Please, dragon ancestors, give me strength. Ash elbowed the demon in the chin, but he didn't move off her.

“Ash!” Xilon's voice echoed from the other room, but he sounded strained as though he was still fighting his brother.

A childhood memory flooded her. She had run so far from her parents’ house to Grams.

It was the third night after their death and she hadn't been able to sleep.

Grams tucked her onto her lap. “I will give you a secret word. But you must promise never to use it unless there is no other choice. It's a magic word and very powerful.” She traced her finger down Ash's nose, tickling her. “This word will protect you in the most dire circumstances, but you must never unleash it until you are ready. Until you've no choice.”

“But what about the demons?” Little Ash asked.

“Well now, they will realize you have this power and they will leave you alone until you're older and they will forget. Use this power wisely. Don't share this magic word with anyone and never speak it again until it's time.”

“I won't.” Little Ash nodded. “I promise.”

Grams leaned down and whispered in her ear.

Shaking her head Ash blinked back tears. Why had that memory surfaced? Because it was sweet and she was fixing to become a demon’s broodmare? She used all her strength to push the demon off her, but his hands kept her firmly in place.

From inside her Grams’ room, a soft voice called out, “Ash? That you?”

“Grams, it’s alright. Stay inside.” Tears clogged her voice.

“No, let’s have the woman come witness the birth of a new generation of Tryns!” The demon shouted. It yanked Ash up and dragged her to her grandma’s room.

“No!” Ash struggled, punching and kicking the demon, but it slung her into the bedroom.

Her grandmother’s frail, wheezing body lay on the bed, barely breathing.

“I’m so sorry, Grams.”

The demon yanked her pants off and spread her legs. Ash screamed until her throat was raw, thrashing to keep from being raped by the monster. She’d kill herself after she killed the demon.

“Use the name, child,” Grams whispered in her mind.

What good would a name do? She needed her weapons.

“Trust me. It’s my time to go.”

No, Grams can’t be dying. She’s too stubborn like me.

“Say the name!”

“Vortunki!” Ash shouted, feeling silly.

Suddenly, her Grams’ body shook violently. The demon let go of Ash and she jumped up, reaching for her grandma, but she flew backward. Sparkles shot out from her grandma.

“No, it’s not possible.” The demon blanched.

A white dragon with sparkles in its scales. It looked partially real and partially ghostlike. Ash blinked, looked back at the bed. Her grandma’s body was gone.

The demon screamed as the white dragon roared and rushed forward. It swirled around the demon. An implosion burst the demon into black cinders.

“Grams?” Ash stared at the see-through dragon. “Wha—How?”

“I’ve been in that human form so long.” The dragon smiled. “Only had one last shift before I died.”

“No, no, we can help you. Do something and fix you.” Tears spilled down Ash’s cheeks. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did what I had to do.” She cupped Ash’s chin with a talon. “And I got to watch all of my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren for countless generations grow up. You though, surprised me and were the daughter after my own heart.”

Tears spilled down Ash’s face. “Stay with me…with Xilon. Y-you don’t have to go.”

“No, I used up nearly all of my blood magic when I brought you back to life in the hospital and only had a fraction left to kill my last demon.”

“You saved me. Saved us all.”

“No child, you will save us all.” She patted Ash’s jeans pocket that laid on the bed, then handed the pants to Ash. “Go and save your brother and the other two Renjerians. Then use my crystals to save their world and turn the tide of this war.”

“But, I can’t do this without you. You taught me everything I know,” Ash whispered.

“If you are ever missing me, look to the northern sky and the constellation Draco, the great dragon. There you will see me among all our other kind for eternity.” Her Grams faded before her eyes.

Her heart crumbled. But she didn’t have time to mourn. She had to save Brice, Xilon, and Taurian.

She tossed on her jeans, the three stones in her pocket bringing her some comfort and ran to her room. After she yanked a sword in each hand, a knife tucked in the hem of her jean as she raced back to the living room. Taurian had Xilon in a headlock. She traced the steel along his back and an oil-like substance oozed out.

“Go back to hell!” she yelled, thrusting the sword into the slimly creature. It screamed and smoked.

Xilon helped his brother stand.

She left her sword in place and clutched the second, turning to her brother. “Brice.”

“Come near me with that and I’ll kill him,” a voice seethed.

Her legs froze. She was too far away to use her weapon and the demon would crush his heart from the inside if she didn’t time this right.

“Then we must reach a bargain.” She lowered her sword. “Let my brother go, and I will give you a two second start to flee.”

“Toss the sword down,” the demonic voice said from her brother’s lips.

“And you’ll leave him alone?”

“Maybe, but as long as you hold that weapon, I will continue killing him.”

Her brother wheezed, his skin turning ashen.

“Okay!” She tossed the weapon. It clanged along the metal floor. “Now leave.”

“Too late.” The demon laughed. Her brother’s body began convulsing.

Ash snatched the knife from the back of her jeans and hurled it at her brother. It sunk into his arm and the demon wailed. Its spiraling smoke cascading up into the rafters.

It was done. She sank to the floor, letting the weight of everything finally crash into her. Xilon drew her into his arms.

“It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.” He kissed her head.

She cried, cradled in his embrace. Nothing was ever going to be the same, but that was okay. Her Grams was in a better place and no longer in pain. And Ash had saved her family and her love.

“Shit!” her brother yelled from the couch. “Why’d you stab your knife into my throwing arm?”