“Right, the old team, plus a hag of a woman who will try to bite my head off the moment she sees me.” Bruto shook the red hair atop his head and a thick parka appeared around him. “Let’s go get the old woman, shall we?”
It wasn't a long journey to find Rosie, and Jinn found humor in the location she chose to claim her home. Of course, she would tell them that it was merely a coincidence her residence just happened to be in close proximity to the man she swore to the heavens above she couldn't stand to be around for more than a few moments. On a small island not too far off the coast of Argentina was about as close as she could get without being in the frozen Antarctic where Bruto dwelled.
Once known as South Georgia, she'd somehow managed to make the place all her own, casting a cloak that made it so only a djinn could locate it. To anyone else it would be as if it vanished off the map. As there weren't many of them left, there was no concern of anyone ruining her peace. Jinn assumed she made it that way because she knew one day, they would come looking for her. Or, she hoped that Bruto would escape his solitary and stumble across her new home. He’d be able to hide out there, free of worry about the Collective coming for him.
Rosie had been very thorough in her takeover of the land; all evidence of its former human inhabits had been wiped out. Not that there had been much to eliminate. Even at its peak, the place only housed about fifty people. Instead of campsites and survey points, there were penguins everywhere.
“This is freaky, man,” Bruto commented as he stepped around the waddling birds. “Why are there so many here?”
“She always had a thing for them, especially the babies. What did she used to say?” Jinn tried to recall her affectionate squawking, but Bruto was right on the money.
“Oh!” Bruto raised his voice about ten octaves, mimicking the squeal of their friend. “They’re just so fluffy and cuddly and I just wanna smoosh them!” He picked up a baby bird, rubbing his face into its fir, and quickly put it down after an adult penguin started attacking his leg, jabbing its beak into his shin. “Damn, ouch!”
“And that is exactly what you get for making fun of me!” Rosie laughed as she floated over to them above her penguin babies. She, unlike the others, sported the garb of a genie drawn in a children’s book. Where Jinn and Bruto wore jeans, T-shirts, and boots, Rosie wore sheer purple harem pants with a matching top that left her belly button on display as if it wasn’t thirty degrees outside. She cared nothing about hiding her extra curves, proudly flaunting the pudge at her sides and the stretch marks that were the result of her packing on a few extra pounds. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail that fell around her face in full locks of candy red with white streaks. It looked like she had candy canes hanging from her head. “Have some manners, boys. Feet off the ground!”
Obeying her request, both Jinn and Bruto lifted from the ground. They floated above the penguins, one of whom was still eyeballing Bruto. He would be no fan favorite there.
“Now, why are you here.” She looked to Bruto with eyes that seemed too large for her face. “Why are you not in hiding?”
“Jinn needed my help, so here I am. Nothing more to it.” He smirked. “Don’t act like you aren’t thrilled to see me.”
She scowled at him and then replied, “Must be pretty damn major to have convinced you to come out and face the Ashen.”
“It is. That's why we’re here asking for your help as well,” Jinn spoke up.
“Hmm, well it seems we have a lot to discuss, boys. Follow me.” She turned from them but paused and threw a pointed glance over her shoulder. “Oh, and, Bruto, do try to keep your hands off the penguins.”
Rosie had built her home, a not so subtle castle done in shades of pink and purple, at the highest peak of the island on top of Mount Paget. She’d carved out the top, crafting a lush home where a chosen few penguins joined her after she’d done a bit of magic to condition them for life at that altitude.
“Pepper, I’m home!” she called out, and a short emperor penguin with a damaged wing waddled up to her. Pepper nuzzled against her leg, before jerking his head at the unexpected guests. “Oh, they are my friends, honey. Don’t worry.” She patted his head and strolled on. “Come on in, fellas!”
Rosie lived much like Bruto; in extravagance. Her home was a plush stereotype, the typical thought of what the inside of a genie’s bottle would look like. She’d actually taken a few designer tips from the television show. She had no problem with playing into the portrayal of her character. She was one of the few who didn’t gag at the images plastered across the world of what a djinn really looked like. Sure, they all lived above a puff of smoke and were extravagant in everything they did. Jinn always felt it was tiring, the way the world thought he lived.
She led them into a sitting room. The walls were rounded and lined in plush cushions that were upholstered in variations of neon colors. Plopping down atop the mountain of fluff, she waited for her old friends to get comfortable.
“Rosie,” Jinn began, as he desperately tried to situate himself without the feeling of sinking into the plush padding beneath his ass, “I’m here to ask something pretty drastic of you.”
“Yes, so you alluded to earlier. What is it?” A floating tray of crackers, cheese, and fruits passed through the room, offering its contents to the guests. Jinn declined, but Bruto stuffed his face with grapes and cubes of sharp cheddar.
“In a nutshell, a powerful warlock of the Ashen has Nitara and I need your help to save her,” Jinn spit it out, which was the best way, to rip the Band-Aid clean off. Just as Bruto had, Rosie processed his announcement with an expression of shock on her face, but quickly put the pieces together.
“Nitara...” She paused, pondering the name she hadn’t heard in ages. “So she isn’t dead, and he has her trapped somehow.”
“Yes,” he replied, “and it’s Daegal.”
Recognizing the name, Bruto choked. He never thought to ask who the guy was. The name was one that brought back an instant replay of a collection of nightmares.
Rosie frowned at the chunks of cheese that hit her floor. Bruto was a slob who she’d have to get out of her home as soon as possible. He did it on purpose, always had, anything to get a dig in at her. She waved a finger and the mess vanished. “Do you have a plan to set her free?”
“Working on it,” Jinn responded. “There aren’t as many of us left as I hoped. I haven’t been able to find Maverick or any of the others.”
“So, it’s just the three of us then?” She stood from her seat with ease, while Jinn struggled to climb out of his.
“Yes,” he grunted as he finally made it free. “Just us three.”
“Right, well. Okay!” She clapped her hands. “I guess I should get my things together.”
“What?” Bruto nearly choked on his cheese. “That’s it?”
“Yes. What more do you want? Hell, I figure if it got your scary ass out of hiding then it must be serious.” She patted the head of Pepper who was nuzzling her leg. “Besides, we all know the two of you can’t do anything right if I’m not by your side.”
“Yeah, right,” Bruto huffed.
“Just give me a few moments to prepare myself and we shall be on our way.” She headed out of the room. “Oh, I must figure out a system for my babies while I’m away.”
“Babies?” Bruto guffawed and once again choked on a piece of cheese.
“Man, chew your food!” Jinn laughed and headed out of the room to find a normal chair to sit in.
The Cascades were a gorgeous land. The moment the war kicked off; dragons made quick work of claiming the old grounds of New Zealand for their own. It was the perfect place for them with high hills, mountains, and woodland flushed with plenty of trees. There was ample space for new dragons to roam and learn the proper ways of a dragon’s life. It was a complete paradise for their kind. Once they took hold, there was no fighting them for it. Their guards were skilled, and worthy opponents for anyone who dared to approach. The territory was filled
with dragons of all sorts, not just those who breathed fire, but those who breathed ice, those who could fly and those who couldn’t, and a few who dwelled in the waters around their land. Even the Komodo dragon, not supernatural in any way, called the place home.
Briar couldn’t help but think about Inda. The last time she’d visited the Cascades, she was with her phoenix friend and they turned heads the moment they touched down. Dragons and phoenixes didn’t have what someone would call a great history together. Jax loved Inda, but not everyone like him shared that feeling. There were a few instances that broke the rules, their relationship was one. Briar hadn’t been to the Cascades since Inda left.
Inda was the love of Jax’s life. Briar knew the dragon before he met her, and he was changed entirely when the bird of fire flew into his life. The suave ladies’ man quickly changed his tone when it came to Inda. Yeah, for a while he kept up his façade as the womanizer, but the look in his eyes whenever she spoke, when she entered the room, or even when she was laying into him, was undeniable. He was in love and it changed him to his very core. He begged her to stay with him, but she had been called home. When the wars began, every phoenix left earth, returning to their realm for protection. Inda was called like all the others. Despite her love for Jax, she obeyed the orders and left him. The result was an epic fight, because she refused to say no to her people, and he was not allowed to go with her.
Though she promised to return to him as soon as she could, they both knew what the risk was in her leaving. Time in her realm was different than that of earth. A few days there was a few weeks on earth. Depending on how long they forced her to stay, decades could pass before she would return. Considering Earth was at war, neither believed it would be a quick turnaround. Jax worried that even though she may very well be the same woman when she returned, he would not be the same man. Inda begged him to understand, but Jax was stubborn and hot headed. He wanted her to stay and defy her people even though he couldn’t say he would do the same for her. When Inda returned to Earth, along with the others like her, she couldn’t stand to face him. So, for the last six years, she’d been back, and Jax was completely unaware. She made Briar promise not to tell him. Considering she had no contact with the man, it was a promise she had every intention of keeping, but times demanded she do whatever necessary to protect her people. Inda would curse her out, but she would forgive her … at least Briar hoped she would.
Jax had come through on his promise to provide their group safe passage through the Cascades. The word had been put out to the masses, no one was to interfere. The problem with the broadcast was that it also meant that Daegal would know that they were coming. Odds were, whoever helped him, received word as well. So much for a surprise attack. It didn’t really matter much. They had thirty-six hours left to find him and stop his plan from coming to fruition.
“Briar.” Jax stepped back and looked at the large group she’d brought with her. The eclectic group was unexpected to say the least. There were several types of supernatural creatures that made up their ranks, from bear shifters to fae. “You have a very interesting group here,” he stated with a wide smile, surprised that she had been able to get so many willing to aid her.
She ignored his jab. “Jax, thank you for helping us.”
“No problem. I am a man of my word.” He lowered his voice to whisper, “Let’s hope your word is as valuable.”
“You know that it is.” She rolled her eyes at the insult. She was the queen—to give her word and go back on it would make not only her, but all her people look bad. She would never do such a thing.
“Great, so I have a few friends who will assist you in your travels. We have an inkling of where our unapproved visitor may be.” Jax turned to the men who stood behind him, preparing to introduce them.
“You’re not coming with us?” Briar asked, having hoped he would join them in their fight.
“No, I have other things to tend to.” Jax made it clear that her fight was not his own.
“Right …”
“As I was saying, there is a traitor amongst us. His name is Cast. He’s an ice dragon who was disgraced after an unsuccessful attempt to kill our king, an attempt that should have resulted in the discontinuation of his life.” His jaw tightened as he recalled the incident that left his father injured and on the brink of death.
“He tried to kill your father?” Briar reached out but dropped her hand when his eyes flashed red. They weren’t friends regardless of his decision to help them.
“Yes. Fortunately, my brother, Quinn, was there. I’m not sure what he hoped to accomplish. He would have had to kill my father and his fifteen children to even have a hope of taking the throne. Even then, there are a series of officials who would have the right to claim the title long before he ever would. A lot of people think he was just out of it, completely unhinged. I’d say that is likely the truth. Either way, he was banished. He should have been killed, but my father took pity on the dragon who had no one else in his life. He forced him to the dark island. A piece of land quite like the scorched lands. It was uninhabitable, but he has made it his own and it would seem he has made a deal with your little friend. A recent survey of the island shows that life has returned to it. It’s covered in foliage now. I’m assuming he is looking for power, enough power to finish the job he started, and thinks he can trust this warlock to grant him that.”
“I can tell you now that he’s playing a fool’s game,” Jinn spoke. Daegal was never one to make deals in which he had to give up something. If he’d made a deal with this Cast, the ice dragon was really the one indebted to the warlock. He may not be aware, but he would never be free of the darkness that came with dealing with the devil.
“You think so?” Jax turned to the djinn. He knew exactly who he was. “I take it you have firsthand knowledge of the warlock.”
“What do you think he promised those witches who are helping him now? They are no more than slaves, doing a continuous spell to keep his prisoners there. The moment they are not needed, he will toss them aside. I’ve seen it before.” Jinn looked to his two companions, djinns like himself. Created and discarded because Daegal sought to create something, or someone stronger.
“You have?” Jax dug deeper. The better he understood their enemy, the better chance he had at finding a way to defeat him.
“Yes. After he turned us, we were made to stay with him.” Bruto stepped forward, placing a hand on Jinn’s shoulder. “I can’t erase the memories of the things he did, and the people he used, all in the name of gaining more power. This man is ruthless, your Cast will likely not survive this.”
“I can’t say I care if Cast survives.” Jax laughed. If he had his way, the ice dragon would have been taken out a long time ago. “What happened? How did you get free?”
“Luck, a happy mistake, whatever you want to call it.” Jinn shrugged, recounting in his mind the day they were stolen. “He lost us, the vessels containing us were all taken. In retrospect, you’d think he would have been more careful, but I think the power got to his head. He thought he was untouchable. It was through a series of thieving, bargaining, and bribery that we all went our separate ways. For me, it was decades before someone realized I was inside the vessel. There was nothing we could do about it. It seems he has created more, or at least found a way to trap others that were already out there.”
“You’re saying he doesn’t honor his deals?” Briar asked.
“Unless he has turned a new leaf, which I highly doubt, no, he doesn't,” Rosie muttered, and rolled her eyes which told Jinn that she was ready for the conversation to be over. She, like anyone else who knew the warlock, hated the reminder of her creator. He knew that it was all she could do to not think of the man who stole her happy life away from her.
“Sucks for Cast, but we have to stop this guy. Something tells me that once he takes out your people, he isn’t going to stop there.” Jax was reconsidering his position of hands off. If the warlock in question had created beings
of such powerful magic, there was no telling what he would do. It meant that the dragons wouldn’t be safe from him. No one would be.
“Looks like we’re in this together.” Briar smiled at the man she hoped to someday be able to call her friend again.
“Just like old times, huh? Guess I should introduce the team.” He turned to the squad of men standing behind him. With each introduction, the man whose name he called stepped forward. “Here we have five of the best we have to offer you. Joe is a great strategist, Rick is a fighter, strong and fearless. Brandon is quick, the fastest we’ve got. The twins, Marcus and Maximus, are like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”
“You give us your best?” Briar questioned. She’d expected a standard escort, not the elite lineup he’d introduced.
“Well, you’re a powerful entity yourself. We need someone who can keep up with you.” He winked, and she caught his meaning. The dragons didn’t trust them. The men were the best because only their best had a chance of taking down the fairy queen should she step out of line. “I will meet up with you all later, I know the route you’re taking. Unfortunately, there is only one open path that will allow access to Cast’s island. I will meet you before you enter.”
“Great, a journey through dragon land, and on foot. This should be fun,” Praia muttered, catching the eye of Rick who smiled.
“You’ll be safe.” He winked at the fae girl before catching Joe’s elbow to his side.
“All right then, let’s get a move on, shall we?” Rosie sauntered forward, eyeing the dragon men. “I would really like to hurry up and get back to my penguin babies.”
“Did she say penguin babies?” Briar looked to Jinn who laughed and shook his head.
“Don’t ask.”
“This place is gorgeous.” Praia spoke softly as they walked on. She’d been to the lands once before the dragons claimed it as their own. Her memories in no way did the place justice. Again, the group was pushed to the edges of the country, traveling by foot through what was once known as Gippsland Lake Coastal Park. Once a little human community, the area had been returned to nature. Rising seas washed away all evidence of its former inhabitants. The dragons were eager to let the area return to the sea—it meant there would be plentiful fishing grounds and a reinforced barrier land. Still there was enough land left to make the trek that would take them to the former island of Tasmania where Cast was being held. Even in its swamp like state, Praia reveled in the beauty of it all. Her enhanced senses gave her access to sights the others may not have been privy to.
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