TWENTY-SIX
How Tiana knew she was dreaming, she didn’t understand. She was in a dark space. Her eyes registered blurs moving around close to her body, but nothing touching her. In front of her was a wall, which she passed through like a ghost. Inside, chained to the wall, her love, Ker dangled from his arms.
A monster of a man used Ker’s body as a punching bag. Blood ran down the side of his gorgeous face from a gash over his eye. A man sat on an upturned bucket, shoved a cattle prod into her love’s side.
Ker’s body barely moved from the intense shock. How much had he endured if his body no longer reacted?
She ran to him, but could do nothing to help. She was in a dream. “Ker,” she called out to him. Of course, he didn’t hear her. She brushed her fingers along his red-stained face. His breathing was shallow—too shallow. Wasn’t his dragon supposed to heal him. Where was his other side?
The door to the room opened and a handsome man entered. A smug smile graced his face. For some reason, Tiana wanted to wipe it from his head. Violently.
“Leave us,” he said and the two men practically ran out the exit. The newcomer got right in Ker’s face. Tiana did the same, making them a triad. She wanted to hear what he had to say. A name would be nice. Better yet, she’d like to know what the hell was going on?
“Did you Drachen boys really think I would never capture one of you?” the man asked. “All I had to do was keep patient until the opportunity arose.”
Ker’s drooped head rolled to the side. Tiana gasped. He looked beyond horrible, scaring her. Where was his dragon? He should’ve easily yanked these chains out of the concrete. “I won’t be here long, Sayeh. My brothers will come for me,” he said. His swollen lips barely moved.
Sayeh smiled. “I’m ready and waiting.” His eye caught the electric shocker lying on the floor. He picked it up and turned it in his hand. “I’m afraid you will be a long-time visitor. Have you notice a part of you ‘missing’?”
“There’s no way you can remove my dragon without killing me,” Ker mumbled. “What did you do, Sayeh?”
The man feigned happy surprise. “I’m so glad you asked. Honestly, I wasn’t sure it would work on one of you. Before Sylvana disappeared, she created a spell that made your dragon unable to shift. Basically, made you human. I have three more rooms ready and waiting for your siblings.”
Sayeh looked at the stick still in his hand. Saying nothing, he stabbed it into Ker’s stomach. A scream escaped Ker. Tiana reached out to grab the weapon, but her hand did nothing. He kept the prod on Ker. “I will take back my birthright as king. You are traitors.”
“Stop it, asshole,” she cried. Ker’s body slowed its jerking. “Stop it.” Tiana threw a punch, frustration kicking in. Ker’s eyes rolled to the back of his sockets. “KER!”
* * *
Tiana woke with a scream lodged in her throat. Her heart pounded. Her eyes looked at the ceiling of a warehouse type room. She felt stares on her. Sitting up, she took note of the men sitting on the floor with her.
The concrete was cold and damp. The air was musty. Were they underground? The only light came from under the door, but she had no problem seeing the ragged condition of her fellow roommates.
She recalled her last memories, remembering her abduction from the cabin.
Ker had left to get her donuts and she went to her room to change. On her way down the stairs, a knock came on the door. She hesitated answering, not knowing who it would be. Her ex was dead. For the first time in a long, she was able to relax. The phone calls would stop and her constant feeling of being watched would finally end.
Placing her hand on the deadbolt, the door smashed against her hand and pushed her back. Another crash against the entrance and the wood gave way. Slamming against the wall, the barrier hung on one hinge, revealing several men on the stoop.
The one in the middle, the same man who tortured Ker, glanced at her and smiled. “You must be Tiana. I’m so glad to meet you.” He stepped through the entrance. Tiana knew exactly what to do. Run. She couldn’t do a thing against three men. Next she knew, hands like steel vises gripped her arms and material covered her nose and mouth.
Now, here she was, locked in a room with people who looked like they’d been on a deserted island for a year.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“You’re at Sayeh’s compound. In one of the cells,” one of the men said.
“Right,” she said thinking back to the bastard in her dream. Ker had said that name. “Sayeh.” Wait. How did a name she not know be in her dream? Was it a premonition or was she there live in spirit? She had seen Sayeh at the cabin, so she could’ve easily put him in her dream. But a weird name? She shook her head, not wanting to think about it right now.
“So we’re in a prison, of sorts,” she said. “Why are you all here, too?” Then the thought hit her. She was in jail with a group of obviously bad men. If she was ever in a bad situation, this was it.
“We’re dissidents,” another man said.
“You’re what?” she asked.
Another guy sat up. “We’re locked up because we disagree with Sayeh’s plans to take over the world.”
Tiana stifled a laugh. “You can’t be serious? Take over the world? What universe does this idiot live in?”
“We’re from Xilos Vardis the Noir and Drachen home planet. I belong to the Talech clan.”
She was joking when she asked that question. Obviously, they didn’t get it. “So, all of you are dragons, too?” They nodded. “Then why are you in here? Can’t you just plow through the door or wall?”
“No. These cells are hexed by Sayeh’s witch. We can’t use our dragons.” She remembered the dick telling Ker that in her dream, too. He seemed so proud of himself at that moment. Like he’d finally won against the bigger kids.
“Who is this witch? She seems pretty powerful,” Tiana said.
“She is powerful,” a man said. “She put a spell on all of us that makes us obey our leader.”
“What do you mean?”
Another man shrugged. “Just that. If he says we fight, we fight.”
“No matter what you want to do?” she said.
“Makes little difference. All we can do is verbally protest to get others to see the truth. That’s why we’re in this hell hole. To keep us separated.”
Tiana gritted her teeth. “So, you’re all slaves.”
They nodded. “He keeps the hate in our hearts.”
“Meaning all your dragons are black?” she verified. Once again, they nodded. Anger boiled in her. This was wrong. No one should be treated this way. When she got out of here, she’d get with Ker and his brothers to free these guys.
“How many are in this place?” she asked.
“Used to be a lot of us. Six, maybe seven, hundred,” an emaciated male said, “but in our last battle, they had an elder who wiped out half our clan in one sweep.”
Horror and sadness flashed through Tiana. So many dead. And for what reason? Some fucking psycho?
“So, lady. Who are you?”