Smolder (Dragon Souls)

by Penelope Fletcher

  She paused.

  She had smelt and seen this stuff before when in the West Indies, hiking to reach the salt lakes in the mountains. Sulfur. Brimstone, if you wanted to get biblical.

  Fire and brimstone had literally fallen from the sky.

  And she was walking towards it?

  She took a few more shallow breaths, straightened her spine, and clamped her back teeth together. This was it. Leaning forward, she looked down into blackness.

  She couldn’t see much. Most of the isle was rocky farmland and hay meadows so apart from the blue flames it was now pitch black.

  Marina had taken a walk, and had planned to be back at the cottage before nightfall, but the thought wasn’t a worrying one. She’d walked through terrain far more dangerous than farmlands in the dark.

  An orange glow, dim at first then brighter, at the far end of the rough oval gouged into the earth.

  Marina took a careful step forward, digging the toe of her boots in to feel less like she would topple over. Tightening her lower stomach muscles, she leaned even further forward, trying to get a peak. There were new smells; ginger and kiyuzu.

  There was a growl, and a pained, stilted inhalation of breath.

  Marina stilled then immediately pushed on, becoming irritated she had yet to see anything worthy of remembrance. She craned her neck, trying to see what she could hear and smell.

  The creature moved, and the ground shook. Marina wobbled, backed up, lest she fall face first into the hole. The ground shook again and the creature shot out of the crater like a quickening shadow shooting for the moon.

  The force of wind pushed her back as the beast leapt from the deep curvature then bit back a squeal when it landed heavily behind her and released a blistering stream of bright fire from its snout.

  The dragon easily reached three men high at the shoulder. His body was elongated and covered in shimmering scales. The inky sheets of hexagonal cells tightly overlapped and covered his entire hide. Gilded in emerald green, they rippled like a wave as he moved, gliding effortlessly over each other.

  His neck and torso were serpentine in shape, the lines sensually curved, and his lower build was reptilian. The heat radiating from him told Marina there was no way he could be cold-blooded. His underbelly and inner forelegs looked soft, like leather, and she suspected the soft skin carried to the tip of his tail that now curled around his legs, the barbed and spiked tip glistening. These spikes crested his back to the nape of his neck in a low, serrated dorsal fin, each spike a gleaming black. Two ivory horns rested on top of his head, curving inward.

  He prowled forward, huge five fingered claws scratching the dry earth and ebony talons retracting.

  His head was boxy, bovine, and two curves at the end of his snout were revealed as his nostrils. They flared as he drew closer, taking in Marina’s scent. The crown of his head had a swathe of dark hair that narrowed down his neck, in imitation of a Mohawk.

  His head moved to Marina’s side, neck stretching as his body remained seated.

  He did not appear to have outer ears, so she assumed they were set inside his head. He did have eyelids, soft skinned and devoid of scales, and when he blinked his enormous eyes shifted here, there, and everywhere purposefully.

  His top lip curled as a tongue snaked out and slid over brilliant white fangs ranging from the length of Marina’s palm to her forearm, curving at the tips until they slotted together in sickening order.

  The dragon’s eyes trapped Marina, tangled her within an inescapable snare. Unblinking. Oval, and not inconsiderably large, the crisp intelligence and knowing in his gaze sucked Marina in to spin her about.

  And it was a he. She’d bet everything she had on it without a moment’s pause.

  His pupils were slits, but that was not as remarkable as his irises. Multifaceted like diamonds, they burned a green so vivid and deep the meager light from the fire and brimstone was caught and thrown out in intensified rainbows of color.

  He stepped closer, a more controlled movement this time.

  Marina’s heart pounded like a drum.

  Awe, unlike anything she’d ever known, and she had seen some breathtaking sights in her life. Had she been a lesser woman she probably would have fallen to her knees in worship, ready to supplicate myself to this mighty creature.

  Then the dragon opened his maw and roared. The sound was profound and rattled her bones, blew the hair from her face to whip backwards. Down the back of his throat, she saw an inferno of red and orange flames tickling the roof off his mouth.

  He jerked forward, jaws snapping shut inches from her body. He growled low in his throat, black smoke curling from his nostrils. He lowered his head until his chin scraped the floor and his narrowed eyes could focus on her.

  Marina didn’t flinch.

  Her own eyes narrowed as she took in the display meant to frighten her out of her wits.

  It was unexplainable, why she didn’t feel mortal peril in this moment, despite who she was and what she’d been through in life.

  Why she felt as if what would be would be.

  Marina decided if she died being eaten by a dragon, well, that would make for the world’s most awesome tombstone … but she was certain he would not. Standing there, a fifty-fifty chance her head was about to be chomped off, she simply stared at him then did something that to this day she cannot decide was genius or obtuse.

  She lifted her hand and tried to touch him.

  “Hey,” she murmured and tentatively stepped forward to get closer.

  Oh, she was no fool. A terrified and annoyingly insistent part of her did scream leaning her body head first toward the mouth of a vicious creature, a dragon, with a mouth filled with razor sharp fangs was utterly stupid, but oh, she just wanted to touch him. She ignored the inner voice of reason and embraced the madness.

  The dragon flinched when he saw what she was doing and exhaled in a breathy snort. Marina was plunged head to toe in warm vapor, his breath blowing over her, making her skin tingle and heat until sweat beaded her brow. The breath was faintly acidic.

  She wrinkled her nose and pushed her hand forward.

  The dragon’s eyes narrowed further in disbelief. He snorted, another gush of breath blowing the hair on her face in a flutter that tickled her face, but it was less forceful this time.

  Marina caught the tip of her tongue between her teeth, still, her hand moved closer, and she resisted the urge to coo at the dragon as she might a reticent cat. Instinctively knowing the creature would perceive such coaxing a grave insult.

  The dragon made a sharp sound of annoyance low in his throat. Marina was so close to touching the midnight black skin on his snout, to seeing it if was a smooth as it looked, when he jerked his head forward. He pushed against her hand with a force she was sure was gentle to him, but to Marina it was like a wall slammed into her with a force just shy of crushing bone.

  She toppled over, and the gasp of breath she’d sucked in to yell left her stomach in a squeal.

  The stars in the sky twinkled at her before one by one they disappeared from sight as something large and dark obstructed her view.

  Eyes closing, she rocked from side to side, moaning at the sharp darts of pain to her shoulders and the back of her head. The heavy, hot weight that rested on her chest registered and she froze, stopped wiggling like a tasty treat, and opened her eyes to meet the bottomless gaze fixed on me from under a heavy brow.

  A spark zapped across Marina’s skin to the ends of her hair. The tips of her fingers tingled, and her toes curled in her boots. Her mouth dropped open as the dragon nudged her, his scales glinting in the low light.

  Satisfied she was unharmed, he rested his head beside Marina, a giant eyeball rolling down to fix on her curiously.

  Still on her back, Marina scooted closer and pressed herself into his chin, gazing up in wonder. She reached out again, not hesitating to stroke him.

  Cool, smooth and hard, like thick glass stained black.

  Smiling, she ran
her fingers across the dragon’s snout, marveling at how warm he was around his eyes and nose compared to his cold cheek. She laughed throatily, and pressed herself into him, resting her head on a shimmering scale on the edge of his jaw, jet black, and smoother than glass.

  “You’re beautiful,” Marina murmured.

  Sliding around until she could look him in one of his twinkling eyes, she pressed a light kiss to his cheek. Slowly, so as not to startle him, she rolled up onto her elbows and knees. He blew out forcefully through his nose, and she stilled, watching him warily. Sensing her fear, his head lifted, and his tail abruptly stopped swinging from side to side lazily.

  They stared at each other.

  In the back of her mind, Marina shrieked at herself. She was really trying to stare down a dragon? Marina boldly returned the dragon’s gaze until it felt like time was unending, locked in a battle of wills.

  Then she saw it, a flash of recognition, and an all too human glint of approval.

  The dragon blinked slowly, his gaze unfocused as if he’d become disinterested then he rolled over to the side.

  Marina wasn’t sure how to react or what she could have done to prevent it when his tail slithered between her legs, and wrapped around her waist She stared at the spiked tip, angled away from her body, the length of her entire leg.

  Making a strangled noise of alarm, she tried to grab onto clumps of grass, but the blades slipped through her fingers, slicing painfully as she was hoisted up, and dangled in the air upside down. The dragon’s face swung into view as she spluttered, trying to think of words to damn him to hell with. Like a pendulum, she swung back and forth in front of his face. He rumbled grumpily, his lips pulling back over his teeth in what she swore was a delighted leer.

  A goodly scream built in Marina’s chest. She opened her mouth to holler as loud as she could, but air whooshed passed her head as she was plunked down on the nape of his neck before his crest of spikes. She winced; the landing had hardly been gentle, and she shifted so her legs straddled either side of his muscled neck.

  The dragon shook his head, dark hair flapping from side to side and the movement rippled down his entire body.

  Horrified, Marina thrashed from side to side, using her stomach muscles and her death grip on the edges of his scales to keep her seated. He stood up, and it was akin to the movement of a horse that had fallen, and struggled to stand again. She dipped forward then jerked back, rocked from side to side.

  The dragon’s wings unfurled to terrifying lengths, and alarm that he would fly grabbed her into chokehold.

  The dragon moved his legs one by one, and Marina felt immense heat as he breathed wispy fire onto the ground, and bunt the grass beneath him. Ash drifted up to float passed her head, and she ruthlessly controlled a tremble of fear.

  The dragon’s body shuddered, as if under strain, and he slumped, his wings fluttering at his sides tiredly. His neck curled inward and resting by his folded forelegs.

  He heaved in a breath, as if sighing.

  Marina swallowed hard, her eyes taking in just how high she was. Over her shoulder, she could see his massive hide, and the two bumps of his hind legs. The dragon’s tail was stretched out behind them leisurely, the tip flicking back and forth.

  His sides swelled on each massive inhalation of air then contracted sharply as he exhaled.

  It sounded like the rumble of thunder.

  Apart from climbing into his hair and shimming down his mouth, there was no way for her to get down without risking certain death. She could make a jump for it, but if the dragon moved or rolled whilst doing, so she would be crushed.

  Raking her bottom lip with her teeth, Marina concluded she was stuck.

  She would be staying exactly where he’d put her.

  “Bossy dragon,” she mumbled.

  Leaning forward, biting her lip in a girlish gesture of hesitation Marina had once thought was beneath her, she splayed her fingers on the iridescent scales that coated his back. These scales had reflected the lunar light and fire as he fell. It was why she had seen him rather than just heard his spectacular landing.

  Straddling his massive neck, she lay down and snuggled into his warmth, sighing as her eyelids lowered. She did not feel fear, just acceptance. At any time, the dragon may have decided he was hungry and gobbled her as I slept, but Marina figured it would be painless as she would be out for the count when it happened. In the night, the dragon may take off in flight, and she might fall from the sky to an ugly death. She relaxed herself, panicking would get her nowhere.

  Too tired to care about any of those things or anything else, she fell asleep, clutching a lock of his silky hair, warmed by his armored skin.

  Chapter 3

  Marina’s sleep was undisturbed. She only awoke when the tail wrapped around her waist, and shook her from side to side.

  “Stop,” she yelped. “For god’s sake stop it before I toss yesterday’s chips.”

  The shaking stopped and the dragon peered at her before dangling her a few feet off the floor. Cringing, thinking he was going to drop her on her head, the dragon surprised her by carefully placing her down in front of him on all fours.

  Marina shifted on to her bum and looked up at him with a happy smile “Thanks,” she said. “Do you think next time simply nudging me would be sufficient to wake me up? How would you like it if someone picked you up by the tail and swung you around?” She held up a hand. “Wait, dumb question.” Hauling herself up, she tugged on her tee shirt that had ridden up to below her breastbone, and yanked up her jeans, brushing her hands over the baggy seat. “I wish I could say it was the best night sleep of my life, but I’ve got a pain in my neck.” She pointed to the area then at him with an accusatory finger.

  Feeling safe the dragon truly did not intend to harm her, she poked his snout.

  He flinched and tried to back away, but she kept moving forward. “So tell me where did you come from? One minute, I’m talking a walk and the next? I’m straddling a scaly back and having palpitations whether or not I’m going to be crushed as I sleep.”

  The dragon grumbled and stood up. Again, his body shuddered, and his eyes slammed closed as if in pain. His legs gave out, and his jaw hit the dirt.

  Marina stopped berating him and frowned in concern. “What’s the matter with you? Were you hurt when you fell?” She rolled her eyes. “Brilliant, Rina. Because living beings that drop out of the sky don’t get hurt, do they?”

  Moving around to his side, Marina stopped dead at the sight that greeted her. She started to tremble, covered her mouth with her hands as the urge to vomit came over her strongly.

  His sides were slashed open, the scales cracked and seeping watery blood. The gouges were darker and crusted at the sides, as if he was trying to heal, but the middles were red and angry looking.

  Sucking in a breath, Marina took a step closer trying to analyze the damage.

  Some of the scales had been ripped off, and others jutted at a funny angle.

  “It needs stitches….” Marina trailed off trying to imagine stitching rock hard scales. Even if it were somehow possible, who would be doing the stitching exactly? She barely had the patience to lace up sneakers and so preferred tug on boots. “Well, we need to do something or your sides will heal lumpy,” she murmured, continuing to walk around his body.

  The dragon’s tail, as high as her waist, was in her way. Instead of walking around it, Marina climbed over, sliding down the other side. She noted the tip no longer glistened and thought that odd. On the other side of his body, more deep slashes had her worried. This side was even worse than the last she had seen. Another quick check showed not other grievous injuries, much to her relief.

  Stomping back to his face, she jumped, and tugged on a lock of his hair to get him to open an eye and look at her. “You’re wounded. Why didn’t you show me this last night? You’ve lost a lot of blood.”

  He looked away and shrugged her concern off.

  She kneed him in the chin. “Oi! Don’
t ignore me, I’m trying to help you.” She drew back her foot to get a decent kick in.

  A deer leapt from the copse of sapling trees and skidded to a stop when it saw the dragon. Its brown eyes went wild with fear as it scuttled on spindly legs to dart back to safety. The dragon’s tail flicked out, and the spiked edge impaled the deer in one deadly strike.

  He lifted the dead animal up and there was a profound rumble. A bright ball of fire was coughed from his throat, and consumed the beast in one, leaving a charred slab of meat. His tail pushed the meal into his mouth, and he grumbled happily as he chewed.

  Marina slowly put her foot back down, thinking twice about the kick. She opened her mouth to defend herself then closed it again. Best to not draw attention to herself when he was eating.

  The dragon looked down at her and swallowed loudly. Marina could have sworn his gaze was mocking, daring her to hit him again.

  That mocking stare is what set her off. It would probably be her undoing someday, but she could never help but face a confrontation head on once it had been issued. It was something her mother had always been firm on. Somebody had the gall to challenge you? Accept it, and fight like a lion until you were victorious. If you were knocked down, bounce back, and keep fighting.

  Marina never backed away from a challenge.

  Ever.

  Smiling sweetly, she drew her foot back again and brought it swinging forward. The dragon moved out the way so quickly she lost her balance and fell forward, over his bottom teeth and into his mouth.

  All previous posturing was swept away by a fear so mighty it had her cowering. The dragon’s tongue wagged, bouncing her up and down. Marina shrieked and clawed at his tongue. His second row of teeth was daggers above her head and her palms stung. The back of his throat glowed orange, reminding her of the flame that burned there.

  Something wrapped around her leg and yanked. Marina felt the cold breeze of the morning of her flushed face. The dragon made a chuffing sound low in his throat and chucked her in the air.