Morning came with the warmth of the sun on Christine’s face and the screams of something from Hybrid’s bag. She opened it to find a red dragon nestled within. She laid the baby down to check on it, but just as she reached into the bag, the dragon spread its little wings and fluttered over to her daughter. Terrified the creature would harm her child, Christine ran toward it and then stopped in her tracks as the dragon curled up next to her infant daughter and fell asleep.
Christine looked at her Hybrid, still struggling against against the clutches of death. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to save him, but she was still far too weak after giving birth. Christine began to cry. Hybrid lifted his head upon hearing her soft sobs and told her that he loved her, always had and always would. He smiled gently and eyes closed as his breathing became shallow. Her Hybrid was dying and she was helpless.
Just then, Aaliyah stumbled into the entrance of the cave, weak and covered in blood.
Shocked, Christine stuttered, "Wh-what happened?"
"Not now," Aaliyah whispered through ragged breaths. "I'm here for him!"
Aaliyah dropped the bag from her bruised shoulder and crouched to open it. The one thing that could cure a hybrid lie inside: the black heart of a vampire. She handed it to Christine and then collapsed to the floor. Christine knelt beside her friend and gathered her broken body in her arms.
"Why? Why would you risk your life for him?"
Aaliyah gasped and struggled to focus on Christine’s face. "Not for him. For you."
With her last act on earth, she told her sister that she loved her. Christine tearfully sobbed as she watched the light leave Aaliyah’s eyes. She placed the body down softly on the ground before walking toward her beloved and putting the heart in his mouth. His jaw started to chew it up and then, painfully, he swallowed.
Christine sat looking at her fallen sister. She could not handle this loss. Her chest ached as the memories of Aaliyah flashed before her eyes in quick bursts. She gasped for air as her sobs caused her to hyperventilate. It was in the midst of her grief that Hybrid rose.
He saw Aaliyah lying on the ground and let out a gasp. He couldn’t believe she had sacrificed her life to save him. "She died for me? No!" he cried. "You stupid Amazon witch! Not for me! Not for me!"
He felt Christine’s arms wrap around him, squeezing too tight as she tried to come to terms with the loss. He pulled away so he could pull her into his embrace. It was then Christine told him that they had a daughter. He smiled before looking around curiously.
"Where is she?"
"Playing with her dragon," Christine replied.
They walked to the room and Hybrid gazed at the beautiful infant. It was the first look he had had of his daughter, whom he had thought he would never see. She was breathtaking. Her hair was long with flowing curls. Her eyes were that of her mother’s; her cheeks and lips were Hybrid's with dimples. She had the small red dragon nestled around her, as if protecting her. It looked up at him curiously before resuming to play with the child.
“Aaliyah,” he stated.
"I know. She saved us all."
Hybrid shook his head. "No. Aaliyah. Our daughter's name is Aaliyah."
Tears fell from Christine's eyes as she nodded in agreement.
Days had passed since the burial of the proud Amazon warrior, Aaliyah. She was buried in the traditional Amazon way, dressed in a beautiful dress made of white silk. The sword was placed with the handle within her hands about mid-chest and the blade lying against the length of her. The Amazons felt saddened and defeated as they laid one of their greatest warriors to rest. They would mourn her deeply; she was loved and greatly admired among them. Aaliyah had been a great defender of their homes and a mighty teacher to the younger warriors. She had seemed to bridge a gap between generations.
After the ceremony, Christine, Hybrid, and their daughter headed home. No one said anything. Their hearts were grieving. Aaliyah had a huge impact on all their lives. Christine entered the cave before Hybrid, setting Aaliyah down after giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. She turned away for a moment, but turned back when she heard Aaliyah squeal.
"Hybrid!" Christine called out to her husband. "Come look."
Hybrid walked toward her. His wounds were healing, but he was still sore. As he made his way into the room, he started to smile. Aaliyah was playing with her dragon. The child whom the Amazon people believed would be their savior was growing at an accelerated rate. By normal standards she was only two months, but Aaliyah was the size and had the brain function of a three-year-old.
"Dragon," she said as the creature flew high over her and then landed beside her. She rubbed his back and he let out a cute growl. He was getting bigger, but the control over the dragon was what was a little scary; with the wave of her hand, he followed and stood guard over her.
Is this the power of the chosen one? Christine thought to herself.
Hybrid was now sitting down on the bed in which he and his Christine shared. "Come here, young one," he called to her and happily she came.
How did we get to be so lucky? he wondered. They sat upon the bed and reminisced the past they shared and dreamt of the future that laid ahead.
The sun rose over the cave, giving it an erotic ambiance with orange and yellows clashing against the dewy green grass and the grey stones, which almost looked black against the sky. A soft autumn breeze set in and the rain came down in sheets as it beat against the entrance of the cave. The day seemed quiet and still, except for the sound of the rain. Christine watched the showers nestled in Hybrid’s arms. It brought her peace if only for a short while.
Aaliyah ran into the room excitedly. "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom!!!"
"Yes Aaliyah. What is it?" Christine asked.
"Look, Mom! Look!"
As Christine looked, she was stunned to find the dragon glowing. There was a bright orange light radiating around him. The creature growled.
Christine and Hybrid quickly picked Aaliyah up and stepped away from the dragon slowly. The dragon was now in a ball and a bright light flashed throughout the cave. As the light faded, the grew to nearly the size of a large dog. His once red scales were now golden, and with a growl that was much stronger than before, he flew to his master: Aaliyah.
"Happy Dragon!" Aaliyah said.
It was the name she had called him since she could talk. The dragon, hearing her voice, smiled and rubbed up against her. Suddenly, Hybrid’s ears perked up as he heard a faint sound in the distance outside of the cave. He stepped outside to see what it was, only to be shocked by the sight before him. He shouted for Christine who came running as she sensed the urgency in his voice. She was just as surprised as him when she found her entire tribe of Amazons standing in front of them with spears drawn.
The Queen of the Amazons stepped forward. Her strength was only emphasized by her willingness to fight, which Christine remembered seeing in battle. The scars on her shoulder enhanced the beauty in her face. The queen’s eyes were fierce and her words were as powerful as her spirit.
"Why are you here, Danielle?" Christine asked.
"Is it true?" the Amazon Queen asked with her spear drawn.
"Is what true?"
Danielle raised her voice at her insolence. "How dare you beguile your queen!"
Hybrid stepped in front his beloved. He bared his fangs out in defense, as if sensing the battle that was about to happen. Aaliyah emerged from the cave as the little girl her parents knew. Before they could reach her, she suddenly began to glow. Aaliyah transformed into her true form. She grew into a golden, glowing hybrid. Her hair shimmered with power and her dragon flew to her side. Astonished, the Amazons held their spears in both hands and got on their knees to bow before the chosen one.
It was as the prophecy had predicted. The Amazons’ hearts filled with hope for the first time in centuries.
2
"So the legend is true," Danielle said. "Dear sister, you have brought us the savior of the realms!"
&nb
sp; Out of nowhere, Aaliya appeared. She was a pale white image with red eyes that still wore the dress that she was buried in.
"Oh no!" Christine cried. “Aaliyah must have been bitten when she went for the heart of the vampire.”
Aaliyah's eyes were blank and lifeless, her fangs were drawn. She had become one of the undead. With a quick swoop, Aaliyah now had the Amazon Queen around the neck.
Danielle stabbed her former sister in the stomach and the others followed suit. With a scream, Aaliya fell to the ground.
The savior walked toward them with her hand outstretched. The Amazons stopped their assault and stood aside as the child, in hybrid form, walked toward the godmother she had never known. Aaliyah had been told of these creatures because her parents had told her of the war between the two species. She knew her mother was bitten by a vampire and her father had also bitten her mother in order to save her. It was a love story for Aaliyah. She understood the love that her mother carried for this creature that was in front of her. She took a deep breath and continued to approach it.
Aaliyah knelt down before the vampire and touched its face. Aaliyah's hand and body began to glow. Now the vampire’s once red eyes turned back to their normal color and her lifeless skin gained color. All gasped in amazement as Aaliyah sat up, completely healed. With tears in her eyes, Aaliyah the Amazon reached out to the unlikely savior as Christine and Hybrid ran to her. They all embraced.
"This is beautiful," Danielle said, "but it proves what we all knew. She's the one, the one that is to save the realms."
"How did you find out about her?" Hybrid asked.
Pointing at the sky, they saw a blood red moon outlined in white floating high in the sky.
Gasping, Hybrid shook his head in disbelief. "They will all come for her now."
It was a feeling that sprang forth from within him. It seemed to be ingrained knowledge, even though it confused him. He wasn't sure how he knew this, but he did.
"Yes," Danielle replied.
"Who?" Christine asked.
"The wolves, the vampires; everyone. Whosoever has her in their corner will rule the world.” Danielle replied.
The Amazons invited the family of hybrids to stay with them so they could protect them, which was quickly rejected by Hybrid.
"You have shown nothing but disdain for me and my kind. You will not treat our child like that!" He growled. “You shunned my wife from the only home she knew, yet you want us to go where she is no longer welcomed? No! Absolutely not!”
Danielle walked slowly toward him and began to plead, stating this was the best decision for the chosen one. "The legend has been engraved in our shrines since before I can remember. It tells the story of a small clan of hybrids who will bring peace to the realm. It is said that they will possess powers of the bat and the wolf. The chosen one will have the ability to own the clouds and even restore life."
"This is the legend?" Hybrid questioned.
Danielle nodded. "With the sign of their birth, the sky will turn red as blood. But there's a catch." She paused. "He who kills the chosen one will gain unlimited power."
I will teach her how to harness these powers, Hybrid decided. He looked back at the Amazon queen. “I will make sure no one harms her. She is my daughter, after all.”
Aaliyah followed her father back into the cave. Christine watched as Hybrid took their daughter inside before turning her attention to the Amazons. They gave her a worried look, knowing what was to come. There was a silent acknowledgement between Christine and Danielle that the Amazons would protect Aaliyah at any cost. Christine watched as they retreated to their homes.
3
A long ways away in a dark and muggy crypt, the lid of a coffin opened. Inside lived a creature of pure madness, driven only to feed off of those around him and manipulate others. His name was Count Damien. He made his way out of the coffin and went to the entrance where he was greeted by the blood red sky. He had lived over a millennium for this moment.
“It has arrived,” he said to himself. “I have waited ages for this to happen. I will have the power of a god!”
His sinister laugh filled the crypt as hundreds of his soldiers arose from their slumber.
Meanwhile in the forest, the alpha female werewolf had also seen the sign. She howled for her pack who were at her aid in an instant. She was white as driven snow with specks of silver, and her eyes were a glacial blue that seemed to penetrate through anyone who would dare question her. She was powerful and quick. Morphing quickly into her human form, her flowing hair was redder than the sky and her eyes were still brilliant blue. Her name was Renee and her pack bowed before her magnificent power.
Renee informed the pack of what was to come. “We must find the chosen one and quickly. If the others find her, we will have no chance of survival.”
One of the pack members spoke. “There was a weird scent coming from near the tribe of the Amazons, my Queen.”
"Let's go see what it is."
In a moment, they were all running like the wind. They followed the scent near the Amazon tribe’s location and it led them to a small cave. As they passed the tribe, their scent was picked up by Hybrid. He immediately became alert as he recognized the scent.
He ran from the cave and intercepted them with a growl. "Renee!"
The other wolves backed off and Renee came toward him. The pack had known what the hybrid was capable of; they had seen him in action before. However, Renee was different. She was unafraid of the hybrid, especially not when there was so much at stake.
"How dare you enter my part of the woods?” He growled. “I told you to tread carefully. Must I teach you what I taught your husband?"
Those words made the wolf pack growl. Renee bared her teeth.
"We are looking for the one."
Hybrid feigned innocence, but Renee knew he was far from that. When Hybrid saw the determination in her eyes, he dropped the act. “Leave,” he demanded.
She nodded then turned toward him and asked a spine chilling question, one he had never expected from her. "Be my king?"
He shook his head immediately. "I have chosen another mate."
Renee smiled as she turned away. What Hybrid hadn’t realized was that he had revealed a dangerous piece of information to the alpha werewolf. While running back to the lair with her pack, Renee informed them that the hybrid had an offspring, and that child was the chosen one!
4
Weeks passed and Aaliyah the Amazon accepted that Hybrid and Christine had named their daughter after her using the name she hated. Hybrid and Aaliyah had taken up training Aaliyah in preparation for what was to come. It was a hard decision for them to make but Aaliyah had to be able to defend herself. Christine observed and comforted her daughter when she grew frustrated.
"That's enough for today," Christine said.
"Christine!" Hybrid growled. "She must know how to defend herself!"
Christine returned the growl. "She's just a girl!"
Aaliyah stepped between them and ran into her mother’s arms where she was comforted but necessarily eased. Christine and Aaliyah walked to the meadow, holding hands as always. Her growth was incredible. She was about seventeen now. Aaliyah’s mind had finally been able to catch up with her body, yet she still had a lot to learn and it was hard for her as she had yet to experience the things in life others had. The only thing more incredible than her growth was her dragon.
Happy Dragon flew high overhead, watching carefully over her.
"Aaliyah," Christine said gently, "you know your father means the best for you."
"But Mother," Aaliyah replied, "this is too much on me. I'm the savior of the realms. I'm an Amazon. I'm a wolf. I'm part vampire. When can I just be me?"
Tears welled in her eyes and sprang free, streaming down her flushed cheeks. Aaliyah had only been in the world for four short years. She was still learning and the weight that had been put on her shoulders had become incredibly heavy.
Her mother held her tightly in
her arms and wiped her tears away. "You must follow this," she said while pointing to her heart, “and all will fall into place."
After their mother-daughter time, they headed back to the cave. As they were walking, Happy Dragon let out a loud growl and flew toward them. Christine and Aaliyah both knew something was definitely wrong. Instinctively, Christine pulled her daughter close. Suddenly, they were surrounded by Renee and her pack. Happy Dragon tackled one wolf and held it pinned to the earth beneath them as Renee walked toward Aaliyah. The rest of the pack followed.
"Bring her to me! Alive! The other," she paused, "kill her.”
The battle began. Christine unleashed her inner hybrid and began fighting for her daughter, but there were just too many. Aaliyah grew frightened as two wolves slowly crept toward her, and then out of nowhere, her dragon's fire consumed the wolves, turning them both back. Aaliyah let out a sigh of relief when suddenly Renee appeared right in front of her. Renee moved in slowly. She ran and jumped, teeth bared, just as Christine pushed Aaliyah out of the way. Renee bit into Christine, drawing bright red rivers of blood. She shook Christine again and again.
Seeing her mother bleeding and at death's door, Aaliyah took on her golden hybrid form. She grabbed Renee with one hand and slammed her into the ground while the wolves cowered and whimpered in fear. She picked up her bleeding mother, placed her on Happy Dragon’s back, and flew back toward the cave. The wolves howled in anger as they watched them fly away.
* * *
"Dad!" Aaliyah screamed.
When Hybrid and Aaliyah ran out of the cave, they saw Christine bleeding and barely breathing. Aaliyah was hysterical and covered in Christine's blood. She placed her hands over her mother and began to glow.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 161
