Aria's Great Escape

LEONARD

I looked at Christian, who sat across from the desk sipping his bane. "What was troubling the people, my boy? What did you do?"

"I was innocent, that time, father. I was out because of August spiking my scotch with bane. He figured he could use the scotch to get closer to Graceona, but she as you described. She went wilder than her hair color. And August is no longer the remaining shapeshifter. As of thirty minutes ago, all shapeshifters are now extinct. Grace had stated that August had made advances at her and well. She got the last word, and I take full responsibility for her actions."

Christian looked at me, rubbing his chin. "Leonard, my boy. What plans do you have for the battles ahead? Have you made any strategies?"

"That is another issue I need to discuss. Because of my overreaction towards August in the meeting. Our clan wants Nicolae to lead them into battle, as well as train them. Grumbling that I am too unstable to do any of that." I chuckled, leaning back into my chair, taking a sip of scotch. Christian pounded a fist on the desk. I looked at him. "Relax, father. I'm a man willing to bargain. I like to give people what they want. If Nicolae is what they desire, then Nicolae they will get." I grinned into my glass cup, chuckling.

"You have that look in your eyes, you're planning. Spill it, son, don't give this creature cardiac arrest. The suspense is killing me. I want in on this."

I looked at him. "Nicolae refuses to train them, saying these legions of crybabies are my issue. So I'm sure Nicolae won't oppose any identity changes. We rather enjoyed playing the sport with past girlfriends. As well as using the other to break up with that girlfriend. In a time of war, who knows Nicolae might have a smile and not only know how to spell it."

Christian looked at me, brow raised. "My boy, your mind is a dangerous thing, a dangerous and beautiful thing. But how do you plan on doing this, what if Nicolae disagrees with this scheme?"

"Father, I know my brother. If Nicolae has his mind set on an answer, he will not change it for anything. So unless Aria comes running through Pompetor gates. Screaming at the top of her lungs, announcing her freedom to the masses. Nicolae will agree to this. Nicolae doesn't like to get his pretty, little Gothic hands dirty. He likes to settle a conflict, he doesn't condone it. He condemns the war, so if it meant this war ending, he'd be willing to nip it from the root and burn it to the ground. Relax, father. Let me deal with this issue." I drank the rest of the scotch in my glass. I stood up. "Rose will need to clean August's remains out of his room. I need the extra space."

"Why?"

I smiled. "Nicolae will demand a favor for doing my favor. Aria may actually make an appearance screaming at the top of her lungs. Declaring her freedoms from the rooftops. Plus, Raith needs some training. As I could use some entertainment, I walk away with young Aria. Raith gets to make it rain fire on Infernias. Ammon will get to the real man who he claims ended Felix. I'd like to send him my condolences for his brother's death coming from someone who was never the real deal. I'm offended that Ammon bought it. I slammed my glass on the desk. "I'll be back before training time." I walked from the room.

I walked through the large corridor to see Nicolae talking to a young blond-haired girl. The two seemed lost in chatter as I made my way out of the palace doors, going to Pompetor Gates. I summoned Raith, jumping on the colossal beast as he took to the skies.

*five minutes later*

I watched as Infernias came into sight. The magnificent beast roared. Once we flew near it, I jumped from Raith, landing on the roof of the palace. I looked up at Raith, motioning him to begin. Fire rained from the skies, the sun turned to blood, and the skies turned as black as night. I placed the hood of my cloak on my head, jumping down to the lower floor. As screams from the citizens filled the streets. I watched as Ammon stormed from the castle and I made my way into an open window. I jumped from the window onto the rocky floors below. I looked around. The sounds of childish screams and crying coming from down the hall. Running to the source, I gathered my sword, getting to Aria, who ran from a guard with a belt. I ran through the open cell door, kicking the guard face-first to the ground. I watched as Aria looked at me. "Daddy?" The guard stood up, running towards me. I stuck out my hand as he froze. I glared at him, swinging my arms as electricity flew around the room. I jumped, coming down, smiting the man, cutting his head off his shoulders as Aria screamed. Covering her face. "Daddy, Stop!"

I looked at her, "I'm not your father, Aria." She looked at me.

"Who are you?" she walked towards me as I knelt down beside her.

"I'm taking you to Nicolae. Relax, young one, this will be easier if I didn't have to worry about you becoming frightened. I'm not here to harm you."

"Uncle Leonard? Is that you? I knew you'd be here to make these bad people go away." The child laughed, bouncing, throwing her arms around my neck.

I stood up, picking her up, walking from the cell. I looked around as guards surrounded us. "Let's see. There are ten of you and one of me. What am I to do?" I smirked as a black wing came from my back. I looked to the sky as the fire fell onto the ten guards, making a large hole in the ceiling. I took flight, getting onto Raith's back, placing Aria on the back of the beast's neck. We left Infernias. Aria looked at me with a smile, taking my hood off.

"You're alive!"

I shook my head. "You can't keep a Shepherd down, we can look down, but one would be a fool to count us out of the game."

She scooted against me. "So my daddy, he's okay too?"

"He's fine. He'll be happy to see you, he's missed you."

Aria looked at me, raising tiny hands into the air. I looked at her as she pushed her hands towards me. "High Five!"

We exchanged a long-awaited high five. "You remembered, yay!"

I chuckled. "How can I forget, you wouldn't allow me to leave the orphanage without our secret handshake? I didn't lose any memories, young one." She wrapped her arms around me as I returned the hug.

We landed back at the gates of Pompetor. Aria looked around. "Where are we, Uncle Leonard?"

"This is Pompetor, our new home." I looked around. "Your father should be inside. He was talking to some woman when I left."

"Ooh Daddy and some girl sittin in a tree."

I looked at her. "Alright, Aria. Why don't you go, share, this with Nicolae I have plans later that I need to prepare for." Aria looked down, then at me. I looked at her, "Oh, right." I picked her up, jumping from the Raith's back, landing on the ground, placing her on the ground as she ran inside. I chuckled, looking at Raith getting a honeydew fruit from the garden putting it towards him. He purred, eating the honeydew, as I stroked his face. He nuzzled against me, purring. He sniffed my hands, looking at me jumping into the air before taking flight. I walked inside the palace, seeing Aria talking with Nicolae. I walked past them. "Leonard, wait." I stopped when I heard Nicolae call my name. I turned around, looking at him. "Thanks for bringing Aria here." I continued to look at him.

"You're welcome, brother. She is my niece, and I care about her, so."

He looked at Aria with a smile, then he looked at me. "Christian told me about your plan, with our old game. And I agree to it, give them a rough go." He laughed. "Give these warriors the spine's that I knew them for while growing up."

I laughed. "You got it."

I walked away from them, leaving him to spend time with Aria.