Zeff's servants began to towel him dry as he said: "Now, What brings you to my clan?"
Keith tried to answer him but he couldn't stop lurking at the luscious curves of Scarlet's wavy hair. Unable to contain himself he gently held a strand and breathed in the smell of the White Sea. A beautiful fragrance. Scarlet, unaccommodating to his touch, wheeled back and threw a punch that sent Keith back like a missile to a nearby tree. Scarlet sent out her strand of hair with a flick of her wrist and turned her attention confidently back on Zeff who now nodded in approval at his wingman. Or in this case wing woman. Keith, his pride vaguely bruised, stood up to dust himself off.
"Careful now, Scarlet. If it wasn't for the dragon humans we wouldn't have gotten our own clan. Thanks to Garvarenth's cooperation with us. His cooperation and understanding have given us minor ways to forgive the Civto for what they did to my mother and father. We deliver the dragon blood during the day to help Garvarenth. I'd say they deserve our appreciation."
Keith winced at the thought of himself giving a pint of his dragon blood away. He always went cold with dread if he thought he was responsible for stockpiling a box of his blood, just so the Cievto vampires could feed without feeding on other humans then they had another thing coming. As an outcast from his clan, he gave up the rituals of the Gladurung Clan. But every day he would train himself for battle and, when given the chance, he would train his little sister for hand to hand combat.
Scarlet and the rest of the clan bowed down to their leader as they said in unison,
"Yes Master Zeff, thank you for all you've done to help us."
"Don't thank me. Thank the dragons for their support in rebuilding our clan when our brothers and sister's where wiped out."
****
Back at the Darkhavenger, Keith and Derek could see Bryce waiting for them in the distance. The morning sun's sky rippled with purple and orange. Yep, this is exactly what Derek needed. With the sky insight, it was wonderful to have something familiar to look at. The remembrance of looking at the morning sky gave him no doubt in his mind. The Civettos, as lousy as this situation was, was right. And so far as he could tell, he needed them just as much as they needed him.
"The chief is waiting for you," Bryce said once they arrived in front of him. "What does he want?" he asked tiredly, it had been a long day without rest for him to want to be seen this early. "He wants to see you, now that you know that in Chicago there are many secrets lurking from within. Follow me. Keith can come too. He said he'd like a meeting with all three of us."
Walking across the hall, Bryce to them to a dark room with lit candles to its side. The walls were made of stone as they walked and the building smelled of anointment oils and holy water. Once inside he saw an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a black trench coat holding a staff. He didn't look weak but looked as if he had seen centuries before his time. Next to him, he saw Romulus and Zeff, surrounding a huge table of weapons. Derek looked once more at the table before looking back at Romulus.
"What's this?"
The old man spoke to him. " My name is Gaverneth. But you can call me Gav. I am the chief of the dragon clan. We call ourselves the Gladuring's if you will."
Romulus stepped forth.
" He is one of the centuries of heroes from long ago and he deserves your utmost respect."
"As do I." replied Zeff
"Without our clan, werewolves would cease to exist." The trio bowed in respect.
"Romulus, why am I here?" asked Derek.
"Let me explain," replied Gav
"Every Civetto vampire has a weapon of choice. With Bryce, it's his staff. With Keith, it's his firepower. The same is done with all the vampires. Vulk werewolves on the other hand, have their own special power. Where some werewolves powers come when the moon rises, Vulks power comes throughout the season. Not only does their appearance slightly change but their powers do as well, making it even more difficult to control."
"But what does this have to do with me?" Derek asked unsure of whether he should even bother to ask.
"You will choose a weapon that calls out to you the most. Choose wisely for each weapon is uniquely crafted from forms that can kill even the deadliest kind of evil."
Derek surveyed the equipment.
"What if I don't want to choose?"
"Then you die by the weapons before you," said Gav who pick up a medieval blade with a golden hilt. "Each weapon was passed on to us by those who have fallen. But some have been made centuries over time by the older Vulks and Civettos. However, this in particular, " he held up the blade to the light and watched as it glisten. " Was handed down to me by my father, the leader before me. That being said, you must choose for yourself as you would like but if you do not choose then you will be judged by our clan and will be met with the fate that they have chosen for you."
Derek gulped. Chose or die. " Just how will I chose?'
"Close your eyes, and hear the sound of you and your weapon stepping side by side in battle."
Pulling himself together he closed his eyes. Suddenly he could hear all kinds of sounds. They almost sounded like an orchestra resonating away into the night sky. Some sound like a bass of a drum while others sounded like a tiny whisper of a flute. Then he heard it. Derek opened his eyes and saw a sword that looked big and brawny but weighed as light as a feather. Derek stared in awe as he saw the golden glow of the sword he held in his hand. He looked around at the people before him. Zeff looking down on him with a smirk, and Romulus with his arms crossed. He felt a hand pat him on the back.
"Well done Derek. My ancestors would be proud of." Derek looked down at the sword in his hand and looked back at Gav's hand who wasn't holding the small blade in hand as he had.
"But this is a sword. Your ancestors gave you a blade."
" The sword in your hand
Bryce grabs his retractable staff from his belt buckle then hands Derek a wooded one from a nearby rack.
"In order to win a fight against your opponent, you must be quick, and vigilant. Don't let your enemy see even a hint of fear inside you, understand? ALRIGHT! Prepare to meet your fate by the hands that will show no mercy!" Bryce's glare turns cold and stern as he eyes his opponents every angle, anticipating his every move. He leaps forward throwing his body into an attack. Derek counteracts him with his staff, determined to give it his all. But Bryce's movements were precise, almost as if he was his own weapon striking at his opponent's heel. Be quick and vigilant. Don't give up. For this is what it means to be courageous.Even in my own home. Home. The thought of living where he belonged left Derek temporarily off guard. Leaving Bryce the chance to strike a blow that knocked Derek off his feet.
" I thought I told you to stay on your guard," Bryce said reaching out his hand to help him up.
" I was. I mean, for a minute I-"
" You have to keep your guard up at all times. As your trainer, I'll be there to stand by your side, but I won't always be there to defend you against the enemy. For your first assignment, you'll have to understand what it means to be brave without any doubt or discontentment."
Derek was beginning to hate being told what to do. Naturally, if he were Bryce he'd continue to take on these matters upon himself rather than wait on the Chosen One to do it. But, unlike Bryce, he didn't have the hard exterior and intimidating glare that Bryce always had.
"We'll continue our training tomorrow night. Don't be late. I'll be there at the crack of dawn."
Dusting himself off, Derek still couldn't get used to his new sleep patterns that it was is hard enough to go to sleep in a bed why always in a cave?
. Bryce helps him, telling him that as his trainer he is to stand by him at all terms and as the hero being courageous. Suddenly he hears a voice say" Be strong and of good courage. do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is good, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 He doesn't know where the voice is coming from, (Note no one has ever heard directly from the Supreme One before) Bryce hands him a trinket that helps him contact Derek, wherever he may be, but other than that he knows nothing else of the danger that is behind the item. [This is an item that helps Lucian and Clash spy on Derek, Bryce doesn't know, he is only following Romulus orders, who is bound to Lucian forcefully] before he explains that no one is to know what they are, and they are to pretend that nothing has changed, so don't pretend to be his friend on the human world since that will only bring suspicion, he is only his trainer and that's it. Derek agrees. At home, Derek's brother, Jake yells at him saying that he wasn't home for hours and that he could have called the cops. If mom found out he states she would have had a heart attack. Derek solemnly goes to his room staying silent as he walks up the stairs of his room, not responding to his brother's threats and calls. Jake begins to wonder what happened to his brother. Derek closes his tried eyes and begins to have visions of the world being destroyed because of Lucian and his deeds, his friends and family, and lily all destroyed because of Lucian.
Derek wakes up in cold sweat, saying it was all a dream, that nothing like that has happened " But it will" replies a figure dropping down from the ceiling onto his bedroom floor The figure states that his name is Clash. He also explains the Derek is a rare species of a paranormal If he is even on at all, Derek, he explains could destroy or bring peace between there worlds. [this is not the total truth, but Derek does have the power to destroy Lucian or help himself. This is just a decoy to the readers and Derek. Clash has to say something to get him on there side] The destroyer in this vision is him, he explains not his father. Derek wonders if this is true and asks him if he can trust him. To which clash replies " What option do you have, but to trust me?" and he disappears.