“Run!” Sky screamed to Kahree as they ran through the hallways of Frederick Windermere’s mansion.

  “I’m trying! The guy’s quick on his feet for a big man! Where’s Oki?” Kahree yelled back as she quickly turned another corner.

  Moments later, Oki dashed from another corner huffing and puffing just like Sky and Kahree. “Go, get out of here! I’ll hold him back and make sure he stays in the house!” Sky screamed one last time to her team before turning around to a raging Windermere. He was running so fast that when he turned the corners he would run straight into the wall. That gave the girls the advantage to get ahead. Sky stood firm as a bloody Windermere approached her.

  The giant of a man was three times the size of the girls. He wrapped his extra-large arms around Sky giving her a huge bear hug. Windermere grunted as he lifted her off the ground, “You bitches think you can take me out? Who the fuck are you anyway? Never mind, I’m going to crush your little body until your head pops off.”

  Sky knew she didn’t have that much time left. The real attack was about to occur, and distracting Windermere was key to completing the mission. Sky had been working on a new special technique she called, cherry bombs. They were little concentrated balls of fire that exploded on Sky’s queue. For Kahree, she snaps her fingers to break the mind-control. For Sky, clapping her hands made the most impact. The sound waves the clap produced allowed her more distance. However, at the moment clapping her hands felt impossible. She was losing consciousness from Windermere squeezing her to death. Sky heard two large pops on her torso and knew he was going to kill her before she could cause any explosion.

  Think, dammit. Sky tried to kick the giant in between his legs however Windermere’s large gut got in the way. The only option left was to head bud him straight on. Sky tilted her head as far back as she could go as she was trying to hold on to every ounce of breath she had left. With one powerful thrust downward Sky hit Windermere square in the nose. Blood squirted everywhere as the large man dropped Sky to hold his broken nose. As soon as she hit the ground, Sky clapped her hands.

  All of the little cherry bombs Sky placed around the gas filled house began to explode at the same time. Waves of flames filled the hallways destroying everything in sight. Windermere was getting back to his feet when he saw a monster bigger and stronger than him. The explosion quickly melted away his flesh, fat, then eventually his bones down to ash. Parts of his cooked flesh and bones covered Sky as she covered herself from the debris. Ambers and pieces of debris floated throughout the night-sky as she laid there trying to recover. The huge explosion killed everyone inside except Sky. Kahree tugged Oki’s arm hard as she tried to get them out of the blast radius. She knew the explosion was going to be enormous. “Wait, Ree! What about Sky?” Oki pulled her arm back to turn around.

  “Don’t worry about her... The Child of Fire, remember? She can’t get burned, over-heat, etc... Come on! We’ll wait for her over here.” Kahree and Oki crouched behind a small forest that was in the back of the property. Kahree scanned the burning house as Oki scanned for the newcomers that were about to arrive.

  Just then, they saw Sky wobbling out the side of the broken house. Almost all of her clothes were completely burned off only leaving enough clothing to cover her lady parts. She was covered in black soot and parts of her hair was still smoking. “There! Ree, we have to grab her before anyone sees.” The girls ran to Sky as fast as they could manage. They threw her arms over their shoulders and assisted her back to the woods.

  Sky moaned as she held the side she heard the pop. “My ribs, my ribs are broken.”

  “We have to get her back to my place. I can help her, but I need some things.” Oki stated as she assisted Sky up to her feet.

  Kahree assisted from the other side when she noticed something very critical. “Sky, where’s your Vix Glass necklace?” With all the commotion and Sky barely wearing any clothes, she didn’t notice she lost the necklace in the fight. “Fuck! We can’t go back now.”

  “Don’t worry,” Oki grabbed Sky by her hips. “I have an idea.” She looked back through the woods and saw over a dozen lights flashing towards the burning mansion. Oki had a small flash of excitement then said, “Now, that’s how you take down one of the Five!”

  “Keep your panties on now... we’re not out of this yet.” Kahree stated as she helped Sky get a pull over sweater on to cover her half naked body.

  “Come this way, my place is just on the other side of these trees.” Oki pulled Sky to the right as they disappeared into the trees. All they could hear was shouting coming from Windermere’s burning mansion. The girls didn’t bother to turn around to watch for the risk of getting caught was too great. When the trees finally cleared, Kahree was surprised to see a whole other side of the town. A run down, not as well kept up part that looked relatively poor. “Over here...”

  Oki led Kahree and a barely conscious Sky to the dark run-down building. There were a small set of stairs that led to a door at the bottom. Oki took the girls down the stairs and opened the door. Kahree couldn’t help but feel a little paranoid for this side was the complete opposite from where LaGon’s Tavern was. “Where are we, Oki?” Kahree asked as she stepped over an old pair of shoes that were in the middle of the hallway.

  “My home... I know it’s not as nice over here, but the plus side is no one bothers us. This is where the working class lives. Honestly, it's not as bad as it looks. I appreciate the privacy.” When Oki opened her apartment door a strong burning smell burst through the door. It was so strong that Kahree immediately had to cover her nose.

  “What in the hell is that smell?” Kahree coughed a few times before laying Sky down on the nearest sofa. Oki’s apartment was small but compacted with small tables and glass experimenting bottles everywhere. It was a studio apartment, so everything was out in the open for display.

  Oki slapped the back of her neck as she apologized for the strong smell. “Sorry about that, it’s the Vix Glass. In order for me to use it the vile has to stay warm. When the damn stuff cools it takes days to liquify again.”

  “Wait! I thought you said you haven’t figured out the complete formula yet of the Vix Glass tattoos.” Kahree mentioned as a matter of fact. She grabbed thick white bandages and wrapped Sky’s torso snug. “You are not trying that on my sister. All we need is a few days, we heal fast... Oki, you don’t even know how it worked on you.”

  Sky coughed gently while holding her side. Oki continued pouring the black melted rock into the tattoo gun. She plugged up the cord to the wall then turned it on. “We don’t have a choice, Ree.” Her voice was so faint they could barely hear her words. “I trust Oki... without the Vix Glass we’re done.”

  Kahree turned to Oki then huffed. “This better work...”

  “There’s only one way to find out...” replied Oki.

  *

  Three days ago...

  Kahree walked into LaGon’s Tavern looking her sister. To everyone else, Sky was her cousin. She walked to the bar counter and greeted Miles, “Hey! Have you seen my cousin? She’s supposed to meet me in a few.”

  Miles looked up and gave Kahree a big smile. He was always cheerfully nice. “Hey Ree! Sky’s in the back taking a break. She should be back soon if you want to wait for her.”

  She waved thanks and strolled her way back out the front door. Kahree walked around to the back alley towards the back entrance of the tavern. There she saw Sky and Jordy laughing sharing a chunga joint. Kahree sat there for a few minutes observing them before she interrupted. What she was witnessing was not only rare but potentially dangerous. She knew her sister was smart though, the smartest among the three, in Ree’s opinion. At the moment however, she saw Sky in a different light. Someone she hasn’t seen in a really long time...

  “I told you to hit it slowly, Jordy.” Sky continued to laugh while taking the joint from his hands.

  “Listen,” Jordy coughed some more. “It’s been a while because Molly made me quit. She couldn’t stand the smell. So, I lost my tolerance.”

  “Sure... We’ll now with you being a free man in all. You can gain whenever tolerance you want.” Sky stated as a matter of fact.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Jordy kneeled forward resting his large muscular arms on his thighs. “Look, Sky I’m sorry about that day. Deep down I knew something was going on with those two. To be honest, I was only going through with it to honor my uncle’s wishes. With my family joining with the Sunborns it will generate large amounts of wealth.” Sky listened carefully as Jordy continued to tell his side of the story, like it mattered what she thought. “I’ve known Molly my whole life. It worked out in the end. Rogelio gets his grandchild, and Molly and Ish are getting married whether they want to or not...” Jordy stopped mid-sentence.

  Sky could see right through her young boss. Jordy was a softy... A gentle giant who did not like confrontation unless he needed to. His freshly buzz cut hairstyle opened his face allowing Sky to really see his beautiful green eyes. Sweat started beading on his arms and forehead from the warm day making his white muscle shirt stick to his torso. That gave Sky the chance to admire his nice fit body, until Kahree interrupted...

  “Hey, you two...” Kahree walked up slowly from the alleyway waving at Sky and Jordy. “Sorry to interrupt, I need to steal my cousin away for a minute. Is that ok with you?”

  Jordy and Sky stood up to greet Kahree. “Of course, just have her back before the dinner rush. We’re slow right now anyway.” He turned to Sky then gently touched her arm. “I’ll see you later."

  Sky and Kahree both looked down at Jordy’s hand as he gently let go Sky’s arm. Kahree’s left eyebrow raised when Sky gazed the area he just touched. “You ready, Sky?”

  “Yea. My room?” Sky asked still in a little daze.

  When the girls reached Sky’s room, Kahree could not wait to ask what that was all about. However, she already knew. The last time Sky fell for someone was almost a hundred years ago. He was a soldier under their father Esio and he was considered one of the best. Unfortunately, being the best doesn’t make a soldier immortal. During a great battle on Takeaway, Sky’s lover lost his life at the hands of ruthless Barbarians. For years, she blamed herself and closed herself off from any possibility of intimacy. Until now...

  “So, you two looked a bit cozy. I think he fancy’s you, Sky.” Kahree said in a teasing way.

  “What are you talking about? Jordy’s just like that... There’s nothing going on there. Don’t go there, Ree. He’s a target, a LaGon...” Sky replied a bit irritated.

  “I see the way he looks at you and it might be a good way to get better information.” Kahree flipped her hair and rolled her tongue across her lips sarcastically. “All I’m saying is, the best kind of tea is in the morning.”

  Sky gave her sister a confused look. “What are you talking about?”

  “Wow, Sky. Pillow talk...” Kahree smirked while lifting her eyebrows. Just then, someone knocked on the door. The girls quickly turned and faced the door frozen in place then they heard the knock again. “Are you expecting someone Sky?”

  “No, I’m not.” Sky whispered as she tip-toed to the door to look out the peephole. At first, Sky didn’t recognize the young lady standing outside until it hit her. “It’s the girl that saw me at the brothel.”

  “Who? Let me see.” Kahree peeked through trying to get a glimpse as well. “Should we let her in?”

  “I think you should...” said the young lady standing outside the door. Sky looked up at Kahree then slowly cracked up open the door. “Can I come in, please?" Sky opened the door all the way allowing the young lady to walk through the threshold. She walked in and looked around at the apartment Sky was renting out. “Wow, it’s nice in here. I’ve never had the pleasure to stay here.” She was dressed again in all black with a short sleeve button down, tight black pants and thick leather boots. Sky coughed in her hand to get her attention. “Oh, sorry. I’m Oki... I can’t believe my prayers have finally been answered.”

  Kahree finally spoke up saying, “Prayers? We don’t even know who you are.

  “Listen, I mean you all no harm. I need your help, you don’t understand. I’ve been for three years and...”

  “What are you? Answer the question... Why come to us for help?” Sky interrupted.

  “Ok,” Oki raised her hands in the air. “I am a Skinner... not exactly a Star Child like you all but something like it...”

  After Oki said what she was, Kahree looked even more confused. “A what?!”

  Sky rolled her eyes, “A shapeshifter... She can transform into anyone or anything she wants.”

  “I’ve been here for three years now looking for the captured Star Children. I’m assuming just like you. I’m looking for my brother... They took him from our home, and I haven’t seen him since. I’ve been doing this all alone for a long time so bare with me for getting super happy to see,” Oki walked closer to the girls before finishing her sentence and whispered. “The Angels of Death.”

  “Whoa! How did you know that?” Kahree asked shocked.

  “That’s not important at the moment," Interrupted Sky. “How did you find us?”

  Oki looked down shuffling her feet then flipped her hair out of her face. “Well, I followed you since I saw you at the brothel that one night. I’ve been following you for a week now but only to make sure. Skinners can see people’s energies... That’s how we’re able to make exact copies of someone. I knew no one else could see you so I put two and two together. Man, you two had to pretty stronger energies. I know after hearing something like that you have no reason to trust me...” Oki held up her arms surrendering. “I can help; I’m on your side... As a matter of fact, I have some useful information for you. The other day a rumor started spreading about Rogelio’s last capture. So, I did my own investigating and found out Ro’s men had to line the mobile cage with Essence Stones just to keep this Star contained.”

  This intrigued both Sky and Kahree greatly. Kahree shrugged her shoulders and said, “At this rate Sky, we’re going to be here for decades. We could use the help... It sounds like it might be Arkaminus.”

  “Arkaminus? The Ancient?” Oki asked. Sky gave Kahree a look which made her shrug her shoulders again. “I’ve met Arkaminus before... it was very interesting to meet the first of our kind. He’s the reason any Skinners exist really.” Oki shrugged her shoulders as Sky and Kahree gawked at each other. This is news to them...

  Sky studied the young girl for a while and saw the desperation in her eyes. Oki was really young and either really smart, which was useful or a spy. A spy would mean the rebel families were on to the Angels and there was no sign of that. Kahree however was right... The rate Sky and Kahree were going, lots of Star Children were doomed to die. “You risked a lot coming here... You could have gotten us caught but I can tell you have real guts. We normally don’t involve others, especially innocents. However, we could use the help to know more about these Founding Five or Founding Fathers we keep hearing about.” Oki gave Sky a small smile and nodded in agreement. Sky walked over and pulled the silver briefcase from underneath her bed. When she opened it, she began to spread out all the photo pictures of their alleged targets. “So far, we know about the LaGons, the Sunborns, Windermere and the Kings. Who is the last family that makes up the five?

  Oki smirked before answering, “They call themselves the Knights of Free Men or KFM for short. They are an underground organization with the strict mission and purpose of taking down the Star Counsel. In the process throughout the years, they’ve collaborated their businesses, militias, and wealth. I’m not surprised you don’t know or haven’t seen the last Founding Asshole. His name is Jose Fuego... Everyone calls him Fuego and he’s the biggest asshole out of all of them. He doesn’t live in the city; he lives on the outskirts of Boro near the mountains.”

  Sky brought a few photos to Oki to see. One by one Oki was able to name off certain individuals the Angels didn’t know about yet. “Are there more cities than just Boro? And do you know where the entrance is into the mountains? We believe that’s where they’re keeping the Star Children. I spotted that mobile prison on the street the day Rogelio returned. I wanted to follow it, but I got interrupted by Jordy’s crazy brother, Alex.”

  “Oh yea! Watch out for him. That dude is Rogelio’s right-hand man and a really lunatic. Without Alex, Rogelio wouldn’t get half of his work done. He is a big connect to the rest of the five. To be frank, the only thing keeping the ‘Five’ together is money and the promise to free from you guys. Free from being monitored, free to governor themselves how they see fit. Anybody that threatens their ability to generate wealth quickly becomes their enemy. From what I hear each member has to have a legitimate heir. Someone they can pass down the wealth and knowledge of knowing they conquered the Star Counsel. There was one more part to that rumor about Rogelio... Some claim he got help from one of the Twelve Queens on the Star Counsel. I couldn’t believe my ears.”

  Again, Sky and Kahree looked at one another. “Go on, Oki this is good. Did they say a name or what sector they controlled?”

  “No. What I do know is cutting off the money supply will definitely slow him down and damage his plans. Rogelio needs lots of money and men to even attempt to overthrow the Star Counsel. The day the Star Counsel was attacked on your homeland, the people here held a huge celebration. Most of us in the working class were scared out of our wits. We didn’t know if they had finally succeeded in destroying Stella. That’s when I really decided to keep my ears open. I know this is a lot of unpack but I have so much more.”

  Oki stuck out her arm and flashed a black shiny tattoo. “Also, I invented this...” It was obvious it wasn’t made with normal black ink. “I’ve been developing a new formula that can protect us special ones from the Essence Stones. So far, I’ve been the only person that can withstand having the melting rock embedded in my skin. I saw you two had Vix Glass necklaces... I know the Judith people want to spread the word about the Vix Glass being the Essence Stone’s counter. However, once the enemy finds out we have a way to go undetected, they’ll have a way to destroy it.”

  Kahree continued to ask Oki questions, but the sound faded into the background. Sky looked down at the photos. All she could think about was her next target, Frederick Windermere. While the window was still open from the distractions, this gave the girls another opportunity to strike. Skey stared at the photo of a younger Jordius LaGon and pondered what Kahree said earlier about getting closer to him. Maybe she’s right, thought Sky. He could be the key to getting the answers we need. After we take down Windermere... She turned to Oki and asked, “I need to know everything about Windermere?”

  Both Oki and Kahree stopped talking and looked at Sky. Oki coughed into her hand, “What do you what to know? Windermere is simple as they come, eat, sleep, eat some more then sleep some more. He cares more about food than his two twin boys, Kendrick and Cedric. If Windermere is next on your list, I can definitely help with that. You see, I work for a cleaning company, and his house is scheduled for a full cleaning two days from now. My team and I are very close, and they know I use this job to snoop around to gather information about finding my brother. I can get you uniforms and everything...”

  Sky got a rush of excitement. “You said two days from now? Perfect! Here’s the plan...”