Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF THE SEAL
“No.”
Ethan held the newborn tighter.
Richard stepped toward him.
“Son—”
“No.”
“If that seal fails, every creature beneath this glacier gets out.”
“Then find another way.”
“There isn’t time.”
The Alpha Dragon turned its head toward them.
Ethan wondered if it understood.
The newborn chirped.
The sound was tiny.
Almost like a bird.
Ethan looked at the enormous creature that had spent centuries guarding its offspring.
“I’m not killing its baby.”
Richard’s voice broke.
“You think I want to?”
“You said this bloodline has been doing this for generations.”
“Yes.”
“Then every generation sacrifices one?”
Richard said nothing.
That silence made Ethan furious.
“This isn’t protection. It’s a curse.”
A violent impact shook the cavern.
One of the eggs rolled.
The Alpha caught it with its tail.
Maya looked toward the cracking floor.
“We have maybe minutes.”
Voss emerged from the lower tunnel.
Blood covered one side of her face.
Only Commander Shaw remained with her.
She had heard everything.
“A sacrifice?”
Ethan pointed his gun at her.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Voss smiled.
“You misunderstand me.”
She drew her pistol and shot Shaw in the leg.
He collapsed.
Everyone froze.
Voss kicked his weapon away.
“I’m done losing people because of bad information.”
Shaw cursed.
“You crazy—”
She shot beside his head.
“Quiet.”
Ethan stared at her.
“That doesn’t make us friends.”
“No.”
Voss looked at Richard.
“But I believe him now.”
Another section of floor broke apart.
A long black limb pushed through.
The Alpha attacked it.
The cavern shook beneath their feet.
Voss shouted over the noise.
“You said the pillar needs a life. Does it have to be a dragon?”
Richard froze.
Ethan saw hope appear in his eyes.
“What?”
Richard rushed to the pillar.
“The system recognizes bioelectric energy. Dragon life was used because they could survive direct contact long enough to transfer it.”
Maya understood first.
“A human could do it.”
Richard nodded slowly.
“But the energy would kill them.”
Silence.
Voss looked at the broken pillar.
Then at Richard.
“Can one person close it?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Maybe another thousand years.”
Ethan shook his head.
“We find another solution.”
Richard placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“You just did.”
Ethan immediately knew.
“No.”
“I should have died seventeen years ago.”
“Dad.”
“I stayed because I thought I could fix this.”
“You did.”
“No. I delayed it.”
Richard smiled sadly.
“You came here and finished my job.”
Ethan grabbed his arm.
“You don’t get to disappear twice.”
Richard’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.”
The words destroyed Ethan more than any argument could have.
Behind them, the Alpha roared.
The queen struck the ice again.
Richard pushed Ethan away.
Then ran toward the pillar.
“DAD!”
May you like
Before Ethan could reach him, Commander Shaw raised his pistol.
And shot Richard in the back.
