by Finley Aaron
“I hate to wake you, but it’s dark and we need to get going.”
It takes me a couple of disoriented seconds to realize I must have fallen asleep. Time has passed. The day is gone and night has come. Ion’s lips are dangerously close to my cheek as he whispers next to my ear, and it takes me a few more seconds to fight the urge to kiss him.
But my morning breath is probably horrendous.
That’s the only thing that keeps me from breaking my earlier promise.
We rise and drink deeply from the water that has welled up, then we climb out of the hole, and I stand back while Ion changes into a dragon and refills the hole with sand. I’d love to help him, but frankly, I’d only be in the way in human form. And when I try, again, to change into a dragon, I can’t.
Ion makes quick work of the project and then bundles me back into a yellow silk wrap with his spare clothes, the comb, and the cup all tucked securely between the folds. I resist the urge to kiss him, but as he flies me north toward home, I almost wish I’d given in to the impulse.
After all, when am I going to see him again once he leaves me with my parents? If I never regain the ability to change into a dragon, I won’t be able to sneak away and visit him, not unless I can convince one of my fellow dragons to fly me there. And with half my siblings now married and expecting children, my odds of that are not promising.
So is it any surprise that, when Ion lands on the King’s Tower in my mountain village home, as he’s unwrapping me from the curtains, I turn to face him, hoping to kiss him one last time, quickly, before we face my parents.
But even as my lips graze his, I realize this is not going to be a quick kiss. I care so much for Ion, more than I can put into words. And the feelings that surge through me when our lips lock—I’m not even going to attempt to describe them. For a few who-knows-how-long seconds, I’m lost in the indescribable connection between us.
Then two things happen almost simultaneously, with a suddenness that takes my breath away.
One is that my father swoops down as if out of nowhere, (granted, I might have seen him coming had I not been completely absorbed in what I was doing) breathing a huge cloud of furious fire.
The second is that, even as the first licking flames almost reach us, Ion’s dragon wings shoot out from his shoulder blades, wrapping around both of us in a bat-like fire-proof barrier.
For a moment, Ion and I are staring at each other inside the protective shell he wrapped around us, in a strange space lit by the light of my father’s fury as it glows through the thin skin of Ion’s wings. And we exchange a look that says “here it comes,” “well, that was fast,” and even “I love you no matter what happens.” Also, I probably threw in a “thank you for covering me with your wings because mine don’t work right now.” Yeah, I must have, because I see a little glimmer of, “I’ve got you covered. I would never let anyone hurt you, not if I can stop them.”
Dragon eyes are very expressive, and can say a lot, even without words. Especially when two dragons know each other well.
As Ion and I are starting to know each other well.
Hardly has that thought passed through my mind when we turn to face my father, who has transformed back into a human, presumably just so he can yell at us.
“How dare you defile my daughter? Don’t touch her!” Dad swats at Ion’s hand, which is linked with mine.
Ion releases my hand and pulls free just far enough so that my father doesn’t hit either of us. As my dad spins, pacing away angrily, Ion grabs my hand again and winks.
I would wink back if I wasn’t so terrified, but I do manage to squeeze his hand, as I muster my courage and explain, “It’s not his fault. I went—”
“I’ll deal with you later.” Dad spins and points at me. “Go to your room.”
“No.”
“Go now, for your own safety.”
My dad’s trying to get to Ion, so I stand between them. “I’m not going to let you hurt him.”
Rage and betrayal war in my father’s eyes. “He is the enemy.”
“No, he’s not.”
“He has brainwashed you.” My father looks from me to Ion, and his eyes narrow. “Cunning, deceitful liar. Don’t touch my daughter!”
Again, he swipes at our joined hands. This time, I’m not quick enough to pull away, and the side of his hand grazes my arm where the yagi inflicted their venom. I know he’s not trying to hurt me—he’s after Ion. Normally the grazing touch would hardly be noticeable, but my arm is still tender from the trauma of the yagi wound.
I gasp and pull back, angling my arm and looking past my shoulder to see if he reopened the cut.
“What?” My father looks at me with concern. I glance at him in time to see recognition on his features. He takes gentle hold of my arm and sniffs the wound. His nostrils flare. “Yagi?”
I say nothing, only give the slightest nod.
Ion clears his throat, “I’m sorry—”
But before he can get any further with his planned apology, my father cuts him off, his voice cold with fury. “How could you do this? First my parents, now my daughter? Will you leave me no one?”
“Dad, it’s okay. He didn’t do this, he fixed it. He saved me. If he hadn’t helped me I would be dead. Dad!” I’m tugging on my father’s arm, trying to get his attention, to explain before he hurts Ion.
Fortunately, before my dad does anything too violent, my mom flies over in dragon form, changing back into a human as she lands and runs toward me. “Zilpha!” She pulls me into a hug. “We thought you were dead. Don’t you ever, ever do that to us again.”
“What? You weren’t even supposed to expect me back for two more days.”
“Jala called us on your phone—which she found on a trail between the spy cabin and Ion’s castle. We flew up there and searched for you. Felix and Rilla are still there searching. We only just came back hoping to find some clue here, and now this!” Mom turns from me to face Ion. “This is a new low.”
“He saved my life!” I interject, since both of my parents seem convinced Ion is evil.
“He was kissing her!” My father informs my mom, with a look of sheer hatred and disgust.
Mom makes a face I can’t quite read, beyond that she’s clearly not pleased.
Dad raises his arm dramatically and sprouts his talons. “I have stayed my hand these many years for the sake of peace, but since you have betrayed my trust and defiled my daughter—”
“Daddy, no!” I reach for his arm as he swings toward Ion’s neck, but my mom grabs me and pulls me back, even as Ion changes into a dragon and swings his tail at my dad.
As both men roar billowing fire behind us, my mom pushes me into the safety of the tower’s stone changing room.
Much as I want to stay and convince my dad that Ion isn’t evil, I know there’s no reasoning with him right now. And since I can’t change into a dragon, it would be dangerous for me to stay outside. Besides, my mom has the best shot of talking some sense into my father. Perhaps the most helpful thing I can do for Ion right now, is to convince Mom to take Ion’s side.
“Ion saved my life—”
Mom cuts me off before I get any further. “Where have you been? Jala said you went to Ion’s castle on purpose. Did you lie to us?”
“How much has Jala told you?”
Mom crosses her arms over her chest. “It doesn’t matter what Jala told us. What matters is that you start telling the truth—right now.”
I’m distracted by the sounds of fighting beyond the doorway, and I glance over my mother’s shoulder, trying to see if Ion is okay. He’s got to be tired from flying here carrying me. And I don’t think Ion actually wants to hurt my father, whereas Dad would gladly kill Ion, which puts Ion at a distinct disadvantage.
“Zilpha!” Mom grabs my shoulder and turns me to face her. “You’d better start talking right now, Young Lady.”
“Okay, Mom, look. It’s a really long story. Ion is not the evil guy everyone thinks he is.”
“He’s bewitched you.”
“No! Do you want me to talk, or are you going to keep interrupting me?” I sidestep my mother to look out again. Dad and Ion are both high in the air, breathing fire and slashing at each other, and swinging their tails around. I’d fly out there this second and try to get between them, but I can’t.
“Zilpha—”
“Mom, please. Stop Dad from killing Ion. You’re the only one he’ll listen to.”
Outside, Dad swipes at Ion, who raises his arm to block the blow.
Blood drips from his arm.
“Mom, please.” I might be starting to cry.
“Why should I?”
“He saved my life.” Okay, yeah, I’m totally sobbing. “Do you honest and truly from the bottom of your heart believe Ion is evil and deserves to die?”
Mom bites her lip, but says nothing.
“Go out there and save his life. I can’t do it. Please. Get Dad to calm down and I promise I’ll tell you everything.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mom gives me a reluctant look that says I better not be stringing her along or brainwashing her, too. But she goes.
She leaps into the air, morphing into a dragon and tackling my dad out of the sky. They disappear behind some buildings, and Ion flies back to the tower, landing with one hand clutching his injured arm.
I dart out and grab the yellow silk curtain. “You should probably stay a dragon for now,” I tell him as I start to wrap the fabric around his injury, which fortunately doesn’t look too deep, though it is long and bleeding profusely.
But Ion shakes his head and changes. “It’s too exhausting,” he apologizes, panting, his throat raspy and dry.
“Hold this,” I tell him. Once his fingers are on the silk, I run to the tower changing room which has running water, though I don’t see any cups. There’s a crock holding hairbrushes and combs, which I dump out, rinse once, and fill with water, running back to Ion and trying not to spill too much.
Thankfully it’s a large container. Ion guzzles the water down, “Please, more.” He passes the empty crock back to me.
I run and fill it again. This time, as he drinks more slowly, I secure a swath of silk like a bandage around his arm. “This needs to be stitched up properly.”
“I’ve had worse and always healed.” Ion reminds me before drinking the last of the water. He finishes just as my parents reappear, morphing into human form as they land.
“You deserve to die.” My father points at Ion, his eyes like blue ice. “And you will die. But I have consented to hear your story first.”
While he’s talking, I hear footsteps coming up the tower steps, accompanied by the sound of clanking metal. I step out of the way as four villagers emerge from the doorway carrying heavy chains and shackles.
The men are from the village security squad, a sort of local police-and-fire-brigade-safety-force-plus-royal-guard, all rolled into one. Our village doesn’t require much in the way of law enforcement since we have my dad as dragon king. The security squad is there mostly to deal with nuisance issues, and also to keep an eye out for threats to us dragons—though for the most part, we dragons protect ourselves.
But they serve a purpose now. The four men approach Ion, each taking a limb, clamping his wrists and ankles in the shackles.
“Daddy, please.” It’s too awful, seeing Ion in chains like this. The weight of the shackles weighs on him the instant the guards drop his arms.
“It’s this or death.” My father raises an eyebrow, inviting me to choose.
“Ion saved my life.” I make one last, imploring argument, but my father has already gestured for the men to lead Ion away.
“Oh, I honestly doubt that, Zilpha.” My dad steps past me, following Ion and the safety squad down the steps.
“It’s okay,” Mom grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “He’s alive. The truth will come out.”
“Why does Daddy have to be so awful to him?” I let my mom pull me down the stairs.
“Honestly, I was surprised your father consented so quickly to letting Ion live. He must be curious to hear his story. We need to hear your story as well. But, first things first, you need a shower and food.”
“Ion needs food.” We’re not so far behind the men, and when we reach the street below, I observe which direction they go.
“Don’t worry about him. We’ll take care of him.”
We walk in silence. I’m trying to think if there’s something I could do to help Ion. But also, I just feel terrible. Ion said my father hated him and wanted to kill him. In my experience, my father is a loving man. To be honest, even though he’s a dragon and I’ve seen him in action fighting yagi before, I did not think he could be that cruel.
I shudder. “I don’t know why you have to chain him up. Where are they taking him?”
The men disappear through a doorway in the foot of the mountain that houses our family fortress. For the first time, I realize I have no idea what lies beyond that door. That may seem strange, but there are many doors in this village, and most of them are private homes and businesses, even at the foot of the mountain. And I’ve been living in the United States for nine months out of every year since I was fourteen.
“They’re taking him to a secure place,” Mom answers after a telling pause.
I glance at her face quickly enough to glimpse the guilty look she tries, too late, to hide. “It’s a dungeon, isn’t it? There’s a dungeon below our home?” We’re walking up the steps to the house now.
“It’s an old…” Mom struggles to find a euphemism, and fails. “Okay, yes, it’s a dungeon. You don’t know about it because we’ve never had to use it before. Local criminals go to the jail.”
“Why can’t Ion go to the jail?”
“It won’t hold him.”
“And you think the dungeon will?”
“Yes. It will.” My mom holds the door while I step inside to the comfort of our home. I can’t help wondering what it’s like where they took Ion.
I want to argue with her, or probe for more information, or something, but she’s got me by the arm and is leading me toward the bathroom I share with my sisters. “I want you to go get cleaned up. I’m going to get you something to eat.”
“Ion needs something to eat,” I remind her. Dragons are always ravenous when they change back from dragon form, especially if they’ve been flying or fighting. Ion has done both. And I don’t think he’s had anything to eat since we left Madagascar.
“I told you, we’ll take care of him.” Mom closes the bathroom door after me.
Alone, I mutter to myself, “That’s not exactly reassuring.”
Knowing there’s nothing I can do to help Ion right now, I go ahead and shower. Because of my injury, I’ve basically been asleep for the last six days straight, give or take a few brief stretches of being awake. But I feel as though I’ve mostly recovered from the wound the yagi inflicted, other than, you know, not being able to change into a dragon, and the fact that the site of the gash is still tender.
But other than that, I feel plenty alert, like I’ve banked enough sleep I could stay awake for a long time now, if I needed to.
Which is probably a good thing, because it’s still morning and my parents want to talk to me, and I have every intention of finding the dungeon and visiting Ion, though of course I won’t be able to do that until I’ve finished talking to my parents.
Much as I’d love to put off what promises to be an uncomfortable conversation, I’m starving. As soon as I finish my shower, I follow my nose to the kitchen, where my mom has just brought in a couple of roasted goats from the outdoor grill pit.
“Two?” I ask, at first wondering how much she expects me to eat, but then quickly realizing who the second one must be for. “Is one for Ion?” I grab a plate and a knife, and saw off a hindquarter.
“One is for your father. He’s still extremely upset.”
“I have half a mind to go down there and kill hi
m yet,” Dad announces, arriving in the kitchen just after I’ve sat down to eat, as I’m shoving a huge bite in my mouth.
My mouth full, I can’t argue with him—which is probably for the best.
Dad carves a hunk of meat for himself, then gestures with the knife, pointing the end toward me from across the room like an accusing, steely finger. “Your sister’s egg is due to hatch in a matter of weeks, Ram and Nia’s egg shortly after that. Our family is vulnerable right now. For the next several years, with baby hatchlings to protect, we need to stay close and avoid all unnecessary conflict.” He carries his plate over to the table where I’m eating. “That you would even think of stirring up trouble at a time like this? It borders on treason.” He slams the plate down so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t break. “It is treason. I’d put you down in that dungeon with that criminal, except I don’t want you anywhere near him.” He grabs the goat leg and starts gnawing meat angrily.
I’m done chewing now. In fact, my appetite isn’t nearly what it was. I hadn’t thought about the possibility of my actions endangering my siblings’ kids. But then, I know Ion isn’t dangerous. “He’s not a criminal.”
Dad gulps down the bite of meat in his mouth. “It’s because of him my parents are dead. Did he tell you that?”
“He did. And I’m sorry. But it’s really not his fault. Even if you’d flown back to town, you couldn’t have helped them.”
“Helped them? They’re dead because he led their murderers here.”
“He didn’t know he was being followed. It’s not like he did it on purpose.”
“He did! He did it exactly on purpose. He was working in league with them.” Dad speaks with vehemence, then tears into his meat again.
His words beat with such angry force inside my head, for a moment, I almost wonder if Dad is correct. Ion’s a liar. He told me as much—didn’t even try to hide that fact. So maybe he lied when he told me what happened. Maybe he left out the part about being in league with the dragons who killed my grandparents.