Chapter 7

After taking a rather comfortable nap, Alyssa found herself again thinking of the woman that was in the living room. There was something odd about her that seemed familiar to her past, the only thing was thought, she didn't know exactly what. When she had asked her father, he had told her that she was just an old friend that stopped in for a visit, he seemed to calm about it, almost as if he was lying about something. Infact Alyssa was sure that he was lying to her about who the woman really was, but then again she knew that her father would never tell her if she confronted him about it. Moving to her bedroom door, she pressed her ear up to it, and she could hear the talking, faintly, but she couldn't make out a single word and that infuriated her. Perhaps Fu knew, maybe if she could sneak out, she could go to him and find him, yes, that's what she would do to find out.

Grabbing her jacket, she walked to the opposite side of her bedroom and began to pry open her window. With a low grunt, she swung her leg over the side and then the other. Alyssa had to time this right or she was going to be splattered all over the street below, within a second of her jumping off of the window sill, she transformed into a Dragon and took flight.


Isle of Draco, Private Chamber of Dragon Councilor Lao Shi

Lao Shi didn't feel right about lying to his Grandson, but if it did work out, then he and the Huntsgirl would be hero's to the entire Dragon species. It was for the betterment of humanity, both magical and human that this worked, and if they were going to eradicate every single member of the Huntsclan, then it would have to work. This would usher in an era of peace, that none had ever seen before if the teachings of the Huntsclan were destroyed, but it would be no small task to do. He would have to lie, cheat and possibly kill to do it.

The alternative was impossible, an armed task force of Dragons flying over New York would be a violation of protocols that had been in place for two thousand years, and it would be downright frightening to the humans. This was the other approach, and Rose was the key to it. Lao Shi would do it, even if it cost him his bond with his Grandson, and he just simply thought that Jake would have to take one for the team. It was a stormy night over the Isle, the flashes of light from the lighting strikes filled his window, the sound of the thunder filled the room and all the while, he just stood there staring at the crackling fire in his fire place.

"Sir, I have come as you've instructed" His chief attendant said.

Lao Shi nodded. "Hmm yes that's correct I need you to do something for me"

"Anything" The aide said.

The old Dragon Master turned to the aide and smiled. "As you can see, it is stormy out there and I cannot fly through that, so I need to call upon you to set up a port to the American Dragon in the main chamber, I have business that I need to attend to with him in New York, so if you wouldn't mind?"

She nodded, and bowed slightly before backing out of the chamber, as she departed, Lao Shi began to think how critical this moment was. And Jake would have to test his loyalty to the Dragons or to his personal feelings, he would have to choice the Huntsgirl or them. The choice was very important.

The Apartment of Jake Long

If Rose would have asked herself if she would be back here in his arms a week ago, she would have never imagined it. But here she was, lounging with him on his couch, in his arms, and she found that she missed these arms desperately in the fifteen years since she was last in them. Rose was shocked to find some sort of awkwardness between them, it had never been that way, but she supposed that it had something to do with the time apart. She wanted to do something to end it, desperately, but the problem was is that she didn't know what exactly. She moved her head to look behind her, he looked so innocent, just sitting there, enthralled with the TV show that they were watching. It seemed hard to her that she would have to accept that things had changed now, but they had and she would just have to get used to them, like it or not.

"Jake," She whispered. "What the hell happened to us to get to this point?"

Looking at her, he smiled. "Besides the obvious, I don't know, we were forced to move on with our lives and suddenly we're back together, I take it you feel just as awkward as I do, you know sitting here, watching the news"

"Awkwardness with the father of your child," She said as she laid her head back down on his chest and pushing her body closer to his. "I've always felt awkward around people, but out of all the people I've met, I really would have expected to feel in sort of Awkwardness around you, do you get me Jake?"

Jake nodded moving his head, and then he brought his hand around to twist her head towards him. "I do, but maybe we can make up for our lost time…"

This kiss felt like their very first kiss almost twenty years ago, stars collided with each other because it was that simply amazing. Feeling the need to break off for air, she couldn't stop herself from giggling like the fourteen year old she was when she had first done that. "Ahh god, Jake I missed that so much"

"I bet you did Baby," He said lightly nuzzling her neck affectionately. "Fifteen years without me would kill any right minded woman, but in your case I'm surprised that you're still sane, how did you ever make for so long without me?"

Rose smiled dryly. "It was hard, but I managed"

That was all she said before she captured his lips in a hungry kiss, in that kiss contained fifteen years of emotion that had built up. This man that she was kissing was responsible for every failed relationship that she had ever had, and she was celebrating the fact that they had failed, because if they had ever turned into anything, then she wouldn't be able to do this. And more than likely she would have never been able to return to here, to him and this life.

A loud snap interrupted their private moment, a large deep blue vortex had appeared in the center of his living room, and Jake recognized this as a method of Transportation by the Dragon Council. It wasn't a few seconds later before the small figure of his Grandfather, Lao Shi appeared in his traditional blue robes. Jumping to his feet, Jake quickly flattened his ruffled clothes and bowed his head sharply to his Grandfather. It had caught him off guard to have his Grandfather walk in on his moment with Rose, but he would have too quickly become vigilant again. Jake noticed out of the corner of his eye that Rose was standing slightly back from him, he could understand that it might be a little awkward for her to be around the Dragon Master again.

"This is an unexpected pleasure Grandfather," He said, but Lao Shi merely smiled at his grandson and nodded before looking over at Rose, who at the point felt the need to leave the room, even though she knew she could at all.

Lao Shi took Rose's hand and grasped it smiling. "It warms me to see that you are alive and well Huntsgirl, I trust that my Grandson didn't take too long in your rescue from that trap that this Huntsclan had set for you, how are you dear?"

"I'm just fine," She said returning the smile. "Are you the one who I have to thank for sending my rescuer from saving me? In that case thank you so much"

Again Lao Shi nodded. "It would be the Dragon Council as a whole that you have to think for the information that led to your rescue, but to more important matters, I have something that I need to discuss with the both of you, Jake, tell me we're is my darling great-granddaughter?"

"She's sleeping, do you want me to wake her up?" Jake asked flatly.

"No, I don't have any spare time for visits, I'm afraid to say," Lao Shi said, eyeing the door to the hall.

"What's so important that you come from the Isle?" He asked narrowing his eyes

In his mind, he kept telling himself that he was going to regret this, but he had to do it. With a motion of his hand, his dragon tail appeared. Bringing it around, he slapped Jake down to the floor, and in a clattering motion, he was knocked unconscious. Turning his attention to Rose, who was rather shell shocked by this sudden action, he watched as she opened her mouth to speak but a surprised stutter came out instead. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I apologize for this, really I do," He said. "But you'll be a hero of this works"

His right fist turned into a large clenched Dragon's fist, and with all of his strength, he brought it squarely in her face. He looked at her for a moment and shook his head, he would regret doing this for the rest of his life. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled a small circular, metallic device and twisted it violently. It was a Huntsclan homing device, and this is where they would find her. As of this moment it was the only one that they had, they had picked it off of a Hunter that they had killed months ago. Rubbing his hand over his forehead, his hand itself began to glow and emit a bright green light. Forcing his hand down, he placed it on Rose's forehead, and this would lead them to the Huntslair, he was a Dragon Elder, and she was marked with his essence, and he would be able to track his essence anywhere in the world.

When the Huntsclan would come to retrieve her, as he knew that they would, then he and the Council would know exactly where she was. He knew his Grandson would after her, and in turn they would follow him and that's when they would strike the Huntslair, and put the plan into motion.

Walking back to the hall, he silently looked at each of the doors trying to remember which one was his Great Granddaughter's bedroom, finally remembering which one it was. He made a kicking motion with his leg, and it transformed into a Dragon's foot. Bringing it up, he kicked the door down, violently, and he stepped into the room, and then he looked around. She wasn't there and Lao Shi wondered for a moment where she might be, this would be a problem, but he had to get out of here now, just as long as Alyssa wasn't here when the Huntsclan came to retrieve her mother, she would be safe.

Walking back into the living room, he looked at the two bodies of his Grandson and his Grandson's girlfriend. Then he walked forward, grasping Jake's foot, he pulled him towards the portal until they reached it. Lao Shi left Rose then, he left her for her fate to be captured by the Huntsclan.

Canal Street Electronic Building, Manhattan New York

Canal Street Electronics in 15 years had not changed, not a single customer. Fu dog had opted to remain in New York to help Jake from time to time, he also watched Alyssa when Jake had matters to do. He had practically had risen the little girl part time. When she had shown up at his door wondering who this woman was, he didn't know what to do. Lying to her would have made him feel guilty beyond all belief and telling her that the woman was her mother, would do horrible things to her, coming from him and not from her father.

He examined the image he was able to pull from her mind of the woman and studied it closely. Yes this was Rose, and she had certainly not changed at all.

"Well do you know? My dad called her an 'old friend' but I want to know what you think Fu" Alyssa asked watching the image.

"I can't say," He lied. "But she certainly is pretty"

When a messenger arrived they made their usual entrance by appearing with a snap, but when an official messenger came from the council it was a big light show. The same loud snap that sounded off in Jake's apartment drew both Alyssa and Fu's attention. Two large men stepped from outside the portal and looked at Fu. "There is an order placed by the council, you two are ordered to return to the Isle and we are to accompany you" One of the guards said.

"Why?" Fu asked.

"The Huntsclan has attacked the American Dragon and we have reason to believe that you two are in danger, I am under orders from Councilor Lao Shi himself, now please come along" The other guard said, his voice rising.

Fu looked at Alyssa and nodded, they both followed the two men back into the portal. As it snapped behind them she realized that this was the first time that she was going to be going the Isle. She hoped her dad would be there, and she hoped that he would be alright and in perfect health.


Isle of Draco, Medical Wing of the Dragon Council Palace

The feeling in his head was a blinding pain, he could barely remember the last thing that had happened. He remembered his Grandpa stepping through a portal, and then being knocked out. Rising up in a cold sweat his chest heaved trying to catch his breath, when his thoughts returned to him he realized he was at the Isle. He looked to his right and saw a doctor. "You're awake"

"Yes, and might I ask why am I here," He said dryly, shaking his head. "Never mind that, I want to speak to my Grandfather!"

"I'm already here" Lao-Shi said walking through the door of the medical facility.

He grunted and lifted himself off of the medical bed "What in the hell happened, where are Rose and Alyssa Grandpa?"

"When I came to meet you the Huntsclan found us and attacked us," He lied, "I was able to get you and Alyssa out of there but, Rose however…"

"What," He said, his eyes widening. "You let them take her! YOU LET THEM!"

Lao-Shi backed down, his grandson seemed the maddest that he had ever been in his life. He seemed to grow with every single passing second. The older man put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "I had no choice, I couldn't let you and Alyssa be captured by them, what would you want me to do?"

He seemed to calm down after that, albeit begrudgingly, folding his arm across his chest, he frowned at his Grandfather. "Where is Alyssa?"

"She's in my study with Fu Dog, if you'd like to see her" He said quietly.