EMPATH | Five Hargreeves

XIV •~-~• The Sparrow Academy

"Stay back!" Lila shouted.

"Hey! Hey! Wait, Lila. Lila!"

Angel circled the girl, her siblings copying, and she stood next to Five, glancing over her shoulder at him with a concerned look.

"I trusted you," Lila had a look of betrayal on her face, "I got you a job, I even introduced you to my mother, and then you took off on me."

"Because I needed to save the world!" Diego lowered his voice, "She's using you, Lila. The Handler."

"You're wrong," Lila shook her head, "She raised me. She loves me."

Luther frowned, "Yeah, you know what? Love shouldn't have to hurt this much."

Lila paused before shoving her fingers toward her mouth and feigning a gagging sound.

"Alright, I tried," Luther thinned his lips.

"He's right, we have to kill her," Five nodded.

"Hey! Five," Diego held out a hand.

Angel locked eyes with Diego and frowned before turning to Five, pushing him back, "He's got it, Five."

Five glanced at Angel, calming under her gaze. He believed her.

"Hey, Lila." Diego said, "Truth? She's dangerous. And you're scared of what she'll do with all that new power. That's why you dragged me to the Commission. Because I know what it's like to love dangerous people. Difference is..." Diego trailed, looking around at his siblings before turning back to Lila, "They love me back."

Lila held up her knife and spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, "Shut up."

"The only thing she loves is power," Diego glanced to his feet, "Now the minute she can't use you, she will turn on you, and deep down, I know you know that."

Lila's voice quivered, "You don't know me, Diego."

Diego stepped closer, Lila's knife now right against his chest.

"Don't I?" Diego cocked an eyebrow, "I know that we can be your family... if you just let us."

Lila sniffled as she glanced around at the group. She looked back at Angel, who gave her a genuine smile. A yelp from the entrance of the barn alerted them, and they all turned to see Five holding a gun up to the Handler. She held her hands up in defense.

Lila snarled in her direction, "It's true, isn't it? What Five said?"

The Handler hesitated, giving Five a daring look, "Well-"

Blood splattered off of the Handler's torso as gunshots rang through the air. Angel turned her head to see the Swedish man she fought back at the consulate.

"The case!" Luther yelled, charging forward.

"No!" Diego screamed, jumping in front of Luther to stop him.

Lila disappeared in a blue wisp, leaving the others behind. Five and the Swedish man glared at each other, guns drawn to their heads.

Five lowered the gun and dropped it to the ground, "Enough."

The Swedish man looked around at the siblings, before dropping his own and muttering something in Swedish.

Klaus's jaw dropped and gestured a hand out toward the platinum blond-haired man, "Who the hell was that guy?"

Angel watched Vanya run off, and she quickly followed. They rushed down the stairs and to the lowest floor of the barn. Vanya crawled her way through the power shield Harlan was holding up and muttered to him. Their siblings gathered around and watched in awe as Vanya's hands sparkled with golden flecks, her veins glowing bright blue. She sucked the power out of him with just her, as the Hargreeves stared in shock. The power shield fell, and a gush of wind brushed back their hair. Vanya paused, a smile playing on her lips. Sissy rushed forward and collapsed him into a hug. Five pulled Angel and Diego from the group and ushered them outside.