Dragon Riders

Chapter 32: Keeping Score

Aspen POV:

I clenched my jaw as I stared into his blazing red eyes once more. Having only faced him twice in reality was at my disadvantage, but those soulless eyes bored into my dreams, twisting them into nightmares.

"There's my little prize," he enthused. "So glad to find you got to see Dis. Isn't it splendid?"

"If you mean splendid in the sense that it's a sweltering wasteland of despair and pain that I want to never see again, then yes!" I sassed. His grin just expanded.

"I was hoping you might feel that way!" He countered. "By the way, are you wed to that other mortal yet?" He teased.

"No!" I asserted. "Don't touch him!"

"Wouldn't dream of it; Axel is going to kill him for me... Take a look!" He gestured his wing towards the mini volcano range where Orion was racing up to meet the golden heir. "You didn't inform me he was a Viy!"

"He wasn't at the time!" I retorted. With that he began to cackle,

"A new Viy sent to kill my Axel! Why, I just can't see that plan working your favor!"

"Then you don't know Cade and Orion very well!" Serafina interrupted our back and forth banter.

"I already know she likes the boy, but what of his Teff?" Inferno pondered. "I wonder if he has a love I can smother..." Serafina was normally cool and collected, but she lost her top this time,

"If you dare lay a claw on him, I will kill you personally!" She threatened.

"Well that clears things up a bit," he commented. "Now, let's get this show on the road!" With that, he charged at us. Serafina rolled to the left, while I grasped a spine in her back with one hand and with the other slashed at the massive bird with my sword. The resounding roar told me I had hit him.

"Aspen one," I taunted, "Inferno none!" His entire body became engulfed in flames as he howled in rage. He multiplied himself in fire. Instantly, there were four Inferno's surrounding us: one actual and three fire copies. The copies mimicked the motions of the real Inferno. They encircled us, then opened their beaks and spewed flames. We dove and corkscrewed around each pillar. One almost hit us, but we dodged in the nick of time. The pillars ceased and we looked down upon the fiery birds flying straight for us. I nocked an arrow and hit the real Inferno's wing. He screeched in fury and agony causing the copies to ripple and disappear. Using his claw, he removed the arrow, then snapped it in half.

"Aspen two, Inferno none!" I updated the score

"You are going to pay for that!" He promised. He sent a shower of fire droplets upon us. Three penetrated Serafina's makeshift leaf cover and landed on my arm. It was my turn to hurt. I screamed as the flames ate at my skin. I quickly brushed them away as Inferno shook with laughter. The charred spots on my skin sizzled. I glared at him as he used my own methods of enraging him against me,

"Aspen two, Inferno three!" He bellowed, still shaking with laughter. My vision narrowed with the anger now filling me.

Calm down, Serafina advised. We need to keep stalling until one of us comes up with an idea to kill him.

Lava isn't an option right? I asked for clarification.

Correct, she confirmed. Our little internal chat was cut off by a fire tornado spiraling right at us. We rolled to the left, but it was tracking our movements and adjusting. I looked to see Inferno was controlling it, making it chase us. I smiled; it was just too easy to break his focus. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled over the sound of the raging, fire funnel,

"Why are you sending a firestorm to get us? Too scared to come close to us?" He growled but maintained his concentration. Serafina tried next,

"All three of us know this how this is going to end and that you're just trying to put off your ultimate demise!" The storm wavered as he began to lose focus, his contempt for us was too great to concentrate on controlling the storm.

"Come on you big old chicken!" I mocked as I spread my arms open. "Come and get me!" The fire stopped swirling and he leapt through it, crashing into Serafina's side. As I toppled off her back, I saw most of the fighting had ceased; almost all eyes were on us. Cade and Orion were face to face with Axel and Iris and Shade were still battling it out with a group of Phoenixes, but otherwise everyone else was observing our fight with Inferno. After all, it would determine the conflict. Serafina didn't catch me, so I landed, on my feet, on the top of the volcano. Serafina and Inferno were wrestling above me. I watched as he clawed at her and she bit at him.

A quick glance downward gave me a glimpse of Maya. Her blue scales sparkling in the cruel glow gave me an idea. The plan formed in my head.

Aspen! Serfina shrieked. That's brilliant! I think I can help!

What do you mean? I wondered.

You'll see! She chimed.

Well go get Maya, I ordered, we need her help!

But Inferno! She protested.

Don't worry! I can handle him! I stated. Now, go! With that she turned and began to fly away. Inferno went to chase her, but I threw a large rock at him. It hit him right in the head and he glared down at me.

"Finally," he said eagerly. "I have you all to myself, no Teff to protect you now!" I gulped as I watched Serafina dive down to where Maya was. After she dove, I caught a glimpse of Orion lunging at Axel.