Red's crimson smoke drifted toward the kitchen like a curious child following the scent of cookies. He materialized behind Miriam, shuffling his feet awkwardly as she flipped pancakes at the stove. Even being a copy of Angelo, he somehow managed to look more nervous than the original ever did.
"Need any help?" Red asked, his usual wild energy replaced by something almost shy.
Miriam turned, her face lighting up with maternal warmth. "Good morning, Red! Did you sleep well?"
Red rubbed the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at her. "I, uh... me and blueberry don't really sleep."
"Oh, right – I keep forgetting you two are...special that way." Her words made Red wince slightly, but then she brightened. "And what an adorable nickname for your brother – blueberry! That's so sweet!"
From inside Angelo's sleeping consciousness, Blue's essence recoiled in horror.
Red's face split into his trademark wicked grin. "I know, right? Good old blueberry!"
"Cease." Blue's scholarly voice carried deadly warning through their mental link.
Unable to resist the conversation, Blue's azure smoke poured into the kitchen like morning mist. He materialized with perfect posture, as if attending a formal event instead of breakfast. "Good morning, Mrs. Dealer."
"Good morning, blueberry!" she replied cheerfully.
Behind her, Red had to stuff his fist in his mouth to keep from cackling as Blue's left eye twitched. But he maintained his composure with visible effort. "Thank you again for allowing us to stay on such short notice."
Miriam waved the spatula dismissively. "Nonsense! It's the least I could do after your home was destroyed. And after you boys put yourselves on the line protecting everyone..." Her voice carried no real sadness though, almost seeming pleased.
Red tilted his head like a curious predator, his empathic abilities picking up her true feelings. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you're actually happy about it."
Miriam nearly dropped her spatula. "Oh? Oh, really? I suppose I just try to look at the bright side..." She let out a nervous laugh that fooled no one.
Blue studied her with scholarly attention. "You're glad we're here then."
Her shoulders slumped as the truth came out. "I'm sorry... it's just... with Bill and Howard both gone, this house feels so empty." Her voice wavered. "You three feel like the only family I have left."
Red's usual manic energy vanished. "Hey, I didn't mean to..." He glanced at Blue, something desperate in his eyes. "It's the same for us, right?"
"Of- of course." Blue's scholarly precision cracked slightly. "You're practically our step-mother."
Miriam wiped her eyes, managing a wobbly smile. "You boys are so sweet."
In the bedroom, Angelo sat on the edge of his bed, every muscle aching from yesterday's battles. He'd been awake for a while, listening to the conversation but unable to join – some emotions were still too raw, too difficult to face directly.
"I'm coming in now," he told his duplicates through their mental link. "And we're all going to pretend I heard NOTHING."
Red's "Gotcha!" overlapped with Blue's "Understood."
Angelo walked into the kitchen, trying to ignore how his injuries protested. "Wow, this smells amazing! Thanks again for letting us stay, Mrs. Dealer."
"It's my pleasure, really." Her smile encompassed all three versions of him, making the kitchen feel warmer somehow.
As they settled around the table, Miriam's expression grew serious. "Do you think there will really be war?" Her voice was soft as she poured coffee. "After what the President said..."
Angelo set down his fork, the weight of reality settling over the cozy scene. "My friend in the army thinks so. Says it's pretty much inevitable now."
Miriam sighed, suddenly looking older. "We just can't catch a break, can we? You and me."
"Yeah, sometimes it feels like the universe has it out for me specifically." Angelo stared at his pancakes, then lifted his head with unexpected determination. "But you know? Lately, whenever things get really tough..." His eyes met Miriam's. "I hear Bill's voice. His last words give me strength."
Promise me something... You're not bound by your limits...
The memory hung in the air between them as Miriam dabbed at her eyes.
Angelo's voice grew stronger. "So it doesn't matter if the whole world's against me. I have to keep going – push forward. For his sake too."
"Angelo..." Miriam's voice wobbled. "You're going to make me cry again."
He managed a small smile. "Sorry."
She gathered herself, squaring her shoulders. "Speaking of Bill... I want to visit him and Howard today. Make sure their graves are alright after everything that's happened." Her eyes held a silent question. "Would you come with me?"
"Of course!" Angelo straightened despite his aching body. "When were you thinking? I have a meeting around ten..."
"We can go after you're done."
"Deal."
"Dealer!"
Angelo blinked in confusion. "What?"
Miriam's eyes went distant with memory. "Just something I used to do with Bill when he was little..." Her sad smile spoke volumes about a mother's love that remembers it all.
Red and Blue exchanged glances, for once completely united in their protective feelings toward this woman who had somehow become family. The morning sunlight continued to paint warm patterns across the kitchen floor as they finished breakfast together, creating one more precious memory in a house that had known both joy and sorrow.
Angelo stepped onto Miriam's front porch, the morning sun warming his face. "Okay heading to my meeting now. In the meantime, get ready for the cemetery visit," he told her, his voice softer than usual. She nodded from the doorway, understanding in her eyes.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
His evolved aura came alive around him like a gentle flame, orange energy spreading from his shoulders to form glowing wings. After one last wave to Miriam, he pushed off from the ground, rising smoothly into the sky. The familiar streets of Novaria stretched out beneath him as he headed toward the park near the police station, his wings leaving trails of light in the morning air
From above, he could see where yesterday's fighting had left its mark – scorched trees, small craters in the grass, benches torn from their foundations. But compared to other parts of the city, the park had survived mostly intact. Its trees still offered patches of shade, and birds were already returning to their branches.
"Alright, let's split up and look for him," Angelo suggested as he circled lower.
"No need." Blue's scholarly voice carried a hint of amusement. "Look down there."
Angelo spotted it immediately – a small tent pitched near some trees, with a man sitting cross-legged beside a campfire. The smell of cooking fish drifted up on the morning breeze.
He landed quietly behind the man, letting his wings dissolve into particles of orange light. Though he made sure his footsteps crunched against fallen leaves, the stranger didn't even flinch. He just glanced back casually, like he was expecting company.
"Is camping even legal here?" Angelo said, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope." The man's smirk was evident in his voice. "But the police have bigger fish to grill right now, so I'm making myself at home." He turned, revealing familiar silver-white hair that caught the sunlight like fresh snow. "Fish?" Sol held up a stick with grilled fish, somehow managing to look completely at ease despite the bandages visible under his torn shirt.
Angelo accepted the offered food and settled onto a fallen log across from him. "Looks like those terrorists didn't spare you either."
"What gave it away?" Sol chuckled, then winced slightly as the movement pulled at his injuries. "So, made up your mind about working together?"
"Maybe." Angelo took a bite of fish, studying Sol's confident expression. "Though that psychological trick you tried to pull last time – I only let you go because I wanted to keep this option open."
Sol's knowing smile widened. "And here I thought I had you completely fooled. The Angel of Death's got sharper eyes than the papers give him credit for."
"Liar!" Red's voice exploded through their shared consciousness. "You wouldn't know manipulation from a hole in the ground if Neiva hadn't pointed it out!"
"You fell for it too!" Angelo shot back mentally.
"Both of you, focus," Blue cut in. "He'll think you're zoning out if you keep arguing internally."
Angelo blinked, bringing his attention back to Sol. "So, I know I said I'm in but I should really ask first: what's the actual gameplan here? There is one, right?"
"Of course!" Sol's face lit up like a kid about to show off his favorite toys. He dove into his tent and emerged with an armful of folders, spreading them across a cloth on the ground. "Behold!"
"Case files?" Angelo and Blue asked together, though only Angelo's voice carried to Sol's ears.
"Not just any case files, THE CASE FILES," Sol's excitement was barely contained as he gestured at the papers. "These are my father's files – the ones that show the pattern when you put them together. And these are just from Luminia – there are more from other regions, but we're starting close to home."
Understanding dawned in Angelo's eyes. "You're going to solve them?"
"Well, not all of them." Sol pulled out a map with three locations circled in red, one of them being Lumecent. "I've narrowed it down to the three most likely to give us leads on GHOST. We'll tackle them in order, easiest to hardest. With luck, we might not even need the harder ones."
"Easiest to hardest how?" Angelo leaned forward, studying the map. "In terms of solving them?"
Sol's expression turned grimmer. "I wish. Many of these cases involve crime families or other dangerous groups. There's one in Lumecent that's particularly nasty – I'd rather avoid them if possible, but..." His eyes met Angelo's with fierce determination. "To find GHOST, I'll do whatever it takes. I'm guessing you feel the same way."
The weight of shared purpose seemed to settle between them as Angelo nodded. "So if Lumecent's last, where do we start?"
"Here." Sol pointed to a red circle near the coastline. "It's a mining town built right on the ocean cliffs. Middle of nowhere."
Angelo squinted at the map. "How do we even get there? I don't see any roads."
"That's because there aren't any." Sol's casual tone made Angelo's heart sink. "We go on foot."
"What?" Angelo nearly choked on his fish. "But that's hundreds of miles! Through that massive forest!" He pointed at the map.
"Yup." Sol nodded cheerfully. "Hope you like camping!"
"And this one?" Angelo pointed desperately at the other circle beside Lumecent.
"Same deal, less traveling by foot, but its a bit far from here." Sol's attempt at reassurance fell flat.
Angelo's shoulders slumped in defeat. Sol jumped up and threw an arm around him, nearly making them both fall over. "Come on, it'll be an adventure! We'll tell ghost stories around the campfire, roast marshmallows..."
"Please never try to sell anything for a living," Angelo said flatly, making Sol laugh and Red chuckle internally.
"Well, that's the plan." Sol's voice turned serious again. "You in?"
Angelo stood, taking a deep breath as he looked toward the horizon where answers about his parents might be waiting. "Yes. If GHOST really did kill my parents, this is the only available lead I got."
"And if they didn't?" Sol asked carefully.
"Then the Angel of Death will have plenty of criminals to deliver justice to." Angelo's eyes glowed slightly as he spoke.
Sol's grin returned full force. "Perfect. We leave in week – pack whatever you can carry while using your powers. We'll travel at Auron speed and make camp before dark."
Angelo nodded, then hesitated. "One more thing..."
"What?"
"I'm bringing someone – my student, Neiva. I'm training her."
Sol's expression hardened. "Look, I know I made it sound fun, but this could get dangerous. You sure you want to risk her safety?"
"It's complicated." Angelo ran a hand through his hair. "She's... kind of latched onto me as an anchor. If I leave her behind now..." He couldn't finish the thought.
"Fine, but listen carefully." Sol's voice left no room for argument. "The mission comes first. I won't let her presence slow us down. Clear?"
"Crystal." Angelo's wings materialized in a flash of orange light. "See you in a week, same time and place?"
Sol gave him a casual two-finger gesture as the morning breeze scattered the ashes of his campfire. "Looking forward to it, partner."
Angelo shot into the sky, leaving Sol's makeshift camp behind. His mind raced with everything they'd discussed, but he pushed those thoughts aside for now. He had another partner to visit first.
The flight back to Miriam's house took only minutes. She was ready and waiting, just as they'd planned at breakfast. Her eyes searched his face as he landed, maybe seeing something of his morning meeting in his expression, but she didn't ask. Some conversations could wait.
"Ready?" he asked simply, holding out his arms.
She nodded, and he carefully lifted her, his energy wings wrapping around them both like a protective cocoon before carrying them toward the cemetery where Bill and Howard waited.
The cemetery was quiet except for birds singing in nearby trees when Angelo landed with Mrs. Dealer. Autumn leaves crunched under their feet as they walked between the rows of headstones, both letting out sighs of relief when they saw Bill and Howard's graves were untouched by yesterday's violence.
Miriam knelt to brush leaves from her husband's headstone while Angelo stood before Bill's grave, his throat suddenly tight. It had been weeks since he'd been this close to his friend – physically at least. Every day he carried Bill's memory, his final words, but standing here made everything feel more real somehow.
"Hey Rookie," Angelo said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Got a lot to catch you up on." He settled onto the grass, ignoring how his injuries protested. "Remember that terrorist attack you saved me from? Well, looks like that was just the beginning..."
As Angelo shared everything that had happened - his evolution, meeting Sol, learning flight, the coming war with Infernia – Miriam tended both graves with quiet dignity, giving him space to talk with her son.
Miles away in Lumecent, a very different scene was unfolding. The late morning sun cast long shadows across an enormous crater where the town square used to be, like a giant had scooped out the heart of the city. At the edge of this wound in the earth stood a striking woman, smoke curling from her cigarette as she surveyed the destruction with eyes hard as diamonds.
Where her elegant office had towered just yesterday, there was nothing but emptiness. Vienna took another long drag, her perfect composure unshaken despite everything she'd lost. Behind her, a man in an immaculate suit bowed slightly.
"Everything is prepared, my Lady," Lector reported with practiced precision. "Your transport is waiting. I've contacted our people at headquarters in Maridian – they're arranging new offices for you as we speak. They'll be ready before we arrive."
"Pity." Vienna's voice carried no emotion as she studied the crater one last time. "I rather liked this one." She turned away from the destruction, her heels clicking against broken pavement as she walked to the waiting vehicle. "Let's move, Lector. There's still much to do."
Lector moved to follow, but his phone's sharp ring made him pause. "This is Lector," he answered crisply.
A familiar voice crackled through the speaker: "Hey, it's me. Got some interesting news from Ashford."