bedeviled & beyond 03 - bedeviled & beleaguered

by Sam Cheever

  What was up with that?

  Feeling extremely sorry for myself, I opened my eyes again and looked around. There was nothing. Nothing but mist as far as my straining eyes could see. I began to imagine that it was seeping into me. Clogging my organs. Until it became hard to breathe, hard to feel my heartbeat in my chest.

  My stomach clenched in panic and I started to gasp for air.

  Breathe slowly, dragon fighter.

  I shook my head, I couldn’t. My body was being wrenched away from me, one organ and one thought at a time. The mist was pulling it away.

  It only calls to your dark side. Let your light take control.

  Easier said than done. Have you met me?

  The dragon’s crystalline chuckle filled my mind. It is true you are much more comfortable with your dark side but the mist calls to it. If you do not send it back and embrace the light you are doomed.

  Great! Just frunkin’ great. Why is everybody always giving me these impossible tasks to perform. Save the world, embrace your light side, kill the damn dragon!

  You didn’t perform the last task very well.

  I frowned at her in my mind. You haven’t been cooperating.

  She chuckled again. Black dragons aren’t known for our cooperative spirits.

  No kidding.

  We flew in companionable silence for a bit and I gradually became aware that I was no longer panicking. The dragon had apparently distracted me enough that I was able to push my dark side back. At least for the moment.

  With the panic gone, curiosity—my constant companion—asserted itself. So what’s up? Where are you taking me?

  You will see.

  Damn! Growing up, I always hated when my parents said that to me. It isn’t any better coming from a thirty foot long flying reptile.

  I am not a reptile.

  Yes you are.

  Am not.

  Are.

  Not.

  Are. I whispered in my mind and felt the dragon sigh in response.

  Stubborn creature.

  Reptile.

  That intelligence soaked conversation brought on several moments of silence. Then I tried again. Why won’t you tell me where we’re going?

  Because.

  Because why?

  Because I said so. She smiled a bit smugly in my mind.

  Shit! I hated that one even worse.

  A few more moments of silence spurred my next question. Why aren’t you trying to eat me? Black dragons aren’t exactly known for their kindness and sensitivity.

  The dragon sighed. That is because we have been twisted over time through the juxtaposition of the magic layer. When the non-magic layer took prominence over the magic layer all those centuries ago, our minds suffered under the change. Just as humans cannot live under the veil as it currently exists, we have not learned to thrive when the veil is pushed back.

  But what about the red? They seem just fine without the veil?

  They are of lesser intelligence of course.

  I grinned. Of course.

  She turned one bright, vibrant eye toward me. The red has always been a more amenable creature, willing to ebb and flow with the winds of change. The black is mired in thoughts of what should be and, as such, we suffer when reality does not meet our expectations. It has warped many of my kind beyond recognition.

  I heard the pain in her voice and realized she mourned for the fate of her race. I knew the feeling. So where are you taking me?

  The sleek head bobbed as she chuckled. Nice try, dragon fighter.

  I frowned. Damned flying reptile.

  Not. A. Reptile.

  I sat in stiff silence for a while, trying to think of a way out of my current predicament. Since I was somewhere very high above the Earth and below the Heavens, I didn’t have a lot of options. Until I visually fixed on a spot to aim for I couldn’t even think about space shifting. I shivered at the thought. My space shifting abilities were definitely not up to the current challenge.

  My gaze slid skyward. Flick’s cloud is up there somewhere...

  Do not even consider it. You have no idea which cloud it is.

  I frowned and slumped in angry silence, trying to make my mind as blank as possible.

  At some point I must have fallen asleep. I surged awake as the rhythm of the black’s wings changed and the angle of flight edged downward. I sat up and yawned, my eyes scouring the quickly approaching landscape for something I might recognize. It just looked like a bunch of black, jagged ridges to me. Where are we?

  The dragon’s bright eye fixed on me. We are at my home.

  Is this where you eat me?

  She laughed and sharpened her angle of descent quickly, diving for the razor edge of the tallest peak. This is where I introduce you to someone important.

  Oh-oh. I thought, gasping at the sudden change in slope and speed.

  No, the black said, you have nothing to fear from this creature, except of course the mantle of responsibility.

  Responsibility? I shuddered. What a terrifying thought.

  The jagged landscape below flew toward us at an impossible speed. I forced my eyes to stay open in case I needed a perspective of the area for my escape. Tears filled my eyes from the biting wind and my arms and legs ached from holding on so tightly.

  As we drew nearer to the land below, the dragon pulled her body into a perfectly streamlined arrow, half covering me with her tucked wings, and pierced the space between the sharp tufts of rock. Suddenly we were flying above a meadow filled with fragrant flowers and romping wildlife.

  The sun was on my face again, though it had been nonexistent up until we entered the meadow. “A magical place.” I murmured without realizing.

  Yes, the black responded.

  She coasted low along the flatland for several miles and then changed the angle of her flight upward, heading for the face of the nearest mountain. Unlike the cliffs and peaks of our approach, the mountain we were heading toward was lush with greenery and sported several breathtaking waterfalls on its face. It was a beautiful and truly magical spot.

  Wherever it was.

  Olympus.

  My eyes widened. No shit?

  No shit. The dragon responded.

  The gods let you live here?

  They find our services useful.

  For what?

  The sleek, black shoulders twitched as if in a shrug. That is a discussion for another time, dragon fighter.

  The black headed for the largest waterfall at an uncomfortably fast rate of speed. I realized with a start that she was planning on flying right into it. I gulped and just had time to say, umm, before the black tucked her powerful wings against her side and streamlined herself again.

  Prepare yourself, dragon fighter. You might want to flatten against my back so you are not washed off as we pass through.

  Ummm. I’m not okay with th...

  The roar of the falling water made my head throb and pulled my breath away. My heart pounded as the first powerful streams hit the dragon’s head and flowed over her extended neck, rapidly heading toward me.

  I threw myself to the dragon’s sleek, hard back just as the water reached me. The weight of the pounding water punched the thick ridge of spikes along her spine painfully against my chest. For just a beat in time my entire awareness was enveloped by the awesome power of that falling water.

  Thunderous sound encompassed me. My body felt as if a hundred dragons stomped upon it from the incredible force of the driving water. I squeezed my eyes and mouth shut but water still managed to force its way into them. I choked against the need to cough, knowing I would drown if I did.

  Finally, as death and I shook hands and prepared to do business, we emerged on the other side of the fall and the dragon threw her massive wings out to halt our aggressive forward motion. The powerfully abrupt stop wrenched me off the water-slickened dragon and I flew forward, over her head.

  Something very hard but supple caught me in midair and allowed me to slide slowly toward t
he unforgiving floor of the cave. I lay there coughing and sputtering, trying to catch my breath and expel the water that the waterfall had driven into me at the same time.

  When I was finally able to breathe again, I sat up and looked around. The black sat on thick haunches staring at me, her sleek back to the thunderous fall of water at the cave’s mouth. One of her wings was extended toward me and resting on the ground. Apparently that was what had caught me as I flew off her back.

  As I looked at her she drew the wing back and tucked it neatly against her side. Her belly was a soft, cream color and appeared to be covered with much smaller, fragile-looking scales. I knew from my studies that was where the black was most vulnerable.

  As I had the less than harmless thought, the black inclined her long, elegant head toward me and said, I am Zerphor. Queen of the Black Dragons. And you have been chosen to save our race, dragon fighter.

  My eyes widened. Oh shit! Not another impossible task. “Save your race? Dragon I can barely save myself. You’ve got the wrong dra...er girl.”

  The black’s beautiful eyes sparkled with what looked suspiciously like humor. I’ll admit I had my doubts about you, dragon fighter. But it seems you are my only hope.

  I sighed. “I’ve heard that before.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Hope for what?”

  Why, for the next generation of course. I wish my offspring to know the goodness of life beyond these safe spaces. I wish her to be trained in the ways of man so that she might thrive in that world as the veil is pushed back.

  Okay, that presented several points of discussion. Taking a deep breath I opened my mouth to argue with her. But behind me, a high pitched warbling sound caught my attention and I swung to face it, automatically falling into a defensive crouch.

  A tiny creature stared at me through impossibly large, bright eyes and blinked in surprise as I swung toward it. The thing was a short, chubby, replica of the black standing in the mouth of the cave, with a soft, scale-free black body and creamy belly. The wings looked impossibly small and ineffective and they quivered with nervousness as I stared at it.

  The snout was proportionately short and wide and the head looked large enough to topple the tiny creature. The nostrils widened and pinched rhythmically as if it was scenting me.

  For several long moments the little critter and I just stood there, sizing each other up and blinking. Then I realized I was still in a defensive crouch and straightened. The little dragon seemed to relax as I gained my full height and it took a tentative step toward me.

  This is Glynus. She is my offspring and next in line for queen of the black dragon race. You will be her mentor into adulthood. You will help her thrive in the world of man.

  I shook my head, the idea ludicrous beyond measure. Nobody in their right mind would entrust their child to me. I can’t do that, dragon.

  But you must. You have no choice. The gods have willed it so.

  My gaze swung to her, my face filled with mutiny. I don’t give a flying damn what your gods have willed. I am not led by your gods. I have my own God.

  The dragon’s shoulders twitched again in a fine imitation of a shrug. You might not give a damn, dragon fighter but you will do as they say. Or you will stay on Olympus until you die.

  Shit! I turned back around and realized with a start that the tiny dragon had moved to a spot just inches from my feet. She looked up at me with an impossibly sweet face and her little snout opened in an expression that looked, incredibly, like a smile.

  “Bleurp!” she said to me.

  “Holy shit!” I murmured to myself, knowing I was royally screwed.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Baby Dragon Breath

  Upon the gods fave mount they land, through a waterfall to hide,

  And she is told she must protect and nurture, love, and guide.

  We shot through the dense, mist infused air between Olympus and Angel City at an alarming speed. My eyes stung and my limbs ached from holding on. In an effort to distract myself from my discomfort, I decided to grill the dragon. Why were you there? At the unplanned care unit?

  The black shifted her shimmering shoulders and threw me a look. I led the evil one to believe I wished your demise. He was easily fooled. He sees what he chooses to see.

  Prince Nille?

  His name is not known to me, I was called by his dark aura. I knew you would find him eventually.

  The tiny form in front of me shifted sleepily. Glynus’ little snout was resting across my thigh. One tiny wing was wrapped around my hand.

  I tried not to look at her because whenever I did my heartstrings gave a little tug. I was a sap for baby things. But they made me vulnerable. I didn’t want to worry about the little dragon’s safety.

  She will grow quickly and be your ally. You do not need to worry about her in the world of men. She has special protections.

  My eyes widened. There was so much I needed to know but I didn’t have time to ask. The mist and all of the problems that awaited me at the end of my current journey had to take precedence.

  I will explain all in time.

  What about you? Nille and my mother know you aren’t one of them now, you will be in danger.

  The black’s chuckle skittered gently through my mind, bringing gooseflesh up on my arms. I will fight with you through this current battle. Then I must return to Olympus.

  I was suddenly swamped with a rainbow of sensations that I realized were from the black. The dragon was fighting her own emotional battle over what she must do.

  I knew the feeling.

  You can come visit her whenever you want. I didn’t know why the hell I’d said that. I didn’t even want to keep the little creature. I glanced down and smiled. Glynus’s tiny back legs were jerking in her sleep. Her wings fluttered as if in flight. She was dreaming.

  I must not. My presence would interfere with her training. I must stay away until she is fully formed.

  I frowned. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to stand back and watch someone else nurture my child. Especially someone as screwed up as I was.

  You will raise her well. You will have no choice.

  Oh wonderful! Yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence.

  The black shrugged and I felt her body tense. We are not alone.

  Okay, that just sounds like a line from a really bad holo-movie.

  Perhaps. But it is still true.

  What... I didn’t even have time to form the question before something huge and black shot out of the mist beside us and slammed into Zerphor’s side, missing my leg by mere inches.

  Use your power to hold on, dragon fighter. Zerphor’s long body bunched and Glynus came instantly awake. She fixed large, bright eyes on my face for just an instant and then scrambled around her mother’s body, disappearing from my sight. I tried to grab her but she was too fast.

  Do not worry about her. She is fine. You must worry about yourself.

  I can do that.

  The huge black that had attacked Zerphor suddenly reappeared on the other side of us and shot toward her again. She straightened her wings fully, turning them to stop her forward progress and jerked upright, showing the huge predator her belly.

  I wondered at this but the attacking dragon stopped, staring at Zerphor for a long moment. His intelligent black eyes appeared to be filled with thought. Then he threw back his long black head and roared, filling the air with smoke and fire.

  Prepare yourself for battle, dragon fighter.

  What is going on?

  It is my mate. I have shown him that I am carrying our young but still he signals a wish to attack. We must fight or die.

  Oh hell no! The big male was at least half again as big as Zerphor and she had the baby and me to protect. It was obvious she would have her hands full fighting him alone. Why?

  I didn’t need to elaborate on the question. Zerphor knew what I was asking. Waves of pain and uncertainty filled me as she lowered her tender belly and spread her gently pounding wings. He fea
rs the child’s fate among man and wishes to stop me from giving her to you.

  Doesn’t he understand that there might not be a race of men if we don’t get to Earth and fight off this damnable veil?

  Zerphor turned her elegant head so the beautiful blue eye could focus on me. It was filled with wry humor. We have not had time to discuss the fate of man in recent days, he and I. Just like that, a scrolling visual of the two dragons coming together with a roar and a thunderous impact filled my head. I watched in horror as they mated, trying to push the nasty visual out of my poor head and having no luck.

  Make it stop!

  Zerphor merely chuckled in my mind. It is a beautiful thing, dragon fighter.

  I need brain bleach! I responded.

  The movie in my head rolled to a quiet stop on a surprise ending. My eyes widened. You’re carrying another offspring.

  Zerphor smiled in my mind. It is a boy.

  And yet he’ll attack you?

  She sighed. Yes.

  I would have had more questions but the big male took that moment to attack. He slammed into Zerphor hard, throwing us several feet away in the thick air. The impact would have been much harder had she not seen him coming and jerked sideways in the air at the last possible moment.

  Zerphor rolled back into an upright position almost immediately and spread her powerful wings, pounding the air with them in preparation for attack. Then, with a final, powerful sweep of her wings to propel her toward the big male, she formed herself into a huge, black arrow and headed for him. He stood his ground, his bright, black eyes filled with sorrow.

  I closed my eyes and used my power to lock me to Zerphor’s powerful body. The impact was thunderous. The big male hadn’t even tried to avoid us. As soon as Zerphor hit him, her mate wrapped us up in his wings and held on.

  I struggled to breathe under the pressure from his huge wings. The two, huge creatures spun and rolled through the air, their giant jaws snapping and tearing at each other. I held on tightly with my power, my mind churning through possible ways to extricate us from the current problem. It was then that a tiny awareness wriggled itself into my mind.