Dragon Frost (47 page)

Eugene.

Something
heavy weighs me down and my breath fights to escape my lungs before
erupting in fire as it attempts to return. I can’t help it. The
light is all around me and I feel lost. I feel both happy but both
sad. 
If
I’m going to finally die, than why am I
sad? 
I think at
that moment Varden’s face flashes across my mind. His laugh echoes
though my head as I remember the cluster of peaceful moments I’ve
had with him. I’ve never realised it until now—how much I’ve taken
him in. Right down from the way he walks, talks and down to the
smallest things like he would often look to the ground if deep in
thought. 

My lips
hurt as they pull themselves into a smile. A shadow is cast upon me
and I force my eyes to open. It’s blurry at first, the ground
doesn’t seem to stay still and the noise—it’s muffled. I try to
focus but the more I do the more pain I’m in. At that moment,
Varden is over me, his face contorted into fear and pain. Without a
moment’s thought, my hand stings in pain as I move it to touch the
side of his face, at first he hesitates that snuggles into it which
makes me even more happier at the sight. His face begins to change
and Asashin stands above me with confusion on his face.

“
Asashin?” I question before everything goes
black.

“
Kal,
Kal, where are you?” asked a dominant voice. The air was warm and
the sun blazed with elegance overhead. I saw father wonder through
the foliage of the forest that stands just beyond our lands. I
clasped my hands over my mouth to hide the small giggle that
escaped my lips. Father doesn’t know I’m here, I thought happily. I
squatted down beneath the shrubs with a smile on my face. A hand
gripped my shoulder and my hopes of winning faulted.

“
No
fair.” I muttered. “You always know how to find me.” I turned over
my shoulder and saw large sharp incisors bearing down at me. Fear
flooded through me. A scream rippled from my lips at the sight of
the sinister looking demon.

“
Hush,
little princess, I’ll be gentle.” A zapping sound occurred. The
demon jolted and screamed in pain. It collapsed on the ground and
there stood my father with fear and relief in his eyes—his hands
slowly dropped back to his side and I cried and ran to him. At
thirteen, I was small but tall, even at this age I still insisted
on playing hide and seek with people, especially father and
sister.

“
It’s
okay, you’re safe now.” he purred as he stroked my hair, brushing
aside the few strand of silver tresses that fell over my face. A
thumping sound occurred in countless sections around us and I felt
father tense. “Stay behind me.” he ordered and I forced my face
from out of his chest and regarded him with confusion to see his
gaze was no locked on one place but instead his eyes drifted
around, sharply.

I
followed his countless gazes and nestled further in him. There were
more demons but this time there were vampires and other dragons. I
gulped and fought back a scream. “There’s too many father . . . ” I
whispered in fear. I know he heard me before I could do anything my
father’s Prevail locked onto the claws of the demon that initially
attacked.

Something
warm and cool touches my face in a comforting manner, my eyes
squint at the light that phases through the darkness. A groan
escapes my lips than enters my mind. “Looks like Rails is up.” I
want to yell at whoever said: rails. I can’t wait until I ring this
person’s neck it will be absolutely amusing on my part—payback for
that word—though that word is what forces my eyes to snap open.
Only one person calls me rails. It’s blurry at first before my eyes
focus on the silver long haired figure above me, I begin to fight
and force him from me. “Calm down!”

“
Let me
go Eugene!” I yell and thrash about. “Asashin!” I cry.

There’s
no response.

I thrash
about once more, “Asashin!”

“
He’s
 not
 here!” growls Eugene. I stop. My eyes meet his firm,
cold deep blue eyes like mine are or was, in this case, it’s like
every time I see my fellow Nefaliem I’m reminded of what I don’t
have or may never, have again. The thought of it does bother me but
I guess—like everything else, I’m going to have to suck it up and
keep moving forward.

“
What do
you mean? He’s not here?” I ask. Desperate and in fear of the
answer.

“
I mean
what I said, he’s not here, and he was taken by the Grattican.” I
stare, my eyes couldn’t tare themselves away. Fear and earnestly
battles behind his eyes. I fight him off of me, I have no idea why
he’s so close to me, it makes me uncomfortable thinking about
it.

“
And you
didn’t help him!” I growl, “They’ll kill him!” I attempt to stand
on my feet but the world begins to stand and I’m locked in
something.

“
Don’t
move.”

“
You did
nothing to stop him!” The sound of footsteps appears and I realise
that Fredric is here with us, noticing the pill of water he carries
in his arms I know is for me, instead I’m mad at both of them. “You
didn’t do anything to save him!” I yell this time at Fredric and
his face is contorted into pain and fear.

“
Forgive
me, my lady.” the sound of Eugene’s voice radiates from behind me
the moment I turn over my shoulder. Darkness engulfs me—just
barely.

“
What are
you doing!” growls Fredrick. “Princess! She’ll never know the truth
if she keeps this up.”    

I
stare
at the light green
leaves that filter high above me but beneath the warmth of the
bright yellow sun, the blaze of its light, ignites a sense of peace
and comfort though all I want to do right now is leave, disappear
into the darkness and hunt down Golgotha. That witch has taken him
somewhere and doing whoever knows what to him in this universe. I
don’t want to think about the possibilities but the thought of
something bad does make my mind jump with anxiety.

The
leaves, break slightly here and there allowing the warm rays of the
morning sun to sooth my face with its comforting radiation. I can’t
tell whether I’m dreaming or not. I feel nothing around me and my
body feels like nothing is holding it down—like gravity is
non-existent. I feel as though I’m floating or rather, drifting in
the flow of a spinning earth underneath me.

I turn my
gaze to the side and there sits Fredrick, why his parent’s gave him
such a human name is still unknown to me—till this very day—on that
note, I made it my silent list of “things to do” while I still
remember. “Fredrick?” The words came out quicker than I expected
them to and he jolts awake. His eyes turn to meet mine.

“
My lady,
you’re awake.”

“
Where’s
Eugene?”

“
Lord
Vilanté, will return soon, he’s left to ensure that we are safe, my
lady.” I slowly but steadily move my body to sit up right, Fredrick
moves to help me but I refuses to allow him to do such a thing. As
I was the one that didn’t see this coming—I was the one that wasn’t
prepared—I’ve never been so clumsy and blind before now. What has
gotten into me? Am I really losing my touch?

“
How long
will he be gone?” I ask.

“
He
should be back soon.” declares Fredrick. My wrist begins to vibrate
and immediately Mizreth pops up on my PCP. His holographic features
are contorted into fear and concern.

“
My lady,
you haven’t completely recovered—you should rest more.” Fredrick is
quick to my side, with a comforting hand on my shoulder. Gesturing
me to rest even though I’m a little too stubborn to submit to his
desire.

“
And wait
to be ambushed again, 
not
 going to happen.” The air is filled with a moist
dirty scent. That of which causes me to curl my scale fingers
beneath me, I feel the firm stone under my nails and realise that
I’m lying on a flat stone that’s equal to the height of the grass
and dirt surrounding it. I’m determined to move, I’m determined to
save both Varden and Asashin. I refuse to be a helpless
damsel.

“
I
understand my lady but you need to rest. You haven’t recovered from
your last encounter with Vedric.” His voice is harsh but sad. Why
is he sad? Why does everyone walk around me as if I’m some time
bomb waiting to explode at any minute?

“
Where’s
Eugene?” I demand. His eyes cast themselves helplessly on the
ground between us. I repeat, “Where’s Eugene, Fredrick?”

“
He said
he’ll be back soon.” I keep my eyes on him and wait for him to
continue when he doesn’t I’m forced to ask.

“
And?”

“
He’s
been gone for hours.” he confesses.

“
Does he
normally do this?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“
There
are times when he’s gone for weeks on end but when he does return
he’s never broken his word on when he’ll be back. He doesn’t say
where he’s going, he just leaves and returns when he says.” That
reminds me of myself, still I couldn’t help but worry.

“
How long
ago did he say he would return?” Fredrick looks up at the morning
sun and I follow his gaze, the fluffy clouds are calm, the exact
opposite of Fredrick at the moment, something which I feel
radiating off of him in waves.

“
At
sunrise.” He should have returned hours ago. “And I’m worried, my
lady.” he admits and I see his grief filled gaze—his scrutiny
returns to me—and with that look in his eye I know that this isn’t
something he wants to confess. “With the attack and the abduction
of Asashin I fear . . .” I nod in understanding.

“
We’ll
find him and Asashin. They couldn’t have gotten too far and if they
have—I won’t give up.” I slowly but carefully force myself to
stand. At first I was a little bit unsteady but Fredrick was there
to keep me from toppling over to my relief. At this rate the way
I’ve been going I’m sure I’ll be dead or killed at any time soon. I
slip my arms from his grasp and attempt to stand, this time I don’t
threaten to fall and slowly walk away feeling the weight of my body
on the soles of my feet once more.

My heels more
dominant than ever.

The males
of our species wore heels as well but that was just a replica of
what our feet appear when we are in our true
forms—our 
dragon
 forms. “Have you tried telepathic?” I ask keeping my
eyes on the cliff which I now face. The ravine below isn’t dark but
filled with rapid fast flowing water and I only just realise that
we are on Zylaria. The planet where this became more complicated by
the minute.

The air
is thin. The scent, stronger than anything I have ever smelt. I
can’t understand why it’s so intoxicating. It draws me in like a
moth to a flame. I can hear my name being called in a symphonic
melody—it’s alluring and irresistible. The sound dances through the
still wind and soundless trees, straight to me. As if it’s finally
home, at last. 
“Kalverya . . .” 
the sound dances through the wind, crisping and gliding
ever so calmly to me. 
“Kalverya . . .”
 it calls once more in a dangerous,
threatening tone.

“
Something’s with us.” states Fredrick.

“
I know
but we need to keep moving, we need to find Asashin.”

I don’t
necessarily understand Fredrick’s reason but I do have faith in
Mizreth and sadly that is something that I can say that will never
be miss trusted—though there are times like now I question that.
“I’m 
positive
 he
needs to be fixed.” I mutter as I eye my AI standing proudly
between Fredrick and I on a virtual projector pad. I glance at him
and his face twists into an innocent smile that annoys
me. 
What
does he think he’s a child now? That so won’t work on
me.
 I think,
disgusted.

“
I
agree.” admits Fredrick. “Mizreth has been acting rather strange.”
I keep my eyes on my AI, if I’m not careful he’ll most likely
malfunction.

“
That’s a
prejudice accusation!” Fredrick sighs and I fight the urge to
collapse on the ground. If it weren’t for the fact that I’m sitting
I probably would have. Never before have, I heard him talk back
like that. 
He definitely needs to be reconfigured.

“
We’re
not being prejudice!” growls Fredrick. I glance at the trees while
I attempt to block out the now recently erupted yet pointless
argument between my AI and Fredrick. The leaves high above our
position, dances gently, in an even rhythmic pace that I can’t seem
to stop admiring and just like that.

It stops.

The
ground begins to crack and split. A sharp shattering sound grips me
at my core. I glance at Fredrick who—like me—is immediately on his
feet, his eyes dart around in an aggressive manner. “Fe, Fi, Foe,
Fum. I smell Nefaliem scum!” booms a voice so loud it causes the
sound of clipping wings to be erratic in my ears—flocks of birds
scatter at the tumbling tall trees and thick snapping
wood.

“
Great .
. .” I hear Fredrick mutter. The trees begin to part ways and like
that a thick—blistering and distorted features jump before us—his
gaping teeth only causes my scales to crawl as his dark black eyes
peer into mine. It is callous to think that everything will be
alright when in the end the tables have turned and no one, I mean
no one, was able to stop it or was there before-hand to prevent
it.