"Then," Kukulkan continued, "it would be safe to assume that you also did not know about the sedatives."
"Sedatives?" Rose squeaked. "I … no, I have no idea about that either."
"Theron made a note that, around the age of three, he finally had to accept that he had, as he phrased, over created your abilities. He says that you displayed abilities that were further than what he had anticipated on you having and he realized that he would be unable to control you in the future. Therefore, Theron made the decision to subtly medicate you without your knowledge so that he would be able to control you." Kukulkan looked up from the notes he was referencing and met Rose's eyes. "Obviously since the Huntsmaster is no longer present to medicate you, have you noticed physical differences?"
"Yes."
Kukulkan looked surprised on her answer. "And you did not say anything about it?"
Rose realized what he was saying – that she had tried to hide something from them – and nearly cut him off in her rush to reply. "Because I was told that the gems would enhance the abilities of the person who won the battle – I assumed that's what it was."
Councilor Omina, just to the right of Kukulkan, rose to her feet.
"In my hands," she said, "I have the official report of what happened that night – the one that you, Jacob Long, and Lao Shi submitted. It states in here that you spilt your own blood. Correct, Huntsmistress?"
"Yes," Rose confirmed. "I cut myself on my own staff, as you know from reading the report."
"I was just confirming," Councilor Omina murmured, tight-lipped. "By spilling your own blood, the gems assumed your defeat; your death."
"Nicholas, Kyle," Councilor Kulde interrupted, offering an apologetic nod to Councilor Omina as he did so. "A quick question."
"Anything," Nicholas and Kyle chorused obediently.
"Did any of the Clan members receive enhanced abilities or powers after the battle of the gems?"
"No," Kyle answered forcefully.
"We asked all Branches; nothing was reported," Nicholas supplied.
Councilor Omina nodded. "Jacob Long," she said.
"Yes, Councilor?" Jake responded, rising to his feet.
"How have you felt since the night of the gems?"
"I don't understand," Jake admitted.
"Have you felt stronger; faster … anything of the sort?" Councilor Omina asked.
Jake frowned. "I was … out," he said, not wanting to mention his drug habit though the Dragon Council knew all about it, "of the dragon game for a very long time. I was regaining my skills – building myself back up."
"Lao Shi," Omina requested, not even acknowledging Jake's words.
"Yes, Councilor Omina?" Lao Shi said – much like his grandson had. He also stood, his short stature even pronounced next Jake's height.
"You have trained Jacob Long since his first transformation, correct?"
"That is correct."
"So, it would be fair to say that you are most aware of his abilities, then?"
"Fu Dog and I, yes."
"Fu Dog," Councilor Omina echoed Lao Shi. "Would you also please rise, then?"
Fu quickly obeyed, slipping to his feet.
"Now, before Jacob took his extended break from his dragon duties compared to say, the last three months, how would you say his speed, agility, and so forth has been?"
Fu and Lao Shi exchanged looks.
"Improving, of course." Lao Shi said.
"The kid's at his peak," Fu explained. "It's obvious that he's going to keep improving. We thought nothing of it."
Omina nodded. "Considering the circumstances, we are not surprised that you did not notice. However, if we were to pit Jacob against another dragon right now, I am sure we would find that Jacob's abilities far exceed his opponent's. It was Jacob that received that skills from the gems – only Jacob, of course; the dragons are too advanced for the gem magic to affect more than one."
"What about me?" Rose interrupted from the witness box.
"What has been happening to you is a result from you lack of sedatives," Councilor Omina explained. "What you are becoming is what you were designed to be."
"The question here today," Councilor Andam said, speaking for the first time in the panel, "is whether or not you are going to be able to function past your," he took a moment to search for a word, "enhancements."
"I think I've been doing quite well," Rose said defensively.
"We are inclined to agree," Councilor Andam murmured soothingly, seeing that her temper was about to flair. "We are wondering if you are going to be able to continue to function the way you have."
"The sedatives, obviously, are out of your system completely after a year and half," Councilor Kulde mentioned, "but with every day that passes your modifications are growing stronger and stronger. We want to be able to ensure that you will be able to control them even better than you have been."
"Admittedly," Councilor Andam spoke up, "we all agree that becoming aware of your genetic modifications will keep you more vigilant about controlling them rather than them controlling you."
"Do not take us the wrong way," Councilor Kukulkan warned her. "The Dragon Council does not want to see you fail; we do not want to see the peace operations fail. But as mentioned before, trust plays a big part in this agreement and, as of present moment, we are unsure if we are able to trust you."
Rose's eyes widened. "I know I'll never be able to redeem myself from my past actions but I think I have proven that I am more than I was eighteen months ago."
"And we do agree," Councilor Andam told her, "but we need to be cautious. Surely you understand that; based on the Huntsclan's reputation, magical creatures are going to be hesitant about joining forces with you. We need to be able to assure them this is the right decision. But in order to offer those assurances, we need to be able to be completely confident in the decision. Right now, we are not."
Councilor Omina launched into an explanation of the Dragon Council's future plans surrounding the Huntsclan and magical peace. "We would like to remain in constant contact with you, Huntsmistress. We would also like contact with your Branch Heads. We would like to monitor, not only your actions, but the actions of all of your Clan Members. We would like access to all of your past, present, and future Clan files. Once we have sufficient faith in you, perhaps in half a decade at the very soonest, then we will recall this Council and discuss the Clan and magical unity further."
"No," Rose snapped, staring down the Dragon Council. "Absolutely not."
Councilor Andam furrowed his eyebrows at her. "On what grounds do you refuse?"
"On the grounds that I refuse to surrender control of my Clan to you," Rose growled, anger further ignited by Councilor Omina's side comment to Councilor Kulde which swiftly followed Rose's sentence.
With her enhanced hearing, Rose could very clearly hear her go, "This is the kind of impertinence we were afraid of."
"It's not impertinence," Rose cried. "I understand now. You don't want to work with me; you want me to work for you. The Huntsclan wants magical unity. We want to change the world perception of us. However, we are still the Huntsclan and we will fight for what's right. And what's right is this: unity and independence. We refuse to be held under anyone's thumb under the guise of a perfect world. I would be happy to work with you, Councilors, but the Huntsclan is, and will always be, an independent organization.
"We are not magical creatures. We do not practice magic. We use technology and human sciences to be where we are. We are not intending to utilize magic for our own purposes. We want to help protect what we once tried to destroy – under completely false reasoning, mind you, which we are willing to admit." Rose shook her head at the Council. "Do you not understand what the Clan has been going through to try and make this work? It would have been so much easier for me to kill Jake. It would have been so much easier for me to take my Clan and tear down all that you have built. But I never will attempt to even hurt Jake. I will never try to tear down what you have because it's precious.
"But, Councilors, my Clan is precious too. I acknowledge your ignorance on the way of the Clan because it's so secretive. I would have been happy to expand your knowledge but you don't want knowledge; you want control. But here are some truths about the Clan for you. We are family. We are organized. We are respectful. We abide by a set of rules and laws that are far older than any of you. We are proud but we are not afraid to admit when we were wrong.
"The Clan has been wrong for many years and when we try to rectify you spit in our faces. You say we are not enough like you for you to be comfortable using us. We are not here to be used, nor are we here to use you. We came to help. We came to grow together.
"And I am really sorry you are unable to grow with us." Rose looked each of them in the eye. "Perhaps you will become as past as the Clan's evil actions."
With that she stood and swept out of the witness box, away from the Council. She was seething. All of her hard work hadn't paid off – she had thought the Council would go a lot better than it had. Wait five years to solidify peace? It was complete and utter bullshit.
Her step didn't give the slightest hitch as she passed Jake, Lao Shi, and Fu. She didn't react as Nicholas and Kyle bowed to the Council before leaving, lengthening their strides until she had one flanking both of her sides. They followed her out of the Council's meeting place. Once they were out the doors, Brigh followed behind Nicholas and Kyle, making it a party of four.
Rose didn't speak until they reached their rooms.
"Pack," she ordered.
"Huntsmistress – "
"No, boys. We'll talk at home. Pack," Rose repeated.
She swept into her own room, hurriedly throwing the few items that had managed to scatter into her bags. Once that was completed, she stepped out into the hallway. She only had to wait a few moments before Nicholas and Kyle had joined her.
"We're leaving," she announced, though it was obvious. "Brigh, will you please escort us off of this island?"
The ancient woman nodded. "If that is what you wish," she agreed.
As the trio followed the elderly dragon, Nicholas attempted to speak to Rose again.
"What about Lao Shi?"
"Fu?" Kyle pressed.
"Jake?" Nicholas added.
"The Council could come around –"
"No. I could see their intent in their eyes. If they want to come around, that whole damn Council has to come to New York to see me in person." She caught Nicholas' expression out of the corner of her eye. "Whether or not you understand, I swear, this is the right thing to do. We will not be giving up on what we have been doing – and I will try to expand magical unity on my own, or with Lao Shi and Jake if they continue helping, which I sincerely hope they do – and I hope that we are able to win the trust of magical creatures this way, though I think it will prove impossible."
Brigh, who had left Rose, Nicholas, and Kyle for a moment to converse with another, presumably, dragon returned.
"I have arranged your flight home," she said, handing over their tickets. "I will escort you straight to the airport."
"Thank you, Brigh." Rose inspected her ticket – it was flying out almost immediately. Brigh really knew how to get things done – something Rose was intensely appreciative of.
Though she had a sneaking suspicion the Council wanted her off of their island as much as she wanted to be off of their island.
This chapter is unbeta'd. I read it over a few times so I hope I caught all of my mistakes. If anyone is/can recommend a good beta, I would be very appreciative!
I own nothing recognizable.
~TLL~