Taylor POV
Taylor felt a little nervous to be back at Winslow. Although everyone was saying she could do it, she couldn't help but doubt them, only to feel bad for doing so.
She heard a chuckle from beside her, causing her to blush. Turning, she saw the source of the sound.
A beautiful woman who had unblemished skin and a willowy, queenly figure. She wore an extremely revealing toga and a very… swollen chest.
"My my… eyeing me up, dear?" The woman asked in a teasing tone as she pressed her breasts together in a completely natural and seductive manner. Taylor immediately decided to retreat and look away. She most definitely did not hear anyone laugh at her reaction.
"Aphrodite, I am sure Taylor would prefer you not to seduce her so early in the morning." A man who stood on her other side chastised her. The man was shirtless, wearing a plain linen skirt. Instead of a human head, he had the head of a golden falcon.
Aphrodite immediately pouted.
"Oh Horus, must you be such a bore? I am sure Taylor prefers the distraction anyway," she said with a flick of her hair. She continued, "I still do not understand why we cannot simply destroy this accursed land anyway. Make the world remember the wrath of the gods".
Horus didn't reply. Taylor could tell he agreed with Aphrodite. To think that the only reason why Winslow still stood was because of her.
"I don't want to be labelled as a villain. Not only that, if I retaliate, then they win." She said this, clenching her fist slightly at the thought. She could feel the gazes of the two on her, inhuman and incapable of comprehending what she meant. She didn't mind; she has gotten used to how her friends can be. Better them than Satan anyway.
Classes were… quiet. It's not really a great sign, but it could mean that the trio has finally decided to back off.
With Horus's help, staying away was rather easy, and Aphrodite was good company.
It was only when it was lunch that the trio finally made their appearance. She could have gotten away, but Aphrodite wouldn't accept her eating in a toilet ("A toilet!? By the Gods, dear it's unsanitary. Especially considering all the djinns that hang around there").
"Well, well, well, look who it is! Taylor, I heard you stuffed so much trash into your locker before loving yourself inside. I know you are attention-starved with how your dad is, but isn't that a bit much?" Emma, the bitch, said it in a mocking tone. A few of her mindless followers laughed at her words.
Aphrodite frowned, the smell of the sea seemingly thickening. Horus seemed to grow; his height increased ever so slowly.
Taylor gulped. If these two get too agitated, their glamour might weaken or even fade completely. She could almost imagine the headlines: "Girl attacked her classmates with powerful projections". Well, it'll probably sound far more impressive than that; she wasn't that creative after all.
"Emma, I am not in the mood to deal with you today." She replied to Emma, putting as much force into her words as she could. Sofia raised an eyebrow as Emma seemed to freeze.
Madison didn't react to her sudden attempt at fighting back, instead choosing to fire back. "Did we strike a nerve, Hebert? Maybe you should just go back into that locker, where you belong."
Emma, who was able to get her grip, continued, What's wrong, Taylor? Was it so scary that you cried for a week?". She grinned as Taylor froze.
She dared? It was one thing to attack her and stuff her in her locker. But to use her grief against her? Something she trusted her with? SHE DARED!?
Rage seemed to fill her, the world seemed to grow hazy and silent. She could kill her, and the others would happily help. Smite her, tear her, rip her, torture her...
She could be free of them.
But what would mom think?
She breathed heavily. No, she was better than that. She looked Emma dead in the eye.
"I don't know what happened to you, Emma. I don't know why you have to always attack me just to make yourself feel better. But there are lines people shouldn't cross. Why shouldn't I cry for a week when I was grieving for the death of my mother? Someone who treated you like a daughter A person shouldn't spit in the memory of someone who practically raised you with love and kindness for no other reason but spite. Get help, Emma."
Taylor didn't bother seeing their reaction, instead choosing to walk away. She was done with them.
Emma POV
"You think she triggered?" She couldn't help but gape. That's absurd. Taylor can't Trigger. Not after the flute.
Sofia shrugged and said, "Well, you don't suddenly get more confidence for no reason at all. It is possible that it's something else instead."
Emma sighed. Sofia can be rather careless like that. But she wasn't wrong; after so long, there is no reason for Taylor to suddenly decide to fight back.
"What should we do then?" She asked. If Taylor really was a Parahuman, then things could get bad fast. Sofia didn't seem worried, though.
"Nothing much, really. If she uses her power at school, not only will it out her, it will also give us ammunition to use against her," Sofia replied with a cruel smirk, one that Emma mirrored after hearing what she said.
That was true; Parahumans had strict laws. If she used her powers, they could ruin her.
"That's true, but you'd best be careful. She could attack anywhere else as well."
Emma nodded at that as well; she should... Wait, who said that?
Sofia immediately jumped up, turning to the voice. Emma did the same.
A man. A tall, sexy, magnetic, charismatic, devilishly handsome, incredibly charming, dark-haired man with a model-like face and a muscular body Sitting in her open window with the full moon shining behind him.
She gulped, suddenly feeling a little hot.
"Who are you!? We will call the cops!" Sofia shouted at the man, holding her pen out threateningly.
The man laughed. It was a charming laugh. But there was no humour in his voice. No, all she felt was rage.
"Who am I? Well, allow me to introduce myself," the man said, standing, and with a quick bow he continued, "Lucifer Morningstar, not so much of a pleasure."
The two girls blinked.
Sofia groaned, "Seriously? So you are just some nut job, huh?"
"Lucifer" smiled, but his eyes hardened. A sudden, boisterous laugh distracted them.
"I told you they wouldn't believe you dumbasses," another man said, suddenly appearing beside "Lucifer". Sofia tensed at his sudden appearance. Teleportation? So they are capes?
The second man was somewhat tall and slender, with an average build. What made him unique were his long, pointed ears, sharp teeth, long tongue, and claw-like nails. along with the balls of blue fire surrounding him.
"Satan", "Lucifer" said in a tone that showed his slight disdain.
Sofia was looking around, her body tense and ready to pounce. This has suddenly become a problematic situation. Two possible psycho capes who call themselves "Lucifer" and "Satan" appeared in her room.
"I wouldn't try running." "Satan" almost seemed to growl.
"Run!" Sofia dashed forward, her form partially in its shadow state. Emma didn't hesitate, sprinting out of the room.
Only to immediately stop dead in her tracks. This wasn't her house.
She was in a castle hallway. She turned, only to see that there was no door.
The shadows seemed to stretch, covering the hall as she ran. She didn't know where she was or what was happening. She didn't know what she had done to deserve this.
"How foolish," a sharp voice said. Emma turned, seeing a monster standing behind her.
It had a hairy body, a lioness' head with donkey's teeth and ears, long fingers and fingernails, and the feet of a bird with sharp talons.
Emma screamed. It grinned.
"Lucifer and Satan were right; this is far more fun. What was the saying? It's best to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. Taylor will understand."
Emma didn't even get to respond before it pounced.
Taylor POV
She groaned.
"Hush hush now, girl. Sleep well," Morpheus said with a smile as he brushed her hair.
Taylor hummed slightly before falling back to sleep.