Playing With Fire

by Adrienne Woods et al.

  And my biggest fear was that he would be with his grandfather when something like that happened.

  Louie was right. His father would not protect us. He would send both of us to the gallows. No family of his would ever be tied to dragons.

  But I knew I wasn’t the only one afraid. Louie carried half of my burden. Only time would let us know what was going to happen.

  Chapter 9

  Albert’s third birthday was a huge event.

  He was overwhelmed and dead on his feet when nightfall came and I was glad that I was the one that put him to bed, as I didn’t want to be surrounded by people who hated my kind. Louie dealt perfectly with it. I kept in tune with him straight through it all.

  I could feel the emotions he was feeling, not agreeing with the things he was having to say, and then I heard the hope in Alexander’s voice that he was finally rubbing off on his son.

  But that night my magic healed his darkness and he slept like a log.

  I was tired myself and fell fast asleep.

  The next day everything went back to normal or almost normal. The queen boasted about Magdel and what a fine example she had been last night at the ball.

  How she did her queenly duties even though she wasn’t going to be queen anymore.

  I knew it was Alexander’s doing.

  She was vulnerable as she was still missing Charles and she was aching for her husband’s comfort. She would do anything to get it. Even putting me through all of that, trying to make me doubt Louie’s love for me.

  But I refused.

  I simply thanked Magdel for doing what should’ve been mine to do, but my son simply needed his mother.

  The nasty looks from the queen had stopped immediately when Albert’s name was mentioned.

  She loved him dearly.

  Time sped up again and every time the king left for a crusade, I wished he wouldn’t come back.

  But poison didn't die that easily.

  He would always return with half the men that had set out with him.

  He only saw them as pawns, nothing more.

  And for weeks after that, he spent every minute of his time in the dungeons.

  I was so glad that Albert couldn’t hear the cries. They would have definitely given him nightmares.

  Fall was approaching and with that, the heavy rains came.

  It would rain for days making Albert and Louie both miserable. They were so much alike.

  It also brought an epidemic of whooping cough and my dragon instincts were screaming.

  It was hard to work against it. It almost made me feel sick whenever news of how many little ones it took.

  “Louie I can’t sit here and do nothing. It’s not who I am.”

  “Please, you can’t. I’m begging you. Anyone could see you and they would tell my father. Please love. I won’t be able to live with myself if anything happens to you or Albert.”

  “I’m not built this way.” I started to cry and he hugged me tightly.

  I always felt so safe with him close to me.

  A horrible cough came out of Albert’s room, making both Louie and me freeze.

  He had been fine this morning.

  Life finally poured into my bones again and I rushed into his room.

  The nanny we had sat with him. He was crying and coughing at the same time.

  “I will call for the practitioner.” Louie said and ran out of the room.

  I picked Albert up and hugged him tightly.

  His coughing was doing all sorts of things to my scales. They were stirring underneath my skin and I had to get my worry and my head to different places or I needed to get out of here before I transformed.

  Louie came back and he saw my hands softly vibrating.

  He knew what I was going through and Albert was my son. Not being able to heal him would bring my dragon form out.

  “Go,” he whispered and I left for the other room. I climbed out the window and onto the roof of the east wing.

  I pulled off my clothes as all was dark, then darted up into the sky. I flew higher, as fast as my wings could carry me, to get above the clouds and stay there until I was ready to become human again.

  I could smell the disease in the air.

  The death of thousands of children burned my nostrils.

  I could’ve done something, and I didn’t.

  Instead I listened to my husband and turned my back on what I was created for.

  That’s why it was affecting me so much with Albert and it could easily be the reason why he got sick.

  You don’t mess with the higher power.

  I went back to my room early in the morning hours.

  The practitioner was there and I entered the room as Louie sat with Albert, trying to help break down his fever.

  I felt so helpless, but the doctor gave him plenty of remedies and for the next week we tried to do everything we could.

  Each day the practitioner would come back, but Albert’s condition didn’t get better.

  I felt like a numb being everytime I looked at Louie and he shook his head.

  He would let our son die to keep my secret.

  I didn’t understand any of it.

  The hardest part was when Albert was taken to quarantine.

  A part of the castle was set up as a quarantine area. It was off limits to the rest of us.

  None of us could visit him.

  Louie had to comfort me every single night.

  My baby boy was going to die and his father was keeping his promise to protect his mother’s secret at all costs.

  But he was my child too. A dragon’s love was deeper than any other creature on this earth. Whether Albert shared that part with me or not, I wouldn’t let him die when I had the ability to heal my son.

  I waited until the castle was asleep and Louie was sleeping too.

  This was my only chance to sneak into Albert’s room to perform the task.

  There wasn’t a soul in sight and I slipped past the guard sleeping in front of the quarantine section.

  I tiptoed into Albert’s room and wanted to cry as I saw how fragile his little body was.

  He was soaking wet from fever and didn’t resemble my little boy at all.

  I didn’t even know if my touch was going to heal him, but I had no choice.

  I touched his chest and felt my hand warming up.

  I closed my eyes as they changed into slits and I spoke softly, commanding my ability to heal him.

  I opened my eyes slowly and looked down at Albert.

  He was smiling at me.

  “Momma,” his sweet angelic voice said.

  Happy tears rolled down my cheeks as I kissed him on his head.

  His little hands touching my cheeks and for a split second his gaze shifted past me.

  His smile grew bigger as if he had just seen his favorite thing in this world. Or his favorite person, and my worst nightmare.

  * * *

  LOUIE

  * * *

  The siren went off. Dragons were in the vicinity.

  I looked for Gwen but she was nowhere in sight.

  A dark hand pressed hard on my chest.

  Gwen, what did you do?

  I ran out of my room, down the hall toward the north wing and as I neared I heard father’s voice roaring.

  He came into sight and Albert, my sick son, on his hip.

  He knew.

  Albert turned his head to look at me and I gasped.

  He wasn’t sick anymore.

  “So good that you could join us. We have a traitor among us.”

  “What is he doing out of quarantine?” I went to Albert and took him from my father. “Have you lost your mind?”

  My father squinted at me, and looked at Albert. “He’s healed, Louie. I saw it with my own eyes.”

  I looked at my father and then at Albert. “What do you mean you saw it with your own eyes?”

  Father started to laugh. “Tell me you are joking.”

  “It’s not fu
nny father, what happened?”

  “Your wife, she used magic to heal your son. Magic that isn’t a part of this world. It’s part of their world.” He roared.

  “Have you lost your mind?” I roared back.

  “I saw it with my own eyes. I’m not stupid Louie. Gwen is a dragon. How she could fool us all this time, I had no idea. Meaning your son is part dragon.”

  I pushed Albert away from him and step down the stairs.

  “You have lost your mind. Your hatred toward dragons is making you see things. You are delusional.”

  “Delusional?” He roared.

  I looked at my mother. “Please tell me you are not believing any of this mother.”

  She couldn’t even look at me.

  “Guinevere is a dragon. I saw her eyes and she healed that thing like it was nothing. It’s dragon magic.”

  I looked around. Where the hell was Gwen. “Where is my wife, father?”

  “Your wife isn’t human and I will prove it.” He sneered at me.”

  “Where is she?” I roared like a mad man.

  He just lifted his hands and guards subdued me. The nanny took Albert forcefully as he started to cry.

  “Please, I’m begging you.” I pleaded with my father, tears in my eyes. “Don’t hurt them.”

  “She is a dragon Louie. Have you lost your mind?”

  “No, you have lost your mind. Your hatred for them has clouded everything you know. They are not the monsters here, you are.”

  The sword one of the guards held to my neck, burned as the sharp blade slightly cut the skin. Blood started to run down my neck.

  “Alexander.” My mother yelled. “That is your son.”

  “He’s not my son. He has lost his mind. Contain him. I need to think about what I’m going to do with this betrayal.”

  The blade slipped away from my neck. The cut stung as I was taken forcefully away.

  They took me to my chambers and locked the door.

  There was no way out of this place. I had no idea where Gwen or Albert was and the most darkest thoughts crept into my mind. Thoughts of killing.

  I’ll kill my father if he did anything to Gwen.

  But my worst fear was that he knew. He knew now that dragons have human forms and my worst nightmare was going to become reality.

  All I saw in Paegeia’s future was blood and my father, the monster behind it all.

  Chapter 10

  GUINEVERE

  * * *

  I’d never been this nervous in my entire life.

  But I didn’t regret my decision. Albert was alive because of what I did. I would gladly die for him.

  I was worried about my family.

  Delilah.

  By now Alexander would know that all of them were dragons. Our secret was out and it wasn’t my beloved that had betrayed me. It was my love for my son. I couldn’t let him die.

  Alexander threw me into the one place I never thought I would be.

  The dungeons.

  There was a foul stench of dragon blood lingering in the walls. It’s magic still lingering on it. It was fading slowly but it was vibrating through my scales.

  I had never learned any incantations as father didn’t want me to learn magic.

  It was forbidden for a long time, and the only tell for dragons hiding among humans.

  Now our secret was out and all I could see was bloodshed in the streets.

  Dragons were going to be wiped out of Paegeia just because of one man’s hatred. The king’s.

  Louie hadn’t visited me yet and I had a funny feeling that he wouldn’t. He couldn’t.

  His father would see it as a betrayal of the worst kind and I feared for his life.

  He would never become King now.

  I feared for my son, Albert’s life.

  I hadn’t gotten word of my mother or father either.

  Where were they as they hadn’t been brought into the dungeons yet?

  I feared what father would do.

  He wasn’t like us. He wasn’t a Metallic. He was one of the few Chromatic dragons that gave up his dragon form. He stopped embracing it.

  I couldn’t recall a time when I had ever seen father in his dragon form since the banishment.

  He had a bond with mother, and had to leave when we were thrown out of our colony.

  Delilah followed.

  Was she okay?

  Alexander visited me a few times. Threaten to torture me if I didn’t show him my dragon form. But I refused.

  I wouldn’t show him a thing.

  He hadn’t hurt me yet. I think it has something to do with my human form and therefore I wouldn’t show my dragon form to him.

  He has no problem killing dragons, but there was still doubt, a sort of forbidden sense in him, torturing humans.

  Delilah told me that there were potions out there, dark potions that could reveal our true form to humans.

  I prayed now that he never discovered the potion.

  My breed wouldn’t make it. Albert wouldn’t make it.

  Alexander’s hatred was just too much when it came to dragons. He would even kill his own family.

  I went on my knees and prayed. He created all of us. Dragons and humans alike. His son had died for all our sins. He would keep them safe. But since I knew my fate, I wouldn’t go quietly.

  If my death might shatter something in the king’s iron heart then it wouldn’t be for nothing.

  I prayed only for the ones that I loved. My husband and child, my mother and father and the woman who helped raise me.

  Please God keep them safe.

  * * *

  LOUIE

  * * *

  Father finally entered my room.

  I attacked him but he was still so strong. He punched and beat me, and when I fell down he kicked me until I couldn’t breathe.

  He grabbed a handful of my hair and lifted up my face to look at him.

  “I should’ve killed you when you came out of your mother’s cunt.”

  I didn’t care. I just stared at him with so much hatred. I wished my stare could kill him.

  “But you can thank the Spaniards. Magdel’s family still sees hope of a treaty. You will marry her.”

  “I’d rather die than marry her.”

  He shoved my face hard into the carpet. I chipped my tooth as he started to pace in my room. “Don’t tempt me boy. If I didn’t need the Spaniards you would’ve been long dead. You are no son of mine but you are the crown prince in God’s eyes. So I decided to give you a choice.”

  “Kill me, I don’t care.”

  Father started to laugh. “I can’t, it’s not an option. But if it were, you would dead already.”

  “Then what choice do you want me to make?” I screamed.

  Father called his guard and they brought in Albert.

  I felt relieve so strong washing over my face.

  He couldn’t run to me, but fear was in his eyes as the guard held him.

  “I’m begging you don’t hurt him. I’ll do anything.”

  Father nodded. “That’s not the choice, Louie.” He said in a cold tone and the door opened again.

  Gwen stumbled into the room with shackles on her hands and feet. She fell inches from me.

  She was hurt, blood seeping through cuts on her arms and legs.

  “What did you do? Are you insane?” I found new life in me and I wanted to go to her, but father stopped me with a sword against my throat.

  He nodded to the guard who picked her up.

  Albert was crying again, he wanted to go to her.

  “Please my king.” Gwen spoke tiredly. “Just take him away from here. No child should see this.”

  “Silence. I’m done speaking to you.” Father shut her up. “The spawn will see what happens here tonight. He will see the beast his mother is. He will know why she died.”

  “Father, please.” I begged again and he shot me one of his deranged looks. “She is a dragon, and I will prove it.”

  “
That’s insane father, stop this now. I’m begging you.”

  “Your choice, Louie.” Father spoke as he stood in front of me. My eyes, full of tears, darted toward him.

  Silence lingered between us and his hatred for dragons was reflecting my own hatred for him.

  “Guinevere’s life, or your son’s.”

  I froze. How could he ask me that? That choice isn’t fair.

  “Take mine, for theirs.”

  “I told you that isn’t an option. You will be king and you will marry Magdel, so choose wisely.”

  “Albert’s.” Gwen said without thinking twice about it. “Save Albert, Louie, please.”

  More tears filled my eyes as I stared at her. Her own tears pleading with me. To save our son above my true love.

  “Father please.” I begged again.

  “Time is running out. You can save one, or when it’s done they will both die.”

  “Louie, please.” Gwen yelled again.

  “I can’t make this choice.”

  “I made it. It’s Albert.”

  Father looked at me. “Who will it be?” He ignored Gwen’s reply.

  “Please,” she begged again.

  “Albert,” I finally said and father huffed.

  They took Guinevere out immediately. “Please, I need to say good-bye.”

  “She is a dragon, there will be no good-byes. Leave the boy with his father.” He commanded the guard who let go of Albert.

  He ran to me fast and I hugged him tight.

  I shook with tears and Albert had no idea what was going on. He wouldn’t remember any of this but it was going to cause him nightmares for a long time to come.

  Nightmares of the monster his grandfather was.

  He didn’t even let me say good-bye to her.

  She was the love of my life. The kindest creature I ever met in my entire life, and he didn’t even let me say good-bye.

  I would never forgive him for what happened here tonight.

  The execution was set.

  Albert was still with me in the room. I couldn’t see or hear anything.

  Albert was sleeping on the bed as I tried numerous times to get out of this chamber.