bedeviled & beyond 03 - bedeviled & beleaguered

by Sam Cheever

  My chest constricted painfully and I realized I couldn’t breathe. While I’d had a similar sensation ever since the big male had wrapped us up in his powerful wings, it wasn’t my sensation.

  I suddenly realized I was feeling Glynus’ panic. She was being smothered.

  Zerphor, Glynus!

  Help her! The black’s voice in my mind was weak and filled with pain. I realized she was too busy fighting for our lives to help her tiny offspring.

  Panic seized me and I could no longer tell if it was mine or the infant dragon’s. I searched my mind for something...anything...I could do to save her.

  Then I did the only thing I could think of. I’ll have to kill him.

  A long silence filled my mind. Do it. Her voice throbbed with pain.

  I closed my eyes and pulled my power forward, willing the tiny infant clinging to her mother’s chest to hold on. I got a sensation of drifting away that scared the shit out of me. In desperation the power surged out of me.

  The dragon beneath my thighs jerked in surprise as the power left my body with a violent thud that lifted me off Zerphor’s long back and left me dangling in the air, held upright and stable only by my own energy. I slowly settled downward until my feet touched a cloud and I stopped.

  I caught the big male’s eye and saw a sure knowledge of his fate there. But still he clutched Zerphor, tears quickly filling his large, beautiful eyes. I realized, suddenly, that he knew he was killing the child and it was killing him too.

  Reaching out, I pulled a lethal dose of energy to my fingertips. The big male read my intention in my gaze. I saw it in his eyes. He knew he was about to die. But he didn’t try to get away from me. He simply closed his eyes and waited for the killing shot.

  I hung there, suspended in the thick mist by my own power and fought a need to save the big, beautiful creature with unknown reserves of strength and intelligence.

  Zerphor’s voice in my head was filled with panic and pain. Do it! She dies!

  I took a deep breath and released the power, swinging my arm at the last second to focus it at the juncture of his body and the wing nearest me.

  The big black threw back his head and roared as my power tore through the ligaments and flesh of his wing and Zerphor swung free, rolling off into the thick mist with a cry of relief that was muffled by the hovering veil.

  I was left facing the big male, his tattered wing struggling against the thick air to keep him upright.

  You must not take the child to the race of man. She will be poisoned by their ignorance.

  The voice was as deep and rich as Zerphor’s, as beautiful and clear. I shivered from the impact of it, as well as from his words. I was given no choice. It has been decreed by your gods as the only way to save your race. You should be helping us instead of trying to kill the child.

  The big black threw back his head and roared in anger and frustration, then his snout swung down and a wall of flame shot toward me. I quickly threw up a protective bubble to keep the fire away.

  The male dragon dropped several feet as his injured wing gave out, momentarily refusing to hold him up.

  I looked down on him and wished I’d had the strength of will to kill him.

  She will be an outcast there. Better that she would have died.

  No. She will have my protection and the friendship of my people. As I said the words I knew they were right. She would be loved and cherished by my family and Emo and the celestial army. She will be raised in magic. But she will learn to live in a world that doesn’t need it. It is what your gods have demanded. It is all that will save the black dragon race.

  He hovered there, barely staying upright against the pain in the injured wing and stared at me through bright, black eyes. You will keep her safe?

  To the best of my ability, yes.

  Mankind may not survive the veil.

  I nodded, acquiescing. I must find a way to beat the veil back. It is their only hope.

  He looked away, into the mist, in the direction Zerphor and the little one had gone. I will await you in Olympus, Queen Dragon.

  I go with the dragon fighter to fight the veil.

  I turned and noticed that she hovered there, not all that far away from us, cloaked in mist.

  The huge male shook his head and shot upward. I stiffened and pulled power into my hands just in case. But he simply turned away and flew off, disappearing almost immediately into the mist.

  The thick, heavy thwuck of Zerphor’s wings cut the mist and she was suddenly underneath me again. I pulled my power back and allowed myself to drop onto her back. Glynus?

  She’s fine.

  I took the first full breath I’d taken in a while. Good. Now, get me back to Earth. I need to find a way to beat this veil.

  Yes.

  We flew in silence for a bit. After a few minutes Glynus reappeared, her little face bright and cheerful. She curled up in front of me and looked into my face. “Bleurp!”

  I grinned, “Bleurp yourself, tadpole.”

  Glynus hopped up and down, flapping her little wings. I grabbed at her, fearing she’d fall off, but she jumped away. What the hell is she doing?

  She is an infant...they play.

  She picked a hell of a time to play.

  Zerphor shrugged. A child plays when a child plays.

  Apparently.

  The baby finally wound down and curled up in front of me, wrapping my hand in her tiny wing again, her delicate claws resting against the palm of my hand. I watched her settle into sleep and fought panic. How was I going to take care of a baby?

  My mental drawers suddenly shifted and Darma’s voice filled my head. Astra?

  Hey, are you okay?

  Where the hell are you? I’ve been calling you for hours!

  I sighed. It’s a really long story. I’m heading back now, don’t shoot at us.

  Us?

  The black is bringing me back. She’s going to help us.

  Long silence.

  Darma, are you still there?

  You made friends with the black dragon?

  I glanced up, my gaze fixing on the bright, intelligent eye that was turned toward me. The black was obviously listening to my telepathic conversation with my sister. I think I have, yes. The black’s head bobbed as if in a nod.

  We will be there soon, dragon fighter.

  Who was that? Who’s in my mind. Get out of there!

  I chuckled. It’s just Zerphor, she’s a telepath too.

  Zerphor?

  The black.

  Darma sighed in my mind. Of course. Well...we can use her help. You need to get back here fast. Emo and Torre have disappeared. I think mother got them somehow.

  Emo? Why would mother take Emo? Darma’s silence made my stomach clench. Oh shit!

  He didn’t want you to know.

  Why the hell not? Damn his frunkin’ halfling soul anyway. We’re partners. I told him about my devil’s mark.

  It doesn’t matter now, Astra. We need to get them back.

  I sighed. I know. You’re right.

  Oh and Astra?

  Yes?

  Flick just received a summons from the Prophet for you.

  No shit?

  No shit.

  That doesn’t count against my lifetime limit does it? Since she summoned me?

  I don’t know, Astra! This is no time to worry about that!

  Easy for you to say, I responded petulantly, you still have your full quota.

  Just get back here!

  We approach now. Zerphor announced.

  A distant light cut through the mist and I recognized the door of the vehicle repair room in the unplanned care unit directly ahead. The room was well lit within, giving us advance warning that the place was filled with fairies.

  Zerphor announced our arrival with a roar and fired the door as we approached. Fairies scattered wildly, their tiny wings beating violently against the super-heated air.

  Zerphor entered the overlarge door and swung her enormous wings to
slow her flight, allowing her large body to drift gently to the floor.

  We landed with a soft thump and a scratching of her diamond-sharp claws against the hard floor.

  Around us soft lights of every color in the rainbow fluttered as the fairies formed a circle around the giant black. She lifted her wings to push them back when they pressed too close, her elegant head swiveling to keep them in sight.

  I searched the room and spotted Darma, Father, Myra and Flick standing at the back, ready to duck behind something solid should Zerphor decide to fire the room.

  Are you well, daughter?

  I gave my father a little wave and nodded. I’m good but I didn’t come back alone. I’ll explain later.

  A large fairy with a vibrant, purple glow surrounding him flew into the circle and hung there, facing Zerphor. His paper thin golden wings fluttered softly and his tiny, muscular arms crossed his ermine covered chest. A miniscule golden crown rested on top of his head and thick, wavy red hair flowed like silk from beneath it to rest against broad shoulders. He looked just like a fairy tale king from human stories.

  “Greetings King Aelfric.”

  He lowered his head in an acknowledging bow. “Mx. Phelps. Have you broadened your powers to dragon riding now?”

  I grinned, “Whatever it takes, your majesty. How have you come to be here? Are you with the celestial army in this fight, or will I have to ask my dragon to turn you into a fairy toastie?”

  He laughed. “Prince Dialle requested our presence here, Mx. Phelps. I assume we are to assist you.”

  I nodded, “Welcome to the fight, Your Majesty.”

  He bowed his head again and I slid down Zerphor’s side to the ground.

  Noticing the loss of my warm presence beside her, Glynus opened her eyes, lifted her tiny snout and sniffed the air. She stood up on her stubby little legs and let out a loud “Bleurp!” Lifting her tiny wings, the baby dragon fluttered them in an attempt to fly. She lifted off her mother’s back a couple of inches, struggling to stay in the air. Herr bright little eyes widened in panic as she started to slide downward again.

  Acting without thought, I reached for her with my power and encased her in a bubble, pulling her toward me before she could fall. She hopped around inside the bubble, fluttering her wings and burbling happily as she floated into my arms.

  Astra?

  I’ll explain later, Father.

  I can’t wait to hear that explanation.

  Me neither, Darma added.

  I carried the tiny dragon toward the small group at the back of the room. Glynus’s wings quivered with excitement and it was all I could do to keep hold of her. Her little snout opened and closed as she burbled and, every once in a while a tiny puff of smoke emerged.

  “What’s the plan?” I asked my father.

  Glynus reached toward Myra, flinging herself out of my arms. Myra was forced to catch her or she would have fallen. My angel looked distinctly uncomfortable holding the squiggly baby dragon but Glynus was oblivious. She snuggled into Myra’s arms and laid her little snout on my angel’s shoulder, gurgling contentedly.

  I grinned. “Auntie Myra, how sweet.”

  Myra glared, but it was obvious she was touched by the little dragon’s sweet nature.

  I turned back to my father. He motioned toward the Fairy King. “King Aelfric will take his army in first to see what we’re up against. He’ll send a scout back with a report on what they find.”

  I nodded, “Good plan. Nille and mother won’t expect the fairies to be on our side, we can use that to our advantage once we’re inside.”

  Aelfric fluttered up, closely surrounded by his personal guards. Fairy dust glittered thickly on the air, making me cough. I bowed my head toward the diminutive king. “Your Majesty. Once you have your men inside, I want you to offer your services to Prince Nille and my mother. When we enter the room I want you standing with them.”

  He thought about this for a moment, “Who shall I tell them sent me?”

  I looked at father.

  “Your Majesty has been constrained to aid the Serpent in this battle. It is part of your agreement with the Royal Court.”

  I frowned, “Won’t mother know that isn’t true?”

  Father shook his golden head. “She knows of the agreement but not the finer points of it.”

  Flick spoke up, “I believe the king did promise total allegiance to the Serpent and his representatives on the court. This allegiance could conceivably be stretched to include Danika’s gathering of the conduits.”

  The king nodded, “That is correct. It would not stretch believability to say I was acting under the agreement.”

  “Perfect.” I responded. “Good luck, Your Majesty.”

  The tiny king clicked his heels smartly together and swung upward with a sharp flap of his golden wings. He turned toward the door Zerphor had blasted through earlier and his army fell into position around and behind him.

  The whir and click of thousands of miniature wings filled the air and a multitude of brightly fluttering lights disappeared through the ravaged hole that had once been a door.

  My father nodded toward Zerphor. “What of the dragon?”

  Zerphor pled her own case to my father. I wish to serve the race of man. The gods of Olympus have come to realize that this race is our only hope for survival. My offspring will live among them and learn their ways. Therefore I need them to survive this current threat.

  Her voice was more magical than when she and I had been conversing earlier. It was delivered in musical tones that made me shiver. Apparently she could modulate her voice to serve different purposes. The musical tone was no doubt meant to draw the listener in and enhance her appeal.

  My father bowed and then lifted his gaze toward her. “Queen Zerphor, welcome. The celestial army will do all in its power to help your race, including protection of your princess.”

  The elegant black snout lowered in acknowledgement of my father’s words.

  I stared at him with my mouth open. “How do you know her name and that she’s the queen?”

  “I recognized her earlier, but things were a bit hectic and then you went flying off.”

  I frowned, feeling the need to defend myself against the implication that I’d gone joyriding.

  Father patted my shoulder. “We’ll have time to discuss all of this after we save the world.”

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, I glared crankily at him. “How many frunkin’ times do I need to save this world? Can’t it stay saved for five damn minutes?”

  Father just shook his head and turned away as a bright, red light entered the room on a burst of air and shot toward us.

  The fairy was one of the King’s personal guards. He stopped in front of us and saluted, his beautiful red wings fluttering in agitation. “King Aelfric is in place beside the evil ones. He sent me with this report. The tiny soldier shifted his weight from one foot to the other and adjusted his butterfly wings so that they only held him aloft and didn’t jitter with agitation.

  He took a deep breath, his bright green eyes avoiding our direct gaze. It was obvious he didn’t like what he had to report.

  “All the hostages are dead.”

  Darma gasped and her knees buckled. Flick caught her under the arms before she could fall.

  I looked at my father. “That murderous bitch.”

  Father’s face was paper white with shock. He closed his eyes and I could tell he was praying. Hopefully for the souls of all the people my mother had killed and not for her black soul. Though, knowing him, he would pray for her too.

  Myra touched his arm but didn’t speak.

  When he opened his eyes again they were filled with tears. “Go on.” His voice was husky with emotion.

  The tiny solder nodded. “The evil ones hold three Royals hostage.”

  Darma stepped forward, grabbing our father’s forearm. “They’ve got Torre!”

  The small soldier nodded, “Yes and Prince Dialle and another whom I do n
ot recognize.”

  Anger, hot and liquid, filled me. I clenched my fists at my sides and embraced the adrenaline pouring through me. Turning away, I headed for the battered door.

  “Astra, wait!” Flick’s voice called out to me in panic. As my guardian he knew when I was in danger of losing my life. It was his job to keep that from happening. I was about to make that impossible. I was going to kill my mother and Nille.

  It was unlikely I would survive.

  Flick appeared suddenly before me and I ran full smack into him.

  I shoved his scrawny chest hard. “Get thee away from me, damnable angel. I go to slay the serpent’s minions. God goes with me.”

  Flick shook his head. “No, Astra. God goes with you but He cannot save you if you’re stupid.”

  I stopped trying to get past him—an apparently impossible task—and took a deep breath, trying to regain my calm. Unfortunately the fear crept into the spaces where the anger had been in my mind. “They have Dialle and Emo, Flick. I need to go get them.”

  He nodded. “I know. We need to save them for many reasons. With them and Torre the circle of conduits is very close to completion. But you need to bear in mind that storming in there unprepared could have much worse consequences than you just getting killed.”

  I stared blankly at him, my mind refusing to work properly, burdened as it was by fear and panic.

  “Astra, you are among the last of the conduits to be gathered. If Danika manages to trap you, Darma, your father and Myra all is lost.”

  Clarity hit me full in the chest and I suddenly couldn’t breathe. I bent over at the waist and struggled against the clenching in my lungs. My stomach roiled and I thought I would hurl.

  A hand on my back, between my shoulder blades, pulled the panic away so I could breathe and think again. I looked up into my father’s eyes. They were filled with understanding and pity.

  I hate pity. It just pisses me off. “Myra too?”

  My father nodded.

  I glanced toward my aunt, not even wanting to know how the Serpent could lay claim to a piece of her soul.

  She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, proud and defiant in the face of my pity.

  Shrugging my shoulders, I sloughed off my father’s healing touch. “Then let’s get a damn plan together fast because I’m going in there in about two minutes, whether we have a plan or not.”