Holding Onto Stars | Lady Lesso

Fifteen

I swear life likes to laugh at me. 

I was just having a perfectly normal day. It was Boxing day, and I'd decided to go on a walk with Hort, Sophie, Beatrix and Hester, before we had a few drinks at the tavern before I had to go back to work the next day. 

'Yeah, we're planning on visiting Agatha and Tedros in Camelot next month.' Sophie told me, sipping her drink. 'I can't wait.' 

'Wish I could come, I've got to return to work tomorrow.' I sighed. 'Honestly, I'm not particularly looking forward to it.' 

'You'll be fine.' Beatrix assured me. 'Just remember what we've all told you. Keep your head up, focus on work and ignore everything else around you.' 

'I'd resign if that wasn't my only source of income.' I added. 

'You know you can't do that Katherine, I like hearing about all the inside gossip.' Sophie laughed. 

I shook my head in amusement, picking my whiskey back up. 

James came around to collect empty glasses, but then he stopped dead. 'Did you guys just hear that?' 

'Hear what? That awful piano player?' I raised an eyebrow. 

'No, I can hear it too.' Hort frowned, looking around, before settling on the window. 

I paused, putting my glass down and listened. The whole pub went silent, as the distant sound of roaring and screeching became more distinct. 

'What the hell is that?' Beatrix asked in puzzlement. 

'I think I recognise that sound.' I muttered. 'You guys stay here.' I stood up, heading outside and unsheathing my sword on the way. 

True to my suspicions, a huge, dark green dragon was slowly descending into the town square and people were running in all directions and screaming in terror. It landed, before breathing fire over a patch of grass, melting the snow all around it within a 5 foot radius, and I summoned up some water, putting it out. The dragon locked its eyes on me, and made a straight beeline for me. 

'Katherine, watch out!' Hester yelled behind me, as the dragon threw fire at me. I quickly blocked it with some water. 

'I told you guys to stay inside!' I yelled, keeping my eyes on the dragon that was now snarling at me, and making threatening moves. 'I think its me it wants!' 

'Again?' Hort shouted. 'Someone really has it in for you!' 

Hester's fiery demon suddenly flew past me, heading straight for the dragon. 

'Hester, no, don't be stupid!' I shouted, but it was too late; the demon was hovering around the dragon and kept flying at its face. Hester was obviously trying to take the dragons focus from me. 

The dragon made a half-hearted snap for the demon, missing it by an inch, and I turned to Hester, taking her shoulders. 'Bring your demon back! That dragon will kill you!' 

She quickly seemed to realise I was right, and summoned her demon back to her shoulder. 

The dragon attempted to shoot fire at me again, and I blocked it again with water. It was actually trying to kill me; I quickly realised. 

I advanced with my sword, and began shooting random spells at it, which quickly became apparent that they were useless and were only pissing it off even more, but I was out of ideas. 

Sophie shouted a warning, but it was too late. The dragon took a swipe at me and I dodged, but its claws caught me in my right arm, as I heard the sickening sound of them ripping into my flesh, and I cried out, backing up slightly. I heard the others screaming.