by Dawn Brower
He lifted his head and glanced off into the distance. From his vantage point, he could see everything. No one would be able to sneak up on him. Why had he been worried about an attack? Had that cursed ring messed with his head? He was a dragon. What could kill something of his massive size? Something his equal in size and power... Whatever stalked him didn’t intend to let him live. Cale started to fear whatever it was would find him before long. He didn’t have much time left. If he didn’t move soon, he might not make it off the mountain. He’d originally thought himself safe where he was, but now that assumption felt wrong. The air fairly crackled with energy, and not in a good way. He was an anathema and shouldn’t exist.
Cale shook his head. That was the powerful being trying to get inside of his head. He wouldn’t listen to it. This was not who he really was. He was a knight in the kingdom of Zelnon. His honor and loyalty was unquestionable. This form didn’t belong to him, and he’d shed it before he escaped Malediction. If that wasn’t possible he’d find a way to end his life. He would not live out the rest of his days as a dragon.
The beast was hungry, but not for food. It wanted to wrestle control from Cale and unleash its fury on the inhabitants of the nightmare realm. If anyone other than him had been seduced into the dragon form, it would have already gained control and given in to its impulse to destroy everything it found. Cale’s principles wouldn’t allow anything to happen to anyone, innocent or not.
Kill...Burn them all...
“No,” Cale said vehemently.
He took a deep breath and reminded himself who he was. Again. It was a mantra he kept on a constant loop lest he forget even for a second. The dragon would not win. Cale was in control and would remain so as long as they were merged.
They deserve it.
“That’s not for us to decide.”
Cale couldn’t be certain if he actually spoke aloud or if he was talking inside his head. It was all rather ambiguous, but real all the same. They carried on the conversation either way. At times, Cale wondered if he was going insane. What if no other being had merged with him and this was all his way of dealing with his new circumstances. He didn’t want to believe that scenario because that would mean a part of him wanted to give in to murder and mayhem. It sickened him deep inside his soul to think he might be capable of such atrocities.
Let’s play.
Somehow, Cale didn’t think they had the same idea of what was fun. Actually, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d let go and done anything remotely enjoyable. He’d been all business for so long that it had become normal for him. As a knight, he had too many duties to see to before anything else. His highest priority had always been Elodie. That much hadn’t changed at least. He might not want to burn a path as he flew overhead, but he did agree with one thing. Moving was a necessity, and he finally felt good enough to attempt it.
Cale stood on the ledge of the mountain and raised his wings. He flapped them gently at first to test them out. There was still a little ache on his back, but not enough to prevent him from taking off. He leaped forward and spread his wings wide, gliding against the wind. The air floating over him caressed his skin, welcoming him. He belonged high in the sky, soaring through the clouds. He was lost in the pleasure of flying and almost didn’t notice it. Luckily, he came back to the real world in time or he’d have been felled by the powerful being stalking him. To his surprise, that being was nothing like he’d imagined it to be.
A small slip of a girl stood at the edge of the mountain. Billowing golden hair flowed down her back in waves. Her attire was similar to what Elodie wore during training: leather pants and a dark tunic. She held a bow in her hand with an arrow nocked, ready to fly. She must have thought better of it because she lowered it a moment later. Cale had been too far for her to hit with her weapon.
She secured the bow at her back and raised her hand to the sky, forming a tight fist. Lightning crackled in the sky and a bolt flew in his direction. He dodged it, barely, and it hit the earth with a loud boom. She had her hand raised again, probably to throw another bolt at him, but none came. Instead, backlash from the ground sprung up and dirt sprayed everywhere. He choked on it but continued to evade her advances. He started to breathe a little easier the more distance he put between them.
Something powerful sparked from deep inside of her. If he hadn’t seen her for himself, he’d never have believed a tiny girl could pack such a colossal punch. He found himself rather curious about her. Who was she, and how had she become so powerful? He’d leave that for another day to figure out. His curiosity would be sated at some point. Someone who climbed a mountain to kill him wouldn’t give up easily. He would see the girl again, of that he was certain. He rather looked forward to their next encounter.
Cale flew as fast as his wings would carry him in the direction he’d last seen Elodie. There was no time to explore who the girl was. He had a princess to find.
ELODIE STOMPED HER feet against the ground. She’d been moving slow so Daire could keep up. He had to be exhausted, and she’d been rather ridiculous storming off in a fit. She should have suggested they rest a little longer, but she hadn’t been thinking clearly. Who would be able to with that kiss lingering in their mind. It hadn’t even been real, and she couldn’t forget about it. What would happen if he kissed her in truth? Why couldn’t she let it go?
“Elodie,” Daire said breathlessly. “Please, can you wait?”
She was a horrible, horrible person because she ignored him and kept walking. Lulu fluttered above her, and Kalypso brought up the rear. They were being rather overprotective of them, and she couldn’t figure out why. What did they expect to happen? Terror to drop from the sky and murder them all? Why did she have to put that image into her head? She glanced up and stared into the sky. The sun was finally starting to set, and they’d have to find shelter of some sort before it descended completely. Nothing up there but clouds though...
“Finally,” Daire said, irritation laced through his voice. “I can’t keep moving. Please, can we stop soon?”
Elodie glanced at him. Guilt whipped through her like a hot lance branding itself on her soul. “I was thinking we need to make camp for the night, but there doesn’t seem to be any place to take shelter.”
Daire blinked several times but remained quiet. What was he thinking? She was almost afraid to ask. She didn’t have to prove anything, and she’d be damned if she admitted she was thinking about kissing him again. After several moments of awkward silence, Daire opened his mouth to speak. A shadow fell over them.
“That can’t be good,” Daire muttered and glanced up.
A massive dragon flew over their heads. Its scales twinkled in the sunlight almost like fine jewels of dark amethyst. Wings spread wide as it glided over them. It circled around them as if they were its prey. Elodie swallowed hard. How many dragons could Malediction have? She hoped against all hope it was Cale flying in the sky. If it was another dragon, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Her magic was tapped out after saving Daire, and she couldn’t be certain when it would fully charge again.
“Do you suppose its Cale?”
Daire shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. Even if it is, there’s no way to tell if he’s friendly or not.”
“He might be able to talk,” Elodie pointed out. “Lulu and Kalypso can.”
It would certainly make things easier if he could. Provided that the dragon stalking them was her knight—it made one of her goals a tiny bit easier. She’d been searching for him to help him. Having him close made her one step closer to saving him. She still had to figure out what would remove the dragon, but she had faith she could do it. Malediction was one surprise after the next, and if she’d learned one thing from her time in the nightmare realm it was that anything was possible.
Lulu flew over to them and landed on Daire’s head. She used to do that a lot with Cale. Daire rolled his eyes, and a touch of annoyance filling his face. “Must you sit there?”
“Yes,” L
ulu informed him. “I have to speak with the princess.”
Daire opened his mouth and then closed it. He crossed his arms across his chest, apparently thinking better of arguing with the bird. Lulu could be rather stubborn when she didn’t get her way. Sometimes it was easier to give in and let things ride out. Elodie was rather glad he didn’t make too big of a fuss about it. She wanted to interrogate Lulu and see if she would be more forthcoming with information about the dragon and Cale.
“Is it Cale?” Elodie gestured to the dragon. “Or something looking for dinner?”
“The knight seeks his princess,” Lulu replied with a nod of affirmation. “Yet he is blind to your location.”
“But if that’s him,” Elodie said confused. “Why can’t he see me?”
The bird frowned. “I know not. Something is blocking his path and wants him to become lost forever.”
Elodie would not accept that. Cale was not lost if he still sought her. Her knight wouldn’t give up easily and would fight anything or anyone who got in his way. Cale was a good man, and it didn’t matter that a dragon was integrated with him for a little while. They could overcome that difficulty with enough time.
“Is there a way to reach him?” She might not be noticeable to him, but the others might be.
Lulu tilted her head and then glanced upward. Cale kept circling back, searching the area. He must sense something if he didn’t fly off. Whatever was getting in the way didn’t have complete control of him. Elodie took that as a good sign and prayed he didn’t give up before she had a chance to save him.
“He is still here for a reason.” Lulu flapped her wings. “I wonder...”
She flew up toward the dragon. Her silver-tipped wings tiny in comparison to his immense ones. Lulu soared upward, higher and higher until she was beak to nose with him. A puff of smoke billowed out of Cale’s nostrils, and he reared back at the sight of Lulu in front of him. His tail went downward, and his amethyst wings flapped in the wind as he raised his head. He was no longer horizontal, but vertical in the sky, having a battle of wills with the infuriating bird.
Elodie desperately wanted to know what was happening, but was helpless to do anything. She had to wait until Lulu came back down, and prayed Cale came with her. Daire rested a hand on her shoulder. “If anyone can bring Cale back, it’s that bird.”
They all found Lulu frustrating beyond belief, but Lulu always came through when it mattered. “I hope so.”
A roar reverberated through the wind, vibrating through the ground and up Elodie’s spine. If she didn’t know it was Cale, she might have been terrified. Truthfully, she still was. Not because she believed Cale would hurt her, but because she might lose him still. She didn’t want to believe she could and refused to let her misgivings take root inside of her. Her tenacity hadn’t failed her yet. Maybe that was why she found Lulu appealing on some levels. She could relate to the bird’s will to have her own way. The difference was Elodie seldom let her stubborn streak out to play.
“This will probably sound selfish,” Daire said morosely. “But I was hoping it would take longer to find him.”
Elodie turned fast and faced him. “Pardon me? Did I hear you correctly?”
He sighed. “I didn’t want anything to happen to him. So don’t get ready to upbraid me for my self-centered attitude. It’s—I was enjoying spending time with you without him in the way. He can be rather dictatorial with you. Almost like a big brother who thinks he knows best.” He turned away from her, shifting his gaze downward. “But we both know he’s not even remotely brotherly where you’re concerned. I’d hoped to change that, and might have if I’d had the time.”
Elodie was stunned. Did Daire have feelings for her? Sure, he seemed to like her. He had said as much with that absurd comment about pushing her into the mud puddle when she was a girl; however, that didn’t mean he had romantic feelings for her. Did it? How could she not have seen it? She wanted to push him to tell her everything, but held back. He didn’t appear willing to bear any more hidden emotions, and Elodie was afraid of what she might discover when he revealed them.
The sound of hoofbeats pounding the ground brought her out of her introspective mood. Lulu and Cale were still in the sky. Something Elodie had become grateful for because the several individuals stalking toward them with weapons in their hands didn’t seem like the friendly sort.. That didn’t bode well for anyone caught in their path.
Elodie jerked on Daire’s sleeve and gestured toward the horde in the distance. They had to run, hide, and hope for the best. She didn’t have to say a word. He started to run beside her to the edge of the wasteland.
Please let there be a place to hide...
If not, it wouldn’t matter if they could save Cale, or what feelings Daire had for her. They wouldn’t live long enough to figure any of it out. Elodie desperately wanted that time. She didn’t know what her future held, but she didn’t doubt for a minute both Cale and Daire would be a part of it somehow.
5
Shower of Arrows
There was no place to hide. They ran as fast as they could, but it didn’t help. The barren landscape didn’t offer any shelter, and there was no way they could outrun horses on foot. Yet, Elodie kept running and Daire kept pace beside her. They didn’t stand a chance to fight them one on one. They were outnumbered four to one. At least that is what Elodie assumed. She’d counted twelve riders before she took off. There could be even more than that behind them, but she’d be damned if she stopped to count them. The number didn’t matter either way. Because they would lose in a battle against them regardless.
Elodie thought maybe she could tap into her magic, and then nixed the idea. She alone could craft a windstorm to blow them away, but then what? She’d be tapped out and probably pass out from the use of her magic. Daire, Lulu, Kalypso, and maybe Cale would be forced to defend her, and she’d be a dead weight. She took a second to glance up at the sky. The dragon continued to fly high above them. Lulu remained at its side. Was Cale in there somewhere? Could she depend on him for help?
Something whizzed by her and grazed her ear. Liquid trickled down and pooled alongside her cheek. She swiped her hand against it. Blood. Something had hit her. They were going to die. The people behind them had no mercy and every intention of killing them. She had to do something, or they wouldn’t make it past the wasteland. This was not the time to give up. It might be futile to fight them, but what choice did she have?
Elodie stopped in her tracks and turned to face them. Daire skidded past her and froze in place. “Ellie, what are you doing? We have to keep going.”
She ignored him and rubbed the blood between her thumb and forefinger. Her blood held magic inside of it. That was what fueled it. What if she could do something with it and create a weapon to help save them all?
Daire came up beside her. “We don’t have time for this.”
“Sshh,” she said and studied her fingers.
Something snapped in place inside her head. She reached up and slid her fingers over her ear again and gathered the blood pooled there. It made sense in a strange way. She wiped it onto her palm and drew a circle with it, and then raised her hand to the sky. With her eyes closed she pictured a safe place in the center of it. That circle would be impenetrable and all inside it safe from harm. A semi-permeable bubble—a temporary solution until she could figure something else out.
The wind picked up speed and whirled around them. Voices echoed in the distance, but Elodie blocked them out.
“Stop her!” one of them yelled.
Elodie continued to focus all her energy on their protection. Something flew by her, but she couldn’t be sure what. She felt a change not of her making in the wind next to her. Who were these people and why did they want to kill her? Did it matter? Nothing in Malediction stayed her friend for long. She fully believed at some point even Lulu and Kalypso would turn on her. Some lessons she learned the hard way, and trust was one of them. There were not many people or things she had
faith in, and that list was dwindling fast.
“Elodie,” Cale shouted. The wind quickly became a gale, growing in strength the more she pushed magic into it. Something else flew by her. She had to make this work, and soon, or they’d more than graze her the next time. Daire placed his hand on her shoulder. “Stop or you’ll die.”
No. She refused to give up. None of them were going to lose their life. Not if she could prevent it. “Leave me alone,” she told him. “I can do this.”
Energy spiked through her and crackled as if jolted alive. Wonderful and exhilarating, the power rumbled forward and spread around her. The shield snapped into place around her, Daire, and Kalypso. Thousands of arrows flew through the sky, descending upon them like a shower of rain. Some bounced off, others slowly slid through the barrier and plopped to the ground beside her. Daire stared at them in shock and then started to pick them up. He placed several in his quiver. Others, he bound with a piece of leather and tied to his side. An archer never had too many arrows...
Elodie laughed maniacally the power overtaking her. This was what it felt like to control everything around her. She’d never get enough. There had to be a way to get more.
Daire stopped and stared at her. His face lost all of its color. “Ellie,” he said carefully. “You can stop now.”
The men on horses had halted. They too had shock written all over their faces. Their bows had long since dropped to their sides and they waited. She couldn’t be sure of what, but she had ceased caring. The power was all that mattered to her. She needed it, and she’d get all of it she could.