So was I. I watched in silence for a while, satisfaction coursing through me with every death. Perhaps I would become a war king. Necoc Yaotl was correct. There were so many creatures out there that were so pitiful they didn’t deserve to be alive. I could make it my personal mission to wipe them all out and collect their treasure. My horde would grow so vast, even my palace would not be able to contain it. I would become legendary across countless worlds. Some would hate me, others would revere me for cleansing the universe of unworthy species.
I could be the greatest of all dragon kings. My people would live in the golden age of golden ages. I would surpass my father, my forefathers. And when I finally died, they would embrace me. Every single one of them. My father would tell me he was so proud to have borne such a leader of dragons. The concept was so intoxicating I could barely breathe.
Hours later, breathing did become far more difficult, but not due to positive fantasies.
“What in the name of my fathers--!?”
Their bizarre forms varied in sizes and they seemed to come out of nowhere. There thousands of them, probably millions. And they were eating my warriors alive.
I expected my soldiers to fight back with magic and physical strength, but once they were bitten by so much as one of the bizarre black aliens, they seemed incapable of using magic. It wasn’t long before they were swarmed and devoured. The vampires fought back with powerful technological weapons, but it was these new creatures that finished the battle. And the victory was not for the dragons.
“Necoc Yaotl!” I bellowed. “What is the meaning of this?”
Ah, Your Majesty, it appears you should have spent some more time studying my brother’s children.
“You knew about this!” I raged at the god. “You knew the vampires had these creatures at their command! You knew I was sending my warriors in to be slaughtered!”
That I did. But my knowledge does not make me the guilty party. This was your doing, king of the dragons.
“You dare…you torment me, blackmail me…” Speaking became very difficult due to my anger. “You ordered me to destroy your brother’s children or the sacred grounds would be destroyed! This is YOUR doing!”
Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but you made it very clear that you were not impressed with my brother’s children. From the information your scouts gathered, you presumed that you would be able to kill them all with ease. It never crossed your mind that they possessed an army of such power.
“You knew!”
Necoc Yaotl laughed. It is a small wonder your father despises you so, King Tarasque. A true leader would have investigated his enemy thoroughly before attacking him. A true leader would not have made arrogant presumptions about his enemy’s defenses. But you—you specifically told me that you would be able to wipe out the vampires with ease mere days after you sent your scouts to investigate them. I could have warned you, yes, but I am not here to hold you up by the wings, King Tarasque. I am here to ensure that you destroy my brother’s children.
And you succeeded.
Even in my anger, and yes, growing shame, I was stunned at his last words.
“What do you mean? I failed! My warriors are being slaughtered as we speak. I must send another battalion in as soon as—”
Don’t bother. You did exactly as I wanted. Enough of the vampires are dead for my plans to go through.
I had known from the beginning that Necoc Yaotl was a liar and a manipulator. I knew that he couldn’t be trusted. But I had to do his bidding for the sake of the sacred grounds. There was no higher honor for a dragon than to protect the sacred grounds with everything they had. And yet, the feeling that I had just done the exact opposite was beginning to creep into my soul.
“And what,” I whispered, “are your plans?”
That would be telling, Your Majesty, that would be telling.
Once the miserable god’s voice fell silent, I called a meeting with my council. When all ten members were present in the chambers, I addressed them in a tone that was grim and controlled.
“The first battalion has failed. They are all dead.”
Shock coursed through every member of my council.
“What!?” Fangurn bellowed. “This is impossible! How could such puny creatures defeat mighty dragon warriors?”
“How could they have done so, Your Majesty?” Quillania demanded. “Did they manage to hide strong magical powers from us?”
“They have an army at their disposal,” I said. “An army of creatures who seem to be capable of neutralizing a dragon’s magic and devouring him within minutes.”
“And how precisely, could they have hidden such an army from us?” Fangurn said.
“That is not the issue at hand!” I snapped. “My warriors are dead, and I dare not send in another battalion right away. They are sure to meet the fate of their brothers and sisters.”
“Should we go for the masters or the servants first?” Quillania mused. “If we kill the servants first, the vampires will be helpless against—”
“No,” I said. “The masters will die first. That is my will.”
“And what of Necoc Yaotl, my lord?” Loklair said quietly. “What of the god who threatened to destroy the sacred grounds of our ancestors if we did not carry out his will?”
When I spoke, I did not bother to hide the rage in it. “From the very start, he has had his own agenda. The dragon race means nothing to him. We are merely pawns in his plan. We must obey him to prevent the destruction of the sacred grounds, but we still have our own agenda. Necoc Yaotl claims that he is satisfied with the deaths we have given him, but all vampires will die. That is the will of the dragon king.”
Quillania peered at me. “And if Necoc Yaotl orders you to leave the vampires be, my lord?”
A growl rumbled in the back of my throat. “Then I must obey.”
But not for long. I would make Necoc Yaotl pay for his crimes, and I would wipe out the vampires. Mercedes would know the consequences for attempting to deceive the dragon king.
Do you love me?
I dismissed my council before I did something I would later regret.
***
Mercedes
Blackhole had promised me that he wouldn’t let anything happen to Shadow while the vampires were slaughtered by the dragons. I believed him even though he was at the whim and the mercy of the evil god Tezcatlipoca who had been pulling the strings from the very start. It wasn’t his fault. I knew Blackhole. He would never willingly do anything to hurt either Shadow or myself. But that didn’t stop the waves of terror and uncertainty coursing through my very soul. Tezcatlipoca called me 'little key,' meaning I was to play a large role in his plans.
You already are playing a large role in his plans, my inner voice whispered.
Yes. I was. Not only that, I was at his mercy, like Blackhole. Like everyone I cared about.
I put a hand to my mouth to stop a sob from escaping. I knew what it was like to feel helpless and terrified. Xavier was responsible for that. But this was so different. Tezcatlipoca was a god with all the powers of a god. How could I hope to challenge a god and win? How could I keep everyone I loved safe from someone who could vaporize me in an instant?
The doors to my room opened. I was both hoping and dreading Tarasque’s presence. Instead, it was Eulathrin, my siren caretaker. She was bearing a tray with my supper on it.
“Good evening. You said you liked the nectar bread, so I brought…” She stopped when she saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t break down in front of her. She needed to know what awaited the dragons, but I couldn’t burden her with my emotions. She had been nothing but good to me ever since Tarasque placed me under her care.
“Mercedes?”
Her voice was calm and concerned. She set the tray down and put a hard-scaled hand on my shoulder.
“I will help you if I am able.”
The sincerity in her tone was what made me throw caution and dignity to the wind. In
an instant, I stood up and grabbed Eulathrin around the middle, burying my face on her shoulder. She made a sound of surprise, but after a moment her arms came up and held me close.
“There, there,” she soothed me as I cried. “Tell me what has happened, and I will see if I can aid you.”
I was glad that she didn’t rush me. She continued to hold me in silence until I got myself under control. I pulled away and wiped my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
Her hand gently touched my cheek. Her dark lips spread in a compassionate smile. “There’s no reason for you to be. Now please tell me what has caused you such distress.”
I told her everything. How Tezcatlipoca was deceiving Tarasque, how the deaths of the ten thousand vampires were now on his hands, how Tarasque didn’t believe me when I told him of Tezcatlipoca’s real plans, and Tarasque’s promise that he would kill Shadow to get back at me for ‘manipulating’ him.
When I was finished, I noticed that Eulathrin was noticeably paler.
“Mercedes, I believe you have just confirmed several rumors I have heard over the past few days.”
Relief flooded me. She knew I was telling the truth.
“Can you tell your leaders?”
“The queen already knows. You can bet your life on that.”
“Is she going to warn Tarasque then?”
“No.”
I was stunned. “But…”
“Mercedes, this is not our fight. The dragons have brought this on themselves. We cannot get involved.”
“But they’re your business partners! And they’re people just like you!”
Eulathrin frowned at me. Her scaled fingers reached out to touch my neck.
“King Tarasque did this to you?”
I nodded and sighed. “I don’t hate him.”
“Then he is even more undeserving of you than I previously thought,” Eulathrin said flatly. “A dragon, especially a king, must treat every part of his treasure with care and respect. In hurting you, he has violated a sacred dragon law.”
“What he did to me isn’t important right now,” I said. “Eulathrin, Tezcatlipoca is going to make slaves of the dragons, but first he’s going to twist them like he twisted the Evanescence!”
“I heard you the first time, and I already gave you my answer. The sirens will not get involved. Moreover, I do not see why you would want to warn the dragons. Not after they have caused you so much suffering.”
“Tarasque is just one dragon,” I said. “I’m talking about the race as a whole.”
“The treaty is very specific, Mercedes.” Eulathrin was completely unmoved. “We barter and trade with the dragons. We even do small favors for the other. But we do not fight each other’s wars.”
“But—”
“Enough. The sirens will not get involved. That is all.”
Her tone told me any further protests would fall on deaf ears. Keeping my voice under control, I said, “Eulathrin, do you think you can keep me posted on what’s going on? Maybe the sirens don’t want to get involved, but if the dragons are twisted and made into slaves you will be affected. I know you’ll hear things from time to time.”
“That I will,” Eulathrin said with an unmistakable edge of grimness to her voice. “Very well. I will tell you if I hear anything of value. But that will have to be limited as well. You are still an outsider after all.”
I forced myself to smile. “Thank you.”
***
Shadow
The first thing I assumed when I awoke was that I was having a nightmare about that unspeakable time Xavier held me captive in his cell. My panic abated only when I saw that the cell I was in possessed remarkably different provisions from the ones Xavier permitted his prisoners. I was lying on an actual cot, and through the bars I could see torchlight illuminating the hallway in front of my cell. But Xavier or no Xavier, I was a prisoner.
And Blackhole was the one who brought me here.
My fangs emerged and I gripped the bars, feeding my strength with my emotions, confusion, betrayal, and rage being the most prominent. But no matter how hard I pulled, they would not budge. Not even when I rammed my entire body against them. I continued to grip them with everything I had, desperately trying to make sense of my situation. Where was I? This was no vampire prison, of that I was certain. Why had Blackhole brought me here? Had he…betrayed me?
I recalled his last words. He had promised that he would deliver the Chaos wand containing the invaluable frequency that would enable the vampires to build a portal to the dragon world. Then he had apologized, knocked me out, and brought me here.
My fangs ground into my gums. He had betrayed me. Whatever his motivations were, he had brought me here without my consent. I had known for quite some time that he had been hiding something from me. He claimed to serve the gods so there was a possibility that he had acted on orders from Lord Chaos or Lord Order. But why would the brothers order such a thing? And why did Blackhole not tell me about it? I had given him my unconditional trust and this was how he repaid me?
The sound of unusual footsteps broke into my thoughts. I extended my claws when the intruders came into view. They were very bizarre beings, appearing to be a cross between a human and an eagle. The older one pursed his lips at the sight of me.
“The spawn of Smoking Mirror has awakened.” Distaste colored his tone. “A pity. I was beginning to enjoy the quiet.”
“Who are you?” I demanded. “Where am I? Where is Blackhole?”
“The impatience and instincts of a mindless beast.” The younger creature gave a sneering smile. “I would expect nothing more from a creation of Smoking Mirror.”
I had no idea who or what Smoking Mirror was, but their air of smug superiority was beginning to smell as foul as rotten garlic. Forcing my rage under control, I smiled.
“Poking your stubby little fingers through the beast’s cage like idiot children? Didn’t your mothers ever tell you that is quite unwise?”
To my immense satisfaction, the youngster’s face went pale with fury.
“You dare insult my dame, beast?”
My grin widened. “I don’t just insult her, whelp.” Going on instinct, I added, “I pluck every last feather from her wings.”
The words were barely out of my mouth when the little one lunged. The elder held him back as he struggled and shouted.
“Let me go, Hyllus!”
“Our fallen brother gave us specific instructions!” the elder bellowed. “Do you wish to provoke the wrath of Smoking Mirror!?”
Still bristling for a fight, I said, “And I pluck every last feather from the wings of your mother as well.”
Unfortunately, the elder had far more self-control than his young companion. Still, it was highly satisfying to see him bare his teeth at me.
“You’d better watch that icy tongue of yours, vampire,” he hissed. “Your father does not value you as a father should. He will abandon you to our mercy if for any reason you prove yourself useless to him.”
“Babble all you want,” I snarled. “I will get out of this prison, and when I do, your throats will be the first I rip out. But first…”
Quick as lightening, I withdrew two small silver daggers from hidden compartments in my armor. They were quite fast, but not fast enough to beat the reflexes of a vampire. The first dagger hit the young one in the shin of his left leg. The second hit the elder just above his hip. I laughed, relishing their shouts of anger and pain. Unfortunately, my laughter soon turned into a scream when the yellow gem on the tip of the staff the younger was holding flooded my cell with golden light.
“Enough!”
The light dissipated, but my face was severely burnt along with several other areas of my body despite being protected by my armor. I managed to stay on my feet and continued to bare my fangs at my jailers, determined to show them that they were dealing with a vampire Kshatriya.
“Is that all you can do?” I hissed.
To their credit, neithe
r of them acknowledged the daggers sticking into their bodies. They were warriors as well as I. However, they were not so successful at hiding their malice. The younger looked as though he would allow me to stick another dagger in him if he could be permitted to ignite the jewel on his staff again. The elder, Hyllus his name was, merely glared coldly at me.
“Let us leave the beast to stew, Icarus,” he said.
The younger, Icarus, tightened his scaled hands around his staff. “Let me alight the dayfire gem again. Our fallen brother failed to strip him of his weapons. I am certain he did so on purpose.”
It was true. Despite my anger at Blackhole’s betrayal, I had enough reason to acknowledge that he could have removed my weapons before handing me over to these creatures. That did not excuse his actions, of course, but still…
“Let him keep his pathetic weapons,” Hyllus said dismissively. “He caught us by surprise once. He will not do so again. Come. It is time to leave.”
“But we were having such fun,” I sneered. “And I dearly wish to continue playing.”
I was disappointed when my baiting proved unsuccessful. They left me, but I was cheered when I saw that both of them were visibly limping. Apparently, they were too proud to pull out the daggers in front of me. Once they were out of sight, however, I became fully aware of my still healing burns and the fact that I would need blood very soon. With a growl, I began to pace, thinking. It was not long before I was cursing my recklessness with those two creatures. I had succeeded in provoking them, but my goal should have been to gather information. Like the dragons, they could be a threat to my people. To Mercedes.
Mercedes…
She was in danger. And I was trapped in a cell unable to help her.
Control, I told myself. I must keep control.
Staying a prisoner was not an option. I would escape, but I could not escape empty-handed. I needed to know why Blackhole brought me here, if he had truly betrayed me. And I needed to know if these bird/human creatures were a new threat to the vampires or my love. On instinct, I searched for my Chaos wand, and was angered but unsurprised to see that I did not have it. Blackhole had taken it, supposedly to give it to the royal family.