Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (17 page)

“H-how did you know?” I question gushy. I’m appalled by the skeletons on the ground near the lava, their feet cut out. Some warriors dragged themselves out of the lava. Others probably died trapped. There are over a hundred, and if it wasn't because of him, I would’ve been one of them. “Instincts…” I lower my head, ashamed of my earlier behavior towards him. “Come,” he is quick and walks away before I can apologize. I follow him. “I’m starting to believe this is not all a coincidence. This is all planned.” He speaks as he marches ahead. I gasp.

“You think!” I
yelp behind him.

“Rare antidotes, six patches of water…in which each have Cely, an unusual remedy that
does not allow dehydration. Usually when punished, the leaders don’t allow any type of remedy inside the cavern, only a weapon can be entered. Why did they allow
you
to have it all? Besides, a leader or highest priestess has to be the one to accompany the betrayer, not an untrustworthy instructor. Moreover, the earthquake seemed to be magically intervened, basically forcing us to enter. People do not make it out of here alive, except they knew if they forced me in, I would assist you, for I’m the rare survivor.”  He halts to meet with me, “I guess you are well protected aren’t you? You have everyone watching over you.” He says smugly.

“You’re wrong.
If that’s the case why did they send me here? Why punish me?" Does he think he's such greatness that he was the one chosen to guide me? But by Vaniele’s attitude towards it all, I figure he’s right about his theory. “You broke
84
rules, what do you want, a crown,” again he mocks me. “They have to demonstrate to the others a deceiver is penalized. No matter how special you are.” Khysso leads me to a path also covered in lava. “What’s going on…this wasn’t here years ago,” by his tone I can tell he worries.

“
What do we do now?”

“This must be because of the treasure I took out years ago. The dr
agon must've changed the cavern.”

“Oh yes, the treasure, what was it?” I
curiously ask. He tilts his head to meet with me, but as usual the stare is swift and he looks away. “An eye of the dragon,” he admits looking at the lava. I scowl.

“H
ow is that a treasure?” I argue.

“The eye of the dragon makes dosfylio, a tonic that can –”

“Remove any powerful venom,” I cut in finishing for him. He chuckles, probably impress by my comprehension. Only high priestesses, sorcerers and wizards of old age know the truth of dosfylio. “You have been well trained. I assumed it must be nice to be a spoiled brat.” I'm not a spoiled brat. Why does he have to insult me? Now I remember why he easily exasperates me, but this time I swallow the frustration. I’m completely in need of Khysso.

“I will create bricks. We have to cross i
n sixty seconds of an hourglass. That is how long I can fight nature’s magic law,” I frown.

“Huh, what are you talking about
? You can break the magic law,” he grimace.

“What are
you
talking about?” He sighs. “We don’t have much time. I’m going to count to three, when I say run, you run, understood?” I nod. “Ready,” I put aside my curiosity, and once he yells run, I sprint with him. By his desperation and the track of the bricks fading, I can tell he speaks the truth of his powers. In the end, Khysso can’t break the magic rule…but then the tree…why?

I notice a light
flashing my way from a curve entrance. I run agile— I’m delighted we're almost out of this hell.  A bit more striving I think, but a powerful heat wave dashes to me pushing me down. My body hits Khysso, together we hit ground. Given that I’m in the front the wind causes me further damage. The wave blinds me. My eyes burn disturbingly.  “The bricks are fading, Judyala!” I rub my eyes, but the blur is thick.  Khysso obtains me. I blush in a jiffy. Like many years ago, he carries me to safety, protecting me from the windy heat by holding my face close to his shoulder. The smell on his collar is captivating. His manly fragrance is fresh, accelerating my pulse, and touching my heart in an outlandish manner. 

Khysso steadily put
s me down. I stare spelled by him, taken aback by his thoughtfulness. “Is your vision better?” He asks softly, his green eyes on me. I automatically nod, forgetting the world around me. My eyes burn, but my eyesight is more than perfect, especially to look at him. The growling of the dragon shakes the cave, Khysso’s hands meet my hips, but I disregard the touching for the echoes are terrifying and the area is bloodcurdling.

I gaze around. The ring-shaped realm is crawling with magma, the cracks on the rigid walls from the high top gush out lava, covering the rocks with its filth. The
bottom has a deep hollow that is tainted in a hot fatal redness; dropping signifies a slow death, a long dark torment. If there's a hell, I’m seeing it right now. We stand on a cut surface, with an open view to the deadly bottomless. On the midpoint of the area, there's another round shaped base that's sustained by a thin line of solid rocks.  The complication is crossing the narrow fragile bridge, to obtain the puzzling center. This is it, the end of the cavern, the beast’s lair.

“This must be how an ant feels when it’s inside a house, insignificant.” I
say aloud feeling tiny. “The dragon waits on the center. Remember to use your sword,” he insists. I rush a nod, and touch the sword given to me by Vaniele that is sustained by a weapon belt on my hip. “Alright, let’s do it,” Khysso shakes his head, his rejection disquieting me. “Forgive me, but this is your task now. I’m sure my task was to bring you here. That sword is your ally. If I intervene, they will know…and the upcoming might be fatal. For you, your guardian and I,” he says seriously. I sigh. My stomach abruptly wrangles with ache. Without him, I feel unprotected, but he's right. It's my journey, and I have to face it on my own.

My knees and heart jiggle as I skip on the unsteady bridge. I fear isolation. I dread facing the monster on my own. Crossing the bridge is a hassle, it st
irs so much I think the worn-out ropes can break or worse— trip and drop. With trouble, and cautious steps, I get to the midpoint. I sigh harshly. I'm relief I made it alive. I look all ways. The strong heat melts my skin. I can’t imagine my heart if I didn't drink that antidote. It’s impossible for any human to get this far without it. I search my bag for a pouch of water, but a growling from beneath trembles the room. I yank out my sword. Coming from underneath the bottomless; flying far above the ground is a three headed gigantic dragon. Its pale-red color fits the fiery atmosphere.

The dragon is not happy to spot me. Instantly, the three mouths open dashing flames from its
snouts. I lift my hand high above my head building a barrier, but the force of the fire jostles me down. I strike the ground hard. It hits me. This is real, and I have to fight with all my strength and knowledge. I hurl everything out of my bag. I hold the knitted ball and throw it to one of the heads— a foggy eruption takes over the dragon, but the power only wearies one of the heads. At least now I have one less to battle. In a combination, the dragons send me two balls of fire. I run away from the flames. I slide on the ground, and take the three knives. I fling it, hitting the left wing twice. The third dagger is destroyed by the fire before reaching one of the dragon’s head. A lengthy fire is thrown to me by both heads. I roll down the floor, and reach out my hand, using an electric power against it. The dragons vibrate, hollering in ache. I’m overcoming. I can easily demolish him, but as he is about to fall down the void, I stop. Too much power is a terrible idea. The task is to get one of the heads, not kill the dragon. Without the head, Srogeri is dead.

I have to figure out a way to lure him to me
, for he flies below the hollow. But I find it difficult as he keeps its distance, and his weight is too heavy to draw him with my powers. I gape at the ground, hoping to get an idea. I see Osys's lucky string. An idea grows in me. I pick it up, and magically make it longer. I toss it to the middle head, wrapping it around it.  However, clinging to the cord, I feel foolish, especially as the dragon begins to elevate me with it.
What was I thinking? How will I ever bring down the heavy creature with a string? 
All is at lost. That’s it. I’m done for. It’s either killed the dragon, or die in its layer.  A heavy thump concerns me. Strong hands abruptly cover mine, now he holds the twine. Powerfully, Khysso yanks down the cord, shockingly moving the dragon that now struggles. I gawk dumbfounded by his strength. How is it possible? This is a man, not an ogre. Khysso brings the creature to the center, below the solid. The dragon throws him flames, but he counterattacks it with a cold wind that freezes the fire and crusts the dragon's skin for a few. It’s my turn. I take the arrow Ikumus gave me, and elevate it with my mind. I speedily send it to the dragon’s stomach, directly piercing him. The dragon knocks down. The fall shakes the ground.  The three heads lie on the surface— ready for me to cut. I stare breathing heavily, afraid of what I have to do next. Khysso drawbacks, he stands near the bridge.

“The paralyzing arrow won’t work forever, do
it now!” he commands. I breathe fast. I run to one of the dragon’s head. I lift my sword, and strike down.

-
14
-

Breakable

“You should not
agonize about the dragon. Within time another head grows,” Khysso says softly. He notes my eyes don't leave the dragon’s head, which is wrapped in a shawl near him. We escaped the dragon’s cavern before the late hours, and rest is what we need for our return.  We would’ve gone back, but our draghorns will not be around until sunset, consequently, we have to camp out in the deadly mountain. “You should sleep,” how can I sleep with a head of a creature near me, and rest in the open, with no barrier, and no protection? For all I know, an arclaw can attack us as we sleep. And I’m not going to be its meal.

“No thanks…I’ll stay awake,” I
say, and although it is dark, I still feel as if I’m inside the cavern, hot. My inside is blazing with flames. I swiftly gawk around, the nerves of encountering an arclaw and the hotness…not a good combination. “Are you well?” He asks staring at me with his devious eyes that make me question his sincerity. He sits leaning to a pale tree trunk, watching my movements, observing me produce awkwardness. I move my hair to a side, blowing air by waving a hand by my face. “It’s hot…” he strains a laugh.

“It’s like every other day. You need to learn how to handle the outside world or how are you expecting to sur
vive many months on a war field?” I grimace. Thinking about it gives me stomach pains. I pick up my shirt and from the edge, I blow air with it, exposing my stomach without any concern
. How will I survive in the fields?
I move my sight around in a flash. I stop on Khysso, who stares at me in a stupor, his eyes on my stomach. His dishevel hair falling on his face, touching his chin. I briskly put down my shirt, covering my expose stomach.

“Pervert,” I
say under my breath. He chuckles, as if he heard me, except it’s impossible because of our distance. Khysso lays his head on the trunk. He crosses his hands on his chest and unworriedly shuts his eyes. I scoff, and intently stare at him. His manly features are faultless. Although at times he infuriates me, I admit he's honestly handsome. No wonder the girls in the classroom, even the entire castle crushes on him. But it’s all not the good looks. The manly ambience he sends out, his mystery, it is likely to drive girls insane. And Casandree, the thought of that woman vibrates my tummy. Does Khysso love that woman?

“It’s rude to stare at others,” my eyes widen.
Crap, how the hell did he see me if his eyes are shut?
I bow down my head, recalling insulting him by calling him that disturbing name. I know what it means now, and it’s not pretty. He’s right about my attitude. It’s not his fault he’s a bastard, it’s his parents for abandoning him. I look back at him. He still rests. “Khysso… I wanted to…ah…I wanted to…"
say it, just say it, and don’t let it be so hard
. Khysso opens his eyes. He stares at me directly, waiting for me to come to an end. He is mellow, almost always.

“Apologize…for earlier…” my heart races as it finally comes out. At least now I’m released more than guilty. He discreetly smirks, yet not fully contented—probably wondering if that’s my ultimate apology.
Fine, I’ll give you some more.

“I’m
really
grateful. You saved me from the dragon…and the lava…and the…fall in the arena…” holy crap! And there’s more—and the earthquake, the hollow, and when I was a child. I owe this fellow my life. “W-the point is… I think you deserve my respect. SO, I vow not to disrespect you like I previously did. I won’t call you that
ever
again…” I stop. If I continue he’ll think my life belongs to him.

“I’m glad you’ve acknowledged it. And I hope you can keep your promise. I
do not ask for anything else,” he's so mature, it’s intimidating. Then again, he’s an instructor for a reason. He clears his throat, still with his hands across his chest. He looks away at some rocks.  The silence that falls upon us is so deep it’s bothersome, creating tension. I start to get itchy. I’m sure the bugs are eating me.

“You should sleep.
”

“Can you stop sending me to sleep?” I snap.
He lifts an eyebrow, lethally handsome. I grimace. I’m such a sass mouth. I should really wash my mouth with soap. “I’m sorry…it’s that I’m hungry…” saved by the hunger topic. “Did we not bring anything?” I try to sound nice. He sighs. “Why did you think I can break nature’s magic law?” He blurts out. His question startles me. All this time, was he thinking about that? “Oh…because of the coconut tree we created seven years ago. Remember…” my cheeks redden as I speak of those times. Maybe because when I first met Khysso, I wished on a star to one day wed him. Everything I did, I did wanting to come back to him. That encounter with him seven years ago, changed my life forever. But things are different now. He’s nothing I imagine he would be. Besides, he belongs to that woman. Thinking about it my stomach burns again.