The Lost Dragon (The Dragon Hunters Book 1) Page 7

Andreas and Cassandra were having lunch at McDonald’s when Vic came in, a scowl on his face.

  “What the hell are you still doing here?!” he asked irritably.

  “I’m eating, can’t you tell?” Andreas responded.

  “The boys’ school is under attack by a werewolf pack and you’re sitting here having lunch? Typical.”

  Andreas frowned. “A werewolf pack?!”

  “Kalos isn’t the only person involved in this resurrection idea. Now he’s got wolves siding with him and they’re after the boys. Now let’s go.”

  Andreas glanced at Cassandra. “This is going to get difficult.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Cassandra told him. “I may not be too much help in the fight, but I can help with any injured people.”

  “Bring her and let’s go. We’re not letting those boys die the same way their father did.” Vic turned and left the restaurant.

  Brandon and Demun charged into a lower hall since Brandon had already blocked the top floor off.

  “Something is wrong with this situation,” Demun commented.

  “Yeah, like the fact Adonis knew what they were,” Brandon replied.

  “He knew they were werewolves?”

  Brandon gave a nod. “Yeah, and he certainly wasn’t about to go run and take them on. So someone had to have snatched him. But why him?”

  Demun stopped walking. “To lure you.”

  Brandon stopped in front of him. “Lure me? What would werewolves want with me, and why would they single him out as a way to draw me in?”

  “Come on, now. I know you used to have a thing for him. Maybe something you’ve done tipped them off. Maybe they’ve been watching all day, and that’s why you felt like something was off.”

  Brandon sighed, knowing that truly he still had a thing for the pretty boy. “Well, how do we handle this?”

  “If you stop and concentrate, you can find Adonis, can’t you?”

  Brandon closed his eyes and stretched his power out, this time, searching for Adonis. His mind went through the halls of the school as he searched for the human boy, the only one still in the school. After a few seconds, Brandon’s eyes snapped open.

  “He’s upstairs, in the hall I blocked off,” he told his brother.

  Demun snorted. “Let me guess. The werewolves are gathered there en masse.”

  “You know it. So, how do we do this without weapons?”

  Demun’s eyes flashed. “You know damn well I’m all the weapon we need. There’s no way in hell I’m going down to a wolf. I’ll rip them apart.”

  “Well, I don’t have a better idea. Let’s go.”

  The two ran down the hall and shot up the stairs. Upon entering the top hall, they stopped. There were easily about thirty wolves up here, and near the rubble, one of them had Adonis trapped. Next to him, stood the only one in human form. This man was tall, towering over the boys, with extremely pale skin and silver hair. He wore all black, and was covered by a long black cape. His eyes were a dark yellow in color, and matched the eyes of the others in wolf form.

  “How predictable. Truly dragons are as noble as they say, even if the blood is diluted.” He smiled a cold, sinister smile. “Really, Kalos led me to believe this would be challenging. He has overestimated you. No matter how powerful you are, you do have a weakness.”

  Demun scowled. “So, you think holding a human is going to make us spare your lives? What makes you think I give a flying shit if he lives or dies?”

  The strange man smiled. “You may not, but your brother certainly does.”

  Demun shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll get over it. Frankly, I just want to rip your throat out.”

  “And here I thought you had a duty to protect all humans. Is that not the law of the Black Dragon God?”

  Demun’s power was building, the red in his eyes beginning to glow. “Didn’t Kalos tell you my name? I’m Demun, which means I’m hungrier for your blood than I am worried about obeying my grandfather’s laws.”

  Brandon didn’t even look to his brother. He knew his twin all too well, and while he knew that what he said was true, he also knew Demun had every intention of following Jarel’s laws.

  “So before I kill you, I’d like to know why werewolves are in league with a rogue vampire,” Demun continued.

  “We have our reasons, which children like you don’t need to know.” The man smiled. “Now, I suppose I should let you know how serious I am.” He turned to the wolf with Adonis trapped under his huge paw. “Kill the human.”

  “Fuck this, I’m going in.” Brandon shot forward, throwing up his hand and sending his power forward. The wolf holding Adonis down was sent flying and the others attacked.

  Demun shot forward with his brother, then ahead of him. His nails had gotten longer, and he used them effectively, catching the first of the wolves by the mouth as he attempted to bite him. Demun grabbed the top half of its face and with one impressive show of strength, ripped the top half of his head off. Brandon’s power caught the next wolf and slammed him against the lockers lining the wall. Demun flipped up and landed on the head of a charging wolf, crushing his skull. Two more leaped at him and Demun ducked, then reached up, putting a hand through each wolf’s chest and grabbing the heart. He then tossed the dead bodies and took down four more charging wolves. Hearts in hand, Demun shot forward. Brandon aimed his hands down at the ground and his power shot out. The floor cracked and large chunks of it floated up around him as he raised his arms. He extended them, the chunks of the floor shooting forward and pelting the closest wolves to him. One got through and leaped forward. Brandon back flipped, his foot catching the wolf in the jaw and knocking it back, right through a hole in the floor. He ran forward, hands up as he tossed three more wolves backwards and flipped over another to charge forward again.

  The cloaked man’s smile faded. “Must I do everything myself?” He reached down and grabbed Adonis by the throat. He jerked the boy’s head to the side, then harshly bit into him. Adonis screamed in pain and struggled uselessly to get away.

  “No!” Brandon roared, power surging forward.

  “Shit!” Demun spat, watching the wolves ahead of his brother go flying.

  Brandon’s eyes began to change color and the power emanating from him grew stronger. Reaching out, he caught hold of the cloaked man, his power jerking the man’s head back from Adonis’ throat. He then forced him to release Adonis, who fell to the floor, blooding flowing freely from the bite on his neck. Brandon waved his hand and the cloaked man went flying across the hall, finding himself pinned to the wall. He grunted from the impact, and as his vision cleared, Brandon was standing in front of him. His eyes were a swirling silver and red, and his canine teeth were longer.

  “So, you enjoy feeding on humans, do you, fleabag?” Brandon walked forward. “Tell me, was the blood sweet? Did it give you a rush? Do you feel high? Maybe like you’re truly powerful now?”

  The other wolves had stopped, still in wolf form, as their apparent leader was made helpless.

  “Brandon!” Demun called out.

  Brandon ignored him, instead reaching up to tear off the man’s cape. “I wonder what your blood tastes like. Will it have the same taste as his had when you put your filthy mouth on him? I’ve never had human blood before. I’m curious, what’s it taste like?”

  “What the hell are you?”

  Brandon smiled a smile that was not his normal smile, displaying more prominently his canine teeth. “Oh, poor little furball. You don’t recognize a demon when you come face to face with it? Because I can assure you, that’s what stands before you right now and I’m rather hungry. I think I’ll sate myself with the blood of a werewolf this day.”

  The other wolves ignored Demun to charge Brandon. He held up his hand and every single wolf was caught in midair. Demun could only watch in amazement as none of the wolves were able to move. Brandon’s eyes never left the man he held against the wall. His power forced the man’s head to turn.

  “No, no pl
ease,” he pleaded quietly.

  “Did you listen to the human’s pleas when you took him? I’ll answer that, no you didn’t. So why then, would I listen to yours? No, I think I want to feel it as you die.” He reached up to grab the werewolf’s neck, then bit into him, every bit as savagely as the wolf had bitten Adonis.

  “What in the hell?”

  Demun turned to see Vic, Andreas, and Cassandra standing at the hall entrance, eyes wide. The wolves were still held in the air, but everyone’s eyes were locked on Brandon, who was draining the blood from the werewolf leader.

  “What is he doing?” Cassandra asked.

  “He’s feeding on a werewolf,” Andreas replied. “His demonic blood has taken him over, and the demonic side must have wanted blood.”

  Demun looked at Cassandra. “Can you help that human lying near them? I can hear his heartbeat, but it’s faint. The werewolf must have nearly drained him completely before Brandon snapped.”

  “I can, if I can get to him,” Cassandra answered.

  “Then go to him while Brandon isn’t paying attention,” Demun told her.

  Cassandra ran forward, going straight to Adonis without any problem. She knelt down and began to examine him, easily finding the source of the problem. Before she could do anything else, Brandon dropped the lifeless werewolf and turned to her. Cassandra stopped, noting the change in his eyes.

  “Oh shit, we have to stop him,” Andreas said as he ran forward, followed closely by Demun and Vic.

  Brandon held up a hand and sent them all flying backwards. He looked at the werewolves he still had hold of and balled his hand into a fist. The wolves began twitching for a few seconds, and blood began to flow out of their mouths before he let them drop. Cassandra looked on, knowing that the wolves were dead, and judging by the blood, it was from internal damage, most probably to the heart. She didn’t stand a chance at fighting the boy, but she hoped she could reason with him.

  “Brandon,” she said softly.

  His head snapped towards her, a snarl coming over his face. His mouth was covered with blood, and it was actually dripping from it.

  “The boy is alive, but he’s lost a lot of blood,” Cassandra continued. “I can help him, you know I can, but I need for you to stop.”

  Brandon cocked his head to the side, in what seemed a questioning manner. As he did, he was suddenly hit with a stream of fire and a bolt of lightning, right in the back. Brandon crashed into the rubble he’d brought down earlier, and then hit the floor. He was unconscious, and finally the pressure of his power went away. Demun and Andreas had their hands extended, having shot off the two blasts that had taken Brandon down. They got to their feet, quickly going to check on him. Vic stood back a short distance, but he watched.

  “Well, he’ll be fine.” Andreas turned to Cassandra. “What about him?”

  “I can’t do much for him here. If we can get him back to the boys’ house, I have some things to help him,” she answered.

  Andreas looked to Vic. “You’ve got cleanup here, right?’

  Vic nodded. “Just take care of them.”

  Andreas turned to Demun. “Carry your brother out of here. I’ll get the human boy. We have to make this quick, so there’s no time for delays. Stay out of sight of the humans.”

  Demun nodded and hefted his twin up on his shoulder. “I’ll meet you at home. Just help the human. I think Brandon has a soft spot for him.”

  Cassandra tore of a piece of Adonis’ shirt to tie around his neck to stop any more blood loss. “We have to hurry. I may have stopped the blood flow, but it won’t help if we don’t replenish what he’s lost. He’s barely hanging on.”

  Andreas lifted Adonis up, cradling him easily. “Trust me, I won’t let this kid die.”

  Vic watched them leave, then turned to the mess left behind.

  This is some mess to clean up. Why do I get the feeling I’m going to be doing this a lot more often than I used to? He thought.

  Twelve

  Brandon awoke in darkness. Strangely, he was standing. He looked around, confused. He could see nothing at all.

  “Lost?”

  Brandon looked around for the source of the voice. It sounded familiar, strangely like his own.

  “Demun?” he questioned.

  “That would be incorrect, yet it is fully correct,” the voice answered. “As strong of a telepath and telekinetic as you are, do you not recognize this area at all? It is, after all, your own creation.”

  Brandon fell silent, trying to form an answer.

  “Allow me to help you.”

  What Brandon could only describe as a spotlight shone down, revealing the speaker, a mirror image of himself. All except for…..

  “Your eyes,” he whispered.

  The figure smiled. “Yes. Do you understand now?”

  Brandon frowned. “I’m in my own mind. So what does that make you?”

  “I am you, quite simply. More accurately, I’m part of you. I’m the part you keep buried and separate from yourself. For name’s sakes, you may call me Id.”

  “So that makes you my demonic half.” Brandon looked around. “This isn’t how I thought my mind looked.”

  Id looked around as well. “It isn’t. You’re on my side right now. This is where you keep me.”

  “That doesn’t sound pleasant at all.”

  Id smiled again. “It’s not so bad really. Frankly, this is how I prefer it, and that is why you shaped it this way.”

  “So, why am I here?” Brandon asked. “I’ve been unconscious before and this hasn’t happened. Am I dead?”

  Id laughed. “Do you honestly believe I’d allow us to die? No, we’re very much alive. However, allowing me to gain control was very taxing for you. Your body is not used to the amount of power I wield freely, so once I am forced from the surface, you’re left in a sort of catatonic state.”

  “Then what happened?”

  Id raised an eyebrow. “Can’t you remember? You felt you were in over your head. When that werewolf bit down on the human, you lost it. By it, I mean control, and therefore I was allowed to be free for the first time in years.” Id stretched and gave a satisfied smile. “How good it felt to unload on those rebellious creatures. To make their hearts burst, to drain the blood of their leader.”

  Brandon blinked in surprise. “You drank the leader’s blood?”

  Id scoffed. “Oh, come now, that wasn’t breaking a single law of our grandfather’s. Perhaps not his recommended approach, but satisfying to me. The bastard deserved it for involving the human.”

  “Funny, I always thought you were beyond reason.”

  Id snorted. “When I desire to be, I am, though I generally adore our twin and wouldn’t hurt him for anything. I am not evil, merely a demon. I simply don’t care normally. And if it were any other human, I probably wouldn’t have given two shits. But this one is special.”

  “You like Adonis?” Brandon narrowed his eyes. “There must be something wrong with you.”

  “Then there is something wrong with you as well, my other half, for you cannot deny to me that you’ve had a thing for him for years. How else would I have come to like him? Though I must admit, I feel mostly the lust. The things I would do to that boy….”

  “Spare me the details,” Brandon cut him off.

  “Oh, loosen up. That’s your problem. That’s why my coming to the surface depletes you so. That incessant need for control. The fact is you like him. Hell, you could even grow to love him. He’s a light bright piece of eye candy that you just want to rub all over and make him scream your name in ecstasy. You want to put your mouth all over him, explore him, taste him, savor him. And then, when he thinks it’s done and all you have is the mouth, you want to surprise him with the dick.”

  Brandon put his hand over his eyes. “You’re so vulgar.”

  Id laughed. “Perhaps so, but I’m right. Just because I mainly feel the lust towards him doesn’t mean you don’t. My thoughts are yours, though you choose to ignor
e them.”

  Brandon looked at him. “This makes me uncomfortable.”

  “All the more reason for me to say it. I saved that boy’s life. The least you could do is tag that ass.”

  Brandon just shook his head.

  “What?” Id smirked. “I’m just saying. I’d be totally on board for that. Seeing him naked would make my day. Actually getting in it, that'd be just about the greatest thing ever.”

  “I think I’ll refrain. Don’t need you drinking from him too.”

  Id rolled his eyes. “I do know the laws, and I’m subject to them as well. I can’t drink from the human, unless of course he is our mate. Then, I’m free to do so, and he from me.”

  “We’re a little young to think about mates, aren’t we?” Brandon asked irritably.

  “Nope. Now’s as good a time as any in this lifetime. So, before you wake up, I leave you with this pearl of wisdom. Get over yourself and follow your heart. It’s what our grandfather would tell you to do.”

  The light went out and darkness fell again.

  Brandon sat straight up, now in his bed. He was fully awake now, and he turned to his right to see his twin brother smiling at him.

  “Please tell me I’m not trapped in my own mind still,” Brandon muttered.

  “No, you’re most certainly conscious now,” Demun answered.

  Brandon scowled. “Why the hell are you smiling?”

  Demun’s smile got wider. “Can I not just be happy to see my brother is alive and well?”

  Brandon rolled his eyes. “Bullshit. You were listening to me, weren’t you?”

  Demun finally laughed. “Oh yes, and it was quite enlightening. So, being that I now know you have a crush on Adonis, why haven’t you ever done anything about it?”

  Brandon groaned. “Because he’s straight.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Demun asked.

  “Pretty sure,” Brandon responded.

  “So, you read his mind?”

  Brandon shook his head.

  “You asked him?”

  Again, Brandon shook his head.

  “So essentially, you’re just assuming he’s straight. Okay, moron, time for a little lesson in how to tell a gay man from a straight man.” Demun leaned forward. “If I remember right, he used to mess with you back in middle school, pick on you, right?”