Enjoy! Sorry I haven't updated in a while...


Chapter 7: Familiar Battles

Clive knew that the General had always been fond of ceremony and melodrama, but this was just plain ridiculous. He could hear Serina's frightened, uneven breath near him, and frowned in determination. She had to be protected, for the sake of the Yason. Clive drew in a sharp breath as the crescendo of footsteps approached. Even the tortured Yason were silent now.

'Why do you not speak?' Tazma's cold voice was dripping with malice. The footsteps were growing steadily nearer, and Serina's breath was coming in sharp gasps.

'Why do you not respond to a friendly greeting, Serina? I sense a lamentable lack of manners.' He murmured with a sickening hint of amusement.

'Tazma, we don't feel like games.' Haren called roughly. 'Where are you?'

'Why, I'm here.'

A ruby glow began to pulsate around his well built form, which was about seven paces from where Orha stood. A nasty grin was splayed on his crude features, and he held his arms out in front of him, fingers pointing to the ceiling.

Orha, Serina and Clive gasped. The latter two had witnessed the summoning of Familiars many times, but Orha had experienced it, and his mind was racing.

'My familiar, Death Raven, would be no use in this enclosed space; its wingspan is very large. We have very limited weaponry: My daggers and Haren's fists. I doubt Clive has anything useful, and there is hardly any Chi for Serina to manipulate here…Yes. The odds are against us.'

His eyes narrowed, still fixed intently on his enemy, and he bit his lip.

'But the fact that he has a Familiar is completely illogical; he's only half Yason. He must be incredibly powerful. No half blood, save Queen Amila, has ever been able to do this…'

Orha was pulled back to reality as the glow around Tazma's hands intensified, as did the malevolence of his wide, frog like grin.

'I have a surprise for you.' He sneered. 'The three of you will be dead scared before long. Haren! Clive! Get over here and cover me.'

'Ah… So he thinks they're still on his side…'

Clive drew himself up to his full height, hurling a glance of veiled significance at Haren. They marched in unison to either side of the General. The crimson glow flowed to Tazma's legs, then through his feet, forming an obscure symbol on the ground beneath them. The symbol began to pulsate, energy from it making the small hairs on the back of Clive's neck stand on end. A shape seemed to be appearing behind Tazma, and an indistinct buzzing filled the air, growing to a climax in a few seconds. The elegant, spined back of a small dragon took shape from the hazy, spiralling mist behind the General, its scales glinting and reflecting off and unseen light source. An aura of amber smoke drifted about its thick ruby legs, and it snorted once as it pivoted gracefully to face the same direction as its master.

'Well, Tyamat. Your time has come.' He murmured. 'Time for the commencement of the destruction of the Yason and human races!'

Tyamat growled, smoke billowing from her nostrils. She slowly and almost luxuriously unfolded her translucent, veined wings, and took a tottering step towards Tazma, who nodded approvingly, like a parent overseeing the first steps of their child. The ground shook slightly, loose fragments of rock plunging from the ceiling and causing all except the General to instinctively shield their heads with their arms.

'Good…' Tazma gloated, his eyes shining with virulence. 'But surely you are capable of far more than that?'

His familiar flung her head back and roared-a deep, rich, horror inspiring battle cry, the terror of which was increased by the regiments of needle sharp, gleaming teeth in her gaping mouth. She lowered her piercing gaze to strike them, fangs bared, flecks of foamy saliva dotting her upper lip.

'She's just getting warmed up. I can see this battle-or slaughter- is going to be heated.'

Serina was paralysed with fear, her liquid cobalt eyes as wide as saucers. Calintz was supporting her from falling into a dead swoon; her trembling form was clutching him in terror. He was calm, composed in a sort of detached reverie, his cold, steely gaze raised to challenge that of the dragon. Tyamat's calculating eye moved to Orha, who was positioned in a half crouch. He was holding his weapons tightly, ready to spring if anything came near the rightful queen.

The smoke curling from the dragon's nostrils had become thicker and darker in colour, and a deep growl was set in her throat. Suddenly, she curved her elegant neck sharply to the side and spat out a torrent of fire. The pile of rocks set against the wall at which it was aimed glowed red, flames crackling as they danced over the surface.

Positioned beside Tazma, Clive began to shake violently. The General cast an amused, sidelong glance at him and gave a silky chuckle.

'Well…I suppose you can't have 'manslaughter' without 'laughter'…'

Clive drew in a sharp, dignified breath and with some effort, stopped trembling. An enraged emerald fire smouldered in the depths of his emerald eyes as he glared at his former leader, and he shifted slightly where he stood.

Tazma turned his attention back to his familiar.

'Now. One good burst of flame should do it. They won't know what's hit them.' He chortled. 'Literally. This is your moment, Tyama-AARGH!'

A hiss and the rancid stench of searing skin filled the dense atmosphere. Clive had lifted and pressed one of the red hot stones to Tazma's forearm, where he knew his Vindi to be; that snake like, decorative tattoo.

All erupted into chaos. Clive dropped the stone, gasping and staring at his scorched and blackened hand. Tazma doubled over in pain, the red aura around hi body fading as he lost control of the masses of fire Chi he had gathered. He was moaning through gritted teeth; on his knees, pressing his arm into the earth and grinding it into the filthy floor, sobbing in pain. His control over his familiar broke, and she turned her head towards him.

A split second.

A heartbeat.

Then she charged, diving and roaring, a tangle of teeth and wings. A flash of blood red light. When Calintz opened his eyes they were gone without a trace, except for a ruby red pendant lying innocently on the blackened ground. He picked it up and stowed it in his pocket without a word.


Hope you enjoyed it! I haven't updated for ages…I've had so much work, sorry. Please leave a review, I haven't had ANY reviews for about four months now…  Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, as is praise  There are more chapters to come…You'll learn what happens to Clive eventually as well as a little of his past. You'll meet a familiar character once again. And are the dangers really over for Calintz and Serina?