A group of guards stepped forward.
They were tall with broad shoulders and sharp features. Their scales were dark green, almost black, and they wore armor made of interlocking plates that looked like snake skin. Their eyes were amber, with slit pupils that widened as they studied the two small children.
"Halt," one of them said, his voice low and cold. "State your business."
Vlad Jr. landed on the stone terrace, his bat form shimring as he shifted back to his human shape. Luna slid off his back, wincing as her bandaged leg touched the ground.
"We need help," Vlad Jr. said, his voice urgent but controlled. "Our kindergarten is under attack."
The guards exchanged glances.
"Kindergarten?" one of them repeated, as if the word was foreign to him.
"YES!" Luna shouted, her patience gone. "There are monsters! Worms! Big ones! They’re trying to eat everyone!"
The guards didn’t move.
"Please," Vlad Jr. said, stepping forward. "If you help us, you will gain the favor of many powerful clans. The shadow lord, Count Vladimir, the dragon lords, the wolf packs. They will all know that the Snake Domain ca to our aid."
The guards exchanged another glance.
"The shadow lord?" one of them murmured.
"Count Vladimir?" another whispered.
"The dragon lords?"
Vlad Jr. nodded. "Yes. And more. But that’s not why you should help us. You should help us because there are children dying. Right now. While we’re standing here."
One of the guards, the one who had spoken first, studied Vlad Jr. for a long mont.
Then he turned to another guard and said, "Inform the king."
The second guard bowed and disappeared into the shadows of the nearest building.
"You will wait here," the first guard said.
"We don’t have ti to wait!" Luna shouted.
"You will wait," the guard repeated, his voice harder now.
Luna’s fists clenched. Her eyes flashed. But Vlad Jr. put a hand on her arm.
"We’ll wait," he said quietly.
Luna wanted to argue. She wanted to scream. But she saw the look in Vlad Jr.’s eyes, the sa calm, steady look he always had during planning sessions, during monts when everyone else was panicking.
He was thinking. He was strategizing.
She took a deep breath.
"Fine," she muttered. "We’ll wait."
The minutes stretched. The guards watched them in silence. Luna paced. Vlad Jr. stood still, his eyes fixed on the building where the guard had disappeared.
And then the doors opened.
"King Orin will see you now," the guard said.
The throne room was unlike anything Luna had imagined.
It was open to the sky, the ceiling made of nothing but clouds and sunlight. Pillars of pale gold stone lined the walls, each one carved with scenes of serpents hunting, dancing, ruling. The floor was polished obsidian, so dark and smooth that Luna could see her own reflection staring back at her.
And at the far end of the room, on a throne made of intertwined serpents, sat King Orin.
He was beautiful. That was the first thought that crossed Luna’s mind.
He was taller than any of the guards, with long silver hair that cascaded down his shoulders like water. His skin was pale, almost luminous, and his features were sharp and elegant, like sothing carved from marble. His eyes were the color of molten gold, with slit pupils that seed to glow in the dim light.
He wore a robe of deep erald silk, embroidered with golden serpents that seed to move when he breathed. His scales, a pattern of gold and green, were visible on his cheekbones, his forearms, his hands.
He looked like a god. He looked like a monster.
And he was staring directly at Vlad Jr. and Luna.
"You are the children who interrupted my afternoon," King Orin said, his voice smooth as silk, cold as ice.
Luna swallowed.
"We need your help," Vlad Jr. said, stepping forward. He didn’t bow. He didn’t lower his eyes. He looked the Snake King directly in the face.
"Our kindergarten is under attack. Monsters, giant worms, are trying to kill the children. Our teachers are frozen. Our principal is frozen. We have no one else to turn to."
King Orin tilted his head.
"And why should I help you?"
"Because it’s the right thing to do," Vlad Jr. said.
The king smiled. It was not a warm smile.
"The right thing," he repeated. "How quaint."
"We can offer you favors," Vlad Jr. continued. "The shadow lord—"
"I know who you can offer," King Orin interrupted, his voice sharp. "I know who Dante is. I know who Count Vladimir is. I know the dragon lords and the wolf packs and every other clan you could na."
He leaned forward, his golden eyes gleaming.
"The question is not what you can offer . The question is why I should care."
Luna stepped forward, her fists clenched.
"Because there are children dying!" she shouted.
The guards tensed. King Orin raised a hand.
"Children die every day," he said calmly. "In wars. In famines. In accidents. Why should the death of a few kindergarteners concern ?"
Luna’s eyes burned.
"Because they’re not just kindergarteners," she said. "They’re our friends. They’re our classmates. They’re the ones who laugh with us and play with us and argue with us about stupid things."
Her voice cracked.
"And if you don’t help us, they’re going to die. And I will never forgive you."
The throne room was silent.
King Orin studied her for a long mont. Then he smiled again. This ti, it was different.
"You have fire," he said. "I like fire."
He stood.
"Very well. I will send my guards. But not because of your favors. Not because of your clans."
He walked toward them, his long robes trailing behind him.
"I will send them because a child looked in the eye and told she would never forgive ."
He stopped in front of Luna.
"That takes courage."
Luna stared up at him, her little heart pounding.
"Thank you," she whispered.
King Orin nodded.
"Don’t thank yet. Thank when your friends are safe."
He turned to the guards.
"Ready the serpents. We ride to the kindergarten and inform other clans as soon as possible."
Reviews
All reviews (0)