Chapter 3: Family Secrets

"Jake, are you sure she mentioned 'Augustus Black'?" Lao Shi asked his grandson, who was still worried about Lao Shi's tone.

"Yeah, G. What's up?"

"Well, like your father, Augustus Black also unknowingly married a skipped dragon." Lao Shi solemnly answered. "He and Mrs. Black became the parents to the second dragon born in America. I haven't seen her ever since she was a toddler."

"G, girls with dragon powers develop them at an earlier age than boys." Jake commented. "Why didn't she take the mantle before I had the powers to do so?"

"With her father being a secret agent, the Dragon Council became afraid he'd find out and lock her up." Lao Shi explained. "At least that's what they said. Actually, I'm afraid there's a bigger reason."

"Sounds like a good enough reason to me." Jake replied.

"It used to be, young one." Lao Shi agreed. "At least until her parents got a divorce."

"Did he find out?" Jake asked, thinking about what his Dad would do upon finding out the truth as well.

"No, Jake." Lao Shi answered. "In fact, I was pretty sure he was one of the several humans who don't know about the Magical World until you told me about him."

"Can we ask him to help us, G?" Jake suggested.

"Don't even think about it, Jake!" Lao Shi ordered. "Now we must tell the Dragon Council about Augustus Black knowing magic is real."

LINE BREAK – Millard Fillmore Middle School – The next day

"So, is this dragon girl beautiful?" Spud asked after Jake told his friends about Augustus Black's family.

"I have no clue, Spud." Jake answered. "I've never seen her."

"And why do you care, Spud?" Trixie asked. "Did you finally get over Stacey?"

"Well, it's not like I actually had a chance with her." Spud replied but then got a pleading look. "Why? Has she given you any hints?"

"Rose, any news from the Huntsclan?" Jake asked.

"Yes." She answered. "The Dark Hand and the people Capt. Black has been sending after them because of all this Shendu thing have been seen in Pamplona."

"I meant about Augustus Black, Rose." Jake replied. "But I suppose this is important as well."

"It is." She nodded. "According to reports from the slayers stationed there, the Dark Hand freed Dai Gui, the Earth Demon but Jackie Chan and his team defeated him. And Mr. Chan's team seems to have some sort of magical armor."

"Wow, I'm glad he's not a slayer." Jake commented.

"Be careful either way, Jake." Trixie replied. "He seems to be quite experienced on magical creature hunting."

"Yeah." Spud agreed. "Augustus Black might get you locked up inside some secret laboratory for experiments and then make dragon super soldiers. Then he'll get everyone who knew about you and turn them into dragon super soldiers." Spud then gave a smile. "Where do I sign?"

"Spud, this is not gonna happen." Trixie replied, annoyed at Spud's childish fantasies.

"Not to you, you mean, since your Dad is a Colonel and Colonels are above Captains." Spud accused.

Rose's Huntsclan communicator beeped and she answered. "Yes, Master?" Her master then told her to return to the headquarters as soon as classes ended. Rose then told Jake and his friends. "What does Huntspunk want?" Jake asked.

"He wants me to get back at the Huntslair as soon as classes end." Rose explained. "He didn't tell me why, though."

After classes ended, Rose returned to the Huntslair as ordered by the Huntsmaster. "Huntsgirl, remember how you were told your parents passed away while you were a toddler?" He asked.

"Yes, Master."

"Huntsgirl, it's time you learned what really happened." He solemnly said. "Some slayers are born into families that otherwise have no association to the Huntsclan."

Rose was shocked. She already knew the Huntsmaster had kidnapped her but never expect him to admit, let alone justify the act.

"Back in the day the whole human race knew about the existence of magical creatures and the Huntsclan's efforts on destroying the vile things, said families would gladly give us their marked children for the sake of our cause. However, ever since we went hidden, we had no choice but forcefully take marked children away from their families not only to increase our numbers but also for their own sake." The Huntsmaster explained. "I fear for what happens to marked kids that are found by dragons before we find them."

Rose seemed to accept the explanation.

"Huntsgirl, it's time for you to know you are one of those slayers and who your real parents, especially your father, are."

Meanwhile, Jake, Trixie and Spud went to Canal Street Electronics, where not only Fu Dog and Lao Shi were waiting but also Councillor Kulde. "Councillor, what do we owe the honor?" Jake asked.

"Given the latest news regarding Augustus Black, the Dragon Council decided his daughter and his ex-wife should be warned about how much he knows about the Magical World." Councillor Kulde explained. "Also, it's time you learn why we never let his daughter become the American Dragon despite having powers before any other dragon born in America."

"And why is that?" Jake asked.

"You'll know when you get there, American Dragon." Was all Councillor Kulde said.

They all went to the home of Capt. Black's ex-wife and her daughter. She then answered the door. "Councillor Kulde?" She asked.

"May we get in, Madam?" Councillor Kulde asked in reply. "It's an emergency."

She then let them in. "Who are those with you, Councillor? And what's the emergency?"

"This is the American Dragon, Jake Long; his Dragon Master, Luong Lao Shi; and the American Dragon's best friends, Trixie Carter and Arthur Spudinski." Councillor Kulde explained. "And we have reasons to believe your ex-husband knows magical creatures exist and has been involved on magical emergencies that, until now, evaded the attention of the Dragon Order."

"Is he a part of the Huntsclan?" She asked out of worry.

"We have no reason to believe that, Mrs. Black." Lao Shi replied.

"You may call me Lucy." Capt. Black's ex-wife said.

"Is your daughter home?" Councillor Kulde asked. "We'd better have her here."

"She's hanging out with some friends."

"You'd better call her home." Lao Shi suggested.

"Jake, look!" Spud exclaimed. "They're friends with Rose."

Jake then looked at a photograph of a girl he believes to be Rose. "No, that's my daughter Miranda." Mrs. Black explained.

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