The Cursed Dragon

by Rachal M. Roberts

  He was sitting in the living room chair with his back to the big window for light, the webbed shadow of the large dream catcher was on him. Sara Jenkins was sitting on the couch beside her teenage son Eric. They’d come to Todd because she had no money for an urgent care clinic. The cut was deep into Eric’s ankle, and of all things it was a shovel that he fell onto when jumping over a trench. Dirt was deep inside the bloodied cut.

  Todd worked his medicine carefully, chanting as he massaged salve into the wound. His strong hands rubbed the whole ankle lightly, waking the skin and calling it to heal. He didn’t rush.

  As the sunlight caused the web shadow to move across his tanned back the deep cut began to close up. Sara let out a relieved breath but kept quiet for the medicine man. How was she ever going to be able to repay him? She would bring him some cooked meals and can tomatoes for him. Even give him the last two jars of her jalapeno pear jelly.

  After the mother and son left Todd went for a walk down in the woods to collect a few things. It was just a sticky day, so humid! He was glad he’d changed into his swimming trunks. At the creek he bagged a little bit of the soft black mud. He also had to gather cattail and mistletoe. He knew the perfect tree to climb for the mistletoe, he’d been eyeing that batch for a while now, letting it grow large. Now it was time to pick.

  Todd shimmied up the tree barefoot and took a seat on the tree limb. Then he paused to think and remember John Trickfoot’s little boy with the eight warts. John and the boy stopped by last week about it. Todd had been careful to examine each wart without touching them – such disgusting things they were. He prayed to Mother Earth, thanking her for the tree in which he sat and the healing it was going to do for that little boy.

  The beautiful goddess unexpectedly appeared near him “Pay.”

  He didn’t question her. Of course she meant for him to pay right there at that very spot. Thankfully there were other limbs nearby for hand holds. This was a first and he made sure it felt like it. He took her powerfully, the branch waved, leaves and catkins sprinkled from the tree. The look in her eyes was exactly what he wanted. As usual she was quick to disappear right after but it was nice that at least this time she took an extra moment to linger before leaving. To have the approval and favor of Mother Earth was his greatest joy.

  Winded, but regaining his prayerful heart, he thanked the Earth and the tree once more. Then Todd pulled out his pocket knife, seeing those eight warts in his head he began to sing and transfer them to the tree with his knife, making a total of eight distinct cuts.

  In the following early morning hours Todd dreamed. Oddly, it wasn’t about Mother Earth but Melissa. He hadn’t thought of his ex-girlfriend in a long time. The dream seemed so real. She was sad that they had broken up, crying it up real good on the tail gate of her truck in the Walmart parking lot after work. With every tremble of her delicate shoulders she began to shape-shift into the goddess he loved. She wasn’t wearing a bra and when she laid back her round breasts fell naturally against her sides. She raised her shirt and started to touch her nipples and play with herself – tempting him to take her. He walked over to her and started pulling her clothes off. He spread her legs and then woke up.

  The dream was unnerving but not too much. He took care of his morning wood and felt like he was cheating on Mother Earth as he did. It was a very carnal and selfish act but he wanted it! Little did Todd know that his waking thoughts were being heavily influenced by an outside force. He wanted to fuck Melissa hard. He missed her. He missed her companionship.

  A panicky thought took over him that the Great Spirit saw his dream and knew his thoughts but he couldn’t help his dreams, they just happened. To be safe he went straight to the sweat lodge to pray for forgiveness but the goddess never appeared. Todd didn’t know what else he could do about it.

  The day’s list of chores included shoeing the horses, restringing a dream catcher and making more to sell at the next pow-wow. He checked the live trap and sure enough he’d caught that opossum that was threatening his chickens so he’d have to deal with that. There were fish to be caught and beer to drink, but Todd could hardly find time to do either.

  In the time since Annette left he had found out just how much the medicine woman did around the place and for the tribe. He was busy – even the elders were happy with him! And adding the fact that he’d been giving himself to Mother Earth so much it was understandable how he hadn’t had much down time to be lonely. But on this day his thoughts kept returning to Melissa. All he wanted was to sit on the couch with Melissa and watch the ball game, eating chips and drinking beer.

  By the end of the day he knew what he had to do. He drove to the bar where Melissa waited tables and asked her if he could walk her to her truck after she clocked out.

  When he went back to fetch Melissa she smiled warmly up at him. It sure seemed like she missed him too. Her hands squeezed his bicep as she matched his slow pace. And when they got to her truck they both talked and apologized. Then she invited him over to her place.

  Melissa unlocked her door and they went inside, Todd found the TV remote and started to scan for something to watch while she went to her bedroom to change. She shut her bedroom door and headed for the closet when all of a sudden she couldn’t move or scream.

  What came out of the bedroom a short time later was a hungry monster that was following the scent of her first target. The tantalizing smell of testosterone drew her to him. She pushed the coffee table away and knelt her naked body at Todd’s feet and prepared herself to feast at the stunning factory and storehouse seated on her couch.

  The gift of the rooster made for a long, wonderful night and Todd was thoroughly worn out when he arrived at his home the following morning. His pickup truck bed was full of Melissa’s things – she was moving in and he was overjoyed.

  In the sweat lodge later that day Todd was hosting a cleansing ceremony for a tribal elder. It was a high honor and he was going to ensure it was done perfectly but he was still exhausted from his pleasures with Melissa and hauling her stuff in all day.

  The guests were seated naked outside, waiting prayerfully and patiently for Todd to call down their ancestors. They could smell the earthy sage and spice from within. Todd stilled his body and mind, chanting and waiting, pushing away the fear that he might not be able to pay The Great Spirit as he needed to, he kept one hand working himself up, imagining her beautiful body bouncing on top of him. Too soon for him the familiar ash cloud filled the steamy lodge and the splintery voice of Mother Earth spoke so intensely that the shrillness caused him to shiver in pain and cover his ears “You shouldn’t have called upon your ancestors when you can’t pay for it.”

  “Great Spirit, I can. I will.”

  The sharp tinkle of glass shards was the reply.

  “I’m ready. Please.”

  “What you have done can’t be undone – ever. From now on your supplications will be made in faith only, paying in the traditional ways of your ancestors.”

  The powerful Great Spirit left him alone in the steam.

  He bowed his head and cried.

  Todd then regained his composure and continued the ceremony by opening the door and inviting everyone in.

  Afterwards, as they were leaving all the guests said he did a great job. Todd waved them goodbye, still in shock as he watched them drive away.

  Chapter 24

  Their open flesh wounds at least had scabbed over but Ravanan was anxious to kill the rot trap. And so with modified armors and toting extra air bubbles behind them Ishida and him headed back down. He didn’t want that rot filling his lair. They emerged from the Hall of Fish illuminating the way as they went with his Diamond Staff and flew quickly down the Shaft of Darts and on through the last unexplored chamber, the heart of the ancient lair.

  It was a well-balanced lair with a multitude of columns and nearly touching stalactites all around the cavern walls. They took no time to look around other than a quick glance as they flew to the far side. Above the
m was a giant labradorite and jade chandelier, though it was now dark with the death of its creator and couldn’t light their way. They didn’t even touch the floor that was covered in golden statues and reliefs depicting the ancient pairs’ lives. A full 7,000 years of memories was immortalized in gold and jewels just below their feet. The briefest thought came into Ravanan’s mind, it was that the former residents followed the really old way, sleeping on their gold, eating with it, and bathing in it just like birds taking dirt baths. Their photo album was their bed.

  At the far wall they were going to cast the spell Solar Flare together but then Ravanan stopped them. He looked around. “We can’t use Solar Flare. It’ll melt everything together into one big soup of lava.”

  “What are you thinking? Cold flame?”

  “Yes, breathe the coolest fire you can on everything and on all the air. Remember, keep it cool or else we’ll ruin some things.”

  The ancient lair was his at last, and all of its treasure. Ravanan studied an interesting piece that stood off by a stalagmite, a gold tree set on a large disk of petrified wood that was entirely blood-red carnelian. There was a man bound to the trunk with gold wire and a circle of men around the sacrifice tree.

  The treasure was massive and he should be smiling. And he was..... it’s just that there was more on his mind.

  His eyes came back to Ishida.

  “How is your headache?” he asked her.

  “It only hurts in the mornings now. Did you know that truth spell would hurt me like this?”

  “It wasn’t the truth spell. It was from our battle when I controlled you.”

  “I see. You didn’t care if it hurt me.”

  “Not at the time.”

  “But you do now?”

  He gave her a small smile. “I’m concerned that it’s still hurting.”

  “Oh it’s better than it was. There was a time when I feared I wouldn’t ever fly again. But you don’t have to give my head another thought.”

  Ravanan heard her words and knew she meant something else. He wished she would just say it plainly but that was too much to ask for. “I’m glad it’s better.” was all he could think of.

  “How nice. I have your concern. But you’re not happy. I can make you happy.”

  “Are you so sure about that? You don’t know me.”

  Ishida reached out and grabbed the painful scar on his wing.

  Ravanan howled and pulled it away from her.

  She laughed. “It wouldn’t have scarred if you would have released me when I asked – I could have got to it in time to heal it.” Ishida grasped his wing again and looked at the dead spot. There were still a few black spidery veins around it too. “I’ve seen worse. You’re fine.”

  He glared at her “I should cut it out like I did that rot.”

  “Why didn’t you then? And stop the irritation?” She let the wing go and fixed her red eyes on him. “I may not know your past but I can give you a reason to enjoy that scar.”

  Ishida took hold of his arm and cast “MORPH TO HUMAN”.

  To keep her from dangling Ravanan quickly morphed too. But before he could evoke his robe her mouth covered his member and she put to use all she learned about the job from her native land. He put his hands on her head thinking to stop her. But that idea couldn’t carry through to his hands that were now running through her soft hair. As he moved his arm he felt the slight pain of his poisoned scar in his shoulder blade.

  There was a wildness she possessed. Being with her was a test in wrestling, he had never cared much for the sport until now when she conquered him by pinning him with his long dark hair – he hadn’t seen that one coming. The way she used her magic so subtly to mask her actions and then to embellish them with it – weaving it into her every move was definitely the way to win his heart. The more they tussled the sharper their reflections became in each other’s minds, the more they understood, discovered how to please and tease each other, it was a whole new realm. Gold coins were flying and sticking to their backs. The sound of shifting metal made them both smile.

  Auras changed to heat, smoldering heat turned to flame, and the flame erupted into a circle of purple fire just beyond his treasure. Ravanan caught a glimpse of the purple firestorm raging around them, it was her color – he turned away. He couldn’t do this. Of all the dragonesses in the world he had to get with a red! There was no way he could live being reminded of her every time he was with another. He stood up and draped his robe.

  Ishida stormed over and ripped his beautiful robe off him, throwing it down. She wasn’t about to stop, not at this point. She ran her hands along his smooth chest trying to lure him back to her. She wasn’t going to let it be this way. She started kissing his back all along his spine.

  Ravanan let out a sigh and rolled his head. She was wicked with her runes, writing them with her tongue and mesmerizing him with every touch.

  He was a mess of emotion. His failure, his lost love Kalara, Ishida tearing his robe and rubbing her skin against his....... he spun around while grabbing Ishida’s wrists and pinned her down to his gold. He kissed her wildly, owning her, taking what he wanted – ridding himself of all the pain and frustration he pushed it into her, with every thrust he would make it disappear forever and the purple fire would be his reward.

  Chapter 25

  Kalara held her head high and took a seat at the table. Ravanan’s words hung in her head ‘they will kill you for your condition.’ The dark corner in her heart didn’t seem dark enough to conceal her missing memories. She envisioned drawing more darkness from the rocks under her feet and matched their gaze, it was darkness covered by a smile.

  If she was going to live another minute she had to do this. Kalara told herself she had been in the cave many times before this and that the dragons in the cave didn’t want to eat or trap her, they were the law keepers, the Acamas, her group, and they were sitting around waiting to hear why she brought them here.

  But she didn’t know why; or how they were summoned. She didn’t do it. It was getting uncomfortable as they watched her. “Well,” she started, recalling what little she knew.

  “I got to thinking how long it’s been since we got together. I knew it’d be daylight for you guys so you wouldn’t mind. Does anybody have anything to say?”

  The Acamas exchanged looks. Morada leaned forward “Well I didn’t think it had been that long. Things are about the same where I’m at. I still have Naga issues of course but don’t we all?” she looked around and smiled. “No, I’ve got a pretty good handle on the research coming from my land.”

  Kadd spoke after her “You really had me going Kalara, I thought something big was up.” the others agreed. “But I think it’s good we’re talking. I’ve been considering calling a meeting too - nothing’s immediately wrong” he assured them “it’s just the Naga in my area have been talking about ending the Law. They feel like the herd needs to be thinned out because their filth is ruining the planet. You have to agree with them on that part at least.”

  “You’re right,” said the old Acama gloomily, thinking of his infested homeland.

  Kadd added “One of the most vocal is Salman the black dragon, he’s immersed himself in their society and acting in their movies but every time he meets with me he cites endless numbers and facts to support his side. He hasn’t requested a full meeting yet but I’m sure he will at some point. I think he is rallying support before he does.”

  “Well what of the research down there?” Tristan asked. (Being from the south pole, Tristan felt like his fellow brood rock dragons in that they were, in fact on top of the world looking down at the other inferior continents far below.)

  “I’ve got researchers in all directions, there is a lot going on. For myself, I’ve been spending a lot of time in Nikhadelos Dialo keeping the feathered ancestor digs quiet but that Naga Xu Zheng keeps discovering and broadcasting them. He needs to be stopped.

  Tristan spoke up “Remember, we’re not law enforcement, we’re mass
communicators – that’s all. Every dragon knows and keeps the Law in their own way.”

  “Tristan, I know that. But I can’t turn a blind eye to the change I’m sensing. I fear this whole Dragon Law thing is going to fall apart.”

  “We need to give it time, it’s only been 600 years.” Tristan said. “The Naga agreed to the Law when it was made, they won’t break it now.”

  It was clear to Kalara that Kadd disagreed with Tristan.

  Morada joined in “It sounds like you’ve become pretty busy with keeping an eye on the research.”

  “I have.”

  “We simply need more help.” Tristan replied. “Morada, what of that egg we just made, was it an amethyst?”

  “No. You know I would have told you guys the moment it hatched if it had been. Shall we try again?”

  “Sure.” Tristan then turned towards Kalara. “And what of your little amethyst over here? Is he ready to help out his sire yet?”

  Kalara was stunned but able to maintain her control over her thoughts and aura. She hastily smiled and said “Nearly.”

  Kadd gave her a surprised look and intervened. “No he’s not. It’ll be another few years at home for him, he’s barely over 40. We can’t throw a new young Acama into Nikhadelos, it’s too busy. I’d rather recruit help.”

  “No.” Morada replied. “This task was given to the amethysts and we’ll do it alone. Even if we have to stay together and tackle one thing at a time. No dragon can fight us all at once.”

  Kadd went on “Tristan, why can’t you come down and help, just for a while, maybe? How are things up there anyways?”

  Tristan gave a stern look to his fellow Acamas “I can’t leave my land. My dragons need me now more than ever, what with the cattle’s recent worries over the climate warming up – their scientists are coming in record numbers. Their incessant mapping and exploring never ends! It’s like they’ve never seen ice before and all the mysteries it has. No, it’s not a good time.”

  Kadd looked to Morada “What about you in your sands? Maybe you could spare some time.”