My King

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ash's PoV

      I massaged my temples, groaning. 

      "So me get this straight," I started, "these people cornered you in an ally, injected you with a strange needle, your ability stopped working, and then they stabbed you?!" I ask looking at Sera. She nodded. John, Sera, Asslo, Elaine, and I where all sitting in the living room. John sighed muttering something to himself before looking at me. 

     "Ash, our number one job right now is to protect Sera," he said and I nod. Arlo sighed and fidgeted a little. 

      "I... I guess I'll get going," he muttered. I shot him a glare. Elaine -who clearly didn't like the idea of being alone with us- quickly followed after him. John watched Arlo leave, an unreadable expression on his face. It looked kinda like he wanted to hug him and hold him close, but at the same time stab him in the gut and set him on fire. I suppose that's a reasonable mood to be in right now.

      "Sera, we need to call the hospital about this drug... you need your ability back as soon as possible. If and when people discover you are ability-less there will be a lot of people after you," John said. Seraphina nodded and smiled a little. 

      "I'll be careful," she promised. 

      "Good. Now tomorrow,... we take the school. I'll challenge Arlo for King. Ash go after Remi for Queen," I tensed, "you don't have to hurt her too much though, just win." I nod. I won't cause her more pain then I must.

      I follow John into school. Brian is at my side, prepared to fight Blyke for Jack. Seraphina followed along behind us, glancing around. John was tense as he walked. Everyone in the hall was looking at us and whispering, but all I could focus on was Arlo. He was standing the middle of the hall talking to someone with his back to us. I scowled and tensed up, but I didn't activate my ability. John cleared his throat and Arlo turned to look at us.

      "Arlo, I'm assuming you can guess what this is," John said. I didn't need to see his face to hear the smirk.

      "So... you have come to challenge me for King after all..." he said, he seemed sad.

      "You thought I wouldn't?" he asked, eyebrow raised. I could have sworn I heard Arlo muttered 'I hoped', or something like that. I was confused when a couple people chuckled, then I realized they all still thought he was a cripple. They made a few remarks and formed a circle around them. Unfortunately for them, this school is about to become very different. I moved to the side to watch the fight better. John nodded to me and I activated my ability. He grinned an activated his own, copying mine. As I deactivated I noticed the hall had gone dead silent. The jokes, giggles, and whispers had all stopped. Pathetic. Arlo's face hardened into an unreadable mask as his ability activated. John lunged forwards and Arlo put up a barrier. John and I had attacked a few people outside, so he had a few tricks up his sleeves. Brian had also activated his ability so John had that as well. He used Brian's lazers to blast Arlo's barrier. It cracked a bit and John grinned. Arlo on the other hand looked like he was having some trouble. The barrier vanished and appeared around John, who growled in frustration. Copying Arlo's ability he put up his own barrier inside of Arlo's. He used my shadow claws to start punching the barrier. He was attacking Arlo's while using his own as a shield to stop the rebound. It was impressive and it didn't take long for Arlo's barrier to shatter. Shadow shards flew around the hall and nailed Arlo in the shoulders and his left knee. He fell to the ground and John lunged forwards again. He kneed him in the face and grabbed his arm. As he twisted Arlo's arm John plants a foot on his chest. Arlo lets out a scream and tries to pull away. I watch in sick satisfaction as he tries to struggle, but only makes things worse for himself. John -deciding he's had enough of this- launches a laser beam into Arlo's face and drops him. He turned and looked around the hallway, eyes narrowed. 

        "There's a new king, the Shadow King," he said with a sick grin and I smile.

      "Now for the Shadow Queen," I pipe up and laugh. John nods to Brian, who goes to look for Blyke. I go to find Remi. I don't really wanna fight her, but my loyalty to John holds strong. We've been friends since we were like five. Besides, I just met Remi a month or two ago. It will be fine, she'll understand. It doesn't take long for me to find her.

      "Remi~"I call out and she turns around to look at me.

      "Come for the crown?" she asks with a small smile. I smile back and shrug.

      "Yeah... sorry Rems," I said apologetically and she chuckles.

      "No no, it's fine. You still gotta be me though," she said coily and I smirk.

      "Heh, I'll go easy on ya," I said and she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck.

      "Please do," she muttered. 

      We fought and I -obviously- won. I did hurt her a bit more than I wanted and personally escorted her to the infirmary. After making sure she'll be okay I text John asking him were he was. He responded saying the roof and I started making my way there. I could overhear people talking about John and his ability. I got up to the roof and grinned.

      "So, you won," he said, more of a statement than a question. He was sitting on a couch which I assume he had made using my ability. I grinned at him.

      "You know it!" I said excitedly. He smiled at me and gestured to the spot next to him. I plopped down next to him and pulled out my phone. I activated my ability and made a pair of earbuds. I plug them in and start scrolling through YouTube, watching anything that catches my eye. Brian soon joins us.

      "Didya win?" I asked taking off the headphones. He barks a laugh.

      "You bet your ass I won! I do have to admit though, it was a bit of a challenge. Blyke put up a good fight and we were pretty evenly matched. In the end it was about strategy," he said and I smirked.

      "Stratagy? You? Really?" I joked and he scoffed.

      "Like you're one to talk. And yes STRATEGY! Besides I had the upper hand in one aspect. Our abilities are pretty similar, and after years of sparing John I know how to combat my own ability," he said and I nodded. He had a fair point. 

      "Hah! We run this bitch now! We can do whatever we want!" I shout and use my levitation ability and float up to the top of the fence. I balance on top with my arms crossed and look out over the city. I take a deep breath as I scan the horizon. This was something I missed! "I can't wait! " I exclaim, throwing my arms out and leaning back on one foot. "We're royalty again!" I twist around and crouch on top of the fence. I look down at John who's chuckling.

      "Yeah, it feels good to be in control again." He sighs happily. I look back at him and grin.

      "Wanna kick some ass?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and he looks up at me.

      "Oh I thought you'd never ask!" 

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1288 Words