Heaven's Dragon

Lucio

I sleep the best I have in months. I have no dreams. Just dark, blissful sleep.

I wake to Charle's deep drawl.
"We're almost there, ya'll."

I open my eyes to see the city of Riga sprawling beneath me. The sun is high, the buildings glistening over the citizens below. I think of how much Cameron would love it. I could just see her eyes lighting up at the city... she was so beautiful.

As we pass the city, a distant castle comes into view. The President's Castle, to be exact. It lies in the valley between two mountains. It is sparsely guarded, now that there are few threats. Charles lands us in a field a short distance from the main gate. He pulls open the door, and all three of us pile out into the tall grass.

"This is sort of... gross," Adalene comments.
"Reminds me of home. Just a bit cooler," Charles adds.

I remain quiet as we approach the looming castle. Too many questions are running through my head. I can't focus. My hands shake and my blood boils. It's really a grand time.

We make it to the front gates without being shot down or decapitated, which I see as a good sign.
"What do we do?" I ask in a hushed tone.
"Just knock," Charles replies.

I raise my fist to the door, but just as I'm about to hit it, the massive entryway swings open for us. Adalene and I jump back, while Charles simply flinches. Two guards await us on the other side.

"Welcome," one says. He is lean and tall, with dark brown stubble grazed across his face.
"I am Maxwell. This is Jonah," he continues. The one he calls Jonah is shorter, with a blonde mop falling off his shoulders like a wannabe Thor.

"We will escort you to the president," Jonah adds as they turn and begin marching back towards the inner part of the castle. The three of us hurry along behind them, both eager and terrified. I glance at Adalene, making sure she is still breathing.

The entry room is enormous. A grand staircase sets itself as a jewel in the center, leading up to the second level. I assume there are many more levels, but their entrances must be hidden. To my left are doors leading to another assumingely grand room, and to my right is a wall decorated with paintings of all sorts.

Jonah and Maxwell begin marching up the staircase, and we follow behind with stunned and tense silence. The paintings on the wall seem to stare us down. It is mostly portraits of scowling past presidents, with a few naturalistic landscapes lightening the mood. I feel like I'm being stalked.

"So... how do you like it here, Maxwell?" Charles asks in attempt to ease the tension.
"Better than my old job. Are you still a pilot?" Maxwell responds.
"Yessir. Flew these wonderful young ladies today."
"I see."

"You... know each other?" Adalene inquires softly.
"Yep. Maxwell and I go way back," Charles says giddily.
"We do," Maxwell says tersely.
"How?" I ask.
"We went to school together. The light beast university. We had a few classes together. Nothing important." Maxwell states.
"Aw, come on, don't you remember-" Charles begins.
"No, I don't," Maxwell cuts him off. I suspect Maxwell doesn't want us to know what he did in his unruly twenties.

We continue down a massive hallway, which seems to swallow us as we walk further. Doors are sparse, but bright lights line the walls. Seemingly random, Jonah turns to his left and pushes open one of the doors. The rest of us file behind him, cautious.

The room is an expansive office, with floor to ceiling windows allowing light to flood in. I can feel magic pulsing around me, energizing me. The windows overlook the massive forest, and the city can be seen in the distance. It is gorgeous.

The room is sparsely decorated, with the walls painted off white and a few matching couches arranged across from each other. Between us and the windows sits an enormous oak desk. Behind it, an average sized graying man. The President.

He has well trimmed stubble, with short cropped hair to match. His eyes are bright blue, sparkling daringly at me. He wears a white suit, with the exception of his red tie.

"Hello, guests," he begins, dismissing the guards with a wave of his hand. Maxwell and Jonah file out, but I have a feeling they won't be far away.

"Hello, misour President," Adalene says with a curtesy. The President chuckles.

"Please, just call me Luke," he says cheerily.

I am too stunned to speak. After a moment, the President speaks again.

"It's been a while since I've seen you, Charleston."
"Same to you, Lucio," Charles replies.
"Charleston? Lucio?" I blurt, reacting to the somewhat ridiculous names.
"Yeah, that's my full name," Charles says, "Don't spread it around."
"You got it."
"Please, sit," Luke says, gesturing to the couches.

Adalene, Charles, and I go to one couch, while Luke sits across from us on another. A moment of silence passes.

"You're probably wondering why I've brought you here," Luke begins.
"Yes," I respond.
"First... do you trust these people? Your friends? If you do, I will allow them to help you."

I glance at Adalene and Charles.

"Yes."
"Alright. There has been a... disturbance. In the light world. When you killed the Hell Beast, it was supposed to wipe out all dark beasts. Which it did. Sort of."
"Sort of?"
"Yes. You see... you know the blood is tainted. I am not even pure light. Only you. There were some families of Dark Beasts that were so tainted, there was more light in them than dark."
"But they still showed dark traits?"
"Yes. And it was usually only one or two family members, per family. They did not die, because they had more light in them. They essentially blame us for murdering their loved ones. Which we have."
"So they hate us. And probably want revenge."
"Exactly. Not only that, but some light families had members who were more dark, who died. They aren't exactly pleasant about that either."

I take a deep breath. If only things could be simple.

"So what do I have to do with this?"
"We have reason to believe they are going to hold a rebellion against the light beasts. There are at least a few thousand of them. And it will happen soon. I was hoping you would lead the light army against them."

Oh, great. Just what I need.

"Alright. That might be able to be arranged. But how do you know all this?"
"We have captured their leader." Luke replies proudly.
"Really?"
"Yes. Would you like to see for yourself?"
"Absolutely."