The moon slowly arced across the starry night sky, the clouds still gathered in bunches promising rain later. For the city it was surprisingly quiet, with a bit of chit-chat and sweet nothings from a passing couple walking the streets. On the roof of one of the buildings was Herro laying on his back looking towards the stars. He was totally lost in thought as he was totally in awe from the heavens.

“I had hoped that date would have worked out...I mean she..he...Well whatever it was, it was very pretty. I mean my last Girlfriend was a Huge problem,” Herro said aloud to no one in particular and when he thought of his ex he has a shiver go down his body. “So I suppose it isn’t a big deal. Being alone means no headaches.”

Herro turned his head to look at a couple giggling and holding each other as they walked the dim streets. He could see that the girl was so excited to be around the guy. She was smiling big and bright while holding his arm. The guy was engaged but not at the same level. Herro turned away as they kissed and looked at the sky again to think.

Herro shivers, his mind back on Razor, “While it was good to actually have someone hit on ME for a change, could you imagine waking up to that in the morning?

“Oh good morning honey thanks for the great night. Oh you're going to take a shower sure go ahead ahh!” He said in a mocking tone, “but then again how do I know he wouldn't play that out longer? A week, a month. Who knows with him, we could have celebrated an anniversary before he showed me the surprise”

Herro looked back towards the couple who now where gone from view. Loneliness swelled inside him. Family was nice to have, but it doesn't give you that amazing feeling like when you are with someone. He could always call his ex, but she was a mistake...a crazy mistake.

“The date wasn't too horrible either. Just...didn't enjoy the surprise twist at the end. M. Knight Shamyalan eat your heart out. ” he mumbled.

“That Summer was gorgeous though,” He said with a wistful sigh. Still looking out towards the city he focused on the restaurant he’d been in earlier. He knew the name was of the two gorgeous amazon princesses now.

“Should I go say hi? No that would be very weird. Best not ruin being able to go there at all.

Still not realizing he was not talking to anyone Herro glanced down and noticed four guys go into the restaurant, and by go in he means breaking the doors down. The sound of the wood splintering and glass shattering rang across the quiet parking lot, “Oh, that’s weird. I don't know what security they have but I have to go help the workers”

Herro jumped up and ran to the stairs. He started running down them and a thought hit him. Why on earth am I taking the slow route?

He quickly glanced at a spot on the ground, concentrated, and teleported to the spot; cutting out around seven stories. He then took off running down the street.

“Thank God I was a good runner in school” Herro mumbled to himself as he dashed across the parking lot.

He was around fifty yards from the restaurant doors in time to see one of the robbers come flying out where the doors had been. He was followed closely by a second fellow who flew even further. A purple blur burst out soon after. Stopped and spun around as the last two guys come walking out. Herro took a few steps back and took a quick glance at the girl who was in a battle stance.

Rolling his eyes as he looks between the pair of guys near the building and the girl, “oh great it's just you again. Listen I figure you could just handle these guys. Thanks again for the fun time”

She glanced at him, her eyes almost pure red, the green being all but drowned out in her anger, “Huh?”

“You know this guy?” one of the standing guys asked the girl, he recognized him as Middle man from the bar earlier.

“I have never seen that guy before in my life” the girl said in a very flat tone almost as if she was annoyed, “no wait. Didn’t I see you at Iceberg?”

Herro smiled, she remembered him. She was the gorgeous girl who made his heart skip a beat when he first saw her. Granted she looked like razor in some ways which was a total turn off, but she was equally beautiful. Though he had to ask before he did anything, because it totally hadn’t occurred before this point to ask the simple question, “Hey Summer, you’re not a guy or anything right?”

The fight remained still while all their gazes once again locked onto him.

“Do I fucking look like a guy?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.

He couldn’t keep his eyes from tracing up and down her lean body, “Well no but I have been deceived before”

“What street corner are you picking up your women?” Summer snorted, “You know what I rather not know. Just looking at you tells me you need them cheap, so I can see how you ended up in that predicament”

“What! No, I don't buy women!” Herro exclaimed, “Okay, yeah I went on a date with a Girl who looked like you. When she got hit with warm water she became a guy.”

“You mean my brother?” Summer arched an eyebrow.

“I guess, I mean he said that you were his sister. So I am just making sure you dont’ share his uhh condition.”

She grinned, still watching Middle and the unknown guy, “No Razor really is my brother, if you go by his birth gender, but it’s not a condition and no I don’t share the curse.

Glancing him up and down, she continued, “So you’re the guy he went on a date with?”

“Ok, yeah that sounds bad” Herro said towards the guys who now we're all standing “Listen I didn't realize he had a condition. He was a she, and what a she he was. Why do I sound crazy?”

“Listen if you swing that way that's fine, “The man, Small he realized said, “but we are in the middle of something so please run along. I rather not kill more than I have to.”

Summer rolled her eyes, “Okay listen, last time, It’s a curse not a condition, but I have to agree with this guy on this. Run along so I can show these guys just like my brother did.”

The four resumed their battle. Two of the guys rushed at the girl. One punched and she effortlessly ducked under the punch. Then she took the momentum of the duck to do a full body punch to his ribs. He grunted hard in pain and doubled over. The girl then rushed the second guy and before he could react palm struck him hard in the face with the butt of her hand, pushing his head up. His hand reached out and snatched her by the arm.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The next set of guys rushed at her with knives in their hands. Herro didn't even think but reacted. The first thing that happened is he rushed at top speed and a few steps from the first assailant he leaped in the air and did a flying side kick the connected to the side of his enemies face. It instantly knocked the guy off his feet and he flew through the air. The next assailant saw what Herro did and changed targets. As Herro landed the guy slashed his knife at Herro, who jumped back just in time. The guy went to slash again, but Herro had just enough time to focus energy into the palm of his hand and release a wave of force throwing the guy into the darkened restaurant.

Herro spun around and rushed to help Summer. She was delivering an elbow strike at her opponent which smashed him to the ground. Herro reached about a step away from her when she turned around and grabbed him by the arm, spun, and launched him across the parking lot. Herro landed on his back hard on the pavement, the wind being forced from his lungs in a grunt.

“Oh shit! Sorry!” she said taking a fist a gently striking the side of her head. As she did that she closes one eye and sticks out her tongue. It was more cute then apologetic. “I told you to get out of here. I can handle myself”

“I...can...see...this” Herro said between gasps of breath.

The three guys stood, two being Tall and Middle from the club and the third, the Unknown, were back up on their feet. Herro was totally impressed with how much these guys could take. Yes they were bloody but they looked like they were ready for more. The girl was as angelic looking as ever. The girl took a fighting stance ready for anything. Herro rolled off his back and pushed himself up trying to catch his breath and glancing around for Short who had been shoved into the restaurant.

All of a sudden thick vines broke out from the pavement. Summer tried to jump away from them, but they locked on to her and wrapped around her arms and legs. She instantly tried to break free, but more would latch on making it impossible to break free.

“Son of a bitch!” she yelled as she ceased struggling.

“You can thank your friend there. If he didn't pushed me into the restaurant I wouldn't have the darkness to mask my spell casting” Short came out of the shadows of the restaurant. He dusted himself off and smiled at his prey. Herro glanced at the guy, yeah there he was.

Summer started struggling in a more focused and less panicked manner. She broke a few vines but it was like a hydra and those broken vines were quickly replaced. Herro had seen this spell before and knew the spell anchor was somewhere inside and if he could get in there he could break it.

I can’t just leave her unprotected like that, Herro thought and focused on the ground by her where he appeared with arms spread.

Putting on an air of bravado he still didn’t completely feel, Herro spoke, “Alright gentlemen this seriously has gone far enough. She got your point. Any further and you may kill her”

“Did...did you just enter the fight Mr. Hero? That's the whole point” the one guy said as they all exchanged looks of surprise.

“Just Herro is fine. My dad is Mr. Well not Herro but it’s still, Mister is uncalled for. Just Herro will do.”

“Are you making fun of us?” the Middle guy pulls out his large knife. “Because I can carve a smile into your face, if you like laughing so much.”

“Try it” Herro said calmly

“Wait man!” the Short one called out but it was too late.

The first guy rushed forward without thinking. Herro stood there becoming calmer and calmer. The assailant drew back the knife to strike in a large arc and he was engulfed in flames. The guy ran away screaming in pain before dropping to the ground dead sizzling, the fire itself going out as soon as his body died.

Herro sighed as he stood there with a wooden wand in his hand, “I really didn't want to resort to that, but I had no choice. I don't think my blade will be necessary so I will use this instead. Now that you can see I mean business I am hoping you all just leave”

The unknown’s eyes got wide, “Shit, where did a mage come from?”

“I tried to warn you. He used magic to push me into the building.” Short said

“But still a Magia here in Amazon territory...who gave him clearance?” Unknown scowled.

Summer, clearly still mad but not struggling at all yelled out, “Well nobody gave your tribe clearance either Delta’s!”

The three Amazons started splitting up. Two started circling towards Herro’s sides.

Tall scowled as he went around Herro’s right side, “Now that you mention it he does reek of Magia. I haven't seen one in a while. It would be nice to get a kill from their race under my belt”

The two on the sides rushed in at Herro. He quickly turned to his left and sent an invisible wave of force at Tall throwing him back. Unknown, now behind him, pulled out a sword he had on his back and took a swing at full power. Herro dodged the swing and used the movement to slide behind him. Herro’s wand sparked with arcs of electricity ready to strike the death blow but he sensed something and blinked a few steps away.

Out of the ground more vines broke out trying to reach for the young mage who kept dodging them. Tall got back up, looking rather pissed off. He shook out the cobwebs out of his head.

“Hurry up and kill the wench, while I have the mage busy!” Short commanded.

The two Amazons straightened up at look at the girl and rushed her. They drew their weapons back ready to cut into their prey. Herro had no time to plan. He blink in front of the girl. The next second he felt intense pain as the two blades cut into him. He dropped his wand and grabbed both of their arms to keep them in place. His head turned to the surprised girl. His eyes full of determination. It was strange it was as if the solid fall of his bangs had fused to form three long spikes of hair. The hidden half of his face partially uncovered she could see a long scar across his eye that went from forehead down to almost his lower jaw.

“Are you ok? I hope I didn't get any blood on your uniform” Herro said “if you excuse me”

He faced back towards his Amazon foes. He summoned as much will as he could. His eyes glowing and full of rage. Then the arms he held completely disintegrated. The Amazons naturally screamed and moved back but it was too late. Herro held his now empty hands and two bolts of lightning shot towards the two. They dropped instantly, their bodies smoking almost as much as the burn victim.

Short’s eyes were wide and his hands up, “Whoa wait man. Hold on a second. Let's talk about this. I bet I can offer you something nice”

Herro knew it was a lie. He could feel the vines moving beneath his feet. He knew he had to stop this now or it would be over. His blood was coming out too fast plus he never removed the weapons from his body.

“I will not kill you” Herro summoned his will into the wand that was back into his hand. Pointed it up and fired a fireball at his enemy. The Amazon dodged the fireball letting it go into the restaurant.

“You idiot. Not only could I see that coming but now you are burning the place I was sent to burn.” Short glanced back from the burning building to Herro, “I thought you said you weren't going to kill me? Such a bad liar, if you can’t keep the lie for more than thirty seconds”

“I won't” Herro said as he fell to his knees. Weakened by the loss of blood. The world began to spin and his appendages became numb, “She will”

Short looked at Summer who was now free. He instantly looked at the vines anchor point which was now on fire breaking his control over them. The vines lay lifeless at her feet. The red rage could be seen in her eyes, no green remained.

Herro watched her as she walked towards Short cracking her knuckles. Her battle aura made her air seem animated as it flowed through the air. She then blurred out of view and appeared behind the guy. Her hand wrapped around Shorts neck, turned, and threw him into the side of the restaurant. He hit the reinforced bricks so hard he bounced off from them and slammed into the ground, a shimmer of energy pulsing up and down from where he hit before settling back to transparency. She walked towards him like a killer in a movie. Her movements very slow, seemingly drawing out and enjoying every moment.

Herro then felt a surge of dark power course through him. His blood glowed an eerily and the craving came. The craving to use the power of all the blood on the ground. It was like a drug the more you use it the more you crave doing it. One of the reasons it was considered tainted...that and the things calling to you in your mind.

“No….not this time. Once is enough!” Herro said aloud pushing the craving away with all his might. Then the world became black, his last words a mere mumble, “I won't become like her.”

Herro came to a little while later. The fire was out and he didn't see the body of Short. He was still in pain. The weapons were out of him, but it was strange. Why was his head off the ground? Why was he laying on something warm? He looked up and saw he was laying in the girl's lap. She was looking down at him smiling but her now green eyes with just their red flacks held tears. Her hair flowed over him.

His world started to go to dark again as he looked past the ample mounds above him and into her eyes. The only words that came to mind came from his smiling lips as he faded fully into the blackness, “My Princess.”