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Using magic, Dragon's can send flares into the sky asking for help or warning others of danger.

--A Dragon Proverb

Chapter Sixteen

Ymithia landed just outside the Hatchling's Den; Cyndrithil was off hunting. She figured with all the running around Ymerc was doing, he would be famished.

While most parents would spout a gout of flames signaling their hatchling to come out, Ymerc was likely never taught this, seeing as how he was born outside the clan.

It had been years since she stepped inside, nostalgia washing over her. The torches still hung in the same place. Roots as thick as her paw snaked through the stone. The only difference in the cave was the size of the tree. When she was a hatchling, the tree was half the size it was now, the branches nowhere near touching the cave walls. Now, they squished against the slate stone.

Hatchlings slept, strewn across the cavern like seashells on a beach. A few piles of scales poked out here, and several hatchlings piled on top of each other. Ymithia remembered those days: sleeping in a large pile--the warmth and comfort. Though now, it was harder on her larger body. Like being squished to death.

In the small alcove, she spotted a black dragon with a scar over his eye. It was odd for an elder to watch over the hatchlings. Normally, the job was given to a dragon much more agile. With a flap of her wings, she leapt onto the alcove. Anirin jumped awake at her approach.

"It's about time someone came to relieve me," he grunted. "I am exhausted."

Ymithia never really liked Anirin. He was always grouchy--an anger that seemed to always simmer, ready to boil over at a moment's notice.

"I'm not here for that," she returned. "Do you know where Ymerc is?"

His tail flicked along the ground as he took a moment to think. He raised his brows, inclined his head.

"Which one was he?" He asked, unbothered. "I see so many dragons a day. It's hard to remember who is who."

"Red body, yellow belly, scars covering most of his body." Ymithia explained, patience running out.

Anirin's eyes grew wide. "Yes, he made quite the entrance. the others seemed quite infatuated with him, swarming him as soon as he entered."

Ymithia's heart soared. Her limbs relaxed. She had been worried the others wouldn't accept him. There were still some parents who wished he had never come, if only for the sake of the danger he presented to their children, which, since becoming one herself, Ymithia could understand.

"If I recall, he fell asleep somewhere down below," he explained. "A few others piled on top of him. I really don't know where he is."

The whole point of having a dragon here was to keep an eye on them at all times, yet he failed spectacularly at that.

Ymithia realized she wasn't likely to get any more out of Anirin. She turned her back and jumped down, her claws finding purchase on the stone with a loud scrape. A few hatchlings shifted from the noise, then promptly fell asleep again.

She was worried he had run off again, but Xithris explained their deal shortly after Ymerc was dropped off. Ymithia believed he would keep his word.

Ymithia deciphered a trail that led her toward the cavern's exit. Following it, she was led to the cliff she landed on where a single ruby red scale lay, the moon casting its light through a thin opening in the clouds directly onto it, creating a dull shine.

"Ymerc!" she called out, hoping he was close by. Her heart meanwhile jumping into overdrive, beating a furious pace in her chest, her limbs tensed a moment before she jumped in the sky searching everywhere she could think of nearby. Her body shaking like a tremor the longer she couldn't find Ymerc.

With little to no hope left, Ymithia changed direction and headed home, her hope now resting on her mate's shoulders.

***

Do you want power? I can give it to you.

I jerked awake, the words imprinting themselves inside my skull. Chains rattled off the walls. Metal bit into my scales, cold and sharp.

The room spun in a blurry mess, nausea gripping me. This wasn't like the other times, where I escaped Draconus's threat, I was chained, helpless... defeated.

Do you want power?

Who's there? The chains wrapped around my snout kept me from answering the strange question, to which was yes. I wanted power. Power to end Draconus. Power to save myself from these endlessly horrible situations.

I can give you the power you so crave, a dragoness called, her voice sweet, yet commanding attention with a sense of power.

The sound of claws on stone reached my ears. My heart quickened and limbs stiffened.

"Finally, you're awake." A deep voice brushed along my ears, anger straining each syllable.

"It would be in your best interest if you told me everything I wanted to know," he hissed. "Otherwise, I may have to get a bit...forceful."

He snatched my paw and bent it backwards, making it painfully clear what he meant.

"Where is the book of dark magic?"

The book? He was after the book? It's mostly blank, what would he want with a blank book?

The chains around my snout fell away. He leaned in close.

"Tell me where the book is--" he repeated the action, curling claws around the meat of my wrist "--and I won't have to hurt you."

His message rang loud and clear, but that didn't mean I had answers for him. I had no idea where the book even was. If I didn't, I wouldn't hesitate. Anything to avoid pain. Not again.

"I-I don't know," I bit out. "Please don't hurt me!" I pleaded, tears blurring his sneer casting down on me.

"Wrong answer," he said.

A swift flick of his paw preceded the echo of snapping bone ricocheting through the cave. Fiery pain raced through my arm, but before I registered a yelp, my snout met the ground, muffling the shriek in my throat.

"Let's try this one more time. Where is the book?" he held my other paw. My muscles tensed, racked with spasms.

"It's in a cave in a forest!" I blurted out, hoping it would save me.

The black dragon sighed, the odor of rotting breath hitting me in the face.

"What cave? What forest? Answer with something vague again--" he put more pressure on my paw "--you know what comes next."

I really didn't know. I had left it behind thinking it was worthless, completely forgetting where I had found it. Yet clearly, it was worth something if this lunatic dragon was torturing me over it.

I remembered the trail I had walked down after escaping my father's den. Then, after being killed by Draconus, I was found by Arlya. I recalled all the events up to now. Still, I could not pinpoint where the book was.

Another crack sounded through the den. My jaw struck the ground. Pain blotted my vision.

"If you don't tell me what I want to know, next it will be your wings. After that, your small horns snapped in two. And after that--well let's just see where the day takes us." He was enjoying this. "Tell me what I want to know, and this shall end."

"Not my wings! Anywhere but my wings!" I pleaded.

A heavy sigh escaped the black dragon. "This is why I hate hatchlings," he mumbled, hardly audible. "If you tell me what I want to know, no more pain will come to you. Nod once if you understand." He explained carefully, slowly, enunciating each word individually.

He strolled to my side, out of sight I hoped he was done, given up after not getting any answers.

I was wrong.

I tensed as a claw tightly gripped my wing.

"Wings are amazingly strong, yet so fragile. Most wings consist of three maybe four phalanges, easily the most breakable bone in a dragon's body."

Snap!

Pain slithered down my wing and into my spine, building with each bone it hit along the way, as if the others knew they were next. Before I could make a sound, his tail wrapped around my jaws tightly.

"Once again, tell me where the book is, and your pain shall end."

I felt claws grip my middle phalanx, his tail releasing me.

"Again, where is the book?"

All that came out was a whimper. The pain making it impossible to talk, besides, even if I did, this stupid dragon wouldn't listen.

Another snap of bone echoed through the cave, the pain sending me to a dark place.

***

A large dragon stood over a body made of shadows, roaring its victory for all to hear. The black clouds that had blotted out the sun for countless years finally broke, allowing thin streams of sunlight to bathe the land once again.

Yet, the dragoness didn't seem joyful. Her eyes were full of melancholy, lips stretched into a frown. Slowly, with a body covered in injuries, she strode away from the battlefield, her left hindleg limping, marred by her enemy's jaws. As the light filled the world once again, she was momentarily blinded by the sheer radiance. Once her eyes adjusted, her heart dropped at the sight that beheld her.

The field was riddled with corpses, both the enemies' twisted creatures, and her own friends: phoenixes, griffins, dragons, and countless others lay strewn about the area, lifeless, unmoving.

While they had claimed victory for themselves, the cost was far too high. Her closest friends had perished in the final battle. Even now, as she gazed upon their bodies, she couldn't help but wonder if there was another way--one that didn't end in losing everything she cared about.

She knew she had little choice in the matter, multiple times she had tried other ways, each time met with rebuttal and another life lost. It wasn't until the darkness had claimed her mate that she saw no other way.

Darkness was all she had known since her birth, and for the first time, perhaps in all of time, light bathed the land. Plants began to flourish once again, and magic was renewed. With a quick flap, Britosa took off, covering the land in fire, giving those she had lost and those she had already lost long ago, a proper burial.

As time passed, the other species had pledged their allegiance to the sole dragon who had finally vanquished the dark, and while she had accepted their allegiance, her heart weighed heavier than ever. Only now, a smile crept along her face as she beheld the sacrifices her friends had made. They were not in vain. Dragons, phoenixes, griffins, and many more flourished together, helping each other rebuild the world that had been lost since time immemorial.

***

Furest's father, Akand, spoke, his voice reaching to the back of the countless dragons who had shown up to her funeral. Practically, the whole clan had shown up, even the dragons who despised large crowds.

Yet Ymithia couldn't focus. Her task was soon coming up. She was asked to help close the funeral. An event that went back to the end of the war between Britosa and the endless darkness.

Behind Furest's father, her body lay. Placed in the position as if she were sleeping, her tail curled around her. Ymithia hoped any second Furest would jump up screaming she was still alive. When that didn't happen, a tear slid down her scales, weeping for a dear friend she had lost, and for her lost son, her heart ached something fierce.

Finally, she and a handful of others were called up to the podium. The sun slowly set behind Furest's lifeless body, her scales still the ash gray through everything they had tried to heal them.

Ymithia walked through the crowd of dragons and up onto the podium, struggling to conceal her trembling limbs. Furest's father, studied her with puffy eyes, holding back the storm of tears that threatened to roll over his scales. And yet, he didn't seem to blame her, his eyes were full of satisfaction and gratitude. Towards what, Ymithia had no idea.

Ymithia took her place beside the other dragons next to Furest's body, a dragon-sized gap was held where Akand and his mate sat, their throats lighting up with fire, before belting out their flames and lighting Furest's body. The rest were shortly behind, altogether, eight flames incinerated her body into ash where a breeze dispersed them amongst the sky. There, her spirit could fly free, watching over the clan.

Finally, the crowd below released their flames into the sky, symbolizing their hope for the future, and its endless light.

Her name would be marked along with the others now inhabiting Qonera on a large black stone, memories of her magically placed in the stone for anyone to view her history--to be immortalized forever along with the lives she

Though Ymithia wanted to stay longer, her heart pulled her in another direction. She must find her son, she couldn't believe he would run away again, not after the promise he made to Xithris, besides, he accepted her as his mother, she refused to believe he would run away.

After leaving the podium where Furest's body still smoldered like coals, Cyndrithil met up with her, the look in his eyes the same as her own. Their intent is all too obvious: finding their son.

They spent the night searching for him, asking other dragons if they had seen anyone matching Ymerc's description. No one had. It was almost like he vanished. No scent--only the single scale Ymithia held in her claws to prove he existed. Panic long ago set in; Cyndrithil matched her energy.

Ymithia couldn't help the horrific feeling building in her gut. Mother's intuition? Was she mother enough to experience this infamous emotion?

Cyndrithil banked right and landed on a small overhang. Ymithia didn't register just how far they'd flown until they took a moment to rest. The aching fatigue in her wings seemed to rise as steadily as first light peeked over the horizon. Soft black and navy gave way to a cornflower blue sky.

Cyndrithil tucked Ymithia in his wings, rubbing his head scales along her scales. It was a gesture of love, and that's exactly why it broke her. Sobs racked her chest, rising and falling unevenly as Cyndrithil pressed against her.

"We will find him," he said. It's what they always seemed to be saying.

And all she could reply was, "We have to." But she could hear the ticking clock in the recesses of her mind, precious minutes fleeting. They needed to hurry, but without any trace to follow, they were hopelessly lost.

A heavy silence passed between them.

If any being living outside of the clan had spotted Ymerc, Xithris would know. His status provided ample connections beyond the mountains. Xithris's usual gout of flame welcomed Ymithia and Cyndrithil indoors, but what they found was a rather-ill looking Xithris, color fading from his lackluster scales.

Ymithia quickly checked him for what the clan was beginning to call "Creeping Death." Deft paws padded and skimmed along his body, but she found no signs of the affliction.

"Xithris!" Cyndrithil called. "What happened? Are you alright?" He hurried to his brother's side.

"He's not cursed," Ymithia confirmed. "He's exhausted." She narrowed her gaze. "And he isn't eating."

This was no surprise to Xithris. Cyndrithil exhaled a worried sigh.

"What is going on with you?" Cyndrithil asked.

It was unlike Xithris not to take care of himself.

"I haven't been sleeping well lately," Xithris admitted. "Nightmares plague my dreams: dragons being killed by my own claws, brutally and quickly. Because of them, I wake up with no appetite. I haven't eaten in...quite a while."

This was the first time Ymithia had heard of nightmares from Xithris, though from the looks of his body, they must have been plaguing him for some time. Even his heart looked about ready to give up.

"I will be back with food, and you will eat even if I have to force it down your throat."

Cyndrithil stopped next to Ymithia before leaving, rubbing the edges of his wings against hers before heading out.

"While my mate is out getting you food, let's see if we can't find the cause of these nightmares," Ymithia declared.

Xithris opened his mouth to protest, but lost the courage. They both know under ordinary circumstances it would have been pointless, but with dark magic on the move again, Ymithia needed to be sure his dreams weren't the cause of something more sinister than stress.

As she readied her mana, she thought of Furest and how much more adept at this she would have been. Ymithia had to think that, from wherever Furest was watching over, that she was guiding Ymithia's hand.

Ymithia sent her magic into Xithris's body, searching for any abnormalities. After finding no organs that were in distress, she searched for faint traces of magic that could be tethering him to another dragon.

She couldn't find any threads of malice--no traces of dark magic pulsing through his blood.

Which left her no answers. Two instances of Creeping Death, her son's disappearance, and no cause for either. Ymithia was getting sick of not having any answers.

Ymithia left her magic scanning Xithris. If food had something to do with his dreams, eating would surely point it out. Cyndrithil returned with a plump deer, plopping it down with a wet thunk in front of his brother. The smell filled the den. To Ymithia's relief, drool made its way down Xithris's lips.

Cyndrithil turned, beckoning Ymithia with a nod of his head. She followed him to the den's entrance out of Xithir's earshot. They stood in the muggy light of chirping birds and rising dragons while Xithris, at last, ate behind them.

"I'm not saying there is a connection, but it seems coincidental for these events to happen at the same time," Ymithia explained. "Besides, his description of murdering other dragons doesn't make sense. Xithris despises battle."

"They are just dreams, Ymithia. How could Xithris kill another here inside of the clan without being detected? Even after Furest died, she was discovered the next day."

With that, Cyndrithil turned away, returning to Xithris's side. Ymithia followed behind him. Xithiris was polishing off his deer, leaving nothing but hooves and antlers. Immediately, his color was beginning to return, though his drooping eyes told of his fatigue.

"Now, what is so concerning it has both my brother and a dear friend visiting me so early in the morning?" Xithris asked.

Ymithia let Cyndrithil explain, afraid she would get too emotional that she wouldn't be able to explain the entire situation.

"Last night, Ymithia went to pick Ymerc up at the Hatchling's Den. However, when she arrived, there was little to no trace except for this scale--" Cyndrithil motioned for Ymithia to reveal the scale she had been holding onto since she found it "--outside of the den. None have seen him and there is no trace of him anywhere in the clan."

Xithris's brows rose as Cyndrithil explained, drowsiness giving way to shock. Now, he was alert, gears spinning inside his head.

Ymithia spoke up. "According to Anirin, the guardian watching over the hatchlings, they took an immediate liking to Ymerc. If that wasn't the case, I would say he had run away again. However, it isn't."

"That is very strange." Xithris spoke at last. "As I was out flying last night, I came across Anirin holding a sleeping Ymerc in his paws. He said you had discovered dark magic near your den and had gone to dispose of it, and asked Anirin to take Ymerc home."

"We did no such thing!" Cyndrithil roared. His voice rattled the cavern. Xithris and Ymithia startled. Ymithia shared his anger. She had never liked Anirin, and now he was the cause of her missing son.

Ymithia squirmed with unease.

"Let's go pay our elder a visit," Xithris said, but before he could rise, Ymithia forced him back into a resting position.

"You are in no condition to go anywhere. I will call for another healer to watch your condition while we are gone. In the meantime, get some rest." The hardness in her voice left little room for arguing. Reluctantly, Xithris settled down.

Ymithia turned, her eyes meeting her mates. "Let's go, we have an elder to see."

***

He had caused too much for Ymerc in too short an amount of time. It would be a while before the hatchling woke up again.

Anirin's attention was brought to a large figure in the shadows. Stepping closer Anirin realized it was one of the elders: Marst. In his mouth, he held a scroll--a message from his spy. A single movement of Anirin's claw and Marst dropped the saliva-covered scroll on the ground.

"What did I tell you about getting the scroll wet, you useless buffoon!" Anirin yelled. Marst stood there as emotionless as ever, taking Anirin's string of insults.

Muttering to himself, Anirin wiped the scroll off and opened it.

It didn't telling him anything he didn't already know, except Ymithia and Cyndrithil were coming to his den far sooner than planned. Anirin knew they would eventually go to Xithris seeking his help. He had friends throughout the clan that owed him favors, his tasks more often than not taking him to the far reaches of Dravawynn. Still, he had planned for this. Now, all he had to do was make his lies convincing.

He took off through the waterfall that covered the entrance to his dark den--the place where all his dark acts were committed. Anirin could already see the forms of Ymithia and Cyndrithil making their way here. It wouldn't be long before they arrived, but by then it would already be too late.

Casting magic over his scales, Anirin hid his use of dark sorcery well.

The sounds of two pairs of wings sounded before two gouts of flames appeared, carrying two different scents into his den and to his nose. After a short moment, he let them in. Little did they know, soon they would be dead too.

***

Before they left, Ymithia sent a flare into the sky that exploded in a green hue, letting others know a dragon was calling for a healer. Later, a golden-yellow dragon approached. Ymithia had met her before. If she recalled correctly, the dragon's name was Hithay. Though she was still in training, she shouldn't be answering Ymithia's call.

When Hithay landed, she wasted no time in getting to the point.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice higher than most dragon's her age. Now that she was closer, Ymithia took note of Hithay's amber colored eyes that seemed to match very well with her scales, something she had not noticed before in the many times they had met for training.

"Not to be mean," Ymithia said. "But you're still in training. Why didn't anyone else answer the flare?"

Hithay seemed to debate something, her mouth opening multiple times before she came to a decision.

"They are busy taking care of something, so they sent me instead."

Realizing Ymithia wasn't likely to get anything more out of her she left it at that, and continued on, walking further into the den with Hithay next to her.

"Xithris is asleep. He is being plagued by nightmares, most likely of a magical origin. While he is sleeping, see if you find what's causing the nightmares and sever the link to Xithris if you can. If his heart rate goes beyond--"

Hithay interrupted, clearly agitated that she had to hear it all over again.

"If his heart rate goes beyond three-hundred beats per minute, wake him up and get his breathing under control."

Ymithia was satisfied with her knowledge, if not a little frustrated at the interruption; but she had more important things to deal with.

With Xithris taken care of, Ymithia and Cyndrithil headed for Anirin's den.

They hardly waited for the responding flames before entering the den. Ymithia's muscles tensed, her anger the same beat as her heart pulsing through her body. She wouldn't let anything get in the way of finding her son, even if that meant killing another dragon. Cyndrithil seemed to be of the same mind, eyes filled with determination.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this lovely visit?" Anirin asked as he crept from the shadowy recesses of his den.

The intense feeling in Ymithia's gut that started when Ymerc went missing only grew worse, her forepaw reaching for her stomach where the pain was most intense.

"Where is Ymerc?" Cyndrithil cut right to the point. Anger lacing his voice, a not-so-hidden threat.

"Ymerc?" his brows scrunched up before relaxing as his eyes lit up in realization. "Oh! You mean your son. He should be with you. I dropped him at your den last night. If he isn't there, perhaps he ran away again, that hatchling can be so st--"

"I would watch your mouth if you don't want to lose it!" Cyndrithil barked. His tail coiled, ready for a fight. Ymithia wasn't far behind.

"Our son isn't at home, and you were the last dragon to see him. You claim we sent you a message, yet we never did."

Anirin's tail curled up to his chin, rubbing it slowly in thought.

"You must be mistaken. I received a message from both of you with your paw prints to match saying you wanted me to take him home as you were busy."

Each dragon has a specific paw print that is used in messages to relay its' origins. Even so, Ymithia couldn't remember the last time she used her pawprint for a message. It was most likely as a hatchling when she first learned to write.

"We did no such thing! I haven't used my pawprint for ages!" Ymithia snapped after letting Cyndrithil do the talking.

She wasn't sure she could hold herself back much longer if she didn't get answers, or find her son.

"I see. That is very strange," Anirin spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "If it wasn't you that sent the letter, then who was it? And before you ask anything else, your den is north of here isn't it?"

Our den was south, not north. Was someone pretending to be us in order to get at Ymerc? Or was this a trap?

"Why don't I show you where I took the hatchling. Maybe he is still there." Anirin began walking towards them, Cyndrithil's muscles tensing, bracing for attack.

After passing, them he took off, flying north with the two close behind, practically able to touch his tail. They both refused to let him get very far away from them.

A short flight later, they arrive at a rather small den, too small for two dragons, let alone three. Landing on the cliff leading in, they were rather high from the ground for Ymithia's taste.

None of this makes any sense. Why would a dragon pretend to be us to get at Ymerc? Why not just kidnap him from the Hatchling Den. It's not like Anirin was paying attention anyway.

Ymithia was too preoccupied to notice the wave of magic at the entrance, but Cyndrithil did. His roar startled Ymithia from her thoughts. It wasn't until she saw the ghastly smile across Anirin's snout, his eyes no longer that of the elder they had known for years, but one whose soul had been given to dark magic.

"Xithris!"

Anirin roared, before Ymithia could spin around a heavy weight tackled her, sending her sprawling deeper into the den where she collided with the stone wall. When she got back up, the weight was gone. Ymithia tried to get out of the way but was too slow, crashing into Cyndrithil.

Once they untangled themselves, Anirin was gone. The exit was sealed off in fallen rubble. All according to a plan.

Xithris stood before them, eyes closed as if he were asleep.

The dreams, the tiredness, all of it--it finally made sense. Anirin used black magic. It's why all these years she never liked him. Her gut was trying to tell her he was evil. Once Creeping Death appeared, Anirin must have used something similar to possess Xithris, who wouldn't have had his guard up around another elder anyway. The dreams were just his subconscious telling him what was going on, and the sleep deprivation was simply the fact that he was always awake, or at least his body was.

If only she had figured it out sooner, now here they were trapped in a tiny cave with a friend who wanted to kill them.

***

Cyndrithil was stunned. He couldn't move.

Why was his brother in the same cave as them looking as if he had been sleepwalking? And who attacked them earlier? It couldn't be Xithris. He would never attack me.

When he searched his mate for answers, she was frozen. He poked her with his wing trying to prod her from her daze, but she didn't respond.

Xithris bellowed, his roar echoing through the tiny cave, pounding against Cyndrithil's ears. Ymithia startled back to reality and looked at Cyndrithil, her eyes deeply apologetic, yet he couldn't figure out why. It wasn't until Xithris sped forward, attacking him that he understood. This wasn't Xithris in control, it was Anirin.

Cyndrithil let the attack connect, unwilling to hurt his brother, but Ymithia wasn't in the same mindset. Before Xithris's claws could find purchase, Ymithia rammed into Xithris, sending him sprawling.

"We have to get out of here!" She called. "It was Anirin who took Ymerc! We must follow him!"

A weight toppled Cyndrithil. Xithris used his mighty jaws to pin his head to the ground, trying to pierce his carotid, but failed when Ymithia slammed into him again, halting him beneath her weight.

"Get rid of the rubble! I'll take care of Xithris!" she roared, baring her teeth before biting into his neck pinning him further. He wrangled his tail and whipped Ymithia in the back, trying to free himself.

All Cyndrithil could do was watch as his mate and brother battled for life with a heart torn in two. He couldn't hurt Xithris, but he couldn't bear to watch Ymithia in pain.

Ymithia released Xithris's neck momentarily.

"What are you doing! Get rid of the rubble, I'll keep Xithris aw--"

His head surged back, horn striking Ymithia in the head. Stunned, Xithris rolled over freeing himself, all while his eyes remained closed.

A dark shadow rose up from behind Xithris before jumping onto him again. Xithris reared up in attempt to dislodge his opponent, but Ymithia clung to his body, digging her claws into his back.

"If you don't hurry, we are both gonna die!"

Those words seemed to finally register in Cyndrithils head. He couldn't lose even one of them let alone both. Rushing toward the exit he readied his magic, ready to blow open the entrance.

In a blast of smoke and fire, the debris was blown away and sunlight reached into the cave.

Cyndrithil spun, Ymithia's roar echoing out. Xithris had turned the tide by flipping Ymithia on her back, clawing at her stomach. He marred her with gouges that oozed scarlet.

Xithris reared his head, ready to finish the job and kill Ymithia. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't imagine a life without her--his perfect mate.

With a roar, Cyndrithil unleashed his fire, flames spewing from his jaws in a thick blue ray of heat.

The flames connected, hitting Xithris in the side and sending him flying against the cave wall.

Was that me? He questioned. He had never had blue flames before, let alone as dense as the ones he just spewed.

Ymithia clawed to her feet and darted toward the exit. Cyndrithil launched himself into the sky, but he didn't hear his mate take off. Behind him, Xithris had grabbed her tail, keeping her from taking off before he lunged at her. They grappled for control over the other, dirt flying. Cyndrithil didn't act quickly enough. When he landed and readied his flames once more, the dirt settled. Xithris held Ymithia tight, his jaws seeping into her neck, blood gushing forth like a river.

***

Hithay decided against telling them the truth. Shortly after Furest's funeral, several dragons had been discovered dead all around the same time. Dragons who were very close with the elders. The healers were currently trying to figure out who would commit such an awful act. Hithay saw for herself one of the corpses, massacred beyond recognition. The eyes had been torn out, several of his teeth were missing as well, it was very likely he suffered greatly before death claimed him.

Hithay had heard about Ymithia's lost son; she figured it best not to worry her anymore with the sudden deaths.

A spike in Xithris's heart rate brought her attention back to the problem at hand. Normally a dragon's resting heart rate was about two-hundred and twenty on average. His heart just shot up to two-hundred eighty. Connecting her magic to his brain, she searched for something--anything that would be the cause of this. Hithay realized it all too late.

Xithris jumped up, moving past her as if she wasn't there, his eyes closed. Hithay would say he was sleepwalking if it hadn't been for the dark magic in his brain. He was tethered to another dragon. And from what she had seen of the recently departed she was glad he was paying her no mind.

It wasn't until he took off that Hithay jumped into action, sending a flare of her own that exploded in a deep scarlet color. A signal for battle.

Within seconds she saw three dragons heading her way.

Before they landed, she took off.

"Follow me!" she roared before trailing Xithris.

They followed him to a small cave, shortly after he went in, a black dragon with a scar over his eye came out, collapsing the entrance. Hithay hid from the dragon, the others following after her lead. After he was far enough away, she crept out from her hiding spot.

"You three, follow that dragon," she commanded, "but make sure you aren't spotted. When he lands, come find me."

The others had no reason to obey her. They were older and more experienced in combat than she was. Yet, they did as she said anyway, pursuing the suspect.

An explosion drew her again to the cave. The debris had been completely blown away. Shortly after, a blue dragon took flight, but he didn't see Xithris tackle Ymithia again.

Despite Hithay's combat skills, she felt the call to jump into action. She couldn't watch another dragon be killed right in front of her.

***

Anirin knew his stunt was only going to buy him so much time. At first, Xithris was supposed to kill Cyndrithil right away, going straight for his carotid. Yet, he didn't. Perhaps Anirin's control isn't as perfect as he thought. But for now, he had to get back to Ymerc and get the location of the book before they found him. If worse comes to worst, he could always flee with Ymerc. They'd never find him in the harpy forest to the east. If they did, Anirin would be impressed.

Anirin pierced Ymerc's stomach, jolting him awake.

"Where is the book! Last chance or hell is what will wait for you."

"It's west of the harpy forest! About two days' journey by foot, a cave resides... it's... covered in shadows, you can't miss it."

Anirin smiled. Finally, he knew where to look. Finally, he could free dark sorcery once and for all.

"There, that wasn't that hard was it?"

Anirin didn't have time to kill the little pest. They would be here any moment. Instead, he whipped Ymerc with his tail on the way out, throwing him against the wall. His limp body fell to the floor, motionless.

Now, it is time for limitless power!

Without wasting a moment's notice, he takes off, wasting no time in using a nearby life force to teleport himself straight to the harpy forest.

***

Crystal white swathed the land as far as the eye could see. No shadows or plants shaping the surface. Just white.

Am I dead?

I couldn't help but wonder if this was the afterlife. I turned instead to find a massive dragon the likes of which I had never seen. A dragon five times my size stood, cloaked in red scales and white belly, her eyes a brilliant scarlet. Two horns arched from her head like pearlescent rainbows. A row of bony spikes stretched down her spine to her tail before ending halfway down.

"My name is Britosa."

I couldn't pinpoint where I had heard that name before, and I had a feeling that was going to drive me crazy later on.

"Earlier I offered you power. You accepted, so here you are. I will ask again. Do you want power?"

She wasted no time in getting to the point. I couldn't help but feel like she was hiding something from me. The offer of power was all too much though. Without hesitating I responded.

"Yes, I want power."

I wanted power to destroy Draconus. I wanted to power to rip him and that black dragon to shreds--to return the torture he gave me back to him.

Without a moment wasted, Britosa spread her wings wide, her body shining like a star until it encompassed everything. Heat swept through me filling me with knowledge about magic. Everything Britosa knew was passed onto me--the elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth-- suddenly, I knew how to use each one, how command them with mana.

As the flood of knowledge ended, Britosa spoke once more.

"There isn't much that can be done physically unfortunately. As much as I would love to grow you into an adult, that just isn't possible. For now, complete knowledge of magic is all I can offer you. Physical strength will come as you grow."

I was fine with that. With this kind of magic, I could protect myself, even against stronger opponents and with magic. I could torture Draconus till the end of his days.

Britosa interrupted my thoughts again. I got what I wanted. She could die for all I cared.

"I will see you when you wake up."

"Excuse me?"

Suddenly, I remembered who Britosa is, or rather was. She died long ago, how is she even here?

"What you thought once you attained power I would just leave you alone? You ignorant hatchling, thinking power didn't come at a cost. Without even asking what the conditions were you accepted." She strode closer, her snout practically touching mine. "Remember this well: power always comes at a price. From now on you will see and hear me while no one else can. You are now obligated to do as I tell you. Once my mission is complete; you can go about your pitiful revenge however you want. Until then, will you do as I say?"

No, I was so close, and now I have to do what another says all over again?

"No," I responded. "I refuse to be your slave."

She drew her head away, arching her neck to look down at me, eyes radiating power. It made me feel like a bug, powerless against her, just as I had always been.

"There will be consequences for you not following my orders. For one, your new parents, Cyndrithil and Ymithia will die. Your old friend, Arlya, who is here in the other world watching over you, will also die. Instead of her soul staying in Qoneara, she will vanish like a gust of wind. Nothing will be left of her. Are you sure you want that?"

Arlya was my first friend, and after meeting the other hatchlings my age, I had hoped to become friends with them as well. I remembered watching Arlya die, the last look of contentment that crossed her face.

And I won't forget that if it weren't for Ymithia, Furest and Cyndrithil, I wouldn't be alive. If I can save them albeit through the orders of Britosa, I don't have much choice.

I suppose if I want to continue living with my parents, I must do as she says.

"If it saves my parents and the other hatchlings, I will do as you say." I bowed my head, not out of respect, but because it felt like I was giving up.

going as far as enslaving Arlya, and yet here I am giving into a dragon whom I have never met.

"We have met, Ymerc, you just don't remember. One day, those memories will come back to you, just like these."

Leaning in close she blew breath at my face, and with it came the knowledge of where the book that lunatic dragon wants.

"While you are chained, you won't be able to fight. When you wake up, give Anirin the location of the book. At first he intended to kill you once he got what he wanted, but now time presses him. He won't kill you if he wants to give up his own kind of power."

I wanted to know how she knew that. This was my life at stake and she was simply playing with it like I didn't matter.

"How do you know?" I asked. I needed insurance that I wasn't going to die once I gave up where the book was.

"I have information that you don't. I will tell you when the time comes. For now, it is time for you to wake up."

The white world faded away, a sharp pain in my stomach jolted me from my dream. For a brief second, I wondered if that was all just a dream, but the location and knowledge of magic was still there.

Behind the dragon called Anirin, there she was, Britosa, eyes as hard as in my dream.

I didn't waste anymore time. Part of me still battled to keep the information secret. Yet, Britosa was here, her eyes telling me to give up the location. Without another thought, I gave in.

"Its west of the harpy forest! About two days' journey by foot, a cave resides... it's... covered in shadows, you can't miss it."

Anirin smiled, his breath still smelling of rotting corpses. He whipped his tail, striking my side, sending me careening against the wall. The last thing I saw, was Britosa--her eyes tracing the black dragon as he departed.