Dracosapiens: The Birth of Half Breeds, Chapter 19 Part 2

(Divine: Adriana's follower)1

Dracosapiens: The Birth of Half Breeds, Chapter 19 Part 22

Small Cave, Porters Mountain Range, Sheridan Outskirts 3.19pm October 16th Thursday EST3

Climbing up the mountain face was an arduous journey. I had been at it since ten o' clock this morning and was now sorely regretting never participating in sports. I didn't have a single athletic bone in my body, unlike Alexis or most of the boys, and now, I was paying for it. 4

I really couldn't believe how much Tyson and Jake had scared me this morning either, my heart would race just thinking about it. Holding a bottle of sleeping pills in one hand and enough rope to tie up a person in the other...they had scared the living and breathing daylights out of me. But that was done now, all in the past. That didn't mean I had forgiven them for whatever prank it was they were trying to pull, just that they were the least of my problems today.5

The Sheridan sun beat down on the gigantic mountain tops I was trying to climb, long, hard and relentless. The rocks and crevices had blistered mercilessly beneath my fingers, always close to sending my flying off the edge. If I fell, from this height, there'd be no way even a hospital would know what to do with me. My body would be about as mushed as Jello and as sun burnt as...well, somebody else pretty badly burned.6

There was little to no life up here either, just deadened grass and traces of kangaroo or wallaby droppings, which I was careful to avoid. I had run out of water fifteen minutes ago and my throat was parched and sore. Dirt and dust filled my lungs and covered my clothes, which I had purposefully changed thanks to Tyson's smart remark. I wore a tight, black singlet, long army pattered jeans and some hiking boots, and shades so the sun didn't successfully blind me. 7

I wouldn't have gotten much further up the mountain in my weakened condition, but miraculously, there had been a small cave several meters above me, and I dashed to it as quickly as I was able. I was so grateful that such a thing had really occurred, but apparently, nature had nothing to do with it.8

“Hi Ella, fancy meeting you here,” Tyson snickered from the dark.9

“Tyson?” I asked, almost falling backwards out of the cave. Another pair of hands pulled me forward in an instant. 10

“Just who else is in here exactly?” I asked shrewdly, rubbing my wrists where the stranger had grabbed hold of me. 11

I pulled off my shades and tried to adjust my eyes to the gloom. Tyson's smug face eventually came into view and I did my best to remain calm. I had not forgiven him or Jake for what they had tried to pull this morning. My parents had been kidnapped and they were still joking around and pulling stunts! He was just lucky I hadn't kicked him in his tender spot and ended the Tyson Demisi generation with him!12

“Just what exactly are you lot up to?” I questioned him suspiciously. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him, and due to my physique, that definitely wasn't far.13

“Noooothiiiiiinnng,” he responded innocently. The smile on his face and twinkle in his eye told me immediately that he was not to be trusted. “But as to your other question,” he continued, “Jake, Luke and Roxy are here with me in the dark. Say howdy.”14

“I see. So the cave wasn't a miracle after all. Am I right to assume that Roxy and her delightful talents had something to do with this?” 15

The goth girl laughed proudly within the shadows. “Guilty as charged.”16

I was getting annoyed but the irritation in my voice was lost somewhere in between the panting and gasping for air. “What the hell are you guys even doing here? Honestly, what part of ALONE don't you lot understand?!”17

“Take it easy, you'll give yourself a stress headache,” muttered Luke, shuffling around uncomfortably. I could only barely make out his and Roxy's outline and neither of them were in uniform. I had to remind myself that unlike Tyson and Jake, these two no longer attended.18

“Jake?” I asked, feeling incredibly stupid as my voice echoed dimly through the cave walls. “You there?”19

“Course I am,” he chuckled. “Who do you think caught you?” I reached out into the darkness in longing, wondering if he would grab me again. He did, but not from the place I was expecting. Gasping in surprise, I choked, “you were behind me? No wonder I couldn't see you!” My boyfriend's handsome features were brought to light by the blinding sun behind him. I admired his perfection in awe, but something about his expression seemed off. Almost as if...he was hiding something from me. Or cheating me somehow. Whatever it was, now was not the time to discuss it.20

“You guys are here to help me, aren't you?” I growled, trying to look them all in the eye. The surrounding darkness made it a little difficult when it came to Luke and Roxy but I gave it my best. “You know I have to do this on my own.”21

“We do...but we decided to come anyway,” Tyson finished, appearing smug again. As he moved ever so slightly to the left, the afternoon sun flashing across his face, I noticed that he too was hiding something. His usually boyish green eyes were now tight, cautious even. What secret was I missing here?22

“You will be alone,” said Luke, stepping forward into the light. The mouth of cave was suddenly very crowded with the four of us standing there. I felt bad for Roxy, still leaning against one of the cave walls at the back, completely excluded from the conversation. “At least, to their knowledge,” he added maliciously, not even trying to hide his pleasure in this particular fact. Luke was wearing a pair of loose pants and a brown -shirt displaying a picture of an archaeological site and the lame comedic heading of “you dig it?”23

“What are you going to do?” I laughed, humour entirely gone from my tone. “Hide behind the bushes?”24

“Nope, the rocks actually,” Luke replied, brushing off my skepticism coldly. “Roxy has a rather interesting power that she has been developing, but hey, I won't spoil her moment. Wanna tell her yourself oh mighty princess of darkness?”25

“Oh harty har har,” she grumbled. “I am so sick of the goth jokes already. Get some new material.”26

“Well,” he laughed, “if you just followed your own advice and got some, maybe in brighter colours, you wouldn't be in this mess, now would you?”27

“Why I dated you,” she hissed, taking his place into the light, “I swear I will never know.”28

“Dated? Really?” asked Tyson incredulously. “Now that is hard to believe.” Roxy was, unsurprisingly, dressed in her usual day wear. A long black overcoat, that wasn't appropriate for the current temperature outside at all, and a rather flattering dark grey dress with black buttons and a dropping v neck line. She wore long grey and black striped socks and thick, buckled shoes seen only by the witches portrayed on T.V. If it wasn't for her sweet and innocent personality, I would be edging away from this girl quick smart, especially since her hair was down and in her eyes. Nothing creeped me out more than shadowy faces.29

“More importantly,” I said, raising my voice, “what was this oh so clever plan of yours that involves your discretion from our meeting?”30

“Well we're not going to actually hide behind the rocks, that's just plain dumb -”31

“Thank you,” I nodded.32

“But we will be hiding in them,” she moved on.33

I felt my eyes snap briefly out of their sockets. “Say what?”34

“It's not really a new power, just a variation of my older ones,” she continued eagerly. “I just hollow out the rock, giving us enough room to both breathe and move, but also just thin enough that we can hear what is going on. That way we can tell if you'll be requiring our assistance or not.”35

“But that's crazy,” I whispered hoarsely. “Totally insane.”36

“It's sheer genius in my opinion,” said Jake, stopping my argument firmly in its tracks.37

“You...you actually agree with this?” I asked, looking deep into his eyes.38

“Don't you?”39

I sighed in defeat, I was nothing but putty in his capable hands. “Yes, but...if something goes wrong...my parents are all I have,” I moaned, trying to make them all see reason whilst falling to their whim at the same time. “I don't want to be responsible for another death, all right?”40

Jake's eyes grew very distant. “What do you mean another death?”41

“Oh come on!” I screeched, actually stamping my foot. “You're telling me you never wondered why I didn't foresee Sarah dying?!”42

There was a sharp intake of breath from beside which I knew to be Tyson. He had retreated hastily back into the shadows, his pain quickly masked in the cave's darkness.43

“Well...didn't you?” I whispered, fighting back the tears. “You hate me, don't you? You blame me for it?”44

Jake's arms were suddenly around my elbows and waist, his gentle voice hushing me into silence. “Don't be silly...Ella. Nobody ever blamed you. We can't expect you to see everything.” Despite his comforting touch, again, something felt off, like he didn't really want to hug me at all. And the way he had said my name...like it wasn't even mine...that it pained him to say it. I shook the thought off in another instant. My paranoia was getting the better of me again. But come to think of it...45

“Why can't I hear Gareth?” I asked, horrified that I hadn't noticed it before. “Why can't I hear him?” Tyson stepped out of the gloom, fully recovered from his moment of weakness. “Don't worry about it...Ella,” he muttered soothingly. “We'll explain everything later, 'kay?”46

“Explain?” I demanded, really panicking now. “Explain what? What's wrong with me?”47

“Nothing Ella, nothing,” Jake soothed, hugging me tighter. My breathing returned to normal as I felt his heart beat thumping lightly across my back.48

I waited a few more seconds before daring to speak. “So...what are you going to do? Will, will you tell me?”49

“Of course,” Tyson sighed, collapsing onto his behind. “The plan is simple. If it's done properly anyway. What we intend to do, is this.” Tyson picked up a small twig from the cave floor and began doodling on the dirt so I could see. “You go meet the Magiks, alone. Roxy has already 'dug' a tunnel leading away from this cave and up to just below the mountain top oasis.” He marked an X quickly on the dirt and drew a squiggly line that veered off to the right. I was with him so far.50

“Jake will be there, hiding directly beneath the whole lot of you, should the worst happen and he needs to get in there and heal somebody. Now as for Luke, Roxy and I, we shall take an alternate route that separates later on into two other tunnels.” He drew another line that veered off to the left and separated into two. All the lines now led to a small square looking space in which he wrote the words “Ella is here.” I couldn't help but wonder, just how long had they been planning this?51

“Roxy,” Tyson continued, “will be in one tunnel, which is positioned directly in front of the meeting place and Luke and I will be positioned in the back. Now Jake and I chose this team due to our own special advantages. Since the Magiks chose a mountain terrain, we knew it would be perfect for Roxy to go out and strut her stuff. I've already mentioned Jake's use...and mine, well, I think that's also been made pretty clear.” He flexed his muscles anyway.52

“Okay,” I answered, “so what's Luke doing here then?”53

“Oh, er,” Tyson fumbled, losing his place. “He's just overlooking something for me. Us. Just to make sure our theory works.”54

My eyes narrowed in caution. “Theory?”55

“Look, never mind that now,” Tyson gushed. “We've told you what you need to know, so scram already. You've got some serious climbing to do and not much time to do it in.”56

I nodded fervently and rose to my feet. Whatever it was they weren't telling me, I trusted that it was for a good reason. I stepped out of the cave mouth and nervously back onto the ledge that connected it.57

“Don't worry,” said Jake confidently. “Just don't look down.” 58

The smile I gave him didn't quite touch my eyes. “Thank you,” I murmured, moving slowly across the cliff face. “For everything.” There was a loud crunching sound and a boulder popped fresh out of nowhere, hiding the cave mouth completely from view.59

“Ah, if only I could be Roxy right now,” I mumbled, accidentally staring at the perilous distance between me and the ground. “Maybe then this wouldn't be so bad.”60

As the afternoon wore on and I got closer and closer toward my destination, I honestly considered quitting about a dozen times. My hands were cracked and bleeding and I still hadn't had anything to drink. I was rather wishing that the three of them had brought Yasmine with them so she could refresh me. Too late now of course.61

Any water that had once been part of me, now drenched my clothes in a stench that was something horrendous. Sweat dripped from my brow into my eyes, under my arms, on the back of my neck - it felt like I was swimming in a warm and sickly river of human juices. I was glad that none of my friends could see me as I trudged along the path to doom. I even grew jealous of them sitting in the cooling shade of the rocks. If it wasn't my parents up there, waiting for me to save them, I doubt I could have made it to the top. But...I did. I clung to the green grass as if it were diamonds, reveling in the fact I had made that entire trek on my own. I dragged myself to a nearby tree, stomach and legs trailing through dirt and bush just to get there. I fanned myself pathetically with my hands, listening to the sound of my frantic heaves for air. I could have stayed under that tree for hours if it was not for the tiny pond I spotted a few meters behind it.62

I forced both mind and body to reach that small pond of fresh water and was eternally grateful that I had. My skin blistered and burned, patches of it turning a bright, cherry red that may well have put tomatoes to shame. I cleaned my cuts, scrubbed my hands and just bathed for several minutes in silence. I didn't even bother removing my clothes.63

“Lookie what we have here,” cackled a woman from behind me. It wasn't Adriana.64

I tried to get out of the water and assume a defensive position, my natural survival instincts kicking in, but unfortunately, I couldn't budge. Not even an inch.65

Five figures walked casually around the pond I was now trapped in, dipping their hands into the water and kicking it in my face. It didn't bother me, a splash attack was hardly life threatening. 66

The small group turned to stand in front of me, smirking and snickering like the typical bullies of the schoolyard. I glanced around at the pretty oasis, searching for the one who had led these four into battle. It was so lush and green up here, made possible by the low and cooling climate of the surrounding clouds that drenched the mountain tops in endless rain. If only the rock faces had been as pleasant.67

Muffled cries made me think of turning around, but thinking of the action was the best I could do.. Adriana was using her special forcefields around my entire body, I was trapped within my own skin.68

“Glad you could make it, dragon scum,” Adriana spat in my ear. I screamed in pain as I was hit across the head with a sharp, wooden log. The right side of my face immediately pooled with blood and I cringed against the rising headache it had created. So much for a painless death.69

Adriana skulked forward, wearing the outfit I had seen her in the first time I had laid eyes on her. Just looking at that violet cloak, blond hair and bright red eyes...it brought back dreams that were better left forgotten. Why was it I could no longer see into the future? Was I so preoccupied that I was foolishly dwelling in the past?70

Two bodies, bound and gagged were dragged carelessly behind Adriana and it didn't take a genius to figure out who they were. My parents. They were alive. Although my predicament at this time seemed grim, a tiny smile tugged at my itched and cracking lips. I was glad they were okay - in the loosest possible meaning of the word. Their hands, feet and mouths were taped with a silvery film that I immediately recognized as duct tape. Frankly I was amazed; I didn't think the warlocks knew anything about the human world, let alone some of its greatest mistakes. That's when I noticed what the other five Magiks were wearing, why I had ridden them off as anything but scary.. They were dressed in human clothes. The men may have had scars, stubble and scruffy hair and the women violent, blood thirsty expressions, but Adriana was the only one here who filled my heart with a sense of dread. She was the only one who looked even remotely close to her true nature, a warlock, a killer. 71

The two other blond women were dressed in every day fashions of bright red and pink dresses and the males wore casual dress shirts, belts, shoes and pants. It was an utter transformation.72

“You've been hiding in the human world?” I accused, taking in their clothing styles. “Blending in with society?”73

“Oh yes,” the one named Mimi giggled. She was dressed from head to foot in hot pink and her blond pigtails gave me the instant impression of a total airhead. “How else do you think we got to your mummy and daddy here?”74

I gulped. Sheridan was such a trusting neighborhood and my folks were just the type of people to let strangers walk right into their home and make them welcome.75

“Indeed, so courteous,” Adriana chuckled, holding my mother and father tightly by the hair. Their muffled pleas had silenced the second they had laid eyes on me and I tried to look anywhere else but at them. I didn't want them to worry until they absolutely had to. 76

“Yerse...” Adriana drawled, shaking them a little. “All I had to do was convince your mother that I was a client in need of divorcing aid and she all but welcomed me into the family with open arms. How positively idiotic.” Caleb chuckled heartily.77

“Don't you talk about my mother like that,” I growled, acting before even considering the consequences. One of the males, I thought his name was Lance or something, raised his hand and flicked it in the direction of my stomach. An invisible force hit me hard and fast, I screamed and yelled, unable to move or coil away from the pain. My stomach felt like it was at breaking point and a few traitorous tears escaped from the corners of my eyes. Beaten, bloodied and broken...some rescue mission this was. Where were they? If they were going to help me, now would be the time! What exactly were they waiting for?78

“So now you begin to understand, half breed,” Adriana whispered darkly, pulling back the heads of my family. “You're all alone today and nobody is here to save you. How does it feel to stare death square in the face?”79

“Swell,” I muttered sarcastically. “It's just a shame death had to take such an ugly form.” Again, my own reactions were surprising me. Where was all this sudden heroism coming from? Was it really because I knew the end was coming and would accept it with my head held high? Or was it something else entirely?80

I thought back to the panicked little girl I had been this morning. It was like I had been a different person. A haughty smile began to tug at my lips. So that was their plan...smart.81