Pulchra Arcanum

Part I (Debate/ Choosing Darkness)

Merlin suddenly screamed, backing away from Megara. She lifted her head slowly, feeling pain and blood seemingly everywhere. When she looked to the man shed called her father all her life, she saw him clutching his leg, hopping on one foot. Megaras eyes flitted down his body to the floor, not sure what had damaged Merlin but not knowing whether to be grateful or frightened.

She saw a flash of brown and would have gasped had she possessed the will. Luter Terram was crawling around on the floor, his teeth bared as he attacked Merlins ankles. In Merlins drunken state he was unable to spot Luter Terram, but Megara was afraid of what would happen if he were to come to his senses and see the creature. She knew she had to act quickly.

She said the first words which came to her mind, though where they had appeared from she was not sure. Ardere flamma ignis, she whispered. The words ignited within her heart and she could feel her pain, anger, and fear building and crawling from herself to Merlins feet. It built in power as it moved toward Merlin. As the power left her, Megara felt herself crawling to her knees. Hatred and anger began to boil in her as the bottom of Merlins cloak began to smoke. Then, all at once, Merlins cloak caught fire. Merlin screamed and threw it off, stamping at the cloak.

His stamping did nothing for the flames. In fact, they quickly spread to his feet and up his legs. His screams became piercing as he ran toward the door and threw it open. Help me! he screamed to the night air. Help me! Somebody! Water!

Megara came to her feet and slowly followed Merlin to the street, feeling Luter Terram catch up to her and climb up her skirts. She held him in her arms as they walked toward the man in the street. Megara felt strangely empty as she watched Merlin struggle to breathe in the smoke. She didnt know what she was supposed to feel. Angry, because hed told her the truth? Angry, because of what the truth entailed?

Or miserable, as the only father she had ever known was now here before her, dying in the street?

Megara spoke the words under her breath which allowed her to communicate with Luter Terram as the people of Camelot began to flee from their houses and see the damage she had inflicted. Shouts for water spread quickly. Megara seemed to not have been noticed yet.

Are you alright, Meggy? Luter Terram asked.

No, Megara whispered. We cant stay here, though. We have to leave.

Where to, my friend?

Megaras eyes filled with tears as she looked down at the stoat. She had a friend, and that was more than she felt she deserved. I dont know. But we must leave.

Megara stayed in the shadows as she tried to avoid the crowds. But she gave in and looked back. And her eyes locked with a boy. They stared for a moment before the young child opened his mouth wide and screamed, pointing at her, It was her! Mother, the woman! Shes a dragon!

Megara felt confused, why was he saying these things. She looked down to Luter Terram as she heard the men begin to respond. Meggy, run! Luter Terram hissed.

Megara held Luter Terram tightly to her chest and ran as fast as she could, her bare feet slipping on the stone streets. She vaguely noticed the boulder from the forest in the town center when she ran past it, but looked behind her and saw a crowd running at her heels. What do I do, Luter Terram? She asked, her voice high and scared.

Run to the forest and become like me, he suggested. She listened and ran as fast as she could, hoping to put more distance between them and the angry crowd. When she looked back again she saw that most of the crowd was falling behind, but three angry men were staring her down. She screamed the words shed spoken earlier that night at them and she saw their feet began to smoke when her fear reached them. They slowed and began screaming as the flames rushed up their pants. The crowd caught up to them and began trying to stop the flames.