Shadow Of Secrets Pt 21

****Disclaimer: All characters are 18+, no underage characters will ever be portrayed in any shape or form in this or any future stories.****

****Lana's point of view****

Lana had once again woken up in Eva's hideout from the same terrifying nightmare that had plagued her ever since her family's capture and her lucky escape from her captors. She owed Eva everything for having saved her life but still held out hope that her family got out safe as well. As days turned into weeks Lana's hopes of seeing her family whole again were starting to crumble. Lana had begged Eva to somehow rescue her family but Eva just didn't know how.

Lana had managed to keep her nightmares at bay by keeping up with her training but even that wasn't working anymore. Her powers seemed to be too feeble to do much of anything let alone rescue her whole family. As she held her head in her hands in despair she heard the door of the hideout open and soon enough Eva appeared in front of her. Eva had promised she would take Lana to her apartment home until they could figure out their next steps and Lana was grateful for it; anything would be better than this damp and musty hideout. Lana was expecting Eva to be there quite late in the night after her work but Eva was early which puzzled Lana but she didn't question her.

Eva was dressed in a simple black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, her long black hair cascading down her back in loose waves. Her blue eyes were filled with a mix of worry and exhaustion, and Lana couldn't help but notice the slight tremor in her hands as she helped Lana pack her things.

"Eva, are you okay?" Lana asked, concern etched on her face. "You look... different."

Eva sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's been a long night, Lana. But I'm fine. Let's just get you out of here, okay?"

Lana nodded, zipping up her bag. "Okay. I'm ready," Lana said, taking a deep breath. She had been expecting Eva to be more cheerful, given the circumstances, but something seemed to be weighing heavily on her mind.

Eva nodded, picking up Lana's bag. "Let's go then."

They walked out of the hideout, the cool night air hitting them as they stepped outside. The city was quiet, the usual bustle replaced by a sense of unease that seemed to hang heavy in the air. Eva led them to a black car which looked like it had seen better days; parked a few blocks away, its windows tinted and engine humming softly.

As they got in, Lana couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

"Eva, are you sure about this? I mean, you look like you've been through the wringer," Lana said, her voice filled with concern as they sat in the car. The slightly worn out leather seats were cool and smooth under her touch, and the hum of the engine was a soothing lullaby as they drove through the quiet streets of Darklight City.

Eva glanced at Lana, her expression unreadable. "I'm fine, Lana. Really. I just need to get you home safe, okay? Then I can rest and things will go back to normal."

Lana nodded, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. "Eva, what's going on? You've been acting strange all night."

Eva sighed, her grip tightening on the steering wheel.

"It's just... work has been stressful lately," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lana raised an eyebrow. "Work? You mean at the club? Jax has been giving you a hard time again, hasn't he?"

Eva hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, something like that," she said, her voice tight.

Lana's expression darkened. "That bastard. I swear, if he lays a hand on you again, I'll-"

"Lana, stop," Eva said sharply, cutting her off. "It's fine. I can handle Jax."

Lana fell silent, but her expression remained stormy.

Eva could see the anger and concern in her eyes, and it made her feel a pang of guilt. She knew Lana cared about her, but she also knew that she couldn't let anyone else get involved in her problems with Jax.

As they drove through the city, the streets were quiet and the buildings loomed tall and imposing. The city was a sprawling metropolis, a labyrinth of steel and glass that seemed to stretch on forever. The floating fortress of the League of Heroes loomed overhead, a constant reminder of the power that controlled the city from above.

Eva glanced at Lana out of the corner of her eye, her expression softening. "I'm sorry, Lana. I didn't mean to snap at you," Eva said, her voice softer now. "It's just... it's been a long night, and I'm tired."

Lana sighed, her expression softening as well. "I know, Eva. I'm sorry too. I just worry about you."

Eva smiled at her, grateful for her concern. "I know you do, Lana. And I appreciate it. But really, I'm fine. I just need to get some rest."

They drove in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the hum of the engine and the soft purr of the city streets beneath them.

"Eva, can I ask you something?" Lana said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Eva glanced at her, her expression curious. "Of course, Lana. What do you want to know?"

Lana hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Why did you leave the League of Heroes? I mean, you were one of their most powerful members. Why did you give it all up?"

Eva's expression darkened slightly, and she looked away from Lana, focusing on the road ahead. "It's a long story, Lana. But essentially, I got pregnant with Erik, and I knew that I couldn't continue to be a hero. The League requires too much of its members, and I wanted to be there for my son."

Lana nodded, understanding. "I can imagine it must have been tough, leaving behind something you loved so much."

"It was. But I have no regrets. Erik is my world, and I would do anything for him." Eva said as she focused on her driving.

Lana smiled softly. "He's lucky to have you, Eva. You're an amazing mother."

Eva glanced at Lana, her expression grateful. "Thank you, Lana. That means a lot."

They drove in silence for a few more minutes before Lana spoke up again. "Eva, can I ask you something else?"

Eva raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" Eva asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Lana hesitated before speaking. "I was wondering... have you ever thought about going back to the League? I mean, with all the disappearances happening in the city, maybe they could use someone like you."

Eva's expression darkened, and she shook her head firmly. "No, Lana. I can't go back. I made my choice when I left, and I have to live with it. Besides the league isn't the same anymore. Bunch of sexist pigs at the top ordering sluttier costumes for female heroines but when they go missing...... they don't bother going after whoever is responsible."

Lana nodded, understanding Eva's resolve. "I get it. But what about Erik? Don't you think he deserves to know about his mother's past? About the power she once had and the choices she made?"

Eva's grip tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. "Erik doesn't need to know about any of that. He's happy with his life, and I don't want to burden him with the past."

Lana sighed, leaning back in her seat. "I just think it's important for him to know where he comes from. Especially with everything that's been happening lately."

Eva glanced at Lana, her expression stern. "Lana, I appreciate your concern, but this isn't up for debate. Erik's life is his own, and I won't let anyone interfere with it. I hope I don't have to tell you not to reveal any of it to Erik. He can not know any of it."

Lana fell silent, her expression thoughtful.

She knew Eva was stubborn and would not budge on this issue, but she couldn't help but feel that Erik deserved to know the truth about his mother's past.

######## //////// ######## //////////

As they pulled up to Eva's apartment building, Lana turned to her, her expression softening. "Eva, I understand that you want to protect Erik, but sometimes the truth is the best way to protect someone. He deserves to know who he is and where he comes from. Just to think how hurt he would be if he found out from someone other than you. His own mother keeping such a big thing from him.... his whole belief would be shaken to the core."

Eva sighed, her expression weary. "I know, Lana. But I also know that the truth can be painful, and I don't want to cause Erik any more problems than he already has. He's been through enough."

Lana nodded, understanding Eva's perspective.

Eva smiled at her, grateful for her understanding.

They stepped out of the car and walked towards Eva's apartment building, a cheap rundown structure that stood among other similar surrounding buildings. Even the code system at the lobby door was broken as they entered the building and headed up taking the creaking elevator.

As they stepped into Eva's apartment, Lana couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The space was small with seemingly two bedrooms and a small living room area; a small island separating kitchen from the living room. Yet the whole vibe was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and slightly worn out furniture. It was a far cry from the damp and musty hideout they had just left behind.

Lana took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh coffee. "This place is cozy" she said, looking around with a smile.

Eva chuckled, setting Lana's bag down by the door. "Cozy is one way to put it" she said, running a hand through her hair. "But it's home."

Lana nodded, following Eva into the living room. "It's perfect," she said, sitting down on the worn-out couch. Just then one of the bedroom doors opened and a short and skinny guy stepped out looking at them both nervously.

Eva smiled at him, then introduced them to each other. "Lana, this is my son Erik."

"And Erik, this is Lana the young lady I told you about who is going to stay with us here for a while." Erik simply nodded towards Lana in acknowledgment though Lana got the feeling that he wasn't exactly happy with the situation. The next moment she figured out why Erik's mood was slightly sour.

Erik told Eva "I emptied out my room.... well mostly... and cleaned the bed. Also put in new sheets so Lana can move in there. I'll take the couch like you told me to." Erik said with a slight edge in his voice as he looked at Lana.

Eva nodded at Erik, "Thank you, Erik. That's very thoughtful of you." She turned to Lana, "I'll show you to your room so you can get settled in."

Lana followed Eva down the hallway, Erik's eyes following them until they disappeared around the corner. She could feel his gaze on her back, and it made her slightly guilty for having kicked him out of his own room like this.

Eva opened the door to what was once Erik's room, now transformed into a guest room. "Here we are" Eva said, stepping inside.

The room was small but cozy, with a queen-sized bed pushed against one wall and a desk and chair against another. A small dresser sat in the corner, and a window looked out onto the bustling city street below.

Lana stepped inside, taking in the space. "It's perfect" she said, smiling at Eva. "Thank you for letting me stay here."

Eva smiled back, her expression softening. "I want you to feel comfortable here. This is your home now."

Lana nodded, setting her bag down on the bed. "I appreciate it, Eva. Really."

Eva paused, looking around the room with a critical eye. "I mean, it's not much, but it's home. And it's safe."

"It's more than enough. Thank you for having me."

"You're welcome, Lana. I'm just glad you're here."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared past hanging heavy in the air. Then, Lana turned to Eva, her expression serious. "Eva, I need to talk to you about something." Lana's voice was soft but firm, breaking the silence.

Eva turned to her, her expression curious. "What is it now, Lana?"

"It's about Erik. I feel bad about him being pushed out of his own room and into the living room because of me." Lana's voice was filled with genuine concern.

"Lana, it's not your fault. I'm the one who asked him to make room for you. Besides, it's not like you got him kicked out of the apartment and onto the streets or anything. He can handle sleeping on the couch for a while."

Lana nodded, but she still looked worried. "Still I just feel bad though."

Eva smiled softly at her "And I appreciate your concern. But really, he's a grown man. He can handle it. And besides, it's not like he's going to be sleeping on the couch forever. He got a job recently so he might be coming back to the apartment only to sleep. I would like him to stay with me but I'll respect his decision if he moves out and into a better place. For now though I don't want you to worry about all that. Just stay here and be safe till you figure out what you wanna do next."

Lana sighed, her expression still troubled though for now she gave up on the topic.

####### //////// ####### ////////

For the next hour or so Eva helped Lana unpack in her room before going out into the kitchen to make dinner for them all. Lana already felt exhausted and as she lay on the bed; sleep quickly took her. It felt like another hour had passed when she heard a soft knock on her door and then saw Erik's head poke through the crack "Hey, mom says dinner is ready. You can come join us."

Lana stepped out of her room and noticed the living room was now turned into Erik's makeshift bedroom with pillow on the couch and a sheet spread on there.

Lana quickly said to Erik "I'm really sorry about your room, okay? I promise I'll figure out my life soon and be out of here!" Lana said, her voice filled with sincerity as she followed Erik into the kitchen who didn't talk much. The aroma of cooking food filled the air, making her stomach rumble.

Eva was standing by the stove, stirring a pot of something that smelled delicious. She turned to them as they entered the kitchen, a warm smile on her face. "There you are, Lana. Dinner is almost ready."

Lana smiled back at her, grateful for the warm welcome. "It smells amazing, Eva."

Eva chuckled, turning back to the stove. "Just a simple pasta dish. Nothing fancy."

Erik pulled out a chair at the small kitchen table and gestured for Lana to sit down.

"You can take my seat," he said, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'll eat on the couch."

Lana hesitated for a moment before sitting down, feeling a pang of guilt for taking his place even at the kitchen table now. "Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked.

Erik waved a hand dismissively. "I'll be fine on the couch."

Eva brought over a plate of steaming pasta and set it down in front of Lana. "Here you go" she said, smiling at her.

Lana took a bite, her eyes widening in surprise at the delicious taste. "This is amazing, Eva" she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

"You're a great cook."

Eva smiled at her, pleased. "I enjoy cooking. It's a way for me to unwind after a long day."

Erik sat down on the couch with his own plate, watching them with a mix of amusement and curiosity. He still had no clue who Lana actually was and how his mother knew her.

"So, Lana," he said, his voice casual. "What's your story? Why are you staying with us?"

Lana hesitated, glancing at Eva. Eva knew about her past and what had happened to her family, but she wasn't sure how much Eva wanted that shared with Erik. "It's a long story," she said finally pretending to be busy chewing her food, her voice careful.

Erik raised an eyebrow.

"I've got time," he said, taking a bite of his pasta. "I'm not going anywhere."

Eva glanced at Lana, a warning in her eyes. "Erik, now is not the time. Besides it's none of your business; she is a guest in MY house..... you don't need to know." she said, her voice firm.

Erik rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I was just trying to make conversation."

Lana sighed, feeling the tension in the room. She didn't want to cause any more trouble than she already had. "I'm sorry, Erik. I didn't mean to be secretive. It's just... it's a complicated situation."

Erik nodded, his expression softening. "I won't push. If you feel comfortable sharing then I'll be here." Eva frowned at him but didn't add anything more.

###### //////// ######## ////////

The rest of the dinner went pretty much in awkward silence and soon after everyone went in their own room to sleep. The first night in safety and comfort of Eva's home; for the first time since her abduction Lana fell asleep without any of her nightmares waking her up.

The next few days Eva seemed busy in the evenings with work and when she came home pretty late in the night she seemed emotionally and physically drained. Lana felt bad for her and wondered what was it about her job that was stressing her out so much. Knowing Eva though she knew she won't get any answers from her.

Meanwhile, Erik had also begun his job at the same club as Eva; though he used to go later than Eva and came back home pretty much when sun was coming back up. His job seemed to be mainly cleaning the whole place after it was closed but he also had to help out with small tasks while the club was busy with customers.

Lana had noticed that he seemed to be avoiding her most of the time and she wondered if it was because of her presence in his mother's house or something else. She decided to give him some space for now and not push him into anything.

####### /////// ######## ///////

One evening, as Lana was helping Eva with dinner, Erik came in from his job looking tired and worn out. He didn't say much as he sat down at the table and started eating. Eva noticed his tiredness and asked him if everything was okay at work. Erik just shrugged and said it was fine.

Lana couldn't help but notice the tension in the room. She could see that Erik was holding something back, but she didn't want to push him.

Instead, she decided to change the subject. "So, Erik, what sort of hobbies do you have?" she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

Erik looked up from his plate, his expression thoughtful. "Ummmm..... I'm good with tech stuff I guess. I like to play video games too sometimes but haven't got the time recently." he said finally.

Lana nodded, understanding his sentiment. "Tech huh? So if you don't mind me asking.... if you are smart enough for that then why take a cleaning job at a club" she asked.

She seemed to have struck a nerve with that as he looked angry and threw a quick glance at Eva; who looked quite guilty as she said softly "Well he did have an offer to work at another place where his tech skills would have come handy.... but I knew a person who worked there. I didn't think that was the right choice for Erik so I asked him not to go work there." Erik kept quiet about it and didn't say anything at all.

He just looked away from Lana and continued eating his food. Eva noticed the tension in the room and decided to change the subject as well.

"Lana, have you thought about what you want to do next?"

Lana looked up from her plate, her expression thoughtful. "I'm not sure yet," she admitted. "I just want to figure out what's best for me."

Erik looked up from his plate, his expression curious. "What do you mean? What are your options?"

"I'm not sure if I should go back to my old life or start something new." Lana said, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Eva nodded understandingly, "It's a big decision, Lana. You should take your time to think about it. Your old home isn't exactly safe to go back I feel. Maybe you can find a job and with some money in hand you can move out of this city?"

Lana's expression darkened at this. "And what? Just forget about my family?"

Erik just looked between the two as their tones heated up; not knowing the full story he couldn't even figure out what was happening. What had happened to Lana's family? He wondered but dared not ask.

Angry at Eva; Lana walked away from the served food and went into her room. She didn't wanna argue this anymore with Eva. She was secretly possibly the strongest of all the heroes and heroines of The League of Heroes yet she always picked the option which didn't involve any conflicts. If Lana had such powers she would find the bastards who ruined her life and break every bone in their bodies. But all she had was this weak telepathic power. No matter how much she practiced she would never be strong enough to rescue her family.