by Gia Tsiknas
“Took you long enough!” She snapped. Aidrian opened his mouth to apologize but Zafirah cut him off. “I don’t need your excuses, I didn’t call you here to grovel.”
Aidrian blinked, composing his face, so it held no emotion. Normally she would have read his thought, knowing that he was trying to make a getaway.
She’s slipping. He realized.
“Failures, all of them. Despicable.”
“Who?” Aidrian asked with genuine curiosity. He flinched.
Zafirah whirled on him. Aalas was shifting at her master’s feet, unsure of Zafirah’s rage.
“Every one of them. Every one of my spies has lost sight of that wench, Machi. My experiments are all failures, they can’t keep sight of one brat. My newest experiment is the biggest failure of them all. Turned straight to mush! The nerve!”
Delicately, as if he approached a rabid dog, Aidrian said. “Well, your spies were never as thorough as I, and all scientists have failing experiments now and again.”
Zafirah bared her teeth at Aidrian. “How dare you suggest I am an incompetent sorceress.”
Aidrian froze, was Zafirah’s not sending literal spies to watch Machi? Was she using her own magic? Zafirah continued ranting, oblivious of Aidrian’s inward struggle.
“You need to catch her, now. I need her if I want to make any headway! I need her here. And I need to know what power is blocking me. Go!”
Zafirah stalked away, and Aidrian turned tail and ran from the room, too afraid she’d call him back and stop him.
He smiled.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
DRAGONS
Machi’s wings pumped as she sped north. She wasn’t sure what would happen once she got there, but she pressed on anyway. With a soft thud she landed on a deserted road, catching her breath, and continued her journey walking on foot. She smoothed out her windswept clothes and prepared a story. She had spied a village ahead and wanted more information about Zafirah. But for what purpose?
Motive. The word worked itself to the forefront of her mind.
Machi wasn’t sure what her motive was through this twisted adventure. The world around her was sick and cruel, a laughable echo of what could have been. She entered the town, and it was desolate. A waste of time.
She continued walking. Each step ringing through the streets seemed to jeer at her. It clawed at her doubts, her sanity and her motive.
Was this the world’s destiny? To rot away like flesh torn and ravaged by maggots? Machi wondered. Why?
But even she couldn’t give an answer to such a question. She didn’t even know what the word, why, was referring toward. Could it be ‘Why the destruction?’ or ‘Why the pain?’ or ‘Why are we here?’ or ‘Why are such abominations let be?’
Gravel crunched under hard leather, startling Machi from her reverie. She had no answer, she never expected one. Machi, like all creatures, was a child of the earth and its sins. But Raboni claimed her as his. She was now a daughter of the heavens, a choice given by Raboni alone.
A choice.
But what was that choice? Was it good versus evil? Light and Dark? Pleasure and Pain?
No.
It was none of that. Her choice: either stand by and watch her world crumble; or fight. Fight like Brizna, against an ever growing, unceasing foe.
A simple choice to survive. But what was the reason? Why did she fight? What was her motive? She still had no answer.
Her hate no longer consumed her. Her pain no longer overwhelmed her. She now had hope. Hope in freeing Brizna. Hope in a friendship she had once fought and grieved. She still wasn’t sure about herself. Her past still bound her. But would that change over time?
Destruction lay around her as Machi walked on. The land held no life. No color decorated the landscape.
Gray streets connected to gray paths which ended in front of shattered gray doors, hinges torn off like buttons on a shirt. Gray dust-choked lawns filled with gray debris of houses littering everything. Broken glass from windows littered the ground. Gray belongings of long forgotten townsfolk lay, abandoned, on top of darker, rusty patches of earth. Machi held her breath.
No bodies were anywhere. Nothing, from children to livestock, from fresh corpses to bleached skeletons, lay in sight.
Lua had mentioned her fate. Machi didn’t even know how to comprehend a grand, foreign concept such as fate. She just survived.
Choose well.
Maybe, Machi hesitated. I just need to move, and my fate will meet me as I walk.
Machi closed her eyes. Doubts assaulted her.
What is the point? Where is the sense? How do I meet my fate?
She opened her eyes and looked to the sky. It was a crystalline blue, a stark contrast from the gray of the town.
I choose, Machi said. To move.
Machi continued her walk; her slow and weary trod. Her destination, unsure, but she needed to get there, however long it would take.
With her eyes straight forward she left the desolate town behind. All Machi’s life she hid from her past, shielded her eyes from pain, ignored pleas for help. She had remained stationary. But these past months had opened her world. They had torn her hands from her ears, forced her eyes to open. She may not have healed. That, time would only tell.
But she could move.
Machi reached the edge of the town.
The scenery was not much different from the town itself. A gray range of mountains reaching to the skies, glorious and surrounded by a forest of dead trees. The fertility of Aguden’s plains ended at the edge of the forest. The town she had just passed was the first settlement of Drakia. A past her mother wished to forget.
Her goal, her friend, lay somewhere in those mountains, fighting for survival. A fight with no hope of winning. Machi wanted to be worthy to call him a friend. To show him she would fight too.
She squared her shoulders and stepped towards the forest of dead trees. They loomed in front of her, towered by the mountains.
As Machi walked, she listened for any signs of the enemy. Her pack jangled. After feeling the claustrophobic frustration of the city, Machi relished the silent isolation.
But are you really alone?
Machi cringed, I forgot about You.
Raboni’s chuckle rang through her. You do that a lot.
Don’t tell me this isn’t the right decision, You hear? This is my journey.
Do not worry, child. I support your endeavor.
Machi fell silent and waited for an explanation. None came. You never speak normal, do You?
It depends on what you consider ‘normal’.
Another lapse of silence settled as Machi slunk through the forest.
Why did you let this all happen?
Ah, that is the golden question. And the answer is so simple. Only humans need to complicate it beyond what it is. Is it so hard to understand that I would want to have My subjects follow me of their own volition?
Yes.
As the father of the world it gives Me great joy to see My children prosper. And they do this by listening to My advice. Every time one of My children chooses Me it fills Me with joy. The choice is theirs and they choose to love Me.
Machi frowned. But wouldn’t it hurt more when the children don’t love You?
My arms are always open for them to return.
Fog swallowed the trees as Machi digested what Raboni told her. Turning over the pieces so she could form another question. What am I supposed to do?
Another deep question, I see.
Just answer.
Raboni chuckled. Just be yourself.
Well yes, but what am I doing?
Choosing.
Choosing? Choosing what? I just made my choice.
Life doesn’t end with one choice. That is the power of a life with free will. You are free to choose again, and again.
Stupid, riddle-spouting deity.
Raboni boomed with laughter.
Machi glanced around in frustration. Was she lost? She could
n’t see anything in this blasted fog.
Have no fear, child, trust in Me. I will never lead you astray.
You could have just said You didn’t want to tell me.
Raboni laughed. Anything else, young one?
Machi sank into herself and her feet carried her onward. Where did the dragons go?
Raboni chuckled. Look up.
But what does-
Machi stopped mid-sentence, gaping at the massive doorway that stood before her. The gate was so large it should have been visible from miles away, and yet Machi had no recollection of it, until this moment.
I told you I wouldn’t lead you astray.
Machi was too shocked for snide comebacks. Two ornate dragons, their lizard bodies arched, their tails whipped about them, and their long serpentine necks craned heaven-bound, stood guarding the doorway. The great beasts looked like at any second they would leap forward into the air for the glory of flight. Tiny figurines decorated the doorway adding interest and majesty to the great stone structure.
What now? Machi asked closing her mouth.
Knock and you shall be answered.
Machi was skeptical but shrugged and walked to the foot of the gargantuan doors. She straightened her spine and knocked. Echoes sounded in time with her fist. The door was hollow.
Silence engulfed her. No wildlife. She didn’t even remember hearing birds since she had entered the forest. She grew impatient and raised her fist, ready to knock again when there was a great clank. With a squeal the doors started opening. Stone ground on stone, tearing through Machi’s skull. With a clank the noise stopped, and she looked up to see the twin doors wide open.
A voice grumbled from its shadowy depths.
“Who are you?”
Machi’s mouth went dry.
Speak truth, Raboni whispered.
Machi squared her shoulders and glared up at the unknown.
“I don’t make a habit of telling strange shadows my name.”
A low, menacing growl came from the cave. Well, it would have been menacing if a soft giggle hadn’t sounded next to it.
“Shut up! She’ll hear you, Tickle.” A young boy hissed.
“You shut up, Scholar, She’ll hear you too.” Tickle said. He giggled again.
Another low growl filled the air, but it seemed to have an edge of impatience to it.
Machi smirked. “I hear you, kids, and I suggest you come out too, before I lose my patience.”
“Kids!” A third boy, a young teenager, scoffed. “We’re older than her by at least a decade. I’m positive we are… maybe?”
“Shush!” Scholar scolded. “She doesn’t know that, Mischief.”
“She does now!” Tickle let out a hysterical peal of laughter.
“I’m not Mischief anymore.” The teenager hissed. “It’s Anget, stop calling me my baby name.”
Machi smirked as she saw the connection and broke out in laughter. The four creatures grumbled at her lack of gravitas. “Tickle, Anget, Scholar, get your scaly hides out here so I can have a good look at you.”
“She knows our names! Is she a mind reader?” Scholar’s horrified voice echoed out of the cave.
“Of course not, idiot, you let them slip.” Anget sniffed.
Tickle laughed.
A rustle. Machi yelped as a stream of flame roared in her direction. She covered her face with her arms, and her wings followed suit, covering her front. With a desperate push of will, the fire streamed away from her.
“Stop, stop, grandpa!” Anget gasped. “She’s one of us. Stop, she’s got wings!”
The other two joined in their pleas for their grandfather to stop. The stream of fire halted. Machi shook, glad that she could keep control of her magic in the face of such a surprise.
“Now what are you talking about? She smells human. If you want to come on guard duty with me anymore, you must stay out of my way.” A grumpy old voice snapped at the youngsters.
Tickle and Scholar fell silent, halting their tirades.
“She has wings, I swear!” Anget kept talking.
By this time, Machi had pulled her wings back under her cloak.
“See, she has no wings.” Grandpa said.
“But she does. I saw them. Ask her, grandpa.” Anget whined.
“Fine, fine!”
The large dragon turned towards Machi.
“Do you, human, have wings?” He sounded skeptical.
“Yes, I do!” Machi smirked.
“How can—You can’t—Prove it!”
Machi whipped off her cloak and spread her wings wide.
Anget gasped. Tickle and Scholar murmured as Grandpa snorted.
“I don’t see any wings.” He sounded grumpy.
Machi’s smile fell. I could use a little help here!
“But they’re right there!” Anget yelled. “You’re just blind from old age!”
Machi stifled a nervous giggle.
“My sight is fine, thank you very much! And I’m sure she has no wings.”
“Um, Anget?” Tickle prodded him. “I don’t see them either.”
“Me either.” Scholar chimed. “You just got muddled up from grandpa’s fumes.”
Tickle found that hilarious.
“I’m telling you, I did not breathe in sulfur, and she has wings!” Anget stood his ground, growling.
“Enough of that.” Grandpa said. “Go back to your mother. Now.”
Machi heard the odd grumbling that meant imminent flames. A red flash streaked out of the cave. Machi fashioned a shield, but it wasn’t fire. A handsome red dragon stood in front of her, his wings flared out. He was seeping sulfurous smoke from his mouth.
“No!”
“Come over here this instant, Anget.” Grandpa snarled. Tickle and Scholar echoed him.
“No!” Anget crouched down, wrapping a protective tail around Machi.
She appraised the young dragon. She felt safe next to him. Anget’s shoulder was chest high to Machi. His amazing ruby wings doubled the size of his lean muscular body. Head to tail he was about 12 paces. Ivory spikes protruded along his spine tapering down to a lethal-looking bludgeon on the tip of his tail. An emerald dragon stepped from the shadow of the cave. He was several times bigger than Anget.
“Come here, now.” Grandpa’s voice was a low hiss.
Anget gulped. Machi placed her hand on his shoulder. Instead of pulling away, Anget seemed to draw strength from the touch. He squared his shoulders.
“I demand a counsel.”
Tickle and Scholar gasped.
“You’re young. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Grandpa shifted.
“I know what I’m talking about.” Anget grinned a toothy dragon smile. “I’m a full-fledged adult, and I know my rights. I want a council.”
Grandpa and Anget stood staring each other down for a long minute. Grandpa growled. “As you wish.”
“You have wings, right? I’m not high, am I?” Anget’s bravado deflated.
Machi smiled and whisked Anget’s shoulder with the tip of her wing.
“I knew it.” Anget sighed with relief.
Machi was following Anget into the cave when Raboni’s words spoke to her.
They will be seen by the one who needs to see them.
As cryptic as ever. Machi groaned.
You know, it would have been easier if you had answered them politely.
Machi grinned. I thought you said I had to be myself.
Raboni chuckled.
Why is Anget the only one that can see my wings?
You will see in time.
Why can’t you tell me straight out?
If I gave you all the answers, you’d never learn.
Machi grumbled and caught Anget staring at her.
What? She snapped, still talking with her mind.
You seem familiar.
How?
I don’t know. Anget’s face contorted in concentration. You just do.
They stepped into the dark, and the
telltale scrape of the door shutting behind her made her jump. She took a deep breath and let her eyes adjust. Her vision changed quickly to the minimal light, too quick to be normal.
Guess my eyes changed too.
What do you mean? Anget was still in contact with her.
Nothing.
Anget grinned. They say my ancestors were once humans doing Raboni’s work. You can tell me—it can’t be weirder than a human turning into a dragon.
Machi chuckled and Grandpa gave her a look. Tickle and Scholar slunk behind Anget, unsure what to do. Tickle let out a nervous giggle that was silenced by Grandpa’s glare. Machi stopped chuckling and smirked, looking straight at the old dragon in the pitch blackness.
He shivered and turned left. “Keep moving.”
Anget looked confused.
Machi smiled. You could say we have similar traits.
With a last confused look between Grandpa and Machi, he said. Besides the wings?
Yeah, besides the wings. And that’s when it hit her. Her “ascension” into her clan. The link her ancestors had to the dragons. Was it more than a physical link? Machi looked at Anget again, shielding her confused thoughts. But why would Anget know her and not the others? Machi pushed her thoughts aside. Later.
Machi allowed a bored look to cover her face as they continued down the same dark, creepy tunnel. She started practicing her magic. She pulled the moisture from the walls and played with it, stretching it, and solidifying it, transforming it into several shapes, each more intricate than the last. First came a triangle, then a long needle. Finally she fashioned a miniature sword. For a while Machi amused herself creating different creatures and objects she remembered.
“Wow, can you show me how to do that?” Anget’s voice was filled with wonder.
Machi startled, she wasn’t planning on Anget reacting to her before the emerald dragon. She kept the shape of her water though, a feat she took pride in.
Grandpa whirled around and shot a burst of flame at Machi. She created an ice shield that melted at the heat’s touch.
“So, you can do magic. I will not tolerate it. Stop now, or I will bite you in half.” He turned and kept walking.