The Damsel and the Dragon

The attack came in the middle of the night. It was one of the few nights my siblings and I weren’t in our rooms. My sisters and I were in the library, planning to sleep there through the night as my brothers went off to do whatever it was they chose that night. Our parents were in bed hours ago, but I didn’t see them in the tunnels, and the guards wouldn’t go back to check until the rest of us were out.

As I watched the last of my younger siblings disappear into the tree line, I ran back into the castle. Flames were spreading quickly, and due to the brick walls, heating up swiftly. I didn’t have much time to look for anyone, but I searched for my older brother, the heir, Thomas. Most of the castle was cleared out by now, but those who couldn’t escape in time… well, they will meet their gods one way or another.

As I reached a clear spot, I broke the promise I had made to my mother. I closed my eyes and pictured Thomas, remembered his voice, his laugh, the way he moved. That’s when I heard him. Not far from where I stood, calling out for me. I opened my eyes and ran through the kitchens, up the stairs, and right there on the first landing was Thomas with one of his guards, a young man named Quentin, struggling to move a piece of wood from Thomas’s leg.

“Jessie!” Thomas cried out. I ran to them, using what strength I had to help Quentin. We only managed to lift it a few inches, but it was enough for Thomas to crawl out before we had to drop it again. “We need to leave, now!” I tell Thomas, grabbing his hand. “What about mother and father?” Thomas asked, ripping himself away from me. “I don’t even know where to begin to look!” I shout at him, looking at Quentin. “Carry him out if need be, but get your future king to safety!”

“I’ll get both of you, now go!” The guard insisted as he grabbed Thomas’s hand, and the three of us ran back the way I came. Not far, I heard the voices of the raiders, laughing as they called out. “Your Royal Highness,” one hissed as another laughed. “Come out, and find your fate with me!” My blood chilled despite the now-unbearable heat around us. Quentin dropped Thomas’s hand as his hand stayed on the hilt of his sword.

Quentin was out of his armor, just in his underclothes, but still had his sword wrapped around his hip. Thomas was almost in the same state of undress, but didn’t seem to have his bow with him. Odd. I thought as we clung to the shadows. He never goes anywhere without it. There wasn’t much time to dwell on such details as Quentin led the way, the three of us quietly making it back out of the castle, and onto the southern lawn. Here, I said goodbye to our younger siblings, unsure when I’d get to see them again.

Above, I kept hearing something sweep around us, blowing wind this way and that. “Run!” Quentin yelled at us, snapping me back to the ground. I began to run with them until a sharp pain went through my thigh, sending me tumbling to the ground with a scream.

“Jessamine!” Thomas cried out, turning around for me. Quentin followed, running to the shooter. I looked behind me and saw three figures heading our way, one of them with an arrow aimed straight for Thomas. No. I thought, looking back at my brother. “Go, run!” I screamed at him, waving him away. “I’m not leaving you!” Thomas insisted.

“I’m not asking you, go!” I pushed his hands away, Quentin’s eyes shifting from me, to the figures, and back at Thomas. When his eyes met mine again, I saw the same question I had: Would he be able to carry me, ensure the safety of the prince, and fight off the attackers when they went after them?

“Take him,” I tell Quentin. “Go, now!” Without hesitation, Quentin picked up my brother and threw him over his shoulder. “Quin!” Thomas yelled as Quentin ran into the woods. Tears filled my eyes as the pain became more apparent, Thomas safely disappearing rather quickly.

“At least we’ll get one of these cockroaches!” Teased the archer, a sickly skinny man with a slimy smile. “Don’t worry, I know exactly where their safe house is.” Said another man as he knelt beside me, knife out and against my throat. “Stay away from my family!” I screamed, only getting a harsh slap to the face. My eyes were suddenly looking to my left, as a man’s boots appeared there. “It’d be a shame… To kill her so quickly.” One of them chuckled. “Don’t worry, I don’t intend for this to be quick.” Another said, taking the arrow in my thigh and twisting it.

White hot pain ran through my body as I screamed, energy rising to the surface. I could never control myself when I was hurt, and for once, I was grateful for it. “Maybe we should take her with us, so she can watch us take the safe houses, too.” The archer suggested, taking me by the hair as he forced me back to my feet.

I screamed as I threw my hand against his neck, knocking his throat back, but sending something else through him. One moment, I was staring at his gaunt face, feeling the urge to vomit. Next, I was back on the ground, and his head was six feet away.

“Fuck.” One of the men muttered. The one with the knife kicked my back, sending me spiraling over the grass. “Looks like we need to keep you alive.” He said, almost too disappointed. “At least the important pieces—.” When I looked at him, all I could see, feel, and taste was blood. I threw a rock at him, wishing it would bury itself into his neck, silencing him forever.

My wish was granted as it embedded itself into his throat, causing him to choke on his blood and fall to his knees, dead. Black began to edge around my eyes as the other man hesitated to advance on me, something forcing my body to the ground. I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to see the man be consumed with flame and a strong wind blow over me before the world went dark.

I couldn’t remember much in those first few days I woke up. When I saw the curtains around the bed, I assumed I was in a safe house, but I didn’t recognize the servants tending to me. The young girl dressed in a plain grey dress and hair pinned high above her head, I didn’t know who she was, but I knew she was trying to help me.

“It’s alright, Jessamine,” she whispered in my ear. “We’ll help you.”

“Who are you…?” I whispered to her as the sun started to shine through the tall window next to the bed. “A friend.” She whispered back, holding my hand as pain coursed through me, before I lost consciousness again.

When I opened my eyes again, I was alone. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, giving me a better visual of where I was. I’d never seen this bedroom before. It was a silver-white color everywhere, other than the fireplace, which was a dark grey stone, and the wardrobe, which was a deep oak color. Other than that, the room was almost colorless.

I threw the blankets back to see a bandage wrapped around my right thigh, and a tear in my nightgown where I was shot. I opened my mouth to speak, but my mouth and throat were so dry, it almost hurt too much to breathe. How long was I asleep for? I asked myself, looking around the walls for a bell of some kind. All of our estates and our castle have servant bells for times of illness.

A large door six feet from the bed creaked open, and a young girl in a pale grey dress, blonde hair, and dark eyes came through, holding a silver tray with a cup, a steaming bowl, and a smaller bowl closer to her. “Your Grace!” The girl greeted, smiling from ear to ear. “You’re awake!”

“Where am I? Who are you?” I demanded, moving away from her as she came closer. The girl paused, seeming disappointed. “I’m Ingrid, master has designated me to be your lady’s maid.” Ingrid put the tray on a nearby vanity, folding her hands in front of her.

“Master? Who’s that?” I asked again, frustration starting to awaken my body. “Your Highness,” Ingrid began again, giving me a small curtsy. “Forgive me, but I cannot answer everything at the moment, but I can give you what I know.” She offered.

“Please.” I agreed, settling in the middle of the bed. As I leaned back, I felt something metal hit my back. As coily as I could, I reached my hand underneath the mountain of pillows, and felt a handle around my palm. I inched my finger up, and relief flooded me as I realized I was touching the face of a dagger.

I pulled it to my left thigh, keeping it under the covers. You never know. I told myself as Ingrid approached the bed, sitting at my feet. “Almost a fortnight ago, your family was attacked by a usurper’s army, with the target of killing everyone inside, but only saving one girl. Thankfully, they were defeated, and your siblings were found safe before being sent to a safe location outside of the country.” Ingrid’s voice was calm as she spoke, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing as I listened to the news.

“My master found you as you took down most of the attackers advancing on you, but you were falling unconscious due to using so much of your power, and the poison the arrow was drenched in.” Ingrid paused, looking at her hands as she sighed. “We weren’t sure if you’d survive the first few days. Then you started to wake up, and your wound started to bleed rather than ooze. We’re all glad you’re alive.”

My eyes wandered away from her as I looked into the fireplace across from the bed, taking in the carved dragon on the mantle, lying in the center curled up like a cat, its eyes shimmering like diamonds. “I’m not going home… Am I?” My voice came out weak. Ingrid was silent for too long before she spoke again. “Your parents have asked us to host you until things have settled in your home country.” She whispered, making my heart twist. “Please, allow me to bring you the tray, you need to eat.” I just nodded, my eyes unable to leave the dragon on the mantle.

Many noble and royal houses have their house crests displayed everywhere they can. Who would have a dragon on their crest? I thought to myself as I ate and sipped at the water, Ingrid selecting a dress for me to wear. “My master would want to formally introduce himself to you soon, now that you’re awake.”

My lady’s maids before were mostly my dearest friends or cousins I grew fond of. They were so chatty, gentle, and made me laugh. Ingrid, while kind and sweet, was quiet. Her hands were gentle and detailed when it came to helping me wash my hair, brush, and braid it into something as elegant as the dress she picked out for me. An outdated but beautiful dress with a basic silhouette, long bell sleeves, a modest enough neckline, and a pearl belt. Had it not been for the silk and the blue-silver color, I’d assumed it’d be a shift for another dress.

As Ingrid held my hand down the marble and silver hallway, I caught my reflection in a mirror nearby. Despite not moving, barely eating or drinking anything for two weeks, I looked healthy, with full cheeks, long hair, and bright eyes. The only thing that gave away my previous condition was a limp, and my skin had paled significantly.

Looking around the hallways, there were portraits, statues, and vases everywhere, all depicting eight dragons with eight different colored scales, shapes, and wing spans. It wasn’t until Ingrid and I entered the center of eight other stairwells going up and one going down, that color began to arrive.

It’s so… beautiful. I thought to myself, looking at the pillars around the dais, each one with a statue of a marble dragon wrapped around it, staring right at the center. The ceiling was painted to depict eight humans, all dressed similarly to the dragons around us. “Thank you.” A man’s voice echoed in my ears. My eyes jerked to the staircase across from me. “Who’s there?” I called out, startling Ingrid. “Your Grace, no one is—.” Ingrid’s voice was drowned out as the man’s voice ran in my head again.

“I go by many names, Princess.” He replied, a rumble of laughter at the end of his words. The voice sounded closer as I heard steps come down the red staircase. “Most of which is lost to human languages.” The man stepped into the sunlight. His long red hair flowed around his shoulders, stopping at his chest. He wore a red and black suit, and his golden eyes glittered as he smiled at me. “But the name Julian might ring a bell.”

“Who are you?” I challenged, letting go of Ingrid’s hand as I stepped forward. I felt my footing slide, the marble floor getting closer as I plummeted. But in a blink, the red-haired man’s face was above me. Strong arms kept me from the floor as his smile dimmed with concern.

He was the most beautiful man I’d ever met. A long face, high cheekbones, long blond lashes, a jawline that could put all this marble to shame, and sun-kissed skin that made his golden eyes shine brightly. The more I looked into his eyes, the more I felt a surge of power run through him, and soon through me as he slowly lifted me to my feet.

“Julian Emberheart.” He said softly. “I’m Julian Emberheart, Your Highness.” His hands were still against my back, warmth seeped through the fabric and into my skin. My hands were on his arms, feeling the muscle underneath as he moved so gracefully. As if gravity meant nothing to him.

Wait… Emberheart… It finally clicked in my memory. All the dragons, one wing having their own colors, then a brilliance of colors everywhere else, the hand-painted humans on the ceiling. Not humans. I told myself as I looked back at Julian. Dragon shifters. The house of Heart. It was an ancient, rich, and powerful house, but for years, they have been reduced to stories told around campfires.

I’d seen paintings of Julian Emberheart before, but so many of them included patches of red scales across his skin, horns, and a sharp tail that would put any knight’s sword to shame. The man holding me now was powerful, with reptilian-like eyes, but was not the half-man, half-monster the paintings claimed him to be.

“I’m… I’m Jessamine de Luca.” I whispered, courage finding me quickly as I let my grip on Julian’s arms loosen. He carefully let me go, putting his arms behind his back as he nodded. “We have too much to discuss, Jessamine.”

I had so many questions forming in my throat, perished the moment I realized Ingrid told me the answers to most of them. I’m not a prisoner here… I reminded myself. “I tend not to let my prisoners sleep in royal suites, wear fine clothes, and heal them of rare and dangerous poisons.” Julian’s voice rang in my head, but his lips did not move.

“Stop that!” I commanded him, stepping away from him. This time, Ingrid was beside me, took my hand once more, as she steadied my feet. “We’ll continue this in the library,” Julian told both of us, and headed to the staircase. “And after we do, you can tell me how you’re the only de Luca with any form of magic in their blood.” My blood ran cold as I walked behind him, Ingrid there to steady me with each misstep. I wanted to ask how he knew that, then the feeling of wind cocooning me and the bright flames swallowing my remaining attacker… It was he who saved me, who brought me here.

He saw everything I did. I promised my mother I’d never use my magic, and in emergencies, I wouldn’t let anyone outside the family see me use it… Considering I might never see my mother again, it didn’t feel as wrong to break this promise to her.