Dragon's Isolation - Miranda Martin Page 0,37

I take Shidan’s hand and pull him through the city at something just short of a dead run. The empty streets allow for no distractions, and it doesn’t take long before we’re at the door to Addison’s lab. I don’t bother knocking before barging in, and instantly regret it.

“Wha—” Addison is cut off as everything happens at once.

We burst into the room. Melchior is standing with Addison, and it’s obvious they were sharing a kiss when we enter. As soon as we step in, Shidan growls and the crate on his back drops to the floor.

BANG! It hits the floor as he leaps forward, lochaber at the ready.

Melchior reacts as fast as thought. He flings Addison aside as he twists his body to avoid the blade of the lochaber. The lochaber slices through where he was a moment before.

“SHIDAN, NO!” I scream as Addison cries out too.

Loud banging accents the commotion in this room, echoing through the walls where Addison has locked away Ladon and Ormarr.

Shidan turns, following Melchior. The two Zmaj circle each other, and now Melchior has drawn his lochaber as well. They clash, the wooden shafts of their weapons clacking as they crash together with a speed too fast for my eyes to follow. The glinting of steel, the ringing crack of wood on wood and metal against metal. They’re trying to kill each other.

“NO!” Addison and I scream in unison, but the two men ignore our cries.

They close again, seeking any opening. I have to stop him. He’s out of control of himself, acting on primal instinct and the only way out of this is one of them is going to die. I can’t have that. I do the only thing I can, no matter how incredibly stupid it probably is.

They part, circling each other, weapons held ready. I take a deep breath and act.

I leap between them at the same time they move to close again. The blade of Shidan’s lochaber whishes up, barely missing my nose, as he jerks it away from his intended strike. I tense expecting a blade in my back from Melchior but he avoids stabbing me too.

“Stop!” I yell, putting my hands on Shidan’s shoulders and pushing him back.

He takes a step, his eyes darting from me to Melchior. He growls, a deep rumble coming from his chest.

“What is happening!” Addison yells.

“Shidan no,” I say, forcing my voice to exude a calm I don’t have. “Friends. They’re our friends. Do not attack. No.”

Something shifts in his eyes, he frowns, his brow furrows and then he moves his mouth.

“Fr-ien-ds,” he says, his mouth working to form the word.

“Friends,” I repeat.

Understanding dawns on his face and with it I see fear. I throw myself around him and I can’t hold back my tears. I squeeze him tight, sobbing. Slowly he wraps his arms around and holds me tight.

I let it go. The pent-up fear, frustration, all of it pouring out in giant sobs until I’m left empty and spent. He holds me, runs his hands through my hair, and remains silent. Silent because he has nothing to say or silent because he doesn’t remember the words I don’t know. That thought creates a new round of sobs but I’ve got no tears left.

Finally I straighten from his chest. I rub my face with both hands, wipe my sleeve over my eyes and dry my cheeks. Blinking several times to clear my vision I turn at last towards Melchior and Addison.

Addison is kneeling next to the crate and sorting through the contents. Melchior is staring off to one side obviously uncomfortable with the display but keeping himself positioned protectively between Addison and Shidan.

“Anything?” I ask, my throat raw.

Addison doesn’t look up from her digging.

“Yes,” she says and my heart leaps. “But nothing I think will help the guys.” And my heart crashes along with my stomach. “There are medicines here that will be helpful, but not with why you went.”

She shakes her head and rises to her feet.

“Nothing?” I ask.

She frowns and shakes her head then walks closer. I feel Shidan tense more than I see it so I turn around and put my hands on his chest. He looks into my eyes and relaxes, still silent.

“Can he speak?” Addison asks.

“Shidan?” I ask, passing the question to him.

“Yes,” he says, but there’s a hesitation and I can see him thinking before he speaks. He may be able to speak right now but he’s losing it.

“Oh shit,” I exclaim, whirling to face Addison. “Melchior!