My Heart Belongs to You

Chapter 20: Safe Harbor

Ash, Gary, and Archer had all needed to move quickly it seemed; Darius had indeed had others following his recon team, and now those spies were surveying the area for what had killed their men. Or, a trace of what could have done it. Thankfully, it seemed they had been slower and had not overheard them before.

Lance was warned by Ash via telepathy of the spies; the dragon trainer merely sent a grumble of agreement that he had gotten the message.

Once they were back in the house, Ash took them over to the pad and then smirked as he snapped his fingers. Archer then squawked in surprise; his eyesight went dark out of nowhere and then returned after Ash had input his master code to unlock the lower level.

As they reappeared, all of them looked relieved to see them alive. Exhausted, emotionally drained, and outputting enough aura so all felt it now; even Archer, who had gone quiet as he realized what had happened to his sight moments ago.

Serena stood and approached him warily, "Ash."

He looked to her and smiled tiredly, "I'm okay Serena; just exhausted. We both are; mentally and physically. Everyone, this is Archer..."

Misty then glowered, "You!"

She stood and walked over as her whole face fumed with rage, "I should have known. When have you ever not had it out for Ash?"

Ash smirked, "Actually, this time he didn't. Archer was taken hostage by thugs of Darius while on route back to Viridian. Thugs that later dropped him into the secret ops team's hands; where he was also beat and smacked about none too gently."

Misty eyed Ash a moment as her anger receded some before blue eyes narrowed on Archer, "If I catch you trying to harm Ash ever again at all; you will rue the day you ever met me. Ash is my brother in everything but blood, so do be careful."

Ash watched as she then walked away and breathed a breath of relief.

"That was close." He commented quietly to Archer, "Misty was a hair's breath from likely either pounding on your noggin or smashing your face in."

Archer grimaced; that would not have been the best feeling at the moment.

Ash eyed Richelle, "Please tend to him and see the wounds are healed. Then, I suppose we can all head back upstairs. Lance is likely in the woods behind the house doing what's left to do...clean-up."

Misty eyed him, "Are the others stunned...or are they..."

Ash grimaced, "No. They're dead; all twenty of them except for Archer. I didn't intend to kill them at first; I merely wanted to find out why they were here in full and stun them for authorities to take into custody.

That changed when I found Archer hostage to them and being unwillingly forced to aid them. At the expense of his life for his defiance."

Ash then sighed, "Archer is still Giovanni's right-hand; he had answers to some things that both myself and he wants to know. I couldn't allow him to be killed there and Archer was antagonizing Andre."

Lilith glared at Archer, "You imbecile! You know what Andre is like to those who show insubordination! No amount of antagonizing him would have ever allowed you to escape; he'd rather kill you or make an example out of you!

Be grateful you were needed and that Ash decided to save your hide."

Archer nodded, "I am grateful. Though perhaps I am a bit confused as to what is actually going on."

Lilith regarded him as her eyes widened, "That's right; you've been in and out of the base so much recently that the take-over was a surprise; one of my last messages before I landed here was to you about it.