Hey guys, this is another Action/Adventure book that I'm writing. Do check it out!

Book description:

XMATUREX
When an unknown force begins assassinating the superheroes a.k.a the do-gooders, the villains rejoice; until it comes for them.

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"Let me get this right. You," he said pointing at Bane. "can release venom from your fingertips, and have a snake as a pet. You," he turned to Ryoko. "have a pet dragon and don't get affected by fire. You," he turned to Hades. "can literally make the dead, dance. And it is crazy if I believe that the robots are wearing our loved ones' skins to fool us?" he asked with his hands in the air. "You are all nuts. Xavier out."

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Skye Atkins lived her entire life hiding from the heroes of the world. Even though she was considered as one of the most powerful villains, she did everything she could to avoid meeting a hero. When the man who killed her family was assassinated, she finally believed that she would live a free life. But not long after the news did she find out that the force that was killing the heroes wasn't on her side either.

When war seemed inevitable, the remaining handful of villains and heroes realised that if they wanted to survive, they had to unite into a single force.

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First chapter:

KΛЯMΛ

Skye Atkins walked down the stairs and into the bar, the warmth hitting her face as her body left the cold, harsh winter winds outside. She removed her jacket and scarf, leaving her gloves on, in habit and made her way to her usual seat at the bar; right in the middle, giving her a clear view of the television and making it easier for the bartender to chat with her while doing his job.

“Skye!” Bachhus greeted from the left end of the bar as he poured drinks for the group in front of him. Skye gave him a nod in response. Bachhus raised a finger, indicating her to wait for a moment as he gave his attention to a couple. Skye looked around the bar. She remembered a time when only she and Bacchus sat in the middle of the empty room on the floor and stared at the television, the darkness of the world eating them up. Skye had just lost her parents and Bacchus lost his family in the war. The bar was the remains of his house at that time. She was seventeen then. She could still distinctly recall Bacchus getting up after hours of silence and deciding that he was going to open a bar for all those who have been hurt for no reason; a haven for those who are running; a home for those who needed one; and mostly, a reason for him to live. Six years later, the bar was more crowded than shops with sales on Black Friday.

“How was your day?” Bacchus asked his usual question. In his own way, Bacchus was the father Skye needed. “Did you slap that jerk from the Machiato company?”

Skye was a freelance architect who did random jobs here and there, one of which was a project for the Machiato company. The jerk from the Machiato company was a guy who thought he could place his hands anywhere and get away with it. “Turns out, he had been abusing his wife for years.”

Bacchus smile grew. “You said ‘had’.”

Skye smirked. “I did what I had to do.”

“I know and I’m proud.” He replied. “I’ll get you your usual.” He bent across the bar to whisper. “Also, Tristan is here.”

Like most others in that bar, Bacchus knew about her powers and her love life. The normal stuff that goes about people’s ears and mouths when other people get famous. Tristan was the most famous of all of her rumours. From what she heard, they had had the most drama-filled, weapons involved and massacre of innocents break up ever. When in reality, all that had happened was they decided while eating pizza in their sweatpants on the couch while watching a movie, that it didn’t work out.

“Guys! Shut the F up!” a familiar voice yelled out. Bryce, Skye’s neighbour and when in need, partner in crime. He increased the sound of the television as the crowd slowly fell quiet.

“We have just heard some breaking news that is going to shatter some hope in our lives...” The anchor spoke slowly. She paused as she took a breath. “Hermes, also known as the son of Zeus, or our saviour; has been killed. He was found lying on the road with his insides clawed out. Whatever had the power to kill the strongest man alive is definitely not a force to be reckoned with.” she paused again. “On this day, the entire world shall mourn the death of a man, who did so much for the people. The other heroes have also given their-”

Bryce switched the TV off. Every single head in the bar turned to look at Skye. She stared right at Bryce as she raised her glass.

“Drinks on me.”

The silence broke as the crowd cheered, Skye’s grin growing wider by the second. This so-called world’s hero was the man who killed her parents and brother. It wasn’t news to anyone since Bacchus went around whispering it to everyone so that they didn’t mess around with her. Skye had spent so many years hiding from him. She wasn’t one to go look for revenge. She believed in karma, surprisingly.

“I’m going to head home, old man. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She told Bacchus as she got off her seat. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, leaving a taste of brandy on her lips. How he managed to get brandy on his cheek and not get the urge to wash it off, she will never understand.

Skye pushed her way outside, people telling her she did a good job as if she was the one who killed him. But that wasn’t how Skye worked. Cutting people up wasn’t her M.O.

Skye walked on the pavement, placing her scarf around her neck. It was late, the road completely silent except for the noise entering when the bar door was opened. Skye let out a relief. She could finally live life again. When Hermes had found out that she made it out alive, the only Atkins to have survived his wrath, he had made it a personal goal to make sure her death was in his hands. As powerful as Skye was, she really didn’t want to go look for trouble so, she avoided Hermes. She laid low, moved her home every month so that he couldn’t track her down and she made sure she lived around a few other villains. So even if he was smart enough to figure out that the number of deaths that occurred in a place was not normal, he could easily be thrown off by the other villains. She didn’t have to do anything anymore. She was a free woman. She could actually stay in her home forever.

Skye shook her head, telling herself not to feel too happy. Skye had cherophobia. Maybe it was the trauma she went through as a kid that caused it or maybe it was the fact that she basically lived her life in fear because she was considered evil.

Skye stopped as she heard shuffling of feet in the gap between the buildings a little ahead of her. Slowly moving forward, she saw a man trying to suffocate a woman as she struggled to get away from his grip.

Skye removed her gloves and placed it in her coat pocket as she walked towards them.

“Disturbing something?” She asked.

“Get lost, woman. This ain’t your business.” The man replied his right hand still around the woman’s throat. She was gasping and pointing to his left which was reaching inside his coat. He bought it out and pointed a gun and Skye.

“You don’t want to do this,” Skye said slowly. “You don’t want to hurt her or me. Let her go.”

“Nah, lady. I don’ think so.” He replied as his grip got tighter around her throat.

“Fine. I tried.” Skye muttered as she walked forward. Before he could realize what was happening, Skye caught hold of his right wrist, turned around and hit his chest with her left elbow. He dropped the gun and let go of the woman, who dropped to the ground clutching her neck, gasping for air.

Skye looked at the guy holding out her hand. “Leave. Now.”

“No. That bitch dies today.” He said as he ran and pushed Skye with his entire body weight. She fell on the platform as he pulled the woman by the hair.

Skye sighed. “Some people don’t learn.”

She got up dusted the dirt off her palms and walked towards the man again.

“You don’ give up, do ya?” he asked as she walked to him. He grabbed the gun and shot her in the shoulder. Skye paused for a second getting used to the pain. She would have to apply pressure on that soon.

Skye slowly shook her head as his mouth turned into an 'o' as he realised who she was. Skye felt Basilisk, her snake slither off her right hand, from under her hoodie arm and wrap around his left hand, stopping him from shooting the gun as she placed her hand over his face. She felt her fingertips get warm as the familiar black liquid flowed from her fingertips into his body through his skin pores. His hand went slack on the woman’s hair as he backed away from her hand and began clawing on his face. He dropped to his knees as the venom began to disintegrate his flesh. Bas slithered back up her left arm.

“He’ll be fine. You should go.” Skye told the woman. She stared at Skye for a while and then grabbed her stuff and ran as fast as she could.

“Should have listened,” Skye muttered as she walked away from the decaying corpse. She pulled on her gloves again, removed her inner jacket and folded it into padding and placed it on her right shoulder, applying pressure. From what she could inspect the bullet went through. She walked faster as the guy began to smell.

Most of the villains she knew did the exact same thing that the heroes did; save people when in need. Only difference? Heroes didn’t have to kill. They had the government backing them up. But if you’re born in a villains family, you’re considered one too.

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“Didn’t even bother to say bye, huh?”

Skye consciously didn’t jump as she switched on the lamp beside her bed light. She had just walked into her bedroom looking for the med kit.

“Well. You were busy drinking away all my money.” Skye replied still shuffling around the cupboards. Bryce shifted on the armchair, his blonde hair glowing due to the lamp light.

“Still got to be some way you can apologize?” he asked as he clearly checked her out. Skye stopped her movements. She sat down on the bed.

“You’re right maybe someway.” She replied smirking. He got up and walked to her, smiling. He placed his hands on the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss.

“But maybe we could we could work on this first?” she said as he sat down. Skye removed the jacket tied around her shoulder to show the bloody mess.

“Geez, Skye.” Bryce jumped off the bed. “Hold on. I’ll get the medkit.”

“You know where it is?” Skye asked.

“The same place it always is.” His voice reducing in volume as he walked further away.

Skye got up and entered the bathroom, dropping the jacket in the dustbin. She stripped down to her tank top which was half drenched in her blood. Bas slithered off her arm, onto the ground and curled up beside her. She removed the glove from her left hand placed the fingertips on her right shoulder, letting the venom ooze out.

She gasped as the venom did its work. The venom that was fatal to others, healed her. She sat down on the bathroom floor as she rested her head on the wall trying her best not to pass out.

“Here.” Bryce entered. He dropped the med kit beside her and sat down on her floor.

He removed some flat cotton and handed it to her. Skye placed the cotton on her shoulder as he leaned forward to wrap it up with gauze.

“Careful. There is venom.” She told him softly. He nodded as he gently wrapped it around her shoulder, taping it in the end.

“Done.” He said, packing the stuff back in the box.

“Great,” Skye said, licking her dry lips and pulling herself up. “Now, I can apologize.”

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