Dragonlands(234)

A loud screech broke through the calm. Tressa's body jostled in Jarrett's arms as he began to run. Her head bobbled against his shoulder. She tried to lift it but couldn't. She was too tired. His whispers became more frantic, but they told her to relax. She did. In Jarrett's arms, she would always be safe.

A blast of heat erupted behind them. Jarrett stopped and turned. Tressa's eyes fluttered open. There was a dragon. A Black one. It was so magnificent.

Fi.

It was Fi!

Tressa shook her head, attempting to knock off the weariness. To regain her senses. But every time she thought she was about to achieve clarity, her head became muddled again. There was something she thought she should know about the Black dragon, but she’d lost it.

"You'll kill her," Jarrett shouted at the dragon. "Stop where you are."

The dragon fell to all fours, its head low, eyes watching. Nostrils flaring, it sniffed at them.

Tressa laughed and reached out a hand.

"Don't," Jarrett said. He laid her on the ground and stood in front of her.

Tressa considered standing but didn't. Or couldn't. She wasn't sure.

"Face me as a human," he told the dragon, rubbing his hands together.

The dragon scraped a front claw in the ground.

"I will kill you either way. But if you have words you want to say to Tressa before you die, then now is the time."

The dragon paused, then transformed into a woman. Fi! Tressa knew her!

Tressa struggled to sit up, but her body wouldn't cooperate. She pushed her palms into the pebbled beach. She strained. Nothing. She slumped back to the ground again.

"Let her go," Fi demanded.

"No. She wants to be here with me. Just ask her," Jarrett said.

"Tressa?" Fi asked.

They locked eyes, but Fi didn't come any closer.

"I want to be here," Tressa said. Her lips moved. The voice came from her. Yet she wasn't sure why she’d said it.

"Tressa..." Fi's voice was plaintive. "Change back. Let's fly away."

Tressa didn't respond. She didn't even really think. She just lay there, her head on her arms. Stars twinkled in the night sky, winking at her. They were pretty. So pretty.

"Go," Jarrett said. "Go back to your kind. Tressa doesn't need or want you here."

"Jarrett." Fi's voice rang with anger. "You let me take her to the Black because you knew I could help her. I've done that. But she's not ready to be on her own yet. Please, let her go. I thought we were friends."

"Friends?" Jarrett's laughter was laced with spittle. "We are not friends. You are filth. You are tainted. You are a dragon and the only thing you deserve is a long, painful death. If you don't leave, I will kill you both. Your choice."

Fi's hands balled into fists. "I won't leave her with you. You’re completely insane."

"Then you will die." Jarrett's hands popped in the air, fireballs flying from them.

Tressa watched the yellows and oranges and reds spiraling toward Fi. Her friend changed back into her dragon form, lifting off the ground before the fireballs could hit their target.

Tressa smiled. Her friend was safe. Then she frowned. She wasn't sure what to think. She looked up at Jarrett, who was preparing another round of fire and not paying a lick of attention to her. He had changed. His magic was stronger. More dangerous.

Tressa felt her mind clearing. She sat up, her strength returning.

Jarrett shot more flames into the air. Fi dodged and returned fire with fire, her wings flapping hard. The night lit up with their battle.

Tressa stood, her legs shaky, but solid enough to walk. She stumbled toward Jarrett, her arms outstretched. She loved him. He loved her. She had to understand why he was doing this. She reached out, her fingers grasping for the hat on his head. She tugged, and it fell, fluttering to the ground.

His ears were gone, only blood-crusted holes in their place.

Then it all came rushing back. He'd tried to kill her, too. How could she have forgotten?

Jarrett spun, his eyes furious. He grabbed Tressa's chin, forcing her to look at him.

"No," she screamed. Her hands pushed at his face. Thoughts rolled back in, memories repopulated the empty places in her mind. Tressa shook her head. What had he done to her?

"Listen to me." His voice was calm again, soothing. "Tressa, listen..."

"Leave me alone." Tears streamed down her cheeks. He was controlling her using some kind of magic. What had happened to the man she loved? Was he even still in there?

"You must listen," he said again. His hands were on her shoulders.

She settled into him, her head on his chest. Then, when she felt him begin to relax, she pushed back.

Jarrett stumbled, falling onto the ground.

Fi landed on top of him, one massive foot holding him prone.