The Fear of Loneliness (Fear Series Book 1)

Chapter 3: Introductions (unedited)

"Human."

Leonidas's eyes snap wide open, his head whipping around to look directly at the dragon prince above him, his terror momentarily forgotten. The prince's lips have relaxed a little, allowing only the tips of his teeth to show. His eyes are intense, glaring down at the boy with an unreadable gaze. And that voice... there is no mistaking it. The dragon prince spoke.

"Human," the dragon repeats. His voice is not as deep as Leo would have imagined, but rather is silkier, nearly the voice Leo would associate with a handsome human prince with nothing better to do than court ladies. It does not scratch or catch and is rich in tone, definitely fitting of a prince. "You could have killed me." The dragon pauses for a moment in his speech, his eyes flickering over the human's body. He then returns his eyes to Leo's own. He asks, "Why did you not?"

Leo blinks, shocked. He is aware of his mouth, agape, but can do nothing to make it shut. Out of all the things he imagined the dragon doing, this was not it.

"Are you mute?" the prince snaps, leaning forward, his teeth growing ever bigger in Leo's vision. The digits of the dragon's foot curl together, one digging into Leo's skin as he is hauled closer to the beast.

With a squeak, the boy recoils, terror renewed. The hot breath of the dragon smells a good deal like a fireplace. Not at all how he expected, but still very intimidating. For a moment, the human says nothing, scrambling with the fact that the dragon not only can speak but is bothering to speak to him. Eventually, however, it registers with him that annoying the dragon now might lead to the quick removal of his head.

He gulps, swallows once, twice, and manages to croak, "No."

"Then why have you not answered me? Why did you not take the life that was rightfully yours?" He almost sounds irritated with the boy, although Leo can still read nothing in the dragon's eyes.

Leo gulps again, and stutters, "B-because it wasn't mine. It's y-yours."

Immediately, the dragon tilts his head, very predatory and bird-like in motion. The purple gaze turns from unreadable and severe to curious. "Explain," the dragon orders.

"I-I just... I couldn't take y-your life. It's y-yours. You d-don't belong to me," Leo whispers, hating the way terror makes his voice catch and stutter. His mind is struggling to focus on anything other than the fact that he is still, remarkably, alive.

"But why could you not? What stopped you? You could have killed me. Why did you stay your blade? Surely you knew I would attempt to kill you."

"I j-just couldn't. I'm a c-coward," Leo whispers, staring at the dragon in bewilderment. Why has he not simply killed the human already? Why prolong his death? He is suddenly stuck with the lunacy of the moment. He is having a conversation with a dragon.

The prince is silent for a short moment, scrutinizing the pinned boy, before finally murmuring, "No, human, what you did was not cowardly. A coward would not have bothered to engage. And if he had engaged, he would have run. And a coward would have taken my life when he had the chance, if only to save his own. A coward certainly would not have given up his own life for that of an enemy. Mercy is not cowardice."

The dragon's voice drops off into silence, and for a very long time, the dragon simply stares at the human pinned below his paw. Leo, having no other option, stares back, trying desperately to read the emotion in the beast's eyes. For a moment, there is nothing but the two of them, staring at each other, each trying to understand the other. Eventually, the prince breaks the silence asking once more, "Why did you spare my life?"

This time, Leo pauses, letting his mind wander back to his reasoning in the moment. After much consideration, he finally answers, "I just... y-you were doing what I was. You w-were just trying to protect your country and your family. How could I kill you for that?"