Before I Fall

Chapter Thirty-one

Vigor soared through the sky, his massive wings slicing through the clouds like the sharpest sword. This was harder than she thought, her opponents were blocking her every move in order to protect their den but she wasn't giving up yet. She had to be more forceful, bring a stronger attack and she had the best way to do it.

Steering Vigor back to his lair, Morgan descended the dragon to enter Vigor's stinky home in search of the white diamonds. There they were hidden under a pile of gold coins. Morgan scrolled through her memory bank to find a lethal curse to put on the stones so that even if one is touched, death would find it's way to the thief quickly. In addition, the princess placed a warding spell on the cave that would keep out intruders. If they did manage to get in, the stalactites would make sure they wouldn't leave. Exiting Vigor's home, she looked up at the white dragon. His blue eyes connected with hers as Morgan reached out her hand to rub his rough leg.

"We can do this buddy." she reassured him with a tired sigh. Vigor lowered his head so Morgan could climb up on top of him again. In the background, Morgan could hear the loud shrieks of the other dragons. She had to win this! The flap of Vigor's large wings made the trees bow before his might and shed their leaves as he took to the sky again.

"Alright Vigor, it's time to rain fire on these bastards!" Morgan instructed as they raced to the lair closest to them. The midnight dragon that lived there was already waiting, flying in a circle around it's home. Morgan had the element of surprise because her dragon was great at camouflage, especially within the white clouds. Halting Vigor's movements to a slow and steady glide through the clouds above the duo, Morgan waited for the perfect moment to attack.

"Now, Vigor!" she screamed and within the next second a gush of fire burst through the sky, burning the rider to a crisp and startling the dragon below them. Vigor tucked in his wings to fall right on top off the black dragon with his full weight, casting them both from the sky and crashing into the ground. He recovered quickly to clamp down on the neck of his opponent with his huge mouth, killing the other dragon instantly.

"That's my boy! One down, three to go Vigor." Morgan commended her partner while patting his shoulder.

Morgan hopped off Vigor to enter the dead dragon's lair and sucessfully retrieved the stolen diamonds. Just like that Vigor was flying upward again to his next victim. The next dragon however was coming straight towards them this time. Morgan thought that it would be best to put her acrobatic skills to use and defeat the enemy. She was flexible so this should be easy. Standing on the riding gear, Morgan steadied herself as Vigor flew towards the next dragon. Two seconds before the creatures crashed into one another, Morgan sprung into the air and with a battlecry did a three-sixty spin and kicked her the opposing rider right in the chest and off her seat, causing the woman to hurtle down to her death. The princess however didn't account for where she would land after that amazing move and so her feet ended up missing the green and yellow dragon Vigor was battling entirely. Shit! She too was falling to her death.

"Vigor!" Morgan gave a hoarse cry and she fought to reach for her dragon but gravity being a cruel one pulled her down quickly to her demise. This was it.

She did her best, she gave it her all but it wasn't enough. She wasn't enough, a failure. Morgan closed her eyes as she awaited a horrific death.

"Be better than I was Mercer." she whispered, hoping one way or another he would hear her and never forget who she was.

The air was knocked from her lungs when her back hit a hard, rugged surface. It was extremely painful and her back felt as if it was broken in three places. She felt a cool breeze wash over her body, somehow she was still breathing. The excruciating shriek from her dragon pierced the air and scrambled her eardrums. Vigor. Her eyes shot open, the blue sky welcoming her back with open arms. She was flying, she was alive! The laughter of relief shook her as tears sprang to her eyes. She survived. Carefully crawling up from the hind area where she landed on Vigor, Morgan made her way back into the rider's seat and took the reins again, however her back felt shattered.