The Dracones
Chapter Twenty

Several weeks later, I’m back in my stealth suit. I have just gotten back from spying on the Adversantem, trying to get a fix on their home base location. If I can find him and kill him, this will all be over. However, I know that is unlikely since he’s heavily protected. I just need to be able to weaken him

I did find out Mikal is alive and has returned to safety with Modain, and the hunt for my head has strengthened. I’m going to be screwed over here one way or another. Gracial and Alienis have talked me into staying until Trayvon is fully healed. When he has healed, I’m planning on heading out and finding a way to break this curse Trayvon has unleashed on himself, and maybe find Modain. Before that can happen, I need to correct this new torment I have been dealt.

I’ve also spent my free time studying about the curse the Dracones have pulled on themselves. It is said that the original set found the dark spirit in the land that belongs to the dead. The spirit is now long gone from that land; nothing else is said to survive there. It is also believed that the location of the Land of the Dead has been lost, as a direct result from the dark spirit agreeing to aid the Dracones. The original set is also believed to have taken the dark spirit’s place as penance for their actions for shaming the Dracones Gods.

When we land, I get off Alienis in the compound and start heading inside to change. Alienis just watches me closely, checking for any sign that I am going to run. He doesn’t know of my plans. I’m still being petty and ignoring him; well that is what he believes. Also, his knowing phrases and logic are driving me nuts.

Right when I take three steps from Alienis, Freiah comes running out. “Kit!” She yells. “He’s awake!”

I stop dead, locking down to avoid all emotion from my system. She looks me over and sees a giant red cut on my bicep. “What happened to you?”

I laugh, it sounds off and confused. “Ran into two Adversantem when leaving their camp. I got them before they could get help, but one got me.”

She looks it over. “I’ll take a look at it later. You need to see Trayvon. He’s been asking for you for the last three hours.” Of course, he has. I sigh and follow her inside.

Freiah leaves me in the sunlit room. Trayvon is lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Deep even breaths bring some life to his shallow face. Judging by the stains on his chest, Freiah has gotten him to eat and drink. My palms feel weird but a part of me still wants to punch him.

As soon as Freiah closes the door Trayvon’s eyes snap open. He doesn’t get up. He just sighs and stares at the ceiling. “Kit,” he sighs, his eyes elsewhere than this room.

“I still say you’re a moron,” I tell him, heading toward the foot of his bed.

Trayvon jumps at the sound of my voice and sits up straight, grimacing as he does. He slouches against the wall so he can see me without having to support himself. “You’re still here?”

I cock my head slightly. He sounds relieved and surprised at the same time. There is also another emotion in his voice that I cannot decipher. “I promised them I’d stay until you recovered. They needed protection. The night I brought you back there was an Adversantem attack just outside the city walls. It’s taken a while, but I’ve got them to leave us alone for the time being.”

He looks me over. “Is that why you’re so dressed up?”

I laugh. “Man, I’m used to this thing.” I sigh longingly, missing the days I could feel the wind on my skin. “It’s the only thing that helps me hide from the Adversantem. I just got back from one of their camps. Just so you know, Mikal has returned to Modain, and he is pissed. I’d watch your back before leaving this room.” His eyes narrow and I quickly explain. “Freiah filled me in on some parts. Which is why my conclusion that you’re an idiot still stands.”

He smirks, “Well let me apologize for that.”

After a minute of silence, I roll my eyes. “You really need to work on your apologies.”

He grins at me. “I must see your face in order for it to be sincere.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re always obsessed with seeing my face Trayvon.” I turn my head from him and remove my mask. I take a quiet breath to steady myself.

I can see his smile while I turn my head. It grows happier as my head slowly turns toward him then, in a split second, drops to horror. It soon grows into shock while his eyes scan my neck. “What in the name of Slayer happened to you?”

I blush and put a hand on my neck, feeling the fresh rough scar on it. It extends to the bottom of my ear and starts at my collarbone. “Slayer?” I ask, trying to distract him from me.

“Famous Dracones.” He says as he studies me. Sadness retains its popular residence once again while he watches, a hint of hope that it will disappear visits. “Seriously Kit, what happened? It looks like you got sliced by a dra-” His eyes narrow. “You mentioned an Adversantem attack. They were here?”

I nod. “Before you freak, it was made by a dragon. It’s the which dragon part that you’re not going to like.” His entire body goes tense, and I force myself to say it. “It was Modain.”

“What!” Trayvon yells as he bolts up. He starts pacing while he thinks, his eyes dancing back and forth while they calculate. “What do you mean Modain? He can’t even fly Kit. You’re being an idiot. Maybe it was someone who looked like him.”

“I know who did this to me!” I yell then stop myself, forcing a calm air in my mind. It tickles, causing me to try to lose it by shaking my head. “Sorry, I’ve been defending this for the last several days.” I pull my hair out of my bun and shake it loose, covering the thick, hideous scar. He just watches me as I try to think. I can’t think, that’s the problem. I refuse to feel any emotions right now. Not until I have more control over myself. Too many influences are going through me. I can’t handle that many emotions and still keep control of my mind. I must remain rational. Of course, this would be easier if I could sleep more than two rough hours a night. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Finding some ground, I pull my hair over my shoulder as I sit on the bed, covering the scar. “Trayvon, remember when Mikal said that my soul would heal Modain?”

Horror swallows his face, making it paler than normal. “Kit, you didn’t.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t. His mind is still poisoned. I could feel it when he talked to me. His right rear leg is still missing. His front left one is still shattered and shriveled, completely disfigured. And his left eye is still blind.”

I wring my hair to focus my mind, getting slightly sidetracked. “The other part was that your blood would strengthen him Trayvon. When Mikal stabbed you, he must have taken some of your blood to Modain. It has given him enough strength to fly again Trayvon. To fight as well.”

Trayvon reaches out, his cold hand moving my hands and hair so he can touch the scar. “How did he do this to you?” There is sorrow in his eyes along with many along the lines of pity, guilt, and anger.

I move his hands, covering the scar with my hair again in slight shame. “During the attack to get rid of them, Modain tried to grab me. I didn’t see him until he was too close. I tried to move in time, but my neck wasn’t fast enough. I’m just glad he was too focused on capturing me that he didn’t kill me.”

“Kit,” Trayvon breathes as he tries to grab me.

“Don’t,” I say standing, playing with my hair. I cannot look at him. My head is tingling and buzzing. It is when I am standing that he can see I’m tired. He is finally focusing on my face and not my scar. There are deep black circles under my eyes. Another reason I wear the mask is to help hide them. I will not show him he’s winning. Not in this lifetime.

“What’s been happening to you, Kit?” Trayvon demands, putting his hand on my shoulder. When I shake him off, is when he gets angry. “Kit, why are you acting like this?” I look at him and see hurt, confusion, anger, and something else that escapes me at the moment. As soon as I saw it, it flashed under a shield of blank expression. “Have I hurt you that badly?”

I shake my head, wincing at a sudden piercing pain. “It’s not you Trayvon. It’s Mikal. He’s been attacking my mind since I brought you here.” Horror breaks his mask while I rub my temples. “I didn’t notice at first, then I started getting headaches all the time. Pretty soon it remained constant. Then the nightmares started. He’s been attacking my mind non-stop. He doesn’t even sleep, so I can’t either. If he loses concentration for even a moment he loses. This is his third attempt to take me. If I lose concentration he gains ground. That’s why I have to reduce as much bodily communication as possible.”

At first, he cannot say a thing. He just stares at me while I fidget. When I wince, Trayvon speaks. “How long has he been at this?”

“Let’s see, it’s been three weeks since I brought you here. The second attempt failed your third day here, so a little under three weeks ago.” I rub my face. I am so tired.

“Three weeks?” He cries.

“You took a long time to heal. You’re just lucky Freiah discovered that Mikal poisoned the blade as well.” I turn away and start pacing. “Your wounds were extensive. You nearly died three times.” I wince when the stab grows stronger. “Freiah had to-ow-stitch up your insides.”

“Kit, you can’t keep doing this,” Trayvon says in a hard voice. “You can’t keep fighting him. He’s too strong. You might as well just give in.”

I turn to see Trayvon with a completely blank face, and another face lurking behind his eyes. “You son of a bitch!” I scream and punch him.

Trayvon falls to the ground, his head smacking the wall as I move to hit him. “Kit.” He says quickly when he sees murder in my eyes

I stop when light flashes into his eyes. I look away and look back, seeing the familiar wall, but there is strange anger and sadness in his eyes. It’s new and fueled. What breaks me is a small pit of pity I see in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” I say quickly, the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. “I’m just so tired.”

Trayvon gets up, slowly. “It’s alright.” I look away when I see the realization in his eyes. “It’s not really Mikal attacking your mind is it?”

I bite my lip and shake my head. “No.” I peek up from under my lashes and see fear and revolution in his eyes. “I only said that to make you feel better. If it helps, even Alienis doesn’t know.”

“Modain.” Trayvon hisses. “Why is he doing this? Why can’t it be Mikal?”

“Mikal is too weak for my mind,” I answer simply. “Modain is just mad enough to try for the impenetrable. Only he’s old enough to have a stronger mind.”

“Kit, he’s mad. You need to get him out.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “His insanity could spread and poison your mind.”

“You don’t think I know that.”I snap, then return to myself. “Sorry.”

“Kit, we need you!” Freiah yells down the hall.

I sigh. “That’s my cue.”

Trayvon grabs my shoulder after I put my mask back on. “Kit, you need to rest. I’ll take over.”

I touch his chest with a finger and gently push him. He staggers back while I shake my head. “A feather would knock you out.” I touch his shoulder. “Rest. It’s just patrol.” Destroying Modain...same thing.

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