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“Sorry, private,” Charlie says with a devilish grin as she rises.
“Seriously? You’re going to leave me hanging?”
“Up to her,” Charlie says, swaying her way to the door.
Asia turns an even deeper shade of red and shakes her head. She stands up and displays a confidence she didn’t have before which is unbelievable, but I’ll take it. Whatever Charlie said really had an impact.
The sound of a key turns in the door and then it swings open. The three of us stand in what I hope are seductive poses. Seductive to a Zmaj, which who knows what turns on the alien-dragon men.
The Zmaj in the door is short, for a Zmaj, and broad with a stocky build. His horns are small and his eyes are narrow along with his face. There’s something about him that seems like a rat or a weasel, which is odd.
Smaller than other Zmaj or not, he fills the door frame and stares at the three of us with his narrow, weaselly eyes. His dark tongue darts out between thin lips and traces the line of them as his gaze roams up and down over each of us.
“Females,” he says, dragging out the s sound.
“Let us go,” I say, feigning a bravery I don’t feel.
His smile broadens to reveal sharp teeth. Someone or something roars. It’s a loud, blasting sound that reverberates off the stone walls. The Zmaj in the door turns and looks down the hall. I don’t know what possesses me in that moment, but I grab one of the short stools.
My friends’ eyes wide as in a single motion I pick up the stool and step towards the door, swinging the stool over my head in an arc. Fighting isn’t something I’ve ever done and I miscalculate the angle.
The stool clips the top of the door, lessening the force that hits the Zmaj, but the stool is not as sturdy as it looks. It hits the Zmaj on the neck and shoulder where it explodes. Splinters and shards fly around, some of which pierce my skin.
The Zmaj shouts in pain or only in surprise, I can only guess. He moves with the blow and raises his arm but not in time to protect himself. As the remains of the stool clatter to the stone floor his faces twists in anger.
The girls and I retreat into the cell. This is bad. Now he looks bigger with his wings opening and his arms wide. His tail swishes, making a rasping sound as it drags across the floor. He raises his hands as he approaches, his focus totally on me.
My back comes up against the wall. My heart is pounding, and my body is thrumming with adrenaline and mixed messages of fight or flight. I’d run, but to where? How? He’s blocking the exit.
“Humans,” he hisses.
He grabs my arms and jerks me close. I yelp, his grip is like a vice and hurts. He buries his face in my neck, sniffing, and I fight with all I have, kicking, screaming, trying to break free, but he’s too strong.
Asia and Charlie don’t stand idle. They grab the remaining stools and beat on him, but he slashes his tail and knocks them off their feet. I’m in trouble. Bad. He’s going to kill me or worse he’s going to use me for their intended purpose.
This is not going according to my plan.
Something crashes in the hall outside the door. A new roar, closer, and then there’s a rushing blur. I’m dropped to the ground fast and hard. My knees weren’t ready and I collapse to the floor. Acting on instinct, I roll backwards until I’m against the wall then I move to a crouch.
“Jkaran!” Bahr roars.
The booming of his voice could not possibly be more welcome. The deep bass echoes off the stone walls, filling the room, and lifting my heart. I stand and move to the side but the Zmaj who attacked me is fast.
Moving faster than I can process, he lifts me off my feet and jerks me to his chest. My neck pops as my head spins. He holds me against his body with one arm and with his other he draws a lochaber, pointing the tip at Bahr.
Bahr has to duck to enter the door. He’s hulking, shoulders hunched, breathing heavily, and a fire burns in his eyes. He doesn’t speak, at least not in words I understand, but a grumbling growl emerges from his mouth. His hands clench and open as he stares at Jkaran, ignoring the point of the blade that is only inches from his chest.
“Mine,” Bahr says and there’s no doubt that he means me.
“You should have died like you were supposed to Bahr,” Jkaran says.
Bahr pushes forward but comes up against the point of the lochaber and stops. The blade is sharp enough to pierce his protective scales and blood drips down his chest. Red blood. Who knew, that settles a debate. I thought it’d be green.
Charlie and Asia are on either side of the room, looking around and trying to come up with some way to help. I can barely breathe, and my thoughts are bouncing all over the place as I struggle to draw enough oxygen to focus.
“Kill you,” Bahr says, his voice low and throaty.
“You’re no better than an animal,” Jkaran says. “The guards are coming. Give up and I promise I won’t torture you. Too much anyway.”
