Part 38 (1/2)
Again, George's thoughts ran wild. I would've been afraid of this not too long ago. But now ... something this creepy seems almost like a second home. h.e.l.l ... living on these worlds has really screwed with my head. Could I really be this brave ... or am I just a dumba.s.s with no common sense? I can't be insane. Insane people don't know they're insane ... do they?
After working his way deep into the mountain, George came upon an area that opened into an enormous cavern. It almost felt as if the mountain had become hollow. The top of the cavern could not be seen. The walls to either side were hundreds of paces away, and they were visible only because of the glow from the lava that flowed down their surfaces and then across the floor like a river before it disappeared into the opposing walls.
A booming voice filled the cavern. ”I've been expecting you.”
George lifted his hands and prepared to use his magic, but he was unable to see a target.
Again, the booming voice spoke, but during this particular series of moments, the sound echoed off the walls.
George had to cover his ears to stop the pain.
”Do not be frightened, Mystic Learner. I am the one you seek.”
George did not waste any of his moments. ”Show yourself!” he commanded. ”I want to see my first dragon!”
The Ancient One laughed. The rumble of his chuckle forced George to cover his ears again.
Once the laughter subsided, George spoke, ”Do you always greet your visitors so rudely? That's not the kind of manners I would've expected from an ancient dragon.”
From within his veil of invisibility, the Source lowered his head to a position just above George and snorted. The wind knocked George to the ground and covered his face with moisture. ”You're a confident one. I can see you're not afraid. A good quality to have ... but also your weakness.”
George finished wiping his face and then straightened his hair as he stood back up. ”Confidence is only a weakness if it's backed up by ignorance. I know your purpose and what you're about. I also know you're not here to harm me, and you're not even the main reason why I've come. Show yourself so we can have a decent conversation.”
Again, the Source chuckled, and again, the mage was forced to cover his ears. ”Apparently, young Mystic Learner, you are under the same belief the others were who stood before me. You think the Eye of Magic is the only being responsible for swallowing souls. Perhaps I, too, have used my position to sample a few misguided morsels over the seasons.”
George gasped as the dragon's form appeared and filled the cavern. The Source rose to stretch. His tail and neck elongated, and the muscles in his legs tightened as he balanced his weight to extend his wings. Each tip touched the walls on either side of the cavern with an overall span of more than 530 paces. As the Ancient One folded his wings to his sides, a powerful wind filled the cavern.
Again, George was blown to the ground. The mage tumbled head over heels and stopped at the edge of a river of lava. He quickly scooted back from the heat, but now he remained seated.
The Source spoke as he lowered his head close to George. ”You know of me, George. I only jest about eating those who seek the ultimate power of the Eye.”
George looked up and wiped the sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his tunic and shouted, ”That's a relief! You almost knocked me into the lava! You could've killed me!”
”You fret over naught. If your life would've been extinguished, I would've rekindled it.”
George's eyes squinted. ”You can give life?”
The Source chuckled and grinned as George covered his ears. ”Of course, I can.”
The glow of the lava reflected off the dragon's ma.s.sive, green eye and was temporarily lost as the Source blinked. George realized the entirety of his body could fit in the beast's eye as the Source continued to speak. ”You don't realize it, but you looked upon me during much of your wretched life on Earth.”
George struggled to collect his thoughts. ”How could I not remember looking at you, and how did you know I was from Earth?”
”I was in plain sight. I am older than your Earth. I am more than 29,000,000 years old.”
”Did you just say years?” George questioned. ”I haven't heard anyone say that word since my arrival on Grayham.”
”As I have said, I know your Earth, and I watched as your planet was destroyed. There wasn't much left after the humans on your world unleashed their weapons of ma.s.s destruction. It was sad to see such advanced races annihilate themselves. Knowledge can be deadly. But I suppose the struggle on Earth wasn't much different than the way the beings who live on these worlds fight for dominance. It's as if the Collective doesn't care.”
The Source sighed and another burst of wind filled the cavern. ”Perhaps the Collective desires war. I simply fail to comprehend their logic.”
George crossed his arms and set them on top of his knees. ”So are you a G.o.d?”
”What I am matters not.”
”What do you mean?”
The dragon cleared his throat. George had to grab his ears as the sound echoed off the walls of the cavern yet again. ”I had taken my place amongst the stars with my ancestors. The light you came to know as the North Star was how you once knew me. I was beautiful, and my glory captured the attention of your galaxy. I was forced to venture to these worlds when the end of your Earth was nigh. This mere vessel that you see before you is all that is left of my being until I can reclaim all that I once was on this plane of existence.”
George was blown away. ”Well, from where I'm sitting, what you call a 'mere vessel' is what I call b.a.l.l.s out, wicked bad a.s.s.”
The Source grinned. ”Your flattery is received with open wings.”
George stared for a moment before he finally keyed-in on a specific part of the Source's previous statement. ”What do you mean by reclaim all that you once were on this plane of existence?”
The ancient dragon's eyes narrowed. ”You have an inquisitive mind, but that is not a question I shall answer.”
George pondered the Source's response. ”Then asking why won't get me anywhere either, will it?”
”No, my mortal friend, it won't.”
The mage grinned. ”Well then ... the idea that you were a star is pretty d.a.m.n cool. I can't imagine how you must feel. I mean, holy garesh, you were not just any star ... you were the star that everyone on Earth knew about. I'm sure you realize the role you played in navigation. I've got to tell you that I did a report for Science cla.s.s about you when I was a kid.”
The dragon chuckled, and again, George had to cover his ears. Once the noise subsided, the Source changed the subject. ”I know of your daughter. I also know that you desire to see her again. I can hear your thoughts, George. I know you'll do whatever it takes to retrieve her soul from the Book's pages.”
The mage nodded. ”You can count on that.”
”I believe you're strong, but you're not without weaknesses. Do you not fear your weaknesses?”
George jumped to his feet. ”It's hard to fear something that I can't pinpoint. I appreciate your concern, but all I care about is getting my daughter back. You're right. I'll do whatever it takes. I'm sure you would do the same for a child of your own, or dragon cub, or whatever you call it.”
The dragon snorted. The force blew George back down. ”You presume much, human. I am so much more than dragon. I would find it far easier to release my offspring's soul than you would. One tooth piercing the Book's binding would do the trick.” The dragon winked his ma.s.sive left eye.
George wiped the moisture off his face. ”Ha! Humor. I wouldn't have expected that to come out of a dragon's mouth.”
The Source pulled his head back. ”You must be careful, George. Don't allow the hate in your heart to cloud your judgment. The iniquity running through your veins could be your undoing. You're stronger than the others who have come before you, but strength is nothing without character. If you allow anger to control your mind, you will be lost.
”There is much in your past that still runs through the depths of your mind. I can feel the torment that these moments have caused your spirit. I understand why you resent those who hurt you. You have allowed the abuse of your father to turn you into a killer. One man's sins are not another man's excuse to break the Commandments.”
George shook his head. ”Commandments? You sound like you're talking about the Bible. I don't understand.”
The Ancient One sighed. ”I suppose you wouldn't. I would ask you to re-evaluate what's important. I have spoken with your daughter's soul. She doesn't want her father to kill in her name.”
Silence filled the cavern as George processed. ”Is Abbie okay? Does she see good visions like Lasidious promised?”
The dragon nodded. ”She does.”
”That's a relief.” George lowered to the flat of his back and then put his hands behind his head. ”I hope you don't mind, but it's easier to look up and talk to you this way.”
Again, the dragon nodded. ”Understood.”