Many of the chairs were strangely shaped to accommodate the dragons’ varied forms. Some had backless chairs to allow their mammoth wings to hang freely. Oyshin sat in what almost looked like the top of a cat tower, with half of his long body coil beneath him as the rest of him rose up to the table. Saff had to help lift Minerva onto the massive stone chair beside her, and Minerva figured that even with the chair, she’d get a kink in her neck from staring up at all the dragons around her.
Sitting on a chair decorated with golden leaves was a female dragon (Minerva assumed her fluorescent pink scales indicated a female, though she realized gender coding probably didn’t work the same among dragons) whose nose was sharp and angular. From her nostrils plumed a thick lavender smoke. On Nerv’s right was an enormous red dragon with strong, wide shoulders and the occasional hint of fire coming from his lips. Spines ran all the way down his neck, and his chair was lower to the ground, as he didn’t really need the lift to the top of the table. All of them eyed her with narrowed gazes.
“Perfect,” she muttered. “Why do I feel like I stick out here even more than I do while shopping on Rodeo Drive?”
Saff bowed her head and addressed the Council. Minerva and I have brought seven of the young dragons home. Though it is but a start, we have a hint where we may find those responsible for selling the others.
The pink dragon quirked her head at Minerva before staring intently at Saff. No words at first were echoed through Minerva’s mind, and she crossed her arms over her chest. It was hard not to take some offense, to feel less than worthy. She’d felt some version of that her whole life due to one prejudice or another, and rationally, Minerva knew that most dragons didn’t know what to make of humans.
Still, being ignored blew monkeys.
Saff bowed her head lower. With all due respect, Kiayana, Minerva has helped me get this far. She deserves to hear what the rest of the Council has to say. She has been injured and poisoned in this quest. I believe she’s earned the right to hear all that is happening.
The immense red dragon harrumphed and eyed Kiayana. The human is pushing all our boundaries by even being in a Council meeting.
Oyshin shook his head. She has suffered in this quest; I can swear to that as well.
Kiayana stared at Minerva, and she swallowed hard, unsure of what the great pink dragon would do to her. At first, Minerva felt nothing at all and then there were waves of euphoria rippling over her, something that made her smile and chuckle even as she felt tendrils of something else, something deeper and other prickling through her mind.
All at once, the prickling sensation ceased, and the great pink dragon glared around the table. For today, we will honor both Saffyranae and Oyshin’s request. This human has shown valor and compassion. She is special.
Minerva frowned. “Wait, were you reading my mind?”
Kiayana held up her clawed hands (was that even the word?). I wanted to understand quickly what Saffyranae sees in you. I admit there is much there despite a tiny package.
“I am over five feet you know. I’m not that little,” Minerva huffed. But part of that was for show. It was hard to run with dragons. She’d already had the invasive energy of the eggs—magic no human could withstand—eating through her, however slowly. Now she had a dragon playing with her mind because it was convenient. How horrifying. “Also, I’m not a plaything. I’m sorry. I respect that you totally have this way to run things, but just ask me next time you want to go rooting around in my head. I don’t want anything in my brain that isn’t me, you know?”
Oyshin smiled, a look that was more terrifying as it exposed rows of sharp teeth. I told you about this human, Kiayana.
Perhaps we can get it a collar and leash, the red dragon snapped.
Enough, Nehemaiah, Kiayana replied. We need every ally we can gather in this fight. Now, we shall tell you what we know and, hopefully, the rest of our children will be home soon.
Can you start with how the magic has begun to infect humans? Minerva is doing well since Oyshin helped her, and I do not believe her infection ever ran that deep. However, the man I saw in the jewelry shop… Saff shivered. I did not wish to end his life, but it was the kindest thing I could think of to do. He was decaying from the inside out.
Oyshin nodded. From what you’ve described and what I’ve felt in Minerva, it seems to be a distortion of the magical energies of our offspring, themselves.
“That’s a hell of a boobie trap,” Minerva said. She instantly regretted it when the eyes of every fearsome dragon at the table were trained on her. “I mean… not that you’re out to get humans.”
We certainly are not, human, Nehemaiah said. It is scum like you who stole our children. If humans are foolish enough to try to harness magic that does not concern them, then we cannot be held responsible for the consequences they suffer.
Saff eyed her, looking like she wished she still had human legs so that she could kick Minerva under the table. Nerv knew that look. She had a big mouth and a tendency to let it run. A lot of people had tried to shut her up over the years.
Yes, well, I’ve still never seen a reaction like this, Saff continued. Intent is purposeless; the effect is horrifying.
Humans have rarely held our eggs as their own, have never been able to literally curl up with them, Kiayana said. The plague I’ve seen before, over a hundred years ago. Poachers ransacked a temple near Mt. Kilimanjaro in the human world. A few of our eggs were taken. Just three, but by the time we hunted down the would-be poacher, he had succumbed to the magic, quite similarly to the way you described the human from the shop.
Yes, Oyshin confirmed. The longer humans have access to our eggs, try to bludgeon their way into using our magic, the worse the results. The magic turns inside them, corrupts in conflict with human energies. Their blood is infected by the magic until their eyes and veins turn black. The hallucinations come next and, eventually, they’ll affect the world around them in frightening ways.
“Like melting?” Minerva asked. “Because that was very traumatizing.”
If only it were that simple, a smaller dragon answered. Her voice was light and airy in Minerva’s head and matched the luminous violet of her scales somehow. The plague is highly contagious and spreads from human to human, even if others haven’t actually been near our eggs. Eventually, anything they touch will be contaminated and either melt or burn. The humans cannot survive the corruption in the late stages. They suffocate, a slow lingering destruction of their bodies from the inside out, or they’ll wither just as you and Saffyranae witnessed.
“But there are probably dozens of eggs still being traded by rich jackasses up in L.A. and who else knows where,” Minerva said. “We could be dealing with a whole network throughout the country of the who’s who of the Forbes 500! And those people aren’t going to stay put; they ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’ and flit off around the world just for fun.”
If there was one thing she knew after years of casing rich douches, it was that they loved to travel. There was no guarantee some dick hadn’t already sold his egg for huge profits in Asia or Europe.
What the devil is she saying? Nehemaiah asked.
Minerva paused and then spoke again. “Sorry, I mean, rich humans travel a lot, especially seasonally. And Forbes is a… list of the richest and most influential humans, at least as far as who matters at making money and, uh, gold.”
The violet dragon leaned closer. Only those most skilled in alchemy can make gold, but they are but trinkets. You cannot even eat them.
Saff sighed. Roryneela, humans speak largely in metaphor. The richest of humans could have carried the eggs anywhere by now.
You must retrieve them, and we shall give all the information you’ve delivered to the other Searchers, Kiayana said. Then, she pulled a small vial from under the table. The luminescent liquid glowed blue underneath the clear glass. The cure. We worked it up for earlier stages of infection based on the poacher’s family. They were able to survive. If a human has already starte
d into the final death throes, it is too late, but some can be saved. Saffyranae, take this with you and help who you can.
She should be going alone, Nehemaiah bellowed, his aggressive voice nearly a mental assault. Oyshin turned his deceptively passive gaze on Nehamaiah before looking to Kiayana, but said nothing. At least not that the others could hear. Minerva could tell that Oyshin didn’t approve of Nehemaiah’s attitude toward humans in general.
Minerva frowned. “First, again, I’m right here. You can address me directly. Second, I need a ride back to the regular world of Los Angeles. I can’t just stay here.”
Nehemaiah blew a thick column of flame from beneath his broad red lips. I should hope not. This is no place for a human.
“Not looking to Winter here, hello!” Minerva snapped. Truly, if the other dragons were as cool as Saff or the little girl she’d met, Nerv would have stayed. As it was, the last thing she wanted was to be stuck in a place where no one could stand the sight of her. She’d definitely been there and done that. “But I can help. I got Saff this far.”
Yet you were injured, Roryneela pointed out gently.
“And my arm feels tons better. Plus, magic-plague free over here. I’m doing great. Please, don’t just have Saff drop me off and cut me out of this investigation. I felt that first egg’s heartbeat. I felt my own heart beat in rhythm with the seven eggs we could save. I can’t walk away now, not when beings I care about are on the line. Not when my friend is.”
Saff snapped her head up. Do you mean that? Are we friends?
“Okay, so totally the odd couple, but we’re partners on this. Think like Murtaugh and Riggs. I can do this.”
What is this nonsense, now? Nehemaiah grumbled.
Oyshin chuckled. Pop culture movie references aside…
“Lethal Weapon was a movie?” Minerva asked. “I just really like the Fox show.”
Younglings, Oyshin muttered. I have faith in her too, Mistress Kiayana. I know the Council will vote, but you could sway it either way. These two have gotten farther than any of our other Searchers so far, and time is of the essence for our children. As well as for the human world, whether that is a concern of others here or not.”
If humans had kept their hands off our magic— Nehemaiah started.
They did not, and they were foolish, Roryneela said. But that is not worth a death sentence. Not simply for one thief, nor for the whole species, which I remind everyone could be in jeopardy if we let this plague of corrupted magic run wild. Humans who had no part in this treachery will die. I vote we let the human continue.
Minerva watched as Kiayana and Oyshin, as well as most of the gathered Council voiced approval of the plan.
By then Nehemaiah was so angry that smoke was literally pouring from his nostrils. When he spoke again, hints of flame escaped his lips. Humans cannot be trusted. They are weak and easily injured, thus proving a burden as Minerva already has.
“I healed!”
Because Saffyranae and Oyshin both helped you, Nehemaiah said. Humans also are liars. It was humans who betrayed us all by stealing our children. Are we so stupid to trust one of them with so many of our secrets now?
The remaining three dragons at the table raised their claws with Nehemaiah against her. It wasn’t enough to split the vote. Saff and the “yesses” were more numerous, but it still cut into Minerva, deeply.
“I’m glad that you deemed me ‘good enough,’” Minerva said through gritted teeth. It was the only thing she could do to keep her voice from shaking. She would not show weakness. Not here, not ever. “I’m going to go back to Oyshin’s temple and wait while the dragon business is settled. Wouldn’t want some weak, lying contagion to spoil it.”
She hopped up and sprinted down the hall, ignoring Saff’s mental calls for her to return. Not freaking likely. She’d had enough condescension for one lifetime, let alone for one day.
19
Saffyranae
Pain lanced through Saffyranae’s heart as she watched Minerva run from the Council table. Reaching deep inside her mind, she called privately to her friend and partner, but received no answers. Minerva didn’t return. All Saff could feel was the roiling pain, the utter confusion and even self-loathing that wasn’t her own. She ground her teeth together and noted how the temperature around them had plummeted.
How dare you impugn her? After all that she has done for us! she said, even as the thick icy mist began to swirl around her body.
Kiayana held up a claw and gazed between her and Nehemaiah. Enough, we do not have time to fight. Yes, Nehemaiah, we are all aware of the flaws of humans, but we have little choice now. We need all the help we can find.
Nehemaiah turned to Saff. Did you not find her because she was trying to sell one of the eggs?
Saff sighed. She didn’t know what she had. She’s a good person, and she’s helped me figure out how better to fit in the human world, how not to blow my cover. Much of the progress I have made was because of her assistance.
Oyshin nodded. She has helped save seven of our children, despite knowing she might be poisoned on the trip here. We mustn’t forget that she chose to continue helping, even after taking harm to herself and seeing what the magic could do to her.
How comforting. If she’s a thief, then she lies for a living and takes from others. Saffyranae, be logical. You have no guarantee she won’t do so again, Nehemaiah huffed.
I know her, and I trust her, Saff answered, a swell of pride blossoming in her chest.
Yes, her friend was odd and, alright, sometimes Minerva cut massive ethical corners, but her friend was good. Saff knew that in her bones.
Then, you are a fool, Nehemaiah said.
Enough, Kiayana banged her talon on the table. We’re done here. Saffyranae take your human back to Los Angeles to distribute the cure and continue your investigation. Everyone else, you will soon be given you assignment to help find our children.
Saff had no idea what type of mood Minerva would be in when they reunited, but Saff was willing to bet it would be far from a good one. The dragon couldn’t blame her friend. If someone had treated her with such a condescending attitude—let alone a whole council of creatures so alien to herself—Saff would have been furious. Sub-zero temperatures furious. Regardless, they both had to shake off their anger and get back through the veil. The other people at Annette’s had to be suffering, particularly the salesgirl they’d left behind, and they would run cold on leads if they didn’t keep pressing forward.
Taking a deep breath, Saff closed her eyes and forced herself into her human form. They’d use the crystals in the temple to return to Los Angeles via teleportation. It was too risky to cross back through the veil, and there was no guarantee they wouldn’t appear somewhere near a plane or radar that others would notice. After the loss of their eggs and the leaking of their magic, discretion was still paramount.
Maybe now more than ever.
Squeezing her bulk into that pocket dimension had been a struggle for her ever since her fathers had first taught her how, but, for once, it felt so easy. As if the human form she’d assumed was demanding to be slipped back on, like a favorite sweater in winter. In half a minute—faster than she’d ever done it before—Saff stood in her manufactured jeans, boots, and sweater and with her human form fully realized, nary a scale poking out.
Roryneela slipped around the corner in her own human form, one as slight and delicate as Minerva’s, but with dark black hair and large, luminous eyes. “You’re getting faster at that.”
“Thank you, and I really appreciate your taking my side back there with Nehemaiah.”
Roryneela shook her head. “You mistake my supporting your plan with my condoning and championing your relationship with a human. Your team is the best shot we have right now.”
Saff blushed. “We’re friends. Really, simple investigative partners. That is all that is between us.”
“Saffyranae, I’ve known you better than almost anyone else, apart from your fathers and Oyshi
n. We learned to fly together, got our assignments as shamans together.”
“Yes, and I could hardly ask for a better friend.”
Roryneela frowned. “Then hear me now before we both return to the world of the humans to do as we must. Your human is fragile, mortal. She may be clever and resilient, but she is only those things for a human. You have fondness for her as more than an assistant. That is bad.”
“I told you. We’re just friends.”
Roryneela snorted. “You’ve never looked at me or any of your other ‘friends’ like that before. I know the budding of true affection when I see it. She will grow old and die. She could be struck dead tomorrow by those cars humans like so much or catch a virus that would do away with her in a matter of hours. She could eat tainted meat or unwashed vegetables. So many things happen to them. Humans are frail and do not last. It isn’t wise to view her as more than a novelty.”
Saff balled her hands up at her side. Minerva was many things, by turns both annoying and inspiring, loyal and funny (as far as human humor went), but she was not just a novelty. “Take that back. I thought you were my friend.”
“I am, and because of that I don’t want to see your heart broken or, perhaps more accurately: stolen. Guard it around the human thief. Even if she doesn’t betray you—”
“She won’t!”
Roryneela offered her a pained, patronizing smile. “I hope this is true. But even if your human is as earnest as you hope she is, she will die. Guard your heart, my friend. Keep it safe.”
With that, she brushed past Saffyranae, leaving her in silence, trying to untangle her confused not of feelings. And her fears.
20
Christopher Blaine Jorgenson
Roger was dead. And Clay was missing.
Sirens and Scales Page 125