They walked out of the car and trashed the bag and cup. They walked into the Magnus House to see a few people were already seated around the octagonal table but this time it was larger with more space to sit.
Once they were all seated Bradford stood up.
"Welcome and good evening to all of you,"
Andrea spotted Callista, who was trying to grab her attention without making any noises.
Bradford continued with his speech.
She waved at her along with Sally. Andrea just stared at them not knowing what to do in return.
They kept sending her faces she didn't understand. Callista sighed and motioned her head towards the door, Andrea turned to look at it to see there was nothing unusual.
Sally and Callista slapped their foreheads.
Callista cupped her hands around her lips and mouthed a few words.
Fine latte?
Pine curry?
Lime thirsty?
My party?
Andrea frowned, Sally, tapped her wrist and mouthed the same words.
Nine thirty!
Callista pointed her finger out the window and mouthed a word again.
Mean?
Meal?
Meet!
Meet them outside tonight at nine-thirty.
Andrea nodded in realization, both of them gave a thumbs up and turned her attention back to Bradford.
"-is something we should be aware of,"
What should we be aware of?
"So the next topic I wanted to talk about is that we have spotted another hideout of the Sicariurs,"
The image projected changed into a map with a specific place marked with a red dot.
"And I'm going to choose one junior to lead a team. They will only be successful if they manage to catch at least seventy-five per cent of the Sicariurs occupying the house,"
"They will get to choose five members for their team. The leader shall be……" he glanced around the table catching Andrea's eyes and continued to look around, "Sallestia,"
Sally stood up as he called her name.
"You shall be leading the team of your choice, go on."
She didn't hesitate, “Callista, um the Harper twins, "which earned a yell of victory from them, she spotted Andrea and smiled, "Andrea and…… Leonardo"
He looked up and rolled his eyes as if saying, 'finally took you long enough.'
"Alright, now the six of you can plan for your mission which is at five twenty-five tomorrow morning, good luck. We will now leave you to your planning."
"I wish you all a goodnight and I hope you enjoy the rest of your week,"
Everyone walked out leaving the six to themselves.
Making sure everyone was gone Sally began, "We found more on Helker,"
"I thought we were going to discuss how to prison the Sicariurs who could be killing people at the very moment," Leo said.
"Well, we think there is a connection between the Sicariurs and Helker,"
"What makes you think that?" Andrea asked as she crossed her arms.
Callista glanced at Sally, "well..um we're not sure, but don't you think it's kinds suspicious they aren't talking about this,"
"They're just scared-"
Sally cut Jordan off, "maybe, but we aren't. Like who would even want to kill Divinuses other than the Sicariurs,"
"Are you saying we go there?" Leo questioned.
"Well, I don't see why not,"
"Why not? Why not?! Callista, they sent specially trained Divinuses there, we won't last a minute there," Leo exclaimed.
"I didn't take you for a coward Leo," Callista smirked, Andrea knew what she was doing and that dumbhead was falling right into it.
"Me? A coward?! You better watch your mouth you-"
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! No fighting! I don't want any fights going on here,"
"Even if we wanted to go, isn't it shielded?"
"Not for everyone. Andrea, you know someone who can open it for us. Someone willing to do anything for you,"
"Who?" The Harper twins asked.
"Her brother of course. He has access to the shield, her dad used to,"
"So will you do it? Will you ask him?”
Andrea had her eyes fixated on the floor, thinking.
"Sure"
The twins, Callista and Sally jumped, "yes!"
"So," Sally cleared her throat, "about the mission.”
"Leo, you'll shadow travel in there and check if it's clear. Then Callista you enter from the back, Nathan and Jordan you guys enter from the first-floor windows, Andrea you enter from the second-floor window, I'll enter from the front door. Got it?"
They all nodded in reply.
"Good. Let's go, I'm starting,"
Andrea stood still.
"Andrea, aren't you gonna come?" Callista asked.
"I'll catch up with you,"
"Alright, we'll be at the lounge,”
Making sure that everyone was gone, she switched on the hologram and pressed the Helker and a screen appeared;
Password: |
Password?
She stared at the screen thinking what the password could be.
Divinus?
No, that's too obvious.
Morgana?
She gave it a try and it was incorrect.
Bradford.
Incorrect.
Home for the ones without the heart of evil.
Incorrect. One attempt left.
Andrea turned to leave, "oh and Andrea, Bradford loves The Beatles"
The Beatles
Correct.
A small smile tugged on her lips as it began to load.
"It's not going to work,"
Andrea immediately turned around to see Leo walking out of the shadows.
It loaded and the only thing that appeared was;
NO CONNECTION.
PLEASE TRY AGAIN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESUME?
YES. NO
"Why are you so interested in a piece of rock that's floating in the vastness of space? And especially one with no life?"
"How do you know it has no life?" She asked, shutting the hologram off.
"I have my ways, plus you didn't answer my question,"
"I don't need to,"
"Is it because of your mother?" He asked, the question wasn't rude, it wasn't sincere either.
She whipped around daring him to speak again and he did.
"What? Do you think she's alive? I thought you were smarter than that-" Without any further notice, Andrea delivered a swift punch to his jaw.
In a silent outrage, Leo runs his tongue along the lining of his cheek as his eyes scrutinize her, challenging her to take the dare again.
She pushed past him towards the door until he tightly held her wrist.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" He asked, his eyes fixated on the table.
"I do not know what you're speaking about," she tried pulling back her arm.
He pulled back with much more strength and delivered a blow, she deflected it by taking him by the same arm and twisting it against his back.
At that moment, if it was something real she wouldn't hesitate to put more strength to break the bone, but she didn't feel like hurting him. Yet.
So she released him with a little push and within those few seconds, he was engulfed by puffs of black smoke.
Catching her off guard he delivered a blow with the heel of his palm to her shoulder, turning her around before she could calculate anything. She was slammed to the ground, his calf pressing her stomach.
He grabbed her left arm, before he could roll down the sleeve, she brought her knee to his stomach, thwacking him. She punched his jaw pushing him off and got up.
He wrapped his arm around her neck from behind, holding her left hand and with the same arm he wrapped around her he rolled up the sleeves revealing the mark.
"I knew it. You filthy murderer,"
She hooked her leg around his, she turned her body, locking his left arm in her hands while she used the momentum to propel her legs up, past his neck and turning taking both of them to the floor.
"Oh, my dear lord!"
She used her momentum to balance herself, standing upright to see Morgana standing there with her mouth gaped.
"I. I didn't even…oh my goodness! I didn't take either of you to be this-"
"It's not what it looks like Miss Morgana" his voice was compressed as he clutched his stomach and face.
She caught a glimpse of Andrea's rolled up sleeve and her eyes widened, she then looked at Leo.
As if knowing what she was thinking he said, "I knew all along, I just confirmed my suspicions,"
"I'm very disappointed in you Leonardo, I will inform your mother about this!"
Leo caught a glimpse of the small smirk on her face, making him glare at her.
"And Andrea! I will inform your father and brother about this!"
"Both of you leave, you're almost past curfew!"
The two had a surprisingly quiet walk to the Virdis tower. Both of them stood in the elevator as it went up to the floor where their rooms were located.
She wasn’t the only one obscuring things. Someone with such costly power must have some kind of secret. His parents aren’t Umbrakinetic or anything associated with it. Maybe his mother with her healing powers.
The air in the room was flaring and hazardous, like a bombardment, outrageous like fire. It was impossible to say who the gunpowder and who the lighter was, but the result would always be the same: mayhem.
"You killed him, Doris, didn't you?" She could hear the resentment in his voice along with boiling blood that was rushing through him.
The elevator doors opened before walking out and said, "Nothing lasts forever,"
Those were such simple and common words that hid so many stories and meanings behind them.
They entered their rooms and prepared for tomorrow's upcoming obstacles.
"I'll kill you, you'll want to start counting your blessings already."
It wasn't a possibility, an idea, it was a warning, a promise.