The world of Apep was dark, dreary, and downright boring. No, actually, it was dead. Dead was the proper way to describe it, Ema decided. The planet was dead. The first was black, the few plants left had shrivelled under the darkness, and the air smelt wrong. There were no stars in the sky, only the light from the half-moon in the sky. They had to really be out in the middle of nowhere for starlight to not reach them. It was a bit off-putting.
Ema glanced at her partner. Xix didn’t seem bothered by the darkness, nor the death, nor the strange feeling that had surrounded Ema the moment they arrived. The Fae made a mental note to ask her how she did it another time. Still, this was ridiculous.
“So,” Ema said in a lame attempt to start a conversation. “Any idea where this Castle of the Chaos Serpent is?”
“Nope,” she answered cheerfully.
“Oh. So, we’re heading this way because . . .?”
“Because the further we go in this direction, the worse the negative energy gets.”
“Oh, so you noticed that, huh?”
Xix gave her a flat look. “You do recall who my father was, yes?”
“Right.” Ema smiled sheepishly. “Dumb question. Ignore me.”
“Gladly.”
Ema let out a huff and crossed her arms. She hated the silence. And the darkness. And the increase in negative energy. And anything that reminded her of those years in the Mines. It always made her jumpy and gave her the strong urge to unleash her elemental magic on the nearest thing, living or not. Ema knew it was stupid but she just hated that feeling so much. Her nails dug into the sleeves of her jacket.
“You do not have to come, you know.”
Ema was broken out of her thoughts by Xix’s calm voice. Her friend, though she hid it well, was clearly concerned. Ema knew Xix wouldn’t judge if she just made a run for it there and then. She would understand if Ema wanted to turn around and go.
Ema took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I know, but I’m not letting you get into whatever this is on your own.”
Xix wrapped the gentle curls of her ponytail around a finger. “You don’t have to be brave for my sake, Ema.”
The Fae barked a laugh. “Because you can talk.”
“I know darkness bothers you.”
“It bothers you.”
She lifted her free hand. A flame appeared in her hand. It was such a dark red it was almost black. “It’s not the darkness that bothers me.”
Ema tossed one of her braids over a shoulder. “Well, I’m still coming with you no matter what you say, and there’s not a damn thing you can do to stop me.”
Xix smiled at that. “Like I could stop you.”
The pair continued on in silence, their footsteps barely heard against the soft, black dirt. A disturbing wind covered their tracks. They didn’t have to worry about being followed. There was no one else there.
It was that exact thought that stopped the pair from noticing that something was most definitely watching them from above.
Ema and Xix, laying on their stomachs, belly-crawled to the stop of a small hill overlooking the famed Castle of the Chaos Serpent. It would have been brilliant back in its day – the towers standing high, the outer walls covered with the protective images of serpents in silver and diamond, and the enchanted stone keeping out everyone not meant to be there.
These days, it was far less impressive. The many centuries of nature had eroded the protective outer wall and crumbled the towers. Gone was the silver paint, and the diamonds had long-since been looted. The vague outline of the protective serpents could be seen on the few parts of the outer wall that still stood. Now, it was just the central castle and it was clearly in the last of its days. Even so, the giant snake on the central roof stood strong, even if its paint had peeled.
It was clearly inhabited. Lights flickered in the windows and there were shadows moving across the walls. The occasional armour-clad guard would walk around the perimeter of the building, and some stood tall atop the roof.
Xix tapped Ema’s shoulder. The Terpolite woman raised a finger to her lips then pointed to something on the other side of the castle. Her Fae eyesight bringing a small amount of light to the darkness, Ema was able to make out the shape of a spaceship. Yes, that was definitely a spaceship, but it was like nothing she’d ever seen before. It looked old, very old, and very broken. Parts of roofing had been torn open and the hull was covered in scratches. The thing had definitely seen better days. The design was entirely alien.
But not to Xix.
“That’s an ancient Terpolite ship,” she whispered, the awe in her voice clear as the ship landed right beside the castle. “They were used back in the Time of the Ancients. According to the records, they were used to travel through the Walls as a means of transport to the lower planes. They were one of the greatest assets of the Frozen Ones.”
Ema was less impressed. “Looks broken.” She pulled a set of binoculars from her back and focused them on the ship. “Definitely broken.”
Xix, who now wielded her own binoculars, said, “The door is opening.”
Ema used one of the side cogs to zoom in on those exting the ship. “Soldiers. More soldiers. Woman with auburn hair. Woman with gold hair. I’d say that’s the Frozen – oh, hold up.” She spun the cog again, focusing on the figure draped over one of the soldier’s shoulders. “Oh, that’s bad.”
Xix, watching the same scene, lowered her binoculars in surprise. “Is that Amneris?”
“Worse. It’s her daughter.”
“Amneris has a daughter?” Xix raised the binoculars again, watching the group entire the castle. “I need to keep better track of these things . . .”
“Nah, you just don’t get the local gossip.” Ema switched out her binoculars for a phone. She opened a recent chat thread and typed: You didn’t happen to lose a member of the Terpolite Household did you?
Seconds later, Jay’s reply came: YOU FOUND HATHOR??? WHERE IS SHE???
Ema whistled. “Ooo boy, that’s really not good.” To Jay: Yah, she’s here w/ a red-head and that Frozen One.
Jay: WHERE THE CRAP ARE YOU??
Ema: Apep. Abandoned planet. Long story. Want location?
Jay: YES YES YES QUEENIE HAS GONE FUCKING NUTS!
Ema sniggered. “Good news, my friend. I’ve found us some backup.” She turned to Xix. “Cool if I give the Lyriumians our location? That is the Queen’s daughter.”
“Sure,” she answered.
Ema did so then pocketed her phone. “Okay, so we have members of the Lyriumian Court on their way. What do we do? Wait?” No answer. “Xix?”
Beside Ema, Xix was frozen, her binoculars clenched in one hand at her side. Her teeth were clenched and her eyes were wide.
“Xix? What is it?”
Her head titled ever so slightly. Ema almost didn’t see the motion. Xix spoke quietly, “Something is watching us. Something very, very big.”
As though in answer to her statement, something crashed down behind them, kicking up a cloud of dirt.
Ema shivered as the same something Xix had mentioned—at least, she assumed that’s what it was—breathed down the back of her neck. “Yes. Yes, I have to agree with you.”
Xix didn’t dare move as she spoke. “There are stories which speak of a dragon who watched over the Serpent King when he ruled here.”
“A dragon, huh?” It took all of Ema’s self control to not turn around. “What kind?”
“If the stories are true, it held the power of lightning.” Xix swallowed dryly. “It was also said the thing was capable of hibernating for extremely long periods of time, only appearing when its master needed protecting.”
The hair on the back of Ema’s neck stood straight. “Are you saying that there’s a giant, lightning powered dragon standing right behind us?”
“That is indeed what I am thinking.”
“Are you also thinking ‘gulp’?”
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
The pair shared a look. As one, they turned . . .
Where they were met with the sharpest teeth Ema had ever seen.
Under different circumstances, Ema was certain she would’ve found the dragon magnificent. It was massive, it’s shining, smooth, talon-tipped wings at least double the size of its body. Its skin was such a dark blue it was almost black, and looked to be smooth to the touch. It had sharp clawed feet and a large mouth filled with massive, sharp yellow-white teeth. Its tail was covered with spikes. The dragon took a breath and let out a deafening roar, leaving Ema and Xix with aching ears at the noise.
Unfortunately, Ema didn’t have time to take in its beauty. “Run!”
Silver lightning sparked around the dragon’s body, a glowing light appearing in its open mouth as it prepared to fire.
Xix grabbed Ema’s hand. Together, they dove between the dragon’s legs, jumping to their feet and running. The dragon was prepared. It swung its tail, striking only dirt as the pair managed to roll out of the way. Giant holes were left in their wake.
Ema summoned her energy sword, taking up a battle stance and preparing to attack the beast.
Xix held out her arm. “No. Don’t.”
Ema gave her a flat look. “Girl, the dragon is literally trying to kill us!”
“It probably thinks we are intruders.”
“We are intruders!”
The dragon spun around with incredible speed. It spread its wings and roared, a bright light forming in its mouth once again. This time, it didn’t hesitate. The dragon shot its lightning at them. Ema flipped one way, Xix leaping in the other. The patch of dirt they’d been standing on turned to smoking glass.
“Wow,” Ema said, impressed.
“I have an idea.” Xix reached into her bag and asked, “Can you distract it for a few minutes?”
Ema stared. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m very serious.” Xix pulled a strange looking tube from her bag and tossed it back over her shoulder. “Just keep it off me.”
Five minutes later, Ema was running for her life in the opposite direction of the Castle, a massive, lightning-channelling dragon flying close behind her. As she ran, she was yelling at herself. “Bad idea! Bad idea! Bad idea!” Why she’d thought punching the dragon on the snout was a good idea, she didn’t know.
But it had worked. The dragon was chasing her, leaving Xix to do . . . whatever she was going to do.
The dragon closed the gap between them, biting down. Ema yelped, jumping out of the way. She tumbled to the ground, one of her two braids coming loose. She pushed her burgundy hair out of her face in time to see a set of jaws coming straight at her! Ema rolled out of the way.
She let out a curse when she was upright once again. Ema’s instincts screamed at her to summon her sword, but she managed to keep it down. Xix had a plan. Ema had no idea what the plan was, but Xix had a plan.
Ema stood, stretching her back. “Okay, running? Not working! Need a plan B.”
Not knowing why, and questioning her sanity as she did, Ema ran toward the dragon. This surprised it as much as herself. Ema dropped to the ground, sliding between its legs, and popping up on the other side. The dragon’s upside-down head appeared between its legs. It quickly recovered, coming upright and spinning with a massive roar. That was when it happened.
Xix dropped in from above, landing on the dragon’s back. Glowing red rope wrapped around its head as though it were a bridal. “Easy, easy, big guy – ahhhh!” Xix held on for her life as the dragon tried to shake her off. “Ema! He’s pissed!”
“Ya don’t say!”
The dragon begun jumping around, its tail slamming into the ground right beside Ema! The Fae woman screamed in surprise as she shot into the sky. It was habit alone that saved her. When Ema made a high jump, she used her power to give herself a boost. Her elemental powers kicked in, a gust of wind blowing her onto the dragon’s back. She let out a surprised gasp and grabbed Xix’s waist to stop herself falling.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Xix joked.
“Yeah,” Ema panted. “Hilarious.”
“Yes, I am.” The Terpolite grabbed her energy reigns and tugged. “And off we go!”
“Wait what do you mean by ’off we go – oooohhhhhh!”
Ema cried out as they took flight, the dragon banking this way and that, trying with all its might to shake off the two unwanted riders. The pair remained strong. Xix tugged the reigns as the dragon tried to move into the cloud cover. It turned sharply, diving toward the ground. The two women screamed. Xix pulled the reigns with all her might. The dragon spread its wings, leveling out.
Regaining her breath, Xix said, “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”
Ema glanced down at the dragon. “Tell that to him.”
The dragon had tilted its head to get a good look at the riders. Its giant white eyes stared. Ema swore the dragon smiled. Without warning, it rolled onto its back mid-flight! Xix and Ema lost their grip, falling from its back, screaming as they fell through the air.
Xix shot out a hand. A glowing red construct in the shape of a mattress appeared on the ground below. The two women bounced off, rolling on the ground. But, they’d survived with only a few cuts and bruises.
Xix remained laying on her back, watching the dragon fly into the night. She sighed. “And I was just starting to like him.”
“Maybe next time.” Ema gave her friend’s shoulder a quick pat. “We should leave before it comes back.”
