The Beasts [Book 1]

CHAPTER SEVEN - The Depths of Hell

"The dragon?! There's a dragon?!" Selene yelped, but then quickly turned to the four knocked out humans. "We've got to get them out! Take them somewhere safer."

"Where is safer? We're basically trapped on this godforsaken place!" Grace snapped, glaring.

"Jordan dropped his water, and went outside. He made sure to keep a good distance from the checkpoint, eyes going wide as he just felt a twinge of pain this time. Nothing like the first time he shifted. Wings burst from his back, covered in scales, and he fell to the ground on his knees, only to be raised up again with a loud roar.

"Holy shit, Jordan is the dragon on the mountain?" Selene followed her brother, trembling slightly.

"He's our ticket out of here!" Grace attempted to climb onto Jordan's back, but had to be pushed up by his tail the rest of the way. Selene made a snide remark but didn't even think twice about shifting and climbing up on top of him with her clothes.

Diesel was dragging the four people he'd drugged out of the checkpoint, still tired. A little bit annoyed by his sister and girlfriend's lack of caring about the people inside the checkpoint, he bent down and scooped them all up with his tail, allowing Diesel to relax a bit.

"Ughhh," Diesel groaned, "It feels like my skin is being ripped apart. N-No one's left inside."

Spreading his wings, Jordan silently prayed that they would hang on tight. He took off into the air with a roar, attempting to survey the area to look out for any signs of the enemy.

He could see figures moving in the distance, and he let out another roar. They wouldn't make it twenty feet more. He flung himself towards the silhouettes, releasing a large stream of fire as he flew over them.

His companions struggled to hold on at such an angle, so he was trying to end it quickly. Vampires fell, and he swooped up into the air again. They were beginning to throw spears... He had to get out of there! Even though his body was covered in impenetrable scales, he didn't want to take the chance on one of those spears hitting him right where he'd be taken down. The green and red dragon flew away, hitting one last spear with his thin tail. "Where are we going?" Grace gasped out, clutching onto his shoulder tightly, trying to keep the now-awake humans on as they let out scared cries. It seemed like every word they spoke was indistinguishable, which didn't help their cases.

They did have a reason though-It's not like every day you get to ride on the back of a fire-breathing dragon.

Diesel's scream broke the silence that had settled over them, aside from the flapping of wings. They needed to land-He was transforming! Dipping down, Jordan did I spiral down to the ground. His claws hit roughly, dislodging everyone off of his back. Thumps and 'oof's resounded as they hit the dusty rock-face, and Diesel let out another scream.

He thrashed on the ground, tears leaking down his face. "Got damn it, boy! Ya caused this." He howled out, his voice becoming distorted as if more than one person was speaking. Crack! Crack! Crack! One by one his bones snapped and reassembled themselves. Two more heads sprouted from his widened shoulders, and his paws lashed out as the pain faded.

The four nameless people Jordan had saved looked on in shock, panting slightly as a huge, three-headed dog stood up. Red glowing eyes met Jordan's own and Jordan gave the best grin the could while still in dragon form. This big old dog would be a great asset. His tail was spiked, like Jordan's, and at the very tip a large snake's head lay ready to strike at any moment.

"Y-You're something else, Diesel." Grace spluttered out, "A Cerberus!" She stood up, biting her lip.

"From the depths of hell." Selene said grimly. "We'd better hope to Freyja that there is more than one."