Tale of the Prophet Bearer: The Dark Queen's Reign

Chapter 34: We tried

(A/N):

Heeeeey all the people. So I FINALLY finished part one of this thingy which I think could be classified right beside 'train crash'. No, this isn't the last chapter, but I will definitly put of the last few over the course of the next days. So hold onto your seat and try not to lose any IQ points while you read this!

~

Having several years of living in the sewers behind me, it isn't hard to lift the heavy lid onto the street silently and climb out at the same time. I peek up at the sky coated with gray clouds that hide the sunshine. The street is void of people and cars litter the street, a few crushed beyond use. Windows are shut and have either curtains or wooden boards concealing what's inside. The air is humid, standing perfectly still. The silence is suffocating and the entire scene screams of distress.

I help Cody up, relief flooding through me when we're invisible. Cameron slides the lid over the hole with a clank! that seems loud from the silence.

My gaze wanders up to the rooftops. Dark cloaks of the assassins pop over the side, searching for the source of the noise. A dozen or so scurry down the side to come investigate. Cody pulls us back and we're several feet away before they get to the edge of the sewers. But shouts from the others make them turn around and run the other way.

A smile tugs at my lips and I exchange the look with Cody. They took the bait!

Cody leads us down the deserted street with arrows laying lifeless on the ground and roads scorched with soot. Our small victory lingers only a few minutes before the distraught emptiness of the scene clings to my chest. I jump at every movement from the buildings, constantly reminding myself that the assassins can't see us. We're invisible after all, and our duplicates will keep the enemies busy. But I can't calm my nerves down. I try taking deep breaths, but I can only feel my heart racing.

We turn onto another street—this time it's not empty. The familiar red scales that glow as if on fire grab my attention by the throat and strangles it. I freeze, staring at Reil's dragon crushing cars underneath its claws. His tail flicks back and forth like a cat waiting to pounce on its prey, knocking bricks off the buildings around him. Fire flares around his eyes and I note that the eye that I shot almost looks like it's bleeding lava. Strange. His nostrils twitch as he sniffs, turning his head to where the assassins are, then to us, to the assassins again. Another long sniff and his fiery gaze settles on us.

I swallow the lump growing in my throat, my breath freezing in my lungs. Metal screams underneath the dragon's claws as he steps through the hoard of cars closer to us. Cody steps back, his footsteps noiseless. He looks ready to run, but there's no way we can outrun a dragon. Especially a dragon this big.

I aim my steps towards a car. "Get in," I whisper as quietly as my voice can go. "I can hot-wire."

Cody gives me a questioning look but doesn't protest. I slide into the driver's seat and immediately go to work. I don't know what I'm doing, but my fingers seem to have a mind of their own as they brush through the tangle of wires. Once the dragon isn't looking, Cody will turn us invisible and maybe we can pass by unnoticed. Yeah, that might work.

The car cranks, purring to life with a loud rumble.

The dragon's eyes narrow into slits and a roar rips from his throat.

Oops...

"CHRISTINA, WE'RE NOT READY!" Tucker shrieks, diving into the back seat.

I leap inside, the others jumping in behind me. My shaky hand jerks the gear shift down and I stomp on the gas pedal as hard as I can, my eyes fixated on the path ahead, picking out the fastest way to go.