Innocent Blood by Marcie Gore chapter 1 an American Dragon Jake Long /Bat-family crossover Rated PG-13 to R Batman helps his old mentor solve a series of cultish murders Disclaimer: DC and Time-Warner own Batman. Disney owns the American Dragon characters. I own Beth.
A young girl -age 14- walks though Central Park on a chilly autumn afternoon. To the outside world, she seems to not have a care in the world. Most boys would say she s pretty with her brilliant hazel eyes and her chestnut brown hair in a long braid down her back. This is just a mask of normalcy she wears for the world outside her narrow existence. Inside is a storm of emotions that a regular kid her age wouldn t understand. She wants to walk away from the world she s known since she could remember. Every day she hates her life more. She knows the man who makes her call him Dad isn t her family. He s evil personified.
IF the Clan knew what she and her friends are planning, they d go from huntresses-in-training to their prey. She d never seen it happen but she d heard stories, mostly from the rebel leader Rose AKA Thorn. What she knows scares her to death; but if they succeed it will be worth the risk. Rochelle hears Foot step s behead here Is that you, Rose? Rochelle hears a louder more menacing noise behind her. She prepares to fight when she sees a figure behind her wearing a burgundy uniform with a mask. He looks like a ninja. The person pulls a strange stick out and touches her neck. It leaves two puncture wounds and pooling blood. She gasps and falls to the ground. Before the killer leaves, a mask is placed on the victims head. Her attacker also leaves behind a few long blond hairs. The Poor girl lies by the statue of the White Rabbit undisturbed till the next morning. At 7:30, a woman in her mid 30s is in the park getting some exercise before work. She gasps when she sees Rochelle lying by her left foot. She bends down to see if the girl is indeed dead. Even though she s a trauma nurse at a large hospital, she gasps. She feels like screaming when she feels the cold stiff body of the young girl; but she s a professional, even when she's off duty. She takes a deep breath and calls 911. Something seems familiar about the way this little girl is laid out but it can t be, she says.
I m in Central Park near the statue of the White Rabbit. I just found the body of a young girl. No, I didn t move her. I have a feeling she s dead and It might be a crime scene VERY good, the dispatcher says. I ll send a police car and an ambulance She says.
When they arrive one of the first things they do is remove the mask and gloves. The nurse tries not to show emotion when she sees the dragon-shaped Birthmark, the Mark of the Huntsclan. What did this little one do to deserve death?
What s your name? he asks the nurse.
Anna NONIUS, she says with a straight face.
You gotta do better than that, The cop says. Ok. Anna Smith She says.
The NYPD starts to gather evidence. They put the mask in an evidence bag. They use tweezers to gather the hair. They bag the gloves and put Roeshelle in a body bag.
I hope she won t remain a Jane Doe, Officer Liza More says I know, another says. Just then, he gets a look at the girl s left palm. Look here before zipping her up, Officer Greer says. The crime scene photographer photographs her palm. Does that look like dragon? Is that a tattoo or birthmark? From the way it looks like she died it might be a clue. Autopsy should show what that mark is. Hopefully, It will Lead to her killer Officer More says as they wait for the medical examiner to arrive After she finishes her shift, the nurse returns to her modest apartment on the west side of the city. She takes her shower and gets ready for bed. Her troubled sleep is intruded upon by voices in her head.
Well, Well Ashley Williams; or should I call you Dark Nightingale; you ve really gotten yourself into this time. You re supposed to be hiding from them, and now you re in the middle of one of their messes again. Remember what happened to one of your roommates At the Academy? HER Crime was falling for a wizard in training and getting caught with him. They dragged her out of her bunk at midnight, you followed them. You saw them hunt her down like a deer. And dump her body in the water next to the statute of the Little Mermaid. You swore you d never be like them. They decided your place was in the field scouting for marked children but you saw it as a way out. You kept moving from hospital to hospital till they lost track, Maybe it s time to leave again? No, I have to stop them she tells herself.
Have it your way. It s your neck she finally falls asleep.
The next morning, Nurse Williams doesn t have to go to work. She takes a walk, avoiding the park. Somehow, she finds herself in Chinatown; the rumored home (or at least training area) of the American Dragon Sworn Enemy of the Huntsclan. Dragons are the protector of the magic world, warriors and diplomats. Hopefully, they ll help if they believe the girl who was murdered was rebelling against the clan and Probably Pro-Magic Creature. When turning on to Canal Street she sees a young blonde girl in a Huntsclan uniform fighting with a dragon. It actually looks like they re play-fighting or sparing. Ashley decides she should follow them. She watches the dragon and slayer duck behind a dumpster. Moments later, two normal-looking teens emerge. The girl is tall, thin, but muscular with blond hair and blue eyes. The boy looks Asian and shorter than average with Black hair with green tips and brown eyes. She s dressed in pink and white, He s in red and blue jeans. They must ve relaxed the off-duty dress code or she goes to the public school and her Master lets her dress like a typical girl her age to not stand out. I had to wear neutral colors, preferably dark she thinks. She follows them to a shop called Canal Street Electronics. It looks deserted except for an elderly man and a Chinese Shar-Pei.
Yo G! the boy says.
HI, the blonde girl says.
So, the old man s his grandpa she says to no one in particular. She knocks on the door.
Look Alive, Lau Shi. I think we got a costumer! Fu says. He gets over his stool and opens the door. Welcome to Canal Street electronics he says. Something tells me he s not used to being friendly. May I help you? he asks. I may as well get an mp3 player while I m here. Yes sir, I d like an mp3 player... G, I got to ask you something first, Jake says Just a moment ma am, the old man says SORRY G, this business, too Jake says. They go into the back room. G, have you guys comes up with anything on that huntsgirl murdered in England. Nigel, the wizard from there is trying to find out something. All we know right now is her name was Beatrice and she was found near the Round Table in Winchester. The police there haven t figured out how she died, but they said it seems like a vampire if they didn t know better. They act like it couldn t happen. Humans Fu says.
It sounds like you know more than we do, Young dragon. I suspect it s more than one death, Lau shi says A Serial killer Jake asks Possibly he says Sorry to Interrupt, Ashley says, putting money on the counter. I have something I need to tell you, She says. I heard your conversation. I found a Teenage Girl s body in the park near the statute of the White Rabbit. Was she wearing a mask? Rose asks.
Yes. a maroon one, Ashley Says. The Police said she had puncture wounds on her Neck. I think I know who, or at least the organization, is behind the murders: The Huntsclan How do you know of the Huntsclan? Grandpa asks.
I m a member. Technically, She says, showing them her palm. I m a nurse. I ve been hiding under the radar for 15 years . Fu, get the truth potion, G shouts.
I ll accept that, She says Now drink it down, Fudog says. We have to know whether to trust you. If you are Huntsclan, you re dangerous. She gulps the potion down.
Now get in this magic cage, Fu says politely.
She does as told and waits for the potion to kick in.
An hour later they begin to question her. What s your name? Lau Shi asks Ashley Williams, She says Are you a Nurse GRaNDPA ASKS Yes, ICU at Roosevelt, She says Did you ever work in Maternity? Rose asks.
Yes, there and several other hospitals. I was transferred to ICU 6 months ago. Are you a member of the Huntsclan? Jake asks.
I am, technically; but I m DEEP undercover. I hate it. I have never taken a baby from its mother, even if I saw it had the mark. I want out but can t find a way. I always told them I never found a marked baby,
Did you kill the girl? Grandpa asks.
No, she says, trying to keep an even tone Do you know who did? G asks I Have an Idea. Someone high up in the clan probably ordered it. One of his underlings most likely carried it out She says Unfortunately, that makes sense, Rose says. Yes, Grandpa says.
There is another dead teenager in England? Ashley asks.
Yes. YES the victim is a girl, age 15. Code name Tigress, Rose says. I think she was in love with a dragon like Jake And I. Rose shudders. What makes you think she was involved with a dragon? Ashley asks.
This, She says, bringing out a photo of the victims neck. It has a bright red bite tooth mark but the skin isn t broken, and she had this on her finger, Jake says, showing the, a picture of Silver ring. Didn t you say that was a soul mate ring? He asks G.
Yes, given by Europe s dragons to their life mate for centuries Laushi says, usually at an older age. But some find their one at earlier age, He says, looking from Jake to Rose.
That and if they find the Magic Being they hunt both it and the huntsperson. Mostly teens and girls I ve heard. The Huntsman, who s my master, has told me several times, She says What s that Tattoo? Jake asks looking at a red brand on her right-hand.
It s a brand they put on recruits who fall in love with magic creatures. The palm with the hunts' mark is also cut severely to show they aren t worthy of the mark. The other brands are T for Treason and a Heart with blood dripping from it, Rose says. That was what you were afraid of? Jake asks The Academy in New York Isn t the only one I went to. I went to one in the outback of Australia. Besides having Local hunts trainees, it s known as a correction Academy for problem students, from all over. I was sent there after The Equinox hunt. It was great. The kids there were great. Lots of them like me who no longer want to harm Magic Creatures or never did in the first place. At least he hasn t found out it wasn t an accident when you got away from me. I couldn t hurt you after I saw your human form. Despite my tough girl act, I m not sure could ever really take a life, Rose says.
I know that. Since the hunt, I suspected pretty soon after I met you, He says. Even if I didn t know the Huntsgirl was You, Rose Sometimes, when I was fighting you It was more like Flirting. I think you were flirting too. Even though you liked Rose, you certainly flirted With Thorn, Rose laughs.
I get it. You both flirted. Don t go T.M.I on me, Fu Dog says Let s get back on the subject Grandpa yells Yes, Sir, Arthur Spud P. Spudinski walks in the store With Patricia Ann Carter Aka Trixie. What's going on? Spud asks There s been two Huntsgirl Murders. One in The united Kingdom, one here in Central Park, G says.
Does Miss Thang Know? Trixie asks.
I m right here, Rose says. Sorry, didn t see you. You know I mean that in a friendly way. Trixie says.
Yes, Rose says, I did know the girl in the park; she was a rebel, she was my sister in Arms. Look at this, G says, showing her the brand on her palm. Rose sighs. I wonder what her 'Crime' was. Rose asks as she stares at the bleeding heart brand. Moments later, Jake s 8 year-old sister, Hailey, comes into the store. Jake, there s been a murder in the park, she screams. We know, Fu says. I think I knew the girl, Hailey says, showing them the paper with crime scene photos.
How, Jake asks, trying to keep the bloody Photos away from her young eyes.
How, Rose Asks Her codename was Thunder. She helped me fight off the clan a couple of times. The last time, one of them had a club inches from my head when she 'accidentally' tripped him. looks like she got caught. Hailey sighs, looking at the picture. That was Thunder. She starts tearing up. They wouldn t have killed her if she d not tried to save me. She d be alive, She says.
NO, Hailey, Rose says. She would ve preferred to die protecting, not killing, I d think. Rose says.
She shouldn t have had to die, Hailey says No, she shouldn t have, Jake agrees.
We will get justice for her, Grandpa says.
How? This is the Huntsclan. They re too secretive. The police will have a hard time connecting them, Rose says.
I know a man who can fight secret with secret, Grandpa says.