Sapphyra [Adult Superhero Progression]

Barbie

We’d used the chaos of Rupert's unmasking to get away. One last glance at my former body on the ground gave me the grim boost I needed. Before we left, though, I snatched up Rupert’s scentblocker and put it in my pocket.

I glanced at the young wolf tied to my hip, following me like a baby duck behind its mother. He was strong, handsome, and at least somewhat useful in a fight but he wasn’t what I needed to accomplish my goals.

“You’re quiet. Thinking too much.” His voice invaded my mind. That damned mate link…I cursed quietly and tried to force him out but couldn’t. My mind is still too weak—too fractured.

“Get out of my head. I have nothing to say to you.” We managed to get back down into the ark without being seen. People were too busy trying to rebuild their lives to care.

The boy was quiet in my head but having him close enough that I could smell him was too much. It made my head dizzy and my chest ache.

“Stop following me, you pest!” I sneered at him, curling my lip back in disgust. “Go back to Wyatt.” He crossed his arms over chest and tilted his head at me, not having it. Why is he so tall?! Everyone is taller than me, it’s not fair.

“No. I’m not leaving my mate.” He said that with far too much emphasis on the word ‘mate’.

I would deal with it later.

I threw up my hands and kept walking, letting my memories of the labyrinth guide me. As Veloria, I’d spent time down here, running my fingers over the cold walls, sleeping in room after room. Rupert was such an idiot to underestimate me, but I'll admit it: I enjoyed playing dual roles with him.

Though we never engaged in intercourse, Rupert is probably asexual like his father once was, seeing him from a lovers standpoint was something I would never forget.

Mainly because he was such a shitty husband.I swear it must be a family trait and if that is the case, I have even more reason to lose this mutt behind me.

“There it is!” I exclaimed, heading into my old cell. The door Sapphyra brought down was made of metal from a solar system far away from here. I'm surprised she was able to break it…but then again it is her. If anyone can do the impossible,it's that dragon.

Darkness was no match for me. I stepped around the chains that once held me and pulled them cleanly out of the walls. In the square slots that housed the chains, there were two buttons.

I motioned for him with a flick of my fingers.

“Mutt—”

“Ezekie,” he corrected,”but you can call me Zeke or…husband. Whichever helps you sleep at night.” I couldn't see his grin but I saw his white teeth in the dark. Smug bastard, how the hell did he know I was blushing?

“I'll call you a splatter on the floor if you don't press that button over there.”

“Over where? Guide my hands, my eyes aren't that good in the dark.” Another smirk, he wasn't slick.

He was going to make me lose my shit. The audacity of him!

“Guide your…little boy—”

“I'm 25. Not a little boy, just young in the face.”

Relief and panic filled me at the same time. As a kid it would have been easy to brush him off. A grown man on the other hand…I may be in trouble. But not so much that I forget what I came here for.

I breathed out slowly, steadying my nerves. “Just…just press the button when I tell you to.”

“Of course.” It made me uncomfortable with how agreeable he was. Pushing it down, I placed my hand over the square hole in the wall and gently moved his hand on his. I hissed when a small spark ran up my arm, making me jerk backwards.

“What the hell was that?!” Rubbing my arm, I heard him sigh in the dark.

“That would be the mate bond we have. If you give me a second, I could explain it to you.” He paused, leaving room for me to process it. “It comes with benefits beyond telepathy, like sharing energy. That way, whenever you’re tired, you can take from me to boost yourself back up.”

Teeth again. Why was he grinning like an idiot? He just volunteered to be my living sponge! Ugh, pathetic. But…both of those features could come in handy later.

“Push the button Ezekiel.” His grunt was all the affirmation I needed. I pressed mine as well and the floor gave way. I knew it was coming but I still screamed as we slid down the far too cramped shute. The trip was less than sixty seconds but sliding with him behind me made it stretch on far too long.

We landed on a synthetic foam mattress, designed specifically never to deteriorate. He landed first and I landed on top of his chiseled body. My body went rigid as his hands wrapped around my waist, yet running away was the furthest thing from my mind. Why was his body so…comfortable?

Why do you care? Focus Barbie.

“What did you say?” My gaze landed on him. That voice was mine but it wasn’t. Had he said something?

“You’re beautiful.” He murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I shivered at his touch but shook my head to clear the demons away.

Great. Not only am I hearing voices, I'm letting some arbitrary animalistic instinct take over. Not on my watch.

I rolled off of him and watched the shute we came down, go back up into the ceiling. Panels closed behind it, sealing us in the special lab I designed behind Wyatt's back all those years ago. It was still dark, so I clapped my hands and watched as an artificial sun rose over my dream environment.

Sitting at the base of a hill with a small gothic cottage at the top, a gothic garden the size of a small food court, of black iron covered in rose covered vines sat next to a babbling brook. Cobblestone steps led us up the way to the cottage, yet I wanted to stay outside and just enjoy the scenery. Enjoy the small fruits of my labor.

“Is this where you wanted to live?” He paused, “before my grand uncle took you?” I could feel him holding back anger.

“I did. And if all goes according to plan, this will be my home for the rest of my life.” The mere thought brought a smile to my lips.

“Our lives.” I groaned.

“You are so very annoying.” I sighed and opened the door. There was no furniture but that was because I hadn’t needed any. This cottage wasn’t for me to live in, not yet. Right now it was just a storage house for five human sized containers with clear covers. The people in them were beyond necessary to my goals.

So when I saw one of the container doors open, I knew I was screwed.

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