Dragon Born Read online

  Grinning, he didn’t speak, the slightest nod and I followed him. I used this time to tune into Luke myself, having shared our life force together I knew I should be able to trace him.

  Walking to the back of the cave, the walls sloping to the floor, another thin slit which led down into the sea. Triton, without hesitating, jumped down, bobbed back up a few minutes later.

  “It’s cold, but it leads to another cave,” he held up his arm for me to take.

  Feeling my feet grounded on the floor, I willed the fire to flow through me, it seemed since Lucius did his spell, I’d let that slip. I needed to be consciously aware of it, for it for now to keep it consistent.

  Dropping down into the sea, the icy water splashing my skin, my fears soon wore off. Now I was concentrating on the light inside me, weird as hell, in that pitch darkness I was my own torch, a golden yellow glow emanating from my limbs, I thought I picked up Luke’s scent, but more than that, I just sensed him, like instinct.

  Triton, I guessed had used his sense of smell but me, I wasn’t kidding, in shock I’d let that wizened old pagan God push me around, no more. I didn’t want to keep running to others for help, if they are right and there were bigger monsters coming, I needed to get my shit together. Fast.

  Guided by Triton, I swam hard against the currents, holding my breath and focusing on the fact that it wouldn’t be long until I found Luke. The heat helped keep my mind strong, being unable to breathe under a cave is scary shit, but I knew Triton had my back, what my mind realized in those moments was that it was ok to ask for help, we can’t do everything ourselves. My mind raced over thinking about everything, anything except... I can’t bloody breathe. How long are we going to be underwater...

  Gasping for air, my over-active mind shutting up for a moment, I came up in yet another cave, relieved to see a dash of sunlight gleaming through, quickly assessing a ledge to grab onto, hauled myself up alongside Triton.

  For a moment my legs and body froze, my heart drumming against my chest.

  On the stone floor, crumpled, bleeding and chained, Luke...

  But rather than rush to him, I looked around, saw a large jug and a cup. Tasting it, water, I handed it to Triton to make sure, he did the same and nodded and then I went to Luke.

  Carefully I pulled him up, his body freezing, ridges from his dragon- animal pierced through his skin, he’d obviously tried to shift but had been stuck in-between. Blood and broken skin, sores were broken alongside the dragon ridges and slowly, ever so slowly, I saw the heat from my light tingle through him.

  Triton held out Luke’s arm, forcing the shackle open with a strength I’d never seen, I guessed he’s got that from his dad. Then delicately he did the other arm, then Luke’s feet.

  He pulled out a pouch from his bag, dropping some dried herbs into the cup and waited without words.

  Lethargically Luke came around, his skin feeling warmer under my hands and blinking as his mind made sense of the new situation.

  His wrists and ankles, red, raw and sore from the chains, his eyes suddenly wide open, startled, he grunted not knowing if this was real or imagined.

  “I heard you, you were here... then, then you went! I thought he’d killed you?” His voice gravelly, weak.

  Now tears from my eyes, I choked, “He tried my love, but you kept me going. This is Triton, a sea God. See, many have come to help you. You’re free now, and safe but we must leave this place.”

  Quietly, Triton handed Luke the cup, “Here, drink this. I’ve added some herbs that will give you strength, a bit of marine magic if you will, my own blend. Then we must go, swim back out of here, I have my men waiting for us.”

  Luke took the cup, looking from me to Triton, his hands shaking and downed the drink quickly. Both Triton and I helped him up, his bare feet, jeans ripped and torn, he looked beaten and bruised and cut to shreds.

  His eyes narrowing, angry, Triton pulled from his bag some cloth, some leaves and his face quite serious, spoke gently, “Hold these there,” and placed the leaves over Luke’s arm, which Teran had sliced numerous times by the looks of it.

  As he tended to Luke’s wounds, Luke looked to me, I couldn’t look away. I wanted to hold him, to kiss him but time... It was more important to get him out of there.

  His voice still shaky Luke asked, “Where’s Teran? Is he dead?”

  Before I could answer, “No, but he’s got his hands full right now. We have bigger concerns than a haggard old God who got too big for his boots. If he’s has any sense,” and looking to me, in between wrapping up Luke’s arm, “Which I doubt, he won’t cross us. Not unless he wants to face the wrath of the Titans... and my father, and, good luck with that! Right Luke Philips, that should hold and keep off infection until we reach Atlantis. This way...”

  Luke went to speak but thought better of it, get out that’s the imminent thing.

  “Hold your breath, but don’t worry if you falter, I can breathe both on land and in water, so unless you’re a prude, if you run out of breath mouth to mouth will be provided,” Triton advised.

  Luke’s eyes widened, Triton lightened the mood, “It doesn’t mean we’re dating or anything, or that I fancy you, though you’re not bad!” he sniggered and plopped into the water waiting for us to join him.

  The swim back was easier, for me at least, knowing Luke was safe and we were leaving, though I didn’t want to go back to Atlantis.

  On the other side, we climbed out, Triton giving Luke a hand who was weak but better with the herbal remedy, without that I wondered if he’d have made it out.

  Tritons chariots and soldiers waited, Luke gasped, “Are those hippocampi?”

  Smiling, Triton answered, “You know the name, I am impressed Luke! Yes, my father’s horses see.”

  “Triton, I am truly grateful for your help, but now I want to return home, to my home, on land,” Luke murmured.

  His brows knitted together, “Of course you do, you both do but for now, at least you need to come with us. Your friends, Ava and Elijah, the other dragon shifters have been taken, we think we know where. There is a war brewing. Not from Teran, not from us, though we understand why. Something has awakened the old Gods, the monsters of the deep, but come we need to leave, now...”

  I heard a call and turning around saw Conor on another chariot heading our way.

  Smiling, thank God he was safe, alive. Lucius was with him and the Selkies followed in their seal form.

  “Marcus and Sabian will be up there, though, in the bungalow?” I called loudly.

  “Grinning, Lucius answered, pointing “They’re over there, watching now.”

  “Wonderful...” Triton grunted under his breath and as we got into the chariot, he turned his horse, or hippocampus, towards Marcus and Sabian.

  After catching Sabian and Marcus up as briefly as possible, Triton suggested they come with us after all, along with the Selkie to discuss the capture of our friends, who he believed had taken them and the consequences of Teran’s sudden reign of terror, or rather the real reason behind it.

  Both were eager to experience this and Marcus flew Sabian lightly onto another of the Triton’s chariots.

  A hollow scream echoed behind us, “Teran!” I said.

  But we didn’t look back and charged forward to Atlantis.

  Broken Legends.

  Emma

  How does fire burn underwater? Magic, twisted, dark and old but as we approached above remains of this city, it floated like buoys alongside bodies, both animals and immortals. Or would be immortals if not for the dark magic...

  Mermen floated, horror written on their deceased faces, lifeless bodies floated alongside dolphins, hundreds maybe thousands of fish.

  Letting out a wail, Triton covered his face. I took the reigns as the horses startled, came to a halt.

  Bits of the city, broken statues bobbed, suggesting that this had just happened, moments earlier. Had we not stopped to talk to Marcus, we, too, would have been caught in this.

 
; A bolt of nausea shot through me, my free hand gripped Luke’s tightly, he stumbled in shock and twisted slightly in the small chariot that usually had two, now three squeezed in. I let go of Luke and pulled Triton to me.

  I said nothing as words now were empty, meaningless and even though I silently swore vengeance, that would be of no comfort to him, if anything it would only highlight his loss, his fury.

  Taking the reins now with both hands, I turned the horses, the others did the same, terror and loss on their faces and Triton called, “Olympus!” His voice trembling.

  All I knew was that Olympus was in Greece, somewhere but his steeds knew the command and standing wide legged, leaning forward we charged at a speed so fast it was almost hard to breathe.

  As we travelled across the ocean, the air became warmer, weaving past coastlines then back over the waves, eventually the horses slowed. Before us acrid land, the vegetation sparse but filled with brightly coloured birds, as I looked up butterflies danced and bobbed along the harbour shore, which to be fair was just a landing dock.

  Instinctively pulling alongside the shore, the horses waited as we stepped up, Triton patting the neck of his horse, then they trotted off along the shore line.

  “I’m keeping them here, they’re not safe out there. You have now entered the home of the Gods. If we’re not safe here, then all is lost, for everyone.

  Sweat immediately formed on the back of my neck, the sun’s rays a welcome change after so much cold and wet, Luke looked better but weary.

  Dark circles cut in around his eyes, his face gaunter and a tiredness that was deeply etched, weary, he looked like someone who’d lost hope and didn’t quite believe yet that there was some.

  So our little troupe trudged up the dry rocky path, looking around in the distance olive trees grew in abundance and weaving our way inland, the trees canopied us from the beating rays of the sun. The path became smaller, surrounded by a forest on either side and in the distance, looming mightily stood Mount Olympus, seat of the Gods. Involuntarily I sighed, it looked miles away, and Luke and I had had enough!

  Lucius spun around, grinning, spoke, “Hey, I have a pouch or two left, want me to...”

  “Yes! Yes please!” I said before he’d even finished. Looking up at the mountain, thick forests around its base, but the path up was steep, and a smattering of snow lay on top of the peaks.

  Triton and his men and Lucius with, Marcus and Conor, both towering over the mermen, turned around, “You have another way? It will take hours on foot, I myself have only visited once before with my father,” Triton asked, his voice shaky.

  “I hope so, though the pouches got wet,” he rummaged in his little back-pack, pulled one out along with the tiny copper bowl, “Ah, my lighter... defunct. Luke, Emma, can either of you?”

  “Yes, I will,” I replied quickly.

  “Triton, I need you to see exactly in your mind’s eye where we are to land, then everyone gathers round me in a circle. Keep it tight, don’t break it. I should have us up there in a moment.”

  “I’m not sure, is this devilry? Only the Gods...”

  Lucius cut Triton off, “Well, no actually, not only the Gods, demons, too. Look, it will take hours and hours to walk up there, your home is wrecked, God knows what lies out there and as for Luke, and the rest of us... we’ll do this. It’s quite safe. I think.”

  Triton looked resigned, no contest.

  I channelled the light within, until I felt a hot ball of light above my palms, gasps from the mermen as they watched. Lucius held the tiny pouch that had at least now dried out until it caught alight, dropped it in the bowl, and like a charmed snake, an emerald green wisp of smoke danced fiercely from it, whipping up fast, boom!

  Gasping, the sudden altitude change caught us off guard, and the coolness of the breeze. Wobbling for a few seconds, the nausea I felt didn’t concern me now, though Luke had gone an odd shade of green. Mutterings from the others, but they soon turned around, seeing what lay before us.

  Just above here, up the rocky path before us stood a huge temple which looked ancient and ruined but Triton announced, “We’re here!”

  Blurting out I said, “What, are we going to go in and pray?”

  He said nothing, continuing to walk into the place which was littered with tourists who seemed completely oblivious to our presence.

  Huge Grecian pillars, worn with age, their archways crumbling in places revealed a large room, all open to the elements, some slight paintings on the walls, mostly deteriorated away. There was nothing here. An old temple, a ruin, magnificent, yes but derelict. Biting down my anger, I watched wondering why the hell we were here.

  In the centre of the temple, a massive circular stone altar of sorts, plain with no markings but an odd bronze looking device on it. Triton strode right up to it, pulled out a large bronze key that he’d been wearing under his top. I hadn’t seen it, obviously he’d kept it under his shirt, now he placed it in the rough lock and turned. Grating in the old lock, the noise made me shudder, stun my ears, wrinkling his face as he used all his strength to turn it.

  Spinning, I steadied myself against Luke whose eyes looked ready to pop out of his head. Whizzing around us, a strong wind brushed my legs, my body felt like I was spiralling through space, Lucius and Marcus hooted, in a few seconds we seemed to be in a different world.

  Same place but new. Glistening silver statues of Greek heroes kneeling, reaching high to the immense ceiling lining the walls just as in Atlantis.

  Robed men and women strode calmly unperturbed by us, aside from a few glances and smiles.

  Losing no time, Triton however rushed out of this room whilst we all followed going up another statue laden corridor which led to an opening of a dome shaped chamber.

  Inside sat an array of men and women, it was later that I discovered by Lucius they were the first of the immortals, the Titans direct descendants of Kronos and Gaia, mother and father of creation.

  And it showed, Zeus, I guessed by his demeanour, huge powerful spirit blue eyes so light, like the skies he commanded, his arms looked as big as me, hair and beard cloud white, his toga covering half his chest, slung over one side, and wrapped with gold braid at his waist, it reached his feet. Unlike the classical depictions and his white hair, he looked young, ethereal, almost angelic in a warrior sort of way. He was talking to one beside him, resting his chin on his fist. Beside him Athena and Apollo, tall, elegant otherworldly with a beauty that was stark and dangerous.

  Athena’s hair reached her waist, thick, rich and curly, her toga as blue as Zeus’s eyes, wrapped with a belt of such bright gold that it glimmered. Apollo, dark curly hair that almost hugged his streamline face, sharp nose and plump lips, breath-taking in his beauty, naked except for a white toga wrapped around his waist. They stood eyeing us without expression like living statues, then Zeus spoke, his voice echoed around this huge chamber, “How is it that these... beasts have been allowed to enter Olympus, my home!” he yelled, his voice reverberating around the place.

  Eyeing me, Conor, Sabian and Luke, sneering instinctively we stepped back... shattering any courage I’d built up.

  “Come now, Triton has brought them and you know very well why,” Apollo spoke softly, his voice like a cool breeze compared to Zeus’s temper.

  “They are brutal, mindless beasts, a punishment on mortals and so Apollo, I ask again, why?” Zeus spat.

  Anger surged through me, “We are not all brutes! Myself, my community, we do not harm others, not man nor beast! Yes, there are some that do, but don’t mistake all of us for the traits of a few!”

  His eyes grew small, snarling, Athena interrupted, “Zeus is referring to Lycaon, the first of the species who was indeed barbaric.”

  Standing as tall as I could in a room full of giants, “My family does not come from your line of generations, they come from the twelfth-century, from the Black Forest...”

  Zeus interrupted, his voice loud and strained, he bellowed like thunder, “I created that
line and every line since, I created your kind, your species... and so you say you do not kill, I find that difficult to believe at best. And I know why you have come, you and your dragon friend, though Luke I am astonished to see any of your kind left. Unfortunately, you are now the last of it, your friends are gone, I do not see them anymore, nor do my seers, but not at the hands of the Leviathan. No, a fate much worse, a fate that now even we alone cannot stop. Thousands of years ago we defeated this monster but then, in those times we had many thousands of followers, of believers in us and Athena here, her power almost matched mine. But now we have only a handful of believers and without faith nothing can be achieved. So, Triton it is with a heavy heart we saw your home destroyed, your father is lost, and yet there is less to nothing that we can do.”

  Zeus slumped back in his throne, resting his chin on his fist, his eyes empty, silence fell heavy on us...

  Sighing, Athena muttered, “Look, Emma can help. She has the celestial gift of light, I think that and the help of your lightning bolts, Zeus, charged with that could, maybe take down, Typhon. We have to try?”

  “Who is Typhon?” I asked.

  “Oh,” Lucius grimaced. “The father of all monsters, which means if he has awakened, no doubt summoned by Gaia, then all the other monsters are awake as well. He is darkness, a force beyond recognition, blocking out the sun, the sky with his black wings, a creature so fierce that these Gods here and the Goddess had to wrestle last time to cage him. But yes, possibly with your power combined with Zeus, if Luke shifted? I could conjure up something, something to trap him...” Lucius rolled his lips, his eyes glazed as he thought about this.

  “And you think Typhon has my father?” Triton looked broken, his eyes watery, forehead wrinkled, “Typhon then, he wants to bargain with my father’s life?”