Hannah came to just as they burst into the alleyway. The dragon jostled her as he sped down the path. Groggily, she tested the dragon's hold over her; pain shot through her body as she fought against the last remains of the dragon's magic. Once she'd regained her bearings, she tried to focus on what was happening, and wished she hadn't.
Dashear mindlessly ran through the labyrinth of corridors. Frustrated, he searched for a way out of the maze, pausing when he heard a sound coming from his burden. Placing Hannah on the ground, he watched as she scuttled away from him, backing herself against the other wall.
He wore a bleak expression as he examined her. Her eyes darted this way and that, searching for a way to escape. This made him smirk, and he said casually, "don't even think about it. You won't get far anyway."
"What're you going to do with me?" she said. She was proud that her voice remained steady, even though she was terrified out of her wits. She even raised her chin in defiance. However, this only seemed to amuse the dragon further.
"Oh, that depends on how well you cooperate. I could make sure you have a quick and painless death."
"Why should I cooperate if you're just going to kill me anyway?" She stared at him with as much indifference as she could muster, a little surprised at her own boldness.
The dragon didn't very much like her defiance. In a blink of an eye, he shoved her hard against the wall, just enough to jar her senses. Bending in close to her, he snarled, "Because, you stupid mage, there are many worse things I could do to you, and each of them will have you screaming on the ground well before I'm done. Now answer me this, are there any others?"
She kept her mouth shut, but her mind was raging, 'what others? What is he talking about? What did he call me? What's a mage?'
"Answer me, vermin, or I will have to use great force."
A mage? I'm not a mage. Others? Could he be talking about that man, the one with the green eyes? Is he a mage? She was so confused, but whatever the strange man was, she knew that she would never tell the dragon about him.
Dashear snarled in anger, "So be it. You mages were always so impertinent, the whole lot of you. I'll enjoy the sounds of your screams." However, all he did was stare at her. Somehow this pause frightened Hannah more. He caressed her cheek as he bent lower until their breath mingled together. "Then again, you are quite attractive, for a vermin; maybe I'll keep you for myself, my own personal slave. It's been so long since I've had the pleasure of a woman." He moved to kiss her, but she jerked her head out of the way, and he proceeded to lick the side of her face.
Hannah's mind was on high alert as she took in her predicament. Oh God, Oh God, Oh God! It screamed. Filled with a sudden surge of panic, she twisted and struggled against him. Her cries for help went unanswered. Then, that panic turned to rage, No! I will not be a victim again! Not again! Not again!'
Dashear had already ripped her shirt, and it hung in rags. He didn't mind if his claws happened to cut her as well. He ran his finger along one of her cuts until it was covered with her blood. She watched in disgust as he sucked all the blood off his finger. A calm and euphoria came over him. "Sweet blood, full of mage power. Has quite a kick. I can see, my dear, that you're going to be very addicting." Then he slapped her, and her body was stunned.
The blow dazed Hannah. Her mind whimpered in desperation, no, I won't let you! Not me! Goddess help me!
The air thickened and crackled around them. Above the sky darkened, and rolling black clouds blocked out the sunlight. Lightning flashed and thunder roared.
Gazing at the ominous sky, Hannah felt as if she was on fire. The power within her coiled and twisted, trying to find an outlet. Her breath came in short gasps as she drowned in the surge of magic. Then with a scream, she felt it released.
Dashear barely noticed the shift in the air as he was too focused in getting her jeans off. He didn't see the blast coming. The burst of wind hit him like a speeding train, throwing him into the concrete wall behind him. Blocks of concrete fell to the ground at his impact, and he too fell to the ground. His body stayed there, limp like a rag doll's.
Nivar felt the workings of magic and increased his speed, anxiety and worry pulsing through him. Suddenly, he heard her scream, and whisking passed around the corner, witnessed the release of uncontrolled power. It collided with the dragon, bashing him against the wall. The wall cracked from the impact, and the dragon made no move as his body laid on the ground. Then Nivar saw Hannah's unconscious form. Terror gripped his heart, and he ran to her. Worry plagued him as he gently took her body into his arms, trying to cover her as much as he could. She gasped at the pain, and he felt a sigh of relief. 'Thank Goddess she's alive.' Carefully cradling her in his arms, Nivar quickly left the pathway, knowing that the dragon would be out for only a little while longer. Staring at Hannah's face, he whispered, "Your safe now, Hanae, everything will be all right."
xxxxxxxxx
Thierry stared blankly at the pile of rubble at his feet, and then at the damaged wall. Small puddles of blood painted the ground. He knew that some of it was Hannah's, and some of it belonged to the bastard who took her. He'd gotten there too late, too late to save her. He'd failed her, again. His insides were churning with the thought that he might lose her yet again. It was like someone had taken the light out of his world, and left him in shadow.
"Thierry, she may still be alive. There was some struggle here. The dragon lost a lot of blood, so someone must have come along. Rashel did mention that some strange man went after them, so maybe he and Hannah were able to get away." Quinn said calmly, although in his heart he doubted his own words, but they needed optimism here.
"Maybe, but then if so, where is she?" Thierry said to no one in particular. Staring down the dark alleyway, He vowed to find her, and hoped to Goddess that she was safe, and that Quinn was right.
xxxxxxxxx
Rashel sat against the side of the bed holding Lupe's hand. The healers said that it would take a while, but Lupe would get better. Already, she looked tons better than she did before.
"I swear, Lupe, that dragon will pay. He'll wish he'd never messed us. Please get better soon." A knock on the door alerted her to Sarah's presence. Rashel tried to smile at her, but could only manage a slight twitch of her lips. "How's Poppy?"
"She's doing well. She'll be her normal bouncy, ultra-energetic self soon."
Rashel laughed, "That's good, I'm so happy that she's alright. James was frantic."
"I know, but so were Blade and Quinn." She took a seat by Rashel, and added, "I've brought you some coffee. Quinn said you'd need it." She passed a steaming hot mug into Rashel's eager hands.
"Ahh, thank you! You're a life savior! By the way, where is that soulmate of mine?"
Sarah chuckled. When she sobered up a bit, she replied, "He went back to help the searchers. They're still scouring the dark passageways, looking for any clues."
Rashel glanced up from her precious coffee with a renewed vigor. "Did they find anything? Do they know where either Hannah or the dragon went? What about that strange man?"
"We at least know that your mysterious man did rescue Hannah, or at least he has her now, but we don't if he's on our side or not. Anyway, their trail had disappeared, so they took off somewhere. The dragon has totally disappeared as well."
"Well, I think it's pretty obvious that the guy's on our side, or, well he's not on the dragon's side, that's for sure." Then she became downcast again, "We got there too late. Hannah could be anywhere, and so could the dragon. Plus all those innocent people. So much life lost."
"I know," Sarah mumbled glumly, "I just don't understand what a dragon could want with Lady Hannah."
"I have no idea, I feel so sorry for Thierry though. That was the second time she'd been taken. I can't even begin to imagine what he's going through."
After a moment of utter silence, Sarah said softly, "I can. It's torture." Then she got up and left. Rashel watched her leave; sadness marked her features.
xxxxxxxxx
Thierry sat at his desk, his head in his hands. They'd searched those alleyways for hours, and there was still no sign of her, or the dragon. Another freaking dragon! Oh the Alliance will just going to love this. The other leaders of the shaky Alliance were already bickering amongst themselves. It's a clever Night World conspiracy. A dragon, the perfect tool to use to break the fragile Alliance. But Thierry pushed away those thoughts. He'd played mediator for the past six months, trying to prevent the witches and shapeshifters and his Daybreakers from tearing each other apart. And he was tired. Tired of it all.
Reaching inside his desk drawer, he pulled out a small velvet box. Once it was tenderly nestled in his palm, he opened it. The ring gleamed with the firelight. The gem itself almost glowed with an inner light. All colors seemed the swirl in its crystal depths. Vines encircled it, and symbols ran along its band. It was beautiful, and Thierry had been saving it all these years. Caressing the ring brought ancient memories to mind, and the laughing voice of Anora filled him.
xflashbackx
"Come, Thierry, the night grows cold, let us go back to the castle where it is warm," Anora smiled up at him, her wheat-blond hair blowing in the wind.
"Here, take my cloak, it would keep you warm," he said, and proceeded to wrap his cape around her.
"But what about you, won't you be cold as well," she said, worry filling her eyes.
"Don't worry, love, my kind can stand the cold." She leaned against him, snuggled in the warmth of his mantle. All the while, her fingers played with the pendent at her neck. Its crystal-like gem seemed to sparkle with her touch. It had always intrigued Thierry, because he had no idea what kind of gem it was, but precious he knew it was.
"You always fiddle with your necklace."
She smiled, and said, "It comforts me, that's why."
"It's very important to you isn't it?"
"Yes, it is, which is why I want you to have it when I'm gone, so that you'll always have something to remember me by."
"I don't need a necklace to remember you; you'll never part from my mind. To me, you'll always be immortal, here," and he placed his hand over his heart.
"Always a flatterer, but I still want you to have it."
"All right, I'll keep it with me forever. I'll keep it safe until you are returned to me." Then he wrapped his arms around her, hoping that the day which she would leave him was still very far off.
xEnd Flashbackx
However, that lifetime, like all the others, ended in tragedy. He kept the necklace, but it too was later damaged in one particularly violent fight with Maya, who became so incensed by the sight of it. The pendent had been broken, and the jewel shattered. At least, he'd been able to salvage a piece of the gem. Now it lay in protective silver, along with the unique symbols, which Thierry was able to remember, that gave the old necklace much of its charm.
The ring in his hand looked just like any other now. Its glow had dimmed, but was still it was warm to touch. Encasing the ring in his fist, he brought his hand to his lips. 'Wherever you are, Love, come back to me. For I don't know what I'd do without you.'
The sound of knocking broke his reverie.
After gingerly placing the ring back in its box, he stowed it away. Rubbing his face with his hands, he called out, "Yes, come in." A girl with long mahogany locks stepped timidly into the room. "Yes, Marie, what is it?" Thierry said; his expression indifferent. No hint of his distress showed through this façade. Many centuries of living amongst the sharks of the Night World had helped him perfect this trick. He wouldn't have been able to survive without it.
"Milord, the Alliance's leaders are starting to arrive," Marie said softly, her discomfort apparent.
Thierry gave her a gentle smile. "Are they now? Well just escort them to the eastern parlor. I'll be there in a second." I can barely wait.
"Yes, milord." Then she started to the door.
"Oh, Marie, who has arrived so far?"
"Uh, their majesties, the Drache's, have sir. The witch council will arrive soon, though, I believe. Oh, and King Drache seemed a little riled up, just to warn you, sir."
"Thank you, Marie." Seeing that she still stood there, he added, "You may go now." After she'd gone, Thierry released a heavy sigh, and steeled himself for the battle ahead. I can tell that this is just going to be a wonderful meeting.
xxxxxxxxx
Nivar glanced at the sleeping figure on his right. Her bandages were hidden underneath the coat. He'd done all he could, but he'll have Selise look at them. He returned his attention to the road ahead, glancing at the sign that said, Welcome to Oregon. Hannah moaned and began to toss and turn. Nivar tried to soothe her, but failed. Feeling her forehead, he cursed. "Damn, a fever." After a few moments Hannah had fallen back into a restless sleep. Nivar glanced at her with worry. 'Hold on, Hanae, we'll be there soon. Everything will be all right. Just hold on."
AN-Well the story is finally getting underway. Wondering about what happens next? Send a review! Comments are always a good incentive for the author to write faster (hint, hint, wink, wink).