Prologue

“He’s late.”
“He said he’s on his way, Fire Mistress.”
“Well, let’s hope he gets here in due course, then. Else I shall not be pleased.”
Alice paused. “The Warriors. I have doubts about his chances.”
“Not to worry. He shall get the job done. In the mean time, I sense something else in store for them.” The Fire mistress let out a high-pitched string of laughter. “It seems the dragon awakes!”


Part 1: Munchies!

Daniel had worked hard to re-untidy his house, thanks to Nicki’s antics. Luckily, the cigarette tray was refilling with cigarette butts and a pile a bacon sandwiches was, once again, set on a plate on the kitchen counter. The lounge was crammed with awful paintings again, and there was the distinct smell of cannabis in the air.
Things were, indeed back to normal.
He went to the TV, about to turn it on, when he noticed Nicki sprawled on the sofa. She had a spliff in her hand and was staring at the ceiling, confused.
“Dude...” she mumbled. “Is it me, or are the walls bleeding?”
Daniel paused. “Erm...”
Nicki looked at him. “Hey, I’m trippin’ balls here...”
“Sure thing, Nicki. Sure thing.”
Daniel turned on the TV and sat in the arm chair.
“Dude, why you not, like, experimentin’ and doing nerdy shit...”
Daniel turned to Nicki, his eyes totally black!
Nicki was on her feet in...around 5 minutes. She stared in horror at Daniel.
“Dude, you’re a demon!”
Daniel was ready to pounce, but then disappeared completely! She looked around, astounded. Since when did Daniel vanish! He was no invisible man!
She went to the window. He wasn’t outside.
“Nicki? What are you doing?” asked Daniel.
Nicki turned, but nobody was there!
“Daniel?”
“I’m here!”
She turned again, but the room remained empty!
“Nicki? Are you ok?” Nicki felt something grab her arm.
“Daniel, you’re totally invisible, dude!” she laughed.
“Nicki, you need to come down!”
The walls suddenly went back to bleeding, and Daniel came into view in front of her. “Sofa. Now.”
Nicki sprawled out again on the sofa, nestling into the cushions. And then, all of a sudden, the most painful and greatest hunger came over her! Daniel didn’t notice when she got up and went to the fridge. He was too involved in his new creation. The Cube Mrk. 4. This time, it would work. This time, it would live!
Nicki sat, cross legged in front of the fridge, giving into a serious case of the munchies.


Georgia looked at the pages on her desk. How could her homework pile up like this? It’s like she was living a double life! Oh...wait...
She gathered the papers up and started to sort through them, in order of priority. She slowly started to come to the daunting conclusion that tonight, she’d sleep in her office. How could so many people have mental disorders? And her power was supposed to make this easy! All her power had brought her was the responsibility of saving the world. And 5 people whom she now called her friends. She supposed that was a plus.
The sun had soon set and Georgia was still filling out forms and reports and other stuff that other people should be doing. As night drew, Georgia began to slow down her work pace.
Coffee!
Georgia wandered through the empty building, listening to the slow hum of traffic outside, in search of the coffee machine. It unnerved her slightly that the building was dark, but only because of past events.
Upon her victory of finding the coffee machine, Georgia was about to fill her cup, when she heard something shift behind her. It was only small, like the air moving, but it was enough to make her turn and search for signs of life around her.
She reached out with her mind, searching for thoughts, just stray thoughts that might give away someone’s position.
When there was nothing but the empty room, she turned back to the coffee machine, just as the door burst open and someone came crashing in, yelling her name!
“GEORGIA!”
Georgia yelled and jumped back, hitting whatever it was full min the face with her fist.
“Ow! Fuck! Dude, not cool!”
Georgia paused. “Nicki?”
“What!” Nicki stood up, her hand on her nose. “Thanks for the breaking of my nose. We only came to take you home!”
“Jesus! Sorry. I’m a little on edge.”
“A little?” came the voice of Verity. “You totally took her out!” she laughed a little.
Nicki growled at verity, one that seemed strangely more hostile than usual and a little more dragon than usual, but then chirped, “Care to fix my nose then go see the others at the pub?”
Georgia held out her hand at Nicki and flexed her fingers. There was a loud crack and Nicki yelped in pain, as her nose clicked back to unbroken status.
“Tar dude.”
“Well guys, I would go to the pub, but my work load is huge!” Georgia was about to explain further, but on the other side of the room, the wall suddenly caved in, rubble flying everywhere as a Beatle came crashing through the wall!
“Shit!” yelled Nicki. The three of them stood there, ready to fight, yet taken totally off-guard! Verity stepped back a little and Georgia noticed she had no bow or arrows this time.
The Beatle was slightly disorientated as it crashed into tables and chairs, but once it laid eyes on The Warriors, it stood, ready to kill.
Georgia raised her hands and tables, chairs and furniture floated, lost from gravity, and then flung themselves at the beast, bouncing off it’s armour! It crouched and then leapt into midair. Georgia had her hands up in an instant and caught it mid air, keeping it from moving! The more it struggled to break free, the more Georgia had to concentrate!
“Go! Now!” she yelled.
Nicki took a deep breath and then torched it, breathing red hot flames into it’s face, melting it’s eyes! As it screamed, Nicki ran out of breath and the Beatle went crashing to the floor. The Beatle was still in Georgia’s grip, but wasn’t resisting as much, so Georgia lessoned her concentration. The Beatle pined at it’s eyes, blue blood oozing from it’s sockets.
“Hey! That’s OUR monster!” yelled female voice from behind it.
Nicki, Verity and Georgia frowned and looked to where the voice was coming from. Where the wall had caved in, on a ledge behind the rubble stood three people.
The first person was small, wearing green skinnies, a blue T-shirt and an orange hoodie. Her hair was twice the size of her head and had in it every colour but brown! Her huge bush of rainbow hair stood out in the dark shadows, yet concealed behind the colour was, strapped to her back, a sniper rifle! Next to her was stood the tallest, skinniest man Georgia had ever seen. He was entirely dressed in grey and had hair that covered the top half of his face completely. In direct contrast to the pair of them was the guy stood on the other side of the girl. He was tall, huge even; dressed in an armoured suit that made him look a bit like a robot! The mask covering his face reflected the Beatle and The Warriors and he held a gun bigger than the girl stood next to him!
“Who are you?” asked Georgia.
“Hey, look! It’s Master Chief!” laughed Nicki.
“Silence! We are the Renegades! We are here to kill these abominations and rid the world of evil!” the girl yelled, punching her fist in the air.
“Evil!” repeated the skinny guy on her left.
“The Renegades?” Verity spat. “What kind of name is that?”
“Huh? Who are you supposed to be?” she asked.
“We’re The Warriors. And these guys are kinda our responsibility.” replied Georgia.
“Ha! You think you can handle them? All you have, by the looks of it is telekinesis and two hooligans!” she laughed.
“Hooligans!” repeated the skinny guy again.
“We have more than that, friend.” She murmured. It’s not just telekinesis in my power! Georgia rammed the thought right into the girl’s mind!
The girl but laughed. So, another psychic, eh? You’re not the only one, friend!
“So you’re a psychic?” Georgia raised an eyebrow.
“I may be? Or I may not...” the girl suddenly disappeared. I may just be a figment of your imagination! Her laughter filled Georgia’s head. “So, you’re invisible as well?”
“Correct!” came the girl’s voice from behind. “The name’s Colver. Don’t forget it!”
Georgia turned to see her cocking the rifle and pointing it straight at Nicki and, before Georgia could react, she’d fired a bullet right into Nicki!
“Nicki!” she yelled, but was stopped in confusion as Nicki only got jerked forwards by the force!
Nicki turned and said, “Dude! Why has everyone got it in for me today?”
Georgia thought to herself, that Nicki wasn’t wearing her armour...
“So it seems you’re not the only one with powers.” murmured Colver.
“Dovashiin. Half dragon.” Nicki smiled and held out her hand and when Colver made no move to shake it, she dropped it.
“Do we really have to explain ourselves to these amateurs?” Verity spat.
“No way you is half dragon, dude.” Colver raised her eyebrows at Nicki. Nicki just smiled, secretively.
“Who are they?” asked Georgia, eyeing the big guy’s gun.
“He’s Webster.” She pointed to the skinny guy. “And that’s JKL.”
“What does that stand for?” asked Nicki.
“Just JKL. Now, can you give us back our monster so we can carry out or mission before we were so interrupted?”
“Georgia, let’s get out of here.” Verity mumbled.
“Ready Nicki?” asked Georgia. Nicki winked and Georgia released her grip on the Beatle. The Beatle writhed and got to it’s feet, ready to kill. Nicki stepped forwards and burst into her dragon form, towering above the Beatle. Georgia heard Colver gasp and saw no change upon what she could see of Webster’s face, as Nicki’s claws came down on the Beatle’s face with a roar that was strangely more dragon and animal than usual. Georgia thought to herself briefly whether this was a good idea, but then Nicki clamped her jaws around the Beatle’s neck, pinning it down and waiting for it to die.
“Jesus! What the fuck is that?” gasped Colver, raising her rifle.
“Shoot my friend and you die.” Verity snarled at Colver.
Nicki stood on top of the Beatle’s body, roaring her victory, but not changing back. As she turned, she growled down at them, and Georgia immediately knew something was wrong. Her eyes were no longer the pale yellow, but a deep, dangerous red. She bore her teeth and flung herself to where the wall had caved in, Webster and JKL leaping out of the way as Nicki disappeared into the sky with an almighty roar.
“Well shit.” mumbled Georgia.
“You stole out kill!” yelled Colver. “We will meet again, and when we do, you will pay, Warriors!” And with that, Colver leapt to the ledge and disappeared into the shadows, her rainbow colours fading to black along with her two comrades.
“What was that?” gasped Verity.
“I think Nicki may have a dragon problem. Let’s go.”


Part 2: Strike one.

Daniel went through the front door followed by Holly, Verity, Georgia and Blur, not to find Nicki, but an empty fridge.
“What happened there?” asked Blur, looking at the empty contents.
“I thought she needed munchies, not a feast...” mumbled Daniel. “She even ate the turkey!”
“But she left the salad, look.” Blur pointed to the perfectly preserved salad at the bottom.
“Fatty.” mumbled Verity.
“This isn’t funny.” snapped Georgia. “We gotta help her, somehow.”
“How do you propose we do that? There’s a fucking dragon flying around London for fucks sake!” Verity spat back.
“So, what is actually happening here?” asked Holly.
Georgia paused and sat in her armchair. “When Nicki first got injected with dragon DNA, she thought she had Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder, but when she tried to get diagnosed, she came to me. I used my power to look inside her mind so I could diagnose it straight away. What I saw, thought, wasn’t Schizophrenia or Multiple Personality Disorder, it was an entire different entity in her mind; the dragon. Her symptoms were the dragon trying to get out. I used my power to seal it away in her mind, so she could only use the dragon’s form for her own use. It was like, getting the dragon under control. But now, the eating, the way bullets bounce off her with no armour, her temper; I think the dragon’s trying to come out again. Like she’s losing control. Or something.”
“Or something?” gasped Blur.
“I don’t know, I need to find out.”
“But if her temper it how it is...rather, explosive,” asked Daniel. “Then how do we get her to talk to us?”
Georgia thought for a moment. There was a knock at the door and Nicki’s voice came floating through, “Guys? You there? Let me in!”
“I have a plan!”


Blur opened the door and stepped aside to let Nicki in, saying nothing. Nicki went to the lounge.
“Hi guys.” She smiled. “Why you all looking at me like that?”
“Nicki, you know we love and it’s because we love you that we want to help you.” explained Georgia.
“Help what?” Nicki frowned.
“Where did you go, Nicki? When we met the Renegades?”
“What do you mean? I killed the Beatle and came back here.”
“Nicki, we know. We know about your dragon problem.”
“What dragon problem? Guys?” Nicki stepped back towards the door.
“Now Daniel!” shouted Georgia.
Daniel held up his hand and vines shot through the wooden floor, binding Nicki and pushing her against the wall. They tangled around her legs and arms and no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free!
“Guys? What the fuck is this?”
“I’m going to talk to it, Nicki. We need to see what it wants, so we can help you. Otherwise, you’re a danger to everyone!” explained Georgia.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! Get the fuck off me, Daniel!”
“Hush! I just need to take a sneak peek!”
“What? Why? Again? Daniel, I swear if you don’t get off me I’ll burn down your next cube myself!”
Georgia stepped up to Nicki and touched her forehead, looking into the folds of her mind and Nicki’s body suddenly went limp.
Georgia looked past Nicki’s conscious mind, into the depths of her subconscious, where she knew the dragon slumbered.
You again? Sounded a deep voice.
Yes me.
What do you want?
To ask you what are you doing to Nicki?
What, this drugged up, drunken meat suit I’ve been shoved into?
Well, yeah.
How would you like it if you were rammed into someone’s subconscious and trapped so that they could take your form whenever they wished? It gets old. And annoying. I want control back.
But you’re hurting Nicki. And you could kill someone!
You think I care? My entire race was wiped out by people like you! And now I have to live in one! You really think...
“...I care?” yelled Nicki’s voice. Nicki lifted her head to show Georgia deep red eyes. “This taking forms thing goes two ways, you know.”
“Stop it!”
“No, she’s used my body for her own means, now I will use hers!”
Daniel tightened the vines binding her.
“Let her go!” shouted Fury.
The dragon laughed. “I wish I bloody well could! I’m stuck in here! Stuck in this sorry excuse for a human!”
Georgia stepped forwards. “Look! Can’t we just come to a happy compromise?”
“Fuck compromise!”
“Look, why don’t you help us! You’ll get your freedom, but you’re stuck now! You have to work with us!”
“I can’t live like this!”
“You’re gonna have to!”
The dragon became quiet.
“You’ve had your freedom, and now you’re just taking away from another person’s freedom. You’re stuck here.”
“A happy compromise?” the dragon looked up.
“Yeah, like, you get so many hours in control and Nicki gets the rest.” Georgia suggested.
Nicki’s eyes dulled.
“Whether you like it or not, you’ve got a bigger problem. If Lorna takes over, then there will be no Nicki, then there will be no dragon, either.”
I will have my freedom, one way or another!
The dragon grew silent and withdrew into Nicki’s subconscious.
“So, it looks like you’re gonna work with us, for now.” Georgia relaxed. She knew this wasn’t over.


“So, I have a depressed dragon in my mind, who wants his own body. Sweet.” Nicki puffed on her fag.
“Yeah, just try not to get angry.” Georgia relaxed in her arm chair. “Best not to get high again, either. Or to drink. Or do anything that could make it angry.”
“Oh my God! I’m the incredible Hulk!” Nicki winked.
Verity sighed.
“So who are the renegades?” asked Daniel.
Georgia paused. “Erm...”
“They’re just three amateurs with super powers. Nothing to worry about.” explained Verity.
“Are you jealous?” asked Nicki.
Verity shot her a hostile look. “No!”
Nicki laughed to herself, as Daniel stood up. “I’m off to start the building of the Cube Mrk 4. Don’t wait up for me.”
“Well, while you’re all doing sciency stuff with my mind, I’m off to deliver a delivery to someone who is expecting a delivery of one of my pieces.” explained Nicki, standing up and flicking her fag in the general direction of the ash tray.
“And you’re delivering this delivery yourself?” Georgia raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah. What of it?”
“Can’t you just send it through the mail?”
“Number 1: I have no idea how to do that. Number 2: it’s huge, so I’m sure that would make the process even more complicated and number 3: I have nothing else to do.” Nicki pulled on a sleeveless leather jacket over her band t-shirt and left the lounge to a door opposite. She disappeared inside while the sound of struggling came from within. She soon emerged, somehow jamming both herself and a canvas wrapped in brown paper the same height in the door.
“Need any help with that?” asked Georgia.
“No,” groaned Nicki, managing to squeeze through the door. “I’m fine!”

Nicki looked behind her, proud of herself with coming up with such an amazing and awesome plan! She clutched the end of a rope in her hand, attached to the other end of which was the canvas, which in turn was attached to a skateboard. Genius!
Nicki chuckled to herself as she made her way down the street to the address on the slip of paper in her pocket. It was now deep into the night and it briefly crossed her mind that the whole plan had backfired because the recipient wouldn’t even be up to receive his delivery and pay her, but Nicki was too taken with her amazing method of transportation!
She was about to cross the road, walking straight past the pedestrian crossing and straight into the street, when the light of the moon suddenly darkened. She looked up briefly, to see only a dark shadow coming down upon her, and before she could take any form of action, she was plunged into unconsciousness...

Part 3: Drunk and Disorderly

After Daniel had watched as Nicki disappeared down the drive, he began to draw up schematics for his Cube Mrk. 4. He signed to himself at the thought of Nicki turning up to a house and demanding money from a guy who was half asleep- when would she learn!
This time, his design would be flawless! No more would the Cube become the target of a Beatle or fire or even Nicki’s sneezing! It would have turrets! Laser rifles...no! Laser cannons! Sentinels!
He suppressed a giggle and carried on with the blue prints, mapping out the grounds in which the Cube would stand and making sure it was well guarded by trees.
It wasn’t until he’d hit a health and safety snag that Daniel felt as though he was being watched. He turned, looking about the shadows. Something moved in the darkness and just as Daniel was going to investigate, something hard hit him on the back of the head and he hit the ground, unconscious...


“So, is there anything we can do about the dragon?” asked Blur, lounging in Nicki’s spot on the sofa. Verity crossed her legs, smoothing out her mini skirt and looked to Georgia, waiting for her answer.
“I don’t think there is. I mean, the dragon isn’t an entity by itself. We can’t just stick it in another body. Nicki has dragon DNA in her blood. It’s not like we can infect someone else and make the dragon move.”
“Why can’t we? I mean, like, give someone else Nicki’s blood?” asked Blur.
“We can’t ask someone else to house a dragon who’d be likely to overtake their mind without me putting up walls like I did with Nicki. Anyway, it’s a huge burden.”
“So, we just have to, like, befriend the dragon...” Verity suggested.
“I s’pose.”
“Something’s not right.” mumbled Holly. She was stood by the window, staring out into the night, her blond hair illuminated by the moon.
Georgia, Blur and Verity all looked to her. “What?”
“Something’s happening. Something’s wrong.” Holly repeated.
“How do you mean?” asked Verity.
“You think something’s happened to Daniel and Nicki.” Georgia stated.
“I...I don’t know.”
“Let’s go look.” Verity stood and strode to the door, followed by Blur and Georgia. Holly stayed by the window, worried.
Outside, Georgia stood sentry by the door, while Verity searched the immediate area and Blur quickly sped around the perimeter. When their search yielded no sign of Daniel, they reconvened at the cabin.
“Where’d he go?” asked Verity.
“I don’t know. He was out here a minute ago.” replied Georgia. “He’s not here, I can’t hear him thinking.”
“I’ve checked everywhere. Nothing.” Blur murmured.
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be back. Although, Holly seems incredibly uneasy.” Georgia turned to go back into the cabin. “Holly?” she called.
When there was no reply, the three entered the lounge to find it empty...


Wake up, fool!
Nicki stirred, her head pounding.
Wake up! Can’t you see you’re in deep shit? You have to get out! Urgh! Idiot!
Nicki mumbled and opened her heavy eyes. The memory of a huge shadow coming down upon her briefly flickered across her mind as she stared at her new, sinister surroundings. Her hands were bound tightly with chains that dug into her flesh; every time Nicki struggled, she only yielded in making the chair tilt slightly. The room around her was dark, the only light from the sky light above her and the moon in the sky beyond. Ugly shadows formed in the silver light and from what Nicki could make out, it looked like shelves with stuff stacked on them around the small room. Craning her neck, Nicki spotted the outline of a door behind her, and apart from that and the sky light, there was no way out.
“Oh crap.” She mumbled to herself. She looked at the heavy chains around her feet, gauging whether she could torch them or not.
Well of course you can’t torch them, stupid! You’ll burn your fucking feet off!
Yeah, that was a point....wait, what? Nicki paused, wondering if the unfamiliar male voice in her head was real...
Of course I’m real! I’m the dragon you twat.
Oh yeah... Nicki briefly remembered what Georgia had told her about the dragon: that it wanted its own body and that she shouldn’t make it angry or it might take over and kill someone...
That bitch of a psychic don’t know a thing.
Then why do you sound mad? Nicki asked it.
...I’m not...mad, per say. I’m just, slightly irritated.
Good, then I can start to find a way out.
Please do it without burning yourself! Honestly, this is why humans shouldn’t have dragon powers!
OK, mister grumpy!
Nicki shifted on the chair and tried to turn it, but only made it sway.
Smooth...
Nicki ignored the dragon, and looked at the sky light. If only there was a way up there! And looked behind her and through the shadows, spotted a metal tray on wheels.
Footsteps were suddenly coming from outside, and Nicki craned her neck towards the door to see who it was. The lock clicked and the door swung open. A figure, cloaked in the shadows stepped through swiftly, and locked the door behind it.
“Good evening. I believe they call you Nicki. Or Dovashiin.”
As the figure came into view, Nicki saw a plain, white face mask; one of the ones in drama productions. Apart from that, the figure was dressed in black and there was no sign of identity.
“Who are you?”
“You may call me the Assassin. I’ll leave you to guess who I work for.”
Nicki thought to herself, unable to think of anyone who’d want to kill her...
Idiot! It’s obviously the Red Queen! Oh my God...
Oh yeah! Lorna!
“Now,” The Assassin turned to her, the male voice turning harsh and cruel. “Shall we get down to business?”


“So, why are we here?” asked Blur, following Georgia and Verity into to town. The previous night had been uneventful in the searching department and the three of them had come to the conclusion that they’d have to save Nicki, Daniel and Holly.
“Public areas are safer. When we’re alone, like the others were, we’re vulnerable.” explained Verity.
“She has a point.” added Georgia.
The three of them were dressed in their usual attire; Verity was wearing a short skirt and high heels, Georgia in her posh suit and Blur in her leather jacket, concealing pistols.
“In here, go.” Verity stopped outside a pub and stepped aside for Blur and Georgia to go in. The pub was fairly crowded, crowded enough for the three of them to be inconspicuous.
Verity slid into a booth and the others followed suit.
“So, what do we do now?” asked Blur, annoyed.
“We figure out what to do next. We know that they went missing around 12 hours ago and whoever captured them were very swift about it.” explained Georgia.
“What do we do next? I mean, we don’t know where they went or who took them.” Verity murmured.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but this has Lorna written all over it.” Blur added, fiddling with a napkin in boredom.
“I’m going to try and find their thoughts, if I can hear them, then I can find out where they are.” explained Georgia. If not, then I guess we go straight to Lorna.”
“Alternatively,” started Blur. “We could lay a trap. You know, have someone as bait and then capture the capturer.”
“I’m for Georgia’s plan. Get thinking, Georgia.” Verity said bluntly. “Anyone want anything?”
“Two beers.” Blur mumbled, watching Verity go to the bar. “How long is this going to take?”
“Could be hours, could be minutes.”
Blur moaned.


6 hours later, Georgia was sat on a bench in the shopping centre and Verity and Blur were on their 7th argument of the evening. Verity’s bow and quiver sat on the bench next to Georgia. The shopping centre was empty and soon they’d have to leave, and Georgia was beginning to think that the others had been taken out of the city! The dialogue between Blur and Verity was getting increasingly heated and it was all Georgia could do to stop them from fighting!
“Guys, we gotta leave, c’mon.” Georgia told the pair.
“You know nothing about my former job!” Blur stated, her voice harsh.
“Yeah, you sat behind a desk cleaning up other people’s messes and then you got rejected from that!” Verity replied.
“Guys! Shut the hell up!” Georgia cried. Their voices were echoing around the centre and people started to look over their shoulders. She should have kept an eye on how many drinks the two had had. She should have known it was a bad idea! They should have gone with Blur’s idea!
“You came in here, trying to fit in, when you’re just gonna get rejected again! Go back to sweeping up!” shouted Verity, wobbling on her feet.
“You think you know me! You don’t! You don’t know what I sacrificed doing that job!” Blur slurred back.
Georgia looked about her, suddenly aware of two policemen stood across the hall.
“Guys! Shut the hell up now!”
As soon as Georgia had uttered the words, Blur was on top of Verity, trying to strangle her! Verity was fighting back, using all her strength to scratch Blur’s eyes out!
Georgia turned to see the policemen running towards them and could only watch as the pair of them were restrained, with incredible difficulty from the two policemen.
This was gonna be bad...


Daniel gazed around the empty room, bored. Not that he preferred it when he was being tortured, on the contrary! Being punched repeatedly and cut with a knife was not on his top ten list of things to do! And while it wasn’t the most severe method of torture, he was proud of himself for lasting this long. Gritting his teeth and bearing it wasn’t usually one of his strong points.
He wondered who of the others had been taken as well...
He hoped they’d figured it out and evaded the Assassin. Otherwise there was no one coming to save him. And that meant that he’d have to take action himself. And he wasn’t very good at action...


Georgia stood outside the two cells, aware of the presence of two minds stood not metres from her. Luckily, her abilities had enabled her to pass by them unnoticed. Blur was sat against the wall despite there being a bench across the other side of the cell. Verity was sat in the adjoining cell sitting on a bench, the two of them back to back and very much sober.
“So, having fun?” asked Georgia, making the pair of them jump.
When neither of them said anything, Georgia continued, “Happy with yourselves? Our friends are in danger, probably dying or dead, and you let your ego’s get in the way!”
“I let my ego get in the way?” Verity stared at Georgia, horrified.
“Yes, you let your ego get-” Blur started.
“Guys! Stop it! I’m am fucking sick of you arguing! You’re sober now, so apologise and get the fuck outta here so we can go rescue our friends!”
“Fuck that, the bitch tried to strangle me!” spat Verity, flicking off her high heels across the floor.
“You expect me to just stand there and let you insult my entire profession?”
Georgia sighed and leaned back, watching the two of them through the bars. This was going nowhere!
“So, we’re reduced to bickering while Nicki, Daniel and Holly are helpless?” she said, quietly.
“I would help, but someone got me in a jail cell...” mumbled Blur.
“Yeah, that someone got me arrested for fucking drunk and disorderly...” Verity murmured back.
“If I wasn’t here, I’d be out there, saving them!”
“Well why don’t you,” Verity stood, reaching for her high heels. “Get off your fat arse and get us out!”
“Well maybe I will!”
“Fine!” “
“Fine!” Blur stood and readied herself.

Part 4: The Big Fry-Up

Georgia managed to reach the two officer’s minds and send them both to sleep before they saw Blur racing around the cell and becoming what she was so named after. The black blur became a spinning whirlwind and, moving towards the bars, cut right through the metal, sending them clanging to the floor! The blur became the shape of Blur Fury again and she stood, looking in on Verity.
“Well? Get the key!” spat Verity.
Blur sped to the officer’s desk and back again in less than a millisecond, and was jangling a huge bunch of keys. Georgia went to the office and collected Verity’s bow and quiver. Unfortunately, Blur’s pistol’s had been confiscated, having no licence for them. Luckily, she kept spares.
With Verity free and reunited with her bow and arrows, the three made a hasty escape from the police station, Georgia all the while keeping them from the prying minds of the people around them.
“So, are we giving up on the search and going with Blur’s plan?” asked Georgia, breaking a hostile silence.
“Sure.” mumbled Verity, not making eye contact.
“So, I guess I’m the bait so I can keep you guys informed.”
When neither Blur nor Verity replied, Georgia continued. “Fine, I guess we start now.”
The night was cold as Blur and Verity turned down a back street. Georgia stood in the entrance to the street as Blur and Verity stood out of sight in the shadows. Georgia just hoped they’d wise up and forget their argument and focus on following her.
Guy, you have to focus, we’re all depending on you!

Ok, so he’s gone. Now are you gonna do something!
Nicki looked again at the sky light. Where were the others? Weren’t they coming to save her? It was looking more and more like she’s have to do something herself. She looked down at the chains binding her.
That was when she heard a high-pitched scream echoing somewhere on the other side of the door!
Holly!
Nicki once again tried to reach her dragon form, but whatever the Assassin had done, she couldn’t turn! No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t change form!
Shit!


Guys! Guys? Guys!
Georgia sent out the SOS, hoping that Verity and Blur could hear her. All she could see was darkness, but she could feel the chains around her hands and legs, binding her to what felt like a metal chair.
Guys! It’s about a mile out of town! I think I’m underground! There’s a sky light above my head! I can see the sky! Damn, it’s so dark!
Georgia listened and heard fragmented thoughts from Verity and Blur, but they were too far away and too disjointed!
Georgia turned her attentions to her surroundings.
Nicki? Daniel? Holly? You guys there?
She waited for a reply and was rewarded by a door opening in front of her.
“Greetings, Imperia. I am the Assassin. The Fire Mistress wishes to convey a message. She wants me to torture and kill you and she hopes that you ‘go to hell’.” His voice was low and cruel and slightly amused.
“Fuck you!” For the last time, Verity, Blur, if you’re out there, be careful!

“It was coming from this way! Not the opposite direction!” snapped Verity, driving Georgia’s mini down a lonely road, heading out of London through a rundown housing estate.
“Well, if you say so, I still think you’re wrong.” Blur replied. “Hey, wait, what was that?”
“What?”
“Stop the car!” Blur sped from the vehicle as Verity stopped the car next to an old subway. Verity followed her down the steps and into the tunnels.
“What is it, I don’t hear anything.” Verity held her quiver and her bow at her side.
“Look at this.” Blur was making her way to an old platform and dropped down onto the tracks.
Verity listened, standing on the platform and looking down at Blur. She could hear a small whimpering, barely a sound at all, coming from where Blur was crouched.
“What’s that noise?” Verity hopped down from the platform, gracefully.
“Hello?” Blur spoke to the darkness. “What are these?”
Between the iron track was a concrete square hole. Looking down the tunnel, Verity saw matching ones at intervals.
“Down there. The noise is coming from down there.” Verity pointed.
“I’m going down.” Blur turned to Verity briefly and then disappeared into the square hole.
Verity went to the edge and loaded her bow, covering for Blur in case of danger.
“Holly? Oh my God, Holly!” she heard Blur gasp below. Verity dropped down and landed in a plain room. Blur was knelt next to Holly, who was bound to a chair in chains.
“The others...” Holly mumbled. “They’re here...down the hall...”
Verity noticed cuts on her bare arms, neck and face. Jesus!
Blur had finished getting the chains off her and stood. “Holly, you stay here, wait for us.” She went to the door and peered out. “The coast is clear.”
Verity followed Blur out into a concrete hallway; congealed blood was spattered on the walls and there was the smell of rotting flesh in the air.
“Ew!” Verity mumbled, aiming her bow in front of Blur, warily.
Metal doorways ran the length of the hallway; Blur checked each on as they went.
“Found Daniel!” she gasped, kicking the door open.
“Guys!” he cried. “Oh, thank god!”
Verity stood by the door, covering as Blur got Daniel free.
“I think Nicki’s around here somewhere.” He said as he stood.
“Who’s behind this?” asked Verity, moving out into the hallway again.
“He calls himself The Assassin.” replied Daniel.
Blur went ahead, checking all the doors. “Found Nicki!” she called from a way down the hallway. Verity and Daniel hurried in her direction as Blur kicked the door open.
Verity stayed out in the hallway with Daniel as Blur and Nicki both fumbled around in the chains. As the two untangled themselves, Verity saw something shift in the corner of her eye. There was the sound of a door opening behind her. Verity pushed Daniel into Nicki’s cell and the four of them froze.
The only sound was footsteps echoing outside the door. There was a jangle of chains and Blur hissed, “Sshh!”
The footsteps grew louder and a shadow passed over the floor. The footsteps stopped and Verity suddenly realised the door was ajar!
She pulled on her bow, strengthening the shot and getting ready to fire. To her surprise, the footsteps retreated and whoever it was went in the opposite direction!
Nicki wiggled out of the chains once the footsteps had disappeared and Verity went to the door and peered round, just in time to see a dark shape go into a room somewhere down the hall.
“Shit, I think that’s where Holly is!” she murmured. “Me and Daniel will go to find Holly, Nicki and Blur, find Georgia!”
Nicki and Blur sped down the hall, kicking doors off the hinges and Verity followed Daniel to the room where Holly was waiting. Verity moved in first and gasped when she saw a figure cloaked in black from head to foot, using Holly as a human shield, pointing a gun at her temple.
“Put down the bow and arrow and Electriss lives.” The Assassin whispered.
“Fuck you!” Verity spat.


Guys! I’m in here!
“She’s in there!” Nicki repeated Georgia’s thought as her and Blur raced down the hallway searching for Georgia.
Blur stood outside the door Nicki was pointing too and pointed one of her pistols at the lock. The lock exploded into tiny shards as Blur shot the lock and the door swung open. Georgia was standing at the door, the chains lying in a heap around the chair.
“How’d you...?” asked Blur.
“Telekinesis, remember. And my psychic senses are telling me Holly is in danger!” Georgia leapt from the cell, followed by Nicki and Blur. They were racing down the hallway when three dark figures leapt out from a nearby cell, blocking their path.
“Oh, shit!” yelled Georgia. “Not you again!”
Colver turned and smiled a toothy grin. “Hi!”
“Who are these guys?” asked Blur, raising an eyebrow.
“Amateurs! Now, get out of our way!” Nicki shouted.
“Never! This is our line of work! To mess with our work, you’ll have to go through us!” Colver spat.
“Us!” repeated Webster.
JKL stood silent and stationary.
“Get out of our way or I swear I’ll rip your heads off!” growled Nicki, angrily.
“Oh, still convinced you’re a dragon? Well then, let’s do this!” Colver screamed, and then took a combat rifle from her back and disappeared entirely!
Webster paused for an instant and then threw his arms forwards at Georgia, his arms literally stretching and wrapping themselves around Georgia. JKL stood absolutely still, raising his huge-ass machine gun at Blur, who darted to the left, the shot missing.
A salvo of bullets cascaded towards Nicki from nowhere and Georgia managed to get one hand free to stop them in mid air, an invisible shield surrounding Nicki.
When Webster’s arms tightened, Georgia yelled in pain and Blur was racing around JKL, creating a whirlwind of black around him. With one movement of his hand to the right, the black blur around him disappeared and Blur appeared in his hand, which was clamped around her neck.
Nicki stood alone in the middle.
“And then there was one!” laughed Colver, appearing behind her. “And you said we were the amateurs! Now, let’s get this over with se we can get on with our lives!” Colver raised the combat rifle.
“Lives!” shouted Webster, squeezing Georgia a little more.
Just as Colver’s finger was on the trigger, Nicki turned, her body growing and a demonic growl escaping her lips! The dragon filled the hallway completely, the serrated edges from it’s wings and it’s claws creating deep grooves in the concrete.
Colver paused, her mouth falling open. “Holy shit.” She gasped, turning invisible.
“Retreat!” she cried, her voice echoing around the hallway.
JKL dropped Blur and followed her voice, his footsteps loud and intimidating from his armour. Webster uncurled his arms and skipped after JKL, the two of them disappearing through a door.
Nicki shrank back to her human form, once they were gone and hurried in the direction of Holly’s room.
Georgia and Blur raced after her, however, once at the door, the three of them were mowed down by Verity and Daniel, who leapt from the room, the door closing behind them. There was the sound of electricity and blue light shone from the gap around the door.
“Ow!” mumbled Nicki, pushing Verity off her.
“What was that for?” Blur stood up, pulling Georgia up with her.
The door slowly swing open to reveal Holly stood in the room in a pile of ash. “Fry up, anyone?”
The five of them paused. “Dude, bad line!” Nicki giggled.


Back at Daniel’s cabin...

“So, my dragon thing, you told him he’d have nights?”
“I did indeed, which means you’d better be off.” replied Georgia, snuggled in her arm chair, cradling a cup of coffee.
“Oh, but it’s 4:00 in the morning, I wanna sleep!” Nicki moaned, putting out her fag.
“Tell that to the dragon when he’s burning everything to shreds.” Georgia went back to her coffee.
As Nicki left the room, Verity took her place on the sofa.
“So, you think the Fire Mistress is behind this?” she asked.
“Yep. She’s sending Assassins after us now.”
“What does she actually want after all this?” asked Daniel from his desk.
“Power.” replied Holly from the window. “She wants Earth. One realm isn’t enough, she wants two.”


Epilogue:

“How did he fail? Where do you get these guys from?” shouted Lorna, angrily.
“Sorry, Fire Mistress. It seems by doubts were true.”
“Well, the next one better be worth my time. After all, as long as I have the time I need to complete my evil plans, I don’t s’pose it matters that every one of our minions are dying.”
“Yes, Fire Mistress.”
“So, is she on her way?”
“Of course. And she’s bringing her pets...”

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 09.09.2012

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