TAKEN BY THE DRAGON KING

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

Gulliver

The moonlight reflected off the clear bowl of water and the spell flowed off my lips, the cool breeze wafting his way across my skin, and the waters rippled as the spell reached it’s finality, peeking with one eye open, I let out a sigh of relief, locator magic wasn’t really my forte but I seemed to get it right in this instance.

Elena sat across from a hunched over figure whim she soothed lovingly, he wondered who that was, it was no shame of him to admit that I had checked up on her at every sparse bit of breathing space I’d got from the constant strain of watching over Dracul’s castle and not once had i seen this in my scrying.

Grandmother had been pretty keen on her home being protected against scrying forces but I had found a loophole that he wouldn’t be willing to tell her about anytime soon, his concentration wavered and just for a bit the images flickered, the figure in question stood abruptly and the blanket fell off, the person in question causing my breath to cease momentarily.

There he was beaten down and a bit lankier but nevertheless there he stood, his eyes an unceasing molten yellow, he said some words to Elena that I couldn’t hear from my side but I stared on dumbfoundedly, eventually my emotions spiralled out of control and the scrying cut off at the source.

The calm breeze followed suit with my emotions quickly turning into a raging storm and the sleet of rain ran pouring heavily whilst I stood atop the balcony, my mind still in disbelief and overwhelmed by what I’d seen, the door burst open and a maid came through

“Sire.” She said. “A message for you.”

“Let it wait.” I tell her not bothering to turn towards her general direction. “I am busy and would very much not liked to be disturbed.”

“Sire.” The maid whispered shakily. “I am afraid it cannot wait, it’s taken control of the throne room sire.”

That had me turning and sure enough as I raced to the throne room a hovering green stormy cloud filled with a familiar magic that reeked of a menace.

“Get my grandson!” grandmother’s voice came shrieking through. “For heavens sake be an actual help and get me me Gulliver interim master of this castle!”

“I’m here.” I say warily stepping forward still drenched in rain water. “What do you want?”

“That’s no way to talk, stupid child.” She scoffs and the mist begins to take form until it took on a ghostly green replica of her. “I have some news.”

“I believe you do.” I say with a smile confident that I’d found it out before she did.

“Huh.” She says confusion clearly across the face. “How do you know the guards are all over the Never forest, have you been scrying the surrounding area.”

“Err no.” I say confused. “Anything else to tell me?”

Her face scrunched up in a weird confused look, she rolled her eyes and scoffed.

“I am not your maids.” She says. “Remember that I’m not part of your pretend king.”

The image flickered like a mirage and abruptly disappeared into thin air, I stood there silent and dripping wet with rain wondering why she’d kept such from me, mind was simply unwilling to process any rationality as to why, I waved my arms and one of the guards came running.

“Have a wide scry on the nevermore woods and see if there’s any guard infiltration.” I tell them.

I pace about for what seems to be forever but in reality only a few moments pass before the guard comes running back.

“There’s been a general scrying in the kingdom sire and as per your wishes the forest was checked thoroughly, and there’s no sign of it bring invaded, the castle itself seems obscenely quiet and..”

The rest of his words fell upon deaf ears and I zoned off, did she really lie, what the hell was going on?, I was comfortable, a deep feeling of foreboding ran through me causing chills to run down my spine.

“I’m going to-”

The door burst open in that moment and a frail looking haggard man came stumbling through with a maid running fast behind him.

“Sorry sir I tried to stop him.” She panted. “He just-”

I raised a hand to silence her.

“Dracul, dracul.” The man whispered. “Where the hell is dracul?”

I looked a bit closer through the grim mire across his face and the scarification I recognized him, Elena’s father stumbled forwards towards me, his eyes trailed on me as the askew crown of of thorns on his head fell off blood spattering as he finally collapsed his hands digging hard into my skin.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Elena.” he said with a raspy breath. “Trouble, save-, save her”

He went limp in my hands and immediately I began barking orders to get him help and simultaneously trying very hard to summon a portal, my head had drawn up a list of variable conclusions some of which I was unwilling to believe, at least not yet.

Please be safe I prayed, as the last circles drew up and the golden light of magic circled around me giving one last order, I summon the portal and walk through.

**

Elena

There was tension, so thick it could have been cut with an axe, The house had been oddly silent and Granny had kept to her room, only coming out and muttering strange things underneath her breath, Dracul was nice enough, taking her stress off with himself not ceasing to devour her at every opportunity he had.

“We need to go back.” Dracul says at the table. “Prepare better she has a magic that is unique, raw strength will not overcome it alone.”

Granny’s eyes narrowed on the other end, anger evident on her face, I could say nothing the sparks that flew between them ever since his arrival had been intense, she’d been magnanimous enough giving him a wide berth, was it possible for such a profound change in someone in just a few days, everything seemed different from what I’d imagined as our reuniting.

“I’m not leaving.” I tell him whilst poking at my food. “You can prepare your defenses I have to train here.”

“I’ll be damned if I leave you here.” he says. “With her.”

I had never felt my heartbreak like it did now, Iit went to granny who silently chewed on her food ignoring his comment, the silence between us grew much like the distance between our mindsets.

“You know I’m just like her, what the bloody fuck do you mean with her, we’re not people is that it?”

“No-” he begins

“So what do you mean.” I clutch the table I’m nearly screaming now. “She was here when you weren’t, she’s been giving us shelter when clearly an all powerful witch out for us, and yet you-”

“Enough!” There was a silence as his fist slammed into the table. “You’re just as stubborn as usual, I’ll drag you out even if I have to I’m grateful for the hospitality and all, we’re leaving that’s it!”

He reaches for my hand but recoils back from the tingling shick he receives, I let the power pool between my fingers and I flick him to the wall as easily as one would throw a stone and I hold him there.

“It’s been two days.” I tell him. “You’ve been gone for awhile and I get it wasn’t easy but I don’t know you anymore, you feel the same but you’re not you Dracul and it hurts me to see that.”

He’s resisting but I barely feel the strain against my powers and I walk towards him till I’m right up in his face.

“I don’t know who you are.” I tell him softly. “But I’m definitely not that soft girl you once knew.”

Three things happened in that moment, Dracul broke free of his restraints and charged but not towards me, his arms caught an arrow whizzing wildly through the air towards me, the front door burst open just as Gulliver stepped through a portal, no sooner had the shielding spell left his mouth when a barrage of arrows came flying at us.

“Gulliver.” Granny breathed out in shock and surprise. “What are you doing here?, You weren’t supposed to-”

“Find out.” Gulliver finishes pain and disbelief all over his features. “Why in fuck’s name would you do this?”

“For your life silly.” A familiar voice says sending chills down all our spines.

I don’t want to believe it but she comes stepping out of the shadows like an evil surprise with just as much of an evil smile clearly written across her face.

“Well.” she turns to granny who looks downcast, her eyes refusing to meet. “I believe we had a deal.”

Two magic circles form around her hands and she takes up an offensive stance.

“By the order of the legion of the west.” She says breaking my heart further. “You’re under arrest.”