Dracosapiens Book 1 Chapter Two

Chapter 2: Vengeance of the Wicked1

The Wastelands, Draconi, 2

Shack in the Desert 3:59 pm March 23rd Monday EST 3

"It's only a matter of time now," came a hushed voice from the dark. "In just a few measly hours, the girl will be mine."4

A strange, hazy light slowly began to fill the room. It flickered and crackled angrily, hissing and spitting like a snake. No, not a snake, but a reptile none-the-less. A fantastical beast to the world below it; a creature of both myth and legend. With flashing scales and carnivorous teeth bared in fury at the injustice it had been served, the monster narrowed its yellowed eyes in disgust.5

I didn't quite understand what was going on. For starters, how the heck on God's green earth did I even get here?! Wasn't I just at the party with Jake and friends, closing my eyes against the pathetic brawl for the buffet? 6

Ah. Now I understood. I was dreaming. Again.7

"Ha ha, the stupid girl won't even know what hit her!" Instinctively, my head snapped sharply to the left. My neck muscles screamed in protest at the speed of this particular action, but I barely even noticed the spasm. I was far too concerned with what the man was saying. For some reason, I had this nagging suspicion that the voices were discussing me.8

My eyes honed in on all contents of the hardly hospitable shack. Threadbare, rugged furniture, broken stools and tables and a makeshift door out of bark, but the most curious thing of all, was not the scorch marks or gaping holes through each wall, rather the strange set of claw marks that led distinctively toward the fire. My eyes studied them briefly; sheer curiosity burning within my veins. What kind of creature did they belong to? 9

"Yes, yes, but how will we find her?” demanded another impatiently, his words no more than a rasp. “Earth isn't exactly a tiny planet you know!" 10

I returned my attention to the voices once more as five menacing shadows loomed from within the darkness, the furthest away throwing up their hands in exasperation. One other figure however, was clearly discernible due to the ever-moving flames in front of them. It was a woman. A woman that looked horridly familiar to me. 11

The realization of it all struck me harder than lightning. A violet cloak, long, wavy blonde tendrils, unnaturally vivid red eyes...this...this was the entity from my previous nightmare. How was it possible that I was dreaming about her twice in the same day? Did she somehow relate to the future? My future?12

"You are a fool to believe I have not planned for this day, Valance!” she crowed, kicking something that howled in pain. “I have never been so utterly prepared in all my nineteen hundred years of wretched existence." Total shock overcame my system. Her voice was so cold, like crystals of ice piercing my very flesh. It was unmistakably evil. Was this really the way she spoke to her friends?13

"Forgive me, Adriana,” he apologized gruffly. “I lost my place for a moment." 14

The evil woman grinned; her eyes positively dancing with sarcasm and malice. "See to it that it is not forgotten again." The nearest shadow bowed its head in shame, retreating into the folds of obscurity once more. 15

That's about the point when my mind did a double take. Did Adriblabla or whatever really just say what I thought she had? That she’d lived for nineteen hundred years?! No way. That just wasn't possible. This woman barely looked as if she was in her thirties. Granted, her skin was pale and sallow, like she hadn't eaten in weeks, but surely that couldn't have affected my age-judgment that badly. 16

I caught a glance of myself reflected in the broken window adjacent - my face was hysterical. My entire body was shaking with an awkward blend of both anticipation and fear. Anxiety was in there too, probably just buried under the more evident emotions, because for some reason, this dream felt a lot more real than the others had.17

"So, what's our strategy then Adriana?” another male silhouette continued. “How exactly do we find the demon brat?" 18

A tall, brawny man stepped quickly into the light and for a short moment, his features took my breath away. It was like looking at an older, scruffier Jake with more stubble and shaggy hair. He wore a loose brown jacket, allowing his chiselled muscles to be thrown into view and his pants were long and worn. It virtually appeared as if they were made from some sort of reptilian hide. Crocodile? No. Crocs and alligators didn't get that green. Moreover, the tooth...strung around his neck like a trophy. Well, I'd never seen anything like it.19

"The girl will not be difficult to find," cooed Adriana softly, knocking me out of my reverie. "You are forgetting, Caleb, that Gareth was once my ally. I am connected to his spirit in more ways than one." She tapped a dirty fingernail lightly to her temple and winked.20

"Ah,” he consented with a gentle nod. “But of course." 21

The strange woman shook her head in mocking. "The stupid idiot! Did he honestly think he would escape my wrath by hiding himself in a mortal?! Just how foolish can a dragon really be?" 22

Caleb chuckled darkly. "It's rather a shame really. That she has to die for his mistake. I do hope the kid puts up a good fight. After being locked up for seventeen years, a man needs to test his strength." The shabby room was instantly full of laughter. Apparently they delighted in discussing death.23

A shadow yawned hugely, rubbing their eyes and stretching lazily before coming to rest on the wall behind them. "So what's the girl's name anyway?” they asked carelessly. “I think I might just get a tattoo in her honour." The figure closest to me sniggered and Adriana cackled ruthlessly at Valance's joke, tapping one shiny, black boot smartly against the creaking floorboards. 24

"Ella Paul as I understand it. Then again, translating Hawkeye‘s messages has never been easy." 25

I froze. Were they seriously plotting my murder? This was the most disturbing nightmare I’d ever dreamt!26

“So it was a victory then?” asked another female dubiously, drawing nearer to my position. “The creature can move between both worlds unharmed?” I gasped as the stranger walked straight through me as if I were nothing more than mist. I patted my stomach and chest warily but everything appeared to be intact. Exhaling sharply, my eyes followed her around like a hawk, to be sure I never experienced that again. 27

The woman walked gracefully over to one of the stools nearby, turned it up the right way and sat down, crossing her legs. Upon closer inspection, I realised that she wasn’t much of a woman at all. Her face was young and pointed, like a pixie, her magenta eyes clashing horribly with her red cloak and dirty blonde bob. She couldn’t have been any older than twenty, her voice all honey and wind chimes.28

Adjusting her many silver rings that sparkled in the night, she looked up at Adriana expectantly.29

“Of course Divine,” sighed her companion, finally bored with all the questions. “Animals that co-exist peacefully between our worlds are free to come and go as they please. Should something like a Yellow Fang try to pass through a Draconian gateway however - since they are no longer present on Earth - it would only fail and disintegrate into dust. As the spell was only designed to keep our kind in, naturally we cannot cross the boarder, at least not until it breaks. And once it finally does, due to us being so similar to the earthlings, that troublesome rule need not apply to us.”30

Draconian? I puzzled whilst the others commented on how fortunate they were. Was that some kind of codeword? And what the hell was a Yellow Fang?31

Valance‘s answering question was terse and bitter as he stepped closer to the light. I could almost make his face out now and he wasn’t anywhere close to being as handsome as the one they called Caleb. “I think you are missing the true problem here everyone! How do you know that this child isn’t there waiting to ambush us right now?” 32

Adriana sneered at the man as if he were nothing more than an ignorant and meddling child. “I guess you could say…a little birdie told me. Now, at precisely 7.31 tonight on the human world," Adriana continued lightly. "Our portals will open and we shall finally be free of this living hell. And then, we shall go slay ourselves a dragon wrench…along with anybody else who dares cross me and stand in our path." She smiled widely.33

"And if she has already awakened the other nine?" asked another shadow timidly; a girl this time. 34

Adriana's face crumpled and she clicked her tongue thoughtfully before responding. "I think Mimi, it would be best if we were to re-group. Dealing with the God of Air is one thing, but another nine?” she asked, beginning to pace. “Hmm, I do not think even I would make it out alive if that were to happen." The six figures shuddered. Obviously, this Adriana woman was their leader and a powerful one at that.35

So where did that leave me? I pondered crossly. Infused with a giant dragon who just happens to be the God of Air?! How utterly ridiculous! I had no idea my imagination could run this wild. Then again, in all honesty, it would explain a lot. The weather control, the pencil, even my demonic alter ego. It was half dragon. 36

I decided to play along for a moment. What about the predictions then? I thought critically. How could controlling a singular element possibly allow me to delve into the future? I gasped, horrified at where I was going. They were talking about me - killing me - and I was still asleep at the party. Not only was my life in danger, but everyone else's as well. My friends, their families and even Jake. They were all about to die. Whatever doubts I previously had, were all but tossed out the window.37

"NO DON'T!" I screamed dramatically, and that's when it happened. Something that had never before occurred in one of my dreams. The woman turned to stare at me. 38

Not real, not real, not real, not real. But no matter how many times I repeated this in my head, it didn't stop the woman's suddenly curious advance. I backed away into a corner of the room as a truly wicked smile began to tug at her lips. She could see me.39

Seymour Residence, Backyard, 40

The Pavilion 7.36 pm March 23rd Monday EST41

"ELLA?! ELLA WAKE-UP!"42

I groaned in response. I didn't want to move..., breathe..., or even think. I just wanted the entire world to swallow me up into infinite blackness. Cold, dark and alone - it was nothing more than I deserved. 43

I started to feel something warm and sickly rolling down the side of my face. Was it blood?44

"Ella?"45

"Ella are you alright?"46

"Say something, please."47

I groaned again and muttered an unintelligible response. The words sounded garbled even to me. I tried once more, trying to make it articulate. "You're-s solord.” There was a brief pause where my friends attempted to make sense of my gibberish. 48

".....We're....so loud?" A faint grunt rolled through my throat. It was all I could manage.49

"Ella,” choked Alexis. “I think maybe we'd better call an ambulance. You hit your head pretty hard." 50

"Wozzayamernz?" I asked, words slurring pathetically. A sharp, unbearable pain was rising rapidly along the left side of my head. It burned and itched like measles. I didn't dare chance opening my eyes. The mere sight of blood always made me queasy. 51

"Well, we don't really understand what happened. One second you were sitting quietly down at the table and the next you just collapsed onto our tiles." I cringed at the ghastly desperation in Jake's words. I had made him worry. 52

Instinctively, my body tried vigorously to reject the pain. I figured there'd be no worse experience than hearing my best friend suffer. Three words. I was wrong.53

In that brief and humble instant, my essence was entirely succumbed to the agony. It snuck down my back like trickling water, sly and coy in its progress. It wrapped its feelers around every particle of my spine, enticing my nerves to sting and flare up inside me. It ripped through my tendons, my fingers, my toes, an unstoppable force that knew no master, pushing me to the very brink of destruction. 54

The brutality of such a violent, internal attack had my mind scrabbling to protect itself as a wave of darkness crashed over me like a veil; oppressing both soul and spirit. All I smelt was my own encrusting blood, other senses wholly removed. I was eternally grateful in that regard that I could no longer taste - some of the fluid had found its way into my mouth. I tried to swallow, to remove the disgusting liquid from my tongue, but all I managed to do was choke. Just perfect. How was I supposed to yell without voice? To stand up on my own two feet and brush myself off without touch? 55

My cranium and temples seemed to roar in protest against my current train of thought. It required too much energy and once again, I felt myself almost fading into nothingness. 56

I opened my mouth to call out for assistance, but the pain was so excruciating that I lost my voice to it. I couldn't scream. I just had to lie there; invisibly bound and gagged by a horror that nobody else could feel. 57

I had no real words to even illustrate my distress, but perhaps, just maybe, if you could somehow picture your head being bashed in by a chunk of steel combined with an acid dipping and a chainsaw, then that was probably about a hundredth of what I was enduring now.58

Even with my eyelids crinkled tightly shut, I could tell that my head was swimming. It felt light, buoyant perhaps and then it felt like nothing. The numbing sensation wound its way through my bones and muscles momentarily and I breathed a sigh of liberation. I thought that the worst was over but the agony exploded through my limbs again like venom and my body lurched responsively. The deadliest of poisons; where nobody had an antidote or the chance to shy away from your last, blood curdling scream. Terror had never taken such a form in the past, and truly, I was frightened of it.59

I couldn't recollect feeling so empty and alone before. It was as if the blackness had erased all hope. Where was Jake? Was he still here, holding my hand as I sluggishly withered away into a corpse? I shuddered violently. I didn't want him to suffer on my behalf. 60

Thinking about the pain in his eyes, I almost felt relief in the fact that death would shortly take me. How long do I really have left anyway? I wondered sadly, the defeat finally sinking in. Will I even know of death’s presence in between all of this merciless torment? Surely the great beyond couldn’t bring forth an aching any worse than this? A surge of grief knotted briefly in the pit of my stomach. I was going to die. Plain and simple. Nobody was there to save me and the only hope I could cling to was that my passing would be free of anguish. How was that resting in peace? I wasn’t just living in fear, I was dying in it too. 61

A flash of white broke miraculously through my darkness and I knew. This was me…fading away. A few minutes…maybe a few seconds…and it would all be over. Old, childish cartoons started replaying themselves in my head, rather like a private cinema that only I could view. How odd, I thought to myself in confusion. Weren't you supposed to see your life flashing before you when you died - not entertainment re-runs? 62

I tried to concentrate. The characters were chasing each other, bouncing back from death again and again with an unambiguous glee. They were laughing and smiling and pulling faces at their killer as he failed a thousand times over to complete the job he was designed for. Reality was so unfair. 63

So what was it that had set such dire events into motion for me? My dreams of course. They were coming back to me gradually now and already, I was regretting ever having them. 64

Although I'd seen the woman's hands, her taunting blades, my body had refused to move...so a baby monster had taken my place. It was such a strange looking creature too. I swear, if I didn’t know any better, that that bleeding monster had been a dragon. Of course, such ridiculous concepts must have been the craziness ultimately setting in. Dragons were terrible, fire-breathing creatures. They didn’t exist, let alone save the damsels. 65

Yet for some incomprehensible reason, whatever that thing was, I too felt his anguish and suffering as he died. As if I myself had been stabbed. Adriana had yelled and hissed in undeniable fury, lunging for me as the run-down shack began to blur, and then, the darkness had consumed her, washing away to a near indescribable wave of torture. 66

It was clear to me as I lay here helplessly on the cement - I assumed they hadn’t moved me - predicting my very own hearse arrival, that somehow, I deserved this misery and torment. It could have been payback for all the broken lives I had ignored in my dreams; the lives I was responsible for ruining. Perhaps this was Hell, eternal damnation for the selfish and wicked.67

My ears pricked sharply as Jake’s voice tuned in and out like a bad radio station. He was panicking, his words furious and desperate. "Damn it! What do we do?! Ella? Ella, can you move at all? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me. Come on Ella, please. Fight it and come back to us!" Of course, I tried to tell him, as the deadening sensation ebbed away from my face, but my lips were suddenly and inadvertently preoccupied. I swear, if it wasn't for the lack of feeling I would've blushed. 68

Now a forced-upon CPR was certainly not the type of kiss I had expected from Jake, but it was magical none-the-less. I tried to feel my heart - to find its quickening beat - and found myself feeling strangely guilty. How was this punishment? How did a kiss from my all time crush make me atone for my sins? Was it because that was all I’d ever get? Would it leave me yearning for more as I spent eternity in the company of fire and brimstone? All negativity aside, if this was Hell, then boy was I in Heaven right now. 69

Smiling weakly at my unintentional humour, I heard Jake chuckle softly in relief. "Love you, Ella." There, in that perfect moment, I understood what I had to do. Although I couldn’t feel him - his breath or warming touch - his love and sincerity had left an impression. I could almost taste it. 70

I started to try harder, focusing my absolute mind upon the singular goal of surviving. My heartbeat was nothing more than a dull thud in a hollowing shell but I wasn’t about to throw in the towel now. Not when I had something to fight for. I had to live and warn my friends of what and who was coming. A battle against Adriana was something we really couldn't afford to lose but my powers were newer and more erratic than electricity. Just how exactly was I supposed to win?71

“I believe I can help you there.”72

I started. A deep, rumbling voice was echoing within the vast caverns of my mind. So that settled it then. I was officially nuts. Hearing voices in one's own head was always a tell-tale sign of that. Not to mention of things to come. Loony bin anyone? I couldn't believe it. Where was my control disappearing to? Had I power over nothing anymore? My life? My dreams? Or my future?73

“I apologize young one, that fault lies with me. Please try to calm yourself. You're not crazy at all.”74

Ah, I thought to myself. Another dead give away. When the voices try to convince you of your sanity.75

“I am NOT a figment of your imagination little girl!”76

Of course you are, I thought to myself. This explains everything. I'm crazy -mentally unbalanced. Either my mind has played tricks with reality, forcing me to see things that don't exist or there is something clearly wrong with my brain. Either way, everything that has happened to me no longer matters. It's naught but a fairytale. The work of fiction. That means no visions, no weather control and no bizarre looking dragon lady. She wasn't real.77

“Actually,” it argued. “She is, or at least, she will be when the time comes.”78

“Shut-up!” I told the echo. “I'm ignoring you!” 79

The voice's tone was coloured with a slight edge of taunting. “Oh. But I thought you wanted to save your friends. Do their lives mean so little to you?”80

It was only in that brief pause when I see-sawed between ignoring him and responding, did I understand that the agonizing pain I’d felt had vanished - without a trace. 81

“Again, that would be my doing, young lady. You’re welcome to thank me once you overcome the melodrama.”82

Geez. What a jerk, I thought. I mean who does he think he is? The god damn Queen?! 83

“No,” he responded icily. “I'm the King and one of ten G.O.Ds that oversee your crumbling world. You aught to show me some respect. Not to mention keeping that sharp tongue of yours firmly in check.”84

I didn't get it. Was this guy actually yelling at me? In my own head? Now that was messed up.85

“Hmm,” he conceded politely. “Yes. Well I suppose your mind was here first now wasn't it? Hey wait - guy?”86

“What about it?” I wondered. “Your voice was a little deep for me to consider it female. And you just said that you were a king.” Oh no, I cringed. Now I was talking back to the voices!87

“On the contrary little one, there's just you and me in here. This technically only adds up to one other voice. No need for the plurals. Also, please don’t call me guy, that implicates that I am part of your flawed race which, to put it bluntly, is quite a hefty insult.”88

Great, I scowled darkly. I was being educated by an ethereal noise in my head. As if school wasn’t bad enough.89

The voice chuckled. “My name child is Gareth, and although I may be male, I am most certainly not a guy. I am the great and powerful Dragon King of Draconi, one of its last remaining descendants. I am also the current G.O.D of Air.”90

“Okay,” I thought doubtfully. “Let's pretend for arguments sake that I somehow manage to swallow that. What's a Draconi? It sounds like the short version of a plant name.”91

Gareth sighed. “It is my home...or it was anyway. A long time ago.” His voice seemed to break on the last word. 92

“So...what happened to it?” I prompted. “Why are you in my head instead of living on your world?” 93

“It's complicated.”94

“And I have a right to know,” I barked testily. “If you're going to stay in my head, I want a decent explanation. Consider it rent. So until I get proof that I'm not crazy, I'm just gonna keep on believing it!”95

Gareth seemed to cluck his tongue in disapproval. “You are very controlling girl aren't you? Would you happen to be one of the alpha females of your planet?”96

I felt like rolling my eyes. “Hey, there is nothing wrong with wanting a little order in my life. Particularly now of all times because in case you hadn‘t noticed, I‘ve been royally screwed over!” He snickered quietly and I regretfully understood the pun.97

“Yes but you come off as rather rude. Bitter, sarcastic and dramatic - the perfect words to describe you.”98

I couldn't understand why I was letting this voice get to me, but every time he spoke I found myself getting more and more annoyed. “Watch yourself pal,” I responded irritably. “I am in no mood for your psycho-analysis. There's a high chance that you're not even real. But since you’re going there, I guess I’ve got no choice but to bring my A-Game. So tell me, do you know what I think of you?”99

“No,” he groaned unpleasantly. “But I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”100

“Damn straight,” I thundered. “So here goes. This is what I think of you. I think that you are a stupid little reptile that had absolutely no right to crawl into my ear uninvited and -”101

“Excuse me?” he interrupted doubtfully. “But crawl? Really! Your ears are rather big but not even I could climb in that way. I’ve got to be at least twenty times your natural body mass!”102

“So?” I mumbled defensively.103

“So, assuming that I had by some means gotten in through your ear, which is impossible, where exactly would I be now? Are you that empty headed that you could really host a creature of such gargantuan size alone in your skull?”104

If I could punch this dragon, I would have. “Oh I doubt it,” I threw back at him with a hiss. “Your ego alone must have taken up at least half your planet! No wonder you left!” 105

“Ah. You admit that I’m real then?”106

“NO!”107

“And yet, my existence ties in so conveniently with what has happened thus far. Wouldn't you agree? Ella?”108

“How do you know my name?” I demanded suspiciously.109

Gareth chortled. “I had access to all your thoughts and memories the second I fused with you. Granted, I am more skilled at hacking the chambers of thought than others, since I possess experience, but many others could do the same if they practiced.”110

“Well isn’t that just the most disturbing thing I’ve ever heard?” I snarled, hating myself for being dragged into the conversation again. Gareth didn’t need to persuade me at all, I’d just cracked beneath the pressure and outrage his learned words were dredging up. I mean, who’d ever heard of a smart dragon that talked as if he were a scholar? Any time such creatures were given a voice in books, they spoke deliberately due to their unusual accents. If this really was all in my head, I had to give my imagination some serious credit.111

“Surely you must believe in my existence by now though?” he asked sharply.112

I considered that for a moment. “Sort of - but it could just be part of the illusion my mind has created. There's no proof to suggest otherwise.” I smiled to myself. A worthy answer that took no side until the chase had been cut. It could almost be described as diplomatic.113

Gareth sighed again, his patience wearing thin. “What will it take to convince you then?”114

“Evidence!” I barked, surprised that it wasn‘t obvious. “Your story, your facts. If they make sense then maybe I'll believe them. No promises though. This day is too wild and too bonkers for me to accept it all right away.”115

“And no questions asked?” he queried hopefully. “If you believe me?”116

“Oh please! I retorted sarcastically. “There's bound to be questions. Starting with the original one you ignored. Why. Are. You. In. My. Head?!”117

“For protection.”118

“Ah yes. Because that's just gone swimmingly for you hasn't it?” I snapped sardonically. “Did you not notice all those people after our blood?”119

“Did you want me continue?” he replied, suddenly hostile.120

“Fine,” I griped. “Go ahead.”121

“Well for starters, they aren't people. The ones that are after us - as you so aptly put it - are called Magiks.”122

I choked. “Come again?” 123

“Immortal witches and wizards whose power goes well beyond that of an ordinary spell. It took all of my skills just to close the portals shut and trap them on Draconi.”124

“There's a portal?” I cringed, thinking of the possibilities.125

“Mm. Several I believe. We had to travel to your world somehow.” 126

“Oh did you now?” I thought spitefully. “You had to? So you’re saying that you had no real choice in the matter then?”127

“What are you getting upset about now?” Gareth asked, incensed.128

“Well obviously,” I scowled, annoyed by his growing attitude. “If you didn’t create the portals in the first place then we wouldn’t be in this mess! Ergo, it’s your fault!”129

“My fault?” he rumbled, sounding insulted. “I never fabricated the portals! A dragon could never perform such a task. Portals to other worlds and dimensions are ever present, they can never be removed. Simply closed and that took quite a bit of magical energy too.” 130

“Okay,” I caved, trying to get a grip on what he was saying. “So...what? It's opened again?” 131

“Precisely,” he agreed. “And nothing has the strength to close them back up. The abilities I possessed at the time were only strong enough to trap them inside for seventeen years. That gave me plenty of time to gather my comrades and search for a suitable host for each. Dragons cannot survive in the human world for very long.”132

“You’re kidding me?” I gasped. “So there are more of you inside people?”133

“Well yes. There's ten of us all up.” 134

I suddenly found it difficult to swallow. “And you can’t survive in the human world, why?”135

“Because we do not exist in your world,” he explained. “The fact you had written stories and made movies about us, stopped us from fading when we arrived, but we need some of our own kind on both planets just to survive on yours. It’s the same principle for your Earth animals. Send one to our world that does not also live on Draconi and it shall die. No exceptions.”136

“Alright,” I groaned, starting to lose myself to the complexity of his explanations. “So your lives were extended on Earth because we’d heard of your species before? Hmmm, okay,” I mused. “And what about the host thing you mentioned earlier? What‘s with that?”137

“Well,” he answered imperiously, “it didn’t require much research to discover that the adults of your world had already been tainted. War, power and conquest were common attributes found within them. So we decided upon something younger, where we could watch their growth and shape them where required. I personally have never bothered you before because I know your personality too well. It caves under the smallest of pressures. The only reason I am telling you now is because I’m left with no other choice. The time is up. Sixteen years ago, I was one of the last dragons to infuse myself with a newborn. I had to make sure everything went according to plan and now, the Magiks are arriving.” 138

“Wo. Wo. Wo! You stole your way into my body when I was just a baby?” I shrieked, hardly daring to believe my ears. So young, so defenceless…I wouldn’t have stood a chance against him. What a little creep!139

“Well I did have your mother's permission,” he countered. “We need at least one form of parental or guardian consent to gain entry into a host.”140

“WHAT? MY MOTHER LET YOU?!” Waves of fiery heat crashed all around me, my anger swelling beyond breaking point.141

Sensing this, Gareth hurriedly tried to calm me down. “Of course she did. Your parents have been aware of our existence from the very beginning. As have all the parents of our new hosts.”142

“ARGH! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!” 143

Gareth's words were becoming sharp. “I'm sorry, but did you never wonder what your father meant by 'unfinished business?' He's been working for us. In secret of course.”144

The anger within me diminished. I felt numb again, but this time, it had nothing to do with swaying in and out of unconsciousness. “So that was why he left?” I sulked hollowly. “Did he not have the decency to tell me? To just give me a reason?” I felt a fresh wave of hurt sweep throughout my system. I'd never felt so rejected.145

“It wasn't like that young one,” Gareth muttered softly. 146

“God damn it! Would you stop calling me young one and child?!” I bawled. “I am sixteen years old today and therefore too old for this! I can’t believe neither of you said a word to me before today! I mean what were you doing all this time? Going on vacation?”147

“He was only trying to help you Ella. To make your task easier.”148

That knocked me out of my depression spiral in a flash. “Task? What task?”149

“Gathering the other nine and removing the Magiks from our path,” he answered casually, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.150

That was it, the icing on the cake. My hatred and fury exploded like a rupturing volcano. I couldn't contain it. “YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?! YOU THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE WORMED YOUR WAY INSIDE MY BODY THAT WHAT? - IT SOMEHOW BELONGS TO YOU? DON’T THINK FOR A SECOND THAT YOU CAN SIMPLY START ORDERING ME AROUND LIKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL PUPPET! HOW DARE YOU! GET OUT OF HEAD! NOW!”151

“I'm afraid I can't do that,” he whispered sorrowfully. “Once bound we cannot separate. Together forever.”152

“I DON'T CARE! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR EXCUSES! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING! I'M A FREAK!”153

No matter how hard I tried to hide it, that desperate need to break down and cry utterly consumed me. But it was impossible. I was nothing but a voice here, a monster, trapped within the shackles of my own twisting and demented mind.154

Gareth's voice was barely more than a whisper when he spoke again. “I guess that means you finally believe me, huh? I'm so sorry.”155

And for a long time, there was silence. Just me and my thoughts. Me and everything that had gone wrong today. Just me...and my thoughts. Alone.156

I thought about my father and why he had left. About the future. About my contorted life in general. I wondered what it would be like, fifty years from now, sitting in a home remembering the time I had ignored the one chance of making something of myself. I thought about death. I even briefly considered what I would have to do to become that monster. Because of course, she was me. What was it Gareth had said? That she would exist when the time comes? Did that mean I was free to choose or had everything already been set into motion?157

After a timeless moment of pondering, I had made up my mind. “Gareth?”158

“Yes Ella?”159

“What do I have to do to save the ones I care about?”160

Gareth's voice grew stronger. “Fight young Ella. Stand tall, fight, and win.”161

I already had my answer waiting. “But I’m just a kid, I‘ve never even participated in sports. I don't know how.”162

“Ah, but you will. And I shall see your training through to the end. Fear not.”163

I had my answer ready for that, too. “How long will it take to prepare me for the worst?”164

Gareth chuckled knowledgably. “In here? Hours. Maybe days. Possibly even months depending on how you go. But outside of your mind, I don't doubt that less than a minute would have passed.”165

I didn't know how to respond to that so I avoided the time difference entirely. “Can you tell me more about the Magiks then?” I asked a little sheepishly. “About why they hate dragons so much?”166

Even in his sigh, I could hear an ancient grief creeping through his voice. “Power. Isn't that what it all comes down to in the end? Should I tell you the tale of my kingdom's demise, I beg you for no interruptions.”167

“I won't say a word,” I promised.168

“Very well then. Less than a hundred years ago, my kingdom was in splendour. It glowed with perfection and beauty, more elegant and tranquil than anything else you could imagine. The plants and animals now extinct on your planet roamed free and grew glorious upon ours. Our lands were untouched and sacred, our rivers more pure than the word itself.’169

“Everything was green. It was breathtaking. The trees, the grass, nothing ever seemed to die. Frozen in standstill; frozen in perfection. On our world, there was no such thing as war and we G.O.Ds, always pitied those lesser mortals below us who endured it. We tried our best to help them, to let them join in a world like ours. A world of peace and co-existence.’170

“The G.O.Ds of Earth would grow, then the humans would chop, The G.O.Ds of Water would create, then the humans would pollute. We were locked in an endless cycle, never moving forward as the mortals took for granted every gift we had bestowed them. Back then, we never understood the urge to fight. That horrific yearning for power. But the Magiks did. Studying humans was always one of our past times and a few of our warlock allies watched them so much, that they began to develop the very emotions we despised.’171

“In Draconi, each dragon is partnered with a Magik, in both mind and spirit. If you were ever in need, the other would be right there to help in an instant. My Magik, was Adriana. Alas, the woman was a fool. Gathering a small group of followers, she lay siege to our home. Our marble palace crumbled all around us, Magiks and dragons alike screaming as they were burnt alive. The G.O.Ds did everything in their power to stop them, but Adriana had chosen her followers wisely. Their powers were stronger than ours. Wounded and in shock, my remaining comrades and I decided to part with our world. Using the last of my strength, I sealed the portal shut behind us, and then,” he finished gravely, “that brings us up to date."172

“I'm afraid I don't understand something,” I admitted. “What power was it they were after? Was it just the pleasure of thwarting you? - No offence.”173

"Yes and no Ella,” he whimpered solemnly. “Yes and no. There is only one way to kill a dragon - to make them die of heartbreak. You see, the size of a dragon heart is about fifteen times bigger than your own, meaning that any emotions we feel, are far stronger than any of yours. Watching so many of our species die before us tends to take a toll on our hearts. Then, as we die, our essence starts to leave the body and depart for re-incarnation. But Adriana developed a way to catch our spirit before it disintegrated. She would then join them with her own powers and grow stronger and more powerful with every death. Sadly, not at all dragons are born with such powers, only one in ten are bestowed with a gift, so many innocent lives were sacrificed in order for Adriana to even reach her goal. ”174

“Eurgh! She just killed them?” I screeched. “How horrible.”175

"Yes. So that is why she continues the hunt. To find the remaining dragons - the strongest of our kind - to steal their powers and eventually rule over both worlds, yours and mine."176

“So...if you die of heartbreak....what happens to me?” I asked apprehensively. “Do I die as well?”177

"I am positive that you won't. The only thing that will die...will be our souls."178

I gulped. “What?”179

"Our spirits are now intertwined Ella. So when mine dies...."180

“Mine does too?”181

"Yes,” he agreed sadly. “And when that happens, your body and mine will fuse together and then, with no emotions to control yourself, you really will become a monster. An ugly creature utterly consumed by blood lust and hatred. A killing machine."182

My voice quivered in fear. “Is there no way to change that?”183

"No. The only thing you can hope for is that Adriana doesn't try to kill me first."184

The pain behind his statement was almost palpable. I tried to distract him. “That still doesn't explain why you're in my body though. I mean, how can I possibly help you?”185

"Ah,” he exclaimed. “A good question too. You see, what Adriana fails to realize is that dragons have been infusing their bodies into different Earth creatures for centuries. It is the only way we can survive your world since the Earth dragons were wiped out during medieval times. And every time we pick a creature that's one rank higher up on the food chain, our powers increase exponentially. Even as the strongest of our kind, our powers were hardly considered formidable on Draconi. They were designed to help people, not fight battles.”186

I didn't understand where he was going this. Maybe he needed a little push in the right direction. “So what you're saying is…?”187

"A dragon and human hybrid?- Unstoppable."188

“Really?” Even to me, my voice sounded doubtful.189

"Oh yes,” he laughed confidently, spirits rising. “An entirely new breed of species...a....Dracosapien. Half human, half Draconian.”190

“I see… hey, no wait a second here!”191

“Yes?”192

“You said that there were only ten dragons left,” I accused, fighting to stay calm.193

“Yes, that’s right.”194

“No, there’s not!” I argued, stressing my point. “In my last dream I just saw another dragon, a tiny baby red one covered in scratches and cuts. Some of its scales had been ripped clean off and this was on your planet, Draconi. I’m sure of it! Adriana was talking about it.”195

“What?” he demanded bluntly. “How in Galahad’s name could you dream of such a thing?”196

“I predict the future when I’m sleeping sometimes,” I mumbled, shame- faced. I was so embarrassed by the freak of nature I was becoming. “Trust me, I know what I saw.”197

“Perhaps they found one of the females’ nests still unharmed after the war?” he wondered aloud. “It is possible I suppose. They probably kept the poor thing around jus to torture it.”198

“But that’s just sick!” I snarled. “No wonder it was willing to die for me!”199

“Indeed, and so now you understand just what kind of enemy you are up against. If you don’t kill them and kill them fast, they will execute those most precious to you one by one, just like they did to me.”200

“But…I’ve never killed a person before,” I stammered, shocked that he had even asked me for such a thing. “I don’t think I can. I mean, that’s murder. The ultimate no no of humanity!”201

“Yes child,” he soothed. “But you must remember, they aren’t human so if your head isn’t in the game when the time comes, they will wipe you out, along with a good chunk of your species. I‘m assuming they‘ll use the remainder as slaves once they eventually conquer all territory.”202

“So basically what you’re trying to tell me here is no pressure?” I moaned, imagining the worst possible scenario for the Earth.203

Gareth chuckled dryly. “Exactly, no pressure at all.”