The Shifter’s Prisoner

by T. S. Ryder

  “My magic is not as powerful as it once was,” he muttered, whether to her or himself she didn’t know. “They bound it away ages ago. But I left a tear in the bindings and it’s trickled back to me. Strong enough now to do what I must . . . ”

  “And what is that?” Willow managed to ask.

  Sherwood gave her a furious look. “You should be an utter slave to my will – mind and body. Well, I suppose having your body is better than nothing at all. There was a time when I could level the mountains with a single thought. I whispered in the wars of powerful kings and laughed when they killed each other. It’s not fair that they took it all from me.”

  “Yes, because killing people for your amusement is very fair.”

  Sherwood gave her a disgusted look. “Your kind breed like rodents. It was population control. If I wasn’t going to do it, you’d do it to yourselves.”

  The sound of Asa’s bike was completely gone now, leaving them in the silence. Willow frowned as she listened to the night. There should be the bleating of the sheep, the sound of wind in the trees. Television sets lit up windows, but when they passed them, there wasn’t so much as the slightest crackle from them. She swallowed. Had Sherwood cast a spell upon the entire village? She shivered as she followed him, her stomach twisting.

  “What did you do to everybody?” Even as she spoke, the bracelet sent out an electric shock that traveled up her arm, making her cry out.

  “It’ll keep doing that until you submit,” Sherwood said lazily. “To answer your question, I haven’t done anything. Yet. It makes it easier for me if we can move unseen and unheard. It has some side-effects which you shouldn’t be noticing.”

  Willow clutched the bracelet again, though, once more, she couldn’t even try to tug it off. “Take it off, please. I’m already helpless in your power. Please, let me have my own body.”

  Sherwood stopped. He cocked his head as he studied her, then smiled. “No, little flame. I will not remove the thrall from you. I know humans. They are far from helpless. You like to pretend like you have no power in your lives, but what aren’t you capable of? You drove my people from our homes simply by refusing to believe our power. You are a strange breed, and I have underestimated your kind far too often to do it again. Besides, I am not without mercy. You will be far more afraid and pained if I released you from the thrall.”

  Willow wanted to kick him for that. The electric pain shot up her arm again, but this time, she didn’t cry out. Sherwood began to walk again and she followed. She wanted to ask him where they were going and what was waiting for her at the end of it, but what was the point? She wasn’t sure if it was the thrall sealing her lips this time or her own despair.

  Sherwood, however, seemed only too happy to continue talking. “For thousands of generations, I have been bound to the wills of lesser beings. The king’s line . . . They gave me to the dragons because of their long memories. If I had been bound to humans, I would have been able to convince them in a generation or two to free me. But dragons? Slow to change and slow to expand.”

  Was that why they still raided? Because they had always done it?

  “I have attempted to free myself in other ways,” Sherwood continued. “I nearly ended the king’s line and won my freedom by inciting rebellion a thousand years ago. But that Lord Asa, your beloved dragon, thwarted it. Quinn was meant to die. Instead, he survived and became king, and he was far too reasonable and generous to incite a new rebellion. A fluid dragon, one that eased the burden on the lesser ones and brought in new prosperity.”

  By the way, he spoke, prosperity and equality were dirty words. Willow remained silent, wondering if there was some way that she could use his monologuing to her advantage.

  “The king’s line was made immune to fairy spells when I was bound to them,” Sherwood muttered. “But Quinn’s gentle heart helped me work towards my plans. He didn’t want to see me imprisoned forever, and so gave me freedom if I stayed within his boundaries.”

  “It’s a shame he didn’t kill you,” Willow spat, then screamed as a wave of pain washed over her. It was too much even for the thrall keeping her moving and she crumbled to her knees. Black and white splotches filled her vision and she panted, saliva dripping from the corners of her mouth. “Stop.”

  “I’m not doing anything. It’ll stop once you stop fighting me.”

  Willow’s head bent. Her muscles trembled. And then they stopped. The pain eased as she stopped fighting against the thrall. After a moment, she got to her feet, her mind still fuzzy from the pain.

  “What are you going to do to me?” she whispered.

  Sherwood tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Kill you, of course. It’s the only thing to do with a human. You and I will die together. Or rather, this fleshy prison that keeps me prisoner will die. And your death will release your spirit for me to capture and revitalize my magic. Then I will level mountains the way I used to and I will rule the world. There are no more fairies to stop me. The queen took our people and fled long ago.”

  Willow swallowed hard. “But you said humans are more powerful than—”

  “I’ll destroy humans. I’ll whisper in their ears again. I will create a new world from the nuclear waste left behind. You people are so full of intolerance and hate. First, I will set you against the dragons, and then I will sit back and watch as your struggles for power after they’re gone destroy you.”

  Willow was suddenly aware that she was nodding. The horror she should have felt with his statements was muted. She knew that it all should terrify her, but she didn’t feel frightened . . . She didn’t feel anything at all . . .

  Chapter Twelve – The Dragon’s Heart

  Asa’s eyes were red and swollen by the time he got home. He wasn’t ashamed of the fact that he had had to stop twice to cry. He was a strong warrior who led his men on raids and fought against other clans as needed without flinching. He knew that there was a myth among humans that strong men didn’t cry, but that seemed utterly ludicrous to him. Having strength didn’t mean that a man didn’t have a heart. And in this case, his heart was breaking.

  He had read everything so wrong. He had been so certain that Willow felt the same way he did, but it was clear from what she had said that it wasn’t the case. So what choice did he have other than to accept what she wanted and let her alone?

  After he stowed his bike away in the communal garage and started to walk away, he spotted two figures. Shante, her hands on her stomach, walked with Quinn beside her. His arms were wrapped around her. Asa’s heart gave a stab. He wanted to just turn around and walk away, but it was too late. They had already seen him and Quinn waved him over.

  He bowed when he got closer. “My king. My lady. What brings you out here this late at night?”

  “This child is close to being born,” Shante sighed. “Walking helps to ease my backache. And you? I thought you would be home.”

  Quinn nodded with a grin. “Shante told me the results of her interview with your human. I thought that the two of you would be celebrating still.”

  Asa blinked, then shook his head. “Why?” His voice was dull. “She decided she wanted to go back home. I just got back from returning her to her village.”

  “What?” Shante stiffened. “She said she wanted to return to her home? What . . . ? Why?”

  “She said that when you and she talked, she realized that she didn’t want to be here . . . with me.” Asa dropped his gaze to the ground. Surely Shante already knew all this? It was their talk that convinced Willow to leave. She would have known everything . . . Wait. Asa’s brow furrowed. Why didn’t she know what Willow wanted? “She didn’t express a desire to leave with you?’

  Shante shook her head. “Quite the opposite, in fact. I have never seen a woman more dedicated to staying with her dragon. She had no doubts about your relationship. I can’t see how she would have once she left my office.”

  “Then why . . . ?”

  Sherwood. Asa’s breath caught in his chest
and his fires roared. Even though he knew that there was no proof, there was nothing to say that the fairy was in any way responsible, he knew. He just knew. Sherwood had been unnaturally interested in Willow since she arrived, and he had gotten her into trouble once. Who was to say that the fairy hadn’t said something to her . . . .Or done something. Threatened her. Threatened the people she cared about.

  “I have to get her back,” Asa blurted. “Something’s not right. My king, where is the fairy?”

  “Sherwood? He’s...” Quinn’s expression darkened. “Shante, get back to your chambers. I will look for the fairy. If he’s betrayed us—”

  Asa didn’t stick around to hear what else Quinn had to say. He raced back to the garage, collected his bike, and sped back towards Willow’s village. He drove far faster than was safe and nearly wiped out twice. He was only grateful that there was no other traffic on the road. As it was, it was already morning by the time he arrived. He drove his bike right into the center of the village and jumped off.

  “Willow!”

  People screamed and scattered at the sight of him. Many of them dodged into nearby buildings. Asa ignored the panic. None of it mattered. He didn’t even know what house belonged to Willow’s family. His heart pounded and his fires burned so hotly that he could taste them on his tongue. He looked around at the terrified people and chose one. He lunged, grabbing the tall, willowy man. It was one of the shepherds. Asa had seen him often.

  “Where do Willow and her family live?” he demanded, keeping a tight grip on the man’s arm.

  “D-down the alley.” His eyes were wide. “That way!”

  Asa dragged the man along with him as the warning bells that signaled approaching dragons sounded. Great. Apparently, they had either recognized him or his bike. It didn’t matter. While the panic wasn’t going to help him with his goal, all he cared about was finding Willow – making sure she was okay and his darkest fears weren’t realized.

  The shepherd led him to a nice house. When he burst inside, he saw Willow’s parents. They sat at the kitchen table, mechanically eating with blank expressions on their faces.

  He’d never seen a fairy thrall before, but he had heard stories. Enough of them to recognize that was what was happening now. His heart jumped into his throat as he marched to Willow’s mother and shook her. There was no response. How long had they been under the thrall? When did they refuse to buy Willow back from him?

  How long had Sherwood been putting the wheels into motion? What did he want with Willow?

  Asa shook Willow’s father. “Where is he?”

  “Who?” the shepherd behind him asked, voice trembling.

  “Where is the fairy?” Asa peered into Willow’s father’s eyes. “Where did he take Willow?”

  No response. Fine. He’d just have to find them the old-fashioned way. Asa raced back out of the house. There were some people hurrying into their homes. They screamed and bolted every which way when he shifted. He ignored them. If they couldn’t figure out that he wasn’t there for them, more fool to them.

  Asa lowered his head and closed his eyes. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, searching for Willow’s scent. It was here, but low, muted. Not in the way that it would be after her absence for so long. Rather, it was muffled, the same way sound was muffled if you put your hands over your ears while someone was talking.

  Keeping his head down, Asa followed the scent. The smells from the frightened humans made it difficult to hold onto the muted trail, but once they finished screaming their heads off and had disappeared into houses or down the streets, it was a little easier. He slithered along the road, sniffing constantly so he didn’t miss her.

  A gun went off. A sharp sting hit his flank and Asa’s head swiveled around. A group of half a dozen men stood in an alley. Sweat dripped off their faces as they aimed shotguns at him. One of them shouted and they all began to fire. Volley after volley flattened against his scales and he let out a warning puff of smoke. Their guns could, at worse, loosen his scales as they pinged against him. Perhaps if they aimed at his eye, it would hurt, like getting a grain of sand under the lid. But he was a dragon, and the only human weapons capable of causing actual pain were their bombs and grenades.

  The firing volley stopped. Asa snorted at them and turned back to his mission. His head swung back and forth as he sniffed along the street, hurrying as Willow’s scent grew stronger. Twice the men fired their guns at him and twice he had to wait until the overpowering stretch of gunpowder faded so he could find the trail again. When he heard the gathering for a third volley he turned, smoke billowing from his mouth. If they weren’t going to leave him alone then—

  Something sunk deep into his flank. Asa whipped away from it, knocking a wall out of the building he stumbled into it. Pain flashed up his body as he twisted. Sherwood smiled at him as he withdrew a long, thin sword from the dragon’s flank. Glowing blue patterns were etched into the hilt. A fairy blade. Great splashes of blood dripped from it and Sherwood held his hand out, catching a drop. Golden sparks burst from his hand and ran up his arm.

  “Just what I needed. Thank you, my lord.” The fairy laughed. He flicked his wrist and the sparks exploded from him. They shot out every which way. When they touched a human, that human went slack. Their eyes glazed and they stood still, like zombies. Sherwood rose his hands into the air with a triumphant grin. “Now I have all my slaves.”

  Asa snarled.

  He tossed the fairy blade to one of the humans. “Kill the dragon.”

  From all around him, humans started to swarm towards him. They burst out of their homes and came at him with bare fists, kicking and shouting. Asa twisted, reaching to snatch the fairy blade. A child threw itself into his mouth, hands clawing at his lips. Asa twisted this way and that, trying to reach the blade without hurting any of the humans.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw her. Standing still, watching. Willow.

  Chapter Thirteen – The Shepherdess’ Decision

  No! she wanted to scream. Stop!

  Her emotions were still muted, as though she was watching a dream unfold before her. Yet she was all too vividly aware of the details. The blood spraying from Asa’s body as the villagers threw the glowing blue blade between them, hacking and stabbing into his flesh. The roars of pain echoed in her ears. The smell of smoke and coppery blood. It was all too real to be a dream, but she couldn’t make herself move.

  Asa thrashed, throwing off humans as they climbed onto his body to stab kitchen knives into the wounds made by the glowing blade. The scars on his back where wings once were seemed all the more vivid with the sun gleaming down on him.

  “Look at him,” Sherwood murmured into her ear. She hadn’t even been aware that he had come to stand next to her. “They’re killing him, but he’s still trying to be gentle with them. Is this the brave warrior you wanted, little flame? The man who would let himself die?”

  The man who refuses to hurt others who are not in control of their actions, Willow thought, but it was different words that came from her mouth. “Why do you call me little flame? Is it just because of my red hair?”

  Sherwood chuckled and swatted her butt, an action that should have had her skin crawling. “I call you little flame because that’s what you are. You have all the strength of a candle facing a hailstorm.”

  Her mind twisted itself in circles as she fought the thrall. Sherwood himself said he always underestimated the strength of humans . . . There had to be something that she could slip past this spellbinding her . . . “He could be useful. Or is he too powerful for you?”

  Sherwood’s expression darkened for a moment, then laughed. “A dragon under my thrall . . . Yes, he could be useful.”

  The fairy spread his arms, golden sparks starting to dance along his arms. Willow tried to make herself move, to attack him. The bracelet shot out the white-hot pain. But this time, she didn’t react to it. She couldn’t. Her body stayed upright, her arms limp by her sides, her gaze facing straight ahead.<
br />
  There was a sudden cry from the group of villagers. Asa’s tail whipped out, knocking them all back. He grabbed the man holding Sherwood’s blade and hurled him into a wall. The man crumpled and was still. Asa crouched down, eyes roving over the villagers as they started for him. Then, all of a sudden, he launched himself into the air like a serpent striking. Blood splashed onto the asphalt as he leaped over the villager’s heads. He landed with a shudder right beside Willow. Sherwood cursed and a bolt of lightning arced through the air.

  Asa’s hand lashed out. It closed around her and instantly her body fought him. Her feet kicked and her hands pounded against his chest as he pulled her in close. But then they were running. His huge body crashed through the trees as he raced from the village and Sherwood, leaving it all behind.

  ***

  Tall cedars swept the ground with their veil-like leaves. A creek tumbled over smooth stones close to where Asa stopped. He panted for breath, and when he shifted back to his humanoid form, it seemed like the cuts on his body spurted out even more blood. Willow gazed impassively at the flowing wounds, though she knew she ought to be feeling . . . something.

  “Willow.” Asa’s hands cupped her face. “Willow, are you in there?’

  Yes. Her jaw remained glued shut.

  Asa started looking over her, his hands gentle as he probed. Looking for injuries? Willow didn’t know. They were far enough from Sherwood now that she was no longer fighting against Asa, but the thrall was too strong for her to have her own actions.

  “Willow.” His voice was like a caress on her face. “Willow, speak to me. Please.”

  He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. The worry and pain there made her heart hurt so bad it was sure to kill her. She managed to swallow and opened her mouth, but nothing came out. When she said goodbye to him, she had at least been able to kiss him. Now? She couldn’t even speak. Her arm twitched. That was the best she could do. Her eyes filled with tears, blurring his face.