Chapter 1
“I never wanted you dead.”
She swallows, heartbeat thundering, and closes her eyes to ward off the tears. To shut out the sight of the city in mourning before her, of the memorial for her fallen enemy. The memorial of a fallen hero. She could still feel the collective shudder of unease that had permeated the crowd at her arrival. She’d had every intention of keeping a low profile, of going out in civilian clothing, but something had compelled her to come in costume. To make a scene. To bring the crumpled, tear-stained letter she’d written last night after too many glasses of wine. The police officers had taken aim at her arrival, but she landed far enough away not to seem a threat and had held her hands in the air, purple flames dancing placidly in her fingers, but no anger in her eyes, only the same downcast look which everyone else had. She’d quietly asked to say a few words and pulled the letter out of a pocket of her cloak.
She coughs, takes a shuddering breath and starts again.
“I never wanted you dead.” Her voice rings stronger this time, clearer. “We’ve always had our disagreements. Okay, that’s putting it lightly. Where I always hid away, you shined brightly in the light of day and you fought for people. You used your abilities, your strength, your heart and you fought to protect the people, the city you love. You fought to protect us all. Because when you first started, I was nothing. I never told you this, but seeing you stand up for what you believed in, and using your powers inspired me to stop hiding from mine. No, I didn’t take up arms for any ideals like you did. I never believed in good and evil, only in power and exploitation. I didn’t grow up easily and I saw what the world would do to people. I chose to fight for myself. To finally fight back against the world that I hated.
