---
The choir ended their hymn just as the church bell rang again. It had been hours since Andrea started telling Diego and Romeo about their pasts. She let out a little chuckle when she finished and leaned back into her seat. Romeo tugged at her jacket from his spot on her lap.
"Tell us more mom!" Romeo pleaded with wide eyes. Andrea ruffled his hair and opened her lips to speak when her phone rang loudly in her pocket.
"Son of a-" She cursed under her breath. She shoved her hands into her pocket and fumbled with her grip until she pulled out her phone. "Connor! What have I told you about-" She cut herself off for a second and groaned loudly.
"What is it?" Diego asked. Andrea sighed in frustration and shoved the phone back into her pocket.
"Something big came up," she said without explaining and stood up. Romeo whined as she set him down.
"So you're just gonna go?" Diego muttered.
"Yeah! I want you to stay!" Romeo yelled and tears welled up in his eyes. Andrea's face fell slightly and she leaned down to hug both of them.
"I promise you'll see me again, but for now, I have business that needs sorting out," she said and pulled back from the hug. She smirked and took off her red jacket.
"I figured you'd need this more than I do," Andrea said and held out the jacket to Diego. "I'll come back for it again but hold on to it for now."
"Yeah, I will," Diego said and put it on. Her smirk widened slightly as she turned to Romeo.
"Keep an eye on your big brother for me. He's still as stubborn as ever," she said to the boy.
"I will!" Romeo promised and hugged her again. "I'll miss you," he whispered.
"I'll miss you too," Andrea whispered back and broke the embrace. "Well then, I'll see you boys later," she said and took steps towards the gate of the church. "Take care of each other, alright? I'll see you both later." That was the last thing they heard from her.
"Don't look so sad," Diego said to Romeo. "I'll buy you ice cream if you want." Romeo glared at Diego with his old look.
"Kill yourself," he cursed and flipped him off.
"You little shit," Diego said back. "I knew you were faking it."
---
"That's her... Andrea Torrez," Ivankov said quietly to Frost. They leaned on his car and watched her as she left the church.
"So she's the strongest," Frost muttered while keeping a gaze on her movements. "I don't see why all of you turn into cowards when you hear her name."
"There's a reason... and you should be scared of me too." Andrea's voice came from right beside them. Frost turned and scowled when he saw his katana, Chaos, in her arms. Ivankov stepped back in surprise but Frost on the other hand reached for his katana.
"Give it back," he growled but Andrea held it out of reach and grinned down at him. For once, Frost looked like a kid and the scene made Ivankov laugh.
"You're a Wheeler, aren't you?" Andrea said while patting his head with the katana. Frost's scowl deepened and he snatched it out of her grip.
"Yes, I'm a Wheeler," Frost admitted and strapped his katana on his back. He looked back up at her. She sat cross-legged on top of Ivankov's car and he was barely taller than her.
"Miss Torrez, it's an honour to finally meet you," Ivankov said and stretched out his arm for a handshake.
"You're Rusev's kid," Andrea pointed out without shaking his hand.
"I'm surprised you remember him," Ivankov cleared his throat and looked away.
"Of course I do," Andrea said as her gaze wandered back to Frost. "I never forget people who are close to my son." She stared into Frost's eyes and the young demon held his gaze.
"Tell me... what's your story?" Andrea asked with a lazy grin. Frost on the other hand didn't say anything. She frowned at his silence and hopped off the car. "That katana isn't a weapon just anyone can use. I trust you already know that," Andrea said and reached for it again.
"I don't want to hear that from you," Frost said and swatted her hand away from it. Andrea laughed and stepped back.
"There's going to be an unveiling for a new Hunter weapon in France and young Hunters will be selected to oversee the event," she said and glanced back at the church. "Do me a favour and take Diego with you. The poor kid's never left the state."
"I can make that happen," Ivankov promised.
"Good, I'll be counting on you," Andrea said and walked away. Frost and Ivankov watched her until she was out of sight.
"I'll go get him," Frost said and left Ivankov alone with his thoughts.
After the funerals, life shifted back into a sense of normalcy. Diego and Romeo didn't see or speak to each other since that day and for some odd reason, it felt right. Diego and Frost still went out on missions from time to time and every fight made Diego learn something new about himself.
"Knock! Knock!" The loud banging woke Diego up from his sleep. It had barely been a month since the whole incident. With a groan, he reached for his phone and checked the time. 3:42 am??? Who was even up this early? Diego dropped his phone and shut his eyes. Maybe if he ignored them, they would go away. It worked for a few minutes but then the knocks came back louder and more insistent. Diego covered his ears with his pillows but all of a sudden, "BANG!"
The door was kicked right off its hinges and it crashed into the wall beside Diego's face. Diego bolted awake from the noise and looked up to see who it was.
"Do you have a death wish or something?!" The voice was familiar, deep. It was Frost, and he looked pissed. He looked at Diego who was standing on his bed in just underwear.
"It's the middle of the night!" Diego yelled back at him. "What the hell could be so important that you broke my door!" Maybe it was the drowsiness but, Diego looked just as pissed off as Frost was.
Diego got ready to yell again when he saw a red strand of his hair fall down right in front of him. Frost was holding his katana out and it was clear he cut off that strand.
"Yell again, and your head comes off," Frost threatened.
Diego glared and lifted up his arms to make air quotes. "Yell again and your head comes off," he mimicked in a mocking voice. "It's too early for this! Come bother me when the sun's out." Diego yelled and lay back on his bed. Frost's face turned red and his eye twitched with pure irritation and a moment later, Diego's piercing scream woke up half the school.
Diego walked out of his dorm with drowsy feet. He was fully dressed and had a small bag strapped to his back. Frost waited outside his door and when he saw Diego was ready, he started walking off, leaving Diego to trail behind. Diego yawned and jogged quickly to catch up. "Lunatic," Diego said when he fell in step beside Frost.
The two left the school and outside, they found Ivankov's black car parked. Frost looked around for Ivankov but there was no sign of him anywhere. He heard the car's door open and turned to see Diego had already gotten in. He lay down in the back seat and was already asleep.
"You're already here." The voice shifted Frost's attention. Ivankov appeared from inside the school. He was on a phone call just as usual but when he got close enough, he ended the call.
"Diego's in the back," Frost said and pointed a finger to Diego's sleeping form.
"That's good," Ivankov said. He entered the car and waited for Frost to sit down in front with him. "We'll meet the others over there." Frost nodded and leaned back in his seat.
Diego stirred again when a bright ray of sunlight hit his face. He yawned and sat up in the car but he was seemingly alone inside it. He got out and shielded his eyes from the sun's glare. That's when he noticed his new surroundings. Where was he?
The air smelled of fuel, oil, and cold metal. Rows of overhead lights cast a harsh glow across the polished concrete floor, where planes sat in various states of maintenance. Some gleaming and ready, others partially dismantled. Air hangars were sprawled everywhere his eyes went.
"An air base?" he asked himself and dragged his bag out of the car. He caught a glimpse of Frost's black hair and spotted Ivankov with him. They were speaking to someone in a mechanic outfit. He adjusted his jacket and walked towards them.
"The princess woke up," Frost said when Diego reached them.
"Shut up," Diego muttered and yawned again. "Why are we here?"
"I have to book the four of us a flight here," Ivankov answered without looking back.
"Four?" Diego asked with a puzzled look.
"Yeah, the other two aren't here yet," Ivankov said.
Frost winced and held the side of his head. Diego noticed the subtle shift but before he could do anything, Frost abruptly fell to his knees. Diego's face paled a bit with concern and he went down with Frost.
"Shit— Are you alright?" Diego asked but Frost didn't answer. He held both sides of his head and groaned in agony. Blood dripped down from his nose and his body trembled.
"Don't worry about him," Ivankov said and brushed the situation off.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Diego asked with slight irritation.
"He's seeing the future. That happens whenever he gets a glimpse of it," Ivankov said and looked back at the mechanic. "Keep an eye on him while I go sort some paperwork out." Ivankov walked away with the mechanic, leaving Diego with Frost.
Frost's groans grew louder and louder and it got increasingly difficult not to worry about him. Diego reached out to touch or try to comfort him but then, Frost went silent. It was an uneasy kind of silence and Diego didn't know what to expect.
'SWOOSH!'
Frost's katana slashed right for Diego's neck. Diego had barely dodged it and he backed away from the blade that almost ended his life. Frost's grip on the katana looked almost painful but still deliberate.
Frost's eyes were black and dark wings grew from his back. He took in a shaky breath and stood up with his black gaze never leaving Diego. This was Frost's Hell Breaker and now, it seemed to be targeting Diego.
"That could have killed me..." Diego whispered in a trembling voice.
Frost lifted the tip of the katana and pointed it right at Diego. "You're right... I let my fondness for you dull my blade. I won't make that mistake twice..." Frost's grip on his katana tightened. "The worst part isn't killing you. It was realizing I have to."
---
END OF CHAPTER 23