Chapter 26

Grounds, Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States

To Gen's surprise, the plasma whip simply disappeared as quickly as it materialized, turning back into a small, black cube. It was a product of her intentions and it had done exactly as she desired—put those challenging her in their place without hurting anyone.

Gen wanted to make a show and she'd done that. She wanted to be taken seriously, and by the look on the three dragonriders' faces, she'd accomplished her goal. But she also didn't want to harm anyone and since there were no cuts or injuries, she'd managed that. All because of the small object in her hands.

Gingerly, Gen clasped her fingers around Bellumferrum, holding it in the palm of her hand. No one questioned that it was a plasma whip moments before. The three dragonriders didn't seem shocked that the weapon had disappeared, but Gen reasoned they saw many things that were unexplainable all the time and knew how to hide their surprise.

Well done,Emperor said in her head.

Gen stayed frozen, not giving anything away. You told me to exert my dominance. That's what I did.

"Sooooo… Gen, you're like a strong shot of gin, aren't you," the guy next to the green dragon said. "Are you trying to knock us on our asses?"

Gen didn't give anything away. She stayed standing tall, sliding the cube that was Bellumferrum through her fingers, like a coin—a threat in the movement, as if she might use it again. And who knew what it would become next… Gen sure as hell didn't.

"Show her respect as we did to her dragon," the green dragon urged his rider.

"Yes, you unmannered jerks," the red dragon said, standing tall, shaking her head.

"We might be demon dragons policing the world, but we don't have to act like criminals," the white dragon said, the only male among them. It appeared to Gen that the dragons were always the opposite gender of their rider, like they were countering them with the balance of the male and female energy.

"Of course, my queen," the man paired to the red dragon said, bowing low, a real show of chivalry in his movements. He had mousey brown, curly hair and wore glasses. He was lanky and tall and an air of dorkiness about him but also authority—making for a strange combination. He turned to Gen and bowed again. "I apologize for my comment. We never expected the likes of you. What a surprise and privilege."

"It is an honor to meet the rider of the ruler of dragons," the other man said, bowing his head slightly. He was tall, with a strong build and had dark brown hair that was spiked and angled to the side. His blue eyes held a strong charisma that was intriguing but his smile made him look casually rugged somehow, like he was a jokester on the battlefield.

"Yeah, teach us your ways," the woman said, curtseying slightly, but Gen could tell she didn't mean it. She was tall for a woman with long flowing brown hair and big brown eyes and red lips. She was pretty and done up like one of those models that Gen had seen on what Liv had said were Hollywood billboards. If Gen wasn't trying to be the bigger person and pick her battles, she would have used Bellumferrum again on the woman, but right then wasn't the time to exert dominance. She'd already done that and very well.

"This is Sullivan Smith," Sophia said, holding her hand out to the man with curly hair next to the red dragon. "We call him Sully."

"And many other things behind his back," Lunis joked with a snicker.

The others laughed.

Sophia didn't laugh, but kept her stoic demeanor as she introduced. "Beside him, you'll meet Blaze, his dragon, who has the power of fire magic, as you might have guessed."

Gen nodded, realizing that Emperor already knew all this.

"And this is Mona Clipper. We call her Clipper," Sophia continued, motioning to the woman who looked really beautiful—too much so and like she cared to be presented in that way. "Her dragon is Glacier and has ice magic."

Again, Gen nodded.

"Lastly, this is Jack Lane," Sophia said, nodding at the handsome man who made Gen uncomfortable for some reason, probably because of his pensive stare. "His dragon is Volt and has the power of electricity."

"What do they call you?" Gen asked. "Since the others have nicknames."

"Jack," he answered simply.

"That's not what I would call you," Gen's dragon said, his chin down and gold eyes alight.

"What is your power, Emperor?" Jack dared to ask, looking directly at the dragon.

Gen expected for her dragon to speak. Everyone probably expected this. That's why when Jack dropped to his knees suddenly, clutching his head, all were urgently shocked. The others, Sully and Clipper ran for the fallen man. He writhed on the ground, rolling around, cradling his head, screaming in pain.

"Do you want me to show you more of my powers or have you had enough?" Emperor said so loudly that it shook the ground.

Shocked and accosted by fear, Gen looked at Sophia and Lunis, absolutely baffled. The expression on Sophia's face said it all. She was also stunned by this display. Lunis however, simply shook his head.

"Enough," Jack cried in agony as his friends tried to help him, but the pain seemed to be inside of him. "Please make it stop! Please!"

"Okay, then don't question me or disrespect my rider again," Emperor said and lifted his head nobly.

And just like that, Jack started to quiet. His moaning slowed. His movements stilled.

Gen looked up at Emperor, wanting a moment alone to ask her question, but knowing they didn't have one. So in her head, she said, What is your power?

I am telepathic, as you know,he answered. And also psychic as you've witnessed. But I also have the power of mind control. It is limited for now, but in time, I will be able to control all who dare cross my path. I nearly made his head explode.

Then it is better that we always stay on the path of good because that is a dangerous power, Gen said to him.

Something sparkled in his eyes. Don't you know, you were always meant to be my rider because you'll be the only one who can control me. You must keep me in check because my power is so great, it could take over the world—in all the worst ways.

Gen realized then how much the world wasn't black and white. It was an array of grays, and she was the moral compass meant to keep her dragon of crazy hues in balance.