⋆˖☽ Chapter 11 ☾˖⋆
3395 Words
While the town bustled with the mundane rhythms of the day, I slipped from the path and circled the estate’s perimeter. I thought Emeric was alone until the beast materialized before him: a great dragon with emerald scales that shimmered in the midday light. Steam curled from its nostrils, the heat of its breath colliding with the biting air, while a soft, rhythmic glow pulsed deep within its chest. Emeric was already mounted, his hands busy securing the saddle.
A sudden roar splintered the peace of the afternoon.
A gale-force wind whipped through the clearing, twisting the trees and bending them into submission. The emerald dragon snapped its head toward the sky, and Emeric froze, his gaze fixed upward.
My body went rigid. A massive shadow swept over us, blotting out the clouds. In an instant, the world shifted. Vibrant green drained from the grass and trees, color leaching out of reality until the estate stood in a stark, washed-out grey. My eyes widened.
The dragon descended—a creature of pure obsidian, with scales so dark they seemed as if light didn't exist. He hovered for a heartbeat before landing with a bone-jarring thud, retracting his damaged wings tight against his flanks.
I took a hesitant step, then stopped cold. Golden eyes locked onto mine. His massive claws kneaded the earth, digging deep trenches into the soil. His jaws parted slightly, revealing a glimpse of razor-sharp teeth.
"Aurenoxious." The name was a ghost on my lips, stolen by the wind.
He tilted his head, and his slit pupils dilated. Recognition. My feet moved on their own, a pull dragging me toward him. The flesh on his feet had knit together, wounds closed. But the deep scars remained bare, devoid of their protective scales.
He is safe, I told myself. He is healing.
I paused ten paces in front of him. No closer. Aurenoxious exhaled a soft gust, whipping my hair back from my face. A small, trembling smile tugged at my lips, and for the first time, I reached out into the empty space between us. A dark memory washed over me: his broken form, the crimson blood streaking his obsidian hide. I could still hear the clinking of chains, the guttural moan of agony as he strained against them. He had stretched his neck just to be near me then, ignoring the way the iron stakes tore deeper into his feet with every inch he moved.
But now, the silence was peaceful. He tilted his head, and the warmth of his breath ghosted over my skin. I moved my hand another inch, hesitating. His pupils dilated, swallowing the gold, before his heavy lids slid shut.
His nose pressed gently into my palm.
His scales were a beautiful contradiction—rough as unhewn stone, yet polished smooth. He felt cool to the touch, but beneath the surface, a faint, living warmth pulsed against my fingertips.
"I am glad you are safe."
A deep ache swelled in my chest. Suddenly, he groaned. He pulled away from my touch, his gaze shifting past me to the empty air at my back. His eyes darted to my face, then back to the void, a low rumble building in his chest like a growl of denial. He inhaled deeply, hunting for a scent that wasn't there.
The question in his eyes cut me open. I couldn't bear it. I tore my gaze away, my jaw clenching until it ached. I stared at the ground, the truth constricting my throat.
The words scraped against my chest. "You..."
My voice cracked, splintering into silence. I had to force the rest out.
"...you want to see Ondina?"
His massive body went rigid. For a second, he didn't breathe. Then, he exhaled a sharp, huffing breath. A sound of expectation. He nudged me gently with his snout, pushing at my shoulder as if urging me to step aside, to reveal where she was hiding.
Guilt tightened around my chest, wrapping my lungs in a suffocating grip. My vision swam. Through the blur, I saw the smoke around his nostrils darken and pick up pace—short, rhythmic bursts of gray. He was waiting.
I took a shaky breath, letting the air fill my lungs, it felt like inhaling ash. I had to say it. I had to break the silence.
"It is my fault."
The words fell heavy between us, tarnishing the air like a curse. Aurenoxious didn't roar. He didn't recoil. He simply stopped. The smoke curling from his nostrils ceased, freezing into jagged plumes of soot. His massive body stood frozen, his golden eyes blinking once—slowly, sluggishly. As if trying to clear away a nightmare that had finally taken physical form.
"She saved me..." The words spilled out, hot and fast, burning my lips. "We were supposed to escape together. We were supposed to find you."
I couldn't hold his gaze any longer. The betrayal I feared seeing there was too much. A shadow darker than his scales. My eyes dropped to the ground, to the scars on his feet. The earth seemed to sour beneath me, the scent of damp soil turning to the copper tang of old blood. Gravity seemed to double, the earth pulling at me, demanding I collapse into the dirt and stay there.
No. I dug my fingernails into my palms, the sharp sting of crescent-moon cuts grounding me.
I forced myself to stand my ground. I refused to run from this. I let the wave of emotion crash over me, forcing myself to accept the terrible truth.
"I do not know if she is even alive."
The ground shuddered, the vibration rattling my bones as if the world itself were cracking open. I jerked my head up, dashing tears against my sleeve. Aurenoxious had collapsed. His massive legs had given out, and he lay trembling on the dirt. His golden eyes were fixed on me, glassed over with a sorrow that mirrored my own. He understood. Dragons always did. I knew that now.
My hand clenched at my side. Ruslan. He had her. But I had to believe she was alive. I had to believe she was fighting.
I hardened my gaze. "If she is alive," I whispered, the promise burning my tongue like lye, "I will save her. Even if it means offering myself in her place."
I tried to move, but a sudden force dragged me sideways. I skidded across the ground as Aurenoxious curled his long neck around me, pulling me into the protective circle of his body. His warmth enveloped me completely, a fortress against the cold. I buried my tear streaked face against his flank, my hands pressing into his heaving side.
"She saved me once," I murmured, my voice muffled by his scales. "Now, I will bring her back."
Under his touch, my resolve solidified. Beyond the wall of obsidian scales, the world was a muffled blur. I caught the faint, metallic clink of Emeric’s harness buckles—a reminder of the mundane world still ticking away just yards away—but here, in the shadow of Aurenoxious’s grief, time had stopped. I took the emotions that had overflowed—the doubt, the crippling fear, the guilt—and forced them down. Locked them away in the dark places of my mind.
As my breathing steadied, I pulled back. Aurenoxious slowly uncoiled his neck, withdrawing his shield of warmth. The biting wind rushed in to replace it, and a shiver violently racked my frame.
Aurenoxious let out one final, low rumble that vibrated deep in my soul. He looked at me once more before looking to the sky. With a powerful thrust of his legs, he launched himself into the air. The downstroke of his wings kicked up a fresh wave of dust and dead grass, forcing me to shield my eyes against the gale.
He ascended, his obsidian form becoming a stark silhouette against the glare of the hazy day. He climbed higher and higher until he was no larger than a Chitterwing, a speck of darkness against an uncaring sky. I tore my gaze away.
The wind died down, and the world began to regain its color, the grey leaching out to reveal the grass’s bruised green once more.I stood rooted to the spot, letting the silence rush back in to fill the massive, empty space he had left behind.
I wasn't ready to face the world again. I wasn't ready to pretend I was whole. I took a shaky breath, holding it until my lungs burned, trying to force the cracked pieces of my composure back together.
But the silence wasn't empty.
I turned my head slowly, the weight of a gaze finally pulling at me. Emeric.
The rope he had been holding lay in the grass at his feet. His lips were parted in shock, his brows knit together as he searched my face for an explanation. A flush stained his cheeks—whether from the biting wind or the shame of witnessing such a raw, broken thing, I couldn't tell. He quickly averted his eyes, bending down to retrieve the rope, turning his back to me to focus intently on his emerald dragon.
A low vibration thrummed beneath my boots.
Thump. Pause. Thump.
It was a rhythmic, heavy cadence that grew louder with every heartbeat, swallowing the quiet peace Aurenoxious had left behind. I closed my eyes for a second, wishing I could dissolve into the wind, before turning to face the source.
Toward the town, Zarina approached, looming tall against the skyline. Each step she took was terrifyingly graceful for a creature of such devastating power, a mountain moving with the fluidity of water. Mikaeus walked in her immense shadow, with Mira keeping pace close beside him.
Mira wore a bright smile as she chatted with him. It was odd. It twisted something in my gut. It just didn't sit right.
Mikaeus caught my gaze, his easy grin widening. But the moment Mira saw me, her smile vanished like a candle blown out in a gale. Her eyes darted to me, cold and sharp, before snapping back to Mikaeus. Her posture stiffened, armor locking into place.
Her lips moved—a subtle, private exchange I wasn’t meant to witness.
"If that is what you wish," she murmured, the words barely audible.
Mikaeus didn’t slow. He just nodded, his voice carrying clear and firm over the grass. "That is what needs to happen."
Mira’s shoulders slumped. It was a minute gesture of defeat as Mikaeus continued his stride toward us. She drifted slightly behind him, her mask of indifference slipping just enough to reveal a deep, etched sorrow beneath the porcelain surface.
The sharp sound of metal clicking into place pulled my attention to Emeric. He was watching me. But the second our gazes locked, he snapped his head away, suddenly finding the empty horizon fascinating.
"You are early," Mikaeus called out, his tone warm, pointedly ignoring the frost in the air.
Mira didn’t speak. She offered me a curt, obligatory nod, then turned on her heel and marched directly to Emeric. The tension bled out of her frame the moment she stood beside him, seeking familiar ground.
"I wanted to introduce you to Zarina." Mikaeus lowered his voice to a reverent hush.
The dragon towered behind him, eclipsing the sun. Her large eyes fixed on me, vertical slits dilating as she held a gaze that was gentle, yet sharp with ancient assessment.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling very small. "Hello, Zarina. It seems I owe you an apology for my past mistakes." I paused, the weight of the history between us heavy on my tongue. "I am sorry."
My voice dropped to a whisper, and I bowed my head, unable to hold that piercing stare.
A low, vibrating moan rumbled from her chest, rattling my ribcage. Mikaeus stepped into my space, leaning close so the others couldn't hear.
"She says, 'Do not worry, child. I forgave you long ago.'"
A wave of relief crashed over me, washing away a guilt I hadn't realized I was still carrying. I lifted my head to meet her gaze once more.
"Thank you." The words were small, but genuine. A soft smile touched my lips, and the great beast dipped her head in a slow, acknowledging nod.
Mikaeus lifted a hand, resting it affectionately on her snout. "She is happy you have returned." He glanced back over his shoulder at me. "And she promised you are safe riding with us."
He let his hand drop and turned to address the group, his demeanor shifting to that of a leader. "Let us prepare to leave."
At his signal, Zarina lowered her massive body to the ground, the impact sending a puff of dust into the air. Mikaeus swung himself up with practiced ease, a fluid motion of muscle and memory. I remained rooted to the spot, staring up at the sheer scale of the beast’s back. It looked less like a saddle and more like a cliff edge.
A hand appeared in my field of vision. An offer of help. I lifted my own hand slowly, fighting the instinct to pull away. I froze, hovering just inches from his grasp.
"Take it." His voice was gentle.
I forced myself to close the distance.
His grip was firm, anchoring me as I scrambled up. I grabbed his wrist for leverage, my boots sliding slightly before finding purchase on Zarina’s scales. The dragon remained perfectly still, a living statue, her breath huffing in a slow, steady rhythm that vibrated through the leather. Mikaeus swung into the saddle, taking the position at the front.
"Sit." He gestured to the space at his back. "Behind me."
I settled into the leather seat. Immediately, my heart hammered against my ribs, drowning out the world. My breath hitched, and a wave of preemptive dizziness washed over me.
"You need to hold on," Mikaeus called back.
I gripped the pommel of the saddle, but the polished leather was slick under my sweating palms. It felt insufficient.
He twisted to look at me. "Not the saddle. You need to come closer." His gaze dropped to my hands, then back to my face. "Around my waist." He hesitated, his voice softening. "I know you..." He cut himself off, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Beyond him, down on the solid, safe earth, Mira and Emeric were watching. Waiting.
I swallowed my hesitation and scooted closer. Mikaeus turned forward, gripping the reins. I inhaled deeply, wrapping my arms around him but keeping them loose. Hovering just above his tunic, a barrier of air between us.
He wouldn't allow it.
His hand found mine, clamping down and pulling me flush against his back. Heat radiated through his clothes, scorching and immediate. The tips of his ears turned a bright shade of red matching his hair.
His heart thundered against my palm, a frantic rhythm that matched my own. His voice was breathless, airy. "You will regret not holding on."
Then, a command that shattered the quiet: "Zarina, fly!"
The dragon shifted, standing to her full height. The world tilted. I gasped, instinct taking over as I wrapped my arms tight around Mikaeus’s waist. She crouched low, coiling her muscles, and then exploded upward.
Her massive wings slammed down, catching the air with a sound like thunder, sending us rocketing skyward.
My stomach dropped. Gravity reversed. Bile rose hot and acidic in my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut tight. I can't do this...
We leveled out, and the true speed hit me. The wind didn't just blow; it whipped my hair back and stung my skin. It felt like plunging my face into an iced-over ocean—a shock of cold that stole my breath. The roar of the air drowned out everything, even the sound of my own pulse. I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to retch.
"You are okay!" Mikaeus shouted over the roar. The words were meant to soothe, but they held no comfort against the violence of the wind.
My fingers clawed into his tunic, digging into the muscle beneath. Even with my eyes squeezed shut, the world behind my lids lurched and spun visually.
Please... make it stop.
The powerful rhythm of Zarina’s wings became a dull, nauseating throb at the base of my skull. The wind flayed my skin, freezing and burning all at once. My thighs screamed in protest, cramping hard against the saddle to keep me from slipping into the void. Every second was a desperate, continuous battle to keep the bile down.
The violent thrashing ceased. The world gave one final, lurching heave as claws met earth, followed by a ringing silence.
"Alanah..." The voice sounded distant, underwater. "Alanah. You can let go now."
My eyes fluttered open, but the world wouldn't stop spinning. My body swayed in the saddle. I tried to speak, but my voice was gone. We were on the ground. Zarina was still, but the phantom sensation of wind still rushed over my face. My stomach rolled.
"Emeric!" Mikaeus’s shout pierced the haze.
The heavy thud of boots pounded across the dirt. Sudden warmth enveloped me as strong arms grabbed hold.
"Help me get her down."
Mikaeus passed me down, lowering me into Emeric’s grip. But the moment my boots hit the solid earth, my knees buckled, and I collapsed. My fingers clawing deep into the soil to make sure it was real.
The acid burned its way up my throat and finally escaped in a violent, dry heave. I gasped for air, retching again and again until my body had absolutely nothing left to give, trembling in the dirt.
"By the moons," Emeric snapped, the sound sharp in the quiet clearing.
"Give her time," Mikaeus shot back. "It was her first time flying."
Emeric let out a long, frustrated sigh, his footsteps pacing away.
While they argued, a gentle hand pressed against my back, rubbing soothing circles between my shoulder blades. "Are you better now?" Mira asked. Her voice was surprisingly soft, devoid of her usual coldness.
"Y... yes," I managed to choke out.
Mikaeus squatted in front of me. He held out a wet rag. "Here. Wipe your face."
I reached out with shaky hands and took it. The cloth was shockingly cold against my flushed skin. I pressed it to my forehead, and the relief was instant. The world finally stopped spinning, and the ground beneath me solidified into something I could trust.
The warmth on my spine vanished as Mira pulled away. Cold air rushed in to replace it as she stood, the dry earth crunching beneath her boots as she retreated to Emeric’s side.
"I am ready." I forced my legs to straighten. My knees shook, but I locked them in place. I would not fall again.
Mira watched Mikaeus warily. Emeric refused to look at any of us, his gaze fixed impatiently on the horizon. "We need to get moving."
"We will," Mikaeus replied, his voice an even keel against Emeric’s sharp edge. "Be patient."
I cleared my throat, tasting the bitterness of the flight. "How far are we from Vidnamore?"
Mikaeus studied me, looking for signs of another collapse. "About an hour. Maybe more by foot," he paused for a moment. "We can not fly any closer without being spotted."
I nodded slowly, wiping the last of the dampness from my brow. "Then let's move."
I’ve wasted too much time already. The thought spurred me on, pushing back the exhaustion.
"Very well." Mikaeus turned to the path ahead, the mainland stretching out before us, vast and waiting. "Let us begin."
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- Writer
