The Familiars [Book 1]

Chapter 8

'Ok' I replied. 'You will have to fall asleep. I'm sure Marcus can help you with that' said Cronus with a smile as he looked at Marcus and he smiled and shook his head. Marcus helped me lie down again and the baby dragon curled up against myside. Marcus laid on the bed beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist. I gasped in pleasure as our bond tied together and electricity flowed through me again. My eyes drifted closed and I snuggled my head against Marcus's chest and fell asleep.

(Marcus POV)

As soon as she went quiet and limp in my arms, I knew she was asleep. 'Since you two have such a strong bond, it will be easy getting into her mind' said Cronus as I yawned and closed my eyes. And as I felt myself drift off to sleep, I was suddenly pulled into Artemis's head and I saw Cronus there as well. 'We made it! Now, can you see Artemis anywhere? I can sense her but I can't see her...' said Cronus. Then I heard Artemis scream. I turned around and saw Artemis in one of her memories. I could see another man holding Artemis down and he bit her throat which made Artemis scream louder. Rage flowed through me but suddenly Cronus put his hand on my shoulder. 'The spell...we have to find it' said Cronus. I nodded, knowing he was right. It was a memory. I turned back to Cronus and he chanted something and suddenly Artemis's memory disappeared and a large golden cage appeared. In it, was Artemis in her human form. Her head shot up and as soon as she saw me, she ran over to the bars of the cage. 'Marcus!!!' cried Artemis. 'Artemis?!' I asked with a big smile. 'I remember you Marcus!! I'm your mate!!! Your truemate!!!!' cried Artemis as she fell to her knees. I fell to my knees on the other side of the cage and I slipped my hands through the bars and I wrapped a hand around Artemis's waist and the other around her shoulders. 'Artemis! We're here to free you! We just need to undo the spell!!' I soothed and her crying slowed a little.

'Please! I hated Caleb for hurting me! I don't want to go back to that!!' cried Artemis. 'I'll make him pay I promise!!!' I growled and Artemis smiled and slipped her arm through the bars of the cage and stroked my cheek. 'I've almost finished undoing the first part of the spell! Another four to go!' smiled Cronus. 'I can help!' said Artemis as she stood up and walked over in front of Cronus. 'How!? You're not a shadow dragon!! Only shadow dragons can.....' said Cronus but stopped as Artemis suddenly glowed and transformed into her dragon form. His jaw hit the ground and he looked at me. 'Did you know!?' asked Cronus. 'Yes! But that isn't all she can do!' I smiled as I crossed my arms over my chest. She transformed back into her human form and put her hands on Cronus's and closed her eyes. Cronus closed his eyes and they both began to chant and unravel the spell. But suddenly smaller spells started appearing and transforming into gremlins.

I had to protect them from the gremlins!

(Artemis POV)

Cronus and I both felt the next two parts of the spell unravel and we start on the fourth. We were both sweating out of exhaustion. Then the fourth unravelled and I smiled. We were so close! 1 part to go, but this was the hardest one. I could feel magic building up in me and flowing into the spell Cronus and I were chanting. We were half way when we both knew that a gremlin had gotten past Marcus and suddenly Cronus pulled away and punched it. I kept chanting. It was twice as hard chanting the spell with just me doing it. 'Your almost there Artemis! Keep going! Marcus and I will keep the gremlins back!' yelled Cronus and I nodded and kept chanting.

(Marcus POV)

I could feel Artemis's magic growing inside her as I fought the gremlins off. I looked at Cronus and he nodded. She was almost there. The suddenly the gremlins all shifted into the one huge monster. Then suddenly Artemis shouted the last sentence of the spell and there was an almighty flash of light. Cronus and I covered our eyes as the light burnt the monster into nothing. Then suddenly all three of us woke up at once. Artemis was sitting up on the bed looking at her hands. I sat up and wrapped my arms around her waist and snuggled my face into the nape of her throat. She leaned her head back and smiled. 'I'm going to go and deal with those men!' laughed Cronus awkwardly then he disappeared out of the room.

(Artemis POV)

Then suddenly the baby dragon climbed onto my chest. 'Mummy!!!! I'm hungry!!!!' said the baby dragon. I smiled and Marcus snorted happily. 'You'll get your turn. Don't worry...' I smiled as Marcus pulled back. Then suddenly I was lying on my back with Marcus hovering above me. 'I have been waiting to see you again for a year.....' growled Marcus as he lowered his mouth onto my throat. I moaned but suddenly the baby dragon was on my chest hissing at Marcus. I felt pleasure swirl through my body as both of their life essence's flowed into me. 'It's ok Santiago. Marcus is your father' I smiled and Santiago looked back into my eyes. 'Is that my name?' asked Santiago. I nodded and Santiago squealed in happiness. Marcus had a big smile on his face as he scratched under Santiago's chin. Santiago purred like a kitten. 'I can teach you a couple of things I know if you'd like?' smiled Marcus to me as he kept scratching Santiago's chin. 'Sure! But what about those men?' I asked looking at Santiago with a smile. 'No! They've been dealt with. You'll be fine with me around...' smiled Marcus. I sat up and Santiago stood on the bed. 'What about me!?' asked Santiago with a pleading look. 'Oh! Don't look at me like that! Now I feel really bad!' I smiled. 'You can come!' laughed Marcus looking at me.

I blushed and spread my arms.

(Marcus POV)

Artemis transformed into her dragon form and I licked my lips. Then I transformed too and Santiago climbed onto Artemis's back. I then opened the doors to outside in the back of the room and I flew out.

(Artemis POV)

I wanted to tell him that I hadn't flown before. But I felt like I would embarrass Marcus. 'You can do it Mummy!!! I believe in you!!!' giggled Santiago reading my mind. I walked up to the doors and I could see Marcus flying on the wind. I then jumped out of the window and spread my wings. Wind rushed under me and sent me flying high into the air. This was quite easy! I flapped my wings and I flew higher and higher. I flew so high that I was looking down onto Marcus and he couldn't see me. I smiled and tucked my wings in as I dived down towards him. He had stopped and was looking around for me. And just as we were almost about to crash into each other, I pulled up. Scaring the hell out of Marcus. I roared in delight and Marcus snorted and chased after me. The funny thing though, was that he had more flying experience than me. But I flew so much better than him and faster. Marcus then caught an updraft and that propelled him faster towards me. Then I heard Marcus roar as he caught up beside me. I roared in delight and saw a waterfall up ahead.

I tucked my wings and dived again and Marcus followed my lead. I opened my wings again and I landed on the cliff face next to the water fall. Marcus landed on the other side. Santiago climbed off my back and I transformed into my human form. Santiago then climbed onto my back again and Marcus transformed as well. Then something caught my eye. I looked over next to me and saw a stone with carvings on it. I knelt beside it and suddenly Marcus was kneeling down beside me. 'This is a supposed door to a secret cave behind the water fall, but no one has ever figured out how to open it' said Marcus putting his hand in mine. I smiled and looked at him. Then Marcus brought his lips down onto mine and I felt electricity wrap around us both. Then suddenly there was a rumbling noise. We stood up quickly and saw the stone shift and stairs appeared under it. 'You opened it!' said Marcus. 'We opened it!!!' I laughed. I took Marcus's hand in mine and we started running down the stairs and as we ran down, the stone moved back into its original spot.

When we got to the bottom, it was flat and dark. 'I wonder if there is any light' I said. Then suddenly the room started to glow a blue colour. I walked over to a wall and saw the same sort of inscriptions in the wall but they were glowing and producing the light. Santiago climbed off my back and started to explore. I followed the wall until it came to a pool of water. Santiago jumped in and squealed. 'It's nice and cold!!!' laughed Santiago.