Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 4-5 Plus Love's Impulse

by L M Lacee

  Tarin scoffed loudly looking around he knew the mirrored wall was two way, he had seen enough human cops shows on the screen. “What crime have I committed?”

  Fin kicked up one side of his mouth as he answered. “There are several!”

  Tarin frowned. “Well, what are they?”

  “Impatience will not win you any friends here today Tarin. I am very close to ending your life as it is. So take care!”

  Outraged Tarin demanded. “For why would you end my life? I have done nothing!”

  Fin sat up, no longer relaxed. “Really and yet you removed memories from my shadow, you created two poisons. One that felled a dragon and another that felled my shadow. You have consorted with traitors to your realm and mine. And you have helped create a spell that caused chaos to friends of mine, resulting in the death of the faerie known as Sela Ouster. You have aligned yourself with those that would kill and enslave shifters and have killed a Pixie and Faerie a bonded couple and tried to kill their young. There is also the matter of trying to instigate a war! None of these are small crimes. I am sure you understand that?” Fin was silent for a moment as he looked down at the opened file in front of him finally he looked up at the worried faerie. “Yes, I think that is all, more crimes may emerge later but for now we will deal with only these.”

  Tarin was openly worried now anyone of those crimes if proved, would end his life. He had swallowed twice and cleared the sudden fear from his throat before he pleaded with Fin. “You must believe me. I have not done any of those things. I do not know how to make a spell or even what would make a poison. As for consorting with people who are doing those things, that is not my fault. I meet lots of people. I cannot be held accountable for what or who they know. I have no idea about a war. You are crazy, you have the wrong person. I have done none of those things.”

  “Interesting?” Fin looked down again at the folder in front of him. “I do not believe you and the reason for that, is you did not deny trying to remove June’s memories.”

  “See, if I was that person you accused me of, I would have said something about that.” Tarin’s voice took on a soothing dream like cadence.

  “Is he trying to beguile him?” June asked as she stood next to Reighn who smiled as he narrowed his eyes. “It would appear so.”

  “Amazing!” June muttered. King Gideon looked at his Light. “Did you know he had that ability?”

  “No!” Queen Isla shook her head. “My dear I did not, he kept that well-hidden.”

  “Or it is a recent addition.” Elijah looked at the parents of the male accused and felt sympathy stir in his heart for them. To have your only son accused of being a traitor must be terribly hard to swallow.

  Tarin’s voice rolled over Fin, his dragon said. Foolish faerie we should squash him like a bug.

  Fin responded with a laugh, I find him amusing and stupid, if he is the leader in this endeavor we will have this wrapped up in no time.

  He is not! Just another puppet that wished to be someone greater. His dragon murmured.

  Sadly you are correct. I feel for his parents.

  As do I!

  Tarin softly said to Fin. “You are obviously too close to this. It is your shadow that was affected maybe you should step away. Let someone of rank who will understand me, ask me questions so I can explain it to them. Obviously you cannot understand simple English when it is spoken, all this is above your intellect.”

  Fin sighed loudly. “Are you finished because it is becoming irritating?”

  Tarin sat his eyes wide. No one had ever dismissed his skill so abruptly before. He was considered above grade, when it came to the art of persuasion and yet it just slid right off this dragon.

  “Sadly for you Tarin your mind tricks will not work on me. I am of rank. I do understand English and worse, for you. I do not believe you! Now you may not have realized this or you did and in your ignorance thought yourself better than us mere dragons. Lord Rene’ is a Keeper and I know you know what that is, all faerie Royalty understand what a Keeper can do. Lord Rene’ searched my shadows mind and found the scar left over by your clumsy attempt to remove her memory.”

  Tarin wiped his face with his chained hands, “When would I have had the opportunity to do such a thing?” He bluffed feeling the noose tighten around his throat. Fin smiled a showing of his white teeth. Tarin swallowed, for a split second he was sure he saw the dragon in Fin’s smile. He swallowed nervously again.

  Fin said. “We narrowed that down to when you were in the medical unit, when I brought June and the hatchlings back here.”

  Tarin spread his hands. “There you go, with everyone there as well as my parents, unlikely at best. I doubt I would have been able too.”

  “I do not, that was when you did so!”

  Tarin felt fear snake down his spine at the dragon’s confident tone he looked at him and was positive the dragon was playing a game. Fin said, “Now as for the other charges, instigating a war, poison, deaths, spells. I am sure you are not confident or talented enough to do all these by yourself! I want…No, I am sorry, I misspoke. I demand the names of your masters and co- conspirators.”

  “How dare you?” Tarin hissed, “You accuse me of being someone’s puppet?”

  Fin looked at the male. “I see!”

  “What…What do you see dragon?”

  Fin grinned a slash of white teeth to Tarin’s eyes. His teeth looked like they had grown. He swallowed nervously again.

  “I see that being taken for someone’s puppet is more upsetting to you than the actuality of committing so many crimes.”

  “As it would be to any male!” Tarin puffed out his chest as he stated. “I am no one’s toy!”

  Isla and Gideon Ravenswood parents to the male Tarin stood hands clasping each other’s as Isla said hoarsely. “I had no idea, we would never have thought it in a million years. There is no doubt is there?”

  Gideon shook his head. “No my love. No doubt!”

  June said softly. “I am so very sorry. This must be a nightmare for you. No parent ever suspects their child of such treachery.” They both looked at her and saw the sincerity in her face. Isla said faintly. “No, we did not and thank you my dear.”

  Scarlett said outraged on her friend’s behalf. “Do not take this as your fault Isla. He is an adult. He was raised as his sisters were. There was no reason for him to have done this.”

  Isla held a sob in as she nodded. “I know, Scarlett.”

  Gideon said his voice hard with hurt and betrayal. “Look at what he did with all the opportunities we gave him.” Isla looked at his face and saw the same ravaged expression as hers. “Maybe that was our mistake.”

  He sighed as broken hearted as she was. “Yes maybe my dear.”

  Reighn said. “Isla, Gideon sometimes a bad person is just a bad person no matter how they are raised or by who. Remember this as the days go on, at any time he could have come to you, two people who love him and would always help if they could. He chose not to.”

  Isla smiled weakly. “You are wise my Lord and will make a wonderful father. I will hold to your words.”

  Scarlett said. “It is not that different to what you told me when I was young and Juna left with that male.”

  Isla nodded. “Oh, I had forgotten that, there was something wrong with him, always was from a little one.”

  Gideon said softly. “As was Tarin, we ignored and pandered to it. Hid his quirks from ourselves as well as others but he had that same wrongness inside of him as Definiao Kiltern had. We just hoped it would go away. In that we are very much like Definiao’s parents who were very wrong!”

  He took Isla in his arms and looked at Reighn. “We will do all we can for you, to halt what he has caused but we cannot witness this. I am sorry for our weakness.”

  Reighn bowed his head in respect. “There is no weakness here. Just heartbroken parents hurting and that my friends, we all understand, go do what you must to heal. Know you are always welcomed here at Dragon’s Gap
and in my territories.”

  Gideon thanked him as he led his weeping Queen away.

  “I hate this! Absolutely hate this!” Scarlett cried.

  “I know my light, as do we all. “Elijah soothed her.

  “Tarin! Huh I would never have thought he had the balls for it.” Harper said as she entered with Charlie who said. “We waited until the parents had left, it seemed wrong to add witnesses to their grief.”

  “Wow! That was very mature of you.” Frankie said as she entered behind them. “Was it Charlie’s decision?”

  Harper gave her a dirty look as Charlie nodded her head in confirmation, the brief levity helped dispel the despair that had fallen over the room. Charlie agreed with Harper when she said, “I would not have believed it either, weak chin, beady eyes. Those that have them are nasty, evil people.”

  She looked at Reighn. “You sure you don’t want me to question him?”

  He grinned. “No thank you. I need him alive!”

  Charlie shrugged. “I don’t kill everyone I question.”

  “Really?” Frankie asked, “Because I am fairly sure the last ones you asked questions of are dead.”

  Charlie hunched her shoulders a little, at the truth of her statement. “Well, yeah but not everyone.” She tried defending herself. Frankie along with everyone else looked at her with varying expression of disbelief on their faces. “I have mellowed. I tell you!”

  Harper snorted as Frankie grinned in disbelief, they once more turned to the window in time to hear Fin say. “Alright so you take responsibility for all crimes stated, good to know.” Then he rose and started to walk from the room. Tarin tried to stand and found he could not. “No… No…. No! That is not what I said dragon Fin you must believe me!”

  “No faerie Tarin I do not!” Fin remained walking his hand was on the door handle when Tarin screamed and jerked at the chains. “They made me do it!”

  Fin halted and turned to him his face without expression as Tarin sobbed. “I had to do it! I had no choice.”

  Fin shrugged. “I do not believe you Tarin, you always have a choice. You are a Prince you had people to go to. Your parents, Queen Scarlett and King Elijah. Your guards, the Dragon Lord. Anyone of these people would have protected and kept you safe. “He looked at the Prince and shook his head.” No, you chose to do this.”

  “I had no choice.” He wept openly as he slumped down into his seat. “I was in deep, they came to me and told me my life was forfeited if I did not comply.”

  “Who…Who came to you?” Demanded Fin as he stepped closer. Suddenly the room was swamped with power. Fin felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. June and Reighn along with everyone else watched from the room next door.

  “What is that?” June asked as she watched her shadow scan the room.

  “Who is that? Is a better question?” Harper asked as Reighn walked into the room with Elijah behind him. June and Harper both made to follow only to be prevented by Charlie who stood in front of the now closed door.

  “Wow!” She is fast.” June muttered to Harper who nodded. “Always was.”

  “Listen up you two. You stay here, no more exciting times for either of you.”

  “Spoilsport!” June murmured to Harper, “Was she always this bossy?”

  “Nope it is new thing. I think it is having young that does it.”

  “Tough!” Charlie told the two of them. “You can look from here but no going in.”

  They all turned back to the window. “Hate when she is right.” Harper said to June. They both missed Charlie’s smirk to Scarlett or Scarlett’s wink in reply.

  Elijah said to Reighn. “I think my Lord you are under attack, this is Pixie magic your magic will not work here Lady Dragon.” He told Sage as she walked in through the door with blue glowing hands.

  Hers may not! Mine will! An Elemental said as he appeared. He placed his hands together as if he was in prayer and slowly drew them apart. As he did so he revealed two pixies and two faeries standing in the corners of the room. “Son of a bitch!” Harper yelled. “I second that!” Snarled Charlie.

  Scarlett mumbled. “Me third it!”

  Reighn, Elijah and the Elemental walked with Fin to stand by the table that Tarin sat at. The Elemental pointed to a Pixie, his voice when he spoke sounded like thunder. Why are you here?

  “We are here to make sure the one who has our young return them.” A musical voice from the male said.

  “Lies!” Charlie told the others with her in the room.

  Liar! The Elemental stated and the Pixie dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. His mouth opened in a silent scream. The Elemental then pointed to the other Pixie, a female, this time in the opposite corner. Her face was twisted in a mask of fear and anger.

  Speak! Thundered out his voice vibrating the soles of everyone’s feet. She looked at the Elemental then the male on his knees. “We were sent by our master to kill this one!” She indicated Tarin who screamed at her. “Why? I did everything you asked of me. Everything!”

  She snarled. “You got caught fool!” She too dropped to her knees, but there were no tears or silent scream as she clenched her jaw shut. Harper looked at her sister and the other two. “She is hard.”

  “Very, but stupid, seriously they want to play here? Foolish!” Scarlett shook her head at the stupidity of some. The Elemental pointed to the faeries. Which of you will answer? A male stepped forward. “I will.”

  Why are you here?

  “To find out who was behind the poisoning.”

  “Part lie.” Charlie murmured.

  The Elemental flicked his fingers and the male dropped to his knees. You play with words. It annoys me.

  The other person was a female when she came forward, Elijah drew in a sharp breath they could all see she was half Pixie. She spoke with a lilt that was almost a song. “Elemental, Dragon Lord, Dragon Lady, cousin. I am here to stop the start of the war.”

  “Who sent you?” Reighn asked anger in his voice.

  The faerie looked at Elijah who told her “You should answer.”

  “I am an agent for the Elturnian.”

  “I would be impressed if I knew what and who that was.” Sage said.

  As would we all! The Elemental said also.

  Fin told them. “It is the equivalent of our Shields or the human force known as the C.I.A. They investigate more than they assassinate, although they are trained to do both.”

  The Ladies in the outer room all turned to Charlie who shrugged. “Never heard of them before. That is not to say I have not worked for them if they are as secretive as they seem to be. I would not have known.”

  “You know a lot about our agency.” The Pixie said to Fin who remained silent, but he did smile a knowing smile. The Elemental said. I like, our Dragon Lord wish to know why you are here.

  “As I said to stop a war.”

  But agent you lie!

  Charlie said. “One should never lie to an Elemental, guess she never got the memo. Scarlett, do you know about these people?”

  “Yes although only in whispers, apparently they are completely autonomous.”

  “Harmless?” Frankie asked her and she almost laughed when she replied. “Dear Frankie, no! Anything but, all their agents have innate magic and are taught a good deal more. Or so I am told. All of you three would make good agents for them and do not be surprised if they do not try and recruit you.”

  Harper looked speculatively at the Pixie behind the glass as she asked Scarlett. “So they recruit others as well as faerie?”

  In answer Scarlett shrugged. “So I have heard.” Then placed her finger against her lips in the sign for silence or secret. By now the Pixie female was on her knees, panting as she begged the Elemental. “Please…Please your Eminence. I came because they were here. I followed them.”

  Thank you, is it in your nature to lie? He asked her, she drew in deep breaths and nodded not trusting her voice just then. The Elemental mused. This seems a waste of your
talents?

  Elijah said. “All agents for the Elturnian dedicate their lives to the betterment of all races or so they say. The actual Elturnian group which is only ever made up of thirteen members at any one time, consider themselves above all others.”

  All others? The Elemental asked. Elijah bowed his head as he said. “Yes Elemental.”

  I see! Dragon Lord I will take these with me and we will learn as much as we can, then send you what is revealed. You may keep the Elturnian agent for now. He turned to the pixie agent and said. Do not go far little agent we may have a need of you.

  With that he and the other four people, including Tarin disappeared and all breathed easier with his leaving. Reighn stared at the Pixie female his mind racing with the implications of her being here. Unlike the others, he, as with Fin knew quite a lot about the Elturnian. He should, it was his ancestor who originally created the organization.

  All eyes turned to the female who was climbing to her feet, she made a motion with her hand and looked shocked. She tried again then said. “What have you done?”

  Sage asked. “Done! What? Made it so your magic does not work here?”

  “Yes.” Agitated now she flicked her hand several times with the same result.

  Frankie, Harper and Charlie along with Scarlett entered. Scarlett asked. “Why are you here? I realized you followed those idiots but why here?”

  The female flicked her hand again she ignored Scarlett and asked. “How can you do that? I use Elturnian magic which is impossible to break or erase?”

  She looked genuinely upset. Elijah snapped. “Answer the question now!”

  “Because it is my duty!” She snapped back. “The leads led here.”

  Reighn asked. “What is your name?” He pushed Sage gently into a seat as she answered.

  “My name is Faline Light-wind.”

  “Well Elturnian agent Faline you will remain here until you answer all our questions. Without magic or communications unless of course you feel inclined to set it up so I can talk to the head of your Elturnian?” The female was almost six feet tall with well-defined muscle, if she had wings they were well hidden. Her hair was short and blue as were her eyes, she was not the most beautiful of mixed faerie and pixie. In fact Elijah was far more beautiful but then he was full Pixie, she had a certain something that drew the eyes, mystery maybe! Reighn supposed. She looked at Reighn and smiled a sweet innocent gesture. “It may be possible my Lord to arrange that.”