Dragon of Legend: Destiny (Published)

Chapter 16

Mist swirled around her. It was so thick that visibility was almost impossible. In fascination, Akira reached out a hand and swiped through it. Momentarily, the mist dispersed before it reformed around her. Turning around, Akira found that she was shrouded in it.

I'm dreaming, she thought as she lifted her hand up before her eyes. She was just able to make it out. How was it though, if this was dream, that she could feel the cold? It feels so real, she shivered. There was also something in the air which made it feel heavy. Something about it added a sense of foreboding.

As the feeling got stronger, a feeling told her she shouldn't be here. She took a slow step back, her heart suddenly speeding up.

Danger, her mind screamed. Run! Yet Akira found that she was suddenly frozen to the spot. Her eyes were glued ahead. Something was coming.

Almost as a response, footsteps began to ring out eerily around her. One, two, three, pace by pace, taking their time, coming closer. And then the mist before her began to slowly part as a shape came into view.

Terrified, Akira tried to run; yet, her legs would not obey. She wanted to scream, yet no sound would come. As the shape grew closer, she felt the air around her thicken and crackle with a dark feeling of power mixed with the scent of evil.

"So, you are the new rider?" A deep voice rang out.

Fear coursed through her veins, and with her heart in her throat, Akira watched the mist part before each step of the figure. Then, the shape came into focus, and Akira found herself staring at a tall man. He was dressed in black from head to toe; a contrast to his light blond hair. When she caught sight of his eyes her fear grew. While he looked no older than his late twenties, in his black eyes swirled with countless years of knowledge as well as vast power. This was a man not to be trifled with.

"You must be Akira," the man spoke as he put together his gloved hands so that his fingers were pressed against each other. His eyes ran over her, inspecting her.

"W-who are you?" Akira stuttered.

The man's eyebrows rose. "Can't you guess?" he asked.

The answer popped into Akira's mind right away, for there was only one person in the Lands who could radiate so much power and evil. Yet somehow she didn't want to believe it.

"Haiden," she breathed. This isn't real, she thought at the same time. This can't be real!

A smile appeared on the man's face showing Akira that she was right. It was a smile, however, that made all of her senses scream in warning.

"This isn't possible," she whispered instead. She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fingers into fists, digging her nails into her palms. Wake up! She told herself.

"My, you really are young," Haiden's voice spoke beside her right ear. Her eyes shot open, and Akira turned to see Haiden standing beside her, looking over her shoulder.

She shuddered. She wanted to turn, to run, to get away, but fear paralyzed her to the spot.

"Not to mention pretty," Haiden added. A menacing smile spread across his face.

"W-Where am I?" Akira whispered, her eyes wide. This can't be reality.

Haiden chuckled. "In a dream," he told her. His eyes were filled with amusement at her obvious fear.

"But...how?"

"It's a talent of mine," Haiden replied as he suddenly disappeared. "This was the only way I knew how we could meet in private, just us two riders." Akira jumped when his voice came from her left. Smoothly he turned her so that he was standing right in front of her. Reaching out a hand he grabbed her chin.