Paradise # 19
By Drakkon Fyre


He desperately ran. His guts ached and his mind clouded at each 
heavy step on the wet grass. His members seemed to mutate and his 
strength doubled at each passing second, but he needed to run. He had 
become something very powerful, but he still had to run from a terrible 
destiny. His lips parted as long fangs pointed out, tearing the soft flesh of 
his mouth. Breathless, he fell to the ground, on his knees. That should be 
far enough. Had to be. His legs burn from the effort and the changes and 
he wanted to cry. He wanted to scream his hate and frustration. Tears of 
pain streamed from his eyes while his strangled voice echoed questions 
without an answer.

-Why? Oh Gods, what did I do wrong?-

- Derek? Where are the stones? – Two shiny red eyes watched him 
from the back. Hands, more like claws, grasped him tightly, almost 
tearing his skin…

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

His scream echoed loudly through the cave. Callista, awake for a 
while, felt her blood freeze. Instinctively she jumped beside him and 
hugged him to her chest, holding him tightly.

" I have to go! I can't give it to them! I have to go!"

"Drakkon! Drakkon!! Stop, please! Don't do this!"  Callista 
wanted to pity him, but it had been awhile since she had been able to feel 
something. Her curious yellow eyes stared at Drakkon, dripping wet of 
his own sweat and looking scared. Her long and delicate fingers touched 
his lips.

"I'm with you, darling" He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, 
trying to bring reason back to his mind. He let his tongue feel the pointy 
sharp fangs to remind himself of whom he was, and raised his eyes to 
meet Callista's. " I'm sorry, my darling, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to 
scare you. I've been having those dreams lately. They're weird and 
they're becoming more and more vivid."

Callista didn't even blink. She watched his moves, curious, 
puzzled.

"Forget it ok? Did you see something in the islands today, little 
one?"

"Oh, nothing's normal anymore since the strangers came. It seems 
that the island people are all excited and weird. Purebloods or not, they all 
seem so agitated…" She closed one of her eyes and raised one eyebrow, 
trying to remember something. Drakkon laughed at her strange behavior, 
and she cackled after him, trying to imitate the sound of his laugh.

"Well, there's something. That Aurora girl is around again. I think 
the strangers' presence made her fantasies arise. Poor child… I've seen 
her walking among the funny stones…"

Drakkon gasped. His mind burned for seconds. Derek…

"My love? What's it? Talk to me!"

He buried his head in his hands, face twisted by pain. Derek…

He stood, a low, inhuman growl escaping his throat. He crossed the 
entrance of the cave before she could think, and it still took her about two 
seconds to absorb the situation. She then opened her wings and floated 
out of the cave, trying to reach him. His speed was amazing, she thought, 
and she didn't remember seeing him using his gifts in its plenitude, she 
wondered while watching him, graceful as a tiger while he jumped and 
avoided the obstacles into the forest. Regal as a lion, his claws slashed 
through wood and plants as if they were nothing.

Finally, his race came to a stand, close to the water. Callista could 
barely feel her wings, such a long time she didn't fly that fast. Gracefully 
silent, she approached him. He seemed to stare at the water, but she 
noticed then that he was staring at himself.

"Callista, what do you see when you look at me?"  His voice 
sounded strangled and sad. So different from the cold imperiousness he 
usually wore and made him famous in the islands.

She approached and stared at him, noticing each little detail of his 
body. His long golden hair fell on his face, messed and wet. His white 
skin reflected the sunlight, enhancing his already royal and powerful 
features. His strong arms dangled lifeless beside his body. He was 
definitely an amazing creature.

"My darling, you're fascinating! I wish I could feel more than just 
that for you. I wanted it so much. My Drakkon…"

His hands closed in fists and he smashed the water hatefully. 

Instinctively Callista jumped back. He turned over to her and for 
the first time in a very long time, she felt something. She covered her 
mouth with her hand, to suffocate a scream. His eyes shone red, blazing 
red.

"My darling, take me to the northwest island. It was there that you 
saw Aurora, right?" 

Callista just shook her head, scared.

"NOW!"

---------------------------------------------

The flight to the island was fast. Callista flapped her wings 
anxiously, wanting to arrive there as soon as possible. Drakkon's growls 
were driving her crazy. He wouldn't stop repeating the name Derek. She 
knew that name from somewhere, but she couldn't remember where. She 
had strange walls in her mind, blocking the memories of that.

"There!" growled Drakkon, pointing to a place in the middle of the 
forest. 

Hurriedly Callista turned down and stepped on the ground, 
bringing Drakkon with her. His nostrils moved fast. He was tracing 
something. What could be happening to him? Callista had never seen him 
like that. It seemed like he had… feelings! Her eyes shone with the 
thought of that.

"Fyre? What's happen… "

Suddenly he reached and put one hand over her mouth, keeping her 
from completing her sentence. That was getting annoying…

"Go! Take my message to the leaders of the strangers. Tell them to 
reunite here, in this right point, as fast as possible, if they want to save 
their own lives and their friends. Can you still remember the prophecy? 
Come on girl, think!"

Callista tilted her head to the side, which always made her look 
more like a giant bird. She closed her eyes, but her mind hurt while she 
tried to remember something.

"The stones!  Four stones… Four strangers united by blood… The 
forest temple…"

Tears streamed down her face at each word. It was a huge effort, 
she had to admit. Suddenly he gave her a friendly slap on her back and 
began to laugh.

"That's it birdie. We're getting there! Good girl!"

Callista watched him, dazzled, and then looked around. Someone 
had done something to him… that's not possible… he looked so… 
human! 

"Yes, human… And now I can remember things that would make 
the islands tremble. Now go! Take my message to them and tell them the 
lives of their friends depend on this, and so do ours! We've got to get the 
prophecy rollin', kitten."

"I am no kitten, I am a bird! Kitten would be that weird girl, 
Sha..."

"Alright, forget it. Just do what I am asking you. Our life depends 
on it, you hear me?"

She nodded. Puzzled but decided to help her lover, whatever he 
had in mind, whatever he had become.

"Go, girl! Hurry!"

With a little jump and the sound of feathers, Callista rose to the 
sky. Drakkon watched until she disappeared and then sighed.

"Ok, now to you, AURORA!"

With a growl, his claws grasped on the air, catching something 
light and invisible that floated close to him.

"ACKK… Drakk… let… me… "

Slowly the round forms began to appear out of thin air. The long 
red hair seemed to shine on the top of her head and a pair of round and 
colored butterfly wings shook in panic. Drakkon's hand closed around her 
neck and she tried to use both her hands to break free, without any 
success.

"I don't like to be observed, love. I just let you stay here, thinking 
to be unnoticed, because you're going to be useful to me. The altar! I need 
t he exact location of it!"

The hand that strangled her loosened its grip and Aurora fell to the 
ground with a low thud. Her hands went to her neck, touching lightly the 
sore place, trying to wipe the pain.
"Ok, let's begin from the start, butterfly. For some reason I woke 
up today feeling, let's say, renewed. "

Aurora raised her eyes and met his. His eyes always had reflected a 
coldness that could freeze a soul. Now, it had changed somehow. The 
way he spoke had changed. And that changes, they fascinated her.

"I remember some things that could help us to bring peace back 
again. And sure, we could halt all the curses that plague us. ALL OF 
THEM, you understand?"

A hint of a smile came to his lips. Aurora didn't know if she 
should return it or scream in horror. Drakkon, smiling? Something was 
wrong with the world. And what did he mean by halting all the curses?

"Drakkon, Sir, you, more than anyone, know that place is 
forbidden. The laws are clear…"

"And who made the laws, Aurora? Tell me... Tell me which 
authority someone would have to say we're forbidden to go there?"

Aurora opened her mouth to answer, but noticed she had no answer 
to that. She used to walk around there… but she was a fairy, right? She 
had special powers and could walk wherever she wanted… Or not? Or 
maybe it was just part of a bigger plan? Her head spun more than a 
tornado. She was dizzy…

"Listen, Dawn, there's something smelling here. I have some parts 
of that puzzle, and I am up to get the others, no matter what it costs me, 
wherever they are" His eyes shone and his claws distended while the sun 
reflected on them, like the sharp blades they were. Her eyes opened in 
fear.

"Please Drakkon, be reasonable."

Hearing the fear in her voice, he laughed. He helped her to stand 
up and cleaned the dust from her dress.

"Relax, Aurora Dawn. My problem isn't with you. If my plan 
works out, I'll finally get rid of that suckers, the Enforcers" A low growl 
came from his throat.  "and I can give the strangers the power they need. 
Let the prophecy begin!"

He raised his hands to the air, yelling and growling, spinning 
around himself. Aurora couldn't take her eyes off him. She had never 
noticed how fascinating he was. Despite his bestial features, fangs and 
claws, he was wonderful. Maybe she had never noticed it because he 
didn't allow people to look at him. It was unbelievable how much she 
feared him… and now there she was, unable to take her eyes off him…

"Aurora, wake up girl! I have something to ask you" His voice was 
almost a whisper. "I need you to go to the northern island. You're the 
only one who could be there without being noticed. I know there's a 
moron in the abandoned base of the island, he took control and thinks 
he's all-powerful now. Let his arrogance make him our ally. Do you 
remember how is that place from inside?"

She slowly nodded.  "I am not sure, but I think so. Something deep 
inside me tells me not to go there.  Horrible things happened in there. My 
body's made of light and peace… I can't bear to know that some kind of 
evil happened in such a paradisiacal place."

"But I need you there, Dawn. It's very important." 

Taking a stick, Drakkon began to draw on the sand. It was a map.

"Here, you see? You know what's a container? Great. Inside  this 
room there's a container with 4 stones. Each of them has a color and a 
sign. An old friend, my mentor – somehow my father – found them a long 
time ago, in an excavation, way before you all appeared in here. I need 
them, sweets. Oh, another thing. There are 4 buttons that will open the 
container. Touch them in order, or not even your powers could save you. 
Remember: green, blue, purple and red. You're the only one I can trust 
with it and I know you have the power to fulfill that mission."

Aurora sighed She knew he was being honest, but there were many 
things he wasn't telling her, that she knew too. But in the deepest of her 
pure heart, she somehow knew she could trust him. She could trust that 
new creature that had taken Drakkon's skin.

"One last thing. At least show me how to get to the temple through 
the rocks."

She was not sure she should do it. As a mystical creature that she 
was, she had felt the holiness of that place and knew it shouldn't be 
despoiled.

"It won't, butterfly. I promise."

	She believed him. She trusted him! Her barriers down, she smiled.  
"Follow me, Drakkon. If you really know how to save those lives, then 
I'll do anything to help you."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aurora had disappeared over the horizon a long time ago when the 
afternoon ended. In the middle of the rock formation there was a table, a 
perfectly trimmed table in the stone. There, Drakkon lay down, watching 
the clouds while the sun said its goodbyes to the island. Finally he felt 
calm enough to try and think about what had happened. Derek, yes… that 
was his name. Finally, for some reason he couldn't entirely understand, 
his memories had come back, like a gift from the Gods. But now he was 
Derek trapped in Drakkon's body. Was it bad? Not really. At the moment 
his human part was in control, and that, combined with the power of the 
body he currently had, was kinda perfect. But he did miss some things. 
He missed his human life, the people he loved. He missed his mentor, 
Moreau. His heart father. They never really believed the other 
corporations would do something. They never even thought about 
sabotage. What would they get from it? Ah power… fame… That was all 
that matter to them. Not Moreau, though. That was his life's work. A real 
junction between human and animal, science and mysticism. The 
humanity and the occult… 

The wind had changed. Drakkon sniffed and jumped up, startled. 
He fell to the ground, curled, in a predator's instance. A beast ready to 
attack.

"Leave the shadows, you bastard. I know there's someone in 
there."

Two emerald eyes shone through the foliage. With short steps, the 
creature left the shadows. Drakkon gasped.

"Derek, Derek… you are as weak as your boss, lad. Do you really 
believe in this prophecy bullshit?" 

The man was royally dressed, in a tuxedo and leather shoes. His 
long dark mane was perfectly groomed, tied behind his neck. His skin 
was very white and he had a terribly evil smile on his lips.  "You could 
have been way better than that, and you know it."

"Shut up, Michael. Y'know, I didn't miss your ugly face at all."

His claws extended and with a graceful jump he attacked. With a 
low thud he fell to the ground where the man was a second ago. He turned 
his eyes to the stone where he had laid and there he was, politely sitting, 
legs crossed.

"I see that you've become more powerful. Now I understand why 
almost everyone in the islands fears you."

"What do you want now?"

"I'm just looking around… I like the air in here…"

"Spill it! I am not the most patient of men today!"  Drakkon almost 
growled. He stood and walked in Michael's direction.

"You know you have no chance against the Enforcers, right?"

"That's MY problem."

"And you know that your lonely crusade against them will be the 
end of the pitiful thing you call life, right?"

"Who wants to live forever?"

"Derek, be reasonable… You fight against their power everyday 
and what do you get from it? Fear from the ones you defend. Or you 
really think that someday you'll be called a hero around here? Ah, you're 
so naïve…"

Drakkon painfully closed his eyes. He knew it was the truth, but it 
wasn't his fault! He had a mission. He had to defend the island's people. 
He had to find a way to finish the Enforcers. But with time, his humanity 
faded and he had become that cold creature, without feelings. And all of 
them feared that one, the one that appeared and disappeared from thin air, 
without words, without feelings, not caring. But things had changed. Yes, 
they did.

Opening his eyes, he recomposed himself and sighed deeply, 
calming down.  "Right, Michael, now is the point where I should be 
bargaining for your help, right? Is it now that I should surrender and say 
'Oh wise man, I beg you to help me, I'll do whatever you want, but help 
me, oh wise man' ?" he burst off laughing, noticing the irritation in 
Michael's face.

"Drakkon, you're a fool and someday you'll agree to me. And then 
I will be the one laughing. And I hope you know how to beg, because you 
won't have my help until you do so."

"Wake up, bub. Do you really think there's a chance for it to 
happen? Now disappear" His claws shone under the rising moon, but they 
cut the air. With a loud bang, the man disappeared into the mist.

"Ok, now I think I need a place to crash. That will be a long story 
and the poor creatures around here barely know what's happening. But 
maybe it's better that way."

And finally, after years, Drakkon had a pleasant night of sleep. No 
dreams, no torments. Just him and the huge starry sky above him.

Finally…