Chapter 18 #2
The ground shakes, and a rumble sounds off in the distance. As I approach, the picture comes into full frame, and the sight is captivating, so unexpected.
Dragons.
So. Many. Dragons. My brain can’t comprehend what it’s seeing. My eyes wander, not knowing where to land. Large heads turn my way, analyzing me as I get closer.
Thank the gods. They’ve been bickering all morning, Voraxis whines.
Are these the same dragons from the other meadow?
Some, but not all. His answer doesn’t surprise me. I assumed there were more out in the realm, but it surprises me how close they are to the kingdom.
I told you. No barriers.
Off to the side, in the midst of all the winged creatures, stands Sintharion and Odeyssa. And from the looks of it, things haven’t changed much since last night. Her arms cross over her chest, and one eyebrow hikes to her hairline while Sintharion stares at her with a menacing grin.
“Dessa, you know as well as I that the dragon you bond with is a projection of you,” Sin states, and it makes me pause. That’s news to me.
Odeyssa scoffs. “In what realm am I submissive?”
Sin’s features darken, a glint of mischief sparkling in his eyes. “A realm that begs to be explored.” She quickly averts her gaze as heat begins spreading over her cheeks.
Clearing my throat, Odeyssa swings her gaze my way; however, Sintharion leaves his glued to her. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Don’t be. I was just remembering why I haven’t seen him in a hundred years.”
“Don’t be like that, Puppet.” She rolls her eyes in annoyance, and I decide I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with this right now.
“You have a dragon too?” I ask.
“Of course. All the royals have one. It’s in our blood.” As she speaks, movement catches my eye. A violet dragon barrels down the field at top speed, only stopping when reaching Odeyssa, staring at her expectantly.
“I’m assuming this is your dragon.”
“You would be correct. This is Kaida. Although she’s smaller than the other dragons and acts a bit…submissive, she’s fierce.” Kaida turns to face Voraxis and me, nodding her head once, essentially agreeing with what Odeyssa said.
“She’s beautiful,” I state, mesmerized by the way the sun reflects off her scales. Although she’s still absolutely massive, she doesn’t come close to Voraxis’s size.
Odeyssa’s features soften. “Yeah, she’s pretty spectacular. Still gets on my nerves, though.” She holds her hand out, and Kaida presses her forehead into the touch.
Letting them have their moment, I can’t help but get what Sintharion said out of my head. “You said that your dragon is a projection of you—what does that mean exactly?” I’ve been curious on how the bonds work since it happened. Maybe now I’ll finally get some answers.
“It’s true that every royal bloodline has a dragon, but when you meet your bonded is unknown,” Sintharion replies with full conviction. “Some wait lifetimes for theirs to appear. In Odeyssa’s case, she had to wait…” He trails off, looking toward Odeyssa to give him the correct answer.
“234 years,” she fills in, like it’s a completely normal amount of time. Her answer shocks me, and I’m sure the way my eyes widen at her admission gives it away. But neither of them comment on it. Instead, Sintharion picks up right where he left off.
“Yes, that’s right. Forgive me, the centuries start to blend together after enough of them pass. Anyway…long story short, your best and worst qualities will be presented in your dragon.”
“Interesting. So, only royals can bond with dragons?”
“Not exactly, but it’s rare that it happens outside the bloodline.
” He takes a pregnant pause before adding, “So I guess that means you’re the exception.
” Right, because not everyone knows I’m the lost princess of Astralis.
From the outside looking in, I’m just a sad, lonely girl who happens to be lost.
Before I can ask any further questions, movement on the left catches my eye, and we all swing our gazes to Queen Aslan coming through the trees.
“I thought I would find you here,” Aslan comments.
“Oh, yes, Mother. How ever did you know?” Sintharion’s words drip with sarcasm, like there’s a joke hidden between the lines that I’m missing.
Aslan lets out a small chuckle. “Well, why don’t you two make yourselves busy. Kallie and I have some things to discuss.” My brows furrow, and Odeyssa and I must have the same thought, because our eyes meet for a second before pulling back toward the queen.
I open my mouth to protest, but Aslan quickly raises her hand to stop my words from escaping. “Before you say anything, Odeyssa can come. So Sin, make yourself scarce.” She adds a wink at the end, and now I’m even more confused than before.
Sin excuses himself, and after he’s lost amongst the dragons, it reminds me that I never asked if he has one of his own. Aslan wordlessly turns around, acting as if she expects us to follow her, no questions asked.
Odeyssa does without hesitation, which makes sense, considering they know each other, but I can’t get my feet to move forward.
“Can’t we just talk here?” I shout to their retreating forms. They both turn around as if just now realizing I’m not behind them.
Aslan offers me a kind smile. “I’m afraid there are too many prying eyes around for us to talk freely.”
Go. You’ll be fine, and if not, I’m only one thought away.
I don’t need you to protect me, I sneer, but as soon as the thought leaves, guilt settles in my stomach. You know what I mean.
Even if you don’t need protection, it doesn’t mean you have to fight all your battles alone. With those parting words, he takes flight, and even as the distance between us grows, I still feel him close. And that’s all I could ever ask for.
They both continue forward, and I have to jog to catch up to them.
We trek deeper into the forest, branches clawing at my arms like they want to keep me here.
The trees grow thicker with every step, pressing in until the path behind us is nothing but shadow.
And then, a single white flake drifts past my cheek, melting on contact.
More follow, cascading from the sky I hadn’t realized had turned pale.
“Is the weather always this temperamental?” In Nefarium, it was a constant state of overcast, with moments of sunlight. But since leaving, it’s a never-ending question mark of what Mother Nature is going to hurl our way.
“Sometimes, it tends to be more erratic when things are unbalanced,” Aslan answers.
It only takes a while longer before we come across an old tower. Cracked stones and chipped markings cover the outside, and gargoyle statues are placed near the front, acting as guards or to ward off pests, I’m not sure. But I have a sinking feeling this is where she wants to talk.
And I’m more on edge than ever.
“I don’t want to go in there.”
“It’s the only place I can ensure our privacy.” But that’s what I’m afraid of. This thing could collapse at any minute. I would be trapped, entombed with no way out. Panic sets in, and stars dance in my vision as I fight for my next breath.
I vaguely see Odeyssa come to my aid, but Aslan mutters under her breath, “I wouldn’t do that.
” But it’s too late. The instant Odeyssa’s hands touch me, my whole body erupts in flames.
Fire licks up my arms, and it’s invigorating, but I know the destruction it can cause.
It festers until embers float onto the ground next to my feet, the warm orange hue intensifying.
“Oh dear,” the queen whispers, like she can see the whole thing playing out before it’s happened.
“I can’t go in there. I can’t. You don’t—you don’t know. I can’t…” My plea is drowned out as thunder crackles above.
Aslan’s face scrunches. “Kalliope, you are safe. I swear, your mother as my witness, that I will not bring you harm. You must go into the tower.” Gone is the woman who offered me pleasantries and a warm welcome, and in her place is the Queen of Vaiterra.
“But you don’t know!”
“I do! I understand your reservations, but you came to me for aid. Not the other way around. Let me help you.”
I know it’s hard, Firebird. You’re strong. Follow her, and let’s make them pay. Why does he trust her all of a sudden? Did I enter another dimension when I woke up? My eyes meet Odeyssa, who looks frightened, unsure of how to proceed.
The fire around me dies out, and I try to regain my composure. My steps are slow and hesitant as I walk toward the door. Once we’re all inside the stone slab, the door shuts with a bang, and we’re shrouded in darkness.