Optima looked at the black SUV disappearing into the distance from the window, her expression much more serious, contemplative.
Then she sighed and picked up the brief case.
"Time to go," she muttered and calmly walked out of the room.
She paused at the door, looking at the corridor, bodies sprawled everywhere.
Serif is still as brutal as ever.
She carefully stepped over bodies as if scared to dirty her shoes.
Her mind drifted to Axel. For some reason, I'm rooting for him.
She rubbed her cheek and gave a soft snort. I do hope they let him go in the end.
"Speaking of which." She pulled out her phone, dialed a number. The dial tone echoed loud in the silence, almost too loud, as she descended the stairs.
"Hello…" she began, but froze mid-step as she reached the reception area. "Hold on."
A man sat slouched in the lobby chair as if he had no cares in the world, eyes closed as if asleep.
"Typical Zoran, unfortunately ya too late, they already left." Optima said, putting her phone back into her pocket.
"Yeah," Zoran said lazily, voice dragging as if talking was a chore.
"It was too much of a drag, after all Serif was with him, it'll be just too much work."
Optima raised an eyebrow, "so ya let them get away," she muttered, "ya boss wouldn't be too thrilled about that."
Zoran opened one eye, his gaze lingered on her for a second. Then he shrugged, unbothered.
"And I see you're still too lazy to dress properly," she said, eyeing his loose clothes.
He ignored her.
She sighed, shaking her head as she walked towards the exit.
"Well it's expected, afterall ya have to be a bit crazy to be crazy strong like y'all."
"It's not crazy," Zoran said, finally moving his head.
"Just being myself…by that logic, your brother's crazy too."
Optima looked back at him and smiled, "maybe."
She looked up with a contemplative expression, Serif's blank face, everything about him was indeed abnormal.
But he was always like that, at least as far as she remembered, "no…I bet he is, maybe more."
She stopped in front of the door and glanced back at Zoran who was now looking up, stroking his chin, lost in thoughts, his long black messy hair hanging down.
"Ya know,you'll look cuter with a haircut." She muttered, reaching for the door knob.
She pushed the door open—only to find herself back in the same reception area. The same humming lights, the same smell of gunpowder and dust.
She looked back, the stairs leading up behind her.
She massaged her forehead and looked at Zoran who was fiddling with his long hair, a contemplative expression on his face.
Optima tightly gripped her suit case, she inhaled to calm herself and smiled, "What's the meaning of this," She said in a low voice.
But there was no answer.
"You wouldn't want to get on my bad side now, would you," She tilted her head, her tone sharp beneath the smile.
"Now be a good boy and let me out, else." She turned the knob, Zoran ignoring her, still fiddling his hair.
As she stepped in…
She was back at the same spot, she looked back again, same stairway, same reception area.
Her jaw tightened.
"You were wrong," Zoran 's voice rang out before she could say anything.
Optima's eyes narrowed, "about what?"
"Three things actually."
He lifted three fingers. "First, it's not craziness…it's commitment to character."
One finger lowered.
"Second, my hair's perfect."
Another down.
"Third… I'm not here for Serif."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"Or the kid."
Optima's hand hovered near the case latch.
"I'm here for you."
Click. The case opened.
Optima's gaze lingered on him, tension growing, then she broke into laughter, echoing within the still air.
"Ha, ha…Ya almost got me there," Optima said between laughs, "I'm here for you." She imitated him.
"Alright," she cleaned imaginary tears.
"Enough of this joke," she said and looked at Zoran, her expression serious.
But Zoran just stared back at her, no words, expression still the same.
"Ya serious?" Her voice dropped. "Ya do know what happens if ya mess with me, someone under the council's protection."
Zoran sighed. "I have orders."
Her eyes darkened. "Even when it involves the council?"
He nodded once.
They're getting bolder, even going against the council now.
Well I wouldn't be going that easily, her hand slid into the case.
"I see," She muttered, "but even then it won't be easy."
She pulled out a revolver, sleek like before with the same design.
Except this was pitch black, the blue and silver designs replaced by red and gold.
She stood up, every trace of humor gone from her face.
Her eyes trailed him as he calmly reached into his pocket.
She pointed the muzzle at him but he lifted his hand in surrender.
Optima stopped, looking at him warily.
It wasn't necessarily bad to wait, the longer the revolver pulled energy from her, the more effective it would be.
Besides she wasn't planning to beat him. Just carve a way to escape, his domain might be strong, but it can't defeat annihilation.
" What does ya boss want with me, ya all know I'm not interested in any of this bull crap," Optima said with a frown, although she could guess the answer.
Zoran's gaze drifted to the briefcase, confirming her suspicion.
"My anima, huh," she said flatly.
Optima chuckled, "I see, fortunately I know what he wants, unfortunately it's a no just like before."
"We'll pay you whatever you want," he said, pulling a phone from his pocket.
Optima clicked her tongue. "Not interested."
"Just talk first," Zoran replied, holding the phone up.
"Didn't you hear me," Optima barked.
Her jacket suddenly flared as a crimson cross burned across her hand. Red pulsing energy accumulating at the cross, snaking their way through her skin like veins.
The air trembled—then erupted.
Boom!
A red flare streaked through the air, swallowing Zoran in light and dust.
The blast wave tore through the lobby, shredding wallpaper and twisting furniture. The smell of scorched paint filled her nose.
Optima pointed the muzzle at the dust, ready for anything, the cross glowing again.
When the dust cleared, the wall was a smoking ruin, a small hole torn through it. The edges glowed red, sizzling like acid, increasing the size of the hole.
The wall appeared to be trying to mend itself back, resisting the energy, but it was losing.
"Hold on," came Zoran's muffled voice as he stepped out from behind the wreckage, still making his call.
Optima smirked. "Persistent, aren't you?"
Then she fired again. And again.
Each shot cracked the air, the muzzle flashing red like lightning.
Yet Zoran dodged between the blurs, the air warping where they passed.
Zoran landed light on his feet, as Optima stopped firing, the red glow dimming down.
Zoran, breathing lightly, lowered the phone. "Why not just talk?
Optima simply looked at the muzzle of the gun, then at Zoran, "in as much as ya are powerful, even ya domain can't resist annihilation."
Zoran turned sharply, the small hole had turned to a gaping hole.
The red energy still eating at the edge, expanding it. Revealing outside the motel.
Zoran's eyes widened.
He quickly turned around, a red projectile already approaching.
His jaw tightened, an expression other than boredom flashing across his face.
He twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the projectile.
Although his coat wasn't so lucky, the edge making contact with the blast, fabric disintegrating midair, red energy lingering, eating through the coat.
As he landed a fist appeared at his flank. Too close to dodge, slamming into the side of his face.
The force knocked him back, sending him flying into the wreckage.
Optima grinned and looked at her fist.
"Told ya."
She dashed toward the sizzling hole. Leaping out into open air, the night wind rushing against her face, jacket flapping, a smirk on her lips.
But when she landed, her smile turned upside down, something was off.
Rather than breeze, the air was stale. Rather than asphalt, the floor was concrete, cold.
She looked up, her eyes widened.
"No…"
Her voice trembled. "It can't be."