The Dragon Curse

I love her

It hurt. I felt weaker with every wing beat but I was determined to get at least Evelien out of danger. I didn't want to leave Mark and Amy behind especially since Amy changed back into a mermaid. They wouldn't make it and I was afraid that I won't see them again. I took a quick look back behind me and I saw Mark heading to an alley but the soldiers were after them.

"They will be fine, Mark is tough they won't get them," said Evelien reassuringly and I believed her.

I hope they will be fine. A few soldiers still followed us but once we were out of the city I turned to head to the forest. At least there we could lose them. And luckily I was right. After a few turns, I couldn't hear them anymore so I decided to land on the little meadow in the middle of the jungle of trees. I tried to land safely but the arrow that got me at my left wing hit a nerve and my side was getting numb. I was trying to stay on my feet but it just hurt too much. My wing was sore and I was getting tired. 

"Jack," said Evelien as she got off of my back and kneeled beside my head on the ground. "I'm going to check your wound so stay still."

I wasn't dreaming of moving anyway. I felt weak and it was odd since it was just a little wound. Still, why do I feel so tired? My vision was blurry and I couldn't think. I shouldn't feel dizzy and lightheaded from a single arrow... so what was going on? I slightly turned my head to look at Evelien, but the world was spinning and my head hurt. I whined not because of the pain in my wings anymore but the pain in my head. It felt like my skull was slowly crashed, my ears ringing.

"What's wrong?" asked Evelien when she heard me.

She came back kneeling at my nose and looking into my eyes with a worried look on her face. I wish I could tell her what was wrong because my expression of pain and nausea wasn't enough. She put her hands on my cheeks then opened my mouth to look inside. She soon figured that the source of my pain was coming from somewhere else. She quickly stood up to go back to my wound. She slightly lifted my wind to get a better look and I tried to contain my voice but a low growl came from my throat as pain shot through my wing and side.

"Dear Lord," I heard her whisper and I waited for her to explain so I looked at her with a confused look. "The arrows were probably poisoned and it's slowly spreading in your blood."

She reached for her bag and quickly took the book out going through the pages. I believed in her I knew she could cure me and with time she will be able to help with my shifting problem. But even if I will have to stay as a dragon I wouldn't dream of leaving her alone. I wish there would be more between us... After all we have been through, I see my love for her. I would do anything for her I would give anything to protect her. I could feel the poison getting in my head bringing all my emotions and past memories out.

Linda... I wish she was here, I wish she could see that maybe not fully but at some point I was human. And without her, I wouldn't be here. I would've never met Mark, would've never started this journey, and would've never met the love of my life. I wish I could tell her how much I loved her and how thankful I am for everything she did for me.

I'm so glad that my friends were by my side even that all I caused them was pain and danger. Robin died because of me... because of who I am. I should have died in that fire... Mark would still be at home doing his job, Amy would be in safety as well. Evelien would live her peaceful life and she probably would've met a man who wouldn't put her life in danger... who was human by birth.

"Jack," I heard Evelien's voice pulling me away from my thoughts.

She was sitting at my head again holding onto it and looking deeply into my eyes. She whipped away tears I didn't know were falling from my eyes and not from the pain from my wound. She slightly smiled at me and I could feel care and love radiating from that simple expression. She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

"I'll never give up on you," she said as she leaned her forehead at mine closing her eyes to cherish this moment. "I'm going to confess now because I don't care what you are, the only thing I see is your soul. And it's pure... kind... and I completely fell in love with you the person who you are."

And I fell in love with you. I wanted to say it so desperately wanted to say these little words to let her know that I feel the same way. I leaned closer nuzzling my nose in her embrace screaming the words in my head. I want to tell her. She suddenly pulled away looking into my eyes again holding my head firmly, I saw the determination in her eyes.

"I'm going to take care of your wound. Within no time you'll be back on your feet then we have to go around the forest."

She took a bowl from her bag and a few jars and boxes containing herbs and other useful plants. She started mixing them then she added a few drops of water. She went back to my wound and I followed her to look at what she was about to do. She took her little danger then looked at me with a reassuring look.

"I need a few drops of blood, so don't move. I don't want to hurt you more," she said then she dipped just the tip of the dagger into my wound.

I instinctively wanted to flap my wings and push away but I tried my best to not move. I hissed and another growl came from my throat but it was quickly over and the pain subsided. I watched her let a few drops of blood drip from the dagger into the bowl. She then cleaned the rest of the blood with a handkerchief then put it back into her bag. She stirred the potion one last time then she reached into the bowl and scooped some of the substance with her hand.

"It might hurt a little because the poison must be cleaned out," she said and I took a deep breath to brace for the pain.

She applied the potion on my wound and she was right it burnt badly. I squeezed my eyes to endure the pain and tried to contain my voice as well. Once she made sure there was enough on my wound she added more water but my head still hurt so I couldn't think straight.

"Drink it," she said as she once again kneeled at my head.

She held my head up a bit and slowly poured the potion into my mouth. I swallowed expecting it to have a horrible taste but it wasn't so bad after all. She put the bowl on the ground then sat closer putting my head on her lap to rest. She gently petted my scaled nose and I felt slowly drifting into sleep. But I can't rest! Mark and Amy were in danger we had to help them. Unfortunately, Evelien had other plans. She kept petting my nose and started humming a familiar little song. It was the same lullaby that Linda used to sing whenever there was a big storm outside and tried to calm me down so I could sleep peacefully. It always worked and this time it wasn't any different. My eyelids felt heavy and I closed my eyes for a little rest.