Dragon Guard: Book 1: Prophecy of the Dragons

by E. J. Krause

  "What did you guys need from a demon pawn shop?" Andi asked. Ben perked up at the question. What sort of stuff was even at a demon pawn shop? Besides spells to other realms like they needed, of course.

  "That's a tale for another time," Mrs. Thomas said. "Let's focus on the here and now so we can save Ben's parents."

  As much as he wanted to hear the stories, she was right. He didn't want to imagine what Mom and Dad were going through in that horrible place. They needed to get them out of there on the double.

  Andi took his hand and smiled before turning back to her parents. "So you think this Rico is at the beach?" Ben was glad she asked because he almost blurted out the question of who Max was. That would have proved they'd been listening last night.

  Mr. Thomas shook his head. "It's doubtful, though that would make things easier. We're going to meet a record keeper. If anyone knows where Rico is, he will."

  "Record keeper?" Ben asked. "Then why are we going to the pier? Shouldn't he be at a library or office building or something?"

  Mrs. Thomas shook her head. "He doesn't need to consult most things. Dragon brains are a bit more complex than human brains, as you'll find out." She motioned to Andi, who rolled her eyes. "And if he doesn't know offhand, his house won't be far off. We'll walk him back to find the answer." Ben remembered Mr. Thomas threatening to march this Max back to his books if need be.

  "And then we go meet this Rico, get the spell to the demon realm, and rescue my parents?"

  "That's it in a nutshell."

  Sounded easy enough. There was nothing more to do for the moment than hope it all went as smooth. Late morning rush hour traffic slowed them down on the freeway, but Ben didn't mind. He enjoyed Andi's hand in his, and also managed to doze a bit. It wasn't much, but by the time they pulled into the half-empty parking lot at the beach, thanks to it being a Monday morning in October, he felt refreshed.

  Though the morning overcast was burning off, it was still cool out, so Ben zipped up his jacket. Andi had on a long sleeve shirt, but it did little against the stiff breeze. Ben put his arm around her to keep her warm. The scowl from Mr. Thomas proved he didn't like it, but he didn't say anything. Mrs. Thomas took her husband's mind off of it by snuggling up to him.

  There weren't many beach goers around the pier, but fishermen packed the end. Ben looked over the side as they walked out. He went to the beach once every week or two in the summer with family or friends, but not often did he get to any of the piers. He enjoyed watching how the waves moved through the wooden posts, and five or six years ago, he'd even witnessed a few dolphins playing under the pier up at Seal Beach. If circumstances had been different he might have asked to stop and stare, but they didn't have time today.

  "I see him," Mr. Thomas said. "At the end."

  Ben looked down past the other fishermen, most of whom appeared to be retirees, and saw a man who wasn't much older than Andi's parents. Though, truth be told, in human years he was many centuries older than any of the white-hairs fishing. He had his line cast out and was puffing a cigar. He wore a floppy fisherman's hat, and had on a vest that had a ton of pockets all around it to hold his hooks or whatever. He might be a dragon, but he was much smaller than Mr. Thomas in both height and overall build, closer to Ben's size, though with a bit of a protruding belly. He had short brown hair peaking out from beneath his hat, and sported a neatly-trimmed mustache and goatee combo.

  The man, this Max, didn't notice them approach. Or, at least, he didn't acknowledge them. Ben had a feeling he knew everything going on around the pier.

  "Max," Mr. Thomas said in a pleasant voice when they were close enough. "Long time no see."

  Max turned, a frown etched on his face. "So you won't bind them, but you'll bring them out to face danger."

  "We didn't realize your pier was fraught with danger, Maximilian," Mrs. Thomas said.

  "That's not what I meant, Cassandra, and you know it. You plan on taking these two into the lion's den, and you're hamstringing not just them, but the entire world, by not bringing them to their full potential."

  Mr. Thomas barked a laugh. "A bit melodramatic, Max? That's not a normal trait for you."

  Max fiddled with his fishing pole and knocked some ash from his cigar into the ocean. "I wish it were melodrama I was spinning, my old friend. This may start with you two, but it doesn't end there. From what I've heard, Derian stole that demon's essence and plans on using it to enslave humanity. And now fate sends you a potent weapon and you refuse to release the safety."

  "The boy has power. We've bound them enough for that."

  Max pulled his cigar from his mouth and spit in the ocean. "You've given them a horse piss binding. Might as well make them walk into battle with one hand tied behind their backs. It's not safe, Lee. For anyone."

  Fire flashed in Mr. Thomas's eyes. He stepped forward and jammed a finger into Max's chest. "They're too young. No one will change my mind about that."

  Mrs. Thomas moved between them. "We'll keep them safe. And we'll deal with Derian before he can harm anyone else. But our single objective at the moment is rescuing Ben's parents. You will help us, won't you? For old time's sake?"

  Max looked like he wanted nothing more than for them to leave, but after a few seconds, he sighed and nodded. "Of course I'll help, Cassie." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, wrote something, and folded it in two before handing it to Mrs. Thomas. "You'll figure out what it means."

  "Thank you, Max." She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Give our best to Nix."

  "Yeah, yeah. She'll be sorry she didn't come today. She enjoys seeing you."

  Mr. Thomas stepped forward, his arm outstretched to shake hands. "Yes, thank you, Max."

  He grabbed Mr. Thomas's hand and pulled him close to stare him right in the eyes. "Don't thank me, you old lizard. Get the job done. And forget all this Daddy's Little Girl business and bind your daughter to her mate. You know as well as anyone that fate decides when a dragon and her guard are ready. Let your daughter grow up when she needs to, Lee, not when you think she's supposed to." With that he let go of Mr. Thomas's hand and turned back to his fishing pole.

  Mrs. Thomas said, "Max," but Mr. Thomas put a hand on her shoulder. He motioned for everyone to head back to the car. Ben glanced back and saw Max ignoring them again. But he'd given them what they needed, right? Andi only shrugged.

  Chapter 13

  "What does it say?" Andi asked once they were in the car.

  Mrs. Thomas unfolded the paper. Ben couldn't see, but she didn't keep them in suspense for long. "Reach for the Sky at Orangeville Acres."

  Ben smiled, while Andi let out a gasp. A wave of excitement flowed off her.

  "Orangeville Acres?" Mr. Thomas said. "Isn't that an amusement park?"

  "Yeah," Ben said. "Reach for the Sky is one of the rides. It shoots you out at a hundred miles an hour into a loop and then straight up. Once you reach the top, you feel weightless for a few seconds."

  "Cool," Andi said, but her dad grunted.

  "You went fast, did loops, and were weightless without being strapped into anything this weekend," he said.

  "Doesn't mean I can't love rollercoasters, too."

  Mrs. Thomas gave him a playful slap to the shoulder. "Quit being a Grumpy Gus. You enjoy those rides, too."

  "Fine, I do, but I want everyone to remember that we'll be there on business today. Got it?" They all nodded. "Ben, do you know how to get there from here?"

  "Yes, sir. Take the 55 North and get off on Katella. Turn right and follow the signs. They're everywhere."

  Mr. Thomas nodded and started the car. While Mr. and Mrs. Thomas talked up front, Ben turned to Andi.

  "Have you ever been?"

  "No," she said. "We've done Disneyland a few times over the years, but I've always wanted to go to Orangeville Acres."

  "The themes and decorations and stuff aren't nearly as good as Disney, but the rides are way better."

  They talked about their trips to
various theme parks. Andi had been to quite a few, many of which he'd never heard of. She'd visited Disneyland in its first month, which made him think she was joking until he remembered how old she actually was. He sobered even more when he realized he now shared the same elongated lifespan. She proved how in-tune they were when she immediately started talking about newer places and attractions. He wanted to lean over and give her a hug for that, but both the seatbelt and the ire of Mr. Thomas stopped him.

  Before long they arrived. The parking lot wasn't crowded, but Ben hadn't expected it to be. He'd never been on a non-vacation weekday, but some kids from school had, and they said it was the best time to go. There were hardly any crowds and most everything was still open. He wished he was here for fun instead of the grim business of rescuing his parents. He prayed they wouldn't be too late.

  Mr. Thomas waved Ben off when he said he'd pay them back for his ticket. He never thought about what dragon families did for money, but they must have a lot since neither was at work today. Or maybe they'd called out sick today, too. He'd have to ask Andi about it sometime.

  As they walked through the main gate, Ben angled them towards Reach for the Sky. It sat at the rear of the park, so they got to see a good deal of everything on the way. Near the exit of Mine-Car Racer was a gift shop filled with both plastic gems and real jewelry. Despite their hurry, both Andi and her father stopped, as if in a trance.

  "Come on, you two," Mrs. Thomas said, nudging them forward.

  "Just looking, Cassie."

  "Not like we were going to be long, Mom."

  "I've heard that before. We'll come back sometime soon, I promise. Then you can look all you want."

  Andi rolled her eyes while her father gave a grunt, but both complied and kept moving.

  "Dragons," Mrs. Thomas muttered to Ben.

  "What was that all about?" he whispered.

  "Shiny objects. Practically incapacitates them. You'll get used to it."

  As they neared Reach for the Sky, Mr. Thomas stopped them over to the side where no one could overhear. "I have the incantation in my mind. The rest of you concentrate both on me and Rico." He turned to Ben. "Picture me and keep saying Rico's name. He'll know and drag us into his realm. Okay?"

  Ben nodded, and they entered the queue. There was no wait to speak of, with just a couple car-loads of people in front of them. And this was one of the main rides at the park. Yeah, he definitely needed to come back on a school day.

  The train exploded out of the station at 100 MPH. Ben's stomach lurched just watching it, while Andi exclaimed, "Cool!" The car barreled down the straightaway, into the loop, and up the 90 degree angled track.

  As it neared the apex, Mr. Thomas leaned over and said, "He'll take us at the top, I'm sure of it. Be concentrating by the time we get to the loop."

  "And hold on," Mrs. Thomas said.

  Mr. Thomas scoffed. "Andi and I are faster than that," causing Andi to giggle. She couldn't fool Ben, though. He could feel the excitement coursing off her.

  The train roared through the station backwards and braked on the other side. Ben's stomach tightened. He loved this ride once it shot off, but the anticipation killed him.

  "Nervous?" Andi asked with a mischievous grin.

  "Yeah," he admitted. "But good nerves."

  The ride took off again. With her parents focused on it, Andi stretched up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He rubbed her lower back, and then it was time. They hopped in. Andi and Ben sat in the first row of their car, with her parents behind them.

  Right before they pulled their shoulder harnesses down, Mr. Thomas leaned forward and said, "Don't forget, this isn't a pleasure trip."

  "Got it, Daddy," Andi said, while Ben nodded.

  "Picture my dad and say Rico's name over and over," Andi reminded him. "Nothing to it." She squeezed his forearm.

  Ben took a deep breath and started concentrating so he wouldn't forget and miss the window of opportunity. Reach for the Sky didn't give any formal indication of take off – no countdown or red-to-yellow-to-green lights – but there were some tell-tale signs. The track made clicking noises, and the whole train jerked back an inch or two, so Ben knew when to brace himself.

  As they fired out, he let out a hearty "Whoo-hoo-hoo!" to help his stomach with the acceleration. He still left it back at the station, but the yell brought it back sooner. Now that the dreadful anticipation was over, he could enjoy the rush. This part was fun.

  The wind pounded against his face and chest. As the train zipped into the loop, his hands shot up for a split second until he remembered the mission. He hoped he wasn't too late. As they screamed up the 90 degree ramp, he had Mr. Thomas in his mind and Rico's name on his lips. They continued up, up, up, further than the height of the track. The air flashed bright colors all around – blues, reds, greens, oranges, yellows – until they muted and turned to whites, blacks, and grays. The rollercoaster train no longer propelled him, but he kept moving.

  Then he stopped. All at once. They were in a business office inside a cave. Before him stood a desk littered with papers, a swiveling leather executive chair, and a file cabinet with a folder jammed into the middle drawer. That mundane scene was contrasted by the rocky walls. The room was a huge cavern, about the size of one of the warehouse stores he went to with his parents, though usually one or the other because if they both went, it would undoubtedly end up in a fight.

  Before Ben could ask if this was where they were supposed to be, a man appeared in the chair as if he'd been sitting there all along. Ben was certain it had been empty just seconds before. The man, or demon, looked like a normal person except for the bright red tint to his skin. He dressed like a stereotypical mob boss Ben had seen in movies and on television, with a pin-stripped suit, a thick gold chain around his neck, and a half-dozen heavy rings on his fingers. He expected the demon to sound like Marlon Brando, straight out of The Godfather, his dad's favorite movie, and one he made Ben watch with him at least once a year, but when he spoke and had no accent at all, Ben almost found it funnier.

  "Leon, Cassandra, so nice to see you again. And this must be your daughter, Alexandria, and her mate." His eyes devoured Ben. They were hypnotic, and he couldn't place their color, as if they swirled through the spectrum. "Benjamin, is it?"

  He nodded and tried to say, "Yes, sir," but no words came out. The demon's slight smile showed he noticed.

  "Rico," Mr. Thomas said. "Thank you for admitting us."

  "Of course, Leon. You should know you're always welcome here." He again turned his attention to Ben and scrutinized him. It wasn't a look of malice, but Ben didn't like those eyes on him. Unease spilled from Andi, too.

  "I notice you haven't bound them," the demon said. "Although the boy is no longer human."

  "Lee decided … we decided a minor bind would be for the best," Mrs. Thomas said.

  "Not the way I would have gone, but it's not my call, is it?" Rico chuckled. "Early binds seem to run in the family, don't they, Leon?"

  "Wait, what?" Andi asked.

  "I can't help what fate decides, Rico."

  "Seems you're doing what you can to fight it, though."

  "What does that mean?" Andi turned to her mother when her father ignored her. She squeezed Ben's forearm hard, and he doubted she even knew she did it.

  "Not now, Andi."

  The demon, Rico, eyed the scene with a half-smile. Ben didn't like the way he leered at her. Or him, for that matter. Rico seemed to like, maybe even respect, Andi's parents, but he held none of it for Ben and Andi. There wasn't any hostility, but they better watch themselves around the demon. Andi felt his trepidation because she squeezed his arm one more time and then looked at him. He gave a quick head shake and hoped she didn't ask what was wrong. She gave him a questioning look, but kept quiet.

  Rico gave a little laugh as if he'd heard every thought. Had he? Ben took a deep breath and did all he could to clear his mind, just in case. Andi slid her hand into his, and that helped. He focuse
d on her soft, warm skin, and the funny feelings she caused in his belly.

  Rico stood up from behind his desk, his eyes on Andi's parents. "You know it's Derian. And you know that he's defeated the demon and taken its essence." These weren't questions, but Mr. and Mrs. Thomas nodded as if they were answering affirmative.

  "You know he's set his sight on you two, so you'll get no help from other dragons."

  "Why?" Ben whispered. He'd meant for only Andi to hear, but Rico picked up on it.

  "Why, Mr. Phillips?" He paused, as if rolling Ben's name around on his tongue. "Yes, Mr. Phillips." He turned to Andi. "I suppose when your parents decide you're ready to be bound, you'll take Benjamin's name. Surnames. Such a silly notion in the mortal realm. They hold such power for some, and none at all for most. And yet even the lowliest human believes theirs contains magic." He stepped out from behind his desk. "How many names have you two had, Leon, Cassandra? How many has you daughter had?" His gaze turned to Andi. "What difference does another one make? How long before Benjamin gains a new one?"

  Ben shifted his weight to get himself more in between the demon and Andi. She didn't seem to notice, but Rico did. He raised his eyebrows, and his half-smile grew.

  "But that wasn't your question, was it, Benjamin? No. Why won't other dragons help? So many secrets in the dragon world. I'm sure it'll be centuries before you even scratch the surface of the secrets of dragon society. Didn't you find that to be true, Cassandra?"

  "Yes," she mumbled. Ben looked back at Andi's parents and saw they weren't scared, but they did look uncomfortable. Why, when the demon seemed to like them?

  "In this case, Benjamin, no other dragons will help because of pride. Such a silly thing, but so important. Isn't that right, Leon?"

  Mr. Thomas shook his head. "I wouldn't ask, and they wouldn't accept." Ben glanced at Andi. She nodded at her father's words.

  "But that's crazy," Ben said, not sure who he was addressing. "The necromancer isn't going to stop with us, is he?"

  Rico sat on the edge of his desk and rubbed his chin. "Very perceptive, Benjamin." The demon smiled at Andi. "Fate may have chosen a winner for you, Alexandria.