Chapter 1
A Waking Nightmare
The woman’s fingers were bleeding when she finally pried the door open. Her nails were completely torn and skin hung off in odd angles on a couple of her fingers. Two of her fingers were bent in the wrong direction, but she ignored it all. With tears streaming down her face, she let out a shout of anger and fear into the night as the force compelling her tried to hold her back from her escape. The scream echoed over the silent city below her. Her eyes flew open and she beheld something that momentarily made her forget everything else. She had been in a crypt that topped an entire city of the dead. Surrounded by death, her eyes took in everything around her. Her tongue flicked out, tasting one of the tears as she tried to understand her circumstance. The air was cold with a stale taste.
Now out in the open, a low murmur of voices was trying to reach her. They were soft and friendly, telling her to stay put and wait until the arrival of the promised one. Eyes wide with fear, she looked into the air for the source of the promises and cajoling.
“No,” her voice was faint as she muttered up into the darkness. She began to shake her head, and her voice was more forceful as she repeated, “NO!” The sound of her resistance bounced around the empty streets of the dead below her.
There was a slight murmur of disapproval, then the air began to crackle around her. The woman threw her hands over her ears and with the fear now driving her, she ran barefoot down the steps. She did not care as her foot struck a loose rock on the first landing and sent her sprawling across the stone surface. As her knee smacked into the ground, her body yelled at her to stop, but something was driving her forward, away from the tomb where she had woken.
Around her shadows began to move and sway, despite the lack of moonlight. She was vaguely aware that there was a better way for her to flee, but the woman was not interested in trying to figure it out as the sound of murmuring voices began to surround her, their kindness barely masking their anger and frustration at her resistance to them. As much as she hated the crypt, the only sounds had been of her making. Now she had no idea who or what was near her, but she could feel her hair beginning to stand on end. She got the feeling that the voices needed her for something, and she had no desire to find out what they wanted. Scrambling off of the ground and ignoring the pain and blood trickling down from numerous wounds, she cut off all awareness of sensations and let her feet take her down the stairs much more rapidly than she had moved up to that point.
The voices were getting louder, more desperate. The woman tried to block them the way she blocked the pain, but there was more to it than that. A pull in her mind was telling her to wait and stay. It was her gut that she listened to, though, and it was telling her to get out as quickly as she could. The voices around her were not benevolent, of that she had no doubt. Her gut told her that they were responsible for so many atrocities, and with a growing suspicion, she felt that they were responsible for her current predicament.
The woman ran through the silent streets, her feet instinctively moving in the right direction. Vaguely aware that there was a light moving through the streets with her, the fugitive did not stop to examine what it was or how it was able to stay with her. Her focus was solely on getting out as quickly as possible. The voices had done something and now they needed her. The only thing she was able to understand as she ran through the empty streets was that she had been dead. The voices had brought her back, and now they needed to use her for something. A few painful images flashed through her mind, but it was the tender voice in her ear that made her want to break down in tears.
“I won’t let you go. You can’t leave me.” In her mind, she could feel someone pulling her closer as if she could keep herself from dying by simply willing it. Something splashed down on her as her mind slipped, and the last thing she had heard before dying was a man pleading, “Please don’t leave me. You are the light to my darkness, and I don’t know how to live without you. ”
Water struck her foot, but the woman did not stop to find out why. Moving solely on instinct and fear, she searched for a door or gate that would get her away from her final resting place. When the images had started, the woman had focused on them, believing they would give her purpose, but now she wanted to block them out more than the voices. It had become difficult to breath. Shaking her head, the woman blocked everything else from her mind – pain, memories, voices, and emotion – as she moved impossibly fast through the streets. Time was not on her side; she could not afford any distractions from her single focus.
Escape. I must escape.
Sir Gwavas looked over the plans and let out a low whistle. “I’ve heard rumors about all of this. Well, maybe rumor isn’t the right word.” He scratched his head when Kerensa gave him a strange look. “I suppose it is more like folklore, or maybe–”
Suddenly Cyprian stood up, a look close to panic on his face. “No! No! No!”
Noely stood up beside him, looking concerned. Placing a hand on his arm to calm him, she asked, “What’s wrong Cyprian?”
His eyes looked wild as he looked down at her. “We have to find him. Now.” He didn’t utter another word as he rushed out of the room.
The remaining people looked at each other. Heath was the first to speak. “Noely, do you know what that was about? It wasn’t about that sudden–”
Noely’s eyes had turned back to the door through which Cyprian had gone. “I’m not sure, but I believe so, yes. I am not sure exactly what that tremor meant, although I can feel something on the tip of my mind. This has happened before.” Her eyes flicked back to Heath. Kerensa and her father turned to look at him, hoping for some sort of clarification.
“Good gods!” Heath sat bolt upright. “Oh gods, I hope he has a plan. According to Augustine, we should have had a few more weeks before–”
Noely shook her head, “No, this is something else. Something darker. They are trying to bypass the beginning of the ritual.”
Heath grabbed Kerensa’s hand, stood up, and gave Sir Gwavas a quick bow. “Excuse us, Your Grace, but we must leave. If you would, please see to everything we discussed. I will try to have word sent to you as soon as we know more.”
Noely was already running toward the door as Heath pulled a confused Kerensa out of the room.
“Heath, what is going on? Shouldn't I stay here with my family? We only just arrived.”
At these last words, he slowed down just enough to wrap his arms around her and sweep her off her feet. “I will not leave your side because I don’t trust anyone else to protect you.”
Kerensa looked at his resolute face. All of her other questions died on her lips as she looked back and hoped that her family would be alright. Pushing her glasses up, she turned her eyes forward, knowing that Heath was about to shift. She would need to focus so that he could move without hindrance.
As soon as they reached the door outside, Heath shifted into his ice dragon form. Without stopping, he swung Kerensa onto his back and lifted off the ground. Noely’s arms were outstretched as he gently lifted her off the ground and followed the slender form of Cyprian as he flew south.
With the gates now coming at her fast, the young woman didn’t even slow down as they cast a long shadow over her. The voices were nearly deafening, but she was no longer listening to them as she could hear her own heart pounding. Not sure how she was going to get through the gates, the woman decided to go with her gut. And what her gut was saying was to scream.
The scream was like a pain in her abdomen, and she could almost trace it as it made its way up through her chest. As soon as her lungs took in the next breath, the woman found herself shouting just as she was about to hit the door. The large metal gate gave way under the force of her body slamming against it. Pieces of metal flew away from the collision as the gates swung wide open. She began to slow down as the voices roared back into her hearing.
“There is no escape. You owe us everything, and we will take it.”
Having run a comfortable distance from the gates, the woman was feeling a clarity that she had not had since waking. Her emotions had calmed, and the fear had subsided. Now she stopped and turned to look at the dead city. “I owe you revenge. You had no right. No right to do this to me.”
There was a susurrus of disbelief. Finally, a single powerful voice spoke alone, “Here you are trying to lecture me again. You have already seen how well it worked before. Don’t think that it will go any better this time.”
The woman glared into the darkness. Now she knew that this being had not only brought her back to life, she was certain it had been the reason for her death. “I have been ripped from the peace of death. Don’t think that won’t come with severe consequences.”
The voice was low as it responded, “I am counting on it.”
Looking into the city, the woman thought she saw a pair of bloodshot eyes, and she recognized them. Keeping her voice even, she said slowly and deliberately, “I have been watching you in death.”
The eyes blinked, but the voice was confident, “That is understandable. All want to know the most powerful being.”
She shook her head and a small smile spread across her face. “I know more about you now than I ever knew in life. Your strengths, your weaknesses. Your goals.”
The last word struck something in her adversary, and there was a loud roar from the depth of the city. The eyes began to move toward her.
The smile slowly left her face as the woman balled up her fists. “Your pet cannot harm me outside of your city.”
The eyes disappeared as soon as she finished speaking and an uneasy silence ensued. The woman glared into the city, waiting.
Several minutes passed without any further sounds. It was as if all sound in the world had been shut off. Knowing that she was still being watched, the woman turned and moved forward. She had no idea where to go or what kind of world awaited her. Ever since she moved through the gates of the city a single thought had begun to consume her.
I have to find him. Closing her eyes for a moment, she released her fists, the pain relenting a little with the action. She didn’t have any idea who he was, where he was, or if he was even still alive. Her most vivid memories were from everything she experienced after death. The only clues she had about the man was his gentle, serious voice and a fading sense of warmth in his arms.
The woman looked into the darkness of a forest, and she began to walk toward it. Before she knew it, she was running through the bramble and thorns in search of someone she couldn’t remember.
More than 1,000 miles away, the dress fitting had ended, and a small celebration had ensued. With all of that over, a small group had retired to a tower to discuss plans for the arrival of the other dragon shifters. Suddenly, the party fell silent as a room full of powerful humanoids felt the same sudden shift.
Calixto’s intimidating form rose in a single fluid motion as he went from ignoring the party to full attention. “That’s not right.”
Elian and Bree were both standing as well, looking toward the windows. Bree shook her head, a wry smile on her face as she walked over to the window. “Well, right or not, it looks like our plans have just changed.”
Annora followed her. “What has happened?”
Bree looked at the two male shifters. Elian nodded, “I agree. Sorry, Annora, we have to go.” He walked over to her and grabbed her shoulders. “I’m sure you understand.” He gave her forehead a kiss.
Correctly reading the look of disgust on her friend’s face, Bree placed a hand on her back. “Ignore him and listen to me. You looked after me for years. It is time you let someone else do the protecting.”
Annora’s expression was blank by the time her friend stopped speaking. Looking over to Calixto, she expected to hear something in agreement with the other two. He merely blinked at her once or twice before inclining his head. His voice was firm as he murmured, “Fiend,” before looking to the window.
A smile spread across Annora’s face. She stood on her toes and gave Elian a quick kiss. “Of course, I understand. As the only human here, what can I possibly contribute?” He smiled down at her and Bree gave a quick laugh. Without another word, Annora dove out of the window.
Elian reacted first. “Annora!” His voice was strained as he dashed after her, shifting as soon as his body was clear of the window.
Bree looked at Calixto, a grim look on her face. “You had to go and encourage her, didn’t you?”
Calixto stepped forward and leaned out of the window. “She’s your friend. You should have been the one encouraging her.”
“That’s– you know what we are about to–”
“If I were to leave you behind, would you stand for it?”
“Of course not! But I’m a–”
“And I'm a dragon with more power than you could obtain in five lifetimes. Yet I do not discourage you from all of your foolishness because of your limitations.”
Bree stepped forward and watched as Elian’s enormous, sleek black body rose amid the mountains around the castle. The familiar braid swayed with the motions, and she knew that Annora was safe. “Since when did you decide you would try to be the voice of reason?”
She felt arms wrap around her from the back. “The day I decided to take a sorceress as my mate.”
There was no warning as he pulled her out of the window, but she didn’t need one. Seconds later, Bree wrapped her legs around the dragon’s sleek neck. Lowering her body so that she was flush against his neck, the sorceress muttered, “Gods, I can’t wait to get you home to show you my limitations.” Beneath her, the dragon released a small blast of fire, almost as if he was coughing at her words.
Several miles from the coast of Vetitum, a ship’s captain knocked on the door of one of his guests. They had persuaded him to decline an incredibly rich shipment for one of the nobles of Yuezhi in exchange for taking them to Berenice all the way near Senones and Volsci. They had easily persuaded him with a payment that was twice the amount he would have gotten from the shipment.
It was understandable that he had been ill at ease when the ship had unexpectedly rocked several times, as if they had struck something or lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time.
“Excuse me, Mr. Lynx, but…” The captain’s voice trailed off as he looked around the room. A single note sat on the desk. Looking behind him, the captain entered the room and edged toward the letter. There was a good chance it wasn’t for him, but the captain was concerned at the sudden disappearance. Mr. Lynx had made it clear that he was going to be tending to a lovely young woman who appeared to be ill. He had no plans of leaving the cabin, and the captain knew with a single look at the young woman that she was not likely to be going anywhere either. The fact that they were now gone seemed wrong.
Looking down at the letter, the captain saw his name at the top. Picking it up, his eyes quickly scanned the letter. Then again. And again. His brow furrowed as he read it one more time. To verify the first point of the letter, he went to the rooms of the two other couples traveling with Mr. Lynx, and he found that they, too, were empty. They had all traveled light, so it was impossible to tell if they were still on the ship or not. All he had were the words from Mr. Lynx instructing him to turn around and head home. The man looked down at the letter one more time before shrugging his shoulders.
“Might as well see if we can still take on that shipment. Seems a waste, though. I could have enjoyed a bit of a rest over in Senones this time of year.” Unable to understand how they could pay such a hefty sum then just disappear in the middle of the ocean, the captain decided it was best not to think about it too hard. People with money, after all, were the most eccentric and dangerous to know.
As he walked along the deck planning his next job, the captain failed to notice the three shapes on the horizon – shapes that would have caused him a great deal of concern. Seeing dragons so far from land was always a bad omen.
Ever since escaping the city, the woman had grown increasingly concerned and curious about the light that seemed to follow her. Nothing that she could remember about the creature she had left behind suggested it had that kind of capability. Then again, there was no telling what kind of magic had been used to bring her back, and it was possible that it made it easier for the creature to track her.
After several hours of running, the woman found that her body protested the demands she was placing on it. Her speed had dwindled to something that seemed barely more than a slow jog. Some of the injuries she had sustained had reopened, and the blood trickling down her hands and legs was distracting her. Muttering about how inconvenient it was to have a body, the woman started to look for somewhere to rest. So far there hadn’t been any lights around her, beyond the one following her. Of course, there wouldn’t be anyone living near the city of the dead, but she would have thought she would have encountered someone by now.
“Hallo, Leo!” The lieutenant barely had time to brace himself before the predictable slamming of a hand on his back nearly knocked the wind out of him.
Turning a rather annoyed look at the assailant, Leonides said dryly, “Is it really necessary to be so aggressive in your hellos, Hisa?”
Hisa’s face was beatific as he looked at the fire dragon shifter. “I hear that aggression is what you guys understand the best. Certainly had a little demo of it not too long ago.”
Leonides gave the beaming dragon shifter a look before sighing, “You can feel free to treat me as you would any of your military comrades. I hear you behaved rather differently with them than your usual obnoxious self.” Of all the red dragon shifters, Leonides had been the only one to really resist the openness and joviality of the visiting dragon shifter. He knew that it was a matter of unfortunate timing. For several months, Leonides had been trying to track down Phelan and bring him home, but the former member of the clan had proven to be too illusive. Leonides wasn’t sure if it was because Phelan knew he was being sought, or if that was how the shifter had lived since being exiled. Guilt made Leonides uncomfortable, and it meant that he had very little time or attention for gaiety and friendliness – things that Hisa basked in.
Hisa put a hand over his heart. “If I didn’t know better, that would have hurt my feelings. However, I know that you are merely preoccupied with your hunt, and so you take out your frustration on me. I understand. I don’t condone it, but I can understand the pain. And that is why I am so glad to see you.”
Leonides looked over at Hisa. “Well, I wish I could say the same, but as you have already said, I am rather busy. So if you will excuse me, I must get back to the task at hand.”
Hisa fell in step beside him as Leonides started to walk away. “Why don’t I help you with this task? Always better with two, right?”
Leonides looked at his fellow shifter with a sense of annoyance. “I usually work alone, and I would hate to get caught up in another adventure and lose what little advantage I have found.”
“And that is exactly where you are making a grave mistake. For I, the Illustrious Foreigner, come bearing glad tidings.”
“You are leaving the continent?” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
To Leonides’s amazement, Hisa simply laughed. “This is even better news than that. News that will not be welcome at first, but I am sure you will find it in your heart to forgive me later.”
“What are you babbling about now?” He didn’t even try to keep the contempt from his voice as he continued to follow a path described by someone in the last village.
“You are going the wrong way.”
“What?” Leonides looked at Hisa, his eyes saying everything his mouth couldn’t at the announcement.
“It just so happens that I encountered Phelan and his pretty little lady over in a cave about 10 miles that way.” He grabbed Leonides’s shoulders in mid-step and forced the lieutenant’s body to switch course suddenly. Leonides was trying to recover his balance when Hisa pointed toward a small range of mountains. “And you had better move fast because she is already in labor.”
“What?” Leonides’s eyes were wide open as he looked at Hisa.
“Yeah, just over that way. You do have a bit of time because I stopped the process for about six hours. That was about an hour ago, though, so you need to move quickly if you want to get her back to the castle before the next push.”
“Tasteless,” Leonides muttered as he looked toward the mountains.
“Well, you are hardly the first to say so, and I very much doubt the last. Good to know I still have some of my charms.”
Leonides turned to look at him. “Did you say you stopped the birthing process?”
Hisa simply shrugged and rubbed his stomach. “Yeah, easy little trick to learn for those who are patient enough to try.”
“Then how is it that you learned it?”
Hisa laughed loudly, “That I could not tell you. Anyway, best get moving. And don’t forget to let Bree know. That luscious little lady is going to be overjoyed at the bundle, and you will be a hero for bringing them in.”
“Aren’t you going to stick around and help?”
“Help with what?”
Leonides frowned, “Have you not felt the changes? Did you not feel that shift not too long ago? You may be needed here.”
“My dear Leo, you are the sweetest thing.” Hisa pinched his cheek. “But I am afraid that I have already met my quota for obligations for the rest of the century. If I fulfil any more, I will be at risk of becoming a responsible and respectable member of society. And then where would I be?”
“But you are the only one of your kind who is willing to be out in the world. I know some who think that you are the last of your kind because of how reclusive your kind are. Do you not feel it is your duty to serve where your people fail?”
“Correct. I do not feel it is my duty.” Hisa beamed. “I mean, I enjoy being alive as much as the next person, but that is quite hampered when obligation comes storming into my life making demands to do things that I would never choose for myself.”
Leonides looked from Hisa to the mountains and back. It was important to convince Hisa to stay because all of the dragon shifters were in agreement that their unique abilities would be required. Hisa had been the first one to the continent, which made it seem like he was the most aware of what was happening. Leonides always figured the joviality was a façade, although it was one that Hisa seemed incredibly adept at if that was true. Frowning as he tried to decide where he was most needed, Leonides looked Hisa in the eye. “You are not what you appear. Everyone else may think they know you – Cyprian may think he knows you, but you cannot always fool everyone.”
Hisa’s expression didn’t change as his eyes shone. “My dear Leonides, we are all fooled all of the time, both by others and ourselves. It is best not to take things too seriously, or–”
Whatever he was saying was lost as a figure stumbled through a thicket near them.
The two dragon shifters’ heads turned to look at the interloper, both surprised that they had not even noticed her before her appearance. It was almost impossible to sneak up on a dragon shifter.
“I have to… find…” The figure swayed ever so slightly. Taking a step forward, she murmured, “Not dead… can’t… be… I must…” The final words were lost as she pitched forward.
Hisa rushed forward, catching her before she hit the ground, an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, young woman. What has happened to you?”
The figure was in what was clearly once a white dress, but it was so covered in blood, dirt, and water that it looked more like a rag than a dress. It was torn in many places, and her wounds were obvious. Leonides watched as Hisa tried to get the woman to look at him with his words, but her head hung down. “I think she has passed out.”
Hisa looked up. “So it would appear. I guess I now have my new obligation. Sorry, but looks like I’m out due to a conflict of responsibilities.”
Leonides looked down at the pair as Hisa, shifting her weight, lifted the woman in his arms and stood up. Stringy hair covered her face. Despite his duty, Leonides couldn’t help but feel sorry for the woman. Brushing the hair out of her face, he looked at Hisa. “You can take her back to the castle. There she will be able to heal so that you can continue roaming.” Of course, he hoped that while there, the others would be able to get Hisa to join them.
Hisa gave him a little smile. “Yeah, that would probably be best. Will be difficult to get her there in her current state, though.”
“If I didn’t have other responsibilities of my own, I would stop to question your ability to take care of an injured woman who has blacked out in your arms. Especially given the persona you like to radiate. However, I am needed elsewhere, and I doubt that she has ever been in safer hands. Of course, if you are willing to bring her along to the cave, we could probably get Phelan’s help.”
Hisa laughed, “You are going to have your hands full with him. If he follows through on his promise, he won’t give you any real trouble. Having just met him, I’m not sure if he will listen to you.”
“What do you mean?” Leonides had been looking at the mountains, but turned to look at Hisa.
“Oh, nothing. Best to get moving if you are going to make it before the birthing process resumes.” Hisa gave him a toothy grin that looked strained.
“Be careful.” Leonides looked at the shifter and his burden one more time before turning and heading in the direction Hisa had indicated was the way to Phelan.
Hisa let out a sigh, then looked down at the woman in his arms. A dark expression passed over his face and he clenched his teeth. For a moment, he looked up and considered going to the castle, but that was quickly dismissed. Instead, he began walking briskly in the direction from which she had come.