Chapter 21

I checked my phone.Nothing.

"I've turned into a desperate man-child." After his vanishing act, I texted Won-Ho. No reply. I even reduced myself to making an actual phone call. I tried not to take his avoidance personally, but after two days, I had grown worried. Something had spooked him.

If I couldn't get the information from him, I'd resort to the only other person who might know the answer. I thought I was done with Carmen LaToya, but somehow, she remained in my orbit. I didn't care about her plans as long as they didn't interfere with my life. Unfortunately for her, Won-Ho was part of my life.

I pushed away from my desk. Sitting here, staring at reports, accomplished nothing. Geoff had long since gone home, and the office was empty. I stayed, hoping Carmen would show her face. She had achieved her goal of obtaining powers. It probably made her too important to be bothered with little ol' me.

Spinning about, I stood at the window. At night, the city lit up. Unable to see the streets below, Vanguard appeared calm, as if it were wrapping itself in a blanket and settling in for the night. Superheroes peppered the sky, flying back and forth, protecting the city. If they achieved their goal, people would wake up with no knowledge of the nasty things that lurked in the shadows.

"Ironic." Crooks lurked in the darkest alleys. I, however, commanded their very shadows to do my bidding. It was only a matter of time before I slipped and the city's so-called champions turned their attention to me. I kept a low… lowish profile. Word would spread, and then we'd return to the same situation that had landed me in Cold Iron.

I wondered if Won-Ho would represent me at my trial? Those with abilities rarely saw the inside of the courtroom. Another gross abuse of executive power by law enforcement. I'd be lucky to wind up in Cold Iron again. If they were smart, they'd stage a freak accident, concluding with my battered corpse.

I glanced over my shoulder at my cell phone. I didn't want to be overbearing, especially with the recent advancement of our relationship. He was a big boy with enough power to take care of himself. My brain rationalized it, but my heart… I scoffed at the thought. It didn't lessen the desire to see him and make sure he was okay.

When I exhaled, I watched a plume of white breath appear. "Well, that's odd." The temperature had dropped. Tiny pops and cracking filled my office as frost spread across the windows. It appeared my invitation had been accepted.

"I'm surprised you showed."

A flurry of snow appeared in the center of my office. As it pulled itself together, I could see the faint outline of Carmen. In a bluster of icy wind, she stepped forward. Did her ability to teleport connect to the frost? Or had she manifested multiple powers now, working in tandem? Neither of these abilities was present during her fight with the Defenders.

"Why? We're old acquaintances."

"I believe the kids use the term frenemies."

"You wound me, Damien." Carmen sauntered forward. There was no longer a need to inspect her body for weapons. We had moved far past that. Now that she had abilities, she had become a weapon. If she thought it intimidating, she'd be disappointed. It did, however, mean I needed to remain on guard.

"It seems it'd take a little more than usual to wound you."

"Oh, this?" Holding up her hand, the glow turned bright enough that I shielded my eyes. "They're nothing fancy. Just a few B-rate powers I've acquired."

She downplayed her successes. The game had begun with a coy statement. Did Carmen want me to understand her abilities? Or did she want to stay mysterious? I had never met somebody as calculating as her. From this point forward, every statement consisted of moving a piece across the chess board.

"Even enough B-rate powers can make for a dangerous adversary."

She stepped closer. The desk between us weighed several hundred pounds, but I suspected she'd throw it across the room as if it were a paperweight.

"How does it work?" She'd either answer or?—

"Drinking their blood." I must have grimaced. She laughed, and I realized she knocked a piece off the board. "Nothing so gruesome. The weak only require prolonged touch. It's the more impressive powers that elude me… for now."

Honesty? I recognized the setup. Carmen offered just enough intel to keep me curious. Her pawns were being moved into place to take a knight. She had me on the defense, and until I understood her goals, I couldn't escape.

"And where do I fall?"

Her back straightened as she reached both hands forward. A swirl of golden dust poured from her palms, wrapping about me. With her eyes closed, I held firm, refusing to flinch. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"Powerful." The glow vanished as she leaned against my desk. "Which brings us to the reason I answered." If she wanted my powers, she'd have struck before making herself known. There was no honor in a fight. That's something the heroes always got wrong. Only fight battles you can win, and win at any cost. Even if it meant… checkmate.

"You need an ally."

Now, it was she who sneered. "Until I can acquire more impressive abilities…"

I shook my head. There was no way I'd walk down that path, not when I stood to lose my empire. I hadn't reformed, but as Won-Ho put it, I learned to balance my ambitions. With the number of deaths she planned, no amount of helping the community would prevent my speedy trip to hell.

"I have other obligations."

"Even if I offered my services to stop Sentinel?"

Her pieces had been positioned to take my king. I'm sure it came with the understanding she'd get his powers before killing him. It'd be a fair trade for her help. I turned to the window as I mulled it over. I knew my answer the moment she asked, but I wanted to dangle the possibility in front of her.

"Seeing him suffer would be satisfying."

"The rest of the Deviants as well."

Carmen overplayed her hand. Sweetening the deal meant she hadn't been able to obtain the powers she needed. Her plan found a hurdle she had yet to leap. She needed muscle while she sorted herself out. Her abilities might be impressive, but Carmen was nothing more than a neophyte.

"No."

"Damien Vex backing down from a challenge?"

I chuckled. Carmen must be desperate if she thought appealing to my ego would work. Doc would be impressed with my resolve. If I wanted Sentinel dead, it'd be my hand and mine alone. There was no sense of victory if I needed assistance.

"Carmen." I didn't turn to address her. "I want no part of your mischief. Appealing to my ego won't get you anywhere."

"Then let me appeal to that rotted organ you call a heart."

I watched her reflection in the window. She leaned over my desk, slamming her hands down. The wood cracked. I rather liked that desk. Carmen set aside the subtle game of chess. She had lost control. It'd turn to threats. My heart, of all things? I wanted to scoff and dismiss the conversation.

"You versus the heroes of Vanguard? It's not a fight you'll win."

"Prime thought the same thing."

The game hadn't ended. Except now it wasn't the pawns she moved. If it came down to a fight between the king and queen, she had me at a disadvantage.

I summoned the shadows. They wrapped around my body, ready to do my bidding. I slaughtered Hurdler for touching him. She'd pray I showed her the same mercy.

"If you've touched Won?—"

"You'll kill me? Stop it with the scripted dialogue."

"I'll ensure you stay on the verge of death."

"Easier to consider my offer."

With the thrust of a hand, the shadows shot out. She vanished in a puff of snow. The shadows tore through the doors to my office, leaving gaping holes in their wake. She reappeared at my side.

"My offer has an expiration."

The shadows wrapped around her, but with a God damned sprinkle of snow, she disappeared. I roared. If she harmed Won-Ho, I'd spend my days inventing new ways to make her scream. Raising my hands, the shadows wrapped around my desk. With a jerk, the wood cracked in half, splitting it down the middle.

"Carmen LaToya, you're dead."

Up and down, I tried to calm the heaving of my chest. She thought my feelings for Won-Ho could be manipulated. That'd I'd buckle and do her bidding. Carmen LaToya had been partially right. She got her reaction, but my affection for Won-Ho only fueled a mounting rage. For the moment, she cornered the king, but she underestimated my penchant for revenge.

"This is fucking war."