Chapter 12 Calytrix
TWELVE
CALYTRIX
Fae screamed around the table, and chairs fell as they all scrambled to get away from the bellowing beast in our midst. I hauled Nova away from his thrashing tail, and we clung together as the mournful sound of Kol’s unresolved fury ripped through the hall.
Alaric stared up at Kol as if he had never seen his friend this way.
“Move,” I screamed at the frozen prince as Kol unfurled his wings and shook as if he’d been restrained but was finally set free.
This was the palace’s grand ballroom, but even given the cavernous size of it, the massive dragon filled almost all the space, leaving hardly any room for the fae inside.
They shrieked and fled behind the girth of the dragon.
Finally, Alaric snapped out of his trance and ducked under Kol’s wing, joining us as we flattened against the wall.
At the other end of the room, guards circled our father and drew weapons against Kol.
Before I could think, Nova pulled from my arms and ran between Kol and the guards who tentatively neared, swords aloft.
“He’s protecting us, you fools!” she shouted. “Stand down immediately.”
The fae huddled together behind the guard looked as petrified as anyone who’d never seen one of the King's dragons before would. None of us had, at least not this close, I’d wager, but the fact remained this was one of the King's most elite, and he would protect us, if father’s idiot guards would put their swords away.
I stepped up beside my sister, and to my surprise, the prince flanked her other side. There was very little a small group of sword-wielding fae could even do to a dragon in reality, but the three of us would stand against them if they tried.
“Stand down,” Father commanded from behind them, and their swords were lowered.
I breathed out my relief until Kol shifted sideways, and everyone in the hall tensed once again.
He turned towards the door and stared for a long moment, head tilted, while the rest of us held our breath.
His guttural growl caused several females to cry and huddle in the arms of their males.
I ignored them all and watched as Kol heard things we could not.
I didn’t want to imagine, and it pained me to know that this magnificent beast had been tortured and was perhaps about to face his captors again.
Guards beyond the door yelled and clattered around. Not knowing what was going on was the worst thing. I could only imagine the chaos, and I was too afraid to envisage what these so-called undead creatures looked like.
A shriek, the likes of which I never knew could come from a fae, sounded from far away. Then the screams seemed to multiply, and I realized with horror that this must be the call of the undead. It was not natural…and it was too close. They were here.
Kol shuffled and backed up, growling, but even in his dragon form, I could hear the fear in his warning. He was all we had, and he could not go back to that faraway place in his mind if the enemy was upon us.
“He’s panicking,” I said to my sister and the prince. “We have to help him.”
Nova stared at Kol, lost in her own terror, so I turned to Alaric, only to find him already bravely approaching the agitated dragon form of his friend.
I knew from a life lived among horses that to approach a disgruntled beast was to take your life into your own hands, and I had to concede in that moment that his actions suggested this prince at least was not the pampered blue-blood I’d pegged him for.
He moved around Kol’s flank and stepped up to his lowered face. Strands of his hair wafted from the dragon’s labored breathing, but he was undeterred. He reached out a hand and settled it on Kol’s muzzle, looking at him with unwavering strength.
“We need you, my friend,” he said, low for only our ears. This was not for the rest of the room. “You have more control than you know. You always have.”
Kol huffed, but stayed still, trembles rippling his scales. His eyes flickered while his massive body shuddered. It looked painful. Like holding his dragon form was taking everything out of him.
“They can’t have you again,” Alaric soothed, cupping the dragon’s face in his hands to look him in the eyes. “I won’t let them.”
Kol growled in response, and I was in awe of the prince for not flinching.
“I know,” Alaric whispered. “Let me help.”
The dragon shifted, scales rippling, like he was asking how in the world Alaric could possibly help.
Alaric closed his eyes, and something wordlessly passed between them.
Shrieks intensified outside, and Kol’s head snapped up. He lifted off his haunches and lowered his head with a snarl. He was different then. The dragon’s whole demeanor changed. More confident in the form and in his growl.
Alaric backed away and guided us back.
Nova whimpered. This was it. A roar came from just beyond in the gardens.
Nyx was close too, but time was up. Something collided with the doors, and they shook.
An ear piercing scraping grated against iron hinges, making my stomach jump to my throat.
I knew in my bones they were almost inside.
The wood shook again, this time groaning under the strain of whatever pressure the attackers were putting on it.
A boom slammed into the wood, and the doors cracked and splintered.
It was obvious whatever was clattering into the door was nearly through.
Every fae in the room save for Kol pinned themselves to the back wall.
Kol took a step forward and then two back as if he warred with himself inside his mind.
My stomach tilted and my breath caught, wondering what would become of us all if Kol’s demons won out, and he could not help us.
Nyx was still out there fighting, but the undead were inside now. We were on our own.
I was searching for a plan. Could we break windows and somehow retreat across an inner courtyard and further into the palace?
Could we make it to the cellars under the kitchens, and would they even be a safe enough place to hide?
Not knowing the force we were up against, it was impossible to say, and all of it became irrelevant when the doors shook and began to splinter.
Screams from inside the hall began to match those from outside as the full horror was revealed.
The creatures were breaking apart the doors, and as they reached through the small openings they created, we caught glimpses of the pale, dead-looking skin, gaunt faces, and clouded eyes.
They were ungodly horrors. Fae cowered, crying.
Guards quaked where they stood in front of Father, though it was clear they were only moments from throwing down their swords and cowering themselves.
Then the roar that came from Kol turned every head in the room. It was like a crack of thunder had ripped through the hall, and we watched, struck silent, as Kol bellowed out every unresolved feeling he had towards this army.
A stream of flames erupted from within him, aimed at the crumbling doors and the things trying to squeeze through the gaps they’d created.
The flames were not the orange of fire like we knew it.
They were like shadow and night, and they ate up the screaming creatures, burning them into ash on contact.
The doors gave way, but Kol’s dark fire intensified, and any undead that rushed the opening were consumed by the burning night that was this dragon’s unbelievable power.
For one who seemed weakened, he’d found his reserve.
“Retreat!” cried a guard from the back of the hall.
In the chaos, I saw that a rear door to Gods knew where had been unsealed.
Perhaps a throwback from a previous duke’s reign.
Guards had led Father into the dark passage while Kol held off the undead, and now the rest of us were being urged to follow.
“Go,” snapped the prince, though it was clear he had no intention of leaving Kol.
“No, we will stay with you,” insisted Nova, to my shock.
I felt torn. I didn’t want to leave Kol alone either, but I needed to get Nova somewhere safe.
Before I could make a decision, Kol surged forward, battering down what was left of the doors and streaming his fire through the corridor.
I grabbed my sister’s hand and ran after Kol. I trusted him to lead us out. Maybe it was naive or reckless, but I couldn’t hide in a cellar and wait for more of those creatures.
Beyond him, all we could see was the charred remains of the ornate hallway and reception room where guests to the palace were always welcomed, through to the smashed down windows and doors of the entrance.
The palace stood in ruins as he led us through the halls, all of which had been obliterated by the incredible dark fire Kol breathed.
But wherever his fire touched, the undead crumpled and burned.
Finally, we made it to the courtyard, where we were met by more guards and Kol’s twin dragon. I pressed my palm to my chest, willing my racing heart to slow.
Before I could say a word, another dragon dropped down in front of us, mere feet from where Nova and I stood. I stumbled back a step, lifting my gaze to the dragon. His color flowed molten, burnt orange in parts to almost yellow in others, like he was on fire himself.
Where had he come from? But I knew as soon as the dragon met my eyes. I would never mistake those deep bronze eyes in any form. It was the guard from the reception. The one who’d stared at me.
And I couldn’t look away.