Page 41 of The Healing Dragon
“Your pet doesn’t want to leave,” Jesse says.
“I’m not leaving my sire,” Calaca says again.
Matias rubs his face, the tiredness evident on the bags under his eyes. “It’s not hurting or bothering anyone. Why does it have to leave?”
His question surprises Jesse and me.
The Calaca makes a noise in the back of its throat and I could swear it’s a version of a laugh. A sinister noise.
“You want to keep it?” I ask Matias.
“Why bother trying to get rid of it?” His question is obviously an excuse to avoid my question.
“Do you think it’s attached to him because of whatever your father did to him with the Red Book?” Jesse asks me.
A glint of something passes through Matia’s eyes, but he looks down to hide it.
I clear my throat. “His soul was taken, then returned to his body. Maybe that is why?”
I know my reasoning makes less sense. However, I can tell Matias appreciates the commentary because the tension on his shoulders lessens. Whatever happened to him under my father’s care isn’t something he is ready to speak of. Whatever the reason might be, he needs to come to terms with it first.
“Any ideas?” Jesse asks Matias, but he chooses not to answer.
Jesse sits back down and crosses his legs in front of him. It’s still dark out, but after the recent addition to the team, I know neither of us will sleep anymore. I sit next to Jesse, careful not to touch him, and wait for the day to come.
It's not long before Jesse says, “I can’t sleep with it staring at me.”
I can’t help but agree. It could at least turn its vacant gaze to the trees instead of boldly staring at us.
“Matias,” I begin to say, but he stops me by raising to his feet.
“If we won't sleep, we can start walking.”
I want to object and tell him that the sun hasn’t risen yet, but a few rays are peeking from the tops of the mountains. There is something beautiful and peaceful about them. That moment of the day before the rest of the world wakes, where you feel ahead of the rest just for that second.
The six-hour journey I had expected turned out to be a fifteen hour walk. Turns out we were all far more sore than we predicted and with me being so tired, I couldn’t keep taking away aches for anyone. Neither of the boys let me try at all.
The edge of the forest finally comes into view and it almost feels like it has come too soon. I’m not ready to face the walls of the castle I terrorized. I step into the clearing behind Matias and Calaca. The creature has made no allowances for being near Matias. Jesse was right to call it a pet. Even if it is, the creature acts more like a protective knight. Ready to risk it all for its master.
The day has gone by in a blink of an eye. The night lanterns are on, illuminating the outside walls of the Black Castle. We are crossing the clearing when I hear voices. My eyes shut because I know the screams are only in my head. The smell of burning itches my nose and the stinging in my eyes is not from heat. It’s all attached to the walls inside this castle. The images haunted my dreams for weeks before I was able to rest. In the depths of my nightmares, I realized that the trauma haunting me was nothing compared to the one experienced by the people here. My own personal hell was a walk in the park. I have no right stressing over the events when they were part of my own doing.
I shake my head to clear it. It must work because, almost immediately, I realize something isn’t right. I look around and the quiet empty backyard becomes a warning sign. There has never been a time I have seen this yard empty. The gardens can be seen from here and the lack of walking bodies feels alarming.
“It’s empty,” I say.
They must know we are here.
Matias stops walking and turns to me. Jesse doesn’t notice that we have stopped. Calaca doesn’t turn but raises its head and looks from side to side. Its eyes narrow at the castle like it’s waiting for something, but nothing happens.
“Alright, we are about to come to the protective shield.” Jesse stops and turns to us. “Brandon has to grant you entrance for it to allow you in.”
The castle’s security was strengthened in response to the attack with this shield. There must be people inside the shield that can see us, but we cannot see them. It’s a tricky show of power. Things this advanced are not common to see.
A group of soldiers riding horses steps out of the shield, inspecting us at a distance. A crowd of onlookers follows them closely. Their faces carry mix emotions, but most of their eyes freeze at the sight of Calaca.
“You idiot,” Roman shouts at the forefront of the crowd. He dismounts a horse dressed in metal gear and runs to his brother. In one swift movement, he takes Jesse into his chest and holds on to him tight. “We were wondering where you were.”
The crowd parts slightly and through the middle Brandon carefully walks forwards, eyeing the rest of us with apprehension. His eyes land on me and search my body for the missing item.
