CHAPTER 21 Medusa
Zara’s POV.
Landing sloppily out of the portal, my father stumbled. Dropping me hard
onto the ground. It was so sudden, I could not contain the grunt of pain I let out when I made contact with the ground. My body crumpled. Unfortunately fake sleeping wasn't going to work now..
“Lucious! You clumsy fool!” I heard the sound of skin slapping skin. My dad yelped with pain. Opening my eyes I saw Medusa. Her long curly black hair with her black and green snakes woven through it and her curvy olive toned body wrapped in black silk and golden chains.. “I will deal with her. You can go and- Well, well.. Someone’s awake.” I was kicked hard in the stomach by her hard golden boots. My eyes filled with tears and pain radiated through my stomach.
“Bitch.” I choked out the word through streaming eyes. Medusa laughed hard at me.
“Oh stop being so grumpy you little brat.” She forced me to stand and started to drag me through evergreen trees. I realized as I looked around that this was the forest I grew up in. I would know it anywhere..
“What do you want from me? You clearly have your powers back so you don't need me anymore.” I struggle and try to break free from her firm grip on my arm. She laughs again and snaps her fingers. Ropes shoot out and I am bound where I stand. She drags me into the clearing where Flame and I used to play as kids.. It was super close to the barrier of the dragon tribes home.. If I escaped I could make it back..
“Come on girly. Act your part. I need the dragon man here.”
“Fuck you. You will never get me to act anything less than a proud alpha. I am not my pathetic father.” I am laughed at again. It is a bone chilling laugh. I look away from her. Anger evident on my face.
“Yes, it seems you are stronger than him.” Grabbing my face roughly in her hand she makes me look at her. “Don’t make me be mean now.. Come on girl!”
“No! You will not make me bait for them! Fuck off!” I spit in her face. Her snakes hissed angrily. One of them lunged at my face. I yelled in pain as the snake's fangs pierced my skin near my eye. I felt the rush of warm blood down my cheek.
“Get away from me!” I shrieked in her face attempting to struggle free of the ropes holding me. A heavy sigh caught my attention. It was my father.
“Come on Zara.. Just behave please..” I glared daggers at my father.
“No.” My short and cold answer made my father frown.
“Fine. I will make you behave as such.” Fear bubbled inside me. Medusa turned around and snapped her fingers again. Hot and angry flames lit up around me.
“Ah! Fuck!” I hissed in pain as the hot air burned my legs. I suddenly wished I had worn pants to bed and not shorts. I am desperately fighting to keep from screaming in pain as the skin on my legs bubbled and burned. Losing it I screamed out.
“Stop! Please!” Tears start gushing down my face now.
“Are you ready to do this without burning now?” I nodded. Hanging my head in shame at my weakness. Sobbing from the pain of my burns I started to beg.
“Please just let me go.. Please..” Medusa glared at me.
“Louder. I can't hear you!”
“Please! Let me go! I want no part of your filthy plans!”
“Mistress! They are here!” Laughing loudly Medusa looks up and smiles. Waving her hand a green light surrounded the clearing. A roar from above shook the trees. I looked up, craning my neck to try and see. An emerald green dragon hovered above the clearing. Anger flashed in its eyes. I watched as a red dragon joined the green one. Another deafening roar came from its mouth. Then flames shot out of the red one's mouth and bounced off the green shield. The red dragon swerved to avoid its own fire jet.
“Oh! We get both of your boy toys! Perfect!”
“No! Go back! It’s a trap!” Laughing Medusa yelled over me.
“They can't hear you through the shield. Scream all you want dear, it won't help them..”
“I hate you! You are not my father!” I hurl the words at Lucious, tears fill his eyes. He hangs his head in shame.
“Lucious, stop blubbering and take her into the cave. I must undo the shield before they leave!” Nodding my father rushes forward and starts dragging me towards the cave at the edge of the clearing.
“Let me go! Unhand me Lucious!” I writhe and fight against my bonds attempting to break free. Tears of desperation spring to my eyes as I fight. Suddenly my movements are free again. Lucious had cut me free.
“Go! Quick!” I stare blankly at him, confused.
“Wha-” He cuts me off.
“You were right! Just go! I am in too deep now. You can still escape!” Crying I turn and run into the woods. The shield stops my escape but only for a moment. Medusa, thinking I was in the cave, had taken it down. Running, I head for the cliff's edge. To the tribe’s secret entrance. Hoping the dragons above the clearing are Flame and Grisko I pelt in the direction of the portal back to the Tribe. Fear grips me. Every noise or rustle in the dark I expect to be caught again. I push on nonetheless, afraid to be the reason one of the dragons is hurt. Even if it isn’t Flame or Grisko I did not want to be the reason they were harmed. Dragons are exceptional shifters and creatures. Not all dragon tribe members could shift, and not all dragons were shifters. However they were all greatly imbued with magic. I hated myself for being weak, for feeling like a mortal. The stitch in my side was unbearable now. My lungs ached and I could barely keep going. Stumbling forward I tried to continue on. I needed to stop and rest for a minute, But fear gripped me as I looked around. The dark forest is closing in on me. My legs hurt so bad. I was in fact healing but it was slow.. I bend down and gingerly feel my burns. I decide on the spot that shifting will be easier and safer. I can blend in as a semi-normal white wolf if it is dark. Hoping Medusa still had no clue I was gone I shifted. My bones cracking and fur sprouting from my un-burnt skin. I growl in pain and breathe heavily. Attempting to steady myself.