Chapter 17: Chapter 17: An Understanding

Chapter 17:

An Understanding

Selene made her way from their table into the other room. Turning around the corner she came face to face with the agents doing their dirty work. Even before she left, she had placed a sound barrier around Jace. He was adept at sensing things, so she had to be careful with it.

When he touched her hand, she made her move. His guard was down, and so she set her barrier to work. It looped the sounds outside, while ensuring he could still hear her.

The agents, twenty men and women in sleek suits stood before her. All the patrons were already removed from the premises, dead in their seats. "...Typical." Selene eyed their bodies with a cool anger.

"So...I see my father still kills innocents," Selene voiced coolly, the agents looking towards her in surprise, "Honestly, could you have been any noisier?"

"Miss St. Claire," One of the agents saluted her, "We've been instructed to leave no witnesses."

"Is that so?" Selene sighed, shaking her head, "For what reason?"

"I...do not know, Miss," Another agent responded, "We're only obeying-"

"Orders, right," Selene's voice was like steel, "He never changes. There's no reason to kill these people...it's not like my family is a secret."

"Regardless, Miss," The first agent spoke up again, "We were instructed to do so, and incidentally...that means the one you came here with as-"

Before he even finished his sentence, his throat seized up as Selene glared at him. Her eyes glowing as an intense anger arose inside of her. It was difficult to hide her magic from Jace, let alone one of the two women outside the restaurant. Skilled as she was, however, and with a little planning, she was able to trick their senses. At least for now.

The wards she placed upon Jace and this restaurant wouldn't hold for too long. She had to finish this before they got suspicious. Blood began to gurgle forth from his mouth as he clawed at his throat. The other agents stared in shock and fear as they backed away from him.

"M-Miss, please!" One of them shouted, "We've been ordered to use force, if necessary, don't-"

Her gaze turned towards them as she made her way forward. Each step causing them to back away. Steeling themselves, they rushed her. From their sleeves they extended stun batons, and some with knives. She flowed among them, the first strike narrowly dodging her head as the wind whipped around her. With an uppercut to their chin, the force and intricate magic entwined in her strike caused their head to rupture.

Blood, brain, and tech rained down around them. Splattering off the invisible barrier surrounding her. She was on a date after all. She couldn't just get dirty.

Stunned by the sudden gruesome act, the agents hesitated for a mere moment. She took the opportunity to take the initiative as she moved to the next agent. Her hand immediately piercing their chest, ripping out heart and wires as she crushed it. The thin barrier protecting her from the gore. Whipping her arm, she flung the blood off of her as she turned to the next.

They attempted to block, but she went low. Their arms went flying as a thin, razor-sharp energy collected over Selene's hand. An Energy Blade, one of the most common of magics for combat oriented Ascended. Hers was a midnight blue, thrumming with purple lines. Its smooth surface as solid as any physical weapon.

However, even as it appeared physical, it sliced through their weapons like butter. Ignoring their collision as it sliced into their necks, chests, and limbs. In a mere matter of seconds, fifteen of the twenty agents lay dead before her. The entire area covered in gore. Blood, guts, cyberware.

"M-Miss, p-please!" One of them begged as she turned towards them, "W-We were only-"

"Silence," Her words thrummed with power, "You will listen."

They nodded as they each went silent.

"Good," She relaxed her voice as she looked towards them, "You've interrupted my date...You've killed innocents on my father's words...You will repay me."

Looking between each of them, she seemed to glide over the blood upon the floor, her feet never touching the filth. Coming face to face with the nearest agent, she looked the woman dead in the eyes.

"Here is what you're going to do..." Selene told her coldly, "Call for backup. Clean this place up. Then, you will serve us our dinner. I did not plan all of this to go to waste. Is that understood?"

The agents nodded vigorously as Selene walked past them. Her energy blade dissipating, the strong smell of blood permeated the air. Waving her hand, she called upon the magic of water and nature. Entwining it with the very air itself. Mystical, glowing flowers of all colors shimmered in the air as it blew through the area.

A pleasant, floral scent picked up as it covered the iron of the blood. She hoped that Jace didn't notice the smell before she masked it. Her wards only pertained to sound at the moment, not to smell. She gave each and every one of them a stern glare.

"I will be back," She told them, "The one I came with is not to be harmed. See to him while I am away...be grateful you did not kill everyone here. This date will succeed. You don't want to know what will happen if it doesn't."

Turning on her heel, she left them with their lives intact. Each one of them connected by a little thread to their heart. Just one motion, and they would die. She wasn't a Paragon for no reason. Her father ensured her strength. Perhaps, one of the only things she was grateful to him for.

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Liana and Kiera sat outside The Medallion, baffled and impressed by the fact the woman got reservations here. They couldn't get inside, and both of them had a bad feeling. They couldn't see where Jace was and could only hope he was okay. They sat together, hidden as best they could from view.

"Relax," Kiera tried to sooth Liana's worry, "I'm sure he's alright."

"But you said it yourself," Liana cast her a worried look, "You felt something, didn't you?'

"Yes, but..." Kiera wasn't sure how to explain it.

Jace was incredibly sensitive to magic, and one of the reasons he was able to notice things in Radiance. He wasn't perfect, but one of the better people to notice magic when it was being cast. Magic, for the most part, was near invisible to everyone. Only other Ascended could sense magic, but even then, it wasn't guaranteed.

The only time magic became physical was when it manifested into the physical. Such as lightning bolts, fireballs, and other elemental attacks. Other things like physical enhancement, coercion, and such like that were more in the invisible side. Though anyone who had eyes could see a slight shimmer or glow around the body when enhanced. An Ascended, however, could see even more.

Wards were another thing that were difficult to sense and see. Hidden from the normal eye, it took an Ascended with their vision enhanced to notice it. Jace, however, didn't need to enhance his vision. Unless it was for the most advanced wards and intricately designed versions. glamours as well, and thus he only needed to cast a small film over his eyes to notice even the most advanced wards and glamours.

Kiera, however, was also quite sensitive. Not to the extent Jace was, but she had felt something the moment they entered the restaurant. It was extremely subtle, and Jace made no reaction to it. Which meant one of two things. Either he was distracted, which was possible next to a woman like that, or it was her imagination.

Yet, just a moment ago Kiera felt something else from nearby. It was just a sudden burst, then nothing. Jace had to have felt that. He-

"Excuse me," A light, angelic voice called to them, breaking her free from her thoughts, "Are you two by any chance...Liana and Kiera?"

There was an intense power stronger than anything Kiera ever felt coming from the direction of the voice. Startled, Kiera immediately responded by placing herself in front of Liana. Feeling her power rise within her as she faced the one who called her. Her eyes widened to see the woman before her who Jace had entered the restaurant with.

"Y-You..." Kiera swallowed hard as she felt the power this woman had.

"Sunshine?" Liana's voice whispered into her, "What is it? Isn't she who Jace went with? I feel...strange."

"She can feel it as well?" Glancing towards the restaurant, she began to grow concerned as Jace was nowhere to be seen. Glaring back towards the woman, she knew she was a threat. "I might have to-" Before she could finish the thought, the woman seemed quite confused before her eyes widened in realization.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Immediately, the power Kiera felt disappeared almost entirely, surprising her, "I was a bit forgetful...I did not mean to scare you."

"Then...what do you want?" Kiera asked her as Liana peeked around her, "You knew we were here...what I felt earlier, that was-"

"A barrier," The woman stated, nodding, "I made it so others can't see us for a time."

They looked at her cautiously, Kiera making sure Liana stayed behind her. The woman looked over them as she tilted her head. Suddenly, a concerned expression passed over her face.

"I see...I didn't make a good first impression," Sighing, the woman looked towards the restaurant, specifically the top floor, "I...How do I even start this?"

Liana watched her, and Kiera could sense that she was calculating something. Then, she got that look in her face that Kiera knew. A fearlessness as she would soon confront this woman. Sighing to herself, Kiera stood and released her own power. If this woman was a threat, she would have attacked by now, and Liana...she was focused now. Even Kiera wouldn't be able to stop her.

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"Why are you here?" Liana asked her directly, "Should you not be on a date?"

"...Yes," The woman nodded, looking back towards them, "But, I couldn't help notice you two. As...Kiera, right?"

Looking towards her, the woman looked for confirmation. Kiera nodded hesitantly as she watched the woman.

"Good," The woman slightly smiled, which was a bit weird compared to her otherwise passive face, "As Kiera said earlier, I knew you were here. I've sensed you since I met with Jace..."

"Shouldn't you be with him then?" Liana confronted her, striding past Kiera to face the woman, "Why are you out here?"

"...I should ask you the same," The woman looked down at Liana, who was much shorter than her, yet in this moment, Liana felt like she was on even footing with her.

It was always a surprise to see Liana appear larger than life. Kiera did her best not to swoon over her as she watched the two of them.

"That's...I came to ensure he had a good time," Liana admitted, narrowing her eyes at the woman, "It's his first date, and I don't know you. He's...sensitive. He's been through a lot, and so I don't want to see him be used."

"He told you about our date," The woman said as if it was fact, as if it was something she already knew, "He talked in g reat detail about you two, did you know that?"

Liana became flustered at her sudden admission, her cheeks and ears growing slightly red. Even Kiera felt a little embarrassed to hear that Jace spoke highly of her. The change inside of her was confusing, but she didn't dislike it.

"H-He did?" Liana flustered, shifting her footing as she looked away sheepishly, "I-I see...So then you should know I care a lot about him. We both do. He's family and-"

"Do you love him?" The woman tilted her head as she asked such a blunt question.

It was so sudden that Kiera near choked on her own spit. Liana's eyes went wide as she blushed even further. The woman's astuteness was insane. "How...did she realize that so quickly?"

"That's not-" Liana began to deny it when the woman interrupted.

"So, it is true," The woman suddenly changed her entire demeanor.

The aloof, near emotionless state of her being softened. A small smile curled the corner of her lips. Suddenly, both Liana and Kiera saw just how beautiful this woman truly was.

"...So what if it is?" Liana crossed her arms, near pouting, "I won't get in the way of your date so-"

"No," The woman shook her head, "The way he talked about you...the way you reacted. The way...both of you reacted. I'm not worried about you getting in the way."

"Y-You're not?" Liana asked, then paused as she looked towards Kiera, "Wait...the both of us? What do you...Ooooh!"

Liana's eyes widened in realization as she slapped Kiera's shoulder both playfully and in anger.

"You little minx!" Liana accused, stomping her foot adorably, "No wonder you seem so different lately! I thought you'd never like him!"

"W-Well...it wasn't like it was planned," Kiera felt suddenly sheepish as she rubbed her arm, "It just...happened."

"When? Wait, no...we'll talk about that later," Liana turned back towards the woman, "You. You said you're not worried?"

"No," The woman shook her head, "In fact...I feel a bit guilty. I've been mulling things over in my head. These feelings...are new to me."

Liana and Kiera both listened in to what the woman was saying.

"My name is Selene," She held a hand out to both of them in introduction, "And I like Jace. A lot. A surprise to myself in more ways than one. This is the first time I have ever felt this way about someone...yet, he loves you, and if I am to make him mine, I must first address this situation."

"H-He what?" Liana stammered as she was confronted by this information, "I-I mean...he doesn't realize it, and I don't want to hold him back, so-"

"Neither do I," Selene stated, interrupting her, "Which is why I wanted to clear the air...What do we do in this situation?"

Liana looked towards Selene with intensity. They seemed to share a moment that left Kiera out. Slightly making her jealous, but knowing it was something they had to do. An unseen conversation that Kiera picked up a little bit near the end.

"I see..." Selene looked towards the restaurant as she spoke softly, "Is it alright...if I take his first kiss?"

"...As much as I would love to," Liana sighed, crossing her arms as she smiled and shrugged, "Go for it. It will be your first kiss too, wouldn't it?"

The woman's ears suddenly turned red, even as her face remained impassive.

"So you noticed," Selene eyed her from the side as she nodded, "Yes, it would be."

"Then I have no complaints," Liana smiled brightly, "We'll figure this out. The three of us. He's important to me, but there are some things I must concede on, so please take care of him."

"My, aren't you two getting along quite nicely," Kiera teased, wrapping her arms around Liana as she leaned into her.

"We have an understanding," Liana giggled, looking up sternly at Kiera, "However, you and I...we need to talk, sunshine."

"...Of course," Kiera grew slightly nervous, but her heart told her everything was fine.

"I must return," Selene told them, "I've been gone too long. I told him I was using the restroom, but...I wanted to talk with you. I am...glad I did."

"Likewise," Liana nodded, watching her closely, "I hope we get to know each other more."

"As do I," Selene nodded, a slight smile that even reached her eyes, "I look forward to learning more about him. I'd appreciate your guidance."

"Just ask him," Liana told her as she walked away, "But yeah, I'd be happy to share what I know."

They watched her walk away, both of them feeling as if a storm blew through. A beautiful storm. Something about this woman both eased and concerned them. She walked with a gait that was deadly, yet spoke softly when it came to Jace. Liana had assessed her and realized her genuine nature. She was naive just like Jace was, but more aware than him.

She was exploring these feelings inside of her, and reminded Kiera a lot of herself. She was seeing the rise of someone who was becoming obsessed, yet not afraid to share. Which was good. Kiera wanted Liana happy, as well as Jace. Navigated correctly, this could turn into something beautiful for the both of them, Liana and Jace.

"I don't know if even I could beat her..." Kiera's thoughts turned grateful, because if things went well, she wouldn't have to. Her own identity a secret even from Liana. She couldn't know the trauma she went through. Kiera would do anything to hide that, but if she ever asked...she knew she'd tell her.

Holding Liana close, she was grateful to have her in her life. Liana snuggled up against her as they spent the rest of the evening together. Of course, still spying on Jace's date.

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