Dragon Born

Ch. 1

The cool wind sped through my wings as I soared low through the sky. My talons, skimmed the clear blue waters causing a wave behind me. I let my tail swing in the wind as I enchanted my sight to a flock of birds in the near distance. Moving closer to my newly found target, I straightened up my posture and gradually picked up speed, careful not to spook them too early. As I approached my prey, I summoned a deep and hot breath,  form from the pits of my stomach, I let out a flame so big so hot it competes with the flames of the underworld. The blue flames hit their mark and the now roasted birds plummet into the ocean, I tuck my wings in closer to me causing me to pick up speed. Just as they were about to hit the water, I ingulf them whole. It was nothing but a quick snack and I arch my body upward heading higher up, doing so caused my tail to slap the water with a loud smack. I twirled and looped as the feeling of freedom made me feel as light as a feather. Reaching far above the tallest mountains, I stopped in mid air, throwing open both my wings, as if to show them off to the world, I take in the breathing taking scenery for just a moment before I set off to fly again. My freeing spirit came to an abrupt end as I felt a piercing pain in my side. Looking to where the pain started, a disgustingly huge arrow was attached deep into my side. Dripping from the arrow was an unsightly green color, poison. Screeching, I fell towards the ocean. I barely caught sight of my killer's icy blue eyes. 

"Selene!" My body jerked forward and gasped. My dark brown hair glued to my forehead with sweat. Slowly gaining my own mind back, i look down to see that i had drawn in my sleep again. Stiff pain welcomed me, as I slummed out of bed. Unfazed, by the actions of my sleep, I shove my journal under my pillow, yet I couldn't take my hand off of it. Something about this dream stuck with me. It wasn't the pain, I could no longer feel, or imagine it. It wasn't the beautiful scenery, it was something colder, something icier. I open the page back up and those eyes greeted me, i shivered at the sight of them, i could sense  evil in them, yet they were unworldly mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.

"Selene! Get up right this instant!" I could hear the tapping of a broomstick on the ceiling. The small voice brought me back to my senses and I began to start my day like normal. The dream was already disappearing from my memory like every other time, this happened for as long as I could remember. "Don't make me get the bucket of water!" The voice screeched, I shivered in fear at the memory and sped up my actions. I hurried downstairs, following the delicious aroma of bacon and eggs.  I turn into the kitchen to see my sweet but fierce Grams, placing the food on two separate plates on the table. She looks up at me sweetly and gestures to my chair, but i just stood there looking absentmindedly at her. "You're an hour late in your chores, so you'll have to hurry to get caught up and-" she looks up at me, "Selene? You only have an hour before your day starts, come and eat." She walks over to me and grabs my arm gently, it was enough to push me out of my daydream.

I look down at her, I had another dream, Gram." I opened up my journal to show her the sketch of the fallen dragon and the blue eyes. I caught a glimpse as she faltered and swayed, I dropped my book and grabbed ahold of her in case she fell. "Are you okay, Gram?"

"I'm fine, dear, just a dizzy spell." She lets me guide her to a chair at the table. She bends to pick up my book as I grab her a glass of orange juice. She gives a small thanks and drinks the juice. She gives me a look, knowing I'm worried. "I'm fine, dear! Now your chores aren't going to do themselves." I notice she's clutching my book tightly to her chest. I want to press her more on her behavior but I'm met with her stern glare, I'll meet my demise if I defined her wishes more. I shiver at the memory of the devil chickens chasing me in the pond. So, I let it go,  for now. "Go fetch Damien, I have his family a dozen of eggs ready for this week, and a few errands that i need him to do."

"I can-" I offered but she cuts me off with a shake of her head, "Damien, is already aware of what i need him to do today, i just need him earlier than what we discussed on. You don't want to waste his time, do you?" I reluctantly agree, and grab my satchel and head for the town's stable, where I know Damien would be. The walk to the stables wasn't too long, and in no time i reach the barn doors. As I opened them, I noticed Damien wasn't here, he must be on another errand. I decided i would just start my work and wait on him to come in, as I knew he would. I walk up to my steed and greeted him warmly. He didn't take me coming in late, lightly, and he shoved my shoulder with his nose and i could feel him glaring almost. I chuckle, "I know I'm late, today, but this morning was rough." I give him puppy dog eyes, as if to make it up to him. He nudges me again, but more softly. I reach for his brush and I tell him what I can remember of my dream, which was the dragon falling and those piercing blue eyes. I just couldn't get them out of my head. The way they made me feel was unnerving and I tell him about  this morning at breakfast with Gram. He neighs softly as if he was worried about her too. I smile up at him, "it's going to be okay. Gram just over worked herself this morning, I'll hurry through my chores and get back to her." He nods his head, I swear he can understand me. I chuckle at my wild imagination, yet I wished it were true. I closed my eyes and let myself daydream as I brush his mane.

"Late as always, i see." A familiar voice says, and I open my eyes. Instead, I was eye to eye with those same piecing icy blue eyes from my dream. I yep and jump back, but it was just Damien. Has he always had those eyes? I go through my childhood memories of him, of course he had the same eyes. Yet they used to be so welcoming and warm, now all i feel is a stone cold gaze. I pray I'm overthinking this. He chuckles at the sight of my little outburst. I quickly gain my nerves back and give him a small chuckle back. I needed to stay calm, it was just Damien, I knew him my entire life. "Y-yep! That's me, late, late, late." Good job, Sel, you're rambling. "Oh, Gram needs your help running some errands."

He smiles, "she always needs me, okay, when I get back we can talk about your dream."

"W-what?!" I flinch. He looks at me funny, "We always talk about your dreams, remember, Sel?" He laughs and shakes his head, "You must not be awake all the way. You want to jump in the pond? It's nice and cool, it'll wake you right up." His face is so close to mine I could smell the bacon he had for bacon. I took a step back and give a short laugh, "no, no, I'm well enough awake. I remember, we'll talk when you get back." I tried to give a reassuring smile but i have a sinking feeling i failed. I couldn't take my gaze off of his back until he was out of sight.

I finished cleaning up my steed, in a hurry, and was onto my next chore, each task i did half heartedly and in a hurry, before i knew it i was rushing back home. Clutching my satchel, tightly, i kept glancing around on the lookout for Damien, I didn't want him to caught me off guard again. I wasn't ready to face him, especially after how uncanny his eyes were to the ones in my dream. Why were they in my dream and why was that the only thing i could remember now. I looked up to the evening sky, colors of orange, purple, and red, bleeding into one another. It was such a calming scene but I was anything but calm. Maybe Grams could shine a better light on my situation, she always knew how to bring me back down to Earth.

I came close to the house when I began to hear voices, it must be Grams and Damien, "I got everything on your list, Ms. Gails." It was Damien. "Kind of strange, though, isn't it? Frogs feet, cow tongue, wolves claw? This list nothing less than suspicious." He sounded like Damien but there was different about his voice, he didn't sound cheery and carefree anymore. It was like a completely different person using his voice.

"It's nothing more than a herbal medicine to help the sick." Gram dismissed him, half heartedly. "It's an old wives tale, even your m-"

"Actually," Damien snapped, i flinched at the sound of his voice. "It sounds like you're trying to summon a dragon." I gasped at the thought, without thinking, i cover my mouth quickly and tried to make myself more hidden before either of them saw me. Summon an actual dragon? They exist out of story books? None of this was making sense, but i stayed hidden to hear more. None of this was sitting well with me. "It looks like we have an uninvited guest. Shall we welcome them, Gram?"

My pulse quickened as I pushed myself as far into the bushes as could when i heard footsteps coming to the window. I closed my eyes and prayed for neither saw me.

"D-Damien, is something wrong? You're making some serious accusations, you know dragons don't exist anymore." I could hear the urgency in her voice. She knew it was me that was listening in and she didn't want Damien finding me. I needed to get away, quickly but I couldn't move.

"'Serious accusation, you say?!" He chuckles dryly. "Everything is wonderful, Grams, don't misunderstand that. Thanks to you, I now the recipe for summoning a dragon." He takes a step away from the window, why was he acting this way? Doesn't he know how absurd he sounds.

" Damien, you sound-" Grams started but couldn't finish before Damien interrupted her.

"-and your granddaughter is going to see you die." He laughs loudly, and he begins to walk away from the window, and to who I can only assume is Grams. Was he actually going to attack Grams? Someone he has treated like his own, he was going to kill?! Not if I have a say in the matter, I began to stand when I hear Gram yell at me, "run, Selene, run! Don't you dare look back. Promise me! Run!" I could hear the urgency in her voice, i could hear her tears, the sadness, something i never knew Grams to have. My body began to move on its own, but in the other direction. I was heading towards the stables, tears blocking my view but I knew even blind how to get there. I saddle up my horse, quickly and jump on him and ride out the barn to only the gods know where.