Chapter 23

Hiker Wallace's Office, The Castle, The Gullington, Scotland, United Kingdom

"I don't understand how this happened," Hiker voiced, thundering back and forth across his office, on the well-weathered path he took when pacing. His head was down, his hands clasped behind his back and his jaw tight with tension.

"I don't see what the problem is, son," Mama Jamba said, curled up on the sofa in his office, looking as snug as a bug in a rug with her feet tucked up underneath her. Beside the old woman was Papa Creola who seemed cool and relaxed, sitting back, waiting for his cup of tea.

"The problem is the emperor of all dragons is a demon and meant to work for the Rogue Riders and not us," Hiker argued, halting and turning around to face the woman who was his boss—well, everyone's. "How could you let something like this happen?"

She smirked. Glanced at Gen across the room. Then her periwinkle eyes flashed to Sophia, the only other person in the room besides Gen, Hiker and Papa Creola. "I didn't just let something happen like I was playing the lottery, son. I intended it. Emperor was always meant to be a demon dragon. Gen too. They were always supposed to fight on the side of the Rogue Riders."

"But why?" Hiker boomed, throwing his hands into the air. "Why when we all know that the Dragon Elite?—"

"You think you're better," Papa Creola cut in coolly, his voice low and the authority in his voice absolute.

Hiker halted. Took in a breath. Considered this and then nodded. "Of course I do. We are good. They are…rebellious."

"Genevieve Beaufont has more courage in her pinky than most of your dragonriders, son," Mama Jamba explained tersely. "She knows how to stand up for what's right and sometimes that means creating the balance that comes with policing the criminal world. I'm sorry that you don't see it, but most of your riders only want good. They aren't smart enough to see that there is gray. They don't realize that if they cut off the head of a beast that ten more will sprout. Sophia got it. She created the Rogue Riders. But, just so you know, the Dragon Elite were never meant to create the balance between good and evil in this world."

She turned. Smiled at Gen. Winked. "I always intended that job to go to the Rogue Riders. It is through managing evil that the world has a chance of surviving."

"But we create peace!" Hiker argued.

"And too much peace would kill this planet," Papa Creola stated. "The people on this Earth are human. They are flawed. And if they aren't allowed to be that, then this place would spiral into a black hole. The Dragon Elite are good at ending wars. But what the world needs most are those who allow people to be people who are flawed."

Sophia nodded, stepping forward, a noble look in her eyes. "The Rogue Riders are critical in keeping a lid on the pressure cooker of humanity. As a Dragon Elite, we only seek to fix problems, but they are meant to work with them—knowing that they can't be erased. It only makes sense that the leader of dragons and his rider was a Rogue Rider."

Hiker shook his head, seeming to still wrestle with this idea. He couldn't look at Gen, probably unnerved by her presence. "I just don't get how this happened."

"She is a twin, son," Mama Jamba pointed out. "Why didn't you see this coming? You know that one is always pure and the other always rebellious. You, yourself were a Dragon Elite and Thad, your twin, was a?—"

"Criminal," Hiker growled. "My brother tried to destroy this world."

"That's because there wasn't a place for him, sir," Sophia said. "We used to shun our demon dragonriders, not giving them a place. You know, as Dragon Elite, as angel riders, we have a lot to learn about tolerance. We're part of the problem. And maybe if we were a bit more accepting of those different from us, then a lot of battles wouldn't need to be fought."

Mama Jamba smiled proudly at Sophia, nudging Papa Creola beside her. "I made that one."

"You made them all, dear," he countered.

"I know, but I gave her a little something extra," Mama Jamba chimed.

"And what did you give this one?" Hiker asked, pointing at Gen, looking at her for the first time.

"I gave her something that would make her timeless and unique," Mama Jamba answered. "I gave her something that would ensure she could rule over this world, but I also gave her a challenge unlike any of you have ever had to face."

Hiker stiffened. Looked down at Mama Jamba. Clutched his fists. "What is coming, Mama?"

"The very worst," the old woman said. Then she directed a finger at Gen. "And only she can save us from it. But only if we all believe in her. You know better than anyone that a leader needs support. So, what do you say?"

Hiker gritted his teeth. Glared at Gen. Then directed his gaze to Mama Jamba. "I trust you. If this is the way you want it."

"It's the only way…" Mama Jamba said and then smiled sweetly at Gen. "So, what do you say? Are you up for what comes next?"

Gen blinked at the strange entity. "What comes next?"

"Well, you move out," Mama Jamba answered. "You like it here at the Gullington, don't you?"

"Yes," Gen answered. "It's like home, in a way. Scotland feels rustic and like what I'm used to."

"Well, that won't do at all," Mama Jamba stated. "You need to go somewhere that will shape you and Emperor. You need something that takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you into the warrior who can fix this world."

"What?" Gen asked, looking around the room at the various faces. "Where's that?"

Sophia gave her a sympathetic smile. "You're going to Beverly Hills…"