Dragon Tide Chronicles: Dawn Rising

Chapter 35: Dire Chase

Chapter 35: Dire Chase

Smoke plumed high above my head, and I coughed, the thick smell choking me. I still felt Alexander’s arms tightly bound against me, and I felt something warm and wet all over me.

“Alexander, let me go.” I demand sharply. No response. It’s as if he’s unaware of my presence at all. “Alexander, let go of me.” I demand, louder. For some reason, fear begins entering my mind, and I scream shrilly, “ALEXANDER GET OFF ME!” I begin to violently pull myself from his locked grasp, once I am free I turn to yell, ‘What the heck is wrong with you?!’ but my voice chokes off as I see what has happened to his helmet’s visor. “Alexander….” I whisper. His visor had shattered in a spherical pattern- the result of the impact resistant glass being totally overwhelmed. And from the cracks and holes, poured BLOOD. Terrible, crimson blood.

I scream out loud and mentally: HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HURRY! HELP US!!!

I looked down at myself, and realized I was covered in blood. HIS blood. “SOMEBODY! HELP!” I scream again, and suddenly a gentle woman’s voice speaks to me.

“Hush, child. Rest now.” I immediately blacked out.   

The moment I woke up, I bolted upright. “Alexander!” I cried out in alarm.

“He’s fine… remarkably. No dragonling has the regenerative power that we’re seeing out of Alexander.” It was mom. “Overnight, his wounds closed up considerably, leaving almost no trace, barely even a SCAR. I’m not sure how he did it, but the janitor reported a blue light coming from his ward. We need to ask him about that, and about Dameus. He may be our last connection to where his body is.” I nod, and I get up out of my bed, surprised at how little damage I took.

“It’s a good thing he covered you, otherwise you would’ve died.” Mom remarks. I groan.

“Great, more ammunition for him to fire at me. A life debt.” I can’t imagine what he’d do with that.

We go to open the door to the hallway, when a guard yells, “He’s getting loose!!” We look at each other just as a massive explosion of light and thunder shakes the hospital. Fortunately, we weren’t hurt, thanks to mom’s shield. Our hair however, stood on end. If someone laughs at me, I’m going to kill them. And secondly… was that lightning?!

“Mom…? Was that a lightning spell?” She looks at me and solemnly shakes her head yes.

“How is that even possible?! He’s a red dragonling, not a blue or sapphire! He shouldn’t be able to do that!” I growl. I notice Alexander standing right outside the doorway. The scent of strong electric charge is in the air around him, and he is sparking with electricity.

He scowls, and then strangely smirks. “This is the last time we will ever lay eyes on one another. I’ll make sure of it this time.” With that, he explodes in a burst of lightning, and takes off almost at light speed.

Arrgh! This dragonling has got to stop these antics!! I roar mentally, and both my mom and I give chase, but he is already out of sight. I spy a guard, who looks shaken, and he rushes over to me.

“Commander, I just saw Alexander head south! There’s only one place he’d go if he is heading south. You know where I’m talking about right?”

I swallow. The last remnant of the Dragonling Kingdoms. The former homeland of the mightiest nation of Aladoria. Now nothing more than a barren wasteland where nothing grows, nor does clouds cover it’s skies, it is a perpetual wasteland, it’s ashy soil and skies are nothing but grey. It is rumored that millions of ghosts haunt the barren place. Alexander was heading to the Desolate Lands. Once there, we’d never find him. Just like he said.

“Yeah. I know where to go now. I can’t keep up with him alone though…”

Brother? Could you come with me to go after Alexander? He’s headed towards the Desolate Lands.

 

Desolate Lands ehh? Ok. I’ll be right there. I sigh with relief. I’d like another person to come with me though…

“I’ll help you out, Danica.” The almost forgotten voice of Orph rings out behind me.

“Really? Are you sure Orph? I mean… thanks.” He smiles.

“It’s not a problem, Danica.” I grin. Great, this is more comfortable. Summer appears behind him.

“I’m coming too!” She stammers. I roll my eyes.

“Fine.” I groan.

When Ore came, with all of his magic supplies, I teleported us to the border of the Fairywoodlands, and the black, bleak landscape of the Desolate Lands. There, we waited for Alexander to bump into us.