Frozen to the Core

by Paul Cude

  Dumbstruck at finding humans and dragons here, of all places, one of the harshest environments on the planet, the serpent-like beast threw all its magic at the two of them in an effort to better understand the situation.

  A purple/pink haze sparkled into life around both Man and the dragon prisoner, bubbling, hissing and spitting as it did so. Remaining calm, the prisoner knew exactly what was going on, because he’d heard about it some time ago in a lecture. The naga was using his magic to see exactly who he was dealing with and just what language was being used. He’d heard that they could use their abilities to translate their tongue into any known tongue.

  Rising fear started to overtake Man, causing doubts about his course of action. Perhaps the wise thing would have been to run and get help like his brother had. Reinforcements would be a welcome relief about now. But as quickly as it had come, the ethereal power unleashed by the naga fizzled out totally.

  Waiting to see what happened next, both the dragon prisoner and Man were stunned when the naga spoke up.

  “Good morrow, I bid you greetings. It’s nice to meet you and I apologise profoundly if I’ve offended you by stumbling onto your territory by accident.”

  “It’s not a problem,” observed Man. “It was just such a shock seeing you. I’ve never seen your kind before. Can I ask what you are, if it’s not too rude?”

  Smiling, which was more than a little odd on a being looking like that, the sea monster replied.

  “I’m a naga, and like the rest of my race I’m suited to the cold and can survive both in and out of the water.”

  “Wow!” exclaimed Man.

  “Wow indeed,” said the naga. “I have to say, I didn’t expect to find...”

  He nearly said humans, but his magic had stumbled across the truth as it had examined both beings.

  “...dragons here, so far underground, so far out of their comfort zone.”

  “It’s a long story,” announced Man, shivering in the cold.

  The naga’s ethereal power had also discovered something else... a hint of potential, buried, hiding away through no fault of its own, restless and scared, afraid that it would never see the light of day. The naga knew he could help with that, and so in the spirit of friendship, and with the tiny fingers on both of his hands whirring away, he cast one of the ancient spells that he’d been taught long ago, and let his magic, enhance that of his newfound friend.

  Pain, at least that’s what he’d thought had overcome him, deep inside.

  ‘An attack,’ he thought, frightened for his life. A split second later, it became obvious that was not the case, as a familiar feeling expanded out from his stomach, flooding his limbs and head. Drowning in ecstasy, that’s how it felt as the magic within him was ignited into action. Eyes closed, head pointed upwards, he felt both as light as a feather and heavier than lead. A sensation of expansion tickled every part of him as every emotion under the sun battered his physical form. Tattered rags whipped around the air in front of him. Briefly he wondered where they’d come from, but with his mind trying to cope with a myriad of thoughts, that particular one was soon dismissed. Perfection personified was how it felt as every atom in his body burned with the magical energy unlocked. It was the greatest moment of his life.

  Unlucky looked on in fascination, wondering what on earth was happening. He’d long since suspected that there was something different about these younger captives who were pledged to look after him, but he hadn’t known what. If he’d thought it through, he might just about have put the pieces of the puzzle together. But with the constant battering of the cold, lack of magic due to the temperatures, constant hunger and the desperation bombarding him all the time, his thinking was nothing like it should be. But now, he was about to find out the truly terrifying truth. It was far from the greatest moment of his life.

  “HELP... HELP... HELP!” screamed Josh at the top of his voice, his words booming around the cavern as he ran.

  Those going about their daily routines watched in fascination as the youth sprinted along the path towards their leader’s quarters. Puffing heavily, scared out of his mind and worried beyond belief for his brother’s safety, he slid to a halt on the outer reach of his father’s accommodation, still screaming his head off. Two of the guards approached, wary of what was going on, knowing exactly who he was, and just how much their leader despised him.

  “HELP, HELP... you must help! A monstrous creature’s thrown itself out of the underground stream near the dragon prisoner. My brother’s there, all on his own, defenceless.”

  “WHAT THE HELL IS ALL THIS COMOTION?” bellowed the leader, storming around the corner and out into the confusion.

  Panting furiously, the usual fear gripped Josh at the sight of his father heading his way.

  “SPIT IT OUT BOY!” yelled his father, absolutely livid, the veins in his neck pumping two to the dozen, his face taking on a dark purple hue.

  Concern for his brother was all that got Josh through the next few seconds.

  “A monstrous creature’s thrown itself out of the underground stream near the dragon prisoner. Man’s there all defenceless and alone. You have to help, you have to help!”

  Josh’s father stood there for a moment, quietly contemplating what his runt of a son had told him. One thought, and one thought alone playing through his mind: this was it. The stroke of luck that they needed... it had been a long time in the coming, but if they used their initiative, then just maybe they would get out of this hellhole after all.

  Without hesitation, he ordered all his guards to follow him, before turning and sprinting off in the direction of the trouble, his men following in his wake.

  Back by the stream, magic had taken hold. For a split second Man had passed out, or at least that’s how it appeared. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember the last few seconds, although the stinging rapture from just before that was ingrained in his very DNA, something never to be forgotten. Filled with elation, Man started to pick himself up off the floor. Abruptly, he felt weary and tired, almost as though he’d been drained of energy. Leaning his head over his shoulder, it was then that he spotted it. On the floor directly behind him, was what looked like a huge ice blue crystalline mace.

  ‘How odd,’ he thought, as his gaze followed the length of the bizarre object. Arcing round slowly, the crystalline structure then began to merge with beautifully constructed turquoise scales that expanded in size, the further he moved along the appendage. Mind all of a fluster, he felt as though he were having the ultimate out of body experience.

  ‘It can’t be true... it just can’t,’ he thought, as the extent of what he could see behind him was stopped by just how far his neck could crane.

  Only then did it occur to him to look straight down in front of him. On doing so, he nearly peed his pants, or at least he would have done, had the remnants of them not fluttered off to the four corners of the cavern he stood in.

  ‘Oh crap!’ was the next thought to form in his wildly spinning brain.

  Huge, blue scaled legs with muscle and sinew bulging at the seams stood out from the brilliant white of his surroundings. Glistening, light blue and white crystal stalactites jutted out from every part of the prehistoric body he found himself looking at. Instinctively he stood up, astounded as the gigantic, scaly legs did so in unison with his command. Standing up tall, a new sensation prickled his brain as powerful wings unfolded to their true extent. Turning a full one hundred and eighty degrees, he stared disbelievingly into the reflective icy sheen of the wall, agog at what stood before him. A dragon, and not just any dragon, but an almighty one at that. Several shades of blue, needle sharp crystalline spines poked out from nearly every part of his body. White, perfectly formed eyes stared back at him, his head and jaw surrounded by these strange spikes. It was both terrifying and electric at the same time.

  A short way away, Unlucky, the dragon prisoner, looked on, both amazed and terrified, because his mind had just pieced together everything playing out arou
nd him.

  ‘They’ve procreated naturally, and hoped their magic will get transferred and built up that way. If that’s what they’ve done, then there’s a huge threat about to be released. I’ve got to break free and warn them, I just have to.’

  Invigorated by everything going on, once more he rallied against the cold and the chains that bound him in place. Not for the first time, this had little or no effect. All he could do was watch history unfold.

  “What have you done?” roared Man, rolling his long neck from side to side.

  “Just jump-started the magic within you. It was always there ready to go, it just needed a little nudge to come out and play. I hope you don’t mind, it seemed like the right thing to do.”

  “Mind?” put in Man, “It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t thank you enough.”

  At that exact moment, the community’s leader came flying around the corner into the cavern, followed hot on his heels by six burly looking guards.

  Man’s father and his guards did an emergency stop, slamming on the brakes, all of them nearly toppling like dominoes.

  “What in the name of...?”

  A huge, blue, prehistoric head turned to face the newcomers. Inside, Man liked how it felt to see the fear on not only the guard’s faces, but his father’s as well. Who was in control now?!

  Pushing his momentary bout of shock aside, Man’s father gathered up his thoughts and strode purposefully into the fray, just like the leader that he was. Approaching the naga, and ignoring the gargantuan beast off to one side that he now knew was his favoured son, he respectfully bowed his head towards the still dripping wet, serpent-like monster and with his best diplomatic face, offered up all the wisdom and sincerity that he had.

  “It’s a privilege to meet you. I am the leader of this collective. We would be honoured if you would stay a while as our guest.”

  Sensing nothing but truth and honesty from the shape in front of him, the naga bowed his huge snake-like head, returning the leader’s simple gesture.

  “I would be delighted to stay as your guest. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My given name is Margett, but you’re welcome to call me Marg.”

  “Well met Marg,” ventured Man’s father. “Can I ask, what have you done to this one?”

  “On arriving, I sensed a great deal of conflict deep beneath the surface of his psyche, a squabbling of sorts. On closer inspection, it would appear the magic contained within was trying to break free. All I did was provide it with a conduit to do so. After that, nature took its course, transforming him into what you see before you.”

  “Impressive,” stated their leader. “Can you do that for all of us?”

  “Until I meet the individuals concerned, it would be impossible to tell I’m afraid.”

  “What about me?” he asked hungrily.

  Closing his dark grey eyelids, Marg stood tall, his upper body swaying like an oak tree in the wind, his lower body and tail keeping him firmly rooted to the ground.

  After half a minute or so, the naga opened his eyes and spoke.

  “I can find nothing within you. Not a drop of supernatural power or an inkling of magic. I would surmise that constant exposure to the cold has contained the spark you speak of, so much so, that it’s currently impossible to find.”

  Inside, the leader raged. Outwardly, there was no sign of it.

  “Well thank you for taking a look. It means a lot.”

  The lies floated off his lips like butterflies in the wind.

  “If you would allow it, I’ll send my men to get word to the others in an effort to prepare something special. For as long as we’ve been here, we’ve never had a visitor. You’re quite the rarity and everyone will be deeply pleased to see you.”

  “That sounds dandy.”

  “All of you,” stated the leader, “go back to the others and get them to prepare a feast of epic proportions.”

  “Yes sir,” they all said simultaneously, before darting off round the corner.

  Out of the corner of one eye, the leader could just see the abject terror on the dragon prisoner’s face.

  ‘Ahhh...’ he thought, ‘he must have only just put together what’s happened. Good for him, good for him.’

  Turning to face his son, a quick inspection had him deeply impressed, especially with the crystalline spikes jutting out at all angles. A formidable beast indeed, and able to withstand the cold in that form.

  ‘What great potential resides within you,’ he thought.

  “Impressive... Man. You must be over the moon.”

  “I feel honoured to be able to touch my magic so. This form feels like it’s always been part of me.”

  “To a greater or lesser degree, it always has,” replied his father, knowing full well there was a very good chance that magic unlike anything ever seen on this planet now resided deep inside his son. For the very first time it occurred to him that he had to be careful. Nurturing the ethereal power within the boy might be the only way to escape. Offering out an olive branch might be the way to go. It went against every instinct he had. Now was not the time though, to let personal feelings get in the way.

  Strolling up to the mighty blue and white prehistoric form his son found himself in, the leader patted one of his giant scaled legs in admiration, a tiny smirk forming across his face.

  “You know I’m proud of you... son? Your efforts will lead all of us out of this place one day, of that I’m certain. And then you can take your rightful place in the order of things, and once more we’ll be able to shape the planet back to how it should be. Have faith, practise those abilities, nurture your magic, and help your peers to do the same. You’re an inspiration to everyone here. Don’t forget that.”

  Those words, creating that feeling, would be something Man would remember for the rest of his life. Never had he heard his father talk that way to anyone, least of all him. The magic within him, it would seem, had changed everything. Now he could bring everyone here together, in one common goal, and maybe with the naga’s help they could once and for all leave this place. Like all the others, he’d heard stories about the outside world, but never thought until today that he might at some point have a chance to see it for himself. As fantastical as it had sounded, when some of the others had talked about it, now it almost seemed within touching distance. What a life, he, Josh and his mother could have if they all escaped this place. Today was the start of that journey towards their new existence.

  With a solid purpose in mind, their leader, Man’s father, escorted their naga guest away from the dragon prisoner, but not before asking his son to return to his human guise. As the disappointment registered on his face, Man was buoyed by his father’s encouragement, telling him he should practise switching between the two forms at least twice a day, and discover all the abilities his prehistoric persona presented itself with. Nodding eagerly, he watched his father and the naga slip effortlessly around the corner and out of sight, leaving him alone in the cavern with Unlucky, the dragon prisoner, the sound of running water piercing the freezing air.

  “An impressive creation, youngster,” observed Unlucky from across the way.

  “Thank you,” boomed Man’s ancient and guttural voice back in his direction.

  “You know you’re different to all the others, don’t you?” asked Unlucky.

  “I’m just like everyone else... I have a mother and father, all the right bits in all the right places.”

  Head spinning faster than a circular saw blade cutting concrete, Unlucky could barely get his mind around everything that was going on. Often he’d wondered how these youngsters had appeared here, in this place. Not once had he ever come close to the right answer, despite devoting weeks at a time to thinking about it. But that wasn’t the biggest surprise. Discovering Man, one of the two young men to come and feed him on a regular basis, not only had magical power, but could take the form of a dragon, was absolutely astounding. Not once in all the time they’d been bringing him food, had
he ever got even an inkling that such a thing existed. And he should have sensed something, no matter how small, at some point. None of it made any sense. That is, until you cast away the improbable, and looked at what you’re left with, which terrified the absolute life out of him, given everything that had gone on over the last half an hour or so.

  “Your magic,” continued Unlucky, “it’s different, dark dangerous magic, because of how you were conceived.”

  “I don’t understand,” remarked Man, thinking about trying to revert back to his human form.

  “The others... they’re all dragons, stuck in their human form. You... you’re a human that can take dragon form. Very different, almost dangerously so. You need to be careful Man... watch not only your magic, but your back as well. Potentially you’re more powerful than anyone else here, maybe anywhere on the planet. Use what you have wisely, and let that intrigue, wonder and kind heart that you have, win through and I’m sure everything will be as it should.”

  “Thank you... I think.”

  And with that, Man managed to unlock the bonds of the beast that he’d become and in but an instant reverted back to his ape-like form. Unfortunately for him, he’d forgotten that the tattered rags he’d come to regard as his clothes had dispersed into the wind, no good to anyone now. And so, naked and cold, covering his tiny modesty with both hands, he staggered off around the corner, shivering intently, wondering where he’d find something else to wear, forgetting all about the fresh wounds to the dragon prisoner he was responsible for.

  Not a natural diplomat by any means, the community leader had sucked up his discomfort and had made their naga visitor feel as at home as possible, on a short tour of their underground encampment, showing him how they grew their food, the amphitheatre where the youngsters were taught, the electric lighting systems sustained by rigidly imposed mantras and the male sleeping quarters, all of which the naga appeared to be impressed by. Nothing was said about the impoverished state of those all around, the lack of hope apparent, or the squalor and poverty that they all resided in. Man’s father let it linger in the air, a question unasked for the time being at least, hoping that the naga’s quick thinking brain would at some point bring it up of his own accord. Of course it would be better that way, and would play right into his hands.