The Priestess and the Dragon

by Nicolette Andrews

  "There must have been copies somewhere. Are there any great places of learning?" the Dragon said, oblivious to the priestess' suffering.

  "Just the records at the White Palace, but--" The priestess stopped to catch her breath.

  Meanwhile, Suzume panted and clutched at her neck; it felt like her throat had collapsed.

  "What is wrong with the girl?" Zakuro asked.

  The Dragon noticed Suzume lying on the ground, forced down by the weight of his spiritual energy. He pulled it back and she gasped a breath. The weight disappeared in an instant and she felt as if a ton of bricks had been taken off her chest.

  "Your energy is pouring out of you unchecked. She is particularly in tune to your energy, my lord," Chiyoko remarked. Her hands trembled as she hid the effects the spiritual energy had on her.

  "Yes, she is." He stared at Suzume, who perspired and glowered at him. Then he said to Suzume, "You will take me to the palace. I would investigate these claims about that woman's offspring and together we will find them and kill them."

  Chiyoko gasped and Suzume sat up and swayed in place. "My lord, she is the daughter of the emperor. What if the legends are true and High Priestess Fujikawa is the mother of the emperor?"

  "Then I shall kill her and her entire family," he replied in a calm voice that gave Suzume chills. He meant what he said, of that she had no doubt.

  "What if she had no children, if she died without descendants? Will you hunt down her sisters' legacy or her brothers'?"

  "There was a child, of that I am certain," he said, and the thunderclouds seemed to gather in his eyes once more. He kept his spiritual energy in check, but the sparks were racing up and down Suzume's back. Suzume stood up and a bright red aura hung around her like a shroud. She lifted her hand, staring at the energy that twirled around her fingers.

  "How can you be so certain?" she challenged, and the red of her aura shot towards the Dragon.

  He pushed it aside as he would a fly. "I know because it was mine."

  Chapter Five

  The Dragon's proclamation was followed by silence. Is this another trick? She scrutinized his expression, searching for a hint. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared past Suzume at the wall behind the head priestess. His dark eyes were rimmed with blue--something Suzume had learned indicated his temper was rising. She clutched at her chest, waiting for the release of the pressure that would surely suffocate her. Though his anger made a lot more sense now, she would be pretty upset if her lover locked her away for five hundred years too.

  "Are you saying...?" Chiyoko prompted.

  The Dragon bared pointed teeth at the high priestess. "Yes, your beloved founder was pregnant with my child when she sealed me away for eternity! Though I suspect she was not aware of it at the time. I had only just realized myself."

  Suzume shook her head. Just like a man to think he knew more about a woman than she did. "You must be joking! How could you know before she did?"

  He turned towards Suzume; his face had transformed along with his teeth. The handsome young man was gone, replaced by a terrifying hybrid of human and dragon. His skin had a faint blue sheen, and scales overlapped the flesh along his cheeks, which were sharp and angular. His pupils were large and just the barest hint of his iris ringed the outside in an icy blue. His cheeks were sunken and his hands were tipped with claws.

  "Do you question me, mortal? I could squish you like a bug. Do you know what I am? I can see each beat of your heart within your chest. I can see the river of energy of life that flows in your veins. I watched humans climb their way from being ignorant animals to the pestilence you are now upon the land. I know more about you than you know about yourself."

  Suzume should have been cowed by his posturing; perhaps a smarter woman would have been. He had done nothing but flaunt his power from the moment he woke. She had seen his type before. Every season when the young lords came to make their petitions to the emperor, there was always one among them full of hot air and of his own greatness. She suspected the Dragon was the same. He had done nothing but make threats since his arrival; she had yet to see him make good on any of them. Suzume squared her shoulders and looked him dead in the eye.

  "But you were defeated by a human," she said.

  He smiled; it was a terrifying sight. His daggerlike teeth gleamed and the threat hinted at there made her stomach flop.

  "You've outworn your value to me, Priestess," he said. His voice was deadly calm.

  His spiritual energy poured out of him. Suzume saw it spiral out of him like a thick mist. It reached for her, grasping like tentacles; it prodded and poked the air around her but did not touch. It coalesced into a river of shimmery blue light that spun around her, creating a sphere of energy that covered her. Before the energy closed around her, she saw the high priestess fall over, grasping at her throat while Zakuro rushed to her side.

  Inside the bubble of energy, Suzume felt her skin prickle. Small jolts ran up and down her skin as the red sparks leapt at the Dragon's energy, keeping it at bay. The pressure mounted, and though she felt it growing, it was not overwhelming as it had been before. Suzume's bright red energy flickered out of her from unseen pores, leaping like flames to create a secondary ring that enclosed her and shielded her from the Dragon's energy.

  When she was fully encased in her own bubble, the building pressure ceased entirely and she stared up at the colliding of their energy. Fire and ice met, causing small explosions. Clouds of vapor and sparks blended together. When I unleashed him, this is the energy that broke him free, and now it is protecting me.

  As a test, she imagined the energy reaching out as if she had her own tentacles of energy. But instead of a graceful probe, one section of her shield burst forth, burning a hole in the Dragon's energy. Smoke curled away and the Dragon stared down at her through the hole it had created.

  He had transformed from the monstrous half dragon back to a man. His brow furrowed as he stared down at her. He examined her as if trying to puzzle out a mystery. She would like to know where these powers came from as well. The Dragon's energy receded, wrapping around him like a shimmering cloud of frost. Then when Suzume blinked, it disappeared. Her own energy flickered and faded like a candle snuffed out and her knees gave out beneath her as she collapsed to the floor. She felt drained, her arms were too weak to even lift, and holding up her head to watch the Dragon came with a great effort.

  "How?" He shook his head. "We leave in an hour's time. Meet me at the gates."

  He turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the sliding door on his way out. The force of it shook the building. Suzume considered shouting a parting insult, but decided to let things be. She was too tired to even speak. She looked down at her hands; they felt like a stranger's. What just happened here?

  The high priestess had lost consciousness when the Dragon unleashed his powers on Suzume. Zakuro had her head resting in her lap. The high priestess moaned and Zakuro looked down on the elderly woman with a surprising amount of tenderness. It's good to see she is not entirely heartless. When the head priestess tried to sit up, Zakuro said, "Do not rise. You will hurt yourself."

  The high priestess sighed but lay still with her eyes closed. Suzume's strength was returning and she looked to the door, wondering if now would be a good time to make a graceful exit.

  "What shall we do about this?" Zakuro asked Chiyoko before scowling at Suzume as if accusing her for the Dragon's actions.

  "We must do as the Dragon asks," said the high priestess. Her voice was thin as a reed.

  "He threatened to kill the entire royal family," Suzume protested.

  "Do not question the will of the gods," Zakuro snapped back.

  Suzume glared at her. "You wouldn't be saying that if it was you he was threatening."

  Zakuro glowered back.

  "Enough," Chiyoko said. Despite her current fatigue, her voice commanded them both. The two women turned to the high priestess.

  "Suzume, you must go with the Dragon. Wh
atever he asks, you must do."

  Why? she wanted to ask, but she knew the answer without speaking. Because he would kill her otherwise. For whatever reason, he had chosen her, and now it seemed she was stuck with him.

  "You are dismissed," the head priestess said with a lazy wave.

  Her casual dismissal riled Suzume, but she took her cue to leave. She dipped a hasty bow before skittering out of the room.

  ***

  When the door closed, Chiyoko sat up. Her old bones creaked and her head pounded with the beginnings of a headache. She rubbed her temple as Zakuro fussed over her. She waved away her concerns. Zakuro sat across from her, hands flat on her knees and intense dissatisfaction written on her features.

  "You are displeased?" Chiyoko asked. She knew the answer, but she also knew Zakuro did not know her emotions were so transparent.

  "Why send that girl along with him? She is likely to incite his anger again, and who knows what will happen if he is not in a holy place then." Zakuro jabbed a finger towards the door.

  Chiyoko did not answer right away. She looked down at the beginnings of the letter she had been sending to her friend at the palace. It had been a long time since she had been in the presence of a Yokai like the Dragon, and the last time she had been a young woman. Few people had spiritual sensitivity and for this girl, with undiscovered powers, to come to this shrine was either a coincidence or by design. Only Chiyoko's family's long history with this shrine had kept her here. When her abilities were discovered, she had already learned about the shrine's secret and it was too late to send her away. Had life been different, she would have been trained at the Sun Temple at the White Palace. She had never expected someone with that level of spiritual sensitivity to show up at her shrine. Who is this girl? She cannot be a mere disgraced princess. How could her powers have lain dormant until now?

  "Chiyoko!" Zakuro said.

  She glanced up at Zakuro; her pinched mouth accentuated the lines around her eyes and mouth. She still remembered the young girl who had come to her shrine, without a family but desperate to please. She had not even a fraction of the raw power that Suzume did. But she was loyal and she would lead the shrine well when Chiyoko was gone. Only years of training allowed Zakuro to see the world of the Yokai. Because Zakuro had not lived with the knowledge of that other world, the Dragon and his threats scared Zakuro more than she would ever admit aloud. He had threatened the entire royal family--and it was no idle threat. He meant every word; if he could sate his desire for revenge by killing hundreds of innocents, he would do it. Yokai were different than humans; they had no sense of honor.

  "We cannot stop him from going, and the girl can withstand his energy if she can learn to control her own. I only wish I had time to train her. But he will not wait. She will have to learn about her powers alone."

  "Then why do we not seal him once more?" Zakuro suggested. "Surely it will be a small feat for the princess."

  Chiyoko shook her head. "No. Fujikawa Kazue was a powerful priestess; Suzume does not have the strength to do what she did." It really is a shame. Had I known, I would have been able to begin her training at least, but I did not suspect. Now I can only hope she survives.

  "Then what shall we do? We cannot let him run wild."

  Chiyoko stared down at her letter once again. She had only to make her mark and send it out. She knew this was the right thing to do, but knowing that her entire life's work was coming to an end left her feeling empty. She had kept the temple's secrets so long, even now that the end was near she found it difficult to loosen her tongue and speak the truth. I should tell Zakuro everything. I do not know how much time is left to me. She folded her hands on the table. Not yet but soon, when she is ready to take my place, I will tell her about Priestess Fujikawa's final wishes.

  The head priestess stood and walked over to the window. She could not stare at the paper a moment longer. Seeing it in black and white felt too final. She looked out into the garden beyond. A pair of shrine maidens who were meant to be sweeping the courtyard were chatting and giggling behind their hands. Another girl was peeking through the door that led to the Dragon's chamber. Their lives had been rocked when they found out the God of the Mountain was not real, what would they think when they learned the entire shrine was a lie? How would they react when they found out she had known from the start that there was no god and this shrine had been built with the intention of keeping the Dragon sealed, all to keep their founder's secret. These girls carried on, oblivious to the fact that their entire order's purpose was preparing to leave and never come back. I never thought I could come to care for a stone so much.

  She turned around, and Zakuro watched her, brows furrowed. Shall we carry on, find a new god to worship, or do I risk them all to put him back?

  "I am writing to the head priestess at the White Palace. I will inform her of the Dragon's intentions," she said, answering Zakuro's question at last.

  "And then what? Will she be able to seal him once more?"

  If only it were that easy. I would not let him leave. Chiyoko folded her hands in front of her to disguise their shaking. The truth dangled from her lips. "Only Kazue's reincarnation could do that."

  "Then our first priority should be to find her before the Dragon does."

  Perhaps it was time to tell Zakuro everything. She hated to see the worry that creased her brow and to know she caused it.

  "He has already found Kazue's reincarnation. She is the one who unleashed him."

  Chapter Six

  The shrine maidens made short work of packing supplies for Suzume and the Dragon's journey. They seemed eager to be rid of her, or perhaps it was the Dragon they were happy to see the backside of. She waited for him at the gates, a pack on her back that felt heavy enough to drag her down to the ground. Why can we not fly, or at least ride in a palanquin? Even when my father dumped me at this forsaken place he had the decency to send me in a proper conveyance.

  The Dragon came storming through the courtyard. Fallen leaves kicked up in his wake and swirled around his head. From the crackle of energy she felt tingling up and down her arms, she suspected the Dragon was still in a foul mood. Oh good, this shall be a delightful trip, off to kill my entire family. She crossed her arms over her chest as he approached.

  "Where are we going?" she asked him.

  He looked her up and down. "To my palace in the south."

  South towards the White Palace, where her father and siblings resided. She had never been close with any of them, but to think the Dragon would slaughter them all filled her with fear. She had never felt so helpless in her life.

  "You did not mean what you said before about killing my family, right?"

  He did not respond and instead stomped over to the torii arch that separated the shrine grounds from the road leading up to the mountain. He stopped beneath the arch. A string of ofuda on the archway twisted in the wind. He stared at them for a moment. Suzume crept up behind him, crossed the threshold onto the road, and with a hand on her hip, she faced the Dragon.

  "You've been here for centuries, are you afraid to leave?"

  He narrowed his eyes at her. She did not know what she expected to get out of taunting him, but it made her feel better at least.

  He took a step, his mouth pressed closed. She may have imagined it, but it almost looked like he was expecting something to happen. When nothing did, he took off at a fast pace down the road. Suzume stared after him. I do not understand him at all. He was moving so fast he was nearly around the bend. She watched him go for a moment, wondering what would happen if she refused to follow him. Then he stopped, turned around and beckoned to her.

  "Come, Priestess, I haven't got all day."

  She balled her hands into fists. "I am not your pet to command."

  "But you are mine."

  She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. She'd be damned if she would come chasing after him like a dog. She did not know he was beside her until he was lifting her up into the
air and threw her over his shoulder. "If you will not come, I will bring you," he said.

  "Put me down!" she shouted, beating on his back with her fists.

  He laughed but ignored her threats. Her skin prickled and heated where his hands wrapped around her calves, but no matter how she tried, she could not summon the same power to defend herself. It would be helpful right about now.

  The journey down the mountainside was tedious and not worth mentioning, in Suzume's opinion. When she gave up fighting him, he let her down to walk on her own two feet. She insisted on numerous breaks, which he argued against, but she won in the end. It was nearly sunset by the time they reached the foot of the mountain.

  By then her limbs ached in a way they had never done before. She dawdled behind the Dragon as they meandered over the hilly countryside. Trees blocked the dying sun and a breeze rippled through their branches, the wind cool as the sun descended below the horizon. The glare reflected off the water of a nearby river and blinded Suzume. She shielded her eyes with her forearm and scowled at green shoots of river grasses growing along the water's edge, struggling to break through the murky water and reaching towards the sky.

  "By the way, what's your name?" the Dragon said from atop a small rise.

  She stopped and squinted at him. That's it, she thought, I cannot walk another step! The coarse fabric itched and sweat plastered it to her skin. Her feet hurt from these inferior bamboo sandals the high priestess had given her and the straw hat and veil she wore kept slipping forward. Her arms were tired from adjusting it and carrying this infernal pack. A fly had also gotten under her veil and buzzed near her face.

  They had been on the road for hours now and it just occurred to him to ask her name? She forced down a string of curses that were on the tip of her tongue. Not only were they not appropriate for a lady of her stature, but she didn't need another reason to incite the mercurial Dragon's wrath.