The Hidden Beast by Christopher Pike

the tunnel,” she suggested.
    â€œWe’ll take your earlier suggestion. We’ll try walking there quietly.”
    While the beast lumbered about in the vast cavern, growling to itself, they climbed onto the path. They were drenched but far from cold because the water was now hotter than most Jacuzzis. In all the excitement, Watch had managed to hold on to the flashlight. But he couldn’t turn it on to see if it was still working.
    â€œWe just have to follow the stone path,” he said. “We can do without light for a few minutes.”
    Cindy clutched his arm. “Thank you for saving our lives. I would never have thought of jumping in the pool.”
    â€œI haven’t saved anyone yet,” Watch said.
    They moved toward the tunnel at what they thought was a cautious and quiet pace. Yet once more they realized the beast had become aware of them and had begun to rush their way. But it had taken too long for her to realize they were still alive, so they were able to run far into the tunnel before the monster could unleash another fireball. In fact, she didn’t even bother to try to kill them this time, when she saw how far into the tunnel they had climbed. She just smashed hermassive face against the tunnel opening and then turned away in disgust.
    It was then that Watch did something quite remarkable. Insane, Cindy thought at the time. Watch stopped running up the steps and turned to speak to the monster.
    â€œHello!” he called back down the steps. “We didn’t take your crystals.”
    The beast stopped. A huge shadow of a face appeared at the end of the tunnel. Once more, they could see only few details: a large scaly snout, dripping gold teeth, sharp purple ears. It was only the faint red light cast by her smoldering nostrils that allowed them to see anything. Yet the creature’s eyes seemed to shine with their own light. They were as green and clear as the fairest emerald, and as massive as the largest TV screen. Overall the creature was larger than the biggest dinosaurs they had fought.
    â€œDo you know what it is?” Watch whispered to Cindy.
    â€œNo. I don’t have my encyclopedia of monsters with me. Why did you talk to it?”
    â€œIt’s a dragon.”
    â€œNo. There are no dragons.”
    â€œI am beginning to believe there is just about everything. This is definitely a dragon. And I called out to her because I wanted her to know we didn’t steal her crystals. I want to talk to her.”
    â€œDragons can talk?” Cindy asked.
    â€œThey’re supposed to be able to. They’re supposed to be very smart. But you have to be careful when you speak to them, the old books say. They can hypnotize you.”
    â€œI’ll let you do all the talking,” Cindy said.
    â€œFine.” Watch raised his head. Once more he shouted down to the dragon. “Do you understand English?”
    There was a long pause, so long it seemed the creature could not possibly have understood him. But then she replied and her voice was as wonderful and as terrifying as her physical form. Her tone was as deep as a well and as powerful as thunder. Yet there was a gentleness to it, too, a subtlety that perhaps could hypnotize. Watch and Cindy listened as if struck.
    â€œYes, I understand your tongue,” she said. “Long before you were born I lived across the sea, where they also spoke English. That was in agreen land filled with green hills and many lovely trees. But your accent is yet strange to me. What do you call yourselves?”
    â€œMy name is Watch and this is my friend, Cindy. What’s your name?”
    â€œI was called Harome by the Englishmen, a name that sounded like both my large size and fiery temper. But I never liked that name, and I prefer you call me Slatron, which is the name I was given at birth, many of your centuries ago.”
    â€œHi, Slatron,” Cindy said, despite her vow to remain silent.
    Watch spoke