Dragon Born

by J N Moon

  Hammering against my ribs, my heart pounded, Teran was bound to hear but within minutes before me, naked and shivering Conor looked up, his hair fallen over his face, his eyes full of sorrow.

  "Maybe it's a spell cast by Teran that you can't stay in your beast form, " I whispered hurriedly.

  I had nothing for him to wear, I was only wearing my wetsuit and only had some spells from Lucius in my bag.

  He tried to speak but his jaw shook with cold, putting my bag over my back I went over, pulling him close, the heat from my 'gift' seeping into him, I felt his muscles, his body relax.

  "I'm so sorry Emma, I've failed you a second time," he whispered.

  "No, you never have, before- well that wasn't you and now, not at all. Just warm up."

  Trapped in human form, it would be difficult and without our friends, God I hoped they were alright, but Marcus was right, we needed to find Luke.

  I could feel the heat slowly radiate off Conor, so I let him go, muttering, "Come, let's see what we can find, at least I can keep you warm. Let me know, don't suffer Conor, we've lost enough already." As I turned, he grabbed my hand, looking into my eyes, "Emma, it should've never have ended like this, I am so sorry. Now you'll never trust me." A single tear welling in the corner of his eye, "Enough, this hasn't ended. You're just upset now. Yes, it will take time, but... I trusted you today as the beast, and I was right to."

  His voice whispered, strained, urgent, "But Luke. In my heart before I was possessed, I knew you should be mine, I understand why you ran to him I... I long for the day..."

  "Enough already, I want right now to get us all safe, and I do love you Conor. I've missed you, now is not the time,"

  "I may never get the chance again."

  Taking a deep breath, I grabbed his hand. He refused with his eyes cast down, he looked broken but this couldn't be to do with me, we hadn't known each other that long and though at first, I admit I'd fallen for his husky tones and deep eyes, Luke with all his oddness, his quirkiness, social awkwardness had truly won my heart and soul. That could never change.

  I walked on without Conor, the ledge didn't go in very far, but ducking down I managed to squeeze under a ridge that jutted out, I had to get on my belly and crawl, I hate tight spaces, but just beyond I thought I could see a deeper cavern.

  Looking behind, Conor wasn't there and he wouldn't get through this ridge being so much bigger, so I carried on. Desperation gripped me, pulled in with anxiety my stomach hurt, I wanted to call for Luke but with Teran about I couldn't.

  "Emma," I heard Conor's high whispers, "Are you there?"

  "Yes, go look for another way, I'll try here."

  "I'm sorry, I'd just never had one moment to speak to you since..."

  I hesitated, "I know, please stop punishing yourself. We're fine... when we're back we'll have dinner together, just you and me. Ethan would like that." As soon as I said it, I regretted it, how the hell would I explain that, no, one thing at a time.

  The floor was wet with sea water, I was wearing sea shoes, the ones I use for snorkelling, their rubber soles aiding my grip but as I looked around with such limited light there was no sign of Luke and I wondered if I'd just die lost inside the cliffs.

  Turning to go back, a fierce wind swept through pushing me back. Yelling as I fell, an arm suddenly appeared behind me, and that salty smell was stronger.

  Fright bolted through me, then heat. I couldn't move as two arms grabbed me tightly. Teran, I knew, nestled his face into my neck, breathing deeply into me.

  A jolt of repulsion and anger surged through me, he bolted away and laughed, "I knew you'd come but your dragon isn't here. He is far, far away and now I have you, as well."

  Turning fast, sweat turning cold as it hit the air, I faced the creature, "So you want Luke to kill Leviathan. Really, you think that'll help you?"

  Grinning and flashing his teeth, he swept his long hair back and looked me over, trying to make me uncomfortable. He did, he was creepy.

  "I'll take your power, too, you know nothing of what you speak, girl. But I've never encountered one who is so defiant against me, even your Luke. What do you see in him? I might still take you for my own," he rushed forward and stood a hair's breadth away.

  "Why would you take me, you know nothing of me or my kind, you're just a spirit, a powerful one, well you think so. All you know of is power and anger, you're empty, soulless. Like an animated rock," I spat at him. "So, you mimic emotions, behaviour but you don't feel anything other than anger. What were you before you became... this?"

  Contorted with rage, he grabbed me by my hair and led me to the water's edge, holding me over it, I'd hit a nerve. Good.

  "What was I before, she asks... I have always been this God of the Northern sea."

  Screaming in pain, I answered, "You're no God, a God doesn't need to steal from others, the Leviathan have returned, your bigger question should be why, why are they here now. You alone cannot kill them, bring them down, they'll destroy everything, you included. When you should be making alliances, your isolating yourself in petty fights, stealing from the only ones who could help you." I bit my tongue, I wanted to shout fool, but I didn't want to die.

  Pulling me back, his hands rested firmly on mine, pressing my arms to my sides, sarcastically he replied, "So you, Emma Blakesley would help me? You and... enough, you don't even have the power to overcome me!" he laughed. "I appreciate your candour, though, for that I shall allow you to live. You'll be an interesting diversion for me in this human form. I've studied your kind and I get strange sensations with you. I like them, I wish to discover more."

  My heart seized for a moment, the way he eyed me and closed the gap between us, his cold hand reaching out, I shuddered. Thinking fast I added, “I and others would help you, I know enough to understand that the arrival of the Leviathan spells disaster, not just to the ocean but a portent omen to all. You really think you can fight them, stand against them on your own even with the blood of a dragon? They’re no match for you, whatever you are you know this. And why would you care about emotions, sensations? The threat is real, take me to Luke and I promise we will help defeat these ancient beasts.”

  Gulping hard, I shocked myself with my speech. I could see him weighing up what I said, contemplating my offer.

  Moving his face to my ear, he whispered, “But I’ve taken your lover, caused you great sadness, so why should I believe you, Emma?”

  “You’re right and another time I’ll kill you but right now we have a bigger threat.” I spoke firmly and didn’t move whilst he pressed his cold body against me, no expression on my face.

  “I look forward to your trying to kill me, I may yet take you for my, what is it you call it... bride. It is said that even we old gods can breed with the living.”

  Still not showing any feeling, I waited but was distracted by a thunderous roar in the distance, his eyes left me and looked out towards the sound even though the cavern was enclosed. Squinting, I detected fear in him. Reaching out I placed my hands on his arms, the light shifting from me to him, “What is it you really want Teran, tell me?”

  Biting his lip, frowning, he motioned my hands away and turned to leave, “Enough Emma Blakesley, I will take your offer but if you try anything, I will slaughter Luke before you and keep you as my own in Yesnaby Castle. Come...”

  Relief settled in me, I relaxed a little, but then spinning around without warning, Teran lashed out his arm, hitting me into the water. My mind staggered, screaming and gulping in sea water I splashed around, trying to stay afloat as the water thrashed around me, quickly my body pulled down by deep penetrating waters, managing to get to the side where my freezing hands gripped and slipped on the rocks, forcing myself to charge my light to stay warm.

  Menacingly, Teran crouched at the water's edge, his lips curved up like a mask, small eyes tracing my movements. As my hands grabbed at the rock, he lifted my fingers off pushing me back, falling fast as the undercurrents tried to pull me under, panic str
icken gripped with fear, I felt something big slide past me, brush hard against my legs. Shuddering with terror, I tried in vain to reach elsewhere for leverage but was pulled away by something big under that devilish sea.

  Heart of a Dragon.

  Luke.

  Despair gripped my heart, I’d heard her, she was so close that it made it worse, her scream and then silence. Without her I had nothing, nothing but revenge but even that was waning for me now, weak my muscles, my arms piercing in pain from the chains that held me, from malnutrition, relentless cold and from fear.

  Every day he came, sometimes once, sometimes more and stole my blood.

  I knew he wanted my power, that was the point wasn’t it, stealing my blood and keeping me alive.

  Exhaustion dragged me to my knees, the cold stone floor pressing against my skin, bone. Burning skin sore from the constant slashing, the cold, the blood loss, my eyes struggled to stay open, but she’d been here and my gut flipped knowing that he had seen her, spoken to her. So where was she now? Had he taken her, hidden her in some dark cave, or... gasping at the thought my heart seized, no I couldn’t go there. But she’s been here, she would never have come alone.

  Shivering as I heard him, light footsteps on the rock, clenching my jaw, tensed my freezing muscles. I wouldn’t show him fear or pain. I want to know what’s happened but he’ll lie, play me. So, I’ll ask nothing.

  A cruel sneer, his white eyes surveyed me. A knife gripped in his bony hand, moving his head as he eyed me over.

  “I know you heard her, she’s... safe. For now, if you’re subservient then I won’t kill her. Perhaps. I like her... scent. Your kind, you mate? This intrigues me, pleasures of flesh. Ah, I see that makes you angry? Tell me why?” he questioned quietly, yet his voice was strained, slightly, but I detected it.

  Gritting my teeth, I didn’t break eye contact with him, frowning, if I could only break free I’d tear his black heart from his breathing body.

  “I see, you view her as yours? Interesting. Of course, I know some of the immortals and mortals alike but I’ve never lived amongst you, well, until now. I know some of the old Gods had many wives, lovers both male and female, it intrigues me,” he laughed, his voice hollow. “Maybe I should explore this,” flinching as he ran his blade over my chest, pressing the tip against my skin, down to my trousers. Following the blade with my eyes as he stopped, I held my breath, looked him in the eye, willing him to look up.

  But he only smirked, so now I had to somehow double my efforts but how?

  Sniggering, “You don’t seem to like that, is it me? Neither of us are human, I don’t understand?” He cocked his head like a dog trying to understand its human, then I realised he really didn’t comprehend it- intimacy, sex, nothing.

  Hoarse and dry, I croaked, “Being with another, being... intimate. It’s not like eating or drinking, it’s... special. To some anyway. It’s a way of expressing affection, love.”

  Quickly placing down his dagger, he fetched me water, speaking rapidly, “Ah I see... well I don’t feel, I don’t know affection, love. But I understand this intellectually. And this is reciprocated back to those bestowed upon?”

  As I drank, I wondered why all the questions, “I admit I kissed Emma, but I was only mimicking what I’d seen humans do, something though did stir in my body- extraordinary. And it would anger you if I explored this with her?”

  “Why, why would you want to?”

  Laughing, his face inches from mine, “Well, I’ll tell you a secret as you’re not going anywhere. And I know your friends are trying to rescue you, but they’ll fail, never worry- I already have that matter in hand. Once I’ve succeeded here, I intend to take my place amongst the mortals, so... I need to blend in until such a time as I won’t need to. Take this for example, I took it from the house your friends are staying in. I watched them for hours until I realised how to use it.”

  Gulping, he had a mobile phone, this old God was learning, the others were coming, he was preparing to kill them and learning technology, fast.

  “Why, why would you want to live amongst the mortals?” I spluttered.

  Turning around, he picked up the dagger and a small bowl, his face serious and slashed the old wound from the many times he’d already bled me, then sharply he looked up, “Have you seen this place? It’s dark, wet, cold,” and indicating with his knife, “Out there lie many perils, monsters Luke. Old as time herself, they lurk and wind their way here. No, my demon is gone, killed. Now it’s time for me to find a new place, a stronghold. And I’ve heard whispers on the wind of the old Kings, of demons rising. Our time is coming, soon you’ll have to choose, to join us or die. There will be no other way,” he continued, then sliced my arm again and my blood flowed into his container.

  “They’re dark, powerful, none can stop them. It’s no longer safe here, that’s why I need you, your blood. I am a God of the ocean, I can’t easily just walk onto land and stay there, not without, well as you see something extra. I wonder if you’ll join me, it would be a shame if I had to cut off your head, rip out your heart, but then the heart of a dragon shifter is powerful magic indeed, so maybe I won't give you the choice.” He sniggered loudly, his voice echoing around the cave, again trailing his dagger down my body, then turned swiftly and as I looked up, he’d gone and my arm bled and bled.

  Fury surged through me, pulling on these infernal chains, nothing. So again I looked for my hidden piece of rock and picked at the latching’s in the wall, however long, I would escape. Now I had no choice.

  Bound for Seven Years.

  Emma.

  All I remembered next is cold water, an abyss of darkness and the panic of not being able to breathe. Darkness, water biting my skin, clutched around my heart, the swells of currents dragging me down, ever downwards and the pang, sharp and fierce of my heart from leaving my lover, my Luke there to die as I met my own watery grave. Gulping water, fighting to breathe, that was it. Struggle, panic, fear and then nothing. Like swimming in darkness, no thoughts, an abyss.

  Spluttering, choking, I felt someone rubbing my back, my eyes flickered open as I spewed out sea water, the salt nauseating in my stomach, an ache worse than any and shivering violently. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I found myself in another cavern, much different than the last, stalagmites piercing downwards majestically catching the shimmer of sunlight which seemed to echo around the place, a then the slight feeling of warmth as I saw blankets on me and under me and a fire blazing close by. Blinking rapidly, I realized I was surrounded by Selkie, some in human form, others in their seal guise.

  And Kai was sitting by my side, his strange ethereal face full of worry, frowning.

  “You found him, didn’t you?” he whispered.

  Unable to speak as the salt water had dried my mouth, I shook my head, Kai seemed to realise and handed me some fresh water. Sipping it, my body reeling from my near watery grave, I croaked, “No, I only found Teran but Luke is there. Somewhere.”

  Goose bumps prickled my arms as these creatures around me started so softly, like drops of rain falling lightly, to sing all around. Their voices warm, some high like delicate metal chimes on a summer's breeze, their song rose higher, echoing around the cave as the fading sun bounced and danced off the imposing stalagmites. And if possible, their song rose higher still, embracing me, my body seemed to shimmer beneath the sound, enchanting me, utterly spellbound, rising and falling like the ebbing tides and beside me, Kai, his wide lips softly smiling putting his hand on mine. I wondered if I was dreaming, if this could be real. Unable to stop it, emotion welled and a tear rolled from my eye. To be amongst these creatures, the Selkie of the Orkney islands and for some moments I forgot everything else, entranced and warm in their love. Their protection.

  Softly Kai murmured, “Sleep now, night is coming and we cannot venture out for your friend now until the sun rises. We should be safe here,” and though my stomach twisted and my heart panged being so close to Luke and failing, tiredness overwhelmed m
e, the lullabies from these sirens, and with Kai beside me for warmth, I drifted off with their voices, high and low into a state of deep sleep. Dreaming of the sea as I had never seen it, emerald cities, a race in harmony in its environment, hidden from mankind, protected by the deep and dangerous currents, creatures of myth, humanoid and animal living in peace.

  I was awakened by a contrasting noise, a booming sound that resonated the tiny cave. Bolting up, faces full of fear and the waves spilling in the entrance of this sea cave thrashed, Kai’s mouth in horror as he and others rushed around, pulling me up harshly by the arm to get to the back of the cave.

  Looking for something to grab, my bag had been lost in the other cave but then a face flashed into my mind, Lucius.

  Gasping for breath, I stood in front of the gentle beings, closing my eyes, legs wide in a stance, head down, I placed my hands almost together and focused on the light, the fire that is mine. Fury trembled through me, my legs shook, panting as I felt its heat, flame thrash up through me like a whip of fire.

  The waves grew fierce, something started to emerge slowly and I thought of Ava and Elijah, what had happened to them.

  Slowly I walked forward, now even Kai didn’t stop me, opening my eyes I shook violently as a huge murky- green head, snake- like, its huge eyes boring into me, opening its mouth clustered with sharp teeth, it hissed, foul salty breath, quivering I shot the fire, the divine light, at it without a second thought.

  It ducked fast but the flame was gone and hit its partially submerged body, as if in response it twisted, splashing huge waves of icy dark sea, a tail lifting out of the water like a whale diving up, and seemed to soar down.

  Turning fast, “Get deeper into the cave, go!” I yelled.

  Kai paused, I shot him my look of death- you know the one we women have, and obediently he turned ushering the others. Shit... could I kill it? Probably not but I could stand up to it.