Emma: The Monster Inside Me (HTTYD Fanfic, Book 3)

Chapter 9: Who to Trust

         

Emma:

"Then it's settled," I said. "We'll go tomorrow and we'll get your sister back."

Ezra nodded before looking at the Bloodstone in Hiccup's hand. "How long are you going to keep that thing? When I can I have it back?"

"How about never," I muttered and Ezra glared at me.

"Well I certainly don't trust you with it, the only person I can trust is myself. I just want back what's mine," Ezra said.

"We give this to you, we lose all leverage. We have no way of knowing you won't betray us. And Emma can't have it because she might just use it to kill you," Hiccup said, looking between us pointedly. "So I'm keeping it for the foreseeable future."

Ezra sighed. "Fine."

I frowned. "I'm going for a flight. I'll be back later."

I turned and headed back home. "Echo?" I called as I headed inside. I smiled slightly as the baby dragon's head popped up from a box she was curled up in. I scooped her up into my arms and made my way over to Nova. "Want to go on a flight, Girl?"

Nova warbled happily and I gently tucked Echo in the saddlebag before leading Nova outside and mounting on her back.

We flew for a while before landing in a meadow full of wildflowers. I dismounted and Echo popped out of the saddle bag, clumsily flapping to the ground to sniff various flowers. I laughed softly as I watched her stick her nose in a flower before sneezing from the pollen.

"Emma?"

I looked up in response I saw Camber in front of me. "Camber," I said. "What are you doing here?" I hadn't seen him since he used the Lightning Stone on me, but before that, we were friends—or rather acquaintances, but before I had real friends, any company felt like friendship.

Nova suddenly growled at Camber, stepping between us and wrapping a protective tail around Echo and I. I frowned. "Nova, what is the matter with you?"

Camber took a step back, making a slight wave of his hand toward my dragon. "Strange, most dragons are quite fond of me."

Nova snarled more intensely and I laid a hand on her head. "Nova, calm down, I know him."

I frowned as Nova didn't say anything back. Normally when she spoke, I understood her, but it was like she wasn't saying anything. "Nova?"

"I'll get out of your hair shortly, I just have a question," Cam said. "Have you seen the Bloodhunter's stone, the Bloodstone, before?"

"Chieftess, don't trust him," a voice spoke from beside me. I turned my head.

"Parker," I said. "What do you mean?"

"He's not who he says he is, Emma," Parker said, stepping in front of me protectively. "You can't trust him. Everything he says is a lie."

"Me?" Cam said, looking surprised. "Emma, it's him you should he worried about—Parker isn't who you think he is."

I looked between the two of them, not sure who to believe.

"He's lying," Parker snapped. "I couldn't do anything to hurt you if I wanted to, Chieftess. And even if I could, don't you think I would have done it by now?"

"Don't listen to him!" Cam continued. "He's really an immortal—and a powerful sorcerer."

Parker scoffed. "Cam's the immortal sorcerer! He's the bloody Dimensionbender, Emma, you have to believe me!"

"Enough," I said firmly, looking between them. "How do you know each other?"

"That sorcerer used his powers to control me, he's working with Drago!" Cam said. "He used his powers to force me to turn myself in to Drago and to take your powers with the Lightning stone! I didn't want to do any of that, he forced me to!"

I looked at Parker in shock, studying his face. He looked frustrated, and even a little frightened. But what of?

Parker took a deep breath, turning to me and taking both of my hands. "Emma, look at me. I'm going to be honest with you right now. But I need you to trust me and I need you to stay away from him. I know he's not who he says he is because...because he's my brother. Have you heard of the Dimensionbender before?"

I searched his gaze. "Not much. Only whispers."

"Exactly. That's how afraid people are of my brother. They are too terrified to even say his name. They use yours as a campfire story, but his? They don't speak it at all. That is how evil he is. He is immortal. He has just about any power you can think of. He is beyond dangerous—even you wouldn't win a fight against him."

I studied him, not sure who was telling the truth.

"When you met him, when was it?"

"It was years ago," I answered.

"Does he look any older now?"

I turned my attention to Camber, studying his features. "No," I admitted, looking at Parker. "But neither do you."

"That's because he cursed Dark Valley and stopped time here, you know that," Parker replied.

I raked a hand through my hair. "Nova, what do you think?"

The dragons seemed as though she couldn't answer me, but growled at Camber again before nudging Parker's hand with her head as a way of showing me who she trusted.

I slowly looked back up at Parker. "I believe you."

Camber suddenly changed. Not the way he looked, but the way he carried himself. He dropped the act of some poor thief, his mannerisms changing to reflect a much more intimidating character. He looked at Parker with eyes full of hatred.

"Let's go," I said, putting a hand on Parker's shoulder and turning him with me to leave.

As we were about to leave, Camber's voice came from behind me. "If you leave now...you'll never know about your sister."