by Eric S Kim
No, his friends. He had lost track of his friends.
He never had the chance to see them again. He didn’t want to believe that all of them would disappear in a faraway foreign country, but the cold truth was a heartache that lasted for more than a decade. The Nevinoth Riders had fallen. Gorvex had become victorious. Nobody would even dare to reach the same status that the Nevinoth Riders had achieved.
Lionel rubbed his eyes and tried to relax. He didn’t need to relive the stress that originated from the past. His new profession was already enough. He looked around Hamilton’s secret chamber. Everything had stayed the same. The file cabinets, crates, and the guns that hung on the walls had been kept with spotless exteriors. Nothing would ever be filthy in this room.
But then, the darkened corner in the room had caught his attention. Something from Green Brigalvic National Forest had made the room a little different. The black storage box from Artyom Trutnev’s new home had been placed in the corner. Lionel stepped forward and checked if an exact replica had been made possible. It was indeed the same storage box that he and his teammates had retrieved from the forest.
He opened the top and found the same weapons stacked upon one another. The swords, spears, axes, and crossbows had been arranged neatly in the box. He already spotted the one sword that he had used against Artyom and his Zatrad. It was kept safe in its sheath.
Lionel couldn’t resist. He picked it up and kept it in his hands. He gazed at the weapons that his previous leader had possessed. He slowly slid the sword out of its scabbard. The blade was still clean. It gave off a clear reflection of Lionel’s face and the ceiling above him. He put the scabbard away and touched the blade with his fingers. He couldn’t bring himself to forget the enemies that his leader had struck down for good. The Varivorian sword was a majestic figure with indisputable power. Only the Nevinoth Riders would be capable of using such a weapon. Lionel had stayed quiet as the sword brought back the memories that he had preserved despite the societal push against it. He could almost hear him and his friends fighting back against the beasts and spirits that threatened to bring this planet to its catastrophic end.
A voice from the other end of the room broke his concentration.
“I detect a severe distraction. You are not considering a horrible fate, are you?”
Lionel broke away from his thoughts and turned around. Salvador Quintana stood at the front of the corridor. His fancy suit was still an integral part of his first-class fashion. The California Chairman had stepped inside the chamber without Hamilton’s permission, or so it seemed.
“Do not be alarmed. I have been here before as well.”
Lionel put the sword back in its scabbard. “I’m just making sure that nothing’s been stolen. That’s all.”
Quintana stood in front of the crate that held the Forizan Ring. “And I am making sure that the ring is still here. I have been told of Todd Park’s adventures in Quebec. It must have been a terrifying landscape to be sent to.”
“At least he did his job well.”
Quintana opened the crate and picked up the small red box. He spent the next few moments observing the diamond ring with the lion’s head.
“Tell me something, Lionel. How well did you know the ringbearer?”
Lionel had no shame when he replied, “We used to be friends in the past.”
“He used to be the leader, is that correct?”
Lionel suddenly remembered that Quintana was fully aware of his previous occupation from two decades ago. He stopped himself from saying the wrong things and settled with, “We used to know each other for a little while. I joined the group a year before everything changed.”
“Was Travis Wells a good friend?”
“We didn’t have any quarrels, so I guess who could say that we cared a lot about each other.”
“Was he a good dragon rider?”
Lionel remained careful with his choice of words. “He did his job very well.”
Quintana never gave him a curious glance so far. He placed the red box back in the crate and closed the lid. “Listen, you might be wondering why these items are still here and not on their way to the Zadith.”
“I did have a funny feeling about it.”
“I chose not to reveal the truth. I ordered Hamilton to keep them here for security reasons.”
“Wouldn’t they be better off in the hands of the Zadith?”
“Everyone would automatically believe that. But keep in mind that we should not give the Zadith a crisis created by our straightforward handlings. If news gets out that the Zadith now possess the Varivorian Artillery and the last of the Forizan Rings, everyone from the other side will go straight for the Zadith. They will stop at nothing in taking back these beloved armaments. We have to be careful. We must keep them here. We will give them to the Zadith at the right time. But for now, there are Fail Factions and exiled dragons to deal with. When the enemies are finally gone for good, then the Zadith will have a chance to take the artillery without any problems.”
Lionel placed the sword back in the storage box. “Sounds like a smart decision. But I doubt that we’ll have any trouble sending these overseas. I’m sure the Zadith would have very few problems when they finally get a hold of them.”
“There is nothing wrong with being as cautious as we possibly can. We have learned that the Fail Factions cannot be underestimated, especially at a time like this. They almost had us with Kin-Kelin.”
“You’re not wrong about that.”
“Do not bring these weapons out of this room until I say so. This secret is the most important out of all of them.”
“I understand.”
Hamilton had entered the room. “Mr. Quintana, I hope everything is to your liking so far.”
“I would like to meet Todd Park if it is not too much trouble for you and him.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to meet you. He’s somewhere in this building. We’ll find him for you.”
“Good. I had planned to visit a friend at the Red Gemini Hotel in about thirty minutes. So I hope this will not take long.”
“I’ll lead you to him. Come on, Lionel. It’s time to leave this place.”
Lionel followed the CEO’s command. All three men exited the secret room. Hamilton closed it behind him with the red button in his file cabinet.
Hamilton asked the Blackjack, “Will you be joining us?”
“Actually, I can’t. I have to meet up with Mr. Murdock for an assessment.”
“Well, when you get the chance, go ahead and meet the Shadow Service Agent at any time today. He’s always willing to meet you. He’s your biggest fan.”
“I know. You told me.”
Quintana was the first to leave the room.
Before he could leave, Lionel had one more question. “Any word on Otis Cooper?”
Hamilton replied, “He was last seen in Bakersfield last night, but he disappeared in the early morning. We’re trying to figure out where he ran off to.”
“Sounds like he made his escape. He’ll probably be on his way to Central America or something.”
“If that’s true, then we just took a hit.”
“Maybe it’s better off that we leave him alone. He’s been through enough already.”
“Sorry. I still make the rules. And I say that Mr. Cooper joins the other sickos in Alaska, whether you like it or not.”
“I understand.”
4:36 PM
The curtains in the bedroom had been half-closed at all times. Florencia had finally opened it fully to show Edward the sunlight and the sky. It was a clear and beautiful view. With the street and the sidewalks from below, and the trees from above, it was an image that provided relaxation to anyone who stood in front of the window. She took a seat near the window and brought Edward up to the glass. Edward had remembered seeing this familiar territory for when he and Florencia enjoyed watching the sunsets together.
The woman let out a slow sigh. “We used to do this plenty
of times. We would watch the sunset and hold each other in our arms. We still could do it today. When everything with the witches is complete, you and I can sit in front of this exact same window and reenact our little pastime.”
Edward didn’t have to think long and hard about it. “Yeah, we could.”
In the background, the faint sound of a Spanish waltz played in the stereo system near the bed. The slow and almost ambient music soothed Edward. He didn’t feel uncomfortable in Florencia’s hand at all. Her warm fingers and overall gentle touch was pure bliss compared to the tight squeeze that Loretta had given him. This submissive feeling had been extended since the early afternoon, and Edward didn’t mind the dimorphic sizes between the male and the female. He had been entranced by Florencia’s handling of his miniscule presence in her home. She was his master, and he obeyed. It was a familiar role that he had accepted even after Sepulveda had brought him in as her next possession.
But his concern had already risen. “Florencia, listen to me. I can’t stay like this forever, and you know that. Dennis and I have to be normal again. We have to get out of here. Why don’t you ask one of the witches to bring us back to normal size?”
Florencia caressed his hair with a single finger. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. You have to stay here until everything we’ve been fighting for is finished.”
“You can at least tell me what’s going to happen. I’ve heard something about Brea Mall.”
“I’m not giving you the details. I’d be really careless if I exposed myself like that.”
Edward sighed. “At least I tried.”
Florencia gave him a little smile as she brought him closer to her face. “You know, there’s a good chance that you and I won’t see each other again after all of this. I might have to leave the state if the people from your company place the pieces together and choose me as the primary target. If that’s the case, then I have to say that I’m sorry. I’d be wishing that I’d see you again. But I don’t think I ever will.”
“You’d risk your life and your career just like that?”
“This is something that’s more important than the bank.”
“Why would you even do something like this? Is Brea Mall really that big of a deal?”
“You don’t understand. The things that we will do in that place will be quite the historic moment. I can’t ignore something like that. It has to be done. We have to bring her out of the water. She can’t stay in there forever.”
“Who is she?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Edward didn’t even want to think about the consequences that she would have to endure. “Well, I’m going to feel very terrible knowing that you might have to join the Fail Factions.”
Florencia didn’t stop stroking his hair. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I already figured out how dangerous this is going to be for me. But I’ve accepted it. You can’t stop me from doing what I feel is best for this world.”
Edward could feel the frustration brewing from within. “I’d rather you stay here.”
“Well, we can’t always get what we want. I’ve learned that the hard way when you left.”
Edward sighed.
Florencia whispered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to give you a hard time. I still care about you. I always have. Don’t worry about the witches. I’m going to make sure that you return home as your usual self.”
“You promise?”
“Yes, I do.”
The Spanish waltz had ended, and the next track began to play in the stereo system. It was a classic South American tango that helped alleviate Edward’s negative thoughts. The young man felt relieved when a song that he fully remembered from the past had played on.
Florencia’s smile grew larger. “You still know this one, don’t you?”
Edward replied, “Of course, I do.”
“I’d hate to think that you forgot how to dance to it.”
“I can’t even show you. I’m too small.”
Florencia stood up from her chair. “You don’t have to. We can still be together like this.”
“Oh, yeah? Show me.”
Florencia brought him to the middle of the room as the tango continued to play on. “Hold on tight.”
She initiated the dance by herself. She brought Edward closer to her chest and spun around. Edward grabbed on to her fingers. She kept a gentle hold on him and followed the peaceful rhythm of the music. She demonstrated the meticulous movements of her feet. Edward looked down and saw the ground move in a perfect circle. Florencia spun around like a top. She kept him safe against her chest. He rested his head against her tank top. He felt the air swirling around him, but he didn’t feel dizzy. Even as Florencia moved in a rapid motion in the middle of her bedroom, her tender supervision didn’t cause any difficulties with her little prisoner.
She had reenacted her dance moves. The tango was one of her specialties, and Edward knew it perfectly well. She held him with both of her hands as she moved her feet with strategic steps. The two of them stared into each other’s eyes as if they really did participate in the actual dance. Despite the fact that Edward couldn’t touch the ground with his feet, he imagined that he joined her on the dance floor. When she swung her entire body around, he rode the motions. The air, as well as the room, moved in a swift pace. Florencia brought him on a majestic ride that made him yearn for the nostalgia that the dance had reminded him of.
It had become an entrancing experience for Edward. He felt the air touching him like a cool breeze inflicted by the woman’s activity. His body swung from side to side when she performed her dance. Despite the rotations, Edward fought off the dizziness that would potentially come with the tango. He became hypnotized. Florencia had brought him in a state of trance. He embraced the quality of her actions. He was a tiny creature in her grasp, and he didn’t want to view it as complete humiliation. Instead, he submitted to her like a human sacrifice who accepted his fate.
And then, the music stopped. Florencia brought her motions to a halt. Edward trembled at the silence. He was glad that she didn’t inadvertently let him go. She took deep breaths after the intimate dance.
“You wouldn’t dare to forget that, would you?”
Edward wished the tango would go on for just a little longer. “I’m smarter than you think.”
Florencia brought him closer and gave him an unusual kiss. Her lips were big enough to touch his neck and chest simultaneously. She was careful not to press her lips against his body too hard. Her warm touch made him gasp with delight. This would be the first time that she kissed his chest with such enormous lips. He shivered at her presiding stance.
She held him against her chest and kept her embrace soft and unthreatening.
“Oh…my prince.”
Edward relaxed in her embrace. He didn’t want her to let him go. She could have kept him in this house for as long as she wanted and he wouldn’t want to resist it.
TWENTY-SIX
4:48 PM
Squad A-X-9 had separated into smaller groups and roamed the streets in various locations. All of them would stay in the northern side of Orange County, since another Blackjack squad had already participated in the pursuit in the southern region. The white horse in Fountain Valley had been the only Nevinoth Dragon that was found and defeated, but law enforcement still continued the search for his companions.
Rebecca, Bryce, and Sabrina started their next shift in downtown Santa Ana, the next area for another potential pursuit. There weren’t any skyscrapers in the county seat. Several commercial buildings with a maximum of fifteen floors completed the skyline. Santa Ana had been the exact opposite of Los Angeles. It had smaller buildings and a more spacious community. Nobody would ever feel crammed and claustrophobic when walking across the sidewalks or driving on the street.
The three young Blackjacks stayed on the street in their SUV. Mystic Lightning Headquarters was located just a few blocks away. Pedestrians were plentiful at this time. T
he Blackjacks would have to be careful if they ever had to keep them away from danger. Rebecca used her computer tablet whenever a bird sat on the rooftops. She even had to use Sincerity when a dog on a leash had walked right past them on the crosswalk. The dog’s owner gave them a funny look, but the Blackjacks ignored her.
Like her two teammates, Rebecca had kept her assault rifle away from the open windows. They would never give the civilians the wrong idea if they roamed the streets with their rifles in their hands. The people would have to be a little more comfortable with a familiar environment even during a historic hunt. Having an exiled race of dragons now returning after a prolonged absence would give anyone a reason to feel frightened from morning to midnight.
Soon after taking a right turn on the street, they stumbled across two three-story buildings with a parking lot wedged between them. Civilians would never think twice about the small trees that had been planted on the sidewalk. But the Bryce immediately did. Rebecca had to recharge the battery on her tablet, so Sabrina started to activate her own. Neither of them expected Bryce to quickly park the SUV alongside the curb and point at something in one of the trees.
“There he is!”
Rebecca looked out the window and spotted the squirrel sitting on a branch of the tree. Sabrina didn’t have time to use Sincerity as Bryce got out of the SUV and ran toward the tree. His other two teammates followed him. Sabrina had her Denial Dart Gun ready. Rebecca could finally receive a clearer view of what Bryce had pointed at. A squirrel had sat on the branch and stayed still even when the three Blackjacks had showed themselves.
Bryce shouted, “Stay there! Don’t even dare to try and run from us.”
A small crowd of pedestrians had gathered around the Blackjacks and the tree. The squirrel didn’t go anywhere.
Bryce must have been determined to reclaim a victory that the Nevinoth Dragon had spoiled back in Garden Grove. He never looked away from the squirrel as it still didn’t move.
