“Huh. Strange they knew to find me here,” I said before getting up to change.
When I came back down Fox was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, “You brought your tactical gear with you?”
I shrugged, “In omnia paratus.”
“I missed out on Latin in school.”
“Ready for anything,” I gave him a searing kiss before brushing past him. “Jace, you want to come?” He looked down at Finley, who had started crying silently with a thousand yard stare, and shook his head. I walked over to her and kneeled in front of her, bringing her forehead to mine. “Fin it’s okay. They aren’t going to get you. They’ll never touch you again,” I linked her.
She didn’t respond for a long time but just as I was about to get up, “It’s not me I’m worried about.”
“Finley you don’t have to worry about me,” I linked her before standing. I cupped her face and made her look at me, giving her a soft smile. I wiped her tears with my thumbs and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be fine. You should worry for the monsters.”
She gave me a small smile and her eyes refocused. Jace stood and gave me a hug, “Thank you.”
“Any time. Keep your girl safe,” I said before breaking the hug. “What part of your territory are they on?” I asked, turning to Mathias.
“Southern border.”
“Daniel check in with Josie, Alanza, and Ian. Make sure nothing has gone wrong and these hunters aren’t here to distract me from something bigger going on, please and thank you.”
“You got it. Be safe out there.”
“Always am,” I said before pulling up my mask and walking out the door.
I made it to the southern border, but before I revealed myself to them I stood back and watched, observing them. They didn’t seem as nervous as they should if they were expecting me. I created a fog bank before stepping out, “Ah so The Ghost graces us with her presence.”
“What can I do for you guys?”
“We’re here for prisoner exchange. We’ll give you some of your filth back and you give us Phillip Northcott back.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
They both shrugged not giving anything up, but I suspected they have an inside source somewhere. “Do we have a deal?”
I mind linked Daniel, “They want a trade. Some of ours for Phil.”
He laughed through the link, “That’s rich. They don’t actually think you’ll fall for that do they?”
“Apparently,” was all that I said before disconnecting the link. “Where are these people you’re trading me for Phil?”
“They’re close. You’ll see them when you say we have a deal.”
“Why not bring them out now?”
“That’s not the deal.”
“Bring them out. Now,” I said, pushing dominance into my voice.
They brought out three people, I breathed in, “They’ve disguised themselves as dragons,” Niamh said in my head.
“What are they then? Humans?” I said back to her.
We breathed in deeply again, “Wyverns.”
I mind linked Daniel, “They’ve disguised three wyverns to smell like dragons. They don’t look as if they’ve been tortured or hurt really. They’re bound, not chained. Trap.”
“That’s what it sounds like. You going to let it play out?”
“Eh why not right? It’s not like I have anything else going on today,” I disconnected the link. “It’s funny they don’t look like your usual victims. Did you guys pick them up on your way over?”
The smell of fear began to seep through the air. “N-no. We just hadn’t gotten around to hurting them when you grabbed Phil-I-I mean Phillip.”
“Huh. That’s weird. Seems like if you really wanted to bargain you would’ve brought injured people with you rather than these pristine ones.” I walked over to them, circling them, “Can I tell you what I know? I know these are wyverns. I know you don’t plan on hurting them. I know you aren’t the ones pulling the strings. And I know this is a trap.”
I came to a stop in front of them, “Then who is pulling the strings?” I assessed the woman, the wyvern, who spoke. She was tall and lean with dark caramel skin and bright, cautiously inquisitive hazel eyes.
“Based on all of that I would guess Joseph,” I responded, looking into her eyes.
“You know you’re smarter than he gives you credit for,” she responded.
“You could always come to my side,” I said with a shrug.
She snorted, “As if we would be welcomed. We’ve been outcasts sin-”
“Hey! We’re not here to chitchat! We’re definitely not here to switch sides.” The hunter pulled out a gun and pointed it at me, “You will give us Phillip back. Now.”
“Well I don’t have him in my pocket,” I glared at him, heating the gun so it fell to the ground, “Now be quiet, the adults are speaking,” I looked at the woman who had been speaking for the wyverns. “You were saying.”
“We’ve been outcasts since the dark ages. You honestly think that’s going to change? That you’re going to change that?”
“We can, together. You’re just reenforcing that stereotype established if you stay on Joseph’s side. You won’t win this war. Please if you don’t join me at least go in peace and leave his side. I’m sick of this endless fighting amongst ourselves when our true enemies are the hunters.”
“You fucking bitch fil-” He didn’t get to finish as I quickly sliced through his neck causing his head to hit the ground before his body does.
I resheathed my sword just as quickly as I unsheathed it, “You are as efficient as the stories. It’s impressive.”
I nodded my thanks. “I don’t want an answer right now. An answer reached now would seem too hasty. Turn around,” they gave me a skeptical look but complied and I sliced through the rope binding them. “I’m sure Joseph is planning something for today or tomorrow. Think everything over, we’re cousins, biologically, and I believe we share the goddess. You won’t be outsiders if you come to Storm Industries.”
The leader nodded and held out her hand. I gave her a firm shake, “Thank you. We’ll think it over, but I’m not sure everyone will go for it. Hell, I’m not sure I buy it, but I might be willing to give you a shot.” They disappeared into the fog, the sound of wings flapping signaled their shift.
I turned to the hunter that was left, “Tell your friends to come out of the trees. I would like a word.”
He looked like he was about to shit himself, but he spoke into a walkie talkie doing as he was told. I dropped the fog bank and four more guys walked out of the surrounding forest.
Author: Kailan Counahan 