Dragon Dreams: Book 2: Prophecy of the Dragons (25 page)

Andi knew Ben was up to something, but she hadn't expected him to attack the wizards without giving her a heads-up. When they smacked him across the room, her first instinct was to rush to his side, but when the magical bubble rose around him, severing their link, something inside her snapped. She launched herself at the three wizards, not worrying about the consequences. Mom tried to grab her, and Dad roared for her to stop and think, but she ignored them both.

Before she could reach the wizards, more of those robed warriors with swords popped up out of thin air. She tore at them, ripping two to shreds at a time. Their swirling and dancing scimitars never came close to her. Though she knew Ben had no access to his power, she could nonetheless feel it swirling around her, both helping keep her safe, and striking out at the evil warriors. The battle was over before either Mom or Dad could react.

"Alexandria?" Dad asked, but she didn't answer. Her eyes were on the wizards, and their death meant Ben's freedom. With the mystical power leading her, she couldn't lose. Which made it quite a shock when the same force that hit Ben smacked her across the room, too.

She flew back into one of the stone walls, knocking the wind from her. A dark ring formed around her vision, but she fought from blacking out. An energy bubble didn't surround her, so she needed to force her way up and back into the fight to save Ben, who was now pounding on the inside of his magic prison. She also couldn't help but notice his healing factor didn't kick in to help her.

Before she could move, Mom and Dad attacked. They didn't jump into the fray haphazardly like she or Ben had, and the wizards didn't fling them aside, but launched magical bolts. Dad dodged the ones hurled his way, and Mom stopped the rest with her short swords. Andi had seen Ben do that right after they were fully bound, so it must be a Dragon Guard thing. She sighed. Maybe Mom and Dad were right; maybe she and Ben should spend more time training in combat. They'd gotten by quite well without much work, but that was almost all attributed to Ben's other powers bailing them out. If they could find someone to teach him how to use it, and they practiced fighting together, maybe they would be unstoppable.

The wizards didn't conjure up any more warriors. Were they all dead? She hadn't counted how many she'd mowed down before she'd been tossed across the room.

The wizards chanted something, undoubtedly a dangerous spell, but before they could finish, Dad leapt at one of them. It had the wherewithal to dodge, but the spell had been disrupted. Mom slashed at the nearest wizard, and it formed an energy field in its hands, about the size of Ben's shield. Mom whirled into attack mode, but the wizard proved adept at blocking. The same happened with Dad's more powerful attacks. At the same time, the wizards launched missiles of energy that her parents had to be careful to dodge. More than once she thought they were going to break through the wizards' defense, only to have one of those blasts thwart them.

Andi finally regained both her breath and strength. She glanced at Ben, who was still trying to bust out of his prison. He couldn't, and they shared a look. Both shrugged, and he continued to smash against the bubble, while she turned her attention back to the fight. As she pushed herself to her feet, she had the perfect opportunity to ambush the wizards from behind. Their entire concentration was focused on her parents. She took a step forward and stopped when Dad broke through and pinned one to the ground. His powerful, razor-sharp claws rose to the wizard's throat. The other two stared at the scene.

"Do you understand me, or do you need my mate to translate?" Dad growled out.

"We understand you, Dragon," the three said in their simultaneous voice.

"Good. You two stay where you are, or I'll rip this one's head clean off. I offer the same proposal Benjamin gave you. Free both the Demon of Dreams and Benjamin, and you may leave."

In all the fighting, Andi had forgotten about the Demon of Dreams. She looked over at him. As funny as it was to say, he wore a dreamy expression on his monstrous features, like he either knew the outcome already or didn't care one way or the other.

"We have a counter proposal for you," the three wizards said. "If you decline it, maybe we will choose your way."

"Fine," Dad said. "Let's hear it."

Something inside of her told Andi this wouldn't turn out well. Like when she'd torn through the warriors, she felt a touch of Ben's power around her. Was this how he got his premonitions? Such a strange feeling. Shouldn't it be more forceful? She opened her mouth to issue a warning, but before the air in her lungs could push the roar out, one of the standing wizards flicked its wrist, and a warrior appeared behind Mom. She didn't see it, but sensed something. Andi yelled, Dad's eyes went wide, and Mom spun. The warrior, with its element of surprise, was too quick. One scimitar ran Mom through the chest, while the other sliced off her head. Dad slumped dead with her.

"No!" she screamed. The power surrounding her shot off towards Ben, breaking him free, and they rushed forward. The warrior moved into her path, but its quickness was no match for her rage. Her head shot out and tore it in two before it could do anything. The wizards attempted to blast them aside again, but Ben threw up some sort of magical protection that shielded even her though they were still twenty or so feet apart. A quick motion from Ben with his shield knocked one wizard onto its back, and he ran through another with his sword. Andi took the brunt of an energy attack from the third, but in her state, she hardly noticed. She tore that one into large, messy chunks.

They turned their attention back to the final wizard and found it struggling, and failing, to get to its feet. As they advanced on it, Andi had to fight to keep from breaking down. They needed to end this now. The wizard gave up and slumped onto its back.

"We've lost," it said, its voice a hollow, empty sound, a far cry from the shared voice when its brethren had been alive. "But that doesn't mean you've won." It held out an open palm towards the Demon of Dreams and closed it to a fist. Ben ran his sword through its chest, but too late. The demon's bubble closed around him. She didn't need to go to his side to tell he was dead.

They'd failed, but at that moment, she didn't care. Her resolve broke, and she rushed over to Dad, tears spilling so fast she couldn't see straight. Ben hustled to her side, and she transformed to human to make it easier for him to hold her. And at that moment, she needed him. His embrace didn't make her feel much better, but it kept her from breaking down completely.

She looked at Dad, forever stuck in this half-dragon shape, and couldn't believe he was gone. He looked fine, strong. He couldn't be dead. She ran her hand over his face but felt no life. She saw what happened to Mom, and knew what it meant to the mate when a dragon or guard died. She'd seen it first-hand when they killed the assassins in the Stronghold. She needed to turn around and check on Mom, but she couldn't bear to. How could she lay eyes on her mother, always so strong, in that condition? A headless body; a disembodied head.

Ben offered no words of comfort — what could he say? — but his feelings of loss and sorrow helped her cope. She wasn't alone in this. As she felt the last of her lingering physical pain and fatigue slip away, she gasped and looked at him.

"What?" he asked. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, and she loved him even more for that. She couldn't begin to imagine what a mess her face was.

"You can heal," she said, excitement building. "You can raise the dead."

"Andi," he started, but she cut him off.

"We can put Mom's head back on her neck, and you can call to their spirits. They'll be back, and then we'll see about what we can do to save dreams."

"Andi," he tried to get out again, but this time her dad's voice cut him off.

"Benjamin, you know what to do. There's an entire multiverse to save."

"Daddy!" she yelled. "Daddy, Ben can save you and Mom. I know he can."

"Alexandria, calm yourself and listen. Your mother and I love you very much, and we cannot be any prouder. Make sure you trust in yourself. Trust in Benjamin. You two are destined for greatness, and I only wish your mother and I could be there to see it."

"You will, Daddy, you will. Ben can save you. He can save you both. Hang on for a few minutes." But he didn't answer; he was gone.

She looked at Ben, and he'd stepped towards the Demon of Dreams. He turned back to her and held out his hand.

"I need you." She rushed over and grabbed him. He wouldn't look her in the eyes. Why? Was he ashamed of bringing back the demon first? He didn't need to worry. She understood. Their first task was saving the multiverse, right?

"Will him alive," he said once they stood over the dead demon. She closed her eyes and did. It wasn't instantaneous, but it didn't take long. A warm glow radiated from both of them and bathed the Demon of Dreams. After a few moments, the demon opened his eyes. Warmth of a different sort washed over her, this one coming from the demon.

"My thanks, always," the demon said in a soft voice. She had no idea what language he spoke, but had no problem understanding him. "You two have proved both your power and your worth, to me and everyone everywhere." He gave a slow wave of his hand, and a feeling of peace settled over her. He vanished.

She smiled and turned to Ben. "I knew you could do it." She hugged him and dragged him back over to her parents. "He was a demon. They shouldn't be anywhere near as hard."

Ben still didn't look at her, and his emotions didn't match hers at all. The feelings of peace and hope the demon had instilled in her began to disintegrate.

"Ben? What is it?"

"He was a demon, Andi."

"I know. I said that."

"He's one of the most powerful demons out there."

"And you did it. Now it's time to resurrect Mom and Dad."

He had to fight back tears, and her blood ran cold.

"Magic takes energy. I had to make a choice. I'm sorry. I truly am."

She wasn't sure what he meant at first, but then it hit her. She belched out a sob and fell to her knees. He could either save her parents or the Demon of Dreams. And he chose the demon.

Ben held Andi as she sobbed in his arms. Rico should have pulled them back to his realm by now, but that he hadn't proved either he was letting them grieve alone for a while, or he didn't want to deal with the tears. Whichever it was, Ben had to admit he was grateful to the demon for waiting. He'd turned Andi away so if she looked up, she wouldn't see her parents. He wondered briefly what they should do with the bodies, but remembered they were actually lying in the comfortable beds back in the Stronghold. The Dragon Council would give them a proper burial.

Andi wanted to be angry with him, wanted to hate him, for not saving her parents, but she couldn't. For one thing, she realized reviving the Demon of Dreams was the right thing to do, but mostly their souls were bound too tight for her to give into anything more than slight, temporary annoyance at him. And it was more than their dragon-Dragon Guard binding. They were destined to be together beyond all that, and he knew she'd figured that out, too. They'd both acknowledged it in the past, but had never discussed it. Maybe it was time for that talk. Not at the moment, obviously, but sometime in the near future.

As her tears mostly subsided, they popped back into Rico's Realm. The demon didn't say anything at first, letting Ben help Andi to her feet. He wore a look of sorrow. That, mixed with his waiting to bring them back, curbed Ben's normal dislike for the demon.

"My condolences," Rico said to Andi. "I genuinely enjoyed them past the working relationship." Andi nodded, and more tears pushed out from her closed eyelids.

Rico turned his attention to Ben. "And thank you, not just from me, but from the multiverse in general, for finishing your mission. I know it was a tough decision to make."

Ben gave a curt nod. "I knew neither Lee nor Cassie would ever forgive me if I didn't make that choice. Lee's spirit came back for a few seconds to remind me what was truly important."

"Yes," Rico said. "That was interesting. Were you aware you allowed that to happen?"

What?
No, he hadn't sensed that at all. Before he could say anything, Andi wailed out.

"Who cares about that? I'd give anything if they weren't dead anymore."

"Really? What would you give?" Rico's eyes sparkled.

All of Ben's new-found respect for the demon vanished in an instant.

"Quit it." He sent out a wave of energy that began to strangle Rico. The demon's eyes bulged, and he fell to his knees. Ben didn't back off. He increased the pressure, and Rico clawed at his own throat. Even though he was immortal, this could kill him. Ben could wipe him out of existence like he did to the necromantic pirate captain.

"Please," Rico managed to gasp out. "I didn't mean it. There's nothing I can do, but I have to ask. It's in my nature."

Ben took a step forward, his intent to end the demon here and now. Andi stood behind him, no longer crying, watching how this played out with intense interest, not caring which way it went. No, he shouldn't, couldn't. He released the demon from his magical grip and watched him fall to his knees. Rico rubbed his neck and eyed Ben, not hiding his fear. As he pushed himself to his feet, he didn't even straighten out his disheveled clothes.

"All that power," Rico said. "But you're raw, unstable. You need to find a trainer before you get yourself in deeper trouble than you can dig out of."

"Whatever," Ben said. "We'd like to go now."

"Do you honestly believe the Council will let you waltz out of the Stronghold? The only reason they didn't lock you two up from the start was because of Leon and Cassandra. With them gone, the Council will fear the worst. You two will get that imprisonment you didn't want. And the Council will get the exact opposite of what they hoped."

"But I'm sure you can help," Ben said, beginning to regret not offing the demon when he had the chance. "For a price, of course."

Rico held up his hands in surrender. "I can help, and all I ask is that you leave me alone until the prophecy has played out. I want to know how to act around you, and I can't tell right now."

Ben nodded. "I have no problem not seeing you for a good long time." Besides, he wasn't sure he could fight his way out of the Stronghold, especially with Andi in this state of walking comatose. As much as he hated to admit it, they did need the demon's help. Again.

"Alexandria," Rico said, his voice hesitant. "I need your approval, as well."

She didn't answer at first, so Ben reached back and took her hand. Though she wasn't crying at the moment, her face was red, swollen, and quite wet. His touch helped her out of her stupor a bit.

"Yes," she whispered.

A light-headed feeling washed over Ben. His essence floated adrift in the ether of the universe, grounded here, there, and everywhere. It lasted a few seconds, and then reality popped around him, and he and Andi stood in front of Rico in their bodies, not the astral versions they'd had since being snatched out of their bed in the Stronghold.

"I can send you back to the pier from here," Rico said.

Ben almost thanked him, but caught himself. He had the upper hand with the demon, and didn't want a thank you taken as a sign of weakness.

"What of the trainer you spoke of? Do you know someone that can help me?" Ben asked instead.

"Not a chance," Rico said. "I don't deal with necromancers. End of discussion."

Ben allowed himself a half-smile. That answer, along with the brusque tone, confirmed what Ben had already guessed. Necromantic magic was the only thing that could kill the demon. No wonder he hated and feared Ben.

"Are you both ready?" Rico asked. There was no hiding his desire to be rid of them.

"Yes," Ben said. He took Andi's hand and smiled at her, but she stared right through him.

Rico snapped his fingers, and they stood at the end of the Newport Beach Pier in the dark of a moonless night. It was deserted except for Max and Nix.

"Is it true?" Max asked. Ben knew there was no need to answer. All they had to do was look at Andi to see Cassie and Lee were gone.

"Come on," Nix said, taking them both by their arms. "Let's get you back to our house."

"How long were we gone?" Ben asked.

"Almost two days," Max said. "The sun will be up in another hour." Ben could tell he wanted to ask about their adventure, but knew that wasn't possible with Andi in the state she was in. That was fine. Ben wasn't ready to talk about it yet anyway. He had a feeling their instructions were to keep him and Andi at their house until one of the Dragon Council showed up to collect them. Ben wouldn't let that happen. If Max and Nix wouldn't peacefully relinquish the key to the SUV, he had a feeling neither the Council's record keeper nor his mate would stand a chance against him.

Surprisingly, it didn't take any pleading to get the key. Why had Max and Nix been at the pier if not under the order of the Council? Ben didn't ask, as once he had the key in his hand, all he cared about was getting home. He helped Andi into the passenger seat, and they were off.

*****

Ben couldn't bear to tell his parents the news yet when he hadn't yet wrapped his head around it, so he drove to Andi's house. It really was her house now, and his, too, though he didn't know how all this would work. He wanted to ask if she knew what to do next, but didn't want to bring it up at the moment. Besides, when he glanced over, she was asleep. Good. That was the best thing at the moment.

When they arrived, he carried her into the house. She was awake now, but feigning sleep, which was fine. He lowered her onto the couch and stayed there with her. She gave up the pantomime and wept into his shoulder. In addition to her deep sorrow, another sensation hit him, one he couldn't place at first. When he figured it out, he couldn't help but let out a gasp.

"What?" Andi asked through her tears.

"Nothing. It's not important right now. I'll tell you later, okay?"

She nodded and buried her head back into him.

It was pretty momentous, but not for right now. The chastity spell was gone. Even if he wanted to act on it, and he didn't, she wouldn't. He only wanted to be there for her.

Without warning, a man stood behind them. He was a necromancer of immense power, more power than either Derian or the pirate captain, but unlike those two, Ben didn't feel anything menacing about him. At least not at the present. He held evil inside of him, but it wasn't danger.

Andi noticed, too, but she didn't wait for any introductions. She leaped off the couch and transformed into her half-dragon form. She could again go all the way dragon, but he wasn't sure if she didn't because she was so used to going halfway in the Realm of Nightmares, or if she wanted more maneuverability in this relatively small space. While he was happy to see she could jump out of her comatose state so easily, he didn't like the anger burning inside of her. Yes, this man, this necromancer, was here uninvited, but he hadn't done anything to warrant such hate.

"Benjamin and Alexandria," the man said, "we meet at last." If he thought Andi's behavior strange, he didn't show it.

"Do you know him?" Ben asked Andi. Obviously not in person, since he said this was their first meeting, but maybe her parents had talked about him. That could explain her reaction.

"No, but he's evil. I can feel it."

"Yeah, but not quite." He couldn't explain it much better than that. He dug deeper and found his first impression to be correct. There was evil in the man, but he wasn't evil. It didn't make sense, but that's what he sensed.

"I always felt excluded when Cassandra and Leon talked like that," the man said with a grin. "And that sentiment hasn't changed."

"Who is this guy?" Andi asked.

At the same time Ben said aloud, "Who are you?"

The man bowed his head, and Ben took in his appearance. He stood about the same height as Ben, and looked to be about the same age as Cassie and Lee, though he gave an internal wince at that thought. The man had short brown hair, brown eyes, and a neatly trimmed goatee. Ben knew next to nothing about fashion, but this guy's jeans and light grey t-shirt, to say nothing of his faux-hiking boots, looked fancy and expensive.

"I apologize." He addressed them both. "My name is Felix, and I'm a necromancer. The Dragon Council, at least a portion of it, sent me here to help. I wish it could come at a better moment, or at least wait a few days to allow you two to mourn, but they feel we can't wait even another hour. If you'll allow it, I'd like to take you under my wing, become your master. Everyone's told you of the potential you hold, but they don't know the half of it. I'd like to truly bring you alive." He nodded to Andi. "Both of you."

"Ask him how he knew my parents," Andi said. Ben couldn't believe the anger welled up inside of her. This went beyond her grief. Was it possible that everyone, himself included, had overlooked her as the catalyst of evil? No, he couldn't believe that. Besides, he needed to focus on the here and now.

"Why should we trust you?" he asked this man, Felix. "And how did you know Cassie and Lee?"

"First off, I offer my condolences. To you both, but mostly, Alexandria, to you. I know too well the pain of watching one's parents murdered in front of you. It's what spurred me to take up the mystical death arts. But that's a story for another time, as is how I knew Leon and Cassandra. Just know that we were friends in the centuries before you were born, Alexandria. We had many adventures together." Felix had a momentary wistful look on his face. "Yes, many adventures indeed."

Andi transformed back to her human self. "You never said why we should trust you." The scowl on her face made even Ben wince.

Felix motioned to Ben. "Scan me. Tell us I'm who I say I am."

Ben concentrated, but got the same reading he'd already had.

"You're evil, but you're not. I mean, I can sense evil inside of you, but I can also tell it doesn't control you. Or something like that."

"It's a good superficial reading," Felix said, "but try harder."

He nodded and gave it another shot, but got the same thing. "I don't understand."

"Tell yourself what you want to look for," Felix said. "You're over-thinking it, making it more difficult than it is."

Andi growled in a voice closest to her dragon voice he'd ever heard from her when she was human. "He's already tried and couldn't do it. Back the hell off!"

Ben looked at her, and their heads exploded in agony. "Andi, I love you, and I know you're devastated right now, but, please, lose the 'tude. At least until we know what's going on."

"Fine," she said, though her voice proved it was anything but. They disconnected, and the pain stopped.

Felix gave them a grin. "I feel excluded that way, too, but not nearly as much. It looks painful."

"As bad as it looks," Ben said, "it feels worse." Andi uttered a reluctant grunt of agreement.

"So tell me," Felix said, "can you trust me?" He put his arms out to his side as if he were opening his soul to Ben.

This time Ben wasn't content to let his powers wash over Felix, but he pushed them deep into the man, trying to ferret out what information he needed. While most of his probes were nudged away, he did manage to get enough to satisfy him that Felix was here to help, and had the best intentions for him and Andi.