This is the worst kind of torture. I thought my torture techniques were good, but this? This is outrageous. I've been waiting here far too long, and they're all just sitting staring at me mockingly. I feel my palms go sticky, my forehead sweating bullets and my mouth as dry as ever. I always hate experiencing this. Too many times I tell you, too many times. Even though it always eventually ends, once that torture ends I can feel the pain searing through—

"One double chocolaty chip crème Frappuccino for a Samantha Winchester!" What can I say; I've got a sense of humour. I make my way over to the counter, feigning a smile and graciously accepting the drink with a "Thank you," before making my way out of Starbucks. I notice a few stares thrown my way for the 'Samantha Winchester'. I probably should have said my name was Primrose Everdeen then yelled "I volunteer as tribute!" But I am a grown 24 year old woman and that would be seen as immature. Oh, did I say 24? Yes, I did. Happy birthday to me.

This is my first birthday since... well... ever.... That I've had to spend alone, and without Ally. Every year she bought me a new blade as well as something else she wouldn't tell me. Each year she would mention a 'special present' that I would eventually receive once we were in retirement and every year she added something to that special present. We reached retirement, but my birthday didn't come around in time I guess. Now I'll never know what that gift is, not that I care about what it is, more so who was going to give it to me.

Without even realizing, I've taken one giant gulp of the Frappuccino and caused myself a major brain freeze, temporarily inducing me to stop where I stand and push the palm of my hand into my temple. What was I saying about the original torture ending then causing a searing pain?

Most people would think with the ice abilities and all that I couldn't get a brain freeze. Well, most people are wrong. Same with burning my tongue on coffee or tea, or even soup. Just because I have fire abilities, doesn't mean I can't get burned. While I may be fire and ice resistant on the outside, it's the inside that really matters, and I'm not talking metaphorically here.

On the inside, if I don't hold a substantial amount of control over my powers, I start burning or freezing up on the inside, which is not fire or ice resistant. Same goes with earth and air. If I don't hold enough control over them, I begin to lose air in my lungs or poison starts flowing through my veins. Let me guess; poison you're wondering? Well then, have you forgotten the various places poison originates from? Snakes, elements, frogs, a few other things and... plants.

The element that worries me the most is ice. Sure, the water part of the element I find fine, yet the ice seems to be fighting for dominance. The thing that's even more frightening though, is absolute zero. Scientists have stated and I quote that 'Practically, the work needed to remove heat from a gas increases the colder you get, and an infinite amount of work would be needed to cool something to absolute zero. In quantum terms, you can blame Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which says the more precisely we know a particle's speed, the less we know about its position, and vice versa. If you know your atoms are inside your experiment, there must be some uncertainty in their momentum keeping them above absolute zero – unless your experiment is the size of the whole universe.' So for those of you who don't speak science; absolute zero is absolutely impossible. Don't roll your eyes at my pun; I'm barely awake at the moment much less come up with good jokes or puns. That's why I'm having a damn Frappuccino.

Back on track, scientists have tried yet the closest they've gotten to absolute zero – also known as 0 Kelvin – was 0.45 nanokelvin. So close, but not there. That's where I come in. You see, thanks to my mum's element abilities, I already had the ability to control ice in my system. Then dad came along and added his own ice powers to that.

Ice + Ice = really really cold.

Absolute zero cold.

So that is why I try to refrain from using my powers too much because even though I'm in the safe zone for the others, I still don't want to risk it. How did we start this conversation again? Oh that's right; I got a brain freeze. It's not every day a grade A assassin complains about—

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" An almost sassy female voice complains when I collide into her. I don't blame her for whining, I would have done the same. Instantly extending my free hand to haul her up, she eyes it for a moment before deciding on taking it and pulling herself to her feet. "Sorry I uh... a lot of things on my mind right now. I wasn't thinking or looking where I was going—"

"No no it's okay, I um... I'm pretty much the same at the moment. Guess we both have problems," she reasons, an amiable smile gracing her features. Grinning back at her, I realize this may be the first time I've smiled since Ally and I don't even know the girl, much less why I'm smiling. She appears maybe 17 or 18, definitely still in school. Her long brown wavy hair compliments her almost ivory skin beautifully, making me slightly jealous.

"I guess we do," I agree, sipping at my drink again, the silence around us not really that awkward. I don't even know where I am at the moment, some small town in Oklahoma. Sterling I think? There are not too many people out and about, and it appears as if a lot of the locals know each other here. This is all I ever wanted. An apple pie, white picket fence life in a small town where everybody knows everybody, with a nice normal job that doesn't involve torture or killing people. So Starbucks is out of the question.

"Sorry, where are my manners," the girl shakes herself from her daze, holding out a hand "My name's Talia Redfern. What may your's be?" At first I think of giving her a fake name, but she seems like the kind of girl that is a very good judge of character and can see right through lies, no matter how good the actor may be. "Lillian Nightshade, and sorry about running into you again." Once the handshake is over, she dusts the apology off and says "Don't worry about it, I was off in la la land as well."

Chuckling, I repeat "La la land?" She shrugs, admitting "An impulsive answer. Now that I think about it, I would have said 'off with the pixies' or 'mental solitude'." Another light laugh escapes my throat, my eyes scouring the layout of the small town as I openly admit "I don't think I've smiled or laughed like this in a very long time." Gesturing forward so the two of us begin to walk again, I begin to finish my Frappuccino as she carries out with the conversation "A very long time? How long exactly?"

"Eight... nine months," I concede, observing a small frown appear on Talia's face. "That is a long time. Let me guess, family member or close friend like sister passed away?" Pausing for a moment to give her a baffled look, she shrugs again and states "I'm good at reading people. Having read hundreds, possibly thousands of books in my lifetime of 17 years helps with that of course. So, I take it sister like friend?" Nodding warily at first, I shake her good judge of character persona off – even though I have to admit she is very good at reading people. She would be an excellent interrogator – and give an exhausted sigh. Chucking my now demolished drink in the closet bin, I start.

"Her name was Ally and well... I grew up as an orphan in tough living environments. I had to do a lot of things just to survive which I rather not talk about. Through it all though, Ally was there. In fact, come to think of it, she's the reason I kept pushing on, striving to survive it all. She helped me endure so much pain, physically, mentally and spiritually. So when she died, from a heart attack, it's like the very reason that I live just vanished from my life. The reason why I kept pushing on just... left. I haven't even had anyone to talk about it with. I know eleven people who would probably listen to me but honestly, I don't think they really care. Even if they did, I wouldn't want to drop this burden on them. I feel as if just being around them... I dunno, puts them in danger." For a while, we leisurely stroll in silence, coming across a lovely jubilant park filled with only a handful of kids, the mothers all together seated on a few benches in eyesight of the vivacious children.

Finally, Talia and I come to a stop in front of a secluded park bench, hidden behind a few oaks and a willow, as well as a fountain. Sitting down on the bench in thought, her eyes narrow at me as if she's deciphering a riddle or placing the pieces of a puzzle together. I almost awkwardly sit next to her, waiting for a reply as she continues to stare at me prudently. All of a sudden, her face breaks into a soft smile, and I almost fear what she's going to say. I don't how good she is at reading people, so my neck is slightly on the line here.

"I may have only just met you Lillian Nightshade, but I can see that deep down, you not only want to be a good person but you are a good person. Your eyes hold a lot of broken memories and a tortured soul hides behind them. It's easy to see that you've endured a lot of crap and false accusations. You're upset – distraught as a matter of fact by the loss of your friend Ally – but that's not what's keeping you in the dark. Something else is, maybe a certain few last words you're your friend spoke? A... guy – or girl if you roll that way – that you don't want to drag into this? I don't know, but either way, you know there's something you got to do yet you seem hesitant to do it."

This is the very first time in the past five or six years where I have been completely speechless. Gaping at her cautiously, shocked and admirably, I stutter "How... h-how did you....." A small giggle fills the park air, her immediate response "I don't know really. My step mum says it's a gift the things that I can do. My strangely heightened human senses, being able to read someone like a book, being a professional archer for as long as I can remember—"

"You're an archer?" I butt in, my eyebrows raised surprisingly. Nodding, her eyes drift to the lively natural scenery, a small smile gracing her lips as she affirms "Since I was five. My mum... before she left my dad she gave him a large package and strictly instructed him to give it to me on my fifth birthday. When he did, he almost took it straight back. He didn't want me handling a bow and arrow at such a young age, yet I felt so drawn to it... like I was born to be an archer. Please ignore all cheesiness in the following story," I chuckle incoherently within her small pause, my eyes elsewhere but my mind paying full attention.

"Anyway, he allowed it on the grounds that I never fool around with it, or point it at another human soul. Not once have I broken that ground rule. Every week, three of four times a week at least, I venture to the small strip of woods outside the town and just run around freely, firing at targets set up, jumping from tree to tree. It's the one place where I feel free. My sanctuary. In fact, I was just heading that way now to clear my head."

"We've talked about what's on my mind, so, Talia Redfern, pray do tell what's on yours." Her eyes roll amusedly at my request, remarking "Just... stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"School stuff."

"What kind of school stuff?"

"Annoying school stuff."

"What kind of annoying school stuff?"

"Socially annoying school stuff."

"What kind of socially annoying school stuff?"

Talia grins. "You're persistent aren't you?"

"I would say my middle name is persistence but that would be a lie considering I like to think of it to be 'trouble'."

"And what would it really be?"

Snorting, I mumble "Veronica." She gives a simple scoff in reply. "Better than mine." Cocking an eyebrow, she huffs exasperatedly and grumbles "Savannah."

"That's actually quite a nice middle name, but don't change the subject." Talia groans melodramatically for being caught in the act, mumbling something along the lines of "My stupid almost cliché high school life won't interest you." Smiling tenderly, I challenge "Try me." A small puff escapes her lips, quickly replaced by an affable grin. Slumping back into the creaky and ageing wooden bench her eyes show her mind wandering elsewhere.

"Just..."

"Boys?" She cringes at my question, proving that I'm right. What I wouldn't give to have been born into another family just so could have faced problems like exams, college, what dress to wear to the prom, boys and things of the sort. She's luckier than she realizes.

"I don't want a relationship. I just want to study, read books, practice archery and hang out with my friends, but no, I of course just had to attract two of the baddest boys in school who have criminal records and scare yet annoy the living crap out of me. All I did was yell at them and tell them off yet still! They treat me as if I'm some prize to be won or some plaything they're fighting for. Well you know what? Screw them! I don't need no man in my life. I'm fine with my two best guy friends, my dad and my brother. That's it. I don't need the mayor's son from Reydon or Elgin High's baddest boy in school. They could be in a gang for all I know! They're your typical womanizing assholes who need to be like Mario and get a damn life."

Chuckling at her rant, I turn serious when I hear her breathing even, her temper slowly cooling down. "So you have the two baddest boys in school chasing after you, who have frightening criminal records, and you're not at all interested or attracted to them?" She nods assuredly, inducing me to crack out into another smirk. They have bad criminal records? They should see mine.

"Man... High school," I breathe, wishing that I could have gone to it. "Yeah. Can't wait to get out of that hell hole." I quirk an eyebrow at Talia's bitterness, explaining "You do realize once you're done high school, you have to face the real world? The real world which has taxes, pressing jobs, drugs, money, life changing decisions and dilemmas, possibly college and so much more. High school... you don't realize how much easier high school is until you leave it because honestly, the real world is...."

"A bitch?" Talia pipes up. I mull over the prospect for a second, and then quickly nod. "Yeah."

"Well it depends on the person. I imagine the real world is a real bitch for you especially Nightingale." My breath hitches in my throat immediately, my whole body tensing and ready for action. It feels as if the wind has been knocked out of my lungs, my eyes unable to blink. A small chuckle escapes the lips of the girl seated beside me, yet not a sadistic one, an genuinely amused one as if we've been friends forever.

"You really think I couldn't put two and two together? You're wanted internationally Lillian, just bumping into you I instantly knew who you were. It didn't help you that you told me your real name instead of an alias either."

I swallow hard. "So why haven't you called the cops?"

"I wanted to hear your side of the story, which by the way sounds quite different than what has been spoken about on the news."

"So what story do you believe?" I choke out.

She pauses. "Yours." I almost choke on air again, and I'm certain if I still had my Frappuccino I would have done one excellent spit take. "Why?" My voice is barely audible, which is why I'm quite surprised when she answers my question.

"Because you didn't know what I knew about you, so you weren't afraid to tell me the whole backstory behind your predicament, although leaving out the super heroes and HYDRA details. Not only that, but raw emotion was shining behind your eyes and it's almost like I could hear your heart cracking as each word fell off your lips. You've entered a dark stage Lillian. Apparently, from what I've heard, you're doing things that you haven't done before—"

"What? Torturing? Maiming? Obliterating? Showing no mercy? Kind of comes in the package of being the daughter of Loki. Yeah, I never did any of that crap before but that was before. Something happened that changed me and because of it my true colours are showing. I'm becoming who I'm supposed to be—"

"Bullshit."

I blink. "Sorry... what?"

"You heard me. I call bullshit." When I remain silent, a blank look on my face that clearly tells her 'keep talking because I'm at a loss here' she gives a loud exhale and bickers "Who you're supposed to be? You chose your own path dumbass, don't go blaming what you're doing on destiny or what's 'supposed to be'. You are your own unique person. So what if you're apparently the daughter to this psychotic God that craves power and is not only in desperate need of a haircut but should be thrown into the nearest mental asylum. You can't keep blaming everything you're doing on everything and everyone else. Look, I'm sorry and my condolences about your friends – Ally – but would she really want you running amuck causing more pain on your own personal vendetta? If this 'Ally' is as amazing as she sounds, then my best guess is no. So, crawl out of your dark and lonely pit, take a shower – seriously, you need one – , stop moping about and for crying out loud find the damn Avengers and Fantastic Four and take down the son of a bitch that killed her together!"

For what feels like hours, I just sit there gawking at her. She's a complete stranger, yet she's not afraid of telling off the world's most wanted assassin at the current time who can kill her with the flick of a wrist – literally, I can remove the air from her lungs or my hidden blades within my bracers could slit her throat – and make a sporting game of basketball with her severed head. She knows what I've done, who I am, yet she's just completely spoken her mind and given me the straight up truth like no one ever has before. Well, besides Ally.

"You're right." My voice is once again, incoherent yet she catches on anyway. "Damn straight I'm right. Sorry if it came out harsh but you needed to hear the truth, you didn't exactly stick around for anyone else to give it to you," she explains, and for some strange reason, I find myself smiling. "There we go, a genuine smile. Please don't tell me that's the first you've had in nine months," Talia pleads, the grin on my face widening even more.

"No actually it isn't." A single eyebrow arches on her curious face, earning a smirk out of me. "I distinctly remember genuinely smiling and laughing before when you were babbling about la la land." She smirks herself, a jubilant laugh filling the warm summer air. "Okay wise ass, my mistake."

We both sit in a comfortable silence for another half hour, simply enjoying each other's company. Yet as the sun begins to set behind the creaking and swaying oaks, Talia stiffly stands from her seat and gives a nice stretch. "I should probably go, my family is no doubt wondering where I am. I think I have to babysit my little brother as well. He's no doubt already on a sugar hype." Chuckling loudly at her lack of enthusiasm, I slowly stand from my seat as well, warmly smiling at Talia and engulfing her in a hug. A first, she tenses at the action, obvious shock showing in her body language yet after a few moments, she returns the affectionate behaviour and places her arms around me in a friendly embrace.

"Thank you so much Talia," I praise, another light chuckle escaping her lips as we pull away. "I just told you what you already knew Lilly. Now, I suggest you find Steve first because you two are a must couple." Groaning yet a smile giving myself away as it tugs at the corners of my lips, I plead "Please don't tell me—"

"I'm a Captain Nightshade shipper. I've already read at least seven of your fanfictions on Wattpad. The first one I read though was called 'Falling for the Enemy'. Couldn't be more fitting hey?" Sighing giddily, I admit "You don't want to know how many times I've thought or said those words when referring to him."

"I'll just assume it's in the low hundreds and leave it at that," she jests, the two of us softly laughing again. Just as Talia turns away, I quickly reach for her wrist, causing her to pause and look back at me for a moment. Taking a couple strides towards her, I place my fingers on a soft spot at the base of her neck, right side in between her neck and the collar bone and say "If you ever have any trouble with boys unwantedly touching you, it doesn't matter how strong you are, as long as you precisely squeeze this spot, they will crumple to a heap in the ground. If they escape, don't hesitate to call me." I reach into my hand bag and pull out a sticky note, quickly jotting down my number and passing it to her.

"Thanks mum I'll be sure to check in." We laugh together once more before she seriously thanks "But honestly, thank you. I think this just may come in handy."

"Good bye Talia."

"Good bye Lillian."

As I watch her disappear behind a few towering trees, my gaze flickers back to the park and the children at play. Beaming, I take a seat back on the bench and view the sun set peak through fragments of the willow and oaks.

I'm not ready to face the Avengers or the Fantastic Four. Let alone Steve Rogers. Yet little did I know, that I wouldn't need to make that decision myself, for in less than 24 hours, someone else will make that decision for me.

HEY GUYS! I think I've overcome my writer's block but sorry I haven't been on in a few days, my parents ordered this new internet connection thing with Optus and so our internet has been completely down and I haven't been able to leave the house in order to update or anything so sorry!

Who here likes Talia? If you do, go give her a visit in my other book 'Dark Descendants' where her boy problems are a bit worse than you think... considering the fact that one of them is a vampire and the other is a werewolf. Oops, spoiler XD

Thanks for reading and that's all for now, Bye! :) xxx