Badass Dragons - Complete Set (4 page)

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

The ride was not a pleasurable
experience. The dragon’s hide was prickly and even sharp in places where the
lumps became full spikes. The whole way Cheryl’s heart raced, in fear that she
would fall to her death below. The winds raged cold all over her body and by
the end of the ride her arms and legs were riddled with cuts and abrasions.

She was so
tired. It must have been after two in the morning.

Once they hit
the roof of the building, the dragon ripped her from his back and flung her to
the ground. The fall hit her hard but still Cheryl managed to not cry and
remain strong. Looking out into what was left of the night, the dragon gave a
triumphant roar and then began to slowly shift forms to become that of a human.

She
recognized him as Jet, from the alleyway.

He picked her
up from the ground and then let his hands feel all over her body.

Cheryl was
alarmed, but didn’t do anything to stop him. She wasn’t sure why he was doing
it.

He moved over
her breasts and nipples, causing tingling sensations. He touch her behind
tenderly. However his motivations didn’t eventuate as sexually based ones.

He had now
located the dagger.

“I’ll take
that,” he said tearing it away from her.

“Oh…” Cheryl
mumbled. “Cado gave me that.”

“Weren’t
going to try hurting anybody with that were you?”

Cheryl shook
her head. “No. Absolutely not.”

Jet nodded.
“Welcome to The Castle then.”

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

The Castle, indeed. This Castle was a
thirty-story high skyscraper, in the centre of the city around them. When asked
if her sister Sophie was present here, Jet replied, “This is her home now. She
will never leave. And you will be lucky if you do.”

“Hey come
on,” Cheryl hissed at him. “Don’t hold me hostage as well. I’ve done nothing to
you.” She grabbed his hand and held it. “And I won’t say anything.”

Jet shook it
away. “It’s not my decision to make. You will need to sit before the Dragon
Master and plead your case. He will hand down a verdict and whatever it is will
decide both Sophie’s fate as well as your own.”

Jet opened
the door which led to a brightly lit corridor off the roof and into the
building.

“But he
doesn’t know I’m here,” Cheryl protested. “You don’t have to subject me to it.
You can just help me.”

“And why
would I do that?”

“Well…”
Cheryl mumbled. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Nice try.”

“I thought
you said you had principles.”

“I do. And
I’m acting on them.”

Jet opened
another door at the end of the corridor which led to a spiral of carpeted
stairs.

“Well, what
do you want from me?” Cheryl asked. “I’ll do anything you ask, as long as you
let Sophie go.”

“Anything?”

Cheryl
nodded. “Anything.”

“That’s a
shame. Because I don’t want anything from you.”

Cheryl ground
her teeth together. “Do you … have a girlfriend? Or a wife?”

“Why do you
ask that?”

“Well I can …
If you want to …”

They stopped
together on the stairs. Still a long, long way down to go.

“I’m
flattered you would think I’d care for your consent,” Jet said harshly.
“However such an arrangement wouldn’t do it for me.”

“Why not?”

“Because it
would be false.”

“False…?”

“I don’t like
people who lie to me.”

They
continued down the stairs. Cheryl’s negotiation wasn’t going as nicely as she
planned.

“Look,” she
said. “I don’t know what you want me to say. But if –”

“Your only
hope is that Synrith will agree to an exchange.”

“An
exchange?”

“You for
Sophie.”

“Oh.”

“If you
really love your sister that is,” Jet said. They stopped at the next floor. Jet
opened the door to reveal a hallway full of exquisite green lights which moved
across the floors and walls.

“Where are
we?” Cheryl murmured.

“This is The
Dragon Master’s floor.”

“And who was
he again?”

“I’ve already
told you a hundred times. His name is Synrith. He is the one who owns your
sister.”

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

Synrith, Dragon Master of the city’s
Castle, did not look anywhere near as terrifying or sinister as Cheryl had been
expecting. His ‘throne room’ whilst large, and exquisitely lit, was little more
than an executive’s office, complete with a desk, computer and various shelves
with files. He was sitting on his desk as they entered, watching the streets
below from the adjacent window. He looked at them, and gave a cheeky smile. He
had short black hair, and was wearing a dark vest with a green shirt
underneath.

“Well, what
have you brought me here, Jet?” he asked, sounding intrigued.

“This is
Sophie’s sister, Cheryl,” Jet answered.

Synrith got
up from the desk and walked forward quickly with his hand extended. His teeth
sparkled in the green light.

Cheryl took
his hand.

“It’s so good
to finally meet you,” Synrith said.

“It is?”
Cheryl replied uncertainly.

“Of course.
Please have a seat.”

She took her
place opposite his desk, and he took his chair likewise.

Jet continued
to stand.

“So what can
I do for you?” Synrith asked.

“Well, it’s
my sister,” Cheryl began.

“Sophie. Yes.
What about her?”

“You can’t
keep her here,” Cheryl continued defiantly.

Synrith’s
eyebrows raised.

“Cheryl was
hoping you might be able to work out some type of deal,” Jet stated.

“I see,”
Synrith said. “Well, may I ask, what has prompted you on this quest of yours?”

“What has
‘prompted’ me…?” Cheryl murmured. “Well, you’ve kidnapped my sister. I deserve
–”

“Hold that
thought,” Synrith said putting up a finger. He picked up the phone on his desk
and spoke into it. “Yeah. Send Sophie up here. Pronto.” He set it back down.
“Sophie’s not here because I’ve kidnapped her. No, no, no, no. Sophie
wants
to
be here with me. It’s her choice. She’s free to leave any time she likes.”

Cheryl looked
up to Jet for conformation.

Jet was
expressionless.

“So she’s
coming then?” Cheryl asked.

“Any moment
now.”

“And you’re
going to let me go too.”

“Whenever
you’re ready to return home, I’ll see Jet delivers you there himself.”

Cheryl
relaxed a little. “Okay…”

A couple of
moments later the door behind them opened and in came Sophie, alone.

“Oh my God!”
Cheryl cried with surprise. “You really are here!”

She got up
and wrapped her arms around her sister. Sophie smiled, but didn’t vocalize her
response. Stepping back a little Cheryl noticed she was wearing a necklace with
a large emerald in the centre of it, to compliment her ravishing green dress.

“Are you
okay?” Cheryl asked. “Say something.”

“It’s okay,”
Sophie said quietly. “I’m happy here.”

Cheryl backed
away further. “No, no, no. This isn’t you. Something’s wrong.”

Sophie moved
slowly around the desk until she was in Synrith’s arms. “It’s okay, Cheryl,”
she said. “I love him.”

“She’s like a
zombie!” Cheryl shouted. “What have you done to her?”

Sophie’s eyes
blinked without recognition. She turned to Synrith.

“It’s okay,
baby,” he said, kissing her. Then he flashed a grin Cheryl’s way. “She was a
little excited when she got here. She’s had a couple of injections to set her
at peace.”

A hollow
smile had formed on Sophie’s lips.

“You drugged
her?” Cheryl demanded. “With what?”

“Just a
little home recipe,” Synrith replied.

“You said I
can take her home, didn’t you?”

Synrith
leaned back in his chair. “Do you want to go home, Sophie?”

“No,” Sophie
replied. “I want to stay here with you.”

“Of course
you do.”

Kiss, kiss,
kiss.

“No, I’m
taking her,” Cheryl declared. “You’re going to let me take her.”

Synrith’s
eyes lowered. Cheryl wondered if he was considering her proposal.

“Your dagger
has been returned,” Jet said placing the box on the table. “No harm done, eh,
Master?”

Synrith
reached out and took the dagger’s box. He opened the latches.

“This is
good,” Synrith said, sounding pleased. “I appreciate you returning this.”

“Can you let
her go now then?” Cheryl asked again. “Please, I beg of you.”

Synrith
touched his lower lip. “What do you think, Jet? Should I let them go?”

Jet looked
back to Cheryl a moment.

Sophie
giggled for no reason.

“I’ll take
her. I’ll take Cheryl,” Jet answered.

Cheryl shot
him a daggers look.

“And what of
Sophie?”

“You should
return her, Syn. I will take on her debt to you.”

“Her debt to
me?” Synrith rose from his chair. “And what would that be exactly?”

“She was not
working alone,” Jet declared. “There were vampires involved. And other shifters
too, I believe.”

“What…?”

“I think a
group is rising. I can’t see the full shape of it yet, but somebody’s out to
get you. Us.”

Synrith
spanked Sophie on the bum and she bounded away to the door.

“Sophie,”
Cheryl called. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Sophie looked
back, confused.

“Why do you
need the older one then?” Synrith challenged. “Why are you staking your claim?”

“She’s useful
to us. She can be trusted to find the truth about what’s happening.”

“Trusted?”
Synrith moved around from behind the desk. “Trusted?”

He looked
like he was about to grab her by the throat.

“You have my
word, Syn. If you let them go then I will sort this mess out for you. I won’t
even bother with the rest of the clan.”

Synrith
looked sideways at Jet, and then at Sophie and Cheryl.

“You have
twenty four hours,” he said. “If you fail to complete your mission prior to
that, you will be removed from it and put on something else. And I’ll take the
both of them back. That’s my ruling.”

“That’s
excellent news,” Jet said. “I won’t let you down, Master.”

Synrith sat
down behind his desk. He smiled politely. “Just make sure you take care of the
situation.”

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

When they returned to the hallway, it
was apparent to Cheryl that something was wrong. It seemed like everything went
fine in there, but Jet’s eyes were telling her something different. Still, he
wouldn’t say anything. He motioned for the girls to follow him, and Cheryl
grabbed a hold of Sophie’s hand as they made their way back to the stairs.

“How long
will she be like this?” Cheryl asked.

“Not long,” Jet
said quickly. “She’ll come around soon enough.”

At the
stairs, Cheryl saw they were going up again the way they’d come.

“So you are
taking us home then?”

Jet didn’t
answer.

Feeling
anxious she turned to her sister.

“Are you
okay?” she asked. “Can you hear what I’m saying?”

Sophie nodded.

“Did he hurt
you?”

Sophie shook
her head.

“Is he
planning on … doing something to us?”

Sophie
remained silent.

At the top of
the next floor the door opened before they got to it. Three men dressed in
suits appeared.

“Hi Jet,” one
of them greeted. “How are you?”

Jet stopped.

“Why hasn’t
he listened to me?” Jet said in a low voice. “I spoke the truth.”

“It’s okay,”
the man replied. “He just wants to be sure you’ll keep your word.”

He then
beckoned to Sophie. “Come here please.”

Sophie let go
of Cheryl’s hand and went to the group of men.

Cheryl looked
frightfully to Jet to protest.

“I’ll get her
back once I’ve completed the mission,” Jet said.

The man
nodded.

“Because if
he were to go back on his word here…”

“He won’t go
back on his word. You sort this mess out and you get the girls.”

“Well, I’m
taking Cheryl with me now.”

“She stays
here too.”

Now, Jet
seemed really annoyed.

“This isn’t
what we agreed to –”

“It’s okay,”
Cheryl interrupted. “If Sophie has to stay here, then I want to stay here too.”

“Cheryl,” Jet
argued. “This could take more than a few hours –”

“Less than
twenty four. I remember the deal you made.”

Jet blinked.
“I wish he had been up front about this.”

“You know how
the Master works,” one of the other men said. “He likes to think his decisions
over after he makes them.”

“It’s just
insurance,” the third man said.

“You know I’d
serve the Master anyway though,” Jet said. “Does he really doubt my commitment?
After all I’ve already done?”

“He doesn’t
doubt anything. But this is his price for their freedom.”

Jet sighed.
He glanced at Cheryl and for a moment she saw something other than disturbance
in his eyes. She sensed a longing.

“Don’t give
them any more drugs,” Jet muttered and then headed back towards the stairs.

Cheryl looked
up to her three escorts. “This isn’t going to be that bad is it?”

They refused
to answer her.