Chapter 1
Celen felt out of place as the music roared louder and louder, quieting even her own thoughts. The people around her jumped and screamed and danced like there would be no tomorrow. This party was for her and her team but she felt it was more so for Sage who was in the center of it all with the biggest smile on her face. Celen matched Sage’s smile at the sight but she could still feel that her stomach was in knots.
“I’m going to get some fresh air,” she said as loudly as she could into Frankie’s ear. He had to bend over so he could even hear her with all the sound in the bar. He wasn’t even looking at her, however, as he nodded his head and kept his eyes on Sage like he was hypnotized.
“Uh huh,” he muttered before he raised his hands in the air and cheered Sage on as she began to down an entire keg of beer.
Celen shook her head as her smile faded. She needed to get out of here, now. She pushed through the thick crowd of people, apologizing until she realized no one was paying attention to her anyways. She pushed all the way through to the back doors of the bar. Someone held the door as she left, not even really caring about her as they smiled at the flashing lights and cheering before them.
She sighed loudly as she felt the cool night air brush against her sweaty skin. Finally she felt free now as she leaned against the railing in front of her, peering out at the lights of the city of KingsPort. A beautiful city she and her friends kept safe every single day. She loved her job and would never give it up for the world but sometimes it was suffocating.
Unlike Frankie and Sage, Celen hated the attention that came from it. They aren’t even the good guys, just the guys who fight back against the Red Spades.
In a world of people being born normal, Kingsport is the only place where those born with gifts come. At first, it was only the Red Spades taking over the city until Sage, Frankie, and Riley found her and her brother; offering a job where they’d fight back with what they were born with.
Six years later, and now they’re known as the Black Hearts who fight against the bad but still get chased by the cops. It really is a dream come true.
Celen was smiling once more as she cupped her face with her hands and let the cool wind play with her hair. She heard footsteps behind her but didn’t really think about it. It was a busy street and an even busier night.
“Not enjoying the party, Queen?”
“Not as much as Sage,” she laughed sheepishly. “I’d rather be curled up in bed reading a book.” She was turning around to face the voice but as she did, she was struck in the chest.
It was as if time stopped all together. She no longer felt the wind or even heard the muffled sounds of enjoyment from inside the bar. All she could hear was the sound of her heart beat as it began to slow. She had no idea what just happened.
Her eyes flashed down and she saw the knife deep within her body.
I’ve been s-stabbed? Now shaking, she raised her gaze back up to the masked stranger, “W-why?” She couldn’t feel her powers within her anymore, it was as if the stranger before her silenced them.
She was utterly alone and as soon as she felt her blood dripping onto her hands she knew she was going to die.
“You needed to get out of my way, Celen.”
That voice, I know that voice, shock took over her as they yanked the blade out of her chest and slammed it back into a new spot. It ripped through her skin and muscle and pierced her heart perfectly. She was grabbing onto them now as if they were the anchor that could keep her alive. And surprisingly, they held onto her as her weak knees slowly gave out on her and she went down.
“S-S-”
“Shhhhh…” they said as they laid her down on the ground, her body no longer listening to her anymore. She was so scared that she wanted to scream but nothing escaped her lips anymore but her own blood. Not like this, not like this! Sage!
