Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

The Court Library, Westminster – Raven

It wasn’t the first time I’d fallen asleep in the library but I couldn’t recall ever having woken up like this before. I was stiff and confused, disorientated as if my brain were still half-asleep, with a pounding in my head that said I’d either slept too much, or not long enough. I hated it.

I’d been drifting back to consciousness for a while now, disturbed from sleep by that strange noise that had followed me from my dreams and into reality, a persistent susurrus of flowing water that had slowly resolved into quiet, lyrical voices. I shifted, my body desperate to sink deeper into the soft embrace of the plush leather recliner, trying to find a more comfortable position but, instead, I was met with something uncomfortably firm beneath me.

When, I wondered, had the chair got so damn hard?

My irritation grew as I shifted again, the discomfort intensifying no matter how much I wriggled. Frustrated, I thumped my cushion, and was surprised when it moved under me.

A puff of warm, moist air smacked me in the face and the voices fell silent.

Holding my breath I very reluctantly, cautiously cracked open one eye. Dim light filtered through the towering shelves, glinting off dust motes that drifted gently in the breeze. My chair lay on its side a few feet away, a stack of books spilled onto the floor next to me.

I blinked, my mind sluggishly trying to piece things together. The book! My pulse quickened as the memory resurfaced – I’d been reading, and then… the pain in my finger surged anew as I recalled the papercut and my blood dripping onto the old paper, revealing that cryptic verse: ‘What was hidden now revealed’

I squeezed my eyes tight in frustration, a long, low groan slipping out as the pieces clicked into place – a hidden message revealed... It was literally talking about itself, and I’d fallen for it. I was a null for fuck’s sake, I should have realised something was ‘off’ immediately. Things like that don’t, no couldn’t, happen to someone like me.

Someone was trying to mess with my head and, like a bloody fool, I’d let them. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I realised what must have happened. I’d fainted. Just collapsed like some helpless damsel in an old novel.

And they’d been watching… hadn't they. I’d heard them talking, probably getting a good laugh out of watching me make a fool of myself. Fuck, I hadn’t heard anybody leave, they were probably still there, watching silently to…

“Raven,” A voice, calm and steady, interrupted my internal rambling, "I need you to stay still now, everything will be fine, you just need to keep calm..."

My breath hitched and a scream threatened to burst past my lips as I felt something stir just below my back, the floor suddenly writhing as if trying to get out from under me. No, it wasn’t the floor I was lying on, I realised, there was something else there.

Something very much alive.

I really, really didn’t want to do it but I forced myself to open my eyes, took a deep breath, and looked down.

***

My heart pounded hard when I saw my face staring back at me, reflected from metallic silver orbs that filled my vision. I flinched away as a waft of the creature’s breath smacked me in the face, my eyes drifting away from those mesmerising eyes and onto its mouth, and teeth. Oh so many teeth. Row upon row of needle-sharp teeth filled a gaping maw perfect for ripping meat to shreds.

The creature released me from its gaze, whipping its head around and moving away from me as a sibilant hiss echoed through the shelves. Something sinuous and lumpy dragged out from under me as the creature turned. I caught sight of its tail, following it to a body covered in shimmering, opalescent scales that created a mesmerising display of colour as they reflected the room’s fading light.

Dragon. The word popped unbidden into my mind but no, that couldn’t be right - the rational part of my mind was screaming that this couldn't be real. Dragons were rarer than rare, considered extinct by most of supernatural world - certainly not something one stumbled upon in a library in central London.

My moment of awe was short-lived. Another of these impossible beings came into view, its jaws parted in a snarl, saliva dripping from its fangs. Its eyes, fixed on me with an intensity that could only be described as murderous, sending a chill down my spine. A maelstrom of emotions swept through me – panic clawing at my throat, the desperate need to scream choked off by the fear that stole the air from my lungs, the only thing that stopped it from getting out.

I remained motionless, afraid that any sudden movement might provoke these fantastical creatures into attacking. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again, hoping beyond reason that the scene would have changed, but this was no hallucination.

Two small dragons faced off in front of me, while several more shifted and writhed around me. None were larger than a small pony, most around the size of a large dog – their weight surprisingly light as they pressed themselves tighter as if seeking warmth, or comfort.

My eyes darted from one to another and the realisation struck me like a bolt of lightning.

My mind flashed back to the moment I had angrily struck out at what I thought was a cushion. A wave of horror and embarrassment washed over me as I understood it hadn’t been a pillow at all… well, that explained the murderous look I was getting.

Questions raced through my mind: Where had they come from? Why were they here with me? But, most urgently, what on the hell was I supposed to do now?

***

A deafening crash came from behind the dragons facing off before me as the library door rebounded off the wall, sending books tumbling from their shelves. The sudden noise startled the dragons still nested around me, their soft scales brushing against my skin as they stirred, their distressed chirps and clicks sharp in my ears. Yet the two in front of me remained motionless, the smaller of the two standing protectively between me and the one I’d punched, their eyes locked on each other in a now silent battle of wills.

Raaf's voice, imperious but edged with panic, cut through the chatter, followed by the sound of running feet rapidly fading into the distance. His wide-eyed face appeared moments later, and jerked to a halt muttering something I couldn’t hear, far too far away to do be of any use.

Great, the cavalry’s arrived... and it’s doing absolutely fuck all to help!

I shot a glare at Raaf, who was just standing there, still doing absolutely nothing. He could have easily shifted by now and tried, I don’t know, something. Anything! Instead he'd sent whoever was with him running off to who knows where, seemingly content to stand watch as I sat here with a bunch of jittery dragons and two on the verge of tearing each other apart.

I shot him a scorn-filled glare. Seriously, how hard was it to at least pretend you were doing your job?

Two more guards burst into the room, their heavy footsteps echoing off the tiled floor.

OK, so maybe he’d been waiting for reinforcements…

I didn’t even have time to apologise mentally before one of the newcomers raised his hand, a glowing glyph appearing in his palm - a containment spell, powerful enough to immobilise a herd of elephants by the looks of it. My heart lurched - this was not going to end well.

“Stop!” I shouted, knowing it would be too late… he’d already triggered the spell. A wave of magic pulsed through the air, but to no one’s surprise - except, apparently, the caster - it had zero effect on the dragons. The magic ran off their scales like water off a duck’s back, shimmering globules dripping onto the floor, forming puddles that splashed over my feet, instantly turning them into lead.

No, not no effect… wings unfurled, claws slashed at the air, and a frenzied storm of beating wings and shrill cries filled the room as the numbing sensation slowly crawled up my legs, leaving them heavy and stiff. I shuddered as the dragons darted wildly around me, hissing at the line of searing pain that streaked across my arm when one brushed against me - apparently, their scales heat up when they’re excited. Good to know.

“Fuck!” I cried out, instinctively tucking my arm in tight against my body, instantly regretting my outburst when the noise seemed to wind the creatures up even more. They scattered, some taking to the air while others burrowed into the piles of books around us.

The library had descended into utter chaos. The heat intensified and sweat poured from me. If the wards didn’t kick in soon, it wouldn’t be long until the stacks went up in flames - hundreds of priceless volumes would be lost forever to a blaze that seemed almost inevitable.

Hell, I was sure I could smell the first wafts of smoke as I tried futilely to move my legs again. They were utterly numb, dead weight beneath me, thanks to that moron. I mean, really, who doesn’t know dragons are immune to magic… But I didn’t have time to worry about that.

The oppressive heat from the hovering dragons pressed in on me, the burn on my arm throbbed, the angry red welt a precursor of what I suspected would soon be second-degree burns, if I was lucky. It was hard not to panic as the temperatures rose to the ‘roast alive’ stage, but I bit down hard on my lip, forcing myself to breathe slowly. In. Out. The air was thick, tasting of smoke and charred paper, and the walls felt like they were closing in.

There was no way I was getting out of here without a serious burn, assuming I ever got that far.

My friend, the dragon I'd inadvertently punched earlier, landed in front of me with a heavy thud, and looked at me like I was a juicy steak. Unable to tear my eyes away I watched as it slowly bared its teeth. Its tongue flicked out, tasting the air between us, its tail lashed back and forth like an over-eager puppy - sparks flying with each whip-like impact with the floor.

Getting past that would be... problematic. A frustrated sob caught in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I knew when I was beat. I was stuck—legs dead, heat rising, and facing the very real possibility of burning alive… if I wasn’t eaten first. I couldn’t help but wonder which’d be the better way to go.