The Dragon Realms Saga

Cade perched on a cliff shelf watching over the city of Draconicus with keen silver eyes. Questions wormed through his mind, boring into his soul and tightly wrapping around it. Will Elucard make an appearance tonight? Could he stop him? Would he…would he…

"Would you kill him?"

Cade snapped back to reality and looked over his shoulder where Timber rested.

"Huh"?

Timber grunted as she got on her feet and walked to his side. "Would you kill Elucard if you needed to save Rellethek?"

Cade lowered his head in solemn thought. Even she had the same questions.

"I-I don't know," Cade finally said.

"I don't know if I could either," said Timber with a light sight. "I've known him for so long and even if some of my memories with Elucard were miserable…"

Cade nodded. "You don't want to harm him,"

"Yeah," chuckled Timber.

Kyzo's shouts echoed throughout the cavern. "Rabbits! Black Rabbits!"

Cade and Timber rabidly searched through the crowded streets of merchants, nobles, and peasants.

"There!" Timber pointed.

Cade followed her finger to three figures garbed in black with flowing violet cloaks. They blurred with speed past the citizens. On their heels followed Kyzo, Legion, and Lear.

Cade peered further up ahead, slipping past the crowded street with ease.

"We'll handle the scraps, you go after Elucard!" said the kanis. She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Be careful."

Cade gave her a short nod and with a running start, leaped forward and down to the city below.

Cade landed with the grace of a cat before Elucard, but the elf sprung over him with an agile flip.

"Damn it," he cursed under his breath.

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Cade sprinted after him shoving people down and hurdling crates and barrels of spilled fruit that Elucard threw in his path.

He was fast. Cade will give him that much, but he intended to stick to him like Elucard's shadow.

He turned on his heel as he pursued Elucard down an alley. With one step, he vaulted over a tall stone wall that blocked their way. Cade gave a low growl as scaled up and over the obstacle.

He needed to speed up his pace if he wanted to catch up. The gap between them widened with each step. Cade dug in deep, reaching for his latent endurance he kept reserved and powered through the pain of his burning muscles. He cried out and burst forward. He was close and Elucard knew it.

The humming of an opening portal teared in front of Elucard.

Cade let out an exhausted gasp. "No!"

He launched himself at Elucard, tackling him through the portal, and crashing at an instant within the Scale Lord's throne room.

Rellethek jumped from his seat and spanned his wings in fury. "What is the meaning of this!?"

Cade wrestled and clawed at Elucard's back. He wrapped his forearm around his neck and his other arm pressed against his head.

"Why are you here?" the draconian roared.

Cade tightened his chokehold and Elucard squirmed underneath him. "I'm here to stop your assassination!"

Desperate gags and raving yelling faded into the backward as Cade dwelled back into his mind; lost in thought.

Lost.

Lost.

Lost.

Would he slay Elucard to save another king from Elucard's blood-stained hands? Did heaven have what it took to…kill his..partner? The only thing he loved in his fractured life was this elf. No…he couldn't. He could not end Elucard's life, for it would end his own. After all, how could he continue to live with his death bearing down on his soul. He killed many in the past, but this one…this…Elucard.

He knew the answer to the question that plagued him.

"Kill him!" Rellethek bellowed. "Slaughter this criminal and I shall consider Long Whisper an ally once again."

Cade raised his eyes to the dragon and loosened his grip. I'm sorry.

Elucard thrashed free and dove at his target. With a clean slide of his ninjato he thrusted his blade through Rellethek's chest.

The Scale Lord fell to his knees with a heavy thud. He widened his eyes just as they fogged over milky white.

Twenty guards, armored to the teeth, crashed through the throne room doors. Their march boomed like thunder.

"A-Arrest…them," Rellethek wheezed out. Crimson blood oozed down his jaw and dripped into puddles on the floor. He repeated his command reeling in agony. "Arrest…them!"

Rough hands viscously yanked Cade and Elucard to their feet. Heavy iron chains bound their wrists and dampening collars clasped their necks. I'm sorry…Elucard.