Chapter 56 #3
When the dragon blinked, Elizabeth realized the creature had double eyelids—an outer one with pebbled skin the colour of her hide and an inner clear one. She was fascinated to watch the dragon’s two eyelids blinking in rapid succession of each other.
That if I free you, you will help rescue my friend and unleash horror on your master’s army.
The dragon blinked again. I am not bound by the same laws of oathkeeping as demons.
She sneered coolly, not letting her voice waver. Are you a being without honour then? Your word was given.
The dragon pinwheeled in the air. She held on for dear life, her knuckles turning white.
Really, Elizabeth drawled.
Fine, the dragon spat exasperatedly.
Turning midair, the dragon shot towards the castle like an arrow.
Where? the dragon snapped.
The dungeons. Elizabeth sent a mental picture of where she thought they would be.
The dragon dove, landing on the indicated roof. Demons threw spears that burnt to ash in dragon fire before they made contact. Volleys of arrows followed. An arrow struck Elizabeth’s thigh. She gasped as blood welled.
That hurt.
Her wards had finally been exhausted.
The dragon swiped with mighty talons, scattering the demons on the roof with a roar.
With one heave, the beast pulled the roof off, jumping to the lower level. The dragon jumped again, her bulk causing floors to rumble and quake beneath them. Fire and yanked stones opened the way down.
Chainbreaker. Where is your friend?
Elizabeth flattened herself on the dragon and closed her eyes.
She focused inwards, looking for Caspian’s consciousness.
Pushing her mind out into the fortress, she searched through all the auras present.
She had grown so used to Caspian’s presence and his aura these past few months that she was certain she would be able to find him.
Caspian! she thought, projecting her thoughts like a beacon, hoping he would hear her and answer. I came back for you. I’m not leaving without you. It’s me, Elizabeth!
No answer.
She snapped her eyes open. The dragon swatted at an onslaught of demons, arrows glancing off her scales.
Hurry, the dragon snarled, losing her patience.
Go to the lowest level, she said, hoping to guide the dragon to where she thought the dungeons would be found.
The dragon ripped through floors, breathing fire on any demons unfortunate enough to be in their path. Elizabeth struggled to focus while the world collapsed around them.
She only had seconds before they would have to leave, and she would never get another chance to get him back.
She closed her eyes and thought of everything that made her think of Caspian—his face, his bitter and angry aura, shadows crossing his features, the tender way he kissed her fingers. His beautiful, but terrifying, demon form, and how she felt when she was with him. The images centred her.
She cast out her mind.
Far down into the depths of the castle and off to the left, she felt a mind that was familiar in a way that she couldn’t describe in words.
A vision came to her. Caspian, in his demon form, his abdomen crisscrossed with cuts and scars, head downcast. His wrists were chained, and his head was bowed, as if he thought no one was coming for him.
There, she said, shoving the image across her mental connection with the dragon.
When a dreadful roar, the beast ripped open the floors until she stood perched atop the dungeon cells.
There were four cells. One was empty; the second held a large, horned demon; the third held an old woman in tattered clothing—her eyes widened in surprise as she beheld Elizabeth and the dragon—and the fourth cell held Caspian, exactly as she had pictured him.
I see him.
The old woman gripped the bars, looking pleadingly at her. Elizabeth’s eye flicked to her and saw that, despite her age and imprisonment, her eyes remained sharp. She looked human.
“Who are you?”
The woman tried twice to speak, her voice hoarse and scratchy. “Selena.”
“Are you mortal, Selena?”
The woman nodded, her limbs skeletal. “Yes. I was captured long ago.”
Elizabeth clambered down the dragon’s foreleg and rushed to Caspian’s cell, then darted a concerned look at the gray-haired woman. “I’m here to save my friend, but I swear we will try to help you if we can.”
Two was not part of our deal, the dragon growled. Who is this mortal who seeks to use me as a packhorse?
“Keys are over there,” Selena said, pointing helpfully to the hall.
Elizabeth ran for them.
A demon appeared at the end of the hall, and upon seeing her, ran forward, and grabbed the keys off the wall before she could reach them. The demon slashed at her with long claws.
Elizabeth jumped back out of harm’s way and hesitated for a moment before running back to the dragon. She cursed. She was no warrior.
The demon looked up at the dragon and paled.
The demon took a few brave steps towards, approaching the dragon and brandishing his claws like knives. The dragon roared—and the demon vanished in a whirlwind of fire so hot that it warmed her face. The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
“Thanks,” she said, looking up warily.
An amused rumble sounded from the dragon’s throat.
Your keys, little mortal.
“Oh! Thank you!” Elizabeth ran and used her skirt to pluck them off the charred demon. “Ah, it’s hot.”
She turned to Caspian’s cell and fumbled with the key in the lock. It clicked open. She hurriedly unlocked Selena’s cell too, before rushing to his side.
Chainbreaker, the dragon said in a dangerous tone, we have little time. More come.
Caspian was in rough shape, bruises patched across his body, covered in blood and grime. His head lolled, and he blinked blearily, struggling to keep his eyes open.
What did they do to my unbreakable soldier?
In her periphery, she saw the hunched demon in the other cell stretching his fingers between the bars to touch the dragon’s tail. The dragon whirled, and a fiery blast consumed him until he was no more.
Elizabeth made quick work of Caspian’s shackles, grateful the chains had been much smaller than the ones that held the dragon, needing only “Tdth” to spring the shackles open. Each freed wrist drained her energy until she felt as weak as a lamb.
While she worked, she was vaguely aware that the old woman stood before the dragon, mind speech rapidly flowing between them.
As she freed Caspian, his weight sagged against her.
He was heavy.
“Move, you giant ass!” She shoved him up against the dragon.
Her wound barked in protest, the arrow still stuck in her thigh, hurting like the Seven Hells.
She dared not take it out for fear it would worsen the bleeding.
She had never been in more pain in her life, but they would be dead soon if they didn’t move. Two more minutes. I can hold on.
Caspian, for all his size, was as weak as a baby bird.
“Move, you bastard!” She gritted her teeth and heaved. “If you get me killed, so help me gods, I will haunt you for eternity. MOVE.”
With a groan, he swung his leg onto the dragon's back—apparently mistaking the dragon for a horse but still rider enough to mount up, disoriented and half-starved.
She made short work of the woman’s shackles, then scrambled up behind Caspian, accidentally jostling him. He grunted, swaying, coming in and out of consciousness.
“Got him!” she shouted.
Are you able to carry the woman as well?
The dragon sniffed. Of course, I can.
Elizabeth hesitated. Will you carry three?
I have already agreed to ferry her away from here. The woman says she can do magic and will shield us from harm on our way out. And I, for one, tire of getting pricked.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. She’s a witch?
The dragon didn’t deign to reply.
Selena climbed up behind her, and the dragon leapt into the sky, her wings beating labouriously to take off.
Selena hesitantly clutched at her waist, and Elizabeth held a hand briefly over hers to communicate that it was okay to hold on so she didn’t fall.
Elizabeth’s other hand was looped around Caspian, clutching one of the spires on the dragon’s neck.
Elizabeth took her other arm and wrapped it around Caspian’s middle.
Her fingers brushed cuts that had been crusted over with dried blood.
Behind her ear, Selena started reciting quickly and fervently in the Godstongue.
If the witch attacks me in any way, I will throw her to the armies and splatter her on the ground below, the dragon said, sounding unconcerned. But for now, I will condescend to carry three.
They ascended, climbing farther into the sky and away from the castle.
Elizabeth gripped her against the dragon’s hide, grimacing as her scales shredded her already sore thighs.
The dragon lurched forward as she accelerated, her wings beating furiously, and she had to focus on keeping herself and Caspian in the crook of the dragon’s shoulder without skewering them on the sharp neck spikes.
Asmodeus! she cried, with both mind and voice, as they passed over their armies.
Where do we go? Where is safe?!
Enemy demons aimed bows at the dragon’s underbelly.
Arrows loosed. She watched in horror as unavoidable black shafts flew straight at them.
She cried out in terror as a black arrow came straight for her chest. Unable to move, she recoiled, bracing for impact.