It was as if she had gripped my heart in her frail hands.
“How did you deal with such worries?” I asked almost breathlessly.
“I was ashamed of them at first, so I kept them to myself.” Her gaze grew distant as if she were reliving her memories right here and now. “My father is a very important man in the human world, and my mother a very important woman. I knew that both my parents wanted me to do great things…I wanted to do great things, but everyone has their own definition of great. When I decided that I wanted to help those who weren’t as fortunate as I was, they told me that they couldn’t be more proud of me.” A small smile touched her lips. “It was quite surprising. They did use their wealth to help other people, but their careers revolved around their personal skills, ambitions, and desires. I thought they would want me to become a prominent political and or business figure in human society, and when I asked them about it, my father told me I was meant for something else. He said that the business and political worlds were filled with corruption and always would be. Even someone as compassionate as me would become tainted by it. He couldn’t bear for that to happen. He knew helping people was in my nature. That’s why he let me choose my own path.” She stared at me right in the eye. “Can you say I’ve dishonored him?”
A very interesting question, I thought.
“You did as he requested,” I said at last. “So I cannot say you dishonored him.”
“And if he ordered me to become a prominent political and or business figure?”
“Then you would have dishonored him.”
“And if I did honor him, then countless abused women, countless hurt and starving people would be without help.” She smiled, and it was not a friendly expression. “I thought you hated human selfishness and greed.”
Now I was growing angry, and yes, unnerved. This human was having the same negative effects on me as last time, and I did not like it one bit.
“I think I’ve provided you with enough information on me for now,” she said. “I want to know something about you.”
“What do you wish to know?”
“I want to know about your father.”
I did not know why, but her question caused a prickle of genuine fear to settle in my minuscule heart. However, within a moment, I answered it. She listened attentively and did not say a word until I was finished.
“Eulathrin told me that your sacred grounds enable you to communicate with the kings of the past, and that’s one of the reasons why you’re so determined to protect them.”
“I would protect them if that were the only reason,” I said. Passion laced my tone. “No dragon king can afford to lose the guidance of our fathers. I would not be the king I am now if I did not hear my father’s wisdom after I took the throne.”
“But does he really guide you, or does he just tell you what to do?”
“He always offers me wisdom I cannot ignore.”
“But do you do everything he tells you to?”
“Yes.”
“Then who really leads the dragons? You or him?”
I stood up, looming over, and I was pleased to see that now it was she who was unnerved. “Make no mistake, human. You are addressing the king of all dragons. If you ever delude yourself into believing you are not, then rest assured, I will correct you.”
The fear in her eyes remained, but also a stubborn determination. I was shocked when she stood up to face me.
“King Tarasque, did your father ever tell you to do something against your judgment?”
“Never. I once wished to do something against his guidance. I would have refused altogether after he forbade me, but in the end I was forced to…” I trailed off.
“What was that?” she asked.
I didn’t know whether to admire her persistence or be annoyed by it. In truth, the answer to her question was a humiliating one, and I would not be shamed before any creature, least of all a slip of a mortal girl.
Then why do you want to tell her?
I knew why.
I was forming an attachment to this human.
The notion was not surprising. I had formed attachments to other worlds and other species long before I admitted my desire to explore and interact. Now that one of those creatures was in my possession, it was only natural that the attachment would become more profound. My father could not find out. If he did, he would never permit me to speak to him again. And I could not lose his guidance. I would keep the girl; I would merely ensure that she did not hinder my duties as king.
I stared into her eyes, as blue as the sky on a crisp fall day, but as fiery as the tail of the phoenix queen. She challenged me while keeping a reasonably respectful tongue. She was intelligent. I would never grow bored while in her company.
She was mine forever.
*********
Chapter 9
Chaos screams from every corner
Entwined they make a single joiner
Which web will strangle its own brother?
A tragic tale one day another
Blackhole
For someone so young, Mercedes was certainly important in the human world. Her disappearance caused an instant uproar in not just the local community, but throughout the United States. Her influence was so broad, even politicians from other countries were sending their condolences to her parents, and promising they would do everything they could in order to assist the search party.
My father was pleased.
Chaos, chaos, chaos. That a single human could cause so much chaos. Do you hear it, my child? Do you see it?
Nadine and Sam, Mercedes’ two human friends were quietly consoling each other as they walked to school. Both of them looked as if they hadn’t slept in days.
“This is all my fault,” Nadine said, covering her mouth to keep from sobbing. “I should have told someone…”
“You trusted her,” Sam said. He put an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “You can’t blame yourself for trusting a friend.”
Yes, Titlacauan. I hear it. I see it.
Blackhole.
I opened the link, careful to keep my emotions under control. But perhaps that was not necessary. There was so much anguish, anger, and fear pouring from the other end, I had little doubt Shadow would notice my emotions.
Two of Mercedes’ friends have said that the human Thomas encountered Mercedes twice in an area called Harvard Lane. It’s about a mile away from her home.
Brief pause.
Thank you, my friend. You have found our first lead.
He is thanking you, my child.
Continue to observe. We must have more if we are to bring our evidence before the royal family.
He loves you.
Blackhole, are you well?
He is asking if you are well.
I’m fine, Shadow.
Another pause.
We will find her, my friend. And we will make the one who took her pay.
The link was cut. A good thing. I may have gone mad if it was kept intact any longer.
The vampires will have their evidence soon enough, dear child. Even more than they bargained for. In the meantime, why don’t you keep the little key company for a while?
My father’s glee was palpable, yet I could not hate him.
When his voice was silent in my mind, I stared at the retreating forms of Nadine and Sam.
No, I thought. You are never to blame for trusting a friend.
***
Mercedes
Night fell over the golden siren city. Eulathrin told me that if I proved myself trustworthy, she would see about taking me out as soon as possible. It was a refreshing thought. I made sure to do exercises (the room was large enough for me to do several back-flips without fear of knocking anything over), but it wasn’t the same as breathing fresh air. At least Tarasque satiated my need for that for the time being.
Oh, he did much more than that, my inner voice reminded me.
I honestly hadn’t expected him t
o answer my question, but he had. His answer told me many things. Despite being the king of the dragons, he was quite different from the rest of his kind. He wanted to visit other worlds for the sake of exploration and interaction, not to find treasure. His father also possessed a very powerful hold over him. It was clear Tarasque loved and respected his father, but when he spoke of him, I could sense something that bordered on an obsessive need to please and to make proud. To be wanted. Tarasque expressed the maturity of an adult, but there was a part of him that remained a child.
You could use it to your advantage, my inner voice continued, low and seductive. He likes you. He wants to be around you. You give him something his own people cannot give him. Continue to intrigue him, and he is more likely to do what you want. You need him if you are to keep the vampires safe. To keep your love safe.
The voice wasn’t evil. In fact, it was very much correct. My goal was to keep people I loved safe. But to take advantage of Tarasque’s weakness without even considering other options was something that was not in my nature. He was a victim like me. He had no choice but to obey this Necoc Yaotl if he wanted to protect what he loved.
Necoc Yaotl. That name sounded vaguely familiar. I would need to wrack my brains, but I knew I could remember where I had heard it before. Perhaps that was what I should be focusing on right now. If I knew the identity of the god blackmailing Tarasque, I would gain an idea as to what we were all dealing with.
A familiar rustle came from the washroom. I pressed my ear to the door to ensure Eulathrin or Tarasque was not outside before throwing back the curtains.
“Blackhole…” I embraced the Evanescence, welcoming the flood of reassurance that promised me that everything would turn out all right in the end. “Are you all right? Is Shadow all right?” I put my hand on his head and his voice entered my mind.
He’s sick with worry.
Can you tell him I’m all right?
There was no answer. But Shadow knowing the true state of my welfare was irrelevant compared to Tarasque’s plans for the vampires.
Blackhole, listen to me. The dragons are planning to declare war against the vampires. The king is sending scouts right now to collect information. You have to tell Shadow!
This time, Blackhole actually shrunk away from me.
“Blackhole…?”
The low, pitiful whine the emitted from him confirmed what I knew the first time he visited me here.
“You…you can’t tell Shadow anything…?”
He moved closer, allowing me to touch him again.
I’m sorry.
“Why not!?”
I can’t.
Disappointment and despair flooded me. The vampires would get no warning. The dragons would declare war, and I knew it would be slaughter. Unless the vampires did posses magic…no. If the vampires possessed magic, Xavier would never have hesitated to use it on Shadow or I. It would be slaughter.
I looked up at Blackhole, the trusted companion of my love, and all of my previous understanding vanished.
“Do you have any idea what the dragons will do to the vampires? To Shadow!? Do you want to see him killed? You’re betraying him!”
That leathery mouth twisted and turned down.
I have to obey my father.
I blinked. “Your father…what are you…?”
I’m sorry.
Before I could respond, he reached out with his tail. The tip brushed against my neck. I saw the light reflect off those odd, feather-like scales before he vanished.
***
Leyan
It was rare for females to receive important assignments. Direct assignments from the king even more so. But I would do my duty as a dragon warrior.
His Majesty ordered my comrades and I to investigate a race called vampires. He told us the information we gathered would prove vital for upcoming war with this species. That excited me a great deal. We haven’t had war for so long. Dragons took what they wanted, and they killed whoever got in the way, but war was something no dragon in my lifetime had ever experienced. Perhaps my respect for King Tarasque would grow. He was my lord and I would lay down my life for him, but he was also the mildest king we have ever had, and he never seemed to value treasure the way a dragon should. Apparently, he was changing for the better.
The assignment itself did not prove to be challenging. In fact, the only real challenge was getting used to being in such tiny, weak (so very weak) bodies. My respect for the king increased when I realized he had spent days in a human body without reverting back to his natural form.
A human body. In the human world.
All portals dragons could create drew their magic and direction from the Mirror, and unfortunately, the Mirror refused to provide the king with the location of the vampire world. But King Tarasque assured us all that the vampires had close ties to the human world, meaning they had ways of getting in and getting back home. We merely had to find a vampire and get him to talk.
***
Nadine
I picked at my food in the lunchroom, trying as hard as I could not to glance at the holographic poster of Mercedes’ bright, smiling face that hovered over the wall in front of me. Those posters were tacked all over Morgana. And the town.
And the state. And across America. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were tacked on the walls of schools in Switzerland.
I glanced around. Nearly everyone was speaking in hushed tones, which complemented the heavy fog of solemnity and foreboding that had started to haunt the school ever since Mercedes disappeared. Lindsey and her fellow bubble-headed cheerleaders were constantly consoling themselves with hugs and reassurances that she would come back safely. Catherine was among them, but unlike the others, she seemed inconsolable. That was unacceptable to me. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I liked Catherine. To survive what she had took great strength of character. But someone she loved needed her right now. She needed to do something like the rest of us.
Be gentle, I warned myself as I approached her once school was over. Don’t run your mouth like a broken motor. Don’t be accusing. Mercedes always said you needed to work on your tact.
“Catherine.”
She turned around, doe-like eyes immediately going wide.
“Oh, Nadine.” Her small voice trembled slightly. “Hello.”
I fell in step beside her. “How are you holding up?”
She shook her head. “I can barely eat or sleep.”
Calm. Be tactful.
“Look, I know it’s hard. I’m just as worried as you. But everyone in this school is pitching in. Mr. Petrie and his class are building ten more websites every day, Taylor and the football team won’t stop making those fliers…anything we can do to get the word out, we’re doing. If you’re her friend, I think it’s time you’ve joined one of these groups instead of just moping around.”
“But I’m not!” she insisted, looking betrayed that I would even suggest such a thing. “I’ve been at Women’s Aid practically every minute of every day when I’m not at school! Everyone there is trying to spread the word, me included. Mercedes is the greatest friend anyone could ever wish for. I’m not gonna sleep until she’s found. Not for real.”
I nodded, but that didn’t stop the flush of shame that rose in my face. “I’m sorry, Catherine. I shouldn’t have accused you.”
She bit her lip before offering a tentative smile. “I don’t blame you. I know how I must look to everyone else. I would think I was just moping if I could see me.”
A lot of people would dismiss Catherine’s ability to forgive right away as a weakness, but I knew then and there that it was her greatest strength.
“Hey,” I said. “Are you going to Women’s Aid right now?”
She nodded. “I’ve got a lot of work to do. For Mercedes.”
“Why don’t I come with you?” I offered. “Sam’s off doing his own thing right now, and maybe I can offer support so we can find Mercedes and get our homework done on time.”
She smi
led again, and this time it was bright. “That would be great. I’ll show you everything we’re doing.”
They were doing a lot, I soon found out. And when I say a lot I mean a lot. Posters, interviews, Facebook, Twitter, you name it. The effort of Women’s Aid alone could have doubled the original manhunt. I found myself a bit overwhelmed, but I was so grateful for Mercedes’ sake. Like in school, my appearance also made me an instant celebrity among the occupants since Sam and I were the only ones who had actually seen Mercedes’ kidnapper with our own eyes. Okay, there was no solid evidence that that Thomas guy was her kidnapper, but I knew it in my soul. So did Sam. I greatly enjoyed the attention I was getting from everyone, and hated myself for it. I would give it all up in a moment if it would bring Mercedes home.
Six hours later, it was ten-thirty at night. Catherine and I had a chance to work on homework and we actually managed to get all of it done.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starved,” I said wearily as I packed up my books and notes. Both of us hadn’t eaten since lunch at school. “What’s say we go get a bite before heading home and crashing in our beds?”
“We can get something here,” Catherine insisted. “And we can sleep here, too. There are plenty of spare rooms and bathrooms with private showers.”
“Look, Catherine.” I held up my hands. “We’ve gotten a lot done today. We need a few minutes to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. My mind feels fried right now. I need to be outdoors for at least a little while.”
It took some further gentle persuading, but Catherine eventually relented. I knew I shouldn’t feel bad for having basic human needs like food, exercise, and sleep, but the thought of what that bastard could do to Mercedes twisted in my soul every time I thought about it. So I resolved to get it over with as soon as possible.
We both went to the Starbucks down Grover Avenue, and I was surprised to see a familiar face there.
“Taylor?” I blurted without thinking.
He looked up from his coffee, and despite everything, I actually felt a few butterflies in my stomach stir. To this day, I still couldn’t understand how Mercedes could turn down a guy this hot.