8: Darken, The Fall of The Great Dragon

Chapter thirteen: Another set of Darkens (James)

Once in my office, we began discussing our next move.

"If there's a bounty on our heads, we should stay away from towns and villages," Althie suggested.

"We need to gather as many of our family members as we can," Alexander said, settling into a chair. "That means we might have to take some risks."

"Our hair is the dead giveaway, though," Althie remarked, gesturing to his own yellow-blond locks and Alexander's golden tresses. "Maybe I should shave mine off."

"There's no need for that," Alexander replied. "I can change its color, just another one of the many things I can do." He ran his fingers through his hair, changing it into the white color of the elves, he then focused for a moment and his golden bat-like wings vanished. "there, now i look like an elf. The violet eyes are elven so it makes more sense for me to go with that disguise."

"Why don't you do that more often?" I asked my friend.

"Because it is uncomfortable to do," he answered. "It also feels unnatural. you should be okay just wearing a cloak, your wings are more flexible then Althie's and my own."

I nodded; my hair was simply black, a very common color. The problem lay with my eyes: one green, one blue. "What about my eyes?" I questioned.

"Hold still." Alexander waved his hand over my eyes, they stung a bit. "there, both blue."

"Okay, my turn." Althie stepped forward. "I know it would be easier to make my hair white to match yours, but, um, can you make it black to resemble father."

"Draus had black hair as well." Alexander mentioned. "Are you sure?" 

He looked to me, a smile on his face. "Draus is not my father."

"Okay, I will leave your eyes though," Alexander said as he ran his hand over my son's hair, turning it pitch black. "We can always say you're half-elf if questioned."

He then focused on concealing Althie's wings, which quickly disappeared.

"You weren't lying," Althie laughed. "It really is uncomfortable."

"We won't be able to use them while they're hidden like this," Alexander warned. "But at least we'll attract fewer stares walking through the town."

"Let's act like bounty hunters," I suggested. "If there's a bounty on all Darkens' heads, then there are bound to be bounty hunters looking."

"That works." Alexander agreed. "That way we can also ask questions without anyone wondering why."

We headed from the office and back to the entry hall, James pulling his cloak back on.

"Going out master James?" A maid with brown hair asked as she bowed. 

"I am," he smiled at her. "We will not return for some time. We were only here on brief business; do not let anyone know of our presence."

"As you wish." she bowed once more.

"How can you be certain that none of the maids will speak of this?" Alexander inquired.

"Simple," I said with a smile to my friend. "The maids can live here without charge, they don't have to serve a master except for the few occasions when I visit, and they are paid more than the average maid. They will remain discreet."

"Let's go," Althie urged. "We have a job to do."

We walked out of the mansion and back out the main gate and into the streets. 

"It would be best to start asking at an inn or tavern," I suggested, leading the way to the nearest one. The others followed as we approached a large, two-story wooden building with black trim on the outside. "I used to come here quite often in my youth." 

We entered the bustling tavern, alive with patrons drinking and singing while enjoying their meals. 

We approached the bar and noticed a barmaid with bright orange hair cleaning a glass as she made her way towards us. "How can I help you, mates?" she asked.

I could tell her hair was dyed with carrot juice before she even got close; I had seen that trick before. "Carrot juice will only last so long," I stated, watching her face turn pale. "I think it's best we talk in the back, don't you?"

"Follow me," she said, emerging from behind the bar to guide us to a back room. There, two burly men with poorly dyed hair awaited us, arms crossed. She turned to face us. "It's best you leave. I know you're bounty hunters. We want no trouble; we just wish to live in peace, but we will defend ourselves if necessary."

"Slow down there," I spoke calmly. "We are not really bounty hunters."

"That's bull," she spat. "Why the hell would anyone believe the words of a man who walks around with two elves?"

"Elves are not that bad." i shrugged, glancing at Alexander. 

"I can prove that we have no intention of turning you over to the Great Dragon," Alexander said softly. "I assume you are triplet?"

"We are." the girl spoke. "i hear its common in my family."

"it is." Alexander smiled, running his hands back through his hair, turning it back to its golden color. "i did not mean to deceive you, you see, there's a bounty out for myself as well."

"Your king Alexander," One of the men spoke, "what are you doing here, if the Great Dragon finds you she will..."

"Kill me?" Alexander laughed. "Shes after every Darken out there, she is killing them. i can not let that happen. we have a plan to stop her, but we need your help."

"i dont know." the girl looked hesitant. "would going with you not put us in more danger?"

"No," I spoke up. "We plan to take you to Ignisfatia, where my daughter's chosen power will keep you protected from Alexandria."

"Your her husband." the girl said, knowing well who i was. "James Heartfire."

"I am," i answered honestly. "we are gathering all the Darkens we can, we plan to strip my wife of her powers and bestow them onto all Darkens who are willing, so that none of the family will go mad again."

"We will do it," the other man spoke. "We've never met another Darken like us before. We have always dyed our hair since childhood because our mother told us it would keep us safe from our father, but we just want to be able to live in the open."

"My name is Althaeon." my son spoke. "My chosen power is the ability to teleport us to wherever i desire. i am the king of Ignisfatia and swear to keep you safe."

"I am Angel," the girl spoke. "These are my brothers Andrew and Axel. We are not children of Elkadar Darken, but his twin Emmanuel." 

"Father had a twin?" Alexander looked confused. "Is Emmanuel still living?"

"He is." Angel spoke. "But he does not live in the open, last i heard, he joined the cult of the dragon." 

Alexanders face went pale. "is he as evil as my father?"

"we do not know." Axle answered. "we have never met him."

"Lets get out of here." Althie spoke, i gave a nod, Alexander looked uneasy.