Scales and Flames

by Catherine Banks

  Five

  A few weeks went by with little getting done. Jeana brought back tanning spray to darken our skin and contacts to dull the color of our eyes. The longer we walked around with extra makeup on, the more I was starting to get sick of hiding. Asyl and I resigned ourselves to staying in our human forms. Eddy and Jake asked if it would be a good idea to design saddles for our Dragon forms. I decided it would be a good idea and was excited to help. It was fun being able to create something instead of simply tracking veins of ore. Abraham and his two Bible friends came by wanting to speak with Jeb about the history of the property. Abraham kept insisting that the Lord told him this is the land to be used for the cleansing. Jeb kept declining, saying that no such thing would ever be on his land. Undeterred, Abraham kept trying to convince him time and time again. Today was just such a day.

  “They’re back,” I stated, my voice void of emotion. I looked out the front window and watched as Jeremy and Daniel got out of their pickup and walked toward us. “What are they doing back here again? Can’t they take a hint?”

  “Obviously not.” Jeb's tone matched my own. “Let's go see if their demands have changed.”

  An hour later, Jeremy and Daniel left, pissed off because Jeb refused again.

  Late into the night, I climbed the stairs heading to bed. Sam was sound asleep in the bed, looking peaceful. I wasn't tired enough to go to sleep, so I headed down to the kitchen to get some water. Jeana was in the kitchen with Mark talking about Abraham. Jeana was in her pink plaid pajamas and Mark was in dark blue sweats. I glanced at the clock right outside the kitchen door and wondered why they were still awake. As I walked into the kitchen, Jeana looked up and smiled, waving me over.

  “Mark says Dragons have better instincts then Fae, so I have to ask. Why do you think he keeps pushing to set up out here?”

  I sat down on one of the chairs on the far side of the table, running my hands through my hair. “I think he's fishing for information. It seems like he knows that we know more about the situation then he likes. Using the property would benefit him more then he knows because we are here. Being all the way out here will keep us away from the humans so they do not get harmed. It would also make it so no one would see his cruelty first hand. Then again, if that Succubus was here we would free her in an instant. And anyway, Jeb hasn’t been able to get any details out of that idiot.”

  Mark reached across the table and placed his hand on my arm. “You look tired and stressed. Is everything alright?”

  I looked in his eyes, I could see his worry in them. My skin had a fake tan color now. I missed the silver tint. “I'm fine. I'm tired, but only physically. I'm worried about all the people that got forced over here like us. I can't get the Succubus out of my mind. What if there are others out there going through that? What if it’s our families?”

  The sadness in Mark's eyes matched my own. “Amanda is the same way. She paces in her room now. She refuses to sleep. She can't get the sight of the Succubus out of her head either.”

  We all sat in silence as the minutes ticked by, lost in our own thoughts. I glanced at the clock and realized the sun would be up soon. I let out a long sigh. “We all need to get some—”

  A loud crash upstairs cut me off. All three of us jumped from our seats and rushed for the stairs. We could hear a struggle going on above us and I feared which room it was coming from. There were only three people upstairs, Jeb, Margret and Sam. Jeb and Margret were on the top floor, while the crash sounded like it was on the second, where Sam was. My bedroom door was cracked open so we all rushed in.

  Four people stood by the window. The first was Sam, who looked unconscious, and two men clothed in black were holding him up. I could smell that there was a lot of blood in the room. The last one was chanting, her voice low and melodic, weaving her spell around them.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I let lose an animalistic roar that I hadn't uttered since we had gotten to this cursed realm. I put all my fear and pain into it. Asyl's answering roar thundered from outside of the house. The mage faltered a bit in her spell but it was not enough to disrupt it. I heard Mark uttering his own spell next to me as I rushed forward to silence the damned woman. She smiled at me, her dark brown eyes revealed her triumph, as she completed her spell and all three of the assailants vanished, taking Sam with them.

  Rage and despair consumed me. I could hear everyone frantically moving around me but all I could see was the triumphant smile on that mage's face, and Sam, hanging unconscious, between two masked men. I took a deep breath and once again, the smell of blood filtered into my nose. The smell chased away the despair and left only my rage.

  “Enough!” I yelled, and everyone froze. “There's blood in here but it's not Sam's.”

  “She's right. Let’s track them.” Asyl's voice was calm but I could hear the deadly undertones. Turning, I watched Jeana try to control a shiver as she looked from me to my brother. I breathed in deeply and smelled her fear. Amanda started chanting, and soon all the blood in the room illuminated. I went over to the spot near the window, I breathed in deeply again but I didn’t recognize the scent.

  Amanda started humming and I turned to look at her. Her eyes were closed and she was swaying back and forth slightly. She stopped suddenly and her eyes flew open. “He is with Abraham.”

  “Are you certain?” Jeb asked as he came in and stood beside her.

  She nodded in response. “What I don’t understand is why a mage is helping him?”

  “I don’t know. We will have to pay a visit to Abraham to ask and get him back.”

  Rage was coursing through my veins while my body shook. “No. Only Asyl and I will go.”

  “No. You have to take someone else to help get Sam out while you deal with the idiots. I'll go, too,” Mark said confidently. “You never know when you could use some magic on your side.”

  I looked over my shoulder at him and I could see the deep hatred in his eyes. There was inner fire that made his green eyes even brighter through the contacts. I glanced over at Jeana and Amanda standing near each other. Amanda looked as pissed as Mark, but I noticed Jeana looked scared. I walked over to Jeana and placed my hand on her shoulder. She flinched at the contact but didn't pull away.

  “You’ve seen some of our unleashed powers now, and it’s frightening,” I stated calmly. I heard Jeb and Amanda start to talk but continued to focus on Jeana. She began shaking her head, but I gently lifted her chin to look at me. “The fear is natural, we have powers far beyond the average person’s expectation. We are all powerful in our own rights. Amanda will stay here and provide protection for this house while we are gone. Some of us may have a monstrous appearance, but we’ve never stooped so low as to kidnap someone sleeping.” I shook my head and took a step back. Resolve replaced the fear in her eyes. “There's the Jeana Sam’s told me about. If Abraham wants to see monsters, then we'll give him ‘monsters’.” I snarled, beginning to scowl. It took every ounce of control to prevent shifting and take back my mate. I breathed deeply to try to focus my raging temper.

  Jeb placed his hand on my shoulder grabbing my attention. “No, we will all go.” I started to speak, but he cut me off. “Amanda told me she can protect us with a shield. I want to try to convince Abraham to let this crusade go.”

  I looked around at everyone. Amanda and Mark stood close to each other both looked defiant and ready to cause harm, Asyl looked like he was trying not to transform as well, Jeana looked scared but determined, and Jeb had a spark deep in his eyes that I had never seen before.

  I nodded in agreement. “We’ll do it your way.”

  Six

  An hour later, everyone was gathered outside in the early morning sun. We shifted and lay on the ground next to each other to allow Eddy and Jake to put the saddles on us. Shortly after the saddles were secured, everyone started to climb on. Both Asyl and I agreed that flying there would save time. It would also startle Abraham. We hoped it would rattle him enough seeing our true forms to allow us to
grab the Succubus and Sam safely. I watched Jeb and Margret talking by the back of the back door. Margret looked upset with Jeb’s decision to come along. Jeb hugged and kissed his wife before she went back inside and he came over to the rest of us. Jeb didn't want a fight, but if it was necessary, we would fight.

  Once Jeb and Mark were settled on Asyl’s saddle and Jeana and Amanda were settled on mine, Eddy and Jake handed Jeb and Jeana both walkie-talkies and two bags with clothes for both Asyl and myself. I growled impatiently and Mark asked if everyone was ready.

  Asyl moved away from me to take off as Jeb called out, “Dyka, you need to lead the way. Jeana if we get separated, use the walkie-talkie to contact us!”

  Asyl and I both took off from the ground. Asyl circled around to follow me and I started heading toward where we saw Abraham's tent.

  As the tent came into view, I noticed that the lot was packed with cars again. We slowed to a drift. I let out a whine. “There are so many innocents down there, but Sam is being tortured.”

  “What did she say?” Jeana asked Amanda.

  I realized that Asyl and I couldn’t talk in a language that everyone would understand. Amanda leaned down and patted my neck gently. I repeated myself, hoping she spoke draconic. “She's worried about the innocents there, and Sam is being tortured.” I whined louder and Asyl answered my whine with one of his own. “Asyl is more concerned with landing,” Amanda translated. Asyl and I continued to debate on our best approach with Amanda translating. After a few minutes, Asyl let out a roar.

  “What's going on?” Jeana asked nervously.

  “We are going to give them a dramatic show. Hang on,” I heard Amanda reply as Asyl and I dove. We swooped down over the top of the tent, letting loose roars and using our wings to buffet the walls, causing the fabric to shake under the stress. Asyl flew higher to look for a place to land. Screams could be heard from down below as the people within fled the tent. Asyl landed and I went to the top of the tent. I slowed to a stop as I drifted over the top of the tent. I grabbed the tent with my talons, my wings beating strong gusts of wind around as I climbed higher in the sky. It ripped the canvas tent straight up out of the ground with ease. Once it was high in the air, I tossed it to the side in the small but empty field behind where it used to be. I flew back around and landed next to Asyl. I lowered myself to the ground, so the girls could climb off my back.

  Most of the crowd was gone. There were some that had taken cover and were now rooted in place, fear clear in their eyes. I looked past them to the pulpit. Abraham, still standing on the stage, was red with fury, the Succubus looked relieved, and Sam was a bloody mess kneeling at Jeremy and Daniel's feet. The roar that erupted from my chest was a deep and agonizingly painful sound. I hissed at Abraham, getting ready to attack, but Asyl's head nudged me and forced me to back off.

  Abraham came to his senses in the moment it took Asyl to calm me down. “See, my fellow believers! They have come to kill us!” Abraham yelled to his followers.

  “No, we have come for Sam!” Jeb answered him, projecting authority. “This man had people enter my home and kidnapped someone who is like a son! He has attacked innocents that were forced here and are confused. Instead of helping them, he attacked them! He boasted about killing them! These two might be the last of their kind, and if he had his way he would kill them right this second!”

  “Of course, I would! They came here to kill us all! There all demons that need to be sent back to Hell! These creatures are emotionless and will do nothing but slaughter woman and children! I will not—”

  My roar silenced Abraham. I shifted back to my human form, barely registering Amanda and Jeana rushing over, handing me a simple white dress. Asyl followed my lead and Mark had a pair of sweat pants waiting for him. I quickly slid the cloth over my body and rushed up to the stage, not being able to hold myself back from Sam any longer. The others ran after me.

  “So, you’ve come to try to kill me, is that it?” Abraham sneered as I jumped up onto the stage. I went straight to Sam, ignoring the pompous preacher. Daniel and Jeremy backed off to stand next to Abraham as I moved closer. My hands started to roam over Sam, not sure where the start because he was bleeding so much. Amanda knelt right next to me and started chanting in her native language. Soon his wounds started healing, and his breathing was less labored. I knew Sam was going to be okay. Taking a deep breath, I stood up and turn my gaze on Abraham.

  “You could have killed him!” I yelled. “Why did you do this? What the hell did he ever do to you?”

  Abraham's rage was clear in his eyes. I heard the murmurs throughout the small crowd as they saw the tears falling from my eyes. I completely forgot there were still people here. I knew we looked weird to them. Asyl was in nothing but light gray sweat pants, with his dark hair a mess. I knew I looked like a wreck. Amanda was slightly glowing next to Sam, who was healing, and Mark's eyes were glowing jade green orbs, his hair moving like it was alive.

  Abraham laughed. “He's not human! The Lord told me so. Why would I spare the life of an evil and vile creature?”

  I took a step forward, a snarl escaping my lips. Asyl wrapped his arm around my shoulders to hold me in place.

  “I wouldn't speak like that about her mate. I won’t be able to hold her back for much longer,” Asyl said gravely.

  “So, are you going to kill me?”

  “She will do only what is needed to defend her mate. Let him go or I will let her go.”

  “Enough of your lies!” Abraham yelled. “Emilia! Get your ass over here and defend me or the Lord will smite you for your sins!”

  The female mage we saw taking Sam away stepped into view, chanting. Her hands burst into flames as she formed a fireball. Her straight black hair hung to her shoulders, and her dark dress clung to her body from her neck to her ankles.

  Mark stepped around us, grinning. “Geez, that's all you got, mage?” Emilia fired and hit Mark square in the chest. A few women who were still here screamed, but Mark just laughed. “That tickled.”

  Emilia looked interested. “What are you?” Mark's red hair burst into flame and his skin turned a dark orange color. “Shit, Abraham, he's a fire Fae!” A burst of light came from behind me. I knew Amanda was letting her glamour fall as well. “And the woman is a light Fae! I am not strong enough to fight them. Dragons maybe, but not Fae.” Emilia’s voice held fear as she started to back away.

  I turned to glance at Sam and Amanda and noticed her hair was pure light and her skin had an ethereal glow to it. As I started to turn my face back toward the mage, I watched a dagger fly past my face. I lifted my hand and felt the blood on my skin. Glaring at the mage, I noticed that Jeremy and Daniel were next to her.

  “Who attacked Sam?” I asked brazenly.

  Jeremy stuck out his chest and grinned widely. “Wouldn’t you like to know, you little bitch?”

  I smiled evilly. “I'm going to end you first, because your smart mouth pisses me off.”

  I shifted into a half form. My hands became talons, scales covered my skin, and wings sprouted from my back. I could feel my incisors lengthening and a tail grew stretching the fabric of my dress causing small tears that went up to my hips. Asyl followed suit, shifting in the same manner as I did. Emilia started shooting fireballs at us as we shifted but Mark blocked them, then charged at the mage. Jeremy and Daniel pulled out guns and started shooting at us. We had to quickly dodge out of the way of the bullets.

  Quickly turning to see if Amanda and Sam were alright, I noticed that she had conjured a shield around them. One arm extended out, she was creating another smaller shield around a small group of four terrified humans off to the side. I charged at Jeremy and slashed at his head. He dodged out of the way and I took a bullet to my shoulder. Roaring with rage, I tackled him to the ground and pinned him down with my claws. I took his head in my clawed hands and snapped his neck. I looked around and saw Asyl sparring with Daniel. I could tell Asyl didn’t need any help, so I turned to Mark.

  Mark
and Emilia were in a fiery dance of punches and jabs. Emilia shot a fire ball at Amanda’s shield. Mark countered by breaking her nose. Her fireball struck the shield over the humans and it ricocheted soaring into the tree above them. The tree burst into flames at the same time Amanda's shield went down. The humans below continued to scream, and I knew what my next move was. Giving one last look at Emilia, I rushed over, my dress ripping as I changed into my Dragon form. I stretched my wing out as best I could to make it easier for them to climb up onto my back. Once everyone was settled on my spine, I backed away from the tree and took off into the air.

  I glanced down and watched as Asyl snapped Daniel's head to the side, breaking his neck. Emilia ran back to Abraham, chanting while she fled from Mark’s relentless attack. Mark hurled a fire ball at her back. He missed her and readied another as she wrapped her arms around Abraham’s waist. Mark hurled another fireball but Emilia and Abraham were gone before it could reach them. Instead, the fireball struck a nearby tree as the wind was picking up. The wind spread the embers causing the fire to quickly escalate.

  Asyl took off his sweats and shifted quickly, while Mark tried to control the raging fire and Jeana helped Sam and the Succubus off the stage. Amanda gathered the discarded clothing and they all piled onto Asyl's back. Asyl picked up a corpse in each of his front claws. As we flew off toward the town, one of the people on my back lost their grip and fell but as he was falling, I caught him with my tail and hovered, easing him back onto by back.

  “Asyl, I need to land. These people are too scared to stay on me,” I whined at him.

  “Alright. We need to find a safe place to land. Make sure you descend slowly. We don't want anyone else falling,” he agreed. We flew lower to the ground and slowed down. We were at the border of the city when we landed and lowered ourselves, so everyone could dismount.