A Dragon's Clutch

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

  “Yes, that might work,” Hiroshi said. He opened his sketchbook and began to take notes.

  “Do we have someone who could help?” I asked. “I mean you talk about the other Children of Fire, but I don’t know how extensive they are or how organized we are as a group.”

  Philip frowned. “I can think of three people who would help preserve the manuscripts. Do you need help with the translations too?”

  “No. I mean I’m capable of doing it, but it’ll take forever and it’s going to be more retelling what they’ve written,” Hiroshi explained. “It’s all in Japanese Kanji.”

  “Maybe we can find someone to help either transcribe them into a computer or a conservator to photograph everything. They can protect the delicate paper so it won’t be handled any more than necessary.”

  “That sounds great, Philip, thanks.” Hiroshi smiled, the excitement coming back into his eyes.

  “You’re welcome,” Philip said. “Taliesin, did any of our friends follow us?”

  “No,” said Taliesin with a shake of his head. His white braid slid over his shoulder and down his back. “Other than Zennyo Ryūō and Mizuchi, everyone else is human.”

  “Great. So, Sapphire, what exactly happened this morning?” Philip demanded. “All I was told was that you guys had fixed the problem. Now that the tengu aren’t listening in I’d like to know the whole story.”

  “Okay.” I turned to Mizuchi and Zennyo Ryūō, grateful Kiyohime had left to tell the other dragons we were coming. “I will need you to control your reactions in front of everyone here and in front of the tengu later.”

  The two dragons growled several times as I told them about the tengu’s plans. Anger and worry hit my empathic shield in alternating flashes of hot and cold.

  “And you actually trust this Nara?” Taliesin asked, his voice hard and cold. “After what happened with the fox demon?”

  I felt several of the others agreeing and ready to add their thoughts. Holding up my hands to ward them off I explained “Emiko could never enter the ryokan while possessed. I’m not sure who or what Nara is, but the guardian of the ryokan let her in and the faeries danced to her music and thanked her when it was over.”

  The others calmed down. Not only did their emotions ebb, but their bodies relaxed against the train seats.

  “Plus, the dragons know her.” I pointed to Mizuchi and Zennyo Ryūō who smiled.

  “So Nara is safe?” Miu asked.

  Zennyo Ryūō tilted his head to the side and scrunched his forehead like he was thinking hard. “I would say on our side.”

  “Sorry,” Taliesin said. “I …”

  “You were hurt, and now you’re extra cautious. It’s understandable. And it’s not like I was able to tell that Emiko was a danger to us,” I said.

  “No blame,” Philip said.

  I ran my fingers through my curls. “No blame, just a fact.”

  “Well I liked Nara,” said Kayin. “Maybe we’ll see her at the portal.”

  “We might,” I replied. “I didn’t get that impression from her though. Miu, are your grandparents okay with all of us coming on such short notice?”

  “Are you kidding?” Miu asked. “They are so excited. To be able to cook for dragons and see tengu. I thought they were going to explode with excitement.”

  “Well,” said Zennyo Ryūō. “We shall do our best to be worthy of such adoration.”

  Mizuchi raised an eyebrow. “The last time you said that things turned indecent rather quickly.”

  Zennyo Ryūō grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Yes, but how they adored us.”

  Sasha laughed. “Sounds like the kind of party I’d like to go to.”

  “So you’re talking about my grandparents and that’s gross,” said Miu.

  Hiroshi made a gagging sound. “Yeah, let’s not go there.”

  “If you insist,” said Zennyo Ryūō. “But should you change your mind, let me know.”

  “Of course,” Hiroshi said politely, then turned to me. “My grandparents are disappointed they can’t see the gateway open and all the magical beings go home to Akasha.”

  “Why can’t they come? We need at least one more person for the ritual to open the portal. That way Taliesin can keep everyone calm enough to not cause any trouble,” I said.

  “But it’s dangerous,” said Miu. “And they’re too old.”

  “I dare you to say that to them,” Kayin said. “I saw the farm they work, and how much they lifted to make dinner.”

  “That huge cast iron pot and all that firewood.” Shin shook his head. “I offered to help, but they refused to have a guest do work.”

  “If your grandparents wish to come with us, I will take them,” Mizuchi offered.

  “They want to go.” Hiroshi held up his phone showing the texts with them.

  “Hiroshi!” Miu glared at her brother.

  “What?” He grinned and went back to texting.

  Zennyo Ryūō snapped a picture of the arguing siblings.

  * * *

  “Sapphire, will you do me a favor?” Zennyo Ryūō asked.

  “Of course, how can I help?” I blinked hard trying to keep my eyes open. Miu’s grandmother had fed us a huge meal, and I was headed upstairs to take a nap.

  “You are so sweet. A dragon always demands to know what the favor is before agreeing, but you are willing to help me without even knowing what it is.” His blue eyes glowed with happiness.

  I smiled even as a tiny bit of worry began to grow inside me.

  “I won’t have time to develop the pictures before I leave tonight. Will you do it for me and send them to Akasha the next time you open the portal?” He held out his camera bag.

  “Of course I will.”

  Zennyo Ryūō rubbed my cheek. “You are truly a treasure. Now go and rest. I believe there are more questions to answer.”

  Miu and Hiroshi’s grandparents had tried to be calm and polite but almost vibrated with excitement and asked many questions of their mythical guests.

  “Have fun.” I climbed the stairs to the room I used last time and took a futon from the cupboard along with a blanket. I needed a nap before dealing with a crazed Gaki, malicious tengu, egotistical dragons, and any other magical beings that showed up tonight. Snuggling under the soft blanket I fell asleep.

  I hadn’t expected Cartazonon to pull me into another dream so soon. I shivered as the dark stone walls of his dungeon became clearer. Touching my fire pendent I began to pull in energy from Akasha.

  “You need to make your decision,” Cartazonon said as he stepped from the shadows. His dress shoes clicked against the stone floor, and his black suit shone crisp and clean.

  “You said I had two weeks.” Crap, crap, crap. I wasn’t ready for this.

  Cartazonon shrugged. “I find most people make their decisions rather quickly. So why should I have to wait? I mean it’s not like you actually have any power in this negotiation.”

  My stomach turned as he grinned at me, flashing white square teeth in a predatory manner.

  “Lee, bring the griffin to me.” He leaned against the stone table. The inlaid Akashic metal glinted in the firelight of the torches.

  No, I wasn’t going to watch this. I wasn’t going to answer him. He didn’t have as much power over me as he thought.

  Pulling in more energy I let it fill my whole body. My voice had power. I had used it to destroy this dream world before and I would do it again.

  “You can try screaming again, but I have reinforced my power.”

  I looked at the wall. The magic stood behind the image like steel rebar. My hands shook. Cartazonon was right. A scream of fear and panic, even with Phoenix power behind it couldn’t help me. I would have to do as Nara said, I would have to make music. I would have to create a song of power. A song of destruction. A song of battle.

  Wishing I knew something about music, I pulled in more power. Flames flickered on my skin.

  “I can’t decide if I should admire you, or feel pity
that you are so naive to think you can actually win.” Cartazonon stepped back as Lee strapped the female griffin to the table. She was so weak she didn’t even bother to fight.

  “She’s ready, Khan,” Lee said. His grin pulled on his scar making him look ever scarier. As if the old Mongol warrior needed help looking scary.

  What should I sing? What could I sing? Snippets of songs came to me. Nothing worked. Nothing felt right. Nothing I knew all the words too. My heart pounded in my chest. I needed a song of power. Or a way to create a song of power. The beat of my heart began to drown out my thoughts. Too bad the Guardians aren’t here. I could use their help. The drumming they did was the most powerful thing I’d ever heard.

  My heart thumped. Boom ... boom, boom. Boom … boom, boom. The rhythm of the drum. I focused on the beat of my heart. The strength within me.

  “What is that sound?” Cartazonon asked.

  I will not allow this to continue. I will not be at his beck and call any longer. Cartazonon needs to pay for what he has done. I will destroy this dream world. I will destroy our connection. I will destroy him.

  Opening my eyes, I stood. My heartbeat echoed off the stone walls. The griffin looked around the room. Her lion tail twitched, and her eagle wings ruffled.

  My Phoenix power surged until I feared I would burst. My mouth opened and the first note of my Song of Destruction came out. The sound I made was soft but clear. No words. Pure music. Pure focus.

  Cartazonon frowned. “What are you doing, you stupid child?”

  My song became louder. Notes and tones fell from my lips, riding on the vibrations of my heartbeat. Destruction, I thought, channeling that intention into my voice.

  Cartazonon fell to his knees.

  “You will not hurt him,” Lee snarled and came at me.

  I held out my hand. Phoenix fire shot from my palm surrounding me. I became a conduit for Akashic power and my own rage. My body tightened and shook, fighting against the intensity of the power. I focused my energy on the magic which bound us in this dream.

  I followed the Earth based power to the four Zuni witches.

  How dare they attack me? How dare they help to force these nightmares onto me? A cry, a screech, a roar rose out of me. Notes fell into place as I destroyed the Earth magic. The men screamed and began to seize as I forced my power into them destroying their magic.

  Following the energy back to the dreamscape I continued my battle cry. The connection began to shatter, notes of triumph accenting my battle cry.

  The breath was forced from my body as Lee jumped through the Phoenix fire and tackled me to the ground. He screamed in pain and rage. His pockmarked face wrinkling as the stolen life in him was stripped away.

  “Lee, no get away from her,” Cartazonon yelled. “Get out of the fire.”

  Lee’s hands went around my throat and squeezed.

  I send a wave of Akashic energy into his chest as I shoved and rolled to the side.

  “No, Lee.” Cartazonon grabbed him and pulled his friend out of the flames holding him close. Lee’s black eyes were unfocused. Sweat beaded on his ashen skin. Short painful gasps came, each taking a little longer than the previous one. “You will pay for this, child. Go back my friend.”

  Lee faded and left the dream. Cartazonon’s rage slammed into me hot and sharp.

  I pulled in more Phoenix power. My nerves trembled in protest to more energy assaulting them. I spilt blood from my mouth, my throat in agony inside and out, but I wasn’t done.

  “No, you will pay for this.” I pulled in energy until my nervous system was on fire, then released it, empowering my song. The walls of the dream cracked. Cartazonon screamed, covering his ears.

  My voice rose in power and pitch. The dreamscape shattered. Cartazonon’s memories swirled around me.

  Laughing in Paris, as another noble begged for mercy while being dragged to the guillotine.

  Eating the heart of a manticore, the power of the beast flooding his body with strength and vitality. He sent the energy into his dying friend.

  Lee’s eyes flickered open. “It would have been a good death, Kahn.”

  “Death cannot have you yet, Lee.”

  A baby unicorn pranced in a meadow playing with Aya. Its mother talking with Shamash.

  “Get out. You have no right to my thoughts,” Cartazonon yelled.

  “No right? You brought me here.” My voice rasped and my throat burned. I changed my song, sharp and vicious as I lashed out at him. Blood filled my mouth, choking me.

  Cartazonon forced himself to his feet. He stumbled a little. Blood soaked into his white shirt collar as it dripped from his ears. His skin looked waxy. Closing his dark eyes, he pulled power into his cupped hands. It grew, a smoky ball of writhing energy.

  Coughing, I spat out blood trying to sing again.

  Cartazonon roared, throwing the ball of dark magic at me. He swayed for a moment then slammed onto the floor unconscious.

  His magic slammed into my chest.

  I arched off the bed clawing at my shirt. Icy sharp pain tore through my body. My throat burned and the scream that tried to come out was nothing more than a squeak. Closing my eyes, I forced myself to relax. I breathed through my nose so I didn’t hurt my raw throat. Tears filled my eyes. What had I done? Everything hurt so much.

  “Sapphire,” Philip whispered.

  I opened my eyes. My vision blurry and red. I wiped away my tears which were tinted with blood. I held my hand out to Philip.

  “What did you do? Miu, come in here please,” Philip called out.

  I swallowed flinching at the pain and tried to speak. The most pathetically soft squeak ever came out.

  “Let me try and help.” Miu’s hands warmed, and healing Phoenix energy began to seep into me. “There is a lot of damage here, not just to inside of your throat but to the nerves and your vocal cords. I’m not sure I can heal it all at once.”

  I scooted away from her, shaking my head.

  “I’m going to guess,” began Philip. “That you have overused your Phoenix power?”

  I nodded pressing my hand to my throat.

  “Did you use your voice?” Miu asked.

  I nodded again.

  “So let me heal you.” Miu held out her hands, they glowed with soft blue energy.

  I shook my head. Grabbing my phone, I typed. “It’ll drain you too much.”

  Miu frowned and handed the phone to Philip.

  “Sapphire has a point, Miu. We have a long night ahead of us.”

  “Let me at least heal the cuts inside your throat so you’re not in pain.”

  I smiled and scooted closer to Miu. The healing energy she sent into me soothed the damage I had inflicted.

  “I’m going to assume you were pulled into a dream. Did you at least hurt Cartazonon as much as you hurt yourself?” Philip asked.

  Two thumbs up. I hoped so, he looked pretty bad.

  Philip laughed. “Well, that’s a pleased look.”

  “Done. I’ll go make you some tea, to help aid the healing. Do not even try to speak,” Miu said.

  I pressed my lips together.

  Miu shook her head and walked downstairs.

  “You have about half an hour before we leave. You might want to wash the blood off and change your clothes,” Philip said as he stood and followed Miu.

  I looked at myself and wrinkled my nose. Getting up, I grabbed my stuff and headed to the bathroom. I wish I had time to soak in the cedar tub.

  “Sapphire,” Taliesin called out running up the stairs. He grabbed my shoulders his blue eyes wide as he looked me over. “Are you okay? We heard you singing, it was terrifying. We all went outside to get away from it, while Philip stayed to help you. Something about the song not affecting him in the same way because of an explosion when he was in the Navy.”

  I’d never heard Taliesin babble before. It was kind of cute.

  “What happened? Where did all the blood come from? Did Miu fix you?”

  I covered h
is mouth with my hand. And pointed to my throat then shook my head.

  “You can’t talk?” Taliesin frowned. “Do you need anything?”

  I held up my clean clothes.

  “Oh, yes, go ahead and get cleaned up.”

  Smiling, I looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

  Taliesin rolled his eyes and moved to the side so I could walk past him.

  “Will you be okay to do this tonight?” he asked.

  I gave him a thumbs up and shut the door. I had no idea how I would get through tonight but I wasn’t going to put it off and risk anything going wrong. Between the Gaki, tengu, and dragons there was too much room for things to explode. And I didn’t need to talk to open the portal anyway. Right?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “I will speak for Sapphire,” Shin declared.

  The argument over me being bait for the Gaki stopped. The van was silent as we drove into Aokigahara. I had every intention of being bait, they would be watching me. I wouldn’t have to yell for help.

  “Why you?” asked Miu. “I can understand Sapphire’s facial expressions and gestures too.”

  “So can I,” Kayin said.

  Shin held up his hands. “Stop. You all have special magic powers to focus on using. I don’t, so this will be my thing. Also, Miu and Kayin, you’re too nice. Sapphire’s kind of bitchy, and I don’t think you’ll convey that properly.”

  I raised an eyebrow and glared at Shin.

  “See,” he said waving at me. “You two would say something nice, when a cuss word is needed right now.”

  “Okay, okay,” Philip said chuckling. “So what does Sapphire want to do?”

  Shin turned to me and looked into my eyes. Really? Is he trying to read my mind? The energy of the room began to change as Shin continued to stare at me. The intense fear and stress ebbed, and amusement began to bubble around us. I rolled my eyes. Shin’s lips twitched. He knew what he was doing. Shin was always good for de-stressing us, especially if Kayin felt upset.

  “Sapphire wants to be used as bait. She trusts us to protect her,” Shin said still staring at me. “She’s not sure how she can attract the Gaki. Last time she was depressed, and now she’s not feeling it as intensely. She also thinks we all look great, except for Taliesin because his shirt is wrinkled, and it’s kind of embarrassing.”