Sins of A Red Dragon
Five Years Later
She stood on the cliff, watching the area around her. Her usual habit was watching the sky. She seemed worried, almost scared today, Kyo noted as he circled in to land.
"Good morning Isabo! Happy Birthday! Sweet sixteen at last." Kyo said as his feet hit the ground.
Isabo ran up and hugged the Dragon. She was always glad to see him. Over the years they had become as close as brother and sister.
"Where's Jalala?" Isabo asked. Her sister usually came with her mate.
"She stayed home today for a good reason. I'll let her tell you why. Are we ready to go?" Kyo asked.
"Fahd and InuTala were going to come but they weren't positive they could make it. InuTala is very close to her time. Did you see them or anyone else around before you landed?" Isabo asked.
"Nope. Only you." he answered.
"Then they must have changed their mind. Uncle said not to wait." Isabo said.
"Very well. Mount up."
Isabo climbed onto his back, wedging herself between his back ridges. She liked sitting there better than sitting behind Kyo's head. They flew high in the sky and circled around, then they were off to the Demon World.
Isabo kept her eyes on the ground below. She seems more nervous than normal, Kyo thought. He was about to ask her what was wrong when suddenly she pointed to the ground below.
"Kyo! Look! A lesser Dragon has cornered my Uncle!" Isabo shouted.
Kyo saw it too and dove to intercept.
"When I land, go help them. I'll take care of the troublemaker." He landed hard between the wingless Dragon and his prey. Isabo leaped off his back and ran to her uncle.
"Leave now and I'll let you live." Kyo said to his lesser cousin.
"Don't interfere. The prey is mine." it said.
"Really? You would risk my attack for a chance to get killed by two Unicorns? Now that's really stupid. No wonder you're the lesser of our species. I'm ashamed to think you're even remotely related."
"You're dead!" the lesser dragon said as it charged.
Kyo reared and grabbed the lesser dragon by the neck and threw it back. It spat an energy ball at him.
Isabo had reached her uncle and he appeared to be unharmed but he was leaning over his eldest son InuAmal. The young Dog Demon was in bad shape. he was laying in his mother's lap as his father worked on healing him. Isabo turned her attention back to the battle and erected a shield just in time to avoid getting hit by an energy blast.
Kyo looked behind and sighed in relief. The lesser dragon took advantage of his momentary distraction and threw a second, larger blast. He charged in behind it. The blast hit Kyo and sent him rolling. The wingless beast, ceased the moment to move in on Isabo. Kyo regained his feet, shook his head then leaped on the lesser dragon, flaming. The weaker dragon died quickly.
The stink of flash burned dragon flesh filled the air. Kyo changed to his human form, and drew his sword.
"Is everyone okay?" Kyo asked
"InuAmal has been hurt but Uncle Fahd is healing him," Isabo replied. She looked at the burnt carcass. "It's dead. Why do you have your sword drawn?"
"Lesser dragons often travel in pairs. I suggest we leave here quickly. I should be able to carry you all."
Taking his Dragon form, Kyo knelt while they carefully placed Fahd's son over his shoulders. His mother, InuTala, mounted behind him and the two Unicorns took positions in front. Kyo lifted into the air. He quickly banked and headed northwest toward the Dog Demon dens. When he landed several of the clan members rushed forward to help unload the injured demon and his mother. They carried InuAmal into the nearest den.
"Did you want to wait here a while?" Kyo asked his remaining passengers and the Demon Wolf.
"I'll stay here with InuAmal," a very pregnant InuTala said. "I wasn't sure I should go so close to my time anyway. Fahd, you should go though. Jalala is expecting us. She doesn't get enough company as it is." She looked at the young woman seated in front of her mate. "Happy Birthday Isabo."
Isabo smiled. "Thank you. I'll see you next week. I'm looking forward to meeting my new cousin!"
Fahd leaned down and kissed his mate. "I love you."
She smiled up at him and stepped back out of the way. Kyo lifted off and made one circle around the dens. Fahd and InuTala waved to each other as Kyo headed off toward the center of Western Lands.
Kyo landed in the field of the hidden valley. Jalala came running up towards them from the lake.
"Happy Birthday, Isabo!!" Jalala said.
She gave her sister a hug as she climbed down off of Kyo.
"Thanks." Isabo said as she returned the hug.
Suddenly she backed off and gave her sister a strange look. Jalala ignored it as she moved on to greet her uncle. Isabo's eyes dropped to her sister's belly.
"Welcome again Uncle! I'm so glad you could come! Where's InuTala?" she continued, giving him a hug
"Hold on just one minute, niece. What is this?" he said, putting his hand on her belly. "You're pregnant?"
"Yes! Isn't it wonderful? It took forever but we finally did it!" Jalala exclaimed, as a beaming Kyo walked up and encircled her.
"But I was just here two weeks ago and you didn't look pregnant at all!" Isabo exclaimed.
"I know. It seems a little accelerated but I'm not sure exactly when I became pregnant. Maybe it's normal for half dragons. We've been trying for so many years." Jalala said
"Well, congratulations you two! I hope all goes well. I know the two of you will be fantastic parents," Fahd said. "Maybe now Kalid will accept your mating,"
"That's not likely to happen," Isabo sadly interjected. "Father is getting worse not better. I believe he's gone mad. He's locking away every female Unicorn when she comes of age. He's done it to several of my friends. Even Saida, who was going to be our brother's mate. Father is now making all of us go through the Ritual, rather we have set our eyes on another Unicorn or not. And worse, he's participating! He says it strengthens our species. He won't even consider allowing outside matings."
"Surely he won't participate in yours," Kyo said.
"I'm not going to give him a chance."
"Isabo, has someone else caught your heart?" Fahd asked.
"Yes. His name is Shinjou. He's a young mage who tried to move into the village but they drove him out because he's a Necromancer. I found him rock beaten on the side of the road and nursed him. We've fallen in love.
"That's wonderful! You two could move here! There's plenty of room and I would love to have my kid sister around!" Jalala said.
"He wants us to have a proper tower to live in," Isabo said. "I told him I didn't need a tower but he's proud and wants to prove to me that he can make his own way. We thought we had more time, at least until I go into heat, but now I'm not sure. I know they're watching me. I had a hard time getting away to our rendezvous point today. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to keep coming here," Isabo said.
"Then you must stay here with us! Don't go home," Jalala said. "Kyo can find Shinjou and tell him where you are."
"You know I would love to, but Father would start a massive hunt for me. It's a miracle he hasn't checked out this place yet since he knows about it."
Isabo picked up a stone and skipped it across the lake.
"If he found you, especially now, he'd never let you go -- me neither. I can't let that happen." Isabo said
"There is no need to fear here," Kyo said, "Not while I'm around to protect everybody. I'd never let anyone get to either of you. My mother was one of those who served the Ancients. She passed that duty down to me. The trouble was I had trouble convincing humans I wanted to help them. The day I met you two I was going to offer my services to the Unicorns instead. I may not have achieved that goal but I love the consolation prize."
Kyo kissed Jalala's neck. The rest of them smiled.
"I think you actually ran away with the grand prize, Kyo," Fahd said. "You don't know how many hopefuls had their dreams ruined the day Jalala ran away with you."
"Enough of this," Jalala said. "We have a birthday to celebrate. Isabo, how come you didn't invite your friend, Shinjou was it?"
"I did. He wanted to come but he had a meeting with some friends at the time we were to rendezvous with Kyo."
"I could go fetch him if you can tell me where he is." Kyo said.
"It's too dangerous. He lives too near to the village. You'll be spotted for sure." Isabo said.
"Not me. I'm a master at deception. To everyone else, I'll look like just another traveler." Kyo said.
Desire overwrote common sense so Isabo told the Dragon where her love could be found. He returned a short while later with the young man on his back.
Isabo ran up to him as he jumped from the Dragon's back. He caught her up and spun her around and around. Then they kissed. It was obvious to the observers that the two of them were very much in love.
"Happy birthday, my love! I have a gift for you," Shinjou said.
He reached into a pocket and drew out a pendant made of deep blue crystal dangling from a silver chain. Isabo gasped and then turned her back to him so he could place it around her neck.
"This will help protect you from harm," he said as he completed the task with a kiss.
"Come, meet my family!" Isabo said dragging him toward her uncle and sister. "Kyo you've already met." Pointing to the 'Dragon turned human' as he joined his mate. "He's my brother-in-law. This is my sister Jalala. She's expecting their first child!"
"So nice to meet you, Shinjou!" Jalala said.
"This is my Uncle Fahd, founder and leader of the Dog Demon Clan." Isabo continued.
"I thought you were a Unicorn?" Shinjou said, puzzled, as they shook hands.
"I am," Fahd said. It's my children and the children of other Unicorn/Wolf matings that are the actual Dog Demons. They just made me honorary leader since our mating was first. My mate, InuTala, is a Demon Wolf. She couldn't come today because we are expecting our next child any time now."
"Now that we have the introductions over, let's get to the cave and have dinner. The baby and I are starved!" Jalala said. Her stomach audibly agreed with her.
Jalala blushed as everyone laughed. Kyo encircled her waist and said, "We definitely can't have that." The two of them lead the way with the rest of the party trailing behind.
The next morning found Isabo and Shinjou standing in the field.
"I want you to stay here with your sister. It's too dangerous for you to go back home. Now that I know where you are, I can portal here," Shinjou said.
"Shinjou, why are we waiting? I want to be your mate. I already am mated to you in my heart." Isabo said.
"As am I, but I want to be able to provide a home for you. Besides," He paused, stroking her silver hair, "I think we should wait until you are physically ready."
Isabo blushed. "I don't need a home. I need you!"
Shinjou embraced her and tilted her head up. He bent over her and kissed her deeply.
"Don't doubt my love for you, ever!" he said.
Kyo walked up with Fahd. "Ready to go?"
Shinjou nodded and they parted, their hands releasing last. Isabo and Jalala watched them go and sighed in unison.
"Up to a bath in the lake?" Jalala asked. "It's cold but it feels so good! There's also nearby hot springs if you prefer."
"I'd prefer the hot springs, please." Isabo said.
"Then follow me!" Jalala said, taking her true form.
Isabo followed in suit and cantered after her sister. They went through a small break in the dense brush and entered the woods. After a short distance there was a very small break in the canopy above and the sun shown down on a steaming pond surrounded by trees and flowers.
"It's beautiful!" Isabo said.
They both transformed, disrobed and entered the water. Isabo looked at her sister's pregnant belly.
"Am I crazy or are you a little bigger today? If I remember correctly, don't Dragons have a slow pregnancy?"
"Well, since I'm the first crossover mating, we really don't know what to expect. I'm just glad they don't lay eggs. I haven't told you this but I've been pregnant before, but I always lost it very early on. I'm half way through my cycle and I was beginning to lose hope that I could give Kyo a natural child."
"All the rest were aborted? That could mean this pregnancy is dangerous for you! You know that women are known to die in childbirth, especially those that have had frequent miscarriages."
"I don't care about the risk. All pregnancies carry some risk. I've been wanting this baby for so long and Kyo is so happy about it."
"He'd love you even if you never gave him a child. He won't be happy if something happens to you."
"Will you stop it? Scaring me won't change the facts. Have you been having premonitions?"
"No. They tell me that mother's premonitions didn't start until she was past her first cycle. It won't be long before my cycle starts. Then Shinjou and I can finally mate." Isabo got the dreamy look of a woman in love.
The women laughed and chattered, totally unaware of the two men sneaking up behind them. They placed two seeds in the ground as near to the hot springs as they could get undetected and returned to the other three in their hunting party. The party consisted of four brothers and their father, all with blue marks on their forehead. Tied up in the middle of the men was a Fox Demon, sweating in the middle of his raging heat.
"Now, make them grow! Cooperate and we'll release you," Kalid said.
The blue Fox Demon trembled. All he wanted to do was relieve this heat. He could hardly concentrate on the job at hand. He swallowed and then furrowed his brow. The plants started to grow and then bloomed releasing their sweet, sleep inducing fragrance.
"I'm suddenly so sleepy." Isabo said with a yawn. "Shall we take a nap on that grassy patch?"
Jalala nodded, her eyes drooping.
They never made their destination. They barely made it out of the springs before they collapsed in sleep.
"Good," Kalid said. "Now stop the plants and return them to seed."
He didn't even know the Fox's name. Kalid just saw him as a tool. Once the plants were seeds again, he kept his word and released the Fox Demon. The Fox fled the group, grabbing from his hair the one seed he hated the most but the only one that could help his heat now. The Fox swore he would not soon forget this humiliation. He was a leader and he had been used. The Unicorns will find out this Fox leader was not very forgiving.
The brothers quickly moved in, binding the two women with golden lassos and putting their naked bodies in sacks. The oldest and youngest brothers, plus the Leader turned into Unicorns. The second oldest mounted his oldest brother and the pregnant Jalala was handed up to him. He held her securely in front of him. Isabo was gently laid over the withers of her other brother and the last sibling mounted behind her. Kalid blazed the trail with the rest following. The two riders were careful that the women did not slip as the group picked up speed. They headed swiftly toward the castle with their prizes.
Kalid was not happy that Jalala was pregnant but she still had four years left after this tainted spawn, he mused. He would make sure this one would be the only non-Unicorn she would ever have, even if he had to impregnate her himself.
Then there was his daughter. Sweet Isabo, his last precious child of his beloved mate. It stung hard when he realized she had betrayed him. He thought she understood. It had to be Jalala's fault. He was going to excuse himself from Isabo's Ritual but not now... Now she will be treated like the rest, and take the same risk.
The castle loomed on the horizon. The Unicorns ran through the village as the humans opened a path. They bowed low to their Unicorn lord. Since the death of the mage, who had ruled since the Ancients faded, Kalid moved in along with his sons and top aids.
The ancient tower overlooked the herd on the field below. The Protector Unicorn herd was dwindling It mainly consisted now of mated couples and their children. Most of the young adults either lived, or were kept against their will, in the castle. The Ritual was now mandatory for all single females. Since this rule went into effect, more and more Unicorns tried to leave the herd. Kalid found and brought back most of them. Then he ruled that all females must live in the castle starting on their 16th birthday. If they tried to escape, they were locked up and placed under guard. He also ruled that a female could only mate with the Unicorn that won the Ritual with her. Of course, if Kalid himself won, they were doomed to run the Ritual again for he refused to take a permanent mate again.
The party ran through the gates and into the castle before they finally stopped and transformed. Kalid instructed his two youngest sons to take Isabo to the room where the other maidens were being kept. He waved the others to follow him with Jalala. He climbed the tower, stopped at a door and took out a key.
"Please let me out," came a woman's voice through a door behind them. They heard small fists pounding on the door.
"You have no right to keep me here!" Saida sobbed. "I want to see Kaltif."
Kalfla looked at his older brother's jowl tightening and furrowing his brow. Kaltif didn't let her know he was there but Kalfla watch his brother as he shifted Jalala gently in his arms. Kaltif was glaring at the back of his father's head with hatred. Father had no right to interfere with their mating, Kalfla thought, It was a Unicorn to Unicorn mating, after all. Then to further torture his eldest, he entered the Ritual himself and stole Saida from Kaltif! Their father raped her right in front of him. Now he has her locked away, pregnant with their next sibling. He had consoled his brother that night and watched as his anger grew. Kalfla also lost faith in his father that day. Now he knew their father's lust for power knew no boundaries. He was truly mad.
Today Kalid had crossed the riskiest line of all. Kidnapping Jalala, especially now that she was pregnant, was going to bring the wrath of the Red Dragon down on them and gods knows who else. Their father had made many enemies during the pursuit of his path of good intentions. Kalid thought he was saving their species but all he was doing is paving a road to Hell. He was insuring their destruction.
Kalid opened the door and held it while the men carried their half-sister in. It was a cell. There was no other word for it. It had one large window but there were bars on it. There was a cot with a thin mattress and an old blanket that was little more than a rag. There was no water, no food, no toilet, other than a bucket.
Kalfla laid his sister on the bed and started unwrapping her. He thanked the heavens that she was still unconscious.
"I'll fetch her some clothes," Kaltif said.
"No! She will make do with what's here," said Kalid.
"But there is only the old blanket!" he protested. Is Saida living like this? he wondered.
"You heard me, now leave," Kalid ordered.
They stepped out of the room and the door shut just as they heard their sister scream. They could hear the angry voices of the two of them arguing until finally, their father exited, slamming shut and locking the door. He turned and stomped up the tower stairs. After that all they could hear was sobbing.
"This has to stop, Brother," Kaltif whispered.
"I know but how? Are you prepared to step in as leader?" Kalfla whispered back.
"I have no choice. We'll need to contact Jalala's mate and Uncle Fahd. I think Isabo's boyfriend will be interested too"
"Isabo has a boyfriend?"
"Yes. I saw them meet one day when I was trailing her. It's the Necromancer that got chased out of the village several months back."
"Okay, but how do we get to talk with them without getting killed?"
"Leave that to me."