A Dragon's Clutch

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

  “And you aren’t getting headaches?” Sasha asked.

  “No, I don’t even get the itchy gross feeling when I’m around him or any Sons of Belial in person. And none of the images of the dreams are coming from me,” I said thinking over the dreams. “No, they are all Cartazonon and when he leaves, I’m trapped in blackness, like some kind of holding space.”

  “That’s interesting,” Philip said. “Maybe we can work with that. We need to do something; we can’t leave you this vulnerable.”

  “How?” Kayin asked.

  “I’m not sure yet, but if we made it possible for Sapphire to have some control in the dreams then maybe she could stop them from happening altogether,” Philip answered.

  “Like lucid dreaming?” Nyota asked.

  “Yes, it’s definitely something to research,” Philip said.

  “Gavin said he was going to do some research too,” I said.

  Philip nodded. “Okay great, I’ll get in contact with him so we’re not wasting time looking over the same things.”

  “Sapphire, can you still connect to Akasha?” Shin asked.

  “Shamash said I would be able to.” Reaching up I held onto my fire pendant. “I haven’t tried.”

  “Would you please?” asked Michael.

  Closing my eyes, I opened myself to Akasha. The energy felt thick and sluggish, but it did come. The pendant began to warm as Phoenix energy was drawn to it. Once I made the connection the energy flowed a little faster. “So, I can channel the energy, but it isn’t coming as quickly or as strongly as I’m used to.”

  “Okay,” Michael said. “Maybe that’s something you can practice? Strengthening the connection in its new form.”

  “Yeah, I can do that.”

  “Less power might not be such a bad thing,” Miu said her voice hard. “That means less chance of a mistakes being made.”

  “Enough,” Philip said. “I’m not sure what is going on, but I don’t like it at all. When I get there we will be having a long talk.”

  “I’ll try and sort out what I can before you get here,” Michael said. “And I’ll call you after we figure out the portal.”

  “Okay thanks, baby brother. I’ll see you guys soon.”

  We said goodbye to Philip. Miu and Taliesin moved a few rows down, Michael following them. Kayin and Shin started whispering to themselves and moved to the row right behind us.

  Scooting off Sasha’s lap I pulled out my computer.

  “Look, you don’t understand how dangerous things can get. You haven’t been there,” Taliesin hissed to Michael in a fake whisper I’m sure he knew I heard.

  “She’s supposed to be our leader; doesn’t that mean she should keep us safe?” Miu added.

  I pulled on my headphones to drown them out. I did my best to ignore the hot anger and cold guilt slithering around me. The irritating buzzing noise continued.

  Sasha picked up my computer and handed it to me, laid his legs across my thighs then laid down. He’s such a pain in the butt. I balanced my laptop on his shins and started reading for my leadership class, Individual Needs and Motivation.

  * * *

  After spending six hours on the train yesterday and sleeping in a clean but small ryokan, I happily walked the two miles to the coordinates for the gateway stone, which had been given to us in Mr. Monroe’s letter. It was the last set of coordinates, and I worried about how we would find gateway stones after this.

  The gateway stone was located near a historic village which allowed people to visit and watch them live, work, and create in the style of feudal Japan. But they didn’t allow people to stay there and they didn’t allow vehicles nearby. On the weekends when the village opened to tourists, you can ride on a horse drawn wagon to get there.

  Standing at the top of a rise, I wish I’d thought to bring my camera. The village sat in a middle of a valley, the back side being a mountain. Dark green pines grew along the mountainside and a few in the gardens in the village. Bare fruit trees with small tight buds filled the hillsides. Tall wooden buildings with steep roofs and curved eaves lined a main road. I assumed these were the shops mentioned in the guidebook. On the other side of a stream more of the same style of buildings but further apart, probably the villagers’ homes. Surrounding the village were fields, some freshly plowed, others filled with water for rice, and one with cows, horses, and sheep grazing in it.

  “It looks like something from our history book,” Kayin said taking a drink from his water bottle.

  “That’s the point.” Shin took his hand. “The desire to keep traditional arts and lifestyle alive. I wish we were here on the weekend so we could be all touristy and watch them make things.”

  “It’s beautiful, and I’m sure it’ll be interesting, but if it doesn’t have indoor plumbing then it’s not the life for me.” I replaced my water bottle and put my backpack on.

  “Sapphire, can you feel the gateway stone?” Michael asked.

  I opened my empathy and my power allowing it to flow out over the valley. “It’s definitely in the valley.”

  “Oh, that’s helpful.”

  “Shut up, Miu,” snapped Sasha.

  “Make me.”

  “I will and can make you both,” said Nyota.

  They didn’t speak. I smiled, yeah, I wouldn’t test Nyota either.

  “It’s not at the far end,” I said. “It feels closer to the village but I can’t pinpoint it beyond that.”

  “Thanks,” said Michael. “At least we know we’re in the right place.”

  I shrugged, the coordinates had never led us astray before, but this was Michael’s first time hunting for a gateway stone with us. We walked into the valley, avoiding the ruts created by wagons.

  At the bottom of the hill was a worn round area which looked to be used for the wagons to turn around in. At the other end stood a large torii gate. Painted a deep rich red with two long slender dragons wrapped around the edges and draped over the top. One copper and the other brown warned us away from entering the village they guarded.

  “I don’t remember seeing a picture of the dragons on their website,” Shin said.

  “Maybe they’re new,” Kayin said. “Their eyes must be made of glass; look how they glow.”

  Pale yellow green with thin black vertical slits—their eyes did seem to be alive. I shivered. “I hope they’re statues.”

  “Hai,” greeted a man stepping out of the shadow of the torii gate. He wore an indigo blue cotton kimono with white geometric designs along the hems. His dark brown hair was pulled into a topknot. He bowed, just a slight nod of his head, his eyes never leaving us. “I am Mizuchi. How can I help you?”

  He looked human but he wasn’t. His energy felt strong, hot, and ancient. The bead on my bracelet glowed silver, he was here to make sure we weren’t going to harm his village. I bowed, a little lower than he did but maintained eye contact. “Hello, Mizuchi, my name is Sapphire. We are here to locate the gateway stone.”

  I heard a few groans behind me. Hopefully the others will figure out quickly that he isn’t human, and I know what I’m doing. At least he spoke English so I didn’t have to translate and negotiate at the same time.

  “For what purpose?”

  “We will open the portal to Akasha soon, but need to know the area where the gateway stone is. We have to transport the Gaki of the Aokigahara forest here.”

  Mizuchi looked us over, a thin long eyebrow raised over narrow brown eyes. “You are the Jewel and Treasures, descendants of Shamash and Aya, the Phoenix King and Queen?”

  His tone polite, and of course his emotions tightly packed away, but I was pretty sure I’d been found wanting. “Yes, we are.”

  Looking over us one more time he focused on me. “I must make sure you are you who claim to be and you don’t plan on hurting us.”

  Hurting them? There is no way I could imagine being able to hurt him, not with the intensity of his power. And if the rest of the villagers were the same as Mizuchi, then we certainly wer
en’t a threat.

  “What exactly does that entail?” Michael asked moving next to me.

  “I would need to see inside your mind,” Mizuchi said.

  Michael took a step forward. “You can look into mine.”

  “No, not yours. The Jewel is the leader. Sapphire is responsible for all of you. It is her mind I need to check to make sure that no harm will come to us. The last, what do you call yourselves, Children of Fire?”

  I nodded.

  “Yes, they pretended to be kind to want to know about us, but they stole from us instead.”

  Michael frowned. “I’m sorry that you were betrayed like that, but I’m not sure I can allow Sapphire to do this.”

  Mizuchi crossed his arms his hands tucked under the large sleeves of his kimono. “Then you cannot enter.”

  I touched Michael’s arm. “We need to know exactly where the portal is and how easy it will be to gain access too. The Gaki is too dangerous to take unneeded chances with.”

  “Will she be all right?” Kayin asked. “If you look into her mind will she be all right?”

  The being tilted his head to the right, his eyes narrowing. “I have never done this to a half human, half Phoenix before. My intention will not be to cause damage, and I don’t know why any injury would occur.”

  “But will it hurt her?” Shin said.

  “She needs to do this,” Miu said her fingers rolling her moonstone necklace between her fingers. “And discussing it is a waste of time.”

  “She also needs to be safe,” said Sasha.

  “Why? None of the rest of us are,” Taliesin said. “She leads us into danger all the time. The least she can do is try and insure our safety this time.”

  I flinched and wrapped my arms around myself.

  “What crawled up your butt and died,” Nyota said, placing her hand on my shoulder. “Sapphire, the choice is yours.”

  “Sapphire, I trust you.” Kayin stood next to me. “You have always done your best to protect us. You have always stood by us. I know you will make the best choice.”

  Mizuchi stood perfectly still waiting for me to decide. I didn’t want him in my mind. I didn’t want anyone in my mind. And yeah, not injured is a lot different from it not hurting. And it was going to hurt, I could tell by the strength of the power radiating from him. I took a deep breath. I’m the leader, I need to do whatever it takes to keep my friends safe, get the portal opened, and the Gaki to Akasha.

  I took off my backpack and set it on the ground then stepped forward. “Okay, if this is the only way then okay.”

  “Causing you pain isn’t my goal,” said Mizuchi. “I honestly have no idea what will happen.”

  Nodding, I clenched my fists and forced myself to stay still as he reached for my face. His long calloused fingers were tipped with nails that at first looked neat and trimmed then began to darken and grow. His skin felt rough and dry like scales as they slide across the delicate skin of my cheeks.

  Sharp heat cut into me. Reaching up I held onto his wrists. I wanted to tell him to stop. To let me go, but the pain was so great I couldn’t speak. My thoughts, feelings, memories were torn through, and Mizuchi looked for any threat to his village.

  I began to shake. His thin brown eyes changed to a deep blue with black reptilian slits for pupils. As his power slowed, mine flared. Phoenix fire surrounded us and my empathy flowed into him.

  Waves, power, love, sorrow, glorious battles, a hoard of gold and jewels hidden in an ocean cave. Dragons starving for the power of Akasha. A cave filled with dragon eggs guarded by a sleeping giant of their kind, called Hakuja no Myojin. His body curled around the precious offspring, hibernating as they couldn’t grow and hatch here on Earth. There wasn’t enough magical energy. Mizuchi feared that the eggs had been hibernating too long and might never hatch, even though Hakuja no Myojin kept them surrounded by his power.

  “Someone will need to catch her,” Mizuchi said. The heat and sharp intensity faded as he pulled his power and emotions back into himself, leaving behind a pounding ache.

  Someone wrapped their arms around my waist. “I’ve got her,” Kayin said.

  Mizuchi’s scaly hands left my face. I leaned against Kayin blinking, forcing myself to stay upright. My head felt like someone had stabbed me with a sword.

  “Is Sapphire okay?” Kayin asked. His deep rich accented voice rumbling in my ear.

  “I did not physically harm her, but I fear it was quite painful and overwhelming,” Mizuchi bowed deeper than before, his eyes still on us. “I apologize, Princess. You and your family are welcome in our village. Please allow us to offer you lunch.”

  “Thank you, that’s …” I began when the two dragons unwound themselves from the torii gate and flew, moving like snakes into the village. “Um, wow. Okay, that’s very kind of you. And lunch sounds lovely.”

  Mizuchi straightened. Burned black patches ate away at his lovely kimono where my Phoenix fire had tried to protect me.

  “I am so sorry about trying to burn you,” I said.

  “You are young and your powers reacted by instinct. Even though I am a water dragon, my skin is tough. I am unharmed. Are you?”

  Looking down I noticed large charred holes in my sweater and yoga pants. “I’m not hurt, but I’m a mess.”

  Chuckling, Mizuchi shook his head. “I hope you will allow me to gift you with a kimono to replace your clothes.”

  “But this isn’t your fault.” I poked a finger through a hole in the green cashmere.

  “Perhaps, and yet I am older and more powerful. I should have anticipated your reaction and attempted to protect us both better. I would consider it an honor to correct my shortsightedness.”

  Was it okay to say yes? It seemed such an extravagant offer. I looked at Michael who nodded. “Okay, if you're sure, then I would be very grateful.”

  “Princess, I am old enough to mean what I say. Now, we normally only use our human form on the weekends, as it takes an energy and focus to hold them. If it won’t make anyone uncomfortable we’d like to use our true forms today.”

  “That’s fine with me.” Holding onto Michael’s shoulder I turned to the others who all agreed.

  “Will you still be able to speak English?” asked Sasha. “Sapphire and Taliesin would be the only ones who can understand you if you speak dragon.”

  “Yes, those of us who know English will be able to speak it,” Mizuchi answered. “And while you have nothing to fear from any of us, I feel the need to warn you that dragons are a hedonistic bunch. We are all collectors of various things. And some deeply admire the beauty of humans, which they are no longer allowed to collect, but still you might get approached. When not in human form and performing our roles as historical and artistic educators we let go of our more formal human manners.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Why does that sound like a warning?” Nyota whispered.

  “Could be fun, at least I’m hoping it’s fun,” I said.

  “Please follow me. I’ll show you our village and then you can wash for lunch.” Mizuchi turned. His wooden shoes clipped in a steady rhythm on the hard packed dirt road.

  “What is that smell?” Sasha asked his voice soft.

  “It’s the indigo dye, not the best smell in the world, but once you wash it the smell goes away,” Mizuchi said, pointing to rows of hanging indigo blue kimonos.

  Note to self: dragons have very good hearing. The kimonos flapped in the wind as they dried in the sun, hanging from a bamboo frame. Kimonos from those sized for babies to ones that looks as if they would fit sumo wrestlers hung three high, on four different structures.

  Large, scaled, claws pulled a thin snake-like a dragon up on the structure. The dragon’s yellow fingers were stained with the indigo dye and their claws were almost black. Lifting one side of the top bamboo pole the dragon slid the kimonos off, then threaded the pole through the wide sleeves of the freshly dyed robes. Once the pole was secure against the frame the dragon let go. The bamboo str
ucture shook when it landed.

  “Dad,” Nyota squealed. “They’re really dragons, I mean we saw the other two but look, dragons.”

  Long, thin, serpentine dragons of various colors, all about eight to twelve feet long, and when standing on all fours about five to six feet tall, filled the village. The dragons were busy painting, carving jade, spinning wool, and dying fabric, each in individual workshops with a store of their art attached.

  I slowed at the raku pottery store. The hand sculpted vessels and earthy metallic rainbow sheen were stunning, very wabi-sabi. Gavin and Anali would have loved them. She would have admired their beauty, but would say they shouldn’t get one because they were traveling. Gavin would insist they get one and ship it to their house in New York. Anali would say no. Gavin would pick the biggest and/or most expensive piece, acting like he was going to buy it, until Anali gave in and told him which one she wanted.

  Maybe I would buy them one and send it to them.

  Next to the workshop three dragons worked, hissing and growling as they shaped the clay. They stopped when they saw us. Long forked tongues slid between their sharp white teeth tasting the air. They looked at Mizuchi, who through growls and hisses of his own told them who we were. The three dragons bowed to us before returning to their work.

  We passed tea, ramen, sushi, and barbeque restaurants. Set aside from the main line of buildings were the blacksmiths. Thick walls made from stone and mud framed the workshop. Four dragons worked inside, the bottom half of their bodies curled like snakes while they heated metal in the fires and pounded the glowing blades against stone anvils.

  Except for one. A smaller silver dragon held a length of steel in front of him and blew fire upon it. The blade glowed to a white hot before the dragon pounded and folded the metal onto itself, warming it up with thin streams of dragon fire.

  “Why don’t they all use dragon fire to heat the metal?” Taliesin asked.

  “Maybe they can’t,” Miu said. “Not all dragons can produce fire.”

  “True, fire isn’t an element all dragons can create or control, although our scales provide protection for all elements,” Mizuchi explained. “When dragon fire is used to make a blade, the blade is magical. Not only is dragon fire infused into the metal, so is the dragon’s breath. Every once in a while, a sword will be made with dragon fire and either given to someone worthy, or set free into the world, inspiring quests, a greater belief in magic, and causing a tiny bit of havoc.”