Dragons and Mages: A Limited Edition Anthology

by Pauline Creeden

  "I've seen this, my queen," Isla said, then looked at Daimon and winked.

  He blinked but held his surprise inside.

  "Very well." The queen sent someone to retrieve a male named Vassis, and they waited until he arrived. "Tell me about these serpent tunnels."

  Daimon told her what he could, then a demon of average size and wearing working garb hurried into the room and bowed low.

  "My queen, you summoned me?"

  "I did," she said. "I want you to put together a crew and go with Daimon. He has a plan to grow our crops below ground and you need to tell me if this is a viable option."

  "We've discussed this before but with the war we don't have enough laborers to dig the space we need," Vassis said.

  "Good, then what Daimon found may indeed be of use to us," the queen said.

  Daimon left Vassis and his crew at serpent-land to figure out if his idea would work and went back to helping in the DVMB war.

  "Do you think they'll do it?" Elan asked a few days later.

  "Don't know," Daimon replied, and blasted fire at the spiders trying to snatch up bodies.

  "We've gotten pretty good at thwarting the eight-legged critters, haven't we?" Elan asked, hitting another with his magic.

  "We have," Daimon answered, giving them less fodder for Celtylight had to be a good thing, right?

  "Get away from her," Caro screamed at another and dove off his back.

  "Glad we're not more than a foot in the air," Daimon said as she landed upright and blasted one of the MB's sentinels with magic fire.

  Daimon was covered in green goop. He shifted into his human form, clean once again, though all he wanted to do was go soak in a tub of hot water.

  "The queen's decided to go ahead with your idea."

  Daimon spun around. "Isla, I didn't know you were here."

  "I've been here the whole time, but you've been busy saving everyone," she said.

  "We did," he said. "We didn't lose a single fighter or witch today, or yesterday."

  "And I see you've saved the crops again as well," she smiled, and his heart fluttered with happiness.

  "So, she's really going ahead with my idea?" Daimon asked.

  "Yes, Vassis is in charge, and the serpent tunnels need a bit of work, stuff like vents, and whatever, but it's a go."

  "That's great," Daimon said, thinking how nice it would be when the carnage stopped.

  "It's still going to take some time, they figure two to three years before we have anything we can eat," Isla said. "At first I thought the queen was going to scrap the idea, but I reminded her that it will be for the future." She sighed and glanced around. "In the meantime, we still need to protect the crops we have."

  "Yeah," he said, hating that to save one race, they were hurting another.

  "Well, I need to get home and clean up," she said.

  Daimon nodded, then had an idea. "Can I show you something?"

  "Sure."

  Daimon made sure that Caro and Elan had a ride home, then joined Isla once again.

  He shifted and she climbed up into the saddle. "What did you find this time?"

  "You'll see," he said and took to the air.

  He landed in the outer chamber of the cave.

  "This is where you and the twins were living," Caro said as he shifted back to human form.

  "Yes," he said and taking her hand, led her down to the waterfall.

  "This isn't so bad," Isla said as she surveyed the pool. "I can see why you didn't mind living here."

  "Come see the best part," Daimon said and led her to the hot spring pool.

  Isla smiled, then shook her head. "I don't think this is a good idea."

  Daimon handed her a water suit. "All you do is fight, every day, when do you take time for yourself?"

  "You do the same," she said.

  "Exactly, we both need to get in that water and relax."

  "Turn your back so I can change, Daimon."

  He grinned and went into the other room until she called him.

  "This feels so good," Isla said after they'd soaked for a bit.

  "I'm so glad you thought of this," Daimon said.

  "Me?" Isla laughed and splashed him. "You're putting this on me?"

  "Yes, of course, I'm brilliant that way."

  "That you are," she said, and moved close to him. "I like you Daimon, but we really shouldn't be here."

  "I know," he said, unable to take his eyes off her. She was beautiful, and he knew that no matter what, she was the one for him, the other half of his soul. As dragonkind he had one soul mate, and there was no doubt in his mind that his was right in front of him.

  Isla wrapped her arms around him. "This is a really, really bad idea."

  "Yes," he said as their lips touched.

  His first kiss. It was sweet and electrifying all at the same time, and he never wanted it to end.

  Then Isla pulled away, eyes wide as her fingers covered her lips. "I'm sorry, that shouldn't have happened."

  "It should definitely have happened," Daimon said, more sure than ever of what she was to him.

  Isla got a far-away look in her eyes. "One day, far from here, you will see me, and you'll know. Don't ever stop looking, don't give up on me, promise me. It will be our time. Promise me."

  Daimon wasn't sure what she was talking about. "I ... I promise."

  Isla blinked and moved away to the other side of the small hot pool keeping her back to him.

  "Are you all right?" he asked. "Did you just have a vision?"

  "Yes." She turned around and gave him a little smile. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

  "You mean like past lives and that kind of thing?"

  "Yes, souls being reborn," she said, sounding distracted as she moved around in the small pool.

  He watched her. "I've never really thought of it. As dragonkind we're somewhat immortal, in that we live forever, unless we're killed." He frowned. "Why do you ask about reincarnation?"

  "I think you need to consider that it's a possibility," she said, then stopped a foot from him. "And, I've figured it out. That ... whatever you have inside of you, it’s like the energy in the crystal in the rock fortress."

  Daimon opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  Isla climbed from the pool. "We need to go now, and we can't do this again."

  Chapter 22

  Foreseen

  At first Daimon accepted the excuses that Isla was busy, but as the months passed, it became pretty clear that she was avoiding him. To be fair, Daimon knew that with the new crop plan being put into place, and the DVMB war going on, everyone was constantly going non-stop and then dropping into bed at night exhausted.

  But it was more than that.

  Something had scared Isla in the hot spring pool, and she'd put distance between them.

  He'd tried a couple times to ask her what was wrong.

  "Daimon, I appreciate you being my friend, but I don't want to talk about it."

  "All right," he said, then asked how things were going.

  "Being assigned to watch over the crews getting the serpent tunnels ready isn't very challenging, but someone needs to do it," she said.

  Daimon didn't mind that they no longer fought together, especially since it kept her off the battlefield where she was supposed to die. He only wished he could see her more often.

  But as more years flew by in a blur of fighting, Daimon found their moments together brief and filled with distance. A distance that Isla seemed to want, even if he didn't.

  In the meantime, he and the twins had become an unstoppable team, and they rarely lost anyone anymore. A fact that hadn't gone unnoticed, and actually drew more than a bit of attention from young demon and human males and females.

  But the twins were now twenty-three and had made other friends, mostly with the Ilyium witches. Daimon was glad they'd settled in here so well, though it often left him feeling lonely.

  He continued to try and protect all the humans as
well, but they all seemed settled and had made a life. All but him.

  He was aware that there were a number of females vying for his attention, but he only had eyes for one, and she wasn't among those interested in him.

  He'd even begun to wonder if she'd finally mated Irum. He thought of asking but could never bring himself to do so when they did manage to see each other.

  Daimon landed on the arch on top of the bridge, shifted into his human form, and sat down. Isla no longer came up here either, something he knew because he did. Often.

  As he gazed around, Daimon realized that he wouldn't be able to stay long—the fog was beginning to roll in. But he found he really enjoyed watching the lightning in the distance. It was the time of day when he could finally relax and go over the day's events.

  He was so deep in thought, that he almost fell off the bridge when a form materialized beside him.

  "Thought I might find you here."

  Daimon looked up. "Isla. What are you doing here?"

  "I'm fine and how are you?"

  "I'm sorry, how are you? I haven't seen you in forever," he said, and though he was now twenty-seven, he still felt like he was eighteen around her.

  She handed him something. "Here."

  Daimon studied the large purple fruit. "Is this—?"

  "The very first one to be picked from the new crops," she said, sitting down beside him. "I thought you should have it."

  "Thank you."

  "No, thank you, this is all because of you. It took a bit longer than planned, but it's working now," she said, nudging him.

  "That's good, I'm glad," he said, then took a bite of the sweet fruit. Then he offered it to her. "Would you like to share it with me?"

  With a big smile, she accepted, and they sat and talked, then Isla grew quiet.

  "What is it?" he asked.

  "What do you think the MB's will do when we stop planting above the ground?"

  "I don't know. I've been wondering the same thing," he said.

  A year later to the day, Daimon knew that something was seriously wrong. The Irod had let the above ground crops completely go, so there weren’t many DVMB battles to fight anymore.

  But they’d heard that Isla had seen a battle over one of the Irod outposts.

  Daimon and the twins, along with a small group of soldiers, were dispatched to protect those living there, because with no more crops to feed from, the MB’s had reverted to snatching up anyone they could find.

  Except, Daimon and the twins had been at the settlement all day, and other than a very small group of Rhapaskiru flying overhead, nothing happened. Even the creepy winged spiders were nonexistent.

  "What's going on?" Caro finally asked.

  "Don't know, but I've got a really bad feeling," Daimon answered. "Come on, let’s go. I want to check on the serpent tunnels."

  Before he could launch himself into the air, an Irod on one of their six-legged steeds came racing toward them.

  "No!" Daimon didn't need to hear the male to know what had happened.

  He took off and flew as fast as he could, but deep inside he knew it was too late.

  They landed amid more carnage than he'd seen in a very long while.

  Daimon shifted, then ran. He knew exactly where she was, could feel her calling to his soul. He dropped to his knees, his heart in his throat at the sight of her. Her clothing was ripped and torn, and she was covered in blood. "No! Isla! I'm here, Isla, wake up."

  "Daimon?" she opened her blue eyes. "You ... came."

  "Of course." He looked around and shouted at the demons racing around. "We need help here!"

  Caro laid her hand on his shoulder, but he shook her off and waved one of the demon medic's over.

  The male took one look at Isla's wounds and shook his head. "I'm sorry."

  "Fix her, please! You have to help her," Daimon pleaded, his heart breaking into a million pieces.

  "Daimon?" her voice was weak, but still Isla managed to grab his hand. "It's ... too late. This is it, my time." Her other hand landed on his chest over his heart. "Go to Celtylight. Release her." Then Isla looked at Caro and Elan. "Now you join and take from me."

  "What?" Caro asked with a frown.

  "My essence ... magic." Isla held Caro and Elan's gaze. "Take it—now."

  "No!" Daimon shouted.

  "Daimon, love. I'm sorry, has to be ... this way." Isla's blue eyes bore into him, straight to his shattered soul.

  "No, I can't lose you," he said. "I ... I love you." Why had he never told her that before? Sure, she'd pushed him away and kept a distance between them, but he had two legs to go see her, and a mouth to speak with, he could have found her and told her.

  Isla raised her hand and wiped at his tears. "Remember, the hot spring."

  "What?"

  She pressed her staff into Caro's hand. "You keep."

  "No, I can't," Caro said, tears in her eyes.

  "You can. Please, it can’t be lost. Now, you need to do this, I'm ready."

  Horror in their eyes, Caro and Elan looked at Daimon. "She wants us to siphon her magic."

  “No!”

  "Important. Foreseen this," Isla said, and her eyes fluttered closed.

  "No, don't go, please!" Daimon clutched her to his chest.

  "My love, it's time. I have to go, and you need to let me," she whispered.

  "I can't, I love you."

  "And I you. Now you must remember ..." She fell limp in his arms.

  "Isla!"

  "Daimon, if we're going to do this, it has to be now," Caro said.

  Daimon felt like his soul, his very heart had died in his body as he laid her back down and nodded.

  Then he moved back and watched as the twins linked hands and with heads lowered, they did what Isla wanted.

  He backed away, unable to watch anymore. He began to run, shifted, and leaped into the air. He flapped his wings hard, wanting, needing to get away. In the distance he could see the coming night storm and red fog of death as the Irod called it. But he didn't care. In fact ...

  He turned to fly right into it. His work here was done anyway, and he now had nothing left.

  Remember, my love, remember ... you promised ...

  Chapter 23

  Sizzling Anger

  Caro and Elan found him in the cave. They came in and sat quietly beside him, and he didn't think, didn't question how they'd gotten here. Then their arms were around him, and their tears fell together.

  "I'm so sorry, I know you loved her," Caro said, holding him tight.

  But Daimon didn't want to hear it, didn't want to acknowledge why they were sorry, or sad, or any of it. He didn't even have a body to bury or put on a funeral pyre like they did back home. No, the Elvren when they died merely disintegrated, freeing their souls to go home.

  They stayed with him for the next week, not leaving him alone for a moment, as if afraid of what he'd do.

  Remember ...

  Daimon startled awake and glanced around. The twins were asleep right next to him on their old bed pallets. Without making a sound he got up and with the word lingering in his mind, he went into the outer chamber and gazed out at the day.

  "You're up," Caro said, walking up beside him.

  "You don't need to stay with me, I know you have friends and stuff you need to do," he said as Elan joined them.

  "You are our best friend, and we're here for as long as you need us," Caro said.

  "That's right, we have nothing more important right now," Elan said.

  "What happened?" Daimon asked.

  Both of the twins were quiet for a long moment. Then Caro spoke. "The MB's figured out what was going on and tried to get into the serpent tunnels, but Isla's ward held."

  "That's why they attacked her," he said.

  "I'm afraid so," Caro said.

  Daimon gazed out at the land far below. He'd grown used to it here in this world. "How did you both get up here?"

  Caro froze, and darted a glance at her brother. "Uhm,
well ..."

  "You can teleport," Daimon said.

  Caro nodded, watching him closely.

  "I can't, so Caro had to bring me," Elan said.

  Daimon nodded. "Good, then you can get yourselves home and leave me alone."

  "I told you, we're not going anywhere," Caro said.

  As Daimon turned away, Elan's hand landed on his arm. "Daimon, we—" he stopped speaking.

  Daimon frowned, but his friend was frozen in place with a faraway look in his eyes. A familiar look.

  "Elan?" Caro touched her brother's arm, then looked at Daimon. "What's wrong with him?"

  "I think he's having a vision," Daimon said, remembering Isla's in the hot pool.

  Then Elan snapped out of it, and immediately sat down. "No! Oh no!" He wiped at his face with a trembling hand and looked up at the both of them, horror in his gaze.

  "What is it? What did you see?" Caro asked.

  "It's bad, really bad." He focused on Daimon. "I ... both of our people, they ... went to war because of what happened to us. Our ... great grandmother." He swallowed deeply and tears lit his eyes. "I'm sorry Daimon, she cursed your family. They've ... been fighting a really bloody war ever since we came here."

  "What, no." Daimon raked a hand through his hair. "Aw crap!"

  "There's more," Elan said, voice shaky. "I'm not sure, but the timeline is off, and I mean way, way, off."

  "What do you mean?" Caro asked sharply.

  Elan bit his lower lip, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

  "Elan?" Daimon couldn't take the suspense.

  "We've been here for ten years, right?" Elan asked.

  They nodded.

  He took a deep breath and let it out. "A thousand years have passed on Tartaria."

  Daimon blinked, then began to laugh.

  The twins gaped at him.

  Daimon laughed harder. This was all too much. Then he stopped. "You got teleportation, and he got visions." Sizzling anger enveloped him in a fiery blaze. "And the queen lied to us." Daimon turned around and walked outside. Then he dove off the ledge. He thought of just letting himself keep going, of letting himself hit the ground and smash into a million pierces. Just like his heart and soul had been smashed.