Sunday, March 27, 2011

Ch 24 Sem 2 Week 6 pt 1

Lola waited for Dark Lothario to contact her after her confrontation. She spent most of her free time at her lair in case he wanted to come to her in person, sitting at her desk with her school books, studying as though she were at the library or her own apartment. Several days passed before her phone rang with an unknown number coming up on the caller ID.

“Yes?”

“Dark Lothario requests an audience with you,” an unfamiliar voice said.

“Okay….”

“A location is being texted to you. Be there in one hour.” The line went dead, and a moment later the screen beeped an incoming text. The address was of the biggest, most expensive hotel in Acropolis. She felt very exposed when she entered the lobby with the high ceilings and open spaces. There were only a few people milling around, which made her feel even more vulnerable.

Her instructions told her to take the elevator to the top floor, which consisted of only one penthouse suite. Dark Lothario’s thugs were waiting for her when the elevator doors opened. She immediately went on guard, wishing she had brought Ratface and his guns with her, but all they did was usher her into the penthouse.

The space was modern, decorated in neutral colors and minimalist furniture. The living and bar area were huge, but she was led down a hallway to an office that reminded her a bit of her lair except more expensive, and Dark Lothario was sitting behind a desk just like her own. “Leave us,” he said to the guards, who backed out without a word.

“Something to drink?” he asked as he stood up and walked over to a small bar set into the wall.

“That’s okay.” He poured scotch for himself. “This is a nice place.”

“I own this hotel, after a fashion.”

“After a fashion?” she questioned.

“Under one of my identities, buried deep inside a real estate company. Somewhere in the mess I own it.” He took a sip of his drink. “I would have to talk to my accountant to figure out exactly how.”

“That’s great,” Lola said.

“So, little girl, you think that I am your father?” He wasn’t smiling, but she didn’t know what that meant.

“I have a hunch.”

“An educated guess, you mean.”

“So you were with my mom,” she said. He nodded and she felt something akin to both revulsion and eagerness. “I don’t look anything like her,” she said quickly. “She always said I looked like my father--”

“Yes, yes,” he studied her face. “But accusing someone of paternity is a messy business, and I think you went about it the wrong way, sending my best man to jail.”

“Your ‘best man’ smashed my face into the floor and tried to rape me.” Her voice was not as even as she hoped it would be, but she was fairly certain she found a flash of real emotion cross his face.

“I don’t do things that way.”

“I never said you did. But he did. You don’t want to be associated with someone like that, do you? It could make you look bad.”

“I am already bad. Alright. I will consider letting you work for me--”

“I’m no minion,” she said quickly. “I want the pay, all of the perks he had.”

Dark Lothario laughed. “I’ll let you work the Valentine’s Day event. We’ll see how it goes.”

“Which brings me to another thing--where’s Patricia?”

Dark Lothario left the room and she followed. Down the hall he took a key from his pocket and unlocked a door. Patricia was sitting on the bed, and at the sound her head turned. When she saw Lola her face broke into a smile and she rushed to her, wrapping her arms around Lola’s neck. “Thank god! After you left that last time they beat up that spider guy right in front of me. I was so worried when I heard that bastard blaming you, talking about wanting to kill you--”

Lola hugged Patricia back. She had cared about what might have happened to her, even though Lola hadn’t given her her freedom, though it was in her power to do so. At first she had just felt sorry for the other girl. Now she was fairly certain they were friends. And friends didn’t let other friends get seduced by their possible father.

“Your little friend goes free after Saturday night,” Dark Lothario said. “As long as things go smoothly. That’s your job. To make sure things go smooth.”

“Okay,” Lola said. “I can do that.”

Behind them a bell chimed. “And that’s Dr. Terrible here to collect DNA samples.”

“DNA?”

“You don’t think I’m not going to double check your ridiculous claims? Me a father!” He laughed as he disappeared into the hall.

“Are you okay?” Lola asked, turning her attention back to Patricia.

“Yeah. And you?”

Lola’s hand rose up to touch her cheek, now healed. “Fine. I took care of Spider.”

“I know--this place might be fancy, but the walls are as thin as any crappy apartment. He’s been raging about you for days.”

“Dark Lothario lives here?” Lola said, dropping her voice to a whisper.

“I don’t think so, but there’s another bedroom, and he’s definitely brought women over here at night.”

“Are you allowed out of this room?”

Patricia shook her head. “A bathroom connects to both rooms--three times a day someone leaves food in the bathroom for me, but I haven’t really seen anyone--just heard people talk. They’re going to film here,” she said. “And there’s going to be a big party and a live performance. I can’t do this--you can’t let him--”

Lola pulled her into another hug to whisper in her ear. “I’ll get you out. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

*****

Glory couldn’t get excited about Valentine’s Day that year. As a very popular girl in high school the day was full of flowers, chocolates, and silly cards from her friends, but knowing what would happen to the mayor’s daughter on Saturday hurt her deeply. She spent the days leading up to the event moping. Lola noticed. “It’ll be okay,” she told her when Glory came in after her last Friday class.

“It’s not okay,” Glory said, dropping onto the couch with her friend.

“I think it is.” She handed her a folded piece of paper. “This was under the door. It wasn’t postmarked so technically I did not tamper with the mail by reading it.”

Glory grabbed the letter away and unfolded it. It was typed, the font was Arial, which she hated (too plain), and there was no signature at the bottom.

Dear Glory,

Don’t be alarmed. I know who you are but I am not a threat to you. I know that you want to take down Dark Lothario. I don’t know if we can do that, but I do know how to get you into the party Saturday night so that you can get Patricia Wilkinson out. It will take place in the top floor penthouse at the Belmonte Grande--the fire stairs go all the way up but they can only be opened from inside the penthouse. There will be a man waiting for you in the stairwell with a key card. Don’t worry about him--he wont betray you, but if you are questioned by anyone later, his name is Roy Gillespie and he deserves anything that happens to him. Don’t feel guilty about giving him up to Dark Lothario if you need to save your ass.

The party starts at eight with the ‘deflowering’ scheduled for midnight. Patricia is being kept in the second bedroom on the right. The wait staff will be wearing black vests and red bowties. I suggest you wear a wig.

Love,
The Mistress of Minds

Glory read the letter twice before she looked up at Lola. “She wants me to break into the party and get Patricia out.”

“I know--I read it.”

“How am I going to do that?”

“Tomorrow we’ll go out and get you a good wig and a black vest. I’ll loan you the money.”

“I can’t walk into a Dark Lothario party without a mask and kidnap his kidnap victim!”

“Why not?”

Glory sighed. “I can’t do it alone.”

“Are you going to tell Valkyrie?”

Glory shook her head. If she told Valkyrie she wouldn’t let her go, and she needed to go. “Give me the phone,” Glory said. Lola passed it over to her. She dialed KP first. “Ever want to crash a Dark Lothario party?”

******

Lawrence sat silently in his desk chair staring at the calculus book open in front of him, but he wasn’t paying any attention to the book. America had ordered him, Torch, and Black to meet her at the loading dock at Memorial Hall. Dark Lothario. He so wasn’t ready for that.

He heard a key in the lock and Torch came in. “You look like your book just told you someone died,” he said. The keys hit the floor. “Did someone die?”

“I hope not,” Lawrence answered. “America wants us to crash Dark Lothario’s Valentine’s party and rescue the mayor’s daughter.”

“We can’t do that. We don’t have the training.”

“And yet,” Lawrence said. “C’mon. We’re supposed to meet her at Memorial Hall. We gotta talk her out of this.” Lawrence grabbed up his coat and they went back out.

America was already there with Black when they showed up, and they had been talking. Lawrence did not like the determined look on Black’s face. “You can’t be serious,” Lawrence said when he saw them. “We can’t go barging into Dark Lothario’s party like this. How do you even know where its going to be?”

“Roy Gillespie,” America answered immediately, and continued on despite the confusion the name brought to everyone. “He’s going to let us in. All we need are disguises. My roommate is out getting us uniforms to blend in with the wait staff.

“You’re forgetting one thing,” Torch said. “We’re supposed to be in masks. We’re not supposed to fight crime without a teacher. We can’t go off doing this.”

“I have to,” America said. “I saved one of his victims in December--this is my fight.” She grabbed her red mask and pulled it off in a sweeping movement, and Lawrence couldn’t help but stare. She’d always been beautiful, but seeing her entire face…wow. “If you don’t want to help me, fine. Just don’t say anything to anyone, okay?”

Torch remained silent. “If you don’t come back out, I’m letting the League know.”

“I’m in,” Black said immediately, whipping off his sunglasses. Behind them his eyes were vivid green, and he looked…older. “Lets get that girl out of there.”

Lawrence started at them, so determined, strong, ready to fight against evil for what was right. He didn’t feel that determination, just a sick feeling that if he went in there with them, something terrible would happen. He wasn’t ready. He thought of his calculus book back on his desk. That was what he should be doing. Not this. This was ridiculous. It was crazy. He looked over at America.

It was what she believed in.

“Okay,” he said. “But if we can’t do it, we sneak back out again. Dark Lothario never kills any of his victims, so if we can’t do it, we gotta drop it. The girl will survive, and I don’t want you to get hurt. Okay?”

“Okay.” She gave him a short nod, and with a sigh he pilled off his mask. America smiled a little. “You do have a baby face, don’t you?”

“I can change my mind,” he threatened.

“Change your minds about what?” The voice called out from behind them, and Lawrence immediately let out a breath of relief. They had been busted, and there was no way Captain Righteous wasn’t going to squeal on them. “Hey,” Righteous said, slowing down his walk towards them. “Are you--where are your masks?”

America rushed forward, grabbing Captain Righteous by the forearms. “You can’t say anything--swear you wont.”

“America, is that you?”

“Of course it is you idiot!”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing concerning you,” Black said, stepping forward. “We saw how helpful you were last time.”

“Last time what?”

“Being too much of a coward to bend the rules and help out. Patricia Wilkinson is in this mess because you chickened out. And now we have to fix it.”

Righteous stared at America. “You’re going to rescue the mayor’s daughter?” She nodded. “America, that’s stupid.”

“Not if you come too.” Lawrence watched in disbelief as America ran her hands up Righteous’ built arms. “You’re so strong and fast--we’ll have no trouble getting in and out with you there to help us.” She looked up at him and actually batted her eyes at him. Lawrence turned away in disgust, and Torch grabbed him by the arm. If it was meant to comfort, it didn’t work. He turned back--America was staring up into Captain Righteous’ eyes now. “This is bigger and more important than our training. This is about making a difference and saving the girl. Like we weren’t able to before.”

“And if you don’t do it, you’re a bigger coward than I thought,” Black added.

Righteous glared at Black, and Lawrence’s jealousy burned as Glory continued to hold him by the arms. “I’m in,” he said, ripping off his mask to reveal his perfectly sculpted face--Lawrence didn’t stand a chance.

America let out a small squeal of excitement and gave Righteous a hug, further injury as far as Lawrence was concerned. “Okay boys,” she said. “We have a lot of planning to do.” She stepped away from Righteous and snatched her phone out of her pocket. “Hey,” she said when the person on the other line picked up. “We’re going to need one more outfit. What size?” The measuring look she gave Righteous made Lawrence want to spew. “Broad.”

*****

A/N:
Two posts in one week! Shocking! This chapter is probably going to be close to double length when I’m done, but I don’t want you guys to have to wait, being as I’ve been so bad at updating these days, so you are getting it in two parts--hopefully I’ll have the other half up before the end of the week, but I have a date with the Spanish Inquisition, so who knows.

If Glory and Righteous are a surprise, they are to me too, but it makes sense. The second half of the story has had some major revamps from what I started out with last fall. It has been nothing but issues ever since. My biggest problem I think is the pacing, but there’s really nothing I can do about it right now. You guys will have to tell me how it works as we get towards the end. (9 more chapters after this one, which feels a little weird since this is kind of climax-y, but I assure you it’s not.)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Ch 3 Sem 2 Wk 5

It took the whole weekend for the swelling to go down in Lola’s face, but even by the following Tuesday the bruises still remained, dulling to a sickly green-yellow that made her look like some sort of rotting zombie. She tried her best to cover it up with makeup, but even that only went so far. “What happened to your face?” Lawrence asked immediately when he sat down next to her in English Comp.

“Shut up,” she snapped back. She was so sick of people asking what had happened--people who had never spoken to her before. She’d told the stupid story about falling down the stairs so many times that she didn’t think anyone could possibly believe it was true.

“I looks like someone hit you.”

“Actually it was a cement floor, but thanks for bringing it up.”

“Who hit you in the face with a cement floor?”

“No one. I fell.”

“Doesn’t sound like you fell,” he said quietly, but didn’t say anything more when Professor Murphy started talking. Lola quickly gave up paying attention to him, instead dwelling on the fact that Glory had a League class that day, and if everything went according to plan Spider would be in custody by nightfall.

I should have killed him, she thought, staring at her notebook on the tabletop. It was an idea that had haunted her for several nights up to that point. She’d never wanted to kill anyone before, and the idea that she was pretty sure that she was angry enough to do it both thrilled and frightened her. Maybe that was all she needed to do to make Dark Lothario take her seriously. No more Mr. Nice Mistress.

Lawrence slid a note across the table to her and her first instinct was to ignore it, but curiosity won out. If you need to talk about anything, it read, I’m here.

Even more fury burned inside of her. What right did he have to be concerned about her welfare when he didn’t want anything to do with her? “I fell down the stairs,” she whispered to him. “That’s all. You’re going to get us kicked out of class again.”

He didn’t say anything more.

*****

As soon as Professor Murphy released the class Lola bolted from the room, but Lawrence followed closely after. He couldn’t help staring at the bruise across her cheek and the more he looked at it, the worse he felt about it. The bruises might have been evidence, but the real truth was in her tone of voice when she denied being hit. No one got that agitated over falling down the stairs.

He followed her down the hall and out of the building, where there was more space in the open air. “Lola, if you’re seeing someone else, if he’s hitting you--”

She stopped and turned to face him. “What? Are you going to be a hero and save me?” He winced at her word usage. He hadn’t been feeling like much of a hero lately. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need your help.”

“Okay,” he said, knowing better than to push the issue. “But if you need help, just call me.” He didn’t know if he could do anything, but if she wanted his help, he would be there. He owed that much to her.

“I’m fine,” she said, and tried to smile. “Really.”

*****

Glory was feeling just fine as she left Memorial Hall later that evening. Her coat hung open over her costume, blowing in the breeze like a wool cape, and she strutted with confidence. She was getting better and better with every combat class she took, even as KP seemed to be falling further and further behind. KP was trailing behind her, less than content with that night’s class. Romeo Avenger had decided that as a sparring partner, KP was slowing down Torch, who was improving almost as fast as Glory. He was working with Blue now, and Torch was working with Cloud.

“Are you coming or what?” she called, turning back to face him. “I cant get into your dorm without you--you have the key.” Torch had hinted that he wanted to stay late and watch TV with Cloud in the common room. Glory certainly wasn’t complaining.

“I dunno America,” he said, trudging down the marble steps in front of the building. “Maybe we should just call it a night. I’m tired.”

“I’m not--c’mon. We don’t have your room alone very often.” She gave him her best smile. “You know, wearing underwear ruins the lines of this outfit.” KP managed to muster up a smile, and she felt better. “C’mon--it’s freezing out here.”

KP caught up to her and she turned back towards the dorms. A scream of surprise caught in her throat--there was a man in black standing in front of them, and he hadn’t been there a second before. “Who are you?” she demanded.

“I’m Trapdoor Spider,” the man said in a doleful voice. “I’m here to turn myself in.”

“Yeah, right,” KP said, coming up beside Glory. “Get out of here you freak. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

“Wait,” Glory said. “It is Trapdoor Spider. I’ve seen him before, and he looks just like his picture on Acropolis Crime Watch. You really need to spend more time studying.”

Spider had not moved an inch during this exchange. “Please,” he said. “Arrest me already.” He held out his wrists for handcuffs, which Glory of course did not have.

“KP, go find Valkyrie or Romeo.”

“I’m not leaving you alone with this freak,” KP insisted.

Glory rolled her eyes. “Yeah? And what would you do? Float a book at him?”

“That’s harsh,” he said, and turned away. Glory felt a little guilty, but Trapdoor Spider was sufficiently distracting.

“Why are you turning yourself in?” She asked as soon as KP was gone.

“I’ve been trying not to,” Spider said, and Glory was certain she saw tears in his eyes. “I keep trying to leave town, but every time I get past the city limits this nagging, overwhelming urge to see you comes back until it fills my brain and I can’t think of anything else. It’s maddening.”

“Why me?” Glory demanded.

“I don’t know--I just do as I’m told. Will you please cuff me and take me to the police already. I can’t take it anymore and I just want it over with!”

Glory caught a flash of silver metal in the streetlights fly through the air and something landed at her feet with a heavy clinking sound. A pair of handcuffs. The Mistress of Minds stepped out of the shadows created by Memorial Hall’s recessed doorways. “Go on. Cuff him,” she said, her voice sultry and low as ever. She was wearing a new mask--this one covered more of her face, covering from the bridge of her nose over her cheekbones. She was also wearing Spider’s leather jacket with the red painting on the back over her costume.

“What’s going on?” Glory demanded, now wishing she hadn’t sent KP away. She wasn’t sure if she could handle two against one.

“Spider is retiring. He wants to pay off his debt to society.”

Glory glanced at Spider. He had dropped to his knees and was scrambling on the ground, snapping one cuff on his wrist himself. He was crying openly now. “You’re making him do this,” she exclaimed, stepping away from both of them with growing revulsion.

“He deserves to be brought to justice,” the Mistress said.

Spider was crawling on his knees towards Glory now, and she felt like he really was some sort of creeping arachnid. “Not like this,” Glory said, wanting to cry herself but knowing she couldn’t show that weakness in front of the enemy.

“You have no idea, the things that he’s done,” the Mistress said. “He’s the lowest scum on the planet. Worse that Dark Lothario.”

“I doubt that,” Glory couldn’t help but say.

“Do you want him to list his crimes? I can make him--”

“I believe you!” Glory said quickly. “Why me?” she asked again, this time questioning the Mistress of Minds. “Why are you giving him to me?”

“You were the only one who managed to do anything on New Year’s Eve,” she told her. “You’re worthy, and I know you care. Here’s your chance to make a difference. You can take him off the streets, prevent him from hurting anyone else.”

“I thought he was your friend.”

“He’s not my friend,” she said. “None of them are my friends--remember that. I don’t place nice with thugs and people who exploit women for profit. We have that in common, you and I.”

“We don’t have anything in common,” she told her. “You and Dark Lothario--I hate what you do.”

“Just take him down to the police station. Do the right thing. Be Glorious.” The doors to Memorial Hall slammed open, and the Mistress of Minds turned and ran. Glory could have caught her in seconds, but she stood rooted to the spot, Spider clinging to her ankle. Be Glorious. The most dangerous criminal in Acropolis--a super villain--knew who she was.

Romeo Avenger was pulling Spider off of her, and KP had his armed wrapped around her shoulders asking her if she was okay, but all Glory could do was stare at the empty space where the Mistress of Minds had been standing.

*****

The rest of the night was a blur. KP held her while Romeo called the police, and she went down to the station and gave them her statement. No one else had seen the Mistress of Minds, and she didn’t want them to know what had happened. She didn’t want them to know someone so powerful, so evil, knew her name. She was sure to get kicked out of the league, and she needed to stay in training more than ever--she needed to take down the Mistress of Minds, before she changed her mind and went after her.

When Glory finally got home Lola was sitting on the couch in her pajamas eating popcorn and studying one of her psychology books. She looked up as soon as Glory opened the door. “Hey--are you okay?”

The tears she had somehow managed to hold in burst out like a flood, and Lola immediately jumped to her feet and put her arms around Glory. “What happened? Did your boyfriend dump you?”

“Of c-course not,” Glory managed to say through her sobs. “We’re having sex all the time--I’m c-crying because I’m in big trouble!”

Lola steered her to the couch and handed her a tissue. “Go ahead and cry,” she instructed. “Do you want some hot chocolate?” Glory managed a nod, and Lola scrambled to the kitchen, getting out mugs and heating water. She was so lucky to have a best friend like her--they shouldn’t fight anymore. The thought sent a fresh wave of tears, and it wasn’t until Lola had handed her a mug of cocoa and set a plate of cookies in front of her that she was able to speak, her story accentuated by fresh sobs.

Lola sat quietly until Glory was finished. “So you’re not hurt?”

“We just talked, Lola, it was so creepy!”

“I’m sorry. But she doesn’t seem to want to hurt you--”

“She’s using me for her nefarious plans, whatever they are--that’s ten times worse. And she knows who I am! She could come in here any minute--how did she know?”

“You did rescue that woman out of costume,” Lola said.

“The league stopped it from hitting the news,” Glory protested, a nervous lump forming in the pit of her stomach.

“There were people taking pictures all over the place. One or two of them must have reached Dark Lothario somehow.”

“I should move out. It’s not safe for you to stay with me--”

“Glory, it’ll be okay. You’re not going anywhere. I want you to stay.”

“Really?”

“Don’t get too stressed out. From what you just told me, Dark Lothario doesn’t seem to be her friend, and she gift-wrapped that thug for you. Maybe she’s on your side.”

“We’re not on the same side,” Glory insisted. “We can’t be.” She settled into the couch cushions and drank her cocoa, trying to calm down. Lola was probably right at least in the idea that the Mistress of Minds didn’t seem to want to hurt Glory. But what if she wanted to brainwash her into becoming her secret minion? What if she had done it already and Glory just didn’t remember? No matter what her motives were, whether she was good or bad, the Mistress of Minds had to be taken down, just the same as Dark Lothario.

*****

Lola found Dark Lothario at the Red Door Club the next night. She walked up to his table with Hannah, Kioshi, and Ratface in tow, all three of them armed with small, easily concealed arms, just in case things got messy. She was considering ordering them Kevlar body armor. She wore Spider’s jacket again. It felt like a trophy, and as soon as Dark Lothario saw it he stood up and ordered the women longing around him to disperse. He had two large body guards still standing behind him.

“Would you like a seat?” he asked her. She nodded and they sat down at a small table. He snapped his fingers and one of the men stepped forward. “Get me a scotch,” he said. “And for you?” he asked Lola.

“Nothing, thanks,” she said to the bodyguard. He disappeared into the crowd, which, oddly, had grown quiet and was staring at them. Music still blasted from the speakers, but there was no hum of human speech in the room.

“What did you do to Spider?” he asked her.

“I took care of the creepy crawly. I don’t think he will be bothering anyone ever again.”

Dark Lothario stared at her for a moment, his chin resting on his folded hands in contemplation. “What do you want?”

Butterflies fluttered in Lola’s stomach. “His job.”

Dark Lothario laughed. “That is not going to happen.”

“I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Or you’ll find more and more of your men starting to disappear, and they might not be as tight-lipped as Spider when they get dropped off at the police station. He’s not going to tell anyone about what he did for you--but the others just might.”

“I should kill you right now and get you out of my way.”

“I don’t know about that. I think I’ve already proved how useful I am. Besides, you won’t kill me. I bet I remind you of someone you used to know. That’s why you like me so much.”

“I don’t like you at all, you little brat.”

Lola got up. “Almost twenty years ago you knew a bank robber named Mesmera. She’s my mother, but I never knew my father.” She turned away before he could react. “Come,” she ordered her minions, and they followed like obedient dogs.

Outside all three of them stared at her. “Dark Lothario is your father?” Hannah asked finally.

Lola shrugged. “We’ll have to wait and see what he does.”

*****

A/N: Sorry again everyone. This has been finished for a few days, but I've been busy. I moved into my grandmothers basement and I took 10 cats to a shelter (a really nice no-kill, foster run program) last week, so I'm a little shell-shocked. I'm hoping to get back on a regular update schedule again now that the worst of losing my house is over with.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Ch 22 Sem 2 Wk 4

Lola returned to the warehouse a few days later, bringing Patricia new reading materials and fresh take-out. There was no one guarding the door, and as soon as she entered the building she knew she would not find Patricia there.

The open space was eerily silent, Lola’s steps echoing though a room void of people and holding only boxes. The door to the office where they had kept Patricia stood open, but it was empty of all of the things Lola had brought her, and there was only Spider, sitting slumped in one of the chairs, wearing a pair of dark glasses.

She set her bags down on the floor. “Why don’t you just tell me where she is and get this over with,” Lola said to him.

“I don’t know where she is,” Spider said. “For some reason the Lothario wouldn’t tell me--he hasn’t told anyone because of you.” He stood up. “I don’t like you.”

“Few people do,” Lola agreed. “It’s one of my many gifts.” She couldn’t see his eyes, and she didn’t like that, unable to see exactly where his eyes were resting. He slipped off his jacket and stepped forward. Even though she was a few yards away Lola stepped backwards on instinct. Lola glanced down and noticed he had a slight limp and a wincing expression in his face.

“You’re the one he can’t control,” Spider said stepping closer. “And I’m the one who suffers for it.” He unbuttoned his shirt and Lola could see the bruises on his torso, purple and ugly. “He’s not just a freakshow you know,” he told her. “The Lothario means business, if you try to cross him. Or betray him.”

Lola’s gaze settled on the bruises across his skin. Did Dark Lothario beat on Spider because he betrayed him, or did he do it to prove a point to her? Perhaps he meant her to see what he was willing to do to someone who wouldn’t cooperate with him. “Bad luck for you,” she offered.

“Or you. Do you know why they call me Trapdoor Spider? I like to set a trap…and pounce on my prey.” His lips curled up into a smile that she did not like. “That’s you, in case you were wondering.”

Lola spun around to run away, but even injured Spider was faster, not having the deterrent of spike heeled boots. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back, her scalp stinging as she stumbled backwards into him. They both crashed to the floor in a heap. Spider was used to unwilling victims, but Lola had never been a victim to anyone, giving him the advantage. She struggled to free herself from his grasp but with his fingers still wrapped in the curls of her hair he slammed the side of her face hard into the concrete floor.

Pain shattered across her cheek and jaw, disorienting her. “Stop it,” she tried to say even as her mouth filled with blood, clawing in vain at his forearm. A second blow came to the back of her head, and the pain reverberated through her skull for only seconds before the world blinked out around her, a light bulb going dead.

*****

Glory sighed, laying her head on KP’s bare shoulder, slightly sweaty and naked except for her red mask, her hair a tangled blond mane around her. KP was wearing only his mask too, and she traced the edges of it with her finger. “I like the mask,” she said. “Gives you an air of mystery.”

“Mystery?” KP said. “There’s not much mystery here,” he joked, lifting the blanket.

They had his dorm room to themselves for a few precious hours while Torch spent the evening taking extra lessons to control his fire powers. It was the seventh time they had had sex--Glory was counting--and she was really starting to enjoy herself. She sat up and let the blanket fall away. “We don’t know each other that well,” she said. “There’s plenty of mystery left.”

She didn’t worry about it the way she used to. She had learned to be content with what they had. She felt a sense of calm after being with him, and it made the rest of the world--school, Dark Lothario--bearable. “I wonder what it will be like, years down the line.”

“Years?”

“Yeah. Once we’re settled in the League--full time heroes. You can be a nerdy professor by day, and a dark warrior by night.” Dark warrior--she liked the sound of that, though admittedly it did not bring her images of KP in his Kevlar lined tweed. “I will do something no one would ever suspect--work with kids maybe--but secretly I will be crime fighter extraordinaire.”

He sat up too. “I can’t imagine do this forever. I was pretty useless when we went out into the field. ”

“You were just nervous,” Glory said, explaining away the sudden dull feeling in her stomach. “You’ll fall into this in no time, I‘m sure of it.. We’ll be the perfect crime fighting team. And our kids will be amazing--”

“Kids, huh?” he said. “Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves?”

“It’s just a fantasy,” she said. “Two I think--one with your powers and one with mine. Of course we’ll start training little Kinetic Junior early so he isn’t so far behind when he joins the league--”

“America--”

“We’ll name the girl Liberty, after the Statue of Liberty--she’ll need a strong role model to look up to--”

“America, stop.”

“What?”

“Stop planning my future. It makes me uncomfortable.“ He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back down beside him. “We only have an hour until Torch comes back from his training, and I have one condom left. Let’s make use of it. No talk of kids right now.”

She leaned over to kiss him. “Definitely not. My mother would kill me.”

“Yours and mine both,” he said, and grasped for the foil wrapped packet.

*****

Pain shot through Lola’s head with every pulse of blood rushing through it. At first she didn’t want to open her eyes, but she felt a tugging on the laces of her corset, and her situation rushed back into her aching brain. “Goddamn laces,” she heard Spider mutter, and she was grateful she had such a complicated costume.

Afraid to move, she lay still to assess her situation. She tasted blood in her mouth, felt something wet and warm on her face that was most likely more blood. All of the pain was localized to her head, which was unfortunate because that was the only part of her body that was any good in a fight. She didn’t think she had been unconscious for more than a few moments. She felt him stand up, mumbling something about a box cutter. You are so dead, she thought, the room spinning as she sat up. Guns. I think I will change my stance on guns.

She saw Spider with his back to her, digging around in the drawers of the desk. Lola eased herself to her feet and managed to disappear into the stacks of boxes. The pain in her head did not lessen, but her mind seemed to clear. They were the only people in the building--it would be easy enough to simply slip out the door, but she wasn’t looking to escape. She was looking for revenge.

Lola bent down carefully, the blood rushing though her head making her want to throw up, but she managed to unzip her boots and pull them off. On flat feet she would have the advantage over the limping Spider.

Spider turned back to the empty spot on the floor where she had lain. “Aw shit,” he exclaimed. His body language shifted into an alert mode, and he glanced around the room. “Where are you little girl?” he called, holding the box cutter tight in his hand. “Why don’t you come out and let’s finish this like men.”

Lola tensed from her hiding place. She needed some sort of weapon, some way to get the drop on him. She searched the room. Boxes were stacked high in front of her and around her a wall behind her. “Do you really think a girl like you has a chance against a guy like me?” Spider called out. “You’re not a villain. You don’t know how to be. You’re just a spoiled little brat that needs put in her place.”

Lola’s eyes came to rest on a fire extinguisher hanging on the wall. She would have to run past a large gap in the boxes, but she was sure she could get there first. Lola dashed past the opening, and sure enough Spider shouted in recognition. She wrenched the extinguisher off the wall, surprised at its heft. A large, awkward weapon, but the best she could do under the circumstances.

Suddenly inspired, Lola pulled the pin and aimed the hose, turning around just as Spider reached her. The extinguisher jerked in her hand when she squeezed the trigger and a cloud of chemicals erupted from the end, aimed directly at Spider’s face. He wasn’t expecting a chemical attack and yelled as it hit his eyes. Lola lurched forward and slammed the extinguisher as hard as she could into his face.

Spider crumpled immediately, his body falling forward with a soft thud at her bare feet. Lola stared down at his still chemical covered form. She couldn’t manipulate the mind of an unconscious person.

*****

America had fallen asleep on Lawrence’s shoulder, and he couldn’t help but reach out and stroke her shining blond hair. Here was a super model naked next to him, and yet he couldn’t be completely happy with the situation. It wasn’t her fault--but he had a sinking feeling that he could never be what she wanted him to be. All he could do was hold on to her while he could, and be gracious when it was time to let her go.

*****

Spider moaned and rolled his head as he came to. Lola hadn’t had much time and after a quick search of the premise all she had was a roll of masking tape to her disposal (shouldn’t a lair of super villains be better equipped?), but was good enough. He was taped (mostly) upright in a chair. His unconscious body had been heavy and hard to maneuver, so he slumped a little and probably wasn’t very comfortable. Most importantly she had taped his head to the smooth glass wall of the office behind him so he could not look away from her. “Hello, Spider,” she said, looking him in the eye. She sat down in a chair opposite him so that they were eye level.

“Wha?” He attempted to stand up and found himself effectively bound. “Oh, no, no.”

Lola couldn’t help but smile through the pain in her head and the uncomfortable revulsion she felt towards him. “You’re all mine now,” she said.

“Let me go you freaky girl!” Spider struggled against the tape, but she had used quite a bit of it, and he was much more thoroughly injured than she was. She had not considered it bad form to put her boots back on and kick him a few times while he was out, circumstances being what they were.

“What shall I make you do to yourself?” She mused aloud.

“I hate you,” Spider said again. He attempted to spit at her but failed, drool running down his chin.

“That’s disgusting,” she said. “First of all, you’re going to turn yourself in to a hero in training named America the Beautiful. You can find her in Memorial Hall on campus. Tuesday evening. You will bring no one with you and tell no one where you are going. You will throw yourself to her feet and beg her to take you to the police, and cooperate with her fully. At the police station you will confess to everything bad you have ever done, except you will make no mention of anything or anyone in relation to me or Dark Lothario.” She stared hard at him. There was no guarantee that he would stay in jail once he was there, especially if Dark Lothario’s lawyers got involved. She had to do more. “Once in jail you will discover a fascination with the neuter subculture. Are you familiar with that?”

Spider shook his head. “No, not that.”

“Yes that. You’ll become obsessed with the idea, until you finally decide you have to cut them off. I’m sure some of your prison buddies will help with the procedure. And you’ll hate yourself the entire time, because you know everything you’ve ever done in your life was disgusting and depraved. You know you deserve it. You know you’re slime.”

“I hate you, I hate you,” Spider repeated, crying. “I’m going to kill you--”

“You are not going to kill me. You’re not going to hurt anyone ever again. In prison, when they’re beating on you, having their way with you--you’re not going to fight back. You’re just going to let them.”

“I hate you,” he said one more time, little more than a whisper.

Lola stood up. She saw his jacket still on the floor where he had dropped it earlier. She scooped it up and pulled it on. It fit just right. A trophy. She took his box cutter and sliced though the layers of tape holding him down. “I don’t care if you hate me,” Lola said. “You can’t do anything about it any more.”

*****

Lola moved slowly as she got out of the Lotus and climbed the stairs to her lair, feeling heavy, her head aching. She had narrowly avoided a terrible fate--that was bad enough. But now she had just taken Dark Lothario’s right hand man away from him.

Lola stripped out of her costume, fingers clumsy as she worked the laces and hooks holding her into the leather cat suit. She was glad she had a lair with a bathroom. Looking in the mirror she saw the ugly bruise forming across her cheek. Dried blood crusted around what was actually a very small cut, and the cut in the inside of her mouth when her face hit the floor was swollen and painful.
She looked pretty bad.

Lola got into the shower, the hot water soothing her even as it stung her face. She felt the lump on the back of her head and was grateful her hair covered it, because it was large and very tender. She was going to have a hard enough time explaining away her face.

Lola stood under the water for a long time before getting out and dressing in her street clothes. She stared at Spider’s jacket tossed aside on the couch. She had a strong urge to put it on and wear it home, but she resisted. Glory might recognize the jacket. Glory. She didn’t want to go home to her, but knew it would be even worse if she didn’t.

When she got home the apartment was dark, and she was relieved. She climbed into bed, exhausted, and slept.

*****

The next morning Glory was eating breakfast when Lola stumbled into the room. Her spoon dropped with a splash into her cereal and she somehow managed not to scream. “What happened to your face?”

“Ice on the stairs,” Lola mumbled through a swollen mouth. “I slipped. I’m fine.”

“You are not fine,” Glory said, getting up and rushing over to Lola. “Did you go to the hospital?”

“No, it’s not a big deal.”

“Your face looks like it’s been hit by a wrecking ball!”

“Does it?” Glory stared, aghast, as Lola picked up their tea kettle and looked at her metallic reflection. “Hm. It didn’t look so bad last night.”

Glory went to the freezer and got out some ice, dumping it into a dish towel and handing it over to her friend. “Here.” Lola winced as she applied the ice to her broken face. “You fell down the stairs you said?”

“Yeah. On campus.”

“But they’re really good about salting everything,” Glory said, her voice getting smaller. Was Lola still seeing that boy from last semester?

“It was a lesser used staircase,” Lola insisted. “I’m fine Glory, I promise.” She sighed. “I think I’m going to skip class today.”

“Good idea,” Glory said, still suspicious. But Lola wasn’t the type of girl that would end up in the kind of relationships that ended in the mess across her face. Of course it had just been an accident. Bad luck--that was all.

*****

A/N: Ugh. I hate writing action, and I'm glad this chapter is over. I'll try to post another part on friday/sat if I can. Thanks everyone for the patience and support.