by Tia Wylder
No more, today everything would change. Without my lab, without Instinct, shifters would be forced to embrace their animalistic sides. They would finally stop denying their destiny and instead walk proudly into the future. The scene was set; all I had to do was start the fire. There was a long fuse that led through the lab and into a cloth that sat suspended in a vat of Instinct. There was enough here to destroy any hope of the drug existing again.
“Brakha will be here soon. Light the fuse so we can leave!” Aveline said.
“I spent countless years here. I built this place with my own two hands. This is my home.”
Aveline took my head in her hands and turned me toward her.
“This isn’t your home anymore, Sergei. It’s lost everything that made it one, now it’s just a building. You can do this, I promise.”
I struck the match and lit the end of the fuse. We had just over five minutes before this place would explode. By the time Brakha arrived it would be smoking rubble. I leaned down and lit the fuse. The flame took hold and started following the path to its destiny. Now, it was time to follow my own.
Aveline and I left the castle behind and shifted into our animal forms. We ran full speed into the jungle until we were far from the castle. I spun around and watched my home explode in a ball of fire through the eyes of the dire wolf.
I looked over to Aveline who glistened in the night like a living shadow in her Black Panther form. We locked eyes and I knew I had made the right decision. She turned and ran off into the forest. I took one last look at what used to be my home and then followed her into the night.
The Dragon’s Love Affair
By Bella Angel
Chapter One
Ragnar Eriksen had lost everything to the Dragonslayers. His wife and son did not choose to be born as dragon shifters. Ragnar promised his wife and son that he would protect them, that no harm would ever come to them. That promise was broken when the Dragonslayers came and slaughtered an entire village of dragon shifters living peacefully in the Scandinavian mountains.
Ragnar and his people had been ruthlessly hunted for centuries by humans, but the Dragonslayers were different. They had the form and persona of humans, but their strength and longevity revealed that they were something different. Some say it was because they drank the blood of the dragons they killed and drew strength from the blood. Others say they are fallen gods who cannot rise to power again while the dragon shifters exist. The truth remains a mystery, for the Dragonslayers are an elusive group.
After the loss of his family, Ragnar’s people were scattered. He followed one of the wounded Dragonslayers back to a place where they met. It was a veritable fortress hidden in the Black Forest of Germany. There were hundreds of them, but Ragnar was confident that he and his fellow dragon shifters could overpower the fortress if they had the element of surprise. The Nordic ice dragons were among the most powerful of the dragon tribes. Ragnar’s icy breath tore through flesh and bone and leveled cities faster than fire ever could.
Frozen solid in the blink of an eye, Ragnar would shatter those who took everything from him. He returned to his people and pleaded with the elders to form an attack party. They told him his need for revenge would lead only to more bloodshed. They told him to mourn his family and leave the Dragonslayers to their own devices.
They have grown old and soft. Their icy hearts have melted, Ragnar thought. He would go himself then and infiltrate the fortress. He shifted into a beast of legend, with scales blacker than the night sky and cold blue eyes that reflected his frozen soul. His wings spanned far in both directions, casting an ominous shadow on the clouds below. The air was thin and crisp. The full moon above refracted across his shimmering black scales, casting him in a white glow.
Flying this close to heaven was the only time Ragnar thought he could feel the presence of his wife and son. He imagined them flying by his side, soaring above the cares and worries of the world below. Ragnar descended beneath the clouds and dived at rapid pace to avoid being spotted. He landed in a clearing and quickly shifted back to his human form.
He was naked. His human form could not withstand the icy chill of winter for long. Fortunately the fortress was close. He made his way silently through the forest until he spotted a lone guard standing watch. Ragnar circled around and approached from behind.
Ragnar wrapped his arm around the man’s throat and pulled him down. He clenched his thick bicep and pulled his forearm upward, cutting off the man’s air supply. He was too shocked and surprised to fight back. He lost consciousness and Ragnar slowly released him. He pondered for a long while if he should deliver a killing blow, but decided against it. He would die with the rest of them when the time was right.
Ragnar took his clothes which consisted of a suit and crimson tie with plain black slacks. He had a gun holstered at his side and a wireless communicator in his ear. Ragnar took everything and dressed himself as the guard. He made his way to the fortress and walked with a quiet confidence that he hoped would allow him to blend in.
There seemed to be an event being held within the high walls of the complex. Various humans were arriving dressed in military uniforms and decorated with medals. There were representatives from various countries. Ragnar saw all manner of different flags stitched upon the shoulders of the men entering through the main gate. Many of them walked with woman by their side. The whole scene made Ragnar think he was attending a celebration or gala instead of infiltrating the heart of his enemies.
The guards at the front gate wore the same clothing as Ragnar. They afforded him a slight nod as he passed through without issue. Ragnar breathed a sigh of relief as he melded himself into the crowd. Guards were placed at various intervals and directed the guests through the open complex. Buildings passed by on either side, holding secrets that Ragnar was determined to reveal. All in due time, he thought.
“Don’t you have something you’re supposed to be guarding?”
Ragnar turned and saw a woman dressed in a tight black dress that traced the outline of her curvaceous form. She had jet black hair and glistening emerald eyes that regarded Ragnar with a quiet curiosity.
“I’m on break,” Ragnar muttered.
“Ah, I see. Going to see this Apollo fellow then?” She asked.
Ragnar hadn’t heard that name before.
“Apollo?”
“Yeah, one of your bosses. Are you new or something?”
Ragnar shook his head. “I’ve been doing this a long time.”
“Well, since you’re on break, maybe you can be my date?”
“You’re here alone?”
The woman waved her hand to dismiss the idea.
“No, but I haven’t the slightest idea where my husband is. Besides, if you turn me down, I’ll tell your boss you’re skipping out on work.”
Ragnar clenched his jaw. This woman was becoming a nuisance.
“Very well,” he said.
The woman interlocked her arm with Ragnar. He hadn’t felt the touch of a woman in some time. It was both welcome and distracting. He had to remain hidden until this Apollo revealed himself. Then he would strike at the heart of the Dragonslayers.
The earpiece crackled with static. Ragnar stopped in his tracks and focused on the sound. The woman’s pace came to a grinding halt. She teetered on her heels and let loose an audible sigh.
“Gamma post, report in! You’re late again!” A voice shouted.
Ragnar pressed his finger against the communicator and heard a click.
“All clear here,” he said.
“Miss another check and I’ll have your ass, you hear me?”
“Yes sir.”
Ragnar looked back to the woman who was still relentlessly clinging to his arm.
“Trouble in paradise?” She asked.
“I don’t know how long I can stay,” Ragnar said, “They’re going to find out I’m away from my post.”
The woman gestured to the continued flow of guests.
“Then hur
ry up and escort me to the presentation dinner!”
Ragnar returned to the throng of moving people. Everyone was being led like sheep into one of the larger buildings. Inside the drab interior was decorated with ornate tapestries that hung from the walls and covered the plain concrete beneath. Tables and chairs were arranged across the open space and a stage with a podium lined the back wall.
“We should probably know each other’s names if we’re going to go any further with this,” the woman said.
“I don’t think I’ll be staying for the presentation,” Ragnar said.
“Nonsense! By the time my husband finishes bragging to every general in here the dinner will be over! Don’t make a woman eat alone.”
She extended her hand. “I’m Isabel.”
“Ragnar.”
“Oh, I like that name! What is that, European?” She asked.
“No, it’s not.”
“Well then, let’s find out seats, shall we Ragnar?”
He was growing tired of this woman. She was clearly starved for attention, but he couldn’t afford to have his divided. Ragnar sat beside her at one of the tables and scanned the room. He didn’t see any Dragonslayers, just a bunch of humans enjoying each other’s company.
When a Dragonslayer did enter the room, Ragnar felt the temperature drop. Their presence was haunting, like being in the room with a malevolent spirit. It was just one for now, but Ragnar knew this one was somehow important. It was the way he carried himself, the contempt in his gaze as he looked out at the humans in the room like they were cattle.
He had a chiseled jaw and ashy white skin. His thick brown hair was perfectly manicured into a high and tight haircut. He took the stage and tapped the microphone that extended from the podium. The crowd went silent.
“Thank you all for coming here. I appreciate that so many nationalities and countries are willing to work together in this endeavor. My name is Apollo, and I am one of five who will be speaking tonight. For now, please enjoy the food and relax,” he said.
No one had seen the leaders of the Dragonslayers in person. The elders of Ragnar’s tribe, in all of their years, had only learned that they numbered five. Ragnar had a name: Apollo. It was the name of a Greek god, but more than that, Apollo was known for slaying the she-dragon Python of Delphi. Could this man and the god of myth be one and the same? Being in his presence, Ragnar wasn’t certain either way.
“Hey, what are you doing with my wife?” A voice growled.
Ragnar spun around in his chair as a pair of beefy hands grabbed his shoulders. Before he could stand he was ripped out of his seating and thrown onto the ground. He felt the eyes of the room staring at him. More than that, he could feel the eyes of Apollo from across the room.
He stood to his feet and looked upon the muscular form of Isabel’s husband.
“You’ve got ten seconds to tell me why you were sitting with my wife!” He shouted.
“I meant no offense sir. She was left unattended and I provided her with escort to the dinner.”
“He’s telling the truth Harmon, I was lost and I needed helping finding the right building,” Isabel said.
The general clenched his fists, apparently not satisfied with the answer. Ragnar didn’t have time for this display of strength. He needed to defuse the situation.
“My business is finished here, have a lovely evening,” Ragnar said, turning away from the general.
“How dare you turn your back on me! Do you know who I am?”
Ragnar could no longer bite his tongue.
“I know you’re the kind of person to leave your wife stranded and desperate for attention. Perhaps you should spend more time with her and less time inflating your own ego?”
Humiliation was a sound tactic, but Ragnar soon realized his comment only made the situation worse. The general roared and pulled a gun out of his jacket. It was a small and concealed weapon, but the sight of it sent the crowded hall into a frenzy.
“Insolent fool, those words will be you last!” He shouted.
“Harmon, you’re embarrassing yourself!” Isabel shouted.
Ragnar was out of options. He had failed to defuse the situation, and the eyes of Apollo were on him. Ragnar spotted the Dragonslayer as he approached from the right. Apollo took the gun out of the general’s hands with incredible speed. His hand moved so quickly that the image of it blurred through the air.
The general’s jaw dropped as his eyes wandered to Apollo. A swift fist collided with the general’s face and he fell to the ground unconscious. A trio of guards arrived and picked up the body. Isabel chased after them commanding that they put him down.
“You’re not one of mine. Who are you?” He asked.
“I was stationed at Gamma, I left my post to escort the general’s wife,” Ragnar said.
The words seemed to float right past the Dragonslayer.
“Those eyes, I know them, and I know what you are,” Apollo said.
“Then it seems we are at a standstill,” Ragnar replied.
Apollo leaned forward and whispered into Ragnar’s ear.
“Come with me now, Dragon, and I will make your death swift. Fight me here, and I will make you watch as I slay everyone you love.”
Ragnar smiled. “Oh Apollo, you’ve missed one very important detail.”
“Have I? Enlighten me then.”
“You and your kind have already taken everything from me. I have nothing left to lose!”
Ragnar stepped back and unleashed his inner dragon. A blast of icy wind swept across the hall as his human form quickly gave way to the body and wings of an ancient ice dragon. Ragnar’s wings spread to either side of the hall and his head scraped the ceiling of the building.
Apollo turned and ran as Ragnar roared and painted a blast of ice from his mouth. Everything the rushing wind touched instantly froze. Humans stood frozen in their final fearful poses with hands raised and mouths agape. Icicles dangled from their outstretched arms and from the edges of the tables.
Ragnar charged forward, shattering everything that had been frozen by his icy breath. There was no length he wouldn’t take to get the revenge he sought. As he took another deep breath and unleashed a fury of frozen wind across the path in front him, Ragnar’s thoughts wandered back to the night he lost everything.
He watched the humans beneath him cower in fear and run for shelter. Their terrified faces mirrored the faces of his wife and son as the Dragonslayers drove their blades through them. Ragnar held them both in his arms as he watched the life drain out of their eyes. The thought ignited the blizzard within his soul. He charged forward again, shattering the frozen personas of the poor souls who dared to stand in his way.
Apollo foolishly ran out of the building. No doubt he had seen his fair share of dragons, but nothing matched the fury of a Nordic ice dragon. There was a reason the Dragonslayers rarely came into the Scandinavian Mountains. Even with their incredible strength and near immortal lifespan, the biting cold and the icy breath of Ragnar’s people made quick work of them.
Ragnar charged forward and shattered the wall of the building. Stone and steel reinforcements rained down around him as he stood under the moon high in the sky. His eyes scanned the ground beneath him as Dragonslayers assembled. He spotted Apollo emerge from behind a building in the distance. He held a golden bow that stood half as tall as he did. He reached into a quiver and pulled out an equally golden arrow. Ragnar watched him pull back the projectile as he took in another deep breath of air and mixed with the winter storms in his body.
He let loose another blast across the Dragonslayers before him. Some of them managed to raise shields in time, but many of them were not prepared for ice. Their skin turned blue and dripped with icicles frozen in time. Apollo’s arrow shot through the blizzard and slammed into the right side of Ragnar’s upper right foot. The impact was met with a crackle of pain that shot up through Ragnar’s body. It had somehow passed through his scales and pierced his flesh. Ragnar felt heat coming from
the tip of the arrow that threatened to melt his icy resolve.
He charged forward and tucked his black wings behind him. The Dragonslayers shattered beneath him. Apollo was readying another arrow, but Ragnar would be on him before he could take aim.
“Cadmus, come to my aid!” Apollo shouted.
Ragnar spotted another Dragonslayer to his left. He was a thick built man with shoulder length jet black hair and an armored helmet atop his head. He swung a sling above his head that held a fiery projectile. He let it fly before Ragnar could dodge. The projectile looked to be a ceramic pot filled with a flaming liquid. It smashed into Ragnar’s side and spread the burning oil across his scales.
“Jason, now!” Cadmus shouted.
Yet another Dragonslayer emerged from the right. He was bare chested with a golden fleece hanging down his back. He held a golden spear in his right hand. Ragnar turned and let loose a blast of ice. Jason swung the fleece around and ducked beneath it. Ragnar looked on in terror as the ice passed over the fleece and left Jason unharmed. He retaliated and threw his spear into Ragnar’s side.
Ragnar had to flee before they finished him off. The pain that coursed through his body was unbearable. He unfurled his wings and looked to the sky.
“Go dragon, try to warn your brethren, but you will not reach them in time! Our brothers Perseus and Heracles are already on their way to your mountaintop sanctuary. Your time will come soon dragon, of that you can be certain!” Apollo shouted.
Ragnar drove his wings down and flew up into the sky. The fires of Cadmus’ oil went out as the cold wind swept over him. The spear of Jason departed and the arrow of Apollo fell away. Ragnar was badly wounded, but if what they said was true, and two of these fierce leaders were going to kill his people, he had to warn them. Ragnar turned and shot off into the horizon with a powerful burst of speed.