Alex stared at the island.
Black figures start hiding.
They are waiting in ambush.
For the officials.
"They know."
He said.
"Know what?"
"The officials are coming."
Alex pointed at the purple light.
"That light’s too obvious."
"Like a beacon."
"They want people to co."
"Set a trap."
Raven looked down.
"Then what do we—"
"We ss it up."
Alex grinned.
System bag opened.
Light flashed.
A can appeared.
Small.
Round.
Label in weird letters.
Surströmming.
"What’s that?"
Raven leaned over.
Alex’s grin got bigger.
"Biological weapon."
"What?!"
"Swedish fernted herring."
"Slls like death."
"Sticks to everything."
"Can’t wash it off."
Raven’s face went pale.
"Why do you HAVE that?!"
"It’s my hobby, I love collecting this stuff."
He shook the can.
"And collections are gonna shine!"
"Alex!"
"That’s disgusting!"
"You can’t just—"
"Watch ."
"NO!"
She grabbed his arm.
"That’s chemical warfare!"
"Exactly, that’s how you deal with cult!"
He pulled out more cans.
Five of them.
Sebastian turned around.
Looked at the cans.
At Alex.
On the island.
Back to Alex.
"..."
Silence.
"That might work."
Raven’s jaw dropped.
"Sebastian?!"
"You agree with him?!"
"The boy has a point."
Sebastian turned back.
"They’re waiting in ambush."
"Hidden positions."
"If we disrupt them now..."
"The officials have better odds."
"Also, we can’t just see them finish their sacrifice ritual."
"It can cause huge trouble to the city."
Pause.
"And that sll..."
"Will mark their locations."
Alex laughed.
"See?!"
"The old man gets it!"
"I’m forty-two."
"Uh huh!"
Sebastian sighed.
Raven covered her face.
"I can’t believe this..."
Alex stood up.
Pulled out sothing else.
Small device.
Black.
Speaker.
gaphone.
Battery powered.
"When did you—"
"Always prepared!"
He flipped it on.
Pointed it down.
Took a deep breath.
"DINNER TI!!"
His voice BOOD.
Echoed across the lake.
The island.
Everyone down there froze.
Looked up.
"SPECIAL DELIVERY!!"
"FROM YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD Spiderman!!"
Raven covers her face.
Alex opened the first can.
HISSSSSS.
Sll hit instantly.
Even up here.
Raven gagged.
"Oh god—"
Sebastian’s face went green.
"What is—"
Alex tilted the can.
Liquid poured out.
Falling.
Falling.
Down toward the island.
Splashing.
All over the trees.
The clearing.
The hidden cultists.
"ENJOY YOUR AL!!"
He opened another can.
Dumped it.
"COMPLINTS OF THE CHEF!!"
Third can.
Fourth.
Fifth.
All dumping.
Raining death.
Liquid everywhere.
The sll.
Oh god, the sll.
Even from the sky.
Even through the wind.
It was unbearable.
Down below—
Screaming started.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
"IT’S IN MY EYES!!"
"I CAN’T BREATHE!!"
Cultists stumbling out.
From behind trees.
Rocks.
Bushes.
All over.
Positions revealed.
Clawing at their robes.
Trying to wipe it off.
Not working.
Just spreading.
The twins ran out.
Covered in liquid.
Screaming.
"WHO DID THIS?!"
"I’LL KILL THEM!!"
The leader stumbled forward.
Hood down.
Face exposed.
Middle-aged.
Bald.
Eyes watering.
"FIND THEM!!"
But nobody is listening.
Too busy dying.
From the sll.
Alex watched.
Grinning.
"Mission accomplished."
Lowered the gaphone.
Raven stared at him.
"You..."
"I..."
"That was..."
Words failed.
Sebastian guided the eagle away.
Far away.
From the sll.
Pulled out phone.
[Trait 7: Carries biological weapons]
"But I admit."
"That was effective."
Raven’s eye twitched.
"You both are crazy."
Alex laughed.
"Crazy effective!"
Held up his hand.
"High five?"
"NO!"
But her lips curved.
Just a bit.
Trying not to smile.
"You’re still disgusting."
"But I’m YOURS Date, so you are also disgusting."
"Shut up."
Down below—
Chaos everywhere.
The ambush?
Ruined.
The ritual?
Interrupted.
People vomiting.
Rolling on ground.
The sll wouldn’t leave.
Not for days.
Maybe weeks.
And the officials?
On their way.
With every position marked.
By the sll.
Alex sat back down.
Satisfied.
"Art."
He said.
"I love art."
Down below—
The leader stumbled forward.
Eyes red.
Tears streaming.
But his face?
Twisted smile.
"You think..."
He coughed.
"You think this matters?!"
Waved his hand.
The wrapped bundles.
Still piled at array center.
Fire appeared.
Torch in his hand.
WHOOSH!
Flas caught.
Instant.
Spreading fast.
The bundles are burning.
Screaming started.
Muffled.
Agonized.
People inside.
Alive.
The array glowed brighter.
Purple-red light.
Pulsing faster.
Power building.
Sebastian’s face changed.
"What—"
His body shook.
Storm Eagle screeched.
Wrong sound.
Pained.
Started falling.
"Sebastian?!"
Raven grabbed his shoulder.
"My beast—"
He gasped.
"It’s weakening—"
"I can’t hold it!"
The eagle tilted.
Wings folding.
Dropping.
Fast.
"HOLD ON!"
Sebastian yelled.
They plumted.
Wind screaming.
Ground rushing up.
Sebastian fighting controls.
Eagle barely responding.
At the last second—
Wings spread.
Half strength.
They crashed.
Grass.
Dirt.
Rolling.
Tumbling.
Stopped.
Alex groaned.
Raven coughed.
Sebastian is already moving.
Pulled sothing from his coat.
Large cloak.
Silver.
Shimring.
Threw it over them.
"Stay under this."
"Don’t move."
"Don’t talk."
"What about you?!"
Raven grabbed him.
"I’ll draw their attention."
He stood.
"Officials are close."
"I can feel them."
"Just need to buy ti."
Blue light flashed.
A new beast appeared.
Ice serpent.
Seven ters long.
Sebastian climbed on.
"Stay hidden."
Shot forward.
Toward the cultists.
Under the cloak—
Alex and Raven huddled close.
Very close.
Her shoulder pressed against his.
Her breath on his neck.
"Your breath is so noisy."
She whispered.
"I’m not."
"You are."
"That’s my heartbeat."
"You like ~you are crazy about !"
"OMG! Shut up! Alex."
Raven hit his butt.
Pause.
"You’re so close, do you want to kiss? "
Her face went red.
"no."
"Co on, it’s romantic."
She elbowed him.
"Ow!"
"Quiet!"
"You hit !"
"You deserved it!"
"For what?!"
"For existing!"
Outside—
Sebastian fighting.
Blade flashing.
Serpent striking.
Cultists surrounding him.
More and more.
He took a hit.
Staggered.
Blood on his coat.
"Sebastian..."
Raven leaned forward.
"We should—"
Alex pulled her back.
"Not yet."
"But—"
"Look."
He pointed up.
Sky darkening.
Shadows moving.
"Almost here."
She bit her lip.
Watching Sebastian.
Her hands clenched.
Alex grabbed one.
She looked at him.
"He’ll be fine."
Voice quiet.
"He’s strong."
"Like soone I know."
Her eyes widened.
Face redder.
"You..."
Raven hit him again.
Softer though.
Almost playful.
Outside—
THWIP!
Arrows.
Silver rain.
Water exploded.
Officials launching up.
Beasts everywhere.
Fire.
Ice.
Lightning.
Stone.
Colliding with cultists.
Battle erupting.
Chaos.
Screaming.
Roaring.
Blood spraying.
Alex watched through the gap in the cloak.
"There we go."
Outside—
The leader saw Sebastian.
Wounded.
Bleeding.
Serpent weakening.
Perfect target.
He grinned.
Blood on his teeth.
"You first."
Body changed.
Wings burst out.
Black.
Massive.
Claws extended.
Bone and tal.
Shot forward.
Fast.
Straight at Sebastian.
Sebastian raised blade.
Too slow.
Too tired.
The leader’s claw—
CLANG!
Blocked.
Red blur appeared.
Between them.
Sword out.
Silver cane-sword.
Deflected the strike.
Then twisted.
Blade flashed.
Straight through.
Into the leader’s chest.
Deep.
Blood spurted.
He scread.
Jumped back.
Clutching the wound.
"You—"
Looked up.
Woman standing there.
Elegant.
Red dress.
Black gloves.
Rose perfu.
Madam Rose.
The leader’s eyes went wide.
"YOU?!"
"TRAITOR!!"
Spit flying.
"YOU WERE ONE OF US!"
Rose smiled.
Cold.
"Was I?"
Tilted her head.
Wiped her blade.
Clean.
"Officials send their regards."
The leader roared.
"I’LL KILL YOU!"
Charged again.
Rose smiled, called out her beast!
Under the cloak—
Alex blinked.
"Wait."
"That’s—"
"Madam Rose?"
Raven looked.
"You know her?"
"Yeah."
"Sa building as the twins."
"She kinda helped before."
"And she is sooo hot! So mature~ I am actually kinda interested in her."
"What!?? Alex!! I am your date!"
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