A Dragon's Clutch

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

  “We are only here to tour the castle. I didn’t know anything about a treasure and I’m not interested in it.” What would it take to convince this …being, that I didn’t want her stupid treasure? Behind me, the others gathered at the last suit of armor. “My friends are almost done here. May I go?”

  “I will be watching you.” Turning, she walked away.

  Exhaling, I relaxed. So far the magical beings in Japan hadn’t been nearly as happy to see me as I was used to. Maybe I shouldn’t open the portal here. Every time we opened it we risked being captured by the Sons of Belial. If the beings here were happy and didn’t want to leave, then why risk it? Why risk my family and friends for a few ungrateful magical creatures? I ran my fingers over the silky braided unicorn hair bracelet, slashes of silver in the crystal let me know the protective spirit wasn’t far.

  “Are you doing okay?” Gavin asked.

  “Sure. I mean I had one of the spirit guardians come over and interrogate me, but other than that everything is fine. How was the tour?”

  “Wait, what?” Gavin took my arm. “What are you talking about?”

  “I told you about the family guardian at the ryokan. Edo Castle has a guardian too, well at least one. And she wanted to know why I’m here and to let me know she would not be allowing me to take the treasure hidden here.”

  Gavin looked back at Anali who smiled, her pink sari fluttering around her. “Are we safe?” he asked.

  “Yes, she’s protecting this place.”

  “Come, come, there is more to see,” said Hanako smiling and waving to us.

  “Let me know if anything changes,” Gavin said before walking to Anali’s side and taking her arm.

  Following behind I heard Hanako’s descriptions of the different pieces and historical stories, when the screaming started. Looking around I saw that no one else reacted. Okay, so it’s an empathic impression left behind. I didn’t speak Japanese, I didn’t need to, the voice begged for help, for whatever horror was happening to stop. My stomach churned. Taking a deep breath, I shoved the sensation down and forced my body to feel nothing.

  The ghostly image of a young woman came around the corner. Black hair falling out of her bun, face bruised and bloodied, kimono clutched to her chest. She looked at me. I froze. No, it couldn’t be. These were images, like a picture or movie, frozen in time. They didn’t interact with me.

  Pleading Japanese fell from her lips. Reaching out she grabbed my arm, her fingers like ice. I exhaled a white puff of breath. A smoky black figure came towards us. A gleaming katana in his hand. I put myself between the man and the girl. Her icy fingers dug into my shoulders and her breath made the hair of the back of my neck stand up. Inhaling, I opened my connection to Akasha. Reaching up, I grasped my fire pendant. Flames of red, orange, and yellow surrounded the heart of the fire of blue, purple, and green flames the symbol of the Phoenix King and Queen.

  The pendant began to warm. The smoky figure stopped. If I hadn’t been wearing contacts which hid my true nature, the flames of my Phoenix power would have been dancing in my eyes. Staring at the man I shook my head. He screamed with rage, a battle cry not a sound of defeat. His sword went through me and into the woman behind me. She screamed in pain. Shaking, I focused my power on the ghostly sword, which felt like ice piercing my belly. I forced my power along the blade. The woman gasped as healing warmth replaced the violent cold.

  The figure in front of me began to turn from shadow into a man, his eyes wide with madness. Yellowish white surrounded the dark brown irises. I pushed more Phoenix energy into him. White flames danced over his body consuming him in a rush before disappearing.

  Was he gone forever? Gone for right now? What had I done?

  The woman tugged on my arm leading me to a katana hanging on the wall. The air around it writhed like invisible snakes. I sent my energy into the sword, healing and cleansing it with purifying fire of white and purple. Wisps of color and energy burst from the sword and floated away. Were these souls? Had he managed to trap souls in his sword? The woman smiled at me, her injuries gone. Her hair and kimono fixed. She bowed and faded floating up until she vanished.

  “What the hell just happened?” I said to myself.

  “That’s a very good question,” Gavin snapped. “Because whatever it was completely freaked Anali out. Are you okay?”

  “What? How? You guys were way ahead of me.” I saw Anali resting on a bench. Miu’s hands on her stomach.

  “Who knows? I wish you would have told me something was happening. I could have helped. Or gotten Anali further away.” His fear and frustration suffocated me.

  “Uncle Gavin, there wasn’t time.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and looked over at Anali, checking on her. “She’s so sensitive right now, and I need to ground her. And you’re in danger, and I don’t know what is happening or how to help you.”

  “If I had needed help I would have asked, I swear,” I said, forcing myself to stand still. The place where the sword pierced me throbbed.

  “Are you sure?”

  I nodded.

  He walked away, kneeling in front of Anali. She smiled, placing her hand on his cheek.

  I shoved down my tears, pressing my palms against my stomach. There wasn’t an actual injury, just icy pain.

  “Sapphire, are you okay?” Anali asked once I got closer.

  “Are you?”

  “I think so. Miu calmed my body’s reaction. I can’t block anyone or anything. Whatever attacked you,” Anali shivered, “it was so dark. I thought if I stayed close to Gavin his energy would keep me grounded and protected.”

  “He has been able to protect you,” I said quickly. “I’ve noticed how safe and relaxed you are when you’re touching him.”

  “We have seen a lot of the grounds already,” Hanako said. “Maybe we should go and get some lunch? We can walk a different way to the exit and see some more.”

  Gavin stood and helped Anali up. “Yes, thank you. I think that’s a good idea.”

  “If that will make you happy, but I’m fine.” Anali took his arm and they began walking.

  Miu frowned at me before joining her mother.

  The guys waited for me. I wanted to be left alone, but I could tell they weren’t going anywhere.

  “Are you okay?” Shin asked.

  I rubbed the spot where the sword had gone through me.

  “Little sister,” Kayin said, his rich voice soft. “What happened?”

  I crossed my arms so I wouldn’t be tempted to reach out for one of them while I told them about the ghost and the sword.

  “I wonder if all the swords have ghosts trapped in them?” Sasha asked.

  I shrugged. “That was the only one I felt, or saw.”

  “You never answered me,” Shin said. “Are you okay?”

  “She’s always okay. She’s Shamash and Aya’s Jewel and they’d never let anything happen to her.” Sasha’s bitterness stuck to my empathic shield.

  Sasha was such a mess lately, nice to me one minute then spewing his bitterness and anger the next. It was like being back in the group home.

  “Hurry up,” Gavin called. “I want Anali to rest.”

  “Gavin,” she snapped. “Sapphire, take your time. I’m fine.”

  We walked faster, and I paced myself so I was again in the back of the group alone. Dropping my arms, I relaxed a bit as their emotions went ahead of me. The woman’s fear and pain and the man’s enraged insanity still clung to me. When we got outside I stepped off the path and rummaged through my backpack. I found the spray Miu had made for me using the same essential oils as the soap. Closing my eyes, I sprayed myself letting the spicy, sweet scent clean and protect me. The ghosts’ energy faded somewhat, but didn’t go away completely. Oh, well. It would have to do.

  * * *

  Sprawled out on the futon I read Huckleberry Finn. I flinched at some of the language, even if it was “appropriate for the time”.

  A knock interrupted Huck a
nd Jim’s adventures on the Mississippi river. “Come in.”

  Gavin took off his sandals and stepped on the tatami mats. His black socks stayed bunched between his first two toes. Anali followed him wearing a dark blue sari with a brushed gold border and matching blouse.

  “You guys look nice. Where are you going?”

  “An old college friend of mine is in Tokyo on business so we’re going to go out to dinner and a show.” He smoothed a hand down the blue cashmere sweater he wore. His red hair was pulled back, and he’d changed his silver hoop earring out for small diamond studs. They must be going somewhere fancy.

  “Sounds like fun.” So why are you here?

  “Sapphire,” Anali said, kneeling next to the table. “We need to talk. What happened today at the castle scared me. I was completely unprepared.”

  I frowned waiting through the pause. No way was I going to try and fill the silence.

  Gavin cleared his throat and sat next to Anali. “We have decided to leave for India sooner.”

  Oh, was that all? Why are they so tense? “That sounds good. I mean Anali and the baby need to be safe.”

  “We haven’t decided if we are taking you with us or letting you finish out the tour,” Gavin said.

  “Why wouldn’t I finish the tour?” That was the plan, and they were only leaving a month earlier than planned. And really Gavin was going to explode if he kept trying to protect me and Anali all the time. And this way maybe I’d have some space. My stomach fluttered a mix of excitement and fear. Sure, I would have Philip watching me, but he wouldn’t be as protective as Gavin. Maybe I’d go sight-seeing on my own. I’d never had freedom like a regular teenager might. What would that be like?

  “You might,” Anali said. “We want to think about it some more and ask you what you want to do.”

  “Oh, well I want to finish the tour. The troupe and Kayin are counting on me, counting on our act. Plus, I need to open portals, that’s my whole destiny. My whole reason of even being alive.”

  “You’re alive because Gabrielle and Kegan wanted a baby, they wanted you and they loved you. Not some part of the prophecy,” Gavin said. “You know I want you to come with us. I don’t like the idea of leaving you here, of not knowing if you’re okay. I spent ten years not knowing where you were, worrying about you, and hating that I couldn’t protect you. I’m not sure how I can go through that again.”

  “Uncle Gavin, I’ll be okay. Philip is coming in a few weeks, and I have everyone here to help me,” I said my voice soft.

  “I know, and I know you have a destiny, but you’re my niece first.”

  Anali smiled and took his hand. “Yes, she is. She is also a very capable sixteen-year-old young woman. And we will honor her choices.”

  Gavin frowned. “But if we decide it’s not safe we have final say.”

  “I would like to talk about this again,” I said. “I know you guys have to go and today was scary, but I feel strongly that I should be a part of this decision.” Gold star for speaking calmly and not throwing a fit. I have a destiny and nothing changed that.

  “Of course, that sounds more than fair, don’t you think Gavin?”

  “It sounds very mature and grown up. In my head half the time I still see you as five.” Gavin nodded stood, helping Anali. “Okay, we’ll talk again, after you come back from Miu’s grandparents’ house and see what is happening there. I’m sending Michael and Nyota with you. They say the Gaki won’t harm anyone, but with Anali unable to block emotions we can’t go to the suicide forest.”

  “Is that what the forest is called? Oh, yeah, I’ll have to strengthen my shields big time. Have fun tonight, and text if you’re going to be late.”

  Gavin smiled. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

  I smiled and picked up my iPad ready to get back to my book.

  “School work?” Anali asked.

  “Yep.”

  “You’ve been getting a lot done over the past three months,” Anali said frowning at me.

  Gavin leaned over my shoulder. “I loved Huckleberry Finn, are you enjoying it?”

  “Yeah it’s great, much better than some of the other books I’ve had to read.”

  “We had better go. Will you be okay tonight?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m leaving with the others for the theater in a bit.”

  “Okay. Well, have a nice evening, and do something fun. I mean it feels weird to say stop doing so much school work, but we are in a new place, go out with your friends and explore a bit. Just text me where you’re going.”

  “Okay. ’Bye, Uncle Gavin.”

  “’Bye, and be good.”

  “’Bye, Sapphire. Take care of yourself.”

  “Have fun tonight, Aunt Anali.”

  I relaxed when they slid the door closed and went back to my book.

  Chapter Seven

  Leaning my head back I gaze at the turquoise sky and let the warm flower-scented breeze flow over me. I walk towards a group of people on the beach. A man stands, his dark brown curls drip onto his milk pale shoulders and back. “Ramsey,” I whisper but he still heard me, turning to face me. I lift a hand in greeting.

  Ramsey looks down, grabs his sealskin, and heads for the waves.

  I stop and watch him transform and swim away. Guilt settles into my heart, cold and hard. He is never going to forgive me for getting him injured, for being forced to come to Akasha to heal, for the death of his brother and his friends.

  I turn away from the beach and walk into the woods. Normally my many times great-grandparents would meet me in these dreams. I wonder where they are? I found a herd of winged horses grazing in a meadow. A baby kept sniffing around and eating the flowers, sneezing when it would get pollen up its nose. Sitting on a mossy spot I relaxed. Alone was fine, as long as I was safe.

  A Phoenix with flame feathers of red, orange and yellow flies overhead. He trills, calling to his wife, his heart, a Phoenix with purple, blue, and green flame feathers. They land, changing into their human forms.

  “My darling, Sapphire, I’m sorry we couldn’t meet you right away,” Aya said taking my hand. Her peridot green eyes glowed with warmth. The wind fluttered her long black curls.

  Shamash held our hands in his. My skin was a perfect blend of his pearly white and Aya’s golden copper. I am their Jewel with the powers and coloring of their children. The red streaks in my hair and the gold flecks in my eyes matched Shamash’s hair and eyes. “Things have been busy here with my brother Quetzalcoatl and all of his descendants returned. I fear this wasn’t exactly what they thought Xilbalba was going to be like.”

  “If you're busy, you don’t have to stay,” I said.

  “We are never too busy for you.” Aya ran her fingers through my hair.

  “Yes, sit and tell us what has been going on,” Shamash said.

  I told them about the snake dreams and the hair pulling.

  Shamash frowned. “I don’t know about the dreams. I’m not familiar with any magical creature that does that.”

  “We’ve sent Sasha dreams,” Aya said.

  “Yes, well he’s very upset about his father disowning him, and he’s been drinking and partying a lot,” I explained.

  Aya pursed her lips. “Well, that would do it. Tell him to behave himself.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, okay.”

  “With the hair pulling, it’s not the Sons of Belial?” Shamash asked.

  I shook my head. “Nope, but the crystal bead on the bracelet Taliesin gave me gets streaks of gray-brown in it when it happens. Maybe it’s a trickster magical being? So far most of the magical beings I’ve met in Japan haven’t seemed to like me very much, or acted excited about me opening the portal. I’m not sure if I should risk opening the portal since it draws the Sons of Belial to us.”

  “I don’t like these beings treating you rudely,” Aya said.

  “The beings in Japan are very tied to the land,” Shamash said his gold eyes hard. “They have a deep sense of duty and honor. While they stay hid
den for their protection they also have a purpose. One they take very seriously. I am sure many will choose to stay, but you need to open the portal for those who choose to come home. It is your duty, your destiny to do so.”

  Blinking, I shoved back my tears. I hadn’t thought I’d been rude or disrespectful. “Of course.”

  “Sapphire,” Aya said her voice soft.

  The ground shook and a roar pierced the sky. The winged horses whinnied and took off, their wings unfurling and lifting them into the sky. My hair flew around me from the breeze they created.

  “We have to go.” Shamash stood and transformed creating a fiery streak in the turquoise sky.

  Aya sighed and kissed my forehead. “I hope we can spend more time together soon.”

  “’Bye. I hope everything is alright,” I said as she transformed and followed her husband.

  I sat back on the moss. A small brightly colored snake slide over my wrist. I stroked its back. Maybe some kind of snake creature was trying to contact me? The little snake wound itself around my wrist, like a bracelet.

  “Hey, little one that’s too tight.”

  The snake looked at me with tiny black eyes then dove into the ground pulling me with it. I fought and tried to yell but I was surrounded by dirt. I spit it out of my mouth and pushed my way toward the light. Gasping once my face was free, I found myself covered in snakes and back in the Technicolor world that looked and felt all wrong.

  “Good,” said a man’s voice from far away. “Very good, you will be rewarded for this.”

  The snakes turned towards me and opened their mouths, fangs dripping with venom. Screaming I pulled in energy from Akasha, covering my body in Phoenix fire. Screams that weren’t mine echoed around me.

  “Wake up,” I said. “Wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP.”

  Gasping, I sat in bed kicking the covers off. I shuddered and walked to the shoji door. The sky was still dark. A few faeries fluttered around the garden, their magic creating a small glow around them. I checked the time. Crap, three was way too early to be awake. I sat at the table in front of my laptop. Putting in my earbuds I turned on some music and opened the next chapter in my leadership class. Listening skills, oohhh, exciting. I wasn’t going back to sleep and there was nothing else to do.