Page 59 of Escaping my Dragon

“Or croak from the poison air,” Joslyn added.

“Why can’t we do the interview from here? I mean, he’s already talking in our heads. I assume he’s like these other dragons and can speak aloud. Given his size, we could probably hear him if he shouts.”

Bellow like a common animal? I couldn’t tell if Levithan sounded appalled or amused.

“The visuals wouldn’t be as good, mind you,” Joslyn interjected. “I mean, I can zoom in a bit, but I doubt I can properly capture and relay just how massive Leviathan is.”

“You could get him to pose later beside stuff people can compare.” Vernon began ticking off fingers with his microphone. “Say like posing him beside one of the coast guard clippers or the C17.”

Pose?

Definite annoyance in that word.

“You know that’s not a bad idea.” Joslyn panned her camera to the mountain. “I’m seeing him moving in slow motion from the volcano, coming towards us, his girth blocking out the sun, the ominous penumbra he casts a foreshadowing to come.”

All great ideas if the situation weren’t worthy of hysterical laughter.

I liked your kind better before they could talk, grumbled Leviathan.

“That didn’t sound like a no,” Joslyn purred. “So, big guy, when are you going to come shake your stuff for me? Or did you want to have your chat with Velma first?”

I am going for a swim and a snack.

“Snack on what?” Noah demanded.

Kraken. This area used to have impressive specimens. So delicious. They wiggle for some time before digesting.

Pretty sure I wasn’t alone in gulping.

I’ll be back.

Leviathan didn’t use an Arnie Terminator voice, but that’s how I heard it.

A dark threat.

But also a bit of time…

…to panic.

Chapter Eighteen

The mighty Leviathan heaved himself from the bubbling cone and slithered down, slipping scalding scales into the cold ocean waters. Steam immediately arose, clouding the area and hiding Levithan’s movement, but I still felt him tickling the edges of my mind. Such power. I couldn’t help but be a little jealous. Also awed. But mostly wondering how Leviathan’s arrival affected me. Definitely wouldn’t be taking over the world anytime soon.

The humans appeared quite perturbed, expressing themselves in loud exclamations and waving their hands. Used to melodrama from my servants, I ignored them. Tigger, however, seemed fascinated and sat at their feet, avidly listening.

Alistair drew close to me, Abaddon, and Persephone. He spoke in our ancient tongue that only dragons understood. “Well, that was interesting and disturbing. I have to admit, I’m at a loss as to how we should handle this situation.” Not the most auspicious announcement from the eldest of our group. No wonder he’d never managed to become overlord of this planet.

“Perhaps Tigger is right. Rather than assume we are enemies that must fight, we ally ourselves with the ancient sire,” the much too gentle Persephone suggested.

“He’s going to destroy the world,” Abaddon reminded. “I don’t know about you, but I rather like it as it is.”

“It would be a shame to lose some of the more luxurious advantages,” I agreed. If the world reverted to something primitive, without electricity, bye-bye, telenovelas. I don’t think I could survive without my beloved drama.

“Forming an alliance is one choice,” Alistair agreed, “But it would involve us enabling the execution of millions, maybe even billions.”

“It would reduce some of the crowding on the planet, allowing for a return of nature,” Persephone noted.

“The buffalo herds would thrive and once more be free to run across the plains. A fresh buffet,” Abaddon exclaimed, rubbing his paws.