Part 47: The Dragon Scale

                                    

                                          
        
                          
"What the hell? I was about to win!" Casper said as he collected himself from the ground. Jordan stood up too. Mr. Matthews stood in front of me as if he was shielding me from a fight that could break out again at any moment. "No! It's you? Mr. Matthews! What are you doing here? So it's true! You're a demon hunter too!" Casper gasped. He smirked than lunged towards Mr. Matthews with his fist. Mr. Matthews slowed down time than kicked him to the ground once again. Casper recovered from the ground more slowly this time. "What the hell? Oh I get it now. You're more powerful because you've been a demon hunter longer than Alice can even remember. She told me."
                          
	"You again? When are you going to learn to mind your own business?" Jordan asked as she aimed to kick Mr. Matthews in the head. Again, he slowed her down and pushed her away. She stumbled backwards. 
                          
	"Jordan!" I cried as I caught her. 
                          
	"Don't worry. I don't think Mr. Matthews will hurt her, even if she attacks him again." Alice whispered to me. 
                          
	"Why are you even here? Aren't you a little old to be hanging around a group of teenagers?" Casper asked Mr. Matthews. Mr. Matthews frowned. 
                          
	"I am here because you teenagers seem to keep getting yourselves in trouble. I always tell you how to avoid danger, but no one ever listens to me." Mr. Matthews replied.
                          
	"Yeah, well we don't need any chaperones!" Casper said. 
                          
	"What about you, Casper Grey? What are you trying to gain from being here? If you didn't come to slay that demon over there, then did you come to show off in front of your old friends?" Mr. Matthews asked. Casper glared at him. 
                          
	"None of your business." he countered.
                          
	"Whatever." Mr. Matthews said.
                          
	"Well, I don't get why you guys are missing such a grand opportunity to be recognized as heroes here. I guess you guys will never learn the importance of recognition. I guess I'll leave you losers, then. Let's hope we don't get in each other's way and don't bother talking to me at school anymore." Casper said to Jordan and me. 
                          
	"They are probably better off without a friend like you." Mr. Matthews spoke for us. Casper scoffed and left towards the direction of the portal. Then, he was gone. 
                          
	"Mr. Matthews, thank you for saving Jordan!" I said to him gratefully.
                          
	"Nora, how many times are you going to disobey me?" he asked angrily. "You shouldn't get involved with demons, contracts or even demon hunters! Don't you see? You are only putting yourself and your friends in danger! I don't know how many times I have to save your ass! Why can't you give me a break for once! Caring about you is exhausting!" He bellowed. As soon as he said the words caring about you he stopped. He panted. He glared at me. There was silence. My face fell as he turned and walked towards the direction of the portal, leaving Alice, Jordan and me alone. 
                          
	"Ian Matthews... I think I do remember you." Alice whispered. I was so shocked by what Mr. Matthews had said, that I didn't ask Alice what she meant.
                          
	Suddenly, the hail stopped. Overhead the demon flew and something else fell from the sky and hit Jordan on the head. "Ow!" she said. She caught it in her hands. It was a big black scale.
                          
	"That's it! That's the scale of an Ala! They give it to humans who have won their companionship! You must have impressed it in your battle against Casper!" Alice said excitedly.
                          
	"Really? Wow! Cool! So... what do I do with it?" Jordan asked. The Ala flew into the clouds and disappeared.
                          
	"An Ala is a powerful ally. There would be no point in hunting it down and breaking that trust. It's best to leave it alone now. Let's leave it's dreamworld and only summon it as a last resort." Alice said.
                          
	"But, wait. If we leave it alone, won't it still kill people? I doubt it will abandon its old instincts just because it likes me now." Jordan said. Alice nodded.
                          
	"Yes, there is that. You need to make a choice. A demon fighting alongside a demon hunter is a powerful force. Together, you'd be unstoppable. However, you'd still have to turn a blind eye when it's time for your new pet to feed. It's your decision. I personally think it would be worth it." Alice suggested. Jordan looked down at the scale, lost in thought. She looked at me, but there was nothing I could say. She thought some more, then sighed.
                          
	"Alright." she said. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Sacrifices need to be made." she said. And with that, Jordan put the dragon scale in her pocket and led Alice and me to the edge of the dreamworld and through the portal, back to reality.