Dragon Shadow

by Alicia Wolfe

  My heart thumped so hard and fast I thought it would rip free of my chest and fly around the cemetery to join the demon.

  “What now?” I said, laboring for breath. “I don’t—think—we can make it out—before they—catch us.”

  “We will,” Davril said beside me. “We must.”

  Suddenly, an idea occurred to me.

  “The spiders,” I said.

  “What?” Even he was beginning to pant a little.

  Grinning tightly, I said, “This way!”

  Adjusting my course, I ran in the direction in which the spiders had ambushed Davril and me earlier, and Davril followed. He ripped out his sword as he ran, and its light lit the path before us.

  It would also let our enemies know where we were. Pumping my legs, I ran faster.

  “You will die!” roared the demon behind us. “You have awakened Lord Mortock, and you will rue your mistake bitterly. And briefly.”

  I saw reflected firelight on the wall ahead of me and turned to see the demon—Lord Mortock—barreling down on us, a fireball growing in the palm of one clawed hand. His eyes glimmered with the reflected light, too, making them dance with flame.

  “Shit,” I said. “Fireball!”

  I said this just as Mortock hurled the flame at us. I tripped on a root as I turned my head back around. The wall of the tomb we were passing was almost at its end. Davril and I ducked around the corner of it breathlessly, and the fireball exploded on the granite mausoleum we’d been facing. Granite exploded everywhere, and the statue of a man on a horse (well, half man, half horse) that was on the tomb’s roof tilted to the side and fell to the ground, where it shattered.

  Mortock hit the turn and swung around, more agile than I would have thought; I saw this in the reflection off an aged brass façade of a tomb ahead. I thought I recognized it from the area of the spiders. We were close.

  “This way,” I said, taking a turn.

  Davril followed.

  I heard the whip of air as Mortock banked around the corner after us, then the roar as he launched another fireball. This time, it was Davril who grabbed me and knocked me aside. He slammed me up against the wall just as the fireball whizzed past, exploding brightly. We panted into each other’s faces for a moment, then hastily separated. Mortock approached.

  We pelted down the avenue and made a turn. This was the lane we’d met the spiders on. Davril recognized it, too, I could tell by the way he slowed and lifted his sword. I slowed, too, but not out of fear—although maybe that, too, I’ll be honest—but because I wanted to give Mortock time to catch us. Sure enough, I could see the stirring of multi-legged shadows on the edges of the roofs above.

  Davril and I ran on, taking one turn, then another, but always letting Mortock catch us. At last, he had to leap and duck to evade the great webs that spanned the spaces between buildings, and Davril had to slice down one giant spider that came for us after another. They leapt on us like horrors out of a nightmare, but Davril swung his sword, ichor spurted, and they fell twitching to the ground.

  After one attacked us and was similarly dispatched, the demon laughed behind us. Davril and I spun from standing over the body of the just-defeated arachnid. Mortock hovered right over us, a fireball gathering on his palm.

  “Now you die,” he said.

  Before he could hurl the fireball, a great spider leapt over the rim of the roof and dropped right on him. The fireball died on his palm, just flickering out like a match. He let out a wail as the spider’s weight drove him to the ground. His claws lashed out, tearing off one spindly limb, then another. Before he could rip apart the spider, however, another arachnid dropped down, then a third. In seconds, he was swarmed by the horrors. I saw one go up in flames, multi-legged limbs burning, then another. But there were many of them and I didn’t know if he could prevail.

  I didn’t wait to find out.

  “Let’s go,” I said, peeling away a section of webbing and clearing the path for us.

  “I’ll go first,” Davril said. I had to admit I liked his gallantry.

  Sword leading the way, he stepped forward down the dark, misty, spiderweb-filled lane as demonic screams sounded behind us, as well as the eerie wailing and hissing of the terrible arachnids.

  Davril and I rounded a bend to come face to face with a true terror, a spider twice as large as any of the others we’d encountered. Its carapace was stained with age, and madness glimmered in its many red eyes. One had a scar through it.

  “The queen,” Davril said.

  His sword darted out just as it pounced. Its fangs sank into his forearm even as his blade stabbed through its head and punched out the other side, showering gore. He grunted as it bit into him, and I could see blood gushing down his arm.

  “Davril!” I said, rushing forward.

  The spider quivered, ichor running down from the wound and hissing on the ground. With a sound of disgust, I heaved it off Davril’s sword. He helped, shoving against it with one foot as he drew his sword back. He panted raggedly, sounding more tired then he should. When the great spider had collapsed dead to the ground, I wheeled to Davril.

  His face suddenly clammy, he sank to his knees.

  “Jade…”

  My heart wrenched. “God, Davril, what…” I stared at the wound on his arm. Yellow fluid bubbled there, mixing with his blood. “Damn,” I said. “Venom.”

  Chapter 13

  I dropped to my knees beside him.

  In the background, the demon Mortock unleashed another bellow. Somewhere, a spider shrieked, but I had eyes only for Davril. He stared at me stoically, but I could see the pain tightening his face. Also, I could tell he was growing weaker.

  “Jade,” he said. “Leave. Go now.”

  “But…”

  “There’s nothing more you can do.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “You’ll die, Jade. Go now while you can. Soon the spiders will be back, and Mortock, too.”

  “They can’t go beyond the cemetery, though. Right?” When he nodded weakly, I said, “Then that settles it.”

  I shoved myself under one of his armpits and heaved upward. With a groan, he stood, leaning against me for support.

  “Now just one step in front of the other,” I said.

  I marched forward, letting him lean on me as we went. I tried not to let him see how scared or worried I was. God, he couldn’t die now. Well, not ever, hopefully, but not now, just when I was beginning…well, never mind.

  We reached the fence, and I paused. I stared skeptically at the top of it, then at Davril, his face hanging right by mine. His eyes were half closed, and his cheeks were turning yellow. I had to be swift.

  “Screw going over the top,” I murmured.

  Mortock’s fireballs gave me an idea. Saying a quick spell, I withdrew a certain feather from a pouch, set it along the wall, and then snapped my fingers. The feather exploded in purple flames, and bits of rock and metal hurled everywhere. I raised an invisible shield to protect us. It only lasted a few seconds, but that was enough. Coughing on the dust cloud, we stumped out into the real world—or at least, my world—alley, then kept going.

  When I looked back, the cemetery was gone, replaced by the streets and alleys of the city.

  Wheezing, I managed to bring Davril to Lady Kay on the street. Perhaps seeing how badly her master was wounded, she opened her doors even before I could reach her, and I carefully lowered Davril into the backseat. His chest was very warm, and clammy sweat beaded his cheeks and forehead.

  “Jade…” he muttered, and I lingered, thinking he was trying to tell me something. But he just rolled his head and said it again, as if in a dream. “Jade…”

  I pulled myself up, closed the door and slid behind the wheel.

  “To, uh…” I tried to think of a destination. At last I settled for: “Lady Kay, take us to Davril’s home.”

  Please, I thought. Please be as alive as I think you are.

  The engine rumbled to life, the wings unfolded,
and Lady Kay rose into the air. I tried to fight that same giddy feeling I’d felt the first time as the streets and buildings realigned around me. I put my hands on the wheel, but the truth was I had no idea where to go. I couldn’t steer Lady Kay back to the palace. That place was infiltrated by the enemy, whoever they were. Was Mistress Angela working with anyone? The evidence seemed to suggest she was. And I couldn’t take him to a human hospital. They would be clueless in the face of magical venom.

  The only other place I could think of was wherever Davril lived; I didn’t think it was the palace. He didn’t strike me as the type who would live in someone else’s home. Hopefully Lady Kay knew where to go.

  She did.

  I gasped as, after navigating our way through the city, we approached a castle perched atop one of the highest skyscrapers in Manhattan. My belly flipflopped, watching the moonlight bathe its handsome towers, proud gray walls, and great metal gate. Ivy covered much of it, hugging its ancient, pitted walls. Coming close, I could see the great age of this place. Whoever lived here—and I was beginning to realize who that was—must have brought the structure over with them from the Fae Lands. The building looked scarred and blackened in spots, and I could just tell it had seen a great deal of battle. There were patches and assorted colors of stone in certain sections, hinting at hasty repairs. Some of it was lumpy and uneven, and I could sense a general sort of gloom or neglect hanging over it. It had a strange sense of…well, sadness. But it was handsome and commanding for all that.

  Frowning, I turned back to Davril. “Davril,” I said, tempted to poke him. “Is that…can this be your castle?”

  He only moaned and muttered something beneath his breath, so I turned back to Lady Kay.

  “Lady Kay, is this place…his?”

  If she understood, she gave no sign. I gasped again as the great gate yawned overhead, revealing a dark interior lit with only a few braziers. As I flew in, I realized it was the courtyard, but shadows from tall, twisted trees drenched most of it. The lord of the castle had even brought soil and trees from the Fae Lands. They weren’t like anything I’d ever seen before.

  Knights rushed down from the walls and met us as Lady Kay settled onto the ground. I climbed out, opened the back door, and tried to drag Davril out. He was heavy, and I strained my back to get him halfway out. A knight arrived and helped me. We laid him on the ground.

  “Get back,” said a voice, and I saw the knights who had gathered around part like the Red Sea, and four women in white cut through them. All were beautiful and blonde, and one said, “Out of the way.”

  Nurses, I thought. Magic-users. Maybe both.

  They knelt over Davril, ushering me back. One took his pulse. Two others readied a stretcher. Then, all working together, they heaved Davril onto the stretcher, lifted him up and carried him toward one of the inner towers. Most were along the wall, but several stood inside it. A particularly tall and white-haired woman had come out to supervise them, and as they disappeared into the tower, she turned to me.

  “You’re not his partner,” she said.

  “He has a partner?”

  “Well…once. Can you tell me what happened to him? Was that venom in his wound?”

  “Yes, spider venom, from the spider queen in the Voris Cemetery.” Fear gathered in my heart, and I had to force the next words out: “Is he going to die?”

  “I’m not sure.” When she saw my crestfallen look, she reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “I think he’ll live,” she added. “Thanks to your quick thinking.”

  I brightened, then impatiently brushed a tear away. “Can I go to him?”

  “Let us heal him first.”

  I studied her. She seemed old—that was, aged. Most of the Fae seemed young—immortal, or practically so. That must mean she was truly ancient, perhaps tens of thousands of years old. The thought dizzied me.

  “Who are you?” I said. “You and the other women?” Around us, the knights were returning to the walls and their other stations; many cast worried glances at the tower the women had taken Davril into.

  “We’re the Sisters of Elshe,” the white-haired Fae said. “I’m Liara. Welcome to Castle Stormguard.”

  I swallowed. “So this is Davril’s castle.”

  She smiled, maybe seeing more than I wanted her to. “That’s right, dear. I don’t think there’s ever been a human here before, so you’re quite unique. Although…” She leaned forward, just slightly, and I saw her nostrils quiver faintly. “You’re not entirely human, are you, girl?”

  “No, uh, ma’am.”

  She nodded, then glanced me over, obviously curious—but not quite enough to ask me. Besides, she had bigger problems.

  “Stay here,” she told me. “I must see to Davril, but I’ll send a sister to you shortly.” She squeezed my shoulder again, and I sensed genuine goodness in her, just a touch of surprise and caution. I immediately liked her, and I was more than curious about her, too. I watched her disappear into the tower. What was going on in there?

  When a knight passed by, I said, “Wait! Who are the Sisters of Elshe?”

  “An ancient Fae order,” he said. “Part of our religion. Healers.”

  With that, he moved off, leaving me to wonder what sort of gods the Fae worshipped. I didn’t have long to think on it, though, for within just a few minutes a “Sister” emerged. Beautiful, blond, and wearing white, she approached me, took my hand, then led me toward one of the other towers—the largest one. Not just a tower, really, but a large building with more than one tower: a tower with a square roof and four more towers.

  “Why aren’t we going into the hospital?” I said. “Or the Order building, or whatever you call it?”

  “Davril needs time to recover,” she said, opening the door for me. Hesitantly, I entered, finding myself inside the foyer of the keep, all stone fireplace and gleaming wooden floors covered in animal hide rugs. Some of the hides looked quite exotic. Suits of armor stood propped in the corners…along with cobwebs. This place could really use a woman’s touch. Davril must not let the Sisters clean his home. Not minding my unease, the Fae woman tugged me up the long flight of stairs, then down a passageway lined with rich tapestries to a room at the end. “You’ll stay here until he’s ready to see you,” she added.

  “But he’s okay?”

  She paused, and a trace of worry flashed across her face. “I think so. The venom was deadly, but we extracted it and have given him powerful healing spells. He should make a full recovery.” Just the same, I could hear doubt in her voice.

  Her fear made me afraid, too. Davril could still be in trouble.

  The woman squeezed my hand sympathetically. “He will be okay,” she said with more confidence than before.

  I smiled at her and tried to hold in my emotions; I could see her doing the same. Now wasn’t the time to dissolve. Moments later, she left, leaving me with the room. It was simple and neat, and I flung myself on the too-comfortable bed and tried not to cry. I wasn’t entirely successful.

  After a few hours, someone knocked on the door. It was Liara, the white-haired Fae. I sat up straight, wiping at my eyes. Perhaps seeing my distress, she came in and wrapped me in a hug. I crushed her against me, sniffling and embarrassed.

  At last, I pulled away. “How is he?”

  “He’s awake,” she said. “And he wants to see you.”

  Chapter 14

  My heart sped up as I approached his room. Liara was escorting me through the high bright halls of the Order of Elshe. Night had ended, and the red light of dawn cast glimmers of fire on the gilded mirrors and paintings. She flung open the door, and I stepped across the threshold.

  Instantly, I gasped. Davril lay propped up in bed, bandages around his forearm and on the cuts and bruises on his torso. He was bare-chested…and he was ripped. His abs went on for days, each one harder than the other. He grimaced when he moved, and I could see his tight skin sliding over that eight-pack and knew he must hurt, but he was still the most masculine thin
g I’d ever seen. His arms were thick and his pecs hard and well-developed. He’d looked powerful in his clothes, but unclothed, he was a downright superman. I have to admit feeling a flutter stir in me at the sight of him.

  Liara cleared her throat behind me. Flushing, I moved into the room, and she closed the door. I turned, but she was gone. It was just Davril and me in the room together. Heart hammering, I went to the window, and he watched me. I couldn’t go to him directly. I just couldn’t. I had to work up to it.

  The room was all of stone and wood, but the bed looked comfortable and some scented candles flickered in a candelabra shaped like a deer head, each candle jutting from what would have been an antler. Instantly, I was reminded of the golden antler. Turning away, I looked through the window. The city was laid out before me, glimmering and beautiful. I couldn’t believe I was in a fricking castle on top of a fricking skyscraper, locked in a room with a heroic knight, lord of the castle himself.

  Slowly, I swiveled away from the window to find Davril still watching me. He seemed to have endless patience.

  I went to him. Gently, I sat down on the bed beside him and touched his wounded arm. His skin was hot, and an electric thrill ran through me.

  “How do you feel?” I asked, hoping he didn’t hear the hiccup in my voice

  Was there a grin tugging around his mouth? “I feel fine,” he said, and sat up straighter. When he did, his pecs jumped. Feeling my face grow warm, I wondered if he’d adjusted his position just so they would.

  If so, it worked.

  Swallowing, I said, “I was…worried about you.”

  “I thought I was just a ‘stupid cop’.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That was yesterday.”

  He grinned, and it was a real grin this time. “A lot has happened since then, hasn’t it?”

  I nodded. My hand was still very near his arm, and I could feel his heat. His large chest rose as he breathed, and his eyes bored into mine. Despite myself, my core turned molten.

  I had to look away. Don’t get involved, I told myself. The last thing you need is that. Focus on Ruby. Focus on saving Ruby. Everything else is a distraction.