Chapter twenty three

Chapter 23: Ares

All of the mutants were running for dear life. The battle before had been invigorating and tiring. We were crossing rocky terrain, and everyone was starting to slow down. It was all quiet…too quiet. I was running and I tripped, badly. My feet hit the ground first and I landed funny, then a total face plant.
“Ares,” Kichi shouted, and they all stopped running.
“Oh, my leg,” I moaned. Everyone exchanged wary looks. “I think it’s broken. Go on without me.”
“No,” Storm said firmly, “What makes you think we’d do that?”
“Because if you don’t, the scientists will catch us.” I reported, trying my best to sound mournful.
“But, they won’t!” Adara piped in, “We can find a good spot to hide.” There were mountains in the distance, but not much around here. Everyone was thrown headfirst into a debate. Ethan suggested we head for the mountains. Storm suggested we find a cave again. No one noticed when my hand slipped to my wrist. I pushed the sapphire into the silver band and it made an almost inaudible click. The mutants were head on head, arguing. No one noticed the headlights that appeared or the helicopter over head until scientists were pouring out. A young blond man in a white lab coat stood over me. He pressed a knife against my neck.
“Attention mutants: If you want this youngster to make it, surrender and allow us to immobilize you!”
Storm looked ready to fight, but she allowed herself to be handcuffed and stabbed with an anti-power syringe. One by one the others allowed the same to be done. The scientist waited for the medicine to take effect then removed his cutlass. Then he offered me his hand. With all the mutants’ eyes on me, I took it. The man helped me off my back, and a stood toward all the mutants, on my ‘broken’ leg. He handed me a white lab coat and I shrugged it on. It was entertaining to watch the emotions play on their faces: Anger from Storm; shock from Kichi; regret from Adara; fury from Ethan; incomprehension from Fire.
“Quite shocking, no?” I asked them, smirking.
“I thought you…” Kichi started.
“I will save you all the trouble. Listen closely. I am the founders’ son. He bestowed powers on me, so I could go out into the world and find runaway suckers like you. For all the time I have known you all I have been waiting for just the right moment. Let’s just say I am very impatient.”
“I can’t believe I liked you!” Adara yelled, more to herself then me.
“That I cannot blame you for, I am very charming, or no?” I mocked.
Storm laughed. “In your dreams, traitor boy.”
“Now let’s not be rude.” I chided, resisting the urge to hit her. “I think I am done with them now.” I told the scientists. Each one of the mutants was subjected to another syringe. Then once they passed out, all of them were tossed in the back of a black van. I climbed up the ladder to one of the choppers that were hovering overhead. My father was in the pilot’s seat.
“Hey, sport. You should go into acting, you betrayal scene down there was magnificent!”
“Thanks,” I blushed.
“Now I need only one more thing from you regarding these kids.”
“Anything for you, dad,”
“Make a chart of their personalities. Since you have spent time with them you should know them fairly well. This chart will help us decide what to do with them.”
“Oh,” I said kind of disappointed, “That’s it?”
“Yes, that’s it son! Why would I ask for more of you? You have already impressed me. Words are beyond description of my pride.” I blushed again. We spent the rest of the ride in silence.
♦♦♦♦♦♦
Storm’s eyes finally flitted open. When she saw me her eyes registered raw fury. If she hadn’t been wrapped in magic resistant cellophane she would’ve came at me with a lightning bolt. She struggled madly.
“Don’t bother. The stuff you’re rapped in is a special type of cellophane. It restricts all movement, and the more you struggle the tighter it gets. Oh, and it doesn’t transfer magic.” I said this to more than to just Storm, for some of the other mutants were waking also. “Now my father asked me to make a record of all your personalities, so he can decide what your fate will be…Starting with Alina.” I looked over my clipboard and enjoyed Storm’s reaction to that name. “Alina: stubborn, too powerful, rebellious, annoying, and relentless,” Storm was making a muffled screaming noise, her eyes full of fury. “Wait…gets easily angry.”
“Now, Adara: gullible, love sick, softhearted, too observant for her own good, uncertain.” I could feel the uncomfort wafting off of Adara. She hated having someone know her every flaw.
“Ethan, Ethan, Ethan. If you don’t mind, I wrote down: Annoying, self confident, resourceful, useful, easy to exploit.” That set Ethan’s eyes ablaze. “not very bright.” I said but didn’t write it down. I just enjoyed Ethan’s reaction.
“Fire horse: new to being a mutant, unsure of herself, insecure, mistrustful, and too brave for her own good.” A mix of emotion was being stirred up inside Fire, and was giving off an incomprehensive vibe. “Fire isn’t a very good mutant.” I repeated in a slow baby voice. Fire became indignant.
“And last but least, Kichi. What am I going to do with you? Since spending so much time with you, you have grown on me. You are like a little sister to me. A dumb, arrogant, self-centered little sister. Well, I think I have my list. And speaking of little sisters,” I turned towards Storm again. She fixed me with an unblinking stare, full of hatred.
“Alina, did you ever know you had a mutant little sister? I didn’t, until my father gifted her to me as a thank-you present. Quite a pretty little servant, Eva! Much better behaving than you.”
A little girl who resembled Storm greatly wearing a light blue dress and white apron came running in. Since the cellophane prevented Storm from using magic, she wasn’t able to change her appearance, and you could see the reselblence.
Eva stopped dead when she saw her. “That lady looks like me.” The little girl looked up at me. “That’s because she is working magic.” I whispered to her, and Eva looked reassured. “Now, enjoy your stay. I hope your legs won’t ace from standing up too long.” With that I walked out of the room, with Eva trailing behind me.