Dragon Nest

Chapter 15

His face snapped up in her direction, a feral snarl fading as he saw his girlfriend, terrified and confused. Looking back down at the vampire, he brought his human side into control, carefully releasing his grip on the woman's neck, then turning to take Annabel in his arms and walk a few paces away. "Get her away from me," he snarled over his shoulder.

There was a kafuffle of action as they checked on their teammate and restrained her. The vampire, Amanda, was dazed and sore; her neck and the back of her head ached horribly, but she would heal. Mostly she felt shame. She had attacked a newborn dragon in a fit of bloodlust. Even now she could smell his blood; if she hadn't felt so thoroughly beaten she would have been up and at him again in a heartbeat ... not that she had one.

"How dare you!" screamed an outraged Susan. They hadn't even made it inside before her son had been attacked! This wasn't a good start.

"I'm sorry." As his team saw to Amanda, Timothy tried to soothe Susan, blocking her from moving toward the prone vampire. "We didn't know he was a dragon, we would have made her feed beforehand if we did."

"That's no excuse!" Susan spat.

"Perhaps not," replied the elemental, "she'll be punished. Now let's get everyone calmed down and move on; you have an audience with Lady Narlakis. Who's the human?"

"Oh, that's Chris's girlfriend. She'll become his familiar once it's approved." Susan calmed down; she needed to be collected for their court appearance.

"That isn't strictly procedure, Susan. She clearly knows about us and is under no binding not to reveal us," he stated, a little worried about how this new wrinkle might play out with Lady Narlakis.

"You're going to argue procedure with me after what just happened?" Susan raised an eyebrow at the head of security. By now the other three had Amanda up on her feet, leading her toward the door. As she passed Chris, she muttered out the best apology she could.

Chris grunted in reply.

"What was that about?" Annabel asked from within his hug.

"She's a vampire, she mustn't have been able to control herself and she tried to bite me." His dragon found the whole thing exciting. Chris found it terrifying; he had been moments away from killing another Being.

"Oh my god Chris, I didn't see that part. When I saw you, you had her by the throat on the ground. I was so scared." Annabel shivered.

"I'm sorry Dee, my dragon kind of took over when she jumped on me. Thanks for calming me down." He kissed her hair.

Timothy came over shortly after and apologised to Chris for Amanda's behaviour. Chris accepted the apology and for some reason asked that she be shown leniency. Timothy readily agreed. Amanda would likely punish herself thoroughly on top of whatever he dreamed up for her. He called in an increased security order for the compound and court chamber as well as clearing their path to the court.

They began the ascent from the parking garage toward the court, walking down empty halls that led through a mix of modern and ancient interiors; the underground had been expanded and modified over many decades. Annabel and Chris walked hand in hand, flanked by their escort, while Susan brought up the rear.

***

Sitting, sore and forlorn in the security office, awaiting her punishment, Amanda berated herself. Was she nothing but a bloodsucking monster? The first 50 years as a vampire had truly been hard but she had gotten through them, and in the process had learned to control her thirst. But her first whiff of dragon flesh had been enough to set off her most basic instincts. Disgusted, she looked down at the smears of red that remained on her hands. Before even thinking, a finger was in her mouth, sucked spotless in an instant as the flavours exploded against her tongue. With a moan, the rest of her fingers were dutifully bathed, lapping up every delectable molecule of his blood. She let out a whimper of despair as his taste faded, leaving her terribly unsatisfied, and having ruined her appetite for any other blood. She had gone about this all wrong: she should have offered herself to him, begged if necessary, to let her feed from him. She had to have more.

***

They waited outside the door to the court chamber while the current session finished. It didn't take long before a lycan attendant stuck his head out and told them to enter. Chris squeezed Annabel's hand briefly before handing her off to Susan and striding into the large room.

It was truly impressive, with grand arched ceilings, marble floors, and rows of seats for a few hundred audience members, now mostly empty. A subdued yellow light was given off by several floating orbs, magically suspended at least two stories above in the arches. A richly carpeted set of stairs led to an obsidian throne. Seated there was the first Drow that Chris had ever laid eyes on: a dark, slender elf of subterranean origin. A hush swept the room as people turned to see the newcomers, many seeing a dragon for the first time.

Chris studied Lady Reyla Narlakis as he walked toward the throne. She was truly an elfin beauty. In her midnight blue gown, she looked truly royal, an air of ancient power about her. Her ears were pointed, contrasting her alabaster hair dramatically against flawless, pitch-black skin curved over sleek muscle and soft flesh. The shocking white was bound back away from her face in an elegant ponytail, jewelled ribbons maintaining its structure and weaving throughout the length, down to her shoulders.

Reyla's grey eyes sparkled in delight as the young dragon approached in his half form, noting his appreciative study of her. She'd been informed that a back country witch was to bring in a powerful Being, but this was truly extraordinary. The dragon oozed power: both physically with his tall, broad form, and magically with his heady aura. His wings made him majestic, but in her eyes his simple clothes highlighted his youth. Yes, so rare and powerful a Being was a treasure. Her black heart thrilled at the prospect of snaring such a fine catch for her own.

Chris reached the base of the steps and lowered himself to his knees, his head bowed. He could sense the power of the ancient elf; his dragon recognised in her someone they could respect as superior in age, knowledge, and power. "Lady Narlakis, I humbly present myself before your court seeking membership to your domain." Chris surprised himself with his almost theatrical manner of speech, but realised his dragon was helping him.

And well mannered too! Reyla thought, already slipping on the mask of a sweet, kindly demeanour. Quickly thinking through how to handle such an important meeting, she arose and descended from the throne to also kneel one step above him. Reaching down for his chin, she raised his face, eyes meeting. "I am honoured to call you one of my own, dragon. We have missed your kind for far too long. What is your name? I do not recognise your colouring; do you have an aspect?"

"My name is Christopher Baryst," he introduced, still captivated by her grey eyes and royal, midnight beauty. He paused for a moment before his dragon helped him again, eyes flashing. "I'm of the Ether." The dragon raised his hands. Purple flame sprang to life from his upturned palms. There was a collective intake of breath around the room as it cast an ethereal, flickering light.

Reyla was rendered momentarily speechless. Before her knelt the 7th male dragon alive in the world, a youngling bursting with potential, untrained, and unmolded. Fortuitous in the extreme. She smiled down at him. This was no ordinary project; the future of the dragons knelt at her feet. "Outstanding, Christopher," she said, leaning forward to kiss each of his purple cheeks, catching his enticing scent, yet she was too ancient to succumb to anything more than a pleasant sense of warmth between her legs. She willed a small charm as her lips touched his skin, to let her know where he was and if he was in danger. His dragon sensed her spell but allowed the protective blessing. Lady Narlakis stood back and addressed her rapt audience in her best regal voice, edged with threat. "This dragon is under my protection. Any threat, harm, or plot against him will be met with my strictest displeasure. Dragons are guardians, and under his guardianship our community will prosper. We are honoured by his presence and you will all conduct yourselves accordingly. I will release an official statement to this effect shortly. This court is adjourned for the day."

The court audience shuffled out, looking back for once last peek at the dragon.

"Rise Christopher," she said quietly.

The fire in his hands extinguished as he stood. "Lady, please just call me Chris, everyone does."

"Fine, fine." Lady Narlakis said with a tinkling laugh. "And you may call me Reyla when we are in private. How old are you, dragon?"

"I'm nineteen," he replied, a little disconcerted. She was much nicer than he had expected. "My dragon awakened yesterday. Before that I was completely human; but Susan raised me with a basic knowledge of our world."

"So young," Reyla cooed, reaching to brush his cheek, her mind already racing ahead to the prospect of a pet dragon at her beck and call. The room was now clear except for his escorts and her chief advisors. "Come," she beckoned everyone closer. "Sit, sit, we have a lot to get through." She guided the dragon to sit on a carpeted step, taking the step above as her own. "Now, tell me your story."

He laid out his life as briefly as possible. For now he left Annabel out of the picture, although she sat only a few feet away. The Drow hadn't seemed to have noticed her yet.

"Interesting." She took one of his big purple hands in her black ones, stroking it gently. "What do you wish for yourself, dragon? How may I help you achieve your desires?" At this, he had looked up at her with innocent trust; this was almost too easy.

"I guess I just want to learn about our world and live my life. More specifically I need an education, a job, a home, and your protection," Chris replied honestly.

"No great aspirations?" Reyla asked seductively. "Hmmm. So easily pleased. You are such a nice boy, Christopher."

Annabel almost felt sick watching the elf paw at him. Surely he wasn't falling for her saccharine act.

"None." He smarted a little at being called a boy in front of everyone, but coming from Lady Narlakis it was a fair assessment.

"Very well." Reyla turned to Susan. "And what of yourself, witch? Why wasn't I made aware of a dormant dragon inside my own territory? You meant to keep him for yourself, no doubt." She regretted her words when she felt the dragon recoil, the hand she held suddenly tense.

"No my lady," Susan responded calmly, not rising to the accusation. "I only meant to protect him while he could not protect himself. Surely anonymity is the best defence. As soon as he awoke yesterday evening, we made plans to come here for your protection."

"Nonetheless, I would have expected a loyal Being to inform me of something so important," Reyla said coldly. The implication was not lost on anyone in the room. Again she chastised herself, she was eroding his good first impression of her. And yet, she resented having been kept in the dark. Still, she must control her temper around him.

"But all is well now that you are here, Chris," she soothed. "I will contact the Synod immediately to inform them of you. I imagine you will need to go meet with their dragon representative, Lord Guthrie; but that can wait a few days. In the meantime, you may live in our guest quarters and explore our wonderful city. We can discuss your education later."