by Bryan Davis
The airplane had flown away from the battle theatre, its propeller buzz barely audible as it descended toward the landing strip somewhere to Bonnie’s right. Straight above, the dragons had created a line of defense, flying in a column of tight circles, coordinated so that two dragons would always be facing the Watchers and shooting an inferno blast. It seemed that the dragons always knew exactly where the demons were, guided undoubtedly by their sense of danger and the help of two experienced knights. Each volley of fire was a colorful laser shot that sent a winged villain diving to one side or the other.
Finally, Thigocia nailed a Watcher with a jet of blue sizzling flame. The demon was trapped in midair as slithering sapphire tongues wrapped around its body. Sir Newman’s dragon joined in, shooting an orange flame so bright it looked like a geyser straight from the sun. The Watcher expanded to twice its size, as though absorbing the radiant energy until it seemed ready to burst with brilliance. Thigocia and the other dragon, virtually hovering, their wings beating madly in the driving rain, kept the rivers of fire trained on the demon. Now it had tripled in size. Beams of light shot from its eyes. Its whole body shuddered like a man being riddled with a million volts of electricity.
Seconds later, the Watcher exploded, shooting a halo of shimmering flames all around and splattering black liquid in a wide arc. The dragons curled their wings and dropped straight down, Sir Edmund clutching Thigocia’s neck and Sir Newman gripping a spine on his dragon. The ring of fire passed over their heads and dissipated in the drenching rain, sending a circular plume of gray smoke into the clouds above.
One of the two remaining Watchers zoomed away toward the horizon, while the other descended out of sight. Bonnie jumped to her feet, trying to catch sight of where the second demon had fled, but he vanished into the forest. Eight dragons followed Merlin II, while Sir Newman’s dragon skimmed the treetops, apparently in search of the missing Watcher.
Bonnie pulled the computer from her waistband and spoke into it. “Hi, Larry. Can you hear me?”
“Greetings. Your voiceprint reveals that you are Bonnie Silver. How may I help you?”
Bonnie rested a hand on her hip, slowly turning as she spoke. “I don’t want to risk flying in this storm, especially with Watchers around, so I have to go on foot. Would you please guide me to the West Virginia airstrip coordinates?”
“With pleasure. Your security clearance grants you full access to my geo-guidance applications. A digital compass should appear on the screen. Proceed at a heading of ninety-four point five degrees, and I will correct your angle along the way.”
Bonnie wiped the computer’s display with her sleeve, but since her sweatshirt was sopping wet and the rain continued to pour, it didn’t help much. She squinted at the digits and turned her body until the screen displayed ninety-four point five, then marched forward, heading for the forest edge. “How far is it, Larry?”
“Four point one kilometers. At your current rate, you will be there in forty-two minutes. Unfortunately, my maps indicate that you will be traversing more difficult topography soon, so I expect that you will slow down considerably.”
“Well, try to keep me on high ground. The creeks are probably raging rivers by now.”
“Will do.”
Larry began singing in a Scottish accent.
“Oh! ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland afore ye; But me and my true love will never meet again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.” Larry let out a robotic laugh. “Did you like that one? Bonnie, bonnie, banks for Bonnie Silver. Oh, I’m so funny, I think I’m going to pop a chip!”
Bonnie laughed, and Larry sang on, correcting her direction from time to time as she negotiated the hilly, forested terrain. Slick leaves and mud slowed her progress, but there were plenty of bare, skinny trees to grab as she sludged up and down slopes, both gentle and steep.
After she scaled a rise, the forest opened to a treeless expanse, flat and covered with water, more like a shallow, grassy swamp than a mountain field. It reminded Bonnie of the moat around Morgan’s island back in one of the circles of seven, a marsh with dangerous serpents lurking in the dark waters. She took three steps into the field, then hesitated in ankle-deep water, letting the cool wetness seep in between her toes. It would be safe to fly now, wouldn’t it? The higher ground on the other side couldn’t be more than a hundred yards away, and there might be holes or ditches hiding under the rain-rippled surface.
Larry ended his song.
“You stopped. Is there trouble?”
“No. I’m just getting ready to fly across this flooded field.”
“Very well. If you wish to continue flying, bear eight degrees to the left. Walking in that direction would have been impossible because of a deep trench, so I had charted a safer land route. With flying, however, the improved angle and velocity will get you to the airstrip in less than five minutes.”
“Only five minutes!” Bonnie shivered in the cold, wet wind. Her chilled body begged for something dry and warm to replace her saturated clothes. With a quick shake, her wings threw off thousands of droplets, then beat the air, lifting her off the ground. “I’m going for it, Larry!” She began zipping across the field as fast as she could, but the gale pummeled her body, beating her closer to the ground. With every desperate flap, she elevated four or five feet, only to be thrown down six by hammer-like gusts. Finally, she splashed back to the field, sliding for a moment on her chest before coming to a stop in about a foot of water.
Bonnie slapped her hand against the surface, splashing angrily as she rose to her knees, then to her feet. “Stupid decision!” she grumbled as she trudged forward. She raised the dripping computer to her lips. “Larry, I’m on the ground again. Give me a heading.”
The computer remained silent. Only the swoosh of wind and rain passed into her ears.
“Larry?”
Still no answer.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. Brilliant move! Now she had to hoof it alone.
She pushed the computer behind her belt, then set her hands on her hips, scanning the forest ahead, quite a bit closer now. A new swoosh sounded from below. She tilted her head down. A black stream of buzzing particles streamed into the ground around her feet, instantly warming the water, thickening it into a sticky goo.
Bonnie tried to jump away, but like a serpent striking its prey, the black stuff caught her feet and began wrapping her up as though she were a mummy in need of bandages, first her ankles, then her legs, winding at a furious rate. She wrestled with the bands, trying to push them down her hips like overly tight pants, but they just wound around her waist, arms and all, binding her hands and wrists to her sides.
Seconds later, the black slime coiled around her chest, paralyzing her wings against her back. It then snaked its way up to her face, shrouding the world in darkness. The icky stuff oozed along her skin wherever it touched, as though the bands had been saturated with hot, runny axle grease. She kept her lips pressed tightly together, hoping the goo wouldn’t seep into her mouth, nose, or ears.
A voice whispered, as if blended with the relentless wind, stretched out and wispy and lingering over the hissing words with a snakelike slither. “You are mine now, sssweet princesssss. Alone and unprotected, yesssss. You were an eassssy catch, an eassssy catch. Do not sssscream or cry. We will fill the world with our offssssspring. The Nephilim will sssssoon live again.” His slinking song continued, becoming peppered with suggestive, even obscene language.
As strong arms lifted Bonnie off the ground, she squirmed with all her might, but the gooey bands tightened with every move, crushing her lungs, squeezing her like a python would a doomed rabbit. She tried to stay calm, relax her muscles, shorten her breaths, but how could she? His disgusting words made her brain scream for escape.
Trying not to cry, she prayed for help, for God to send Billy or a dragon to blast this demon with fire and blow him to smithereens, but could any savior come in time? How could anyone possibly ge
t her out of this mess? With the computer broken, Larry wouldn’t be able to find her. Merlin II had probably landed long ago. Billy had no idea where she was or even that she was in trouble.
Bonnie gritted her teeth. She should never have tried to fly in the storm! That’s probably what gave her position away. It was stupid!
As if he could read her mind, the Watcher continued whispering. “You are alone, ssssweet princesssss, yessss. No one can ssssave you now. I will teach you my artssss, and you will learn to enjoy my caressesssss.”
Bonnie felt the demon’s hand sliding along her leg. She shook her body violently and tried to flap her wings, wriggling with all her might. She would rather die than let that black-tongued monster touch her for another second, but the wrappings kept tightening, now clamping down on her throat. She could barely breathe at all.
Chapter 5
THE HEALING DRAGON
Bonnie heaved her body upward. Suddenly, her stomach lurched toward her throat, and her backside slammed against the ground. Had he dropped her? Loud roars mixed in with the howling wind, then someone lifted her to her feet. A sense of new warmth coated her body. The goo sizzled in her ears. The tight band over her eyes popped, clearing her vision. A dragon stood next to her, shooting a precision stream of fire that melted the remainder of the black coat. Sir Newman sat at the base of the dragon’s neck, his shoulders squared and his head erect.
Bonnie recognized the dragon immediately, the great Hartanna. She bounced on her toes in calf-deep water and cried out, “Mama!”
Hartanna’s brow turned downward. She didn’t answer.
Sir Newman waved his hand at Bonnie. “Keep still, Miss, and let her finish the job.”
Bonnie froze in place. Vapor rose from the pool of water at her feet, making a cylindrical curtain of rising fog. The melting black stuff reeked of rotted flesh and body odor. As soon as her arms were free, she rubbed her hands and face with the falling rain to wash away the stinking residue.
Newman’s voice penetrated the cloud. “The legends tell us the darkness spells are poisoned with doubt and despair. They drain your will and make you easy prey.” The cloud thinned out. Newman slid off the dragon’s side, dripping wet as he approached Bonnie. He grimaced at the gooey mess. “Hartanna has to destroy every drop, or it’ll spread out again. Doubt is a cancer, and only fire can destroy it.”
Bonnie squeezed water from her hair. “What happened to the Watcher?”
Newman laughed derisively. “When he saw us, he took to the skies in a hurry, I’ll tell you. The darkness spell is a Watcher’s only defense against dragons, and when dragons work together, they can easily melt away any direct hits.”
Hartanna’s stream of fire died away, and twin plumes of smoke curled up from her nostrils. “I think it is all gone now. Thank the Maker.”
Bonnie leaped forward and hugged Hartanna’s scaly neck. “It’s so good to see you again!”
Hartanna’s wing covered Bonnie’s head, providing a welcome umbrella. “And you, too, dearest one. I am proud of you for risking your life to carry Sir Edmund to Thigocia’s back.”
Sir Newman bowed to Hartanna. “And I was pleased with your fine catch, High Dragoness. When I jumped from the airplane, I prayed for a miracle.”
Hartanna dipped her head, apparently a return bow. “I just hope my teeth didn’t scratch you, Sir Newman.”
Newman rubbed the back of his neck. “Only a little. Much better than crushed bones on the ground, I assure you.”
“Had I known you were an experienced dragon rider,” Hartanna said, “I would have caught you according to custom, but few humans know how to use a dragon’s tail to mount a flying steed.”
“True. Although I am experienced, it has been well over a thousand years since I have attempted it.” Newman pulled up his blood-stained collar. “All’s well that ends well.”
Bonnie ran her hands along her sleeves and shivered, a good shiver this time. Hartanna’s fire spa had expelled more than demonic doubt; it had reminded Bonnie of her mother’s love. Now much drier, her sweatshirt was a warm blanket instead of a cold burden. “So what now?” she asked. “To the airstrip?”
“Yes. It’s very close.” Hartanna lowered her neck. “You should ride with Sir Newman. The weather makes flying quite hazardous.”
Bonnie laughed. “I found that out.”
Sir Newman gave Bonnie a boost, then climbed aboard in front of her. “Hang on tightly to me, Miss. Hartanna is an expert flyer, but even she cannot make our ride a smooth one.”
Bonnie grasped Sir Newman around the waist, her clothes getting soaked again. Seconds later, Hartanna launched into the air, fighting through needle-like rain and shifting blasts of cold. Sir Newman, upright and rigid, served as a steady anchor, seemingly unaffected by the storm.
From takeoff to descent, the flight lasted just a few minutes. Bonnie tried to peer through the rain, blinking constantly to see anything at all. Merlin II came into sight at the end of the airstrip, a single dragon on each side. A human also stood next to the plane’s tail, but he or she was too far away to recognize.
When Hartanna landed, Bonnie slid off, her wings parachuting her to the ground. Through sheets of rain, she saw Billy running toward her. He skidded to a stop, panting. “We have . . . a new meeting place . . . a secret place.” He took her hand in his. “We need to hurry. These two dragons will guard the plane.”
The knight marched behind Billy and Bonnie, while Hartanna flew just above the trees. As they splashed through the woods and down a muddy path, Bonnie peppered Billy with questions. “Did you find the book?”
Billy patted the front of his coat. “Got it right here.”
“Did you hear that Professor Hamilton thinks the Watchers are causing all this rain?”
“He’s right. One of them told me.”
“You talked to a Watcher!?”
“Yeah. It’s a long story. I’ll tell it when we’re all together. Walter’s hurt, so we have to figure out a way to get him to a hospital.”
Bonnie wanted to shout, “Walter’s hurt?! How?” But the concern on Billy’s face told her she was holding him back. She didn’t want to be any more of an anchor than she already was.
The forest darkened, tree trunks conglomerating like wooden soldiers gathering for bivouac. With their nearly naked branches hovering in a tight network up above, the trees created a leaky umbrella of sorts, giving Billy and Bonnie a bit of a respite from the rain as the bark channeled streams of water earthward. Just when the undergrowth became so thick Bonnie thought they must have taken a wrong turn, they broke through into a small clearing. Six dragons sat in the grass, two with their wings spread to shelter the humans. Sir Patrick, Sir Edmund, Ashley, Shiloh, and Karen knelt under one dragon’s wings, while Walter lay in Marilyn’s arms under another, his deathly still head resting on her shoulder. Hartanna glided downward to join them.
Bonnie dashed ahead and leaned over to join Marilyn under the leathery roof. She laid a hand on Walter’s forehead. “How bad is it?”
Billy caught up and drew Excalibur from its scabbard. “Pretty bad. Just before he passed out, he said his arms and legs tingled and his heart was jumping.” Still standing out in the rain, he summoned the sword’s laser beam.
Bonnie pressed her hand on Walter’s chest. She could feel a spasmodic thump and labored breathing.
“Arlo and I couldn’t carry him to the road because of the flood,” Billy went on, waving the sword back and forth. “So we got him as far as the airstrip, and Arlo said he could swim to a high outpost on another mountain to meet some rescue workers he contacted while I waited for Mom to land.”
Excalibur’s beam expanded into a huge photo-umbrella. The rain pelted the outer energy field and bounced off noiselessly. “Arlo might take hours to find help, so Mom and I carried Walter here. With the Watchers around, flying out again is too dangerous.”
“What about Thigocia?” Bonnie asked. “Isn’t she a healing dragon?”
Thig
ocia shook rainwater from her wings and folded them on her back. “I am a healer, but I have never had much success with humans, and I have failed with Walter so far.” She touched one of Bonnie’s wings with her own. “Since you are part dragon, I considered trying to heal you when you were dead, but there was no time. My methods might not have worked anyway.”
Ashley stood, and with her hands behind her she walked slowly up to Thigocia. She tilted her head upward and reached a trembling hand toward the dragon’s neck, then pulled it back. She seemed ready to cry.
Thigocia lowered her head. “You may touch me, young lady. I don’t mind.”
Ashley caressed the dragon’s neck, petting her scales as she might a horse’s withers.
“What are your methods?” Bonnie asked.
“One dragon breathes fire directly on me until my scales glow. Then I wrap my wings around the victim, and energy flows into his body. The energy enhances the ailing dragon’s photoreceptors, enabling him to heal rapidly. Humans don’t have photoreceptors, so, in theory, it can’t work at all, though I have seen improvement in some cases.”
“Really?” Bonnie said. “It worked in a human?”
She nodded toward Sir Edmund. “None other than this fine, brave soldier. During a storm much like this one, Sir Edmund and I were battling side by side with King Arthur to put down an attack from a group of barbarians. The king used Excalibur to great advantage, and the barbarians began to flee, but a spear pierced Edmund’s armor and threw him off my back. I caught him before he struck the ground, but he was gravely wounded. I tried to break the shaft of the spear, but it came out, and he bled terribly. I thought to carry him home so he could die in peace, so I wrapped my wings around him to shelter his body until the battle subsided. I felt a sudden jolt, as if struck by lightning, and my rider began jerking around inside my wings. When I opened them, Sir Edmund burst out ready to charge the barbarian who speared him.”
