The Dragonstones Trilogy
Chapter 26

James gritted his teeth and ignored the pain that attacked him through the connection. Right now Sara needed him. He looked around the kitchen, now full of motionless bakers. “Where’s a healer?” he asked them. One of the magicians shrugged. James reached down to see the cake Sara had eaten. The inside was black, and burned James’s skin when he tried to touch it. James withdrew his hand quickly, hoping he hadn’t been injured too severely. He was more worried about Sara, though. This was dark magic, and dark magic hadn’t treated her too kindly in the past.

James turned his attention back to Sara, and went over what had happened again. A kid had come up to her, and offered her a food, which she had eaten. James had known exactly when her suffering had began because he could feel it too. Even now, James felt like he was burning from the inside out.

He didn’t have much time, James knew that much. The pain was getting worse. James searched through his knowledge of songs, trying to find one that could heal Sara. As if sensing that he needed it, the song came willingly to mind. James sang the song under his breath, but the orange light didn’t come. James looked down at his hand. The aura wasn’t there at all.

James looked at Aubrynn. He would talk to her about fixing his magic later. “Can’t you do something?” he asked her.

Aubrynn shook her head. “I’m no healer.”

“I thought you said that no dark magic could get into this place.”

Aubrynn looked just as panicked as James felt. “Nothing like this has ever happened before,” she said.

Pain stabbed into him, harder than any of the others had. For once, James was grateful for their connection, except for what the pain told him. He was almost out of time. James scanned the room, looking for something, anything, he could use to save her. The now very familiar voice from the dream came unbidden to James’s mind. You cannot protect her. This time it added something extra, something that had never seemed more real than it did now. You cannot save her.

James looked up at the ceiling and wanted to roar in frustration. He couldn’t do anything. Sara was going to die, and it would be his fault for not saving her. James looked down at Sara. Even through she was asleep, James could see signs of torment. A tear slid down her cheek, and her breaths came in quick gasps.

James sat on the floor next to Sara, and buried his face in his hands. He couldn’t do anything. As if they were miles away instead of feet, he heard Aubrynn and Tara arguing.

“We need to get her to a healer. My mom will know what to do.”

“No,” Tara said quietly. “I fear it is too late.”

Next to James, Sara started shaking violently, her breathing becoming even more labored. After a second, it was over. Sara stopped breathing.

For a moment, all James could do was sit there in shock, but then he acted. There was one thing he knew right now, and that was he couldn’t let Sara die. He felt Sara’s pulse. It was weak, but still there. That gave James the hope he needed. He could do this. He just needed to find out how.

Around Sara’s neck, the Dragon Stones glowed. An idea started to form in James’s head. Normally, the Dragon Stones were only supposed to work for someone with the Dragon Magic, but since he and Sara shared a connection, they might just work for him too.

Before he could think twice, James grabbed a Dragon Stone. There was the bright blue flash that he had seen often enough whenever Sara had used the Dragon Stones around him. What James wasn’t expecting was the pain. It wasn’t the same pain he was experiencing through his connection with Sara. This pain came from knowing that he was meddling with powers he was never meant to use. Panic overcame him, and it was all James could do to keep from running away from Sara, the bakery, and everything he and Sara had faced since they began searching for the Stone.

He couldn’t do that. Sara’s life was on the line. For her sake, James held on tightly to the Dragon Stone, and bit his tongue to keep from screaming. The trip to the Dragon Cave had never seemed so long for James. After what felt like an eternity, the blue light finally died down, along with the pain using the Dragon Stones brought. James looked around, and for the first time in his life, saw the Dragon Cave.

When Sara had described the Dragon Cave, James had believed her, but now that he was there, James knew that she hadn’t done the cave justice. Streams of lava flowed throughout the whole cave, casting a reddish glow on the walls of the cave. Though the cave itself was like any cave on earth, the sheer vastness of it demanded respect. As far as James could see, the chamber had no end. When he looked up, the roof of the cave seemed about as distant as the sky did. Though the cave by itself was magnificent, it was nothing compared to the dragons.

Dragons lined the walls, each in different shades of different colors. Each dragon had shiny, regal scales, and piecing eyes that seemed like they could stare into his soul. Those attributes alone were impressive, until James realized that many of the dragons were two or three times his size, much larger than Sara when she was a dragon.

A dragon with bronze scales and yellow eyes walked toward James. The dragon’s eyes glowed in the semi-darkness the same way James’s and Sara’s did. When the dragon reached James, he drew himself up to his full height, which forced James to crane his neck so he could see the dragon’s face. The dragon looked down at James, his mouth positioned in what James guessed to be a smile. A cold feeling washed over James. As James stared into those glowing yellow eyes, he realized something. He was terrified of dragons, and in a cave full of them.

The dragon spoke first. Where’s Sara?

James tried using his usual telepathy song to reply, but his magic wouldn’t work. Hopefully, the dragons could understand regular English. He rushed through the words as fast as he could. He was running out of time. “She’s hurt. In the Light Kingdom, some dark magician attacked her. I didn’t really see what happened.” James drew in a sharp breath as more pain hit him. Even though he was in the Dragon Cave, the connection still worked. “I need your help,” he finished quickly.

James could sense thoughts being passed from dragon to dragon, and could even hear a few. How did he get here? He does not have the Dragon Magic. Look at his eyes, the same as Sara’s. That human looks tasty. James felt a little uncomfortable after that last thought. He scanned the crowd of dragons to see which one could have said that. Many of the dragons looked hungry. It could have been several.

A smaller red dragon walked toward James. He looked up at the bronze dragon. He has a connection with Sara. He couldn’t get in here otherwise. Sara needs our help. Help him to help her.

The bronze dragon looked down at the small red one as he continued, I have seen him in a vision. He needs magic.

The bronze dragon looked at James in surprise. He needs magic?

The red dragon said, Yes.

More pain assaulted James, making his vision almost go black. James tried to ignore the pain, to stay conscious, but it wasn’t doing any good. He thought he saw a bright light, but was yanked back into the Dragon Cave. Hurry! The red dragon said. Before he goes again!

James felt a warm feeling inside, and it spread throughout his whole body. He regained energy in his limbs, and for the first time since it had stopped working, felt magic pulsing through his body. James smiled. He had missed having his magic.

James didn’t have much time to enjoy it, though. Go to Sara and heal her. The bronze dragon told him. Use the Dragon Stones.

James felt a weight in his pocket, and withdrew the Dragon Stones. Somehow, the necklace had traveled with him into the Dragon Cave.

James quickly touched a Dragon Stone. After another long and excruciating flash of blue light, James was back in front of Sara. He ignored the growing crowd of cooks around them, and focused only on the task at hand. “What do I do?” he asked, before he realized that he was speaking out loud.

The voice of the bronze dragon came into his mind. Use your magic. We will help you.

James had no choice but to do as he was told. He searched in his mind for a healing song, and found it within seconds. James sang the song, and saw the familiar orange aura around him. Using magic felt like it used to. Instead of feeling exhausted by using magic, he felt invigorated. The pain he and Sara were jointly feeling disappeared. He felt powerful, like he could do anything. He wanted to have this feeling stay with him forever.

Below him, James heard breathing. He looked down and saw that Sara appeared to be sleeping. Color had returned to her cheeks. James watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing her light green eyes. Sara was okay.

Reluctantly, James stopped singing. It would be a while before his magic would return to normal, he knew, if it ever did. The orange aura dimmed, then died altogether.

Sara looked around in confusion, then tried to sit up, wincing as she did so. James helped her up. “What happened?” she asked. She rubbed her head.

“What do you remember?” James asked her.

“I was eating a cake a kid gave me and...” Sara’s eyes widened as she realized what had happened. “A kid tried to kill me?”

James nodded. “I guess so.”

Still looking slightly panicked, Aubrynn said, “Let’s go back to the hotel. I’m sure my mom’s ready to talk to you.” She muttered something, and the light tunnel once again appeared. Aubrynn walked toward it before James or Sara made a move. She looked back at Tara and said goodbye. James glanced at Tara and noted that she looked disturbed as well.

Aubrynn entered and shot up the light tunnel, and James followed her, making sure Sara went in front of him. Though the diamond tunnel was still amazing, James had already seen it twice and was focused on other things, like the fact that everything with dark magic seemed to be after Sara, as well as him.

James landed next to Sara and Aubrynn in one of the hallways of the glass and gold hotel. James looked around, and saw that they were in front of his and Sara’s rooms. Aubrynn looked at Sara. “I need to speak with James in private. Do you mind?”

Sara still looked stressed from almost dying, and James couldn’t blame her. For the moment, all he wanted to do was be with Sara. “Actually, I was going to hang out with Sara,” he told Aubrynn.

“No. We need to talk. Now.” Something in Aubrynn’s voice told him that this couldn’t be ignored.

James looked at Sara. “You gonna be okay?”

“Um, yeah. I’m fine,” Sara squeaked. She reached behind her until she found the doorknob to her room. She hastily opened it, ran inside, then closed the door.

Aubrynn looked back at James, not trying to hide her panic now. “What happened back at Tara’s?” she demanded.

“I only saw a little bit,” James said, taken aback at this new side of Aubrynn.

“What. Happened?”

“Uh, a kid came up to her, and gave her a cake. She ate it, then freaked out,” James said.

“Then you touched her necklace, and disappeared! Only Sara can use the Dragon Stones! She’s the last one with the Dragon Magic!” Aubrynn was yelling now. James could see tears in her eyes.

James glanced at Sara’s door, and hoped she didn’t hear. He shushed Aubrynn. “I was desperate. My magic hasn’t been working like it used to. I asked the dragons for help. They helped me, and that’s the only reason why Sara is still alive,” he said quietly to her.

“What’s wrong with your magic?” Aubrynn asked.

“You mean you don’t know? You said you could help me!” James whispered angrily.

“I said we could try. I knew something was wrong with your magic. I just didn’t know what. Again, what’s wrong with your magic?”

“I don’t know, and it really doesn’t matter. All I know is that it isn’t working like it should be. I thought you said dark magic can’t come here.”

“It can’t. It never has!” Aubrynn’s voice rose in volume again.

“It’s okay. We’ll find out what happened,” James said quickly, glancing once again at Sara’s door.

Aubrynn’s gaze became distant. After a few seconds, she turned back to James. “Mom wants to talk to you.”

“I’ll get Sara.”

“She wants to see you alone. She’ll see Sara later.”

James glanced at Sara’s door yet again. Aubrynn caught where he was looking and said, “She’ll be safe. The room has extra enchantments on it.”

James fought the urge to tell her that the entire world they were in had enchantments to keep out dark magic, and somehow those failed. Right now didn’t seem like the time. She was already stressed. “Okay,” he said.

“No one ever knows where my mom is but me. We’ll take the light tunnel to get to her.” Aubrynn created a light tunnel, and stepped into it. James followed her lead. The trip to wherever the queen was seemed shorter than all of the other times James had traveled using the light tunnel. Before he knew it, the trip was over and he was back on solid ground.

James could tell right away that he was not in the hotel, as if he had any doubts before. He was in a large room, bigger than the hotel “rooms” he and Sara were staying in. Everything in the room was gold. Gold carpets matched golden curtains. All the furniture was covered in the precious metal as well. The only thing that wasn’t gold in the room was the window, which looked out on a field of white and yellow flowers. James decided that, though very expensive, the room was not how he would have decorated it.

James could see a woman looking out of the window, her back to him and Aubrynn. She turned as Aubrynn cleared her throat. She smiled when she saw Aubrynn and James. James noticed that her golden hair and clothing matched the room perfectly. “Hello,” she said to them.

“Hey Mom,” Aubrynn said. She turned to James. “James, this is my mother, Queen Alva.”

James smiled and said, “Hi,” not knowing how he was supposed to act in the presence of a queen he hadn’t ever heard of before.

“Aubrynn, could you excuse us?” Queen Alva asked.

“Sure.” Aubrynn created a light tunnel, and exited the room.

“Have a seat.” Queen Alva gestured at some golden couches near the window she had been looking out of. James had expected the couches to be hard, just as gold was, but was surprised when he discovered that they were soft. As he looked closer, he saw intricate patterns and designs decorating the furniture in the room.

Queen Alva sat on the opposite couch from James. “Tea?” she asked.

“Uh, no. Thank you.” James didn’t know why, but he felt uncomfortable in this place, near someone who thought she was a queen.

A single cup on a saucer appeared on the gold table in between the two couches. The cup was white, with gold decorations swirling around the handle and edges. Naturally, the saucer matched. Alva picked it up. A gold spoon materialized in her hand. She stirred her tea slowly, seeming to be in no hurry to talk to him.

“I suppose you are wondering why I wanted to talk to you alone,” Alva said. She looked down at her tea. “Are you sure you don’t want some?” she asked. “I’ve been told that it’s quite good.” James politely declined, still feeling a bit edgy.

“I wanted to speak with you because you know something that Sara doesn’t know.” Alva set her cup and saucer back on the table.

“What’s that?” James asked.

“You know,” Alva paused for dramatic effect. “Sara’s weakness.”

James stopped breathing, then forced himself to as Alva continued, “And the problems you’re having with using your magic, and the fact that her charming father is following you around.”

James stared at her. He hadn’t told a soul about any of those things she had mentioned, except for Mr. Day, but who was he going to tell? “How do you know this?” he asked.

Alva waved him off. “It doesn’t matter. I have my secrets and you have yours that are not really secrets to anyone of importance.”

“But Aubrynn looked surprised when I told her about my magic failing.”

“That’s why I don’t tell my daughter things. She can’t keep a secret to save her life.” Alva looked at him, and James felt strangely uneasy. This woman seemed to know things about him that he didn’t know himself. “But back to the matter at hand,” Alva said. “What is Sara’s fatal flaw?”

“I don’t know,” James said. He guarded his thoughts just as he now did whenever he knew he was in the presence of Sara’s dad. He didn’t know why, but something told him not to trust this woman, despite the fact that she was supposedly the queen of light.

Alva studied him so hard that James began to feel uncomfortable. “Are you sure?” she asked him.

James nodded, and she said, “Very well.” Sensing that this was a dismissal, James stood up to leave. Alva stopped him. “Remember this, though,” she said. “Every hero has a failing.” Her voice darkened. “If you’re holding back anything from me, I will find out eventually, and it will be your fault when Sara falls.” James didn’t like how completely Alva seemed to believe that Sara would fail when she finally confronted Aevill.

Alva waved her hand, and a light tunnel appeared. “Last chance James.” she said it like it was a warning.

James looked Alva in the eye, not sure if he was lying or not. “I don’t know,” he said slowly, deliberately. He turned and walked into the light tunnel.

As he shot up the tunnel, James guarded his thoughts. He didn’t know if Alva could hear them or not. He only felt completely safe when he was back on solid ground. James looked around. He was back in front of the room he was staying in. “How was your meeting with Alva?”

James yelped, turning to see Mr. Day. He took a deep breath, then asked, “You’re always following me around. Don’t you already know?”

“Alva’s domain is. . .blocked. I couldn’t get in. Believe me, I tried.”

“Sara just ate a cake full of black magic, and you wanted to follow me around?”

“The best way to look out for my daughter right now is to look after you,” Mr. Day said. “What did Alva want?”

“She wanted to know Sara’s weakness.” The ghost’s face hardened. “Why did she want to know that?” James asked.

“What did you tell her?” The ghost asked.

“Nothing. I told her I didn’t know.”

“And did you?”

“No,” James said. “At least, I don’t think so.”

Mr. Day nodded. “Good.” He turned as if to leave, but James knew he would just disappear. “Don’t trust Alva, James. Make sure Sara does the same.” His glow dimmed, then faded away as the ghost disappeared.

James turned to go into his room. His hand was on the handle when he heard Aubrynn’s voice. “How’d the meeting with my mom go?”

James turned to see Aubrynn and opened his mouth to answer. A scream came out. His head felt like it was in a blender. Thoughts and emotions that weren’t his own forced themselves into his head. They were Sara’s. For a second, James blacked out, but when he woke up, he didn’t see through his eyes.

James saw himself standing, but he was grasping the handle on the door so tightly it seemed to be the only thing keeping him up. Sara felt surprise, then fear seeing James. He could feel it. It felt like he was in Sara’s body. He could feel what Sara felt, but also what he felt.

Sara starred at James for a second, then looked at Aubrynn. “What happened?” she asked.

Sara wasn’t able to hear Aubrynn’s reply. The pain that had attacked James attacked her. James heard Sara think, Two magical attacks in one day?

Sara closed her eyes to try to ignore the pain, and James once again saw blackness. He opened his eyes, and found that he was back to seeing through his own eyes. His head throbbed twice as hard. He drew in a sharp breath and looked over at Sara. He could still hear her thoughts, and feel her emotions, which were almost nonexistent since she was so focused on the pain.

After a minute, the pain suddenly left. James’s head throbbed, but the worst of it was over. James looked at Sara. What was that? He heard her think. James looked at her in surprise. He could still hear what she was thinking.

Aubrynn stared at both of them. “What was that?” she asked, voicing what James and Sara had already wondered. “More dark magic?” she asked.

James and Sara spoke at the same time. “I don’t know.”

“You guys okay?” she asked, looking at them as if they might break at any minute.

“We’re fine.” James and Sara said. They looked at each other. Sara wondered if this was going to happen often. James hoped not.

“Okay.” Aubrynn looked at them for a second. “Mom’s ready to talk to you.” she spoke to Sara. Another light tunnel appeared behind her. James was quickly growing tired of light tunnels. Aubrynn looked at Sara. “You ready to meet the light queen?” she asked.

“Yes,” Sara said, though James heard her think, No.

Aubrynn looked at James. “How about you?” she asked.

James nodded, ignoring the growing apprehension of seeing the light queen again so soon. Don’t trust her. James reminded himself before he realized that Sara could probably hear his thoughts. James was getting kind of annoyed that lately everyone seemed to know what he was thinking.

As he shot up the light tunnel, James realized that Alva wanted to speak to Sara, possibly alone as she had done with him. He needed to warn Sara about Alva, even though he didn’t know why he was warning her. Don’t trust Alva. He thought, hoping Sara would hear him. Don’t trust her.

The tunnel ended, and for the second time that day, James found himself in the presence of Queen Alva.

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