Lohikäärme: The Dragon's Descent (Revised)

Chapter VIII - The Prophecy

Chapter VIII - The Prophecy

The walk back to my bedchamber was long and lonely. Kosh had told me that she had a few things to discuss with the High Council, so I would have to leave her behind. If it was any solace, she had said, she'd come and see me in my chamber as soon as the magisters let her go. Either way, I had the night for myself, and maybe I'd fall asleep before she came.

I took off my dress and slid into my nightgown, my trout necklace gleaming in the dark as I undressed. I sat on my bed and stared at my closet. The chamber felt so empty without Kosh. It didn't feel the same.

"Ssss..." What was that? "Ssss...afia..."

I pulled my feet up on my bed before I poked my head down the ground. The voice was so soft, but I knew I could hear it. "Wh-Where are you?" It was the snake again.

"Ssss," hissed the snake. It slithered from under my drawer and crawled into view. "Ssss...afia."

"You can really talk."

"Yesss, of courssse, I can. But I couldn't talk to you with that friend of yoursss in the chamber," he went. "Nobody elssse should know that I'm here, ssso I waited and waited and waited for hoursss."

"I...I can't believe this."

"I can't believe it either!" he grumbled. "You can hardly be found alone. And I thought you weren't used to people."

I rubbed my eyes and lit a candle, and raised it so it lit up the whole chamber. The snake was there on the floor, its thin tongue flickering in and out. I didn't want to look at it because it made my head hurt, its colors swirled even faster, but I couldn't make myself turn away from it. I knew this was happening. I wasn't dreaming. But how could I be talking to something that shouldn't speaking?

But I wasn't normal, was I? Of course, I wasn't. If I was normal, I wouldn't be here in Aethelgard in the first place. If I was normal, we wouldn't have needed to live in the Southern Isles away from people. If I was normal, I wouldn't have been a burden to my parents for years. If I was normal, I'd still be with them.

He sighed. "Ssss, ssss. Hey, don't cry, Sssafia." Tears streamed down my face. I wiped my tears off, but my eyes ached as I squeezed the tears out. "I can help you, Ssssafia."

"Help me?" I squeaked, stroking the trout pendant on my chest. "I'm going insane, and now I'm asking a snake to help me." I shook my head. "This is so wrong."

"Your talent, Ssss...afi...a. I'll help you underssstand your talent and your purpossse."

"You'll...You'll help me?"

The snake nodded, so I sat on my bed, my hands shaking, and waited for him to speak. It crawled up the foot of my bed and onto my lap. "But firssst, you mussst know who you are. Look at me, Sssafia."

I looked at it, then turned away. "I can't. Your colors, they move so fast. My head hurts." I tried looking at it again. My head felt like it was being twisted and clawed at. I raised my hand and covered my eyes, shaking my head. "I-I'm sorry. I can't."

It bobbed its pointy head. "You really are the one."

I didn't understand a thing.

"Do you believe in propheciesss, Sssafia?"

What could this snake possibly be planning? "I believe that snakes aren't to be trusted." Snakes lie as easy as they change skins, Mother used to say. It was like that in all the songs, all the stories.