Siren

Siren - Chapter 27

No longer frightened by the dead creature, Clara was actually becoming bored.

“How much further should we go?” asked Gannon. “And what are we looking for?”

“I don’t know, and … I don’t know.”

“Wonderful.” Muttered Gannon. Suddenly, behind them, they heard the thundercry of the beast itself.

“Gods!” cried Clara. “It’s back!”

“It?” he shouted. “I thought you said “it” was Klardir.”

“I never said any such thing!” she hissed back. “I wanted to know if it was Klardir!”

Panicking, they broke into an all out run.

“We’ll be trapped!” she yelled.

“No, we won’t. The cave opens up on the other side!” He yelled back.

“How do you know that?”

“I admit,” he said, looking behind him, “I’ve been here before.”

She didn’t have it in her to ask how. He grabbed her arm, pulling her faster ahead of them. She screamed as she realized the cave opened up into a completely lush jungle. Below them was water, and Gannon hugged her as they fell over, a waterfall spewing lower down the canyon wall.

She had squeezed her eyes shut when they were falling, but somehow, they weren’t dead. Floating in the middle of a lake, they were hidden by the frothy waters of the falls. She looked up as the red dragon, Klardir or not, barreled from the mouth of the cave, headed towards the jungle.

She watched, giddy, as Gannon breathed as easily as she did under water. He smiled at her, motioning for her to swim with him. As she did, she stared in amazement – he had a tail.

She struggled to keep up with him, and was envious. The tail most certainly helped him maneuver better. Aaeden hadn’t lied to her, he had been telling the truth. Was he telling the truth about her royalty as well?

When they finally breached the water, Gannon’s tail disappeared. He laughed at the look on her face.

“I suppose that’s another question answered.” She nodded silently. “Come on, then. You wanted proof. Let’s find your proof.”

There was no sun, but a hole in the top of the mountain allowed the moon to illuminate the entire jungle. She supposed the outside of the island was just a façade, meant to keep explorers away. Pontus included. Gannon travelled the land as if it was familiar to him, and Clara was burning to ask.

“I’ll have my one question. And you will answer me truthfully. How is it you knew of this place?”

He grinned.

“I was wondering when you were going to ask me. Can’t you feel it?” he asked.

“Feel what?” she replied.

“This is where we come from. Not inside the mountain, per say, but… here. This is where our race was born.”

She looked at him, astonished. Everything was so rich with life. Birds she’d never seen before flitted about. They were small and glowing. Perhaps, she thought, it was a side effect of never having seen the sun.

“Is my mother here?”

“One question.”

“Gannon!” she yelled, startling a creature with that reminded her of an elk. It bounded away from them, making noise the entire time. Birds also took flight, and he looked at her, terrified. She was about to ask him again when she felt it.