by Katie Cherry
Racing across its surface, the monkey dives into the bubble as it returns the way it came, diving onto the girl’s leg and clinging to it with all his might. She was free from the ice! Looking up, he sees the faces of two humans- not His Boy. Shaking, the monkey quickly slips into the girl’s boot, holding onto the side and peering out. The humans hadn’t noticed him.
Breathing out a small sigh of relief, the monkey settles in for the journey, a warm feeling starting in his belly. I will find Boy again.
<<
Stretching, Nathan feels his long tail snap out behind him, startling him until he remembers. Oh, that’s right. I’m a water dragon. Gosh, that still feels insanely weird to say, even though I spent the entire night underwater. Craning his neck back, he looks to find the sun beyond the water with his weirdly powerful eyes. Oh, shoot, it’s already mid-day! I need to get back to Crystal. Trying to ignore the guilt clawing at his chest, he begins the journey back to the surface. Crystal said herself she needed space.
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you should have completely abandoned her, he argues back with himself. You left her a world behind, choosing to relax beneath the waves rather than waiting, by her side, for her to be ready to talk. You blew her off in favor of your new dragon side. She’s going to be so pissed when you get back.
Then I’ll make it up to her, he resolves. Uh… I’m not sure how yet, but I will. I’ll get her something nice, treat her to a spa day or something. Seeing the surface of the water before him, he pulls up short. What on earth?… Reaching forward, he taps the clear barrier with a claw. It’s frozen solid. Panicking, he scratches at it, but it’s stronger than normal ice. Ice rain… it must have stormed while I was sleeping. I knew I should have gone back this morning! Dread then settles in his stomach. Oh, no. Crystal! What if she was caught in the storm? Didn’t see it coming because she was so upset about me? He feels like throwing up and pounds the thick slab of ice harder, but it doesn’t crack, or even bend.
Thanks to my selfishness, I may have signed my best friend’s death warrant.
<<
“Adam, m-may I have a word with you? It’s… concerning your daughter. I’ve come to ask you for her hand… even though I only met you a few weeks ago and I’ve already proposed to her… Gah, that’s definitely not it,” Zeke mumbles to himself, burying his face in his hands as his pacing slows. “I swear, this just gets worse with every try,” he sighs, finally lifting his head from his fingers and turning his gaze to Kate.
She smiles back at him comfortingly. “At least that time you didn’t mention how you’ve already gotten me pregnant.”
“Oh, Dragonfire, he’s gonna kill me,” he groans, collapsing onto the seat behind him.
Kate reaches out and gently takes one of his hands, holding it in her own soft hands. “Zeke. You’ll be fine. Just ease into it, and just say, ‘I want to ask your daughter to marry me.’ That’s all it needs to be.”
“Right, right… okay… ‘I want to ask your daughter to marry me.’”
“There you go. Now come on, you only have so much time before he’s back at the Square, training the King’s soldiers.”
He groans again, but allows her to pull him to his feet. “Okay. Okay.” He blows out a nervous breath as he walks to the door. Suddenly spinning back around, he gulps, “You’ll still marry me whatever he says, right?”
“Of course,” she chuckles. “But you’ll be fine. Go,” she finishes, gently pushing him out the door.
Zeke walks toward the Square, where the King’s soldiers are all having lunch. Breathing heavy, it’s all he can do to keep himself from sprinting there to get it over with. Yet, when he reaches Adam’s side, it’s far too soon.
“Zeke! What a surprise,” Adam greets, standing from his spot on the ground, his half-finished sandwich in one hand. “What can I do for you?”
“I… uh… wanted to speak with you.”
“Alright, let’s go for a little walk,” he invites, gesturing for Zeke to lead the way. Gulping, he nods and slowly does so, though he has no idea where to direct their feet. Luckily, Adam takes over, setting a leisurely pace through the Village. “So, what can I do for you, Zeke?” he asks, taking another bite of his sandwich.
“Uh… how’s it going? Training the soldiers, I mean.”
“They’re progressing. As much as I dislike the merfolk, adding them to the ranks has certainly livened everyone up- even if I do have to break up fights before blood is shed. The men are fighting much harder now, hoping to keep up with the merfolk’s intense ferocity. …But that’s not what you really want to know,” he continues, turning to Zeke with a glint in his eye.
Zeke freezes. “What…”
“You want to talk about Kate, right?”
“I… uh…”
Adam bursts into laughter. “Goodness, son, there’s no need to be so scared of me! Go on, say what you need to say.”
“I was… hoping…” Zeke stops, clearing his throat and stands up straighter, throwing his shoulders back in a show of confidence. “May I marry your daughter?”
“Of course,” Adam laughs, landing a heavy slap on Zeke’s back. “I don’t really have much of a claim on her anymore anyway, you know.”
“I still felt it… safer to ask,” Zeke replies bashfully, giving him a relieved smile.
Adam returns the smile, and turns to lead them back to the Square. “I’ve approved of her choices all her life. She’s got her head on straight, that one,” he chuckles, finishing the sandwich. “Her choice in you is no different.”
Stunned, Zeke slowly replies, “T-thank you, sir.”
“Just Adam, Zeke,” he chortles, stopping as they reach the Square, where the soldiers are finishing their own meals. “Now go on. I’ll see you at the wedding,” he winks.
Zeke nods in reply, relief lightening his footsteps as he makes his way back to his fiancé, his smile stretching so wide he could have sworn it touched his ears.
<<
“I just need some time to myself,” Hunter explains, shrugging on his cloak.
“Sure, I get that,” Scourge replies, though the worried look never leaves his face. “I’m more concerned about how Dexter will see you stalking off into the forest alone.”
“It’ll be fine. If he even notices, just cover for me.”
Scourge groans and rolls his eyes but finally nods. “You’re just lucky we’re such great friends.”
Hunter smirks in reply. “If we weren’t, I would be commanding you rather than asking.”
“Okay, true, but still.”
“I’ll be back soon, alright? I just need an hour or two alone.”
“Alright,” Scourge sighs, leaning back onto his bed. “Just seriously don’t be too long. Dexter scares me, honestly.”
“Wimp.”
“Don’t pretend he doesn’t scare you too,” he chuckles. “You have more to lose than anyone if you suddenly fall from his good graces.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Seriously, I’ll be back soon,” Hunter says, closing the door behind him, ending the conversation. Striding through the corridors, it’s rather empty with most everyone having dinner, gorging themselves on the food shipped in by Dravyn. Still, he’s careful to keep his head down until he’s left the castle behind.
Throwing back his hood, he breathes deeply from the air outside of the Dragon Hunters’ protective bubble. It kept magic out, and somehow air carrying magic just smelled and felt so much better. Relaxing the tension in his shoulders, he lifts into the air with his Gift of flying and heads in the direction of one of the nearest mountains. He knew Alyssa wouldn’t be this close to the castle, but he was determined to at least find a dragon who knew something about what happened to her so he could wrestle the information from its mind, of where she is… or what happened to her.
Sighing as he touches down at the base of the cave beyond the last he’d searched, he steels himself against another disappointment. Dragons being this close to the Dragon Hunte
rs, especially since the war had begun, was extremely unlikely.
But, he had to try.
“Thgilf oerehp shtro femoc.” At the command of the spell, a sphere of light flickers into existence, hovering near his head. With a thought, he has the orb slide deeper into the cave. Readying himself, he follows, wishing he had his fire-proof armor in case he did come across a dragon. But that would tip off that he was up to something, and he didn’t want Dexter breathing down his neck. Not when he was so desperate to find Alyssa.
As if the thought had summoned them forth, a burst of flames rushes at his face. He ducks quickly enough to avoid any damage aside from the searing heat. Disoriented and blinded, he’s too slow to react as a dragon, purple, he thinks, flashes by him and out of the cave in an instant. Blinking aside the after-image from the flames, he squints at the dragon. She was heavy with eggs. That explains why she would be desperate enough to be this close- she must have been ready to… birth? them.
Frustrated that the first dragon he’d seen in weeks had gotten away, he turns back to the cave. Maybe there’s some kind of clue… in case she’s been here. Instead, all he finds is a single dragon egg. He was right- she was laying. Frustrated, he picks up the egg, ready to shatter it against the cave wall in frustration, but something stays his hand.
Letting out a weary sigh, he trudges slowly from the cave, the egg heavy in his hand. I suppose I could find some purpose for the egg- even if it’s for a trade. They may be willing to trade Alyssa for one of their own. If I can find another freaking dragon, that is!
Stowing the egg in one of the large pockets of his cloak, he takes to the air once more, letting his orb of light go out. I’ll have to find somewhere to hide this, though. Dexter is definitely not one for making deals with the enemy.
Me, though? I’ll do whatever I have to do to get Alyssa back.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lost
I slowly open my eyes, though everything is a haze to me at first. I feel comfortable, that much is noticeable as I slowly pull myself back into consciousness, but I’m confused as why that would be. Perhaps my nerves were so damaged by the ice rain that I couldn’t feel anything anymore, and now I’m just drifting away, slowly and comfortably dying.
But no… I’m waking up, not fading out. How am I still alive? Hannah and Chester made it sound like being caught in such a storm would mean certain death since only the royal family has immediate access to whatever antidote the Quagonians had created for the ice rain. Oh no. If I’m okay, then that must mean… I sit up with a start, and my eyes clear from fatigue. I look around, frantically taking in as much information as I can. I may have been saved from the ice rain, but that didn’t mean I was in any less danger.
There’s a maid standing near the door, fiddling with something on a tray. Quickly looking past her, I swivel and take in the rest of the room. It’s extremely spacious, unlike the rest of the conservative style housing in Davenport. Seeing the plush, fancy pillows and silky sheets I’m laying on, my stomach drops. I’ve been kidnapped by the Quagon King! He’ll kill me if he finds out who I am! I have to get out of here, yesterday!
Leaping to my feet, I wobble as I fight to maintain my balance on the cool floor. The maid turns and gives me a look of alarm nearly matching my own.
“Mistress! You need to be resting! You aren’t fully healed yet from your ordeal!” At her words, multiple areas across my back, arms, and legs begin to burn, as though the nerves needed to be reminded to do their job and report the damage.
Wincing, I shake my head. “I need to get out of here.” I tug at the loose gown I’ve been dressed in. It’s mostly open in the back, like a hospital gown. “I need my clothes, and I’ll get out of your hair. Please,” I beg as she looks at me with doe-like eyes.
Finally, she shakes her head and points to the bed. “The Princes have insisted that you be aided. I’ll not lose my job because you’re being stubborn.”
Ooh, she had fire in her. Giving her a small smile, I feel myself warming up to her and allow her to lead me back to the bed. Laying face down, I feel my muscles relax as she rubs some kind of cooling balm into my skin. “Ahhhh.”
“See, isn’t that better?” the maid laughs, moving to the next area.
As great as this feels, I’m still tight with anxiety over what she said about the princes. “What… did you mean, about the princes?”
“Oh, they brought you in right after the storm,” she happily explains. I get the feeling she doesn’t get a lot of people to talk to. “You’re lucky they got to you before anything suffered irreversible damage,” she continues, gently coaxing the balm into my skin. I squeeze my eyes shut and try not to picture the burns that I must have sustained. “Anyway, they were both very concerned about your welfare. I can only assume that means that Noran chose you for his bride?” I flinch, but she continues before I can correct her. “I must admit, I was a bit surprised, since he’d secretly been courting Bree. But since they brought you in here, he hasn’t been able to talk about anything but your noble sacrifice for one of the other girls, as well as your beauty. Now, if I could offer some advice,” she continues as she moves down toward my legs, “Noran is one who is used to being obeyed. You don’t have to have no spine around him, but I would advise to avoid conflict whenever you can.”
“…Thanks,” I murmur, unsure if I’ll need to heed this advice or not. I’m certainly not marrying that stuck-up prince, but since he had apparently saved me, I’d likely have to see him at least once before I can safely vacate the area. Though at this point, I want to flee Quagon rather than just the castle.
“All done,” she sweetly says, pulling back and wiping her hands off on a towel. I sit up carefully, a smile spreading across my face at the difference the balm has done for my pain.
“That’s amazing, thank you,” I sincerely say, giving the girl a smile. She was only a little older than me, but she seemed to be very well put together. I feel extremely scatter-brained in her presence.
“Of course,” she replies with a cute smile, dipping into a small, easy curtsy. “Now, for lunch. When you’re done eating, the balm should be absorbed into your skin enough to allow you to change into some new clothes. Yours were, unfortunately, quite destroyed from the ice, but Prince Noran has ordered to get you anything you want, so you have access to the castle’s finery,” she continues, handing me a plate with foreign fruits on it, as well as some steaming, fresh bread.
My mouth instantly waters at what I now understand is a delicacy on Quagon. I try to slow myself and appear as dainty as the maid, but I end up inhaling the bread and fresh fruit faster than I intend to regardless. The smile, however, never leaves her face, and when I’m finished, she takes the plate back and guides me over to a massive walk-in closet that I had missed in my first, frenzied sweep of the room. You’re going to have to play the royals’ games to get out of here alive, I remind myself as I step into the high-ceilinged room. Most of the clothes look like they fit, though I’m not too surprised after seeing a lineup of all the girls on Quagon my age. I seem to be exactly average, which does help ease my anxiety a little about fitting in here.
Still, I can’t bring myself to select a dress. I may be playing their game until I can escape, but I fight best in pants. Pulling on some comfortable black boots, pants, and a cute red top with some fun frills along the short v-neckline, I step out of the closet, feeling much more comfortable. At least I wouldn’t have to face down with the princes in a hospital gown.
“Wonderful!” the maid greets when I step out of the closet. “I’ve alerted Prince Noran to your recovery. I’m sure he’ll be here shortly.” Not trusting my voice, I simply nod at this information and take in a deep breath.
Still, when he arrives a few minutes later, my preparation is all for naught as those intense blue eyes take my breath away.
<<
It took hours for the ice to finally melt. The whole time, Nathan couldn’t help but rapidly swim back and forth, shooting
just beneath the surface like a missile, his anxiety causing the water around him to bubble. Guilt and pain now seemed to pulse through his veins with every pump of his heart. Shifting back to his human form- shirtless, thanks to losing his shirt the night before, he races back to the house, still dripping wet. Luckily, the streets are still mostly empty as the rest of the ice begins to clear from the ground.
Throwing open the door, he dashes inside, panting from his run. Chester, who had been reclining in his seat, nearly throws the book he had been reading at Nathan’s head. He barely catches himself and relaxes, blowing out a breath. “Nathan! Good heavens, you scared me!”
“Sorry,” he mumbles, trying to still his racing heart. “Where’s Crystal?”
As Chester’s face pales, Hannah steps into the room. “Nathan, you’re back! …Where’s Crystal?”
“What do you mean? I just got back, thanks to that stupid ice rain.”
Now she pales, collapsing into another chair. “This can’t be happening,” she mutters to herself.
“What do you know that I don’t?” Nathan whimpers, knowing what their answer will be.
“Crystal… she… went out not long before the storm,” Chester manages, not looking up at Nathan. “…She never came back.”
After a bout of panic and intense pain, Nathan shakes his head and begins to rationalize. “No. No way. She’s not… gone. She’s the most resourceful person I know. She would have found cover somewhere- someone would have let her inside of their house until the storm had passed.” Throwing on a jacket he had previously discarded at the table, he shrugs it on, turning from his two pale guardians. “I’m going to find her.”
After scouring the streets and finding no sign of her, hope began to lift his thoughts. She must have been taken in by somebody! However, after knocking multiple streets, no one reports having seen her. Except one guy, who said he’d seen her when the prince came, but after she’d pointed out the ice rain, he’d stopped paying attention.