Chapter 61

A current of water swept through the dome as the magical barrier thinned, creating a path to the surface. Tharros completed his transformation in a burst of blue light. Where a man had stood moments before, a massive dragon now floated, silver-blue scales gleaming. His long body coiled through the water, powerful wings unfurling.

Sophia's breath caught. No matter how many times she saw it, Tharros's true form was magnificent.

He swam to her side, lowering his massive head. Climb on, his voice rumbled in her mind.

With one last look at Kael and Arin, Sophia pulled herself onto Tharros's back, finding a secure position between his shoulder blades. His scales were warm beneath her hands.

Hold tight, he warned. The transition will be... uncomfortable.

Before she could ask what he meant, Tharros surged upward. They shot through the barrier, water rushing past in a deafening roar. Sophia clung to him, her heart pounding as they accelerated toward the surface.

They broke through in an explosion of spray. Sophia gasped, the air burning her lungs for a moment before Arin's spell adjusted her body. Tharros didn't pause-his wings spread wide, catching the wind and lifting them into the sky.

The sensation was unlike anything Sophia had ever experienced. The ocean fell away beneath them, becoming a vast blue expanse. Wind whipped her hair as Tharros climbed higher, his powerful wings beating steadily.

Are you alright? his voice asked in her mind.

"Yes," she called back, laughing despite their dangerous mission. "It's amazing!"

She felt his pleasure at her enjoyment, the emotion flowing through their connection. For a moment, they shared the pure joy of flight, of freedom.

But as they soared toward the distant coastline, reality returned. They had three days to find what they needed and return to Aquaria. Three days to build a device that might save both worlds.

Where to? Tharros asked, banking slightly to follow the shoreline.

Sophia thought of Chen, of the Oceanic Research Institute, of the equipment they would need to complete their work.

"Northeast," she directed. "There's a private research facility owned by the Institute. It has everything we need."

And guards? Security?

She nodded, knowing he could feel her answer. "We'll need to be careful. Very careful."

Below them, the ocean darkened in patches-the spreading corruption visible even from above. In the distance, coastal lights winked on as evening approached.

Three days, Tharros reminded her, his thoughts tinged with worry.

"It'll be enough," Sophia said with more confidence than she felt. "It has to be."

As they flew, neither noticed the small boat following their shadow across the waves. On its deck, Agent Kramer tracked their movement through high-powered binoculars, speaking quietly into a satellite phone.

"Target confirmed," he said. "Dr. Rodriguez is alive. And she's not alone."

Spotted in the Shadows

Night wrapped around Tharros and Sophia like a blanket as they soared above the dark ocean. The moon peeked through clouds, casting silver light on Tharros's scales. They had been flying for hours, following the coastline north.

"We need to land soon," Sophia said, patting the dragon's neck. Her legs ached from clinging to his back, and the chill wind had numbed her face. "There's a cove ahead that should be empty this time of night."

Tharros dipped his massive head in agreement. I sense fewer humans there, his voice rumbled in her mind.

He banked toward the shoreline, descending in a wide spiral. The small cove appeared below, surrounded by rocky cliffs and thick forest. Perfect for hiding a dragon.

What they didn't see was the small fishing boat anchored in the shadows of the cliff.

Tharros glided lower, wings spread wide to catch the night air. They were fifty feet above the water when a spotlight suddenly blazed from the fishing boat, catching them in its harsh beam.

"Dragon!" a voice shouted from below. "It's a dragon!"

Sophia's heart jumped into her throat. "Dive!" she yelled, clutching Tharros's scales.

Tharros folded his wings and plunged toward the water. The spotlight tried to follow but lost them as they hit the surface with a massive splash. Cold water engulfed Sophia, but Arin's spell allowed her to breathe as they sank beneath the waves.

They saw us, Tharros's angry voice filled her mind. Your surface world has too many eyes.

"We need to swim underwater to the shore," Sophia urged. "Quick, before they call for help."

Tharros cut through the water like a missile, his powerful tail propelling them toward the cove. Above, they could see flashlight beams dancing across the water's surface as the fishermen searched for them.

They reached the rocky shoreline and found a small hidden inlet flanked by boulders. Tharros surfaced cautiously, keeping most of his body underwater.

"You need to transform," Sophia whispered urgently. "They'll be looking for a dragon, not people."

Tharros growled, a sound that sent bubbles rushing to the surface. Transform where? The shore is too exposed.

He was right. The moonlight illuminated the entire cove. Any movement would be visible from the fishing boat, which was now motoring slowly around the bay, its spotlight sweeping the water.

"Behind those rocks," Sophia pointed to a cluster of boulders that created a small shadow. "I'll go first and check."

She slipped from his back and swam silently to the shore, grateful for her new abilities that made moving through water effortless. When she reached the rocks, she peered around them. A small patch of beach lay hidden from view of the open water.

Sophia waved Tharros over. The dragon moved with surprising stealth for his size, barely causing a ripple as he glided toward her.

The moment Tharros reached the shadow of the rocks, his body began to glow. The transformation was quicker this time, his massive form shrinking and reshaping into human appearance. Within seconds, a man stood beside Sophia, water streaming from his skin.

"That was too close," he growled, his golden eyes reflecting moonlight.

Distant sirens wailed along the coast. The fishermen had called for help.

"We need to move fast," Sophia said, peering around the rocks. "They'll have Coast Guard boats here soon, maybe even helicopters."

Tharros scowled. "This was a mistake. We should return to Aquaria."

"We can't," Sophia reminded him. "The device needs those components. Three days, remember?"

She pulled herself onto the shore, her wet clothes clinging to her skin. The air felt strange in her lungs after weeks underwater. Arin's spell worked, but the sensation remained odd.

Tharros followed, moving with the grace of a predator despite his human form. His "tattoos" gleamed faintly in the darkness.

"Which way?" he asked.

Sophia oriented herself, finding the North Star. "The research facility is about ten miles up the coast. But we can't walk along the beach - too exposed."

"Then we go through the forest," Tharros decided, already heading toward the tree line.

The woods were dark and dense, branches scratching at their faces as they pushed through. Sophia stumbled over roots and rocks, but Tharros moved with confidence, his eyesight perfect even in darkness.

Behind them, the sirens grew louder. Flashing lights reflected off the clouds above the cove.

"They're taking this seriously," Sophia murmured. "A dragon sighting will draw attention."

"Let them look," Tharros said. "By the time they organize a proper search, we'll be far from here."

They hiked for an hour, climbing away from the coast and deeper into the forest. When they reached a small clearing, Sophia paused, catching her breath.

"I need to contact Chen," she said. "He can help us reach the facility."

From her pocket, she pulled out a small waterproof case containing a phone - one of the items Chen had delivered to them. She powered it on, the screen casting blue light across her face.

Tharros watched with suspicion. "These devices can be traced."

"I know," Sophia said. "But we don't have a choice."

She typed a quick message to Chen: Emergency. Plan changed. Dragon spotted. Need extraction from Hawk's Point Forest. Two hours.

The response came almost immediately: Satellite reports confirm sighting. Military mobilizing. Stay hidden. Will find you.

Sophia's stomach tightened with fear. "We've got trouble. Big trouble."

Tharros leaned over her shoulder to see the screen. "What is 'military mobilizing'?"

"It means armed humans with weapons and technology designed to find us," Sophia explained. "The kind that even a dragon should fear."

For the first time, uncertainty flickered across Tharros's face. "Our mission becomes more complicated."

"We need to keep moving," Sophia said, turning off the phone. "Chen will meet us at Hawk's Point - it's about two miles north of here."

They set off again, moving faster now. The forest grew thicker, providing better cover. In the distance, they heard the thump of helicopter rotors.

"They're searching from the air," Sophia whispered.

Tharros looked up, his expression darkening. "If they force me to transform again..."

"They won't," Sophia assured him, though she wasn't certain. "We stay hidden, meet Chen, get to the facility."

As they walked, Tharros moved closer to Sophia, his hand brushing against hers. "This world has changed more than I expected," he admitted quietly. "So many humans, so much technology."

"It's not all bad," Sophia said. "Humans have created amazing things too."

"Yet they destroy your oceans," he countered. "The same oceans that hide Aquaria."

She couldn't argue with that. "Some of us are trying to fix things. That's why I became a marine biologist in the first place."

The sound of voices made them freeze. Flashlight beams cut through the trees ahead.

"Search party," Sophia whispered, pulling Tharros behind a fallen log.

They crouched in the shadows as the lights came closer. Through the underbrush, they could see figures in uniform moving through the trees.

"Spread out," a voice commanded. "The thermal imaging showed something large moving this way."

Tharros tensed beside her, his skin growing warm. Sophia placed a warning hand on his arm, feeling the scales beginning to emerge beneath her fingers.

"Don't," she breathed. "If you transform, they'll see you for sure."