Lychnus continued to examine it, turning it in his hand. “The Chintamani Stone. The relic so many sought. Stripped of its power now, I assume.” He raised his eyebrows at James. “I’d very much like to hear how you accomplished that, someday.”
He held it out to Derek, who took a step back, hesitant, like he was worried it would turn back on at any moment. “I don’t want it.”
Lychnus smiled. “It’s your brother’s trophy, by right. May it always remind him of what he did here today. He simply is indisposed to hold it right now.”
“Oh, right,” Derek said, his cheeks reddening. He took it from Lychnus.
“One more question,” Lychnus said, looking down at James. “Then I shall finally let you rest. My brother...”
James shook his head, anticipating the question. “I really don’t know what happened to him. He might be dead...” James remembered the face in the sky in the jungle and suppressed a shiver. “But he might not be.”
Lychnus nodded. “As much as I figured. I believe your second intuition is correct. I feel him somehow. Weakened, perhaps, but still alive.”
“Sir,” James said, the words spilling out before he could stop them. “Did you... Did you know?”
“Did I know that my brother was power-hungry? Yes.” Lychnus said. James was taken aback by the honesty. “But our biggest blind spots in life are usually in regard to those we love. I did not know what he would do, and for that, I am filled with regret.”
The last words were said with a gut-wrenching heaviness, and James couldn’t help but feel bad for the older Super. To be betrayed by your own brother...
“But we will deal with that when we get there.” Lychnus touched James on the shoulder again and smiled down at him. “Thank you. All three of you. You are true heroes.”
He walked off, back to the police, who looked totally nonplussed at the situation.
“Listen, Derek,” James said, turning to his brother. “There was a man here, Agent Banks...”
“Ah, yes, I believe Auri was tending to him before.”
“He’s okay?” James said, his heart pounding.
Auri smiled thinly. She had dark bags under her eyes. “He’s okay. He took a few bullets, but none lethal. I did the best I could to heal him up, and Leo flew him to a local hospital. He should survive.”
“What about Roche?” Rocky said, scanning the area in front of them. “Arrested, I hope?”
“There’s no sign of him, unfortunately,” Derek said. “It seems he vanished.”
“What?” Rocky said. “How? Last I saw, he was unconscious in the grass.” James noticed Rocky rubbing his knuckles and had a feeling he knew who had knocked the SIA boss out.
“Maybe the same way Calico disappeared,” Derek said, shrugging. “But we’ll find him. We’ll find them both.”
They walked together, Auri, Derek, Katie, and Rocky, who supported James as he limped. They went to where Leo, Ros, and Avus were standing, side by side, on top of the small hill next to the temple. It overlooked a valley, the land below flat and unbroken by roads or buildings. The sun fell toward the horizon, casting the land in a beautiful orange light. It was the first time James felt he could truly appreciate the beauty of the land around him. His shoulders sank as he relaxed for the first time in weeks. Weeks of constant danger, of never knowing what was around the corner. But it was over.
It was over.
They stood next to the other Supers, who seemed to relish the feeling of the sun on their faces after being prisoners for so long. James closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy it, too. It felt cleansing, washing away the pain and sorrow of the last few weeks.
“We shouldn’t have let them escape,” Leo said. The sun made his mane of hair seem golden. James realized he was talking about the former Supers—Tonitrus, Myrcellus, and Afectrus. They must have flown away when they saw the battle was lost.
“It was necessary,” Derek said simply.
Ros glanced at the others, dried blood caking her forehead. “Are we still fugitives, then?”
“Things can’t go back to normal,” Avus said, shaking his head. His normal, friendly, uncle-like demeanor was gone. “We showed the world that Supers aren’t above corruption.”
Auri responded, her voice stronger than James had heard it since he first arrived at the base. “No. We showed the world that having powers doesn’t make you a Super.” She looked down the line, deliberately making eye contact with Katie, Rocky, and finally James. “Being a hero makes you a Super.” Warmth rose to James’s cheeks.
They were silent for a long time, enjoying the setting sun and each other’s company. Finally, Rocky said, “So what now?”
“Now,” Derek said, and there was true joy in his voice, “we go home.”
James glanced at Derek, who caught his eye and smiled. They had so much to talk about, so much to catch up on. James felt like he’d changed, become a completely different person since they last spoke. His eyes moved to Katie, her hair matted around her head. It amazed him that mere weeks ago, he hated her, thought her annoying. Now just seeing her filled him with relief. And Rocky... the man who had no true stake in this fight, who came along and risked his life for his friend. They had a bond now that could never be broken. They’d all have to talk, share their stories, catch up.
But first, James thought as he sagged against his best friend, he’d really like to rest.
And rest he finally did.
THE END.
James Bolt and the Supers will return soon.
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