Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Flying across the city a sense of peace fills me as I touch the necklace I took back. I enjoy the warmth it brings me for a few moments before a burning sensation occurs. Touching the armband, I have, I see that T is touching her stone. I gave every member of the team has their own stone that they always keep on them, it just looks like crystal jewelry, but we all know that it is connected straight to me.

Booking it back across town, I drop down on to our new balcony and nearly miss. Sliding the door open quietly, I listen and hear voices. Peering into our living room, I see a familiar suit in our doorway. T is still touching the necklace I gave her. Walking confidently into the living room, T notices me and releases her grasp.

"Greyson," I say coldly.

"Zana," he responds.

"What is going on?" I ask not taking my mask off.

"I came here to talk to both of you," Greyson says honestly, and I just keep a neutral expression.

"That is up to T," I say stepping back.

"I guess you can come in," T says opening the door all the way.

"This place is nice," Greyson says coming in and looking around.

"Well when I got transferred to the other shelter and a pay raise and with Zana going to school over on this half of the city it only made sense to move," T says sitting down on the couch and Greyson takes a seat in the chair.

"I came here to apologize," Greyson says seriously.

"Then apologize," I say coldly. Something about Greyson still seems off. The Greyson I first met was intense but this, this feels different. What happened to him? Was it all a front?

"Thalia what I did in interfering with your affairs with Zana and trying to manipulate you so that I could add her to the team was completely and disgustingly wrong of me. You are my sister and you just came back into my life and I treated you like shit. I don't want to keep living my life without my family because my head was so far up my own ass, I couldn't see what was important," Greyson says but something seems wrong. Is his accent seem thicker than normal? Maybe his inflection is off? I wonder if he had a few drinks before getting the courage to do this.

"I knew what you were doing Greyson, just because I am not a doctor doesn't mean I'm daft, you are apologizing to the wrong person," T says fiercely.

"I know and I plan on apologizing to Zana next," Greyson says glancing at me.

"Then go ahead," T says gesturing to me.

"Zana, you are such a talented young woman and what I did to you and the other young meta's is despicable, you all deserve to follow your paths in life and not be forced into the superhero world," Greyson says and my stomach churns violently.

"You know Greyson, I have spent a lot of time talking to my therapist about what you did to T and me, and she has helped me move past quite a bit of it. But you aren't sorry for what you did, I can see it in your eyes and see it in the way you are sitting. If you were sorry you would be showing signs of it," I snap annoyed. Why is this apology so hallow?

"I am sorry!" He exclaims trying to defend himself, but one sharp look makes him shut up.

"I want to forgive you Greyson I do; you were a damn good leader for the team, and I know they miss you. But here is the thing, the thing that drives me and Aviva and Cathleen and everyone else out of bed every morning is this desire to change lives, save people, help them when they can't protect themselves. You aren't like that and you aren't here fake apologizing because you are sorry," I say. The words seem to spill out of my mouth without me even processing them, but I trust my gut.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Greyson says defensively.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you regret everything you did to me," I say walking closer and getting in his face.

"I do regret it," he says but the emotionless look in his eyes tells me he doesn't. It's almost like he isn't feel anything right now. Is that the way he has always been and I never noticed? Flashes of us arguing come up and the pain and anger I saw seemed so real.

"You know they say the eyes are the windows to the soul Greyson, either you don't have a soul, or you are projecting an emotionless state, so I don't see what you are truly feeling," I say stepping back.

"This is ridiculous, I am here to make amends with you, and you are the one being difficult!" Greyson says standing up yelling.

"Mean what you are saying, and I will forgive you," I snap back, and I see nothing in his gaze.

"I am sorry!" He screams at me completely losing his cool. But never once does he look genuinely upset or torn up, he appears angry on the surface but it's empty. Everything about him and about this is empty!

"I am still just a chess piece to you, aren't I? I am the bishop you need to move in order to get back to the team," I say while stepping closer to him and he crosses his arms.

"You know when Lyle apologized to Aviva for how he treated her, he cried his eyes out. He could barely breathe because the pain he felt for hurting her was so strong. But you Greyson Hayes have no remorse for your actions, you waited until the dust settled and now are trying to worm yourself back into your position like nothing ever happened," I say fiercely.

"I think you need to see that therapist more because you are crazy," Greyson hisses out, but he takes a step back away from me.

"Words are a very powerful thing Greyson," I say coldly, and I can see the indecision in his eyes.

"I am aware of that Zana, I am a doctor after all," he says.

"Tell me you would change it all, tell me you would take it all back, tell me that you regret the way you used your damn sister, and nearly destroyed our relationship. Tell me that you are sorry for everything you have done to manipulate me," I growl out and I take a step forward causing him to retreat.

"I-I would," he says stuttering.

"Then tell me why you think it is okay to stand here and lie to my face right now about how sorry you are? You think I can't see through you, Greyson?" I ask him, forcing him to sit back down.

Greyson looks up at me shocked and I can see how the frustration that he is portraying, but I also see the respect he has for me. Nobody has ever called him on his bluff before and certainly, nobody has been able to read him the way I am. I know what game he is playing, and it ends here.

"Thalia used to tell me these stories of this powerful little girl in her shelter. The way she got up every day and dealt with the taunting from school like it was a speck of dust, the way she faced homelessness like it was her job. I never thought that same powerful little girl would amount to be such a ferocious woman that would pin me to a chair and put me in my place and call my bluff like she was a trained lie detector," Greyson says, and I see the honesty in his eyes, well at least I think I do.

"You will not hurt anyone I love ever again," I say.

"I'm taking a job in California," he says.

"Good, now get out of my home," I say stepping back.

"You are something else," Greyson says standing up and brushing himself off.

"You are a sociopath," I spit out.

"Goodbye Thalia, goodbye Zana," Greyson says before leaving.

"What even just happened?" T asks confused.

"As I said, your brother is a sociopath," I say sitting down.

"Are you serious about that?" T asks concerned.

"Do I look like a certified psychologist?" I ask her while laying down.

"No," she says running her hands through my longer hair. She's going to try to help me learn how to properly take care of my hair and curls.

"You look cute with a little afro," T says amused.

"Eh," I say. The length feels awkward right now.

"I'm sorry I couldn't forgive him," I say seriously looking up at her.

"I could tell his apology wasn't one hundred percent genuine from when he got to the door. There was something off about him. I don't hold it against you for not forgiving him Zana," T says.

"I wanted to, just so that I wouldn't have to deal with him any longer, but I just couldn't. He was using me, forgiving him like a piece in a chess game," I say frustrated.

"I know Zana, he didn't even apologize to you, he just said what he did was wrong," T says.

"I love you, T," I say honestly. She hugs me tightly and I relax. Seeing the picture frame on the other side of the room, we cropped it so that I only saw her, my mom. Orion also did some editing to get rid of the deceased's stamp on it.

"I love you too Zana,"

I leave again shortly after to finish my rounds; I wasn't quite done, and I had a few specific people I needed to look after. Taking off quietly from the balcony, I turn my earpiece back on and easily track them. There is a nasty bus crash and I can see the four of them working together to save everyone as I stand on a roof a decent distance away. Ambulances and police cars start to flood the scene and I watch as people are taken away and some of the boys disappear before the officers can talk to them. I hope Levi is doing better, I know he isn't strong enough right now to join them but I didn't have the specifics of his condition anymore.

A large explosion in the distance startles me, darting into the sky I see that the flames are near the edge of the city where the abandoned warehouse district is. Sending a parting glance at the two boys still talking to the police, I crank my boots up and take off. Landing in front of the building, I scan it for signs of life and see nothing. The building looks delipidated and uncared for. Why would someone blow it up? I feel a faint blue light out of the corner of my vision and the four men appear.

"Woah," they say, and I realize they are all staring at me.

"Hey boys," I say casually.

Turning my boots back on, I try to get a better vantage of the destruction and to see if there are any fire hydrants in the area. Searching quickly, I don't see anything but the four of them have scattered also searching for a way to put out the flames. I watch the sidewall for a moment and realize it is crumbling under the pressure. Looking down, I see Mason standing far too close. Opening my mouth to scream, I am startled by a massive crack and the wall starting to come down.

"Shit!"

Without hesitation, I nosedive and easily grab him by the arm. Using all of my strength I pull him clear off the ground and he clings to me as we move away from the falling to debris. Carefully putting him down on the ground, my muscles ache from the exertion. Catching my breath, everyone congregates around.

"Have we met before?" Mason asks me curiously and I cough to cover my laugh.

"Not like this," I mumble before taking back off. There is nothing I can do to stop this fire and if I leave, hopefully, they'll be wise and leave too.

Greyson, Greyson, Greyson Hayes, if only they knew what was really up with you. But I guess that will be relieved later on😂👀.

Two chapters left guys!!!

XX Cc