Chapter 69: The Invitation

"What we got, Rach?"

Thirty heavily armed and trained men took up positions in the hallway like they were expecting a siege from every angle, Scarlet spinning in a circle to try to identify the threat.

"Where is it, Rachel? There’s—"

"Window, the fourth door down. It’s—"

Their attention snapped to the partially open door she pointed to as a black mist rushed through the doorway and spilled out toward the dead-end sitting area; the lights around it flickered and went out as it coalesced into the shadowy haze of a smiling umbra.

Barbara held a fist in the air, a submachine gun in her other hand. "Hold! State your purpose..."

Rachel strode forward, making the shade’s grin widen. "Relica’s here to distract and throw us off."

The shadow hummed as if not impressed. "To be honest, I expected...more from the horror stories your cataclysmic presence is supposed to elicit. Hmm. We should have tea!"

Scarlet’s blood snaked out as she inched closer to Rachel. "Tea... What are you planning? It’s a trap."

Rachel made a gesture to tell Scarlet to chill; killing it wouldn’t do any good.

Saint Barbara’s calculating golden eyes narrowed. "So, you’re Relica? Are you using the children as hostages to negotiate a meeting?"

"Hmm? And who are you—no, I don’t care much anyway," the shade dismissed, her violet eyes tilting to Rachel’s stiff ears, ready to fold back in case of action.

"How about a game, Rachel? I could kill all of the hostages right now. You don’t want that, though, and it doesn’t do me much good. So, I propose a bit of a game!"

"What kind of game?" she returned, shifting her weight to a more casual posture. "No one will get hurt so long as I show up and have tea?"

"Well, I wouldn’t say nobody will get hurt. Hehe. We can have rules and stipulations, though! You see, I’ve always been a creature of passion—I can admit to being a tad obsessive—and I always get what I want. Keeping it? Mmh," her head tilted to the side. "Not so much. I like tension, though. What about you?"

The umbra’s spiky teeth flickered before the deep, purple hues of its eyes intensified, causing the shadows under it to pulse like a heart and making Barbara sigh. A golden light surrounded the military woman, pushing Relica back half a meter.

"Don’t push it, Relica. I’m entertaining this message as it is," she warned.

"Aww. No fun," she huffed, yet there was a bit more interest in her temporary gaze on the saint. "In any case, what do you say about a little get-together, Rachel?"

Rachel hadn’t flinched, keeping a passive smile to keep the woman engaged; Astra fed her further general data regarding the terrorist that they’d been able to uncover, but it wasn’t all that useful.

"That depends on what you’re offering me."

"I like that!" Relica paused, clawed fingers rising to cup her chin in a thoughtful hum. "You know, if I can’t have what is promised to me, heh, no one can! It’s just the type of woman I am. So I’d be careful what you commit to when it comes to what I want," she chimed, voice honey but words venom.

"I will take my revenge for the smallest slight made against me—slowly, beautifully...in such torment that it makes my soul sing with pride. Such is the burden of my tragedy, but I will have what I want, even if for a short time...one way or another."

"Are you stalling?" Barbara questioned in a way that said she was over it. "You want Rachel engaged with you, but obviously, you’re not going to go in without precautions. Let’s have it and be done with it; state your case."

Rachel shrugged to the legend, indicating she didn’t really mind being used as a bargaining chip; if it came down to it, she’d find a way out.

"To business, indeed!" Relica chirped, shifting gears while folding her fingers together in a deliberating manner. "Well, mmm, it’s complicated. Am I stalling? Certainly! You’ve somewhat caught me by surprise, and I have to set the board."

"I’m getting some weird movements from these dudes," Astra grumbled. "A lot of the children are being moved inside of the club Terrell is at, and the other hostages are being spread out in a large area. Given her profile, I’d say any harm done to her is bound to trigger something with the kids.

"Uh, I’m getting social media sightings of a giant bull mythickin I’ve linked to that cartel is at a South Beach bank, too. Yikes! It could get messy from the messages I’m seeing. They’re demanding the Coast Guard leave the shores, or they’ll start murdering citizens."

Barbara ran her fingers through her hair. "You’re trying to divide our rescue efforts—you’re trying to distract us in multiple areas by sacrificing your pawns."

The shadow clapped. "This hacker I’ve been told about must be good! Yes, I’ve set up a little game for all of you. I promise you that if you act fast, you won’t lose many hostages! Hehe! I couldn’t care less about this operation or what all your little friends do."

Her tone lowered, becoming somber. "That is...if you agree to this meeting, Rachel. Think of the children. All I want to do is to test your misfortune powers; I’ll give you Terrell, his boys, and almost everyone else! Doesn’t it sound fun and fair? Less blood, more entertainment, and some hundreds of innocent lives go back unmaimed."

Ears shifting to the left, Rachel tried to contain the emotions budding within her chest. "And why are you so focused on me? You said you’ve heard I was some calamity. From who?"

"Oh, dear, but who else would give me that tidbit?" Relica mused. "Scarlet’s mother! I’ve heard so much about you both, but Rachel is the one that piques my interest. After all, we have somewhat of a history together."

Rachel’s tail stiffened; it was hard to contain herself, and she instantly wanted to refute the claim from the ponderous look Barbara gave her. Astra gasped as if it was a twist in some book, and Scarlet’s troubled stare wasn’t helpful.

"We...have a history?"

"Absolutely!" Relica nodded. "Why do you think I’m so adamant about this meeting, sweetie? I’m sure your mind is riveted! I can’t wait to talk about it in person. I’m dying to see your reaction! What could our connection be? Hehehe."

The spur of a challenge ignited the fire within her soul; the number-seven most wanted terrorist of the FBI had singled her out and said they somehow knew each other. It had to be some manipulation tactic. But...what if it wasn’t? In any case, there was no way she could pass up this chance to go in the ring and prove to herself she could play at this international terrorist’s level.

"So," Rachel began, striding forward and making the soldiers tense while she circled the shadow to show she wasn’t intimidated. "Is all of this for your superpowered people to jump me? No, I don’t think so," Rachel concluded.

"No! No!" Relica giggled, setting a few of the soldiers on edge, yet they held their guns steady. Some of the more stupid hospital staff had lingered behind counters, listening, and a few were recording the incident from further down the hall.

"I can see your mind spinning! All I propose is a fair fight. You against Conner—I’m sure you’ve heard of him."

Astra went into more detail about what she’d uncovered to Barbara and the green berets as the woman continued.

"You know, the man some people call invincible? The juggernaut that can run through brick and concrete walls? I trust you’ve seen some of his work from your hacker friend—is she telling you more now? Heh, naturally, this contest will come after our completely peaceful talk. Maybe you’ll try to kill me! Wouldn’t that be the twist? Hehe. No. That would be boring!"

Rachel stopped in front of her, relaxed and glancing away as if pondering her proposal. Her mind accelerated, piecing things together.

Instinctively, she could destroy this shade without an ounce of effort with [Lunar Burst], but it was only a proxy to relay her message; they’d gained quite a lot of information from this exchange.

[Mental Acceleration - Advanced to A-Tier]

[Strategic Mind - Advanced to A-Tier]

[Bestial Instincts - Advanced to S-Tier]

Lips curling, Rachel felt a shiver run down her spine to the tip of her tail as her gut gave her a surprising realization; she didn’t have the upper hand.

"Ooh." Relica’s smile widened in response to her tightening eyes. "What misfortune have you sensed? Ah! Perhaps it’s my current limitations," she lamented while shifting her weight with sudden agitation.

"I’ve run out of time for this remote chat. Tick-tock, my dear; I’ll be waiting for you and your antsy tail in the middle of the street outside of our little club! So long as none of your soldiers enter it, or any other hidden no-no is done, not one hostage will be executed inside. Xodâfez!" she sang, waving at them before dispersing into nothing.