Inventions Vault.

Hayden slowly recovered from his near-death experience. His first uncanny feeling was that, despite the darkness, he could clearly see Trent and Loren. The second was the enticing, warm, and rich scent that came from them. With a sigh, he quickly sat up, his hair and clothes soaked with water. Even though he was feeling awful, he felt like he had a fresh lease on life, as if he hadn't just fallen from a bridge and been bitten by his lover. Wait a minute, his girlfriend has stung him. Both Trent and Loren had stopped their sobs to look at him, their faces a mix of horror and disbelief.

"H-Hayden? Is that you? Curling closer to Trent for comfort, Loren pleaded in a shaky voice.

“Yes,” Hayden reassured her, getting up from his slumber, startled by his own sense of vitality.

"Dude, you look just like her!" Trent gasped.

Hayden gave him a curious glance. "Like who?"

Both of them gestured toward the river's mirror. Hayden gasped at what he saw when he looked down. Although it was still styled the same, his brown hair had turned a lethal black. Emily had always adored his hazel eyes, but now they were a vivid bleeding red, frightening but beautiful. His once-average brown skin has turned milky white. When he opened his mouth, fangs emerged from his gums, and his eyes seemed more sunken. He was pretty sure he could feel wings under his gray sweater. He looked in wonder at Trent and Loren.

"No way in hell! An Obsidian Angel is who I am! Wonderful! Hayden cried out in awe of what seemed like a discovery.

"That makes you happy?" Unable to think of anything to say, Trent asked.

"Obviously! Not only do I possess superpowers, but I also promise not to endanger Emily.

"Is that the reason you attempted suicide?" Loren inquired. "To have Emily change you?"

Hayden's face became distressed. "Obviously not. To protect Emily, I took this action.

"Are you serious? You believed that your presence was putting Emily in danger, so you killed yourself! Trent gave a furious cry.

"Yes." Sheepily, Hayden admitted. "I realize it was foolish. However, I was endangering her.

Therefore, that does not grant you the authority to take your own life! Man, how would I manage without you?

Rushing over to give Hayden the bear hug of his life, Trent embraced him tightly. They huddled in a group embrace as Loren quickly joined them.

"Really, folks, everything is OK right now. After their moment was over, Hayden comforted them, "I'm not exactly alive, but I'm here."

"Where is Emily now?" As the seconds passed, Hayden's excitement and anxiety increased. His relief wouldn't be complete until he saw Emily's happy expression.

After exchanging glances, Trent and Loren shrugged.

"We're not sure," Loren acknowledged.

"What do you mean that you are unaware?" With a worried tone in his voice, Hayden questioned.

"Dude, we have no idea! Trent clarified, "She simply took off, and the other two followed her."

As Hayden flinched, Loren continued, "After crying her eyes out over your non-breathing corpse."

"In which direction did she go?" Hayden asked. Something was giving him a really bad feeling. To put things right, he had to locate Emily.

Loren pointed to the direction Emily had taken and remarked, "She flew off that way a few hours ago."

Hayden hurried away after saying, "Okay, thanks," but he halted. "Hold on, how long was I dead?"

“A couple of hours,” said Loren, trembling.

"By now, she could be anywhere!" Then Hayden frowned in exasperation.

At that moment, Xavier leaped out of a portal that had opened above the river.

"Hayden!" he said, hands resting on his knees from fatigue. He appeared to have just finished an Olympic marathon since he was so damaged and bruised.

"Xavier!" Hayden ran up to him and yelled. "Where is Emily?"

"You're just not mortal." Xavier cried out in surprise.

"No, I'm not. Now let me know Emily's location! Hayden made an urgent demand.

"She needs your assistance. Come with me to the castle! With a shout, Xavier drew Hayden's arm in the direction of the gateway.

"Hold on!" From behind them, Loren gave a yelp. "How about me and Trent?"

"Go home," Xavier commanded. "Sorry, but you won't be able to help us."

A gateway appeared beneath Hayden and Xavier, drawing them into oblivion before they could protest.

Hopefully, Hayden hadn't woken up too late.

A few of hours ago

Before Xavier and Tara could reach it, the portal vanished, taking Emily back to her room at the Obsidian Angel Dominion, which was exactly where she wanted to be. She gave the area in front of her a cruel smile. Excellent. She could now get ready for her last confrontation with the Queen. She would not spare the Queen from the consequences of her actions. It is necessary to dig two graves when calamity strikes.

Emily lived by that motto. Reaching the large, ornate dresser next to her bed, she searched through her clothes until she located it. Oh! A red-sash kimono made of black satin. According to legend, the concept of a battle uniform originated in an old town and has remained the customary fighting gear for their type ever since. She pulled out the steroids she had stashed in a drawer on her desk after putting on the kimono. Steroids were the only substance that increased their power to the point where they were as strong as the most powerful Obsidian Angel in history, whoever that might be. Other medicines were useless to them. In order to protect them, she swiftly put the tablets under her tongue. She wanted to wait for the perfect moment, which hadn't arrived yet, before triggering the consequences. When she flung the door open, she saw Tara and an irate Xavier standing over her.

"Why are you in this place?" Emily frowned and gave them a menacing look.

"To keep you out of this madness! Why on earth are you doing this? Angrily, Xavier demanded.

"How does it appear?" Emily asked sarcastically as she spun around in her kimono. "After all, I'm dressed for battle."

Tara let out a gasp. "Are you sure you won't try to fight the Queen?"

Emily looked at her as though she was lacking something important. "No. I intend to murder the Queen.

Both of them gasped in surprise. "That is just not possible!" Xavier sputtered.

Emily covered her mouth and yawned purposefully. "Well, I could talk to you all day, but I have to defeat the kingdom's ruler."

Emily gave them a serious warning, saying, "I'm warning you right now: move it, or I will."

They haven't moved yet.

Emily let out a sigh. "All right, do what you want."

At that point, they both took hold of her arms and legs and began pulling her into her room. In a matter of seconds, she twisted out of their hold and spun quickly through the air. As they closed the entryway, confining her in her room and forming a barrier, she landed on her feet and glared at them.

Tara crept closer to Emily and begged her not to do this.

"Oh, keep quiet. "I'm afraid it's much too late for that," Emily said sharply before lunging at them. They were prepared for her assault, but they were unprepared for the moment she swallowed the pills concealed under her tongue. She felt stronger instantly and sped past them, leaving a path of bloody red fire in her wake, her speed making her almost invisible. She could hear Xavier yelling as some of his leg was consumed by fire. She didn't turn around to check if the fire had been put out. She had other things to worry about.