Dragon's Bride

Chapter 3- Curse

Corbus’s POV

All it took for me to understand what was going on was one look at my son. Anything that made him who he was disappeared leaving only the pure dragon instincts.

It was hard separating him from the girl but eventually with some help of magic, I’ve succeeded.

The girl was shivering, tired and scared to the bones and Kai wasn’t the only person who she was afraid of. I didn’t realise it at first but then it hit me and I marvelled at my own stupidity and failure to see it from the start. She spent all her life being looked down upon and tortured by witches and wizards- my kind. She was afraid of me.

I sat down on the chair by the clean desk and motioned for her to sit down on the bed. She did so with great hesitation. I didn’t know how to make feel better so I’ve decided to do the most natural thing: talk with her. I let out a deep sigh and began:

“You don’t have to be afraid of me, girl.”, I said and looked at her face. She was unconvinced so I continued, “I’m not like any other witch or wizard you’ve met and in a moment you’ll understand why, but first, what do you know of magic… Mia?”. She rubbed her arms trying to get her thoughts to calm down.

“There are different races… and … different kinds of magic…”, she said quietly.

“Good. And what do you know of dragons?”, I asked.

“That they’re bad, burn people to death and eat them…”, she said and I immediately knew that there was a lot I’d had to explain to her.

“All right.”, I cut in and she immediately looked alarmed as if expecting to be hit for her lack of knowledge. I smiled at her and nodded my head letting her know that she had nothing to fear from me. She relaxed a bit. I continued:

“It’s all right, Mia. I see you don’t know much but we can change this and to do so, I will need you to listen to me very carefully as I tell you the real story of magic of this world.

There are ten main races ruling this world: humans, elves, witches and wizards, mermaids, werewolves, vampires, centaurs, nymphs, dragons and…one more… giants! I keep forgetting about giants. At the beginning of the world, when gods created the races, there was great magic at work and every race thrived. In fact, they thrived with such intensity that they soon began to match the powers held by the gods and the gods were envious and angry. They sought to humble the races, and therefore, they cursed each of them. Humans, deemed the weakest, lost the longevity of their lives; elves, the immortals, can only have one child; witches and wizards pay for their magic with their own vitality; mermaids feel pain when walking on earth; werewolves change and loose all control over their bodies and minds with each full moon, vampires can no longer go out in the sun; centaurs, the great warriors of the woods, can never change back to take a human form; nymphs have become so fragile they can be killed by almost anything; and giants are just plain stupid. Every race has been cursed, losing the prime strength and might of the first ages.

Then the gods had another idea: almost every race is bound to live a life of a normal human until the age of sixteen when the children can take part in the Rite of Spring where their true powers are released. The two exceptions being the giants and the centaurs. These two don’t have to take part in the Rite. They are born with their powers fully shown.

For ages it witches were born to witches and wizards, elves to elves, mermaids to mermaids etc. Only sometimes is a child of other race. My sons are one of such examples. My wife was a witch just like I am a wizard. Our boys were a major surprise to us. A gift from heavens, I suppose.

Then, as the ages went on and on, with the young sixteen year olds taking a pilgrimage to one of the Heavenly pools, the life went on. Clans formed, then kingdoms and a new power emerged: the wizards and witches. They were convinced that their magic is the only pure and powerful and demanded that others fall before them. The first hit were the mermaids and nymphs. The centaurs retreated to the Dark Woods and the giants to the Forbidden Mountains. Then they fought the werewolves and vampires. They took over most of the continent until the Dragons rebelled. They built the Wall and with the south being controlled by them, they rid their lands of any witch or wizard deeming themselves better than the rest. Who could, fled beyond the Wall. Even mermaids fled the North sea. Those who didn’t, died and their children were put into orphanages and institutions where they were brainwashed and forbidden from participating in the Rite of Spring, unless their ancestors were witches and wizards. So, the North is ruled with cruelty by the witches and wizards while the South is a safe haven for the rest, ruled by the Dragons and here we are…

I tried to take my family to the South but my wife was captured in the process. For years, I lived on the other side, wondering about what happened to her. Then, two years ago, I received a message that she was well and waiting rescue. I took the boys and we went to save her but it was a trap. The boys were taken by a witch and I had to go into hiding. I took refuge in this tower, away from the rest of the society, trying to figure out a way to rescue my sons. I tried, twice, but failed. Luckily, fate has brough you to us and you let my sons go. Like Luke said, your magic must be very strong to have broken the curse before you underwent the Rite of Spring. Fascinating.”, I said. The girl didn’t say a word for a very long time, then she asked.

“So, you’re not going to…?”

“Hurt you? Give you to the authorities? No, dear. I will try and get you to the South where…”

“I can participate in the Rite of Spring!”, she said almost leaping out of the bed, stars of joy and excitement glimmering in her beautiful eyes. I nodded my head my head.

“So, you see, Mia, I’m not like the other wizards. You are safe here.”, I said and stood up to exit the room. Indeed, Molly made it nice and cosy for our unexpected guest. I’ve already opened the window when Mia asked the unfortunate question:

“But, sir, you didn’t say what the Dragon’s curse is! What is it, sir?”. I looked back at her with pity and sorrow. The poor girl.

“ The curse is this. If the Dragon finds his love, his mate, he must have his mates love or one of them must die. Either the Dragon dies or kills his mate.”, I said and left, leaving the girl to her own thoughts.