The Dragon Prince - Ladon

Chapter 8

-Ladon-

Pathetic. That’s what these people were. Pathetic little humans who thought they were fighting some noble cause when all they were doing was running around like headless chickens.

They had no idea what they were up against, and Red here was more delusional than the rest. Now it was time to really understand what she knew. I squeezed her leg harder, and she screamed.

“It’s time we had a little chat, Red," I stated.

“I would rather have you slit my throat!” she growled at me, even though she was in unimaginable pain.

She clutched her leg higher up, trying her best to find some relief, but I wasn’t giving it to her. She glared at me the best she could, but she was already starting to sweat.

“Why have you attacked all those people on the roads?” I asked as I grabbed harder around her leg.

She continued to scream, and it echoed in the cave.

“Well?”

“F*ck... OFF!” she yelled through the pain.

I sighed, taking the pressure off, and she just collapsed down on her back, breathing heavily and unable to move, while I studied her. She was a tough one. I had to give her that, but I would break her and figure out why any of this had even happened. Red, Ri, or whatever, would tell me everything she knew.

I stood up and saw her open her eyes. She seemed to have gotten a little strength back, and she pushed up on her elbows.

“You might as well just kill me,” she said, the sweat running down the side of her face. “Because I will tell you nothing.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Really."

I shrugged a little before walking around her. She followed me with her eyes the whole time, until I ended up behind her and grabbed her by the neck, pulling her over the ground.

She tried fighting me all the way to the mouth of the cave, where there was nothing but an endless free fall. I pulled her up and over the edge, and she screamed this time out of fear as she looked at the long fall. I held her only by her neck.

“Don’t squirm so much, Red. I might accidentally lose my grip,” I told her with a cruel smile.

She, of course, wasn’t even listening to me. She just continued to squirm and scream as she dangled over the edge, and just to scare her even more, I let go.

She stretched her arms out, trying to find something to grab onto, and I caught her arm just moments before it was too late. She hit the side of the edge hard but continued to cling to me and dig her nails into my skin.

“Are you insane?” she yelled.

“All you have to do is tell me what is going on, and I will pull you back up.”

“You are crazy!”

“Debatable,” I just said.

She glared up at me before taking a look toward the ground, only to quickly turn back to me and look up at me with such scared eyes. The times we had met, she had never looked like this, but maybe now she realized she was staring death right in the eyes. Unfortunately, it suddenly felt like I was looking at someone else. Someone I once knew.

“Ladon?”

“I’m fine,” I insist as I push her small hands off me.

She doesn’t say anything but just places herself beside me. It is so rare that we get some time where we aren’t tied or being held down. This is one of those rare moments.

“I’m sorry,” Cira cries.

“Don’t be,” I say and turn to her. “It isn’t your fault.”

She sniffles, and I know whatever I say won’t get through to her. She and the others should never have walked into that inn, and... and I should never have followed.

“It’s my fault, Ladon,” she admits.

I shake my head. I don’t want her to think like that. She is only ten. She is still so young, and she had to survive so many things. I don’t want this to be something that haunts her. I want to get her out of here and make sure we are all safe again.

“I should have stopped you sooner.”

“You didn’t know,” she says.

“You are right. None of us did,” I tell her. “Usually thieves lose a hand, not... not this.”

She nods, but I know she still blames herself. There aren’t many left. We were eight who were caught. Now Cira, me, and one other are left. The others... I try not to think about them. It is not how we survive this. We need to think forward. We need to be smart. We need to find a way out.

“I want to go home, Ladon,” she whimpers.

“I know... I do too.”

But when we speak of home, we mean two very different things. I yearn to return to Ashes. I realize I should never have fled. It was never my intention to remain away for long. I just... I hadn’t anticipated being captured. Yet here I am, ensnared, and all I can think is: how will I ever face him again?

I can’t. Not after this.

“Ladon—” Cira looks like she is about to ask me a question, but then the door is opened, and I know they haven’t come for me. It was just my turn, and while they certainly like that they have caught a dragon, his eyes aren’t on me.

Cira looks at me with so much fear as he comes for her. She reaches out to me, and I reach for her. I catch her arm, and she digs her nails into my skin and screams my name.

“Ladon! No!”

I try my best, but I am just so weak. I can barely hold on, and soon she is yanked from my hold, and the door is closed.

“Cira!” I yell, but I know she will come back again... or at least, I thought she would.

“Noooo!” I didn’t even realize I had released my grip until I heard Red scream. I watched her plummet toward the ground, her cries echoing in the air.

“s**t!” I exclaimed.

Without hesitation, I leaped off the edge, turning in mid-air. She continued to scream and thrash. Her attempts to save herself from the situation were futile. I caught her just in time. However, her screams persisted, now accompanied by kicks directed at me. They felt more like tiny taps, but I could sense the force behind them.

I rolled my eyes as I carried us back to the cave, tossing her inside before changing back and stepping in. She was on the ground, scrambling backward in fear. As she rose, desperation etched on her face, she searched for an escape route, but the solid wall offered no respite.

Frustrated, she pounded it with her fists, hoping for a miracle, but none came. When she noticed me closing in, she turned, her back against the wall, before she attempted to dart past me, fleeing for her life.

Just as she made a break for it, I caught her, wrapping my arm around her waist. She kicked and scratched, screaming for her release, but I held her firmly against me. It had been ages since I held anyone like this, stirring unpleasant memories. Yet, I couldn’t let her escape. There was no way out except over the edge, and I wouldn’t catch her again.

“Stop!” I ordered firmly.

“Let me go! You’re insane! Crazy! Let me go!” she pleaded, continuing to struggle. Eventually, I pressed her against the wall, using my body to restrain her, until she finally stilled. Trembling with fear, she breathed heavily, her fear obvious. It struck me then how this situation appeared—me pinning her against the wall while she trembled in terror.

Quickly recoiling, I distanced myself, discomfort gnawing at me. I avoided her gaze, feeling her confusion like a weight.

“What... What are you doing?” she asked, her voice shaky.

What did she expect me to do? I turned away, grappling with my own uncertainty. It felt like I didn’t know my own capabilities anymore, my hands trembling as I glanced down at them.

“Just get it over with!” she suddenly yelled, her voice piercing the air.

Without a word, I retreated further, then turned and fled to the mouth of the cave. Leaping off the edge, I soared into the open sky, leaving her behind with no means of escape. I needed space to clear my head...