Heroes of Falledge Book One: Black Hellebore (10 page)

The flower had somehow caused his speed and strength. At least he knew the reason behind it and wouldn't go crazy wondering about it.

Apparently, he wouldn't have to worry about going crazy at all.

"So, if I use my new speed and strength, I risk these symptoms?"

"I don't know." She gnawed on the fleshy part of her right thumb. "Maybe?"

They fell silent for a few minutes. Nicholas was torn between fright and excitement. Finally, his life had meaning. Purpose. He could use his powers to help people, to try to make up for his past sins, but that also meant risking his life for them.

"Super," Gavina blurted suddenly. "You have superpowers!"

He blinked and leaned back, his head bumping into her arm. Superpowers. He was using his "powers" for good, so far, at least. Well, other than accidentally breaking the shelf. And stealing food. Did that make him a superhero then?

Gavina grabbed the newspaper, lying neglected on his lap after he opened the book. "What's this? Night Caper? Is this you?"

Nicholas nodded.

"That could be your superhero name! It even has 'cape' in it!" She jumped up and down.

"Are you two?" he muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

"Coat. "I don't wear a cape. It's my trench coat." He pointed to the object fluttering behind him in the picture. As much as he despised admitting it, it did look like a cape.

"But Night Caper is such a cool name!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What does caper even mean?"

Gavina pouted and retrieved a dictionary. Her thin finger moved across the pages so quickly the painted skull on her fingernail seemed to open and close its mouth. "Adventure, escapade, stuff like that."

"Night Caper doesn't fit then. I'm not an adventurer."

She squeezed his bicep. "Oh, I'm sure you could be one if you wanted to."

He freed his arm from her grasp. "If anything, I'm the Black Hellebore."

The witch tapped a long finger to her chin. "I guess that'll work. Now you need a costume."

Nicholas laughed. "Don't think so. Don't have money to buy new clothes. These will have to do."

"Fine, but make sure you wear the cape."

"Coat!"

"Whatever. And..." She ducked out of the room and returned a few minutes later. "Here."

He took the mask from her. On the right side, a thick black line outlined the white leather. The other side showed the reverse, white tracing black. The leather curled into points at its four corners. A line crossed above the eyeholes, causing the illusion of furrowed eyebrows. "Why do you have this? Never mind... don't want to know."

Gavina giggled. "It's such a fun story, though."

Nicholas pushed back on the chair and stood. "Another time. I should get going."

"Are you going to tell anyone about your powers? Or about your superhero identity?"

He shook his head. He still couldn't completely understand what was going on. Powers, hero, cape, mask... it boggled his mind.

"So I'm the only one who knows. Fantabulous! Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." She brought the tips of her middle and ring fingers to her lips and kissed them.

Wow, she was a strange bird. "Thanks."

"For?" she prompted.

"For helping me to understand what's going on. For not making me feel like a freak." The corner of her lip twitched upward, but he could tell she wanted more. "For saving me."

"You just wish you didn't have the black hellebore in your pocket at the time," she murmured.

He hadn't the heart to lie to her. He handed her the book, retrieved the newspaper, and walked out of her house, hopefully for the last time.

*****

Nicholas wandered the street, the mask tucked inside the pages of the newspaper under his arm. He passed a small café and sat down at one of its outdoor circular red tables. A cute waitress approached, but he shook his head.

On the lower half of the front page, he read a long article about the laboratory. No one could explain what happened: the accident, the disappearance. Construction for a new lab would begin as soon as the police concluded their investigation into the event.

He gulped and fingered the pointy edges of the mask on his lap under the table. As silly as it had first seemed, he was grateful for it. The last thing he wanted was to be carted off for scientists and more serious experiments than Gavina's.

His neck ached. He rubbed the tight muscles. Through the glass, he spotted Julianna seated at a booth, conversing with a woman. Her one arm was wrapped, her forehead bandaged. The boy beside her looked familiar, and Nicholas grinned to himself when he recognized him as the kid he'd saved.

The boy looked up and caught his gaze. He jumped up and pointed, talking excitedly.

Nicholas grabbed his things and bolted, careful not to use his speed. Yes, from now on, he'd used his mask.

Nicholas Adams.

Black Hellebore.

Superhero.

Chapter Fifteen

He couldn't believe he still breathed. Somewhat. He didn't take breaths anymore, didn't need to.

He glanced down at his body. Bones. No skin. His ribs had melted, fused into one long bony structure. No more organs save for his brain and his heart. It still pumped, although no blood vessels remained... No blood either.

He still didn't know all of what had happened. One minute he was trying to sabotage the laboratory, the next some guy chased after him. He tried to get rid of the guy, kill him. Instead, he completely dismantled the lab and killed himself in the process.

He could see his reflection in the window of the foreclosure he now lived in. Stark white bones. His eyes, blue before, now glowed bright red, like the blood he no longer possessed. A hole replaced his nose.

He opened his mouth. No lips. Teeth remained, sharp to the point of razor blades.

He was now reborn. As Percival had been before him.

He absentmindedly petted his cat. Once a small, scrawny little thing, Percival now loomed as huge as a panther. His tabby cat now resembled a saber-tooth tiger, but with tusks and three rows of steak knife sharp teeth. Each of his claws grew five inches long. Its tail also lengthened, complete with spikes.

More had changed than just his own outward appearance. He used to be a sniveling, frightened man. A follower, ruled by those with guns and power. A slave to those who destroyed and killed his father. Forced to pay for his father's greed.

Now, he was the strong one. The powerful one. He would be the leader. Others would listen to him and do as he dictated. He would not be controlled any longer.

"Stay here, Percival," he instructed. Then he frowned. The name Percival no longer fit his pet. "Stay here... Killa."

The monstrous cat's throat rumbled a thunderously loud purr.

He grinned and began to apply foundation onto his skull. The world wasn't quite ready yet to know about him and all his capabilities. He needed to blend in as much as possible. He put on long sleeves, pants, gloves. A wide-brimmed hat covered his face in shadows, making his lack of a nose imperceptible.

With one final pat on Killa's head, he left the building and slinked toward Falledge.

He had business to attend to. Revenge was on the agenda.

Chapter Sixteen

When Nicholas returned to Ginny's house, he found her sitting at the dining room table over a pizza with Julianna. Having some answers about his new powers made it easier for him to handle Julianna, and their convoluted past.

"Hello, ladies," he said. He held up the bread. "Got you a little something, Ginny."

"Thank you!" As he walked through to the kitchen, he overheard Ginny say, "What a thoughtful young man."

Julianna snorted.

Grinning, he joined them and helped himself to a slice of pizza. Although the two had been talking when he walked in, they now fell silent.

Ginny excused herself a few minutes later and trudged upstairs.

Nicholas eyed the last slice.

"Go ahead."

"You sure?"

She nodded.

He inhaled it in three bites.

"You know... Ginny's a sweet lady," she said.

He stared at her. There was a hard glint in her eyes. "Very sweet."

"Don't take advantage of her."

"Did you see the bread?" He couldn't believe she was threatening him.

"Did you pay for it?"

"I don't have to take this." Nicholas pushed back, his chair scraping against the floor as he stood.

"Answer the question. It's a simple one."

"No," he snapped. She knew how to push his buttons like no one else. "And it's not the first time I stole food either."

She raised her eyebrows. "Justina told me about the time you two dined and dashed."

He chuckled. "Forgot about that. Her idea, just so you know. I... I actually went back that night and paid."

Her eyebrows lifted even higher. "She would've thought you were weak for that."

His smile was wide. "That's why I never told her."

"Did you make it a practice to lie to her?" Only a hint of displeasure sounded in her voice. Interesting. He would've expected a more blasting tone.

"No. That was the only time." At least, that was the only time he would confess to her twin.

"So you became a thief after you... ran away?"

He could see hesitation in her stiff posture and open curiosity in her eyes. She wanted to learn more about him, about his past.

If it meant making sure the conversation didn't return to Justina, he would tell her anything she wanted.

Within reason.

Nicholas nodded. "When you have no money, have been starving for days, and are tired of fighting animals for the scraps in the trash... yeah, you steal food." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She was in law enforcement. Would she understand not everything is black and white?

"Sounds like you did what you needed to survive."

He rubbed his forehead. "You can say that again. Tried to do things the 'right' way. Couldn't get a job without a place of residence. Lied, wrote a false address. Worked for a week before getting fired because my paycheck was returned."

"Sounds like the system is flawed."

He nodded. "How can homeless people get a job if they have to list a place of residence? How can they afford a place to live without income? Homeless people aren't always lazy, and it's sometimes not possible to get a job."

"Well, I might be able to help with that. I know the guy in charge of rebuilding the laboratory. I could get you in, if you're interested."

"Thank you, but..." Living in Falledge again. Could he handle it? All the memories? And if he wanted to be a superhero, shouldn't he go to a major city where there was a lot of crime?

Julianna slumped in her seat. "It's not a handout, Nick. I know you don't like help from anyone, especially not me--"

"That's not it."

"Then what?"

He grinned. "I don't have a place of residence."

"Yes, you do!" Ginny's voice sounded from upstairs.

Julianna chuckled. "So, is that a yes?"

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Do you want me to hang around? My past is shady. I've done things I'm not proud of. I'm not a good guy."

"Maybe not, but you aren't a bad guy."

He still wanted to run away, to find a place where he could finally grow roots. He'd looked for such a place for ten years now. Maybe such a place didn't exist. He opened his mouth to refuse. Instead, he said, "I guess you should make that phone call."

Julianna beamed. "Good." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "Here's his name and the info about the job."

"You already called him?"

She shrugged, her eyes happy. "I knew you would say yes."

He shook his head. Sometimes, they acted like their younger selves. Justina may have been his girlfriend, but Julianna had been one of his best friends.

"I'm glad you're back, Nick," she said softly.

Her gentle tone reminded him too much of Justina's. It forced him to change the subject. "So what exactly happened with the lab?" He nodded to the newspaper he'd set on top of the pizzeria box. "You have to know more than the reporter."

She put her elbow on the table, her chin on her fist. "Not much. We only have one suspect: a disgruntled employee who was fired a few weeks before the explosion or whatever."

"Why was he fired?"

"Laziness. Always showed up late, left early. I'm finding some ties that suggest..." She placed her hands in her lap, and stared at them.

"It's fine. You don't have to tell me."

Her smile looked forced.

His heart skipped a beat. She didn't trust him. Why should she? He gave her no reason to.

But one thing she'd said gave him some hope. "Only one suspect? Why aren't I one?"

Julianna hesitated. "No one knows about your connection to it but me."

"Why would you do that?" He stared at her, dumbfounded. "Why risk your job for me?"

"I trusted the Nick I knew."

"Trust
ed
?"

Her lips curled into a half smile. "I don't know if I trust this
Nicholas
." She leaned over and patted his hand. "But I still see glimmers of that Nick in you."

"Despite the blood on my clothes?"

Julianna winced and stood. "I have to get back to work." She flipped over the newspaper so the Night Caper article showed. "Between the laboratory and the so-called hero, we're slammed."

"
So-called
hero? I'm insulted."

"Just don't turn vigilante, Nick. That's the last thing this town needs."

As she walked away, he caught himself watching her swaying hips. He turned away and wondered if a vigilante was exactly what the town needed.

Chapter Seventeen

Julianna drove back to the police station. Dr. Richards was already there, leaning against the wall, his immaculately tailored suit wrinkled. He twirled his watch on its golden chain as she approached.

"Let's get this over with," he said shortly, opening his watch to see the time. "I have another meeting to get to."

"The more you cooperate, the faster we'll be done." She gestured toward the interrogation room and followed him inside. She sat down across from him and picked up the pen from on top of the legal pad on the table. "You told the sheriff Lewis Lichman was your most recently fired employee."