by Chris Cannon
Chapter Thirty-Four
Bryn waited for Ivy and Clint at the Snack Shack, per Clint’s decree, at eleven o’clock on the twenty-eighth. Actually, it was twenty til eleven, but she’d been so excited to see her friends she was early. The two guards who had driven her here were stationed in the lot across the street, keeping an eye on everything just in case evil Silver dragon-pires decided to make an appearance.
She’d worked her way through half a bucket of caramel corn by the time her friends arrived. Ivy came over and hugged her before sitting down. Clint grabbed a handful of caramel corn and shoved it in his mouth as he took his seat.
“Hungry?” Bryn asked.
“I told him he couldn’t badger you with questions about Jaxon, so I think he’s stuffing his face as a preventative measure,” Ivy said.
“You can ask as many questions as you want,” Bryn said. “Not that I have any answers.”
“What do you mean?” Ivy asked. “I thought things were falling into place. You’re on good terms with your parents, your grandparents, and Jaxon. From what you said, even Ferrin is playing nice.”
“I know, but there’s this voice in my head that won’t let me relax and enjoy and my life. It keeps waiting for the next tragedy to hit.”
“I think everyone has that voice now,” Clint said. “I’m grateful we made it through Christmas without any major catastrophes.”
Ivy arched her eyebrows at Clint. “Well, there was that one incident.”
“No.” He smacked his hands over his ears. “No, there was not.”
Ivy laughed.
Clint dropped his hands. “You wouldn’t think it was so funny if it was your parents we’d walked in on.”
“Walked in on?” It took Bryn a moment to understand. “Oh my God. Seriously?”
“Clint was going to spend the evening at my house, but he forgot the tin of peanut butter fudge he was supposed to bring over, so we both went back to his house to pick it up and let’s just say, his parents were making merry under the mistletoe in the kitchen.”
Bryn cringed. “In the kitchen?”
Ivy laughed. “Thank goodness they didn’t realize we were in the house. We snuck back out, abandoning the fudge. There were more than enough Christmas cookies at my house to make up the difference.”
“Now that you’ve shared with Bryn,” Clint said, “we will never speak of this again. I have to spend time in that kitchen with my parents every day over break. Rehashing the nightmare is harshing my ability to live in denial.”
“Okay,” Ivy said. “I won’t mention it again.”
“I don’t have any stories that are nearly as entertaining,” Bryn said.
“Nothing strange happened at Christmas dinner with Ferrin?” Clint said. “I find that hard to believe.”
“It was weird because it’s like he switched modes to some sort of host who was trying to impress us. I have to admit, the setting was magical. On a side note, I did learn that I sucked at ice skating.” She told them about the frozen pond Ferrin had added for Christmas.
“It’s like Ferrin lives in some alternate reality where he can create whatever he wants,” Clint said. “Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like it when he can’t control situations.”
“Interesting logic,” Bryn said. “And you’re probably not wrong.”
After lunch, they decided to go for a walk down Main Street.
“Are you sure we’re allowed to window shop?” Ivy asked. “We could get in trouble for loitering.”
“My grandmother and the Women’s League have been butting heads with the Directorate over this whole situation. So far, the guards have agreed to stay alert and watch for anyone who might be a threat without badgering people who appear to be shopping.”
“It’ll be hard.” Clint rolled his shoulders back and puffed out his chest. “But I’ll try not to appear threatening.”
“Uh-oh,” Ivy said. “Is it my imagination, or is that guard following us?” She nodded her head at the guard across the street.
Bryn checked to make sure before she said anything. “That’s Derek. He’s with me. My grandmother sent him with orders to stay nearby. Before that might have annoyed me, but now I’m okay with it.”
“Plus he’s kind of cute,” Ivy said.
“I hadn’t noticed,” Bryn said, practicing her polite Blue social skills because Derek was cute and God forbid anyone overheard her say that and pass the information back to Jaxon.
“Nice diplomacy act. Anyway, are we actually shopping for anything, or are we browsing?” Ivy asked.
“I wanted to pick up some Christmas ornaments for my parents,” Bryn said.
“They should be on sale now,” Ivy said.
“Funny how everything is on sale after you’ve spent all your money,” Clint said. “If we were smart we’d wait to buy gifts after Christmas and exchange them on New Year’s Eve.”
Bryn nodded along, despite the pang of guilt at having a ready supply of money, due to her grandparents. She’d never had money growing up. Having a bottomless purse now was fun, but it also made her uncomfortable.
“Let’s go by the art store,” Ivy said. “They had ornaments from local artisans which were really cool. Maybe they have some left.”
When they reached the art store, Bryn found hand-blown glass ornaments that were amazing. “I love this one.” She held up a globe made from swirling blue and green glass.
Ivy picked up a tear drop with white-and-red streaks. “I think I need this one.”
“Oh, that is pretty. Is there another one like it?” Bryn asked.
“They’re all unique,” Ivy said. “But here’s another red one your mom would probably love.”
Bryn accepted the swirling red globe Ivy held out to her. “How many should I buy?”
“That depends,” Clint said. “How big is your mom’s tree?”
“They dug up a three-foot tree that they’re going to transplant to their front yard after Christmas,” Bryn said. “So I have no idea what size they’ll have next year.”
“Whatever you pick can be a starter ornament set,” Ivy said. “They can always add more each year. That’s what my parents did.”
Westgates didn’t do starter-anything. Maybe Bryn should pick out some ornaments for the tree she’d have one day.
Clint picked up a red and blue globe with swirls of purple where the colors blended. “I think your parents need this one. It’s kind of symbolic.”
“I like that.” By the time she was done, Bryn had a dozen ornaments wrapped in tissue paper and sealed in protective cardboard sleeves inside another larger box.
After paying for the ornaments, Bryn said, “I wonder if I could ride out to see my parents and deliver these ornaments now?”
“We could go with you,” Ivy said, “if that would help.”
Bryn reached for the handle to the door when it was flung open and Derek the guard rushed inside. “Everyone get back,” he warned as he turned to face the door.
Bryn stumbled backwards dropping the box of ornaments. She reached for her wrist and activated her elemental sword. Her heart hammered in her chest while she waited to see what was coming.
The door banged open and a man with dark skin and eyes the color of steel entered the store. He seemed unconcerned with the large Red guard who stood blocking his path. His eyes were on Bryn. “There you are. That is an impressive weapon, young lady. I hoped you’d have it with you.”
“It’s of no use to you and I know how to use it,” Bryn warned. “So get the hell out of here.”
“How rude. I thought your grandparents would’ve raised you better.”
“They didn’t raise me,” Bryn said.
“That’s right. Your parents mentioned that.”
“You know my parents?” That didn’t seem right.
“I am acquainted with them. Right now, they are my guests.”
“Don’t come any closer,” Derek said. “You’re not welcome here.”
“I’m me
rely here to extend an invitation. Bryn, you’re invited to join us in Sanctuary for a belated Christmas dinner. Your parents and I will be waiting for you.”
Bryn gripped the sword tighter and pushed down the fire blazing in her gut. “What have you done with my parents?”
“Nothing permanent, yet.”
“Who are you and what do you want with Bryn?” Clint asked as he produced balls of lightning in both of his hands.
“My name is Adden. And I’m a Silver dragon.” He seemed to be waiting for them to be afraid or impressed.
“That explains the funky eyes,” Clint said.
“What do you want with me?” Bryn asked. She wanted to save her parents, but she also wanted to know what she was walking into.
“It’s simple. I’m using your parents to get to you. I’ll use you to get something I want—starting with that bracelet.”
He wanted her bracelet which was meant for a Red-Blue hybrid? It would kill him and right now she didn’t feel so bad about that.
“Let my parents go, and let us go, and I’ll give you the bracelet,” Bryn said.
“You’d just hand it over?” Adden said. “I find that hard to believe.”
“My parents are more important than a bracelet. Where are they?”
Adden pulled a phone from his pocket and hit a button. “There’s been an interesting development. Put her mom on the phone.” He pushed the speaker button.
“Bryn, are you there?” Her mom sounded stressed.
“I’m at the art store with some asshat named Adden. Where are you?”
“We’re in our house with some uninvited guests, but we’re fine,” her mom said.
“Your daughter lacks manners,” Adden said.
“Hurt her and you’ll be lacking your balls,” Bryn’s mom growled through the phone.
Adden blinked. “I see where she gets it from. Stay on the line until your daughter gives me her bracelet.”
Bryn removed the bracelet but held onto it. “I give you this, your people leave my parents’ house, and you let everyone go.”
“Agreed.”
“Is there a back door?” Derek asked the girl behind the counter.
She nodded.
“Go,” Derek stood between her and Adden. “All of you go. Bryn, give me the bracelet.”
She didn’t trust Adden to keep his word. “I have a better idea. We’ll all back up, and I’ll leave the bracelet here.” She deactivated the safety and set the bracelet on a display of colored pencils. “We back out of the store and you come get this.”
“That is acceptable.” He chuckled. “Leave the McKenna’s home,” he spoke into his phone.
Bryn backed away from the bracelet. Derek stayed between her and Adden. Clint and Ivy and the cashier headed for the exit.
“They’re gone, Bryn,” her mom said. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’ll call you soon,” Bryn hollered so her mother could hear her as she dashed toward the exit.
Adden confidently strode across the store and picked up the bracelet. He bent the ends out so it would wrap part way around his wrist. Bryn hovered in the doorway, waiting to see what the disembodied voice would do to him when he failed the Trial-by-Fire. With the bracelet in place, Adden stiffened and closed his eyes. This was it. He would fail because he wasn’t a Red-Blue hybrid.
“Yes,” Adden growled. “I knew I was right.” A sword of fire and ice shot from his hand. He smiled at Bryn. “Surprise.”
What the hell? “How is that possible?”
“I’m a master of all five elements,” he bragged. “Therefore, all the artifacts will work for me.” He came toward them, swinging the sword, cutting through book displays and bins of paint brushes.
“Time to go,” Clint said.
“Move,” Derek ordered. He shoved Bryn out the door while he grabbed his cell phone, barking orders at whoever was on the other end.
She didn’t know where they were, but she followed Clint and Ivy. They made it out onto Main Street where everything seemed perfectly normal. Her grandmother’s SUV sped toward them and screeched to a halt inches from Clint.
“Get in,” Derek ordered.
Clint yanked the door open and shoved Ivy inside, climbing in after her. Bryn went in next. Derek followed. Despite the fact that no one seemed to be chasing them, the driver sped away like a bat out of hell while Derek continued to talk to people on his phone.
When they reached Sinclair Estate, Ferrin greeted her at the door with, “Why in the hell did you give him your bracelet?”
“I didn’t think he could use it. Only Red-Blue hybrids should be able to use that bracelet.”
Her grandfather put a hand on Ferrin’s shoulder and pulled him back. “We had no way of knowing he’d be able to use the sword.”
“Plus, they had people in my parents’ house,” Bryn reminded him.
“We sent guards out there to make sure they were okay,” her grandfather said. “They’re fine. I’ve left someone to watch over them.”
Ivy held out her wrist. The black pearl bracelet shone in the light. “It’s a good thing he didn’t know about my bracelet.”
“And if he ever finds out, you’ll know not to hand it over without a fight,” Ferrin snapped.
“Bite me,” Bryn said.
“You’ve caused yet another mess—” Ferrin started.
“Keep yelling at me and I’ll name your grandchildren after my parents,” Bryn shot back.
Ferrin blinked, looking dumbfounded.
“Hey, look at that,” Bryn said. “I have a new way to annoy Ferrin.”
Clint and Ivy both turned away, trying not to laugh. Her grandfather sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Bryn, I need you and your friends to give a factual account of everything that happened. Come with me.”
Ferrin stalked ahead.
Clint caught up to Bryn. “That was freaking brilliant.”
“Thanks. It just sort of came to me.”
“Next time,” Ivy said, “tell him you’ll get his grandkids tattoos like Aunt Ivy and Uncle Clint.”
Bryn laughed. When they entered the dining room she did her best to put on a serious face.
“Derek, come with us,” her grandfather said. “Bryn, we’ll be back for you in a few minutes.”
They walked across the hall to the small living room where she’d first kissed Jaxon. Her grandmother came into the room, followed by Abigail who had a cart of snacks and drinks.
“Bryn, I thought we discussed this,” her grandmother said in a joking tone before coming over to give her a hug.
“Sorry, my status as a chaos-magnet continues.”
“Help yourselves to whatever you like,” her grandmother said to Clint and Ivy. “After you’ve given your statement I can have a driver take you home.”
“My car is in Dragon’s Bluff,” Clint said.
“Then we’ll take you back there,” her grandmother said.
When Derek came back into the room, the veins on his neck were bulging. Her grandfather or Ferrin must have ripped him a new one.
Before walking across the hall Bryn grabbed a soda and took it to him. “Thank you for protecting me today.”
“I did what I thought best at the time.” He accepted the drink. “Thank you.”
Bryn went across the hall and told them about everything that had happened in the art store. “I don’t know where Adden came from, but Derek made sure he couldn’t physically reach me. I swear I thought the bracelet would poison him or kill him.”
“And you were okay with that?” Ferrin asked.
“He had my parents. I would have been happy to see him drop dead.”
“Now he knows he can use any artifact,” her grandfather said. “We need to round them up to keep them out of his hands.”
“Ivy has her bracelet and Jaxon has his cuff links. What else could he be looking for?”
“Don’t,” Ferrin stated like he was king of the world.
Her grandfather ignored the decree. “We ha
d several more knight volunteers who retrieved artifacts for us. There are weapons for Orange and Green dragons as well as Red. We were considering taking hybrid volunteers to find more weapons like yours.”
“What did you do with the knights?” Bryn asked.
“They were released once the artifacts were found.”
“So you think Adden and his Silver friends will be looking for anyone with an artifact? What does he plan to do with them?”
“Is there any point in asking you not to share?” Ferrin asked.
“No,” her grandfather said. “From what we’ve read, combining certain artifacts will create some sort of super weapon.”
“That does what?” Bryn asked.
“We have no idea. Miss Enid has been scouring the history books for us, but she’s yet to find anything conclusive.”
Something about this didn’t make sense. “Why would they need weapons if they’re immune to all of our breath weapons?”
Her grandfather squinted at her. “Why would you think they’re immune?”
“I was curious about the Silver dragons, so I read some articles in the library.”
“The Silvers may develop control over all of our breath weapons once they’ve fed off enough dragons from each Clan, but they’re not impervious to them. They may have claimed immunity to make themselves seem more impressive, but that’s not the case.”
“Good to know.” It made them seem little less threatening.
“You can share what we’ve told you today with your friends and Jaxon, but no one else.”
“Why even bother to keep it a secret?” Ferrin asked.
“What has your panties in a bunch today?” Bryn asked.
Ferrin rounded on her. “I am the Speaker for the Directorate. You will treat me with respect.” Frost shot from his mouth. Her grandfather was giving her a look like she’d crossed the line. Maybe she had.
“You’re right. That was rude. I apologize.”
“Send Clint in,” her grandfather said.
Bryn went back out and whispered to her friends. “I set Ferrin off. Tread lightly.” In a louder voice, she said, “Clint, you’re up.”