Viagon Wars: Chapter Five (Unedited Version)

Chapter Five 1

“We have arrived, my Lady.”2

Kaht glanced up as Jason came around to open her door. Just another reminder of how pushy Ray could be. 3

“Jason,” she said. “Can you tone down the hair?”4

Jason smiled and nodded. “If my Lady wishes,” he replied before the blond overtook the blue in his hair and then darkened to a sandy color. Shifting at will was one of the major perks of being a dragon, and Jason thoroughly enjoyed it. “Is this better?”5

Kaht sighed. “I hope no one saw you do that. It still looks weird, but at least now you won’t look like you’re skipping class.”6

Chaeli laughed as she got out of the other side of the car. “I don‘t think any of us will entirely escape that, Empress.”7

Kaht shrugged. So this was William James High School. It was smaller than she’d expected, and noisy. The students must be in between classes.8

“Alright,” Kaht said to her entourage. “Let’s go. I want to see if Resik’s found the Heir.”9

“But where do we go?” Adrion, the third guard selected to join Kaht’s group, asked.10

“I can answer that.”11

Everyone looked toward the front door of the school. Ishina and a male of about the same height, perhaps a bit taller, were walking toward the group, and the three guards immediately surrounded their Empress.12

Ishina laughed. “I’m glad to see Ray chose well. Lady Kaht, welcome to William James High, the pilot school for the Dyne Martial Arts Program.”13

Kaht nodded. “Thank you, Ishina. May I assume this is the infamous TreVaugn?”14

The man who’d stopped next to Ishina bowed slightly. “You would assume correctly, my lady. I must leave you with Ishina, however, as I am enrolled here as a student and will be late to my next class.”15

As Nathen turned to walk back to the school, he heard a guard comment. “Why did you bother coming in the first place?”16

Before Adrion could blink, Nathen was in front of him. Then, just as quickly, he was standing slightly behind Ishina who had crouched down out of habit, ready for battle.17

Embarrassed that he hadn’t been prepared for the vampire, Adrion took a step toward him and out of formation.18

“Mind yourself, Adrion,” Jason said in a threatening tone. “Mr. TreVaugn was merely making a point. Do not forget whose invitation brought us here.”19

“Yes, sir,” Adrion said as he stepped back into line.20

Jason and Nathen nodded to each other in perfect understanding as Ishina stood, slowly.21

Ishina didn’t like these high-tension moments. They made her nervous, and she glared at Nathen to let him know she was not at all entertained by his showboating.22

Having made his point, Nathen walked sedately into the school and toward his next class.23

“Lady Kaht,” Ishina said, drawing attention back to the purpose of the dragons’ visit. “Master Resik has asked you here before the time to meet the potential heir so he can show you what the D-MAP program has accomplished. If you will follow me? Master Resik will be joining us later.”24

Kaht nodded, and Ishina led them into the school.25

“In order to keep humans from inadvertently stumbling onto our training, the program has been established under the terms of it being invitation only. It’s not even listed as a possible course in the course guide, but we have the full support of the school board.”26

Kaht raised an eyebrow. “That is quite impressive.”27

Chaeli agreed with a nod. “If you don’t mind my asking, Empress?”28

When Kaht motioned her approval, Chaeli continued. “How do you get the invitations out? Aren’t most dynes raised as humans?”29

Ishina smiled at the dragon. Her knowledge of Ishina’s people was significant, and Ishina found herself recalling Chaeli had an adopted cousin who was a dyne. Her family had been among the first to embrace and help solidify the truce.30

“Indeed they are,” Ishina replied. “D-MAP programs such as this one are manned with a vampire who specializes in psychometry. My people call them sensitives. They can sense any enhanced energy, including psychic gifts, in those around them. Powerful sensitives can even tap into and use as their own any of those psychic abilities."31

Ishina continued leading them down the now deserted hallway until they reached an empty classroom. The plaque beside it said “intro to D-MAP room 205”32

“This is the introductory classroom. If a dyne or pre-transition dragon is invited into our training program, an already established member of the opposite race meets them in this room. In the case of a dyne, they are then informed of what they are.”33

“And they’re okay with that? They just accept it?”34

It was Adrion who spoke, and Ishina was beginning to understand why she’d not met him before this day. He had to be a capable guard or Ray wouldn’t have entrusted his Empress to him, but he betrayed his intelligence every time he opened his mouth.35

“Well, we have a pretty inarguable method of persuasion,” said a male voice as the door to room 205 opened.36

A man wearing black leather pants with a black shirt and a leather trench coat stepped out into the hallway. His hair was white-blond, short, and spike up in a very juvenile fashion. His skin tone was a nicely even light brown, and he wore blue tinted sunglasses that somehow managed to hide his eyes.37

Ishina bowed as the man leaned lazily against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.38

“Empress Kahteryne,” the man said. “I’m honored you accepted my invitation.”39

Kaht smiled. “Of course,” she said. “How could I resist with such a claim attached to it?” 40

The man raised an eyebrow as he pushed himself off the wall. “How indeed?” He looked over the guardsmen surrounding Kaht and then walked over to the still bowing Ishina.41

He touched her on the shoulder. “You’ve done well, young one.”42

Ishina smiled as she straightened. “Thank you, Master,” she said.43

He turned back to the dragons. “I didn’t know you trusted my people so little. Do you think there is danger to you even here?”44

Kaht gave him a wry smile. “If I left it up to him, my Captain of the Guard would’ve had all ten guardsmen here with me. Trust me, getting it down to three was like pulling teeth.”45

The man nodded, accepting the explanation and looking over the guards again.46

“Jason,” he said, a slight amount of surprise in his voice. “I almost didn’t recognize you without the blue in your hair. And Chaeli, your cousin speaks of no one else most days. At least this Captain of the Guard knows good people when he sees them.”47

Jason’s ever-present smile flared. “Master Resik,” he said. “It is good to see you without a blade in your hands. Somehow, though, you don’t manage to look any less dangerous. However do the humans handle you?”48

Adrion snorted. “He bewitches them when he takes their blood, just like the rest of his foul race.”49

Resik raised an eyebrow in an invitation for the dragon to continue. Adrion’s comment was the insult vampires have killed for as only the basest of creatures require blood to live. Adrion might as well have called Resik a mosquito.50

Adrion opened his mouth in a sneer, but didn’t get the opportunity to say another word as he was suddenly up against the wall with an arm over his throat, cutting off his air supply.51

“Lady guard,” Resik said softly, still calm despite the attempts to incite his anger. “Such open hostility toward your own in potentially unfriendly territory is unwise.”52

Chaeli didn’t take her eyes off of Adrion as she responded. “So is deliberately insulting those who could make it unfriendly.” 53

She focused her next statement toward Adrion as she emphasized it with added pressure to his wind pipe. “The captain was giving you a chance to prove yourself, dragon. This was an opportunity for you to show you could let go of your hatred for the vampires and exist peacefully beside them. Instead, you insult the leader of the vampires, and my cousin. By insulting my cousin, you have insulted me. I will remind you that the penalty for any dragon who disrupts the truce is death.”54

Adrion glared his hatred. The realization of his coming demise frightened him, but his hatred outweighed even the fear of death.55

“My Empress, I request permission to throw this disgraced guardsman into a death hunt.” 56

Jason smiled at Chaeli's request. He'd known it was coming. Adrion was a rotten bit of flesh that needed to be cutt off before his rot spread. Ultimately, though, it was his Empress's decision.57

Kaht raised her eyebrows. A death hunt was the ultimate form of dishonor, and had not been practiced since before the truce. Chaeli wanted to make an example of Adrion, and Kaht tended to agree with her. There was no room for tolerance when it came to hatred. Finally, Kaht nodded to herself, her decision made. “Permission granted,” she said. 58

Chaeli grinned at the look of pure terror on Adrion’s face. Grabbing him off the wall, she shoved him toward the entrance of the school. “You have 24 hours before my hunt begins, traitor,” she called after him as he ran from the school. She watched him flee and then turned and knelt before her Empress.59

“I thank you for your approval, my Empress. I would like to extend a formal apology to our vampiric allies, and assure them that the dragon High Guard desires a permanent truce and an end to the war.”60

“Your gratitude and apology have been noted. Stand guardsman.” Kaht said the words that custom dictated in the tone that custom dictated. 61

“Well that was exciting,” Resik commented. “Are all of your days this action packed?”62

Kaht grimaced. “Only when I decide to bring my guard along.”63

Jason’s eyes danced with restrained humor. “Not to interrupt,” he said. “But I believe we have only a pre-determined amount of time in which to complete this tour. I think the traitor has taken enough of that time.”64

“Very well,” Resik said. “Shall we continue?” He nodded to Ishina who took point in leading the group toward the D-MAP wing. He dropped to the back of the group where he fell in beside Jason in order to catch up with the dragon.65

Ishina led them down a hall that held three classrooms and ended at a pair of slightly ominous double doors. The sounds of several people running through warm-up drills could be heard as Ishina stopped between two of the classrooms.66

“The three classrooms in the hall are used for developmental training. This classroom on the right has recently been equipped to teach the history of both races including what’s known of the Viagon Wars and the Prophecy of the Heir. The other two classrooms are used for the development of any psychic abilities that may be present.”67

Kaht nodded. “I must confess, I am impressed. I regret that I’ve not come to see it before now,” she said. 68

“Hold your breath to be impressed, my friend,” Resik said. “Wait until you see the training room.”69

“Let me guess. It’s right behind those double doors?”70

Ishina smiled, excited. “I’ll go tell Nathen we’re here.” With that she disappeared.71

Resik shook his head. “As if he didn’t already know,” he muttered.72

Jason raised an eyebrow. “Is Mr. TreVaugn one of those with foresight?” he asked.73

Resik rolled his eyes. “No,” he said. “And thank God for that. He’s intolerable as it is. No, Nathen is the sensitive for this post, and I alone give off enough psychic energy for him to spot us three miles away.”74

Jason smiled his trademark smile. “Interesting,” he said.75

Ignoring Jason's peculiarity, Resik walked forward and pushed both double doors open. He stood to the side and motioned for the dragons to enter the room.76

Inside there was a flurry of movement in the form of about twenty students sparring in pairs.77

No sooner had the dragons registered this than they heard Nathen’s commanding voice carry over the students’ heads. “Students, salute.”78

As a unit, the students turned and knelt on one knee before Resik and the Dragon Empress.79

While the students remained in the traditional salute, Nathen walked forward between them, Ishina at his side. “What do our guests think of our facility? Not bad for a pilot, huh? But we’ve learned since this one. The other D-MAP programs are held in a building separate from the school.”80

Kaht looked at the dynes and pre-trans dragons in front of her, a smile on her face. “This,” she said, motioning to the vampire-dragon pairs. “This gives me hope for our future in a way I never expected.” She turned to Resik. “Thank you.”81

Resik smiled at her. “We still have some time before the next class arrives. Would you like to test them?”82

Excitement filled her eyes. This was an opportunity for her to be among her people again. To walk among them and train with them as more than their Empress had always been her intent, but the war had put an end to that. She turned to Chaeli and Jason.83

“You two, go have fun. That’s an order.”84

Jason grinned as he bowed to her. Chaeli followed his lead. “As my Lady wishes,” Jason said.85

He straightened, and with Chaeli close behind him, walked through the still kneeling students to the back wall. There, he sat on the floor to watch in anticipation.86

“Come, Chaeli.” Jason patted the floor next to him. “This is bound to be entertaining.” He let go of his shift, and the blue came back into his hair.87

Chaeli grinned as she sat next to Jason. “Don’t I know it,” she said. “I get to watch her throw someone besides me around.”88

Nathen addressed his students again. “Students,” he commanded. “Who do you salute? By order of rank.” 89

As a single unit, the students declared their answer. “Kahteryne Ahria Theron, one and only Empress of the Dragons; the untamed. We salute you, both dragon and vampire.90

“Professor Jade Idoneo, servant to Resik the Master of the Vampires. We salute you, both vampire and dragon.”91

Kaht focused on Resik with a look of intrigue on her face. “You go by Jade here?”92

When Resik simply nodded, she thought, interesting, and shrugged. “Alright then,” she said. “Jade it is.”93

“Thank you, Empress.”94

Kaht looked at him sharply. “You know how I feel about that,” she said as she turned back to the students. “Now, let’s see what you younglings can do.”95