Awakenings (15 page)

Aurus desperately scanned the surroundings for some place they could take shelter. There were no caves or stone formations big enough. His gaze fell on a small crack in the ground, barely big enough for one of them to fit in.

He pulled Chrys to the crevice and gestured for the young mer to get inside. The atmosphere grew chillier with each breath they took. They were running out of time. "Go on," he told Chrys. "Hide there."

The saurion would probably be able to get Chrys out of there, but it was better than nothing. "But… what about you?"

"I'll distract it," Aurus replied simply.

Chrys shook his head, his voice trembling as he spoke. "No. No. I refuse. I can help. My magic works now."

Aurus met Chrys's azure gaze, his heart constricting at the disbelief and agony he read in those blue orbs. "Please, Chrys. You're not a soldier. There's no time. Please, do this. For me."

Chrys opened his mouth, obviously intending to protest, but Aurus silenced him with a kiss. "It will be all right," he whispered. He very much doubted that was the case. Not even an entire battalion of Atlanteans could defeat a saurion, let alone a single soldier. For Chrys's sake, Aurus would die trying.

Finally, Aurus could make out the form of the great serpent looming ahead. Its sinuous body slithered through the waters, heading straight toward them. Aurus swam away from Chrys's hiding spot and summoned his magic. His element answered his call and Aurus manifested a spear of gold. He prepared himself to throw it at the beast when he saw Chrys emerge from the crevice.

The saurion's gaze fixed upon the younger mer. Aurus let out a gasp of terror. "No, Chrys! Run."

But Chrys didn't listen. He waited there, frozen, watching the serpent approach. Aurus swam toward his lover, but he'd never manage to save Chrys. "Chrys!"

* * * *

Chrys winced but ignored Aurus's shout. He hated doing this to his lover, but he had no choice. He couldn't wait around and watch Aurus die. Their only chance was Chrys and Jaden's ability to sway aquatic creatures. Chrys didn't know if it would work on the serpent, but he needed to try.

T
he saurion continued
its
approach
and Chrys shivered
.
H
e held his ground and sent his message out.
"
Please, stop! We don
'
t mean any harm. We just want passage through your lands. My brother is in trouble and we wanted to help.
"

The serpent didn't seem to hear. Chrys took a deep breath, pushing away the terror he felt at his imminent death. His connection with his twin pulsed, and Jaden's power swept over and mingled with his, giving Chrys the strength he needed.

Chrys focused on that bond and tried again.
"
Please. Don
'
t hurt us.
"

The saurion didn't slow down, but Chrys felt the change all the same. It still approached, but the chill dwindled and the numbness started to leave Chrys's body.

When the great snake reached him, terror nearly made him keel. With the saurion right there in front of him, this didn't seem like such a good idea after all. The creature swiped his long forked tongue toward Chrys, and only fright prevented him from recoiling.

"You reek of dragon," the saurion said, its speech a strange mix of hissing and grumbling.

Chrys swallowed around the knot in his throat. Saurions were notoriously violent, particularly against their natural enemies, dragons. Chrys processed the information and realized something else. "I-I can understand you," he said with a gasp.

The snake's unblinking eyes analyzed Chrys with frightening intensity. "So it would seem," the saurion hissed.

Aurus reached them and took position in front of Chrys, shielding him from the saurion's gaze. Chrys felt the great snake's amusement. "What do you possibly believe you can achieve, puny worm?"

"I'll die before I let you get Chrys," Aurus replied. Apparently, he understood the saurion, as well.

The great snake chuckled. "No need. You are in luck. You two bear the mark of a black dragon."

Chrys had no idea what that meant, or why it was relevant. He remembered the wave of power he'd experienced in Atlantis, and how they got away unscathed when the bandits had all lost consciousness. He recalled the feel of the second man emptying his seed, and wondered how it could be possible for them to have such a bond with the dragon.

It didn't matter. The saurion almost seemed friendly and he gestured for the two of them to get on his back. "You are going west, yes?" When Chrys nodded, the creature continued, "I can take you to the edges of my land. From there, you're on your own."

"Th-Thank you," Chrys stammered. He gave Aurus a shocked look, not sure what to believe of this sudden development.

Aurus seemed just as surprised, but nevertheless climbed on top of the saurion. Chrys followed his lover's example and almost gasped when his tail came into contact with the snake's skin. He hadn't expected the saurion's scales to be so soft. Unfortunately, he couldn't shift, since, unlike Aurus, he didn't own any clothing.

If the saurion noticed Chrys's predicament, he didn't comment. "Hold on," the great snake hissed. "Use the fins."

It was surprisingly easy to follow the saurion's instructions. Even with the smoothness of the great snake's scales, Chrys could cling onto the saurion's side fins and lean on Aurus. The creature's motions didn't even seem abrupt. It deliberately swam slowly for their comfort.

"Why are you helping us?" Aurus asked.

"Foolish little mer," the snake hissed, still sounding amused. "You don't know when to listen and be silent."

"Because of what you said about the black dragon," Chrys said. "But I don't understand. I thought saurions were the natural enemies of dragons."

"Of most dragons, yes," the great snake replied. "Not so with the black ones."

"But why?"

This time, the snake didn't reply. Obviously, he had exhausted his supply of conversation for the day—or perhaps the decade. Chrys didn't push it. He knew they traveled through dangerous waters and making the saurion angry would very likely lead to them being eaten.

His curiosity dissipated when he felt a bright, shining power not far in front of him. It approached, getting closer and closer, until Chrys finally realized what it was. Jaden.

"Wait!" he told the saurion. "Wait!"

"Don't presume to order me around, little mer. I—" The saurion stopped his speech and his muscles tensed as he felt the presence as well.

A shadow loomed over them, great and threatening. A powerful splash reverberated all around them, sending dark power through the ocean. The sea serpent managed to withstand the assault and Chrys clung to it with all his might. He buried his face in Aurus's shoulder, his magic instinctively emerging, creating a protective shield of gems around them. It met Aurus's gold, but instead of clashing, the two elements bonded, protecting them from the shockwave and debris.

In spite of his lack of magical experience, he knew when the danger passed. He lowered his shield and Aurus did the same with his. He could hardly see a thing in the sudden darkness, but in his heart, he knew what to do. He focused on the connection he sensed inside, and the gloom began to dissipate. Chrys gaped as he watched the black dragon appear once more in the depths of the sea.

* * * *

Out of all the possible things that could have happened, Vaar had never expected something like this. The two mer he'd come in search of climbed off the saurion, giving Vaar a wary look.

Chrys's eyes widened and Vaar realized the young mer must have spotted Jaden.

"Jaden!" Chrys cried out. He looked like he wanted to swim toward them, but Aurus held him back. Vaar was thankful for the prince's intervention. The situation was quite volatile, and Vaar needed to make sure they were all safe before proceeding to figure out their complicated emotional dilemma.

Jaden protested, hitting at his chest with tight fists. "Let me go. Chrys is down there."

"Give me a minute, treasure," Vaar replied.

Jaden had briefly blacked out during their journey and Vaar figured it happened due to Chrys's meeting with the saurion. He didn't want to take a chance with his treasure's life.

"Greetings, friend," he rumbled to the sea snake.

"Greetings," the saurion hissed back. "I found two things that belong to you."

"I see that," Vaar replied. "You have my thanks."

The voice sounded familiar to Vaar's ears and he knew he'd heard it before. Truth be told, it was very likely that Vaar had once known this sea snake. Saurions used to belong to dragon kind but, due to their peculiar form, they had been shunned by their people. Of course, the real reason lay deeper, in the same court intrigues that led to Vaar's own exile. This was the main reason behind the enmity between the now distinct races.

Black dragons were the only ones excluded from this vendetta, as they suffered from the same treatment. Upon their exile, they had formed a pact with the saurions, to aid each other in any way they could. Vaar had never thought it would one day help him so much.

Vaar remembered a time when things had been different. Perhaps, once, he'd even seen this particular saurion on a daily basis. He couldn't exactly ask, as many dragons had abandoned their identities after leaving their former homes. Vaar had been one of them, and he wouldn't have come out of his slumber if not for the appearance of the two young mer in his life.

"It is as we once promised," the saurion answered.

Reassured the sea snake remembered as well, Vaar released Jaden from his grip. Jaden immediately shot toward his twin. Vaar watched the reunion between the two brothers and felt a pang of distress. He could never have Jaden all to himself. How would the two other mer react to his new relationship with Jaden?

Mentally shaking himself, Vaar directed his attention toward the saurion. "I trust you are well," he said.

"As well as can be expected," the snake responded. "I just came out of hibernation, so I'm quite hungry. I have to say, your friends are quite interesting."

Vaar understood what went unsaid. The saurion had almost eaten Chrys and Aurus. Chrys and Jaden's ability to understand Vaar seemed to extend to all dragons, saurions included, and it had saved them from certain death. "If you like, you can come with us to my island," he offered. "There is plenty of food."

"Thank you, but no. You know my kind are not comfortable on land. I will find my own prey."

Vaar took that as the opportunity to say his goodbyes. As much as he'd have liked to find out more about the saurion, his priority was the three mer. "You are always welcome with us."

"Thank you. Perhaps we will meet again soon."

With that simple farewell, the saurion departed, leaving Vaar with more questions than answers. Meeting the sea snake brought back many memories he'd have preferred to forget.

"Come," he told Jaden and the others. "We should return home."

"Home?" Chrys repeated. "Where is home?" Chrys looked doubtful, but Vaar wasn't insulted. After all, Chrys didn't know him.

"My island," he replied.

"It's okay, Chrys," Jaden coaxed. "It's perfectly safe."

Aurus looked like he wanted to protest, but this time, he didn't get the chance. Jaden pulled Chrys toward Vaar, the smile on his face so wide it made Vaar's heart hurt. "Chrys, this is Vaar. Vaar, my twin, Chrys."

"We've met before," Vaar replied. "But it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance officially."

He grabbed the two mermen in one paw, mentally chuckling when Chrys yelped. On the ground, Aurus summoned his magic. "Do stop fretting, Prince," he told the older mer. He took Aurus in his other paw and held the three mer against his chest. "Now close your eyes and hold on tight."

The mer silently obeyed and Vaar propelled himself toward the surface. The ground shook and the water rippled with the whirlpool of power. This time, though, Vaar swam more slowly, no longer in a rush. He had three mer to protect and didn't want any harm to come to them.

He burst to the surface and launched himself into the air, his wings quickly taking him up into the clouds. Chrys let out a shocked sound, much like Jaden had when Vaar first stole him from the sea. This time, Aurus spoke, "Don't look at the sun, love. You'll get used to it in time."

Vaar felt a bit amused that Aurus said exactly the same thing Vaar had a few days back. Jaden must have realized it as well and let out a soft laugh.

"What's so funny?" Chrys asked, outraged.

"Nothing," Jaden replied, still chuckling. "Nothing at all."

As he reached the island, Vaar took notice of the fact that the vegetation showed no signs of withering. In the Forbidden Zone, Vaar's powers had killed off every living thing. Even here on the island, it had always happened. But not anymore.

He'd noticed this phenomenon just that morning, when he'd been out to hunt. The darkness inside him no longer seeped out. It had been tamed by Jaden's love. He only hoped that now, with Aurus and Chrys here, he'd be able to keep hold of this love.

Chapter Eight

They reached the dragon's cave in record time. The two other times Jaden had flown with Vaar, he'd blacked out. Now, he admired the beauty of the Windswept Sea and Vaar's island from up above. His twin's warmth by his side made it all better, both of them now in Vaar's strong hold.

Once they landed reality began to settle in. Vaar released them and shifted. Aurus followed the dragon's example, exchanging his tail for the golden-clad legs. The shock hit Jaden when he started to turn into his legged form and felt his twin do the same. He understood they'd both learned how to shift, which meant, like Jaden, Chrys had bonded with someone. Of course, a part of Jaden had known already, since the moment he'd first consummated his union with Vaar. He'd felt Chrys's pleasure as well as his own, and accepted it. Seeing it, right in front of him was, however, very different.