Children of the Dragon: Chapter 8

The town was on fire. Red flames clung to the shingles and the ground itself. People were scattered hiding in the rubble and avoiding the ire of the dragon above. It appeared out of nowhere in the center of the town and began to rain down fire and death. It attacked any and everything without mercy and without preference.

The dragon crashed through a tall building, breaking it down and using it as a mount. It was a bright red creature, its scales gleaming in the early sun. It stomped along the ground its front limbs acting as both its legs and the arms of its wings. It whipped its wide head back and forth and unleashed a torrent of fire melting down a wall like butter. Its tail spun around like a club hitting people and buildings alike.

It turned slowly and roared the sound echoing through the town as a call to challenge anyone. The shriek of a giant bird answered it. The dragon looked up toward the sound and hissed. A streak of red descended from the sky before crashing right into the dragon’s head like a meteor.

It stumbled back stunned. But before it could get its bearings it was grabbed by the newcomer and lifted off the ground being flown away in a burst of fiery red light. Like a comet, they blasted into the side of the mountain creating a jagged snow covered plateau. Nero stood slowly, half man, half red bird. Cocking his head to the side and brushing a hand through his feathery hair he cawed again.

The dragon shook off the blow and stared at the spellcaster. It couldn’t figure out what this small creature was or how it had harmed it. All it knew was that it had attacked it and now the dragon wanted it dead.

Nero started to pace slowly, keeping his eyes on the dragon. From what he knew about them this one was male and he was young. Barely an adult. It seethed with youthful arrogance. But the other thing of note was that he could feel the magic on it. It hadn’t gotten here naturally. Just like all the many others, this one was dropped here.

He raised his hands and took a slow step forward. The dragon roared at him so he stayed put, “I know this is strange. And scary. This definitely isn’t your home.”

The dragon growled again taking a step forward and Nero could see the beginnings of a fireball coming his way. And the dragon didn’t disappoint unleashing the torrent at him. It slammed into his chest and he slid backward going to the edge of the mountain but he didn’t go past it. This surprised the dragon and it growled his frustration.

He took a step forward and spread his wings, balancing on his hind legs. He was a big creature, smaller than Silver and Emeralda sure, but Nero knew he was still growing and he was going to get bigger than them both given time. Before he could charge at him Nero heard the soft chirping in his ears. He glanced to the side and chuckled.

“You want to handle this? If you want to go ahead. Just be careful Nyx.” He raised his tattooed bare arm and spread his wing. The feathers ignited and his body was covered in flames that flowed off of him and manifested on his arm as a massive red feathered bird with a long neck, large head, and thin yellow beak. She spread her wings and they were iridescent catching the light and splashing dozens of colors over the ground.

A sight that the dragon didn’t seem to care much about. He roared taking off from the ground and dived at them both. Nyx took off from his arm and met the dragon in the sky. She dove talons first, locking against those of the dragon but where the dragon was bigger than her, she was far more experienced.

She disengaged from the young dragon and darted around to its back. Digging her talons into the jagged scales, she started pecking away. Each contact created a burst of fire and made the dragon roar its frustrated pain at her. He tried to roll and get rid of her but she was persistent. She pecked and cawed until the dragon got sick of it.

Flapping his wings, the dragon curved in the air and flew toward the mountain. But as he drew close, he spun descending and going back first toward the mountain. Nero’s eyes widened and called out for Nyx to back off but they were flying too fast for her to break away. She let out a scared screech and Nero threw his arm forward.

The tattoo resting there glowed and Nyx faded away into red mist. She swirled back to him, wrapping around his arm and retaking her place on his arm. The dragon spread his wings and flipped around landing on the side of the mountain. He scrabbled down slightly until he got his footing and roared back down at Nero.

Nero looked at his tattoo and once he was sure that Nyx was safe turned back to the dragon. “Alright. You’re a smart one,” he replied. He took a step back, tracing his hand across his arm as another of his tattoos began to glow. The dragon roared and jumped darting down at him.

He was fast and crashed to the ground with an explosion of dust and force. The dragon spread his wings and saw the green barrier that surrounded Nero’s body. A shield that had surprised him as well. Both looked to the sky and watched as the large jade dragon came out of the sky. Emeralda crashed into the young dragon knocking him backward.

The dragon slid backward, claws grinding into the stone and Emeralda took a step forward letting out a rumbling growl. Sofie sat up from her back and looked behind her, “Daddy you okay?”

Nero waved and nodded, “Yep. Thanks for the shield. Didn’t know you could do that.”

“Neither did I,” she said looking at her hands and then at Emeralda.

“Where’s your brother and sister?” he asked quickly.

“In the town helping people with Silver. Silva told me to give you a hand,” she said looking from him back at the dragon as it spread its wing and roared at them. Emeralda was unfazed but Sofie flinched leaning against her dragon. She took a step forward and growled threateningly.

Nero ran up beside her and put a hand on her foreleg, “Hold on. We don’t want to hurt this one too bad. He’s just lost. We need to get him home.”

“How do you suggest that we do that?” Emeralda asked.

“We subdue him first,” Nero touched his tattooed arm and ran his fingers across one of them. It glowed and flashed with a deep red around him. When the light faded they heard a soft bell ring. A large auburn elk stood near them. It had deep black eyes, markings across its fur like swirling stripes, and large circular antlers that had many tiny silver bells tied to them. At the center of both horns were large black orbs.

“Long time no see Eskir,” Nero said as the elk lowered his head to press his muzzle against Nero’s forehead. “We’ve got some work to do the four of us.”

Eskir stamped the ground once and turned toward Emeralda and then the dragon. The deer turned to look at him and the bells dinged. Nero made a face at him, “Come on don’t look at me like that. I’m being careful.” He dinged again. “Yeah that’s my daughter. You met her once remember?” Another ring.  “Exactly.”

“Daddy? Are you talking to him?” Sofie asked hesitantly.

“Yeah. Eskir’s bell ringing is usually how he talks to me. Or at least prefers to,” Nero smiled and then hopped forward landing on the animal’s back. “Think you can keep the dragon’s attention?”

“Easily.,” Emeralda replied.

“Good. We’ll do our thing the. Be careful you two,” he said and then Eskir hopped forward.

Emeralda spread her wings and roared a challenge as the young dragon did the same rushing at her. She stood her ground, glowing a soft green and taking the charge. She stumbled back but once she squared herself she shoved him backward throwing him against the mountainside. She rushed forward crashing into him as he let out a startled grunt.

But he wasn’t done. He lunged biting her shoulder hard eliciting a roar of pain back from her. Turning he tried to throw her but he wasn’t strong enough to lift up a dragon older than him. Flapping his wings, he ascended quickly leveraging the height but finally let go unable to do more.

Sofie held on tightly to Emeralda for balance but looked up, staring at the red dragon and her eyes widened. She saw the dragon flex his tail and spin quickly wielding his tail like a club aimed squarely at Emeralda’s face.

“Em look out!” She thrust her hand out and the tail of the dragon slammed into Emeralda’s head but her scales glowed bright green in response and she didn’t even flinch.

Though she was surprised at the magic that coursed over her head and glanced back at Sofie. Neither knew what had caused that but they weren’t against it. She turned back to the young dragon and roared jumping after him.

He floated backward out of reach as she swatted her claws at him. She just barely missed and crashed back to the ground. Giving another taunting roar the dragon flapped his wings and darted around in a large sweeping circle before diving not at Emeralda but at her back. At Sofie.

He came down talons first and Emeralda tried to turn but she wasn’t nearly as fast as this dragon. Sofie stared at the dragon as he came down and her eyes widened throwing both hands up. Just like before the talons of the dragon bounced off a sudden green shield. The dragon didn’t back off, flapping his wings, and pressing harder against the shield trying to rake his talons through the magic.

Sofie stared at the creature, saw his talons and wings beat against the shield, and was frozen staring death in the eye. And then she turned quickly as Emeralda roared swatting back the dragon, her claws tearing at one of his wings. The young dragon cried out and crashed back into the ground. Emeralda growled and then looked back at her rider.

“Are you alright hatchling?” she asked.

“Yeah. I think so,” she looked at her shaking hands and then back at the dragon as it struggled back to its feet. It sniffed at its wounded wing and then let out another growl, glaring at Emeralda. Sofie sat up looking at the dragon and fought the urge to recoil from its glare as she kept her arm around Emeralda.

Sofie looked at the dragon and she couldn’t glare at him. Despite the destruction, he had caused something about him seemed wrong. She could sense how confused he was, how frustrated, and angry he was. The dragon met her gaze and started to growl but he paused, hesitating. Even Emeralda paused looking back at her rider.

Before either could say something, they heard the sudden bell ring. It was loud and echoed in their ears but then there were more. First there were only two or three and then suddenly there were dozens around them. As Sofie and Emeralda looked they saw the small silver bells appear in the air floating as if on strings.

They circled the area and without warning, Sofie felt very very calm. Almost sleepy. She leaned forward resting against Emeralda’s neck. Even the jade dragon stumbled slightly and shut her eyes. She took a sloppy step startling Sofie but she broke into a lazy laugh looking at her. “You okay Em?”

“No. Something is strange,” she turned toward the bells growling. “But it seems to be affecting us all.”

She looked at the dragon across from her and he was shaking his head quickly. Trying to shake off what was happening but he showed in his body language that he was failing and couldn’t focus. His eyes closed to a narrowed slit and his wings sank down to the ground.

“Don’t overdo it. Eskir’s bells are potent. Especially if you’ve never heard them before.”

Nero and Eskir walked up beside them and his antlers were empty. There were tiny colorful strings where the bells had been previously. He stamped the ground turning his head to look at Nero and he chuckled. “That was not too easy. Without Sofie and Emeralda we would have had a hard time.”

He turned his head making a scoffing noise and Nero laughed, “Good job Sofie. Really.”

She blushed shaking her head, “I didn’t really do anything.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You and Emeralda working together was awesome. Especially for your first time.”

She blushed and hid her face behind Emeralda’s neck as Emeralda hummed gently against her. “You utilized magic that neither of us is capable of on our own. I do believe that is cause for praise hatchling.”

“I don’t even know how I did it though.”

“That is something that we will learn together,” she replied. “One step at a time.”

“She gets it,” Nero replied and finally turned back toward the dragon. He was drowsy, coming down slowly, and Nero held his hands up. He took a very slow breath and let his dragon side come alive. Scales traveled along his arms and face slowly, his yellow eyes turning onto the dragon.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you,” he said softly, his voice a few tones deeper. “I just want to get you away from people. I know you didn’t mean to cause the damage that you did. You’re just scared.”

The dragon grunted looking at them and hissed as he approached. But with the bells ringing his knee jerk anger was quelled. He looked at Nero and grunted lowering his head against the ground. Nero smiled glad they had reached some sort of accord. He got within range of his face and really saw the dragon up close.

“Wow. You’re a handsome one aren’t you,” he whispered and held his hand. The dragon sniffed his hand once and grunted before closing his eyes. Nero touched his snout lightly and when the dragon didn’t respond he grinned. “See that Sofie? That’s how you handle a dragon.”

“Awesome dad,” Sofie said sliding off of Emeralda’s back slowly. She landed with a jolt leaning against Emeralda’s leg.

She started to walk over to them when Emeralda lowered her wing suddenly. She could feel the tension in her partner’s mind and then felt the sudden magic. It was so strong and violent that Sofie felt her knees get weak. Whatever the feeling was made her scared. “Daddy?”

“Stay where you are!” Nero shouted. “Don’t leave Emeralda’s side!”

Nero had turned around, the bell ringing having ended. Nero’s dragon scales receded and watched as the black rift disappeared and a man stood in front of them. He had green tinted black hair and a scarred face that was now missing an eye. The same metallic mask covered the lower part of his mouth. Where before the armor had been sparse now one arm was entirely coated in it. And finally, the pulsating black sword in his hand.

Grinding his teeth together Nero fought fight the urge to roar, “Daze.”

“Long time no see Nero,” he said slowly. “You look good.”

“Don’t talk to me like we’re friends!” he shouted and the wind picked up with his anger.

Daze was unfazed by this outburst and uplifted his eyes. He looked at the red dragon behind him and nodded, “A young one. Brought over here by a portal.”

“A portal you created.”

“A side effect of my plan. Unfortunate but fixable.”

“What about all the pain your plan is causing in the meantime huh?” Nero growled. “The pain of this dragon. The pain of the people who live in that village down there? Is that fixable?”

“Depending on your perception of things yes. But that’s enough with the pleasantries. I’m here not for you. But for you.”

He turned dragging the sword back with him and pointed it at Emeralda. Or more importantly at her wing. The jade dragon’s eyes went wide and and she growled taking a step forward bristling. “You will go no further,” she said simply. “You will not bring any harm to her.”

“You believe you can stop me,” he raised his eyebrow. “Dragons always were arrogant creatures.”

Daze took a step forward then paused staring at the ground. He saw the shadow appear over him and took a step to the side when Nero crashed against the ground. Daze hopped backward as Nero attacked, his claws out. They cut through the air but Daze blocked each blow with the edge of the sword.

He roared and unleashed a torrent of flames on the mage. A black shield burst the flames away and Daze turned the sword throwing it right at Nero. Nero’s eyes widened and did his best to swerve and avoid the attack. The sword swung back in the process and slashed across his chest knocking him to the ground.

Nero grunted grinding his teeth together and holding his chest. “Stay the hell away from my daughter.”

 He jumped again and Daze threw his hand out, a golden light flashing from his palm. And suddenly Nero froze. He stopped, hanging in the air and Sofie looked at her father then at Daze. “What happened? Em are you seeing this?”

But she looked at the dragon and she was in mid roar but she wasn’t moving either. She just hovered in the air. She couldn’t hear her mind or even feel it. She was just there. Turning back toward Daze she stumbled backward. “What did you do to them?”

“I stopped time. The only ones who can move right now are you and I,” Daze swept the sword back and put it on his shoulder. “To think that one of the children of Nero would become another dragon rider. I used to think fate was something that taunted mortals. But now it’s becoming a blessing.”

Her yellow eyes widened and she thrust her hands forward creating a gust of wind that blew him backward hard but he maintained his footing. She grunted and thrust them forward again conjuring another gust, stronger this time and almost taking him off his feet but this time he just waved his hand and created a transparent shield. She kept attacking the shield with her wind but got nothing.

Raising his eyebrow Daze glanced at her and shook his head, “I expected more.”

He closed his fist and black metal claws erupted from the ground around her like a cage. She let out a shout trying to get away but she was well and truly trapped. “What do you want?”

“I want you. More specifically your soul,” he held his sword up and of the ten grooves within it many were filled with varying orbs of light. One was gold, another was a muddy green, though many were pitch black like the oil. “The soul and power of a dragon rider’s soul will give the sword the boost it truly needs to do what I need.”

She struggled against the claws and watched as he approached. She looked fearfully at this man that was like a walking machine, her panic rising. She threw a blast of wind at him again and again but he kept coming. Her eyes widened and for the barest of a moment, her eyes turned bright white.

A lance of white light shot out, broke the cage, and shot him in the chest. Shocked he was thrown back off the ground and bounced across it. Sliding across the ground he stabbed the sword down to keep himself upright. She panted falling to her knees. She looked at her glowing palms and felt exhausted. Like she’d run a whole marathon or been flying for hours.

“What? What did I just do?” She looked up quickly and watched as Daze got back up.

He cracked his neck slowly and then nodded slowly, “Oh you’re a faerie too.”

He got back to his feet, crouched, and started sprinting at her. She tried to move but stumbled and fell again. Looking up at him she watched him approach and knew that whatever miracle she pulled she wasn’t going to get another. He brought the sword down as she covered her face.

It stopped short, clanging against another blade. A creature wearing armor of pure ice stood over her with a great sword in hand. It looked up slowly, taller than Sofie and Daze both. It swung hard driving him backward. He slid away and watched it stand up slowly a shield in hand.

“An elemental? But it’s not yours. You’re too much of a novice to call something like that,” he said standing again.

Sofie looked at it then looked back as she heard footfalls. She looked up wearily and her eyes widened turning a muted white. “You’re right. It’s not Sofie’s. It’s mine,” Silva said her eyes burning a bright red. “Now get the fuck away from my sister!”