Dragon Wings
Page 20
The walk up and out seems far longer than it did coming in, though that could be because we’re going a different way. I wasn’t wrong in thinking the entrance I came through would be too small for a dragon.
With every step closer to where the battle ensues, I feel a little more lightheaded, and slightly sicker. I’m not ready for this. I barely had three lessons of physical training with Wren, and basically no magic lessons with Rohesia.
I don’t know how to fight, how to be of any use in this battle. And yet, I’m walking toward it with no choice but to stand up for the ones I love.
I can’t shake the feeling that something—beyond the obvious—is horribly wrong. I’m about to discover whatever it is. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, smell the fresh air cutting its way through the musty shadows.
“I’m right behind you, Alita. You are not alone,” Yackros reassures me before I move forward.
“Ah, yes,” a deep voice says. The very voice that gave me nightmares. The one that ruined everything. “The girl without wings.” Ruxsiu chuckles.
I step into the light and face Ruxsiu. Séraphin stands beside him, wielding a staff. The half-crown carrying the dragon’s pearl has become a real one, and he has it displayed proudly on his thick, wavy hair. I can see Fyazum’s large form on the ground between the trees. I look between both enemies, and my hands tremble, but I set my jaw.
“Yackros,” I say in my mind, hoping our connection is strong enough for this now. “Will you follow my lead?”
I can feel the smirk on his face. “I’m already ahead of you.”
I step over the ledge, a clear marker for the distinction between places in this land, and walk toward Ruxsiu and Séraphin. Trying not to go too fast. But picking up speed.
Both of them laugh, watching me as though I’m there only to entertain them. Merely for sport.
“I have wings,” I say, knowing they can hear me.
Each of them watches, clearly unafraid. I pick up the speed, barely jogging, ready to fly.
“Dragon wings.” The words escape me barely louder than a murmur.
Before either monster can react, Yackros bursts from the cave, throwing rock into the air as he charges, creating a storm of wind that pushes me forward.
Yackros barrels into Ruxsiu, creating enough of a distraction for me to run at full speed, straight for Séraphin. I bowl right into him, wresting the staff from his hands as I do so. We both go down hard, but I roll away, using the staff to pull myself back up. His crown bounces off and lands a few feet from him.
“The only plan you can ever think of is to knock people over?” He barks a laugh, already back on his feet. Bending over, he reaches for the crown.
There’s no spark of blue left in the pearl that I can see. Fyazum is down, and we were outnumbered to begin with.
I promised I wouldn’t give up, and I only have one move left.
I kick my foot up, throwing the end of the staff into the air. Turning, I grab it with one hand, barely grasping it tightly enough before clenching my other hand around it. Using it like a bat, I go for a homerun.
Séraphin has the crown in one hand. He sees the oncoming blow and begins to raise his free hand, probably to blast me away with magic.
But the staff makes contact with my target first. Smashing against his arm, knocking the crown from his grasp. And landing in front of me.
I take two steps. Raising my heel, I stomp down as hard as I can. The teardrop shatters, turning to dust, the crown broken to pieces around the powder.
Shockwaves force me back, knocking me over. And the world goes quiet.
I remain on the ground, waiting for the breath that was knocked out of me to come back. There’s no noise, no fighting, no roaring or thundering of dragons.
I didn’t know it was possible to hurt so much. I thought I had already reached my capacity for pain. Apparently not. I can feel thick, wet blood running down my lip from my nose. Dripping into the grass from my ears.
Slowly, sound returns. Breathing becomes a thing again. My lungs burn as I take a gasp of air. I try to move, but it takes a moment for feeling to come back to the rest of my body.
When I can, I force myself to my feet, looking around. Destruction. So much of it. The forest is nearly destroyed. What hasn’t been rained down on by debris is burning. Not just the forest of Runavelius, but the entire mountain.
Ruxsiu flies overhead, swooping down in front of me and scooping up Séraphin’s motionless body. His eyes glower at me.
“I will kill you for this, Alita Drake. It is the deadliest mistake you’ve ever made,” he sneers.
“What are you waiting for?” I ask, perhaps not able to physically fight, but surely not willing to give up.
“Your endless suffering. The boy won’t be the last thing I take from you before I take away your life.” He flaps his wings, getting higher and higher.
It seems the adrenaline has worn off. All feeling has—I’m numb. His threat takes no toll on me.
“Why not just kill me now and get it over with?” I yell, genuinely wanting an answer.
But either he’s already too far to hear me, or he chooses to ignore me before disappearing into the night sky.
A flash of bronze draws my attention. I stumble through the grass, falling to my knees at Yackros’ side. “Don’t leave me now, Sparkles. We’ve come too far for that.”
“What you did, Alita—” He turns his head and looks at me, but lowers it to the ground again before saying more.
“Yackros?” I shake him, needing him to be okay.
A different voice answers. “While it saved us, it may also be our doom.”
Fyazum towers over me, sadness etched into his features.
“I’m sorry,” I say in a whimper while trying to get any response from Yackros.
Fyazum says my name, demanding my attention.
“What?”
“He will be okay. He simply needs to heal. Given what he’s been through in that cave, he will need time to be whole again.”
“How can I help him?” I throw my arms around his neck, just needing to be closer.
Fyazum leans down and brushes his wing along Yackros’ cheek. “Go home. The both of you. Rest. It is going to be a long journey ahead of all of us now.”
“What do you mean?” I sniffle, trying to pay closer attention. I’ve been on a long journey. Too long.
“The barriers have been broken. The world knows about dragons now, Alita Drake. You succeeded in that mission. And now we’re going to have to rebuild everything we had before with your kind. I don’t think we can afford to go into hiding again.”
The scales on Yackros’ back are warm and comfortable against my cheek. I remain flat, letting all my emotions free. Truly, completely free. Sobbing the entire two-minute flight home.
“I am here.” His voice is calm and soothing in my mind, and although it doesn’t solve everything, having him back is enough to keep me going.
He lands in the front yard, extending his wings like Fyazum did and allowing me to slide off.
Mom and Dad are standing on the front porch, jaws slack, eyes wide, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.
Everyone is standing outside, all staring at the mountain. Or what’s visible from here. I’m sure that when the battle first broke out, everything was clear, but when the fire began, it was only a matter of time before the smoke became too thick to make out more than shadows.
I don’t say anything. Words escape me. I lean into my parents’ embrace.
“What happened?” Mom asks quietly. Dad just stares at the giant dragon in his yard.
Unable to form words, I shake my head.
I have no semblance of how much time has passed before there’s a light tap on my shoulder. I lift my head and look, greeted by the worried, still-hopeful glance of Sherri. She opens her mouth to speak, but makes no sound.
I shake my head ever so slightly and wrap my arms around her. We sob on each other’s shoulder
s for a long while, drying out anything I had left in me.
“I’m so sorry, Sherri,” I whisper, still holding her, supporting more of her weight than before as she breaks down all over again.
I don’t know what to tell her. Would it be better for her to believe Max is gone for good? Or should I give her an inkling of hope, knowing she still may never see him again?
In the end, I can’t lie. If our roles were reversed, I would want to know the truth. And when she glances up at me, I know that’s what she’s asking me for.
“He’s alive, but he’s not the Max we know and love,” I say, trying not to lose it.
Sherri takes a moment, letting this sink in. And it’s almost like before now she didn’t see Yackros. A squeal escapes her as she jumps back.
“This is Yackros. My dragon.” I want to say “best friend,” but I know how much that could hurt Sherri right now, so I refrain. “He’s one of the good ones. And if there’s any chance of getting Max back, he will help me do it.”
The End
Alita and Yackros will return in Dragon Fire (The Dragon’s Pearl, Book Two)
Coming soon.
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About the Author
Konstanz Silverbow is a creator of jewelry, player of violins, and student of medieval weaponry. She discovered a love for writing by accident, and it became her passion. Her nights are now filled with getting words on the page and keeping her pet dragons tamed.
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