Tales of a Dragon

Chapter Fifteen

Rastiv felt the cuffs around his wrists, he heard his own heavy breathing and the clanking on the chain as he was dragged to the Colosseum. His nose was broken and bleeding, his ankle was sprained and possibly broken, and one of his ribs had cracked.

He remembered what the King had done just a few moments ago.

"I trusted you Rastiv," Ashton said, a angry grimace on his face. "I could've, should've killed you right there years ago." Ashton made a motion with his hand, and the guard that was behind Rastiv slammed his shield down onto his back, a loud pounding sound echoing in the torture room of the castle.

Rastiv screamed from the immense pain. "Is my son one of them?"

Rastiv didn't answer. He could feel Ashton using persuasive magic on him, trying to force out the answer, but Rastiv was stronger than this. He wouldn't let Axis die like that. He couldn't let Axis die at all.

"You have one more chance. Or you will die."

Rastive held his tongue. This one time, he would show his bravery, and not be a coward. It was because of one boy, one boy named Axis. Rastiv lowered his head and sobbed, his chest racking with the continuous cries.

"Farley would be disappointed." Ashton made another motion with his hand, and the shield slammed across his face, breaking his nose and cracking it. Blood trickled from his nostrils and he cried out in pain.

"Take him to the Colosseum. The boy will see what he has gotten himself into."

===

Axis heard the gates opening before he saw it. Rastiv came through, looking hurt. His nose was bloody and his whole arm was bruised. He was being dragged by guards, carrying the chains that connected to his cuffs. "RASTIV!"

Rasiv looked up at him. He tried to smile, but winced in pain instead. No, no, what was going on? How did his father find out so easily? Rastiv couldn't have told him. Avril was in the crowd, trying to get to Axis frantically. She was crying small tears, and Axis couldn't help but join her.

Ashton looked at Axis. "My boy," he said. "What secrets have you been keeping from me?"

The crowd was screaming in outrage and confusion. They were roaring, filling the Colosseum with noise and chants.

"You should all know that the Crossbones are dangerous scum!" Ashton said. The crowd roared again, this time in agreement. "They have ruined our city! And I have only now found out that my own son is one of them!"

The crowd gasped, their faces so shocked. Axis looked at his father with hatred. He returned the look, and motioned for a guard to take him. Axis struggled against the guards' grips, but he was cuffed. Helio was chained, also, and she screeched and roared.

Axis. Use your powers.

He couldn't. That was the thing. This metal was sucking away his energy, his mana, and he was almost asleep. But he looked up as he heard glass breaking, and then, through slits in his eyes, he saw fire bursting everywhere. Thousands of figures came in, carrying swords and shooting magic. Each one of them had a crossbone tattoo. The Crossbones had come.

Axis heard the chain give away as someone cut him loose from it. He turned to face a small girl with glasses and short brown hair. "Hurry up, we don't have time." The girl turned, sensing the presence of a guard, and slammed her fist into his jaw. She then blasted fire at his chest and he screamed as he fell.

He saw Clara's copper hair as she stabbed a guard with her broadsword straight in the chest. His heart fluttered, but he made it go away. She betrayed him.

Where was Rastiv? And Avril? Ashton was running now, like the coward he was. Axis cast an air spell, and his father flew up into the sky. But Ashton made a safe landing by summoning a cloud to soften the blow. He continued to run.

Axis ignored him for now and went to Rastiv. Rastiv was unconscious, he hoped, on the ground. He lifted up his head and... no... 

His eyes... they were dull... and blank... Rastiv was gone.

No. How did he die?! Axis felt around and felt a dagger in Rastiv's back. No. The initials engraved on the dagger were A.B. It had to be Ashton Bentell. Avril and Axis didn't have a dagger like that. No... Why did Rastiv have to leave him? Axis sobbed into Rastiv's shoulder as chaos exploded around him.

He felt angry more than anything. So angry that he had to use this anger on someone. Avril had picked up a sword and was swinging wildly at the guards. Ashton was gone now, he had escaped. Axis felt a need to chase after him, but he had to stay and fight. He had to do something.

The civilians were trying to fight the Crossbones, too. Axis needed them to get on the Crossbones' side, even if he didn't fully trust them yet. He went up to the King's pedestal and turned on the mic. "CIVILIANS OF CERALEUM!"

They all turned to face him.

"THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BETRAYED YOU! Your own King was planning something disastrous, my own father, yes. And even though the Crossbones have terrorized this city for so long, we must side with them.

"You have to make a decision, and fast. But remember, if you choose to fight with me, I will promise you something my father can't promise to you: peace among the people."

The guards started the battle again, but this time, the civilians hesitantly helped the Crossbones. Now, he had to find Helio. Where was his dragon?

She was still chained, and several guards were stabbing at her. Blood boiled in his chest and he charged towards them. His anger pulsed in his veins and he cried out, raising his sword.

Helio screeched as a spear was stabbed in her foot. That was the trigger for Axis, that one thing that drove him over the edge. Rastiv's words echoed in his head, explaining the powers of an Eden. They could do anything, their powers were unlimited, but no one knew exactly what they could do. They were dangerous.

Axis felt himself grow. Wings, velvet and scales, expanded from his back and his whole body grew abnormally. He saw black claws grow out from his palms, and then scales covered his body. He roared, the sound of a dragon, and he fluttered his wings and flew upwards into the sky.

He was a dragon. He had turned into a dragon.