Kingdoms Falling

Chapter 22

Meadow's jaw dropped as the three dragons landed in the grass and the two Defenders looked toward the third hatchling, the one who had spoken, the one with the determination shining in his dark eyes, a determination that Meadow had never seen before, and couldn't believe he was seeing now.

"Hillock?"

The sand drake dipped his head shyly. "Aye," he said quietly. "It's me, laddie."

Meadow stared, unable to wrap his brain around what he was seeing. It was Hillock the whole time? When? How was it even possible? He had so many questions, and by the look on the hatchling's face, he was prepared to answer them all.

"Hillock," Meadow repeated, swallowing hard and trying to hold his voice steady. "You're the chosen one?" He winced at the harshness of his tone, but the older dragon didn't seem bothered as he looked hesitantly toward Fire who nodded him forward.

"I am," he confessed. "I am the son of Scorpion and Silvertail. The true descendant of Hailfire, and the master of the Key of Purity." He stood taller, as though finally coming out and admitting his heritage was a great burden off his shoulders.

"Wow," Meadow breathed. "I had no idea you were a hybrid." But, he realized he should have. Sand dragons had blue eyes. Hillock had brown. Not to mention the way he spoke was unusual, but Meadow had never thought anything of it. Now, he realized it all made sense. "Especially half jungle dragon!"

"It's not really the first thin' I tell dragons," Hillock said, shrugging. "Especially since my mum died. And with hybrids bein' forbidden and all."

The dream. The fire. The silver dragoness.

It was Hillock. It was all him. No wonder he was so afraid of Fire! His mother was killed when the Defender hatched! Not that Fire knew, or controlled, that. The pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place, and he had never felt so relieved.

That was why he said Twisterheart couldn't manipulate him. He knew he was a hybrid. He tried to tell me.

How did I not see it earlier?

"So, if you know you're a hybrid, and you said you could read this?" Lilac inquired, stepping aside and gesturing to the stone.

Hillock nodded. "I can. I'll show ya." He stepped forward and knelt down to place his talons on the casing, squinting as he read the writing. "Four to the left. Two to the right. Five up. There we are." He smirked as there was a click and the top of the box snapped open, revealing a latch which Hillock effortlessly pulled up.

He drew out the key.

Or, more accurately, the locket.

The surrounding four dragons stared, motionless, watching as he lifted the gold-chained amulet so they could all see, gently wrapping the winding ends around his talons. Blood red rubies glinted in the moonlight, flashing across the drake's scales, as though shouting for joy at being discovered at last.

"It's an amulet," Cotton gasped.

"The Amulet of Purity," Lilac corrected, her eyes glinting excitedly. "It's so beautiful."

"Quick," Fire added in a frantic hiss. "Use it to defeat Twisterheart and let's get going." He opened his wings and looked skyward.

"It won't be so simple."

The hiss that came from Lilac was almost indragon. Meadow's heart plummeted into his stomach as the dragoness turned on them, and he yelped, back-peddling, as her eyes, suddenly glossed and foreign, washed over him.