Inferno

by Julie Kagawa

After the dragonells were settled in, we received a bit of a surprise. In a very short time, Jade had taken a group of chaotic, undisciplined young dragons and turned them into a well-oiled machine. There were hidden guards at the entrance and sentries around the perimeter. There were training exercises and morning meditations. Everyone had a job, from patrolling the yard at night to washing dishes and cleaning the rooms. Riley had been stunned. When Nettle told him that morning “reflection time” was her favorite part of the day, you could’ve knocked him over with a feather.

  Unfortunately, Jade’s disciplined regime sort of fell apart when we arrived with twenty-six more dragons and the Order of St. George. None of the various leaders trusted that a house full of dragons and soldiers of the Order would not erupt into bullets and flame. With the exception of Garret, the dozen or so soldiers had been regulated to an old but serviceable bunkhouse out back. It was a temporary solution, though after a week of healing, settling in, making sure everyone had medical care, food and their own beds, one thought was beginning to emerge in everyone’s minds.

  What now?

  What was the next step against Talon and the Elder Wyrm? We couldn’t stay here forever; sooner or later, the organization would find us. We had done the impossible in reaching the facility and freeing the breeder dragons, but even after that, even with help from what was left of the Order, our small, ragtag group couldn’t stand against Talon’s massive army of soulless dragon clones. All it would take was one push, one surprise attack in the middle of the night, and we would be finished.

  We couldn’t stay here. But one thing was certain; Talon wouldn’t wait for us to decide what we were going to do. Their plans, whatever they were, were very likely in motion now, and we were running out of time.

  One morning, about a week after we’d arrived at the safe house, I awoke early and couldn’t go back to sleep. After pushing back the covers of my sleeping bag, I rose quietly and minced my way across the floor, careful not to wake the other four dragons who shared the room with me. Nettle and another girl named Iris slept in the twin beds along the wall, both of them snoring softly. Iris was a hatchling from the facility, and she had been extremely nervous about sharing a room with so many strangers. I’d given my bed to her on the first day to help her adjust, taking one of the sleeping bags on the floor. Usually, I’d be so exhausted by the end of the day that the thin mattresses on the hardwood floor didn’t even register, but it did make it challenging to sleep late.

  Gliding downstairs, I saw that Jade was already up, drinking a mug of tea at the kitchen table. Morning meditations, where the Eastern dragon gathered all the original rogues on the back porch and had them meditate until sunrise, began in a half hour. She claimed it cleared everyone’s minds, preparing them for the day. I didn’t know what to think about that, but the rogues were certainly more organized than they had been, even under Riley.

  “Morning, Jade,” I greeted, covering my mouth to mask a yawn. The Eastern dragon nodded in return.

  “Good morning, Ember.” Jade put down her mug and gave me a mildly concerned look. “You are up early again. Are you still having trouble sleeping?”

  I shrugged. “Nightmares,” I explained, trying to sound unconcerned. Every night, my brain would recount what had happened on the island, the fight with Director Vance, and the death of Scarlett. Sometimes it added scenes that hadn’t happened, mostly involving Garret and Riley dying in front of me, torn apart by bullets or in the jaws of the director. “It’s nothing serious.”

  She shook her head. “So young,” she murmured, mostly to herself. “Everyone here is so young, and yet they have been forced into a life of war. Youth should be a time of learning, of growing up at your own pace. Of discovering the mysteries and wonders of the universe, and deciding where you fit in. This life changes you, forces you to grow up too soon, to make decisions you are not yet ready for.” Her eyes crinkled with sympathy. “My heart bleeds for everyone here. You will not see the scars until many years down the road, but they will always be there, deep in your soul.”

  “We don’t really have a choice, do we?” I said sadly. “It’s either fight or conform to Talon. Even if we run, the organization will just hunt us down. We have to fight.”

  “Yes,” Jade agreed. “In this, we have little choice. Though I would rather return to my homeland and forget this struggle. If left unchecked, Talon will consume the world.” She frowned and took a sip from her mug before looking at me again. “Remember, though. You do not struggle alone. Meditation has been known to help with nightmares. Perhaps you should join Mist and the others for morning devotions, since you are up this early, anyway.”

  “Mist is doing meditations?” I asked, smiling as I pictured the aloof Basilisk sitting cross-legged on a pillow, breathing deep. “I wouldn’t have expected that of her.”

  “Indeed.” Jade smiled back. “She learns quickly and is quite the devoted student. I believe her own words were, ‘If I am going to continue to be around Cobalt, I need all the patience I can get.’”

  I laughed. “I can see that. Well, maybe I’ll join you sometime.”

  “Whenever you feel ready,” Jade said, sipping her tea. “I think it would be a great boon to you, as well as your fellow rogues. You know they see you as the leader of this resistance, just as much as Cobalt.”

  I blinked. “Really?”

  “Mmm.” Jade put down her mug, regarding me seriously over the table. “It was you who put out the call to fight,” she said. “Who led them into battle to aid St. George. You are at the head of every charge, every assault on Talon. They see your willingness to fight, to not run away or surrender, and it gives them courage. Cobalt might be the brains of the resistance, but you are its heart. And you will be the one who will change things in the end.”

  I swallowed hard. “I hope so,” I whispered. I hoped we could change things, for everyone. I didn’t just want to survive anymore. I wanted dragons to be able to live without fear of Talon or the Order of St. George. I wanted this stupid war to end, but I was afraid of what we’d have to do to make that happen. And who I was going to lose before it was over.

  Jade gazed into her mug as if she could see the future floating in the leaves. “I think,” she said slowly, quietly, “that, one way or another, we are reaching the end of this struggle. Whether it is a good or bad thing is undecided, but one thing is certain. The final battle is approaching. I only hope we are ready.”

  My stomach twisted in on itself, and I took a breath to calm it down. “I’m going to check on Autumn and the others,” I muttered, stepping away from the kitchen. The four pregnant dragons who couldn’t Shift now resided in the barn, which was off-limits to everyone but the various leaders of the underground: Riley, Garret, Jade and myself. And for the past two days, one of the Juveniles named Autumn had been acting strange, lying in her stall and refusing to eat. I had a feeling I knew what was wrong, but I hoped she wasn’t getting sick.

  Jade only nodded, returning to her tea, and I slipped out of the farmhouse into the predawn darkness.

  The barn glowed softly in the distance as I walked across the yard, with the moon and stars glimmering overhead, unfiltered by streetlamps and city haze. A breeze ruffled my hair, smelling of dust and leaves, and a few yellow fireflies winked lazily in the pasture. It was always quiet out here; no traffic, sirens, crowds or blaring horns. No sounds except the crickets and the buzz of cicadas in the trees. I wanted to call it peaceful, but I was afraid of how suddenly that could change. How quickly this serene farm could erupt in an explosion of fire, bullets, screaming and death. I could blink, and everyone I knew would be gone.

  A lump caught in my throat, and I jogged the rest of the way to the barn, pushing back the door as quietly as I could.

  Garret knelt in the straw at the entrance to the last stall, speaking quietly to someone I couldn’t see. He glanced up as the door opened, a faint smile crossing his face
as I stood there in shock. Before I could say anything, he put a finger to his lips and rose, holding out a hand. Bewildered, I closed the door and padded across the dirt to join him. The rest of the barn was quiet, the other three dragonells curled up in the straw, sleeping soundly. The air was filled with the sound of dragons breathing and the faint smell of sulfur.

  “What’s going on?” I asked softly, putting my palm in his. He smiled and drew me close, nodding to the back of the stall.

  “See for yourself.”

  I gazed into the shadows. Autumn lay at the rear of the stall, curled up in the hay with her tail around herself and her wings pressed close. A single white oval lay in the curve of her body, shining faintly under the lamps.

  I gasped, and felt Garret’s smile behind me. “When did this happen?” I asked, keeping my voice low so I wouldn’t disturb the sleeping dragons or the new mother before me. Autumn watched me from the straw, protective but not alarmed, her breaths slow and deep.

  “About twenty minutes ago, according to Autumn,” Garret replied. “I was just about to go find you and Riley, but I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed.”

  I squeezed his hand, then smiled at the dragon curled around the egg. “Congratulations,” I told her. “Are you okay? Do you want anything?”

  The orange dragonell with the yellow stripes down her back shook her head. “Thank you,” she murmured, and her voice was slightly choked. “I’m okay, it’s just...” She blinked rapidly and raised her head, gazing at the egg lying beside her. “This is my second,” she admitted. “My first... I wasn’t even allowed to see it. As soon as it was laid, Director Vance’s men came and took it away. I didn’t want them to, but we were told that dragons who resisted or tried to fight back were severely punished.” Her eyes darkened, as if reliving that moment in time. “ After it was gone, I was horribly depressed for over a month,” she continued. “I remember asking a couple of the older dragons if it ever got easier, and they said no, it really didn’t. You learned to harden your heart, to suppress all the instincts telling you to fight, to not grow attached to the egg growing inside you, because you were just going to lose it in the end.”

  She lowered her head back to the straw, a small, peaceful smile crossing her face. “I’m so thankful to be out of there.” She sighed. “To know I might actually see my egg hatch, and watch my baby grow up, free of Talon. It makes everything we’re doing worth it.” Her gaze shifted to us, golden and serene, as I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked back tears. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Both of you. I’m so grateful for everyone who rescued us. Cobalt, Mist, even the soldiers of St. George. Without them, I wouldn’t be here now. Even if we die and Talon wins, I’m glad I got to experience this moment.”

  I don’t think I could have said anything without breaking down, but a second later, the barn door slid back with a thump, and a new voice ruptured the peaceful quiet.

  “Firebrand? St. George? You in here?”

  “Shh!” I hissed at Riley, who furrowed his brow as he stepped inside, but closed the door quietly behind him.

  “You two going to tell me what’s going on?” he asked, though his voice was softer as he approached, and he moved almost soundlessly through the straw. “What you’re doing, out here all alone? Some might think you... Oh.”

  Whatever he was about to accuse us of faded away as he reached the front of the stall. For a moment, he stared at the dragonell curled protectively around the egg. Then he blew out a short breath that turned into a genuine smile.

  “Autumn,” he said as the dragonell met his gaze calmly. “I didn’t realize your time was so close.” He glanced at the egg, as if making certain it was really there, that he really saw it, before turning back to the mother. “Are you all right? Do you need anything?”

  “No,” Autumn replied, shaking her head. “Like I told Ember and Garret, I’m fine. I have everything I need right now.”

  Riley nodded. “I’ll post a guard outside the door,” he said. “If you want something, no matter how small or insignificant, just tell him. I’ll make certain he reports to me or someone in charge right away.”

  “Thank you, Cobalt.” The dragonell smiled and let her eyes drift shut. “Right now, it’s enough to know my egg will be safe. That I can go to sleep knowing it will still be here when I wake up.”

  “Count on it,” Riley almost whispered. He watched the dozing dragon a moment longer, then turned and jerked his head at us.

  We tiptoed out of the barn and pulled the door shut behind us. Riley was smiling in a way I’d never seen before—with happiness, relief and pride, but also fierce determination. “So it’s happened,” he murmured, gazing at the barn door as if he could sense the dragons beyond. “The first egg laid outside of Talon in a long, long time. We have to make sure it has a chance to hatch, that it grows up knowing its mother, and that it doesn’t have to worry about the organization forcing it into the role they want. No matter what the cost.” He seemed to be talking to himself now, bracing himself for what needed to be done. Garret and I exchanged a glance, right before Riley straightened and turned to us.

  “You two need to see something, right now.”

  Garret

  “An anonymous email?” Tristan remarked, crossing his arms as he gazed at the laptop on the table. “Well, that’s not suspicious at all.”

  Riley eyed him wearily, but was apparently too tired to argue. In the dim light of the tornado shelter, the soldiers of St. George stood uneasily around the table, watching the dragons on either side. Riley had gathered the leaders of both factions for this meeting; even Lieutenant Ward stood beside Lieutenant Martin, glowering at the rest of the room. There were nine of us altogether: me, Ember, Riley, Wes, Jade, Mist, Tristan and the two lieutenants of the Order. It was a tight fit, with five humans and four dragons trying not to bump elbows as we huddled around the table.

  “What’s this about, dragon?” Martin asked calmly. Riley’s jaw tightened, but at least Martin called them dragon and not the more derogatory lizard. “If you’ve called all of us here at once, I assume it’s for something important.”

  “Yeah.” Riley ran his fingers through his hair, gazing around at us. In the dim light, he looked pale and grim, almost shaken. Glancing at Wes, who was standing beside him with his laptop open on the table, he gave a solemn nod. “Wesley, why don’t you show them what you showed me this morning.”

  The hacker nodded. “Right,” he said, and turned the laptop around to face us. “My email is locked down tight,” he began, “but I keep a couple channels open, for runaway hatchlings and those looking to get out of Talon. If they know anything about Cobalt, they can contact us, even if they don’t know where we are. This,” he went on, “is from an email I received early this morning. No name, no return sender, nothing. Not even a bloody message. What it did contain...was this video.”

  He pressed a button on the keyboard, changing the view to full screen, and I leaned in as the video began playing. It was shaky and poorly lit, obviously taken from a phone or similar handheld device. At first, it showed only a pair of shoes walking across a concrete floor, indicating the camera was pointed straight down, perhaps hidden, when the video began. Voices murmured somewhere off-screen, snatches of conversation that were too garbled to make out. There was the creak and groan of a heavy door opening, and the shoes stepped through the frame onto a metal walkway. And stopped.

  Slowly, the camera rose, shook, came into focus. I drew in a slow, horrified breath, feeling Ember stiffen beside me, feeling the shock and disbelief of everyone around me seep into the air.

  “Mother of God,” Martin whispered.

  The camera showed a room that stretched back farther than the eye could see, a dark, seemingly endless cavern that had been suffused with a subtle green glow. That glow came from hundreds upon hundreds of enormous vats, marching in rigid rows through the cavern. They
were massive, towering. It was difficult to tell with the poor video feed, but it looked like they were at least fifty feet tall, maybe taller.

  And each one contained a dragon.

  Vessels. Not hatchlings or Juveniles, but enormous, fully grown Adults. Dragons who, had they been normal, would have been several hundred years old. They floated behind the glass, unmoving, an army of savage, unstoppable killing machines, awaiting the day Talon would wake them up and send them into the world.

  The video froze, and the screen went dark. For a moment, no one said anything. I could feel Ember shaking against me, realizing, as we all did, what this meant. What Talon’s plan had been all along.

  Finally, Tristan sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, composing himself as he did. “How long do you think we have before those things wake up?” he asked.

  “Not long enough,” Riley answered grimly.

  “We have to find it.” Ember raised her head, eyes glowing green in the shadows, her voice horrified and determined. “We can’t let Talon start a war,” she whispered. “Before that army wakes up, before Talon launches whatever they’re planning, we have to find this place and destroy it.”

  “Destroy it?” This came from Mist, standing beside Jade at the far end of the table. “I think we have larger problems to worry about.” She stared at the dark computer screen, her lips pressed into a thin line. “This is obviously a trap. If we go storming that lab now, Talon will be expecting us.”

  “Of course it’s a trap,” Riley growled. “Of course they’re going to be expecting us, that’s why that video found its way here. Because they know we can’t ignore it.” He sighed, stabbing his fingers through his hair again, raking it back. “And we can’t,” he muttered. “Not something like this. We can’t ignore what it means, for us and the rest of the world. Talon is everywhere—their reach expands the globe. If those vessels wake up, it really will be the dragon apocalypse. I don’t want to live in that kind of world, do you?” Mist dropped her gaze, her expression dark, and Riley’s voice softened. “We don’t have a choice, Mist. Believe me, I know it’s a trap. I am well aware that if we go looking for this place, we’ll be walking right into the jaws of death. I wish I could stick my head in the sand and pretend I never saw that video, but none of us can claim ignorance anymore. Once Talon takes control of that army, the entire world is going to erupt in war and dragonfire. There won’t be a place left for us to hide.” He narrowed his gaze, a muscle working in his jaw. “I’d rather die than live like that. I’d rather my entire underground be wiped out than have them exist in a world where Talon rules everything.”