Dragon Shift: Star Light Series, page 8
"Enough, Nox." a man spoke from behind him. He was barely in view from my position on the floor, but from I could tell he was wearing a dark gray suit with a white undershirt. He had snow white hair, and a full beard that was the same color.
“No need to stand. You are my guests. I’m quite pleased to meet you.”
Noxious moved as he came into view, his hands clasped behind his back.
"How perfect. You've arrived just in time to test out my new hybrids." The older man mused as he approached. Giving the other a side look, he grumbled, "Put some damn clothes on, Nox." making a disgusted noise as he comes to stand just before the entrance. His amber eyes glittered brightly. "Magnificent. Five dragons just fell right into my lap. Here, of all places! Splendid." he clapped his hands together.
"Four." Nox responds.
"I'm sorry?"
Clearing his throat, "There's only four dragon kin. The girl is human."
"Huh..." the man cocked an eyebrow curiously. "I thought you said your potent gas could kill anything that breathed it if they were not a dragon?" he waved a hand dismissively. "No matter. She's still useful in our research. Get them ready, I want to begin the experiments right away."
"Woah, woah. Take that back a notch. Who the fuck are you?" Gage interrupted.
The man slowly turned his head toward him. "Ah, pardon my rudeness. I am Raziel, and I oversee this facility."
Gage's forest green eyes darkened; his fists clenched tightly at his side.
“Experiments?” I felt the blood drain from my face. Vance noticed my unease and placed a comforting hand down on my shoulder.
“Ain’t gonna happen.” Ian spoke gruffly as he struggled to get off the floor. Coming to stand protectively near me. He glanced at Vance, which they passed something between them as he nodded his head.
Vance helped me stand. “Can you move?’
“Yes.” I whispered as he helped pull me up from the floor, then ushered me toward the back wall of the room.
As if on cue or silent words between the others, they each moved toward a wall of the room. Gage was more reluctant to move as his eyes bore daggers into Raziel.
Ian let out a voracious roar. His muscles flexed tightly as he lifted a hand. A flutter of heat filled the air before it dissipated quickly. The fiery shifter grunted as he flexed his hand, sweat running from his temples and down his cheek. Grunting again before nearly collapsing to the floor, his eyes widened as he suddenly came to a horrific conclusion.
“What’s wrong? Are we having some reptile dysfunction?” Nox smiled coyly before bursting into laughter. Lifting a hand, he pointed to his neck, watching Ian with irritating satisfaction.
Ian’s hand glided up to his neck as he grasped the silver circlet that rested there. His eyes glared intense hatred at the two men as he began yanking at the metal.
It did not budge.
A loud crash came from Gage as he assaulted the wall with a heavy kick. I now noticed he, too, was wearing a circlet around his neck as well. Seeing him with the same, I didn’t bother looking at the others to see if they were wearing one as well.
“Now, if you will excuse me. I would like to get my research underway.” Raziel gave a curt nod as he turned to step away.
“You can’t do this to us!” not knowing what came over my body, I ran towards the doorway at full speed. Before I could jump into the electric current, powerful arms wrapped around my waist to pull me back to safety.
“No point in getting yourself killed for no reason, love.” Ian grunted between clenched teeth. Struggling against him was just an effort of wearing myself out. Sighing heavily, I nodded my head. What was I thinking, anyway? Did I have a death wish? Gods, no. I was going to find Sammie. This was the whole reason we were now stuck in this predicament now. How were we to know there would be a sadistic psycho waiting for us?
Pushing myself away from Ian I sighed, "I'm fine, I won't be trying to kill myself anytime soon."
He just stared at me curiously, as if he was trying to figure something out.
"Ahem..." Nox cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt, but I need the girl to come with me. Don't want any of the hybrids thinking she's a chew toy or what not." He beckoned at me. "C'mon, little girl. I won't bite you unless you want me too." He grinned wickedly.
Bile rose in my throat.
Everything happened so fast after Raziel left, the guys had each fallen to their knees as they struggled to gain footing. If I didn't know any better, it had to be some kind of scentless gas, except this time it nearly paralyzed them. Ian had nearly slumped over me as he pushed me down to the ground with him. Feeling like I was floating on air, my vision had doubled as I watched Nox approach.
"Take her. The others aren't a problem." he spoke to the figures behind him.
Fight and flight mode set in as I was pulled up by my arms. I kicked and strained my body as much as I could away before my body went lax in their arms.
"Don't fucking touch her." growled Vance from behind.
"Still got some fight in you, eh?" Nox giggled. Blows and a thud as something hit the ground. Squirming in my captors’ arm to see Vance kneeling, trying to push himself back up again as Nox continued to assail him with kicks. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he peered up at him with dark intense eyes.
Panting as he flipped his long hair back across a shoulder, he stopped as he leaned near Vance's head. "Now, you must behave, or the girl may suffer more for it." Nox grinned before hopping up and skipping toward the door.
"Get them ready for the fights. Careful though, that one in the back might still have a little bite left in him. Ta Da!" he waggled his fingers as he exited.
Feeling the effects of the gas finally take over my body, I slumped forward, losing consciousness again.
CHAPTER 13
Twice? No...
Three times I have been knocked out. So far, this search and rescue has gone ab-so-fucking-lute-ly great! This should have been easy! At least I thought so...I have three dragon shifters on my side. Well, I did. Now I don't know where they are. Where the fuck I am. I woke up on a steel bed in the middle of this come-out-of-a-horror-story laboratory. An overhead light was blinding, causing me to see stars as I dazedly sat up. Pushing the lamp away as I peered around. Two large windows were on my right, and the only other light that illuminated the room. Stumbling to the floor, my feet got tangled up in tubing. There was a sharp pain in the crook of my inner arm. Blood trickled down my arm from the needle that had been there before my clumsy ass yanked it out.
"Son of a..." gritting my teeth as I applied pressure to the wound with my hand. What the hell did they have me hooked up to? Glancing around, I noticed a small table. It held many strange instruments, including gauze and tape. Fumbling for it, I wrapped it around my arm, tight enough to stanch the bleeding.
Weakly, I worked my way over to the door, which was securely locked.
"Dammit!" Cursing as I whipped my head around to see if there was anything in the room that I could use in my escape. The room was empty. The only thing was the bed and table with the instruments on it. Maybe the window? I glanced at it before working my way over. There was a bright light seeping through, and my breath caught as I looked down. It was an arena type area, with a spectator booth up high with none other than Nox and Raziel standing there. The one known as Raziel was holding a mic, and he was grinning ear to ear as he spoke.
"Let the bloodshed begin! I want to see what they can do up against my juggernaut hybrids!" he roared with laughter. Nox smirked beside him as he leaned over the edge. Doors on both ends of the arena opened, and four creatures that were just as tall and wide as the door stumbled their way out. Snapping at each other aggressively when one would brush up against the other. Their faces were barely human and reptilian at the same time. Long arms with sharp claws on their hands, their muscles reminded me of a bodybuilder on steroids.
Catching my breath, I knew immediately who was going to be coming out of the other doors on the opposite end. Ian came out first, with Gage and Vance following out behind him. I wasn't sure who the new guy was, but he must have been a dragon shifter as well, from what Nox was spewing earlier. They each adorned one of those silver circlets on their necks that diminished their magic or powers. I wasn't exactly sure what Gage or Vance used; I had only seen Ian use his fire magic in the apartment when he literally came in with guns blazing. Ian looked bored as he noticed the hybrids.
"That's a big bitch." Gage scoffed with a laugh.
Ian mumbled under his breath; I couldn’t make out what they said. But he motioned his head up in my direction as he caught sight of me immediately. Vance’s eyes met mine. His body straightened before relaxing. A billow of smoke trailed from his nostrils, which seemed to be a quirk of his whenever he was anxious or upset.
"Welcome to my arena, gentleman!" Raziel's voice echoed through the microphone. His arms spread wide as he motioned to the monsters on the opposite end. "Feast your eyes on my glorious creations. They are a superior equal to your kind." he boasted.
Nox leaned over to whisper something into his ear. Raziel's eyes narrowed before he lifted them up in my direction.
Dammit. I had been spotted.
He had glanced back at Nox, giving him a nod, and waved him away. Nox was grinning ear to ear as he vanished.
Clearing his throat, Raziel turned back toward the guys, "It's sooner than I would like, but I have a special opponent for you."
At that moment, the door in the locked room I was in slammed open to reveal Nox standing with a sneer.
"C'mon, Mon Cheri." he was across the room before I ran. Yanking me up by my forearm he dragged me out.
"Don't touch me!" I growled as I clawed at him, as well as digging my heels into the floor. It was fruitless as he pulled me out with ease, ignoring my attempts to fight him off.
Being dragged around like a rag doll was not my finest moment as Nox roughly shoved me through another door that led to the viewer’s box that was above the arena.
Raziel’s eyes glittered mischievously as they threw me to the floor at his feet.
“Any changes?”
Nox shook his head, “No, sir. No visible changes.”
“Excellent. Her body is adapting to the serum better than I had hoped.” Raziel mused as he stroked his beard.
Dread suddenly filled me. Adapted? Serum?
“What are you talking about?” as I tried to push myself up, there was a hard yanking of my hair as Nox had forced me back up to my feet.
“Ah, ah. You’ll know soon enough, my dear.”
Raziel turned his attention back to the guys. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you defenseless. I need to see how my juggernauts can do against a few dragons. How fortunate we are that you blatantly threw yourselves into our midst. It will be quite satisfying to watch my hybrids destroy you.” Raziel sneered as he leaned on the banister.
“Seeing that a few of you survived leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth.”
“Noxious.” He turned to the man behind him.
Nox pulled out a smartphone from his pocket. I couldn’t see what was on the display. But from the swift movement of his fingers on the screen, we heard heavy chains fall from below us. Peering over the edge, I could see that the hybrids had also been wearing collars, but they now fell to the ground at their feet. They each bellowed out a roar, heading for their targets across the arena. Watching the guys stand ready to fight, I noticed they were still wearing theirs.
“Aren’t you going to give them a fair chance?” I turned my head to Raziel. “You said you wouldn’t leave them defenseless!” fists clenched at my sides.
Raziel gave me a side glance as he smirked smugly, “Did I, now?” he chuckled.
Blood boiling as I realized he had retracted what he said and lied. I took a swing at him, connecting with his jaw, which gave a satisfying crunch.
“You little bitch!” Raziel growled, stumbling back. He seemed to be more surprised that I had caught him off guard or really didn’t expect that I would attack him. Next thing I knew, there was a clawed hand wrapped around the back of my neck. Gasping for air as they lifted me off my feet. Ripping at the hand around my neck as I struggled to breathe before I passed out again.
Nox giggled behind me, “Feisty little one, aren’t you?”
“Proceed with the treatment. Give her an extra dose. I want to see what happens if you give more than what’s recommended.” Raziel smirked. “Then toss her into the arena.” Malice clear in his eyes.
Nox hesitated, “Won’t that just kill her?”
“Questioning my methods, Noxious?” his words full of warning.
“No, of course not.” Nox quickly replied.
“Good. You may proceed.” Raziel turned away, dismissing the conversation.
Lungs gasped for air as Noxious released me, and I didn’t have time to think of what the double dose was, as a sharp pinch was in my right arm. Looking over just in time to see that they had injected me with a clear fluid. The sensation in my arm was burning as he moved back, watching me with forlorn eyes.
Why would you look at me like that? Don’t pity me when this is your doing, you ugly bastard!
“Release the other hybrids.” Raziel commanded.
Noxious yanked me up by the arm as he pulled his phone out again. This time I could see he was unlocking something with it somehow.
“Wha…you…” my tongue felt heavy in my mouth as I attempted to form words. Fogginess clouded my mind before intense pain shot up neck, making me feel like my brain was going to explode.
“Shhh, now. Just let it take over.” Nox laughed low, pulling me into his arms. He twirled us around, making the pounding in my head worse.
“St..stop…” I gurgled out.
“If you insist!” Nox chuckled as he twirled one last time. As he did, he released me, letting my body fly over the banister. Down to the arena below.
CHAPTER 14
Have you ever had one of those moments where time slows down to a crawl as your life flashes before your eyes? In that moment, as they flung me over the banister, it felt like an eternity before I crashed to the ground. Gasping for air as it had knocked out the wind of me, including the soreness in my limbs from the rough fall. I already ached all over from whatever they injected me with. Which was now running from my head down through my legs and toes. Groaning out as I rolled over to my side, finally able to catch my breath into my starved lungs.
“Alyssa!”
Hearing my name being called made it sound like whoever it was calling me had been miles away from where I lay. The intense pain radiated all over my body. Trying to push myself up was also a struggle, as my head felt like it weighed a ton.
A juggernaut hybrid that was only a few feet from where I was had turned around. Struggling on the ground must have caught its attention, and now it was heading straight for me. Vision doubled as well as blurring everything that I could see. The monstrous hybrid stomped toward me in long strides. No time to react or get away. My body was off balance and swayed as sitting up was an enormous effort. I lifted an arm to shield myself, knowing too damn well that would not work. As he reached me and lifted a leg, I realized in horror that he was going to crush me to death.
I was about to be a bug splattered on a windshield. Great.
The hybrid roared as he hiked his leg up to propel me with his death blow. Squeezing my eyes tight, trying to prepare my muddled brain for the inevitable. Angry shouting and roaring from other hybrids sounded as the attack never came. Daring to peek, it shocked me to see someone blocking the hybrid. Both of his arms wrapped firmly around the lifted leg. His leather jacket torn as the hybrid flailed its claws at his head and shoulders. The man seemed unfazed as he grunted as he pushed the monster backwards, making it lose its footing to plummet it a few feet away. It all happened so fast as he turned on his heel to face me before kneeling by my side.
Short blonde hair nearly concealed his bright blue eyes as he smiled softly. "Alyssa, was it?" he reached his hand out for mine. Why did that feel so familiar?
"Yea..." I whispered with a heavy tongue. Not knowing who this man was, I didn't care at that moment, as I just wanted to get the hell out of this place. I toppled forward in his chest, and he wrapped an arm around my waist. He gritted his teeth as he glanced over his shoulder, “Hmph… big and ugly is coming too already.” Scooping me up in his arms as his left hand slipped under my knees.
“You can’t sleep here princess.” Cradling my body against his as the world around me seemed to speed past. Before I knew it, we were on the opposite end with the guys.
"Stop him! What are you fatheaded mongrels doing?!" Raziel snarled. "How is he able to do that? The circlet should block his powers!"
Intense pain. I gripped at the leather fabric of the man that carried me through the arena. "Ughh!!" the tips of my fingers splitting as elongated claws grew. Ripping through the leather fabric of this man's jacket and shirt. Involuntarily, my back arched in his arms as he landed lightly and nearly caused him to drop me to the ground.
“Hang on to her, Jayce!” came a rough growl as Gage came to stand by us.
“You think?” the man responded as I felt him adjust me in his arms. “Take it easy, I got you.”
Jayce? Where do I know that name?
The man that I knew now as Jayce gently lowered me to my feet. Just trying to stand was an effort as another rattle of pain wracked through my body. Staggering backwards, I bumped into a firm chest, and a muscular arm circled my body to steady me.
“Easy, Alyssa.” Vance held me firmly, as I had barely any control over my body.
Only one thing was on my mind was that my friends would soon be at the hands of the juggernauts. It wasn’t fair of that bastard to not give them a fighting chance. But I remembered something crucial. Even with an addled brain, attempting to warn them or maybe even give them a fighting chance was an effort.
