“I’m not here to harm you, Abaddon.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I know all your names.Tigger, Persephone, and Pollita.”
The stranger had obviously done his research.That didn’t bode well.
“You are here to kill me,” Abaddon stated, fearful for the first time in a while, for here was a dragon that could defeat him.It led to his stomach churning and his nostrils steaming.
“Keep that flame in your belly,” barked the big male.“I am here to talk, not harm.My name is Alistair Graham.”
“What kind of name is that?”Abaddon scoffed.
“The one I took to allow me to blend in with humans, seeing as how my original appellation, Shamash, isn’t exactly conducive for fitting in among the population.”
A puzzling thing for him to say.“I don’t understand.Fit in how?According to humans, we don’t exist.”
“Yes, the purge did a good job of wiping us from memories.But not all of us died.”
“There’s more?”The news shocked.
“Technically, me and one other.There’s been rumor of a third, but I haven’t been able to confirm it.”
“How have you managed to survive?”Abaddon couldn’t help but be curious because it wasn’t just this male’s size that indicated his advanced age, but the aura he emitted.
“As I said, I do my best to blend in.My ability is rather unique.”With that said, the dragon suddenly disappeared and, in his place, stood a man.
“That’s impossible,” Abaddon whispered.“My inherited knowledge doesn’t mention this power.”
“Because your mother was selective in what she imparted.”
“You knew my maternal progenitor?”
“Unfortunately.”Shamash grimaced.“She is dead, by the way.Killed by her servant?—”
“With a sword through the eye,” Abaddon interrupted.
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve dreamt it.But why would she not have told us everything?”
“Because she was mad.Completely and utterly crazy.She’s the reason the humans rebelled and killed us all.She’s why you mistakenly think dragons are supposed to rule the world.”
“What are you talking about?”Abaddon scoffed.“It is our primary driving goal.”
“It washergoal, which she passed down to you, although whether by design or accident I couldn’t say.Your mother had a plan for her hatchlings that was less than savory.”
“Why do you use the human title of mother instead of the proper term, maternal progenitor?”
Shamash snorted.“I don’t use it because that was a term she came up with so as to ensure no attachment ever formed between you and her, as she planned to kill you to increase her power.”
The news shouldn’t have bothered.After all, to rule the world, it made sense there would be casualty, even amongst those related.But the way this Shamash spoke… Did he imply dragons were supposed to have familial bonds?“Liar.Stop speaking as if you knew my maternal progenitor.”
“But I did know Tiamat, better than I like to admit.And had I been aware of what she was doing at the time, I’d have killed her myself.”
“Sounds like you were jealous she might succeed in being supreme ruler.”
“Try angry at being used.”
