Project: Hero

chapter twenty-eight

"Quick Princess, put some clothes on," Sergio jumps up and pulls a pair of jeans and a holey t-shirt on.

I do the same and while Sergio climbs down the tree I allow myself to float down gently, my wings sprouting from my shoulders and beat ever so slightly as I descend.

It's hard to understand what's happening, everyone seems to be talking all at the same time. It has spooked everyone whatever it is and I look around. Nothing seems to be on fire which is definitely a relief, and I can't see anything that's clearly broken. There's nothing obvious but still there's something that has disrupted the peace of this place.

I look harder and see the cause of all this. I nearly burst out laughing, standing in the middle of the angry crowd is my new canine friend. I know it's the Dog I sent after Sergio, it has no teeth and looks very confused.

"Hi boy," I smile and rush into the ring.

The dog leaps up and ignoring the intake of breath from everyone around me I pat the dog. I don't care what anyone says, I'm keeping him. After all he found Sergio.

"What are you doing?" Someone shouts but the mute little photo travelling mooner watches curiously.

This might help her, I tell the dog to stay and walk over to her slowly.  I hold my hand out and wait for her to make the choice to come to me. I won't force her and the crowd of mooners seems to be holding their breath as one. I can't see Sergio but I don't care what he thinks. I know this will work, I've seen it before.

I smile encouragingly as the little girl steps forward. I thought it would take longer than this but at least I know I'm right about this.

"Well done," I praise once she's by my side. I pat the dog's velvety head and all the other mooners disperse, satisfied that the show's over. "He won't bite, he's got no teeth."

The girl smiles and a tiny giggle escapes her before she covers her mouth. I pretend not to notice and scratch behind the dog's ears. I don't want to make a big deal over this and go backwards.

"What do you think we should call him?" I ask conversationally. The girl shrugs so I carry on, "I think Toothless..." The girl shakes her head, so I laugh lightly, "What do you want to call him?"

I'm not expecting an answer so when the girl whispers into my ear I'm jumping for joy on the inside. I make sure to listen though. She pulls away and smiles sheepishly, almost as if she expects to be laughed at.

"I like it, I think it suits him," I smile and lift the dog's head to look at his eyes. "Dog, you belong to us now and we're going to call you Max."

The girl throws her arms around me and Max suddenly. Max is such a smart dog that he doesn't even flinch, he just licks the little girl's cheek. They walk together and Max gently noses the girl out of dangerous holes.

"That was brave," Sergio says, seemingly appearing from nowhere.

I yelp, spin and slap at him all at the same time. He knows I don't mean it so pretends to be hurt and laughs. He kisses me gently and hugs me.

"How did you know that would work?"

"I've seen it happen before. Back at home."

"I meant with that particular Dog, it did attack us."

"Before you knocked its teeth out and it found you," I smile and look at him. "The Dogs can change and he's already helped the mute mooner."

Sergio smiles at me and kisses my cheek, "I'm glad you took control of that one."

The way he says that makes me worried. I think there's something else going on and I ask him. He sighs but tells me it's nothing. Sergio won't meet my eyes so I know he's lying to me. I ask again.

He pulls me into the forest, "I found Dragonov's mark on a tree near here."

"So? It could be an older mark. From when you were with him."

"It's fresh, he followed that damn dog here," Sergio sighs and leans on the tree. "Blair, he's going to destroy this place."

"Not if we don't let him."

Sergio raises an eyebrow and I know my plan isn't working. I need to start explaining myself better. I try to explain but don't get a chance, Crystal runs in between the trees. She's crying, I guess Sergio told her about Kotey somehow.

"You lied to me!" She sobs pounding her fists against Sergio's chest. "How could you lie about something like that?"

"Crystal, what are you talking about?" I ask gently.

"Kotey! Your fucking liar of a boyfriend told me Kotey was dead!"

"I don't understand," Sergio looks between me and Crystal. "He is dead isn't he?"

"Yeah, Crystal, are you sure it was Kotey?"

"Yes Blair," she answers me nastily. "I'm sure. How many people look like Kotey?"

She has a point but I'm still confused. Kotey is dead, we saw him die.

"Where is he?" Sergio asks going down to business while I'm still trying to process all this information.

Crystal sniffs and takes us to where Kotey is. As soon as I get closer to my half-brother I know something's wrong. He's too still and his eyes look dead.

"Kotey?" Sergio asks.

Kotey's head turns toward the sound robotically. "I have a message for you. Everything you know will be destroyed," his voice doesn't even sound like his, it sounds like our father's.

Crystal is trying to get Kotey to talk to her but there's a clicking sound. Kotey's neck breaks and he falls to the ground.

This time we know he's dead and there's no way he's coming back now. His body starts ticking and I pull Crystal away.

I'm glad I did because once the ticking speeds up it becomes clear that Kotey's body is a bomb.

"Get down!"

Everyone obeys and I close my eyes before bits of Kotey's body start to fly around.