The door opened, and the guard gathered my mother’s lifeless body in his arms while I begged him to leave her with me. “Please! Don’t take her from me!”
The guard paused in the doorway, his sympathetic eyes meeting mine. “I have to organize her funeral, then I’ll be back to undo your chains, so that you may leave. I suggest after your mother's funeral, you make yourself scarce. The King’s mercy doesn’t last very long.”
The door slammed shut behind him, and I let out a hysterical laugh. He thought the King was being merciful? What a fucked-up society I was a part of.
Hours passed before the guard came back. He unlocked my shackles and helped me to my feet. My neighbor, Marissa, was standing outside my cell door, and the guard handed me off to her without a word. Marissa led me down a corridor lined with doors. It was hard to determine if the stench was coming from me or the other rooms. We walked outside, and my lungs began to hurt from the sudden intake of clean air. I started coughing and almost collapsed. If it wasn't for Marissa I would have.
We walked back to my home, the villagers stopping to stare as we passed. Some even hurried to get away from me, as if my presence alone would have tainted them somehow. It hurt my heart to see them treating me like I was a criminal. All I did was help someone who was injured. Would it have been better if I had let them die? What would they have done in my position? Who am I kidding, they probably would have told the King, so he could do it personally.
When we arrived at my home, it no longer felt safe. The sense of loss and hopelessness overwhelmed me to the point that I dropped to my knees and sobbed. It cemented the fact that Mom wasn’t coming back. She was truly gone from this world.
Marissa waited until my sobs died down before she took me into the house and straight to my bathroom. I watched as she turned the taps on to fill the tub and added in a few of the healing oils my mother had given me, before walking out of the room.
The sound of running water was a soothing balm of relief. Days without bathing would do that to a person. I stripped out of what was left of my once tidy work clothes, but were now a pile of tattered rags barely covering me. The brass claw foot tub was close to overflowing with soft warm water when I turned the taps off.
Marissa came back with a bundle of my clothes, and placed them on the bathroom counter before grabbing a washcloth and wiping off the dried blood on my back. I held in every wince and every whimper that wanted to escape my lips as she set to work. The wounds would take days to heal, but at least the oils sped that along.
Once I was cleaned up, she spoke, "Abigail, I have to go now, but I've left you clean clothes for the funeral. I’ll leave some stew in the kitchen for you, so you can regain your strength. The funeral will be held at dusk."
She left the room, not offering her condolences or sympathy. Nothing other than the one act of kindness by washing my back. I sat in the water and sobbed my heart out. I cried for my mom, who had died at the hands of that sick bastard. I cried for myself being left alone in this horrible life, and I cried for the dragons. We all deserved better than that man for a King.
My only crime had been to help those who needed it. We should be helping each other, not hurting or killing each other. The King had allowed his power control him and blind him from the truth.
I scrubbed the dirt and grime from my body, still feeling filthy even though my skin was clean. I rubbed myself raw until my skin shone with a tinge of pink. If I scrubbed any more, my skin would have bled. The tub drained as I dried myself off and changed into the plain black shirt and pants Marissa had set out for me. We didn’t wear dresses to our funerals as it was perceived as a sign of disrespect. Instead, we wore what we called formal attire clothes that were handmade by the seamstresses in the gold clan. I knew I didn’t have any formal wear like that in my closet, which meant Marissa was kind enough to let me borrow that set, so I could give my mother the respect she deserved when I put her to rest.
What was I supposed to do without her? She was my whole reason for staying here, and now she was gone. Maybe it was time for me to leave? After all, there was nothing left for me here anymore. My mind made up, I gathered a rucksack from my bedroom and packed up a few of the keepsakes Mom had given me over the years.
There was nothing left from my father. He took it all when he left.
I threw in everything I could carry, choosing to leave behind what I wouldn't be able to use. I figured if I was on the run, only the necessities should be taken. And who knew, maybe one day I could come back for the rest. At least that’s what I told myself as I prepared to run for my life.
My clothes were packed, I had a blanket in case I was forced to camp for a night or two, and I had my most valuable possessions. The childhood book my mother had written for me, all about a human falling in love with a dragon that was her true mate, was my most precious item.
In my mother’s room, I noticed the empty medicine jars beside her bed, meaning she must have run out while the King had me. How long had she gone without them before she came to me?
I felt horrible rifling through her things, but I knew she kept our coins saved away in there for an emergency. And running seemed like as good of an emergency as any other.
I added the coins to my bag, relieved they could provide me with some comforts for a couple months, at least. Hopefully, I could pick up a few jobs in the villages between the clans to earn some more. It was the only real option I had to survive.
I couldn’t stay here. No, I wouldn't remain here when the one that led us was a sick sadistic son of a bitch.
The smell of stew wafted up to me as I drew closer to the kitchen, and my stomach grumbled in response. I heated it over the fire, while packing what food items I could take with me. Anything that would spoil easily was left behind, but the dried meats and fruits I had were easy enough to take along on the journey.
After I was sure I had everything I might need, I grabbed my hunting knife and put it in my bag along with the rest of my supplies. I debated on what else I would need and drew a blank. Oh well, hopefully, I had everything.
The smell of freshly heated stew filled the room, and I served it up, eager to eat, but my stomach was a bundle of tension. I managed to swallow a few mouthfuls before I was forced to abandon the rest of the bowl. I smoothed my hands down my clothes nervously and passed my bag to look out the door. No one was waiting for me out there, so I walked down to the funeral grounds on the other side of the village.
Our village was set up much like the Gold and Purple clans. We had the main quarters, a massive structure used to house the leader of our clan and the King when he visited. Then, the guards lived around the leader’s structure, in small huts. If the guards had families, they were allowed to live with their families in the inner part of the village, but it was recommended they live close by in case the leader needed protection or the village was attacked.
Then, we had the inner village which was deemed for those of purer blood and those who could afford to pay our leader a higher portion of their income.
The last part of the village, the part my mother and I were from was on the outskirts of the village, close to the fields and livestock. We were considered the bottom of the barrel in our society.
It was a long trek through the village center, many people also were walking ahead to the funeral grounds. The whole village turned out to honor my mother, which I was grateful for, but the whispers and pointed glares, not so much.
"Traitor.”
"Killed her mother."
"She should’ve died."
"Abomination."
All whispered amongst the villagers, though no one was bold enough to actually say something to my face.
My eyes watered as her body was placed in the wooden crate. We used to bury our people in the ground until it was deemed these crate-like boxes would offer more dignity. My mother’s body was still tattered and bloodied, with no sign they even attempted to clean her up in preparation for her burial. Why would they be so cruel? Had I not suffered enough? Or was this the King’s way to bury the knife in my heart a little deeper?
Watching on with a forced look of indifference, I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing my pain. Few words were spoken and when the ceremony was over, the King stepped forward from the crowd, looking down at my mother’s casket with faked sorrow before dropping a bouquet of daisies in with her.
"It is of great regret we lost one of our greatest healers today, but this should also prove as a lesson to others. I am unforgiving when it comes to traitors." His eyes rose to meet mine.
"They deserve no forgiveness and will do well to remember that my word is law."
Was he fucking serious? I glared at him, and a tingle in my body had me gasping in shock. The King's eyes widened, and he took a step back, fear shone in his eyes.
I didn’t think; I turned on my heel and ran. I don't know what I did, what he saw, or whether he felt the pure energy thrumming inside me, but either way, I needed to get the hell out of there.
The King shouted after me, and I pushed myself to run faster, my weakened state not helping me. I'd never been happier that I had the foresight to do something. Usually I’m a ‘plan now, pack later’ kind of girl, but something told me I needed to be ready. I grabbed my bag, and ran through the town using the back alleys and shortcuts I’d come to know. I planned to get into the forest, knowing the trees would give me good cover until I was far enough away from this damned place.
The trip into the forest was easy enough, but I could still hear them searching for me. What happened to me back there? Was the energy I felt the reason why the King looked afraid? I was nothing but an insignificant, no one but an insignificant human girl.
My mother was once a well-loved dragon, as was my father. It was sad that her illness had prevented her from being able to shift, but she was still the powerful, magnificent woman that many loved and were thankful for her contribution to our village.
To be born from the two of them and not have any dragon ability whatsoever was very humiliating; case in point, my father left. Mom stuck by me and told me I was special, that one day I’d know just how much. I never truly felt that until I touched the blue dragon and healed his injuries. It was like a piece of me had found its home.
I felt that same energy when I met the King's eyes across my mother’s grave, though the intent was different. Instead of healing, all I wanted to do was rip out his throat and bathe in his blood, something I was not used to feeling.
The forest around me was silenced by the sound of dragons flying in the air above me. Animals hated dragons, which was why we always tended to them in human form. It made sense for me to be out there since my mother could no longer work. She became sick with a rare illness when I was nine years old and from then on, I had to step up and take control of our household. I couldn't let her work herself into the ground when I was able to provide for her.
I did many things like tending the crops, grooming the herds, and even assisted in minor homemaker duties among some of the other villager’s homes that needed an extra hand. When I turned thirteen, I was able to take over full duties out in the field. I was strong enough to move the animals from pasture to pasture. I was taught how to tell when the cattle were injured. I was shown how to birth their babies, to keep our herd growing. It was pointless to kill off a whole herd, so we had many fields and many herds. Otherwise, our village would have never survived this long.
Each clan had different responsibilities. The Red clan, what I once considered my clan, was known for our foods. We bred some of the strongest cattle there was, and even had miles of land dedicated to the continuation of breeding cattle.
The Gold clan was known for its healers and herbal remedies. There was a healer that specialized in nearly every remedy and ailment one could think of. They were the clan I was able to buy a continued supply of my mother’s medication from. And then there was the Purple clan, known for its builders. They built everything from our housing, to our furniture, as well as swords and other such weapons that might be needed for defense while in human form. Each clan had a few people from the other clans living in their village, so they always had access to the tools and resources that were needed.
In my mind, I always thought it was pointless for dragons to be separated by their skin color. They were all the same species, so shouldn't they all just get along? But no, their King, my King by default, was a harsh bastard who wouldn't know how to lead his people if he tried. If I were the one in charge of the clans, I’d make sure there was no poverty, no suffering, and no separation. Genetics didn't determine your clan. By the time you’re born, your DNA has already determined what type of scales you’d inherit. Since the clans had been separated, we'd all had reds born to the Red clan, golds born to the Gold clan and purple born to the Purple clan, just like the King wanted. He believed in purity among us. At least, that's what my mother told me.
He became King fifty years ago. The story was forbidden in the clans. I only knew little bits and pieces from what my mother told me, but I did know it was outlawed to mate with someone not of your own clan. It was a crime punishable by death. That’s why the arranged marriages occurred in the clans.
After hearing the sounds of dragons flying above, I’d decided to take shelter. I’d found a giant log nearby that had enough of a hollowed area for me to hide in.
Finally, after an hour of hiding in the log, the sound of the dragons and men following me disappeared from the forest and darkness descended. I should have been afraid, being in the forest in the middle of the dark, but all I felt was free.
It all finally sunk in: the torture, my healing wounds, my mother's death and the longing I felt for the three dragons I had met only briefly, but had such an impact on my life. I looked up at the sky, biting my lip. An idea popped into my head and with each passing second, I knew it was what needed to be done.
I began to gather little twigs and branches. Little by little, I found enough for the little project that was forming in my head.
A large oak tree stood a few feet from me, standing apart from the various trees that surrounded me. I placed the twigs and branches to the side, returning to scout the forest for various sized stones.
Once I got enough, I began to create a little monument, using the stones as the base and stacked the branches and twigs. One layer of stones, one layer of branches until the final layer was with the prettier looking stones I'd found: a variety of blue, purple, yellow, and silver.
I smiled, remembering the dragons I had saved. The irony of finding stones that matched the color of their beautiful scales. I returned to my search, still needing the final piece to my plan. I returned after twenty minutes of gathering.
I took a deep breath, trying to fix my hair that was a bunch of tangles. I left it down regardless, and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in my attire. It barely made a difference, but it was the thought that counted.
I picked up the bouquet of flowers, using a few vines that I'd untangled from various logs and trees to bundle the multi-colored flowers. I placed the bouquet on top of the mount, stepping back to view my hard work.
A smile morphed on my trembling lips from the magnificent sight, the moon taking this moment to make an appearance; its soft glowing rays shone directly onto the grave I created.
"Hey, Mom...um...It's nice here, right? It's so peaceful and quiet. You always loved nature. At least you can rest in comfort. No one will bother you...or hurt you. I..." I trailed off, tears in my glossy eyes. I took a deep breath, trying to control the sobs that threatened to escape me.
"I left my hair down. It's not as perfect as I'd like, but that's because you're not here. If you were, you'd take your time taking every tangle out. Then you'd make the perfect braid just for me. But now...you're gone. I can't untangle it without you. Can't you come back? Just one last time? Just so I can tell you how much you meant to me. How much you light my world. Without you...I would have never survived. How am I going to live now?"
I let the tears roll down my cheeks, my body trembling as I stared at the bouquet.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry. What kind of daughter am I for leaving you? How could I let them take you away from me? Mommy...forgive me," I cried, falling to my knees in a desperate plea.
How I wished to hear her calming voice. To hear her sing and cradle me when I had nightmares and cried. I needed my mom more than I'd ever realized. And now...she was gone...because of me.
I cried. I let out the pain that I'd harbored within me. This was the chance for me to grieve for my beautiful mom who had lit up my world. The selfless woman who didn't care about herself, but made sure those around her were well and healthy.
My mom...my friend...my savior. And now, she was lost forever.
"You want me to sing the song we both loved, Mom? You know, your favorite song of all time. The one you used to sing me to sleep and hummed when you cooked my favorite dish. Why don't I sing it to you?" I glanced up at her grave, sitting on my knees as I took a steady breath.
I opened my mouth and sang. I sang the melody over and over again, not caring about the cracks in my voice and the sobs that assaulted my body. I'd sing her to rest, hoping wherever her spirit was, she was able to forgive me.
Now that I was free and laid my mom to rest, I'd enjoy this sense of freedom. Tomorrow would be a new day and I was free to start a new life. Free to move on. Free to survive.
It had been five days since I left my clan, and the peace was amazing. I'd survived in the forest a lot better than I expected. I hunted rabbits and cooked them over a fire in the middle of the day while foraging fruits, berries, and nuts. I only ate small amounts, choosing to save the rest in case I needed to snack. I made the mistake of gorging after the first day in the forest and immediately made myself sick. My body was starved and suffering from eating more than it could handle. I remembered the stories one of the farmers used to tell me when I was young about a time his son got lost in the woods. When he came home, he ate his fill at dinner and breakfast, but each time he got sick.
They thought he had some kind of illness from being gone for two weeks with so little food, but the healers found nothing wrong with him. It was determined his stomach had shrunk due to starvation and therefore was unused to the influx of food. I realized this must have been the case with my body too, so I kept snacking on small meals until I was sure I could eat more. I still couldn't seem to eat more than one rabbit without feeling sick, so I'd been making jerky to carry with me.
I wandered through the forest for another two days before I came along a worn out path. I continued along it for half a day before I was forced to set up camp. The last couple of days I’d been sleeping wherever I could, only taking short naps. But with the nightmares that plagued me, I couldn’t sleep longer than two hours at a time and once awake, I simply picked myself up from the ground or hiding place and continued my journey. It would be nice to finally have some rest.
I hadn't packed any kind of camping material with me except a thin blanket, so I resorted to using shrubs as effective cover. I had to chase out animals from their little dens, but I had more need of their hidey holes than they did. To be honest, I could see myself living like this for the rest of my life. The nature was absolutely amazing, though I had to admit the lack of flushing toilets was hard.
I settled down for the night, enjoying the sound of the forest around me. I was almost asleep when a noise registered in my mind. I was so used to the normal sounds of the forest that I almost ignored the distinct sound of a twig snapping. Staying perfectly still, I pretended that I was asleep. I was hoping it was just an animal walking around that had stepped on a stick, but my luck had been too good for too long now, and it was probably some kind of bandit or something equally terrible.
Someone moved around my concealed hiding area, and I fought hard not to panic. What if the King had finally found me? Shit, I shouldn't have had the fire in the same area I rested. I got sloppy, and now I might have given myself away. After a few moments the footsteps receded, but I heard the murmur of voices and I listened closely.
"Someone was here. I thought I sensed a presence, but the moment I got close to the site, it disappeared."
That voice. It made me want to peek out of my hiding spot to get a look. There was something about the deepness of his voice that had me desperate to see him. I didn't understand why my body was betraying me. A second voice joined the first, and a shiver ran through me from the power alone, when he spoke.
"Maybe it was just a bandit passing through? Either way, we don't need to worry. The camp is protected enough for now. We have other matters to attend to."
The sound of footsteps disappeared completely, and I began to relax, trying to calm my erratic heart. I rubbed the spot on my chest, trying to figure out why two strangers that I couldn't even see, would elicit such a response. My heart calmed enough that I was finally able to sleep, but I dreamed of those three dragons. The blue watched over me, its steady gaze fixed on our surroundings as if an attack could happen at any moment. The gold slept beside me, offering me comfort and protection while the purple dragon stood to the side, glaring at me. I didn't understand why it hurt to see him treat me this way, but it tore at my heart all the same. I realized then that I loved him.
I jolted up, forgetting where I was because of the ridiculousness of the dream. How on earth could I love someone I'd never met? Yet that dream felt so real.
The stars were still out, so I laid back down and just enjoyed the peace from the night life. I drifted back off to sleep, this time a dreamless sleep.
The morning was a productive one. I followed the path to a nearby stream and enjoyed a nice morning bath before snacking on some berries from a shrub close by. They were sweet and bitter at the same time. I looked at them in my hand, trying to remember what they were called, but came up short. The name finally popped into my head, and I dropped them to the ground as a wave of dizziness overtook me. Holly. The berries were holly. So stupid!
I pushed my fingers to the back of my throat trying to induce vomiting. I didn't care that the vomit went everywhere, just that I got as much holly out of my system as I could. The world around me swayed, and my eyes shut of their own accord, no longer able to stay conscious.