Chapter 19: The Tattoo

Alyssa

Vincent got up from his bed, wincing in pain.

“No, you need to lie down,” I said.

“I want to see my father; let me see my dad, Alyssa,” Vincent growled.

“I understand how it feels to lose a parent, but you need to lie down,” I stood in his way,”

“Let me pass, Alyssa,” Vincent said calmly.

“You need to rest; you were in surgery not too long ago,” I shook my head at him.

“DON’T TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO!” Vincent’s voice echoed throughout the hospital. “I NEED TO SEE MY FATHER!”

Vincent had never shouted at me; it hit me like a brick wall. I know he’s in pain, but it hurt me.

“Get the fuck out of my way, Alyssa,” Vincent shouted.

We soon heard the door open, and the nurse, Izzy, and Jacob walked in.

“Vincent, you need to stay in bed,” the nurse ordered.

“Everybody, stop telling me what to do!” Vincent roared. “I need to see him!”

“Vincent, please calm down,” I pleaded.

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” Vincent’s eyes flashed white as Astarot was about to surface.

“Vincent, get back in that bed or I will be forced to give you a seditive,” Dr. Solus said.

Vincent went from sadness to rage; I had never seen him like this. His eyes glowed brighter.

“This is your last warning before I sedate you, Vincent. I’m trusting you’ll make the right choice here.” Dr. Solus crossed his arms.

“Listen to him bro,” Jacob said.

“Everbody back!” Dr. Solus yelled.

“Vincent, stand down!” Alex said, running into the room. “You guys go outside to Audrey, I’ll talk to him,” Alex said. “I need you to leave as well, Alyssa,”

I left the room with Izzy and Jacob while Alex stayed with the nurse and Dr. Solus.

“Guys, what’s happening?” Audrey said.

“It’s alright, Audrey. Vincent is taking the news badly,” Jacob said.

“I’m going inside,” Audrey said.

“No, Alexandria is handling it, it’s best if you stay here,” Jacob smiled.

“I’ve never seen Vincent like this before,” Izzy said. “Alyssa, are you okay?”

“No, I need some air and I want to left alone for a while,” I walked outside to the hospital gardens. It has a lovely lake with fish and a family of swans.

“Vincent is greiving. Just give him time,” Dahlia said.

“I guess,” I said.

“You know he cares about you,” Dahlia smiled.

“Alyssa?” I heard Izzy.

“Leave me alone, Isabella. I thought I made that clear,” I glared at her.

“I know, but Alex said it’s not safe for us to be alone. We don’t know who started the fires, or if they are still around.” Izzy said.

“I don’t a need fucking babysitter,” I huffed.

“I know that! But I think you need a friend,” Izzy touched my shoulder. “And I need my friend too,”

“I’ve never seen Vincent like this. He yelled at me,” I covered my mouth and cried a little.

“He’s lashing out, he’s hurting, he doesn’t mean it,” Izzy said.

“I know, but it still hurts,” I said.

“Solus gave him a sedative. He’ll be asleep for a few hours,” Izzy said. “Let’s walk and clear our minds for a while,”

“I know where I want to go,” I said as I grabbed her hand.

We returned to the palace, and Izzy looked confused. “Alyssa, why are we here?”

“I need to see if there is something that can tell us who is behind the attack on Varrfarrinn and the death of King Zayne,” I said.

“Are you sure you want to in there?” Izzy said.

“You can wait outside then,” I said as I entered King Zayne’s study with Izzy following me.

“Oh, merciful Moon Goddess!” Izzy gasped. The floor was covered in blood, Two large pools from where Zayne’s and Rosetta’s blood had lain, and bloody footprints from the doctors.

“Wish I could say that I never seen this much blood before,” I looked away from the blood.

“I’ll start over there,” Izzy pointed to the far right corner.

“Whoever did this was invited in,” I said. I started looking at the door Izzy and I went through to enter the study and examined the lock. There was no sign of forced entry no markings on them either.

“Are you saying that Zayne and Rosetta let the killer in?” Izzy gasped.

“Or the door was already open, and they walked right in,” I said.

I then looked at the table, papers scattered everywhere and spatters of blood on everyone. “Nothing’s been taken; whoever did this was only here to kill them,”

“How can you tell nothing’s been taken?” Izzy questioned.

“I don’t know, but these spatters have no empty spaces. Nothing has been moved,” I said, looking at the papers.

“Never had you pinned for an investigator,” Izzy joked.

“Guess I’m a nateral,” I joked back.

Last, I looked at the floor and found nothing alarming.

“I hope Queen Rosetta pulls through; Vincent, Audrey, and Alex need their mother,” Dahlia said.

“Alyssa, check this out!” Izzy smiled.

“What did you find?” I asked.

Izzy held a piece of paper. “I’m not sure,”

Izzy was holding a piece of paper with a drawing on it. “I’ve never seen this before,”

“Let me see,” I said as she gave me the paper. I looked at the drawing and a sense of overwhelming dread washed over me. Oh my god. “Where did you find this?”

“It was lying next to the shelf, why?” Izzy said.

“Call Alexandria, NOW!” I freaked out. Izzy grabbed her phone and called Alex and gave me the phone.

“Alyssa, what’s going on?” Izzy said.

Come on, Alex, pick up the fucking phone!

“Isabella? Why the sudden call?” Alex said as she answered the phone.

“Alex, it’s Alyssa. I’m at your father study and you can yell at me for that later; where are the bodies of the dragons?”

“The morgue, why?” Alex questioned.

“I need you to meet there now! And don’t make ANY STOPS!” I hung up the phone without further explanation.

“What the hell, Alyssa?” Izzy gasped.

“Take me to the morgue!” I demanded.

“What is this about?” Izzy said, growing worried.

“NOW, IZZY! We don’t have much time!” I walked out of the study.

“Alright, follow me!” Izzy ran ahead, and I followed.

We ran to the morgue as fast as possible, and Alex waited for me. “Alyssa, what is this all about and want to tell me why you were in the study?” Alex asked me.

“Later, where are the bodies?” I said.

“Follow me,” Alex guided me to the four bodies of the dragons; they reverted to their human form. “Brayden, can you come in for a second?”

Brayden exited his office, a slightly older middle-aged man with white hair. “Girls, this is Brayden, our coroner. Brayden, meet Alyssa and Isabella.” Alex introduced us to each other.

I looked at the male body, whose neck was severely broken. The Lightning Dragon I killed. “Have you examined their bodies yet? I asked.

“I was about to start,” Brayden said.

“I need to know if any of them have any tattoos,” I asked nicely.

“Tattoo?” Breyden tilted his head.

“Can you just look?!” I yelled.

“Alright, no need to yell,” Breyden then went to look at the bodies.

“Alyssa, what the hell are you getting at here? Maybe explain what you were doing in the study,” Alex said.

“We were investigating,” Izzy explained.

“I asked you to stay with Alyssa as a safety measure Izzy. Not go and do somthing that we have trained specialists for!”

“Leave her alone, Alex, it was my idea,” I defended.

“Why does it matter if they have tattoos?” Alex scoffed.

“I got one!” Breyden said.

“Let me see!” I said as I pushed Alex out of the way to examine the body. Brayden looked at Alex with an arched eyebrow.

“Let her have a look,” Alex relented.

This is the dragon Vincent killed. It was a female’s body, judging by the burnt insides of her mouth and esophagus. Vincent killed this dragon by holding her mouth open and breathing fire down her throat?! I didn’t know Vincent could be this brutal. She was lying on her chest, exposing her entire back for me to see. It was severely bruised, and many cuts were visible. I soon saw the tattoo on her right shoulder blade.

“Shit,” I whispered.

“What is it, Alyssa?” Alex said

Alex walked over and examined the tattoo herself. “Care to explain what is so special about this tattoo?”

“Izzy, show Alex the picture we found in the kings study,” I said.

Izzy gave Alex the paper she had found in the study. It’s the same drawing as the tattoo. It was a drawing of Planet Earth, and around her was a dragon with its claws dug into her and a tail wrapped around the planet.

“It’s the same people who held me captive,” I said.

Alex quickly turned to me. “Are you sure?”

“I remember seeing this tattoo on some of them. It’s their logo,” I said.

“And you’re only mentioning this now?” Alex seethed.

“I didn’t know it was them until I saw it,” I said.

“The attack was thoroughly planned. No wonder they had us scattered,” Alex said.

“So what should we do?” Izzy said.

“Not sure,” Alex took out her phone when it started ringing. “Scott, talk to me. You’re kidding me! I’ll be right there,” Alex hung up the phone. “Brayden, call me if you find anything else,”

“Yes, ma’am!” Brayden nodded.

The three of us walked out of the morgue and went outside. “The fire dragon is awake. Alyssa, I need you to come with me,” Alex said.

“Why?” I asked her.

“If these people are the same that held you captive. You have the most information on them,” Alex said.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to have her talk to him,” Izzy said.

“In any other circumstance, I would agree with you, Izzy, but my father is dead, and we need all the information we can get,” Alex explained.

“Lead the way,” I said,

Alex led Izzy and me to the dungeons where the prisoners were held; we arrived at an interrogation room.

“Why are they here, Princess?” Scott asked.

“There with me, that’s all you need to know Scotty,” Alex glared. “Where’s the fucker?”

“Tristan is with him on level two, room 203,” Scott said.

“Good; ensure everything remains a secret with the rest of the guards here. Until we know my mother will make it, I don’t want anyone to know about my father’s death. I’ve told everyone in the hospital the same.” Alex said.

“Understood, your highness.” Scott bowed.

Alex led us through the dungeon down to level two. She knocked on the door in room 203, and Tristan soon opened and exited the door. His hands were bloody, and it was not his blood.

“Did he say anything?” Alex said.

“Not a word,” Tristan said.

“Okay, let me do the talking from here on out,” Alex said, and we all nodded at her.

Alex and I entered the prison cell; the man had chains of draconite on both his wrists that were bound to the ground. He also had a metal collar made of the same metal that prevented dragon transformation. Some of his bones were broken, probably when Timothy brought him down to the ground at the north tower. His face was beaten, courtesy of Tristan.

Alex approached the man while I stayed hidden in the shadows. There is something familiar about him.

“I can’t remember, but we know him,” Dahlia shuddered.

“I hope my friend treated you well,” Alex smiled. “I’ll get straight to the point, my friend. I’m not as patient as my friend who just left. So tell me what you know, or you’ll be joining your friends in hell and kiss your ticket to enter the Goddess’s Promised Land goodbye. You undestand me?” Alex said.

The man stood there, never saying a word. Alex grabbed the man’s broken hand and squeezed. The man screamed in pain, and I felt my insides turn cold. “I said, do you understand?” Alex growled.

“Yes!” He winced.

Alexandria released his hand, and the man held it close to his chest.

“Good, we have an understanding. Here’s what I want to know. Who are you? Who are you working for? Why did you attack the Kingdom of Varrfarrinn? Why are you experimenting on magical being?” Alex voiced many questions.

“Fuck you, whore,” The man hissed.

Alexandria sighed. “Wrong answer!” Alex punched him hard and knocked him down. “DO YOU THINK I’M HERE TO PLAY GAMES?” Alexandria kept beating the living daylights out of the man.

“Alyssa, you have to stop her! She’ll kill him before we learn anything!” Dahlia gasped.

“Alexandria, stop!” I grabbed her arm before she made another punch. “He won’t tell us anything if he’s dead,”

Alexandria reluctantly stepped back. The man was lying on the ground, and by the look of his position, he had a few broken ribs. When he got up, I recognized him. I don’t know if I should feel sorry for him; after all, he is getting the same treatment that the man he works for gave me.

“Devin???” I said.

“You know him?” Alex growled.

“Alyssa?” Devin said. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same damn thing,” I glared.

“Outside, now!” Alex then dragged me outside. “You know him?”

“What?” Izzy said. “You know that fucker?”

“Everyone, chill. I don’t know, Devin. He was held captive around the same time as I was. But I had no idea he was a dragon.” I quickly explained.

“Why where they holding him?” Alex asked.

“I don’t know; they put him through the same tests as me,” I said.

“Here’s what I want you to do. Talk to this Devin guy; we need to know what he knows,” Alex said. “You’ll be safe; he has draconite around his wrists and neck. He won’t be a threat and we are out here in case you need us.”

“Okay, but only because this is a last resort, and we have no other option,” I sighed.

I opened the cell door and closed it behind me. “Long time, no see,” I said with disinterest.

“Same to you as well, Alyssa. You bear the mark of a mate, tell me who marked you,” Devin asked.

“None of your fucking business. What the hell happened to you?” I said. “Why are you working for those animals? They tortured you!”

“I could ask the same to you, why are you working for them? The zealots that still worship the Moon Goddess. Stuck in the ways of the old religion,” Devin yelled.

“You mean the friendly people who helped me after I escaped that hell hole? Wonder why?” I scoffed.

“You stupid bitch,” Devin growled.

“Says the guy locked up,” I laughed.

“We need information, Alyssa, making is angry will get us nowhere,” I felt Dahlia rolling her eyes.

“Tell me, what happened to you?” I crossed my arms.

“They made me more powerful than I could imagine,” Devin smiled widely. More powerful than the so-called Moon Goddess made us. She made us weak, told the first generation of dragons and beyond to protect the innocent, to be the guardians of the planet,” Devin said.

“You call hurting innocent people being powerful or strong?” I gasped.

“No one is innocent, Alyssa. Anyone that stands against us is an enemy of my master,” Devin smiled.

“Let’s get out of here, I have a bad feeling about him,” Dahlia said.

He’s brainwashed; he was offered power and took it in exchange for his mind and free will. I don’t know what they did to him to make him like this.

“We don’t know enough, Dahlia,” I protested. “Who is “Us”?

Devin gave me a cold smile with his bloody lips, eyes locked on mine, and I felt my heart sink.

“Sozin,” Devin said as he raised his hand and broke the draconite chain of his neck.

I stared in shock as his eyes glowed red. He had draconite around his neck and wrists. I bolted for the door, but before I reached it, a stream of fire hit it, melting it shut.

How could he use magic in human form? This should be impossible.

I heard Izzy banging on the door and calling out my name. I looked back at Devin; his face started to turn. He screamed in pain as he was shifting. “Not elegant, but effective,” Devin said. His voice was deeper, rougher, and his face deformed. His eyes were red with yellow slits, his skin growing blood-red scales. His nose lengthened along with his face, and his mouth was more enormous, and I saw sharp white teeth. His body was still the same, and his hands were still chained to the ground.

How is this possible? Devin has a head of a dragon but the body of a mortal man. Oh, Goddess.

“I think it’s time we have a little alone time,” Devin cackled. I watched as the fire began building in his throat. He fired at the corner of the room, destroying the camera that Alexandria and the others were watching through. I could still hear the banging on the melted steel door.

“Oh no, we’re stuck in here with him,” Dahlia’s voice was laced with fear.