Spoilers Ahead! This story follows the Luca Plotline, LOOSELY, and will contain spoilers.

Dragon's Touch Series Book 1

The Tower of Sorrow

Chapter 6.

Katarina woke to the sound of singing. It was far away, and she could tell it wasn't from humans. It seemed to be animals, no that wasn't right, magical creatures. Katarina's head was going to explode, "Be quiet..." she moaned.

"Ah, you're awake," a familiar voice said from somewhere above her.

Katarina opened blurry eyes then blinked rapidly to clear them. Merkulova was crouched on the ground in front her, looking at her with disdain. Trying to sit up, Katarina discovered that her hands were bound behind her back. "W-what…? Where's Raine?"

"Hey, what the hell did you want, Merkulova?" Luca approached from their left, but stopped when he saw Katarina on the ground. "What's going on here?"

"Ah, Luca. Now we are all here," Merkulova pointed his wand at Katarina. "Let's see you refuse me now."

Luca put his hands in his pockets and yawned, "Is this supposed to change my mind? I don't care what you do to her. She's just an annoying classmate."

Katarina had no idea what was going on but those words seriously stung her. "Where's Raine?" she asked again.

Merkulova ignored her and glared at Luca, "Oh, Mr. Orlem, you must be aware that I know full well what she means to you. You even went through all that trouble of getting beat up and avoiding her in the halls. They say you're a genius, but you never noticed my little spies, did you?" At his words something flew out of Luca's cloak pocket. It was no bigger than a horsefly and blinked with white light as it landed in Merkulova's free hand. "You spent so much time checking your room and the archives for bugs, but you never once looked at yourself." Merkulova closed his hand over the tiny Magic Spy and crushed it. Light particles spilled from his hand as he wiped it off.

Luca's eyes went wide for a moment before he glared at the professor, "What do you want me to do?"

"I want the Dragon's Eye. And you two will help me get it. We're going to the Tower of Sorrow."

Katarina's eyes went wide as Luca laughed out loud, "Are you stupid? Only one of the Three Mages could navigate the forest. There are tons of spells to misdirect any intruders and I don't believe you have the power to disarm them."

Merkulova smiled evilly, "Oh but there is one other way, and I think you know what it is. At the tower there are carbuncles that sing every night. Of course, only one with the ability to hear animals speak could follow their song and make it safely to the tower."

Luca and Katarina looked at each other before Luca said, "That's why you were so curious about people's familiars."

"Indeed," Merkulova flicked his wand and Katarina was dragged up on her feet by the magic. Turning to her, Merkulova said, "I've taken your familiar. She's locked away somewhere safe. I will return her to you if you lead me to the tower."

"I don't really understand what is happening, but I'm not helping you!" Katarina said.

Merkulova laughed, "Then your precious Raine suffers." Merkulova flicked his wand and through her connection with the owl, Katarina felt Raine's intense pain.

"Stop!" she cried. "Please, stop!" Tears came spilling from her eyes unwillingly and Raine's pain ended. "I'll…I'll do it… Just don't hurt her..."

"Katarina..." Luca ground his teeth together and pulled out his wand, pointing it at the professor.

Merkulova tsked him and shoved his own wand into Katarina's neck, "I wouldn't, if I were you. Hand over the wand, Luca."

Luca stopped before he cast the spell he had planned and glared at Merkulova, "You son of a bitch." He shoved his wand into Merkulova's hand.

"Very good. Now, shall we?" Merkulova turned Katarina around and kept one hand on her shoulder. He made Luca walk next to her so he could watch them both as he jabbed his wand into Katarina's back. "Now, do you hear the singing?"

Half sobbing, Katarina nodded. The song became several times more clear as soon as they stepped into the forest. Katarina felt like a prisoner with her hands bound as she led them closer to the tower.

Luca looked at her sadly, "I'm sorry, Katarina. If I wasn't..."

"Shut up," Merkulova said. "No talking. Move faster," Merkulova shoved Katarina and she stumbled before falling. "Stand up!"

Luca dropped to her side and yelled back, "She can't balance right with her hands bound. Untie her!"

Merkulova clicked his tongue at them and dragged Katarina up by her arm. She cried out in pain at his tight grip before she felt the pressure on her wrists release. "If you try to run or fight back in any way, I'll kill you're familiar slowly and painfully." Merkulova's voice was low and dark. She'd never expected a tone like that from the kindly man she thought he was. His eyes were different, too, practically soulless, and sadly, she believed he would carry out his threats without blinking. "Now follow the song!" Merkulova pushed her again, but Luca grabbed her to steady her. He put his arm around her as they continued to walk. She couldn't stop herself from crying.

"Finally!" Merkulova exclaimed as the tower came into sight more than an hour later. He shoved Katarina forcibly towards it, only to frown in frustration, "Where is the door?!"

Katarina looked at the enormous tower and wondered how they never saw it from the school grounds. As she looked around, she realized that as tall as the tower was, the trees around it were much taller. She stared up as she realized it was suddenly quiet. The carbuncles had stopped singing and she heard one word.

"Kill..."

Luca saw Katarina's face pale and he grabbed her hand, "What's wrong?"

She looked at him with wide eyes, "There's something here." No sooner had the words escaped her mouth, a low growl emerged from the forest. All three of them turned to the sound and waited as twigs snapped and shrubs shook. Whatever was coming towards them was big and it repeated the same word over and over, Kill. Katarina was shaking, she'd never heard such a malicious voice from any creature before.

"Can you tell what it is?" Luca whispered in her ear, drawing her close.

Shaking her head, Katarina said, "I-I don't know."

At her words everything became quiet. The creature had stopped, but Katarina knew it was still there, watching them.

"Find the door," Merkulova growled. He turned away from the forest and moved up to the tower. The creature roared loudly.

While still watching the forest, Luca bent close to Katarina and whispered, "The door is to our right. I see it."

Katarina glanced over and saw nothing, "I don't see it."

"We're going to make a run for it," Luca continued while Merkulova searched to their left. "Don't let me go."

"But… the professor..." Katarina said returning her gaze to the forest.

"He's not a real professor. He can stay here and die for all I care." Katarina wanted to argue. It wouldn't be right for them to leave him. As soon as she opened her mouth, the creature roared again and something big, no, huge, jumped from the tree line.

"A chimera!" Katarina barely managed a whisper as the beast landed and crouched low. It was bigger than she'd read in books, and ten times more frightening. It's head was that of a lion's, with fangs like daggers and a grayish-brown mane. Its eyes were different colors, one gold, one gray. The body was supposed to be a sheep, but it rippled with strong muscle and black markings on its white fur. The tail was pure white scale with a cobra head. Red eyes blinked eerily as its tongue darted out at them.

"Now, Katarina!" Luca pulled on her hand and ran towards the door only he could see. Pulled along, Katarina stumbled after him.

The chimera roared and lunged for them. Luca stopped short as the beast collided with the tower. Katarina had a realization as it blinked rapidly and shook its head. "It's blind in the right eye!"

Luca looked and saw the discolored eye, "Keep to it's right! It also has a limp on that side!" He had to yell over the roaring of the beast but Katarina had already seen the limp. It must have been injured and never healed right long ago.

Magic shot from behind them as Merkulova cast spell after spell at the chimera, "Where is the door?!" The chimera roared in pain as a fire spell made contact with its face.

"It hurts!"

Katarina felt sorrow for the creature. It was so mad and scared, she could only understand half of what it was saying. "Please, don't hurt it!"

"Katarina!" Luca yelled as she yanked her hand from his and stepped between the chimera and Merkulova.

Merkulova smiled evilly and cast his next spell. Water came hurtling toward her in a violent stream, but before it hit her, she heard the chimera speak, "Down!" as it jumped in front of her. Its tail lashed out and shoved her down on the ground just before the water pushed it into the air and swallowed it up.

Katarina stared in horror as the chimera fought desperately to get air, "Please, stop!" She pulled herself off the ground and ran to Merkulova. He pushed her down before she could grab his wand. "I beg you! Don't kill him!"

"Shut up!" Merkulova moved to kick her but Luca interrupted.

"I'll show you the door!" Luca yelled. "Dammit… Just, don't make Katarina cry anymore..."

"L-luca..." Katarina looked up at him.

"You know where it is?" Merkulova asked.

Luca nodded, "I'll show you, but you have to release the chimera."

Merkulova frowned, "Fine. All this for a dumb beast."

Katarina looked back at the twisting orb of water. The chimera was barely moving as the water popped and dropped it to the ground. It landed with a thud on its side and Katarina ran to it. Throwing herself, she pressed her ear to its chest, "Please be alright..." The chimera's heartbeat was faint but it was breathing. "Thank goodness," she had no doubt in her mind that the chimera had purposely jumped in front of her. It had saved her.

Suddenly she was being yanked back by her uniform. Merkulova had grabbed her and pulled her off the ground, "Let's go!"

The chimera growled and opened its eyes to glare at Merkulova, but when it tried to stand it was too weak and fell back over.

"Hurry and open the door!" Merkulova yelled at Luca as he dragged Katarina to him by the tower.

The chimera was slowly dragging itself to them. Katarina could hear it clearly now. It wanted to save her and it was in bad pain. "Just stay!" she yelled at it. "You're only hurting yourself more!" It whimpered at her. "No," she shook her head. "I'll be okay. You need to rest."

"Stop talking to it," Merkulova growled at her. "Move it, Orlem!" Merkulova jabbed Katarina in the neck with his wand and she held back her sob.

They watched as Luca reached out at nothing. As soon as his hand closed around something, the entrance became clear to them. The door was beautiful, intricately carved wood with a gold handle and knocker. Luca pulled on the handle and the door opened for them.

"Inside!" Merkulova shoved Luca and he stumbled in, before pulling Katarina in with him.