Conjuring Dragons by Chante Francis (surface ebook reader TXT) 📕

“Oh no.”

“They stowed themselves in one of his favorite hiding places as a child. Secreted away for the perfect moment to pounce.”

“He didn’t think it through well enough,” I said “There are too many skilled opponents against just two people. There’s no way either of them could win, let alone survive.”

“Acacius had already decided that it would be after the feast, when all the lords were too drunk to properly defend themselves. It would give him a better chance at getting his love out of harm’s way. He did not want her existence extinguished this night.” A distant look entered gran’s eyes as she spoke, “He had already planned on dying in the palace, he just wanted to take as many down with him as he possibly could before he went.”

“He’s not going to die is he?” Olivia asks from where she sits near Priscilla.

“Of course he’s not!” Priscilla says, “Make it a happy ending so Livy doesn’t get scared!”

“Before he could lose his nerve, he moved out of his hiding spot and killed the first person near him. One of the guards that had helped to imprison him.” Gran says without acknowledging Olivia and Priscilla. That faraway look enters her eyes again, like she’s no longer here with us but in her story.

 Do you think she was there? When this all happened? I ask my sister.

No way. She’s old, but I don’t think she’s that old.

“He tried to make as little noise as he could, dropping the body with care. After all, holding on to the element of surprise for as long as possible was a lesson drilled into his mind constantly as a child. He was able to move quietly enough to take quite a few more lives. It wasn’t long enough though to get everyone, or even two thirds of the amount he planned to kill.” She stopped for a moment and closed her eyes, “His uncle noticed him first and drunkenly attacked. He couldn’t keep his sword or stance steady, but that didn’t make him much less of a danger.” She kept her eyes shut, too deep in her story to notice the looks on everyone’s faces.

“Luck seemed to be on Acacius’ side though, for his uncle stumbled and impaled one of his other would be victims. He struggled trying to pull his sword free, lost his balance again, and fell backwards onto a small deserted table. Everything sitting on the table went crashing to the floor in a cry loud enough to be heard over the music. Acacius knowing that he’d lost the element of surprise still looked up in hopes that he was wrong.”

For the first time since everyone had begun moving closer to hear the story, I noticed Octavia sitting behind her sister less than 5 feet from me. “Was he wrong though? Even if it was loud enough that it could be heard over the music, that doesn’t mean that people actually paid attention to it.”

“They paid attention to it,” She said staring through us all, “He looked up and everyone was staring at him. It all happened so quickly after that. Women screamed and men grabbed weapons to fight. A fire broke out thanks to the village girl’s quick thinking. Of all the people in that castle only about 5 survived.”

“We read about that in school, there isn’t actually much detail on it, but that’s the night everything changed for the Lycan community. The royal family was killed and so were all of those in command under them. Many of the other supernatural communities were effected too, but they fared better than the Lycans who lost their whole hierarchy system in one night. Now none of the packs are connected and there is a lot of fighting and distrust between them. The entire royal family was wiped out.” Octavia spoke out like she actually studied the subject previously. Everyone just sort of looked at her like this was the first time they had seen her. Who knew she was somewhat smart?

“Not exactly.”

“What?” I asked.

“Your history books don’t tell you this because it is not well known, but one member of the royal family survived that night. The birthday girl.”

Chapter Sixteen

“What?”

“A servant took her out of the castle through the servant’s quarters. They hid her for years and hid her children by warning them that they must never share their true identities with anyone. After the collapse of the empire, the rise of the hunters began. Prince Acacius found and saved others like him. They all banded together to bring down those that shunned them. They were fueled by revenge and hatred for all supernaturals. Both of which they taught to their children and was passed down from generation to generation.”

“How do you know that the Lycan royals haven’t died off yet?”

“I have watched the family, although their family name has changed over the years, they still possess royal blood. They will rise to power again.”

“Wait a minute that sounds like doomsday stuff. They’re not going to raise an army and kill everyone because of something that happened thousands and thousands of years ago are they? I mean the fact that it was done by their own has to count for something right?”

“They will rise to order again, because it will be needed. They will be needed, to take their places amongst their brother and sister races.”

I opened my mouth to question her again, but forgot my voice immediately as something slammed into the basement door.

All the air left my body as I turned to watch someone repeatedly slam into the door.

“You monsters think you can hide from justice? In your little savage dreams!”

Many of the women who had initially screamed were now choking back loud sobs as they attempted to protect themselves and the children. Those too old to fight, the pregnant and any child in the basement were all pushed to the dank back of the cellar. Those capable of fighting, who once were afraid stood to the front. Drawing on courage they hadn’t thought they had.

“I’m not going down without a fight.” I whisper to my sister as we take spots on the front lines.

“I’m scared.”

“We all are.”

“Don’t worry, he won’t be able to get in. These doors are reinforced beyond their strength capacity.” I hear from behind.

“Let me in little pigs.” He taunts through the door.

His voice is mangled, like someone else is speaking at the same time as he is. “Don’t make me huff and puff.” He mocks the Lycan women in the room.

We stand there shaking in fear and as ready as can be, waiting for whatever is going to come next. He doesn’t bang on the door. He doesn’t threaten anymore, he does something even more horrifying. He goes completely silent. Succeeding in his efforts to terrify us more as we watch the screws in the door slowly come undone. Two at a time.

They fall to the floor in pairs before bouncing in different directions. I don’t think that what was happening was truly registering to me, it was like I was watching some kind of twisted scary movie. Especially when the last four screws began to unwind together, slower than the others. I’m guessing to prolong the moment. When they were about to fall they rewound so quickly that I saw smoke.

My lungs began to burn as I realized I wasn’t breathing. I couldn’t help coughing as I choked on air after filling my system too quickly. The screws started moving again, and my sister’s grasp got tighter. When they rewound themselves again, she loosened the death grip she had on my arm. “I don’t think he can get in.” She whispered hopefully.

Laughter immediately flew forth from the other side of the door. The screws fell to the floor just before the door did. Shaking the entire house, and I’m guessing the grounds for miles around as well. It was at least a foot thick. Completely metal.

“Here’s Troy!” He smiled into the room, then hopped on to the door surveying us like a predator. I throw a fireball at his face, managing to hit him in that shit eating grin of his. It’s my lucky day. Well magic wise anyways.

His face melts, becomes more than a little distorted. A normal person would be in pain, screaming on his knees while he grabs his face. Not this demonic son of a bitch though, he starts laughing like I just told him a great joke. He laughs harder than when he dropped the door. “I can smell your fear.” He says only a little louder than a whisper, “It excites me.”

“I’ve got something that’ll excite you!” Octavia yells as she throws a ball of razor sharp wind at him. She catches him by surprise. He moves, but not quite fast enough to completely avoid injury. The ball hits him in his shoulder and tears up his flesh.

“Ouch.” He narrows his eyes, swipes his hand through the air and knocks her back into a wall. She slumps to the ground unconscious with blood seeping down into her clothes from some wound on the back of her skull.

“Octavia!” Her cronies scream as they rush to her, all of them dropping the people they were supposed to be protecting.

“Go ahead and join her.” Chad swipes his hand again. Like watching a reenactment, I watch them flying into another wall and piling up unceremoniously on the floor. “I’m sorry to disappoint ladies, but this is a private party. Anyone but Jypsie and Veronica tries to join and I’ll kill you.”

“That’s funny,” I reply to him, knowing that the others will stand with us, “you really think that’s going to scare anyone?”

I expected everyone else to agree with me, say something sarcastic to him or maybe spit in his direction or something. I didn’t expect them to move back towards those we were trying to protect.

“I’m sorry” Silvana apologizes, shielding the children.

I couldn’t say anything. I knew we weren’t close enough yet for her to even think about placing her life on the line for me. Still hurt though.

“Poor little Jypsie,” I felt his breath right by my ear. All the hairs on my body stood up. “It seems you’re doomed to be alone.”

I faced him head on, “I don’t need them to beat you. Besides, I will always have my sister.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

Veronica steps into me, so that he can clearly see her matching glare. He smiles again and I feel the room freeze. Literally. He grabs my sister right in front of me and I can’t move. I’m as immobile as everyone else in the room. Veronica! I try to scream, but my mouth doesn’t open. My body won’t even move enough to show my tears.

“Jypsie!” She screams as she tries to fight him. He shares in our powers, and can use them better than we can, so it’s not very effective. He knocks away most of her attacks like he’s swatting gnats. The few that hit him, he barely flinches from. After all, as a being no longer of this world, not much can hurt him.

“My dear veronica, I see that not much has changed in the few months we’ve