RISE

19 - Another Plan

The roar of an engine filled the silence, and Elvorix stood up fully, grabbing his cloth to tie it around his waist again. Aaron stood, too, looking over the grassland to see a tiny figure speeding over the shallow hills. El said Beatrix didn't have wings, so this seemed to be her way of getting around. As the figure drew near, Aaron realized it was a motorcycle, a black and silver sport bike with neon green flames airbrushed on the sides. Riding it was a leather-clad demon, the black helmet matching the bike with green flames. She was as tall as Elvorix, and twice as muscular, the revealing leather outfit allowing Aaron to see her strong frame. Her skin was a pale gray, mottled with black and covered in tattoos. Her hair was the same green as the flames, flying wildly behind her. Her aura was a passionate purplish-pink, peppered with bright gold and yellow sparkles.

She twisted the bike sideways and skidded to a halt in front of them, quickly dismounting and pulling off her helmet. Suddenly, Aaron remembered that Elvorix mentioned that she owned a makeup store, because her face was decorated in exciting, colorful makeup. She smirked at the two men, completing her grand entrance.

"Beatrix!" El squealed delightedly. "I'm so glad you came! I don't think I could do this without you! Plus, I wanted to introduce you to my husband!"

El put an arm around Aaron proudly, and he stepped forward to greet her. "It's lovely to meet you. I'm Aaron. Elvorix has told me you're one of his closest friends."

"I am his closest friend," she insisted, but her tone was mirthful. She held out a hand clad in a studded-leather fingerless glove, and Aaron shook it firmly. "I apologize for not meeting you sooner. As Elvorix's closest friend, I should have been one of the first to welcome you to our humble little realm."

"It's alright," Aaron assured him. "I'm just glad you're able to be here for Elvorix in his time of need."

Beatrix gave him a surprised smile, and then punched Elvorix in the arm, knocking him back a bit. "Looks like I didn't need to worry after all! He's a sweetheart."

"Yes, he is," El replied, rubbing his arm. "We both truly appreciate you coming to help. Neithotep and Azariah have also agreed to join us, thought we will still be sorely outnumbered."

"But not outmatched," Beatrix announced confidently, standing tall with her hands on her hips. "Between you and I, they don't stand a chance. Azariah and Neithotep will be left with our sloppy seconds!"

Her aura blushed orange with confidence, then a haze of bluish-gray shame settled over her, and she dropped her hands, looking down bashfully.

"I wanted to say, too, that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed your human wouldn't like you. It wasn't that I thought lowly of you, honestly. It was the human I was worried about. They're so shallow and small-minded, I didn't think he would take the time to get to know you, to give you a chance. I just didn't want you to be heartbroken."

"Aw!" Elvorix cried heartfully, stepping forward to wrap her in a tight embrace. "I forgive you, and I'm sorry, too, for losing my temper! I should have known you were only looking out for me—"

El was cut off with a choking sound when Beatrix brought her arms up to return the hug, a little too tightly. Aaron cleared his throat gently, reaching out a hand instinctively at the sound of El's distress, and they separated.

Beatrix leaned against her bike, pulling a short knife from a sheath on her hip and using it to sharpen her claws. "So, what's the plan? Are we going to wait around for Gourmal to track us down, or are we going in, guns a-blazing?!"

"Naturally, you know I prefer to take the offensive position!" Elvorix declared. "We'd better hurry; I told Neithotep to meet us at Gourmal's castle!"

Beatrix paused for a moment, then a wicked grin formed across her face. "Oh, no, we didn't forget to invite little Quincey, did we?"