Chapter 26: Not Even in Second Place

Hailey shut the door to the shed quietly. Kicking her shoes off, she sat on one of the old recliner chairs and rubbed her temples. She had a severe headache coming in, and it was difficult to process the information from Kairas.

It was outrageous to her, to be a copy of an already existing girl. What would be the purpose of her existing if that was the case? 

The door opened. She looked up, locking eyes with Carlos. He looked happy as he strolled towards her, dropping to his knees and hugging her tightly. "He finished."

"Finished," She repeated. "Who finished what?"

"Girston! He finished what he was working on. He just showed it to me and… And I had to cut the call before I started crying."

Hailey tilted her head, waiting for him to continue. Instead, he pulled out a cube, swiping it and a large screen appearing in between them. On the screen was a large tube, full of glowing blue liquid. Something small was floating inside, and it was hard to make out on fuzzy vision. Coming more into view, Hailey's eyes widened.

A child. Newborn. Curled up in the fetal position, little spasms with its arms and legs. It looked at complete peace, asleep, waiting for its parents to see it. Hailey gripped her pants tightly, knuckles turning white. She sucked in a heavy breath as the screen disappeared, and Carlos put the cube away. "Our child. Hailey, we're parents."

"Yeah." She said. "I'm… I'm happy. I am."

"You don't sound happy."

"Well.." She bit her lip. Her words lodged in her throat for a few minutes, something Carlos noticed and raised his eyebrow at. She mulled over her thoughts, trying to word her next sentence in a way that wouldn't piss him off. She knew that was a long shot, and decided to just tell him the truth.

"Kairas and his woman are here. I ran into them at the hotel."

"What?" He jumped up, alarmed. "Did you kill them?"

"Couldn't. If I attacked, I could've risked our potential recruits getting away." It wasn't a complete lie. She had considered the mission, hence why she chose interrogation. Didn't take much to get the information she wanted. "I did speak with them. They told me a few things."

"Spoke?"

"Civil." She said, trying to keep her expressions and body language unreadable. In truth, she was terrified. Terrified that what they said was true. Terrified that Carlos would hurt her if he didn't like what he was going to hear. "I asked them a couple things, most of which they didn't tell me anything crucial. Logically. They did say something that left an impression." She looked at him, directly in the eye. "Carlos, am I real?"

"Of course you are, I can touch you can't I?"

"No. I mean.. As a person. A creature. Am I the only one, or is there another girl in the world you cloned me from?"

He went silent.

That was her confirmation, but she didn't want him to think she figured it out. It was a test.

"No. There's only one you." He dropped to a knee. "If there is a copy, it's the fake. Those guys like to play games with their enemies' heads and make them doubt themselves."

"And you're sure that's the truth?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" His voice was rising.

They sat in a tense silence for a moment. She looked at her lap. Her heart ached. She didn't know what to really believe. She wanted to trust him, but the more she thought of doing that, of pushing Kairas' words away, his face would pop inside, clear as day.

The misguided happiness. The feeling of ache and miss. Takabi looked at her, but he saw someone else. Someone, he's known and grew close to. That person must be Nana.

Regardless, her current situation isn't one she can leave so she could investigate further. They have a job to do, and they would finish it.

"Did you find anyone," She asked suddenly. Carlos nodded, stepping out and gesturing for the new members to come in. When they did, Hailey watched a simple boy and girl. Both young, and small for supposed Amazons. Twins. Dark skin and long black hair. The main difference, aside from gender, were the eye colors. The boy was brown, the girl was blue.

"State your names," Carlos said.

"Jess." The girl said.

"Jammie," The boy spoke.

"You're both coming with us. We can teach you how to use your powers." Carlos walked around the two and touched Hailey's shoulders. His skin felt cold. "You can trust us. We won't hurt you."

The twins looked at each other, but nodded and took a step closer. He held his hands out to them, and they took it. Their eyes flashed, before they both hit the floor. Hailey looked away. The next part was always the hardest. Carlos pulled out two masks from the desk, kneeling next to the two and placing both blank metals on their faces.The masks grew metal tendrils that danced around their heads, before implanting themselves deep into their spinal nerves. Their bodies jolted upright quickly, and stood on their feet, bowing, remaining silent. Carlos smiled proudly, before looking at Hailey. "Take them back to the cabin."

"What about you," She asked.

"I have business to finish. A warning." Then, he was out the door, moving through the trees towards the hotel. Hailey looked at Jess and Jammie, before standing and opening a gate to the cabin.

"Go," She instructed them. They stepped in ahead of her, Hailey taking a deep breath, and following after.

--------------------------------

Kairas leaned against the elevator wall and sighed. His arms were crossed, and he held a stern look. Jewel hadn't said anything to him after the dinner.

They were both thinking of Hailey. Complex. She was an enemy, yet they held sympathy for her. Her existence is based on a lie, and she's clinging so hard to what she thinks is reality. She's afraid of what's real and what's not, so much her heart is conflicted. It's been conflicted, for a while now, from what Kairas could tell.

The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped out. Jewel stopped Kairas, slipping off her heels and stretching. "These things are sexy, but they kill my feet. Foot Rub when we get back," She asked, giggling. Kairas smiled at her softly, and shrugged. Jewel opened their room door at the end of the hall, and dropped her heels by the door. "KAIRAS!"

He sped up behind her, then quickly slipped in front and watched Carlos sitting in the windowsill. He turned to them, and waved. "Yo."

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"I can ask you the same thing, Second Best." He stood, the breeze from outside flowing into the room slowly. Carlos smirked, brushing the hair from his face and rolling up his sleeves. "I can take it you only figured this out from someone opening their mouth. Our recruitment processes are fairly quick, so I guess the Kult has a blabber mouth."

Kairas glanced at Jewel, then back. He kept his mouth shut and jaw stern. He could sense something below the surface. Carlos had an intense Mana brewing inside him, something completely unnatural.

Carlos looked at Jewel and whistled. "Damn. You grew up smoking, Mami."

"Blow it out your ass!"

"That mouth is gonna get you in trouble." He chuckled. "That's fine, I fuck harder when they're feisty."

Ice erupted, striking his chest and forcing him out the window. Kairas looked at Jewel. "Stay." He hurried, smashing through the glass and free falling after Carlos.

Carlos cracked his neck, sliding on the side of the hotel, clenching his fists and throwing quick jabs. Magic fire shot from his knuckles, the first one catching and burning the tips of Kairas' hair. The boy willed a wall of ice from the hotel, landing on it hard. He clenched his knuckles, sending a pulse of Mana through the black sheet, shards shooting fast at Carlos.

The boy ducked and dodged, rushing up the wall, taking deep breaths spitting fireballs. Kairas hopped off his ice floor, using mana to stick to the building, and rushed down at Carlos.

The two slammed knuckles, the impact shattering the glass around them, a field of magic surrounded the space. Carlos struck with a quick hook, bringing his left fist down and driving it hard into Kairas' stomach. In response, Kairas threw his elbow forward and struck Carlos' cheek, the two flipping back, before throwing more fire and ice at one another. Kairas brought his right fist into his left palm, pulling forward and forming a sword of black ice. He swung, missing Carlos by mere inches, something he found to be nothing but luck.

Carlos, shrouding his palm in mana, caught the blade, holding in place. He held a confident smile, something that irritated Kairas to no end. "Someone looks angry," Carlos teased.

Kairas pulled the boy close, the sword of ice shattering. "You're pissing me off!" Kairas' body began to emit a green aura, something that took Carlos by surprise, as much as the headbutt.

Pain shot through his skull, and Kairas swung his fist around in a heavy left hook. Carlos flew towards the soil, but the Fallen Angel wouldn't let him reach it. He gave chase, bringing his leg up and striking Carlos' chin so hard the boy flew through the trees miles away, shattering them with a heavy cloud of dust.

Kairas' wings shot from his back, and he flew into the air, watching closely, the veins in his forehead bulging when he saw Carlos getting back up and rubbing his face.

Jewel watched from the hotel room, biting her lip hard. "Get him, Kai."

An aura of green burst from his feet, Kairas giving a cry of power before his skin turned pure white. His hair shot down to his lower back, and power burst from within. His green eyes held an intense glow, feather wings stretching out wide at each side. He ripped his shirt and jacket off, letting it fall towards the soil as he charged after Carlos. Carlos released magic fire, each one Kairas dodged or deflected.

Crashing into the soil, dirt erupted high into the air. Kairas looked around, standing up straight when he didn't see Carlos anywhere. He shut his eyes, extending his senses wide. Time and nature seemed to drown itself out, until Kairas threw his knuckles back and struck Carlos hard in the nose. Blood spewed out violently, the boy holding his face in anger.

"How did you find me!?"

"If you don't understand sensing it, you shouldn't be using mana."

Carlos roared angrily and leapt into the air. His wings relaxing, Kairas dodged his enemy's knee, letting the boy flail around angrily. He was losing focus. As his focus wavered though, something about him changed. He became more aggressive, smashing trees, soil and cutting through the air with his punches alike. Kairas leapt over him, speaking low, "Calm down."

Carlos snapped his head around, throwing a punch that struck Kairas when he landed. Growling, the boy slammed his palm in his gut, ice shooting out from Carlos' back.

He roared in pain, stumbling back, holding his injured area, but running at Kairas again. Breathing in, Kairas brought his arms towards his body, his aura bursting more intensely, before he threw his palms out, magic rushing from him and wrapping around Carlos. The boy stopped in his tracks, struggling against the magic cage.

"Enough. It's obvious I'm too powerful for you." Kairas lowered his arms. "I won't kill you, so you shouldn't worry about that. I'm sure Takabi is gonna have plenty of words to say to you when he sees you."

Carlos' eyes went wide and his body relaxed for a moment. Just for a moment, his senses came back to him. "Ta… Takabi… Don't you dare, utter his name in my presence." The ground began to shake, as if the earth was quaking in fear. Kairas watched, his cage of magic cracking, Carlos' magic pouring out from within. "I will kill him! You and HIM!"

He snapped.

The cage shattered, an aura of red evil erupting from under him. His hair spiked wildly, body bulking up intensely. Kairas readied himself, Carlos soaring at him at breakneck speeds.

Kairas dodged, green lightning surging around him. With a roar, he threw a fist forward and struck Carlos' cheek. The boy didn't budge. His eyes glowing the same color as his aura, he yelled and gripped Kairas' head, slamming their skulls together. The impact ripped the soil apart, Kairas woozily stumbling around.

With a kick, Carlos knocked Kairas away, the boy's ribs shattered as he slammed into a boulder. Blood shot from his mouth, pouring into the dirt as he hit the floor. Coughing madly, he dug his fingers into the soil. "Ah! Fuck!"

Carlos trudged at him like a bull. Kairas grit his teeth, standing up straight and spitting the blood from his throat. He released his Fallen Angel form, and shut his eyes. Blackness shot up the right side of his body, coating his skin in intense tattoos, complete with half a feathered wing design on his collarbone, and ice like spikes around his black right eye.

Carlos threw a fist forward, which Kairas caught with little effort. Exhaling, he began to run his fingers into Carlos' muscle tissue, striking specific points. His arm dropped, numb, and Carlos roared in an attempt to attack with his other arm.

Kairas dodged, the boulder behind him smashing into uncountable pieces, before the boy came up and ran his hand through Carlos' stomach. Blood splattered on his face, black electricity rushing through his muscles and all around him. Power pouring into his body, he released an explosive blast at point black range, blowing Carlos away.

By the time the smoke cleared, Carlos was on the ground, his body shrinking and steaming. He picked his head up, watching Kairas and swearing inchoherantly. "No! No, not to you too!"

"Sucks knowing you can't even come in second place, huh?" Kairas smirked at him. "You'll always be in our shadow."

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled. "You don't know a damn thing about me!" A gate opened up behind him. Carlos grit his teeth, turning on his heel and leaping through, but not before declaring, "I WILL come back! You and that white haired fuck will both die by my hand!" The magic gate shut as the Black Gems power released itself.

Kairas exhaled, ribs piecing themselves back together quite painfully. "Yeah. Take your time. No rush, right?"