by Carly Fall
She wanted to die, so why had she moved into such a defensive position?
And if he wanted to kill her, why did he torture her in this way?
She felt his hot breath on her arms, and she waited for the flames to engulf her. Instead, he nudged her with his snout.
As she peeked out, she saw him changing back to his human form.
“Get up,” he said a moment later.
What was this?
She didn’t move as he loomed over her, his hands on his hips.
He reached down and grabbed a fistful of her hair, dragging her to her feet. “I said, get up, you mud-grubber.”
She screamed once again when it felt like her scalp was being torn from her head.
As he placed her on her feet, she swiped the blood from her face.
“You and I will fight to the death,” he whispered.
Since she’d broken the laws of their land, he had every right to end her life. Why did he want to draw it out? Why couldn’t he just put her out of her misery?
She shook her head. “No. I won’t fight you. I’d rather die quickly.”
He threw his head back and laughed as if she’d just told him the funniest joke he’d ever heard. She took a step back, the maniacal sound more upsetting than the thought of meeting her death.
Before she could react, he swung his arm out at her, his fist connecting with her chin. His immense strength once again sent her across the room, and she landed on the white marble with a yelp and a thud. She winced and gritted her teeth as more agonizing pain radiated up her hip and back and she once again lost her breath.
“You have killed my son, and I will decide how you die,” he said, once again approaching her. “I choose to watch you suffer, for you to feel pain similar to what you have caused me.”
“I didn’t kill him!” she whispered, hoping he could hear her.
“So you say, but the Protectors of the Sky know never to trust a dirt-eater.”
He kicked her in the stomach, and she tried to move away from him, but her hand slipped on the bloody marble, causing her head to hit the ground.
“You’re as worthless as all of your race. I should have you all executed, and the Protectors of the Sky can live peacefully without you sullying our existence.”
With that, something within her snapped. Their kind had lived together in harmony since the beginning. They tolerated each other’s differences and co-existed in peace. They ate the same food, shared the same land. Those of the sky flew over her forests, and she’d never wished them not to. It shocked and angered her to hear such vile words of hatred for the Protectors of the Forest.
Adrenaline surged through her limbs as she fought to breathe evenly. If he wanted a fight to the death, then she’d give it to him. She would not die with those of her world thinking that she’d killed Eorricris.
“I’m sure you’re responsible for the disappearance of the Moonstone, as well,” he growled. “The sins against your people that you have committed … how can you live with yourself?”
Shutting her eyes, she shook her head. Just moments ago, she’d wanted to die, and now, living had become the most important thing. She couldn’t allow her parents to go on living with the shame of the Grand Dragon’s lies.
She glanced around the room and saw the wall of relics—old tools they’d used for growing crops and ancient weapons that had been made, but never used, as far as she knew. The metal had lost its shine long ago, the wood dry and splintered. The wall stood about twenty feet behind her. If she could just find a way to move over there without him knowing what she was doing …
His foot landed in her stomach again, sending her flying directly into the wall she’d been eyeing. If she could catch her breath, she’d be able to stand and get to one of the weapons.
Slowly, she got to her feet, and an idea formed as he approached her. The last thing he would want was to be caught torturing her. Death in her land was to be swift, and he could be dethroned for such barbaric behavior.
She gasped and looked over his shoulder while widening her eyes, as if she were surprised at what she found behind him. He turned around to see what had grasped her attention, and it gave her enough time to reach back and grab an old rustic knife with a curved blade, then shift into her dragon form.
As he turned back to her, she fought to hold the knife in her claws. Her life would end if she dropped it, so she held it in between both of them. She spewed ice crystals in his face, temporarily blinding him, her rage the driving force behind her actions. The hurt of losing Eorricris had to be put away … for now, at least.
He shut his eyes as a mighty roar erupted from him, the force of the sound hurting her ears. She wanted to run from it, but she knew if she didn’t kill him now, she’d be the one to die. She wouldn’t allow the lies he spewed to sully her love and bond with Eorricris.
As he hurled himself backward, rubbing his eyes, she advanced on him quickly. When he was within reach, she plunged the knife into the center of his chest. He gasped as his eyes widened and his body began to tremble, almost as if it fought the intrusion.
He reached toward his chest, yet, it seemed as if he didn’t have the strength to grasp the hilt.
Her breath heaved in and out as the weight of what she’d done settled around her. She shifted back into her human form and fell to her knees next to him. Trembling from head to toe, she stared at the outcome of her actions. What had she done? How had it come to this? To her killing one of the Grand Dragons?
She dropped her head into her hands for a moment, but quickly met his stare as he spoke.
“You killed my son,” he whispered, his voice laced with venom. “And now me. Your soul will rot in an eternity of agony and fire.”
She bit her lip to keep from responding. It would be senseless to get into a war of words with him, especially when she’d told him the truth of what really happened numerous times. He just chose not to believe her.
“Take your leave and allow me to die in peace.”
He shut his eyes as she concentrated on his breath whispering in and out of his lungs. If he were found and was able to be revived, her death would be imminent. However, if she were caught here with his body, the outcome would be the same.
She waited a few more minutes and listened intently to her surroundings. The castle remained calm and quiet. When her own breathing became the loudest sound and the Grand Dragon’s chest no longer moved up and down, she slowly stood, then scampered away through the back entrance, the one she and Eorricris would always use to avoid detection.
* * *
Lifting her head, Tirvu was afraid of what she’d see in Eric’s gaze. Would there be hatred? Perhaps shock at her actions? Disgust?
Instead, his ebony eyes looked at her with such deep sadness, she almost jumped back. What was this? Pity?
That was the last thing she had expected to see, and frankly, she’d be more comfortable with absolute revulsion.
“I’m so sorry, Tirvu,” he said as he took her hand in his.
At first, she wanted to pull away, but then she allowed his palm to settle on hers. Eric … Eorricris … whatever he wanted to be called, was still the same. Yes, he’d been a fierce warrior when she’d known him, but also a very caring male. Those awful tears sprung to her eyes as she allowed someone to sympathize with her, to care for her.
“They never found out who killed the Grand Dragon, did they?”
She shook her head. “There were no heirs to the throne, so it was to remain empty for three moon cycles, then the Protectors of the Sky would appoint someone new. But in the meantime, the missing Moonstone became the focus point of both people. Your father’s death faded into the background very quickly as both sides accused the other of taking the relic. There is one leader of the Sky Dragons, but there has been no ceremony, so he can’t reside in the castle with the Grand Dragon of the Forest.”
“It sounds like a crazy time,” he said as he rubbed her palm with his thumb. “And, he’s not my
father, Tirvu. My father was Paul from Chicago. I have no recollection of the Grand Dragon, and frankly, his treatment of you makes me glad I don’t. He sounds like he was a real asshole.”
She grinned as she squeezed his fingers. “You aren’t upset with me.”
“Of course not,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Like I said, I don’t remember him, and as far as I’m concerned, he got what he deserved.”
They sat in silence for a long time as she stared at their intertwined hands. In some ways, she wished he did fully remember their past. She had a sense he had an idea, but he didn’t fully appreciate the depth of their love together.
This brought her no end of worry.
When she went back home with the Moonstone, what would become of Eric? Her world was where he belonged, but he didn’t seem to realize it.
* * *
That night, they lay in the tent together, side-by-side. Tirvu had turned over and now had her back pressed against his arm. Her skin felt warm and soft against his. Although exhaustion railed through his body, sleep didn’t come easily, and he found himself staring at the top of the tent thinking about Tirvu’s story.
The world she described intrigued him, and he tried to imagine things like Grand Dragons living in castles of crystal and marble. The laws of her land seemed archaic and barbaric, like something he’d read about in a history book from a different country.
They’d decided that they’d discuss climbing the rest of the way to Devil’s Ridge in the morning. Tirvu had announced she felt strong enough to travel, but he wanted her to rest one more day. He didn’t think one could fully recover in such a short period of time, but then again, he wasn’t a dragon.
This had led to an argument with the outcome being that they would simply talk about it in the morning. He had a feeling they’d be leaving. Tirvu could be very persistent in getting her way.
He hoped things went smoothly and that they would find the Moonstone easily. They didn’t need any more trouble. They were both tired and weakened by the layover caused by the vampire bite, but they were also short on time. The seals would close in three days, and he wanted Tirvu to return to her land with the Moonstone. He wanted her to be the hero of her people.
For a brief moment, he considered traveling with her to her world if they could find the rock before the seals closed. He’d never get the chance to visit another realm, one so completely different than his own. If he could go before the seals closed, then get back in time …
No, he’d never do it. He was a computer programmer. He liked things to be safe and predictable. Traveling from realm to realm sounded like an exercise in stupidity. He didn’t know how it would affect his body—hell, it might even kill him.
He’d deliver Tirvu and hopefully the Moonstone to the portal, then he’d go back to the life he knew.
With a sigh, he shut his eyes.
If he wanted to play it safe, then why did it all sound so incredibly boring?
15
The next morning, Eric woke before Tirvu and quietly made his way out of the tent. He gasped and startled when he saw the two from the werewolf pack sitting on the log by the dead fire.
“What are you guys doing here?” he whispered.
“We heard her speaking yesterday, so we brought her some food,” the blond said and gestured at his feet. Two dead rabbits lay on the ground, their necks bent at awkward angles. Eric’s stomach turned as he stared at them. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with at the crack of dawn.
“I … uh, I’m sure she’ll like it,” he said as he rubbed his chin.
“Good,” said the brunet. “We wanted to make sure no other predators stole the bounty, so we waited for you to rise. Now that we know these are in good hands, we’ll take off.”
He nodded as they left, still trying to decide what to do with the gift.
Tirvu made the decision.
“What is that?” she asked from behind him.
He spun around, surprised he hadn’t heard her exit the tent or walk up to him.
“It’s … it’s a gift from the wolves,” he replied. “They thought you may be hungry.”
She narrowed her gaze on him, then shifted it to the rabbits. “Are those creatures of the forest?”
“Yeah.”
She shut her eyes and shook her head. “I think I may begin vomiting all over again.”
Turning around, she began pacing. “Those stupid dogs,” she muttered. “How dare they kill innocent animals like that?”
“I take it you don’t want to eat them?”
She looked to him, her eyes wide, her mouth opened in horror. She snapped her jaw shut and raised her chin. “No. I do not believe in taking a life to sustain mine.”
He knew it—a vegetarian.
“I’ll see if I can find them and return the gift,” he said with a grimace, and he picked up the animals by their hind legs.
“I will break down the camp site,” she called after him.
As he walked through the forest, he couldn’t help but grin, even if he did carry a couple of carcasses. He’d never in his life imagined that dragons would breathe ice instead of fire, that they couldn’t fly, and that they could be vegetarians. Well, just a few days ago, he’d never imagined that dragons existed, either, nor that he would be so attracted to one.
After a half-hour, he gave up trying to find the wolves and decided to bury the poor bunnies. It was a shame they’d lost their lives for nothing, but he had to get back to Tirvu.
When he got to camp, he noted that she had kept her word and broken down the campsite. Everything sat neatly arranged on top of his backpack. They were set to go.
“Thanks for doing this,” he said as he hauled the pack onto his back. “You about ready?”
She nodded, and they headed out, quickly engulfed by the thick trees. He checked his compass to make sure they still headed the right way, and saw they were on track. The incline should steepen soon, and he guessed it would slow them down a bit, but with any luck, they could make it to Devil’s Ridge by nightfall.
The more space they put between themselves and the campsite, the happier he became. Watching Tirvu go through the illness and hallucinations from the vampire venom had been difficult at best. By leaving the campsite, they were literally, and figuratively, putting it all behind them.
* * *
Later that day, Tirvu trailed behind him silently, something she’d never done before. She’d always been in step with him, or even ahead of him in their hikes, but today, he guessed she was tired. However, time ticked on, and he debated stopping or to keep going. Maybe if they rested even for a bit, it would help reenergize her. Some water, some berries … She’d been so sick. Frankly, he was surprised she’d gone as far as she had.
“We should stop for a bit,” he announced, hoping she didn’t argue.
“Agreed.”
Well, he’d never expected that.
The incline had dramatically increased, and his breath sawed in and out of his lungs. He could use a rest, as well.
They found a downed tree and sat against it. He pulled out the water bottle and offered her some, then took a bit for himself. If he’d had any idea they’d be up on this damn mountain for so long, he would have found another water bottle so they didn’t have to share.
“Do you consume animals?” she asked, not meeting his gaze, and he wondered how many hours she’d been thinking about her question. “I’ve seen you eat those small packages of food you carry, but I don’t know what’s in them.”
Shit. He hated the thought of disappointing her and admitting that he loved a good steak every now and then, and that all the MREs he’d brought had some type of animal protein. However, lying to her didn’t sit well with him, either.
“Never mind,” she said as she stood.
Just before she disappeared from his view, she called, “I don’t want to know. I think you’ll either lie to me, or I’ll be very discouraged at your answer, so please forget I even asked.”
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br /> He pursed his lips as she vanished into the shrubbery. The two of them reminded him of his parents. Each knew what the other one was thinking before they even said it. It was like a psychic bond they shared, and sometimes, it seemed like a comedy routine, especially when they argued. In the end, they’d find themselves talking circles around each other, and the disagreement would dissolve into laughter. His mother had always told him people who had been together for a long period of time sometimes developed the connection. Tirvu’s thoughts had mirrored his exactly, just like his parents used to experience.
He found himself uncomfortable with the experience, almost as if he itched all over. Yet, at the same time, he also discovered a strange sense of contentment. He’d always wanted a relationship like his parents had. Just like every couple, they’d had their ups and downs, but their love and the connection his mother spoke of had always held them together.
With a sigh, he reached over to his backpack and pulled out an MRE—a barbeque beef sandwich—and he hurried to finish it before Tirvu returned. Based on the fact she hadn’t helped him with the diaries back at the Historical Museum, he guessed she couldn’t read English, but he wouldn’t take any chances.
About twenty minutes later, he heard rustling to his left. Tirvu appeared, carrying a huge, full blueberry bush, roots and all. Apparently, she’d ripped it right out of the ground.
She sat down next to him, the bush on her lap so large, it looked as if it may swallow her up, and began to pick off the berries, shoving them in her mouth as if she were starving.
He watched her every movement. Although the way she ate seemed almost barbaric in nature, there was an elegance to it. She plucked the fruit with her forefinger and thumb, gathering a handful before tossing her head back and jamming them in between her lips. She chewed with her mouth closed, her jaw working in a circular motion, her full lips almost puckered as they tried to stay closed. He found it sexy in a raw, animalistic way, cute and fascinating all at once.