The Others

Chapter Ten

I wake up, instantly startled. I am eye-in-eye with a big, black panther. His eyes are bright, blue. The same colour as the shining crystal from earlier. I quickly look at the little dragon, and I see her hiding behind my legs. Shaking like crazy, completely scared. The panther looks at me, and shows his teeth. He bends forward slightly, and I feel like he’s about to attack.

I do not know what to do. My legs are frozen in spot, and there’s no way to go for me. The panther is standing in-between me, and the entrance of the cave, while behind me there’s only the darkness that leads to unknown depth.

Low growling appears from the panther’s mouth, as I see his lip curl up even more. My heart’s beating fast, while I realize there’s no other option for me, than to keep standing in-between it and the little, trembling, dragon behind me.

‘Please’, I whisper, but I can not get any more words out of my dry throat.

‘At ease’, I hear a male voice. A man follows. He appears in the entrance of the cave. He’s wearing a black cloak, with an attached hat over his head. His face is clean shaven, and I instantly see his sharp jawline. He walks over to the panther, puts his hand on the panther’s head, and I see the big cat calm down. Even if it’s slightly.

He takes the cloak off of his head, and I see his dark, black curls. He smiles at me, but I am not sure if his smile makes me very comfortable. ‘There you are’, he says with a grin.

My heart’s still beating fast. ‘Who are you’, I say to him, finding my voice.

He shrugs, and takes a step closer to me. My heart beats even faster. He’s at least a head taller than me, and his presence feels threatening. ‘What matters’, he says with his low voice. ‘Who are you?’

I shake my head. ‘I asked you first’, I defend myself. The man grins.

‘And I am not going to repeat myself’, he says. I hear the panther behind him growl.

‘I…I…’ I stutter. ‘I am Maya.’

The man nods once. ‘And where’s your Other?’ he says. Before I have the time to think, I instantly look behind me, to the floor. The little dragon is still laying there, with her belly pressed down. Shaking, trembling.

I quickly look back to the man. I wish I had not glanzed at her. He follows my move and sees the dragon too. His eyes turn big and his smile disappears.

‘What is that?’ he says, before he walks over to me and pushes me to the side to reach the dragon.

Lilly jumps up, shows her teeth and braaps in a way I have never heard her before. The sound is not very intimidating, but the man still takes a step back.

He looks from her, to me. And back to her. ‘Is this a dragon?’ he says, completely astonished.

I scrape my throat and try to find my cool. ‘Yes’, I say. ‘And if you do not let us go, she will attack.’

I see the man contemplating with himself, for a couple of seconds. A frown appears on his face, but disappears just as quick to make place for a smirk.

‘Bluff’, he says calmly. He walks back to his panther, and pets it on the neck. The panther sits down, without taking his eyes off of me.

‘What do you mean bluff?’ I defend Lilly. ‘I warn you, you need to let us go.’

The man shrugs. ‘Let you go? I am not holding you against your will. I am just here to come and accompany you to the King’s army.’

I shake my head. ‘I do not want to go to the King’s army.’ I say. ‘I am not a magician, and I do not have an Other. This here, is a wild animal, and she will not be taken prisoner by you.’ I try to look as angry as I can, hoping he will not see my fear through the mask. ‘Nor your panther.’

He laughs. The opposite of a response I want. ‘Calm down, you’, he says. ‘If you are not a magician, and she is not an Other, then why are you so opposed to coming with me?’

I do not answer. I have no idea what to say. ‘Then get out of my way’, I choose to say. The man takes a step aside, showing me I can pass him. His panther on the other hand, does not move an inch. No way I will try to pass him.

‘You can go wherever you want to’, he says. ‘But the dragon comes with me.’

Lilly squeaks behind me. I ball my hands to fists and instantly defend her. ‘No she will most certainly not.’

‘I think we got off on the wrong foot.’ The man walks up to me, and shows me his hand. I refuse to take it. ‘Well, I can still introduce myself’, he says before he takes his hand back, and tosses it through his own hair. ‘My name is Jonathan, I’m an officer in the army of the King. I am here, because we received report of magic. When magic is reported, we bring it to the King who can decide if he wants you to join his troops. If you join his troops, you will help us keep the kingdom safe, and organized.’

I do not move an inch. ‘I will not come’, I say again.

Jonathan sighs deep. ‘I’m getting tired of you’, he says. Then he whistles. A second man enters the cave. A snake slithers on his shoulders. The man is about my height, and I sense he’s also my age. He’s not wearing a cloak like Jonathan, but does wear the same dark-colored uniform. The snake slithers from his shoulders, and crawls to me. I see Lilly trembling once again, pressing her belly to the floor.

‘Stop that’, I tell the men. ‘Get it away from me.’

Jonathan shrugs. ‘There’s two options. Either you come with us voluntarily, or Mike’s Other here, can bite you. We have plenty of antidote back at the force, so you will be fine. But the paralysis will come in handy, while I carry you personally all the way back. The choice is yours.’

I kneel down with Lilly, and pick her up. ‘I’ll come’, I say completely against my own wishes. ‘But trust me when I say, that I will never be one of you.’

Jonathan smiles. ‘I’ll remind you of that, when you beg me the opposite.’