Redemption (The Alliance Series Book 1) (30 page)

              The dragon,s head fell to the side as his body stayed upright for a minute. Unwilling to accept the fate I had leveled on it.

              The body succumbed to gravity and fell over. Blood bubbled out of its cauterized neck as its lungs exhaled the last breath they would ever take.

              I looked down and saw I was standing over Cynthia who was unable to get up. She could have muscled her way past me but she might have distracted me allowing the dragon to kill us both.

              I noticed my bracelet no longer had any stones that retained their color. They were all a dark brown.

              Nathan walked up looking at my handiwork.

              "I guess you are going to get those boots after all, and a belt, maybe some chaps, some loafers...”

              We all laughed, relieved we were still alive. Cynthia squeezed my hand.

              "Thank you again for saving my life. It seems I owe you." She said sincerely.

              I smiled. What can I say?

              I have a way with people.

Chapter 28

The scene that awaited us was devastating. The cabin was gone. At least the main building was. The fire had consumed it and was still trying to spread to the smaller wings.

              We knew Peotr would be at the Compound with the survivors. We walked around the burning remains and with heavy hearts made our way to the survivors.

              As I walked, I kept thinking about what Cynthia had said about finding a new path. I considered my options.

              I couldn't very well go back to the P.S.F. They wouldn't believe me. It would be my story against the Cols. and I didn't trust who he had corrupted with his influence. I was not welcome back there. They probably would be interested in my capture.

              I couldn't just go home. I was now an outcast. My previous life was gone. I kept mulling this over as the neighborhood came into view.

              The destruction there was also severe. Ninety percent of the houses had been destroyed. The battle between Cynthia and the dragon had been extensive and unfortunately had encompassed the Alliance’s homes. Some were slags of smoking wood and rock as they were reduced to cinders by the dragon’s acid.

              Others were crushed as the two beasts had fought. Taking homes with them.

              We saw a group of people standing in the center of the neighborhood. The children were there and had gathered around the surviving parents.

              I took a quick head count and estimated that we had lost about fifteen of the fifty or so soldiers we started with. Fifteen parents and friends had died defending their families, defending their attempts at bringing freedom to the world, fighting against the most vile and evil intentioned bastards on the planet.

              Gale stood among the survivors, helping people gather items that they could salvage from the wrecked houses.

              I saw a small girl of about ten, break off from her mom. The woman was crying, obviously grieving over the loss of her husband. She ran towards her lost home. He face shown the tears that streaked down her cheeks. Two clean strips that cut through the grime and soot that stained her face.

              She stood amidst the destruction and bent over, picking up a picture, she looked at me as she put it in her pocket.

              There in her eyes I saw hope. Yes, I saw pain, grief and hurt. But also, a steel resolve. She knew there was evil in the world. Too young to know, but she did. She knew that bad things could happen to those that went against that evil.

              Deep in her eyes, beneath the pain I saw the spark of determination, understanding that all that didn't matter. Someone had to stand up to the darkness. Someone had to shine the light and banish the shadow.

              This girl understood that.

              How could I do anything less?

              I looked up at Peotr, Cynthia, Nathan and the rest of the survivors.

              The Alliance.

My Alliance.

My tribe.

My people.

              Cynthia nodded, knowing I had come to a decision, approving.

              "Where do we go from here?" I asked.

              Peotr understood the "we" I had used. Nathan nodded in agreement.

              "I have a place we can go. It will be hard, we will have to rebuild our homes, start over." He said,

              "Will I have to use a shovel?" I asked.

              "Yes" Said Cynthia, with a sparkle in her eyes.

              "Good." I said, determined to make a difference.