The Super Villain's Daughter

Chapter 1

"I don't think the tablets are as effective as they used to be. They won't suppress his superpowers for much longer."

My brother Henry and I stared at each other in shock, unsure of how to react to this overheard conversation. We had just been trying to sneak down to raid the fridge for a midnight snack. It was not our plan to come across our parents discussing Henry's medication.

He had always been sickly. They told us he had a poor immune system and required medications to stay alive. Henry was always weak and tired. I would have never suspected that he wasn't actually sick.

We had always been different, despite being fraternal twins. He was kept inside, away from potential infections, while I ran around, playing in the dirt and scraping my knees. He was pale and thin, with delicate, fragile features framing bright green eyes. I was tanned from the sun, all rough edges and sharp angles. Most people who saw us together did not realize we were related, much less twins. I didn't care. I was his sister, his protector, he was my best friend.

I held his hand in mine, nervous sweat making our grip slip. His eyes were wide and nervous, a mirror of my own. He mouthed a single word, afraid to make a sound.

Superpowers?

I shook my head, I was just as clueless as him. Our mother started talking again. We listened further.

"Once he shows signs of his powers, even an idiot will be able to tell whose child he is."

Henry's hand tightened on my own. It was just too much to comprehend.

"It's too late to regret it now, dear. When we took him from them, it effectively crippled their heroic activities. It was the best move we've ever made against them!"

No.

I shrunk back against the wall, holding the boy I always thought was my brother tightly against me. He didn't push me away, but clung just as tightly to me.

He was the child of superheroes? He was kidnapped? What about me?

My mother sighed, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag on it. It struck me as odd. I didn't even know she smoked.

Guess there was a lot I didn't know.

"This is why I said we should have just killed him from the start."

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise up at her cold, detached tone.

"Well we cant now." My father sighed. "Erica's attached to him. She thinks he's her real brother."

Mother didn't seem impressed. "She'll get over it. She needs to toughen up, if she's going to get into the family business."

"..." there was a awkward silence. I pulled at Henry's hand trying to put distance between him and the people who were supposed to take care of us.

"I guess you're right." At Father's defeated tone my calm broke, I yanked Henry' arm and ran up the stairs. We sat on the floor, panting for breath. Looking up, I saw an unfamiliar icy chill within my brother's eyes.

"Are you okay?" I reached out a hand to touch his cheek, but he pulled away. I felt a splintering pain in my chest and hung my head.

"...don't cry."

His voice was still cold, but he was warm as his arms wrapped around me in a tight hug. I hadn't even realized that I was crying before he said it, I wiped at my face, but it was no use, new tears just replaced the old.

"We have to escape." I forced to the words out. "We'll slip out tonight, find your real parents..."

"Erica." His face was sad. A bad premonition came over me, but I kept pushing forward.