The Darkest Dragons

CHP. 17 "Protecting The Enemy"

Abelard's P.O.V

We made it back to the castle without any problems. It was completely silent. I couldn't help but feel bad for being reckless but I wanted Raine back. I couldn't stand it. What if they were hurting her? Oh god what if they were torturing her? We landed and I jumped off Arain. I turned to the wizard and spoke, "I am sorry for my reckless thoughts today. I didn't want to put anyone in danger I just wanted my sister back." He nodded and said, "We will get her back. For now just go on towards your home and we can come up with a plan." I nodded and as I went to turn I felt white hot pain slice down my arm. A slow sharp pain that made me grab my arm. It felt like it was being ripped. I gasped as I felt more pain start everywhere. long jagged red marks popped up all over my body before I felt another new more intense pain. I screamed out and fell. It was the same pain I felt when the sword entered my stomach. I saw Caleb and Ryan run to my side. The Wizard took a step back in horror and all I could do is double over in pain as I continued to scream. It was unbearable and I writhed around trying to get it to stop. I felt the same pain over and over just making my scream louder and raw. Many people had gathered around but our dragons formed wing barriers around us once the Guardian pushed through. Arain was trying to say something but I screamed again not hearing even my own thoughts. For a second it ebbed away and I was able to sit up. I gasped for breath and said, "Wh-what is happening to me?" Caleb helped me up and I looked towards Faaris her eyes were huge and she said, "I think that it's Raine." I growled in anger but suddenly the air rushed out of my lungs so forcefully I screamed again in agony. I felt like a branch was being hit against my stomach and legs. I grabbed my stomach in pain and screamed again, my throat already raw. I pressed my forehead against the ground and cried, "Please please make it stop!" Caleb was holding me and The wizard stepped forward quickly and blew a blue powder into my face. I continued to squirm as I continued to feel the whips, my body jerking as if I was actually being hit. The pain began to slowly ebbed away and so my body stopped moving and I felt exhausted as my vision was bathed in black.

I woke up fast for once. When my eyes opened I bolted up out of bed and looked around. I was in the same bed as last time so I got up and opened the door. A black blur flew at me and hit me head on. I fell back as a black dragon licked my face. I laughed a bit prying Arian off me. He gasped and said, "Abelard do not ever do that again." I chuckled and said, "I hope I never have to do that again too." I stood up and Arian walked beside me. I walked down the hallway and made it into the large room. Many people stood from a table and happily gathered around me asking if I was in any sort of pain. I shook my head, all the pain seemed to have vanished. They all sighed and Caleb grabbed me and hugged me. He said, "Man, you had us all scared for a minute. You've been out for like 2 days." My eyes widened and I said, Wow, have you guys come up with a plan then?" Caleb laughed shaking his head, "Yeah Abelard, we did". They went over it quickly with me and I got the gist. We would encircle the whole kingdom and once it became dark we would cast a shield that made sure no one could leave the area and take it over. Once we had the castle we could get inside and get Raine and kill Stryker if need be." I smiled and nodded I asked, "Well, when does it start?" They shook their heads and said, "Tomorrow, it starts tomorrow." I sighed and nodded. We would get Raine by this time tomorrow.

Raine's P.O.V

I woke up to the sound of a door. I rubbed my eyes and looked over to see Stryker. His dark hair was pulled up but a few strands fell down. His eyes were bright and he seemed to be a lot happier than when I had first met him. There were no dark circles under his eyes and there seemed to be a little more color to his features. I sat up and he said, "Are you okay?" I nodded slightly remembering the pain that was ebbing but still there. The wounds that had not healed by magic were still healing and it hurt. He brought over a tray filled with food and he said, "Here, I brought you some breakfast. I wanted you to eat and get better faster so we can leave tomorrow." I nodded smiling and we sat and ate the breakfast. While we ate he asked me a few questions. "So if you didn't have to go out and find a dragon... and you know... then how did you get a dragon?" I wiped my mouth and responded, "My mothers dragon Aradace birthed Abelard and I's dragons. My mother has a fire dragon and my father has a mountain dragon. We were all born at the same time. The dragon eggs hatched the same time and we were bonded instantly." He mumbled, "Bonded?" I nodded and said, "Yes, when you first meet a dragon and you feel a pull to him or her than you know that they are your dragon. When you touch then you get a mark and that's how you know. Know that you've been bonded forever." His eyes widened and he sighed, I wish I could have a dragon but I doubt any dragon would want to bond with me." I shook my head and said, "Every dragon is born to their rider. You know, a dragon egg cannot hatch until it's rider is born." He looked up at me and said, "So... so I have a dragon out there?" I nodded and said, there is a place I know if that royal dragon riders or queens can use. It shows them where any dragon is... well that's what I was told. But I also know that we, dragon queens, can tell what dragons you have. though, i've never tried." He sighed, "Do yo- do you think you can help me? I know I am not deserving but I would hate to know that I was making my dragon suffer." I frowned, "What do you mean?" He glanced at me for a minute before wringing his fingers together, "When you told me everything the other day I felt that I needed to make it up to the dragons somehow. So I spent the day reading about every dragon out there. I found that if by the age of 16 you do not find your dragon then they could die and... I- I am 16 and what if my dragon is dead? All this time of wanting dragons to rule and I killed my own dragon!" Tears spilled from his eyes and he leaned against the post of the bed closing his eyes. He shuddered before wiping his eyes. I softly replied, "I think I know what kind of dragon you have." He blinked a few times before looking at me. I searched his eyes wondering if it was true but I nodded confirming the feeling. I said softly, "Ostende mihi faciem ejus draco." A strong breeze ruffled his head and a few colors faintly shown around him. I smiled and said hesitantly, "You have a... you have a sky dragon." His eyes widened looking horrified. He moaned as if in pain and clutched his head. He gasped and said, "all this time... All this time and I could've already killed her." My head whipped over to look at him and I said, "What?" He went to repeat his misery but I said, "How do you know?" He questioned, "Know? Know what?" I replied, "How do you know it's a girl?" He opened his mouth but closed it. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know. I guess I just have a feeling." I nodded and said, "When we get to the platform we will find her I promise. We will just have to find a dragon with no name." He looked at me curiously before nodding." We talked for a while more and he questioned, "Okay okay, So your father is King Kain?" I nodded. He sighed and said, "Did he.. really kill my father?" He looked me in the eyes bravely and I nodded and said, "Have you ever been told the story?" He nodded and I said, "Let me tell you. I know every detail because I've seen it through mother's memories. Metin, our sorceress made a device that showed someone's memories from a certain time or you can watch through someone's eyes as they live the present. He nodded his eyes wide and I got comfy and started, "My mother and father were on a quest together to bring back dragons because for some reason they had all disappeared. My mother was 18 at the time and when they were about to find forest dragons my mother was kidnapped by Mabuz. She didn't know who it was at the time but it was revealed to her later who it was. She was taken to a large castle and was told that she would be his wife, his queen. The thing was is that her and Kain were soulmates. Before they had left they had stepped into a magical room and their hearts had lit up and molded together. Mabuz was convinced that Haven was his and he wanted her to be his queen very badly. Once Kain saved my mom though he explained that Mabuz wanted to get back at him for being the one everyone loved more. Kain had everything and Mabuz was left with nothing. It was tragic and Kain wanted to make it up to him but Mabuz had tried to kill my father I think three times when they were kids." Stryker's eyes widened in horror and he shook his head not wanting to believe it. I continued on, "When my mother went back out to find more dragons they went to the tundra land. While they were there Haven was kidnapped again by Mabuz. He took her to a large cavern and put her through three stages, One was killing a huge mountain dragon that had been deprived of food and tortured. He didn't want to hurt mother but he was too far gone to be helped. After mother regretfully had to kill him she went to the next stage. There she broke her ankle trying to get away from vipers and forest dragons which were in the same state as the mountain dragon. One she got out she had to jump over 15 floating rocks. She almost died on three of them and wouldn't have made it without her determination to save her dragons. When she made it out she grabbed a branch and made it to a portal at the end of the cavern. When she was safe Kain killed him. But not before fighting. Kain was stabbed and he could've died too." Stryker nodded at this and looked me in the eyes and said, "I never knew my father was- was a monster." I grabbed his shoulder and said, "You are not him. You are only 16 there is your whole life to make it up to everyone else and you're already doing so. You made it up to me." His eyes softened and he smiled and said, "I will, after today my whole life will be dedicated to dragons and making this world free from hate." I smiled and we stared at each other happily before I whispered, "I believe you." He got up happily and said, "Oh raine! Don't worry I will make everything right. Oh it will be wonderful." He grabbed my hand and gently brought me out the room and through the hallway. many guards laughing and saluting as we hurried by. we finally made it out of the castle and he brought me over to the dragons and I recognised the features of the dragon who had first saw me in my invisible form. He hurried over to me and purred and he butted his head softly into my shoulder. I scratched his neck and laughed. We walked around and he spoke to every dragon telling it, it was free. Once every dragon had been told we stood at a platform I supposed was made for addressing everyone. He said, "If you want, you are all free to go." Everyone looked at us and many whispered to each other but no one flew off or ran. I said, "It is true, if you will, go back to your families and be free, you are no longer bound to this place." They cheered but alas no one left the clearing." Stryker frowned in confusion and took a few steps down he asked, "What is wrong?" A few smiled and they said, "Stryker we know you are not like your father, Raine has showed us that you can be a king. You might've had a lot of rage inside of you but we see now that is has been dispersed. We saw what happened on the roof. Your dragon attacked you and Raine protected you. If she was willing to protect you then we are willing to follow you." He wiped a few tears away and said, "My dear people and dragons. I am honored for your loyalty. You are free to stay but please, spread this out. Tell everyone you know tell your families. I know what I have done was wrong keeping you enslaved here away from your families. I have kidnapped many dragons and other riders. If you want to stay then I invite you but go visit your families, live and if you must come back then I will welcome you with open arms." A few dragons and riders laughed and cheered and others bowed. Stryker laughed and turned to me and said, "I want you to know something." I turned to him and everyone quieted down to hear. He said, "My... My mother is the one who named me. She told me that I was born to be great and that I would grow up to love dragons. She named me Jordan. When she was killed during an attack she was protecting me. My... the dragon that attacked me renamed me stryker because I would strike fear into my enemies hearts. I believed him back then but I want to honor my mother. From now on please, call me Jordan." I nodded and said, "Thank you Jordan." He cocked his head and smiled, "What for?" I smiled, "For finding yourself." He laughed and we turned to everyone and they cheered, "Jordan!" We looked at each other and he guided us in and we walked to the healers to get me new bandages. We quickly got everything re-wrapped and by that time it was lunch. We walked into the kitchen and had a late lunch. It consisted of ham and salad. we sat in a comfortable silence. I thought about going home. I was actually kind of sad. I would miss this place. I would miss Jordan.