Wrath of the Dragon 4, page 22
“Woodbridge will be ready for your return,” Khar said. “We can also send out an army if you need it.”
“We should be fine.” I nodded. “This is just a trip to get some information. But once we get back, then we’ll need as much firepower as we can get.”
“Understood,” Khar said. “We’ll make sure we are fully stocked with everything, and I’ll be ready for your commands.”
The huge man signaled for the doors to be opened, and three welders hurried forward to work. They grunted as the massive gateway was unlocked to reveal the glowing morning light illuminating the Fire Lands.
“So pretty,” Brooke sighed and batted her eyes at me. “Let’s do this!”
The angels spread their wings as the sun warmed my face, and I focused on my fire dragon form. Golden scales appeared quickly as my whole body grew in every direction. My powerful wings shot out of my spine as I flew upward with the angels beside me.
I did a few circles in the air to stretch out my huge body, and I looked down to see the Woodbridge doors had already been closed.
“What a morning!” I growled. “Cyra, how long will it take to get there?”
“Maybe an hour,” she said as she studied the horizon. “Less if we’re fast!”
“Lead the way,” I said. “Let’s go and visit an Enchantress.”
The angels cheered, and Cyra shot off through the glowing sky. I followed after her as the sun warmed my scales, and I knew we were so close to destroying an ultimate evil.
But hopefully, we would also find Cyra’s gift while killing a monster that lurked under the ground.
I grinned as a rush of cool wind rippled down my scales. It was a beautiful day to save the Fire Lands.
Chapter 14
The sun warmed my scales as we flew over the Fire Lands, and my mind was racing with thoughts about my new powers.
I wished Dracoria had some kind of camera so I could see what shooting fire from my eyes looked like.
But it felt like we had all leveled up as a group now that each of my angels had increased their abilities, and I couldn’t wait to see what Cyra would be capable of once we got her gift after killing the Jinn. We were going to be fucking unstoppable.
The fire angel led us over a lava swamp that had orange toads bobbing happily on the boiling surface. Tall flowers with yellow and pink petals sprouted up between hillsides, and I was starting to get an idea of how beautiful this land really was.
An infestation of demons was enough to make anywhere seem chaotic, but it really was a stunning part of the world.
“Not too much further!” Cyra called as we left the swamp behind. “But when we get to the falls, I’m not sure exactly where she stays.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “I’ve got a really good feeling about today.”
“Me, too!” Brooke squealed. “We can take on anything as long as we’re together!”
“Exactly.” I grinned. “This group is growing more powerful by the second.”
“I don’t know,” Cyra sighed dramatically. “I’m starting to feel a bit weak. You might need to recharge me really soon.”
“If I must,” I chuckled. “It really is a tough job being bound to you all.”
“Someone has to do it,” Nisha giggled, and Ruby shot me a stunning grin.
It was very hard to keep my mind on the job sometimes.
The land below started to become less rocky, and I was surprised to see long grass stretching out in front of us. It was green, but it had a glint of yellow to it that made it fit in with the fiery surroundings more. Trees with red leaves started to pop up everywhere, and I spotted a herd of golden deer dashing through the bushes. There was a wide pathway that wound through the wooded area as well, and I assumed it used to be for tourists going to the falls.
It was odd to imagine creatures from different lands visiting each other. I had only seen local residents in every place I had been to, but it would be fascinating to see how they interacted with strange lands. Probably just like anyone on vacation back on Earth, and I chuckled at the thought of gnomes buying postcards.
We flew through a narrow valley between two orange hills, and I was blown away by the sight we were greeted with on the other side.
The Fire Falls were exactly as magical as their name suggested. There was a huge clearing surrounded by tall hills that formed a circle, with the falls taking up the whole back wall. Towering volcanoes were spilling out a gentle flow of glowing lava that tumbled down into a burning pool in the ground. It almost looked like an orange lake that appeared to be self-contained, and there were plenty of trees and bushes around the clearing, but I couldn’t see any signs of human life or houses.
“Where does the lava go?” I asked as we stopped to admire the view.
“The trees here need it to survive,” Cyra said. “It seeps out of the lake into the ground and nourishes them.”
“That’s amazing,” I said. “Nature is crazy in Dracoria.”
“It’s stunning,” Nisha whispered. “It really does look like a waterfall!”
“I can see why people traveled to see it,” Ruby agreed.
“Sooo,” Brooke said as she looked around the huge clearing. “Where should we look for our magical enchantress?”
“Could she be underground?” I asked. “Any hidden tunnel systems in the Fire Lands?”
“Not around here.” Cyra frowned. “I was kind of hoping she would just show herself when she saw a dragon and angels floating around. Usually we make quite an impression.”
“Helloooo!” Brooke called loudly. “Miss Enchantress! We are with the great Dragon God of Dracoria, and we need some help, please!”
The water angel waited hopefully for a reply, but the tumbling lava was the only noise that echoed around the clearing.
“Oh,” she said sadly. “I thought that might work.”
“Good effort,” I said gently. “But if she lives way out here, then she probably isn’t keen on visitors. Let’s take a look around.”
I soared down to the grass as I focused on my human form. The changes were happening so seamlessly now that I barely noticed the rippling sensation as my scales vanished. My limbs didn’t need to stretch out as much as usual, either, and I wondered if my body had finally grown accustomed to the constant shrinking and growing.
The falls were even more impressive when I wasn’t so high off the ground. I had to crane my neck to see the top of the hills as the orange lava tumbled down in a thick stream. There was a pleasant smell that reminded me of bonfires, and the sounds of the bubbling lake were oddly relaxing.
I looked around at the tall trees and wondered where an enchantress could hide her lair.
Maybe Brooke had been on the right path with calling out. There could be a password or something that this woman expected to hear in order for someone to speak with her. Or maybe she was old and just hadn’t heard us coming.
“Hello!” I called. “My name is Ryan, and I wish to speak with the Enchantress!”
There was a sudden eruption of lava in the lake in front of me, and a huge creature burst out from the surface.
“Fuck!” I yelled as I stumbled backward and shielded the angels from the burning liquid that rained down around us.
“Who dares enter my realm?” a voice croaked out, and I looked up to see a huge worm sticking out of the lake.
It was a pale pink with rings of gold around its thick body, and a drooling mouth with no teeth chomped open and shut. I couldn’t see any eyes on the beast as it swayed dangerously from side to side, but I had an overwhelming sense that it was staring right at me.
“Ryan!” Cyra yelled as she tugged me further back. “Get away!”
She pulled at my arm, and I stumbled back a few more feet from the lake. Then we stared at the huge worm once we weren’t within its reach anymore, and I realized my hands had been burned with drops of lava.
Brooke slipped her hand over mine, and she silently summoned drops of healing water that sparkled over my small burns. I squeezed her to thank her as we wordlessly stared up at the lake beast.
“Do you think that’s her?” Nisha whispered. “Is the Enchantress… a giant worm?”
“I don’t think so,” Cyra hissed, but she didn’t sound convinced.
“Only one way to find out,” I said as I took a small step forward. “We don’t mean any harm! I just want to speak with the Enchantress.”
“How dare you,” the worm snarled. “Who do you think you are to demand an audience with her?”
“I’m Ryan.” I shrugged. “I don’t know why it has to be a big deal. We just want to talk.”
“You are a stranger,” the worm called. “You have come to this land with no–”
“That’s enough,” a woman’s voice sighed, and I spun around to try and find who it belonged to.
Brooke gasped and pointed to the middle of the Fire Falls. The wall of lava parted as if someone had pulled a curtain, and a woman stepped through directly onto the lake.
She was young, beautiful, and not at all what I had expected. Her skin had a golden glow, and her sharp face was framed by bright red curls. The Enchantress’ eyes were a deep brown with flecks of gold, and she wore a long dress made of pink silk. She had golden bracelets going right up both arms, and big hoop earrings hanging from her ears, and she was walking barefoot on the surface of the lava lake.
She was like a much more beautiful and intense version of Jesus.
“Hi,” I said after a moment of stunned silence. “I’m Ryan.”
“I heard,” the woman said airily. “Sorry about Sid. He’s a bit overdramatic sometimes.”
The giant worm slumped at her words, and the beautiful woman stroked its slimy body kindly.
“But it’s only because you care,” she said. “I appreciate how seriously you take your job.”
“I am the guard,” the worm said in a quiet voice. “I protect the Enchantress. I am to be feared!”
“Yes,” the red-haired woman sighed. “I’m sure everyone was quite terrified.”
“I was,” Brooke chirped. “Very scary how you just appeared like that. I was like, ‘ahhhh, scariest thing I’ve seen all daaaaay!’ But I said it in my head.”
“Really?” Sid the worm asked. “Excellent! Fear my wrath!”
Brooke obediently nodded. “Consider it feared.”
The huge creature slid back down under the surface of the lake of lava, and I blinked at the orange bubbles as he vanished from view. I felt like I had just had some kind of drunken hallucination as I tried to process speaking to a giant fire worm.
“Well,” the Enchantress said. “Sorry about all that. Come on in.”
“Come in?” Nisha asked. “How?”
The Enchantress waved her hand gently, and a pathway appeared in the middle of the fiery lake. Brown stones lined the way right into a dark doorway through the falls, and I was going to ask where exactly she was leading us, but the red-haired woman spun on her heels and marched back where she had come from.
“Do you think it’s safe?” Nisha whispered.
“I think so,” I said. “But still, stay close to me anyway.”
The surface of the lake stayed still, and I stepped out onto the stone pathway. It was sturdy, and I cautiously put my full weight on it before I beckoned for the angels to follow me.
We hurried after the Enchantress through the falls, and it felt bizarre to walk directly through a wall of tumbling lava. Then I stepped into the cave entrance, and I was suddenly dazzled by glowing light. It appeared to come from every direction as if the sun was shining, but I couldn’t see any windows. There didn’t even seem to be any candles or lanterns, either. It was as if the light was coming from nowhere.
Her home was a huge cavern filled with books, comfortable-looking armchairs, red flowers, and glowing bugs. A circular table was in the middle of the space, and there was a teapot placed down next to six cups and saucers.
The Enchantress was crouched down next to one of the red plants, and she examined one of the petals as if she was checking for bugs.
“Whoa,” Cyra muttered as she entered last. “This is amazing.”
“Where is the light coming from?” Nisha asked as she looked around the rocky ceiling.
“Me,” the Enchantress said as she got to her feet. “It’s just a simple spell.”
She walked over to the table and started to pour steaming tea into cups before she gestured for us to come over.
“Help yourself,” she said. “It’s ginger and lemon.”
I saw the angels eye the cups warily, and I decided to be the official poison tester. The Enchantress probably had no reason to try and kill any of us, but I knew it would put everyone’s minds at ease.
Brooke gasped slightly as I took a sip of what turned out to be perfectly ordinary tea, and the Enchantress raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry,” the water angel said. “I was worried you were evil, even though you’re ridiculously pretty.”
“You really are,” Nisha said. “I love your hair.”
“Thank you,” the Enchantress chuckled, and her laugh was as warm as the light.
“I’m Cyra,” the fire angel said. “I’ve never met you before, but I used to live here with the God of Fire. This is Nisha, Brooke, and Ruby.”
“It’s a pleasure,” the red-haired woman said. “Please, call me Seraphina.”
“Even her name is beautiful,” Brooke sighed. “I knew you wouldn’t be ugly!”
I snorted with laughter as Seraphina gave the water angel a bemused look.
“Wait,” Cyra said slowly. “I have seen you before! You used to come to the marketplace outside Woodbridge when it was up and running. I remember your face because… well, you’re stupidly pretty.”
“So many compliments,” Seraphina laughed as she waved her hand. “You angels are too kind. But I used to go to the markets, yes. I wore a cloak to blend in so people did not ask too much of me.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “Did people ask you for magic?”
“Yes,” the Enchantress sighed. “They thought my magic was limitless, and begged me to heal their wounded husbands and ill children. But I don’t have those kinds of powers.”
“Why did they ask you those things?” Ruby frowned. “Surely those are the sorts of problems to pray for?”
“That’s what I thought,” Seraphina said. “But some people were desperate, and I hated letting them down. So I stopped going out.”
She sat down in one of the armchairs, and a golden moth flew out of the cushion.
“Sorry you were driven away,” I said. “I hope you don’t mind us seeking you out. It’s kind of an emergency.”
The Enchantress studied me for a moment, and a smile slowly lit up her pretty face.
“I know who you are,” she said. “Dragon God. Slayer of demons.”
“Really?” I asked. “I wasn’t sure if you would have heard about the overlords being killed.”
“I hear everything,” she said. “Even when your little water angel isn’t yelling all about you to my lake, the creatures bring me all kinds of stories.”
The angels seemed more curious than cautious now, and they hurried over to sit around the table.
“I know why you have come,” Seraphina continued. “After the demons, there is only one evil left to defeat in these lands.”
“The Jinn.” I nodded. “We were told you might know something about it.”
“You could say that,” the Enchantress laughed as she got to her feet.
She walked over to a towering pile of books in the corner and pulled out one with a red cover. There were no words on the front, but there was a picture of a smoking beast with glowing eyes.
“You have a whole book about the different types of Jinn?” Brooke gasped. “That’s so helpful!”
“I do,” Seraphina chuckled. “I wrote it, in fact.”
“Seriously?” I asked. “You wrote that?”
The Enchantress smiled as she brought it back to the table and handed it to me. It was incredibly heavy, and I laid it on the table so the angels could see as I opened it. The pages were thick parchment with beautiful handwritten studies inside. Some chapters had illustrations to match the text, and I could tell that hours of painstaking work had gone into the writing.
I scanned the pages to see historical retellings of encounters with various types of Jinn, and descriptions of what they were rumored to look like.
“This is incredible,” I breathed. “How do you know so much about them?”
“I’ve heard many stories,” Seraphina said. “Before the gods left, I traveled to every land in Dracoria to hear about encounters with Jinn. There is something so fascinating about pure evil.”
“Wait.” Brooke frowned. “How long did it take you to travel? Aren’t you like a super young mortal? Like twenty-five at most?”
“Not quite.” Seraphina smiled. “I’m about to turn eight hundred and six.”
The cavern fell silent as we all stared at the beautiful woman, and she chuckled as she took in our shock.
“I don’t know why that alarms you,” she said. “You’re all young and gorgeous, but centuries old, nonetheless.”
“I suppose,” Nisha said. “But I didn’t know others could live quite that long!”
“Only a handful,” Seraphina said. “Magic folk have different genes to other mortals. I imagine I’ll be around for a few more years to come.”
I was so shocked to learn how old the Enchantress was that I barely even noticed Nisha turning the pages of the book in front of me.
“Do you know how to defeat it?” Cyra asked. “Is there a way to kill the Jinn?”
“We need to get inside first,” Nisha said as she leaned in to study a picture of the Fire Jinn’s golden doorway.
“Ryan can help you with that,” Seraphina said. “The Jinn will only open its doors if called on by a god.”
“Wait.” I frowned. “Nobody else can get it out of the cave?”
“No,” the enchantress answered. “It can only be summoned by the voice of a god.”
I glanced back at the book as Nisha turned a page, and I saw the word wish jump out at me.
