Blood, I watched as it trickled down from the locker like a sprung leak. Leaving a crimson trail and puddle on the floor. And underneath it was a limp body. And above him was Leo, who was being pulled away by our school’s security guards. I stared breathlessly at the sight. What happened? What did he do!? Why did he…

All the students were swarming around it like bees to a hive. Buzzing around with there phones, taking pictures, and videos.

“Bro did Brad just get stomped by a freshman!?”

“I heard it all started from a your mom joke.”

“He was like a freaking animal! Dudes a savage!”

I stayed in the flow of the crowd and listened carefully, trying my best to paint some kind of picture. The most common thing I heard was this Brad guy getting mad at Leo for bumping into him. Then things range from Leo just attacking him, to Brad making fun of him, to Zack sending Leo after Brad. Which, wouldn’t be the first time he paid someone to fight his battles. But I knew Leo wouldn’t do anything for Zack.

Then the late bell roared throughout the halls and the teachers got a lot more serious about us leaving. I wanted to see if I could find someone who had a video of the fight or something. But when they threatened detention, the rush got a lot more serious. Elizabeth, I needed to talk to Elizabeth. As we were scattering from the scene, I quickly fled to the bathroom. I checked if the coast was clear. Then I gave her a call.

“Crickay, diied yah meess me oolraydy?” She chuckled into the phone.

“Hey Elizabeth, if you’re not busy could I meet me behind the school?”

“Oh, so bold Mr.hero. buh' yah should tyke me on a propah dyte befoah we jump that fah!” She snickered.

“Elizabeth, I’m serious. I need to talk to you about Leo. Can you meet me?”

“Oh, yeah, of coahss Oy cahn. diied somethin hahppen?”

“I’ll tell you about it when I see you,” I replied and quickly hung up.

I waited a bit, and then headed out of the bathroom. As I was making my way down the hall, I was almost immediately spotted. By none other than Valentina! What was she doing out here!? I felt the panic begin to set in. She tilted her head at me, and started to walk toward me. Think! Think! What would Zack say at a time like this!?

“Stryder? What are you doing out here?” Valentina inquired.

“N-nothing really, I just..” Think, think! “It’s just, the pizza didn’t sit well with my stomach if you catch my drift,” I said with a nervous laugh.

She rolled her eyes and gave me a slight chuckle.

“I see, well you better hurry! You better not be sneaking off to see your girlfriend.”

“W-what!? No no! She’s just a friend.” I said with a laugh.

“Whatever you say puppy dog.” She hummed.

She waved off and proceeded to walk past me. I took a breath and started to walk ahead. That lie went easier than expected. Maybe I look less nervous now? Is that a good thing? Gosh, is Zacks bad side rubbing off on me…

I shrugged the thought off and just continued toward the backdoor. And once I arrived I carefully and quietly opened the back door.

“hy theah cutie!” I heard Elizabeth humm.

“Woah! Don’t scare me like that!” I yelped.

She just chuckled and happily hoped back. I gave her a stale stare and sighed.

“Ssshh, keep it down alright. We gotta be quiet okay?” I whispered to her.

I leaned against the brick walls of the school and looked over to her. And she just happily saluted me.

“rawdgah, rawdgah.” She cheered.

“So, did you hear what happened?”

“Oh yayh! He bahshed someone's fyce in!”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“You don’t have to sound so excited about it…”

“Guessin yah wahnt t' gao bayt the Villian daown?”

“Well, not exactly. Yeah, I’m not okay with what happened and all. But I don’t understand the situation. And I really don’t understand anything about Leo. So I figured I get an understanding before I talked to him about it.”

She looked a bit surprised. Her sea-green eyes glazed over mine, searching them for something. I recalled her reaction to the bully earlier, she must really care about people. I pushed off the wall and stepped closer to her. I reached my hand out and petted her head gently. Then I flashed her a big smile.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everyone’s okay. But sometimes a conversation is more effective than just taking action. I have no idea what that kids been through. But for someone his age to be that stiff, it couldn’t have been easy.”

I felt her whole body shake as I spoke. I looked her over and she was looking to the ground. Her fist was balled, and she looked frustrated. She leaned into my hand for a moment. But then she abruptly looked up at me and smacked my hand away. She stepped away from me and glared me down.

“He's keelled people yah knaow! hiies hahnds aren't clayn! He doesn't desuhve yoah koindness! he's a mawnstah!” She roared.

It was like her body was set ablaze. Her normally soft and bubbly voice was now harsh and rough. But her eyes, they were telling me a different story. She looked lost and scared. Her body trembling as she let out a shaky breath.

“Elizabeth, if that’s the case I’m a monster too. I got my mother killed, I killed stone, and I killed Isabella. Look, just because he made some mistakes dosen’t mean that defines who he is.”

“Lair..” She grumbled.”Thaen yah taell me! Yah taell me whaen the blood wahshes off than hero! Yah taell me whaen yah cahn look yoahsself in the mirrah aguyn and nawt say a mawnstah!”

Her voice cracked, and her shaking got even worse. I looked her over for a momemnt. She was so hurt by something. I took a step toward her, and she staggered back.

“Elizabeth, talk to me. What’s wrong?” I asked as I stepped closer again.

But this time, she didn’t move away. She just looked up at me. And I could see tears streaming down her face. She bit her lip and tried to control herself. I hesitated, but I stretched my hand out to her. I knew that look, that face of guilt. Just when I was about to hug her. The wind picked up around us. I quickly moved to reach out for her, but she blasted off into the sky.

“Liz!” I yelled.

But she kept going till she was nothing more than a spec in the sky. I stared for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. “Then you tell me when the blood washes off!” Her words rang in the back of my mind. I looked down at my hands. I wonder, I wonder what pain she’s hiding behind those eyes of hers?

“Woah, she can fly too…” I heard from behind.

I jumped and turned around. To see none other than Valentina. Staring off into the sky with stary eyes.

“V-valentina! What are you-”

“Woah! So she’s gifted too. How did you know!?” I heard that voice again, but this time, I could tell it was coming from above.

I looked up and it was like I forgot how to breathe. There she was, Alexis summers! Flying down from the sky with huge dark purple bat wings!

“It was only a hunch, but it made a lot of sense.” Valentina hummed.

“What, what is going on,” I stammered out.

Alexis landed down in front of me. Her amber eyes are wide with excitement. I felt my cheeks flush as my thoughts turn to mush. Even at a time like this. I can’t get over how hot she was. Her bat wings definitely fit her style.

“Well, I thought we were snooping on you and your girlfriend because Val was Jealous.”

“Hey!” Val squealed.

“But it turns out she’s like a super detective!” Alexis cheered. “I can't believe you really are the Kni-”

Valentina suddenly pounced onto Alexis, covering her mouth and growling at her.

“Be quieter you idiot!” She whispered.

Valentina looked up at me as Alexis tried to fight her.

“Listen, I took percations to make sure no one was recording us or snooping. But I don’t want to take any more risks. Meet me at my place after school. I’ll explain everything. But for now, let’s go back inside. It’ll look a lot more suspicious if we don’t,” Val added.

I just nodded. My brain hadn’t still come to terms yet. Between Angry Elizabeth, cute devil Alexis, and apparently detective Valentina! Just, what the heck was going on….?

...

“So, tell me again. How I gave myself away?” I asked as I uncomfortable shifted in Valentina’s couch.

I looked over at Aelxis who was happily stretching her wings out. A huge smile on her face as she yawned. Still can’t beleieve this is real.. I shifted my attention back to Valentina. She had made herself a gass of ice coffee and was walkign over to the couch with me.

I didn't notice before. But she was really cute today. My eyes followed her from her legs to her head. She was wearing black long stockings with a green skirt and a grey type sweater. I couldn't help but stare a bit as she came over. Her obsidian locks happily bouncing around as she strolled over to me.

That's when I heard Alexis snicker.

"You two need to get a room already." She chuckled.

"W-what are you talking about?" I stammered out.

"My class is a succubus. I can see the level of desire someone has for someone else."

I quickly looked away from her. Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap! How long has she been able to do that!? I slowly looked up again, and I could see Valentina sitting on the far end of the couch from me. Her face red as well as she looked down at her coffee.

"A-anyways! That night with Leo tipped me off. After you left, I asked Alexis to see her phone. Since you gifted have that battle chart. And I found out who he was."

I still haven't even used that…

"So, how did that tell you it was me? Since my real identity is hidden on there." I asked.

"Well, I thought I saw a blue mist coming from you that night. But it could've been a lot of things. Then I remembered the day stone attacked, and you and Zack running off. For a while now it made sense Zack was the wizard, but you were like a fifty, fifty still. As far as I knew he could use you as bait for the wizard."

"Alright, is today what gave it away?" I asked.

"Yes, but not by you technically. Once I got info on Leo and then saw him magicilly appear at school with that ginger girl. I knew he and her had some type of relationship. So I had Alexis follow her around while I watched Leo from afar.”

“That explains the pizza..” I mumbled.

“Mmhmm.” Alexis hummed. “I was watching!”

“Leo seemed to catch onto me though, so I had to stop. But hearing this girl was suddenly all on you. It was too coincidental. The boy she was with attacked you, while the girl clung to you.”

"She was so jealous. She was scared you were in love with the ginger girl." Alexis chuckled out.

But she was promptly stopped by Valentina chucking a pillow at her face.

"Anyways! The rest is history now. I'm sorry we eavesdropped on what clearly was a private conversation." She sighed. "I just like, I just really wanted to know."

"I can't believe you're really the Knight! That's totally awesome! You even fought Rex!" Alexis cheered.

I blushed some more and shifted a bit in my seat.

"Well, it wasn't an easy fight. And we definitely died."

"Wait for real!" Alexis squealed.

"Yeah, wait how did you even see our fight?" I asked

"Apparently a few lucky people around the world got to view it. And I just so happen to be one. It just popped up on my T.V While I was cleaning. The ending was really unclear to me. Guess the white screen really was him dropping the sun on you."

"So it really is like a living video game.." Valentina muttered.

I turned my attention back to her.

"How much do you know?" I asked.

"Well, I know that a bunch of people at random have powers. I know that it's like a battle royale. I know you can't say specifically what's going on." Val hummed.

"Oh! Oh! Do you know Icarus by chance!" Alexis cheered.

"Well technically no."

"Are you and Zack friends with other heroes!?"

"Well as you saw today. Were trying to see if that’s the case." I chuckled. “ But honestly, I have no idea what’s going on anymore.”