The Dragon's Embrace

Chapter 1

Maria Delgato. That's me, a normal human stuck in a power-hungry dragon world. But i wasn't always lost in the rumbles of that forest, I used to live a cheerful life with my loving father( or so i thought) and little sister. We lived in a tiny 2 bedroom oldfashioned cottage in miniscule, tight nit , unusual village. It all started the day before my 18th birthday and the last day of my tedious college life until the half term. The college is right across the road from my sister's (Salma) high school. So when salmas best friend Rosa and my best friend (Rosa's sister) Sofia knocked on the door, we were about to leave when our father stopped us. He opened the inelegant door and snapped at the girls 'No school for my girls today now leave.' Our father never liked our friends, but he never spoke to them like that. He was never that discourteous. Me and Salma stared at each other, a mix of confusion and fear on our faces. Her dark eyes, brown hair, and equsite face made my grey eyes and black hair look plain in her presence. She had the perfect figure, and I was what what Sofia called a bit chubby. Salma was the spitting image of our mother, who died when she gave birth to Salma. I could never remember her, considering i was only four when salma was born. We did as was commanded, and he turned to face us with a look of distress and placid mixed. I felt a lump in my throat develop as I apprehensed what he was so nervous about. He finally spoke. However, it was gruff and full of agony 'Today alot of men will be coming to collect one of you for the dragon King to clame you' My draw dropped in shock, everyone in the village knew the king was around the age to choose his bride but why a Delgato? why choose one of the poorest people in the village? why us? Nobody ever wanted to be the Kings bride because if you stepped one foot out of line, you would be executed without a second thought. I wasn't going to allow Salma to get caught up in all that mess, I wasn't going to let her die. Before I talked myself out of it, I stood and stated,'I'll go.' Before I could explain, Salma, who had seemed to be lost in thought, replied,' but father ,they can't take either of us , we are under 18.' Through all the chaos, that reminder of truth had slipped my mind. 'She is right, I'm 17 and salma is only 13, they aren't legally allowed to take us' Father sighed and shook his head ' they don't need to stay within the law, just the royals themselves could take every human in the world down in less than a year. It does not matter anyway since Maria, you are turning 18 tomorrow, so if they wanted to remain lawful, they would just take you. The men will be here at one. Now please ready yourself for their arrival.' He exited the room, and it was so silent you could hear the fire roaring whilst the draft through the room hit the walls with force. Salma and I stared at each other, exhasted from the news. Then she came running and enveloped me in a gigantic bear hug. I clasped her back and felt her warm tears drip on my shoulder. ' Don't worry, salma, you're going to be OK, I'm going to go and you must stay here and look after yourself and father. Okay?' She shook her head uncontrollably. 'No no no no no, I won't let you go there, Maria, you can't please.' I cradled her once more ' Salma, I have to.' I could tell she was trying to think of something, but she didn't say a work after that. She just held on tighter, stopping me from breathing. When I escaped her clutch, I told her to get ready, so she had a bath and got dressed up in a gorgeous blue gown and her sandy brown hair in a bun. I followed soon behind her and then dressed in a similar jade green dress with lacey arms and my inky black hair flowing down my dress. When there was a knock on the door , salma and I lined up by the fire waiting for our father to open the door, he gave us each one last hug and swung the door open to 5 guards towering over him. 4 of them wore black suits and seemed fairly professional. However, one guard in the middle wore a scarlet blazer and looked like he was one of the men in black but without sunglasses and if they wore crimson. He was olive skinned with chocolate hair and a little scruff on his chin. His eyes were the most extraordinary golden colours. When father saw him, he bowed, so we calmly duplicated him and curtsied. 'Your majesty,' He followed up whilst facing the stunning man. Was this the king? The guards entered the house whilst many others were defending from outside. The king strolled cockily over to us. He placed his hand on Salma's chin and looked her in the eye. I could see her tensing, and my hand balled in worry. Then he strolled over to me and copied his previous movements. He looked back and forth at us. Then, he landed his eyes on me. I felt a lump land in my throat and gulped. He grasped my hand and jerked me forward. I yelped as his violent grip became tighter and tighter as he strolled. I couldn't take it anymore. 'ow' I cried. His eyes scanned mine as fast as the speed of light. Then, he ignored my yelp. He was dragging me to the mahogany door. I fought his grip so I could go hug my sister goodbye, but it was too tight. ' Salma!' I yelled. Then I tried pleading with him,' Please let me say goodbye to my sister first.' He ignored every word I said and continued hauling me out of the house. I punched him firm in the stomach, but it didn't make a dent, and he didn't make a flinch. Then I felt his rough hands against my cheek and 'slap'. A loud smack bounced through the walls of the room. My eyes were watering, and i was close to crying, but there was no chance i was going to let this man break me. His hand on my wrist loosened like he was in shock of his actions, and I took my opportunity and sprinted for my sister. I enwraped her in one last embrace, and then I felt his hands on my hips, and without warning, I was raised in the air. He carried me outside, kicking and screaming. I was placed in a colossal helicopter on a leather seat, and he postured himself next to me and didn't let his eyes leave mine. I couldn't face him. Every time I tried, my heart pounced in my chest. 'You're a fiesty one, aren't you?' I heard his deep and intense voice for the first time. I refused to speak back, and he gripped my chin and pulled me to face him. I glanced down so as not to look at his brilliant bright eyes. 'Look at me,' he commanded, and I couldn't stop myself from listening to him. ' wh-what are you doing to me?' I questioned him alarmed. He smirked a smirk, which made me want to punch him, but I decided against my want. He wouldn't answer. He just smiled. 'I assume you have a lot of questions.' He replied a while after. ' and if I did' was my stupid, sharp answer. ' I'll answer three'. Three wasn't enough. I had about a thousand brawing in my mind. How did he control me like that? Why did he choose me? Why are we in a helicopter if he can fly? My main question was, why is he so devily handsome? But I wasn't going to ask him that. 'Why did you choose me? You could have chosen anybody in the kingdom but you chose the poorest family in the smallest village. Why?' He shrugged carelessly. 'I don't know, you just interested me, so I chose you.' Oh. I don't know why I felt so disappointed. I had only just met the man, and so far, all he has been is a jerk. Before I could ask another question, we appeared in front of the castle. 'So you don't try and run again, I will have to carry you , so hold on tight.' As soon as he finished his sentence, I was back in his arms. Even though his hands were rough ,I felt at comfort there as if I could relax no matter the situation, but I fought my feelings. 'Put me down!' I demanded. Although, like I assumed, he took no notice. I kept screaming until I saw the incredible castle, and it took my breath away. The magnificent, rocky walls with overgrown moss and wisteria filling the corners, and it was like giving a white and black picture some colour. There was a spectacular moat surrounding it with a bronze bridge to get through the waters. It was incredible. 'It's so magestic, isn't it Maria?' He wasn't wrong. ' it is, um, I'm not sure of your name' that was the first time I realised I actually didn't know his name. He was the king and I didn't know his name! He looks as offended as a badger being told a worm is stronger than it. ' It's King Mateo Javier Hernández as if you didn't know.' I looked away ashamed. 'I was only joking, of course I knew.' He stopped dead and stared me in the eye. 'Liar. Did you know lying to the king is treason?' My heart leapt in my chest. No way, I can't die this quickly. I calmed my nerves. 'That would be better than having no freedom.' He chuckled. 'If you think you will have no freedom, you would not want to be me.' That stopped the conversation short until we got to the double doors at the front of the castle, and he lay me on the ground. 'I can stand you know, you didn't need to lie me on the ground.' He remained deadly serious,' I know, and I am sorry for this.' Wait, what is he sorry for? He stared into my eyes and whispered in a language I had never heard. 'Consumo deseep' All I saw was his eyes turning brighter, then it all went dark. The next time I woke up, I was on the floor of a bedroom, one arm chained to a bed. My eyes were heavy to open, but I fought it, so I knew where I was. 'Good morning, sunshine.' I knew who it was in an instant. 'Let me out of this chain! It's not like I can do much anyway in a castle full of dragons. Flying is faster than running, never mind all your powers.' He thought about it for a minute before deciding on no. Ugh. He is so infuriating. 'What did you do to me!? I remember you saying something. What did you do!?' screamed at him overtaken by emotions. 'Easy there, princess, I wouldn't yell at your king if I was you.' I bit my tongue before i spoke back. ' And to answer your question, it's a... family secret.' Then one word came out before I could stop it. 'Liar'. The king jumped off the bed, towering over the sitting me. Then he smiled 'your unusual' 'thanks,' I responded. He stared at me and then mumbled something under his breath. My head started pounding, and it was excruciating.' Ahhhh!!! Help, please. It hurts. It's my head, ahhh.' Then he looked away, and it stopped. 'That shouldn't have happened.' His tone had turned to fury.' There is something about you, and I'm going to find out what it is!' He guaranteed. 'You just caused that headache, didn't you!' His eyes turned to the floor full of regret. 'Oh my god, you're worse than I thought!' I needed to get out of there, and I needed to soon, but I couldn't with the chain on. He took one last glance at me and left the room, and as soon as he did, I took my shot. I looked around the room, searching for anything that could help me because as Father had taught me when I was young 'there is always something there, you have just got to look for it' I searched and found a paper clip under a desk but it was just out of reach. I tried stretching and grabbing it with my feet and bingo. I used my free hand to unpick the lock, and I was out of the chains. I foraged through the room for a way out, and the only way was the window, considering Mateo had locked the door on the way out. The room was about 100 feet in the air. There was no way I was getting out without a plan. I checked the room for anything I could use to get down there, and in the wardrobe were dresses and outfits that mateo must have bought for me, and a lot of them had belts. I tied the dismatching belts together and hung it out the window, and just as I was about to swing down, I felt a hand grab my arm. It was mateos.