My Knight in Dragon Scales

29. Sophie the Shield

"Our first life? What are you talking about?" She just waved me off as she pointed up at a mountain in the distance. "Avery!"

"Roman!" She copied and I just crossed my arms frowning. Now I know why Logan didn't like when I did it to him. "Roman look, that right there is Mt. Diablo." My eyes went wide. The mountain was lush and bright. It looked so different, more alive. "That's where he lives."

"What are we doing here, Avery?" She looked over at me and smiled brightly, taking my hand and leading me into the forest. Is she just never going to give me a straight answer? She laughed and I frowned. I don't understand...

"SOMEBODY HELP!" I tensed up and Avery looked at me concerned. It was like my entire body just went cold. Who... Avery shook her head and pointed past a bush. I narrowed my eyes and pushed past it only to see this young woman fearfully pushing herself against a tree trying to get away from this very large tiger looking creature. "SOMEBODY PLEASE..."

There was this loud roar that seemed to rip through the trees and I turned to see this very big and very bright eyes peering through the trees. It took a step forward and I tensed up at the sight of its giant paw. The tiger ran away fast than I've seen anything run in my life.

"Are you ok, miss?" WHAT THE FUCK?! Since when do dragons talk?! Avery started laughing at my pure shock. The dragon lowered his head looking over at the scared Woman. "It's ok. I won't hurt you. I promise."

"You're a dragon." She looked terrified. She looked like I did when I first saw Ero... er... Virgil. I frowned and Avery's eyes darkened. I can't believe that I nearly... I didn't know.

"Yes... I am. Does that frighten you?" I looked over to see the Dragon laying his head down at her feet. Something Ero... Virgil did a lot with me. A sort of reassurance... The woman shook her head and slowly got up leaning up against the tree. Something was wrong. I just felt it.

"She's sickly." Avery called as she circled the woman, time seemingly frozen. I gave her a confused look and she snapped. The world whizzed past me and I found myself standing in front of the house again. The saw the dragon just laying in the grass and flowers and I smiled. God damn it... I couldn't help but blush. All those times Virgil would just collapse in the flowers sending all these petals into the air. It was the most adorable thing... and I never knew it was him.

"AIMON!" The dragon lifted his head and I turned to see the same woman. Her red hair down with this big smile on her face. She started walking over but I frowned seeing her struggle. She was walking like she was losing control of her legs. "Aimon." She started to stumble and the dragon caught her before she could fall.

"Be careful, Sophie. You wouldn't want to worry Edward." Aimon laid his head down and I watched as the woman slowly climbed up to his back, with the dragons help of course. "You seem well?"

"I had the most amazing dream last night." Avery just laid in the grass listening to everything going on. I sat beside her and watched unsure what was the point in this. The woman spun herself around and laid back as Aimon walked carefully underneath a tree to give her shade. He really was a big dragon, it hardly covered anything. But it was just enough for her.

"A dream you say?" Aimon looked up at her and I smiled. He looked at her like Virgil looked at me. Happy and just content with being with her... His Rider.

"He loved her." Avery said as she sat up. "Aimon loved with Sophie. He stayed by her side watching over her and her family."

"I dreamed of my son." I looked over to see Sophie holding her belly, this light in her eyes. Aimon just smiled as she spoke. "He had dark hair like his father and my eyes. He was so energetic and caring."

"He's your child. I wouldn't doubt it." Aimon called back causing Sophie to laugh.

"You always say things like that." I couldn't help but smile. This was... sweet. Avery glanced over at me and smiled, before snapping again and causing the world to change again. Aimon was still just laying there in the grass but now there was this delicious aroma. They were barbequing.

"Ami!" I choked back a laugh as Aimon narrowed his eyes. This small little boy came running out of the house with his father close behind pushing a wheelchair with Sophie in it.

"Charlie be careful please." The father called as the kid ran right to Aimon.

"Oh hush Edward. Aimon won't hurt him."

"I know that. I just didn't want him to trip." Everyone started laughing and I just stared at Sophie. She had this bright smile on her face but I could see the pain in her eyes. The boy stumbled and Aimon quickly caught him, picking him up and carefully carrying him over to the table now filled with food.

"Ami ride!" Sophie chuckled and Aimon groaned. "Mama rides..."

"Your mother is my rider. You are not. " Charlie slowly started to frown and Aimon looked away. "Maybe when you're older."

"Avery I'm confused what is this about?" I asked and Avery just sighed. 

"This is our first life, Roman. That right there is Sophia Winters, the first Druid shield. And at her side, Aimon the first firestarter." My eyes narrowed and I looked over at her confused. "See it was up to your family to teach you your history. I really don't know how to do all this."

"You called Virgil the firestarter. I don't understand." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair yelling out in frustration. I watched her snap again and suddenly it was dark and rainy. There were people surrounding the house as Aimon crouched down ready to attack. Sophie stood in front of him guarding him against the people as Charlie sat on Aimon's back. Edward... I saw Edward on the ground. He didn't look like he was going to getting back up.

"Give us the Dragon!" One of the people yelled out, taking a step forward, and Sophie shook her head.

"I won't let you hurt him! He hasn't done a thing." Sophie yelled as I saw her legs shake. It was taking everything in her to stay standing. 

"It's a dragon. They aren't pets!" Sophie look like she was ready to burn them herself. She held her arms out and yelled.

"HE'S NOT A PET! HE'S FAMILY!" She spun around and whispered to Aimon. His eyes went wide and I saw him start to shake her head but stop. "You promised. NOW GO!" 

"As you wish... I love you." Aimon closed his eyes and Sophie smiled bright. He took to the air with Charlie holding on tight, crying for his mother. The people started to freak but only froze as Sophie grabbed a bucket and a stick from the fire.

"You won't touch him." She called out as she threw the bucket to the ground, spilling this foul smelling liquid all over the place. Her eyes glossed over and I saw a slight purple begin to glow. "I will protect him. Just like he protected me." She dropped the stick to the ground lighting the place up. I reeled back as the flames rose so high. This gut-wrenching cry filled the air and I knew it had to be Aimon. Sophie just stood there in fire unable to move. "I'll be his shield... f-for once..."

"What the actual fuck?" Avery just frowned as I stood there shaking. "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?"

"She died. Obviously..." I shot her this look and she groaned, snapping again. I didn't even have time to digest what I just saw, because as soon as the world stopped spinning the ENTIRE PLACE was a fucking inferno. I was in some sort of forest. The place looked like hell. No, I mean literal hell there was fire EVERYWHERE.

"Now where are we?!" I yelled annoyed at this shit. I don't see the point in showing me this stuff. What does it have to do with me?"

"The great forest... My time." My eyes went wide as she led me through the inferno. "This was 200 years before your time I believe."

"200 YEARS!" She just nodded as the fire suddenly vanished. It was like it was all snuffed out in one quick moment. I looked around it complete shock until I saw them. 

"L̴E̴T̶ ̷M̶E̵ ̶G̸O̴!̸ ̴ F̷̦̓͗̾̂Ä̸̹́̃T̴̺͍͎̅H̸̖͐̽̈́͠Ė̴̢̺̙̩̔̈́R̸͎̆͗̕ͅ! Ą̵̕N̵̮͌Y̷̟͊Ọ̷̈́N̵̨̾Ě̸ ͕. L̸E̷T̴ ̸M̷E̴ ̵G̴O̴!̶"