Releasing Chaos

The arrival of an odyssey of phoenixes had the local community in an uproar. The intrusion of these majestic and yet intimidating species had unnerved the residents of the hamlet. It was a cautious introduction and despite the phoenix giving their word not to feed on the local livestock, suspicion and conspiracy fed the fear spreading through the population. Not for Henry though, oh he knew exactly why they were here.

The crunch of stones under his old sandaled feet is the only noise that can be heard. No wildlife left these days, he thought, as a well of disgust rises in his throat and he spits to the side. The council meeting was starting soon but he was not a man to rush, he hated them anyway. Full of overweight men bulging their grotesque chests out like a cockatrice in heat. How dare they tell him what to do and dictate the life of the other miners despite never stepping foot in a mine. They had not invited him but he felt it his right, after all, he was the one who discovered the door.

***

Outside the towns central chamber, Councillor Vaugh could hear the bustle of conversation inside with the occasional raised voice from someone trying to validate their opinion to this rabid throng of people. Here goes, he thinks as he walks into room.

He comes to stand motionless in the centre. Surrounding him on pedestals are his associates, all lost in their own anger at his earlier proposition. Unlike the rest, he had been down to the mine and had seen the door for himself. A gigantic piece of solid wood standing at least 20 feet in height and carved with a precision that rivalled any he had known. The door was such a deep black that when the lanterns shone across its surface, it seemed to draw in the light like a void of eternal darkness.

Contrasting from the gloom of the door, shining bright in the centre were 3 vibrant blue jewels. Each one was 2 handspan in length and untarnished by the dirt they had been encased in. He had felt a tug towards the door, an unnatural pull enticing him closer whilst gentle whispers caressed his thoughts with promises of riches. A jolt ran through him plummeting his mind down to earth as one of the old miners put their hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t listen to it, nothing but evil resides there!” the man said before spitting to one side and walking off.

The quell of noise in the council chamber signalled to Vaugh that a mutual decision had been reached. Looking around, he could see the three other councillors who had each claimed one of the jewels. The fevered look in their eyes surrounded by dark circles from the lack of sleep told him all he needed to know about the effect of those gems. They wanted to destroy the door to discover what riches lay beyond, yet Vaugh highly doubted the decision was entirely theirs.

The gleeful and giddy looks on their faces told him that they had decided against his proposition to block the door back up. A feeling of dread settle in the pit of his stomach as he hung his head. He was drastically outnumbered, but before he could try and object, the three corrupted councillors all stood up and started shooting orders to gather the mining crew and get ready to blow down the door. And off they all scurried, reminding the councillor of a group of school children who have just heard the home time bell.

***

Henry reached the chamber doors; it is unusually quiet, opening them he walks in, his footsteps echoing off the wooden floor until he comes next to the lone councillor, sat on the floor in the centre of the room with his head buried in his hands.

“So, they decided to blow up the door” says Henry.

Councillor Vaugh lifts his heads to gaze up at the ceiling and sighs.

“Greed overcame common sense; my words were like whispers during a riot.”

Henry grimaces. “It doesn’t feel right you know, there is something off with it all and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth”, he turns to spit but stops himself when he remembers he is inside.

Another sigh from the councillor is all he got back. Knowing there is no point staying here, he takes his leaves and heads straight for the mines. If he can get there in time, then maybe he can put a stop to all this nonsense.

***

Reaching the cave mouth, he is confronted with miners all dashing around in a frantic haste as they clear the way. Before he can open his mouth, an explosion rocks the ground and dust shoots from the mine shaft. Regaining his composure, he scurries quickly down the shaft till he reaches the door where his eyes stretch wide in wonder. The once pitch-black door is now illuminated in bright white symbols that pulsate and thrum sending a chill through his body.

Pieces of rock begin to crumble as cracks snake out from the damage of the blast, spreading across the wall and tearing through the symbols.

Darkness descends.

Taking a moment to let his eyes adjust, he hears a deep rumble from the other side of the door. Heavy thuds shake the floor as something begins to move towards him. Panic wells in his chest as he turns and runs towards for exit, not daring to take a second to look behind as a loud crash deafens his senses and sends him flying into a pile of rubble.

Outside the shaft, panic ensues as the ceiling of the mine explodes outwards sending rocks and boulders in all directions. As the dust settles, people stand in open shock at the creature in front of them.

A dragon.

Historians describe them as entities of madness and chaos. Purged from this world when forces joined together in a bid to save the very essence of nature that they sought to corrupt. Long thought extinct, and yet here one is, with shiny black scales covering its entire body and thick leathery wings that spread out as it basks in the sun for the first time in over a millennium.

As it takes his first deep breath of fresh air, a ball of fire rips across his face, sending it staggering backwards. More fireballs hit around the dragon as the phoenixes descend.

He hunches its shoulders, spreads his wings out as wide as they can go and begins to channel the charge around it. Bright blue lines, quickly start moving from his tail, up onto his torso and into his throat. The once black dragon is now alight with a dazzling blue pattern as he opens up his jaws and releases a virulent burst of lightening that shoots at the first phoenix, seemingly scorching its already aflame body before the raw power reaches out in an arc of lighting across the sky. The phoenixes split up quickly and spread out giving the dragon enough time to beat his wings to join them in his domain.

Henry coughs and splutters as he claws free and staggers out from rubble remnants of the mining shaft. He looks around at the devastation as the light begins to fade and the world begins to darken. Looking up he sees lightening streak out, leaving behind clouds of fire which swiftly turn into ash that begins to blanket the land as the phoenixes fall one by one.

They never stood a chance; he thinks as he reaches out to grab a large red feather that is slowly drifting down. He remembers the stories of the only dragon who had ever had the power of lightening, and as he turns to make his way back home, feather still warm in his hand, he begins to weep. None of us stand a chance.

The end.

I hope you enjoyed my submission to the 'Word Hunt' challenge.