Hippocoon land

A loud bag spread out above their heads. Two hooded cloak men lied quietly on ground. Roger walked to the gallery. “Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda, you all are here. It is hard to find you” he called up. He hurriedly made the way step down the stairs. Though his body was big and stout, he moved very fast coming to them and froze as he saw a dead on ground. “Who are they?” he asked softly, looking on Amelinda. “This is Lily and - Aunt Calliope.” Amelinda said hesitantly; “She is Lily’s mother. She saved all of us.” she added sadly.  Between curly hair and bushy beard which almost covered his face were warm eyes. She warmly looked on Lily who was sitting on ground holding her mother’s hand. He decided to keep silent, turned to Heracles, Gwen, Amelinda then turned to the dead Hydra dragon which was not far away from them.  “I dont know how you could kill the dragon but there has one thing we have to do before we leave this place.” said Roger calmly, “Go with me Amelinda. I need your help” he

“But it don’t mean he died.” said Aunt Calliope. “So what happened to him? Why does not he wake up?” squealed Amelinda. “He was cursed.” she said, “This black fire is the thing which burn soul. Anyone catch it, it will burn their soul till they die. Luckily, spirits of the forest had protected his soul forcing him to stop breathing and prevent the black fire to come his heart. I will put out the fire and then he will wake up.” she said. The she raised her stick closer Gwen’s hand. “Ka-Tha-Ri-Mos.” she spelled. The black fire was extinguished at one. The firefly shaped spirits left Gwen’s wrist scattering to midair then vanished. Gwen’s eyelids twitched. He coughed and then breathed again. He opened eyes and looked at to everyone. “He wakes up. He’s alive.” Amelinda yelled. She smiled happily and hugged on Lily who was by her. Gwen on other hand didn’t understand much. He turned to Heracles, asked by weak voice. “What’s going on? Why does she look so happy?” he said innocently. “We thou

“Where is Lord, mom?” squealed Lily. “He is there. You can see him. He is a dragon, a monster.” she added, turned to the Hydra dragon which was tied tightly by thorn convolves.  “Swallow your words Miss Calliope. In any shape he is always our Lord.” snapped Elder D. Lily turned and looked on the Hydra dragon with incredible eyes. “No, it’s not Lord.” she squealed. Her body trembled. “Yes, he is our Lord.” said Elder D. “My dear Lord, do you hear me?” the voice spread out the Hydra dragon’s place. “Come here. I need your power.” the Hydra dragon spoke up. Black smoke from the elder was sucked out, flew toward the two Hydra dragon’s large mouths. Then his soul was also pulled out, twisted, divided into 2 and then sucked into the large mouths. The elder fell down, lied still on ground. His face became old and wrinkled. It looked terrible.  “My Lord, what are you doing? We are our servants.” one of the other elders spoke up. “You all also give me your powers.” said the Hydra dragon coldly.

The dragon roared angrily. “You have to die. You and all guys you brought here have to die.” it cried. Three heads put together. The dragon’s stomach swelled up it took a large amount of air. The surrounding air heats up quickly Amelinda even saw firelight on its stomach. Three heads opened mouths widely. Fire came from throats. The dragon spat fire toward them. Amelinda shut her eyes at one. Right there she felt someone grabbed on her hand, pulled her back then hugged her and turned her halfway. Air hissed loudly, Amelinda could feel fire surrounded her but she wasn’t burnt. She opened her eyes and looked. Aunt Calliope was hugging her. Her back turned to the dragon, shielding her from the fire. She was as like a mother protecting her daughter. However, both of them were fine. An energy shield had appeared and was protecting them. “Aunt Calliope, we are okay.” she said. Aunt Calliope opened her eyes. She released hands from Amalinda’s body. “This is?” she said, looked into a chain whi

“I know, my venerable lord. It’s because of your kindness.” said Aunt Calliope in calm tone but honestly his heart was pounding. Heracles’s and even Gwen’s and Amelinda’s were also like her. The dragon had passed the gold pile and was appeared to the sacrificial altar. “Clang!” Gwen had taken a golden coin and tossed on the opposite side. The golden coin dropped down, it rolled, staggered and then stopped far away from them next to a pillar. “Oh, so you are there.” said the dragon. It turned and moved toward the pillar, swung its long thorny tail. “I know you are still here.” Heracles took the chance. He hurriedly untied her. “Stop Heracles, we can’t all leave here. If you free me, you will lose the chance. The dragon will go berserk and we all will die. You three go and let me here.” said Aunt Calliope. “We can not. We came here to save you. We will never leave, if we can not save you.” said Heracles resolutely. Aunt Calliope’s face’s cramped. She didn’t know how to make him give up a

“Keep silence Amelinda. Someone is coming.” Heracles spoke up, kept his voice in low. Footsteps come more nearly. From a corner two people walked out. They both looked very normal, wore white cloaks made of coarse cloth. The cloaks had hoods but they didn’t wear. Therefore, Heracles could see their face. They both were men, looked young and having a little softness of a girl. Their skin was white. One of them even wore spectacles. They looked weak, so different with men who wore black cloak.  “Did you hear Miss Calliope did free a girl?” said one of them. “Really? I didn’t know it.” said the other. “Yes, she did. I heard she has freed a girl. I heard from others that the girl is her daughter.” said the first man. “Her daughter.” lamented the second, “So, it’s the reason.” “Yes, I think no one can stand to see their daughter died especially Miss Calliope. She is too kind.” said the first. “Poor Calliope.” lamented the second. “So how is about her daughter? Where is she?” “I don’t know.

“Worship me as like your god and bring children every year, I will let you live” – that were words the dragon told as people come. Of course, people had no other choice. They went home and turned back with healthy children to satisfy the dragon. Then the dragon fell in sleep and only woke up one time a year when people brought children to come. A lot of children had died.” her voice became husky, “Many years passed. The dragon became greedy and cruel. It woke more times and wanted more children.” she said angrily. “Nobody dares to stand up to him?” asked Heracles. “Of course, people did but there also had people who received power from the dragon.  They always obey and willingly execute anyone who opposes it. The purge has been going on and lasted for many years. It only stopped till all who were supposed to oppose him were killed. The remaining people were forced to obey.” said Aunt Calliope. “So cruel.” Amelinda lamented. “Yes, it’s but we have no choice. Humans are weakly creatures.