Draco

by Harley Steger

Kaiya watched as the flame danced across her fingertips. She had been hiding in the king’s forest for well over a year now. After all forms of magic had been outlawed, she and other wielders of magic were forced out of their homes or faced with death. Kaiya had seen it firsthand as her neighbor Lillian was burned at the stake for healing a dying soldier with magic. A few hours later, she was arrested and executed. Kaiya fled that night.

The trees groaned in protest against the strong winds of Blainwick Valley. Kaiya pulled her cloak tighter and spoke to the fire “strahes” and the fire grew. “Nice trick,” a low voice spoke, and Kaiya whipped towards the sound, placing a hand on her dagger. “No need for that,” the man said softly, “I’m not here to hurt you.” When Kaiya made no attempt to lower her guard the man sighed. “Who are you?” Kaiya demanded. As her eyes settled to the darkness, she could now make out his features. Curly black hair, pale skin, and his eyes. His eyes were the warmest she’d seen in years. She found herself becoming entranced and shook her head to regain her focus. “Adil,” the man introduced himself, bowing slightly. Adil approached her and Kaiya watched as his face became distorted with pain and he slumped to the ground. Unsure why, she rushed to his side and began searching for wounds. Adil’s skin was cool to the touch, and he was now barely conscious. Unable to find any wounds, Kaiya took his face in her hands and shouted, “What is wrong?” For unknown reasons, she felt compelled to help this stranger before her. The man let out a shaky breath and smiled. “I am dying, Kaiya Rees.”

Kaiya stepped back--how did he know her name? The man stood up slowly and grimaced. “Mind if I sit?” Without waiting for a response, he sat on one of the tree stumps nearby. Kaiya opened her mouth, but before she could speak the man waved his hand. “How I know your name is not important. What is important is that you are the one to save magic and bring it back to Aetas.” Surely he knew no one could save magic. Thousands had revolted when Elrond made his proclamation. Everyone who had been involved was hunted and killed.

Kaiya swallowed the rising guilt in her throat. She was meant to be among those ranks before she ran away. Lillian was more than a neighbor; she was Kaiya’s best friend. As she was being burned, Lillian stared at Kaiya with tears and her eyes and demanded Kaiya to live. “It’s not possible,” Kaiya said, “Magic will die within the century and there is nothing to be done.”

“Come, and I will show you,” Adil waved her over and Kaiya obeyed, cursing herself for doing so. As she came into reach, Adil moved with inhuman speed and grabbed Kaiya, placing a hand on her forehead. She struggled against him, but Adil was unfazed and his grip grew tighter. Fear erupted from Kaiya as Adil began whispering in her ear, “strahes libturi infinos draco.” Kaiya screamed as her body fell to the ground, every inch of her burned. He had set her ablaze. Her vision blurred as she grabbed her dagger, slicing through the air. She collapsed; Adil looking down on her with pity, his words echoing through her head: strahes libturi infinos draco. “Call for me Kaiya Rees, and I will come.” His face disappeared as Kaiya slipped into unconsciousness.

The world blinked into view as Kaiya awoke. She chuckled at herself. Just a bad dream with a crazy man. She stood up and stretched. Then she looked down and saw the man, Adil, dead at her feet. No. Not her feet. Her claws? Kaiya quickly searched her body. Scales, yellow scales, and wings? When had she grown wings? The realization hit her. This was no dream, draco, damn it all. Kaiya rushed to the nearby lake. Her body uncontrolled, she felled trees and watched as animals scurried beneath her. She dug her claws into the sand as she approached the water and looked at her reflection. She had been transformed into a dragon.

by Harley Steger

by Catherine Coffee