The Cursed Dragon

Chapter 14: The Price of Safety

Because I am using sections from Left behind these next few chapters will come out fairly quickly and then there is a wholly original and intense (I think beautiful) chapter with Cadimus as Jacob coming soon...

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"Clip the Pluman bitch's wings." the phrase echoed in Cadimus ears. It was the same wording Airne had used before: 'Clipping wings'. Why had he never noticed that particular phrasing?

Instead of lingering to watch his will be carried out Abeloth departed in a clap of thunder leaving the rest of the Dragon blooded in the room staring at the one Phoenix among them.

She looked like a trapped bird with a broken wing unsure of which way to bolt.

Her eyes, which only a moment ago had been filled with fire, were big and worried, and rightfully so. She was in a room full of enemies and he was her only ally... and she had no idea.

What the hell do I do now? thought Cadimus as he watched Airne glance around and room nervously. He wanted to wrap his good arm around her and shield her from the rest of them.

You can't do that so you need to do as Abeloth commanded and lock her power so that she won't get herself killed attacking others.

Her fire, her power made her a target for the others in the room. They would see it as a challenge. If she was powerless then she wouldn't be a target for power.

Balthazar came forward and handed Cadimus a ring shaking Cadimus from his stillness.

"To lock her power," he uncle said simply.

Cadimus frowned down at the ring, it looked oddly familiar.

He didn't have time to think about why it looked familiar now though.

Airne was still laying on the floor shivering in the aftermath of Abeloth's attack. If Cadimus was going to do this without a fight, without risking hurting her further, he had to do it now. Grabbing Airne's hand Cadimus shoved the ring on her ring finger on her right hand before she could stop him.

It was a perfect fit.

Airne yanked her arm back and she let out a blood curdling scream when she realized what he had done.

She immediately tried to pull the ring off.

It didn't budge.

Cadimus had put it on, only Cadimus could take it off.

"How could you!" she yelled at him and started to push herself up off the ground.

A movement off to the left drew his gaze as Grimma started to rouse from his place on the floor, Cadimus' mind immediately played over what would come next: Grimma would still want Airne to play with and there was no way in hell he was going to just hand Airne over to Grimma.

Get her out now, the voice inside his head ordered.

Cadimus reached out towards Airne and instead of taking his outstretched hand she slashed it. He only barely managed to dodge.

I'm trying to help you. Don't make this harder. Cadimus pleaded with her silently.

If Airne saw anything in his eyes she was choosing to ignore it.

Cadimus scowled.

Stubborn Phoenix.

"Take her down to the dungeon," said Dracarious trying to pull himself neatly together. He smoothed out his hair with a shaking hand. "Make sure she doesn't get out."