He spoke to his sister. "Hey, sis."
Aaliyah rubbed his hair, and smiled. "Hey, squirt."
Christine's arms wrapped around them. "I love you, my little ones."
"We love you too, Mom."
The next morning was met with giggles and laughter from the two teens. They were imitating their mother until an annoyed Christine hit the table. “That’s enough you two. You should be ashamed listening at people's doors.”
Aaliyah kissed her mom and dad goodbye and ruffled her brother’s hair. “You are right, Mom. We won't do so again.”
"Where are you going, Aaliyah?" her dad asked.
"To be with Aaliyah," she replied.
"Okay. Be safe."
Aaliyah walked on her usual trail. When she knew no one was around, she darted between the two large bushes where a secret passage was hidden by a small, white wooden fence. This lead to a field where Absalon was waiting. They embraced. They had been doing it for weeks and no one had caught on. They sat and talked while holding hands and making giggly noises at one another. Aaliyah turned bright red every time he touched her.
"So when do I meet the parents?" Absalon asked.
"Never!" Aaliyah replied. "My parents are, how we say, different."
"Different? More different than living with an army of Amazons? I almost lost my hand yesterday trying to eat because one of them wanted the last fish! These women are brutal!"
Happy Dragon arrived and startled Absalon.
"Don't make any fast moves," Aaliyah told him. Happy Dragon growled and was defensive. "Down! Down, boy!" she told him.
Flames began to smolder around his mouth and then another growl. He lunged forward.
Aaliyah grabbed him. "I'm gonna take him home."
Absalon nodded in agreement.
"What has gotten into you?" she asked.
He continued to growl as they walked home. It gave Aaliyah time with Happy Dragon and time to calm down. Still, her dragon pulled and growled. He was completely unsettled and Aaliyah couldn’t understand why.
What has him acting this way? she wondered.
When they reached the front of the cave, Adam came out and smiled seeing Happy Dragon. "Hey, boy."
Happy Dragon jerked away from Aaliyah and ran to him. He rubbed his head on Adam’s chest. Adam hugged him. He was completely calm now.
Upon seeing this, Aaliyah was furious. She yelled, "Get your hands off him!"
"What?" Adam asked. "What's wrong with you?"
The dragon looked in her direction again, hissed, and then took flight. A cold shiver hit her heart as a tear rolled down her cheek. Adam asked again what was wrong as she ran to her room.
This is my dragon. What did I do wrong? Happy Dragon is my best friend! It's Adam. He's trying to take my dragon from me! Anger filled her as she began to glow golden and instantly she transformed.
Hybrid made it to her room, sensing something wrong before … BOOM!
An energy blast filled the cave, knocking Hybrid back.
Aaliyah flew to the front of the cave, eyes glowing, and yelled to her brother, "Stay away from my dragon!"
Adam felt threatened. His transformation was instant. He glowed, his eyes were red, his hands stood in defense mode at his sides. The sky turned dark and the earth under them began to crumble.
Hybrid stood in between them with a hand out. "Stop it, you two, now!"
With a swipe of her hand, Aaliyah’s powers pushed him aside. Her hand was outstretched toward her brother, his outstretched toward her as their palms glowed with their power. Christine and Aaliyah arrived. Seeing them preparing to fight, Christine ran to her daughter and placed her arms around her. The feel of her mother's touch calmed her and tears began rolling down her face.
"What's wrong, my child?" Christine asked.
"He took my dragon," Aaliyah replied as she changed back and embraced her mother.
Hybrid held Adam and to his surprise, Adam changed back as well.
Christine held a hand up toward her son. “Baby,” she said to Adam, “calm down."
He shook his head and flew off.
"How did he take your dragon?" Hybrid asked.
"He just did!" Aaliyah yelled.
"Young lady, don't you dare yell at me." Hybrid growled as he transformed, his muscles rippled and fangs began to grow out.
Oh no! Christine pushed her daughter in the cave and turned toward her beloved as he walked slowly toward the opening. His anger boiled. Christine ran to him and placed her arms around him and kissed him. He growled again and snarled, but feeling the affection from her started to calm him. Her hands on his face soothed the beast and he changed back.
"Sorry, baby. Sorry," he apologized.
"Hybrid, she's growing up and doesn't mean it."
"I know, but she will not talk to me that way." He pulled away and instantly he was gone.
His speed was frightening. She hadn’t seen him run like that in quite some time. What was she supposed to do? Go after him or calm her daughter? She chose her daughter and went to comfort her. She found Aaliyah on the floor crying.
"Dad … Dad was gonna kill me!"
"Baby, no he wasn't. You must remember that your father is a hybrid as well. You may be the keeper of realms, but don't forget he's your father."
Holding her to her bosom and stroking her hair, Aaliyah told of what truly happened. Her mother was unhappy, but listened. Aaliyah came to see if she could help. She heard the confession and became angry.
"This boy! This boy is trouble."
"No, he's not!" Aaliyah shouted.
Christine motioned for Aaliyah to leave, which she did. She held her daughter, who explained to her mother she felt that she might be in love.
6
Running quickly through the woods, Hybrid was happy. The more he felt the wind against his face, the more he smiled. It had been years since he’d ran like this. He missed it. He transformed as he ran. He smelled his son’s scent and headed in his direction until he reached him.
His son was sitting on the tip of the mountain with Happy Dragon beside him. He was still glowing and in his transformed state.
Hybrid called to him and Adam turned toward him. Hybrid was shocked. Adam’s body was covered in white fur; his face wolf, his body still man. Adam’s muscles rippled and his eyes were as red as hot coals. Hybrid reached toward his son.
His son called to him, sobbing. "Dad, I can't … I can't calm down."
Hybrid went to his aid. He told his son how to calm the beast. “Take deep, calming breaths and let them out slowly. Do this as many times as it takes until the beast within settles. Think of calming water. Combine these two.”
Adam closed his eyes and thought of water, and as he heard the sound of the waterfall in his mind, his body slowly shrank to normal size. He embraced his father. As they did, tears stained Hybrid’s chest as Adam cried. His son was so powerful yet so gentle. Happy Dragon curled up next to Adam and Hybrid.
Hybrid pet him. "We need to go home."
Adam shrugged. "Do I have to?"
"Yes, you have too." He paused a moment. "Tell you what, you want to see just how powerful your old man is?"
"Sure Dad, but I wouldn't want to hurt you." Adam chuckled.
"Hurt me? Hahaha!" Hybrid laughed. "Let's just see who's faster. First one to the cave is the winner."
"Fine, Dad." Adam held his arms out and transformed again into the snow-white wolf form and then began to levitate.
Hybrid's transformation was instant. His muscles rippled. "Are you ready?"
Happy Dragon growled and flew off.
"Cheater!" Adam laughed.
"Ready, set, go!" Hybrid said and they were off.
Adam flew quickly through the air and Hybrid ran on the land. Their speed was incredible. Adam had the lead, but Hybrid was closing in fast. Suddenly, flames engulfed Hybrid. A loud growl was heard as he fell to the ground. Hybrid stood back up, smoldering. He looked from where the flames had come and saw a giant d
ragon smirking at him.
"What … what are you?" Hybrid questioned.
To his surprise, the dragon answered. "I am the king of this realm. I am Apocalypse!"
Growling in the dragon’s direction, Hybrid stood his ground. "I don't know you. You stay in whatever part you wish. We are at peace here!"
"You mixed breed! The only peace I want is death. I am the bringer of death and I will not be satisfied until you all are ashes beneath my feet."
He huffed, blowing fire again. From nowhere, Adam punched him. The dragon was pushed back and shook his head. They began fighting and Hybrid ran to his son's aid.
The ground shook and rumbled. It was good versus evil. Adam lost ground as the dragon bit into him hard. He cried out in pain. Hybrid jumped on the dragon's back, clawing until he let his son loose.
With a scratch across the dragon's eye, Apocalypse was wounded. Hybrid bit into him and the dragon shook him off and flew high into the sky in retreat. Hybrid saw his son kneeling on the ground as blood poured from his wound and he ran to him. Adam rose, shook, and healed himself.
"That beast. That beast must be killed or all will be lost," Adam stated.
They returned to the cave where Happy Dragon sat at the entrance. Seeing them, he growled in joy and jumped around like a dog.
"He won," Adam laughed. "He's happy." They both laughed as they rubbed him and told him he was a good boy.
Hybrid was caught up to speed about Aaliyah’s rendezvouses by Christine, who told him to calm down. He told his daughter what happened to him and her brother. Aaliyah was upset.
"How? How powerful is he?" she asked.
"More powerful than anything I have ever seen," he told her. "I manage to scratch his eye. That is the only thing that saved us."
Fearfully, Aaliyah shuttered. "We have to find out who this Apocalypse is."
Christine left and went to the Amazons to see if they knew anything. The Amazons knew nothing of this creature. Danielle told her she may know someone who did. They walked to the hut where Renee was resting.
"Renee," Christine said. "Do you know anything about this creature?"
"No, I don't. All I know is that his power is unmatched. He's the bringer of death. Centuries old."
Hearing that gave Christine an idea. "If he's centuries old, we must find someone who is that old too." She paused a few moments. "Damien. We have to find him."
Aaliyah nodded her head. "Yes, I'm on it."
Christine embraced her. "Be safe, my sister."
Aaliyah took off to the place where the former vampires lived. Meanwhile, Christine sat and talked with Danielle as the day closed. She returned home to find her love and children asleep. She reminisced over her life and dozed off.
The next morning, she was awakened by the sound of a battle. She rushed out of the cave to see her kids transformed and fighting. Hybrid was watching as they battled.
"Stop!" she screamed.
They both stopped and turned. "Yes, Mom?" they said in unison.
"What are you doing?" Christine asked with her hands on her hips.
"Training, Mom. Duh!" Adam said as he rolled his eyes.
"Oh really?" she asked.
Next thing they knew, Christine transformed and landed a swift kick to the stomach of Aaliyah. She went flying. Christine grabbed Adam’s hair and a knee to his face had Adam falling. Aaliyah and Adam looked in disbelief as their mother was even more powerful than them.
A laugh from Hybrid had him smiling. "Guess they didn't know you were one of the most powerful Amazons ever to live."
They stood ready for another attack as Hybrid and his Christine taught their children the art of war. Days passed more slowly as their training continued. Aaliyah had left everyday to see Absalon. Her parents were reluctant, but allowed it. They had a bad feeling about him. The closer Aaliyah got to him, the farther her dragon went from her. He no longer came to her when she called. Her heart broke every time he did so.
Aaliyah finally returned from her journey to seek out Damien, walking in a daze and fear all over her face. She was scratched and bruised.
"What happened?" Christine asked.
"I found them," Aaliya said tearfully.
"What? What is it?"
"They haven't changed. I asked Damien, who told me of the history of the dragon before I was captured. I watched them kill and eat people. They killed children, Christine. Children!"
"They are still vampires?"
"No, Christine, just evil men. I watched Damien burn a village to the ground and kill all the children and take the women for prisoners."
"Prisoners? Why?"
"To rape them," Aaliyah explained.
"Oh my gosh!" Looking into her eyes, Christine felt Aaliyah’s pain. "Did … did he rape you?"
"Yes," Aaliya nodded tearfully.
Anger, hurt, and sorrow filled Christine as she held her tightly. "Why is he raping women?"
"To make heirs."
"Heirs to what?"
"He wants the world, Christine. He wants the world."
Unknown to them, Aaliyah heard everything. Anger filled her.
Damien must die.
7
Aaliyah was cared for by her Amazon sisters and Christine stayed by her side. Aaliyah told Adam what happened and they devised a plan to kill Damien. Adam left to go find him with vengeance running in his veins for his godmother. Aaliyah went to the place where she met Absalon, but he wasn’t there. She waited all day, but didn’t see him.
Strange, she thought to herself as she left a note for him and went back to the cave.
Adam flew until he caught the scent of strong, metallic-like blood. He followed it to the dark town where the former vampires now resided. As he landed, he was met by a strange chant. The people bowed before Damien and he came to meet Adam with his head bowed.
"We have waited on you."
Adam gazed at him angrily and confused. "Waited for what?"
"You. You are the true Keeper of Realms," Damien said handing him a crown.
"No. No, that's my sister."
"Why? Do you believe that? Weren't you born of two hybrids? Didn't the sun turn red with blood? How do we know she is the one?"
Adam shook his head in disbelief before remembering why he came. He transformed and all knelt before him as he walked toward Damien. Damien smiled, thinking that he had won him over. Instantly, Adam had him by the throat and with a squeeze, Damien’s head went flying and blood ran down Adam’s arm.
He began to laugh. He’d never killed anyone before but he liked it. He licked the blood from his arm and turned toward the people. They were horror-stricken upon seeing Damien’s lifeless body near his feet and began to run. They were hunted down one by one and massacred.
The feeling inside Adam grew with every kill. The excitement with every snap of the neck, every bite intensified until at last they were all dead. His fur was covered in blood. His body shook with happiness. He released the prisoners, but little did he know the eyes of the creature were watching him. Adam took flight to spread news of his triumph, full of happiness and excitement. Meanwhile, back at the Amazon camp, Aaliyah laid in bed, telling Christine what she had heard about the creature.
"It is almost immortal," Aaliyah stated.
"Almost?” Christine said.
"Yes. There is a story from the old scrolls. There are two blades that can kill the beast. One, a sword of light. The other, a sword of death. The legend states that these two ancient blades were forged by Merlin just like the sword Excalibur."
"So now we know what we must do," Aaliyah said as she came into the room. "We must find the swords and slay the beast." She had come to see Aaliyah as soon as she heard about her return.
The next day, Absalon returned to the village and found the note left by Aaliyah. He started to walk and finally, after an hour or so, arrived to the front of the cave.
"Hello!" he yelled. "Hello! Anyone there?"
Hearing the strange voice, Hybrid ran to the
front of the cave. He towered over the young man. Growling, he asked, "What do you want?"
Absalon couldn’t speak. He shook with fear. He was so afraid that his knees buckled. "Help me!" he screamed.
Aaliyah ran outside. Seeing her love on the ground screaming, she stood in between her father and Absalon. "Dad, he's here for me."
"What do you mean? Here for you? You are seventeen and far too important to get caught up with some boy."
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