Isabelle's POV

Two weeks passed since I'd initially moved to Crane Creek, and I was already gaining a surge of popularity as Levitation. Some of the kids I'd saved on the bus had already found me at a coffee shop while I was suited up and asked for my autograph, which I was happy to provide.

At the moment, I hovered over the town while suited up with my cape flowing gently in the evening breeze, sipping from my travel mug of iced coffee. Life in the town was far from idyllic, but I did enjoy it here.

    Or maybe I just enjoy being somewhere new, where nobody knows who I used to be.

    I shook my head rapidly to clear it. Thinking about my past too much was a death trap. I couldn't fall into it.

     Besides, I couldn't be the only hero who had skeletons in their closet. Right?

A deep and cheerful voice startled me out of my anxious thoughts. "Yo, Levitation!"

    I put my hands up on instinct before I recognized Golden Ember. His bright gold-and-red suit was pretty hard to miss.

With a soft sigh, I relaxed and returned the greeting. "Hey, G.E. Don't scare me like that again, alright?"

He nodded, seeming slightly embarrassed as he fidgeted with his cape. "Yeah, that's my bad. Sorry, it won't happen again!"

I grinned at the usually-suave hero. "Thanks. And you're good, just give me a little warning next time."

He gave me a thumbs-up. "No problem. Anyway, I was wondering if you would wanna patrol with me tonight?"

    I pretended to think it over for a long moment, just to keep the cutie on his toes.

    "Sure, why not?" I said breezily. "I've got nothing else planned. See you at nine."

He gave me a quick salute and flew away, and I continued observing the little town, which was located inland near the base of a mountain.

But of course, I couldn't relax for too long. That would've been too easy.

    A shriek for help pierced the air, and I zoomed down towards the source of the sound with my cape rippling in the air behind me.

    What I found wasn't exactly covered in the handbook. What exactly was the protocol when an ex-girlfriend showed up during your patrol?

     Vera looked as cruelly gorgeous as I remembered. She wore a tank top and black athletic shorts that accentuated her muscular arms and thighs. Her complexion was tanned from many days spent the California sun, and her short hair was a dark shade of red. She was taller than me, maybe five-foot-ten, with mesmerizing brown eyes.

    I tried to hide my mixed feelings of seeing her again. Vera hadn't been the best partner, sure. Our relationship had endured a lot of issues in the year and handful of months we'd been dating. But deep down, I still cared about her, even though I didn't want to.

    "Uh... are you looking for somebody?" I asked hesitantly.

Vera glanced over at me with a grin. "Hey! Yeah, I've been looking all over town for you. I figured you'd answer a call for help, though."

    She stepped in closer. I felt her warm breath on my ear.

   "And you really need to get better at hiding your identity, babe."

I stepped back with palms raised. "Whoa, I don't..."

Vera chuckled softly and said, "Drop the act, Levitation. You know you belong with me."

"I'm not acting!" I snapped in a low voice. "This is who I'm supposed to be. And I don't belong with anyone!"

    My ex shook her head. "Always stubborn. I see you haven't changed much at all since I last saw you, Circe."

    I tensed up at her using my old alias.

"You need to leave," I said sharply. "Go back to Greenstone, if you know what's good for you."

Vera laughed in my face. "After I drove three hours to come see you? Not likely."

She was testing my temper. I clenched my fists.

She took my wrist, and I pulled my arm away quickly. But I knew that the damage was done, thanks to her tactile telepathy.

   "I don't want to fight you," I told her, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just leave me alone."

    Vera simply arched a ginger eyebrow. "Really? After all we've been through together, you ditch me for the guy who killed your parents? That hurts."

Finally, I snapped at the mention of my dead family.

    I grunted and kicked Vera in the stomach, sending her stumbling backwards. While she was doubled over and wheezing, I punched her in the face.

"What are you talking about?!" I demanded as she began to recover her breath. "Who killed my—?"

Her eyes glowed a dangerous shade of bright red, and I barely had time to dodge before twin laser beams shot towards me.

I quickly rolled to one side and threw up a telekinetic bubble shield as I got back up, deflecting her next blast.

    "You never could beat me," I said, smirking as she groaned in frustration.

    Then the arrogance dropped from my face, replaced by coldness. "Now tell me who killed my parents."

    Vera scoffed. "Or you'll do what? Kill me?"

    I used my telekinesis to break her leg. As unheroic as it sounded, her screams of pain made me smile.

    "Maybe I will," I said casually. "So you'd better tell me, while you still have air in your lungs."

Vera gritted her teeth, sweat pouring down her face.

"Fine!" She snapped desperately. "It was Jeremiah Rockwell, your little new boyfriend. He killed your parents!"