I’m not sure how I can tell—I’ve never been able to feel her before, but now I can.Maybe I’m growing in skill, or maybe she was trying to let me know she’s here.As I fly closer, I see her.There’s an enormous orange, cartoon-cutout dog decoration made of molded plastic, and there’s a green, plastic-coated wire picnic table next to it.She’s zip-tied to the picnic table.
I can’t help thinking of my mom before all this started.She was—well, she was the ideal mother.She never cared if I ate too much candy, not that we ever had a lot.She never cared whether I wore trashy outfits—she was more likely to borrow them.And she always patted my head and kissed my forehead.She and my dad fought a lot, but they also showed up for everything I did, my entire life.
She taught me to stand up for myself.
We made signs and protested the injustices of the world together.
In fact, she was probably the person I respected most in the world.She never compromised on what she thought, what she believed.
Which is why it hurt when she told me I was a monster.
When I realized my only real value was in protecting my siblings.
Watching her flinch every time I drew near...It didn’t hurt as much as losing Azar, but it was close.I’ll never forget the look on her face when she told me how I murdered that woman when I was kidnapped.It’s seared into my soul.
But she’s still my mom.
And she did help me escape.I just can’t reconcile in my mind which one is her.The one who helped and raised and watched over me?The one who worked with Gideon to betray me?The one who helped me escape?Who is she, really?Which one?
Saving me landed her an execution.She may be a lure for me, but I don’t doubt they mean to kill her.Gideon might want to spare her, but he doesn’t have real power, not truly.The old, white-haired men running the US military aren’t going to tolerate a young, up-and-coming MMA fighter among their ranks any longer than they’re forced.
His knowledge of the dragons would only have gotten him so far.
If he’s even in charge of his own post at this point, I’ll be surprised.I wonder whether he regrets it.More even than my mother, losing him hurt.I know that sounds strange—my ownmother—and Gideon’s betrayal stung more.
But Mom was always all about causes.
I think I always sensed that I scared her on some level.
But not Gideon.He loved me.He helped me.He always would.
Until he didn’t.
No one else is around as I fly toward her.When I come into her view, her eyes widen in alarm.“It’s true.”She swallows.
I land on the edge of the picnic table, and I’m grateful it’s bolted down.My weight doesn’t cause it to tilt at all.I look her over carefully.Other than having her wrists and ankles restrained, zip ties running under the holes in the table and back around, she looks completely fine.
“You’re even wearing normal clothes.”She always looked good in her blousy, embroidered shirts and yoga pants.“And they’re feeding you, clearly.”
“Liz, I told you not to come.”She glances to the side, but no one’s there.Just the big orange dog.
I unsheathe a sword and slice the zip ties on her ankles.
Between one second and the next, I freeze, waiting for something bad to happen.
Liz?It’s Hyperion.Where did you go?We were just clearing the commissary, and you disappeared.Azar’s going to kill me.
I found my mom.Dog park.Releasing her now.
“Checking in?”
“Could you hear me?”I step forward, leaning down to slice her wrist ties.
“I know the look,” she says.“You rebonded him?”
“Actually,” I say, “that wasn’t Azar.”
“Who was it?”
