Published at 28th of July 2026 12:01 pm

Chapter 40 Power (+ Artwork)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

What are we doing here? Whyd you bring me here, Eryk? Aubrey asked.

Get out of the truck, I said calmly.

What?

Get out of the truck, I repeated, enunciating every word.

What are you going to leave me here? Because I hurt your feelings? She asked rudely.

Im going for a walk; join me or dont, I said without looking at her.

Shes attacking me because she cant handle her emotions. Aubrey, I would say I expect better of you, but this is just par for the course. I put the truck into park and shut the engine off. Unlocking the doors, I get out of the truck. The sun is setting, the little bit of daylight fading, and dying the area in an orange-purple hue. The cold wind bites at me, but I ignore it as I start walking over toward the wreckage of the Deckler mansion. Shell either join me and we can talk this out, or she can sit in the cold truck and chill out. Which option should I go for? I have to wait and see what she says before I lock in my decision.

The frozen dirt crunches beneath my shoes, the empty air echoing the noise. I havent been back here since the night of the party. The battering wind blows my hair wildly; I really need to get it cut soon. I truly do not have enough time in the day. Emmas not back from her trip, but I can still sense her, so she isnt dead. Yet. The stone walkway is covered in snow. A cloak of white covers the debris, creating small hills that hide the slaughter and destruction that happened here. My mind drifts to that night as I trudge through the snow, twisting around the piles of burned-down remains of what was once a mansion.

Being inside the basement, stealing liquor from Jake Decklers fathers collection. Maria was smiling at me and laughing before making that accusatory look. I love you, Eryk, but thats pretty weird. The violent shaking of the house as people scream. Running up the stairs, racing toward the source of the noise to find the Deckler mansion on fire as Davis Allen executed our classmates. I can still feel the fire licking at my skin, the weight of the support beam crashing into me, pinning me to the floor as everything burned around me. The pressure rising as I fought to free myself from being roasted alive. And then I triggered, gaining the power to finally become human. All the things I've experienced: friendship, joy, envy, sadness, compassion, all only possible because of that night. I hear Aubrey behind me, and I stop, turning to face her.

You shouldn't have acted like that. Mrs. DuPont didn't deserve that. You're not the only one hurting, not the only one grieving, and you've turned our friends funeral into a shit show about you. You don't have a monopoly on grief, Aubrey. You fucked up today, I said coldly.

I fucked up? This is your fault, Eryk. You did this! Aubrey screamed at me.

That is the second time shes made that dig. What does she mean by that? Does she know I killed Jean-Luc? Did she trick me into bringing her out here? Suddenly, the realization that we're in a secluded property and that Aubrey has a violent rage inside of her is dawning on me. I don't see her helmet anywhere on her. But that doesn't mean anything. My helmet transforms into something more portable; there's no reason to think that hers can't. Is she planning on arresting me? On killing me? My eyes sweep the area, scanning the tree line for any Capes lying in wait. Did I lead myself into an ambush?

How is this my fault? I asked, keeping my tone even and unaccusatory.

AHHHH! She screamed in frustration. Stop lying to me, Eryk. I got my memory back. I don't know why you've been pretending to not have powers, but you're the one who gave me my Tinkerer power. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have joined the Heroes' Union; I wouldn't have become a probationary member. I wouldn't have met Violet, and she wouldn't have d Jean-Luc.killed Jean-Luc. It all started with you. You caused it.

I caused it? Aubrey, youre the one who has always wanted to be a Cape, to be a hero. I have never cared for it. You chose to take the power. You chose to build the helmet. You chose to go take on two different gangs at the docks. You chose to take up the mantle of Cape, and you chose to join the Union. You chose to switch to QUTD. You chose to hang out with them. You chose to have a Friendsgiving. You chose to invite Jean-Luc. Do not blame me for what your choices have caused. You wanted to be a Cape so badly; you wanted to fight crime and make a difference. Newsflash, Neuvohumans are responsible for ninety-five percent of all homicides. You dont get to buy into the life and then balk at the price tag of admission. No one forced you, Aubrey, I said harshly.

Youre going to stand there and say that to me? After the trail of bodies youve left in your wake? I told you I remember everything. I KNOW YOURE THE MAN IN THE BLACK HELMET! She screamed.

The howling wind nearly drowns out her words, and even still, they echo out. Pandoras box has been opened. The secrets are now out in the open. We cant go back to the way everything was before. The line in the sand has been blown away, and our relationship will never be the same. If she has her complete memory back, then I have to adjust my game plan. She knows about the ORourkes massacre and whatever crackpot theories Violet told her. I am realizing, perhaps a bit too slowly, that this is the closest Ive come to being arrested and losing everything Ive built. She could tell everyone my secret. She could ruin everything. And I cant kill her, not when I was so publicly spotted leaving with her. I cant be the last person to see her without suspicion falling on me. Damn, Ive been checkmated. I can see a way through this, but its a tight window.

Neither of our hands is clean, Aubrey. The difference is I dont blame everyone else for dirtying mine. But whatever Violet told you, theres another side of the story. One far less biased, I said.

There is no excuse for murder, Aubrey said, tears forming in her eyes.

There are some people who are too dangerous to be left free. People who wield godlike powers and use them to hurt other people. Look at Ares and all the innocent people he murdered. Look at Violet, using her privilege and powers to kill Jean-Luc without consequence. Look around you, look at what Davis Allen did to our classmates, to our friends. What are we meant to do when the law fails us? The law cant protect us from them; there is no justice for those who are trampled beneath their feet. Even the Supreme Six faced Cowls that were too dangerous to be left alive. Whore of Babylon and Schizophobia with the Middletown Massacre, I explained.

Even so, we cant just take justice into our own hands. Youre wrong. Its not your call to make, Eryk. We have the Union and the BNA for a reason, she said half-heartedly.

Aubrey, I know I have been keeping things from you, but I need you to believe what Im about to say. Right now in Quinstin, there is a United Nations-sanctioned BNA assassination squad operating in our city to hunt down Ares and kill him. The Union knows about it. The people in charge dont believe in our justice system, so why should we? I asked.

W-wh-what? Youre lying. The Union wouldnt allow it, she countered.

The same Union that did nothing when Violet murdered our friend? The same Union that keeps secrets from the public and its own members? The truth is that the Union is rotten to the core. Those people dont deserve their status, their authority, or their powers. They arent heroes; they arent even Capes. The world we live in isnt fair, and I wont apologize for what Ive done to change that, I said.

Aubreys silent, her eyes staring at the snow on the ground as tears roll down her face. Im sure that the low temperature makes them stin as they fall. Ive been careful to not agree to anything or admit to a single crime. If shes recording me, it should be admissible. We both stand there in the cold, wind whipping up flakes around us. She doesnt look up, her hands clenched tightly. I think shes going to need to have an accident if I cant convince her that Im right.

I dont know what to say. Youre the last friend I have left. Ive lost Marcus, Jean-Luc; I dont want to lose you too, she said, her voice breaking. I step forward, closing the distance so that I can reach her, touch her, hug her. But right before I do, she steps backward, away from me. I get it, the anger inside at how unfair everything is. But I cant excuse murder; I cant forget the harm youve caused. The Union isnt perfect, but I cant believe what youre saying about them. They wouldnt be okay with a kill squad acting within Quinstin. Titania wouldnt let them; Arbiter wouldnt let them. Sequence- Youre wrong about them. The Heroes Union has to be working on the Violet thing, but shes disappeared. Theyre not going to let her get away with it.

Im telling you the truth; you have to believe me. Violet lied to you about the ORourkes thing. Just like she lied about me and her dating. They attacked me; I swear I didnt kill anyone. I wasnt responsible for what went down at the pub, I said, pretending to plead.

Dynax, Lee Daeshim, Erisate, Veritas, Murmur, Rushdown, Constrictor, Tramp, Callback, Diminish, Punch, Phillip Costanos, Offset, Hocus Pocus, she said, lips quivering as she stares straight through me.

What. How the hell does she know about all of them? This is bad, very bad. If she knows, then that means the Heroes Union must know as well. Ive been careless. Very careless. How did they put it together? Theres no evidence or pattern. No motive either. No, they cant possibly prove this. The last thing Im going to do is acknowledge any of these, except for one. My facial expression isnt one of shock; no, its one of confusion.

Who are they? I asked, feigning ignorance.

You know who they are. Theyre your victims, and theyre all dead, she said.

Dynax was an accident; you were there, and youre just as responsible as I am. He wouldve killed us if I hadnt done something. And I dont know who the rest of those people are, but I dont like the accusation that Im some sort of serial killer. Youre my best friend, and youre accusing me of such heinous things.

These arent accusations, Eryk; theyre facts. I made the helmet for you. Youre a Cowl, and you used the helmet I made to commit crimes.

Thats why you think Im a murderer? Because of a helmet? I dont even have the helmet anymore; I got rid of it months ago. Im not a Cowl, Aubrey. Everything Im doing is to change things for the better. Im not a killer, Aubrey. Im not some evil villain, I explained. Time for a change in tactics before I completely lose her. There are things you dont know; things you dont understand. Do you know the Cape, Atonement?

Of course; hes taken down Triad members, and because of him, Ares attack was nearly thwarted. No one has heard or seen him since he removed the radiation from Ground Zero, Aubrey answered.

I gave him his powers just like I did with you. Because, believe it or not, I understand that the world needs heroes. Does that sound like the actions of a Cowl? The Union and the BNA have failed. Im trying to make a difference. You know me, Aubrey. I am not the bad guy, I said.

Snow has begun to fall, and its nearly pitch-black out.

Lets get out of here, I said, heading for the truck.

Aubrey follows me, but doesnt say a word until were parked in front of her house. I unlock her door, waiting to see if shell speak. Am I going to have to kill her? She turns to me as she gets out of the truck.

Im not going to call the cops, or the BNA, or the Union. Youre my best friend, Eryk, but I need time to myself, to think things over, she said, shutting the door behind her.

Her words repeat over and over in my head on my drive back to my house. Her statement about not telling anyone about me feels like there is a time limit on it. She wont tell them yet. Im going to have to crash the Quickrail back to Quinstin. And I need to be on it so Im not a suspect. Its late, and there arent any lights on in the house, so Daniel must be asleep. I leave his keys in the bowl and make a sandwich before I head upstairs to my room. Stripping off my funeral outfit between bites of the turkey and Swiss, I toss the clothes onto the floor; Im too drained from today to care. Plopping down onto my bed, I plug my civilian phone in and check my Cowl one. There are several missed calls from Isaiah and a text from Tuesday that says to check the news, followed by a devil emoji. What now? I roll over and unlock my smartphone, navigating to the news section. The top storys headline reads Vesuvius Erupts! Heroes Union Squad intervenes in dangerous Cowl battle.

What the hell happened, V? I scroll down, reading about her clash with The Triad. It escalated to the point that the Heroes Union sent a squad to handle it. Newly instated Squad Leader Phoenix, taking over for recently deceased KnickKnack, led their team, comprised of Technovore, Chase, Ferrol, and recent addition Virtue, into breaking up the fight. Oh. Oh. This is quite an interesting development. I continue reading on. No arrests were made beyond some civilian Triad members. Vesuvius, TigerHawk, Lycan, and Burnblast. Ohohoho, I wonder what really went down. The real story will have to wait until Im back in Quinstin and I can ask Vivienne. Still, Lycan and Burnblast were put away by Titania, I thought. When did they join The Triad?

The doorbell goes off, and I jump out of bed. Who the fuck is here now? Whoever it is is going to wake Daniel up. I rush downstairs without bothering to put pants or a shirt on. Ripping the door open as the doorbell goes off again, I see an out-of-breath Aubrey standing there panting, sweaty hair stuck to her forehead. She barges into my house, pushing me aside and holding up a hand as she sucks in air. I shut the door, and she goes into the kitchen, pouring a glass of water and chugging it down.

Aubrey, what are you doing here? I asked.

You were right; the Union is rotten. Not only is Violet not facing any charges, but they even promoted her to a full member, she said, breathing heavily. You gave me my power, and you said you gave Atonement his powers, right?

Yes, why? I asked carefully.

Because I dont care what they say you did or whether you did it. I dont care if youre the man in the black mask or you used to be. I dont care about any of that anymore. Please, Eryk, I need your help. Give me the power to bring Violet to justice, the power to avenge Jean-Lucs murder; give me the power to kill her, she said, face trembling in rage.

Share