The conviction and awe in Theo’s voice were undeniable. There was a passion for change there that almost resonated inside me, but for what? My goals remained the same; our kingdom was to rule the entire realm one day. Was that why Avra wanted me to ally with the Golden Elves? I pondered that for a moment. If that was Avra's plan, it was brilliant. Nevertheless, I knew Father would never go for it—wanting to maintain command himself. This place was unlike our kingdom where a king and queen upheld the hierarchy, followed by the oldest son in line for the throne. Instead, the Elves had only one ruler—an immortal one. The Golden Prince. And Theo had the most powerful kingdom aside from ours.
Together we would be unstoppable.
Still, I couldn’t help but question how I had gone against Father’s orders to obtain this alliance. Had I put Avra before my king?
As though recognizing the conflicting thoughts brewing in my mind, Theo stood and poured more water into my glass. "He will be well. Just give him time to recuperate." His words forced my attention back to Nyx. He seemed in a deep sleep. "I do wish I could have gotten to you sooner, but we could have prevented all of this if you had just told the patron of the tavern why your brother was gravely hurt. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to find that arrogance is a fault of yours."
My jaw tensed as I held my brother's hand once again. "What difference would it have made? If you heard what they said, then you know my fault was being the Prince of the Winter Court and nothing more. I doubt he would care for much else than seeing me suffer what he thinks I deserve."
"Oh, but that is where you are wrong, my friend. If you had just explained to him what happened and asked for his help, he would have moved the sky to assist you. I can assure you that.”
“Why would he ever bother?”
“He’d bother because you avenged his wife and brother." My head whipped towards Theo as shock rendered me speechless. "Thanks to you and Nyx, no one else has to die. You saved my people from a dreadful fate many have suffered. Even with all the magic we possess we hadn’t been able to defeat the monster. You did it and not because it gave you power, or helped you conquer lands, but because it was the right thing to do and you had the ability to achieve it."
He leaned closer, his eerie golden eyes filled with a startling intensity, and a fleeing emotion I couldn’t quite recognize. Was it admiration?
“The man who vowed to kill that beast was not the son of The Dark King my people despise, but the one I stare at now. There is something—” He took a deep breath and leaned back without finishing the thought.
I woke up to the sounds of small crickets and birds just outside the window.
My body was filthy from sleeping on the dirt floor next to the small bed, while Nyx rested. I’d never slept on the soiled ground before, yet I didn't care. I found Theo sitting in the same chair he had used for the past few days, but like every morning, his outfit had changed. A burnt orange silk suit that resembled a few of the tones in his hair, covered his body, making him look sophisticated and powerful. His crown still rested over his forehead while the cloak he usually covered himself with, hung from a nail on the wall.
I grunted, sitting up and rested my back against the wall as he handed me the strange glass he had brought me. The dark liquid inside was magical. It had to be with the effects it had on my body, especially at this hour of the morning. "What did you call this again?" I asked, taking the first sip of the hot brew.
"Starbucks coffee. It's all the rage in the United States. My servant fetches it for me every morning." I frowned, but the relief that coursed through me as I drank erased my doubts. Surely it was a drink of the gods on Earth. "Popcorn?" Theo asked, extending a paper bag towards me with white and red stripes on it, as he popped a few of the swollen white seeds into his mouth.
"No, thank you." My gaze shifted to the book in his hands. A man with remarkably white skin, even for us, was on the cover. Like mine his hair was dark, yet blood stained his lips. "What are you reading?"
The Golden Prince smiled. “My favorite book. The legend of Dracula. It's about Vampires. They are all the rage in—"
"I get it," I said interrupting him, and he chuckled. My lips stretched into a small smile that swiftly disappeared. I kneeled next to my little brother, pressing my hand to his forehead. His skin was still clammy and cold. "My brother is obsessed with Vampires. You two could be good friends."
“I know. You’ve told me before.” Theo answered and closed the book, moving to my side. It’s been three days, Kyr. You can’t stay here much longer; you must continue your journey before you run out of time.”
"I'm not leaving my brother!" I snarled at him, and he sighed.
“I understand, trust me, but I will be taking care of him until he awakes. I'll sneak Nyx into my castle, and have my servants take care of him. I vow to you, nothing shall happen to him. This quest you are on, is much more important than you can imagine. That is why you had your memory erased and why you returned. You need to go to her, get back what you entrusted her with, and finish this journey. It is imperative that you do."
His words slammed into me just as my heart began to thunder in my chest. I had, in fact, had my memory erased… her? "I told you where I'm supposed to go next."
It wasn't a question, but he nodded nonetheless. His eyes filled with dread. "You must go where none of us would choose to be... the place where man ends, and death begins."
“The Dragonash Graveyard?”
He nodded. A rush of what felt like pure ice traveled down my spine as we stared at each other. It wasn't fear, but what being there signified.
"That is where the answers you seek await you. At the door of—" Theo paused, but I didn't need him to finish.
"The Bloodcroix Witch,” I whispered.
Chapter 9. Dragon Ashes
KYR
* * *
“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, my friend, but you smell. Bad. Incredibly so.”
I laughed earnestly. Theo's words brought me out of the self-loathing ritual I had fallen into in the past few days. My gaze left Nyx's body and focused on the prince’s outstretched hands. He held what looked like folded black pants, a blue shirt and towel in his palms, a bar of soap rested on top.
His eyes held an amused spark as he looked at me. "There is a river a few yards from here. You can bathe there, and afterwards, we can decide what to do with that." His eyes focused on my filthy riding suit.
I sighed and nodded, appreciating Theo's actions. Standing, I stepped closer and pulled him into my arms. He tensed as I squeezed him, making sure all my soot and dried blood stuck to him. "Thank you, my friend," I answered with a broad smile, leaning back and placing my hands on my hips.
Theo cringed, as his once pristine silk copper suit, became stained and slightly perfumed. “Now I need a bath.”
"Surely you know that dirt and blood are badges of honor from battle. Look at it this way; now you bare evidence of my brother's clash with death, and my commitment to keep him alive. You should be honored," I added, taking the clothes and soap from him as he made gagging motions. I stepped out of the cabin, laughing.
* * *
I dipped my head in the cold water, rinsing my hair and scrubbing the muscles of my broad chest once more, but my eyes remained on the black leather suit thrown to the side of the rocks. I had joked about Nyx's blood being a badge of honor before, one I hoped I would never have to wear again. The experience had turned my blood cold, and as much as I wished I would never have to remember that moment of inconceivable desperation, I never wanted to forget it.
I had no idea what I expected from this journey, but now that I was here, one thing was certain. I had done things I would have never done before or even considered.
Giving myself one last thorough wash, I stepped out of the river, wiped the water from my face, and used the small towel Theo had provided to dry myself. My eyes focused on the running water as a million thoughts rushed through my head, but only the end of t
his journey would tell me why I had chosen this path.
It was time to end it.
Before I realized it, I was standing outside the door of the small house, fully dressed and holding the crumpled riding suit I had worn. The door opened, and a butterscotch-haired man stood before me. It was a human. His dull brown eyes stared at me as he bowed reverently. Anxiety rushed through my body. Pushing him aside, I barged into the home while my eyes desperately looked for Nyx. He was lying unconscious on the bed, just as I'd left him, but two other men stood by his side. Those were Elves.
"Calm down," Theo said, reaching for my shoulder. "These are my servants." He explained. My gaze returned to the men, and only then I noticed they wore uniforms with the crest of the Golden Elves on their lapel. Theo had changed into a sleek and lustrous emerald green suit. "They have come to help me move Nyx into my castle, where I can adequately look after him while you set out on your way." He lifted a strange packet he held in his hand and smiled. "Oreo?"
I frowned, not quite understanding how his stomach could digest all the bizarre things he ate, and took a deep breath walking towards my little brother. I bent down, holding his hand in mine and sensed his pulse. It was stable.
“Listen to me, Nyx. I am not abandoning you. I shall only be gone for a while, but I’ll see you again soon,” I promised, more for my benefit than his. “Theo shall take great care of you, or I will rip his tongue from his mouth and feed it to the snakes.”
A snort-laugh came from behind me, and my flaming eyes focused on an amused Theo. "Are you always this dramatic?" He asked, submerging the black and white cookie in a glass of milk, and biting into it.
"And his servants' too," I added, and narrowed my eyes at him, repressing a smirk. The Golden Prince popped what was left of the cookie into his mouth, and placing the milk back on the table, he raised his hands in surrender. His men cringed at my warning.
Theo was nothing like I would have expected from a Golden Elf. He was different from the one my king had gone against, the one who ruled these lands before Theo’s time. He had a light personality, yet by the way his servants responded and acted around him, I knew he was highly respected. A ruler of great power, I couldn't deny that. He had committed fully to this new friendship we had somehow formed, and as my brother lay beside me, alive, I couldn't be more grateful.
I owed him a debt of life.
My gaze returned to Nyx, and I kissed his forehead. It took more energy to stand than I thought possible, but I moved towards Theo. He offered me a kind smile and placed the leather pouch in my hands. I gripped it tightly, feeling the dragon scale inside and accepted the suit jacket his human servant provided, slipping it on. It matched the pants I wore, making me look like a taller version of my new Elf friend. Except for my buckled, leather boots that covered my calves, ruining the elegant outfit. My eyes followed the man as he turned to reach for something else. It was so strange to see a mortal in our realm when my race had such strict laws about it. We simply did not mix. Yet he seemed to be the prince's right hand. I guess in a way it was refreshing.
Theo smiled and winked at me as though guessing my thoughts.
“For your travels, Your Highness,” the human said, handing me a cup just like the one the Golden Prince had offered the prior morning. Coffee. I smiled, grateful at the man.
"I should burn this, I assume." Theo asked, pointing his jeweled-ring finger at my riding suit on the floor. I had dropped it when I rushed in.
"Do with it what you will." I gave him a small bow of my head, and without another word, I gave my back to them.
“See you in another world, my friend.”
I looked over my shoulder at Theo, wondering why he had chosen those words as his farewell. “See you in another world,” I responded in kind, and grabbed the cloak the servant handed me, stepping out.
“One more thing,” Theo called out, as I headed towards the forest. “I swore the loyalty of my kingdom to you, Kyr, not the Winter Court, and certainly not the Dark King.”
Every step I took dragged me further away from my brothers, but I took them nonetheless.
I had marched for three days and three nights, resting only when necessary, be it for sleep or nourishment. The trees became a blur while my mind drew torturing circles around me. Every word, every scenario replayed over and over, yet there wasn't one decision of the last three and a half weeks I would change.
My steps faltered when my gaze suddenly fell over the Broken Idols. They signified the entrance to what long ago had been a holy land.
Home of the Dragons.
The statue of a priest stood broken on my left. Only remains were visible of the three-hundred-foot tall holy man's cloak, which covered his body and once it had shown the contour of his face. On the right side were the remnants of the dragon statue. It symbolized a race that swore to use their preeminence, powers, and wisdom, to safeguard men, this realm, and every other being among us. A vow they had made to the Goddess herself.
I never saw this holy land unbroken, in the glory of its majestic day, for this happened long before my time or even my parents', but like many others, I had learned about its history and tragedy as a child. The lesson left behind in me at the time, had perhaps been the wrong one. I wasn't sure anymore. Nevertheless, being here in person… It was unnerving. I felt the grief, the betrayal, and the honor, which caused the Dragon Cataclysm.
My chest lifted and fell with my controlled breaths, while I continued my path to what lay beyond the destroyed entrance.
* * *
The grays, blacks, and whites vanquished what I knew one day had been greens and a multitude of other extravagant colors.
My boots sunk into the ash-covered ground as though it were layers of snow, reaching my leather-clad calves.
A field formed with the remains of those lost here, both the Dragons of the Holy Temple and of those who had set their eyes on power. The land was vacant, except for the white bones that protruded from the earth, forming archways of sorts. Sets of ribcages lay jagged on the ashes, and partial dragon skulls stared back at me as though tossed aside after justice had been served.
The sight of death around me was unlike anything I had ever seen, not even in my years of battle. The air wheezed around me, taking the cries of demise with it, they resounded in my ears. A paralyzing shudder scurried down my spine. My whole body shook as I looked about me. This place was just as Theo had described, yet I knew that like me, he’d never been here. No one dared to.
I closed the cloak the Golden Prince had given me around my body, and lifted its hood while the wind blew dangerously strong, raising the dragon ashes in its wake, and polluting the air like a sandstorm. I squinted to maintain clear sight of my path, and pushed through the raging storm, while the desolation that seemed to exude from this place seeped into my bones.
It was inevitable to wonder the integrity that made Avra—our Dragon Lord—and his brothers of the temple choose us, over their own kind. I understood and highly respected the honor in battle, and the decisions—that as a leader—one should execute. Their choice had brought many tragic consequences, ones that could make a leader waver and even come to regret, but I couldn't be sure the Dragon Lord ever had. He and the Dragons of the Holy Temple had stood against their corrupted brothers and won the war, regardless of the cost. Only Avra had survived.
A glint in the middle of the ashes suddenly caught my gaze, bringing me out of my reflection. I numbly walked towards it, and as I got closer, my eyes widened. The small crystals had fused together, curved and formed a swirl of blue, gold and red. It was known as Dragon Breath, and it was the result of the collision between an Ice Dragon and Fire Dragon's annihilation breaths.
I picked it up, twirling it between my thumb and index finger, and admired it as the light hit it. It was the most devastatingly beautiful thing I had ever encountered. I brought it close to my eyes, marveling at the beauty and power that small crystal possessed. Placing it in my pocket, I held my cloak tightly and c
ontinued my way through the Dragonash Graveyard.
* * *
Night had fallen, and the ash storm still devoured the land, attempting to take me with it. The temperature had considerably dropped, and I was grateful for the cloak, although the gusts of wind lifted it, trying to rip it from my body.
The eerie cries still resounded around me, and I wondered if it was just my imagination or the pain left behind. A light ahead suddenly reached me, and my eyes watched in amazement as a figure walked through the storm untouched by it. It moved closer each time, morphing into the silhouette of a woman. Her energy had formed a tunnel of sorts around her, and the light I had initially seen originated from the ruby crystal atop her long scepter, and bounced off her face.
The Bloodcroix Witch.
She was an older woman, her hair was a startling white and picked up to reveal her face, the strands a striking contrast with the black hood she wore. Her skin was pale, much like mine, but she wore tribal marks on it. Red and black symbols marred her skin, as though she had painted them with blood and ash. They created lines and triangles, which converged along her forehead as though it were a royal marking of some sort.
The patterns transformed, lining her unnaturally red eyes with thick black stripes, and reached the edges of her cheekbones where the ethnic triangles once again framed her. They reappeared on her neck, covering it all the way to her clavicle bones, where the markings finally disappeared. The crimson stain was on her lips too.
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