“Something about being eaten by Wyrms doesn’t sound fun to me.”
Ray throws his head back in a laugh. “I love this new Hazel! Such confidence. It is very…alluring.”
I cringe. “I’m taken and not interested in madmen.”
He rolls his eyes. “Not in a sexual way. I am just…intrigued. You have grown so much since you were in camp. So meek, and yet now so strong.”
“Is that why you’ve separated me? So you can go on about how much I’ve grown up? It kinda helps that I wasn’t being screamed at and berated constantly by people around me,” I grunt. “Life gets easier when you aren’t constantly judged for being a commoner.”
“Yes, I can imagine having the protectors around was hard for you. I bet you are glad the Wyrms took care of them?”
“What?” I ask, surprised.
He grins, leaning over the table. “Did it never occur to you that they disappeared without a trace? The Wyrms and I did not like the fact that the commoners of your group and the premiers were being separated. It is much easier to keep an eye on one large group of people rather than several little ones.”
“You had them killed.” I swallow the bile in my throat. “To keep us all happy?”
“Your happiness had nothing to do with it. It was for surveillance purposes. Mason and Sadie could not get within a few yards of you or you would be fined, so we took matters into our own hands.”
“You could have got the Wyrms to convince them to leave!” I try to keep my voice steady, but I fail to mask the emotion in my voice.
“What fun would that be? Besides, the Wyrms are the reason they got in there. Although that backfired, especially with the horn farm.”
I blink slowly, trying to swallow my anger. “They took the dragon horns?”
“I did not know about it,” Ray says quickly. “Do you think I would have allowed that to happen to Winter if I had known? We may have differing beliefs, but I am not a monster. Torturing dragons for the sake of a little money is not my way of doing things.”
“Sounds like it could be,” I fire back accusingly.
He bashes the table with his fists, his veins starting to pulse. “I have apologised for my past behaviour.”
“But not your present behaviour. You’re still crazy.”
He rolls his eyes and paces around the room once more, clenching and unclenching his fists. “I need you as much as you need me.”
“I don’t need you at all.”
He pauses in front of me, looking into my eyes. “I am the only thing that is keeping you from being Wyrm food.”
“For now. I’m only here because I still have some uses for you. Luring that big dragon being one of them.”
“We cannot let that thing continue to roam free.” Ray settles down in his seat once more but leans to one side as if he might get up again any minute. “It is too dangerous; it will kill people.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“It is unfortunate, but the species went extinct for a reason. This is not the world it once ruled.”
My heart sinks at the thought of letting that dragon die. But, like Ray says, we don’t have much choice. There’s no way we can house that thing once more, plus the amount of resources needed to keep it alive would be shocking. The only reason the scientists kept it alive was for their experiments and it isn’t needed anymore.
“I thought you didn’t kill dragons that had a purpose,” I manage to get out as my eyes fill with tears. “The Anthropomorphic still has one.”
Sadness crosses his face. “I have to weigh up the consequences of my actions.” He crosses his arms and fiddles with his sleeves. “While, yes, it has a purpose, but we cannot allow it to murder hundreds of people.”
“It’s just instinct.”
“I know. The dragon is not at fault. The scientists should not have brought it back.”
I’m silent for a few seconds, swallowing back my guilt. “So, you’re just gonna shove me out there and hope it doesn’t eat me?”
“Basically. It wants you for whatever reason. I am hoping we can take it down while it is distracted.”
“I’m not using the shark on it. Without serum it weakens me too much.”
“All I expect of you is to draw it here, not to fight it,” he promises. “But I think you will defend yourself if necessary.”
“Or I could stick it to the Wyrms and let the dragon eat me; then no water powers for them.”
The corners of Ray’s mouth rise slightly. “They want to eat you so they develop gills. The Wyrms do not take the power from you, but from your animal counterpart.”
I guess that makes sense. Wes can create a hawk, so it’s not surprising that the Wyrm grew wings, but I’m not sure why the Wyrms need such large eyes.
“What was Sadie’s?” I ask spitefully.
“An owl,” he replies. “You are not going to forgive me for that, are you?”
“I didn’t like her, but it wasn’t right.”
“She was a traitor. I have no need for traitors.”
“And Wes? Why have you cast him aside after everything he’s done for you?”
The blond boy licks his lips guiltily. “Seeing Sadie die reminded me that I cannot keep my promise to him. The Wyrms refuse to spare him, so I am pushing him away.”
“He’s having none of it.”
“I have noticed,” he replies bitterly. “Maybe at some point I will let him back in. He is my closest friend, after all.”
The door flies open, making us both jump. A Wyrm with regular beady red eyes slithers into the room, panting wildly.
“The beast is within the streets. It’s coming for the girl.”
“Excellent.” Ray dismisses it with a hand. “Get everyone in their positions.” As the Wyrm slides back out again he cuts me out of my bonds. “Ready?”
“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
* * *
The ground rumbles as I stand out in the empty street. Despite my misgivings about Ray, I’m glad he has the decency to clear the streets. Remnants of the earlier celebrations are scattered around in the forms of dropped food and party banners. A few plastic cups slide along the pavement in the wind, getting stuck in drains and pipes along the roads.
“It’s coming this way!” someone screams as they rush around the corner as fast as they can in their heavy armour.
As the person runs towards me, an orange arm plucks them out of the air and throws them across the street. Metal grinds across the concrete as the person lands heavily on the ground, their limbs misshapen like a puppet’s. A pair of white eyes fix on me from above and the dragon steps out from the building, pushing the brick and mortar aside with a grunt. The building sways dangerously to one side before being pushed back into place by the battalion of armoured dragons waiting for the signal to attack.
“Remember me?” I ask the creature as it stops in front of me, its chest heaving with anger.
The burns on its body look worse than ever; most of it is covered in pus and boils. The one on its chest is the worst, with red flaky skin exposed and weeping. There is no chance of any scales growing back on that wound.
It must be suffering.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you,” I explain to the creature as it plops down on all fours to face me head on. “I didn’t know it would hurt you so badly.”
The creature does nothing to signal that it can understand me, so I assume that I’m still in its bad books.
Not that it matters for much longer anyway.
The creature grinds its back legs into the concrete, ready to charge. Just when I think that Ray is about to leave me to face it alone, the dragons descend from above, firing their elements in quick succession. I duck and cover my head as elements are thrown in all directions, some missing me by mere inches. The dragon screams and jerks onto its hind legs to swat a dragon out of the sky. The silver armoured dragon goes crashing into the side of a building, sending a waterfall of dust to the street be
low.
“Hazel, get back!” Ray screams from behind his homemade barrier of cars.
Dazed by the fight going on around me, I stumble behind the wall of cars and get shoved further back by Ray’s cronies. The dragon roars in fury and flaps its wings, making some of the dragons in the air regain their footing. More and more elements fly at the dragon, but it knocks them all away with its arms. Sores appear in the places where it has been hit. I can tell it’s in agony.
It refuses to go down, however; that thing is going to keep fighting.
“What’s the plan now, huh?” I shout to Ray over the carnage. “I think you underestimated it.”
“Perhaps I have,” Ray admits. “It is a lot stronger than I thought.”
Everyone ducks down as a dragon is whacked into our direction, bouncing off the hood of a car before being dragged off by several soldiers.
“They’re going to die!” I hiss at him, but he still looks shocked.
“I…I don’t know…”
Frustrated by his lack of help, I decide to take things into my own hands. “Where’s Aqueous?”
His head snaps towards me. “Why?”
“That thing wants me, right? Let me lead it away while you come up with something.”
“So you can escape? I don’t think so!”
“Oh, believe me, I’m not leaving Braith and Marco alone with you. I’ll come back for them.”
Ray looks at me and then the dragon, curling his lip in disgust. “Fine! Guards, go get the black dragon!”
Two soldiers wearing bronze armour run back inside, not daring to question the orders of their leader. While I wait, the Anthropomorphic continues to lash out with a newfound intensity. Its attacks are becoming more violent and uncoordinated. It’s getting desperate. Blood and scales line the floor like leaves as the dragon buckles under its own pain. The Anthropomorphic drops down onto four legs as the flying dragons launch another round of elemental attacks, but the beast is ready this time. With a quick lash of its tail, it’s able to knock three dragons out of the sky at once, sending them sprawling into the street like marbles. Two don’t get up.
“You had better keep your word,” Ray warns as Aqueous skids to a halt beside me.
“I’m not leaving them with you,” I repeat, quickly mounting my companion.
Looking at the chaos in front of me almost makes me want to run. This dragon is mean and will not just let me go if it catches me.
“Try and get it out of the city. It’s not as claustrophobic,” Ray says, patting Aqueous on the neck.
Not bothering to answer him, I grip Aqueous’ ears for support as he surges forward. The black dragon is quickly noticed by the Anthropomorphic, who starts ignoring the dragons in the sky. My companion rushes underneath its body as it looks between its legs. We continue down the street, the shaking of the road telling me that it’s following.
“Don’t let it catch us, for God’s sake!” I scream at my companion.
The Anthropomorphic screeches behind us as it chases us on foot. Despite being smaller, my dragon is able to outrun it with his nimble legs. It almost makes me forget about his previous injury, but I guess right now Aqueous is fuelled by adrenaline. Buildings of all kinds whiz by us as we turn a corner abruptly. The Anthropomorphic skids to make an unexpected turn, punching a hole through a wall in the process. It’s starting to get tired now, so it might be time to get it out of the city.
“We need to get it out into the open!” I scream over the Anthropomorphic’s roar.
Aqueous nods and ducks into an alley, leaping effortlessly over bins as he explodes into a garden. The Anthropomorphic crashes through the building behind us, reducing it to rubble. An orange hand reaches out to grab my companion, but he quickly jumps the fence, letting the beast thrust its giant claws into the rotting wood. We jump across garden after garden as the beast continues to follow us.
Eventually, an open field comes into view. My companion is panting heavily, but he manages to speed up to reach the open space. The Anthropomorphic growls as its foot plunges into a pond; it shakes algae off its claws before continuing the pursuit. As soon as we hit the open air, armoured dragons circle us in the sky. My companion skids to a halt and turns to face the orange beast. It growls at the dragons flying around its head, swiping at them like flies.
A blaring siren fills the empty area as Ray and his group swerve into the field in their vehicles, a large red siren sat on top of one of their cars. The beast kicks out at a car, sending it flying into the night like a football. Although it continues to fight, it has been considerably weakened by the chase. Its movements are slow, its breaths heavy and forced.
A dragon in ebony armour drops in front of Aqueous, growling at him in warning. My companion ducks his head at Winter’s command as Ray runs over.
“Told you we wouldn’t escape,” I huff, dismounting my partner.
“I am glad that you kept to your word,” Ray says with a dark smile. “Although I do love chasing you.”
“Have you come up with a plan yet?” I ask.
“It should be tired after your little stunt. I hope it will not last much longer now.”
I swallow back the lump in my throat as the Anthropomorphic collapses onto all fours, shuddering under the weight of its own misery. Its legs buckle underneath it as more and more dragons hurl their elements at it. After a few seconds of fighting it collapses into the dirt, heaving wildly.
“Stop!” Ray shouts, waving his hands at his dragon army.
The armoured dragons immediately drop to the ground upon the order, backing away from the collapsed beast. Its white eyes fix on me once more, but instead of anger I see fear.
It’s scared of dying.
I sprint towards the beast. It tries to raise its head as I approach, but falls back into the dirt. I kneel by its face, stroking its injured cheek. Its scales are red hot and its chest rattles every time it breathes. It was sick before this battle; it’s just spent the last of its energy trying to fight back.
“What are you doing?” Ray demands, trying to yank me away by my hood.
“Fuck off! It’s dying and scared! I won’t let it die alone.”
Ferocity must burn in my eyes, because he backs off silently, nodding. The dragon tries to growl as Ray leaves, but I calm it with a hush and a pat on the neck. It grimaces at my touch, but soon accustoms itself to it. We’ve been enemies for so long, but for a few moments at least we can share our sorrows.
I don’t want this creature to die.
But even if it hadn’t come to the city, it’s clear that its wounds would have killed it off anyway. It’s too badly hurt, too badly infected to keep living. I’m not sure modern medicine could save such an ancient beast. Its body shudders under my touch and its eyelids droop, but it continues to stare at me with its emotionless white eyes.
“I’m so sorry,” I mutter, gently stroking its cheek.
Its eyelids finally close completely, though it continues to breathe slowly. Despite the tears in my eyes I commit myself to staying until its very last breath. It’s the least I can do.
I wish the lab hadn’t let them all out with the Wyverns. It could be safe right now, instead of dying in a world it doesn’t recognise.
But as it takes one last deep breath, I know in my heart that it would have died no matter what we had done.
34
Chapter Thirty-Four
The drive back to Aria is solemn. None of us are celebrating a victory, rather the loss of a species that will never come back.
Aqueous nuzzles my leg beneath me, his mouth clamped shut by a muzzle. I pat him on the neck sadly, looking down at his dull eyes. We all know what’s coming next. The Wyrms hiss and slither around on the roof of the truck, looking out for any threats that might snatch us away from them once more.
“Anyone looking forward to going home?” Marco asks bluntly.
“I am. I can’t wait to be rid of you all,” Wes hisses. “Once we get back home, Ray will show all the Wyr
ms that I’m needed.”
“Please give it a rest,” Braith begs, clasping her hands over her ears. “This spiel is getting so old that my grandma died listening to it, Wes.”
This ignites a chuckle from Marco and me, but Wes isn’t amused. “Well, at least I’m not assholes like you lot are. I didn’t leave Aria and cause havoc wherever I went.”
“Neither did we,” Marco retorts. “We did everything we could to survive. It doesn’t help that the Wyrms were tracking us down every five minutes.”
“I wish they would have eaten you all already. You’re still as pathetic as the day I left you,” the boy sighs, flexing his injured leg.
The serum is definitely working: he could barely walk on it before, and now he’s nearly back to normal. The only downside is that the serum pumping in his veins will strengthen him for a short period. We can’t let a fight break out.
“We’re the pathetic ones, are we?” Braith scoffs. “I didn’t abandon my friends for a guy who was willing to murder them.”
“You did abandon some, though,” Wes smirks as he realises he’s hit a nerve. “Hazel and Marco both left brothers behind, after all.”
“I had no choice.” I try to keep my voice steady, but the anger still comes through. “Half of camp was hunting me for a murder I didn’t commit.”
“So, you fight that claim by committing actual murder?” the armoured boy snorts, sticking his nose in the air. “Doesn’t make much sense to me.”
“It was an accident.” My voice breaks as the image of Jason drowning comes into my head once more. “I didn’t mean to kill him.”
“Sounds exactly like something a murderer would say,” Wes grins, swinging his uninjured leg against the metal crates in which the dragons are caged.
I sit back and say nothing. This isn’t worth losing my cool over. I know he’s doing it deliberately to get a reaction out of me, but it ain’t happening.
“You okay, Haze?” Marco nudges me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just want to go home and see Rocky.”
Wes speaks up again. “You think Ray will let you see him again after escaping? Ha!”
Glass and Ice (Elemental Dragons Book 3) Page 25
