Chapter 41 #2
Drago huffed, amused. “Phoenix and her cousins thought a little exploring was a good idea during their school break. Unfortunately, the portal that was created scattered them across the isles like confetti. We’ve been collecting them one by one.
We believe the last of their group—a young Dragonling named Jabir—may have landed here. ”
Nali frowned, thoughtful. “I haven’t seen anyone new arrive through the border wards. But I will send out inquiries. You are, of course, welcome to stay as guests.”
A chorus of excited ‘thank you’s followed from the teens, their enthusiasm bright and utterly unfiltered.
Asahi raised a brow at Orion. “You’re chasing teenagers across kingdoms now? I thought you preferred diplomacy over chaos.”
Orion gave him a dry look. “The two often overlap when you have kids. You and Nali should try it sometime.”
As the group began the walk toward the palace, Drago, Orion, and Asahi fell into easy conversation—comparing updates on their families, the political landscape, and some rather suspicious new creatures Drago had spotted on the Isle of the Pirates that might or might not belong to a certain Empress.
Nali let the conversation flow around her as she observed the young ones with undisguised interest. Their laughter bubbled like spring water—so alive and curious.
Amber and Jade practically vibrated with excitement, pointing out stone-skinned sentries, shadow wraiths clinging to the edges of towers, and a trio of mischievous sea monkeys scaling the ropes of the airship like it was their personal jungle gym.
“Oh my stars, they followed us!” Amber cried, both hands clapping over her mouth.
“They are the coolest thing ever!” Jade added. “How much trouble do you think we’d be in if we took a few back with us?”
“I think we’ll be in enough trouble without adding them to our list,” Amber muttered. “I’m just glad they were there when we fought against Blackheart.”
Nali perked at the name. “Blackheart? You fought against Blackheart?”
Jade puffed up proudly. “Yeah. He’s visiting some place called the Cauldron of Lost Souls now. Ashure was like ‘You think your sister has a bad-ass stare? Watch this!’”
Jade snorted out a laugh and nodded. “Yeah, and Blackheart was like, ‘No, please have mercy on me.’ Of course, Ashure didn’t.”
“I thought it was cool when Saldusa turned herself into salt,” Adaline said.
“Jabir would have loved those sea monkeys,” Alice added with a sigh. “Too bad he missed it.”
“Fight? Jabir? He would’ve tried to make friends with them. He makes friends with everyone,” Zohar scoffed.
Asahi studied them with a bemused expression. “It sounds like you’ve had quite an adventure.”
“And none of it exaggerated,” Orion said under his breath.
“Oh, before we forget, we’ve brought you a present!” Jade suddenly exclaimed, her hands fumbling in her pack.
Amber gasped. “Oh! Yes! Our gift!”
The rest of the teens immediately groaned.
“Don’t do it, Your Majesty,” Zohar warned. “It’s not too late to run.”
“Come on, Jade. You know we’re in enough trouble back home. Do you have to ruin it here as well?” Bálint groaned.
“I wonder what would happen if we fed one a piece of the mushroom?” Roam added.
“You’re not helping,” Spring growled, elbowing Roam.
“A gift?” Nali grinned, her curiosity piqued. “Now I’m truly intrigued.”
Phoenix looked up at her with a faint smile. “You’re braver than the rest of us.”
“I am the Empress of the Monsters. I’ve faced a few scary things in my time. What’s the worst two dragonlings could give me?”
“Don’t ask that,” Orion muttered.
Drago, chuckling, added, “Think of your sea monkeys crossed with Ashure’s delightful personality.”
“Ohh, now that sounds exciting,” she chuckled, reaching for the box Jade was holding.
“We’re doomed,” Alice groaned loudly.
Adaline whispered to Zohar, “It’s a good thing I can turn into mist. I’ll rescue you guys.”
Bálint sighed dramatically. “Let’s hope the dungeons are lovely this time of year.”
Nali laughed. She hadn’t felt this entertained in a long while.
She peered inside the box, her lips parting with delight.
Asahi peeked over her shoulder, chuckling when he saw dozens of misshaped eyes gazing up at them.
She quickly closed the lid before the creatures could escape.
She would need to find a very special place for these creatures to live—a place where they could enjoy creating chaos and be the little monsters that they were.
The village was in pandemonium.
Jabir sprinted down the narrow path, his boots hammering the boards of the dock as the air filled with shouting.
The smell of churned lake water and wet wood hit his nose, sharp and briny like metal.
Beyond the end of the dock, the lake—usually as calm as glass—boiled in violent swells, dark green water frothing as if something huge moved beneath its surface.
His heart lurched. Out on the water, Jack’s rowboat pitched sideways, oars useless against the sudden waves. Jack clung to the sides, his paws scrambling for a grip to balance him.
“Jack!” Cory’s scream carried across the dock. “Jack!”
Jabir’s stomach dropped as the boat rocked violently. Jack’s grip broke. In an instant, he was in the water, his arms flailing as the boat spun away like a toy.
“Hold on!” Jabir shouted, but the roar of the churning water swallowed his voice.
Jack disappeared beneath the surface. For a heartbeat—then two—Jabir couldn’t breathe. Then Jack broke through again, coughing, fighting whatever was pulling at him and tugging the boat farther away.
Jabir didn’t think—he just moved.
Power thrummed through his blood as he called forth his dragon mid-stride.
Bones shifted, wings burst free with a crack of air, and sapphire scales rippled down his arms in a wave of heat.
By the time his boots left the dock, he was already a dragon, his wings slicing the wind, his tail snapping behind him like a whip.
Faster, faster, faster, he encouraged his dragon.
The water roiled angrily below. His eyes locked on Jack as he sank, struggling, beneath the surface. His dragon’s voice roared inside his skull: He too big. Boat. Get him to boat.
Jabir’s claws flexed. I know. Just get him out of the water first. We can do this!
From above, he could see the sirens—silver streaks, sinuous and glinting under the waves, wrapping their hands around Jack’s legs like living chains. His stomach twisted, and he dove.
He folded his wings tight, stretched out his claws, and hit the water with a massive splash.
A few feet down, his claws closed around the back of Jack’s collar.
Jack’s head jerked back, his eyes wide with terror as Jabir yanked him clear of the grasping silver shapes.
Water churned around them, biting and dense, slapping at Jabir’s wings.
“Hold on!” he growled, his dragon’s voice vibrating through the water.
With frantic wing beats, he broke the surface and dragged Jack toward the boat, the effort burning through his muscles. Jack lunged for the rowboat, his sharp claws catching the side, and hauled himself over the gunwale, coughing and sputtering.
Push the boat, he hissed to his dragon. Get Jack to shore.
Jabir planted his claws against the stern and heaved.
The boat lurched forward. Wings pumping, his tail sweeping like a rudder, he shoved it through the waves toward the dock.
He could hear the villagers on shore shouting now, their voices a mix of outrage, fear, and encouragement.
He caught glimpses of pitchforks, nets, and hands pointing at the lake.
Almost there—
A sudden jerk on his tail yanked him backward. The world tilted. Water slammed into his face. He was dragged under.
Cold swallowed him whole.
His dragon thrashed. His wings beat against dozens of unseen hands that gripped him, dragging him deeper.
The lake roared in his ears like a thousand voices.
He snapped his tail and raked his claws against the dark shapes pulling him down.
For a moment, he broke the surface, gasping, his wings straining for air.
He saw Cory helping Jack onto the dock, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders as Albacore barked orders at the villagers. Cory’s frightened eyes met his.
Then more hands—icy, unrelenting—clamped around his wings and shoulders and yanked him under again.
Shift! he roared to his dragon.
His dragon let go, shifting back mid-struggle, his body smaller and his limbs more slippery in the water.
He kicked upward, breaking the surface to a cacophony of angry shouts on the dock.
Villagers were yelling about war, nets, sirens.
He took a deep breath, ready to shift again and fly—when hands gripped his clothes and plunged him down.
There was a flicker at the edge of his vision. Familiar.
Jewel!
Arms—slender but strong—wrapped around his chest, pulling him away from the other sirens. His lungs burned. She surfaced, and he barely had time to snatch a breath before she swept him into deeper water.
He fought weakly as she continued to dive, but his limbs felt like lead. His vision blurred. The world tilted. All he knew was the pull of the water, the hiss of bubbles against his skin, and a voice—urgent, frantic—threading through the rush in his ears.
“Don’t give up. I’ve got you!”
Jewel.
He forced his head up and broke through an unexpected surface as they burst into an open cavern.
Air rushed into his lungs. Light exploded around them.
The lake’s roar dimmed into echoes. Water dripped from stalactites, sparkling like liquid crystal.
He clawed toward the shore, but his body betrayed him, and his arms gave out.
He started to slip under.
Warm hands cupped his cheeks. Jewel’s face swam in and out of focus even as her voice broke.
“Stay with me, Jabir. Please!”