The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 39

Emerald's memory takes her back to her fifth birthday where she is with Jasper in the garden; Jasper says, "come on Emmy". Emerald follows Jasper as he comes across a barn; Emerald says, "Jasper I don't think we should be here, mommy said not to go so far". Jasper says, "don't be a chicken, sissy". Emerald says, "I am not a chicken, Jasper!." Jasper says, "oh yeaaaah? Why won't you go into the old barn then?." Emerald replies, "because we are not allowed." Jasper says, "I won't tell if you won't!." Emerald says, "but if we get caught-." Jasper runs inside followed by Emerald as he says, "see? No one's gonna catch us in here!." Emerald says, "ok fine, but what if-." Suddenly a monstrous roar shakes the barn and the ground beneath their feet. Emerald says, "wait, th-that could not be-." Jasper turns to Emerald saying, "d-don't worry Emerald, the Dragons only come down here on the solstice, it's not-." then the roar comes again, and the barn erupts in purple dragon flame. Emerald screams, "AAAAH!!." Jasper says, "we have to get out of here! come on!." A white-hot flame lashes at her back as she shrieks and trips as the pain blurs her vision then a beam comes crashing down... right in front of her!. Jasper says, "EMERALD!!." A split second before the beam hits her, Jasper shoves Emerald right out of the way as dust and debris stings her eyes. Emerald slowly clears her eye as she sees Jasper crushed by the beam, he coughs and grimaces in pain. Emerald says, "Jasper!! No!!." Emerald tries to pull Jasper free from under the beam but it's no use, the smoke and flames grow stronger; Jasper says, "it's no use Emmy, I'm.... crushed....stucked.... you have to go." 

Emerald shakes her head saying, "no, Jasper! You have to come with me!." Jasper coughs saying tearfully, "I'm sorry I brought you here, Emmy, I should have listened to you... I'm...s-sorry." Somewhere deep in her heart, she knows these are the last words she will say to her twin brother. Emerald has tears in her eyes saying, "Jasper... I love you; you were the bravest brother ever... it's not your fault." Jasper smiles weakly saying, "you will be braver than me, Emmy, you'll see." Emerald says, "I can't, I will never be strong." Jasper says, "you will because I will be with you, I will always be with you, my sis... Emmy." He tries to raises his hand to touch her heart as Emerald takes it and kisses it before he pushes her towards the exit Emerald turns back for a moment to see Jasper who closes his eyes as she runs as fast as she can. The roof caves in right as she escapes the barn as she yells out, "JASPER!!!." (End of flashback); in reality Emerald is sobbing as she says, "Jasper died... protecting me... from purple fire? It can't be true...." Emerald was in more pain as Rowan asks, "do you see now, Emerald?." Emerald looks at Rowan angrily saying, "no, what you showed me was a disgusting trick." Rowan says, "I did not trick you; I simply opened a memory that was buried deep within you." Emerald shakes her head saying, "It can't be... I don't believe it." Rowan says, "you know the truth now Emerald and understand what you must do, I can see it on your face." Emerald says, "you see nothing, you don't know me or what's important to me." Rowan grabbed Emerald's arm saying, "don't you understand?! Humanity cannot survive without your sacrifice! You cannot protect this savage tyrant King! You can't condemn us!." Emerald says, "let me go! you are hurting me!." 

Rowan doesn't let her go saying, "swear to me, on your life Emerald, swear that you will kill the Dragon King... swear it, NOW!." Emerald angrily says, "Rowan, I won't take your fucking oath!." Rowan asks, "why? why would you forsake your own people?!." Emerald replies, "I am not forsaking no one, I am taking matters into to my own hands, deciding things for myself." Rowan asks, "so what I showed you was not enough to convince you?." Emerald replies, "I have seen three times as much from the King that contradicts your story, he's King, he doesn't believe in slavery, let alone the murder of innocent peoples." Rowan says, "you are clearly not ready to see what is right in front of your eyes." Emerald rolls her eyes saying, "I could say the same for you." Rowan says, "we will meet again, Emerald, until then... think about what I've said." Rowan pushes her back as she plunges through the darkness again as soon as she hits something firm, she gasp awake back in Hunter's tent once more. Hunter says, "Emerald? what's wrong?." Emerald replies, "n-nothing, just a bad dream." Hunter says, "I know you, even a horrible nightmare wouldn't make you cry." Emerald says, "I am not crying." Hunter comes closer and drags a finger over her cheek as she feels the tears. Hunter says, "you are... what is the matter? Talk to me baby." Emerald remembers Rowan, Jasper, and the purple fire as she brushes Hunter of and turns around as he says, "Emerald, it's ok." Emerald turns back saying, "please don't worry about me, I will be ok... I just need to make sense of the things I saw."