CURSE OF THE DRAGON FLAMES

CHAPTER 6 - LOVE AND AN UNEXPLAINABLE BOND

Hazel POV]

His shadow disappeared into the darkness as I stared at the point he had just left. I couldn’t help but wonder, had he just spared me? This can’t be real. Murmurs echoed through the crowd as the impact of what had just happened took over. I raised my hands to pinch myself. I pinched myself to check if I was dreaming, or maybe I was a ghost standing in the midst of chaos. The priestess stood as her face became red with anger. “This has never happened in the history of Eldorado,” I heard her whisper. “This is totally unacceptable,” an elder whispered as the murmurs from the crowd worsened. “Enough,” the king said, and the noise died down almost immediately. “I want everyone to go to their various houses to rest. I do not know what went wrong, but I promise it will be taken care of,” he said as the people began to leave one by one. As they began to leave, I could hear gossip, gossip of what had just happened. But the main question that haunted me was, why did the dragon prince spare my life? Soon, I could feel the angry gaze of the king and the other prince. They gave me an angry stare, and before my eyes, they transformed. Standing where they had just stood were two huge black dragons, similar to the one that had just killed Mahir and Adriel. Wait, are they going to kill me? I thought, but they flew away in the same direction as the dragon that had killed Mahir and Adriel. “Hey, you little witch, what did you do?” the priestess said as she came to stand in front of me. Then she lifted my chin to face her. “I don’t care to know what you did to bewitch the prince, but guess what…” she said, bringing her face close to mine. “I’ll make you pay for your sins,” she spat, pushing my head back as it hit the slab. “Guards, lock her up, and keep an eye on her,” the priestess said as the guards came to my side, unlocking the chains on my legs and hands. They dragged me away, back to the cell. I turned back, but before my eyes, where the priestess was standing, was a huge red dragon, and to my surprise, one second it was there and the next it was not. Wait, the priestess could actually disappear? From the tone she used earlier, I knew she would stop at nothing to see me dead. The guards led me through the dungeon, back to my cell, and locked the iron gate against my face like a cage. He had saved me, but I knew I was going to die sooner or later. But why had he saved me? And the way he looked at me, the way his gaze stared into my soul like he knew me more than I knew myself, and the way my body reacted to just his gaze alone made my heart race in ways I couldn’t understand. He should have killed me. If he had, I would have been in the spirit world by now, finally at peace and free from the evil of this world. Staying here alive would only do more harm than good, as the knowledge of my pending death kept coming back to my mind. The brutal scenes of Mahir and Adriel’s deaths, Mahir’s screams of agony, Adriel’s sobs and prayers before her death, how their bodies vanished to be replaced by ashes before my very eyes. I closed my eyes, trying to drive away the scenes, but they kept haunting me. [Dravon’s POV] I left the sacrificial tower totally not myself. I couldn’t go home. I tried. I tried to burn her, but then even my fire responded to her scent, to her. She had a strong effect over me that I couldn’t place. These feelings were forbidden, but I couldn’t push them behind me. I had failed my people for a human girl. The realization hit me hard. Why was she my weakness? What had she done to me? I knew I was a powerful dragon, especially because I had royal blood, coupled with the fact that I was the first prince. But her effect over me was overwhelming. There was more to this girl than just any human. I could feel it, but I couldn’t place it. Soon, I landed near a bar and shifted to my human form. I could hear the loud buzz of music and echoes of laughter in the air. I came here to forget my sorrows, so I stepped inside. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled the air. Different half-naked ladies swayed their hips on the dance floor seductively. If it were me before, I would have picked one for myself, but I hadn’t come here for this. I walked up to the bartender. “I want three bottles of drink.” He asked, “What kind do you want, sir?” He didn’t show any special respect as he didn’t recognize me as a prince, since the bar was located in one of the less influential clans of the dragon realm. The people who lived here didn’t get to see the royal family often. Thankfully, I was dressed in a simple cloak. It was my best place to cool off because, unlike my brother Aiden, I didn’t like royal attention, so I avoided places that brought in that kind of attention. “Alcoholic drink, the strong kind,” I said. He turned to get the drink for me. I just stood there, lost in thought. Soon, he came back with the bottles and a glass cup. “Here they are,” he said, placing the bottles on the counter before me. I took out some money from my pocket and handed it over to him. After that, he placed the drinks in a wine bucket and took it to a table for me. He placed it on the table and turned to leave. I sat down, poured myself a drink, and began to gulp down the contents of the bottle. Soon, the ladies began to troop near me on seeing I was alone. “Hey, handsome, do you want company?” I turned to see a beautiful blue haired young lady with fascinating curves smiling at me as she moved her hands over her skin seductively. Just my kind of woman. The sight of her was enough to turn me on, and if it were me before, I would have been fing her by now. But ever since I set my eyes on that girl, I wasn’t in the mood for anything, not even s**. She placed her hands on my shoulders as she traced her fingers down my neck. “I’m not in the mood for this,” I said, pushing her hands off my shoulders. “But don’t you feel a handsome guy like you needs a woman to make you happy?” she said, feigning a softer tone as she tried to put her hands back on my shoulder. “Get out of here,” I said, pushing her hands off again, now irritated by her seduction. She tried to say more, but I gave her a dangerous glare. “Seems like Mister Handsome isn’t kind, huh,” she said, walking back into the crowd. “looks like the man of women isn’t interested in having a good time tonight,” someone spoke behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know it was my best friend, Xavier. We were more than brothers, and the relationship we shared was much more than what I shared with my brother Aiden. He sat opposite me as I emptied the contents of the second bottle into the glass. Xavier studied me for some time. “Don’t tell me she’s the reason you’re like this.” The words hit hard like a stab in the chest. “Who told you that?” I said, glaring at him. “Don’t give me that look. I saw it all the way you stared at her at the sacrificial tower. Besides, you killed the other girls, and you clearly couldn’t kill her, even when you had the chance.”

I stared at him, lost in thought. Without looking at him, I took the third bottle and poured its contents into my glass. “Dravon, you have to stop,” Xavier said as he placed his hands on mine. “You know you can tell me anything, right?” I looked at him for a minute, not knowing what to say, but then I spoke. “I’m addicted to her, and she somehow manages to control my entity. Since the day I met her, I haven’t been able to get my mind off her.” Xavier just stared at me. He didn’t seem surprised, so I continued. “At the sacrificial tower, I didn’t spare her life just because I wanted to. My fire responded to her, and instead of listening to me, it listened to her fears.” “Shhh. You know you could get into trouble for this, right? You could lose your title, be banished, or even be executed if anyone finds out about your feelings,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “These kinds of feelings are forbidden in—” “I know, right,” I said, trying to stand up, but I fell back into my seat. I woke up the next morning to find myself in my room. I struggled to sit up, but my head still ached from the excessive drinking I had done the previous day. Flashes of memories from yesterday came rushing back. Xavier had rented a carriage to take me home since we couldn’t fly in my condition. My stomach ached, and I staggered to ease myself. When I got back, a knock came on my door. “Come in,” I said. A maid stepped in. “What do you want?” I asked. “Your Highness, the king wants to see you,” she stammered. She was acting weird today, and her cheeks were red. Was she sick or something? “Tell him I’ll be with him shortly,” I said, turning away from her. “O-okay,” she said as she hurried away like a clumsy child. I stood near the mirror, packing my hair into a ponytail. It was then I noticed I wasn’t putting on a shirt. Was that why the maid was acting up? I thought, irritated by her shameless reaction. The walk to the throne chamber felt longer than usual. Each step echoed loudly in the silent halls. My father stood near the window, his hands behind his back. “Why did you spare her?” the king asked without turning. I stiffened. “I asked you a question,” he continued calmly. “Why is the last sacrifice still breathing?” I swallowed. “I was not in the mood.” The king turned slowly, his gaze sharp. “That is your answer?” “Yes.” Silence stretched between us. My father studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he turned away. “A new date has been set,” he said. “You will not fail again.” My chest tightened. “Father—” “That will be all,” the king said firmly. I bowed my head and left. On my way back to my room, a familiar voice stopped me. It was Aiden. “So,” Aiden said, leaning against the wall with a smirk, “the mighty prince has a soft heart now.” “Not today,” I said, clenching my fists. Aiden stepped closer. “Don’t tell me you’re doing all this because of that human sacrifice.” My eyes darkened. “Watch your mouth.” Aiden smiled knowingly. “Relax, brother. I’m just reminding you of the rules.” I brushed past him, anger boiling in my veins. Back in my room, I paced restlessly. Images of Hazel filled my mind. Her fear. Her strength. Her survival. Another sacrifice. Another fire. “I cannot do this.” I had a plan, and I knew just one person who would be willing to help. The pressure became too much. With a roar of frustration, I stepped onto my balcony and let go. My bones cracked and shifted as my body transformed, scales bursting forth, wings tearing free. Then I flew toward the mountains, my place of solace. [Hazel POV] “No…!” A sharp scream escaped my lungs as I sat up in bed, sweating profusely. I could hear footsteps rushing closer. The guards. They must have wondered why I shouted. It was a nightmare, and this was the second time I had it after returning from the sacrificial tower. Tears made their way down my cheeks. The trauma had started. “You should have killed me,” I whispered to no one in particular, ignoring the guards who stood there looking at me in surprise