*Trigger Warning: This chapter may contain strong language and scenes that some readers may find either offensive and/or uncomfortable. You have been warned.*
[One Week Later]
'This still doesn't feel real.' Maria thought with a somber expression on her face.
As the raven-haired woman gazed upon the casket, which rested beneath a white canopy at the front of the crowd, surrounded by bouquets of lilies, roses, and blue delphiniums, she couldn't help but fight the odd feeling that began to well in her chest.
Her black coat was soaked with a fine mist, though she barely even noticed it. The rain hadn't come down particularly hard, just hard enough to blur the air and make the cemetery feel like it was suspended in time. But even then, the overall atmosphere did nothing to brighten her mood. If anything, it just made it worse.
"I still can't believe that his own family didn't bother to show up." Skylar whispered to Sebastian just loud enough for the bearded man to hear. The two agents were near the front of the crowd, standing beside a few other members of their squad.
"You were there when the Chief called his mom, right?" The man then asked. "What did she say?"
Skylar simply let out a sigh, one that did well to emphasize his feelings at the moment. "It's best if I just don't repeat it. But honestly, there's just some stuff that you don't want to hear a mother say about her dead child."
"Damn..." Was all that Sebastian could say in response.
Amidst the myriad of tears and dour expressions, many of the DPA agents in attendance still couldn't believe that they were here right now.
And even though an entire week had passed, the feelings were still very much fresh in their hearts.
Freddy was gone. One week ago, he was alive. And now, he wasn't.
No one knew how it happened, nor did they know why. All they knew was that Freddy and Cyrus had gone out to see a movie together a few hours after they all left for work that day. A totally normal thing for a pair of youngsters to do on a Friday evening. But somehow, what was supposed to be a night of fun and relaxation had ended in tragedy. A tragedy that, as of this moment, was still not over.
"We couldn't even have his casket open." Robin Stillwater said in a low tone as she watched the raindrops hit the ground in front of her. "What a fucking mess."
The fact that one of her own colleagues had been so horribly brutalized was not lost on the Vice Captain in the slightest. Although this wasn't her first time experiencing the loss of a fellow agent, this one in particular hurt more than the previous. The woman clenched her hands tightly as the wet fabric of her gloves let out a faint squeaking sound. Her dark hair clung to her face, and she made no move to brush it away.
Valerie was stiff-backed and silent, her sharp features were unreadable, but her eyes were hollow with the kind of grief that simmers in private.
Elizabeth stood a few feet behind the tall blonde, her arms were crossed in front of her, but her face appeared worn beneath the thin veil that covered it. She hadn't cried, at least not yet, but Maria had caught the dark-skinned woman doing her best to keep herself together when she placed a bouquet of flowers on the 'dark magic' user's casket not too long ago.
Evan, however, made no attempt to hide the tears that were currently streaking down his face. Nor did he care if anyone saw the trembling in his arms. He'd been the first to speak when the twins were told that Freddy was gone. The first to demand answers. And now, he was the first to cry.
The worst part about all of this was the fact that everyone knew that this wasn't the end of their troubles. In fact, it might only be the beginning.
Cyrus was still missing.
Valerie rubbed her temples as she tried to figure out what that even meant. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, mainly because she hadn't. Not since her friend and fellow agent had completely vanished.
They had been searching for days for any kind of explanation as to what could've possibly happened. For answers. For clues. For any sign that the 'tree magic' user was still alive. But each day dragged by without a single word. The attack that killed Freddy had been violent and fast; that much was clear. It had left scars on the road and blood in the dirt. But unfortunately, that was all that they had to go on. There was no body for Cyrus. No trail. No message. Just... absence.
A few minutes later, the eulogy ended, and the preacher stepped back, giving space for anyone to speak.
No one moved.
A silence passed like a tremor throughout the group before Ayako stepped forward and made her way toward the podium. Her shoes crunched against the wet grass as she passed by the coffin. And when she finally turned to face the rest of her fellow agents, her face was drawn but steady.
"Freddy was one of a kind." The 'water magic' user said. Her voice wavered, but didn't break. "He wasn't the fastest, or the smartest, or the strongest. But even so, he never failed to show up whenever we needed him. Every time. For all of us. And although he did complain every once in a while, he always made sure to give it his best effort. He was the kind of man that all of us should aspire to be."
A gust of wind ruffled her hair. She paused, and then swallowed.
"I'm going to miss him. And honestly, this world just doesn't feel the same without him. But I'll make sure to never forget him so long as I continue to draw breath on this Earth."
For a brief moment, Ayako hesitated, almost as if she wanted to say more. Unfortunately, her words failed her. So, she simply gave a slight nod to the others and stepped back to rejoin the crowd.
A few minutes later, as the casket was lowered into the ground, Maria felt her breath hitch. This was it. The last moment. And even then, it still didn't feel real. This was just like when her father died. She had so many questions and not a single answer.
Valerie turned toward the 'beast magic' user and whispered. "You okay?"
"No." Maria said, her voice uncharacteristically raw. "Cyrus should be here. But he's not."
Valerie's jaw tightened, and she nodded.
The service ended slowly. People began to drift away in small groups, leaving behind silence and soft cries. Amidst the crowd, Chief Chandler made her way toward a pair of individuals who were situated toward the back of the congregation. One was a pale woman with shiny red hair, freckles, and emerald green eyes who had a large tattoo of a blue rose on the side of her face. The other was a man with dark skin and a slim physique who had a shaved head, a neatly cut goatee, and a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
"Thank you for coming out today." The Chief said to the two non-sorcerers. "It really means a lot."
"We're sorry for your loss." Cynthia Moore replied after wiping a couple of tears from her face. "Freddy seemed like such a good boy. We met him a couple of times when he was hanging out with our son. It's truly sad that he's gone now."
In Chief Chandler's opinion, it looked like the woman was mere moments away from having a total breakdown. She couldn't really blame her, though. The former 'fire magic' user was a mother herself, so she knew exactly how the redhead had to be feeling right now. If her son, Lionel, had been taken from her, she probably would've been the exact same way.
"Has there been any update on what happened to our son?" Cyrus's father, Darius Moore, then looked at the Chief Agent with a serious expression.
"Unfortunately, no." The Chief shook her head with a frown. "But I promise the two of you that we're doing everything we can to find him. I have some of my best agents working on it. And we're using every resource that we have available to make sure that our search is successful."
"Be honest with me." The dark-skinned man said. "What are the chances that our son is still alive?"
"Very high." Ayako declared after suddenly appearing behind the Chief. "I know that you two don't want to hear this right now, but Cyrus is much too valuable to kill."
"Because of his powers, right?" Cynthia asked. "You think that's the reason why these people took him?"
"Yes."
"I still can't believe this is happening."
"We're going to find him." The 'water magic' user then said with no small amount of certainty. "I promise that we're going to get him back. And we're going to make the ones responsible for this pay for taking him."
"And you believe that it was the same people who attacked that event a couple of weeks ago? This group of criminal sorcerers?"
"There's not a doubt in my mind." Chief Chandler replied to Darius's question. "This kind of thing is right up Iznana's alley. They have a robust history of kidnapping sorcerers with unique magic types. And they always make sure to keep them alive for as long as possible."
"I see...."
The Chief knew that she technically shouldn't have been discussing this sort of thing with the 'tree magic' user's parents. Even if their son was a sorcerer and DPA agent, there was only so much that they were allowed to know. That being said, the brunette woman was opposed to keeping the duo of non-sorcerers in the dark regarding their own child. It just didn't feel right. So, even if she was skirting the line on what was and wasn't allowed for someone in her position, she was okay with dealing with whatever consequences may come from this.
A bit further away, Valerie took a second to stare out into the clouds as she allowed herself a moment to put herself back together. From where Evan, Elizabeth, and Maria were standing, they could feel the heat beginning to radiate off the 'fire magic' user's body. A fact that was even further accentuated by the sight of the droplets of rainwater that hit the tall blonde's body immediately turning into steam the moment they hit the fabric of her black suit.
'Those fuckers are going to pay this, I'll make sure of it!'
Somewhere out there, Cyrus was still missing.
And Valerie had a terrible feeling that this wasn't over.
It had only just begun.
-(o)-
[Iznana Warehouse, One Week After Freddy's Funeral (October 2022)]
'Ugh...how long have I been here?' Cyrus wondered as his head continued to spin in all directions.
The hours had blurred together some time ago. So much so that the young 'tree magic' user had no clue as to how long he had been trapped in this God-forsaken room. For all he knew, he could've been down here for days, if not weeks. And the fact that he had been floating in and out of consciousness due to the numerous drugs that had been pumped into his system certainly didn't help the man either.
The drugs, however, weren't even the worst part about all of this. No, the damage done to his body during his time here was an even greater problem than that.
If one were to gaze upon Cyrus's cold and naked form, which was still strapped to the exam bed, they would've been shocked at the state that he was now in.
A litany of scars and fresh bruises now decorated the young man's flesh, all the way from his head down to his ankles. Over the last two weeks or so, he had been subjected to all manner of physical abuse that most people couldn't imagine being put through. And each new addition only added to the pain.
The part that really stood out, however, was the man's face, which was now a far cry from what it used to look like. The long scar that Hannah forced upon Cyrus directly under his right eye had now mostly healed. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. What would grab the most attention was the abomination that now lined the entirety of his forehead.
In the weeks following his capture, Hannah had decided to add to the thick horizontal scar at the top of his face. Now, a series of seven vertical hash marks complemented the original. Each one a reminder of the times Cyrus either did or said something that pissed the woman off while she was having her fun. A reminder that she was more than willing to hurt him even more whenever he failed to remain compliant with her wishes.
Despite the fact that his curly hair now started to grow over the top portion of the scar, it was still there in plain view for all to see. Almost like a branding that one would see on a cow that was locked up in a farm. A symbol that he, as of now, was barely considered more than the woman's property.
"Ah! That was nice!" Hannah said happily after removing herself from Cyrus's body. The woman had a satisfied smile on her face as if she had just gotten out of a refreshing bath. "You're getting better at this, babe! Seriously, the last few days have been great. See what happens when you stop resisting my affection and just relax?"
Once again, the 'ice magic' user had just finished her daily routine of harvesting some more of Cyrus's DNA and decided to use the remaining time to indulge herself a bit. Just like the last few days, the strawberry-blonde sorcerer had been particularly brutal during that time. A trend that seemed like it was only going to get worse the longer this went on.
"I'm so c-cold...." Cyrus's voice was barely above a whimper as he continued to shiver and shake against the tightened grip of his constraints. At this point, the young man would give anything just to feel the sun's warmth on his skin. Or at the very least, for the woman to stop using her magic whenever she came into the room. Anything just to stop the bone-rattling chill that never seemed to go away.
Hannah looked in the freckle-faced teen's direction as she casually put her shorts back on after placing a vile of her newly acquired product into a small metal box on a nearby table.
"Anyways, that's all that I'm in the mood for today. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon after I'm done with work. I have something really special that I want to try out on you, and I just can't wait!"
The woman had the audacity to give Cyrus a friendly wave before grabbing the box and heading out the door, once again leaving the young man to do nothing but suffer in solitude while his body did its best to fight off the cold.
"See you later!"
Just like all the previous times over the last few days, Cyrus still had the wherewithal amidst the drug-fueled haziness in his mind to track the woman's mana signature on the way out. His mana-sensing skill was able to track Hannah all the way down the hallway and up the nearby flight of stairs. His eyes had been perpetually covered by a blindfold over the last couple of weeks, but it wasn't like he was totally unaware of his surroundings.
At this point, Cyrus had been able to gather a decent amount of information about the building that he was currently in. As far as he could tell, the place was pretty big. Bigger than the average house, but not all that much compared to other places.
On top of that, the young 'tree magic' user was able to gather that Hannah wasn't the only one who came to this place on a regular basis. Two other mana signatures routinely showed up in the area directly above Cyru's head. One B-rank and one A-rank based on how much mana they had. Aside from Hannah, those other two were the only ones that he ever noticed while he was still lucid and conscious. And right now, the 'ice magic' user was steadily making her way toward them.
'Mom and Dad are probably worried about me. I hope they're okay.' Cyrus said to himself as everything started to get all hazy and loopy again. The most recent batch of Hannah's sedatives was finally starting to kick in, which meant that it wouldn't be long before he would be out cold.
By now, Cyrus had learned to stop fighting against the feeling and just let the sleepiness take over him whenever it came. It was much easier than forcing himself to stay awake.
'I hope I get out of here soon. I want to eat some of Dad's cooking again. I haven't had those ribs that he likes to make in forever. I wonder if he'll make me some when I see him again? Mom's chili, too. That stuff is great. Nice, warm, and hearty, just the way that I like it....'
The young man's mind continued to ramble on about all the different foods that he wanted to eat again before everything faded to black.
-(o)-
A few minutes later, after showering and freshening herself up, Hannah joined Aaron and Mikayla in the warehouse's lounging area. This was the first time they had all been together in the last week or so, and they were planning on having a bit of old-fashioned fun later on this evening.
"Having fun with your little sex slave down there?" Mikayla asked Hannah the moment she walked through the door.
"I am, actually!" The 'ice magic' user beamed. From where the other two were sitting, it looked like the woman was glowing. "That boy sure knows how to show a girl a good time! I almost considered letting him out of his cuffs just so that we could do some more positions."
Aaron couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Because that's not weird at all...."
"Shut up!" Hannah shot back, only to immediately recompose herself before speaking again. "We're making great progress, though. I think we only need to keep him here for another week before letting him go."
"Really? That was fast." Mikayla seemed genuinely surprised after hearing that. Usually, her best friend needs to hold onto her toys for an entire month before she got what she needed. To think that she would be done a week early was good news.
"I know, right? He pumps out baby batter like a damn machine! Thank God I'm on birth control. If I wasn't, then I might've already gotten myself pregnant."
How Hannah could say something like that so casually truly baffled Aaron to no end. It really made the man wonder if the woman was right in the head. But, this was still his sister at the end of the day. So, no matter how disgusting he found her little hobby to be, the stoic 'fire magic' user chose to keep his opinions to himself.
"I take it that we're going to give him the usual treatment when you're done with him?" The man then asked, hoping to quickly change topics.
"Nah." Hannah shook her head. "Drop him off somewhere where he'll be found quickly. I'm pretty sure that the Boss is going to want me to use him again in the future, so the quicker he gets healed up, the better."
"Gotcha."
"Too bad we can't sell off a couple of vials for ourselves." The 'bone magic' user added. "I have a contact in the Blackwell family who would love to get her hands on some of it."
"I agree, but it's better that we just avoid the risk. If the Boss finds out that we're double-dealing behind her back, she'll be pissed. She has a plan for Cyrus, whatever it may be, and I'm not looking to step on her toes. Plus, we almost got caught the last time we tried."
"Yeah, yeah...."
"Anyways, you guys ready to go?"
"Sure am!" Mikayla said cheerfully. "That influencer I told you about is going to be out partying tonight, which means that her car is ripe for the taking! If we do this right, we can shop it before she even realizes that it's gone!"
Mikayla's kleptomaniac enthusiasm for taking things that don't belong to her rivaled Hannah's zeal when it came to abusing whatever guy happened to end up on her exam table. And honestly, between her obsession with money and stealing things, it was hard to determine which one she loved more. For as long as Aaron could remember, the curly-haired brunette had always been like this, even before they met all those years ago. It was simply a part of who she was.
Hannah then decided to crack a joke at Mikayla's sudden change in demeanor. "Man...how long has it been since we boosted a car? At least two years, right? I hope you're not rusty."
Aaron let out a grunt that sounded dangerously close to a chuckle before standing up and making his way to the door. And the two women were quick to join the raven-haired man as they all prepared for a night of chaos out on the town. Despite the deplorable nature of their own personal brand of fun, they were all looking forward to enjoying some time together like they used to before joining Iznana.