The floor around her feet was burning.
Vanessa's transformation was instantaneous—her golden hair igniting into a blazing crimson, her emerald eyes shifting into molten gold.
The air around her rippled with heat, warping the very light that touched her.
Biscuit's remaining eye widened, "Oh, shit—Flamestar?!"
He didn't hesitate, "OPEN FIRE!"
Gunfire erupted—bullets streaking toward her in a deadly hail.
Vanessa didn't dodge instead she welcome their bullets.
Every bullet melted mid-air as begun to absorb their kinetic energy fueling her flames. Her body glowed brighter, hotter—until she was less a woman and more a living supernova.
Then—
*BOOM.*
A shockwave of fire erupted from her, sending Biscuit and his men flying like ragdolls and vans tipping away. They crashed into shipping containers, crumpling to the ground, unconscious or groaning in pain.
Biscuit didn't want to continue this and quickly got up on his feet and bolt away. Only for a spinning star of fire materializing in Vanessa's palm.
"You don't get to leave," she said softly.
She hurled it towards the air before homing in, spiraling through the air before slamming into Biscuit's back, sending him face-first into the concrete.
Before he could recover, Vanessa teleported beside him in a burst of flame, pressing a hand to his spine.
"Flame binds," she murmured.
Fiery shackles coiled around his wrists and ankles, searing just enough to brand his fur but not cripple him.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
---
Officer Morgan stepped out of his cruiser, whistling at the devastation, "Damn, Flamestar. You really went all out."
Vanessa dusted off her hands, her flames dimming, "You know how protective I'm over my babies."
Morgan cuffed that begun to weaken his trigger Biscuit, who groaned in pain, "We've been after this guy for months. What was he even doing here?"
Vanessa's eyes narrowed, "That's what I'd like to know."
She knelt beside Biscuit, her voice dropping to a whisper only he could hear, "Who sent you?"
Biscuit spat blood, grinning, "Your luck ran out the moment that child enter your life. After my dance with him, must say he is not ready for giver hunters. That power of his won't protect him forever and once that day comes and you are holding his lifeless body. You'll only have yourself to blame for dragging him into this life."
Vanessa's fingers twitched—her flames flared for just a second—before she forced herself to stand, "Take him away." She said.
---
They reappeared within the living room of the penthouse after Bruce teleported Arthur away from danger.
"How did you guys-"
"Remember yesterday when mom made us dinner, one of the maids went to your room and attached a tracker in your coat." Bruce said, tapping the hidden device sewn into the lining of his shirt.
Arthur blinked, "Why the hell is there a tracker in my clothes?"
Cassie walked in, balancing a tray of tea, "All of us have them. It doesn't just track our location—it monitors our vitals, too."
Before Arthur could argue, a small pillar of fire appeared infront of him—
—and Vanessa stormed out, still in her Flamestar form.
"ARTHUR!"
She teleport from where she was standing to infront of Arthur and yanked him into a crushing hug, her flames licking harmlessly around them, "My sweet baby boy."
Arthur wheezed, "Can't… breathe…"
She finally released him, her flames receding as she shifted back to her normal appearance, "Now. Explain."
Duke and Annie joined, listening intently as Arthur laid out Biscuit's words—the mention of "evolution," the knowledge of his eyes, the deliberate attempt to kill him.
"Someone's spreading info about me," Arthur concluded, "And they're sending villains to kill me. He told me himself, and he is only one of the many who might come attacking when they have the chance."
Vanessa's lips thinned, "Interesting, I should consider buying you a smartwatch or any form of communication. Tighten security. And also, I believe that you should have someone with you next time."
"I wanted to ask about the evolution-"
A knock at the door.
Becky entered, carrying four sleek briefcases, "We will talk later." Vanessa said as she left to the elevator.
"Your uniforms," she said, setting them down on the desk. "Mission starts in one hour."
The team exchanged glances.
The real fight was about to begin.