POV - Jonathan
The rooftop rebuilt itself around Jonathan in a flash of white-silver light, Cara arriving a second after them. Other than the six of them, the space was empty. They needed to find Ethel and Karter to get a better understanding of the situation here.
Jonathan started walking toward the stairs before anyone else, he could hear the strained voices of people shuffling busily beneath them. By the sounds of it, they were all hands on deck down there. If they were going to find out what was going on they needed to move quickly. But as Jonathan pulled open the door to the lower level, another wave of backlash arrived.
The muscle spasms forced Jonathan to pause on the threshold, and the weakness in his left side caused him to lean against the wall and just breathe through the burning of his body.
Mark had done a patch job to tie up the worst of the backlash, but Jonathan’s condition was far from good, or even stable. The potions had helped helped some more, but his Aura was taking its dues now.
He’d pushed his body and Aura too far in the fight against Oscar, but he didn't regret it one bit, it was necessary to kill that monster.
Jonathan thought he’d feel joy, sorrow, or even disgust at himself for taking his father's life, but honestly, he felt no more emotion than when he killed one of the Guardians. Relief maybe?
Of course, the guy couldn’t even die quietly, even going so far as to use his last words to mess with Jonathan.
Why did he have to bring her up? Jonathan had all but accepted that she was dead. Then Oscar goes and spouts useless things like his mother being alive. He couldn’t be sane and beg for his life?
No, instead he just had to twist the knife just one more time. What use was it to him that she was alive and living in Japan? Forget the fact it was on another continent, with things as they were, it may as well be on another plane of existence. Jonathan knew they had a lot of business dealings in Asia, was she connected to them in that way somehow? Did she care at all?
Jonathan shook his head at the thoughts. This was exactly what that bastard wanted. Even from the grave, he refused to shut up.
Focusing on working his shoulder blades free of the cramps, Jonathan felt a soft touch in the hollow of his back. Sam was beside him, her arm wrapping around him to show she was there. Sam’s other hand held out a couple more cherries from Marks tree’s and he gave her a half-hearted grin, but he couldn’t keep the pain from it.
She returned it with that brilliant smile of hers and dropped the fruit in his hand. Even as battle-worn as they were, the blood and dirt could not hide her beauty. Jonathan pushed the thought away, they’d tried that a couple of times before, and the timing was never right, something was always missing.
He wanted to tell her he didn’t need help down the stairs, but she didn’t try, simply waiting there until he got the spasms under control.
They were about to move when the sounds below became clearer, and he heard people rushing up the stairwell. Carl, one of Mark's medics came into sight, followed by a couple more healers. Sam had called ahead for medical assistance and Jonathan was glad she did because he couldn’t waste time being injured when there were things to do.
Sam pointed the rest of them to Daphne and the others still on the roof, as they needed the most attention.
Cara had already blinked away, probably going to check on her parents.
Jonathan grabbed Carl and the three of them made their way down to the penthouse. Carl complained that he needed to remain still and rest, but there was no time for that.
When they burst into the room, the chaos in it didn’t slow for a second.
Karter and Ethel were up near the front with their leads and Ning Wei. Karter was barking orders into a set of comms. When Ethel saw them approach, Jonathan felt the small wave of relief that came over him whenever he returned. She was safe and helped more than he could put into words.
“My god you two... No, we're under attack, where’s Daphne?”
Sam spoke as Jonathan lowered himself into a chair at Carl insistance. Ning Mei came over to assist with his healing and Jonathan gave her a grateful nod.
“Upstairs, she’ll join us as soon as she can. Now, where are we being hit from.”
Ethel shook her head.
“All sides, near as we can tell, a couple of neurtal factions are attempting to breach our perimeter to kidnap Ning Mei.”
Jonathan's brows twitched. He’d expected some trouble when Mr. Xiaolan had asked this favor of them. But man, people didn’t help themselves.
Sure, the timing was great for this type of kidnapping, but there was such a thing as too much risk. If he’d been leading a team like this, he would have pulled his men back the moment he heard the sirens.
“Alright well, Chloe gave us a five-minute window, so they’ll attack any minute now. Let's prepare, Karter where do you want us.” Jonathan asked.
Karter had not looked up from his map, nor stopped sending orders from his comms this entire time, but he gazed up now with pinched brows.
“Five minutes? This siege has been going on for the last hour. I’ve pushed their forces to the outer edges of our territory. Do you think they got a team in here without us noticing?”
Jonathan felt a sinking feeling in his gut. Things weren't matching up here.
“It’s possible, we don’t know-”
A bright flash of light came from the windows, illuminating the room’s every corner before returning to the evening glow. The slightest tremor rumbled through the building following the light within moments of each other.
That was way too close to the main building.
Jonathan rose to his feet, moved around Ning Mei, and headed straight to the window.
Black lightning arced up from the street below, twisting up into the air like a deadly set of claws reaching for the sky. It was already shrinking out of sight, but Jonathan recognized that energy by sight alone.
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“The corrupted humans have breached the city.”
He said it more to himself than anyone else, but he did not whisper it either.
It was not as close as Jonathan had expected, but that made him worry more. As far as he knew there was only one thing in that direction.
At this point, Daphne arrived with her gaggle of healers on her heels. Her face was simultaneously filled with rage and panic.
“Guy’s, the clinic’s under attack!”
Jonathan tried to remain calm, from the direction he saw the light, they weren't quite there yet, so they had some time.
“We’re moving there now, Karter, send a team as soon as you can spare them, we’ll delay as long as you need.”
Jonathan was already on his way toward the door when Ethel stepped in front of them.
“Now hang on just a minute mister, you three are not going there alone. Our people are spread thin, it will be a while before anyone extra gets there. I’ll gather a team, and Boe and I will join you.”
Jonathan halted his steps and shook his head right away.
“No, you are not coming. If this is who I think it is, then you’ll be in danger. Stay here, everyone needs you.”
Jonathan was serious, he was worried for her, Ethel had not had much of a chance to level and improve her fighting abilities since they had gotten here. These creatures were intelligent and cruel, he was ready to fight her on this, but then he saw he face. Vaunrablilty, fear, and stubbornness crept into her voice.
“Hah, you think it's easy to be the one left behind? Worrying if you’ll ever make it back? I could accept it because I know you are all strong, but I don’t think you realize just how bad your conditions are, my heart won’t be able to rest if I know I sent you there alone.”
Jonathan looked at her and back at Sam who had followed him as soon as he started walking out. She looked bruised, burned, and battered, but when he compared her to himself she was positively glowing with health. The problem was when he compared himself to the others in the room, the three of them must look like they were ready to keel over and die.
Jonathan went over the later couple of hours in his head. They had gone down into a dungeon, and fought for hours on end, only to crawl up and out, and fight again. Finally, finishing off the shit sandwich by surviving an explosion they had no right to.
For the first time in a while, Ethel looked worried. Jonathan had no idea if Sam had told her about Oscar, but he would have to do it personally. A small part of him felt content that she was so worried for him. This was how family was supposed to be. But it was because of that, that he could not stomach the idea of her joining them.
“Please gran, I’m not strong enough to protect you from these things, stay here.”
“I’m not the one you need to protect, when we get there I’ll meet up with the clinic’s guard. I’ll stay far away and help where I can, but I’m coming.”
The finality in her voice was punctuated by Boe’s low growl, her face having grown to the likeness of cold stone. He would have to physically stop her now if he wanted her to stay here.
Closing his eyes Jonathan snorted.
“Fine, you can come, but you stay real far back okay? Gather your team quickly, we’re leaving in two.”
Jonathan moved toward the door and took the elevators down with Ning Wei, Carl, Sam, and Daphne in tow.
Ning Wei wanted to go with them, but Jonathan shot her down immediately. Her father had brought her here to keep her safe, there was no way he was taking her to a battlefield, nothing she could say would change his mind. She was worried, but when she realized Jonathan had comprised as much as he was going to today she put herself into his healing. It helped somewhat, but neither hers nor Carl’s energy was nearly strong enough to put him back into top shape, not when his Aura was about to reach a thousand. When he’d gotten the crest he’d even thought Mark would have a problem, but he never seemed bothered by it, in fact, Jonathan had noticed something about their energies.
Mark’s Prana was becoming more effective on his wounds as time went on. At first, Jonathan had thought it was just Mark’s growing Prana attribute, but this was something else entirely. Each time they finish exchanging energy with [Mediataion] he felt his power falling more in line with the other two’s. Marks Prana felt more potent and willing to heal him, while Sam’s Mana seemed less hostile and unruly. The only reason he’d noticed this was because his Aura had become less wary of them.
It felt strange to personify these energies, so he hadn’t mentioned it to either of them, but each time they used the technique the feeling became stronger.
Carl released a spent sigh next to him, pulling Jonathan from his musings. The healing had his left side feeling much better and his legs more stable. Smiling Jonathan looked up and nodded to both of them. Ethel arrived at that point with Boe, Maggie, and a small team of Aura users beside her, weapons in hand. Maggie had originally been one of Chloe's bodyguards, so she could fight well, though that was only a small comfort to him. Jonathan even noticed Cara was hanging back with Sam. They seemed locked in conversation, but Cara looked up unflinchingly at Sam’s withering glare.
“Alright let's move out” he called.
They left the lobby, traveling down the road at a moderate pace, which would have put a car to shame before the fall.
The nearest streets were full of individuals, but not the normal bustling throngs of people. Their fighters had replaced the average man and had cordoned off the area at key choke points, erecting temporary barricades and spells to ward off any opposition. Even the sky was littered with casters like bees protecting a hive. This was their core, their HQ, and no one was allowed near when they were in full lockdown.
As their group took up amongst their people, faces turned to look at them, and murmurs bounced from one person to another.
News of their failure might have already spread, but Jonathan had a job to do, so he led their small group forward without dropping his head.
A path opened up through their ranks in the direction of the clinic. Jonathan wasn’t sure who started it, but someone off to the right began to clap, after that, it seemed to cause a chain reaction among those here. Cheers went up and voices sent reassurance and praise their way.
Things like: “Good job stopping the things below us, leave the rest to us.” or “Keep going you guys, you got this.”
Many more voices rose to edge them on, and Jonathan had to hide the grimace behind a smile.
They had failed to bring their people home and yet they were being heralded as heroes?
Jonathan glazed back at Ethel the question in his eyes and Ethel simply looked back at him as if to say ‘You expected anything else?’
To drive it home she spoke to the others who were having a harder time hiding their sour feelings.
“You all did amazingly, don’t forget that you are doing more than anyone had any right to ask of you. What happened is a tragedy, but you are not to blame.”
They ran past the crowds and Jonathan let the guilt wash away with the praise, all too soon the crowds gave way to empty streets, and their group was once more alone.
The closer they got to the clinic the more worrying signs they encountered. Destroyed buildings were the least of their worries, though Jonathan saw no corpses. Traces of Corrupted were in the area, along with pools of what looked like acid bile.
They were here and not even attempting to hide themselves. When the clinic came into view Jonathan was pretty sure Mark would have been livid.
Over half of the structure had collapsed in on itself and the other half was busy being dissolved by whatever had been spreading the acid. All the surrounding buildings had been flattened and part of Jonathan wondered why they hadn’t already broken into the clinic, but he saw a small group of creatures surrounding the exits.
The some of guards must still be alive because shots and spells were fired out the windows to hold them off. The problem was the small group hardly seemed bothered by the fire, they could force their way in at any point, but they were waiting for something as Odrinators tried to break in.
Jonathan recognized Tristan immediately and the man was flanked by two more Corrupted humans. Their features were well preserved and alluring, they looked to be brother and sister. The only outward sign that they weren't human was a set of wings that looked to be pulled straight from a Ghast protruding from their backs. Beside him, Cara hissed out two names.
"I know those two, Dante and Lilith, they're incredibly fast watch out for them."
The last member of the group was a grotesque mix of Ghoul and human. The thing's head was primarily Ghoul and its body was human, but an animalistic energy resided in those limbs as it crouched low to the ground, limbs twisted at odd angles. It was also the one that spotted them first or rather smelled them. It scented the air and launched a bolt of acid at their hiding spot.
The advantage was gone but they still had time.
“Get ready!” was all Jonathan got out before Corrupted turned and charged at his party.