Illarion was staring at the floor, jaw clenched, body shaking with anger and fear. He looked like a man fighting himself.
“She’s right. I’m second rate,” Illarion murmured. “Not strong enough. Not smart enough. I can’t go in there--”
“Illarion?!” Caden’s voice rose up in alarm.
“I can’t do anything!” Illarion sank down onto the ground. “I’m losing control of everything. It’s all slipping away. I can’t--can’t keep anything!”
“Illarion, this is not you! It’s the Behemoth! The fear! The confusion! All of it!” Caden cried.
But Illarion did not seem to hear him at all. Caden’s lips writhed back from his teeth as he jerked his head back towards the still only partially-opened bedroom. He could see the gas that had caused Valerius to fall into immediate unconsciousness. It flowed through the room in heady waves.
Landry’s parents were limp forms now too. This gas wasn’t restricted to the bedroom, but there was far less of it in the hall, but he and Illarion were breathing it in. It wasn’t enough to make them faint, but it was turning Illarion into a stammering mass of insecurities and it had Caden afraid of his own shadow.
What can I do against the gas? Caden forced himself to think. I can’t hold my breath long enough to go in there and drag Valerius out, plus fight Landry and her brothers off. Would I even have enough time to freeze them before I passed out?
He highly doubted that and the thought of being at the mercy of the Behemoth caused his skin to crawl and that fear was not unwarranted.
So think! Gas can dissipate! Gas can be blown away…
Caden dug his fingernails into his palms as the fear started to ratchet up again to blur his thinking. He kept imagining what they were doing to Valerius. He kept thinking of them coming out into the hallway. Caden scrubbed his hands over his face to try and get himself to focus on the gas.
They’re not coming out here, because they’re scared of what Illarion and I can do, Caden told himself. They need to lure us into the room.
“Iolaire? Iolaire?” Landry’s voice grew deeper and louder. She was getting closer, but still they stayed in that bedroom where the drifts and currents of the gas were strongest. “I have missed you, Iolaire. I have a spot right for you. A spot made just for you. I’m not whole without you.”
Iolaire ducked down beneath Raziel’s wing and let out a warble of fear. Caden felt cold sweat coat his face and his hands shook. Illarion was on his knees still, speaking in Russian now about his weaknesses and failures, most likely.
Can I use some kind of Dragon’s breath to disburse the gas? But the windows are closed! It has nowhere to go! Caden considered this. The windows were shut, but they were glass. Easily breakable. Iolaire, can we use some kind of breath that will break those windows and blow the gas out of that room without killing people?
At first, the White Dragon Spirit did not respond.
Iolaire, please! Valerius and Raziel are in danger! We need to save them! Caden pleaded.
Iolaire let out a soft twitter and the wing shifted as the White Dragon Spirit slowly emerged. Those big blue eyes were bigger than usual. Caden’s heart was hammering in his chest. He was shaking so badly his teeth were chattering with terror. But he knew that it was and wasn’t real.
We’ve got to do this, Iolaire! I need your help! Help me do this! Caden begged.
Iolaire completely emerged from Raziel’s shadows and Caden felt it intently in his mind. They were so close then in thoughts that they could have been one person. And Caden understood what they would have to do. He needed Iolaire to be mostly in charge to make it happen. Caden semi-stepped back so that Iolaire could pilot their human form.
“I have your old spot all ready for you. I will absorb you. I will take all of you. Your will will fall away like petals in a storm,” Landry threatened.
Caden turned towards the bedroom door. A figure was now in front of it. Landry.
Foolish, he found himself thinking. The Behemoth is as arrogant as Mephous. We’ve got this, Iolaire. We’ve got this.
Because they now had something to throw at the windows to break them. Caden dropped down to his haunches and opened his mouth as he expelled a breath. Except it wasn’t a human breath, but a Dragon one.
It was filled with blinding snow and stinging pellets of ice. The force of it sent Landry flying back to the nearest window. The blackout curtains saved her from being cut too badly as the glass and wooden frame of the window shattered and she was pushed out through it. His breath gushed out of him and sent the gas flowing out along with Landry.
Landry wasn’t the only one to be shoved back. The boys had been sent flying as well, dropping their hostages to the ground in untidy heaps. Caden advanced into the room, not letting up. He wrapped the brothers in ice shrouds to keep them in place even as his eyes scanned the room for Valerius.
I found him!
Valerius was stretched out beside the bed. His arms were splayed to his sides. His long black hair was like a halo around his head. His eyes were closed. He looked peaceful, almost as if in normal sleep. His chest rose and fell. He was all right! Now Caden’s head was clear of fear, both because the gas was gone and Valerius was all right! Caden heard running footsteps outside of the house. Landry was sprinting away from the house and down the street.
“What the Hell happened?” Illarion asked.
“Keep a watch on these two and Valerius safe,” Caden commanded as he launched himself out of the window, “I’ve got to stop Landry!”
