Middle of the Edge

Chapter Four

After a pause Link and Deamon drop to one knee, bowing their heads. "Lady Terror, it is our pleasure to meet you." Deamon says. I shift my weight uncomfortably. "Uuhhhh." They look up, both confused. Lyson clears his throat while Sam rubs comforting circles on my back. "Sophie was born after the war. She is not familiar with any of the Old ways." The pair rise slowly. Narc leans into my side, sending me comforting waves. I relax slowly.
"Lady Terror-" I cut Link off. "Sophie. I understand you know things about my heritage that I do not, but I was raised to know that all should be equal. And as the Courts are no longer whole, there is no need for a title I know knothing of." Both nod. "Sophie then. Do you...are you..." He trails off. "He means to ask if you can access all of you blood right."
I frown, and look past them to the castle. I don't know how long we've been here, but the moon is higher in the sky. "I wouldn't know. Large use of magic was prohibited in our cove, as was use of our wings, and shifting unless a warrior. I was allowed leeway because of my position with the Elders, but I couldn't shift into a dragon underground, could I?" My tone is slightly bitter. Caden yawns, rubbing his eyes, and I absentmindly rub his back. While as a child I was quite curious about my abilities, I learned it was better to live normal like everyone else. I was happy with my life in the cove.
"Could we continue to the castle?" Lyson asks. "We are nocturnal, and would like to be settled before sunrise." I tune out the rest of the conversation, keeping slight focus on the cousins but not paying attention to the words said as I again focus on the call of the castle. And soon enough Lyson is shifted back into an animal, and Sam convinces me to let Caden ride him. In exchange, I carry the brothers packs, and then we're running again, Deamin and Link flying above and skightly in front of us.
I see them talking, and while I could listen in, I really don't have the energy to. My lack of food, water and sleep is finally getting to me, plus the tiring whole meeting with the cousins. So I run in silence, between but slightly ahead of Narc and Lyson with Sam brining up the rear. I consider what the said of the others thinking me the leader of our group. Narc and Lyson I sort of guess think that, its no secret they respect my Guardian title. Alot of people back at the cove did, which is why I was so close to the Elders. I can't really help the blood I was born with.
But Sam is my best friend, and Lily like my little sister. I never thought he would think I'm more important than him. But I guess now, above ground, things will be different. There will be more people who know of the Old ways. More people bowing to me, and calling me 'Lady'. I really hadn't thought of that when leaving, and I probably should have, but I really haven't felt different in a long time. Not since I was a small child. And I really don't like that I'm possibly going to have alot of attention on me. I regret telling them my bloodlines. I wish I had kept it to myself, said I didnt know my heritage. But I'm not really one for lying. Sighing I shake my head.
Suddenly my heart stutters, and I stop. Sam runs into my back, but I hardly feel it. The castle is close, and I suddenly feel the intensity of the call. I thrumms in my veins, the ground under my feet vibrating. The air around me tastes sweet, and smells of lilacs and honey comb. My breath comes in shallow gasps, and I faintly register everyone surrounding me, but my eyes are locked on the castle. I know this place. I've never been here before in my life, but my soul knows this place. And not like home, but something close to it. Something I'm meant to protect. A shudder rolls through me, and I can feel everything. Every blade of grass on the ground, the dirt and the roots. The group standing around me, I hear their heart beats, feel their every breath, their blink. And the people in the castle as well. Seventy three people. Fae, vampire, werewolf, Angel, demon, two witches. I feel then sleep, some are reading or cleaning. One is in a kitchen, cooking. I hear them talking.
Another shiver rolls through me, my heart stutters again and I clutch my chest, gasping for breath. "Come." The word is said gently in my head, blowing softly like a gentle, welcoming breeze. My eyes rake over the castle, searching, until the settle at the tallest tower, in the center. My eyes zoom in, on the balcony is a woman. No. Another Wylde Guardian.
Her pale skin glows softly in the moonlight. Her long blonde hair falling in waves over her shoulders and down her back. She's wearing a silver evening gown, but I can only see her top half at this angle. "Come child. And claim your first castle." I throw my head back and let out a yell that turns into a road as I shift. My bones break and splinter, then grow and snap into a new shape. My skin peels and breaks, my hair falling out and catching fire. I grow, and soon I'm on four taloned feet as a dragon. My neck extends up and I flap my wings a few times, roaring again before taking a few clumsy steps , bending my now too many knees and launching into the air. My muscles strain, but I am locked on a goal. I fall to the ground once, twice, then rise into the air.
This time I let out a triumphant roar, the air vibrating, and cover the last few yards in seconds. I circle the whole castle, steadily rising above it until I'm looking down on it. I locate the Guardian again and fold my wings in, angling down. The air rushes past me as I speed down, whistling through my scales. I snap my wings out a few feet above the tower and beet them heavily, trying to land without injuring my new wings or the beautiful castle. But I clip my wing on the top of the tower, and it sets off my delicate balance. The woman has to jump back as I collapse in a big heap on the balcony, that is big enough to fit three dragons my size. Shaking my wings out I clumsily climb to my feet, and try my best to carefully turn, but settle for using my neck to look around my large body to the doorway where the woman is standing.
She gives me a gentle smile, her gold eyes bright and shining. "Well done child." She tells me silently. "Now claim your first castle." I throw my head back and let out a new roar, this one much sharper, cutting through the air like a sharp well used blade, the intent behind it clear. For all the people, animals, and land to hear, I am claiming this castle as mine to guard and protect. The air rings, and an assortment of noise follows, from howls, to bird calls, to squeaks to snarls to screeches ring back to me, and the call in me gentler, everything falling into place. And as my mind settles and I come back to my senses my body shifts back to its mortal form on its own. The woman gently takes my hand and leads me to the rail, where everyone came outside and is looking up. I locate my group in the back of the crowd. I see amazement and respect in their faces. My eyes flick back over the rest of the crowd where I see mich of the same, with some confusion in the younger ones, and awe."The Gods have sent their first warrior to claim their place. The Fae Court now lies under Wylde Guardian Lady Sophie Terrors protection. The land has accepted her claim. May the new world rejoice." The womans musical voice rings in my head, but I know she speaks into all of our heads. The people cheer, calling my name and hailing the gods. She leads me away from the balcony and I stumble slightly. "Oh dear." She mumbles aloud as the world spins then tilts around me. "I'm going to faint now." I mutter as I start to crumble, the strength suddenly completly leaving my body. I feel her soft but strong arms catch me as everything goes black.