Chapter 14 #2
“Do you think she heard?”
“She’s aware we’re here,” was my flat reply.
A ripple began in the center of the loch, the undulating surface rolling toward the shore. Waves began sloshing on the beach, growing in intensity as Nessie approached.
A gasp escaped Davina when Nessie’s head emerged, sleek and hornless, perched atop a neck longer than most dragons, a result of her body adapting to its aquatic home.
I noticed she still wore the same pendant I’d seen her with the last time we met.
Unusual, as my kind didn’t usually wear any adornment.
Nessie ceased her approach several yards from the pebbled shore and towered over us. When she spoke, the tone lacked the dulcet notes she used to have and emerged low and terse.
“About time you showed. My patience isn’t finite.”
“You’re lucky Davina is here at all, given your actions. Really, Nessie, sending a Red Cap? If not for my intervention, the professor would be dead.”
“She’s just a human. Why would you even care?”
“I don’t want or need trouble with the authorities.
” Not the entire truth, but admitting Davina was special would reveal a weakness.
Speaking of whom, it surprised she remained quiet.
A glance showed Davina with her lips parted, staring, frozen.
Nessie’s doing, but perturbing because Davina had easily countered my mental suggestion the first time we met, and I thought my mental powers of persuasion stronger than Nessie’s.
“Is trouble from the humans the only reason you don’t want to see her dead?” A taunting purr.
Rather than reply, I posed my own question. “What do you want with Davina?”
“Nothing.” Nessie tossed her head. “She was simply a means to an end. A lure, if you please, to bring you here.”
At her admission, I growled, “You put Davina in danger because you wanted me to visit? You could have simply sent me an invite.”
“Would you have come?”
Instead of lying, I shrugged. “Probably not. There is nothing for us to say to each other.”
“I disagree. Much has happened since we last met. The world is changing, and the time to act is now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t be intentionally obtuse. I know about the hatchlings. And so do you. Fiona’s seen you meeting with them.”
“Fiona is wrong. I’ve not nor do I intend to make contact.” True before this meeting, but a lie now because the fact Nessie showed an unhealthy interest meant I’d have to give the young dragons warning.
“You might not have introduced yourself yet, but you will.”
“Not likely.”
“As if you’ll have a choice. You and the hatchlings are part of a plan a long time in the making.”
The claim chilled. “Plan to do what?”
“Rule the world, of course.”
I couldn’t help but snort. “You’re delusional.”
“Am I?”
I crossed my arms and didn’t temper my tone as I snapped. “You think it’s so easy? Go ahead. Expose yourself to the humans, order them to obey. I’ll wager you either end up captured and placed in a zoo or dead, since it wouldn’t take much to obliterate your loch.”
“Fiona has seen a future where the humans cower before the might of a dragon.”
“What makes you think it’s you? Maybe she spoke of me or one of the hatchlings.” I goaded her, disturbed by this supposed vision.
“You?” Nessie trilled in amusement. “We both know you lack any interest in governing. Which is good, because I’m going to have need of you. The same goes for the hatchlings.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You will all contribute to my ascension as supreme ruler. Pity you won’t be alive, though, to congratulate me on the establishment of the Dragocracy.” A term I’d not heard in eons, and by one dragon only. Nessie’s sister Tiamat.
It led to me staring at Nessie, a dragon I no longer recognized because she’d finally given in to madness. I wish I knew what happened a decade ago to change her. Could it be the power-hungry lust that consumed her twin finally took effect? Whatever the case, I’d heard enough.
“You can forget your grandiose plans. I won’t have any part, and I will add, any attempt to subjugate humans will force me to act.”
“You’d kill me?” The soft voice that emerged was at odds with the belligerent tone Nessie had used thus far.
“I will if you force me to. Now, since we’re done here, I shall take my leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” The voice returned to being nasty.
“And how will you make me stay? We both know you’re no match for me.” Harsh, but true. “Also, just so you’re warned, the next time you send a Red Cap, or anything else, into my territory or against anyone I consider under my protection, I will view it as an act of war and act accordingly.”
“Too late. The war began a decade ago and ends now,” she stated.
Movement from the fog had me reacting, but not quick enough to avoid the darts that peppered my soft flesh, tufted needles filled with a drug that turned my muscles to rubber.
My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground, cursing the fact I’d worn this fragile body-- susceptible to human weakness—to the meeting instead of my dragon scales.
“Alistair!” Davina yelled my name, finally released from the mental hold freezing her. “What have you done to him?”
“Ensured he’s manageable for the next phase of my plan,” Nessie stated, her tone smug.
“Whatever it is, he won’t help,” Davina huffed. “You might be able to control me with your mind tricks, but you won’t be able to do the same to him.”
“He will do exactly as I ask with the right incentive.” Nessie’s head dipped, bringing it level with Davina’s wide-eyed gaze. “I think it’s a good thing my naughty Red Caps didn’t murder you after all.”
I feared she might be right. The thought of Davina being harmed had my limbs twitching, fighting the drugs.
“Shoot him again,” Nessie ordered. “And grab the woman before she escapes.”
Davina had wisely chosen to run. Alas, she didn’t make it far. Red Caps emerged from the mist to trap her while others fired more darts into me.
The numbness of my muscles meant I could do nothing as a pair of kelpies emerged from the water, their weedy manes streaming water, their webbed hooves clomping ashore.
A Red Cap vaulted onto the back of one of the water horses, leaving room for Davina to be tossed over the back.
Nessie’s minion twined one fist in the brackish mane while the other held Davina in place.
Off they galloped, hooves splashing as they entered the loch and, in a few strides, submerged.
I was helpless to stop it. I couldn’t even save myself from being slung over the back of a second kelpie, and only barely managed to close my eyes and mouth before water covered my head.