After 2 weeks in the city of Aynor Jacob and his girls still hadn't found a whisper about Rose's mother. They had been in every corner of the town and weren't any closer than the day they started. They went to the guildhall to meet with Rose to inform her that they still had no clue where to look.
Rose: Good afternoon Jacob, ladies.
Jacob: Good afternoon Rose. I'm sorry to tell you that after looking around today we haven't found a clue where she could be.
Rose looked disappointed and once Jacob saw her face and noticed she was starting to tear up he asked if she knew of any secret rooms or hidden corridors in an alleyway somewhere.
Rose: Not that I can think of. I've spent many hours myself hoping to stumble upon anything that would lead me to one clue.
Jacob: Is it possible that anyone you have talked to seemed distant when you brought your mother up?
Rose initially shook her head before remembering that one of the vendors who was close to the mayor would change the subject when her mother was mentioned.
Sylvie: 2 weeks we've looked and you tell us that now.
Rose looks embarrassed and frustrated that she completely forgot to think of the people not higher up in the nobility of the village.
Jacob: Now Sylvie it does no one good to get frustrated.
Sylvie: I'm sorry darling, and Rose please forgive me for snapping.
Rose: It's okay, I just didn't think anyone but the mayor would know what happened, and you can't just see him.
Jacob: Not with that attitude.
Jacob mentioned his plan to everyone to follow the vendor Rose spoke of and see what his daily routine is for a while. The vendor which Rose mentioned is the owner of the fish vendor named Filip. He is balding and on the heavier side. From looking at him you would believe he hasn't had a decent night's sleep in a long time, he wears a look of guilt on his face hidden by resentment, he hides behind fake smiles so his customers don't suspect he's committed something atrocious. Jacob uses the ability of Martian Manhunter to fly and be invisible so Filip doesn't notice him. Once Filip has finished his work for the day and began walking down an alley, he looks around making sure no one is around before he moves a false panel on a wall to reveal a hole big enough to fit only a finger which Filip proceeds to put his index in, he pours mana into it causing the wall rumble open. Jacob is surprised that no optical skill he used could see it, thinking the wall must have a high level enchantment that blocks out powers that are a lower level than it. Jacob flies in making it just in time as the wall closes almost as fast as it opens. He flies down behind Filip walking down a flight of stairs. After walking down what seems like hundreds of levels they finally reach a metal door. Filip opens it and walks in with Jacob flying right behind him, the room is so big Jacob thought the capital building in his home state could fill the room twice and there would still be room. Jacob looks around and notices a small body of water near a corner, he flies close only to see a girl in it. Her skin is fair, her blonde hair which curls at the tip is covering her bare breasts, her hands are chained over her head to the wall. It is clear she had been struggling in hopes to escape as her wrists are bruised purple. Jacob goes closer to her and notices fins protruding out of the side of her head, he looks in the water to see she has feet covered in scales and her toes are webbed. He thought she might be this world's version of a mermaid that has webbed feet instead of a tail. He wants to help her but knows that he needs to investigate more, so he flies around the room some more discovering a thick pane of glass the size of a building. Jacob is shocked when he sees that behind the glass is a blue dragon that has fish features.
Jacob: What the hell is going on? Why is there a fish girl and a water dragon here?
While Jacob is looking at the dragon which is asleep he notices Filip and someone else in a hood standing in front the dragon staring at it talking to each other. Jacob flies closer to hear what they are saying.
Filip: I hate this sir, I have nothing but guilt for all we've done. So many innocents gone over a legend
Hooded Man: If we want this town to prosper for years to come we must continue. If you waiver you'll join those "innocents" as you claim
Filip shakes from fear not wanting whatever happened to the others to happen to him.
Hooded Man: Is our next subject ready for the ritual?
Filip: S-she needs at least one more day for the potion to finish its work.
Jacob looks back at the unconscious naked girl and realizes that she's being turned into a fish of sorts. He feels anger building up that someone is being experimented on. He looks back and notices the Hooded Man taking his hood off. He has short hair, wears Savile Row Warwick glasses Jacob recognizes that this man is the town's mayor Hazel. That's when it clicks that Rose's mother might have been one of these innocents they experimented on. Jacob feels dread wondering what he will tell her.
Hazel: Continue monitoring the girl, once she's ready we'll begin
Filip: Yes sir.
Filip looks down at the ground clearly filled with shame at everything that's going on. Jacob notices that he is crying, the guilt finally had gotten to him and he broke. Jacob felt bad but at this moment he knew that girl needed him more. He flew to her and using super strength he breaks her chains. He takes his cloak off and covers her before picking her up and flying out of the room. He flies straight up to the wall and decides to use the ability of Shadowcat to phase through the wall with the girl. Jacob takes the girl back to the inn he and his team are staying at and places her in the bed. Not long later Phoebe and the girls walk in and see the girl lying unconscious in the bed.
Phoebe: What happened?
Jacob: I found a hidden room miles under the city, that's where I found her being experimented on.
The girls are surprised and look at the girl worried about her. Roxy notices the girl is stirring and slowly her bright blue eyes are open. She sits up causing the cloak to fall exposing her breasts. The girls start to freak Phoebe covers Jacobs eyes while Roxy jumps in front of his line of sight and Sylvie covers her up again.
Jacob: Ladies, don't forget I was the one who initially covered her.
Phoebe: Well, we're here now and it's rude to look at a maiden while she's bare.
Sylvie: Yeah we're just trying to protect her pride.
The girl now utterly confused asks where she is.
Jacob: You're safe now, I'm Jacob these are my teammates Phoebe, Sylvie and Roxy. Can you tell us your name?
The girl says her name is Marie.
Jacob: It's nice to meet you Marie, do you know what happened?
Marie: It's all a blur, all I remember is meeting the Mayor to discuss the fish issue.
Roxy: Fish issue? What do you mean?
Marie: We're overfishing causing a lack of resources. If we keep going we'll have to abandon our homes.
Jacob: So I guess you wouldn't know anything about a blue dragon.
Marie looks at Jacob and says that legend states that the guardian deity of the village is a blue dragon that would bring fortune to those who provide offerings. Jacob asks what the offerings are and she says that normally providing fruits and meat were used according to the stories.
Jacob: Okay, stories like that existed where I'm from about offering items to gods for prosperity.
Phoebe: Jake my love, why are you asking her about a dragon?
Jacob: Cause I saw it down there with her.
The girls gasped in surprise even Marie didn't believe the dragon was real.
Sylvie: You mean to tell me this town has a dragon living in it.
Marie: But if the dragon is real, why are we running out of fish?
Jacob: I don't know but I plan on finding out what's going on, especially with that mayor.
Roxy: Why the mayor dear?
Jacob: Because he was down there with Filip the vendor talking about a ritual.
Marie: I don't know anything about a ritual to the dragon deity
Jacob: Marie I have a question. Are you a mermaid?
Marie: W-what no, I'm a regular girl.
Jacob: Uh-oh.
Marie: What?
Jacob: When I found you you had fish scales, webbed feet, and some fins are poking out of your head.
Marie: WHAT!
Marie jumps out of the bed fully naked, Sylvie freaking out jumps on top of Jacob straddling him while forcing her hand over his eyes. Marie looks in the mirror and notices her features had been morphed and her teeth were sharp.
Marie: Why am I turning into a fish?!
Jacob: You were sitting in what I believed to be water, it turns out it was some kind of potion changing you into a fish person. If I hadn't gotten to you when I did you'd probably be fish by tomorrow.
Marie's leg gave way to a realization that had he not found her she'd never be able to come home. Phoebe handed Marie some clothes so she wouldn't be bearing it all. At that time Marie hadn't fully realized that she was naked in the presence of a man, when it clicked she began to blush and frantically put the clothes on. Sylvie finally got off Jacob leaving deep red handprints on his face over his eyes.
Jacob: As much as I loved having you on top of me Sylvie, you almost pushed my eyes into the back of my skull.
Sylvie blushed in embarrassment hearing that and she punches Jacob in the face. She hit him hard enough that his face caved in like a cartoon. Jacob cartoonishly puts his hands out as if he's in the dark feeling for his environment. Sylvie looks at Marie to tell her that she was safe.
Marie: That man is very odd.
Sylvie: Yeah, but he is our boyfriend and we wouldn't trade him for anything
Phoebe and Roxy smiled and nodded in agreement. Marie thought it was strange that the 3 of these beautiful smart women would choose such an oddity as a lover, while looking at him he walks face first into a wall and falls on the ground causing his indented face to pop out fixing it.
Roxy: Jake love what's the plan.
Jacob, still lying on the ground staring at the ceiling deep in thought about Rose decides that he won't tell her until he absolutely is certain that her mother is gone, not wanting to hurt her.
Jacob: We're gonna go back and investigate more, hopefully we'll find Rose's mother alive.
The girls looking serious agree with him.
Jacob: Marie it would be best if you stayed here, I don't want you being put in any more danger. I believe me taking you from the room will cause more problems soon.
Marie agreed and sat down at the table. Phoebe brought her some food she bought while out in the town. Marie thanks her and begins eating.
Jacob: Roxy I need your help.
Roxy: Of course, what are we doing?
Jacob: We're gonna go into recon and keep an eye on the vendor and mayor.
Roxy: Alright, who do you want me to take?
Jacob: You take the vendor, stay in the shadows, and make sure you aren't seen.
Roxy: I understand.
Jacob tells Phoebe and Sylvie to keep Marie safe while he and Roxy go out on their mission. Arriving at the mayor's home, Jacob uses Shadowcats ability to phase through the wall, then uses Invisibility to secretly move around. He sneaks into the mayor's study in hopes to find any info on the ritual. Not long into his snooping the mayor walks in forcing Jacob to use his Shadowcat ability to phase out of the building on the patio. He pokes his head back in and watches Hazel walk through a wall.
Jacob: I thought I was the only one who could walk through walls.
He walks up to the wall and trying to put his hand on it only to find he is able to pass through it
Jacob: I don't have my skill activated. It's like a hologram.
Jacob walks through the fake wall only to see what can be described as a room of horrors. Butchered bodies on hooks layer the room. He walks through the gory scene and finds an open book on a table.
Jacob: Ritual to awaken the Azure Dragon.
Jacob reads the book as it describes extracting magic aura from 1,000 individuals. He looked around the bloodied room and realized they had been butchered for their aura. He closes the book only to see the cover has a skull on it and the title is written in a language he can't read. A scream is then heard behind a door to Jacobs right. Jacob phases through the door to find a woman who looks like Rose being cut into by Hazel.
Hazel: I love it when they scream, it's just like music to my ears.
The woman proceeds to scream louder when he puts his scalpel on her arm and drags it down, splitting her flash as if it was butter against a hot knife. However, almost as if some hit rewind the flesh seals up.
Hazel: I could do this forever. But I'm on a schedule, so we'll continue this later my dear.
Hazel then puts the scalpel down and leaves the room. Jacob waits until he can't hear his footsteps anymore before showing himself to the woman.
Jacob: Are you okay?
The woman initially is scared and wants to run but being strapped to a table she can't move.
Jacob: Hey, hey, hey it's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you.
She slowly starts to calm down as Jacob with his hands in the air slowly moving towards her.
Jacob: My name is Jacob, can you tell me your name?
She says her name is Iris and she has been in there for months enduring the same pain every day and all that she wants to do is go home to her daughter Rose.
Jacob: Rose sent me to find you. She told me she's been looking for you for a long time.
Iris begins to cry, not knowing her poor daughter never gave up on finding her. Jacob then destroys the restraints holding Iris in place, he picks her up and flies her out of this hell she's been trapped in for months and takes her back to the inn. When he walks in he finds that Roxy hasn't returned yet, and the girls are asleep. He puts Iris in bed and leaves to find Roxy. While out he notices Filips store is in shambles and blood all over the walls. Jacob at this moment is full of fear worrying about Roxy, he runs through the store only to find a body on the floor in a puddle of blood. He runs up to the body fearing the worst, only to see the body is that of Filip who had been ripped to pieces. He hears a noise around some rubble and sees Roxy's legs under it. He runs up and gets the rubble off her, begging her to open her eyes she slowly does, smiling when she sees him and apologizes that she had been spotted by Hazel who decimated her and Filip who had decided that he couldn't handle anymore guilt and attacked Hazel, only to be ripped up in an instant, she falls unconscious. Jacob picks Roxy up and takes her back to the inn.
Once they arrive he puts Roxy in the bed next to Iris and wakes the other girls up. Once they stir awake Phoebe and Sylvie initially get worried about Roxy being so injured. Phoebe then uses advanced healing to patch her up.
Phoebe: What happened?
Jacob: Hazel our lovely mayor happened. Apparently he's not just a pretty face, he's dangerous too. I found Rose's mother in his house being tortured by him.
Sylvie: So that's who that woman is.
Jacob: Yes, psychologically she is very broken. Tomorrow we're gonna bring Rose here to reunite her with her mother and protect both of them. Then we're gonna take out that monster.