Saira couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she watched Meryn lean forward in her chair, her muscles tense, glaring at the television in front of them. A loud sigh erupted from the television as a gathered crowd watch the goaltender reach out with her right leg and make an impossible save on the Vipers captain.
“God damn it!” Meryn said. “How the hell did she do that!?”
“Emmi Laukkanen is the best in the world. She made 52 saves in that crazy triple OT game last year in the semi-finals. Stole a 1-0 game right from under the Firebirds,” Saira said.
Meryn slumped back in her chair as she watched the hockey game, the Weston Vipers’ opponents hauling the puck back the other way. When she saw Paula Horton, the captain, accidentally trip the puck carrier with her stick, she watched the referee’s arm go up and heard the whistle when the Vipers touched the puck.
“Of course...” Meryn said. She stood from the chair. “I’m done with this.”
“Meryn, it’s only a 2-1 game. And it’s, like, three minutes into the second period!”
“You know the Vipers have no structure to their penalty kill. They’re screwed! All the Reds have to do is get to the point for Vissel and she’ll get a wide open look.”
Saira chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re getting worked up about sports,” she said. “But you’d really leave me all alone? Come on. There’s so much time left in the game. And they’re doing something with that cosplay convention in the intermission. Heather Van Truss is going to be in costume. I’d pay to see that. You’ll love it! Sit back down, sweetie...”
Meryn sighed and sat back down in her chair. “Only because you asked so nicely,” Meryn said, flashing Saira a wry smile. Ignoring the hockey game and the frustration building in the back of her mind, Meryn instead focussed on her girlfriend.
The word felt a bit foreign to her. She hadn’t called anyone her girlfriend since... well, she didn’t want to think about that.
“So...” Saira said, melting a bit under Meryn’s intense, golden gaze. “Um... Cool to see Paula Horton back in action, right? After you saved her, I mean.”
Meryn shrugged. “Not if she’s taking stupid penalties...”
“Meryn!”
“Okay. Yeah, it’s nice to see the things I do have some positive effect. Even if she takes stupid penalties...”
“That’s... better,” Saira said with a smile.
“But if she keeps doing that, she may as well be taped and gagged in a chair,” Meryn finished.
Saira couldn’t help but laugh. “God, I never knew you’d be this intense about sports! Though I guess it’s that intensity I love about you. It’s what makes you so damn hot.”
Meryn smirked. “I’ll show you hot when this game’s over, Saira...”
Another laugh erupted from her girlfriend. “Look at you, all flirty with me. A few months ago I didn’t know this side of you existed!”
“Well a lot’s changed,” Meryn said. “And besides, I can’t help myself. I mean, look at you. Who wouldn’t flirt with you?”
Saira felt her cheeks flush. “Oh, stop that!”
Meryn felt herself smirking again. “And miss out on that cute blushing? No way.”
Saira tried to shield her face as her cheeks went became more red and began to feel hot.
“Oh Meryn... I might have to gag you if you keep embarrassing me.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Meryn said.
“I could... but what about the game?”
Meryn sighed when she looked back. The scoreboard in the top left corner said 3-1 and the trace of a smile fell from Meryn’s face.
“See? I told you their PK sucks...”
“Ah hell,” Saira said. “Still, the 3rd is usually their best so maybe they’ll come back after 2nd intermission.”
“If they stop taking penalties, maybe.”
“Hey, cheer up,” Saira said. “We’ll get to see a bunch of cool costumes when this period is over. Like half of them are dressed as you!”
“And what about the other half?”
“Oh, uh, comic book characters, I guess. Characters from movies, cartoons, TV, video games, that sort of thing.”
“Seems a waste to dress like me,” Meryn said. “Not exactly a tough costume to pull off.”
“But impossible to make look as perfect as you. I mean those legs... damn,” Saira said. “And those abs? Nobody is that kind of Goddess.”
“All right all right,” Meryn said. “You’ve made your point.”
Saira giggled. “Oh, look! Now who’s blushing? I see red on your face!”
Meryn looked away from her girlfriend and rubbed the back of her neck, trying to fight back her embarrassment. “Ah, stop!” Meryn said. “Jeez... can you blame me? The cutest girl in the world is hitting on me...”
“Don’t try and turn this around!” Saira said. “And besides, we’re both about to see the hottest woman on TV in costume!”
Meryn chuckled. It was strange to them but they both agreed that the older news anchor for channel 88 was basically a mutual crush. Though they could never have found her more attractive than each other, Heather Van Truss was a beautiful woman and both of them always looked forward to hearing her deliver the news.
“I hope it’s like that bikini from the swimsuit competition. You remember that one?” Saira asked.
“A bit. I tried not to show the others I was watching...”
Saira giggled again. “Awww, Meryn’s embarrassed about liking girls!”
“I’m not. I just don’t like to show that side of me to anyone... ever.”
“Except for me!” Saira said, smiling wide and practically singing her words.
“Except for you,” Meryn repeated.
They watched the rest of the period and the Weston Vipers stymied time and again by the Finnish goaltender in net for the Reds. Finally, it was time for the intermission. But before the cosplay convention event, they had to do some analysis of the game and both women were immediately bored.
“Hey, Meryn,” Saira said, turning to her girlfriend.
“Yes?”
Saira’s voice had turned serious. “Can I ask... what happened to you?”
Meryn furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean... you’re so, I don’t know... you bury your feelings. Like you think they’ll get you hurt. Or others hurt. But I know you feel love. You tell me every day now.”
“Of course I do,” Meryn said. “After the first time when I almost didn’t get the chance...” Saira could hear the despair in her voice.
“Hey hey, it’s all right. We don’t have to talk about that night. And we don’t have to talk about anything else if you don’t want to.”
Meryn let out a heavy breath. “You ought to know,” Meryn said. “You are my girlfriend... haven’t called anyone that in a long time.”
“What happened, Meryn? You don’t have to tell me, I just-”
“No, it’s fine. I should tell you.” Meryn took in another long breath and her golden eyes turned glassy and distant as she remembered her adolescence.
“I was twelve. She was thirteen,” Meryn began.
“What was her name?”
“Talia...” Meryn said. “She was the coolest kid. I wanted to be her for the longest time. Then I wanted to be her friend. And then, when I started to get older, I wanted to, well... I wondered what it would feel like to kiss her.”
“That’s so sweet,” Saira said.
Meryn continued. “She had gorgeous brown hair. I tell you, it was just these long, beautiful locks and they were always so perfect and shiny. And soft brown eyes. I guess I have a thing for brown eyes...” Meryn said, her eyes meeting with Saira. Her girlfriend blushed again.
Collecting herself again, Meryn kept going. “Turns out she was a noble. But she used to roam the streets with us common kids. My parents weren’t exactly poor but we lived in the slums. They protected the poor from the shady types.”
“They were crime fighters too?” Saira asked.
“Apple doesn’t fall far... you know what they say,” Meryn said. “But yes. So that’s where we lived. Talia’s parents lived right on the edge of the rich district where it and the slums kind of met. Right on the corner. And they were haughty pricks, let me tell you. Her father sure as hell was, anyway. Her mother, well... I think she just got caught up in it. But Talia... she was different. Smart. Strong. Braver than anyone I had ever met at the time. And she was bold as hell. Wouldn’t be afraid to tell you how it is.”
Saira smiled again. “Sounds like you in some ways.”
“I wasn’t always like that,” Meryn said. “I was a shy kid. Quiet. Kept to myself, mostly. Not good for much, actually.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s not true,” Saira said. “I mean, look at you now!”
“Yeah well, at the time, I was just this little girl with nothing to say. And too scared to say it. But Talia, I tell you... she was amazing. And just about the prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. Until I met you, I guess.”
“Awww, Meryn...” Saira said, blushing again.
“Anyway, I don’t know how it happened, but she took a shine to me. We spent a lot of time together and, eventually, we found ourselves admitting we had a crush on each other. She admitted it first, of course. When I finally came clean, she led me to this alleyway beside her house. Her parents almost never checked there for her so she assured me it was safe.”
“What happened?”
Meryn found herself smiling at the memory. “She kissed me. Right here,” Meryn said, pointing to her cheek. “And then, well... we kissed each other. For a while. Hours maybe. But yeah. It became our spot. Where we could hide away and kiss.”
“Oh my god, that’s adorable,” Saira said.
“Probably the happiest time of my life. Not that you don’t make me happy, Saira, but I’ve been... different since then.”
“Different how?”
Meryn seemed to dodge the question and continue on with her story. “Talia’s father... the bastard... he was the tax collector. Used to strong arm the poor with his men and just take everything. I don’t know how such a precious person came from him. But Talia wasn’t like him. And he knew it. I think he hated her, secretly, and he sure didn’t show her any damn respect.”
“Oh Meryn...” Saira said. She had a feeling about where this story was headed.
“I suppose he expected her to fall for some nobleman so he could marry her off to some rich man who wouldn’t love her just so he could reap the rewards from those stupid, rich arranged marriages.”
“Wait... where are you from again?”
“Told you before it’s hard to explain. I’ll take you back home someday. When everything is settled here. I promise. We can maybe even visit her...”
“Who? Talia?”
“Yeah...” Meryn said, her eyes turning glassy again. She leaned forward and clasped her hands, resting her elbows on her knees.
“You don’t have to keep going,” Saira said. “I can see that it still hurts.”
“No, it’s important. I don’t really confront stuff like this enough,” Meryn said.
“Okay,” Saira said. She let Meryn continue.
“I didn’t know it but my father used to follow us and make sure we were okay. He said he would leave when we got to the alley though and leave us alone. But he was always nearby. So he heard it when... her father found us.”
“Oh no...” Saira said.
“He didn’t even seem to focus on me. Just dragged into the house and berated her and said ‘no daughter of mine will be an abomination!’ I guess he saw us kissing and didn’t approve...”
“Meryn...”
“My father heard shouting. Came in when her father dragged her into their back garden. I don’t think he meant to do it but when she talked back to him, he got violent and he hit her once, right here....” Meryn said, pointing to her own left temple.
“My father couldn’t get to him before he did it. All we both saw was her twitching on the ground for a bit before she just stopped moving...”
“Oh god, Meryn...”
Meryn swallowed hard. “He hit her harder than I think he intended. But I don’t think intent matters when you hit your own damn child. Because she never got up...”
“Oh, Meryn, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s nobody’s fault but that damn tax collector. I know my father blamed himself. Almost beat the man to death right there. I don’t blame him for getting that angry. Probably made him think of me.”
“Who, your dad?”
“Yeah... He stopped himself short because he knew I was watching. But he just carried me home and I cried on his shoulder for the next three days. He cried too and he just held me. My mother must have had a hard time. She couldn’t console either of us no matter what she said. It hurt her to see me like that, I know it did.”
“I mean, that had to hurt so much. I think anybody would cry like that,” Saira said.
“And it only kept getting worse.”
“Oh god... no...”
“The tax collector knew who my father was. He had connections with some powerful crime lords. Sent them after all of us. But my father got wind of it and he knew they were mainly after him so he basically just got my mother to take me someplace safe. I heard about the crime lord bragging about how they had basically just beaten him to death but I never saw him again either...”
“Holy shit, Meryn... I’m so sorry. That’s so much to take in all at once.”
“That’s why I’ve never been the same since. I died with them. And this empty shell rose in its place. That’s what I thought, anyway, pretty much until I met Artema. I had a crush on this barmaid for a while, too, but I was so afraid to open up to her. And then, well... she turned out not to be too trustworthy. I’ve been pretty closed off ever since.”
“I don’t blame you, Meryn. That must have been so hard.”
“It’s over now. And now you’re here. I’d say things have gotten a bit better,” Meryn said, trying to smile at her girlfriend.
“What about your mom?” Saira asked.
“She got sick when I was eighteen. Died in bed right next to me. She held on and fought off falling asleep so she wouldn’t die just to wait until I was beside her. Wanted me to have at least one person I had the chance to say goodbye to.”
“Oh Meryn...”
“It’s fine. It’s in the past now.”
The two sat in silence for the moment, listening to the analysts on TV wrap up their conversation about the game. Saira had one more question before they got to the intermission with Heather Van Truss in costume.
“So... what was your dad like?” Saira asked.
“A lot like me, actually,” Meryn said. “Had a temper... but kept it in check. Unless he was fighting bad guys. Then he let it out. But he was the wisest man I ever knew. And so in love with my mother. I knew he loved me, too. It’s what made that whole thing so hard...”
“Yeah, it sure would...”
“There’s one thing I never did find out from him. He used to have nicknames for me. Mainly just ‘young one’ but he liked to call me ‘little dragon’ as well.”
“That’s cute,” Saira said.
“He told me he would explain why he called me that one day. I always wondered where ‘little dragon’ came from. Guess I’ll never know now.”
“I’m sorry...” Saira said. “I shouldn’t have brought that all up...”
Meryn got up from her chair and sat down on the couch where Saira was and placed a strong arm around her shoulder. She pulled her in close and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t be sorry. I’ve needed that off my chest for a long damn time. You deserve to know about me. Thanks for listening to me.”
Saira smiled sweetly. “Thanks for tell me.”
Their lips met for a brief moment and Meryn’s golden eyes shone again. “So was it your dad that gave you those amazing eyes?”
“Yeah...” Meryn said. “And the hair...” She paused for a moment, remembering that day in Weston by the harbour. When Kara Trenton had tried to kill her. That man in the cloak... she shook her head again. It was impossible.
“Meryn? You okay?”
“It’s nothing,” Meryn said. “Just remembered something weird. It’s not important.”
“Okay... Heather will be on soon. Let’s think about some more enjoyable stuff, okay?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Saira cuddled up closer to Meryn, who rested her head on top of Saira’s as they sat together and watched the camera switch to a gorgeous blonde woman dressed up in a... very revealing purple costume. It was a one piece leotard type of outfit that showed off her legs and had a plunging neckline. Long, strappy gloves and leggings showed off parts of her well toned arms and thighs. Though she kept her hair blonde, both women marvelled at the pretty purple highlights in her hair.
“Oh wow...” Saira said. “She rocks a Psylocke costume.”
“As if you just know that by sight. Looks like generic purple spandex to me,” Meryn said. “She does look good in it, though.”
“One day I need to introduce you to more comic books. I mean, it’s pitiful how many fictional superheroes you can name.”
“I know there’s, like, four people named Captain. America, Marvel... Planet.”
“That’s a cartoon.”
“Whatever. It all seems pretty wild to me.”
Saira chuckled. “Says the woman who battles a superhuman soldier in silver spandex...”
Meryn had to chuckle herself. “Point taken.”
They both fell silent as they watched the beautiful blonde news anchor step back from the camera and reveal her full outfit. She flashed the camera a perfect smile and began speaking.
“It’s been a privilege to cover this wonderful costume convention and be here with all the lucky winners at tonight’s Vipers game,” Heather began.
Meryn chuckled. “You can tell she hates this. Look at that fake smile.”
“I think it’s just the outfit she hates. I went down there and she was off camera. Really hit it off with the cosplayers and complimenting their outfits and everything. She admires the craft.”
“But doesn’t like participating in it. Probably because she gets caught up in these outfits too much,” Meryn said.
Saira giggled. “You’ve been following her career then. The swimsuit contest, that break in at their office, the mansion and that Halloween party...”
“So have you, apparently. But you can see it in her pretty eyes,” Meryn said. “She’s wondering what might go wrong this time now that somebody’s convinced her to dress up in that thing.”
As Heather Van Truss continued, speaking to the cosplayers as they paraded in front of the camera, showing off their costumes, Saira kept pointing excitedly to the screen. “Look! There’s even a guy dressed as you! He doesn’t look half bad.”
“No belt,” Meryn said.
“That’s got to be hard to make.”
“Easier than the real thing,” Meryn said.
“But hey, you’re without your belt half the time anyway,” Saira said.
Meryn shot her a look. “Meaning what, exactly?”
“Nothing. Just, you know, people like to keep you tied up. A lot,” Saira said with a smile.
“Seriously? This from the girl who keeps getting kidnapped?”
“Hey, you were kidnapped with me that one time! It happens to you just as much.”
“Oh that’s enough of that,” Meryn said. “Besides, we’re missing the pretty miss Heather.”
“Fine,” Saira said, still smiling. “But my point stands.”
While the cosplay parade continued, the camera abruptly cut to black. They could hear someone say. “What!? We lost the picture! What’s going-” Then it quickly cut to commercial.
“That’s weird...” Saira said.
It took a few minutes but then the commercials were interrupted and the scene returned to the private seating box above the arena. Only the cosplayers were nowhere in sight and Heather Van Truss... was sitting in a chair. Duct tape was wrapped over her mouth and strong looking rope wrapped around her arms and torso, framing her chest. Her arms were trapped behind her and her legs were tied together at the ankles and above the knees.
Another woman stepped into frame, wearing a familiar brightly coloured bodysuit. Meryn ground her teeth and her muscles tensed as she sat forward. “What the hell is this!?”
“Oh crap...” Saira said. “That’s...”
“Hello everyone,” the woman began. “Like the outfit?” She was holding Heather’s microphone while the anchor struggled against the rope, grunting into her gag and pleading for help with the camera.
“That damn thief...” Meryn said. “I should have hunted her down.”
“It’s not your fault. She can turn invisible,” Saira said. “And you were, um... distracted.”
“I wasn’t leaving you with her, that’s for damn sure,” Meryn said.
The woman on screen, an infamous jewel thief named Freya Erika, continued speaking. “No doubt this pretty lady here has told all of you about me. But I don’t think you recognize me right now, do you? I used to be Freya Erika, renowned purveyor of precious gem acquisition.”
She strolled to the other side of Heather and rested an arm on her shoulder. The blonde scowled, growling into her gag, and struggled wildly. “Hlllmmmp!” She said, turning to the camera.
“Now you can call me The Jeweller. Now, you may be wondering, what is this all about? Well... dearest Ms. Van Truss here is certainly an ace reporter. Such an ace that it was her reporting that put me unjustly behind bars.”
“Why is no one doing anything?” Saira asked. “There has to be security and the cops are all over that part of town tonight because of the game. What’s going on?”
“Silver is what’s going on. She’s got sway with everyone. The cops are corrupt, the security are probably on her payroll, and she has people dealing with anyone trying to stop this. But Silver is behind all that.”
The Jeweller continued. “And here she is, playing at being a hero. Just like some other people in this city I could mention.”
“Uh oh...” Saira said.
“Turns out she was in the X-Men all along!” The Jeweller said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well go on then, blonde Psylocke. Use those psychic powers to break out of those ropes!”
Heather struggled wildly and screamed into her gag, looking straight into the camera. “HHHHLLMMMPPPP!!”
“Yes. Help the poor little Heather Van Truss, all tied up in her chair. I implore you. But no police. Any blue uniforms...” The Jeweller produced a knife from her belt. “And the whole city gets to see the colour of this pretty lady’s insides.”
“MMMMPPPHHH!!”
“She won’t do it,” Meryn said. “I’ll break her damn skull...”
“No. Instead, I want the city’s staunch protectors of the night to come and help out poor Ms. Van Truss. Vigilantes, they call them. The Maiden, for one. Come and rescue the pretty reporter, my dear. You know where to find us.”
“Now she’s talking right to you...” Saira said.
“Oh, and bring your scruffy loser of a sidekick, too. I’d like to knock some sense into that thick skull of his.”
“I hope Jonas doesn’t go rushing in,” Meryn said.
“I don’t think he’s as headstrong as you are, Meryn...” Saira said quietly.
“And one more... the cloaked one. Yes. I’ll bet you didn’t know anyone knew about you. The press doesn’t even know. The cops think you’re a myth. But I know. Come and rescue the damsel in distress, you sap! I hear you have a habit of doing that.”
“Who is she talking about, Meryn?”
Meryn stayed silent. She knew exactly who The Jeweller was talking about. But she hadn’t wanted to think about what they might mean...
“Meryn? Do you know?”
“I don’t,” Meryn said, staring at the television.
“Come and find us, heroes. Oh, and if you take too long... those costumed losers are in a, shall we say, difficult predicament. Hurry before their blood is on your hands. Bye bye!”
The signal went dark again and Meryn shot up from her chair. She rushed to her bedroom and began digging around for her equipment.
“Meryn, wait!”
“No time to wait. I have to go.”
“But it has to be a trap!” Saira said.
“Of course it’s a trap.”
“Damn it! You always run head first into danger like this! Just stop and think for a second!”
Meryn turned around to face her girlfriend. “There’s no time to plan.”
“There’s always time to plan. And besides, if they don’t see you coming, you might get the drop on them. They expect you to come from the rooftops, right?”
“Right...”
Saira picked up her keys. “Then get in my car. Dressed in normal clothes. Change into your outfit when you’re already inside. They won’t see you coming. We’ll just be normal traffic.”
“They know your face,” Meryn said. “They already took you from me once. You’re not getting involved.”
“Meryn, stop!” Saira shouted. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Think. How much do you want to protect me?”
Meryn turned around and her intense eyes met the soft eyes of her girlfriend. “You know I’d die to save you.”
“Right. Well... so would I.”
“What?”
“You heard me. You mean too much to me. Did you think I wouldn’t want to protect you, too? So... let me help.”
“Saira...”
“Meryn, stop it! I’m helping you. You can’t stop me!”
Letting out a long breath, Meryn picked up a long, black case with her equipment and headed for the door. “We’re wasting time. If we’re going to do this, we need to move.”
Saira followed after her girlfriend to the door. “Okay. But we’ll need to blend in to traffic. So we won’t be driving all crazy and reckless, okay? We’ll get there. The arena isn’t far.”
“When I’m in, get yourself as far as possible from there. Out of danger, you understand me?” Meryn asked.
“I will. Just let me get you in first, okay?”
“Right,” Meryn said. “Let’s go.”
...
Once inside, Meryn had insisted that Saira send her a text and tell her she was all right. She had been dropped off in the staff parking lot at the back of the building and, with security all inside the building at the moment keeping up appearances and scrambling, Meryn was able to break in via an emergency exit.
She changed into her outfit quickly, putting on the yellow eye mask last, before crouching low and hiding in a maintenance closet, waiting for Saira’s message. It took only a few minutes for Saira’s one word text to appear on the her cell phone. ‘Safe.’ Meryn put the phone with the clothes she had changed out of and stepped out of the maintenance closet.
The hallway was empty. The fluorescent lights above flickered slightly and the white, speckled walls made it appear even brighter. She concluded she was near the dressing rooms for the players as she peered down an adjacent corridor. The concrete floor she was standing on turned into a black, rubber floor with coloured speckles on it. This, of course, was to protect the skate blades of the players so they wouldn’t be dulled or dinged up by stepping on bare concrete.
She suspected the players were on lockdown in the dressing room to prevent anyone from getting to them. Meryn couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t long ago that one of their number had been kidnapped by Silver.
Deciding the rubberized floor would soften her footsteps, Meryn crept down that hallway and heard the deafening silence from the actual arena space nearby. The crowd had been evacuated after The Jeweller’s live message and it proved a traffic nightmare on the main roads. But Saira was an amazingly competent driver and took the back roads on the way to the employee entrance. She got Meryn inside the arena within ten minutes. She just hoped she was the first one to reach the building.
As she passed a spare changing room, the door suddenly flew open and a figure dressed head to toe in black rushed at her and tried to throw a punch. Meryn, ever on high alert, stepped back and avoided the heavy punch from her assailant. The person kept coming but Meryn was ready this time. A high kick from the person found itself stopped dead in mid-air as Meryn caught their leg with both hands.
With a hefty swing, Meryn hoisted the person up and slammed them into the concrete wall. The person rolled backward, gasping for breath from the heavy hit, but got back to their feet all the same. But Meryn didn’t give them a chance to breathe.
Bearing down on her attacker, Meryn landed a punch to the person’s ribs, waiting for the counter, and blocking the person’s arm. She grabbed hold and used her free hand to grab the person by the scruff of the neck and slam them into the wall again. Still, the person got up and attacked her.
Another punch came her way that Meryn easily blocked, this time pressing her palm into the person’s forehead and cracking the back of their head of the wall. The person slumped to the floor, unconscious, and Meryn knelt down to get a better look at them.
They were not especially large, quite lithe and thin, though obviously looked quite athletic. Meryn noticed a more feminine body type to the person and decided then to remove the balaclava covering their face. She was astonished at the sight.
“What the... Freya Erika?”
As soon as she said the name, the person became blurry and wavy before disappearing entirely. Meryn stood up straight and checked both sides of the hallway, seeing no one there. “Who’s there?” she asked.
A haughty laugh answered her back coming from... somewhere. “Maiden... my dear Maiden... thought that fight was too easy, did you? You’re right.”
“Freya...” Meryn growled. “Show yourself!”
The voice just laughed again. “But I did! You just saw me disappear in your own hands!”
“That... what was that!?”
“Just a physical projection. What? You didn’t know I could do that?”
“Just come out here and- aggh!” Meryn felt a sharp pain in her neck and reached back on instinct. “Damn it!”
The voice laughed again. “Thanks for falling right into my trap, dear Maiden,” The Jeweller said. “Now go to sleep. The drug will take care of you.”
Meryn pulled the dart from her neck and tossed it aside, fighting to stay conscious. “Let... the reporter.. go!” she said.
“Let her go? But, Maiden my sweet, how else am I going to get your crime fighting friends?”
“They’ll... figure... it out...”
“Just like you did? I’ll admit, the back entrance ploy was clever. I didn’t see it coming. But I knew you’d get here first.”
Meryn felt her muscles give out and fell to the floor, still fighting to stay awake.
“Stop resisting, it’ll only make things harder on you,” The Jeweller said. “Just relax and let me take good care of you.”
Finally, the drug in her system did its work and Meryn passed out cold on the rubberized floor, The Jeweller’s voice the last thing in her mind.