Prolouge...

The little blonde boy rushed down the marble staircase at the sound of his father's arrival.Robert Henry Morton watched as he took two steps at a time to meet him mid-way in the parlor.

"Bradford!"Laughed the forty-two-year-old as he scooped up the rambunctious child."Look how much you've grown,sport."

Tired of the attention,he squirmed to get out of the man's arms and turned to him with anxious eyes."Have you come home to stay,Pop?"his brown eyes shined with hope."Will you please?"

"You bet.I promised that over the phone,remember?"He gave a wink to seal his son's enthusisam and turned to another man.

"Who's that?"

"Dr. Panderous."Robert introduced the thirty-something man." He's here for a little field experiement that's need conducting."

"But,"Bradford averted his eyes."I thought you said you were gonna give up experimenting for good and staying home with us."

"Robert."A woman gasped from the kitchen entrance causing all three to look at her."Bradford,"she made a quick move for her son but her ex-husband interposed."Livy,just calm down."

The two went into the dining room,leaving Panderous and the young boy alone.From the corner of Bradford's eye,he saw a better view of the man's profile and his swank even hair style.

"Is that a wig?"

Panderous knotted his brow."No,it isn't."he turned away and went towards a bookcase."Now.Which book was it did he..."

"Are you gonna go in my Dad's lab without permission?"

He clicked his teeth once."Why would I be doing that?"

"Why are you talking through your tee-"His interrogation was quickly silenced by a piece of scotch tape."Rmm?Mmm-mm?"

Cackling a bit,Panderous turned back to his task-at hand and selected a yellow book.The case slid to the side and he raced down into the dark basement regardless of what he might find.

Meanwhile...

Olivia cried on the man's shoulder."Robert,you said when you came back the dragon experimentation would finally be over."

"It is,"he stroked her hair as they both sat in one chair at their dining room table."This man is here to help me disable it,Livy."

She looked at him unsurely and then down at the only year old mutation scar,recalling his promise to her that he would make her fully human without having to see visit the Dragon Council.

"You said it would be so simple.I wanted the expectation from my family to leave so bad."Olivia looked at him,feeling the old tingling of trust she still held toward him."No more,right Rob?"

He smiled at her tenderly and said in a whisper."No more."

"Mom!Dad!"Bradford shrieked at the top of her lungs.

Their son's crys for them brought them out of their love stupor and out into the parlor.He had a red mark that went across his mouth but he appeared fine otherwise,albeit frantic and upset.

"Dr. Panderous!He's down in the lab,Dad.He's gone down in the lab and he put tap on me mouth."Robert turned toward the entranceway and narrowed his eyes as he stalked inside of it.

"Are you all right?"Olivia placed her hands on his shoulders.

"I'm okay.What's going on?"

She shook her head."I haven't an idea."

Grunting and straining caused the woman to tighten her hold on Bradford.Once it rose in volume and fieorcity,she directed him to the kitchen and wrapped her arms around him in an embrace.

"Whatever happens I want you to stay here."

With an assuring smile,she turned and went to descend down as yelling was now heard.Frightful for his parents,Bradford disobeyed though he came to a stop at the top with rough indecision.

If he was caught,he would get into so much trouble...

Before he could make the decision,a giant explosion under his feet caused him to stumbleddown onto his bottom.He tried to catch his breath but rapid power surges made that impossible.

For his mother emerged from the darkness and swept him up in her arms before swirling fire burst in the room.Out of the house she flew and out into the front yard.Smoke filled his lungs.

"Mom,"he whispered in a raspy voice.

Her body was screened in the smoke as they moved across the yard.Olivia turned to look down at him,her face half-dragon and half-human,but all smiling.He would not ever see his mother again.

"Bradford!"She shrieked and something fell on top of her,causing her to lose her hold on him which sent him falling head first into the ground.

To be continued...

A/N:This is a prolouge for things to come.

LP