My feet were in maximum overdrive, but soon enough the water hit me with agonizing power and tossed me around like some mere ragdoll until I hit my head against the sturdy cave wall up ahead, my foot getting stuck in the elevator’s railing. All I saw was black.
CHAPTER 29
DRAGON OF THE DEEP
CARLAYLIN
GRADUALLY, I WAS BROUGHT back to consciousness, but only to notice that I was already half drowned. My eyes widened and my eyes fell down to my foot. I tried my best to pull it free. Luckily, it wasn’t that hard to accomplish.
With my foot free I looked up and saw the upper end of the tunnel. Bright rays of light rained down onto me. I thought about swimming upwards, but it was too far for me and I’d surely drown before reaching it.
For a different approach to the situation I scanned the area and hit the green button as hard as I could. Surprisingly, the elevator didn’t slowly ascend with that weird elevator music and took its time. Instead, at first nothing happened beside a slight creak that released a few air bubbles before the platform immediately shot up at the speed of lightning.
I was pushed down onto the platform by the force as it speeded upwards. It took away the breath I had left, but it mattered little, for before I knew it, the platform came to an extremely abrupt stop at the very top and I was shot into the air with a scream.
My legs kicked in thin air before my gaze dropped down to the horrors of height. My arms flapped like these of a flightless bird as I plummeted to the floor.
The next thing I knew was that of the stinging pain webbing from my stomach out towards my entire body. The wind may have got knocked out of my lungs, for my breathing struggled to adjust quite the bit after the instant hit.
I coughed and crawled forward, but it felt more like sliding, for both the floor and I were drenched in crystal clear water. Either way, the whole crawling-sliding thing was still pretty painful. My stomach burned with a raging fire of tremendous agony.
The fringes of my tousled hair hugged the sides of my face, absolutely soaking wet.
With a stomach still planted on the floor, my attention took notice of my surroundings. My eyes rose to the massive crystal ceiling that towered over me at a tremendous height.
Smooth white stone pillars kept it stable and acted as good supports. The floor was of smoothened marble rounded off with a glass finish. I could see my own reflection staring back at me. The reflection was just as confused and frowning as I was. Looking out in front of me I could see a gigantic pool of glowing blue water. The back of its wall was of dark, uneven ocean rock. It looked like a brand new habitat in a zoo. Nonetheless, it was beautiful and attracted me to its waters.
I slowly stood with eyes fixed on the glowing waters that pierced through the area’s sinister gloom, though the rest of the chamber was pretty much wonderfully lit. I gradually approached with caution, but also knowing how to keep my distance. This must be the place where Marinius preferred to lodge.
I can’t blame him. For a dragon he’s got good taste.
Still looking around, I suddenly felt something breathing down my neck. It sent a shiver running down my back and had my body to completely frozen to the spot. I slowly turned my head and saw a large dragon head right behind me. I yelped. The dragon head pulled back to look down on me. Its neck was extremely long, much longer than Tarauntis’ or any other dragon I had met or seen before.
The dragon was adorned with blue watery scales as he chilled in his enormous ‘bathtub’. His beautiful blue scales rapidly shone with the water reflecting upon it. Large fins adorned his neck all the way down to his tail. He gave the proper look of a sea dragon. Award won!
“Might I ask who you are? Did ole Neptune finally allow me a visitor?” he spoke.
I gulped. “Uh… I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘allow’.”
“Hmm…” the dragon thought to himself, eyes turned to the ceiling, “No matter. You’re here and now I finally have some company! Things haven’t been quite the same after the wife’s gone out on business. Care for a card game? Poker? Blackjack? O! How do you feel about Solitaire?” Marinius’ eyes sparked with excitement. He was a jolly chap dying for a card game and some company.
“You have a wife?”
“Nessie is the name, traveling through dimensions for meetings, and a law and court attendance is the game.”
“Uhm-”
“Yeah, I know. Politics, am I right?”
“Usually I’d be skipping the conversation, but this is damn right interesting.”
It’s true! I found this both unusual and completely gripping. It’s not every day that you hear the story of a man’s life where his dragon wife is off on politics while he is left at home to care for the habitat.
“Hey thanks, kiddo! Say, what’s your name? I’m sure that you must already know mine.”
“Marinius, eh,” I said with a cool face, “I’m Carlaylin Thorel. A Drachem.”
“Marinius? Hmm, the webbed guys call me Marst, but I like your version better. You’re the only one that knows my actual name! And understand me as a bonus!” He chuckled.
“Duh! Drachem!” I said jokingly.
“I like you. Now, what can I do for you?”
There was a moment of silence as I studied him from head to toe. It may have looked like I was a bit suspicious, but maybe that was exactly the case. My lips were pursed. My mind was intently focused.
“You know… for a dragon you’re immensely friendly. So friendly it’s almost creepy.”
Marinius pulled what looked like a shrug. “Why be mad and crabby all the time, I say. There’s more to life than marking territory, death and rage, because as far as I’m concerned, you can’t be happy when you’re angry.”
I choked back a laugh as I pointed out his pun, “Ha, you said crabby…”
“Guess I did.” With that Marinius and I burst out into a laugh. It was a good laugh at that, but sadly couldn’t last forever.
“Okay, okay,” he said with his laughing still busy dying down, “What is it you need?”
“I was wondering if I could possibly have some of your fire…?”
“YOU WANT MY WHAT?!” he bellowed loudly, his inner Neptune awakened. The roof crumbled and his voice boomed off in all directions. I was shaken from head to toe and my arms were riddled with goose bumps. I immediately stepped back in the moment’s fear.
“Please don’t kill me! I didn’t mean it! I didn’t mean it!” I begged, falling to my knees. A pair of angry eyes stared down at me until the fire died down and the dragon suddenly burst into a good old laugh.
“Nah, I’m just kidding. Here, you can have it!”
I stood, still rather confused. “Seriously? Just like that?”
“Yeah, why not? I’m sure the Drachem would have a good reason for it.”
“In fact I do! I’m intending on-”
“Save your breath. I don’t want to hear it. Just take it.”
With a smile on my face I dug into my satchel and withdrew one of the empty bottles. I opened it and watched as Marinius blew his fire into the jar. Once inside I was quick to close it. The fire was like swirling water. It was just as amazing as the rest. Only this one didn’t burn like Thorodan’s or sting with coldness like Imperion’s. To be perfectly honest, this was the most gentle.
The last thing I did was complain. I really liked this guy.
“Thanks!”
“Just… Just promise me something,” he said before I could go.
“Anything!” I was obliged to agree.
“We get together to play a good card game sometime while the wife is still gone?”
“Sounds great! We can meet on the shore at five every Thursday. After I’ve saved the world, that is.”
“Here, take my number,” he said as he tossed down a strip of paper. I caught it successfully and shot him a quick minute toothy smile. I silently thanked him with that smile. He gave me a nod and I took my leave.
“Bye! Godspeed to you! Do come ag
ain!” he said from behind. I could hear him mumble, “I think I just made a friend…” to himself as he drove his neck back into the water to wherever he was before he had snuck up on me.
What a beautiful gentleman.
CHAPTER 30
HAIRY PRINCESS
CARLAYLIN
I HASTILY RACED THROUGH Krea. I was already late for the ball as we speak! Not to mention that I was completely unprepared by way of attire. Unless if you declare being dripping wet in my usual outfit as a worthy attire for a ball.
I rushed past all the buildings, my eyes focused on the castle up ahead on the hill, but a sudden sight to my left made me abruptly stop in my tracks. I almost slipped and fell.
It was a normal building like most others, but had a massive window displaying somewhat beautiful dresses on figurines. I gave a smile of relief.
“Perfect!”
Approaching the door, I noticed a sign that read: Dress to Impress! In small print it said: Nigel Sutherworth’s key to fabulousness. This was the place Nick was talking about!
I hurriedly knocked on the door, but received nothing more than a crumpled note sliding out the bottom gap of the door shortly after. I studied it with an expression of misperception. Slowly, I picked it up and read:
Store’s closed, honey. Get lost!
I frowned. Typical. Without hesitation, I threw the note away and called, “Open up, Nigel! This is an emergency!” Another note appeared.
I don’t care, darling. I need my beauty sleep!
“Hopeless,” I murmured to myself. I needed to find another way of getting a dress. And, speaking of which, I actually had the perfect idea…
I silently made my way towards the alleyway next to the building. The midnight sky was enough to hide me its shadows, but I still had to watch out for the moonlight. I looked at the window and tried to open it. Locked. I should’ve guessed by the likes of that massive iron lock. I sighed and withdrew my crossbow. Steadily, I aimed for the lock. “Sorry, Nigel,” I said in a soft voice and pulled the trigger.
The lock was broken at an instant, but the arrow reflected back at me. I swiftly ducked with a quick yelp. The arrow missed me by inches. It reflected against the back wall and shot up into the sky to only Tarauntis knows where.
With the matter handled, I silently pushed the window upwards and tried to climb through. I was in. The shop wasn’t large and rather cluttered. It was masked in darkness and shrouded by the gloomy shine of moonlight falling in through the other windows.
I sneaked towards the dresses displayed in the window and grabbed a random dress. To make sure that my tracks were mostly covered, I quickly replaced it with another. Little did I know that it was a gorilla suit...
Eh, I’m sure Nigel’s business will be fine.
On my way back out, I accidentally bumped against a table. I was startled and quickly grabbed the flowerpot before it could fall to the ground. I gave a sigh of relief and returned it to its former spot. The soon as I took another step towards the window, I froze in my tracks. I had this feeling that I wasn’t alone. It felt as though I was being watched. I soon found out why…
At the foot of the stairs stood a goat, awake and alert. There was a sinister glint in its eyes. The goat wore a pink collar with a shiny nametag, rhinestones decorating its rim. It read: Princess.
Without even having a guess, I could sense its devious intensions. There was a sense of evil glinting in its eyes as it stared at me with a cold gaze. I should’ve known that a tailor shop such as this would have been secured with a state of the art security system.
In this case: a bloodthirsty goat.
I quickly shook my head, anxiously whispering, “No, no, no, no!”
Unfortunately, the goat had no mercy. An endless void replaced its heart and I feared that I might not make it through this night.
I remained frozen, too afraid to so much as make any sudden movements. I was subtle and tried to take a step back, making for the window from whence I had come in, but the soon as I did, Princess went haywire. Before I knew it, I was chased around the shop by a raging goat.
I ran through the shop, bumping into coat hangers, mannequins and makeup tables. I ran into a dress, tripped and accidentally ripped it off its coat hanger. I struggled to get back on my feet before the goat could run me over. Princess was no easy opponent. Like a bull she stormed at me. I crashed into almost anything that was glass and threw anything over made of wood.
I slid over the counter and hid myself behind it, but Princess was too good and sniffed me out. The moment she had me I leaped over the goat and dived through the window, crashing to the cobblestone alleyway with the dress and all.
Princess was set on jumping in after me, but I was quick to close the window, witnessing as the goat crashed into the windowpane and collapsed to the floor.
Princess wasn’t unconscious.
No.
Nothing could stop her.
She was left to wander the shop, trying to find a way out. To be honest, I barely escaped, but I had managed, though excluding my scrapes and battle wounds.
I took a good look at the dress and nodded with satisfaction and a sense of hate.
“You better be worth it,” I said as I tucked it in under my arm and took my leave. I’d probably find some place to change on the way.
At least I was pretty much covered and ready for the ball.
CHAPTER 31
EVER AFTER’S KISS
TERROWIN
I NEVER THOUGHT IT possible, but I was actually spending time with my father. We both stood on the upper half of the ballroom’s platform, connected to the lower half’s dance floor by a wide set of stairs, not far from the king’s throne. Even though this was a formal ball, my father had still been instructed to guard the both kings of Hayley and Krea, as they sat on their royal thrones, staring at the numerous guests and occurrences happening right in front of their very eyes.
Of course, my father had been more specifically instructed to protect and keep an eye out on the king of Hayley, for he was most clearly the higher power and my father’s absolute superior.
Both my father and I bore nonchalant expressions, each holding a glass of wine.
We were mostly consumed by awkward silence, but a short conversation or two did manage to escape us so now and then.
“You look rather fetching tonight,” Father managed, his eyes jumping around agitatedly.
“Thank you,” I said plainly, my gaze wandering towards the dance floor.
Where is she? I thought.
My father was no doubt restless, his feet shuffling about slightly, almost unnoticeably. He was about to say another proper sentence, but seemed to have decided against it. Indeed the moment was slightly uncooperative, and I realised my father’s intension of trying to change it.
With a miserable sigh he said, “Terrowin, I know I haven’t been the best parent-”
“Not at all,” I cut in, my gaze still focused on the dance floor. Gradually my father continued, “-and perhaps I have not been there for you when you needed me most-”
“You might as well have left me in a ditch.”
“Listen, please!” I was sure that I was getting on my father’s nerves, but my words carried truth. Our walk along the harbour had been most enjoyable, lost in each other’s rich silence and company, but the duty of guard work had come between my father and I once again.
He meant well, and from tonight I saw that he really did try. I respected him for that, but despite his honeyed apology earlier, it wasn’t nearly enough to make amends for all the years of suffering and pain he had caused me, but the air between us was most certainly much lighter than it had ever been before.
With another sigh, my father continued.
“Even though I was distracted too much by my patriotic priorities than to see to you, the things I have done and the wrong decisions I have made throughout my entire life and even the numerous appalling attempts you have pulled yourself…. I must say… I’m pro
ud of you.”
I was expecting something entirely else, but the soon as I realised what he had said, I was caught by a slight feeling of incredulity accompanied by a trail of shock shooting its way up my back. For a first I turned to meet him face to face, seeing him eye to eye without a frown of hatred. It was good to know that I had never been a complete nothing to my father after all.
“You have turned into a fine young man, Terrowin. I am sure that both your mother and your brother would’ve felt the same. Please, accept my humblest apologies for not informing you of Travis’ death sooner… I know it has been the hardest on you. I guess… I was afraid.”
“You? Afraid?” I was genuinely surprised.
For a rare moment, I could see him grin.
“Yes, Terrowin, afraid. And selfish. I was too scared to tell you in fear of my own emotions and yours… Terrowin, I-”
“Still apologizing, huh?”
I returned a faint grin. He looked up at me, sincerely flabbergasted by my answer.
“Why won’t we forget about all of this and just… enjoy the ball.”
His expression of shocked smoothened into something close to relief and contentment. He nodded in agreement and raised his glass.
“To you, Terrowin.”
I raised my glass as well.
“No, to you, Father.”
Sharing a smile, we finished our wine in one go.
Before I could say anything else, I noticed Carlaylin to have finally arrived. Her eyes jumped around from scene to scene as she studied the ballroom and its occupants, looking as though she might be slightly suspicious of the place.
As I turned to my father, he offered to take the empty glass from my hand, already knowing my plans. He gave me this chance to meet up with her. He had never seen her before, or so I think, but he seemed to know what the look on my face meant – that I had to go to her.
Our eyes remained locked for the most purest of moments, too precious to lose, and too rare not to cherish. I grinned gratefully, gave him the glass and descended the stairs in order to greet her, but for some reason I found myself at a loss for words.
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