Sapphire Kingdom: Quest Two (Dragon Quest Series Book 2) (11 page)

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“Tonight, all of the Dragon Warriors are welcomed to our room, I would like to know as much about you as I can before you go.” Nerissa announced looking toward Angie, as if she suspected she was not going to accept her invitation. 

“That is okay with me,” Angie smiled.

“You will hear no complaints out of me,” April joked coming closer to where we were.

“Let me look at you,” Mother softly uttered holding me tightly by the shoulders. “I always want to remember you smiling just like now.”

“Don’t worry, after all of this Dragon Warrior business is behind me, I will come back and we can all live together.” I decided that very moment that I would like to know more about where I come from and the people I call family.

My mother just hugged me closely to her chest, but not before I saw the sadness that overtook her face. Maybe, I am reading too much in it, but I believe that there is something she is not telling me, and judging by the expressions on my father’s face as well. I don’t believe that I am ready to hear it just yet.

After

Location: Transport Room

◑
April 
 
◐

I hated seeing the sad faces of Ashley’s family as we said good bye to them, but the sound of Angie and Ashley bickering was like music to my ears, and made me feel like everything was back to normal, or about as normal as we’re going to get.

“You were giving me the evil eye for smiling at Prince Leev, but you hug and even tried to kiss Leo, and you expect me to drop the subject.” Ashley teased.

“For the hundredth time, I did not try to kiss Leo. I admit I did hug him, but that was because I totally messed up from that stargazer drink that in my defense looks very similar to water.” Angie argued wearing her backpack that was fetched out of the carriage on the beach.

“Okay, I am going to look the other way for now.” Ashley smiled, as we all headed toward the transport room where we had arranged to meet the others.

The sight of an arm coming out of the wall in front of us stopped all of us in our tracks.

“Don’t worry, it is just me,” Nerissa assured us as she stepped completely out of the wall.

“Was there no other way for you to get here?” Angie remarked, surprisingly without anger.

“There is, but this way is so much better,” Nerissa smiled coming closer to us. “I wanted to personally escort you to the transport room.”

“Sure, but we are travelling the normal way.” Ashley stated looking at Angie.

“I would also like to extend my apologies to the Dragon Warriors of fire and nature,” Nerissa bowed her head toward us. “I was wrong about so much I want to really get things right this time. I have so many plans for this Kingdom. First, I will have to convince everyone that people from other Kingdoms are not to be feared.”

“That is an opinion that may prove very difficult to convince others to believe,” Angie smirked setting her hand on fire causing us all to laugh.

“Have you not learned anything about playing with fire, “Leo exclaimed walking toward us with his arms wrapped in bandages up to his elbow. “Why is that you can never do what you are told?”

Even though Ashley sped up the healing process on his arms. The royal doctor said that it will take at least two more days before it is completely back to normal.

“Look at you, if it wasn’t for the excited way you swing your bandages, I would think you were upset.” Angie taunted.

Ignoring Angie he walked toward Nerissa and bowed, “My apologies princess, it is time for the dragon warriors to take their leave.”

“No apologies needed. I did not come to hinder them, I actually wanted to walk with them to the transport room.”

“Very well, everyone are awaiting us,” Leo stated turning back around with another word.

“What is wrong with him?” Angie asked looking confused.

“Are you serious? You gave him third degree burns on his arms!” Ashley declared turning toward Angie.

“I didn’t tell him to pull me out,” Angie began looking at the wall nonchalantly.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t apologized to him for his burns, or even thanked him for keeping you from the dungeons.”

“Well, when you put it that way, I sound like a villain.”

“Just stop it, you know how stubborn Angie is, I believe she will do the right thing when she is ready,” I whispered in Ashley’s ear knowing that we will never make it to the transport room, if their argument continued.

“I see why my sister thinks highly of the two of you,” Nerissa grinned looking at us. “I am glad she has people to call family through everything.”

I could tell that Nerissa was hiding her own sadness of not being able to get to know her own sister better. Ever since they came back together from Drystan’s Pool she seemed to be a different person.

“There is something that has been weighing on my mind,” I turned toward Nerissa. “How did you know the Sapphire Dragon would be in Drystan’s Pool?”

After I asked Ashley and Angie turned toward Nerissa anticipating her answer. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable it is just that it was weird how even her parents were surprised that she knew the location.

“It all seems so strange now that I think about it, a very handsome gentleman appeared in my room and gave me the map.”

“Did you know him? Why would he give you the map?” I asked as soon as the questions came to my mind.

“I would remember seeing someone like him in the Kingdom, if only it was just a glance,” Nerissa explained looking as if she was getting lost in the memory.

“Did he tell you his name?” Ashley asked.

“Yes, he did say that he was called, or rather once known as Zane, and that he serves his lady. That was the reason he gave me the map, he said that it would benefit her.

That name sounded so familiar, but what are the odds, he was supposed to be dead.

“I know that look, you are not telling us something,” Angie called out moving closer to me.

“It could be nothing, but
Rṓ
gaire told me that Diamond Kingdom’s King was named Zane and that Queen Jewels killed him.”

“I remember the name now. I have overheard conversations about him, the most popular story is that Queen Jewels tied her life with his, and that when she slept he did as well.”

“So, you are telling me that Jewels has someone to do her dirty work while she becomes stronger?” Angie finally realized. “That means Jewels is not the only person we have to watch out for.”

“Come on, let’s not think about this right now. We need to hurry to the transport room before Leo comes back.” I insisted not wanting to think about our horrible predicament.

We all began to walk in silence, until the transport room was in our sights, and Ashley stopped walking.

“What’s wrong?” Angie asked turning back to look at her.

“It’s just that I am afraid about what is going to happen next. I literally had to choose between my life and my sister’s, who knows what you will have to do to obtain the Ruby Dragon.” Ashley admitted. 

“Are you doubting my strength? If you were able to gain control of the Sapphire Dragon, and get a new fancy blue arm bracelet. I think I can manage to do the same,” Angie joked. “I think you are worrying too much, obtaining my dragon will be easy.”                           

“Don’t be too cocky-“I started laying my hand on Angie’s shoulder.

This time I felt it happening before my surrounding blurred and I found myself standing on a brick road. Thick smoke and dust filled the air as the scene came to life before my eyes. People were running and screaming clutching valuables and children rushing past me as if I wasn’t here, but the burning heat against my skin and my watering eyes would suggest otherwise.

Looking in the direction of where they were coming from I could make out a giant volcano, and the rumbling underneath my feet made me realize that it had erupted. My breathing became even more labored as the volcano spewed volcanic ash into the air.

In the distance toward the volcano I spotted Ashley and Prince Leev, as grew near them I could begin to make out their conversation.

“Where is Angie?” Ashley looked around hysterically wearing clothes similar to ancient Egypt with the long sheath dress that flowed down to her ankles.

The dress was tattered and dirtied in places as if she had tripped or fell in all of the commotion. I tried to focus on their conversation over the all of the sounds in the background.

“Let’s go, April has already escorted most of the people here to safety. Leo has gone back to find her. She was near the volcano when everything started.

No! I stopped listening after that, running pass them and into the thickest part of the smoke toward the volcano. I don’t know why I am here, but I have to get to Angie. My lungs and eyes burned, but not as bad as my skin, which felt like it was on fire the closer I got to the volcano.

I finally spotted Angie almost at the very base of the volcano, and it looked as if she was holding a sleeping child. The sound of someone screaming brought my attention to Leo who was coming from the right toward Angie.

Something bright shone through the thick smoke from up the volcano, and I instantly knew it was lava, and Angie was right in its path.

Leo and I both raced toward Angie as fast as we could hoping to get to her before the lava.

“April! April! You can let go now. I am happy that you are concerned, but it will all be okay.” Angie smiled as everyone resumed walking toward the transport room.

I tried hard to conceal my trembling as I followed them. There is no need for me to worry them with what I saw. Maybe my worrying made me experience a surreal vision of my worst nightmares.
Okay, I am going to go with that.

As the door opened, I could see that the guys were already there, and by the looks on their faces, we had interrupted a very heated conversation.

Prince Leev turned toward smiling to conceal the scowl that was plastered on his face just a second ago. Leo and
Rṓ
gaire turned their backs to each other as they seemed to regain their composure.

“I missed something interesting didn’t I?” Angie sighed disappointedly.

“No, we were just awaiting the guests of honor,” Prince Leev continued to smile as if that would cause us to forget what we saw.

“I am afraid this is where I bid my farewells,” Nerissa stated hugging Ashley. “I am going to miss the excitement you brought to the Kingdom.”

“So what did I miss?” Angie asked after we all said goodbye to Nerissa and the door was closed.

Ignoring her question
Rṓ
gaire held his hand up against the wall, causing a light to shine underneath, and the entire back wall to change.

“So that is Ruby Kingdom?” Angie asked moving closer to the scene displayed before us. “It shouldn’t be that hard finding my dragon there.”

“We will transport to the edge of Ruby Kingdom and walk to the capital city,” Leo announced.

Angie carefully placed her hand over the shores leading to Ruby Kingdom, “Where is everyone?” Angie asked looking at the deserted shores.

“Everyone mostly resides in the capital city, which is very prosperous due to the gold mines.” Leo explained. “It is said that the capital is full with people and the streets are paved with hard bricks, and-“

“-and the city was built at the base of a volcano.” I finished for him walking toward the picture outlining the shape of the volcano towering over the trees.