BOOK 4 of the ORPHIC Series
DISENTHRALL
/ˌdisənˈTHrôl/
set free.
~~~~~
When Lucille 'Lucy' Opal Baker starts adjusting to a world without Captain America and more government therapy sessions...
T H E F A L C O N A N D T H E W I N T E R S O L D I E R
36
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"What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for us?"
Delacroix, Louisiana August, 2024
THEY LEFT FOUR DAYS later, saying goodbye to their home in Brooklyn, before taking the earliest plane to Louisiana. It was an easy achievement, since they were technically on Avengers business, which meant that, technically, they were priority for plane seats.
Lucy watched as Angeliko formed little animals with the white energy traveling between his fingertips. They would appear to resemble Alpine or his plushies, before dissipating into the air. They walked along the street towards Sam's neighborhood, Lucy's focus shared between her son and her soul compass. James looked between them with an inexplicable fondness that reminded her of how lucky she was to have him. Alpine mewed from their feet, looking up at Angeliko with bright, curious eyes.
She placed her hands around Angeliko's, cupping them together. He looked up at her with confusion, but Lucy didn't interrupt the white tendrils. She merely placed one of her hands on top of his. The tendrils spasmed– Angeliko's eyes widened with something between horror and uncertainty. The tendrils attacked at her hand, attempting to pull her skin apart. But the darkness of her own abilities blocked every attempt at an injury.
Angeliko's horror slowly turned to awe.
His eyes were so focused on their hands that he nearly walked right into a light pole. Lucy flicked one of her fingers and he was immediately pulled out of the way, a blackened crystal-like shadow wrapping around his waist. He let out a gasp, a laugh escaping his lips as she grasped him in the air, holding him to her chest.
"Mama's so strong!" He exclaimed, sounding very proud.
Lucy chuckled, running her fingers through his hair.
"So is your Papa." Lucy started. "He's got a really cool metal arm, don't you, love?"
James moved towards them, wiggling his metal fingers in front of Angeliko's face. He grasped onto his hand like he'd been doing every night, as if it were some sort of security blanket. James laughed and Angeliko's expression brightened.
He looked at Papa, before turning his eyes up to Mama.
"Mama is okay, right?" He asked, gazing at her with hopeful eyes. "Uncle Pierce always said I was dangerous 'cause of the magic in my hands."
Lucy paused at the mention of Pierce's name.
James stiffened almost imperceptibly. She looked at him, then Angeliko, before placing him down on his feet. She crouched in front of him, stopping James in his tracks. There were kids playing around, throwing basketballs–if they were old enough– or picking at bugs and rocks.
