The Dragon Hunter

15

Luna stared at him. "I-I don't understand."

"Child. This is not a physical plane," Meden sighed, continuing to walk. Luna had to run to catch up with him. "It is a mental plane. I believe you humans refer to it as a dream. Currently, I am working with what little power I posses on earth to bring you back. I would let you go, but I've invested too much time in you already."

Luna huffed indignantly, folding her arms across her chest, the brim of her hat flopping down over her eyes. She frowned, taking it off. It was the hat she'd given Nyx, but this wasn't right, she'd seen it in the alley outside of the Hunter's society headquarters. The society...Rai and James were...

"They are not dead child. Like the rest of my army they have been taken by the earth and are stuck between life and death."

She raised an eyebrow. "And me?"

"Your body is clinging to life, if but faint, the traces are just there," Meden explained slowly, like he was a bored adult talking to a child. "You seem somewhat comfortable despite the circumstances."

She shrugged. "I guess I'm still in shock. You said we had stuff to discuss?"

His left head nodded, glancing down at her. "You humans believe we are gods, me and my brother. We are not. Yes, we are giants among insects and yes, we created your people, but we are far from all powerful deities. We need you to do our dirty work for us."

"Is there a point to this?" Luna asked, getting impatient. She was suddenly very aware of the fact this could be the last thing she did before she died. She took off her hat, studying it. It was definitely the one she had given to Nyx, but didn't understand why she had it.

"You are like your great uncle," Meden chuckled. "To an extent, like your parents as well."

Her heart stopped and she held her breath. Meden didn't seem to notice.

"They were good people, your parents. Kind and warm-hearted," he continued with a sad sigh. "I believe that was their undoing you see. I made them too kind, too accepting."

Luna gulped before she managed to choke out, "what happened to them?"

"Fire, my child. They let my brother's people, his clay abominations, into their home. Willingly, I might add despite their appearances. They found out they were members of the society, high ranking members at that, so they burnt that estate to the ground. Your parents begged me to save you."

"And why did you?"

"Because Hatchet had already warned them. Vienna had already informed him of Pasirima's awakening, he has been clinging to consciousness for decades, and they had promised you to me. Sworn your life to me from the moment you were born so that you could take over your great uncle's position in the society. Since that day I have slowly been pouring my will into you ready for the day Hatchet would move on and you would have to take his place."

Luna blinked, confused. This was a lot to take in but stupidly the first thing she asked was "who's Vienna?"

Meden's right head smiled whist the others remained passive. "A friend of your Great uncle's. She's been waiting for him, just beyond the mountains. All of them have my child. You must find the final two guardians. Stop my brother from taking them. You must go to the heart of the north and open the cave. You must finish what he started."

The world flickered, the poppies replaced by ash and grass, before stabilising again.

"Child. We have little time, there is one more thing you need to know."

"What?"

"There is a liar in my house," he sighed, padding off. "I hope you appreciate the trouble I went through to get you that," the middle head nodded at the hat in her hand.