Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

My legs tremble, barely holding me upright as Costin and I stagger toward the mud-brick homes. Several have caved in on themselves. The destroyed furniture pokes up from the rubble in pieces.

I honestly don't know how I'm still upright. Everything hurts. I feel like somebody punched me in the ribs. Just drawing breath causes a sharp, stabbing pain in my side that radiates through my body. My hands are bloody and raw. My clothing is singed, and I see blisters on my arm from the heat. My jeans are torn, and I'm bleeding from my thigh. It's not enough to be an artery, but it's enough to cause concern. I don't even know how that happened.

I hope Anthony is safe. I don't know if it was smart to leave my brother behind, but I can't doubt myself now. I can only hope Anthony makes it out of the underground city. If I fail to stop this, at least there's hope he'll reach our parents in time.

The drunken goblin is gone from the entrance, but broken remnants of his small jug remain. Chaos reigns as creatures abandon the city. I can still feel the tremors vibrating through the ground, but at least the air is cooler.

I pant, pain burning in my side. I stagger, almost falling, but Costin's hand steadies me. Even he looks worse for wear, with singed clothes and streaks of soot marring his usually pristine appearance. Now that there is more light, I see a bloody rip in Costin's sweater. An angry wound on his shoulder peeks at me from within. "You're hurt."

"I'll heal," he dismisses, not letting me check. I can hear the strain beneath his calm. "A rock fell on me when I tried to transport your brother."

From what I can see of the gash, it did more than fall on him. I notice that arm is hanging by his side, his hand barely moving.

"None of it will matter if we don't fix the amulet." He guides me into the entrance ahead of him.

My knees are weak, and I fall against the cold stone of the wall, using it for support as we make our way inside. My arm slides over the rock, my body aching with exhaustion. I want nothing more than to collapse, but Draakmar won't stop until he's burned everything to the ground.

I glance at Costin. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the weight of everything we've been through together presses down on me. Paul, the labyrinth, the dragon—everything is crumbling, and now we're pinned here with only an old prophecy and a broken amulet to save us. I feel like there is so much I need to tell him, but there isn't time.

We enter Morvok's home. The gemstones hanging from above jingle from the angry vibrations. The troll's rock body blends with his surroundings and it takes me a moment to see him sitting in the middle of the floor.

Morvok pushes to his feet, the low, guttural sound of his breathing filling the cave. He looks us over before ambling over to the stone worktable where my broken amulet still waits.

"Costin and pet," Morvok says. His voice is gravelly as he turns to face us. "Morvok did not expect you to return."

Why does everyone always underestimate me?

I'm too weary to argue.

"Fix it." My voice is raspy, but I force it out. I limp up to him and hold out my hand. "We don't have much time."

Costin joins me, slumping against the table's edge as if he needs it to hold him upright .

"You are too late. Draakmar is awake." The troll waves his hand as if to tell me to leave. "Morvok will go to sleep until the ancient one tires."

"We have to try, Morvok," I insist.

The troll's eyes gleam in the dim firelight, glancing from me to the amulet shards as if weighing its worth. He reaches out a giant hand, his fingers scraping against the stone tabletop as he gathers the dust of the yellow gemstone he'd crushed earlier under his thumb. He pushes it toward the broken amulet, still caked with my dried blood from before.

"As the pet wishes," Morvok says, reaching for the vial of green liquid. "If you have failed, we cannot try again."

"If I have failed, it won't matter. Everything will be destroyed," I tell him, holding out my hand more insistently.

Morvok holds up one of the amulet's shards to the light. The jagged edges of the broken piece gleam.

"A piece of Draakmar's scale," I say, repeating what Costin told me before. My voice is steady now, though I feel the weight of the words settle on my shoulders. I let my hand drop to the table, unable to keep holding it up.

The troll nods slowly. "Yes. It was forged long ago, a piece of his very essence—his fire, his soul, his power. Only that power can stop him."

The air in the troll's home seems to grow warmer. Draakmar can only be defeated by a piece of himself. That makes sense, but there is no time to dwell on the fact. Now is the time for action. But the amulet is in pieces, shattered and useless, and we're running out of time.

"How do we fix it?" I ask, desperation creeping into my tone.

"Your blood," the troll says, his voice rumbling with finality. His gaze locks onto mine. "Only with the blood of one who holds true power can this be mended. Morvok told you this."

My stomach knots at his words. I glance at Costin, but his paling expression is unreadable, his gaze flickering between the troll and me.

"And if it doesn't work?" I ask nervously, unsure if my time in the labyrinth will be enough. Costin followed me in, and it's not like I got a certificate of completion in the end. Nothing feels different. I don't feel like I have earned any magic. "Is there be another way?"

"If it doesn't work," the troll says with a shrug, "then you are dead, and Morvok naps."

It doesn't seem like the troll had much to lose.

I feel like I'm standing in quicksand. I offer my hand again, and the troll reaches for his knife. The sight of it sends a shiver over me as I remember what it feels like to be cut, but I don't pull away.

Costin touches my side in support, bumping my sore rib. I flinch and suck in a sharp breath. I don't push him away as I meet his gaze. For a moment, the world outside fades away, and it's just us, standing in this cave, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.

There is so much I want to say to him.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

Don't leave me.

The blade bites into my skin before I can speak. The sharp pain radiates up from my sore hand, and my breath catches in my throat. I turn to the wound, watching my blood flow thick and red onto the broken pieces of the amulet. It pools over the jagged green shards, sinking into the amulet's cracks before trailing over the table to drip onto the floor.

The troll releases me, and I ball my hand into a fist to stop the bleeding. Morvok mutters to himself, low and ancient words I don't understand. I stare at the shards, willing them to change. But nothing happens. The amulet remains broken, the cracks still visible, and the pieces still separate.

A tear slips over my cheek, and I shake my head. I've failed. "No."

The tremors become more insistent, and I hear loud crashes coming from outside. Draakmar has made it out of the subway tunnels. I sense that he's close. Panic rises in my chest. It's not working. My blood drips from my fist onto the stone floor, useless. I stare at the broken pieces.

"No, no, no," I mutter, leaning over the table, pressing my wounded hand into the surface as I grip the stone. My eyes burn, and my vision blurs. "Come on."

"Patience." The troll takes my hand and throws powder on it to stop the bleeding. The cut burns as it seals shut. He then watches the amulet with his dispassionate eyes. "If the magic within you is strong enough, it will mend."

"I don't have magic." I turn to Costin. "I'm sorry. I've never had magic. I'm not special. It wasn't me. My grandfather was wrong. I'm not the one in the prophecy."

"All creatures have magic," Morvok says.

I look up at Morvok. "I don't understand what you mean."

Maybe I'm too tired to decipher his words, but I've never had magic. I know that for a fact.

"Human magic is connection," the troll says. "Your blood... your magic... it comes from the people you are tied to. Generations passing themselves down for centuries to create who you are. We all have magic—every human, every creature, but most forget. The amulet was forged from Draakmar's scales, yes, but it is powered by more than that. It is powered by love. By connection. The same magic that gave you the amulet for protection in the first place, the magic you feel for the vampire beside you. That is what will heal this."

Costin reaches for my hand. I glance up from the shards. The words hang in the air between us`, unspoken but heavy. The connection. The magic of connection, of love, of bond. That's what's going to save us.

I take a deep breath, letting the words fill my tired body, trying to focus on that connection—on everything that binds me to this world. The love of my birth mother and grandfather, who cared enough to trade with trolls to protect me from harm. My parents, who love me the only way they know how. My brother, who will not abandon me. Paul and Diana, who helped a stranger and who I can never see again for their own protection.

And Costin. He's always been there since I was a child, ready to swoop in and protect me. I never realized it until now. When I burnt my hand, when I broke my arm, he was there. At parties, when I watched from the shadows, he was there. And now that I'm older, he's become more to me.

All the people I've fought for, bled for. The people who keep me tied to this world. My magic. My power .

I close my eyes, and for a moment, everything goes silent. Just the sound of my heart beating steady and strong. And then...

A soft hum.

I open my eyes. The pieces of the green amulet glow faintly, the cracks slowly sealing themselves together with the red of my blood. I watch the pieces click into place, the magic swirling and binding them together.

The amulet becomes whole, my blood turning the green shards into the red stone that once was. I gasp in shock. Costin's hand slips from mine.

"Costin, do you—?" I turn to him.

Costin slumps on the ground, unmoving. His eyes are closed, and his skin is paler than normal.

"Costin?" I fall to my knees beside him, shaking him. "Costin, wake up!"

I touch his skin. Vampires are normally cold, so I don't know what to make of it. He's not breathing, but vampires don't need to all the time.

A loud roar echoes from outside. I stand, torn between the imminent danger and helping Costin.

Morvok has the fixed amulet and is pressing thick silver threads around it. He holds it up to show a new necklace he has crafted. "Morvok will watch your vampire."

I hesitate before taking the amulet. "Don't let him die. "

I'm not sure what Morvok's grunt means, but I hope it's agreement.

"Costin, I'll be back," I say.

He doesn't answer.

I limp for the exit as I slip the amulet over my neck. I have no clue what I'm doing, but I have to try.

The underground city is in ruins. Flames rise from the marketplace, and the air is thick with smoke and ash. I can feel the heat clawing at my skin, but I don't stop. I don't have time to be afraid.

"Draakmar," I yell, hobbling away from the troll's cave.

What the fuck am I doing? Everything in me screams that this is a mistake. I silence the voices that have always churned in my head.

"Draakmar," I yell louder, trying to follow the sound of destruction. I see a couple of the schoolchildren alone, huddled together beneath a pile of rocks. I motion and point behind me for them to run.

Loud steps reverberate through the ground. The giant creature is easy to find.

Draakmar stands near the opposite side of the bridge, towering over the wreckage like some unstoppable living nightmare made of flame and rage. His massive wings unfurl to show his full size. Molten eyes fix on me with a primal fury. He opens his great jaws, baring those horrible teeth, with a roar that erupts from him to shake the very earth beneath my feet. Fire breath lights up the underground city, choking the air with more heat and smoke. I cough and touch the amulet, feeling its familiar strength back where it belongs. I have to believe that it worked, that the stone will protect me.

I take a step forward, terrified.

There's no time to hesitate. No time to run. This is my fight now.

I clutch the amulet in my hand, feeling its comforting weight. The warmth spreads through me, steady and pulsing like a frantic heartbeat, like it's alive. The dragon's power is inside it, a piece of Draakmar's own essence, and it's his heartbeat that I feel.

I know, without a doubt, that the dragon is connected to me now.

My heart hammers wildly, but I force myself to breathe. I step forward, my legs trembling as I hold my ground.

Draakmar lets out another deafening roar. In the split second that follows, he surges toward me, the ground cracking beneath his massive weight. His wings beat once, twice, creating gusts of hot wind that whip my hair into my face, and then he lunges forward over the bridge—his mouth open wide, fire pooling in the back of his throat, ready to burn me alive.

Oh, fuck.

Time slows.

I see the fire in his mouth, the deadly heat coiling in his chest beneath the black scales, the massive claws poised to strike. He comes straight at me, an unstoppable, furious beast of destruction. My instinct is to turn, to run, but I don't. Instead, I pull the amulet forward on my neck, and with every ounce of strength I have left, I face him head-on.

"Do it," I yell, my voice shaking but strong. "Come and get me."

The heat hits first—a wave of blistering air that scorches my skin, making my vision blur with tears. But I don't move. I can't move. The amulet hums in my hand, vibrating with energy, and I grip it tightly, planting my feet as Draakmar bears down on me.

In a flash, he strikes.

His massive body crashes toward me, claws outstretched, teeth gleaming in the firelight. But just as he's about to reach me, the amulet explodes with a searing red light. I can feel the power of it radiating through me, down to my bones, like a current of electricity surging out of my core. The light pulses outward, forming a barrier between me and the dragon, and for the first time, I see him hesitate.

The dragon's claws meet the barrier with a deafening clash, sparks flying as his attack is stopped cold. He recoils, his molten eyes narrowing in confusion. He strikes again, harder, but the barrier holds, the amulet's power pushing back against him. It hums louder now, like a living thing, like it's feeding off my strength.

I drop to my knees.

Draakmar rears back, letting out a frantic roar. His wings spread, and his massive head tilts as if studying me. For the briefest moment, I can see the confusion in his burning eyes—confusion, and something else.

Fear.

I stare up at him, heart pounding, but there's something else rising in me now. Not fear. Not panic. Power. It flows through me, through the amulet, connecting me to the ancient magic of this dragon, the piece of him embedded in the very thing that now protects me.

He pokes a claw forward as if to test what's happening. The barrier shimmers under the touch, but it doesn't break. The connection between us pulses, stronger, surging with each beat of my heart, each breath I take. And then I feel it.

I can control him.

I don't know how I know, but I do. It's like a whisper in the back of my mind, a soft voice guiding me, showing me the way. The amulet isn't just a shield. It's power. It's control.

I take a deep breath, pushing to my feet. The dragon snorts but takes a step back. Another pulse of energy radiates out from the amulet, stronger this time, and I move toward him. He roars loudly.

"Stop it," I shout, my voice cutting through the roar of flames.

Draakmar instantly stops. His fiery eyes lock onto mine. For a long, tense moment, neither of us moves. I can feel the magic pulsating between us like a tether binding us together. My breath comes in shallow gasps, but I remain firm.

"Sit," I tell him.

The dragon lets out a low growl, but his wings slowly lower, his massive form pulling back to obey. He's listening to me.

I take another step forward, the amulet glowing brightly as I let it fall against my chest. The connection between us grows stronger, and I feel his ancient rage, but I also feel the weight of his long existence. He's been fighting for so long, trapped in his own fury. But now he's mine to command.

"Go back," I say, my voice steady with concern for the beast. "Rest."

The dragon hesitates, his molten eyes narrowing as if testing my resolve. But I don't waver. I push the command through the connection between us, through the magic of the amulet and the power that ties me to him.

Draakmar lowers his head. His glowing eyes lock on mine, but the fire in them dims. I reach out to touch him, petting his warm cheek. He snorts and nudges my hand. I hold my breath, amazed at the moment. His wings fold against his sides, and with a final, low rumble, he turns away, his massive form retreating into the tunnels from which he came. He's slower now, almost reluctant. I watch his large body amble past.

The fires around us die down, the heat receding as the dragon moves further away. I watch him disappear into the darkness of the tunnels, the sound of his steps growing fainter until, finally, there's only silence.

I stand there, chest heaving, the amulet no longer glowing. It's done. He's gone.

I can't believe it.

The city is still thick with smoke, but there's a strange calm now that the danger has passed. I feel the weight of the battle, the exhaustion pulling at my core, but I also feel stronger.

The sound of footsteps shatters the stillness echoing around me. Figures emerge from their hiding places. Some of them begin to approach me, but I ignore them, determined to make my way back to Costin.

A sense of urgency propels me forward as I race back into the troll's dwelling.

Morvok sits on the floor reading the prophecy book. I find Costin's unmoving body still slumped next to the worktable. Splotches of green and purple pepper his clothes like the troll threw gem dust at his shoulder wound.

"No sleep for Morvok," the troll pouts when he sees me.

"Thank you for your help, Morvok," I tell him. I give his shoulder a light pat as I move past him. He grunts in response.

I check Costin's shoulder. The gash is ugly, but the troll's magic has sealed it.

"Morvok fix," the troll says. "Vampire needs blood. The book I keep."

I scan the floor, my eyes darting around as I search for a weapon. Standing, I spot a glint of metal. I grab the troll's knife and cut my palm. I don't think as I smear blood to Costin's lips.

I watch it soak into his skin. "Come on, Costin. Drink."

His lips twitch and part, but he doesn't drink. The amulet stopped vampires from attacking me before, so I take it off and lean closer to Costin's mouth, offering my neck. He inhales sharply. I feel him move. Hands grip me tight, and the hard clamp of teeth clamp down on my neck.

Costin pushes forward and I fall back as his body comes over mine. Costin moans, and I feel the hard pull of him drinking. I try to hit his arm to tell him to stop, but my limbs fall weak.

My head is light. Darkness threatens. I'm too exhausted to fight anymore.

"Tamara?" Costin's voice sounds confused and far away. His weight disappears, and I try to open my eyes. He frantically pulls the amulet over my head, and the pain in my throat lessens. I look up at him. His bloodshot eyes focus on mine, sharp and intense. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

He helps me sit up, and I touch my throat.

Blinking heavily, I ask, "Can this night be over?"

"Where is Draakmar?" He sounds panicked.

"Sleeping," I mumble. It's not exactly true, but the dragon will be soon.

"You did it." His voice is filled with something I can't quite place. Admiration, maybe. Or something deeper.

I nod, my throat tight. "We did it."