1 The Dragon Emperor Story Time

"Long ago, a mythical battle between Good and Evil played out in ancient China. The country was torn by civil war with many Kingdoms struggling, for land and power. But one King, had the ruthless ambition to make himself Emperor by the sword. The other rulers hired assassins to kill that king before he could conquer them all. Kingdom to Kingdom, his armies swept away everything in it's path. And anyone who resisted, met a terrible fate. The country was his. He was now Emperor, of all unto heaven. He enslaved his conquered enemies and forced them to build his great wall and when they were dead or useless, he had them buried beneath it. The Emperor's mystics', taught him mastery over the five elements. Fire, water, earth, wood and metal. His power seemed without limit. He was the Master of millions', but like the lowliest peasant he could not stop growing old. He needed to defeat, his last enemy, Death itself. One day news came, of a powerful witch who was rumored to know, the secret to eternal life. He ordered General Ming, his oldest friend and trusted ally, to find her. The witch was named Zi Juan and she was nothing like the General expected. No man was to touch her she was his. On the western border, stood the Monastery of Tzu Fang. There was housed, the greatest library in the ancient world. And Zi Juan was sure, the secret to eternal life was here. This is a key. It was the long lost "Oracle Bone" a collection of all the mystical secrets of the ancient world. The Emperor's answer was here along with other magic, beyond imagining. She casted the spell in "Sanskrit" an ancient language, that the Emperor did not understand. She wanted to be with General Ming but that was not what the Emperor had in store for her. So instead she cursed them. The curse must never be lifted or the Emperor will rise again to enslave all of man-kind. On that dark day, there will be nothing and no one to save us."

I finished the story happily smiling at our daughter of whom was sleeping currently. I had been reading her different stories of 'mythical' descent. I reached out to stroke her blonde hair lovingly. Victoria wasn't really our daughter we had fostered her, per say, but we treated her like our own. I wasn't sure on having kids with Rick but eventually caved in, meeting him halfway. She was going on about 8 years old at this point and had taken an interest in Chinese history. I had been reading her Egyptian stories since she fell into our arms and she absolutely loved them but now she was onto her next obsession which was China. I looked up from her and to the door of her room where I found Rick leaning against the frame. I got up slowly and walked over to him closing the door behind me.

"You sure reading her those stories won't give her nightmares?" He asked me as we were out in the hallway heading to the library where Evy could be found after she had put Alex to bed.

"I'm sure she'll be fine, she loves them." I told him baffled at his words as I made my way to the room, Rick following my every move. Evy had decided to move back for a bit with Ardeth as he was taking a bit of a break from his Medjai duties. Alex was happy to be home to say the least he particularly enjoyed being able to talk to someone around his age. Alex was nine now, making the kids only a year apart, they shared their love for history together.

"Hey Eves, how's Alex doing with the whole lack of adventure?" I asked her sitting down in the chair opposite her as Rick went to go grab a drink from the fridge.

"He's unbearably researching anything else he might be able to find to adventure." She rolled her eyes cracking a smile. He was just like her at her age.

"Of course, just like his mother." I told her laughing. Ardeth entered the room not too long after Rick got back with some beer and wine for us all.

"I have to say, I hate just sitting around like normal people." I told everyone looking off into the distance of my terribly cataloged library. Evy laughed soaking up the room with her cheery laughter.

"Some down time is good for us, don't you think?" Rick asked me. I knew what he was getting at as he side looked me. He was wondering if I was regretting taking in Victoria.

"Of course it is but it's not in my nature to just sit around. Have you seen me ever just take it easy Richard?" I asked him getting annoyed at his underlying questions. He didn't answer just instead scoffed and looked to Ardeth. Suddenly, our house phone started to ring, I hoped to stop it before the kids woke up. I walked to the kitchen where the phone was, quickly answering it.

"Hello?" I asked. It was around 10pm who would be calling at this hour?

"Is this Josephine O'Connell?" They asked me.

"Yes this is her." I answered.

"We need some help from the front." They told me. I was intrigued.

"How much help?" I asked the unknown caller.

"I need you to come train, British Army. Shouldn't take but a couple months." I smiled the adventure beckoning to me.

"Alright. I'll meet you at HQ in the morning." I told them. Happy I took the job, I needed this. Rick wouldn't understand but I needed something other than sitting around the house doing nothing and wagering with Jonathan on how to get his little business started. I strode back into the room where Rick, Evy, and Ardeth were sitting. Rick looked at me slowly, his eyes asking who that was.

"It was nothing. Wrong number." I winced internally knowing lying to them wouldn't help my cause but I needed to get away for a bit.

"Bit of a conversation for a wrong number." Evy questioned. I brushed it off and headed up the stairs.

"I'm going to bed." I told them as I made my way to Rick and I's room. I heard a knock as I started getting ready for bed.

"Yes?" I asked as the person behind the door twisted the knob. I looked in the mirror to see Evy.

"Joe, I know when your hiding things and so does Rick." She stated slowly.

"Yes, I know." I sighed going back to brushing my hair.

"Training?" she asked me knowing exactly what had taken place. I turned around.

"How did you know?" I asked her she ignored my question.

"You seemed happy to get away, listen, I know Rick will understand. How long is it for?" She asked me.

"A couple months but it's here in Britain so I mean I can drive back when needed. I know since we have Victoria now he doesn't want me to leave as often but it's only a couple months I just figure not telling him is the easier way to go." I told my sister as she went to sit with me.

"He'll understand but I support you 100%. I know he won't like it. But he'll get used to it. But I can also help take care of Tori." She told me.

"You've always done whatever you please, he knows he can't stop you once your minds made up." She said comforting me.

And that's just what I did I left early the next morning after Rick and I had fought for a bit. He agreed to it as long as I came back often which I promised I would but who knew. I just didn't want to feel suffocated and I really didn't want to be stuck in the same place spinning my wheels. I have forever been a drifter and those qualities did not support a normal life. But I knew Tori could handle it with Rick at her side. And even if it wasn't Rick she had Evy and Jon. I smiled as I closed my house, locking the door behind me. I made my way to my car as I heard the door open back up and footsteps walking towards me.

"Joe. Wait. You forgot something." I heard Rick's voice behind me. He had Tori's hand in his as she was now awake.

"Hi sweetie. I'll see you soon, okay?" I told her, she nodded. I opened my car door and gave her a huge hug. I stood back up to see Rick looking sad.

"You'll see me soon it's not like I'm sneaking off to go fight a war." I told him as he grabbed my face and kissed me slowly and passionately. The spark between us reignited like the first time he had kissed me. He let me go after a couple seconds.

"You better not. I love you and if you do I will come find you." He told me as he stepped away.

"I love you too, I'll see you guys soon." I told them as I drove off ready to train some enlistee soldiers.