Dan wasn't around. For Cara this was the little time she had to indulge in her guilty pleasure. A blonde woman leaning on the sink peering into her red eyes.
What she saw in the mirror was a far cry from the Cara most people knew. The one that was a result of the constant grooming and care she applied to her appearance before going out to the outside world. Cara was smart, always calm, beautiful and just a great person.
Who cares what a person thinks of themselves when everyone else thought they were great.
It was tiring to do it consistently.
She noticed her cheeks were a bit more sunken than usual. And her rib cages were more visible. Dave said the other day she was getting leaner. She put it off as stress from her work. The image of her own self staring back at her didn't feel real. It's as it Cara was staring at a stranger.
She didn't know if this stranger was her true identity or if it was just an image of her lesser self.
She sighed in a mundane detachment.
Detachment from the moral pressure her mind was putting on her. It's the sigh you give when you've turned your head from the angel on your right to listen to the short man in red placed on your left shoulder.
Her hands moved towards the white cupboard. The sterile smell of the bathroom always kicked harder when she wanted a sniff.
She trailed off from the expensive cosmetics to a black bag.
Hidden so Dave doesn't find it. But he was never the nosy type.
She laid out some of it on the flat glass.
' oh no '. Maybe it was too much. It formed a small pyramid of powder. Just the sight of it already got her nerves excited. The home made straw was already in the bag.
For Cara, this wasn't an addiction. It was just a guilty habit.
She cleaned the straw on the base of her nose sniffing the powder away easily.
She spasmed as she took in the breath. Then she snorts it all in and wipes it from her face.
Shed done this many times. No matter how much she still acted as if she was new to this. It was all a way to lie to herself.
As she leaned in the smell made her head pound.
The first sniff was always the only one she needed.
She lines it up and sniffs it. All of it. She couldn't pull herself back. In one long sharp snort she raised her head, her nose is dusty with the crushed Xanax.
Cara's body jerks back in a shiver, her eyes dilated and rolled back almost all the way. The downward collapse began.
' I'm in....danger '
" Oh fuck ".
Her body starts to get numb and the corners of her eyes darken. It's like being swept by a violent numbing cold.
She feels like she could fall down.
" Ohh shit ". She moans weakly as water flows from eyes involuntarily.
She pulls herself up and attempts to throw the bag back in the cupboard.
But her hand had lost almost all feeling. She missed and the powder just sprayed everywhere
" No ".
She feels her sweat trail down her body. She crawls off the bathroom and tries to reach for the bed.
She was going to lose consciousness. Or maybe she was going to die.
She lays on the bed and moans weakly. She's covered in it.
The thoughts that were spiraling in her head was the image of Dave's face when he would find her like this.
' Strong fucking dose '. How stupid could she have been.
All bodily functions disappeared. She can't feel anything. And her breathing started to fade. She was constantly exhaling without breathing in. The water from her eyes intensifies. She was crying for real. She knew full well she was dying.
She loses it.
The last thing she heard was her cell phone ring.
Theodore hadn't had much time to explore the forests of Duke Town. It stretched out down to a swamp. And then went back up again. There was a massive valley not large in length but wide in the distance between the muddy hills.
He lept down the hill using his hands to slow his fall. The length was long and you could see a large man trailing down the walls of the valley. His hands caused the lines of smoke.
When he got close enough he leapt down to the mushy terrain. He was wearing that same coat over his hero suit.
It was a bit freaky, the swamp.
At every corner he heard a sound or a growl.
Most of the trainees used this time to get to know each other and prepare for what was to come.
He was using his to explore. A hobby he would never let go off, he was always a mediocre scouter though. But he'll find his way, eventually.
Cara didn't pick his call. Everyone had one call and one letter. His choices were minimal but he ended up choosing his cool lawyer. Well his former lawyer.
But she didn't pick up.
' A big shot lawyer like her must be busy ', he thought.
He still wondered why she didn't delete his number.
A smile was plastered on Theo's face.
Maybe he left a good impression. He was being sarcastic with himself. She clearly caught him checking her out.
A massive tiger beast leaped out from its hiding place and ran away. It ran when Theo walked closer.
' even animals don't like Fiends '. In a pained sigh Theo continued his walk. There were massive swamp roots that went in and out of the muddy wet floor. Some could reach twenty feet at their highest curve.
Duke towns forests were really a spectacle. The more he walked deeper through the swamp valley, the more he saw those large weird trees.
Their bark wasn't thick but they were really tall. And they were dead. Ashen trees with no leaves. He couldn't guess their height, that's how tall he was. But my were they a spectacle. Their wide spreading roots offered shade to the floor and decorated the ground in beautiful shadows.
He'd been walking for 40 minutes. He knew he was being followed. But Theo was just way too happy to spoil the mood.
All the beasts of the swamp ran away whenever he got close.
But one.
An old massive crocodile. It was laying motionless on the banks of a small river. But it's head and arms sank slowly into the quick sand. He knew it was old, crocodiles were wrinkly but not like this. It's skin was dried.
It couldn't run from him if it wanted.
Slowly his stepped up to it. It's neck twisted but not fully for it was still caught in the muddy sand. It knew he was there.
Theo's eyes squinted in a fatigue
He walked closer and the closer he got the more the massive beast rattled.
He knelt down to it and packed his brown hair behind his shoulders revealing a kind smile that gave the beast it's ease.
He rolled back the sleeves or his coat and rubbed the space under the crocodiles eyes. It must have spent most of its energy trying to escape it's unfortunate situation.
It grunted at Theo's touch.
He turned his head to the large vultures ready to pick at the massive carcass that was still refusing to die.
Without a wore Theo brought back his attention to the beast.
He slid his right hand down to the mud to grab it's massive torso. The crocodile tried to use whatever strength he had left to resist but eventually it gave in.
Theodore lifted the beast up from the mud easily. It was the largest animal he'd seen since he got to the swamp.
He let go immediately and it scurried back to the water in a fright.
Theodore couldn't help but chuckle.
It must have been embarrassed. Apex predators aren't used to getting manhandled.
Naturally when he stood up, his long hair fell back forward.
He smacked his lips realising he was still being watched.
He infused his hand with that black arcane and swung at the floor. All the mud that surrounded the floor was blown away into the tree. Leaving a deep hole that the river quickly filled.
The sound caused the vultures to fly off.
He kept on his walk. Waving at the crocodile as he went around the river. He went ahead for another 10 minutes before suddenly stopping.
Theodore looked up to the high roots of the massive ashen tree.
' How long are you going to keep at this mystery man '.
Theo let out an annoyed breathe and turned to his back.
He was in a wide area now.
He stood there waiting for the mysterious shadow to do something. But his eyes were wide open staring forward.
A few minutes passed and then
' finally '
Maud appeared behind him, a ferocious expression on her face. She was in a half beast mode.
She twisted mid air and released a powerful spinning kick aimed at his throat. Her claws were out and she was aiming to slice him open.
Theo managed to use his arm to block the attack but the force sent him back many metres.
But he was still on his feet. He recognised her immediately. The girl Daisy hung out with.
Daisy's right leg couldn't hide the shake. Her claws vibrated on impact when it collided with his arm.
Theo looked to his coat. It was cut and her claws even dug down to his suit.
She saw the injury. Thing is she didn't even manage to pierce his skin. There was only a small ball of smoke where she kicked him.
" Aww look what you did ". Theo said holding his cut coat. He really liked that coat.
Maud's expression only grew angrier. She rushed forward zipped down low only to release a right hook.
But he blocked it, again.
She was well versed in martial arts. He pushed her back and she used that momentum to twist and back his shin.
' ow '
Maud certainly had speed on her side. But she didn't stop there. She used both her hands on the floor and raised herself up twsitting mid air–again
' oh my g_
" Raaaar "
A beasts roar as her soles connected with his neck. The attack sent Theo's body blitzing far and colliding into one of the ashen trees causing a large ball of smoke.
Maud landed back into her fighting stance. ' It must have felt that one '.
She was panting in excitement. Not out of joy but of rage.
" Owwww ".
Theodore pushed of the smoke. His neck was cracked and bent sideways. But It spasmed back to normality in a grotesque and violent twist.
He twisted feeling the after effects.
' it really does regenerate fast '.
Theodore dusted himself off and was panting in distress.
Holding his finger up for a sort of time out.
' holy shit '.
When he caught his breath he stood back up and twisted his back. His regeneration was amazing.
Maud made sure not to look at its face. She could not allow it's beauty to coerce her into showing mercy.
So she was forced to maintain her fighting stance while awkwardly looking down to the floor.
If only she'd mastered her emotions like her father did and then she could fight any human Fiend face to face.
" What was that for?" Theodore asked while holding his neck, still feeling the after effects of her kick.
He looked forward at her.
" And why are you looking down ".
" Shut up ", Maud replied in rage.
" Did you really think you could earn your hero license as a fiend and go scot free ".
It was so weird seeing her so angry that she couldn't even look at him. He blinkee while processing her words.
" I guess ", he smiled calmly " is that why you're mad?"
There was a silence
" Because I'm a human Fiend ", his eyes turned serious staring at her. " And a human Fiend killed your father ".
Maud twitched in rage at his words and her face finally looked at him. Her eyes were red and watery.
He was prepared for whatever she wanted to do.
" SHUT UP!!!"
" You don't know anything!!", her voice cracked at the end. Maud was trying to catch her breath. And fine her voice.
" I've seen how you tricked everyone. You're nothing but a manipulative monster. You even tricked Daisy into liking you ".
Theo's eyes boomed open in a small blush.
" She likes me?"
' there he goes again. Acting like he's not_
Maud was very frustrated.
No matter how hard Maud tried to see it, all she saw was a person. Or maybe she was doomed to fall the second she stared at his face.
She didn't know what to think anymore.
" I'm not what you think I am ". He walked closer.
Mauds Archaic energy flared but Theodore kept his composure and kept walking forward.
" I know you can't take my word for it and you shouldn't ".
" Don't come any closer ", she said brandishing her claws.
" But I'm not a monster ". He was just a few feet from her now. He was taking a big risk getting this close. He wouldn't be able to block her attack but Theodore didn't really care.
He lowered himself and looked her dead in the eye.
As if daring her to hit him.
Maud couldn't take her eyes of his. That bright blue glow, and behind it she didn't know if there was compassion or a lack of empathy.
At the end her sadness overcame her anger and she lowered her stance.
" Got that out of your system?" He asked softly.
Maud nodded as her body transformed from her half beats form to her regular form.
" Don't ", she hit his chest. While looking away.
" Don't ever talk to me again ".
" Ok ".
Her red glare shifted back to her normal cool demeanour and she put her hands back in her hoodie and walked off. She felt his muscles, how was he so built.
" Emmm Hello ".
She groaned in anger. Staring at his face made her feel weird so what did he want now.
" I said don't_ ", she saw his face again and was almost dumbfounded for words. But she eventually found them albeit they only came out as an embarrassed whisper.
" talk to me again ".
" Yes but I need help going back ".
She blinked in confusion.
" Then why did you come out here in the first place if you knew you'd get lost?"
He blinked back. ' that was a good question '
" I planned on winging my way back. But now that you're here you can help me ".
" I'm not going to ".
" Pweety please ", Theo said mimicking puppy dog eyes.
Maud blushed profusely but soon it turned to anger.
She turned ned beast then shot a blast of arcane from her mouth.
It caused a small explosion and left Theo in ashes.
" Owwww ", he groaned weakly.
She was still blushing in embarrassment when she said,
" Don't you ever do that face near me or I'll kill you ".
" Ye_yes ma'am ".
The two walked back to the Mountain together. Tomorrow the trainees tournament would begin.
Maud warned Theo not to talk the entire walk but he couldn't help himself.
His mouth was itching. He had to learn more–past this mysterious demeanour Maud always put off.
The silence was strong and the sun was setting. Even Maud felt a bit of the awkwardne_
" What's your name?"
...
.... She almost had a heart attack hearing him speak.
.....
" Maud ".
' what a nice name '.
" I'm Theodore ".
Maud nodded in fatigue.
They kept on walking for a while. Through the swamp but soon the silence built up and Theo needed to say something.
" Emm how old are you ".
Maud's eyebrows went up.
" Creep ".
" No no. I'm ju_
" 18 ", she said coldly.
' 18. She's really strong for her age '.
" I'm 23 ", he said optimistically.
She gave him a demeaning stare.
" Old man ".
Theo chuckled holding the back of his head in a slight embarrassment. " I guess, he he he ".
He kept blasting her with questions all through the walk. Usually she'd tell nosy people to shut it or just ignore them. Yet she found herself answering all his questions.
By the end she still wasn''t sure whether she trusted him. But she knew one thing.
' he's nice to talk to '.
Theo was not one for conversation. But he felt they both needed a mild chit chat. And she was cool.
In their mundane walk Theo had not realised the unfortunate circumstances that had befallen his lawyer.
He did not indeed.