The Dragon Prince

Incursion

A single piercing scream shredded it’s way through the darkness as the ballroom broke into chaos. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the already overwhelming tang of sulfur filled my senses, forcing me to gag. My eyes slowly adjusted to the pitch black, leaving everything shrouded in shadows. I could make out the horrified faces of the Fae piling over each other in an attempt to escape the crowded room, paying no mind to what or who they trampled in their attempt at self preservation. 

I pressed myself further back into the alcove in the hopes to prevent myself from being pulled into the fray, thankful that I was slightly shielded from the writhing mass of panic. As the crowd slowly thinned, I could see a small form making its way towards me through it, expertly dodging flailing limbs.

“Arya.” Saoirse’s voice echoed through my mind as she reached me, the amber eyes of her fox form level with my own. “Stay here, it’s not safe. I’ll get someone to guard you.” 

“What the hell is going on?” I hissed back, my voice shaking. 

She shook her vulpine head at me, giving a slight snarl. 

“I don’t know. I’m going to find Des. Just stay here and don’t move, I’ll send someone as soon as I can.” She turned and leapt back into the crowd, the white tip of her tail vanishing into the shadows. 

A sickening c***k thundered through the room, followed by another soul crushing scream. Ominous growling could be heard over the din of footsteps from the stragglers still attempting to flee the scene. 

Arya, where are you?! Aideon shrieked through the mind-link, causing me to jump slightly.

I’m in an alcove next to the doorway, do you know what’s going on?! I shot back, hoping my words would reach him.

The tree of beginning has gone dark and a swarm of un-turned broke through the castle defenses. 

A gasp escaped my lips, my mind racing. 

Stay where you are, I’m coming. They’re being pushed towards the back of the room by the other monarchs right now. 

As if on cue, a blinding flash of light cut through the darkness, followed by an unearthly scream. I pulled my knees to my chest in an effort to shrink further back into the depths of my hiding spot, my mind overwhelmed with the memory of the night my parents had been taken. This all felt too familiar. From the scent of sulfur to the resonating sound of the un-turned’s shrieks, I knew something was off. Closing my eyes to try and block out the horror around me, I didn’t see Aideon when he approached, causing me to let out a cry of panic when I felt a strong hand clamp down on my arm. 

“Hush. It’s just me, we need to get you out of here.” The eerie calmness of his voice matched his expression, his cerulean eyes glowing in the darkness of the room. 

He scooped me up into his arms, turning towards the door as a menacing growl thundered from behind us. 

“Put her down now.” Aideon turned to face the voice, where we were met by the terrifying sight of an enormous black wolf. 

“Ash…?” I asked quietly, pushing myself out of Aideons grasp. I stumbled as my feet hit the ground, Aideons' hand coming out to catch me by the waist before I could hit the ground. 

The wolf ignored me, keeping his golden eyes trained on the prince beside me. “She’s mine, lizard. Get your hands off her.” 

“Excuse me? I don’t belong to anyone Ash. What the hell is wrong with you?” I cried, half hysteric. 

His eyes flicked over me in dismissal as he continued to stare Aideon down. 

“Well, you heard her wolf.” Aideon smirked. “Now let us leave before one of us gets hurt.” 

“Fine, have it your way.” Ash narrowed his eyes at him slightly before finally meeting my eyes. “If this is how it has to be. Arya, you’ll regret this.” He turned away from us, raising his head high before letting out an earth shattering howl. 

The fighting from the back of the room paused for a moment, the room falling so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 

A rumble started beneath our feet before another wave of creatures poured in through the windows. Now able to see the threat we were facing, a deep sense of dread hit me. The things coming towards us weren’t Fae or human, but a monstrous mixture of both. Their ears stuck out at odd angles from their misshapen heads, their eyes blank and unblinking. Their skin was an ashen grey, the color of soot, and their fangs dripped a familiar viscous green ichor. 

Aideon and I took a step back at the sight of them, our mouths hanging open in unison. Taking the opportunity of Ash having his back turned, Aideon scooped me back up into his arms and ran toward the open doorway behind us as a deafening roar echoed from outside the walls. 

“YOU’LL NEVER ESCAPE US ARYA.” Ash’s voice followed us down the maze of halls as Aideon ran, his Fae speed sending us soaring through at blinding speed. 

“Why the hell is this place such a maze?!” He wondered out loud as he stopped at a crossroad in the hall. 

“Wait, Aideon. We need to get Tifa.” I gasped as I realized I hadn’t seen my friend since before the fighting had broken out. 

“Arya, we don’t have time. We are literally being chased down by a wolf.” He ground out through gritted teeth. 

“Aideon, if what you said is true, that the Tree of Beginning has gone dark, then she isn’t safe here. I can’t leave her behind.” I spat, attempting to push my way back out of his arms once again. “If you won’t take me to find her, then I’ll go myself.”

He tightened his hold on me, letting out a loud sigh. 

“Fine. Where was the last place you saw her?” 

“In my room, but I don’t know how to get there from here. I’ve always had an escort.” He shook his head at my admission before lifting his head and taking a deep inhale. 

“If she’s not there we’re going to have to leave. We can’t keep running blindly until they catch us.” I nodded as he took off again, picking up speed. Within moments we were outside my door, causing me to stare up at the Fae carrying me with a dumbfounded look. He gestured towards his nose as he carefully placed me on my feet. 

“Fae senses.” He grumbled out before reaching for my door. 

“GO AWAY!” Tifa’s voice sounded from the other side of the door as I felt a wide grin spread across my face.

“Tifa it’s me! We need to get out of here. The castle is being attacked.” A loud rumble echoed through the halls as my door opened to reveal a disheveled Tifa, her makeup running down her face. 

“Oh thank the f*****g gods, get in here.” She snatched the front of my dress and yanked me into the room, eyeing Aideon warily. 

“Where’s Ash?” She asked, gesturing for Aideon to help her barricade the door. 

“He uh… he seems to be working with them.” I stuttered out as Tifa’s hands stilled. 

“He what?!” She shrieked, her eyes wild. “What the hell happened?” 

I relayed my version of the ball to the both of them quickly, only to be met by shocked expressions from them both. Aideon turned to me, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

“Did the human say who sent him?” He asked quietly, his voice strained. 

I shook my head, thinking back to my conversation with Donnie. 

“No, and I didn’t have the time to ask before the un-turned showed up.” 

We proceeded to stare at one another as an army of footsteps sounded in the hall heading in the direction of my room, all of our expressions bordering on panic. Aideon’s gaze shifted towards the window, a sigh escaping his pursed lips. 

“We need to leave. You’ll both be safer in the Ice Court.”

 Tifa let out a wail suddenly, drawing both of our eyes to her. 

“But what about my parents?!” She cried, tears brimming her eyes.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned about the queens of the Dark Court, it’s that they can take care of themselves.” Aideon reassured her, heading towards the window and jerking it open. “Now come on, they’ll be here any second.”

He leapt out the window with a flash, shifting into a luminous white dragon before our eyes. I sucked in a gasp as a flashback of the dream I’d had the night before I’d left home hit me, causing me to take a staggering step backwards. 

“Get on.” He huffed, sending trails of smoke pouring from his nostrils. Tifa headed over, launching herself from the windowsill and landing on his back with a grunt, repositioning herself carefully to sit just behind his head. 

“Come on!” She shouted over to me, motioning me forward with her hands. 

I took a step towards them as a booming crash from behind me sent me hurtling in their direction, my eyes wide with panic. I leapt from the windowsill, sending a silent prayer to whatever gods may be listening that I land safely. I felt a clawed hand dig into my ankle, attempting to pull me back into the now crowded room I’d just left. A cry of pain echoed behind me as I landed on Aideons back with a thud, drawing my eyes back in the direction of its sound. My gaze was met by a pair of glowing red eyes, the same pair of red eyes that had been taunting me since I’d arrived to the Fae realm.

He was holding a now bleeding hand to his chest, his expression murderous.

Tifa let out a wild cackle from in front of me as she helped me up onto Aideons back, settling me in front of her so I could hold onto his horns. 

“That’s what you get, you traitorous mutt!” She shouted up at him as Aideon let out a loud hiss through his teeth. After wiping her bloody dagger on her dress, she slid it back into the sheath that had been hidden on her calf. 

Aideon stretched his magnificent wings wide before sending us soaring into the sky, leaving the Dark Court far below us as we sailed into the night. 

The image of Ash’s face forever burned into my mind.