The United

Chapter 4

As dawn crept up on Aaron and I, I saw Willis and Jayda flying back from the far edge of the property. I called out to her with a mischievous smile, and told her about our mission. Despite Aaron's protests, Jayda agreed to come, and we took off, each of us flying with our own skill. Jayda had her wings, I had my shadow steps in my realm, and Aaron had his fire. We flew above the city silently, until we spotted a surprisingly well maintained building among the rubble that the plague had left behind. I got a strange vibe, but I told the others the plan again. We would get three of the invited guests and knock them out, Then I would change our voices, and our appearances to match the person that we had assumed. It would work pretty well, as long as the people didn't get found, and they wouldn't, until my shadow storm became weak, which would be difficult with Jayda with me. Her powers strengthened my own, and we both knew it.

 "Are you ready?" Aaron asked me calmly, glancing at his target. The man was nearly a foot taller than me, and about 7 inches taller than Aaron. His name was Byron Zenix, and he was a well known criminal. And playboy. Aaron easily snuck around, and placed his flaming hand on the back of Byron's neck, who immediately blacked out from pain. I closed my eyes, willing Byron to vanish, and for his appearance to become Aaron's. I then shifted Aaron's voice to sound as Byron's.

Jayda spotted her victim next. A 21 year old criminal mastermind, Ivy Serenade who had a particular liking for poison and bloody violence. Jayda made no attempt to stay hidden, and punched Ivy in the gut, knocking her out, then tied her up, as I made Jayda's appearance look just as Ivy did, before making Ivy vanish as well. I scanned the crowd and spotted one of Ivy's accomplices. Dawn Johnson, was a servant to Ivy, and was always near Ivy. This would give me an excuse to be near Jayda, to keep my powers strong. I shifted into my realm, and soon pulled Dawn through as well. I stole her consciousness, and then took her form. I then came back into the normal realm. 

"What can I do for you master Ivy?" I said bittersweetly, in Dawn's voice, and looked over at Jayda. 

"Nothing yet child. Not unless you are going to slip poison into the leaders drink." Jayda said sweetly, in Ivy's voice, smooth as silk. 

"What might I be able to do for you ladies?" Aaron said smoothly, his voice soft, but mischievous, as Byron's. 

"Nothing yet." Jayda smiled. 

I smiled slightly before heading to the doors. A man greeted us, and asked for our names. 

"This is my master, Lady Ivy Serenade, and I am but a loyal servant, Dawn Johnson." I said in my foreign voice. 

 "You are on the list. And you sir?" The man said looking at Aaron.

 "Byron Zenix. Maybe you heard about me. Maybe you haven't. Either way, I'm invited." Aaron said calmly in Byron's smooth voice. 

 "Right sir. You are on the list. Right this way." The man led us along the dark hallways, and opened a door for us. What was behind those doors, I wish I had never seen. There were corpses on the walls, and a man laughed, saying their gift was not enough to save them. A fury burned within me, but I stayed silent and prayed Jayda would as well. I knew Jayda would be difficult to control, so I asked her. 

 "Master? Are you okay? Normally, you would love such violence." I murmured, praying that Jayda would keep in character. 

"I am just furious that I didn't get to join in." Jayda sighed in Ivy's voice.

"Oh, there will be more. Don't you worry. If they survive, they can be in our army, if not, they will die." The man walked over to us and laughed. "My name is Ramone Romulus. Welcome to the organization, and I hope you will help us destroy these gifted children and take back our country from wannabe superheros. The Flaming one is the worst. He has taken out so many of our shipments." Ramone introduced himself.

I stole a quick glance at Aaron, he was beginning to look guilty, and then looked up again. He asked to see these gifted children. Ramone clapped twice and a couple of guards came in, and dragged in a young boy, and a young girl. They couldn't be older than me, Aaron or Jayda.... I'm sorry..... But... I can not let them die... I thought before willing the children to vanish. I imagined the guards letting them go, and I then made the guards hit each other, knocking them both out cold. Ramone watched in horror, but didn't suspect me. 

 "What the hell? You Idiot! You let those powered freaks free! You will be lucky if we ever come back after this failure!" Jayda hissed, and then grabbed my arm leading me away.

 "If those ladies are going, the only gentlemanly thing to do is follow." Aaron said and turned his back. I ushered the invisible children along, and out the doors to freedom. When we were far away, Jayda and I each grabbed one of them by the hand, and led them far away from the compound. Pain flashed through my mind, but I didn't stop. I kept running, with the child in my arms, and Jayda close behind me. Soon however, it was all too much. Pain flashed through my mind again, and I met the ground, but sheltered the child as I fell. Aaron ran over to me, and Jayda slowed her pace and looked back at me. 

 "Shadow... You have to release your shadow storm. It is weakening you.... Please...." Aaron said calmly, and took the child as I gave him to Aaron...

 "N-n-n-o-o... I-I have to protect y-you.... I h-have to keep up the storm.... Or Aaron... You will get caught... You are known to them... And Jayda can't hide her wings without me...." I struggled to say. 

 "No. You will release the storm. NOW!" Jayda growled.

 "But... I have to-" I started to say, but felt myself growing even weaker, and Jayda's arm was on mine. My powers had reached their limit... But I wanted to help them. "Fine." I accepted my defeat, and released the storm. I was still weak, but at least I could still stand. I stumbled behind Aaron and Jayda, and I heard the guards coming. I grabbed them by the arms, and willed them to disappear. I felt a lot of energy leave me, and felt cold, but then, a wave of warmth flowed through me. I glanced over at Aaron, and knew that he was helping me. I smiled slightly, and continued to walk farther, but then took a few steps up into the air. Aaron and Jayda flew next to me, until we were far into the air. We continued to go through the air, and get to the base. Soon we saw it in the horizon, and Aaron and Jayda flew ahead of me to get the children to the ground, as they left, I felt my energy leaving me again, my vision pulsed, and I soon faded to black. When I opened my eyes, I was in Aaron's arms, and he was smiling slightly though his eyes shone with relief. 

 "It's okay.... I got you..." Aaron said before landing. He let me lean on him, but put me down when we landed. 

 "That was too close." Jayda said looking over at me.

 "It was... I am just glad I caught you before you hit the ground. That was nearly three hundred feet in the air... That would have been fatal even to Jayda... I don't want to know what it could do to you..." Aaron looked at me with concern. 

 "I'm fine.... Just no more missions today...." I said weakly, and fell forward but I faded to black before I hit the ground.