Call of the Dragon (Return to Avalore Book 1) (7 page)

The trail led him to the most dangerous parts of the city, the areas where no outsider wanted to venture during daylight hours, much less at night. The smell of rot and urine flooded the streets, making them as unwelcoming as the unsavory characters who roamed them.

The buildings weren’t habitable, yet people lived here. Some structures, mostly destroyed by fire, should have been demolished ages ago, yet they remained, a hazard to those living within the charred walls. Gang members walked the streets freely, openly showing their weapons. Junkies shot up with drugs on the sidewalk, not caring who witnessed their addiction. Most were nothing more than frightened children trying to find their way in a world that had turned their backs on them. They were the forgotten, and their fear and anger beat at him as he walked past. Every city had them, and every city pretended otherwise.

It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. The pungent odor of wet animal and sewage was concentrated at the opening of a narrow alley.

He cloaked himself as he approached, careful not to alert the beast. Two large metal bins overflowing with trash gave the alley an even more fetid smell than the beast itself provided. The ground shook in the wake of a passing train, sending ripples across the large puddles dotting the alley.

Five Erritrols stood in a semi-circle around the large Ikabrol where the lane ended. They listened, mesmerised as the warrior spoke, unaware they were no longer alone. Varying weapons lay at their feet, dropped from the hands of the gang members they’d possessed. The beasts had no need for human weaponry, favoring energy warfare over the puny guns and knives men created.

The ancient dialect of the Erritrols drifted to his ears. The men they’d taken control over were lost. Even if they lived, they wouldn’t be able to function in society anymore. They probably had not functioned well in society to begin with, but at least, up until now, they’d still had a chance.

He strained to hear what the beast was saying. The way the gruff voice grumbled and undulated was just as important as the words spoken. The ancient languages were all similar, but the inflection was a little different for each breed. He needed to get it just right, his enunciation perfect, otherwise he’d blow his cover. Being the only Avalorian in the vicinity, he couldn’t chance the Ikabrol recognizing him until the weaker beasts were disposed of.

“She cannot return to Avalore. They are weak. The darkness haunts every waking moment and terrorizes their very dreams. We cannot fail. Not now when we are so close.”

The raspy voice grated on Drake’s nerves. He shuddered, raising goose bumps on his skin.

“We will
not
be defeated. It has taken us over three decades to get here.” The beast shook its fist in the air, inciting the others into frenzied roars. “Now that she has been found, they will fight hard to keep her. They are frantic, but we are strong. We will prevail.” The beast struck its chest several times with a closed fist, sending small clouds of dust out of its fur with every thump.

One of the beasts in the circle snorted.

“You have something to say, Bratan?” Its lip curled, his beady eyes trained on the offender.

Bratan clenched and unclenched his fists. “You want to know what I have to say?” A deep guttural sound vibrated through the air. “Had you not lost her to begin with, we would not have to hunt her now,
oh mighty warrior
.” He addressed the others with a snarl. “I wonder where his allegiance truly lies.”

Windows on nearby buildings shook as a loud, savage roar ripped through the alley. “You dare question me? You, barely off of your mother’s teat, dare to challenge me?” Energy sizzled all around them. “Have you any idea who I am, you impudent little shit?” His words met stunned silence. “I am Radox, son of Barthenon—a warrior the likes of which you will never be.” He puffed his chest out further. “You seek death? If you wanted to end your pathetic existence, mongrel, you had only to ask.”

“We should have taken their lands and had their women serving us by now. We should have been freed long ago.” Another male piped in. “Your incompetence shames not only you, but your father as well.”

Power flooded the alley like a dark storm cloud racing to the beast as it reared its ugly head back and roared to the heavens.

Scrambling his energy, Drake distorted his image, then grunted aloud before stumbling from behind the bins. Grabbing a rusted piece of pipe from the ground, he made his presence known.

“Hey, buddy.” His insolent call drew the beast’s attention. “Yeah, I’m talking to you.” He sneered at the beast. His white knuckled grip on the pipe tightened as he strutted toward the group. Striking the piece of lead into his left hand several times, he braced himself as the beast sized him up. “This is my alley, and if you want to play here, you gotta pay.”

“Come talk to me then,
buddy
. What is your price?” Radox snorted.

A human wouldn’t stand a chance against the swift and brutal psychic pull. Drake doubled over as though pain sliced through him. He wasn’t so strongly affected, but the beast didn’t know it was no human they were trying to possess. Not yet, anyway.

He made his energy shimmy and shake, as though the creature attempting to take over his body had succeeded. “Radox.” Drake roughened his voice, giving it a gravelly tone.

Satisfied another of its pack had joined them, Radox sneered, turning his attention toward the two insubordinates once more. “I was about to teach Bratan and his bitch a lesson when your host came along and invited you to join us.”

“I’m not the one who needs a lesson, Radox. You need to learn how to defeat a puny little female and I’m more than willing to be the one to teach you.” Bratan growled low, his teeth bared, drool dripping from the sharp, yellowed canines.

Drake leapt into action before the beasts could engage each other any further. Power blasted from him, hitting the two lesser Erritrols with huge balls of white-hot energy in quick succession, incinerating them on contact. Shock, then fury twisted the Ikabrol’s already ugly features.

“I-didn’t-want-them-dead-you-fucking-idiot.” The clipped words resonated in the deafening silence.

He had to act fast. Radox had yet to bring another Ikabrol through, and if he had any say in the matter, it wouldn’t happen at all. He pushed everything from his mind as he blasted two more Erritrols into oblivion. Leaping to the side, he sent his fifth shot sailing through the air, striking the last Erritrol straight in the chest. It howled and gathered energy, lunging towards him even as its body burst into flames, before falling to the ground. It flailed for a moment, unwilling to accept its undeniable fate. Once it succumbed to the lethal blow, and the deafening screams subsided, silence and the smell of burnt flesh and fur hung in the air.

The Ikabrol threw its head back and howled. Its entire body shook as the last of its comrades fell.

The lesser warriors Drake had destroyed lacked experience and strength. He’d have had a more difficult time getting rid of them had it been otherwise, but this beast, was much more dangerous. This warrior had trained to withstand just about anything. Luckily, so had he.

He gathered more energy, adding his own to give it extra power. The white ball, covered in a thin layer of fiery red, sailed through the air, hitting the beast just above its heart. The white light penetrated into its chest, while the red flashed bright for an instant then swelled and detonated like millions of little sparks, taking some of the creature’s power with it as it cleared.

“Sperwell. I should have known.” Its lip curled. “You
will
give the woman to me.”

“I’ll kill you before you get anywhere near her.” His gaze never left the beast as it moved closer.

“I’m not so easy to kill, dragon, or have you forgotten? I should have ended your sorry existence when I had the chance.”

“How could I forget? You ran back to your pack with your tail between your legs like a lost puppy.”

Spittle sprayed from its mouth, dripping down its chin as it roared. It lunged, claws extended, just missing Drake with its massive paw.

“You can do better.” Goading the creature into recklessness was half the battle. Once enraged, it would react without thinking, leaving itself open to attack.

Pure red energy sizzled and popped as Drake sent it careening into it the beast, draining its power in another brilliant flash of light.

The beast stumbled as it grabbed its head in both paws. Blood trickled from its nose. Its massive chest rose and fell as it struggled for breath. It lunged towards him again, sending Drake sprawling onto the filthy alley floor with one powerful swipe of its massive paw.

Triumph shone in the soulless eyes as the scent of blood wafted in the air.

Scorching heat shot through Drake where its claws had sliced across his chest. He doubled over, agony rushing to every part of him as poison sped through his system. His breaths came in ragged bursts, and sweat dripped from his forehead.

Damn it.
He refused to go to his next life at the hands of an Ikabrol. He pushed the bile threatening to choke him back down. He couldn’t give up now. He wouldn’t. He needed to get back and protect
her
, at least until Evan could take over.

“That’s right, Sperwell, kneel before me like the bitch you are. Beg for your life. Beg just as your mother did before she died. I will show you no more mercy for you than I did her, and once you’re gone, I will find your
queen
and tear her limb from limb.” The beast puffed its chest, spitting at him.

A low growl rumbled deep in Drake’s chest as thick phlegm trickled down his cheek. He shoved his fury and pain aside as he shook his head and blinked hard to regain his focus.

“I will go to the next life, proudly protecting my queen. But one thing is for certain.” He staggered to his feet. “If I go, I will not go alone.” He sent a pale blue ball flying through the air, hitting the beast square in the forehead.

Its massive head undulated on its neck as it fought for its life. “You are a fool, Sperwell. You cannot hope to win against us.” Its voice was weak as it stumbled forward.

“You underestimate my loyalty to my queen, and my allegiance to my people.” He was weakening, but he sent what he could into the beast, hitting it one last time in the chest as he stumbled to his knees. He couldn’t be sure if the groan he heard echoing in his head was his or the beast’s, but he suspected it was his own.

The beast shimmered, attempting its escape, but it was too late. Smoke rose in wicked tendrils from its body before it erupted into flame, leaving nothing but an acrid pile of ash in its place.

Darkness swarmed before his eyes, yet he fought to stay awake. No one entered the alley as he lay there on the filthy ground, as though evil still hovered in the air, keeping everyone at bay. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. Whether he laid there for a few minutes or a few hours, he couldn’t tell. Darkness swelled and receded like waves in the ocean. When he was sure he could stay conscious long enough to speak, he took several deep breaths and summoned his commander.

“What’s happening? I feel your pain from here.”
The words screamed into his mind.
“Is Rhiannon hurt?”

“Must you yell? I’ve sustained some injuries, but I’m alright.”
The question was, for how long.

“What’s going on?
” Evan’s panic flooded his mind.

Drake fought a wave of nausea as his stomach lurched. “
She’s safe.”

“
What do you mean, she’s safe? Are you not with her?”

Drake groaned when the words ricocheted in his mind.
He didn’t have time for word games. He had to get back before she decided she needed to come looking for him.
“I told you, I had to secure safe passage. I had to dispatch the beasts hunting her.”

“If you need more men, then you ask and I’ll send you more fucking men. You do
not
leave her side. Do we understand each other? She is your first and
only
priority.”

“Yes, sir.”
The formal reply would irk Evan more than any argument ever would. He was pissed, but he’d get over it.

“How long until you get to the portal?”

“I need you to assist in the transport. I may not be able to escort her back.”

Pain shot through him as he tried to sit up. His anguished moan resonated in the deserted alley. Nothing mattered though, not the pain, not the poison—nothing but getting back to her.

“How severe are your injuries?”
Concern replaced Evan’s anger.

“A few minor scratches on my chest. I’ve sustained worse.”
Was he trying to reassure himself, or Evan?

“We’ll be there by morning. Get back to her and don’t leave there until we arrive. That’s an order.”

Energy poured into him from afar for the second time in less than a day. If he made it through this, he’d never live it down.

Chapter 6

Over an hour had gone by since Drake had left Rhia alone in the apartment. One hour and seventeen minutes, to be precise. The glare she shot the clock on the wall should have melted the hands right off its face, yet they continued to move at a ridiculously slow pace. It had to be broken. There was no way it had only been three minutes since the last time she’d checked.