Clash of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Amazon Book 3) Page 8

  I shook, my eyes going to the golden crystal around her throat. I swallowed hard, reminded of everything at stake. I couldn’t fail at this, for so many reasons.

  “What do you know about the Garden of Hesperides?” Maximus asked.

  “Well, don’t eat the oranges, for one,” Phoebe said. “You’ll regret that for sure. And it’s a big place, hard to find your way around.” She spent a little while describing the terrain, and I did my best to visualize it.

  “Nearly there!” Captain Neilson said. “Get your harnesses on!”

  “Harnesses?” I frowned.

  “We can’t land.” Phoebe tossed me a harness, and I snagged it out of the air. “So we’ll lower you down into the garden.”

  I grinned, liking the sound of that. Definitely James Bond. I glanced at Maximus, expecting him to look even greener. Instead, he looked more relaxed.

  “You don’t mind?” I asked.

  “As long as I’m not in this tin can, I’m delighted.”

  “So, dangling from the tin can as it hovers a hundred feet over the ground is better?”

  “Much.” He smiled and strapped the harness around his waist and legs. “I can tolerate that, but it’s just unnatural to fly.”

  “You can take the boy out of Ancient Rome, but you can’t take Ancient Rome out of the boy,” I said.

  “Rome?” Phoebe said. “You’re Roman?”

  “Hell no,” Maximus said. “Despite my name, I’m sure as hell not Roman. Germanic, first century AD.”

  “Fucking Romans. Copycats, the lot of them,” Phoebe said.

  I grinned, laughing. Ancient grudges died hard, and Romans were notorious for copying the Greeks.

  “We’re here!” Captain Neilson stopped the helicopter so it hovered in midair.

  I moved toward the door, which Phoebe pushed open. She grabbed the line attached to my harness and fed it into some kind of mechanical device that I assumed would help lower me to the ground. She pushed the button so the machine started to whir, and I leaned out over the edge, getting ready to drop.

  She met my eyes right as I lowered myself out. “Oh, and beware of Ladon.”

  I was already descending on the line when she said the name. I looked up at her. “What’s Ladon?”

  “A dragon,” she shouted down after me.

  My stomach dropped. “What? A dragon!”

  She just grinned. “Good luck!”

  I was too far down to ask any more questions. The wind whipped at my hair as the line lowered me to the forest below. If it was a garden, it was a big one. A wild one. No rose bushes and benches for quiet reading in here.

  I glanced up to see Maximus following, a relaxed grin on his face. Weirdo. My stomach was doing the jitterbug.

  Branches scraped at me as I descended through the trees. When my feet hit the ground below, I yanked off the harness and gave it a tug. It ascended back through the trees.

  Maximus landed next to me and made quick work of removing his harness. He gave it a tug so Phoebe got the cue, and it rose up through the trees. A moment later, the sound of the helicopter drifted away.

  I turned in a circle, inspecting the forest around us. “It’s an orchard.”

  Thousands of oranges hung from the trees, their scent intoxicating. I itched to reach out and pick one. Scowling, I shoved my hand into my pocket. Not only were Phoebe’s warnings echoing in my ears, but I could just feel that it would be a bad idea to eat these oranges. Eating the food of the gods was always risky, particularly when it hung from a tree.

  “Any idea which way to go?” Maximus asked.

  “Not a clue.” I looked around, but saw no animals or people. “Let’s see if we can find a clue or a person. Something.”

  Together, we moved quietly through the forest. I kept my senses on high alert, ready for anything to dart out. In the distance, the sound of water roared.

  “A river,” I said. “Maybe a waterfall.”

  “Loud enough to be a waterfall.”

  Ahead of us, a massive pile of black dirt glittered in the sunlight. Were there diamonds in it? My heart picked up speed. I’d never been one for the glitter really, but a massive pile of diamonds would pique anyone’s interest.

  I picked up my pace toward the dirt, my gaze running over it with interest. Only once it began to move did I realize that it was not, in fact, a pile of dirt studded with diamonds.

  Nope. It was alive.

  My stomach lurched, and I stumbled backward, right into Maximus.

  Before we could get out of the way, the pile of dirt swung its head toward us, flaming red eyes pinning me in their sights.

  Holy fates, the dragon.

  The beast was huge, with glittering black scales and enormous wings folded along its back like it’d been catnapping in the orange grove. Its neck was long and graceful, its head angular and narrow. Black spikes extended off the back of it, each threaded through with red fire. They tapered off near the wings, which flared upward.

  “Ladon,” I whispered, awed.

  The beast reared its head back as if to strike, mouth opening to reveal onyx fangs and a brilliant red tongue.

  Would it barbecue me first?

  The dragon’s nose twitched. The flames in its eyes banked, and it tilted its head, curious. Then it leaned forward and sniffed me, drawing in my scent.

  Sister.

  The words echoed in my mind. “Did you say that?”

  Sister.

  “Sort of, yes,” I said. “I’m a DragonGod.”

  The beast nodded its head, as if understanding. Hell, who was I kidding? Of course it understood. It probably understood the secrets of the universe.

  “We’re looking for the daughters of Atlas. The Hesperides. Do you know where we might find them?”

  The dragon shrugged an elegant shoulder, one wing lifting up in the process. Can take you part way.

  “Oh, thank you!” I turned to Maximus, smiling.

  He was looking between me and the dragon, a slight grin on his face.

  The dragon raised its front leg, gesturing with its claws for me to raise my hand and present it, palm up. Somehow, it was easy to read his intentions, even though he didn’t speak. I did as he asked, turning my right palm upward.

  He reached out with his main claw and poked my index finger hard. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t move my hand as bright blood beaded on the surface of my skin.

  The dragon pierced one of his own fingers, which looked much more reptilian than human, and pressed his bloody appendage to mine. Though it was generally a bad idea to mix blood with another—I wasn’t a moron—this was a dragon. And the air cracked with magic.

  No way I was going to miss out on whatever this was.

  As the dragon’s blood flowed into me, something inside me seemed to settle down. To be at peace. It almost felt as if I weren’t fighting what was inside me. Even the dark magic.

  Whoa.

  I sucked in a deep breath. This was awesome.

  The dark magic was in there, but somehow, it wasn’t quite as dark as it had been. Like it had absorbed some goodness from the dragon or something. It made it easier to accept that it was there, at least.

  Embrace your magic.

  Prometheus’s words echoed through my mind, excavating themselves from beneath the drunken stupor that had hidden them away.

  Was this what he had meant?

  Though he’d also told me to beware the dragon. I remembered that now. Or had he really said beware? Or just keep an eye out?

  Whatever it was, I was so damned glad I’d met Ladon. I grinned at him. “Thanks.”

  I wasn’t quite sure what he’d done—not exactly. But I knew it had helped me. I’d never felt so at peace. Like it really was easier to embrace what was inside me.

  The dragon lowered himself toward the forest floor, holding out one of his front legs to form a step.

  “Thanks.” I turned to Maximus. “We need to climb on. He’s giving us a ride part way.”

 
“You can speak dragon?”

  “I can speak Ladon, at least.” I grinned and climbed onto the dragon. If I’d thought climbing into a helicopter on top of a roof was cool, that was nothing compared to this.

  Ladon’s scales were smooth and warm, and I found a seat in between his wings. Maximus sat behind me, and I turned to smile back at him. Joy filled me like a hot air balloon, threatening to carry me away.

  Ladon crouched low, then leapt into the air, his wings carrying us high over the trees. I laughed, unable to keep it inside, as the wind tore at my hair and we swept over the Garden of the Hesperides.

  There was literally nothing in the whole wide world quite like riding a dragon.

  Ladon carried us high over the ground, gliding past rivers and meadows and lakes. The Garden of the Hesperides was massive—a world unto itself, hidden away from humans, where a dragon could live and fly free.

  Elation surged through me as he soared, and I tried to imprint every second of it on my brain. When he slowed and descended toward a river, I was so happy from the ride that it was impossible to be disappointed that it was over.

  He landed lightly on the ground, and I climbed off, letting Maximus go first so I could have one more second on the dragon. I’d have lived here, if he’d let me.

  Once I was on the ground, I walked around to the front of Ladon. “Thank you.”

  He inclined his head, then reached for his shoulder and pulled off a scale. The shiny black thing was about the size of my palm, shot through with red. He handed it to me. Follow the river to the Hesperides.

  I took it and nodded, unsure of what it was for but not about to turn down a gift from a dragon. “Thank you again.”

  Go with fire. And embrace your gifts. Even the frightening ones. Especially those.

  I nodded, determined to do as he said. To lose my fear and become the badass I had to be.

  Ladon crouched low once again and leapt into the sky, his wings carrying him away so fast that I barely had a chance to say goodbye to his retreating form.

  I turned to Maximus. “Whoa. That was just whoa.”

  He nodded. “It’s the only word for it, really. Did he tell us where to go next?”

  “We have to follow the river.” I looked down at the dragon scale in my hand, which had begun to burn. Soon, it was so hot that it singed my fingers.

  I dropped it, unable to hold it any longer, and gaped as magic sparked around it, causing the scale to duplicate. Over and over, until it formed a small boat that glittered black and diamond like the dragon, with hints of red shot through.

  “Holy fates.” I gaped at the boat, which had to be ten feet long and contained two benches upon which to sit. There were no oars, but the current in the river was so strong that it might not be a problem.

  “A dragon scale boat.” Maximus shook his head. “Amazing. When Virtus, the god of battle, gave me my magic, I thought I’d seen it all. I was wrong.”

  “I don’t think we’ve seen half of it.” Tentatively, I leaned down and laid my hand on the boat. It was cool to the touch. I looked up at Maximus. “Ready to do this?”

  He nodded. Together, we shoved the boat toward the river. Once it floated, we climbed inside and pushed away from shore. Immediately, the boat navigated its way to the middle of the water, no oars needed.

  “Amen for dragon boats.” I relaxed, enjoying the journey down the river.

  Trees rushed by on either side, enormous old oaks and aspens and laurels. All kinds, really, and I couldn’t help but think of the myths where nymphs and other beautiful women ran away from men, and their only escape was to be turned into trees. What a crap deal for them.

  I scowled, suddenly reminded of the danger of this place.

  Up ahead, the river seemed to disappear into nowhere. The trees, too.

  I squinted. “What’s that?”

  Maximus cocked his head, clearly listening. “Do you hear that? The roar of water?”

  I did, finally. And holy fates. Understanding hit me. I turned to Maximus, knowing my eyes were as wide as saucers. “A waterfall. We’re headed straight toward a waterfall.”

  His face paled as his eyes stayed riveted to the river in front of us. “It’s too late.”

  I turned back. He was right. We were already there, as if the boat had sped up, anxious to plunge us toward our deaths.

  The bow of the boat tipped over the edge of the waterfall, and I looked down, hundreds of feet toward the pool below.

  Holy fates, we were dead.

  Chapter Eight

  As the boat plummeted toward the pool below, the scream died in my throat, killed by the wind and sheer terror. Water rushed around us as we fell, the waterfall roaring. I clung to the boat, unable to look back at Maximus to see if he was still there.

  Why had Ladon sent us this way?

  There was no time to contemplate as we fell. Seconds passed, the longest of my life as my stomach leapt into my throat and my skin iced with fear.

  Embrace your power.

  Hell yeah, I had to embrace it. Right now.

  I had power over water, thanks to Poseidon, and if I was ever going to use it, now was the time.

  I reached deep inside me for the water magic, finding it easily now that Ladon had given me a drop of his blood. It surged within me, feeling cold and wet against my insides, and I forced the magic outward, commanding the river below to rise up.

  It happened quickly, more quickly than it ever had before, and the waterfall rose, forming a gradual slope. My muscles ached and my breaths heaved. Manipulating the magic was a physical task as well as a mental one, and damn, was I feeling it.

  The boat rose up with the water, surging along amongst the waves that rushed us gradually downward.

  “You’ve got it!” Maximus shouted. “Keep going!”

  His voice was a balm on my soul. I couldn’t see him, but hearing him… He was alive. Still here, thank fates, not fallen to his death on the rocks below.

  The horrible thought almost made me lose control of the water, distracting me from the magic. The wave beneath us wobbled, and we were still at least a hundred feet from the real river below.

  I shook away the awful visions and focused on my magic, controlling the water and keeping us alive. Gradually, we glided lower, following the slope of the waterfall down toward the main river. When the hull of our boat touched the natural water, I sagged, grateful. A massive splash sounded from behind us as the rest of the water fell, sending up a wave that pushed us forward.

  “Crap!” I clung to the seat as the boat rocked along with the waves. Finally, we drifted to a calmer pace. I sagged, looking at Maximus. “You okay?”

  “Fine. Well done, there.”

  “Thanks.” I trembled from adrenaline, and I felt like a limp noodle.

  We floated down a wide, deep river that flowed more slowly than the one above. On either side, the bank was flat and peaceful, covered with long grass that waved in the wind. The watery sun was filtered through clouds, and the light breeze that blew my hair back from my face smelled of a spring meadow.

  If we hadn’t just plunged to our almost-deaths, I’d have called it a lovely afternoon.

  “Any idea when we should stop the boat?” Maximus asked.

  “Nope. Ladon didn’t say.” I squinted ahead at a spot where the water rippled slightly. “You see that?”

  “The water is moving. There’s something in it.”

  My muscles tightened.

  Oh, crap.

  No way it was friendly. Not with our luck.

  Whatever it was moved quickly toward us, pushing up the water in front of it. The mound of water grew and grew, until a massive head burst forth.

  Green scales, a huge mouth filled with fangs, and bulbous eyes.

  My heart slammed against my rib cage.

  “A sea monster,” Maximus said.

  Cetus.

  The word echoed in my head. “It’s the Cetus. A Greek sea monster.”

  And it was massive.
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  The thing was so big that it would swallow our boat whole. The mouth was at least ten feet across. Panic iced my veins as it neared, pushing through the water like a bulldozer.

  It was only thirty feet off now. The inside of its mouth gleamed red and black, and I could just imagine us heading straight down its gullet.

  My heart thundered as I looked to the shore. It was about fifteen feet away. Too far to jump. Too far to swim.

  Behind me, Maximus stood.

  He was strong as hell, so he could probably crush the life out of the beast if he could get a good enough grip. But what if the monster took him deep below the river? In the time it took to crush the life from him, Maximus could be lost under the water.

  Seconds raced by as the monster neared. It reeked of fish and dead bodies, and its milky white eyes never left us.

  I needed to shock the hell out of this thing.

  My magic was the only way.

  It was still fifteen feet off.

  I rose to my feet, calling upon the magic within me. “I’ve got this.”

  “No, let me,” Maximus said.

  I ignored him, and since I was in the front of the boat already, I had the advantage.

  Lightning crackled through my veins as I gathered up the magic of Zeus. I’d love to throw a lightning bolt like Bree, but my specialty seemed to be of the human bomb variety. I felt like I was filled with a thousand volts of electricity, and I was ready to light up that fish.

  I climbed onto the bow, my eyes on the Cetus, which was almost to us. I embraced Zeus’s magic, which sparked within me, lightning coursing through my muscles.

  The plan was insane, but we were still only about fifteen feet from shore. So it could work.

  Please work.

  Right in front of our boat, the monster reared up, its mouth open wide and ready to strike. I leapt as high as I could. Shock flashed in its white eyes as I jumped toward the beast.

  Ha! I bet prey never jump right at it.

  I grabbed onto the monster’s lower lip. The beast shrieked as I touched it, my lightning coursing through its body. I tightened my hands, determined not to let go. The monster thrashed in the water, its head still raised high as it lit up like the Fourth of July. Pain tore through my muscles, too, and it took everything I had to cling to the Cetus.