Dragon's Dismay with Absent Family

Chapter 13

Sting watched as Xander drove off, Rogue inside the carriage heading to where Rio was being kept until she was to be taken away for her eyes. The blonde sighed and turned to look at Ivory who was finishing wrapping a cloth around her head to hold her hair together, her son at her side. Sting frowned. He didn't want to force her into doing this, he didn't want to put her life in more danger then it already was. The girl shoved the money in her small purse and took a hold of her child's hand tightly.

"Thank you again for doing this." Sting said.

"Of course, I wouldn't like it if my child was being sold off plus like I said your wife made a deal to help us so I want to play my part in this too." Ivory smiled and began walking down the cobble-stone pathway towards Central Square.

Sting followed her and looked around as others began to emerge from their own houses making their way in the same direction that he and Ivory were heading in. he could fee a growl rising in his throat. To think so many people would show up at something so wrong, the buying and selling of actual people and who knows what else. To think people would also think of buying something such as eyes for their color which was to cast the life of a little girl. Sting truly felt sorry for Rio, for Rogue and Celestine alike as well. He didn't like how any of this was playing out at all. Due to the town being so small it wasn't too far of a walk to reach Central Square. There Sting saw a wooden stage, small enough to fit two people on, three if one of them were a child like Peyton. Everyone was gathering around the front of it, Ivory had suggested that they stayed towards the back though. If needed she had made sure that they stood close to an alleyway for Sting to hide into.

"Try to wait it off until the price goes up a little bit before you throw in your bid. We may not have much but hopefully it'll work. If not I won't have any other choice but to go up onto that stage and take her away." Sting whispered under his breath.

"Of course."

The blonde hid himself at the entrance to the alleyway just behind them. The auction started only a few minutes after they got there. There were a few vases, and paintings, reasonable things you would see at an auction. The White dragon slayer could feel his heart beat faster with each item that was sold off though. The only good thing about it though was that the prices for the items stayed low, lower than the amount of money they had brought which made Sting happier than you would know.

"Item eighteen, Peyton Eucliffe, princess of Sabertooth."

Sting sapphire orbs shot up and they widen upon the sight of his believed little girl. Shackles rested around her ankles and wrists and the sight of bruises and marks on her skin made his blood boil. He almost bolted forward towards her if it hadn't been the look he got from Ivory that stopped him. He growled and slowly backed away. Peyton's beautiful green eyes that resembled her mother's were dull and she had red rings around her eyes that showed she had been crying and it still looked like she was. She wasn't wearing the nice fancy royal nightgown she loved so much but dirty rags just like a peasant would wear. Sting didn't like the sight of his little girl like that at all and he was only hoping that the money they had was going to be enough to help her get out of this pinch. Quickly the bidding started and the money slowly rose. Sting was willing to go out and hit everyone that was raising their hand to buy his daughter. It was clearly stated who she was and yet these people had the nerve to go and bid on his little girl, his princess. His eyes darted down to Ivory as he listened to the bid get close to the amount of money they had.

"A thousand five-hundred jewels!"

Everything went quiet for a few moments as Ivory yelled out her bid. Sting grew hopeful as no one else raised their hand a yelled a number. Slowly he took a step forward and locked his eyes with his daughter's who looked directly at him. Her eyes grew wide and he smiled at her nodding his head that everything was going to be ok. As he heard the bidding slowly coming to close the sight of another hand made his heart drop down into the pit of his stomach.

"A thousand eight-hundred jewels!"

Sting faltered in his steps and shuddered a breath. That was it, his daughter was about to be sold to someone else now. He looked over at Ivory who looked back at him with tearful eyes. The sudden sight of that made her look like Artemis standing there about to cry at the loss of her daughter. He couldn't stand the thought of that at all. Quickly he looked back at Peyton who seemed frightful now and was holding her chained hands to her ears. Sting turned on his heel and ran down the alleyway turning the corner and making a right. He ran until he came a crossed another alleyway, at the end of it he could see a straight run for the steps up to the wooden stage. He had no other choice, this was the last resort he had come up with and it was the only one he had left to use. Making his way closer he now could see Jose and a two other men standing around him were hiding behind the stage, smiles on their faces as the bidding went higher. The two looked like two of the four men that had kidnapped Artemis and Peyton. Knowing that Xander had been one of the kidnappers as well he assumed the last one was where Rio was staying until her eyes were to be sold at this terrible auction. Sting was sure to go back and give all of them a beating like no tomorrow once he got Peyton to safety. Quickly he emerged from the alley and ran up onto stage scooping Peyton up and holding her close as he jumped off and shoved his way through the crowd that was now in an uproar.

"Daddy!" Peyton yelled clutching onto her father's clothing tightly.

"Someone stop that thief!"

Sting growled as he heard Jose yelling from behind him. Cracks of lighting erupted around him as he ran and knives were appearing at his feet. Sting ran past ivory and gave her a look to get out of there before something happened to her or her son. The blonde rushed away from the crowd where some had listened and were chasing after him. He didn't care if he got hit with anything as long as none of them got to Peyton. He ran a hand through her hair to try and soothe her and keep her from panicking anymore then she already was. He knew that Peyton had been through enough so the faster he got her to safety the quicker he could let this all end. He looked down at his little girl as she shifted and looked up at him with those innocent emerald eyes. He smiled softly at her and kissed her forehead dodging yet another knife thrown at his feet.

"Don't worry baby girl, Daddy has you, you're safe." He whispered.

"You're ok daddy . . . you really are ok." He heard her sob.

"Of course I am, how could you think otherwise?" He chuckled.

"The m-maids said you weren't well that you were ill and then one of the kidnappers told us you collapsed and . . . and . . . and mommy kept w-whispering your n-name d-daddy. I was s-scared." She stuttered.

Sting frowned and held her daughter close reassuring her that nothing was going to happen. He looked over his shoulder to find that he had grown a good amount of distance between him and that crowd. He knew it was a risky move to do that but it seemed to be working out well. He could only hope that he hadn't caused Rogue too much trouble by doing that. He knew Jose was probably going to have to go check on Rio after that. Quickly the blonde rounded a corner and slowed down before coming to a complete stop and putting his daughter down. He took a hold of the shackles and grabbed them with both hands before emitting a light that broke them in half. He was going to have to leave them around her ankles and feet for now but at least it let her move more freely than before. He knelt down in front of her and smiled running his fingers through her hair again which let him see how dirty her face really was. He was sure they probably did this after Peyton had been separated from Artemis because even if she didn't have her magic like he remembered she still wouldn't of let anything happen to Peyton for her to get like this. He removed the top of a box that held a few fruits in the bottom of it and picked Peyton up placing her inside before picking the lid back up.

"I know you're scared baby but you have to stay hidden in here ok? No matter what do not come out and do not make a sound if you hear anyone coming. If they do happen to find you then you know what to do. You're daddy's girl and you have daddy's magic. Use it like I've taught you how to so far ok? I'll come back for you I promise but until then stay in here. I love you baby." Sting leaned forward and kissed her forehead before placing the lid of the box on top.

He ran to the end of the alley and looked back to stare at the box for only a few moments. His dragon ears could hear Peyton rustling just a little bit until nothing came from the box. He assumed she was only getting comfortable. After waiting a little longer he turned and left leaving his daughter there praying she would stay safe hidden away. He turned and made his way back the way he came. He had a scare to settle with Jose and he was determined to end this one way or another. He had enough of this man terrorizing other kingdoms, even now when he wasn't even Phantom Lord's king anymore. Passing a few streets by it wasn't long until he heard two pairs of footsteps behind him and lighting and knives being thrown at him again.

"Damn . . ." he grumbled looking over his shoulder and skidded to a halt turning on his heel as light crawled up his throat. "White Dragon's Roar!"

The beam of light shot out at the two behind them causing them to either duck or roll out of the way. Sting took this chance to get as far away from them as possible and back to Central Square. Once there he could see Jose clearly still standing on the stage but he had Ivory and her son hostage kneeling down before him as Xander was slumped down onto the ground. His eyes widened as he watched a knife being taken to the little boy's throat. Raising a hand, Sting shot a blast of light directly a Jose who backed away giving distance between him and the two hostages. Leaping up onto the stage sting stood between them glaring harshly at Jose, and if looks could kills, well Jose would have probably been dead a long time ago.

"Well you came back empty handed. How nice to know you found a place to hide your precious daughter and you made it just in time to save these worthless people as well."

"You call them worthless when you don't even know the meaning of living! Every person's life is valuable and yet you go around killing whoever you please as long as you get your way. Any life is valuable and I'm going to give you so much pain for what you did to my little girl you're going to regret even stepping in for Metalicana when he disappeared! For stabbing my wife and trying to sell my little girl as someone's personal maid. How sick can you be?" Sting growled.

"What are you going to do? Lock me away like your little 'brother' did? Pathetic idea I'll only get out again. Though I am surprised you were able to find your precious wife. I was hoping she'd bleed out and die so that I could have finished what I started all those years ago." Jose chuckled as Sting's eyes flashed dangerously.

"No . . . I'm gonna show you what looking death in the eye really means."

Stepping forward, Sting's skin flashed and white scales replaced parts of his human flesh while his pupils turned in vertical slits and his fangs became slightly sharper than they already were. He could hear Xander scrambling up onto the stage to get to his wife and child, his hands probably working hard to untie them and get them out of there. Sting's eyes only looked away from Jose for a quick moment to see that the two men chasing him had finally caught up and were standing there with them.

"Azazel . . . Ryu . . ." He heard Xander growl.

Ivory and her son were rushed to leave as Xander held stood in front of the two henchmen and Sting took on Jose. The only thing that worried Sting was that he remembered Xander saying that his magic wasn't for fighting. Sting was never told what his magic was but that was enough to make him worry and only hope that Xander knew what he was doing against those two. Jose's lips quirked up into a sadistic smile and he held his hand out sending what looked like a purple ghost out towards Sting as he yelled "Dead wave". Sting rolled out of the way and shoved himself forward tackling Jose hard while yelling out a battle cry and throwing himself off of the small stage along with Jose. They both hit the ground hard and Sting grabbed Jose's wrist holding him back so that the knife he was holding didn't hit him. He nailed Jose in the jaw with his hand lit with a globe of light. He wrapped his hand around his jaw and shoved his head back into the ground causing an indent in the cobble-stone. Jose was able to use his other arm shoving Sting back slightly so that he was able to get his other arm free to wing his knife only clipping the fabric of his shirt. Sting flipped backwards off of Jose allowing himself to get back up onto his feet. The blonde backed away though when he saw one of the guys Xander was fighting being flung in his direction. Sting shoved his hand out in front of him and blasted a light at Jose and the man who was flung at him. It hit them sending them backwards. Out of the dust cloud though a knife was thrown nailing Sting in the right shoulder. The white dragon hissed and growled in pain while grabbing his shoulder. Sting ducked under another one that was aimed right for his head and ran off to the side which ended up having himself back to back with Xander who was struggling with the other one who had been shooting lighting at them.

"This is a pain." Sting grumbled trying to put pressure around where the knife stuck out from his shoulder.

"At least you have magic that can attack people." Xander shot back.

"Aw what's wrong your highness? I thought you were going to show me what looking death in the face meant?" Jose mocked stalking towards him only to be stopped by shadows latching onto his feet.

Sting blinked and smiled slightly seeing his 'brother's' magic go to work on trapping Jose though his smiled dropped and was replaced with shock as he saw Rio was the one shifting the shadows. The little girl also had bruises and marks on her skin but they seemed a little worse than Peyton's, she was planned to be killed after all. The blonde was relieved to see that Rogue was able to get to her on time. He turned his head and saw his 'brother' walking up to them, Peyton in his arms fast asleep. Even if Sting had told her stay there in the box he was still happy that it was Rogue that got her out of there so that no one else would be able to find her.

"Nice to know your little girl can finally use magic too." Sting grinned earning a faint smile from the shadow dragon.

"Yeah, well looked like you could use a few extra hands." Rogue shrugged placing Peyton down to lean against the stage as she slept. "How 'bout we work these guys out together?"

"Couldn't agree more; let's show them what these twin dragons are made of Rogue." Sting said his eyes flashing with that hint of excitement.

The blonde couldn't help but to feel like his old teenage self at that moment.