A Phoenix Dragon Novel 02_Coalesce

by Max Andren

  Shocked by what I saw, I asked in stuttering disbelief, “Are those…glyphs etched onto the surface of a…of a bloodstone?”

  Dreah, Violet, Kestrel, Dusky and Lyan, looked at me wide-eyed and mute, but nodded their heads in unison.

  “How in the bloody hell do I convince any of the clan leaders to wear these?”

  Unfortunately, not all the clansmen were willing to trust us and refused to wear the amulets. They told me that they were too reminiscent of Hulbetto’s Amulet of the Dead and they couldn’t bring themselves to wear it. Basically, they were choosing to risk death than trust that we only had their safety in mind.

  If they all knew how we had created them, none of them would have worn the amulets. I had conceded to Dreah’s request, how could I not? She said donating my mixed blood and the essence from my Phoenix was integral to preventing the drampires from invading our dreams.

  “If you don’t help, Charani, I fear the consequences will be grave.”

  “Tell me what I need to do.”

  “Gather your essence and concentrate it within your hand,” she told me.

  I did as she asked, the blue iridescence of my dragon essence blended with the red of my Phoenix.

  “Now,” she said, as she cleared her throat and handed me a ceremonial knife, “you have to slice your palm with this Damascus blade.”

  Taking the knife by the hilt, I ran it across my palm in a deep slice that felt like acid and fire all at once—my breath caught in pain. It would be a permanent mark and we both knew it.

  “I’m so sorry,” Dreah said, ignoring the tears that dripped from her lashes, “we’re almost done.”

  “Wait!” Violet yelled out.

  “Bleeding to death here!”

  “Hushy,” she said “Dreah, gather your tears and add them to My Lady’s blood.”

  Dreah did as she was told and gathered her tears to sprinkle over my bloody palm.

  “Now, rub your hands together.”

  My hands were glowing, as was the blood and tear mixture. My palm stung like hell, but I was ignoring it as best I could. I’d suffered worse.

  Dreah and the witches began whispering a spell in a language I didn’t understand, though it was hauntingly beautiful. Violet added her lyrical voice to the spelling and once I caught on to the repetitive words, I leant my voice as well.

  The blood accumulated and was contained within a glowing sphere I had created with my hands. It was about the size of a basketball. I looked to Dreah to see what I was supposed to do now.

  The glyph between my shoulder blades was itching, as it responded to the dark magic we were creating for the light purposes of safety and protection. Would there be consequences besides the physical one that I would forever bear?

  “Saturate the surface of every amulet with the mixture,” Dreah told me and demonstrated what she wanted me to do.

  Following her example, I bathed every bloodstone with my blood, my dragon essence, and Dreah’s tears. We watched mesmerized, as the thirsty bloodstones soaked up every single drop.

  The stones made multiple color transitions, from a glowing dragon blue, to a deep blackish-red, to bright white, but finally settled on magenta.

  Each one was luminescent and lit the room in a soft light. I heard a gasp and looked for the source and saw that it was Dreah.

  “What, honey? What’s the matter?”

  “Look upon the surface of every single stone,” she said with awe.

  When I did, it was my turn to gasp. I hadn’t noticed the actual surface of the stones through the glow. The glyphs that had originally been etched into the surface of each bloodstone was gone. They had been replaced by a crystalline teardrop, Dreah’s teardrop.

  Bending to inspect them closer, I noticed that each tear was lined in Phoenix red and each teardrop glowed from within with dragon blue—the source of the luminescence.

  “That is amazing! Did you know this would happen, Violet?”

  “No, My Lady, but ’tis wondrous and beautiful.”

  “That it is. It has to work, how could it not with all the potential magic sitting there. Plus, to me, it looks as if my Phoenix is sheltering your tears, Dreah—protecting them.”

  “Yes, just as you do every day, Charani. You protect and serve the dragon culture—selflessly, and they could all learn by your example.”

  “Thank you, Dreah, but I wouldn’t hold your breath, they are extremely resistant to change.”

  Our worse fears would be realized and sanctuary would suffer in the aftermath.

  20

  All the dragons currently inhabiting sanctuary were gathered around the new dragon fountain. Cipriano had it commissioned to resemble the one we all loved so much at the estate in Kansas City. I had yet to see the fountain or its statue because Cipriano had hidden it under a thick, dark canvas.

  We had it installed at the center of the community square, hoping it would function as a focal point and a meeting place for the clansmen to gather and get to know one another. But, if no one else appreciated the fountain’s calming beauty, I knew the family would and that was enough.

  We were unveiling both the fountain and the name of sanctuary today. Dreah had named sanctuary years ago when we chose this site to build it upon. How different the area looked today than the day I found Violet. Her pain had been a beacon drawing me to her and this spot.

  It was destined to be—finding Violet and therefore, discovering sanctuary.

  When planning sanctuary, we decided to keep the area very nature centric. With that in mind, the various buildings and homes throughout sanctuary had been built with wood logs and stone. We wanted to utilize as many natural elements as we could and they were the compliment to the rustic environment.

  Looking over the square, via its wall of windows, was the two-story Great Room. It would function as a neutral gathering place for the clans.

  Before I addressed the clansmen, I took a moment to bask in the mid-morning sunshine. Though it had been years since my asylum confinement, I still craved wide-open spaces and light—I couldn’t get enough light. Sunlight or moonlight, it didn’t matter, I found an excuse to be outside every single day or night.

  Twenty deep breaths later, I stepped onto the pedestal of the fountain so that I could be seen and heard by everyone.

  “Thank you for joining us today and thankfully, the Missouri weather has cooperated. If nothing else, you’ll learn that our weather is fickle. If you wait five minutes, it’s likely to change.”

  Lord, I thought that might get at least a little response, a small smile, but nope, nothing at all. My family giggled at my attempts to be funny, but they didn’t count, though their support was appreciated.

  “I’m Charani, in case you didn’t already know that. We created sanctuary for the express purpose of protecting you and the dragon clans. Our culture and our very future are in jeopardy, especially with drampires devising new and inventive ways to kill us and steal our dragon essence to fuel their hijacked immortality.”

  No one said a word—tough crowd!

  “Sanctuary is our home. We hope that one day it will feel like home to you, too, as well as the next generation. Dragons were gifted with the ability to shift into multiple forms, we are long-lived and occasionally, we’re immortal. We are strong on our own. But, imagine how much stronger we could be if all the individual clans would come together to unite and become one overarching clan.”

  The clansmen’s attentiveness had shifted. Encouraged, I continued, “If we are to survive and to thrive, we must come together. My desire and hope is for dragons to find happiness and tranquility here.” With that said, I removed the dark canvas from covering the fountain, the statue, and the inscription with the name of sanctuary.

  I would have fallen and made a complete ass of myself if Cipriano hadn’t been standing right next to me when I removed the canvas. I looked at the statue at a loss for words.

  “You designed this?” I whispered to Cipriano

  “We all
did,” he said, looking over to the family.

  They were watching me and my reaction, smiling with love and happiness. Turning back to the statue, I took a moment to collect myself before continuing to speak to the crowd.

  The fountain had two copper dragons—my Phoenix and my hatchling.

  The larger, Phoenix Dragon, had been captured and immortalized mid-launch. Her wings were wide-spread and her head held high as she sought the freedom of the sky.

  My hatchling was leaning against my statue’s hind leg with her wings tucked and her eyes wide, looking up to my Phoenix in—wonder. The name and inscription, etched into the copper base, were perfect, just like the statue. Humbled didn’t begin to cover what I was feeling. I sent my family waves of gratitude.

  Everlasting: The home of the dragon and the hope for the future.

  I cleared my throat, several times, “In a few months, we’ll be celebrating the first known dragon birth in centuries, besides mine, and it’ll be right here, at Everlasting.”

  There was clapping and cheering. I had a feeling that Ian and Isabella’s child was going to be spoiled rotten with all the “aunts and uncles” running around Everlasting. I couldn’t wait to meet him, or, her.

  Their child would bring the clansmen together as nothing else could have. It was a joyous occasion and we hoped this birth would entice the mated dragons that were still in hiding to come to Everlasting. I felt they were in danger, especially given what we knew about drampires invading our dreaming.

  “So today we celebrate the naming of Everlasting and the next generation of dragons. And, we also wanted to give all of you a gift of protection.”

  “We think we’ve discovered how the drampires continue to kill our brethren. They do it within the dreaming,” Cipriano explained.

  There was a collective gasp at the idea of being attacked when asleep and vulnerable.

  “It’s cowardly, to say the least,” I continued.

  Looking over the crowd of people, I saw DeChadik. His blonde hair and height set him apart from his clan. They had been at Everlasting for some time now. This was the first time I’d seen them, though DeChadik seemed to be everywhere and chatting with everyone.

  Perhaps he would help us bridge this gap between the various clans. He was very charming and social and people gravitated to those traits.

  Sterling was at the back of the crowd leaning up against a tree with his arms crossed—a lone sentinel, watchful and protective. He’d been helpful to Tarrin and Tauric with organizing and training the elite guard for their duties in and around Everlasting.

  Brother, my heart whispered with suppressed longing. I wasn’t ready to tell him, not yet. But, could he not recognize himself in me?

  “We have created protective amulets for everyone to wear. They should block drampires from invading our dreams and prevent their ability to manipulate us while we are asleep and within the dreaming,” Cipriano continued to explain.

  The family stepped forward with the new amulets dangling from their hands. We knew some would think they resembled the Amulet of the Dead, though they didn’t. The problem stemmed from what the amulets had represented in their minds—the reaping of our dragon essence.

  I raised the amulet Dreah handed me high above my head for everyone to see and waited for their reactions. I prayed they could see these anew and let go of the past stigma.

  In the sunlight, the unique magenta color of the amulet was stunning. But the crystalline teardrop, glowing with the iridescence of our dragon blue and cradled within the circle of my Phoenix red, was truly magical. After a moment or two, I placed the amulet around my neck to rest next to the one Dreah had created for the family, not that they could see that one.

  Following Violet’s instructions from last night, I placed an amulet around the neck of each person in my family. She said I had to be the one to place the amulets around each and every person to have the best results. She thought it would make for a magical connection.

  The symbolism conveyed trust on their part and protection on mine.

  It was daunting to have so many putting their trust in me. Doubt was my constant companion, but I ignored it and placed an amulet on everyone that would accept one.

  Sterling was the last one to come forward and unlike any of the other men, knelt before me and placed his fist over his heart—waiting. I was stunned at what this represented, like knights of old, he was offering his fealty—to me.

  My family and the collective had done the same and this was no less humbling.

  My brother knelt before me and he had no idea. Tears clogged my throat, but I couldn’t afford to let them loose.

  “Please, Sterling, stand up.” I asked, as I reached out to hold his hand.

  I cleared my throat of emotion and placed the amulet around his awaiting neck.

  “Thank you for the support you have given Everlasting. You have been instrumental in the development and training of the elite guard. You’ve helped to make our dragon brethren safer in their new homes.”

  I wondered if he could feel the familial bond of brother and sister as I held his hand. I’d quickly reinforced my shield to prevent my emotions from spilling out. He didn’t give any indication that he’d felt anything, which was good since I wasn’t ready.

  “I’m honored to have been included in the process. Thank you for the protective amulet. I promise to always wear it,” he told me, as if he were saying goodbye.

  “Are you leaving, Sterling?”

  “Not yet, but I do want to relocate my small clan here.”

  21

  The Great Room was packed with dragons from the various clans, a shocking display of support for a dragon who wasn’t a part of their own clan. Four of DeChadik’s clansmen had been murdered by drampires and we were holding a memorial in their honor.

  A night of remembrance, similar to what we did for Dreah’s parents. Tonight’s celebration of life was working to unite the clans, like nothing else had. All the clans could relate to his grief. They’d all lost someone, whether to life’s passage or to the drampires, it didn’t matter.

  At some point in life, loss and grief visits everyone. It’s merely a matter of when it will come—not if.

  “It’s unfortunate,” I told Cipriano, “that it took the death of more dragons to solidify the purpose of Everlasting. The clans surprised me, though, and have risen to the occasion. They came together to support DeChadik as he mourns the loss of his clansmen.”

  Their bodies had been found eviscerated and covered in glyphs and miles from Everlasting. The elite dragon guard had found them while on patrol, hanging from an ancient Oak tree— by their protective amulets.

  The symbolism of the ritual had not been lost on any of us. The fact drampires used an Oak tree to hang the two men and two women from, was an affront to our cultural beliefs.

  In dragon legend, the Oak tree represents safety and hospitality; provides protection for our dragon leaders and warriors; as well as being the mystical symbol of truth and bravery.

  They brutally murdered our brethren. They desecrated that ancient Oak.

  “Yes,” Cipriano agreed, “and it was the heinous act of a coward.”

  I was furious and yet, helpless as to what to do.

  “This was a great idea to bring everyone together. Even the older dragons are here and interacting with the others.”

  The older dragons and surprisingly, some of the newer ones, had been slow to embrace change or rather, too much change. I had to give them credit though, they had moved their clansmen to the Ozarks. They came for the idea of protection in numbers, but despite that, they had remained fragmented—much to my frustration.

  There had been minimal interactions between clans, except for the dragons that were in our elite guard. There, they had a mutual goal and a mission to complete. They patrolled Everlasting and it was through this common purpose that they’d become comrades-in-arms.

  If only the remaining dragons would follow suit. A few of the women ca
me to the weekly defense lessons, but only a few. The majority remained segregated, refusing to venture past their clans’ territory within Everlasting.

  The witches came every week to train with Dreah and I. It always made for a good time, especially when their familiars came along to play.

  Isabella wasn’t currently participating in any of the activities that required shifting because when female dragons were expecting, they weren’t able to shift. They remained in human form until after their child was safely delivered. This made them vulnerable and Ian was more than a little stressed about her inability to shift.

  We were all taking turns protecting Isabella. She hated us hovering, so we tried to be stealth-like, but we weren’t fooling her. Ian and Isabella were rarely separated and were a great example to the dragons living at Everlasting. They were actively involved in bringing the clans together and would visit everyone on a regular basis.

  “I want to thank every single one of you for coming tonight in support of DeChadik.”

  Looking about the room, I made eye contact with every person there before I continued. I wanted them to know I saw them and, they would see me.

  “His loss is our loss; his clan was our clan; because ultimately, we are one. We are different and with unique abilities, which we should celebrate.”

  I looked pointedly at the old ones, as they were so worried about losing their identities.

  “Our histories make us who and what we are, but I will tell you one very important fact that unites each and every one of us.” Before I continued, I waited to be sure I had their full and undivided attention.

  “We. Are. Dragon!”

  Heads were nodding, even the old ones.

  “Never doubt that’s what will unite us—what will prevent us from being torn asunder. We will prevail over the drampires. They will not win. I implore you to keep wearing your protective amulets. We know they will work. The drampires somehow orchestrated it to appear as if they don’t. They want our complacency. Don’t give it to them. Rise above the doubt.”