Page 32 of Infamous Heart

“Stop!”

“I was only going to kill this pathetic human, but I can make room in my schedule for two murders.”

In the distance, a single pinpoint of light broke through her walls of black. The thing clawing at my leg let go as the light spread. Whatever violated her domain required her attention. A light flooded the darkness, forcing me to shield my eyes.

“Who dares—“

Wraith screamed.

Sebastian. Except, instead of a hunky man, he was nothing more than a human shaped lightbulb. It was ironic that a woman capable of manipulating shadows was about to get thumped by her polar opposite. He shone brightly enough that I couldn’t do more than glance in his direction before my eyes narrowed to slits.

I had gambled with my life to ensure Sebastian became the hero I knew he could be. What was death compared to helping destiny along? I never thought I could save Vincent, but I could give Sebastian incentive. Now I prayed he fulfilled his end of my plan.

“Leave him alone.”

“Or what?” Wraith hissed.

“Try me.” His voice was deeper, richer, as if he had practiced this voice a thousand times before. It wasn’t far off from his bedroom voice. I batted away the thought of the hero naked in bed.

Accepting his challenge, she lifted from the ground and sped toward him. It happened quickly. The tearing of the car door, hurling it at Wraith. Her tendrils of darkness caught it and heaved it to the side. I don’t know if it was intentional, but the door now sped toward me and Vincent. At the last moment, a blast of light struck the shard of metal. Redirecting the projectile, Sebastian sent it smashing through the window of Vincent’s building.

It was black and white fists pummeling the other. Every time the claws of her shadows clutched his limbs, he flared a bright white until they retreated. I crawled to my knees when a blast of light hammered against Wraith. She landed only a few feet away, a human arm exposed from the liquid black.

“He’s winning,” I whispered.

The darkness crept down her arm until she returned to a living shadow. She jumped to her feet and raised her hand in the air as it transformed into a long, slender blade. I guess if she couldn’t stop Sebastian, she’d settle on impaling me and Vincent.

“Don’t let her kill me,” Vincent whined.

He shoved me forward, using me as a human shield. Did he realize it was a former employee trying to save him, or did he not care who died? I knew he was a snake, but—

Wraith brought her arm down. I clenched my eyes, waiting. A second passed before I stole a peek, certain she was dragging out my agony. A steady stream of light from Sebastian’s chest pummeled her, pushing her out of striking distance. The shadows she wore like armor peeled back, revealing human flesh underneath.

“Kill her!” Vincent yelled. I turned and shoved the man, returning the favor. He tripped over his feet, landing on his tailbone with a sharp hiss.

The light show vanished with Wraith on her knees, struggling to maintain her cloak of shadows. Sebastian had nearly turned her, but the black clung to her face and continued down the left side of her body. Her chest was exposed, natural and human. Hanging between her breasts was a green pendant, the only article of clothing the supervillain appeared to be wearing.

“This isn’t over!” she screamed.

She shot straight up, soaring alongside the high-rise. By the time she reached the top, I turned my attention to Sebastian, or I would have. In true superhero fashion, he had blinked out of sight, vanishing into thin air.

“A lot of good you did,” Vincent spat.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I spun around, fingers drawn tight, prepared to slug the man. While he was wailing like a damsel in distress, I had nearly gotten myself cleaved in half. He’d been more than willing to let me die so he could get one more scream in.

I froze. It started in my gut, a rumble that quickly grew until I was lost in a belly laugh. The sight of Vincent, a man who considered himself untouchable, drenched in his own piss, was exactly the gift from Heaven I needed.

He glanced down, cursing as I continued pointing and laughing. I walked away, crossing the street as citizens returned to their vehicles. One man stood at his doorless car, scratching his head. Thankfully, insurance companies in Vanguard City were well accustomed to the damages caused by the city’s defenders.

“What the hell?” A pile of clothes lay crumpled on the sidewalk in front of Sebastian’s building. I nonchalantly picked it up, scanning the streets for where he might have run off to. Somewhere in the city, there was a naked bear, waiting for his boxer-briefs to be delivered.

Unless he withheld his ability to fly, he’d have to duck somewhere and hide. The alley. I shuffled along the sidewalk, eyeing each person as I passed. It was shocking how the people of this city returned to their business, as if they hadn’t almost been destroyed by a woman with evil intent.

I stepped off the sidewalk into the alley used by trash trucks to pick up the occupant’s refuse. I gave a few smaller trashcans a kick, uncertain if they were big enough to hide a grown man. It wasn’t until I heard a hiss that I spun about to see a dumpster.

Sebastian leaned out, showing his displeasure. Next training session, we’d look at better ways to make a grand exit and not need to hide in the alley.

I ran to him, about to thrust the pile of clothes in his hands, when I paused.

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