Prime (Book 1 of the Godling Trilogy)

20- Battle of the Babes- Part 1

I know I've spent a lot time talking about heroes. I'm probably never going to stop talking about them, it's my life now. My best friends are warriors and my enemies, well, they are evil. What high school girl gets to say that and mean it literally? There's always the question that you are presented with in your fourth grade essay writing; what makes a hero? Some people may say that it's their favorite sports star, before you hear about the steroid use. Maybe it's a family member who did something decently selfless. To me a hero is someone who is willing to take a risk, even if that risk may cost their life, in order to help others. Bash was my hero. Ava was my hero. Deedee was my hero. Gwen was my hero. Even Sara was my hero. They were all so strong, they all kept going. They all kept taking that risk. They put their faith in me and I had to come through. I promised my self I would do this; for their sake. Not for vengeance or some ulterior personal motive, well, maybe a little revenge, but this was for the survivors. To give them a reason to keep living.

When Bash and I fell onto the pavement of the parking lot I could hear him grunt in pain, he shakily got to his feet and I offered him support, which being himself, he refused.

Then I hugged him; I couldn't stop myself. It was one of those hugs that seemed to last for ages, where you could smell the person and feel their heartbeat. When your bodies melt together and you can no longer feel where the end and you begin.  I knew it must have been pretty painful for him because I was wearing armor and he had a half healed chest wound but he just breathed deeply and held me tight against him. We only stayed like that for a second but it was worth it. As he let go and faded into the shadows I saw him smirk a little as if he was quite pleased with himself and for some reason it helped to lighten my spirits.

I looked out over the city; from Telegraph hill everything could be seen. The Golden Gate Bridge shone in the distance and the city sparkled with light. It was beautiful but I could feel the distance between myself and the mortal world grow as I looked out over the bay. To most people this was just a city to me it was a battlefield. It was where I had learned to be a hero. The bay reflected the lights as it danced like a mirage. I had to tear my eyes away as Gwen appeared next to me.

She was clearly in awe at the view too.

We couldn't stay long; Nyx would've noticed our presence by now.

"Go," said Gwen, "We'll follow."

I nodded and jogged to the front door of Coit Tower, it was locked like it should be. For a moment I debated what to do, I'd never picked a lock before and I don't think there was anyone around who would lend me a key.

Then I realized that I was saving the world and doing all of humanity and favor, breaking and entering could be forgiven. I slammed the hilt of my sword through the glass front doors and watched as it shattered before me. Something about the sound made my heart rate increase. The noise had become a trigger to me and I looked around for some sort of foe, although I knew the source of the sound was me. I stepped through the opening and into the main room. There was a staircase twisting up to the side so I decided to follow it.

The entire building was so silent; I could hear my heart beating loudly in my chest. It became the rhythm that I paced my steps to, rapid and unfaltering. As I darted up the stairs I began to notice the art that lined the walls; big painted murals of people in old timey clothes. I slowed down to look at them as I passed.  It was strange, as I walked by them the subject's faces twisted around to look at me, which was really freaky.

I was sure it was my mind playing tricks but it seemed like they were terrified, warning me not to go. A man in a business suit looked at me with pleading eyes, he reminded me of my father and there was strange dull pain that throbbed in my chest as I tore my eyes way.