The Dragons Blood Key: Legend of the Dragon's Blood Key - Book 1 (18 page)

Cassy leaned back, holding her hand over the
Blood Key. “Wow; that was too close.”

Roupert nodded his head then wiped the tears
from his eyes. “I had promised to protect Abigail, but I
failed.”

“You can’t blame yourself for what happened.
Someone must have alerted Alona, giving her the opportunity to set
a trap. You were lucky, as it could have ended much worse for the
two of you.”

Roupert looked up at Cassy, and again saw
Abigail in her eyes. “May I ask you a question?”

“Certainly, anything,” Cassy reached over
and gently touched his hand.

Roupert swallowed then lifted his eyes,
meeting hers. “Has she lived a happy life?”

Cassy saw the sadness in his eyes then it
came to her. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Roupert turned away, not wanting to meet her
gaze. “I have no right to speak of such feelings.”

“You do love her. I can tell by the way you
speak of her.”

Roupert turned and looked Cassy directly in
the eyes. She could see the torment hiding behind the tears, and
she felt her heart break for him.

“Yes, I’ve loved her from the first moment
our eyes met.”

Cassy had no idea how to respond to such a
confession of undying love. She sat a moment trying to gather her
thoughts, but for the life of her, the proper words seemed to evade
her.

“I’m sorry; I should not have asked such a
question. I just thought…” Roupert fought to control his
feelings.

“No, don’t feel that way. You have every
right to know. I haven’t been around my great-grandmother much, but
from what I understand she has had a life mixed with great
happiness and great sorrow. She really is a special lady and I’m so
glad that we got to go visit her while our parents went on their
vacation. She does seem happy for the most part.”

“You said that you have a sister. Please
tell me of her,” Roupert felt his emotions beginning to calm at
knowing that Abigail was happy.

Cassy looked at Roupert, rolled her eyes
then laughed. “Melissa is my twin sister, and other than the fact
we look exactly alike, any similarities end there. While I enjoy
sports and hanging out with my friends, she’s all into clothes and
going to the mall with her small circle of fashion divas.”

“I do not understand what a fashion diva
is,” Roupert grinned after Cassy rolled her eyes again.

“It’s where a girl will only wear clothes
that are
designer
and in style.
Heck, you put me in a pair of old blue jeans and
an over-sized
tee shirt and I’m a happy girl,”
Cassy laughed so hard that her sides began to hurt.

Roupert could not help but laugh himself.
“Your sister sounds like some of the maidens in the castle village.
I think that is why you and I get along so well. We are both
simple
souls,” he winked
playfully.

Cassy was glad to see a smile on his face,
and she was pleased to learn what had happened when her
great-grandmother
faced
Alona.

“Cassy, it grows late, and I fear that we
should wait until tomorrow before we enter the castle. We will be
safe here, and that way we can discuss what we need to do to
reunite the Blood Key and Breast Plate with Queen Privlana.”

Cassy looked around the small clearing and
wondered if they were
actually
safe. She trusted Roupert, but she also had a nagging feeling
tugging at her.

“Okay, if you feel that’s best. I am a bit
tired,” she yawned then rubbed her eyes.

“Good. Let us eat then we will discuss our
plans for tomorrow.” Roupert opened his pack and pulled out the
pouch with dried meat and the one with seeds and nuts.

“It’s not a fancy meal, but it will keep us
strong.” He reached inside one of the pouches and pulled out a
strip of dried meat then handed it to Cassy.

“Thank you.” She took the offering and took
a big bite. “This stuff really is good.”

Roupert watched as she struggled to chew the
tough meat.

“Here, take a drink of water to help wash it
down,” he chuckled as he handed her a pouch with water.

Cassy quickly took a drink of the water,
with it dribbling down her chin. “Thanks, it seems to suck up all
the moisture in your mouth.”

Roupert took a piece out of the pouch for
himself then took a bite. “Yes, it does, but it tastes good,” he
winked as she took another bite.

Frier had
waited
for hours to meet Queen Alona, and he was
beginning to wonder if he had made a mistake by leaving
Roupert.

“How much longer do I have to wait?” he
asked David, the
Demlin
sitting
across from him in the dimly lit room.

“I do not know. Ralph has gone to report to
our Queen, so once he returns we will know more.”

Frier looked around the room, trying to get
a better idea of where he was. “Why do you keep it so dark in here?
Do you not have a torch or candle?”

“We keep the room dark because that is how
it is in our realm. You would know this had Roupert not lied to you
all these years,” David smirked devilishly.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Frier hoped that David was
not angry with him. He did not understand how he could come from
such a dark realm, as he never had liked the dark.

Frier shifted around, trying to find a more
comfortable position. “I’m hungry, when do we get to eat?”

David glared at Frier. “You will eat when
the Queen says you may eat and not a moment before.”

Frier was about to protest when the large
door to the room opened wide.

“The Queen is busy and cannot see you now.
You will have to wait until later,” Ralph, the other Demlin
announced.

“What, I still have to wait? I do not think
that I want to be here any longer. I want to go home,” Frier fought
back the tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

“What did you say? You say that you want to
go
home
. No, you foolish child,
this is your home now. You are to serve Queen Alona, and do her
bidding. You have forgotten your duty, and it is not living with
the traitor Roupert. You are a Dragon, and it is your duty to serve
the Queen. Should Roupert come to the castle searching for you, you
are to strike him
dead.
Do you
understand?” Ralph’s eyes glowed red with anger.

Frier suddenly had a sickening feeling
overcome him, and he realized that David and Ralph must
surely
have
lied to him about Roupert and his past.

“I will not kill Roupert. He is my friend,”
Frier said
definitely
.

David stepped forward and looked deeply into
Frier’s eyes. “Oh, but you are wrong. You will be the cause of his
death, as his love for you will blind him to our plans. He will
come here of his own will, and he will sacrifice himself to save
you.”

“No, no, he is the bravest and smartest man
I know, and you will never deceive him,” Frier cried out.

David’s eyes shone bright with anticipation.
“Brother, tomorrow will be a glorious day.
Queen Alona will finally have the power of the Blood Key and she
will vanquish Queen Privlana to the Land of the Shadows for all
eternity. As for Roupert, he will meet his death at the hands of
his beloved Frier.
Yes, tomorrow will truly be a glorious
day.”

Frier stood, with rage overtaking his body.
“I will go and warn him of your treachery.”

Frier closed his eyes, trying to block out
the glares of Ralph and David. Then he pulled back his shoulders to
release his wings and was surprised when nothing happened.

“What is wrong? Why won’t my
wings
open?” Frier cried as he struggled to
spread his wings.

Ralph stepped forward, laughing. “You silly
child, you do not think that we would allow you to just fly away,
do you?”

Frier fought back tears as he tried again to
open his wings.

“Do not hurt yourself, as you are not going
anywhere. We have cast a spell over you preventing you from leaving
this room.
You can try to fly, walk to
the door or even attempt to climb out the small window above you,
but you will not achieve freedom from this room.” Ralph pointed
toward the small window high up on the wall.

“You see, we have an important task for you,
so you will remain here until you fulfill it,” David laughed as he
saw the frightened look appear on Frier’s face.

“I don’t understand why you would do this. I
thought we were brother Dragons,” Frier dropped to the floor, with
all hope of escape sucked out of him.

David and Ralph howled with laughter.

“You really are a fool,” Ralph taunted with
his eyes glowing red.

“I do believe that we need to show Frier
what we truly are,” David hissed with a look of complete joy
burning on his face.

Frier looked back and forth between David
and Ralph, unsure of what they meant. He was about to speak when
they both transformed from dragon forms into something hideous and
frightening.

Frier moved away from them, covering his
mouth with both surprise and fear. “What are you? You are not
dragons.”

David stretched his long, slender,
snake-like body as he towered over Frier. “No, we are not. We are
Demlins from the Land of Shadows.”

Ralph stretched his long slender body, as
well. He then leaned over Frier, glaring down at him, as though
ready to strike. “Do you have any idea how horrible it has been for
us to be in your sickening form? Oh, my back is so stiff; I can
barely move. Just the thought of being stuck as a dragon for much
longer makes me ill.”

“I, I don’t understand. I have been a fool.
I trusted you, and you have betrayed me,” Frier cried, realizing
what must
surely
lie ahead for
him.

“We may have betrayed you, but you have
betrayed not only Roupert, but the Champion.
You will lead her into the trap which will allow Queen
Alona to take possession of the Blood Key, gaining its great
power,” David chuckled at the look of fear on Frier’s face
transform into one of panic.

“I don’t understand. Why is the Blood Key so
important?” Frier tried to control the fear building inside of
him.

Ralph looked at David and smiled. “Do you
think we should tell him, brother?”

David glanced down at Frier and laughed
softly, “I do not see where it would do any harm. He can do nothing
to stop what will happen tomorrow; Queen Alona as seen to
that.”

Ralph rubbed his hands together and let out
a deep chuckle. “You are no ordinary Dragon, Frier. You see, you
are the Royal Prince of Walandra, the only son of the great King
Ashlym and Queen Privlana.” He waited a moment for this surprising
information to sink into Frier’s mind.

“What? That is impossible. I am the only one
of my kind in the Kingdom,” Frier felt his body quiver at this
unexpected news.

“That is the lie Roupert told you. You see,
your mother did not want you after your father died, so she sent
you away with Roupert to live in the forest. Then she took her own
life once the guilt of killing the King consumed her,” David said
with a complete look of satisfaction on his face.

“No, that cannot be true. How did my father
die?” Frier felt his heart breaking.

“It was your mother’s doing. She killed
him,” Ralph said gleefully.

“NO, NO, do not tell me anymore,” Frier held
his hands over his ears, trying to block out the painful words.

Both David and Ralph laughed aloud at the
pain consuming Frier at learning the truth
about
his identity. Frier rocked from side-to-side,
crying until he was sure he would die. Everything that he had
believed in his life was a lie. He had always
thought
himself
a
mere
creature of the forest, living happily with Roupert.
Now he has learned that he is a Prince, whose parents were part of
some evil plan? To learn that his father died because of his
mother, and then to learn that she cast him away was more than he
could handle. Frier closed his eyes, in the attempt to block out
the pain, but the devilish of laughs of David and Ralph filled his
senses.

“
Come,
Ralph, it grows late and I wish to enjoy the feast that awaits us
in the Great Hall,” David sneered with a demonic gleam in his
eyes.

“Yes. It’s a shame that Frier will not be
joining us,” Ralph gloated with feigned sadness.

“Please let me go. Let me return to my life
in the forest. I promise that I will never come back. Queen Alona
will never have to worry about me,” Frier pleaded.

David and Ralph exchanged devious smiles
then turned and left the room without saying another word.

Once the door had slammed shut, Frier felt
his heart lose all desire to live. How could this be happening? How
could he have lived his entire life and not known the truth? He
leaned his back against the cold
stone
wall
and wondered what he could do to stop Queen Alona. He
had nearly given up all hope when he heard a soft voice, whispering
in his mind.