But how?

This person was the Prime Minister of Eva...General Bloom was the head of the military.

She recalled what Renata had told her. There had been a war.

And then, suddenly, there was a flash of gold light, and Angel was standing on pavement, streaked with blood, dirt, and black goo. Rubble collapsed around her, steel groaning, and the air was scented with smoky ash and fear. There were screams in the distance and she heard the flap of wings. Recognizing that it might be Delm––or, The Possessor, she hurried over to a giant boulder of glass and rubble and splintered pipes, and ducked behind it. When she heard the cheers and battle cries of people, real people, full of feeling that The Posessor's puppets could never reproduce, she stood up, and looked up.

People stood on broken pods, their roofs torn off, and held scraped together weapons. More stood on the surface of them, eyes glowing and hands outstretched with glittering power. And others, flew.

It was a creature of some sorts. It had legs and arms like a human, but wings that reminded her of a pterodactyl, or even a dragon, were spanned out, with sharp, menacing talons. Their skin was covered in crimson scales, and it had horns so sharp they looked like they could cut anything. And even from down below, through the smog that stung her eyes and choked her lungs, she could see its glowing lime eyes that were slitted like a snake.

They called her the Demon. She had wondered what her power was, but now, she knew.

This was General Bloom. As a demon.

The general roared, a screech so terrifying and loud that it rattled her bones and sent spikes of cold that punctured her soul. She realized that this was only a taste, as she wouldn't want to paralyze her own army.

And beside her, was the Prime Minister. They were dressed in armour, but they also flew. They had white filmy wings, tinted with peach and bluish green veins. They had horns, too, but they were more like antlers, delicate as a deer's with ornate gold and silver filigree, and their skin shone so brightly Angel had to look away.

They were the ones who had defeated The Possessor, and taken back the city.

As soon as she had this realization, there was a flash of gold light, and she was back where she had been. She blinked. It seemed that no time had passed, and she watched as Renata politely bowed, then embraced the minister. Angel swallowed a knot down her throat.

What the hell had just happened?! What the hell was happening to her?

Renata looked over to Angel and waved at her to join.

"Skyler, I would like you to meet Angelina––" Renata paused for a moment, looking over to Angel with a question. And then, Angel realized what Renata was waiting for.

Her last name.

So simple.

Did she have one?

She did.
First Delm, then Orne.

Then Delm again.

She cleared her throat, and swallowed a knot. "Lebedev," She finished.

Liana's name.

Renata nodded, eyes kind and understanding. She would have reviewed all of their profiles.

The Prime Minister smiled warmly, and all of her pain was forgotten.

"And Angelina, may I introduce you to Skyler Bloom, sibling to General Eris Bloom, and Prime Minister of The Successful Government of Eva." Renata paused, and there was an awkward silence.

They were waiting for her to bow, to nod, to smile, any form of respect.

But what they didn't know, or would soon at least, was that Angel bowed to no one. She felt a coldness tickle her spine, and watched as Renata's smile dropped.

But she was ready.

She spun, seizing the general's fist and elbowing her in the stomach. But she was so fast and graceful, her hand slipping out of Angel's. It was a blur, happening so quickly as all she felt was the breath yanked out of her lungs, through her throat and into a tumble as it weakly spurted out on the floor. She fell to her knees, arms hugging her battled stomach as she desperately gasped for air. A foot slammed into her skull, pinning her head to the cold floor so she could see the puddle of blood after she had been punched. The boot dug into her temples as more weight was pressed.

"Eris," she heard Skyler scold, a tint of anger in their lovely voice. Around them, there were the whispers of guests. Suddenly, Angel felt very angry. How dare this woman disappoint Skyler?! Sensing her rebellion, the general replaced the boot with a knee on her neck, crushing her windpipe. Angry red and violet spots blurred Angel's vision as she choked.

"Next time, you will bow to your leader," The general hissed, and fear spiked down her body.

"Rot. In. Hell." Angel gasped. The general growled, low and gutheral.

"Eris." The voice echoed through the floor, zapping the air. It sounded like heaven, so beautiful it brought tears to her eyes. That voice. She would do anything to please that voice. It didn't matter that darkness tinged her vision, and that she couldn't remember how to breathe, that her muscles were weak and her eyelids heavy.

Pure oxygen filled her lungs, rushing in like the wind by the sea, and cooling her throat. She lightly touched her neck, and winced at the pain, darkness once again tinging her vision. Hands slid under her armpits, lifting Angel to her feet and holding her weight.

Don't pass out. Get ready. They're here. Angel swallowed, her breathing quickening as she stepped out of Ike's arms.

"How dare you!" Ike protested, hands balled into fists. But what was said next was muffled, Alice's words echoing over and over in Angel's mind.

They're here.

They're here.

They're here.

But who?

As if in response, there were screams in the distance, outside of the dome. The ceiling full of stars and comets and fire flickered, then completely disintegrated, revealing the lights of the city around them.

And then they flickered.

And then they went out.

For a moment, all was quiet but for the heavy breathing of those around her. Fear held them all in place.

Screams. Angel's heart beat loud and quick. Blood rushed to her ears, and her stomach tied itself in knots. Angel clenched her fists. The quiet stretched. She began to wonder why no one was talking. Surely a party of military opperants wouldn't be so still? More quiet.

There was the howl of a wolf. It echoed off of the floor and the buildings. A low hum crackled through the air before the graffiti lit up once again, and the light burned Angel's eyes. She watched as their figures turned black and monstrous. There was a bouquet of blooming marigolds, but its petals started swelling up until smoke rose from it. Black goo oozed out of little tears, burning away the soft yellows. Pus glopped down its neon stem, and blood squirted out of its centre. A dancing elf began dismembering itself, cackling hysterically like a madman, as if its own severed ankle, dangling only by shredded vein and tendon, were the funniest thing in the world.

But then, they all turned to face the crowd, and snarled. Angel couldn't believe her own eyes as they flew right out of their own 2D dimensional wall, now only black figures trailing bits of smoke.

Renata reacted first.

A plume of fog shot out, enveloping the creatures. Water vapour became dense, attempting to push the nightmares back into the brick, but they let out an ear splitting roar and it dissapperated, plunging them back into darkness.

Green fire lit the air and the crowd parted to reveal the general, eyes glowing and twin viridescent flames in her hands. She unsheathed her sword and plundered forward, leaping onto a fairy whose skin was rotting off, revealing sagging, veiny flesh beneath. The fairy screamed, shrill and terrifying as the sword chopped off an arm. The general clung, yanking onto his hair which only slid off in greasy clumps. Nonetheless, the fairy leaned forward, struggling to get her off but only managed to crash into a fellow fairy, this one dripping in black sludge. The two creatures only went silent, then disappeared into black particles, reforming high above, the general left to fall. Angel watched in silence, mesmerized, as her skin rippled, and in a swift movement, it was textured, like scales pointed out. The scales turned into a mixture of dark green, grey, and brown. Crimson wings and spindly horns sprouted from her body, and her nails grew sharp and long like talons. The general let out an ear splitting roar that sent even the crowd to their knees, hands over their ears. It shook the ground and shattered windows and screens.

And then, darkness once again.

All that could be heard was the flap of wings and the odd snarl or growl, and the pounding of Angel's thumping heart.

But then, screams, real screams coming from her right.

"Alice! Ike!" Angel called, frantic as she tried to move to her left. It was completely dark except for the slight dim light coming from the twinkling stars above.

"Right here! Right here!" Ike assured with a hand on her shoulder.

ALICE! Angel cried out in her mind.

We have to go. NOW!

Meet me at the government building. I have Marian and Annabelle with me.

HURRY!

Angel's heart beat fast.

She was Angelina. She had fought Delm––er, The Possessor, and his puppets before.

She was armed.

She couldn't be more ready.

Reaching into her hair and careful not to hurt herself, she pulled out the gold stars. They came out easily, and were about the size of her hand outstretched. Testing their sharpness, she grazed it with her finger and drew it to her lips, tasting beads of copper.

They would work.

Gathering her skirts in her hands, she began to run only to feel it come loose. She immediately came to a stop, alarmed. This was the worst possible situation for her clothes to fall apart.

But Renata, or at least whoever had prepared this dress for her, would have ensured that she was comfortable. Listening to that thought, she tugged at it earnestly, and felt it completely collapse away, revealing her black tights beneath. She felt around the skirt as she ran, until she found a zipper hiding beneath tulle. She opened it, trying to figure out if maybe something was inside.

She threw more people aside from her, struggling to keep up with Ike.
Eyebrows furrowing and adrenaline rushing through her, she once again felt around the fabric, until her hand gave through a hole. She felt again, and realized there were two placed on either side of the hole, with something thin and cold to the touch between.

It was a cloak.

She undid the zipper and slid it on. The skirt fell to her knees, but the zipper ended just above her waist, letting it fly behind her like a cape as she ran.

The ground shook as Angel and Ike finally made it to the edge of the dome. Angel burst through the bubbles. Thankfully, her eyes were glowing and allowed her to see properly the hand that slammed into her gut. Breathless, Angel looked up at Ike, only to look down and see the fall she would have taken hundreds of feet below.

She gave him a nod, and he released her as she took a step back. She looked around, trying to find a possible route off of the dome. They would obviously have emergency exits, or at least some sort of entrance to the spire beneath them, but they didn't have enough time to search, and she didn't want to ruin the soldiers' chances of using it as an escape or sanctuary for the citizens by leading the creatures down one.

They kept running across the perimeter until they found what they deemed the closest spire––which was about 50 feet away.

"It's okay," Ike assured her. "We can do this."

"Not in the dark!" Angel cried, as she looked around again. They didn't even have any space for a running start. Determined to find another way, she spotted the two fairies from earlier, both with malicious grins as they cornered a sobbing couple.

The general may have been onto something.

"Come on," Angel said as she hurriedly untied the gold cords on her arms. She handed one to Ike before she ran and leapt onto the back of the fairy covered in black sludge. It shrieked, head twisting fully around as it attempted to gnash Angel with its jagged teeth. Angel looped the cord around its head and through its lips like a gag. She yanked on it, forcing its head to turn and sending sludge flying around them. She felt her thighs rumble as she tightened her body around the puppet. It screamed, then turned towards the edge of the dome. It charged forward, leaping up. Angel shifted her body as its filmy wings sprung from its back. They reminded her of cobwebs, glittery yet weak and sticky. They tore upon the addition of Angel's weight, yet somehow held. The fairy struggled, but Angel yanked the chord tighter. She took out one of the gold stars from a pocket she had found in the cloak and shoved it into the fairy's back. It shrieked in pain as Angel dug it further. She breathlessly looked behind her to see Ike struggling to do the same with his fairy, not far behind. They were now halfway between the two spires, sudden death awaiting them just below.

Heart pounding, she tightened the chords, only to hear buzzing. She whipped her head around, jewels clinking, to see that a swarm of bees and dragonflies were headed their way. Their insect bodies were rotted and a pungent smell stung her nostrils. They flew around her, wings stinging her face, their screams pounding against her ears. She blew out a puff of shimmery gold from her fingers to send them slightly back, then flung up her cloak and used it as a shield, urging the fairy forward. Just 15 more feet, that was all, and she could jump. The flapping grew more consistent as her fairy moaned in pain. Black spittle flew from its flabby lips and her stomach lurched as they dropped a few feet. Angel shrieked as a wasp flew under her cloak and attacked her face. It used its stinger as a weapon, clawing her face and scratching ruthlessly at her neck. She gritted her teeth, using all of her might not to shift the cloak, for she knew it would be so much worse, even as she felt the warmth of little droplets of blood on her arm.

Even as she refused to believe it, she knew.

She wasn't going to make it.

The air inside her cloak became foggy. Suddenly, the fairy squealed and burst forward 10 feet. She felt the zipper loosen from the force, and the cloak slip over her head and from her shoulders. Knowing the value of it, she wrapped her legs tightly around the squishy form, swinging to the left, and grasped its fabric. She quickly did a double take as the creature lurched, and, unable to take her weight no more, began to fall. Angel screamed and leapt from its body, surging upwards with a burst of mutant strength.

"Angel!" Ike cried as he passed overhead. His hand clasped around hers, eyes wide with fright, as he swung her forward just as he leapt. They both sailed through the air, the world spinning so fast as the blood rushed to her head and bile rose to her throat.

Metal slammed into her shoulder. She cried out as she felt the bone vibrate and pain explode. She realized with terror that this spire did not have a flat roof and screamed as she began to slide down, her shoulder rubbing against the metal as her speed increased. She flipped herself around, scrambling for purchase with her other arm. She finally found a small dent between a solar panel and the metal and dug her fingers into it, her body jerking to a stop and hitting the metal again. Her nails scratched against the hard material and twin streams of dark, viscous liquid oozed through her fingers and down her arm, which strained to hold her weight. Letting herself finally breath, she observed that the surface she was on was tilted––steep, but not quite 90º thankfully.

"IKE!" She screamed into the darkness, tears of pain running down her cheeks. The light of mutants using their powers danced in the distance, and explosions and smoke clogged the sky, lighting up the white and silver metal beneath her every few seconds.

"Ike!" She shrieked again. "HELP!" But all she heard were the sirens echoing below.

She was all alone.

Okay. She could do this. She had not made it this far to fall off some stupid building while trying to escape a battle.

So, what did she have? What could she use?

She had her cloak. She still had two more gold stars in her hair, and her chord which had somehow stayed tangled on her wrist.

She felt her arm go numb as all of the blood seemed to rush away to her shoulder. Her muscles shook and more tears threatened to break free.

Calm yourself, Angel, she thought.

She waited for the next flash of light before quickly looking around.

There! A platform, only 11 feet to her right.

How had she missed that?

Oh yeah. She had broken her shoulder.

At the thought, a tear broke loose, sliding down her cheek and uncomfortably her neck.

She bit into her lip, squeezing her eyes shut. After the general's warning, Alice had put on a small contraption on Angel's ankle that seemed to subdue her powers and weaken her, much like Delm's supposed collars, but she supposed Delm's work might be more mental. She sent a small stream of gold to her shoulder which seemed to numb it a bit. Lifting it up, she reached behind her head. Pain rushed through, fogging her mind. It took all of her might to remain awake. She yanked out a star, then lifted her legs, pushing against the wall. She shoved up her right leg, nudging the gold chord on her wrist to untie it. Successful, she stuck the gold star into the metal, making sure it was secure, before reaching for the chord and wounding it through its points. While making sure not to use too much of the chord to secure it, she prepared herself for the next part. She screamed as she shifted her weight onto her other arm and let herself cry for a few seconds, breaths rattling her chest. Finally, she reached for the gold star, still stuck in the metal, and yanked it out. She then began to swing it, back and forth, her body swinging and sending more dizzying pain to her head. At this point, it wasn't even her mutant strength keeping her in this position, it was pure adrenaline.

Angel swung it up high, far as she could while still holding onto the chord. It went about 6 feet. She tugged on it carefully. Slightly confident it wouldn't break free, she shifted some of her weight onto it. Before she knew it, her hand completely gave out, exhausted. She shrieked as she was sent flying forward, clinging to the chord for her life and kicking her legs out. When she was only five feet away, she let go. Her body sailed, cold wind scraping her cheeks as she hit the platform, the air knocked out of her lungs. Alarmed, her arms scrambled for purchase, crying at the thought that she would have to go through this all over again. She swung her legs upward, rolling forward, and sighed in relief, letting her body rest.

The stars are so pretty, tonight, was her only thought. They truly were breathtaking. Now that the lights were down, it made room for their own beautiful and natural light. What seemed like billions glistered and twinkled in the velvet sky.

"Get up," she growled to herself when her muscles refused to budge. She grunted, forcing herself to climb to her feet.

She was on a small platform, with a light layer of dew-sprinkled grass beneath her feet. It seemed to be a miniature landing pad. Based on its navy hue, it was a smaller government building. With the power down, its doors were simply a gaping entryway, the keypad beside it completely black. She stepped through, letting her eyes glow. A breeze swung through behind her, tugging her hair playfully. Her shoes clicked on the marble. Sure that she was alone, she sped into a run, eyes scanning for an elevator or staircase as she sprinted through abandoned hallway after abandoned hallway. She finally found what seemed to be an elevator. Like the entryway, the buttons and keypad were dark. She let her eyes glow brighter, lightly touching it with her fingertips. Metallic gold light bled out of her veins, beading on her knuckles. They came down in thin rivers, pooling off of her fingertips and onto the keypad. It glowed faintly, and its screen came to life. A hologram appeared before her with a picture of her hopeful yet determined face. She let more power pool onto the screen, lips pressed tightly, until it switched to a picture of an alien with big red spots and yellowy eyes, tubes full of a purple solution sprouting out of its lizard-like snout. The frame around the picture flashed green, and the doors slid open. She stepped inside, its interior made of glass, allowing the user to view the magnificent city.

She looked down at the buttons where they had a small description next to them for newcomers that flashed every few seconds in different languages. When it finally stopped on English, her eyes roved quickly. She saw that some were labeled with different platforms, each's code beginning with GOV60, which was probably the name of the building.

GOV60-SLP-74 seemed to be the highest one. She shoved her finger into the button and watched with satisfaction as it lit up blue. The elevator moved smoothly downwards. About a minute and a half later, it came to a stop with a small chime. She walked through, allowing the only light to come from her eyes while the light from the elevator behind her dimmed as it was no longer powered by her.

She stepped into a hallway with office doors on either side. She walked all the way down, where at the end there was a more secure looking door made of grey metal.

Angel donkey kicked it open with a loud BANG!. Cold wind burst through as she stepped onto grass where a small pod––way smaller than the one she had arrived in, probably meant for only one or two people––awaited. With a gold hand, she placed it flat on its surface. Ribbons poured out from her palm, encircling the vehicle, strangling it until it lit up softly. The material rippled and moved, revealing an entrance which she stepped through. It seemed to be some sort of vehicle for all of the government employees to use, maybe an emergency pod, but they must have deemed it too dangerous to fly right now.

"Hello." A gender-less voice resonated through the room. "How may I assist you, today?"

"Hi," Angel said, unsure, as she took a seat on an armchair. "Can you take me to the Head Government Building?"

"The Navy Office, ETA: 9 minutes, 23 seconds."

"Um, thank you," she said as the pod jerked around her. She watched, mesmerized, as the wall before her rippled and opened up, allowing her to see what was before her.

A flock of parrots. With rotting skin and feathers tipped with what looked like sewage. Malnourished bodies and bones jutting out beneath rubbery flesh. Their screams echoed throughout the pod.

"GO!" She screamed.

"Of course." The pod sped forward, flying over the spires, leaving the birds behind, or at least, out of her periphery.

Then, more of their screams.

The pod jerked violently and her heart dropped.

It jerked some more, the pod going now in only short bursts. There was a loud noise beside her head and she quickly scrambled away. A burnt orange beak burst through where she had just been, the bird letting out its horrifying screams, ruthlessly snapping its beak as it tried to desperately reach Angel and releasing a bloody spittle.

"GO FASTER!" Angel shrieked.

"I am sorry, but that would be against national law issued by the Successful Government of Eva. Unless your life were to be in danger by The Possessor, I cannot help––"

"THE POSSESSOR IS TRYING TO KILL ME, YOU IDIOT!"

The ship went very quiet. Another beak broke through and Angel clung tightly to her side of the ship, trying to get herself as far away from them.

Then,

"That was very rude."

Angel opened her mouth, hundreds of obscenities on the tip of her tongue.

"But because your life is in danger, this infraction may be excused."

"JUST GO ALREADY!"

The pod zoomed through the air, sending her body against the wall. She gritted her teeth as pain exploded through her injured shoulder and her head pounded.

She didn't allow herself to sit for the remaining five minutes. Soon, the sky lit up, allowing herself to recognize the navy blue.

She was going to make it.

"Power down." The lights of the pod flickered off.

Her stomach dropped.

CHAPTER 5: NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT

They had been caught. For what, Angel didn't know.

Last night was all over the news. Almost every channel she switched to on her TV was talking about it. Everyone was shaken. Weirdly, they had never had an attack like this since the Dark Ages because their technology was always so secure and regularly updated.

As for the monsters, at 2:31 AM, they just completely disappeared, returning to their graffiti which didn't seem to have taken on any changes except for a few bloody smears.

Also, she had her own TV––and room. She didn't know why. The last thing she remembered was her pod shutting off, then waking up in this room. She had been awake for quite a while now, about four hours, and her stomach growled with hunger. As well, her shoulder had been mysteriously healed. At this, she thought of Eriko back on Earth, right after she had bought Angel off of Dez and they had been about to go through the airport, however Angel had visible injuries. She remembered the small sticker she had taken out of a tiny compact and the little copper and gold lines on it. How her face had then gotten all warm and tingly, and the pain had seeped away.

Also, this room. It was as if the person who had designed it had taken a look into her exact memories––which also sent an uncomfortable feeling through her, but they had probably asked Alice or Ike what she liked.

It looked a lot like her old room at Orne Mansion, which made her a bit homesick, even though she knew that it had long since been burned down.

The walls were cream with swaying wildflowers. The bed had cozy knitted blankets, and a big white canopy made out of a flowy white fabric, parted to reveal the wall before her which displayed the news. Pictures of her and the other orphans lined the walls framed in organic wood, and little strings holding small glowing orbs drooped from the ceiling.

Click.

Angel leapt up, eyes scanning the room for a weapon. Settling on one of the orbs, she tore part of its string from the ceiling, then another, wounding them around her wrists as she swung them around, her knees bent for action.

A section of the wall with no handle on the inside opened up, revealing Renata who walked inside, trailed by guards. She gave them a nod and they stepped back, closing the door behind them.

Angel tensed as she came closer.

Desperate for answers, she started, "My dress––"

"Is fine," Renata finished with a glare. "I understand how much you adore fashion and your richer upbringing, but Angel that is not the point right now."

WHAT.

Renata's eyes coldly scanned the room.

"Get dressed," she demanded. "Your training to become a GEGA soldier begins today, and you've already missed breakfast."

Angel noticed she was holding a white box which she placed on the bed. She watched as she stormed out of the room before warily walking towards it. There was a beep and Angel raised her weapons. It flashed green and she attacked. There was a bright crackle of electricity as it flew across the room, smashing against the wall which flickered as it took upon the impact. Cloth draped on its smoking wires, and the smell of burning reached her nostrils. She scrambled over, grasping the clothing and pulling it away. She unfolded it, breathing in its sage scent. It was one of the uniforms, however it was a light tangerine, with a white diamond on its left breast, with little embroidered swirls around it. More decoration than actual officiality. She put it on, hiding the small burnt mark on the leg beneath the folds of layered fabric. It was stretchy and comfortable, fitting her perfectly while letting her skin breathe easily. Tearing a piece of fabric off of the bedsheets, she quickly braided her hair.

Today, she would get answers.

She walked over to the stretch of wall that had opened up before, eyes searching for anything that might suggest its existence but was frustrated to find nothing.

She knocked rapidly. There was a click as it opened. A soldier stood there in a white uniform, gold eyeliner gleaming. They had light brown skin with hair cropped short and tinged with greens and blues that reminded her of hot fire. Their eyes were turquoise, too, with a violet iris. She noticed that their freckles were also violet, glowing faintly. They dropped a pair of boots at her feet which Angel hurriedly slid on, her stomach growling. Before she knew it, there was a schoom and a turquoise light had attached itself from the bottom of her boot to the guard's. Angel scowled, but the guard's face remained blank.

They passed about two hallways before coming to a stop at an elevator. Up they went, so fast she felt as if her stomach had been left far behind. For some reason, she was nervous.

It was a cold, grey day. Wet. Droplets sparkled on the glass, clinging for their lives as the elevator continued to shoot upwards. A layer of mist coated everything, fogging the atmosphere and making edges and vertices blurry. Like a painter had stepped back to admire their masterpiece, only to take a tissue and smother it all.

GEGA Soldier.

The words echoed in her mind.

Finally, they came to a stop. She turned as the doors slid open. Before her was a blue hallway. A beep and it flickered white. The guard motioned for her to step through.

Suddenly the room was filled with people. Her heart skipped a beat. They all held spears that had a faint glow at the end and wore small hard caps at the back of their head that created a field of turquoise across their faces. Their uniforms were dark blue, not quite navy, and a thick, white, transparent material covered their exposed parts.

All with stern faces, etched with scars and a chilling coldness in their eyes.

These were warriors.

They all stared at her, daring her to move.

She couldn't believe it.

One moment there was nothing, and the next...

This.

How?

Their spears echoed as they slammed into the floor, jolting her heart.

"THE SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT OF EVA, GLORIOUS, POWERFUL, AND ALL REIGNING, GLORIOUS!" They shouted, voices perfectly in sync as they all stared at her with eyes flickering with distrust.

"Continue, Grand Accomplices," the guard beside Angel ordered. With a quick pivot, they all turned to face forward, then walked over, feet landing rhythmically on the chrome. Before she knew it, two iron-like hands clamped around her biceps, pulled her forward. She clenched her fists, feet refusing to budge, but at the thought that she would be dragged should she not move, she regained her pride and followed. She saw the soldiers far ahead turn left, possibly through an entrance, and curiosity broke through.

Where was she being taken?

A headquarters?

...

STAY TUNED FOR BOOK 2 OF THE GOLDEN WAR: SILVERLUST