Marcus/Rocco
Winter arrived quietly.
The first snowfall covered the city like nothing ever
happened. If someone had walked these streets today, they'd never believe
demons had turned them into battlefields only weeks ago.
Life had an odd way of moving forward. Whether you
were ready or not.
Training never stopped. If anything, it became harder.
Riley stood across from Seraphina in the training field.
Sweat beading across her forehead despite the cold
creeping through the windows. Her balance was different now.
Everything was. She gritted her teeth and swung her
baton. Seraphina sidestepped effortlessly. Riley attacked again.
She missed. Frustrated, she stepped back. "I'm too
slow."
"No," Seraphina lowered her sword, "You are
unfamiliar, there is a difference." Riley looked at the empty sleeve pinned
neatly against her jacket.
"It doesn't feel like it." Seraphina walked over.
"You've spent months teaching your body one way to
fight." She rested a hand on Riley's shoulder. "Now, you teach it again."
Riley looked at her for a long moment then nodded.
"Again."
Across from them, Noah and Callie sparred. Noah
deliberately shifted his stance. Leaving his left side more open.
Callie raised an eyebrow. "You're changing your
guard."
He shrugged. "Riley's without a right, someone has to
cover it." Callie didn't answer, she simply smiled.
Every morning before sunrise, I trained alone. Sword
after sword. Strike after strike.
Valen watched quietly from the edge of the room.
"You've stopped fighting your emotions." I swung again.
"I'm trying."
"No," a small smile tugged at his lips. "You already
have."
Weeks passed. December settled in. the remaining
markers never moved. Almost like they were waiting for us.
Then, one morning. A sharp beep echoed. Darren's chair
rolled backwards. "Guys…"
Every conversation stopped. He stared at the monitor.
"It moved." I was already walking over.
"Which one?" his fingers danced across the keyboard.
The map zoomed in. one marker blinked steadily.
"North District." Noah grabbed his tonfas.
"When?"
"Less than thirty seconds ago." Callie reached for her
whip.
"So, they're finally making a move." Seraphina picked
up her blade.
"Everyone." Her voice remained calm. "Gear up."
Snow crunched beneath our boots. The air bit at every
exposed inch of skin. The city felt, silent. Only white streets stretching
endlessly ahead.
The marker stopped. "Here." Darren looked around. "It
should be right…" his voice trailed off.
A figure stepped out from the falling snow. Long black
hair and a familiar smile.
"Marcus… or Rocco." Vespera.
She tilted her head. "I was wondering how long it
would take." Behind her, dozens of lesser demons emerged from abandoned
buildings.
The streets slowly filled. Noah clicked his tonfas
together. "Looks like she brought friends."
I never took my eyes off her. "The lower demons are
yours." Callie glanced at me.
"And her?" I drew both swords. Steel whispered through
the cold air.
"She's mine." Nobody argued. No one needed to. The
others rushed past Vespera.
"Still chasing revenge?" Vespera smiled wider. I said
nothing. Then she laughed. "I remember the last time we met, there was so much
anger and hatred." She took another step.
"You couldn't save them." Still… nothing. Her smile
faltered. "No reaction?
I finally spoke. "I've already heard everything you
have to say."
She stopped smiling. The lesser demons surged forward,
meeting the others halfway. Callie's whip cracked through the winter air.
Seraphina disappeared into the horde like a blade
cutting through water. Riley followed without hesitation.
Snow drifted between me and Vespera. Neither of us
moved. Then, she vanished. Claw screamed against steel as we collided.
She twisted. I stepped inside her guard. My elbow
crashed into her jaw. She slid backwards, boots carving through the snow.
"You've improved."
I didn't answer. She attacked again, faster. Three
slashes. Across my shoulder. I caught every one with timing. She frowned.
"You're not fighting like before."
"No." I shifted my footing. "I learned."
She lunged, I sidestepped. A knee drove into her ribs.
She staggered. Before she recovered. My left sword swept low.
She blocked. My right fist struck her cheek. Black
blood splashed across the snow. She looked at me, confused
"Swords… and fists" I settled back into my stance.
"Whatever works." Minutes passed. Neither of us spoke
again. Steel clashed. Snow scattered. Every attack she threw, had an answer.
She swung wildly. I ducked beneath it with a clinch. A
sharp knee to her stomach. She gasped. I released her. Both swords flashed.
One cut across her shoulder. the other hit cut across
her side. She dropped to one knee. Breathing hard. A weak laugh escaped her.
"So, you finally got your revenge." I stared at her
for a long time then lowered my blades.
"No," the wind carried fresh snow between us. "I came
here… to end it." Vespera scoffed.
I raised one sword and landed a clean strike. Her head
dropped to the floor, black blood on snow. The rest of her turning into ash.
I stood there for a moment, just watching. Noah walked
over. "You okay?" I looked at the empty stretch of snow.
I nodded once, "Yeah."
For the first time in a while…
I meant it.