Chosen Read online

  A gravelly voice said, “They’re in here.”

  The agent brought down his dagger, puncturing the intruding arm. The victim screamed. He pulled back, and I felt his angry punch against the side of the carriage, but he did not reach back in.

  “Stay away from the door,” the agent commanded. He positioned himself at a slight angle, facing the door while also trying to stand in between us and anyone who might try to enter. The position was hard to maintain in the crowded carriage.

  “Give us a weapon.” I didn’t second guess my request. “If something happens in here, we are helpless.”

  “No.”

  Another thump hit the carriage, but the sound came from the roof.

  “You are giving us no chance to defend ourselves.”

  The agent’s reply was overshadowed by a loud, earthshaking roar. I covered my ears, cringing as the sound pounded against my eardrum.

  Lorie and Bridget cried out against the assaulting noise, too.

  “What is that?” I shouted to the agent, dropping my hands. He, oddly enough, appeared unaffected by the horrendous sound.

  In fact, call me crazy, but I thought he looked relieved.

  “That,” he exhaled, “is the sound of help.”

  The roar picked up again, but the sound of the noise made me think the source was moving farther away. I stared at the agent, waiting for an explanation, but his focus was on the door. He stared in silence. Upon closer inspection, I noticed his eyes had glazed over. I wasn’t sure, but I thought he was listening more than seeing.

  I held my breath. I didn’t want to interrupt, and it took all of my self-control to wait for an explanation. Gradually, the roaring sounds outside the carriage ceased. The agent’s shoulders relaxed.

  “We’re all clear.”

  I moved forward and brushed past him to exit the carriage. I wanted to see what happened. I was surprised when the agent didn’t try to stop me.

  My feet landed on the forest floor, and my eyes drank in the sight around me. The trees were tall, and the brush was thick and unruly. The road was more than thirty feet wide but beyond that, there was no space or clearing to be seen.

  Continuing my perusal, I swung my eyes to the side and saw two burned, mangled corpses on the ground.

  I heard Lorie and Bridget stumble out after me. The male agent arrived beside me. “Our savior’s handy work.” He gestured to the burned bodies.

  I swallowed thickly and gazed up at the sky. I sighed with relief when I wasn’t greeted by a fire-breathing draekon.

  “Where are the others?” Lorie asked in a whisper. I looked at my sister and saw her ashen face.

  “Probably hunting down the rest of the criminals,” he answered. “They should be back soon.”

  Unwillingly, my gaze returned to the burned bodies. I couldn’t make out any features, but I could tell they weren’t human. Their legs were too long, and their torsos were too bulky. My mind rebelled against the knowledge that goblins were real. I wanted to believe the agent had lied to us, but I couldn’t deny the truth right in front of me.

  The agents were right. Apparently, my education was lacking some key information about the world I lived in.

  “You said they were thieves.” I spun around and met the agent’s eyes.

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “But the one who reached in,” I said, pausing and preparing myself for the implication of my words. “He said, ‘they’re in here.’”

  The agent frowned and straightened his back. “Are you certain?”

  I wanted to roll my eyes. “Yes.” I wouldn’t make that up. How had he not heard the goblin’s unsettling words?

  The agent narrowed his gaze and moved away from us to the surrounding trees. He held up a hand for us to remain quiet while his body tensed.

  With eerie focus and subtle movements, he inched towards the forest. I moved closer to my sister without thought.

  The only sounds I heard were the wind rustling through the trees and Lorie’s nervous breathing. I reached out and grabbed her hand.

  The agent made it to the tree line. He looked off to the left, farther down the forest road when it happened.

  Like a scene from my worst childhood nightmare, a thick-skinned, green creature jumped down from a nearby tree branch. His skin must have blended in with the leaves.

  The creature, goblin, had waited until the agent was far enough away before he made his move. He landed in front of the carriage, an arm’s length from the three of us.

  I backed away and pressed Lorie behind me as she released a terrified scream. I saw the agent react immediately, but the goblin was already too close. He reached out, trying to snatch my arm. I reared back in time to avoid his grip, but his dirty black nails scratched my skin.

  I smothered my cry of pain and crouched, readying myself for the creature’s next attempt. He leered at me, revealing a crooked row of brown teeth. He looked ready to take a bite out of me, but he never got the chance.

  One minute I was imagining my death at the hands of the filthy creature, and the next I was watching as his entire body burst into flames.

  I jumped back. The goblin’s scream filled the air. He took a step toward me, but he was tackled by the agent. I marveled at the draekon’s willingness to touch the burning creature, but I realized he was not affected by the flames. No matter where he touched, the agent’s skin did not burn nor did his uniform.

  The two wrestled on the ground. I was watching them when I felt an odd sensation brush against my hair. Looking up, I gasped as I saw a fully-shifted draekon hovering above, his wings disturbing the air. I’d been too focused on the fight on the ground to hear his arrival.

  I froze, terrified I’d catch his attention. But the draekon’s slitted eyes were focused on the agent and goblin. I marveled at the sheer size of him. The creature was at least thirty feet long and its wingspan stretching to nearly twice that length. Smoke curled out of his nostrils as he continued to watch the fight, and I wondered what he was thinking.

  Almost like he sensed my attention, the draekon’s yellow eyes shifted toward me.

  Gods, no.

  I was caught in the smoldering gaze. I didn’t move a muscle: I refused to even breathe.

  But my eyes were immune to my control.

  Of their own accord, my gaze traveled over the length of the creature’s wings. Hues of blue and green covered the thick scales protecting the delicate extremities. His skin shimmered when muscle moved beneath it, making its surface appear smooth despite the scaled edges covering the majority of the draekon’s body.

  The creature was stunning, but that wasn’t something I wanted to admit.

  He was a draekon—a killer. He wasn’t beautiful. He was horrific.

  Using what was left of my willpower, I tore my gaze away from the draekon.

  Was it just me or had the beast grinned?

  I turned to the agent and burning goblin, only to see the flames had been extinguished. The goblin laid unmoving on the ground.

  The agent spoke draekonian to the flying beast overhead. Then he dipped himself into a grateful and respectful bow.

  A low rumble was returned before the draekon shot upward, straight through the trees and into the sky. I watched his path, momentarily in awe of his speed and grace.

  I lowered my head. The agent gave me a curious look.

  “What?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious.

  The agent glanced up and shook his head ruefully. “Nothing. Come, let’s get back in the carriage and wait for the others.”

  I nodded and held out my hand towards Lorie. She and Bridget cowered by the carriage, but both approached once I looked at them.

  The agent held open the door and offered a hand to help both of them in. When it was my turn, I paused and met his eyes. “I don’t think you ever told me your name,” I said.

  He dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Min of Draek.”

  I bent my knees in a quick curtsy. “Amelissa Allaway.” From far
above, I could have sworn I heard a faint grumble, but I brushed the thought away.

  Min smirked and glanced up at the sky, a twinkle in his eye. “Nice to meet you, Amelissa Allaway.”

  13

  “Oh, my stars. Blondes!” A man with purple hair glided over to where Lorie and I stood. “I cannot believe it. Please, tell me that is your natural hair color.”

  I looked around, hoping he wasn’t speaking to us.

  He was.

  “Um… yes.” My homemade dye had washed out days ago.

  “Gods, save me. What luck!” He picked up a strand of Lorie’s hair and held it up to the light. She stiffened but was too unsettled to pull away from the stranger’s touch. “Do you know how rare blonde hair is in the kingdom? Your ancestors must have migrated within the two centuries. I knew today was going to be a good day.” He talked without needing a response, which was fine with me. I wasn’t sure how to talk to the enthusiastic man, anyway.

  The days after the attack had been tense, each of us determined to not be caught off-guard again. Only one agent had been lost in the goblin attack: the one I’d seen riding the white stallion. He was half-draekon, and he died protecting us from the goblins. We all showed our respect as his comrades buried him in the woods, lifting our own silent prayers to the gods for his deliverance.

  Agent Min informed us the draekon scout would accompany us the rest of the journey, searching the forest for any sign of danger. Despite my hatred of their kind, I was reassured by the scout’s presence. After seeing the beast set fire to the goblin, I knew there was no better way to ensure our safety.

  So we traveled through the Royal Forest without another incident. Aside from stopping to relieve ourselves or switch drivers, the carriages kept moving. We were approaching the sixth day of travel when Agent Min alerted us that we were nearing the capital. Bridget, Lorie, and I scrambled and took turns gazing out of the carriage windows to get our first sight of the sprawling city.

  The outskirts of Draek covered thousands of acres, filling the land with the well-constructed stone buildings, freshly paved roads, and endless farmland across the horizon. My jaw dropped when I saw the quantity of tall corn stalks and wheat fields. The capital’s food supply was not lacking.

  We entered the city during the early hours of dawn. Candlelit lamps lined the streets as we rolled through quiet and empty streets. Dark, grey mountains framed the image, giving the illusion Draek was a comfortable and welcoming place to live.

  The sight contrasted drastically with Caldiri.

  An hour after entering Draek, Lorie, Bridget, and I stood in a fancy entryway to an illustrious, white stone building. The tile beneath us gleamed in the light streaming through the wide windows, and the sleek black and gray furniture screamed of cleanliness and order.

  Our escorting agents had dropped us off, telling us we would undergo a physical to ensure the status of our health. When I inquired about the location of our male neighbors, we were told they’d been taken to a different welcoming center.

  Ten minutes later, the purple-haired human found us.

  “I don’t even know where to begin,” he stated aloud, continuing to survey us with a twinkle in his eye. “Who wants to go first?”

  None of us moved forward. I even took a small step back. I didn’t know what to make of the boisterous man.

  He sighed and dropped his arms to his side in a dramatic motion. “Oh, no. Don’t tell me… you lot are from Caldiri.”

  How he knew, I wasn’t sure. But he said it like it was a bad thing, and I was a little offended.

  Carefully, I replied, “Yes.”

  The man groaned and threw his head back. He stared at the ceiling with a forlorn expression. “Go figure. The one time I get unique canvases to display my art and expertise, and they are from the most backwoods and sheltered region.”

  Backwards? I wasn’t sure what he meant by the word, but it didn’t sound like a compliment.

  I was ready to question his statements, but the stranger continued to speak, cutting me off.

  “But no matter.” His demeanor changed, going back to the enthusiastic and eager man from moments ago. “I will make it work. Come on, ladies. Your makeover awaits.”

  He strolled away with swaying hips. Both Bridget and Lorie looked to me for guidance. I didn’t know when I’d become the unofficial leader of the group, but I guessed it was sometime after the goblin attack.

  “I thought we were to see a healer or physician?” Our escorts had claimed our health would be assessed.

  The man did not look back as he said, “It’s all part of the process.” He turned right and disappeared through a doorway.

  Seeing no other option, I stepped forward and hurried to follow the unusual man. Lorie and Bridget trailed after me.

  We caught up to him just before he walked through another sleek doorframe.

  Walking behind him, I took the opportunity to observe our guide. His purple hair was vibrant, and I was curious about the odd color choice. It was eccentric to say the least.

  My eyes traveled down to his billowing white shirt and tight navy pants. The fabric looked expensive and impractical. What was a slave doing with such clothing?

  We reached the end of a hallway and stepped into a wide lobby. It was smaller than the building’s main entryway, but matched its décor and style of furniture. However, unlike the first space, this area was crowded.

  Glancing over his shoulder, our guide grinned happily. “Trust me. You’re going to love my work. I’m Remi, by the way.”

  I tried to offer him a smile, but I failed miserably.

  Remi wasn’t bothered. He turned away, strutting through the populated lobby.

  We passed many humans and draekon, each of them too preoccupied with their own tasks to notice us. The array of clothing varied, but for the most part, the draekon were more finely dressed. Their fabric had embroidered designs, and their necks were wrapped with expensive jewels and pendants while humans wore only basic clothing. Still, I could tell the items were finer than any I’d ever had in Caldiri.

  I continued to observe those around me, and I wondered at the ease with which I saw the humans interact with the superior race. None of them seemed afraid of the draekon.

  Seems foolish.

  Turning down a corridor, we approached a wall of glass. On the other side, I saw dozens of black chairs lined in a row, facing mirrors. Some were filled by women and men, while others sat empty, waiting for use.

  Our escort entered the room without pause, talking over his shoulder. “We will start with a bath, then move on to hair and makeup. I promise, once I’m done with you lot, the most prominent draekon will be seeking your services.”

  His words brought bile to my throat. The last thing I wanted was to attract any draekon, much less the powerful ones.

  My objections went unstated as Remi ushered us into a steamy chamber.

  The space was wide. A pit of fiery coals sat in the center of the room, and water dripped onto its surface from an intricate system of pipes hanging overhead. The sizzle of the liquid was the only sound I heard through the steam.

  “Where are we?” Bridget asked with wonder. Her head swung from side to side as she took in the luxury around us. Multiple lounge chairs and daybeds filled the area, but none were occupied. We were alone.

  “A spa, of course.” Remi reached a shelf of oils and began selecting various ones. “Hold these.” He shoved the vials into my hands. When I couldn’t take anymore, he moved to Lorie.

  “These are going to make your skin and hair glow like the sun,” he said aloud, nodding to himself.

  Looking to Bridget, he added, “I’ll use different ones for you. But don’t you worry, your red highlights will still stand out to the draekon.”

  I watched her throat bob. His words did not have their desired effect.

  Remi noticed, frowning. “What is with you three? You look like your about to be taken to the slaughter house.”

  Lorie gasped a
t the violent image the statement conjured.

  “No one in Caldiri wishes to be recruited.” I wasn’t sure what circumstance led to Remi’s recruitment, but I knew it had to be different from ours.

  “Truly?” He appeared genuinely confused. “But I hear Caldiri is awful. It’s said the region doesn’t even have running water.”

  The three of us exchanged glances. It was true—sort of. The only place with running water was Lord Stanley’s estate.

  Remi threw his hands in the air, misinterpreting our looks. “See? You don’t even know about modern plumbing. Who wouldn’t want to leave such a backwards place?”

  I blinked, unsure how to respond. Caldiri was poor, but I’d rather live there as a free woman than be forced to serve the draekon.

  “Are you saying you enjoy living in Draek?” Bridget eyed the unique man.

  “Absolutely,” his tone was emphatic. “Draek is one hundred times better than Sipal. If I wasn’t called during the Census, I would have been forced to live my life as a miner.” He shuddered like just the thought of such a life disgusted him.

  I tried to think of what I knew about Sipal. It was a region in the west, bordering the Great Sea and Western Sea. The area was named after sipal stones—rare gems mined from their mountains. It was about as far away from Caldiri as any place on the continent, and it neighbored the capital. It was also one of the wealthiest regions, second only to Draek.

  “You wanted to be chosen?” The idea was so foreign; I couldn’t resist seeking clarification. If he lived in a prosperous region, what was the point in serving draekon?

  He rolled his eyes with mock exasperation. “We all have to work to survive. Why not work in the most glorious city in Draekon? But enough about me,” he continued on before I could ask why he hadn’t opted to be a companion instead. “Let’s get you girls cleaned up.” He coached us to place the vials into a basket then gestured for us to follow him.

  Remi ushered us to the edge of the room where a screen concealed a small alcove. He instructed us to disrobe and wrap ourselves in the towels located on the other side. When none of us willingly stepped inside, he physically pushed us until we were behind the screen.