The Fiery Breath (dragon shifter chronicles book two)

Chapter Five

That morning, Sophia wakes up. Light from the sun bleeds into the room, making a glow cast upon Sophia. Her hair is spread across the bed, and the soft blankets cover his thin pale body. Her eyelids flutter open, and she blinks, getting used to the dull light seeping into the room. She gently presses herself upright and presses her hair back. She locks eyes with me, and then a sudden look of deep concern washes over her eyes.
"Crystal," she snaps, and she suddenly looks very awake. She sits up straight, her hair falling over get shoulders and the blankets dropping against the bed. "You have bags under your eyes," she says.
I do. The skin under my eyes is purple, and a tired feeling is grasping me, making me want to drop down now in the soft blankets and sleep. I feel a yawn soaring forward, eagerly trying to leave my mouth. Fatigue is grasping me tightly, keeping itself locked around my chest. I shove the yawn down though. I would feel this tired five hundred times to make sure she has no nightmares.
I nod, but speak softly. "It's okay. I just wanted to make sure you got some sleep. You did."
She shakes her head, obviously not in agreement with me. "Your not immortal completely Crsytal. You need sleep," she says. "I don't sleep in the daytime so you don't have to watch over me. Go to bed," she instructs. She gets up and pulls her hair into a tight, well done bun, leaving only small, thin strands free. Her pretty pink eyes catch mine, and she comes over and presses a hand on my shoulder. I think of her statement, knowing it's true.
           When I finally agree, I fall into her bed. Soaking in the warmth of the soft blankets, I feel sleep curl around me and shadow over me. I fall into it's grasp. When I wake again, it's late. Sophia is lying in blankets, her hair sprawled around her in tangles. Her pale skin is illuminated by the pale glow of moonlight seeping through a window.
            Even asleep, she still holds beauty.
           An eerie sound settles into my ears, and immediatly I know it. Footsteps. I fling around and leap up our of the bed, my hands grasping air at my side in hopes of finding my sword. In the dark, a figure rests. Adrenaline storms through me.
          Then I make out the face and sigh with relief as I realize it's Dren. I force back a grin. Never in my life did I think I would be relieved to see Dren.
          He frowns, fidgeting. Then the words pour from his mouth, quick and gliding out. "I am sorry for what I did when I was under the curse. I can't make it right easily. I can try though," he says. Sucking in a deep breath, he says, "let me watch over Sophia. I will get you if I have to. I promise. "
            I take in his offer. Of course I forgive him. Yet do I trust him with my sister. My eyes flash to his, and I see the heavy flame of hope spilled into them. I smile, feeling my lips curl up into the soft hint of a smile. I feel the happiness that he is hopeful again and sorry. The trust soaks in, and I nod. He slips onto the bed and sits, his gaze falling over my sister. She likes still, lost in a midst of blankets. I see the rhythmic fall and rise of her chest.
             I then feel a pang of hunger. Disappearing, I slide down the hall. I feel the walls, and the cool smooth bricks. My eyes adjust to the dim halls. When I make it to the kitchen, I creep in. The doors fall open and suddenly, in the midst of counters and cabinets, I hear a crushing sound and see a figure. Darkened by the shadows casted into this room and the dark, an uneasiness settles across me. I realize with a start that it's a horse, chewing on apples, and her or his face stuck in the cabinets.
             I immediately find a candle and switch it on. The horses head turns, and as the eerie light illuminates the horse, I know who it is. The golden fur and deep green eyes immediately have me recognize who it is. The words leaps from my chest.
         "Sivarno! Change back into human form now!" I say, clearly lost to shock.
       He changes back. I blink, and in seconds, he is standing in his human form, sinking his teeth into an apple.
       "You can't just turn into a horse and eat an apple!"
         He blinks, sinking his teeth into the apple again and swallowing nonchalantly. I groan, irritation practically oozing out in every moment of my voice. "Sivarno, go home" I instruct. "You need sleep."
        "So do you, but you are always staying awake to watch over Sophia. Your practically nocturnal you know," he says, the last bit colored in sarcastic humor. I roll my eyes, irritation and frusturation starting to fizzle heavily inside me. He's right though. Sucking in a breath, I look him in the eye.
     "Tell you what," I say. He keeps his gaze on me, and I speak smoothly, working with effort to hide my frusturation. "You go and sleep, I go and sleep. Or at least we try. Deal," I hold out my hand. He grabs it, shaking it.
      A smile curls at his lips. He releases my hand, and I walk away. I slip across the cool floor, him following on my heels. I walk with him to the door, the darkness soaking the world around us. Only occasional places are lit by strands and scrapes of moonlight, ones that shimmer and dance across Sivarnos face. I ease through the icy hallways, which are oddly chilled tonight.
          In this constant silence, every sound is visible. The sound of our breath, the tap of our feet, and the occasional drift of wind that trickles in through small windows. I find it oddly comforting. We walk across the stone floor and finally, we meet the large doors of the castle. The wood is engraved and carved into, creating small spirals and frames that dance together to make elaborate carvings. I stare at a small girl carved into the door, her log flowing hair and dress making her look almost like a ghost, despite the fact that she is made of wood.
           My eyes flicker to Sivarno, and he gives me a soft smile before ambling forward, and pushing the doors open gently. No sound occurs, but a cool breeze threads into the air, and sends a shiver into my shoulders and skin. I press my hands to my arm and rub them, trying to draw in some warmth. He smiles at me, and shuts the doors closed. As the carved doors fall closed, the warmth occurs, and I drop my hands.
         Walking upstairs, I find my way back to Sophia. Dren sits watching her. She barely moves. As always, the only thing that reassures me is the soft sound of her breath and the rise and fall of her chest. I give a slight nod to Dren, and his soft red eyes meet mine, looking shiny in the light that drifts in from the moon.
       Words suddenly float from my mouth, driven out, like a river that was locked in my chest spilling out. An ease settles inside me as I speak, as if the weight the words had held on me is lifted.
         "I forgive you. I swear, I forgive you."