Athena

Chapter 8

Exposed.

My team all stared at me in shock and I looked at the ground in shame. I've never shown them what my powers can do to others, they had no idea of the things I was capable of, until today. Even now, they still don't know how much worse it could have been. I only released one emotion which in itself was hard to control. Imagine had I released all the pent up emotions inside of me all at once.

"Woah, Athena," Carter rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the limp bodies of the RA's. They weren't dead, but the power that stirred within me wished for their demise, their painful suffering until their very last breaths.

"Athena?" Elias looked at a loss, but understanding dawned on him in an instant. "The goddess of war." He stated, grinning over at me.

Elias knew me as something else long ago, but he didn't question my name now. He understood the concept, the meaning behind it. After all, he was the influence of the change in the first place.

"You just. . ." Vivien muttered in disbelief.

"All by yourself," Kevin finished.

I waited for their outbursts, their fear, and repulsion, but what I felt from them instead was something else entirely. Pride.

Amell's pack started to collect the unconscious bodies of the RA's. Thirty RA's, captured with ease because of me. I should be happy, ecstatic even, but this was bad, for me and for my people. It's been years since I used my ability. Using it the way I just did after keeping it dormant for so long is like trying to play a sport you haven't practiced in years, it's dangerous.

As quickly as I could, I suppressed all other emotions that also wanted to be let out, keeping them in their pit of darkness, the tingling behind my eyes telling me they were once again their dull grey until I started feeling my own emotions individually once more.

Amell came up to me, nodding his head in approval. "I look forward to this alliance Athena, truly. Thank you, for preventing this fight, who knows how many lives could have been lost."

"No problem," I lied.

"Stay for as long as you need. We still need to discuss some things, but that can wait. For now, you and your people can rest easy while my wolves lock the RA's away. When they are ready for evaluation, we will let you know."

"Thank you," I tell him.

My eyes met Elias's again and we stepped closer to each other silently. I didn't even know what to say to him or what to ask. Where have you been? What have you been doing? Why are you with wolves? The questions are endless in my mind, but my mouth doesn't move.

"There is a lot we need to talk about." He spoke and I just nodded along, as if I wasn't in total awe that he was standing before me in the flesh after all this time.

"Yeah, I guess there is."

I watched Elias endlessly while he limped around the living room in the guest house, trying to look interested in the paintings on the wall. My team decided to go out and give us some privacy while we talked which I should think is unnecessary. I have an agenda, a mission to complete, but then he showed up and ruined everything while somehow simultaneously replacing what I thought I once lost. It's all so confusing, I can barely think.

My eyes roamed over his body once more and I grimaced. His ribs look terrible as well as his back. Bruises, everywhere. His face isn't as bad as the rest of his body, but you can tell he's been through something.

I had too many things I needed to ask to stay silent anymore, I had to speak.

"How do you know Xavier?" I decided to start with.