Cody grunted as he was lifted and spun around, "Grandpa you're killing me!" Cody weezed out as the hulking half dragon laughed.
Jerald put Cody down and slapped him on the back, "It's about time you came here, I'm annoyed it took this long for my favorite to show up," Jerald finished as Cody steadied himself.
"Sorry?" Cody said questionably as they started to walk forward led by Cody's father.
"How's my boy doing? Last I heard you started up some kind of animal business," Jerald said he and Cody followed Amell.
"Yes I did, I run one of the biggest exotic animal rescues in the country," Cody said as he looked around at the many faces he recognized from photo albums and portraits.
"I'm not surprised that you've become so successful, just like all my favorites you've all showed astounding skills as children," Jerald said as they entered a large garden like area with a small bar to the left and a large ornate hallway to the right, in the center was a large draconic statue with thousands of jars and urns beneath it.
"What is that for?" Cody asked as they passed the statue cutting off Jerald.
"That there is the family grave, everyone who's died has been turned to ash by the dragon's breath and put to rest," Jerald said solemnly.
"When we join them we can choose three things," Amell said, getting Cody's attention, "We can either go to the next life or stay here and keep watch over everyone to make sure they're safe," Amell said but was interrupted by Jerald.
"The third option is usually reserved for those who were traitors or cruel to everyone, their souls are burned and used to help fuel the magic that created this space but there are those who choose to do this willingly and they are put up their," Jareld explained quietly while pointing up, Cody looked up at stared slack jawed at the hundreds of thousands of lights that created constellations in the shape of various faces and shapes of people long lost to history.
"Why do I feel like I know them?" Cody asked then as she started to walk down the hall that blocked out the sky. Amell gave his father a startled look but quickly turned away.
"I don't know, maybe the elders can help you figure that out, we are going to visit them so they can let you into the blood chamber," Jerald said as they walked down a massive hallway with small dragon statues placed in small alcoves dug into the walls with large tall brazier set between them burning brightly.
Cody looked back and jumped as he realised that Sarah and his mother were not following them, "Where's mom and Sarah?" Cody asked them.
"They have no reason to come with us," Jerald said as his son Amell looked back and explained properly.
"Mina took Sarah to the medicine cave where Sarah will be checked over and have things explained to her so she's doesn't experience anything to surprising during her pregnancy," Jerald grunted sounding annoyed but stayed silent as the trio neared a giant stone door with an intricate and elegant carving of two dragons standing with their paws touching on the seem, their necks arched making them look into each others eyes which started to glow slightly as the doors opened silently despite their massive size, as Cody walked in the large circular room with 13 raised seats he swore the carvings on the doors stared at him.
* * * * *
Sarah watched quietly as Cody was lead into the garden like area ahead of them but before she could follow she felt Mina pull her to the right and into a large cave, "This way Sarah, Cody has his own place to visit," Mina said gently as the cave quickly turned into a large hospital like area with various sized beds and benches.
Before Sarah could ask what was happening a short dragontaur walked around a large desk with various things on it, "Hello Mina, I'm guessing your Cody's female friend?" She said as the pair stopped in front of a large round bed.
"Well I am now and may I ask what your name is?" Sarah asked the dragontaur as she pulled her tail onto the bed.
"My name is Beatrice and as you probably guessed I'm the healer for this place," Beatrice said as she reached around and into a small satchel and pulled out a small vial, "Hold your hand out please."
Sarah did as she asked while replying, "I figured as much when I walked in, do you work by yourself?" Sarah asked as she noticed no one else was around."
"Sorry if this hurts," Beatrice said as she pressed her thumb claw into Sarah's palm drawing some blood and letting it fill the vial, after it was half full Beatrice brought Sarah's hand to her mouth and licked the wound causing it to heal rapidly.
Sarah flinched but kept her hand out, she looked at her healed hand and then at Beatrice, "Did you use magic to heal me?" Sarah asked her.
"No dragontaurs like me have powerful regenerative abilities, and as for assistants no but I am looking into some," Beatrice said as she took the vial to her desk and placed it in the center of a magic circle where three colors started to glow, pink, bright blue and dark green.
Sarash watched closely and looked slightly worried, Mina put her hand on Sarahs and smiled while saying, "It's okay."
Sarah continued to watch Beatrice as the dark green color expanded causing Beatrice to sigh with relief, as the green receded the blue expanded and she smiled and looked up at Sarah, "Good news and less good news but not bad news," Beatrice said as she stood up, "You have a pair of girls growing one will be a naga and the a dragon which is rare but not abnormal, the only worry I have is how your body will change during the pregnancy," Beatrice explained as she walked over to the pair of sitting women.
"What do you mean change?" Sarah asked, surprised.
"There's a small chance non dragon type demis like us will change when they're impregnated by dragons. Take Mina for example, she is a dragonewt and after her first child she gained the ability to breathe fire which no dragonewt can do naturally," Beatrice said.
"And I'm thankful for that, the fire has come in handy hundreds of times," Mina said.
"I'm another example, call myself a dragontaur which is half true. I was originally a centaur and I had twins the first time, that's when my horse half changed into dragon half," Beatrice explained as she held out a small paper that showed a small list alongside pictures.
"These are the changes that can happen to you," Beatrice explained as Sarah read the list.
"The biggest change is losing my arms!" Sarah yelled as her breathing started to quicken.
"It happened twice over thousands of years," Beatrice said quickly as Mina pulled Sarah into a one armed hug, "You're not pregnant with 5 kids, that's the only way it happened both times."
Mina pointed to the number beside the changes, "That's how many babies it took for changes to occur," Mina explained to Sarah who started to calm down.
"Thank the Goddess," Sarah mumbled as she focused on the changes with the number two beside them.
After a few moments Sarah smiled, "So the biggest change will be my tail going from snake scales to dragon scales, or I grow claws or horns. That's not so bad and these are all small chances?" Sarah said out loud asking for confirmation.
"Yes but as you see the more children you bear or twins you birth the higher the chance of change," Mina explained to Sarah.
"So why were you worried about my chances when they were small?" Sarah asked Beatrice who looked troubled.
"For some reason the chance for changes for you is higher than normal and more drastic, It looks more like you're going to evolve then change," Beatrice explained as she sat down and pulled out a large tablet.
Beatrice opened up a folder and clicked an image which filled the screen, "From what I saw this is what you will most likely become."
Sarah stared in awe at the picture of a majestic Zilant.
* * * * *
As the trio entered the chamber the thirteen pillars lit up revealing people in various draconic forms at various ages, "Welcome youngblood to the Council chambers, since you're new here we will open the Blood chamber once you've been judged," He said as Cody was ushered forward.
"Judged?" Cody asked as a large staff with a gem on top rose from the floor.
"The dragon's eye will peer into your soul and judge your potential, If you have little to no potential you will receive the gift here and if you are judged worthy you will enter the Blood chamber," A woman on a pillar explained to Cody.
"Take the staff and hold it in front of your face," another man said, Cody did as he was asked and stared into the gem, Cody felt a powerful presence flood his mind and body.
"Once it's done, put it back and wait, young one," The leader said as Cody felt the presence leave him.
Cody put it back and looked around, "So how long does this normally take?" Cody asked after a few moments.
The council looked at each other confusedly, before a large resounding thud sounded in the chamber, everyone looked at the floor as it dropped into a spiral staircase, Every council member stood in shock as it happened.
"Young master, it appears the blood chamber is not enough for you, The Bone chamber is calling it would be wise to go down," The leader said with honor and anticipation in his voice.
"I guess I've no choice," Cody said as he descended the stairs, once he was out of ear shot Amell looked up at the council.