The Dragon's Egg (Dragonfall Book 1)

by David A. Wells

  The dogs outside scattered, yelping in fear.

  A creature of shadow floated in the middle of the room, facing Cyril. From his position, Ben couldn’t see the demon’s face.

  “Come forth!” Magoth commanded, his voice deep and reverberating, yet raspy at the same time … like fingernails on a chalkboard. Ben thought he might do anything the demon commanded just to make him shut up.

  “You have no authority!” Cyril shouted back at Magoth. “You are a foul and condemned creature, damned to the hells for your treachery and betrayal, and you deserve every moment of suffering that you have been forced to endure. I denounce you and call you out into the light, you unworthy and wretched servant.”

  Magoth roared, a sound evoking paralyzing terror. Cyril stood fast, not flinching or wavering.

  “You have been cast down,” Cyril shouted. “You have no authority. You have no free will—it was stripped from you as part of your well-deserved punishment. You are bound by universal law to obey me, for I have the blessing of those that struck you down.”

  A series of gibbering, whining, and sobbing sounds emanated from the shadowy form of the demon.

  “Please, Master, don’t be so harsh,” Magoth said, his voice no less discordant, but instead of authority, it conveyed a sense of utter subservience. “Come to me and I will give you all that you desire and more. The child will be in your arms in a matter of minutes.”

  “Your bargains will all be rejected, just as you have been rejected from the light. You will submit and serve me. I will do nothing for you.”

  “No!” Magoth howled. “Come to me now!”

  “You will submit!” Cyril shouted. The air around him started to glow as his Guardian Angel came into view right behind him. The angel looked like a young Cyril, yet much larger, standing twelve feet tall.

  Magoth collapsed into a barking, wailing, panicked struggle to flee, but he couldn’t seem to break free of the invisible bonds that held him fast.

  “Submit,” the Guardian Angel said.

  “I don’t want to!” Magoth shouted.

  “Submit!” the Guardian Angel said again as the entire room pulsed with a flash of brilliant white light.

  Magoth fell to the floor, wailing in anguish, howling in agony, writhing in pain, his shadowy, indistinct form seeming to change shape as he suffered.

  “Submit.”

  “Please, Master, just come to me, all will be well,” he said, desperation dripping from his horrible voice.

  “No, you will submit,” Cyril said.

  “You will submit,” the Guardian Angel said.

  Magoth howled again, rage made manifest in sound trailing off into nothing.

  “I submit,” he said, defeated. “What command would you have me fulfill?”

  “I would have you transfer my conscious awareness and volition into the body of Enzo Gervais, placing his consciousness into a state of hibernation,” Cyril said, pointing at a very wide-eyed Enzo, still tied to a chair and gagged to ensure that he wouldn’t interfere with the summoning. “Once you have performed this task, you will return to the realm from whence you came.”

  Frank sat up and looked around.

  Ben slapped a hand over his brother’s mouth. He tried to resist, but Ben overpowered him quickly, wrapping him into a grappling hold. Imogen scrambled around in front of Frank so she could look him in the eye, but he kept struggling, craning his neck to see Cyril and his twelve-foot-tall Guardian Angel demanding the submission of a demon kneeling in the middle of the room.

  Ben looked to Kat. She cocked her head, questioningly. He nodded emphatically. She shrugged, drew her pistol, and shot Frank in the leg. He stopped struggling a few seconds later. Ben laid him back down.

  “Best demonic summoning ever,” Homer said.

  “That’s not helpful,” Ben said.

  “Maybe not, but it’s true.”

  The air grew colder still, breath becoming visible. Magoth began to undulate, his already indistinct form morphing continuously, never quite fully forming into anything before beginning to transform into something else.

  Cyril sat down on the blood smear and closed his eyes. Shadow fell over the room, the light dimming even further, throwing the room into darkness, save for the area illuminated by the soft glow of Cyril’s Guardian Angel.

  The air got heavy. Then a muffled clap echoed throughout the warehouse.

  “It is done,” Magoth said.

  “What’s done?” Nash said, sitting up. “And what the hell is going on here?”

  Magoth swirled around, parts of his body moving at different speeds as he turned to face Nash. Though his body was unformed and constantly changing, shadow moving as he moved, his face was a perfectly white porcelain mask, entirely androgynous and smiling hideously, floating where a face should have been. The mask was unchanging, even when he spoke.

  “Come to me, I will free you.”

  Before Ben realized what was happening, Nash was up and sprinting toward Magoth. The demon didn’t seem to notice any of the others even though he was only a few dozen feet away.

  Ben reached for her but she crossed out of the circle before he could lay a hand on her, stopping short only a moment before he too would have passed out of the magical protection.

  Nash made it three steps before Magoth exploded into a cloud of shadow that expanded to fill the center of the room in an instant. Then the demon flowed into Nash through her mouth, her nose, and her eyes, lifting her a foot off the ground while he took possession of her. An instant later the shadow was gone and the light returned. Nash easily broke her bindings and smiled at them, turning toward Cyril, whose consciousness was now in Enzo’s body.

  “Fool!” she said, tipping her head back and laughing with pure glee.

  Ben could see from the horrified expression on Enzo’s face that Cyril hadn’t expected this.

  “You will return to your realm,” the Guardian Angel said.

  “No, I won’t,” Magoth said. “You know the rules. As long as I have a willing host, I can stay—and Dominus Nash is so very willing.”

  The Guardian Angel pulsed with light, filling the room with dazzling brilliance.

  Magoth leaned in to laugh at him very deliberately.

  Ben got up quietly and walked over to the edge of the circle, motioning for everyone else to remain seated, even though both John and Rufus had weapons at the ready. Once he had an angle that wouldn’t hit Cyril or Enzo, he pulled his revolver and aimed it at Nash. Since her armor would stop body shots, and Ben wasn’t confident that he could make a headshot, he opted to fire at the backs of her legs.

  The first round hit, dropping her to one knee. She cried out in surprise. Ben fired a second round, tearing again into the leg that he’d already hit. She whirled, the fury in her eyes seeming to reach out for him. The demon’s anger felt palpable, almost tangible. Ben fired again, hitting Nash’s metal breastplate and blowing her onto the floor.

  A moment later, she rose up as if lifted by magic, blood oozing from her leg, her feet never touching the ground. She floated there for a moment, and then the entire warehouse went dark.

  Rufus lit a match, throwing a dim light into the huge room. Nash and the angel were gone, the back door was wide open, and Cyril was struggling against the gag in Enzo’s mouth.

  Ben looked to him for permission to leave the circle. Cyril nodded urgently. Ben hurried across the warehouse, taking care to avoid stepping on the lines of either circle. He pulled the gag down and began untying Enzo’s hands.

  “What have I done?” Cyril said, shaking his head.

  “You tell me,” Ben said, freeing his other hand and stepping back so Cyril could untie his feet.

  He stood, looked Ben in the eye, and nodded in resignation.

  “I’ve unleashed a named demon onto the world.”

  “So what can we do about it?” Ben asked.

  “We must kill Nash,” Cyril said. “Though that may be more difficult to do with Magoth pulling her string
s.”

  “Won’t he just possess someone else if we kill her?”

  “Maybe, if he can find a willing host.”

  “Why would anyone want to be possessed?”

  “Power,” Cyril said with a shrug. “Right now, we have other things to worry about. I’ll clean this mess up after I get my grandson back.”

  He went to his comatose body and took the drone ring and a couple of knives, one for his belt, the other for his boot. Then he took the egg and handed it to Ben.

  “Take good care of this for me. Stay here and try to remain undetected. You can watch my progress through the drone feed.”

  “What if Magoth comes back?”

  “He won’t, at least not until he’s ready, and that won’t be for a while. Even with his demonic powers, it’s going to take some time for Nash’s legs to heal—good shot, by the way.”

  “Thanks.”

  Cyril put a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Take care of everyone. Be ready to leave as soon as I return.”

  “We’ll be ready,” Ben said. “Be careful.”

  Chapter 37

  Ben sat down with his eyes closed, pretending to meditate while he watched the drone feed. He saw Enzo’s body walking through the streets, Cyril taking great care to avoid detection by anyone or anything until he reached the more populated areas, where he walked briskly and purposefully toward the main gate of the inner city.

  He reached the outer wall in short order where he was stopped by a guard holding up his hand.

  “The inner city is closed until the intruders can be found,” the guard said.

  “Well then, there shouldn’t be any harm in letting me in, should there?”

  “Huh?”

  “You’re searching for intruders within the inner wall,” Cyril said a bit slowly. “I’m outside the wall, so I can’t be the one you’re searching for, can I?”

  “Well … I guess not.”

  “So letting me in shouldn’t be a problem, should it?” Cyril asked, pulling aside his coat to let the guard see the Gervais House badge and then flipping a gold coin into the air.

  “I suppose not,” the guard said, catching the coin and turning toward the tower. “Open the gate,” he called out.

  Cyril offered him a thin smile before slipping into the city and heading directly for the temple. Pairs of Dragon Guard were patrolling every street. Cyril flashed Enzo’s badge when they approached, and they waved him along.

  Ben started to feel a bit more at ease about the situation.

  Then Cyril reached the temple gate, which was guarded by two priests backed up by six Dragon Guard.

  He opened his coat, revealing the house badge. The demeanor of the priests changed visibly when they saw it.

  “The temple is closed,” the first priest said.

  “I know,” Cyril said. “But my son is inside and I’m worried about him.”

  “I’m sure he’s safe.”

  “Oh, I am too, but he’s young and probably very frightened,” Cyril said. “It would mean a lot to me if I could make sure he’s all right.”

  The priest seemed to hesitate until Cyril lifted his belt pouch and let it fall against his leg, the muffled clinking of coins tipping the scales. He nodded, motioning to a Dragon Guard to open the gate.

  “I will speak to my father about your generosity,” Cyril said. “He will be most pleased.” He slipped the priest a handful of gold coins.

  “Follow this guard. He’ll take you to a waiting room. An attendant will be with you shortly.”

  “Thank you again,” Cyril said, following the Dragon Guard into the austere temple, the drone trailing a dozen feet behind him along the ceiling. After a few hallways and turns, the Dragon Guard stopped at an open door, motioning with his head for Cyril to enter.

  “Thank you,” Cyril said, smiling graciously.

  “Wait here,” the Dragon Guard said before leaving.

  The drone did a quick scan of the corridor and then shot down the hallway searching for the nearest staircase leading to the upper levels. After a few dead ends, Cyril found one, carefully retracing his path before peeking out of the room and scanning the hallway again.

  When he saw an acolyte coming around the corner, Cyril pulled his head back quickly and went to a chair. He was sitting patiently when the man entered the room.

  “Can I help you?” the young man asked.

  “Yes, my name is Enzo Gervais and I’d like to see my son.”

  “And why is the child in the temple?”

  “I made an arrangement with the high priest,” Cyril said.

  The acolyte flinched slightly. “The high priest is dead.”

  “Yes, I heard,” Cyril said. “That’s why I’m here. I wanted to make sure my son is all right since the high priest was his guardian.”

  “I see,” he said, putting his hand to his chin. “Perhaps my superior will be better able to help you. Please come with me.”

  “Of course,” Cyril said, nodding deferentially and following behind the acolyte.

  He led Cyril several levels upstairs before taking him toward an office with a double door at the end of the main hall.

  Ben started to feel the tension seep back into his shoulders.

  “Please, wait here,” the acolyte said, stopping at the door to a small antechamber adjacent to the office.

  Cyril nodded his thanks and took a seat, settling in comfortably.

  A few moments later a priest and the acolyte entered through a door in the side of the room.

  “Mr. Gervais, welcome to the temple. I am the acting high priest until our master can elevate his choice for successor to his rightful place.”

  “Congratulations,” Cyril said, “though we all wish your ascension hadn’t been the result of such a tragedy.”

  “Thank you. My assistant tells me that you’ve made an arrangement with the former high priest concerning your son and that you’d like to see him.”

  “Precisely,” Cyril said.

  “This is highly unusual. Surely you understand the permanent nature of the transaction when a child is involved.”

  “Yes, but I worry,” Cyril said. “I just want to look in on him—make sure he’s all right.”

  The priest pursed his lips for a moment before shaking his head.

  “First, let me say that we’re grateful for the all of the contributions your family has made and continues to make to our cause. Unfortunately, I can’t allow you to see the child until I review the file and I simply don’t have time right now, given the threat we’re under.”

  “I understand completely,” Cyril said, drawing a knife from his belt and cutting the man’s throat with one smooth stroke, then stepping into the surprised acolyte and stabbing him in the heart before he could even cry out.

  Ben was a bit surprised by the sudden turn of events. Such quick violence—two dead in as many seconds.

  Cyril quickly dragged the bodies behind the desk, moved a chair to cover the stains left by the blood, and put out the lamp. Then he sent the drone to scout for a staircase leading up to the next level.

  He walked with a purpose, like the temple was his home and he knew exactly where he was going. The first acolyte he encountered nodded respectfully in passing. Cyril smiled politely without breaking stride. When he reached the next level, he found that the staircase to the level above was on the other end of the temple.

  As he passed an open door, someone called out, “Excuse me.”

  Cyril kept walking.

  A priest came out of the room at a trot. “Excuse me, you’re not allowed to be here without an escort,” he said.

  Cyril stopped, turning with an embarrassed smile. “I’m lost,” he said. “My escort was taking me to the nursery so I could see my son and he got called away. He gave me directions but I got turned around. Can you help me?”

  The priest cocked his head, frowning skeptically. “That is highly unusual. Any acolyte knows better than to leave a guest unattended.”

  Cy
ril shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know what happened. The priest who called him away was pretty angry, though. It seemed like the acolyte was in trouble.”

  “Be that as it may, you can’t be on this level without an escort. Follow me to the guard room and I’ll send for another acolyte.”

  “Thank you,” Cyril said, nodding in gratitude.

  Two steps after the priest turned his back, Cyril grabbed his mouth with his left hand and stabbed him in the lower back, pulling the blade out to the side, slashing through the width of the man’s kidney, then bringing the bloody blade up and cutting his throat. He didn’t let him hit the floor, instead walking him toward the nearest room.

  Without dropping the body, he cracked the door and sent the drone in to scout the room. Finding an empty office, he quickly dragged the priest inside and laid him down behind the desk. Sending the drone out ahead of him, he hurried down the hallway toward the far end of the temple and the stairs leading up to the top levels.

  He could hear several Dragon Guard playing cards behind the door at the end of the hall. He took two steps up the nearby staircase to conceal himself from anyone coming down the hallway and sent the drone up to the next level. A Dragon Guard stood sentry in the hallway, a few feet from the top of the stairs.

  Cyril panned around and picked out another Dragon Guard at the far end of the hallway, staring right back at his partner. The nursery was two levels up. Moving along the corner of the ceiling, the drone floated up the next staircase, finding another Dragon Guard at either end of the long corridor running the length of that level. Cyril moved the drone slowly to the nursery, carefully floating underneath the door and finding the child sleeping quietly in his crib.

  Ben smiled to himself when he saw the image of his tiny nephew. Cyril was close, but there was still a lot in his way. Worse still, he couldn’t afford to raise the alarm or the chances of getting out alive would diminish rapidly.

  Suddenly, a roar shook the world.