Find Your Light (Light Within book 2)

Two

Cleo gasps, eyes so wide I wouldn't be surprised if they popped. 'You... you're a... Se-Serolian! How was I not aware of this beforehand?!'

'And good morning to you too, Admiral Cleo.' Purrs President Rokin. His Dragon growls menacingly, displaying two long rows of alarmingly big teeth. 'Now, Echo, we don't want to scare off our guest, do we, girl?'

'I'm not scared of you and your Dragon, Mr President.' Retorts Cleo, her eyes piercing Rokin with enough anger to make him shift from a relaxed and calm posture to a more uneasy one. I touch Cleo's foot with mine as a warning. We don't want to mess with him. He's a very powerful person.

Cleo regains her composure and we take a seat at the long table in the middle of the room. Blue sits between us in a protective stance, ready for anything, with his wings stretched out to their full length, and let me tell you, each of them takes up a good quarter of the huge conference room.

'Let's get down to business, shall we? Offers the President, his voice not giving away any uncertainty. I don't feel safe around this guy. He's not normal. Something about him is making me extremely wary of my surroundings. To reinforce this feeling, his terrifying Dragon is staring at me in a horrifyingly intense way with her ember-orange eyes. The eyes of a killer. I move my chair closer to Cleo and Blue.

'I was just about to suggest it.' The only emotion Cleo's showing is pure hatred. And there I was, thinking she'd be overjoyed to see someone who was a potential friend of her parents'. I know it makes me sound stone-hearted, but something in that thought makes me feel better. 'What the hell was going through your tiny brain,' starts Cleo, very much proving the fact that she was ready to get straight to the point. 'when you blackmailed one of the high Generals to send a ship into your own planet's atmosphere?! Are you trying to start a war, Rokin?!'

I'm just surprised she hasn't attempted to attack him yet. Judging by her tone, it's obvious she wants to.

'Hmm, so you heard about that, eh? My, terribly sorry, but it's none of your business.' Says the President.

'Of course I heard about it! And it might be the only thing that is my business! It's the prime reason I've come all this way! We want answers!' Cleo starts losing her patience.

'We?' Rokin arches his left eyebrow scornfully.

Cleo's hair covers her eyes and she smiles, pushing it out of the way. 'I've told the whole population of Serolia. The entire planet knows how you blackmailed the General to do your own dirty work, leading to the loss of innocent lives.'

The President's eyes widen for a split second, but that's the only sign of concern he shows. 'Well, that's rather unfortunate. Makes the whole thing a lot less personal, doesn't it, Admiral?'

'It sure does.' Growls Cleo. 'But enough with my side of the story already. Why don't you tell us what in the name of the X-blood Goddess is wrong with you!'

'Cleo.' I whisper. 'Calm down, this isn't some pal yer talking to.'

My friend takes a deep breath, her eyes betraying all her anger. Then, the President... President Rokin... he says one of the most horrendous things humanity is able to say, his smugness gone, a shadow over his eyes:

'To teach them a lesson.'

Cleo snaps. She slams her fists on the table and stands up, Blue snarling wildly, scales bristling. 'WHAT?!' Cleo rages, her voice not her own. 'YOU TOOK THE PRECIOUS LIVES OF INNOCENT SEROLIANS BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO TEACH THEM A LESSON?! I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE REALISED, BUT THIS IS ALL REAL AND YOUR PLANET IS ON THE BRINK OF WAR WITH SEROLIA ALL BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN IMPOSSIBLY STUPID IDEA IN YOUR HEAD THAT MY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE TAUGHT SOMETHING!!! IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR YOU TO STAY THE FRICK AWAY FROM MY PLANET?! IS IT REALLY TOO MUCH?! WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?! YOU CAN TURN ON YOUR DAMNED HEEL AND GO DEAL WITH THE DEVIL SOMEWHERE ELSE, HORDIME!!!' I have never seen Cleo this furious.