My Worst Enemy, Myself and I: Chapter 1 – A Villain Within

Chapter 1 – A Villain Within

“Now, I’m finally free,” I say as I snap the neck of my pregnant wife in one hand and my child’s neck with the other.

I let go of them, letting them fall to the city streets and the horrified crowd below me. Wait. What is happening?! What have I done?!

I did what I had to. Life is too difficult to endure. It’s becoming increasingly expensive each year, resulting in more work and stress for lower pay. The world also seems to turn against me. It despises my beliefs, and I can’t change the laws or the powerful people who oppose me. What’s the point of living just to suffer and enjoy a few fleeting things that come and go like a breath of air? I saved them from living the misery that is this life. Now, I must join them with one step off this building. Ah, but fate is cruel, because after falling five stories down to the concrete, I live. The damage done by the fall quickly healed and was only mildly discomforting.

What’s going on?! What am I doing? Why are my clothes and skin color two different colors, and why’s there an evil, deep voice in my head that sounds like mine?

Why’s there a light and gentle voice in my head that sounds like mine?

All I wanted was a better job to support my family.

All I wanted was the power to be free and do what I want.

I went somewhere to be experimented on to get powers. They told me they’d separate the evil from me.

What is evil? It’s what opposes what I like nothing more. With the powers I have, I can finally shape the course of my life as I wish. No more compromises. No more letting people tell me what to do. The threat of poverty and violence no longer applies to me. I’m a truly free man.

No. I’m confined in this body with myself and my temptations. I won’t be free until I get the voice to stop taking control. Getting up on my feet, I try not to look at the smashed remains of my wife and children and push through the scared crowd as the police arrive. Come on! I should also have the power to fly, run fast, or at least leap up into the air!

I should kill them too, and make a name for myself here. This isn’t my home city. These people are foreigners and would make good practice for my new abilities.

No! I leap up into the air, right into the side of a building. As I grip onto it, I run up the face of the building, reach the top, and leap from rooftop to rooftop, then down to the ground when the superhuman heroes start coming after me. They shoot their powers of electricity and ice at me, as I manage to block them with my arms, turning them into large white shields with three interconnected circles on them.

There’s no outrunning them. I can run fast, across the face of buildings, and leap into the air fairly high, but that isn’t getting me away from them. Changing tactics, my arms turn large and black with sharp, reaching fingers on my shoulders, elbows, and hands. Using these weapons, I slash at my pursuers, knocking them into buildings, cutting off heads and limbs, sending cars and heroes into traffic, and into the air into other pursuing heroes and a news copter. With no one left in sight, I take a few more sharp turns, keep running, and head into what seems to be a quieter and darker area of the city where no one should easily find me.

I catch my breath in a dark and filthy building, regretting what I just did. How can I lose control of myself so easily? God, have mercy on my soul. What curse has been afflicted upon me? What did I do to deserve this?

I hate this whiny, judgmental voice in my head. There has to be a way to get rid of it. If I remember correctly, I had the Coronamento Corporation experiment on me to get these powers. They must’ve put me in this city for a reason, so they must be nearby, or maybe I can find a building they own. They’re everywhere nowadays, so they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Picking myself back up, I walk outside and notice my reflection in the broken glass of a condemned store with police tape around it. I’m wearing a half white, half black hoodie with pants and shoes that follow the same color pattern, but in opposite parts. Part of me has my normal skin color, but my brown eyes and hair are so dark now to the point where they look black. As for the other half of me, it’s a greyish white with black and white eyes and grey hair that’s cut short.

Enough of this looking in the mirror. I know I look good, so there’s no reason to check at all. With my hood on, I walk among the crowds of the city and get a feel for where I am. I’m definitely in a foreign land because the demographics and churches are different than where I’m from, that being Nexum.

I’m in the Columbian Union, specifically the city of Meridian. It’s nicer than I heard it was. The people seem to get along, and I even see a church dedicated to the religion I’m a part of that’s commonly worshipped in Nexum.

This is also the home of the so-called hero, L’Obscurité, who came to my country with John Elio, disgracing it by attacking and forcing it to pay reparations for what its leaders and influencers did to it. They got what they deserved when our leaders attacked them, their families, and friends. With the powers I have, I should finish what was started and make them pay for what they did.

We deserved it for what we did to them. We hated these people and thought they were lesser than dogs because they believed differently from us.

They’re the reason why living became so expensive for me and caused my family so much more suffering. I was a fool to trust the Coronamento Corporation to give me powers when they were the ones who supported the villains who destroyed my country, but now I’ll make them regret it. It was part of the plan, after all.

Finding a building owned by the Coronamento Corporation isn’t hard. Given their pride, they have one of the largest buildings in this city, filled with modern, Art Deco, and Gothic architecture.

Seeing it makes me sick and fills me with rage. It should crumble to the ground with everyone still in it.

Going in, I find a sleek and clean place with people walking around the place, despite it being late at night. Without realizing it, my entire appearance has changed. I look into a nearby mirror and see that my appearance has changed into the man in a suit I was looking at, who I assumed to be a boss, given how he was talking to a group of people who were following him. Perfect. Using this disguise, I walk through security, who seem not to have noticed me.

It looks like they were all too busy to notice my sudden transformation, but I can’t guarantee that the cameras didn’t, so I'd better hurry up. Thankfully, the levels on the elevator here are labeled, so I go down to the superhuman research area. People wave and say hi, presumably to me, and I merely nod and wave back, unsure of the extent of my new mimicking ability. They’ll all have their throats slit soon.

I go into a room that’s marked archives and go to the largest computer, guessing it has the information I’m after. A camera in the top part of the computer suddenly scans my eyes, confirms my identity as the person I’m mimicking, and turns on. Searching through the database, I find shared folders marked for various kinds of subjects, such as those who were willing, prisoners who gave themselves up for experimentation, and employees and allies of Coronamento who also received experimentation with subcategories based on location and experiment. It’s a good thing there’s a handy search feature on this computer, so I can easily look for my name and not have to look through the many folders.

Searching for Zandro…Zandro…what’s my last name? Did I forget that, too? It doesn’t matter. I’m not part of any family anymore anyway. Zandro comes up with only one result that details that I’m a willing subject and was given the powers they told me about, that being to separate the good from the so-called evil, along with other powers that I didn’t care to listen to at the time, only wanting powers so I could carve my path to absolute freedom and self-rule.

It says here that I also accepted being moved to the Columbian Union, where my family and I were given an apartment as part of my compensation for working for a hero association here known as the Dominion, the one that L’Obscurité and John Elio lead.

My two primary targets. Maybe I can find the location of their family and friends here. I’ll break their necks like I did with my family and make a display of their deaths to really get to them. Just like my leaders, I know they’re invincible, so the only way to discredit them is to go after what they built and who they love.

No! I won’t stoop down to their level. The place that experimented on me is in the suburbs of this city and should have the answers I seek. Obviously, they didn’t mean for me to kill my own family and be off their leash like this, at least from what I’m reading.

At the same time, it could’ve been. I have a criminal record as a rioter against Dominion control in Nexum, so it’s possible they gave me these powers, knowing what I would do with them, so that they could further villainize my country and its people. Someone behind me says the name of the person I’m mimicking, giving me the first target, whose face I smash into the computer, leaving it unrecognizable. The alarm is now on. It’s time to cover this place in the guts of its workers.

It's time to leave! I break through the metal barriers that came down on the archive room and push through security who were waiting outside.

They were watching me, and they paid for it. They’ll all pay for it as I change my arms into black, sharp tendrils that pierce through skulls and necks, and sever people in two.

Turning my arms into white shields, I block their gunfire and the ranged powers and physical strength of their superhumans as I run towards the elevator, rip away the blocked doors, and run up the elevator shaft back to the ground floor, where more security is waiting for me and covering the escape of its employees.

They’ll all suffer the same fate!

No, they won’t!

They all deserve to die for what they did and what their employers did to me!

Stop it!

My body splits in two. One is a completely grey and white knight with a halo on the back of its head and a shield on its arm that focuses on knocking out security. The other is black and dark grey with sharp fingers reaching out from its edges that resemble devil horns. It is armed with a sharp, black arm with tendrils that cut through both security and the employees who get in its way. Both leave the front of this Coronamento building as a mess of bodies, both dead and knocked out.

I have to get out of here and get fixed, now! Running outside, I find two superhumans waiting for me, and an observing crowd at a distance. The two superhumans are Kane Mundr and Idelle Elio.

This is perfect. Kane is the hooded, crimson, gunslinging apprentice of L’Obscurité and the adopted son of Timeo Severe, and Idelle Elio is the armored sister of John Elio with two snakes on her back. Killing them or making them suffer will do major psychological damage to their respective loved ones.

No! I need their help!

Them? Help me? They’ll kill me instead.

“Please, you have to help me!” I force myself to say, as I turn back into my normal self.

Kane was about to say something, but now looks confused. “Help? You can say that again, buddy. You’ve been making a ruckus all night and need to stop.”

“I know! My name is Zandro, and I just woke up here, not knowing why I’m here or what I was doing. That’s why I went to Coronamento, to find answers, since they were the ones who gave me these powers. Please, help me! I have no control over my powers or mind!”

“Kane? What’s God’s verdict?” Idelle asks.

Kane looks at me with his eyes that are said to have God’s judgment for souls in them. He manifests two ebony pistols from thin air, points them at me, and says, “Death.”

As part of me tries to accept a pathetic death and beg for undeserved mercy, I charge at Kane and am immediately punched into the Coronamento building by Idelle.

Let them kill me!

They’re the ones who deserve to die. I’m going to rip their heads off and send them to their loved ones in a nice package.

No, I won’t! I run away, and Idelle chases me. Kane is soon behind her on his motorcycle and fires at me with his pistols, while Idelle tries to tackle.

Knowing the best way to get them off my tail, I run into the civilian crowds, throw them up in the air, run through buildings to start fires, and put families in danger that they can’t ignore. This works as planned, and they are forced to focus on the trash they protect, allowing me to escape into the furthest ends of the city.

Getting on my knees, I beg God for forgiveness and mercy.

He’s not listening. He’s already given me the solution to my problem, and I’m going to use it how I want to. Tonight is the start of something horrifyingly beautiful.

It’s the start of a nightmare, and may God have mercy on my soul.

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Kane Mundr and Idelle Ellio are two lovers who are also brutal heroes, killing and attacking criminals and villains without warning or mercy daily. Knowing Idelle is the only one for him, Kane is trying to find the right opportunity to propose to her, until a mysterious power affects him and Idelle, leading to them being challenged by a family with psychological and supernatural powers who see them as a threat to their beliefs and way of life.

A Romance Between Serpents: Chapter 4 – Merciless Couple

Chapter 4 – Merciless Couple

Idelle and I walk hand-in-hand through the crumbling city. Ahead of us, we see the shadows of The Family.

“How is this happening?! You both have no supernatural or psychological power or control over yourselves! You’re both bloodthirsty murderers, who shouldn’t have this much control over yourselves!” The Family says.

“We’re more than murderers,” Idelle says.

“We’re defenders of justice. Punishers of the wicked,” I add.

“Servants of our God and nightmares to sinners and devils alike.”

“You’re both scum!”

“We’re redeemed scum,” I clarify.

“And we’re here to bring you to justice,” Idelle says as she charges forward.

The Family spawns superhumans and begins to make the buildings collapse on us, and the floor falls from under us.

“If we can’t break you mentally, we’ll do so physically. This pain might be real, but it’ll feel like it,” The Family says.

Idelle and I leap between the falling pieces of the floor, fighting through the superhumans they throw at us. She takes care of the ones that charge at us, while I shoot at the incoming ones and others that fire bits of buildings and floors at us, all while dodging attacks coming our way. We crash through doors, fall through windows, and have to jump from building to building with Idelle, especially helping by carrying me out of sticky situations that I’m not athletic enough to jump out of, as I shoot every enemy around and ahead of us to clear a path. The Family increases the number of superhumans they throw at us, but we push through until we reach them. They look exhausted, breathing heavily, and no longer using their powers. My eyes can finally see what their judgment is, and it’s death, so I manifest two pistols and point them at them.

“Are you going to kill a family for protecting themselves and their beliefs? We were right that you’re both nothing more than heartless murderers,” The Family says.

“No. You brought this on yourselves. May God have mercy on your wretched souls,” I say before pulling the trigger and shooting them all.

When I blink my eyes, I see that I’m back in the bar restaurant that Idelle and I were in before, but now, I see that I’ve shot a family in it. Everyone is startled by it, as Idelle and I make sure we’re back in reality. Polina is the first to start yelling at me, like usual, even as I try to get ahead of it and explain the entire situation that happened with The Family and what they were trying to do. We both then defer to Timeo to read my memories and confirm my story. He does so and is shocked by what he sees and learns.

“Amazingly, all happened in such a short span of time,” Timeo says.

“Huh? It did?” I ask.

“I just saw Idelle and you walk to the overlook. A few seconds later, you started shooting. Look at the time if you don’t believe me.”

Sure enough, I look at the time on my phone, and it’s true. Not even a minute has passed in reality. Timeo calls attention to the power over minds that The Family had, and to call every ally we know. Over the span of the next few hours, we learn that many of our allies and members of the Dominion were under the control of The Family and have just gained control of themselves. They were the reason why we’ve been having so much trouble dealing with criminals and villains. They were the rats.

Because of this discovery, Polina lets us off the hook and gives Idelle and me time to rest after being through such a mentally harrowing experience. We’re back at my house now, overlooking the city again, while John’s and Timeo’s families, Polina, and Raziel talk downstairs.

“How are you feeling?” I ask Idelle.

“Fine. Better now. Believe it or not,” she says.

“Really? Why’s that?”

“What The Family put us through was a good reminder to me that I shouldn’t be afraid to rely on others. That I have the potential to continuously change into a better person, and to stop viewing myself the way I do and see myself as others do, since they can see the things I refuse to or am blind to.”

“I’m glad you got something out of it. All I got was upset.”

“At what?”

“Seeing you upset and feeling desperate to be there for you. I say all the time that we’re better now and always trying to be even better than that, but sometimes I have doubts that creep in. I try not to listen to them, but they keep bothering me now and then…”

Idelle holds my hand and kisses me.

“It’s okay. I’ll always be here for you,” she says with a gentle smile.

I guess there’s no better time to do this than.

“Speaking about always being here for you…”

“Oh, is that the ring?!”

Before I can fully show it to Idelle and do the whole routine of getting on one knee, she takes the ring from me and puts it on her ring finger. She smiles brighter than she ever has before and looks like she’s holding back tears of joy. Who am I to ruin this moment by telling her we should do this properly? Makes things easier for me. The next series of events almost makes me regret what I did.

Idelle kisses me and gives me a back-breaking squeeze like always, but John and the others must’ve been watching us since they soon join in. John also gives me a back-breaking hug, and with both superhuman siblings hugging me, I feel like I might actually die. Thankfully, Timeo, Polina, and Raziel are there to break things up before I’m broken in two. I have to catch my breath on the ground as John and Idelle profusely apologize for nearly killing me, something I say is no problem in a wheezed voice. Standing up, I properly kiss Idelle as everyone excitedly cheers for us and our future marriage, one we trust to God, where we will hopefully be even better people for each other, our future children, and the people we love and protect.

 

The End

A Romance Between Serpents: Chapter 3 – Civilian Enemies

Chapter 3 – Civilian Enemies

The streets of Meridian are asleep. Everyone is either sleeping on the floor, in their cars, or at their jobs, all unconscious and unable to wake up. With no clear direction as to what to do or where to go, I decide that Idelle and I should go to the locations The Family showed us that they’re connected to. Even though I don’t know where the locations are, we’re somehow able to make it to the first while wandering the city, as if the city is conforming to fit our will, meaning we must still be under their spell. At their house, we find a simple setup in this lower-middle-class area of the city. All the pictures are blacked out with silhouettes of people with no distinctive faces.

I see these same silhouettes on the walls of the house, shadows that seem to be moving as if they’re alive. Were they always here watching us, or did they just appear?

“You have more spiritual power than we thought,” The Family says.

“It’s my God who did all the work. Not me,” I say.

“Maybe so. This is our house. We are simple people who live together to get by. We only use our extraordinary abilities given to us by a higher being when we feel it necessary.”

Feeling that there’s nothing else here, I feel compelled to leave. Doing so, I see a church across the street that definitely wasn’t there before. Idelle and I go into it to see a church similar to a Protestant one, except it’s filled with pagan gods and Christ at the center, similar to what I’ve heard being worshipped in Nexum.

“This is our church and gods,” The Family says.

At the altar, a book catches my attention. Looking at its cover, some of its contents, and the symbols in it, I recognize it as text and symbols from the demonic sixth family that plagued Meridian with their evil magic, and I explain this to The Family in as few words as possible.

“So what? This is what we believe to be true and good,” they say.

“You believe in a false deity,” I say.

“We haven’t hurt anyone through our beliefs who didn’t deserve it. Where have you heard that before?”

“It’s more than hurting people. You damn yourselves and those you love by believing wrong, and look where that is getting you. You live wrongly and want to force us to act against the people we love and the truth we know to be true. Can’t you see that you’re the ones forcing yourselves on us? Not the other way around? Idelle and I uphold the law that allows all beliefs to coexist, while punishing those who seek to destroy it.”

“What is the law? What is being a good person? What’s the difference between a person who does charity for others and those who do so to affirm their pride in their character? What’s the difference between the cop who protects citizens and the cop who protects the tyrants of a country? What’s the difference between the family that goes to church on Sunday and those that give themselves to the opposing gods commonly worshipped?”

“The truth of the belief and intention behind them. That’s the difference between murder and law enforcement and self-defense, and instituting just laws and ones meant to take away just freedoms. If you don’t like where our country, the Columbian Union, is heading, then you should leave.”

“And go where? The Dominion is an international hero association bringing its version of law and order to it. You’re allied with men like Giovanni Cornamento, who wants countries to have values that align with his Catholic beliefs. Once they do, how long will it be until other beliefs are made illegal, looked down upon, and those who worship opposing beliefs are separated from others and oppressed?”

“It won’t happen. Take it from my history. A heartfelt conversion happens willingly, not through constant force, oppression, or killing,” Idelle says.

“We don’t care for your conversion stories. Even if you won’t force your beliefs upon others, there will be those who will.”

“We’ll make sure you’re dealt with fairly,” Idelle argues. “The point of our faith is salvation, and you can’t be saved if you’re dead or not converting with all your heart.”

“These words come from your brother, Idelle, not you. Speaking of him, we can access his memories and those of your other loved ones, and show them to you. If you won’t see your own faults, then how about we have others show you them?”

People like Timeo, John, Polina, and Raziel appear around us, along with others we know.

“Idelle needs to relax more. If she keeps letting herself fall to temptation, she might do something I can’t save her from,” the voice of John says.

“Stop it! That’s not the full truth of what John thinks,” I say.

“It is part of it,” Idelle admits. “He’s said something similar to that to me before.”

“Kane is unfortunately not changing at all,” the voice of Timeo says. “His methods are as chaotic and brutal as always, and he is making people fear the Dominion more than respect it.”

Polina says, “Kane never learns. He doesn’t see the criminals he inspires, nor the bad example he gives to other aspiring heroes, vigilantes, and Idelle.”

“I have to make Kane see reason or else he’ll cause as much damage or more than I did when I was as zealous as he was,” Raziel says.

“You don’t think I’ve heard them criticize me before? Psh. I hear it all the time. They’re not afraid to let their harshest thoughts known to me because they care about me,” I say.

“But you constantly ignore their advice anyway. Do you really care about them in return if that’s the case?” The Family points out.

“Is Idelle okay to be around my children?” John’s wife asks. “I’ve seen her do brutal and scary things to our enemies, and she always has a blank expression on her face.”

“Kane is a nice man who reminds me a lot of Timeo, but I shouldn’t leave him in the care of my children. He has more targets on his back than my husband, and that list grows after every major fight,” Timeo’s wife says.

“Can they even raise children?”

“It may be better if they trusted, however many children they have, with me or my parents.”

I can’t say either mother is wrong, and Idelle looks embarrassed by what is being said.

“We’ll prove them wrong,” I say to Idelle.

“How? I haven’t thought much about our children and what to do with them once we have them. They’ll be in danger because of who we are,” Idelle says.

“We’ll protect them, just like how we protect others in our daily work. If John and Timeo can juggle hero work and family life, then we can.”

“We’re not like them. We can’t be both gentle and inspiring, and terrifying and world-changing.”

“We don’t have to be like them to be good parents. We’re our own people, and if God made us to be parents, then we’ll be that when we have children. It’s in the future and will be handled then.”

“It’ll have to be a radical change. I’m the furthest thing from what I would consider a mother.”

“You’re a caring person who can be both gentle and passionate at the same time, and if that isn’t what makes a good mother, I don’t know what is.”

A scene of one of the memories I have of Idelle tears itself into the spell we’re in. In it, we see Idelle being gentle with both Timeo’s and John’s children and the children of others that we’ve seen or saved in public and other people we’ve saved or met on the streets, and another tear opens, showing me doing the same.

“Just because you can be gentle and kind sometimes, doesn’t mean it’s who you are,” The Family says.

Versions of our loved ones and others we know appear, giving their criticisms of us. Idelle and put our heads together and hold each other's hands as we put the complete picture together and remember everything that they’ve said about us.

“My sister is my inspiration, and I want nothing more than to be happy and faith-filled her entire life, so if she needs anything from me, I’ll be there for her!”

“Kane is like a son to me, and I need to be the man he looks up to and be there for him at every opportunity and go out of my way for him.”

“He’s my brother-in-arms. I only criticize him to help save his life and make him see the good in people, including himself.”

“Kane is more than a killer. He’s my brother and fellow zealot in Christ.”

“Idelle is my sister-in-law. I didn’t think I’d be a good mother or wife, but I was proven wrong after it happened. I’m sure she feels the same, so I have to support her when it happens.”

“Kane is my adoptive son. What kind of mother would I be if I left him to face his troubles on his own?”

“How are you both continuing to affect our powers over you?!” The Family asks.

“We know the truth,” I say. “We don’t rely on our own power, and instead rely on God, and that only His view of us matters. All of us are sinners, no matter how great or small our faults and evil deeds are, and knowing God’s love, we know we’ll be better than what we are. As for you, you’ll only get worse. May God have mercy on your souls.”

The false versions of our loved ones disappear along with the church we’re in. This false city we’re in is beginning to break apart. From the streets and buildings to the skies, cracks are forming and letting in a bright light. I can feel The Family’s spell over me losing its grip. It's time to end this fight.

A Romance Between Serpents: Chapter 2 – Sympathetic Targets

Chapter 2 – Sympathetic Targets

Chasing Idelle through the streets of Meridian, I push my motorcycle past even its custom limits made to keep up with fast superhumans like Idelle. When I get close to her, I notice that I feel tired and out of breath. It’s then that I notice that I’ve been running with my motorcycle, nowhere to be seen. At the sudden realization, I immediately lose Idelle as she speeds off into the distance.

“Idelle!” I yell as I resume running in a vain attempt to get her.

Looking around, I try to find a vehicle I can borrow, but then realize I must be under the same strange power I was under before. Have I ever broken free of it yet? I still feel that off-putting presence, and haven’t stopped feeling it, even after seemingly breaking free from it. John didn’t sound right, and this whole situation is wrong.

I stand still and say, “Hey! Who are you people? Why are you doing this to me?”

After a few seconds, I hear the voices of men, women, and children speaking to me in one voice. They say, “Call us, The Family. Our names are not important, but our goal is. The goal of your death, your lover, and infiltration of the Dominion.”

“Why? What did we do to you?”

Every light in Meridian goes dark, and every person disappears.

“Because of your methods and beliefs. Recently, you had no mercy, even on the religious who claim to share your beliefs.”

“They were fakes! They got what they deserved for the sins they committed and laws they broke.”

“The Dominion is also our target because of their ability to use force to get what they want, especially when they faced Nexum.”

“Nexum attacked us first and used their influence to outlaw us. We just defended ourselves!”

“What you did made the Dominion the most powerful hero association in the world. As the first international hero association, it can go into any country, any part of the world, and enact justice as it sees fit. At first, we were okay with it. You protected Meridian, and what you did made sense; however, more recently, Idelle and you go around shooting, hurting, and arresting those who don’t share the same beliefs as you.”

“We don’t do that just to anyone. We do that to those who break the law, not just because we disagree with their beliefs.”

“What is the law of the country other than that which says what’s right and wrong? Those who hold power have historically outlawed the beliefs of others, their practices, and ways of living.”

“I don’t think you’re going to see your beliefs outlawed. You’re overreacting.”

“Are we? You’re already using violence and force above what the law says, and soon enough, your actions will be seen as lawful. The Dominion fought and killed to reinstate itself, and you do the same.”

“We do it to protect Meridian, our country, and bring justice to those who deserve it.”

“You do it to those who live and believe differently. What one belief says is righteous, another may say it is evil. One religion calls one being a God, while another calls it a devil. Can you blame us for acting on our beliefs in self-defense?”

“I can say I can understand your reasoning, but I can also say you’re wrong in your beliefs. Free Idelle and me from this spell you have us under, and let’s talk about this before things get violent.”

“All you know is violence, Kane The Guillotine Mundr. There is no such thing as talk for you.”

My life’s history passes me by in front of my eyes, my many crimes, the times when I killed people who I thought deserved it before I got my powers, and the days when I stole from people who I thought had too much, when in actuality, I was jealous of what they had.

“That’s the past. I’m a new man now with eyes that see a person’s fate as judged by God.”

“As we have said, one man’s God is another’s devil.”

Times like these make me wish I had Timeo’s dark powers of justice. My power lies in my eyes and guns, but if I can’t shoot the person who is affecting my mind, I become entirely helpless. I walk around the city, seeing old memories pass me by, and consider what to do. Manifesting my pistol and revolver, I try shooting things around me to no effect.

“Struggle all you want, Guillotine. You won’t get out of this. Once you are broken, we will use our power over you to infiltrate the Dominion and change it for the better. Feel some solace in that and give up.”

“Do you really think that showing me my past and making me feel helpless will break me? You have another thing coming. I’ve already made peace with my mistakes and dark past. Besides, I do have one trick up my sleeve.”

With nothing better to do, I pray for help, hoping that I receive something.

“We have more than one trick up our sleeves as well.”

An explosion and Idelle’s screams break my concentration. Running toward her, I see that she’s tearing apart versions of herself who have pitch black skin. Around her are the bodies of people, most of whom I don’t recognize, but must be connected to her past in some way. Some of the corrupted versions of Idelle turn their attention to me to try to kill me, forcing me to manifest my revolvers to shoot them to push them back. I yell out Idelle’s name as I continue to push forward, dodging between attacks of the corrupted versions of herself until I make it to her, and accidentally get hit by her and sent flying down a few blocks. From a distance, I hear her call my name. She comes running to me and helps me get back up.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for that!” she says.

“Let’s get out of here. We need a safe place to talk,” I say.

Before I can say anything else, Idelle slings me over her shoulder and carries me while her corrupted versions chase after us. I shoot at them as best I can until they seemingly stop chasing us and leave us alone when we reach the edge of the city, where Idelle puts me down. Catching my breath, I stand up and sit back down on a bench.

“I’m sorry again for hurting you. Are you okay?” Idelle asks.

“I’m fine. This situation is messy. Did The Family introduce themselves to you, too?” I ask.

“They did. They also showed me memories that I’d rather forget.”

“Don’t let them get to you. It’s the only way we win.”

“But how can we break free of this spell over us? Neither of us has supernatural powers like Timeo has nor the strength of will that my brother does.”

“You’re stronger than you think. Here, take my hands and let's pray.”

Idelle breathes in and out and takes my hands. Together, we silently pray until interrupted again by The Family, who change the area around us. We see a home, some kind of church, and various places in Meridian, like an office, school, playground, and hospital.

“We’re simple people with unique powers,” I hear them say. “All we want is to live how we see fit.”

“Then leave us alone, and we won’t bother you. I promise to pretend not to speak of this or go after you if you do,” I say.

“We don’t believe you because of your history, Guillotine. We especially don’t trust your girlfriend either. She has a history soaked in more blood than yours as an assassin and torturer for her blood parents, and past that, for losing herself to the black snake on her back. Do you know how many innocent people she killed to find her brother when he was lost?”

“It’s true,” Idelle says.

“It’s in the past,” I say.

“I’m not a good person. I’m a monster.”

“So am I, Idelle, but we can’t let that define us.”

“You both are nothing more than monsters, killing and hurting people for a living under the delusional justification that you’re making the most of what you’re best at.”

“Idelle, think about the children we saved, the innocent people we helped, and all the bastards who got what they deserved.”

“But…”

“Don’t think about what they’re saying. They’re trying to make you focus on the negative and not on the good that we do.”

The Family says, “What good do you do? You help people just to keep and grow the power you have. None of it is honest. All of it is self-righteous, brutal violence. You even hurt each other, just as you have already shown.”

“I did hurt you when I lost control, Kane. They’re right in that aspect.”

“So what? I got back up. I can take it. I told you that I love you anyway, despite your flaws, and I mean it.” I hold Idelle’s hands close to my chest. “Idelle. Please. Trust me.”

“I…I do.”

I kiss Idelle on the lips, and she kisses me back. I then rest my forehead on hers, close my eyes in prayer, and hold her hands. She does the same as memories of the past yell at us about our flaws and mistakes. When they become intense, I grip Idelle’s hands tighter, and she does the same. Eventually, they fade away completely, and a deafening silence takes over. When we open our eyes, we see that we’re back at the bar restaurant we were at before, except everyone is asleep, either resting their heads on the counters, tables, or floors. We try to wake them by shaking them and shooting my guns in the air. Nothing works. Even Timeo and John are out cold, and nothing affects them.

“I still feel that off-putting feeling when The Family’s power first took hold. Do you?” I ask.

“Now that you mention it, I do. Do you think we’re still under their spell? Maybe we’re not truly awake yet, and this is another trick. My brother is never phased by physical ailments,” Idelle says.

“Timeo is not bothered by any attacks, either physical or supernatural. Whatever the case is, we beat their first trick and they’re oddly quiet now, so I’m confident we can beat whatever comes next.”

“I hope so.”

Idelle and I walk out of the bar restaurant, hand in hand, mentally ready for whatever our newest and most challenging foe yet will throw at us.

A Romance Between Serpents: Chapter 1 – A Love Story Written in Violence

Chapter 1 – A Love Story Written in Violence

“Same plan as always, Kane?” Idelle asks me.

“I don’t see why not. The people we target deserve less anyway,” I say as I manifest my ebony pistol and white revolver.

“You’re right.”

Armed only with superhuman strength and speed, golden armor, and a white snake and a black snake on her back, the love of my life, Idelle, punches through the wall of the convent we are targeting and begins breaking the arms and legs of false pious brothers and sisters, while I dispense justice with my pistol and revolver. My pistol kills and is reserved for those God has judged to die, while my revolver knocks out and is meant for those who deserve a second chance, regardless of how badly they’ve sinned or how similar they are to those who deserve death. Knowing their act is already up, the false pious members of the convent and their superhuman guards fight back against us with their guns and powers, respectively, to the best of their abilities. Idelle has no trouble exchanging blows with superhumans or enduring a barrage of bullets; however, I’m not as indestructible as she is, so I have to dodge between bullets and superhuman punches being thrown at me to avoid as much potentially lethal damage as possible.

Some know that they stand no chance against us, begging for mercy on their hands and knees, saying, “Don’t kill me! You’re good Catholics! Spare my life! I’ll go to jail if I have to!”

Some change their fate and receive mercy as God has decided. Others are given no such favor, and their heads are blown straight off their shoulders, horrifying others into truly repenting and earning mercy as a result. More superhumans arrive at the convent, saving us the trouble of tracking them down, and try to cover the retreat of their allies or extract them themselves by speeding or flying them away, but I shoot them before they can escape, and Idelle chases after them. While she’s away, I do my best to clean up here, going room to room looking for targets and executing justice. Unfortunately for me, I am met with a barrage of gunfire and hit by a laser blast from a superhuman. There’s me being a little too gun-happy for my own good again.

Barely back on my feet, I narrowly dodge the next laser blast and then dodge the next barrage of gunfire and return fire, killing a few of the gunmen, and blowing off the arm the superhuman is using to blast his lasers at me. Retreating further back, I run between the columns of the convent for periodic cover, picking off the last of my attackers until none remain. I double-check the rest of the area with more caution, being sure that no one catches me by surprise, which helps out when the last few targets try to catch me by surprise by hiding in dark corners and blind spots. By the time Idelle comes back, the area is clear and the job is done.

She and her snakes look me over like a cop looking for hidden weapons on a criminal as she asks, “Kane, are you seriously hurt? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?”

“I’m fine, Idelle. Just a few scratches, burns, and cracked body armor,” I say.

“That’s not fine. I should take you home to rest.”

“I’m fine enough to drive myself back on my motorcycle. You can run alongside or ride along, if you want.”

My attention is taken to the sirens in the distance and the approaching cop cars and accompanying superhumans. The red-haired, red-eyed killjoy and spitting image of a model police officer and superhuman leads everyone from the front. Her name is Polina Yelizaveta. Beside her is a blonde-haired, yellow-and-orange-eyed knight in modern crimson shining armor, Raziel Emundato, her blazing scythe when things get dirty. They approach us with a serious look on their face.

Polina, the most serious of all of them, says, “Conducting a raid again without permission or letting us know again, Kane? When will you learn?”

“I submitted my heads up to the people I know while I went on ahead,” I say.

“I know. As soon as I saw it submitted, I raced out here to prevent as much death and destruction as possible, but I guess I should have more eyes on you than I already do.”

“That hesitancy and dedication to due process is what costs you precious time, and you know it. After finding those children who went missing during a retreat and learning about the center where they were being trafficked from, I immediately told my contacts what I was doing and came here. If I didn’t, the people here might’ve escaped justice. You know that not every cop on the force or member of our Dominion is legit and could’ve given their friends a heads up like they did last time. If you’re worried about due process, then you should keep an eye on the people who are doing it because if they’ve infiltrated the Church, then they’re surely among our ranks.”

Polina grunts, sends her people to search the convent, and clean up the mess. She then tells me, “I have people on it of internal investigations and have already made arrests, so I have that covered. Anyway, you'd better get changed. Timeo and John will be in the city soon.”

“Oh, that’s right! I almost forgot my brother was coming,” Idelle says.

“Let’s head back then. Polina, thanks for the cleanup crew as always. Raziel, thanks for showing up.”

Idelle and I head back to the Dominion office to change clothes, then go to the spot where Timeo and John are supposed to be, one of the high-rise restaurants owned by our friend Lancetto Affare. I’m dressed as I usually am, with a crimson and black hoodie, black shirt, black pants, and crimson boots, while Idelle wears her pink dress made by her adoptive parents. Since we’re early, we sit at the bar and have a drink, a beer for me and a chocolate milkshake for Idelle, because she always picks ice cream over everything else. Seeing that she’s nervous, I ask if she’s okay.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Idelle says with a shaking leg.

“What’s there to be shaky about? John already knows about our relationship. Heck, he’s the one who set us up, read my soul, and saw that I was supposed to be his brother-in-law,” I say.

“Yeah…still.”

Understanding that nothing I can say will make her feel better, I hold her with one arm, and she hugs me tightly with both arms and snakes. I swear, she’s going to break my spine one day, but if this is what it takes to make her feel better, then it’s what I have to do. John and Timeo soon show up, and upon seeing his sister, John runs up to her with his super speed, hugs her, and tells her how much he misses her. John is simply dressed as always, with his red deacon hero shirt, jeans, golden cape, and farm boots. Meanwhile, Timeo, my mentor and inspiration, is dressed to impress as always, with his suit, this time wearing a black and white suit. I wave at Timeo, who smirks and waves back.

Suddenly, John grabs me and pulls me into a group hug with his sister, asking, “How’s my future brother-in-law doing? Did you propose to her yet?”

Idelle’s face is a bright red, but also remaining as straight and emotionless as usual. I deduced that Idelle was the one for me, and I wanted to wait to propose until I got confirmation from John. When I got it, I felt cornered. Who am I to deny the indelible mark for my love of Idelle left by God? So, I have a family wedding ring that Timeo gave me, which I currently have on me, and waiting for the right opportunity to propose. John is just too forward and much for me. His positivity and presence are overwhelming. When he met the one God made for him, he immediately confessed his love for her, despite the two having just met, and proposed to her not long after.

“Well?” John says while in my face.

Idelle is in my face and waiting in anticipation as well. I have never felt more dead to rights in my entire life. There’s only one thing I can do that won’t end painfully for me. Before I can say anything, Timeo comes in with the save and tells John to give us some space and greet the other guests who have just arrived.

“Okay, fine, but I expect an answer today,” John says with a smile.

I nod at Timeo, who nods back at me. I breathe a sigh of relief and take another sip of my drink before noticing that Idelle is still in my face.

Looking back at Timeo, he smiles and walks away while saying, “I can’t help you there. I told you the danger in girls like that.”

Great.

“Are you going to propose soon?” Idelle asks.

“I will,” I say.

“Are…are you sure? I don’t want to push you to rush it. Don’t let my little brother push you either.”

“Yes, I’m sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I am significantly older than you, there’s my snakes, faults, and…”

Hugging Idelle, I say, “I accept it all. The age gap doesn’t bother me, and neither do your faults. When I say I love you, I mean it, and nothing you do is going to change my mind. We’re meant to be with one another and nothing will separate us.”

I kiss Idelle on the lips, who returns it over and over again, and then rests her head on my shoulders.

“Thank you, Kane.”

As I try to get up, Idelle sticks to me, like usual.

“Come on, let’s go see everyone else.”

“Can we stay like this a bit longer?”

“You say that back at home, but then refuse to stay in your own bed and latch onto me until breakfast.”

“Okay…”

More people arrive, including Timeo’s wife and children, John’s wife and children, Polina, Raziel, the owner, Lancetto, and numerous friends from the city. Meanwhile, Idelle holds my hand and gives nasty looks to any woman who may be single who talks to me with any interest. Later during the party and after eating, John approaches us, as Idelle and I appreciate the view over the city of Meridian.

He apologizes for his forwardness and says, “I just want my big sis to be happy, and I know you’ll make her that, Kane. Just let me know when and where you’ll have your wedding so I can take part in the celebration.”

“Thank you for your concern, John, but can you please give us some space?” Idelle says.

“Okay!”

John immediately walks away.

“I don’t deserve a brother like him.”

“John has always looked up to you. You’re perfect for him.”

“Sure. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m never doing as much. Both he and Timeo have changed the world through their efforts, while we hardly accomplish as much.”

“That doesn’t mean that what we do is useless. John’s primary goal was to serve God in every moment of his life, and look where that got him. We’re the pillars that keep their world-changing planning going and the reason why this city continues to be safe.”

“Yeah…you’re right. Sorry for bringing it up again,” Idelle says as she slaps her black snake, the source of her temptations.

I hold Idelle close and pray that she continues to stay strong and grow in holiness, and for the strength and wisdom to be the man she can always rely on without fail. While continuing to enjoy the view, I feel an off-putting presence as if a seventh sense of mine is picking up on impending danger. I feel Idelle shaking in my arms. Before I can say anything, she hugs me so tightly that I feel like I will actually break in two.

“Idelle! Stop! Let me breathe!” I say.

“Don’t you love me, Kane?” she says as she looks up with me with a disturbing smile.

Idelle has suddenly changed, along with the color of her body. Her skin is now completely pitch black, and her usual white and black eyes are now red and black, indicative that her sinful side has completely taken over.

“Idelle! Please!”

“You’re mine forever, Kane, and I’ll love you till the moment you die.”

With no other choice, I manifest my revolver and shoot Idelle with the little space I have. Catching my breath, I see that the revolver has not affected her.

“I knew I wasn’t worth keeping alive. Your revolver only spares those who deserve mercy, while your pistol kills those who deserve death and damnation. Go ahead. Give me what God has judged for me!”

“You deserve to live, Idelle! You have to live for John and me! You love us, remember?”

“Oh? Is that why you’re holding a pistol instead of your revolver?”

I look at my hands, and I’m suddenly holding my pistol. What? Wasn’t I just holding my revolver a second ago?

“You shot me with your pistol, Kane. I deserve to die.”

“I know what my eyes see! Your verdict on your soul is mercy!”

Idelle charges at me again, I manifest my revolver and shoot it, only for the revolver to switch at the last second into my pistol, and the shot hits her, dropping her to the ground. I run to Idelle and try pulling out the bullet, knowing it staying there will kill her, only for the bullet’s poison to infect me.

Grabbing my arm, Idelle says, “You deserve to die too, Kane The Guillotine Mundr. We can get married in Hell.”

I drop the bullet, turn towards the party behind me, expecting help, and find many people that I remember killing, some justified, others that didn’t. Among them are the bleeding faces of the people I love, such as Timeo, Polina, and Raziel.

“You’re a disappointment, Kane.”

“You’re a murderer.”

“A loose gun with no regard for who you kill.”

“The people you spare deserve to die as well.”

“You deserve to die.”

“You’ll reduce Meridian to ash.”

“It will fall because of the chaos you bring to it.”

“This isn’t real. Something is terribly wrong,” I say to myself.

Without realizing it, I’m holding my pistol to my head.

“See? You know it.”

“God has decided it.”

“Pull the trigger and save others the trouble of your destructive ways.”

“Shut it! You’re not the people I know!”

I manifest two revolvers and start shooting at the impostors around me. In the blink of an eye, I see that I’m holding two pistols, everything seems to be back to normal, but there are dead people everywhere in the bar and restaurant. Standing above the dead is Idelle, covered in blood. Stunned by what is happening, I make my pistols disappear and run to Idelle, who is looking at her bloody hands in horror.

“Idelle! Are-”

“Get away from me!” Idelle says as she runs off.

With her super speed, she’s gone in the blink of an eye, so I turn to her brother for help.

“John, you have to get your sister!” I say, feeling helpless to chase after her myself.

“No, you’re the one who is supposed to be there for her as her husband. We’ll handle things here while you go after her,” he says.

“But…”

“Hurry, Kane! I don’t know what is happening, but she’s in danger. You both are.”

In a panic and not wanting Idelle to get further away, I run out the door, out of the building, and use my motorcycle to chase after her, who is currently tearing through traffic to get away. I may not know what is happening, but what I do know is that I have to save Idelle. The time is now to prove my unwavering love for her.