Marked by the Dragon King (6 page)

He pulls back to give me that smug look he always wears when he satisfies me, but the cockiness evaporates and his eyes fill with panic and fear.

“No,” he chokes, grabbing my hands. “No!”

Oh, God. Not now. I feel the cool stone floor fade away, replaced by the warmth and softness of my bed. “I’m so sorry,” I murmur.

“Lindy, please don’t leave me,” he says, kissing me frantically. “Not yet. Don’t go.”

“I can’t stop it.”

Our eyes are locked when I slip away. His breaths become rapid and shallow when he can’t see me anymore, the hands that were wrapped in mine clenching into fists as he howls.

A basilisk answers him, bursting into the chamber and attacking full force. Asher growls as he rips it limb from limb effortlessly. There’s a bloody fang in his hand when it’s over, but it won’t be there for long. He howls when it disappears and collapses to his knees, groaning as he crawls back toward me. I’m not there for him. I always have to suffer a few moments of watching him alone, but I don’t think it’s ever lasted this long.

“No,” he sobs, sliding his bloody hands over the stone floor through my body. “Lindy…” I reach forward and try to touch his face even though I know it’s pointless.

My phantom touch doesn’t soothe him like it usually does. His jaw hardens and his face fills with rage as he roars out that sound that’s far too powerful for a human to make. A basilisk’s call tempts him and his head whips to the side, but his eyes are as alert as ever. He’ll kill it just for the thrill this time, to alleviate some of the rage. And he’ll keep killing them over and over until I come back.

I try to fall back asleep once I find myself alone in my bed, but I can’t. The spell won’t work if you’re not really tired. The desire to dream just isn’t enough.

Chapter Eight

Back at work, Fee hovers silently while she hides in different sections of the library throughout the day, watching me from a distance but not approaching. Every time I see her down an aisle, I turn and walk away like she’s not there waiting for me. I feel a little guilty, but I can’t trust her. At the same time, I can’t stand the thought that I’m just a job to her. It hurts so much. I want to hurt her back.

As the last patrons leave the library and I start to lock up, I hear the twinkle of tiny bells and my keys are whisked away.

“So you’ve stooped to stealing my key ring now?” I ask angrily, jumping and trying to grab at the keys, but they are too high up.

“Melinda, you have to talk to me! I know you’re mad, but-”

“Mad?” I laugh bitterly. “I am
furious
. I’ve never been this pissed off in my entire life! Mad doesn’t cover it.” I turn away from her and walk towards the librarian’s station so I can grab the backup keys.

“I’m sorry Melinda. I just want to help you. I still want to be your friend, I
am
your friend.”

“A friend who lies.” I stop and spin around, pointing my finger accusingly at her. “You were never my friend. You've been spying on me for years! I’m nothing more than job to you.”

Her face puckers, tears bursting out of her tiny eyes as her wings began pulsing with color after color. If I push her much farther her magic could overload and something crazy will happen. The last time she boiled over, she turned my desk into a giant lizard. It took hours to fix.

“Fee, take a breath. It’s not the end of the world,” I say calmly, hoping that nothing will happen. “Just go find someone else to watch.” I snatch my keys from her.

“I can’t leave, Melinda. I am supposed to help you. I want to help you. I can’t just abandon you…” she laments.

Guilt bubbles up in my chest. I might not be able to trust her and she doesn’t deserve my forgiveness right now, but maybe she can start to earn it by helping me with something. Ash.

“What do you know about basilisks?” I ask. If Dragons are real, those wretched creatures might not be legends either. Ash said he killed the last one, but he could be wrong.

Perking up with the change in topic, she hurriedly responds. “They say that the basilisks used to terrorize the Underground. Now we just use them as scary monster tales to keep kids from wandering around in the catacombs at night. Why?”

“I think the key from the prophecy is a basilisk fang. The book that I found has this detailed drawing of one. It kind of, umm, glowed when I touched it…” I say, remembering the inferno. “In my dreams the Dragon King is fighting basilisks and trying to get a fang but they always disappear. He is kind of crazy about it actually.”

“There aren’t any remnants of basilisks in the Underground…” Fee says working some kind of magic with a blue glow. “They were hunted out of existence thousands of years ago. I just sent out a Locate spell and haven’t gotten anything back. They would be incredibly powerful magical objects and seriously protected.” She looks at me with failure etched on her tiny face.

Down here. What she said echoes in my mind. There can’t be any down here. Of course. The only place to search for one will be the one place that magic isn’t as strong.

“Fee, can you come Uptop?” I ask with inspiration and a plan forming in my head.

____________

At the entrance to the Underground, Fee and I are waiting for the Locate spell to return. Even though my magic is working, I still can only manage a few basic spells if I have a full charge, not that I understand what charges me up. After all the little spells I worked today cleaning up the plundered library, my magic is down to a tiny spark. The Locate spell would be easy enough within a small range but searching the entire city of Phoenix is no minor feat of magic. Fee’s power works differently than a witch’s. The moment we walk out of the Underground, her magic could become very chaotic. I’m not sure if this is going to work, but if there is a fang in this city I will find it.

Fee buzzes with energy. “There’s something up here,” she squeals in delight. “I can hold the location but you’ll have to navigate, and quickly.”

We already agreed that she would hide in my shoulder bag. I shift my books, sunglasses, and keys around so that she’ll have a vantage point out of the top. Her ride won’t to be comfortable, but at least she’ll be hidden from any nosy humans.

Walking as fast as I possibly can while listening to directions from the teeny voice in my purse, I make it to the spell’s location in just under an hour. Fee is magically drained. Her tiny wings droop and she pants trying to catch her breath.

“It’s… in… there.” She points to the large grey building in front of me before passing out from sheer exhaustion. It will be awhile before she’ll wake up. Damn. On my own.

The museum looms over us as I pay the front desk person and walk inside. The open ceiling and marble floors toss voices around in deep echoes as guides line up with two big school groups ready for a tour. One of the students shoves past me to get in line, muttering, “Move it lady,” under his breath. The pudgy little kid even has the audacity to turn around and flick me off as I stumble out of his way. Perfect. These rowdy brats will be good cover if I find the key. I stay close to their group, but far enough that I don’t have to deal with their nonsense.

I search display after display looking for anything that resembles a fang. Just when I am about to give up, I see it. Honestly I felt it before I saw it. It’s giving off a pulse of energy that grows stronger as I get closer. It’s in an arrangement of artifacts, propped up next to a piece of pottery that looks similar to the mortar and pestle we used in school. It’s labeled as a
Deer horn- For grinding seeds and herbs used for medicinal purposes.
I can see why they would think it was a deer horn. It’s too big to be anything else found in North America during that time period, well at least according to their version of history. Silly humans.

People shamble past me as I stare at the display, trying to think of someway that I can break the glass without anyone knowing. If only my magic was working in full force. Waiting for the last few people to file out of the room, I notice a woman wearing a hooded sweatshirt lurking in the corner. Normally, I wouldn’t pay much attention, but I can tell that she's trying to cast a spell, sensing the electricity crackling in the air as she releases it. I’m not close enough to tell what she cast, but I see disappointment all over her face and recognize the look of defeat. She can’t use magic either. I move to where I can watch her better. Is this another candidate? Is she trying to get the fang before me?

“Jax!” she whispers into her backpack. “Jax, I’m here but I don’t know what I’m looking for…” A small furry head pops up out of her backpack and scans the room with large green cat eyes, making brief eye contact with me before ducking quickly back into the bag.

They must have communicated in some way because now the girl is looking right at me. She tentatively makes her way over to where I’m standing. She lifts her hood while she walks and I can see that we have another thing in common, bright red hair.

“Hi!” she says enthusiastically with a friendly smile, warmth radiating off of her. I like her instantly despite my jealousy. I can’t help but wonder if she’s been with Ash, even if he doesn’t remember. “My name is Ruby. Jax says that we should help you. Jax is my cat. He won’t tell me what we’re looking for, though. Do you know?” All of this spills out of her mouth so fast than I can barely understand her.

“Melinda,” I say, shaking her hand. “Are you a witch?” I ask quietly, looking around to make sure no one can overhear us.

“Yep, Level 2. No real luck with magic though, obviously. I can hardly do my hair in the morning!” she laughs. If only I could be so light hearted about my magical inability. I chuckle as she pulls her fingers through her seriously tangled curls, getting her fingers stuck. Yanking them free she blows an escaped tendril out of her face and blushes. “Oops! Anyways,” she continues “Jax says…”

“Jax can speak for himself,” the cat interjects, poking his head out of the backpack. I have seen talking cats before in the Underground, so it doesn't shock me, but I am intrigued by how old he looks. His coat is dark grey with black stripes, the muzzle and top of his head coated in white. Magic cats don't usually live to see old age. “You’re looking for the key. I can feel that it’s in the room with us, but I don’t know what it is. We don’t have much time,” Jax says as he jumps out of her bag and onto the marble floor.

“What are you doing?” I exclaim. “I’m trying to be covert, people will definitely notice a talking cat running around.”

“Covert, huh? You set off quite a disturbance bringing your Guardian Uptop. I tracked her Locate spell and set Ruby here on your trail. We’re here to help,” he says with a low bow. I can’t help but grin and stifle a laugh. A cat bowing looks ridiculous. “We must hurry though. If I was able to detect your spell, anyone can. And we don’t want to have to deal with SIGMA up here with our magic lessened.”

“Great…” I say, wondering how they could possibly help me. Another witch that can’t use magic and a know-it-all cat. Quite the team.

Chapter Nine

“I can see that you already have the mark. That’s good. You’ll need it to be able to work the key,” Jax explains as he wanders off, looking around the room. “Ruby, don’t just stand there girl. Look around!” he admonishes Ruby with a quick swipe of his paw and she flushes in embarrassment. Why is he the one in charge here?

“I already know where the key is,” I inform them. Jax turns his bright green eyes on me and I see a flash of anger.

“Where?” he demands.

“How do I know I can trust you? You could be trying to get the key for yourself!” I glare at him. After Fee, I’m not sure if I can trust anyone.

“Look at my collar if you don’t believe me. Plus, if anyone without the mark tries to activate the key they would be burnt to ashes in a matter of seconds and you could just take it then.”

Twining his body between my legs, I reach down and twist the collar around. I can feel the power underneath my fingers, warm and tingly. A small tag dangles from the leather imprinted with the very same symbol that’s branded onto my leg. It glows red as I run my fingers across the metal.

“Do you trust me now?” He laughs and twists free from my grasp. “Where is the key?”

I show them the fang in the display. He shakes his head as if he’s having difficulty remembering something. “A fang you say…”

Ruby interrupts his musing, “I’ve seen you before, you know.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask, looking at her and trying to get a glimmer of recognition.

“In my dreams. I’ve seen you running through the tunnels. They don’t last very long, but the last thing that I see before I wake up is your face.”

I wonder if she’s seen anything else. “Was I doing anything other than, uh, running?”

“No, just running and I can feel your fear,” she admits and somehow I know it’s the truth. “In my dreams, I try to use magic and I can feel it start to work. I want to help you, but just before I can release a spell, you turn towards me and I wake up. Each time I have the dream, my fingers tingle like I was actually working a spell in my sleep. In fact, I can feel something when I look at you now. Like I could maybe cast a spell if I tried.”

“Ladies, if you’re quite done talking about your dreams, I’ve come up with a plan,” Jax interrupts with a sly look in his eyes.

It’s a decent plan, I suppose. He’s going to run ahead and get some of the kids to break a display in one of the rooms in front of us. Once the alarms are going off, the guards should start to chase him while we’ll shatter the glass in our display, grab the fang, and get out. He says he can cast a spell to ruin the video feed from our room so no one will hunt us down, but I’m skeptical. The chaos of the kids, the already broken glass, and the cat running through the museum should be enough of a distraction for us to get out. I can’t come up with anything better and there’s no way I’m leaving without the fang, so I agree.

“Ruby.” Jax turns towards her before setting off. “If it looks like Melinda won’t make it out of the building you will have to set up a distraction yourself.”

“Ooo, I can do that!” She claps her hands excitedly. She looks so much like a little kid that I can’t help but laugh. Her bubbly personality is infectious. “I was in a play once in school! I played a fainting damsel in distress. I could totally pull that off again,” she says confidently, throwing her hand to her forehead and feigning dizziness. It’s actually pretty convincing.

I smile approvingly and then mentally chastise myself.
Don't get attached Melinda
.
Look what happened the last time you trusted someone...

“Okay, let's do this now before the kids get too far ahead. Go do your kitty thing, Jax!” I say, trying to be humorous.

“I am not a kitty, girl. You should remember that.” If looks could kill, the glare he gave me would knock me dead. He prances off towards the group of kids, destruction in soft fuzzy form.

“Don't let him get to you,” Ruby says, seeing the mortified expression on my face. “I know it's weird being told off by a cat, but you get used to it.”

Sure enough, seconds later the sound of shattered glass is followed by the screeching of the alarm. Guards rushing past us into the next room provide our signal. It’s now or never.

I quickly undo the velvet ropes marking the security perimeter around the display and grab the pole they were clipped to. Doing my best impression of a baseball player, I swing hard at the glass and it shatters. Yes! That was exhilarating. I can feel my heart beating fast and adrenaline surges through me, giving me a heady high. I should break things more often.

Ruby calls from her watch point. “Hurry, I think they've caught him!”

I reach around the shards of glass and grab the fang. For a moment, the museum fades into oblivion and all I can see is fire. A powerful force rushes through my body, recharging my magic instantly. It's not completely full, but there's probably enough there for a few simple spells.

“Ruby!” I shout, bringing her attention back to me and signaling her to come on with a wave of my hand. I slide the fang into my bag carefully so I don't stab Fee in the process. Still groggy, she turns over and mumbles something incoherent before settling back in. I focus my magic as quickly as I can and cast a Distract enchantment on the bag. I can't tell if it worked or not, but I silently hope it did as we start to move towards the exit.

We join the crowds of people attempting to escape the ear piercing alarms. Security guards posted in the front wave people through quickly, occasionally checking bags. Shit! If they look in mine they will see a passed out Sprite and something that definitely belongs to them if my Distraction didn't work. I start to sweat as we approach.

Ruby grabs my arm and tucks her own underneath. “Play along, we shouldn't look so serious. It will attract attention.” While we wait in the line, we act as if we are good friends catching up. Why does this feel so natural? Even though we are making everything up to appear human to anyone who happens to overhear, it feels so nice to make small talk with someone. My heart strings soften and I can't help but think all the conversations that I’ve had with the unconscious Sprite in my bag. It couldn’t have all been bullshit. Perhaps Fee still is my friend...

When we’re next in line, Ruby starts to subtly wobble while walking towards the guard. He doesn’t seem to notice, his eyes squinting at my bag. I sense the Distraction enchantment start to dissipate, it’s just not strong enough. Crap.

“I don't feel so good,” Ruby says convincingly, blinking rapidly as she wipes nonexistent sweat from her forehead. The guard reaching for my bag quickly changes direction as Ruby falls to the floor right in front of him. A small crowd surrounds her as the guards attempt to get everyone back so Ruby can breathe. She gives me a quick wink and I smile, eagerly taking advantage of her distraction and walking right out the front door, unsearched bag in hand.

____________

Out on the sidewalk, I'm not sure if I should wait for Ruby and Jax or not. I look around the entrance. There's no sign of them. Muttering a quiet thanks towards the heavens, I jump on the train towards my apartment.

Once I'm home, I pull the fang out. Fee stirs as I gently set her on my couch cushion. I know I should take her back Underground, but I've got to get moving on the key. It's what Fee would want anyway, considering how involved she is with all of this.

Edgar pops up onto the coffee table and glares at Fee like she's a mouse he can eat. “Edgar, no!” I give him a slight pop on the nose as he takes a swipe at her. “You can't eat this one, Furball.”

I smile as I remember what happened when I called Jax a kitty. I can only imagine how he’d react to Furball. Crotchety old cat. Edgar stalks off to a corner where he can keep an eye on his non-edible prey as I pull the Dragon tome out from its hiding spot.

“Okay, Asher,” I murmur. “Here goes.”

I glance down at my worn jeans, suddenly feeling plain and inadequate. I’m usually wearing a beautiful dress when he sees me. I’m pretty sure my dream self has a thinner waist and perkier boobs, too. I scamper over to my closet and throw open the door, revealing my mediocre wardrobe. Hmm. This sundress looked pretty good on me when I tried it on at the store, but I’ve never worn it out. It still has the tags. I wonder how well I can walk in these heels I got at Goodwill. I’ve only ever worn them in my room.

What am I thinking? This isn’t a dream. I can’t wear second hand high heels and a flimsy dress. I’m probably going to be crawling around in a cave trying to find him, or running from some kind of monster. This is a boots, pants, and ponytail operation. I’m definitely bringing a flashlight. A weapon of some sort couldn’t hurt either, but I don’t really have anything. What else might I need? Rope, maybe? I should have stopped at a hardware store or something.

I look in the mirror when I’m done assembling my makeshift rescue pack. Asher won’t even recognize me. I look like an adventurer alright, but definitely not the sexy Laura Croft kind, more like second rate Indiana Jones. Maybe it’s for the best. This is who I actually am. Frizzy hair, ill fitting hand-me-down clothes, and a practical backpack.

I’m really going to see him. For whatever reason, I don’t even question if the fang will work, I just
know
. Everything will be different now. It will be real. And if he doesn’t want me, the real me, it will break my heart into a thousand pieces and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.

My heart slamming into my ribs, I settle back in on the couch, flipping open the cover and turning to the page with the drawing of the fang. I run my hand over the image and it glows, activating whatever enchantment is there. Curiously, the book starts to shake and the fang slides across the table. I let out a startled scream and back away.

The glowing intensifies and smoke starts to curl out of the book. I'm sure it's is going to catch fire if I don't do something, so I grab the fang and set it on the page, in line with the drawing. The shaking stops and a pulsing light emanates from the fang as it locks into place, black script flowing across the page. I try to read it, but it's moving too fast. The lights in my apartment flicker and surge, a light bulb explodes in the lamp next to me.

I can’t shake the image of Asher’s desperate eyes as he reaches out to me. Without thinking, my hand flies to the book, but I can't lift the fang off the page. My hand is stuck, I can't even unbend my fingers. Leaning forward again to see if anything has changed on the page, I find that the flowing script is now fixed in place. One word is glowing red and singes the top of my hand. A spell that I know I have to cast or I will cease to exist. If I'm not the one who was supposed to use this key I’ll be burned alive just like Jax said, but the brand on my thigh is throbbing and I’m certain it’s supposed to be me.

The heat circling my hand grows and demands its release. Blisters begin to form on my palm, but it doesn’t really burn, it just tingles. With this much magic flowing through me, gathering my focus is effortless. I have never even seen a spell this powerful before, but I know I can do this. Releasing the energy, I scream, “Portal,” and all I can see is the inferno.