Submitting to the Dragon

Chapter 4

Following my dads instructions I located a small shop in the nearby city of kutha and spoke to a small wizened woman inside. Well… I tried to speak to her. The moment I stepped into the shop she sobbed “Isabele! Isabele!” And jumped onto me sobbing and speaking a language I couldn’t understand. Before I ever had a chance to explain myself she had me in her small rooms upstairs undressed and into a hot tub. 

The entire time she was speaking endlessly and fussing around me. It was not exactly what I thought my dad had sent me to do but after a while I enjoyed her attention. After all, she did seem to know who I am. Or at least who I was born to be “Isabel” I was not used to the name but my dad had explained it was my name at birth and in order to hide me my mom had changed my name. 

Eventually, the old woman left me alone in her rooms with a fresh set of baggy clothes and my long hair brushed out. I had never really had a brush before and I wasn’t used to seeing my hair so shiny and smooth. It felt good to be clean and cared for.

A timid knock came at the door and a small boy entered the room. “Miss? Grandma Tulai asked me to bring you some food and to apologize. She knew that you didn’t understand her and hopes you aren’t scared.”

I smiled to him and took the food from him. “Whats your name?”

“Turner!” He said proudly. His lopsided grin making her heart melt. 

“Thank you, Turner. Please tell your grandma that im really happy and grateful.”

Turner made a face “Ew! She isn’t my grandma! Everyone just calls her that. I think-“ he leaned in close to whisper “I think that she’s been old forever. No one ever remembers seeing her young! Not even my grandma! She said that when she married grandpa she met Grandma Tulai and she was already old!”

Oh really? Now that was interesting information. “What else do they say about her?”

“Not too much really. I mean I expected her to boil frogs or turn somebody into a rock or something. But I guess she isn’t that kind of creepy old grandma.” He shrugged looking disappointed “I looked for a skeleton in her closet because I heard my grandma say that she must have one there, but I guess she moved it sometime. Im still going to look for it though! I bet its allllll gross looking and maybe some frogs are inside its mouth!”

This kid is something else. I laughed at his words. “She doesn’t seem like the kind of grandma that would have a skeleton in her closet to me.”

“Yeah I guess you are right.” He looked disappointed again. “ Oh! I remembered something else I heard. One time there was a bunch of robberies and I heard that she scared the man so much that he froze right in place and the police carried him away stiff as an icicle!”

Scared him frozen? Was Grandma Tulai a demon too?

The boy sniffed and rubbed his hand across his face “Anyways. I have to go. Watch out for Grandmas cookies though! Don’t eat those they don’t ever taste right!” He shuffled out the door and a minute later I heard the front door slam and Grandmas voice calling after him. 

I ate quickly grateful for the hot meal. The room I was staying in was a cozy sort of room. Nothing I would picture of a demons room. A small bed with an old worn cover was on the side of the room. A shelf lined the walls with letters piled up on them. Faded flowers were in a vase on a three-legged table by the door. A small window overlooked a tiny garden in the back of the house and the closet (I admit I peeked in it) was thankfully empty of skeletons. After my meal I walked down the stairs into the shop and found Grandma Tulai dozing by the fireplace. 

“Hello?” I said softly. When she didn’t stir I took the chance to look around the shop. Lots of antiques and little odds and ends. A small black bracelet caught my eye and I stared at it in fascination. It was a black dragon with a golden gem in the eye. The dragons was eating its own tail creating the circular shape.It was gorgeous.

“A surprising choice.” A strong voice said behind me.

WAA— I spun and the old lady was standing behind me. Her back tall and straight her face showing no signs of age as it had just a few minutes ago.

“That is the obsidian dragon. Not many people see its beauty or are drawn its aura. It is a strong aura that often overwhelms the viewer and they quickly move on to other artifacts.” She walked easily around the counter and pulled the bracelet out for me. “Put it on”

I was not prepared to talk about a bracelet “I thought you couldn’t speak my language and a second ago you were an old lady! Don’t mess with me.” 

The obsidian dragons eye sparkled at me as the woman laughed. “Its an old trick. I like to see the true character of a person. Now put this on.” With a quick motion she snapped the dragon onto my wrist and stared into my eyes pinning me to the spot. 

“Interesting. Your father will be pleased.” She turned away from me and started rustling through a chest behind the counter. 

I tried to unlatch the bracelet but it wouldn’t budge. “Grandma— that hardly seems right. What is your name?”

“Call me Tulai. That is my real name.” Came the muffled reply behind the counter

“Tulai. I can’t get this bracelet off.”

“Of course not. Those don’t come off unless you break the bond with your guardian.”

“What are you saying?”

She sighed and straightened up holding a long black gown in her hands. “That is the sigil of your guardian. When he is ready to join you then he will find you. Your father was always a horrible student im not surprised he didn’t teach you anything.” She looked me up and down “No this isn’t the right dress.”

“Dress for what? And you taught my father?”

“For your return to the manor. And of course I did. The silly fool wouldn’t stop running away and visiting Camela. Someone had to make sure he got something useful out of his visits.”

“You knew my mother!”

“Of course I did. She was brilliant and beautiful. I see you took after your father though.” Came the muffled answer

Did she just say I was stupid? 

“Your mother was a wonderful woman. In fact, id say that she was the best human ive ever known. Truly a heart for her people and I believe she would’ve kept the peace if she hadn’t been killed. A very strong woman.”

Kept the peace?

“Heres the one.” She pulled out a black and red gown and looked at it critically in the light. “Yes. This is the right one. It should perfectly match your ascension.”

My head was starting to spin. Just when I thought I was beginning to understand things.

“Ascension?”

“Oh, yes. Of course your father leaves out the important bits, but I suppose thats why he sent you to me. This is a womans conversation after all. Female demons have a different development process than the men. Men go crazy and act like beasts. Its their nature after all. A womans development is much more subtle and beautiful. When your abilities have reached their peak and your body is strong enough to handle the change then you will develop your demon body. No one knows how you will look after that happens and it amplifies your gift.”

Demon body? I was going to change? “Hold on. That sounds horrifying. What do you mean?”

“As a mixed child, you will likely retain more human features in your transformation. Most of the mixed children I’ve seen have never actually fully transformed so you may have that luck. However, with your bloodline.” She shrugged “Its unlikely your ancestors will let you off easily.”

The more she spoke the less sense she was making. “Tulai. I have no idea what you are saying anymore.”

She gave me a long suffering look. “Right. Like I said you take after your father. I need to remember that. Ill make this easy for you.”

Just like that before my eyes her body began to change. She became taller and twisted points grew from her head. Her skin shifted to a darker tone and her hair changed from a grey old lady to beautifully luscious silver hair that flowed to the floor. The whites of her eyes became black and her lips parted to reveal long white teeth. Time stood still. Even the steam rising from the kettle had stopped. 

“My gift is the gift of time and reading fates. Within my reach I can move time forwards or backwards.” She grasped an apple sitting on the counter and in her hand it decayed and fell to pieces within seconds. A frayed linen on the counter restitched itself and the stains vanished out of sight. “This is how I manipulate my appearance in the human world. They equate old age with weakness. So I remain part of the community welcomed with open arms.”

After the time spent with my father I thought nothing could shock me. I was quite wrong. All I could do is stare at her. “You are beautiful. Why would you choose to appear as an old woman?”

She shrunk and time resumed at a normal pace. “I have no more need for my beauty. My mate is dead. I will never replace him.” She turned back to her drawers and removed more bits of clothing for me. 

“Im so sorry.” I said softly.

She stiffened at my words “Its odd to hear remorse from a human mouth for the death of a demon, but I suppose a half-demon would feel some empathy.”

I touched her arm lightly. “Any loss of loved ones will hurt those who are left behind. I don’t need to be a full demon to see that.”

She turned and looked at me her eyes sad. “Perhaps, you have more of your mother than I realized. Your transformation will not look like mine. As I said everyone is different. But the first time it will hurt. Especially for you. Most demons shift at a younger age and in the healing presence of the Ancient Ruins. You will likely transform in full sun and without the support of your ancestors. It will not be easy.”

“How will I know its going to happen?”

“Usually your markings will begin to change and you will feel a strong premonition. I have everything ready for you now that Ive seen you. We will begin the journey back to your manor tomorrow. I will accompany you until your guards arrive.”

“I have guards?”

“Your father is a fool.” Is all she replied.

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I stood looking from a balcony down to the expansive gardens below. The night air was fresh and cool. 

A warm presence behind me made me turn. Those beautiful golden eyes were staring at me from the inside of the room. 

“What is it?” I asked the man

“You are stunning.” He answered moving towards me. His powerful movements made me excited. I slid my hands over his chest enjoying the feeling of taunt muscles under my fingertips. He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead lightly. “I was just enjoying the view.”

I snuggled deeper into his embrace. The heat radiating off his skin was comforting. 

“Why did you get this out?” He asked suddenly raising my hand up.

The obsidian dragon bracelet was there. “Oh, just remembering the past.”

He laughed and I felt the rumbled deep in his chest. “The day I saw you all I wanted to do was take you right there on the cold marble floor.” He kissed my fingertips tenderly “But I knew that you were worth winning over first.”

I pushed him away teasing him “You did not think that. You practically bit my head off. I distinctly recall holding that sword to your throat.”

This time he laughed loudly. “You were so small. So brave. That look on your face drove me to my knees. It was adorable to think that you would stand up to me and that tiny sword would have done you any good.”

I snorted. “Please. I know exactly your weak spots.”

He pulled me back again. “My only weak spot is you.” This time he held me and kissed me deeply. HIs tongue exploring my mouth as his hands reached up to my breasts. His fingers teased my n****e through my thin dress and I moaned softly into his mouth. "I wanted to see that face as I drove my c*** deep into you. I wanted to see that face change into desire and from desire into submission."

His light touched moved down my stomach and to that spot between my legs. I gasped lightly as he teased me. "I needed to see you standing n***d in my room your beautiful breasts in my hands." He moved back up to my breasts fondling them and squeezing them making me arch into him.

"You were not thinking that." I answered breathlessly

"Oh yes I was. I was thinking of quite a lot of things I needed to do to you." He picked me up easy in his arms and walked inside. “Right now, need to hear you tonight and I won’t stop until you are begging me to let you c**.”

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I woke up unwillingly, my body restless from the dream. Who is that man? Why am I dreaming of him every night?