by J. D. Netto
“Isaac,” Xylia mumbled in a broken voice, raising her head from the ground.
“Xylia!” I rushed my way to her. “How are you feeling?”
“I have seen better days.”
I extended my hand, helping her stand on her feet. She sank her eyes into mine. “Where is Sathees? Do you think he is…”
Her voice trailed off as the ground beneath us started to tremble.
“What is going on?” Nathan asked.
I turned my eyes to the wall. Cracks continued to appear throughout its surface as a cloud of dust arose, merging with the silver smoke that lingered. The trembling of the ground intensified at a great speed. It was not long until the wall was turned into scattered rocks.
The growls were now louder; the smell of decayed flesh burned my nostrils. The afflicted cries of the men were almost as loud as the roars.
Once the cloud of dust had settled, I walked through the crater that was now in front of me. A shiver shot down my spine as my eyes absorbed the sight of a dead soldier lying on the ground. His face was deformed, his jaw dislocated. His torso was exposed—wounded with burn marks. I approached the body only to find that his right arm was missing.
The ground in front of me disappeared, falling into a massive crater. Inside, white dragons were chained to the walls, fighting the unseen creatures that tortured them. Their snouts smoked as bright blue flames gashed from their mouths. The beasts fluttered their wings, trying to break free from the silver chains that bound them to the walls. Men feebly waved their swords, struggling in their battle against the Capios. A round metal staircase led to the bottom of the crater, though the darkness below did not allow me to see far.
Unexpectedly, a white dragon soared out of the bottom of the crater at great speed, letting out a mighty roar. Mounted on the beast was one of the tamers.
I was alarmed when I heard Nathan’s harrowing groans. I looked over my shoulder and saw him lying on the ground with his hand pressed against his wound. Xylia stood beside him.
I stomped in their direction.
Sweat rolled down his forehead; his eyes glistened with tears. His breathing was rapid and shallow. Blood oozed from the wound in his arm, dripping between his fingers.
“Xylia.” I bore my eyes into hers. “Watch Nathan.”
Xylia furrowed her brows, looking in the direction of the crater.
“You will try to free them by yourself?” Her eyebrows slanted upward as her eyes widened.
“What other choice do I have?” I looked down at Nathan’s trembling body. “Those men need my help.”
She grasped my hand. “Be careful.” Her face looked pinched as her eyes glistened.
My feet left the ground above me as I plunged downward. I dodged flame and rock, trying to approach the white dragons. My body shivered at the sound of drums bellowing around me. I knew they were coming. My eyes absorbed the macabre sight of bodies hanging from rocks like ornaments. The round staircase was covered in blood.
I landed next to one of the white dragons. The beast agitated its wings, trying to pull its neck free from the heavy chains. With great strength, the animal wagged its tail. I was discouraged when I realized the thickness of the chains.
I cannot break this, I thought while watching the animal.
I was alarmed when I heard ominous shrieks and growls around me. A strong force gripped my arm, pulling me to my knees. I waved my sword in the hopes that I would wound its unseen body. The dragon grew even more flustered; its breathing deepened while smoke billowed from its nostrils.
The growls ceased as I felt the invisible creature release me. Relieved, I pulled my arm away.
“Are you Isaac?” a reedy male voice asked. I turned my eyes to the man standing behind me.
“Who are you?” I asked. “Where is the Capios that had ahold of me?” The middle-aged man had scruffs of hair on his chin and a scar across his nose. Whatever was left of his silver armor was covered in blood, which also flowed from a wound on the right side of his neck.
“Othar, head of the Dragon Tamers,” he replied in a broken voice.
“I am Isaac. I have come to help you.” I attempted to ignore the helpless screams that echoed throughout the cave. “Tell me what you need.”
His eyes trailed across the blood-covered staircase.
“Can you save all my men?” he asked, his voice filled with despair.
“I am not sure if I can save them all.” I laid my hand on his shoulder. “But I give you my word that I will try.”
“Help me free all the white dragons.” He circled the cave with his eyes. “I cannot leave my men to fight alone.”
“What do I have to do?”
“At the bottom of the cave is the Chamber of Bellator. Inside, you will find a lever amidst the spikes at the foot of a statue. Pull it and the chains will disintegrate. We built it as a defense mechanism in case an attack ever occurred.”
“I am assuming that the bottom of the cave is overrun with Capios.”
Sorrow overtook his face. “The men that were there never got out,” he said with glistening eyes.
“My friends are here—one of them is badly wounded.” My chest tightened at the thought of my suffering companions.
“The only way to save us is to release the dragons. Their flames can destroy Nephilins and Capios.”
I looked at Othar, knowing that the chances I would meet him again were scarce.
“It is a shame that we had to meet in a situation like this, Othar.” I let out a soft breath.
“Do not feel sorry for the circumstances in which we have met, Isaac. It is better to know a warrior for a moment on a battlefield than to walk beside a coward for a lifetime.” He turned around, rushing his way up the staircase, returning to the massacre that was happening in the crater.
I jumped into the darkness, finding courage in the simple thought that I could help all of these men defeat the Capios. At the same time, I wondered if Demetre and the others were safe. Had the Capios reached the castle? Were the books secured? The darkness seemed to inspire my mind into thinking ill thoughts.
V
The bellowing roars of the white dragons faded along with the shouts of the men as I descended. A light shone from the darkness beneath me. As I drew closer, I noticed that it came from the flames that burned on a torch pinned to the wall of the cave. I felt a warmth rise through my body when my feet touched the ground. My eyes surveyed my surroundings, in case enemies sat hidden in the shadows.
I reached for the torch, shuddering once my fingers wrapped around its cold base. My wings rested on my back as I trod through the unknown. Visibility was limited and a foul odor lingered in the air.
It was quiet—too quiet. The hairs on my neck rose as I listened to the sound of my own heart beating in my chest.
After a few steps, I caught sight of the chamber Othar had mentioned.
The entrance had been sculpted into the wall of the crater. Seamless designs ornamented the doorway; writings from an unfamiliar language had been carved on the walls.
I continued walking until my toes kicked something hard. My eyes darted to the ground, catching sight of the remains of a destroyed wooden door. My wings fluttered in a sign of warning.
The unfamiliar words glistened with an incandescent blue light as I walked through the entrance of the Chamber of Bellator. Water dripped from the walls, creating puddles on the ground. The echoes of the raging battle echoed faintly around me.
My heart skipped a beat when I heard the terrifying drumming sounds start again, this time even closer to me. I quickened my pace, looking for the lever Othar had mentioned. In my desperate search, I came across a crater located at the end of the tunnel.
I hastened my pace, making my way inside as the sounds continued. Ahead of me, I saw the statue of a white dragon sculpted atop a blue stone. As Othar had mentioned, spikes protruded from its base.
A sudden light illuminated the small chamber. I realized the flame on my torch burned bright
er, causing the blue stone to reflect a kaleidoscope of colors; the ancient writings on the walls exuded light.
I sat the torch next to the statue, searching for the lever as the guttural sounds continued to echo. With all my strength, I pulled one of the spikes toward me. The palm of my hand stung with a sharp pain. I screamed, bringing my hand closer to my eyes. Despite the precarious lighting, I saw blotches on my skin.
My hand closed into a trembling fist. All the spikes looked identical, making it difficult to find the lever.
There was no time to waste. Without much thought, I continued to pull every spike, hoping to find the lever that sat hidden among them.
The pain was excruciating. My hands burned with a throbbing pain. I was relieved when one of the spikes shifted. I released it from my grasp, listening to the thundering roars that now echoed in the air. The bright colors emanating from the stone began to fade; the light from the ancient writings dissipated. It was not long until the only light source I had was my torch.
There was a loud thud to my right. I grabbed my torch and looked down, finding the body of a soldier lying on the ground. The thudding continued. Like a rehearsed symphony, the noise echoed. What my eyes saw brought me great terror. Dead bodies of Bellatorian soldiers started to appear around me. It was a macabre sight to behold: Their mouths had been sliced with such ferocity that they merged with their noses—or whatever remained of their facial features. Their eye sockets were empty.
As fast as my legs could carry me, I ran through the narrow small tunnel, heading to the main entrance of the Chamber of Bellator. The mutilated corpses kept piling behind and ahead of me. A stomach-curling odor permeated the air.
Once I stepped out of the chamber, I beheld the corpses falling from atop the cave. They mounted on top of one another, spilling their innards as they hit the ground.
The mighty roars of the white dragons intensified as I made my way out of the depths of the crater. The creatures had set the staircase aflame. Riders mounted on their beasts fled while others hovered inside, burning everything in their path.
I was mesmerized by how the Capios burned. Once the fire touched their unseen bodies, one could see the fire outline their grotesque shapes. Silhouettes of hollow eyes, abnormally long hands with elongated fingers, and legs similar to an amphibian’s with human feet were enveloped and consumed by the flames.
“Isaac,” I heard a voice shout from atop the crater. “Hurry!” To my surprise and relief, the voice sounded much like Sathees’. I kept on rising in the direction of where I had first left Nathan and Xylia. Silver smoke lingered, creating a thick curtain around me.
As I soared, to my left I saw Othar mounted on his white dragon. His eyes bore deep into mine as he gently nodded his head.
“Tell Demyon what you saw here. Warn them that they are coming!” he shouted in a loud, strong voice. I gave Othar one last look before my eyes refocused on my trajectory. Many dragons clung to the walls of the crater—most of them had their riders on their backs.
Once I had reached my destination, a mighty explosion roared. Frightened, I looked over my shoulder and saw that the crater—and all that was inside of it—had been set on fire. Inside the flames, I saw white dragons turning to ashes, their riders burning alive as they fell away from the beasts. The pungent smell of burning flesh arose.
I distanced myself from the explosion, searching for my companions. My mind also found time to worry about the others in the castle. I needed to go to them.
I was apprehensive the moment I realized my companions were nowhere to be found.
“Xylia! Nathan!” I yelled in the hope that they would hear me, but there was no response.
The heat of the flames brushed against my skin. There was no time to waste. Once again, I looked around me and, at the top of my lungs, shouted their names repeatedly, but silence still lingered.
I left, flying through the tunnel that had led us all there. Weariness took over my body as I traveled through the darkness, struggling to maintain my altitude and speed. My mind could not help but think of what could have happened to Nathan, Xylia, and Sathees.
As I recalled the Capios dragging Xylia through the tunnel, fear filled my heart and mind. How come my powers seemed to have diminished after my return from the Wastelands? It grieved me to think that I had come from that place only to see my companions perish.
An unexpected object shimmered in the obscurity of the tunnel. Curious to see what it was, I landed beside it. It was a sword—similar to the one King Demyon had handed us prior to our departure. Blood was smeared on the blade, and there were cracks on its grip.
She is not dead, I kept thinking to myself. My breathing grew shallow as the air thickened with smoke. I tightened my grasp on the sword, determined to find them.
There was a sudden tremor in the walls of the tunnel. I was startled by the sound of rocks falling beside me. Standing back on my feet, I attempted to run, but a sharp pain took over my head. Disoriented, I fell on my chest, feeling the pebbles pierce through my skin. A cloud of dust arose from the ground.
I laid my hands on my head, feeling an open wound that gushed with blood. For a while, I lay motionless, trying to figure out what had just happened. I grunted in pain, struggling to stand to my feet.
I managed to rise. Disoriented, I rambled my way through the tunnel using my left hand to support my body against the wall.
In a matter of seconds, the cloud of smoke seemed to have thinned out. I reached out through the darkness around me, trying to find something to hold on to, but my hands found nothing.
The lagoon is ahead, I thought. The well should be above me.
My eyes narrowed in an attempt to better see my surroundings. My heartbeat quickened as I still failed to see.
With caution, I continued to walk through the dark. My head pained me greatly; dizziness tried to take over me. After a couple of steps, I felt the cold waters of the lagoon touch my feet.
I got on my knees. My teeth chattered as I submerged my hands beneath the freezing water. After taking a couple of drinks, I washed the painful throbbing wound on my head.
A soft bubbling sound came from the lagoon. Alarmed, I tightened my grasp on the sword’s grip. I heard the waters move, feeling the ripples touch my calves as the soft sound continued. My wings spread to their full width; I kept looking around, hoping to see any movement. From the lagoon, a red light came forth. The scarlet glare increased as it rose from the bottom.
I did not know what to expect. My mind raced at full speed. What sort of devilry lingered in places like these?
The light moved to my left side at a slow pace. I dared to take two steps into the lagoon to better see where the light came from. When I looked down at the water, my breathing failed as I saw the reflection of a pair of enormous moss-green eyes gazing behind me. I turned to find a macabre creature. It let out a high-pitched growl as it lifted its long snout. From the corner of my eye, and despite the limited lighting, I saw its slender body covered in thick scales. They rattled as the creature slithered out of the lagoon.
The grotesque beast moved around me in a circular motion. There was a red light shining from the tip of its tail. Like a snake, it positioned its body for an attack.
Without any sudden moves I gazed at the creature with my sword in hand. Three uneven horns protruded out of its nostrils; its gills were colored with a green pigment that glistened in the dark. The smoke cloud grew thicker, making it difficult to breathe. I had to leave this place if I wanted to find the others.
The moment my feet left the ground, the creature snapped, hissing as it tried to sink its teeth into my flesh. I managed to wound its body, slashing its neck with my sword as I turned from its violent attack. It let out a deafening screech, recoiling to the ground. Darkness once again hovered as the light on its tail went out.
My body trembled as I continued to soar into the nothingness, unaware of how far I was from the roof of the cave. The creature’s roars bellowed once more. I look
ed beneath me and saw nothing but darkness, which was soon broken by a pair of green eyes that approached me at a rapid speed.
I quickly swayed to my left, trying to avoid the creature’s attack. Light once again shone from its tail. The beast reared upon the anterior portion of its scale-covered body as it extended its long neck. Its bright teeth glistened as it opened its mouth, trying once again to wound me. I dodged its attacks; its eerie screeches pierced my ears.
Every time the creature tried to wound me, it would strike its head against the walls of the tunnel, causing rocks and boulders to fall.
To my relief, I caught sight of the roof of the cave above me. Despite the falling rocks, I was able to reach it. Of course, the question now was how to escape this place.
The creature let out a loud groan as it returned to the bottom of the cave, the light on its tail dimming out and sinking into the darkness.
My breathing was now the only sound I could hear. I struggled to keep myself from giving in to despair. I felt the razor-sharp rocks touch the palms of my hands as they trailed the cold roof of the cave, trying to find an escape.
A loud roar resounded as a bright scarlet light flashed throughout the place. I was quick to see that the creature had ascended from the lagoon, its body positioned for a final strike. I plunged down, causing the creature to strike its odd-looking skull against the roof of the cave. In an instant, rocks rained down, creating a massive crater above me and revealing the white landscape. Flurries of snow made their way inside the cave.
With painful groans, the creature recoiled back to the bottom of the cave, slithering its way into the cold waters of the lagoon.
With all the strength I could muster, I made my way out. The frigid wind brushed on my face as I ascended toward the gray skies. In haste, I surveyed the landscape, trying to find the well that had led us to the cave, but it was nowhere in sight. I struggled to fly through the snowstorm, but my eyes failed to see through the thick curtain of white. I used the back of my hand to wipe the blood that oozed from the wound on my forehead.
