She held her child close, sniffing back the tears that flowed. She would find a way for them both to be free, and she would tell all the dragons the truth of what had happened to her.
Chapter 5
Zephyr sat next to Flora in the living room of Akash’s Mercer Island home. Waiting for the princes to arrive, he was glad that Akash had arranged the meeting and would perform all the necessary greetings. He and Flora would be left to do what they were good at, explain the science behind everything.
There were hors d'oeuvres spread out across every surface in the living room. Plates of mini-quiches and tiny hot dogs wrapped in pastry. Flora nervously munched on a plate of finger foods as her eyes darted around the room.
“When will they be getting here?" she asked.
“It should be any minute now,” Akash said, opening another bottle of wine.
"I hope they will all agree to help us,” Zephyr said.
“What will we do if they don't agree?” Flora asked.
"We’ll have to come up with plan B.”
“There is nothing to worry about," Akash said. “The Princes will agree to help us.”
There was a knock at the door a moment later, and Akash hurried to open it. The Prince of the House of Stone had arrived. Akash led him into the living room where Zephyr and Flora waited. They stood and offered greetings to the first guest.
“It is nice to see you all again, after so many long years," Mortar, the Prince of Stone said. “But even a million year slumber seems like only an instant in a stasis pod." He laughed heavily.
The others laughed along with him and Akash offered him food and a glass of Merlot. Akash poured everyone a glass before there was another knock at the door. Akash hurried off to welcome the next guest, and Flora and Zephyr chatted with Mortar while they sipped their wine.
"How do you find Earth now that it has changed so much?" Flora asked.
"It is amazing to me how similar human civilization is to old Dragonia. It's not nearly as ancient or as established and humans live much shorter lives, but there are so many striking similarities. It makes it obvious that we come from a shared ancestry.”
"I am curious about the culture of old Dragonia," Flora said. “I know you all want to understand Earth and its customs in preparation for finding your mates, but the history of your people must be preserved and shared.”
"I would love to share our histories with the people of Earth, but at this point in time, isn't it prohibited to share our existence with them?" Prince Mortar asked.
"We are still keeping our existence a secret, but that may change,” Zephyr said.
"Oh?" Mortar asked.
"I've been running simulations on the question. Since the humans are reacting negatively in response to the vampire attacks, we need to know if it will be more or less disruptive for them to know the truth.”
"And what did you find?" Mortar asked.
Zephyr took a sip of wine. “If we do not act, there is an 85% chance of global war.”
"And what if we tell them?"
"The prospects are slightly better. But human reactions remain largely unpredictable, even for our AI.”
"How long until the humans break down into war?"
“Not very long. Not very long at all," Zephyr said.
Akash walked into the room with the Prince of the House of Ether beside him. They all gave each other a hearty round of greetings and Akash offered him a glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres. The Prince accepted, and they all began to engage in conversation, picking up where they had left off before the newcomer had arrived.
“Zephyr was just telling us about some simulations to predict the human reaction to the recent vampire attacks.”
"Oh?" the Prince of Ether said.
"The results are not good, I'm afraid." Zephyr said.
“It seems prudent to tell them the truth,” Mortar said.
"But any change in their perception of reality will cause a complete paradigm shift. Humanity is not known for its rationality during times of stress. Telling them may cause the very thing we are trying to avoid."
Soon the living room was full of the princes of all of the surviving houses. Akash poured everyone a glass of wine and made sure they were comfortably seated.
"My good Princes of Dragonia. I am so pleased that you have joined us today for this momentous occasion. It is the first meeting of all the Houses since entering stasis a million Earth years ago. And it is good to see all of your faces again. While it is good to connect and enjoy each other's company, we have asked you here today for more serious purposes.
“As you know, the genetic experiment we performed before going into stasis was successful. Dragon Souls live on this planet. Seven out of the eight of us who awakened before you have found our fated mates.”
Everyone looked at Zephyr knowingly. Heat rose in his face before he regained control of his emotions.
"We have made a vow to protect the humans and Dragon Souls. Our ancient enemy the vampires also inhabit this planet. In our quest to protect them, some of our greatest minds have discovered a vaccine that will inoculate any human, Dragon Soul, and baby dragon from vampires. A vampire will immediately die the second they taste a drop of the inoculated person’s blood. The reason we have asked you here today is because delivering this vaccine to humanity has posed a logistical problem. I will now ask Zephyr and the Dragon Soul scientist Flora to explain the vaccine and delivery method they have devised."
Flora and Zephyr stood, the eyes of the princes on them. Together, they explained how they had created the vaccine, all their failures, and their final success. They explained how Flora’s blood had been the missing link. And how she’d created the particle bomb as a weapon, but they’d found that it was also an effective means of distributing the vaccine.
"And that brings me to the reason why we have called you here for this meeting," Akash said. “We cannot distribute these bombs fast enough using human technology. Our ships have been buried below our houses, causing them to be structurally dependent upon them. If we move our ships, we lose our homes. But now that you have all awakened, we would ask you, one or all, if you would participate in distributing the vaccines across the planet. Help us protect humanity.”
There was active enthusiasm among the princes as Akash finished his speech.
"What say you?" Akash asked. “Who among you would volunteer his ship for this mission?”
One by one, the hands of each prince rose into the air until only one had not raised his hand in agreement. The Prince of the House of Tides stood with his arms crossed in the corner, his eyebrows knit, and his eyes dark. Everyone looked at him expectantly. With thirteen ships at the ready, it would be more than enough to distribute the bombs — but more ships meant they would get out there faster. The princes had agreed in everything since the plan to leave old Dragonia. Having one of them decline such a mission would set a new precedence among them. Finally, the Prince of Tides sighed heavily and stood up straight, addressing the assembled crowd.
"Yes, I will volunteer my ship for this mission. We must protect the humans and these Dragon Souls we've created. What could be more important?"
"Excellent," Akash said. “I raise a toast to all of you, brethren, friends, brothers. Welcome to the New World!" Akash raised his glass and was mirrored by all the others.
"Let us now enjoy our camaraderie," he said with a broad smile.
The princes gathered around the food trays and began to talk, joke, and laugh. Zephyr stood with Flora, continuing their quiet conversation.
“This turned out better than I’d hoped,” Flora said. “We should get the vaccines out in a matter of days now.”
"So you are the only one who hasn't found his mate yet?" asked Mortar, walking over and slapping Zephyr on the back with a heavy hand.
"I have not. But at this moment in time, I have other things to fill my attention.”
"Has anyone come up with a way of identifying mates? Can we look for these Dragon
Souls using their genetics?”
"I have thought of it, and so has Cato of the House of Flames. We have access to all human databases and anyone's DNA who that has been stored. But such an undertaking would tax our systems beyond their capacity. We haven’t yet made it a priority.”
"It would make it quite a bit easier for the rest of us to find our mates," Mortar said. “It sounds like a valuable undertaking to me." He laughed heartily. "And I could imagine you would be motivated as well."
"It is a good idea for a project after we have inoculated humans and decided what we will do about disclosure.”
"I volunteer to be the first to try it," Mortar said with a wink. “My son needs a mother.”
"I'll look into it.” Zephyr took a slight sip of wine as the Prince of Tides walked past him. A scent hung on the air around him that was so sweet and enticing Zephyr's inner dragon lurched up inside him, growing as wild and desperate as he had on the beach during the storm. He spit out his wine with surprise. The Prince of Tides turned to him. Their eyes locked. Wine had sprayed on the prince’s shirt. Prince Current brushed at it with an annoyed growl, and Akash ran over with a napkin to blot away the stain.
"I have just the thing to get this out," Akash said, giving Zephyr a wide-eyed and excessively toothy grin.
"I apologize, Prince." Zephyr said. “Something caught me off guard.”
"Right this way," Akash said, leading Prince Current to the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Flora asked.
"There was a scent on him. A sense that propelled my dragon into hysterics.”
"Is the Prince of Tides your mate?"
"No…"
Flora laughed at her own joke while Zephyr tried to figure out what was funny.
“Dragons have nothing against the practice. But I personally am not attracted to males. And if I were, I would not be attracted to the Prince of Tides. He is a disagreeable fellow.”
"What is it then?" Flora asked, containing her need to tease him like everyone else about his lack of a mate.
"It wasn't his scent. There is something clinging to him.”
"Do you think he’s been near your fated mate?" Flora asked, her eyes lighting up.
"My inner dragon is certainly behaving as if that is the case," Zephyr said, walking into a quiet corner with his lab partner.
"You should ask him where he's been since showering last.”
"That may be an odd question," Zephyr said.
"You should ask him if he made any stops on Earth before coming to the meeting."
"Yes, that might work. But he doesn't like me. I don’t think he would answer even a simple question.”
"Go tell him club soda will get wine out of his shirt. And then ask." Zephyr hesitated. "Well if you won't do it then I will."
Zephyr was going to stop her, but Flora was unstoppable. She gave him a sly look and hurried off after the Prince of Tides and Akash. He took another long sip of wine. When Flora returned a few moments later, she looked disappointed.
"He said he didn't stop anywhere before coming to the meeting. He's never even visited Earth.”
"What could this mean?" Zephyr asked.
"I don't know,” Flora said with a shrug. “Maybe you're just tired." She placed her hand on his shoulder. “You've been working too hard for too long.”
Zephyr's inner dragon whirled, charging and flapping its wings, diving and darting insistently from the back of his mind. With the most adamant of emotions, the voice of his beast rose up inside him, stating one single phrase. "It is her."
Chapter 6
Maia could not stand to be locked in the room a moment longer. She paced the floor, trying to think of some way to escape. She had tried everything that she could think of to escape once she realized she was a prisoner. Those attempts had all proven futile, but this time it would be different. This time the prince had left the ship.
She looked at her daughter and sighed. In ancient times, before the dragons had developed the mental link implant, they had used telepathy to communicate over long distances. That skill had gone out of fashion, and over the millennia it had faded. But Maia knew that deep in the recesses of her mind remained the ability to reach out to those she cared about.
She had only tried it once before. Just days ago, when she’d felt her plight had become too great, she’d called out across the universe for her fated one to save her from this ocean of darkness. But he had not come. Maia had to come up with a new plan.
She would not sit idly by and watch an evil man raise her daughter while treating a Duchess like a prisoner. Maia’s belief in love was the very core of her being, and she would not give up on the possibility of finding her own. Even if she never found her fated one, at least she and her child would live free lives.
She hoped that someday her daughter would love and find a mate of her own. That was enough to give her hope. She sat on the bed as the projection of the Earth spun below. She closed her eyes and folded her hands in her lap. Digging deep into the recesses of her consciousness, she sank deeper and deeper into the black void of her mind. It would take every bit of concentration and will she had in her if she wanted this escape attempt to succeed.
She breathed steadily and evenly, sinking deeper and deeper into her trance. Her mind had shifted to a completely new level, and she was in a state close to dreaming. She searched for the energy of what she knew to be her brother. They had spent many hours chatting with each other over the mental link, and she knew the flavor and taste of his mind. It helped guide her through this strange new experience.
At first, she thought it was all her imagination. But she had to have faith that it would work. She found the flavor of his consciousness through the vast ocean of her memory and called out to him in clear and precise emotional tones.
"Dear brother. Dear brother. I am still alive. Hear my words. I am here aboard the ship. You must find me. The fate of our House lies in the balance. Please, come find me. Follow the sound of my voice, dear brother, follow the sound of my voice.”
She felt the tiniest tingle of recognition. It was enough for her to continue on her path. Soon the sensation grew stronger and she felt the sense of deep surprise in her brother’s mind. She had to believe he was hearing her, and it wasn't just a figment of her desperate imagination. “Find me brother. Find me! I am locked in the nursery."
As she continued to beckon him, the sensation of his own emotions grew stronger and stronger until Maia was convinced her brother was coming. The moments stretched on and on, and Maia was beginning to lose faith. But she did not give up. She continued to call her brother. “Come, brother. Come find me. I am trapped in the nursery." She repeated her words over and over and over until she could no longer hold her focus. She opened her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Nothing had happened. He hadn't come.
A vibration buzzed in the doorway. Buzzing and buzzing louder and louder. Maia stood, picking up her daughter. She cupped the babe’s head in her hand, hoping against hope that whatever was behind that door was friend and not foe.
"Is it you?” she said to herself. “Is it you, my brother?"
The door to the outside wrenched open inch by inch. And Maia's heart whacked in her chest. She peered into the crack and saw the face she had longed to see for so many years. Her brother pried the door open enough to pass through and looked upon her with such great astonishment it made her weak in the knees. He stumbled toward her, his hand upon his brow. She rushed to him, holding Waverley in her arms. She stood before him, just within arm's reach.
"Can it be? Can it really be you?"
"It is me, dear brother, and you have found me! Now I can be free. Quickly, I must leave this place before he returns.” Her heart beat frantically and she could barely think straight over the pulsing throb in her veins.
“How can it be? The Prince told us all you were dead. He said you died of exhaustion from hatching the dragonkin.”
"It was a lie. I was weak, but I did not die. He took me as a prisone
r, now threatens to keep me here forever if I refuse to mate with him. He says he will never let me see my daughter again and will force me to bear more of his children whether I like it or not.”
Her brother seemed stunned, rooted in place. Maia knew she had to move quickly. The Prince would not be gone long, and his fury would rip them all apart if returned to find them like this.
"We have to go!" She reached out to take his hand. He looked down at her hand, still not fully cognizant of what was before him.
"Brother!"
He snapped out of his fugue and looked up into her eyes. Nodding once, he took her hand and led her out of the nursery. They scurried down the hall and around the corner. At the end of the next hall, he opened an escape pod and helped her inside.
"Come brother," she said, reaching out to him.
"I can’t. This is a single person pod. There are more at the other end of the ship.”
"Hurry. I want you to come with me. I dare not think of what will happen if you do not come now.”
"You must go, my sister. Take this wrist device. You can contact me with it.”
Maia looked down at the device and nodded. Her brother pressed a button and the door to the escape pod closed. Within seconds, the pod launched. Waverley cried as the inertia slammed them against the back. Maia sucked a deep breath, holding her child to her chest.
"It's going to be all right, my love. Don't cry. Don't cry."
She held on tight as the pod flew into the atmosphere of Earth and into an unknown alien world. She wished that she had been prepared. She had nothing but the clothes on her back, a wrist device, and her precious Waverley. It would have to be enough for now.
Her pod landed. The door slid open with a rush and Maia climbed out onto the sand of a foreign shore. Winter rain pelted her face and the sea crashed against the coastline. She held her babe tight in her arms, and slipped the wrist device over her hand and disabled all tracking and monitoring signals. Gaining access to the database, she quickly searched for the nearest dragons. The House of Storms wasn't far.
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