The Dragon Curse

Stray kids

I looked at the water below us as we were rapidly falling. I took a quick glance at Amy and her eyes were shut tightly from fear, so I squeezed her hand reassuringly. I had a plan and I saw our way out when we were back on the roof, that's why we jumped. Amy looked at me in my eyes and as I was gazing at her I saw green scales coming closer behind her. I let go of her hand so she would land on Jack's back behind Evelien while I extended my right arm reaching for Jack's left frontal leg. He grabbed my wrist tightly and with his wings extended we took back off into the sky. I looked behind us at the roof we jumped from, watching the soldiers as they turned back to the door to leave the building. I held the sword in my left hand, looking through the crowded and scared city below when suddenly something flew by my head. An arrow... I looked back behind us again, soldiers everywhere on the streets, trying to shoot us down. Jack flew through the air fast and dodged most of the arrows, getting closer to the edge of the city, but two arrows flew by me again and they ended up in Jack's side where his left wing connected to his back. He roared in pain and with the hit he lost his balance and missed a few wing-beats. The ground was getting closer as we fell then we ended up collapsing on each other.

I rolled a few meters away hitting my head hard on the cobblestone street, but I still managed to push myself off of the ground. I looked at Jack the arrows still in his wing, Evelien lying beside him, trying to gain her consciousness back. Once she was kneeling steadily she immediately turned to Jack to pull the arrows out. My eyes traveled to my right at Jack's tail and my eyes widened in fear at what I saw. Amy was lying unconsciously in a puddle fully formed fishtail where her legs were a while ago. That's when soldiers started to surround us so my instincts took in and I rushed over to Amy, pulling her into my arms.

"Mark..." started Evelien and waited for me to get on Jack's back but he looked weak so I wasn't sure if he could take off with all the three of us.

"Go! We will meet in the forest!" I shouted and started running with Amy in my arms before the soldiers could reach us.

I ran through narrow streets between houses to get away from the soldiers but they were everywhere and for sure they won't give up on searching. I turned another corner running behind a tall building ending up in its backyard. I looked around and I saw a small hole in the ground at the base of the building. I quickly went up to it and slid down to the basement. When I reached the floor I pressed up against the wall under the hole, waiting. I looked up before me as I heard movement. Three pairs of widened eyes looked at me with fear. As my sight adjusted to the darkness I saw three kids two boys and a girl watching my movements. They were too young to be on the streets, the girl's blonde hair was stained with dirt and dust while the boys only had a few dirt spots in their brown hairs. They all wore torn, dirty clothes and they barely stayed on their tiny, thin bodies. I placed my index finger to my lips telling them to stay quiet but probably holding a mermaid in my arms didn't help to calm their fear.

"Don't worry..." I started but suddenly I heard heavy footsteps so I held Amy closer, leaning farther against the wall.

I took a slow glance up through the hole where I saw two pairs of armoured legs. Nothing moved for a moment all I could hear was the armour rattling with every step the soldiers took. The air was still and only when the soldiers left I realized that I was holding my breath. I breathed out in relief and looked back before me but the kids were gone. Or so I thought. I heard movement in the darkness so I moved closer but I couldn't see them.

"You don't have to be scared, we won't hurt you," I said and the girl peeked her head out from behind one of the main beams.

"Abigail, don't!" said the boy, who was the oldest one out of the three of them, reaching to stop the girl, but she was out of reach.

She took cautious and slow steps towards me looking at Amy then I saw as her gaze slowly turned to Amy's fishtail hanging over my arm.

"Is she a real mermaid?" she asked and took another step. "Is she okay?"

"She hit her head, but she will be fine," I answered and watched as the girl's scared expression changed to a curious one. "Listen, she has to get back to the sea, but the soldiers are looking for us. Do you know how to get out of the city safely?"

"The only way to get out avoiding the soldiers is through the tunnels. It's a labyrinth, but they end up in a cave in the nearby forest," said the other boy as he left his hiding place behind a wooden box.

"James..." said the older boy again warning his other friend, still hiding behind another pile of wooden crates.

"Come on, Fergus. They are clearly harmless," said James and came up to me to look at Amy as well. "What happens if she doesn't return to the sea? Will she die?"

"I don't know, but she can't stay here," I answered and watched Amy taking small, shallow breaths. "Just tell me where the tunnels are and you won't see and hear about us again."

"We are going with you," stated Abigail, and the boys looked at her with surprise and confusion. "They are looking for us as well."

"Why?" I asked curiously and they all hung their head.

"Our parents..." started James as he looked up at me. "The Barron thought they were both practicing witchcraft so they were executed and killed."

"And were they?" I asked and at that Fergus looked up as well looking at me with furious eyes.

"No, they were accused falsely," he said louder than I think he intended to because he toned his voice down a bit at his next sentence. "Since then, they think that we were part of the witchcraft practicing too, so they want to capture us. But I wouldn't let them get my siblings. It's my duty to keep them safe..."

Fergus took a deep breath and looked at his younger siblings. He turned back to me and looked directly into my eyes and I saw the determination in them.

"If you can promise that all of us will get out safely then we will show you where the tunnels are," he said with a stern voice and I wasn't even thinking about the answer just simply nodded.