Chapter Four
1745 Words
The Dragon in the Dark
..
Elena ran.
She didn't know where she was going.
She only knew she had to get away from the creature behind her.
“Stay away from me!”
Her injured leg screamed with every step, but fear drowned out the pain. The cavern seemed to stretch endlessly before her, its walls swallowing the faint light behind her.
Then she heard it.
A roar.
The sound shook the ground beneath her feet.
Elena stumbled and caught herself against the wall.
“No…”
She turned.
The black dragon was coming toward her.
His enormous wings unfolded, blocking what little light remained behind him. His scales were darker than the surrounding shadows, but his golden eyes burned with unmistakable intelligence.
Elena's heart hammered.
“You're Kaizeren.”
The dragon stopped.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then he lowered his head.
Elena took another step backward.
“Don't come closer.”
He did.
“Kaizeren…”
Another step.
“I said stop.”
He stopped.
Elena stared at him.
“You understand me.”
The dragon's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
“You do.”
A strange realization settled over her.
The creature before her wasn't some wild beast.
It was him.
The man who had spoken to her.
The man who had trusted her.
The man she had just freed.
But seeing him like this was different.
He was enormous.
Powerful.
Terrifying.
And completely free.
Elena's breathing became uneven.
“I thought you were injured.”
A low rumble came from his chest.
“You were.”
He lowered his head until his eyes were closer to hers.
“You're not anymore.”
The dragon stared at her.
Elena looked at his chest.
The wounds were gone.
The dark markings were fading.
His body looked stronger than before.
“You really are the Dragon King.”
He gave a quiet growl.
Elena swallowed.
“And I'm the i***t who freed you.”
The dragon's eyes narrowed.
“You're not going to eat me, are you?”
He tilted his head.
“That's not an answer.”
Another low rumble.
Elena frowned.
“You could turn back into a human and answer me properly.”
The dragon stared at her.
Then his body began to shift.
The scales disappeared.
The wings folded into his back.
His enormous frame shrank.
Within seconds, Kaizeren stood before her again.
Elena immediately turned her face away.
“You could have warned me!”
He looked at himself.
“What?”
“You're not wearing anything!”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“I didn't have time to dress.”
“You're a dragon!”
“I am aware.”
“You could have turned into one somewhere else.”
“You were running away.”
“That was because you turned into a dragon!”
He stepped closer.
“You were afraid.”
“Yes.”
“Are you still afraid?”
Elena glanced at him.
His golden eyes were fixed on her.
She looked away again.
“A little.”
“Good.”
She frowned.
“Why do you keep saying that?”
“Because fear keeps you alive.”
“You're impossible.”
“I've heard that before.”
Kaizeren approached.
Elena immediately backed away.
He stopped.
“Your leg.”
“What about it?”
“It's bleeding again.”
She looked down.
The cloth around her leg was soaked.
“I can handle it.”
“No.”
“I've handled it all night.”
“And now you can stop.”
He bent slightly.
Elena stiffened.
“What are you doing?”
“I'm going to carry you.”
“No.”
“You can barely stand.”
“I can walk.”
“You're limping.”
“I said I can walk.”
Kaizeren sighed.
“You are stubborn.”
“And you're bossy.”
“Then we're equally difficult.”
Before she could respond, he scooped her into his arms.
Elena gasped.
“Kaizeren!”
“Stop struggling.”
“Put me down!”
“No.”
“I can walk!”
“You can barely breathe without pain.”
“That doesn't mean you get to carry me!”
He looked down at her.
“You're injured.”
“I know.”
“Then stop arguing.”
Elena glared at him.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Perhaps.”
Her cheeks warmed.
“You're terrible.”
“I've been called worse.”
He carried her back toward the underground lake.
Elena tried not to notice how secure his arms felt around her.
Or how warm his chest was.
Or how strangely safe she felt despite everything.
She hated that feeling.
Because this was the Dragon King.
The monster her village had feared.
The creature they had thrown her to.
Yet he was carrying her as though she were something precious.
When they reached the stone beside the lake, he gently placed her down.
Then he crouched in front of her.
“Let me see.”
Elena hesitated.
“Why?”
“Your leg.”
She slowly extended it.
Kaizeren carefully removed the bloodied cloth.
Elena winced.
His eyes immediately lifted.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
His jaw tightened.
“You shouldn't have been thrown into that abyss.”
Elena gave a bitter smile.
“I didn't exactly choose it.”
“I know.”
He examined the wound.
“It's deep.”
“Will it heal?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I can heal it.”
Elena looked at him.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
He took her hand.
“Like this.”
He placed her palm against his chest.
Warmth spread beneath her fingers.
Elena felt the same strange energy from before.
Then Kaizeren placed his hand over hers.
“Your power responds to mine.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Then how are you so calm?”
“I've survived worse.”
She sighed.
“You always say that.”
“Because it's true.”
He looked at her.
“But I don't want you to suffer again.”
Elena went silent.
Something about his tone felt different.
Not the cold Dragon King.
Not the prisoner.
Just a man.
A man who had spent centuries alone.
She looked down.
“Kaizeren.”
“Yes?”
“Why did they betray you?”
His expression darkened.
“They wanted my throne.”
“Who?”
“Those closest to me.”
“That must have hurt.”
“It did.”
His voice was quiet.
“But pain fades.”
“Does it?”
“No.”
He looked into her eyes.
“You simply learn how to live with it.”
Elena understood that feeling too well.
She looked away.
“Maybe that's why I helped you.”
“Because you understand loneliness?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Kaizeren watched her for a long moment.
Then he reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Elena froze.
His fingers lingered near her cheek.
“You shouldn't have been alone.”
Her heart skipped.
She whispered,
“Neither should you.”
His gaze softened.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Kaizeren withdrew his hand.
“Come.”
“Where?”
“My palace.”
Elena stared at him.
“You have a palace?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Above us.”
She looked toward the ceiling.
“There's a palace above this?”
“There is.”
“Is it abandoned?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you taking me there?”
“Because you're not staying in this cave.”
Elena hesitated.
“I can go back to my village.”
Kaizeren's expression immediately hardened.
“No.”
“Why?”
“They tried to kill you.”
“I have nowhere else.”
“You do now.”
She looked at him.
“Where?”
His golden eyes remained fixed on hers.
“With me.”
Elena's heart gave an uncomfortable little beat.
She quickly looked away.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
“You're very honest.”
“I have no reason to lie to you.”
He extended his hand.
“Come.”
Elena stared at it.
She remembered the chains.
The seal.
His golden eyes.
The dragon.
Everything that had happened.
Then she remembered the villagers.
The ropes.
The cliff.
The mayor's son.
She slowly placed her hand in Kaizeren's.
His fingers closed around hers.
Warm.
Firm.
Protective.
He looked at their joined hands.
Something unreadable crossed his face.
Then he pulled her closer.
Elena looked up.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring again.”
“I know.”
She sighed.
“You really don't care if you make me uncomfortable.”
“I care.”
“Then stop.”
“I can't.”
Her heart skipped again.
Before she could respond, Kaizeren released her hand and stepped away.
Then he looked toward the enormous cavern entrance high above them.
“Hold on to me.”
“Why?”
“Because we're flying.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“No.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Yes.”
“I don't want to fly.”
“You will.”
“Kaizeren—”
He transformed.
The black dragon rose before her, enormous and magnificent.
Elena stared up at him.
His golden eyes met hers.
He lowered himself.
She hesitated.
Then she sighed.
“Fine.”
She climbed onto his back.
Her arms wrapped around his neck.
“Slowly.”
The dragon gave a low rumble.
“I mean it.”
He spread his wings.
Elena tightened her grip.
“Kaizeren…”
He launched himself upward.
Elena screamed.
The darkness vanished.
Cold night air struck her face.
Stars appeared above them.
And beneath them, the mountains stretched endlessly into the distance.
For the first time in centuries, the Dragon King flew beneath the open sky.
And for the first time in Elena's life, she was flying with the creature her village had taught her to fear.
Neither of them knew that far beyond the mountains, another pair of eyes had already noticed the black shadow crossing the night sky.
Someone had seen the impossible.
The Dragon King was alive.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD