Dragon Child

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Under the mountain

Cobra resisted the strong urge to toss and turn in his nest. All kinds of sounds have been keeping him up lately, especially the one coming from the Lacrima. Its been ringing in his ears sense he first got here three days ago.

Drip, drip, drip

Sometimes the drips would be followed by the sound of a crack. It was so annoying and unnatural and he hated it. He couldn't find a way to tune it out he's tried everything from canceling his magic to earmuffs. He was about ready to scream from insanity because it wouldn't stop. He wanted to punch something but Natsu and the kids were asleep next to him. Even though he could hear that Sting wasn't asleep.

Cobra finally decided to check it out when he heard a powerful rumble in place of the small cracks. He slowly moved his wings up so they weren't wrapped around Natsu anymore. The Pinkette took no notice. He thanked god he was a hard sleeper. Slowly he removed himself form the nest and threw on his coat and pants. He glanced down the hall to make sure everyone was sound asleep before heading down the stairs and out the front door.

Cold night air hit him like a bullet. Sense the city was practically floating on water and sealed under a mountain the nights inside it were incredibly cold. He wrapped his jacket around him tighter and jumped up, spreading his wings and gliding up into the air. It was almost midnight and yet he could still see bits and places where people's light were still on in their home. Guards moved along the path ways and in boats, making sure no one was causing trouble at night or walking around where they shouldn't be.

He stayed high above the city keeping close to the dark spots along the ceiling so he wouldn't get caught by any prying eyes from bellow. It was a moment like this that he was glad his scales were purple, thy blende in well with the darkness. As he glided up along the roof he got a look at what he initially thought were claw marks, and that's exactly what they were. He paused in flight to stare up at the gouge marks. There was a patten to it: four marks consecutively next to each other but only three on another set- as if the creature that created this cavern was missing a finger or claw, or whatever it had used to dig.

Cobra moved on, flying towards the one lacrima that was closest to the entrance. The one that was annoying the crap out of him for so long. As he floated around it he compared it to the smaller version of it back at The Valley of Dragons. Both most likely served the same purpose: to hide and protect the cities they surrounded. But these four also acted as artificial sunlight and moonlight for the Citizens and plants.

Cobra lightly grazed his hand against, then he scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. He had expected to feel the crystal radiating with power, seeing as it must use a ton of magic to do what it does for long periods of time. But it felt cold and weak, like it was running out of power. Cobra kicked off the lacrima and flew to the one next to it. He touched this one and felt the power the other should have, it vibrated under his hand and it traveled up his arm and made his shoulder ache, plus it felt enough hot that Cobra couldn't keep his hand on it for long. He rubbed his warm hand and glanced around to the other two lacrimas, he didn't have a lot of time so he didn't want to visit all four of them. If he had to guess though the weak one was the only one acting up. He went back over to it and circled it. He stopped when he saw nothing near the bottom or top of it. He pressed his ear to the rigid side of the lacrima and heard several things.

He could hear the weak power moving through it, the drip drip of something inside it.... And the sound of something breathing. He jerked his head away in fear as the image of a massive face came to his mind. Sharp teeth, cold and nearly lifeless blue eyes surrounded by black and white scales. He stared at the lacrima trying to figure out what he just saw, was the crystal alive somehow?