I needed to talk with Sal. So when I saw he’d walked off with Vigil, I followed. I swear I’m not a professional stalker.

I manned up and decided for the first time in my life… to knock on a bathroom stall.

I was surprised to find Sal wasn’t naked, and I doubt he would have shown his nudity to me anyway, but… I’ll stop talking now…

“Hey… uh… sorry to interrupt…”

“No, no… It’s cool… dude…” he said nervously. This was the first ever time I’d seen him nervous. Like… ever. I’d known him for like three years until I left TUHF. He always replaced nervousness with anger, or just made some sort of excuse so as not to damage his pride.

“Yeah, I just wanted to talk about… uh… all of this. Why are you here?”

“Because I wanted to make things right with you, Quincy. I want to show you that I was wrong about what I did, getting you fired. Although, you probably should thank me, because I saved you from a life of torment.”

“I mean… if that’s what you want to call it.”

“Well, hey, look, here you are now, living your best Canadian life with your… extremely atheist sister.”

“If you are trying to be self righteous, Sal, quit it. Even if TUHF was shit, you could have at least told me beforehand that you’d basically spy on me to get me fired. I wanted out of that place too, but you left me hanging for three years, I thought you’d done it out of spite.”

“I mean… you aren’t wrong Quincy… Look, uh… you are a weak little bitch. I hate that, and I took it upon myself to fix that. But hey, it looks like you’ve changed! The old Quincy would have never come to confront me!”

“The old Quincy was also fifteen years old, and was being forced to fight adults with fucking superpowers.” I reminded him.

“Understood. I’ll try to remember that.”

“Good.”

“That’s everything?”

“Yeah… pretty much…” I didn’t really want to talk anymore, if I was gonna be honest. I hadn’t been outside in three months and I was more afraid of hypothermia than Sal chewing me out in front of Gale and Selene. I just wanted to not be late to this surprise meeting.

“Alright, we’ve buried the hatchet. Now, I’ll get dressed, you’ll get ready too, and we’ll go out to see the Patriarch, and it’ll be hunky dory.” I had never heard Sal use that phrase ever either. I was unsure I was even talking to the same person.

Maybe Sal had changed? Although I still was suspicious of his possible alliances with TUHF…

My sister is named Selene. She and I have had quite a past. But ever since she left TUHF after a terrible accident, I assumed she was dead until she reached out to me with an untraceable phone call.

She wanted me to join Stocklord’s company, which she was now a part of. She heard I was all alone, and she couldn’t help herself.

Overjoyed to hear her, I joined her here, and when I saw the amazing people working here, I knew then that these people weren’t villains at all, they were like a family.

So you could understand why I was a little peeved when Sal showed up to basically ruin it...

“So he’s back?” Selene asked as she put on her giant brown boots.

“Yep… you remember what Sal was like, right?”

“I think you told me he was nice, though. He wasn’t very nice to me.”

Selene was a year younger than me, but most thought even younger. She had black hair, like me, and emerald green eyes that were so much darker than her pale face. Her body was smaller than mine, but she wore clothes too big for her, like the black wool goth jacket she was wearing currently. She was an atheist, but the jacket adorned a giant black and white cross on the back.

“I think he’s just jealous I have a cool sister.” I smiled, sliding on my parka over my long sleeve t-shirt.

“I’m not really that cool, Quincy. I think he just hates us shy people.”

“I feel there’s a difference between shy and timid. But, I think… he kind of just hated that in both of us. Not anymore though… I think he’s changed somehow… He’s so… different.”

“It’s been three years since you last saw him. Lots can happen in three years. I just hope he doesn’t try to bully me again.”

“You’ve gotten stronger now though, and you can do a lot more than just go invisible. If he messes with you, we will make him suffer for it.”

“And where did you get the idea that I’d hurt you?” said a confident voice through the doorway, he wore a red, puffy vest over a thick jacket now. Sal smiled at Selene and I, but neither of us smiled back.

“Hi… Sal…” Selene muttered.

“Hi.” he greeted simply. “So, I’ll tell you what I told Quincy, I’m here to make up for the shit I did in the past. And that does luckily include the stuff I did to you too, Selene. You two must be so excited to have me back! Especially since we can put all that shit behind us.”

He was so much of an airhead, I thought that his fire powers would turn him into a hot-air balloon. I should totally write that one down for a nice quip later.

“Alright.” my sister said emotionlessly.

“I’m ready then. Let’s go.” I huffed. I now began to worry for my sister… I knew Sal couldn’t just be this nice…

After a hot minute we got outside from Avernus, and I was lucky to have all this cold weather gear, as it was definitely cold, and weather. I don’t think it was very gear though.

A black SUV waited for us right outside the two double doors in front of Mount Avernus, which were mostly just for trucks and convoys, we even got a plane in there once for the airstrip. But we used a smaller, more convenient, human sized door, because the others were such a hassle to open. Security on Avernus was certainly tight. Am I doing some convenient foreshadowing? I sure hope not!

“Gale is early? What a shocker.” I said, surprised. We walked out in the parking lot, stepping through the ankle deep snow. After our arctic expedition, we made it to the car and opened our doors. I was nice and let Sal sit in the passenger seat, and I would have not let him if I knew he was about to flirt with poor Gale.

“Hey cupcake. Where’d you come from?” he smirked expeditiously as soon as he got into the seat. My mouth nearly unhinged and fell to the floor like a cartoon.

“Oh, hey there pumpkins! Sorry I’m early.” she ignored Sal, flicking her brownish auburn hair. She was a bit pudgy, and I think I’d found out that Sal was into that.

“Hey, it’s all good.” I smiled, trying to make her feel better.

“Soooo, is this your mom, Quincy?” Sal laughed, his eyes flicking between Gale’s face and boobs. I honestly remembered him being a little more smooth than this. I also remember him telling me that he could spot a married woman from a single one. Gale was the former.

“Hahaha, good guess, but I am the resident driver here at Stocklord’s company. I am paid not to question anything and accept where you wish to go, which today seems like it’s gonna be Arcana Lodge.”

“Well, I just thought that Quincy came from someone as stunning as you are, m’lady.”

“Oh bless your heart!” she smiled widely, looking like she’d pinch his cheeks, which she has done to me before...

“Sal, she’s taken.” I finally had to say. I couldn’t take this anymore.

“Oh, lord above, I apologize. You’re just-”

“It’s all good sugar, I am just glad to know I’ve still got it!” she smiled. Man, why did people even like Sal…? He wasn’t even hot anymore.

“Could you guys tone it down with the blessings and the lords? I think I’m going to throw up.” Selene chimed in.

“Of course, dear. Now then, let’s head off!” Gale announced. I just hoped Sal didn’t plan to flirt with Selene like he did to Gale.

Or Twee… Twee was… uh… taken as well.