Sisters of Ruin E-Book

Darren Lewis

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Every night I have the same dream

I save them and my world continues on

But when I wake

I'm alone

The cold darkness reminds me

I failed

And that the war is already over

We lost

I didn't save them

I failed

The dragon war has claimed our world. Three girls join in the aftermath to face the devastation inflicted upon humanity.

They discover and attempt to master a strange new power - one that will destroy or save the world – and they don’t face these challenges alone. The bond they share will bring them together and create a family.

The sisters have risen.

Leseprobe

Sisters of Ruin

Book I of The Lucent Series

Darren Lewis

Copyright (C) 2016 Darren Lewis

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2022 by Next Chapter

Published 2022 by Next Chapter

Cover art by Darren Lewis

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

Dedication

To the two best brothers a man could have.

They've never failed to be there when needed.

The story so far

As a young girl Ellie encountered and befriended a race of rabbits gifted with magic. Their one sacred duty; to keep this world safe and spinning through the uncertainty of our universe. Once a year (one turn of the seasons to the rabbits) they were bound to use this magic to keep the world turning. Mankind however had brought these most special rabbits to the brink of extinction through hunting and encroaching upon their lands and the world was in mortal peril. At the request of their leader, Rox, Ellie was transformed into a rabbit by Cast, the rabbit's magic keeper and Rox's father. Visiting the warren and using all of the remaining rabbit's borrowed magic Rox and Ellie journeyed into the past to find the source of their power, a legend only known to them as The White and Grey. On arriving at the birth of our world the two time travellers discovered that their presence in that moment caused two entities to visit this planet and begin its spin through the stars. Furthermore, the entities furnished this world with their own essence to create Rox's descendants. Little did Rox and Ellie know at the time but they also left something else of themselves behind to aid the future of the world. On leaving Rox made several jumps through time in order to assemble enough special rabbits from the past to bring to our time. They were successful and Ellie returned home safely.

Then fate, destiny or pure chance led to a meeting that would forever change Ellie's life and the future of the world itself. Standing next to her parent's house was a derelict building, an old farmhouse. In the cellar she discovered a young male dragon named Cole. Cole told Ellie the history of his race and the disastrous war fought between them and a small group of mankind. The outcome, the destruction and scattering of the dragons, condemning their existence to the dreams and fantasy of mankind's history. Cole and Ellie bonded, allowing the two access to the other's thoughts, emotions and memories. When the ritual was complete she became his rider. Together they set out to find Cole's father as his mother had died birthing him. What they actually found was nothing short of evil. With Cole's parents gone the remaining dragons placed their memories into an innocent named Malachite. The dragons entered a long sleep with Malachite to guard them. Over those many years with nothing but the terrible memories of betrayal, death and loss inflicted by man, Malachite became twisted, a darkness entering his soul that would not be touched by light no matter how bright. A thirst for revenge fuelled his existence and this is who they found.

Malachite released the hibernating dragons who then wished to drain Ellie of her memories to learn of the new world they now found themselves in. Fortunately, Ellie and Cole were saved by the quick actions of Rox and her kin close by. The dragons pursued the pair to Rox's home and set about the destruction of all around them. Ellie concluded they could not win against such fierce opponents. By the grace of fortune Cole's father arrived bearing an object of great power that Celestine, Cole's mother gave her life to create. With this device and the assistance of the world itself, Cole and Ellie, with a captive Malachite, travelled to the land of the dragons in the far reaches of the past. Using Malachite's memories to show what the future held for the dragons and humanity, Ellie convinced the dragons to transform themselves and leave this planet. The strange orb altered them into the beings that would become known as The White and The Grey and they vanished from sight.

Two surprises awaited the two lost souls, Ellie and Cole, in the past. First was Malachite. Bereft of his former personae. Eridan, Cole's father, had requested of Malachite to stay behind and protect the young girl and dragon, and secondly the great power from the orb had been used to grant them a long life.

An age passed by, thousands of years, Ellie kept her distance from humanity not wishing to interfere with what she considered history. But she was drawn back to her kind and it set Ellie's path to helping those who were persecuted for any number of spurious reasons, from witchcraft to skin colour. During this time, it was discovered the orb had become sentient. Its consciousness constructed from those it was closest to for so many years, Ellie, Cole and Malachite. The orb furnished the trio with what Ellie still considered history but what in reality was her future. Using this knowledge Ellie befriended many important figures, the most influential called the 'Father of Europe' King Charles, and more commonly named 'Charlemagne.' Charlemagne granted land to Ellie's cause, in effect planting the seed of what would become a global corporation named the Baiulus Institute, nearly a thousand years in the future.

Ellie's new path led her to Arianne and her young daughter, Isabelle. Both mother and daughter were magically gifted which brought about their being outcast from their home. Both would aid the three friends from the future as many others would but Arianne became a victim to the righteous mob that would push her daughter into murderous revenge. She slaughtered those responsible, injured Cole severely and stole the orb from Ellie.

Isabelle took everything Ellie and her two companions had stood for and turned it against them and the world, though she did this under the guise of oppressing the magically talented.

More years passed by and Cole suffered terribly. Ellie learnt that the newly named 'Baiulus Institute' could provide a liquid, essential to her dragon's survival. Ellie became an employee and worked her way to become their Chief of Operations. She used this position to 'capture' Cole and have him placed in suspended animation within this liquid. Ellie's own thoughts turned towards revenge but she also took it upon herself to protect the younger version of her, moving close by and keeping watch. Little did Ellie know that 'Isabelle' was in the village and set about her revenge on the younger version of Ellie. Punishing her for the past and the death of her mother. That day was the catalyst for Baiulus to move. Teams were sent to investigate the magical occurrences within the village and capture all inhabitants of Rox's warren. They tracked down Ellie but Malachite intervened in her capture and took her to the warren. From there, with only a few survivors including Rox and her son Flare, they came to the older version of Ellie for safety and both Ellie's were introduced to one another, the older version was promptly named 'Eleanor' to distinguish between the two.

Ellie had retrieved the orb during her encounter with Isabelle and Eleanor now knew it was time to free Cole and as many of the captured talented as possible. Eleanor went into the lion's den itself, the Institute's main facility in the city while Ellie and Malachite travelled to China to awaken the Terracotta Army to use as their soldiers. They were successful but Malachite paid for this success with his life.

In the meantime, the orb had convinced the Chief of Operations of Baiulus, Sloan, at the very least to assist Eleanor in healing Cole and allow Eleanor to leave. Little did either know that at the same time Ellie discovered the Isabelle she encountered in her home village was a clone, not in body, but in mind. It was revealed that Isabelle had brainwashed all those talented she'd dedicated herself to protecting and forced her mind onto theirs. Isabelle, the true Isabelle then revealed herself to Eleanor as she set Cole free. Isabelle initiated her final plan, to take over every government, military and judicial power in the world.

Ellie, now magically gifted thanks to her merging with the fake Isabelle, successfully moved the army to Rox's location and she was able to free all the rabbits, the only casualty being Rox's mother Storm. Isabelle now threatened to destroy the city and Eleanor ordered Cole to leave with the orb. Her threat was a ruse to separate Eleanor from Cole and the orb as she released all those brainwashed talents into the world.

Eleanor was taken to see Isabelle but unknown to her Ellie had taken the orb's power and with Cole restored to full health punched a hole through a magically constructed barrier of Isabelle's creation. Isabelle then brought forth a corruption of Cole's DNA. A malformed and hate filled white dragon. With Cole, Eleanor defeated it but in doing so left Ellie alone to confront Isabelle. Isabelle appeared to have defeated Ellie and absorbed all the orb's power from Ellie and make it her own. Eleanor was unaware that Ellie, with the orb, had orchestrated this and that at that very instance the orb was invading Isabelle's body and mind. Eleanor and Ellie then joined with Isabelle to create a bond and gave her a choice, let go of the hate and live or die in despair, alone. Isabelle chose life. But the damage was done. 'Baiulus' was online. Isabelle's talented had begun seizing control around the globe and nothing could be done to stop it.

The orb, or at least its consciousness, departed this world and plans were made to go into hiding. As Ellie and Eleanor were leaving the talented discovered them all and Eleanor was forced to surrender herself to Baiulus for everyone's safety.

Ellie, Cole and her family escaped but Rox was not so lucky. While leading her warren to safety they were attacked and Rox severely injured.

Baiulus was online and the world now belonged to the talented.

Begin with the experience and then investigate the cause.

LEONARDO DA VINCI

The Cold Universe

The anomaly was vast. Measuring at just over one million, eight hundred thousand light years across. Its existence in a seemingly infinite universe was still a spectacular phenomenon from Earth. Astronomers discovered the construct in the constellation of Eridanus in the southern hemisphere, approximately three million light years from Earth. What was known from maps pieced together of the cosmic background radiation in the universe was that this region was one of intense cold and lack of any kind of matter. Galaxy formation was sparse and in layman's terms this was an enormous cold spot in the universe.

Its presence was explained as an aftereffect of the Big Bang. The theories into what it was or what it meant to the existence of the universe were wide ranging. Explanations involved gravity, black holes or singularities, dark matter to dark energy. Any concept that this was an alien structure became popular on social media along with any number of highly detailed and sometimes disturbing conspiracy theories.

One of the most outlandish theories postulated that the cold spot was in essence a 'footprint', a place where the fabric of the universe came into contact with a “neighbouring” or parallel universe. Of all the theories posited on Earth this was the closest.

Regardless of the many theories put forth each one could never properly ascertain where this region sprang from. The type of energy required to cause the boundary of one universe to become susceptible to another could only be caused by one specific set of conditions. In this instance, the conditions relating to time travel. With this type of energy released the walls between universes, the walls between realities were gradually fading.

In the empty, dark region nothing of any note happened, at least nothing observable from such an immense distance from Earth. But changes were occurring that could not be explained by any form of science currently practised on planet Earth. The physics did not exist as yet for science to explain this phenomenon. The fabric between universes had been placed under enormous pressure and would soon distort space time enough to rupture. From the cold darkness a multitude of cries was emanating, but due to the vacuum of space it would never be heard except for the one mind it was intended for. The cries or voices travelled the vast distances required faster than any form of energy or matter had travelled since the birth of the universe in the Big Bang. To this voice the speed of light was not a restriction but merely something to outpace. It moved with a single-mindedness that suggested if not intelligence then at least an instinct that governed its passage through the cold black of space.

The journey came to a stop in interstellar space, a few thousand light years away from a boundary marking the beginning of galactic space. In that pause any creature sufficiently talented would now be capable of detecting a probe, a search for that one mind it needed. The search took seconds despite the enormous space involved, spanning one hundred thousand lights years in diameter and one hundred billion stars. The journey resumed into the target galaxy, passing a myriad of spectacles and sights no human eye had ever seen, but it did not pause to wonder or appreciate the majesty of nature as its singular nature would not allow it. Narrowing in on one small star the voice increased speed almost in excitement that its travels were now at an end. In the blink of an eye it gazed once more on what had once been, if not its home, then one almost identical, the planet Earth.

Ellie and the Battle (2008 C.E.)

Rainfall pummelled the ground without mercy. The summer that had started with such promise had quickly returned to the soul of a hard winter with plummeting temperatures and torrential rain.

The dark rip, for want of a better term, exploded into life, expanding and reaching out with almost evil intent. Dark itself, it enveloped the surrounding space, cutting off light and life from all sources. Ellie jerked and brushed the sodden fringe of hair away from her eyes as she walked with Cole towards the temple. The daydream was familiar to her. Since she could remember it would always intrude upon her consciousness, typically when she was trying to concentrate in school.

A quick glance back down the hill and she saw Eridan and Rox preparing to lift off and confront the remaining dragons. The fires in the distance were still raging despite the rain's onslaught such was the intensity of the dragon's fire.

Ellie are you okay? Cole asked into her mind, his tone soothing as he experienced Ellie's startled reaction to her daydream.

Just worried. Ellie answered accompanied by an audible sigh. Cole leaned into Ellie's side and she placed an arm over his back. They reached the steps of the temple and ascended. Ellie lifted the orb to eye level and stared into the bright orange light. Eridan had somehow spoken with this device and communicated Ellie's plan. For her own part as she gazed into the swirling orange hue she fancied a split second contact with the raw power held within. The moment vanished as quickly as it had arrived and she dropped her arm to her side. Ellie hoped the black dragon knew what he was talking about.

At the centre of the temple, lying upon the embossed star design carved into the centre was the still form of Malachite. Ellie intended to take the insane dragon back with her and show the dragons of the past what lay in store for them and the world.

Are you ready? Ellie asked her red dragon.

Not at all. Cole quipped. But we can do this.

Ellie smiled with renewed confidence and gave Cole a quick squeeze before climbing onto his back.

Let's get this done then. Ellie said before closing her eyes and concentrating on the orange orb in her hand. She imagined a time long ago, far from mankind. A beautiful island, lush and green. The beaches so white it would cause any being, man or beast to squint from the glare. Cliffs and mountains reared so high from the ground they seemed to pierce the sky itself. Ellie quivered slightly as Cole added his own mind to hers, reinforcing the imagery of the mesmerizing past.

The sound of falling rain softened and became waves upon a beach. Ellie smiled at the wash of water upon sand and she saw an orange glow through the closed lids of her eyes. The warm water of the sea tickled her toes and Ellie's skin tingled with energy as she strove for her body to be at the beach she saw. Ellie opened her eyes and looked down. The star carved into the temple floor itself began to glow with a bright white intensity to match the luminescence of the orb. Ellie clutched the orb to her chest and realised faintly that this would be the closest to prayer she had ever come.

Help us! She pleaded, her thoughts directed below her, to this conduit of power Rox knew to be a connection to the living world itself. The bright white light intensified further causing Ellie and Cole to grunt with discomfort and close their eyes against the glare. Ellie heard a hum and sensed subtle vibrations from the stone floor through Cole's legs and spine. The hum increased in volume and Ellie now held her breath in anticipation as the energy seemed to reach a crescendo. The answer then came.

NO!

Ellie gasped as the white light in one instant dissipated into the rain which fell quickly to the ground and became one again with the earth. The orange glow faded and Ellie brought the orb to her face.

“No!” She shook the orb viciously but the light returned to its normal level. Ellie's arm dropped as failure swamped her mind. Cole turned his head to cast one eye on his rider.

“How can the world abandon us?” He growled in anger. Ellie simply shook her head, her face a picture of despair. Her plan had failed, what was there to do now?

A loud screech from the sky brought Ellie and Cole's attention back and they saw a black dragon, not Eridan but his brother, Corvus, tumbling uncontrollably until he crashed in the vast pit caused by Plume a short time before. Ellie's eyes scanned the sky and she saw the three dragons had ceased their firing of the woods to intercept Eridan and Rox. Seizing on the moment and the imminent danger Ellie yelled to Cole.

“Let's get up there! Your father is outnumbered!”

Cole didn't hesitate, he bounded forward and cleared the temple before bunching his muscles and launching into the sky. The rain lashed against Ellie's face so she shielded her eyes and squinted into the sky again to find the black figure of Eridan. The three dragons were closing in on his position from above and Eridan was clearly unaware of their proximity.

We're too far away! Cole shouted in frustration. Ellie felt her hand grow warm for an instant and glanced down. The orb, the repository of power created by Eridan and Celestine, was glowing once again. Ellie's eyes danced from the orb to Eridan.

Cole open a dragon thread! Ellie instructed.

But that won't work. Cole replied, reminding Ellie that a dragon can only travel fast between two points in a dragon thread after that journey had been made once before.

I know but we have to try!

Ellie felt a moment's hesitation from the red dragon before his mind concentrated on creating a dragon's most special form of travelling.

A small black hole appeared directly in front of Ellie and Cole. Blue streaks of electricity jumped and sparked from the edges of the rapidly expanding area of darkness. Though she had experienced the dragon thread already, Ellie held her breath and clenched her jaw tight as Cole crossed the threshold from this world into a dimension of infinite blackness.

* * *

Rox, using senses evolved since the dawn of her race, intuited rather than saw the imminent attack on Eridan.

“Dive!” She screamed at the black dragon. A roar from above distracted Eridan momentarily and both Rox and Eridan glanced upwards briefly into the claws of three dragons. Both rabbit and dragon knew it was too late to take any evasive action and braced for impact.

* * *

Now what? Cole queried as he and Ellie sped through the black tunnel. Though Ellie could feel Cole beneath her and the orb in her hand such was the total darkness her eyes, in an attempt to detect any light, were round and trying almost by themselves to make sense of where they were.

Think about your father and where we saw him in the sky. Ellie advised as she brought the orb to her chest and fixated her own thoughts on Rox sitting on Eridan's back. Image in place she directed her thoughts to the orb. If Eridan had communicated his intentions to this strange object maybe she could too.

Help me please. Ellie pleaded for the second time in ten minutes but this time to a different power. I need to get to Rox. Cole needs to get to his father. Ellie felt a brief pulse of warmth from her hand holding the orb and then it went cold once again. Ellie's shoulders slumped in defeat.

Whoa! Cole yelled and the red dragon tilted sharply to the right and Ellie grabbed at his back to stay mounted.

What's happening? Ellie asked fearfully as the dragon tilted even further.

I'm being pushed out of here! A white light appeared that quickly resolved into dark clouds and the rain of the outside world.

It worked! Ellie yelled triumphantly and the orb began to throb with heat and Ellie could see the object glowing with power as she and Cole emerged into the sky. Cole's senses being more adapted to hunting immediately saw the three dragons descending on his father and he roared his anger at them. The dragon leading the attack, stunned by the sudden noise, glanced sideways and it was to be a mistake that would cost him. Instead of diving away, Eridan taking advantage of the distraction turned sharply to his left and whipped his enormous tail at the head of the dragon. Ellie heard the sound of the impact over the wind and rain, it reminded her of two rocks bashing together and the lead dragon dropped from the sky, knocked unconscious by Eridan's strike. Only then the black dragon folded in his wings and pointed his body towards the ground. Ellie glimpsed Rox hanging on for her life on Eridan's back as the two remaining dragons gave chase.

Let's go! Ellie ordered but she needn't have bothered as Cole performed a sharp turn before executing the same manoeuvre as his father.

Father! Cole called out. Open a thread, lead us all in there!

But they'll follow us wherever we go! Eridan protested.

No. Ellie found a way to overcome that. We can leave those dragons in there to find their own exit.

Eridan didn't reply but from their higher vantage point Ellie and Cole saw the beginnings of a dragon thread being created. The two dragons chasing Eridan roared in triumph at the seemingly pointless tactic and as Eridan's large form disappeared they added their own power to keep the entrance open. Both quickly disappeared and Cole was left alone in the sky above the woods. The moment didn't last long as Ellie gripped Cole's back tightly and once again they entered the darkness.

* * *

Eridan and Cole appeared in the night sky over Sydney, Australia in a wash of blue electricity. Cole had communicated to his father that he should picture Sydney harbour and then using the orb once again Ellie had directed it to help them break out of the dragon thread leaving the two pursuing dragons behind. Ellie had no idea if those dragons would be able to find their exit point or not and so had chosen this place instead of heading directly for home.

Remarkable. Eridan observed to his son. Cole nodded and flared his wings to catch an updraft rising from the bay hundreds of feet below. Ellie stared at the lights on the bridge, her thoughts slow but tumultuous nonetheless.

No. Why? Why did you say no? Ellie asked out into the night sky. Sounds of the traffic on the bridge dropped to silence. The wind passing Cole's wings was absent, Ellie could only hear the sound of her own heart beating. She closed her eyes and her vision merged with that of her dragon's. Why? She asked again but her only answer was her heart pumping. Cole looked over at his father who was still carrying Rox on his back. Ellie tilted her head and ran her hand through her hair as something was bothering her.

The dragons couldn't follow us.

Cole and I never travelled from home to the temple or vice versa.

Ellie's entire body temperature dropped causing a violent shiver.

Eridan did.

Cole picked up on his rider's emotions and bellowed in alarm. He folded his wings and dropped out of the sky and with no warning to his father opened a dragon thread.

* * *

The sound of people screaming merged with the roar of flame. Malachite lashed out with his tail to swipe the already blazing house, smashing bricks and collapsing already damaged walls.

After waking on the hillside Malachite struggled at first to remember the sequence of events that'd brought him here but on moving his head the sharp, intense strike of pain in his jaw brought his memories back. A small brown rabbit had somehow cracked his jaw with a ridiculously powerful kick from such a creature, causing it to hang loose, broken on one side. He'd easily bashed that awful tiny animal aside and then set forth to find the girl and her traitorous dragon. Finding them had been easy but when confronting them near the destroyed temple his world inexplicably had disappeared. A cry from far above revealed the ongoing struggle between dragons including a dragon he had not seen for countless years, Eridan. Malachite snarled releasing a lance of cold fire in his jaw. His vision clouded with tears of pain but through those tears Malachite could see a streak of black belonging to Eridan. As dragons moved through their different space to travel quickly they left a trail in the world for other dragons to see. This trail could only have come from Eridan himself as Corvus, the only other black dragon in the vicinity had arrived with Malachite. Knowing then with some fury he was not in a state to confront Eridan, Malachite decided to lay in wait after travelling the black dragon's thread, reasoning with some hope, that the black dragon would return to his point of origin.

Leaving the fight behind Malachite rode Eridan's thread only to emerge almost instantly above a rain lashed house. Malachite's eyes were drawn to the roof as he watched raindrops fall and explode upon impact. The hypnotic effect drew the green dragon closer to the human dwelling and the steady, pounding beat of the water upon tile whispered dark secrets to his warped mind. Malachite grinned, ignoring the furious pain of his jaw and let loose a stream of fire.

Now the fire raged and when humans from inside the building had attempted escape another blast of Malachite's fire had sent them screaming back into their certain deaths. Malachite did not understand why this structure's destruction was so important, all he knew was that it was right. More humans had come but were sent either swiftly away by the sight of the dragon or had to be persuaded permanently by their destruction. Transports carrying humans with wailing noises and swirling lights approached disrupting Malachite's concentration upon the building but this time he rose high on the thermals created by the fire and he waited until they'd entered the building before descending and blasting orange flame from above.

Malachite landed in front of the burning wreck and he raised his face to the grey sky, allowing the rain to wash over him. For the first time in what seemed an eternity to him he felt a moment of peace. In knowing that he had landed the first blow in the war to come with the humans, the world felt right and just.

Bricks tumbled from the collapsing walls and Malachite lazily lowered his head and with satisfaction drifted his vision across the rubble and flame. A small pile of grey rubble shifted and attracted the dragon's attention. Malachite grunted and wandered over. A strange, surreal sight greeted him and Malachite leaned in for a closer look, not trusting his eyes. A hand, small and dust covered was standing like a monument to the dragon's wrath, amidst the remains of the house. Malachite scoffed with disdain and made to turn when the hand moved. Malachite jerked slightly, not in fear, but in surprise that anything could survive such an intense barrage of fire and the collapse of the building. Malachite used his sharp talons and flicked away pieces of rubble, uncovering the arm and then head of the person trapped. Malachite's eyes narrowed as he recognised the young of the humans. This one was extremely small and strange thoughts flitted about Malachite's head. To survive such an onslaught spoke of strength and a will to live that held Malachite's vengeance against the humans at bay. The human coughed and opened its eyes, finding Malachite's sickly yellow lantern eyes directed at it. It did not cry or call out and Malachite felt himself drawn into those innocent eyes. Malachite felt lightheaded and his mind called out to the young survivor still buried in the rubble. He felt the flow of his thoughts travelling outwards from his mind and into that of the child and in return he received alien thoughts, thoughts that were not his. A series of images flickered to life behind his eyes, some distorted, some clear of that of two older humans. When he thought of them a warmth flooded Malachite's body making him uncomfortable. Another sensation, that of loneliness in the dark, a crying out for human contact in the mind transforming into the cries in the real world bringing one of the humans to him and once again the warm feeling when they held him. A smaller human appeared with long hair. It spoke to him and though he did not recognise the words he understood the spirit of love behind them. Malachite reared back slightly, these thoughts and feelings totally new to the green dragon, conceived in darkness and implanted with the wicked deeds of man. A face resolved of the one with long hair and Malachite's thoughts seemed to shrivel with recognition. It was the girl, the girl with the dragon who'd found him and then escaped. The one he had sworn to kill first. Ellie. This young human was related to Ellie. Malachite stumbled backwards to break the contact and attempted to bring his fire to bear but his mind froze. The human sat up and simply stared at Malachite. The dragon searched his memories given to him by the surviving dragons and with pain, wonder and dismay he realised in his own form of innocence he had allowed himself to bond to the child just as Ellie had bonded with the red dragon, Cole. Malachite reared backwards and regardless of the pain in his face let loose a bellow of fear followed by a torrent of fire. He then collapsed to the ground, tears of anguish coursing down the rough hide of his face. A small touch opened his eyes and he saw the child had managed to free itself from the remains of the house and make its way to him. With a gentle touch it now stroked Malachite's injured jaw, an expression of understanding and grief on such a small face. Malachite rose to his full height and scooped up the child, he held it close to his chest and launched into the grey sky.

Home again

The house burned. The roof had caved in taking a side wall down with it, scattering debris and fire onto the driveway and the garage. Fire with a life of its own jumped and danced hypnotically not allowing Ellie to glance away, even for a moment. As the flames consumed the wreck of her home Ellie closed her eyes briefly and saw a wall of turbulent orange whipping wildly about her. Nothing was recognisable. Rooms were now mere containers of destruction. Furnishings if not ablaze had already been consumed by the fire. Ellie's vision shifted forward towards a small opening above and she recognised what was left of the stairs. They were now impassable, filled with the destroyed remnants of the roof itself. The image flickered into darkness as Cole blinked while continuing his search of Ellie's house. Safe from fire the red dragon had charged without thought or command towards the blazing house on arrival while Ellie had collapsed to her knees on the street. Fire not only raged in front of her but around the small village. Fire engines dispatched to deal with the inferno had met with disaster and sat smouldering in the road, overturned, their own fires dying quickly, their fuel tanks already consumed in what must have been a series of devastating blasts. Smaller fires set in seemingly random spots throughout Ellie's home village were gaining in intensity and Ellie was dimly aware of the multitude of screams around her.

Cole's eyes latched onto a strange mass in the kitchen and she felt her dragon's hesitation. She opened her eyes, squinting them against the orange fury in front of her, not wanting to see but needing to know.