Chapter IX: Ambush at the Long Residence
Damian yawned emphatically as he pushed open the door to his family's apartment, the same apartment that their grandfather Jonathon Long had been renting for more than twice his lifespan. Their father Jake had spent three years working in a small law firm alongside their mother. The two were a powerful duo who seemed to be able to defeat even the most well placed criminal defendants. The two then left the small law firm and started one of their own. The Long Law Office was well established in their small borough.
With all the money that Jake long had saved during his tenure at his first job, he had bought both his parents Jonathon and Susan a place in Florida. One that was safely out of reach of magical mayhem.
Damian yawned once again as he walked into the dimly lit kitchen, and opened the refrigerator door. Pulling out a small jug of orange juice he chugged it down greedily.
"You're home early," he heard a voice say coyly.
He turned around in mid-gulp to see his younger brother leaning against the doorway.
Justin frowned, "Mom and Dad are in some conference at the D.A's office, something about a Rutherford case,"
Damian nodded.
Justin winked, "You know what that means,"
Damian laughed as he put the jug back in the fridge, "It means Playstation ALL night,"
Both laughed.
Justin's expression twisted into one of worry, "I'm really worried about those Shade things bro,"
Damian frowned, "What do you mean?"
Justin clicked his teeth together in annoyance, "I mean older brother, that they pretty much whooped our asses last time we went up against them,"
Damian nodded, "and we escaped by the skin of our teeth only after dad arrived, yes I know,"
Justin shifted uncomfortably, "Dad doesn't think you're too weak Dame, he just thinks you aren't responsible enough,"
Damian's expression darkened, "I'm not responsible enough?" he said, his voice was full of anger, "how could he even think that?"
Justin shook his head, "He just thinks that you're too-,"
His words were completely swallowed up by a large explosion that blasted the front door inward, sending a small vacuum of air into the room. Both boys were thrown violently into the wall from the gust of wind.
Damian shook his head, groggy from the unexpected attack. His vision cleared as he heard the familiar cackle of laughter from the two shade demons.
"It's Mischief and Mayhem," he muttered beneath his breath.
Justin was a few feet away from him, his breathing was irregular.
"Justin?" Damian said urgently, as the two shade demons materialized before them. Both brothers were immobile; pinned to their positions.
Justin groaned.
"Shit," muttered Damian, attempting to push himself up, "don't touch him!" he screamed violently, "your issues are with me!"
The two shade brothers glanced at the older dragon with contempt, "Weak-,"started Mischief.
"-and pitiful fool," said Mayhem.
"We'll kill both of you!" they screamed in unison.
Damian braced himself for sudden death when a blast of fire engulfed the two demons from behind. They screamed in unexpected pain and dissolved into nothingness, escaping through the opened window.
"Dad?" managed Justin weakly, trying to turn to face their savior.
"No," said a voice that they both recognized instantly as the dragon reverted into human form, "it's your favorite uncle,"
Damian managed a smile, "Uncle Greggy,"
Gregory Hill, the American Dragon of Florida and Jake Long's cousin stood in the doorway, "Good thing your good ole uncle Gregory was around," he gave them a large grin, "but you two definitely have to learn to stay out of trouble, I'm gonna have to call your parents," he shook his head in mock indignation, "having a shade demon party without their permission, tsk tsk tsk,"
It was two hours later when Jake softly closed his study's door, the room being sealed with spells and rendering eavesdroppers no room for hearing. He was horrified by the attack on his children, and was determined now more than ever to hunt those shades down and kill them.
Gregory Hill stood with his arms crossed, sitting on Jake's desk.
Over the years the two cousins had gotten over their differences, and were now good friends. Without Jake's support, Gregory would never have passed his Dragon Trials on the Island of Draco, and thus he viewed himself as eternally indebted to him.
"Something is bothering you greatly Jake, I can literally feel it through the force," said Gregory with a small grin.
Jake didn't even crack a smile as he massaged his temples, Rose was seeing about the boys, "There's something terribly wrong Greg," he said softly, he locked eyes with his cousin, "this apartment is protected by a magical charm that prevents all malicious entities from entering,"
Gregory frowned, the marks on his forehead light, "So how did they get in?"
"That's the thing," said Jake, "the only person who can tamper with the charm," he paused, mostly for dramatic effect Gregory realized, "is someone from my family,"
