Chapter 6

"No."

My voice cracked with terror. My eyes were widened and my brain refused to process what had just happened. It refused to believe that the dragon was somehow strong enough to deflect the arrow I shot with dead precision and speed. The shot that had drained my magic power completely dry, didn't do anything to stop the beast.

It simply roared in return, the sound waves creating a tornado of papers and scrolls alike in the ransacked remains of my former home with the master. I shielded my face, amd began to weep uncontrollably. I felt like a weakling. Like a simpleton. I didn't follow what my tutor had told me, amd now our house is ruined. And more so than that, I am now about to be taken as a sacrifice to the dragons.

"I'm sorry Merlin," I choked out.

It was then I felt woozy. Like I had been drugged. The muscles in my body all started to involuntarily relax, and my mind became more and more clouded. My eyebrows knitted together and I looked up at the dragon who had gone silent. It was looking right back at me, his golden eyes now glowing a pearlescent white. My body began to stumble around, but I refused to look away from the glowing eyes. Deep down I knew they had to be the cause of my disorient.

I made sure to scowl at the beast before my world turned into blackness. The only insulting gesture I could manage to get in at the last second. A sign to it that, I will do my best to make its life Hell when I wake up.

That is, if I get to wake up.

·°·°·°·°·

Satin. That's the first texture my body registers as I start to come through to consciousness. It covers the entirety of my back as I lay on some sort of soft surface.

A soft groan reverberated through my chest while I brought my hand up to my head, a slight headache giving me pain. I push my eyes to flutter open, an intense confusion taking up most of my brain power. I struggled to sit up, trying to take in my surroundings.

I was laying on a rather large four-poster bed, dressed in dark emerald green satin sheets. The scent of a woodsy musk filled the room, and the decor seemed to fit a dark earthy toned theme to match the sheets. The furnishings were all made from the deepest red mahogany that I've seen. I was in the process of standing up to admire the intricate carved patterns on the armoire near the foot of the bed, but the feeling of unfamiliar cloth on my body stopped me.

I looked down and gasped quietly to myself. I was wearing a rather expensive looking deep red dress, made of a taffeta, with velveteen damask patterns covering the puffy sleeves, and the inner skirt of the dress. I quickly made my way the giant full body mirror that stood next to the dresser, and shrieked. My hair had been done up in a half-up style, and my lips were painted with a deep rouge. I scrambled to try and remember how I got to this position.

I remember, going to Larcbost for a doctor, she told me about the recent sacrifices to the drago- Dragons! The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been running from a winged beast in the forrest, but was unsuccessful in the end. The creature must've knocked me out with those glowing eyes. But, that doesn't explain where I am, how I got here, who dressed me, and what is going to happen to me.

"Is everything alright, miss?" A feminine voice entered the room. I quickly turned to see a meek little woman who looked only a few years older than me, wearing a servant's uniform.

"Where am I?! Tell me now! Where is that dragon?!" I didn't mean to be so harsh to such a fragile looking girl, but I was scared and needed answers. Now. I strutted toward her with a bit of a threatening aura. She slightly flinched at my authoritarian attitude, which only hit my guilt a little bit harder.

"I'm so sorry Miss, but his majesty will be the one to explain everything to you," she meekly replied.

"King Uther is here?" I was confused.

"No. The King of Fire, Miss," she corrected. I had no idea who she was referring to, but I was ready to find out if it meant answers.

"Well, when can I see this 'King of Fire'?"

"He is in his study right now finishing some paperwork, but he should be ready shortl- Excuse me, Miss!" I slipped past the maid, bound and determined to find this man who had answers for me.

"Miss Wood, I beg you not to bother his majesty while he's working!" She ran after me.

"I need answers. I need to know where that damn dragon is, what I'm doing here, and what pervert dressed me," I stated, not slowing down in my search.

"Dearest apologies, Miss. I dressed you. The King requested you be cleaned, and your clothes were too tattered to be repaired," the maid replied, still chasing after me as I stormed down the gigantic marble halls. I did a double take, and admired the view laid out next to me, for a spilt second. The outer wall I walked along, was completely open to the outside. Supported by massive marble pillars every twenty-five feet, creating the largest 'windows,' I have seen.

The castle I seem to be located in, sat in a valley in the mountain range. It would've been a flawless picture of beauty, but dragons were littered around the valley. All different colors and sizes, they peppered the landscape. I could count maybe thirty of those winged lizards. My nose scrunched up, as my admiration turned to disgust. I had a newfound hatred of these creatures, and it looks like I am surrounded by them. It would be best if I could keep my guard up. I might have to use magic at any moment to slay those beasts.

"Where is his study, anyways?" I yell to the servant who started to tucker out behind me. I focused back on my goal at hand.

"You really shouldn't disturb him while he's working. I beg of you Miss," she panted.

"You don't need to be so formal with me. My name is Annora. I am not anyone of importance, and I'm human just like you. What is your name?"

"My name is Melody, Miss," she answered.

"I guess the formal thing will be a working progress," I chuckled.

My smile didn't last long, however, as my birthmark began to sting right as I reached a pair of insanely tall, dark wooden doors. I turned to Melody, who's face had lost color when she saw the door I stood in front of. I took that as a sign, the answers lie in here. Melody tried to call out for me to stop, but I entered the doors before she had a chance.

I stepped into the titanic room. I first noticed the books. Each wall served as bookshelves, to what must be a million books. The room was decorated in a similar fashion to the room I woke up in, with a dark red mahogany desk placed by the huge glass-pained window that overlooked the valley. My eyes landed on a figure sat at the desk, who immediately looked up to meet my eyes.

Intense golden eyes. I looked into his gaze, and felt something like no other. It was as if my soul had been missing a piece of itself, unannounced to me this whole time, but it was now whole. It took me a second to take in the rest of the man that sat before me. Dark hair, that was not too short, nor too long, slicked back to reveal the breathtakingly handsome face of his. He has such strong features, all of them beconing for me. Though most might be scared of the intense expression that read on his face, it excited me. I could see him clench and release his jaw, the jawline of which was sharp enough to cut through steel. I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks, and the once headstrong attitude I had, melted into a puddle.

"Yes?"