Heroes of Darkness

XX

LEO

Leo Specter watched his father sign the document from his desk. He tried not to look up at the one eye of Dusknoir. His father's Spirit Pokémon always seemed to give him the chills. Finally, Lord Specter rolled up the parchment and fixed it with the grey seal of his house.

"You will deliver this to her, read it to her, and take her into custody," he said calmly.

Leo felt his fingers tremble. Could he do it? He was but a young man, and Caitlyn Forrest's Absol had years of experience over his own Dusclops. "By myself?"

His father smiled. "This is the first trial one must take if he's to become a Lord Governor someday. I'm too old and fat to make the arrest, and this is your time to win glory for yourself."

Leo looked at Dusclops. He found no glory in arresting his half-brother's aunt, and the only family member that Alex had left.

"Don't look so grim, boy," his father laughed deeply from the pits of his overly large belly. "Franco and the guards will be there as well, in case you're in need of assistance."

Leo's thoughts turned to Elli, on how this all got started. "How goes the search for Elli? Have we had any luck?"

His father's face turned solemn again. "The only luck we're like to have is whatever you can glean from Lady Caitlyn before she realizes her predicament and clams up. It may be you could find a grain of truth in her lies." He nodded his head in dismissal.

Leo and Dusclops marched down the torch-lit halls of Mt. Pyre. He knew where to find Caitlyn Forrest. Unlike all the other ladies of court, Caitlyn preferred the company of soldiers and common folk to the handmaidens and curtsies of the political arena.

He stopped by his brother's room, and opened the door. He found Alex gazing out a window into the distance. It was foggy again today. His older brother must have heard him enter.

"What became of it?" Alex asked. Leo looked around the room for Banette, but the little ghost Pokémon could not be found.

Leo tapped the warrant on his leg, and Alex turned at the sound of parchment. "It's a decree for her arrest, so that she may be put to the question," Leo answered. "No judgment has been passed yet, I assure you. Alex, father thanks you for the information, but we need to make sure that it's all true before we go accusing people of conspiracy, no less the Chieftess of Foretree, and your own-"

"She's in on it," Alex said without a doubt in his voice. "You'll find out soon enough. Two days," he muttered under his breath. "Two days before they kill her."

Leo looked at his Dusclops and shuddered again. Alex had been counting down the days before the Draconids killed their hostage- Leo's own betrothed. There had been no word or sign of Elli or the terrorist band of outlaws. Perhaps if we apprehend Lady Forrest, then the Draconids would agree to a bargain, he thought.

"Let me go with you," Alex said, his arm still in a sling.

Leo shook his head. "Look at you! You're still hurt, you ran off your own Spirit Pokémon, and besides, father wouldn't want your emotional ties getting in the way of the arrest." Leo opened his arms and smiled. "Look at me, I'm just as big as you, and stronger. I'm not the same little brother who needs protection like I used to."

Alex smiled grimly and Leo could tell he knew it was true. They had grown up differently. Leo had taken the shape of his father: not yet fat, but big boned, broad, and strong. He figured that Alex looked more like his mother: tall, lean, with a body that seemed perfect for swimming in the lagoon surrounding Mt. Pyre, with the same almond-shaped eyes shared by those who share the last name of Forrest. "Go on then, and do your duty," Alex said at last.