Chapter 17 Last Words #2
“Every single story I’ve heard about--including my own--when a Spirit bonds with a human is in a time of distress.
Seeing someone else attacked. Watching your brother killed before your eyes.
Seeing your granddaughter poisoned. Getting revenge on a village that rejected you.
And stopping a bomb from going off and killing countless people,” Caden added his own experience last. He hoped it would pluck at Iolaire.
The White Dragon Spirit was listening. “That’s not a real choice.
Nobody is thinking straight at that moment.
I can tell you that the Spirits don’t say: oh, I’m going to bond with you and you’ll have to fight me for control of your own body from here on out!
No, they say: I’ll give you the power to do this thing or stop that thing or whatever it is in that moment your heart and mind and soul desires. ”
Iolaire, my heart and mind and soul desires YOU. Please join with me again. Fight the Behemoth! Caden begged the White Dragon Spirit.
Iolaire’s ears twitched and its head turned a little bit more around.
Behemoth’s eyes narrowed. So you are blaming the Spirits?
Caden blinked, but then refocused again on his own argument, “What I’m saying is that you’re portraying the Spirits as some kind innocents who have no idea what they were getting into is…
well, bullshit.” Caden shook his head. “Maybe the first Spirit didn’t, but every Spirit after that one did.
This isn’t news that they could bond with someone--a person they choose, by the way, and so have plenty of time to observe--who would not treat them as an equal partner. ”
Iolaire, you always treated me like a treasure. You chose me, even though I didn’t and don’t deserve you, Caden said. I’ll do everything I can to treat you just as well. We’re equals. My life is yours.
More ear flutters. Caden didn’t doubt that Iolaire already knew these things within its heart as it knew his deepest thoughts without him saying them, but he wanted to remind Iolaire about what it was fighting for.
You think then that humans have the right to abuse their Spirits? The Behemoth’s mouths all cracked open and various miasmas of magic boiled behind sharp teeth.
“No, of course not! And now that I know what the Spirits must give up here, I’ll be even more mindful than ever of Iolaire’s needs and wants,” Caden assured the Behemoth as if the monster’s opinion mattered, as it would change its mind even if it did believe him.
We’re going to make sure that you and Raziel get plenty of flight time, mountain time, cuddle time, whatever you guys need, Caden promised. Raziel is right here, too, Iolaire. But Raziel’s in trouble. I’m in trouble. I can’t do this on my own.
Voice slightly cracking with emotion, Caden got out, “None of us knew until I got here that the Dragons stayed in their lairs once they bonded with us. They hid this from us so we wouldn’t worry about them.”
Or perhaps you were too stupid to figure it out. Too blind. Too selfish, the Behemoth scoffed.
“Maybe. Maybe we should have asked, should have thought of it,” Caden admitted.
There are going to be no secrets between us after this, Iolaire. Open books, both of us.
A touch of honesty! How rare! The Behemoth mocked.
“Then how about a touch more. You, of all people, should be grateful they did though, because your little plan wouldn’t have gotten so far if they had been minding these skies,” Caden reminded it.
Iolaire, you can break free. I know you can. You’re the ninth Dragon. You’re the White Dragon. You can take even Mephous out of the air, Caden cooed to his Spirit.
Little plan? The Behemoth tilted all of its controlled heads to the side.
Caden’s gaze slid to Iolaire. The White Dragon’s head was fully turned to the side, but looking down now, as if depressed.
No, no, no! Iolaire, we can stop the Behemoth. You and me and Raziel! But I need you to break free! Caden cried.
The head did not lift though and Caden felt nothing of their bond.
Oh, no, oh, please no. Iolaire, I can’t do this without you. I can’t live without you, Caden said the last without intending to, but he realized he meant it as soon as it was out of his mouth. I can’t be without you, Iolaire. Please come back to me.
“Big plan. Whatever. It is a bad plan for everyone involved,” Caden told it.
On the contrary, only for the humans whose bodies we take and whose spirits we displace, the Behemoth said. If you are right that we enjoy humanity so much--not that we do--what makes you think we will destroy it?
“Because that’s what you do,” Caden pointed out.
The Behemoth shrugged one massive shoulder. In the past, that might have been my plan, but plans change. Now Spirits can join with a body in the material realm and be free here. They choose when they shift. They choose what they do. They choose everything.
Caden felt a frisson of fear run through him.
For some Spirits that would be the answer to everything.
They wouldn’t have to compromise. They could go to the human world, choose the human body they desired, and then live, solely, in both realms. If the Behemoth didn’t make the material realm a desert then they could have everything.
Caden knew there would be some Spirits who would loathe this, who would hate what was happening to the humans, but if the Dragons could not stop the Behemoth then none of them could. Fear would win the day.
Iolaire’s head hung like a broken bloom on a stalk. Caden resisted the urge to let out a wail of grief and loss and rage.
He clenched his hands into fists at his sides. “You talk about freedom and choice with such passion, but look at you!” Caden gestured to the other heads. He addressed only the main one. “You enslave other Spirits.”
The main head’s yellow eyes narrowed. The Behemoth said nothing.
“You only have power by virtue of their power. It’s not your own. It’s stolen,” Caden spat out. “A fair fight between you and Raziel would be over before it began. But you’re a thief. You’re a slaver. You’re worse than anything you claim to be fighting against.”
The Behemoth’s yellow eyes were cold as ice chips. It shifted its bulk and hovered one clawed forelimb over Raziel’s unconscious form. Caden stiffened.
“What are you doing?” Caden got out.
The Behemoth did the equivalent of lifting an eyebrow as it said with magnificent malice, My nature is to hold all of the Dragon Spirits. It is what I am made to do. And they are made to be mine.
“You’re wrong! You’re a jailor! A monster!” Caden cursed.
Iolaire wasn’t even looking to the side any longer. Caden felt like something inside of him had died.
Iolaire… Iolaire… Iolaire…
Can you imagine how powerful I’ll be when Iolaire and Raziel are mine? The Behemoth lowered that claw to Raziel’s back and caressed the downed Dragon. And after them, all the rest? Nothing in the realms, material or spiritual, will come close to my power. I will be the humans’ god…
“No! Never! That’s not going to happen!” Caden shouted.
It will be better when I’m the one and only god. There won’t be the unrest there is now, the Behemoth told him. Those foolish Humans First people or the even more foolish Faith. I’ll stamp out any rebellion. And people will learn to never complain, but to be grateful for my largesse.
“Illarion tried this. It doesn’t work! There will always be people who fight against you!” Caden cried.
And then they will die. Horribly. Even more horribly than you, the Behemoth laughed and those yellow eyes narrowed with wickedness.
The Behemoth’s caressing forelimb on Raziel became a terrible, blood-letting grip. Raziel shuddered, but its eyes remained shut.
“NO!” Caden screamed.
But what could he do? What could he do to stop this? He had no powers! He could just dodge and fly but nothing else!
You don’t want me to hurt the great Raziel, do you? The Behemoth chuckled. Well, then you come here and earn your fate. That will keep Raziel apart for a little longer.
Caden opened and closed his mouth. He stared at Iolaire. Nothing. No reaction at all.
Iolaire…
Come here, puny human, or I will rip off Raziel’s wings and eat them in front of you! The Behemoth roared and went to grasp one of said wings.
“No! Wait! I’m coming! I’ll come to you. Just… don’t,” Caden begged.
All of the controlled heads smiled.
Caden slowly floated towards the Behemoth. He felt numb. Was this going to lead to death? True death? Nothing?
Come closer, the Behemoth crooned. Closer. CLOSER! Stop stalling!
Caden moved faster until he was within biting closeness of the Behemoth. He could smell its odious breath. The ophidian smell of its scales almost had him gagging. He gazed down at Raziel. The magnificent Black Dragon Spirit was so still.
Look at me, human, the Behemoth commanded.
It was that center head that demanded this. He looked up into its yellow eyes and his lips skinned back from his teeth.
Even now you’re defiant, the Behemoth chuckled. It is best to eliminate you here and now. You might actually inspire people. I cannot have that.
“People will fight you,” Caden growled, even as his stomach curdled inside of him.
Death. This was death. Death was there. Inches from him.
Caden expected the Behemoth to send some magical projectile at him. Acid. Plasma. Electricity. Gas. He felt his injured arm ache. But no, the Behemoth’s individual power must have been what it said it was, which was to control the other Dragons. On its own, it had nothing else.
Except a mouthful of very sharp teeth…
I’ll tell them all how you died. How you sacrificed yourself. That will make my victory sweeter as they mourn your loss, the Behemoth murmured.
Then that big head moved towards him. Jaws cracking open.
Teeth as long and sharp as swords. Breath foul and hot.
Caden closed his eyes at the last moment.
He couldn’t bear to watch anymore. When the Behemoth’s mouth closed over him and crushed him and cut him to pieces he would know, for a moment, at least that it was over.
But then there was a roar. Not out of one throat, but many.
And Caden felt something icy cold brush past him.
His eyelids flew open. The Behemoth’s center head was covered in ice.
The other Dragon heads were snapping and screaming in rage and pain.
Ice then coated them as well, freezing them in place, for a moment. Except for one head.
Caden stared into the blue eyes of a very awake, very aware Iolaire.
Story Continues in Book 9!