CHAPTER 30
Numen’s sleep was haunted by the faces of the mutineers. They were all screaming that he failed them. Their faces were mutilated and maggots crawled out of their eye sockets. It was like being tormented by a cluster of damned souls.
Then Numen saw the faces of his family; their faces just as lacerated as the mutineers’. Daena and Jacto were calling Numen ‘big brother’ while Viktor was calling him ‘son’. They were not condemning Numen like the mutineers were. Instead, Numen’s family were serving as a reminder of what Numen lost.
Finally, Numen’s nightmare led him to a familiar castle approaching from the distance. Within moments, the fortress came close enough that Numen recognized it. Looming before him was Foxden Castle, home of House Letum. At first, Numen felt a sense of relief as he ran towards the castle. However, his salvation was short lived as Foxden Castle burst into flames with maniacal laughter filled the air. Numen release a scream of anguish at the sight . . .
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Numen woke up in a cold sweat as he looked in every direction, breathing heavily. He saw his companions sleeping peacefully in their makeshift camp. There was no camp fire or tents, but they did rest on the animal hides at the foot of the glittering hills. Due to the intensity of his nightmare, Numen was glad that his comrades were fine.
However, as Numen further examined his surroundings, he noticed something sinister several yards away. The early dawn revealed the corpses created by the mutiny. All of the bodies were gruesomely mauled and mangled as though eaten by a large beast. What was even more disturbing was the fact that some parts of the corpses were burnt.
Softly, Numen murmured, “What could have done that?”
Eventually, Numen saw a trail of blood leading from the bodies to the crystalline hills. In addition, there were strange tracks that treaded along the blood. Whatever ate the corpses, was dwelling in the hills near Numen and his group.
Part of Numen was terrified that the mysterious carnivore would return while another part of him wanted to kill the beast before it came back. At first, Numen thought the new task was daunting as he had no idea what he was hunting. Still, Numen did slay the Graega while others failed so Numen was confident that he could slay the ominous creature as well.
Holding Gramfyre with both hands and trying not to wake his companions, Numen slowly crept into the ravine. As he went deeper Numen noticed that some parts of the blood trail were steaming. It was as though the blood was sizzling on the Aetherian Steel rocks. Was this a feature of Aetherian Steel or the mysterious predator Numen was hunting? That question caused a trickle of fear to creep into Numen’s mind and he felt his palms become clammy, which made it difficult to properly grip Gramfyre.
Turning his gaze in every direction, Numen was astounded by the malignant beauty of the Aetherian Steel hills. The black sections combined with the silver glittering gave the hills the appearance of the star-filled night sky. Also, the steam emanating from the volcanic vents on top of the hills resembled thick clouds. It was like the sky and the earth were in reverse.
As Numen went deeper into the ravine, he discovered the burnt remains of thousands of men and beasts. The crispy remnants were so numerous that they covered most of the ravine floor onward. Every step Numen took emitted a sharp crunch under his feet. The whole experience was unsettling for Numen.
Looking back the way he came, Numen murmured, “What kind of Dire Beast could have done this? Why did you have to come here alone you fool?”
Pushing this question aside, Numen pressed on until he came across an unbelievable sight. Positioned in the center of the labyrinthine ravines was a collection of colossal bones forming a large circle. The size of the bones was such that Numen almost mistook them for rock formations or the trunks of petrified trees. Upon closer examination, Numen noticed something eerily familiar about the skeletons’ texture. They were as smooth and polished as sculpted marble. Numen could feel such a sensation in his hands and he looked at Gramfyre’s hilt. Gramfyre’s crossguard and pommel were pure gold, but the grip was made out of the same substance as the bones that stood before Numen.
The realization caused Numen’s gut to twist inside out and he hoarsely whispered, “Dragons!”
The sense of fear Numen felt earlier had intensified to a new level as he jerked his gaze in every direction. If there was a dragon in the ravine, Numen and his companions made a fatal mistake of coming here. At the same time Numen was haunted by the seeming impossibility of his quarry. It was widely believed that dragons died out when the Dark Death plague swept through Gradaia. If a dragon still lived, it was probably the last of its kind.
Even though Numen was frightened and confused, he knew he wandered too deep into his prey’s territory to turn back. His only option was to find the dragon and slay it. The only problem was that the hills and ravines were so vast that the dragon could be anywhere.
Thinking the dragon was hiding amidst the massive bones, Numen held up Gramfyre and crept through the forest of ivory. The enormity of the skeletons made Numen feel extremely small like a fly on the back of a horse. At one point, Numen was worried that one of the towering ribs was going to collapse on top of him.
Eventually, Numen navigated his way through the colossal remains and was greeted by something surprising. Laid out before Numen were over two dozen black-silver spheres the size of human heads. They resembled a collection of pearls sitting in the mouth of a massive clam. The fact that Numen was in a dragon’s territory meant that the spheres could only be eggs resting inside of a nest. However, the lifeless coloration of the eggs hinted that the hatchlings inside were not alive but stillborn.
Suddenly, before Numen could reach out and touch the eggs, someone pulled Numen’s shoulder. He turned to find his companions standing before him. All of Numen’s comrades carried their weapons and all looked at Numen with concern.
“What are you doing here?” Numen demanded sharply.
“What are you doing here?” Naera shot back.
Numen shushed for silence and whispered, “There might be a dragon in here. I came to kill it before it kills us all.”
“Don’t be daft! Dragons died out during the Dark Death!” Joe countered sarcastically.
“I know you’re strong and brave, but what makes you think you can take down a dragon?” Clovis asked intently.
Smirking slightly, Numen answered, “I killed the Graega so I am confident I can kill a dragon.”
Suddenly, a powerful voice with an iron tone bellowed, “Don’t be so certain, human! Compared to me the Graega was a mere field mouse! I wield the power to destroy armies and turn castles to ash! You will not slay me!”
The intensity of the voice forced Numen and his companions to assume a defensive circle, ready to fend off the newcomer.
“Is that who I think it is?” Hondo asked, brandishing his falcata.
“Most likely. Stand firm, everyone,” Numen ordered as he held Gramfyre at the ready.
“Leave my home at once! Let us die in peace!” ordered the thunderous voice.
“Who are you? What do you mean die in peace?” Numen hollered.
“Before the Dark Death I was known as the Blood Demon! After the Dark Death and most of my kind died out, only my two mates and I remained. We tried time and again to restore our species, but the plague left us sterile and our eggs were stillborn. My mates died recently and I made a nest out of their bones so that they would stay with our brood forever. I intend to join them soon. Leave us alone or burn! This is your last warning!” the dragon roared bitterly.
Chuckling, Joe stepped out of the defensive circle, reached for one of the eggs, and taunted, “Since your babes are dead, you wouldn’t mind if I take one and sell it to the highest bidder. I hear dragon eggs are rare treasures these days.”
In response to Joe’s boast, the dragon released a deafening high-pitched shriek that turned into a deep bellow. The earth rumbled under Numen and company’s feet and their ears violently rang as the dragon
screamed. Like a lizard changing color, the dragon revealed himself as if materializing out of nowhere.
The Blood Demon was a beautiful and regal yet frightening beast with red and bronze scales and golden slit-pupiled eyes. Standing on two powerful legs, the dragon’s size rivaled that of a large castle and its two wings were massive enough to block out the sun. Four recurved horns crowned the dragon’s head and its long snout was filled with fangs as long as sword blades and shaped like an eagle’s beak. Slithering behind the Blood Demon was a long, barbed tail that was tipped with a bony, diamond-shaped club. Overall, the Blood Demon was both a glorious and forbidding sight to behold.
Opening his menacing maw, the Blood Demon roared again. His breath was as hot as a summer wind and possessed the power of a hurricane. Numen and his companions trembled as they struggled to stand against the heated gust. As the Blood Demon continued to roar, he leaned in closer as though to swallow Numen and all of his comrades in one gulp. Numen frantically jumped in front of his companions with Gramfyre in hand, ready to defend them from the dragon.
Suddenly, Gramfyre’s black blade and Numen’s eyes glowed with red light. A powerful seizure surged through Numen’s mind as his sword’s magic enveloped him. However, Numen noticed something different than the other times he used Gramfyre. Before him, the Blood Demon reeled back and released a piercing cry as though he was in pain. Then a bright fiery light erupted from within the nest and a collective heartbeat throbbed through the air. Everything was happening so fast with so much intensity that Numen fainted from the shock and his world turned black . . .
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Numen did not know how long he was unconscious, but it felt like he was in the deepest sleep he ever experienced. In that immersive slumber, Numen had the most surreal dream he ever had. It was not like any dream Numen felt before. Instead of a happy dream or a nightmare, Numen was subjected to a complex torrent of visions depicting creation, destruction, and everything in between. He could see dragons and human alike oozing black fluid from their eyes and mouths as they suffered from the Dark Death. He could see the landscape engulfed in gold flames and littered with the bones of men and beasts.
After many conflicting images, Numen was welcomed by the sight of the Imperial capital, Chrysos. This city was ablaze and invaded by an army bearing the gold, rampant gryphon of House Sylva on their banners. The vision shifted to a vast throne room where a frail-looking man with a gold crown on his head stood before a group of Sylva soldiers armed with crossbows. Once again Numen’s dream changed into the Imperial Palace bearing the banners of House Magnus with hundreds of dragons flying overhead. Finally, Numen’s dream faded into nothing . . .
CHAPTER 31
Numen slowly opened his eyes only to be blinded by a bright light. After his eyes adjusted, Numen awoke to find his companions looking down at him with great concern.
Weakly, Numen asked, “Are we dead?”
“No,” Naera answered, smiling with relief.
“Good,” Numen replied before punching Joe in the face as he forced himself up.
Joe moaned with agony as he gripped his face, asking, “What was that for?”
Fuming with anger, Numen demanded, “What made you think trying to steal a dragon egg was a good idea? You could have gotten us all killed, you greedy fool!”
Wiping the blood from his lower lip, Joe countered, “I’m a thief! Stealing things is what I do for a living! Would you expect me to be any different?”
“Only when it matters!” Numen shot back.
Suddenly, Numen felt light-headed and he almost fainted again, but he struggled to stay awake.
Noticing his companions looking at him differently, Numen asked, “What’s wrong?”
Removing one of his kukris, Joe gave the blade to Numen and instructed, “Look at your reflection on the blade.”
Numen did as Joe told him and gasped at what he saw. Somehow, Numen’s appearance changed slightly yet profoundly. Instead of their usual grey coloration, Numen’s irises turned as red as blood. Also, a streak of white hair formed through his mostly jet black hair. Numen looked like a different person.
At a loss, Numen asked, “What happened to me?”
Naera leaned closer to Numen and explained, “It looks like you unwittingly used Gramfyre’s magic to pay a price in order to gain great power.”
Confused, Numen demanded, “What are you talking about? I didn’t do such a thing!”
Her concerned expression broadening, Naera countered, “Whether or not you did so wittingly or unwittingly, you have paid a price and the rewards are tremendous. Look into your mind. What do you feel?”
His confusion increasing, Numen did as Naera said and noticed something growing in the back of his psyche that was not there before. It was like a new cluster of memories, emotions, and instincts had been opened to him. The sensation was very alien and foreign like Numen’s mind was no longer just his own. It was more like he was sharing it with someone or something. But who or what?
Trembling with fear and uncertainty, Numen further asked, “What is going on?”
Instead of answering with words, Numen’s companions turned their attention to the Blood Demon’s nest. Numen could see the dragon’s spiky back bristling over the bones of his mates. Instead of the rage of ferocious roaring he displayed before, the Blood Demon was emitting a guttural purring noise that made the ground rumble gently.
“Go to him,” Naera urged softly.
Numen rose to his feet, sheathed Gramfyre, and cautiously walked through the large bones that surrounded the nest. His fear and bemusement increasing with each step he took Numen did not know what to expect when he reached the Blood Demon. The purring noise became so intense that Numen could feel it vibrating through his whole body. Was Numen about to be eaten or was something else about to happen? The very question made Numen very uneasy.
Once Numen got past the colossal bones that circled the nest, he reached the center of the formation. The Blood Demon was wrapping his large wings around his eggs and nuzzling them with his snout. All of the eggs were glowing with fiery light, illuminating silhouettes of squirming embryos. In addition, the eggs were emanating extreme heat, causing Numen to sweat profusely until he was drenched.
“Are they alive now?” Numen asked, confused as he looked at the eggs.
Lifting his head from his brood, the Blood Demon said, “Aye. They live thank to you and that sword of yours. Where did you get that sword?”
Looking at Gramfyre to the Blood Demon, Numen explained, “It is my ancestral sword, Gramfyre. Legend claims that my ancestor forged it from the scales and bones of a dragon and used magic to quench it in his own blood. When I used it, it drains my life energy and makes me stronger. My friends say that I unwittingly used Gramfyre to pay a price in order to gain even more power. Do you know what they mean by that?”
Nodding, the Blood Demon replied, “When that sword lit up, I felt our minds and souls connecting with one another, which I might add was extremely painful. Either for good or ill, our fates are now intertwined. Also, through our newly forged bond I could sense a decade from your lifespan being sacrificed in order to give my brood life. It seems that because your sword was made from the remains of a dragon it grants its wielder a certain level of control over dragons. For the past three hundred years I thought my race was doomed to die out after the Dark Death. You have saved us from extinction. For that, we are forever in your debt.”
Looking at the eggs, Numen asked, “Will they hatch soon?”
Returning his attention to his nest, the blood Demon replied, “They will hatch, but not for a while. For now, they are waiting for the right person to wake them.”
Confused, Numen further asked, “Who are they waiting for?”
Locking eyes with Numen, the Blood Demon ominously said, “For your descendants. When you used your sword to bind us to you we became connected to your bloodline. As a result, my hatchlings will only hatch in the presence of your descendants. That h
as become our fate until the end of time. One way or another, your bloodline and my race have become intertwined because we owe our continued existence to you. Do you have any descendants yet?”
Surprised by the Blood Demon’s explanation, Numen shook his head and said, “I have no children, nieces, or nephews. In fact, I am still a virgin. However, I do have cousins in Houses Letum, Torren, and Marmor. Do those count?”
Shrugging his leathery shoulders, the Blood Demon urged, “Possibly. We shall see what will happen when your cousins come into contact with my eggs. You better find your cousins or my brood will remain asleep forever. All thirty of my sons and daughters are depending on you, Boy. By the way, due to all of this excitement I never had a chance to ask you your name. Who are you?”
Still struggling to digest the Blood Demon’s words, Numen answered, “I am Numen of House Magnus, the true Emperor of Gradaia and Monster Slayer.”
His golden eyes widening with knowing shock, the Blood Demon commented, “Ah! So you are the Monster Slayer the wind and earth told me about!”
Befuddled, Numen asked, “You already know of me? What do you mean the wind and earth told you?”
“We dragons are an ancient species that is connected with all the elements of the world. Hopefully, you will hear their voices through our bond. You probably think that Blood Demon is simply a title I hold. You would think right. My real name is Vaerox.”
Still in awe of the dragon Numen mused, “So we are Numen the Monster Slayer and you are Vaerox the Blood Demon. That sounds like an excellent pair of names we share.”
Chuckling, Vaerox agreed, “Aye. It is.”
After organizing his thoughts and emotions, Numen asked, “Listen, my companions have been traveling in this direction for a very long time, but we have no idea where we are or which direction we should take. Do you know the way to Foxden Castle? My kin live there and I am hoping to seek sanctuary there.”
Numen the Slayer (Magnus Dynasty Saga Book 1) Page 13
