The Interview RPG

She sat down in a cool blue dress that was just hot enough for her supermodel good looks, but also tame enough for a Senator. Across from her Diane Sawyer got her final makeup touched up before starting. "Madam Sentor it's nice to see you again. We will start with a couple pretty general questions, this is more of a get to know you piece than a hard hitting report.....let's just have fun!" The lights came on and the boom mic floated over head. Mani made herself comfortable and was pretty willing to talk about anything and everything. "So Senator Mani Anderson, Lady Mani as some have called you, what's it like on the home front, what's it like when you aren't in Washington?"

"People always want to know what is it like making key decisions, walking with the President, passing bills and working on Capitol Hill. I'm glad you asked about my homelife. It is much more interesting than people think. I a very handsome husband of 10 years. Most people know him from the elite taskforce known as the ICE Dragons. They did a lot of good during his run with that group."

Diane inturpted, "Lady, if I may call you that, some have said that your husband is not the typical political husband. He is very heavilied tattooed and some even speculate that he is a Meta-human"

Mani continued. "Well let me clear the air on those issues very quickly. Yes he is very 'tattooed' as you said. He has been in the military for as long as I can remember, and that just comes with the territory. As far as him being a Meta-human..... I won't say yes or not to that, because they are a protected group. I will never say if someone, even if I am a meta. That would be allowing hate speak and I don't condon that in anyway."

Diane smiled at the answer, "Well said, now back to your home life." Mani continued smiling into the camera. "I have two darling little children. Olivia my daughter is two years old and the most beautiful girl in the world. Nathan is my 4 year old son, he has an eye condition were he has to wear a special contacts, but he is the brightest little boy you'd ever meet."

Smiling back into her camera Diane asked, "So is the day in the life of Lady Mani, senator from Texas, wife to a elite black ops agent, mother of two look like?'

Mani smiled back. "We live a life just like anyone else........"

2:34 AM - Wolf Pack's North American HQ

8:00 AM - Wolf Pack's North American HQ

11:00 AM - Wolf Pack's North American HQ

Some Unknown Period of Time Later - Wolf Pack's North American HQ

Greystoke Manor

 " We live a life just like anyone else........" 

The words of the elegantly dressed woman sounded from the speakers and slowly settled on the audience infront of the big flat screen TV. If it had not been for one detail it could have been every American family sitting there. A woman named Sarah in her mid 50s, mildly attractive with wild brown locks tamed in a simple tony pail and her husband Hank, a set man in the end of his 50s with a bald head and conservative but comfortable home clothes. Like a mirror the gold-framed glasses on the man’s nose reflected the last dying images on the screen as he turned off the TV with his general purpose remote control. From outside the light of street lamps of the secure refuge of suburbia cast a serene light on empty bowls wherein at the start of the evening snacks had resided testifying of a normal Saturday TV evening. With proud love the elderly couple looked at their niece.

She, Ruby Theodora Glassmann normally known under the nom de guerre Risky, was the little detail that disturbed the impression of a Grant Wood picture. Sitting still seemed to be an impossible task for her, even now that she was with what little remained of her family she appeared itchy her deep blue eyes darting from side to side. Her fingers played piano on the couch rest and the position of her feet changed every few minutes. Hank and Sarah knew how hard it was for an adrenaline junky like her niece to sit still for so long but nevertheless it was hard for them to hide their amusement.

Moments like this were precious to them, they had no children of their own and being such a busy military government employee like Risky meant they did not see their only living relative who was like a child of their own very often. Having her at their house for a homely evening like this one was a rarity they enjoyed a lot. And when the program had promised to air an interview with lady Mani who Risky was indirectly working with they had used the opportunity to invite her to watch said interview.

Smilingly Sarah started to collect the dishes with the snack while Hank opened the veranda door to relish the taste of his wooden pipe at the end of another wonderful day. Instantly sensing an opportunity to move again Risky darted up from the couch to lend her aunt a helping hand. It did not need more than one turn and the pretzel sticks, chips and pretzels resided in the dumpster as the red dot of Hank’s pipe lighted up outside.

Although the Rothsteins had had a dishwasher for years if not decade a nice little ritual had snuck its way into Risky’s rare visit to their house that the two women would wash the dishes together and have a little talk. Sarah was the first to speak up.

“This Lady Mani is a beautiful woman. You work with her, Ruby, right?”

“Not so much with her as with her husband but yeah.”

“She seems so nice. And she’s always so well dressed. You should really try that style, too. It would suit you, I’m sure.”

A small laugh pearled over Risky’s ruby red lips. “Hahaha, you’ll never give up, will you? I don’t swing that way. Just remember what I did with the dress I was forced to wear at my first day at school. You were so traumatized you never bought me another one. Nah, don’t think me in a dress will ever happen. But I can tell you in real life she is even nicer than she appears on screen”

For a moment they just stood next to each other giggling and brushing dishes. The pure thought of Risky in something different than worn blue jeans or some combat gear was just too ridiculous. The cheerful mood lasted for a few more moments before Sarah decided to inquire her niece about a more critical topic.

“Say, what about that nice guy you brought here? Joe? Never heard of him again. Are you not seeing him anymore?”

And then there was silence. Even the scratching sound of the scrubs on porcelain had stopped. With hanging head Risky looked into the sink where bubbly white foam covered the soapy water. A critical topic, yes, but one she had been evading for some time now. Especially when it came to her family. She had brought Lst Paladin here in his human guise and Hank and Sarah had instantly loved him. A good looking doctor, sensitive and polite, how could they have not? But there was a simple problem. Breathing in deeply Risky prepared to break her aunt’s heart.

“N… no. No, we’re not seeing each other anymore. He does not call anymore and I’ve given up on calling him because I never reach him on the phone. This has been this way for almost three months now and frankly I’m sick of it. I’ve never felt that way and I could have continued my life contently if I never had.”

Risky was lost in her own thoughts as the disappointment and the frustration of the recent months rose in her again like an angry tide. She clenched her hands and the claws in her right arm were short of popping out as she pressed the sponge so hard that all fluid ran out of it. It was almost a strange, relieving feeling to feel Sarah’s hand on her own, thankfully the natural left one, and look into those loving blue eyes of her aunt.

“Ruby… it’s okay…”

“No, Sarah, it’s not. I should not feel that way. Before I would have lived on and simply continue like I always did. But now I am feeling guilty. You know, a month ago I… had something with a colleague from work. Nothing serious, a one night thing and it was done. But although Joe obviously has no interest in me anymore I feel like cheating on him because it’s not officially over. I cheated on men, many men, before and NEVER had any problems with that. I did it and blamed it on the men. Not this time. And now I am getting to know another guy, a guy who is even more perfect, who has been a friend to me from the start and would never ever let me down, who could not even if he tried. He’s nice, caring, just too good to believe on so many levels but I keep on pushing him away because I feel so bad. He has been hurt so bad in the past and I just keep on hurting him even more because I am not ready. Even worse. He… likes me so much he blames everything on himself. What is wrong with me, Sarah? What is so %&$%§ wrong with me?”

As she spoke slowly the tears, witnesses of months of suppressed emotions forced their way up to her eyes. Like in bullet time the first dropped to the ground where it exploded in a tiny water burst. All this had been too much for her lately. Where her life and love had been easy and uncomplicated in the past it was a mess now and as Lady Luck Risky was absolutely not used to that. With a sob the confused mercenary thrust herself in her last close relative’s arms. Compassionately Sarah stroked Risky’s raven hair that was so much like her sister’s. She did not say a thing because she sensed it was not what the usually strong woman needed now. She just needed a firm shoulder to weep, to recollect herself and build up that rough façade again that she showed to the outside and that she also needed for herself, to lie to herself and protect herself from harm.

Water poured down over his body, as the white suds from his axe body wash turned into a pink hue, before the water ran it down the drain. He stayed in the shower until the voices went away one at a time. The screams and the grunts washed down with the blood from his hands. Turning the water hotter his big back was massaged by the jet stream. It wasn't until he felt her hand on his chest did he realize that he was asleep standing there. "You have room for one more?"  Standing at the edge of the shower with her blond hair up off her shoulders was a woman that would take any man's breath away. Wrapped in a white towel she slowly stepped into the water, letting the towel fall and revealing her pale skin. He couldn't help smile he picked her up and she giggled in his ear. His dark hands on her butt as he held her told the story of their relationship. They stayed in the shower until the water ran cold, and then a little more.
Once again she wrapped herself in the crisp white towel and strutted as she walked back into the bed room, slowly bending over to pick up her clothes off the ground, knowing her husband was watching. "You need to get to sleep, you're waking up with the children in the morning." She said putting on her favorite night shirt. Blackwater Ops on the front was an intentional jab at her husband, who reguarded them as a "bunch of pussies". Slipping into bed Hawk looked at the clock knowing it would be an early morning for him, "2am .....god I've got to get a new job." She laughed at the thought. "You could always become a senator." This time he was the one laughing. "I'd have to buy another tie then"

"Daddy....I want breakfast." She tugged on his beard as she said the words over and over. "Daddy....I want breakfast" With a huff and the crack of his ankles Hawk was out of bed. Stumbling down the hallway and into the kitchen the Mani was waiting for him with a smile and a plate of bacon and eggs. "She tricked ya didn't she?"  Looking at the clock on the mantel that read noon Hawk shook his head. "I guess she did." He picked up his little actress and spun her around. About that time Nathan walked into the room wearing his spider-man t-shirt and was followed closely by Sam their lab. "Hey dad. Can we go to the zoo?" It was his favorite place to go, especially with his dad.

The Fort Worth Zoo
"Um excuse me sir but please don't lean over the rail like that." a little zookeeper spoke up as Hawk held Nathan very close to the tiger cage. Hawk looked at the young man with his eyes still white as he communicated with the tiger. "Yeah sir no problem. Oh by the way the cat's food has spoiled." The zookeeper rolled his eyes as he walked away. Hawk let Nathan down and he spoke to the tiger. Nathan loved to watch the tiger react to his father's commands. His eyes of fire danced as the cat stood up on his hind legs and purred. "Thanks dad"

There was a buzz on his hip and Nathan's eyes lit up. "Is that Hunter or Risky?! Answer it dad it could be important." Looking at his phone Hawk saw it was a green level call (personal) from Hunter, he hit ignore and took Nathan over to the elephants. 

St. Adalbert’s Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois

Darkness. It permeated the ground of the cemetery, save for that which emanated from track lighting in key places, to the faint light that came from the city streetlights. And the light which surrounded him as he alighted in the cemetery grounds. He would know exactly where to go – as if he could ever forget where the last of his family were buried. That memory would forever remain burned into the back of Chris' mind. The day he’d laid his parents... his siblings....to rest.

And a cool – no, not cool, COLD – night it was, could with the rainfall that still came pouring down. It soaked the black trenchcoat that draped his form, through to the suit he wore beneath it. Dampened his hair into an unruly, matted dark brown mess. Standing there before the set of headstones that wait just underfoot, enscribed with the names….

Juliana….Morgan….Arianna….Nathaniel Angelys. In the long and short of it, all of them led such short lives. Lives that but for his own moment of weakness…. A moment where an unconscious usage of that long ago lost power of teleportation made him the lucky survivor. If not for that, he might have shared their fate. Chris would take a short while to tend to the headstones, the multiple light sources giving him just enought light to see to the task at hand. Only to utter the secret thought he held more than once in his life.

“And sometimes, I wish I had…..” The look on his face was… blank. He always felt this way when   visiting his family, even though it had been years since he’d come. Hell, years since he'd set foot in Chicago. Remorseful. Guilty. Angry to some degree. “Or better yet, I should have saved you all. Some son, some brother I was.” He’d hear Ruby’s words in his head right about then….fair to chastising him for the way that he was thinking right now.

"RAAAAH!!! Don't you understand? It's not always your fault. You're not to blame for all the mistakes others make or the miserable status of humanity or the world in general."

And to be honest, it truly was fine advice….fine indeed. The best advie that the one friend he trusted beyond all others. But no matter the advice given, it took believing it. Actually believing that somehow the things that happen to the people he loved most in this world…. Wasn’t a fault he should take up. Wasn't something he should spend the rest of his life having to atone for. For all the guilt he felt though, Chris had nearly forgotten why he’d come. From under the trenchcoat, he drew out the flowers……three for every headstone, the last of which he sat lovingly in front of his mother’s stone. Just before turning about to leave them at his back. In those last halting seconds, he’d cant his head back over shoulder,

“Aint a day goes by I don’t miss the lot of you…..and worked to try and make up somehow for the wrong I feel   is mine. Just hope that wherever you are, you’re at my back. I’ll be back before too long. Till then... know I love you” He wouldn't cry. Lord knew that he'd long since put the want to cry behind him. Or simple forced hiself not to. It simply didn't seem becoming. Instead, he'd give this somewhat jaunty salute/wave.

His task here done….He’d take once more to the skies, steeling himself…….and to face one more night where he played the hero. As much a hero as he could be.    

Viva island:

Present time:

She was lying in the queen size bed, the cotton sheets strewn haphazardly over her body as the alarm clock started shrieking. Its piercing tone broke through her deep sleep and Olivia threw out her arm, swiping the clock off the bedside table as she rolled over onto her stomach and pulled the pillow over her head. Three minutes passed and she had just managed to slip back into that odd half dreaming, half lucid state when the alarm clock started blaring again. It had been knocked off the bedside table, but not turned off. “Oh my God; shut up! I’m trying to sleep in for once in my life and you won’t shut the hell up. Just stop!” All of the sudden a deafening silence came over the room. She had spoken unthinkingly and put too much emphasis on her own words. “Whoops.” Throwing the dark green sheets over the edge of the spacious bed she drew her legs up to her chest and curled into the fetal position, trying to get back to sleep.

Hours Later

The sun was setting outside of her window, its glorious rays staining the sky a myriad of colors. Purples, pinks, reds, oranges; they all blended together, creating a masterful effect on the sky that resembled stained glass. Olivia stood in front of her bed, looking down at the two outfits laid out on it. One was a pair of skinny jeans and a tank top with ruffles down the front, the other was a short and flowing purple sundress. “Why does it have to be so hard to choose? It’s stupid clothes; this shouldn’t be some huge ordeal.” Fashion had never been her thing; she had always dressed in a utilitarian fashion, always ready for a fight and always functional. Olivia had grown up in a war zone; she wasn’t accustomed to the luxury of pretty clothes. Bringing her hand up, she placed it over her eyes and with her other hand pointed at the two outfits laid out on the bed. “Eenie meenie, miney mo; catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Out goes Y-O-U.” Removing her hand from her eyes, Olivia looked down at the bed, somewhat irritated with the choice. “Dress it is, then.”

She stripped her clothes off and tossed them into the hamper in the corner of the room before grabbing the dress off of the bed and stepping into it. Olivia pulled it up her body, reaching an arm behind her and arching her back slightly as she pulled up the zipper. Running her hands down the front of the jersey material she brushed out the wrinkles of the form-fitting dress. It was sculpted to her body, outlining the lean muscle definition and showing off her small curves. Situating the straps over her shoulders, she tucked a reddish-blonde strand of hair behind her ear as she walked into the bathroom that was attached to her bedroom, her bare feet padding across the cold marble floor.

Standing in front of the sink, Olivia reached down and grabbed a bobby pin. Holding it in place between her lips, she reached up and took her long bangs in hand and began braiding them, weaving an intricate French braid to the side of her face. Looking up in the mirror, something caught her eye. As her head tilted up, her eyes met somebody else's in the mirror and her heart stopped mid-beat. “Na…Nathan?” It was her brother’s reflection in the mirror, his appearance that of what he looked like just prior to his world-ending attack. 
 
His dark hair fell forward into his face as his eyes met hers, a sinister smirk crossing his face. “Did you think that I would stay dead forever, Olivia? Did you think that your mind would really perform a feat that your heart was not entirely behind?”

“Stop it!” Her voice cracked with the torment that she was feeling. Was this real? Was he real? Or was it merely a figment of her imagination, some form of PTSD?

“You didn’t end us, Liv. You just moved us somewhere else.” His voice was goading with an undertone of the love that her brother had always exhibited towards her. They had always been as thick as thieves, despite the underlying tension between them.

Meeting his eyes in the mirror, Olivia let a small little whimper escape from between her lips. “I SAID STOP IT!” Pulling her right arm back, she snapped it forward, her fist connecting with the glass mirror. The shards fell down all around the countertop and down into the sink, little slivers of glass going everywhere. Spinning around on her heel, she fully expected to see Nathan standing there behind her, that malicious grin spread across his handsome face. To her complete and utter surprise he wasn’t there. “Oh, thank God. Thank God. Thank God.” Looking down at her fist, she saw the slices left from the glass and the blood trickling across the back of her hand. “Oh, shit.”

Thirty Minutes Later

Olivia Anderson tentatively walked down the main staircase, her hand resting upon the banister as she did so. Her steps were slow and careful so that she didn’t trip herself up due to the high heels that she was so unused to. She looked nothing like herself. She was wearing a tight purple dress and a pair of five-inch black heels, two forms of wear that were completely outside of her normal wardrobe choices. A thin French braid by the side of her face held back her strawberry blonde hair, the rest of it flowing over her shoulders and down her back, reaching the bottom of her shoulder blades.

Walking down the main hallway and towards the front door, she heard some kind of ruckus being made in the kitchen. There was some thumping and giggling and as she figured it out, a blush crept across her cheeks. “If you two are doing what I think you’re doing… can you maybe try and be a little more inconspicuous about it? If the kids find you, they’re going to end up scarred for life. Nobody wants to walk in on their parents doing it.” She called into the kitchen as she continued making her way to the front door, keen on going on her date.

She reached out, placing her hand on the handle of the front door, preparing to open it. She was pushing down on the lever right as his footsteps sounded on the ground, indicating his movement towards her. “Where are you going dressed up like that?” The timbre of his voice reverberated in the room, sending a small chill through her.

Turning around, she met the man who had so quickly become her father face to face. “I’m going on a date.” Olivia had met Light during Wolf Pack’s last mission and some sort of chemistry had been stuck up between the two of them. She wasn’t looking for anything serious and she knew that he wasn’t either, but she did intend to have some fun with him.

“Why do I smell blood?” Hawk’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at her suspiciously. Even in her heels, he still towered over her and looked every bit the impending father figure.

Olivia subconsciously clenched her right fist by her side. “It’s a girl thing.” She had no other way to explain the blood than to blatantly lie to him. The girl wasn’t a fool, she knew that he could tell that she was lying, but she hoped that he would let her get away with it. That hope was futile.

“You’re lying.” He arched an eyebrow inquisitively as he stared her down. Her cheeks were whiter than usual and her demeanor was quieter. She was by no means a talkative girl, but she was not usually so monosyllabic, either.

“You’re right. I am. Lies make the world go round and this isn’t something that you need to be privy to.” Turning on her heel, Olivia walked out the door, refusing to let the anxiety and nerves that were coursing throughout her show as she turned her back. “I’ll be back in a few hours or sometime early in the morning. All depends on how things play out.”

Her husband looked at her with a stern stare. "That is your daughter." He said shaking his head. He turned to say something else to his wife but she was gone. Mani appeared in front of Olivia as she walked out of the Wolf Pack mansion. "Let me talk to you for a second before you go. We all know that you are of age. We all know that you need some space, but you will not disrespect me or your father in our house." Mani could feel Whisper tensing up. "I know you didn't grow up with me in your life, but I"m here now. So listen to your mother." Mani tucked Whisper's reddish blond hair back over her ear. "and I love you" 
 
Mani vanished before Whisper had the chance to reply. Mani knew she made her point. She also knew that Whisper never had the chance to rebel against her parents to talk back to her father and mother. Reappearing back in her Texas home Olivia was just getting ready to go to bed with her Piglet stuffed animal in hand. "Hello love." Mani spoke to her daughter who ran to give her hugs. Mani hugged her tight and spoke to her as she lay her down for bed. "Don't ever grow up little girl." Olivia hugged Piglet tight and whispered back to her mother. "Ok mommy" 

He was in the training room going over and over his routine with a pair of eyes burning a whole into him. His moves were precise exact never missing a beat as he made his way through as tough transitions against the Wolf Pack computer training simulator. He could see his boy sitting there with his feet crossed tightening his fist, mentally going through the motions. After he finished Hawk walked over to his boy sitting on the ground. "You want to give it a try?" Hawk's low voice caught the eyes of his son and they lit up with excitement. Hawk could see the flame in his eyes spark as he got up and into position. 
Hawk began to explain the system to his son but he was soon cut off. "Dad, I've seen you do this hundreds of times. I know it.........begin!" The computer whirled to life and a course appeared in front of Nathan.  He began moving through the course quickly moving as his father did, only with much more grace than the power that his father had. The five year old moved like he was a life long warrior the way he moved his body. It wasn't until an unexpected obstacle came his way did Nathan fall out of rhythm. His father was the one to throw the the wooden blade. Out of sink Nathan started taking hit after hit, until he was knocked on his back. Hawk tried to get to his son in time but he was late as a large pillar fell onto the small boy. "Nooo....medic!" Hawk yelled and the program stopped. 
Moving to lift the Pillar off his son, smoke came up from his hands as that were instantly burned by the scolding hot pillar. With a banshee like scream the pillar exploded and Nathan stood with flames surrounding him. Flames started to explode all around the room and the temperature rose and rose. Hawk talked calmly to his son. "breath, breath and calm down. It's ok....it's ok." Nathan started to cry and his father caught him in his arms. Hawk knew the burns would go away shortly, for now he would hold his son no matter what the pain was. 
"How was training?" Mani asked as they walked into the kitchen. "You're son has something to tell you" Mani paused what she was doing and looked down at Nathan. "Mama ..... I was on fire!" Hawk laughed and nodded at Mani. "Yep" was all Hawk could say. 
Mani and Hawk talked for a while in the kitchen, until Hawk made a suggestion. "I think Whisper should train Nathan." Mani looked a little concerned "Do you think she is ready for that?" Hawk smiled and looked down at this still healing burn marks. "I don't know...but there is only one way to find out."

Sylver's Apartment - NYC - New York
 
     This is insane.  You're insane.  Freakin' insane.  Just put it down...  Oh gods--don't put it on!
     
     Sylver clutched the sides of her full-length mirror, eyes burning into the reflection, grimace locked.  It was one of those days again.  She was mentally battling herself against doing something stupid.  Freakin' stupid.  Stupid enough that she'd already begun to feel pinpricks of pain from it, just knowing what peeling the band-aid off of her memories would do.  The choice terrified her...and excited that crazed part of her mind that craved danger.
     
     Against her better judgment, Sylver reached into the trunk next to the mirror and pulled out the emerald glove that went with the outfit she was putting on.
      
     Just take the stupid thing off and go to the library.  Just go to the library.  Get bored there, away from the trunk.  You never should've made the thing in the trunk, you stupid girl...
     
     "Can it..."  Sylver mumbled, aware of how bad it was when you began arguing with yourself aloud.  Everything was going so fast...she didn't know how she'd gone from relaxing this morning, to submitting herself to torture.  In a split second, she knew...she had to face this now, or she never would.  
 
     But her mental-self was right; the thing in the trunk...why had she fixed it?  After all those years of locking it away in that vault...why bring it out now and fix it?  It wasn't like she would wear it again...not after what happened.  It had been a relic of another life...a life denied of her that she craved...
     
     But here she was, lacing the boots tight, finishing locking herself into the outfit.  The memory.  Me...
     
     As if gravity had just tripled, Sylver had to force her head up, so that her eyes could meet the mirror's image.  But instead of looking, she closed her eyes like a frightened child.  Just do it, just look...You fixed it because you wanted to.  Because you're tired of running.  It's time to wear it again...because you're strong enough to.
     
     Slowly, painfully, Sylver peeled her eyes open.  A sudden pain twisted in her chest, causing her to grip the edge of the changing screen behind her.  The boots...the laces....the leather....the Elven crest--
   
      -- "Congratulations on joining the King's Unit," said the soldier next to her at the banquet.  Sylver turned.  Kadro, of the Elven realm across the river.  His golden eyes froze the memory in time.  Sylver could remember the way he smelled...even then...like pine and fresh rain.  She remembered smiling back, "Thank you." --
    
      --"Sylver!"  Her mother flung herself around her daughter's neck, clutching her tight, kissing her cheek.  It'd been almost thirty years since they'd taken her from her home to train for the army...her mother, aged by sadness, regained her youth as she stroked her grown daughter's face. "You came back."--
    
      --"Oh gods,"  Sylver gasped in horror.  The dogs had gone mad...they were eating the people inside!  Sylver kicked down the door, but the dogs had thrown themselves out the window.  Sylver turned back to the outside, only to see the sky set fire with black flames and demonic etchings in red.  Hell itself rained down from the heavens, and the screams that would last for two more days began.  The palace set ablaze and the Great Cathedral became a pillar that made Sylver's soul turn cold.  The forest began to shudder with the black beasts inside it.  Sylver grasped her bow tighter.  "Someone save us..."
    
     --"I love you,"  Kadro said, kissing her fiercely.  She kissed him back and smiled.  "I know.  I'll be back by dawn.  The village's attacker should be gone, which means they'll send us back and send out a long-term party.  It won't take long."  Kadro brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, cradling her face for a moment.  "Be careful."
     
     --"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"  She screamed...and screamed...but no one heard.  The bite marks on her neck were on fire; pain ate through her veins, as if acid was being painted on her insides.  She'd thrashed and hurled, but nothing could save her now.  Kadro would try to kill her the next day.... She wouldn't see her brother for another decade... The door to the Kingdom would close....  She would be trapped in the human world in the dark...dark....dark--
     
     Sylver gasped, clutching her arms around her waist, dropping to one knee.  She wanted to scream until her throat was raw....she wanted to cry a vampire's blood tears...she wanted to lash out and tear apart the pain in her mind....  No...  Looking up again, Sylver peered into the mirror, into her past.
     
     Emerald corset-jacket with gold trim.  Peasant shirt underneath.  Emerald tight gloves...good for her bow.  Tan, elf leather pants.  Dagger at her waist.  Bow, made by her father, on her back.  Blonde hair, like her mother.  Sky blue eyes, the color Kadro said was beautiful.  
     Sylver swallowed back her emotions and touched the mirror with one hand, as if to say "It's been a long time, Sylver.  I locked you away for so long, it hurts to see you...your joys and sorrows....now mine again.  No more fear now.  No more running.  Just one Sylver, Elven vampire." 
     
     One blood tear fell from her eye, showing in the mirror image how her two worlds clashed in one body.  She may have to be undead for eternity, but she could chose to live again.  Wiping the tear away, Sylver stood, feeling whole....more so than she had in years.  She walked to the window and let the sunlight catch her golden hair.  One day at a time, she would take back who she had been.
     
     Tonight, she would visit Kadro.
    
    

You'd think an hour before a highly anticipated date that one would be freshening up. Preparing themselves for the evening that lies beyond the horizon. As Light hovered below the golden, rejuvenating glaze of the Earth's yellow sun no such thought crossed his mind. With his superhuman eyesight Light was able to take in the view of the entire planet without missing a detail. His gaze shifted from Los Angeles, the hometown of his latest squad We Are Legend, to one of the many bases of the Wolf Pack. Focusing in the hero spotted a gorgeous woman exit the luxurious abode the team was housed in and entered a small frame aircraft known to aviators as the microjet. Considering that it was a one man piloted vehicle she was either very skilled or very privileged. 

Little did it matter to the kryptonian as he schemed and plotted on how he would make his entrance. "Your first impression maybe your last so make sure its also your bet," Light would tell Ethan as a young boy. He followed said mantra closely, fancying making an entrance to even the smallest appearances. As jet rocketed off from the initial launch site Light tracked it, calculating its intended destination. "Seems she's going to the base in New York. Does she think I'm there?" During Wolf Pack's infiltration of the African "Dark Utopia", formerly headed by the illustrious Gambler, Light was attacked by Nate. Nate was an old time rival of Light's. Light brandished his lantern ring and the two engaged in battle across the planet. The effects of the catastrophic battle were felt throughout many continents and the two were giving there all. But when Nate unleashed a devastating blast of lightning that shattered his ring, it seemed all hope was lost for the kryptonian. Dangling in the vacuum of space, crushing gripped locked around his throat, Light could feel his power slowly returning to him. The lightning bolt had produced more effects than expected and under the sunlight, the kryptonian was able turn aside disaster and defeat Nate. After receiving his original powers Light disappeared for a short moment, exploring the new heights of his power. He returned a true hero, believing that Wolf Pack's notion of justice was a bit too loose and joining with We Are Legend. 

A thunderous clap echoed into the dead space as Light took off at supersonic speeds. He barreled through the atmospheric crust and in no time he was tailing the jet. He surged forward, decelerating  beside the windows of the jet. The ginger headed beauty known only to the kryptonian as Whisper, smiled as she peered through the glass and spotted him.In a burst of speed he was gone. After a brief moment Light reappeared inside the Jet beside her. "Well who knew you'd show?" Light said in jest. "Phasing. A little trick I picked up from a speedster I once knew." Light smiled as he reminisced about his days as an Ice Dragon. "I hope the pilot won't mind if I take his passenger away. By the way, how long can you hold your breathe? Because where we're going, there isn't much air." Light smirked casually whilst eying her "assets." His mind cooking up fantasies that would put a dirty movie to shame.    

He showered in shower down the hall from the room he was staying in. The ice cold water poured over his body and his head as he sang a song of his people loud, not realizing that the song was echoing down the hall. “Bare your teeth, bite and tear, for today the blood will flow. Run with me, through mighty trees, today the blood will flow. The men of might, will feel my bite, today the blood will flow.”

Stepping out of the shower Richard wrapped a loose towel around his waist as he walked down the hall. Humming his song as he walked down the hall he passed by Whisper’s room. Her door was cracked open a bit and Richard couldn’t help but peek in as he passed. There laying on her bed headphones blaring was the most beautiful girl he had ever lay eyes on. She was obviously preoccupied as Richard paused for a moment lost in what he saw. She wore a little shirt that showed just a bit of her stomach and work out shorts that were far too small. Her body was in amazing shape and her…….. he had to snap out of it as a low rumble escaped his chest. He quickly started towards his room again, not wanting her to see him staring. She was getting ready to go on a date, as they had called it, and all Richard knew was that he envied her escort.

Richard put on a pair of jeans and a black shirt, he chose to forgo shoes and underwear as the clothes he wore still took some getting used to. He made his way to the jogging trail and began a light run noticing the guardians of the mansion falling in behind him. The large wolves made quick time with Richard as they moved over hill and mountain. Richard noticed a large Red female running closely to him for some time, it was then that he remembered her. With a leap his clothes tore and fell to the ground leaving a huge black and white wolf in his place. They ran together to miles as Sheva communicated about her master. There were no words exchanged but through flashes of images. The scenes ran through his mind like a river, her crying on her bed at night, pretending to read a book while just staring across the room at Mani or Nathan. Richard’s mind was filled with emotion of her longing for something familiar, of something like home. His thoughts raced back to his home.

The sand on the beach was white as snow leaving a trace of a foot print as he ran, that was quickly washed away by the sea. The howl of his father was heard for miles as all came running to the great hall. The prince was always greeted with respect as all bowed low as he entered, but today the future King would flee.

After a little epic meal time Lone then walked out of the kitchen still holding a soda at hand. He walked towards the living room trying to see if anyone was home so long after his departure. Along the way through the large manor Lone picked up the phone and called a private number from his cell-phone. The receptor answers. “Kat, here. Code, please” Lone answered by replying in code: “Enter Crimson: Death and Sorrow. I want the Violet.” The last words were the codes to reach the members of the Red Brotherhood. The Red Brotherhood were a group created by Lone after he saved several mutants from the Sentinels when the mutants were been hunted. In gratitude some of them fallowed him and helped him achieve his goal to free himself from the control of Lone’s second creator. Waiting for the call to be transferred finally the transfer was made. “Hello?” Lone immediately recognized the familiar voice. “Hey Violet. Listen this appetite suppressant is not working. I just raided William’s kitchen. Have you ever been so out of control that you try to bite a frozen T-bone? Not cool.” He explained to Purple Rain, who was under her code name: Violet. “Look, Band: honestly there is not much we can do.” She said. “We have to wait until your body fully adapts to the serum and that can take a while. I know you are worried but look at it from the good side: you wont gain an ounce of fat no matter how much you eat. I wish I had that ability.” She concluded hoping to cheer him up. “Yeah, I guess I am just freaking out.. I think I have too much free time. I might be over thinking things.” He said. “Well, Rain, nice talking to you. See ya soon.” He concluded.

Reaching the living room Lone sat on the edge of the couch facing the large TV. He reached the remote as he thought. “Maybe I am just over thinking things. I need to relax.” He points the remote to the television and pushes the button which turned the TV on. He skips through the channels and finds an interesting film. “What the hell? Is that guy wearing a dress? And what is that gibberish they‘re speaking?” He complained. “Hum, must be Scottish.” He assumed. “I wonder if I can get Cinemax in Scotland?” He shifted through the channels. “Nope..” He said. “I would kill for at least Cartoon network.” The TV is then switched off and Lone just lays on the couch and closes his eyes hoping to take a nap. "Geez, and here I thought Jersey was bad." He said before yawning and going to sleep.

She sat smiling an answering questions for a live world wide broadcast for almost an hour already. The two hour special with Junior Senator Lady Mani was coming to an end and all of the hard questions had been put aside. The "is your husband a meta-human" or "why are gay and meta human rights so important to you" had now turned into talks about her fashion and how she was the youngest and most famous of all of everyone in the senate. Her tight fitting blue dress and sense of elegance made her rival even the new dutchess. 
 
".....well I'm glad you asked that. I've always been a fan of fashion, but mostly the classical styles of Elizabeth Tay....." But she couldn't finish her words before the masked men entered the studio. In just a blink of an eye the scene changed from a nice little piece on the Junior Senator from Texas, to a militant take over of the NBC studios. "Everyone get the f#c4 down. Keep the cameras rolling you piece of sh1t." the obvious leader of the 4 men with AR type weapons yelled out his orders. Making his way over to the set were Mani and Diane sat nervously, the leader leaned up against the chair and ran his finger across the leg covered in a blue dress. "We are here to tell America the truth about Meta-human freaks. They are what's wrong with our country. Bringing their mutations into our clean blood." With a smirk and a glint of her blue eyes as they  faded to white The Lady spoke interrupting the man with the gun. "You think they are what's wrong with America, you're the one holding two women at hostage with guns..." Blood spit from her mouth as the man's hand connected with her. Wiping it off her mouth with the back of her hand she shook her head as she got up the nerve to say. "You just signed your own death certificate" The man now raised his gun to hit her with the butt end of it. 
 
Wolf Pack HQ
They all had gathered around the tv to watch one of their own. She was not only "powered" but she was part of the family. Hawk sat among them here in his home, knowing all to well that he would just be in the way and a topic of conversation if he was there in studio. So he sat on the couch squeezed in between Whisper, his daughter and Risky, who Mani referred to as "the other woman' jokingly. As the show came on and Mani walked into camera view. He could hear the murmurs around him about how stunning she looked and how she was the pride of the Pack. They all sat quietly watching as she handled one question after another. Some even laughed at how well she blew off Hawk's role in the meta human world. It wasn't until late in the show when the sh!t hit the fan. 
 
As they watched from a thousand miles away, everyone stood in shock as a masked man appeared on screen. It wasn't until he lay his hands on Mani did the real sense of trouble sink in. With in seconds Hawk had his blade in hand and was holding hands with Risky and Whisper. "Risky lets goooooooo......." It was as fast as a blink, three of the fiercest warriors on the planet appeared in NBC's studios. It was all Hawk could do to keep Whisper from tearing down everything around them with just a breath. Instead they moved like an elite military force. Hawk's blade was the first to find pay dirt, splitting a man into as he walked towards Mani his eyes focused on his wife. 
 
Risky and Whisper torn through the others as Hawk approached the mother of his children and his wife. He put his arm around her when he felt the burning in his stomach. Looking into the bluest eyes he'd ever seen, he could see the pain burning through them. This was a look he was all too familiar with, her eyes were shutting as death approached. Hawk looked down as the once pale blue dress was now maroon with blood. "Risky! Evac NOW!!!!!" Hawk yelled over the gun fire but it was to late as blood poured out of his wife's mouth and she gasped her last breath. 
As his wife lay limp in his arms, her 115lb frame felt like the weight of the world. He tried desperately to hold her, the hold in the blood, to wipe away the tear that ran down her face, but it only smeared the blood. In front of the camera broadcasting live to millions world wide, Lady Mani loved by the world, member of the Wolf Pack, mother of Nathan and Olivia, wife to Hawk died. 
 
Hawk sat rocking his wife back in forth in his arms, as the tears rolled down his blood smeared face. Risky and Whisper stood surrounding them in shock as one by one the crew and host of the show came to witness the death of America's Princess. Slowly as people gathered around them Hawk began to realize where he was again and in a quiet voice he spoke. "Risky......get us the F*ck out of here." 
 
As she walked over to the camera all of the world saw as the dark haired lady luck grabbed the camera and adjusted it so that it framed only her face. "......And people think we are the bad guys"  and the lot of them vanished.