Tesser: A Dragon Among Us (A Reemergence Novel) (50 page)

"Noo…" Tesser said, dropping to his knees sobbing, shaking his head like a destroyed child. He put his hands on Kaula's face gently, pleading. "No, you can't. You mustn't. We've had forever together, the seven of us. You mustn't give up. It's too soon. We'll find a way."

Fyelrath stood shaking her head, her arms crossed over her breasts, salty tears running from red, sad eyes.

Zeud backed away, incredible pain on her face. She shook her head and mumbled unintelligible words of sadness. She backed into a bank of computing equipment and began to cry as more snow fell softly on them all. Above the winds churned powerfully, stirred by Kiarohn's grief.

A single wet tear fell to the floor from Garamos' eye above. It splashed as if a bowl of water had been tipped over. His lips curled in anger. "Ambryn, if you do her bidding, so help me, I will destroy you."

The much smaller dragon was crying as well. To watch death itself cry was more emotional than anyone gathered present could handle without joining in. "I suffer this duty for my sister, Garamos. I've wept since she beckoned for me and I realized what she needed. I've wept for this whole battle, fighting my own daemons. Hate me not, brothers and sisters. I do this for her, for us, and for the balance."

Garamos roared into the night sky above. He punched the earth above repeatedly, trying to vent his anger. All he managed to do was shake free several tumbling chunks of stone and iron. He was shattered with grief.

"Matty," Kaula said softly.

"Yes, Kaula?"

"You will be the first mother of a dragon. I cannot imagine the hardships you will endure. But your blood is strong, more than just human, as is your will. And my brother, as foolish and impulsive as he can be, he loves you, and will be by your side through it all. As will my whole family.
Your
whole family. You daughter will never want for protection and love."

Matty started to cry. She nodded rapidly as Tesser put his arm around her.

"I love you all. I always have, and forever shall I. Now Ambryn, as I wish, set my soul free so it may be born again."

The black dragon gritted his teeth and fought his instincts to do exactly NOT that. After a painful moment, in the end, his sister's wishes won, and he approached her throat, sobbing, wracked with spasms of grief. He stood at her side, black as the deepest pit of sadness, and raised a single obsidian claw. It hesitated high in the air, shaking, unable to do what Kaula wanted.

"Give my magic back to them, Ambryn. Give me peace. Set me free," Kaula said before shutting her eyes for the last time.

The dragons watched as Ambryn nodded, crying uncontrollably. He struck down at her throat, and for the first time in all of ever, a dragon died.

And then the dragons wept.

Epilogue

I am a nervous person right now.

I am Tesser, and I am a nervous dragon.

And yet here I sit, rich, powerful, loved, and successful, and I am far more nervous than I have ever been.

Very nervous.

It is late June. It has been almost nine months since the events below Fitzgerald Industries. Since the death of my sister, Kaula, the dragon of magic. I still cry for her now and then, more often than I should, but I suppose I always will. You can't live with someone in your life that long and expect her absence to not affect you from time to time. Yet in her death, so much good was to be found.

She was buried in what is now Germany, near the circle of stones that predate dragonkind and all other life on Earth. Garamos carried her across the ocean with the rest of us in tow, and by hand, we dug her grave in the dark forest. She lies there now, under the guard of many proud sorcerers, trolls, werewolves and move.
 

She rests in peace.

With his own blood, on the wall of the room Matty was imprisoned in, Alec Fitzgerald wrote a new Will and Testament. It was simple, and in the wake of the revelations at his company, the courts said it was to be allowed to stand firm. He handed over control of his medical business empire and all of his assets to me. I am now wealthy, though I don't need the money.

I gave Alan, the man at the Starbucks who gave me a small coffee and lessons on English, a million dollars. Hell of a tip for a cup of coffee.

I have since dissolved much of the company after the investigation learned that much of the scientific advancements made were only because Kaula was abused so. It didn't help the company's chances when the taint of daemonic influence was found in their products and facilities time and time again. I made sure that each employee who lost their job was compensated handsomely, and I took the time to track down the families of all the employees who were slaughtered by Legion. They too will want for nothing for the rest of their lives. I hope they use their economic freedom to better the world. Fitzgerald Industries is now a hollow shell of what it used to be; yet it is still a company to be reckoned with. Time will tell if they thrive, or fade away.

Alexis is now in charge. I have faith they will do the right thing from now on.
 

After being dressed down for allowing so much destruction, Henry Spooner was lauded with commendations. The night of our great confrontation, he was able to direct the appropriate official assets in the short amount of time to the site of greatest need and engaged a daemonic enemy fearlessly. Without his work that evening, undoubtedly hundreds if not hundreds of millions of lives would have been lost, and the country and world saw to it he was recognized.

He now serves as a senior agent at a newly formed multi-government agency headed by Director Fisher. In the wake of the assault on their reality by Legion, most of the governments of the world agreed that national boundaries would only serve as hindering barriers in the protection of Earth from outside, or paranormal, threats. I laugh at the idea of the word and concept 'paranormal.' They still think what they have known all along is 'normal.' Eventually, they'll realize all the things that have been weakened or in hiding have been here longer than they have. They are just as normal.

Silly humans.

This agency Spoon works at bears the moniker of The International Agency for Paranormal Response. They often refer to themselves as TIAP-R, or simply, 'The Agency.' The CIA doesn't like that at all, understandably so. The media likes to call them Tapper. Agents are often referred to as 'Tappers.' I like that. That's what I call them. Tapper has set up several locations across the world. Their headquarters in the United States is in Manchester, New Hampshire. The location had something to do with the airport being convenient and not what lies beneath the city. Such is the way of the government.

This past Spring Mr. Doyle was able to set up the initial phases of a teaching college for Tapper. The Agency wanted him to relocate nearer to Manchester, but he was unwilling to move. He's set up his home in Boston, and after a little flexing, he persuaded them to relocate their college to Weymouth, near Wampatuck State Park. It's pretty there, and when they're done building the school, it will be beautiful as well. Mr. Doyle is seeing to it that the school is built with magical sensibility, rather than modern styling and economic design. Things are different now and he knows it.

Abraham has learned a lot from his mentor. So much so that he has entered into the FBI's academy so he can join Tapper. So far, Abe has performed admirably, though it is very difficult for him. He is a shoe-in for admittance once he graduates from Quantico. He and Alexis are engaged. I should've mentioned that already. I am apparently forgetful when I am nervous.

Spoon continues to serve as my liaison to Tapper, and though they haven't called on me for assistance yet, they maintain a steady flow of information to me. I am able to advise them as needed, and one day, I am sure, they will get in over their heads and call in a panic.

Until that day…

The rest of the world aches in growing pains. Kaula's death released an invisible rippling explosion of magic across the world. Pure, primal energy flowed out from her and helped to reconstitute what the world had lost in her absence. Things are still not where they need to be, but the practitioners of magic across the world have rejoiced with their invigorated powers. All the creatures born of magic are back, for better or for worse. Mankind has created an uneasy truce with these creatures of magic, and I hope sincerely that the truce holds. Man has lived in fear of nuclear winter for many years, but what could happen in a war between humans and a race made of the ephemeral magic that binds all of reality together…

Well, that would be bad.

I am sitting in a hospital in Boston. The same one that Spoon and Abe were brought to the night Legion made his assault on me. The night I revealed myself to the world.

I am in a waiting room. There are dozens of Tapper security men all about. They are as nervous as I am, but they hide it. Today is a day for excitement, not fear. Matty's parents are here, from Norway. They still fear me, I can smell it on them, though they also love me. I have taken care of their flesh and blood and very soon will give them a granddaughter. They hold each other's hands excitedly. I am growing to love them too. Near me is my sister Fyelrath. She sits in human form, waiting as nervously as I am. Across the room is Ambryn, the slayer of Kaula, dragon of death. He has been racked with guilt ever since, despite having received our forgiveness. He has his fingers interlaced in his lap, and he too is nervous. So many dragons, all so nervous. Outside, in the street below is Garamos. He is managing the crowds that have come here today, all here for the same reason I am here today. Above us all, flies Kiarohn, stirring the winds as always.

Zeud is in the delivery room with Alexis and Matty. That’s why we're all here; Matty is giving birth. She is in labor and any moment now our daughter will come into the world: the seventh dragon of Earth, the second dragon of magic, and the first dragon born and not made.

Her birth will usher in a new age of wonder and magic, bringing back all that was lost.
 

And that's why I'm nervous. I am about to be the first father to a dragon.

The double door leading to the birthing room opened. A young nurse, clearly more nervous than everyone else in the room walked out and saw Tesser. She approached him. "Mr. Tesser?"

"It's just Tesser."
 

"Everything went well. They'd like you to come back now." The nurse motioned for Tesser to follow her.

"May I bring my brother and sister? Matty's mother and father?" Tesser looked at Ambryn and Fyelrath, both of whom had slid forward in their seats, excited.

"I don't know how I would stop you," she said laughing.

Tesser grinned, and the three dragons and Matty's parents followed the young nurse. It took less than a minute to reach the birthing room. It was colorful and clean, with plenty of comfortable furniture, and a spare bed off to the side. They'd intended to come here a day early and stay the night but their daughter had a different idea. She was several days early. Magic worked on its own schedule. It arrived precisely when it meant to.

Zeud stood on the opposite side of the bed, all smiles. Her bright red hair made for an interesting bookend with Alexis, who stood on the other side of the bed. Both women turned and looked at Tesser as the dragons entered. Alexis went to Tesser and wrapped her arms around him proudly.

"She's beautiful, Tesser. So beautiful," Alexis said. She had eyes filled with tears of happiness. Tesser did too. Lindsay, Matilde's mother, went straight to her daughter and embraced her happily.

"Kaula was right Tesser. This child is special. Dragon-born, look at her," Zeud said in awe, looking down at the baby.

Daniel, Matty's father, stood proud. "It would take a woman with troll's blood in her veins to bear the first dragon, wouldn't it?"

"Troll's blood? What?" Tesser asked him, laughing.

"You didn't know? I thought it was the ramblings of my insane grandfather for years, but now, I know he was telling the truth. He once said that our family had been part troll. They're strong you see. And Matilde has that strength in her." Daniel was beaming.

Of course. The smell of running water and cold nights. That scent I was attracted to. She's more than just human.
Tesser's realization made him love her even more.

Tesser approached the bed and finally laid eyes on the mother of his child. Lindsay and her husband backed away slowly so Tesser could get close. Matty looked spent, but in a far different way than when she'd been poisoned at Fitzgerald Industries. She was exhausted from the exertion required to bring life into the world, and through her fading pain, she glowed. Her sweat and her smile made her more beautiful than ever.

She held their baby.