by R. G. Porter
"Gabriel, I will never lose you. Fates, gods or demons be damned. We are due our life together and I mean to make it so. Innok took you from me once, it will never happen again.” Her vow, voiced for both her own security and her promise to Gabriel, caused a shifting in her soul as if she'd just thrown out a challenge to the gods. An answering crack of thunder was their answer.
"Alayia, be careful of what you say. Breaking the curse is one thing, but angering the gods I'd rather avoid."
"Trust me Gabriel. I know what I'm doing.” Did she? She wasn't entirely sure at this point but regardless what was said was said. Nothing more she could do about it. As she held tight to him, Alayia watched as the fog retreated back into the forest. Yes there were magical happenings going on, but at least she'd seen Robert one last time. Today had been a good day.
"Are you two through?” Talon moved around to the front of the inn, his cane knocking dust as it hit the ground. “I think we've overstayed our welcome here. We might want to sleep elsewhere for the night.” His hand motioned to the inn and the bustle inside. Gabriel turned to listen, allowing the acute senses of the dragon to bring him information from within. He could only catch bits and pieces of the conversation of men at the table near the window.
"I'm telling you Gus it's her. I knew she looked familiar.” The tall lengthy man spoke first. There was a rush in his voice that Gabriel couldn't miss.
"I don't know. She is with two other men. How can we be sure she is the one that is being searched for?” The man across from the first began to shove food in his mouth, his attention focused mostly on the plate in front of him.
"The bounty said she would be traveling in this direction. They even said a blind man spirited her away from her intended.” Gabriel's mouth went dry. Elroy. He was putting out a false story to help aid him.
"I've heard the same, but what about the other guy with them?” The burly man took another bite of his food as he moved his gaze about the room. “He has an air about him that I just don't know about. He's a dangerous one to confront.” Gabriel tried to suppress a grin but he couldn't help himself. Good, they feared him. They would be in for a big surprise should they try to take Alayia from him.
"What do you suggest we do?” Once more the smaller man chimed him. He could smell the greed that emanated from their pores.
"Nothing for now, we wait till daybreak to try anything.” A third man, cloaked, stood next to the other two. His voice sounded familiar but Gabriel couldn't place it. “Safest time to secure the woman is during the daylight hours. The third man won't be near her at that point.” How could this man know Gabriel wasn't around then? Had they been following them?
"If you are sure. . ."
"Trust me. I know this for a fact.” Gabriel watched as the man's hood fell to his shoulders. The face he saw sent a cold chill through his veins. Innok's minion. Gabriel's blood began to boil at the knowledge that Innok was aiding them in getting Alayia. “You will be safe to retrieve what you seek during that time."
"Fine then. We will catch the lord's wayward bride and get rich in the process.” A round of laughter filtered through the air and settled in Gabriel's mind. No way would he allow it.
He returned his attention back to Alayia, her eyes wide with questions. “We leave now."
"What's going on?” Her question lingered on the air and Gabriel wondered if he should tell her all he'd heard. Taking in the innocence of her question and the look of trust on her face he decided less might be better.
"These men inside are looking for you. We need to leave.” Gabriel prayed it would be sufficient of an answer to get her to follow. A sharp intake of air and he knew he'd said enough. Fear crossed her face at the knowledge that Elroy had sent more men after her.
"Why can't that man give up?” Her hands moved to cover her chest in a protective stance. It tore at Gabriel that she felt hunted. “I really don't like him. Why does he persist in chasing me? Hasn't he gotten a clue yet? He won't win this battle."
Gabriel wrapped his arms around Alayia, pulling her into his embrace. “We both know that Elroy won't give up. Not till this curse is gone.” God how he wished he could make everything go back to normal, but he wasn't a fool. Elroy would pursue them to the ends of the earth. Why? What in their past had linked them together? Had it been that day in the village? Something in the back of his mind told him no. There had to be something even farther back, something more primal that linked them.
"Gabriel?” He turned his head back to face her. “I lost you for a moment.” Sadness filled her eyes. Never... he never wanted to see that again.
"I'm sorry. I was just in deep thought.” He bent forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Let's get out of here. Do you need anything from inside?” Talon shook his head. He knew he didn't have to ask. Talon had already secured all their items before ever exiting. The man was good. “Fine, let's go."
"Gabriel?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you.” Those two words warmed his heart even though his veins felt as if they were filled with ice. Even on the run and her life in an uproar Alayia wanted to thank him. How he'd been lucky enough to be blessed with her love he would never know, but gods help him he refused to lose her again.
"Come on you two. We need to hurry.” Talon motioned to the inn, his hand flexing on his cane. “I think our friends have figured out we are on to their conversation.” The commotion from inside the inn had grown in magnitude spilling out into the night. The men had begun to grab their gear, heading toward the door. Gabriel cursed under his breath. The demon must have realized he'd seen them and listened to their conversation. There was no other explanation. Fury raged through him.
"Fine then, head to the east. We can lose them in the thick underbrush.” One thing the men pursuing them didn't expect, he knew the area better than any man around. He grew up here, they didn't. That gave them an advantage.
"Are you sure Gabriel?” Talon's voice held concern.
"He's sure.” Alayia chimed in, her hand tight in his grip. “He knows these woods like no other.” Of course she would remember. Her memories were probably slowly coming back to her, that or she had decided to place her trust in him. Either way he didn't care.
"So be it. Lead the way.” Talon moved aside to allow him to lead; his hand still firmly gripped his staff.
Gabriel led the way into the thickest part of the forest, his knowledge of the area slowly returning to him. “Up about a mile ahead there is a stream. If we continue in that direction we can lose them. There should be a cave about another half mile after the stream.” He could hear Talon stop at the mention of a cave. No one in the area knew of it as it had been overridden by vines even when he'd been a young boy. He could only imagine what I looked like by now.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Trust me on this. It's safe and no one knows about it.” He didn't have time to convince Talon about the validity of the cave. Gabriel continued on, his steps increasing with every breath. He could feel the night begin to wane and knew that the sun would soon begin its ascent into the sky. He didn't want to chance the morning light emerging while he was still so close to his friends.
"Don't worry Gabe, it will be fine.” She'd done it again. Somehow she'd know what he was thinking and attempted to calm his fears.
"You say that now, but wait till you see the talons, fangs and fire coming from my mouth.” He tried to laugh off his fears, but they were beginning to choke him. Instead, he found Alayia's one hand rested over his heart while her other one touched his chin turning him to face her.
"Gabriel please look at me.” How could he deny her anything? With all that he was, all his fear and shame evident in his eyes, he turned and looked at her ready to take whatever she had to say with him when he changed. “The dragon that you fear is not the beast that you think it is. The dragon that killed Danielle, which killed me, is not the same that is part of you.” Gabriel heard the words but couldn't understand what she was saying, his mind spinning at t
he love that he saw in her eyes.
"What are you saying?” He couldn't fathom what she was saying.
"I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Ever since you mentioned what you've been seeing. I believe when Innok merged the dragon with you it was more of a binding of spirits. He did it believing the evil he forced onto the creature would take over your soul. It hasn't happened. Now yes, we do need to make it so that the dragon is not free to roam during the daylight hours, however, I do not believe this dragon is evil.” Not evil? Gabriel's mind reeled at the possibilities and what it could mean. The dreams he'd had in the past had said as much. “Think about it. There were numerous times you could have killed others but didn't. I think the dragon is part of your soul. Think about your dreams Gabriel. What if they are calling out to you because of what Innok did? Maybe by doing this to you he's unlocked the past unknowingly? I think there is more to this than we realize yet. In the end I think you have to learn to control it. The curse isn't that you turn into the dragon. The curse is that you don't know how to control the dragon."
"But..."His thoughts trailed off. How could it have happened? He'd never heard of such a thing before, but then again so much had happened he knew anything could be true.
"How is this possible Alayia? I've never heard of this happening before.” Talon's voice reminded him that they weren't alone.
"There are tales out there, old ones that aren't told often, but they are there. I remember them because I used to love to research the old legends. If my memory serves me correctly, and this is the case, then it may not be as difficult as we first thought.” Gabriel watched as Alayia moved across the open area to an oak tree, her hand moving across the bark in a light caress. “Each person has a spirit animal that calls to them. Now most go through their lives never finding their spirit companion, which is fine. But if you do the possibilities are endless."
"If this is the case, and I'm not sure I completely believe it is, did Innok know this?” Gabriel found it hard to believe a demon would have placed a curse on him with the knowledge it was in any way shape or form beneficial to him.
"Some how I doubt it.” Gabriel watched as Alayia continued to move about the area, her head tilted up toward the sky, as if listening for something he couldn't fathom. “Think of it this way. The demon realm that Innok resides in has a set of rules they live by, that rely on death and destruction. He knows only of darkness, evil, and the destruction of life. When he thought to use the dragon and combine it with your soul, he believed he would be inflicting continual pain on you by forcing you to watch Danielle die and knowing you would be the cause of destruction while in the dragon form."
"I have destroyed many things. I killed your brother.” The memory of every death he'd caused was still fresh in his memory, although that day he'd flown over Alayia's home was muddled. How many days he'd wished he could die he'd lost count of. “You yourself had planned to kill me for that very thing."
"I know. I've not forgotten.” Gabriel bowed his head at the look of regret that crossed her face. He'd not wanted to cause that. “But, there is another side to the dragon that most do not know of. Dragon's are also considered to be life givers, powerful and full of magick. They were protectors of the innocents and defenders of good. Throughout the ages of times gone by they were called upon in dark times to save those in peril from the disciples of evil who had planned to ravage the world.” Vague memories of stories cropped into Gabriel's mind of stories he'd heard as a young boy. More than just the memories were the visions he'd seen so often lately. Could they be one and the same? He couldn't discard the possibility.
"I remember those stories Gabriel. I used to pretend to have a dragon as a young boy with my brothers."
"I do as well Talon, I do as well.” He focused his attention back to the waning moon. “We need to hurry, the moon is getting low.” As much as he wanted to believe in what Alayia had to say, he didn't want to chance harm to either of them. More so, he didn't want to let the others that followed gain distance on their location either.
"We are close. I can hear the stream."
Gabriel heard a movement to his left. The tree branch began to sway back and forth. Something was coming, he could sense it. Everything around him moved in slow motion as the tall lengthy man from the inn burst through the dense forest to face them. Insanity was the first word to cross Gabriel's mind as he looked at the man. The look on the man's face as he took in the three of them didn't seem to matter. Greed was the first and only thought that must have pulsed through the man's mind as he rushed toward Talon, his sword raised.
"The woman is mine.” His voice shrieked out into the early morning light as his sword pushed forward. Everything around them slowed down to a trickle of time as the blade moved forward. Talon's blind eyes couldn't see the coming blade, but Gabriel knew his other senses had to have caught the sounds from the man.
"No.” Alayia's voice cried into the silence drawing his attention. Gabriel shifted his body. As he turned his head he found Alayia pushing Talon out of range of the blade. Too slow to maneuver, the tip of the sword connected with Alayia's shoulder. A cry of anguish ripped through Gabriel like a tidal wave. Everything around him began to spin in colors of grey, pink and blues. His mind continued to replay the sword as it plunged into Alayia's flesh, the look of pain that had crossed her face almost too much to bear.
The warmth of the sun as it peaked over the horizon draped across Gabriel's skin and he could feel the change begin. Terror raced through his blood at the thought of being so close to his friends as the dragon broke free. He stood to run, to get as far away as possible, but the man who'd hurt his woman was still close by, his blade still in his grip. His mind filled with the roar of the beast waiting to be released, his mind just barely able to pick up on anything being said. Another shot of pain raced through his body as he fell to the ground, the change happening whether he liked it or not.
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CHAPTER: 10
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Intense pain like nothing she'd felt before filled her mind. If only she'd moved a bit faster she would have been able to avoid the stupid blade. Now, Alayia found herself in a very bad position. Talon was on the ground and the other man was advancing with his weapon still in his hands. Her eyes moved to Gabriel, but no matter what she did she couldn't find him. Had he run? Her mind screamed out that he wouldn't have done such a thing. It wasn't in his blood to abandon them like this.
"Get away from her.” She could feel Talon rise behind her, his cane held firmly in his grip.
"What do you think to do cripple?” The man had every intention of killing Talon if given the chance. She could read it in his eyes. No matter what happened she couldn't allow harm to befall him just for helping her.
"You will not touch him.” She raised her chin in defiance. “If you do I will make sure you suffer greatly.” Her heart pounded hard in her chest. She prayed her voice held more confidence than she actually felt. Never in her life had she wished to be somewhere else. Where was Gabriel?
"If you don't want him hurt, then you will come with me without a fight.” His face turned to a snarl, his eyes full of insanity. “Your betrothed waits anxiously for your return."
Alayia's stomach convulsed at the thought of Elroy and his deceptions. “He is not my betrothed and never has been.” Her mind began to swim as blood seeped from the cut in her shirt. A web of cloudiness wrapped around her as the sun began its ascent into the morning sky. The shades of red and orange drew her gaze when a rustle from ahead caught her attention.
"Come on, let's go.” The stranger reached out his hand, grabbing her arm and yanking her up. A stifled cry lodged in her throat as pain shot through her body like a firestorm. A roar echoed through her mind till she realized that both the man and Talon had heard the same thing.
"What the hell was that?” Talon had gotten back to his feet and moved to the far end of the tree line, his staff gripped tightly.
"I'm not entirely sure.” Her head, still throbbing from the intense pain, Alayia turned her head to the direction of the sound. “Gabriel where are you?” Fear and wonder mixed inside and she wondered which would win out. Once more the tree branches began to move as another roar reverberated through the woods.
"We need to move.” Talon's hand reached out to her but she didn't take it. She needed to see him, needed to know if she'd been right. Besides, the man in front of them still posed a problem.
"Neither of you are going anywhere.” Alayia watched as the man raised his sword and took aim at Talon again. This time she knew she wouldn't have time to save him. She prayed she was right.
"Gabriel, help us now!” Alayia put every bit of power into her command that she could muster. The world around her had begun to spin at the loss of blood, her ability to stand waning. As her footing gave way she watched as a large black dragon emerged from the forest. He hovered directly between them and their adversary, his eyes never leaving their enemy.
"What magick is this?” Alayia could hear the fear in the man's voice. Good, he needed to know what it felt like. “Tell it to go away. Now.” He was pleading with her, but she knew better. The moment Gabriel left; he would kill Talon and make her go with him. No, this man was as evil as the thing that had cursed Gabriel. Better leave his judgment to the dragon.
"It is not magick. It is the way of the forest.” Alayia tried to stand when another wave of pain ripped through her. A cry escaped her lips drawing the dragon's attention. She watched as he moved his head closer to sniff the blood and look over the wound. The moment their eyes met she knew Gabriel recognized her even in the dragon form. He was in there and still he understood. Another roar erupted from the dragon's throat as he whirled around and faced the man.
"Tell it to stop."
"I cannot.” Alayia moved to the side of the dragon her hand a light touch on his scales. “You see you've angered the gods and as such have to pay the price. You are evil sir and evil men do not get second chances.” She could sense he'd done things before, bad things to others that would make her ill if she delved deep enough.
