He could feel his strength begin to dim somewhat. Sonny Davis, calling himself ‘Mr. Sun’ these days, felt something shift within himself. It was as though the sun’s light was weaker somehow. The Sun and his power were linked and something seemed to be trying to block him out. Though it was midday, the sky grew dim and there, in the blue sky, he saw it. It could sometimes be seen during the day but here and now it was as clear as though it was night. The pale moon broke through the blueness of the daytime sky and rested just below the sun in the western horizon. It was as though it were... intercepting the sun’s light on it’s way to sundown.

Mr. Sun only had vague knowledge of the group known as the Weston Agency but he had enough information to know who among them had caused it.

“So... The Maiden thinks The Moon can do her bidding. We’ll see about that...”

Still at the top of The Arrow, the tallest tower in Weston, the former hitman for the Trenton gang turned to his former boss Kara Trenton... who was still tightly taped up and tied to a chair in the middle of the room.

Still in her brown pinstripe skirt suit and black heels, the former hit-woman and mob boss struggled against tight duct tape winding around her arms and legs, handcuffs holding her wrists, and grunting into tight duct tape wrapped around her mouth, holding in a thick cloth.

“Mmmrrpphh...” she grumbled as Mr. Sun turned around and knelt down to meet her eyes.

Mr. Sun’s muscle, a small Asian woman with bright blonde hair named Hina, stood behind Kara and smirked.

“Hina... could you remove Ms. Kara’s gag please?”

“Boss?” Hina asked, furrowing her brow.

“I wish to speak with her, if you don’t mind...”

Hina did as she was asked, unwinding the thick wrapping of duct tape and pulling the cloth from Kara’s mouth. She cleared her throat and stretched her jaw, glaring into the eyes of her former employee. She snapped her fingers behind her back.

“Solis et non consurgant...” she said.

“You’ve already made that clear, Lady Trenton. But let us put that aside for the time being, unless you wish to be gagged again.”

“I will not let this stand, Davis...”

Mr. Sun nodded. “And I know that very well. But I have a proposition for you.”

“What?”

“I know you wish for your chance at The Maiden. And I am willing to grant you that chance, Ms. Trenton. In exchange for staying out of each other’s way.”

“What are you planning?” Kara asked.

“I will be going after... others. While The Maiden’s accomplice will be coming after me.”

“And you don’t expect me to come after you when I’m done with her?” Kara asked.

“Oh, I fully expect that, Ms. Trenton. With my current power, you won’t get very far. But you stand a better chance of getting to me if you’re free rather than... well... as you are now. Don’t you agree?”

Kara growled under her breath, her icy cold stare boring straight into Mr. Sun’s eyes. She let out a long breath and did her best to lean forward.

“What exactly did you have in mind?”

...

With the clouds beginning to clear, Luna shut her eyes and the moon above seemed to glow brighter. The light provided a sort of comfort; a reprieve from the oppressive darkness of the Weston night. The five of them were still within the alleyway and Mac, the raven haired detective dressed in black Sarah MacGinnis, seemed to be the only one in disbelief.

“Hey, uh... anyone care to explain what the hell is happening here!?”

Meryn stood tall and paced to where Mac stood. The heroine in yellow did what she could to ease the detective’s mind.

“It’s a bit hard to explain,” Meryn said. “Though there is, well, magic involved.”

“So magic is real!? How... what....”

“It’s faint in this world, from what I’m told. But it’s there.”

Mac just shook her head and stepped back, trying to process everything she had seen. “And you can just magic up friends from... somewhere?”

“No,” Meryn said. “But we can get messages between worlds. That’s what my unfortunate sidekick did.”

“Between... what!?”

“Listen, Mac, this is a lot to take in. But we don’t exactly have time. Luna and I need to get after Sonny while it’s dark and he’s weak.”

“That we do,” Luna said, stepping into the moonlight. Her dark, ebony skin almost shined as her pale blue eyes jumped to life. Her stoic expression, her long, light blue hair tied back in a braid, with clothing that matched save for the darker blue thigh high boots she wore over her leggings, Luna looked almost like some descended Goddess to Mac.

“Okay... so... what are we going to do?” Mac asked.

“If you don’t mind, help Celia get Jonas somewhere safe. Maybe even the hospital.”

A loud crunch and a growl of pain answered her and the three of them whirled around as Celia shrieked.

“What the hell, Jonas!? What did you do that for!?” Celia said.

He grimaced and had his eyes shut. ‘Sorry... just, um... put my shoulder back. It was only separated... ugh...”

“Are you out of your mind?” Meryn asked.

“Maybe a bit. I just... hate hospitals. So no need to go to one. I’m fine now. Although....”

He felt light headed and slumped back against the wall. “That pain did a number on me...”

Meryn sighed irritably. “Get him home then. And don’t let him do anything stupid again.”

Celia put his arm around her shoulders and helped him slowly stand up. Mac stepped up on the other side and helped prop him up. They helped him hobble forward and head out of the alley. As they walked away, Mac turned her head and called back to Meryn.

“Don’t go getting yourself caught again, Maiden!”

“You just worry about him,” Meryn called back.

With the three of them making their way out of sight and back go Jonas’ apartment, Meryn and Luna turned back to The Arrow.

“He’s up there?” Luna asked.

“Yes.”

“Any quick way up?”

Meryn said nothing and grabbed Luna around the waist, pulling her close. “Uh... Meryn?”

“Hold on to me,” Meryn said, keeping her arm steady and raising her grapple gun. She fired it once and it connected to the rooftop of a nearby building and drew the both up quickly into the night air.

...

He paced alone atop The Arrow, looking down at the streets below. It seemed Mr. Sun had not counted on The Maiden’s allies to be there. He didn’t think she had allies, from what he had heard of her. And now all he could do was wait.

She would surely be after him now. And he had felt that power that drained him. From the one at the old Weston Agency he knew about. The Maiden was one threat but this other woman was in another league of threats to him.

Though the blood of Silver, the super soldier, pumped through his veins there was something odd about his power. Like it was coming from... something. He couldn’t place what but it was something faint, central to the city of Weston, that gave him all his strength. And this woman ‘Agent Moonlight’ they’d called her she was... blocking him out. The power of the sun, cancelled by the light of the moon.

Sonny stopped himself when he felt his head rush and had trouble holding his balance. He held himself steady and spotted Hina out of the corner of his eye, rushing to help him.

“Stay hidden!” he said.

“Boss...”

“Hina, please. Stay there. Help when the time is right.”

Hina simply nodded and ducked back into the shadows again, well out of sight. Mr. Sun reached up to this forehead and tried to combat the sudden dizziness. His vision grew foggy and he saw two figures, on in yellow and the other in blue, swing in through the still open window and shut it behind them.

The blurred figure in blue stared at him and raised one hand. A pale blue sort of energy radiated from her.

“The... the moon...” Mr. Sun stammered.

Luna kept her composure but the sheer effort of suppressing Mr. Sun’s power was exhausting. She felt her eyes begin to grow heavy. She grimaced and cursed Weston’s weak magic. Such an effort would not be needed back home in Ikaatan and certainly not in Esterlin.

While she worked, Meryn stepped in and struck, shutting her fist and slamming it into his chin. Mr. Sun fell to the floor on his back and felt himself pinned by The Maiden, seeing her face in his blurred vision. She threw another punch, connecting with his forehead, but he remained conscious.

“Meryn...” Luna said. “His power is... draining. As is my strength. I don’t think I... I can...”

“You can do it, Luna. He’s not weak enough yet.”

Growling under her breath and shutting her eyes tight, Luna let the Moon’s voice consume her mind and clenched her fists. A bright, silver light burst out from her body and bathed the room in its glow. Mr. Sun slumped down onto the floor, still conscious, but her closed his eyes and Meryn could feel his muscles relax.

At the same time, Luna collapsed from exhaustion and Meryn rushed to catch her, setting her down gently on the floor.

“You did it, Luna. Thank you.” Meryn checked her breathing and made sure Luna was sleeping comfortably. When she was satisfied, she stood up to deal with Sonny but stopped dead in her tracks. She felt someone watching her and all of her muscles tensed.

Something heavy fell on top of her from the ceiling above and took her to the floor. She shook it off and stood up, suddenly feeling faint. “What... the....” She felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder and found an empty syringe still in it. “No...”

“Yes...” A familiar voice said. A tall woman with brown hair, wearing a brown, pinstripe skirt suit and black heels approached her with a silver coin, tossing it on the floor at Meryn’s feet.

“Trenton?” Meryn said, stumbling backward.

“This is going to be sweet,” Kara said. “Let’s make it nice and slow. And, before I forget... Oculi lucent plus auri...”

“W... what?” Meryn said, finally losing her balance and falling on her back next to Sonny.

“Eyes of gold shine no more,” Kara said. “I’ve been waiting for this day. Let’s head somewhere private, you and me. We’ve got so much catching up to do...”

Kara scooped up Meryn in her arms and headed for the elevator. With no one left conscious to stop her, she was unopposed as Meryn passed out on the way to the bottom.

The top of The Arrow, meanwhile, went deathly silent. Sonny Davis was still weak and lying on the floor, trying to stop the spinning in his head. Luna was unconscious from the exhausting effort of having drained his power. But before either of them could get up, someone stepped out of hiding with a gun in her hands.

Hina approached Luna, gun raised, stopping above her and levelling it with her head. Just as she moved to squeeze the trigger, she heard someone draw the hammer back on a revolver somewhere behind her.

“Hands up,” a woman’s voice said. “And drop the weapon.”

Hina flinched and chanced a look to the side. She caught sight of the woman’s black hat, her black coat, and her dark hair. How had she gotten back so fast?

“Drop it! Now!” Mac said.

Hina did as Mac said, releasing her hold on the gun and tossing it to the side, placing her hands on the air.

“Put them on the back of your head and get on the ground,” Mac said.

Dropping to her knees, Hina placed her hands on the back of her head. Mac held her gun steady and had Hina in handcuffs in seconds, standing her back up again. While she did, she heard another click from somewhere in the room and levelled her gun with the sound.

Mr. Sun had managed to sit up and now he had his gun trained on Mac, smiling when she trained her gun on him.

“You do like to follow her...” he said.

“Drop the weapon,” Mac said.

“I’ve got a better idea,” Sonny said, climbing slowly to his feet.

“Don’t move!”

“Or what? You’ll shoot Hina? Aren’t you one of the good ones?”

Mac pulled Hina in closer but her gun on Sonny. “I said don’t move!”

Sonny went still as he stood up again. The golden glow about his body had faded and he looked to the floor and the unconscious Luna. Another smile played at his lips when he lowered his gun and aimed it at her head.

“Don’t you do it! I will drop you!” Mac said.

“You reckon you could do it before I kill her? We could put that to the test...”

Mac fired once, her booming revolver echoing around the room. She missed on purpose, firing over Sonny’s shoulder, and drawing back the hammer again. “Next one won’t miss.”

“Good thing I’m not jumpy, detective. A rash action like that could have made me do something regrettable...”

“You keep talking like that and I’ll show you regrettable, Mr. Davis...”

Sonny chuckled. “I think your vigilante friend is rubbing off on you, detective. But I think you and I are at an impasse.”

“Is that right?”

“It is. You’ve got my muscle. And I’m going to kill someone you don’t want to see die. Am I wrong?”

Mac said nothing. Sonny smiled wide again.

“Of course not. So I propose a trade. You let Hina go and we walk out of here. You do that, and the moon girl here lives.”

“Say I shoot you before that happens...” Mac said. “What then, smart guy?”

“You won’t. You don’t want to take the chance I get my shot off first, do you? You want this woman’s blood on your hands? How are you going to explain that your vigilante friend?”

Mac’s eyes narrowed. “Speaking of... where is she?”

Sonny chuckled again. “Wouldn’t you like to know? And I think you have a much more pressing problem at the moment, don’t you?”

Mac weighed her options, hesitating for a moment, before she shoved Hina forward and placed both hands on her pistol, keeping it on Sonny. “There. Take the girl and get out. Now.”

Sonny gently took hold of Hina’s arm, leading her slowly back toward the elevator. He kept his gun on Luna. “Smart move, detective. Though perhaps it was unwise to leave The Maiden’s sidekick unguarded.”

“Why? What’s he done to you?”

“Disrespect, detective. He made me look the fool and robbed me of my kill. I cannot let that stand.”

He and Hina backed into the elevator. “We’re going to pay him a visit. You can even warn him if you like. It will make no difference. Besides, I think moon girl needs medical attention. She’s starting to wake up...”

“Hey...” Luna said from the floor. “Nobody but Elyn can call me...” Luna couldn't finish her sentence as she collapsed to the floor again.

Mac rushed to her side as the elevator doors closed. “Damn it...”

Luna tried to sit up but Mac eased her back down. “Easy now... I’m going to get you out of here. But I need to make a phone call first.”

“Celia...” Luna said. “Jonas...”

“They’ll be fine. Just try not to exert yourself. You’re in a bad state.”

Mac pulled out her cell phone and hoped that one of them would answer. She knew The Maiden’s answer seemed to easy.

...

“How many times have we done this?” Celia asked, sitting at the foot of Jonas’ bed. He lifted his head up, a pang of pain in his shoulder, and met Celia’s eyes.

“I’m fine,” he said.

“You always say that. But how many times has that been true? And what happens the first time you’re not okay?”

“Would you rather I let Meryn fall to her death?”

“No but you don’t look after yourself! You sacrifice everything for everyone. Why?”

Jonas opened his mouth to speak but Celia interrupted him. “And don’t say it’s your job! I’m sick of hearing you say that!”

Keeping his tired, grey eyes locked on Celia’s gentle blue ones, he scratched at his scruffy, brown beard and looked her over for a moment. Though she was small, she always felt like a big sister to Jonas; looking out for him, trying to protect him and keep him safe. Sometimes people even thought she was his sister with long, brown hair that matched the colour of Jonas much shorter hair. They even dressed in similar, earthy brown colours though Jonas favoured black more these days.

“Because I have to,” Jonas said.

“Why do you have to?”

“It’s...” he stopped himself. “So I can be worth something.”

“You are worth something. You always have been. Sacrificing your whole self doesn’t need to happen to make you worth something to somebody, Jonas. Don’t forget... you’re my best friend.”

Jonas shook his head with a wry smile on his face. “Honestly, you should have chosen better. But it’s good to hear you say that.”

“I’d punch you in the arm if I knew it wouldn’t hurt!” Celia said. “You keep trashing yourself like that and I’m going to have words.”

Jonas just sighed and leaned back. “Fine. Thanks.” He closed his eyes and laid his head back against the headboard of his bed.

“Next time I see you, I don’t want to be sitting on a bed while you’re hurt, you understand me?”

“Can’t promise that,” Jonas said.

“Jonas...”

“Fine fine. I’ll do what I can.”

Celia chuckled a bit and stood from the bed. “How’s the pain?”

“What pain?” Jonas said, opening his eyes and sitting up again. He ignored the screams of his shoulder as he moved, knowing he likely had re-aggravated his old fracture. “See?”

“Stop pretending, you jackass. I know you’re in pain. I can see it in your eyes.”

Jonas wanted to shrug but decided against the idea, instead leaning back again. “It was worth it.”

“This time, I agree. But you can’t keep doing this. I told you a long time ago that I would see to it you died a happy, grouchy old man. And I don’t see the happy or the old part yet.”

Jonas thought to say something but he kept his mouth shut this time. Best not to upset her he thought to himself.

His shoulder groaned and screamed again as he shuffled himself to the edge of the bed. He was still dressed as ‘The Seeker’, Meryn’s sidekick on the streets of Weston. Though his black eye mask has been removed he still wore his thick, brown clothes underneath heavy, hardened plastic armour coloured black. His black cape was draped behind him over the bed.

“I’m going to make you a tea to help you sleep,” Celia said. “You stay right there and wait for it. Okay?”

Jonas nodded. “All right. Thanks, Celia.”

“No need for thanks,” she said with a smirk. “It’s my job.”

Jonas chuckled to himself as she left the room and the smile wiped right off his face as soon as she was out of sight. He grimaced and clutched at his shoulder, saying every swear word he knew under his breath. It took almost everything he had to hide how much the pain bothered him from Celia. And, even then, she saw right through him. Still, though, he never did like to make a show of it. Not that he thought it would make him weak he just never wanted people to fuss over him. It felt... wrong. But that never stopped them anyway.

His thoughts were distracted when he heard something shatter from the kitchen. He stood up from the bed, ignoring the pain all over again.

“Celia? Are you okay?”

He left the bedroom and rushed into his small apartment kitchen and Celia... was gone. He ran to the bathroom and the door was wide open with nobody there. Hurrying back to the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw... his own face.

The man was exactly his height. He wore black rimmed glasses with square lenses over his tired, grey eyes. His three piece suit was all grey from the vest and jacket to the well-trimmed trousers. Underneath the vest he wore a black shirt and a white tie along with his black dress shoes. On his head, a matching grey bowler hat rested there atop his short brown hair. Even his scruffy beard was identical.

The man held a folded piece of paper in his hand and extended it to Jonas. “He left you a note, Jonas...”

Jonas was starting to think the pain in his shoulder was making him hallucinate. He blinked a couple times, shook his head, and tried to tell himself he wasn’t seeing what he was seeing. But there he was. This man... was him. He seemed to be much more emotionally cool than Jonas, however, remaining uncomfortably calm and confident.

“Wh-who...” Jonas stammered. “What...”

“No, you’re not imagining things,” the man said, a tinge of red glowing in his eyes. “I am what you see.”

“Well... what... where’s Celia? Who are you?”

The man smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth. “I think you know me, Jonas. But you can call me... Jade.”

“Jade?”

“Mr. Jade, actually. Yes, that will do. Now are you going to stop standing there being useless or are you going to read the note he left you?”

“Who?”

“A certain Mr. Davis. He and his hired muscle were just here. And they’re quick, to get Celia out of here so fast.”

“He has Celia?”

“He does. Retribution for your stupidity earlier.”

“I don’t regret that,” Jonas said.

“As well you shouldn’t. But, how does the saying go? You can’t fix stupid. And saving one life doesn’t fix how stupid you are, Jonas. Now open this note, you useless sad sack.”

Jonas glared at the man and took the note from him, opening it and reading it over. In it, Sonny Davis detailed the spot where he wanted Jonas to meet him and trade himself for Celia. If he didn’t, he promised he would kill Celia without hesitation.

“Shit...” Jonas said.

“You should never have sent her that message, Jonas,” Mr. Jade said. “You dragged her into this. This is your fault.”

“Stop it!” Jonas said. “I don’t need you to remind me...”

“And yet I will. Unless you do something to help her. But you already went and hurt your shoulder like the moron you are. Maybe you should just quit while you’re ahead and put yourself out of your misery... but you can’t. Not while Celia is in trouble. Maybe save that for afterward.”

“Shut up!” Jonas said, grabbing the man by the scruff of the neck and pinning him to the wall. All he did was smile.

“What’s the matter? Can’t handle the truth?”

“Enough! Get out of my way!” Jonas shoved him to the side and reached for his eye mask on the kitchen table. He put it back on over his eyes and stormed to the front door. Mr. Jade barred his way.

“Please, Jonas. What could you possibly do? You’re terrible at everything. You’ll just get her killed.”

“Stand. Aside,” Jonas said, gritting his teeth. “If you had something to do with this-”

“Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t. Are you going to waste time finding out and let Sonny Davis kill your best friend?”

Jonas shoved Mr. Jade aside and made his way out the door. As he slammed the door behind him, Mr. Jade stood still and smiled wide yet again. “Temper temper...” With a snap of his fingers, Mr. Jade disappeared in a blink, leaving the apartment silent and empty.

...

Whatever had been pumped into her system did a number on her. But Meryn supposed that whatever Kara had used was probably helped by the fact that this was the second time she had been knocked unconscious on this night. As her groggy eyes flitted open, Meryn didn’t even have to try to move to guess what had happened to her.

She was standing upright, that much she knew. There was a steel pole behind her and her back was tightly pressed to it. Above her, she could see the night sky and just make out the stars and the bright, full moon. And everything seemed rather... open in front of her. Meryn could also smell salt on the air and it sounded like there was water nearby as waves crashed in right near her.

Her wrists were trapped in handcuffs again and her gloves had been removed, as had her belt. Her eye mask remained on, however, as her captor didn’t seem interested in who she was.

With her cuffed hands trapped behind the pole, Meryn’s arms were also tightly duct taped to her sides. Her back was also taped to the pole.. She could feel similarly thick wrappings of tape around her ankles and thighs, also attaching her to the pole. Something soft, a cloth most likely, was stuffed inside her mouth and sealed in with a wrapping of duct tape over her mouth and around the back of her head. Her gag, too, had an additional layer of duct tape holding her head to the steel pole at her back.

She couldn’t look up but the pole seemed corroded and rusted by the way it felt against her arms. But it was solid and planted firmly in the ground so there was no hope of escape for her that way. And without her belt and her tools, she wasn’t going to be picking the handcuffs or cutting the duct tape.

Meryn wrapped one hand around the pole to discern just what it was and it felt... damp. Like it had been wet. She felt something slimy cling to her palm and rubbed her fingers together.

Is that... algae? she asked herself.

“You’re awake,” a woman’s voice said to her.

Kara Trenton approached her from behind, switchblade in hand, and crossed around in front of Meryn. Her footsteps splashed like she was walking in rain puddles. Meryn was still trying to figure out exactly where she was.

The pole she was taped to was close to another identical one and, judging by their distance, it looked like they once supported something. As Meryn’s vision cleared, she could see the old Weston shipping harbour in front of her where many abandoned, rusting shipping containers lay collapsing under their own weight by the old receiving area. But she found she couldn’t see the old pier...

“Figured it out yet?” Kara asked, stepping around in front of Meryn and flicking her knife open.

“Mmmmppphhh....” Meryn groaned.

She pressed the knife tight to Meryn’s throat, careful not to break the skin. Though Kara was tempted to cut her open, she had chosen this place deliberately. So she avoided cutting into Meryn.

Glaring into Kara’s eyes, Meryn didn’t flinch when the cold steel touched her bare skin. Kara leaned in close. “Bravery won’t save you, Maiden. Not tonight.”

She stepped back and let Meryn get a good look at her surroundings. The pole she was taped to was right beside the water’s edge. The waves were coming in about ten feet from where she and Kara were standing and they were sliding in on a concrete slab. Meryn looked to her left and right as best she could and noticed then that the slab of concrete was solidly in the sand on the bottom. She didn’t see that there were more steel poles behind her but, based on the one to her right, it wasn’t hard to figure out what they were.

Supports... she thought to herself. For the old pier... I’m below where it used to be.

Kara watched Meryn’s eyes as the realization sunk in. “You know then? I bet you’re wondering why everything is a little bit wet, too. Well, I think you know the answer to that one.”

Meryn noticed the full moon in the sky and didn’t know what time it was. But the tide had clearly dropped some time ago. And if the early morning was approaching then that meant high tide wasn’t far away...

“Bravo on weakening Davis. Makes him so much easier to kill when I get my hands on him. I’ll have to thank your moon magic friend, too.”

“Mmmmrrrgghhh!” Meryn growled, struggling against the tape.

“Ironic though. You wanted to moon to beat Davis... and now it’s going to kill you.” Kara leaned in close. “And I’m going to watch you drown. Just like you did to me.”

Meryn started struggling again but she found it was useless. There was nothing she could have done to get out of her restraints.

“They may have called me The Knife in the old days but this was too personal to just make it a few quick cuts. You killed us off slowly, Maiden. I’m going to do the same to you.”

Meryn heard the waves coming in much harder now and her eyes darted to the water’s edge. It had started moving closer. Kara held a gold coin out in her hand, dropping it down at Meryn’s feet. “The deed is done. All I need to do now is wait. I suppose I should thank you, too. Silver did put out a bounty on you. So you’re going to make me rich again. So I can take back my rightful place at the top of this city. Weston is mine, Maiden. Let that be among your last thoughts.”

Kara walked away from Meryn again as the tide started rising again, creeping ever closer, the water getting deeper, and Meryn struggling and grunting away, unable to escape. She didn’t know if she was going to survive this time...

...

Sonny Davis stood behind a steel chair where Celia was tightly tied up. She had been quickly restrained with zip ties around her wrists and ankles, with a pair of leather belts holding her waist to the chair and pinning her arms to her sides. A knotted red cloth had been pulled tight between her teeth to gag her.

The tying had been Hina’s work, as usual, and she was on standby awaiting Jonas’ arrival. As Sonny usually did, he had Hina hide herself away in the shadows, just in case Jonas showed up with any surprises.

She watched her captive and her boss with steely eyes, her gaze darting back and forth between the two of them and the entrance to the empty parking garage where they had taken her.

It was actually an above ground parking garage used by one detachment of the Weston Police. They would certainly look the other way if presented with this scene, since Sonny had planted his own man as the division’s superintendent. At night, hardly anyone used it and the back entrance where he stood over Celia was even less frequently used. So there was no chance anyone but Jonas would spot them.

Hina heard nothing and saw no one approach. But a chill ran down her spine when she heard the click of a gun’s hammer being drawn back behind her, feeling the touch of a barrel against the back of her head.

“Easy...” Hina whispered.

“Yes. It is,” a man said, squeezing the trigger once. A soft pop sounded from the gun as the suppressor kept it from echoing too loudly. Hina collapsed to the ground, her killer stepping over her body like she wasn’t even there. The man with tired grey eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses stepped full into Sonny’s view, now concealing his pistol. Mr. Jade lowered the brim of his hat as Sonny looked him up and down.

Sonny stepped forward and held his own gun to Celia’s head. He hadn’t yet seen Hina though he was confused that she hadn’t made an appearance yet.

“Didn’t come dressed in the clown suit?” Sonny asked. “I’m disappointed. But I’m still so happy you came.”

“Not for long you won’t be,” the man said. Sonny couldn’t help but chuckle.

“The Maiden really does rub off on people. You’re all so bold. But you won’t be so bold if I put a bullet into her skull, will you?”

Mr. Jade said nothing, holding tighter to the grip of his pistol.

“So you do what I tell you and she lives, you got that?”

“Perfectly,” Mr. Jade said.

Celia’s eyes were wide as the gun was pressed to her head and she studied who she thought was Jonas fearfully. Something wasn’t right about him. And why had he come dressed in that grey suit?

“You don’t sound... worried,” Sonny said.

Mr. Jade shrugged and smiled. “What have I got to be worried about?”

Sonny pressed the gun harder against Celia’s head, tilting her head to one side. “Need I remind you?”

Mr. Jade shrugged again. “Go ahead. Shoot her. See if I care.”

Sonny furrowed his brow. “What the hell are you playing at?”

“Oh, Mr. Davis. I don’t play games. But you’ll find that out soon enough.”

“Oh, really? Why don’t you show me then?”

“With pleasure.”

Mr. Jade raised his left hand and snapped his fingers, disappearing from view entirely.

“What!? Where... how did you do that!?” Sonny looked around frantically, hoping to catch even the slightest glimpse of the man.

“Hina! I need you!” he shouted.

Someone grabbed his hand and wrestled the gun from his grip, tossing it aside and shoving him away from Celia. Sonny stumbled a bit but he retained his balance, only to be staring down the barrel of a gun. Mr. Jade stood in front of him again, a wry smile on his face.

“How’s that for a game, Mr. Davis?” he asked.

“What... what the hell are you?” Sonny asked, watching Mr. Jade’s grey eyes flicker red for a moment. And though the light of the moon was bright, the man himself cast no shadow as though he were made from darkness itself...

“I am who you think I am. And yet I am not.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Mr. Jade pulled back the hammer on his pistol. “Perhaps one day you shall find out. Or... perhaps not.”

“Why would you do this?”

“Mr. Davis, I do not expect you to understand. All I will say is that you and your associate over there are monsters. And my purpose? Is to hunt said monsters. And who better to hunt monsters...” Mr. Jade took in a breath and let the shadows consume him, becoming a being devoid of light. His entire form was naught but darkness and his eyes glowed deep red as he met the eyes of the hitman Sonny Davis. “Than a monster itself.”

Sonny had no words for the... thing standing before him. In no time, it took back the shape of Mr. Jade and squeezed the trigger once, firing a bullet straight through Sonny’s skull. He fell backward onto the pavement, dead in an instant. And just as Sonny fell, Jonas rounded the corner and saw it all happen, heard the dull shot ring out, and saw his double holding a gun near his best friend.

Mr. Jade smiled when he and Jonas met eyes. Jonas rushed him and he disappeared, reappearing behind him with his gun lowered at his side. When Jonas turned around to face him again, Mr. Jade was holstering his pistol.

“Our time will come, Jonas,” Mr. Jade said. “But we do not fight this day.”

“Do you really think I’m going to let you get away with two murders!?”

“Yes. Because Celia is in trouble. Though I did save her life for you. You’re welcome.”

“You didn’t do it for her! You did... whatever you’re doing for yourself.”

“I do what I must for the good of the universe, Jonas. Sonny Davis and his crony were monsters. And I hunt monsters. Simple as that.”

“You’re not leaving here...”

Mr. Jade once again shrugged. “It’s your choice. What will you do? Come after me? Or save your friends? Celia is still in danger and Meryn, well... you might want to send someone to the old pier. Some might say the tide is turning... for the worse.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Now, make your choice. But whatever you choose, know that you’re useless. You won’t save them. Nothing you do will ever be enough to make up for your tragic existence, Jonas. Nothing.”

Jonas cursed under his breath and simply ignored the words, trying to put them out of his mind as he turned to Celia and started cutting her free.

“As I suspected...” Mr. Jade said. “Until next we meet, Jonas....”

When Celia was finally free, she stood up and threw her arms around Jonas. “I’m so glad it’s really you this time...”

“It’s all right, Celia. We have to get moving. He mentioned something about Meryn at the old pier.”

“But what was he? Why is he... you?”

“I don’t know,” Jonas said. “But we don’t have time. Come on!”

...

The tide had rushed in where the water was now lapping at her ankles and Meryn still could not free herself from the tape. She struggled until all of her muscles were sore, trying to find any slack in the tape or hope the handcuffs would snap loose but all those hopes were dashed at every turn.

“Mmmmpphhh!!” she said, crying out in anger into her gag. “Lmmmt mm gmmm! Ymm wmmt gmmt mmmwmm wmmph thmmph!!”

All Meryn could do was spout idle threats and anger, muffled by her gag, and helpless to fight the tight tape around her body. And the water was rising faster and faster still, now reaching her shins as she still battled her bonds.

Kara watched from just above, perched over the ledge of the concrete where the landing once met the wooden pier. She relished every moment of The Maiden’s helpless struggles as she clung to her life and couldn’t escape her fate. Kara Trenton lived for the moment of watching the light in someone’s eyes go out and she would watch The Maiden’s golden eyes fade to white as the rising tide swallowed her whole.

Something metallic suddenly crashed down beside her and she climbed to her feet, knowing exactly what it was. “That’s... no. Damn it all!” It exploded and her ears started ringing and she could see nothing but white light. Before she could even regain her vision, a heavy fist collided with her forehead and laid her low, knocking her out cold.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood over her wearing a dark hood and a tight, yellow suit much like Meryn’s. Though it was mostly covered by the black cloak her wore. A scarf covered the lower half of his face but it could not hide the long, red hair that flowed out from beneath the hood, tossed by the sea breeze.

He rushed to edge of the landing and jumped down, pulling a knife from his belt and beginning to cut the tape from Meryn’s body. She tried turning her head to see who her rescuer was but he hadn’t yet freed her head. Once that was done, he unlocked her handcuffs and cut the remaining tape from her arms. While he did that, Meryn caught a glimpse of his sharp eyes... Though they seemed aged and perhaps tired from many years, they were... gold. Like hers. And they shone just as brilliantly.

Before she could say anything, she was carried off by the man wrapping an arm around her hip and grappling them both back to safety. He tossed her belt and gloves on the ground next to her but Meryn ignored that for the time being, stepping closer to him and trying to pull the scarf down from his face.

“Who are you?” she asked.

The man back away, shielding his eyes. “I am... a concerned bystander. Nothing more,” he said.

Holy shit, I know that voice! Meryn thought to herself. But how!?

“I suppose I should thank you. I was in a bit of trouble there,” Meryn said.

“I have no need of thanks. I will be here, as needed. But you don’t need me,” the man said. “You... you’ll never need me. You are strong... Meryn. Stronger than I’ve ever been.”

“Who... who are you to say that? Who are you to know that?”

The man said nothing, grappling himself away again as Meryn ran after him. She stopped when she heard footsteps behind her, turning around to see Jonas and Celia running toward her from Jonas’ car.

“Who the hell was that now!?” Jonas asked.

Meryn shook her head. “I uh... I don’t know...” Although she said those words, she knew in the back of her mind who that man was. It was just impossible...

“A lot of strange men around town tonight...” Celia said.

Meryn finally turned to face them. “Where’s Luna?”

“Safe with Mac,” Jonas said. “She called me.”

“Well that’s good then... we need to take care of her,” Meryn said, pointing to Kara Trenton on the ground.

“We’ll tie her up and get her dropped off at the police station,” Celia said. “You’ve had a rough night, by the looks.”

“It’s always a rough night in this town,” Meryn said, turning back to stare at the nearby rooftops of the abandoned warehouses of the old pier. “Though maybe they’ll be getting a little easier...”

Story Theme Song: Between Sun and Moon- Rush