The Dracones

I’m sweating and cannot open my eyes. Sharp, labored ragged breaths are escaping me while weight weighs me down. My entire body is shivering and begging for warmth. I can’t remember what has caused this. All I want is for it to leave so I can return home. There is a slight gush of wind that caresses my face, bringing some relief. I find some muscle and manage to open my eyes.

At first, I see a vast space filled with dying bushes and stars overhead. Surprise registers. Everything is moving away from me at a slow pace. What is going on? I search the sky and find nothing out of the ordinary. I try harder in my new search and widen my eyes at what I see. Trayvon is carrying me with a determined aspect on his vacuous face. His eyes are blank though. That worries me. Usually, they’re the only thing I can ever get a good read on in his typically vacant face.

I try to lift my head but fail miserably. I can’t seem to open my mouth either. What on earth is Trayvon doing? “Alienis?” I try through our forged mental connection since I can still think. I can feel his presence, so I know he’s awake. “Alienis, I think there might be something wrong with Trayvon.”

“Kit? What is wrong?” I’m surprised at first. That wasn’t Alienis’s voice. It was Gracial’s.

“He’s carrying me off somewhere. I’d ask him where he’s going but the fever has worn me out pretty good.” I try to open my mouth and get nowhere. “His eyes are blank Gracial. Not his face. His eyes.”

“I’m on my way. Where are you?”

“I have no idea, but we’re leaving the clan. I can’t hear torches or people talking. All I hear are crickets. Can’t you see where we are?”

“No. I can’t even feel a mental connection with him anymore. That isn’t normal.”

As soon as Gracial said those words I try even harder. I can feel my head bounce with him when he reaches the stairs. He’s definitely leaving the city. Why can’t I move? Even with a fever, I should be able to talk or move an extremity. I’ve never been so worn out by a fever before. Maybe if I just focus on my mouth.

Soon I nearly give up. It feels as if I am pushing against a mountain just to move it. Finally, I can open it. “Tray?” It’s a whisper in a cracked voice. How long has it been since I used my mouth? I try again. “Tray?” My voice is louder, but it’s just below a normal level.

His eyes snap back down to my face. A sick grin crosses his face-bringing a fresh spike of fear into my system and stops. “Katarina.” His voice is a rasped hiss. That isn’t normal. “It is your time to die.”

Wait what? “What do you mean?” My voice is growing stronger, that’s something.

“We control the Dracones called Trayvon now. Now it is your time to die.”

“Why not control me then?” I ask to buy some time. I have never wished so badly in my life for the ability to raise my head. Why can’t I move?

He chuckles. “Your mind is stubborn and undecided. His is trained and weak. It was no effort to take control. Besides, your mind may be strong, but your body is weak for the moment. Your life shall be easily taken and used to sustain the Adversantem.”

Huh? “How did you do it then?” I ask when he starts moving. “How did you take his mind?” I need to stall. The only question is; for how long?

The possessed Trayvon chuckles. “Magic. One of our abilities we harness from dragons is captivating weak minds. When they are under enough control, we can manipulate them as we wish. Poor Trayvon didn’t stand a chance.”

I grimace as my wounds start making themselves known again. “If that is true, then why not slit my throat as I slept? You said so yourself, I am weak. I know I wouldn’t have been able to stop you.”

The bad Trayvon chuckles as he starts his descent down a set of stairs that leads to our city that is nestled on top of a plateau; which set I do not know. “Because our Head has ordered that you be brought to him. You and Trayvon are to be sacrificed in order for your hold to be loosened over the dragons. Yours is remarkably strong for being new. In a way, I feel sorry for you. All sheltered and cozy in the north with just humans trying to kill you. You poor girl didn’t know what Trayvon had taken you into.”

I try to lift my head. “Don’t give me that bullshit that all Northerners are weak.”

“I’m not saying you are weak, Katarina. I’m saying you’re in over your head.”

I bark a laugh. “I can agree to that.” I grimace as I try to lift my head again. “What did you do to me?”

Trayvon chuckles. “Smart. You figured out it isn’t your fever weakening you. I gave you a paralyzing poison called Beltrise. You won’t be able to move for quite some time. I really do owe Trayvon a favor. By keeping you vulnerable, and not expanding your powers, he’s made it a lot easier to capture you.”

I roll my eyes. I told him keeping me undertrained would come back and bite him on his ass. In my pain, a slight fog begins to clear. The poison is weakening. My fever must be burning it off quicker than he thought it would. I raise my hand and touch my belt. I focus on my hand alone. It shakes and is stiff and swollen. Images of my near death give aid as I grab the handle. “I just have a favor to ask.” I request in shallow gasps.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

The dark Trayvon chuckles, still descending down the long stairs. “What is it?”

“Tell your Head I said nice try.” I stab the knife into Trayvon’s shoulder. He howls in pain and drops me. I hit the ground hard and roll down the stairs. Pain is in every inch of my being as I roll to the bottom. Eventually, I come to a stop. I try to lift myself with my only working hand at the moment. I lift my head when I hear boots stop right in front of me.

Trayvon grins at me. I nearly swear. He’s still possessed. “And what was the point of that my dear Katarina?”

I grin as I see Alienis coming at us. “To stall.”

Trayvon looks over his shoulder in time to see Alienis’s foot. He lands, forming a cage around the still-controlled Trayvon. Trayvon swears and tries to reach for me. Alienis growls as I chuckle. My arm gives out on me, making me fall onto the cool earth. My body is still shaking uncontrollably. I need warmth or I’ll freeze to death.

“Are you alright little one?” Alienis asks as he nudges my drugged and very abused body.

I look at him and smile. “Fine. That is if I don’t catch my death out here. It is freezing.”

I feel Alienis sniff me. He snorts and nudges my body. “I smell death around you little one.”

I chuckle. “Well, I feel like death.” I would give the world just to be able to sleep right now. However, I feel like that is a very bad idea. That is until I know Trayvon is no longer possessed. “Where is Gracial?”

“Looking for the Adversantem that is currently controlling Trayvon.”

“Wonderful,” I say with thick sarcasm. I was hoping she’d be here so I could at least warm myself under her belly. That, or hitch a ride up a level or so.

About a minute later we hear gasping and groaning coming from Trayvon. I lift my head and use my hands to lift me some. He tries pushing himself up, but Alienis presses harder. “What is going on?” Trayvon demands. His voice is back to normal so that is a good sign.

“Trayvon?” I ask in an exhausted voice. His head snaps toward my voice. His eyes widen as they take me in. I smile as I see emotion in his eyes, and surprise and worry on his face. “Are you alright?” I ask when I can think of nothing to say.

Trayvon looks around. “What? What are you doing out here? Why is Alienis pinning me to the ground?”

I grin, “It’s really him. Let him up Alienis.”

Just when I say that, I hear an angry growl. I look up to see Gracial heading this way. “He got away!” She roars as she lands next to me, making the ground shake; causing me to fall on my face as my arms give out on me.

“Kit!” Trayvon yells as Alienis lets him up. Alienis growls and sticks his neck between Trayvon and me. “Alienis!” Trayvon protests. “She needs help.”

“Not from you Trayvon. This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been so blinded by your worry. She’d be healed by now if you had just taught her. Now, look at her. She nearly died and still might.”

“Alienis.” I snap. “Be nice.”

“No, he’s right,” Gracial says as she joins in. “Besides, Trayvon still might be possessed by the Adversantem.”

“He’s not possessed Gracial. Alienis let him by. I need to get back inside. I’ll die out here. The vultures are already beginning to circle.”

“Katarina, you cannot be certain that he is no longer possessed,” Gracial argues.

“I know for a fact that he isn’t. And if he is, then go ahead and let him by. I’ll die either way if we keep arguing.” Not exactly true, but I just know that he is no longer being controlled. “Let him by Alienis,” I order. My throat is killing me.

Trayvon holds hurt in his face as he steps around Alienis. He comes right over to me and puts a hand on my forehead. “By the Gods, you’re burning up. We need to get you back to the infirmary.”

“You might want to get yourself checked out then,” I say when he lifts me off the ground. My eyes are barely able to stay open.

He nearly drops me as he hisses in pain. “What happened?”

My giggle is in hysterics as my heart slows. “I stabbed you.” Blackness captures my vision as a hard thump is the last thing I hear.

I meet a world of sky and stars. There is nothing around, but I do hear people talking. My mind fixates on one voice in particular. Trayvon. “Breathe Kit breathe! For the love of all things holey in this world breathe! I cannot lose you. Not now. I have so much to tell you. Teach you. You can’t die on me. I swear I’ll teach you to heal. Just breathe!” An image forms before me. Trayvon shaking my shoulders as I lay in a white bed. My eyes are open, but I’m covered in fresh blood from reopened wounds.

“Katarina my dear.” I look around as I hear a voice that does not come from my head. My eyes land on an old man with long braided gray hair. He has a brown and green eye as he smiles, revealing missing front teeth. He wears the loose white shirt of the Morningswood Clan, and their brown shorts and sandals.

I eye him carefully, fully aware that I’m neither dead nor alive. At this moment, it is for me to choose which way to go. My body isn’t that exhausted and defeated yet. “Who are you?”

There is a hearty chuckle of delight in his voice as he answers. “My name is Nylarth. I’m the reason you are a Dracones.”

I glare at him as so many emotions run through my body, mainly anger. “You have a lot of explaining to do my friend.”

He nods, expecting that. “You wonder why I have chosen you. Especially when we have never met in person. Is that correct?”

I nod. “Trayvon believes that you could be my father. I find that laughable considering my father was a beat farmer that was slaughtered while holding my mother’s body; both killed by raiders.”

Nylarth smiles. “You are correct my friend. I’ve never sired a child, nor do I hold any siblings. My family’s bloodline died with me. I chose you because of what I had heard.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”

Nylarth smirks. “When a Dracones dies we have an idea of who we want to take over our position. I wanted someone hardheaded, daring, stubborn, caring, and so much more. Granted that there were many candidates, but you stuck out.

“Why you may ask. Because out of the mass chaos going through my head, I heard what sounded like a war drums call. It was a thought-a prayer more like it-to Northerner Gods. She was thanking them for sending this angel in black to her rescue. When I further investigated, I saw you maneuvering this girl without a word. Your thoughts were frustrated, but you wouldn’t let her go. You weren’t rescuing her for the coin. You were rescuing her because you genuinely hated what was happening to her. You would have taken her without her betrothed begging you to.

“Then I heard your friend Ivan’s thoughts when you returned to the camp with Princess Mytheena. He was remembering all the times your heart had almost gotten you guys killed. He wishes you were only in it for the coin like most people, but that is also what he loves about you. It is then that I heard more thoughts of you, most of your previous rescues wondering about you. Admittedly some of them were murderous thoughts toward you, but that is when I decided to choose you.”

I glare at him. “Well, thanks for that. Now I’m nearly dead.” I can feel my life draining. My fingertips tingle. My mind is telling me to choose someone, but I want answers. “Why didn’t you just pick someone from your city? Or even your country for that matter?”

Nylarth sighs. “To be honest, most of them want the Adversantem’s blood. The majority just want the title. Out of all you were open-minded. Besides, I thought having a different perspective would help a lot of people here. You’ve already helped Trayvon drastically.”

I fold my arms. “Sure seems like it.”

Nylarth scoffs. “By the Gods you’re hardheaded. Just like I pictured. However, I didn’t anticipate you giving up so quickly. You didn’t even last a month.”

“Well, you chose someone afraid of heights!” I snap at him as I straighten, taking a bit of offense to that.

He chuckles. “And that should matter why?”

I shrug. “It’s just something you’re forcing me to get over.”

“Are? You’re going back?”

I grin. “You’ve got that right.”

My eyes snap open as air rushes into my lungs. I see Trayvon’s face fill with relief as he lifts my head and cradles me into his chest. My body is covered in sweat and blood. I’m still sore beyond belief and hold a raging fever, but I’m alive. I smell blood and his scent, relaxing me into a deep slumber.