Secret Villain

  Secret Villain

  By

  Dee J. Stone

  Copyright © 2017 Dee J. Stone.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to real life, movies, television, games, or books is entirely coincidental and was not intended by the author.

  Titles by Dee J. Stone:

  Young Adult Superhero Series:

  No Ordinary Hero (Keepers of Justice, Book 1)

  Hero’s Revenge (Keepers of Justice, Book 2)

  Hero Reborn (Keepers of Justice, Book 3)

  No Ordinary Villain (Keepers of Justice, Book 4)

  Villain’s Choice (Keepers of Justice, Book 5)

  Long Lost Hero (Keepers of Justice, Book 6)

  Blue Masked Hero (Blue Masked Hero, Book 1)

  Red Masked Heroine (Blue Masked Hero, Book 2)

  Secret Villain (Blue Masked Hero, Book 3)

  Sucked into an RPG series:

  Sucked into an RPG (Sucked into an RPG, Book 1)

  Stuck in an RPG (Sucked into an RPG, Book 2)

  Young Adult Romance:

  Cruiser (Cruiser & Lex, Book 1)

  Second Chance (Cruiser & Lex, Book 2)

  Forever (Cruiser & Lex, Book 3)

  Cruiser & Lex: The Complete Series Box Set

  Chasing Sam

  Young Adult Paranormal:

  Emily’s Curse

  Paranormal Romance:

  Merman’s Kiss (Merman’s Kiss, Book 1)

  Merman’s Touch (Merman’s Kiss, Book 2)

  Merman’s Bond (Merman’s Kiss, Book 3)

  Merman’s Love (Merman’s Kiss, Book 4)

  Merman’s Devotion (Merman’s Kiss, Book 5)

  Damarian (A Merman’s Kiss Novel)

  Falling for the Genie (Genie’s Love, Book 1)

  Loving the Genie (Genie’s Love, Book 2)

  Keeping the Genie (Genie’s Love, Book 3)

  Email the author at deej.stone@yahoo.com.

  For more information and updates on new releases, check out Dee J. Stone here: https://deejstone.wordpress.com. Or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

  Secret Villain

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Excerpt from No Ordinary Hero

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Homework. Not the most important thing in the world when you’re a superhero. Yet here I sit, pounding my head against my desk because I can’t get this algebra done.

  Seems pointless. It’s not like I’m going to go to college, but I promised Mom I’d focus on school.

  Ten minutes pass and I’m still stuck on the same problem. Wish I could throw the stuff out, be done with school for good.

  “Boo!” a voice says from the window. Maddie. She’s floating outside my room. Since both of us can fly, we don’t bother using our front doors. Raising my hand, I use my telekinesis to open the window. Maddie flies in and peers at my math equations. She’s got this smile on her face, like she’s poking fun at me.

  “Let me guess,” I mutter. “You finished yours already.”

  She plops down on my bed. “I did, but it doesn’t matter.”

  Yeah, because she’s going to get into a good college and not only be this awesome superhero, but an awesome…whatever she wants to be. We’ve never really talked about it. I just figured she wanted any job so she wouldn’t be poor anymore.

  She gives me a look. “Not because of that.” Seriously, it’s almost like she can read my mind sometimes. “My mom’s taking me out of public school.”

  “What?”

  She shrugs. “She’ll be principal of the superhero school. So it makes sense that she’d want me to go there.”

  “Oh. That sucks. But we’ll still see each other every day. Nothing has to change.”

  She nods. “There’s more. You know the school will be in New Jersey. We’re moving. The school’s not only a school, but will be a home, too. Mom and I are going to live there.”

  I get up from my desk chair and lower myself next to her. “That’s not a big deal. It takes us seconds to get to Jersey from Brooklyn.”

  “I know. Things will still be weird. New school, new neighborhood. New life.” She’s about to say something, but the doorbell rings.

  My parents answer it. I hear their voices from downstairs, plus another one. Sounds familiar.

  “That’s my mom,” Maddie says.

  “Why’s she here?”

  “I was about to tell you before she rang—she wants you to go to the superhero school, too.”

  I should have expected that. Maddie and I have never fit in at our school. It’s a good school, though, and I wonder how my parents will take the news.

  “Things have been going south with Step Idiot,” Maddie says.

  “Really?”

  She can’t hide her smile. “Ever since he found out my mom was going to be principal, he hated the idea. Now he hates that we have to move.” Her smile widens. “They’re this close to splitting up.” If he wasn’t such a jerk, I’d feel bad for the guy.

  “Nick!” Mom calls. “Can you come down here, please?”

  Maddie follows me down the stairs and into the living room, where my parents and Melissa are sitting on the couch. When Mom takes in Maddie, she gives me a disappointed face. She doesn’t like me having Maddie in my room. I shrug sheepishly.

  “Maddie?” her mom says. “What are you doing here?”

  “Nick knows, Mom. I told him.”

  All three adults pin their eyes on me.

  “I didn’t tell him everything, though,” Maddie adds.

  What does she mean by that?

  Mom motions for me and Maddie to sit down. She squeezes in between her mom and my mom while I take the chair. “What’s going on?” I ask.

  Melissa starts, “I’m asking you to transfer to SPC because I need your and Maddie’s help.”

  “SPC?” I ask.

  “School for Powered Children.”

  I look at Maddie, then back to her mom. “Okay. What do you need our help with?”

  “To train the students. I can hire as many teachers as I need, but no one can train them to control their powers. To use them for good. These kids have been raised to hurt people. To kill. We need to channel that negative energy into good.”

  And she thinks I’ll be able to do that? Teach others? Train them?

  “Seems like a…a big task,” I blurt out.

  Melissa nods. “It is a big task, but I have no doubt that you and Maddie can handle it. It would be after school hours, so it wouldn’t take away from regular studies. I plan to have this school join the ranks of all the others—academically speaking.”

  I turn to Mom and Dad. “Are you guys okay with me switching schools? Wait a minute. Would I have to live there, too?”

  M
elissa shakes her head. “You can live at home. I just ask that you come on time.”

  I face my parents again, not sure what to make of the looks on their faces. On the one hand they—specifically Dad—seem very proud. On the other, they’re worried. Maybe being in a school filled with powered kids who know nothing but inflicting pain makes them nervous.

  “My husband and I need to discuss this,” Mom tells Melissa. “And we need to talk to Nick about it as well.”

  “Of course.” Melissa stands. “I just want to tell you that the kids look up to Nick and Maddie. They saved them from a terrible fate. They have no one in their lives, and I know Nick and Maddie can help them turn their lives around. We’ll have many therapists, too, but they’ll identify better with our kids.”

  Mom and Dad walk Maddie’s mom out. She and I remain in the living room. “Teachers, huh?” I say.

  She shrugs. “I don’t really see it that way. It’s more like helping the kids train. Kind of like I helped you and you helped me.”

  She’s got a point there, but it’s totally different. We’re talking about hundreds of kids. Kids who are filled with anger.

  She stands and sits on my lap. She gazes into my eyes. “We can do it.”

  She’s determined to help because she still feels guilty for killing those people when she was twelve—when she first got her powers. She feels like she needs to make up for it.

  She kisses my cheek. “I’ve never liked our school or the people in it, but it’s hard to start over. But think about Jack. How lost and unsure he was after he helped take JQ down. We can make a difference in their lives.”

  “You’re right. Of course you’re right. It just seems…” I rub the back of my neck. “What if we fail? What if they kill? We’d be responsible for that.”

  She frowns. “Why are you so sure we’d fail?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m just saying there’s a chance. There are so many of them, and they’re not that much younger than us.” I puff out some air. “But we can’t let our doubts and insecurities hold us back. These kids are depending on us. They’re powerful, but maybe we can help them change for the better.”

  She nods. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Mr. Hiram said we’re more powerful than them. What do you think he meant? Because those kids seem very powerful to me.”

  “Not sure. I guess he meant we’re…more.”

  She says, “Do you think that would make the others hold a grudge against us?”

  I hold up my hands helplessly. “All I know is that it won’t be easy.”

  She rests her head on my chest. “I know, but I feel like it’s something I have to do.”

  “Yeah, same.”

  A creak comes from the doorway and Maddie shoots to her feet, like she’s scared of Mom. The last thing we need is her forbidding Maddie from coming over. But it’s just Kaylee.

  She giggles. “Are you and Maddie making kissy face?”

  Maddie laughs, her face a tiny bit red. She sits down on the couch.

  I laugh, too. “Get over here, kid.”

  Kaylee leaps onto my lap. “Who was that lady?”

  “My mom,” Maddie tells her. “She had to talk to your parents about something.”

  Kaylee looks very curious. My parents haven’t returned from walking Melissa out. Probably because they want to discuss things without me around.

  “Grown up stuff,” I say. “Hey, how about Maddie and I give you a ride?”

  Her eyes shine. “Yay!”

  We each take Kaylee’s hand and slowly lift ourselves in the air. Kaylee cheers and giggles as we soar around the house, up the stairs, down, then back up.

  “Faster,” she says. We obey, but make sure not to go too fast. Maddie and I each take turns doing flips, making sure not to let go of my little sister. So much has happened these past few weeks, specifically to her, and I want to make her as happy as I can.

  “Nick.”

  Maddie and I freeze. I turn my head and find Mom and Dad standing at the foot of the stairs. Mom’s got her hands on her hips. She doesn’t like when I give Kaylee rides, since I nearly died once. If not for my healing ability, I probably wouldn’t be around anymore.

  Maddie and I lower Kaylee to the floor. “Sorry,” I say. “We were being careful.”

  Mom turns to Maddie. “Maddie, your mom’s waiting for you.”

  Maddie waves to me and Kaylee before leaving the house. Mom tells Kaylee to go up and play with Matt because she and Dad need to talk to me.

  “About what?” Kaylee asks.

  “Grown up stuff,” I say.

  She frowns. “No one tells me anything. Does Matt know?”

  Mom rubs her temples. “Please go up to your room, sweetie. Your father and I really need to talk to Nick.”

  “Make me fly up!” she says to me.

  Mom shoots her a look. Kaylee slumps up the stairs. She’ll never understand why my parents are so overprotective of her. She doesn’t remember JQ kidnapping her and torturing her.

  Once we’re sure she’s out of earshot, we get comfy on the couch. Well, not too comfy. Mom’s got worry all over her face. Dad has it, too, but not as much as her.

  “So?” I ask. “What did you decide?”

  Dad sits forward. “This isn’t our decision. If you want to go to that school, then go ahead. We’ll support whatever you do.”

  My eyes go to Mom. She shifts a little in place. “Your father’s right. I’m just worried. The way Melissa described those children…” She shakes her head. “One is more dangerous than the next.”

  I’m about to respond, but she holds up her hand. “I know you can handle it. You’re very strong. But those kids are powerful, too.”

  “Mom…there’s something you need to know. Maddie and I are kinda—well the guy in charge of JQ—you know, the one I killed? Well he told Maddie and me that we’re more powerful than the others. I don’t mean to brag or anything, I’m just trying to reassure you that nothing is going to happen to me.”

  That seems to only make her freak out even more. “Is someone after you?”

  “What?”

  “That man who died, what if he had friends? Colleagues? What if there are other labs out there?”

  I shake my head. “The FBI took care of it. There aren’t any more labs around and no one is going to hunt me down. Mom, please. Trust me.”

  She and Dad exchange a glance. He shrugs. “I believe Nick. If he says it’s safe, then it is. The only thing you need to worry about is training those kids.”

  “Plus I can heal,” I say. “Remember that. If one of the kids accidentally slams me into a wall and all my bones break, they’ll just heal. And I can also heal them—and Maddie—if something goes wrong.”

  Mom wraps her arms around me. “There comes a time when a mother needs to let go. I think that time has come.” She kisses my cheek. “I’m just always going to worry about you.”

  Dad claps me on the back. “The same goes for me.”

  I smile. “Thanks.” I stand. “Going up to my room. I still have…wait a minute. I don’t have to do algebra anymore!”

  Mom frowns. “Nick.”

  “Kidding. I know, I know. The new school will be just as academically challenging as my old one and I’m going to work hard to keep my grades up. Got it.”

  Mom nods slowly. “I said this to Melissa and I’m saying it to you as well. If training these kids distracts you from your schoolwork or puts you behind, she’ll have to find someone else.”

  Well, there really isn’t anyone else out there with powers, but I nod. I am going to work hard to keep my grades up. Not because I plan on going to college. Just to prove to Mom and to myself that I can handle it.

  “Good night.”

  I fly up the stairs to my room, passing Matt’s on the way. He’s playing dollies with Kaylee. A few years ago, he wouldn’t be caught dead playing with dolls. But ever since Kaylee was kidnapped, he’s been trying to be a better older brother.

  I
lean against the doorframe. “Hey, Bro.”

  “What’s up?”

  Kaylee lifts her head. “Are you in trouble? Matt said you’re not, but I think you are. Mom looked like she was gonna punish you. Is it bad? Do you want to play with us?”

  I smile as I ruffle her hair. “Nope, not in trouble. Mom, Dad, and I were talking about the new school I’m going to.”

  Matt lifts a brow. “New school?”

  “Yep. The superhero one.”

  “Can I come?” Kaylee asks.

  “You got any superpowers?”

  Pouting, she shakes her head. I gently slug her shoulder. “You don’t need powers to be special, Kaylee.”

  She shrugs. “I want powers. I wanna fly like you and Maddie. I wanna move stuff. I wanna be the most popular kid in my school. I want friends.”

  “You have friends.”

  She shrugs again. “Yeah, but I want more.”

  “Lots of friends are nice,” Matt says. “But having many fake friends is worse than having one or two true ones. Believe me, I know what it’s like to only have friends because you’re popular. Or a jock. Keep your friends close, Kaylee.”

  She gives him a look like he’s talking crazy.

  He laughs. “Trust me on that.”

  “Okay.”

  Chapter Two

  Later that night, I lie in bed, texting Maddie when my watch beeps. A group of kids who were driving back home from a party crashed into another car and their car fell off a cliff.

  You see that? Maddie texts.

  I’m already in my uniform and flying out the window.

  Same.

  I meet her outside her house and we fly toward the area. It’s pretty far, but we get there within a few minutes. The place is surrounded by many people. Cops try to stop the crowd from peering down. Afraid they’ll fall down the cliff. But no one’s listening to them.

  Rescue teams try to get down to the car, but it’s really deep.

  “Look!” Someone points. “It’s Blue and Red.”

  The cops hurriedly explain to us what happened. Even though we already know, we listen to every detail. Then we quickly shoot toward the car. It’s on fire, smashed to bits, and I doubt anyone is alive in there, but I’m not going to give up.