Dragonblood

13

I heard whispering. I struggled to open my eyes. I felt heavy. Like I was paralyzed. I couldn't move or fully open my eyes. Am I died? Oh great, Alron and Kalinth will surely kill me if I died. There was no fighting the heaviness and I drifted off to sleep, I think? I was back in the town square. My hands were covered in blood and tears ran down my cheeks. Footsteps approached. "My gods" someone said. I looked up and saw him. A man with black hair slicked back and a gold crown on his head. White hairs were spread throughout his hair. He was old but he didn't look the part of an old man. He was pale much like Amara. He wore black trousers and long sleeved tunic. "My King" a guard responded. The King kneeled beside me and cradled Amara's head in his lap. He weeped but no tears fell. "My daughter. Who killed my heir?". I stood up and looked at him. I felt anger and hatred for him. Why was I feeling this way towards a man I don't know. "You did this" a guard behind me said. His voice was filled with anger. "Your jealousy killed your daughter. You killed your own daughter for power". The King's head snapped up and his face was turning red. "Why should I let my daughter have power, love, loyalty, and a dragon when I am the King! I deserve it all". I stumbled backwards. "You didn't. Tell me you didn't", my voice was hoarse from the screaming. His so-called grief was an act. "Of course I did. Can't you see with the power gained from a bonded dragon I can conquer the other kingdoms and be King of it all. No one shall dare stand against me and power. My daughter was an obstacle that needed to be removed. The realm will be plunged into darkness and lives will be enslaved, both dragons and humans alike." the King spoke loud enough for only us nearby to hear. I felt sick. I covered my mouth with my hands to avoided vomiting. The King looked back at his daughter and stroked her face. "With my daughters soul and blood tainted with that of a dragon, I can use the essence within her to become powerful enough to summon my own dragon. I will become unstoppable". "You are wrong. We will stop you. For you see, your daughter and her dragon blessed the five of us with their essences. We are Dragonbloods." all the guards said in unison. 

I awoke to whispers again. This time my eyes were able to open and I saw him. The man from the forest. "Even from the Beyond, Amara feels her guardians. Her Vyleses. After all these centuries, all five are finally found and united. She is trying to contact her." the man spoke. A rumble was felt. "Do not think that I am naive, boy. I was there when the King killed Amara and I was there when he brought upon the war to claim the realm for himself. It was I along with four other dragons and the Dragonblood guardians who were able to defeat, weaken, and lock away the forgotten King. I know what Amara contacting my rider means. I also know that is happening to Zalea. It's the same thing that happened to Amara that caused her death. The bond between guardian and dragon causes the guardian to transform into something else entirely. Power within their veins with abilities gained from the dragon through that bond. But not until their death" a powerful voice spoke. My dragon. "I only came to warn you, Lazarus. It won't be long until he sends his creatures of death here. He has already felt the power from Zalea. He knows he will be freed once he gets a hold of her", the man turned away from the dragon. "Is that why you brought her to me, Silas? You could have easily taken her with you." Lazarus spoke. I felt something wrap around my waist and tighten. I held my breath while I looked and saw a thick black scaled tail around my waist. Silas didn't answer and left. My heart ached for this man, but why? I know not who he is or whose side he is on. The tail around my waist began moving and I was suddenly in the air. Warm breath hit my face. Purple eyes stared at me. I huffed and crossed my arms across my chest, "You have got some explaining to do". 

It felt like hours have passed by as Lazarus continued staring a me. I asked a million questions but all went unanswered. Lazarus moved closer and opened his mouth, using his sharp teeth to grab the back of my shirt. He lifted me in the air then began walking. "Where are we going?" I asked. I was placed on a cliff's ledge within the cave. "Here. Sit". Lazarus spoke without moving his mouth. I huffed in annoyance and sat my ass down like a child would do when being scolded. "What did you see?". I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out. What did I see? I looked at Lazarus' purple eyes and reached up to touch his snout. There was a brief change in his eyes. Perhaps he doesn't like being touched and I may end up being burned alive for doing so. However, I have made many stupid decisions in my life and this was one of those decisions. I kept my hand on his snout and began petting him. "It felt like a dream that wasn't mine and yet, at the same time it did. Like the dream was entirely mine. although impossible considering I was not alive at the time. It felt real. Like I lived this moment before. I saw Amara and the King. I watched as Amara died in my arms. Then the King gave his reasons for killing his only heir". Lazarus was silent and I continued. "I got this dream from the women in the forest. The sky got dark and from the darkness, a light was shinning. The women. She spoke words before she kissed me." I paused, realization hit me. "That was Amara, wasn't it?". Lazarus didn't speak and that spoke the truth. I put my hands in my lap and tears began to form. "I'm going to die aren't I? He's coming for me. I heard you and that man, Silas, speaking". Lazarus took a deep breath then released it, almost like a sigh a human would do. "Yes and no" was all he said. A thought came to mind, "What of the prophecy? Alyziran spoke of one that was involved with the war from long ago". The air went still. Tension built through the silence. "What do you know about the prophecy?". I gulped and smiled nervously. "Nothing". 

The next words that Lazarus spoke haunted my sleep that night in the cave. 

"You will die. All Dragonblood descendants will die. The darkness be free to rise. With the realms plunged into darkness, The King will conquerer all and life itself will be hopeless. Then, and only then, will the guardians and their Queen finally awaken and vanquish the King of Souls". 

~~~

"Zalea, you must awaken". I groaned and turned to my side. "Five more minutes Alron. Need sleep". Something nudged my back and pushed me. I took a brief fall and landed with a grunt. The wind knocked out of me, I rolled onto my back and looked up at purple eyes. "Lazarus, must you push me off a cliff?". Lazarus' tail wrapped around my waist and he lifted me up onto his back. The feel of his large scale body underneath me caused a sense of power coursing through my veins. It felt right. Like I belonged. Powerful. Is this what my ancestors felt like so many centuries ago? I recall what Alyziran told me. My family line vanished without a trace, presumed to be completely wiped and they lived in constant fear that the King would return and he never did. That is what caused the creation of the Dragon Festival. To hunt down my family line. Lazarus began climbing the walls of the cave. I held on for dear life which was incredibly difficult considering there was no saddle. "Where are we going?" I asked. We reached the top of the cave and entered a passageway that lead to outside the mountain. "To make my presence known and to prepare for an attack on the castle" was all Lazarus spoke before he took off. The feel of the wind in my face will never cease to amaze me. The castle came into view not long after we took off. I suppose that flying is a lot faster than walking. Lazarus began descending until he landed onto the field where training was currently taking place. Everyone stopped and stared. I'm not sure what came over me but I suddenly felt like a bad bitch when I jumped off Lazarus. Kalinth and Alron were by the stone stair, swords in hand. As I walked passed everyone, they all lowered onto one knee and looked at the ground, worshipping. Or they were just scared shitless by Lazarus. Either way, I don't care. I'm finally revealing the secrets. I walked by Kyra and Aeros and like instinct, they fell into step behind me. I had a suspicion that I am currently the most powerful rider in this castle and if what I overheard Lazarus telling Silas, my death will be the domino that causes the other Dragonblood's deaths. And ultimately, the death of thousands of souls for a war that is coming. A war that started with the very first Dragonblood's death, Amara. I'm not entirely how much powerful we will become if we awaken from our deaths. 

I reached my brothers and they looked terrified. "I have a lot to tell you. But first, we all need to discuss and plan for an attack".