by Sarah Noffke
“Well, I have to do something,” Hiker muttered, glancing at the television, which was still showing protesters holding up signs that read: “Free Mother Nature.”
“Why are there so many natural disasters happening right now?” Sophia asked, getting Mama Jamba’s attention.
She smiled sweetly at her. “Because…”
Hiker growled, turning his back on them and staring out the window.
“Because there’s so much global unease?” Sophia guessed.
“See, you all don’t need me feeding you the answers,” Mama Jamba said proudly. “You already know the truth. You just have to trust yourself.”
Sophia nodded. Again that made sense. Mama Jamba taught them how to think for themselves. If she explained everything, they’d think the way she wanted them to instead of relying on their own thoughts. “So the storms and earthquakes are a result of mortals not trusting the Dragon Elite and causing so many protests. In essence, the more they fight us, the worst things will get?”
“Then Nevin Gooseman will point his finger at us,” Hiker stated bitterly, his hands clasped behind his back.
“We just have to refute what he’s saying,” Sophia declared with confidence.
“No,” Hiker said.
“We have to say something,” Sophia argued. “We have to make a statement.”
Hiker sighed. “When you argue with an idiot, those watching can’t tell which is which. I refuse to stoop to his level and give attention to these ridiculous claims. We are the Dragon Elite. We’re the reason that world wars have been avoided. The ones that did occur were during the times the dragons couldn’t be seen by mortals.”
“Well, thankfully, they can’t see the demon dragons right now.” Sophia sighed.
“And neither can we since we don’t know where to look,” Hiker said, turning to face Mama Jamba, who had gone back to doing her hair. “How are you coming along with that spell to track the demon dragons down? We need to find them, but right now they aren’t showing on the Elite Globe and searching the planet is an inefficient use of our time and energy.”
“It isn’t ready,” she answered.
“I figured as much,” he said irritably. “How much longer?”
She shrugged, rolling her hair. “Hard to say.”
Hiker, having expected such an answer, nodded.
“So you’re not going to address Nevin Gooseman’s allegations?” Sophia dared to ask. “You’re not going to explain that Mama Jamba isn’t our prisoner or that we’re not responsible for the natural disasters?”
Hiker shook his head. “No, we’re not. Much like Mama, we’re going to hold strong, and when mortals believe in us again, it will be based on faith. She refuses to show herself to prove she’s powerful, and I do too.”
The old woman smiled wide. “That’s it, son. Try and convince them, and you’ll have to always persuade to get their favor. Allow them to find their way to you, and they will always return. Real leaders don’t have to demand loyalty. They earn it by virtue of being strong and true.”
Hiker drew in a breath. “I know you’re right. I’ll send the others out to assist where we can with relief efforts connected to these natural disasters. And you, Sophia—”
The leader of the Dragon Elite was interrupted by Sophia’s phone buzzing in her pocket. She ignored it, but Mama Jamba didn’t.
“You’re going to want to get that, dear,” she said, pointing to Sophia’s pocket. “Hiker, Sophia will need to go on a side mission. It’s of supreme importance.”
He sighed. “Should I ask what it involves?”
Sophia checked her phone. It was a message from Liv. Everything was in place. She glanced up. “I’ve got to go abduct a Councilor for the House of Fourteen.”
Hiker pursed his lips and nodded. “That seems about right. Don’t get caught and try to not sully our already tarnished reputation.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Getting Lorenzo Rosario out of the House of Fourteen had proven a bit more difficult than Liv had envisioned, but it was necessary. Only Royals could enter the House of Fourteen for the most part, so if Lorenzo was abducted there, the list of suspects would be narrowed down quite a bit.
The Councilor’s fear for his own safety and cowardly ways was definitely one of the reasons he didn’t leave the sanctuary of the House of Fourteen. A man like Lorenzo had his share of enemies, ready to pounce on him when he finally ventured out. For that reason, he was more on guard than most as he hurried down the streets of Los Angeles.
“So, what exactly did you have to do?” Sophia asked Liv as they lurked in the shadows of an alleyway located along the route that Lorenzo was about to take.
The homeless man digging through the dumpster on the other side of the road didn’t pay them much notice. This was because they appeared much like him wearing torn up clothes and dirty faces. Sophia had used a disguising spell to make both herself and Liv appear like older homeless women. Her hair was coarse and gray, and heavy wrinkles lined her face. Liv had decided she wanted to be an old man with stringy brown hair and a crooked nose. There was no way Lorenzo would recognize them, as long as Sophia kept the spell up, which would be a challenge if anything else drained her magic. Liv had promised to use her own reserves for anything they should need.
“I destroyed all of his medications,” Liv said with a dry laugh. “After doing a bit of investigating, I found out that Lorenzo stocks up on his medications once a year from a specialty pharmacy here in the valley. He had to go in person to get it since the magicians who run the operation have strict controls on the substances, thanks to laws passed down from the House of Fourteen.”
“I like the irony,” Sophia said, laughing too. “But, you had to destroy his supply then?”
Liv nodded. “Yeah, damn House of Fourteen is going to hell apparently. Long overdue for maintenance. A stupid leaky roof is causing all sorts of problems.”
Sophia gave her sister an impressed look. “Messing with the House is pretty difficult. I didn’t think it could be magicked.”
“Yeah, well, I know a lynx and normal rules of the House of Fourteen don’t really apply to him,” Liv explained. “So poor Lorenzo happened to go into his room to find his year’s supply of medication all ruined.”
Checking the darkened alleyway, Sophia listened carefully. Someone was coming.
“Are you ready?” she asked over her shoulder at Liv.
She balled up a fist and wrapped her other dirty hand around it, a vengeful expression on her face. “Yes. One hundred percent. Can’t wait to give that traitor a black eye.”
Sophia gave her sister a cautious expression. “First, we get the information. Then you can give him a memento.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Right on cue, Sophia stumbled out, cutting Lorenzo Rosario off as he made to cross down the darkened street. The magical pharmacy that was his destination was just up ahead on the right, but he’d never make it there. Not before they closed, although the sisters had no plans of killing the Councilor for the House of Fourteen. As Liv had said, keep your enemies close and don’t kill them unless you have to. Sophia was hoping they wouldn’t have to. Having the blood of a Royal on their hands wasn’t ideal and could lead to all sorts of other problems.
“Watch where you’re going,” Lorenzo complained when Sophia knocked into him.
Not only did she not heed his warning, but she used her fast reflexes to sweep his legs out from underneath him.
He fell on his back immediately, his head hitting the concrete hard. Before he could defend himself, Liv pointed her finger at him from the shadow, binding his hands with invisible ropes and putting a disarming spell on him.
Through a muffled cry, he tried to resist, but the fear in his eyes told Sophia he knew he’d been outmaneuvered.
She shook her head at the magician, who sported a black goatee and clicked her tongue. “Today obviously isn’t your day.”
Grabbing his hands, she waited for Liv to take hi
s legs. The sisters lifted the incapacitated man up and carried him awkwardly into the dark alleyway where they’d already set the stage for the next steps.
“Can I have his shoes when you’re done with him?” the homeless man digging through the dumpster called.
Liv nodded. “Sure thing, buddy. Looks like you could use some new threads too.”
Sophia glanced down at the embroidered silk robe Lorenzo was wearing. It was of the finest quality and would look strange on the bum, but it was probably enhanced with magical properties to keep him extra warm in cold temperatures and cool when it was hot. The garment would be ideal for someone who had to sleep on the streets.
“Thanks,” the homeless man said, waving from beside the dumpster. “That would be much appreciated.”
“Who says homeless people don’t have manners?” Liv asked, walking backward and holding Lorenzo’s legs as they carried the larger man. His eyes were wide with fear, and no doubt he thought they were taking him away to kill him. That fear would work in their favor. They needed him to believe his life was in danger. That would ensure he talked.
Chapter Thirty-Three
To most, the alleyway appeared ordinary with puddles of murky water and trashcans. However, to the two magicians who had staged it, the space was full of secrets. For starters, it wasn’t an open space that led to a dead-end brick wall. The wall that divided the space in half was invisible up until Liv nodded toward it.
Suddenly a new wall appeared at her back with a single metal door. Picking up her foot, Liv kicked the unlocked door open, showing the interrogation room they had set up for Lorenzo’s stay with them.
“We upgraded you to a suite because we heard you were a man who enjoyed the finer things in life,” Liv said, her voice scratchy and not sounding like her. Sophia worried her sense of humor might give her away.
The interrogation room was small and cramped and mostly dark beside a single light hanging overhead, casting the place in a yellow glow. Sitting in the middle of the musty space was a metal chair with restraints.
“As you can see,” Liv went on as they worked to put the bound man into the chair, “there are great views, and we’ve paid extra attention to all details.”
Lorenzo wasn’t struggling as they placed him into the chair, binding him to the back, thanks to the spell Liv had put on him. Once he was in place, the sisters stepped back in unison, looking their handy work over. The magician appeared quite uncomfortable pinned in the seat, restrained in several places, and paralyzed from the neck down so he couldn’t use a spell against them. Once they removed the magical gag, he could mutter an incantation, but it wouldn’t work since they were the only ones who could perform spells in the interrogation room at that moment.
“I think you can take off the disguises,” Liv said, winking at Sophia.
She nodded and waved her hand in her sister’s direction. Instead of going back to her normal appearance with long blonde hair and a sassy expression, Liv took on a different look. Although she was always gorgeous, she was extra beautiful with her straight brown hair and bright blue eyes. Large turquoise wings flitted a bit, and anyone would recognize her as a male fae.
Sophia also changed her appearance, making herself into a female fae with purple wings.
“Oh, that’s much better,” Liv said, checking her appearance over. “Being a mortal was gross.” She snapped her fingers at Lorenzo, and his mouth popped open at once.
He moved his tongue around and realized the gagging spell had come off, and he could talk. Sophia recognized the form his mouth was taking and knew he was trying a spell. The disappointment that fell over his face made her rejoice. He now knew his magic was useless.
They’d thought of everything.
Liv clapped her hands together, chuckling. “Okay. Let’s get down to business and have you start talking before I rearrange your face.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“What do you fae want?” Lorenzo demanded, his voice raw and full of hostility.
“Want?” Liv asked. “What makes you think we want anything? Maybe we just brought you here for fun.”
“This isn’t fun,” Lorenzo complained, struggling with his binds to no effect.
Liv wagged her finger. “I can’t help it if you’re not making the best of this situation. It’s all about perspective.”
“It is a crime of the highest to abduct a Councilor for the House of Fourteen,” Lorenzo said, not trying to break the binds after realizing it wouldn’t work.
“That offense is major,” Liv stated. “But not bigger than abducting the king of the fae. I believe that crime is punishable by death.”
Lorenzo’s eyes widened. “I don’t know anything about that.”
Liv gave Sophia an annoyed expression. “Can I give him a black eye now?”
Sophia shook her head minutely. “Save that for right before we kill him.”
The protest that escaped Lorenzo’s mouth echoed off the stone walls of the interrogation room.
Liv nodded obediently, ignoring the sounds of fear now blubbering from the coward’s mouth. “Cool. Oh, and I can’t forget the shoes for the nice guy across the way.”
She waved her hand and the fine leather boots disappeared from Lorenzo’s feet, to reappear by the door.
“Stop it!” Lorenzo yelled.
“Start talking,” Liv encouraged, stepping in close to the Councilor.
“I don’t know anything,” he answered at once.
“Oh, man,” Liv said, shaking her head. “You’re a bad man and a bad liar. Those are the worst and always make me want to stomp my feet.”
Lorenzo realized what Liv was going to do a moment too late. The howl of pain when her boot came down hard on his exposed foot made Sophia roll her eyes. This guy was weaker than she realized, having spent the majority of his life sitting on the bench, looking down on Warriors and ordering them to risk their lives while he stayed safe. Sophia knew Liv was enjoying this more than she would have if this was just a random guy who had information about Rudolf. This was payback for all the times Lorenzo had belittled Liv, ordering her to do things he himself was too weak to do.
“I-I don’t know what you want me to tell you,” Lorenzo stuttered, drool coming down his chin.
“Let’s start with why someone would abduct our king,” Sophia said, narrowing her eyes at the despicable man before them.
“How should I know?” he spat.
Sophia could tell Liv was really restraining herself from punching Lorenzo in the face.
“Oh, I almost forgot we also promised the gentleman a new robe,” Liv sang, twirling her hand.
The elegant silk robe disappeared from around Lorenzo, exposing him in his white undershirt and pants. His shoulders scrunched up with tension as if being exposed was far worse than being physically hurt.
“No, that robe has been in my family for generations!” he yelled.
Liv shrugged. “Sounds like it’s time to part ways with it.”
“You can’t give it to a crummy mortal,” Lorenzo complained.
Liv toggled her head back and forth. “Thing about it is, we totally can. See, you’re fully restrained, unable to do magic, and no one can hear you scream.”
“Who are you?” Lorenzo demanded, narrowing his eyes at Liv. “You aren’t normal fae to do magic like this.”
Sophia worked to keep the expression of worry off her face. Lorenzo was right. The spells they were using were incredibly powerful and complex. No normal fae could do them. If they weren’t careful, he could track their spells if he knew where to look. Registered magicians were tracked by the council. However, if he continued to believe they were fae, he wouldn’t know to look.
Liv leaned in close. “I’m your worst nightmare. When someone abducted our king, a force like nothing you’ve ever seen was unleashed. Underestimate the fae, and we will show you why we’ve survived so much longer than magicians.”
He spat in her face, shaking his head. “You’ve survived beca
use you’re weak little twats that suck up resources and are useless.”
Liv peeled back, wiping her face. “Is that why you had our king abducted?”
Lorenzo swallowed. “The reasons have nothing to do with the fae.”
In a flash, Liv reached out and wrapped her hand around Lorenzo’s jaw, making him tense all over. His face turned red. “Why did you have King Rudolf abducted?”
“I didn’t,” Lorenzo protested, fear in his eyes now. “It was Nevin Gooseman.”
Of all the things Sophia had expected Lorenzo to say, that wasn’t one of them. “What?” she asked in disbelief.
Lorenzo’s eyes slid to look at her as he tried to nod, but Liv’s grasp was making it difficult. “It’s true. It wasn’t me. I told him Rudolf could help him. That’s the only way I’m involved.”
“Why?” Liv demanded, her hand tightening over his windpipe. “Help him with what?”
“He needs to get into the Great Library,” Lorenzo stated. “It’s closed just now, but I knew Rudolf could get him in.”
Liv pulled her hand off the man, disgusted at having to touch him any longer. “Keep talking, or I’ll be breaking more of your toes.” She indicated his foot.
He nodded, seeming to have resigned and decided to be compliant. “Nevin needs to figure out how the Dragon Elite hid the evil dragons. They’ve camouflaged them somehow. The spell will be in the Great Library. I told him that much and that Rudolf could help him get in there.”
“He wants to expose the dragons why?” Sophia asked, her chest vibrating with anger.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Lorenzo retorted. “Those beasts are destroying our world. They need to be eliminated from this planet.”
Now it was Sophia who was having trouble restraining herself. Liv must have spied it because she gave her a look of warning.
“What else do you know?” Liv asked, raising her boot over Lorenzo’s other foot.
He shook his head rapidly. “That’s it. I promise. That’s all I know.”
