Super Villain Academy 2: Polar Opposites Read online

  “Yes, very good, Trina. Right, as usual.”

  Jeff barely stifled a groan. Nothing like driving a nail into her coffin, Mr. Hammond.

  Whisper smiled down at her folder and cocked her head in Jeff’s direction ever so slightly.

  “Today, we don’t have villains to take over our economic livelihood. So, should we just stop watching and analyzing trends?” Mr. Hammond asked. He perched on the corner of his desk, looking from student to student. “Mr. Tohler, please tell me you can add to this conversation, at least. I’m really trying to find a reason to give you a grade.”

  Snickers.

  “Well, Mr. Hammond, we certainly don’t have to worry about the lowly humans.” Sarcasm dripped from Jeff’s words. “They aren’t smart enough to be involved in economic totalitarianism or counterfeiting. Hasn’t it always been us?”

  “No, Mr. Tohler, it hasn’t only been villains responsible for major cases of identity theft or embezzlement.” Mr. Hammond launched into a speech about the larger human-created crimes against business and industry and how ‘we’ balanced supers can work toward shutting down the dishonesty.

  Jeff’s mind wandered to Oceanus. An image of her laughing, probably at him, popped into his head. Her turquoise eyes flashed, her rose red lips begged for his to press against them. He could almost hear them. “Kiss me! Love me!” they cried. Jeff crooked a grin to his folder, his internal gaze locked on the image of her lips. The blue of her eyes darkened to become a storm at sea. When he imagined himself leaning forward to capture her lips with his, her eyes suddenly emptied of all expression except a tinge of fear. She pulled away, and her image dissipated and slipped out of his grasp. The classroom refocused around him and Jeff found himself gazing out the window. He also found he was mad. Really mad. Fingers about to combust mad.

  He glanced around to see if anybody noticed his throbbing fingertips or the wisps of smoke. Whisper stared down at her desk, looking heartbroken, which both angered and saddened him. He sucked in a deep breath and quietly blew a layer of frost onto his hands. Jeff couldn’t believe he’d almost lost control. He needed to find out what was going on with Oceanus. Not knowing was feeding his barely contained anger.

  Whisper stared out the window with an odd expression on her face. Jeff followed her gaze and his stomach dropped. About three hundred yards from the school, and fifty yards from each other, sat three dogs. They stared at the school with an eerily calm demeanor. All three dogs suddenly turned their heads in unison and watched a fourth dog walk up and take a seat an equal distance away.

  The bell rang, and kids gathered their stuff and shuffled out of class. Jeff and Whisper both went to the window. He thought he saw the dogs’ attention shift in their direction, but they were too far away to tell what they were actually looking at. He chided himself for being paranoid. Then he realized that four dogs staring at his school gave him every reason to be paranoid.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty freaky,” Whisper said in a hushed voice.

  “What’s so interesting?” Mr. Hammond walked up next to Jeff. “Oh, I see.”

  “Ever see anything like that before?” Jeff asked.

  “No, that is most definitely suspicious dog behavior,” Mr. Hammond said. “I’ve got a free period, so I’ll report it to your father. You’d better move along.”

  Jeff reluctantly tore himself away and went to gather his stuff. When he left the room, Mr. Hammond was still staring out the window. He turned to Whisper, who’d followed him into the hallway. “Can you read their thoughts? The dogs?”

  She shook her head and gave a little wave as she turned down a different hallway.

  Jeff’s next classroom was on the opposite side of the building, so he was really surprised and completely creeped out when he found a line of dogs over there as well. There was really no reason for him to think the dogs were there because of him, yet somehow he knew. He just knew.

  A few kids whispered together in front of the windows. Jeff walked over to them and decided to play dumb. “What’s that all about?” he asked, nodding toward the dogs.

  “We don’t know,” Tanya said. Her forehead was so creased with concern Jeff thought she resembled a shar-pei.

  “I’ve noticed dogs around campus lately, but they’ve always hung back, way off in the distance,” said Punch Bowl. No, that wasn’t right. Punching Bag. No, that wasn’t it either. What was his name?

  “Yeah,” Jeff agreed. “I’ve noticed them too.” That was an understatement.

  “Look!” Tanya gasped and pointed.

  A wing of the building blocked whatever Tanya pointed at, so Jeff walked behind the knot of kids to get a better view. A helicopter touched down just behind the line of dogs. The dogs didn’t even flinch under the pummel of wind from the chopper blades. A female leapt from the helicopter and strode forward. Others piled out of the helicopter behind her, but Jeff’s gaze was glued on her.

  Copper waves of hair threatened to break free of the clasp she’d pinned it back with. She wore a second skin jacket and mini skirt, and her impossibly long legs glistened in the sunshine.

  “What the hell?” Punch Buggy said. What was that kid’s name?

  In unison, the dogs stood and walked forward. The circle they’d made around the building closed smaller and smaller as they advanced behind the people who’d climbed out of the helicopter.

  Jeff sighed. Really, this show had to be for him, but he couldn’t decide if he wanted to go downstairs and face it head on, or if he wanted to attempt to escape. Now the whole class was pressed up against the windows, watching the spectacle. One glance at their faces, and Jeff could tell who’d been a villain and who’d been a hero before the balancing. The villains all had mildly interested expressions on their faces, almost as if they watched a particularly compelling scene in a soap opera. The heroes all appeared ready for action; they only lacked their capes.

  Jeff sighed again and turned toward the classroom door. Regardless of what he decided, he couldn’t do it from where he was. He jogged down the hallway, debating his options. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt, and if he ran, someone might, but the school was filled with kids and adults with super powers. Certainly they could take care of themselves. Who was he kidding? If he ran, especially if he ran successfully, he’d feel guilty for having turned his back on everyone else. His good side really made him nauseous sometimes.

  He ran down three flights of stairs and burst through the front doors. He came to a stop at the top of the stairs leading to the lawn and looked down on the group of intruders who’d been just about to climb them. They stopped where they were, all but the obvious leader, who continued up the stairs directly toward Jeff.

  “Polar bear!”

  “Mystic, what do you want?” Jeff could feel her psychic suave super power oozing around his defenses like cooking oil coating a frying pan. This powerhouse psycho had built his defenses for him, and he knew she could take them away in a second. It was all he could do not to break out in a sweat just thinking about it.

  Once Mystic reached the top of the stairs, the others fanned out. Some climbed the stairs and disappeared behind them while others placed themselves on the steps. They encircled Jeff and Mystic. Then they pulled guns from their coats and turned in a defensive stance.

  Jeff frowned. Guns?

  A number of teachers and kids—most likely heroes—rushed forward, appearing ready to attack the intruders. Then, over the chaos, Jeff heard his dad shout, “Don’t attack! You might hit Polar!”

  Mystic walked in a circle around Jeff, touching him with her hands and brushing against him with her olive oil and rosemary-scented body. Jeff realized she’d been the villain in his room that day, that she was the one who had snuggled into his pillow. His mind registered instant revulsion, but his traitorous body thrilled and tingled at the thought of her coppery waves splayed across his pillow.

  “How are you doing, my handsome prince?” Mystic whispered in his ear.

  He closed his eyes, trying
to ignore the tightening in his stomach. “You don’t need to ask, Mystic. You’ve been keeping close tabs on me.”

  Her chuckle always reminded him of polished gems shaking around inside a velvet pouch. He gulped. She was having such a strong effect on him that he suspected she’d taken down his defenses.

  “Oh, so you knew it was me? Shucks, I thought I’d done a better job covering my tracks,” Mystic said. She spoke directly into his ear, her curves pressed against him. “Did I leave a footprint? A hair? How did you know?”

  Jeff’s foggy mind urged him to admit he hadn’t figured it out until just then, but in a moment of clarity, he slammed his eyes and mouth shut.

  Mystic chuckled again, and Jeff wanted badly to press his mouth against hers. He knew there was a reason he shouldn’t want this, but reason was dissipating fast and being replaced by desire and need. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He licked his lips and then clamped his teeth down hard on his lower lip. It bothered him to no end that he had the fake memories of him and Mystic doing more than he and Oceanus had done in real life.

  Guttural snarling erupted from around the corner of the building, and Jeff opened his eyes to see what was happening. The image knocked the wind out of him, and he gasped like a drowning man.

  Three dogs drug Oceanus, who bucked and flailed, across the lawn toward the helicopter. At least half a dozen more dogs growled and snipped at the few people who followed behind, apparently hoping to save Oceanus. A green ball of electricity pulsed out of the hand of one of the would-be saviors and hit a dog squarely on his side. The dog yelped and collapsed sideways and two more dogs ran to take its place.

  Jeff sprang forward, but immediately froze when every other gun swiveled in his direction. Mystic sidled up to him and took him by the arm like they were on a proper date and strolling the promenade. “You don’t want to interfere, Polar bear,” Mystic said. “I wouldn’t want to have them hurt you.”

  Oceanus clawed at the grass and dirt with her one free hand. The first two dogs had hold of her legs and the third dog trotted along sideways with her arm in his mouth. No, actually, it looked like he had her jean jacket in his mouth, not her arm; Jeff was relieved to notice that.

  A bowling ball sized clod of dirt hit the third dog in the head, and he lost his grip on Oceanus. Jeff’s spirits rose. There was a chance the heroes would save her. But another dog ran up and grabbed her jacket in his mouth and a fourth dog clamped his jaw down on the wrist of her previously free arm. Oceanus cried out in pain.

  Jeff concentrated on the dogs and tried to gather up gravity to halt their progress, but the animals were too far away.

  Mystic wrapped her fingers through his and raised his hand to her mouth. She straightened his pointer finger and slid it into her mouth like a lollipop. Startled, Jeff swung his attention to her just as she repeated the action with his middle finger. His thoughts grew fuzzy, and her spicy scent was suddenly the only thing he could smell. He furrowed his brow, knowing there was a reason he wanted to look away from her, but he was overwhelmed by the desire to nuzzle her neck and bury his face in her hair. She sucked his ring finger and peered at him through her lashes. Jeff leaned toward her.

  “Got her!” one of the guards yelled.

  “Good. Let’s go.” Mystic’s demeanor instantly switched to woman-in-charge. She spun on her heel and dragged Jeff down the stairs behind her like a toddler. She had his hand locked in a vice grip, and he couldn’t twist free. At the bottom of the stairs, the circle of guards closed in tightly and ushered Mystic and Jeff across the lawn toward the helicopter. The closer they got to the vehicle, the more relieved Jeff felt. He was sure Oceanus was spitting mad, but knew she’d feel a little better once he was with her. Together, they’d figure out an escape.

  The buffeting winds from the spinning copter blades blew Jeff’s hair in his eyes. Just before they got into the helicopter, Mystic turned to Jeff and kissed him. It was hard, deep, and delicious. Images of the two of them wrapped together flashed through Jeff’s mind, and he was transported to another place. He and Mystic lay in each other’s arms on an impossibly soft bear rug. He drew her closer against him.

  “See ya, Hot Stuff,” Mystic said. She pushed Jeff away from the helicopter and he stumbled backward and fell onto the lawn. She was the last to jump into the copter as it began to lift off the ground. She grinned down at him as she slid the door closed, and the helicopter rose into the air.

  “Are you alright, Polar?”

  Jeff looked around and found a knot of teachers and students crowded around him. Myron had been the one to ask the question.

  Jeff blinked up at Myron, not sure how to answer. Why hadn’t they taken him? Why did they take Oceanus?

  “Sorry, son.” Frank squatted next to him. He ran his hand through his longish graying hair and peered at the horizon where the helicopter was a disappearing speck.

  Except for the bodies of the few dogs that had been taken down, nothing was left to indicate that any foul play had taken place. A teacher shooed the group away, telling them to get to their classrooms.

  Frank held a hand out to Jeff and helped him up off the ground.

  “Glad it wasn’t you, though.” Frank slapped Jeff on the back before he jogged across the lawn to inspect one of the fallen dogs.

  Chapter 10

  The entire scene had played out in less than fifteen minutes. Jeff was astounded. Jeff was dumbstruck. Jeff was told to go to class. In an amazed haze, he moved on autopilot and found himself walking into his classroom. He flopped into his seat and looked around the room as if stunned to find himself there. Was he really expected to go on with his school day as if Oceanus hadn’t just been kidnapped?

  “Wasn’t that your girlfriend?” Hawaiian Punch asked. No, that wasn’t his name, but it was close.

  “Uh, yeah, it was,” Jeff said.

  “Are you gonna do something about it?” Punch Drunk (no!) said.

  Jeff sucked in a deep breath, held it, and then let it out in a whoosh. “Got any ideas?”

  The guy’s mouth flopped open like he’d been sucker punched. That’s it! His name! Sucker Punch shook his head and slumped into his seat.

  For the next couple of hours, Jeff trudged from one class to another, oblivious to any instruction given by the teachers. The whole while, he wracked his brain, trying to figure out how to track down Mystic and find Oceanus. He had no idea where Mystic would go. She’d graduated from school and worked as a recruiter for his dad until a few months ago, when Frank had asked her to keep an eye on Jeff, so she’d enrolled at Super Villain Academy, and then at his current school, Future Villains of America, which had recently been renamed the Future Vindicators of America.

  When the lunch hour finally hit, Jeff went to his dad’s office, hoping to get some reassurance that someone, somewhere was doing something to find her.

  “Your dad can see you now,” Hans told Jeff.

  Feeling old and creaky, Jeff unfolded his long body from the uncomfortable couch he’d been waiting on and trudged into his dad’s office.

  “What’s up, my boy?” Frank asked. His hundred-watt smile glowed as bright as his tacky Hawaiian shirt.

  Jeff’s mouth fell open. “What do you think?”

  Frank’s smile slipped and then fell away completely. Jeff thought he saw guilt cross his dad’s expression before he plastered his ‘all business’ frown on.

  “Yes, of course, you want to know about Oceanus,” Frank said. He shuffled papers on his desk in a poor attempt to indicate he’d been working on it.

  “Dad! You can’t tell me you haven’t done anything! Seriously? And parents trust you with their kids?” Jeff hollered.

  “Keep your voice down, son.” Frank heaved a heavy sigh. “Quite frankly, I forgot. Old habits and all.”

  Jeff scowled at the lame excuse for an apologetic smile his dad shot his way. “Dad, you’ve given Mystic almost a four hour lead! How will we ever find her now?”

  “There are all sorts of supers tra
ined to track. We’ll find her,” Frank said.

  “Now, Dad. Start now! Pick up the phone and make any calls you have to make to start people looking.” Jeff slammed his fist down on his dad’s cherry wood desk. The legs buckled and the desk tilted alarmingly. The desk blotter and laptop slid toward the edge. Frank snatched the laptop before it crashed to the floor alongside pens, a paperclip holder, and the framed picture of Jeff and Sandra.

  Jeff stared at the pile of office supplies.

  “Son, why’d you do that?”

  “Uh, I didn’t mean to,” Jeff said. He looked at the hand he’d slammed onto the desk as if it had the answer to his growing temper stamped into the throbbing heal. “Sorry, Dad.”

  Hans stuck his head through the door. “Everything okay in here, gentlemen?”

  Frank chuckled. “Just another desk casualty.”

  Hans pursed his lips, not finding the situation as amusing as Frank. “I’ll get that taken care of, sir.”

  Frank gave Hans a thumbs-up, then turned back to Jeff. “Any other furniture you’d like to destroy before Hans gets the repairmen in?”

  “This has happened before?” Jeff asked.

  “Well, not as frequently since the balancing, but think about it, Polar. This is a school full of angsty teens with super powers. Yeah, it’s happened before.”

  “Oh,” Jeff blinked at the desk perched awkwardly on its drawers on one side while the other side seemed to balance precariously on tiptoe. “So, Oceanus.” Jeff steered the conversation back to what had gotten him so riled in the first place. “You gonna do something or not?”

  “That’s right,” Frank said, clearly having forgotten yet again that a student was spirited off his campus by intruders. “I’ll get Hans on that after he calls the furniture repair people.”

  Jeff grabbed the edge of his father’s desk. “What?”

  “Right away. I’ll get Hans working on it right away.”

  “Seriously? You can’t even spare your own time to do it yourself? Give me the info. I’ll make the calls. What has to be done? I’ll do it.” Jeff squeezed the lip of the desk so hard, he heard the telltale creak of wood about to break. With a measured exhalation, Jeff released his death grip on the desk before he popped the top off.