Innocent (Stark's Daughter 7)

Chapter 1

The cool metal pierces my skin, pushing into my vein. I push down at the end and the warm liquid oozes into my bloodstream. I place it in the compartment on the desk, it slowly disappears.

Glancing around the basement, Hope is sat at the far desk by the small kitchen. She's upgrading her phone by soldering wires together and i watch her keep flicking her dyed black hair out of the way.

I stand up from my desk, making my way over to her and i watch over her shoulder.

"Hope, you've joined the red with the white. It should be the blue with the red." I explain, pointing out her mistake, that if she turned it on the phone would explode.

"Oh, okay. Thanks." She mutters, pulling the wires apart.

I smile, walking to the basement door and up the glass staircase to the living room.

Walking to the kitchen, I find a can of coke in the fridge. I pick it up, but my fingers suddenly turn numb. The can slips between my fingers and erupts on the tiled floor, creating a brown splash as it bubbles. I curse under my breath and feel someone behind me.

"Are you okay?" Zeke whispers, stepping past me and standing in front.

His blonde hair is messy, as usual, his emerald eyes shine with worry and confusion. Just like they did last week, when everyone thought i was going to die.

"Yeah, i didn't catch it." I mutter.

Zeke bends down, picking it up and handing me the half empty can. He then begins to clean up the mess i accidentally made.

"Skye, your body is still trying to accept the medication. You need to stop doing things and rest instead." Zeke points out.

"I know. I know. But i can't do nothing. Im going to be head of SHIELD next month and Im still head of Stark Industries." I explain.

"You know what i mean." Zeke argues as he stops cleaning up and looks at me, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes. You mean i can't go out in my suit." I whisper, bowing my head.

"Good girl." He comments, planting a light kiss on my forehead.

I sigh and walk out of the kitchen, I lounge on the sofa in the living room.

"Miss, there is something you should see." Jarvis announces in the ear pierce, it sinks into my brain.

Slowly, I step down the glass stairs, looking around the corner to see Hope has gone. I sit on the desk chair and a video pops up on my screen.

A suit identical to mine is stood proudly on the concrete, the blue mask shining under the sun and the eyes lighting blue. It suddenly bursts into life, shooting into the air, doing a few loops and landing back on the ground. It spins, releasing guns that hit a metal sheet in front of it.

"Where is this, Jarvis?" I ask, leaning my left cheek on the palm of my hand. My mind races as I watch someone create my suit, that i know they will not use for good reasons.

"I cannot trace it." Jarvis admits.

"This isn't good. How did you find this?"

"It was brought to my attention when i was doing the usual morning routine through the media." Jarvis explains.

"Is there anyway they can upgrade their suit so it is an exact replica of mine?"

"It is highly possible."

"Okay. I need you stop anyone from seeing this video. No one sees this." I demand, standing up and rubbing my shaking hands over my face.

They won't succeed in making a suit like mine.

Im worrying about nothing. Or am i?

"Lets just keep this between us. Don't say anything, Jarvis, but keep me updated." I command.

I walk back upstairs, trying to put on a brave face. I know that if these people attack New York then they will come and get me. They will kill me.

"Are you okay, Mum?" A small voice asks.

I turn to my right to see Lucas walking down the corridor from his room, with his red guitar swung over his shoulder. His blonde hair bouncing on his head, Lucas' bright emerald eyes full of curiosity and they make his face pale but make his freckles stand out.

"Im fine. Just wondering what to do for your dads birthday in a few weeks." I admit.

"We could throw him a surprise party." Lucas suggests, grinning and showing his pearly white teeth.

"Sounds like a good idea. I'll sort it out."

Lucas runs off to his bedroom again and i hear the faint sound of his guitar playing lightly.

Suddenly, I hear my phone ring in my pocket. I notice the photo of Captain sticking his tongue out and i accept the call.

"Hey, Cap."

"Hi. I haven't spoken to you in days. How are you?" Captain asks.

"Im good, thanks. You?"

"Yeah, Im alright."

"I actually want to ask you something. Im going to throw a surprise party for Zeke for his birthday. Can you book a venue for me please? You're good at that sort of thing."

"Thank you. Yeah, of course I will." Captain answers.

I hear arguing coming from down the corridor. It gets louder and i hear the shaky voices of Hope and Lucas.

"I've got to go. Can you call me back?"

"Yeah."

The line goes dead and I race down the corridor, the shouting getting louder.

"Of course I care about her." Hope shouts.

I push the door open and they turn to me, tears steam down both their faces. Hope's eyes are pure blue and her hands are balled into fists, Lucas is next to the door with his nostrils flaring in anger.

"Stop, both of you." I shout.

I feel my eyes turn ice cold and the power in my fingers. Suddenly, one of Hope's cream lamps smash, the metal and glass scattering the floor. Hope and Lucas both look at it, then up at me, with fear swimming in their eyes.

"Why are you two fighting?"

"I was telling Hope about..." "He accused me..." They talk over each other.

"Stop." I demand.

"Mum, you nearly died last week. You can't just expect us to go back to normal." Hope points out.

"We aren't normal." Lucas mutters, just loud enough for us to hear.

"Its what we do, Hope. Things happen and we go back to how we were before. If not, things get worse." I explain.

"We all thought you were dead. We thought we would never see you again." Lucas admits, tears making his voice shake.

"I know." I mumble.

"Skye, maybe you can go back to how you were before. But we can't." Zeke whispers, appearing next to me and leaning against the wall by Hope's door. He peers inside the room as Hope and Lucas nod in agreement.

"You think Im going back to how i was before? Before i could sleep at night. Before i could eat without throwing up. Before i didn't need to take multiple injections everyday." I list, staring at Zeke with anger bubbling inside me.

I grab my car keys off the living room coffee table and march out of the house. I start the car engine and speed out of the driveway, leaving Zeke, Hope and Lucas to comfort each other.

If these people make my suit then they will kill me and my family. If i get on with life as if i haven't seen the video then they won't be in as much as danger. Hopefully.

---------------------------------------------- I know this chapter isn't very exciting, but this is just to give you an idea of what's been happening since the last book. Please vote and comment!