NOT HAPPENING

The smell of rotting wood dominated the chapel space. Though the condition was at its limit, the chapel stood its ground well. It was dark the little light penetrating from up above broken window glasses barely having any effect,but Philly knew the place well. She walked evading the rubble and taking turns where she needed to. Bright was lost captivated. It was like he was a paranormal investigator. Philly grabbed his arm afraid he was going to trip over something. Bright didnt resist.

The two were now in the aisle, nearing the transept. The Rouges conducted their meetings underground at the crypt. The two headed straight for the basement. It was dark, darker than the navel. Philly turn on her phone's flashlight. There were so many ancient looking artifacts. The place was packed with old antiques that would sell for a fortune,how the chapel still retained them was a mystery to an unknowning soul like Bright.

The two reached the end of the room. A huge canvas of the virgin Mary stood before them stuck to the wall.

"You ready to see something cool?" Philly asked knowing what was to happened next would blow Bright's mind.

Bright nodded yes, his response mixed with excitement and a bit of nervousness.

Philly began chanting something in Latin. Five minutes into it her eyes glowed red. She channelled some sort of energy focusing it onto her index finger. Once it was enough she pointed the finger to the canvas shooting out the energy.

Once it made contact with the canvas, it sparked blue fire which burned through the whole thing. A purple door emerged frome the ashy remains.

Bright snapped. He couldnt believe he just witnessed such a thing. He slowly tilted his head to face Philly.

"A... auntie,are we dead? Is this another reality am in?"he said his voice dominated with fear and excitement.

"I'll explain everything to you once were done here." Philly said twisting the door knob.

The door opened reviling a garden like scenery. It didnt look real judging from the chapel's look. In the middle was a conference table, four people sat eagerly waiting. Philly and Bright walked towards the four people.

Bright didnt know what to expect. All he could do was trust Philly. Two men dressed in grey suits pushed back two seats for Bright and philly at the table. Bright flowed with Philly sitting down when she did. Among the four were three men and one woman who looked over excited to see Philly. They were all dressed in black, a clear dress code for such a gathering.

"Demon floss, I see you made it. Is this the boy?" a man, probably in his late forties, his hair long but well maintained overrun with grey said facing Bright.

Philly stood up and bowed towards the man.

"Yes Rouge Martial, he is my sister's child. My own as of now henceforth."

"He's darn cute, just adding."the overexcited blue haired babe said winking at Bright who blushed spontaneously.

"There's things called intrusive thoughts Raven, keep them to yourself. He's still a kid" Toxic Shiki said as he took of his fox shaped mask, flashing everyone with his bloodshot red eyes.

Raven cringed. Something about shiki's looks made her shiver,but she respected him because of only one thing.... his invocation.

"The kid's so wrapped around ya Philly, you think he'll ever be his own man?" Ashburn said radiating with a superior aura.

Bright froze. He just knew something about this people wasnt normal.

Fuck this guys are so cool! Especially that lady fella.

"Now then, shall we talk business?" Rouge Martial said getting everyone's attention," there's an upcoming assignment. The bounty from it is enough to get us through three years.... but its risky. Its suppose to be a quick assassination of Grimonte Escava, the head of the Casanova corps."

Everyone's faces was in shock. Grimonte Escava was a hard to die guy and his corps was one to be feared.

"Does that mean if he dies we get a three year leave?" Raven inquired tapping her finger on the table rhythmicly.

"Yes, all we can focus on is after that is protecting Ms Philly." Martial added.

Philly was in. She understood well the risks involved but she was willing to do it. Three years with Bright,no distractions was all she needed to train him to perfection.

"Well, I needed a vacation from this hell were living in....am in" Shiki said his head layed on the head rest of his seat.

"Grimonte Escava huh, the though of his head in my collection is a sight I have to see." Ashburn said maintaining his aura.

"Well then, if everyone agrees then its set. The hunt will commence I three months time. Sharpen your skills by then and be ready for anything." Rouge Martial said taking his leave.

Ashburn didnt take too long also before he left.

Raven approached Philly. She pulled her in and hugged her so tight she couldnt breath.

"Am sorry this happened to you Philly. Am such a bad friend for not taking it seriously," She said her true to he words,"so you say he's already invoked? Weird he looks so young." she said eyes on the silent and shy Bright.

"Baby boy,why so silent?" Raven asked teasingly. Bright's response was a red face unable to look up. Philly sighed dragging away Raven to finish talking about their matters. Shiki took this opportunity for a one on one with Bright.

"Are you proud to be an auntie's boy?" Shiki said looking intimidating.

Bright felt fear. His eyes were like staring into an endless void of death.

"N.....no, am no auntie's boy. Am my own man." Bright said mixed up in fear and pride.

"Hmm...you say that yet you don't seem like you even believe in those words. When danger strikes can you even protect her let alone yourself? "

This words stabbed right through to Bright's soul.

He's right.... without auntie I don't think I'd even manage anything on my own.

A pat landed on his shoulder.

"Do what's necessary to be your own man kid. Nothing lasts forever,but you can make the most out of anything before it disappears."

Shiki then walked away. Golden dust engulfed his body from above altering it from human to a horse sized golden fox.

Bright froze in awe. He couldnt believe what he saw just now. The fox tilted its head facing Bright. Its eyes spoke what its mouth couldnt. It then took of disappearing deep into the garden.

Philly returned. The look on Bright's face was enough to tell her explaining things was not going to be easy.

" Bye bye baby boy, hope to see you again soon enough." Raven said as shards spawned from her back taking wing form. She then leaped above the shard wings flapping in perfect unison.

"Pretty shocking right? Welcome to the other side of reality where freakish stuff like this exist."

"Are you also like them auntie? Killers with..... superpowers" Bright said lost in thoughts.

"More or less,and those aren't really superpowers. Its invocations."

Philly said as the two exited the premises.

Philly explained to Bright what it meant to invoke.

"So basically invocation is like harnessing the true power of your soul fueling your body to awaken the true human abilities, right?" Bright said tying to understand Philly's words.

"Well technically yes. The stronger your soul bond the stronger the invocation. Your soul is you while your body is just a vessel to harbour the power one holds. Its rare for people to invoke offten, some even cant because they hardly believe in having a soul." Philly said as they got into the car.

"So invocation activation spawns different abilities randomly?"

"Yea, but a certain point one can master their soul pattern. If this is done you can learn different abilities, but overdoing it has its own risks." Philly said starting to he engine.

"This is unbelievable. Does the government know of such a thing?" Bright asked afraid of the experimentations and other dark stuff he heard they did to people with supernatural traits.

"There some things the government doesn't even dare interfere with. Most of the invokers group together for protection and power. If the government decides to meddle,they won't even last for a week with all their power on the line."

"Wicked," Bright said astonished by that revelation,"so your saying am also an INVOKER?" Bright asked his eyes scanning himself.

"You are one. Didnt you notice how fast your body healed from the burns you suffered from."

It wasnt until Philly mentioned it then he noticed. His burns didnt hurt on bit now and they already formed that healing scab.

" From what I noticed, your invocation has something to do with energy. Its not clear yet but we'll figure it with time. You hungry?"

"Yea, alot." Bright replied his stomach growling backing him up.

There was a dinner up ahead. The two decided to have an early lunch there.

"Excuse us." Philly said pushing open the glass door. Few people gazed on them as the sat at the empty table the could spot first. A curvy good looking waitress almost instantly spawned handing them the menu. She told them to wave once they decided on what they wanted to eat. Bright was fast on deciding. Philly also made her choice. They waved. The waitress took their orders and prepared them quick. Two plates, one having an extra large burger for Bright and the other fried rice and two chicken legs landed on their table.

It looked good, much better then what Bright and philly expected. Philly stirred the rice with her spoon. It was cooked just right. The chicken looked good also.

Bright was already halfway finishing his burger. Philly scooped up the rice ready to chew down on it, when suddenly her pupils glowed pink.

She quickly pushed Bright's head down to the table as a bullet hit the glass that was behind him. She flipped the table over covering themselves from other numerous shots. Bright froze in fear. The table wasnt going to hold on much longer. Philly grabbed Bright and jumped through the glass wall landing outside.

"Hey....hey! Snap out of it. Your gonna be ok," Philly said shaking Bright out his fear state.

He looked at her, his eyes blank and no hope in them.

" Its daddy right? He's the one who sent people to us right?" he said shaking.

"That doesn't matter right now. I want you to go hide ok, once the bad people are gone I'll whistle thrice and then you can come out. Go."

Bright ran as far as he could,what else could he do in such a situation.

Philly checked herself. She wasnt hurt.

Weapons?

She only had a kunai on her. She sighed promising to scold herself later. Josh was going to react but she didnt think it would be this soon.

She twirled the kunai in a flashy way as her systems recollected the techniques.

Three people emerged, dressed in white suits.

"Shit,"Philly whispered under her breath.

"Damn,you really do have the kid. Wacha think your doing with him Philly. You know how Josh is, personal with his stuff." a dark skinned,afro haired beauty said chewing hard on gym.

" Nothing wrong with taking care of my sister's child right. All you guys Wana do is kill him....cant let that happen." Philly said as she pulled out a ninjitsu stance, kenjutsu to be precise.

"Bullshit! Just give me the kid, I really don't want to be here." She said spitting out the gum.

"No can do vivy, no one's taking him from me." Philly said holding the kunai tighter.

Vivy folded her arms

" You two, take care of her."

The two dashed. Philly did the same. They didnt look like ordinary members. Their movement were well coordinated. One attacked spin kicking Philly aiming for her neck but it was an easy block. The other came instantly touching down and attempting a roundhouse sweep kick but Philly backflipped missing it by a whisker.

She cast the kunai with calculated intent at one of the two, striking his shoulder. With haste she lunged at the other landing a devious question mark kick on his neck which sent him down instantly. The other guy pulled out the kunai. He was bleeding but was still in the game. He started bouncing as he raised his fists to his chin.

Philly looked at vivy, she was enjoying the show waiting for her turn. She had to finish this quick. Philly posed, assuming the infamous tiger stance from taekwondo. This time she was the one who took the initiative.

She lunged,with a flying kick. The guy side stepped missing it. He then tried to calve kick Philly but she checked it striking back with a fist to the gut which hit directly. The guy held his stomach in agony as he bent his back. Philly used this slamming her heel onto his head banging him down to the ground hard knocking him out.

" Wow, I see you still got it even after all this years....but do you think you can handle me?" Vivy said taking off her coat and rolling up her sleeves.

Philly picked up her kunai. Her eyes dimly growing.

" Let's end this quick shall we?" Vivy said pressure around her rising spontaneously.

The two dashed at each other each burning with intense emotion. One of them had to die for the other to live.