The Destiny of A Dragon Rider [SLOW UPDATES]

Chapter 9: Search

Jackson

"I'm tired of this bullshit," I spat, slamming my hand down on the table. "You said you were sending out search parties!"

"We are," Vladimir responded calmly, though he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It's extremely difficult, because Livius and his men covered their tracks well."

"I don't give a shit how well they covered their damn tracks!" I growled, slamming my hand down on the table. He jumped and adjusted the collar to his long white robe. "I don't care who you are, how powerful you are. You are the Council, are you not? In the rules of your job, it clearly states that it is your duty to keep your citizens safe!"

"Don't open the rule book on me, boy!" Vladimir warned, lifting his hand and pointing a wrinkled finger at me. "I've had those rules memorized long before you were growing in your mother's belly."

I narrowed my eyes at his words and studied him. He was one of the older, higher Council members who were very respected throughout the years. I feel, at this moment, no respect for any of them. They're sitting on their asses discussing finding my wife, but don't help to look.

"If you know them so well," I growled at him, meeting his dark green eyes with a challenging glare, "then start following them. Join the search. Help find my wife instead of sitting here like a bunch of goddamn ducks." I clenched my jaw tightly once more and added, "You aren't incapable. You have more than enough resources and willing people to help with the search."

"If we could, we'd expand those resources to you, Mr. Hades, but we just cannot afford-"

"Afford?" I roared, now more angry than ever. I got to my feet and glared down at him with anger and fueled rage, swiping my hand across the papers on the table and scattering them across the room. "This is bullshit! You are a coward, you hear me? A coward!"

The people gathered around the table widened their eyes as they watched the scene. There was a tense air flowing around every single person inside the room, including myself. My main victim cleared his throat and lifted his chin at me, apparently trying to get a better hold of himself. "Mr. Hades," he started very calmly, folding his hands together, "I do not think you are in any position to name me a coward. I do not see you out looking for your wife, nor do I sense any orders of search parties from your end."

Something inside me cracked, my self-control and my ability to keep myself from seriously harming this man went down the drain the second his words left his mouth. How dare he call me a coward? I have sent out five different search parties while these shitheads sit on their asses like lazy douches and leave Faye to die?

"You tell me not to use the rulebook against you," I said, my voice lowered into a ragged, almost eerily calm tone of voice. "You tell me that you know these rules like you know your own name, and yet you refuse to follow them? You are not worthy of your position, you are not worthy to sit in this house or that throne in the Council House. You aren't even worthy to be the speck of dirt on my shirt. You are worthless. You promised search parties, you promised lies! I see none of your men or women out there, so thank God for those who have the humanity to take it out of their lives and come help voluntarily. You are a disgrace to this world, and anyone who follows you should not be a Council member. The founding men and women of this government would be absolutely ashamed to see it's turn out." By the time I finished my soft rant, half the people in the room were standing to their feet.

"I will help." My eyes snapped to an older woman with graying blond hair and a kind face, her hand reaching out. I leaned over hesitantly and took it, looking up at her. "I will call in some of the best trackers and rescue teams I know, if they are not already here."

"I as well," a younger Council member stated, also standing. He took off his top hat and held it in his hands, nervously twisting it and clearing his throat, "I'm the Head of the Council's Safety Guard. I'll make sure to get troops sent immediately. And aids, of course." He gave me a slight bow and glanced at Vladimir challengingly.

"You are all foolish," Vladimir growled, his eyes setting on each person for a moment to glare at them as they slowly stood up in agreement with helping me out. "The lot of you. Senior Councilman Avery won't be pleased with your traitorous behaviors!"

The woman who spoke up first and was holding my hand piped up, "Well then, go ahead. But it so happens that Mr. Avery is very respectful towards the rules. He'll be sure to know that you refused to help someone in dire need, too, then?" She smiled coldly at Vladimir, knowing she had caught him in a snare.

"Wretched woman," Vladimir spat, making me release her hand and stride towards the arrogant man. Council member or not, he was not going to get my respect in any so way at all. I shoved him towards the door, giving him a sharp glare.

"Leave, it's obvious where you stand in this situation," I said, continuing to herd him towards the front door with anger.

"Do not touch me, you bloody idiot!" Vladimir hissed. I pulled the front door open to see a furious Leto standing only a few feet away from us with a dangerous glint in her eye.

"Hello Leto," I greeted calmly, shutting the door once Vladimir and I were outside. I kept a cautious eye on the cruel man while walking towards the sleek white dragoness and reaching my hands out. She hummed softly, a friendly but very sad sound filled with worry and grief as she lowered her head into my hands.

"You are angry," she said softly, nuzzling my hands. "What did the Council say? Did they reject your plead for help?" Her tail swayed back and forth, the sound of it like a car's purring engine. She was eager, she was hopeful. I could almost hear her heartbeat in her chest a she waited for my answer.

"They have agreed," I whispered to her, letting my relief finally take over my body. The feeling of the emotion was intense and it made me weak to my knees. I held myself up, opening my eyes and pulling back to look at her in the eye. "However, one Vladimir had tried to reject my demands and went on to insult me, after I called him a coward."

Before I could process the movement, Leto's presence disappeared. I whipped around to see her tail narrowly missing my face as she launched herself at the now frightened man. "Back away beast!" he roared, only fueling Leto's rage. She roared loudly right in his face as she forced him to the ground, standing over his body and lowering her head so their faces were only mere inches from one another.

"I would watch what you say to Leto," I called to Vladimir, not able to hide the smirk that came to my face. Despite the whole situation we were in, I was pleased to see Vladimir about to be set straight by the ever wild Leto. "Like all other dragons, she bites.. Only she bites a tad more hard. Enough to break a bone, or even rip an arm off."

As if to add emphasis to my words, Leto let a loud snarl rip through her body and curl her lips back to reveal her very sharp and white set of teeth ready to tear into flesh and bone and cause some major damage.

Vladimir cringed as deep into the ground as he could, a swallow bobbing in his throat. He stuttered out in a scared voice, "W-what does she want? I can't do anything!"

"I want you to stop being a selfish coward," Leto growled, her usually wise and calm voice now demanding and feral. "I want you to find my Rider and her child and bring them home. I want you to do it now!" she roared, her wings shooting open around her and giving her more of a threatening appearance.

When Vladimir didn't respond, I had to watch as Leto reared on her back legs and lunge for the man's throat.