Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire- Chapter Four

With one last heave, the resistance was no more and my mind and body were pushed back from the force I'd been using. I faintly heard Hayden gasp behind me. My face was turned into the ground, so that when I opened my eyes all I saw was green grass and dirt. I pushed up and spun to face the middle of the ring of islands. And yelped.

A massive silver Dragon was hovering in front of us, wings stretched out to reach the other islands. Her silver cats-eyes glowed, framed by what could almost be called lashes. The pointed ears on top of her head were twitching and swivelling. Her arms and legs were pulled against her body as she floated, powerful muscles bunched. The great horns and claws matched in colour; both shimmered dark silver. Yín sè.

"Hello, young one. And greetings, Grand High Emperor." I scrambled to stand, looking back at Hayden. He smiled oddly at the Dragon, leaving me no doubts about whether he'd heard her or not. She hadn't opened her mouth, but the voice I'd heard was the same silvery one she'd used in my mind.

"Yín sè. It- it's really you." I stared at her. The Diànyuán emanating from her beautiful form was so strong I could faintly see it even without checking the Other World. "This is incredible!" I stepped forward and reached out my hand, curling my toes around the edge of the cliff. Yín sè closed the distance, nuzzling her huge nose against my outstretched palm.

The feeling of touching her was so amazing. It made our Línghún blur together, until I could see myself looking back at her. I placed my other hand on her muzzle. What an awesome feeling. I felt excited just for Hayden, for the time when he could summon his own Dragon.

Hayden tentatively crept up behind me. He stood next to me, watching the exchange between Yín sè and I.

"It will be possible for you soon, Zhǎngwò xíngdòng. Your Diànyuán may not be that of Reiara, but you have a strong connection with your Dragon. Soon, his name will be available for your use." Hayden grinned goofily at her.

"When?"

"Unfortunately, that is an answer I may not give. It is against the Code of Time." I rolled my eyes, removing my hands from her muzzle and crossing my arms.

"More of this Code of Time crap. I just summoned a Dragon nine years earlier than I'm legally allowed to, I think I deserve some answers."

"Mmmm, not really. The Code of Time is changed for no being. Sorry, little one. You and your boy will just have to wait until the time comes." Hayden laughed, giving me a one-armed hug.

"I like your Dragon. She's pretty awesome." I snorted, although I had to agree. She was quite amazing.

Yín sè bowed her head, showing off her crested spine. "I want you to fly with me. Climb on, little one. Zhǎngwò xíngdòng can join us as well." I gulped in anticipation. Finally, after all the years of waiting, after seeing those eyes and feeling her mind, I would complete the connection through our first ride. It was the last thing a Dragon Master had to do to be fully linked to their Dragon, although it usually happened at the age of twenty-five.

I was about to step onto her head when there was a rustling in the trees, then a thump. Hayden and I spun to see Lucas Titan, Yellow Dragon Master, Zhǎngwò hǎo yùn, Master of Good Fortune. He was sprawled on the ground, obviously not experienced enough to have climbed down properly.

His metallic yellow front-skirt got tangles around his legs, giving him a hard time when he tried to get up. Being only thirteen, he still hadn't developed muscles and a broad back like the other male Xuétú.

His brown eyes were twitching, crazed. He shook his head quickly, cleching and de-clenching his fists. Something about him seemed... wrong. Like he wasn't totally himself.

"I didn't believe him," he muttered, more to himself than either of us. "I thought he was lying about her Diànyuán. Oh, but he was right! So, so right! With her Diànyuán in his control, we'd be unstoppable! Ha!"

I unconsciously peered into the Other World. Lucas' consciousness, usually a bright yellow, was warped and twisted and shrouded in brown. Something was seriously wrong.

"Rei," Hayden warned, motioning behind us. I spun to find that Yín sè was gone. I'm sorry, little one. I couldn't risk him waking anyone and them finding me.

A growl sounded from Lucas' direction. He suddenly leapt at me, a strange metal stake pointed out towards me. I stepped sideways and grabbed his arm, throwing him away from the edge of the cliff and into a tree trunk.

Hayden grabbed him from behind. Lucas, however, seemed to be driven by pure hatred and scratched Hayden until the Emperor was forced to let go. Lucas once again attacked me. Again his speed caught me off guard and I was pinned down for a moment before kicking him away and spinning into a position where I could punch him.

Lucas didn't seem to realize he was severely out-classed. He continued trying to stab me with the strange stake and didn't stop until I had him pinned down. I wrestled the stake out of his hands, throwing it out into the waters below.

"Noo!" He screamed, the sound raw and savage as he fought wildly to get out from underneath me. I kept him still, and eventually he stopped moving and I thought he calmed down. When my head was turned, he punched me in the chin and pushed me away, scrambling towards the island and climbing as quickly as he could.

I massaged my jaw, staring after him. Now I was officially screwed.

"Don't worry," Hayden advised, squeezing my upper arm. "He's nuts. Anyone can see it. Nobody will believe him if he tells, and even if they do, I can keep you safe." I nodded, calming my pounding heart. What he said was true.

Something was wrong with the Zhǎngwò hǎo yùn. That brown shroud... I've never seen anything like it. Whatever it was, that was from the Demon World. Either that or it was just very, very evil. You need to be careful around him.

*      *      *      *      *

I woke to a scream. For a moment I thought that maybe I'd summoned Yín sè in my sleep, but I felt her denying that in my mind.

I quickly changed into my Apprentice robes, rushing out the door as soon as I was totally clothed. There were several people clustered on Hǎo yùn dǎo, and I panicked. Had he told them about my little adventure last night?

Ignoring the cowardly feeling that told me to run and hide, I rushed over to the island. Most of the other Xuétú were making their way over to the mob of Trainers. I was the first there, and I didn't even need to ask why there was such a panic. Trainer Ko grabbed my arm and cried,

"He's gone! Master Lucas is gone!"

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There we go, chapter four completo. I liked writing this chapter, but I am very sorry that it took so long to write it. I've just been busy. I hope that you liked reading this and if you didn't, give me a reason. In fact, I'll accept constructive criticsm from everyone. No idea when my next update'll be, but hopefully it won't be in three weeks.