That Day 8 Years Ago (2)

While it is true that the Dragons of Origin are most powerful and unique, this observer has found that with the right genes, an indirect descendant of a Dragon of Origin can be even more powerful and possess more unique abilities than a dragon of origin would ordinarily have.

It is because of this that the test of what dragon is considered generally more powerful fails.

A good example would be if we referred to Bart, the crossbreed dragon from a pure Melbourne line and an orange dagger tail dragon that possessed the ability to bestow the power of foresight on its rider, Lord Albridge Sander of the south.

- Dragon Observer Tsani's Observations as recorded in the book "Dragon Kind".

It was at that moment that Vinnandra felt an unexplainable urge to run and find her mother. And run she did. She didn't stop, not to take a breath or to give her little legs a rest… she ran like her life depended on it.

Because it did.

"Ma…ma…" Vinn's voice shook from fear as she took in the sight of her mother sprawled on the floor, a mast of black hair sprawled around her in place of her usual white hair.

Where did all her white hair go? Vinn wondered, horrified at the prospect of the answer.

Lady Albridge turned to take her daughter in, her eyes streaked with tears. The whole room was scattered, almost as if a thief turned the whole place upside down.

"Vi…" Her mother sputtered, and her tears wouldn't stop flowing.

"Mama, what is happening?" Vinn asked, eyes wide as saucer as she didn't know what to make of the scene playing out before her.

Her mother's eyes took on a madness like a woman on the brink of insanity. She stood and clutched Vinn's shoulders tightly to the point of pain, her tears no longer flowing but the remnants stuck on her face like sour rain.

"Forgive me Vinnandra." Her mothers voice was now strong, but it was wet from all the emotions she tried to convey with her eyes.

"Mama, what is wrong? I'm scared. Please tell me what is happening?" Vinn begged, her heart constricting unusually tighter in her chest. This was her tenth birthday, nothing was supposed to go wrong, right?

"In all my life, I've only failed one person, and that person is you, my daughter Vinnandra." Her mother said with the most broken voice she had ever heard.

Vinn could only stare at the woman she had known all her life, who was looking more like a stranger as the seconds ticked by.

"I've sinned against you Vi." Her mother continued, her voice cracking even further if that were possible.

Before Vinn could ask once again what was happening, her mother dragged her to the large vanity mirror in the room, and it was there she saw that besides her mother, she too had a new look.

Her once white hair was now a flaming red.

Vinn felt goosebumps pour all over body like ice water. She began to shiver, horror shrouding her at the sight she was seeing.

"Mama…" her words trailed… Vinn longer had the strength to ask what was happening, or what was wrong, not when everything unfolding before her eyes stunned her so badly, and horrified her in equal manner.

She could only stare at her new self in the mirror, her eyes a mist of unshed tears.

"I've so much to tell you, but I've not the time," her mother started, "but I want you to know this no matter what happens… I love you terribly Vi. And I've only come this far because of the love I've for you."

"Mama…"

"I won't ask that you forgive me, but I ask that you move on from me… from everything"

"Mama…"

"Do not waver! This is a cruel world, and from now on they will see you as a cruel person so you must not waver. Don't ever settle for less in all you do, and make sure you come out of this with your head held high.

"Ma…ma…"

"You can see now that you're not just a descendant of Albridge, remember that you are also a descendant of Lanasis. Inside of you is a joining of two powerful bloods, don't you ever forget that."

Vinn didn't get to say 'mama' again when men burst into the room in the company of their father.

"It is true indeed…" one of the men cried out, "there's a witch-spy here and it's Lady Albridge!"

Her father, Lord Albridge, looked stunned as if the scene playing before him was not quite real. He barely moved from where he stood, staring down at both wife and daughter.

"Dear…" he stuttered, but the question he wanted to ask could barely leave his lips.

"Execute her!" One of the men chanted, but they never got a chance to because suddenly her mother looked her in the eye, captivating and enchanting her… putting a cursed spell over her.

From her hands, she produced a dagger which she placed resolutely in Vinn's hands. Vinn felt her will cruelly stolen from her. She could not move of her own will, nor could she think for herself.

"Vinnandra…" her mother cried out with dead, resolute eyes, "why do you hate me so?" She asked.

Vinn's hands clutched the dagger in a death grip, and she stared at her mother with a hatred that startled her own self. In a loud voice Vinn had never heard before, she said words that she never meant to.

"Because you've deceived me, my family and all Albridgians terribly… how could I not despise you?"

She desperately tried to fight what her enchanted mind knew she would do next. She fought hard, but her mother's spell was greater than all her might combined together. And that reality of weakness stung her so badly.

And with no control over her body, Vinn stabbed her mother in the heart, sending her to death's door.

But not before her mother chanted in a language she shouldn't have understood at the time words that translated to "you shall forget, but on the day of your reckoning you shall remember."