A summer rainstorm had rolled in as the sun began to set over the sea, the city’s lights casting an orange haze over the landscape.
The rest of the archaeological team had stopped by after she’d finished dinner to check on her. Pilar was exceptionally distraught and kept pinning, saying that Leta was injured because she had taken Pilar’s spot on the boat that day. Vigo awkwardly patted the Colombian woman’s back and reassured her that it was an accident and that the team had to be careful of weeverfish in the future.
This brought up conversations about what to do going forward. As of right now, the site was closed until further notice, but Dr. Galloise said that she fully expected to get word soon that they would soon be getting back in the water. However, she also warned that the Greek government may put a pin in everything and not get their hopes up too soon.
Visiting hours soon ended, and without anything to do, Leta started to play with her new powers.
The telekinesis was weight-limited, and she couldn’t lift herself into the air like a superhero, a fact she discovered when she’d tried and had gotten a migraine.
As the clock ticked away to 11:15 p.m., Leta was sitting on her bed and concentrating on the tiny sparks of electricity that danced between her fingers as she snapped.
The Electric Misconduct skill was much more challenging to practice in a hospital than the Magician’s Hand, but it was still impressive.
Surprisingly, it was easier for her to concentrate and control this power than the other as her mind subconsciously manipulated the positive and negative charges in the air.
She’d discovered that her body could act as an insulator and turn her fingers into tasers. Unfortunately, she’d also discovered that while her body could harness the electricity, what she was wearing couldn’t. The room smelled of ozone from her electricity and burned fabric after she singed her hospital gown until she could finally compact the electricity running through her to just her hands.
[It is advised that the host rest to be at peak performance tomorrow.]
Leta snapped and watched a tiny blue-white spark crackle in the air before going out.
With a sigh, she nodded in agreement and curled up to go to bed but found that sleep was elusive tonight.
How does somebody go to sleep like it’s just another day when their entire knowledge of the world has turned upside down?
What would she, a college archaeology first-year student, do with superpowers? Of course, it’s fantastic - unimaginably wonderful all on its own - but what comes next?
As she thought about it, a nagging thought kept coming.
Her entire life, she’d been fascinated by the civilizations of Mesopotamia. She’d read every book she could find on the Sumerians, got lost in every study on the Akkadians, and marveled at the impact of the Babylonians.
Even with the realization that the civilizations she’d been obsessed with since childhood had a completely different history than what she once knew, that flame of curiosity hadn’t been extinguished.
It seemed silly even to ask herself what she would do now that she had these gifts.
Her life’s mission hadn’t changed; it had just gotten a bit more complicated. She still wanted to know about these cultures, but now she also wanted to know about the beings that had shaped them and what had happened at the end to the Atlantians.
A smile curled her lips as she settled into bed, content with the idea that this strange twist of fate had connected her deeper to her life-long obsession than ever before; she finally registered a strange noise humming in the air.
The clock’s ticking seemed louder as the odd thumping click matched its movements like a musician’s metronome. It reminded her of someone thrumming a string on a guitar but more profound and robust enough to make the hairs on her arm prickle and stand on end.
[Warning! A foreign entity is attempting to use corrupted software to manipulate the Host’s constitution and reflexes.]
[The Host’s mental fortitude stat + Ears of the Judge + Persuasion is higher than mental manipulation Trojan ware.]
[Mental manipulation by foreign entities has failed. Protection of the Host’s mind still holds.]
“Huh?”
She was so focused on the strange noise that it took her a moment to realize an odd hush had fallen over the hospital. Even in the late hours, the hospital buzzed with the sound of medical instruments and the squeak of staff’s shoes on the linoleum floors as they did their business.
All she could hear was the pattering of rain against her window and the thumping clicks of something ominous that seemed to get louder.
Leta turned towards the door, a sense of foreboding like being moments away from a car accident, setting her nerves on edge.
The temperature in the already cold hospital was dropping rapidly, causing her skin to prickle with goosebumps. The light of the outside hallway she could see between the spaces around the door flickered just before the clicking sound reached a crescendo.
Water began to trickle into her room from the other side of the door as if someone was pouring out a cup of water, but no sound of liquid splashing against the floor could be heard.
The rattling of the doorknob was loud in the stillness of the hospital as the door opened an inch. Long green-skinned fingers tipped with sharp claw-like nails extended through the opening, one sizable yellow eye that looked like it was the size of a baseball peaking through.
Its slit pupil locked on her, and the clicking became fever-pitched, its tempo rising as if it were a killer whale spotting prey.
Leta had been shocked, speechless at the sight of the creature, and her scream was slow to rise before it rammed the door open and flew at her.
A blood-curdling scream ripped from her throat as she rolled off the bed and crab-walked to the wall as the creature landed on the mattress she’d previously been occupying.
It was bipedal, with unnaturally long skinny arms and legs and equally unnaturally long fingers and toes. Its emaciated torso held a small neck supporting a massive oval head. One-third of its head was dominated by an enormous pair of eyes the size of her palm. It had two slits under its eyes for a nose that dilated and contracted as it constantly sniffed the air and thin, ragged hair dangling from the crown of its skull.
The creature’s head snapped in her direction, and a lipless mouth unhinged its jaw to let loose an agitated set of clicks as if it were displeased. She hadn’t let it kill her.
It leaped again, claws extended as Leta tried to roll to the side but stumbled as its nails cut deep into her arm.
[Battle has been initiated.]
[Adrenaline in the brain has been released.]
[Reflexes, speed, stamina, and power have been increased.]
She flopped to the ground unceremoniously, having just enough time to roll onto her back as the monster attacked again and managed to sink its claws into her shoulders.
Its head reared back, and Leta stuck her arm forward to prevent her throat from getting torn out as its serrated teeth bit into her forearm.
She shrieked in pain as blood splattered her and the monster, its face so close she could smell the scent of bog and sulfur and watch its pupils shrink with excitement.
[Host has received piercing damage from Corrupted-Nixie.]
[Bleeding is currently in effect.]
[Stamina and constitution compromised.]
The monster flexed its jaw as it bit harder into her arm, its mouth seeming to smile like a dog with its favorite toy.
Grunting in pain, Leta reached under the monster until her other hand was just able to touch its ribs.
The room filled with the scent of ozone as she gritted her teeth and focused.
A lightning spark ran from her chest, through her arm, and into the monster. A flash as bright as a small sun sent the creature flying backward as the sound of a falling grand piano shook the floor. She cried out as its shark-like teeth were ripped from her arm, and its body hit the wall above her bed with a meaty thud.
[Nanites rerouted for healing.]
[Bleeding status has been removed.]
[Stamina and constitution have returned to normal levels.]
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Leta didn’t have time to relish the sudden relief from the pain or marvel as the gaping bite and claw marks on her body suddenly crusted over. She stumbled and ran for the door as the monster shook its head.
It quickly recovered from the lightning strike and jumped to intercept her, landing nimbly on all fours just before the door.
Its clicks were low in its throat as if trying to growl at her. It stalked forward like a lion approaching a cornered animal.
She glanced around, looking for something to use as a weapon, and locked onto the IV bag and the attached line.
Her hand raised as the line sailed into the air like a transparent snake before wrapping around the creature’s short neck before pulling her fist back with a snarl. The line yanked the creature back as its lanky arms pinwheeled for balance before clawing at the plastic tubing for air.
“Holy shit…” She took two steps towards the door before she realized that she’d miscalculated how sharp the monster’s claws were.
Its black nails cut through the IV line as it turned its feral gaze on her and pounced with an angry, clicking shriek. Leta screamed as she fell backward, landing hard on her back and nearly knocking the wind out of her lungs as her arms rose to protect herself from the claws that reached for her.
What felt like daggers dug into her forearm and chest. Leta tried to buck it off, but it held firm. With a triumphant rattle, it brought its head down and bit into her left shoulder near the curve of her throat.
[Host has received piercing damage from Corrupted-Nixie.]
[Subclavian Artery has been breached.]
[Major bleeding is currently in effect.]
[Stamina, power, and constitution severely compromised.]
[Warning! Substantial damage has been sustained. A hemothorax has formed in the area of the Host’s left lung. The Host is experiencing hemorrhagic shock. The Host must remove the Corrupted-Nixie to begin emergency medical treatment. Failure to receive medical treatment in the next ten minutes may result in cardiac arrest and death.]
Leta shrieked in pain, her chest burning as the monster bit into her shoulder before thrashing its head as it tried to eat her.
Screaming, Leta shoved her hand at the monster’s face but could only form a tiny spark that seemed to hit it like an inconvenient static shock rather than a bolt of lightning. Focusing, she tried again as spots filled her vision.
The smallest clap of thunder vibrated the room as the blue-white electricity connected. She could feel the relay of lightning as it channeled through the creature and back into her, where its teeth and claws were sunk in, making her hair stand on end as she gritted her teeth in determination.
The blast caused the monster’s muscles to lock, so it couldn’t even let go. Its rough green skin began to blister and burn, filling the room with the smell of smoke and blood.
The dots swimming in her vision had increased to the point she nearly passed out, and Leta released the charge before going boneless on the cold floor.
Burned and smoking, the monster’s jaw went slack as pain-filled base tones accompanied its clicks.
She groaned as its weight seemed to try and press all of the air out of her.
[Nanites rerouted for healing.]
[Major bleeding effect has been downgraded to bleeding.]
[Stamina, power, and constitution levels remain compromised.]
[Emergency repairs to Subclavian Artery in progress. Healing will be complete in five minutes and eight seconds. It is recommended that the Host staunch bleeding to speed up the healing process.]
Leta grunted as she pushed the creature’s body off of her, taking a few heavy breaths to keep the dots from her vision again before weakly getting to her knees.
Its once moss-green skin was nearly black with scorch marks, much of its hair being singed off on the side she’d hit it on. Its body twitched as its head lolled to the side to fix one mangled eye in her direction before trying to roll toward the window.
“How’s this thing still alive…” She growled before looking around the room to find a suitable weapon. She turned to grab the IV pole when a screech of metal had her looking back to see the monster had managed to flip the window latch. As the glass swung forward, the wind picked up and blew cool rain into the room and over the creature.
Leta watched in mounting horror as the black marks on its body began to heal rapidly, puss-soaked muscle rolling across its face and centering on its eye until a yellow eye formed where once an empty socket was.
“Oh shi-” Her scream was cut off as black-tipped claws on a green skin hand lunged for her face with impossible speed.
With a squeal, she raised the IV pole as if it were a quarterstaff in time to block it from permanently blinding her as they fell backward.
She hit the floor hard with enough force that Leta thought she’d cracked her head open but managed to hold on to the pole.
Straddling her waist, the monster did its best to press the full force of its body into her hands as Leta tried to push it off. Its head shot forward like a snapping turtle as it tried to take a bit out of her, slowly inching closer and closer as the strength in her arms began to waiver.
[Stamina and power levels decreased.]
[Emergency repair of Subclavian Artery compromised.]
Leta hissed, turning her head as the creature nearly took her nose off. Her arms were shaking with the effort to keep the beast at bay, but even an idiot could tell it was a losing battle.
The fire of rage and anger that had been burning in her to fight and destroy what had tried to kill her was beginning to sputter out, replaced with terror at the pain and agony those sharp teeth promised would come soon.
She gritted her teeth, a small tear rolling down the side of her face, the only outward remorse she could muster as she fought to live just a second longer.
A flash of black cloth and leather snapped in her vision a moment before the crushing weight of the monster was suddenly lifted from her chest.
Leta sucked in a deep breath before rolling to the side to see that the monster had flown against the wall and landed in the puddle forming under the window.
She only had a moment to glance to her side to see a man dressed in all-black, mercenary-like attire: black tactical pants, combat boots, long-sleeved black jacket tucked under matte black vambraces. A shaved head and hazel eyes were the only discernible features due to a black face mask covering his mouth and nose. Everything save for the two short swords, only slightly too long to be considered daggers in his hands, seemed to absorb the light around him, making him appear as if he had manifested from the shadows themselves.
“Can you stand?” His voice was deep and even, his English accented with something that sounded surprisingly like Basque.
The base-toned clicks of the monster slowly getting to its feet as it surveyed the intruder had her scuttling into a stand, “Uh, yeah.”
“Good. We need to cut it off from water sources. Nixies can only travel when water is present, giving them strength.”
“Kind of figured that part out.” She grumbled.
[Emergency repairs to Subclavian Artery resumed. Completion in two minutes, forty-eight seconds.]
Baleful eyes snapped between Leta and the man in black. The Nixie seemed to size up its opponents and chances before deciding it wouldn’t win this battle.
It snapped around to jump through the window but stumbled with a shriek as a long dagger appeared on its back and crashed into the wall with a thud.
Leta shrieked in surprise at the stranger’s speed. He’d moved so fast she hadn’t even had time to register that he’d cocked his arm back and thrown it end over end with such precision.
He shot forward, brown eyes never leaving sight of its target as he attacked without hesitation. It tried to scramble up the wall to the open window, but the man in black grabbed it back its hair and pulled it back. He hefted the creature like a professional wrestler and threw it to the side as its clicking scream followed after its flying form.
It landed with a heap but soon shot back to its feet with a growl as it saw its access to the rain, and the man in black cut off freedom.
“We need to remove its head.” The man in black informed her as he pulled a punch dagger from somewhere in the folds of his jacket. “If it touches water, it’ll heal itself no matter what you do to it.”
The Nixie jumped for the bed to get around the stranger and get through the window, putting itself between the stranger and Leta, whom it saw as the weaker target. Leta pulled back the pole like a baseball bat and hit the creature with as much force as possible, going for a home run. The top rack of the pole struck the beast in the back, just under where the short sword was still embedded in its shoulder.
It screeched in renewed pain as it stumbled on the bed, giving the stranger an opening to strike. The Nixie tried to scuttle back like a cockroach from the arcing blow but wasn’t fast enough.
It let out a piercing scream that could have shattered glass as the black blade cut into its calf just above the ankle, severing the foot from the rest of its body. Maroon-colored blood that was almost purple sprayed the sheets as the Nixie trashed like a chicken without its head. It stumbled with jerking motions as it scrambled for the door but was caught as Leta jabbed it with the rack of the IV pole. The metal prongs caught it by the throat, and she pressed it with all her might to hold it down.
One clawed hand flailed at the rack while the other tried pulling itself along the floor and couldn’t break her hold.
That anger and disgust she’d felt earlier returned, and Leta’s vision tunneled until it was just her and the monster. Crackling blue eyes stared into the yellow serpent eyes of the Nixie with contempt as her entire focus centered on this creature that had tried to kill her.
Her lungs expanded with air and power as she gathered her intent before she let loose her anger with a scream that ripped through her throat with the force of a falling planet.
Her fingers glowed blue-white as she let loose a blast of lighting from a dark place in her soul, the IV pole becoming her conduit as she hit the monster with everything she had.
The stranger raised a hand to shield his eyes from going blind as the lightning created a pocket of superheated air so bright and scorching it was five times hotter than the sun’s surface. He hissed in shock as he saw his bones and blood vessels through his skin as the thunder she created sent shock wave after shock wave through the building.
Leta had no trouble seeing through the light and kept her eyes on the Nixie as its skin darkened and turned to charcoal. Its mouth opened in a soundless scream as its sharp teeth turned black and its tongue turned to dust in its mouth.
Yellow eyes turned red before bursting in their sockets. Cracks began to open on its skin like fault lines in an earthquake, blood spraying the air but quickly evaporating in the fire of Leta’s rage.
What was left looked more like the mummified remains of an alien when her scream of anger finally subsided, and the lightning disappeared as quickly as it came.
The stranger blinked, trying to get control of his vision before coming around the bed to gaze down at a huddled mass that had once been the Nixie but now looked more like several-week-old roadkill.
Leta huffed, her breathing gasps as if she’d run a marathon. Her fingers had been in such a death lock around the IV pole that it almost hurt to stop clenching them.
Even after being hit with the force of a small star, the body twitched with spasms but only managed to hurt itself further as its skin fell off it like a wet curtain.
“Oh, that’s gross.” Leta gagged.
The stranger came around to her side and looked at the state of the Nixie before raising his sword and severing its head.
Muscles clenched before relaxing in death. Whatever devilry had conjured, this monster seemed to have released as its muscles crumpled in on itself.
Before their eyes, it fell apart piece by piece like a sandcastle in a rainstorm; all that was left was a pile of muddy green ash.
For a moment, all was still and quiet save for Leta’s heavy breathing, the ‘shh’ of a body disintegrating into dust, and the distant bleep of medical equipment.
Leta finally turned to the stranger and got a good look at him.
He looked young, maybe in his early twenties, and had a strange presence about him that was similar to the Nixie and yet vastly different. Where the Nixie’s aura had felt sticky, almost sickly, the stranger’s had felt clean and pure. It was like comparing toxic radioactive sludge to a cup of ice-blue glacier water.
The stranger looked back at her before she saw his eyes crinkle with a smile behind his face mask.
“What a way to awaken your powers.” He chuckled as he bent down to pick up the sword lodged in the Nixie’s back. Unfortunately, it had also conducted her lightning, and the metal was now bubbled and badly melted. The stranger hissed as the weapon’s grip crumbled away and the heat of the steel burned his fingers.
Leta’s mouth suddenly went dry, and her heart sank at his quickly spoken words.
“What did you just say?”
The stranger dusted his hands off his pants before giving her a raised eyebrow. “Your lightning, of course. You’re an Arisen, like me.”