(Sorry this is really short because I just got too excited that I'd actually written something and had to put this up XD) 

As Jonathan kicked open the bathroom stalls with an oafish grin pushing at his beady red eyes, I crept behind him stealthily towards the sink. It wasn't hard for me to think of all my angry thoughts towards him. This better be good, I thought before concentrating on scaring the living daylights out of him.

I grinned as I felt myself swell in front of him, my muscles bulging, my ears lengthening. It felt strange, like getting pulled about like putty. I made sure to stand tall and flex my muscles to make myself appear larger. I inhaled a huge breath before exhaling it in a roar, my fingers spreading like claws as I leaned towards him as if about to rip his head off. The roar was impressive. Like that of a tiger, the sound was blasting and fierce. Johnny twisted around and I could have sworn his caterpillar eyebrows jumped off his face and inched away. His face paled completely of all color, his freckles in stark contrast to the ghost white skin. It took a split second for his jaw to drop and a bloodcurdling womanly scream escaped him. He stumbled backwards, away from me before his calves bumped on the lidless toilet bowl and he screeched as he fell backwards. A wave of toilet water splashed around him as he desperately gripped the sides of the toilet bowl in an attempt to wiggle out of there but his rotund buttcheeks were stuck fast.

I stalked closer.

"Please! Don't eat me or my earwax!" Johnathan screamed, putting his hands over his ears and sobbing. "Shrek, go away!"

Shrek?

Shrek. Hah.

I smirked. "It's all ogre now, Johnny!" I bellowed before walking over and flushing the toilet.

Girly sobs came from the toilet. Before I could do anything more, the floor was pulled out from under me. "Juzzin!" Caedmon growled in my mind. Being pulled through air vents by an angry little dragon, I could just barely make out was he was saying. "Bad bad... Meanie Johnny tell... we be dead!... Darius mad mad..."

When he said 'we be dead' I suddenly remembered what Darius had repeatedly told us.

"Yore dead, kid. Stay that way or you'll really be six feet under."

I gulped. Caed was right. I was the worst spy ever. "We just won't tell Darius," I reasoned, letting myself be dragged along lazily as shadow. "Who's going to believe him anyway? Shrek tried to flush him down the toilet? Hahaha... that's pretty funny you gotta admit." I tried to brush it aside.

Caed didn't seem so amused. He didn't reply to me.

I could feel his fear and I bit my lip. "Darius won't know."

"But what about Merman?" Caedmon asked softly.

Merman. That was the problem, wasn't it. He'd surely tell Stonehenge... which meant even more trouble. He just had to mess everything up.

Merman had knocked us out. Darius would have sympathy, right?

BAM!

Darius' huge fist crashed to the table. "YOU WERE CAUGHT?" He roared. His roar made Shrek look like a yapping Chihuahua. I got a front seat look at the huge feline fangs that looked especially dangerous at the moment. His face crinkled into a snarl, eyebrows pinching over wild yellow eyes. His enormous form curled up over me, so much so that I felt myself sinking a little into the ground. I think a little pee escaped me.

He pulled back and started to pace in front of me, the toucan perched on his shoulder. The room wasn't very big, and his legs were incredibly long so he could do three paces before he'd reached the other side of the room. A clawed finger raced over his full lips for a full moment before he barked out "You were captured by none other than one of Stonehenge's goons, you dropped a note in Avery's bag... is there anyone you haven't revealed yourself to?"

I opened my mouth to speak.

He pointed a claw at me. "Don't you dare say a word!" He snarled. "You blew our cover. Now the whole S-11 probably knows you're our asset. You've revealed your powers, so you have no element of surprise. You endangered our whole mission!" His hand curled so his talons emerged to their full three inches. He looked at me with such an expression... I felt my blood run cold.

Caed whimpered under my chair.

"Please give me good news. Any news on hostages?" He asked.

I gulped. "Well, we never... really found..." Before I could even finish the sentence, I was hauled up into the air by a single fist that seemed to be the size of my head. A gasp escaped me as I was pulled forwards over the desk. His eyes burst into flames and I closed my eyes, shrinking back from the heat. I could feel my face peeling.

"Anything else you'd like to tell me," He said in a dangerous rumble. I could feel his lips brushing the shell of my ear, making me shiver.

Jonathan. No. I couldn't tell him that. He'd kill me for sure. "N-no," I squeaked.

He grunted and let me go. I gave a small sob as I fell back into my seat.

"You owe me, Justin," Darius snapped. "If I ask you to do somethin', you better do it. You hear?"

I nodded quickly, barely allowing myself to breathe.

"Darius," Riley said softly. "You're scaring the boy."

"Maybe the boy needs a little scarin',"Darius snapped obstinately.

"His father-" Riley started to argue.

"His father told me to take care of him! And that's what I've been doing!" Darius roared. "Doesn't mean he can't obey orders correctly. I'm going after Stonehenge. Get him ready to do a run. We're going to have to rethink our war."

War? My father? I had a feeling there was a lot they weren't telling me. But I knew better than to speak up. Darius stormed out and Riley shifted into a man with dark brown hair and a short beard. His purple eyes glinted sadly as he crouched by me, wrapping his arms around me. I tried not to flinch. "I'm sorry. He just gets scary when he's frustrated," he assured me softly.

"Don't pretend you care!" I pushed him sharply to the ground with all my might. He looked up at me with wide eyes, propped up by his elbows on the floor. "You're the one who squealed on me!" I stood up so fast the chair toppled over behind me. Caed got up and stayed close to my feet. I took a shaky breath. "You know who my dad is?" I was beyond angry at the stupid bird, but I couldn't just forget he'd mentioned my father.

He slowly leaned forwards. "Yes, Justin. For his sake, I can't tell you who your father is just yet. But he was a great man. He-"

"Left me when I was a baby," I said bitterly.

"He had no choice." Riley protested. "He loved you, Justin. More than anything. But he... he had to go for the greater good, Justin."

"Don't give me that crap," I picked up Caedmon, trying not to let my muscles shiver with how heavy Caed was now. "You know what, I don't even care." I said before heading to my bedroom. I could feel the bird's eyes boring into my back.

Caedmon licked my cheek, his color-changing tongue now blue. His rough tongue felt surprisingly soothing against my burns. As soon as I closed the door, I slid down the wall, giving out a shaky sigh. That was probably the scariest confrontation I've ever been through. The power he had... pulling me over the table like a ragdoll? I imagined those claws digging into my flesh and shivered.

Caedmon nuzzled my leg, trying to cheer me up. I sighed and rubbed his forehead. "It's alright... I'm fine," I exhaled, reminding myself to never get on that big guy's bad side again. I ran my fingers over Caedmon's purple mane of bright flames. It didn't feel hot at all, just like puffs of warm air pushing at my fingers. "Wonder why nobody will tell me who my dad is," I mumbled. "Was he like some super important guy? Maybe the President?" I said a little hopefully. "Whatever the case, I know he ain't around anymore." I released a sigh, trying to get my thoughts together. "Darius... he's pretty scary, Caed. I just... I don't know."

Caedmon nodded in understanding. "I'll pre-tect you," he promised me, wrapping his gangly front arms around my arms, his cheek pressed up to my shoulder.

Suddenly there was a rap on my door. I paused, about to scream at Riley to shut up and get out of my life when I heard Zach's voice. "Hey, Justin. I guess you did something pretty bad because you're on scavenging duty. Darius wants you up front in ten."

I groaned. More fun time with Darius? This was just going to be swell. My head thunked against the wall.

"Justin? You alright? How did the mission go?" Zach asked.

"Terrible," I sighed. "I messed everything up."

"Oh. Well, if you want to talk about it, come to my room after scavenging," Zach said before I heard his footsteps as he walked down the hall to his bedroom.

I stayed on the ground for another minute, wondering whether to run away and hope a hurricane takes me to Oz or stay here and...

"JUSTIN!"

I jumped to my feet and ran.

Darius was waiting for me, his Pantene commercial Rapunzel blond hair pulled back in a low ponytail in a Colonial era red ribbon. He had already changed into an enormous black trench coat, slick and shiny as if he walked out of the Matrix. Tight black jeans somehow spanned over his extremely long legs and he finished the look with black jump boots. Not at all suspicious. "Blaize has gone to pick up your mess," he said in his deep voice.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked softly, hoping it wasn't as bad as it sounded.

Darius grunted. "It don't concern ya." He shouldered his flat black backpack. "We're going on a run. Gonna get some money. Come on."

I had a sickening feeling in my gut but I nodded and followed him out to the grey Dodge pickup truck. The large truck leaned over a little under Darius' weight as he slid on and revved up the engine. I got in and Caed jumped in the back, his tail curling around himself as he looked out the window. Last time he'd been in a car it hadn't been the best experience.

"Alright. This is a test," Darius said as he traveled over the bumpy dirt road. "To see how well you listen. The whole time we're there, I want you to be quiet and wait for my signal. If we need some intimidation, I'm counting on you. Riley told me that you have mastered nightmare creation. Which will come in very handy. To be honest, I didn't even know that you'd be able to attempt it until Caed was old enough to be ridden."

I looked out the window, head in hand. This didn't sound good. Intimidation to get money? This didn't sound like a friendly selling of wares. But like a fool I kept my mouth shut.

Yeah, I was a thief. But I wasn't too big on actual confrontation. Last time I did that, I got a broken ankle and a bite to the butt. I was a petty cat burglar, guys.

Although, I had to admit. I missed the rush of adrenaline I had while stealing files from the FBI. Now that was fun.

"When I nod to you, I want you to intimidate him. Then we'll be on our way. Easy enough?" When I didn't reply, he raised his voice. "Got it, Justin?"

"Yes sir," I replied, shifting in my seat.

"Good," he said, yellow eyes scanning the road.

It wasn't long before Darius had parked in front of a bank. I felt my heart drop to my Converses. "Uh.... Darius?" I squeaked, my mouth completely dry. He had already gotten out and slammed the door. "Darius!" I yelled, opening the door and jumping out. Caedmon hopped into my shadow, concealing himself. I slammed the door and pulled the hood over my burned face. "Darius..." I panted as I opened the door before Darius paused and crouched in front of me as if I were a toddler.

He looked at me, his expression 100000% done. "Justin, you were a wanted criminal before for stealing. Don't pretend you're a righteous man."

"But this is Sandy Brooke bank. Every crook knows that you don't steal from Sandy Brooke." I whispered back, looking around shiftily at the empty parking lot.

"But I have," Darius whispered back. "And I will again. Come on, show me the old Justin is still in there." He poked my belly before getting up and putting a large hand on my spine, escorting me inside.

"Jake!" He boomed, spreading his arms.

A short, balding man in a tight fitting red shirt turned around with a mouse-like squeak. "Darius!" He greeted, wiping his sweaty forehead with a napkin. The man had a strange nose that reminded me of a strawberry, with a large curling upper lip that almost swallowed the lower lip. His beady brown eyes looked up at Darius nervously. "Uhh... to what do I owe this p-p-pleasure?" He stammered.

"Quite frankly, dear sir, I need the m-m-money," Darius replied mockingly. "So, let's make this quick and I'll be out of your receding hairline." He dropped the black bag on the counter.

"I-I-I'm sorry b-but I can't do that," he said, his hands visibly shaking as he wiped his forehead. He crept around the counter.

Darius nodded at me and I stepped back into the shadows behind me. Caedmon helped me to concentrate before we both morphed into the Grim Reaper, holding our scythe.

The rotund bank teller shivered more violently. "D-D-Darius we can't afford to keep giving you money. Y-you can't..."

"He's stalling!" I yelled.

"I know!" Darius growled and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him over the counter just like he had done to me earlier that day. "Listen here you bumbling clown.." he growled. "Give me your money or I'll gut you from crotch to neck, got it?" He snarled.

I looked around and saw the security cameras. How did Darius do this so brazenly and not get caught? I squinted at them. Yep, they were on but what I saw in the reflection of them was not the hulking Viking god, but a much shorter, messy black haired man. He was completely veiled in illusion. Tricky....

But why didn't he just sneak in as flame and get the money? I had a feeling this helped him get his rage out, by the way he'd grabbed that man and threatened to gut him. Something told me he wasn't bluffing either.

"Y-yes," the man managed. "I'll go get it," he said as he was released. He waddled over to the back room.

"Remember- any funny moves and you're dead," Darius said, raising his pistol.

There was a rustling sound. He was dawdling a bit too long.

Darius stiffened suddenly and his elf ears perked up. He looked around shiftily to find several police cars pulling into the bank parking lot.

They surrounded the building in seconds.

"I told you. Nobody steals from Sandy Brooke bank." I whispered, my hands slowly going up into the air.

A slow grin spread on Darius' face.

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