Page 19

Chapter Nineteen

Once more I was abandoned by my servant. She didn’t seem to take the peril hunting me seriously. In her defense, we had spent a week without intrusion. My enemies must have discovered our wily measures meant to expose their subterfuge. Must have realized they couldn’t get past my protector. It didn’t come as any real surprise that the one night he did not stand guard they sent me and my servant into a deep sleep.

Despite Pip trying to hide it, I noticed the toppled cans by the door, the clatter of which should have woken us. The triggered warning system wasn’t the only evidence of intrusion. I’d also been tampered with, poked in my sleep.

Even without that subtle pinprick between my toes, I would have known. The enemy’s scent lingered, a smell that I hadn’t realized didn’t belong until we went days without it. The proof of peril mounted, but did my servant listen and remain with me where she belonged?

No. She left to go to work, a reminder that I really needed to start building my hoard. With wealth to support us, Pip would lack an excuse to leave me every day. With wealth, I could build myself a fortress. With riches, I could buy more of those delicious, crunchy snacks she called Cheetos.

After Pip’s departure, I kept myself ready. The skylight was closed, but unlatched, the remote to open it within reach. I also pulled out the new bugout bag Maddox outfitted me with, one adjusted so I could strap it to my front and not impede my wings. It held a few snacks and a phone. When he gave it to me, my protector had said, “ Any trouble, you call me right away, and I will come.”

But how long would that take? He should be with me at all times! Again, something that could only be achieved by collecting treasures to support my retinue.

The television played in the background as I stalked the length of the loft. A woman on the screen kept warning of a snowstorm, using ridiculous words like snowbomb, snowtrastrophe, snowmaggedon, and more. How fascinating the way the purveyors of news liked to sensationalize everything. Pip claimed they did it for something called views and clicks, a concept I still struggled to understand. Why wouldn’t people prefer the unvarnished truth?

When I became Dragon Overlord—the title currently ranking as my favorite—I would emit a decree that only the facts would be allowed in news broadcasts. I would also ban social media because from what I’d browsed, it seemed to be a never-ending argument between humans about who was more righteous.

Late morning and two bags of chips and a jar of pickles later, the dark sky finally began producing the promised inclement weather. White specks began to fall.

Snow.

While I’d never personally experienced it, my memories advised me the flakes were crystalized water and cold. Yuck.

As a dragon of fire, I preferred warmth. Not that lower temperatures would harm me, but it would be unpleasant, and if exposed long enough to frigid temperatures, my body might put me in a state of hibernation. Not that I planned to leave the warm apartment. I waited for Pip and the promised pizza. It better have lots of cheese.

The snow fell heavily, and darkness arrived early as the clouds and the swirling flakes stole the natural daylight. An ominous-looking day that matched my mood.

I couldn’t shake the impending sense of wrongness. Of danger. While usually my enemy came at night, despite it being very early in the afternoon, a foreboding sense insisted they were near.

Ding. A message arrived on my tablet from Pip.

On my way but sorry, no pizza. All the places around lost power.

What? No yummy, cheesy, saucy goodness? Disappointing. I consoled myself by microwaving some burritos. Delicious things. And the machine that could heat them in minutes? My favorite invention of this time period thus far.

When the lights flickered, and then went out, I grabbed the bugout bag by my side and settled it in place. With the electricity gone, the warmth dissipated quicker than I liked. The things Pip called baseboard heaters ceased their function. I sat by the window, wrapped in a warm blanket, and stared outward, my tension tightening. Where was Pip? It had been more than thirty minutes since she sent the message announcing her return. The weather must be delaying her transport.

I kept watch. The reward for my vigilance was that I spotted two beams of light piercing the falling snow, heading for the barn. Pip, or someone else? The motorcycle had only one headlight and she’d explained to me that morning before leaving to catch a ride with her employer that she couldn’t ride it in the snow.

The truck that stopped close to the barn doors disgorged people in silvery suits. At last, my enemy made their move while I remained awake.

As they trudged through the snow to the door, I launched myself upward and clung to one of the beams crisscrossing the peaked ceiling. I perched and could almost hear Pip laughing the first time I’d done so. “ You look like a gargoyle,” she’d said.

A rude comparison, as it turned out. Not knowing the word gargoyle, I’d sought out images and been less than impressed by the hideous beasts lacking any kind of majesty. The only admirable thing about them? Their stealthy ability to blend in with their surroundings. Kind of like I did now. With the lights out, I vanished in the shadows and remained statue still.

I heard the muffled thump of boots coming up the stairs. Heard the scratch and click of a key being used.

A key! How did they have one? Had Pip had been taken captive and robbed?

I counted the number of silver suits who entered. Four. A respectable number to send for one of my greatness. They held flashlights which they shone around the room as they spoke amongst each other.

“I don’t see it,” a male voice said, sounding echoey as he spoke behind a helmet.

It? How insulting.

“Probably hiding,” replied one with a deeper timber.

More like lying in wait.

“Pity we couldn’t trigger the sleeping gas before the power went out. It would have been easy pickings. Are we sure these tranquilizers will still penetrate its skin?” queried a female with a reedy lilt that I recognized. She’d been one of those who invaded the trailer.

“Boss says they will. Just like these suits should protect us from fire,” said the Echoey Man.

“Should?” The female didn’t sound enthused.

“Don’t be a pussy, Kaitlyn,” Deep Timber rebuked.

“Fuck you, Ed,” Kaitlyn snapped right back. “I’m only here because Malone is getting its room ready in case you fuck up again.”

“Well, excuse us. It’s not every day you come face to face with an actual dragon,” drawled Echoey Man.

“Hence the briefing beforehand to warn you,” Kaitlyn pointed out.

“It’s one thing to be told, another thing to see,” Echoey Man argued. “Considering you’ve had access to it for over a week, I don’t see why we’re in a rush to grab it now.”

“Because the cold will kill it,” Kaitlyn snapped. “That’s why we can’t wait for the power to come back. Trust me, if we had another choice, we wouldn’t be here. The boss had hoped to have more time to finish its prison.”

Prison? I almost fell off my perch.

“For fuck’s sake, can we argue about this later? Let’s find the lizard, tranq it, cage it, and get out of here. I’ve got a bottle of whiskey with my name on it and a new season of The Boys to stream,” stated the third male who’d been quiet until this point.

Lizard indeed. Just for that I wanted to swoop down and show them what happened to those who insulted dragons.

“Spread out,” Kaitlyn barked. “Ed, you check the bedroom. Nelson, bathroom. Travis, start with the kitchen. When you spot the creature, holler. If it spits fire, remember, the suits are flameproof. I don’t want a repeat of the panic we saw the last time.”

Oh, they should panic. My first fire-breathing attempt had been puny and weak, however, the inferno within had been simmering since. Even without practice, these miscreants were in for a surprise, assuming they found me. None had yet looked up. Would they leave if they couldn’t find me?

While the tin suits spread out, the one named Kaitlyn remained by the door, guarding it. She held her gun in front of her in a slightly shaky hand. Someone had lost their cockiness of before. I must have frightened her at our last encounter. Not enough, though, seeing as she came after me again. Some people never learned—usually because they died.

I almost got bored waiting as they searched and searched again. Opening cupboards, the fridge, even tearing out the couch cushions as if I could conceal myself under them.

Echoey Man stated it first. “It’s not here.”

“It’s here, Travis. You just haven’t found it,” Kaitlyn insisted. “According to our surveillance, it was sitting in the window when the power went out.”

They’d been spying! I shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Maybe it left,” Ed, a.k.a. Deep Timber, opined.

“To go where?” Kaitlyn asked. “It’s too cold outside for it to survive.”

“Does it know that?” asked the third guy, who had to be Nelson.

“Yes, it knows.”

“Well, it’s not here,” Travis reiterated. “I’m going downstairs to see if Benny and Dylan saw anything.”

“Should we go with him?” Nelson asked.

“No. It’s here. I’d stake my job on it.” As Kaitlin spoke, she shone her light upward, tracing it along the beams.

Since I’d be discovered anyway, I made my move and dove, my maneuver revealing me and causing Kaitlyn to scream, “It’s overhead. Shoot it!”

“Where?” Ed hollered.

A good question since Kaitlyn’s bouncing flashlight beam failed to track my wily flight.

Before anyone could even think of darting me, I opened my mouth and breathed right in Ed’s helmeted face. I then banked my swoop and flapped to rise again, just in time, as something singed past my wing.

“Argh. Argh,” Ed screamed, batting at his face.

Kaitlyn started out saying, “You’re fine. The flames will die out,” only to be interrupted by Nelson. “Holy fuck, his face shield is melting.”

Which led to really intense screaming for a few seconds until my fire destroyed Ed’s jaw. He crumpled to the floor.

One down. Five more to go.

Two of whom suddenly chose to flee. Kaitlyn and Nelson bolted through the apartment door so fast they forgot to shut it. Now I could have basked in my victory at having chased them off, but… Pip was coming and I didn’t want them hurting her.

Besides, now I knew their suits couldn’t stop my flame. Silly humans, thinking they could counter dragon’s breath. They’d been fooled by the weakness of my first attempt. But I’d grown stronger since then. Strong enough to handle my enemies.

I flapped my way to the open door and exited, too quickly and rashly as it turned out. But luck was on my side as the fired dart narrowly missed me.

Nelson was waiting for me in the stairwell. He aimed and fired again.

I simply breathed.

The dart melted but Nelson threw himself down the stairs to avoid the flames now licking the walls and treads of the stairwell.

The warmth felt nice as I floated down. I could hear shouting as my enemies panicked, a noise that abruptly ceased as Travis yelled, “Shut up you morons, unless you want it to barbeque you.”

Mmm. Barbeque. Roasted meat dripping with fat and juices. Would Pip be angry if I toasted one for a snack? Most likely. Humans could be weird about dragons eating their kind.

Knowing they lay in wait, I gripped a pipe running along the ceiling rather than dropping to the floor.

Pft. Pft. Two darts went flying past harmlessly.

“Where is it?” A whisper that might as well have been a shout.

“We need some real light,” Kaitlyn grumbled. “These flashlights are useless.”

Not really. It let me track their locations. However, she did have a point. Their beams didn’t extend far enough to dispel the shadows cloaking me.

“Maybe it went back upstairs,” said a new voice. One of the two who’d remained below.

“You wanna go check?” A sarcastic reply from Travis.

“We can’t stand around here all day,” huffed Kaitlyn. “Benny, go and see if it’s still in the stairwell.”

“Like fuck,” Benny exclaimed in a nasally tone. “I heard what it did to Ed. You lied. These suits aren’t fireproof.”

“They are, but only to a certain degree,” Kaitlyn murmured.

“I didn’t sign on to get roasted,” Benny exclaimed. “Catch the fucker yourself.”

“You signed a contract,” Kaitlyn stated.

“Sue me, then. I’d love to tell the world what you and Malone are up to,” snapped Benny.

“Given this new development, let me message Malone and see what he wants us to do. Keep an eye out for the dragon. I should only be a moment.”

I heard steps as Kaitlyn moved away, leaving the males, one of which was shaking hard enough his flashlight wobbled.

My next target.

I launched myself and opened my mouth wide, huffing flame before even actually seeing the enemy. My aim proved true, mostly. I missed the head but my fire hit the tall male in the chest.

And burned.

He ran screaming through the open door into the blizzard.

Two down. Four to go.

“There he is!” Nelson shouted and fired. Luckily for me, his shaking hands ruined his shot and the missile missed.

I didn’t.

Nelson didn’t even have time to scream. His flaming body hit the floor and crackled nicely, filling the space with heat and light.

Light enough for Travis to aim in my direction with a steadier hand.

I channeled Neo from that movie Matrix I’d recently watched with Pip, bending my body so that the dart flew past. When I stood upright again, I noticed Travis clicking his empty weapon.

“Please don’t hurt me,” he pled, dropping it to the floor.

Begging for mercy when he wouldn’t have shown me any?

He obviously didn’t know anything about dragons.

He joined his burning pyre of a friend.

And that left only one male—or would have if he’d not fled the barn into the storm. Would he return? Given his cowardice, I thought not.

But what of the female who’d gone to contact her superior? Would she return or had she finally fled as well?

In case she proved too stupid to grasp the futility of her endeavor, I waited in the barn, which grew warmer by the moment as the barbequing bodies spread their crackling heat. Flames licked the wooden stalls and walls. A river of it rippled along the ceiling. So pretty. All those dancing red, orange, and yellow flames with thick bands of blue rimmed in white in the center.

Perched amidst my fiery art, my patience paid off. Kaitlyn, sans helmet, peeked inside.

I opened my mouth, a ball of fire forming and she quickly exclaimed, “We have Philippa Smith in custody.”

The claim made me pause. They’d captured my Pip? Utterly unacceptable. A dragon’s servants were sacrosanct.

“You would dare accost one of my retinue?” I lifted my chin and narrowed my gaze. “You will release her at once.”

My demand, for some reason, eased the tension in Kaitlyn’s body. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. However, perhaps we could do a trade. You agree to come with me and in exchange, we’ll let her go.”

Did she take me for a fool? I could hear the lie. Would have probably smelled it if she didn’t wear a tin suit.

“This is not a negotiation,” my firm reply.

“Actually, it is.” She paused. “You really can talk.”

“You don’t say.” I’d been working on my sarcasm.

“I mean, I knew you would be able to, but you’re the first dragon I’ve managed to converse with.”

For some reason, the statement brought to mind the thing she’d said at the trailer. “Oh, did you not speak with the one in South America?”

“No. Perhaps if we had, the mission might have ended differently.”

The finality of her tone led me to blurt, “You killed the dragon.”

“Not on purpose. We found it not long after it hatched, but it panicked when we tried to catch it and ran off a cliff. Without wings… Well, it fell like a rock and must have sunk like one since we dragged the river but never recovered its body.”

Not knowing this dragon didn’t lessen my sorrow to hear of its death. “Why are you trying to capture us?”

“To study,” she quickly replied. “We don’t want to hurt you. On the contrary. We’re dedicated to learning everything about you so that we can properly introduce you to the world and have you accepted.”

Did she really think I wouldn’t hear the lie? “And you thought that attacking me and taking my servant prisoner would convey that?”

“We didn’t realize you’d be so coherent so quick. We thought we’d have to wait until you matured more before you could grasp our intent. While we do have some knowledge of your kind, it’s not complete. It’s why you should come with me, that you might teach us.”

“Come with you?” I would have curled my lip in disdain if I had one. “I won’t be your prisoner.”

“More like honored guest.” Kaitlyn spread her hands. “You should see what Leo’s been preparing. He had a special habitat designed for you. You’ll love it. It’s big. Bigger than this barn. With aerial perches and a pond that will be filled with fish for you to hunt. Hammocks for napping. Even a hunting area that will be kept stocked with animals.”

“Sounds like a luxurious prison,” my dryly delivered retort.

“Oh, no. It’s meant to be a safe place to protect you from those who would see the dragons eradicated again.”

More lies. I couldn’t have said where my certainty came from only I knew she didn’t speak the whole truth. “Where is Pip?”

“Leo has her. She won’t come to harm so long as you cooperate.”

“So you claim. How do I know you speak the truth? This could be a ploy.”

Kaitlyn bit her lower lip. “You want proof.”

“I only have your word and I’m afraid that isn’t enough.”

“Hold on a second,” she muttered, fumbling with her phone. She turned away from me and talked in a low tone. With the crackling fire, I only got bits and pieces.

“…wants proof you have Ms. Smith… we tried that and failed…Okay. Will do.”

Kaitlyn ended her call and faced me. “Malone is going to video call me so you can see Ms. Smith.” She no sooner finished telling me this than her phone rang. She tapped the screen and turned it to face me.

There was my Pip. Bound to a chair, looking very, very angry.

“Abaddon are you okay?” my Pip exclaimed upon seeing me.

“I am fine. Have those miscreants harmed you?”

“Not really, but they’ve taken me prisoner.” Pip grimaced.

A male face interjected itself, filling the screen. “As you can see, we have Ms. Smith in our custody. Should you wish her to remain unharmed, you will surrender yourself immediately.” This Malone person seemed to think he could dictate to me.

Apparently, he’d yet to grasp dragons obeyed no one.

“Don’t do it,” Pip yelled. “Fly away. Far away. Don’t let these fuckers get their hands on you.”

“Shut up!” The camera view might have jostled to show the floor, but I heard the slap as Malone dared to hit my Pip.

Before I could control my emotions, I hollered, “Don’t hurt her!”

A snarling Malone’s face once more took over the screen. “If you want the woman unharmed, then you will immediately turn yourself in. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” I understood very well. I ducked my head. “I’ll be along shortly.”

“Good. Don’t keep me waiting.”

The video call ended.

“Well, that was productive.” Kaitlyn had regained some of her composure and cockiness. “Glad to see you making the right choice.” She tucked the phone away and waved at the open door. “If you’ll come with me. The truck is just outside.”

“You really didn’t do your due diligence on dragons,” I stated, staring at her intently. “We do not surrender, nor do we negotiate.”

“But you just said?—”

“I said I’d be seeing Malone soon. I never claimed I’d be going as your prisoner.”

“I don’t see as you have a choice. You don’t know where Malone has Ms. Smith, not to mention the barn is on fire and the storm is in full swing outside. You need me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Because for one, while I don’t enjoy it, I can handle the cold, and second, this fire can’t harm me.” How ridiculous to even think something spewed from my body would.

“If you kill me, you’ll never find Ms. Smith.” A panicked attempt to sway me.

“Do you really think I can’t locate someone bound to me or that I would stand idly by while you abuse someone important to me?”

“I’m not the one who did it.” Kaitlyn began backing away.

“You are aligned with my adversaries, therefore you are my enemy.”

Kaitlyn whirled, thinking she could run.

She couldn’t.

My flames engulfed her and without the helmet, she never had that few extra seconds as it melted to scream.

Good, because I’d heard enough from her.

A glance outside showed the storm in full swing. Gross. It would be so nice to stay in the burning barn, but I couldn’t because Pip needed me.

I’m coming Pip. And those who stood in my way would perish.