Tame the Dragon

Episode4

"The Chains That Bind"

My breath shallow, the strain between us causing my heart to quicken, I moved closer. Though I refused to allow his insults to rip us apart, they had that power. Then show me. Show me. Kaelen, allow me inside. Let me fight with you. I shall not simply watch you die.

Kelsen stiffened his jaw and closed his hands. His whole body was stiff with control, as though every feeling in him screamed to push me away. "That is not that simple, Aria."

I could sense the inner struggle happening inside him. The conflict I was fighting was the same one. The concern about losing me. My self-lovers' anxiety.

" Its intricacy bothers me not." With my fingertips brushing the coarse skin of his chest, I extended forward feeling the throbbing of his heart beneath the leather of his armor. Not leaving you is what I am doing.

I watched him soften, his eyes flickering with something nearly hopeful, but then the ground under us shook violently, putting both of us off-balance. I stammered then he grabbed me with fast arms around.

"Who were those?" My pulse racing, I gasped as the ground kept moving beneath us.

Darkened heavens above were being rolled in thick clouds spinning like a hurricane. Still, this was not like every storm. I detected black energy on approach. Not only was the curse haunting us; something more old, more potent was waking.

A burst of light split the air before Kaelen could reply, then the ear-piercing squeal of a beast. Heart thumping, I whirled toward the sound. I could see them far away. The beasts, shadows roaming about pursuing us. But they were not the species I had seen before. Their red eyes blazing like dusk embers, these were larger, more ferocious.

Kelsen cursed under his breath; he drew me behind him naturally as his wings extended out to cover great distances as he prepared to fight. "Get down," he commanded with a harsh and forceful voice. "They are right here. See me.

"Kaelen, no—"; I objected, but the words died on my lips as one of the beasts leaped toward us, a huge winged figure that loomed over the earth.

I lacked time to give it much thought. Adrenaline surged through me as I reached for the blade at my side—the one I had kept tucked away just in case. Though I was not ready for what came next.

The beast dropped on the ground with a deafening boom, underweighting it. Huge, its claws digging into the ground as it screamed another earth-shattering sound. I could see the slink of black scales under its leathery wings, the hatred in its eyes.

Kaelen cried, "Aria," eyes wild with dread. "Run! Now!."

I still did not sprint, though. I was not successful. Not when he was still fighting. Not at my time of ability to help.

Holding the dagger, I ran for the creature and as I did, the beast's claws slashed the air almost missing me. Kaelen showed up soon away, and his dragon form whirled in gold and fire. Kaelen's claws locked with the creature's chest, and it screamed anguish and sank to the ground.

But at the time, rejoicing seemed impractical. More of them were showing up; hundreds were pouring toward us from all around. We gathered around.

I turned to Kaelen, gasping desperately. What devil are these things, then? Inspired by what?

"They are Malvenor's creatures," he growled, enraged, eyes flickering. "He is forwarding these once we wrap up. Until he has taken everything from you and me, he won't stop.

One of the animals pounced at us, its jaws snapping as if to validate his point. Even though I swung my blade just touching its scales, it was enough to deflect it long enough for Kaelen to strike. His golden claws split the beast to nothing across the air.

Hurriedly responding, Kaelen said, "We have to move." His voice strained. "We cannot fight every one of them right here. Staying will cause us to be overwhelmed.

"Where would we want to go?" I persisted, not turning away from the creatures surrounding us in quest of the perfect attack site.

"There's a cave to the east," Kaelen answered with an austere voice. "We could cover behind that. We have only one opportunity like this.

"Lead the way," I murmured, my voice firm even as terror twisted inside me.

Kaelen was leading when we started to gallop toward the cave, his wings slicing across the air. But the ground shook once more as we got closer, and I could hear heavy, methodical footfall. We lacked uniqueness.

Turning just in time, I saw someone emerge from the darkness. As he approached the area, his black cloak billowed around him and his ice eyes fastened on me with a pure malevolent gaze.

"You believe you could flee me?" Low and appearing delighted, his voice shifted as he moved forward.

I stop. My heart paused. Though seeing him here, between us and the cave, was a depressing reminder of how much we were at his mercy, I should have expected him.

Kaelen let out a raw, primitive roar. Malvenor, turn away from our route.

Malvenor smirked, the gaze twisted and evil. "I fear I am unable to do it. Kaelen, you see, I have long been waiting for this. You feel you are free even though right now I have control.

He raised his hand and the ground began to separate. I sensed magic drawing in the air as a black force bent the very ground under us.

"No," I replied, grasping Kaelen's hand and heart hammering. "We cannot let him triumph".

"We won't," Kaelen said, his voice stern. Not as I still have breath in my body.

Once more, the ground shook—this time violently—before I could react to a brilliant flash of light sprang from Malvenor's palm. The air cracked with explosive power as my body crashed against the ground. Trying to get up, I battled through agony shooting over me.

Kaelen yelled, his voice choking with horror.

I observed the ground break open and collapse under us just in time. Malvenor was standing there, a cruel sneer on his face as his power spun like a cyclone.

" No!" I cried, my voice breaking as I reached for Kaelen.

Still, it came too late.

Before I could grab myself, the ground collapsed under my feet. The globe darkened.

My pulse thumping in my chest, I could hear Kaelen's voice, far-off and desperate, crying my name as I staggered across the darkness. The last thing I felt as the world closed in was the sense of falling—and the certainty that nothing would ever be the same whatever occurred next.

As I dropped into the gap, the wind shrieked about me; the borders of the shattered ground collapsed more as the distance opened up above. As I extended out to grab something to stop my fall, my heart slammed against my ribs; but, the walls were slick with murky magic, impossible to hold. Kaelen faded from vision and I lost hearing of him. Dark magic smashed against my lungs, weighting the air and making it oppressive.

"Kaelen!!" I cried, the sound of my voice muffled in the chasm.

Somewhere above me, a flash of golden light erupted, and for a brief instant I saw Kaelen plunging after me, his wings open and his eyes blazing with will. But Malvenor's dark power burst once again, black energy stretching out to capture him and tugging him upward.

No! I cried, panic and desperation screaming at me. Kaelen, challenge with it! Do not allow him—"

His shriek rang across the chasm as the shadows closed in on him, shorting the syllables. His voice was sharp, tinged with rage and something else, something like fear. "Aria, reach on! Don't let—"

The shadows ate him before he could complete and he disappeared from view. His golden brilliance died like a candle, leaving me in the darkness alone.

I struck something hard, and the effect took out the air from my lungs. Pain tore throughout my body as I tumbled across a rough surface and stopped against at last a jagged boulder of stone. My brain spun, and for a minute I could only lie there panting for breath.

Above me, the abyss rumbled menacingly, the sound of groundbreaking growing louder. My body shook as I strained to view my surroundings and got myself sitting up. Here the air smells heavily of sulfur and rot; the pale gleam of molten rock lit the cavern around me. Not empty; the abyss pulsed with dark energy.

"Welcome to the end, Princess," a dreadful voice burst through the oppressive quiet.