Dragon’s Breath
Chapter nine

I leave Gwen's room shortly after arriving there, finding that she's not exactly the company I'm looking for.

I go out exploring the halls once more, yet again trying to find something to occupy my time. I explore the other end of the castle finding that it looks nearly identical to the rest. I admire all the paintings but it's one in particular that catches my attention.

It's a painting of a deep blue dragon flying over a mountain during a raging thunder storm, a mountain I know all too well. The fact that they have a painting of a dragon is already peculiar. But what really catches my eye is the long jagged scar running across the right side of the dragons chest, and it's deep violet eyes. Reaching out I run my fingertips across the dragon in the painting. My eyes begin to blur with tears, this dragon looks familiar. Much too familiar. It's almost an exact replica of Fafnir, dynamic and glorious as he was in life, his eyes gleaming in the piercing artificial light of the painting.

"It's beautiful, isn't it," a deep voice says from behind me.

I jump at the sudden voice, turning around I'm met with Gregory's molten brown eyes. He walks to the painting placing a hand on it his long snowy hair swaying back and forth.

"I bought this piece from a traveling painter about nine years ago, the painter talked about how when he saw the beast he couldn't help but marvel at its beauty," Gregory tells me.

This painting was done a year before my brother died. It has to be him, there's no way it's not.

"Yes it's very beautiful, actually I believe this painting was done near my home judging from the mountain terrain." I pause looking softly at the painting. "And the dragon in the painting... I'm certain I know him." The words come out choked, thinking about Fafnir always makes me so melancholy.

I don't know why but since the moment I've begun to know Gregory I've felt comfortable talking with him, he has this gentle fatherly aura about him.

Looking into my eyes Gregory gently lifts a hand wiping a stray tear from my cheek. I didn't even realize I was crying until he did that. I step away from him wiping under my eyes, taking a deep breath in an effort to compose myself. After blinking away my tears I smile at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get emotional," I croak.

His deep brown eyes filled with a gentle kindness gaze into mine. My heart clenches, and I feel as though I'm standing before him naked.

Walking up closer to me, he cups my face softly running his thumb across my cheek. Warmth spreads across my face at the simple gesture.

"Come my dear let's talk somewhere more private, away from prying eyes," he says glancing at some maids standing feet away from us.

As we turn walking down the hall he places a comforting hand on my back. Reaching the end of the hall he pushes open a large oak door.

Stepping into the room I see that it's a small office. The walls are painted a light beige color and surprisingly there is nothing decorating them. On the left side of the room, there is a large wooden desk with many bookcases behind it. On the other side of the room, there are lounge chairs surrounding a red brick fireplace with a small table in the middle.

He leads me over to the fireplace and we sit down.

"I'm sorry I don't mean to be emotional, it's just that the dragon in that painting looks so much like my brother. In fact, I'm certain it's him," I say softly.

Gregory places a comforting hand on my shoulder, "May I ask what happened to your brother."

My heart starts racing as I think back to the day Fafnir died.

I sit on the edge of the mountain eagerly waiting for my brother. Today, we're flaying our to the humans capital city of Mimmgar to negotiate the terms of our peace treaty with the king. Although my father is against it, my brother is insistent upon ongoing. My father affirms that we should not meddle in the affairs of lesser beings. I trust my brother's judgment, though, and I am willing to accompany him.

I feel a hand ruffle my hair.

"Hey Ellie, you ready to go?" Fafnir asks.

I stand looking into his violet eyes as a bright smile plays across my face.

"Of course I've looked forward to this for a long time," I tell him.

He smiles at me shaking his head, his long, dark blue hair swaying with it.

He turns away from me stripping out of his clothes, and I quickly follow suit. I watch in delight as my brother fazes his body being consumed by electric blue flames. Once we're both in dragon form we leave using the dark of the night as our cover.

I stare out ahead at the night sky where mistress moon looms casting her silvery glow upon my dark scales. The midnight air sings around me, the frigidness of it causing a chill to run through me.

I follow behind Fafnir my wings beating against the rough winds. After hours of flight, they begin to ache and burn with the cramps of over-exertion. My breath comes out in shaky bouts.

"Fafnir could we take a break? I'm starting to get tired?" I ask.

He sighs almost playfully, "There's a large clearing up ahead we can stop there for a while."

We land in the clearing and I'm filled with relief. I can finally relax my sore muscles. I lay down closing my eyes enjoying the silence for a few moments.

"Hey, Faf why do you think dad is so against us trying to make peace with the humans?" I question curiously.

He sighs, "Fathers old Ellie and he's not ready for change, not to mention that he is a proud man that refuses to acknowledge a race he deems to be much weaker," Fafnir explains.

"That's the thing they are weaker, I support you wholeheartedly but I want to know why you care so much about them?" I question.

He shifts his body so he's facing me, "I was once like you and father underestimating humans. That was until I found my mate was human," he says softly.

My eyes widen at his words but before I can respond Fafnir suddenly stands up, scanning his surroundings.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

His head snaps in my direction.

"humans. I can hear them hiding in the forest. This is way beyond their land boundaries. I'm going to see what they here for," he says worriedly.

Blue flames flash as he quickly fazes into his human form and I do the same. I look up at him, and he places his hand on my head ruffling my hair gently.

"Ellie you stay here Alright," he says while looking me over.

"Alright," I respond quietly.

I watch as he walks away his blue hair fluttering behind his head, soon he's completely out of sight consumed by the dark trees beyond the clearing. Several minutes go by and I hear nothing from Fafnir. Panic begins to rise within me and my heart picks up, why hasn't he come back?

Suddenly I hear his voice ring out from the trees, "ELLIE RUN," Fafnir screams.

Without a moment to lose I turn back into my dragon form and begin to fly out of the clearing. I halt turning back to where I last saw my brother to make sure he's ok. I see his blue scales emerging from the trees as he comes out. Fafnir roars loudly sending out a blast of electric blue flames into the forest. Oddly enough, the flames ricochet off the trees, and back onto my brother.

Knowing that his own attacks aren't working I can't leave him alone. In an instant, I fly over to him.

"Ellie what are you doing? Get out of here. I promise as soon as I'm done here I'll catch up with you," he urges me.

But just as soon as the words leave his mouth large harpoons are shot out at us. I fly in front of Fafnir covering him from the attack. I roar in pain as the harpoons pierce through my thick scales hitting my back and wings.

"Ellie!" He calls to me but I barely hear him due to a ringing in my ears. My back and wings burn with pain, my head begins spinning as my vision goes blurry and the world around me becomes unfocused. Those harpoons must have been dipped in dragons bane. I slowly start to lose strength and suddenly begin to fall, I land roughly in the clearing. My body's consumed in a smoldering pain from the poison now running through my veins.

The last thing I hear before being consumed by darkness is a loud roar of pain from my brother and the shouts of many humans.

"THE BEASTS HAVE FALLEN!" The humans yell in unison.

I wake up with a pounding in my head. I faze back into human form pain consuming my entire being.

"Fafnir," I call out.

Pulling myself from the ground I slowly force myself forward limping into the forest to continue looking for my brother. As I walk farther into the shadowy forest, I see my brother whose now in human form laying in blood-soaked grass with harpoons surrounding him. There are puncture wounds covering the entirety of his burnt body.

"Fafnir!" I cry running to him as fast as I can, tears welling up in my eyes.

I throw myself down by his body and begin to shake him violently.

"Fafnir... Fafnir please, please wake up, you can't leave me...please don't leave me alone," I beg.

My vision is fuzzy with tears as I cry out. Amidst my crying, I hear him groan softly. I lift my head from where it sits on his chest, I see his eyes open ever so slightly.

"Fafnir," I whisper a smile beginning to form on my face.

"You're alive, you're alive," I huff with relief.

He smiles at me slowly lifting a hand to ruffle my hair.

"Ellie I don't have much longer." He tells slowly.

"No, I don't believe it, if we leave now I can get you back to the horde you'll be okay," I plead with him.

He heaves a heavy, wet sigh, his milky eyes glazed in a blanket of melancholy.

"Ellie, listen to me. I will no longer be here to protect you, so listen to me. You must stay strong," he says.

"No! you're lying! I don't believe you, please, please don't leave me. I'll never forgive you if you leave me," I cry out.

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

He closes his eyes, but I can tell he's just fallen asleep as his chest continues to heave slowly. if I hurry I can save him. I attempt to lift his body but I struggle still weakened by the blows of the harpoons. I scream, cry, and struggle to try and lift my brother up. Finally, my body gives out and I slump to the ground my back hitting against a tree. Grabbing a fist full of my hair I release an ear-piercing scream that echoes through the night. I Look at Fafnir, trying to take a final studious glance at him, I see his violet eyes fly open one final time, his chest heaving as he fights for air. I see everything flooding from him, the light leaves his eyes, the life in his chest expelled in one final breath as the thing that was once my brother relaxes going limp, and falls into the grass with his bloody lips slightly parted.

I crumble and begin to sob uncontrollably just staring at his lifeless body.

After a while, I find that I have no more tears I just sit there against the tree my head pounding, and my eyes burning. I don't want to go back to the horde I hate it there, but I also don't want to go to Mimmgar I hate there, even more, those human scum they lied to us, they killed my brother I hate them, I hate them more than I've hated anything in my entire life. Those humans aren't even worth the dirt at my feet. One day I will make them pay for what they've done matter how long it takes me.

"Eleonora are you alright?" Gregory asks soothingly rubbing my back and wiping my tears.

Gregory touch startles me back to reality, "Y-Yes I'm alright," I rush out.

What am I even saying I haven't been alright for a long time. But I don't know if I can tell him that.

"Are you sure my dear, you spaced out for quite some time," Gregory asks worriedly.

"Yes I'm fine, what were we talking about?" I assure him.

The truth behind Nora’s pain has been revealed! Tell me your thoughts in the comments. I hope you enjoyed the chapter don’t forget to like and comment.- Ray

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