Bloodfire

I dumped my leather bound notebook and a pen into my satchel. Tip-toeing downstairs, I slipped on my sneakers and snagged an umbrella from the basket by the door. As i touched the cold metal knob of the door, gentle thunder rumbled outside, sending pleasant shivers down my body. I smiled and stepped outside, trying to be as quiet as I could.

I stood on the front porch for a few moments, inhaling the comforting embrace of the thunderstorm. I always had a thing for thunderstorms. They were beautiful in all their dark chaotic grace.

I looked at the time on my phone-2.32am. As if they were judging the fact that I was about to head out at such a sketchy hour, the clouds roared at me.

"Hey, you don't get to judge me. You're the one getting all loud and rowdy this late at night. I, on the other hand, just want to visit wonderland." The clouds expressed their silent defeat through a mute bolt of lightning. I nodded at the sky, fully aware I seemed like an absolute looney talking to the sky. I didn't really mind it, though. I loved its company and it loved mine and that was all that mattered.

Opening up the umbrella, I took slow steps down the wet mahogany steps of the porch. As I walked out and onto the path walk, my hands reached out to pat my mid-back dreadlocks into place. I had just gotten them done a few days ago and I really didn't want my hair to get drenched with rainwater. Walking as fast as I could, I prayed to the rain gods to keep my hair safe.

Finally, I reached the library. It was barely a few blocks away from where I lived.

Living in a small town with a rich history had its perks, this library was the greatest of them all to me. It was my wonderland. I often came at this time of the night and spent long hours here during the day.

Firstly because something drew me to this place. It was beautiful and mysterious and it felt like home. Second, it was the perfect place for me to escape home sweet home. A place I always dreaded to return to. I made sure to steer clear of my forever drunk mother and this was the perfect place to do it.

Instead of walking up the creamy stone steps out front, I went around to the back of the library and opened the ebony door that led to the break room in the building. Eirene, the angel of a librarian who I saw as a parent figure, gave me a spare key to this place and allowed me to receive solace from it whenever I needed, or wanted, to. I would always be grateful to her for so many things.

Silent tears ran down my cheeks, I wiped them away and blinked, taking in a deep breath. Tonight would be a happy night for me. I knew it would.

Unlocking the door, I walked inside. The sounds of the pouring rain muffled by the closed door, I turned the lights on and proceeded to make myself a cup of coffee. Eirene only drank tea and the only helpers she had around here were Jackson and I. Since Jackson usually went to the café down the road during his breaks to see his boyfriend, who worked there as a waiter, I had to carry my own little sachets of coffee. I could've just went to the café but I disliked crowds and it was almost always packed in that small place.

Jackson was a senior at my high school and had been helping Eirene at the library since he was 15. They were really close since Jackson's father turned him away on finding out he was gay. Eirene was Jackson's mother's step-sister but they despised each other and hadn't talked for years. Finally, Jackson's mother left their family for someone new and Jackson being the only child, became Eirene's family. He was like my older brother.

As the kettle heated up, I tore my sachet of instant coffee open and poured it into my Garfield mug. Today, it would be vanilla mocha.

Grabbing my mug with my satchel strapped around my shoulder, I walked out into the library and couldn't help but loudly inhale the intoxicating earthy scent of the place. I snagged my favorite seat by the window that had a direct view of my favorite huge Oakwood tree.

I wasn't planning on reading a book today. Having finished one yesterday, I was still going through the grieving process. I wanted to write today. I loved writing random little pieces of fiction. Little poems, doodles here and there, stories where I had the ability to talk to the Oakwood among countless more. All written into the same leather bound journals I'd buy from Uncle Jonah's store.

Today, I wanted to pen an ode to the thunderstorms.

As I slipped into my usual trance, switching between chaotic writing and slow sips of my warm coffee, I heard the thud of a book fall within one of the shelves.

Instantly, my senses flared and I reached into my satchel for my taser. Whoever this was, if they meant harm, they better not think I'd go easy on them.

As sly as possible, I slithered between the shelves I heard the sound from.

"What in the world?" There was nobody here. All I saw was a book that was apparently glowing ember.

Before I could comprehend what was going on, an insane uncontrollable hunger took over my body. Suddenly, all I desired was to grab that book. As if I was no longer in control, I reached out and took the book. It was hot under my touch yet cool enough not to burn.

A heavy gust of wind that came out of nowhere blew the book open to a glowing brown page. The words were in Latin and I shouldn't have been able to read them yet I knew every single word.

"On time arriving, the fire will awaken and grow. The dark will be filled with ash and ember. For centuries, seen only in tale, the bloodfire shall rise again."

I couldn't believe that I knew how to read Latin. For all I knew, I was just imagining the fact that I could yet it felt so real. I said it out loud, just to test my sanity, the dead language rolled off my tongue as if I spoke it everyday. This was real.

As I said it out loud, the book rose in the air and burst into bright orange flames, shooting out towards me. They wrapped around my body yet it didn't hurt. It felt like me, like familiarity.

I opened my arms, shutting my eyes towards the ceiling and allowing myself to feel the flames. Images flashed through my mind. Animal scales, fire, amulets of rubies and sapphires, a goblet full of a deep red liquid, glowing green eyes with swirling amber in them.

As I opened my eyes, it all became crystal clear to me. I felt no shock, no surprise.

All I felt was whole. I felt complete and I understood.

Walking over to my seat and caught sight of my reflection in the window, my eyes glowed bright green with actively swirling amber specks within them. I watched as it faded away and my natural dark brown eyes came back.

As if there was were suddenly an in-built manual in my head, I knew what would happen if I willed it to. So, I raised my hand, palm facing upwards, and called upon fire. A small ball of glowing fire appeared onto my palms. I looked out of the window. My life was just about to enter a whole new plane of existence. This was why I felt so out of place. So lost.

I was a dragon.