Lightning rumbled overhead as Joseph Thoreau exited the New Lilith College Academy. His tousled dark hair immidiately dampaned by the rainfall as the clouds opened up and rained down on the coastal city of New Lilith. Rain wasn't unexpected at this time of year, but the forecast hadn't called for a storm of this size or magnitude. Last Joseph had heard his father say, it was only a twenty percent chance of precipitation for the entire day. This felt more along the lines at at least ninety. 

Bidding goodbye to his circle of friends as they boarded their bus, the highschool junior made a beeline for his bike, holding a heavy text book over his head in hopes the hardcover would somehow protect him from the downpour. Unchaining his bike, Joseph hopped over the saddle, his feet landing on the pedals, as he took off towards his parents' condominium located at the heart of the city. His father, Silas Thoreau, was the city's district attorney and as such, preferred to live at the heart of the city he strove to protect.

Taking his usual short cuts, Joseph couldn't help but notice the large black van following him. Ducking down a small alley, the teen smirked to himself, thinking he had evaded his followers only for an identical van to suddenly block his path as the boy brought his bike to a quick stop. A man in a suit and trenchcoat stepped out of the van's sliding door, the majority of his face hidden behind a large pair of thick rimmed sunglasses. Tight leather gloves covered his hands as he approached Joseph while the boy tried to regain his momentum, pedaling the bike in the direction he had come.

But it was to no avail, as the other side of the alley had become blocked by the first van. Two men, dressed indentically to the first climbed out of the van and Joseph quickly realized he was surrounded. Fear gripped the heart of the teen, as his eyes rapidly surveyed the alley for another escape. Jumping from his bike, Joseph ran towards a fire escape, leaping off a nearby dumpster as his hands took ahold of the cold wet metal rung. Slipping as he tried to pull himself up, Joseph felt a pair of strong hands take a hold of his ankles. Flailing his legs rapidly, a primal scream for help managed to escape his lungs before the man ripped him from the ladder, dropping him onto the dumpster that had aided him previously.

Winded and dazed, Joseph lashed out at anything that moved while his three captors surrounded him. Managing to land a heel to the face of one of his attackers, Joseph saw a satisfying drop of crimson appear on the man's lip before he was suddenly backhanded.

"Our orders were not to hurt him." Snapped one of the other men as he pulled the first man off of Joseph, leaving the remaining attacker to restrain the teenage boy. 

"Fuckin' kid cost me a tooth." The injured man swore as he spat the tooth in question onto the ground in a thick loogie of blood and saliva. 

"Get the fuck over it. You can buy a platinum one when this is all over." The other man said as he turned to Joseph who was still flaying against his restrainer. 

"Hold his head steady." The man ordered as he produced a syringe from within his jacket.

"Get the fuck off of me!" Joseph screamed as a strong hand pulled his head to the side. "No! No! NO!" He continued to scream as the syringe was injected into his neck. The world around him fading before his vision suddenly went black as he slipped into a state of unconciousnes.

"Get him to the van." The man ordered. "And you, regroup and get the others." He continued as the other man wiped more blood from his lip and headed towards his vehicle. 

[hr]  
The Faulkner Estate was considered by many to be the safest place in all of New Lilith. Situated above the Demon's Valley, the ancestral home of New Lilith's elite was safe from most natural disasters. Built into a foundation of solid rock with acres of cleared forest all around, there was worries to be had from the worst that Mother Nature could throw its way. Mankind however was another matter, but Charles Michaels, the current heir and resident of the stately manor had spared no expense when it came to security on his mansion. To most, it was assumed he kept a multitude of wealth in his private home, to those in his private circle however, this couldn't be further from the truth. 

Charles Michaels had, in a prior life, been known as the vigilante IllAdvised, one of the New Lilith's so called Mavericks. But time took its toll and so Charles retired the mask and settled down. Marrying Penelope Drusilla 'Drew' Scott in a private ceremony, New Lilith's former most eligible bachelor had been taken off the market. The two would give birth to a son the following year, a son who was now reaching the age of eight.

A chime sounded throughout the mansion indicating the opening of the estate's main gates as a black Grand Cherokee made its way onto the grounds. The garage door opened upon recognizing the vehicle and Drew steered the vehicle into its spot like she did everyday upon returning from picking Zebulun up from his private classes. Climbing out of the driver's seat, Drew brushed her blonde hair out of her face, the blue dyed tips catching in the breeze as the rain continued to pour outside while the garage door slowly shut. Opening the back door, she was nearly tackled as Zebulun exploded from his seat, wrapping his limbs around his mother. 

"Can we play video games? Daddy always said that when it rains, I can play video games." Zebulun asked with excitement as Drew buried her brow in a mocking expression, pretending to think long and hard about her answer.

"Is your homework done young man?" She asked as Zebulun looked up at her, his icy blue eyes seemingly growing in size the further his bottom lip stuck out. 

"I don't gots any homework Mommy!" He protested as Drew allowed herself a small laugh before putting Zebulun down on the ground.

"Then I guess you can play video games." She said with a false surrender, a smile covering her lips as the boy's tiny fists pumped into the air in celebration before he quickly ran inside ahead of her.

"Sorry about this Ma'am." A voice came from behind Drew as she jumped while hand landed on her shoulder. Old reflexes immediately came back to her as her own arm shot backwards, taking a hold of the wrist and spinning around just in time to avoid the syringe aimed for her neck. A gout of freezing air erupted from her hand, encasing the needle in a block of ice before it dropped to the ground and shattered. 

"Fuck." The man cursed in a monotone voice.

"You don't seem particularly upset." Drew smirked. 

"I'm not upset." He replied breaking his hand free of Drew's before tossing off his trench coat. "Just disappointed, I'm going to have to hurt you." He stated as a second set of arms was revealed as the long coat hit the ground. Four long curved knives adorned his belt as the man drew the blades, spinning each one around as he raised two arms above his head while two crossed his chest defensively. "The pretty ones always fight back."

"Four arms?" Drew stated with a tone of intrigue. "I bet you're a big hit in the bedroom."

"Most people can't get past how it looks in order to appreciate the benefits." The man replied as he lunged towards Drew who flipped backwards, landing on top of her Jeep. 

"I can see that." She retorted. 

"You're awfully curious for a married woman." The four armed assassin replied. 

"Eh, just getting ideas for the hubby. He's really into toys." Drew snarked blasting freezing air towards the man who quickly side stepped the assault and charged the Jeep, throwing Drew off balance.

"You're out of practice." He taunted. "[i]Bliss[/i]."

"Is that supposed to make me afraid of you?" Drew asked. "Oh no! You know my former secret identity." Drew retorted as she ducked under the Jeep, sliding across the floor before taking out the man's legs. "Look buddy, you come into my house and attack me directly. I'm going to assume you know who I am. Which also means, you know you can't win."

"If you're under the belief that you've been stalling me until your charming husband can return home, then you've miscalculated Miss Scott. Or is it Mrs. Michaels now?" The man asked. 

"It's Scott, I'm a classy modern bitch." Drew replied as she encased her fist and ice and delivered a blow to the man's torso. "What'd you do to Chuck!" She screamed.

"He'll live." The man replied as he took advantage of Drew's unbalanced emotions, delivering a laceration across her bicep before catching her by the throat and spinning the woman around. One arm wrapping itself under her neck as the man spoke slowly and calmly into her ear.

"We're going to be taking your son now, Penelope, and there's nothing you, nor your husband, nor the rest of your super friends can do to stop us. In fact, and I dare say I'm wasting my breath, but it would be for the best that you do not attempt to follow us."

"F-f" Drew fought to spit the words out as the man's arm tightened around her throat. "Fuck you!" She spat.

"I'll keep the invitation under consideration on my way out if you wake up in time." The man snarled wickedly as Drew lost conciousness, her body slumping to the floor of the garage while the four armed man turned towards the door to the interior of the mansion.

"Oh Zebulun, come out and play!" He called in a sing-song voice as he entered the safest home in New Lilith.