air, nearly hyperventilating as her lungs slowly recovered.
“It looks like we’re back where we started.” Elam tightened the belt on his tunic. “At least there’s no black stuff all over me this time.”
“Back where we started?” Sapphira scanned the city again. This time she spotted the familiar brick kilns and tar pit. “Those portals just took us in a circle?”
“I guess so, but we’re not in exactly the same place as before.” He pointed at the rise on the other side of the more distant fountain. “We were over there.”
Sapphira breathed a sigh. “If we made it through, then Paili probably did, too.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and called, “Paili! Are you here?”
A tiny voice replied from far away. “I’m here!”
Sapphira stretched up to her toes. Excitement pitched her voice higher. “Where’s here?”
“Right here with my two new friends.” A tiny pair of hands waved in the distance behind the second fountain.
Sapphira grabbed Elam’s wrist. “I see her! Let’s go!”
They ran past a carpenter shop, a seamstress boutique, and a spa, all with broken columns and entryways, then across a patio that led to the fountain. Letting go of Elam, she surged ahead, jumped into the fountain’s cavity, and dashed to the other side. She leaped over the low parapet and swept Paili into her arms.
After swinging Paili in a full circle, Sapphira set her down and combed her fingers through the little girl’s hair. “You’re okay! I’m so glad you’re okay!”
“Me, too!” Paili chirped. She turned and pointed. “I have new friends!”
Sapphira took a quick breath. A man and a woman stood at the base of the fountain, the same couple she had seen by the brick kilns. She dipped her knee in a brief curtsy. “Uh, hello.”
The man ascended the few marble steps leading to the fountain. “It is the girl from my vision!”
Elam stepped in between the man and Sapphira. “Who are you?”
The man stopped and extended his hand. “Makaidos is my name. What is yours?”
Elam lifted his hand slowly, his eyes revealing deep suspicion. “I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”
Makaidos gripped Elam’s hand and shook it, then looked back at the woman and smiled. “This is my daughter, Roxil.”
Elam’s brow lifted. “I have heard your names! Those are dragon names. My father told me lots of stories about dragons.”
“Your father?” Makaidos released Elam’s hand. “Who are you?”
Elam squared his shoulders. “I am Elam, son of Shem, grandson of Noah.”
“You are Shem’s missing son?” Makaidos stared at Elam. “You must have died over a thousand years ago!” He glanced back at Roxil and scratched his head. “But now I am confused. We died as dragons and awoke here, so I thought this was a place for dragons to rest after they died. Why would a dead human be here?”
“We’re not dead,” Sapphira offered. “We can travel from one dimension to another. We came here looking for Paili, and we’re planning to leave as soon as possible.”
“Do you know how to leave this place?” Roxil leaped up to the fountain level. “May we come with you?”
“I don’t know,” Sapphira replied. “If some of these dimensions are meant for the souls of the dead, would it make sense if they could leave? I mean, wouldn’t they all just leave if they could?”
Makaidos took Roxil’s hand. “It could be dangerous. I think we should stay right where we are.”
“Listen to you!” Roxil said, turning to face him. “The one who loves adventure!”
“A well-placed stroke.” Makaidos shook a finger at her. “But there is adventure, and there is foolhardy risk.”
Roxil tapped her foot on the ground. “Would you prevent me from trying?”
“Would I be able to stop you?” Makaidos sighed and gazed at every face in turn. “We have only been here a short while, and I suspect that other dragons are hereabouts in the guise of humans, perhaps my father and mother or my siblings.” His gaze lingered on Sapphira. “Would you care to assist us in a search?”
Elam cleared his throat sharply. “I don’t see any dragons, and we have Paili, so we should ”
Sapphira squeezed Elam’s arm. “I’d love to help! Just because we can’t see the dragons doesn’t mean they’re not here.”
His eyes glazing, Elam raised his hands toward his ears, then lowered them quickly. He jerked his head back and forth as if shaking water from his hair.
Sapphira caressed his arm. The voice must have been tormenting him again. “When I’m standing at a portal,” she said, “I can see everything. Maybe if