In The Tower

Chapter 3

(4 Weeks Left)

I soar through the air as the wind whips my hair around. I start to fly towards the town; slowing down as I approach the town square. I land softly in the center, drawing attention to myself. People gasp; women hide their children and run inside their homes. Men start to form a circle around me while others go to fetch weapons. A deadly smile contorts my face. They don't know what's coming.

The rest of the men quickly return with the weapons and pass them around. The circle carefully expands to let the newcomers in. The weapons give them foolish courage and they start to draw in closer. Some of them draw swords while others load measly bows. They stop about ten feet away from me in any direction, not daring to move any closer. I start hysterically laughing like a maniac, scaring some of them even more. They are practically shaking with fear; I doubt they will even put up much of a fight. This will be easy.

I turn in a circle, spotting former classmates, caretakers, and people that locked me away. I spot the man who pushed me into the tower and locked the door, the same one that told me I couldn't fly anymore. I think he'll be first. Why not start now?

I start to shift into my full form. My body grows larger and my features start morphing. Once the transformation is finished, I look down at the tiny men below me. They have scattered, trying to hide from my wrath, but my eyesight is far better in this form. My other senses have been heightened also. I quickly spot my first target, that man. Suddenly, before I can attack, some of the more foolish men charge at me with their swords. I quickly take to the air; they can't get me with their swords up here and their arrows have little chance of penetrating my scales.

I circle out over the town, pausing over a small pond. I stare into it, captivated by my reflection. It shows my mature full-dragon form: huge, majestic, and covered in thick, silver-grey scales. This form is long and sleek, not fat or bulky like the cave-dwelling hoarders of fairytales. Spines run along the ridge of my back and down my long tail. My wings are huge, stretching out above me, slowly beating to keep me in the air. The thin webbing is a lighter gray than the rest of my body, stretched between long, thin supports. I'm stronger than any human, fiercer than any mortal animal. I am invincible.

I'm jerked out of my train of thought by the sound of arrows piercing the air. They strike my scales and harmlessly bounce off. Their archers are skilled, and they aim for the supposed "weak spots" in my scaly armor. Arrows hit me in the belly and under my wings. I want to laugh, even though it's impossible in this form. Those supposed weaknesses are false, just old wives tales. Their efforts are futile.

I start circling closer, slowly approaching the ground. The sword fighters brace themselves, do they think I'd be so foolish to get close enough for them to strike me? I glance over them, spotting my first target among them. He's near the edge of the group. I lock in on him and approach swifter than before. I stop and hover just out of their reach.

I call out to them with my mind, letting only the fighters hear my message, "Foolish humans, you thought I would let you get away with locking me away like a wild animal? Well, I'm tired of being caged. I lived in fear for far too long. Those times are over. You shall pay for what you have done, to me and my family." I focus the link and stare at my target, I have one last thing to say to him alone, "Guess who's first?"

I lunge down at him, too quickly for him to process what's happening. Or maybe his fear is too great for him to move. Either way, I open my mouth and engulf the upper portion of his body. I let my powerful jaws snap shut, warm blood gushing into my mouth...

~~~~~

I wake up from the dream with a gasp, still tasting the phantom blood. Ash pads across the bed and pushes against my arm.