Chapter One-Hundred Seventeen: Etheressums

Chapter 117

Etheressums

Tristan walked back with Jaxon. Tristan could see that this was bothering Jaxon.

Tristan: “Want to talk about it, Jaxon?”

He asked him.

Jaxon: “No offense, Tristan, but being smart didn’t run in your family. Your brother is a DUMBASS.”

He huffed. Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “None taken. I agree with you.”

He stopped and wrapped his arms around him. Jaxon was taken aback and by surprise, and he hugged him back.

Tristan: “You have us, Jaxon.”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “Thanks, man, that means a lot to me!”

He smiled a bit.

The two stood outside his and Celeste’s place and heard Deimos and Celeste speaking.

~

Celeste and Deimos were in her and Jaxon’s place, on the couch, just finished that Hallmark movie Chelsea mentioned in her diary, Sunset Resort. Celeste wore a Venom tank top, Daisy Dukes, fishnets, and cowgirl boots. Deimos wore a Nuclear Assault tank top, torn jeans, and cowboy boots.

Deimos: “I never wanted to die so badly.”

Celeste hung her head.

Deimos: “Between her and Ivy, I wanted to strangle both of them. Chelsea sank in quicksand like in that stupid movie, and Tristan had to save her. If we stayed longer or Ichiro didn’t take Chelsea, I bet you Jaxon would have to save her from quicksand. I bet you that when Jaxon refused her, she would have moved onto Tristan again or just stayed with Josh.”

He fielded scathingly.

Celeste: “Why did you ask Jaxon to go then?”

Deimos shifted in his seat and drew a long breath.

Deimos: “Because he was hurt about what happened to Kristen, and that serial killer kidnapped him. I wanted to cheer him up and thought if we avoided Chelsea and just did the beach stuff, it’s gonna be fine, but no, it wasn’t fine. Everything was worse.”

He huffed.

Deimos: “You try to cheer up your friend who needs it, and end up making things worse. I hate that feelings.”

He said, taking on a plaintive tone.

Celeste: “I was having fun until Ivy pointed it out to me.”

Deimos: “Pointed out what? Jaxon wanted Chelsea? Even if he didn’t know about what she did, he wouldn’t want her. He’s crazy about you. Don’t let Ivy’s bullshit get to you. Ivy reads your mind and knows what buttons to push.”

He reassured her and continued.

Deimos: “Someone like Chelsea… They have to have a lot of patience. It’s like being with Ivy, except Ivy will punch, kick, and hit you. She’s like her father.”

He rolled his eyes. Celeste bowed her head.

Deimos: “Everyone fought… Ichiro struck again. It was a disaster waiting to happen.”

He said with a hint of regret.

Celeste: “It’s not your fault, though. Chelsea copied from that stupid movie, and Ichiro followed Jaxon to break him.”

Deimos lowered his head.

Deimos: “I know, and that monster almost killed Tristan.”

He drew a long breath, knitting his eyebrows.

Deimos: “I know Jax went to save her a lot, but… Tristan would have too. They’re like that. I wouldn’t have done that bullshit. And honestly? I like that about them. I like that they’re not like me. Jaxon can hold his own, but Tristan can’t take hits and damage well.”

He twisted his mouth.

Celeste: “Why didn’t Joe ask me to? I can take hits well. He asked me to carry logs, vehicles, and that Seadoo.”

She asked. Deimos folded his arms over and glowered.

Deimos: “Chelsea is not into women. Otherwise, I’d say she should just chase Ivy and they can kill each other.”

He huffed.

Celeste: “Do you think Ivy is in love with Blair?”

Deimos clicked his tongue and shook his head.

Deimos: “Fuck no. Who would like a whiny piece of shit like that? She’s with him for the money and to make Tristan jealous.”

He said gruffly.

Deimos paused and pursed his lips. He heaved a deep sigh.

Deimos: “Sometimes… Sometimes I wonder if another reason that Jaxon and Tristan are hung up on this is because neither received closure from Chelsea. They never got to ask her why she did what she did.”

He grumbled.

Celeste: “But… she would have either downplayed it or denied it.”

Deimos wagged his head.

Deimos: “I think you’re right, or run away like the sniveling craven little liar she is. Maybe Jaxon and Tristan wanted to hear what bullshit she was going to spew. Yeah, she swore up and down to Tristan and me that she was not trying to break you and Jaxon up, but her actions never aligned with her words.”

He said bitterly.

The door opened, and Tristan and Jaxon entered. Celeste beamed and ran up to Jaxon, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him. Jaxon hugged and kissed her back, happy to have her mess up his face with her lipstick.

Jaxon: “Hey, babe.”

Deimos hugged Tristan, and the two kissed.

Tristan: “Everything okay, Deimos?”

He asked softly.

Deimos: “Celeste and I watched that stupid Hallmark movie that Chelsea used as a ‘how-to’ guide. It’s called ‘Sunset Resort’ if you and Jaxon feel like subjecting yourselves to utter stupidity.”

He growled. Tristan inhaled sharply. Jaxon pursed his lips. He and Tristan exchanged looks.

Tristan: “I see… Maybe we will watch it someday.”

He said as his voice trailed off. He could tell this was a sore subject for Jaxon, and he wasn’t alone.

~

The Megalos Tower is the second-tallest in Pink Top City, next to the Donati Tower. It’s a colossal skyscraper standing at one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six feet tall with one hundred floors. The building hosts administrative offices of the business divisions and acts as the army headquarters for the Megalos Public Security.

Up in the building, there was a luxury office with large windows overlooking the city. There was an L-shaped oak desk with a marble top, a large executive chair, a velvet chair in front of it, and potted palm trees in the corner. Neighboring the window by the mini-bar, a tall white woman sat on a soldier’s back while he was on his hands and knees. The soldier’s uniform consisted of a dark green jumpsuit with black armored shoulder pads, knee pads, a bulletproof vest, and a bulky helmet with a teal visor over his eyes.

The woman wore her azure blue hair in a French knot, had piercing ice blue eyes, noticeable cheekbones, and wore a white lab coat, a teal blouse with a scoop neck, a black pencil skirt, black nylons, and heels. She had pearl earrings, a necklace with a sapphire pendant, and a ring with a sapphire. She was 43-year-old Dr. Minerva Marzilli.

Someone knocked on her door. A white man in a brown business suit entered. He was short with chipmunk features, with dewy dark blue eyes and a receding hairline, with his rusty orange hair combed over. He was Minerva’s assistant, Alfie Faulkner.

Alfie: “Ma’am, your reports are here as requested.”

He stammered and came in with the reports clutched to his sweaty palms. She snatched them from his hands and scanned them over.

Minerva: “This will do. Thank you so, so much.”

She gave him an approving nod. The man swallowed hard and wrung his sweaty hands.

Alfie: “G-Good day to you, ma’am.”

He quivered and sauntered out of the office.

She rose from her soldier man seat and smirked at what she read.

Minerva: “This needs further testing. I must see him face-to-face to get a taste of what he’s like and pick his brain.”

She purred and swayed her hips as she exited her office with the soldier man crawling after, panting.

~

Celeste, Jaxon, Deimos, and Tristan were in Celeste and Jaxon’s house, with Celeste going over the phone book. Jaxon peered over her shoulder.

Jaxon: “What’re doin’ babe?”

He asked.

Celeste: “Figuring out what to eat. I want pizza, Deimos wants tacos, and Tristan wants fish and chips.”

Tristan: “I never said that! I felt like beef shitake udon or unagi rolls.”

He replied.

Jaxon: “Ooh, I want pizza, too!”

He chimed in.

Deimos: “What if Celeste wanted tacos?”

He challenged.

Jaxon: “Then tacos it is!”

He smiled at Celeste, putting his arm around her. Tristan just laughed and shook his head.

Asashi burst into the house. Tristan turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

Tristan: “Asashi? What is it?”

He asked with concern.

Asashi: “You guys gotta come! Rosie, Katie, and Lucas are being attacked by this monster thing in the playground!”

He cried. Celeste scrambled to her feet. Jaxon rose to his feet.

Jaxon: “Oh, shit!”

Celeste: “Let’s mosey!”

Tristan: “How does one mosey?”

He, Jaxon, and Deimos rose to hurry out of the house.

Deimos: “It means ‘let’s move’.”

He said tenderly, holding his hand as they left.

Tristan: “Oh, thank you, mon chéri!”

He kissed his cheek, and Deimos reddened.

~

Asashi led to the playground around the corner. Rosie rushed to them with Lucas and Katie in her arms.

Rosie: “Please get Katie, Asashi, and Lucas out of here!”

She screamed when a three-foot fuzz ball monster with bulging eyes, sharp teeth, and large feet jumped in front of her. Jaxon's eyes widened.

Jaxon: “Jesus Christ!”

He remarked, ready to heal when needed.

Celeste pounced in, grabbing the creature like a cat to a rat and tore it in half, spilling its black blood and innards on the ground. Rosie screamed and shielded Katie’s eyes.

Celeste: “Is that all?”

She smiled. Jaxon grinned at her proudly.

Jaxon: “You did great, babe! Just like a cat!”

He purred and held her. She nuzzled against him.

Celeste: “Thanks, my little prince!”

Rosie cleared her throat and panted.

Rosie: “Yes, thank you, miss!”

She stammered as she clasped her hand over her chest.

Tristan: “Thank you, Rosie. You did well protecting the children.”

He said gently. Rosie blushed. Lucas looked away with hurt, thinking back to when Kristen did that for him before she was killed. Tristan glanced down at Lucas and raised an eyebrow.

Asashi: “That was AWESOME!”

He cheered.

They heard someone bellow, “YOU AGAIN!?” and turned to see an irate Christian.

Christian: “So, Jiro, you sent a monster from your brother for round two?!”

He barked. Jaxon glared at him.

Jaxon: “YOU again. I didn’t do this!”

He groaned with frustration, getting numb to this.

Deimos: “The fuck on Reona are you talking about? Your son came to us about that thing, and Celeste tore it apart.”

He huffed.

Christian: “Don’t swear in front of my kids, Deimos! Your friend is a bad boy like his brother!”

He shook his forefinger at Deimos.

Celeste: “We just killed this thing. Jaxon didn’t do anything but come to help us. What happened to Kristen wasn’t his fault.”

She replied evenly. Tristan drew a long breath. Lucas looked away with anger. Jaxon folded his arms over, feeling his ire soaring.

Christian bared his teeth at Jaxon.

Christian: “Oh, it absolutely was his fault. HE knew his brother was like this and led him there as he always does! Come on, Rosie, take the kids, and get them away from this vermin and my treacherous brother!”

He huffed. Jaxon glowered at him, baring his teeth.

Jaxon: “Urusai, bakayarou.”

He hissed through clenched teeth. Christians glared hatefully at Jaxon. He raised his forefinger at him.

Christian: “Stay away from my family, you cretin. And you too, Tristan!”

He snapped at Tristan and Jaxon. Tristan clicked his tongue.

Asashi: “But Dad, they saved us!”

He insisted.

Christian: “Time to go home, Asashi!”

He snapped at him. Asashi groaned. Rosie mouthed an “I’m sorry” to them as she left with Christian and his kids. Lucas looked over his shoulder, gazing at them.

Deimos: “You’re welcome for saving your kids. Dickhead.”

He spat. Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan: “He blamed me for the housefire that put Papa in a coma for fifteen years, so this aligns with his behavior.”

He said irritably and threw his arms up.

Deimos: “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

He countered and folded his arms. Tristan bobbed his head and sighed.

Jaxon: “Fuck that guy, Tristan! That wasn't your fault!”

He assured him and put his arm around him, comforting him. Tristan raised his eyebrows in surprise and hugged him back.

Tristan: “Thank you, Jaxon!”

He smiled.

Celeste: “Let’s order some pizza!”

She chirped. Jaxon smiled and nodded.

Deimos: “I want tacos.”

He pouted.

Tristan: “Why don’t we get pizza?”

He smiled. Deimos turned to him and gasped.

Deimos: “You too?!”

Tristan: “Trying to make everyone happy, Deimos.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Jaxon: “Pizza it is!”

He beamed.

As they were about to leave, a bulletproof van pulled up in front of them and several Megalos Public Defender Soldiers stepped out with machine guns pointed at them. Tristan glared at them.

Tristan: “Can we… help you?”

He asked slowly. Deimos stood protectively in front of Tristan.

Deimos: “I don’t think they want to negotiate.”

He growled.

Tristan: “I had that hunch, Deimos.”

He said as he glared contemptuously at the men. Celeste stood in front of Jaxon. Jaxon stood protectively close. One of the soldiers raised a high-frequency device and sounded it. The four froze and cupped their ears as the sound went through them, hurting their ears, stunning them as they wailed in pain. They tossed down devices surrounding the four, creating a force field to stun and knock them out. The four lay on the ground unconscious.

Soldier: “Okay, let’s take him back.”

He said to his comrade.

~

Jaxon’s head was pounding. There was a sharp, piercing ringing in his ears, vibrating through his head. He sat up, wincing. A red glow surrounded him as he healed himself. He snapped his eyes open and saw he was in a cell with a bed and a stainless steel toilet, and his wrists were cuffed behind his back.

Jaxon: “Wh-What the fuck?!”

He panted and looked around, not recognizing his surroundings. He blinked up at the bright lights, and the door had no window on it.

~

Celeste’s eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurry. She could see someone standing over her. Was it Jaxon? No, it was Percy, she thought. PERCY?! She thought, and her fist flew out to him. Percy zipped his head to dodge her punch.

Percy: “Bonsoir, ma chérie.”

He teased.

Celeste: “Shut the fuck up, asshole!”

She hissed and sat up, seeing Tristan and Deimos regain consciousness.

Deimos: “Wh-What happened? Who were those men?”

Tristan: “No idea, Deimos.”

He swerved his head.

Celeste: “Where’s Jaxon?!”

She screamed.

Percy: “Those soldier boys who took him… Trevor filled me in. They work for ‘Megalos, Inc.’ ”

He grinned and rose.

Celeste’s face crumbled, and then it dawned on her.

Celeste: “Uh, didn’t you fucking steal that job Ilias gave to me?”

Percy smirked and shrugged.

Percy: “Guilty as charged, my magical friend.”

Celeste bared her teeth.

Celeste: “Look, that’s ancient history! If this asshole has Jaxon—”

Percy held his forefinger up and wagged it.

Percy: “Don’t take me ‘stealing’ that job so personally, darling. The man is dreadful to work for. You should be thanking me.”

Celeste: “I said I don’t give a fuck! I want to get Jaxon, so get the fuck out of my way!”

She barked and elbowed him away.

Tristan: “We’re coming with you, Celeste.”

Percy: “Likewise… I can’t let that special unicorn take my precious little prince.”

He crooned as he ran his forefinger over the blade of his kukri.

Celeste: “He’s MY little prince, fuckhead!”

She roared as she pointed to herself with her thumb. Percy waved his hand.

Percy: “I jest, darling. I only have ONE prince.”

He licked his lips at Tristan. Deimos stood protectively in front of Tristan.

Deimos: “Over my dead body!”

He growled.

Percy: “Time and place, Deimos? I’d be delighted to dance til death with you.”

He smirked.

Tristan: “Enough! We have to rescue Jaxon.”

He said with irritation as he put his hands up.

Percy: “Pushy, are we, my ice prince? I’m kind of turned on.”

He purred. Tristan shuddered.

Tristan: “Please refrain from this nonsense, Percy…”

He rolled his eyes.

~

Jaxon paced around his cell. The doorknob twisted open. Jaxon rose to brace himself. Alfie entered with two soldiers behind.

Alfie: “Good evening, young man! Oh, you’re a lucky one today!”

He said in his shaky, nasally voice.

Jaxon: “Who the fuck are you?”

He asked sharply.

Alfie: “Oh, my apologies, young man! I’m Alfie Faulkner! I’m here to take you to my boss!”

He smiled at him.

Alfie: “Shall we go? She doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

He said with agitation in his tone.

Jaxon: “Who is your boss?! Is it hypno-bitch?!”

He scowled, looking around.

Alfie: “I’m afraid I don’t know anyone by that name. Come along.”

He said and led him out. The soldiers pointed their machine guns at Jaxon as they led him out.

They went down a corridor with white walls, white floors, with large metal doors on each side like the one in his cell. They went to a door at the end of the hall guarded by another soldier wielding a gun. He pressed the button on the side of the door to let Alfie, Jaxon, and the two soldiers out.

They strolled past the security guard’s desk, where an older black man in a security guard uniform sat, drinking coffee. There were monitors on the wall showing footage of all the cells and the corridor.

Alfie: “Hello, Reggie.”

He nodded to him.

Reggie: “How’re doin’, Alfie?”

He replied.

Alfie: “All is well. Taking this young man to my boss.”

Reggie: “She’ll like him.”

He smiled tightly.

Jaxon: “Who?! Who is it?!”

He demanded, growing anxious and irate. The soldier shoved his gun in Jaxon’s face. Alfie put his hand up. Jaxon froze and swallowed.

Alfie: “You’ll see.”

He smiled.

They walked up to the end of the hall. Alfie pushed a button and the door opened to an elevator. The two soldiers had Jaxon go in first, and they followed, keeping their guns pointed at him. Alfie entered and pressed the button for the 85th floor. The door closed, and the elevator went up. As it went up four floors, Jaxon could see a view of the city at night as he ascended higher. The city lights twinkled and sparkled.

Alfie: “Lovely view, huh?”

He chuckled.

Jaxon: “No.”

He pouted, shifting uncomfortably.

The door opened. Alfie went ahead, and the soldiers led Jaxon out with their guns pointed at him. The corridor was black marble walls with gold columns, a light beige marble floor with gold statues of an older, portly man with a beard and strong Greek features and wearing a suit on each side. There were painted portraits of the same man, but they showed his hair was blue-black.

Alfie knocked on one of the doors. A woman’s sultry voice said, “Let him in.”

Alfie: “Enjoy!”

He said to Jaxon as the soldiers led him inside.

Jaxon: “I won't! Get off me!”

He huffed and glared at the soldiers. He was shoved into a room where Minerva stood, her back facing Jaxon, looking out at the city, and a table with a linen cloth for two. Minerva slowly turned to face Jaxon with a smile. The two soldiers kept their guns pointed at Jaxon.

Minerva: “Hello, Mr. Jiro Tachibana. I’ve been expecting you.”

She grinned.

Jaxon: “Who the hell are you?! What do you want with me?!”

He hissed at her. Minerva eyed him with intrigue and desire.

Minerva: “I’m Dr. Minerva Marzilli, the head of the Etheressum Research Division.”

She said to him, circling him, and checking him out.

Minerva: “I’ve read your file, Jiro… Let’s see… you’ve acquired your ethereal prowess the day before your birthday, and you’ve already developed extraordinary powers in a matter of… months, as opposed to the older test subjects getting their powers months later and honing those abilities in months or years. We phased out the camps and people have obtained our ehtytrim through illegal means, so we didn’t get to observe how quickly they acquired their ethereal prowess, until I saw you in action…”

She purred, smirking at him.

Jaxon: “You've been stalking me?! What do you want from me?!”

He asked sharply. She grabbed his shoulders and massaged them.

Minerva: “Just observing my favorite little etheressum…”

She whispered in his ear and brushed her nails across his neck. Jaxon shuddered and shivered.

Jaxon: “Your ‘ether’ what?! Hey! I'm taken by my Green Queen!”

He protested.

She grabbed him, caressing his chest, and had her other hand on his thigh. Jaxon groaned and inhaled sharply. She leaned into his ear.

Minerva: “Jiro, an etheressum is what you are now. Come with me. Come to our side, and we could become unstoppable. With you on my side, I could turn this empire into something greater, and we could turn this world into a utopia. I could give you anything you want…”

She whispered in his ear. Jaxon gaped at her and laughed.

Jaxon: “Hellllllll NO.”

He said sharply.

Jaxon: “Didn’t you hear me, lady?! I’m TAKEN by my Green Queen. I already have a team, and we’re unstoppable! I already have everything I want!”

He said doggedly

Minerva smirked.

Minerva: “Is that so?”

Her hand trailed to his neck as her nails brushed over it. Jaxon shuddered and shivered. He jerked his head away.

Jaxon: “Stop it! Just let me go now. I'm taken.”

He demanded. She smiled tightly and ran her nails across his neck. Jaxon shivered, tried to hold back his laughter, and glared at her.

Jaxon: “Don’t touch me!”

He snapped. She gave him a sinister smirk.

The soldiers shoved him into the seat with the linen cloth. She nodded to them. One of them knelt while the other had his gun to Jaxon. The other one secured his ankles with cuffs and removed his chelsea boots, revealing his sheer socked feet.

Minerva: “Oh, nice, very stylish.”

She purred. The soldier pulled off Jaxon’s sheer socks. Jaxon glared at her.

Jaxon: “Here we go again. Not another one.”

He groaned. She smirked at him. She brushed his hair and sword earring back and tickled his neck.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA! GET OFF!”

He snapped at her.

Minerva: “Ticklish?”

She laughed and scribbled her nails over his neck.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOHOHO!”

He barked at her and laughed.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHA NO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and squirmed in his seat.

Minerva: “Hahahahahaha, you have an intoxicating laugh… Let’s test this out more, shall we?”

She placed his bare feet on her lap. Jaxon glared contemptuously at her.

Jaxon: “NO! Get the fuck away from my feet, lady!”

He snapped at her and curled his toes tightly. She smiled at him and scribbled her nails all over his soft soles.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FUCKING STOOHOOHOHOP!”

He rasped between furious bouts of laughter. She tickled all over the tops of his feet and his toes.

Jaxon: “WAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NOHOHOHOHO! FUCKING HAHAHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!”

He laughed hard and squirmed in his seat, spreading his toes and trying to jerk his feet away. She trailed her nails over his arches and heels. Jaxon threw his head back, howling with laughter.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ARRGGGGHHHH WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He howled with laughter and heaved and panted in between laughing. Tears dripped down his cheeks as he laughed hard. She vigorously tickled his soles, enjoying the sound of his pleading yet furious laughter.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!”

He whined as he laughed and breathed ragged breaths in between laughing.

She used both of her hands to tickle his feet with her nails.

Minerva: “Ready to join me, sexy?”

She purred.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHO NO! SHOHOOHOHVE IT! HHOHOHOHOH HAHAHAHAHAAHAHA HAHA HOHOHOHO!”

He rasped at her through laughter. She scribbled her nails all over his soles and in between his toes.

Jaxon: “HAAHAHAH HOHOHOHO STOOHOHOHOHOHOHP! STOP! HAHAHAHAHAHAH!”

He rasped.

Minerva: “Join me, sexy boy, and I will stop.”

She teased and vigorously tickled his soles.

Jaxon: “NO OHOHOHOHOHOHO! NEVER! HAHOHOOHOHO NO!”

He snapped through exhausted laughter.

Minerva: “My, my, you are extremely, unbearably ticklish, my sexy little etheressum… You’re the most ticklish young man I’ve ever met!”

She teased and tickled his arches and the balls of his feet.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOH HAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAH NHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOHOHOHOHOHO!”

He rasped through tears as his face was beet red.

Minverva: “Can you take anymore?”

She teased as she tickled his soles.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA AHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!”

He wheezed in between laughing as this was exhausting him.

Jaxon: “HEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He coughed and wheezed between laughing, feeling ready to pass out.

She stopped tickling him. Jaxon gasped for air and panted.

Minerva: “Ready to join me?”

Jaxon: “P-Please no more…”

He panted heavily as the tears freely fell down his cheeks.

Minerva: “Is that a yes?”

Her ice blue eyes lit up. Jaxon inhaled sharply and glared at her.

Jaxon: “NO!”

He thundered. She smirked and ran her nail up and down his soles. Jaxon laughed hard and whined.

Jaxon: “PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He cried and laughed.

She ceased tickling him and stood back to marvel at him, sitting there with his head back and gasping for air. He inhaled sharply and exhaled slowly as his lungs felt like they were going to explode.

She sauntered to him, caressed his soft hair, brushed it aside, and massaged his shoulders. She pressed a button on a remote control, and a big screen slid down from the ceiling, showing a vial with a neon green liquid inside.

Minerva: “This is ehtytrim. This is what is injected in humans to give the ethereal prowess, and they become etheressums, which is you.”

She whispered into his ear. Jaxon swallowed hard. She pressed another button to show paragraphs of text on the screen.

Minerva: “Your hearing is enhanced, so this is why we use devices to paralyze and subdue you, but you’re also extraordinary, Jiro…”

She whispered in his ear and trailed her hand over his chest. Jaxon shut his eyes tightly.

Jaxon: “Wh-What do you want from me?!”

He asked weakly and panted, furrowing his eyebrows.

Minerva: “I want you to join me on my next project…”

She purred and rested her hand on the nape of his neck. Jaxon shivered and shuddered. He didn’t want to endure anymore tickling, but he didn’t want to kowtow to her demands.

She rose from him.

Minerva: “Take him to my bedroom. Maybe he will think about it from there.”

She said to the soldier. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest as she left the room.

~

The soldiers walked him to the bedroom. They pressed their guns to the small of his back as he entered. The bedroom had black marble flooring with gold. The left side of the room was large windows overlooking Pink Top City. The bed was a queen-size canopy with a green bedspread and sheer curtains over the posts. On the wall against the bed were large mirrors.

Minerva stood by her bed, dressed in a dark teal silk robe, and her blue hair was down. The color drained from Jaxon’s face.

Minerva: “Hello, Jiro. I surmise you thought about my offer from my dining room to my bedroom.”

She said softly, cupping his face and tracing her thumb over his cheek.

Jaxon: “NOPE!”

He pouted.

Minerva chuckled.

Minerva: “Jiro, if you join me, you will have no more instances of what became of Chelsea.”

She whispered in his ear. Jaxon froze and turned to her, his eyes widening.

Jaxon: “How did you—”

She cupped his jaw and kissed his mouth. Jaxon shut his eyes tightly, whimpered, and jerked his head away. He glared hatefully at her.

Minerva: “Jiro…”

She trailed her nails over his neck. Jaxon gritted his teeth and whimpered. He froze when she started unbuttoning the buttons on his shirt. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest as his fear took over. He didn’t want another situation like the one he endured with Barry, but didn’t want to be taken advantage of. He was at a loss for what to do or what this crazy lady wanted from him. How did she know about what happened in Seashell Cove or his powers? He wondered.

She grazed her mouth over neck and sucked on it as she trailed her hands over his chest and torso. Jaxon gnashed his teeth and shuddered.

Jaxon: “N-No! D-Don’t!”

He hissed through clenched teeth. She undid Jaxon’s belt buckle, unsnapped and unzipped his pants, and shoved him onto the bed as she slid his pants past his ankles.

He lay on her bed with his shirt open and in just his red boxer briefs. Jaxon panted and moaned as his fear soared, wondering where Celeste or anyone was. Minerva kissed his lips. Jaxon shut his eyes tightly and shook his head.

Jaxon: “N-No!”

He snapped. He gasped when she kissed his chest.

Jaxon: “S-Stop! STOP!”

He whined. He felt her hand on his thigh and froze turgid with fear as it trailed up to his crotch.

~

Celeste, Tristan, Deimos, and Percy ascended the stairs and stood before the large glass doors of Megalos Tower.

Percy: “Oh, there will be blood… There will be MUCH blood!”

He slithered his split tongue, and they entered.