Curse of the Undead Dragon King (Skeleton Key) (11 page)

I SIT UPON THE
throne meant for the queen of Dracameveo and one by one address the people who have come for the king. Castel watches each person, listening, hoping to find a pattern in their words, their questions, why they wish to speak to the king.

Some of the people genuinely have concerns and issues, but it seems the rest are looking for information, spies for the people who wish to know if I have murdered their beloved king. As if I could ever kill the man who holds my heart and soul.

“Please, my lady.” The woman bows. “I only come to ask for food and water.” She falls at the dais, thin, dirty, and ragged.

I lift my hand, motioning for a servant to bring her what she asks for. She bows to me repeating “thank you” as she follows the servant to the kitchens.

“My lady, I have come to ask you something I presume only you could know,” a younger man says as he comes a little closer. “Why have you taken our king from us? Was he not fair enough for you? Did he not offer you his heart and kingdom?” The man questions me as if he expects me to answer such ridiculous notions.

But as Castel and Estella urged me to remain calm, I answer. “I have not taken your king from you. He has fallen ill and needs time to recover. It is your king who asked me to rule in his absence with the help of Lord Castel, his uncle.”

I wave my hand, signaling my readiness for this man to be taken from my presence so I can help the next person in line. 

A young girl approaches timidly. I step down and go to my knees in front of her so she can speak to me at her own level. But without a word, she places a single white flower in my palm and dashes off into the crowd, disappearing from view before I can thank her.

I stand and lift my skirts as I retake my seat and set the flower in my lap.

“When are you going to stop lying to us?” a barrel-chested man asks, his voice booming throughout the hall, silencing everyone in the room.

I look at him, wondering how best to respond. I slowly blink, trying to come up with a possible answer for the impossible question.

“When? When will you tell us our king is dead? Will you mourn? Dressed in black and looking forlorn, tears in your eyes? I assume you’ll talk about how much you loved him and though you aren’t queen, he appointed you as this kingdom’s ruler in his absence. Therefore, you’ll just make yourself queen, yes?” He throws questions and accusations at me, never giving me a chance to speak.

“What is it you want? To be called queen? For us to bow to you? What could you gain from killing him? You couldn’t even wait for him to marry you—oh, no, it wasn’t enough. And either his uncle is helping, or he’s blindly following instructions you made up!” the man bellows.

I stand, the flower slowly floating to the floor, much like my hope falling into despair. “I will not be spoken to this way. Your king is alive, and until he can address you himself, I will do my best. You think I want to rule? That I want the kingdom? You think for a moment that I want you to bow to me and call me your queen? Then you know nothing about me. Leave. Come back when you’re willing to confess the things you’ve accused me of to your ruler upon his return.”

The man shows no regrets nor fear, but mumbling, he turns and leaves. The rest of the people file out after him, either scared of me or knowing they’ll be sent away for what they were going to say.

I collapse onto the throne, the pain becoming unbearable. I don’t know how much longer I can continue like this. No trust from the people who loved me and welcomed me only days ago.

I look toward Castel, who is watching me, frowning. Beside him stands Estella. She looks sad, pitying me. I lean over, resting my head in my hands, and allow the tears to come. To let my fears wash over me as every scenario runs through my mind.

After my outburst, things are only going to get worse.

“DUCK!” JARLAN YELLS,
flattening himself against the ground. I turn and get down just as the chimera’s huge troll fists go swinging through the air where we just stood. 

The basilisk tail comes next, swooping over us before curling back up and disappearing behind the chimera as he turns around again.

I fly up, flapping my wings hard, forcing myself to use them despite being unused for so long now. There’s a kind of pain, but it also feels good, freeing to be in a space large enough to open them, let alone use them.

I go as high as I can without hitting the spikes above me, which gives me an idea. I turn and fly up beside the largest of them. “Jarlan!” I call, hoping he sees what I’m about to do and moves in time. But I can’t wait to look and find out. I beat my wings against the stones until they break free, falling and piercing the troll hide of the chimera. He shrieks in agony and begins flapping his own wings, getting ready to take flight.

I break off another piece and watch as it falls, landing right between the chimera’s dragon wings. The rock falls a few feet, but continues toward me. The monster is almost near, reaching out his clumsy arms, holding them out, trying to grasp me. I dive before it can, swooping under it, almost flying right into the face of the basilisk. I narrowly avoid it before landing again, now beside Jarlan, who has pressed himself against the wall of the cave.

“I need your help,” I growl, knowing I’ll never succeed on my own. The chimera has far too many advantages.

“What can I do? I’ve not flown or fought in hundreds of years. I will only do more harm than good if I get in the way. I’m sorry, Aurelio, but I cannot.”

I face him, standing as tall as I can like the proud king I am. I stare him down, despite the fact that he is taller. “You have to fight. You’ve been trapped down here since you became king of Dracameveo. Did you not make it beyond the challenges? Or maybe you were never given the chance to prove that you deserved to get out of here. The world wondered what happened to the king of dragon and humans. You disappeared without a trace, and only the kings who came after you ever found out the truth. Maybe you have resolved yourself to stay—maybe you believe you deserve this. But not anymore. I am your great-grandson, and I am now your king. So I am telling you to get up and prepare for a battle that has already begun. You will fight, or you will die alone. I will not give up on those I love just because it seems there is no hope to win a battle against something that is stronger, larger, and has more advantages than myself. I will fight to return to my kingdom and the woman I love until I either succeed or die in the trying.

“You said you were with me, that you would fight. Don’t go back on your word when I need you most. The only time a battle becomes hopeless is when you stop having hope. Fight with me, Jarlan. Alone, there is no chance I can make it home again. But together, we can find a way.” Just as I speak the last part, Jarlan brings his wings forward and shoves me.

I get up, out of breath, hurting from hitting my side against a rock, ready to take on two enemies when I discover that he pushed me away from harm as the chimera came crashing down over us.

“Thank you,” I gasp, flying toward him.

“You’re welcome. Now we need a plan, Aurelio. We need to figure out how we’re going to defeat something we can hardly look at without risk of death.” He looks tired, more worn out. It seems his age is beginning to catch up to him. I think of all the stories, all the speculation, everyone wondering what happened to a young King Jarlan. And now I know—he’s been in the city of the undead all this time.

“We need to get out of here. Do you know how we can?”

“This is much like the pit you were dropped in as your first challenge, with nothing above it. It doesn’t lead straight out of the city. We need to get out of here, back to the throne. Only then will we be able to leave, using the way you came in.”

“So we need to go up. We need to break the ceiling. So let’s fly—the chimera will come after us, no doubt.” Speaking of which, I notice an eerie silence. I look up just in time to see the basilisk tail swinging around.

“Fly now!” I yell before getting in the air, swerving around and beyond where the chimera can reach.

Jarlan follows, and up we go. We fly side by side, nearing the place where I knocked down the stalactites. “We need to get him charging after us one by one. We’ll need to be agile and quick to avoid being hit by him and hitting the rocks ourselves,” I say before nosediving back toward the chimera. I swoop around his face, laughing and flapping my wings in his eyes before shooting back up. His wings create a breeze throughout the cave as he follows me closely. I’m only barely out of his reach, but it works. He’s coming after me.

I go up and up until the very last moment, swerving to the side. The chimera plunges headfirst into the rocks, screaming in agony as many pierce him. He begins to cry, healing himself, but as he falls, some of the rocky ceiling breaks away.

Jarlan, seeing what I just did, goes for it, following the chimera down, taunting him. When his tears have healed most of the damage and he can see again, he comes flying back up, but Jarlan isn’t as smooth as he used to be, and he doesn’t turn in time before hitting one of the crystals, scraping it along his back. The chimera bites out at him, but narrowly misses.

I fly in front of Jarlan, coming between him and monster and beating my wings against his face until he flies back, circling us now. I fear he’s figured out our plan because he no longer flies directly up, but stays even with us.

“I’ve got to land, Aurelio. I’m pierced.” Jarlan struggles to speak and begins his descent.

I follow him, leading the chimera along so Jarlan can land safely. I stay with the chimera, stopping him from hurting either of us until he whips his tail back and forth threateningly, like he knows there is no defense we can use against it.

Rather than fight it, I shoot straight up, not stopping as I near the top. Instead, I flap my wings harder, putting as much power as I can into them. I keep going and going, flying straight through the small hole the chimera created. I burst through, stones flying everywhere as I do. But I don’t stop or look back—I keep flying upward into the sky of nothingness.

A huge boom echoes throughout the city as the chimera comes crashing through, breaking even more of the stones apart.

Jarlan yells, letting me know he’s following. I turn and go back down, passing the chimera who now looks confused and dazed from hitting the rocks so hard.

“Come on!” I holler to Jarlan, heading down the path that led me here in the first place.

He follows me, as does the chimera.

“No! You cannot leave—you cannot return. Who will be king?” Khende shrieks from the throne.

We don’t stop as we pass him. “You’re the king now, Khende. It’s what you deserve!” I fly down the tunnel, Jarlan right behind me, the chimera catching up quickly.

We burst through the door on the other side. I swing back, and the moment Jarlan is out of the tunnel, I slam it shut. The chimera flies into it headfirst, causing it to open partway. Jarlan helps me hold it closed. We both grunt as the chimera continues hitting it with all of his power.

“I need the key, Jarlan. We’ve got to lock it.” But I remember now—Khende had the key. And it’s trapped inside with him.

“What key?” Jarlan asks, putting all his weight on the door.

“The key to open this door is inside with Khende. We have to destroy the door.” I inhale, preparing my fire. Jarlan quickly turns, using his front paws to hold the door as he does the same.

He looks to me. I nod, and we both jump back while breathing our hottest flames onto the glass. The skull at the top droops slowly as the door begins to melt. The banging stops, and in a matter of minutes, the door is a puddle of clear liquid on the ground.

I lie in the grass for a moment, catching my breath, trying to comprehend just what happened.

I close my eyes and allow myself to relax, thinking of being human, being with Zanta, and wondering if the curse is broken. With that thought, I feel the dragon part of me melt away. I open my eyes and look down at my arms and legs, and a lack of wings and scales.

When I look at Jarlan, I’m stunned. He too has turned back into his human form, and he looks so much like Father, I do a double take.

“I can’t believe that all happened,” I mutter, unsure what else there is to say.

“I must thank you, Aurelio. For a moment, I feared I would never leave Itrummortui. Your father was strong and smart and courageous, as was your grandfather, but never before did anyone uncover a way to free me as well. And so, thank you.” He gets down to his knees and bows before me.

“I’m grateful I was able to discover that you were not responsible for the curse, but were a victim of it just as I was. Now, what do you say we return home?”

“Oh, but young king, how can I? The world believes me to me be dead. It is my fault the curse ever came into existence. How could I return to a kingdom that does not want me back?”

“How could you know that you are not wanted unless you went home? Besides, while my father has passed, I am sure Castel, Ignacio’s brother, would love to meet you, to know the truth of what happened to you. As would the world. Please, come home with me, and you will see.”

“Very well. Thank you.” He stands and brushes the dirt off his robes.

“If you don’t mind, we do have another stop to make.”

“Where’s that?”

“Miraunus. I wish to speak to the king. Something tells me he will know what this was all about.”

“Probably the only one left that will know what this is about, considering asking Khende is no longer an option.” he adds.

“Indeed. But at least I can walk away knowing I kept my promise. I told him I would free him from Humestia if I could, and now I have.”

DESPITE LOVING BEING
human again, I force myself to make the change, as does Jarlan just as we enter Miraunus. We fly low until I see the cave’s entrance. King Kryden is already standing outside it as if waiting for us.

He watches me carefully. “It is over, isn’t it?”

“The city of the undead has been destroyed, or at least, the door leading there. But then, if you know why we’re here, can you tell us what we wish to know?” I ask.

“Let us walk, young king.”

I nod and follow him, doing my best to keep up. My entire body is in pain, battered from the fight and the climbing, and certainly from not enough food.

“Khende always liked to play games, certainly with creatures he felt believed they were above him. But he made the mistake of testing out his magic on King Kryden, my great-great-great grandfather, the one I am named after. You see, Khende thought he could take a unicorn’s horn that he could make it a treasure, something to be hunted and sold. He certainly hated our kind. It was at the celebration for your great-great-great-grandfather’s engagement where he caused the troubles that landed him in Humestia. First stealing the horn, then stealing dragon scales. My ancestor alone did not banish him, but yours as well, who had figured out what Khende was doing and told Kryden. Khende did not create the city of the undead, but he certainly used it to his advantage. And while you may have closed one door to it, I fear there are others.”

“Well then, I must make it my mission to find and destroy all of them,” I say.