Super Villain Grandpa (Cape High Series Book 15) (2 page)

I look around, wondering if I went to the wrong tree. There’s no sign of them. I could have sworn the tree was here—but I guess all of these trees look a lot alike, huh? I start eating the bananas. They’re good. I’m still worried I’m going to die from malnutrition, though—I mean, if I never make it into Grandma’s house I’ll be living off of bananas for who knows how long, right? That can’t be a balanced diet!

I sigh and look up at the sky, wondering why I even care about disgracing the Falconess name. I don’t plan on being one, right?

What did she mean by them being “too by-the-book”?

***

“Oh she’ll be fine,” Angela says, lounging on a beautiful window seat as she talks to her daughter. “She’ll figure out how to get up here sooner or later, and until then there’s plenty of food if she looks hard enough. It isn’t as if she’ll starve to death.”

“Mom,” Melissa says, again.

“I KNOW you think I’m being too tough on her, but you survived it! If you can survive it, so can she—”

“MOM!” Melissa snaps. “Would you listen for just a minute?”

“Why so worried, sweetie?” Angela asks. “I’m explaining why this is a perfectly—”

“Dad is OUT,” Melissa says. “I’ve been trying to tell you for the past ten minutes!”

The phone almost cracks in Angela’s hand. She sways slightly, looking pale. When she doesn’t say anything, Melissa goes on, “The Cape Cells went down. I didn’t find out until I got back from dropping Keliah off. A handful of the—the inmates got free, after taking down all of the guards. Dad—”

“Is out, yes,” Angela says, her tone a lot calmer than her eyes. “I see. How… um, how did the Cape Cells go down?” she asks after taking a deep breath.

“There was a fight with another technopath, who apparently made Nico lose his powers for a bit. When his powers were down the other technopath cut the power on the Cape Cells,” Melissa says.

“And why is this Nico so important?” Angela asks, remembering the conversation with Keliah.

“You—” Melissa takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out again. “Mom, do you remember Superior?” she asks as if talking to a child.

“I used to work with him, and I don’t appreciate your condescending tone—”

“Nico is the son of Superior and Tatiana, Mom,” Melissa says irritably.

“Nicolas?” Angela asks, shocked. “Nicolas is Keliah’s teacher?” she repeats, since it doesn’t seem to sink in. “Wait, they let him out of the Cape Cells?" She had never heard of someone getting out of the Cape Cells before, well, other than the ones that just escaped.

“He goes by Nico now,” Melissa says, her tone calmer. “But yeah, they let him out. He’s the principal of Cape High, now. I wasn’t worried about her training; he would have done just fine. It’s her relationships that are the problem. She’s got such a huge chip on her shoulder and I’m not even sure why,” she admits. “She lost her temper and broke the nose of a weaker cape—”

“Yes, yes, you told me that part. You just didn’t tell me that she was being trained by a Superior!” Angela says. “I actually told her that he wouldn’t be able to, that he was too by-the-book,” she says, laughing even though it isn’t the time for amusement.

“He trained Firefly when he was barely older than Keliah, Mom,” Melissa says. “Do you really think I’d let some regular super train her? But I’m going to come pick her up. This little game of yours will have to wait until Dad is… until Dad is captured again,” she says.

“She’s perfectly safe here—”

“Mom! You are sitting on top of his secret base!” Melissa says. “He BUILT that island and we both know it. That’s the first place he’ll go—if he isn’t there already.”

A strained silence fills the room. “I’ll bring her up,” Angela says finally. “She can stay the night, at least, and you can come get her in the morning.”

“Both of you,” Melissa says.

“No,” Angela says. “I’ll stay here. I can deal with your father.”

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Melissa says instead of replying.

***

This place is really confusing. I stare blankly at the giant rock wall in front of me, wondering where in the heck it came from. I look to the left, seeing another rock much like it there, and then to the right—another one. It’s almost like a room, you know, except there isn’t a roof and there isn’t a door behind me. I turn, planning on walking out, only to stop.

There’s a man standing behind me. I let out a yelp, jumping back and bringing up my fists. “Who are you? How did you get there?” I demand, my heart pounding hard against my chest. He’s huge, with broad shoulders, a square jaw, and wearing a strange black, skin-tight uniform. His hair is long, and dirty blonde, his eyes, though, his eyes gleam red. He’s a super.

“I think those are MY questions, little girl,” he says, looking me over with a dark expression. “What are you doing on my island?”

“This—this isn’t your island! It’s the Falconess Island!” I say, keeping my fists up in a pathetic attempt at looking tough. I once got into a fight with Panther, although I didn’t know it was him at the time. He’d been so far beyond my skill level that it was almost funny. But that’s THE Panther, right? I don’t recognize this guy, so he shouldn’t be—

“Falconess?” he repeats, his eyes widening slightly. “Who are you? Are you her daughter?” he demands, his hand shooting out and grabbing my shirt. I’m standing on my tiptoes as I grab his wrist. “Are you?” he demands, shaking me.

I nod. He drops me, jerking his hand away. A strange look crosses his face. “I should have known Angela would—”

“Missy,” I say. “My mom—she’s Missy,” I say, since it’s clear he knows Grandma. Only a handful of people in the world know Grandma’s name.

“Missy?” he repeats, his expression changing.

“SHE’S Falconess, now,” I explain, not sure why I’m bothering. I jump on top of the rock to my right, intent on running away. A hand grabs my ankle, tripping me. I fall forward, onto the stone.

“No you don’t, kid,” he says, grabbing me under the arms and placing me in front of him. “Who is Missy?” he demands.

“My mom!” I say. “It’s short for Melissa! Are you stupid? I just told you that! Who are YOU?” I demand.

“And Melissa, she’s Angela’s daughter?” he asks, his tone changing slightly, like he already knows the answer.

“Of course she is! You don’t hand the Falconess name over to just anyone,” I say absently, looking at my skinned hands and knees. “That HURT, you jerk! I’m going to scream and you’ll regret it, understand? My Grandma will come here and kick your butt!”

“Is she…” he goes silent, a strange look on his face. He reaches forward, almost touching my face before I jerk away. “Is she doing well?”

“Yeah, I guess. I mean she’s ALWAYS working, so I don’t get to see her that often, but she seems okay. Why?”

“I see. Who’s your dad?” he asks curiously.

“His super name is Vertigo,” I admit with a shrug. “Some East Branch cape that I’ve only seen, like, twice.”

“Your own father and you’ve only met him twice?” he says.

“He’s more of a… donor than a dad, at least that’s what Mom says,” I say. “So… are you my granddad?” I ask, going straight to the thought that’s been lurking under the surface since he showed up.

“I… think I am,” he says.

“Don’t expect me to jump up and hug you,” I say darkly. “You totally assaulted me! And why are you dressed so stupidly?” I demand, pointing at the black suit.

“I didn’t—” he scowls, looking down at the uniform and starting to take it off.

“KEEP IT ON!” I yell, turning bright red and covering my eyes. “For the love of God, keep it on!”

He steps closer and I yelp, backing up more as he reaches out. His hand touches the rock behind me and the ground slides open underneath us. I drop like a stone, screaming for a second before he grabs me. I dare to glance at him. The uniform hangs around his waist, now. He lets go and I drop to a metal floor as he turns and walks away. “Don’t touch anything,” he warns me over his shoulder. I look up as the hole we fell through closes again. I’m trapped down here with a stranger that might, or might not be my grandfather.

A chill runs down my spine.

***

They’ll be coming for him soon, Austin, AKA Bombastic, realizes as he digs through the clothes he’d left down here almost forty years ago. He’d heard Technico was working for the Heroes. If they send Technico after him, he won’t have much luck staying free. But…

He dares to glance at the door leading to the main room as he pulls out some clothes. He has a granddaughter—a too talkative little beauty that looks like her grandmother in miniature. She can’t be more than thirteen, not with as weak as she is. Unless she’s a D-class, he realizes. If she’s a D-class, she’s about as strong as she’ll get.

He jerks as he hears the girl speak. “Hey, Nico—”

He races out in only his jeans, grabbing the phone from her and crushing it. “What was THAT about?” she demands. “That was my PHONE!”

“Was that Technico you were calling?” he demands.

“He’s—”

“How do you know Technico?”

“He’s my principal,” she says, still staring at the remains of her phone. “You jerk, he made me that phone! That was the only way I could reach the outside world!”

“He built it?” Austin asks.

“Yeah, everyone in the school has one,” she says, like he’s a moron.

“We have to leave,” he says, looking around wildly. He speeds up, grabbing everything he thinks will help on the trip and then grabbing her. “Time to go,” he says, heading for the underground dock. He hopes that the boats he had stocked and left there still work. If they don’t, he’ll have to fly and carry what he can, along with the girl. Two of the boats are almost fully submerged, much to his irritation. He heads for the third, which is more of a toy than a boat—he’d been playing with the idea of a land/sea hybrid. No doubt they’ve built the real thing since he got tossed into the slammer, but at least this one hasn’t sunk.

“What IS that?” his granddaughter asks, making a face.

“How we’re going to get out of here,” he says, picking her up and putting her in it. He waits for all of a second to see if her weight makes it sink and then hops in, moving to the motor and pulling it open. It needs replaced, he thinks irritably, hauling it out and tearing into it. Soon it’s stripped bare and he’s replacing all of the parts at top speed from his old stash.

“What’s your power?” she asks. “Actually, what’s your NAME? Who are you? Are you a hero, or a villain? It’s pretty obvious that you’re not a norm.”

“I’m called Bombastic,” he says, putting the motor back into place. “I’m a super villain that just escaped from the Cape Cells.”

Before she can say or do anything he takes off, jetting out of the dock and out to sea.

***

Bombastic? That’s got to be the STUPIDEST name I’ve ever—wait, he escaped from the Cape Cells? And he just kidnapped me! I grab onto the railing of the weird boat and look around wildly. We’re going pretty fast, but if I jump I should be okay. I can swim back to Grandma’s island and wait for Nico. He’s going to come, right? If he doesn’t come, he’ll send someone, right? Maybe Grandma will even notice that I’m missing—

“Don’t even think about it, girl,” my “grandpa” calls over his shoulder as he heads out to sea. “If you jump, I’ll just tie you up after I catch you.”

I look at him, wondering if he has some sort of psychic ability. Did he read my mind? How powerful IS this guy? If he was in the Cape Cells, doesn’t that mean he’s evil? Am I going to die at the hands of my own grandpa? My heart starts pounding as a chill runs over my spine. Jennifer, I am SO SORRY, SO SORRY! I’ll never hit anyone ever again! I look behind me, staring at the ever shrinking island—and I jump.

I hear Grandpa curse from behind me as I strike out, swimming as fast as I can. I should have gone to the pool parties at school. If I survive this, I’m going to beg Malina to let me use her pool—

“Got you,” Grandpa says, pulling me out of the water. “I TOLD you not to try that!” he says, pulling me to the boat. “Now I’m going to have to tie you up. I didn’t want to have to do that, you know.”

“You SUCK as a Grandpa,” I say, glaring at him angrily.

“Like you’re such a great grandchild,” he drawls. “Your skills are sub-par, too. How old are you?” he demands. “You barely have any strength—”

“I’m thirteen!” I yell. “I’m only just coming into my powers and I can already make a bow you—you jerk!”

He looks at me for a moment before abruptly turning me around and pulling up my shirt. I yelp, trying to keep it down. “I see,” he says. “So it IS part of the power. I always wondered.”

“What? And this is totally wrong—you’re groping your own grandchild!”

“Haven’t you seen your mom’s back?” he asks.

I go still. “The wings? Am I getting wings?” I ask, my terror turning into excitement. “I need a mirror! I want to see them!”

“You’ve barely got an outline," he says. “You won’t be flying any time soon.”

Here’s the thing—it’s a family secret, obviously, but each Falconess starts to develop a glowing wing pattern on her back when she comes into her powers. Once they’re fully grown as heroes it just looks like a tattoo, but for the first five years or so they have to keep them hidden. The official story about our powers is that we’re long, long lost descendants of angels, or something, but it’s all a lie. The truth is that a long time ago one of our ancestors was “genetically tattooed” by some super advanced alien, and it gave her the ability to summon energy constructs.

But—but how does he know so much about it? I mean, I know they were… well… (okay, yes, I AM blushing, shut up) boyfriend and girlfriend, but— “Why did Grandma tell you so much about us?” I demand, jerking my shirt down and looking at him.

“Because…” he goes silent for a moment, his eyes not focusing on me. I think he’s looking into the past. “Because things were different in the past,” he says finally.

“You were a villain, she was a hero, they couldn’t have been THAT different,” I say. “Why did you have to go and get tossed into the Cape Cells, if things were so ‘different’?” I demand. “Why didn’t you go GOOD?”