Jess climbed up the last step of the ladder to see Isabel sitting on the edge of a deck overlooking a portion of the outer stadium, staring off into the distance while crouched forward with her gaze lowered.
''Isabel?'' Jess said softly. When her friend didn't respond, she slowly walked over to join her. She sat down next to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. ''If you want to be alone, I understand. I thought you could use someone to talk too.''
Lifting her head, Isabel wiped under her eyes with the back of her hand. It was as if she was trying to wear a mask of anger to hide the sadness. ''I don't know what to think.''
''He may be your father, but it's okay if you're angry with him. What he did to you was awful.''
''It's not just that,'' Isabel said through clenched teeth. She turned to gaze into Jess's eyes. ''He's the reason I'm the Dragon Slayer.''
That statement made Jess silent. She wasn't sure what she could say that would make her dearest friend feel better. It pained her to listen to the hurt in Isabel's voice as she looked away. A cool breeze swept over them, but Jess couldn't feel it. The warmth emitting from Isabel's body could be shared between them. However, Jess could tell it wasn't a kind warmth that she had become used to whenever she was around Isabel. Right now, Isabel felt cold and lost.
''Knowing that he created this makes me feel wrong for having these abilities,'' Isabel growled. ''I can't even have this without his cruelty and selfishness lingering over me. I've become exactly what he wanted. I hate that I've given him what he wants.''
Suddenly, Isabel felt a hand cup her face, forcing her to turn her head. She locked eyes with Jess. The young woman leaned forward to press their foreheads together. For a brief second, Isabel felt still and weightless, as if the world had stopped moving or ceased to exist. Feeling Jess beside her was like a relief.
''Listen to me carefully, Isabel,'' Jess whispered. ''You are the Dragon Slayer. It shouldn't matter where your abilities came from. You made the power your own. Just like you've made your own life without him. Don't ever think like you've given him anything. It's about what you feel and what you've gained.''
''But…''
Jess silenced her by continuing. ''You figured out how to use these powers without his help. You and your mother. You've done things people can only dream of. You've given so many people hope for a brighter future. He can't take that away from you. I won't allow it. And I know that Helen wouldn't allow it either.''
Isabel's bottom lip quivered. She glanced down at her hands, feeling her palms become hotter. Just thinking about her father again ignited her blazing inferno that could burn everything in her path. However, Jess was here to soothe her tempers. The rage inside of her died down as she thought about how far she had come. Jess was right, she and her mother had learnt about her abilities through their own means. Isabel found a way to fight back against Drakes and use her powers to protect others from the dangers of this world. She didn't need her father for any of that. It didn't completely erase the pain, but it was a good first step.
A faint smile grew across her face as she sighed with relief. ''Thanks.''
''Don't mention it,'' Jess smiled before tilting her head so that she could press her lips against Isabel's.
Isabel melted into the tender kiss. Jess's lips were softer than Helen's, but were just as sweet and made her heart flutter just as much. She cupped Jess's face so that she could keep the kiss going for longer. The two of them refused to separate as they lay together on the deck under the night sky.
From the deck below, Helen watched on happily. She didn't feel the need to interrupt their moment. As much as she wanted to join them, it wasn't the right time or place. Jess had succeeded in helping Isabel. Helen frowned as she thought about Gabriel. Would his return put a damper on her relationship with Isabel? After all, it was an unusual cog caught in a different kind of machine. Helen feared that she would remind Isabel of her parentage. She felt sickened knowing that the man she mated with experimented on their own daughter.
''Ain't that sweet,'' a voice said quietly from behind her. Helen didn't need to look to know that it was Cruise who had stumbled upon them. ''Those two make quite the item.''
Helen nodded. ''They sure do. I'm happy that Isabel has found someone.''
''Would that someone be plural?''
Helen flinched and slowly turned around to face Cruise. She noticed a curious twinkle in his eyes. ''What do you mean?''
Cruise waited before answering. ''I mean Isabel has two hands. Coincidently, so does that Jess girl…and you.''
''What?'' Helen's face paled. ''What are you suggesting?''
''I ain't suggesting nothing,'' he stepped closer, raising his hands up as a gesture of peace. ''Actually, I will suggest one thing…you three need to find someone that's sound-proof next time.''
There was no denying it. Cruise knew about their relationship. Helen wasn't sure how to respond. He didn't give her the impression of someone who was disgusted or shocked. She half-expected him to use this knowledge as a form of blackmail. But, he instead walked around and found some amusement in kicking a stone on the floor and watching it skip down a flight of stairs that lead to the floor below.
''Does anyone else know?'' Helen asked.
''I can't be too sure. Am I the first one to confront you about it?''
''Yes,'' Helen sighed. ''Look, Cruise, we know this isn't normal. And we didn't plan for this to happen…''
''It just did,'' Cruise grinned and turned to face her again. ''I don't know why you're telling me like you're seeking my approval.''
Helen narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ''I'm not. I just would have expected more of a reaction from you.''
He snorted. ''Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.''
The two stood in silence as Helen watched the charismatic leader pace up and down before staring out of an opening in the wall. It looked out towards the other side of where they came from. The hills were steeper, leading towards a derelict valley of concrete and stone. Old buildings and monuments were spurting out from the earth. No longer covered in sand or ash, they could be admired by anyone fortunate enough to gaze upon them. If Helen wasn't so concerned about what Cruise was thinking, she would have enjoyed the view herself. However, she waited to see what else he had to say.
He pointed out of the hole. ''Out there is the weapon we need to turn the tide of this war. You've seen the map. We're only a day or two away.''
''I know,'' Helen said. Her mind buzzed with worry and interest, wondering what this weapon could be and what state it would be in. ''It feels like we're getting close to the end of something.''
''Or the beginning.'' Cruise said optimistically.
Helen glanced in his direction and smiled. ''Yeah, I'd like to think that.''
Just then, a Viper from the Crew came rushing down the corridor, stopping the moment he saw Cruise. ''Our scouts are calling. They say they need to speak with you urgently.''
''I'm on my way,'' Cruise said. He turned heel and began to follow his comrade before stopping to point at the deck above where Isabel and Jess were. ''You best get those love birds out of the nest. We'll be making a move soon.''
Helen didn't dignify him with a response, he was already marching out of sight to respond to his scouts. The historian searched for the stairs leading up to the deck and climbed up quietly. She was certain that her daughter could hear her but was probably too busy with her loving embrace to care. When Helen reached the next level, she could see the two of them in each other's arms, kissing passionately.
She cleared her throat, startling Jess. The younger woman bolted upright. ''We weren't doing anything.''
''I can see that,'' Helen replied sarcastically, but her smile was kind, causing Jess to blush. She moved towards them and gazed at her daughter, brushing a strand of loose hair out from her face. ''How are you feeling, baby girl?''
Isabel sighed. ''I think I just want to get out of this place.''
''We will. Cruise sent some scouts ahead. They're going to report back what we find and then…''
As Isabel's listened, her mother's voice was drowned out by another noise she could hear in the distance. She listened carefully for a moment before she recognize the sound as terrified screams. The cries were sudden, turning from fear to pain in an instant. There appeared to be multiple and they were all coming from inside the stadium.
''Something's happening,'' Isabel said.
Before Helen or Jess could respond, Isabel dashed past them and down the stairs to follow the noise. The two of them desperately tried to catch up, but they had fallen far behind as Isabel ran quicker as the screamed were ceased one-by-one. As Isabel got closer to the source, she could see the other survivors amongst her group had gathered around to try and find out what was going on. She had some difficult weaving through them as more and more people gathered. Just as she got to the entrance towards the center of the stadium, Isabel could see those at the front stop in their tracks. Some screamed in fright. Others baulked and backed away, looking aghast at the sight before them.
When Isabel emerged from the crowd, she almost tripped on the body laid out before her. She recognized it as someone from the council, torn in half and left to die in a pool of blood. She held her breath as she stared out and saw the remains of the council scattered across the field. And standing in the middle of the horrid massacre was Thane, holding the severed head of his father in his hand.
''Thane?'' Isabel gasped.
Thane's ears perked up and he turned to look at Isabel. He didn't smile nor frown upon seeing her. His expression was blank as he casually tossed Lucan's head in her direction. Isabel watched as it rolled along the ground, almost landing next to her feet. She stepped aside and returned her glare back at Thane. He didn't say anything as he swayed back and forth like he was in a daze.
''What the hell did you do?'' Isabel screamed, hoping to get his attention.
Finally, Thane appeared to realize where he was. He snarled at Isabel. ''I've taken the first step.''
''First step to what?''
''New leadership,'' Thane replied, stalking Isabel like an animal ready to attack. ''The council were weak and narrow-minded. The colony needs someone strong to lead them into a new dawn.''
''You think people will follow you after this?'' Isabel gestured to the corpses around him.
Thane balled his hand. ''Sometimes followers need a little fear installed into their hearts.''
He raised his fist into the air before bringing it down and striking the ground. Isabel and everyone else that had crowded around to watch were shocked to see him split the earth. Spikes of rock were upturned, sprouting out of the ground like weeds upon impact. Isabel felt the ground shake as Thane straightened his arm so that his blood-stained fist was pointing towards her. That's when Isabel detected a familiar scent radiating from him. Her heart plummeted.
''You took the formula? How?''
He smirked. ''You can thank your father for that. He saw my potential. He gave me what was rightfully mine.''
''Thane, you're not thinking clearly…''
''Things have never been clearer,'' he advanced towards her. The crowd behind Isabel retreated, but she stood her ground. ''You're just some stupid girl who got lucky. These people shouldn't follow someone like you when I now have everything they need in a leader. They can now follow me.''
''That's not going to happen,'' Isabel shouted.
Isabel glanced over her shoulder when she heard a familiar gasp coming from behind. She saw that Helen and Jess had finally caught up. They both looked on in shock as they both stared at Thane.
He fixed his eyes on Helen and licked his lips like a hungry predator. ''Oh, I miss one council head.''
Immediately, Isabel stepped between him and her mother. ''I'll rip out your heart before I let you lay a hand on her.''
''I'd like to see you try.''
Isabel braced herself for an inevitable fight. She wasn't sure what to expect. If her fight with Adira taught her anything, it's that his strength wouldn't be on the same level as hers. But, he looked like a rabid animal that would lash out and attack everything within reaching distance. He was a danger to everyone around her. She was going to have to find a way to stop this as quickly as possible. However, there was a small part of her that actually yearned for this. After all those years of being tormented by him, she now had a reason to fight back. For the first time in their lives, it felt like they were truly on equal terms.
Despite the situation, Isabel smiled. ''I'm going to enjoy beating you to a bloody pulp, you bastard.''
The chaos was interrupted by a gunshot in the distance. Isabel turned to see Cruise standing on a platform with the rest of the Crew. ''Come with us if you want to live. We're going to have company any second now.''
Thane grinned with anticipation. ''More Drakes? Good, unlike Isabel, I know what it's like to have appetizers before the main course.''
''I'll have more than enough time to break you before they get here,'' Isabel hissed.
''No,'' Cruise screamed, sounding uncharacteristically terrified. ''The scouts said they saw a…''
Suddenly, it felt like the stadium had been engulfed by a raging hurricane. Strong gusts of wind nearly blew everyone off their feet as the sky above parted and the air become maddeningly hot. Even Isabel and Thane had to hold their ground so that they weren't blown away by whatever had descended upon them. Isabel looked behind her to see that Helen, Jess, and the others had gathered back in the interior of the stadium for safety. However, parts of the walls were being stripped off by the strong winds. If this typhoon didn't stop soon, everyone inside would be in danger of becoming trapped.
Isabel had to cover her ears as a sound that resembled thunder shook her to the very core. Even though it hurt, she tried to listen and understand what the noise was. One loud beat followed after the other like a pattern. The thunder almost sounded like a heartbeat. When she was able to stand against the winds, she could feel an ungodly aura coming from above the stadium. The overwhelming presence almost caused her to buckle as she tried to look up and see what was happening. When her eyes found what she was looking for, she felt like falling to her knees in defeat.
Perched on top of the stadium, looking down upon Isabel was a four-legged creature of immense size. With scales as black as night and wings that stretched out wide, the beast's talons dug into the structure of the stadium with ease. It bared its fangs, each tooth bigger than the size of an average human. Fiery embers trickled out of its mouth as it cranked its long neck so that its head could be lowered into the stadium, closer to Isabel.
She was too frightened to breathe. All that came out of her mouth was one word. ''Dragon.''
XXX
THERE BE DRAGONS, MY SWEET SUPERSTARS! AT LAST, WE FINALLY HAVE OUR FIRST APPEARANCE OF ONE. I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE THE ENTRANCE FEEL GRAND AND TERRIFYING. I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT? DOES ISABEL AND HER ALLIES STAND A CHANCE AGAINST THIS NEW FOE? IF NOT, IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF THEM ESCAPING? I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU ALL. ALSO, THE ISABEL V THANE CONFLICT IS FAR FROM OVER. THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET VERY INTENSE FOR OUR HEROES, SO STRAP YOURSELVES IN FOR THE REST OF THE RIDE, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND BEING THE MOST AMAZING READERS EVER. STAY SAFE. TA-TA FOR NOW.
