Chapter 37 “Weighed, Measured and Judged”

They reached the fifth floor without a problem. Seth should have realized that something was off when they burst through the doors into the long corridor and found it abandoned, yet he was so set on almost having reached his target that he did not consider it. And so, he and the others hurried down the corridor without further thought.

They had gone half way down it when suddenly the doors to either side burst open and Watchers and Night Riders poured out to fill the corridor. The group skidded to a halt and whirled around only to find that it was the same case behind them. They were trapped.

“Well, we almost made it,” Gina spoke up.

“We don’t have time for this,” Seth growled as he unsheathed both his swords once more.

Dominique pulled forth his tube and Anita’s hands moved to the blades on her back and Gina unsheathed her sword. When there was a cracking sound beside her she looked to see that Drake cracked the knuckles on both his hands with a grin before he pulled forth his own sword. Gina rolled her eyes before turning her attention back to the threat at hand. There were a few habits she would have Drake break before she married him.

“So,” Dominique asked the Watchers and Night Riders casually as the group positioned themselves so that Gina, Anita and Drake were facing one side while Dominique and Seth faced the other.

“Who’s first?” Dominique’s words seemed to break the spell and they charged.

Anita’s knives brought a few men down before they reached them but then, the groups clashed.

Seth dodged and dealt blows so fast the Watchers and Night Riders couldn’t keep up in the narrow corridor. Anita, who had run out of throwing knives, pulled the two blades, which had been strapped to her thighs, forth and began to resume her attack with them, twirling as she lashed out and dodged gracefully. Gina and Drake worked skillfully as a team while Dominique took care of any attackers in his own way.

Seth dodged a blow when Dominique suddenly grabbed his arm. “Go!” he told him.

“What?” Seth asked.

“Find Akira, we’ll hold them off,” Drake said as he came to stand beside Dominique.

Seth stared at him.

“Go on Seth,” Gina spoke as she pushed Seth towards the end of the corridor and took her place between Dominique and Drake, behind her Anita got rid of a Watcher. “Stop Steeson and get Akira back.”

“Seriously?” Seth asked.

“Go before I do!” Dominique told him.

That seemed to do the trick and Seth shot them a grateful look before he turned. Cutting down a Night Rider in his way he charged the next, barging into him with his shoulder and sending him flying.

Drake turned and helped Anita out.

“Aw would you look at that,” Gin suddenly grinned as she shot Drake a look as though to make sure he didn’t hear her as she spoke to Dominique. “You get to fight beside you great, great…well really old grandma!”

Dominique shot her a look before he shook his head. “Do you have any idea how weird that sounds?” he asked.

“Our family is weird,” Gina told Dominique with a grin as she casually dodged a blow from a blow.

“Really?” Dominique asked sarcastically.

“Of course honey, somewhere along the lines we have you, don’t we?” Gina told him with a cheeky grin before she dodged another blow and lashed out at a Night Rider.

“Seriously?” Dominique asked with a role of his eyes before he joined her. As he continued to fight he caught sight of Seth breaking through the last Watchers and Night Riders and rounding the corner in the corridor.

“You'd better make it,” Dominique muttered as he smashed his pole into a Watcher. “We’re counting on you.”

Steeson listened gleefully as the crowd outside began to hush and Argos got ready to speak.

“This is exciting!” he grinned.

Nemis stood in the far corner, shooting glances at a small table where tubes filled with a red liquid stood. Beside them was a small pile of white scales.

Deception lay with her head resting on her paws, her eyes half closer. Redemption glared at Steeson while Akira just stared blankly.

“Come on Akira, please look a bit more excited,” Steeson told her. “You are after all the Rider of Legend, that’s something to smile about, isn’t it?”

When she didn’t respond he turned away with a sigh. Outside Argos was giving his speech. Shaking his head Steeson walked over to a small table and poured himself a glass of wine.

“I don’t get why you can’t all be a little more cheerful, I mean we’re about to…” he never got to finish as he felt a sudden presence behind him.

Steeson slowly turned to find Akira standing before him, her face still blank. Nemis wasn’t watching, seeming more intrigued by the tubes with red liquid, yet Redemption was watching, his eyes filled with hope while Deception opened her own eyes, suddenly seeming intrigued.

“Yes?” Steeson asked Akira as he raised an eyebrow.

The black ring around Akira’s eyes flicked before suddenly her hand shot out and grabbed a hold of Steeson’s neck. Steeson’s blood ran cold and Nemis, seeming to realize something was wrong, looked up from the tubes for the first time, confusion filling his eyes.

“Akira what…?” Steeson began as Akira’s eyes suddenly flickered again.

“I’m sorry it took so long,” Akira began, her voice cold. As Steeson watched the black rings around her eyes suddenly disappeared altogether. “From now on,” Akira continued as she brought her face towards his. “Things are going to be a little different around here. Starting with who gives the orders.”

Steeson opened his mouth to protest but as pain exploded in his abdomen he could do nothing but gasp. The wine glass in his hand fell to the ground, shattering upon impact and sending wine flowing across the ground like blood.

“I’m sorry, but there is not room for two of us in the Lands, both in the past, future or now,” Akira told him as she jerked her hand back.

“How…?” gasped Steeson as he stumbled back, his eyes drifting to the sword Akira held in one hand, a sword that was now covered in crimson blood. Slowly his hands went to his stomach only to come away red.

Confusion filled his eyes as Steeson looked up to see a crocked smile, which made her look anything but friendly, spread across Akira’s face. His eyes moved past her, past Nemis who seemed to have frozen and was staring in shear shock, past the white dragon who had a look of relief, onto his own dragon, onto Deception who seemed to be watching with pure fascination.

Why did she not jump to his aid? Why did his dragon do nothing but watch? Why was their not even a hint of pain in her eyes at the fact that her rider was injured? Steeson stared at her with confusion. It was in that moment that Deception opened her mind completely to him and Steeson saw everything.

“No,” he took a shocked step back. “No!” he shook his head as black dots danced before his eyes. “Deception!” he said it in a way as though not saying the name of a dragon but saying it as a word, as though trying to say it how it was meant to be said.

It was the last word he said before he crumpled to the ground and Deception felt his presence leave her mind forever.

“Akira?” Redemption asked softly, ignoring the presence of both Deception and Nemis, his eyes glued to his rider.

Akira did not response. She stood tensely, her back towards him as she stared down at the fallen Steeson.

Redemption narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. It bothered him how Akira had just killed Steeson in cold blood. While he would not say she had been unjust it was just not like her.

Akira lifted her blood stained sword and stared at it in fascination.

“Kiddo?” Redemption asked, unaware of how behind him Nemis suddenly lifted his head and with wide eyes turned to stare at Deception who nodded at him.

“KIDDO!” Redemption tried louder.

Akira froze and then she slowly turned around to face him. As Redemption’s eyes met hers he felt shock course through him.

The black ring around her eyes were gone but her eyes had not returned to their normal blue color. Instead they were a ferocious, almost scary dark blue, much darker than they had ever been.

“I think,” an evil smile spread across Akira's face, “that it is high time that someone else took over command.” She turned to look at Steeson’s body once more.

Redemption shuddered at the evil that seemed to reek from his rider. This couldn't be happening. Akira had broken the bond, the lack of the black ring around her eyes proved it, yet she wasn't herself either. It was as though she had broken free from Steeson's hold only to become enslaved to something else.

“Akira,” Redemption pleaded softly.

Akira’s head snapped in his direction, her dark blue eyes seeming to cut right through him. In them he saw it all. The craving for power, the madness that showed she would do whatever it took to gain it. It was the same look Haiden had possessed, the look that had been deep in Steeson’s own eyes, barely visible but always there, lurking in the shadows.

Suddenly Redemption felt emotions rush through him, emotions he had never felt before, Akira's emotions. They were emotions of anger, the sudden urge to fight someone, to kill, to watch life fade away and lastly, a craving for power. It was a craving so large it felt like there was an empty void in the pit of his stomach.

For a moment Redemption let the emotions wash through him and suddenly the white Dragon of Legend began to flicker from a pure white to a pitch black. Yet then, as he watched his rider he felt the sudden urge to fight against this. This wasn't him, this wasn't Akira, whatever it was, he had to snap them both out of it.

“Akira,” Redemption pleaded again, “This isn’t you, this isn't who you are! Who WE are!” 

As Redemption stopped flickering and turned back to his usual white Akira glared at him, not reacting, yet her eyes were the giveaway of the terminal raging inside her.

“This isn't you,” Redemption shuddered as he felt the same craving Akira was feeling began to seep into him once again, yet he was surprised at how easily he could suddenly fight it off.

Something was wrong. If a rider turned evil, which Akira seemed to have done, usually so did their dragon. He shot a look over at Deception and fear filled him as he saw the satisfied look on her face. She knew something, something that he didn't. There was something going on here, something Redemption couldn't quite grasp.

“I could have it all,” Akira’s voice sent chills through Redemption. She stared at him with those unnatural dark blue eyes. “We could become even more powerful,” a wild look appeared in her eyes, “we could do anything...”

Redemption felt panic fill him. He was losing her.

“AKIRA!” he did the only thing he could. Bounding forward he knocked her over, placing a large paw on her chest to hold her down. Her sword skidded a few feet from her hands, rendering her useless “Snap out of it!” he told her firmly.

For a moment Akira’s eyes were filled with surprise before something along the lines of fury appeared, and then, suddenly, they seemed to turn a lighter shade altogether and Akira's familiar blue eyes were staring back at him.

“Ree?” Akira asked, surprise in her voice. “What’s going on?”

All the emotions drained away. The anger, the craving for power, all of it was suddenly gone, confusion and surprise taking their place. Akira was back.

Letting out a snort of relief Redemption took his paw off his rider.

“You weren't yourself.” he told her gently as Akira scrambled to her feet and stared around her with a bewildered look on her face.

“Where in the Lands am I?” her eyes landed on Steeson’s body. “Is he…?” she began.

“You killed him,” Redemption told her.

It was then that the door suddenly burst open and Seth came hurtling into the room, his hair in a mess and a bloodied sword in each hand. His eyes swept the room, coming to a stop on Akira.

The two stood, staring at each other.

“Seth?” Akira asked in total confusion. Questions raced through her mind. Where had he just come from?

“Stay back,” Seth told her firmly as he pointed a sword at her and his eyes swept the room once more, as though searching for someone. When he caught sight of Steeson’s body on the ground he froze.

“Seth?” Akira tried again.

Seth’s gaze snapped up to meet hers and he seemed to realize something.

“No black rings,” he murmured.

“No what?” Akira asked.

Without a word Seth dropped both his swords and ran towards her. Not giving Akira a chance to defend herself her threw his hands around her and scooped her up in a hug.

“Cant. Breath!” Akira choked out as Seth pressed her to his chest.

“Sorry,” Seth quickly loosened his grip. His hands on her shoulders he stared down at her. “It’s just that I was so worried. We came all the way here to try and stop Steeson and rescue you and here you are…you’re yourself!”

“Okay?” Akira asked in confusion.

“How did you…?” Upon seeing Akira’s confused look Seth trailed off. “Okay, just what do you remember?” he asked her carefully.

Akira stared at him. “Uh…” she wrinkled her forehead before her eyes suddenly went wide. “Steeson he…!” she trailed off as the memories flooded through her mind. “He had that metal thing…there was so much pain and…”

She never got to finish as Seth’s lips suddenly crushed on hers.

“Oh boy, here we go again,” Redemption thought, yet he sounded happier than ever, a huge weight seemed to have been lifted off his shoulders.

Akira did not react for a moment before she melted into Seth’s kiss. She was only dimly aware when moments later Gina, Drake, Anita and Dominique came running through the door.

“Okay seriously?” Gina asked as she took in the scene in one glance. “We’re out their fighting off Night Riders and Watchers and you two are in here making up?”

“More like making out,” Anita giggled.

“Seriously?” Dominique added, his fists clenched at his side. Drake was the only one who remained silent.

Seth pulled away from Akira, shooting a sheepish grin at Gina.

“So am I correct in assuming our Rider of Legend is no longer being mind controlled?” Gina raised an eyebrow in question. “That was fast Seth. What did you do, knock some sense into her or was a kiss enough to do it?”

“She was herself when I found her,” was Seth’s reply.

There was silence as Gina and Drake shot each other a look and Anita looked confused while Dominique looked like he was sulking about something.

“Okay, this is a story I must hear. What happened?” Gina demanded.

Akira opened her mouth to tell her she had no idea but she never got around to it.

“Where is Deception?” Redemption suddenly asked her.

Akira blinked, wondering how the black dragon had been forgotten so quickly.

“And Nemis to?” Redemption added.

Akira looked around, panic filling her as she realized that the black dragon and Nemis were nowhere to be seen.

“What’s wrong?” Seth asked Akira as he saw her eyes sweep the room.

“Nemis and Deception,” Akira replied, her eyes darting to meet Seth’s. “They’re gone!”

There was a moment of stunned silence.

“What do you mean gone?” Drake asked.

“They’re gone!” Akira repeated. “They were just here!”

Everyone looked around.

“A dragon and a man can’t just disappear like that,” Anita said.

“They weren’t here when I came,” Seth spoke. “Are you sure they were even…”

“They were here,” Redemption spoke for everyone to hear.

“Talk about weird,” Drake murmured.

“Excuse me,” all heads turned to see Argos standing there, a confused expression on his face. “I’m not exactly sure as to what is going on here but…” he shot a surprised look at Redemption and Akira and then shook his head, seeming to not be surprised at the presence of the Dragon and Rider of Legend. “I don’t know what happened but it’s like one moment I was doing my duty in the Academy and the next I’m standing in front of an extremely large crowd who all seem to be waiting for something.”

Akira blinked. “Ah…?” she shot Seth a helpless look.

“Steeson,” it was Dominique who spoke. “He wanted you to reveal him and Deception to the entire city and announce him to be the new ruler.”

Akira shot him a look of disbelief while Argos looked like he was about to pass out.

“We should probably say something, you know, just assure them everything’s alright…of course, I’m assuming they have no idea what really happened here so let’s just well…say something and then send them home,” Redemption thought.

“Say something?” Akira asked. When no one replied she sighed. “Right then, I guess I’ll be addressing the crowd outside then…” she shot Redemption a look, “You’ve always wanted an admiring crowd, now’s your chance.”

She walked towards the curtain but paused briefly beside Argos. “Don’t worry, I’m almost as clueless as you, but the others will explain once we get rid of the crowd outside,” she assured him.

Argos nodded numbly in reply.

Seth watched Akira go to the curtain and pause. She turned and shot him and smile which he returned, his eyes trying to get used to the new way she looked, and then she was gone, Redemption following right behind her.

“Hey,” it was Drake that made Seth turn to find that Dominique and Drake had pulled aside a large hanging curtain to reveal a large archway leading to another room.

“Well, now we know how Deception and Nemis got out,” Dominique murmured dryly.

“But why take Nemis along?” Anita asked. “He’s not even her rider!”

“What I want to know,” Gina frowned, “Is why our dear black dragon didn’t stick around for revenge for the death of her rider. I mean any normal dragon would be in agony after losing their rider, wouldn’t they?” she asked.

Seth didn’t reply. What Gina had said made sense, yet he couldn’t answer her question. It was odd, the way Deception had disappeared just after her rider’s death was unnatural.

Shaking his head he turned his attention back to the curtain out of which Akira had gone. He was just worrying about unnecessary things. Akira was herself again, Steeson was dead. Yes, Deception had disappeared but they could deal with finding her later. Right now all that mattered was that Akira and Redemption were back.

Had he or any of the others looked across the room and paid a bit more attention they may have realized that there was a small table containing tubes of a red liquid and a row of scales. Had they taken a closer look they may have realized that there was an empty space where one tube of liquid and one scale were missing.