Chapter 11 - It’s just a job

"But... why?" Clara started. "Why do you work for them, is it for the money? Did you have a rough childhood? Or, I don't know, maybe someone wronged you?" Clara desperately tried to understand why Cyra would choose to be a villain. She wanted a logical reason so badly, so that maybe she might be able to forgive him.

"Because I'm good at it." Cyra shrugged and looked back at the moon. He was starting to understand the charging sensation that Clara mentioned.

Clara's chest tightened. "What kind of cold answer is that?" Maybe he really was just bad at heart. How could someone just choose to be a criminal with no real reason. She always assumed that everyone was born good and that something in their life happened to make them bad. Why was this not that case for Cyra?

"There has to be more to it." Clara continued, desperately.

"Nope. I've always loved computer hacking, ever since the internet was invented practically. And I was picking locks and breaking into places that I'm not supposed to be in since I was seven. I've never been good at anything else. My brother however, was good at everything so the only time anyone paid any attention to me was when I was getting in trouble. My childhood was good, but living in your older brother's shadow can make you act out. In my case it made me find out that I have an extraordinary talent for being a thief."

Clara considered this for a moment. Another truck passed by. "Ok, I have another question."

"Ask away my Dear."

"Why are you in school?" Clara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"The same reason anyone else is of course! To sharpen my skills for my occupation. Technology changes Love, I have to stay sharp." He winked an eye.

"Are you going to forgive me for this, my Princess?" Cyra inquired. He stroked her shoulder and a blue glow loomed at the touch. They both stared in wonder. He touched her again, all down her arm his finger was followed by bright blue traces of light to her slender wrist until he got to her fingers. Trails of bioluminescence tides emerged wherever his skin touched hers. She put her hand to Cyra's face and it glowed as well. She drew illuminating swirls along his jawline but retracted her hand quickly, breaking the enchantment.

"What ever this Moon Gem did to us is remarkable." She focused her gaze from the illuminated swirls to Cyra's onyx eyes. She turned away and closed her eyes tightly. I don't know if I could forgive you so easily Cyra. Whether you meant to or not, you used me as a tool to commit a crime and now I am just as tied up in this as you are." She looked down at her hands. "And now I have superpowers that could have easily killed those guys so what does that make me now? An attempted murderer? I want to believe that deep down you are a good person but a good person wouldn't put an innocent life in that kind of position." She wrapped her arms around her knees and sighed.

Cyra's heart crushed at her words. After a moment he finally spoke. "It's getting rather cold, let's get you somewhere warm. I don't think they are coming this way so that means they either didn't see which direction we went or… they are dead."

Clara's face was pure panic. She looked absolutely horrified.

"Hey! Relax!" He laughed. "I'm only kidding darling, when I snagged the moon gem from them before we drove away, they were crawling around on the floor, blind as bats but very much alive. I'm sure their eyesight will come back eventually and even if it doesn't, that's what they deserve for trying to kill me."

Clara wasn't fond of his answer but she felt better knowing that they were at least alive and if they were permanently blind, this could give them an opportunity to retire from the criminal life. Cyra reached his hand out to assist Clara to her feet but she refused it.

They got in the car and drove to a secluded house on top of a hillside. It was about a 15 minute drive from their campus, you could probably see the school from the backyard. It was very modern looking and the front of the house had a large window that made up the majority of the wall. There were immaculately cut shrubbery decorated alongside the home and although no one was home, the lights were on inside.

"Benvenuta a casa mia!" Cyra proclaimed, getting out of the car and waving his hand out to showcase the house.

"Of course you would live in a house like this." Clara rolled her eyes.

"What's wrong with mia casa?!" Cyra feigned appalled with a hand over his chest.

"Your *casa* has immaculate snob written all over it", she said under her breath. "So are you going to invite me in or what fancy pants?" She smirked and opened the door not waiting for Cyra.

"Ooo feisty, I like feisty Clara. Come on in darling." A devilish grin stained his face. "Come into my lair!" He teased.