by Sarah Noffke
“Look, I’m with the Dragon Elite and we want—”
“I know who you are,” the guy interrupted. “Coal filled me in on you boring do-gooders.” The dragonrider indicated the dragon that now faced off with Lunis. Unlike many of the dragonettes, it wasn’t taking a subservient position to the much larger, older dragon. Instead, the black dragon had its eyes narrowed, and his head extended up as high as he could as if trying to inflate his height.
“Well,” Sophia drew out the word and restrained herself. “Then you know that we don’t want trouble and can be an ally to you. I realize that you’re new as a drag—”
The guy laughed. “You think because I’m new to being a dragonrider that I’m inexperienced.”
Sophia really had to hold back now. She let out a long breath. “Well, it stands to reason. And there’s a lot to learn, but I can offer—”
“Don’t want your help, sweetheart,” the guy cut in. “I may not have been doing this long, but I’m certain I can run miles around you and your pretty blue dragon. Coal and I are a different stock. We’re better.”
Oh good. I’m going to have to kill him. She shook this off and decided to try another approach. “So my name is Sophia and I’m fairly new to dragon riding. I get that it’s intimidating at first to enter this world.”
“My name is Tanner and it’s not intimidating to me because I was born for it,” the guy stated. “Some of us are naturals. Then there’s the Dragon Elite.”
Sophia swallowed and tried to decide how many teeth to leave this guy. “What’s your deal with the Dragon Elite? We’ve been around for centuries, keeping balance on the planet, settling disputes, and protecting mortals.”
Tanner laughed, a hollow, humorless sound. “Yeah, do-gooders. So boring. We aren’t interested in saving the world.”
“We?” Sophia questioned. “You mean you and your dragon?”
“Sure, sweetheart,” Tanner stated nonchalantly.
Then Sophia remembered the collection of dragons and riders on the map. “Have you joined up with the other demon dragonriders?”
“What’s it to you?” Tanner shot back.
“Well, I think the Dragon Elite has a right to know if another organization has formed.”
“You aren’t in charge anymore,” Tanner stated. “We do things our way and don’t need your permission.”
So there was a new organization of demon dragons and their riders.
“What do you do your way?” Sophia asked. Now it was a fact-finding mission rather than recruitment. “Like with that mortal?”
“We’re policing things too,” he said with a morbid laugh. “Like the Dragon Elite. We merely do it a little differently.”
“You said you were taking thirty percent from that mortal,” Sophia began. “Thirty percent of what?”
“Of what we’re owed,” Tanner replied. “You Dragon Elite can govern all the do-gooder mortals. We’ll take the rest.”
“Do you mean the criminals?” Sophia asked. “You’re policing the bad guys?”
“We’re keeping them in check,” Tanner stated. Then something flared in his eyes as if he realized he was giving too much away. He shook his head. “Anyway, it’s none of your business.”
“This group you’re a part of—”
“Mind your business sweetheart, or I’ll have to teach you how.” Tanner held up his fist with a look of menace on his face.
Sophia had to stop herself from laughing when she realized that the inexperienced, cocky dragonrider thought he could best her in a fight. That was cute.
“So you govern the criminals of the world, but not by stopping them.” Sophia worked it out in her head as she spoke. “You take your cut.”
“We keep them in check,” Tanner admitted. “You can’t stop crime. It’s impossible. We regulate it and take what belongs to us.”
Sophia nodded. It made perfect sense to her. If the Dragon Elite was full of angel dragons who wanted peace and to arbitrate for what was best for the planet, then the demon dragons would have domain over the criminals, taking what they wanted while keeping them restrained.
“Well, we don’t have to be at odds.” Sophia tried diplomacy again. “The Dragon Elite and this group you’re a part of, we could work together.”
Tanner shook his head. “No, the Rogue Riders don’t work with others. We’ll allow you to bow to us though. How does that sound?”
The Rogue Riders, Sophia thought, gritting her teeth together. Her hand flexed by her sword. “That doesn’t work for us. We’re the supreme ruling authority on the planet, and that also goes for an infant group of inexperienced dragonriders.”
Tanner laughed. “Infant, eh? Inexperienced? I’ll show you inexperienced.”
The short dragonrider bounded forward, but it was the roar of the dragons at Sophia’s back that got her attention and made her turn for a split second, giving Tanner what he thought was the advantage as he reached for Sophia’s shoulders from behind.
Chapter Fifteen
Sophia briefly caught a glimpse of the black dragon lunging at Lunis as Tanner’s hands came around her shoulders. However, she had to trust that Lunis would take care of himself without her attention. She had to show this newbie toad how badly he’d underestimated her.
As Sophia had done to Evan when they first sparred and he tried to take that same advantage, she doubled forward and used the momentum to throw the guy over her back. It was much easier than with Evan due to Tanner’s smaller size and Sophia’s enhanced strength from training. She flung him down so hard that he yelled, sounding like a frightened child.
He coughed and tried to push up, but Sophia pulled out her sword and whipped it through the air, then brought the blade down close to Tanner’s throat. He froze in place.
She darted her eyes to the side and noticed that Coal, the black dragon, seemed to have taken the same cheap shot when lunging at Lunis. However, the smaller dragon lay on its side, his head pinned to the ground under Lunis’ back foot. The dragon tried to wiggle out of the grasp, but Lunis’ superior strength and size kept him from moving.
However, Sophia couldn’t celebrate the victory although the sight was comical because she noticed crimson on Lunis front leg. He was bleeding from the landing.
“You all right?” she asked over her shoulder, careful to keep any emotions off her face.
“Reminding this little squirt who’s boss since he seems to have forgotten and gotten too big for his britches.” Lunis leaned low and spoke straight into Coal’s face. “Do you need me to change your diaper, little guy?”
Coal tried again to squirm to safety, but it was no use.
Sophia almost laughed, but her concern for Lunis kept her from any such relief. She returned her attention to Tanner, lying flat on his back and not daring to move with a sharp blade close to his throat.
“It’s sad that you couldn’t be more cooperative. We’re the nice guys, but we aren’t pushovers. If the Rogue Riders are going to be a problem, there will be consequences. You have a choice though. Join us or fight us.”
Tanner narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
“Coming from the guy lying at my mercy, I think I know exactly who I’m dealing with.”
“Whatever,” Tanner sputtered, obviously at a loss for a reply.
“By the way,” Sophia stomped close to his face as though she was going to smash it with her boot. He flinched. “Don’t call me sweetheart. If anything, you can call me boss, because that’s what the Dragon Elite is. We’re the ones in charge, and you’re going to figure that out or you’ll pay the price.”
She spun her sword, then sheathed it as she casually stepped backward, not at all worried about retaliation. Then she opened a portal so Lunis didn’t have to chance more injury and waved to her dragon.
“Come on, Lunis,” she said to him over her shoulder while striding for the shimmering gate. “Let’s leave these losers to pick up their egos.”
He n
odded, pulled his foot off the black dragon’s head, and strode after her while putting great effort into not limping, although Sophia knew he was in a lot of pain.
Chapter Sixteen
Hiker Wallace was unusually calm as his dragonriders explained their various experiences trying to recruit the demon riders. Most of their encounters had been the same. He nodded from where he sat behind his large, elaborate desk.
“I expected this,” he stated with his gaze pinned to its surface.
“You expected that there was a new society of dragonriders that governs the criminal world?” Evan boldly asked with a laugh.
“I expected,” Hiker’s tone was authoritative, “that the demon dragons and their riders wouldn’t be cooperative. Like Thad. They want power and do what they want. Serving the greater good isn’t in their value system.”
“What value system?” Wilder asked. “The guy I met seemed to value mouthing off and getting his ass handed to him.”
Sophia lifted her legs and draped them over him on the sofa, then put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He was fine, but all the Dragon Elite riders had a few bruises and bumps after their interactions with the Rogue Riders. Apparently they didn’t fight fair, and as happened to Sophia, had taken cheap shots. Wilder sported a cut on his cheek, but it was nothing that wouldn’t be fully healed by morning.
Mahkah had a black eye. Evan broke a finger punching a dragonrider in the face, stating that he had an especially hard head like it was full of rocks. The dragons all had skirmishes with the demon dragons and were recovering in the Cave. Lunis was stationed on the Expanse like before, also healing.
Mahkah thought that Lunis would be fine but would have to be more careful until he was entirely healed. He had advised that they not go out on any dangerous missions for a little while, but with the Rogue Riders' development, that seemed unlikely. Sophia didn’t like to think the worst but had strong suspicions that the Rogue Riders would only create problems that the Dragon Elite had to clean up and fix. She didn’t think they’d mind their own business and keep to themselves.
“I’m not surprised that these demon dragonriders aren’t cooperative,” Hiker began. “What I’m surprised about is that they’ve so quickly formed a group that’s governing criminals.”
“Because they’re associated with the demons, doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent,” Mama Jamba reasoned. “All dragons and riders were meant to be exceptional. How they use those powers depends on the alliance.”
“That’s the thing,” Hiker grumbled. “Somewhere out there, I have a new leader of the Rogue Riders who is using his powers to exploit evil.”
“It could be a good thing, sir,” Evan began. “I mean, we need someone to watch after the criminal world. Maybe this new leader is doing us a favor so we can watch after the good mortals.”
“The Rogue Riders are taking a cut and benefiting from criminal behavior,” Sophia argued. “They aren’t stopping crime. They’re encouraging it.”
“But is that so wrong?” Mama Jamba asked the question, which surprised everyone in the room.
“Scandalous. Meow.” Evan clawed the air like he was pretending to be a cat.
She smirked at him. “As much as I love the idea of everyone being good and getting along, that’s not realistic. That’s why it was decided there would be both angel and demon dragons in the first place. It’s about balance. Hiker, as much as you might not want to admit it, these Rogue Riders could end up serving a purpose eventually. Criminals can’t be stomped out. We’ve tried that since the beginning and those who want to break the rules will always find a way. So instead of trying to eliminate them, the Rogue Riders are embracing them. Governing them. It’s not all bad, depending on how it’s done.”
Hiker considered this for a moment, then nodded. “I’m withholding judgment until I have more information. For now, bullying my riders and trying to exert their power when they’re brand new will get them a war they won’t win.”
Sophia glanced at the map Mama Jamba had made, which lay on the table in front of the sofa where she was lounging. There were a lot more demon dragons and riders than Elites. For whatever reason, the demon dragons had magnetized to riders much faster than the angel ones. It could have been because the angel dragonettes hadn’t been as quick to leave the Gullington, not needing to spread their wings and find something outside their home. However, the demon dragons had all left pretty much as soon as they could fly.
The demon dragons and riders now severely outnumbered the Dragon Elite. There was hope there would be more angel dragonriders soon, but they’d need training and would be inexperienced.
It was impressive and worrisome to Sophia that the demon dragonriders had formed a group so quickly. She realized that she shouldn’t underestimate them and their supposed leader.
“I’m sure that after we put all those baby dragonriders in their place that they’ll think twice before messing with us,” Evan confidently stated while stretching out in the armchair beside Hiker’s desk.
The other guys nodded in agreement. However, Sophia was distracted by Ainsley rushing up the stairs from the corridor. She ran into the office, grief and stress covering her face.
Hiker bolted to a standing position at the sight of her. “What is it?”
She stopped short of his desk and shook her head. “It’s those damn new demon dragonriders. They’ve taken over Elfin territory and pushed hundreds out of their homes.”
Chapter Seventeen
Ainsley, who had been much calmer since retrieving her memories and being able to take back her old life, was visibly shaking. She seemed angry rather than upset, although hundreds being displaced was certainly sad.
“What happened?” Worry sprang to Hiker’s eyes.
“Dumb demon dragonriders with hard faces,” Evan complained and looked at his broken finger.
Ainsley drew in a breath and worked to compose herself. “I’ve heard from the Elfin Council that a bunch of dragonriders showed up on the main island in Hawaii. They simply swept in there and forced everyone out, saying they were taking over the land. There are over a hundred Elfin families. They aren’t the fighting type in that region, so they simply left and sought refuge from the Council.”
Sophia knew from her limited experience with the elves that the original clan was in Hawaii since being close to the water was important—it was their main element. There was an uncharted island, hidden to mortals, where the oldest families of elves lived. As Ainsley had said, Sophia was aware that those elves weren’t the fighting type. They—as Subner had been—were hippies through and through and promoted peace, love, and living away from the modern world. Conversely, Ainsley was much more contemporary as an elf.
Hiker began his usual pacing. Whereas the information before on the demon dragonriders hadn’t upset him, this news sent him back into his stress mode of thundering across his office floor.
“Governing the criminal world is one thing, but this…” Hiker seethed as his face flushed red. “How dare they?”
“It’s survival of the fittest, son.” Mama Jamba flipped through a travel magazine. One eyebrow lifted when she spied a picture of particular interest.
“What is up with you?” Evan challenged.
“Nothing is up with me, dear Evan. What’s up with you?” Mama Jamba sounded funny using his lingo.
“Evan is right.” Hiker narrowed his eyes at Mother Nature. “That’s the second time that you seem to be supporting the demon dragonriders.”
She shook her short bluish-gray curls. “Not at all, son. I simply try to maintain an objective perspective on things. I understand the fundamental differences between the angel and demon dragonriders. You all give and protect. They take and take. They’re selfish, whereas the angels and I designed you all to give. But if you think you’re holier than all because of that, you’re mistaken. There are flaws in being so selfless.”
“I can’t help but think that we’re having a philosophical discussion when we need
to act.” Sophia’s heart suddenly ached as she thought of all the elfin, peace-loving hippies kicked off the land they’d called home for ages.
“You’re right,” Hiker affirmed. He nodded at her and appeared relieved that Sophia was steering the conversation toward action.
“The demon dragonriders stole land that has belonged to the elves for thousands of years,” Ainsley argued and threw her hands up. “We have to do something.”
Wilder blew out a breath and wore the thoughtful look he got when working out something in his mind. “Why did they want the elfin land? They could have gone after any piece of territory. Why that one?”
Ainsley’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe the question. “It doesn’t matter why they chose it. The point is that they did. The Elfin Council has the toughest job taking care of the refugees.”
Sophia pulled out her phone. “I can message Liv at the House of Fourteen. This falls under their jurisdiction. They can help find housing for the elves.”
“Taking care of naughty dragonriders falls under our jurisdiction,” Evan declared.
“That’s true,” Hiker affirmed. “I have every intention of dealing with them, but having help with taking care of the elves would be appreciated.”
Sophia nodded in confirmation.
“The demon dragonriders will expect that we’ll try to stop them,” Mahkah stated with confidence.
“I suspect you’re right,” Hiker agreed. “That’s why we have to be stealthy and do a full reconnaissance mission first.” He glanced at Sophia and Wilder. “Will you two go to the island and investigate? Stay out of sight because I fully expect these Rogue Riders to shoot to kill.”
“Yes, sir,” Wilder said. “They’ll have to catch us to kill us, and it’s these newbies’ first rodeo.”