The Curse of Fire

Chapter 1-Seraphina

The sun filtered through the dappled leaves of the forest, temporarily blinding Seraphina as she exited her tent for the first time that morning. The beams of golden sunlight splashed on her fiery red hair, causing the various strands to come together to create the illusion of flames dancing in the gentle wind. She slightly squinted her steel gray eyes as she looked up at the crystalline blue sky. She took in a deep breath of fresh morning air. It instantly calmed her, while also preparing her for the day and whatever else the universe had planned for the day.

She moved deliberately across the field, with purposeful strides and her head held high with pride. The people of her clan, her fellow dragon riders, watched her with hate filled eyes and scowled as she cross the beautiful clearing that was teeming with all sorts of life, as if her very presence poisoned the sacred place and leached it of all its color and vibrancy, but she wouldn't let anything deter her, at least not today. Today was far too important to be troubled by such trivial things, for she was finally going to participate in The Choosing, which is a sacred tradition that is special to all dragon riders. When students reach the age of 16 and have completed all of their training, they are finally able to be chosen by a dragon, who they will closely bond with and become severely attached companions with for the rest of their existence. This tradition is something that all apprentice dragon riders eagerly look forward to because it marks the end of their time as a student and the beginning of their career as a fully fledged rider. Even Seraphina, the outcast of her tribe, had been agonizingly waiting for this day for what seemed like forever, with each day ticking by incredibly slowly, aggravating her beyond measure. Now the time had suddenly come too quickly, and the first of her nerves made their presence known as they formed a tight knot in her stomach.

As Seraphina began her walk on the dirt path that led up to the mountain and into the lair of the majestic creatures, other pupils joined her. However, they always kept a far distance from her, eyeing her with distaste and disgust, their already narrow pupils somehow becoming even slimmer when their eyes landed on her in wariness and dislike. Seraphina took no notice of them though. After all, she had grown used to it and had learned over time to not let other individuals have any effect or impact on her or her emotions. She rolled her eyes and scoffed, but other than that, she paid them no attention. It wasn't her fault that she differed from them, or that the only thing they saw behind the fiery red hair and stormy gray eyes was a monster.

The great pine trees lining the edges of the path looked like grand soldiers of nature, defending the apprentices from most of the sun's harsh, blinding light that tried to pierce through the canopy of leaves far above their heads. The trees loomed over them as they passed underneath, casting them all in shadow. The weather was calm, the sky was clear as glass with no clouds to be seen, and the breeze gently brushed through Seraphina's loose hair, slightly tangling it.

There were about thirty other students along with Seraphina that were traveling the path that led to the location of The Choosing, each one distinctly different, and yet the same. Each of them had the pointed ears and slitted pupils that marked them all as dragon riders, as well as heightened senses and delicate yet powerful structures. Seraphina looked just like them, and even though her bright hair and eyes called for attention, many would consider her as an average or normal individual among her race. If only that were true, she thought. She would give almost anything to have a normal life, one without omens and bad luck thrown in it.

Seraphina looked up at the sky in deep thought, easily blocking out all of her surroundings so that she could effectively zone out. Even though her parents often wanted nothing to do with her because of the curse coursing through her veins, they found it all too easy to judge and criticize her. They frequently complained about how Seraphina always had her head up in the clouds far too often, and that as the heir of the tribe, she should be more grounded and controlled. But what was the point of rooting herself in a world where she felt she had no place in? She breathed out a deep sigh and returned her gaze to the path in front of her, when she realized with a jolt of shock that they were almost to the end. The dragons' lair was now in sight, the entrance of the cable solemn and seeming to loom over them all, carefully calculating and judging if they were worthy enough to enter the sacred location.

Taking a nervous breath in, Seraphina stepped forward towards the mouth of the cave, where a pair of dragon riders were impatiently waiting for her. She quickly planted one knee into the ground and bowed her head, even though anger and resentment filled her to the brim. This would not be the best of places nor time for her to lash out, or worse, lose control. After a few seconds had passed, she rose to her feet, only to be greeted by her parents' faces, neither of which seemed to be very happy. Disappointment flashed over her father's face as sorrow etched itself onto her mother's, causing Seraphina to hold back a sneer.

Others found it puzzling how little Seraphina resembled her parents, both in appearance and personality. Her mother, Sarah Aelin, had long, beautiful blonde hair that exceeded well past her waist, and crystal blue eyes that put even the prettiest of sapphires to shame. She was a very regal-looking woman, and her presence exuded a great amount of calmness. If someone were to ask Seraphina how she would describe her mother, she would claim that she was the incarnation of water itself. Even though she was nurturing and kind, she could also be relentless and unforgiving if the situation called for it. Nothing about her father, however, was passive or soothing. Seraphina often compared him to the Earth, due to his stable, authoritative persona and his appearance. A beard of rich brown obscured part of his face, but was still just as precise as her father. His hair was cut at a short length, like always, and his green eyes were dark, reflecting the color of the forest that surrounded them, making his appearance even more daunting. His posture was immaculate, and his presence alone was intimidating. Seraphina's father was a stern man, accepting nothing but perfection, and it showed in everything that he was or did. Together, Arthur and Sarah Aelin were the unstoppable rulers of the tribe, protecting it from any harm. What a shame that their eldest daughter was born as a curse, a tool of destruction that would never be fit to lead the tribe. Arthur quickly looked over his first born child, and gave the slightest nod of this head, which conveyed that he was wishing her luck and to not bring forth any disappointment.

Seeing as how Seraphina was heir and future ruler of the tribe, she was required to be the first to enter the lair and commence the beginning of The Choosing. Even though she had witnessed countless other Choosings, nerves still racked her body. Perhaps she wouldn't be chosen at all, forced to enviously watch as everyone else was united with their dragons. Perhaps no dragon would want to associate themselves with her, the curse of her race, a walking bomb and tool of destruction. Not even her own people wanted her, so why would such a powerful beast as a dragon?

Seraphina took in a shaky breath as she walked to the front of the cave and paused hesitantly. She glanced over her shoulder at her parents standing together with their fear expertly masked, as always. The fear in their eyes was not for her, but rather of her, and whatever shame she might bestow upon herself and them. With a scoff, her eyes left them and looked over all of her fellow peers, many of which refused to meet her gaze. Having had enough, Seraphina turned back towards the looming darkness and held her head high as she pushed her shoulders back. The wind sighed one last goodbye as it ruffled her hair, causing it to stream behind her in a banner of fearlessness and ferocity. With thunder in her storming gray eyes, she entered the beckoning shadows that belonged to the home of the dragons.