This was Icarus, Jack's star pupil. I don't know what I expected, but somehow this isn't what I imagined. He seemed normal. Not that, that was wrong or anything. But I expected him to exude some sort of presence. But it just felt like staring at some kid on the street.

"Alright, bird poop. Mind explaining what's going on now?" Zack blurted out.

Icarus turned toward Zack, but he didn't look him in the eye. He just stared down to the floor, moving his hand up and fiddling with one of his dreads.

He did kind of remind me of me...

"Yeah, I recall you saying you didn't really believe in your own theory that much. So what brought you here exactly?" I spoke up.

"Oh, well that was a lie." He said nonchalantly.

"I'm sorry what?" Zack asked.

"At the time of me calling you, I was already close to your home."

"So why didn't you say that then? Wouldn't it have been better to have us well prepared with a serious warning!?" I asked.

"Theoretically speaking, yes. However I wanted to test you. I wanted to see how you two would work in a situation like this, what choices you'd make with the same exact information I had. Granted you don't know Jormungand as well as I do. But that hardly mattered in the overall decision making."

"What if someone would've gotten hurt!? We could've stopped the dance from happening and avoided the risk entirely if I would've known before tonight."

"And what? Let Jormungand know that you were onto him? Think about it. The dragon Twin knew exactly what school you go to . Plus it's reasonable to assume he knew where Leo was going. And let me ask you, how do you think he knew that?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Then, for the first time. He looked up at me, and stared into my eyes. It sent a chill over me, his deep green eyes seemed like they could see everything. Every secret, every lie, every mess up.

"It means someone's leaking information about you. And if you would've pulled out earlier and stopped the dance, there's a good chance he would've known and acted on that. Potentially raising the risk of people dying, like your sister."

His voice was different, it was firm. Not a shed of doubt in it. Even if it was all hypothetical, he sounded so sure of it. Like it was a common fact.

"I-I never thought about that.."

I mumbled as I looked away.

"Wouldn't the risk been the same since you called Stryder?" Leo asked.

"Yes, and no. Like I said before, I had already gotten Lux by that time. Plus I had secured a good visual of everything I needed. If Stryder chose to pull out when I gave him the option. It would have been clear. The big idea here is I am an unknown variable. He has no idea I'm here. We caught him in the middle of his plan. We took all his bargaining chips, and stopped his attack. All because he didn't suspect we knew anything. And if you somehow told the traitor among you what I knew it wouldn't have mattered. I already had the bargaining chips, and a functional escape plan."

"Wait, wait hold up, hold up! I know you said leaked info, but Traitor!?" Zack blurted out.

Rushon then looked back to the floor and fiddled with his dreads again.

"Well technically it's not confirmed. The reality is it could be a third party working for Jormungand. I have no evidence either way. However I'd imagine the simple option would be to pay or threaten someone for information. But a spy with a more covert gift among his ranks Is also plausible."

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"Well come on then batman! What's the percent on this!"

"This isn't Death Note ya know.." Rushon huffed and looked up to the ceiling. "But if I had to say. I'd say the traitor option is about sixty percent. The likely candidates would be the girls."

My stomach dropped, and Valentinas smile crept into my mind. She was with me all night, she knew everything that was going on. No, no, no! Please no! There's no way she would do it.

"Valentina wouldn't…" I mumbled.

"Stryder." Lux called out, but I couldn't even look at her.

"Normally I'd be more considerate of your feelings. But there is no time for this sentimental stuff. Valentina, and Alexis are both on the chopping block. We need to be realistic and keep this possibility in mind."

As those words left his mouth. A fire ignited inside of me. What am I doing? Doubting Val like that. After all she's done for me, is my faith in her that shallow?

I looked up at Rushon, and he met my eyes. Carrying that same intensity from before. But I didn't yield this time.

"Don't say anything like that about Valentina again." I said firmly.

His eyes widened for a moment, then he looked back to the floor.

"Let's just move on to a more suited topic. Leo, your father usually has guards and underlings correct? How often is it that he sends Elo out?"

"Elo?" Zack said." Whose Eeyore?"

"My brother, that's his name." Leo replied.

"The hell kind of name is that!? That's just Leo swapped around!"

"He changed his name a little bit after our mom died. To make a point that he was the lesser twin." Leo focused back on Rushon. "But to answer your question, only in dire situations. Elo was his best soldier."

"That's what I thought, so the fact that he was here with no back up says a lot. To give you all some context. He had a war with Gildas forces a while back. Arthur took advantage of this and chose to attack both forces. Imprisoning most of his army, and leaving him wounded."

"Wait, Gilda hurt the guy who can only be hurt by dragons?" Zack squeaked.

"Irrelevant, and incorrect question."

Zack grumbled.

"The point I'm making is that his army must be really low if he's using Elo to attack. Which means he's more vulnerable. Theoretically we can stop him by locating him and restraining him."

I hate to admit it, but this adds to his traitor theory too...

"He's not the type to get his own hands dirty. Gilda was a rare exception to the rule." Leo added. "It might be hard to find him."

"Well he kinda messed up attacking Leo at the party then." Zack said as he flopped down on the old leather couch. Dust flew up into the air and rained down on him. "Ah spider!"

Zack shrieked and shot up, he lit his hand ablaze. The green fire illuminated the horror show of a bachelor pad as he beat the couch cushion.

Rushon held out his hand, an intense gust followed and coiled around Zack's hand. Snuffing the fire out.

"This place is indeed flammable ya know." Rushon sighed.

"Well, I found him first actually. He probably planned to assassinate or kidnap me when I inevitably ran from the party." Leo mumbled. "Which shows how much we lucked out."

We lucked out. It was like all the pieces to the puzzle just fell into place. Because of my stupid decision, all we did was luck out. If Leo hadn't noticed Elo, he'd probably be dead. All because I made some stupid decision, because I wanted to be with Valentina! What's wrong with me!

"Is that enough evidence for you?" Rushon asked softly.

Did he turn this whole conversation just to convince me!? I took a few steps back and leaned against the wall. I'm so selfish, I don't deserve to be here. I know Rushons right, but it pisses me off that he played me like this. But can I blame him? Does that mean he's trying to convince me Valentina is a traitor!? Is that what this leads too? That would mean she'd be the cause for almost killing Leo...

"Stryder are you okay?" Lux called out to me.

She took a few steps over to me. My thoughts felt like sticks poking at my head.

"Dammit! Just leave me alone!" I yelled as I punched the wall behind me.

My fist slammed through the wood like it was glass. My whole body trembled as I tried to breathe.

"Stryder, I know what you're thinking."

I heard Rushon speak up.

"Your right, I'm an idiot! I don't blame you for testing me, or taking over. I'm stupid." I continued to look away from him and balled my fist.

Then a gentle hand rested on my shoulder. Making my whole body tremble.

"Stryder, Your feelings aren't invalid, and I don't blame you for your decision. Don't forget what Jack taught you. You're a human, not a machine. If you made the right decisions all the time, and only helped people. You'd never be able to really enjoy the big blue sky, and the people who follow in those steps won't be able to either. They'll all just be staring at the ground their whole lives."

I hesitated, but I looked back up to him. Meeting his shining jade eyes.

"But Leo could've been killed. How can you say something like that!"

"Leo's changing because of that heart of yours. Are you going to stand here and abandon your heart because of one mistake? I know you had him in mind too when you chose to stay."

"But.."

"Do you know why Jack isn't training me anymore?"

"No?"

"It's because they think you're more worthy it than I am. You're going to be the next big hero. You and all your flaws. Do you really think someone like Jack would lie to you about your heart?"

I just looked away from him again.

"I'm nothing special. You thought of everything! You should be the one who gets this."

"But I'm not, you are. Don't use this moment as a time for closing up. Learn from it, be better. I did that so you can learn to have a wider scope."

He stepped back from me and turned to everyone else.

"To continue, there's one last glaring issue to discuss here."

He went into his pocket and took out his phone. He displayed his green android and clicked the power button.

"Your kidding me right? You not having charge Is a 'glaring issue'?" Zack huffed.

"Pull out your phones." Rushon demanded.

"Hey mines dead.." Lux called out.

"What? So is mine!" Zack cried.

That's when I remembered the lights, all the lights in the city below were gone. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone. And sure enough, it wasn't turning on.

"Did he blast an E.M.P?"

"It would explain why the police never arrived, and why the fire alarm suddenly stopped." Rushon added.

Huh, I never even noticed that while I was fighting Elo.

"Is his gift with electronics!?" Zack asked.

"I was never able to find an answer to that. Even with the fight with Gilda, his power is unknown officially. I have theories though." He turned and looked at Leo's feet. "Leo, do you happen to know what powers your father has?"

"Yeah, he's a dragon just like me." He grumbled.

And for once, I saw Rushon smirk.

"I see, it's like a game of pokémon then."