He acquiesced, before standing in one smooth motion and taking a few fluid strides to her side. Sera sucked in a tiny gasp at his sudden proximity as he loomed over her, staring deep into her soul. She couldn’t deny the connection she felt to him, even if she couldn’t remember him from before. He passed the ice pack back to her with a murmured thanks and leant down to peck her on the cheek. Then he left. With his departure Sera felt a tug in her chest and the scar on her palm flared in pain. Shaking her head, she pushed against the powerful emotions that rose unbidden. Standing up abruptly, she stalked to the lounge room window and looked out into the sky, crossing her arms.
Hazel gave a low whistle and joined her at the window. “So… he’s cute. Do you like him?”
“Honestly, I’m… undecided. It’s so hard without knowing what happened between us before. He seems nice and I feel… attached to him, but that doesn’t guarantee that he’s not playing me for a fool. What if he kidnapped me or something and has come back to take me away?”
“Good point. Don’t let down your guard with him.”
“I don’t intend to.”
“Come on, forget about him and come have some dinner.”
“I’m not hungry.” She caught her friend’s eye and gave a soft smile as she said, “I’m just really tired. Think I’ll go to bed early.”
Hazel gave her a searching look, then nodded and stepped back. “Of course. I can only imagine. Get some rest, but please tell me if you need anything.”
Sera nodded and gave her friend a fierce hug. When Sera pulled away, she noticed a rosy blush warming Hazel’s cheeks. Amused by her apparent embarrassment from her display of affection, Sera put some distance between them and said, “I’m glad I’ve got you.”
***
Even after a hot shower and lying quietly in bed for an hour, Sera’s stomach was still tying itself in knots. There was no way she could have kept dinner down even if she had been hungry. Anxiety ate away at her as she replayed the events of the last two days. So much had happened, yet all it had done was raise more questions. The worry about Balthazar’s recovery and the unexpected illness of her father threatened her rationality and she stamped down a pang of unease. The horrifying loss of the Unicorn King still weighed on her conscience and the strange meeting of the harpy, Tor and Idris baffled her. Then there was Arius. There was no denying the feelings he stirred in her, but she couldn’t decide whether to trust him. Perhaps he was the reason she’d lost her memories. Tossing in bed, she closed her eyes and tried reciting a chant the medical team had recommended to help her sleep. Thankful she didn’t have an audience for her average singing voice, she closed her eyes and kept her breathing even through the nonsense words they’d taught her.
“Sah, nah, tah, kah.” The refrain echoed in the room until she drifted off to sleep. Images jumped through her mind’s eye as she dreamed of a faceless harpy that stalked her as she cried over Balthazar who lay disembowelled in the middle of the MRO. The dream shifted to her sobbing over her father’s grave as a titter pecked her ears until they bled. She sensed a comforting warmth at her back so she turned and ran towards the golden light. The air shifted and shimmered around her and turned to night. She soared through the air, high above Mandar City, watching the tiny pinpricks of light in the high-rises wink out as their occupants succumbed to slumber. The air flowed easily beneath her leathery wings as they caught a current and rose higher. Intuitively, she sensed she had to stay out of sight of any being who happened to look towards the stars. The feeling of freedom was indescribable as she winged between the clouds, feeling the currents of the air and admiring the city laid out below her.
Seraphina? The warm male voice in her head shocked her.
Who is that? Why are you in my head? Sera swung her head left and right, seeking out the intruder.
A soft chuckle answered her. It’s Arius. And as a matter of fact, it is you who is in my head. Although, with no memories of our time together, I didn’t think you would still be able to make the connection.
She paused as she mulled over his words then gave her head a shake. This is a strange dream.
It’s no dream. His tone was warm but firm. You have an extraordinary power that allows you entry into my mind. And the mind of other dragons.
She snorted. Yeah, right. That’s how I know this is a dream. Dragons are extinct.
Arius’ voice turned melancholy. We need to find a way for you to get your memories back.
You think I don’t know that?
Arius tried another angle. Look around you. What do you see? What do you feel? What do you hear?
Sera slowed her flight and took stock of her surroundings. The wispy clouds scudded across the dark sky, filtering the moonlight on her scaled body. She flexed her sharp talons and admired the coppery scales adorning her muscular form. She arched her long neck and felt the wind ripple through the spikes lining her spine. The cold light of the stars prickled the sensitive membrane of her massive wings. Sweet voices sang softly in a strange language. Swinging her head around, she scanned the skies for the owners.
Where is that song coming from?
That is Illundar.
A thread of a memory tickled her thoughts. I know that word.
We’ve had this conversation before, he confirmed.
She grasped the memory tightly before it could slip away. It means... starsong.
Yes! Do you remember? He sounded ecstatic.
Nothing else. Only the meaning of that word. So, what, the stars are singing?
Yes. You’ve flown with me and heard them before.
That’s... unbelievable. She said the word reverently but meant it in its literal sense as well. Fatigue pulled her mind away from the connection but she heard Arius one last time.
Rest now, Seraphina. I will watch over you tonight.
She returned to her own thoughts, slipping into a deep and restful sleep, cocooned in the warmth of Arius’ protection.
Chapter Sixteen
The next day dawned bright and Sera bounced out of bed, feeling more rested than she had since she’d returned to the city. Stretching, she felt her joints pop as she took a few deep breaths, unable to contain the smile that played over her lips. The sense of freedom and safety in her dream about flying through the sky as a dragon spilled over into the real-world, injecting positivity into her mood.
I don’t care if it was only a dream. It’s nice to feel genuinely happy for a change.
Checking her phone she saw two texts: one from Hazel and one from her father. Her friend’s message was simply wishing Sera a good day, while her father’s explained that he was still too sick to join her on her visit to Del. One of her dreams from last night resurfaced in her mind’s eye; the image of the gravestone with her father’s name on it dampening her sunny disposition. She forced herself to ignore the prickle of worry and firmly reprimanded her wayward imagination.
People get sick all the time. There’s no reason why Dad won’t fully recover. I’m worrying about nothing.
She sent a brief reply to both Hazel and her father, followed by a quick text to her grandmother to say she was on her way to visit. Sera had convinced Del to get a mobile phone after she’d found out about their relationship so they could stay in touch. It was a lot easier than trekking out there every time she wanted to speak to her. She swiftly tied her tresses back in a braid and, before leaving her bedroom, stopped for a moment and looked at herself in the mirror. The dark circles that had taken up permanent residence under her eyes lately had lightened, her skin looked clearer and her sapphire-blue eyes shone brightly. Wisps of auburn hair had already escaped the braid and curled charmingly around her cheeks. She flashed a smile at her reflection, thankful for the overwhelming sense of contentment after a dreary week.
She took the time to cook herself bacon and eggs on toast and brewed a small pot of coffee, whistling cheerily as she moved around the kitchen, and tossed a rasher to Perry, much to his surprise. She threw the dirty dishes in the
dishwasher and turned it on before returning to her room to get dressed. Considering her measly supply of outfits, she shrugged and grabbed her usual black trousers and green shirt. Even on her days off, she tended to wear her Tracker uniform. After a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed her leather jacket. Whilst the sun was shining today the season was changing, and a slight chill pervaded the air.
Before leaving her room, she made sure the necklace that Helena had given her was tucked safely against her chest and the Seeing Stone was snug in her pocket. Threading Firinne’s sheath to her belt, she grabbed her empty backpack and threw a canteen of water in along with her MRO Survival Kit. From force of habit, after shutting the front door she waited a moment until she heard the locks automatically click. Running for the elevator, she managed to slip in before the doors closed. A gluxxor met her gaze and nodded once before turning away to stare vacantly at the wood-panelled walls of the lift. Unease stole over Sera as she recalled the interaction with the gluxxor from Ghaia’s Temple. Somehow, he’d stolen her into the Dreams Plain and raised so many questions without offering any explanations. She shivered, but strove to banish her apprehension. This gluxxor was female and had a kind expression. She was no threat. Still, Sera couldn’t help but rush through the doors as soon as they slid open onto the foyer.
Jogging down the road, she ducked into the grocers and bought some supplies for Del. The old woman grew a lot of vegetables and herbs in her garden and trapped animals for meat, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a use for flour, sugar and canned goods. With her backpack now bulging, Sera began her trek south-west towards the path in the forest that would lead her to her nanna’s cottage.
***
The day heated up as Sera walked beside a creek and she stopped to remove her jacket. It took some shuffling, but she managed to shove it inside the backpack, on top of the groceries. Sweat dripped down her neck and she swiped it away grumpily.
Where has my nice, cool autumn day gone?
She was only a few minutes from Del’s now, so at least she would find some reprieve from the humidity shortly. Dark clouds appeared out of nowhere and obscured the late morning sunlight. An unnatural mist rolled in, snaking through the trees and putting Sera on edge. It had been too warm a day for there to be any mist and this grew thicker by the minute. She shivered as the temperature plummeted abruptly and stopped to pull out her jacket from her backpack. Squinting as she drew closer to her grandmother’s house, she pushed open the gate, ignoring the creepy stuffed raven, and made her way up the path towards the crooked log cabin.
“Hi, Del!” Silence met her greeting. “Oops, I should call you Nanna, right? That’s going to take some getting used to.” She frowned and scanned the garden for the wizened old woman. The shrubs were more overgrown than usual and there was no sign of movement within the house.
Something’s wrong.
Tracker instincts humming, she dropped the heavy backpack from her shoulders and tucked it against the rickety fence. Keeping to the perimeter of the yard she slunk through the garden as she pulled Firinne out. She sniffed the air and turned her head, utilising all her senses in the hopes it would lead to a clue of her grandmother’s whereabouts. Something felt amiss, and the atmosphere was heavy with the threat of an impending electrical storm. After circling the house without incident, she stood back at the gate, undecided on her next action.
“That’s weird,” she muttered as she stared at the stuffed raven on the gate. She could have sworn its head was turned towards the forest last time she was here. Now it stared at the house. As she watched, it blinked. She clapped a hand over her mouth, smothering her squeal as she leapt back.
A hoarse voice croaked from the raven, “Come closer.”
Heart thumping, Sera glanced around again before taking a tentative step towards what she had thought until now was just a stuffed bird. The eyes of the raven watched her impatiently, though the rest of its body remained frozen.
Unsure of what it wanted, she allowed her instincts to take over and raised a hand to softly pet the feathers around its head. As soon as her hand touched it, the black bird lunged and struck her wrist, drawing blood. She squealed aloud this time and clutched her hand to her chest. The raven threw its head back and drank her blood that had smeared over its beak.
“That’s better,” he cawed, stretching his wings and fluffing his feathers.
“What in Ghaia’s name are you? And why did you bite me?” Sera glared accusingly at the mythic, no doubt in her mind now that that was what it was. Precisely what species of mythic was another question.
“Titchy, aren’t we,” he guffawed. “Here, here, allow me to attend your wound. I can fix it.”
“I don’t trust you not to do it again, you bloodthirsty wretch.”
He cawed a few times in mirth and hopped along the gate, closer to her. “Fair enough, fair enough. Here, I’ll make you a deal. Give me your hand to mend, and then I’ll take you to your grandmother.”
“How do you know she’s—”
“Your grandmother? Del tells me everything. Everything.” He hung his beak open in a strange smile. “We’ll explain it all soon, but I really do need to heal your wound so your blood doesn’t attract any… undesirables.”
Eying him distrustfully, Sera held her hand out hesitantly. The raven leant down and examined the cut that still seeped blood. He turned his head sharply, plucked a feather from his wing and held the quill in his beak. A bead of oil slid down the feather and dropped onto her wrist. She gasped as it sizzled on her skin and the cut knit itself back together. Amazed, she wiped the blood away and inspected the fresh skin.
“That’s incredible!”
“Yes, yes, I know, I tell Del all the time that she severely underappreciates my talents, but does she listen?” He rolled his eyes melodramatically. “By the way, I’m Fray. It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, Seraphina. But we must fly now.” With a squawk he flew swiftly to the tree line and perched on the low-hanging branch of a rowan tree. “Come quick, come quick.”
She dashed after him but skidded to a stop when he flew to her shoulder, dug his claws in and hissed, “Quietly, silly girl!”
“Ow! You told me to come quickly!”
“Be quick and quiet.” The bird scowled at her before glancing skyward. “We are being watched.”
“By whom?”
“I’m not sure. I only know it is a powerful soul who hides in those clouds. We must hide and run.” He nodded vehemently. “Hide and run.” He released her shoulder and darted into the foliage.
“Where are we going?” she whispered.
“Can’t say, can’t say. He might hear,” came the soft response, hidden among the leaves.
Sera stopped under the cover of the rowan tree and peered through the greenery, trying to find Fray through the fog. The sigh of a wingbeat brushed her cheek and she bit back a squeak of surprise before hurrying after the black bird. Pushing through the dense shrubs that had claimed the forest floor, she hissed as thorns dug into her legs, even through her trousers. The strange mist permeated the air and wound itself around her waist. Grimacing, she glanced down to see the silvery tendrils thickening around her and slowing her momentum.
“Fray!” she called as loudly as she dared. “We’ve got a problem.”
He returned to her side and screeched in distress. He flapped his wings violently in an attempt to disperse the mist. While it swept some of it aside, the remainder solidified into a tangible rope coiled around her body.
“This is not how I die,” she growled into the empty air, aiming her anger at whoever had spelled the mist. Twisting and jerking, she leant forward, fighting against its pull. The more she battled, the stronger it grew, until eventually she was forced to a standstill. She continued to struggle, refusing to give up.
Fray perched on a branch in front of her and cawed once before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. A pair of blue human eyes now looked out from his. Fray’s beak fell open and he spoke with De
l’s voice, “Use Firinne. Then run as fast as you can.”
The fear in her grandmother’s voice sent cold shivers through Sera. Fray’s usual beady black eyes returned and he gave his feathers a shake.
Sera shut her mouth with a snap. Time to focus now. You can process the fact that Del can take control of animals later.
Unsure of how effective her blade would be against the mist, she hesitated. When she started getting dragged back the way she had come, she decided to trust Del’s instructions and swept her knife through the sparkling strands. It would be beautiful if it wasn’t so frightening. As she cut the ethereal rope, she realised the runes on the blade were glowing faintly. Each slice of Firinne loosened the hold the mist had around her waist until eventually, the last thread fell. Sera sprang away and Fray flew in front of her, guiding her. She crashed blindly through the thicket, ignoring the pain as she focused on following the raven over the uneven ground. A guttural bellow of fury echoed around the valley and sent a spike of adrenaline stampeding through her body. Her feet pounded into the earth as she ran. Leaping over fallen logs, pushing through vines and scraping her hands against the bark as she bounced off trees in the dim light, Sera pushed her body to the limit as she sensed the great beast in the sky gaining on them.
“Into the cave, into the cave,” cawed Fray frantically.
Without a second thought of what might be waiting for her in the complete darkness, she hurdled through the entry just as a ball of fire hit the earth where she had been only moments before. Slipping on loose stones, she ran, unseeing, into the belly of the cave. The ground unexpectedly fell away from beneath her and she felt herself falling. Arms flailing and eyes wide, she desperately sought something to grab onto to slow her descent. With no light to see the rocky walls flying past her, it was a shock when the lung-crushing force smacked into her as her body hit the ground.
A Dragon's Body: A New Adult Fantasy Dragon Series (The MINATH Chronicles Book 2) Page 8
