Chapter 151 151. Update
Chapter 151 151. Update
Drake and Isolde sat there when Malachi told them about everything going on outside of Thorne Castle. It was absolute absurdity. The world seemed to go topsy-turvy. Ben had been acquitted, and the whole burning of Arcane Academy was solely blamed on Isolde.
The papers were praising the Nexus of Power for not jumping to trial right away and waiting the year she was in a coma to get all the facts and do a full investigation. That wasn't the only thing making both Drake and Isolde so stunned. It was that they had reported on the Mundane World.
It was in a state of chaos. Fear was running rampant among the wielders. When Ashford put a Dragon out into the mundane world to destroy the mundane world, he caused mass hysteria among the mundane. Apparently, the mundane military was now asking questions. Isolde knew what that meant: witch hunts.
They were not witches at all but wielders who could manipulate craft and used it. The mundanes wouldn't know that. Isolde knew the history of witch hunts, not only in America but across the globe. Europe was much worse in this regard. The fear, though, among the wielders was bad; Drake and Isolde knew that it was feeding Ashford, if he was a Boogeyman.
Then Malachi dropped the worst of it. The Thornes, Drake, and Isolde were being blamed. With her burning down Arcane Academy and both of them being split-tongued, it had driven the papers and public to think it had to be the two of them. It was common knowledge they both had the gift, and if they could talk to serpents, who else could it be?
"It is almost funny if you ask me; they claim you two have a dragon, and now you do," Malachi said. Nor did Isolde or Drake think it was funny. They did have a dragon, and they had burnt the keepers at the edge of Thorne Castle's property. On Dragon Back, no less.
"But what do they think our motive is?" Drake asked. Isolde wanted to know this because how could, or rather, why would they do this? There was no way Ashford planned this all so recently. This had to be years in the making, she considered. Then she came along, and her actions just moved up his timeline?
"I don't know, Power; they think you want it. They also believe you two set the explosions at the Nexus of Power building." Malachi added. "They used your background as a mundane Isolde to explain your knowledge of mundane things. I even admit I was half convinced." Malachi said. Isolde's mouth fell open.
"Of course I know better, but still this does change my opinion once again," Malachi added.
"What does that even mean?" Drake remarked; he was now in a bad mood. He and Isolde were being blamed for everything, and it wasn't even a good reason. He was furious. Was it so much to have a peaceful life? He had a woman he adored; he had money, property. Couldn't everyone leave them alone in peace?
He felt like he had suffered enough. Then he looked at Isolde; she had suffered more, he knew it. She lost her parents to a man who saw them as just pawns on a chessboard. Lost her eye, and she had lost it to establish that she wouldn't suffer again. Then, with the grief of losing her ability, she ruined her core. Now she was forced to use only dark craft, and the fire left her missing a year of her life.
To top it off, she was now the most wanted person for actions she had no control over, and her own parents had died. Yet somehow, he was upset and felt as if he were the one suffering. He knew he was a spoiled, rich boy for considering his own circumstances first.
Malachi went on, "I know I had reconsidered the whole mundane thing for you, dear Isolde, but if they start hunting our kind again, and I know you, Isolde, told me their weapons are superior, but having seen what those things can do, I think we need to reconsider things." Drake didn't know what that meant.
"What do you mean reconsider things?" Isolde snapped at him. She, too, didn't need this, she thought. It was bad enough they had an insane Boogeyman; now this. She knew Malachi was insane and power-hungry, and while she never accepted it, if he let them live in peace, she would have let it go, well, maybe.
"I mean, once we take care of the creature problem, we will need to direct our attention to the mundanes. They are just simply too much of a risk."
"So you are going to kill them?" Isolde's voice rose as she asked the question. She didn't want him to kill the mundanes. She thought of her dead parents; even though they never showed her love, she did love them. Even if they were neglectful, the dance teacher she had years ago, she liked her. Then there was Elliot and his crass nature; even he wasn't intolerable.
True, she didn't exactly have lots of love for the mundane world, but there was good there. Even if she hadn't ever been exposed to it. Then there was Lydia; she actually loved someone who was a mundane. No, she refused to accept it. Her throat was tightening. Her anger was cracking beneath her surface.
Drake saw her defenses beginning to crack. Isolde's core had massive bouts of anger; she always tried to reel it in. Drake really was the only one who could calm her, and he had tried. In fact, had he been there the night in the library with Ben, she probably would have been able to reel in her anger.
Granted, if he were there, Ben probably wouldn't have even attempted to hurt her. "Don't you snap at me, girl; you are only here because you're useful." Malachi snapped back at her. Drake recalled his father's words that Isolde could fight his compulsion. It made her a threat to Malachi, and the look in Malachi's eyes told him his father was right.
Drake ran his hands over her arms, trying to center his wielder, hoping it would soothe that anger that almost always turned to violence. "I need to do some thinking, and then I need to talk with more of the older wraiths on battle plans. You two are excused; I will send for you when we have a more concrete plan."
Drake was relieved they were excused. Isolde clearly was teetering on the verge of letting it all out. "Come on, Izzy," He said gently, getting her out of the dining room.