Jenny’s Penthouse, DTLA

  Jenny Price hopes her Saturday morning will be uneventful. The sun provides natural light. She sits around in her penthouse, lying down on her sofa in her purple silk robe. Her reddish-brown hair down past her shoulders. She checks her stock portfolio for a bit: PriceCorp is up and so are a few others. Then, she checks her social media account—people everywhere are still commenting on Mai Kimura’s “toy drive” and how much worse Jenny herself is than Mai.

  “Boycott PriceCorp!” one post reads.

  “#JusticeForDorothy! #NeverForget,” another reads.

  “We stan a queen who gives back to the hood! We love you Mai!”

  “Jenny Price would never…”

  She scowls, her lips twitch. She checks the engagement numbers on each post: thousands of likes and comments on everything—completely overshadowing the positive reception she got from the PriceExpo. She scrolls past all of them as quickly as possible.

  Then, she sees another post—this time about The Wraith.

  “Some creep tried to rob me as I was coming out of the mall the other night,” the post reads. “The Wraith was right there. She kicked his ass! #ISupportTheWraith.”

  Jenny smiles. Then, someone knocks on the door.

  PAP! PAP! PAP!

  “Who could that be?” she thinks to herself, as she gets up from her couch.

  BANG! BANG! BANG!

  The knocks get louder. Jenny shuffles as quickly as possible toward the door. She looks through the peephole. When she sees who’s at the door she closes her eyes, lets out a big sigh, and bangs her head gently on the wall to her right.

  “Jen open the door it’s me!” the woman outside says.

  Jenny then unlocks both the deadbolt and the bottom lock. She opens the door. The woman at the door barges into the house without saying anything, she is a short and curvy lady with a bronze complexion like Jenny. Her hair is black, straight, and is cut in a bob style. Her eyes are brown. She has a small diamond stud nose ring. She’s wearing an orange sweater with light blue jeans and brown boots.

  Her eyes are wide, she looks around the house frantically, her body jittering.

  “Good… morning to you too Gina,” Jenny says, her eyes narrowing as she closes and locks the door behind her.

  “Oh,” Gina says. “Hey!”

  “Are you okay—”

  “Big sis,” Gina says, hyperventilating. She’s holding her hands in the air and shaking them. “I really really really need your help!”

  “What’s wrong—”

  “Remember my homegirl Erica?”

  Jenny closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Yeah, what about her?”

  “Well she got kidnapped by her weirdo boyfriend, you know, Arnie Kregman!”

  Jenny grimaces turning away from Gina. “Mad Dawg.”

  Gina continues rambling. “Yeah, and now she got her trapped in his little harem! I wanted to help her myself, but I ain’t The Wraith Jen you are—”

  “Okay!” Jenny says. She walks over to Gina, places her hands on her shoulders, and smiles really wide. “Did you take your meds?”

  “I… uh… no I didn’t—”

  Jenny grabs Gina’s hand, pulls her to the dinner table, and shoves her down into a chair.

  “Sit down,” Jenny says.

  “What’s this about—”

  “Sit! Down!” Jenny shouts, she grits her teeth and her eyes glow purple. Her voice is deep and ethereal.

  Gina remains seated with her mouth agape. “Yes ma’am.”

  Jenny’s eyes go back to normal as she storms into her kitchen. She opens a cabinet and grabs a bottle of medicine with the name “Regina Price” labeled on it. Then, she goes to the refrigerator and grabs a bottle of water.

  She powerwalks to the table, and slams both the bottle of medicine and the water bottle on the table.

  “Take it,” Jenny says, her green eyes staring menacingly into Gina’s. “Now.”

  Jenny sits down next to her.

  “You got my medicine in your cabinet?” Gina asks.

  “Yes. I keep a bottle with me just in case. Dealing with you, these are the kind of measures I’ve gotta take.”

  “Ain’t that… illegal?”

  “Girl, I’m Jenny Price,” Jenny says. “I just… got it like that. Now take the damn pill!”

  “Okay, Miss Superhero,” Gina says. “Out here doing… illegal s**t.”

  Gina hesitates, she turns to her right and looks at Jenny.

  “Do you have to sit next to me?” Gina asks. “You makin’ me nervous.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until you take it.”

  Gina shakes her head and rolls her eyes. She twists the cap off the medicine bottle, plops a pill into her hand, and throws it into her mouth. She opens the water bottle and chugs it; the pill bulges down her throat.

  Jenny gets up, walks over to the seat across from her, and sits down.

  “You feel better?” Jenny asks, smiling.

  “Better.”

  “Okay,” Jenny says, sighing. “So Mad Dawg kidnapped your friend?”

  “Yeah,” Gina says, relaxed. “I told her I would come save her but it’s Mad Dawg. He’ll kill me! I need your help!”

  Jenny grimaces, her eyes narrow. Then, she palms her face for a bit. “Gina, you told her about what we do?”

  “No dickhead! I told her about what I do!”

  “What the Hell were you thinking?!” Jenny asks. “Do you know what kind of danger you’re putting yourself in?! I mean what if she puts two and two together? You’re my sister!”

  Gina cringes and grits her teeth.

  “Did you forget?!” Jenny asks.

  “I didn’t tell her you were The Wraith! But I told her I’m Starling! Girl I’m tryna get my clout up! Besides I stay strapped, ain’t nobody doing nothing to me!”

  “Strapped?” Jenny asks, laughing. Then, she gives an annoyed look. “Since when were you a killer? And why are you killing? I told you we don’t do that!”

  “Never at work! But if some goofy finds out about me and has a problem, and wants to break in our house, I gotta do what I gotta do.”

  Jenny shakes her head.

  “Jen I’d never sell you out!” Gina says. “And I told her not to tell anyone who I am.”

  “You’d never sell me out?” Jenny asks. “Really? What about that time you told Dad I brought a guy over when I was seventeen?”

  There’s a beat.

  “Oh that?” Gina asks. “That was ‘cause you told him about my tattoo.” She smirks. “I had to get my lick back.”

  Jenny shrugs, raises her eyebrows, and nods her head.

  “So can you help me?” Gina asks.

  Jenny gets up from her seat, and back into the living room. Gina gets up from her seat and follows her. They both stand a few inches from each other.

  “If Mad Dawg’s back on the loose,” Jenny says, “I guess we have to team up. We have to free those girls.”

  “The Wraith and Starling,” Gina says. “The two baddest chicks in L.A! Back to kick some bad guy—”

  “Have you been training?” Jenny asks. “I don’t need you gassing out on me again.”

  “Been training every day. Been doing CrossFit and yoga, on top of the MMA.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Look at you!” Jenny says before giving Gina a hi-five.

  “Oh,” Gina says, “and check this out.”

  Gina reaches in her pocket and pulls out a small stick with a red button in the middle.

  “What’s that?” Jenny asks, raising an eyebrow.

  Gina smiles, backs away, and presses the red button in the middle. The pole stretches out. She twirls it around and swings it at the air.

  “Teyaah!” she shouts, as she slams it on the floor.

  “Chill,” Jenny says. “Before you break something.”

  “Ashwin made it for me,” Gina says, retracting the staff and putting it back in her pocket.

  “Of course he did,” Jenny says.

  “Let’s stop at the house first,” Gina says. “I gotta get my uniform. I’m driving by the way.”

  “I’m gonna go get dressed up,” Jenny says before walking away.

  *

  On The Freeway, Metro Los Angeles

  The time is 12:00PM. Gina is racing down Route 101, weaving in and out of traffic. Jenny sits in the passenger seat, holding on to the door handle for dear life. Jenny has on a green corduroy flannel, black jeans, and black clogs. Her hair worn down.

  “Gina slow down!” Jenny says. “You’re gonna crash!”

  “Sis,” Gina says, snickering, “you are in no position to talk to me about crashing.”

  There’s silence for three heartbeats. Then, Jenny turns to Gina and grimaces.

  “F**k you Gina!” she says, pointing at Gina.

  Gina sticks her tongue out at Jenny, swerving away from the rear-end of a car.

  “Seriously, that was too far!” Jenny says.

  “My bad, it was a joke,” Gina says, feeling a pit in her stomach.

  “What made you think that’d be funny?! I have nightmares about that s**t! You know what, never mind. You’re the only one in here who can die, so that’s on you.”

  “Aight, I said I’m sorry. Jeez. I’ll slow down.”

  Jenny shakes her head. She turns to the window for a bit and then turns back to the windshield at the road ahead. Gina begins to drive in a more controlled manner.

  “Okay,” Jenny says, taking a deep breath, “let’s move on. What’s the plan?”

  “Plan?” Gina asks. “I was gonna run up in his house, whoop on him, and leave with Erica and the rest of the girls.”

  “Mad Dawg may be a whiny incel idiot,” Jenny says. “But he’s strong. If it’s anything like the last time I fought him, he’ll see us coming. His demon must’ve come back somehow.”

  “Jen, you the one who can turn invisible and fly here. Do you have any ideas?”

  “I’m not worried about me,” Jenny says. “I’m worried about you.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Gina says, smiling. “We’ll be fine. I called you because I needed your help.”

  Jenny says nothing.

  *

  Price Residence, Calabasas

  Gina’s car pulls into the massive Price family compound and parks in the massive driveway, where they are greeted by a fleet of cars. They both get out. Jenny stops at the front door, staring at the house for a moment. She hasn’t been back in months.

  Her nose wrinkles. “Gina. Do you smell that?”

  Gina puts her key in the doorknob and twists it. The door opens.

  “Smell what?” Gina asks, looking around awkwardly.

  The moment the door opens, and they both enter, the smell of marijuana smoke hits them like a wall.

  “Are you serious?!” Jenny says, crinkling her nose as she steps inside. “You’ve been smoking weed in the house?!”

  “I got my medical card,” Gina says, walking past her and into the living room. “It helps with my bipolar, especially when I gotta deal with the highs.”

  Jenny closes the door and locks it.

  “You can’t just… do it outside?!” Jenny asks. “This was Dad’s house—"

  “Yeah,” Gina says, heading straight for the living room. “And he left it to both of us. You’re the one who moved out, remember? To fight bad guys in L.A!”

  Gina sits down on the sofa and places her costume in her lap.

  Jenny stops in the foyer. She looks around—everything is exactly as it was when she moved out. Family photos on the walls. She sighs.

  “Gina, I’m trying to—we’re trying to do something good here,” Jenny says quietly. “You can’t just… live however you want!”

  “Those ‘Celestial’ rules… or whatever,” Gina says. “They only apply to you. They don’t apply to me. And like I said, it’s my medicine. A girl gotta stay sane somehow, Jen.”

  Jenny grimaces at her for a bit before shaking her head.

  “And look,” Gina continues, “can we do the lecture later? I gotta save my friend.”

  Jenny stares at her sister, then shakes her head again as she walks into the living room and sits in the chair across from Gina.

  “Fine,” Jenny says. “Suit up. I’m calling Mendoza. We’re gonna need a police presence.”

  Gina stands up, grabs her suit, and heads to the powder room to change.

  Jenny pulls her burner phone from her purse and dials Mendoza’s number. The phone rings twice.

  “Hello?” Mendoza says on the other line.

  Jenny clears her throat and tries to mimic The Wraith’s register as much as possible.

  “Arielle,” she says. “I’ve got a bust for you.”

  “Who? Where?” Mendoza asks.

  “Mad Dawg,” Jenny says. “He’s kidnapped a young woman. Starling and I are going to rescue her.”

  “He broke out of jail a few weeks ago,” Mendoza says. “We’ve been looking for him. Thanks for the tip.”

  Mendoza hangs up. Just then, Starling comes out of the bathroom—standing in front of Jenny. She wears an a black, skin-tight suit similar to The Wraith’s but her cloak, cape, and facemask are all a shiny and silky pink. There is a pink star in the middle of her chest as well. She also wears pink contacts and a pink utility belt around her waist with an assortment of gadgets: Her retractable staff, pepper spray, taser wire, a grappling hook gun, and a burner phone.

  “You ready?” Starling asks.

  “Baby sis,” Jenny begins, “I stay ready.” She stands up from her seat and does a pushing gesture towards Starling. “Now back up.”

  Starling backs away from Jenny as she stands up from her seat. Jenny’s eyes turn purple as she lifts her right hand in the air. She slowly lowers her hand down and as she does, a black and purple aura surrounds her. Her hair goes from reddish-brown to black. Her skin turns a bluish-gray. Then, her clothes give way to a black skin-tight suit with a purple cloak, cape, and facemask.

  Starling stares in amazement. “Yeah, you ready.” She smiles.

  The Wraith says nothing.

  “How we gettin’ there?” Starling asks. “Oooh, I know!”

  The Wraith’s eyes widen for a bit before she closes them and sighs.

  *

  Skies Over Metro Los Angeles

  “WEEEE!” Starling yells as she flies across the skies over L.A. County on The Wraith’s back.

  Starling’s arms are wrapped across The Wraith’s shoulders.

  The Wraith’s eyes are scrunched. She growls.

  *

  Kregman Residence, Hidden Hills

  The basement of the Hidden Hills mansion reeks of sweat and cheap body spray. A burly White-American man lays on a weight bench, pressing a load of four-hundred pounds effortlessly. One woman sits on the bench with him and oils his chest, another stands over top of him and fans him. Neither one of them look like they want to be there.

  The man is Arnie Kregman, or as he likes to call himself: Mad Dawg. He is wearing all-black: baggy jeans, a tank-top, and combat boots. He sports a curly brown mullet with pride, as well as aviator sunglasses. The woman standing over top of him fanning him—her arms are getting tired, the fanning becomes slower and weaker.

  “Erica!” Mad Dawg shouts, slamming the bar back on the rack and nearly crushing Erica’s fingers. “The Hell’s wrong with you?! Keep that damn fan goin! I’m hot!”

  His voice is raspy and high-pitched, a stark contrast to his Herculean build.

  Erica is a White-American woman with black hair, blue eyes, and a nose ring.

  “Sorry sir—”

  “You’re damn right you’re sorry! Stupid, good for nothing hooch! All you 304s are the same! Just stupid and useless!”

  Erica closes her eyes and sighs.

  “What?” Mad Dawg asks.

  “Arnie I’m tired—”

  Kregman gets up from the bench and his arm shoots straight Erica’s neck. The other woman gets up from the bench, startled. He pushes her into the wall behind her.

  “Tired of what?!” Mad Dawg asks. “Huh! Tired of this relationship?! You ain’t tired o’ nothin’! I own you! You understand?!”

  “I… didn’t even say that Arnie!” Erica cries. “I’m just tired of fanning—”

  “Which means you’re tired of the relationship?! Huh?!” Arnie squeezes her neck tighter. “Listen here: Keep my balls empty, cook, clean, and do whatever the Hell I tell you. You got that?!”

  “Yes sir,” Erica says, shaking and in tears.

  Then, Mad Dawg lays back down under the bar. “Now take your clothes off.” He smiles. “Gimme something to look at.”

  The other woman’s eyes are widened, she is shaking.

  Erica’s hands and arms shake as pulls her hoodie off, exposing her bra.

  “You!” Mad Dawg yells. “Get your ass back over here!”

  The woman quickly runs back to the bench with the bottle of oil. She spurts some into her palms and continues rubbing his chest. Mad Dawg continues pumping his iron, sweating and grunting.

  “My child,” a voice in Mad Dawg’s head communes. “I wish to speak with you. Privately.”

  Mad Dawg no-diffs one last rep and slams it on the rack.

  “Alright Master Hatros,” Mad Dawg communes.

  Mad Dawg sits up. “Both of you, get out of my sight!”

  Erica grabs her hoodie and puts it back on. Both women leave.

  Mad Dawg gets on his knees, folds his arms behind his back, and bows his head.

  “Wha… what is it sir?” Mad Dawg asks.

  “That cursed Wraith of Los Angeles and that cursed Starling,” Hatros communes. “They are on their way here—”

  “What?!” Mad Dawg asks, his face turning red as he gnashes his teeth. “How did they know I was back—”

  “Silence!” Hatros says. “It matters not. For now, just be prepared.”

  “Okay Master, whatever you say. I’m gonna let my men know. Those b**ches won’t know what hit ‘em!”

  *

  Living Room, Kregman Residence, Hidden Hills

  Erica sits on a sofa in the living room. Her face glistening with sweat and tears. Her entire body is jittery. She removes her phone from the front pockets of her hoodie, and begins texting someone.

  *

  ERICA: Ginaaa! Hurry up!!! This asshole is gonna kill me!

  *

  She presses send. After which, she deletes the message thread and places her phone back into her hoodie pocket. Then, she presses her face into her palms and lets out a loud sigh.

  *

  In a Field Overlooking Kregman Residence, Hidden Hills

  The Wraith and Starling land in a wide and open field on top of a hill that overlooks the backyard of Mad Dawg’s mansion. Starling unwraps her arms from The Wraith’s neck. The two of them observe the mansion below; it’s silent. There is a gentle breeze. The elevation makes their ears pop. They are hidden behind forest.

  Starling’s phone vibrates. It’s the text message from Erica. Her eyes widen.

  “He’s gonna kill her!” Starling says. “We gotta—”

  “Wait,” The Wraith says. “We’ve gotta think this through.”

  POOF!

  Naomi appears. Starling’s eyes light up. She smiles underneath her mask.

  “Naomi!” Starling says. Starling runs toward Naomi and jumps into her arms. Naomi giggles as she wraps her arms and wings around her.

  The Wraith folds her arms and shakes her head. “Ugh.”

  “It’s good to see you as well, Regina,” Naomi says, smiling with her eyes closed. She looks up at The Wraith. “I only wish your sister could be this happy to see me.”

  “Where’ve you been all day?” The Wraith asks.

  “We’ll discuss you abusing your powers against your sister later,” Naomi says with a stern look.

  Starling turns around and gives The Wraith the middle finger, smiling under her mask, before embracing Naomi again. The Wraith shakes her head.

  Starling finally lets go of Naomi and backs away, standing next to The Wraith. Naomi clasps her hands together.

  “Mad Dawg knows you’re both coming,” Naomi says. “Hatros has returned somehow. It warned him.”

  “I knew it,” The Wraith says.

  “Hatros?” Starling asks. “Who the Hell is that?”

  “Mad Dawg’s powers come from a demon he’s bonded with named Hatros,” The Wraith says.

  “Oh,” Gina says. “Gives a whole different meanin’ to ‘being on demon time’ doesn’t it?”

  The Wraith looks at Starling and nods her head. “Facts.”

  “You must use the exorcism technique to cut Kregman from the source of his power,” Naomi says. “May the Order be with you two.”

  POOF!

  Naomi disappears.

  Just then, men with assault rifles and holding dogs on leashes emerge from the house below.

  “Alright Starling,” The Wraith says. “Here’s the plan: I’m gonna go down there and neutralize the defenders. The police shouldn’t be too far away.”

  “Right,” Starling says.

  “They have guns,” The Wraith says. “So it isn’t safe for you to go down yet. Once I take them out, you’ll come down.”

  Starling nods her head.

  The Wraith continues: “We’ll split up. I’ll go after Kregman, you find the rest of the women.”

  “Got it,” Starling says.

  POOF!

  The Wraith turns invisible.

  “Wait!” Starling says.

  POOF!

  The Wraith re-materializes.

  “What is it?” The Wraith says.

  Starling gives her a hug. The Wraith’s eyes widen and her shoulders tense, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips. After a brief pause, her rigid stance softens and she embraces Starling too.

  “Be safe Jen,” Starling says.

  “You too, Gina,” The Wraith says.

  The Wraith and Starling both let go. Then…

  POOF!

  The Wraith disappears. Starling watches the action from behind the forest.

  To Be Continued...