Inferno

by N. A. Carson

  “Zoran!” I jogged back to the exit. With my luck one of those mutant-human things were still living here.

  I heard a splash and stopped. Looking back, I saw rocks fall from the ceiling into the water.

  “What the hell?” I went back and tried to see if anything was up there.

  A thud echoed behind me. I froze. I knew it. This place was just as possessed as the garden.

  I made a run for it and was blasted with a wave of ice. My body combusted as I flew through the air. The last thing I saw was the lake beneath me. Water rushed toward me when the fire returned to the center of my chest. It took my breath away as I swam to the surface. I could barely keep my head above the water. The creature had disappeared again.

  I hated swimming! I hated water and the cold! I was going to erupt again if I didn’t make it back to the side.

  “Fin!”

  A black vine wrapped around my waist and yanked me from the water. I was flung onto the ground and curled into a ball. Fire billowed out of the tunnel as Zoran marched toward me. I spotted something on the ceiling slipping back into the dark.

  “I nearly dropped one because of you.” He grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me to my feet. “What do you not understand about the dragon population dying out? These aren’t chicken eggs. You can’t wait a day and get another batch.”

  “I—I’m sorry.”

  “What the hell were you doing?” He looked me over. “You’re a firebird, Fin. Remember? Water isn’t something for you to play with.”

  “It wasn’t me. There was this thing.” I stared at his hands, praying he’d warm me up.

  “I don’t see anything. This place has been dead for centuries.”

  “It blew ice at me. I’m sorry. I just reacted.” I fell into his chest. The cold was eating at me. “Please, please Zoran, warm me up. Please. I’m so cold.”

  He scanned the room was a sour look on his face. “I should throw you back in so you’ll finally learn to stop being so careless.”

  “Zoran,” I begged, “please, it wasn’t my fault, honest. Please.” I wrapped my arms around his waist.

  Dust fell from the ceiling.

  “Maybe there is something here,” he whispered. “Interesting.” Prying me off him, Zoran went to have a closer look.

  I dropped to the ground and felt like crying. I was going to blow up again if he didn’t hurry up and fix me.

  Zoran lifted his hand and shot two fireballs at the corner. The creature cried out and spread its wings. It flew straight at the lake and plunged into the water. I didn’t even have time to brace myself before a wave of water hit me.

  “Zoran,” I called in a hoarse voice.

  “Well, well. That’s something new.” He walked over and helped me to my feet. Opening up his coat, he tucked me under his arm. Warmth flowed into my body and steam rose up from my clothes.

  “What is it?” I whispered.

  “Dragons can adapt to the elements. I’ve never seen one with this capability before, though.”

  “I told you the shell looked like it hatched.” I wiped the water off my face.

  “Silence,” said Zoran. “He’s not going to come out if you keep muttering on about nothing.”

  If I hadn’t been in a near hypothermic state, I would have hit him. But being sent away right now would have ended with me having a panic attack. Zoran tapped his foot on the floor. A light blue flame spread across the ground and entered the water. I leaned forward and watched it travel deep down into the lake. It left a trail of frost and froze a patch of the lake.

  “Do you know, Fin, that there is a fire that is cold to the touch?”

  I met his gaze. “That’s not possible. It goes against everything fire is.” It went against everything I wanted fire to be. Cold fire sounded like a cruel torture device.

  “It’s a technique I learned from Aedus. It tricks the frost into not attacking us.” He squeezed me to his side. “Too bad firebirds don’t have the same ability.”

  “I wouldn’t want it,” I snapped. “It sounds like a horrible power.”

  “It might just be enough to lure our friend out, though.”

  A large form swam toward the surface. The black dragon poked his eyes out of the water and watched us. Zoran sent out another stream of light blue fire.

  The dragon rose up out of the water and flapped its wings. I hid my face in Zoran’s chest as water rained down on us.

  “Stop it, make him stop!”

  “Hush, Fin. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  The beast landed at Zoran’s side. It was still rather small compared to the other dragons. Its head was only slightly higher than mine as it moved around on all fours.

  “Poor thing has been trapped in here for so long.” Zoran stroked the creature’s cheek.

  The dragon looked at me and leaned forward to bump me with its nose.

  “Go away.” I slipped around Zoran.

  The dragon followed until I had nowhere to go unless I wanted to leave the god’s side. It kept jabbing me with its nose.

  “Tell it to go away.” I shooed it.

  “He wants you to pet him.” Zoran pulled me back in front of him and forced me out of his coat.

  I stood there for a moment as the dragon looked at me. “You blasted me with ice. I’m not like you,” I muttered. “I don’t like the cold.”

  Its ear laid back, and it gave me a toothy smile.

  I patted the dragon’s head. “There.”

  The beast leaped on top of me. I toppled to the ground with the thing nuzzling my face.

  “He likes you.”

  “Get him off, Zoran. He’s crushing me.”

  Zoran waved the dragon back. I climbed to my feet and dusted myself off.

  “Come along, Fin. Bring your little friend. I only have a few more eggs, and then we can return home.”

  “How?” I muttered. “Are we going to do that smoke thing with him too?” I shoved the dragon back as he kept bumping into me.

  “No, Uther is going to meet us here.”

  “Great,” I sighed. “Another fun ride with Uther.”

  “Maybe I should drug you like Iri did.”

  “No, I’ll be fine.” I gave him an over-exaggerated smile.

  Uther had better fly fast and not try to kill me on the way home. I wouldn’t hesitate to blow up on the bastard’s back.

  Zoran gathered the rest of the eggs and we made our way back to the surface. The stupid dragon kept running into my back. This ice creature was pushing one too many of my buttons. If he wasn’t careful, I was going to blow up in his face and see how he liked being pelted with flames.

  I followed Zoran to a couple more rooms where he rummaged through debris and collected a few more items. My mood was getting worse. I was cold and miserable with an overgrown lizard pestering me. It was clear I was ready to go home. Zoran led us to a large pair of doors and, with a blast of fire, they swung open.

  I stepped inside and looked at the paintings on the ceiling. “It’s too bad Aedus ruined everything.”

  Zoran didn’t reply and walked over to the courtyard connected to the room. I hurried after him with the dragon right on my heels.

  “What now?” I asked.

  “We’re waiting for Uther.” Zoran sat down on a half-demolished bench and relaxed.

  I sat down on the steps below him. The dragon plopped down at my side and put his head on my shoulder.

  “You’re so annoying.” I leaned away from him, but the dragon didn’t seem to get the hint that I wanted him to go away.

  “Be nice, Fin.”

  “He’s the one that threw me into the lake.”

  “You invaded his territory. It would be the expected response from his kind.”

  “Whatever,” I muttered.

  The dragon laid down and rested his head against my leg.

  I patted his head. “He feels warmer now.”

  “The sun.” Zoran glanced up. “It’ll be interesting to see how he adjus
ts to the heat at the garden.”

  “What if he doesn’t?” I twisted around.

  Zoran smiled. “For such an annoying creature, I’m surprised you would care.”

  I glared at him. “I was just wondering.”

  “I’ll put him in the basement with the frost. He should be fine there.”

  “Hmmm...” I scratched the dragon behind the ear. “It would be cool, though. If he could switch from hot to cold that would be nice, but I didn’t think that’s possible.”

  “The mortals have sheltered you from the world a little too much,” muttered Zoran as he stretched out.

  I settled in myself and watched the sky for Uther.

  Time passed slowly with no sign of the flying lizard. I had moved to laying down with my head resting on my ice friend’s stomach. Even Zoran was hunched over. It was starting to get really late in the day.

  “When is he supposed to be here?”

  “He’s late, obviously,” muttered Zoran. “We should be on our way by now.”

  I rolled over and draped myself over the dragon. The sun had warmed his scales and they had changed to a dark red instead of blue. The heat coming off of him felt amazing.

  “They’re a different color.”

  Zoran eyed me.

  “Look,” I exclaimed. “It’s subtle, but it changed.”

  “Let’s test it, then.” Zoran stomped his foot, and the dragon lifted his head and blew out fire. “Well, well. A few hours, and we have ourselves a traditional dragon.” He stared at me. “Seems you’ve made a friend.”

  I sucked in my cheek. “He’s warm now.”

  “Excuses.”

  I turned away from him and laid back down. “Would you just send out a smoke signal already and tell Uther to get here? I want to go home.”

  “I just might,” breathed Zoran.

  I traced the dragon’s hide. “What should we call him?”

  “I don’t name all my dragons. Uther is the only one I’ve cared enough about to give one.”

  “Then I’ll name him,” I stated.

  The dragon looked at me.

  “How about...” I thought for a moment. “Ice?”

  He shook his head.

  “Snow?” I offered. “Snowball. Icepelter? Caveman... Water Serpent?”

  Zoran started laughing as the dragon gave a look that clearly said no.

  “Well, what do you suggest?” I said to the god.

  “Yuki,” replied Zoran, giving me a smug look.

  The dragon’s head popped up and he fluttered his wings.

  I glanced between them. “Yeah, I guess Yuki is an okay name.”

  The god gave me a smile, but it quickly faded. Zoran stood, looking to the sky.

  “What is it?” I searched the clouds but didn’t see anything. When I glanced back at Zoran, all I saw was a puff of smoke.

  I sat up and so did Yuki.

  “Did you see where he went?”

  Yuki huffed.

  A large crack that sounded like thunder echoed through the area. Fire had shot up through the clouds. It slowly descended around a large form.

  “Curse the gods,” I breathed. I ran down the steps with Yuki close behind. I climbed up a pile of rocks that seem to be what was left of a fallen wall. Yuki flew up and grabbed my shirt to help me over. My descent on the other side wasn’t as graceful. After picking myself up, I raced toward Zoran.

  “Uther,” I breathed as I slowed to a halt.

  The dragon was collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. Wounds covered his thick hide as blood dripped into the dirt. Zoran dropped to his knees and pressed a shaking hand to the dragon’s side.

  “No,” he whispered. Zoran screamed and fire exploded from his body, knocking me back. “I’ll fix it,” he stated firmly. “I’ll fix you.” He hugged Uther’s head to his chest. White smoke rose up from the god’s hand, and the dragon breathed it in. “Sleep, I’ll heal this, and you’ll be okay. Alright?”

  The dragon fought the effects for a moment before letting his eyes close.

  “Is he going to be okay?” I asked.

  Zoran examined the wound on Uther’s shoulder. “Curse the gods,” he said through gritted teeth. He pressed his hand to it and sent fire into the injury.

  “Can I do anything to help?”

  “No.”

  “I could get some water.”

  “I said no, Fin!” His eyes flashed red. “Leave. Both of you.”

  Yuki quickly took flight and fled. Nodding, I backed away and went back the way I had come. I found Yuki by the steps and sat down at his side. Zoran just needed some time. He’d fix Uther and punish those responsible. Everything would work itself out in the end.

  With a sigh, I leaned against Yuki’s side. It didn’t seem like we were going home today or anytime soon.

  Chapter 51: Condemn the Rest

  Yuki and I had moved inside when the rain started to fall, close to sunset. I was laying on my stomach on the tile floor with the oversized lizard draped across me. He was warm, though, so I decided to let him stay put. There was still no sign of Zoran.

  “Do you think we should go check on him?” I glanced over my shoulder.

  Yuki snorted and shook his head.

  “Hmmm...” I laid my head on my arms. “Yeah, probably not. He’d most likely zap us and tell us to leave.”

  Yuki fluttered his wings and moved to the side. He rested his head close to mine. We both peered off through the giant hole in the wall, just waiting for the god to return.

  “I didn’t think anything could cause that kind of damage to a dragon. Do you know what could?”

  He blew out a huff of smoke and lifted his nose.

  “Okay, almighty dragon.” I pushed him away and turned my back to him. “I get it.” I traced the cracks in the floor. “You’re about as indestructible as me, but still. Something did happen.”

  A blast of fire hit me in the head.

  Clasping the spot, I sat up and glared at him. “Yuki!” I snapped. “I’ll blow you up if you do that again.” I patted my hair down.

  The dragon laughed, holding his head high. This creature was way too proud. It must have been a dragon thing, because Uther had the same horrible attitude.

  “Do you think Uther will be okay? I mean, you are a dragon. You’d be able to tell better than me.”

  Yuki’s shoulders dropped, and he laid down.

  “That bad, huh?” I rolled onto my back and stared up at the mosaic on the ceiling. “I wish we could live here. It’s so much nicer than the garden. Tons more space. Back home it’s basically a big room filled with Zoran’s junk. There are other rooms, but he doesn’t like it when I wander around.” I glanced over at Yuki. “You’ll be able to see it soon and meet the other dragons. They live in the tunnels under the mountains that surround the garden, so I think you’ll like it.”

  The dragon shifted his stance, and his head snapped forward. I turned over and saw Zoran walking toward us. His hair covered his face. Water dripped from his chin and had soaked his clothes.

  I clambered to my feet and dusted off my pants. “Zoran, what happened? How is he?”

  He walked past me without a word.

  I hurried after him. “Is Uther going to be okay?”

  Zoran didn’t respond and walked to the other side of the room. Yuki and I followed but kept our distance. Angering a fire god when he was in this state would end badly for anyone around him.

  “Is there anything we can do?” I asked.

  No response.

  We arrived at the balcony we had transported to earlier that day. Yuki and I stood in the doorway and watched Zoran. The god ran his finger over his necklace and tilted his head to the sky. The rain fell down on him.

  “Save who you may,” he whispered, clutching his crystal, “for I condemn the rest.”

  The god burst into flames. I blocked my face from the heat while Yuki fled. Lowering my arms, I found that Zoran was gone. My shoulders dropped.

  He’d lef
t me.

  I walked to where Zoran had been and knelt down. The ground was scorched. I touched the black marks. Something bad must have happened for him to leave me behind. And what about Uther?

  An explosion rang through the mountains and shook the palace. I ran to the doorway as bricks fell from above. The shaking stopped and I scanned the area.

  “Yuki,” I whispered. “Curse the gods, Yuki!” I raced down the hall. “Yuki!”

  I went back the way we had come and spotted the black dragon standing the courtyard. I hurried to his side. “Are you okay? Did you hear that big bang?”

  Yuki peered off into the distance. I followed his gaze and saw the sky turning black. It was spreading as more streams of smoke appeared.

  “Curse the gods,” I breathed. I needed to get back to Brite and find Zoran. Swallowing hard, I glanced at the palace. I didn’t know how to use the transportation machine. My eyes flicked over to Yuki and then to the dragon’s back. “Do you think you could carry me?”

  The dragon tucked his wings to his sides and shook his head.

  “Come on. I need to get to Brite.”

  Yuki shook his head faster.

  I narrowed my gaze at him. “Zoran won’t hurt you. He’s the dragon keeper.”

  He blasted me with fire and finished with a snort.

  Throwing down my arms, I clenched my fists. I was so close to hitting this creature. “You are so lucky I’m not mortal, or I’d be dead right now.”

  Yuki turned away from me. Was he ignoring me?

  I clenched my jaw. “Fine. I’ll walk.” I headed out into the rain. It quickly drenched me and sent a dull ache through my body.

  Yuki started to whine.

  “Are you coming or staying? Decide.” I turned around.

  The dragon lowered his head and snarled a little.

  “I’m taking that as you’re going.” I jogged to his side and placed my hands on the dragon’s scales. I was starting to doubt my plan. “Don’t you dare throw me off.”

  Yuki rolled his eyes.

  “What is with you dragons?” I muttered as I climbed onto his back and laid down. I wrapped my arms around his neck as Yuki walked out into the clearing.

  “I mean it, Yuki. Don’t try anything. I will explode.”