Prince of Fire | Dragonfire Book One

Capítulo Tres

Chaos and destruction prevailed everywhere Dracula flew. Fire rained down on human towns, setting everything ablaze.

~ Draconic Book of Songs

Chapter Three

Anticipation churned uncomfortably in Elena's stomach as she stared at the entrance to Headquarters. Today was her first day helping the Council with a significant mission, even if she knew that they wouldn't be hunting that day.

Normally, she and a partner would track a minor dragon and capture it. If the dragon became a true menace between the time she received her orders and the time she found it, she would be forced kill it immediately.

As a human up against a large beast, Elena used whatever weapon at her disposal to subdue her target. Her weapon of choice for killing beasts was a rifle, but she also used tranquilizing darts and tasers too.

However, Elena didn't have to kill very often. Usually, she would give her target a warning, to coerce them into Shifting so that it would be easier for her to take them away for interrogation, or whatever the Council decided to do to them. In that case, if the beast demonstrated compliance, the Council would be more likely to release the dragon with merely a warning and extra surveillance.

On the other hand, when addressing the more detrimental dragons, the Order determined that it was a priority to eliminate the threat. High ranking officers were the ones to execute the plan, ensuring that the most adroit and capable members would confront the more malicious demons. Furthermore, high ranking officers were trusted with the use of more advanced technology, such as grenades.

Even though Elena had little experience with grenades or other explosives, she knew that she disliked the lack of elegance that accompanied them. The act of killing was already difficult to swallow, even if it was for the safety of society. Likewise, if she had to kill a dragon that had Shifted, it took more effort for her to remind herself that its human façade disguised the fact that it was still a monster.

The concept of Shifting was still an unnatural and abstruse concept for Elena. All she could wonder was how such a massive creature could simply transform and reduce its size within a few seconds.

Not only that, but their appearance mimicked humans so closely that she might not have been able to tell the difference if she hadn't seen the transformation before her eyes. Sometimes, she also pondered about a dragon's form. Were the dragon and human forms all it could transform into, or were there others?

Before she could wonder any longer, Elena refocused her attention and mind to the present. She could learn more about dragons by assisting the High Council and partaking in missions.

Elena took a deep breath before entering the building. She knew that she shouldn't feel too concerned. This wasn't the first time that she had been in Headquarters. She had received many missions and that day shouldn't be much different.

Her boots clicked against the white marble floor, accentuating the sound of her every step. With every step she took, Elena grew bolder and more confident. The Council had selected her to be lieutenant for a reason; She could not fail them by being timid and hesitant. Furthermore, she could not disappoint her parents by evading her new responsibility.

The previous day, after her dinner with Keira and her friends, Elena had driven home to greet her proud and enthusiastic parents. Even though her father had been slightly gruff at first, he eventually became as approving and praising as her mother. Both of them had been eager to see her excel in the hunting business like they did, thus why earning the title of lieutenant was a vital step for her. She had taken a step forward and was determined not to take a step back.