Then the other doors exploded inwards and the Wise Women joined the fight. Old and young they were all there. They moved in front of the Dragon Shifters. They were using themselves as shields for the Dragon Shifters.
The Behemoth seemed to retreat for a moment. Its claws and head were not visible. But then the massive tail swam into view. Things seemed to slow as that tail was slammed against the outside wall of the throne room. The blocks shuddered. They held, but some shifted inwards. Dust, stone and dirt suffused the air. That tail came in for another slam.
No! Absolutely not!
All of this had happened in moments. Moments where Caden was shocked and unable to move. But now he leaped off of Iolaire’s back and towards the “mirror”. His arms were spread wide. He knew that this was what he had to do. Iolaire had shown him. He closed his eyes the moment his forehead hit the “mirror”.
It was cold. Freezing cold. Like dipping his hand into a bowl of ice water. Colder than that. It seemed to seep into his very bones. His very soul. But, of course, it was his soul.
There was light. Like dawn breaking upon the horizon. And a sense of great speed and vast distances being breached, but at the same time it felt like a simple breath. Because one and the next, Caden went from the Spirit Realm to the human one. He opened his eyes and saw Esme, Mei and Jahara’s faces above his own.
“Caden?!” Esme gasped.
“He’s back!” Mei cried.
“Of course, he is.” Jahara smiled.
Without saying a word, Caden leaped up. His body was completely at his command. He felt Iolaire’s strength within him mixed with his own. They were one again. They always would be.
That tail was coming around again. Time slowed.
Valerius’ head was turned towards him. Illarion was beside him. They were both firing out the windows at the Behemoth, trying to hit it. The tail would likely take out the wall. Throne room’s ceiling could come down on all of them.
Caden leaped over the ruined couch. His mouth opened, but he knew this gift wouldn’t work against the Behemoth unless he was shifted. He had to stop that tail first.
He was out the doors, but only a foot or so. No room to shift. Iolaire would do what the tail was attempting to do simply by coming into being. His arms stretched forward. Ice formed ahead of him in a wall, slowing the tail down, but not stopping it. Caden braced and reached into himself and Iolaire and drew out a greater ice power.
Iceturn.
That’s what the tail looked like. It looked like it was made of glassy ice. A sculpture of a tail. Not the real thing. But the Behemoth was still moving. Forward momentum had taken over. That huge length of solid ice was going to crash right into him.
Valerius’ arms were around him and he was pulling Caden back inside of the throne room. He landed on top of Valerius’ nude body, the Black Dragon King then turned and tried to shield Caden with that body. But Caden used his much greater strength--at the moment--to keep Valerius right where he was as the tail smashed into the building and shattered.
The screams from the Behemoth were so shattering that Caden couldn’t hear for long moments. His body was flattened on top of Valerius’. The other Dragon Shifters and the Wise Women were crouched down on the ground, weapons falling from nerveless fingers, as they covered their ears. Foul blood flooded the courtyard, but not for long.
For the Behemoth was taking off…
No! No, we can’t let it get away to hurt more people! Caden thought.
Will hurt. Much death, Iolaire said.
Yes, this is its endgame. We have to stop it, Iolaire!
He got off of Valerius. He turned and looked down at that beloved face. He touched Valerius’ cheek. His ears were still ringing so he couldn’t hear anything. He hoped Valerius though could.
“I’ve got to make it shift. I have to send it back to the Spirit Realm. The other Dragons are waiting there to destroy it. Do you understand?” Caden asked, his voice sounding blubbery and coming in and out to himself.
Valerius caught his hand and looked up at him as if seeing something so treasured, but feared lost. Caden wasn’t sure if he had heard. He hated leaving Valerius like this. But he had to. He kissed the Black Dragon King and got up.
He raced out of the doors and shifted. To be in their Dragon form again in this world felt so right. The only thing more right would have been to have Valerius and Raziel flying by their side.
Soon.
They were up in the air. Their powerful wings beating effortlessly. All the fears he usually had about shifting and flying were gone. He was the White Dragon King. He and Iolaire were meant to be together. This was what he was meant to do.
The Behemoth had flown towards the Mid. It wasn’t headed out into the countryside, but clearly had decided to take out as many people as it could before it returned to the Shifter Realm and the justice awaiting it.
They banked and headed after it. Their eyes caught sight of the bridge though. His breath pulled in and Iolaire gave out a cry of pain. Rose, Wally and Marban were all huddled around a still figure. The figure was Chione. Rose had her hand. Wally was patting her head. Marban was calling for help, ordering other Shifters about as a born leader did. The cause of her stillness became clear as there were hundreds of other still bodies.
