My consciousness drifted in the dark—
Sinking deeper and deeper into the numbness of sleep.
It would have been so easy to allow the darkness to take me away from the pain . .
'NO!' I let out a mental roar as my weary mind beat back the fatigue.
My eyes snapped open!
I fell onto my kness, trembling while my blurry vision focused.
Our attackers were gone.
The darkness ahead was thinning.
The air and ground hummed faintly with residual chaos, but they were slowly returning to calm.
My bones creaked unnaturally, and my knees felt like jelly. My nerves felt like they were on fire, and migraines were splitting my head open.
I was was trembling with grief as I made my way over to Hera. Her body was ruined in ways that would hunt me for an eternity. Her face was unrecognizable: where her eyes should have been, there was a bloody and foamy mess.
Even worse: there was a patch of smoking, blackened flesh where she had been pierced from the rod.
My stomach twisted.
I wanted to lie down and cry, but I could still feel her laboured breath— the defiant beat of her damaged heart.
She still needed my help, so I managed to gather her into my arms and stagger forward towards the city of Orcus, towards the faint lights flickering on the horizon.
My spirit was broken, each look at Hera sent invisible daggers stabbing into my chest, but I held on to her – I wasn't going to let go of her.
I was anxious to get help, but it seemed like the wasteland went on forever . It was a long while before I could see the familiar canopy of trees that guarded Orcus.
But before I could move any closer, several shadows materialized around me – most of them large, burly and reeking of blood.
They swooped in and formed a circle around me.
Unfortunately, I recognized their features. :They all had the trademark horns and tails of the Serzar dragonshifters.
The one at the center . . .
Well, she took my breath away.
She'd had the proud air of a matriarch — intimidating and powerful.
She was taller than me— over six feet of
sensuous curves and sinful temptation.
She had a alluring face— one so enrapturing that I averted my eyes immediately.
A pair of beautifully shaped horns adorned her head like a crown, while a draconic tail sawyed behind her idly.
Perhaps on a different day I would have capitulated to her beauty. But today, all her features inspired in me. . .
was a pure, bottomless rage!
'Get out of my way!,' I roared.
She smiled coldly. 'Were you never taught manners, dear?'
Her entourage – seven other dragonshifters – tensed and advanced closer to me.
A snarl ripped from between my teeth — my burnt-out body readied itself for combat.
But the woman only sighed. 'I'm afraid this is as far as you go, Mason— That is your name right? There are eight of us here — all more powerful than you. Surrender before this turns ugly—'
Then she paused and looked at Hera before amending.
'Uglier'.
That did it.
I was so mad I couldn't think. I lunged at her.
But the other shifters were faster. Two of them raced forward and launched their fists at me.
It was all I could do to turn my back against the attack and hug Hera tightly.
Their fist caught me square in the back and the impact threw me off my feet.
After a brief flight, I narrowly managed a summersault landing while securely holding Hera.
But my vision doubled, and jet of blood burst free from my lips.
'Oh, don't be a fool, dear,' The woman laughed, regarding me with disdain. 'I had warned them not to attack seriously just now.'
But my jaw clenched, and around me the air begun to steam. Tongues of blue fire begun to lick my body.
'Are you sure you want to fight?' The woman warned while she watched me. Her eyes glinting dangerously. 'She might not survive you know?
Isnt is better if you came with us. Or are you that eager for her to die?'
Her words incensed me even more. I wanted so badly to give to my rage. But it wouldn't have done any good for Hera, and the woman was right about one thing:
She would not survive another battle.
I gritted my teeth. 'Alright' I growled. 'I'll go with you.
Take me wherever you want.'
————————
—–––———
——–
The journey was long— almost an entire day.
The dragons shifter woman plucked my up by my colllar.
The whole time I kept closely listening to Hera's weakening heartbeat, worried that she would die the minute my focus left her.
Despite having no wings, the dragons flew majestically through the sky. I briefly wondered about what powered their flight— before my attention was whole consumed by Hera's state.
Before long we arrived in the territory pf clan Serzar.
The dragonshifter woman dropped me like a sack of poatatoes onto the palace courtyard.
The palace —to my my deep chagrin— was glorious.
Dark gold tower grew from the marble floors to touch the sky.
Gardens overflowed with starry lanterns and viridian Orchids.
A pair of gates— giant and golden — faced me imperiously.
It would've been a place to admire, except of course, that I and a mortally wounded Hera were being held hostage.
Armored dragon shifter warriors guarded the gate. I felt their cold impassive eyes scanning me the moment I aloghted.
The seven other shifters landed. Then they bowed to the woman and withdrew.
I resisted the urge to do something reackless and voilent. They'd only stop me.
I'd have to play nice for now.
The woman entered the gates.
I took a deep long breath before following her in with a broken Hera still nestled in my arms.
Then the torches on the wall blazed:
Illuminating a dozen figures in the hall–
The largest silhouette sat on an obsidian throne— a Serzar— and a dozen other shadows surrounded him.
There was already palpable tension in the air as I approached.
'– But lord, this a great taboo!' one of the shadows said.
'How dare y-!' Another shadow— closer to the throne— begun to say.
'Our geusts have arrived!' The enthroned figure barked . 'Silence!'
I finally saw the figure clearly as he stepped down from his throne and drew near.
He wore a the long robe. It was pitch-black, and brushed against the floor.
For a moment, I was surprised by the long, ink-black color of his hair."My betrothed Fey, you've returned!" He said.
His voice was a deep but smooth baritone. He levitated forward, the motion flowing with such grace that I was astounded.
My shock deepened as he floated closer and I could see his face. It was unlike any other male face I had seen. His features were perfect— yet did not subtract from his masculinity.
He glided to the dragonshifter woman who'd brought me here (her name was Fey apparently), took her face in his large hands, kissed her warmly on her rosy lips, and then turned to me.
'Mason Quill,' he said as if we were old friends. 'At last.'
All the other Serzar in the court studied me curiously. I'd seen the same curiosity when I had been first introduced to the Uttarian Vampires.
I glared up at him. 'Who are you? What do you want from me?'
'Ah, how rude of me.' He sighed.
'My name is Xerxes, King of the Serzar, 16th of my name. And as for what I want. . .
Why . . . to talk, of course.'
He twisted his lips in a dark grin. 'Didn't my betrothed tell you?'
'You sent your men to assault me and do . .. .this . . to my gaurdian so we could talk?' I asked while my voice trembled with rage
'Oh, no,' Xerxes said. 'I'm afraid your gaurdians erhh. . mishap was never intended. I only ever ordered for you to be safely excorted here. Things turned out the way they did because she got in the way.
Still... I must applaud her.
For a non-sezar to defeat three dragonshifters in combat is no easy feet. And all while protecting you. . .' Then he looked at the mutilated Hera and sighed:
'A great pity indeed.'
A volatile shudder coarsed through my body. It took every bit of self restraint i had not to charge Xerxes that very moment. 'Beast!' I roared.
'I will stop at nothing to –'
'Die without a burial place,' Xerxes finished experessionlessly. 'Is that not what weaklings like you do best?'
Then he continued. 'Why do you blame me for her condition child?
We're you not the one who allowed her to fight my men in your place?
And were you not the weakness they exploited to defeat her?
My men may have dealt the blows, but make no mistake, the one who harmed her was you!'
'No' I whispered— shook my head– but my eyes still trailed to Hera's body.
At the bleeeding sockets where here eyes had been.
At the ever blackening flesh at her core.
A scream tore out of my throat—raw with pain.
'Beloved, this child's heart is on the brink of collapse,' Fey chided. 'Push him any further and he may break. Besides, he's a brave one. I admire that.
Why not show a little goodwill.'
Next chapter title: Escape