Chapter 11:
Dark Side Rising
A couple of days seemed to stretch on for an eternity. With the typhoon now gone, everything had returned to normal. The world seemed to be at peace, resting under the freshness brought forth by the drenching rains. The sun now shined bright and cheerful, almost as if apologizing for its absence during the disastrous weather. However, the flat calm sky, and pleasant weather was nothing more than a cruel illusion. Dark storm clouds continued to brew unseen upon the horizon. Unbeknownst to most creatures or humans, an evil force had descended upon the land, and it would not leave without a fight.
Jewel hadn't really slept a wink. Her mind continued to wonder aimlessly with a million different thoughts at once. Her heart skipped beats as she contemplated the real truth behind the tragic events which seemed to blanket the past few days. Her wings trembled as she held them close to her heart. A dark ominous feeling crept along her soul, filling her with a sense of dread. Everything which had transpired seemed to all start when her daughter failed to return at the appointed time. With no clue to her whereabouts, the macaw continued to hold onto the faintest bit of hope.
"Please be safe, Rose." She sighed, "I'm not giving up hope, and your father is out there searching to bring you home, safe and sound."
Her eyes filled with painful tears as her voice trembled upon the word father. Her mind drifted into thoughts of her blue feathered husband. He hadn't wanted to accept the possibility that Rose had met her end, but who could blame him? She didn't want to believe it either. Without a word, he left to brave the storm in an effort to find her and bring her back home safe. She forced a smile and wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't want to think about the negative. She didn't want to think about the possibility that neither one of them would come home. She didn't want to think about Amber's prediction of Blu's path being tainted. She just wanted to think that she would see them again.
Without another word she hopped out of the hollow and studied the rising sun. The wood still remained soaked drenching the bottom of her talons. She let the wind rustle through the feathers. The forces of nature seemed bitter sweet to the female macaw, they were nothing more than an eternal reminder that the days would continue onward, regardless of how much she wanted time to stand still… at least until Blu and Rose returned to her. She forced a sigh and peered out at the horizon. The autumn day ahead would be a scorcher. She could feel it in her bones. The humidity crept into her wing causing it to swell.
"Tulio told me that broken bones usually form arthritis." She reminded herself. "The pain will pass in time."
She let out another heartfelt sigh as she stuttered on the word time. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Speaking of time, I wonder if our time together is through. Was Amber's prediction correct all along?"
"Hey, Hot Wing."
Jewel peered up and spotted the familiar two figures of Nico and Pedro coming in for a landing.
"What's popping?" Nico asked. "We thought you would need the help. Especially with cleaning up after that really large storm, there are downed trees all over the place. It isn't cool."
Pedro nodded his head, noting the worried look on Jewel's face. He hovered at her side, placing a wing upon her shoulder.
"What's wrong, Hot Wing? You look down and out? Did you and the blue boy have another fight?"
Jewel shook her head.
"No, we're just fine. I'm just worried about our daughter. She's gone missing. Blu went to look for her too, but he has been gone for days."
Nico's eyes filled with concern. He shifted a wing across his bottle cap hat and landed on his talons.
"Whoa, stop, rewind. Did you just say your daughter's missing?"
"Yeah," Jewel nodded. "That's what I said."
"Rose is missing?" Pedro repeated not quite following the situation. "That's robust!"
Jewel nodded her head again.
"Do you want help finding her?" Nico and Pedro asked in unison.
"If you want to help, you're more than welcome too." Jewel sighed, "She went to the city."
Nico and Pedro eyed each other a little more than fearfully. Their worried glances caught her attention.
"What, what is it?" she asked.
"The city is too dangerous. The entire underground subway system is filling up with margays. We don't know why they're down there, but we definitely aren't checking that place out."
Jewel let out a heartfelt sigh.
"Hold on, girl." Nico held up a wing. "We didn't say we wouldn't search the city. We just aren't going into the subway system. If she's anywhere else, we'll find her and bring her home."
# # #
Marco sat upon a makeshift seat deep in the center of a large boarding station. Abandoned subway cars littered the area, their doors stuck ajar allowing access to any creature small enough to fit. Inside a group of sleeping monkeys had decided to use them as a barrack, much to the hawk's growing frustration. He shifted his back across the solid stone bricks stacked to his liking, and grabbed hold of a beaker of water. He watched the commotion around him. Monkeys fought with each other as they struggled to reach stale candy bars from powerless vending machines.
Without a word he swirled the contents of the clear liquid, admiring the ripples he made with relative ease. He drank from the glass before tossing it from his grip. The glass shattered as it struck the wall, leaving traces of sharp, lethal looking shards against the cracked pavement.
"Where is that fool?" He asked. "I want answers on the macaw's condition. I want them now!"
As if on cue the monkey who had been a part of the whole plot to twist Blu's spirit stepped forth from the crowd. He shifted his paws nervously, avoiding the hawk's stern gaze. His teeth chattered together as he fought to control his fear of the ferocious predator.
"You certainly took your sweet old time getting here," the hawk growled. "How is our little… friend?"
"He's alive." The monkey admitted. "But there still isn't a pulse or heartbeat. I can't explain it. I've never seen anything like it before."
The hawk cackled to himself and jumped to his talons. He spread his wings and lurched forward with his razor sharp beak. The monkey could feel his heart skip a beat as he dodged the assault, though just barely.
"I have a conclusion to that one." He smiled. "In some cultures a pulse is considered to be the sound of the spirit. He wouldn't have one because he's not the creature he once was. He's nothing more than an empty shell, a soulless dummy perfect to craft into a servant for my New World Order."
"How would that explain the heart?" The monkey queried. "What about that?"
"The heart is the symbol of love, and compassion. We turned him into a creature of pure hatred, and anger. He wouldn't have a heartbeat, because he doesn't have a heart."
The monkey closed his eyes and shuddered at the thought. He felt thankful he wasn't in the macaw's position. He could imagine the pain soaring through him as the runes burnt into his face leaving black impressions upon his flesh… if it had burnt into his flesh so easily, he could only imagine what it had done to his heart.
"I would be careful if I were you." The monkey explained. "Black magic can't always be controlled. What if he decides to turn on us?"
"He won't." Marco explained, "We got the bargaining chip. He won't betray us as long as we have his daughter."
Marco held up his wing and pulled his hood down over his eyes. His beak twisted into a savage snarl. Finally his control over Rio would be a guaranteed thing. All the animals and wildlife would be his, or they would be destroyed. The New World Order would be born with him as an Emperor.
"Get out of my way, marmoset." Marco hissed. "I want to check on my little handy work."
# # #
Blu's eyes opened a crack as he noticed two creatures emerge into the tunnel where he remained pinned to the wall. His wings trembled as he fought his restraints. He grunted and hissed as he tore at the greenish much with his beak. Both creatures stood in admiration at the savage attacks. Blu held little concern for anything, even his own personal safety. His beak never stopped, even when he made contact with his own wing.
"He's vicious." The monkey gasped. "I've never seen anything like it. He doesn't even feel pain."
"He's wonderful," Marco chuckled. "He is the perfect soldier. He will guarantee the birth of my New World Order."
Blu shifted his attention to the two creatures and cocked his head to one side. He heard every single word they said. His beak twisted into a savage snarl and leaned out in an effort to bite them.
Marco stared into Blu's eyes which burned out fiercely as they shifted so easily from being completely emotionless, to that of a vengeful and hate filled creature. They were no longer the chocolate brown they once were. Now they appeared blacker than the night, with bright red irises which seemed to glow with a mystical light.
"Let me go!" Blu hissed. "Let me go!"
The hawk raised his wings to calm the enraged creature. His voice rang out in a soothing tone.
"Calm yourself, my friend." He said. "We don't mean you any harm. We only restrained you so you couldn't harm yourself."
"You mean me no harm?" Blu cackled. "I had a hand in slaughtering your pathetic little group of brothers… and you mean me no harm? That's a good one, I almost laughed."
"Yes," Marco nodded. "Their deaths were a necessary loss. We've got much more important things to worry about now."
"Yeah," Blu spit, continuing his attempted attack upon the hawk. "Like where is my daughter!"
"You'll see her," Marco grinned. "But first I want to play a little game with you."
"A game?" Blu arched a curious eyebrow. "What kind of game are you referring too?"
"Oh a little thing called conquering the whole of Rio. Are you interested in helping me?"
Blu continued to glare into the eyes of the robed creature.
"Maybe, what's in it for me?"
"If you help me, I will let you see your daughter. I will also give you a position of power amongst my new order."
"Tempting," Blu nodded his head. "What do you suggest we do?"
"If we are to last in our little game, and if you expect to see your daughter, you must first prove your loyalty. There are a few creatures out there that pose a significant threat. In fact you know them quite well. They are your friends, Nico, Pedro, Rafael, and the always lovely Jewel. I want you to defeat every one of these creatures. Make them know the meaning of pain, but leave them alive."
Blu's smile faded as he contemplated the request. He shook his head.
"And what If I decide I don't want to leave them alive? What if I want them to suffer?"
Marco shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess I could live with that. The decision is up to you. I'm leaving you in charge of this little operation."
Blu's smile formed back on his face. The veins in his head swelled as he pried himself from the greenish muck. He landed on his talons, and cackled insanely. The macaw moved forward and stood beside his new master.
"So you will let me do whatever I want? I like the sound of that."
Marco peered at the monkey for a moment and snapped his wing like a pair of fingers.
"Go and fetch my new brother one of our many robes. I think purple should suit him just fine."
The monkey scurried off to do as the hawk suggested. With two murderous birds now on the loose, he didn't dare to question any order given to him. He feared the consequences should he enrage either one of them
