The Lost Dragon (The Dragon Hunters Book 1) Read online

Three

  Cassandra was in her home, where she was enjoying a well-deserved day off. Lounging in her apartment in a pair of gray sweatpants and a white tank top, she sat on the sofa watching the movie Queen of the Damned on DVD, just because the human idea of a vampire was amusing to her. Though to be honest, they weren’t too far from the mark, only a lot of the superstitions surrounding their version of vampires were pure fiction or distorted truth. She heard a knock at the door and glanced at the clock. It was a little after noon.

  “Bloody hell, one of those Damone family members is supposed to be here today.” Cassandra stood up and went to the door. Her breath caught in her lungs as she stared up at Andreas, who wore dark sunglasses over his eyes. He was dressed in blue jeans and a fitted blue t-shirt that showed off his muscular arms and abs to perfection. He wore a blank look on his face as he looked down at her, something she wasn’t used to. At six feet tall, not many men were taller than her, leading to a severe lack of a social life; Andreas was a good five or six inches taller than her.

  “Cassandra Odele, I take it?” his voice was low and deep, and a tingle went up her spine at the sound of it.

  “Who wants to know?” Her voice was steadier than her knees were, as she was leaning on the door for support.

  “I’m Andreas Damone. My father told me you’d be expecting me.”

  “Show me your mark.”

  Andreas raised an eyebrow but lifted his shirt to show her his birthmark. “Satisfied?”

  Hardly, she thought as she stepped aside to let him in.

  His mark was on his chest, right by his nipple, and the view she’d gotten when he lifted that shirt had been dazzling. He looked like he was chiseled perfectly out of stone. She thought she’d gotten a good idea of what he looked like with the shirt on but when he lifted it up, she had the strong urge to run her nails up across those perfect abs. Something in her mind, however, made that urge feel very wrong. She didn’t know why, but something deep down told her she shouldn’t be attracted to this man.

  Andreas stepped inside and looked around the place. She lived in a large apartment with a lot of empty space, leading Andreas to believe she had just moved in, or else she wasn’t big on decorating.

  “Well, it’s a good thing you were aware of my birthmark. That makes my job easier,” he told her.

  Cassandra went back over to her sofa. “Jarel told me what to look for when we talked over the phone.”

  “He was a little sketchy on the exact nature of your problem.” Andreas sat in a chair next to the sofa. “I know that you have vampires after you and I know about your healing abilities.”

  “From what I gather, they have a vendetta against Apollo and there’s no better way to get back at him than to use his own powers against him. Of course, they’re not too happy with your father either, and using me would make his job a lot harder. It sounds like I’m a pawn in a game that’s gone on for thousands of years.”

  Andreas’ mouth twitched as if he wanted to smile. “At least you’re smart enough to know that.”

  Cassandra gave him a dull stare. “If I were anything more than a pawn, Apollo would be here himself, or would at least have sent someone. Instead, your father has to intervene.”

  “I wouldn’t blame Apollo. Zeus may have him off on another errand or then again, perhaps he just doesn’t care. The Olympians are hard to read sometimes.”

  Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Whatever. While he’s off on Olympus or wherever he is, I’m stuck here with all his healing abilities and none of his offensive ones. I’m sure you’ll understand if I’m not very forgiving.”

  Andreas shrugged. “That’s his problem, not mine. I’m here to make sure you stay alive.”

  “Please tell me you’re not one of those creepy little bodyguards that insist on following me everywhere, even to the bathroom. I hate those guys.”

  Andreas laughed. “That’s not my style. Besides, if I follow a woman to the bathroom, it’s not to watch her sit on a toilet.”

  Cassandra gave an unladylike snort. “It figures I’d go from one extreme to the next. You’re probably the type that I can’t get to follow many anywhere because you’re too busy looking up other women’s skirts.”

  Andreas gave her a feigned look of shock. “I’ll have you know I don’t spend all my time chasing women like an animal in heat. My brother is the dog in the family, so I leave all the leg humping to him.”

  Cassandra laughed. “I wouldn’t put it past you to do the leg humping. It seems more like your style.”

  “Well, that’s just offensive. My brother is a wolf and it’s in his nature. I’m more sophisticated.”

  “So instead of humping her leg you mount her from behind?”

  Andreas laughed. “Well, at least you have a sense of humor.”

  Cassandra shrugged. “I have to do something to make life enjoyable. You try being descended from an ancient line of healers blessed by Apollo and given no real offensive capabilities.”

  Andreas snorted. “I’m sure it’s no picnic. I’m a descendant of Zeus myself. I’m just grateful that I’m his grandchild and Jarel is my father.”

  “So how old are you actually?” Cassandra asked.

  “Over eleven thousand years old,” Andreas answered. “I won’t give my exact age, but that tells enough.”

  “Obviously being a child of a Dragon God has its perks,” she muttered.

  “Being the Black Dragon God’s child is never dull, to say the least,” Andreas replied. “Anyway, mind if I take a look around?”

  Cassandra waved him off and went back to her movie as he wandered around her apartment. As he did, he spotted a picture of her with a blond, long haired male with sparkling blue eyes and bronzed skin. He was taller than her and had an arm wrapped affectionately around her shoulder.

  “Who’s the guy in the picture?” he asked.

  Cassandra gave a pained look. “That’s my brother. He was captured by the vampires and I haven’t seen him since. That’s why you’re here.”

  Andreas wasn’t good at consoling others, though he was familiar with the pain of loss. Still, he merely continued on his tour.

  So, dear Father, what am I supposed to do now? He called silently.

  Jarel’s laughter floated to his mind. Has it been that long since you’ve been alone with a beautiful woman? You’re a little old for me to have the sex talk with.

  Andreas scowled. Is that why you gave me this assignment? I don’t need help with my love life.

  Jarel snorted. You could’ve fooled me. But that’s not why I sent you there. She’s fated for someone else, just as you are. You’re there to protect her. I’m looking into who’s after her. You just keep her safe. That is your only priority at this point.

  Yes, Father.

  Jarel broke off. Andreas sighed and turned to go sit with Cassandra. He hoped this wouldn’t be a long night.

  Four

  Jarel sat in his throne room with a pair of sunglasses over his eyes, his way of keeping emotions hidden from those around him. He was expecting several of his children to return home. At a slight burn of the dragon tattoo on his right arm, he waved his hand and sensed the arrival of his children. He’d brought them back in their separate bedrooms, as he always did. He’d meet with most of them later. Now, he had another to meet.

  He heard the shrill forceful call of a male phoenix, one of his own many creations. The large fiery, ruby red colored bird flew in through the window and transformed into a human appearance. This was Jarel’s messenger. Victor, or Vic as he preferred to be called, was tall, about two inches under Jarel, which put him at about 6’8” tall. He had a heavy, muscular build, making him fairly close to Jarel in size. His hair was long and the same ruby red in color as his feathers were in phoenix form, and at the moment fell over one of his pale green eyes. He had olive colored skin and currently wore a look of complete boredom.

  “Damn, and here I was hoping you had redecorated,” he commented.

  Jarel scowled.
“I’m not in the mood today, bird. You’d better start talking before I put you out of my misery.”

  Vic raised an eyebrow. “Not in the mood for our usual banter, I see. Very well. I have information on the renegade coven of vampires. You won’t be happy with who’s leading it.”

  Under the glasses, Jarel’s eyes narrowed. “Get on with it.”

  “The first son of the first vampires, Vacker and Deidre Devial, Kalos, leads them, and it’s said he gave the order to hunt the healer, as well as the orders to kill several people close to you and Apollo.”

  “And where is he now?”

  “Unknown. His presence is being masked.”

  Jarel tore the glasses off his face. “What the hell do you mean?!”

  Vic blew out a breath, wishing he wasn’t the messenger at this moment. “Another god must have taken him in if I can’t find him.”

  “What god would be stupid enough to shield that disreputable creature from my wrath?!”

  Vic shrugged. “That’s not possible for me to find out.”

  Jarel’s scowl deepened. “I want that vampire dead, damn it, and whoever’s helping him will share his fate!”

  “What do you want me to do now?” Vic asked, clearly ignoring the outburst of his god in order to get to the more important matter.

  “Go to Andreas and inform him of who he’s up against. Remain in the area to back him up. I will not have a repeat of Julian, do you understand me?”

  Vic’s eyes hardened. “Yes, my lord.”

  Jarel watched as Vic transformed and flew off. He let out a breath as the grief of his own lost son hit him like it had just happened yesterday. And with his grief came his rage, which he would unleash on Kalos and whoever was aiding him as soon as they were found.

  Fortunately for Andreas, Cassandra didn’t want him to hang around the whole night. He’d placed a few safeguards on her home, so any rogue would have a hell of a time getting in. He didn’t much feel like patrolling, so he returned to his hotel room. As he lay across the bed, he heard the cry of the phoenix, announcing Vic’s arrival. He looked up to find him standing on the balcony. Andreas quickly stood and opened the door to let him in.

  “We’ve got problems,” Vic told him as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

  Andreas sat on the bed. “What kind of problems?”

  “We’ve finally figured out who is controlling these rogues. It’s Kalos Devial, and he’s under the protection of a god because I can’t find him anywhere. He’s the mastermind behind everything the rogues have done, which includes this hit on the woman you’re protecting and possibly the death of your brother.” Vic’s face visibly hardened. “Needless to say, your father is not pleased. We now have to get Kalos to reveal himself somehow.”

  “The only way I know is to take out his children, and there’s really no mistaking it, these rogues are all his descendants. No other line of vampires has turned against Father.” Andreas sighed. “There’s a lot of them. I took out seven the other night. And I can practically smell the rest of them infesting this city.”

  “Then it sounds like we’ve got a lot of work to do tonight. No point sitting around here like he’ll come to us. Let’s see what kind of damage we can do.”

  Five

  Rather than just hunt for the rogues, Andreas and Vic decided to trail a rogue in hopes of getting to the bottom of their aim in the city. They followed him out of the city to North County into the municipal of Spanish Lake, sticking to the treetops to tail him while he went on foot.

  “Where is this guy going?” Vic asked irritably.

  “Hmm, I think I have an idea. Only two of our kind live here. I’m not sure why this guy is after them though. They’re kids.” Andreas shifted his weight, preparing to jump from his treetop perch. “Let’s go. I don’t want this to get messy.”

  “I haven’t heard of these kids. Who are they?” Vic asked.

  Andreas jumped down without answering. Vic scowled and followed him. As they rounded a corner, they saw one house with a group covering the front yard. They were rogues, with the one they‘d been chasing arriving last. Vic looked at the house and his eyes widened.

  “Isn’t this Julian’s house?”

  Andreas drew his sword. “Yes it is, and I’ll be damned if history repeats itself.”

  Vic glared. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “There are two kids in that house and we can’t let them die unless you want to face the full wrath of my father,” Andreas replied. “Now start killing.”

  Vic pulled out two silver Glocks, both loaded with nine millimeter rounds. “I want an explanation after I kill these pricks.”

  The two jumped right into the center of the group.

  “So, is this a private party, or can any bloodsucker join in?" Andreas taunted.

  The rogues looked at each other nervously. They began to talk amongst themselves nervously.

  "What should we do?"

  "We weren't told we'd have to deal with a dragon."

  "Should we retreat?"

  "No, Kalos would have our heads. We have to kill him."

  “Now, is that any way to greet a guy?” Andreas asked sarcastically.

  Vic smirked. “This should be fun.”

  Andreas stabbed the first rogue to come to him through the heart, then kicked him off. The next caught a side kick to the stomach, then a slash up from the chest to the jaw, knocking him backwards. Vic shot two in the head, then hit another across the face with the barrel of the gun. Another rogue kicked the gun out of his hand, so Vic grabbed him by the hair and shot him in the side of the head. Andreas ducked under a charging rogue and tossed him onto three others coming up behind him. He straightened up and threw his sword at another impaling him to a tree in the yard. Vic fired off three more shots, taking down three more rogues. Andreas jumped up high to balance himself on a tree branch. Vic flipped up to join him.

  “This is too easy. There’s not very many of them,” Andreas commented.

  “Pretty sure there’s more on the way. We’d better get rid of these, then we can go check on these kids. After all, I only have silver bullets, which doesn’t do much other than slow them down.” Vic held up his hand and a ball of flames appeared, swirling above his hand.

  “Why the hell did you bring silver bullets to kill rogue vampires?” Andreas grumbled.

  “I was hunting rogue werewolves before I came here and your father didn’t give me time to restock. Sue me.”

  Andreas ground his teeth as he held up his hand and a bolt of lightning shot out, then split off, striking the vampires in their chests. Before they hit the ground, Vic tossed the ball of flames in the midst of them. Flames shot out, engulfing the rogues, most of whom were down already from the gunshots or wounds. Andreas jumped down from the tree in front of the one rogue Vic had left living, the one Andreas had impaled to the tree.

  “Now let’s hear it. What’s your problem with these kids and why is Kalos after them?”

  The rogue split blood in his face. “Fuck off.”

  Andreas wiped the blood off his face. “That was disgusting and served no real purpose. I’m sure Hades will have a field day with you in Tartarus.”

  Vic came down beside him. “No need to kill him so soon. We’ve got time to get what we need from him.”

  The rogue coughed up more blood on himself. “Just get it over with. I won’t talk, and if you don’t kill me, I’ll kill you.”

  Andreas laughed. “I’m not some average hunter; I am the eldest of Jarel’s children. The odds of me dying by your hands are about the same as anyone defeating my father. But I know you’ve got backup coming, so I’ll just have to speed up the interrogation process.” He looked up. “Ah, Brandon, Demun, you’re here.”

  Vic followed his eyes. Perched on the branch were two identical twin boys, one smiling and the other scowling.

  “What the hell?” Vic muttered.

  The boys were average height, about 5’9” tall with light brown s
kin and black hair that fell a little past their shoulders. Both wore blue jeans and t-shirts but there was one very distinct difference in the two. The smiling twin, the one named Brandon, had light brown eyes while the other, called Demun, had bright red eyes. Brandon also wore his hair long and straight while Demun had dreadlocks.

  “Get down here,” Andreas ordered.

  Brandon jumped down first. “I already know why Kalos sent them. We killed his son.”

  “Two kids killed a vampire that’s several thousand years old?” Vic snorted. “He must have gotten soft.”

  Demun jumped out of the tree and hurled a ball of fire at the rogue, instantly engulfing him in flames. “I don’t appreciate being underestimated. Let’s see how soft you are.”

  Vic smirked. “I’m light-years ahead of you, kid. Just because you smoked a rogue vampire doesn’t mean you can take me on.”

  Andreas pulled his sword from the tree. “I think you’d be surprised how good these two kids are. They’re not your average demi-humans.”

  Vic’s face hardened. “I suppose if they’re anything like their father, then that’s true.”

  Brandon had been staring off into the distance. “Excuse me, I need to borrow this.”

  “What the hell?” Vic swore as Brandon reached into his coat and took one of his guns. Brandon whirled around, pointed at the roof of the house, and fired. The others watched as a body hit the ground. Demun followed with a ball of fire that engulfed the body.

  “Kalos isn’t kidding around, and we’re going to need the help if we want to get through this.” Andreas tightened the hold on his sword. “How many are there, Brandon?”

  “I’m not sure, but it’s a lot, and I’m pretty sure Kalos himself is on the way,” Brandon answered.

  Vic held out his hand. “I’m going to need my gun back.”

  Brandon handed it over. “Sorry, it was the fastest way to get him.”

  “Okay, kids, I don’t suppose you have weapons, do you?” Andreas asked.

  Demun pulled out a long dagger from under his shirt. “This is all Gramps will let us have. No guns or swords.”