Dragonslayer

Chapter Eight

I'm drowning with nerves by the time I stand with Niko in the dunes. I do my best to hide it, though, squaring my shoulders and staring straight ahead. Avoiding eye contact. 

"You all right?" Niko asks me, and I give a shrug in response. He turns away and lifts his face to the sky. His hair shines in the sun like an angel's, and he looks confident, secure, safe.

I hate him.

Five minutes ago, he let out a piercing whistle, summoning Viridi. And now we're both waiting- me with nerves, him with anticipation. He can't pretend he cares about me. I've accepted that we're never going to let alone. But I'm hoping against hope that he won't be so callous as to let me die in the jaws of his dragon. Should I close my eyes when it happens? Will I give him that satisfaction? Never.

The beating of wings break through my thoughts and I feel my heart sink. This is it, then. 

Viridi lands twenty metres away from us, and Niko goes to her, his feet pounding on the hot sand. She lowers herself to the ground, curling her head in his direction, and I watch as he places his hand on her neck and whispers in her ear. I feel a cold fist of fear around my heart- the protection I had yesterday is being lifted. My head is throbbing and my mouth is dry, but I can't look away. Any part of my that saw Viridi as beautiful the previous night is dead. Now, all I see are her dagger-like teeth, her hostile yellow eyes, the claws that could slash me to ribbons in a moment. Closed eyes are appealing to me now.

Finally, Niko steps away from her. "Remember," he tells me in a low voice. "No fighting back. No resisting. Just let her take revenge for the whole species."

I brace myself. I'm keeping my eyes open. I can't go into this without seeing. 

For an awful eternity, nothing happens. Then Viridi lifts her head and fixes me with her yellow stare and I wince. It doesn't matter if she tries to paralyse me anyway. I'm not meant to move. I have to stay still. I have to take it.

The attack comes so suddenly I have no time to think. I just react, diving down under her claws. In a normal fight I'd raise my weapon and attack her underside, but I have no weapon. Then I realise what I've just done.

"Kai!" Niko yells. "What the hell are you doing?"

I don't bother answering. Because I'm climbing back to my feet, and the dragon is rushing at me again. 

I watch her. I'm not afraid. If I want to, I can dodge her attacks and keep myself alive easily. She's clearly an extremely powerful dragon, but I'm better. Except I can't. No matter how hard I try to run, eventually, I will have to face what's coming for me. If I want to survive out here. And I do. I really do. So I let go of everything- my instincts, my identity, my reactions- and feel the resistance flow out of me.

She uses her head to attack this time, and the golden spike catches my stomach. She snorts impatiently and flicks her head, sending me flying so that I slam onto my side in the side. My hand goes to my side and I feel the blood leaking. So early? Not good. But despite the wound- and it's bad, I'll bet- I feel a small sense of victory. I took her attack. I didn't even flinch. Pain screams for my attention but I ignore it. I press my hand to my side and shakily stand. 

Out of the corner of my eye I see Niko looking visibly surprised. He didn't expect me to get back up, I realise with surprise. 

Viridi seems surprised, too. And annoyed. With an angry hiss she lashes out at me again, wrapping me in her muscular tail and slamming me back down into the sand. The barbs cut through my clothes and I feel blood oozing on my arms, my legs. I let out a harsh breath, and struggle to my feet once more.