The days after the incident June kept to her room, only leaving to prepare food or do housework andInferno avoided the apartment. Yet, by the third day June’s curiosity wouldn’t allow her to remain hidden any longer.

With a firm resolution, June remained up and waited for Inferno to return one evening. Alone on the sofa, legs tucked under beneath her in the darkened room, June stared out the large windows. The view of the harbour impressed June on her arrival but now she ignored it. It became a reminder of a past taken away from so many.

Around midnight Inferno returned.

If she were surprised to see June when she turned the kitchen light on her expression did not reflect it.

“I’m going to have a coffee. Do you want one?”

“No, thank you. Your dinner is in the fridge, if you’re hungry?”

Inferno didn’t respond, removing the meal from the fridge and placing it in the microwave. As the meal heated, Inferno made her coffee. June watched from the sofa before rising and joining Inferno at the table.

They say in silence as Inferno ate and not until finished and plate moved to one side did Inferno speak.

“How is your arm?” She asked.

“I’m supposed to have my first doctors appointment for my surgery assessment this week but I’m thinking of cancelling it. Might not be easy explaining this now.”

That one sentence summed up all of June pain. It wasn’t her arm but her heart that hurt the most.

“I’m sorry June. I didn’t know.”

June shrugged as tears threatened to spill.

“Can I take a look?”

June raised the long sleeve of her night gown and lay her arm on the table in front of her. Inferno rose and came to sit beside June, who manoeuvred her arm for Inferno to inspect. Inferno’s warm fingers caressed her skin.

“You’d be good to stand near when it’s cold.” June said as a way to break the tension.

Inferno huffed.

“Any tattoo artist would be seriously jealous of this.” Inferno said examining her arm.

June couldn’t help it as a muffled laugh escaped.

“Only would think something like that.”

“Not going to lie, June. I know nothing about the dynamics of bonding. Any information I’m getting is all heresy. I’m sorry you’re the guinea pig in all of this. If I can fix it - I will.”

“We’re both in this together. Right? You said I can trust you. I do.” June said.

“I’m not a good person, June. I’m a villain, in every sense of the word. You being here is for my selfish needs. How you can still sit here and trust me. I don’t get you.”

June shrugged. “There’s not much to get. I’ve been a victim all my life because I’m a Special. Add transgender to that, and it makes being me even harder. As for why I’m here. You’re my boss, and I’m here to do a job. If my boss is the most powerful villain in the world, so be it.”

“You’re too nice a person, June. Easily manipulated.”

“You said once you wouldn’t always be here to protect me, but I take that as meaning when you are here, you will protect me. That can’t make you all that bad. Can it?”

“From the moment I realised I had a power that brought fear and benefited me, I’ve terrorised and murdered thousands of people. There has never been a decent bone in my body. I could destroy you in a single moment or wrap you in hundred threads of fire and bring about a slow torture until you would take you own life to find freedom.”

“But you won’t.”

June looked down at her wrist and fingered the intricate markings pondering Inferno’s words.

“You said I’m here for your selfish needs. What did you mean by that?”

Inferno gave a hollow laugh; the sound non-reassuring.

“Oh, June. You have no idea. You appeared at the right time.”

“Right time, what does that mean?” June asked.

Inferno pushed her chair back before saying, “I’ve spoken to my friend, who’s a doctor. If you would like, he’s happy to oversee your transition and arrange your operation when the time comes. He’s one of us, so you won’t need to worry about your wrist with him. And until I can work out how to reduce the markings, it might be a good choice to see him.”

“Thank you. That would be good.” June replied.

“The stronger your powers, the safer you will be. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Inferno stood and returned to her bedroom. At the sound of the door closing June rose and returned to her bedroom and prepared herself for bed. Once under the covers, she lay for a long time thinking about everything that had taken place and her anxiety continued to grow at the thought of how useless she was.