Dragon Marked: Supernatural Prison #1

by Jaymin Eve

  Mischa’s low voice sounded close to my ear. “Do you think they’re dragon marked?”

  I couldn’t answer, I was trying not to cry. There were babies here. I wasn’t the biggest fan of rug-rats with their whining and sticky fingers, but this was torture.

  “Braxie.” A tiny voice echoed through the room, and a boy moved toward us. He appeared to be the only one not shackled down. “You came back.”

  As he moved closer, I noted the ragged, shoulder-length brown hair, pale, unhealthy skin which should be olive in tone but was sickly white, and huge brown eyes that dominated his face.

  “Why did he not just escape himself?” I had to ask, unable to tear my eyes from him. He’d obviously known there was a way out, he’d directed Braxton on how to get in here.

  Braxton had something feral moving behind his eyes. His voice came out harshly. “Firstly, he couldn’t have fit through the exit point without the help of magic, and he has none. And he was afraid. This place is all he has ever known.” He strode forward and swept the boy into his arms. “I promised you I’d return,” he murmured to Nash.

  “We can’t leave the rest here,” I said, managing to keep my voice at a low shriek. “We have to save them all.”

  The Compasses exchanged glances.

  Jacob spoke first. “We can’t, Jessa. For more than one reason. Firstly, their chains look to be carved with runes and I can feel the magic infused. We can’t bust them out of those without the key or some serious power. And secondly, I think this many trying to escape would be noticed by the guards.”

  Maximus swept his arm around. “And we don’t know what they’re in here for, we might be freeing very dangerous criminals.”

  I exchanged a quick glance with Mischa. We knew what they were, and deep down the Compasses did too. What Maximus was really saying was they wouldn’t risk freeing the dragon marked.

  Damn them. Babies … fuck that. I would die before I’d leave them here. But I knew the boys wouldn’t let me stay or put myself in jeopardy. I’d have to be smart about it. My eyes were locked on two little girls, no more than three or four, clinging to each other, just managing to stretch their chains far enough to huddle together. They reeked of fear and desperation. And desolation … as if there wasn’t one ounce of hope in them.

  I suddenly swung my head around to the boy that was close to Braxton’s side. “How did you get your chains off, Nash?”

  He regarded me solemnly, with eyes too large and weary for a little boy. “I broke my thumb, and now it’s always out of its socket. It fits through the shackles.”

  I flinched at the thought of his pain. Although, depending which supernatural race he was from, his pain might have been hidden by his other side. He waved his hand at me and the angle of his thumb was definitely off.

  “Do they ever remove everyone else’s shackles?” I managed to ask.

  He nodded. “Once a day, guards take us to the bathroom.”

  That was my chance.

  “Get that look off your face, Jessa.” Maximus was all business and he was standing too much in my personal space for my liking. “We cannot save them. There are lots of hard decisions in life. This is one of them. You have to accept that we have your best interests at heart.”

  I widened my eyes and blinked a few times at him, my impression of a brain-dead bimbo. I don’t take orders from anyone, especially not a man who thinks he can demand my obedience simply based on the fact he was born with a penis and I was not. I mean, I’m not a complete moron, I can take advice and ask for help. But blindly following orders, that isn’t me and is never going to be.

  Braxton’s deep tones jarred me from my crusade. “I will help you, Jess.” His words eased some of my anger. He had a way about him, that man. “But for now we’re not prepared to rescue this many people. We’ll find the doorway again and the next time we will save everyone.”

  Truth.

  I stared up into the stunning blue of his eyes, a color that was one of my favorites in the world. I trusted his word. He meant what he was saying. But I could not sleep one more night knowing there were children suffering here. I could see by the set of Braxton’s jaw that he was struggling with it also; that was the soft heart which had brought him back into the prison to save a little boy. But he was also very practical, his logical brain telling him that the odds of succeeding at this mission was slim. So he was going to find another way, at a later date.

  I understood the logic. I simply chose to ignore it.

  “Okay, Brax.” I wasn’t really lying, I did see his point. “Let’s go then.”

  Relief crossed all four of the Compass’ faces. If they weren’t so caught up in the danger here and the need to get to safety, they would be questioning my compliance. But, stupid boys, they were happy to take my word at face value. The only one who even cast a suspicious glance in my direction was Mischa. It had to be because we were twins, or she was thinking the same thing as me, because she did not know me well enough to know my ‘tells’ yet.

  As we moved back toward the doorway, I forced myself to keep walking, closing my eyes so I couldn’t see the desperate supernaturals we were leaving behind in the cells. I mentally promised them that I would be back very soon.

  Braxton caught my arm just as I was about to step back into the narrow tunnel. “Don’t pull any bullshit stunts, Jessa,” he whispered.

  Innocence poured off me in droves. I hadn’t lied to him, he wouldn’t have scented the mistruths I hid in my heart. But clearly he had paid closer attention to my actions than the others. Damn Braxton, always so observant.

  He kept a close eye on me, staying at the rear, although Nash was between us. The little boy wouldn’t get very far from Braxton’s side. It took us no time at all to make it down the ladder and through the sewerage system.

  “Okay, we’re going to have to wait it out,” Maximus said when we reached the spot which would expel us back out of the prison. “The next guard change is not for another ten hours.”

  Mischa leaned forward. “Won’t that be cutting it awfully close to the twelve hour time frame?”

  Maximus pushed his hair back. “There’s no timeframe on exiting the underground area, but if we try to come back in again, the doorway will have shifted.”

  He leveled a gaze on me, warning in his dark eyes. I tried to cover up the emotions flooding through me. He had no idea the gift he’d just given me. If I could time it perfectly I’d be able to ‘fall behind’ or something equally lame, and hopefully by the time they noticed it would be too late for them to get back through the doorway.

  I was kind of nervous about being in here without their support and protection. But I reminded myself that this prison was legitimately run, the council was always here, my father would not let me rot if I was captured. I owed it to those poor people, whether dragon marked or not, to at least attempt to free them.

  The hours passed slowly. Nash fell asleep curled up next to Braxton. It was obvious he was very used to sleeping on a hard stone floor. He never shifted to get comfortable. The conditions those people lived in … if they weren’t supernaturals they would have most certainly died from the cold, or disease.

  Mischa used the time to chat with Maximus and Tyson, learning about our people, history, rules. All the little things she’d missed out on by not growing up here.

  “So you find your mates through kissing?” She sounded intrigued.

  Tyson snorted. “Not exactly … it can happen in any sexually charged situation. Which for some might be kissing. Others it won’t be until sex.”

  “It’s been known to happen from a single glance,” Maximus added, his tone dry.

  I leaned back harder, wiggling until I found a groove in the rocks. It still wasn’t comfortable, but I didn’t mind. “There were these two shifters who were sleeping together, and they kept saying it was just a casual thing. But strange enough, they were mates … for them the bond didn’t form until they moved past their denial and acknowledged their true feelin
gs for each other.”

  Mischa raised her eyebrows at me. “Was that our parents?”

  I laughed. “I guess Mom shared that little story with you also.”

  She was rolling a small stone between her fingers. “Yes, but obviously not the mate and wolf part, because she never told me about that. But the story she gave me was pretty similar.” She lifted her chin and locked in on Maximus. “So how many supernaturals are there in the world?”

  He answered straight away; this was all textbook information for us. “Around half a million world-wide. There are six thousand living in Stratford, another twenty thousand scattered throughout the US.”

  Mischa’s eyes widened. “Are you saying there are lots living on their own in the human world?”

  Braxton answered this time. He’d been speaking quietly to Nash, who was going in and out of sleep, but clearly still listening. “We don’t make anyone stay in the communities. Our towns are there as a safe haven and as a gateway to protect the prison. Many supernaturals choose to live as a human. They even have human partners and children.”

  “The children are half-breeds, and besides a little extra-sensory gifts, are pretty much human,” I added.

  “Amazing,” Mischa breathed. “This is both fascinating and incredibly unbelievable for me. If I hadn’t seen some of these things with my own eyes…”

  I couldn’t help but grin at her. “There is so much more for you to learn.”

  “I’m just really glad I finally have a chance to live as I was meant to. I can’t imagine why any supernatural wants to live amongst humans, denying their true family.” She shook back her dark hair. “I’ll never go back.”

  I could see the shudders running through her body.

  “That we don’t age is leading to some problems in the human world,” Jacob said. “Supernaturals live over eight hundred years. In the human world they have to move constantly, change their identities. And the ones with families have to do the same, even if it means leaving their loved ones behind.”

  Her mouth dropped open, heaves of breath coming in and out. “Even more reason to stay in the communities.”

  More questions were forthcoming.

  “So there are no female dragon shifters?” she asked, her green eyes wide.

  Braxton shook his head. “Female dragons are the rarest of creatures. There have been none born in the last few hundred years. Before that, the rest were killed off.”

  “Why?” Mischa was working her lip between her teeth. “What is everyone’s problem with dragons and dragon marked?”

  I crushed some pebbles in my right hand. “Fear. The supernatural world is afraid of dragons. They’re the strongest and most powerful of any of us, and when the ancient king dragon almost took over the five races, they decided to never allow that chance again.”

  Jacob nodded. “No one knows what the dragon marked even are. The guess is that it’s some way for the dragon king to claim members of all five races. Supposedly, after he died and made his declaration, the marks just started showing up on babies.” His eyes turned stormy. “Of course those infants did not live to tell their tales.”

  “But clearly they didn’t kill them all.” Tyson sighed. “Which leads me to ask the question … why are there imprisoned marked? And who are the two women freeing them from the other prisons?”

  We had too many unanswered questions, and I wasn’t sure where I fit in with all of this. I didn’t feel dragon marked, having spent my entire life ignorant of the fact. Now I wondered what the future held for me and Mischa.

  “Just so I have this straight,” Mischa said, distracting me. “Most supernaturals only breed within their own race, producing pure bloods. If they cross breed between races they produce hybrids, like the Compass parents. And if they breed with a human it’s a half-breed, who have no real power.”

  She looked between all of us, and everyone nodded at once.

  “Pretty much,” I said with a shrug. It wasn’t that complicated, but it could get messy. Sometimes from all that genetic chaos came anomalies, like the quads.

  After this the conversations died off for a bit, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Braxton went back to silently staring at me. I swear the dragon had not taken his eyes off me for more than a few minutes since we’d sat there. He so knew I was up to something. If it wasn’t for Nash taking some of his concentration, he’d definitely have confronted me by now.

  I closed my eyes, listening to Jacob. He was communing with nature or whatever he did when he zoned out and started softly singing in his beautiful fey voice.

  I squinted one eye open. Braxton was still watching me. The damn man had a stratospheric IQ, nothing slipped past him. If this plan had a hope in hell of working, I’d have to be really convincing to lift his distrust.

  Time to act normal.

  I gestured to the trusting little cherub. “So what are you going to do with Nash? They’ll notice a new child running around Stratford, especially if he’s bunking at your place.”

  He straightened, careful not to disturb the boy curled up on his side. “I’m hoping Jonathon and Torag can smooth things over with the council, pretend he’s an orphan or relative. Mom would love another boy to look after.”

  Braxton wasn’t kidding, Jo would be thrilled. And Jack wouldn’t be far behind her. Something in their hybrid natures had given them pure souls with so much love to give. Yeah, they could be brutal if required, but mostly they were all about love.

  “Do you ever think about having kids?” Braxton asked me.

  I raised my brows as I stared at him for a few extended moments. “Uh, no, not really. Mostly I find they are pains-in-the-ass. All those questions and getting into shit.”

  He grinned. “Typical answer, Jessa, but I see the way you look at babies.”

  “I just can’t stand when children are treated badly. They’re innocent and deserve a chance to grow up strong and healthy. Adults can fend for themselves. But children … well, that’s an entirely different story.”

  His voice was lower than before. “I admire a strong heart. Your father should be very proud of you, Jessa. The shifter you have grown into is to be admired.”

  I wasn’t sure how to react, there were so many layers to his voice. So many unsaid things in that simple, yet touching statement. I blinked rapidly a few times. Most people only saw my smartass exterior. I wasn’t sure I liked the way he was staring into my soul, seeing things I’d rather the world did not.

  “Luckily, I have many years before I start worrying about having a rug-rat running around my feet.” I lightened my tone, ready to move past the serious conversation.

  Braxton just smiled at me. Smug bastard.

  Eventually the hours whiled away. I snuck in a few sleeps, knowing I’d need my energy later. I was starving, though, despite the few snacks Tyson provided from his jacket pocket. I was missing my meals. Another thing I’d have to get used to for a while.

  Eventually Braxton, who’d been keeping an eye on the time, got to his feet. He had Nash’s hand firmly clasped in his own. It was time to go.

  “Stay quiet and follow my lead,” he said. And we were off through the weird portal again. I hoped it would still be open when I came back; otherwise I’d be in trouble.

  The side of the stone wall was deserted. The timing had been perfect. We dashed as one toward the shadowy sides. Braxton picked up Nash and tucked him under his arm, the muscles standing out as they flexed beneath their load. We made it to the edge, blending into the darkness. I slowly let myself fall back a little. In his rush to get everyone to safety, Braxton had moved forward, taking his eyes from me. Never a great idea. Despite the fact the boys still surrounded us, they’d fanned out and let me continue to drift backwards. Mischa seemed to be keeping pace with me, but I wasn’t worried about that, she wouldn’t be hard to lose. Her senses were not fully functional yet. And more importantly, she didn’t know how to call on her wolf.

  We were in the low tunnel again, and as luck would
have it I found myself at the back of the pack.

  Braxton’s voice drifted to me. “All clear now. Let’s move into the forest.” One by one I watched them exit through the doorway. Braxton and Nash first – he was solely focused on getting the little boy to safety.

  I slowed my footsteps but didn’t stop them. I would follow all the way right until the end so there would be no time for them to notice me pausing. Despite their mild suspicions, I don’t think any of them, including Braxton, thought for one second I’d stay in here by myself. If they’d had even a small inkling of what I was planning, I’d be over one of their shoulders, with no chances for rebellion.

  They were going to be so pissed at me.

  Jacob was second from the end, about to dive through the mist. I couldn’t see Mischa. I assumed she’d gone in somewhere through the middle.

  “Hurry,” Jacob called. He had that glow about him, like at this very moment he was connected to the forest. His head was already on the other side.

  My heart was pounding in my chest. I could still halt my plans now, it wasn’t too late, and I knew Braxton would keep his word and help me search again. But, in reality, what could we do to better prepare ourselves to rescue all of the supernaturals? I didn’t want to give myself a chance to chicken out. Something told me, deep in my gut, that if I didn’t do this now I never would. I was being urged on this mission, which should freak me out, but I was just going with it.

  As the last of Jacob’s blond hair disappeared, I stopped and pressed myself solidly against the wall. The sudden silence was almost deafening. I huffed in and out, gathering my strength, searching for a speck of bravery. Damn, I was not cut out for this cloak and dagger, save-the-world missions.

  Before I either cried or freaked out, I turned and sprinted back the way I just came. I needed to get back inside that building before shift change started again and the portal was closed. I didn’t stop or hesitate, tracing the same steps right back to the water inlet, and thankfully the side was still clear. I could hear voices coming closer and I knew it was time for them to start their circumnavigation of the perimeter again. I crossed the wide space, staying low to the ground to blend into whatever shadow I could find, sprinting at full force.