by Eric S Kim
“You’ve sold me.”
“We’re going to have to be very sneaky when we get there. We can’t afford to be exposed to the public.”
“And if the gig is up, the Nevinoth can fly us out of there.”
“Good thinking.”
Tannitari asked, “Are you sure about this?”
Theodore sounded so determined when he said, “Try not to forget everything that Gorvex has done in the past. There’s a reason why he kept his adventures so secretive for the past two decades. This could be the important tiny detail to a much bigger picture.”
Lionel added, “We’re gonna have to get there as quick as possible. I want everyone to be ready for our trip to Seattle.”
“Right. We’ll gather some provisions.”
Right when Theodore walked back into the cabin, Lionel rubbed his finger against the clear white diamond of the Forizan Ring. He had no plans for its disposal. He decided to keep it on his finger.
Tannitari remained seated on the front porch. “Speaking of which, what happened to the one you already had?”
Lionel remembered. “I threw it in the river.”
“I shouldn’t have asked.”
“The best thing that can come out of this is that I have nothing more to get rid of. I am a dragon rider. This is what I do.”
8:49 AM
Sepulveda had brought him in as soon as he rang the doorbell. Joseph Armstrong had already paid a visit to her residence several times. But this time, he eagerly awaited his presence placed in his boss’s luxurious abode. She led him in, and the first thing he could do was find his only friend that didn’t perish as a Failure.
Edward had finished his drink in the dining room. He placed his empty glass on the table and gave the visitor a smile.
“It’s been a hell of a day.”
Joseph replied, “Yeah, definitely.”
They spent the next few minutes in the living room discussing everything that happened in Brea. Edward had described to Joseph what happened when he was shrunken to a much smaller size. Joseph had clung on to every word. He was immersed in the narration that Edward had provided for him. When the Shadow Service Agent finished, Joseph appeared astonished.
“Florencia must have missed you a whole lot.”
Edward remained seated on the sofa. “She did.”
Joseph did as well. “Do you have any idea why she did it? I mean, bring that dragon back?”
“She wanted to be a dragon rider. That’s what she told me. She just wanted to make her dream come true.”
“That’s a stupid move on her part. She could have just saved her career if she just stayed away.”
Edward shrugged his shoulders. “She’s got her own reasons to live her life like this.”
“So she’s out there right now. I have no idea how she’s gonna survive when she’s being pursued by Mystic Lightning.”
“Whatever happens, I hope she doesn’t get into more trouble.”
“Please don’t tell me you still care about her.”
“I never said I did.”
Edward had another thing in mind. “You really wanted to save my life by switching places?”
“Hey, it’s the only way to save your life. At least, that’s what I thought back then.”
“Next time, don’t try to ruin your life by being the sacrificial lamb. Let me handle it. You’ve got a new life in front of you.”
“Yeah, I know. I just didn’t want them to take you with them, that’s all. Life as a witch’s slave sounds scary.”
Edward admired his friend’s devotion to others. “Just be glad that we’re out of that bad spot for good. We’re both here in one piece. Let’s forget about what happened, alright?”
“Right.”
The doorbell rang. Sepulveda peeked her head in the living room. “Don’t mind us. I invited someone else here. You won’t mind if I let him in, do you?”
Joseph asked, “Who is it?”
Sepulveda replied, “Someone from the Zadith family. I think you’ll like him.”
Both young men waited for the arrival of a new face in the house. After several seconds, Sepulveda led the Zadith Disciple into the living room. She introduced him to the other two.
“Mr. Yoon, I’d like you to meet Edward and Joseph. Joseph is going to work at Sharp Claw. Edward, on the other hand, works for Shadow Service.”
Vincent shook Edward’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
When it was Joseph’s turn to do the same, he appeared a little flabbergasted by the arrival before returning to his regular behavior.
“Sorry. I didn’t think we’d ever have a Zadith Disciple in this house.”
Sepulveda chuckled. “Now it just happened.”
“Yeah, it’s a bit of a surprise.”
Vincent replied, “Don’t be scared of change. Just embrace it.”
“Don’t worry. I will.”
Sepulveda led Vincent out of the living room. Edward spent this time to ask Joseph, “Is something bothering you?”
Joseph cleared his throat. “Not really. It’s just that…he looks a little frightening, that’s all.”
“Well, don’t worry about him. The Zadith are very special people. Gorvex has their approval. That shows you what kind of disciples they are.”
Joseph rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Hey, you want some iced tea?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Edward left him alone in the living room to get some fine liquid refreshments. Before he could even make it to the kitchen, Sepulveda had stopped him in the middle of the hallway. She brought her voice to a whisper.
“Don’t try anything stupid now. I want this to be the perfect meeting between me and Mr. Yoon.”
Edward did he same to his own voice. “I can recall everything you said to me about joining the Zadith.”
“Exactly. I don’t want anything to go wrong today. Just let me do the talking.”
“I promise that I won’t ruin it.”
“And please be sure that Joseph doesn’t fail me, either.”
“I definitely will.”
Sepulveda kissed him. “That’s a good boy.”
They separated from each other after their brief discussion. Edward entered the kitchen while Sepulveda caught up with Vincent in the dining room.
10:18 AM
Dragons had returned to Orange County. Only this time, they were not in the mood for complete carnage. The Hetvalamin Dragons of the San Gabriel Mountains had only one objective: to keep the civilians safe from other intruders. Quintana’s signal led them to start their duties. They flew above the cities previously devastated by Nevinoth aptitudes. Civilians had to be reminded by the news beforehand that the reptiles were from San Gabriel. The announcements brought them a more tranquil reaction as the visitors made their presence known from above.
The Blackjack Troopers stayed at the NESF Station and watched the dragons scatter all across the sky and participate in a specific flight pattern made for surveillance. They acted as the guardians that the civilians needed at this time. The younger Blackjacks had gathered in front of the parking lot and eyed the dragons that flew around the area. Preston, Jerome, Bryce, Sabrina, and Rebecca would always enjoy another visit from the dragons they had met almost two weeks ago. Gaining the right kind of trust was crucial to their next interactions.
Rebecca pointed to the sky. “There they are! Korveer and Noveena!”
She waved at them, but the two dragons that flew past them must not have noticed her at all. They didn’t even turn their heads to the Blackjacks’ direction.
They didn’t react to Rebecca’s signal, which brought a frown on her face. “I’m sure they’ll come back a little later.”
Sabrina laughed. “Meanwhile, everyone else has to worry about the shit stains on their windshield. I hope these dragons didn’t eat anything all morning.”
Preston laughed at her joke. Jerome, on the other hand, didn’t respond at all. He had fol
ded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall. His dejected expression made Preston care more about his mental health, especially after the events that brought his father away from home.
Preston asked him, “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
Jerome slowly tapped his fingers on his elbows. “I hope so.”
“Don’t think that you’re alone on this. If there’s anything you need, I’ll try to help you with it.”
Jerome finally smiled. “That’s what I like about you the most. You do care about everyone in this squad.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. This is like a second family to me.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Look, if you want to back out of the next mission, then I’ll completely understand the reason why.”
“I’m not going to back out. I’ll be ready. Dad never taught me to be a quitter.”
“Well, I’m glad that you’re staying.”
Jerome sighed. “They still can’t figure out where he is. He might be in the Dead Zone, or maybe on his way to Europe. But wherever he is, I just hope he’ll stay safe.”
“Yeah, so do I.”
“Are you ready for the next mission?”
“Hell, yeah. All that shit that happened in Green Brigalvic may have been rough, but I’m getting the hang of it. Mr. Quintana’s going to be real proud of us.”
“Yeah, he sure knows how to pick the right people for the job.”
Rebecca suddenly cried out, “There they are!”
Two dragons made their descent toward the NESF Station. Preston and Jerome halted their discussion as Korveer and Noveena made a safe landing on the half-empty parking lot. Their wings had spread wide as their feet touched the asphalt.
Rebecca waved at them again. “I knew you’d find us here!”
Korveer and Noveena brought their heads down and let both Bryce and Rebecca pat their heads.
Bryce made sure that his hand would be gentle when sliding it across Noveena’s scales. “It’s like we were meant to be friends.”
Rebecca did the same with Korveer. “I can’t complain. I like having friends.”
Jerome informed them of an interesting fact. “The rangers in the mountains have said that the two of you are now the dragons’ favorite civilians. You’re like the talk of the town up north.”
Bryce replied, “They really don’t have to thank us for bringing them Zeremak back.”
Preston added, “Hey, maybe it’s the rite of passage or something. You save their child and they accept you as their own.”
Rebecca gave Korveer’s head a big hug. “Well, whatever the reason, I’m really glad that we’re together again.”
The two dragons brought their heads back up. Korveer reached down and lifted Rebecca up in the air. Noveena, in turn, grabbed Bryce and was gentle when she brought him away from the floor. Preston no longer felt alert to their decisions. Both dragons remained friendly to these two troopers. Korveer caressed Rebecca’s ponytail with his long claw. She didn’t protest. She just let him be spellbound by her gorgeous features. Noveena sniffed at Bryce’s hair, which made the strands dance in her direction. Her smile signified her comfort. She lightly licked Bryce’s face with her forked tongue. Bryce actually laughed despite the saliva stuck to his skin and hair.
“Well, I didn’t expect her to do that.”
Oswald and Elliott had exited the station and joined the other three Blackjacks in front of the parking lot. They didn’t say anything. They just watched as Korveer and Noveena acknowledged their friendships with these two young troopers in their own unique way. Bryce and Rebecca rubbed their foreheads against the dragons’ own. They were immersed in their special bond. They didn’t accept unfair judgements. They showed their respect and admiration for each other in the nicest way possible.
Oswald whispered to Preston, “I bet there gonna have an awesome foursome in the future.”
Preston chose not to think about it. Instead, he wondered how Oswald’s mind worked.
FORTY-TWO
10:27 AM
Joseph had made it back to the hotel in a safe manner. The Red Gemini was located in the southern districts of Santa Ana. The damages done by the Nevinoth Dragons were nowhere to be found. Joseph didn’t want to check them out. He had already seen the news reports. All of those lives lost. He couldn’t imagine how their loved ones would live on without them.
He thanked the Kingsnake Officer for giving him a ride back to his temporary home. The hotel didn’t include any damages. It had become a structure untouched by the dragons. Before he could step inside, a tall and slim brunette had left the building through the main entrance.
Joseph felt lucky to see her again. “Hello, Carolyn.”
Carolyn Sumner’s beauty had been left unspoiled by her age. At the age of forty-three, she was just still beautiful without even trying. She had brown hair and barely any wrinkles on her skin. Her eyes lit up when she had found Joseph at the front of the building.
“Oh, I’m glad you’re okay. Last night was a complete nightmare.”
Joseph replied, “Yeah, it sure was.”
“I heard about what happened in Brea. It must have been really scary when dealing with those witches.”
“I’m not gonna lie. I had fears of my own. I’m just happy that my two friends made it out alive.”
“His name is Edward, right? The one that keeps visiting you in your room?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I can’t really say much about him, because…well, it’s Shadow Service.”
“I understand.”
Carolyn sighed. “The witches didn’t give you a hard time, did they?”
“I thought they would be when I tried to make a deal. It turned out to be the best that happened to me and Edward…and Dennis.”
Carolyn smiled. “It’s just so good to have you back. I was scared when I heard the news. I didn’t want them to hurt you, and I’m glad they didn’t.”
“It would’ve really sucked for both of us.”
“Let’s have dinner together later. At the lounge. Just the two of us. It’ll be like a special occasion.”
“With you, it’s always a special occasion.”
Carolyn was touched. “Oh, thank you.”
She checked the time on her smartphone. “Listen, I have to do some things for the next few hours. I’ll be back for you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I’ll see you later.”
Carolyn made her exit and left for the parking lot. Joseph watched her go. He was always mesmerized by her. Everything about her, from her beautiful looks to her success story, had caught his attention. He really didn’t want her to leave right now. He wanted to spend time with her. He would always enjoy the times when they were together. He slowly relaxed. His anticipation for their next encounter had grown. The nineteen-year-old former Failure had finally entered the hotel and made it back to his room.
10:31 AM
He jumped right into his bed and lay flat on his back. He let out a heavy sigh that brought his body into complete relaxation. He placed his green baseball onto his chest. The familiar features in his hotel room were a refreshing reminder that pushed away the memories of yesterday. He closed his eyes. He wanted to take a nap. He felt too lazy to even close the curtains.
He whispered to himself, “They were right. This really is a paradise.”
A knock on the door made him sit up straight. He grew serious once more while jumping out of bed. He checked through the peephole. The man on the other side of the door made him open it without hesitation.
Joseph welcomed him. “It sure was hell out there.”
Salvador Quintana nodded in agreement. “Only this time, there is no room for excuses.”
Joseph let him in. Quintana went to business right away.
“Is Edward safe? Have they harmed him in any way?”
Joseph gave basic details. “Well, the witches made him about five inches tall for a long ti
me. I don’t know if they made him do a striptease or not, but he’s now back to normal. He’ll be okay.”
“What else can you tell me?”
“There was this fox that escaped the aquarium in Brea Mall. I think she turned into a dragon. The woman that held Edward captive ran away with the dragon. Her name is Florencia. She’s Edward’s ex-girlfriend.”
“What is the name of the dragon?”
“Limara, I think.”
“Limara…”
Quintana closed the curtains. Joseph still had enough time to see a Hetvalamin Dragon flying in the distance.
Quintana proclaimed, “I want you to stay in Sepulveda’s company for a little longer. Do not give Edward any hints that you are trying to delve deep into his life. Just act normal and you will be fine.”
Joseph took a seat at his desk. “I still don’t get why he’s so important to you. Are his parents dragon riders or something?”
“Let us just say that they are. I will only leave it at that.”
Joseph rolled his eyes. “Why did you make them think that, anyway? I mean, my parents being dragon riders. Are you really that determined to lure Edward in?”
“You just answered your own question.”
Joseph sighed. “I don’t know, man. I’m gonna be very curious all the time if you don’t tell me what you’re up to.”
“You will learn soon enough. Just keep a good distance between him and you.”
Joseph put his green cap back on his head. Backwards, as usual. “What the hell happened out there? Those dragons were under some dark spell, right?”
Quintana never lost his solemn expression. “It is the Zadith. They must be finding ways to keep the people from changing sides. This would be the ultimate test. They do not care that two-hundred civilians are dead. They only care that Gorvex will keep his victory.”
“I’m really sorry that you’re going through this. I’d be a complete wreck right now if I were you.”
“Just be glad that you are not in charge of this state…and this country as well.”
Quintana patted Joseph on the shoulder. It made the young man respond with, “I still trust you, man. I’m not giving up so easily. I can tell that this really means a whole lot to you. I’d never want to make it worse by calling it quits. I’m still here.”
