The Dragon Sea

Chapter 5. Demise

My first instinct was to charge at them and help Danica escape, but Rafael grabbed me from the back and covered my mouth with his hand.

Don’t! He mind-linked me. Look up.

Following his instruction, I glanced upward and noticed the dragon still orbiting overhead. We could only pray that he hadn’t spotted us from above, and fortunately, the darkness and remnants of this little shrine concealed us.

If you go out now, you will risk the lives of all these kids’, Raf reasoned. And then you will die too, still without changing anything for Danica.

He was right, but it was so wrong…

My gaze fixed on Danica. She was fighting desperately against the man holding her, her movements wild and frantic. He was tall and undeniably attractive, with lengthy blonde hair adorned with small braids that glistened even in the dim light. What could she offer against a guy that huge?

His chuckles were taunting and cruel as she attempted to kick him, which only made him laugh harder.

“Raf, let me go!” I insisted. “It’s Danica! I can’t leave her like that! Please!”

“Listen to me,” his grip on me tightened, “Look at those kids. Luomei and Danica risked their lives to get them to safety. They are still pups, and it’s our duty to protect them first. Especially yours and Nica’s because you are seniors. She left this place so that the others would not be discovered. Don’t risk it, Dany! Don’t you dare risk it!”

“I’ll create a distraction—“I suggested, searching for a solution.

Then, a female voice interrupted us. “Finally, we found you, little b***h!”

I furrowed my brows, gazing intently through the shattered glass of the window. Only now had I noticed that one of the strangers was actually a female as she removed her hood to reveal warm, sun-kissed skin, eyes like smoky quartz, and a long, braided ponytail. She was a striking contrast of beauty and something sinister, and the way she looked at my friend made me shudder with a deep, unsettling fear.

“Did you find the mark?” The blonde guy asked his accomplice.

“Here it is,” the woman grabbed Danica’s hair and yanked her head, eliciting a scream from the girl. She pointed at her birthmark, something I looked at every time she wore a ponytail. A cute little red spot in the shape of a flame. I once promised her I would get myself a tattoo just like that, so we were like real sisters.

A tear slid down my cheek as I recalled this.

The dragon roared so close that I briefly feared it would spew lava directly on us. Instead, the creature soared overhead, transforming into flames right before our eyes. The moment those flames hit the ground, a man emerged from them, joining the group.

“What are you waiting for?” the newcomer demanded. He stood a bit shorter than his blond companion, with jet-black hair cut short and skin as dark as midnight. Yet, his green eyes shone so vividly that it was impossible to mistake him for anyone else. I had only caught a glimpse of the dragon’s eyes, but that instant was forever etched in my memory. Whoever this second man was, was also the dragon that had just destroyed our school.

“We are waiting for you, of course!” The woman giggled coldly, handing him a spear she was holding. “You told us that she was your kill.”

“I told you I am taking the credit since I do most of the work, Priya,” he corrected her. “Who is the one to actually kill her—that I do not care of.”

Hearing this, Danica’s whole body jerked as she tried to free herself again. “Whoever you think I am, you are wrong!” She pleaded. “I am just a wolfless Omega! A nobody—”

Her voice broke and the trio exchanged amused glances right before they burst out laughing.

“All true,” her captor shook her to remind her that he was still in control. She looked so tiny against that giant. “You are no one, and you will never have a wolf.”

It sounded like he was teasing her, but why would they even care to capture an Omega?

The woman grasped Danica’s chin, twisting it left and right while studying her face. “To be honest, I can’t see the resemblance.”

“Are you kidding me?” The dragon shifter chuckled. “She is clearly a Leviathan!”

I tried to make sense of what they were talking about, but I couldn’t.

“Don’t be jealous, Priya,” the blond guy smirked. “At least admit that she is pretty.”

“Oh, please, Leander!” The woman rolled her eyes. “Those freckles— who could like that?”

I balled my hands into fists, aware of how much Nica must have been hurting inside hearing all of this.

“If we had time, I would have counted every single one with my tongue.” The one called Leander brushed his fingers over Danica’s arms, and she hit his foot, using the momentum to try to escape.

However, she didn’t even take a few steps before the dragon caught her and threw her to the ground with force. So hard that I heard her bones snap. Nica whimpered but did not make another sound.

Fuck it, Raf, I elbowed my new Alpha. I am going there! If anything happens, just lead the kids away!

I said no! Rafael used his Alpha tone in my mind, and Lisa lowered her head in submission. That Stupid fox… My body went stiff, fighting them both.

“We need to finish this,” the green-eyed dragon announced. “It has been dragging on for too long.”

Danica tried to crawl away, but the tall guy knelt next to her and dragged her back by her feet while the woman pinned her hands to the ground. “You know the drill,” she said coldly, gesturing at the spear.

“Straight through the heart,” the dragon shifter replied, his voice devoid of any emotion as well.

Danica’s eyes widened in terror, and I charged to help her, but Rafael caught me in his arms, muffling my screams. Danica screamed, drowning the sounds we were making as the group of assassins laughed, watching her.

Monsters! They were real monsters… There was not even a glimpse of sympathy in any of them.

My friend struggled harder as my tears fell freely, blurring my vision. The spear gleamed in the dim light, a wicked, lethal weapon poised to end her life. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that I was surprised it still didn’t give us away.

“Please, no!” Danica’s voice broke into a desperate plea. “I’m not who you think I am! Please!”

The dragon shifter didn’t hesitate. With a swift, brutal motion, he plunged the spear into her chest. Danica’s scream pierced the air, mingling with the sound of tearing flesh and breaking bones.

“No!” I whispered, my voice barely a whisper now. Tears streamed down my face as I watched my best friend’s life extinguish before my eyes.

“Are you certain that’s her?” The assassin who had just stabbed Danica’s heart twisted his spear, ensuring it reached the ground while addressing his accomplices, who continued to hold her down while a pool of blood spread beneath their victim.

My stomach churned at the sight of my best friend still struggling in their grip. All I could see were her shaking legs as they restrained her, not giving her even the slightest chance of survival.

“She fits the description and has the flame mark on the neck next to her ear. What more proof do you need?” The woman finally let go of Nica as she stopped struggling, a long spear still protruding from her chest. They all stood up and watched as the life slipped away from her eyes.

A sob tore through my lungs, but Rafael held me firmly in place, still covering my mouth with his palm.

Dany, please, he mind-linked me. If you go there now, we will all be as good as dead. Don’t let her death be in vain.

Death… My wonderful, beautiful friend, who was like a sister to me, just died, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was utterly useless even as they stabbed her a second time. And a third.

Danica’s legs stopped moving, and even though I knew what that meant, part of me still hoped she was just pretending to make them leave. Miracles do happen sometimes…

At least she is not suffering anymore. Lisa tried to console me, but I shut her down, not wishing to hear another word.

“Then I guess our job here is done.” The dragon placed his foot on Danica’s belly and casually removed the spear from her lifeless body, soiling her white nightgown with his dirty boot.

“Dinner’s on you, boys,” the woman said casually, letting go of Danica and stepping back. She wiped her hands on her cloak as if ridding herself of some dirt.

I felt the bile rising in my throat. I’ve seen so many monsters in my life, but these three… They were so cruel… No rogues could compare.

Nica never hurt a single soul in her life. She was just a teen. This was a school full of children… Why did they do this to us? Why did they attack us and burn everything to the ground? What did all these dead pups do to them?

“The Prince should be happy. Now, no one will stand in his way to the throne,” the woman declared as she let out a little, merciless laugh.

Gods, I despised her. I longed to end her, to rip her to shreds right then and there!

“We need to burn her,” Leander ran his fingers through his golden locks. “There should be no trace of her left. Then we kill a few more and leave. Got it?”

“Fine.” The dragon extended his hand towards Nica. A malevolent glow danced in his amber eyes as he summoned his power, sending a wave of fire hurtling straight at her body. The air shimmered with the intense heat, distorting the view, but I could still make out their figures.

I shuddered uncontrollably as I realised they were not going to leave any remains of my friends to bury. They wouldn’t even grant her that dignity. Rafael’s grip tightened as he rocked me gently, his voice echoing in my mind, Don’t look, Dany. Please, don’t look.

But I looked. I couldn’t take my eyes off their faces , cruel and unapologetic, burned into my memory forever.

Finally, I gave in, tucking my face into my cousin’s chest. I didn’t want to see this anymore. I couldn’t bear it any longer.

Mostly because I knew that all this was my fault…

***

I didn’t know whether hours had passed or just minutes, but the sky was a canvas of pink hues when we saw two dragons and a lone rider flying away from the burning castle which used to be our school. I couldn’t react, couldn’t feel anything… Everything inside me was completely numb.

The children behind us wept quietly, yet none of us possessed the strength to comfort them. Rafael continued to hold me, likely because he needed someone to support him as well. Occasionally, I felt his tears land on my skin.

I tried not to look in the direction of Danica’s charred remains. This wasn’t how I wanted to remember her. This wouldn’t be how I would remember her.

A part of me wondered if Luomei and Kieran had survived, but I couldn’t move a finger to stand up and check myself. My thoughts were swirling around what had happened here.

Two dragons, one rider, Danica, Leviathan, a mark… Two dragons, one rider, Danica, Leviathan, a mark and a prince… Two dragons, one rider, Danica, Leviathan, a mark, a mysterious prince and the rogue who kissed me.

After a while, Rafael was the first to get up and check the perimeter. He ordered us to stay and disappeared for some time while I just sat where he had left me, leaning against the statue of the Moon Goddess. The Goddess who left her children tonight…

My head felt like it was splitting in half, and I hugged my knees, trying to steady my thoughts.

The dragons came to kill my friend. They checked the little flame mark behind her ear to confirm she was the one they were searching for so there could be no mistake. Some prince wanted this to happen, and the word leviathan sounded so familiar.

All our lives, we thought that Danica was a child of weak omegas slaughtered in a battle, but… was she really? If the dragons were after her, if she had a flame mark on her… could she be—

“Dany!” Rafael shook me hard, bringing me back to reality. ” Help is on the way. They will be here any minute.”

I stared at him, trying to process his words, but my mind was elsewhere.

“Is she okay?” Callista, Raf’s younger cousin from the North who also studied here, knelt next to me. She had a few scratches on her face, and the ends of her brown curls were burned and uneven as if she had barely escaped the fire, but she was still in one piece—unlike many others.

“She will be.” Raf brushed my cheek and offered a sad smile. “It’s all over, Dany.”

Finally, I forced myself to turn my head and look at the place where they had burned Nica, the remnants of the pyre were still smouldering after all this time.

“No.” I shook my head, astonished by the decision I had just made.

“What do you mean no?” My cousin furrowed his brows. “We will go home soon. Away from here.”

“Raf,” I grasped his hand and looked at him with desperation evident in my eyes. “I can’t go anywhere.”

He pulled me into a hug. “It was an awful night for all of us, I know. And I am so sorry for what I had to do, but—”

Raf, you don’t get it! I pushed him away and switched to our mind link. I can’t leave it like that! I can’t—go home and forget this ever happened!

This is the worst time to make any decisions! he reasoned.

You don’t get it! I clenched his biceps harder. They wanted her dead! They came to kill Danica! It was so important to them that they destroyed the whole school to cover their tracks and didn’t leave a trace of her that could be recognisable.

You don’t know that— Raf said, but he did not sound so sure anymore.

They checked her identity by looking at the flame mark near her ear! I reminded him. A flame mark, Raf! Dragons! It has to mean something!

Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out, he promised. I am sure our parents—

Our parents would only worry about our safety, Raf! They would not let us anywhere near the dragons, and they sure as hell would not start a war with them to avenge the kids who died today!

“What is going on?” Callista interfered. “Why are you not speaking out loud?”

I locked eyes with Rafael. I liked Callista, but we were never as close with her as I was with him. I did not consider her family. If we want to avenge our friends’ deaths, we should take care of it ourselves.

Dany, don’t be stupid!

You know that the best revenge is served cold! I insisted, seeing the seed of doubt in him. And you know who would be the best person to serve it? Someone who is already dead!

“Danielle!” He growled and stood up. “You are not seriously thinking of—”

“I am!” I rose as well, dusting my dirty pyjamas. The thin white shorts and camisole turned grey and had bloody stains, which I didn’t recognise. “I will find the answers to the questions that bother me now, and I will find a way to avenge Nica and the others who died here today. It doesn’t matter if you are going to help me or not.”

“You can’t leave!” Rafael stood before the exit, and I clenched my fists, ready to fight him if I had to.

“It’s her choice!” Callista’s voice broke the silence between us. “Rafael, look around. We all lost someone today. I saw them dragging Danica here. I can only imagine what happened after and—” She met my gaze, offering a weak, sad smile. “I understand.”

Raf exhaled heavily, his shoulders drooping. “Do you want us to lose her as well? And what do we tell our parents? What about all the witnesses who know she is alive? You need time to make a good plan and—”

“Oh, I will have as much time as I need,” I seethed, looking at Nica’s remnants through the window. “When I am done with them, they won’t know what hit them!”

“And I will help with the witnesses.” Salome was leaning over Kieran, her bloodied face covered with her long, luscious hair. “Just one oblivion spell and— It’s best if kids don’t remember everything that happened last night anyway—”

Rafael stood alone against us all. Finally, he closed his eyes and threw his head back, sighing sharply. “Fine.”

Normally, I would be screaming with excitement to win an argument with him, but today, nothing felt the same.

Nothing ever would feel the same…

“But promise me to be in contact. Always!” He grasped my hand, his fingers clenching around it almost painfully.

“Of course, I will. After all, I will need information and money from you at some point.” I smirked and pulled him into a tight hug instead, my shifter hearing picking up helicopter sounds in the distance. It was really time to leave.

“I still don’t like it,” he mumbled into my hair.

“I know.” A single tear rolled down my cheek. “The one thing we learned today is that we don’t always get what we want—”

There was no time to hesitate. From time to time, Danica and I planned to escape the school and go live on our own in a city far, far away. It was just a joke, but we had a bag full of long-lasting snacks and some money hidden in one of our patrol spots. I could also take the clothing in the forest to change. After all, going back to school was pointless.

I walked out of the broken chapel and stopped near the spot where they killed Danica, covering my lips not to scream from all the pain she felt.

Something glistened in the grass, catching my eye. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Danica’s torn charm bracelet. It lay there, partially hidden by blades of green. I recognized it instantly—the same bracelet I had given her for one of her birthdays. Only two charms remained: a book, the first charm I ever gave her, and a fox. She bought that one herself in my honour. After all, she was the only one who never thought that Lisa was a bad thing.

A sob caught in my throat as I knelt down and picked it up, the metal cool against my skin. Memories flooded back: Nica’s laughter when she unwrapped it, her joy at each charm that had been added over the years. My fingers traced the small book charm with a star on it.

Not thinking twice, I slipped the bracelet into my pocket. There was no way I was leaving it behind. It was a piece of her, something tangible to hold onto in this nightmare.

I could hear people in the distance. Help had already arrived and I only had a few minutes until they got here.

I turned and ran as fast as I could, the trees blurring around me. I didn’t want to look behind. Deep inside, I was scared that if I did, I’d stop.

***FIVE YEARS LATER***

I walked towards the central square, blending into the crowd and hoping that my hooded coat would help mask my presence. Eldtorn, the capital of Draigmorr Kingdom, was closed to tourists, and I spent a lot of money and resources to cross the border illegally by sea. Hopefully it would all be worth it since I had only one shot at having my revenge.

To everyone here, I was just another passerby, unremarkable and insignificant. Just like many others, but I knew the moment I reached the Dragon Bell tower staircase, everything would change.

My heart pounded in my chest as I realised the guards at each side of the stairs were watching me now. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I forced myself to move forward. I began ascending the stairs, and that’s when the first curious glances turned into stares. People stopped what they were doing, forming a crowd at the bottom.

Still not too late to change your mind, Lisa warned me.

You know this won’t happen. I shrugged. Just remember what you have to do and we’ll be fine.

The crowd below started to murmur. Whispers spread like wildfire as more people took notice. I knew this could go horribly wrong, but it was now or never.

“Danica, help me,” I whispered and extended my hand to grasp the bell’s

My breath hitched in my throat, but I couldn’t afford to hesitate now. With a deep breath, I pulled the rope.

The bell’s resonant ring cut through the air, echoing across the square. The sound was clear and unmistakable, silencing the murmurs below. Faces turned upwards, eyes wide with astonishment. If someone hadn’t noticed me before, they saw me now.

I kept ringing because now it was too late to give up. An ancient Draigmorr law allowed anyone to ring the bell and ask for an audience with the Dragon King. However, if the King found the reason for the audience not worthy, one had to pay for wasting his royal time with his life.

I gulped when I saw two winged figures flying towards me from the castle with golden roofs that stood on a hill. They landed beside me with a thud, golden dragons on their chestplates gleaming in the sun.

“Who dares to disturb the King?” The taller man of the two asked, brows furrowed.

“I do.” I lifted my chin higher, let go of the rope and stepped forward.

“Do you know the Dragon Sea law?” the second warrior demanded, a young guy with brown curls framing his face.

“I do.” I nodded my head. After all, I spent the last five years learning everything there was to know about this kingdom.

“What is your reason for the audience?” The first guard narrowed his eyes at me, his wings spreading wide as if he was going to finish me off here and now.

Which I knew he couldn’t do.

“I wanted to tell the King what happened with his long lost daughter!” I said as loud as I could. After all, I wanted everyone to hear that. “I know what happened with Princess Danica Leviathan!”