by T S Paul
Scanning the area, I checked for other threats. Faith and the rest of the militia group were poking at the Zombie corpses and giving me a very wide berth. I patted my pocket. “You okay there, Fergus?”
“Did you kill the Dragon? I really didn’t want to fight it,” my Unicorn answered.
“One of them. The other one seems to be on the other side of the gate–,” I was interrupted by a roar louder than anything I’d ever heard in my entire life.
“For this you will pay!” Pulao crawled through the Gate with blood in his eyes and murder in his heart. He shot a gout a flame in my direction even as he shouted. “I will eat you and all that bore you!”
Throwing up my shields, I tried to cover any of the militia near me. “Get out of here and under cover now!”
Pulling more power from the Earth itself, I fired everything I had at the living, breathing, big-as-a-house Dragon in front of me, to no effect.
“Puny human. I was eating your kind when you could barely make fire!” the Dragon Lord howled.
Pulling my guns, I aimed for his eyes and fired. Pulao roared and shook his head in pain.
“What Magick is this?” Pulao winced in pain as the special ammunition pushed deeper into his body.
My predecessor, Jack Dalton, created the ammo we used. At their core, the rounds were layers of Oak, Ash, and Thorn wood. Layers of depleted uranium and silver covered the wood. Each round’s hollow point was filled with specially created holy water. Based upon more than fifty years of experience in the field, they could take down anything but a Demon Lord. Those they would hurt, but not kill.
The Dragons hadn’t ruled Earth since the Bronze Age and the Legion of the Damned in Otherworld didn’t have these. I’d checked.
“Get closer. He cannot hit what he cannot see.” The voice I’d heard earlier whispered to me. I looked down at my bracelets, but it wasn’t them.
Taking the stranger’s advice, I ran straight at the massive Dragon, ducking beneath his head. If he laid down suddenly, I might be crushed, so I tried to stay in the shadow of his wings.
“Where are you, you insect? I will eat you and your whole family for this!” Pulao bellowed. He began to flap his wings, clearing the bodies around him.
Pulling out my combat bowie knife, the only other weapon I possessed, I stabbed the dragon in his hind leg just below the knee. It was a lame attempt at hamstringing him.
“Arrgh! I swear on the blood of my father I will kill you for this!” Pulao flung himself into the air, flapping his wings to gain altitude.
“Agatha, what are we doing! If Unicorns were supposed to fly, Epona would have given us wings!” Fergus cried out from my pocket.
When I stuck my knife into the Dragon’s knee, I’d hit bone and gotten the blade stuck. He’d almost crushed me as he jumped into the air, so I’d held on to the blade for dear life. Now it was all I could do to stay attached to the beast.
Chapter 22
“I see you, insect!” the Dragon roared.
Dragon skin wasn’t like snakeskin or even chainmail. It was more like the bricks on the side of your house. Rough, interlocking scales the size of your hand covered the body. Like a free climber, I was able to grip the leg in front of me and hold on.
Carefully I began wiggling the bowie knife free. My weight, combined with the Dragon’s movements, enabled me to pull it loose with a sucking sound. “Hold on buddy, we’re going higher.”
Stab, climb. Stab, climb. I did that for more than ten feet until I was just above the Dragon’s hip. My blade was topped with a grip like brass knuckles being made of silver it sank into the dragons body like butter having a negative effect on the beast.
Looking over my shoulder and down I could see the valley off to one side and the Northern coast of Maine on the other.
Gripping the knife with one hand again I readied the spell I used on Bethany. It was fire, but if I hit him in the eyes...it was worth a shot. Aiming just right, I launched one of the frozen fireballs at the Dragon’s head.
Flame cascaded across the beast’s snout to no avail.
“You throw fire at me? Silly creature.” The Dragon shot a burst of flame right back at me, making me dive forward, farther onto his back. “Now I have you right where I want you.”
Another gout of flame sprayed towards me.
Throwing up my shields, I deflected the fire off his back. A sudden roar threw me off balance as a pair of F-16 fighter jets shot over us, banking in two different directions.
If the military was involved, I needed to get off this thing and down on the ground. I might be powerful, but I didn’t know how to fly yet. Calling down lightning, I aimed at the Dragon’s head over and over again.
The massive Dragon shook his body and dodged to one side to avoid the electric energy. Stabbing my blade into a soft spot along the spine I held on for dear life.
I didn’t know it, but the Dragon’s appearance had put fear into the American defense forces and the new President had ordered the Army to shoot it down.
Gripping the knife tighter I pulled a gun out. Aiming, I started to shoot at the head again. Being closer helped. Almost every round hit him.
We started downward in a huge circling arc. The fighter jets returned though, launching air-to-air missiles at us. Mentally I cast a full body shield and prayed to Nuada, the sky Goddess, that it would hold.
Boom! Boom!
The human weapons hit the Dragon, center body. They weren’t silver but the DU tipped weapons did penetrate the scales. With another roar the Dragon dived toward the ground.
“Fergus, hold on!” I yelled as I jerked the knife loose, sending me sliding across a hundred feet of scaly back. The pistol in my left hand slid from my grip as I tried to stop. Scrambling for some kind of hold, I could feel my fingers break and my hands rip.
“This is my time to shine! I can help!” Fergus jumped out of my pocket, horn extended, and tried to stab the Dragon.
“No!” I screamed as he bounced off the scales and dropped over the side. “Fergus you need to Jump and you need to Jump now!”
With all the strength left in my body, I wedged the knife into the hole left by the missiles. The silver blade skipped past the ragged edge of the wound embedding itself in the bloody meat. Blood poured from the wound, covering me in gore.
Down went the Dragon like a falling stone.
Squinting, I could barely see the coastline, but knew we were somewhere near the Canadian border. We hadn’t crossed it yet or there would be swarms of harpies and other flying paranormals attacking us. I made a small wish he’d land on shore. The ocean was far too cold this time of year for swimming.
Splash! Into the ocean we went. I caught a glimpse of land as we crashed, but what land? Canada or America?
“Was that a Dragon?” Madeline asked the others as a creature bigger than city hall flew over the town.
One minute they’d been killing Zombies left and right, and then nothing. All of them, including the strange dino-things fell over suddenly.
“Someone must have killed the Necromancer,” Amber remarked. “It’s supposed to be the only way to stop a Zombie horde.”
A mostly naked Chuck ran toward the team. “Radio! I need a radio now!”
Rob pulled out his cell phone instead. “Can you just call?”
Grabbing the phone Chuck dialed Marcella’s house. “Where did the Dragon go?”
“Who’s this guy?” Alex asked as he approached the small group.
“Charles Winthrop the third. One of my people. He works for Agatha,” Madeline explained.
“Where’s his clothes?” Beatrice asked as she gave Chuck a once over with her eyes. Making her eyebrows bounce she smiled at Betsy. “If this is the uniform of the day I might consider transferring to the Magical Division.”
“Ladies,” Madeline commented. The Bs ignored her and continued to stare at the Werecat.
A rumbling growl coupled with a very hot breath made both Bs freeze suddenly.
�
�As I was saying, ladies, Chuck already has a companion.” Madeline motioned to the very large Sabertooth Tiger standing behind them. “You remember Catherine, don’t you?”
Chuck started talking again almost yelling into the phone, “...I know it took off. Where. Did. It. Go?”
Cat walked past the Bs, intentionally brushing past them as to almost knock them down. Finding where her clothes were at last, she began the change back to human.
“Ok. What? We’re in the town square and we need to get there ASAP. I don’t know how she did it, but Agatha was on it when it took off. We need to find her!” Chuck yelled, gripping the cell phone so hard he crushed it. “Damn it!”
Rob blinked a couple of times as he watched the phone shatter like a cheap toy in Chuck’s giant hand, but he didn’t say anything. He’d found it at the safe house, anyway. No great loss.
“I need a car,” Chuck exclaimed. “And some pants.”
“A shirt would be good as well. Maybe a tight one?” Betsy asked even as Beatrice punched her arm.
Flying, swimming, and attacking all in the same battle wasn’t something I was used to doing. The moment the Dragon hit the water, I was thrown from his back. My personal shields are what saved me. The ballistic body armor Chuck had fitted me with almost dragged me down to the ocean’s depths. Slipping out of it with broken fingers was the real challenge.
I felt like a wounded and drowned rat as I pulled myself to shore. We’d crashed near some small town. Fishing wasn’t my thing and I’d barely gone anywhere in Maine other than town, so nothing stuck out. There were houses and a church. A small lighthouse blinked out to sea. I could be anywhere. The Dragon hit water and several small watercraft when he’d crashed. I’d managed to swim to a spot near a large dock or pier.
Whoosh! Whoosh! The fighter jets swooped low, firing into the Dragon. Like before, the missiles blew holes into his hide.
Hearing an unfamiliar whirring sound, I scanned the skies. A trio of attack helicopters hovered near the other coast of the small inlet.
Trying to stand upright, I realized one of my legs might be broken. Using my good hand, I dragged myself closer to the cement pilings of the dock, hoping it would give me some sort of protection.
All three choppers and the planes opened fire on the Dragon. If he wasn’t dead before, he would be really soon. Modern weapons were a definite deterrent to their kind. It made me wonder if we shouldn’t have just ignored the Gate and allowed the Government and military to take them out.
I couldn’t just lie here. Fergus needed me, and Grams must be crazy with worry. Carefully I worked my way up the embankment toward the church. Surely they would have a phone I could use.
Crawling and hopping I made it across the road to the front entrance of the church. A large sign read, “Cutler Methodist Church.” Cutler. It had to be the name of the town. At least once I found a phone I could tell Grams.
I settled down near the concrete steps to rest. My head was killing me, and my vision was screwed up. A concussion was all I needed right now. There were sirens and flashing lights all over the place in the distance. It sounded like more military or police. My creds were in my other pants and I was in no shape to talk my way out of anything right now. Gripping the railing in front of me I tried to pull myself up the stairs. Who puts stairs on the front of a church, anyway?
“Agatha Blackmore?” a voice asked me. Tipping my head back I could see a couple of really blurry men wearing dark clothing.
“If you’re arresting me go ahead, but I think I need a doctor first,” I replied holding up my one good hand.
“Your name is Agatha Blackmore then? The only daughter of Teegan Blackmore?” the voice asked me.
I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them, trying to see better. “Sure. But leave my mom out of this.”
“Excellent. They will be ever so pleased,” the man replied.
“What are you…” I felt a prick on my bad side and then blackness.
In his Magickal state, Fergus was practically invulnerable and immortal but even he didn’t want to fall from a great height and go splat! Agatha’s order to Jump was all well and good but he either needed a good line of sight or a specific place or person to go directly to.
“I’m not a leaf on the wind!” he screamed as his tiny body fell straight down. Thinking super hard of the only person who he could trust who wasn’t currently riding a Dragon, he made the biggest Jump in his life.
Chuck, Cat, Alex, and Amber were practically flying down highway 191 in pursuit of Agatha and the Dragon when Fergus popped in.
“Hey!” Fergus yelled when he suddenly appeared on the dashboard directly in front of Chuck.
Driving the patrol car they’d found, Chuck had both lights and sirens screaming. Seeing Fergus, he slammed on the brakes, tossing the small unicorn forward onto the inside windshield with a splat!
“Fergus! Where’s Agatha?” Chuck cried out as he moved the car off the road.
“On the Dragon? I’m not sure. We were sliding and I sort of fell off. I think they crashed into the ocean,” Fergus replied.
Amber scooted forward in her seat, staring at Fergus. She was totally fascinated by him. “Can you locate her like you did Chuck?”
Fergus looked past Chuck at the others in the car. “Where’d you find these losers?”
“Just answer the question,” Cat demanded.
“Maybe. We were really high up and these airplanes showed up and started shooting at us. So as I fell I freaked out a bit. I’m not even sure how I Jumped to you. I can try,” he replied.
Closing his eyes, Fergus searched for the connection he had with Agatha. It wasn’t a friend sort of thing but one of Magick and familiars. She was able to use his power as a backup battery and that left a trail he could use to track her down. In theory at least. Concentrating, he found a faint trail to the stinky Cat people that made him frown. Grandmother Blackmore had a small one and so did Minerva. But no Agatha. When the team had first formed, Agatha had given everyone a small amulet that allowed her to track them and tie the group together. He’d never taken it off. Using it he traced the spell.
“She’s gone! I can’t feel her!” Fergus screamed at the others.
“What do you mean by that? She’s not dead. I can still feel her as part of the Pack,” Cat exclaimed.
Fergus Jumped to the rear of the car. “That’s what I mean. She still has the Magick reserve in me, but my connection is gone! I traced the amulet too. Nothing. She’s gone.”
Chuck turned around in the seat to stare at his partner. “What do we do?”
“Cutler has to be crawling with police and military by now, so we can’t search. Not dressed like this. Go back to Briarwood. No way the army didn’t trace the Dragon there, so we need to hurry,” Cat replied.
“There’s no way she’s dead. I refuse to believe it,” Chuck replied. “What will we do without her?”
Agatha Blackmore will return in Death Awaits!
Author Notes
What a rush!
Draft of Dragons was such a thrill to write. I did something I never do for this one: allow you the reader to see full chapters early. At least up to chapter ten. Some secrets must be maintained, after all.
A few different characters joined the book this time. If you’ve read the Arcane books you might recognize Team Theta. The same goes for Esta. She’s in the main series as well as Arcane, and she was in Darkness Revealed, the Camilla story.
At one point, during the editing process, the comment was made that the story was many roads coming together. Which in part is true. The Federal Witch series as a whole got away from my original intent as the story slowly became more and more intricate. As I wrote this book, I started counting all the “loose” plot lines in the main series. Can you believe there were as many as twelve?
There have been several overarching story arcs all along. Agatha’s development as a Witch, the Camilla issues, the town of Briarwood, and her relationship with the team. Add in
government conspiracies and things get super complicated. In Child of Darkness much of what I’d been building into the storyline was revealed. But not all. Now you begin to see the start of a new/old story. Agatha’s true place in the world and what it all means. One road instead of twelve. Big changes are coming still in her life, and I cannot wait to write about them!
This is a new publishing year for me. A really super busy one. I’ve set writing goals that are a bit crazy, even for me. There are at least seven new series in the works, four set inside the Federal Witch Universe. I plan to make a return to science fiction this year with something new. Mongo will finally get his own books as well. The Jack Dalton serial books are wrapping up soon, with only two more books to go. I plan to follow them with another series, but something lighter. And then there’s Wheel of the Year series. My wife, Heather Paul, wanted to start writing. So we’ve created the basis for an entirely new universe of books. Expect the first one midsummer.
Heather recently did some editing and transcription for two books left to me by my Grandmother Paul. Those are up on Amazon under the name Miriam Paul. My late Aunt Jean Paul’s book is up as well. All three are products of my new publishing company, Great God Pan Publishing, Inc. So far, we’ve only done family books, but we expect to accept others soon.
As always, I can be found on Facebook on either my own page, Author TS Paul or the Fans of the Federal Witch page. Look for me on Goodreads or drop me a line on my own tspaulbooks.com page. Thanks.
Also by T S Paul
Federal Witch
Conjuring Quantico - Now Available in Audio!
Magical Probi - Now Available in Audio!
Special Agent in Charge - Now Available in Audio!
