One of the dragon's paws comes down to crush me like the hand of the gods. Maybe I deserve this. For putting Ghelly in danger, for sacrificing his life. For being willing to sacrifice the life of everyone I know to get the job done. Has it been worth it?

Suddenly, I'm flipping through the air, wind rushing against the tattered remnants of my clothes. My bones slam into each other when I land, jarring every inch of my already sore body. My hands grip something furry and...wet?

"Gods Namonai! Could you be any heavier?"

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you, Donyoku!" I shout, clinging to him tight. I guess he saw me about to be crushed and rushed over, flipping me up into the air with his head. The dragon must have missed, and then I just landed on Donyoku's back, riding him like a horse. A very twisted looking horse. He skids and turns, racing away from the dragon as fast as he can.

"What am I, chopped liver?" I turn and see Ghelly riding Donyoku backwards, bow in his hand. His hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail, his one good eye squinting in concentration.

Donyoku leaps and I grab Ghelly around the waist to keep him from flying off. We land hard again and I jolt back, but the boy remains steady—looks like he's done this a few times. He lets an arrow loose and it strikes a crevice between the dragon's scales. The giant lizard roars, wings flapping to give it momentum.

"I think you pissed it off," I shout over the whipping wind. I tangle my fingers tighter in Donyoku's mane and grip Ghelly's waist harder. I am not letting you go, kid.

"Maybe if you'd ease up on your grip I could aim better," Ghelly hisses.

"I almost lost you once! Not happening." He looks at me for a moment and smiles. I knew he'd enjoy himself here. Still, I should never have brought him. Maybe Baer was onto something when he tied him up. He certainly can't get himself into trouble that way.

"Why do you care?" he asks, turning back to the approaching dragon. We twist around a thick tree and make a sharp turn.

"I dunno. Maybe it's your infectious humor and quick wit," I reply sarcastically. I lean closer to one of Donyoku's ears. "So, I don't mean to rush you, but how long is it going to take to get back to Malor?" Donyoku leaps over a stream and avoids several snapping plants. I stab one with my spear and spit out the burning chlorophyll that sprays over us.

"I can't."

"What?!"

"Something," Donyoku skids again and the dragon slams into a mountain behind us, scampering and scrabbling against the ground to pick up the pace again. "Is keeping me here."

"Perfect! Just," I savagely kick a small blue spirit that tries to jump onto us, "perfect!" What do we do now? Oh gods, oh gods! We're going to die here! Shit! No, wait. Deep breath, Namonai. Figure this shit out. Figure it out. Come on. I lean closer to Donyoku while Ghelly shoots another arrow. "Can you still teleport?"

"Short distances," the winded Baku gasps out.

"Could you, say, teleport us into a cage?" I ask. Donyoku spares a glance back at me, his eyes wide and panicked.

"What are you getting at, Namonai?" I crack my knuckles and neck.

"Just get back to the clearing with the hole in the ground where we were earlier. Got it?"

"Namonai, what—"

"Meet you there!" I jump off of Donyoku, yanking Ghelly with me. We hit the ground and I keep him close, rolling. I stand up and sling him over my shoulder, digging my heels in. Time to push it.

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"What the hell are you doing?" Ghelly shouts from my back, squirming in my grip.

"Saving our asses!" I shout. "Stop squirming!" Donyoku races beside us. I pump my free arm, chest burning, legs trembling just to match his pace. It's been awhile since I had to run this fast. Damn, I'm out of shape.

"How is this possible?" The kid's stopped squirming now—good.

"Don't question a god!" I snap. The Baku and I split around a tree, converging on the other side just in time. The dragon's paw crushes the tree in its pursuit.

"But you're not—"

"You want me to drop you?" I shout. Ghelly doesn't respond. That's what I thought.

The clearing is just up ahead, and I feel a momentary sense of elation at seeing the old rusted cage. It feels like the air is cutting my throat with tiny razors with every breath. My bones clank against each other like chipping away with every movement. I can feel the adrenaline burning a hole through my veins. I can't keep this up much longer. I spot a patch of vines and dig in, reaching out and gripping Donyoku's furry mane.

"On...on...my mark!" I pant. I stumble and grab his fur. Donyoku growls and I catch myself. Gods I just want to die. I blink sweat out of my eyes, my mask sticking to my face while the leather straps dig into my skull. We get closer to the patch of vines, the dragon coming closer into view. I can feel the heat of the flames on my back, the deafening roars and screeches practically on top of us. "Now!" I shout.

There's a moment of intense pressure, and then the three of us are thrown onto the black earth. The dragon keeps rushing towards us, but when it tries to stomp the cage, nothing happens. It scratches and spews fire, but to no avail. The cage doesn't just keep most things in, it also keeps them out.

"Well, well, well," a raspy voice says. I slowly pick myself up off the ground. Sweat drips from every pore and dirt clings to me like a second skin. The shadow creature squats on the opposite side of the small cage, wearing that eternal painted smile. "It's nice to see you again, asshole."

Ghelly coughs beside me and the shadow's head snaps in his direction. Without warning, he lunges at the boy. Donyoku roars, slamming his paw down on the shadow, trapping it.

"Parasite!" he spits, tail flame growing hotter. "Life sucking whore! Leech!"

"Nice to see you as well, Conductor Donyoku," the creature replies.

"We need to leave. Now," the Baku says, looking around frantically. The shadow laughs. It sounds like rusty blades scraping against each other.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" He asks, twisting his head towards me, and then to Ghelly. "Come closer, boy, and I'll show you a way out."

"Stay behind me," I say, stepping between the creature and Ghelly.

"Aw, you don't trust ol' Mutovinatum? Smart move." Mutovinatum smiles, baring what looks like an endless row of sharp teeth.

"Why are you here? You're supposed to be with Death," Donyoku growls, snapping at Mutovinatum when he tries to squirm. The shadow sighs.

"I am many, Donyoku. Parts of me are scattered all across the cosmos, and in every dimension. You can never get rid of me. You know this. Currently, the largest part of me is..." The red smile turns into a flat line for a brief moment, then picks back up. "On Earth. Earth, eh? How interesting. Is that where Eurael and Evermore ended up? Or...how long has it been, anyhow?" He twists his head towards me. "It's so difficult to keep track of time when it has no meeting, eh, little god?" He chuckles again, struggling to no avail. "You can't keep this up forever, Donyoku. This part of me is small, and weak. Eventually, Zargoth will destroy this cage, and everything inside of it. I will continue to exist in my other bodies." His voice turns sly, like the twisting of a thin dagger deeper into your ribs. "The same can't be said for the rest of you."

I sigh, rubbing my temples. How did I get myself into this? I swear this is the last job I do for Marinette. Ever.

"What do you suggest we do?" Ghelly asks, stepping around me. Mutovinatum's smile grows wider, stretching across his otherwise featureless blank face.

"Let me out," he whispers, words twisting like a snake.

"Yeah, no," I say, taking a step forward. "You're in here for a reason, mate. And don't think," I squat down in front of him. The dragon, Zargoth, slams against the cage harder, and I see a few bars buckle. "Don't think I don't know who you are, demon. You won't get out of here that easy."

"Well you must choose: let me out to deal with Zargoth, or do the noble thing and fight him yourself." The cage buckles further, a couple bars snapping and cracking. "But I don't think the chances of you beat him are in your favor, little god."

"What do we do, Namonai?" Ghelly asks.

"Let me think."

"We need to do something quick!"

"I said let me think!" I snap, pacing.

"Choose, little god! Choose! Choose!" Mutovinatum cackles, screeching his way into my thoughts, burrowing deeper with every word. "Pick your poison. Just don't cry when it burns your throat. Let out the demon, or do the noble thing. Choose!" He cackles again, throwing off Donyoku. In a burst of energy, he pins me to the cage, Zargoth, coming closer. "Choose, little god."