Chapter 29 – Dragon scum

Unable to get myself to let Minerva go through the letter I had found… I instead anxiously approach the very owner of the letter.

+

To, Tarragon/ Ivor/ Minerva

From, Parzival

18/ 05/ 1960 – Possibly my last sane day

Doubts might've led you to find this. And your doubts are right. I feel something wrong with me. Even now, I'm not able to write the truth about that night to you. I'm sure something else will easily take over, once I do. But know that… I may have told you that everything is fine, but nothing really is.

Remember the words of Alta? About them finding… something. About someone having this something. These things are accurate. And that thing… is in me now. It… controls me, for the most of it. Poisons my mind. You know I can't hold out Minerva. And I feel it. I feel myself losing control. Please find Tarragon.

Tarragon, if it is you… you know better, of what to do. You know what happened with The Makeshift Project. I know you were there… so you better end it properly this time.

If it is Ivor, then I truly am sorry. You shouldn't have to go through this shit, because of me. I'm not sure if I can tell you what to do. But all I can say is, the only person you can ever trust is Tarragon.

Tell Aster I'm sorry.

The dragons are at risk, as we speak. They… own many dead bodies, of many dragons. It looks bad. Remember that we can be framed, we are the parents of the dragons. They can manipulate the military. It was always their plan.

Do NOT trust me. Tarragon is our last hope, always has been. Minerva… you were right about him.

+

"I found your letter," I say to Parzival.

"What letter?"

"The letter about your sanity," I say.

"About my sanity…? Oh… that… better shown than said, my friend," Parzival smiles.

"I'll take that as a no," I say, and poke him with a tranquilizer in a split second.

But Parzival just looks at me, unfazed. But that was… enough, even for a dragon. What kind of a thing was actually onto him?

"I guess he did not stress enough," Parzival moves his hand, and I blank out.

I sleep, yet I stay awake. I could hear voices, yet not make sense of them. Until, finally a wave of water brings me back.

"You idiots, whoever you are," I mumble out with the first burst of my energy.

My eyes find me in a dark place, I could barely make out the distance the wall was from here. It sure was some kind of a lab. With stink of corpses, and other chemicals – few of which I could easily name.

"Always hated me, I could bet that you and me are connected somehow… friend," Alta appears ahead of me, making me disgust with the second burst of energy.

"I wanted to say the same thing, you know," Esterine says, she was right besides the chair I was tied to.

"Twins after all."

"Right, you found that out. You sneaky and lucky little rat."

"It's brat," Esterine says.

"No, I meant-literally meant rat."

"Such awkward fools," I sigh.

"Says the guy who got caught."

"You cheated."

"Right, we'll inform you next time and then pull the trigger. Oh, never mind, you'd already be dead by next time," Alta laughs, making me scoff. "Look at you whining and going on 'you cheated'. Who is going to help you with that?"

"Not your little boyfriend. Cause he brought you, when we asked for a lab rat."

"To test if the people will die of the tests? So that's your plan for him."

"What test?"

"Oops, spoiler alert," Esterine laughs.

"Just a little sneak-peek for his surprise, should be fine."

"Anything is fine as long as I get super powers in the end."

"Let's take him to the lab," Esterine says.

"You sure it works?"

"Did it on dead bodies and got honest results, so now for the live specimen."

"That does not motivate me," I shake my head, using my third burst of strength.

"Always a talker," I hear Parz, and he pushes the chair I'm on… and takes me to another section of this lab, making the smell clearer to me.

"Must I really be awake though? Can't we work with it when I'm asleep?"

"Of course," Esterine says. "The screaming and how torturous it feels, we need to know of that, so that's a no."

Esterine pokes me with a syringe she brings from a nearby table.

"Ouch? And I dearly hope you used a disposable one, and not reuse it."

Esterine puts the needle back to my (left) shoulder and draws blood, making me sizzle a little, with pain.

"That stung for no reason."

"I wished to see more pain," Esterine says and goes to fetch a vial filled with some amount of liquid, where she unloads my drawn blood. The colourless liquid turns blue, once my red blood mixes with it. "Impossible," Esterine gasps.

"I'm not surprised. Had to be either him or the dead wife," Alta says, calmly.

"Enough to frame him," Esterine grins.

"What's blue mean?" I ask.

"It means good night to you, dragon scum," Alta says and stabs a syringe to my neck.

I spend a few days in some kind of a cell, a one-man cell. I barely get either of them as visitors. But finally Alta and Esterine visit, with a guest… another General, Yjale Shred. Probably the man was not part of this, and just here to… fire me.

"Ivor… I didn't want to see you this way," Yjale says with pity.

"Still a dragon, sir. We can't risk it," Alta says.

I calmly just sit there, staring at them. I couldn't possibly say anything to make this better. Because it still was the truth… and this was their reaction to it.

"What did he tell you?" I ask, keeping my calm.

"The truth," Alta says.

"Oh… our positions being twisted here, got me confused."

"He can do things to your mind, sir. Made me attack the dragons and declare war," Esterine says.

"Only the angry can be controlled that way, Esterine," Yjale says, breathing-in.

"The dragons have this hierarchy for powers, sir," Parz enters the room… guy sure made entrances. "All of them are this way."

"Then it is time to bring forth control. Dragons are enemies to us," Yjale says, and I helplessly shake my head.

I only hope that the kid, Vyanah, got my message – and informed Tarragon.

As they leave my side, I wish upon the Crystal-cave to summon me. Could it hear me? Could it possibly take this coward back, and bring a miracle?

***

The doorbell sound travels through the empty house, finally shaking me up for real. With both of their absences… now my anxiety was doubled.

Sloppily I move, and get to the door. What could I even do, if it were a threat? I had no one to protect me anymore. What was even the purpose of being protected, when I'm unaware of either of them being safe?

Parz stands outside the door, and I just give him his own blank stare.

"Minerva… you seem tired."

"Even Ivor isn't home… your doing?"

"I… Ivor has work to do."

"Parz… I don't care about being protected, do you understand?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look. It is fine that you are busy. But can't I even get a word? I know Saturn is important. But you straining so much, Parz… is bad. You know that."

"You know I'm the only one who can."

"There are hundreds of dragons. Yes, you're clearly stronger, even for your age. Look, you don't even need to dye your freaking hairs. But can't I… for heaven's sake, know that you are alright?"

"I'm totally fine, Minerva."

I scoff. "You sir, would have no regard for your health if none are behind you. And Ivor is one of them. You better keep him close, even when he is the second person who makes me filled with jealousy."

"I-I…" Parz shakes, and hugs me quickly. "Th-thank you. For always caring."

"H-hey," I say, rubbing his back. "What's with the stuttering?"

Parz let's go, instantly. "I think I got overwhelmed, hearing that."

"Flattered already? You should hear him go, when you aren't around. Anyways, don't just stand there, come in. Yeah, I know, I kept you there. You needed to hear it first-hand, and soon. God knows if you leave in five seconds."

***

I follow Minerva, into the house

What was that feeling? How did I just… feel weaker, with her? Did Ivor give her the letter, was she doing this on purpose? I shouldn't give-in to this.

We sit at the couch, with Minerva facing directly to me.

"Been more than a year talking to you properly," Minerva places her hand on my leg. "What all stories do you have to tell, Mr. Parzival Blesthe?"

"Nothing special really."

"Nothing special… Ivor just disappeared without my notice, where is he?"

"He is… a dragon," I say, after finally figuring out my route. Was I still thinking straight?

"Wait… how and what?"

"We found a way to find who is a dragon, and who isn't. To send dragons… to their island. Place where they'll be safe."

"How did you people just attain that knowledge out of nowhere?"

"Esterine helped us: she is working for us… under supervision of course. We finally found some use for her… something she likes to do."

"Oh… and what happened about Alta?"

"He… I'm not supposed to… know about it anymore," I smack my lips.

"Weird ways as always… military. Then what is it you are currently doing?"

"Now… I want to take you to Ivor. Show our lab and stuff. Maybe we could check if you are related to a dragon. Wouldn't you want to know? Wouldn't you love that?"

"But I already am related to a dragon," Minerva laughs. "And yes, I'd love that but…"

I place my hand on her leg, and ask, "what is the matter?"

"I haven't had my coffee yet, you see… sugarless of course."

Yes. I knew it was sugarless. But that it wasn't.

"Of course… take your time," I smile.

Minerva pecks on my cheek, and makes way to the kitchen… and then to her room.

It was a bummer that I couldn't let her keep having coffee this way… or I'd be found out by Saturn. And they wouldn't understand… that I'm their greatest asset. So to assure them my loyalty and distract them… this one has to go.