Shadow's Rising {Wing 6} Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Deep despair and tainted hope

There was a moment of tension as the Shadow and the dragonets waited to see what Surge would do next. They had run away from their den and a few of them feared she would discipline them again.

Surge laid down and waved her talon dismissively. “Boulder filled me in on everything already. He told me how Flame Wings attacked the cave where you were hidden. I don’t blame you for running away after something like that. I’m sure that arrogant lizard Scorch had something to do with it.”

Suge laid her head on her talons with a begrudgingly sad huff. “Quake’s death was an unfortunate casualty, but he did his duty and I am proud to call him a comrade.”

All the dragonets turned to Boulder, who gave them a meaningful nod. “That’s right. Why don’t you tell them how you ended up here.”

Shadow was silently impressed by Boulder’s quick-wittedness. By framing their escape from the cave as a result of the Flame Wing attack, he had successfully avoided the vicious guardian’s wrath.

Surge sighed. “I don’t need to explain every little detail. All you need to know is that I was lured into a human trap by someone I thought I could trust. It turned out that they were being puppeteered by a being who claimed to be the king of dragons. We were captured and thrown in here. I don’t think she’s been able to recover since.” Surge glanced over her shoulder sadly at the second dragon at the back of the room.

Shadow moved to the side so he could see. She was a Flame Wing rocking back and forth as she clutched the blackened stump that had once been her wrist, crooning to herself. She was slightly smaller than Surge and her bright red scales seemed pale, almost gaunt. She stared at the floor with blank eyes, seeing nothing.

Shadow felt sorry for her and reached out to her mind, hoping to find some way to comfort the traumatized dragon. Normally, he could feel the natural resistance the minds of sentient creatures had. Most of the time he could push in a little bit without being noticed but looking too deep allowed them to sense his presence. However, this dragon’s mind had no such resistance.

Expecting some resistance but finding none, Shadow found himself stumbling deep into the sad dragon’s mind. The outside world sounded muted; as the dragonets spoke with Surge about what they were going to do next, he hardly registered it. All the voices from the humans above and even the thoughts of the dragonets right next to him faded into the background. Shadow was grateful for the dulling of the pain in his head but also confused.

Why does this dragon have no natural barrier? It’s almost as if someone forced their way in and tore it apart. Perhaps if I can help her, I’ll find my answers.

The inside of the Flame Wing’s mind was filled with a dark emptiness that Shadow couldn’t sense the end of, and now that he was thinking about it, he noticed another oddity. From past experience, the mind of a dragon was usually affected by the element they used. Whether it was a searing flame or welcoming warmth, a Flame Wing’s mind felt hotter than others. But all he felt now was a cold numbness that seemed to seep into the very marrow of his bones.

Shadow felt like his energy was being drained away as he started searching for the poor dragon’s inner thoughts. It was difficult, like moving through a dream that was holding you back with every step while the weight of numbing cold and whispered self-loathing pulled you down.

Despite this, he searched through her gloomy mentalscape and soon noticed a pale glow in the darkness. As he approached, he realized it was a colorless form of the dragon whose mind he currently occupied; likely the mental representation of her inner self. She was muttering to herself and as Shadow drew closer he began to make out the words.

I am Ash the Flame Wing. I serve the Wings of Protection to save my family from the cruel nobles of Mt. Pyre. I am Ash the Flame Wing. I serve the Wings of Protection to save my family from the cruel nobles of Mt. Pyre. I am Ash the Flame Wing. I serve the Wings of Protection to save my family from the cruel nobles of Mt. Pyre…

Shadow’s eyes widened. He knew this Flame Wing! She had been the one who was escorting Scorch when they came to inspect the dragonets’ living conditions. Shadow had always felt sorry for her, having to look after that arrogant and loathsome dragon. He looked down at the rambling Flame Wing with pity and reached out to comfort her.

The moment Shadow touched her, she screamed and scrambled back. No! Get back! Stay away from me! Please, no! No! I don’t want to do it. I’m me, not you. Not you! No. No! Ahhhh!

Shadow was startled at first and tried to reassure the poor dragon, but as he did so, he realized that Ash wasn’t looking at him. Shadow turned to see the head of a massive Flame Wing looming out of the darkness.

The moment he saw it, Ash’s mind was flooded with a tidal wave of terror. Shadow had never experienced anything like it. He couldn’t breathe or think properly and his limbs had turned to jelly. At the same moment Shadow’s right talon exploded with searing pain, as if it was being burned right off. It took everything he had just to keep himself from collapsing in fear and agony.

The other dragonets were too busy talking to Surge to notice him grimace in pain.

Shadow looked up. There was nowhere to hide and nowhere to run from the head looming over them. It had golden scales intermingled with grey from its underbelly to its chin and deep red scales dominating the sides of its neck and head. Everything below that was covered in shadow. The horns and ridges on its head were coal black and it wore a golden circlet with a radiating green gem at its center.

But it was the eyes that caused Shadow to shudder. They were empty sockets filled with the deepest darkness. Wisps of darkness trailed upwards from them like smoke. There was no soul there anymore. Something else had taken its place.

Suddenly the Flame Wing’s mouth twisted into a maniacal grin. The corners seemed to split his face as they rose unnaturally high. Whoever was pulling the strings was enjoying their fear.

At the same time, a pair of massive, draconic eyes opened in the shadows behind the Flame Wing’s head. Each one larger than Shadow himself. Their gaze fixed on Ash as she crumpled in terror. They drew closer and Ash tried to flee but she could do nothing as she sat helplessly.

Shadow could feel the inescapable dread and powerlessness this being’s gaze inflicted on her. It was as if every muscle in his body was frozen in place. But I’m not in my body right now, he realized. Forcing himself forward through the mire of fear, he floated towards the mental representation of Ash in his head, all the while trying to project hope as he had done for Gale.

Despite his efforts, the fear was too strong. The trembling in her wings only increased as he drew closer, but he refused to give up. He reached out with hope in his talon using all his strength to reach her through the terror.

At last he was able to touch her shoulder, but the moment he did, Shadow felt an immeasurably evil gaze burning into his back. Whatever that thing was, it had finally noticed him. The second occupant of this perpetual nightmare. Shadow tried to avoid looking at it but the attempt was futile.

A deep voice, like that of a celestial being, suddenly spoke. It was muted by the dreamlike state they occupied but the vibrations of it still reverberated throughout Ash’s mind.. It spoke only one word but the command was enough to make Shadow clutch his head in agony.

“Leave.”

Shadow felt the dragonets huddling around him in concern. One of them shouted, “Shadow! What’s wrong?”

Shadow hardly even registered the fact as he felt himself turning around in the mental scape, his wings trembling and talons shaking. He now beheld the full majesty of the being who had traumatized Ash so badly.

The eyes blazed as their gaze locked with Shadow’s and a new pressure began crushing him along with the terror. This was a power of authority so immeasurable and undefeatable his mental self started shaking violently. He had a vague feeling that he had experienced this kind of power before. A similar vastness that made him feel tiny and helpless. But before he could even wonder where he might have felt it, his mind crumpled under the pressure and he collapsed to the hard floor of the cell.

Shadow felt suspended in darkness. It was as if he was floating in the depths of the sea while everything around him was peaceful and calm. It was nice. All his worries, cares and desires were far away. Part of the distant surface.

Then he heard muted voices. Someone was calling him. But the voice was from the surface and he ignored it. He didn’t want this peaceful dream to end.

The voices faded.

Shadow had no idea how much time had passed when a deep chuckle reverberated through his mind, sending ripples into his consciousness. Curiosity caused Shadow to open his eyes in the dreamscape. Before him floated the kaiju-sized head of a massive ancient Night Wing. Its eyes had the same red glow as his own but contained hundreds of years of knowledge.

Wake up little Night Wing.

Shadows' eyes snapped open and he jerked upright with a scream. “AHHHH!”

It felt as though he had just been drowning and someone had pulled him from the depths of an ocean, though the dust of the cell showed a clear lack of water nearby. He took heaving breaths as his heart pounded rapidly in his chest. Before he could take a proper look around, he heard Aurora cry out next to him

“Shadow! You’re awake! I was so worried.”

“I’m fine Aurora. There’s no need to worry,” Shadow reassured her, but he wasn’t so sure himself. He rubbed his forehead, suddenly feeling slightly light-headed.

“Argh… What happened?”

“You suddenly collapsed, that’s what happened,” Tempest told him grumpily. Her expression was angry but Shadow could feel her deep concern as well. “You’ve been unconscious for a few days. They had the opening ceremony for some big event yesterday morning and there have already been a few fights.”

Shadow could smell fresh blood coming from just outside the window. Their cell must have been close to the floor of the arena. The light filtering in seemed pale, as though the sun had already set.

“Is this normal for Night Wings?” Surge asked. “It’s going to be a terrible nuisance if so, but what else is new.”

Shadow shook his head. “No. I don’t think so…” He tried to remember what had happened and his eyes widened as it slowly came back to him. He looked over at Ash who was sitting in a corner hugging her knees to her chest and staring straight ahead, trembling. He felt a wave of empathy wash over him. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have that going on in her mind constantly.

I couldn’t even last a few minutes. I wish I could help her, he thought. The moment he did so the image of a dragon grinning with satisfaction popped into his head. Shadow felt a shiver travel down his spine as the voice of Bellum echoed in his mind.

I think I can help with that.

Shadow buried his face in his talons to hide his frown of suspicion.

What do you want?

Heh, heh, heh. Why so suspicious? I was just having a little fun with you earlier. It’s not every day I meet someone I can speak to this way, much less a red-eyed Night Wing. Besides, don’t I deserve some credit for helping you wake from your coma?

What does my eye color have to do with anything?

Oh, right. I suppose that knowledge was lost when the Night Wings fled to the new continent. It really is too bad. Even your own mother has no idea what you’re going through.

Shadow’s frown deepened. Don’t you dare say anything bad about my mother. She loved me enough to die for me, so don’t even suggest she didn’t care! he hissed in his head.

Calm yourself. We wouldn’t want the others noticing our little chat, now would we? I never said she didn’t care. Simply that she couldn’t possibly understand. No one could, unless they were born with the same red eyes you have. You see, the majority of Night Wings have no powers of note, but those with varying shades of purple and red can connect their minds to others. The more purple the shade, the weaker the power. Completely red eyes are so rare it is said that one appears only once or twice a century.

So, what’s your point? I’ve read enough books about evil villains to know there is always a price to pay for their help.

Bellum chuckled but paused as the other dragonets stormed him with questions. Shadow held up his talon while the other clutched his head. “I need a moment. My head is still aching.”

The other dragonets all nodded in understanding while Surge huffed with impatience as her own questions were delayed.

Shadow went to a dark corner of the cave and laid down facing the wall. Bellum started speaking the moment he turned his back to the others.

I am truly wounded that you think of me as a villain, Shadow. After such simple teasing I’m shocked, he spoke sarcastically with exaggerated horror. Besides, the villains in your stories are often portrayed from a single viewpoint. Perhaps if their plans succeeded, future generations would have seen the wisdom in their actions. If they had won, perhaps they would be praised as heroes.

But to answer your question, I have no price in mind. I simply want to earn your trust, with the hope that you will let me become your teacher while you’re here. I was forced to suffer with the voices and pain of countless others for far too long. I see a bright future for you little Night Wing and wish to spare you this pain.

Shadow considered his words. Even now the voices of the dragons in his cell and the humans above were almost painfully loud; though not as bad as when he first arrived. Then it felt like a thick blanket was spread over his mind and the voices faded into silence.

Shadow’s eyes widened as the pain instantly ceased. He couldn’t believe it. For the first time since he had met the dragonets, he didn’t have to be constantly on edge, waiting for the next voice to suddenly appear in his head. He felt muscles relaxing that he hadn’t even realized were tensed. For what felt like the first time in his life, the only voice in his head was his own.

Then Bellum spoke, his voice had taken on a soft, enticing tone. It flowed into his head like warm honey, a balm on the wounds years of painful thoughts had caused. The pain he experienced in Ash’s mind seemed to fade away like a dream.

This is but a taste of the life I can offer you. A life where you are in control of your own powers. You won’t have to feel their pain. This power doesn’t have to be a burden. I can show you how to wield it for yourself. How to touch only the minds you wish to… and how to use that connection to benefit yourself in all kinds of ways.

Shadow felt another shiver go down his back, but this time it was a pleasant tingle. He felt himself being drawn into the only voice he could hear now. The only voice he needed.

I can give you all of this and more. All that I ask in return… is that you put your Trust in Me.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Author's note

Here is a piece of art I commissioned of Scorch and the powerful eyes behind him. 
Art by 'Elysia Axton' on discord.