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Michael and I landed near the others who had waited on the ground. Where Avarice's lab once stood now was a deep hole filled with rubble.
"I take it this was you, Arne," I said as I approached them.
"Hopefully our troubles from this place will stay buried with it," Arne responded.
"Hopefully," I replied solemnly. "Now we've got one more thing to take care of before we can put this behind us."
Right on cue, I sensed Avarice's energy returning through our connection. The sky darkened, and I looked over at Tymon, who nodded toward a shadow behind a big rock that had been exaggerated to life. He kept it active by touching it with his foot.
"Thanks," I said as I walked past him and stepped into the shadow. The others followed behind me. When we emerged, we were in the basement of Michael's manor, standing before the unconscious bodies of Avarice, Verin, Wren, and Trevor.
As they lay on the floor, I knelt over them and placed my hands on their heads, two at a time. With my connection with Viraa, I was able to connect with them through their ascension marks. I forced each of them into deep slumbers where their minds were held in solitude. In there, for each day that passed in real life, one year would pass to them. It was probably the closest thing to a coma they'd ever experienced.
Looking down at Verin, I clenched my fists, exhaled, and then relaxed them. I squatted again and absorbed most of her spirit energy, leaving just enough to keep her weak. I was about to ask Viraa to augment Verin's mark to block her from gaining more spirit energy from others, but I realized there'd be no point. So, instead, I altered her mental solitude, changing it from one of perpetual darkness to one where she'd suffer through hellish torment.
Want to know something funny? Verin's voice spoke while I was inside her head. Despite everything I've done, even if you could kill me, you wouldn't. You'd be showing me the same mercy, she laughed.
This isn't mercy, I said coldly.
Lisa, Viraa warned.
I've seen your future, I continued. It isn't pleasant. As you rot here, you'll begin to pray for death, but it won't come. Not yet. Once you've reached your limit, something in you will snap. Insanity will become sane, and when you see it in your reflection, you'll know your end is near. Don't worry, though; I don't know how, but you'll have a momentary sense of freedom. And just as everything you want is within your grasp—the sole reason for your existence will almost be achieved; it'll be snatched away from you. Then you will perish alone, dreams shattered, spirit broken. And you may now think you've gained something by knowing how it'll end, but I know you. You won't be able to let things go, so that's the only path for you. Until then, enjoy your own personal hell.
"There. They shouldn't be a problem anymore," I exhaled as I stood.
"Now we need a place to hold them," Tymon stated.
"Should we ask these idiots?" Za'Fia said, nodding at the walls as we all turned to look at them
"Whoa, okay," a voice said as several men shimmered to existence as their binding suits were deactivated. Each man wore a black military combat suit and held military-grade firearms, but there were no other indications to reveal who they were or who they were affiliated with. The man who spoke, their leader, I presumed, held his hands up in peace. "We don't mean you any harm, I assure you."
"As if you could actually harm us," Arne commented as they manifested stone to sit on.
"Right," the man gulped, "we've been watching long enough to know we wouldn't stand a chance against any of you."
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Tymon Ordered, stepping forward.
The leader's shoulders slacked as he entered a trance.
"I'm Judiah Spencer, Colonel Spencer of the United States' Task Force S – a unit created to protect the population by capturing and detaining spirit users who threaten order."
"Sir!" One of the men exclaimed as they grabbed Colonel Spencer's arm.
"Quiet," Tymon flashed his eyes as a warning, and the guy retreated to his post.
"We've seen the destruction you've left across the globe and were instructed to observe you for weaknesses and bring at least one of you in if possible."
"Bring us where?" I asked as I stepped forward, but the guy stood unresponsive.
"Answer each of our questions honestly," Tymon told him.
"Bring us where?" I reiterated.
"To an underground maximum security holding facility built on an island west of Washington," he answered.
"Hm. We could let the humans take them," Tymon suggested after some thought.
"Won't they run experiments on them?" Naomi asked as she watched the uniformed men mistrustfully.
"They'll try," Tymon answered, releasing his hold over the colonel. "Unfortunately, we're not that easy to hurt."
"You can take them," I told the colonel. "But tell your superiors that we'll make regular visits to ensure they don't do anything that'll put themselves or humanity at risk. In case they need to know who we are—"
"We know who you are," the colonel interjected. "After that video was sent out, we did our research. Let's just say we no longer think the stories of The Primordials are folktales."
"Okay then," I nodded as we stepped aside and let them haul Avarice and his members upstairs and into a high-tech helicopter. It was the first time I'd seen a silent helicopter. The humans that were around the gate didn't seem to notice us. The military must've hidden the area within the gate with camouflage technology like the one Arne used back in Greece.
"Well, that's that," I breathed as we watched the jet-black helicopter lift off and blend in with the sky before leaving.
"Shall we kick our feet back and heal now?" Damien suggested.
"Wait, before we do that, Michael, do you have enough energy to heal humans?" Za'Fia asked.
"Yes, humans require much less energy," Michael responded as he'd already begun to heal Arne's eyes, "but why do you...? You wish to help the humans who lived in the city Verin destroyed..."
"Yeah," Za'Fia admitted. "I don't have a hero complex or anything, but it was my fight, and I couldn't prevent the disaster. The least I can do is help them recover. Find survivors."
"I'm all for it," I smiled proudly as I brushed my shoulder with hers.
"We're all helping," I declared cheerfully.
"It'll also be a good way to ease some of the fear they hold toward us," Tymon added as we took to the skies.
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