Page 49 of Henrikk’s Secret

Asher gave a rueful smile and lifted his shirt, revealing a bundle of cloth strapped against his chest with a belt. He removed the bundle and began to unwrap it, exposing the sword’s jewelled pommel. “I never expected to find land,” he admitted. “But I knew the dragon would come for me. And it was the only way I could think of to get close.”

Henrikk stared incredulously at the general. “Are you suggesting that we…?” He mouthed the words ‘kill the dragon’.

Asher smiled grimly. “No. I’m not suggesting. I’m informing you that we’re going to.”

Henrikk could only watch as Asher rose, planting his feet wide apart as he raised the dirk high. The blade glinted in the grey light, its surface a melody of patterns, its curved tip aimed down at the dragon’s scaly armour.

“If I’d known about Dargotika,” Asher mouthed, “I would have done this a long time ago.”

Comprehension dawned on Henrikk. Asher wasn’t doing this to save himself.

He’s trying to save me.

Henrikk had given Asher the sword so he could defend himself. But Asher wanted to kill.

As if reading his thoughts, Asher said, “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Henrikk. Kill for you. Die for you.” His eyes blazed with fire, the intensity gripping Henrikk’s soul and stirring it to life. “Did you ever doubt me?”

Henrikk swallowed. He had doubted Asher. Especially since their arrival on the island. The vampire had every reason to abandon him and never look back, and when Henrikk had seen him row away on his raft, the sight of it had hurt, but it had only confirmed that he’d lost Asher forever.

But now…

Seeing the general poised to slaughter the dark creature that had haunted his dreams, turning Henrikk into a monster in its likeness…

It gave him hope, and the hope of a happiness he’d never expected to have. One that was worth far more than castles and thrones. A million possibilities of a bright future appeared before him, as vast as the ocean, and all of them contained Asher.

Crouching, Henrikk gripped the edge of a large scale and lifted it to expose the unprotected flesh underneath.

“Ready?” breathed Asher, steadying himself as the motion of the dragon nearly made him lose balance.

The island was looming larger.

Henrikk wondered if he would feel the dragon’s pain as she died. Would the copy?

And would the his copy’s magic desert him? Or would he be forced to carry on? If the dragon’s cursed magic live on inside him, it would drag him deeper and deeper into the depths of evil.

Or…

Maybe he truly is the ‘real’ Henrikk, and I’ll disappear into specks of dust. This might be the last time I ever see Asher.

Grim uncertainties, growing steadily wilder and terrifying.

Henrikk looked to Asher, soaking in the glorious sight of him wielding the sword. The man had balls.

Henrikk gave a brisk, resolute nod. “Do it.”

Asher raised the sword higher, preparing to strike. “You know what took me by surprise the most?” He scoffed softly. “The fact that you would endeavour to save me.”

Asher plunged the sword down, the blade sinking deep into the dragon’s flesh, crunching through bone into her brain.

The dragon shrieked, rearing her head so suddenly that they were both sent flying into the water. Clawed limbs, sharp spines, and a lashing tail thrashed around them, creating a whirlpool of water that caught Henrikk and Asher and dragged them close.

All the while, the dragon’s enraged screams filled their ears and mind.

The thrashing stopped without warning as the dragon became lifeless. Henrikk reached for her mind and felt nothing.

A moment dragged in time, and then the ocean claimed her body, the dragon’s weight dragging her under. As she sank beneath the surface, the forceful pull of the water dragged them beneath the surface as well.

As Henrikk and Asher sank deeper, battling the current, they somehow found each other and held one another with their final breath.