Curse of a Dragon's Claim

by Ciara Lake

  “I will take Sarah to my palace and fill her veins with magical fluid to keep her heart pumping. She’ll be changed, but she will live.” He looked to Clayne. “Plan your joining, dragon, to this amazing dracvipen. I will be there in attendance as will your mate’s dear friend, Sarah.” Draconi looked down at Sarah. “I shall enjoy this one’s company. She has a strong, unusual spirit. It fights to survive.” He looked back up at Clayne and smiled. “MacDagon, my faithful servant, you will excuse your mate’s disobedience to you this time, speak no more of it to her, she has been punished enough. Love your mate, hold her close. Embrace your combined magics. The end of this upheaval between the races is near. Soon balance will be found in all immortal realms.” In a puff of white smoke, he and Sarah were gone.

  Arianna felt her body shift more fully to its previous and normal self. Arianna shivered slightly. Suddenly her body became weak, almost limp. She leaned into Clayne for support.

  “Arianna, let’s go home. You’re worn out, you must rest.” Taking hold of her elbow, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead. “Copeland will destroy the bodies with all evidence of what has happened here. He will clean this destruction.” He nodded to Copeland. “Leave no evidence of what has occurred.”

  Silently, Copeland nodded in agreement.

  In a flash, Arianna and Clayne were standing atop a colossal building, far above the ground. From this high vantage, she could see for miles. Acres of trees and grassland spread out in the distance. The green was vibrant, not like trees she was familiar with. The green reminded her of something else. She put her hand to her head. Yes, my own reflection, the color of my eyes. The beauty of this place soothed her frayed soul.

  “You’re in shock.” Clayne embraced her. “I brought you here to heal. This is where I come to mend my heart and mind when I hurt.” Gently, he placed her hair behind her ear.

  His unique warmth comforted her. She rested her head against his chest and sighed.

  “All will be well.” He rubbed her back. “Look at our world, our realm.” He held her beneath his right arm, motioning with his other toward the incredible scenery lying before them. “This place always soothes me. Would you like to fly through the clouds with me?” He looked down into her face. “Or do you want to go to our room and to bed? Tell me what you need.”

  “Can I do that? Can you take me flying?” Arianna asked in a shaky voice.

  “You can ride on my back. Soar with me. I’ll take you for the ride of your life.” He smiled. His blue eyes matched the sky behind him.

  “I want to cry, but I’m numb. I feel as though I should mourn for the dead but...”

  “You can cry. You will when you’re ready. Flying you’ll breathe deeper than you ever have. Fresh, new air will fill your lungs, soothing your spirit. The wind will wipe your tears away. I think it can cure you, at least for the moment.” His voice was tender. He set her from him. “Stand back. Don’t fear what you’ll see. What you see is only me. I’ll never harm you. I’m your mate, we’re one.” He unbuttoned his shirt, removed his boots, shirt, and trousers. A glorious male, naked and proud, stood in front of her. Despite all, desire spiraled through her.

  How can I feel desire and grief at the same time?

  Giant wings sprung from his back followed by his entire body shifting. Growing rapidly, he transformed into a mighty, iridescent blue dragon. He was enormous, his massive head filled with rows of razor sharp teeth. He appeared the same as he had when Amuliana took her to witness him destroy the vampires in another era. His reptilian eyes with long narrow pupils looked down at her, watching her. His eyes were royal blue, intelligent, shrewd, and an exact match to his scales. She recognized him, as his gaze was identical to what she had grown used to. However, if he hadn’t warned her, or she hadn’t seen him before, she’d be paralyzed with fear. Even now, fear danced in her mind as she observed his magnificence. Razor sharp weapons, the size of large tree trunks, were at the end of each of his legs.

  He lowered his right wing in her direction. “Arianna, my mate, climb up my wing to my back. You may grab hold of the scales standing up on my back. It won’t hurt me if you pull them to hold on. Allow your dress to ride up to your hips, freeing your legs to grip me tight, and we’ll soar.”

  Arianna kicked her shoes off and stepped up onto his wing. He lifted his wing, helping her reach his mid back.

  “I’m ready.” Arianna was thrilled with the anticipation of soaring through the sky.

  Clayne walked toward the edge of the building. “Hold on tightly. If you feel like you’re going to fall, or you’re afraid, speak to me in this way. Tell me, and I’ll shift and flash to a safe location with you in my arms. You’ll be completely safe.” He stepped off the side of the wall.

  Arianna held her breath, closed her eyes. They were falling, and then he soared as promised. Finally, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes. What happened in the dressmaker’s shop seemed a world away, as if a bad dream. It was a realm away.

  His wings spread out, spanning the sky. She clung to him. The trees fast approached. Flapping his wings, he took them higher above the treetops. “See, we’re free. Allow your worries to take to the air, away from your mind with the wind.” He turned his body. They headed back from where they came.

  In front of them, a grand fortress was set on a hill. Made of silvery stone it gleamed in the sun, several turrets stood against the clouds. The castle was as large as a village atop the immense hill.

  “Is this Ejdeha Dragoni? Is this where you brought me the night we married?”

  “Yes, this is our home, our realm.” Flying above the castle, he circled it.

  Others were strolling below in neatly manicured gardens. A large body of water sat in the center of one of the largest gardens. Several women in gauzy gowns lounged in chairs arranged around the water.

  “What’s that body of water? It’s crystal clear. It looks refreshing.”

  “It’s a pool for swimming. My mother’s down there by the pool. Would you like to join her?”

  “My dress is torn, I look a mess. There’s blood on me.”

  “Nevertheless, you’re amazingly beautifully to me.”

  “What happened to me? What am I?” She squeezed him tighter with her legs. “What did I do back at the shop?”

  “Let’s discuss what happened later. Enjoy your ride. Let the wind take your worries from you. Let me give you this moment.” He glided through the air. “Riding me should always be pleasurable, my love. Think not of what you witnessed.”

  “Is there a double meaning to your words?”

  “Regarding riding me? Yes, of course.” He nodded his humongous head. “If we land, Mother can send for a gown for you to change into.”

  “Do they really swim in the pool? It’s so beautiful.”

  “Yes, we do.” Wind to their back, they glided toward the forest.

  “Is Sarah going to be okay?”

  “Sarah’s better than okay, she’s with Draconi Lizarius. He’ll do as promised.”

  Dipping lower, he circled the castle. It was imposing, sitting upon a hill against the backdrop of the forest. It was something of fairy tales as was her ride on the back of a great beast.

  “Trust in Dragoni. Sarah will be fine. She’ll dance at our joining ceremony.”

  “What am I?” Arianna ran her hands over his shiny scales.

  “You don’t want to save this conversation for another time?”

  “No, I want to discuss this as the wind blows through my hair. This is an amazing experience. It does make me feel better.” Arianna sat up straight and closed her eyes as the wind blew by her. “This is exhilarating.”

  “Welcome to our realm.” Clayne made a sound that was like laughter, prompting her to open her eyes.

  The wind was cool, slightly damp. In the horizon, there were storm clouds.

  “Does it rain in Ejdeha Dragoni?”

  “Of course it rains. It storms at times. Storms are beautiful too. They bring lif
e and energy. They’re as beautiful as a sun-filled sky. Nature’s awesome. Things of power can be attractive or hideous. It all depends on the circumstances. You’re an awesome power of nature too, like all immortals. You’re a dracvipen of two great immortal races. One is, of course, better than the other.” She heard him chuckle in her head.

  “What of the human race?”

  “They’re powerful in their ways, just frail. I was speaking of the immortal races. Humans control their realm for the most part, reigning over the animals of the earth. They’re no match for immortals when our paths cross. There’s always a hierarchy of power and control in everything.”

  “I’m a monster?”

  “No, not at all. So you think I am?” a deep voice yelled into the wind.

  Arianna was startled. “You can speak. You can speak aloud?”

  “Of course I can speak.” His voice was guttural. “I have a big voice.”

  “We speak this way to make it easier to carry on a conversation while we fly. You’re not a monster. You’re a combination of dragon, vampire, and human. These things are only monsters if they choose to be. Humans too can be monsters.”

  “So true.”

  “Our mating has awakened your dormant immortal natures. Never have we seen a dracvipen transform as you did. Looking at you, we saw both vampire and the dragon manifest right before our eyes. You stunned those vampires, us too as a matter of fact.”

  “So, I am a monster.” Arianna shook her head. “I’m a monster,” she yelled into the wind. “Not true, I could never be like those awful vampires.”

  “You’re not like them. You’re magnificent. I’m not condemning you. There are humans who are worse monsters than even some vampires can be. If some of any race is evil, that does not make the entire race evil. Look at how humans would see me. I’m a monster too, to the ignorant. Just by looking at me, they condemn me as a monster.”

  “They’d be afraid.”

  “Yes. Again, it’s how you use your strength that determines good or evil. Red eyes don’t make you evil. Being a huge dragon doesn’t make you evil. But one can be if they choose to be.”

  “Did my eyes look like theirs? They have monstrous eyes.” She gripped him tight with her legs.

  “Your eyes were red. Your talons were a miniature version of mine. You grew in size like I and other dragons do when we’re angered in our human shape while not shifting to the full dragon. Your strength is a combination of both, obviously stronger than the vampires. You certainly surprised them. They lost their heads in surprise.” He laughed aloud. It sounded almost like a giant roar. “Your cry or call is something I can’t explain. It surged through me, calling me to you. It energized me, like when you cry out during our lovemaking, it drew me to you. But to the vampire, your enemy, it appeared to paralyze.”

  The gigantic dragon turned his body, dipping further toward the ground. Arianna’s stomach surged up toward her throat, but it was a thrilling ride.

  “Hug me tight. Close your eyes. Trust in me.”

  The world shifted around and under her. Then she felt his lips on her cheek.

  “You can open your eyes now, we’ve landed.”

  She opened her eyes, amazed he held her in his arms next to a crystal clear pool.

  “How did we get here?”

  “I shifted, flashed here with you in my arms. I’m amazing.” He gifted her with one of his gorgeous smiles.

  “Clayne, my son, you’ve come to visit with us. This is great.” Krilata rushed over to them. Krilata’s companions nodded at Arianna and Clayne.

  He set Arianna on her feet. She straightened her dress, pressing out wrinkles with her hands.

  “Are you staying?” Krilata looked ecstatic. She took Arianna by her arm and led her over to a table and chairs. “Sit down, be comfortable.”

  Clayne stood naked, silently watching. Obviously dragons were unashamed of their nudity. It was part of their life. He bowed toward his mother. “I’ll return soon for my mate. Mother, please see to her, she’s thirsty and hungry.” In a flash, he disappeared.

  “He’ll return as soon as he’s dressed,” Krilata said, obviously to assure Arianna. “We’ll have a meal together. Are you hungry?” Krilata smiled.

  “Not too much.” Arianna looked down at her hands.

  “My child, what has happened to your gown? It’s torn in the shoulders. Seltvana, please fetch my daughter a fresh gown. Have you and Clayne been playing?” She winked.

  “We were flying. It was wonderful.”

  “Oh, that’s great.” Krilata looked to the horizon. “A storm’s on its way, I love it outside just before a storm. We’ve a little longer to sit out here and enjoy the soft breeze before the storm arrives. Have some iced tea. I’m happy you’re here with us.”

  Arianna smiled and accepted a cold glass of tea. “Thank you. I’m tired. Could I rest here in this reclining chair?” She sat down.

  “Of course you can.”

  “We were attacked,” Arianna added in a monotone voice as she lay back in the chair.

  “You were attacked?” Krilata knelt next to Arianna’s chair. “When did this happen? What happened? Tell me all about it. Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Vampires attacked us, or me, as well as the people I was with at the dressmaker’s shop.”

  Krilata’s eyes widened.

  “They gorged themselves on the blood of the humans as if their lives meant nothing.” Tears started to flow down Arianna’s cheeks. “Clayne took me flying to forget what I experienced.”

  “Oh, my dear child, cry as much as you need.” Krilata pushed Arianna’s hair back behind her shoulder. The other women gathered around them. Krilata’s tenderness caused more tears to flow.

  “I went to Zeptas’s dressmaker shop with Sarah.” Arianna smiled through her tears. “Clayne told me to wait for Copeland to take us, but Sarah convinced me not to wait. Her staff was with us. She’d planned everything. We were having a wonderful time until the vampires showed up... Now they’re all dead.” Arianna put her head in her hands and sobbed. “It’s my fault.”

  “Here, wipe your face, my dear girl.” Krilata handed her a tissue. “It isn’t your fault.”

  “Sarah was so excited.” Arianna wiped her cheeks then looked into Krilata’s eyes. They were filled with empathy and kindness. “Yes, those people are dead because of me. I should have waited for Copeland as my husband told me to.”

  “Do not blame yourself.” Krilata’s sympathetic tone caused Arianna to cry even harder. Krilata quietly held her hand as she wept.

  “This wasn’t supposed to happen. We were going to buy dresses. We were so happy. We were about to eat the lunch the Zeptas prepared.”

  “You’ve just come from this?” Krilata squeezed her hands. “Arianna, I think we should go inside. You’re in much distress. The vampires caused this, not you.” Arianna could hear anger in Krilata’s voice.

  “No, I want to be outside. It’s nice out here.” Arianna looked up at the clouds. “I want to tell you what happened,” she pleaded.

  “Of course I will listen. I don’t understand why Clayne brought you here and said nothing to me.”

  “He shared his special way to heal with me. He took me for a ride on his back. We soared through the clouds, over the treetops. It was fantastic. It made me forget for a moment the horrible things that happened.” Arianna stared into Krilata’s eyes. Krilata was on her knees in front of her.

  “Perhaps he knows what you need.” Krilata shrugged. “He is your mate. Clayne has his own experiences with pain.”

  “I know he does.” Arianna nodded. “I should have listened to him in the first place. If I had, none of this would have happened.”

  “You’ve been through so much.” Krilata brought Arianna’s head down to cuddle her close on her shoulder.

  “Everyone was killed except Sarah and me. I could never forgive myself if Sarah had died.” She pulled away from Krilata and sat her glass down. “Thank you for
the tea, I was thirsty.”

  “Would you like another glass?”

  “No, I’m okay.” Arianna shook her head. “When Sarah and I left the dressing room to have lunch, everyone else was already dead. The vampires killed them quickly. We didn’t even know. The god of the dragons saved Sarah. He took her to his crystal palace to heal her.”

  The other women with Krilata stared as if amazed.

  “Draconi Lizarius rescued you? He came to the human’s dress shop?”

  “Yes.” Arianna nodded. “He said I called for him to come to our rescue. So, he came. He took Sarah to heal her as a favor to me.”

  “My goodness, you’re extraordinary.” Krilata patted Arianna’s knee.

  “Draconi is a compassionate god, yet to come at a mortal’s call, to the human realm, is surprising,” Seltvana said. She had returned with a light blue gown.

  “I ripped the head off the vampire who was drinking from Sarah. I knocked another to the ground. He said his name was Cleavan.” Arianna sobered as she told her story. “Copeland and Clayne killed the others. Blood was everywhere. Its cooper smell sickened me. I’ve never seen so much blood.”

  The three women looked on in disbelief.

  “Darling, you ripped the vampire’s head off?” Krilata softly asked. Surprise registered on her face.

  “Arianna is remarkable. She’s a warrior,” Clayne’s deep voice answered from behind them. “She saved Sarah. She saved herself.” He walked toward them. He was dressed in brown trousers tucked into black leather boots with an open white shirt. He looked as if he’d just showered. He smelled fresh, clean. “Arianna fought back. She called Draconi Lizarius to her aid. She called for me too. I heard her cry all the way here in Ejdeha Dragoni. Her mystical, musical call stopped the vampires in their tracks. It paralyzed them, they were unable to move. Arianna’s…astonishing.” He looked at her with pride. “She’s a dracvipen as one we’ve never seen. She’s a creature of great strength as well as magical skill. Even Draconi Lizarius was stunned by her abilities.”

  “He was stunned by Arianna?” the third female asked.

  “Yes, as am I, cousin.” Clayne helped Arianna stand up.