Chapter 14 - The Shadow of the Past
The morning of the Charlottesville Public Festival was bright and clear. Thousands of families gathered in the public park below Dragon Court to celebrate the autumn harvest. Food trucks lined the paved paths, children carried paper dragon kites, and local musicians played on outdoor stages.
Nathaniel and Clara walked through the crowd, greeting locals, while Everett managed the security detail with local police.
Despite the joyful atmosphere, Clara felt a deep, nagging anxiety. She kept looking at her tablet, reviewing security logs from the estate’s outer perimeter.
"What is it, Clara?" Nathaniel asked, putting a arm around her shoulders.
"Three hours ago, a high-frequency energy pulse was detected near the old northern ridge," Clara whispered, showing him a signal graph. "It matches the frequency signatures from the old bio-tech labs that were shut down four years ago."
Nathaniel’s smile faded. "Sterling?"
"She vanished right after Alaric was arrested," Clara said. "If she’s back in Virginia, she isn't here to enjoy the festival."
Before Nathaniel could respond, a sudden, violent shriek echoed from the high cliffs above Dragon Court.
Every head in the park turned upward.
Aurelius, who usually circled the valley in peaceful, sweeping arcs, was thrashing wildly in the sky. His wings beat frantically against the air, tearing through cloud formations. His brilliant golden eyes had turned a dark, blood-red, and black smoke billowed violently from his nostrils.
"Aurelius!" Nathaniel shouted, stepping out into the open field.
The giant dragon let out a roar of pure, agony-driven fury—a sound so terrifying that glass windows in nearby shops shattered instantly. Panic erupted across the park as thousands of people began screaming, dropping their belongings, and sprinting for the exits.
"Nathaniel, get back!" Everett yelled, drawing his sidearm as he ran toward them. "Something’s wrong with him! He’s disoriented!"
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Aurelius folded his wings and dived straight toward the crowded festival grounds, his massive jaws opening, revealing a throat choked with wild, unstable blue flame.
"He’s not attacking us!" Nathaniel realized, seeing the twitch in the dragon's left eye and the blood trickling from his ear canals. "He’s in pain! Someone is torturing him!"
