Dragons Aflight- a Collection of Shorts and One Shots

Daughter of Darkness- A Verona Barrister One Shot

Verona Barrister had her reputation for a specific reason. Not just because she was evil, but because she was wicked.

There is a distinct difference between the two terms. You have to do something to be deserving of the title 'wicked'. Verona always had a dark disposition, even when she was a child. She was cold and reserved, and darkness stuck to her wherever she went. Villagers stayed away from her, and her parents resented her for it. Some said she suffocated her father with her shadows that followed her. Others say that holy water would burn her hands when in contact with it. Some even went onto say her black cat Gabriel was actually her shifter accomplice in disguise. However, none of these are true. At least, they were never proved.

Verona didn't ever mind the rumors, and learned to accept them as she aged. She knew people were going to talk, and chose to dismiss it instead of let it bother her. Instead, she stayed in the library she purchased with her inheritance, and shut herself away from the world that despised her. However, it wasn't the whole world that hated her.

There was Charlie.

Charles Ryan, formerly known as 'Charlie' wasn't your average man in town. He lacked the dark disposition that polluted Verona's aura, but he was curious. His crave of mystery drove him, and he loved the things he didn't know. Sadly for him, the town they lived in was painfully unoriginal and predictable. If he had the money, he would travel. However, his social class rooted him into the ground. Though he was against it, he was stuck where he was.

Charlie visited the library every Sunday at six just before the sun went down and the village's curfew took effect. He had seen Verona only three times before, not knowing her name or story. He didn't know she was the 'town witch' or any of that. She was the young fresh faced librarian who's pale eyes held a thousand stories.

In Charlie's mind, those stories were more valuable than any in the bookstore.

"Did you miss me?" Charlie asks the fourth time they met. Verona hadn't known who he was speaking to at first, used to her customers not giving her a second glance. She had known well of Charlie's case, though. She knew about the man who came to her library every Sunday, only to read her or not any of the books in her shop.

"How could I miss what I've never seen?" Verona retorts, smiling slightly and walking off to busy herself so she hadn't had to look him in the eyes. To her surprise, Charlie was on her tail.

What did he want?

"But we've met before." Charlie replies, going around the shelf to meet her eyes. Up close they were more exquisite than before, but in a very unnatural way. Like a flame on a lantern, her irises glow white and gave the illusion of shining in the darkness.

"I think I would have remembered you if we have." Verona tells the man dismissively, trying to swiftly step around him. Like a barrier, Charlie did not let her pass.

"Well, we've never spoken, yes." Charlie explains. "But that does not mean we cannot begin now."

Verona's eyes widen as the man bows down to her. It was the most respect anyone had shown her in the village. She didn't know how to react. Never getting this far in conversation before, she was lost for the right thing to say.

"My name is Charles Ryan. Charlie, to you Madam."

"Verona." she replies simply. Verona watched the man's face for a while to see if any recognition crossed his expressions. Nothing.

Dear god the boy's delusional.

"Well, Verona. It's a pleasure to meet you again. Even if you didn't know we had." Charlie says. "Now, I must be off."