Beau: Chapter Twenty-Six

"You know my brother? Ironclad?" I looked at him in shock at this revelation. I quickly forget that Kaunis just murdered a human for the sake of murder. Seeing a dead human is nothing new to me. Just the randomness of the death… But as I looked at Kaunis. I knew my father had old ties to the League of Eight. But I had no clue that Ironclad got in contact.

"Yes, we are close friends, even though I believe your father knows. You both look eerily like him. Your family chins are very, distinctive… You're like a smaller version of Ironclad from what I can remember. It's been a while since I've seen him. But he has mentioned you on the odd occasion, so I know of your existence. If you weren't his brother you definitely would have been a relative. And I know your close family does not have many relatives as of late..." Kaunis chuckled.

Did he seriously make fun of my family lack of pups? Even though that fact is very true. Fertility in the herd is becoming a problem. The herd gets smaller every year and we lost many just by moving out our hiding area. No choice due to lack of food… We both stood on the ledge of the tower as the sun began to set. Even though there is a blanket of cloud the colours began to change indicating it.

As we looked down I notice that people crowded around the lifeless body of the guard that Kaunis pushed off. We moved close to the wall so we couldn't be seen by the peering eyes that are looking up.

"My brother fled while we were being captured!" I yelled at him. "If he was your friend why isn't he here with us!?" I cannot believe him. It makes no sense…

"Because he is doing other things! Him getting captured to then go all the way back to where he came from. Is nothing but detrimental… " Snarled Kaunis.

"Has he been spying for you!?" I felt so repulsed. My brother has been lying to us. He has always been with the separatists. He has betrayed us! But I have an even more worrying question will he betray the herd?

"A Spy? That's a very human thing to do… No… He just asked if he could learn more about draconium abilities. And I obliged him, he is after all his fathers' son and so are you. If there is always a dragon who wants to know more I am more than happy to help. I could tell he would be a very strong dragon if trained right. Such a waste since he has been under your fathers' claws."

"My father's claws… He is our father! We have always loved him and he always teaches us what is necessary!"

"Like how to use your natural magging abilities?" He snarled.

"Using those abilities slows us down. When using them we focus too much on using the power than what is happening around us. It leaves us open. I used my ability against another dragon and I was easily flanked." I couldn't help but sound so defeated. I should have been better. Looking back on it. I really am weak. A human almost defeated me… A human… I have never seen humans with skills like ours before. I didn't even know it was possible.

"That is because you don't know how to use your powers properly. They are a gift! They should be embraced! It is part of our nature! Not coddled and forgotten as the separatist dragon regime now recently dictates. There was a time where the separatist leaders embraced those powers. But the fear of humans abusing our abilities after being captured… The paranoia your father has… He has such skills yet leaves his followers with nothing. Haven't you ever desired a bonemark for yourself?"

"A bonemark?" Of course… I have always wondered how my brother got it. I even wonder how father has one… The mysterious entity of a bonemark. I was told those who are chosen to receive bonemarks at birth. Such as father brags against his rivals. But I have never seen other dragons born with one… Only dragons who came from human settlements who never say how they got theirs. It is a dragon's greatest honour to have one. Belonging mainly to alpha males. It makes them more powerful in draconium abilities and strength.

I remember in a stormy night a few years ago Ironclad disappeared. He was gone for half a year… Father pined for him. He even looked for him. I was to stay in the meadow with mother and sister. So I never witnessed what happened. It was months when they both returned. We were all glad my brother was found alive. But my father was not happy… He was furious with Ironclad. I knew they physically fought. Father mentioned it to me when he threatened me because I tried to get a bit of extra food to eat… Ironclad still has those scars on his back.

Even after that fight, father seemed to be eerily proud of him. The bonemark gave Ironclad the extra edge against other dragons. It always has confused me as to what happened there… But my reality is that I have always wanted one… I was jealous of my brother having one… The privilege of being an alpha. I will never have to be below anyone… I can do what I want. Having a bonemark makes it easier to become an alpha.

"I can get what you desire." Kaunis walked closer to me and looked into my eye. His eye-shaped bonemark glowing on his forehead. It is even more beautiful to look up close. The intricate sharp detail of the eye looked like it was made of metal. But the power pulsates from it. Even though my mind wanted me to move away I couldn't… I felt entranced by him. Even more than the last time he used it against me. He promised he wouldn't use it… It didn't matter to me anymore. The power flowed within me… It was too hard to resist, so I let it in. By the way, his fins blew in the nonexistent breeze, his voice and his smell. All of my frustration and anger disappeared. I no longer cared for the herd. My mind then started to lose control and I wanted to listen to everything that Kaunis had to say. It felt like time stopped and it was just us two in the world.

"Yes, a bonemark. A mark that you so crave… The biggest gift any dragon can receive. Do you wish to be as good as or better than your brother? Or even possibly your father? Do you want to learn abilities that not many dragons can master? Becoming an alpha! Living the world by your rules. To prove to your father how good you are… To let him know that you are his son. I can help you… Become the dragon you are meant to be!"

And like that the feeling of illusion ceased. I looked at Kaunis in confusion, is he reading my mind? But all doubts have gone… What did he do? But my jealousy felt strong. I have never wanted to be better than my brother in my life. I don't care for anything else… Like before when I first walked into the city but so much stronger… As I looked around I notice the sun has gone and the grey skies have turned pitch black. The lights surrounding the city turned on and black draconium light pillars throughout the city glowed a dark purple hue.

"Why me?" I asked.

"Because your family blood could have something we need… It can help the dragon cause. It is no coincidence you are here now Beau. Fate has brought us here…Your brother couldn't give it to me, skilled and powerful he is. He failed… Maybe you can. You can finally prove yourself that you can be better than your brother."

I smiled and nodded at his request. All my doubts about Kaunis magically disappeared and it felt like we have been friends for years. Even though I have only known him for less than a day. But what did he mean about my family blood? There is nothing really special about our family blood. Is there? Kaunis seems to know and I need to know what it is.

"I believe it is time to move on and to get some dinner and rest. They should have removed that human corpse by now." And we both turned tail and walked down the large tower. I see all of the dragons who have been dragged in are all in their stables.

Many of the dragons are eerily quiet and are at peace… None of them acted angrily or repulsed before they entered here. And after my meeting with Kaunis they still haven't acted out.

The only one I see with any energy and I see Myshka jumping up and down in excitement. "Hey, Beau! The stable next to me is free!" However, she quickly realised that Kaunis is standing next to me. She immediately stopped in fear.

I look at her smiling. Kaunis looks at me and scoffs at her. "You will not be sleeping here, Beau… You will be coming with me to Seers tower."

"No Beau! Don't! Please! You will never be the same!" Myshka screeched in fear from her stable. Her small head barely reaching the top of the door. "Please don't leave me alone here…" She whimpered.

Beau smiled at Myshka once again and looked at Kaunis as he smiled smarmily.

"Well Beau say goodbye!" Kaunis said cheerfully. His bonemark still glowing.

"Goodbye Myshka." I said quickly in such a mocking fashion. It made Myshka walk to the other side of her stall to sleep huddled in a corner. With her back facing towards me. But yet after saying and seeing this, I felt nothing… I thought we were friends. But it never felt like we never were… I followed Kaunis's lead and like that we leave the stable tower. I see that the human guard that Kaunis pushed off his body was lying nearby on a table, to be prepared to move somewhere else. A human who was tending the body looked sheepishly at Kaunis as we walked past.

The human and dragon guards remained at the tower. So it was just Kaunis and I walking through the city centre alone. Since it has become dark barely anyone is walking around. The light sources managed to light the roads well enough. But I was not prepared as to how dark this city gets… It has gotten even colder and I couldn't help but shiver.

The pain in my feet is still killing me… Even worse by the weird rocks that cover the ground. There is no soft dirt to ease the feet… How do dragons walk on this all day?

The never-ending towers that surrounded blocked any view of any sky even though it's obvious that it's still covered by clouds. I wanted to call it the forest of rock towers. The humans of the city must live in these rock towers as I see light sources coming out of them. It made me curious as to how they create such light forms in a small fashion. The humans and dragons who took me here used draconium magic to light the pathways. But here it is not the same, it must be fire… In the wild we would live in the dark and only have the moons to guide us.

After walking through the city which felt like forever, we finally reached the base of Seer tower. The centre tower has a large distance away from the other towers located right in the middle of the city. A large courtyard surrounded it. Since it was so dark I could not see much of it. But it looked barren with no plants or statues. I looked up and I cannot see anything as it was pitch black. Couldn't even see any clouds, dark as walking in a dark cave. The only light sources are the large flame pits that wrapped around the base of the tower.

The tower is massive and majestic. I looked like an ant to the tower and looking straight up can cause massive pains in the neck. I wish to see it in daylight, but since night has taken hold. Darkness has enveloped the city as I have never seen before.

"Come Beau…" Kaunis used his bonemark and two large iron doors opened. We both walked in inside. Nervous as I was, the lighting in the tower is so much better. The black draconium is embedded in the walls and they glowed as you walked past. It is so visible it's like a vine growing on and inside the walls. I followed Kaunis as he remains silent walking through the first floor of the tower. There was an over pungent smell of flowers and I notice little containers that are smoking. I looked around and see that floor is relatively empty, not like I imagined. The only thing that really got my interest is a large statue of a human in the most unique armour that I have seen. The helmet was large and wide that looked like horns. His eye slits make his eyes look so much larger and dragon-like. He is standing in a victory pose with four spider-like legs coming out of his back. I could not tell what he would even use those things for… Looking down however I see what the victory pose was for… Underneath him, I see a dead corpse of a man, a woman and a Gold dragon. Noticeable with a star mark on its head. And underneath it, there is writing. But I don't know how to read so I couldn't distinguish what it says.

Only a few humans standing around with a dragon walking around the room. It had the same kind of armour from somewhere, but couldn't remember where. We walked further inside the massive tower and the humans in grey hoods and masks were talking in whispers. They looked lethal they carried large spears on their backs. They gave us a short look and went back to their business.

Kaunis stopped and we both looked and see a massive stone staircase in the middle of the chamber. With five unique looking arch's surrounding the staircase.

"Welcome to Seers tower. This tower has two-hundred floors, you cannot wander into where ever you like. You must be near me at all times. Never wander because fools have done it in the past and they have died. For this is no ordinary building…"

"I don't have many experiences in buildings…" I replied. As Kaunis's bonemark glowed continuously. He couldn't help but chuckle.

"You are late brother…"

Kaunis and I looked to the left as one of the archways started glimmering. A wall of black draconium magic pulsed through the archway and a dragon walks out of it. She is small half the size of us. But she is unique as Kaunis is. An elongated slender body that shows her ribs, with a large square face. With two small protruding horns beside her short ears. Dark purple scales colour her body with light purple sharp scaled patterns. I will not lie that kaunis is the gorgeous one between the two…

"Hello, there sister… Wasn't expecting to see you around and about."

I looked at Kaunis there was a touch of nervousness in his breathing. He started to breathe faster.

"I wasn't expecting it either. But father says I should have a walk around. While he rests. Says it'll be good for me." There was a bout of annoyance in her voice. "The sooner I get back to father the better… He is the only company I prefer to keep." As she walks over to us.

"Of course dearest sister…" As Kaunis uses his sooth voice.

The female dragon looks at me in curiosity. Her eye bonemark now pulsing in power like Kaunis. "Who is this?" She sniffs and walks around me like a snake.

"This is Beau…" Kaunis softly roars to her.

"Beau? A handsome name… Very human-like… Did a human give you that name?"

"No!" I answered in complete offensiveness. A human to name me never! It is a dragons name… We are not even speaking the human tongue. I roar to her in annoyance. However, with a quick whip of his tail Kaunis strikes me. It wasn't an overly powerful hit but the sharpness from the small spines of his tail cuts my cheek. I quickly stop… Kaunis looks at me in the eyes as his bonemarks glows with ferocity. The power once again flowing into my body. I could not resist. But once he severed the connection. I felt so tired and felt nauseous…

The new dragon laughs as she looks at me. The human in the grey hoods looks at us as she laughed. But quickly went back to their business as she stopped. "Be very wise to never do that again… Many of those who try to hit me or yell at me. End up dead. But I can see Kaunis that you have your own business to attend to… I will not keep you. I have no message from father to give you, so you can relax. Good luck with your new protégé…" And like that she walks out of Seers tower into the darkness.

I looked perplexed as she didn't even introduce herself… Did she automatically assume that I know her? I glance over to Kaunis as he tries to hide a sigh of relief. With a quick demand I follow him through an arch portal he roared softly and his bonemark shined throughout the entrance hall. A warm sensation like walking under a waterfall swept over me. And then a second later we were somewhere else. So glad that we didn't have to take the stairs all the way up...

"We are on level fifty. My personal room is here…" I look and see this gigantic room. It is full of strange objects and oddities. A large ebony statue stood in the middle of his room. A proud dragon roaring as he raised his head.

"Paintings, tapestries, statues and artworks. I collect them. So don't touch anything!" Kaunis said proudly. "I have a majority of this level to myself. So you can have the spare bed in the room to the right. The rock doors will automatically open for you." In a way, it surprised me… A dragon who says he hates humans. Murdered one in cold blood… Yet he collects their creations. But it made me think… Did he collect them by getting them in a peaceful fashion? Or does he collect them as victory tokens? But as I started to doubt Kaunis my mind clouded again. And those thoughts quickly disappeared as they appeared.

I walked into the large arched hallway and looked around at each of the stone doors. I notice like in the entrance hall the black draconium veins crawl up to this level. And me standing in complete silence, I can hear subtle noises coming from it. But I could not properly describe the noises… Is it talking? Or is it just the power flowing through it. I had no idea… I walked into the room next Kaunis and it was nothing like the stables in the other tower. It looked similar to Kaunis room but it had no personal belongings with very little artwork. I looked at this wooden slab with something soft on top of it. I have never felt anything like it… It was so soft… I lied my body onto it and before I knew it I fell asleep.

Kaunis wakes me up next morning by singing a gentle song… You would think that the song will lull me to sleep. However, this one woke me up. Feeling like I'm being dragged by mag energy as I walked over him in the next room.

"Morning Beau." As he sits on his soft-coated wooden block. Looking prideful as ever.

"Morning Kaunis." I said cheerfully.

"I believe it is time to discuss how life works around here…"

"How life works?" I can imagine how different life is here. I have never lived in a city before. The smells, the environment, the dragons, living with humans… I have seen enough of them since yesterday to last my lifetime. I have spent most of my life making them afraid of my kind. I even killed humans when needed when we're searching for recruits for the separatists. Will I adjust to this? I will not know… To be honest I never wanted this… I want to be away from here. But as I was thinking about escape. My mind got clouded again. My emotions felt all cheery again. Forgetting what I was thinking about.

"That dragon you saw last night Beau, was Nagiara my sister. Closest associate to the Shadow Emperor my father. Be very aware of her… That is all I will say about her."

"You're father?" This makes no sense to me… I heard the Black Emperor is a human. How is a dragon a pup of a human? It's impossible. And by looking at them last night I notice they are not connected by blood.

Kaunis looks at me as he brushes off my question. "You cannot attack humans as you please here. I like to attack them as the next dragon. I am a general so I can keep it discreet. However many of the humans here know how to fight back and they are smart. If you make a wrong move they will have your head and they will do it publically."

"Alright then…" I detested.

"Next my father, the Emperor the word is the law. What he says goes… If he aspires me to kill you. I will do it no question. Our nation is powerful again because of him. He is our strength."

"Yes, Kaunis." I nodded. I have never been beneath a human before. This is so embarrassing…

"So Beau since we are together now that you have settled. I would like to ask you a few questions."

"A few questions?" I looked at him strangely. What questions would he ask me?

"Tell me about your family." His soothing voice went through me once more. I couldn't help but marvel him.

"My father is the leader of the dragon separatists and mother is well my mother… My brother is Ironclad and I have a sister Kaddana. There really isn't anything special around my family apart from that…"

Kaunis's bonemark gleamed once more as his power streamed into me again.

"Do you know about your family history?" As Kaunis looked at me in excitement.

"No…" I answered and his power ceased once more. Which is true I know nothing about my family history apart from my direct family. Kaunis looks at me in complete disappointment.

"What a terrible shame… Maybe it's time that I did tell you. Like your brother before you… To know the truth about everything. That your own flesh and blood tried to hide. But even more difficult to hide when your family tree still lurks around."

I looked at Kaunis in fascination. Will he be telling the truth I don't know? But there must be a reason as to why he is fascinated by me and my brother… Or yet be even more interested in my father.

"I can presume you don't know much about history?"

I only knew about the separatist history. We had no Empire allegiances that we knew of… Most of our followers are from different countries… But to us, there is no countries only unity. One of fathers' followers Varmek killed the human Gold Emperor and his oldest son in a planned explosion that killed himself in the process. And Marigold the Empress's personal dragon. Who was a secret follower of ours, to even our own surprise. We didn't know she was out allie until she poisoned her Empress. But was later executed by the new appointed Emperor. Father tells the tale with complete happiness as he says he is the one who planned it all. Yet in a way, I don't believe him… Father was never a planner… He always fought first and asked questions later. I recounted this to Kaunis and he laughs.

I did not expect this kind of reaction from him. I looked at him as he laughed. But as he finally stops he then looks at me again with his glowing bonemark.

"Yes, the dragon separatists did help out during that time. But they were not as large as what your father tells you. Their main crimes were rejecting their human owners and attacking them. Herds destroying villages and being an all-around nuisance. Some countries were hit harder than others. The Green Empire for example. But attacks that made a real difference was because of my father. Who actually has power and ambition that can't be matched to no one else. My father, his followers with my brothers and sisters have a grand plan. Your father never did… Hence why we are living luxury and your father and his remaining loyal friends are living the life of exile."

I sighed as my mind went into a spiral. Has father only been hyping us all up for a doomed cause?

"But going back to my question about history… Have you ever heard of Queen Estrela the star of the Eastern desert?"

"Who?" I have no idea… But him talking about this. Makes me quickly realise how little of the world I knew… But as to my fathers' wish, he wanted us to remain ignorant of it. I still wish I was ignorant of it…

"Well, that answers my question… How unfortunate but I should not be surprised… The victor of the war of the ten golden stars. A war that lasted for three years and the cause of endangerment of a breed. Estrela the cruel as humans nicknamed her… I say she was rather just. She tried to re-appoint the torture clause. I have a painting of her in this very room." Kaunis uses his long tail to point at a large painting of a four-legged black and gold dragon lying on a red and cold seat. I am surprised that he is allowed to keep such a painting here. After all, doesn't this place hate anything gold? I quickly notice that she was wearing a large necklace with rings on each claw. Bright yellow eyes with a long face elongated with a large chin. I see a five-pointed star bonemark on her which is clear as day to see… As I looked I see Kaunis looking at me and looking up to the picture. I cannot see as to where he is going on with this…

"But sadly her reign as Dragon Empress was a short one… The humans felt she had way too much power. So they murdered her. But to whom murdered her is a complete mystery… Some theories say it was the child princess, some others say it was the Mordeca hired by the senate of twelve. Maybe even some random human who just wanted to kill her. There was no doubt that it was a human because a gold draconium blade was found the next morning with her throat slit… A human killed her and no one claimed that they killed her… Her murderer is a mystery to this day."

The way he spoke about her he really did idolize her… There was a sadness to his voice when speaking of her. He then continued on with his history lesson.

"Estrela had surviving pups. And they fled Dragon-City shortly after her murder. But before the fleeing, they pledged that the humans will regret what they did… They will avenge their rightful queen and their mother. And guess where they fled?"

"To here I guess?"

"Indeed… They lived here in Inclementia where they wanted to undergo a draconium change. A feat that can only be done by golden dragons… However draconium in the bones and blood can never fully change… Mutations take hundreds to thousands of years to form in the family bloodline when they live in a different environment. Gold dragons can change the colours of their appearance. The humans experimented on us for this… And it worked… As for Estrelas' pups, this only happened four hundred years ago. It is not too long in the grand scheme of things…"

I looked at him feeling bored… No wonder why Father never wanted us to learn this stuff… But as I looked at the painting more. I notice some similarities between me and the painting. I have seen my reflection in still ponds and puddles. Yet seeing the form of this dragon is awfully familiar.

"Then one day they left here due to different circumstances... Presumed forgotten about Estrelas' royal bloodline. But after much research and many mistakes. I believe her descendants have been in this country the entire time… Even right under our noses."

He then looks at me with great earnest. I admit the way he looked it was intimidating even for such a beautiful creature.

"Then Ironclad came to me and we tested his blood. Your family are her descendants."

I looked at him in shock. I have royal blood? Not only that GOLD royal blood!? This revelation not only did it shock me. I also started to feel terrified. The Black Draconium Empire made sure that all gold dragons went extinct. It was a complete genocide. But my brother was here and lived? Why?

Kaunis bonemark glowed once again and I felt at peace. Even though I started to feel nauseous and tired again. Kaunis noticed this and stopped. His bonemark stopped glowing entirely the first time I've seen it not glow since yesterday. We sat staring the painting for long silence when I hear my belly rumble. I haven't much at all in the past few weeks. I have never realised how hungry I have felt. I weas supposed to eat last night but I fell asleep immediately once hitting the bed. Kaunis guided me to his trough where it was full of food. Even though I can't describe what it is… But it awfully similar to the slop I had on the train. But I was so hungry I ate it anyway.

When I finally had my fill I looked at Kaunis to know what is going to happen next. Kaunis roars and I see two hooded humans walking into his room. I stared them intently. One had a large bag full of items and others carried a small chest. Kaunis then reignited his bonemark and forcefully used his powers on me. I froze I couldn't move. A female human whose face is concealed with her hood grabbed my blistered paw. And stabbed a needle underneath it. Even though I wanted to struggle I couldn't do it… What is wrong with me what am I doing? I had an opportunity to snap out of this weird mind trick. But Kaunis is not letting me go so easy… Yesterday when we first met when we got off the train. It was so much weaker. But yesterday and today… I asked him if he was influencing me. He told me no… I am such a fool. He has been manipulating me the whole time. I completely underestimated him.

"What's the matter, Beau? They are only taking a little bit of your blood. Nothing more. I have told you before and I will tell you again you have nothing to fear." As his bonemark hums at me like a gentle song. I relaxed once more as the needle pierces into me and my blood leaks into it.

His bonemark singing its beautiful song… I almost fell asleep.

"Your brother Beau failed because he did not enough gold draconium in his blood and bones. He looks like your father but has inherited your mothers' pure black draconium blood. But I need your fathers' veins, I need his blood."

The other human brings out a small grey block and presses buttons on it. It started to glow and make a small noise. The two humans remained silent throughout the whole ordeal. But when the one who is taking my blood looked up into my eyes I noticed that she had a mouth brace on. No wonder why they couldn't speak… Even though I hated humans I could not avoid the pain in her eyes. They were such full of sorrow…

After the human takes my blood they placed the needle inside the block. And the little object made noises and clicks. I had no idea what is happening. But I struggled to stay awake due to Kaunis influence. We waited a few more minutes when a ping noise can be heard.

The human who held the machine placed it in front of Kaunis who is reading it. Then a large creepy smile can be seen on his face. But I struggled so hard to stay awake.

"Beau… Today is our lucky day!"

And like that, I blackout.