Chapitre 2: Arrows and Arsenals
"You don't know?! Who says that after ripping someone in half?"
"I think that's the perfect time to say it. Also, something. Vampires are already dead." Lucien replied. "….I think. Vampires aren't very well known in DC— at least not up front. You gotta be a real comic nut to know the ins and outs of most of the supernatural races and their origins. Especially after so many retcons and licensing changes overtime." He thought after the fact.
The archer continued walking beside him, two rooftops away. He wore leather and carbonite alloy Kevlar in red and black. The classic powerless superhero attire. Like a flashier edgier Robin. Though, he looked less like his sidekick comic counterpart. Even if he did rant like a comedic overtoned teen.
"You're suprisingly well adjusted to this. Which is weird since you're dressed like you just woke up from a coma and are unaware of your powers."
"I've had a long life. Not much surprises me." Lucien reached the edge of his rooftop and dropped off the edge.
He landed in a crouch on the ground, one hundred feet below. From there, he kept walking towards the park in the center of the city.
The red archer followed.
"Stop following me." He said as the young man flipped down the fire escape and landed in the cement alleys.
"Not happening. I've heard reports of Vampire adjacent activity all over the US on the dark web and now I see a wolf-man rip one in half? I gotta figure you out and report back to Green Arrow. Or the leag—"
"Speedy, go report to whoever you want. But stop following me. Whatever I am, it's not very compatible with people. I'm hungry— and if you don't get out of my way, I'll have the answer to your question sooner than later. I need space."
Lucien continued stomping towards the alleyway exit. Before he could hit it, a smoke arrow hit the exit and covered it in red mist.
Lucien growled.
"What you need, is help."
Lucien opened his mouth, but no words came. He was too busy reacting to Green Arrow flying through the wall of smoke and landing in the dumpster beside Lucien.
"Ohoho damn! Very unfortunate bucket, please don't tell me that's you out there, Sportsmaster."
"Wrong place— wrong time for jokes, Arsenal." Clock King stepped through the wall of blood-red smoke. His eyes carried the color— magnifying it with his rising thirst. "You."
He pointed to Arsenal and tore off his mask with his other hand. "You killed my kin."
Lucien looked to Arsenal, "You sure im the one who needed help?"
"You make jokes now?"
"I make a lot of things. Like dust pies."
Arsenal nodded in understanding as Clock King grew impatient. Which seemed incredibly ironic.
Arsenal turned back to the timely villain, "You're right. I smoked that bastard. He died like a rat with wings. Well….. that's what he is. That's what you all are. Is that racist?" Arsenal looked to Lucien.
"I'm not well versed in political correctness." Lucien replied with a shrug. Behind, he could hear Green Arrow shuffling in the garbage.
Arsenal returned the shrug , "Anyway, we strung him up and—"
"Times up— AHHHHH!" Clock King charged in a rage.
From the dumpster, Green Arrow exploded with an arrow racked and firing. Before he even hit the ground, four arrows were lodged in the vampires face. Two beeps passed before Clock King's head exploded and he fell at Lucien's feet as ash.
"Dust pie, huh?" Green Arrow asked as he approached. Like Arsenal, he wore a combination of high tech breathable Kevlar, leather and spandex with a belt lined with materials and a quiver full of specialty arrows. His only difference from most masked heroes was the devilish blond facial hair.
"We've got another serving on the roof." Arsenal replied.
"…..and you left it?!" Green arrow turned to his ally.
"Sorry, I got distracted by the new guy. He ripped Merlyn in half."
Green Arrow looked taken aback for a moment. Lucien understood. He was essentially Green Arrow's joker.
"Well done." Green Arrow said.
"I don't think anything is even close to done." Lucien replied.
"Are you a hunter? I've run into a few— years ago. The Order of Van Helsing. You with them? That would explain the… well, everything." Green Arrow asked.
"No, he's a we—"
"Arsenal, quiet." Lucien interrupted. "I'm nobody. Just passing through. Got a bad start, but I'm good now."
Green Arrow smiled as he looked him up and down, "You talk like you're older than you appear. The whole ageless immortal thing is kind of a red flag, but I'm aiming uv light right at you and you aren't burning so... whatever you are, isn't the main issue. That means you're a target. Like the rest of us."
Lucien looked down at Green Arrows hand and noticed him holding a purple flashlight beam to him. The small refracted portions hitting the ashes at his feet evaporated under the rays.
"Right. Green Arrow is like a leftist hippie Batman. I should've expected this." Lucien thought.
"But you seem the lone wolf type. Not to mention, our plate is already full. Ain't that right, Arsenal? You know, with picking up ashes in the wind and all." Green Arrow said.
Arsenal dropped his head, "How long till I live this down?"
"How long do Vampires live for?"
"...."
Green Arrow flicked his head up to the roof.
"See you around, wolf-guy."
Lucien grunted a goodbye.
Then Arsenal headed back up to the roof. But only after whispering to Green Arrow, "He called me Speedy…."
"Me and the league should be able to get this under control in good time. But if we don't, we could use all the extra help we can get." Green Arrow said, "If you killed Merlyn— powered up as a Vampire, you're no slouch. We've let worse prospects into the league—"
"Not a chance."
"Really?"
"I spent my whole life serving others. I forgot myself in the process. I'm good. I want to live."
"So I take it you're out of here?"
Lucien nodded and left the alley, "Don't follow me, Oliver."
Green Arrow choked on his spit, "The hell did you just—"
An arcane sigil bloomed in the sky.
Immediately after, a pulse exploded from the center of the city. Chills spread across Lucien's skin and made his spine tingle. The clouds overhead twisted and warbled as black ink-like smoke spread and solidified the clouds.
They fell around Star City until they were in a lightless dome.
The lights of the city around them blinked out as power failed. Sirens wailed before abruptly shorting out. Electrical pops went off across the city.
All that was left to be heard were the screams of madness.
Lucien turned back to Green Arrow.
He shrugged.
"I think you'll have to postpone that trip."
"Like hell I do." Lucien continued his trek out of Star City, now in complete darkness as the city quickly went to hell.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
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AvatarOfFeaR Yo! like I said this novels plots and mysteries will be uncovered quickly so next chapter we’ll get some answers and plot progression. lmk what ya think and thanks for reading!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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Power Stone 
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