"It doesn't hurt you?"
"Of course not, Charlene. They're my children. They're me." I leaned forward and kissed each babe on the cheek softly. "Fire and ice. Opposites that both give life and can take it. Opposites that are both needed in order to exist."
"What?"
"They're going to do great things. They will be changing the world."
"Why do you say?"
"Perhaps it's the dragon in me. Perhaps it's the mother. Hell, maybe it's both, but Elizabeth and Connall are extraordinary children."
Charlene nodded and stared down at them. "What shall we do for a nanny? Especially if they have such intense powers already. Connall gave Queen Joselyn quite the burn earlier."
"Oh, mother. Is she alright?"
Charlene chuckled. "She's fine. She was a bit startled when it happened. But the most peculiar thing happened."
"What?"
"When Elizabeth heard the queen yelp in pain, she placed her little hand on the burn and it just went away."
"Curious. So their powers can cancel one another out. I wonder if they can also enhance each other given the right circumstances?"
"I don't know, Evelyn. You have given birth to quite the unique pair of children."
"So it seems I have. What does James say of all of this?"
"He's perplexed." She smiled as Elizabeth let out a yawn and closed her eyes.
As she slid into sleep a small cloud seemed to form from nowhere above her, snowing lightly onto her body.
"That's interesting."
As Connell fell asleep it seemed that his bassinet was engulfed in a soft flame.
"As is that."
I watched with wonder at my children. Not human. Not dragon. Something entirely new and something quite magnificent. My heart wasn't entirely full of joy though. Deep down I knew that the Guild would find out about the babies. They were not safe and would not be so long as that group of evil was still alive. I had to eliminate them. I had to protect my children and my people.
Chapter Fifty
"The Guild must die," I spoke into the darkness of my mother's bed chamber. "Mother? Wake up!"
"Hm? Evelyn? Is that you? What are you doing, child?"
"The Guild. They must die," I repeated.
"Yes, I know this. Go to bed."
I sighed heavily. "There is no time for sleep! The children."
"Are sleeping. They're fine."
"Have you seen them recently?"
"Yes, Evelyn. They're sleeping."
"Elizabeth is sleeping in ice and Connell is sleeping in fire."
"What?" My mother sat up and stared at me in confusion.
"You heard me right. Their powers are growing."
"They'll be able to track them soon."
I nodded. "I need to move them somewhere safe. For now."
"Where can be safer than a castle?"
"This place isn't the safest place, mother. I've already had one friend die here. I won't allow my children to fall to the same fate."
"Your children are also...special, Evelyn."
"That may be so, but I'd feel better if they were with others who are more like them," I muttered, sitting next to her.
"Who is more like them than us?"
I side-eyed her. "The dragons."
"The what? You want my grandchildren to be guarded far away from here by dragons!"
"Calm down, mother. They are part dragon. That would be the safest place for them. Just until the Guild is dead. All of them."
"Even the girls?"
"The older ones, yes. They're too brainwashed to see the light."
"I was older when I rebelled," my mother said softly.
"You're also not quite like the other girl's mother. Rather than following orders blindly, you followed your heart and are now a target of their assassination attempts."
"I think that has fallen squarely on your scaly shoulders, love."
She was right. The Guild seemed to have grown bored with trying to assassinate their assassin and have been coming after me. It was their way of killing my mother. By killing the one thing they tried so hard to prevent, love. I'm the product of her forbidden love with Father. I couldn't let those vile bastards close to Elizabeth and Connell though.
Is this what Mother felt when she spent all her years protecting me? This love is overwhelming.
A tear slid down my cheek as I rose from her bed and walked toward the door, my talons clicking on the stone floor.
Have her feelings changed for me though? Now that I'm this thing.
"Mother?" I called quietly.
"Yes, Evelyn?"
"Do you still love me?" I questioned.
"What?"
"Do you still love me even though I'm a monster now?"
Mother jumped to her feet and stood before me in a flash. "Don't you think for one moment that my love for you will ever die. You are my daughter. While I didn't see your life turning out quite like this, I'm fiercely proud of you and what you have become. You are a mighty warrior and a queen of a nation. You will rule over both kingdoms one day with beauty, grace, dignity, and fairness."
"I'm not beautiful anymore."
"Yes you are, Evelyn. You are still the fairest of all the maidens in this land. You have the beauty of humans and the grace and mystery of the dragons. You are not a monster like you think. You are a legendary beauty who will be spoken of for centuries to come. You will be a queen all other queens wish they could be. Including me."
I wrapped my arms around her, my wings sulking behind. I loved my mother.
She released her grip on me and I slipped out of her room. I had to find James. He must help me prepare the children. I opened his door and peered in but was met with emptiness.
"Where is James?" I asked the guard outside his room.
"I do not know, madame. He has not returned this evening."
I furrowed my brow and nodded at the young man before turning toward my own chambers.
Where could he be?
The guard in front of my door opened it as I walked past him. I mumbled a thanks and sighed with relief. James slept in a chair near the window. His head resting on the cold stone window sill. A smile crept across my lips as I watched him. I crossed the room and tapped his shoulder lightly.
"Hmm? What?" he sat up and stared at me. "You're back!"
James leaped to his feet and wrapped his arms around me.
"I've missed you and was so worried! Why were you gone so long?"
"It wasn't that long, my love."
He held me at arms length before pulling me in close. The warmth of his body felt good against my cold scales. He pressed his lips to mine and I just melted into him. Even with the changes I had gone through, he still turned me into a weak girl. Everything felt right with the world when he held me. I had no worries and fear. There was nothing to concern us and the Guild was not a problem.
"Let's go to bed," he said.
I nodded as he led me to the luxurious softness.
"Before we sleep, there is something we must discuss," I told him, allowing the gown to slip from my body.
"What?"
"The children."
"What about them?"
"We must take them somewhere safe," I mumbled, crawling onto the bed.
He furrowed his brow and pursed his lips. He seemed to be so far from the room at that particular moment. I could see the sadness creep into his face.
"I agree. I know that the Guild will come for them someday soon. I do not want them in harms way. They are the future of this kingdom and yours. We must keep them safe."
I snuggled into his arms and closed my eyes. I could feel his fingers running through the feathers of my wings. It still amazed me how sensitive they were. I didn't think there would be as much sensation in them, but I could feel each trail of his finger down each feather. I shivered and snuggled closer, draping my arm across his chest as I drifted into a d
reamless sleep. No dreams were better than the nightmares that had been plaguing me lately.
Soon. The war would be coming to us soon.
Chapter 51
I woke to a scream not far from the bedchamber. My heart raced as I sat up in a cold sweat trying to listen. Perhaps it was a dream. I closed my eyes and strained to hear. It came again, an ear-piercing shriek. I shook James awake.
"What?" he grumbled.
"Something's wrong."
"Nothing is wrong, Ellie. Go back to sleep."
I shook my head and threw the covers from my body. I braced for the coldness, but my scales were tougher than my weak skin had been. My heart continued to thud in my chest.
"The babies!" I shrieked, running from the room.
My claws clicked on the stone floor as I scrambled down the hall to my sleeping children. Elizabeth and Connall were in danger. I threw open the door to their nursery and saw nothing but sleeping babies. Elizabeth's crib was still engulfed in her snowy clouds while Connall's crim had the soft glow of his fire.
Confused, I stood there thinking I'd grown crazy. James was right, there was nothing.
As I turned to return to bed I heard the scream again. This time it came agonized and ending. A very final scream.
Someone died.
I couldn't understand how I heard it or where it was coming from though. I walked down the hallway toward the staircase leading to the lower level of the castle. Things were still. Unusually still. I didn't like how quiet the castle was. Even in the middle of the night, there should have been guards or servants hustling about. A castle was never truly sleeping.
Tonight it was and that did not sit well with me. I had to find out what was going on. The entire time my heart slammed against my chest. I might have been half dragon, but I still had the human fears.
I continued through the castle looking for anyone.
"Hello?" I called out.
Only my echo returned to me.
I pushed open the kitchen door and recoiled at the sight. I held my hand to my mouth and stifled a scream. I hadn't heard one woman screaming out in pain, I'd heard dozens. The kitchen staff was dead. All of them. My stomach heaved as I backed out of the area of death. My head reeled at the thought of my entire staff dead.
If they're not down here, where are they? Who did this? Who could kill an entire household?
Taking a few deep breaths, I pushed open the kitchen door and headed in. I made my way through the bodies, stooping down next to a few hoping to find any signs of life. Near the back door to the outside courtyards, I heard the sound of metal scraping on stone. I crouched down, dragging my claws along the stone to get a grip if I would have to fight.
"Majesty," a weak voice called to me.
I calmed a bit at the sound of one of my guard's voices. I hurried to the mortally injured young man and cradled his bleeding head in my lap. The blood that poured from his wound soaked my white sleeping gown.
"What happened to you?"
"Th-they came out of nowhere. So powerful. We didn't stand a chance."
"Who?" I queried.
"I don't know, but they knew what they were doing. Th-they were monsters. They used the girls to lure the other guards in. We never stood a chance. I'm so sorry, majesty."
"Shh. Calm yourself."
"T-th-they are coming for the queen mother, for you, and for the young prince and princess."
"What?"
"They are coming for you."
I held the young man as he gurgled and gasped before letting out his last breath.
The vomit rose in my throat as my heart slammed against my chest. There was only one group this vicious who wanted my entire family dead. I placed the man's head on the ground and climbed to my feet.
They're here. It's too soon.
I pushed open the door leading to the outside courtyard and crept along the wall until I came in sight of the barn. It was engulfed in flames.
"Draco!" I shouted out, running toward the fire.
A hot blast of air blew down on my neck and head. I glanced up and saw a few branches bowed almost ready to snap.
"Up," the harsh voice whispered.
I flapped my wings a few hard times and rose in the air. I perched on a branch above the bowed ones and crouched down.
"Invisible," the voice hissed.
"I don't know how to do that."
"Yes, you do. Just think it and will it. It will happen."
"Okay, sure. I'll just will myself invisible."
I shook my head and closed my eyes thinking about being invisible. I opened my eyes and saw things looked different. Fuzzy and a bit off color.
"Okay, that's weird."
"That's invisible."
I looked below me and saw Draco sitting there.
"I can see you!"
"Yes, you can see other invisible dragons."
"Oh. Weird. What is going on."
"The Guild. They're here," he said.
"I don't understand how. How are they here?"
"They found out about the babies."
"How?"
"We don't know."
"Do they know about me?" I asked.
"I don't think so. Not yet at least. So we have an advantage."
"Where are they?"
"I'm not sure. I will give them that they are a sneaky bunch of bastards."
"How many are here?"
"I don't know. But there have to be a lot. They took out almost the entire house staff and all of the guards on the grounds."
"So it's up to us?"
"And your mother. You need to wake her and have her prepared to protect the babies. I'll patrol the grounds to find them."
"Alright."
I flapped my wings and flew off from the branch. The quickest route would be to fly. Draco took off right after me and soared high into the air. I landed on my mother's window sill and pushed it open slowly.
"Mother?" I called. "Mother, wake up!"
I slid from the window and crept across the room silently. "Mother?"
"Mmm," a muffled sound came from her bed area.
"Your fire is out, mother."
"Mother is occupied," a soft melodic voice came from the bed.
I stood straight and narrowed my eyes. I could see the silhouette of a figure near my mother's bed. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see that someone had their hand over mother's mouth with a knife to her throat. She was moving her hand around the bed, looking for something.
She still sleeps with her knives.
"Who goes there?" I asked, keeping them distracted.
"Don't worry your head about it, your majesty."
The voice was soft and sounded young.
An assassin.
I saw my mother clutch something and become very calm.
Keep the assassin talking until mother can take care of her.
"Tell me who you are, child. I must know the name of the person brave enough to enter the castle of the dragon queen."
"The what?"
I stepped forward, spreading my wings wide for the girl to see. I heard an audible gasp and she must have loosened her grip on mother's head because a gurgle came next. The sound of liquid bubbling from the girl's lips filled the room as I watched her fall to the ground.
I turned toward the fireplace and spit a bit of fire toward it. The room illuminated enough for me to see normally. A pool of blood had already spilled out around the body that lay next to the bed. The figure was shorter but dressed in the all black of the assassin. Mother stooped down next to her and pulled the mask down. She was just a kid. Maybe sixteen years of age.
"Damn them. She's not even old enough to have her own king yet."
She shook her head and walked to the bureau. Digging through she pulled out a small chest and opened it. Inside were an array of weapons. She began strapping them to her body before walking to the door that connected her room with t
he nursery.
"Go find them," she said, pulling the door open.
I nodded and followed close behind. The babies room had changed. There was a soft purple glow all about.
"What is this?" I pondered.
"I'm not sure," My mother said.
The snow and fire that had engulfed them were gone and the purple light emanated from both babies.
"Is-is it a protection of some sort?" I asked.
"It's possible. You have very special children."
"What's happening?" My father ran into the room, his clothes covered in blood. "I was on the third floor in the library and found dead guards everywhere."
"They're here, Cassius."
"They?"
"The Guild," mother told him.
He nodded and sunk into the closest chair. "I'm sorry, ladies, but I'm useless against them."
"You're not an assassin, dear," mother muttered.
"I'll go find them."
I peered into my bedroom and saw the fire's shadows dancing on the walls.
"Do come in, buttercup."
My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Agnolo.
"You've found me."
"There is something different about you, my sweet princess."
"Queen," I corrected.
"Hmm, yes, queen."
"Where is James?" I asked.
"Oh, that dear boy is perfectly safe. I didn't want his pretty face to get messed up in this perfect castle. I had Berard and Githa take him somewhere special."
I could feel my cold scales growing hot.
"Now come forward and let me see you."
I stepped more into the light and shifted my gaze downward so that I wouldn't have to look at Agnolo.
"What have you done to yourself? This is quite the change."
"It's because of you," I hissed at him. "Where have you taken my husband!"
The shout that erupted from my throat was almost a scream. My hands grew hot and the fire grew in my belly. Rage seethed throughout my entire core.
"I told you, silly girl. He's being kept safe."
"Nobody is safe around you! Take me to him."
"In a minute. I have lots planned for you two." He clasped his hands together in joy.
The monster was feeling joy after decimating my entire household.
The Defender's Daughter: The Defender's Book 2 Page 27
