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I spun to a standing position and stared at the iron clasp around Leviathan’s neck. How the hell am I supposed to get that?
The knife in my hand vibrated an endless warning and the reaper with the fireball paused, staring in my direction, I realized I was no longer invisible. I had seconds to think before the beast turned.
“I wish I had the key,” I whispered, turning my palm to the sky. I blinked and inhaled, trying to force the wish, but nothing happened. “Damn it.” I curled my hand into a fist and let it drop to my side.
“You need to get out of here,” my father whispered from the other side of the bars. “Before it sees you.”
I glanced over my shoulder, giving him my “you think?” expression before stepping to the side. The meager knife in my hand didn’t seem to be adequate in the face of such razor sharp teeth and I shifted, holding the hilt like it was Excalibur.
The blade grew, glistening in the darkness. I glanced beyond my weapon at the Leviathan now glaring in my direction. Another fireball hit, but the demonic dragon didn’t take the bait. It shook off the flame and turned in my direction, its eyes narrowing to evil slits.
I spun the sword in my hands, waiting for Leviathan to make the first move. While I knew I should be scared witless, I was strangely calm. It circled, blocking me in and offering what had to be a smile at the new game.
I shifted into the opening in front of my father, closer to the giant chain. Leviathan lifted a paw, getting ready to swipe at me with the gleaming set of razor sharp claws.
“You look a little hungry,” I said, my attention falling on the ornate key hanging from the front of his collar before snapping back to his. “But if I was to free you, would you look for food somewhere else?”
It snarled and his claws flexed but it didn’t attack.
“Or does Promethis have some kind of hold over you.”
The dangerous growl that erupted from Leviathan at the mention of Pormethis gave me an indication of their relationship. His giant paw flew in my direction and I dove, rolling under its path before Leviathan could adjust.
Instead of swinging my blade to meet his leathery skin, I rolled, coming up next to where the chain anchored and I used my own inertia to slam my sword into the chain. Metal scraped on metal and I felt the impact all the way to my shoulders, but I held onto the hilt, yanking it from where it was embedded in the chain before Leviathan could strike again.
Leviathan’s claws retracted, his gaze glued to the partial break in the chain before it jumped to me.
I glanced at him. “What? No one’s ever tried to let you loose?”
“Nick, don’t,” my father whispered from behind me.
Leviathan’s gaze transitioned from mine to my father’s and fury filled its hideous features. It coiled up to strike.
“I’m pretty sure this sword can kill you,” I said before it could spring and it was enough to cloud its features with doubt. Claws dug into the ground and it took a step backwards, wary of me and the metal I held.
I used the pause to strike the chain again. My shot was true and the metal bit farther into the cut I originally made, nearly severing the link. Only a quarter of the metal remained. With a yank, I pulled the sword out and held it at the ready, pointing toward Leviathan.
“There are a few things I need from you before I set you free.”
The creature hissed and crouched, but didn’t launch. Distrust displayed in the curl of his lip and the taut stretch of his muscles. My confidence swelled. This thing wasn’t going to attack; after all, I was still standing unscathed.
“The first thing I need is your assurance that you will not attack my friends out there.” I pointed my sword toward the darkness. “That fireball pitcher and his brother are my friends.”
A growl of contention rose from the beast’s throat.
“Okay. Then you stay chained up for the foreseeable future.” I started walking away from the chain and its heavy paw shot out, accompanied by a fierce snarl. I ducked under the swing and its paw collided with the side of my father’s prison. Deep scratch marks marred the side of the wall and I sent a glare at Leviathan.
He swatted again and I dove into a break-fall, bringing the tip of the sword into the air. A spray of warm blood showered down on me and a wail of distress filled the still space. I rolled to my feet and squared myself even though my heart clanged in my chest.
“Do we have a deal or are we going to continue this idiotic game?”
Leviathan licked his wounded paw, but his eyes never left mine.
“I know you understand what I’m saying, so let me continue. Leaving my friends out there alone is the first condition. The second is an easy one. I need the key attached to your collar to unlock my father’s prison cell.”
Leviathan’s eyes narrowed and he glanced at the building behind me.
“I need my father freed.”
I didn’t leave any leeway in my tone and the beast turned his malevolent gaze back to me, still snarling up a storm.
“I need the key before I cut the chain,” I clarified and Leviathan crouched low like a panther ready to attack. “And just one more thing. After I free you, you can...” I paused, trying to find a politically correct word for kill. “...neutralize Promethis.”
The snarl calmed. Leviathan licked his paw, looking over his claws at me.
“Sorry about that.” I pointed both my chin and the sword toward his paw.
“I’ll be damned,” my father whispered but I didn’t chance turning toward him.
Another fireball curved in Leviathan’s direction and I put my hand up, stopping it in mid-air. I blew at it like it was a candle and the flame doused, leaving only ashes flying on the slight breeze.
Leviathan’s gaze was still locked on the spot where the fire had been and then he turned back to me and did something that left me completely stunned. The beast bowed.
To me.
He bowed to me.
Holy shit.
I was still reeling from that simple fact when he calmly crossed the distance to tower over me. My father whispered something, but I didn’t catch it. I was too busy staring at the gigantic dragon-like reptile. He lowered his head, exposing his neck to me.
I held fast to the sword and reached up, grasping the key dangling from his collar. With a twist, it slid off the ring and Leviathan returned to his full height. I pocketed the ornate metal and gave a nod. Now it was my turn to honor the deal. I turned, giving him the same amount of trust he gave me when he exposed his throat.
I didn’t pause; instead, I used my motion and swung the blade, aiming for the break. It slid clean through, clanging against the bottom rung. The minute the chain severed a giant rumbling shook the ground and the metal exploded into a fine powder mist that drifted down to the ground, unraveling whatever spell held Leviathan in captivity.
My sword shrank into the ancient knife and I sheathed it on my thigh before turning to face Leviathan.
“You’re free,” I said and Leviathan lowered his giant head to my feet like I was the newly crowned king of this world. I reached out and ran my fingers down the curve of his snout and gave him a pat. He tried to nuzzle me like a puppy would and his tail gave a slow wag.
I laughed. “You do know what free means?” I asked and pushed his snout away. “No one owns you. No one has the right to chain you up for eternity. Understand?”
His eyes locked on mine with a fierceness that took my breath right out of my chest.
“I am free to choose who I serve...” a deep baritone voice rumbled from deep within his chest and the power of it made me want to drop to my knees and cower, but I held fast. “...and who I destroy?”
I swallowed and nodded wondering if I would feel his teeth when they cut me in half.
The beast did not move to strike me down and the tension in my muscles lowered from a scream to a whisper. I dug my hand in my pocket and pulled out the key studying it before turning my back on Leviathan and meeting my father’s gaze.
Death stood inside the bars of the cell, his hands dangling by his sides and his jaw dropped open. I stepped toward him, focusing on the locking mechanism and the key in my hand. My father’s gaze dropped to the key and his mouth popped closed.
“Relatives of mine can’t open the door,” he said.
My head snapped up, my eyes locking with his and then I attempted to line up the metal, but every way I maneuvered the key, it wouldn’t slide in properly. Finally, I spun holding the key for Leviathan to see.
“Did you know?” My demand carried across the air, echoing my aggravation to anyone within hearing distance.
Leviathan dipped his head in a nod.
“Then why on earth did Fate send me on this wild goose chase?”