H.E.R.O.: Riftguard

By Kevin Rau

Nightmonger and his lackeys prevent H.E.R.O. from imprisoning the fire elemental super, Carey, and force her to work for them. The girl's life goes from bad to worse, and there may be no escape.

Sparks recovers from the assault by the assassins, only to discover that one survived. Her hunt for the man causes her to team up with Psystar and Diva as they go after the hit man.

Blake, Metrocity's paranoid "master mage," tries to open a portal, and in the process discovers creatures from the dark energy universe that come through. He crosses paths with Nightmonger, Lady Nocturne, H.E.R.O., and finally makes a powerful ally. Blake's friends from Chicago join him, and he attempts to gain followers.

Chrome's life takes a turn for the better as she meets a man and goes on a date.

H.E.R.O. - Riftguard is the 16th book in the most extensive superhero novel series of the last decade. It is an action-packed, full-length written novel of over 103,000 words.

Here is the full lineup of novels in the H.E.R.O. saga:
H.E.R.O. – Metamorphosis (1) - full novel is free on most online retailers!
H.E.R.O. - New Markets (2)
H.E.R.O. - Rise and Fall (3)
H.E.R.O. - Dark Research (4)
H.E.R.O. - Horde (5)
H.E.R.O. - Paragon (6)
H.E.R.O. - Illustrated Guide
H.E.R.O. Shorts – Gatecrasher (7)
H.E.R.O. Shorts – Silverlash (8)
H.E.R.O. - Gene Front (9)
H.E.R.O. - Incursion (10)
H.E.R.O. - Dolldrum (11)
H.E.R.O. - Malice (12)
H.E.R.O. – Dark Breach (13)
H.E.R.O. – Nightmonger (14)
H.E.R.O. – Battlefronts (15)
H.E.R.O. – Riftguard (16)
H.E.R.O. – Augments (17)
H.E.R.O. – Summoned (18)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Rau
• Release date: Mar 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311148209

Kevin Rau

Born in 1970, I've been interested in fantasy and science fiction since perhaps the age of 10. I believe my love of medieval knights came about when my father built a wooden shield and sword for me to use in elementary school for some event.Through my school years I read hundreds (or thousands? - it's hard to recall at this point) of fantasy and science fiction novels. Comic books and super heroes came a bit later, although I recall seeing the Christopher Reeve Superman movies at a very young age (and loving them). Since my later teens I believe I've watched nearly every major fantasy, science fiction, and super-hero movie that has come out.I still love reading fantasy and science fiction, although I wish there were more novels based on superheroes. This is something that drove me to create my own supers universe and heroes in written form. I love supers, but I've always wanted more character depth than a comic book can provide. (Not to mention the immense length of time it takes for a comic series to do a story is just plain too long to me.)Writing is a hobby for me, I'm a full-time computer programmer and systems administrator for a small company. Fortunately the skills I've learned allow me to work with 3D programs to render the characters (and covers) for my books. My hope is to put out a novel or two a year, time allowing. At this point I'd like to grow the H.E.R.O. Universe with more novels, as well as start a fantasy series at some point.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Spellcraft

Blake’s Viewpoint

Magic swept around me, drawn through the planar rift behind me as I controlled the energy. The dark, wispy energy was so thick in the air as to be visible.

I stood in front of the black swirling energy that made up the rift from our world into the shadowy universe filled with magical energy. I had my staff in my right hand. It glowed as I channeled magic through it and into my best friend, Bobby.

The thin man floated in the air, held aloft as a byproduct of the spell I used on him. Slowly, over an hour’s period, I modified his very cells to become metal, a sort of living golem. It was the most dangerous spell I had attempted, for failure likely meant the death of my friend.

By the time I stopped, his skin had a dull, iron-like sheen, and his feet caused a heavy thump as he touched down onto the floor. I allowed the magic to fade, and it quickly dissipated to be invisible to the naked eye.

Sweat poured down my cheeks, and I wiped my left sleeve across my face. I took a few slow breaths to relax as Bobby held a hand in front of him.

He grinned and tapped one hand against the other. The metal made a soft thud, but fortunately didn’t ring. He said, Holy crap, Blake. It worked. The thin man flexed his hand a few times, and then walked over to one of the large concrete slabs sitting on the floor nearby. He went to one knee and punched it, easily snapping the rock in half. He looked back at Jeren and me and grinned again. No pain.

I nodded, Good. One of the hero chicks that came at me on Wednesday was made of metal. Shinier than you, but I figured dull metal would be better.

Bobby grabbed a smaller chunk of concrete and crushed it between his fingers. Gray dust trickled to the floor. It feels light.

Jeren, my overweight bearded friend, clapped and laughed deeply. It should. You’re an iron golem now. He looked at me, Is he immune to spells, too? What about the poison gas breath?

I shook my head, No poison and I doubt he’s immune to magic. We won’t know how tough you are until we test. The cells throughout your body should be changed to a living metal harder than titanium. You ought to be nigh indestructible.

I looked at my watch. It was late Friday afternoon. Since the pair had arrived mid-day, I had shown them the factory I acquired, and proven that I now had the ability to cast spells. The rift in the center of the Barrett factory was proving to be a source of unlimited energy for me. We had gone to lunch, and then visited a few of the eclectic weapon shops in Metrocity, until we found one with an ornate axe with two blades on one end that nearly formed a circle with the outer edges.

We talked about possible spells I could use to enhance the two men, and once Bobby had decided on becoming a metal golem, it had taken hours to modify him. I probably could have done it in a few minutes, but I spent the extra time ensuring that his body would still be alive and capable of things such as healing and thinking. He was the first friend I planned to make into my guards and adventuring companions in the new, magic-empowered place Metrocity had become.

I shifted my cloak and sat down on a slab of concrete. I grabbed my large cup of Mountain Dew and sucked a mouthful through the straw. Jeren plopped down next to me.

He said, Awesome work on Bobby, Blake. Here’s my list for the axe. Jeren had detailed what he wanted out of the axe while he waited for me to finish with Bobby.

I leaned my magical staff back against my shoulder and looked at the list. He wanted the weapon to become an artifact, a mythical weapon that imbued the wielder with powers. The details generally made sense, granting him the ability to create a force field in front of him, the ability to throw and return to him, and the power to cut through anything.

I asked, You sure you want all your powers to be wrapped up in a weapon? What if someone takes it from you?

He replied, Didn’t I write that down? I don’t want it to work for others. In effect, I want it to be an extension of myself.

I nodded, Makes sense. I like the force field, and if I can make it capable of cutting through anything, then bricks won’t be immune to it. How about instead of returning to you, we have the axe teleport to you when you hold your hand out? Also, if it’s capable of teleporting, I’ll make it so that you can throw it and it’ll teleport you to it.

Bobby walked over and sat down on my left. His new weight was apparent as his metal butt thudded against the concrete, even through his jeans. He said, Wish we had a brick on hand to test the sharpness against.

Jeren said, Shouldn’t be too hard to find one if we try. Those guys usually work construction or security.

Or are superheroes.

Jeren leaned forward to look past me, and at Bobby. Oh yeah, bright idea, metal head. Let’s go picking fights with superheroes.

I shook my head. No. I don’t want to actively fight heroes, or become villains. So long as they leave me alone, I’ll leave them alone.

Jeren raised an eyebrow, And if not?

I narrowed my eyes, If anyone tries to take my power away from me, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect both myself and my power.

He raised a hand, Got it, just wanted to be clear.

I sighed. Guys, you’re my best friends. You’re safe. I’ve been searching for magic my entire life. Now that I’ve found it, it’s mine. Well … ours. I want all my friends with me.

You gonna have Lenora and Kyle join us?

I nodded, Once I’ve got you two powered up. I didn’t want any fighting over who got bumped up first. Plus, until I was sure I could do it, I didn’t want to disappoint the others if I wasn’t able to make you magic beings.

Jeren held up the axe. You could make weapons and other magical gear for each of us.

I nodded, True. I patted the staff leaning against me. During the day or two I had been stuck in the universe of magic, I had imbued a great deal of power into my own weapon. I had been more intent on making it a repository of magic than having specific powers, as Jeren sought.

Bobby said, Even if you make Jeren a magic axe, you can still buff him too. Nothing’s saying you can’t do both, right?

I replied, True. I glanced back at the list. He also wanted the axe to grant him additional strength, and for the weapon to go invisible at his command. I looked to my right at my fat friend, You want the weapon to go transparent or you with it?

He stroked his beard. Both would be ideal, but I’m more like a dwarven warrior than a sneaky elf. I just want to be able to carry it in normal places without people realizing that I have it.

I nodded. Gotcha. The teleporting thing should cover that, though. I’m just debating on how to imbue it to grant just you extra strength and armored skin. What if someone else grabbed the haft of the axe?

Jeren looked up for a bit. Yeah, I wouldn’t want that. Ideally, bind the entire weapon to me, so it won’t work for others.

I think I can enchant it to have built-in powers. But, for some things, like the force field, I might have to make it draw in magic from the area to power it. Even I need magic in the area to create new magic effects.

He shrugged, That’s fine.

It means that those powers will only work where the magic from this portal spreads. We may want to find a way to open more of them, so we aren’t stuck in Metrocity.

Bobby said, That sounds like a good idea. Maybe make a spear that stabs through into that universe, or a sword that cleaves through the barriers between worlds.

I shrugged. I can try that. Either that, or just capture the rainbow-winged chick again.

Come on, man. We’re the heroes of the story. Kidnapping some girl isn’t very heroic.

I sighed. Fine. We’ll imbue Jeren’s axe, and then I’ll make something that punctures new breaches.

Awesome.

I slapped my thighs and stood. All right, Jeren. Let’s make this axe uber.

He pumped his fist and held the axe to me. I took it with my left hand and walked toward the swirling vortex of energy. I looked back, Jeren, stay close. At some point, I’ll need you on hand to bind the weapon to you.

He nodded eagerly, and I moved directly in front of the portal, to have access to the greatest quantity of raw magic. I focused on what I intended to do with the axe, and began the hours-long process of imbuing it with power.

Chapter 2 – Escape

Third Person Perspective

Razorwing stood next to Rayna and watched Diva leap into the sky with Black Tiger and Serreka. The violet-haired heroine had the fingers of her left hand wrapped in red bandages, yet she acted as though she had no pain whatsoever. Her costume had been a disaster, shredded by what appeared to be large caliber bullets.

Rayna squeezed Razorwing’s right arm and said, What’s on your mind, monster?

The demonic hero smiled and looked at the young woman next to him. Diva’s much tougher than most of the bricks we’ve seen. She’s ignoring her hand injury.

She glanced into the sky toward the southwest, where the alien woman’s silver hair glittered in the city lights. Razorwing’s distance vision was so good as to allow him to watch the trio close-up, even at the speed Diva moved.

Rayna said, More likely that Psystar did her breath thing. She doesn’t like people being in pain around her.

Razorwing nodded and looked back at the blonde woman. As was common for them, two spherical eye-monsters hovered next to her. Gruff, the volleyball-sized grumpy B, floated next to her right shoulder. The new, even-stranger B, Tuff, floated to her left. His large blue wings lazily flapped in the air, moving too slow to aid in his flight. The furry creature scanned the area continuously with its five eyes.

Spectral Warden approached the group, still wearing his psychic white-and-red armor. He held his oversized white mace in his right hand.

He said, I’m heading out, guys.

Razorwing asked, Your motorcycle around here?

Spectral Warden shook his head and sighed. I flew here with Emme. His voice caught at the name of his deceased friend.

Rayna said, I’m sorry for you.

Spectral Warden’s hand squeezed the handle of the mace. I should never have let her get involved. Behind the mask of his helmet, the hero gritted his teeth, angry with both himself and the villain that killed the woman he had just begun to learn more about.

Razorwing nodded and thought about the two alien women. Perhaps involving them in superhero activities wasn’t the best idea, especially when they had no actual investment in the people of Metrocity, much less Earth. On the other hand, this was now Serreka’s home, now that the alien Kurcet no longer held her hostage on their spacecraft.

Spectral Warden jogged past the heroes and strange monsters near Rayna, through the line of police vehicles and reporters, and sped west toward the river dividing Metrocity into three sections.

Razorwing watched the armored man until he disappeared from the demonic hero’s view, and then watched as the large H.E.R.O. detention van pulled past the other police vehicles toward him.

Agent Carrigan waved at the paddy wagon, and then pointed to the location near Razorwing, where the villains from the attack on Ironsite Security were lying unconscious. The van stopped, and a pair of bulky, overmuscled men climbed out and approached the group.

The two bricks were dressed in costumes that looked like police uniforms, apart from the logo of H.E.R.O. that identified them as federal police rather than local officers.

Karl Mackey tapped a pair of fingers to his forehead in a rough salute toward Razorwing, and the hero moved toward the pair.

Razorwing said, Greetings, gents. I thought your van was destroyed.

The large man nodded, Mike and me are handling the other van for the night shift tonight. They’ve got a new one on the way.

Good to hear.

The second officer, Mike Shuppel, knelt next to each of the villains to verify that they were unconscious, and lifted the sheet over Carey Csepella. His eyebrows rose as he saw her lack of clothing, and he looked toward the heroes.

Rayna said, The officers covered her to keep her decent. She apparently doesn’t like wearing clothing when she’s on fire. She was like that on Wednesday evening as well.

Mike asked, Have they all been given sedatives?

Agent Carrigan nodded, They’ll all be out for hours. She looked behind her, toward the former seven-story building that had mostly collapsed, as well as to the parking garage on the right of that building, which had been completely leveled. She said, No need for Planetbuster to do that again.

Mike stared past the small woman. Yeah, that’s a lot of destruction. Well, clock’s ticking and we should get them to the jail so he can’t wake up.

Karl picked up Belle, the petite mutant woman with yellow hair and faerie-like wings sprouting from her back. He said, Suppose she’d regrow these if they got plucked?

Razorwing raised an eyebrow and said, I hope you’ve never tried that.

The huge man hopped into the back of the van, locked the woman’s arms with manacles attached to the wall, and returned. He shook his head, No. I was just wondering. Think she can fly with them?

Razorwing stared at the slight woman. She wouldn’t have enough lift with them, but who knows. Psystar and Diva don’t have wings, and yet they fly extremely fast.

Karl brought one of the men into the back and locked him down. When he returned, Mike passed by him, holding the red-haired girl. Karl asked, How’s that work?

Razorwing shook his head, No idea. Superpowers.

Mike stepped out of the back and said, I could use me some flight. Might have been able to catch that robot from the other day.

Karl nodded and walked around to the driver’s side of the van. I’m driving. Night, everyone. He waved to the heroes and Agent Carrigan, and then opened the door and climbed into the van.

Mike said, Have a good one, guys. He entered the rear of the van and closed the door behind him. After a moment, the van pulled away from the rubble-strewn courtyard.

As the van traveled south from Ironsite Security, Karl took the quieter streets of the east-side River District south toward the Samson Bridge. While lacking the excellent night vision of a mutant, Karl was able to make out three people that floated on a black platform to the south.

One man’s cloak flapped gently in the breeze, while a long staff in his right hand glowed in the night sky. Blake halted his black platform in the sky to watch the large paddy wagon.

Bobby’s voice sounded slightly metallic as he asked, What do you think they’re doing going through the warehouse and factory area here this late on Friday night?

Blake replied, Probably a S.W.A.T. van out to do a hit on a drug joint.

Jeren shook his head, No, that’s a H.E.R.O. detention van. Prisoner transport. I’ve seen the same things up in Chicago. You want to hit it and free the prisoners?

Blake shook his head, I don’t care about prisoners. They probably deserve whatever they’re getting.

A flash of light lanced down the street north of the van. It came from the same area as the paddy wagon, and where the light stopped just south of the van, a trio of people stood in the midst of the street.

An extremely hairy, ape-like man leaped toward the van and smashed an oversized fist into the engine compartment. The front of the vehicle crumpled before his strength, and Karl’s large form crashed through the reinforced windshield and bounced several times on the asphalt before he rolled to one knee.

A great crash came from within, as Mike’s half-ton body was thrown toward the front of the paddy wagon. He landed on the chained body of one of the male mutants, breaking several of the unconscious man’s bones from the impact.

Karl grabbed the walkie-talkie on his left shoulder and said, This is Officer Karl Mackey, det-van 2047 is under attack.

Mindblade, a brunette woman with a long ponytail, wore a full-body skintight black costume with pink highlights. She rushed toward Karl. A black mask concealed her upper face, and stood out against her tan skin. Glowing white blades appeared between each of her fingers, which she immediately threw at the officer.

Two of the glowing blades hit Karl in the torso. They sliced through the stretchable cloth and the man’s nearly invulnerable skin with equal ease. He cried out in pain and stumbled backward, surprised and shocked at the pain his unbelievably tough and impenetrable body was so unused to feeling. Blood ran down his costume and through his thick fingers as he grabbed at his chest.

He looked at the woman and said, How…?

She grinned, flashing bright white teeth. Psychic blades. You don’t have protection from me, brute. Shag, get Planetbuster.

Her shaggy, apelike ally glanced at her, huffed, and leaped to the back of the van to rip off the doors. The man was a brick-mutant hybrid, and combined many of the benefits of each. Unlike most bricks, the man had massive black claws replacing each of his fingertips, as well as on his toes, which were shaped more like fingers on a hand. The material tore through the thick wall of the van with ease, and with nearly one-hundred tons of strength in his corded muscles, he shredded the doors and looked inside.

Mindblade’s final partner, Lightbeam, stood in a tight black costume with neon yellow stripes. He was a tall, thin man, though with well-defined muscles. His eyes glowed bright white, and lasers shot at Karl’s eyes, blinding him. While Karl threw his hand in front of his eyes to shield himself from the blinding light, Mindblade took the opportunity to generate and throw another set of psychic blades.

She hit Karl with three of the four glowing weapons. Again, they gashed the officer with ease before they faded away. He screamed in pain and dived to his right.

A hundred feet above, Blake and his friends watched the attack. Jeren asked, Should we help one of the sides?

Blake shifted his vision, to see the glowing, magical motes within each of the supers. He was surprised to see an extra man standing in the shadows on a rooftop below them. Blake motioned to be silent, and the black platform beneath the group descended toward the large man.

Shag threw the van door behind him. The metal bounced and banged on the asphalt until it slammed into a pole, sliced it in half, and the pole fell, causing sparks to fly from the wires attached at the top.

Inside the van, Mike pushed off the front wall as he leaped at the furry brick. He punched Shag in the jaw, knocking and spinning the man through the air for dozens of feet. Shag caught the asphalt of the street with one hand, his claws dug in, and he stopped.

Mike glanced back into the van. The prisoners were all secure and unconscious. The mutant he had crashed into bled from his mouth. The officer kicked the back of the van, causing it to skid forward and hit Lightbeam. The villain fell and the van stopped over him.

Karl grabbed the metal grid covering a water drain next to him and threw it at the psychic woman. She dodged to the side and avoided the missile, which flew another hundred feet and crashed through the side of a building.

He grabbed the blacktop around the opening and tore chunks from the street with his bare fingers. He threw those at the woman, as she dodged and threw another set of the glowing blades at the man.

Shag leaped at Mike, who spun and punched down at the ape-like man. Mike struck the man, and Shag’s body created a hole in the street several feet deep. Asphalt debris flew in all directions.

Shag grabbed Mike’s thick shin with one hand-like foot and dug his black claws into the officer. Mike punched the villain’s leg, freeing his own, but Shag pushed off the ground with one hand and punched with his free hand. He hit Mike in the abdomen and knocked him back several dozen feet.

Blake approached the large, bearded man in the suit from behind. He said, Yo, which side are you on?

Nightmonger turned and raised an eyebrow at the unexpected visitors. The bearded man was dressed in an expensive suit, tailored to match his massive, overmuscled form. His eyes glanced at each of the three, and he said, Interesting. Who might you be?

I asked you first, big man.

Nightmonger smiled. I’m bringing someone with me.

So … not the cops.

And you are…?

Blake. The city’s resident master mage, I believe.

Mage? I haven’t heard of your group.

Yeah? Well, I haven’t heard of your group either.

Nightmonger chuckled, I don’t advertise my presence. Why are you here?

You’re in my territory. I’m interested in everything happening here.

Oh? The River District is yours now?

Blake smiled slightly, Not like in owning everything. More as in this is my region.

Be cautious of laying claim to things. You’ll find there are others who do the same.

Except that I have the power to back me up.

Nightmonger raised an eyebrow. The three men appeared young to him, and dressed in common blue jeans and cheap clothes, barring the odd cloak worn by Blake. So, you’re a group of new supers, and you believe that no one has powers to rival your own?

Jeren grinned, It’s like he knows you, Blake.

Blake narrowed his eyes at his friend, and then looked back at Nightmonger. He confidently said, I don’t need to prove my power. It’s real. If anyone wants to test me, I’ll put them in their place.

Nightmonger nodded slightly. I’m always looking for new men to join my ranks. Is that what you are seeking?

Blake shook his head, No. I’m about to build my tower. I’m just looking to do my own thing, so long as others don’t get in my way.

Be careful of petty crimes. There are enough heroes in the city to cause issues to groups of supers.

Jeren saw the flashing red-and-blue lights of a motorcycle turn a corner at impossible speed, and approach at extreme speeds. He said, Looks like your group’s about to meet one of them.

Nightmonger turned to watch, although Impact’s motorcycle approached at such high speed that the crime lord barely had a few seconds to watch the hero approach.

Impact turned the final corner without slowing, the momentum of his motorcycle immediately shifted to a new direction by the superpower of the costumed hero. It allowed him to make a ninety-degree turn without slowing, and he sped at Mindblade before the woman had a chance to dodge completely out of the way.

Impact leaped off the cycle and absorbed all kinetic energy from the vehicle, which in turn caused it to stop in place instantly. He then kicked Mindblade in the torso, unleashing the energy in his kick as though he were a brick. Ribs snapped on the woman, and she flew back into the vehicle.

Lightbeam rolled out from beneath the van. His eyes flashed, and twin lasers shot at the hero clad in white and green. The beams gashed a pair of lines through the black man’s costume and tore deep into his chest.

Impact grunted and swore, Damn energy villains.

Karl held one hand against the numerous wounds on his torso, but threw a handful of rocks at the thin villain. Lightbeam dived to his right and shot back at the officer with a pair of lasers. The beams cut through the H.E.R.O. uniform, but did little more than score minor burns on his skin.

Nightmonger tapped his ear and said, Lightbeam, focus on Impact. The brick can barely move.

Lightbeam rolled on the ground as Impact charged him and punched. His punches focused all of his kinetic energy in one spot, and his arm moved with incredible speed as he struck the villain. A rib cracked from the punch, and Lightbeam responded with a flash of lasers at close range, cutting through Impact’s glasses, down his face, and into the hero’s neck and chest. While tougher than a normal human, Impact had no protection against a high-powered laser, and the beams cut deep into him.

Bobby saw the glint of light off metal in the air and said, Looks like that dragon’s approaching from the north. His eyes followed the thirty-foot long gold dragon’s approach from a mile to the north.

Nightmonger said, Good night, gentlemen. He stepped off the building and slammed into the concrete sidewalk with great force as his half-ton body landed without crouching. The block snapped, and he walked toward the van. He activated his shadow powers and his face became cloaked and hidden from view.

Jeren said, We doing anything?

Blake shook his head. Not getting involved in their fight.

Mindblade coughed and forced herself to one knee. She threw glowing blades from both hands, one at Karl, and the other at Impact’s back. Several found each target, and Impact’s next punch was thrown off target by the psychic blades.

Lightbeam’s eyes glowed continuously, with bright beams dancing back and forth on the hero’s chest, burning into the man. Impact stumbled back, gritting his teeth from the pain.

Nightmonger passed Mindblade, snapped his fingers and motioned to follow him, and then walked to the rear of the van, where Shag and Mike grappled and punched at each other. Their blows thundered and shook the ground and van near them. The two seemed evenly matched in strength and armored skin, but for the claws on Shag. By the time Nightmonger reached the pair, Mike had scores of deep cuts on him, while the furred villain merely had bruises.

The suit-clad crime boss stepped up behind Mike while the other two were grappling, grabbed the officer on one shoulder and smashed at his head from behind. The punch knocked both Mike and Shag into a cracked asphalt hole, and the H.E.R.O. officer was stunned.

Shag ran a set of claws down Mike’s chest, scoring cuts that were inches deep along his torso. He threw the man off and rolled to his feet. Nightmonger lifted Mike by the shoulder and slammed his fist into the officer’s chest with a thunderous boom. Mike flew back and bounced against the road for dozens of feet.

Nightmonger stepped up into the van and snapped the chain holding Planetbuster. He grabbed the man by his shoulder and turned to leave, but then noticed the redheaded girl on the opposite bench. She had been in his meeting with Naryx and Lady Nocturne, but had not belonged with the mutants. He reached over and snapped her restraints, and scooped her and the blanket beneath his left arm.

He dropped out of the van, and created a shadowy gate in front of him with his powers. He said, We’re leaving.

Lightbeam stepped up from the left. What about the mutants?

They aren’t our problem. We helped them, and they failed.

Okay.

The darkness became solid, and large enough to enter. Nightmonger led the way, and his group followed him into the portal. A second later, it disappeared behind them.

Chapter 3 – Full-size Faerie

Blake’s Viewpoint

I watched the huge businessman step out of the detention van and into a shadowy area. I raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t a simple brick after all.

The hero and officer at the front of the van were both down on the ground. Behind the van, the remaining officer slowly got back to his feet and moved toward the vehicle. I flew my group down to the front officer on my magical platform.

Bobby said, What are we doing?

I’m going to heal them.

Why help them, if you didn’t want to get involved?

I didn’t say I wouldn’t get involved. I said I wasn’t going to take sides during the fight.

I allowed the platform to fade, touched the bulky officer, and said, Heal Other. The magic flowed at my command, and his wounds sealed. His breathing immediately eased.

I walked to Impact. I recognized this hero, even though I was from Chicago. He did several ads for products from gloves to sunglasses, as well as for motorcycles. I studied his sport cycle as I approached him. It was a fast model, made even faster with his powers over kinetic energy.

I went to one knee and touched him on the shoulder as I said, Heal Other. As occurred with the officer nearby, Impact’s burns faded and disappeared.

I left him on the street and walked to the back of the truck to see how the remaining officer was doing. He moved with some effort toward us, watching with narrowed eyes as he tried to determine our intentions.

I glanced into the van and saw two men and a woman. The woman had colorful yellow hair and faerie wings sprouting from her back. Her ears were pointed. She wore jeans and a tank top, likely to make room for the wings on her upper back. I narrowed my eyes and jumped into the back to look at her closer.

The officer said, Hey! Those are criminals. Don’t get involved.

The men were all ugly monsters, much like those at the diner that I had accidentally blown up. I touched the woman’s wing. It was soft and felt like velvet beneath my fingers.

I glanced at Bobby, Free her. She’s coming with us. I looked at the officer. I’ll heal you if you try not to fight us. If you do fight, I’ll tear you apart like a bear, or whatever that guy was that you just fought.

Jeren said,