The Dragon Of El Dorado

Chapter-1 My Story

     I shouldn't have done it. 

     I have been saying that to myself everyday since I did it. I knew I shouldn't have done it, when I did it. But I had been so, so thirsty. And hungry. I had to get something to eat. I still remember the times before my mom...was killed. The way the sweet smell of her cooking would come from the kitchen and fill my sinuses with love and the taste and desire for the delicacies. The way she would call me. "Abelardo! Abelardo, come here! See what I made for you?" Then she would give me a piece of Tortilla, topped with coriander leaves and melting cheese and butter, and I would bite into it.

     I still heard her voice sometimes in the cave. The mothers of El Dorado calling their children and telling them to be in time for dinner. It's a good thing, a dragon can't cry. Or else, I would have made a lake of tears every time the nostalgia for her, hit.

     I tried staying inside my cave during the day. I wanted to. But my body is not under my control. I turn into a vicious rust red dragon, everyday. I have no idea, how monstrous I must look to the humans who see me. Every night, my scales melt into my clothes, a simple Greek style tunic. I spend the night, trying not to die from the overexertion of my body, which was okay in the dragon form but not in the human form.

     Though my body does not stay in my control, my mind does. I need to let out one burst of fire everyday, but I always push my head up and release the flames in the open sky. It freaks out the villagers, but I never hurt them. Ever since the curse, I haven't needed any food. Water on occasion, but no food. Good thing, because I am sure, the humans would have looked actually... tasty to me. Horrible thought. I shudder at even the thought of thinking of it. 

     Until the witch returned.

     I have never shared my story with anyone. I dare not risk leaving my lair. What if, the transformation happens before sunrise? No, I can't tell it to anyone. But the sight of the witch had had a very bad effect on me. A feeling of anger, fear, and hunger together. I had wanted to kill her. But I had abstained. When she saw me, she had looked disappointed. At the word witch, most people would imagine a screaming, shrieking hag. But my witch was a cool headed pretty lady. She had looked so kind, so I had went to her. Proof, that looks can lie a lot. 

     On returning, she had looked my dragon self over, speculatively and then decided something. "Not going to do. Need to be more ferocious." Then she had thrown drops of something on me, and since then, I had been hungry. I tried to hold myself till I couldn't any longer. I started feasting on the animals. But they soon went away, when I realized, that whatever pretty witch lady had tried, I now needed human blood to survive. I realized then and there, that I would rather die. 

     However, it didn't take me long to realize that my physical dragon and human self had became immortal. It was my consciousness that was slipping at the lack of blood. That had scared me. If I lived with no consciousness, I could be going feasting on young babies. I decided to look for blood.

    I couldn't find anything and had to finally accept the idea that had been lurking behind my head for a long time. I thought about going to the humans and tell them to do something about me. I had underestimated the fear they would have for me. The chief of the Muisca people decided to do something without even hearing me. They planned to send one human from the tribe every full moon for me. A young boy was sent that day. My consciousness was so far gone, I just ate the boy up. I still have nightmares of the blood and the scream and the wails of the family. Every month, someone was sent to me, and I was so far gone by then that I had no choice but to do the unthinkable. I spent the nights crying and moaning to God to end my life. Nothing ever happened. No one killed me. I had to keep eating the humans sent to me.

     My consciousness was always gone by then. But at least, the blood of one human kept me going for a month. I didn't need anymore.

     I didn't anticipate the hatred they might have for me.