Chapter 19 #2
Ryker materialized in an explosion of green energy in a low crouch to the left of Jaxon Silver, one palm slapped to the ground and sending leapfrogging lightning ripping across the ground.
As it hit, it took out every single magic-wielder’s power in an instant, leaving them fumbling and staggering back.
An army of them that appeared to be surrounding Jaxon.
Not only them—vampires and wolves were in the mix also.
As the vampires and wolves moved to step in with the magic-wielders now powerless to assist, a sharp whistling sound had them stilling, just a moment before a glowing bronze missile shot from the sky and slammed into the ground just inches from them.
Ryker rose to his feet, his lightning still radiating out, while his right hand flamed with his green offensive power, just as his father, Gabriel Morgan, materialized on his left side.
Somebody who I recognized as Hugh Clayborne, who was these days the leader of the Unity Council, yet clearly not at this time many years ago, signaled the army that I was registering as being his, to stay their hand.
“Ryker and Gabriel Morgan. I never thought I’d see the day.
” He smiled at Gabriel. “Long time, old friend. Your son has certainly followed in your stead. He challenges the rule of the oligarchy like you used to. Like you still do from what our intel confirms. He challenged them during the reign of the Beast, he bends archaic and bureaucratic rules in favor of what’s best for us lesser supernatural beings. ”
“My actions were to fight my own subjugation, Hugh. My son is concerned with those beyond himself.”
Hugh eyed Ryker. “Your one mistake was saving the Guardian Movement that day. We could’ve been free of those elitist, apathetic fools who are no longer up to the task of safeguarding any of us.
Draco’s rise and rampage proved that.” He gestured at Jaxon.
“It’s why we went to Jaxon. He shared our vision.
But putting our faith in him was foolish, as it turns out. ”
“Thinking you can wield Immortal Descendant magic as your own is what’s foolish,” Gabriel said. “It’s toxic to other beings. It will first corrupt you, then burn you from the inside out.”
“The Orb can guard against that.”
“That’s only a rumor, not a fact,” Gabriel warned him.
Hugh’s eyes flashed. “Then what do you suggest we do? The current state of affairs is hurting the entire supernatural community! The Guardian Movement is—”
“Out of touch,” Ryker cut in, stepping forward.
He pulled his defensive magic back and his offensive, then folded his arms across his chest, indicating he was standing down.
They looked stunned by his actions, that he was risking himself, making himself vulnerable in front of an entire army.
He eyed Gabriel whose power was still flaming on either palm in full force. “Dad.”
He resisted for a moment, before he complied and pulled his magic back, albeit still tense with his eyes darting around on high alert.
And then Ryker went on, “The Guardian Movement is all the things you say.” He added pointedly, “All the things you now fear following the events months back. Cornelius is aware of this and measures are being taken to remedy the current situation. These steps require time, patience, and perseverance, all things your original plan didn’t have, didn’t want to entertain.
That’s what Jaxon has been trying to convey to you. ”
“What measures are you talking about? As I’m sure you know, the Guardian Movement isn’t exactly transparent or communicative with us lowers.”
“You aren’t lowers. We’re all a part of the same community. One such measure, one that will happen before all others, is Cornelius Martel stepping down as Guardian Head.”
Gasps and whispers erupted all around.
“I will become Head of the Guardian Movement,” Ryker revealed.
“Head, or Martel’s puppet, him intending to use your popularity and ambassador status to exert control over us through you?”
Gabriel scoffed. “My son is nobody’s puppet.”
“Pain in the ass to the Guardian elite is more like it,” Jaxon commented.
Ryker held out his hand to Gabriel and his father conjured a vial of shimmering silver magic.
He levitated a portion of it out of the container, then flicked it toward Ryker.
“This is the magic of Cornelius Martel. The Immortal. The Silver Ghost. The Almighty. The strongest being across all the realms,” Ryker told them all.
And then he flicked his right palm up, his green lightning erupting.
It swirled around the silver energy, then descended on it.
Within moments, it snuffed it out.
Hugh choked out a curse and his reaction was mirrored by the hundreds of onlookers.
Ryker pulled his magic back and closed his hand. “I cannot be subjugated.”
Hugh smiled. “Well, then. That’s certainly something.”
“There will be a Council I’ll answer to.
Representatives throughout the supernatural world will be appointed through election.
There will be no more elitist or autocratic approach.
Decisions and policies will be made to benefit the supernatural world first and foremost, not to keep the already powerful in their revered positions.
The status quo is undergoing a fundamental shift.
For the benefit of you all. A new day is coming, one without fear, oppression, and devaluing.
The supernatural world will become what it’s always had the potential to be—a close-knit community. ”
“Under your rule,” Hugh mused.
Ryker shook his head. “Under a collaborative effort.”
Hugh stared at him for several moments, taking everything in.
And then he stepped forward and offered Ryker his hand.
Ryker took it and they shook firmly.
Applause and cheers erupted.
When they pulled apart, Ryker conjured one of his cards and handed it to Hugh. “Call me and we’ll discuss your seat on the Council. The same goes for anybody else here who wants to be a voice for the people.” He eyed Jaxon. “You too, Jax.”
“Us? After the war we almost started?” Hugh questioned.
“Those actions were driven by fear and anger, of not being heard. I need people like the two of you who see things differently, beyond the boundaries, those who recognize, like I do, that there are no lesser supernatural beings, that we all need to be viewed as one, and to act as one.”
“As a community,” Hugh said.
“Exactly.” Ryker gestured at the hundreds still gathered. “Now, disband your army. You have what you want, what you’ve needed for far too long.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Gabriel stepped forward and rumbled, “Keep in mind that all of you will be monitored for the next while to ensure there is not another insurrection or threat to my son and—”
“There won’t be,” Hugh assured him, before looking to Ryker. “Not now. Not with this development.”
“I’ll hold you to it, Hugh.”
Ryker gave him a chin lift.
Then Hugh turned and walked to his army, speaking with them, and disbanding them.
I sucked in a breath when the memory faded away, and I was back in immediate reality as Ryker pulled his hand and power away and regarded me.
Before I could process it fully, let alone get a word out, Ryker pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, then read very familiar words:
“The Guardian Movement is stretched thin, drowning in policy, borders, and politics. While you debate jurisdiction, innocents die in the cracks. I’m proposing a sanctioned strike division—hybrid-led, independent of territory and bureaucracy.
Give us clearance, resources, and autonomy, and we’ll do the work you can’t afford to touch.
Fast, quiet, and merciless where needed.
A surgical answer to supernatural chaos. ”
I swallowed. “My words.”
“Your mission statement for a proposal you were working on, the overarching higher-level goal of your vigilante activities.” He stared at me intently.
“And here you had me believing that you were in it for the judge, jury, and punisher thrill of it, something led by old wounds and trauma due to Morien’s actions and you losing your family at such a young age. ”
“Well, I’m rarely just singularly focused, and certainly not shortsighted. Those traits actually lead me to the conclusion that it was Kai who gave you that.”
“When you were unconscious in Aetheric Wing, Kai went with Lazriel to retrieve your serum. While searching for every vial possible, Kai came across this research you’d been conducting, this strategy you’d put together.
He brought it to my attention shortly after you had your magic bound.
It was his attempt to try to spare you by explaining a bigger-picture design that you had for the greater good. ”
“But you were never intending to punish me or lock me up. Not beyond sending me to Wraeven Academy.” Not according to what Cassius and Lazriel had reported Ryker telling them in the aftermath of the battle at the CRS facility when I’d spared them from Morien.
“You’re not beyond redemption like those who are locked up in The Void.
And you are needed. For one, with Morien, but also to fix what you destabilized with the Valley of the Dead, something I understand you have a solution to.
We’ll get to that after this proposal, after you work with me to see to Morien—a way in which we can limit collateral damage.
” He pocketed the piece of paper. “But as for the proposal itself, you’ve read the scroll that I had Lenos pass to you through Lazriel? Every detail?”