by Ivory Autumn
Chapter Twenty-Six
Drogen
Coral led them through the city, through the beautiful streets of Boreen, past flowering hedges and white houses covered in ivy with glowing berries that lit up the town like night-lights. They followed these ivy-covered houses, until they reached a large stone building that towered high above the rest. An old man dressed in a dark red robe, greeted them at the door, looking both concerned, and angry.
"Coral," he said, leaning over Andrew and scowling. "How many times are you going to go scavenging about for these helpless victims the Barnacles have left for dead? It's not safe. If you continue to do this, I'm afraid one day, it will be you. And then what would I tell your father?”
"Please, Drogen" Coral pled. "Would you have me turn a deaf ear to the cries for help I read in the stars?"
"Yes!" he shouted, turning away from Coral, and Andrew, seemingly disinterested. "Take him away. What do I want with a dead body? He's already too far gone for me to help him now. To try and revive him now would only bring him more pain and agony than is humane. The only kind thing to do is let him die."
"What?" Ivory cried, pushing through the door to face Drogen. "You can't let him die. You have to help him. Please. You don't know who he is, how important he is to me, to all of us."
"I know who he is," Drogen shouted. "He is a dead boy, and that is all I need to know. What you do not know is that nothing will ease the pain of a Barnacle’s bite except death. The bite is meant to torture its victims in the most painful way, robbing them of any relief. The boy has reached the point where he now feels no pain. To bring him back would cause more suffering than is needed, because he'll probably just die anyway!”
"Try anyway!" Monday ordered, slowly drawing his sword in challenge.
"Coral?" Drogen protested.
"You better listen to him," Coral said. "He won't let you let another one die this time."
“I don't let them die?” Drogen huffed. "They're already dead when you bring them to me!"
Coral gave him a hard look. "Please, just try."
"Okay, fine," Drogen threw up his hands. "Bring him in! I will extract the fangs. But if he dies, it's not my fault!"