Last of His Kind

by Margery Ellen

  “What the fuck are we doing here?” another asked. Before anyone could reply, two dragons screamed in the sky. They all hit the ground when the dragons headed straight for them, both breathing fire. The men scattered in every direction.

  “Wait!” Gunnar yelled, suddenly remembering what he was doing there, “we need to get everyone out of the longhouse.

  “Screw you,” one man yelled back.

  Two men stopped and turned back to help Gunnar. “What can we do?”

  “There are prisoners locked in rooms inside. We have to get them out.” The three men went back inside. They couldn’t find any keys and they couldn’t ram the doors. “Someone find me an ax, anything to break down these doors.” Another roar shook the rafters and the longhouse was bathed in fire. One man found two axes and threw one to Gunnar. As they broke down each door, they found the prisoners inside in shackles.

  “Son-of-bitch!” Gunnar chopped at chains. Each prisoner was rushed outside. The roof was in flames and the rafters were beginning to groan. “Everyone get out.”

  “We have one more room,” someone shouted.

  “We’ll have to try another way, get out.” Outside, Gunnar found Hannah unlocking the shackles. “Hannah, where is the key for Rebekah’s room?”

  “Gilbert has it. I think Bridget is locked in there with her. I haven’t seen her out here anywhere.” As she unlocked the last set of shackles, two prisoners, a man and woman embraced.

  “Where is that madman?” the woman asked as another prisoner joined them. Hannah pointed to the sky. They all looked up as the two dragons wrestled in the sky. “I’m sorry, I have to go up there.”

  “You have to what!” Gunnar shouted over the noise.

  “I’m going up there.” She ran from them and before Gunnar could tell her to stop, she shifted into a light blue dragon.

  “I’m going too,” the other man ran after her and shifted into an amazing red dragon, leaving the first man standing alone.

  “Shit.” Gunnar didn’t know what to do next. Suddenly, Erik was at his side.

  “I am so glad you’re alive,” Erik hugged his brother, “I was afraid you were dead. I brought the Cavalry.” Gunnar looked around, men in fatigues were helping the injured.

  “Who are they?”

  “Lazarus’s friends from America.” As they watched, Hannah ran to one of the released prisoners and handed him something before he ran back into the burning building with wet blankets. Hannah pointed the other men in their direction.

  Agent Luke Adams ran to Gunnar. They exchanged a few words and as he did, the dragons in the sky let out screams. They watched the red dragon fall into the ocean. Gunnar ran to help him.

  *****

  Luke finally returned to Giles room. He was followed by Galen, Aria, and Noah, one of the released dragons.

  “Alright, Giles, Noah has agreed to let you have some of his blood. Rebekah and her brothers are still too ill to help. I have no idea how much or how long it will take.”

  “Luke, Lazarus has a library full of books. There might be something in the library that could help us.”

  “We don’t have a lot of time, Aria. I’ve seen that library, it could take days to find what we need.”

  “You go ahead and get ready, I’ll see what I can find.”

  “I’ll help.” Erik had just joined them. The two of them ran to the library. It didn’t take long before everyone that was available, joined them in the library. Aria directed everyone to one section of the library, it contained old medical books.

  “I think I found something.” Mrs. Stewart called out. “It says four pints of blood are needed, but there’s a problem.” Everyone stopped and looked her way. “The donor has to be a dragon.”

  “Ugh, we know that already.” Aria complained.

  “No, no. You don’t understand. It must be a dragon, in dragon form. If he isn’t, it will kill Giles.”

  “Oh, shit!” Erik ran up the stairs, yelling “Stop, stop!” as he went. He ran into the room where Galen was just about to start the transfusion. “Stop, you’ll kill him!”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Noah has to be in his dragon form, not human,” Erik bent over, trying to catch his breath, “he has to be a dragon. Phew! It takes four pints of pure dragon blood.” Finally getting his breath back, he explained everything. Mr. MacGregor and Mrs. Stewart arrived with the old medical book. Galen glanced through the pages and took note of what was important.

  “Alright, I’m not familiar with the castle and grounds, is there an area where we can do this,” Galen asked, “an area large enough for a dragon?”

  “It would have to be big enough for two dragons. If the transfusion is successful, Giles will shift almost immediately, so his dragon can purge the rest of the poison from his system.” Mrs. Stewart added, she pointed to the book

  “There is the courtyard, but being outside is risky,” Mr. MacGregor told them, “both for the dragon and Giles. I’m not sure there’s enough room for two dragons.”

  “There is a cave on the beach, it opens into a huge cavern, Dofri and I have explored it.” Erik told them. “It’s more than big enough.”

  “You’re sure.”

  “Yes, sir. Big enough for three dragons at least.”

  “Alright, we need to move to the cave as quickly as possible. Giles, are you strong enough for a small excursion?” Galen asked, and Giles affirmed. “I need one person to assist me. Mrs. Stewart, I understand you are a midwife, can you handle an I.V.?

  “I can sir, but I’m not fit to go down there.”

  “I appreciate your honesty, thank you. Anyone else?”

  “I’ll go with you, Galen.” Luke grabbed the medical bag. “Erik, can you guide us to this cave.”

  “Yes sir.” Luckily, Giles was still strong enough to make it to the beach and enter the cave.

  “Wow, this place is something else.” Galen gazed at the cavern as he set up the I.V. Giles sat and watched and waited. “Alright Noah, I need you to shift.”

  Noah swirled into a huge grey dragon. He stretched and then looked at himself, he turned his head and examined himself from shoulder to tail. He had four horns; two small horns faced forward, while two huge horns swept back. He had spikes down his back and on his legs.

  “Ahhh, you huvnae idea how good this feels.” His color was a soft gray. If he stood perfectly still, he blended in with the cavern walls.

  “That’s amazing, you’re like a chameleon.” Luke remarked.

  “Aye, it comes in handy.”

  Galen kept going over the pages in the medical book. “According to this, the transfusion has to be done slowly. “I’m sorry, Giles, it says it will be extremely painful, similar to having acid in your veins. Do you still want to go through with this?”

  “It’s that or death. I’ll do what I must.”

  “I need a way to hold you down.” Galen looked around.

  “Ah’ll hold him.” The gray dragon settled down on level ground. “Come here, lad.” Noah placed one of his front claws around his upper body, holding his arms at his sides. “Try to get loose, lad, so ah can gauge how tight to hold ye.” Giles struggled, but couldn’t get loose. “Ah think that will do. We’re ready.”

  Galen set up the I.V., but when he went to Noah’s end, he stopped. “Where do I put this?” He held the needle. “I can’t go through dragon scales.”

  “Lift a scale on my chest, you’ll find soft skin there.”

  Galen did as he was directed, he found the soft tissue and a vein, everything was ready.

  Giles was starting to get nervous. “Hurry up, let’s get this over with.”

  “Alright, Giles, here we go, this is going to take a while.” Galen started the I.V. After about two minutes, Giles started to sweat, he scrunched up his face.

  “You okay, Giles?” Galen asked.

  “Yeah!” He started to struggle and yell, “It burns. You have to stop it. Please stop.” He started screaming obscenities and mak
ing threats of what he would do when he got loose. Halfway through the transfusion, Giles passed out.

  Galen checked his pulse. “Thank god, it’s better this way.” He monitored his heart rate. “So far, so good. After all this, I hope it works.” The I.V. finally finished. Galen disconnected the tubes. “Now we wait.”

  “Ah suggest ye all stand out of the way.” Noah carefully set Giles on the ground and released him. “When he wakes up, he might have a bit of an attitude. Go outside. Only another dragon should be here when he wakes.”

  Galen and Luke gathered up their supplies and headed for the mouth of the cave where Erik waited. Suddenly, they heard a man scream, followed moments later by a deafening roar. Luke pulled Erik away from the mouth of the cave seconds before a blast of white hot fire shot out of the mouth of the cave.

  “I think it worked.” Luke laughed and patted Galen on the back. He looked at Erik. “You almost lost your tail feathers.”

  “Thank you. What do we do now?”

  “We wait.” Galen finally returned to the cavern to find two dragons, Noah and Giles, standing under the waterfall.

  Giles turned to Galen. “There was a time I swore I’d eat you whole.”

  Galen laughed, “I know, you told me a dozen times. I think that is why Noah told us to clear out. Sorry, my friend, but look at you, it worked.” Both dragons shifted back to their human form.

  “Whoa ho!” Giles yelled, “it worked. I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “Just don’t eat us if you get pissed off.” Erik stepped up to join them.

  “Aye lad, we are friends for life. Besides that, I don’t like turkey.” That made everyone laugh.

  “Ha! Ha!” It took a while for Erik to figure out the connection between eagle and turkey which made everyone laugh even more.

  “We need to get back,” Galen announced, “I have other patients to tend to.”

  “I want to go and search for my sister.” Giles proclaimed.

  “Giles, I must ask you to wait.” Luke told him. “We need to have a plan. Remember, both your sister and our friend will have to experience what you just endured, if they have been poisoned, and the black dragon could still be a threat.”

  “All the more reason for Noah and me to go find them.”

  “Giles, you need to rest, none of you are in the best of health. Let’s get a good meal under your belt and we’ll work on a plan. Who knows, Lazarus and Amaya could show up at any time.”

  “You’re right. I am hungry and suddenly very tired.” Giles swayed and almost fell. Luke and Erik grabbed his arms and helped him back to the castle.

  Chapter 31

  Lazarus woke up, wet and cold, lying on hard ground. He had no idea where he was. He got to his feet and looked around. He hurt from head to toe. He had some serious wounds that weren’t healing. He tried to shift, and nothing happened.

  “Shit, this is not good.” He tried again; and again, nothing. “Alright, Lazarus, don’t panic,” he said to himself, “you need to figure out where you are.” He headed for higher ground to survey his surroundings. He was on an island in the middle of the north Atlantic Ocean, in the middle of nowhere. From higher ground, he could see the whole island.

  “I know this island. This is where we stopped and rested.” He was thinking out loud. As he looked out over the ocean, he saw something thrashing in the water, just off the shore. He ran, as best he could, to investigate. When he got to the shore, whatever it was, it had disappeared. He scanned the ocean, then he saw it, a body.

  Lazarus dove into the icy cold water. When he plunged into the salt water, he screamed in pain as the salt entered his wounds. He refused to let it stop him. When he got to where he saw the body, it was gone. He spun around, searching. He dove underwater and saw it. He surfaced, took a deep breath and dove again. He swam to the body and pulled it to the surface. To his shock, he found his arms around a woman. He pulled her to shore and out of the water. He bent her over to get the water out of her lungs and pounded on her back. Suddenly, the woman coughed and gasped.

  Lazarus held on to her as she threw up salt water. Finally, she was able to breathe between coughs. She was shivering.

  “We need to find some shelter.” They weren’t far from where Lazarus camped the night before. He knew if he couldn’t shift, he wouldn’t have his dragon breath to start a fire. He helped the woman to the old campsite. “My name is Lazarus, what is your name?”

  “Amaya.”

  “Where did you come from?”

  “I was a prisoner. I was set free and tried to help fight the black dragon.”

  “That was you? The blue dragon?” He knew the blue dragon was a female.

  “Yes, how did you know?”

  “I was the one fighting the black dragon.”

  She threw her arms around his neck. “I can never thank you enough, you freed us from that awful monster.”

  “Save your breath, I’ve only taken you from one frying pan to another. I can’t shift. MacDonald found a way to poison me with liquid silver.”

  “Oh no! That will kill you. MacDonald poisoned my brother. He’s probably dying right now.” She started to cry. “I wish I was with him. I’ll never be able to tell him how much I love him.”

  “I’m sorry.” He thought for a moment. “Amaya, can you shift?”

  “I don’t know. I tried when I was in the water but couldn’t. I thought it was because I was tired.”

  “Try now.” She tried and started to shift, but she couldn’t stay changed. “I’m sorry, he was able to poison you as well. Where are your wounds?” She lifted her shirt to reveal a large gash across her back.

  “That son-of-bitch, somehow he managed to transfer poison to both of us. He probably got the red dragon as well. Where is the black dragon, do you know what happened to him? Did he survive?”

  “Don’t you remember?” Lazarus shook his head. “You cut off his head.”

  “My father’s sword, I’d forgotten I had it with me. Did you see his body?”

  “He went up in flames, there is no body.”

  “I spent five hundred years searching for my sister and two brothers. I don’t even know if they survived. Now I’ll never see them.”

  “Who was your sister?”

  “Rebekah.”

  “I remember Rebekah. We used to play together, but when we got older, we were separated. We weren’t allowed to see anyone but Gilbert, and that creepy Manfred. I couldn’t even see my own brother; I haven’t thought about either of them in years.”

  “Manfred is dead, I killed him. I watched his body turn to dust.”

  “I’m glad. I’m sorry, Lazarus, we thought we could help you.”

  “We?”

  “Yes, Malcom, he was the red dragon. I saw him fall into the ocean. I imagine he is dead, too.” She started to shake. “I am so cold, I’ve never been cold like this before.”

  “That is because your inner fire is gone. Your dragon is no longer able to keep you warm.” Come and sit down, maybe we can keep each other warm.” He wished he had his backpack, it was packed with food, clothes, and blankets. He got behind her and pulled her to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. “Is that better?”

  “Yes, a little.”

  “Where did you come from, I mean originally.” If he could get her talking, they wouldn’t think about how cold they were.

  “I can barely remember. My brother told me once it was somewhere near Inverness, I think. I was just a child when my brother and I were kidnapped.”

  “What is your family name?”

  “MacClellan.”

  “Domhnall MacClellan was your father?”

  “Yes. How do you know him?

  “He was a friend of my father, they raised horses together. I remember you, you were just a babe, about the same age as my sister.”

  “Yes, Rebekah and I are only a month apart.

  “How old was you brother when you were taken?”

  “I think he was nine or ten,
I’m not sure. It’s been so long since I thought of these things. I was too young to remember, but my brother told me everything he could about our family before we were separated when I was eight.”

  “So, MacDonald separated you before your brother went through the change.”

  “Yes, and he separated Rebekah and I, when we came of age. I lost track of time over the years. I had forgotten they even existed. The only people I talked to were servant girls, and I guess they were prisoners as well.”

  “Yes, they were. In the last couple of weeks, do you know if a man named Gunnar came to the island? He is a friend of mine.”

  “My serving girl mentioned a scary looking man, covered in tattoos recently. Would that be your friend?”

  “Yes,” Lazarus chuckled, “that would be him. Do you know what happened to him?”

  “Still there. He is the one that got us out of the burning building. A girl named Hannah said he was going to help get us off the island, but I think he was working for MacDonald.”

  “Good, that is what everyone was supposed to think. When I came to the island, I brought friends with me, they will help Gunnar get everyone off the island. Did you know Aria?”

  “She was a very dear friend, but she died.”

  “No, Aria is very much alive.” Amaya turned to look back at him. “She only pretended to be dead. Rebekah told her were to find me. If it hadn’t been for Aria, I would never have known that my brothers and sister were still alive and that there were more dragon people. For five hundred years, I thought I was the last.”

  “That sweet girl. She would sneak food to the prisoners in the old dungeon. We would all save a little of our food for her. I hope she’s alright.”

  “I’m sure she is, she’s tough.” That made Amaya laugh.

  “Lazarus, will your friends search for you?”

  “Yes,” he sighed, “I hope they find us in time.”

  “In time?”

  “To stop the poison.”

  “How?”

  “A blood transfusion from another dragon.”

  “But, if all the dragons are dead and we’ve both been poisoned.”

  “Let’s pray at least one of them survived.”