by Cheree Alsop
“Stay here,” Aleric told his friend. “I know how hard this is for you.” He met Officer Ling’s eyes. “Have the pilot get us as low as he can without catching its attention.”
“Right,” the officer replied.
Aleric stepped onto the strut. The buffet of the air was stronger outside the protection of the helicopter. He gripped the bar tightly with his free hand. It felt pathetic and thin compared to the threat of falling.
To the werewolf’s surprise, Dartan climbed down beside him. The vampire looked completely terrified at their situation, but determined as well.
“There’s no way I’m letting you do this alone,” he told the werewolf.
“There’s no reason two of us have to die,” Aleric said.
Dartan’s gaze was steady when he replied over the sound of the wind, “There’s no reason one of us has to die.”
Aleric nodded.
“Hold on,” Officer Ling called out the door. “Matt’s taking us lower.”
Aleric watched the dragon, wondering how he was supposed to do what the wood nymph seemed to expect of him. The dragon had reached the top of the building and tore into the roof, its claws making easy work of the material below it. Aleric held Diablo tight to his chest with one hand and eased himself out with the other. At his side, he saw Dartan do the same.
“Don’t forget this!”
Officer Teri held something out. Dartan took the salamander totem from her hand.
“Thank you,” he called up.
Aleric saw the dragon’s actions pause; its muscles tensed a splint-second before it looked up. Their eyes met. The werewolf knew that if he didn’t act, his opportunity would be gone and every person inside the helicopter would become the dragon’s victims.
He launched himself off the helicopter. The air sped by far faster than he expected. Diablo opened her mouth, but the sound of her meow was lost in the descent. He had just enough time to second-guess his actions, and then he was on the dragon’s back with Dartan right behind him.
A bellow tore through the air. The Almedragon thrashed and clawed at them. Aleric clung to the creature’s scales in desperation. They had both landed between its wings where the dragon couldn’t reach, but he was afraid it would roll to dislodge them. The dragon shook. Aleric scrambled with his free hand on its dark, diamond-solid hide. He was slipping. If he fell off, he knew exactly how quickly the creature would kill him. Dartan grabbed the werewolf’s shoulder in a tight grip, his other hand clutching one of the dragon’s massive black spikes.
A meow broke the air. The dragon stopped moving so quickly the jolt nearly undid Dartan’s tenuous grip on the spike; Aleric slipped further down the Almedragon’s side. The dark creature’s massive head swiveled around. Its closest yellow eye narrowed at the sight of the minky.
“We’re in trouble,” Dartan whispered.
Diablo hissed, her fur standing up straight so that she looked nearly double her tiny size. She shook free of Aleric and stalked down his leg, her wings held out to either side and her tail straight, fluffed out with her standing fur. She gave a longer meow that ended in another hiss. The two creatures stared at each other.
In any other situation, it would have been amusing to see an Almedragon stand off against a tiny winged kitten, but from its back, Aleric could only keep still and stare, hoping the wood nymph had been right.
Diablo hissed again and made a swipe at the dragon’s eye. If Aleric spoke minky, he would have told the kitten it was probably a bad idea, but it worked. The dragon broke eye contact with the little fae and lowered its head as if ashamed at itself. Before Aleric could stop her, Diablo sprang from his knee to the Almedragon’s shoulder and then to the roof. The dragon’s head followed her as she circled around to face it squarely.
“Uh, what just happened?” Dartan whispered.
“I’m not sure,” Aleric replied.
The minky meowed. The dragon lowered its head so that its chin rested on the roof. Dartan pulled Aleric up. Aleric used the creature’s distraction to wedge himself securely between the dragon’s wings. It didn’t appear to notice; the Almedragon’s entire attention stayed on the minky.
To Aleric’s surprise, the little winged cat jumped onto the dragon’s nose and climbed up its face to sit on its head. Diablo gave another meow. The dragon lifted its head and turned slowly to look back at Aleric and Dartan. Both of them froze at the creature’s attention.
“Uh, I think it wants directions,” Dartan said, his voice tight.
Aleric swallowed through a tight throat and said, “Fly.”
The dragon’s massive wings lifted and it rose easily into the air. The minky stayed perched on its head, her wings out for balance. At the sight of their success, the helicopter backed off.
“Any ideas on how to steer this thing?” Aleric called over his shoulder.
“No clue,” Dartan replied.
The dragon’s wings pushed down to keep them in place. Aleric had no idea how to direct the dragon where to go. Truth be told, from so high up and with the smoke and debris of the dragon’s destruction littering their view, he wasn’t exactly sure where they were.
The helicopter flew forward. Officer Teri motioned from the window. Relief filled Aleric.
“Follow the helicopter,” he said.
The Almedragon obeyed.
As soon as they reached the alley and were low enough, Dartan tossed the totem down. The Rift opened, showing the empty street that fronted the Glass District. A zilant appeared in the Rift and darted through to their side; Aleric heard Dartan curse under his breath at the sight of the winged snake.
The dragon gave a bellow and surged forward. With two swipes of its claws, the creature was left decapitated and writhing on the street below in the final throes of death. Without waiting for an order, the dragon dove into the Rift.
Zilants surrounded them as soon as they appeared in Blays. The snakes attacked from every side, fangs protruding and massive scaled wings buffeting them. The minky galloped down the dragon’s long neck to Aleric. He wrapped her in his arms, determined to protect the brave kitten at all costs.
There were too many of them. As fast as the dragon was, as soon as it dispatched a zilant, three more took its place. Its wings were weighed down by writhing, biting bodies; the dragon landed in the street with a heavy thud.
“We’re in trouble!” Dartan called.
The Almedragon gave a bellow of pain when fangs latched into its throat.
“We’ve got to help it,” Dartan said. He threw himself forward onto the attacking snake. The vampire sunk his fangs into the snake’s throat and the creature let go of the dragon.
Aleric slid from the dragon’s back to the street below. Four zilants followed him down. He set Diablo to the side and phased into wolf form. Before the first zilant could bit him, Aleric tore through its neck and spun to face the next one. Small claws sunk into his shoulder. He glanced back to see the minky with her teeth bared. At her hiss, the three zilants reared back in surprise. It took short work for Aleric to bring them down in their stunned state.
“They’re fighting the zilants!” a voice shouted. “Bring your weapons!”
Aleric glanced up through the fray to see the surviving men and women of Drake City running toward them dressed in night clothes with knives, hammers, table legs, and all other manner of weapons raised. Fairies fought beside trolls and fauns worked with demons to defend the city they all called home. Aleric swore he saw Mrs. Silver, the banshee mother, wielding a rolling pin next to an orange-eyed slenderman clutching a pitchfork.
Other minkies flew among the snakes. Their hisses stunned the zilants who were then quickly dispatched by the citizens. Its wings free, the Almedragon rose into the air, taking down zilants in groups of five and six. More of the winged snakes swarmed, but the minkies rose with Diablo at their head and surrounded the dragon. Hisses stunned the zilants so that the dragon could take them out.
It was a bloodbath. Bodies littered the street. Most
of the fallen were zilants, but a few citizens of Blays were slain as well. Their loved ones stood over them with tears on their cheeks and their weapons raised to battle the horde that had threatened every life in the fae city.
The zilants didn’t stop attacking until nearly every single one of them had fallen to the dragon, the minkies, the citizens, or the werewolf and vampire who fought side-by-side to save the city they both held dear. It was a brutal, bloody battle, but nobody gave up until the zilants were far outnumbered and fled, hissing and bleeding, into the darkness. The Almedragon followed the final group of zilants as they winged their way from the city; by the looks of things, they didn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.
Aleric looked around at the citizens who filled the street. He may have hoped to never return to Drake City, but at the sight of the triumph on the faces of the weary, blood-streak fae around him, he was glad he had come back. He had no doubt the zilants would have killed every one of them given the chance.
“They’re gone,” Mathen announced as the first light of dawn showed over the trees.
“At last,” a fairy said with a sigh of relief, “We can finally breathe.”
“We couldn’t have done it without the dragon,” a young male centaur called out.
“Who brought the dragon?” a dwarf asked as he tied a rag around his arm. “There hasn’t been an Almedragon in these parts for centuries.”
“The werewolf did it.”
Silence filled the air at the banshee’s words. Aleric felt the attention of every citizen turn to him. Given the fear and superstition that had surrounded the werewolf race since the Fallow Conflict, he was used to seeing hatred and loathing wherever he went. It felt strange to see the mixed expressions of relief and gratitude where the hatred used to be. He wished Sherian could see it. His friend had never believed hatred could change. She used to say prejudice was a habit that people didn’t break unless they had a really good reason; perhaps a dragon and a life and death battle for the freedom of the city was that reason.
“What’s the werewolf’s name?” a centaur asked.
“Give him a moment to phase; he’ll speak for himself,” Dartan replied.
A different kind of tension charged the streets. Drake City wasn’t the usual place to find a vampire. It was obvious by their reaction that the citizens hadn’t realized they fought beside one until Dartan spoke.
Aleric made his way inside the warehouse. The vampire followed him in and tossed his clothes behind one of the machines. “Take your time, Wolfie,” he said.
Chapter Fourteen
It took a while for the adrenaline from the fight to fade. Aleric had to close his eyes and concentrate on his heartbeat, willing it to slow to a normal pace. He struggled to remember what it felt like to be human. Between the rush of the fight, the mild ache from his battle wounds, and his wolf instincts that demanded for him to be on alert in case more zilants showed up, he couldn’t think of anything to help ease him back to human form.
“Wolfie?” Dartan finally called.
It would be so easy to run out the door. Aleric knew the forest wasn’t too far away. If he returned to Edge City, he faced protesters from the werewolf who had framed him by brutally killing humans. The fact that the citizens of the city believed in the rumors after all he had done was hard to take. Starija’s mother was still in the hospital; Aleric wasn’t sure he could face the look of loss in her eyes that happened every time she awoke and remembered that her husband had died. What if others needed him and he didn’t have what it took to save them? He didn’t know if he could face losing another life. It would be so easy to just walk away.
“Hey, Aleric.”
The vampire’s voice broke through the werewolf’s thoughts. He bowed his head, pressing it against the metal of the machine in front of him. He winced at the feeling of a bruise forming there. The pain was centering.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the D Wing at the hospital,” Dartan said, his tone musing. “Remember how peaceful it is to sit in the darkness, the chill of the tile floor, and the smell of antiseptic in the air?”
Aleric felt the memory of sitting on the cold tile floor twinge beneath his fur.
“And the diner,” the vampire continued. “You said the mud pie was worth eating. For me, it tasted like what I imagine chalk to be for you, but you said the chocolate flavor tasted real enough you wondered if the cook melted candy bars to drizzle over the top.”
Aleric’s tongue tingled at the thought of eating Minnow’s famous pie again.
There was a hint of a smile in the vampire’s voice when he said, “And your little cat. Who would have thought having a minky for a pet would be such a good idea? She may have even won me over with her soft fur.”
Aleric’s paws tingled at the memory of his fingers brushing across her silky black coat. His body shuddered and the phase took over.
“Thanks,” he said quiet when he was in human form once more. “I needed a little help.”
“You fought hard out there,” Dartan replied. “I can’t blame you for taking a break.” There was a lingering question in the vampire’s tone as if he guessed what had taken the werewolf so long.
Aleric pulled on his clothes and stepped out from behind the machine. “Can’t we just leave now? I’d prefer not to face them.”
The vampire chuckled at seeing him; his grin lightened the mood. “I can’t blame you; you’re a mess.” He pointed. “You have some zilant blood there.”
Aleric wiped his cheek with his sleeve. “Thanks.”
Dartan’s smile faded at the werewolf’s look of trepidation. “Wolfie, you just defeated an army of giant worms. Villagers should be a piece of cake.”
Aleric looked away from the vampire toward the door. “Then why does it seem so much harder?”
“Think of it as instinct,” Dartan said. At Aleric’s glance, he indicated the door. “The citizens of Drake City are afraid of werewolves because with the Fallow Conflict, anyone in your proximity was marked for death. That isn’t the case anymore, but habits die hard. Sometimes it’s just easier for people not to change.” He met Aleric’s gaze. “That goes for you, too.” His red eyes were filled with understanding when he said, “Sometimes it’s easier to go on hiding, but what good does that do anyone?”
Aleric let out a shaky breath and nodded, “I guess you’re right. Hiding isn’t doing my kind any favors.”
“It’s the fleas that aren’t doing your kind any favors,” Dartan replied.
Aleric rolled his eyes and walked to the door. When he pushed it aside, he found the fae of Drake City waiting quietly in the streets. Expectant expressions and eyes glowing with gratitude beamed at him. Aleric couldn’t think of what to say to break the silence.
“Aleric Bayne.”
A dwarf with long ears and gray skin stepped from the crowd. His green and gold dress jacket told of his station. The rip along one sleeve and blood stains down the front said that the dwarf had been in the middle of the fray.
“Governor Hornsbellow,” Aleric replied.
The dwarf held out a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, son. Thank you for your bravery in coming in our hour of need.”
Aleric nodded. “I’m glad I had the chance to help.”
“It sounds like you’ve been helping out many of our citizens of late,” the governor continued. “We’re heard plenty of stories about fae disappearing from our streets and the forest only to appear in a strange land filled with humans out to kill them.” His gaze took on a knowing look. “Considering the fact that your kind was so wronged here, the way you’ve been so selfless in healing our people and sending them home has been very honorable.”
Uncomfortable in the face of praise he hadn’t expected, Aleric glanced back at Dartan. “I’ve had help.”
“So I’ve also heard,” the governor noted. He held out a hand. “Your actions have been commendable, Dartan Targeshson.”
Dartan shook the dwarf’s hand. “How is my fat
her doing, Governor?”
“He’s an ornery cuss,” the governor replied.
His words brought a chuckle from the vampire.
The governor continued, “He’s not a fan of the dungeon at Great Oak, but I promised you we would take care of him in gratitude for your actions, and I am a dwarf of my word.”
“I appreciate that,” Dartan told him.
“Dr. Wolf!” a high-pitched, excited voice cut through the air.
Before Aleric could so much as move, tiny arms had wrapped around his legs and he looked down at familiar blonde hair streaked with blue.
“Hello, Tranquility,” he said with a genuine smile.
The little fairy looked up at him with enthusiasm in her sparkling eyes. “I told them how much you helped me and just what you’re doing on the human side. I also told them the humans aren’t really trying to kill us, and that some of them are actually our friends, but there are others who were hurt by the humans and so they don’t really believe me even though I’ve tried to be convincing and honest and all the things I know you respect in a fairy.” She took a deep breath after her rushed words and said, “I’ve missed you, Dr. Wolf.”
He couldn’t deny how good it was to see the fairy again. She had truly been a spirited handful of overwhelming positivity, and even though the speed of her words was hard to follow, he knew they were all meant with the kindness of her fairy heart.
“I appreciate all the help you gave me there, and what you’re trying to do here,” Aleric told her.
She beamed up at him. “You were so brave riding that dragon.”
“Bringing the dragon was a genius move,” the governor seconded. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Aleric’s smile faltered. “I wouldn’t have known what to do if it wasn’t for the wood nymphs. They were helping out a friend of mine.” He couldn’t quite keep worry he felt for her from his words.