Chapter 8: Vendetta of the Draco Dame

20-year old Allison Taylor rubbed her tired eyes as she turned her head over to the clock next to her bed. It read 5:45AM. She dreaded those numbers every morning because it told her that she had to force herself out of bed and start the day. She continues to kick herself for giving herself early morning college courses. Had she known it would be this challenging, she would've stuck with the afternoon classes; Then again, it wasn't her fault. Her best friend talked her into it, claiming it would be a better to get school out of the way early that way the rest of the day could be for them. She took a deep breath and went against the gravity trying to pin her to her suddenly marshmallow-feeling bed. Time to get the day started.

Taking thirty minutes to get herself together, she was then downstairs and in the kitchen. Her Mom she heard was resisting staying in bed herself, and Kyle would be up by 6:30, so she didn't hesitate to flare up the stove and get what she needed to make pancakes for breakfast, and get the coffee started for the three of them. Her dad taught her well, from cooking, to dueling. If only he was still here to see her grow up some more…

Allison learned about her father's "odd jobs" when she was young by accident. Some nights, her dad would come home later than expected, and she would be upset, as this was the time he would be teaching her how to play Duel Masters. At the time, it was a very popular game, and she played with the cards he managed to keep with him while he was in college. When it came back to the states, that's when she really got into it. She made new friends and finally she had other people to play aside from her father. Then she discovered her dad's job by accident, when she got so into a duel and electricity began to spark around her right hand. It of course freaked her out, but her dad kept it a secret from the rest of the family. And then she learned about her dad, the "Creature Hunter." As she learned more about the hidden world of Dueling, the bond between her and her father became stronger, and she even got her little brother, Kyle to duel. But then it happened. The day her father was taken from her.

She was known as the 'Shadow Empress', Melanie Chase and her Partner Megaria. A malevolent, Ex-DCA Agent who mysteriously betrayed the DCA for unknown reasons other than to steal secrets for someone who would pay her a massive amount for them. Allison and her father hunted her down, and they dueled. The duel however was too much of a strain for her father, and he was defeated, his body failing in the process. Allison had to lie to her mother and brother, saying they were involved in a car accident and their Dad didn't survive. For three years, she's been searching for traces of the duo, seeking the people who killed her father. She also vowed to not let her brother know about this. His focus should be on dueling with his friends and the D-Fighters Tournament coming up. As an S-Rank, one who was recommended by her Father during her recruitment in the DCA, she knows the challenge they have to face when the time comes, and the last thing they need is some vendetta clouding their judgment on what's really important.

"Morning Mom." Allison said, hearing the heels click as the older woman entered the kitchen. "Breakfast is on the table, I'm just finishing Kyle's."

"Thanks honey." The woman hugged her daughter from behind. "Don't know how your brother and I would survive without you."

"You'd both starve to death." She smiled, taking the compliment. She flipped the pancakes over and poured her mom coffee, making it the way she loves. Giving her the mug, she looked up and saw Kyle, practically dragging himself in the kitchen. The way it looked, it seemed amazing that he managed to get dressed.

"Morning…" Kyle muttered as he crept into the kitchen. The smell of his sister's cooking was enough to get one eye open.

"Are you feeling alright?" Mrs. Taylor asked concerned at the state of her son. "You don't look to well."

Kyle let out a big yawn and plopped himself at the table. "Didn't get enough sleep. I'll be fine."

"Maybe if you weren't texting your girlfriend, you'd probably wouldn't be so tired." Allison said, pouring coffee into two mugs.

"Kim and I aren't dating!" Kyle snapped wide awake. "We just hung out for a bit, that's all."

Allison scoffed. "You two seemed to make up pretty easily after that big argument last week. I think I speak for Amy, and Maxi that you and Kim have some chemistry together. After all, Darkness and Fire do have a lot of synergy with one another. Maybe…?"

"Lay off." Kyle barked, his face continuing to flush. "It's too early for duel talk."

Allison was too amused by her brother's embarrassment. "Okay, Okay, I'll stop." She handed him a plate and Kyle grabbed a fork. Something threw him off as he moved the fork over the first pancake of three. The red, blue, purple and dark brown spots in the golden cakes made him realize they were Strawberry, Blueberry Raspberry, and chocolate chip bits. "Triple Chocolate Berry Pancakes… This is Dad's recipe, isn't it?"

Allison grew a small smile. "Hard to believe it's been three years… man, time flies."

Kyle and Mrs. Taylor caught the mood in the room as they all were briefly silent. This day was the 3-year anniversary of their father's death; the day when all of their lives were changed. They quietly ate their breakfast, the sad note weighing upon their heads…

Allison's car pulled up to the front of Pace High with Kyle exiting, his expression still hinting at the sorrow.

"Try to have a good day at school." Allison said.

"Same goes for you." He turned back. "Besides, Dad would hate to see us moping around like this."

Allison dipped her head slightly, fighting back the emotions. She nodded forcefully and tried to make a smile. "I'll see you later, okay?"

The sight of his sister's expression made it hard for Kyle to resist. He got back in the car and gave his sister a tight hug. The two of them may have their differences most of the time, but he knew that she was much closer to their father than he was. Which made it harder on him; not only did the thought of the anniversary of the death of their father weigh on him, but on how broken his sister's heart was. He pulled away and closed the door back. And then without looking back, he walked away, listening to his sister drive off.

Maxi and Amy met up with Kyle in their first period class, Amy wondering why Kyle looked so down, Maxi remembering what the day was. He hugged his best friend and then explained the situation to Amy.

"I'm so sorry to hear that…" Amy hugged Kyle, and for added effect, pecked his cheek.

Kyle smiled. "Better be careful Kim doesn't see that… speaking of which, where is Kim?"

"Sick." Maxi replied. "Amy and I went to her house to get her this morning but her parents said she has a bad cold.

"Well that scratches my plans for after school." Kyle sighed. "Drop by her place after school?"

"We'll drop by after school." Amy corrected. "You should be with your mom and sister. Times like this you need to be with your family."

"Trust me, it's alright." Kyle said. "I'm over it. I didn't know my dad as much as I would've liked to, but there's no sense about crying over it. I mean, we can't do anything about it. So yeah: three of us, to Reaper Girl's place after school."

Amy and Maxi shot each other glances and nodded. It was clear to both of them that Kyle was hurting and was trying hard to disassociate himself from his family. Still, there was no sense in fighting it. With that, they agreed with his decision and decided to make plans to go to Kim's house after class.

Allison walked through one of the bridges of Hunter College, to get to her next class. After being distracted during the last class, she realized that she needed to clear her head for a minute. She stopped to stare out the view of the city. Not having to run off to class so quickly was good. She needed a moment to breathe and take into consideration everything that happened that morning. The sudden smell of coffee next her made her divert her attention to the dark haired woman who stared out in a similar fashion. She took a sip and turned to Allison, her cold blue eyes making her freeze.

"Pretty view isn't it?" The woman asked her with a smile. "My old school didn't have this kind of view of Manhattan."

"It's you…" was her reply. Allison took a step back and tried to regain her composure.

"Oh sorry, that was rude of me. Hi, I'm Professor Melanie Chase; nice to meet you." She smiled and held her hand out to her. She noticed that Allison wasn't moving so she retracted her hand. "Not a shaker, huh?"

"You… don't remember me?" Allison asked, surprised.

"Not really. This is only my first day, if you were a previous student of mines then either this is a coincidence, or you're stalking me..." she replied. Allison's expression grew slightly more hostile in response.

"Uh… I was kidding about the stalker bit."

"You killed my father…" She hissed.

The statement took the professor aback. "Excuse me?"

"Three years ago on this day… You were in a duel against two DCA agents after you betrayed them. In a Kaijudo Duel, you defeated one of the agents, a man so badly that he succumbed to his injuries and died shortly afterward. The young girl barely escaped with her life. That girl was me. You're the 'Shadow Empress…'Melanie Chase."

Professor Chase was thrown off by the explanation but surprisingly began to laugh, grabbing some looks by the other students who walked by. "So then, guess you were stalking me…"

"I'm gonna get my revenge here and now…" Allison reached for her dueling glove in her back pocket, but stopped short when Professor Chase held her hand up. "I have a class to teach; our little conversation will have to wait."

"Twenty Minutes till the next class. You'll have fifteen minutes to limp back to your classroom. Kettou Da!" Allison snarled, her bare hand sparking with white and red electricity.

Professor chase noticed and smiled. "Looks like the little brat has claws..." She snapped her fingers and on cue, purple and green electricity sparked around her hand. "Yoshi, I accept your challenge. But let's make this interesting. We'll have a real Kaijudo Duel, between S-Ranks."

"You stopped being an S-Rank when you turned your back on the world you swore to protect."

The Professor scoffed. "Seems as if you still have a lot to learn about the world we live in. The Professor turned and looked out into the courtyard. "It's roomier down there… Shall we…?"

Minutes later, students were all around watching the new professor take on Allison. Everyone knew that it was a duel, but what struck them as odd was why they had two separate card tables and standing ten feet from one another. Rumors were going around about the computer science department developing some VR Technology they were going to present to WoTC, but that was nowhere to be seen either. The crowd of students, whether being up close, watching from the bridges, or in their classrooms all seemed interested in what was about to happen. After all, its Dueling.

"Shields Up!" Allison and Professor Chase both signaled as the five teal shields materialized out of thin air. They both drew five cards and stared hard at one another. "Duel… Start!"

Allison set light mana and tapped it, starting the duel. "I summon Chasm Entangler!"

The topaz crystal materialized in real life and reformed into the small light blocker. Professor Chase scoffed and drew her card. She set Darkness mana and passed her turn back.

Allison drew and set Fire Mana. "I summon Drakon Weaponsmith!"

In a similar fashion, the ruby and topaz crystal materialized and fused together to create the Drakon. Still unfazed, the professor drew, set Nature Mana and summoned a blocker. "I summon Skeeter Swarmer. Honestly, your father put up a more entertaining battle than you are…"

The Emerald and Amethyst Crystals materialized and formed into the spider-like creature. The crowd continued to watch intently, although some felt that the creatures looked a bit too real for it to be a hologram.

"Don't talk about my father you witch!" Allison snarled as she drew. She set light mana, tapped three and revealed her next creature. "I Summon Blinder Beetle, and tap Skeeter Swarmer!"

The three gems created the mechanical beetle, said creature flying overhead and shooting the spider.

"Chasm Entangler attack Swarmer!" Allison ordered her blocker.

The blocker shot forward and threw its tentacles at the bug. It grasped onto it, but like a typical Swarmer, it self-detonated taking Entangler along with it. The small explosion blew heat towards the spectators, they assuming it was an added feature to the VR Tech like they use in High-End duel circuit tournaments.

"Drakon Weaponsmith, Break her shield, Ike!" She followed her attack by tapping her other creature. The Drakon nodded and charged forward, and without a blocker to protect her, the shield broke into pieces and shot past the professor. The shards disappeared and she added the card to her hand.

"Enjoy that; that's the only shot you're going to get out of me." The professor remarked as she drew. She set mana and tapped all three. "I summon Slyth." This caught Allison's attention.

The three crystals appeared and turned into a faint, lavender smoke, which reformed into a jackal-like ghost with spikes running down its spine. Its misty blue eyes, changed Allison's demeanor from a determined and hostile duelist, to one who's hesitant. This creature was one of the creatures that sealed her father's duel…

Back with Kyle and co. The crew sat down with their lunch, Amy and Maxi deep into conversation about the latest episode in the current cult media timeslot, and Kyle, still in deep thought. He couldn't shake the reason, but for some reason he felt as if he was more worried about his sister than he should've been. Each year since the incident she would stay out longer than normal. His mom never questioned it, as like him, a house full of depression wouldn't do anyone good. Each of them had their own way of coping and this was hers. Maybe she was spending time with her friends like he would do.

"Yo, Earth to Kyle-kun!" Robbie's voice snapped him back into perspective. The Japanese kid plopped into the chair, with Kyle giving a brief glance.

"What's with you today? Don't worry I get upset when Kim-chan isn't around either. But fear not, it's a burden we both must bear for the woman we love!" Robbie sympathized. He noticed that Kyle wasn't snapping at him like he should. "Seriously bro… what's wrong?"

"Robbie, you do know what today is right…?" Maxi asked.

He shook his head. "October 9th, 2020. What's so special about—" he stopped himself and turned to Kyle who stood up. "Dude I am so sorry!"

"It's cool, don't sweat it." He said.

"Don't sweat it?! What do you mean, this is the day your dad died, I'm an idiot for forgetting that!"

"I said don't sweat it, it's fine!" Kyle snapped. He turned to walk off, but Robbie followed him.

"No it's not, we've been friends since pre-school, and the fact that I forgot something important as this is just messed up! You guys are family to us, heck he was the reason why we got into dueling in the first place, don't you remember when—"

"JUST DROP IT ALREADY!" Kyle yelled, furious. "I can't take this anymore! You guys need to stop feeling sorry for me alright?! The constant reminders of what today is aren't helping either!"

Robbie got quiet, not knowing what to say. He cleared his throat and nodded in agreement. "You're right. Sorry for um… badgering on about it."

Kyle realized what he did and began to speak but Robbie cut him off. "You don't need to apologize; it's natural to be angry… Even if I forgot, I'm sure my parent's didn't. They'll do the cooking tonight and bring it over. And I'll make sure they make enough for Kim and the others. It's a family thing, so all of us should be together…"

As he finished the sentence, the bell rung, signaling the end of class, "I'll see you guys tonight." Robbie waved and disappeared into the staircase, leaving Kyle in the hallway as the sea of students began to flood the hallway.

"Slyth, break her shield, Ike! And use your Undermine ability to strip her deck further!" Professor Chase tapped her darkness creature and broke Allison's second shield, this time, one of the shards nicking her cheek before disappearing. She wiped the blood from her cheek and took the card to her hand. She looked at her deck and watched the top card flip over, revealing to be her 2nd Gilaflame. With no way to recover it, she snickered. Yet another fast attacker taken from her.

"Bronze-Arm Tribe, break her shield!" She ordered her 2nd creature. Bronze readied itself and launched breaking another shield, leaving her with two remaining. This one however froze in midair, which meant one thing. As the shards shrunk and reformed in her hand she revealed the shield. "Shield Blast: Tornado Flame on Slyth!" She ordered. The massive Fire tornado stirred up and swallowed up the ghost, disappearing quickly.

The heat from the blast made some of the spectators feel uneasy. The longer the duel went on, the more it felt real. Some left as they were getting a little too uncomfortable, while others kept watching intently, enjoying every second.

"You really think that'll be the last you'll see of him?"

"If everything goes according to plan, that's my intention. My move!" She drew and set the other card in mana. Before playing the card in her hand, she stared intently at the card, thinking of her father, the one who gave her said card. She tapped seven mana and revealed the card in her hand, her hand sparking violently. "Fierce Dragon of the Red Skies, I summon you: Moorna, Gatling Dragon!"

The seven mana crystals appeared from above and formed into a massive creature. A crimson red dragon with a pair of Gatling turrets mounted on her slammed down behind her and let out a massive roar, which alerted all around. It was then that most of the spectators realized something different. And that was this dragon before them was in fact a real life fire-breathing lizard… with guns.

"Get ready…" Allison said coldly. "My revenge is at hand… Weaponsmith, Nimbus Scout, Break her shields!"

"My Skeeters block the both of them!" Professor Chase ordered, the spiders crashing into both creatures in midair.

"Skycrusher's Elite, Attack Bronze-Arm tribe!"

The lean lizard nodded and charged Bronze. The two clashed weapons, but the smaller more robust nature creature was outsped by the leaner Drakon and fell.

"This is your last chance. Turn yourself in, or this will be the last move you make…" Allison snarled.

Professor chased laughed and crossed her arms. "I take back what I said earlier. You are a much bigger challenge than your weak father. Had you realized that, you might've prevented his fate. Shame though…" she smiled sinisterly, knowing her words would infuriate her. She drew her card and set her mana. "Arise, Maleficent Empress of Shadows… Megaria the Collector…"

The ground began to shake all around, and the sky around them began to darken. It was at this point that the spectators who were watching up close and personal began to flee back inside the building. The ground grew cracks and in said cracks, bright purple fire-like energy spewed. The cracks broke open and out slowly rose a slender purple-skinned, blonde-haired woman in silver robes. She crossed her arms and giggled, at the terrified expression written on Allison's face.

To Allison, she was staring at the deadliest creature she ever encountered, the creature that stripped her father out of her life, the creature who enslaves others as trophies, killed all who resisted her without a second glance. A sadistic woman who got what she wanted, no matter the cost, or whoever got involved. The creature who Melanie betrayed the DCA for at an attempt to achieve her personal goals in the world.

To Allison, She was staring straight into the personification of Hell itself.

"Long time no see… Allison…" Megaria smiled, her sharp monstrous teeth showing.

"Are you sure you really wanna go?" Maxi asked Kyle as the trio walked out of the train station.

"I'm positive. Times like this I should be surrounded by my friends. And I've said this before, the last place I need to be is around my mom and my sister and their depression. By tomorrow, everything will be back to normal."

"Promise…?" Amy asked, still worried about that last part.

Kyle turned and nodded. "I promise…"

"Going by your track record of promises over the last month," Axel started, materializing from Kyle's deck case, "I wouldn't be too sure on that."

"You know, you've been quiet all day, let's keep it like that." Kyle shot back.

The trio climbed up the stairs to Kim's front door and knocked. After a few moments, Kim opened the door, dressed in a black tank top and dark blue pajama pants. Her eyes looked heavy, as if she just woke up from a long nap, but that didn't stop her from looking shocked.

"Guys… what are you doing here?" she said in a raspy voice. She coughed pretty hard following.

"Gosh you sound horrible." Amy said.

"It's just a cold." Kim reassured. "I'll be fine."

"Yeah well, we came by to drop off your homework and your notes; cuz we're awesome friends like that." Kyle said. "More importantly how are you feeling…?"

Kim looked at him with the same confused look. "Kyle… don't you know what happened?"

"What?" he asked.

Kim pushed the door open and pointed to the television in the living room. Kyle and the gang walked inside and to their horror, they saw it. The breaking news headline reading: "Mysterious Explosion at Hunter College."

"Allison… did they say…?!"

"There were a few dozen injuries and about 6 confirmed dead…" Kim said. "They didn't say…"

Kyle didn't wait for her to finish as he bolted out of the door.

"Kyle hold up!" Kim called out, but her throat closed up before she could talk further, causing her to cough.

"Maxi go after Kyle, I'll stay with Kim." Amy ordered.

Maxi nodded and raced off to catch up to him. Amy looked at the screen and paid close attention to the damage. The bottom bridge was completely eradicated and the courtyard was banged up really good. But the way it was damaged… A bomb couldn't do damage that precise; but a creature definitely could…

Which means, that the secret kept between the girls of Team VD was about to come out into the open—sooner than Amy wanted it to be…