Riders of B E R K

Part 47: Sinking

Forty-Seven: Sinking

Hiccup felt the small creature purring through his hand and a smile crossed his face. He couldn't help it: it brought back all those good memories of the best moment of his life, the time when he bonded with Toothless and gained his best friend, protector and confidante. He blinked: he had a human one of those as well but he had sacrificed that for the dragon. He extended his other arm and stroked the little warm face, feeling her butt against him.

"You wanted Toothless because you hatched her," he murmured. "And you want him to mate her...to create your own army of Night Furies..."

"Clever boy," Drago scoffed. "And you will train her to imprint on me...and to obey me!" Hiccup's forest green eyes flicked up and he nodded absently, rubbing the young dragon.

"What's your name, girl?" he murmured. The little dragon blinked, big green eyes wide and trusting. "Shadow? Night? Darkness?" The dragon gave a little croon. "Hmm...Darkness...maybe we need something a little more sexy..." He smiled self-consciously at the use of the word but he knew he was probably talking to his dragon's future mate. "Myrkr. Old Norse for 'darkness'. How's that sound, little bud?" The dragon rubbed against him again. "Myrkr it is." Drago leered down on the young Rider and hummed.

"I see you like her," he said seductively. "Maybe you wish to reconsider your stance on working for me?" Hiccup flicked his gaze up and stumbled to his feet, a sudden pain stabbing through his stump.

"Let me think...you just tried to cut my finger off...I think that's a resounding 'no'!" he replied, swallowing hard. "We stick to the original arrangement."

"And you help them to fetch my dragons from the nest-before the Russians or any other do-gooders stumble across them?" Drago demanded. Hiccup nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"And the other part of the deal?" he asked, feeling the tension zinging through him. Drago eyed him up and smirked.

"We have already acquired the asset you wished and have manufactured the antitoxin you sent the specifications for," Drago growled. "Though I would be interested in why you have mortgaged your future and your servitude for a woman...and not the one you arrived with?" Breathing hard, Hiccup stared at the little dragon, his shoulders slumping.

"I...owe her this," he murmured.

"As you didn't the blonde?" Viggo asked calculatingly, his dark eyes sweeping over the lean shape, seeing the younger man ashamedly shake his head.

"Will you commit to the rest of the bargain?" Hiccup asked hoarsely. Drago walked closer and rested his hand-hard-on his skinny shoulder, the fingers digging hard into the flesh.

"Will you deliver the Night Fury to me when I demand?" he breathed, his breath caressing Hiccup's cheek. Hiccup stiffened, the tension rigid through his body.

"Will you commit to the rest of the bargain?" he repeated. The grip tightened.

"Will you do what I demand?" Drago breathed. Hiccup shuddered, guilt warring with his fear.

"Toothless is mine," he repeated quietly. "I am mine. I work with the Hunters. I am not your toy. Will you commit to the rest of the bargain?" The grip tightened again and Drago's lips were almost brushing against his ear.

"Defy me, boy, and we will resume what we started," he growled and relaxed his hand, backing away. "Viggo-have the boy attend for regular training with the hatchling. And get those eggs soon-or I will lose those as well and someone will have to pay for that failure!" He turned. "Have the boy brought to me tomorrow...to start working with the hatchling." And then he walked away, leaving the trembling Hiccup staring after the tycoon and praying his gamble would work.