The Blue Blaze

Picking Up The Pieces

The Hunter

    Well, that didn't go as planned... But, I guess Rome wasn't built in a day. Escaping was my most viable option at the time, not my most dignifying moment though. 

"Did you see what that girl did, Sir?" Simon asks me.

"Yes, Simon. I did see. It was quite remarkable. I will not rest until I get my hands on her. Am I understood?" I demand.

"Understood, Sir. However, we have many of our resources scattered about for the Elixir contamination project, the energy replacement pods setup, and the regrouping of your Super-Soldier army plans." Simon reminds me.

"Oh that's right... Damn. Are there any other slave camps that we can pull people from to  use them for those jobs? Then we can pull some of my trusted guards and have them go on a mission for the retrieval of that Miss Madalyn Cooper. I want her in one piece, is that understood?" I order.

"Alright, Sir. And what of Giles?" Simon asks.

"Bring him in too. An example needs to be made of what happens to traitors." gritting my teeth at just the thought of him.

    Simon agrees to my demands. I have him tend to my business, which used to be Giles' job until Giles became a filthy traitor. Simon will do this and then he can return to his normal scientist duties. I may have to do all the heavy lifting around here until I can find someone who is trustworthy enough to be my advisor, to replace Giles.

    Tatum drives the carriage, taking Simon and I to one of my hide-outs. It's a decent little cabin tucked away in some mountains nearby. A safe place where we can go to regroup and make some plans for our next moves. As much as I don't want to divert my attention away from this girl who seems to have way too much power for her own good... I can't let myself get too distracted from the main goal here. The big picture...

    It might be time to join forces with some of my fellow crime lords. Until I can get my number back to a healthy & dominating presence.

"Simon, I need a telegram delivered. Write this down... To my fellow Tyrannical Leader, Lord Dominion.." I begin.

    Simon looks up from the paper. Staring at me like my head grew another head. His eyes have gone wide, and I believe I could even see sweat beading on his forehead.

"Lord Dominion? Are you sure, Sir?" Simon questions me.

"I didn't stutter Simon! Yes I am sure!" I yell at him.

    Okay, so what if this Lord Dominion guy has made such a name for himself that people are afraid of even the slightest utter of his name? This guy makes ME look like freakin' Bambi. I probably shouldn't trust him, but I am between a rock and a hard place here. 

    After Simon finishes the telegram to Lord Dominion, we discuss the release date for the Elixir serum. This makes me happy because it'll be in the water systems of every major city, town, and even the suburbs that surround those areas. A few weeks will go by before we turn on the energy pods, allowing the elixir to be in full effect when the energy pods come on. Any powers anyone possesses, will then be a distant memory. Which means I need to get my hands on that girl, sooner rather than later. 

    I should have my new training camp full of trained and dosed trainees by the energy pod activation. This means BY the 7 year anniversary of "A-Day", I'll be in full launch with energy pods, AND of Super-Soldier attack missions. 

    Hitting the major hiccup with those infuriating Do-Goodies, may have put a few hitches in my chain... But they did not stop me. Once, I get Lord Dominion on my payroll, they won't even know what hit them...

    Finally, I decide that all of this business talk and world domination planning has left me parched. Making my way over to the drink cart inside my carriage, I make my favorite. The Chivas Regal Royal Salute edition whiskey. It's superb, and VERY expensive. I love it. I pour some into a glass, and take a smooth sip. It's delightful.

    I happen to notice there is a small folded piece of paper folded inside one of my other drink glasses sitting on my drink cart. Curious, I pluck it from the inside of the glass and unfold it.

"Come find me.."

"Jasper"

    Scribbled onto the paper... 

"Hmmm, would you look at that..." I mumble aloud.

     I think things just got a little more interesting...    

Madalyn

"Well, that's the last of it." Sebastian tells me as he loads the last crate of provisions into one of the carriages.

"Thank you Sebastian. I told you that you didn't have to do any of that. You're still looking pretty rough little brother." I tell him as I study his face.

    He looks much better than he did a few hours ago, but I can still see the dark circles under his eyes. His face still looks a little pale too. I'm reminded of the time when he was only 9 and was sick with the Voxir-Virus. It wasn't common for kids to get sick with it, so when we took him into the hospital, it was pretty scary. A-Day had just happened and many people were getting sick with the illness. Hospitals were at a disadvantage due to all of the electricity being wiped out. 

    It was a chaotic mess really. Everyone was freaking out to the max! Mostly everyone was just scared. The Elixir, cure, wasn't established yet, and they really didn't know how to handle this virus. Sebastian didn't do well with the illness. We were so scared that he wasn't going to make it. For being so young, he was so strong. Even though he was SO sick, he still managed to put a smile on his face.

    I may be his big sister, but I don't think he realizes how much I am the one who looks up to him. I admire his strength and his positivity through adversity. How can someone go through SO much and still look at life the way he does? How does he still see the beauty when there is so much ugly? 

    Everyone keeps talking about what I did and about MY powers... but it's Sebastian that we need to all be looking to. Katarina was right. The world would be a much better place if we were all more like Sebastian, and thought more like Sebastian. I hate that she gave her life, but I am grateful for it at the same time.

How selfish of me...

    I look over at Wyatt, while he talks to some of the soldiers. He puts on a strong demeanor, but I know inside he feels that guilt very heavy. That he is here and Katarina isn't. I don't have to step into his mind to know that. The amount of self doubt he has, he doesn't feel his life is worth someone else's sacrifice. 

    Katarina didn't even know him, but she knew her shift in her abilities and she knew what she felt was the right thing to do. I will carry her memory with me always. 

"Everyone is loaded up Maddy." Wyatt says, breaking my train of thought.

    My eyes are blurry from heavy thoughts, and seeing Wyatt's face, it's like it caused the flood gates to open immediately. Bursting into tears, I wrap my arms around him so tightly. Pulling him into me close and firm. He responds instantly. Embracing me in return. Breathing him in deeply, my sobs slow, and my breaths regulate. He pulls away just far enough to examine my face. His hand comes up and wipes tears from eyes. 

"You are not alone, Maddy. You are the strongest woman I know, but you do not have to carry any of your burdens by yourself, okay?" Wyatt reassures me.

"Thank you. I'm sorry... I don't know why I'm such an emotional wreck lately. Just know, the same goes for you, okay?" I tell him.

    I rub my hands across my face and compose myself. 

"Hey, the troops are loaded and ready to go. Provisions are all loaded also. Giles gave me the location for the abandoned camp we can all go to and have up and running as the new base. He will drive the leading carriage that we can follow, but he wanted us to have the location as well in case we have to split up." Wyatt informs me.

"Okay, sounds like a plan. How many carriages do we have in total?" I ask.

"5 total." He answers.

"Alright, so Giles will be driving the first one and lead us. Who do we want driving the others?" I ask.

"I figured I will drive one, You and Sebastian can drive another, and two guys volunteered to head up driving the remaining two carriages." Wyatt explains.

"That sounds good to me. That'll give Sebastian some time to rest." I add.

"Well and I figured it'd also give you two some time to catch up and just be together, you know?" Wyatt offers.

"That's very thoughtful Wyatt, thank you." I say.

"Just let me know if you aren't feeling up to it though, okay? I know what you did back there takes a lot out of you. Besides the fact of everything else that can be weighing on you." He tells me, with such kindness in his voice.

    Wyatt is being so thoughtful and so kind... a lump forms in my throat.

What is wrong with me? Why am I so emotional lately? I normally have such a tight grasp on my emotions, to the point that people have viewed me as having NONE at all. Lately, that is NOT the case. Maybe it's the super-surge in my powers, or maybe I'm getting sick and this is a side effect because of my powers.... who knows?

"Okay Wyatt," I begin, "Let's hit the road then. It's my understanding that if we leave soon, we could make it there just shortly after nightfall."

"That's correct!" Wyatt smiles, "You and Sebastian take the carriage behind Giles, and I'll take the one behind you guys. Darren and Joseph will be driving the other two carriages behind me."

    I nod in agreement. He still stands there staring at me. I smile in the awkward pause. Next thing I know, Wyatt has his hands on my waist, pulling me into him. His mouth crashes into mine and I respond instantly. Kissing him back, breathing in his scent. Musky with hints of spices and rum. He smells delicious. Awakening every sense inside of me, he pulls away.

    An audible whimper escapes my lips. This makes him smile with such a sexy and sultry smirk.

"To be continued..." Wyatt says with a wink.

To be continued INDEED!