Among Dragons (Editing)

Chapter 18

A soft, gentle sunlight flitted around my vision as my eyes fluttered open. It was almost peaceful, laying there in such a warm and comfortable state. All I felt was the streaking warmth of the rays on my skin. It made me almost wistful for when I knew nothing at all, because when the realization hit me, it hit me hard.

I shot up from the bed I was laying on, instantly regretting the action as a sharp, fresh pain pierced the inner parts of my skull. Even the thoughts that ping ponged around in my brain with an urgence seemed to be helping in wedging the pain even further to make cracks in the bone.

Slower, but still rushed, movements brought my feet down onto the cold wooden floor below. It creaked in protest as I stood on my feet. I had been placed in the same room I had stayed in before. The dark wood furniture of the room and the elaborately decorated covers of the bed were an immediate reminder.

One of the windows was pushed open slightly and it let in the smell of the rich air outside. As much as I wanted to stand right where I was, soaking up the sunlight and letting the sweet, refreshingly cold air run through my veins, I knew that I had to talk to Niram.

As quickly as my aching head and groggy limbs would allow, I found my shoes and started to head out the door. Instead of emerging out into the airy and naturally lit hallway like I expected, I ran head on into someone’s chest. The familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon poured into my lungs almost as fast as my relief did.

I leaned back slightly to look up into Niram’s face, my eyes searching around the features that I came to find such comfort in. It was a face that my mind wouldn’t have even thought twice about when I first met him. Now, I could spot it in crowd of millions. No other could make my stomach flutter like his did.

A smile of amusement brightened Niram’s expression. “Are you in a rush to get somewhere? I was just coming by now to check on you.”

“No, I was actually leaving to  look for you,” I smiled nervously.

Niram’s smile faded as his expression twitched into worry. “Is everything alright? You look distraught.” He walked completely in before closing the door behind him.

“Did something happen when you were in Kiran’s mind?”

I shook my head slowly. “Uhm, somewhat, yeah. It’s just-” I paused with aggravation. How was I supposed to start this?

“Just what?” He peered at me in pure confusion, the anxious look on his face prepared for something horrible.

“I don’t think that your father is telling the entire truth,” I said finally.My voice shook slightly from my nerves.  

Now his gaze narrowed in suspicion. “What do you mean?”

My feet began pacing back and forth without me telling them to. “ I don’t think your father is telling you the truth about the prophecy. I mean, you yourself said it wasn’t that reliable anyways. Have you read the whole thing before?”

“Well of course, why wouldn’t I?”

“Can you repeat it to me?”

Niram gave me a hesitant look. “Eris, I’m not understanding this. Why are you so concerned with the prophecy all of a sudden?”

“Kiran showed it to me. The whole, original thing.” I stopped pacing and looked at him. “I think your father must have changed something in it when he sent it out to the other dragons and showed it to you.” I gave him a pleading look. “Could you please just repeat the version you were taught?”

He let out a long, low sigh. “In a world denying of existence, he who has been so long dead in the night will finally be revived to breathe the light of day. The discovery of the eighth will spark the sun to breach the horizon and uncover the truths that the mind has left to lay. A dragon of great power and whose beauty is its greatest at night will have its spine played by a King in need of possessions-”