Bart's eyes stung with dust as they galloped through the desert. But they couldn't stop yet. They didn't know if the villagers would try to track down their captive, just in case they did, he and La'gaan wanted to put as much distance as they could between them and the town. Despite the swift, jarring ride, the unconscious captive did not stir. White foam dripped from the horses' lips, their necks shined with sweat. Their nostrils flared, but their feet kept moving. Finally, Bart signaled for them to slow down. He pulled Rooster to a walk. La'gaan did the same with Sphere, clutching the unconscious body with a green arm to balance it. Bart squinted into the distance.
"If that isn't a mirage, I think there's a watering hole up ahead. We can check on him there!" His voice was rough from all the dust. La'gaan nodded. His gills were covered in dust and dirt, Bart noticed, water would do him some good too. Out of the corner of his eye he could see La'gaan swaying slightly, his red eyes kept slipping shut periodically. "You doing alright?" Bart asked softly. La'gaan lazily looked over,
"Huh? I'm fine, just a little hot is all."
Bart wasn't convinced, but he didn't want to pester the other boy. "I bet you can't wait to get back to Atlantis. Get away from the dry heat."
La'gaan shrugged, "Yeah, I dislike feeling so dry all the time."
"Are you anxious to see your family? They're probably worried about you."
"Sort of? I don't really have a family, not trying to sound pitiful. My," he swallowed, "my parents died when I was younger, my mother did at least. I don't know about my father, he left when I was really young."
"Oh…" whoops, nice going big mouth, "I'm sorry."
"No, it's, it's alright. In Atlantis, at home, if you don't have a parent they assign you to someone who'll look after you. A man named Alekos took me in. He's great, a little old and senile, but still great."
The rest of the walk to the watering hole was silent. Bart felt bad for making La'gaan uncomfortable. He seemed to have a knack for it. Thankfully it wasn't a mirage and a watering hole surrounded by small trees providing shade. They stopped, Bart dismounted and ran over to La'gaan. He helped lift the dark haired boy off Sphere and laid him on the ground near the water. He pulled a rag out of his saddlebag and soaked it in the water. He squeezed it before gently wiping the dried blood off the boy's face and neck. Still no response. Until he touched the back of the boy's neck. A blue claw grabbed his wrist. Bart was too petrified to scream.
The claw seemed to emerge from under the boy, on his back. It looked like a beetle's leg with pinchers on the end. It was a brilliant blue in color. La'gaan glanced over and immediately ran to Bart's aid. He grabbed the leg and a half of the pincher and tried to pull them off.
Even with La'gaan's straining, its grip didn't loosen. "Neptune's beard!" The Atlantean let go. "I'm going to try something alright? Stay still,"
"I don't have much of a choice," Bart said through gritted teeth. Something even weirder began to happen, La'gaan closed his eyes and glowing markings appeared on his shoulders and arms. Then he began to grow, not taller per say, puffier. Once again he grabbed the bug leg and pulled. This time it had an effect. The claw's grip on Bart's arm loosened. Bart pulled and broke free. The leg and claw retreated underneath the boy. La'gaan closed his eyes and gradually 'deflated' back to his usual size.
"Wha-"
"Later. What the heck was that?" La'gaan stepped back from the boy lying on the ground. "It was like a leg or something."
"Maybe he really is a demon or something," Bart muttered.
Just then, the boy sat straight up and screamed. This caused Bart and La'gaan to jump back, Bart posed, ready to speed run them both away if necessary. The dark haired boy began vigorously rubbing his ears and the back of his neck.
"Cállate, cállate, cállate!"
Bart looked at La'gaan. What do we do? Bart cautiously walked up to the panicking boy, he slowly extended his arm to touch his shoulder. But when he made contact, a hard blue coating covered the boy's shoulder and arm. Bart jerked away as if he'd been burned. But the contact caused the shaking boy to still and quiet down. He tentatively lowered his arms from his head. His dark brown eyes scanned the desert scene before settling on La'gaan and Bart.
"Quién eres tú?"
Bart face palmed. "Another language barrier. Wonderful. Charades can't explain, 'hey, we kidnapped you from a church where a bunch of people were going to lynch you, but I promise we're friendly!'" La'gaan itched at his gills.
"You've communicated before just fine."
"YOU could apparently speak English!"
"Lo siento, but where are we? Who are you two?" A weak, accented voice asked.
Bart and La'gaan looked down, the boy looked more alert and present. The blue coating had disappeared, leaving olive skin in its place. He glanced around the trees and the small body of water before asking again, "Where are we?"
Bart blinked, "Um, I'm Bart and this is La'gaan." He gestured to the green boy who gave a small wave. "And we're somewhere near the east end of the El Paso Desert. Far away from that freaky town."
The dark-haired boy pushed himself up onto his feet. "I'm Jaime. I'm from that 'freaky' town. Or was anyway. But those grima, they're afraid of me." He pointed to his back, "Or rather, him."
Bart gasped as Jaime turned around. Embedded in his the skin of his lower back was a bright blue bug, a scarab. It looked to be attached to his spine, with three legs piercing on each side. He winced, it looked painful. "What is it?"
La'gaan reached out and with a webbed hand, gently touched the scarab. "It's not cold, is it alive? Like some kind of parasite?"
Jaime turned back to face them. "Honestamente? I don't know." He lowered himself back onto the ground. "It started when this man, an explorador, came to town a few months ago. He held a small exhibition of his findings. This," Jaime pointed to the scarab on his back, "was one of the things. Later, that night, I was coming back from helping a man across town when I heard voices, angry voices, coming from the inn. I paused a moment, then there was a loud noise and a flash of light. I was in pain, my back hurt, my vision went spotty, and my ears were ringing. I woke up in the church with the doctor and priests. The artifact had attached itself to me and the explorador was found dead in his room, a fire had broken out. They couldn't loosen the scarab's grip. They sent me home, but strange things began happening. I kept waking up in random places, having blackouts. My neighbors told my padres that they saw me pacing the neighborhood late at night. Others told them I was destructing their market stalls. But about a month ago I woke up in one of the sheep fields covered in blood." Jaime stopped and swallowed. "Twenty sheep were slaughtered. The owner claimed I was possessed. A crowd came to our house throwing rocks and shouting. I couldn't let my family be hurt, so I left. I hid in the desert but they found me and dragged me back to the church. They'd convinced the priests of my possession too. Then the exorcismos, exorcisms, began. I, I honestly don't remember much after that."
La'gaan pulled a canteen from his saddlebag and filled it from the watering hole, he handed it to Jaime. The desert boy drank it down quickly. He poured some onto his hands and wiped off his face. "Gracias. I know it sounds loca, but it's all true."
"Believe me." Said La'gaan. "It's not the craziest thing I've heard."
"What about your family?" Bart asked, "Why didn't they try to help you? Are they safe?"
Jaime stiffened. He handed the canteen back to La'gaan. "At first my mother and sister protested on my behalf." He scratched at his right shoulder. "But my father wanted nothing to do with me after this entire mess started. I think he believed them."
Bart and La'gaan glanced at each other, unsure how to respond. Bart couldn't imagine the hurt the desert boy had suffered. In his own era, groups would cast out 'weak' or 'troublesome' members. He needed to be careful, to be useful enough to benefit from the safety of a group. But a group of strangers, survivors, was so much different than a family. In a way he feared his grandfather would tire of him. It was a silly thought, it wasn't Barry's nature. He'd never get rid of him unless he killed someone or something. But those thoughts still swam around in his mind occasionally.
"Is there anyone we can take you? Do you have family elsewhere?" Bart hesitantly asked.
Jaime shook his head. He ran a hand through his dark hair, "No. I'm unsure what to do. The demonio is unpredictable. He takes control randomly and I'm unable to stop him, I can't go back, but I'm afraid I'd just cause trouble anywhere else."
La'gaan spoke up, "We're going to my home, Atlantis. It's a home to many sorcerers and magic-users. One of them may be able to help you."
Jaime shrugged, "Bien. I don't have anything to lose." He winced and gripped his ears, "Silencio!" Bart and La'gaan eyed each other. What was going on? Jaime relaxed and rubbed his temples. "Lo siento." He sighed, "The escarabajo has a mind of its own." His dark eyes narrowed, "And it's not afraid to voice it!"
La'gaan snapped his jaw shut. "… Okay then." He turned to Bart, "We should allow the horses to drink and refill our canteens before continuing." His red eyes gazed over the hills of rolling dust. "It's at least another day of travel, most likely two."
Bart nodded, "Agreed." He sat down and leaned against one of the trees. "I'm going to doze for a few minutes. You two might want to do the same." His eyes slipped closed, the occasional snorts of the horses, and La'gaan and Jaime's soft chatter lulled him into sleep.
Something touched him, probably a fly, he lazily swatted his shoulder, but the touch persisted. He swatted again, but harder. "Ouch! You βλάκας!" Bart forced his eyes open.
"Hi La'gaan," he stretched, nearly smacking the green boy again. "You ready to get moving?"
La'gaan shot him a dirty look while rubbing his face, "You'll pay for that chum."
Jaime looked a lot better. Color filled his skin and his eyes looked much brighter. They mounted the horses, La'gaan rode Sphere, while Bart and Jaime shared Rooster. The sun's rays began to ease as the evening fell upon the desert. The heat of the day slipped into a cool, breezy night. The dust took on a white hue, illuminated by the beams of the moon.
After a day and a half, the dunes began to shrink, bushes and sparse patches of grass took their place. By nightfall they were completely out of the El Paso Desert. Jaime craned his neck to glance back once more at the shrinking desert.
"I've never left the desert before. I don't believe anyone in the village has." He remarked. La'gaan unwrapped himself from his cloak.
"Chum, I'd be happy to never cross the desert again. It was almost as miserable as the first time." He scratched his gills. "Sand and dust everywhere! In my eyes, fins, and gills! The sun constantly beating down on you and drying everything out! No offense, but if you go back, don't count on me visiting!"
Bart frowned, "The first time?" He asked.
La'gaan stilled. "Yeah, y'know. When Godfrey caught me. His caravan cut through the desert. I don't remember much, they didn't keep me hydrated. I just remember being dry, scratchy, and sick." He looked down at Sphere's neck and didn't say anything else.
Jaime poked Bart's rib and leaned forward to whisper, "Who's Godfrey? And what'd he do to the chico de pescado?"
Bart whispered back, "Godfrey runs a freak show-"
"Say no more."
The greenery thickened the further they rode from the desert. Tall, intertwining branches from the trees provided a barrier from the sun. After riding for several more hours, they stopped for the day near a small stream. Jaime almost immediately fell asleep in the soft grass. La'gaan propped his head on a saddlebag and closed his red eyes. He definitely looked more relaxed than he'd been over the past few days Bart noticed. The red-haired boy sat on the bank, watching the horses drink. Their small caravan would reach the coast in two days possibly one. He hoped La'gaan had some idea of what to do next. He and Jaime couldn't breathe underwater so he had no clue of how they'd get there. The best course of action looked to send La'gaan to the king with the message. He'd discuss it with him when he woke up.
Despite his kidnapping and abuse on land, the green fish boy didn't seem to be in a hurry to return home. His family must be worried sick. Yet he refuses to talk about them or home. No one on the surface knew much about the mysterious water dwellers and their culture. King Orin, the current ruler, was the first king in centuries to make contact with the land. Bart knew from his uncle that the move made many Atlanteans unhappy. Most wanted to remain isolated from the surface world. Despite the alliance, no one knew much about the world underneath the waves.
Sphere's head shot up. Her ears twitched, high and alert. Rooster raised his head, his nostrils flared, muscles tense, ready to bolt. Bart super sped over to grab them. "What is it?" He followed the equines' gaze, but couldn't see anything in the foliage. "It was probably just a squirrel or something." He stroked their necks and after a few moments, they resumed their eating. When he was sure they didn't plan on running, Bart zipped into the forest. He paused. Birds chirped. Branches rustled in the wind. Other than that, nothing. After a final scan of the bushes, he ran back to their campsite. The horses were still eating and the other boys hadn't moved at all. I'm tired, so I'm just jumpy. He reasoned with himself. He loosely tied the horses to a tree before laying down and drifting off.
"Para, PARA!"
Bart shot up. It was darker now, the trees acted as a barrier securing the darkness. He blinked rapidly, willing his eyes to adjust quicker. When they did, he could see Jaime tossing nearby. He leapt to his feet and zipped over. He placed a hand on the desert boy's shoulder. His skin felt cold and clammy covered in a freezing sweat, his dark brows drawn tightly together in agony. Within moments of Bart's hand touching him, Jaime jerked up and with incredible strength, flung Bart several feet into a tree.
Dark spots flared in his vision. Chimes rang in his ears. He forced himself to sit up. His blood ran cold as he met a familiar pair of yellow eyes. Familiar flight senses flared in full force at the sight of Blue Beetle.
Despite every nerve within him screaming at him to run, he couldn't force his legs to move. Blue Beetle stood in the clearing, just staring. Bart's jaw tightened, his mouth felt dry. His heart sped up. His limbs began to vibrate.
Blue Beetle began to move closer. Bart tried to move, but his body still refused to cooperate. He tried to yell, but his voice failed him. The beetle stopped a couple yards away.
"Bart, are you alright?"
The question caught him off guard. Not only the question, but the tone. It was conversational versus the commanding, rough, mocking voice he had heard on a daily basis. And how in Hades did he know his name? Blue Beetle wasn't supposed to be around for at least another few decades.
"Bart? Hermano, are you alright?"
Everything around him felt slow, slower than normal. Somebody kept talking to him, but they sounded like they were underwater. He felt like he was underwater. His limbs were too heavy and his head felt too large for his body. Way too large, he blinked and he was on the ground. How did he get on the ground? How did Blue Beetle get so close? He should run…
"BART! Breathe!"
Various shades of green filled his vision. Heavy, scaled hands rested on his shoulders.
"Focus on my voice, breathe, it's all good chum."
Breathing, that's doable. But where's Blue Beetle?!
"He's gone for now." The hands let go of him and had him lean back against a tree. "Breathe."
His vision began to focus, his ears cleared up. The trees rustled around him, birds chirped. Trees? Birds? Right. He was in the forest on a mission for Barry. The green person returned, La'gann! Bart sat up. "Where's Blue Beetle? Where'd he come from?"
La'gaan handed him a canteen. "Welcome back chum. Drink that before anything else."
The water moistened his mouth and throat, loosening his tongue. His vision quit whirling all the colors and shapes together. The little bells in his head quit ringing. La'gaan sat in front of him. When did he get here? He gulped down another drink of water. Finally, he felt present in his body again.
"You back?"
"I think so." Bart jerked to attention, "Where he'd go? Where's Blue Beetle? Is Jaime okay?!"
La'gaan pulled him back to the ground. "Sit… this is going to be tougher than coral to explain. Listen, this… Blue Beetle, he's not here exactly."
"But, I saw him!"
"That demon inside Jaime, it covers him in this strange armor. He then is able to wield powers that I've never seen!"
"Jaime is BLUE BEETLE?" His lungs grew tight. Jaime seemed normal. Bart couldn't connect the fearful, soft-spoken desert boy with the torturous, cruel Blue Beetle.
"I mean he is blue. And beetle-like now that you mention it."
"Where'd he go?"
"He buzzed off to give me some time to calm you down." La'gaan glanced off into the clouds before pinning his stare on Bart. "Now, if you're able, please explain. There is obviously something about all this that upsets you and if you're not up to give the entire story, fine. But we need a minimal explanation."
Bart avoided looking at the Atlantean. He fought to keep from panicking. He picked at blades of grass, piling them next to his foot. When he had built a small mountain, he felt ready to speak up. "Back home…" He stopped building his pile, "My home in my time is dictated by a race unlike any other, the Reach. Blue Beetle," He hissed, "Is their main enforcer. He's a monster." Bart rested his head on his knees, trying to fight off the painful memories.
La'gaan stayed quiet. He crawled over and awkwardly wrapped a finned arm around Bart. Bart leaned into the green boy. They sat there, in the grass for several minutes. Breaking the silence, La'gaan spoke. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you. But, Jaime seems trustworthy. He's genuinely upset that he threw you." He patted Bart's shoulder and stood up. "There must be more than one Blue Beetle. We just rescued Jaime because he isn't a monster." He walked away, into the woods.
A few minutes after La'gaan left, Bart uncurled. I need to find Jaime. He can't be Blue Beetle, La'gaan's right. There must be more than one or something other logical explanation.
He stood, then sped off after La'gaan.
He found both of the other boys sitting near the river. Their chatter died down when he sat beside them. "I'm sorry Jaime, for my reaction. I just-"
Jaime held up a hand, "No worries Hermano. La'gaan explained. I will try to keep better control of the demon so he doesn't switch into his armored form."
Bart nodded, grateful for the easy acceptance.
"I have pesadillas, nightmares, about the church, the villagers, the dead sheep…" Jaime rubbed his wrist.
"I get them too." Bart replied softly. "My old home was a living nightmare."
Jaime gazed at the water in thought. "But, you're doing better now? You live with your tio, your uncle, the king?"
Bart nodded. "Barry's great. He and Iris are patient with me. And the captain of the guard Jay and his wife Joan are wonderful."
Jaime smiled. "Maybe I will get to meet them someday."
Bart looked on the bank, La'gaan was missing. "La'gaan?" He called out, peering into the darkness. "Where'd you go? You can come join the Nightmare Club."
All of a sudden, he felt very cold and damp. The redhead sputtered and wiped the water from his eyes. La'gaan stood knee-deep in the river bent over laughter. Jaime joined in, snickering. Until he too was splashed with a wave of water.
"Aah! Chico de pez estupidio!" He growled at La'gaan. Blue armor encased his right arm and jerked towards the Atlantean. Jaime pulled back and pressed his arm against his chest. "No lo hagas!" He gritted his teeth and the armor retracted. "He's not a threat!" the boy hissed. His grip around his right arm tightened.
"The scarab?" Bart asked cautiously.
Jaime nodded. "He perceives every little action against me a threat." He allowed his arm to rest at his side. "Violence is his first inclinación."
La'gaan sloshed over. "You chum-heads gonna fight back?"
Bart met Jaime's eye. The dark-haired boy grinned. Together they jumped into the river. Cold water splashed over the three. Before La'gaan could react, Bart and Jaime began splashing him nonstop. For the next few minutes the boys just splashed each other, laughing and shouting. Water soaked the boys and mixed with the grass on the river bank. La'gaan recovered from the assault and ran a few feet down the river. Jaime wiped water from his brow. "Giving up?" He called after La'gaan.
La'gaan turned to face them. His mouth turned upwards into a grin, his red eyes glinted in the moonlight. "No, just recharging!" He plunged both his hands into the water and closed his eyes. He began to chant and hum in a strange language. It didn't sound like the Atlantean words Bart had heard from La'gaan before. The water surrounding La'gaan began to glow and churn. His fins also began glowing. Tattoos etched themselves onto his scales. Suddenly, he straightened up and yelled.
Bart could only watch in shock as a wave rushed towards him and Jaime. They didn't have time to get out of the way. The world went silent as Bart was encased in water. He was submerged for several seconds before he was able to stand. His lungs burned from the sudden barrage of water. Jaime emerged a few feet away coughing. Bart wiped the water from his eyes. La'gaan stood with his arms crossed and chest puffed out. He grinned. "I win chums!"
"Dios mio!" Jaime exclaimed. "How did you do that?"
La'gaan sauntered over. "Most Atlanteans have this… connection to water. We're able to manipulate it. Our queen is one of the most powerful sorcerers that has ever existed. Her magical abilities are legendary."
Jaime looked impressed. "Well, what you did just there was amazing! Do it again? Maybe just not all over Bart and me this time."
"Sorry, but I haven't tried anything like that in a while, I'm exhausted. But I promise when we get to the ocean I'll do it again, okay?" La'gaan offered.
Bart coughed to get their attention. "I'm impressed too, but I'm also dripping wet. We should head back into the woods and build a fire before Jaime or I catch pneumonia.
After the fire was built, they managed to dry off rather quickly. After eating a quick meal, they settled down in their sleeping packs and drifted off.
Bart couldn't stay asleep. Blue Beetle haunted his nightmares. He tossed and turned, unable to settle. Instead of sleeping, he stared at the dying light of the fire. He'd spent many nights shivering in the cold because the light and smoke from a fire would attract soldiers' attention. His group would huddle together for warmth. He inched closer to the fire. Jaime lay several feet away asleep. Every so often his eyes would tighten and his mouth would grimace for a split second. Then he would relax and still. La'gaan slept directly behind Bart, curled in a tight ball with his finned arms over his head. Fires to a certain extent made him uncomfortable. They gave off heat and heat meant dryness. The Atlantean's presence was a comfort to Bart. He felt safe between a warm fire and a friend. Ever so slowly, his eyelids grew heavy and his muscles relaxed, allowing him to finally slip into sleep.
They got an early start in the morning, after a quick breakfast. Bart could sense when they neared the coast. The winds became stronger and carried the scent and sting of salt. The grasses grew taller, the trees became fewer, giving way to small rolling hills. A sign stood at a crossroads, pointing the way to small, coastal towns. Bart looked to La'gaan. "Which would give best access to Atlantis?"
La'gaan closed his eyes for a moment. Then he opened them and gestured to the left. "Let's ride to Faycliff. Atlantis is rather far out and deep in the ocean, but I believe their shore borders the closest to the location of Atlantis."
"Sounds good to me." Bart replied. They rode on.
A single main street led into Faycliff. Fish monger and jewelry carts populated the street with the merchants shouting their wares. Sweet smells of baked goods and candies mixed with the wind's salty scent. La'gaan pulled his hood up to disengage any stares. Bart glanced behind him to see Jaime's brown eyes widened in delight and awe. The desert boy's head snapped every which way, trying to take in all the sights and smells. His excitement made Bart feel warm and fuzzy. There would be time for sightseeing after they saw King Orin.
The single road through town was short and quickly led to the docks. The dock hosted a few boats, but most were assumedly out at sea. The boys rode down onto the beach. La'gaan swung off of Sphere, tossed off his cloak, and ran into the ocean. He disappeared beneath the waves before emerging with a smile.
Jaime climbed down. He scooped a palm full of sand and watched it slip from his fingers. He walked down the beach to join La'gaan in the water. They splashed each other and laughed. Bart met the green boy's eyes. La'gaan smirked and his tattoos began to glow. Bart gulped. Then a stream of salt water smacked him in the face, effectively soaking him and Rooster.
His lungs burned as he hacked up water. Rooster snorted and trotted a few paces up the beach. La'gaan's laugh echoed around the beach. Bart ran down to join them in the ocean. The boys splashed each other for around twenty minutes before trudging back onto the beach. Jaime flopped onto the sand.
"I like the ocean." He said simply.
"Me too." Bart replied. He watched the white-capped waves crash against the rocks. Someday, when all of this was over, he was going to try and run across the ocean, to new lands. He believed if he practiced he could do it. La'gaan stood where the water and sand met. He stared blankly into the distance. Bart cleared his throat to get his attention. La'gaan turned. "Are you feeling up to swimming to Atlantis?"
La'gaan scratched his gills, "Yeah, I think so." He began to walk into the water. "I'll do the best I can to get a meeting in the court, but it may take a day or two."
Bart ran over to him and pressed an oiled leather satchel into the green boy's hands. "There's a letter from Barry in there. It should explain enough to get you in."
La'gaan nodded. "Alright. You two head back into the village, wait for me there. I will try to get you an audience." He waded waist deep into the water before disappearing beneath the waves. Jaime and Bart watched for several minutes before leaving the beach.
They settled at a small inn on the coast, overlooking the vast body of water. A connecting stable housed the horses. After eating dinner the boys went to their room and quickly fell asleep.
Bart peeled his eyes open. Darkness hung over the room, suffocating the slivers of moonlight that creeped through the windows. He scanned the faint outlines of furniture. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, wondering what woke him up. It wasn't a nightmare. They usually had him shooting out of bed in a cold sweat, gasping for air. A faint creak made him pause. A moment of silence passed… nothing. He laid down and rolled onto his side, again he heard a creak. And a slight exhale. Pretending to sleep, he waited. Seconds passed, a minute went by, nothing. Then he felt it. Someone was hovering over him. He swallowed and sat up while swinging his fist. It met with warm flesh. The body hit the floor with a grunt. Bart sped over to the windows and ripped open the curtains. Moonlight cast a blue tint on the room and the figure on the floor.
Their body was thin, but muscular, wrapped in a green toga-like garb. Long black haired splayed over the floor. The figure's face shielded by a grinning cat mask. The figure lunged with a cry, and a huge samurai sword.
He dodged. The sword lodged itself into the windowsill. This caused Jaime to sit up.
"Wha? Bart what's going o-" An orange clad, masked figure held a miniature crossbow at his throat.
"Shut up." A husky feminine voice growled. As Bart's mind raced to find an idea, the dark haired attacker jumped him. Bart's strength wasn't a match for his attacker's. They easily pinned him to the ground and held the sword at his throat.
"Stop fighting." A smooth voice drawled. "It'd be a shame if you accidentally sliced your throat." Another woman. They were getting attacked by assassins, but why?
"Who sent you?" He asked around the blade.
The woman just chuckled and snapped at the woman in orange in another language. Jaime's eyes clenched shut and he began to shake. The woman's grip on him tightened. Then, his eyes snapped open, a yellow color. "NO! No lo hagas!" Before anyone could react, the blue armor covered his body and his right arm shot off a pulse, knocking the woman off of him. While the cat-woman was distracted, Bart began to vibrate, the friction against her hands made her grip too hot. She let go with a yelp and he knocked her off.
"Come on!" He yelled to Jaime. They ran out of the room and down the stairs. As they ran down the main street Bart called to Jaime, "Hop on my back, I can run us out of here."
"No need." Bart's mouth dropped as wings folded out of Jaime's back. "I can fly us out of here." His voice was deeper, it sounded like two voices overlapping each other. Bart hesitated. Those yellow eyes felt so familiar, yet they looked like they belonged to a stranger. Could he trust Blue Beetle to fly them to safety? An arrow whizzing by his head accelerated the decision process.
"Alright, pick me up!"
Blue Be- Jaime grabbed under his arms and flew up. Bart squinted as the air hit his face. I'm flying! Jaime flew above the town and out towards the ocean. "Where are we going?" Bart called.
"To an inlet, it's only a minute away. It would take a few hours by horseback."
Bart marveled at the world below. The houses and buildings were speckled across the landscape. Fishing boats broke up the vast solid blue of the ocean. Jaime turned back towards lands and landed on a small strip of land. Bart's legs felt stringy after landing. "That was amazing! I mean the whole assassins thing was freaky, but the flying… wow! Have you tried it before?"
The armor retracted. Jaime wiped beads of sweat off his forehead. "I didn't even know I could do that." He glanced towards the town's direction. "Who were those women? Why would they come after us?"
"I don't know. I think this confirms King Barry's suspicions of an impending attack."
Jaime tilted his head.
"This entire journey is to have all the leaders in this region to meet to discuss a possible threat. There have been several mysterious attacks with methods unseen. My uncle is worried."
"Do you think they were sent by them? That this misterioso kingdom has spies watching?"
Bart tapped his foot, "I wish I knew for sure."
AN: I'm sorry. Conveniently, I have another excuse. College has been hell, lots of homework and a giant group project. I've been so unmotivated to do anything by the end of the day. But my creativity is beginning to breathe again. The chapters will get longer (cough cough, hopefully) and the action is going to pick up! Thank you for your patience!