Chapter Fifty-Three
“A serious danger?” Evan sat up. “I’m not sure about my participation, sir. I’m a married man now and need to think about my wife.”
“There are other dangers lurking very close,” Wilder said, a mock menace in his voice.
“Don’t throw your empty threats at me,” Evan spat. “What if something happened to me? How would my wife deal?”
“Probably with a party,” Wilder replied.
Hiker didn’t appear too keen to cut off the banter, having halted his pacing in front of the Elite Globe. When he was quiet for a long moment and the guys had stopped teasing each other briefly, Sophia dared to try and get the leader of the Dragon Elite’s attention.
“Sir,” she began, “When you’re ready, will you please elaborate on what we’ll be facing? Or is this the unknown evil that we don’t know anything about?”
He spun around. “No, I don’t believe it’s that. For one, the armor isn’t ready, right?”
“No, I think it will be a while for that much armor,” Sophia answered.
Hiker nodded. “That’s what I thought. And you all also don’t have the weapon you’ll need from Subner.”
“It will be at least three days for that,” Sophia imparted.
“And eight hours and thirty five minutes, if you were listening to Father Time, like me,” Evan teased.
Hiker ignored the quip. “I don’t think that this evil will present itself until you have what you need for the battle. Too many powerful and all-knowing entities have presided over the events for it to come up before you’re ready.”
“But being prepared won’t guarantee success,” Mama Jamba advised, continuing to sketch out something on the pad of paper.
“Obviously.” Hiker ran his hands through his hair. “Mama, what can you offer on these strange monsters who have sprung up in the Mediterranean Sea?”
“They aren’t my creations,” she stated, seeming to be shading her drawing with the side of a pencil.
“No, they’re definitely magical creatures,” Hiker grumbled.
“I’m a magical creature and you created me,” Evan argued.
“You’re an anomaly that Mama Jamba found in the proverbial dumpster in the alleyway of the Earth,” Wilder joked.
Evan rolled his eyes. “This planet doesn’t have a back alley.”
“That’s what you’re choosing to argue with out of what I said?” Wilder asked.
Evan sat up and pulled his legs off Mama Jamba. “I’m a mature married man now. I don’t have time for your games and antics anymore. You’d know what I mean if you made Sophia an honest woman.”
“No one else is getting married,” Hiker ordered.
“Not your call, son,” Mama Jamba sang.
“Anyway, as I was saying,” Hiker continued, “there’s a danger in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of Turkey. It’s already taken down a ship and a plane in that area, and I fear more mortals will be threatened unless we intervene soon.”
“What kind of monster are we facing, sir?” Mahkah asked, his chin held high and his eyes focused.
“Monsters,” Hiker corrected. “No one knows where they came from, but there’s suddenly two monsters creating havoc in the sea. One is in the water and is known as a leviathan—”
“Nasty little creatures.” Mama Jamba clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Little isn’t a word I’ve ever heard to describe a leviathan,” Hiker stated.
“What exactly is a leviathan?” Evan asked and then quickly added. “I mean, I know, of course. But from the dazed look on Wilder’s face, I’m guessing he needs an education on the subject.”
Wilder laughed. “Leviathan is a sea serpent of sorts, closely related to that monster that lives in the Pond. I had the pleasure of being real up close and personal with it before.”
Hiker nodded. “That’s correct. This leviathan is reportedly much larger than any other sighted. It is apparently bigger than Lunis at his largest at this point.”
Lunis was the largest dragon at the Gullington when he did his supersized stunt, but that was usually only a full moon. Otherwise it was very draining for him and not worth the risk.
“Wow, we’re going to have fun putting this beast into submission,” Evan said with an excited laugh.
“That’s what your wife said,” Wilder teased.
“It will be a handful, I assure you,” Hiker stated. “And one leviathan would be enough to keep you all busy. However, there’s another monster in the sky that will also pose a real challenge.”
“A pesky little thing,” Mama Jamba said, then started humming.
“Again, little isn’t an accurate description,” Hiker stated.
“I like that you use terms like pesky to describe these monsters who could end us, Mama Jamba.” Wilder smiled down at the small woman.
“Well, those birds are a real nuisance,” Mother Nature related. “They’ve been impersonating my beloved phoenix for ages, although they have all the flair and none of the benevolence, if you ask me.”
“We’re not, unless you’re giving us a shortcut and telling us how to end them quickly,” Hiker said dryly.
“I’d recommend a giant sling shot,” Mama Jamba offered.
“Oh shucks.” Wilder chuckled. “I left my slingshot in my tree house.”
“Poor planning on your part, bro,” Evan stated.
“So what exactly is this bird we’re facing?” Sophia asked.
“It’s called a simurgh,” Hiker stated.
“Easy for you to say.” Evan laughed. “Why can’t these monsters have easy names like Zot or Zart or Zap.”
“Those are easy names for you, huh?” Wilder asked. “Do you prefer things that start with a z?”
“I prefer when you’re quiet,” Evan stated.
“The simurgh appeared at exactly the same time as the leviathan,” Hiker informed them. “No one knows where they came from, and they’re relying on us to get rid of them. We’re the only ones in the position to take them down.”
“We can do it, sir,” Mahkah said with confidence.
“I hope you’re right,” Hiker stated in a heavy tone. “Because if those things are left unchecked much longer, then many lives will be in danger.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
“Do you think she misses me?” Evan asked over the comm they all wore to communicate from their dragons.
“Who?” Wilder’s voice asked in her ear.
“My wife,” Evan answered as they rode on their dragons in formation over the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea—Sophia in the front and Mahkah in the rear.
“What’s her name again?” Wilder asked.
“Something, something Freud,” Evan answered.
“Sounds like true love.” Wilder laughed.
“Doctor Tiffannee Freud,” Sophia stated. “And it’s Tiffannee with two f’s, two n’s, and two e’s.”