Ben didn't know what to say or do as he warily looked at Zenith up and down. The clone said nothing as he looked down, his eyes on Ben's missing arm. Ben looked away from Zenith, his eyes moved around the darkened room as he saw the dryer in the corner of the room. So, Zenith managed to hide him away in a laundry room.

"...I see you dyed your hair." Ben mumbled finally unsure of what to really say.

"I didn't dye it. When Firedrake hit me with his fire, this is what happened." Zenith explained emotionlessly as he ran his fingers through his white hair. Ben couldn't look at him all he could do was look down at his missing arm.

"Listen to me." Zenith finally spoke up a bit more sternly, gaining Ben's fearful attention once more. Narrowing his blue eyes, Ben felt anger rise in him and before he could stop he spoke up,

"Why should I? You...You starved and STABBED me, Why should I listen to you!?"

Getting off of the stretcher, Ben got into Zenith's face with an angry snarl on his own face the two of them stared each other down. A part of Ben expected Zenith to maybe push or shove him down, to hit him, even. Zenith didn't move, he didn't even tense up, he only looked down at Ben and showed no emotions as he did so.

"Sit back down, let me explain what I can," Zenith demanded, Zenith then brought his hand up to his shoulder and handed Ben, Twigleg, the manikin quickly scrambled up Ben's good arm and rested silently on Ben's shoulder. Slowly, and cautiously, Ben sat down on the stretcher.

"Alright...I'm listening."

"...As you know, I am not the real Zenith, just a clone. Do you know how I came to be?"

"...No..." Ben wearily spoke towards him as he gently picked up Twigleg and held him in his hand.

"Well, in short, I was made from Zenith's old memories by the witch and she added something else...She made me a vampire."

"Yes, I remember that. Because when you stabbed me, that's when I figured it out." Ben smartly commented, still expecting Zenith to turn angry, but no, he got something else. He watched as Zenith's now blue eyes flood over with emotion...Guilt.

"Yes...But what you don't know is that the blood that made me a vampire was Atticus's own blood-"

"Wait a minute! Atticus's blood can't do that! He's half-blood, his blood should have just killed you...Again!" Ben quickly snapped at him.

Zenith put a hand up to silence Ben, Ben bit his tongue as he waited for Zenith to continue.

"You are aware that a witch made me, correct? She made me, the only thing in this world, able to drink the blood of a half vampire and become undead, instead of just dead. However, Atticus said it best, his blood is poison. Even though I was already dead, his blood was still affecting me in negative ways much like poison. I couldn't feed on anything. The only thing I could drink...Was the witch's own blood."

"What?" Ben questioned as he stared Zenith down. "If that's the case...Then why did you kill her?"

"...Suicide mission. It was my mission to kill you."

"...Is that what the witch told you?"

Zenith just shook his head slowly and cautiously as he seemed unnaturally guilty by this point as he couldn't even look at Ben.

"Then who?"

"Does the name James Marrs mean anything to you?"

There was a moment of silence between the two of them as Ben could only focus on Twigleg, who was now looking at Ben's missing arm sadly. Ben swallowed hard as he looked up at Zenith, finally, and spoke coolly to the other man,

"You're telling me, that you worked for not one, but, two people trying to kill me at the same time?"

"I'm not proud of it. At least, not now...James wanted the witch out of the way, he promised me safety, all the blood I could drink, it didn't matter if it was human or animal blood, I thought, maybe I didn't need the witch and I took what little blood she gave me and killed her, you know what happened after that." Zenith sighed out as he ran his fingers through his hair, messing up the ponytail, forcing him to let his hair down as he silently redid his ponytail.

"How did you survive Firedrake's fire? If you're a half-blood-"

"Was." Zenith corrected him, his hair now back to normal. Crossing his arms, Zenith frowned slightly, "You're a dragon rider. You know what dragon fire can and cannot heal, correct?"

Ben nodded and Zenith continued,

"Atticus was right, his blood was poison making me sick, the witches blood was no better, her blood was an illness if anything. Now. What do you get when you take dragon fire, that cures illness and poison, and combine that with a person who is sick by both of those things? What do you get?"

"...Someone who SHOULD be a pile of dust..." Ben spat back bitterly, Twigleg now back on his shoulder, as Ben went to cross his arms to mimic Zenith, only to have the cold reality set in as he stared down at his missing arm once more.

"You get the cure for half blood vampirism. At least, a cure if you're like me. Don't go putting Atticus up against Firedrake to see if it'll work for him." Zenith joked slightly giving an awkward chuckle at his joke, making Ben feel...Uncomfortable, to say the least. Zenith then lets out the cough as he looked at Ben. "In short...Firedrake made me human again."

"...And your hair turning white?"

"...I don't know...I really don't...It's...The only thing I can't explain why it happened."

There was a long pause as Zenith finally uncrossed his arms and walked over to Ben.

"Now, you got your answers. So please understand, that I am on your side." Zenith softly spoke to Ben, Ben instantly started to stutter and stumble over his words as he tried to find the right thing to say, but finally, in the end, All Ben could get out was just a soft,

"How...Why?"

Zenith looked ready to reply, but then turned his head and quickly put a finger to his lip as he walked over to the door to the room. Opening the door, the bright fluorescence hospital lights flooded into the darkened laundry room, making Ben and Twigleg both cringe at the bright lights. Ben walked towards the door, only to have Zenith pull him behind him as he peeked cautiously out the door.

"-Lock the hospital down! That's an order, doctor!" Came a barking demand as a cop came around the corner with a doctor the two of them marched passed the door. Once they were gone far enough away Zenith grabbed Ben's arm and silently the two slipped from behind the doctor and officer and quickly ducked into another room. Shutting the door behind him, Zenith got to his knees and urged Ben to do the same.

"What's going on?" Ben whispered as he subconsciously clung to Zenith's arm with his hand.

"They work for James, we need to leave fast."

"Ok...I can't believe I'm saying this, but, lead the way." Ben mumbled. Zenith looked around for a few seconds before pulling out his flip phone and looking at it for a few seconds.

"Can you text later, mate?" Ben asked rather bitterly and Zenith just rolled his eyes before looking around the room they were in. It looked like a normal break room, a small table sitting in the middle of the room, a small window above a mini fridge. Flipping his phone shut, Zenith turned his attention to the window. Sucking in a deep breath, Zenith walked over and stepped on top of the fridge so he could open the small window with ease.

"...Please tell me you don't want to scale this building..." Ben spoke up, Zenith ignored him and just proceeded to stick his head out of the window.

"Well, I would have suggested it, but, this window is kind of snug." Zenith confessed once he realized he couldn't fit his shoulders passed the opening. Watching Zenith cautiously, as the man now tried to wiggle himself farther out of the window to see if it was passible, managing to get one arm out, Zenith twisted himself to the side to try and wiggle out that way. however, halfway through, on his side, legs in the air. Zenith realized something horrifying.

"O-Ok...I'm stuck." Zenith spoke up as he wiggled his legs in the air to prove his point. "I didn't think this through, B-Ben help!" He demanded as kicked his long legs dramatically behind him. Ben sighed and took a step forward, only to pause suddenly.

"Master?" Twigleg whispered. Ben narrowed his blue eyes bitterly and slowly took a step back. Why should he trust Zenith? Just because he said he changed doesn't mean a thing. For all Ben knew, Zenith was just leading him into a trap.

"Ben!" Zenith yelled out in a familiar tone, an angry aggressive tone, one that sent a shiver down Ben's spine. Looking from side to side, Ben turned and promptly ran out of the room.

"Is this wise?!" Twigleg asked frantically as Ben quickly ran down the hallway.

"Twigleg, I trust him as about as far as I can throw him! This is clone Zenith we're talking about here! I'm sorry. I'm not trusting him." Ben explained as he jogged down some steps.

"Let's just focus on getting out of here, I need some clothes anyway," Ben told Twigleg a bit more calmly as he looked at the hospital gown he was in. Stopping, Ben sucked in a deep breath as he got ready to run straight down the hallway. Only to suddenly pause as a cop started towards him. Ben gritted his teeth and turned around ready to run back up the stairs only to see the same cop and doctor as before. Turning back around, Ben saw that the first cop wasn't alone as another officer had now joined him making it four to one.

"Benjamin, I was wondering where you had run off to, please, you must rest, that arm is newly stitched. We can't have it reopening." The doctor spoke to him calmly as he took a step down. Ben backed away from him only to run into another officer.

The officer didn't wait and instead, he grabbed Ben by his good arm.

"No!" Ben snarled out as he yanked his good arm out of the officer's grip and backed right into the doctor.

"Now, now, Benjamin don't worry, this will just calm you down, clearly you're in a panic." Seeing a needle in the doctor's hand now, Ben tried to fight back, but a cop managed to grab him and pacify him just enough for the doctor to prick him with the needle and inject him with whatever it was. Managing to knock them off of him, Ben already felt sleepy but fought against it as the doctors and officers just laughed at him all shaking their head. Ben could hear his breath in his ears as he felt like he was on the verge of blacking out right there.

"Alright, grab the brat." A cop spoke, his voice insanely deep as it also sounded like he at the far end of a tunnel.

About ready to fall over, Ben fell to his knees and just looked at all of them. Right before he blacked out, he saw a flash suddenly go to the doctor. He could see white hair in a flurry as Zenith was now fighting the cops. His vision almost going completely black, Ben fell to his side and could just hardly see Zenith as it was now a loud struggle between the four of them against him. Right before completely going to sleep.

Ben heard a gun shot...

Ben let out a bitter sigh as he looked over at Damian, his friend asleep on the cold floor of shower room the two of them paid for the night. They couldn't sleep in the car, not tonight, they were being hunted by James's little army tonight. After freeing the first dragon for the mad man's clutches, James sent a platoon of men after the duo, so now, they rest in a semi-clean shower room at a truck stop in some lowly gas station. Thankfully these rooms were private.

Damian was actually asleep in the shower part of the restroom while Ben slept on the ground just outside of the shower. Both of them using complimentary towels as pillows. Twigleg was fast asleep on the counter, the body wash cloth over his tiny body like a blanket. Ben couldn't sleep, and judging by the tossing and turning that Damian was doing, neither was he.

They've been on the road for about a year now and Damian has dodged almost every single one of Ben's questions about him. Frowning, Ben pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked at the blue haired teen that was still frantically tossing and turning.

"Damian?" Ben finally spoke up earning a soft,

"Er?" In response.

"Can't sleep?"

"No."

Ben got up and slowly laid down next to Damian. Damian slowly rolled over.

"That wasn't an invite, Rider." Damian teased lightly. Ben smiled sadly before resting his head next to Damian's and speaking softly,

"Damian, how did you become a dragon rider?" Ben asked him finally, Damian sucked in a deep breath at the question, but unlike the times before where he would answer with,

'That's really not important now'

Or.

'In all honesty, you don't really need to know that.'

He actually started to tell the story.

"Well...It's sort of complicated, I'll start from the...Well...Start." Damian sighed and shifted so he was now resting on his shoulder, shaking some of his blue hair out of his face, Damian tapped his fingers as he thought about what to say next, but, in the end, he found his voice,

"My dad's a bit of a hard-ass, I wasn't what he wanted in a son. So after so many fights with him, I just said, 'screw it' and left...I was on my own for a long while. As you know, I know how to live on own when it comes to it. I managed to hitchhike, to different locations and no, I wasn't molested doing so." Damian joked with an awkward laugh. "Then, One day, I was in Scotland, just overlooking the sea, when I heard a loud crash coming from the woods. So, being me, I investigated."

Damian paused and let out a low breath as his eyes looked down at the tiled ground of the shower before continuing, "I found Messiah just laying in the grass like he was the cat, on his back, rolling around. His blue scales shining brightly in the hot Scotland sun...I half expected him to blow me away with his fire the moment he realized I was there watching him. Nope, he just sat up, and looked me in the eyes-"

"Did he talk?" Ben asked interrupting Damian, earning a chuckle, followed by a head push from Damian.

"Let me finish, mate. Yes, he talked. Issiah spoke calmly as he gazed into my eyes. I, on the other hand, was not so calm. I remember actually screaming out. He just put his tail gently to my mouth to shut me up. I don't know how, but eventually, we just started to talk to one another, I told him about my father-"

"More than you've told me, apparently." Ben interrupted sarcastically and Damian just pushed his head back once more with another chuckle,

"I'm almost done. We were both almost caught that day, and he told me to hop on, I do so without question and next thing I know, we're in the air and that's how I became a dragon rider."

"And he got taken?"

"Yes. A year later, I think...But there. I answered a question." Without another word, Damian turned so his back was to Ben in an almost bitter fashion. "Now, get some sleep."

Ben sighed and went to get up, but, as quick as lightening, Damian grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"I didn't say leave me, mate. Stay. It's warmer with you here." Damian demanded bitterly.

Ben laid back down, now awkward as Damian turned once more. Looking at the shower curtain, Ben frowned as an idea formed, Damian could just use that for warmth as a makeshift blanket.

"You know-" Ben started, but this time Damian interrupted him.

"Just...Get some sleep."

Ben let out a sharp intake of breath, his eyes opened wide as he shot up from where he was laying. Twigleg almost went flying off him due to the sudden movement, thankfully, Ben managed to grab him with his one hand though he did move his stump in response as well, but still.

"Oh, you're up." Came Zenith's voice.

Looking around, Ben saw that he was in the backseat of a car, a moving car at that. This was uncomfortably familiar. Looking up at the rearview mirror, he could see Zenith looking at him, rather unimpressed.

"...Are you going to kill me, now?" Ben finally asked. Placing Twigleg on his shoulder, the Manikin put a hand on his chest after that scare.

"What more do I have to do to prove to you that I am on your side for this? Benjamin. I am Info-guy, I've been helping you and Ivan since the start, have I not? I saved you twice now from the same doctor, and even took a damn bullet for you!"

"WHAT?!" Ben screamed out actually shocked. Zenith sighed softly,

"It's in my leg. Don't worry, I got the bullet out and disinfected the wound."

"How long have I been out?"

"Five hours," Zenith responded without skipping a beat. He focused back on the road and the air between the three of them went awkwardly silent as Ben looked at Twigleg, Twigleg frowned but still gently hugged the side of Ben's face. Ben only chuckled and gently patted Twigleg's head.

"I'm fine...For now..." Ben swallowed hard before finally leaning forward cautiously. Zenith instantly took note, and then took the opportunity,

"I AM on your side, Benjamin. I understand your reasons for not trusting me, but right now, I need you to trust me, please, even just a little. That's all I'm asking for."

Ben couldn't bring himself to reply as he backed up now with a deep intake of breath.

"You trusted info-guy, why am I different?"

"You tried to kill me." Ben didn't skip a beat as he crossed one leg over the other.

"...Good point. But, Info-guy, aka, ME. Has yet to do that. In fact. I believe I've have helped you out a good deal through the whole ordeal. What more do you need to understand that I'm helping you?"

There was a moment of silence as Ben looked around the front of the car, it wasn't Damian's car, Ben knew that the all leather interior told him that and the fact that the car was a stick shift told Ben all he needed to know. The leather seats were all gray and clearly worn down at the leather was cracking in some places. Looking in the front passenger's seat Ben saw a cloth of some sort of bright red velvet cloth. It was laying horizontally in the seat, clearly covering something. Instantly made a move for whatever it was. Only to have Zenith be ten times quicker and slap his hand.

"That's for Atticus. He needs to know I'm on his side as well."

"And whatever it is you're hiding will prove that?" Twigleg questioned, sounding just as skeptic as Ben was on the subject. "So...Why not just show it to us?"

"Because it doesn't affect you two like it would him."

"So...I'll repeat what Twigleg asked, why not just show it to us?" Ben spoke up this time. Zenith let out a slightly irritated sigh before finally just pulling the velvet back, all while still looking at the road.

It was a longsword. An old one at that. The tip rusted slightly but still looked sharp. At first Ben thought it was a just a normal sword until he got the handle. It was black as black could be, it didn't seem worn the slightest even though it was clearly made of leather. Then up at the top of the handle was a silver dragon that wrapped itself halfway down the handle. Narrowing his eyes, Ben studied the silver dragon for a few seconds.

"Wait...That's the same design from that cloak."

"Of course, the cloak was mine as well...Because my memories were kind of screwed up around that time, I didn't recognize it as mine and gave it to you. I'm sure the fireproof cloak might have been helpful to bring on your dragon rescue mission, eh?" Zenith teased Ben, his steel blue eyes sparkling ever so slightly in the mirror.

"A little too soon..." Ben mumbled softly as he looked at his missing arm.

"...You're holding up well, I will admit that much. I expected more of a freak out over...That." Zenith hummed out in thought and Ben just shrugged,

"I'm alive." was all Ben pointed out and Zenith only frowned at that as he looked at Ben in the mirror before focusing on the road. There was a long moment of silence, at least ten minutes or so between the two of them, Zenith not once taking his eyes off of the road, until he heard a soft sniffle from the back seat. Looking in the mirror once more, he saw Ben wiping tears away from his eyes. With a sigh, Zenith reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small pack of tissues.

"Catch."

With a swift movement, he threw the pack in the back and then shut the glove compartment, there as a moment of silence before he heard a soft,

"Thanks." from the back, followed by a loud nose blow from Ben. Zenith covered his sword back up and continued to drive down the road. With a deep breath in, Zenith hoped Damian and Atticus were alright.

Honestly, Atticus didn't expect this kind of lock up for him, he should have, but he didn't. As these people actually managed to subdue him long enough to bind him to a stretcher. These people knew what they were doing, that's for sure, as they all rushed at him at once, each person wearing a hazmat suit, making the scene all the creepier to him. He tried to fight them off but being outnumbered, at least, ten to one he found his body slammed on a stretcher. Two people had his hands and arms pinned down on each side of him making it four people holding his arms and hands down. While four other people had his legs pinned. One person had his head in their gloved hands making sure to avoid his mouth as the final person quickly strapped him down to the stretcher. He tried to kick, he tried to fight but to no avail. One strap across his neck, one across his neck, another across his legs. Two handcuffs to the side of the stretcher immobilizing his hands.

"LET ME GO!" He demanded as he still fought against the binds but it didn't work as they started to wheel him away. "ATTICUS!" Guinevere sobbed out loudly. Atticus tried to move his head but the strap across his neck made it difficult. Still, from what he could see out of the corner of his eye, two other hazmats had her as well, but they weren't strapping her down like they did him. Now the two hazmats were dragging her away, one having her arms pinned to her chest while the other person had her by her legs. Granted she kicked in struggled but couldn't free herself.

"Open."

"AH!" Atticus felt his mouth forcefully opened, out of instinct, he bit on the hand as hard as he could. He could taste thick rubber glove in between his teeth, but he couldn't taste any blood. Suddenly something was forced upon his top teeth, then his bottom teeth and the person let go of his mouth. Atticus bit down and instantly hissed out in discomfort once the bitter taste of plastic hit his tongue he also couldn't touch his teeth together anymore, meaning they shoved a mouth guard in his mouth. Probably to stop him from biting people, like he just tried.

"Hey there, Atti." Hearing a familiar voice, Atticus looked up to see Josh hovering over him, he was the only one not wearing a hazmat suit as he kept pace with the others. "You should have killed me, it would have saved your life, I know that." Was all Josh said as he suddenly pulled at Atticus's ponytail and slapped Atticus's head back so hard that the vampire saw stars dance around his vision. "Maybe next time, think." With that, Josh walked forward as did the hazmats. Atticus could still hear Guinevere screaming in the background, it was apparent that they forced a mouth guard in her mouth as well. The smell of blood told Atticus that she already bit someone.

There was a sudden pause where everyone stopped walking, Still, Guinevere was screaming madly as she fought against the people holding her down. A sudden 'beep' rang across the empty hallway and Atticus was pushed forward once more.

"Guinevere!" Looking forward, Atticus could see the Greenblooms locked up in a glass cell, well, not all of the Greenblooms. Guinevere was quickly lead towards the glass prison and the door opened before they could even make a step forward, Guinevere was tossed inside harshly, but, quick as a whip, she was up on her feet and made her way towards the door. It slammed shut before she made it. Hearing a low growl to his left, Atticus turned his head to the best of his abilities only to see a familiar angry silver dragon. The dragon was tied down by metal restraints rendering him immobile, but, he wasn't the only dragon there, right beside Firedrake was a depressed bright blue dragon. One that Atticus recognized as the one in Damian's phone. This dragon showed no emotion compared to Firedrake's clear anger as the dragon glared Josh down.

Atticus turned to see Josh standing over him, the man glowering at him bitterly.

"you've seesn batter das" Atticus spoke, the mouth guard making his speech horribly garbled. Josh reached up and retracted both guards out of his mouth.

"What was that?"

Swallowing hard, Atticus licked his teeth out of instinct and then spoke back up, "You've seen better days." Atticus chuckled.

"Yeah well-" With no warning Josh grabbed Atticus's face, his hand squeezing Atticus's cheeks making his jaws open involuntarily as Josh suddenly applied awful pressure to Atticus's jaw. "-That's thanks to you, isn't it?" Josh snarled out bitterly to Atticus keeping the pressure on Atticus's jaw. Honestly, Atticus wondered if Josh was trying to break his jaw, if that was so, then Josh was dumber than Atticus originally thought.

"Damian, please!" Atticus heard the Professor beg for him, that was something new the prof. caring for him, that also showed one more thing, they couldn't tell the difference between the twins.

Josh let go of Atticus's jaw almost instantly and turned his back to the vampire, making Atticus confused, but still, he took the opportunity all the same.

"That's not Damian! That's his twin brother! Don't worry, I got confused as well. He's almost convincing." Atticus told them sharply with a chuckle, his chuckle quickly got caught in his throat when something horrible struck him. Josh still had his back turned and seemed to be putting on a hazmat suit of his own.

"...Uh...I don't mean to change the mood here, but...Why am I the only one strapped to a stretcher?" Atticus questioned as he did his best to look at them. Just then a loud whirling caught his attention turning back to Josh, the teen was suited up, from his head to this how feet in a white hazmat suit, a clear cover for his eyes so Atticus could see him and he could see Atticus. In his gloved hand, there was a small medical saw.

"You see, it's my job to kill you. I've decided to take a few liberties in doing so, my father agrees, seeing how you came quietly."

"Well, that's an odd way of doing it Isn't normally, if you come quietly then you'll get a quick death? Not the other way around?" Atticus questioned and Josh just chuckled and whirled up the saw once more.

"Buying time isn't going to work on me. Let's take a look at those insides."

Atticus instantly started to struggle against the bonds holding him down. "Get away from me!" Atticus snarled out as Josh got closer and closer to him with the drill.

"Stop! OH MY GOD!" Guinevere shrieked in panic, Atticus could just see her covering her eyes in fear. Atticus was glad the littlest Greenbloom wasn't here to see this. Atticus struggled and struggled, he could feel the heat of the whirling drill getting closer and closer to his chest. he guessed Josh was just going to cut his clothes later. Atticus could only shut his eyes once the blade got too close for comfort, however, he was saved by an intern.

"Mr. Joshua!" A young man burst in through the room, the man honestly matched Ben's height and weight to a T. It seemed like an odd detail to Atticus.

Josh shut the saw off and slammed it down,

"YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO INTERRUPT ME WHEN I'M BUSY!" Josh roared out furiously making Atticus cringe at the volume of his voice.

"I apologize! But your father wishes to see you right away. He says 'It's time'." The intern breathed out heavily as he kept his gaze down and away from Josh's. Josh ripped his mask off with a bitter huff and slammed the drill down. He then pulled his hazmat suit off and stormed forward.

"You live, for now, Vampire." Josh seethed as he angrily slammed the door shut behind him. Atticus let out a soft sigh as he let his head rest against the back of the stretcher.

"So, it's nice to see you again Firedrake." Atticus chuckled as he breathed in and out heavily if his heart would have been beating it would have been pounding. He needed to get out of these restraints, but no matter how he kicked his feet or moved his hands to the best of his abilities, nothing happened. That was until he heard a soft rustle behind him.

"Did one of you get out?" He questioned the Greenblooms. Nope, they were there. Barnabas then confirmed it by adding,

"No...We're all still in here."

"Ok, just hang tight, once I get out-" There it was again, cutting him off, a soft rustle, he knew he wasn't alone is hearing it as Issiah's ears perked up ever so lightly. Going quiet, Atticus closed his eyes as he listened for the noise once more, not hearing it, he opened his eyes only to get the shock of his life.

Sorrel was above him, her head tilted to the side as she looked at him.

"SORREL! YOU'RE ALRIGHT!" Vita happily yelled out but was ignored as Atticus spoke up.

"How?...What?...Were you hiding the whole time?"

"Yeah.

"...No comment. Can you undo my straps?"

"I believe I can, I have to be quick, though, I don't know why but every time I show myself those humans come storming in minutes later."

Atticus scanned around the ceiling for a second, his eyes scanning every inch of the ceiling until he spotted it, a camera pointing directly at them.

"Yeah, I think I've figured out why...How have you avoided them?"

"I can hear them, humans are so loud, I keep hidden in this small crawl space in the wall." Sorrel grabbed the strap around Atticus's neck and slowly undid it, the moment it was free Atticus jerked his head upwards. Enjoying the freedom in his neck. However, his enjoyment didn't last long as suddenly the lights went out and red lights came on.

"That's...Not good. Hide." He told Sorrel who turned and ran back to her crawlspace. Atticus laid back straight listened, there was no alarm, just red lights which were honestly rather odd. Narrowing his eyes, Atticus couldn't hear people approaching, still, there was part of his mind bugging him,

He didn't know how, and he didn't know why.

But this was clearly Ben's doing.

"We have five minutes," Zenith warned him as Ben flipped all the breakers to the outside of the building. A security guard by their feet unconscious by a simple blow to the head, his key card in Ben's pants pocket as Ben just continued to flip every breaker he could find.

"How big is this building!?" Ben demanded as he was still flipping breakers.

"Hang on, let me make it easier," Zenith spoke up as he now hovered over Ben, Ben watched as he took out a small knife and put it to the wires.

"Wai-"

There was a loud pop and a sudden bright spark from the wires, Ben quickly covered his head and made sure Twigleg was covered as well. Looking up, he expected to see Zenith dead or at least fazed with a burnt hand. Nope, he was standing upright the wires now cut and only the blade to the knife burnt.

"How are you not dead?" Ben asked.

Zenith smirked and showed Ben his gloved hands, honestly Ben never noticed Zenith's attire before now. His hands were gloved in black, but the rest of him was normal, blue jeans, black boots, and a black long sleeved shirt that made his white hair stand out greatly.

"These gloves are made of the same fabric that my cloak is made of," Zenith smirked as he wiggled his fingers at Ben.

"That was electricity, you still should have been shocked to hell and back over that."

"I know, you'd be surprised how much this fabric can resist."

"How did you even get fabric like that? Are you from the 1400's correct? Fabric like that must have been specially made and cost an arm and a leg!" Twigleg exclaimed out and Zenith gave a smile before chuckling weakly.

"Let's say, the real Zenith knew just where to go to get what he wanted." Was all Zenith said as he looked at the time on his phone. "We have to go!" Grabbing Ben's wrist, Zenith turned and ran around the corner dragging Ben with him.

"They probably noticed the power outage by now. We must be fast!"

"Well wait, if the powers out now then we can just go in right?"

"No! Ben the power to a majority of the building is out, yes, but James is no moron. He probably has either a generator or a separate breaker for the major things like doors and cameras."

"Alright, if that's the case then what's the plan when we go in? I only have one arm, I'm sure this rather noticeable on camera!" Ben bluntly pointed out as he wiggled his nub a bit to prove his point. Twigleg looked up at Zenith clearly wanting an answer as well. Zenith seemed to be thinking for a few seconds before just shrugging.

"Welp. Good point. Alright." With no warning, Zenith opened the door with the keycard in Ben's hand. "Start running!" Ben was then pushed in, turning around, Ben only watched as the door slammed shut.

"Zenith!"

"Don't worry! I'll meet up with you! Just be careful and remember this. Left, Up, left, right."

"Does that lead to Firedrake?"

"Just follow those instructions. Remember! Left, up, left, right! Super easy! Again, I'll catch up to you!"

Ben only stood there, shocked, mouth agape as him and Twigleg just shared a horrified look together before turning back to the closed door.

"...I'm...Going to kill him." Ben growled out as he turned and sighed out softly, throwing his one arm up in defeat, he just walked forward. "Alright! I guess we're doing this now!" Ben mumbled as he quickly picked up the pace, cautiously looking over his shoulder making sure he wasn't being followed. The hallway was long, uncomfortably long, going from a brisk walk to a jog, Ben breathed out heavily as looked for the first intersection leading to the left. Going from a jog to a full-on run at this point, Ben finally saw it, the first hallway going left, turning quickly Ben quickly skidded to a halt as he literally ran into someone, causing the two of them to fall back.

Thinking quickly Ben pulled out his tiny pocket knife and aimed it at the stranger.

"Sorrel!" Ben and Twigleg both yelled out at the Brownie. Sorrel blinked and quickly ran up and hugged Ben.

"Fools mushroom! Ben! Your arm! Where is it?!" She cried out horrified, as she suddenly grasped the empty fabric to Ben's long sleeve.

"Yeah. Look, don't focus on that for now." Getting to one knee so the two of them were eye and eye, Ben honestly had to admit, he never thought he'd live to be taller than Sorrel, it was honestly so bizarre to him it made him pause for a heartbeat before finally finding his voice. He could see her eyes going back to his empty sleeve, and slowly she went back to touching the sleeve of his arm would magically grow back if she kept doing it.

"Sorrel." Putting his hand on hers, he brought her hand down and away from his empty sleeve. "What do you know? Is Firedrake safe? My family?"

Hearing Firedrake's name must have brought Sorrel back to reality because she snapped her gaze back to him.

"They have Firedrake locked in these large metal arms! I can't get them undone no matter how hard I try!"

Ben's mind went to the horrifying state Kuriana was in before her death almost instantly.

"Is he alive?"

"Yes, they haven't touched him. They won't, they're waiting for something, I don't know what." Sorrel ending in almost a whisper.

"Lead me to him," Ben said almost instantly.

"Master, that isn't wise, he's probably heavily guarded." Twigleg was quick to point out, Ben only shook his head.

"I've made up my mind. Firedrake is the first priority, that's something Ivan always told me, the dragons come first." Ben stubbornly spoke as he looked around cautiously, once he was sure the coast was clear for now, he looked at Sorrel.

"Alright I can't believe I'm saying this, but, Sorrel, lead the way."

Damian let out a loud cry as he finally managed to reach an arm just enough above his head to wiggle it up and over. Grabbing the buckle with his teeth he managed to free his dominate hand. Spitting the buckle out he used his free hand to unbuckle his other hand. Now with both hands-free, he got to work on the other buckles on the jacket. Only seconds later, he threw the godforsaken straightjacket onto the ground below him. Running to the door, Damian grabbed the handle with his hands, only to discover the door was locked.

"Son of a..." Damian snarled, of course, the door would be locked. Leaning against the door, he only knocked his head against it lightly several times in slight defeat. Now what?

What he didn't expect was for someone to suddenly knock back on the other side cautiously. Jumping back, Damian frowned. There was no window or peephole so he couldn't see who was on the other side. Making sure he wasn't going absolutely insane, Damian softly rasped against the door with his knuckles twice, there was a pause, and then he got two knocks back.

"Who's there?" Damian asked cautiously.

"...Theodore."

Feeling his brow furrow, Damian racked his memory for a Theodore that he might know. He doubt the guy on the other side was a chipmunk, so, without thinking he replied,

"Theodore who?"

"Theodore is unlocked now!"

Damian only stood there dumbfounded for a few moments mouth open in slight shock, Did...Did he just fall for a knock, knock joke? Still, reaching over to the knob, he turned it and it opened. Slowly pushing the door open to see the stranger on the other side.

"Who are you?" Damian asked the stranger, the man only smiled at him.

"C'mon now, Ivan, it's me."

"...Finch?"

"Oh god, that name, I haven't heard that in a long while. But please, call me Zenith from now on."

Ben honestly didn't like the idea of crawling through a wall to get to Firedrake, but, at least his arm wasn't an issue anymore, he just had to be careful with the stitches. Shimming down with Sorrel, Twigleg hiding on his neck, Ben had to be careful not the smush his friend as he shifted a bit in the cramped space. Hearing his breathing in his own ears, Ben could feel his hot breath making the air humid around them all as he breathed out heavily once more.

"Here." Sorrel breathed out showing Ben the false panel. Getting so close to her he could smell the various mushrooms off of her fur, Ben gently pushed the panel back a bit to peek inside the room. He could hardly make out Firedrake being tied up by metal arms, he saw a bright blue dragon next to Firedrake and instantly Ben thought of Issiah. Moving past them as much as he could, he could see Atticus tied to a stretcher, the green hair was a dead giveaway. A large metal cabinet with glass doors blocked his view from what else was in the room, but he knew Guinevere was in there by her panicked whispers, so that meant that the other Greenblooms were in there as well.

Ben almost removed the fake panel completely so he could get to his friends but paused when the sound of the door opening caught his attention. Instantly he tensed when he thought Damian had waltzed on in but caught himself when he realized it was Josh, not Damian. Sucking in a deep breath, Ben narrowed his eyes as he looked at Twigleg. The homunculus tugging on his ear for attention.

"Master? Isn't that Damian?" Twigleg asked him in a hushed whisper.

"No. Turns out Damian has a twin...What is he doing?"

They all watched as Josh started to put, what seemed to be, a hazmat suit. Josh was speaking to Atticus who now started to struggle more and against his restraints. Ben didn't move, not until Josh pulled out a medical saw and turned it on.

"Sorrel. You're going to want to run." Ben simply told her as he placed Twigleg on her shoulder.

"What are you-" Before she could finish her question, Ben kicked the false panel out, causing it to clatter on the ground and echo around the room. Instantly Josh looked up at the noise and turned the saw off.

"Go," Ben demanded as he hopped out of the wall. Sure enough, Josh was practically jogging over towards the source of the noise, grabbing the panel, Ben held his breath. Josh got closer and Ben acted.

Swinging the panel out, there was a satisfying 'thwack!' that followed as Josh suddenly fell back onto his back and clutched his face. Honestly, he had no clue how he managed to do that with only one arm, still, Ben couldn't think on that as he grabbed Josh by the collar.

Josh was still on his back and he smirked at Ben. Before Ben could question him, both of Josh's feet made contact with Ben's stomach, hard knocking the wind out of Ben almost instantly. Still not done, Josh used momentum to flip Ben off of him.

Ben flipped and landed on his back hard enough for him to grimace. Josh got up and dusted himself off. Ben tried to turn so he could push himself up, however, Josh wasn't done with him. A sudden kick to the head was enough for Ben to fall back down and see stars dance in his vision.

"Well, isn't this interesting." Josh tsked as he circled around Ben, ignoring Firedrake's snarls, Ben looked up just enough to see the dragon's eyes filled to the brim with anger, clearly daring Josh to do something like that again. And that's just what Josh did as Ben tried, once again, to stand.

Ben's only arm was kicked out from under him, causing him to slam his face into the ground. Crying out. Ben tasted blood from his now busted lower lip. Ben could hear Firedrake struggle against the metal arms holding him down. It seemed like Josh was going to kick him again, but with no warning, the man cried out. Taking the chance, Ben pushed himself up and looked, Josh was clearly trying to get something out of his hair but it was stuck in there good.

Ben growled and used his leg to sweep Josh's own legs out from under him, causing the other to fall to his knees. Giving Ben enough time to stand. Josh stood up and the two stared at each other, Ben could see a clump of plaster stuck to Josh's hair, Sorrel really did have good aim.

Josh then unzipped his white suit and threw it off to the side. Clearly showing that this was about to get bloody.

"Sorry about the strip show, but that suit stops me from pulling out my knife, which I'm going to need. Because I'm going to gut you." Josh snarled as he pulled out a rather large knife from his pocket. Josh then rushed at Ben and slashed. Ben was quick enough to just barely move out of the way of the knife and grabbed Josh's arm twisting it backward as far as his one arm would allow him to do so. Josh grabbed the back of Ben's head and pulled his hair forcing Ben's head back, as Josh forced his arm out of Ben's grasp and tried to slash again. Ben just hardly managed to move his head out of the way as Josh nicked his neck with the sharp blade. Ben felt Josh's grip tighten on his hair keeping his head pulled back exposing his neck. Ben knew what he was going to wasn't going to be pretty, but wanting to see tomorrow, he had no choice. Bringing a leg up fast and hard, he kicked Josh as hard as he could in between the legs. He knew it must have hurt, not only because Josh let go of him but because he could hear Atticus and the Professor both groaning as Josh let out a loud squeak. Throwing a punch to the side of Josh's face, fell to the ground.

Ben let out a low breath as he put a hand over his heart, trying to calm his breathing as he walked over Josh towards Firedrake's cage. Slowly, Sorrel emerged, Twigleg on her shoulder. The two just watched as Ben seemed to be looking for something along the cage.

"Don't worry, I'm going to get you out..." Ben told Firedrake softly as he looked around the room now. "Ah!" Ben spoke as he saw a red button on the wall covered by a glass case. Walking passed Josh again, Ben felt his ankle suddenly being grabbed and he was tripped to the ground. Falling on his shoulder, Ben yelled out when he was harshly pulled under Josh.

Josh went for a punch but Ben learned from last time and kicked him off of him, only he didn't kick Josh over him, he just kicked Josh off. Josh fell back into the metal cabinet, the glass wobbled but didn't break, thank goodness. Ben watched as he stood, knife back in his hand. Getting to his own feet, Ben narrowed his eyes as the two of them stared one another down. Then there was a flash of something and Josh took a startled step back as another piece of plaster was stuck his scalp. Ben saw the opportunity and grabbed Josh. Josh grabbed Ben by his own shirt and in one quick movement, the two of them were smashed into the cabinet once more, both of them trying to throw the other. They fell to their knees as they did so.

The glass shattered as the whole cabinet wobbled this time. Ben covered his head in instinct as the glass covered him. Josh let out a loud cry, Ben only looked at him for a second, shards of glass in his left eye, causing heavy bleeding from his eye on the other's part. Hearing a loud creaking noise, Ben looked up to see the heavy cabinet coming down towards him. Thinking quickly he ducked and rolled out of the way embedding glass in his bare palm as he did so. The cabinet came down hard, causing more glass to smash around him. Once more, he covered his face until he was sure it was safe. All was deathly silent, nobody spoke a word as the air around him became tense. Ben didn't look up just yet as he tried to catch his breath. He just looked down at his bleeding palm.

"...Holy shit..." He heard Atticus breath out finally breaking the silence. Causing Ben to finally look up towards the fallen cabinet. Putting his bleeding hand to his face in shock, Ben fell back on his behind as he looked at the horrifying scene in front of him.

Whereas Ben had time to jump out of the way, it seemed that Josh didn't. Pinned under the metal cabinet, Ben could see that Josh had actually tried but was too slow, a part of Ben actually wanted Josh to be alive, but, he knew that the odds were...slim as the sharp edge of the cabinet had landed on Josh's windpipe pinning him to the floor. Still. Ben never wanted to give up that hope. Instantly he went to pick up the metal, but, being half-starved, weak, fresh out of a fight AND surgery he misunderstood his strength at the moment. Breathing out weakly, Ben only gave up and put his hand to his mouth in shock. He looked back at Sorrel and Twigleg, both equally shocked at what was in front of them.

Hearing a sudden noise from Atticus, Ben turned to look at his friend, Atticus struggling against his bonds, it seemed like he managed to get free enough for him to bite at restraints around his wrist. Leaving Josh there, for now, Ben jogged over and quickly freed his friend. Atticus jumped up and ran over to Josh. While Atticus tried to lift the cabinet up, Ben paused as he looked up at the only camera in the room and narrowed his eyes, this was a little too easy, something wasn't right.

Oliver curled under the desk, rocking horribly back and forth, trying so hard not to cry. He was a grown man, dammit, he can't try! So what if there was a large bird of prey waiting to make Oliver it's next meal, that was no reason to cry.

Biting his lip, Oliver slowly slipped towards the edge of the dresser and peeked out from behind it. The bird let out a loud battle cry and Oliver quickly went back to hiding as he shook violently. There was a suddenly 'whoosh' and Oliver watched in horror as the desk was suddenly lifted up and tossed into the side of the room like it was nothing. The bird landed in front of Oliver and just stared at him blankly. Oliver slowly opened his mouth, unsure of what to do, there was nothing to come out of his mouth at first as he just gawked at the bird.

The bird then tilted it's head to him and with no warning let out the loudest squawk Oliver ever heard before in his life. Clasping his hands over his ears, Oliver hurriedly got to his feet and tried to run. The bird gave chase, it didn't fly, it literally chased him down on its feet.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Oliver screamed out as he ran cowardly away from the large bird as fast as he could. Throwing all dignity away, Oliver threw his arms up and shrieked out loudly as he ran as fast as his legs would allow him. The bird picked up speed and was so close to Oliver that Oliver could feel the beak peck at his hair causing him to pick up the pace.

"Oliver!" Hearing a voice, Oliver turned and ran towards it without a second thought. Seeing the door wide open, Oliver jumped through the door and clutched his chest as whoever saved him shut the door just in time. There was a loud bang followed by a squawk of pain on the other side. Oliver breathed out heavily and rolled onto his back, clutching his heart with one hand while running fingers through his hair with his other hand.

Looking up to see who saved him, Oliver swallowed hard and put his hand to his chest, "Thank you. Oliver Pearson, you are?" Oliver asked as he stood up to shake his savior's hand. The man only smiled,

"Call me, Zenith."

"Oh, dear god."

James' eyes were trained on Josh. Watching as Ben pressed the button to free the dragon's but not his family, no, those buttons were on the outside of the cells his family was in.

Clenching his fists in rage, his breath became deep, angry, and ragged. Turning his eyes towards the other monitors in front of him, his eyes landed on Oliver. James was no fool, that man was Zenith in disguise. He had to be. To vanish and come back the way he did? No. James knew who he was and he had to pay for his betrayal! Slamming his hands down on his desk, James felt a vein pop up on his forehead as he had a large snarl on his lips. Feeling something wet and cold hit his hand, James looked down to see his coffee spilled onto his hand, mug on its side.

Speaking of son's, he turned to the locked door and looked in, Jackson was sitting there, drawing while sipping some apple juice.

Sighing out, James straightened himself up and slowly undid his tie. Looking around for a paper towel or napkin, he found a bunch of napkins in a fast-food bag, he silently wiped the coffee up. His eyes trained on his son once more, he didn't cry, or weep, or sob. He just numbly stood there watching as the vampire had the audacity to hold his son. Josh in the vampire's arms as the man was checking for a pulse. Intrigued, James noted how both dragons leaned down to look at Josh.

James felt his nose scrunch in anger. Finally, James reached into a drawer and pulled out a glock. Looking at it, James looked back to the monitor, now Benjamin was standing next to Josh, hand over his mouth. Bastard sure knew how to act. He went to turn, ready to storm into the room holding Jackson, and start firing, but he was suddenly thrown back into the monitors by a mysterious force. Hearing the monitors hit the ground behind him as James felt his leg hit the table just at his knee, causing pain to erupt from his knee up. Crying out, James instinctively dropped the gun as he clutched his knee.

His collar was grabbed and he was tossed off of the table, stumbling, he hit the wall harshly. His nose now bleeding, he clutched it and looked at his attacker.

"So...This how it's going to be?" James asked the man.

Slowly, the other brought his fists up and cracked his knuckles loudly. Before James could respond, his collar was grabbed and he was punched three times in a row on his left cheek. Crying out, James landed on his knees and spat out a bloody tooth on the ground. Before he could do anything else his collar was grabbed and he was lifted up to the windowsill and jumped once he realized the window was open. Using his feet he tried to kick the offender off of him, but it made no difference as the other managed to push him out far enough so he was now almost upside down, forced to look at the ground that was far down below causing him to look up at the person. Just hardly able to see a monitor inside the building, he could make out Ben and looked up at his attacker,

"¿Para él?" (For him?) James asked softly his voice actually cracking. Waiting for the reply, James slowly looked up at the sky, the night sky completely black, not a star in site, only the full moon that hung graciously over him and lit up the sky.

"Sí." Was what he got in reply before his jacket was suddenly let go and he was falling. He didn't scream, he didn't cry, he only looked up at the moon as he brutally hit the ground.

"Firedrake, you have to go." Ben told the stubborn silver dragon as he pushed his face towards the open window.

"No, not without you! I'm not losing you again, Ben!" Firedrake snarled. Meanwhile, Sorrel sat on his back, unsure of just what to say at the moment. Ben tried again to push his face out the window, only to have Firedrake move his head up, causing Ben to crash on the ground.

"Firedrake, why are you being so stubborn?" Ben asked as he stood and wiped himself off. "Issiah left without issue, why can't you?"

"Because Issiah clearly is detached from his rider at this point! Ben...You are missing a limb. I can't...I can't leave you like this." Firedrake told him softly as he nuzzled Ben's stomach.

"And I can't leave them. Firedrake." Ben gestured to the Greenblooms still locked up. "Look, there's a field over there." Ben pointed towards the large field where Issiah was laying in the field.

"Wait for us. Ok? We can talk more there. But now we have to get you guys out. Please." Ben begged softly. Firedrake sighed out and nuzzles Ben's stomach.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't. Please, go, be safe." Ben urged him once more and Firedrake sighed out once more.

"Very well. I'll wait for you."

With that, Firedrake spread his wings and flew off towards the field as fast as he could. Ben turned towards the prison his family was kept in and started to search.

"Where is it!" Ben growled as he searched for the button to free the Greenblooms. Circling their prison, he finally found it just on the outside. "Ah!" About to push it, he paused when he heard a sudden yell.

"Mummy!" Turning, he saw Damian come bolting in clearly trying to chase down Jackson, underestimating how fast three years really can be. Ben stopped and rushed over towards them. Mainly to stop Jackson from tripping over Josh's body. Stopping Jackson just at Josh's, covered, the body he allowed the child to cling to his neck so he could pick up.

Josh's face was covered by Atticus's jacket that he had given to Ben earlier, so, nobody could see the face. Still, watching Damian's face as he looked down at his brothers, obvious, corpse. Ben made sure Jackson was facing the other way as he held on to him.

"It was an accident..." Ben started softly. Damian pulled jacket back and sighed out.

"...Poor bastard..." Damian breathed out, Ben watched as he reached down and it seemed like hold his twin's hand one last time. He then brought his hand back up and covered his twin up one last time. Atticus came up a moment later with Twigleg.

"Hey, kiddo." Atticus greeted Jackson, who just snuggled himself closer to Ben's neck.

"He's unharmed, thank god. Found him locked up. I don't know why he separated them." Damian mumbled softly as he stood and gently covered his twin's face once more.

"Oh! Here, Let me let them out." Handing Jackson to Atticus, the child let out a loud whine and actually struggled against Atticus's grip.

"Nope! Nope! He doesn't like me!" Atticus yelled as he held Jackson at arm's length. Jackson tried to kick at Atticus only to have Ben sweep in and grab the toddler.

"The button is on the left," Ben told him as he held on to Jackson. Atticus nodded and went to help them, much to their relief. Before he could push the button, Zenith and Oliver came waltzing in.

"Oliver!" Ben yelled out relieved, Oliver came running up and hugged Ben, with Jackson in the middle of them.

"Your arm!" Oliver exclaimed.

Hearing a growl next to him, Ben only saw a flash and next thing he knew Atticus had lunged at Zenith, snarling out violently as he grabbed the clone's collar and tossed him halfway across the room.

Giving Jackson to Oliver, Ben rushed over to stop them along with Damian. Ben grabbed Atticus while Damian grabbed Zenith and they pushed the two back.

"Easy! Easy!" Ben yelled to Atticus while he continued to try and attack him.

"How the hell are you even alive!?" Atticus demanded as he tried to get out of Ben's grip.

"It's a complicated story, please, Atticus, I'm on your side!" The clone tried to reason but wasn't having it.

"Atticus, I love you, and I'm sorry, but JESUS CHRIST! GOD!" Ben screamed and Atticus tensed up horribly like he was having a seizure standing up. "Our father in heaven holy is your name-"

"ENOUGH!" Atticus shrieked out to Ben as he continued to shake while standing up.

"Sorry. Sorry. Don't hate me. I had to get you to stop." Ben explained as he let go allowing Atticus to fall on his butt. Zenith let out a sigh and walked up to him.

"To prove I'm on your side." Zenith simply said as he thrust the velvet covered sword towards him. Atticus groaned in pain as he rubbed his behind before grabbing the velvet unsure of what he was taking. Slowly Atticus uncovered it and his eyes grew wide at the sword.

"No...How did you?..." Atticus looked down at the sword and sighed out. Before giving it back to the clone.

"Keep it."

"How can I be sure you're truly on our side." Atticus bitterly questioned as he held the sword close.

"Ben." Zenith gestured to Ben, who just nodded.

"He saved me, Atti...Twice! Please, he's good now. He's info-guy."

There was a moment of silence before Atticus stood.

"Alright...But I have my eye on you."

Hearing a knock, everyone turned to see Barnabas clearly waving, waiting to be out with the rest of the Greenblooms.

"Oh sorry!" Ben yelled as he rushed over to help them out.

"I got it. Ben just wait for them." Zenith ordered as he walked passed Ben. Ben, Oliver, and Atticus just looked at one another. Damian stood in front of them and sighed out softly. The door opened and Jackson squirmed out of Oliver's grip to run to Vita. While still in their cell the Greenblooms all hugged Jackson happily. Ben ran in to be part of the group hug, leaving Atticus and Oliver standing there awkwardly standing there watching the hug. Suddenly, both felt a hand on their back and were shoved in. There the door was closed, locking them all in.

"Damian! What are you doing?!" Ben asked as he rushed over to the door.

"Traitor! I can't believe I fell for your lies!" Atticus snarled to Zenith.

Damian only sighed out and gently clipped a name tag to his shirt.

"Ben, you are aware this is no way out of this without one of us looking horrible right?" Damian asked as Ben read the nametag.

"Why are you...Posing as your twin?" Ben asked once the nametag was read.

"Because of Ben. I can't keep dragging you down with me." Damian clutched his chest painfully.

"What do you mean? You never dragged me down, Damian, I came with you on my own free will you know this!" Ben fought back. Zenith frowned as Damian just nodded at him.

"If you're sure." Was all Zenith said before walking off towards the other prison. He stepped in and Damian shut it.

"Damian...What are you doing?" Ben teared up as Damian only smiled.

Walking over to the glass case, Damian gently put his hand on the glass as Ben did the same.

"It's Ivan, you know this...You've done so much for me...It's only fair I do something for you. Thank you for saving Issiah, and thank you for saving my life. Now it's my turn." Damian turned and backed away from the glass. "I'd hide Twigleg." He told them. Atticus scooped down and tucked the homunculus away into his coat pocket.

"Da...Ivan...What did you do?" Ben asked. Slowly, Ivan got down to his knees, hands up in the air.

"I called the cops." Damian finally admitted. As soon as those words left his mouth, there was a 'ding' and the door was opened. At least ten cops came rushing in all had guns out as Ivan just had his hands up clearly in a surrender.

"Name!" A cop demanded.

"Joshua Newlands!" Ivan responded back, another officer quickly went to the corpse on the ground and pulled the jacket off.

"Jesus Christ..." One man breathed out, causing Atticus to cringe slightly.

"It was an accident." Ivan softly explained as the officers forced him up to his feet and handcuffed him.

After that everything just felt like a blur to Ben, they took pictures of Josh's body, questioned all of them. Everyone had to lie, absolutely everyone. Somehow by some miracle they all managed to come up with the same lie on the spot.

They were kidnapped for testing, Ivan was killed by a falling cabinet, Joshua called the cops upset over his brother's death...And father's suicide. But, then Ben heard Ivan's false story.

"My brother forced the other Greenbloom with him, forced him to steal from all those people. It was never his fault."

When questioned about all the things he stole over the last three years. Ben just looked at Ivan, who nodded at him, Ben then looked at his family, none of them could look at him back.

"...He, D...Ivan...Forced me to help him." Ben lied painfully. Everyone was escorted outside. From there, Ivan was put in the back of a car, he gave Ben a bit of a small smile before being driven off.

"Do you guys need a ride home. I'm sure it's been a rough few days for all of you." An officer offered.

"Yes please!" Almost everyone said at once.

"No..." Ben squeaked out softly, causing everyone to look at him. Zenith then let out a loud cough that sounded a lot like,

Dragon!

"Er, right. He needs to stay! Don't worry. I'll stay with him! There's still something he has to do." Atticus said as he put his hands on Ben's shoulders.

"Alright...Well anyone who wants a ride, follow me then."

Ben sighed as he ran up and hugged Firedrake sniffling loudly.

"I'm glad you're ok." Firedrake practically purred as he rubbed against Ben's missing arm.

"Issiah, I'm so sorry, Ivan turned himself in..." Ben explained to the bright blue dragon. Issiah only blinked and slowly lowered himself to the ground.

"Can you explain that to me? I don't know much on your human terms." Issiah finally spoke. Ben was taken back by how smooth and deep his voice actually was. Still, with a sniffle, Ben wiped his eyes and spoke,

"He gave himself up to the cops so I could be..." Ben was unsure of what to say next.

"Free." Atticus finished as a breeze passed by the two of them. "Ivan wanted you to be free and safe. That's why he took the blame, it's also why he...Ahem...'killed himself' In that aspect and took the place of his twin."

"But they'll know he was lying! With finger prints scanning-" Ben started in a panic and Atticus put his hand up, silencing his friend.

"Ben. Think about it, do you really think they'll have him and his twin's fingerprints in the database here in the UK? No. I don't think so." Atticus explained softly. "I only know this because I was in America for a short time. I got arrested but they didn't have my fingerprints. So please, stop panicking." Ben held on to Firedrake tighter who nuzzled him softly. Issiah eyed Atticus cautiously.

"Now what's going to happen? Ben? I ask this because I am concerned for your safety with the humans from now on."

"...I don't know..." Ben admitted as he sniffled softly once more.

"Come with us! Live in the rim! You'll be safer there!" Sorrel spoke from Firedrake's back.

"She is right. You could stay with us. You only have one arm, the other dragons and brownies would protect you." Firedrake spoke softly.

"What is this 'rim' you guys speak of?" Issiah questioned softly.

"A valley of dragons up in the mountains. It's called the rim of heaven, because its a safe haven for dragons."

Ben explained softly to Issiah, instantly his ears perked up.

"Really? If it's not too much, could I accompany you guys back? I have no rider anymore and no where to go."

"I would be honored to have you accompany me, Issiah." Firedrake told him gently. Ben looked over at Atticus, who had a noticeable frown on his face. Ben sniffled and wiped his eyes softly.

"As honored as I am that you want me to live you Firedrake. I'm afraid I must turn you down once more. I can't leave them now. Not after everything that's happened." Ben admitted the idea of leaving the Greenblooms after causing them to be taken in the first place sent shivers down his spine.

"You've grown," Firedrake observed softly before nuzzling Ben one last time. "If you won't come with me, then, I shall visit you as often as I can from now on."

"Firedrake-" Ben started but Firedrake silenced him with a simple push back.

"No. No matter what you say, I won't listen."

"...Firedrake, you don't know where we live, we live in a pretty crowded place-"

Once more he pushed back slightly, cutting him off.

"Don't bother, he's a dragon, his mind is made up, they're stubborn that way." Sorrel chuckled softly as she crossed her legs on Firedrake's back.

"I will find a way, we, will find away, Ben. How about this. At the start of every three months. We meet here. In this spot."

"Firedrake...I'd like nothing more than that." Ben smiled at him as he gently ran his hand up Firedrake's scales. Gently Ben hugged him once more. "I have to go now..." He breathed out softly as he held Firedrake's face close to his chest.

"I will see you in three months!" Firedrake softly told him as Ben sadly backed away. Atticus put a hand on his shoulder gently.

"Goodbye, Firedrake. I'm glad you made it out safe." Atticus spoke softly a sad smile on his face. Ben only brought his hand up and gently touched Atticus's cold hand.

"Goodbye, Firedrake." Ben smiled weakly. Firedrake looked at Issiah, who just nodded back,

"Goodbye, I shall see you soon." Unfolding his wings, the two of them simply made one powerful push-up and soon they were in the air. Watching Firedrake circle around lightly, Ben only sighed.

"So, why did you choose to stay? I think there's something more than 'You can't leave the Greenblooms now'" Atticus asked as he leaned against Ben's shoulder. Instantly Ben let out a bitter 'hmph' in response to that.

"That is the reason, Atti."

"I'm one of your best friends. You don't have to lie to me. Let me guess. His name starts with I-"

"I'm leaving." Ben flatly put as he turned and walked away, his face now red.

"Ha! C'mon Ben, don't be shy about it!"

"Don't push it!" Ben yelled back as Atticus chased him down. His face turning even more red as he tried to not show his emotions.

"This is just precious! I can't believe I ever see the day you'd have a crush on-"

"OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN-"

"ASS!" Atticus fell over as Ben started the prayer.

"I told you not to push it!"

Hearing a chuckle, Ben turned to see Zenith coming up to the two of them. Zenith only looked down at Atticus and laughed softly.

"Pushed him, eh? Oh, Orrick, you're still a fourteen-year-old in a man's body I see." Zenith just shook his head and turned to Ben.

"That does push me to ask, if you knew prayer could stun him, how come you never used it when he harmed you after Kuriana's death?"

Atticus blinked as he stood to dust himself off. "That...Is a good question. How come, Ben?"

Ben just gave his friend a smile before sighing. "Because you were in distress at the time. I had already tried to drug you and If I would have stunned you it would have made things even worse." Ben explained softly, he then looked over at the night sky, the inky blackness honestly just made his shudder as all he could see now was the moon. Still, he turned back to the duo behind him and smiled brightly.

"Lets go home!"

One whole month went by and life seemed to almost return to normal, almost. Ben now had a prosthetic plastic arm that hooked to his nub, so it looked normal but had no function. It was hard for Ben to get back into the groove now that his dominate arm was gone. At least he got a job, some fast food place in a high tourist area, it wasn't glamorous, in fact, nobody wanted him to get it, Barnabas mentioned that he could probably get Ben a job as an intern for another professor, but, for now, just to get use to his left arm, he stuck with the fast food place.

Ben sighed as he went inside the brightly lit room. His family, Atticus, and Zenith all behind him as they followed suit. Seeing the familiar glass casings, chairs, and phones, Ben let out another sigh. Sitting down, he saw Ivan on the other side. His hair no longer blue, but now a bright orange as they pretty much forced washed the dye out of his hair, Ben could see at the tips of his longer hair, Ivan still had a bit of blue still in there along with some blonde.

Picking up the phone, Ben just chuckled.

"What's up, Orange?" Ben questioned teasingly to him. Ivan let out a barking laugh.

"Had to bring the whole brigade with you?" Ivan questioned as he continued to laugh, he waved to the people behind Ben.

"Yeah well, they all care for you as well."

"I see Oliver doesn't."

"...Yeah, Oliver needed to spend some time in a mental hospital, he figured it was for the best." Ben mumbled as he lightly scratched his nose.

"Little too much for the guy? Eh...So I bet you're waiting on how the trail went?" Ivan let out a soft sigh and looked down almost sadly, instantly, Ben perked up and scooted closer.

"You got, guilty?"

"...Nope! Not guilty of the murder of Ivan! They ruled it as an accident, proving that the cabinet did fall on him!"

"That's great! What about..."

"James was ruled a suicide. They found the note." Ivan smiled. "I was found guilty of accessory to kidnapping so I'm still stuck in here for six months, three on good behavior."

"That's still great!" Ben happily spoke as he put a hand to the glass and Ivan did the same. Both just sighed out softly.

"That still leaves some questions, but I'll have to ask some other time, huh?"

Ivan nodded softly, he then smiled. "Hand me the phone to Dickless! I have something I want to ask him!"

"Don't call me that!" The phone suddenly ripped from his hand, Ben just got up and moved as Atticus took a seat. "I thought we were pass the name calling!" Atticus snarled out as he slammed a hand down.

"Nah, not yet. So, I have to ask. Zenith living with you now?"

If Atticus could blush, he would be, still he just straightened up and snorted bitterly, "Maybe."

"How cute."

"Knock it off...Ben, talk to your boyfriend." With a sudden toss the phone was back in Ben's hand and Ben just shook his head.

"He's not my boyfriend, mate." Ben responded back as he sat back down.

"Bah, doesn't matter, times up anyway. Look, mark your calendar for three months from now. I plan on getting out early." Ivan told him softly.

"Good luck on that. But, consider it down." Both of them stood and gave each other one last look before sighing out.

"Goodbye. Ben." Ivan softly whispered to him and Ben just sighed softly,

"...See you in three months. Damian."