The Serpent's Chains

Sabine

Snip. Snip.

The garden shears echoed loudly around the stone-enclosed garden as I moved from one bush to the next, pruning the night-blooming flowers.

Palace gardeners came through regularly during the day but at night, the prince's wing was completely shut down. I was the only one there to take care of the night flowers and I didn't have a lot of other options for going outside.

Sighing, I adjusted the collar on my neck. Most days, I barely noticed it was there but when I was alone with nothing to do, it hung like an anvil around my neck.

I moved to the next bush and snipped some of the leaves off a jasmine plant that was trying to crowd out some smaller plants underneath.

The daytime gardeners couldn't always see what was happening with the night-blooming plants when they weren't in full bloom.

Before raising the shears, I leaned down and pressed my face into the little white blossoms. The fragrant, floral jasmine filled my nostrils and made my head spin. I knew half a dozen spells that relied on jasmine. Not that I could perform any of them.

I snipped off a few flowers and tucked them in my pocket before shuffling along to the next section of the garden. Why did the prince even have a garden, or night-blooming flowers for that matter, if he was never here to enjoy them?

From the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow between the plants. I spun in that direction but the shadow was gone.

"A little too much time alone." I giggled to myself and touched my forehead. Maybe it was best if I called it a night.

I headed down the path back to the palace, my shoes scuffing along the cobblestones. Clouds littered the sky, concealing light from the moon and stars. That was probably the reason my mind was playing tricks on me.

Just as I made it to the garden gate, the shadows around me turned to arms and dark hands grabbed my clothes and my legs.

"Ack!" I whipped around and slammed the pruning sheers into the nearest arm. They stuck firmly and someone grunted.

I was under attack.

I picked up my skirts and ran back the way I came, deeper into the garden. All around me, the shadows took shape. Like snakes writhing, dark, wiggling arms reached out to me. I reached inside for my magic.

The collar on my neck jumped and zapped me.

"Ow!" I should have held onto those pruning shears.

The shadowy arms pawed at my dress, sticking to the fabric. I pulled away and kept running. Blood pounded in my ears and my heart hammered in my chest. Sweat trickled down my spine.

I whipped my head around looking for the nearest exit from the garden. Would the collar attack me again if it thought I was trying to escape? I was completely helpless.

Sticky, shadow hands clung to my skirts.

"Get off!" I kicked one. It recoiled and then wound around my leg. It became solid and sent a tingle straight up my spine. Magic.

I couldn't use it but I could sense it. I bent down and scratched my nails into the arm. Behind me, someone groaned and the hand let up. I didn't turn to look.

Suddenly, from all around me, shadows erupted from the bushes. Leaves rustled, wind whipped my hair, and dozens of shadow hands coiled around my arms and legs. I thrashed and struggled as they tightened around me like constricting snakes.

Something struck me in the back of the leg and I went down, my knees slamming into the cobblestone path. A yelp burst from my lips.

"No, no, no!" I writhed in their grasp, my skin prickling with magic.

The shadow arms were too strong. They pulled me down to the ground and pinned me on my back. The hard cobblestones cut through my dress and scraped against my skin.

The bushes rustled again and figures dressed in black emerged. They were so fluid and silent. All I could see were their eyes peering down at me through the darkness.

"Wh-what do you want from me!?" I panted, twisting against the gripping hands. They didn't let up at all.

My attackers didn't speak. Two of the shadow figures flicked their eyes at each other and my skin prickled. They didn't need voices to speak when they had a magic ray. These were mages and very powerful mages. What did they want with me?

I glanced around for any way out of this. Without my magic, I was useless, helpless. Their grip on me was too strong. Whatever they wanted from me, they'd get.

The collar on my neck hummed and released.

Immediately, the flow of magic ignited my veins. I took in a deep breath and brought the magic to the surface of my skin, heating it to scalding temperatures.

The shadow figures wailed and their magical hands released me hissing with the smell of burnt skin. I jumped up and faced my captors, arms up in a defensive stance. I didn't even have time to wonder how the collar released but I'd use what time I had to take out my enemies.

They recovered quickly and closed in around me.

A powerful wind crushed down on us and the pressure forced me to my knees. I groaned, bracing my palms against the ground.

My attackers dropped to their knees too. A thundering roar erupted in the night sky.

Red scales flashed and suddenly Talon was on the ground, between me and my attackers. He hissed and growled and whipped his tail at them. The powerful appendage sliced through their bodies like they were butter.

My eyes widened and I gasped. Something warm and wet splattered against my face as the dark figures crumbled in deformed heaps, motionless.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the smears of blood and scattered body parts. One swipe of a dragon's tail could do that? I'd seen death before, but nothing so swift. Nothing that completely obliterating.

Talon continued to snarl, smoke rose from his nostrils and the flames in his eyes flared. He crouched down near me, ready to spring if there was another attack.

Prince Cole hopped off Talon's back. His hands, hands of flesh and blood, grabbed my shoulders.

"Don't!" I pulled away from him and put my arms up to shield myself.

"Are you alright?" his firm voice broke through my thoughts.

"I..." I looked back at the bodies and touched my face. Warm, thick, sticky goo stuck to my fingers. I pulled them back and gasped. My fingertips were crimson.

Cole waved his hand in front of my face. "Sabine! Are you injured?"

I blinked and shook my head. "No. I'm not injured." I bowed my head to him.

"I'm impressed. You went from helpless captive to ready warrior in an instant. That spell you used to break free was quick thinking. Perhaps you do have something useful to offer." He smirked at me.

I shook my head. "I'm not a weapon, Your Majesty."

"Hm. You're sure you're not injured?"

"I'm fine, Sire. Thank you."

A ripple went through Talon and he relaxed. He swung his long neck until his large, wedge head was right in front of me. His eyes brightened and he opened his massive jaws. Hot breath struck my face and his forked tongue darted out, flicking my cheek.

I giggled and squirmed away. His tongue was so silky and smooth. "Thank you, Talon." I reached out and put my hand on his scaly nose.

The dragon closed thick lids over his eyes and hummed. My whole arm shook and the vibrations made my bones tremble. I giggled again.

"You're not frightened of him?" The Prince moved to Talon's side and patted the dragon's long neck.

"He just saved me. What's there to be afraid of?"

The prince gave a wry laugh. "You watched him crush five men and ask what's there to be afraid of?" He quirked an eyebrow.

I shrugged.

"Talon can get rather vicious when he's protecting something he considers his own."

"Umm..." I bit my lower lip and moved my fingers against Talon's smooth nose. His scales were like a snake, flat and fitted together into a smooth, silky skin. I didn't know why the dragon was so possessive of me but for the moment, I was grateful.

Even with my magic, I wasn't sure I could defend myself against my attackers with the time limit the collar gave me. Already, it had locked back up and my magic was restricted.

"Wh-why did you rescue me?" I looked at my feet as I asked the question. It wasn't exactly proper for me to question the prince's actions, nor my master's.

"I am responsible for you."

"My former master would have used the time to save himself."

The prince scoffed. "We do things differently in the palace." He took a deep breath and I cast my eyes in his direction.

His gaze was trained on me, eyes deep, face pensive. He stroked Talon's scales almost absently.

"You're more powerful than I anticipated. And you are a capable warrior." A slight frown graced his lips.

"I doubt the War Dragon needs a bodyguard." I gasped and covered my mouth with both hands. "My apologies, Sire." I bowed to him.

"It might be better if we keep this between us, for now." The prince nodded his head toward the palace. He turned and walked away before I could reply and Talon lumbered after him.

I hurried back to my quarters to get cleaned up.