//Paranormal Paradox\\

Chapter 22

Veridia POV:

Moonlight had sprinkled her gentle rays onto the deep ocean waves, and she guided us to where the dragon was. The white shimmers in the water showed the blue glow from the beasts eyes, and I came to realize I had never been so grateful for moonlight before. We disappeared under the water, while the plan loosely rattled around in my brain. Doubts and confusion attacked the shreds of hope barely clinging on.

This wouldn't work. Rita was too strong, too knowledgeable. She would be able t counter attack whatever we did, and who even knew what this dragon was capable of. And yet, we still had to try. I owed it to Rita, I had abandoned her when she needed me the most before,  and i wasn't going to do it again. The water began to take on the familiar blue hint, and I shielded my eyes. As much as it burned we had to keep swimming, time held back for no one.. The moon would set as fast as it had rose, and if we were too late Mako could be lost. 

The waves came crashing around us as the dragon flicked it's tail, a force that nearly sent me backwards. It was lying on the sandy floor, Rita resting across part of it's back as though it was a kitten. But it was a harmful, dangerous animal. Powerful and strong, and she had tamed it. Or had it tamed her? Had it finally put to bed the firing aspiration for success on land that burned within her? Perhaps it's icy eyes had extinguished the flames of desire and determination, turning them to ashes Rita could hardly feel.

The ran her hands across it's scaled back, fingertips gently brushing across the grooves. I swam closer, motioning to Weilan. She handed me the dragon bracelet, and its ruby like eyes stared back at me. I saw no sign of other dagons, and just hoped Ondina was okay. She had stayed behind to protect the grotto. I slid the dragon bracelet onto my arm, if anyone could bring Rita back it was me, Despite our rocky past we cared for eachother, and I intended on returning her home safely.

Weilan and Zac prepared themselves, they had turn the tide on their sides. Mimmi swam off towards the moon pool, knowing if the dragons invaded it we had already lost. Zac and Weilan were ready to fight, and I was just ready to get Rita back. It was unclear if defeating one dragon would get rid of them all. The  blue light made Rita's auburn hair turn purple, a dark curtain hiding her face from us as the waves carried it forward. She leaned closer to the dragons face, stroking it's nose and starring into it's eyes.  It was as though they were having a conversational, the water carrying their secrets.

She rested her head on it's nose, her hands holding tightly to it and her hair spilling across its face. She looked so small compared to it, and it was them I swam forward. I was cautioius at first, swimming slowly as though not to alert her. The dragons head snappped up, and it looked at me, a deep growl escaping its mouth. Sharp teeth bared from it's snarled lips, but Rita merely patted its head.

Her blue eyes locked on mine and she swam closer, the moonring on her finger glinting in intimidation. She did not have to remind me what she was capable of. She swam closer, looking right at me. Her hair was pulled back by the waves, now looking a plum shade. She miled at me, a menacing look. She would destroy me, could if she wanted to.

Her hand raised, a delicate gesture, one that could almost full me. She brushed her fingers across my cheek, and I could practically feel the energy pulsing through her. her eyes were glowing, but a dark expression marked her sweet face. She lowered her hand, perhaps in a warning.  My Last chance of escape.

Zac and Weilan began to swim towards the dragon, and the dragon opened it's mouth to shoot fire, but clearly it did not work under the water. A ray of bubbles was merely all that came at Weilan and Zac, and Weilan moved quickly, sending them back. Rita sighed, raising her hands and shooting energy from her moonring at the dragon, causing it to grunt in response. They were linked, powerful, unstoppable.  And she knew it.

The moon energy flowed into the dragon, it's eyes darkening in color. With another massive, but silent cry it lunged at Mimmi and Zac. They were more agile, doding the beasts open jaw. Rita was caught up in watching, and moved to assist the animal again when I grabbed her arm. She loooked at me, annoyance etched onto her face. She thoguht I would be easy to get rid of, but I raised up my arm.

The golden dragon band seemed to tighten it's way  my arm, it's red eyes challenging her blue ones. More pained roars came from the dragon, I could vaguely see it thrashing as Weilan and Zac kept turning it's attack back on it. The beams from Weilan's moonring were affecting it, unlike when Rita and Zac first faced it. Perhaps, the full moon weakened it. It wad rare but not impossible.

Rita was struggling, trying to reach the dragon, but I kept a firm grip on her arm. It would likely bruise, hopefully she would forgive me, and forget about it as time moves on. I moved the bracelet closer to her face, Ruby eyes speaking a million words from the inatimate dragons mouth. It was pilling her back, red, the contrast of blue.

"Please Rita, Come back to us."