The next day Amelie reluctantly stayed at the cabin when I left for my meeting with Zion.
She tried to convince me she could take the same path through the trees and stay out of sight, but it was too risky. Last night, he’d nearly caught her, and there’d been a crowd. No way was I going to let her try now, when it was just me.
Cara and Darren had left early to tend to the greenhouses where most of their food was grown. No one here really had a job, except to help everyone else with keeping the town supplied. If it wasn’t for the mind control, I’d say this was a nice community to live in.
Except they all believed lies.
Zion would not get away with this. We’d find a way to contact the Hunters, break his hold over everyone, and he would be punished for his crimes. Looked like my fighting days weren’t over quite yet. As I approached the cabin, the front door opened, and Zion stepped out, wearing that same happy smile he had the night before.
I stepped on the porch.
At the bottom step, he reached for my hand.
“Good morning, Tank. I’m glad you agreed to speak with me in private. I enjoy having one on one talks with those in my clan. No point in being leader if you can’t talk to your own dragons, right?”
“Yes, thank you. I’m excited to learn what happened. How the war ended.”
“And I am more than happy to tell you. Come on inside. We’ll get some coffee and have a nice long chat.”
As soon as I stepped inside, the air grew heavy. Amelie was right. Whatever artifact he used to control the dragons and keep the barrier up was definitely in here. It was like walking through syrup, but I managed to stay with Zion.
The front door was closed behind me by one of the guards on the outside. I didn’t see anyone inside that might give me trouble when I made my move.
Zion led me into a sitting room with a carafe and coffee mugs set out on the table. He motioned for me to take a seat and poured coffee. I took the steaming mug with a nod of thanks, looking around the room. There was nothing strange about it, at first glance. If it weren’t for the heavy tinge of magic in the air, I’d have said he was like any other dragon in any other cabin.
He took a seat across from me.
I surreptitiously studied him for any sign of a necklace or ring. He wore neither. Must have had a charm in his pocket. Great.
“Now then, where should I start?” he asked with a sad smile. “I suppose you want to hear about the last battle?”
“Yes, I hear you were grievously wounded.”
“I was. I’m afraid I can no longer shift into my dragon form. The price was worth it so I could save our kin. So I could bring them here, away from all that death and destruction. Away from so much darkness.”
I sipped my coffee as he dove right into the story of how he learned of Radnak’s final plans to exterminate our kin and to kill all those who refused to join him. He was under the impression those who fought alongside the Black Diamonds had all been traitors, instead of being turned, or having their families held against them.
Seething, I set the coffee mug down before it shattered in my hands from my tight grip. He knew nothing of why the Shadowguards fought alongside our enemy. He blamed them for being weak. He used his hands as he spoke, grandly spreading them wide as the story turned more and more impressive with every word he spewed.
“By the time I reached some of the villages, the people had already been massacred.”
“That’s awful. By Radnak?”
“Yes. By him and his Black Diamonds.”
“No Blood Moon Priests?”
Zion’s lip twitched. “Blood Moon Priests? I’m afraid I don’t know what you speak of.”
“I heard rumors of Blood Moon Priests assisting him. It was why he was so strong. Heard he was also stealing souls.”
“I’m afraid that’s all those were. Just rumors.” He cleared his throat.
Clearly, my comments threw him off-guard. Good.
“Anyway, I raced to get to the last remaining village.”
“The last one out of every single settlement?”
“Why yes. Radnak was exterminating our clan.”
“There were thousands of us left. Clearly, he missed some of us, since I managed to survive.”
He crossed his legs then uncrossed them, obviously uncomfortable. “I will admit as the leader I failed some of our people by not saving them all. You, however, seemed to have saved yourself. I freed those I could. I fought Radnak, and I defeated him. Then I brought everyone here, where we would be safe from the Council and the other dragon clans. They would never accept us, not after the war we helped start so many centuries ago.”
“Only we didn’t.”
“I beg your pardon?” His voice rose a couple of octaves. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying our clan was turned all those years ago because our leader’s soul was stolen with the help of the Blood Moon Priests. And more recently, Radnak tried to do the same to the rest of the clan leaders and to our true leader. Slade. Not you.” I rose, towering over him as my anger got the better of me. Not that I could help it. So many fought and died to save our kin, to defeat Radnak, and this asshole was taking all the credit and acting as if their lives meant nothing. “I was part of the Light Guard for years. I helped save our kin. You’re nothing but a liar.”
Fear filled his eyes as he gripped the arms of his chair. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“I don’t feel that way. It’s the truth. I was there when we attacked Radnak at the Fell Gates. Where he was defeated by Slade and Everest. I was there. I saw it all.”
His hand reached into his pocket.
I growled, bracing for an attack.
He didn’t pull out a weapon. He simply kept his hand tucked out of sight.
“You will lift whatever curse you’ve placed over my sister and everyone else here.”
The fear was suddenly gone. A leer spread across his face. “Is that so? You think because you’re so big and tough you can take me on?”
“I know who you are.”
“Do you?”
“You were a coward then.” I stalked closer, itching to deck him for a causing so much trouble when our people were supposed to be living in peace. “We offered to take you into the Light Guard. You turned us down. Too scared to fight.”
“I am not a coward.”
“Oh, no? Then tell these people what really happened.”
“I defeated Radnak. That is the truth.”
“Not even close. You have them living in fear still. They believe the other clans or the Council will kill them.”
“They will.” He shot to his feet, not that it did much. I was taller than him by a long shot.
“No, they won’t. They helped us end the war. The Council has one of our own sitting on it. The world has changed, and it’s time you let these people go and see for themselves.”
He slipped past me but didn’t try to leave the room. “I received that message from Slade,” he told me as he walked to the far wall then whipped around. “Slade, our pathetic excuse for a ruler. I heard of the valley he set up for our kin. A new beginning. To live amongst other dragon clans. I assumed he lost his mind.”
“It’s true.”
“For how long? You really think they won’t turn on us again?”
“We turned on them first, against our will.” I took a step toward him, but then a weird tingling started at my temples. I shook my head, trying to get rid of it, but it only grew worse.
Zion’s hand was still in his pocket. He tilted his head as he studied me.
“What… what are you doing to me?”
“You shouldn’t have come here alone,” he said, clicking his tongue. “Now you’ll never leave.”
“I won’t let you erase my memories.”
“Too late. You can remain here with your sister and be happy.”
The tingling grew worse. I clutched at my head, falling to my knees. Amelie. I had to think about her. She’d keep me sane, help me hold onto the truth. But even as I thought of the truth, of bits of the last few weeks, of the last few years, it all faded away, slipping through my fingers.
I roared with fury, but then darkness came over me, and there was nothing.
“Tank? Can you hear me?”
“What happened?” Why was I on the floor? I looked around wildly expecting to be attacked by a Black Diamond.
There was only Zion, my leader, standing over me with a worried frown.
“I’m sorry, I’m not sure what happened.”
He helped me to my feet, patting my shoulder. “Not to worry. You seemed in need of rest.”
“Rest, yeah. I guess so.” Why was I so tired? “What were we talking about? I don’t even remember.”
“We were talking about the old days before I brought us here.”
“Right.” I nodded as he guided me to the door.
“I think you’ve been working too hard. Take the day off. Tell your sister I said hello, too.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you, Zion.”
“Any time, Tank. My door is always open to those in my clan.”
I shook his hand then left his cabin.
I breathed in deep, enjoying the mountain air, as I’d done every day since we came here three long years ago. I had my sister at my side along with those of my clan who survived. What could possibly go wrong? I walked down the main dirt road for the cabin I shared with Cara.
I smiled and waved at those I passed, getting the same in return. Life here was nearly perfect.
A dragon roared as he shifted into his large form and took to the skies.
I paused mid-step, a flash of memory shooting through my mind. Dragons, so many filling the skies as red lightning crackled around us. That wasn’t right. Couldn’t be a memory. Perhaps a dream? More like a nightmare.
The further I walked, the more flashes of fights came to mind, followed by faces.
I rubbed my forehead. Zion was right. I overworked myself these last few weeks. A day off was a great idea. Clear my head of all these weird visions. I entered the cabin and was immediately bombarded by someone with red hair. She hugged me around the middle.
“You were gone for hours. I was worried about you. Tank? What’s wrong?” she asked as I set her away from me.
“I’m sorry. Who are you?”
“Who am I?” Her eyes narrowed then widened as she cursed. “No. Oh, no. Did he get to you? Damn it, what happened? You were supposed to talk to him. To get the charm.”
“Charm? What are you talking about? Who are you?”
“Amelie. You don’t… you don’t know me at all?”
I took in her face. Her extremely attractive face. A nagging started in my gut that I’d seen her before, but then it disappeared. “No, I certainly don’t. Why are you in my home? You’re not even a dragon.” I grabbed her by the arms and held her fast. “Who are you? Did you come to hurt my sister? My kin?”
“No, you idiot, I’m one of the ones who helped you save them.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not. Let go. What are you doing?”
I dragged her to the door, ready to take her to Zion and his guards. “You don’t belong here.”
“Let me go. You’re not in your right mind. He made you forget.” She dug her feet in.
I was stronger and simply lifted her up, throwing her over my shoulder.
“Put me down before you make me do something you’ll regret.”
“I don’t know how you got here, but you’re leaving.”
“The hell I am. We came here together to save your sister, remember?”
“My sister is saved.” I reached for the door.
Her hand slammed into my back, and a shock had my body jerking backward.
“What did you do? Are you a witch?”
“Damned straight.” She hit me again.
Another shock had me gritting my teeth. It didn’t hurt, but a weird fuzziness filled my head.
“Tank, snap out of it. Remember why we’re here. Remember who I am. Who you are.”
“I know who I am.”
“Do you? You’re part of the Light Guard. Best friend to our clan leader, Slade.”
“Slade?” I set her on her feet to stop her from shocking me again. “You’re wrong. Zion is our leader.”
“Wow. He got you good.”
“I don’t know what you mean, but you and I are going to see him. Now.”
“The hell we are.” Magic swirled around her hands.
I growled, “Don’t make me knock you out, witch.” I reached for her, expecting her to pull away.
Instead, she threw herself in my arms. Her lips crushed against mine, catching me off-guard as her hands pressed against my temples. I was too stunned at first to move, and then it was like a veil was being lifted from my mind. The memories I thought were mine faded away as the reality of what I’d lived through came back to me with a vengeance.
I glanced down at Amelie’s green eyes, clutched her to me and kissed her back, picking her up in my arms. How could I have forgotten her so easily? Zion, that bastard. I was going to make him pay for this. If Amelie hadn’t been here, I’d be trapped like the rest of them.
“Tank?”
“I’m sorry,” I growled against her lips, kissing her again. “I can’t believe he managed to take over my mind.”
She sagged against my chest in relief. “Just glad I was able to pull you back. You weren’t under long enough to let those new memories settle in too deep.” She punched my shoulder.
I winced and laughed.
“I told you to be careful. What did you do? Ignore the plan?”
Cringing, I nodded. “I may have called him out on his lies.”
“And you get onto me for putting myself at risk.” She punched me again for good measure then followed it up with another kiss. “Did you at least learn anything before you went all angry dragon him and lost your mind?”
“You’re not going to let this go for a long time, are you?”
“What do you think?”
I rested my forehead against hers, looking into those dark green eyes. “I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “You’re forgiven. Not like anyone can really stand up to magic that strong anyway. We have to figure out what it is and how he’s using it.”
“Packs a hell of a hit.”
“We need to do more poking around. Whatever he did to you, he must’ve done the same to everyone here. Probably did it before they even left whatever realm they’d been trapped in.”
It would make sense. No one would’ve willingly followed that dragon anywhere. Whatever Blood Moon Priest artifact he found, he’d used it against those he should’ve been fighting for. He took them from one prison and put them in another. “We can’t get into his cabin unnoticed.”
“We’ll think of something.”
“Stay here. I’m going to track down Cara and Darren.”
She caught my arm at the door. “Remember, you don’t remember anything about Slade or the real battle. You’re just like them now. Don’t let him know you’re not or he’ll figure out there’s someone else here.”
“You don’t think Cara and Darren told anyone about you yet, do you?”
“If I see anyone coming except you, I’ll go hide.”
I didn’t like leaving her alone, especially after Zion had been able to get inside my head so easily. It’d be too hard for her to sneak around during the day. I kissed the top of her head, told her to be careful, then walked back outside into the surreal town that was New Haven. I put a smile on my face to blend in with everyone else as I weaved around cabins and other dragons. The greenhouses weren’t too far of a walk, and it was in the third one I spotted my sister and Darren. They waved when they saw me, though neither one asked about Amelie. Did they even remember she was with me?
“Tank, I’m so happy to see you.” Cara hugged me. “How was your talk with Zion?”
“It went very well.” My smile was forced, but neither seemed to notice.
“Good. I didn’t want those worries of yours to keep giving you nightmares. Life here is meant to be peaceful now that the war is over.”
Amelie had said the magic used here was unlike anything she’d seen. Was it possible when Zion zapped my memories, he reached out and changed Cara’s and Darren’s too? I glanced around the greenhouse. The other dragons waved at me, called out my name like they knew me. Like they had known me for years. The longer I looked at their faces, the more I realized I did know them, or at least had been made to know them. Their names flowed one after the other across my mind. It was bizarre. I frowned, wanting to just take Cara and run for it. Too bad that wasn’t still an option.
“Yes, well,” I continued, working to meld the new memories with what I knew to be the truth, “I think I can finally let the past go.”
“I’m so happy to hear it. Mom and Dad would want us to be happy.”
“That they would.”
“I was worried you were sick. Like the others.”
I picked up a trowel nearby and worked at weeding the raised beds. “Sick? Who’s been sick?”
“You know, Danny. And the others.”
Danny. I scrounged around in my head for a face to go with the name. “He’s one of the Hunters, right? Which others?”
She rattled off more names. It took a second, but I managed to put a face to each one. Almost the entire Hunter party. They were sick?
“It was strange really. Danny got sick first, and then the others must’ve caught it. I worry about them.”
“Why don’t you go check on them?”
Darren and she exchanged a look. I mentally kicked myself, wondering if I said something out of character.
“You know we can’t. They’re in quarantine until they get well.”
“Right, of course.”
Quarantine. Why did that sound like another lie? These dragons weren’t sick. Amelie had been able to break me free of the magic’s hold. What if Danny and the others had done the same? When I’d pushed Cara, I saw the haze lifting from her gaze until the magic sucked her right back under its control. I had to find Danny and the others. No way they were actually sick. I considered darting back to the cabin to fetch Amelie, but in case I was caught, I didn’t want to drag her down with me. One of us had to be able to get a message to Selma. I worked alongside Cara for a while longer, then told them I was going to grab some water and left the greenhouse. Outside, everything seemed like another perfect day in New Haven. I remembered these days even though I never lived them. This curse was going to drive me crazy for real if we didn’t lift it soon.
Where would Zion hide dragons he deemed troublemakers? I worried he would kill them, but he was into saving his kin. He would keep them around, try to brainwash them again.
Keeping an eye out for Zion and his guards, I wandered through the town, poking my head in every building I came to that wasn’t someone’s home. I steered clear of Zion’s cabin, eventually spreading my search further out, heading toward a dirt road led higher into the mountains. After walking for at least half an hour, I was considering turning back, until I heard male voices coming down the trail.
I ducked into the trees, out of sight, as two dragons passed. That same tingling struck me that I felt when I was with Zion, right before he wiped my memories.
Their words fell away, and I sensed bits of myself slipping out of reach.
I focused on Amelie, on her face and her voice. Her laughter and digging my fingers into a nearby tree, I managed to hang onto my memories.
“Thank you, Amelie,” I whispered as I pried my fingers free of the bark.
I headed in the direction the guards came from, picking up the pace.
I turned a bend in the trail.
The entrance to a cave appeared. There were no more guards, as far as I could sense.
I crept closer, expecting to feel some magical resistance. Apparently, Zion was so confident in the curse that no one would come looking. The cave entrance was barred off, but I didn’t have to go inside to see what was hidden away. Or rather, who.
“Danny?” I whispered to the group of dragons huddled in various cells.
“Who’s that? I don’t know you.” A dragon pressed his face to the bars. “Who are you?”
“Tank. Cara’s brother. I’m going to assume you’re all here because you remembered the truth?”
“Damned straight we did,” he said with a vicious growl. “That bastard lied to all of us.”
“I know. I’m with the Light Guard. I work directly under our true clan leader.”
“You going to get us all out of here?”
“Going to try. Not working alone. I have a witch with me.” I tugged on the bars, but if I broke them, it’d make noise. That, plus these dragons couldn’t go anywhere, not with the magic barrier in place. “Is he going to try and erase your memories again?”
“Not sure. We’ve been up here for weeks. Some of us for months.”
“Do you know what he has in his cabin? What’s doing this?”
Several shook their heads.
I paused, then asked. “What about the guards? Are they like the others?”
“No. They know exactly what’s going on.”
“How?”
“They have a charm in their pockets. A bundle of sticks is what it looks like to me. It’s what they use to brainwash everyone. What they use to keep their own minds clear. I’ve seen it,” Danny explained.
It made sense, seeing as how, when they’d passed me, I almost lost myself again. I had to get one away from them, if I couldn’t get close enough to Zion to get his. After seeing so many trapped in this damp cave, I was tempted to confront Zion again and punch him until he gave me the charm and artifact.
Last time, he barely had to touch the charm, and I was lost. I couldn’t face him without some protection of my own. If I could get it to Amelie, she might be able to replicate it, or at least understand what was making it work. We’d need it if we were to get close to the artifact.
“I’ll be back for all of you,” I assured them. “Don’t let them take your memories.”
“That dragon is nothing but a coward. He deserves to suffer for everything he’s done to us.”
“He’ll be held accountable for his crimes. You have my word.”
I would’ve shaken his hand if I could’ve reached it. A nod was all I could offer, then I turned and headed back down the trail. The guards wouldn’t leave their prisoners unguarded for long.
Thinking fast, I sprinted into the trees and scrounged around for anything I could be foraging for that would give me a reason to be up this high. I turned right and spotted the moss on the trees. Amelie told me a couple of times that moss was good for healing. I ripped as much as I could from the tree trunks then bundled it in my arms and walked back to the trail. The male voices were returning. I had to time it just right. As soon as they were in sight, I burst from the trees, brushing between them both.
“Hey, watch it,” one of them growled as I bumped into him.
My hand dove into his pocket as my other fumbled with the moss against his chest. “Sorry, I was a bit lost in my own world.”
“It’s fine,” the other one said, glaring at the angry guard I’d snatched the charm from.
I tucked it under the moss.
He patted me on the shoulder. “Best get that moss to whoever needs it before it browns.”
“Of course. Sorry again.”
The first one grunted, clearly annoyed, and trudged up the hill. The second nodded to me, rolled his eyes, and followed the first.
I waited until they were gone, dropped the moss, and sprinted all the way back to Cara’s cabin. She and Darren were absent, but Amelie was right where I’d left her.
“He’s keeping prisoners,” I burst out as soon as the door closed behind me.
“What? Why?”
“There are others who are breaking through the curse on their own, remembering the truth. He’s holding them in a cave.”
“How many?”
“Ten? A few more? Sounds like he’s trying to brainwash them again, but it’s not sticking.”
She swallowed hard. “You don’t think he’ll kill them if he can’t control their memories. Do you?”
“The man has everything he could ever want here. A clan who respects him and loves him. A home, family. No one remembers the coward he was. Yes, he’ll kill them. We’re running out of time.” I handed over the small bundle of sticks tied together with colored strings. “This is what the guards are using to stop the curse from reaching them and what they’re attempting to use on the prisoners.”
She gingerly held it in her palms, weighing it, her eyes calculating. “These aren’t just sticks.”
“No?”
“No, each one has a different magical property. One for warding and protection. Another for manipulation. This one here, this is strange. I’ve never seen a stick this color before.”
It had a purplish tinge to it, and I sighed. “Yes, you have.”
“Where?”
“Fell Gates. That plant grew at the Fell Gates.”
The look in her eyes said she wanted to set it on fire. To get rid of any remaining trace of the Blood Moon Priests. “Because this couldn’t get any better.”
“And the strings?”
“They have magic in them, but not as much as these sticks do. They’ve been touched by the artifact. They were a part of it. The Blood Moon Priests must’ve used this plant for their rituals. Evidently, they had them in places other than just the Fell Gates.”
“The rituals for stealing souls?”
“That’s usually what they were after, wasn’t it?”
This was bad, worse than bad. Not only was Zion brainwashing everyone, but he was also stealing their souls. I frowned, thinking back to when I was in that room with him. I’d been around evil enough times to know what it looked like and how it reacted. Zion might be a fool and a coward, but he wasn’t evil. He cared for the Shadowguard clan. Cared for it too much.
“I don’t think he knows what he’s doing,” I said when I turned back to Amelie. “He’s going to kill everyone here and not even realize why they’re dying.”
“We have to stop him.”
“Do you think you can use that charm to get through the barrier?”
She held it by the strings with a disgusted curl to her lips. “Don’t have much choice.”
“Using it won’t hurt you, will it?” I hadn’t even thought of her magic and that it might react badly.
“Honestly, have no idea. I’ll wait until tonight then sneak back to the barrier and see if I can get through enough to send a message to Selma.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Not happening, tough guy. If something happens to me, one of us has to be around to save everyone else before Zion accidentally kills them all.” She patted my cheek. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
“You’re not helping at all.”
If Zion found out there was a witch here, he’d lock her up with the others. Or he’d get rid of her.
I wasn’t so sure about this plan anymore. I was sure my expression made clear my concerns because Amelie punched me in the shoulder before I even opened my mouth to protest.
“It’ll all work out. Just have to stay positive.”
“Sure, because that always helps.”
I glared at the charm in her hands.
Why couldn’t anything ever be simple?
I wanted to find Cara and bring her home. Now, we were in another fight that could end with one of us or both seriously hurt.
Or worse, locked in a cave. Forever.