Page 52 of Red and Her Dragons (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 4)

“Watch out!” a human sounded.

A spear pierced my neck. The fire died in my throat. My vision started to fade, and my heart pounded in my chest. My lungs struggled to work.

So, this really was it, I thought. This really was how I was going to die.

A single tear fell down the side of my snout as I let out a final roar. One to say goodbye. My eyes closed, and I waited for death to claim me.

A strange calm blanketed me. My body became heavy as I lay on the ground. Then a strange warmth that reminded me of a summer day surrounded me. The battle fell into a weird, dull roar and continued to decrease in volume until it whispered to me from a distance.

As the sounds of battle continued to fade away into my forgotten memories, I felt as though I was being pulled down, sinking beneath the dirt. And that sensation changed into one that was like floating on a gentle river, being carried off to whatever waited for me next.

There was no more pain. My heart was calm. I could breathe freely. Everything was peaceful. I was content to spend the rest of eternity in this place.

Echoed words I couldn’t understand or even had ever heard before rushed toward me. But I didn’t want to listen and didn’t pay any more attention to the sound. I wanted peace. Sleep. To be carried off to my next destination.

Wherever I was, there was no pain or suffering. No worries or fears. Everything just was. And I found solace in it.

Another noise echoed toward me. My name, but it sounded distorted and strange. The voice was familiar and pulled at me. It belonged to a woman. She sounded upset and worried. Not at all how I would imagine someone calling me to the afterlife. Memories flipped through my mind, trying to fit the voice to a person in my past.

The pull stopped. The peacefulness around me started to fade away. I didn’t want to let it go, but I didn’t have a choice. I was forced in the direction of the sound.

Pain encompassed me. The heat of a nearby fire kissed my skin.

No. Something wasn’t right. What I felt wasn’t right.

“Marcus!” the woman said. “Get up!”

“Emily?” I tried to call out, but my voice had failed me. I only thought her name.

“We have to move, get up now!” Emily said. Her voice was much clearer.

She was close. So very close. All I had to do was reach out and touch her. But I couldn’t get my body to move. It rebelled against me, ignoring every command I gave it.

“Open your eyes,” she said, closer than ever. I could almost feel her breath on my face.

Something struck my cheek. “Get up!”

My eyes peeled open instantly, and I saw the night sky above. Just to my right, Emily sat next to me on her hands and knees. A ring of fire surrounded us.

“Oh, thank God. You have to get up,” she said. “I’m losing control of the ring.”

I fought against my protesting muscles and sat up.

“There you go,” she said, coaxing me. “Keep going.”

“How did you?” I started to ask.

“Now isn’t the time,” she said. “I can’t hold this for much longer. Can you fight?”

“I think so,” I said.

“Can you shift?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Probably not.”

“Well, then grab a gun from the over by the porch and let’s get moving,” she said.

I gaped at her. I couldn’t believe that she was taking charge in the way she was. Then again, she was a natural at almost everything else she had done.

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