We ran as fast as we could, Aurelius effortlessly slicing through anything that neared him. Once we reached the entrance a Nequam sprang out of the doorway, crashing on top of the both of us. We struggled frantically, trying to unpin our hands, when Alati was swiftly upon the Nequam that breathed a toxic stench into our faces, and threw it into the nearby flames.
Aurelius jumped up quickly, pulling me along with him. Once up he released my hand to grip his sword with both of his hands, allowing him to swing freely at the Nequam that fell over themselves to greet us on the stairway. As Aurelius covered what was up ahead I kept an eye on our back, mostly using my powers to push away anything that got too close to us, and slashing at the things that disregarded my attempt. The stairs were steep and twisted around the walls of the tower, giving me the view of my family fighting below in the open, round corridor.
When we had finally reached the top, Aurelius kicked the door open, the room full of Nequam. We sliced through them, standing back to back, causing the ones I cut to burst from the inside out while the ones Aurelius cut through just slumped to the floor. Once all of the monsters were destroyed we stood in the middle of the room taking one second to breathe, then another to glance at one another approvingly. Yet, at the top of the tower Nequior was no where insight. We glanced about the room, but it was completely empty, only a lighted lantern hanging from the ceiling casting our shadows across the floor gave any sign of a person being here. Aurelius began running his hand along the wall, looking for anything to help him find Nequior.
"Surely he's around here somewhere." I muttered, glancing about. There were no other room within the whole tower, only stairs, this room, and the open space bellow. I then noticed a small crack on the wall across from the door way. "What's this?" I asked, walking closer to it. I traced the long, thin crack with my own finger.
Aurelius came up behind me, layering his hand on op of mine to touch the crack, when the crack began to give off a hissing sound. We both backed away as a hole began to emerge from the wall, when out of nowhere a long limbed hand reached trough, grabbing hold of my dress, pulling me into the discovered entry way.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Entering Battle
We encroached upon the tower within the mountain several hours after waking and trekking across the land. The mountain had been carved away leaving a tall thin tower peaking from its top. The closer we got to it the more putrid the smell began to be. When we were still a safe distance my father and Aurelius debated tactics, Aurelius use to being in charge of an army, not quite understanding my father's instinct to take control of whatever was going on within his kingdom.
After a few moments, my father trust his sword into the ground. "This is what we will be doing." He barked. "The dragons will go first, being able to take out more then the rest of us can. The griffin will then follow behind, able to snatch them up and make a pathway. Merlin, my wife, and I will then proceed, taking care of what we can. I have no doubt that there will be more than we can all take down right away, so when that time comes you and my daughter will continue on, and you will not stop until you find Nequior and kill him." My father's voice and stature was hard and rigid; just as Aurelius' was.
"Yes, sir." Aurelius yielded.
Merlin, who had been fairly quiet during the tension, slipped away to give the instructions to the dragons and griffin who rested behind us. When he returned he looked to father. "On your command."
Father then lifted his sword into the air and cried, "Anguis!" Instantly an army of eleven dragons raged over head into the fog that had begun to sink. Hundreds of Nequam began to spring up out of the ground and the tower's doorway, covering the ground in an almost solid coat of black. The dragons set fire to the mass, and a few swooped down, tearing at their limbs, but were quickly being overwhelmed by the hoard of demons. My father then raised his sword once more and cried, "Gryphi!" Nine griffin then filled the sky, some swooping down upon the Nequam instantly, others dropping rocks from the nearby area. The numbers had dwindled down to about half now, and my father looked to us. "This is it." He whispered just loud enough for it to be heard over the roar of the battle. "Make it count." He took my mother's hand briefly, touching it to his face, and then they and Merlin were charging into the fray.
"Make every second count." Aurelius said, looking into my eyes.
"Every second." I echoed.
After a few moments, my father trust his sword into the ground. "This is what we will be doing." He barked. "The dragons will go first, being able to take out more then the rest of us can. The griffin will then follow behind, able to snatch them up and make a pathway. Merlin, my wife, and I will then proceed, taking care of what we can. I have no doubt that there will be more than we can all take down right away, so when that time comes you and my daughter will continue on, and you will not stop until you find Nequior and kill him." My father's voice and stature was hard and rigid; just as Aurelius' was.
"Yes, sir." Aurelius yielded.
Merlin, who had been fairly quiet during the tension, slipped away to give the instructions to the dragons and griffin who rested behind us. When he returned he looked to father. "On your command."
Father then lifted his sword into the air and cried, "Anguis!" Instantly an army of eleven dragons raged over head into the fog that had begun to sink. Hundreds of Nequam began to spring up out of the ground and the tower's doorway, covering the ground in an almost solid coat of black. The dragons set fire to the mass, and a few swooped down, tearing at their limbs, but were quickly being overwhelmed by the hoard of demons. My father then raised his sword once more and cried, "Gryphi!" Nine griffin then filled the sky, some swooping down upon the Nequam instantly, others dropping rocks from the nearby area. The numbers had dwindled down to about half now, and my father looked to us. "This is it." He whispered just loud enough for it to be heard over the roar of the battle. "Make it count." He took my mother's hand briefly, touching it to his face, and then they and Merlin were charging into the fray.
"Make every second count." Aurelius said, looking into my eyes.
"Every second." I echoed.
Preparations
Merlin went outside to rally up the dragons and have them find any creatures they could to help aid us in our mission. My parents went outside as well, searching through the rubble and debris to make sure nothing of value had appeared. I helped Aurelius put on his chain-mail and armor, adrenaline still coursing throughout my body, happy to see the human I loved breathing once more.
Aurelius sat upon the slab of stone, staring at the sword in his hands, eyebrows furrowed. He looked up at me, worry creasing his brow. "Do you really think I can do this?" He asked.
I smiled. "I believe it with all my heart." I whispered, laying my hand on top of his as it gripped the sword.
He gave me a small smile and I saw a gleam of hope returning to his eyes. Laying his other hand on top of mine he gave me a nod. "I'll have you by my side this time. With you I feel I could conquer the world."
We exchanged smiles briefly and then made our way outside to the others. Merlin and my parents stood before rows of dragons and griffins, Alati nearing the front. There were maybe twenty of them all together, and Merlin spoke to them in a tongue I could not recognize, which surprised me greatly for I knew most things from my time in hibernation.
My parents approached us and my father handed me a lightweight sword. "This sword is forged out of magic, so it will not hurt Nequior, but it will destroy his creature of darkness for it was made with light." He explained.
I nodded and took it in my hand, seeing how the glow from my own skin bounced off of the blade. Merlin soon joined us, dragons and griffins standing and ready for battle. Merlin had his own sword and was practically bouncing from foot to foot, eager to get this over with.
"All right." My father started. "Theres a tall mountain not too far from here, maybe a days journey. That will be where Nequior has chosen to reside. The place we were before was just one of a few prisons; where we are going will be crawling with Nequam because he now knows that we are coming to take back our land. You must make sure to move swiftly and quietly, and most importantly aim to kill with one shot, you may not get a second."
We then set out, but it was already beginning to grow dark and the fog was growing thicker, so we traveled until we found a decently sized crevice to take refuge in. Aurelius suggested we take turns keeping watch but Merlin insisted the dragons had us covered. Regardless Aurelius stayed awake anyway.
"You should try to sleep." I whispered over the snore of Merlin.
Aurelius shrugged. "I feel I have been sleeping for years."
"That's because you have." I retorted. "But you have to be rested for tomorrow, every second counts."
Aurelius smiled. "Yes, I am quite aware of my seconds." He arranged himself so that he could recline against the wall of the crevice. "Come here." He motioned, allowing me to rest next to him with his arm around my shoulders. "I will rest like this." He whispered. "Being sure that every second counts."
I turned my head towards his chest and took a deep breath, inhaling the earthly smells that still clung to his clothes. My mind drifted to the memories of our time on Earth and I thought through each second that we had spent together and fell asleep grateful for every last one of them.
Aurelius sat upon the slab of stone, staring at the sword in his hands, eyebrows furrowed. He looked up at me, worry creasing his brow. "Do you really think I can do this?" He asked.
I smiled. "I believe it with all my heart." I whispered, laying my hand on top of his as it gripped the sword.
He gave me a small smile and I saw a gleam of hope returning to his eyes. Laying his other hand on top of mine he gave me a nod. "I'll have you by my side this time. With you I feel I could conquer the world."
We exchanged smiles briefly and then made our way outside to the others. Merlin and my parents stood before rows of dragons and griffins, Alati nearing the front. There were maybe twenty of them all together, and Merlin spoke to them in a tongue I could not recognize, which surprised me greatly for I knew most things from my time in hibernation.
My parents approached us and my father handed me a lightweight sword. "This sword is forged out of magic, so it will not hurt Nequior, but it will destroy his creature of darkness for it was made with light." He explained.
I nodded and took it in my hand, seeing how the glow from my own skin bounced off of the blade. Merlin soon joined us, dragons and griffins standing and ready for battle. Merlin had his own sword and was practically bouncing from foot to foot, eager to get this over with.
"All right." My father started. "Theres a tall mountain not too far from here, maybe a days journey. That will be where Nequior has chosen to reside. The place we were before was just one of a few prisons; where we are going will be crawling with Nequam because he now knows that we are coming to take back our land. You must make sure to move swiftly and quietly, and most importantly aim to kill with one shot, you may not get a second."
We then set out, but it was already beginning to grow dark and the fog was growing thicker, so we traveled until we found a decently sized crevice to take refuge in. Aurelius suggested we take turns keeping watch but Merlin insisted the dragons had us covered. Regardless Aurelius stayed awake anyway.
"You should try to sleep." I whispered over the snore of Merlin.
Aurelius shrugged. "I feel I have been sleeping for years."
"That's because you have." I retorted. "But you have to be rested for tomorrow, every second counts."
Aurelius smiled. "Yes, I am quite aware of my seconds." He arranged himself so that he could recline against the wall of the crevice. "Come here." He motioned, allowing me to rest next to him with his arm around my shoulders. "I will rest like this." He whispered. "Being sure that every second counts."
I turned my head towards his chest and took a deep breath, inhaling the earthly smells that still clung to his clothes. My mind drifted to the memories of our time on Earth and I thought through each second that we had spent together and fell asleep grateful for every last one of them.
His Return
My brother, parents, and I worked together with our powers to remove the parts of the temple that we could, but most of them were too big for us to handle, so most of the work was down by the dragons. When we had finally reached the bottom, the stairwell down into the floor was still intact with just a few pieces of debris resting upon the steps. We glanced around briefly and then quickly enter the hidden room; the candles lining the walls burst with flames that for a brief moment seemed to climb up the walls and to the ceiling before settling down to a moderate glow.
My father and mother approached the encased body, and quickly glanced to one another. Taking each other's hand they closed their eyes and placed their free hand over the glow of the shield. They stayed that way for a few minutes, the rest of us becoming antsy as no noticeable change took place. My mother then opened her eyes and reached out towards Edgar.
Edgar approached her timidly, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves. We he reached my mother she stooped down, picking him up, and had him lay a paw upon the shield. No apparent pain inflicted him like when I had touched the shield previously. My mother closed her eyes once again, Edgar doing the same, and purple sparks began to emanate from the shield.
Merlin took my hand to calm my nerves, and I greatly accepted it. The candles about the room began to flicker wildly, but neither my parents or Edgar made a movement. My grip tightened around Merlin's hand; whatever kind of magic this was was not the kind of magic I was accustomed to. The candles then quickly died out, leaving us in a darkness that seemed almost unnatural. I let out a small gasp and quickly tried to relight all of the candles. Merlin took hold of the free hand I tried to use and he tried to soothe me.
"Relax, dear sister." He whispered. "All is well."
I let out a deep shaky sigh and glanced about the room. I began to fidget, still unable to see what was going on with Edgar and my parents, when a dim light began to spread from the candles, slowly illuminating the chamber once again. The shield had disappeared and Edgar was also gone himself. I rushed over to Aurelius, who appeared to be sleeping.
"Why doesn't he wake?" I asked.
"You must wake him." My mother prodded. "Call his name."
I felt my heart racing a hundred miles in my chest; all the feelings I had felt in my human body still coursing through my veins. I ran a hand across his forehead, brushing across his unusually combed hair, and down his temple to his cheek. "Aurelius," I breathed. "Time to wake up."
Aurelius' eyes opened slowly, and he glanced about as if none of it had sunk in. He then looked to me and he stopped glancing about, trying to focus. "Fia?" He asked. I nodded as he then glanced down at his own hands, inspecting them. Looking back at me he remarked, "You look a lot smaller." He sat up slowly and flashed me a crooked smile.
"No, you just got bigger." I retorted, tears wetting my eyes.
"Is that a fat joke?" He inquired. I just smiled.
"Well if you've had enough bantering we have important things that must be attended to." My father retorted. "Nequior is still out there, and Aurelius is the only one that can destroy him. As you have noticed our magic simply feeds him, and dragons are built of magic just as we are. Our only hope is that we get Aurelius to him safely so that he can end all of this suffering." He walked over to one of the grooves formed along the wall and pulled out the chain-mail and armor that Aurelius had worn during his last battle. After handing them to Aurelius he then proceeded to another wall and pulled from within it Aurelius' sword. "This" he said, holding the sword out with both hands. "is your destiny."
My father and mother approached the encased body, and quickly glanced to one another. Taking each other's hand they closed their eyes and placed their free hand over the glow of the shield. They stayed that way for a few minutes, the rest of us becoming antsy as no noticeable change took place. My mother then opened her eyes and reached out towards Edgar.
Edgar approached her timidly, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves. We he reached my mother she stooped down, picking him up, and had him lay a paw upon the shield. No apparent pain inflicted him like when I had touched the shield previously. My mother closed her eyes once again, Edgar doing the same, and purple sparks began to emanate from the shield.
Merlin took my hand to calm my nerves, and I greatly accepted it. The candles about the room began to flicker wildly, but neither my parents or Edgar made a movement. My grip tightened around Merlin's hand; whatever kind of magic this was was not the kind of magic I was accustomed to. The candles then quickly died out, leaving us in a darkness that seemed almost unnatural. I let out a small gasp and quickly tried to relight all of the candles. Merlin took hold of the free hand I tried to use and he tried to soothe me.
"Relax, dear sister." He whispered. "All is well."
I let out a deep shaky sigh and glanced about the room. I began to fidget, still unable to see what was going on with Edgar and my parents, when a dim light began to spread from the candles, slowly illuminating the chamber once again. The shield had disappeared and Edgar was also gone himself. I rushed over to Aurelius, who appeared to be sleeping.
"Why doesn't he wake?" I asked.
"You must wake him." My mother prodded. "Call his name."
I felt my heart racing a hundred miles in my chest; all the feelings I had felt in my human body still coursing through my veins. I ran a hand across his forehead, brushing across his unusually combed hair, and down his temple to his cheek. "Aurelius," I breathed. "Time to wake up."
Aurelius' eyes opened slowly, and he glanced about as if none of it had sunk in. He then looked to me and he stopped glancing about, trying to focus. "Fia?" He asked. I nodded as he then glanced down at his own hands, inspecting them. Looking back at me he remarked, "You look a lot smaller." He sat up slowly and flashed me a crooked smile.
"No, you just got bigger." I retorted, tears wetting my eyes.
"Is that a fat joke?" He inquired. I just smiled.
"Well if you've had enough bantering we have important things that must be attended to." My father retorted. "Nequior is still out there, and Aurelius is the only one that can destroy him. As you have noticed our magic simply feeds him, and dragons are built of magic just as we are. Our only hope is that we get Aurelius to him safely so that he can end all of this suffering." He walked over to one of the grooves formed along the wall and pulled out the chain-mail and armor that Aurelius had worn during his last battle. After handing them to Aurelius he then proceeded to another wall and pulled from within it Aurelius' sword. "This" he said, holding the sword out with both hands. "is your destiny."
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Edgar
I felt my breath catch in my throat and I backed away from Edgar, purposefully trying to keep myself from understanding. My eyes began to feel the warm pricking of tears as I barely gasped out the words, "Where did you get those scars?"
Edgar stood with his gaze cast downward and a slight breeze whipped at his exposed white fur. "They're battle wounds." He muttered.
Everything about me seemed to be spinning and I felt my knees begin to buckle as Merlin grabbed a hold of me, easing me down to a sitting position on the ground. My parents were now in front of me, my mother laying a her long, delicate fingers across my forehead, relieving my dizziness; the darkness now fading from her and my father as well.
I did not understand how Edgar could have the same battle wounds that Aurelius would have. It was all too much for me so I tried to focus on simply breathing as tears blurred my vision. I closed my eyes, fighting to maintain my own composure.
"I'm sorry." Opening my eyes again I saw Edgar in front of me, his fur wetted by his own tears. His ears drooped greatly and his eyes glistened before me. Reaching a paw out towards me, he whispered again, "I'm sorry."
"Aurelius?" I breathed, as recognition brightened his eyes. Pulling him in a tight hug I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't know how this was possible, but the mere fact that it was filled me with hope. Still holding him in my arms I looked to my parents who exchanged looks with one another. "I found his body in a temple, but it was destroyed by a bunch of dragons before I could do anything."
My parents looked at one another once again before my mother explained, "He came to us many years ago, savagely wounded. At the time our people were unaware of the sufferings of other planets, we simply lived for ourselves, but in this boy your father and I saw the future, and that he had a destiny not yet accomplished. We could not save him in his human body, so we rescued the small bit of his soul that still hung on and allowed him to bear a body like our own. We then took his human shell and placed it under the casing that over time would heal it the best it could, as you must have stumbled upon. We then asked what name he would like to go by and he told us Edgar always seemed like a nice name to him, that he had met a nice fellow with that name once. We then gave him a farm to reside over, knowing about the dragon he had slain it was now his responsibility to care for what he had previously destroyed."
"That dragon was going to kill me." I stated.
My mother continued, "From that point on we aided in those hunted and destroyed on other planets, such as the dragons and griffins you have encountered. When our previous home was attacked it was Edgar who rescued who he could, even taking his own human body with him here. Before you were born Edgar came to us, our new home now under attack, and requesting fervently to be the one to take you and your brother to safety on another planet. Your father and I knew this was his destiny, to always preside over you and assure your safety, so we relented. But with his body hidden away in the great stone temple and still wounded we could not allow him to take his human form, so he became the fuzzy rabbit you now have before you."
I looked down at Edgar who now became known to me as Aurelius, who sat unsure of what he should do with himself after hearing his own story.
"His destiny is still not over. We must get to that temple quickly so that young Aurelius may join us in battle." My father stated.
"How are we going to get all the way there?" I asked. "Plus I saw the temple destroyed there will be no way of getting to the case."
Merlin let our a chuckle. "Oh don't worry about that, sister." He chimed with an army of eight or nine dragons looming behind him.
Edgar stood with his gaze cast downward and a slight breeze whipped at his exposed white fur. "They're battle wounds." He muttered.
Everything about me seemed to be spinning and I felt my knees begin to buckle as Merlin grabbed a hold of me, easing me down to a sitting position on the ground. My parents were now in front of me, my mother laying a her long, delicate fingers across my forehead, relieving my dizziness; the darkness now fading from her and my father as well.
I did not understand how Edgar could have the same battle wounds that Aurelius would have. It was all too much for me so I tried to focus on simply breathing as tears blurred my vision. I closed my eyes, fighting to maintain my own composure.
"I'm sorry." Opening my eyes again I saw Edgar in front of me, his fur wetted by his own tears. His ears drooped greatly and his eyes glistened before me. Reaching a paw out towards me, he whispered again, "I'm sorry."
"Aurelius?" I breathed, as recognition brightened his eyes. Pulling him in a tight hug I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't know how this was possible, but the mere fact that it was filled me with hope. Still holding him in my arms I looked to my parents who exchanged looks with one another. "I found his body in a temple, but it was destroyed by a bunch of dragons before I could do anything."
My parents looked at one another once again before my mother explained, "He came to us many years ago, savagely wounded. At the time our people were unaware of the sufferings of other planets, we simply lived for ourselves, but in this boy your father and I saw the future, and that he had a destiny not yet accomplished. We could not save him in his human body, so we rescued the small bit of his soul that still hung on and allowed him to bear a body like our own. We then took his human shell and placed it under the casing that over time would heal it the best it could, as you must have stumbled upon. We then asked what name he would like to go by and he told us Edgar always seemed like a nice name to him, that he had met a nice fellow with that name once. We then gave him a farm to reside over, knowing about the dragon he had slain it was now his responsibility to care for what he had previously destroyed."
"That dragon was going to kill me." I stated.
My mother continued, "From that point on we aided in those hunted and destroyed on other planets, such as the dragons and griffins you have encountered. When our previous home was attacked it was Edgar who rescued who he could, even taking his own human body with him here. Before you were born Edgar came to us, our new home now under attack, and requesting fervently to be the one to take you and your brother to safety on another planet. Your father and I knew this was his destiny, to always preside over you and assure your safety, so we relented. But with his body hidden away in the great stone temple and still wounded we could not allow him to take his human form, so he became the fuzzy rabbit you now have before you."
I looked down at Edgar who now became known to me as Aurelius, who sat unsure of what he should do with himself after hearing his own story.
"His destiny is still not over. We must get to that temple quickly so that young Aurelius may join us in battle." My father stated.
"How are we going to get all the way there?" I asked. "Plus I saw the temple destroyed there will be no way of getting to the case."
Merlin let our a chuckle. "Oh don't worry about that, sister." He chimed with an army of eight or nine dragons looming behind him.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Break Through
Nequior let out a deep chortle, looking me in the eyes. "Good luck, princess." And just as one of the dragons dropped down onto the ground Nequior vanished, a tall pillar of smoke curling into the air in his place.
I glanced over at my parents who tried their best to huddle in the fair corner, shielding their eyes from the light that now peaked through the chaos of dragons scratching at the roof. I was now faced with the dragon that had landed in front of me. It was smaller, making it easier to drop through the roof, and its scales cast purple spots reflected from the incoming light. I baked up as much as I could before the wall, now full of as many cracks as the ceiling, stopped me. The dragon approached me, letting out an ear-piercing screech. The wall gave out behind me, pulling me with it. I felt several sharp pings of pain along my back as well as the warmth return to my arms. My breaths came fast as I watched ten dragons swoop in to destroy the rest of the dome. I closed my eyes, feeling unable to move, when I felt damp, hot breath move across my face. I opened my eyes, greeted by the golden eyes of the purple dragon I had previously encountered.
I bolted upright, instantly feeling crippled by the raw pain that spread across my back. The dragon sat in front of me, looking to its left. I glanced the way the dragon looked and noticed Edgar sitting just beyond the debris caused from the falling wall.
"Edgar, what are you doing?" I cried, feeling that he would surely be eaten by one of the dragons.
He hopped over to me, careful to avoid the sharp edges of the clay wreckage. "I thought I would never see you again." He Jumped onto my lap, raising a paw to the side of my face. "Did he do this?"
I raised my own hand to my face, not noticing until now that Nequior had left scrapes across my cheek. Apparently even my new body was as fragile as a human's. "Don't worry about that." I glanced around, unable move much without pain surging through my body. "My parents..."
"They're all right, Merlin is with them now." His nose twitched briefly before me made his way behind me. "Don't move." He commanded as he began to tug away at the pieces of clay stuck in my skin.
I closed my eyes and clenched my fists, trying to concentrate on anything but the pain, when I remembered the darkness that had spread through my arms. Opening my eyes, I glanced down noticing the dark color fading to a pale gray. Edgar was swift back in my view. "Edgar, your jacket is all torn up." He bat at my hand, clinging to his torn up top coat.
"Never mind that." He glanced around a bit before looking back at me. "Come, let's get to your parents." I stood up carefully, still feeling the sting of where the clay had impaled my skin, and made my way to Merlin and my parents, Edgar following behind.
Merlin was disconnecting the chains from my parents, which still hung from my own hand, and helped brush debris off of them. Once we got close to them Merlin's head snapped up towards me and he quickly made his way over, wrapping me in a warm and familiar hug. He then pulled away from the hug and quickly helped me out of my chains. "Listen, Fia, there's something we need to talk about." He whispered, eyes seemingly conflicted. He glanced down at Edgar, then back at me.
"What is it?" I asked, growing quite confused.
"Edgar, I think it's time to remove your coat." Merlin announced.
Edgars ears drooped as he looked up at Merlin. "What good could it possibly do?" He said, sounding utterly defeated. He fidgeted from one foot to the other, contemplating it for a moment. Finally he nodded and unbuttoned his top coat, and taking a deep breath took it off. Underneath Edgar's jacket was two scars, one small around his shoulder, the other bigger and much more obvious upon his abdomen.
I glanced over at my parents who tried their best to huddle in the fair corner, shielding their eyes from the light that now peaked through the chaos of dragons scratching at the roof. I was now faced with the dragon that had landed in front of me. It was smaller, making it easier to drop through the roof, and its scales cast purple spots reflected from the incoming light. I baked up as much as I could before the wall, now full of as many cracks as the ceiling, stopped me. The dragon approached me, letting out an ear-piercing screech. The wall gave out behind me, pulling me with it. I felt several sharp pings of pain along my back as well as the warmth return to my arms. My breaths came fast as I watched ten dragons swoop in to destroy the rest of the dome. I closed my eyes, feeling unable to move, when I felt damp, hot breath move across my face. I opened my eyes, greeted by the golden eyes of the purple dragon I had previously encountered.
I bolted upright, instantly feeling crippled by the raw pain that spread across my back. The dragon sat in front of me, looking to its left. I glanced the way the dragon looked and noticed Edgar sitting just beyond the debris caused from the falling wall.
"Edgar, what are you doing?" I cried, feeling that he would surely be eaten by one of the dragons.
He hopped over to me, careful to avoid the sharp edges of the clay wreckage. "I thought I would never see you again." He Jumped onto my lap, raising a paw to the side of my face. "Did he do this?"
I raised my own hand to my face, not noticing until now that Nequior had left scrapes across my cheek. Apparently even my new body was as fragile as a human's. "Don't worry about that." I glanced around, unable move much without pain surging through my body. "My parents..."
"They're all right, Merlin is with them now." His nose twitched briefly before me made his way behind me. "Don't move." He commanded as he began to tug away at the pieces of clay stuck in my skin.
I closed my eyes and clenched my fists, trying to concentrate on anything but the pain, when I remembered the darkness that had spread through my arms. Opening my eyes, I glanced down noticing the dark color fading to a pale gray. Edgar was swift back in my view. "Edgar, your jacket is all torn up." He bat at my hand, clinging to his torn up top coat.
"Never mind that." He glanced around a bit before looking back at me. "Come, let's get to your parents." I stood up carefully, still feeling the sting of where the clay had impaled my skin, and made my way to Merlin and my parents, Edgar following behind.
Merlin was disconnecting the chains from my parents, which still hung from my own hand, and helped brush debris off of them. Once we got close to them Merlin's head snapped up towards me and he quickly made his way over, wrapping me in a warm and familiar hug. He then pulled away from the hug and quickly helped me out of my chains. "Listen, Fia, there's something we need to talk about." He whispered, eyes seemingly conflicted. He glanced down at Edgar, then back at me.
"What is it?" I asked, growing quite confused.
"Edgar, I think it's time to remove your coat." Merlin announced.
Edgars ears drooped as he looked up at Merlin. "What good could it possibly do?" He said, sounding utterly defeated. He fidgeted from one foot to the other, contemplating it for a moment. Finally he nodded and unbuttoned his top coat, and taking a deep breath took it off. Underneath Edgar's jacket was two scars, one small around his shoulder, the other bigger and much more obvious upon his abdomen.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Dragons
No one said anything for a long while, letting the silence of the unknown sink in. I wish I knew what had happened to Merlin, or Edgar and Alati for that matter, but most of all my mind still raced with thoughts of Aurelius. As the darkness crawled up my arms, leaving them so cold that it felt like dry ice was being spread across them, thoughts of Aurelius kept me oddly hopeful. I know I saw his body buried underneath all of that debris, but if all of my magic could not free him, maybe heavy rock couldn't either, keeping him safe and preserved. Still, even if his body is still intact I noticed no signs of life. Yet I cannot shake the feeling that he's out there somewhere, somehow.
I laid my back against the wall, looking up at the black void that hid the ceiling, and let out a deep sigh.
"Do not be afraid." My father said from his dark corner. "If your brother is anything like the son I once knew, he's alive. Plus Nequior would never kill someone as powerful as Merlin. At the very least he would be chained as you and I are. Nequior feeds on our powers, and Merlin feed him for years no doubt."
"What will happen to you if we don't escape?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking, afraid I already knew the answer.
"We will become like the Nequam." He said, plain and simple.
"So... the Nequam..."
"They use to be people... like us."
I felt a sickness in my stomach like I had eaten a giant rock. I had killed my own people without even knowing. It was no wonder our people chose to become a people of silence after the things they had seen.
We said nothing else to each other. What would we even say? We were faced with our fate: death. So much for my great destiny, a story that would matter. I grew angry, this whole thing was filled with so much hype, and all for nothing. I stood up, frustrated that I had nothing to take my anger out on, and began to tug at my chains. I knew it was useless but it was a kind of stress relief.
Nequior was soon in the prison room once again, a lit lantern casting a long shadow across the wall. "What are you doing?" He hissed.
I stopped, confused by his question. Then I heard the sound of rumblings. I felt a smile spread on my face as I saw for the first time fear in the eyes of our demon captor. "Well, I'm not doing anything."
He scowled at me just before the roof of our clay-dome cracked across the ceiling, shedding light into the darkness. The roof quickly withered away in pieces, revealing several dragons digging their way into our prison where both my parents and I were still chained to the wall.
I laid my back against the wall, looking up at the black void that hid the ceiling, and let out a deep sigh.
"Do not be afraid." My father said from his dark corner. "If your brother is anything like the son I once knew, he's alive. Plus Nequior would never kill someone as powerful as Merlin. At the very least he would be chained as you and I are. Nequior feeds on our powers, and Merlin feed him for years no doubt."
"What will happen to you if we don't escape?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking, afraid I already knew the answer.
"We will become like the Nequam." He said, plain and simple.
"So... the Nequam..."
"They use to be people... like us."
I felt a sickness in my stomach like I had eaten a giant rock. I had killed my own people without even knowing. It was no wonder our people chose to become a people of silence after the things they had seen.
We said nothing else to each other. What would we even say? We were faced with our fate: death. So much for my great destiny, a story that would matter. I grew angry, this whole thing was filled with so much hype, and all for nothing. I stood up, frustrated that I had nothing to take my anger out on, and began to tug at my chains. I knew it was useless but it was a kind of stress relief.
Nequior was soon in the prison room once again, a lit lantern casting a long shadow across the wall. "What are you doing?" He hissed.
I stopped, confused by his question. Then I heard the sound of rumblings. I felt a smile spread on my face as I saw for the first time fear in the eyes of our demon captor. "Well, I'm not doing anything."
He scowled at me just before the roof of our clay-dome cracked across the ceiling, shedding light into the darkness. The roof quickly withered away in pieces, revealing several dragons digging their way into our prison where both my parents and I were still chained to the wall.
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