Active Measures (Ares #4)

Paranoia

Two days pass, and Skylar is still in a fragile state of mind after seeing the photo. "Are you okay, Auntie Sky?" April asks. Skylar stands up, and hugs her gently. "There are just too many unanswered questions April, it's nothing for you to worry yourself with. I want you to keep your eye on this Kaimen, because it should not be possible that he is here. Understand?" Skylar whispers. April nods her head in agreement, and walks out the door. Skylar sits down again, and stares into the image continuously. "The man who always walked with a grudge in his step towards the people who had done him wrong, although would never carry a weapon, and would always find a way. Did you find a way, Ares? A way through the pain? Me and your own daughter, we need your guidance. Just, please. Anything" she weeps into her hands.

April arrives at college once again, and is greeted by Brad. "Hey April! How are you doing today?" He asks. "You couldn't have asked a more boring question, could you Brad?" April replies, with a smirk on her face, as she runs her hand all over his hair. "I'm really struggling with control today, would you mind just keeping an eye on me?" Brad asks, nervously. April turns him around, and grabs his hands. "Hey, keep calm, yeah? I'll keep an eye out, of course I will!" April replies. A group of older, larger boys barge past Brad, nearly knocking him over. "Haha! Look at that little bitch, falling down over that? Pathetic!" One of the boys shout. Brad slowly stands up, his eyes glowing a dark red, and his aura slowly showing. "Brad, calm down, now!" April whispers. Brad breathes heavily, and begins to roar in anger before turning to the boys, revealing a set of blood red eyes. "Woah, what the hell?!" The boys shout. "BRAD! STOP IT!" April shouts, before getting thrown to the side by Brad, leaving her unable to move for a moment. Brad turns back towards the boys, and raises his hand in order to strike, when an unknown hand catches his arm. April looks around to see a tall, coated figure holding Brad's arm, shrouding with a calm silver aura. The figure strikes Brad once around the neck, leaving him unconscious, and forcing the boys to run away in fear. The figure begins to walk away, when April gets to her feat. "Hey, you! Don't just walk away!" She screams, as her hair shoots a sharp, golden colour, and her aura changes to the same shade of gold. "Don't you dare just try and walk out of here. Come and fight a Super Kaimen" April shouts, before lunging towards the figure. A sharp flash of silver appears in front of April, as she is blasted back in an instant, forcing her to drop out of her Super form. A silver aura stares at her and begins to mutter the words "how disappointing, by now, I would have thought you'd be at least a God. Your time will come April. Keep control over your pet here," he says pointing towards Brad, "or we will be in all sorts of trouble. Although, with those boys? We may already be in trouble. Good luck. Oh, and if Skylar asks, good luck explaining me!" The figure mutters, as he flicks the view of one silver eye towards April, and swiftly disappears.

The pair quickly barge their way through the front door, and run to Skylar, explaining the events of the day. Skylar pays little attention to the story, until she hears the words 'silver aura and silver eyes'. She grunts nervously. "It's just not possible. It's absolutely not possible" she mutters. April puts her hand on Skylar's shoulder. "It's to do with Dad, isn't it?" She asks. Skylar looks at her with shock. "Im afraid to say, it's looking very likely April. Without Yuso here to guide me, it's so difficult to tell what to do next. But if there is another Kaimen with the level of power your father had, and he can control it, we are in serious trouble" she explains. "What kind of power did Dad have? You and Mum have explained Super Kaimen, and Super Kaimen God, but this aura was silver. We've never seen, or heard that before!" April says, confused. "I don't want you getting involved with that type of power. It's what killed your father, and I will not explain it to you. Don't try and go to Krystal either, because she doesn't understand it, understand me? I don't want you messing around with levels of power like that, you'll get yourself killed!" Skylar shouts. April grunts angrily. "But Brad lost control today! All the kids saw him change! How are we supposed to protect ourselves if we can't get stronger?!" She shouts. Skylar flares a bright red aura, and her hair shoots red, enter her Kaimen God form. She grabs April by the arm. "When you can take me on in this form, you can learn about his power" she explains, before calming down, and going back to her base form. "Fine. I get it. You're just being stubborn about it!" April argues. "No, no. Not quite" a voice in the corner interrupts, as Corvus appears from the shadows. Skylar stands up in complete shock. "You should listen to her April, Ares passed away because of the power he possessed during our tournament. But he did save us all, and in return, I promised to look after your family." Corvus explains. "You did what?! He knew he was going to pass away before the tournament?! Where the hell have you been for the past nineteen years?!" Skylar screams. April shoots into her Super Kaimen form, and stares at Corvus. "Yeah. Who the hell are you?" She asks aggressively. "Definitely have the charm and stubbornness of your father, that's good to see. But if you're thinking of fighting me, I wouldn't." Corvus answers. "April, stop it!" Skylar shouts, as April drops her into her base form. "I'm here because there is a big problem, and it's to do with that envelope and picture you received Skylar, I'd like to see it." Corvus asks, and Skylar quickly hands it over. "Yes, that's what I was afraid of." Corvus replies, and then sighs into his hands. "I've received word from Ziis that something big is coming in the human world, and this new Kaimen, whose name I refuse to remember, is going to be the cause of it. Skylar, April, listen up. Ares may not truly be dead after all" he explains.