“Lana, get back here!” shouted Sarah. She turned and met Victor’s gaze. “She’s going to investigate without us. What if she finds the minerals and leaves us in the dust?”
“She’ll never find them that quickly. Besides, she needs us.” Victor pulled Sarah close, maybe noticing—or sensing—her nervousness. He kissed her softly on the forehead. “I assure you, my Queen, that we will not leave without those minerals. We have come too far and risked too much to leave empty-handed.”
She squeezed him tightly, hoping he could put her doubts at ease. “But nobody’s ever found them before. What makes us so different?”
He gently pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Because we won’t give up—not when our lives are on the line. I swear, Sarah, I’ll do anything to keep you safe and alive.”
She nuzzled into his neck as he held her tightly. How she loved his broad shoulders and muscular body. It felt good to be in his warm, strong arms. She felt safe, warm, and protected—at least for the moment. It felt like anything was possible, that they could triumph over any obstacle thrown at them. “Being in your arms feels so natural…so right…so good.”
His face beamed, and the soft rays of light caught in his stunning eyes, making them shimmer even more brightly than before.
Sarah lifted her lips to meet his, ready to give herself to him, open up like she had never before. A tiny spark seemed to ignite between them just a moment before their lips met, and then a voice from behind made her jump.
“The cave is empty,” said Lana. “I suggest we take full advantage of this opportunity.”
“I don’t believe it!” Victor grabbed Sarah’s hand in a firm grasp, his voice dripping with determination. “They have to be in there somewhere. We must make haste. Our goal is to find them and leave as quickly as we can, before the creature returns.”
Sarah let out a long breath. “Maybe we should trust Lana’s judgment. Maybe the minerals are as much a myth as the dragon.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s not a myth. There are dragons, Sarah, and this one’s aim is to keep people away from the minerals.”
“No myth,” Lana agreed. “I’ve personally seen one of these nasty creatures.”
“And I’ve fought them in combat,” Victor said.
“Okay. Why the hell not?” Sarah muttered. “As a kid, I always wanted to be a dragon slayer. Nothing like living out your childhood dreams.”
They walked briskly through the meadow, Sarah’s feet sinking into the soft grass. The stillness and silence was unnerving. They pushed through the shrubs and finally reached the mouth of the immense cave. A cool breeze blew over Sarah’s skin as she slowly walked in. She slipped on a wet rock and stumbled, catching herself against the slimy, mossy green wall. She let her eyes adjust to the dim light. The further they walked in, the more her heart thumped. What are we really going to face in this horrible place?
Victor ripped off a bottom portion of his shirt and wrapped it tightly around a long stick. He made two more and began to swiftly wave his hand. A moment later, a red ball of fire emerged from his outstretched palms and lifted to hover in midair. As he held up one of the sticks, the newly created torch sputtered, then flared and hissed.
“Victor, you never cease to amaze me,” said Sarah in awe.
He winked, then almost as if showing off, he blew a stream of air, and the fireball blew out just like a candle in the wind. It was fantastic to watch, yet Sarah wasn’t sure she wanted to live her life like some kind of superhero. Even though Victor said there wasn’t a way, she had her suspicions that the ring could come off somehow. I could be normal again…human. Letting herself think there was a loophole in the Immortal contract was the only way to keep herself from completely freaking out. Otherwise…
Victor handed her a torch, and she waved it above her head as a damp, musty smell invaded her nostrils. Her foot crunched down on a…A twig? She looked down and gasped. The floor was littered with bones, hopefully from animals, but possibly from humans, every one of them picked completely clean of any flesh. Sarah decided she had to stay strong and not scream like some little helpless princess. “Any idea exactly what we’re looking for?”
“Not sure,” Victor said, scanning the dark limestone walls around him.
Lana held her flaming torch up high, illuminating the moss clinging to the rock overhead. “Anything that glitters would be a good start.”
Well, duh. Sarah knew that much. “There’s nothing in this chamber, so let’s head into the next one.” Her voice echoed off the cavern walls. Dripping water from overhanging stalactites plopped on her head. She could have sworn the rhythmic sound was a clock, ticking away the precious seconds before the beast returned to its lair. Even still, she couldn’t help but smile. At least they were still breathing and had a chance to find what they had come for. Her sister used to refer to cavern drippings as “cave kisses.” Sarah held back the tears and knew they had to find those minerals at all costs. She was strong and determined. Her sister’s life—as well as her own and those of her friends—depended on her success.
Victor slipped his hand into hers and squeezed. She felt the warmth and strength of his hand surrounding her, giving her reassurance. Together, they walked deeper into the cavern.
Chapter 14
The narrow way broadened into a wide area a few feet away, stretching to the left and right, as far as Sarah could see. Taking a deep breath, she reached the ledge, planting her feet in the ground inches from the abyss below, and stared down at the lava lake. The hissing gases snaked into the air, carrying with them an overpowering sulfur smell and bitter fumes that almost made her gag. She covered her mouth with her palm and leaned forward to peer into the lava that spewed fifty feet into the air. Crackles and pops echoed from the impenetrable stony walls as the ferocious lava simmered like a pot of boiling-hot water. “Dead end. Now what?” she muttered with a frown, her mind already working on overtime to find a different way around this obstacle.
Lana pulled her back a few inches. “Get back here…unless you fancy a hot bath in bubbling lava.”
“Of course. Back where I come from, people pay to go to spas.” Sarah smiled. “And it is nice to see that you have some sense of humor, Lana.”
“You have a good heart,” Lana said with a forced smile. “I couldn’t bear to see anything happen to you.”
“I feel the same way.”
The heat was intense, making it hard to breathe. Sarah inhaled shallow breaths until her lungs adjusted to the lack of oxygen, then looked around. The air was hazy from all the fumes, and her vision blurred, but something caught her eye in the distance. Halfway down the jagged rock were gaping openings: cavernous rooms. She decided they needed to head that way and check them out. She leaned forward just a tiny bit to inspect the distance. The decline seemed steep and treacherous because of the lava bubbling below, the relentless heat that seemed to cook anything from the inside, and the lack of cracks in the stone that would give them a steady hold. Still, they had to leave no stone unturned. “Think the minerals could be in there?” she whispered to Victor. “You know we have to check every nook and cranny.”
Victor opened his mouth to answer, but a horrendous shriek reverberated across the cavern walls, interrupting him.
Sarah whirled around in shock. “Honey, I’m home!” she screamed, not at all happy that the legendary monster had come back so soon.
Two red eyes pierced through the darkness, and iridescent red scales shimmered in the light of a fire. What really freaked her out was the creature’s wide-open mouth, lined with sharp teeth, each as big as her palm. The dragon slowly flapped its powerful, bat-like wings.
She waved the torch around the cave walls, looking for an escape route. “Whoa! That’s one butt-ugly beast. And I bet it’s not prettier on the inside either. Victor, can you control it? Like you did with the unicorn?”
“No! It’s a Guardian.”
She rolled her eyes. “Huh? Are you suddenly going all respec
tful or what? Do you think this thing will bow before you because you’re a king?”
He shook his head. “No, Sarah, but I can’t. Its mind is too strong.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to try, would it?” she muttered under her breath.
“I’ll distract it, and you two run!” Lana yelled. A moment later she closed her eyes and began to shake again, just like before when she had turned into a lion.
Even though she had seen it before, Sarah stopped to watch her; she still couldn’t wrap her head around the amazing transition. The air began to shift, and a tremble rocked the ground beneath her feet. Before Lana could morph into some kind of powerful beast that might have a chance at taking on the dragon—like something out of King Kong vs. Godzilla—the animal’s tail lashed out, hurling Lana high into the air and over the edge, into the pit of fire.
“Lana!” Sarah screamed, terror flooding through every pore in her body.
A tiny blue bird zigzagged from the pit, only to crash into the cavern wall. The birds flapped once, twice, then slumped into itself, as though giving up the will to breathe.
“Lana!” Sarah yelled again, even though she knew that even if the bird could hear her, she was too hurt to get back on her feet without help.
Victor raised his sword high, his voice echoing from the cavern walls. “Remember the fireball you threw at me back at the cliffs?”
Sarah nodded.
“Well, you certainly impressed me with it then. Perhaps you should give it another try now.”
Sarah threw down her torch, closing her eyes for a brief second to focus on her emotions. Somehow, her powers worked best when her emotions were triggered. She could feel the familiar electricity racing through her body. Glancing down at her hands, she watched the fireballs appear, as if she was doing some kind of a magic trick. Stretching her hand back, she whipped the fireballs with all her fury at her intended target. Bingo! The dragon let out a wailing shriek as the ball dissipated into a hundred little bolts.
While Sarah threw more fireballs, Victor lifted his blade and swung it at the fierce monster, fighting bravely like some valiant knight in a fairytale. Claws scraped against stone, causing sparks, as the dragon fought to inch closer, but each strike drove it back. After a final stab, Victor withdrew his sword, and a pungent smell shot through the cold, damp air, blood oozing from the dragon’s open wound. Victor pointed toward the entrance where the wounded dragon stood. “GO!”
“But we…I can’t leave Lana!”
“Sarah, listen! You must do as I tell you.”
She could hear the sharp edge in his tone. It was time to do what everyone expected of her as the king’s wife, yet she couldn’t bring herself to go against her better judgment. She raised her chin a notch. “Last time I checked, I still had a brain and my own freewill.” She noticed his shoulders tense and slump, as though he was shrugging in defense, but she didn’t care. She raced across the cave in search of Lana, and her eyes spotted the bird instantly. Sarah’s heart sank as she looked at the bird, with her wings spread and her eyes closed. Is she…dead? There was no time to be squeamish about such matters. In one motion, Sarah scooped up the lifeless bird and put her deep in her pocket.
“Is she okay?” Victor called out.
Sarah shook her head, signaling she didn’t know.
Suddenly, a stream of fire moved toward Victor at lightning speed. He dodged, flipped, and rolled to escape the dangerous flames. His strength and reflexes astonished her. Sword ready and drawn, he rushed toward the dragon. The beast lashed its tail again, crashing into the cavern wall above her, glittering rock exploding all around her. Blinking the dust and dirt out of her eyes, she tried to survey the situation.
When she looked down at her hands, she gasped at the glimmering dust shining on her hands. Are those…could they be the Minerals of Life? She glanced around, her heart racing. In the light of the torch, glittering gold particles sparkled in the broken wall. “Victor, I found the minerals!” Sarah screamed.
Victor jumped behind a towering rock as the dragon spewed forth more flames. “I’ll hold off the creature. Collect as many as you can!”
Crawling over, Sarah collected some of the broken rocks. She ground one of the small rocks quickly with a sharp rock. Her hands trembled as she picked up some of the smooth dust and put into the bird’s mouth, hoping and praying it would save Lana’s life. The poor shape-shifter was yet another innocent being who wouldn’t be caught up in such a mess if it weren’t for her.
Nothing happened; the bird still lay lifeless. Sarah thought that maybe it was too late for Lana, since she had already died. Maybe the minerals are only good for preventing death, not resurrecting the dead. Sarah’s heart sank. How will I ever break the news to Lana’s husband?
Victor yelled as the dragon lunged forward, snapping its huge jaws. With lighting reflexes of an Immortal, Victor dodged the beast effortlessly. The dragon’s tail lashed out, slamming Victor into the cavern wall, his sword clanking against the hard ground. In an instant, the dragon’s scaly foot descended, pinning him down.
Sarah rushed for the sword and swept it high over her head as she stabbed the dragon’s foot, causing the creature to let out an unearthly scream. Sarah savagely struck out at the monster, enabling her husband to roll out from under it.
“We must not leave here without the minerals!” he shouted.
She threw him the sword, and he caught it with one hand. “I’m on it!” she said. Racing back to the spot where she stood before, she ripped a length of fabric from her dress and started piling up the gold rocks, then wrapped them tightly. She was about to signal Victor that she was done, but she was caught off guard by a crack of thunder in the distance and a piercing pain in her back. Spots danced in her vision as the dragon’s tail swung back over her, missing her by mere inches.
The walls and ground shook under the powerful steps of the giant dragon. The creature inched backward toward her just as Victor plunged the blade deep into the dragon’s neck.
Sarah feared she’d be crushed in one single step of the gigantic beast. She jumped to her feet when that darn barbed tail came out of nowhere…again.
Then, there was only darkness.
She opened her eyes to Victor gently shaking her. “Sarah? Wake up!”
“Victor,” she slowly whispered as she sat up. Her hand moved inside her pocket. The minerals were still there, securely wrapped in her makeshift pouch. Glancing around, she gasped. “Where…gosh, Victor, where are we?” In the dim light, Sarah could see green speckled eggs the size of giant watermelons. Sarah ran a hand over the smooth shells. “Are we in some kind of nest?”
“Yes! The beast’s intention was to bring us here as food for its young.”
Sarah cringed. “That ain’t happening. The dragon was bleeding pretty bad. How’s it still alive anyway?”
“It’s dying, but bringing us down here was her last-ditch effort to save her young.”
“So they’d have a meal waiting for them when they hatch, giving them the strength to live? Great.” She smirked. “Touching, but I’m in no mood to be a snack.”
“We’ll have to climb back up. We’re halfway down the fire pit.”
She peered around her to scan the area. They had to be in one of the jagged chambers she had noticed inside the rock just above the lava lake. It would be quite a hike to the top, and they didn’t exactly have any climbing equipment—not to mention the fact that lava was going to erupt all around them any minute. If they didn’t die from the burns, they might just suffocate from the natural heat or the toxic gases. Sarah took a deep breath; her hopes for survival were slowly but steadily disappearing down the gutter. “Climbing it is,” she whispered. “Boy, am I looking forward to this part—particularly with my two left feet.”
“It won’t be so bad,” Victor said.
She nodded, unconvinced. They would be climbing up the inside of a volcano, one misstep leading to a million-foot plummet into a real-live fiery lake. Immortal or not, she w
as sure she wasn’t immune to incineration, and even if it didn’t kill her, she was sure being served well done to a bunch of baby dragons would be rather painful. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Are you sure?” Victor asked, smiling.
She glanced up again, then nodded, knowing she had no other choice.
“That’s my girl.”
She returned his smile sweetly, even though she’d have given just about anything for a door to magically appear inside that rock. Of course, that would have been too much of a fairytale ending. Hesitant on her feet, she grabbed hold of a rock protruding from the walls. Suddenly, a stabbing pain pierced her chest, making her double over. When she could finally think straight again, she glanced up at the towering appearance of Ethano, pulling his bloodied sword out of Victor’s chest, right out of his heart.
He smiled. “You two aren’t going anywhere. Didn’t Victor ever give you a good lesson on Immortals?”
Sarah gasped.
“One bite from a Guardian will kill any Immortal, so I coated my sword with the saliva from one of the Guardians I killed and plunged it into your husband’s heart! This will be the death of you both!”
“Ethano! You…you know it is forbid…it’s forbidden for you to kill a Guardian unless it’s in…for self-defense,” Victor sputtered.
“Victor, the last thing you should be worrying about is whether or not I have broken any rules. I think you should be more concerned about the toxin that will kill you within twenty minutes.”
The sound of a shell cracking echoed in the air.
“That is, if the baby dragons don’t devour you first!” He lifted Victor with no trouble, held him in a bear hug and dragged him back over to the nest where he tossed him in. Ethano threw his head back and laughed.
“Victor!” Sarah yelled running over. She suddenly felt arms tighten around her waist as Ethano threw her in too, her head knocking into one of the huge eggs. She rolled to her side, her glare boring into Ethano.
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