The Eruption of Mountgomery

Chapter 5

The howl of the sirens echoed in the distance. I scowled at the blue-hooded figure was cloaked in the fading sunlight. His shoes clicked softly against the wooden flooring as I stared down the pistol's barrel. My own false name reaches my ears, however it collapsed. He left me! All because it was dictated by them that I was a beast—a branded monster thrown to deal with the wolves alone. The following apology which led to the holstering of the pistol leaves me oddly satisfied. Fire destroys just as much as water does. When I do back away, I hit the back wall of the compound. The air crackles with the life of a building severe thunderstorm. There's that aroma of the sizzling electricity before the storm. The fury I wielded is completely unmatched and a small smile takes form upon my lips. I begin to chuckle; unnerving Loch. He narrows his eyes as I sober up quickly. "This is not how I anticipated we meet." He growled out, choosing the ice-like words carefully.

"Oh?" I questioned, intrigued. "Do you expect me to run? How did you expect us to rekindle the spark we 'possessed'? Candlelight dinner under the stars?" The tone is mocking, it is hurtful, but I cannot resist the words. "You left me because your parents feared the influence, I had upon you. I was but a child! I was berated, bullied and scorned for abilities I did not know of. You, however, were adored. They propped you up and you flew to head your department, isn't that right, Officer Loch?"

Nero's eyes darkened, like the sky had. That crackle in the air intensified, and a bolt of lightning shatters the air between us, incinerating a potted plant. I would not, could not pull any of my punches. "Years, you could have defied your parents' wishes, defied the clichéd life you have lived to seek me out if those feelings were true. No doubt, they were—still are."

The darkening navy blue of his eyes seemed to brighten to a dull grey as he whispered, entering the old mill, "You knew? How long?"

I scoffed with the careful roll of my eyes. "It does not take a moron long enough to figure out that you saw something in me that nobody else dared to. Was it the goodness? Was it that I would not be where I am today if it weren't for you? Or maybe our roles would benefit—does it really matter? Society deemed you the goodness that everybody dreams of possessing. I lived with spite from everybody who adored you. I did not want to live this life! I never asked to be the villain, but I make a damn good one and I would be damned if I let some boy who I may have loved years ago dictate that. I loved you then, and perhaps it was my naivete, but I want to trust you now. Though, as I stared down the barrel of that pistol, I doubt that could ever happen. Would you live in isolation? Could you do so?"

"Blaise."

"She died in that river. I may look like her, speak like her, act like her, but I can guarantee that I am not her." I allowed a small smirk to dance upon my lips. "Or maybe I still am, but given my treatment, I doubt that will change any time soon. You are not here to arrest me. It flies against the adoration you have possessed—"

"Nero! Get away from her!"

At first, shock settles within my stomach when Nero glances over his shoulder at his partner. "Treatment? What treatment? Caleb, what the hell is she talking about?"

Caleb rolled his eyes. "It does not matter. You are one of us, always. She's nothing but a killer!"

I frowned, however Nero's whole demeanor shifted. The slightly arrogant representative of the law crumbles just as the wind picks up its speed. The undeniable crackle of the air flared up resting its cloak over the mill. Against the muted sirens which rapidly blink crimson and navy blue lights, there's a spattering of droplets of the rainwater upon the blinking lights which quickly morphed into blankets of the water. Sporadic flashes of lightning soon intermingles with a burst of water. Nero is no longer himself—in his place was a man not driven by hate, or of any discernable negative sentiments. He seems more like a man driven insane with affection. A jet of water, more like a metallic orb of solidified ice hits its target with fatal precision and the target flew back, reeling into a concrete slab. One of the spare officers jogged over to Caleb's motionless frame and a protective growl emanates in front of me. With a soft smirk, I raised an eyebrow. I approached Nero, "We are not so different, you and me. I would love to stay and idly chat, but I have clients."

With that, I vanished.

******

There was a chill to the room, consuming everything as it permeated under my blanket. I sat up and ran a hand through my hair. Glaring through the darkened dots swirling in and out of focus, I moaned softly. What the hell? I shook my head; rolled over my side. Again, I awake early. I did not intend to continue doing these sorts of missions; they took all my time. My true intentions were not to ruthlessly slaughter innocent individuals, but I gazed at the inky abyss that was my phone screen. Oh, I knew it was Nero Loch from the beginning. I could sense him, he always pined after me, but never truly acted upon said impulse. The fact that he treated me as an equal had the opposite effect upon me.

I did want love, I did want to be needed, but I had grown accustomed—I learned how to thrive alone. Forgiveness was not possible, and I did not wield that sentiment. Loch had everything I ever desired. I needn't fame nor glory—I yearned to be something more than a killer. However, despite the ice that contradicts the liquid fire that fuels the bitterness, I sought after answers. How could he, a man who left me for dead when we were nothing but malleable children, leave me? Running my hands over my face, I unlocked phone. No!

I did not need this—I did not need a man of the law dictating whether I deserved anything less than what I received. I glared at my last message. I would play him—lead him on the hunt, a tempting yet irrevocable game of cat and mouse until we met face to face. I am not the sort to text my problems. Even if I was, why would I speak to somebody who I had not see in years about said issues?

I do not block the number, but I turn off all notifications. Throwing my phone onto the soft surface, a roar tore from my throat. I abhorred this—detested this lifestyle. Closing my eyes, I heard the pop of the liquid fire within my veins, however that impeccable chill radiates throughout the room, digging its claws deeper into my veins.

I know I should sleep. I know I should focus on work, but even than it becomes tedious. The task of evading not only law enforcement, but the clients I aid, it takes more time and planning—then the next victim falling right into the palm of my hands. Ignoring the nagging effects of drowsiness, I exited my bedroom. The apartment no longer held the crisp air, but it warmed rapidly. With a yawn, I glanced around and there was not even a spark. However, the crackling within my veins deserved some form of satisfaction, of release. There was indeed that creeping pain, the liquid fire awakes slowly, like the creeping form of death. I threw my head back, smacking it against the wall. This silent yet seemingly random onset of scathing ire startled even myself as I paced the length of my living space.

My head snapped up and my eyes met the rectangular prism that was my laptop. I stopped my pacing and skimmed through the written client list. Names upon names of anonymous users with the request to discuss the tasks does absolutely nothing to calm the—one small snap of my finger and this whole complex could go ablaze. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes. No! I will not succumb to this. I cannot succumb to this. I need to fade into nothingness. I yearn to stop—the crackling ceases, but there is the occasional pop within my veins. Opening my eyes, I breathed in deeply and relinquished the florid language I developed a devout tongue for.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing seems to soothe this ire. I need a verbal outlet. A physical one. Something! I need someway to control it. That's what I lack!

That was exactly what Loch possessed, but little did I know the change that was going through him in his insane pursuit of me.