Drakin: The Story of Raiya

by James Harrington

At that moment, a faint sound came from inside the bundle, causing the elderly couple to flinch. Ben took the bundle from Linda and opened it. His eyes narrowed, “A girl?”

  As more of the little baby’s skin appeared, Ben’s eyes widened. His face went pale as he shot to his feet and looked at his wife, “It… it’s a monster!”

  Linda stood up next to her husband and looked at the child, “What the…?”

  “We have to get it out of here!” Ben shouted. “We have to take it into to town. We’ll leave it at the orphanage and…”

  A tender feeling in his right hand stopped him mid-sentence. The baby’s little fingers had reached out and grabbed his index finger. She looked up at him innocently. Her odd eyes made him speechless.

  Linda smiled, “Oh Ben, look at that. She likes you.”

  Ben closed his eyes. He knew what she was about to ask and dreaded every word, “Ben… can’t we keep her here? You know the life she’ll have at the orphanage.”

  “Linda, she won’t replace Teagan.”

  Linda shot Ben an angered look, “I know that you old fool! Nothing could ever replace our daughter, but this baby needs a place to stay and we still have all of Teagan’s old things. We should be able to provide for her without much trouble.”

  Ben watched silently as Linda took the baby from him. He had a look of defeat on his face. When his wife made up her mind about something, it was impossible to change it.

  Linda cradled the baby in her arms as it cooed happily, “Ben, the day our daughter left to fight in the Red War, do you remember what she said?”

  “Yes…” Ben replied. “She said that she wanted to do her part and help protect our people.”

  “I remember…”

  “Teagan did her part, maybe we can honor her memory by protecting this baby? I think that’s what she’d want.”

  Ben took one more look at the child and frowned as he turned away, “Someone else might be looking for her… she can stay with us for now, but if someone comes…”

  “I know, Ben… I know. We’ll have to give her up. That’s fine.”

  Thunder cracked outside as Linda closed the door, “It’s a deal.”

  “This could be very bad.”

  Linda waved at Ben in disregard, “Oh stop it. You worry way too much, what is the worst that could happen?”

  The baby flinched and began to cry as the thunder echoed in the distance. Linda tightened her arms to bring the child closer to her, “Shh… no, no… it’s okay. You’re safe now… shh…”

  New Framingham

  Westcon Territory

  Formerly Massachusetts

  Chapter I

  “Unbelievable… thirty years of this shit… wonder how we’ve been able to keep this up for so long.”

  As Jagger pulled his jeep onto what was once Route 9, he reached over to the dash and turned the radio on. A tired-sounding voice appeared over the speaker, “This Matt Lowry, WPR hourly news. Today the Second Battalion, Eastern division, rendezvoused with the Third Battalion outside of New Washington beneath the third parallel in district 5. They were successful at warding off the dragon advance. Casualties were estimated at 30%. However, initial reports estimate that at least six dragons were downed in the fight…”

  Jagger sighed. Why do I even bother listening to this? It’s never good news, just a constant reminder that we’re all fucked. Every time those beasts attack, we’re pushed a little closer to extinction.

  “In other news, Captain Suen Luli of the Eastern Coalition Air Corps was awarded for…”

  Click.

  Jagger turned the radio off. He knew the typical song and dance of the news source. They’d tell the bad news first and then deliver some good news which would be played up to be more important. He understood why things were done this way. Morale was very important… especially when it was hidden from no one that humanity was losing the war quite badly.

  The jeep drove under the remains of an old overpass that had long since collapsed. It maneuvered gently around the piles of debris. Jagger had spent a lot of time rebuilding and refurbishing his truck. He wasn’t about to get it banged up. Once it cleared the debris, he pressed the gas and picked up speed.

  A sign on the side read ‘Now Entering Natick.’ Jagger had been told stories about how that whole area used to be lively with stores and restaurants for people to enjoy. He was too young to remember any of this.

  The Red War had been going on for years before his birth, and Natick had been laid to waste while he was still a young child. Now all that remained was rubbed and maybe some salvageable equipment buried in the dirt.

  The jeep rounded a large piece concrete that, at one time had been the side of a storefront. This was usually Jagger’s marker to find his way back home. As the jeep hit the open road, a loud noise cut through the air. Shreeeee!

  Jagger hit the brakes, “Wyverns… shit! One of those days…”

  Jagger quickly put the car in park before reaching behind the passenger seat and grabbing a large bolt rifle. A dark shadow passed overhead as he checked the cartridge battery. The indicator light jumped from red to blue, showing a full charge. Good… let’s do this!

  Jagger jumped out of the jeep, brushed a few strands of his long, brown hair out of his face and aimed the rifle. The first wyvern he saw was flying low overhead. He ducked down behind the large piece of rubble that he has passed a moment ago. His gray eyes followed the target. He watched and waited… waited until he had lined up a clean shot, and pulled the trigger. Three large, positively-charged, bolts flew from the barrel. Two shots hit the large beast, sending it falling from the sky. I’ve gotten too used to taking down drakes. I used to be able to hit with all three shots!

  Sparks of blue electricity flashed through its body as it hit the barrel ground. The wyvern’s skin was too thick for the bolts to do any real damage. They only stunned it, but it was enough to give Jagger the advantage.

  He quickly ran to the wyvern, pulled a large machete from his belt, and jabbed it into the only vulnerable part of a dragon’s body; the eyes.

  The blade destroyed the creature’s left eye and plunged into its brain. The dying wyvern let out a painful cry as it tried to dislodge the blade. It was a gruesome sight that Jagger had grown used to. He’d been trained for a long time to show no mercy.

  Every time he had to watch this scene, he remembered back to the first one he’d killed during his training. He remembered that it had made him sick to his stomach. Seeing a creature suffer like that seemed cruel, but every time he was about to look away his drill sergeant would stop him and force him to watch, “They’re lethal to the very end. Turning your back on one now could be the biggest mistake you ever make.”

  ‘The biggest mistake.’ It was something that he’d never forgotten.

  The wounded beast slowly ceased movement as death overtook it. Jagger placed his foot over the beast’s snout and pulled his blade from its head. Greenish-purple blood spewed from the wound as Jagger wiped the blade off.

  As Jagger finished cleaning the blade, he turned to head back to his jeep and grab a few supplies. The snout of a second wyvern was in his path. Oh shit…

  Somehow the beast had used its partner’s death screams as a cover to hold Jagger’s attention long enough for it to sneak up on him. The beast smiled, “Hope you taste good!”

  Jagger frowned, “This is one meal you’re going to have to work for.”

  Jagger gripped the blade at his side, knowing he’d never raise it in time. He waited for the wyvern to lunge. This was likely it, “Bring it on… you ugly freak!”

  As the wyvern took a step towards him, a black blur appeared in its path. It shrieked in surprise upon realizing that it had become outnumbered.

  Jagger blinked as his eyes adjusted to the new player. They were completely clad in black robes from head to toe, making identification impossible. A gray backpack was strapped tightly to their back. Whoever this was, they moved with lightning speed.

  The wyver
n snapped at the robed figure, only to have the figure dodge out of the way and grab it by the neck. The stranger held the wyvern in a headlock as it struggled to get out. Jagger watched as it hissed and roared, “Damn… this guy is good!”

  “Let go, bitch or I’ll tear your heart out!” The wyvern snarled.

  Female… okay, well that’s a start. Jagger thought as he quickly moved to grab his bolt gun.

  No amount of thrashing could shake this stranger lose. Her hands were locked tightly around the wyvern’s neck. She spoke in a voice that was barely more than a whisper, “No… you won’t…”

  To Jagger’s utter shock, she jerked her arms, causing the wyvern’s neck to sharply turn to the side. The sound of a loud snap caused the wyvern to go limp.

  The skeletal structure and bone mass of even the youngest dragons were considerably thicker than humans. Their muscle tissue was also incredibly strong. No human being should possess that strength. It was a physical impossibility.

  Jagger watched in amazement as she let go of the beast, tossed its head to the side, and turned to confront him. He put on a friendly smile and nodded nervously. Careful Jagger, she looks like she’s ready to kill you. “Thanks.”

  He couldn’t see most of her face under the hood, but her yellow eyes almost looked like they were glowing. Her voice was deep and very quiet when she spoke. It was almost a whisper and difficult to hear, “It was stupid of you to leave your car. A jeep can outrun those beasts and they always hunt in pairs, at least.”

  Yup… definitely a woman. “It didn’t seem that dangerous. Wyverns can’t breathe fire, so it’s easier to fight on foot, especially if there’s only one. I didn’t see the second, and I’m usually not caught off guard like that.”

  “One stupid move… all it takes.”

  “Words of Wisdom.”

  “Why did you fight?”

  “Instinct I guess.”

  “I see…”

  The figure stared at him for a moment. To Jagger, it felt like he was in the middle of drill inspection back at Westcon command. Her eyes darted up and down for a moment before she abruptly turned and began walking away.

  Jagger called after her, “Wait!”

  The figure stopped but did not turn and did not respond. Jagger took a few cautious steps towards it, “I owe you one for helping me. Do you need anything?”

  “No.”

  “Really? Nothing?”

  “No… not unless…”

  “Yeah?”

  The figure paused for a moment. Jagger waited as she slowly turned around. Her hood was down as though she were looking at her stomach, “I haven’t eaten in a few days… I could use of some supplies. Do you have any?”

  Jagger smiled, “No, but my town is nearby. Hop in, I’m heading for New Framingham. There are plenty of shops there.”

  “A… town?”

  “Yeah, you’ll be able to find anything you want there.”

  “I… I’m not sure…” The figure replied in a nervous whisper. “I don’t typically do well around large groups of people.”

  Jagger looked at her oddly, “Well… It’s the only major hub in this part of old New England after Boston and Worcester were destroyed. The survivors moved out here and established a fortified city in the only nearby area with buildings left standing.”

  “Boston and Worcester… they were both destroyed?”

  Really? How could she not know about this? “Yeah, for almost ten years now, where have you been?”

  “Away…”

  “Away?”

  The robed woman climbed into the jeep and rested her hands on her lap. She turned to watch as Jagger grabbed a saw out of the back, “Yes… I’ve been wandering the country since my grandparents were killed by an elder dragon. I don’t have access to a radio so…”

  Her eyes narrowed as Jagger walked over to one of the fallen wyverns, “Wait… what are you doing?”

  Jagger looked down at the saw, “I’m going to get their teeth.”

  “Why?”

  “Dragon teeth are flame-resistant. They can be melted down and used to make armor, weapons, walls… all kinds of different things. They’re worth a fortune if you can get them.”

  He placed the saw on the nearest wyvern’s mouth and began to run the blade across its gums. Blood stained his hands as he struggled to make conversation, “So… you’re a nomad?”

  “There a better way to live beyond city walls?”

  “Not really…” Jagger chuckled as he removed the upper jaw. “Okay… well let’s see, ten years huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “All right so I can fill you in on the Red War, but what do you know so far?”

  The girl shrugged, “Not much… From what my grandparents told me, the dragons first appeared in New York… After decimating Manhattan, they flew east and were seen weeks later heading towards Siberia. The five of them disappeared for about five years. When they reappeared, there were many… many more of them and they continued to multiply.”

  She leaned on the roll bar of the old jeep as Jagger threw the teeth into the back. He then quickly wiped his hands and went to work on the second wyvern, “They were immune to conventional weapons and were too fast for nukes to work… not for a lack of trying… obviously.”

  Jagger looked around the barren wasteland that used to be Wellesley, Massachusetts and nodded, “Obviously… is that it?”

  “No.” The woman replied stoically. “I heard that countries were toppled by the onslaught of the dragons… Even the U.S. Government retreated. I heard the president’s speech, vowing to return and retake the land lost to the dragons… That was three days before he and his chiefs of staff were all killed. The remaining world leaders set aside their differences and formed into two governing bodies; the Eastern and Western Coalitions. They established regional governors, but the cities and settlements themselves are largely self-governed… That’s all I know.”

  Jagger nodded as he removed the second wyvern’s jaw, “Sounds like you’ve heard most of it. The problem was that most weapons couldn’t penetrate a dragon’s scales. Missiles didn’t work, bullets didn’t… some armor piercers did, but they’re rare. Eventually we developed electrostatic shock weapons and super-focused lasers that could burn a hole through them, but by then…

  Jagger let out a deep sigh as he spoke, “… by then, it was almost too late. Humanity had been reduced to nearly 2 billion people.”

  “You’re losing the war…” The woman said in a whisper.

  Jagger grabbed a bottle of water from behind his seat and poured some over his hands. The cool water rinsed away the dragon’s blood and soothed his skin, “Don’t you mean we’re losing?”

  “Sure…”

  Jagger got behind the wheel of the jeep and started it up. The engine came to life and caused the entire car to vibrate. He pulled back on the break and allowed the car to wheel forward.

  The stranger eyed the dash, “Your car’s engine sounds different. They’re usually louder.”

  Jagger smiled, “They’re usually falling apart. I spent years working on this one.”

  “Impressive.”

  Jagger kept his eyes on the road, though he occasionally looked up to make sure that the sky was clear, “By the way, I’m Lieutenant Jagger Bishop, Westcon Security.”

  No response.

  “What, you don’t have a name?”

  “…”

  “All right then…”

  Jagger couldn’t be certain, but he thought he detect and annoyed sigh before she spoke, “… Raiya if you must know.”

  “Raiya, that’s an unusual name.”

  “I’m an unusual person.”

  Jagger nodded, “Yeah I believe that, just from watching you.”

  “Whatever you say.” Raiya said in a disinterested tone.

  Jagger released a deep breath as he watched the debris pass, “So… those were some nice moves you pulled back there. You must be pretty jacked to snap the neck of a dragon. That w
as amazing.”

  “It’s not that hard if you know where the joint is.”

  “Maybe you could show me?”

  “Doubtful, you also have to be really fast…”

  “Oh… too bad.”

  As the jeep picked up speed, Raiya struggled to keep her hood up. It acted like a sail, catching the wind that blew past her face. As it was pushed back, small flashes of her skin appeared. She grabbed the sides and forced them forward, holding the hood down over her face.

  Jagger had his eyes on the road and could only see her out of the corner of his right, but what he saw left him with more questions than answers. Her skin was tanned, but her pigment appeared to have an almost greenish hue to it. The strands of hair he saw looked like it was a dark olive color. Maybe she dyed it somehow? Yeah right, where would she get dye out here? You’re probably just seeing things.

  It was a reasonable thought. He never really had great lateral vision. However, as the hood flew back a second time, he quickly glanced over to confirm what he initially saw. His eyes caught sight of the odd complexion of her skin. There was no doubt that something was off with her. Who or what was this girl? Dragon’s Bane? There hasn’t been a confirmed case of it in a few years…

  “Are you okay?” He asked.

  “I’m fine… why?”

  “Your skin… it’s… pale.”

  “So what…? It’s just how I look.”

  “All right.”

  Chapter 2

  Jagger pulled a right-hand turn after passing by a large building next to the Foss Reservoir. At one time, the building had been a massive living quarter for families and people who worked in the area. It had long since been reduced to rubble and ruin, and rendered uninhabitable.

  The jeep headed up an old concrete ramp that had somehow remained fairly intact. The walls were cracked and were black from dragon’s fire. The columns were largely intact except for the burns.

  Jagger remembered the first time he’d taken this route. He’d previously avoided the road, but that night it was getting late and he wanted to be back before nightfall.