Dragon’s Breath -
Chapter twenty-two
As he gets closer, I notice a sword, wrapped in a thick brown cloth attached to his back. In a moment of excitement, I rush to meet them halfway practically skipping as I walk. I stand mere inches from Flavius, his body heat warming me to my very core. Letting out a shaky breath, I look up into his eyes.
His eyes are like a maze, I can't help but get lost in, the deep brown pulling me farther and farther away from reality. I subconsciously reach out to move a stray hair from his face only to hastily retract. What am I doing, I mentally scream at myself. I've never acted like this before so why now, and with him? I turn my focus to the ground feeling my face fill with heat. Neron stands firmly next to Flavius watching me with an amused smirk. I can't help but narrow my eyes at the sly look on his face.
"Well, aren't you excited to see me?" Flavius teases, his voice ringing happily, as he gives me a closed eye smile.
His smile is one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. I could see how it came from deep inside to light his eyes and spread into every part of him. How can a mere man be so beautiful? My breath hitches in my throat, as my knees begin to wobble. What is this man doing to me? He makes me feel so weak. Coughing, I once again turn my gaze from his.
"I am not excited to see you. I am merely excited for us to meet with Mr. Blanc." I say laughing awkwardly.
Patting my head, he leans in lowering his face to mine.
"You can lie to yourself all you want, but I know the truth," he hints playfully as the warmth of his breath tickles my face.
At Flavius's words, Neron places a hand over his mouth to try and contain his laughter. Narrowing my eyes I shove Flavius. I watch as he stumbles back slightly but still keeps his bright smile plastered on his face.
"Shut up," I pronounce, trying to sound firm, but my voice betrays me, coming out quietly.
Flavius laughs once more, putting a hand behind his head, ruffling his curls.
"I've got something to show you," he tells me.
Slowly he pulls the cloth wrapped sword from behind his back. Removing the cloth, he reveals a freshly made steel broad sword that stands at about three and a half feet long. Placing the sword in my hands, I lift it up testing the weight. I run my fingers along the sharpened blade. He truly is a master craftsman, I've never seen such a sword in my entire life. This human has a talent like no other, dragons are known for building master weaponry, but this is even better than some of the swords back at the horde.
Where the handle meets the blade is an onyx dragon, its mouth wide open, the blade protruding from it. The body of the dragon coils around the grip. The pommel of the sword is made to look like an extended pair of wings. I admire the effort put into the small details of the dragon, every scale carved carefully into it. Lightly I run my hand over the handle, feeling all the different textures.
"This sword is absolutely beautiful," I comment.
"It's a mighty fine piece of work isn't it, I've never seen Flavius make a finer piece," Neron says proudly.
I feel my pull for Flavius intensify. Placing the sword at my side I look up at him, "You're truly a master craftsmen this is a very fine blade. How much do I owe you?" I ask.
Flavius puts a hand on his chin.
"How about I give it to you for free," he says.
I narrow my eyes scoffing.
"I will not allow you to give this to me for free. I had you take the time to make this, therefore I should pay you." My voice is stern with every word. I cannot take something this valuable for free.
"Think of it as a gift," He says, patting my head.
A gift? Has he lost his mind? How could he possibly give me his finest sword? Sighing, I strap the sword to my side. I'm not going to waste time arguing with a man as stubborn as a mule.
"Thank you, little human," I say appreciatively.
I smile, putting my whole heart into it. I've never received a gift like this before, I must find a way to pay him back in the future. His kindness, I will repay it.
With the sword safely tucked at my side, I lead Flavius and Neron into the castle, and down to the dungeon where Gregory told me to meet with him.
The guard greets us at the door moving over to let us down. The hinges of the thick iron door leading to the dungeon groan in protest, as I shove them open. I lead them slowly down the dingy steps, the farther we go the more my nose becomes irritated. It reeks of mold and dried blood and looks to have not been cleaned in over a decade. Placing a hand over my nose, I grab the railing, to steady myself from a sudden wave of nausea. I don't know how long I'll be able to stay down here with such an intense smell. No matter how many I've slain the smell of death will never be a welcome one. A large hand firmly grips my elbow.
"Ellie, are you alright?" Flavius voices his concern, stepping around to face me. Removing my hand from my face I look up at him, giving a weak smile.
"I am alright, the smell down here is just overwhelming a downside to having sharp senses," I tell him.
"Please, let us continue," I say, pulling my arm from his grasp.
We continue down the stairs until we reach where the cells are located. The halls are long and break off in many twists and turns. By the time we reach the interrogation rooms, I am dizzy with the revolting smell that consumes this place. Hopefully, we get what we need fast so I can leave as soon as possible. I push open a wooden door, marked with the number three just as Gregory had told me.
I enter, Flavius and Neron following behind. Gregory is already in the room, standing off in a corner, his face stiff as steel. Rather than the elegant silks he usually wears, today he is dressed casually, in plain black pants and shirt.
He turns to me, "Daniel should be arriving with Mr. Blanc here shortly." I nod.
"I'm going to speak with Mr. Blanc first, and I would like the rest of you to observe," Gregory informs us.
"Alright," I say, standing off in a corner, Flavius, and Neron right beside me. We sit in a drowning silence until I hear faint footsteps heading our way. My heart thumps in my chest with excitement, as if a stampede of bulls has been released. I stare intently at the door, praying for it to open soon.
My prayers have been answered, when the door is brutally kicked open. In stumbles a short, fat man, his long greasy brown hair hanging in a matted mess in front of his face. He looks up at me, his dark bloodshot eyes full of animosity. Does he know who I am?
"You filthy dragon whore," he curses, lunging forward as if to attack me. Before he can reach me, he is forcefully kicked to the ground. Daniel stands behind him, his face so cold and blank that I shiver, feeling as if I'm suddenly covered in a sheet of frost.
This is a look I never thought I'd see on sweet Daniel's face.
"If you touch even one hair on the princess's head, you will not leave this room alive," Daniel snarls at the butcher. His usually angelic voice is deep and filled with malice. I watch as the scrawny boy effortlessly lifts the man from the floor, and shoves him into a chair across from Gregory.
"Welcome, Mr. Blanc," Gregory draws, leaning back in his seat.
"Welcome my ass, what did you bring me here for?" Mr. Blanc demands, slamming his hands on the table.
"Calm down, Mr. Blanc. I just want to ask you a few questions." Gregory's cool voice slices through the air like the blade of a knife. I watch as Mr. Blanc begins to break out in a cold sweat.
"A-And what...what questions might those be," he stammers.
"I want to know what you were doing on the afternoon of the twenty-third, the day of commander Bratz's death." At those words, the smell of human terror fills my nose. I watch closely while the butcher sits shaking in his seat. Sweat drips from him like condensation on a cold glass, taking his hand he nervously wipes his face.
"I have...I have no idea w-what you are talking about." Mr. Blanc pauses, suddenly getting angry.
"Why are you questioning me! I have absolutely no relation to the commander," he shouts then points at me.
"You should ask that beast what happened to the commander, this is what happens when you let monsters live with humans," he barks out.
"I kindly ask of you to not speak such words about those who are close to me. Now if you would answer my question." Gregory's voice is smooth as silk, and he shows no hints of unease.
Mr. Blanc scoffs, "Who are you to demand such things of me, my loyalties lie elsewhere."
Gregory stares on for a moment not saying a word.
"I do believe you have just admitted to treason, which by law is punishable by death." Gregory's words pierce through the air causing Mr.Blanc to turn white as a sheet.
"With what power, are you going to use to convict me?" He challenges.
Daniel grabs the butcher by the hair, pushing his face into the wooden table.
"I suggest you start addressing your king with some respect." Daniels's voice is gruff, coming out almost animalistic. Looking closely at him, I see a glow to his eyes that I've never seen before. Rage is coming off him in waves. I study his demeanor for a moment before it hits me, the glow in his eyes is just like that of a raging dragon. Dragons when upset their eyes take on a deep glow.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. How could I have not noticed this before? It would seem that my little Daniel might have some dragon blood in his veins. I cannot say for certain, and yet I know interbreeding within the races is not uncommon. How peculiar, if we are of a similar kind how did I not notice before? I'll have to confront him about it later; an interrogation is hardly the place for a familial chat.
Walking over to Daniel I put a hand oh his shoulder.
"Calm down," I whisper, gently pulling him from the butcher. Daniel releases the butcher's head taking a step back. I walk back to stand with Flavius and Neron.
Gregory takes a deep breath, smoothing out his hair.
"Now that you are aware of who I am, I'm going to give you two choices: you can either choose to answer me, therefore causing yourself no extra trouble, or you can answer to someone else. But if you answer to someone else, I cannot guarantee how nice they will be," Gregory says.
Mr. Blanc sits in silence, seemingly weighing out his options. Rearing his head, he spits on Gregory's face.
"Go to hell, you dragon loving bastard." I clench my fist, my blood boiling. Flavius and Neron both stiffen beside me, Daniel, however, is close to striking. Quickly, I run to Daniel, stopping him from attacking the butcher. Holding him back in my arms, I glance at Gregory, his face as calm as ever. Wiping the spit, he looks to me.
"Nora, my dear, if you would please take over for me. This old man seems to hold no sway over Mr. Blanc," Gregory asks.
I release Daniel lightly shoving him towards where Flavius and Neron are standing.
"Of course," I respond, with a wicked smile.
Gregory leaves the wooden chair, and I take his place.
"You see, I'm not as nice as the king, so I will only give you one chance, answer the question," I demand
Again the man sneers, about to spit once more. But before he ever has the chance to, I clasp his left hand. Grabbing his pointer finger, I bend it back. The sickening crunch that follows has nearly everyone in the room cringing. Grunting in pain, he goes to pull his hand away, making me hold his finger tighter. I will not allow this piece of trash to disrespect me or anyone else in this room. I send a wave of my dragon dominance pulsating through the room. The butcher grunts under the pressure and finally submits to me.
"Fine, you want to hear what I have to say, then I'll talk," he says weakly.
I immediately pull away from him, clasping my hands together, nodding for him to continue.
"The morning of the commander's death I was there, in fact, I myself was the one who did most of the work. I had the commander screaming so loud I thought someone might hear us," he says this as if reminiscing a fond memory.
This makes me sick, the fact that he got off torturing an innocent man to death. I will make him pay for the things he's done. Such garbage doesn't deserve to be walking free.
Taking a deep breath in through my nose, I try to keep my bubbling anger under control, but I find my restraints are slowly coming undone.
"Don't look so upset dragon; your time will come. We plan to do the same to you as we did to your brother," he drawls smugly.
I swallow my anger while it's just a fire-seed, but with nothing to douse the little flame, it grows in me, coming out as hot as any dragon has ever flamed. He should not have mentioned my brother.
Swiftly standing, in a moment of extreme anger, I pull the butcher from his seat pinning him to the wall. My hands clutching his face and throat.
"See, this right here is exactly why we have to get rid of your kind. You're such anger-driven monsters." His words put out the fire raging in my body, my blood running cold. A chilling silence stretches through the room.
"I suggest you don't mention my brother." My voice is calm, my anger much more frightening. The anger I am feeling now is so much different from the red fiery, predictable anger. This anger is cold silence, like darkness moving through the night, not even I can say what I will do next. All I know is he will pay.
The butcher smiles at me like he's just won the greatest gift.
"Continue dragon, you are only proving yourself to be just the monster everyone thinks you are." My vision turns red, as a wide toothy grin splays on my face.
"I never once said I wasn't a monster, and I have absolutely nothing to prove to you and your kind." Each word comes out deadlier than the last. Everyone can go ahead and think I'm a monster I do not care.
My fingernails begin to turn to claws, as my teeth grow to large fangs. I dig my claws deep into his neck and face, puncturing the tender flesh. Blood rolls down in beads. I watch Mr. Blanc gasping in pain.
"Go ahead, just kill me," he shouts. I laugh, throwing my head back, my laughter sounding like a harmonious roar.
I tighten my hand, blood trickling down my taut waist.
"Oh I won't kill you, but I'll make you wish I had," I tell him.
I hear panicked voices behind me, but at this moment I do not care. Taking my other hand I rake it down his chest, splitting open his shirt. Blood comes pouring from him. My hands and clothes are covered in a thin layer of red.
Taking my bloodied hand away from him, I dig my claws into my palm drawing blood. Then I stick my fingers into his wound.
"Gaw!" He screams. "What have you done to me."
A sadistic grin creeps up my lips.
"You have just taken in the blood of a poison dragon. You won't die, but you'll be in so much pain that you'll beg for death. Even then I won't kill you, but if you beg me I may just ease your pain," I taunt.
"I'll never beg a dragon," he snarls.
"We will see, now won't we Mr. Blanc," I reply.
"Get her off of him!" I hear Gregory exclaim. I feel warm hands clasp my shoulders, trying to pry me off, Mr. Blanc. I fight back, grabbing onto Mr. Blanc's arms digging my nails farther into him. He falls forward being a drug with me until Daniel rips him from my grasp.
As Flavius drags me out of the room, I scream, "Every time you look at yourself you'll be able to feel nothing but the horrors I bring you."
Those are the last words I say before I'm brought out the room, Flavius holding me to him tightly. I thrash around, my body vibrating with uncontrollable anger. He does nothing but picks me up, carrying me out of the castle.
"Let me go!" I growl out. I do not want to hurt Flavius, I am just so angry.
"I can't do that," he states calmly.
"I'm not finished with that bastard, now let me go." I try once more to pry myself from his grasp.
He says nothing until we reach outside of the castle garden. Setting me down gently, he stands in front of me and places two hands on my face. I try pulling my face from him but to no avail. He holds me in place firmly staring into my eyes.
"Calm down." He says lowly.
"How do you expect me to calm down after all that," I bite out heatedly.
"Just focus on me," Flavius says, lightly rubbing his thumbs across my cheeks, warm sparks spread down my face. He holds me here for a few minutes his hands on my face. I ever so slowly find my anger slipping away, as my breath begins to even. As my anger begins to fade a new feeling sets in.
With a light sigh, I close my eyes unconsciously leaning farther into his touch. I open my eyes and star deep into Flavius's flaming drown orbs. Slowly he begins to lean in closer until his lips brush against mine, but before he can pull away I crash our lips together. Heat floods my body and I feel my anger completely dissipate as our bodies move in closer.
His kiss makes the world fall away. It is slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hands rest below my ears, his thumbs caressing my cheeks as our breath mingles. I run my fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there is no space left between us, and I can feel the rapid beating of his heart against my chest. Running my hands back up his spine, I entangle my fingers in his silky locks.
And that's when it hits me, the thing I've missed this whole time, the thing that's been right in front of me. Flavius is my mate.
Oh my god Nora’s finally figured out that Flavius is her mate!!! What do you think will be the next step in their relationship? I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I liked writing it, if you did don’t forget to like and comment.- Ray
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