Dragon's Curse (Heir of Dragons: Book 2)

by Sean Fletcher

  Jade put a finger up and they paused. After a moment, she motioned them forward.

  “We’re the first ones here,” she said.

  “At least in the lower level,” Edwin added. “I’m not sensing any magic charms.”

  They moved slowly, Jade and Maddox always keeping one step ahead of them despite Kaylee trying to nudge her way forward. They found a door marked ‘Gallery’. Through this was the navigational instruments display, and at the end, stairs to the first floor.

  “Now what?” Kaylee whispered into the dim.

  “We wait,” Jade answered. “Edwin, you should probably set alarm charms back in the unloading room. That’s the only entrance down here. Kaylee and I—”

  A loud thump from the floor above cut her off. They waited, but only silence followed.

  “Are you sure the Convocation’s the only one in here?” Kaylee said.

  “We should be,” Maddox said, but he didn’t sound so confident anymore. “The scouts haven’t reported any Slayer movement.”

  “The Slayers should have approached by now,” Edwin muttered. “They’ve got the cover of darkness. What are they waiting for?”

  “Maybe they don’t need to break in,” Maddox said.

  The thought made Kaylee shiver. “I’m going to check upstairs.”

  She made it to the foot of the stairs before Jade caught her arm.

  “We stay down here!” she hissed.

  “There’s no one down here. I’m just taking a look. What if Alastair and the others need help? What if we could be doing something?”

  “Then Alastair would have asked us. Like he said, just because we’re on this mission doesn’t mean we have to be in the thick of—Maddox!”

  “Just taking a peek,” Maddox said, slipping past them. “Edwin’s setting the charms to cover our back.”

  Kaylee hurried up after him, Jade following with some truly murderous muttering under her breath.

  The first-floor entrance was shadowed and silent. A statue of a giant sloth sat on a habitat re-creation in the center. The second-floor balcony ringed above, while across and catty-corner were the stairway entrances to the Ancient Sea Creatures and Ancient Weapons halls.

  “We’re all clear,” Maddox whispered.

  Kaylee held up a hand. In a moment she’d shifted her ear, amplifying the quiet around her. The sounds of the sleeping museum echoed in her head. The gentle creak of the strained lines holding the displays up; the whirr of the air conditioning.

  There. Kaylee cocked her ear. Above to her left. The sound of pattering feet on tile. A soft cry of pain, quickly swallowed by the eerie silence. The more Kaylee listened the more she got the impression that an entire silent battle was being fought all around them.

  Then she saw the body.

  The security guard’s prostrate form stuck out to her once her eyes had completely adjusted. He lay face down in front of the giant sloth statue, covered in blood.

  “Cover me.”

  In a second, Kaylee had slid in quietly next to the man and placed her finger on his pulse. Alive. Barely. A single large gash on his head oozed blood.

  Jade slipped beside her, eyes narrowed darkly on the wound. “Our guys would never do this.”

  “Grab his other arm,” Kaylee said. Jade did. Together they tugged him over to a frantically waving Maddox still at the stairs.

  “Are you crazy? I just wanted to look, not stick our heads out!”

  “See if Edwin can heal him,” Kaylee said.

  She sensed the movement before she saw it; felt the spark of magic running up her spine a second before an orange blaze of light erupted towards them.

  “Found some!” A man shouted.

  Kaylee didn’t have time to shout a warning. On instinct she dragged her arm up, pulling together a burst of lightning that sliced the orb hurtling towards her in two.

  It wasn’t enough.

  Half the orb struck the ground near Kaylee and blew her back into the center of the hall. Her feet skittered for grip on the tile, her eyes searching for her attackers. Four shadows stood out on the railing above her. One of the figures pointed and another orange glow began to swell in his hand. But he didn’t aim it at her.

  “Jade!”

  Jade still hadn’t recovered from the first attack. The next attack flew towards her.

  Kaylee leapt in front of her and managed to knock it away. The orb slammed into the giant sloth, exploding with a brilliant light and sending shockwaves of sound thundering throughout the entire museum.

  There was a pause.

  Then a battle erupted from every direction. It was as if Kaylee had fired the starting gun to begin the secret fight in earnest.

  “Move!”

  Jade pulled Kaylee to the opposite stairway as the Slayers on the second floor were attacked by members of the Convocation. Down the north hall, more shouting rose above the clang of metal on metal and shouted spells.

  Jade caught Kaylee as she stumbled again. Her arm felt heavy and burned, the scales buzzing with unpleasant magic. The air smelled charred. Deflecting the blast had taken more out of her than she’d thought.

  “Stay with me!” Jade hissed as footsteps pounded down the stairs towards them. Kaylee followed her, shaking her arm every few seconds to get the feeling back. They passed through the Ancient Sea Creatures exhibit; around a display case of Megaladon teeth and through the rib cage of a Liopleurodon. The exit bisected the planetarium and narrower Ancient Tribes exhibit. This part of the museum seemed empty.

  “In there.”

  Jade paused to check around the corner, then waved them into the Ancient Tribes exhibit. When they finally slowed to a walk Kaylee could barely make out the distant thumps and bangs of the battle overhead.

  “How does it feel?” Jade said.

  Kaylee shook her arm again. The singed sensation was still there, but at least she could move it.

  “It’s my job to protect you, not the other way around,” Jade said.

  “Darn. Guess you’ll have to start keeping track.”

  “Can’t. I left the score cards at home.”

  Another prickling feeling started at the base of Kaylee’s neck. They’d just passed through the atrium of the Ancient Tribes exhibit and entered a half circular room. Against one wall was a scene of three cavemen fending off a pair of saber-tooth cats. The rest of the walls were glass displays filled with arrowheads, spears, and something called an unbreakable knife. Prehistoric birds hung on thin metal wires overhead.

  “Let’s get back to the others,” Jade was saying. “I’m sure the Slayers are running their own interference while they go for the book. We just need to stay out of their way long enough to get back to our position.”

  Kaylee whipped around. The prickling sensation had grown, sending more shivers down her arms. She didn’t see any Slayers. The sounds of battle were still as muffled and distant as ever.

  “Trouble?” Jade said.

  “I’m not sure,” Kaylee said.

  “You still have Dani’s map? I think this hall connects—”

  One of the saber-tooths moved. Its glass eyes glinted their direction as its powerful body stepped off the display towards them.

  Kaylee’s voice had lodged in her throat. “Jade—”

  “Hold on. I’ve almost got the map out—”

  “Run!”

  The saber-tooth pounced. Kaylee sprang to the side and the creature brushed past her, carrying the scent of stale fur and plaster. As she landed, Kaylee crouched and spun—just as the saber-tooth attacked again. Vicious fangs tried to sink into her throat but Kaylee blocked with a scaled arm. The cat’s jaws clamped around it, inches from her neck. Its claws skittered on the tile, swiping for her exposed skin. One claw caught her shoulder, and her eyes watered with silent agony.

  Just as Kaylee’s arm was about to give there was a dull thump and the saber-tooth’s weight was lifted off her. Jade leapt after the cat as it was pushed off, continuing to drive her knife into the anima
l’s side. The saber-tooth swiped but Jade yanked her knife out and stabbed again.

  “It’s not alive!” Kaylee gasped, getting to her feet. “Edwin told me about this. A Slayer’s animating it.”

  “You mean like that guy?” Jade pointed. A man had stepped from behind an exhibit and was calmly walking towards them. He held two magicked gauntlets ahead of him, carving blazing runic symbols in the air.

  “And here I thought I’d have the boring job tonight,” the man said.

  “I’ll handle the saber-tooth,” Kaylee muttered, eyeing the cat as it prowled around them. “You deal with Mr. Power Trip over there.”

  They split as the saber-tooth pounced again.

  Kaylee slid around the display of a caveman hunting. She wrenched the spear from the display’s hands (really hoping this guy didn’t come to life, too) and gripped it close.

  The saber-tooth leapt over the display and Kaylee drew back and swung. The spear snapped on impact and what felt like a ton of fur and fangs collapsed on her. Magic burned the air, singeing the saber-tooth’s skin. The cat’s next swipe missed and Kaylee kicked out, using a burst of wind to propel her to safety.

  “Any time now, Jade!” she yelled.

  “Trying!” Jade flipped over another bolt of magic the Slayer lobbed at her. Every time she drew close the man would fire another blast, sending her scrambling for cover.

  Then Kaylee remembered the birds. The Slayer was now standing directly beneath them.

  “Look up!”

  Jade did. She grinned, wound up, and threw her knife. The blade whipped through the air, snipping the cords. The Slayer had only a second to cry out before the display smothered him.

  The saber-tooth slammed into Kaylee’s side. She expected sharp teeth tearing into her skin, but nothing happened. She waited a second longer for it to move but the cat had gone stiff. After another moment, Kaylee managed to shift it off her. The saber-tooth had transformed back into its display position, now with the addition of multiple stab wounds and a chipped tooth.

  Jade helped her up. “Good thinking.”

  “Good throw.”

  The last prehistory bird display snapped its line and smashed to the floor below. One of the cavemen toppled over.

  “We should…probably go,” Jade said.

  They hurried out before anything else could come to life.

  The corridor outside was even emptier than before. The sounds of battle were quieter than they’d been before. Either the fight had moved to another part of the museum or more people were dead or injured than Kaylee had thought.

  Jade pointed at a sign at the next intersection. “There’s the way to the entrance hall.”

  “Wait a sec.”

  Kaylee had spotted another sign. It pointed to the nearest staircase, simply labeled: Second Floor—Grand Hall.

  “Kaylee, no, we can’t—”

  But Kaylee was already charging up, focusing on keeping her footsteps light so they didn’t echo. After two flights the stairway opened into a wide hall. A concave ceiling arched overhead. Rows of display cases lined the outside, but it was the center piece that stole her attention: A display of a herd of Wooly Mammoths; and a T. rex skeleton, massive and imposing in the dim light.

  “Where’s Alastair?” Jade said, her present confusion overriding her earlier annoyance at Kaylee. “The Celtic Gallery is just ahead. His team should be here by now.”

  “Maybe they already grabbed the book,” Kaylee said hopefully, not believing it.

  Together they snuck into the hall, staying as quiet as possible, Kaylee with her claws bared, Jade with her knife out.

  “I do believe,” a cruel voice said from the darkness behind the T. rex, “the last time we met it didn’t turn out well for you.”

  Kaylee’s heart stopped as Lesuvius stepped into the light. In one hand he clutched a leather-bound book. Behind him were two more Slayers, magic gauntlets glowing, and behind them—

  Reese, a crossbow in hand, aimed right at Kaylee.

  Lesuvius grinned, his face filled with pure malice.

  “But I promise, this time, little dragon-kin, will be so much worse for you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  I wouldn’t do that.”

  Lesuvius held up a hand as Kaylee started towards him. The Slayers on either side raised their glowing palms higher. The weapon in Reese’s hand began to shake, though his glare remained firmly fixed on Kaylee.

  “Doesn’t this just bring back memories?” Lesuvius purred. He cracked open the book. “You may have stopped me last time, but I won’t make the same mistake. Reese.”

  Reese flinched, as if Lesuvius had hit him.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Kaylee is your sister, correct?”

  Reese’s hand shook more. He put his other one up to help steady it. “She…is, sir.”

  “You told me none of your family was involved in the Convocation. In fact, I distinctly remember you assured me that wasn’t the case. That it would never be the case.”

  “I didn’t know, sir.”

  Lesuvius’ smile widened. He didn’t seem surprised at all. “How shocking. If only you had known. I wonder, how would your loyalties have changed?”

  “Sir—”

  “Because not only is your sister in the Convocation, she’s their prize player. The rare and powerful storm dragon-kin. Now, Reese, do you know what happens to members who lie to me?”

  Reese’s eyes flickered to the other Slayers. They shifted their magic towards him. “Sir, I swear I had no idea what she was.”

  “But you suspected for some time, didn’t you? Yet you never said a word to any of us. Do you know how that looks to the rest of us?”

  The Slayers’ gauntlets began glowing brighter. Lesuvius sighed.

  “Normally I’d kill you myself, but I’ve got a Herald to summon and I’m feeling generous, so I’ll give you one chance to crawl back into my good graces. Your sister. Kill her.”

  “Sir—we have the book—”

  One second Reese was standing, then he was on the floor, nursing a bleeding jaw while Lesuvius hovered over him, his body practically glowing with rage.

  “If there’s one thing I hate more than liars, it’s excuses. Kill her, or I’ll kill you and then send her to join you.” He spat at Reese’s feet and swept to face them again. “Oh, and for a little added help…”

  Jade pulled Kaylee aside as the two Slayers carved orange symbols in the air. With another push, the symbols sank into the bones of the T. rex skeleton.

  “Crap,” Jade said.

  “That can’t be good,” Kaylee said.

  There was a high-pitched screech. The fasteners in the ceiling snapped free. Flecks of plaster rained from the T. rex’s jaws as they snapped shut. Reese was fixed in horror as the T. rex shook itself, bones cracking, then took a step off the platform. Reese’s eyes met hers.

  “Run,” he mouthed.

  The T. rex roared, a raspy, grating screech. Kaylee swallowed a scream as she dodged its immense jaws as they tried to grab her. The ground rumbled beneath her as she sprinted into the nearest hallway, too scared to look back, her breath tearing in her lungs. The vibrations beneath her grew stronger. Another raspy roar screamed at her back.

  Kaylee spun around the next corner, tripped, caught herself, pumped her legs to keep going. The T. rex couldn’t stop in time and collided with the opposite wall with a screech of metal and bone. Kaylee paused for breath but already the creature was shaking itself off. Its empty eye sockets fixed on her and Kaylee saw nothing but hollow, ceaseless hate within them.

  Her magic wouldn’t stop it. Even if it could, the amount she’d need to hurt this thing meant she couldn’t run and use magic at the same time.

  That left only the winding escape of the hallways. If she could lose it there—

  The T. rex’s jaws came down just behind her. A hard blow slammed Kaylee’s shoulders and then her feet were lifted from the ground. She tensed, just before colliding with a
display case. Glass and ancient swords toppled on top of her. An alarm buzzed overhead, washing the area in red light. The T. rex had nearly slipped on the floor again and skidded straight past her. Its massive head whipped around, trying to find where she’d gone. Kaylee stayed motionless beneath the pile of weapons, praying whatever senses this dead thing had been granted couldn’t find her.

  The T. rex sniffed the air, and Kaylee stifled a scream of horror—but no, it was nudging the blaring alarm. It gave a disgusted snort and stomped down the hallway.

  Quiet as she could, Kaylee slid out from the pile of glass and metal. She backtracked into the Ancient Greeks gallery. A replica Trireme sat in the center, surrounded by displays of armor and weapons. She was forced to crouch behind the closest one, letting the pain of her cuts from the glass pass, and her thoughts catch up with what had happened the last few minutes.

  Lesuvius. The Book. Jade.

  Her brother.

  Kaylee forced him and his pleading face from her mind. If she thought too much about him she might start crying, and right now she needed a clear head. Without a doubt, Lesuvius was at this very moment cheerily summoning the ancient Arthurian death dude to come kill them all, and she needed to figure out a way to stop him.

  But how? He had the book, and that bony monstrosity prowling around looking for her put a real dent in any idea that involved directly attacking. She was tired, in pain, and wanted more than anything to bury a scaled fist in Lesuvius’ smug face.

  “Kaylee?”

  Kaylee flattened herself against the display case. In the reflection of the case across from her, she saw Reese enter the room. He held up a crossbow, sweeping it back and forth. “Kaylee?”

  Immense sadness weighed her down. She had thought, maybe, when the time came, she’d be able to face him. But seeing him now…she couldn’t do this. Not to Reese. Not to her brother.

  And in that moment Kaylee understood once again what Randy had meant; how this life they were all involved in took their family and all the things she once thought stable and untouchable and showed just how fleeting and fragile they really were. How the Slayers could turn Reese into something she knew he wasn’t. She couldn’t fight him.