Awakenings

by Scarlet Hyacinth

  Distant images of the past flashed through the dragon's mind. A different time, when the beast had been more than a beast, when it had also been a man. The wriggling body in his paw reminded him of life itself, of the promise of sensuality. The mer, however, seemed oblivious to all this. Jaden—yes, Jaden was his name—glared at the dragon with beautiful green eyes. More than any magical attack the Atlanteans could come up with, that jade-colored gaze pierced the beast's armor and he recoiled, dropping the merman from his grip.

  Taking advantage of his distraction, the small merman slipped away, calling out to the other two, "Hurry. Let's go. I don't know what's wrong with it, but we—"

  Before the merman could even finish the phrase, Vaar—he remembered his name now—grabbed Jaden again. Memory swept through him, bringing with it the identity hidden beneath a layer of instinct. In a flash, he knew himself again, the same Vaar who'd gone into slumber so many eons ago.

  It didn't matter anymore. He'd found something worth living for and he wouldn't let go. "You're coming with me," he growled at Jaden in dragon tongue.

  The boy's eyes widened, confirming that his message had been conveyed. Vaar smiled to himself. He'd been correct then, about this boy being special. Otherwise, he could have never understood Vaar's words. The other two—Aurus and Chrys, if Vaar had heard correctly—tried to get Vaar's attention, but Vaar had what he wanted. Jaden would soon learn what that meant.

  Vaar briefly considered taking young Chrys and the prince, as well. Beautiful in his own right, Chrys possessed the same latent power flowing through his twin's veins. But Vaar well remembered what Jaden had told him about Chrys and young prince Aurus. The best thing he could do at this point would be to separate the two brothers. Jaden needed a new life, apart from the hurtful existence he'd lived at Chrys's side. At the same time, Chrys needed Aurus.

  Vaar may have been a beast, but he understood Jaden's loneliness. It called out to Vaar in a way nothing else had in all his long years. Perhaps the young mer fought him now, but soon that would change.

  Swimming out of the sand and rocks, Vaar extended his wings. He stretched them a bit to get a feel of their use after so long, completely ignoring Chrys and Aurus. When Aurus threw a magical ball at him, he swept his tail through the sand, showering them with debris.

  Jaden gasped and cried out at the sight. "Please… stop! Don't hurt them. Do whatever you want with me, but don't hurt them."

  Vaar swept a claw over Jaden's delicate cheek. "Don't worry, beautiful Jaden. I won't harm them as long as they don't interfere." He waited until Aurus and Chrys swam out of the sand and then rumbled again, "See? They're just fine."

  Sweeping the two mermen in his other paw, he placed them out of the way, behind a rocky outcropping next to his former lair. "Tell them to stay there and to shelter themselves in energy. It's not safe to be out in the open when I take flight."

  Jaden hesitated, obviously not knowing if he could trust the dragon or not. "My treasure, let me put it to you this way. When I launch myself out of the water, I will cause shockwaves able to shatter the ground. The land is more resistant there and it can block the crush of water. The shield of gems will protect them if there are rock slides. Obey!"

  Jaden nodded and told the other two mermen to stay put. Vaar saw Chrys in tears, trying to protest, and he hesitated. Maybe he should take them all, after all.

  But then Aurus held Chrys down, and a shield of gold wrapped around them. No longer being able to see the two mer thankfully eliminated the temptation.

  Satisfied, Vaar tested his wings once more, and launch himself from the ocean floor, using his wings and his hind legs to propel himself out of the water. As predicted, the sheer energy of his motions made the earth crack and creatures scatter in terror. In the distance, the city of Atlantis shook, and Vaar's keen hearing even caught a few screams from mermen who were probably close to his position. He kept a tight leash on his power and held Jaden against his chest, shielded by his large paws.

  Vaar finally burst out of the water and, for the first time in millennia, saw the sun. A beautiful sight, especially after the darkness at the bottom of the ocean—but it didn't compare to the treasure he'd stolen from the sea.

  Chapter Five

  When the world stopped whirling around him, Jaden concluded he'd finally died. The dragon had eaten him and he was dead. A low rumble and the nudge of a claw snapped him out of his confusion. Jaden cracked one eye open and gasped. The dragon really had flown them up out of the water! They soared in the air, the ocean glittering blue beneath them.

  Jaden didn't know where to look first. He'd never seen the sun, not really. The rays made their way through the thick curtain of water, but he'd never been allowed to go to the surface. All mer could breathe on the surface, but only trained soldiers or the Atlantean University students ever went there. The way the sun shone over the waters reminded him of the sparkle of jadeite, so amazing and familiar, yet so foreign. Jaden wanted to touch it, to see it up close.

  A thick claw shielded his eyes, blocking his vision. "Don't look at it. Your eyes aren't accustomed to so much light. You'll get used to it in time."

  In time? What did the dragon mean by that? How long did he intend to keep Jaden prisoner? For the first time since exiting the water, Jaden realized his predicament. Alone, out of the ocean, in the hands—err… claws—of a monstrous beast, he had no escape.

  Crying out, Jaden struggled in the dragon's hold. He twisted his tail uselessly, frightened when he didn't meet water.

  "Shhh," the creature crooned. "It's okay. We'll find ground soon and you can shift there."

  Jaden thrashed harder. "I can't shift! I don't know how. Let me go! Let me back into the water!"

  For a few seconds, the dragon was pensive. How Jaden knew that, he couldn't understand, but he somehow did.

  "You're right," the magnificent beast rumbled. "I forgot. You've never been with anyone."

  Panic shifted into anger and Jaden pounded the thick scales of the dragon's chest. "Yes! I've never been with anyone! What do you care? Who are you to question my life?"

  The dragon didn't reply, but Jaden sensed the response lingering between them. Who was this creature? What did he want? And how would Jaden ever get out of this mess?

  * * * *

  Vaar's powerful wings led them unerringly within sight of a distant island. Movement in the water and small beings running around on the beach made him halt and hover in the air. Impossible. How much time had passed that these lands had been taken over by living beings?

  "You can't possibly consider taking us there?" Jaden said.

  "When I went into slumber, this place was uninhabited," Vaar answered, disgruntled.

  Jaden snorted. "Well, it's not anymore. Everyone knows the Atlantean University is built there."

  Vaar sighed. It made sense the world had changed while he slept but he still hated knowing he was ill prepared for taking care of his treasure. "No matter. I'll find a different spot."

  He could do it, too. His species had power and magic the likes of which few races could ever compete with. He never made promises he couldn't keep.

  Unfortunately, not even dragons could escape the petty rivalries and ambitions that plagued most nations. For this reason, Vaar and others like him had been exiled by the dragon king. Ghaankeloalitoth feared their power and raw wildness and banished them, keeping only those willing to bend to his will. There had been no home and no rest for black dragons, the harbingers of death and destruction.

  But no longer. No longer would Vaar be alone and scorned. Not now that he'd found his treasure. Perhaps he'd be able to start over, to build a new life. Now, he just needed to find them a shelter and build them a nest. In time, perhaps he'd even teach Jaden how to shift. In time…

  He considered his options and decided he needed to go much farther to be safe. If this island had become inhabited, its surroundings would most likely be within the damn Atlanteans' control. Then again, the weather in this area w
as very friendly and it made sense it would attract the populace.

  The automatic conclusion was that he needed an area inaccessible enough to scare others off. At the same time, it had to be beautiful and near a body of water in order to make a good nest for them. He wanted his treasure to be comfortable and happy.

  With his list in mind, Vaar held Jaden tightly and veered off westwards. The Windswept Sea extended far beyond the territories now held by the Atlantean nation. It surrounded the main continent from three directions, more like a never-ending ocean than a sea. Vaar briefly considered finding shelter on the continent but decided not to risk it. His kind rarely ventured there and he didn't know what races now inhabited the area.

  As a dragon, Vaar still knew of several lairs that should have withstood the passage of time. Even if the idyllic setting on the island had been convenient, his other homes would work out just as well, perhaps even better. After all, the whole purpose was to take his treasure out of Atlantean lands.

  "Where are we going?" Jaden asked, still trying to wiggle free of Vaar's grip.

  Vaar rumbled in amusement. "I would advise you to be still. Falling from this height is very dangerous." Jaden paled, and Vaar felt disgruntled when he realized his treasure had taken his words as a threat. "Don't worry," he said. "I won't let any harm come to you."

  "I don't understand," Jaden replied softly. "What do you want with me? Why did you call me?"

  You will find out soon, Vaar thought. He didn't give Jaden a reply, though. Instead, he continued flying steadily, careful to protect the young mer from the increasingly cold winds. At last, he felt Jaden fall asleep in his grip. Vaar smiled to himself. He'd build a home for Jaden yet.

  * * * *

  Even beneath the shield of gold, Aurus felt the powerful departure of the dragon. His heart fell at the knowledge that the creature had taken Jaden with it. This was his fault. If he'd paid more heed to Jaden's feelings, if he'd understood how the young mer felt… Aurus had basically pushed Jaden away to sate his selfish lusts within Chrys's body. They paid the price for that now. The beast had taken advantage of Aurus's foolishness to lure Jaden here.

  It was too late for regrets, though. Aurus held Chrys tightly against him, hating the pain radiating from his young almost-lover. At first, Chrys tried to break free of his hold, hitting the shield of gold with balled fists. Eventually, he surrendered and collapsed against Aurus. Burying his face in Aurus's hair, he wept, powerful sobs shaking his whole body.

  Aurus wanted to soothe his lover, but he couldn't find any words that would make a difference. Instead, he gently caressed Chrys's hair, all the while keeping the barrier up and protecting them from the aftermath of the dragon's flight.

  His magic told him when the ripples died out. Aurus focused, pushing the golden sphere they were incased in forward. He heard the rock protest and knew some of the stone and debris around them must have fallen on top of the shield. It wasn't too difficult to break through it, and he soon managed to effectively release them from the trap.

  Just in time, too, as a prolonged stay in the golden sphere could have led to a very unfortunate suffocation.

  They burst out of their entrapment into a Forbidden Zone that looked worlds apart from the one before. The darkness had all but faded with the departure of the dragon, the main source of the magic that had created the unnatural gloom. Unsurprisingly, the area around them had been completely leveled, as if a powerful wave swept away everything in its path. The rocky outcropping they'd been hiding behind survived, in spite of its being damaged. Aurus suspected the dragon had known this would happen and chose to hide them there on purpose.

  Why would the creature do that? It didn't make sense. Why would it want to save their lives when it could have very well destroyed them?

  "I don't think the dragon wants to hurt Jaden," Chrys said out of the blue.

  "What?" Aurus asked in disbelief. His lover must be in shock. Perhaps the beast had taken Jaden to feed on later. Aurus shuddered at the thought. Chrys's denial couldn't be healthy, but neither would Aurus discourage that hope. "What do you mean?"

  "I think I could feel it. In my head, like a presence," Chrys tried to explain. "Do you understand?"

  Strangely enough, Aurus did. At one point, he'd felt a darkness inside him, something strange, but at the same time, familiar. Had it been the dragon? If so, why could they feel it in their minds?

  Chrys must have read Aurus's confusion. "It doesn't matter why. We have to go find Jaden."

  Aurus nodded. "Can you feel which way they went?"

  For a few seconds, Chrys hesitated. "I can," he finally said. "But I have a feeling it won't be so easy."

  Aurus understood what Chrys meant. The dragon would be flying at great speed. Even if Aurus and Chrys swam at their fastest, they would still be unable to reach it.

  Time was of the essence. The twins had never been apart for an extended period of time, so Aurus couldn't rely on Chrys's directions forever. The innate pull Chrys felt for his brother might not be enough if they didn't hurry.

  "First things first," he told Chrys. "We need supplies."

  "But we can't go back to Atlantis. They'd catch us."

  In truth, Aurus could have snuck back inside the palace, but it would take too long. "Which direction did they take?"

  With no hesitation, Chrys pointed west.

  "If memory serves," Aurus said, "there are some villages that way before we enter foreign ocean. We can stock up there."

  Chrys nodded enthusiastically. "Let's go."

  Wrapping their torn cloaks around them, the two mer followed the elusive path of the dragon. Aurus found it necessary to avoid the main trails as the patrols were more frequent than usual. He briefly wondered what had become of the thieves. He'd have liked to give them a lesson they'd never forget. Even if Chrys hadn't explicitly told him, he knew the thieves were the cause of the young mer's reluctance to be intimate. Their punishment would have to wait, though, until Aurus got Jaden back.

  As it turned out, the presence of the Atlantean soldiers made Chrys and Aurus's progress slow. They tried to move as quickly as possible but the tense and difficult race against the dragon proved too much for Chrys. He did his best, obviously wanting to reach his twin, but the strain took a toll on him.

  Several times, Aurus considered stopping, but decided against it. Chrys would refuse, and feel offended by the suggestion. They continued on their quest for hours on end, until Aurus could no longer take Chrys's tired pants. Knowing they would not be able to reach Jaden that night, Aurus called a halt. "We need some rest," he said, "and food. If we exhaust ourselves, we won't manage to rescue Jaden."

  "But Aurus," Chrys protested, "we need to hurry."

  "I know, love," Aurus answered. "Above all else, we have to keep calm and maintain our focus. You're our only guide to Jaden, and if you become too tired, you won't be able to direct us."

  "I would feel Jaden even if I was being chewed on by a shark," Chrys snarled angrily.

  Aurus mentally sighed, hating himself for his lack of tact. "Don't say such things. Remember, Jaden is relying on us, and I suspect we have a long way ahead of us."

  This time, Chrys didn't say anything. He sat down, leaned against a dull rock, and wrapped his arms around his tail.

  "I'm going to get us something to eat, okay?" Aurus said.

  "How are you going to do that?" Chrys asked, sulking. "We're nowhere near a village."

  Aurus let out a low laugh. "I'll do it the old fashioned way. Hunting."

  Chrys blinked at him in obvious surprise. "And then what? We'll eat it raw?"

  Aurus grimaced at the thought. "Of course not. See if you can't find any plants around here to spice it up. I can cook it with my magic."

  Now that he'd been given a task, Chrys seemed to liven up. He left his spot next to the rock and began to scan the area for edible plants.

  The bottom of the Windswept Sea abounded in fauna and flora that could be used to create nutriments for
the mer. The beautiful corals and anemones aside, there were all sorts of sea flowers and phytoplankton, as well as janian fruit. Although rarer, the sweet berries added an extraordinary taste to the main diet of the mer.

  Hunting turned out to be a bit of a challenge because Aurus needed to keep an eye out for any predators that could harm Chrys while he worked. Thankfully, Aurus had chosen their so-called camp well. In no time, he managed to catch a couple of fish, enough to last them for a few days' journey if cooked properly. He returned to the tiny cave and saw Chrys sorting through a bunch of sea plants. He'd even found janian fruit.

  "Excellent," Aurus said. "You're really good at this."

  Chrys offered him a small smile. "Jaden and I used to pick things like this to avoid running out of supplies."

  Just like that, they fell into strained silence, reminded of why they were there in the first place. But Aurus refused to let pessimism rule him. "Come on," he urged Chrys, "let's cook this."

  His slight enthusiasm drew Chrys's interest. Pleased, Aurus summoned his magic and created a golden bowl for the fish. He placed his catch into the bowl along with a few vines of red lotus. The plant would serve to both spice and preserve the fish, so it'd keep for several days.

  Once the ingredients were added, Aurus focused and turned the golden bowl into a tight circle, encasing them inside. Finally, he applied pressure, squeezing and releasing in several steps. The process would make the lotus disintegrate and the fish steam up, cooking the dish.

  Chrys watched him in fascination, and Aurus felt a bit proud at his lover's expression. Truly, his skills at cooking weren't all that good, but they were necessary for every soldier who might one day have to live off the sea.

  Finally, their meal was complete, nothing fancy, just run-of-the-mill fish sticks. Still, they were warm and the lotus gave them a pleasant, spicy flavor.

  In silence, they began to eat. Aurus found himself hungrier than he'd thought at first and he devoured several of the sticks before he finally felt full. When they finished, they tore a bit of material from Aurus's cloak and wrapped up the remaining food.