Dragon Blood 1: Pliethin (5 page)

She took the stairs two at a time, closing and locking her bedroom door the moment Maira stepped inside. “Thanks.”

“I’m not sure how I helped, or if I helped at all.”

Amber grinned. “If I act too eager to go anywhere, she always thinks something is planned. So when I don’t want to go, I act like I can’t survive if I don’t get to go and then sulk for a couple of days when she doesn’t let me. My brother figured it out and told me in exchange for not dobbing on him when I caught him sneaking back in one morning.”

“How odd. You humans are such strange creatures.”

“Are you telling me dragons always say exactly what they mean?”

Maira grinned. “No, not at all. We have our politics, but our parents can’t be so easily fooled.”

“Can they read your mind or only talk in your mind?”

Maira laughed. “By the time we’re teens they can’t enter without permission. But then that’s a dead give away at times. They also give us more freedom. They believe in survival of the fittest. I don’t suppose it’s easy for them, but if you want to make a place for yourself in our society, then you have certain… I guess you could call them rites of passage to pass. Otherwise you could end up being ostracised and that’s as good as a death sentence.”

Amber stared at Maira, her words making her glad to be human. A death sentence for not fitting into society? “What do you get for murder?”

“Huh?”

“If one dragon kills another. What then?”

“It depends. If it’s a renegade who has attacked you, then nothing. Okay, maybe congratulations. If you’ve attacked a dragon weaker than you, probably death if the family finds out. Our laws are different to yours. Survival of the fittest. Clans. Warrior ties. It’s complicated.”

“You… you get away with… murder?”

Maira shrugged. “Not exactly. And it isn’t always murder. We still have battles to the death. If you invoke that right it’s usually over something serious.”

She had enough problems in her own life. She couldn’t start taking on the problems of an entire society. She pushed the disquieting thoughts from her mind and strode over to her open wardrobe. “What sort of clothes will everyone be wearing?” When Maira didn’t answer, Amber turned to face her.

Maira looked puzzled. “Clothes?”

“Yeah, what are you wearing to the party?”

Maira shook her head as she slowly walked over to the wardrobe. “Clothes. Your mind jumps around like a cricket.”

Amber frowned, tempted to argue that comment. It had been a perfectly logical question.

Amber sipped the drink in her hand as her eyes scanned the noisy, dimly lit room. It was crowded with people from school as well as others she didn’t recognise. That didn’t mean they weren’t from her school, just that if they did, she hadn’t noticed them or they didn’t warrant her attention.

She sighed heavily and watched as Kade glanced her way before he turned back to talk to Maira and Brann. They were several metres from her and she wondered if he’d actually heard her sigh over the sound of talking and music or if it was a coincidence he’d turned towards her at that moment.

Her attention was caught by a boy walking towards her. He smiled when she looked at him. The last thing she wanted was to put up with someone trying to hook up with her. She looked him up and down and gave him her most disdainful expression before she turned slightly, her shoulder in his direction. She watched as Kade continued to talk to his companions. Or would ‘warriors’ be the correct term? Amber’s lips smiled slightly. Maira and Brann looked as far from warriors as it was possible to be.

Brann had draped his arm around Maira’s shoulders and his fingers lightly brushed back and forth. They wore black clothes and Maira had her usual jewellery, glinting and gleaming as her bare arms moved when she spoke. Her dress was long, the only concession she’d made to the cooler night and Amber believed it was made of the same leather as Brann and Kade’s pants. The dress was probably warmer than needed with the press of bodies that kept the chill at bay.

“Hey.”

Amber glanced at the boy who stood beside her. He was tall, blond and athletic looking. She made sure her expression showed how uninterested she was, mentally cursing Kade for deserting her within minutes of arriving. What was so important he’d had to take Maira and Brann aside? “Not interested.”

“You don’t know what I’m offering.”

“Still not interested.”

“I noticed you came with Kade. You’re wasting your time there.”

“My time to waste.”

“And making friends with Maira won’t help. Enough have tried that trick.”

“Mind your own business.”

He held out his hand. “Justin Chambers.”

Amber ignored his hand. “You’re related to Jessica?”

“Our parents tell me we’re siblings, but I swear one of us was adopted.” He grinned and lowered his hand.

“Why are you hassling me?”

“Because I’m not blind.”

“How much?”

“What?”

“The bet. How much?”

“What bet?”

Amber let her gaze fall on the two boys who had watched Justin’s progress, or lack of, talking and elbowing each other the entire time. “And what were the terms? Dance? Flirt back? Kiss? Go with you to your bedroom?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

Amber smiled, her eyes cold. “You wouldn’t be the first, and you won’t be the last. Your mistake was thinking you could goad me into spending time with you. I’m a master at that technique. Run back to your friends and pay up. I have better things to do with my time.”

“Like what?”

Amber’s smile became warm and she handed him her drink. Without answering, she turned and wove her way through the scattering of people between her and Kade. He looked up before she reached him, his eyes meeting hers.

“What are you planning?”

“I thought we weren’t to use this method of talking?”
She came to a stop in front of him, her smile still in place. Maira and Brann nodded towards her and, with a grin and wave from Maira, departed.

“We’re shielded. I’m close enough to you it isn’t difficult. Now, what are you up to?”

“I hope I didn’t scare them away.”

“Amber.”

She grinned, placing her hands high on his chest. “Dance with me?” She took another step closer. There was only centimetres separating them.

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “What are you trying to prove?”

“Nothing. Just sending out a message. Think of it as a way to repay me for all the problems you’ve caused me.”

“Then we’re even?”

“Nearly.”

“Even.”

Amber let her hands travel up to lock behind his neck, pulling his head closer. Her eyes closed as their lips met and her heartbeat raced. Time suspended and sounds receded. Kade’s hands came to rest on her hips. Amber struggled to remember her plan. Then the fire in her veins turned to a crackle of energy in the air. She pulled back to stare up at Kade, a question in her eyes.

He didn’t answer. He grasped one of her hands and pulled her through the crowd, headed for the front door. People stumbled out of his way, their eyes falling on Amber. She kept a smile hovering on her lips. She didn’t know what was going on, but she wasn’t about to let anyone else know. This would work out much better. She knew they all assumed he was desperate to get her alone. Let them think that. And if Justin didn’t understand this message then he was blind as a bat.

Outside, Amber noticed Flinn striding down the street. Kade swore and moved quicker. As soon as they were out of earshot, Amber asked, “What’s going on?”

Kade dropped her hand and started to unbutton his shirt. “I need to find somewhere to stash you. Somewhere safe.”

“Why?” The crackle in the air made the hair on her arms sit up. “It’s that Pliethin again, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I have to get to it before Flinn.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s only one here. I don’t know how long it’ll take to regenerate. Months at least.”

“And then what? You go back to your people?”

Kade shook his head as he slipped his arms out of his shirt. “Take care of this for me.”

Amber automatically took the shirt he pressed against her and then held it away from her when something made her stomach itchy. She brushed a couple of black hairs off her skin. “It’s got cat hair on it.”

“And?”

“It makes me itchy.” She brushed at her clothes and arms, wishing she’d had time to collect her jacket before they’d left.

Kade grabbed it off her and threw it towards the base of a tree. “Guess that’s another one lost.”

Amber noticed several cat hairs on her arm and brushed them off. Luckily she’d left some space between her and Kade when they’d been kissing or it would have ruined her message to Justin. They hurried past the streetlight and back into the shadows. “I’m not staying on my own. You try and leave me and I’ll scream loud enough to hurt your mind.”

“Amber-”

“No. You said you’d protect me. Then the first time that stupid energy thing appears you want to ditch me. Where are Brann and Maira? Why can’t they stay with me?”

“I don’t have time for this.” Kade stopped and faced her, frustration colouring his voice.

“Then stop arguing and take me with you.” She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ignore the cold night air.

“I can’t fly fast with you on my back. Not without you coming off.”

“A saddle would be good. Can’t you alter your appearance like the way Maira makes jewellery from her scales?”

“I wish,” Kade muttered as he glanced around. He strode down the side of a house and became a dragon long enough to slice the rope from an empty clothesline. He knotted it into a harness, making a large loop at the top to carry it by. “Put your legs through this. And listen when I tell you something. No questions. No matter what I say.”

“Aye, aye captain.” Amber slid her legs through the harness.

“Do you want to be left behind?”

Amber stared at him for a moment, thinking of the wyvern. “Fine. I’ll listen.” Before she had time for any other words, Kade became a dragon and lifted the loop of the harness. She squealed, as they were suddenly airborne, then laughed as she was dragged through the air, the wind rushing at her, causing her to shiver from the cold. Excitement burst through her and she grinned as she clung to each side of the loop that Kade held. She wanted to throw back her head and yell. But she guessed Kade would have something to say about that. Not exactly the way to avoid attention. Roller coasters were going to be extremely tame after this.

The ground rushed towards her. The crackle in the air pressed in on her. Ahead she could see Flinn. Two wyverns flew towards them. Fear mingled with the excitement. Kade slowed as a tree loomed in front of them.

“Stay in the tree.”
Kade deposited her in the branches and took off, flying straight towards the wyverns.

Amber tried to get comfortable, wrapping the loop around her waist so it didn’t get caught on the branches. She was glad she’d chosen to wear long black pants with her short-sleeved shirt that left a few centimetres of skin showing at her waist. She wore her usual boots and guessed they’d make it near impossible to get out of the tree if she needed to.

She peered into the night and tried to see what was happening. Every now and then she saw a gleam as something caught the moonlight that peeked through streaky clouds. Every sound had her turning her head. Then a wyvern flew towards her with a dragon close behind it. For a moment she thought it was Kade, but the scales were dark blue rather than a golden brown. Flinn came in fast, flying above the wyvern. He headed straight for her. So did the wyvern. Neither seemed interested in her.

Amber looked up and saw a ball of light above her head. It seemed to be caught in the branches. She reached out to touch it.

“No!”
She recognised Flinn’s mental voice. It was the same as his verbal one.

“What’s happening?”
Kade came towards her from the right, having dealt with the other wyvern.
“Don’t touch!”

He was too late. Amber’s hand closed over the Pliethin. A jolt of energy made her cry out. Losing her balance, she tumbled from the tree. Kade scooped her from mid air, his claws wrapped around her arm that held the Pliethin, causing pain to shoot through her shoulder. He slowed quickly as her feet hit the ground. Amber’s knees buckled and Kade closed his arms around her as they sprawled across the ground, Kade human again. A jolt went through her and she screamed, continuing to lie dazed on the earth when he let go of her. She watched as Kade held the Pliethin while he transformed into a dragon.

She stared up at him as he blazed gold above her, his head thrown back. Flinn had vanished. The last wyvern came in from behind Kade. She didn’t know why he hadn’t already reached them.

Forcing herself to her feet, she tried to run, throwing one hand up protectively. “No!” A ball of flame flew from her hand towards the wyvern, barely missing Kade. Amber’s knees gave out on her again and she kneeled on the ground, staring at her hand, fear exploding through her like the fireball had exploded against the wyvern. She looked at Kade who seemed oblivious to his surroundings, still a dragon and bathed in gold light from the Pliethin.

Amber struggled to her feet as the wyvern picked itself up off the ground. Its clawed wings flapped and its mouth opened. A screech tore through the air and Amber winced at the sound. She started to cover her ears with her hands then recalled the fireball she’d flung at the wyvern. She immediately dropped them.

The wyvern screeched again, streaking forward. Amber held her hand up in the hope another fireball would erupt. Nothing. Panic rushed through her. She cursed Flinn for leaving. Kade, still a golden glow, had his head flung back, arms… claws… outstretched and his eyes closed. He gripped the Pliethin tight. No help there. And the wyvern wasn’t interested in him anymore. Its red eyes gleamed as they focused on her. Amber turned and ran. She didn’t know if the fireball was a one off, a fluke or even a hallucination. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t do it at will and she didn’t have the time to stand there and figure out how. Dodging behind a tree, she considered calling out mentally to Kade, but didn’t know if he should be interrupted. Would that harm him? Harm her?

She dodged to the other side of the tree as the wyvern came around, its serpent like tail flicking like an irate cat. It ended in a barb and Amber forced her eyes away from it. Focusing on the damage that tail could cause wouldn’t help her think clearly.

When the wyvern came around the tree again, Amber sprinted into the open, forcing her legs to go faster. She tried to see the ground she ran across, but it was full of shadows. Stumbling in a hole, she sprawled face first onto the ground, rolling to her back before she came to a stop. The wyvern, claws outstretched, came straight at her.

Fear exploded in her as she threw up her hands in an automatic gesture of protection. Fire rushed at the wyvern. A smell like burnt hair filled the air. Amber coughed. The wyvern screeched. Its wings pumped strongly, causing a downdraft that swirled the dirt around Amber and made her close her eyes, coughing as the dust irritated her throat. She sat up as the air settled and watched the wyvern fly away.

She forced her shaking limbs to obey her and stood, staggering over to Kade to drop on the ground in front of him. Feeling tears burn her eyes, she forced them away. She hated weepy people. No matter the circumstances. As she watched, the glow around Kade faded and he dropped to the ground, human again. He looked as exhausted as she felt. Exhausted and dazed.

Kade stared at the Pliethin in his hand. It no longer seemed like a ball of energy. It was dull, grey, misshapen. “Thank you. I’m sorry it was necessary.” He opened his hand and the creature hovered above his palm and then faded.

“Is it dead?”

Kade slowly shook his head. His voice was equally slow. “When it’s not in physical contact with this world it can fade to another.”

“Another world?”

Kade looked around. “Where’s Flinn?”

“He flew off. I’m guessing it was the moment you had the Pliethin, but I’m not entirely sure since I’d just hit the ground.”

“The wyvern?”

“He left it here.”

Kade swore, reaching for her. Still sitting in the dirt, Amber pulled back out of his reach. “He flew off and left the wyvern here?”

She nodded.

“He didn’t deal with it first?”

Amber shook her head. She dreaded the question she knew would come.

“What happened to the wyvern?”

Answers floated around in Amber’s mind. I’m as much a freak as you now. I tried to barbeque it. It didn’t like the taste of me so it took off. She discarded all of them and shrugged.