Wrath of the Dragon 4, page 23
“They grant wishes?” I asked. “I thought that was just a fairy tale?”
“It’s true,” the Enchantress said quietly. “But that is the biggest danger you will face when you meet it.”
“Wishes?” Brooke gasped. “That’s perfect! We can just wish for all the demons to die!”
“No!” Seraphina snapped, and she held up her hands in apology. “Sorry. Sorry. But you need to listen to what I am about to say. Ryan, the Fire Jinn will offer you three wishes, and you must not agree. No matter how tempting it might be.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “But why? Isn’t Brooke right? It’s kind of like a magic trick we could use for good?”
“Nothing good will come of it,” the Enchantress said, and she leaned over the table so I could see every golden fleck in her eyes. “Do you know where the Fire Jinn comes from?”
“No,” I said, and I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Exactly,” she hissed. “It is so old that nobody does. But what we do know is that it will consume the souls of anyone who accepts its offer of wishes. That’s how it grows in power.”
“But you said only a god can call it out,” Ruby said. “Does that mean it’s taken the souls of other gods?”
“Yes.” Seraphina nodded solemnly. “Ancient gods who have been long forgotten. They have been absorbed into the soul of the Jinn. If you agree to its offer of three wishes, then you will meet the same fate.”
“Gods can be killed?” I asked, and the angels looked just as shocked as I was.
“Not killed,” the Enchantress said. “Their souls are just molded into the Jinn. It’s worse than death, because there is a tiny part of you that still exists. It just can’t ever escape.”
I imagined being trapped inside the soul of an evil monster for all eternity, and I reasoned that there was nothing that could be tempting enough to risk that. Not even three wishes. But I wasn’t so naive to think I would be able to fight the Jinn without any issues. It was clear that this beast was ancient, and I was starting to think it was even more powerful than the very worst of the demons.
“Can it be killed?” I asked. “Will fire and weapons work against it?”
“It can be wounded and killed.” Seraphina nodded. “Just like any animal, it will bleed. But its power and tricks prevent anyone from getting close enough to do so.”
“Ryan will do it,” Cyra said fiercely. “He can do anything.”
“He just brought down an overlord,” Nisha agreed. “He’s destined to save Dracoria, and we will help him spill this beast’s blood. We will claim its soul before it can claim ours.”
Her silver eyes glinted dangerously at the thought, and I rested my hand on her soft thigh.
“With your help,” I said firmly. “My four angels are essential to the whole operation.”
I felt my face heat up when I realized I had just referred to Ruby as mine, but she didn’t even bat an eyelid.
Did she already think of herself as mine?
I glanced at the crystal angel, but she gave nothing away with her content expression.
“You said Ryan can call the Jinn out,” Brooke said. “What does he need to say? Is there like a special chant he has to do?”
“Just announce yourself,” Seraphina instructed. “Tell the Jinn who you are, and it should open its lair for you.”
“Easy!” Brooke shrugged. “Call it out, ignore the wishes, kill it.”
“You cannot underestimate it,” the Enchantress warned. “The things it will offer you are enough to tempt anyone. Mortal or god. You have no idea the strength that is needed to defeat this evil.”
“I can do it,” I said. “There is nothing it can offer me that will weaken me. Saving Dracoria is the only thing that matters. Protecting my angels will drive me more than any offer of wishes ever could.”
The Enchantress nodded silently as she studied my face, and she suddenly got to her feet.
“You should go,” she announced. “The Jinn becomes stronger every second that it is still alive.”
I stood up as I took a last look down at the huge book on the table. It was a shame I didn’t have time to read the whole history, but I felt like I had the essential information I needed. Maybe I would have time for reading for pleasure after I had saved the entirety of Dracoria.
“You’ve been really helpful,” I said. “Thank you. I hope you start to venture out a bit more.”
“I think I will,” Seraphina murmured. “Now that there is a powerful god around for people to focus their prayers on.”
I wanted to argue that I couldn’t hear anyone’s prayers, but the Enchantress started to shoo us out of the cave door. It was obvious she wasn’t used to visitors staying for long, and I didn’t want to get on the wrong side of the ancient woman.
“Thank you for everything!” Brooke said in a singsong tone. “Good job on being so pretty even though you’re old!”
Cyra smacked the water angel over the head, but the Enchantress chuckled as we stepped out onto the brown stone path.
“Ryan,” the red-haired woman called after me, and I turned around. “I cannot stress enough how strong you will have to be for this. Gods have fallen to the Jinn before. You cannot underestimate it.”
Seraphina vanished suddenly, and I found myself staring at the tumbling Fire Falls as if there had never been a doorway there at all.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s head back before Sid appears again.”
“Aww, but he’s so fun!” Brooke pouted. “So much wraaaath!”
We walked back onto the grass, and the pathway vanished just as Brooke stepped off it. The tumbling lava rhythmically hit the lake, and it was like nothing had even happened.
“She was nice,” Nisha spoke up. “Slightly intense, but I suppose that’s what happens if your only friend is a giant fire worm.”
“At least we know what we’re up against,” I said. “Mostly. But there is one thing that I don’t understand. If the Jinn can only be called out by a god, then why was Cyra’s gift left there? What are the chances she would end up returning with another god?”
“That’s true.” Cyra frowned. “Maybe he really never wanted me to get it. I knew he secretly hated me! Bastard!”
“No…” Ruby shook her silver head. “Perhaps he knew about the prophecy even before I did.”
“You think he knew Ryan was coming?” Cyra furrowed her brow.
“Maybe,” Ruby said with a slight nod. “Maybe that’s why they didn’t feel bad about leaving their angels behind. They knew someone more powerful would eventually come and save you all.”
I still hadn’t fully wrapped my head around the idea of becoming a god, so the notion that the older gods knew I’d come in the future was unthinkable. There was no way I was that ingrained into the destiny of Dracoria.
But I had wondered how they could have abandoned their land and people. Could it be that they knew it would eventually fall into better hands?
My head was spinning as I considered every possibility, and I rubbed my eyes as I thought back to the task at hand.
“Let’s focus on the Fire Jinn,” I decided. “Then we can try and work out what the fuck is going on with prophecies and destinies. We’ll go back to the city and round up our fighters before we move out.”
“Time to defeat some evil!” Brooke cheered. “Cyra is about to become an Elite angel! Ooooh, I bet your hair will get even softerrrrrr!”
“What?” Cyra snorted. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Brooke shrugged. “That just feels like the type of thing that might happen when you become elite! Super sleek and sexy angel hair and body!”
“I’m more excited about the powers,” I chuckled. “But sure, softer hair would be good, too.”
I only had to think about my fire dragon form for a split second before the wings sprouted from my back. My golden scales sprung from my skin as my huge body shot up into the air.
The angels soared up beside me, and I took one last glance at the Fire Falls before we started to fly back through the narrow valley.
I was fueled with adrenaline as we flew over the orange hills and made our way back toward Woodbridge.
We were quiet as we traveled, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Ruby’s words. Was it really possible that the gods knew I would come? Had they seen that someone more powerful would save the world they had tried and failed to rule? It was still a shitty move for them to leave, but maybe they knew that it would have to happen eventually.
The distant skies had finally calmed down, and it looked like the celebrating fire folk had finally gone to sleep, but I couldn’t wait for the party that would happen when the Fire Jinn was killed. There probably wasn’t enough booze in all of Dracoria to fuel what these creatures were capable of.
The walled city of Woodbridge eventually came into view, and it looked like most of the army were already gathered in the town center. They cheered as I flew over to greet them, and I lowered myself down to hover over the crowd.
“Time to rally the people,” Cyra said. “Come on, Dragon God, give them a show!”
The fire angel blew me a kiss as the creatures below cheered and clapped for me. I knew I needed them in high spirits, and they had to be fueled with enough fury to balance out their fear.
“People of the Fire Lands!” I called, and my voice was laced with a draconic roar. “The time has come to rise up against the ancient evil that lives under your feet. I have watched you slaughter demons, and now I need you to bring that same energy to destroying the Jinn.”
The welders stomped the ground enthusiastically while the gnomes cheered. I could practically smell their determination, and their energy hyped me up even more.
“You must come together,” I continued. “Put aside past fights and differences to defeat the true enemy. Claim back what is rightfully your land!”
“Yes!” Khar yelled. “We are ready to fight!”
“We’ll tear its head off!” Ember screamed, and the younger gnomes went feral with howls.
“March to the Deep Volcano!” I called. “Bring all the weapons you can carry! It’s time to slay our final enemy! For the freedom of the Fire Lands!”
The crowd screamed and chanted as they stormed toward the city gate, and the doorway flung open for them. Welders pulled weapon-loaded carts along behind them, and I knew it would be worth the extra time for them to walk there. Seraphina had told us that the Jinn could be hurt, and we had more than enough firepower to make that happen.
The winged creatures flew along with me and the angels as we matched the pace of the welders below. I was shocked at how fast the huge people ran with their heavy carts, but I was grateful for the quick time they made.
Everyone was riled up and raring to go, and they didn’t stop cheering until we eventually reached the Deep Volcano. Then the crowd slowed to a halt as the welders stared up from the bottom of the volcano.
Silence fell over my army as everyone turned to look at me. A few of the younger gnomes were very pale, but everyone made sure their weapons were loaded and ready to go. Even the pigs had determined scowls on their flat faces.
Then the welders began to set up every launcher they had in a steady line, and I waited until they had created a barricade. Khar looked up and nodded to me as the final sphere was put in place.
They were ready.
I hovered in front of the huge doorway as I studied the detailed engravings. It was time to meet the creature that was capable of destroying multiple gods. A beast that struck more fear into people than any demon king or overlord ever could.
That thought probably should have worried me, but it just made me more determined than ever before.
The words of the Enchantress echoed in my mind, and I knew I was going to need every ounce of mental and physical strength to win this fight. As long as I resisted accepting the wishes, then we would win.
“It’s time,” Cyra said quietly. “Let’s kill this bastard. I want my gift,”
Her amber eyes narrowed as she glared at the doorway, and it was the first time she had admitted she wanted to become elite. That was all the motivation I needed to call out this evil fucker.
I felt heat prickle along every inch of my body as I stared into the eyes of the engraved Jinn on the door, and I cleared my throat before I spoke.
“I am here for the Fire Jinn!” I roared, and smoke billowed from my nostrils. “I am Ryan, the Dragon God of Dracoria, and I demand you unlock your door!”
My words echoed off the golden hillside, and everyone seemed to hold their breaths. There was a moment of silence, and I opened my mouth to speak again. But a slow, spine-chilling creak pierced the sky as the massive doorway opened, and we stared into a dark void inside the volcano.
My call had worked.
Chapter 15
We stared into the dark doorway and waited. I braced myself for a sudden attack, but there was no sign of life on the other side. It was still and silent as if it was empty, but I knew it wasn’t.
“Should we go inside?” Nisha whispered.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “Walking into the Jinn’s home territory gives it way too much of an advantage. It knows we’re here. It’ll come.”
I wasn’t sure why I felt so confident, but I could feel a strange prickling sensation deep in my chest. It was like my body was trying to warn me about a nearby evil again. My dragon instincts had become so strong that I now trusted them completely, and I caught a dull scent of burning as I sniffed the air.
“I think it’s coming,” I breathed.
There was a sudden gust of wind from the cave that carried a faint song out to the Fire Lands. It was a soft, melodic tune that instantly relaxed my whole body. The song sounded like a child’s lullaby sung in a deep, dreamy tone.
Then a huge shadow exploded from the doorway, and I threw myself in front of the angels as the shape uncurled into the sky.
The Fire Jinn was somehow made of both flames and shadows all at the same time. Its towering body flickered with golden light, but there was a deep blackness underneath as if the fire had been lit over a void. Red eyes flashed out of the human-shaped face, and it wore a smile that spread to either side of its skull. The beast had powerful arms that it raised into the sky, but its bottom half trailed off into wispy shadows where its legs should have been.
It was a terrifying, incredible sight to behold, and it seemed to suck the air from everyone’s lungs as they stared up in terror.
“Fire Jinn!” I snarled. “We are here to rid this land of you and claim back what is rightfully ours!”
The army below didn’t give much in the way of enthusiasm, but a couple of welders managed to stomp their feet in agreement.
“Ryan,” the Jinn said, and I was surprised at the soothing tone of its voice.
It sounded like it was whispering, even though the noise boomed and bounced over the land.
“I know why you are here,” it continued. “I can give you what you want. No need for violence. We are both reasonable beings, and I do not crave a war. Let’s settle this easily without bloodshed.”
I narrowed my eyes, but the Jinn’s voice sent a calming wave down my spine. Its glowing eyes bored into mine as it gently bobbed in the warm sky.
“Here is my offer to you,” the Jinn called like a song. “I will grant you three wishes…”
I went to move toward the creature and attack, but it held its hand up in such a humanlike way that I paused. It felt like my limbs didn’t work properly as I stared into the glowing red eyes.
“No need for bloodshed,” the Jinn called. “Like I said. We can solve this all without violence. Your three wishes can be used to save this world from demons. That is what you want, isn’t it?”
My throat was dry as I tried to respond, and I could see out of the corner of my eye that the angels and army seemed to be frozen in place. Nobody moved as the shadowy beast floated and smiled.
“No angels will be harmed,” the Fire Jinn continued. “I can kill all demons in the world with a click of my fingers, and all you need to do is word the wish properly. That is why so many others have failed. They rush into the wish without thinking. But ask for your people to be kept safe, and they will be.”
Was this true? My brain felt like it had started to fog over, but the Jinn’s words made sense. Maybe the other gods had worded their wishes so poorly that it had all gone wrong.
But if I carefully planned out what I wanted, then I could save all Dracoria in the blink of an eye. I could kill the demons and save all the people and angels in the world.
No.
Shit.
That wasn’t real.
I tried to focus, but I felt drunk. It was as if someone had drugged me, and I couldn’t get any words out properly. What the fuck was this powerful magic?
“Once the world is saved,” the Jinn sang. “Then you can use your other wishes for deeper desires. All the powers of all the gods combined. Treasures too valuable to name. As many angels as you can bind to yourself. The prettiest ones you want will fall at your feet and into your bed. They will do whatever you ask without question.”
“Angels are their own people,” I managed to spit out. “They shouldn’t just be wished for as trophies!”
“Indeed,” the Jinn sang. “But this is your chance to save everyone, Ryan. If you try and save each land yourself, then you will run out of time. Thousands of beings are already dying in those far off lands. They are dying because you aren’t there, but I can help. I can save them all. You need only ask…”
Thick fog seemed to cloud my vision as well as my mind as I tried desperately to stay focused. Were people really dying because I wasn’t getting to them fast enough? The thought made me feel sick.
I could only fight demons as fast as I was physically able, and maybe that wasn’t enough. Even if the Jinn claimed me, wouldn’t that be worth saving everyone in Dracoria?
“I will make sure your angels are taken care of,” the Jinn purred. “They can stay with me whenever they like. I will soothe their bodies as well as their minds. You won’t have to worry about them anymore when they come down to the darkness with me.”
