Dust and Cinder (Rise of the Dragons Trilogy Book 3)

by N. R. Hairston

  Once I sat down, Reid did as well. Seeing that we were all here, my father tapped on his glass to say a toast. I tensed, thinking about our talk earlier, and hoped this wasn’t some rant about how he was right and everybody else was wrong.

  He came to his feet, glass raised in his hand. “I just want to...” he cleared his throat, and I could see the sadness in his eyes, as if he’d just learned some terrible dark secret that everyone else knew, but he’d just been clued in to.

  He turned his glass toward Todd, and my brother’s eyes went wide. “To my son!” he said, his voice full of emotion that he was carefully trying to hide. Trout and the others probably couldn’t hear it, but those of us who knew him well could.

  He cleared his throat again. “He’s prepared this amazing lunch, and owns one of the top restaurants in the city.” He stopped, and it was like someone was pulling the next words out of his mouth letter by letter. “I don’t think any father has ever been prouder of his son.” He stopped again and took a deep breath, and I heard Todd gasp.

  I turned in time to see Coen grab his hand, while Todd stared at my dad, eyes shining, looking as if he was caught up in some dream that was too good to be true.

  “Restaurants are nice,” my father went on, and I felt everything in me freeze, wondering what his next words would be. This right here was a tipping point, depending on what he said, he could lose Todd forever.

  “I think after a business is as successful as yours, son, it’s only natural to think about expanding. Now, I know you’ve opened other restaurants, but maybe an upscale nightclub or lounge would be the way to go next.” He cracked his neck as if it hurt. “Well, it’s only an idea.” With that, he sat back down then drained the glass of wine in his hand, plus two more.

  No one at the table said anything for a full ten seconds, and Todd just sat staring at the spot my father had stood only a moment ago, as if he was scared that if he turned away, then it wouldn’t be real.

  Coen let out a huff, then used both hands to grab Todd by the face and kiss him on the cheek, before throwing an arm around his shoulder and bringing their heads together so that he could whisper in his ear.

  The platter holding the biscuits and cornbread was empty, and Vonda got up to take it into the kitchen. Knowing that it was my perfect time to talk to her, I followed her in.

  She stood, back to me, platter still in her hand, looking at something in Todd’s cabinets. “Vonda,” I said, and her back went stiff, but she didn’t say anything.

  “Vonda,” I said again, because I was only standing three feet away from her, so I knew she heard me. “Von—”

  She smashed the platter on the counter, causing it to break into small pieces on the floor. I could hear chairs scraping in the next room, and I quickly called out that we were alright, and I’d just dropped something.

  Vonda turned around, her eyes hot and pleading. “What am I supposed to tell mom and dad if—”

  “Shhh,” I gathered her into a hug, but she stayed stiff in my arms. “You tell ‘em I love them, that I love all of you and know that I’m going to fight like hell to make it back here to my family.”

  Her shoulders began to shake, and I held her tight, wishing like hell I didn’t have to be the one to cause her such pain. I hated this, hated everything about it, but no one else had dragon powers, so if I could make a difference, if Reid and I being there could tip the tide, then we had to try.

  I couldn’t live with myself knowing that the Yangos were continuing to terrorize others and I’d had a chance to put a stop to it, but hadn’t. I didn’t think that Reid could live with that either.

  Vonda pulled away from me and wiped her eyes. “I don’t want you to think I don’t support you because I do. It’s just...” She seemed lost for words, and then we both whipped around as our mother called our names.

  She stood in the doorway, mouth open, concern on her face. She looked at Vonda and then the shattered platter on the floor. “Are you hurt? Did you cut yourself?” she asked, making fast steps toward my sister.

  “No.” Vonda held up her hands to show my mom that she was fine. “I’ve just got a lot going on at work. I haven’t been there much since this whole thing started and I think it’s starting to catch up with me, that’s all.”

  My mom put an arm around Vonda’s shoulder. “Does this Fletcher guy know what a utility bill is where he’s from? I’ll talk to him if you want me to. If he’s going to be hanging around you, then he can at least help pay some of your bills. That way you won’t have to stress so much about your job.”

  Vonda smiled through her tears, and l leaned against the corner and smiled fondly at them as my mom led Vonda out of the kitchen. It would be moments like this I’d missed the most, I thought.

  I was still in the kitchen staring off into space when Todd walked in, looking as if he was in a daze. “What did you say to him?” he asked, a look of disbelief on his face.

  I chuckled and felt my eyes mist over because right now everything was just too much, and I’d probably be dead tomorrow, and Reid probably would be too and I just... I let out a sob and fell into my brother’s arms.

  He wrapped me in a hug, all the while telling me that everything was all right and he believed I could do this.

  IT WASN’T UNTIL LATER, after things had simmered down that Reid and I finally got the chance to talk. I sat on the front porch looking at the expensive houses in Todd’s neighborhood thinking about how peaceful and tranquil it was compared to some of the streets we’d been to on other worlds, where the Yango had taken over.

  I felt a presence behind me and then Reid sat down next to me. He looked determined, like taking down the Yango was what we had to do, so there was nothing much else to be said about it. “Quiet here.” He looked around.

  I took in all the large brick houses and nodded, suddenly feeling very weary. “Yeah, it is. Always has been.”

  We were both looking straight ahead, and he put a hand under my chin and turned my head to face him. “You’re scared, and that’s okay. You do know that, right? Fear is not a bad thing.”

  I shrugged. “We face fear every day in our line of work. Exposing people’s secrets can be a dirty job, neither of us are shrinking violets, right?”

  He looked at me, really looked at me and I felt pieces of my mind and soul breaking off and filtering over to him. I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but trust and understanding there.

  He’d never tell me not to go, or I didn’t have to do this, because he knew better than that. He knew me inside and out, up and down, and I... And he... I leaned over, and our lips came together in a bittersweet kiss that said everything my mouth wouldn’t. “We’re going to be okay,” he whispered. “Me and you, we’re going to be fine.”

  I pulled back a little and lay my forehead on his. “Promise?” I asked softly.

  He chuckled. “Going to do everything in my power to make it so.” I kissed him again and then leaned away.

  “Did your clan agree to help? Mine didn’t.” I could feel the sting of the words as I said them, I realized I still wasn’t over that particular bout of rejection.

  He laughed, and it was a dry and humorless sound. “They can’t, Alisa. If they can’t leave dragon land, then they can’t help us, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be watching.”

  I raised a brow. “Watching us die, and that helps how?

  He looked around the still of Todd’s neighborhood. “Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  Well, that wasn’t really an answer, but I’d pretty much come to the same conclusion myself, so I didn’t really expect more. “I guess we will.” I lay my head on his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around me pulling me close.

  When we walked back into the house, it was to a flurry of activity as everyone was getting ready to go. My parents had left shortly after lunch, but the twins were still here.

  Chibo stood by the door, arms folded, watching it all, while Ridge stood over in a corner, probably on overload from
all the emotions in the room.

  Vonda was doing her usual thing of checking to make sure everyone had what they needed, while Coen and Todd stood over in a corner talking quietly. Todd looked upset, and Coen had a hand wrapped around his upper arm as if to comfort him.

  Lantana, Trout, and Iago stood talking by the bar, as Vonda checked each one of them over.

  “I want to go,” a voice behind me said, and I closed my eyes, really not ready to have this fight right now. “I can’t, Chibo,” I said, pointing to my forehead. “My mental space... I can’t fight with you about this right now.”

  She started to say something else, but her brother’s voice stopped her before she had the chance. “Back off, Chibo. She really can’t, okay?”

  Chibo swallowed hard and nodded, backing back, her face hard, jaw tight.

  My shoulders slumped. I didn’t want her upset, but I just couldn’t permit her to go onto that battlefield. There were no Yango where she came from, and I prayed every day that her and Ridge’s world would never be touched by them.

  “It already has been,” Ridge said reading my emotions, and waving around at the lot of us, all going to fight the Yango, leaving him and the others to worry over our fate. “But it’s okay.” He went to stand by his sister’s side. “We get it. Don’t we, Chibo?”

  She narrowed her eyes and nodded, but still wouldn’t look at me. I sighed. I guess I’d take what I could get.

  Vonda came over to me, sticking stuff in my hair and socks. She held a penny in her hand, and it took me a second to notice the blue glow on it and realize it was what I’d gotten from Edward’s people the first time I’d visited Vilion.

  “What does it do?” she asked as she turned it over, an inquisitive look on her face.

  I put my hand over hers. “I don’t know, but I’ll take it with me as a good luck charm from you.”

  She smiled and dropped the penny into my hand before pulling me into a tight hug. “That way you’ll have a piece of me with you while you’re there,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

  I took a deep breath, not wanting her to see the look on my face, then went to stand with the others. Finally, it was time to go.

  Todd wasn’t much of a hugger, none of us were really. These past few months, he, Vonda, and I had really stepped out of our comfort zone, with ourselves, and with each other, and I wasn’t so sure that was a bad thing.

  Todd watched me, a resigned expression on his face, a sad look in his eye. He nodded, and then turned, not looking my way again. Coen walked over to him, and they rested their foreheads together.

  Trout, Iago, and Lantana were still talking, each seeming anxious to get this over with. The twins stood side by side, both of them watching with closed off expressions.

  Reid came up behind me and slipped his hand into mine. “You lead, and I’ll follow.” I nodded and held up my hand to open a portal where the Yango were plenty, and there was no guarantee that I’d ever make it home again.

  Chapter 20

  Lechen was a world full of large rocks and boulders. There were three moons here, all twice the size of my own. They lit up the night sky, giving the world an orange tint that looked eerie and foreboding.

  Trout gazed at our surroundings, a frown on his face. “They couldn’t have picked a drearier place if they’d tried.”

  Coen craned his head toward the clash of swords we heard off in the distance. “Did you expect sunshine and flowers?”

  Iago walked a few feet ahead. “I’m going to check that out.”

  Reid, who stood beside me, walked forward. “We stay together. We know nothing about this place and splitting up is an easy way for them to take us out.” I had to agree.

  We walked around a large rock about the size of a bulldozer and saw that the mountain people from Lehin were already here. Beyond them were the people from the Victorian world, Erden. I didn’t see the two couples we’d first met, but I was sure they were here somewhere. Even farther down, sword throwers from Tangule jumped high in the sky, and I remembered visiting that world after Erden.

  They’d all kept their promise and come here. The Yango were as much a problem for them as they were for us and it felt good to see so many worlds band together.

  Fletcher’s people were here as well. I saw Yemsa and others from Loden and figured Fletcher was lost somewhere amongst the hordes of people.

  Coen took a deep breath and sighed. “This. This right here is what we should have done a long time ago.”

  Lantana shook her head, her eyes scanning the thousands of people before us. “They would have never gathered in one place like this before.”

  Iago agreed. “This is a trap. We knew that coming in. Everything will be fine if we stick together.”

  Stay by me. Reid.

  No. You stay by me.

  Always.

  I smiled and thought if his words didn’t kill my fear, they did help to quell it a bit. Everyone was here, everyone that was except Kyla and her crew. My eyes narrowed, and for a second I wondered if this hadn’t all been some elaborate plan by her and the Yangos to get all who opposed them in one spot.

  “I don’t like this,” Iago said as he looked around. “This doesn’t feel right.”

  “No. It doesn’t,” Coen said, running a hand down his chin. “The Yango have always been sneaky, and this is just another example of that.”

  Reid scanned the crowd. “Then let’s tell everyone to go. We can meet on another world, maybe discuss options.”

  As the words left his mouth, a scream rippled through the air, quieting all noise and bringing us all to attention. It was too silent here now, and the only sound that could be heard was the wind whipping through the air as it swirled around us.

  “What did you come here for?” a loud voice asked, and then the sound of hooves, lots of them.

  “They come on horses!” someone shouted, and many in the crowd left the ground and floated into the air. I didn’t move, and neither did my crew. This didn’t feel right. Something was wrong, and I couldn’t figure out what it was until a stream of lejet hit one of the women floating in the air straight through the heart.

  She was dead before she hit the ground and I gasped as more bodies began to drop.

  “Hold the line!” a voice shouted, but there were too many of us and we were too disorganized. There was no line to be held.

  Then I saw them, and my heart shook, and my breath started to quake. There were thousands of them. Some were on horseback, but these horses were three times the size of any I’d ever seen.

  Those on the horses were not Yango, though. They were men and women, with armor on their heads and bodies, but their eyes were black as night.

  They looked like they carried all of their weight in their arms, legs, and chest. So much so, that I had no doubt they could bench press a couple tons and still not break a sweat.

  On the ground, were another group of people and some of them whipped around at speeds I’d only ever seen on Fletcher’s world, and I knew that’s why they’d been brought.

  The Yango themselves floated in the air, but it wasn’t until they got closer that I saw what one of them carried in his hand.

  I gasped, putting a hand over my mouth and stepping back. Focus!

  I’m trying to!

  One of the men floating in the air had Kyla dangling at his side. She was bent toward the ground, so I couldn’t see her face, but she was limp in his arms, so I wasn’t that optimistic.

  Trout’s voice was low and gritty. “They set her up, and they set us up as well!”

  Iago nodded. “Someone in her crew must have turned on her, probably after she’d done what they wanted her to.”

  “Which is lead us all here,” I finished. It was a brilliant plan when you thought about it. They had the chance to take out all who opposed them in one big swoop, so not only would there be less people and more resources, but worlds like Fletcher’s would no longer have people who stood against them, and they’d be free to steal
and plunder as they pleased.

  A fire roared in my gut as I felt the dragon inside me come to life. That wasn’t going to happen. They’d got us all here, but did they really know what to do with us?

  I took a step forward, and Coen put a hand on my arm. “The two groups with them, the ones on horseback are from the world Tact. They are fighters for hire, super strong, and they show no mercy. Tact is one world that Yango dare not steal from.”

  “That and Azzen,” Lantana said, her eyes following one figure as he zipped through the air. “Azzens are fast and deadly, willing to hire out their services to whoever tosses them the most coin.” She spat on the ground and cracked her knuckles. “I’ve run across them before,” her nostrils flared, and I could see her anger rising. “Want to crack a few of their heads. Give them something to remember me by.”

  “Efren!” the one holding Kyla yelled. His black and gold hair was cut short on the right, long on the left. He was built more like he was from the world Tact then Yango, but it was his fierce golden eyes, speckled with hints of black that gave him away as a Yango. “Remember my name as the last one you learn before you die.”

  The Azzen zipped around, while the Tact sat stonily on their horses.

  Everyone with us stood posed to fight as if they were just waiting for someone to yell go, to set it off.

  “Give us the dragon born, and I swear, Yango will never bother any of your worlds again. Give us the dragon born or else this...” He held Kyla’s body up. Her eyes were swollen shut, and huge black and blue marks covered her face. “Will happen to you and everyone you love.” He pulled a blade from his pocket, and I watched in horror as he slit her throat, blood spurting out everywhere.

  Chapter 21

  I was in the air before her body hit the ground. I hurled fire at all of them, telling it to roast their skin and make it hurt. Except, the flame got about two feet from Efren’s head and bounced back toward those on my side.