Chapter 39 #2
“Uh-huh,” Mikey nodded, brushing aside a vine. “Monsters from all over came here a long time ago. The Goddess opened the isle for those who didn’t fit anywhere else and gave us the Empress to protect and watch over us.”
“Is she a monster too?” Jabir asked.
“She’s the Empress of Monsters,” Mikey replied, his voice warm with admiration. “She can be any monster she wants to be.”
“I’ve never seen her as a troll,” Williston muttered under his breath.
“She doesn’t need to be a troll—there are already plenty of those,” Gabby said. “I heard she once changed into a hydra.”
Jabir blinked. “A hydra?”
“Was that when the Pirate King came to visit her?” Williston asked.
“No, the Empress likes the Pirate King,” Mikey said.
“She turned into a gargoyle. I heard she did it so the bad alien couldn’t mess with her the way it did my cousin Medjuline. Medjuline had to run into a tree to knock it out of her,” Gabby said.
They passed beneath an arch formed by the gnarled roots of two enormous trees that leaned together like ancient friends. Beyond the bend, the landscape changed—the thick woods gave way to open rolling meadows filled with strange flowers that pulsed gently with bioluminescent hues even in daylight.
“There’s a family of cloud leapers that live over those cliffs,” Mikey said, pointing. “They’re shy, but if you bring them melonberries, they’ll let you bounce on their backs. It’s like flying.”
“Cloud leapers,” Jabir whispered, his eyes wide.
“And over that ridge,” Gabby added, “is where the Frosthorns roam. They’re kinda like deer, if deer were made of ice and could shoot icicles from the horns on their head when startled.”
“I want one,” Jabir said automatically.
Williston snorted and pointed to the north where the trees turned dark and twisted. “Avoid the Wispywooters. They are beetles that live in the knots of the trees. They’re very annoying.”
“They rub their wings together, and it makes your head foggy and your ears hurt. I don’t like them,” Mikey sighed.
Jabir burst into laughter. “This place is amazing.”
They crested a gentle hill, and the trees gave way to a stunning view. Before them stretched a vast, crystalline lake so clear he swore he could see the luminous scales of fish darting below the surface.
On the far shore, nestled among stone outcroppings and flowering vines, was a village like something out of a fairytale: domed stone huts with vibrant mossy rooftops, steam curling from quaint chimneys, and a long pier stretching out like a welcoming arm into the water, lined with small wooden fishing boats.
A dragon-sized lump rose in Jabir’s throat.
He had expected danger—claws, teeth, darkness—on the Isle of the Monsters. Instead, he found this place… a magical place alive with wonder. It was like someone had stitched together the best dreams of every misunderstood creature—and somehow turned them into home.
“You live here?” Jabir whispered, awestruck.
“Oh, no. This is the Manticore’s fishing village. We just come to trade,” Mikey said with pride.
“They won’t mind… that I came?”
Mikey blinked. “Why would they? There are many different monsters who live here. Woodland sprites, garden trolls—they are much smaller than us—centaurs, gargoyles. I even heard there are a few pirates that gave up plundering but not the water to live here—and a giant or two.”
“Don’t forget the sirens,” Gabby said over her shoulder.
Williston grimaced. “You don’t want to mess with the sirens. Jack makes them stay on the far side of the lake near the islands. As long as you stay away from them, you’ll be safe.”
Jabir stared out across the lake at the islands Williston pointed at. There was a large one, covered in trees, along with several outcroppings of smaller rocks. He frowned. He couldn’t see any sirens.
“Who’s Jack?” Jabir asked.
Gabby pointed her walking staff towards a massive creature walking toward the dock. Jabir recognized it as a Manticore. His mouth dropped open. They were real.
We going to get eaten, his dragon groaned, shaking its head.
Mikey isn’t scared, he retorted, unable to pull his gaze away from the magnificent monster that was part lion, part scorpion, and part dragon/bat.
Mikey as dumb as you.
“This is amazing,” Jabir breathed, ignoring his dragon when it snorted.
“I smell food. Mikey hungry. Let’s go find Cory. She likes me. She gives Mikey food,” Mikey added brightly.
Jabir nodded, but didn’t move. He was too transfixed by the beauty and magic below him. Gabby turned with a grin.
“Come on, yummy boy. Let’s get to the village. Jack and Cory will love our new story.”
“Wait—what new story?” he asked, hurrying to catch up.
Williston snorted. “About you!”
Jabir laughed, the sound surprising even himself. As they began their descent toward the lakeside village, his dragon grumbled.
It is pretty. Maybe we land in right place after all, his dragon conceded.
“Yeah,” Jabir whispered. “I think we did.”
The scent of grilled fish, herbs, and something spicy teased Jabir’s nose before they even stepped inside the cozy stone cottage nestled at the edge of the lake.
Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, and a colorful assortment of flowering vines framed the doorway.
The interior was warm, bathed in golden sunlight filtering through arched windows lined with bottles in every shape and shade of green and blue.
“Cory!” Mikey called out as he ducked through the door, his head narrowly missing a dried bouquet of rose blossoms hanging from the wooden beam.
A moment later, a matronly manticore emerged from behind a decorated wooden doorway.
She was… majestic in a way Jabir hadn’t expected.
Long lashes framed sharp golden eyes. Her lion’s mane was braided down one side and decorated with tiny baubles.
She wore a layered leather apron over an embroidered white tunic and carried the same confident energy his mom had when she was in the kitchen—or about to tangle with the Grombots and Tasiers in the barn.
Jabir grinned. “You wear as much leather as my mom does.”
Cory blinked, then let out a warm, throaty laugh that shook her entire frame. “Well now, I like your mom already.”
“She’s from Earth—well, used to be. My dad is from Valdier. That’s where we live. I’m a dragon-shifter,” Jabir added proudly.
“I didn’t know you was a dragon-shifter! The Isle of the Dragons has dragon-shifters, too,” Mikey exclaimed.
Gabby nodded. “King Drago is said to have eaten a thousand giants and even more pirates.”
“Really? We don’t eat people,” Jabir said, blanching at the thought.
“Hush now, Gabby. You’re scaring the poor boy,” Cory scoffed. “So, you are a Valdier dragon-shifter? What brought you here?”
“A glowing blue tube dropped him outta the sky,” Gabby announced before Jabir could respond.
“My friends and I are on school break, and we were bored. Phoenix had been here before, and we thought it might be cool to check out your world.”
“He brought lots of yummies,” Mikey added, holding up the bag of gummy bears.
“Wait—he has more?” Williston demanded, turning on Mikey. “You’ve been holding out on me?”
“I was saving them!” Mikey yelped. “For later. For sharing. Eventually.”
Their bickering grew louder and more animated as they argued over crunchy yummies, gummy yummies, and sharing. Jabir chuckled as he backed out of the way, letting the trolls circle each other like debating philosophers armed with snacks instead of scrolls.
Everyone turned when the front door creaked open.
A deep rumble filled the room as an enormous figure stepped inside.
Jack. The manticore’s eyes softened when they met Cory’s.
Without a word, he leaned in and rubbed noses with her, a purr vibrating from deep in his chest. Cory rubbed back, smiling like sunshine.
The trolls immediately stopped arguing and stood straighter.
“Albacore’s waitin’ to see what you brought to trade,” Jack said gruffly to the trio.
Gabby tugged on Mikey’s ear to get him moving, and Williston grumbled as he pushed. Jabir smothered a laugh when Mikey cradled the bag of gummies protectively against his chest.
“Come on, yummy boy,” Gabby teased as she passed.
Jabir started to rise, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Jack raised a steady paw. “Just you three. The boy will stay and eat.”
“Aw, Jack. We likes Cory’s yummies too,” Williston complained.
“Out with you! Molly has food prepared for you,” Jack said, shooing them out the door.
Jabir hesitated, watching with trepidation as the trolls turned to leave. Jack shook his head and chuckled at the trio as they continued to argue and complain, then turned his gaze on Jabir.
Jabir slowly sank back into his chair as the door swung shut behind the others. He set his bag down beside his feet, suddenly unsure.
Cory didn’t miss a beat. She turned toward the stove, curled her tail around a spoon hanging from a peg on the wall, and dipped the utensil into a large pot. A moment later, she placed three plates on the table.
Jabir stared at the perfectly cooked white fish resting on a bed of greens that shimmered faintly in the sunlight streaming in through the open window. Thin slices of roasted roots curled along the edges of the plate, and something that smelled like citrus and honey wafted up toward him.
His stomach growled loudly.
So did his dragon.
Eat, his dragon urged with delight. Yummy food! Eat now.
Jabir didn’t need convincing. Lately, he was always hungry.
He picked up the carved wooden fork and took a bite. The fish melted on his tongue, buttery and fresh. He moaned softly and took another.
Jack settled in across from him, pawing his own plate with casual precision. “Now, what is your story, young prince?”
Jabir swallowed. He glanced at Cory, who watched him with kind eyes.
“How did you know I was a prince?” he asked, swallowing.
Jack’s expression didn’t change, though he tilted his head slightly and waved his paw. “You have a certain… poise about you. It reminds me of King Orion’s boy, Dolph.”