Dragon 6 Chapter 26 (Patreon)

“Stupid Underworld.” Ikta climbed down comfortably with her spider legs.

“You didn’t have to come.” I looked up and caught a full view up her dress. Her underwear was barely even there.

She grinned from ear to ear and swished her hips while dangling from the spider legs that came out of her back. “Like something you see?” She spread her legs a little wider.

For the most part, Ikta appeared human. It was just the six spider limbs that came out of her back that gave her the name ‘Spider Queen’. Well, that and the fact that she had an entire army of driders somewhere out in the Wilds.

“My king, please stop egging her on.” Trina climbed down beside me, her claws finding purchase in the otherwise hard rock. She seemed the most comfortable out of the group climbing down.

I constantly felt like I was about to fall to my death.

“And you should stop teasing him.” Trina pointed at Ikta. “This is a dangerous journey, not some romp in the woods where you get to pull him into the bushes at the end for a little fun.”

“I know that. I only came to protect my part of the deal.” Ikta crossed her arms under her chest. “If he dies, I get no whelps. So, until I can get him in my pool of nymphs, I need to keep him alive.” She zoomed down the wall, her spider limbs turning it into a joke.

Trina huffed, and I had to raise an eyebrow in question. “Let’s get this over with and then we can get home. I don’t like this one bit. You are our king, and we are delivering you to the Underworld. We should be protecting you.”

I picked my way down the wall, my black and copper scales on my hands catching a little of the green light that T was putting out. I looked down, trying to spot the end and wishing that the passage was wide enough to be able to fly down.

Ikta raced back up. “Not much longer. There is a bottom in maybe fifty feet.”

Her words were the encouragement I needed as I picked up the pace and hurried down the rocky cliff face. Clambering down the rocks, I saw the bottom and jumped. It was a hard landing, but I was sturdy enough to manage it.

“Loud,” Poly hissed. “We don’t know what’s down here.”

“A very big river,” T replied, finishing the climb and gingerly stepping down. “I haven’t gotten past the river.” He stepped over to where I could now hear water sloshing on the shore.

I looked along it, spotting a bleach white tree on the rocky shore.

“I thought you said you got here through trickery and guile?” I frowned. “Where’s the giant, three-headed dog and the big fancy gates?”

“Poetic exaggeration. Last time I was here, the Ferryman wouldn’t take me any farther, and the howls of Cerberus were a distant song.” T went up to the tree and lovingly stroked it. “So my family tree rests against the shores of the Styx.”

There was a gentle creaking of a boat as a single lantern came towards us, illuminating the inky dark waters. I could just barely make out something moving under the surface.

“That’s him?” I pointed at the little row boat with a hooded figure on the boat.

As if our presence called him, his boat scraped up onto the shore.

“Come.” The figure pointed to me and me alone.

I approached him cautiously, my senses on alert. “What of the others?”

“They’ll stay here. This is a task for you alone, son. I know why you are here.” The figure pulled back the hood, and the face I’d seen many times in the crystal smiled at me. “Hurry, time is short. You shouldn’t be here longer than you have to be.”

“Zach, are you sure that’s him? This could be a trick,” Evelyn asked.

“It’s Bahamut,” T replied solemnly, his ghostly eyes illuminating Bart. “There is no illusion.”

With their confirmations, I felt a sudden elation. This was my father. Despite everything, I found myself jumping into the boat. “I’ll be back shortly.”

My father cast a glance at those that had traveled with me, his eyes lingering on Ikta. “Interesting. I couldn’t have predicted that.”

“I have so many questions,” I started.

“Hold on.” He grabbed an oar from the bottom of the boat and shoved it against the shore, pushing us off and into the water.

But after that initial push, there was no rowing required. The little dingy continued to glide across the river as if there was no friction. I should have been paying attention to the scenery around us, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my father.

“Hello, son.” Bart smiled at me. “I hope things have been well. Sorry I couldn’t be there for you.”

Fuck, those simple words made my heart clench. “Sorry you couldn’t be there either. I… I don’t know where to start.”

“Well, we can start at the present or in the past, your choice,” he stated calmly.

“Past,” I said without hesitation. “This boat ride is going to take a little while, isn’t it?”

“Yes. We are going down the river Styx. Eventually, it will branch, and we will travel to Tartarus. But the past?” Bart rubbed at his chin and sat on one of the benches, gesturing for me to take the other. “Well, let’s start with this most recent life. I was born amid the Fae Wilds and my dragon was sealed. Without my dragon, I never reclaimed my memories.”

“And you had me? Tia would have gotten her memories back,” I scowled at him.

“Yes, and your mother is known to be the paragon of restraint.” He gave me a dour look.

“Point taken,” I chuckled. “So, after she was pregnant, you got your dragon back and your memories. Then you ran away with me?”

I tried not to push, but I was desperate for more information.

“Your egg,” he clarified. “I ran away with your egg and took care of it, until you were ready to hatch. The Dreamer had approached your mother, and later me, about you. The Dreamer was keenly interested in you even though we both denied her.”

I swallowed. “She still is.”

“You’ve made a deal with her?” His face grew more serious as he stared at me.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “I promised to balance out the fae realm by taking two more mates. I am already mated to Maeve, the Fall Lady.”

“Good for you,” Bart chuckled. “That’s likely a far better deal than if she had gotten to you while you were young. I wanted you to grow up without having to deal with The Dreamer at every turn. If I removed you from her area of influence, then she’d also have no reason to harass your mother and what we thought were the last of the dragons.”

I looked into the water, seeing shimmering silver blobs running under the surface.

Souls.

“I was a ticking time bomb,” I said as his words sank in. “By sending me to Earth, you took the bomb away from Tia. But I ended up in a deal with The Dreamer anyways.”

“One of your own volition, and one that didn’t involve the death of a village of dragons or anyone else but me.” Bart shrugged. “Sorry, it was the best option. You had a nice family? They were kind to you?” A small growl entered his last question.

“They were very kind, but older. They’ve passed.” I let out a sigh, suddenly looking through the Underworld, wondering if I could meet them again.

“Unfortunately, they probably aren’t in the place we are going. There is a fork ahead. There is a place for the good, the ordinary, and the bad. We are going to the bad. I truly hope they are not there or I’ll feel I failed you as a father. The Underworld is a place of resting for souls to be washed clean of their past life, depending on how Thanatos judges them.” Bart pointed ahead to a fork.

He had easily explained the past even if it wasn’t ideal, the past was what it was. Now it was time to focus on the present.

“What gave Winter power? And if the Greek gods were dragons, what are all of these?”

I had questions about the present. Bart had answered the important parts of my past. I needed time to digest and understand how I felt about what he’d done.

“The Underworld is just something that has always been. Your mother and I have died many times, weathered the washing of our souls and been reborn. But there are great primordial beings here that have died and remained in Tartarus, feasting on the souls of the damned. They are ancient and powerful things, trapped because there is no vessel born that could hold them.” My father directed the small boat to the rightmost path. “They have stirred recently and begun reaching out past the Underworld to the mortal world. Given what you are, I knew you would be drawn into this.”

“And I need to do what exactly? The Dreamer didn’t give me much information besides that you would know how to help. I think she has a thing for you,” I joked.

Bart sighed, and it sounded like his soul was about to leave his body. “I’m aware, but just imagine if Tia and her were in the same harem.” Bart shuddered and got back to business. “The beings down here are just souls, though they are powerful. You should be able to disrupt them long enough to sever the connection to Winter.”

“Which one?” I wasn’t exactly keen on picking multiple fights with ancient primordial beings. That sounded like a recipe for a disaster.

“We will see.” Bart started casually weaving the most complex spell I had ever seen. “When we find them, you distract them and I’ll sever the connection to Winter. I’m afraid that I can’t do more than that. My deal as the Ferryman with Thanatos prevents me from interfering further.”

“What deal did you make?” I asked.

“Thanatos is a friend. He even came out of the Underworld and joined the little club we called Mount Olympus for a time.” Bart smiled, as if remembering happy old days.

I nearly choked. What he called a little club had turned into mythology.

“Fine, point out which one, and I’ll do the hard work,” I agreed.

“Keep your scales copper,” he coached.

“How about this?” I shifted into my hybrid form, tearing my clothes. My scales were black and copper, swirling together.

“Huh.” Bart looked stumped for the first time. “I did not expect that to happen. Do you have both the strength of a copper and black?”

“If I keep them in balance, I’m twice as powerful,” I confirmed.

Bart nodded, and went back to his complex magic diagram. “Very, very interesting. Paranormal blood doesn’t mix. Offspring are always either one or the other. So pardon me if I’m just shocked. I expected you to take after one of us, not both.”

“I’ve never heard of either of you having children with the ability to change colors. That would have made waves,” I said, starting to think through it.

“Another story for another time. We approach.” Bart gestured towards where the river seemed to end, and as we got closer, I could see that it poured into a giant funnel.

The inky water and the silvery souls were stretched out and swirling slowly to the bottom. Every now and then one of the silver souls would wink out. It was several miles deep of swirling water cascading down from the river.

There was a dreadfully drawn-out wail of pain that seemed to be endlessly coming from it.

“That seems fun.” My tone dripped with sarcasm.

“Careful.” My father cast the spell he’d been forming, and it floated above the giant whirlpool of souls, casting the whole area in dim, red light.

Under the lip of the funnel and behind the whirlpool, souls that had retained their form moved about. Many were quite large, but others were smaller, flitting between their masses.

Bart’s spell grew brighter, until the light seemed to leach out of the surroundings into one of the figures.

It was a towering soul, mostly humanoid in appearance. The difference was that his skin was cold stone, and where he should have had hair, long wisps of shadow flowed from his head and his eyes gave off a gray mist.

If the spell affected it, the giant showed no indications as it continued to pick souls from the back of the whirlpool, like a child picking berries and popping them in its mouth.

“That’s less than ideal,” Bart said. “Iapetus. God of craftsmanship and mortals. Well, humans really. Very violent, both a schemer and stupid.” Bart made a clicking noise.

“How is someone both stupid and a schemer?” I frowned.

“Ever meet someone who thinks they have nothing but brilliant plans?” Bart looked over his shoulder at me with a smile. “I really hope I didn’t just offend you.”

“I don’t take after Tia that much,” I countered.

Bart choked on a laugh he knew he shouldn’t be having. “Don’t tell your mother I laughed at that.”

“No promises.” I grinned. “So, just go tussle with tall, dark, and terrifying down there, and then come back?”

“Keep to your death colors. Your breath won’t have much effect though. It will be a battle of brute force and your magic.” Bart nodded.

“Not exactly much of a wizard, if I’m honest. Will that be a problem?” I asked.

Bart looked at me with a hint of disappointment, and it took me a moment to realize that it was directed at himself. Even knowing that, I felt a pang of sadness that I’d disappointed him.

“No, you should be fine. No magic?”

“I can make some three-step enchantments,” I said proudly, trying to buy back a little excitement.

“So, no magic. Got it,” Bart dismissed it as if it was nothing and it stung.

I tried to push it aside. I wasn’t some damn child needing his father’s approval. The beast in my chest growled, and I worked to pump myself up for the battle to come.

I was the damn Dragon King.

“See you later.” I jumped off the edge of the boat, lifting my hands high as I crashed down through the whirlpool and onto the several mile-tall, glowing giant.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. The thing was a soul, but it felt like I hit a steel plate as I landed on its shoulder. Up close, the thing was far bigger than I’d expected. In my hybrid form, I was nothing but a pest on his shoulder.

Iapetus’ head turned slowly and sounded like grinding rocks. Its giant hand tried to catch me, but I wasn’t that stupid. My wings extended from my body, and I let the air pressure from its massive hand glide me towards its face.

The giant frowned as I latched onto its ear and started cutting into its rocky flesh with my claws.

“Dad, how much damage do I need to do?” I shouted up.

“You’re doing good son.” Bart sounded like he wasn’t even watching. “Just keep doing… that.”

Fuck that.

I jumped off its back and put on mass as I shifted to my dragon form, dragging my claws down the giant’s back. Even then, I was like a gecko compared to the giant.

Two hands reached around its back and slapped around blindly, the rocky flesh booming and pieces crumbled down around me.

I scrambled down its back, trying to avoid the hands as I dug into its spine. With the size difference, I needed to attack a point of weakness. So using my front claws to hold onto it, I brought up my back feet and started raking the stone away.

I was pleased when the move had a noticeable effect.

The giant bellowed in rage, and its hands reached for me and smacked its back, just barely missing me. I shifted my body side to side to avoid the hits, clinging on for dear life.

When it finally died down, I went back at it, digging my back claws into the rocks and tearing them out. It bellowed again, and I had to hold on as it sat down.

Quickly, it started rolling onto its back, intending to squish me.

I quickly darted to the side, using my wings to fly out of its range of motion. I had to bob and weave as I moved past several other colossal giants who paused what they were doing to try to snatch me out of the air. Each of them was weirder than the last.

As one of the giants tried to grab me and missed, it stumbled, smacking one of the others.

And the one it hit was particularly monstrous. It looked sort of like I expected a medusa, with a serpent’s body from the waist down, and snakes for hair. Only its chest and face was that of a nightmarish gorilla with terrifying fangs and claws that seemed closer to a dragon’s.

The monstrous giant fanned a pair of wings out and the others backed away from me. I met its eyes. They were like glowing embers as it watched me with a strange smile.

“Thank you?” I wasn’t quite sure if it was singling me out, or just telling the others to back off.

It grunted and let out a hooting howl. The giants all parted, leaving room for me and Iapetus, who was still glowing red from my father’s spell.

I couldn’t help but notice that a few of the giants wandered over to where we had been battling, grabbing the pieces that I had torn off and popping them into their mouths.

I tried not to gag.

Iapetus charged forward, trying to swat me out of the air, but I held my wings out and rode the wind that his palm created. I spun, latching onto the bottom of his arm and bit down, tearing off chunks of rocks and swallowing them.

The giant howled and tried to swat me again.

“Time to fly!” Wings open, I was like the most annoying fly in the world as I used his palm to glide out of the way once more.

Deciding to use his strength, I let the pieces of the giant slide down my throat. But I didn’t feel myself grow immediately. Instead, it felt like I’d just tried to eat concrete. My stomach felt heavy even with that small bite.

So, of course, I was going back for more. This had to be the more nutritious thing I could eat. It was a titan for crying out loud.

Iapetus wasn’t really learning his lesson. He was still striking at me with a flat palm that created far too much wind pressure and let me glide out of his attack, but he had become smart enough to keep swatting and using said pressure to keep me away.

“Bart, are you done yet?” I shouted.

“Almost,” my father grunted with effort.

Taking a chance to look away from my fight, I saw a giant sphere of runic script. My eyes grew wide. Now that was a spell. It put anything I’d ever seen from Sabrina or Sir Benifolt to complete shame.

Getting distracted by its intricacy, I didn’t move fast enough. I felt my wing crumple as a hand came from the side, followed up by a second hand coming down from the other side.