Modesty and humility were two of the most important virtues a person could possess — or at least, that was what Mother used to say anyway. But as Stormrider soared through the clouds, her only thoughts were to the fact that she did, in fact, have the best power in the world, a mindset that was a stark contrast from what she had believed only eight months ago.

In essence, she wasn't really flying. The process was more akin to swimming through the air, gliding along like some strange, abnormally large fish. Her power merely involved using air currents around her to propel her along, pushing upwards against her body hard enough to defy the pull of gravity, and thrusting forward hard enough to sail along at considerable speed. It had taken much practice to be able to control the currents as she could now, practice that had resulted in many a broken nose and sprained ankles as she took some severe, unplanned dives. But it was all right now. She was no master, that she couldn't deny, but for someone with no formal training and no Hero to intern under, she thought she was allowed to say she was doing pretty damn good for herself all things considered.

Stormrider was an Elemental, or so the research she had done had led her to understand. At first glance this was nothing special in itself; Elementals were quite common in today's world, after all. But she quickly realized how wrong she had been.

While being an Elemental in itself wasn't particularly prestigious, the category she fell in was something of interest. She was a Wind Elemental, and that was what allowed her her insane powers. Her Trigger Moment, the single moment that had completely uprooted her entire life, had come over eight months ago. She and her ex-boyfriend Richard had been having another fight on the patio of their two storey apartment, an occurrence that was becoming more and more frequent and nastier with every instance. Needless to say, words were said, faces were slapped, and lamps were hurled, and as she finally tried to extricate herself from the craziness of the swiftly escalated situation, they ended up in a violent tousel as he grabbed her arm and forcefully tried to prevent her from leaving. The result was that she tumbled over the bars and plunged headfirst towards the ground.

Stormrider had heard the line before: that when you were about to die your whole life flashed before your eyes. That wasn't her experience. The only things that crossed her mind were the sight of the solid ground below and how it would look with her broken body splattered across the driveway.

But then something quite strange happened. Though she screamed in horrified resignation to her fate, she found that the ground had simply not arrived. During the fall she had closed her eyes, and as she now slowly peeled them open she saw, quite clearly, the ground directly below her, merely a few inches away. Yet it came no closer, as if it was scared of making contact with her. When she realized that she was hovering in midair, she screamed and flailed around even more wildly, succeeding only in breaking whatever spell was keeping her aloft and finishing her fall. Though the sharp pain in her tailbone had been unpleasant, she had found herself alive and otherwise unscathed, with a new chance at life.

It hadn't been easy at first, but she had capitalized on this amazing new development instead of wasting it, honing her talents the best way she could. Sure, she was a bit rough around the edges, but as far as she was concerned a little more combat experience was all she needed to refine herself.

Which was why she was out now, bouncing around the city like a loose rocket, her eyes trained on the streets below for the first sign of trouble.

Down below, hidden from sight in the veil of shadows stretched across a narrow alleway, a man and woman watched the spectacle above with keen interest.

"This is the target?" the woman asked, her voice toneless and robotic, as the airborne woman zipped upwards once more.

"Indeed she is," said Shadow Shifter. They watched her go higher and higher, awaiting her eventual peak. No doubt she could go quite high if she wanted to; most fliers couldn't go too far, for the thin air and barring heat of the sun grew too uncomfortable. But this girl could literally manipulate the air around her. She could form herself a shield of dense winds to defend herself from the harmful rays, lug oxygen along with her to the regions where it was thinner.

"She seems to have an impressive amount of control," Atropos admitted. "Clearly not total, but enough. Still, why her?"

"Because she was readily available."

"The information you provided me with stated that there are at least three of them within the same state, all of whom are 'readily available.' Why did you choose this one specifically?"

Shadow Shifter chuckled softly. For someone who had spent the better part of a few millenia trapped in a tomb, she was quite perceptive. "Because she'd be the one they missed the least."

"Elaborate," she said. There was a touch of impatience to her tone. In her life she had been revered and feared as a goddess. She was not used to meeting resistance.

"In situations like this — that is, regarding young superhumans — there are two options the Bureau of Superhuman Affairs usually takes. As it stands, young superhumans are unpredictable and present a tremendous danger to anyone around them. Hence why they need to be removed from social presence until they gain more control over their abilities. The Bureau achieves this by shipping them off to one of their privately funded schools. Or, if they're too old for that, they instead have them intern under an experienced Hero, taking them under their wing and teaching them control, while also keeping them close enough to ensure they're kept in check.

"In this case, as she was too old for their kiddie schools, the latter is more acceptable."

"Then why has no one come to recruit her yet? You said she's had her powers for almost a year."

"Because she hasn't proven herself to be a danger," Shadow Shifter said simply. "Not yet, at least. See, the Bureau is an incredibly powerful organization, but they do still find themselves impeded by legal barriers. Nothing is above the law — well, except us criminals." He paused here, giving her a cheeky grin, but she did not smile or laugh. Her pure black eyes betrayed nothing except more impatience. Good humour was lost on the immortal it seemed, he thought with a sigh. "Because of these barriers, they cannot actually force or threaten their charges to comply. They can only . . . persuade. And this they do by rubbing a little salt in the wounds.

"They're no doubt watching her, and have absolutely been keeping tabs on her since the accident — probably longer if they suspected she was from a Hero bloodline — but, most unfortunately for them, she hasn't actually hurt anyone. The moment she discovered her powers she took flight, holed herself up at home, then eventually moved to a family-owned cabin in the woods while she worked to understand her situation.

"If she had hurt someone, or at the very least done something that holds enough evidence that she could seriously hurt someone if left unchecked, then Bureau agents would have been at her doorstep within the week, using those poor missteps as fuel to sway and guilt her into going with them so she doesn't hurt anyone else."

"So she avoided this by taking charge of her situation herself?"

Shadow Shifter nodded. "And now because of this, they have no legal hold over her. At least, they didn't until now. Her recent bout of vigilantism makes the perfect opportunity. Vigilantism isn't entirely illegal, but if she does interfere with actual League business or cause harm to civilians or property, then the Bureau has grounds to intervene. Then either she faces recompense or has to obtain proper clearance by joining them. Either way, they hook their fish. Unfortunately for them, she's been very careful and tremendously helpful in cleaning up the neighbourhood of random mundane thugs, all the while steering clear of the ones capable of hurling cars."

"What you've explained is why the Bureau would be interested in her. What I asked is why you are interested in her."

"And I have just told you. The other two in this state are a fourteen year old boy and a twenty year old drug dealer. The boy is currently being dealt with Bureau officials to be registered to one of their schools. And the other is being watched as a threat, as a criminal with powers will only end one way. Both will be harder to extricate from the League's watch, and the moment they notice they're gone they will certainly come looking.

"Hence, her." Shadow Shifter pointed at the girl, as her silhouette ripped through a cloud shaped like a rabbit's head. "She's still under observation, but as she's yet disappointed them by not ravaging the world around them with a tornado, they're holding their distance. And if she disappears, they won't look as deeply into it as they would the other two, because they know she has a history of running away when things get tough."

Atropos was silent for a few moments. "I suppose there is some sense to your logic," she said begrudgingly. "But that still doesn't answer the question of why not simply take her now. We're already here, aren't we?"

"Because there is no need. Taking her so early on would alert the League and the Bureau, which is what we don't want. We're still too far behind on our plans to provoke them into further action."

"And razing a city, trying to steal one of Helix's charges out from his home, you don't believe that would have 'provoked' them?"

"The distraction was necessary. If we didn't draw them away from our target they could very well have stopped us when we tried to procure the item. I can certainly assure you that I didn't want to do it, but I saw no way around it. And as for the boy," he said, and a spasm of anger rippled across his face. "It was convenient. He was simply there and unguarded save for that bald oaf. It would have been easy to take him then, nor would it have raised further suspicion. Knowing them, they probably suspect I hold a grudge against him. To them, taking him would be settling the score, not grounds for anything more sinister."

"And don't you?" Atropos said, and there was the faintest trace of a smirk on her face now. It was an unnerving sight, given that her face was almost always completely, sinisterly blank. "Hold a grudge against him, I mean?"

"Please." Shadow Shifter scoffed. "I will certainly admit, there is much ground for it to appear that way. But I have no interest in, how do the kids say it, beefing with a child."

Atropos nodded. "Speaking of the child, you said the Bureau takes its time in approaching potential recruits. From what I heard, the boy was transfered to the school only a day or two after your encounter with the Hero Wildfire. Which means they must have approached him during that night or very early the next morning. Why would they act so urgently?"

Shadow Shifter shrugged. "Perhaps they thought it best to remove him for his own safety, if ever I should escape or send minions to finish the job. Or —" And he grinned now, a wide and wicked gesture. "Perhaps because he is the grandson of a famous Hero, one who has been most influential in changing the way the world views superhumans.

"No doubt they wanted him away from civilization for safety precautions — even I was shocked at the damage he'd done. But perhaps the reason they went so quickly is because they were simply waiting for a valid excuse to go. Maybe they wanted something, something they believed only he could provide."

"And am I correct in believing you know what that could be?"

The man shrugged again. "I have suspicions, nothing more. But some of them are as wild as this girl's flight pattern," he said, as Stormrider swooped by again.

"I suppose we could always torture it out of him, when we take him."

"If you can wait that long."

She expelled a breath through her nose, clearly annoyed. "And why must we wait that long? Our plans have already been delayed."

"Because rushing things could cause months of preparation to go down the drain. After appearing at his house, I all but confirmed their suspicions that I am out for blood. Of course I could have easily secured him right there had it not been for his outside assistance. He has clearly grown stronger, but as it was, in both times I met him he eluded me solely by chance and luck. But because of those moments, the League now believes it pertinent to keep him stationed at Helix.

"A place that was already heavily fortified, and which has recently undergone much more advancement, and which is currently crawling with Heroes in addition to highly experienced teachers. Launching an assault against such a stronghold would be suicide under the best of circumstances. But very few of those students will be left behind over the upcoming Christmas break. And with a sizable portion of the school gone, most of the Heroes will be too. Wildfire will remain at the school as well, as his superiors have not yet cleared him for field work. And of course, the girl.

"She will be heading home for Christmas along with the other students, where she will be completely unsuspecting and utterly defenseless. All three of them will be in our possession before the turkey's ready for Christmas dinner," he said simply.

"I still don't like the idea of waiting," Atropos repeated.

"Nor do I, but it is important. After all, good things come to those who wait. I'm living proof of that. Two months in that hellish prison, now here I am. A free man." He spread his arms wide and smiled.

"Another thing. You said we will have the three of them by Christmas. With you and this so-called Stormrider, that accounts for five in total. We still need one other. Do you have any other candidates that are 'readily available'?"

"One in particular," said Shadow Shifter, smiling again as if the thought pleased him. "But that one is intended to be a surprise. Until then, we have work to do. Because the actual reason we're here just arrived."

"What do you mean? I thought we were here to observe the girl."

"We are, but I thought we could cross two things off our to-do list today," said Shadow Shifter brightly. "You wouldn't be opposed to a little . . . exercise, would you?"

The goddess held out her hand, and a long sword materialized from her palm. Its hilt was a deep gold, bedecked with large blue-green gems, and the blades were of a sleek, shining dark grey stone. A faint shrieking noise rang out as the blade emerged, as if the very air itself were screaming in terror. "I wouldn't be opposed to a little healthy bloodshed."

Across the street, a black sedan had pulled up and a group of men were rushing in and out of a warehouse, transporting a number of crates.

"Are you coming?" Atropos asked.

"You can have the small fry. Save me that one," Shadow Shifter said, pointing.

Atropos nodded, then waded off towards the other side of the street. Shadow Shifter reclined against the wall, his arms folded as he watched. Less than a minute had passed before the first scream rang out, loud and terrible, and swiftly extinguished. It made sense, as the man's head now lay several feet away from the rest of him. The initial shock of a stranger waltzing into their ranks and offing one of their own had passed, turning immediately into blind rage.

The other men lashed out all at once, and they all fell within seconds. It was frightening how efficient she was: no matter the size of the enemy, no matter how many there were, they were all the same: ants to be crushed under her metallic boots.

The first sign of something interesting came when one of the men actually used his powers. A barrage of black and purple energy erupted from his hands with explosive force, like a kind of strange black fire, slamming into her. That piqued Shadow Shifter's interest. He watched with renewed curiosity as the flames blazed like an inferno. After a few moments it died down.

The smirk of satisfaction faded instantly from the man's face. The goddess stood before him and his remaining two companions, unscathed.

The only difference was her clothes. Her shining suit of armour had been corroded in several places, singed black. She looked down at it, and real anger flared in her eyes now. Her swords leapt up, so fast even Shadow Shifter didn't see the actual movement. All he caught was the point embedding itself into the throat of one of the energy-wielder's companions.

Then something truly extraordinary began to happen. A sheet of pale grey began to creep from the point of contact, spreading all over his skin until, a second later, he dissolved into a cloud of dust. She repeated the process with the second man, but deftly avoided hitting the one who had actually scalded her.

Finally realizing the hopelessness of his situation, the final man took flight, but she was faster. She pinned him down only a few steps away, and that was when Shadow Shifter finally moved.

"I was half expecting you to kill him," he said mildly.

"I would have, had you not requested otherwise."

Shadow Shifter looked down at her captor, who was struggling with all his might and failing to move even an inch. He stopped thrashing around when he caught sight of the face smiling down at him, and suddenly a look of resigned irritation came over his visage.

"You."

"Me," Shadow Shifter said cheerfully. "Oh Marshall —"

"Don't call me that!" the man snarled.

"Why not? It's your name, isn't it? Marshall Pugh? Father of Jenna and Olando Pugh?"

Marshall looked up, so quickly he appeared to crick his neck.

"Yes, I know about them," Shadow Shifter said. "You didn't do as good a job at hiding them as you think."

"If you touch them —"

"Oh I won't, rest assured," Shadow Shifter said. "Contrary to popular belief, I am not a monster. You, on the other hand" — he bent down, drawing closer to Marshall, or Black Wyvern as he called himself. "You have been a thorn in my side for a long time. If it makes you feel any better, this isn't entirely motivated by personal reasons, but I'd be lying if I said I won't enjoy it. But don't worry, big boy." Shadow Shifter patted him on the shoulder. "Every soul lost, and every one that will be lost, serves a magnificent purpose in the long run. Including yours. See you on the other side."

He winked, then turned to Atropos. He gave her a pointed look and stood up, ignoring Marshall's desperate shouts. They were silenced quite quickly, as her sword ripped through his chest. Then silence filled the alleway again. The shadows stretching across the ground darkened, becoming denser, and the duo, along with the discarded bodies in the street, began to sink into the blackness. Within moments, the alley was clear, leaving only the fresh pools of blood seeping slowly across the alley ground.