Last updated 1/31/14
Chapter 1:
Nick opens his eyes. It is dusk, his usual waking time. He is hungry – or thirsty. The two are synonymous for the adolescent. His dirty blonde hair flips about his pale forehead as he rouses himself to a standing position.
From where he stands, the entrance to the cave is barely perceptible. The grey opening is partially occluded by a massive dark silhouette. The large object moves. Now Nick is confronted by a pair of glowing ruby orbs.
I’m hungry too.
The thought is received by Nick from the owner of the fist-sized illuminated eyes.
“We’ll find something to eat soon,” Nick promises. Although speaking is not necessary, Nick often transitions between telepathy and the spoken word. He strolls up to the big, wedge-shaped head. Nick scratches behind his friend’s ears. The dragon emits a low crooning sound. Then Nick looks back towards the dark end of the cave. “Sparx! Sparx, you here?”
There is a sudden, audible pop and then a small cascade of shimmering golden flecks announce the arrival of Sparx. She is only the size of Nick’s hand and is fluttering in the air above his head. The rapidly darkening cavern is now treated to the basking glow of Sparx. She is like a hovering lantern, though it is impossible to discern whether the light originates from within her or merely surrounds her as if she is always the focus of a spotlight.
Now that Nick’s face is bathed in Sparx’s light, his smile is revealed on his boyish face. His canine teeth are pronounced and come to sharp points, but the expression is not in the least bit menacing. Instead, it tells of his delight at the sudden appearance of this most unusual friend.
That is not to say that his other friend is any less unusual. Drake is actually one of a kind. That is something that the dragon and Nick share in common. Since birth, the pair had known each other. They had both come into existence at precisely the same moment. Though they were geographically half a world apart at the beginning of their lives, Nick and Drake had become at once conscious of one another and linked for life.
“Bzz! Screek! Bzz!” exclaims Sparx in her pixie language that reminded Nick of a combination of the tweets of birds, the buzzing of insects, and the squeaks of small rodents. He had yet to be able to understand a word of it. Fortunately, Drake had had better luck with the translating.
She says she has something to show us.
Nick looks from Drake back to Sparx. “Sparx, you know how hungry we are when we first wake up. Let us feed and then you can show us whatever it is,” Nick states as he gives the pixie a skeptical look. Pixies are very excitable by nature and Sparx would often prod Nick and Drake for attention, wantingthem to see this or that. She could be very insistent, making it seem urgent. Many times Nick would jump on the back of Drake’s neck and he would take flight, following the glowing pixie only so she could show them her reflection at the edge of a river.
“Kreee! Woo!”
“Now what?” Nick looks back to Drake for the interpretation.
Sparx says it can’t wait.
“I’ll bet,” Nick mutters under his breath. His hunger is growing and his good mood diminishing. Nick hefts the large leather riding saddle onto Drake’s back at the place where the dragon’s neck meets his body. Drake lifts his head as far as his long neck will allow, accommodating Nick as he fastens the straps snugly at the base of the dragon’s thick throat. “All right, Sparx. You win. This better be good.”
The Pixie is already anxiously flittering towards the mouth of the cave. She then moves slightly back in the direction of her companions only to jerk forward again. Her hummingbird-like movements are accompanied by her constant jabbering as she coaxes Drake and Nick to follow her lead.
Once the saddle is securely in place, Nick approaches Drake from the dragon’s left side. He puts his left foot in the corresponding stirrup, grabs the ridge at the back of Drake’s neck and deftly hoists his right leg over the top of the saddle while simultaneously rotating his body to a forward facing position. Feeling the weight of his rider, Drake turns his head so that one gleaming ruby eye could make sure Nick is ready for takeoff. With his wings still tucked neatly at his sides, Drake rises up off his haunches and individually flexes the talons on his front paws. Nick holds fast to the reins as Drake arches his back. Then, as the dragon comes back down on all fours, he starts to gallop toward the star-speckled night. Sparx is whirling all about them, literally flying circles around the dragon.
“Ok. You got us out here,” Nick shouts above the rushing air and pounding of dragon feet so his eager little friend could hear him. “Now, show us the way, Sparx!” He can’t help his amusement at the pixie’s enthusiasm. Sparx momentarily hovers in front of Drake’s muzzle, and then disappears in a brilliant explosion of tiny sparks, like a mini firework. Drake sneezes a short burst of flames as an involuntary reaction to some of the pixie dust tickling his nostrils.
I hate it when she does that.
She reappears over the ridge of trees that delineate the boundary of Aldin Forest. Drake leaps from the generous perch of ridge at the cave’s entrance and swoops down the slopes of the cliff, extending his jade colored wings to their full span. The dragon’s powerful muscles flex and with a single beat of his mighty wings, they ascend dramatically, leaving the side of the mountain far below. Drake pauses for a moment at the top of the climb, dragon and rider briefly outlined with full moon backdrop. Then the sleek, dark green wings tip so the left angles towards the heavens and the right to the ground below. They bank in the direction of the canopy of trees and glide after the twinkling pixie.
Chapter 2
The dark cobblestone alleyway dips in the middle to allow storm water and sewage to trickle to lower places. The rank smell of urine permeates the air, its acrid odor continuously replenished by the drunks stumbling to relieve themselves as they aimlessly meander through the night.
It is within these foul surroundings that the eternally damned seek their prey.
She stealthily maneuvers through the shadows until she is within striking distance. He is completely unaware. His inebriation has dulled his senses. Not that it would matter. Her presence would be undetectable to even the most perceptive of humans.
The putrid stench of the alley would normally be overwhelming to her heightened olfactory receptors, but the smell of blood makes all others pale in comparison. The blood calls her; it drives her.
He peers over his shoulder. He is too slow. She is already upon him. In one smooth swipe, she decapitates him with her long, razor-sharp fingernails. The arterial spray engulfs her. Though her victim outweighs her, she lifts the still twitching body directly over her upturned face as easily as someone would raise a double-handled pitcher and pour the contents to their mouth. The blood from the now headless neck flows directly into her gaping maw. The steady stream soon diminishes to a trickle, which in turn ends with a few lingering drips. There is no more. He is drained, empty. She is satiated…..for now.
***
Chapter 3
Sparx is good about keeping herself in Nick and Drake’s line of sight. Even though the mighty dragon is capable of tremendous flight speeds, the pixie has the advantage of instantaneous teleportation. All she has to do is place the image in her mind of her desired destination and she spontaneously appears there in the blink of an eye.
At this moment she is over a break in the forest that reveals a river glimmering in the moonlight.
“If she is just showing us her reflection again……” Nick begins. A scowl forms over his brow as he notices where Sparx is headed.
No, look more closely.
As he receives the thought from Drake, Nick notices a small fire near the banks of the other side of the river. He stares more intently at the immediate surroundings of the fire and is able to make out the shapes of three makeshift tents. It had been a while since they had encountered any people. Their cavernous abode is deep within Aldin Forest. This is the first sign of humans since they had taken up residence here.
Instead of landing directly at the campsite, Drake makes a low sweeping circle over the river and the surrounding forest. Something isn’t right. If people are here, Nick would have been able to smell the blood by now. Either the campers had suddenly vanished, leaving behind a well stoked campfire, or……….
Sparx appears next to Nick’s shoulder. She looks very frightened.
Drake comes in low to the ground, gives a few brief flaps of his wings to decelerate, and pounces on the shores of the river. Nick remains in the saddle with Sparx by his side as the dragon slinks up next to the nearest tent. An arm is visible now, as it lies motionless, protruding through the canvas flaps.
***
Chapter 4
Far across the world, in the lands of the Dragonmen, the mountains protrude dramatically from the Northern Sea. The soils are rocky, the terrain rugged and the bitter cold only relents for the short summer. The hardy, coniferous trees, well adapted to the unforgiving climate, force their existence through the cracks in the decomposing granite slopes. Their advance into the majestic rising ridge of Boldever Mountain is suddenly thwarted by the sheer cliffs of Highland Den, home to the Dragonmen North.
A large, Burgundy dragon glides through the pristine scenery. Its massive body is dwarfed by the vast expanse of vertical rock. What at first appears to be just another shadow among the cliffs in the setting sun is now revealed to be an opening. The dragon is enveloped in the deep crevasse. There is a moment of complete darkness once it starts to pass into the cliff. The absence of light is soon replaced by the flickering yellowish orange cast of torches lining the walls. There is now a smooth floor visible not far below the slowing dragon andrider. As they touch down, the dragonfolds its wings behind its back. The powerful legs quickly absorb the forward momentum in a short, controlled gallop that ends with the dragon lowering itself down onto its haunches to allow the rider to dismount.
Valkyr risesfrom the saddle and drops to the ground landing steadily on his feet. He is a giant of a man with a barrel chest and long sturdy legs. He patshis paw of a hand affectionately against the hide of his much larger counterpart.
“Good Bjorgon,” he speaks reassuringly. “That was a long scout today. I know you are as hungry as I.” Now he isrubbing the ridges behind the dragon’s ears. Then he adds, “Why don’t you go to the livestock paddock and rustle yourself up some dinner?” Valkyr’s bearded face regards Bjorgon, his smile warm and full of affection.
Skyhalla awaits me. She is ready.
The dragon regards his rider with his glowing, emerald eyes. Valkyr hoots and claps Bjorgon on his muscular neck. “Go my friend! Do not keep a lady waiting,” he roars. “Our numbers are too few for you to pass up an opportunity.” Valkyr starts to unstrap the riding saddle under the dragon’s lifted neck. Once the leather apparatus is unburdened from Bjorgon’s back, Valkyr slaps it down heavily on a bench. He looks on as Bjorgon turns towards the corridor that leads to the dragon’s lair.
Now thatBjorgon is gone, Valkyr putshis hands on his hips, grins andshakes his head. He thenstarts toward the steps to the great hall. The meeting of the council willhave to wait. Skyhallais the only queen dragon at Highland Den. Though thereare many femalesbesides her, only one canbe queen and therefore only she can lay fertile eggs. This also means that Skyhalla’s rider, Lyra, would be waiting for Valkyr. He quickens his steps, a twinkle in his eye to all those he passeson his way.
Chapter 5
Now that her thirst had been quenched, the overpowering hunger that drives her subsides. She becomes more aware of the unpleasant smells of the alley. She dropsthe now cold body into a pile of rubbish. Her sleek figure makeshaste to retreat from these vile surroundings.
Her full, red lips standin stark contrast to her ivory face as she silently fleesunder the full moon’s eerie green light. Though she had long ago forgotten the feeling of remorse for her victims, she would rather not kill more than necessary. The longer she lingers, the more likely she might be discovered. She hurriesalong a back road and then lifts a grate in the ground and drops into the hole, securing the covering back into place.
She has entered the catacombs.
The catacombs are a labyrinth of tunnels dug beneath the thriving city. Lined in mortar, they stayamazingly dry. Precipitation and seepage from the surfaceinfiltrate the soils beyond the walls, seeking the water table below. The catacombs were designed specifically to ensure their contents would not intermingle with liquidsfrom beyond their concrete confines.
In the not too distant past, the city and many others like it suffered from a massive plague that threatened to doom its future. It was soon realized that the mass graves that filled with the recently deceased were allowing the essence of the disease to permeate into the precious water supply. In an effort to stop the plague from spreading further, bodies were sealed in vessels and an intricate series of crypts were established to house the dead. The catacombs proved effective at alleviating the further ailments of the people. Total annihilation was averted and the population eventually recovered. The plague went away and normal burial practices returned, but the catacombs still remained.
Her name is Nakira and she has been a vampire for just over seventeen years. These catacombs had become her home since she had been turned. It is where her present family lives, such that it is.
The catacombs made the perfect home for the undead. Humans were instinctively fearful of the underground labyrinth. Daylight never touches these depths, and vast numbers of bodies are stacked on shelves throughout, a reminder of the ultimate fate all will eventually face.
The tunnel Nakira follows gradually feeds into a large chamber. The room is dimly lit by a line of dark candles following the perimeter. Two figures are facing each other at the far end. They notice her at once and stifle their hushed conversation.
“You are the last to return, it is nearly dawn,” the taller, more slender one says to Nakira. He regards her nervously then adds, “We were about to lock up.”
“Thank you for keeping the lights on for me,” Nakira replies dryly. “Didn’t mean to keep you up past bed time, Soren.” She gives the lanky vampire a challenging look.
The shorter, stockier vampire next to Soren takes a half step towards Nakira and regards her with an air of superiority. “One of these nights you will not make it back in time,” he sneers.
Nakira looks amused. She chuckles lightly. “Oh, Torr, assertiveness does not suite you.” She seems to enjoy the recoil of his expression at her words. She turns to leave, waving a casual good bye after her back is turned to them. “Good night, boys,” she says as she is walking away.
“Vlad is looking for you,” Soren calls after her. Nakira pauses only the briefest of moments to acknowledge Soren’s voice, then continues down the corridor, leaving the chamber behind.
Chapter 6
There are four bodies dispersed between the three tents; three male and one female. They are all completely drained of blood. Nick is kneeling as he examines the last of the corpses. His confused expression gradually gives way to one of realization. He abruptly stands and spins to face Drake and Sparx. “We need to leave right now!”
“What’s your hurry?” A menacing voice sounds from a nearby tree. There is a rustling coming from a few other directions. The trio finds themselves surrounded by a gang of six vampires, their blood stained teeth bared as they close in.
“Looks like we found the freaks!” the largest of the six jeers as he exposes fingernails elongating to viciously sharp points. The other five follow suit, a few start hissing with faces thrust forward.