For A Brighter Future
Epilogue
It takes me a good five minutes to be able to breathe again. Sylvia was so . . . forceful. So powerful. She’s always had that in her, but I think the time apart let her feel comfortable with it.
Even if it was hard, I think the time apart was best for both of us.
“Hey! Aurora! Wait!” I turn around, and almost scream at the feeling of my cape moving along my back. It isn’t long, but it’s a sensation I’m not used to. I’ll need to change that quick. Mom only ever wore a cape as Argentia, but . . . I like it. I think it’ll help with what I plan to do next.
It’s not Sylvia behind me. I’m outside anyway, leaning back against the fairly nondescript building. I imagine in a week it won’t be the same inside. The woman calling out to me is Counter Spell. She’s short one staff, but I imagine that won’t hold her back for long. She looks different than before. Humbled, maybe? She’s slouching. Her eyebrows are raised up, and her lips pursed.
“I’m not going anywhere. They’re still debriefing Valerie. Once they’re done I’m taking her home. Going to stay back at home for a bit, make sure she’s safe . . .” No need to add in the whole desperately looking for my mother that may or may not still be alive. She has to be. I don’t think that message was cut off because she got killed. “So you’re the other woman who wants to talk to me. Shoot.”
She leans back against the wall beside me. Without the staff, and the overconfident smirk, she looks a lot younger than she did before. I wouldn’t put her over twenty-three. Before, I would have guessed something closer to thirty.
It’s night, but it isn’t cold. I don’t know if I’d feel cold even if it were, but she’s just in one of Brighter Future’s jumpsuits and she doesn’t look cold either.
Counter Spell holds out her hands, muttering for a couple of moments, before creating what I can imagine is an illusion of one of my silver sparks. “You’re magical, but you never had to study magic. You’re inexperienced, while I spent my whole life learning magic. I was an orphan when my mentor found me, when she apprenticed me. Magic is all I really know. I was impatient. I wanted to prove I was powerful, and an inexperienced innate magic user beat me without breaking a sweat. Twice. I’m no match for you.”
“Flattery gets you almost everywhere. It doesn’t make me forget what you did to Flower Chylde, or to Psiona. They’re my friends. Fire terrifies Flower.” I don’t mention her work with the Brighter Future. It wasn’t her inside of her head pulling the levers to move. That was Lys.
“I know . . . and it took being used by Lys to see that. I proved my mentor right. I showed her that my rash impatience only made me weak, stupid, and only able to prey on insecurities and weak spots. There’s nothing . . . redeeming about me. Not anymore. The things that Lys had me do, and love doing, make me feel so dirty. Every time I even tried to have a thought contrary, she’d send me to Miss Cotton . . . and each time that got a little harder. I’d never realized how . . . blind I was by my own ambitions, until I was being blinded by someone else’s. I want to try to change. I want you to show me how.
“I need someone to show me what it means to be a heroine, to use your powers selflessly . . . And I could help you have a better grasp on yours. I could be your partner. I could be your . . . sidekick? I know I don’t deserve the second chance, so you can . . . you can say no. It’s fine. Mourning Frost said she’d let me ask, and if you turned me down, it’s working with her crew or time in jail. Well, I only had the second two options at first, but I asked for the chance to work under you.” Her voice is stinging with blinding sincerity.
How could I refuse? Relying on other people is what I need to stop doing. She’d be my subordinate, but she’d also be a friend. I need someone to train, someone to help – and help keep me from losing my cool like an idiot. I can help redeem her. Together, we can do so much good.
I hold out my metal hand in offering with a soft little smile. “You bet, hun. What’s your real name?”
“Don’t really have one. Just Counter Spell. At least . . . the only name I have is elvish. I haven’t used it since I stormed away from my mentor. Doesn’t feel right to use it, till I feel worthy of trying to get her to take me back as a student . . . So, if you’ll take me as Counter Spell, Electru—”
“On two conditions” I cut her off, a metal finger pressed to her lips after our hands pull away. “Try to teach me elvish enough to say your name, and . . . Call me Silver Girl.”
“You sure she’s coming Sylvia? I mean don’t get me wrong, I know you two really care about each other, but she’s been through a lot. So have you. She might sit this one out for some time to think. I know she’s probably as . . . ravenous as you are, but even you have limits. Sometimes.” Nikki’s arms around me, the two of us alone in a hotel room, is amazingly relieving. It’s ‘normal’ but it’s the soothing kind of normal that reminds you that the world didn’t end. “What’ll you do if she doesn’t show up?”
“You haven’t met her yet. You don’t understand what’s so hilarious about the concept of Aurora not showing up.” With a little giggle I press my lips to Nikki’s cheek, and tickle her with just enough mist to savor the intensity of her passionate emotions simmering just under the surface. “Think I should have invited the rest of the band?”
Nikki raises an eyebrow as she strokes slowly along my cheek. “Would you want to share the chance to meet my ex that you were sharing headspace with? Sure we need to leave on tour soon, but they’ll have a chance to meet. The tour is a long one, but it’s just a tour.”
She has a fair point.
Still, how can I explain to her that Aurora is entirely too gung-ho not to show up? I don’t think she could turn the chance down. She knows Nikki is the woman I’ve been ‘dating’. She has to know that relationship continuing unimpeded is the best thing for ours long term.
If the two of them get along well enough that might be for the best. If Aurora could meet someone who would be able to share us with her that we could stand . . . we could get one big house somewhere . . . and whenever we’re not on tour we’d be together. I’m sure she could find a way to convince the public she came with me to keep me safe if she wanted. Though . . . I think traveling would exhaust Aurora. She’s more of a point a to point z kinda gal.
Of course, I think she’d be fun to have with us on tour. The rest of the band is already on the verge of pairing off – and then I’ll only have Nikki at my beck and call. A girl gets used to having multiple pairs of lips around.
Aurora’s knock. I bolt up on instinct, and then glance over to the clock. Ten o’clock. Without even checking the peephole I open the door and gesture to the couch. “Hey ‘Rora. Couldn’t hold out any longer? Go on and have a seat with Nikki. The three of us need to have a little . . . chat.”
Her cheeks are the darkest I’ve ever seen them before. Maybe the silvery twinge to her blush makes the difference. That is pretty new. More likely? I’ve never really seen Rora act this shy and aroused at the same time. We’ve been exploring each other for years, but this is new. This is a little more open. It feels so good not to be hiding this. Valerie has to know where she is.
“Yeah, chat . . . Hi, Nikki! Uhm . . . nice to meet you. So you’re the woman dating my sister, huh? You play a really wicked six string. Love your hair. You’re a lot taller in person than on your posters.” Aurora sinks into the same spot I was occupying. Looking between the two, there’s no doubt what was going through my mind when I met Nikki. Redder hair. Taller. A little more of an athletic build. There’s no way seeing the two of them together won’t make me ruin panties I’m not even wearing.
Nikki smirks, and reaches out to slide her fingers along Aurora’s silver hair. Watching Aurora shudder from a distance is more of a turn on than I thought it would be. I’m definitely not the jealous type.
I sink into the couch beside Aurora, and reach out to caress first along Nikki’s cheek, and then Aurora’s. Their skin feels so different, and yet both so perfect. Resisting the urge to tear off Aurora’s clothes and use my power to have them fucking just for me is a lot harder than I thought it would be.
Shy silver eyes look into mine, and then up to Nikki’s. I’ve seen that look in Nikki’s eyes after too many concerts. Aurora’s curves could tempt anyone.
“You aren’t thinking about my guitar playing, Aurora. Or should I call you ‘Rora? It makes you smile when Sylvia does it . . .” Nikki leans closer to Aurora, noses so close to touching. “You know, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. And you kept me waiting.”
I don’t even see when Nikki moves. Aurora’s moan is what I hear first as their lips melt together, and my sister’s body shudders against mine. Moaning along with her I slide my tongue up along her neck, clutching her so tight. She arches as much against me as she does against Nikki. It feels like everything is finally coming together when Nikki reaches past Aurora to pull me closer.
Aurora screams when Nikki and I both nibble along her ears. I can taste the lust rippling inside of her. She’s just as happy as I am. I’ve never tasted such relief in Nikki before, and a quick check with wandering fingers confirms that she has her brights on for the occasion.
I have my band, my babe, and another case of villainy is cleaned up.
This is the way things should always be.