Hero's Revenge (Keepers of Justice, Book 2)
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Authors: Dee J. Stone
Hero’s Revenge
By
Dee J. Stone
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to real life, movies, television, games, or books is entirely coincidental and was not intended by the author.
by Dee J. Stone:
Keepers of Justice Series
:
No Ordinary Hero (Keepers of Justice, Book 1)
Hero’s Revenge (Keepers of Justice, Book 2)
Y
oung Adult Romance:
Young Adult Paranormal:
Middle Grade:
Hero’s Revenge
Table of Contents
Revenge. It’s constantly on my mind.
Dressed in my black uniform and mask, I slip out of my room and take an elevator to the
lobby of the League mansion.
I’m after blood.
X,
my best friend Kale says in my head
.
Don’t do this.
There’s no
hiding anything from him. Not since he became a telepath four months ago.
I try to block him out by thinking of random things, but it’s hard to stop my brain from wandering to that night. It’s all I think about.
I won’t forgive myself or move on. I should be starting to get over it. It was an accident, not my fault. No one blames me, but I blame myself. It’s because of the eyes I’ve got. They’re so sharp they can see through everything and long distances. They are more of a curse than a blessing. Sure I’ve managed to save lives with them, but they’ve also betrayed me.
The elevator doors open. I step out and head for the back exit. Kale’s at the door. “Don’t do this
, please,” he repeats, his eyes pleading.
“I need to.”
I push past him and open the door. He sighs. I don’t need to be a telepath to know what he’s thinking. He’s worried, and I hate to be the cause. But I can’t help this feeling that’s consuming me.
We’re not the same,
Kale and I. Not since our friend Stretch’s murder. He spends most of his time with his girlfriend, Lindsay, while I stay alone in my room, or out hunting the ShadowBlades. They’re my superhero league’s sworn enemy.
They are
also the ones responsible for Stretch’s death.
Kale doesn’t utter another word. I slam the door after me and
barge into the summer heat. It’s three in the afternoon. Practice was scheduled for one PM. Today wasn’t my first absence. School’s out for the summer, but we still have training every day. None of the other kids miss me. Except for Kale. The guy doesn’t get it. Doesn’t get me. He’s got his girl, his parents. He’s doing okay. He’s slowly moving on and is farther along in his recovery than I am. All I do is stare at the ceiling every night, wondering, hoping, blaming. I fight with myself. Replay each detail over and over, and think of the different outcomes of that night had I protected Stretch. Like I should have.
Each time, it ends the same way. And each time, I want to punch myself to death.
I steal a car from the garage and drive out of upstate New York toward Manhattan. I’m not headed anywhere specific, but villains always hang around at this hour. Vlayne, leader of the ShadowBlades, wouldn’t be outside, but her minions must be. I haven’t come across any yet—I’ve only been doing this for a month and a half—but I know I’m going to run into them at some point.
I’m after answers—where she escaped to, what is she planning.
So far I haven’t had any luck.
After driving for a few hours, I enter
Manhattan. Scanning my surroundings, I use my power to look through the non-residential buildings. I catch sight of three people dressed in costumes. They’re in an abandoned building less than a mile away. With my eyes, I see them clearly. A civilian is trapped in there with them. She’s pressed against the wall, her sleeves and pants held in place by daggers. Her lips quiver as terror enters her eyes. Blood drips from her body. The biggest guy is producing the daggers from his fingers while the other two laugh and taunt the woman.
Speeding up toward their location
, I do a quick search for a sign of the ShadowBlade logo tattooed onto their skins. A curved silver blade cutting through the center of a black V. But I don’t see a thing. The guy with the daggers, who looks to be a few years older than me, has skeletons all over his body. But not the logo.
The woman trembles and her mouth opens
with shouts I can’t hear. It makes me drive faster. I reach the location within minutes. As I rush inside, I see the villain ready to throw his next dagger at the woman’s head.
“Hey!” I shout.
All three of them whirl around. The dagger guy smiles evilly and turns back to the civilian, ready to throw his dart. Hell no. I leap on him and knock him to the ground. Punch his face.
The other two jump at me, but I’m too quick and ram my fists into them. They shove me to the floor, and I use my legs to kick. They crash to the ground.
I run to the woman and am about to ask her if she’s okay when I feel a sharp pain in my left shin. I look at it. A dagger is lodged inside. Clenching my teeth, I pull it out. Blood gushes down my leg.
The
dagger guy is up and marching toward me, his face red with anger, his fingers ready to shoot more daggers.
One villain gets to his feet and joins him. The last one is unconscious on the ground. The guy uses his daggers while the other slams his fists to counter me. I feel my eyes swell, my back cut open, more blood pouring down.
Grunting, I hop to the right and left to avoid the
daggers. I quickly pick a few up from the ground and, one by one, launch them at the guys, managing to strike them in the legs. They fall to the ground. I bend down toward the dagger guy. Grip his collar. His mask is nearly off his face. I pull it off and realize I don’t know him. Shaking him, I say, “Are you with the ShadowBlades?”
His eyes and body too weak, all he does is moan. I shake him harder. “
Answer me or I’ll kill you!” Another shake. His eyes open a bit.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He lau
ghs like he’s high and his head thumps to the ground. He’s not dead.
I shift over to the
second and third villains and do the same. They claim to have no clue who Vlayne or the Blades are. I push their collars aside to inspect their necks. No logo.
I stumble
to help the woman, who’s shouting hysterically. I was too preoccupied with interrogating those three that I didn’t realize how badly I’m hurt. I’m pretty sure my ribs are broken, back and left leg are sliced. Blood gushes into my right eye and I can barely see through it.
I don’t make it to the woman.
***
I open my eyes and find myself in the hospital of the League mansion. Samson and Cindy, Kale’s parents and leaders of the Keepers of Justice, are staring at me with concern. I’m completely healed, thanks to Healer, the nurse. If she catches someone in time, she can cure him completely. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with Stretch. Lightning killed him effortlessly.
I push the covers off the hospital bed to go to my room. Samson places a hand on my shoulder.
“We’ve talked about this.” His eyes have no hint of anger. “I thought we decided that you’d stop doing this.”
I cross my arms over my chest
, avoiding him. I don’t want to see the worry on his face. It’ll make me change my mind. Last week, he had a long talk with me and I promised I’d stop. I didn’t mean it, though. I
can’t
stop.
“
I’m glad you were there at the right time and were able to save the woman,” he continues. “But you should have called for backup, Ray. If you keep doing this…” He shakes his head.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” Cindy
finishes.
I look at her.
“Is the woman okay?”
She nods. I sigh in relief.
“Promise us,” Cindy says, patting and rubbing circles on my arm. “Promise us you’ll put an end to this.”
“We’ll find Vlayne,” Samson says. “It’s just a matter of time. We
will
find her.”
My arms tighten across my chest. “I’m not going to sit all day doing nothing
. It’s been four months and she hasn’t made an appearance.”
“These thi
ngs take time. Trust me on this.”
I
won’t wait. With each passing second, she only gets stronger.
“I think it may be a good idea to see Dr. Evans
,” Samson says.
I shake my head, my gaze on the floor.
“He’s helped Kale, Lindsay, and many others. He can help you, too.”
“No.”
“You’re angry, hurt, confused,” Cindy says. “You’re risking your life searching for Vlayne.”
After
Stretch died, Samson suggested I visit the shrink. He promised he’d help. Maybe he is helping Kale and everyone else, but unlike them, I can handle this on my own. I’m doing fine. The shrink would do nothing for me.
“
We highly recommend it.”
I fist m
y hands. I don’t want to go off on them. They’re just trying to help, I know that. But honestly, the only way to help is by leaving me be. By letting me figure this out on my own.
“I’m fine,” I tell
them. “I don’t need anyone worrying about me.”
They stare
at me like they want to say something. But I get to my feet and leave.
They’re right to worry
. I appreciate that they care about me and saved my life. But I can’t be passive about this. Stretch’s death needs to be avenged.
Kale i
s sitting on my bed when I enter my room. He stands. “Hey. You okay?”
I nod.
He shifts from one foot to the other. Runs his hand through his blonde hair. “Wanna try that new game?”
No
. I want to lie in bed. To not have the memories haunt me the way they always do. But seeing the eager expression on Kale’s face causes me to say, “Yeah.”
He smiles a little. “Cool. Meet you in the Game Room?”
“I’ll be there.”
And he’s gone. I head for the bathroom across the hall. There are three
on the boys’ floor. The girls have six.
In
side, I splash water onto my face and work my fingers through my black hair. It’s longer than it’s ever been. Touches my shoulders. I guess I’m too lazy to bother with it.
Back in my room, I
peel off my uniform and throw on a black T-shirt and jeans. Not sure if they’re clean. The room is a mess, like I had a party here. Food crumbs and spilled drinks are evident on the carpet. The League housekeeper doesn’t clean up after me anymore.
The mess doesn’t bother me. It seems petty to worry about pointless things like a clean room. I know about bacteria and mold and all that, but honestly, I don’t give a damn. If I had a roommate, I’d take better care of my room. Maybe.
My old roommate, Speed, couldn’t take it and moved to another room two months ago. A few new recruits spent a night or two in here and fled.
On my way to the Game Room, I pass many kids loitering in the halls and activity rooms.
Over the past few months, Samson has been making changes. He recruited more kids, improved the technology, like enhanced security systems. He doesn’t like to take chances, not after what happened in February when the ShadowBlades planned to assassinate him and take down the League. I’m not entirely sure how the security works, but there are invisible beams that detect people and abilities and it’s programed to only allow members of the League on the premises.
Samson also installed
cameras and keypads on our doors that require ID. I need to press my finger in order to gain access to my room and the important rooms in the mansion.
I enter the Game Room and sit near Kale on the couch. His girlfriend, Lindsay, is on his right, playing Xbox with him. It used to be the three of us guys, the three badass musketeers
, as Kale named us. Not anymore. I can’t stand that Stretch isn’t here. Makes my stomach want to toss up my lunch, not that I had any.
Kale’s fingers pound
on the controller. “Check this out. She’s owning me.”
Lindsay giggles. I
don’t remember what it feels like to laugh. I haven’t done so in a while. “You’re easy.” She pokes Kale with her elbow. He laughs and shoves her with his shoulder. They push each other while talking smack as their guys fight.
I should have stayed in
my room. This really isn’t my scene. When I get to my feet, Kale says, “Don’t leave, X.”
Lindsay holds out the controller. “
Here. I was just keeping it warm for you.”
“It’s okay
. I’m not really in the mood.”
“You sure?” Kale asks, narrowing his blue eyes, read
ing me.
I’m sure. But I take the controller because Kale wants to play this game with me. Even though it hurts, even though it reminds me of the fun times, I play because Kale is my friend.
He smiles sadly.
Before Lindsay leaves, she gives Kale a small kiss on his lips. He grins
up at her and pulls her closer.
“Sorry, man,” Kale says once Lindsay’s gone. I don’t have to ask what he’s sorry about. He read my mind, he knows what I was thinking. The same thing I think about each time I
see those two make out or hold hands or cuddle. A girl. Not a specific one, since there is no girl in the picture. But
a
girl. A potential girlfriend.
I don’t
respond, and we play in silence. No talking smack. We don’t have much to say to each other anymore. Not like it used to be, when Stretch and I would…
That’s how it was a few months ago. Kale was spending time with Lindsay and preventing the world from coming to an end. Stretch and I hadn’t been close. But with Kale busy,
we spent most of our hours here in the Game Room, playing like this. And out of the Game Room, too. That tends to happen when the third friend is away. The other two get closer. I told him things I didn’t tell anyone else, not even Kale. I’m sure Kale knows everything now, though.
He clears his throat. Sometimes I forget my mind is an open book to him
. “There’s a new recruit coming tomorrow,” he says.
This is how it’s been lately. It’s too painful to talk about what happened in February, so we update each other with news going around the mansion.
My gaze travels up, and the ceilings dissolve as I use my eyes to peer into the Conference Room. Samson, Cindy, and the Elite members are seated around the table. Because I can see long distances, I can read their lips. I’ve been doing that since I got my x-ray vision at age five. From what I understand, this new recruit is a tough one.
“Yeah, she is,” Kale says
, shifting in his seat. My eyes get black when I use my power, and even though he’s seen it countless times, it still freaks him out. “My dad didn’t tell me much,” he continues. “Only that she’s had a hard life.”
Like many others here.
Not Kale, though. He was born in the League Tower, has it good. Even when he was the only kid here without a power, he wasn’t discriminated against. Everyone loves Kale, not because he’s the leaders’ son. I don’t resent him for that. I’m glad he hasn’t had it like the rest of us. He’s not screwed up like I am.
“You’re not screwed up, X.”
Kale and Stretch are the reason I was doing okay here, getting better. Since the death, it feels like I’m back to where I started two and a half years ago, minus the drugs since it’s against the rules here.
Sometimes I just want to
go back to my home in the sewers. At least there I wouldn’t be reminded of everything.
Kale
turns to me. “I miss him too, you know. I look at his picture every day and talk to him every day.
Don’t leave the Tower.”
My hands tighten on the controller. “I wish you’d quit reading my thoughts.”
He bites his lower lip. “Sorry. I’m just…I’m worried about you, man.”
I know he worries. Wish he wouldn’t.
I’m fine.
I’m not completely angry
that he invades my mind. Sometimes I’m glad he knows what I’m thinking because it makes things easier.
He’s
learning to adjust to his telepathy. Most of us were born with our abilities or received them at a young age. But for Kale who got it at fourteen, it’s difficult. Four months ago, Lindsay was about to blow up the planet. She had energy inside that was building and building. Kale was sent to stop her. He did, and as she was near explosion, she emitted her energy onto him, causing him to have an ability. Now she still has that energy inside her, but she’s learning to control it.
Kale’s
learning to use his telepathy too, how to control it, trust it, understand it. I shouldn’t be too hard on him for invading my mind. Except right now, I need to be alone.
“Going to my room.”
“X…”
Play with Lindsay
, I tell him in my head.
Don’t let me down your mood
.
I don’t
do this on purpose. Just can’t deal. Maybe I’m jealous of him because he’s got a mom, a dad, a girlfriend, and friends here. I don’t connect well with the other kids. Never have.
As I’m about to get up, Kale says,
I want you to stop hunting
.
I look at him.
His gaze is pasted on me. Eyes are sad.
You almost died tonight. I don’t…I don’t want to lose my other best friend.
I don’t say anything
because I don’t know what to say. I hate that I’m hurting him like this.
Then stop
, he says.
I can’
t
.
Not until she’s dead
.
Then let me
come with you
the next time you hunt
.
No.
He’s got a family and friends. He has Lindsay. I can’t let him risk his life. He has too much to live for.
And you don’t
?
I shut my eyes.
Please, Kale.
I won’t let you go alone. You need someone to cover for you.
I don’t want you to die, man! Don’t you get that?
I do get that
. But I won’t let you risk your life.
“
And I won’t let you risk yours!”
He
shouts a bit too loudly. All the kids in the Game Room stop what they’re doing and stare at us. The Elemental Triplets—Air, H
2
O, and Earth Goddess—who are playing a dancing game, start complaining that we caused them to lose.
Kale ignores them, his eyes still glued
to mine.
I don’t care what you say. I’m coming with you the next time.
I grit my teeth.
Don’t shut me out. Do you know what it’s been like for me these past few months? You’re here, but you’re not really here. I miss you, man.
I didn’t know that. I thought he was busy with Lindsay. I didn’t realize, but I miss him, too.
I’m sorry
, I say.
It’s okay. I get it. But let’s hunt together, okay?
We’ll make an awesome team
.
Look out for each other and stuff.
He’ll bug me until I give in. That’s Kale.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe having a partner is a good idea. I do want to hang out with him again.
Sorry for the way I’ve been treating you
, I say.
It’s okay.
Um…
His gaze flicks to mine for a second before dropping to the floor.
Have you…you know, thought about getting back into…?
His voice trails off as he looks at me.
Have I thought about doing drugs again?
Yeah
. His eyes are back on the floor. Then they slowly move to me.
I know when things get tough it’s easy to…you know. Get back into it.
I’ve thought about it. Hell, it’d definitely help me cope. But no. I’ve accomplished so much these past two and a half years. Bec
ame a better person. I can’t screw myself up again, no matter how hard things are now.
No
, I say.
Kale smile
s a little.
I’m glad.
“
I want the Xbox,” a voice says from behind us. Furball, a girl with short, red hair who can shift into feline animals. It’s hard to be comfortable around her because she’s the girl Stretch was in love with, and seeing her, having to talk to her, brings me back to all those times Stretch tried to make a move on her.
“We’re not done,” Kale says.
“You’ve had it forever. Let others play.”
Kale
motions toward the other game consoles occupied by kids. “Grab another one. X just got here and I want to play with him.”
Furball groans
and stomps away to her best friends, the triplets. She took Stretch’s death really hard. It crushed her, probably almost as hard as it messed up Kale and me. I try not to get too annoyed with her because I get what she’s going through.
Kale and I
play for the rest of the day, not talking much. Kale doesn’t broach the hunting-for-Vlayne topic again, which must mean he thinks he’s convinced me.
I’m not so sure.
I won’t forgive myself if something were to happen to him.