Chimera Awakened

Chapter Twenty-One

"Well, shit," Graham muttered.

"Let's get Evelyn to the trees and fight it in there. We'll be able to move around easier than it can," Broderick commanded.

"Count of three?" Graham asked and Broderick nodded.

"One... two..." but Broderick didn't get to three.

The wolf was engulfed in a swirl of shimmering grey mist that rose at least twenty feet in the air. When the mist disappeared, a massive serpent with grey scales towered above us.

"That's what I saw in my dream," I said amazed and terrified at the same time.

"Fuck me," Broderick swore.

The serpent opened its mouth and I resolved myself to death. But, instead of eating us, it spoke. It's voice was surprisingly high pitched and I wondered dimly how it was even able to talk.

"What are you hiding behind you?" it demanded. "It smells different."

"Stay back," Broderick ordered and the serpent tilted its head to the side, studying him curiously.

"What will you do if I don't?" it asked.

"I'll die protecting her."

I flinched at the thought of Broderick dying. Suddenly remembering my gift, I reached out to it with my mind. I struggled to grasp it and my brows furrowed. Each time I thought I was close to taking hold of the connection, it disintegrated into mist.

"Interesting," the serpent drawled. "Is she the Chimera?" The word "chimera" was spoken with such awe and I shuddered.

The men just stood still, weapons at the ready, braced for battle.

"She is." What sounded like a delighted laugh escaped its massive jaw. "This is wonderful. Do stop trying to connect to me, Chimera. Gifts do not work on me."

Damn, that's why I couldn't grasp the connection.

"We're here for the Conduit Stone," I said and stepped forward.

"Get back," Broderick hissed at me but I ignored him.

"Where is it?" I asked.

"Oh my." The serpent lowered its head to my eye level. "I've not seen one of you before. But I know you."

"I dreamt of you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Yes and I have heard of you, Chimera. The birds tell me about you."

"Where is the stone?" I asked again.

The serpent was engulfed in mist once more and we all braced. When it cleared, a bare chested man stood before us. His skin was a deep golden brown and his black hair, thick and shining in the sun, fell to his waist. The white flowing pants he wore ruffled around his legs as he walked toward us. Muscles bunched under his flawless skin and his angular, handsome face was set in stony anger.

When he spoke, I nearly gasped at the beauty of it. It was nothing like his voice in the serpent form.

"She," he began angrily, "took it from me."

"Who?" I asked.

"She calls herself 'The Genesis of Darkness' and that is all I know of her name."

"Where is she now?"

"I do not know. The birds do not talk of her."

"What does she want with it?"

"So many questions, dear Evelyn."

My mouth dried suddenly. This man serpent wolf thing knew my name?