For two months, I have believed that it is possible to escape Master Han. When the moon is full, perhaps this month or the next, I will shift into dragon form for the first time and gain my wings. Somehow, I will escape this underground prison, and as soon as I see the sky, I will fly away.
But last night, I saw Darafer make all the birds plummet to their deaths. What if he does the same to me? I know Master Han is dangerous and I should fear him. But I fear the demon even more.
When Lord Liao and his guards formed a circle to bring the demon back from hell, I shot fire at them to stop them. The flames burned the vampire lord and his guards, but they had no effect on Darafer at all. I have no defense against him.
In the morning, I hear the soldiers grumbling. They wait until Master Han is hidden away in his death-sleep before they dare to complain. They have orders to shovel all the dead birds into a pile so they can be burned.
I mourn for the birds and wonder if the eagles have left behind little ones. Are the eaglets in a nest, hungry and calling for parents who will never return?
My hope is waning. The only comfort I can find is the knowledge that the other dragons survived. They will live on. The remaining eggs will hatch. Queen Nima will raise them well. They will fly and breathe fire for five hundred years.
As for me, I hold on to the truths I repeat to myself every day. I am dragon. I can never surrender. Nor will I submit.
I used to think those truths would set me free. Now I fear they will cost me my life.
Breakfast and lunch trays are brought to me, but I do not eat. In desperation, I consider breathing fire upon the soldiers in order to escape. But I cannot bring myself to harm the soldiers, who have been good to me.
After lunch, half of the soldiers prepare to leave. I hear them grumbling about a long drive to Darafer’s secret enclave, where he is growing the demon herb. They have to be there to guard Master Han during the ceremony. Tonight Darafer is changing more mortals into supersoldiers.
A spark of hope ignites inside me. Master Han and half of his soldiers will be gone tonight. Darafer will be occupied, too, at the ceremony. If I set this place on fire, the remaining soldiers will be busy putting out the flames, and I can make my escape.
I pace my room, waiting for sunset. Waiting for the man in the golden mask to leave. When my dinner tray arrives, I eat. I need my strength tonight.
Master Han knocks on my door and enters. “How are you today, son? Did you sleep well? Do you have enough to eat?”
I bow, hoping I will never hear those words again.
“Are you ready to go?”
I stiffen at his question. Does he know I plan to escape?
Master Han extends a hand toward me. “Come. I want you to attend the ceremony with me.”
Panic flares inside me, a spark of fire simmering in my belly, and I step back.
Han keeps his arm stretched out. “You didn’t think I would leave you here alone, did you? We’re family now. We will go together.”
I shake my head and retreat another step.
His extended hand curls into a fist. “Come here.”
Hot tears burn my eyes. My feet refuse to move.
With a whoosh, Master Han swoops toward me and grasps me by the arms. “Don’t think you can defy me. I’ve been good to you so far. That could change in a second.”
The spark in my belly withers away, and I bow my head. I will not escape tonight.
“That’s my boy.” Han pats me on the shoulder.
Everything goes black as he teleports me away.
When we arrive, I look around. The moon is half full. The sky is clear. The land is green. A field stretches out before us, line after line of carefully tended green bushes. Workers move between the plant rows, their shoulders slumped, their eyes devoid of life. Like me, they are trapped by a power greater than them.
A thick forest surrounds the field. I am tempted to slip away into the trees, but Han does not release his grip on me until his guards encircle us and escort us to the end of the field. Wu Shen is waiting there with about thirty soldiers. They have brought the mortal volunteers who will be changed.
A stage has been erected at the end of the field. Wu Shen’s soldiers position the mortals in a row facing the stage, then they form a line behind the mortals. They are armed with swords, and I fear they will strike any volunteer who changes his mind. Wu Shen orders the mortals to kneel.
Master Han leaves me with his guards as he inspects the mortals. “This is it?” he yells. “There are less than fifty. I need at least a hundred!”
Wu Shen bows. “My apologies, master. This was all we could gather on short notice.”
Han marches down the row of kneeling mortals, eyeing them with disdain. “Some are too old. Or too sickly to be soldiers.”
“That is why they volunteered,” Wu Shen says as he follows Han. “They want the potion that will give them superstrength so they can be healthy again.”
Han clenches his fists. “They should come for the honor of serving me!”
The mortals bow down, their foreheads touching the ground. I suspect they have been warned not to anger Master Han.
With a deafening crack of thunder and flash of lightning, Darafer suddenly appears on the stage. I have seen Darafer arrive quietly and stealthily, so I know his theatrics are designed to illicit fear. And they do.
The workers in the field run to hide in the forest. The mortal volunteers tremble with terror. Some sneak looks at the soldiers behind them. The soldiers grip the handles of their swords.
Wu Shen comes to stand beside me. He glances at Han’s guards, who are still close by, then asks, “Is this your first time to see the ceremony?”
I nod.
On the stage, Darafer waves his hand, and with another crack of thunder and bright flash, a black cauldron appears beside him.
During the crack of thunder, Wu Shen leans close and whispers, “I will try to help you.”
I look at him, surprised, but he is watching Darafer as if nothing happened. I follow his example and keep my face expressionless even though my heart is pounding.
Master Han climbs onto the stage and bows to Darafer. “Your servant, always.”
The demon gives him a twisted smile. “Together we will rule the world.” He turns to inspect the mortals. “Tonight, you will join us on our noble quest. No longer will you be mere mortals. Your strength, speed, and agility will be greater than you ever imagined. You will live longer and be superior in every way. While I will be a god among men and Master Han will be emperor, you will be kings. Are you willing?”
The mortals say yes. They are willing.
Darafer lifts his arm, and a golden chalice suddenly appears in his hand. He dips it into the cauldron. “By drinking my potion, you will be transformed. You will be so powerful that no mortal will be able to defeat you. In exchange for this gift, we require only two things. The first requirement: you will give your complete obedience to Master Han and myself. Are you willing?”
The mortals murmur yes.
“I should warn you that disobedience will be severely punished,” Darafer says, and he turns his head toward Wu Shen. “Is that not true, Officer?”
Wu Shen stiffens. His face grows pale. “Yes, my lord.”
“How is it that the Vamps and shifters know of our impending attack on the were-tiger village?” Darafer asks.
Wu Shen steps away from me. “They have been attacking our camps in order to lure Master Han out of hiding. If they are preparing for a retaliatory strike, it simply means they believe their strategy will work.”
“Is that so?” Darafer’s eyes take on a greenish glow, and I fear for Wu Shen.
I step toward him, but Wu Shen lifts a hand to stop me. With a sad look in his eyes, he shakes his head slightly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?” Darafer shouts. “This is what happens to those who betray me!” He shoots an arc of lightning at Wu Shen, who is instantly engulfed in flames.
I stumble back. I close my eyes to block out the sight, but I can still hear Wu Shen’s cry of agony. I can still smell the stench of burning flesh. My stomach roils, and I fall to my knees. I make wheezing sounds as I gasp for breath.
“That brings me to the second requirement,” Darafer says calmly.
I open my eyes and see that the mortals are upset and mumbling among themselves. Wu Shen’s body is no longer on fire, but it lays there black and lifeless.
“Silence!” Master Han shouts, and the mortals grow quiet. Their eyes are wide with fear.
Darafer lifts the chalice high. “Once you drink of my potion, you will become powerful. And your soul will belong to me. Are you willing?”
The mortals hesitate.
Behind them, the soldiers draw their swords.
“I am willing!” one cries and runs toward the stage. “I will serve you, my lord.”
Others rise and edge toward the stage.
I cannot bear it. There will be more soldiers who will follow the evil commands of Han and Darafer. More men who will go to hell when they die, their souls forever bound to a demon. I look at Wu Shen’s dead body, and rage ignites inside me. Fire burns in my belly and races up my chest to my throat.
No more! My thoughts scream in my head. Even if it costs my life, no more!
I spring to my feet and dash wildly toward the field of demon herb. Fire erupts from my throat, and soon the field is ablaze.
“No!” Darafer shouts, and with a wave of his arm, the fire dies out.
But it is too late. The bushes are black and dead like Wu Shen.
In an instant, Darafer is in front of me. His eyes are glowing, his face harsh. He strikes me so hard that I fly back and land on a burned bush.
“Don’t kill him.” Han zooms toward us and yanks me up by the arm. “We need him. If a village dares to defy us, he can burn it to the ground like he did this field. He’ll be our weapon of terror.”
They expect me to kill for them. I try to pull away, but Han slaps me, then grabs me in an iron grip.
“You will suffer for this,” he growls and teleports me away.