A Dragon's Bond

by Johnson, S. B.

  Chloe's eyes began to fill with tears. "He did this to you?" She opened her arms and wrapped Davin in a hug. "We'll find her Davin. We'll find her, don't you worry."

  Chloe grabbed Davin's hand took off in a hurry to begin the search. The two rushed down the hall towards Derrick's to ask him to help as well.

  "Where do we start?" Derrick asked.

  Chloe chimed in. "I think we have to go back to where we found the book."

  "You mean the passage out of the egg chamber? Surely we wont be able to get in that way again."

  "Hold on." Derrick said. "Whoever took you had to have gotten in somehow, if that's where they took you. Do you remember anything about where you were?"

  Davin shuttered at the thought of the room he had been kept in. "It was dark. It smelt musty, like the air had been trapped in the room for a long time."

  "What else?" Derrick asked.

  "It smelt funny. Like rotten eggs."

  "Sulfur." Derrick said. "There are sulfur mines below the keep." It is one of the minerals added to the dragon feed. There is actually an entrance to one near by here. The entrance has been boarded up, but it's close. With the amount of time you were gone they couldn't have taken you very far."

  "Show us where Derrick." Chloe said in a panic.

  Derrick led the two down a couple of long hallways. They came to a staircase that led down deeper beneath the keep. At the bottom of the stairs, was a small passageway that led to a partially boarded up mine shaft.

  "That's strange." Derrick muttered. "This was completely closed up the other day."

  Without hesitation Davin entered through the entrance to the mind shaft. It was dark and Chloe materialized a small ball of yellow light in her hand. The further they got into the mouth of the mine, the more uneasy Davin became. The air was growing thin and stale. Finally with a glimpse of hope, they came to a door that appeared to be newly constructed, like it had not been there that long. Davin tried the handle. It was unlocked. He opened the door and the three walked through.

  They could hear voices up around the corner. Davin's blood began to burn in his veins. His anger had been building with every step. They heard a heavy door shut and then heard footsteps heading their way.

  Around the corner came one of the dwarfs that Chloe and Davin had seen with the imp in the egg chamber. Davin's heart began to race. Before he knew it, his hands were glowing red hot. Flames burst from his hands and then became engulfed in a field of electrical energy. Chloe and Derrick only watched as Davin unleashed a barrage of fire and explosive energy towards the dwarf. He fell immediately to the ground screaming in pain. He didn't move and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. His body lay dead. It was still smoking and had sparks flying from it.

  Davin didn't stop his march forward and disappeared around the corner. Chloe and Derrick caught up quickly. Davin was standing in front of a large set of double doors. They were secured with a heavy chain and large padlock.

  Davin began pacing in front of the door. The electrical energy and flames began to grow yet again around his hands. "She's inside. I can feel her."

  "Hold on, hold on." Derrick quickly ran back around the corner. He came back swinging a small key around his finger. Davin had begun beating on the door. Derrick simply walked up comely and put the key in the lock and the chain fell to the ground.

  Davin pulled the doors open. He rushed in and dropped to the ground in front of her. She was breathing but barely. Davin picked up Halo in his arms and began to carry her back out of the shaft. All he could think of, was how much he wanted to run into that evil imp, so he could blast him just as he had done to the dwarf. They did not speak as they left. Chloe and Derrick simply followed behind Davin.

  Halo didn't look good at all. She had a large incision in her neck and appeared to have been bled. There were no other injuries that were visible. Blood was still slowly dripping from the drain that had been put in her neck. She was barely conscious.

  Without even knocking, they burst into Myrdinn's chambers. The three were met by Myrdinn's scowling face. "What on earth is this?" He roared. Then he looked down and saw Halo, hanging in Davin's arms. "Bring her here quickly! What has happened to her?" He quickly cleared a table over by the bookshelves. He ran over to a closet and came back with a large leather bag. He pulled out a small scalpel and a set of sutures.

  "Get some towels from the kitchen and some hot water!" He instructed Chloe, pointing to the kitchen.

  After some quick work of removing the drain and suturing up the incision Myrdinn finally gave the three kids his attention.

  "She will be fine." He paused for a moment. "She has lost quite a bit of blood but she will live. Now, tell me what happened."

  Davin went through all that had transpired through the night. Myrdinn had immediately summoned Lugos, Aiden and Goban. Goban stormed into Myrdinn's chamber first. Goban snorted in anger as he looked over Halo who was still not looking well. Shortly behind him Aiden came through the door and immediately went to Chloe. The last to arrive was Lugos. He seemed to be the most enraged at the sight of the dragon.

  Myrdinn began barking orders and Goban and Aiden left the room briskly. Goban was to examine the the shaft and have the guards secure that area of the keep. Aiden was to secure the outer grounds. Lugos' instructions had been given in secrecy. Myrdinn had spoken something quietly into Lugos' ear before he too left the room.

  After the three had left Davin noticed something faintly lingering in the room. It was that same smell. He hadn't noticed it when they first came to Myrdinn's chamber, but now it was again recognizable. It was the smell of rotten eggs.

  Myrdinn continued watching over Halo who slowly had seemed to be improving. Davin and Chloe sat on the couch that was placed in the library, not saying much of anything until Davin finally decided to break the silence.

  "Myrdinn. Why did they take Halo's blood? What would somebody possibly want with it?" Davin stood up and walked over to Halo who had fully regained consciousness. He softly stroked the weak dragon's head.

  "Remember that book I gave you Davin? That book contained what I had thought to be nothing but old myths and superstitions. It appears that somebody is attempting what was described in it. Is there any detail that you may have left out? Is there anything at all?" Myrdinn had become almost frantic in his questioning.

  "It's just like I told you." Davin replied. "I was knocked out and when I came to, My head was covered for some time. I only saw the imp I told you about. Just before I passed out again though, I saw a dark figure. I could not see who it was, only their eyes. There was something oddly frightening about them. It was like a bad nightmare. They were as red as blood and were glowing just like a bonder's."

  "Red eyes! Are you sure?" Myrdinn shot in cutting Davin off.

  "Yes I am very sure!" I could never forget them."

  "I have only seen eyes like the ones you have described but one time. It is something that happens when a bonder is bitten by a creature that is so foul and evil. It is the bite of a Flesh Demon that does this. They are a creature that feeds off of the blood of other creatures. They are normally so ferociously determined to get every drop, that there is rarely much left. I only know of one person that was attacked by one and survived. This was the same man with eyes that had turned from green to red. It was a bonder that had been bitten. They say that once bitten there is a sudden lust for blood. The red eyes show that they have just fed. The initial feeding can be from anything living. Their first victim determines their everlasting craving. A man bitten that first feeds on another man will only crave the blood of men. This man I speak of died shortly after being turned. His first victim had been a child. He was confined and when he didn't feed he became weak and was eventually beheaded. It seems that we are dealing with a turned bonder. Their first victim may have been a dragon and is why they took Halo's blood. But Halo's blood is special for other reasons. The reasons that are written in the book you read. What did it say about the man that drinks the
blood of the Ancient one?"

  Davin thought for a moment. "It said something strange. It said that the man would be the dragon. It showed a picture of half of a man and half of a dragon as a whole. But that makes no sense. What does it mean?"

  Myrdinn looked down at Davin seriously. "It means exactly what it says. The man will become a dragon...and a man. It describes how the man can take the form of a dragon."

  "Then why Halo?" Davin asked.

  "Have you not yet figured it out Davin. Your dragon's eyes. They are blue. Your eyes are blue. Bright, glowing blue. The blue eyes of the Ancient one. Somehow Halo is a direct descendant from her."

  Goban had returned. "We were unable to find anything. No body, no blood, nothing. The mine is a large labyrinth of tunnels. It will take weeks to search them all."

  After talking to Myrdinn some more about the vicious Flesh Demon and what happened to it's prey if they survived, Myrdinn instructed Goban to escort Davin, Chloe and Derrick back to their respective quarters. Goban left two guards in each of their apartments to stand watch. Myrdinn released Halo to the care of Davin and sent for one of the local doctors to stay with Davin to watch for complications and administer heavy doses of antibiotics.

  As tired as Davin was, he did not sleep. He did not leave Halo's side at all that night. All night he sat up watching every breath Halo took. Even the Doctor's orders for him to get rest were ignored. There was no pulling him away from Halo, at any cost.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE CALM

  After just a couple of days, Halo was back to her old self. She healed rather quickly, even for a dragon.

  As the days passed Halo had continued to grow at a very quick rate, her size almost doubling that of the other dragons her age. She towered over even the green dragons, who were most generally the largest. For a dragon, her shape was quite unique as well. Her hind legs were strong and powerful and she walked about on her hind legs with much ease. When standing she was now taller than Davin. All of the dragons had hit a growth spurt and had all at least doubled their previous size.

  Davin had found himself working in the pits quite a bit over the coming weeks. With little to no training he had already surpassed some of the older students. Unlike the other bonders, he had been gifted with not just one, but all of the dragon abilities. His physical strength had become somewhat intense. Blake had made the mistake of finding out he wasn't so tough anymore. He tried to shoulder bump Davin into the wall but tasted it himself. Davin just brushed him off like a fly. He was able to manipulate water like the blue bonders and could conjure fire from his hands like bonders of the reds. Davin was able to create the electrical energy like Chloe could, but could already control it better than her and it was much more powerful. Davin found the ability of the black dragons to be more of a challenge. Derrick and Davin would play what they called shadow tag. They would both try to hide amongst the shadows and take the other by surprise. Derrick would most always win. Davin had not yet been able to control gravity like the brown bonders, but he was constantly trying to.

  Myrdinn and the others had not made any announcements about what had happened. Everyone was quiet about it all. The only ones that seemed to talk about it was Davin, Chloe and Derrick.

  Towards the end of the third week after the incident, Myrdinn finally called a meeting to all within the keep. Everyone was to meet in the main hall at six o'clock in the evening. The three kids wondered what he would reveal to everyone and what he might keep quiet.

  It wasn't until early that morning that Davin realized he would see his dad there. This would be the first time he had seen him since he entered the keep as a bonder. He wondered if his dad had heard of anything about what had happened to him. Surely he would have worried if he knew what he had been through.

  Davin met with Chloe and Derrick as usual for an early breakfast. They talked amongst themselves quietly about what was going to happen. They were all very anxious for the meeting. They watched the other kids giggle in excitement, thinking something good was going to come from a large announcement. The three just shook their heads at the silly ideas some were coming up with. Only they knew what really had been going on.

  The great hall was filling with people once again. Davin caught a glimpse of his father across the room. He tried to call him over, but his voice could not be heard over the loud chatter of all the people talking and yelling back and forth. Davin, Chloe and Derrick found a seat near the back of the hall.They were the only seats left and they would not have been able to get to the front through the crowds of people even if they had tried.

  Myrdinn walked out from one of the side doors at the head of the hall. As he did the people all began to fall silent. Finally when the room was all quiet, he spoke. "We have much to worry about at this time. We have had a brutal incident that can't be brushed over."

  He was suddenly interrupted by the loud thud against the main doors of the hall. The great doors slowly pushed open. Goban entered the hall. He moved sluggishly and he had blood dripping from his body. His breathing was heavy and uneven. He turned his head and saw Davin looking at him in shock. Goban tried to say something but fell to the floor. He looked up to Davin as his eyes field with tears of pain. "Get..." He began to cough and spit out blood from his mouth. He took one last deep breath and said it. "Get out! Now! They have all turned!" His voice went out in a hiss as the life left his body.

  The crowd began to become uneasy and stir over the death of the Great Minotaur Goban. Davin stepped back from the body. He looked up and he caught his father's eyes. Kimball simply nodded at Davin, motioning him to leave. Davin, despite confusion grabbed Chloe's hand and pulled her up. Derrick quickly followed suit. They slipped out of the hall, hidden within the commotion of the now outraged crowd of people.

  They rushed down the hallway towards the stairs leading to the lower levels and the bonder's quarters. They would not leave their dragons behind. They ran down the stairs and split up to head to their own places. Yelling at each other to meet in the main stable entrance below.

  Back in the main hall things had gotten out of control. People were yelling, pushing and shoving. Things started to die down again when something strange began to happen. The floor was rumbling beneath their feet. Something large was coming down towards the entrance to the hall. The group of people that stood in front of the door were immediately trampled. The minotaur guards all came barreling through the door and over those that stood in their path. Myrdinn began to yell. "Stop!" He suddenly collapsed and Aiden appeared behind him. Aiden stood over Myrdinn and spit on him. "We have a new Master of the Keep old man." He kicked Myrdinn in the side of the head knocking him unconscious.

  The minotaurs had completely surrounded the people in the hall. Only a few had managed to escape, squeezing by through all of the mayhem. Once everything had settled, there were many dead lying on the floor and the blood pooled near the doorways where so many had tried to escape. The room fell silent once again. The door that Myrdinn had come through opened once again. Lugos emerged from the shadows as he entered into the hall. His eyes like those of the minotaurs were blood red.

  "Take them all to the dungeon. Lock them all up, find the opal dragon and bring it to me."

  Back below Davin, Chloe and Derrick met in the main stable entrance. "How are we going to get out?" Chloe asked. "Surely we won't be able to go back up."

  "We will have to go through to the mine." Davin said. "We will have to find the way that leads out."

  Agreeing they all headed to the only way out of the keep. They entered the dark mine through the broken up entrance once again. They descended the flight of stairs and entered into the room where Davin had killed the dwarf. They rounded the corner and to the furthest point they had been into the mine. From there it would be any of their best guess as to which way to go.

  They opened the door that stood in front of them. The room beyond was dark. Davin conjured a small flame in his hand and the room lit up. It was a rather long room with t
wo doors. One on the side and one directly across from them . They made their way across the room stopping at the first door. Derrick pulled the door open. It appeared to be a cell, as there were shackles hanging from the ceiling. Davin cringed at the sight of the small well that went deep into the ground. "This is where they had me." He said. "I was half drowned in that well." He turned quickly and left the room. They shut the door and quickly headed to the door at the far end of the room.

  The door in front of them was large and menacing. They stood silent as if waiting for something to happen. There was a small draft coming from under the door and even the air seemed to be slightly less stale at that end of the room. Chloe this time stepped forward and opened the door. As she opened it, a small gust of fresh air blew into the room. They peered down what appeared to be a long tunnel. Resembling a mine shaft much more than the room they had already passed through.

  The three kids and their dragons walked slowly down the tunnel. There were many other tunnels that shot off of the one they were following. They stayed on the straight path that the tunnel was leading. Their hopes grew higher because the further they got, the fresh air seemed to increase. There was a slight bend in the path and as they came around it the tunnel opened up into a large cave. They could see the red light from the set sun coming through at the very end. Off to the right side of the cave they noticed a dark figure. It stood as they were noticing it. It's head lifted and they saw the eyes. They were bright red, glowing in the dark of the cave. It started towards them in an aggressive manner, picking up speed as it neared them.

  The three dragons snarled and hissed at the approaching threat. Davin and Chloe lined up in front of Derrick. Chloe began to conjure a large sphere of electrical energy and Davin's hands both began to spark as they were engulfed in red hot flames. He immediately began firing electrical balls of fire at the creature that was barreling towards them. It was about ten feet away when it was finally clear what it was. It was one of the minotaur soldiers. Davin hit him with a flurry of small blasts and his pace slowed. The beast leaned back and let out a God awful yell. Just then Chloe released the immense ball of energy and it flew towards the beast. It hit it square in the chest and it let out another roar. Halo let out a huge stream of fire and the minotaur burst into flames. It dropped to it's knees and then fell to it's face. They all stood on guard, breathing heavily from the adrenaline pumping through their veins. It didn't move. It was dead. They all rushed towards the end of the cave and out of it's mouth. They could feel the cool ocean air blowing against their faces and the waves crashed against the rocks to the left side of the cave entrance. Off to the right was a long beach. They had come out of the mine a good mile away from the Keep. They looked up to the cliffs in the direction of the Keep. They could see flames rising from the town and even parts of the Keep were on fire.