Magic, Myth and Mysteries

The Goddess' Chosen One, Chapter Two - Karmen Kramer

2.Swiss alps

“Who is going flying?” Vesna asks when she walks in on them. “Oh, Luna! What did you think of the party?”

“It was fun. I never thought I would like it so much. Maybe I will stick around?” Luna smiles. The plan is in the making.

“I was telling Luna about my Swiss keep. Could you be bothered to portal us there so she can see it? I would like to spare her the long flight,” Lothor inquires of the goddess.

Vesna smiles brightly in response: “I can’t tag along. I have work to do, but I can come get you if you call.”

“That would be wonderful. I’m not completely sold on flying,” Luna smiles at Vesna.

After breakfast Vesna lets Lothor use her portal key. She explained to Luna how it works. In theory even Vesna could do it, but it’s better if the one who knows all the details of the place they want to go to does it. A fascinating little piece of magic, Luna thinks. So much easier than teleporting. There is no strain on power, only pure magic. Veles created something that makes their lives in the modern world so much easier. Now, she wonders why the god of magic never lost his powers like the rest of them? Maybe Lothor knows something? Asking Veles might not be a good thing. She remembers the guy’s perpetual bad temper. He claims he likes her, but that has never stopped him from killing someone.

All her thoughts leave at once at the sight before her. The mountains, the blue sky, the pristine, white snow. The view is astonishing. Lothor was right about everything, she loves it. He chose a door that opens to the stone terrace. The fresh mountain air is a nice change from the polluted city air of Milano. She wants to stay. It’s that simple. One minute was enough and she fell in love with this place. Luna understands why he would live here, it’s like a slice of heaven.

“Magnificent!” Luna exclaims. “Would it be too much if I say I never want to leave again? The view alone is spectacular. The building itself is impressively simple and that just makes it majestic.”

“Not at all,” Lothor smiles. The violet of his eyes is shining in the sunlight. She must have said something right, because he’s practically glowing with pride. “I made the design for the building. I even helped to bring all the glass up here. There is no road that leads all the way. The last part is a trail with a hundred steps.”

“That’s dedication to a cause. Commendable, really. Most people would just pay someone else to get it done,” Luna chuckles.

“I’m not most people. I’m a dragon,” Lothor scoffs: “We value money, we accumulate it, we spend it very reluctantly. If I can do something myself and save in the process, I will do it.”

“Would you show me what the inside looks like?” Luna inquires. She is curious what time period he chose for the furniture.

“Of course,” he nods. Lothor pulls a small lever and half of the glass wall slides to the left: “This whole wall slides around. It can be opened and then the terrace becomes an extension of the living room.”

“Resplendent,” Luna whispers. The inside is decked out in wood and silvery blue. Not modern, yet not antique. The lush silver carpets and blue tapestries on the stone wall give the place a cold vibe, but the hardwood floor and heavy massive wood furniture balance everything perfectly. If she didn’t know better, she might think it was made for her.

“I take it you like it?” Lothor chuckles.

“It’s perfect. My dream home if I ever had the imagination to dream it up,” Luna answers. She can’t stop looking at things. There are details that are so insignificant, but all together they make a perfect whole.

“You are welcome to stay,” Lothor inclines his head at her. Did he just bow before her? Dragons have a royal etiquette, it might be just a nod. “Let me show you around. The rest of the house is not nearly as impressive.”

“You’re just saying that,” Luna smiles. Modesty in a dragon? She will believe it when she sees the rest of the house.

“The kitchen is through here,” he indicates a narrow passage at the back. The modern all steel appliances and cupboards look functional, but the table draws her attention. It’s made from a piece of redwood. It shines in the light. It’s a statement piece for the kitchen. Is there a theme for all rooms? Blue and silver in the living room, red in the kitchen. She wonders what comes next.

Lothor takes her up the stairs hidden in a tower. She thinks she can recognise where the old keep walls are and what is new. The staircase is old, very old. Another small living room, or parlour opens up before her. It’s green. Lush green flowers and light green walls. The floor to ceiling windows let in all the light the flowers might need. The furniture is light. Metal with green pillows. Just a table and a few chairs. A stack of books on a side table and nothing more. This room is designed to relax in and read. The door on the other side opens up into a gold bedroom. She watches in amazement how the light plays on the golden carpet. Each strand looks like it’s combed. Perfect.

“Does every room have its own colour?” Luna asks.

“Yes. You caught on to that?” He nods. “Is the guest room to your liking?”

“This is a guest room? I would’ve thought it was the master. It’s grandiose,” she looks at him in amazement.

“No. The master is upstairs,” Lothor chuckles. “I would never just presume and take you to my bedroom without asking first.”

“Oh, yes!” She laughs. “I remember you asked before we left the terrace of Ty’s castle. But, please, show me. If it looks just infinitesimally better than this, I will bow to your superior taste.”

“Hm? With a challenge like that…” Lothor smiles widely.

Luna gapes and forgets to breathe. The master bedroom spans the entire floor. She can see his bathroom through a glass wall on the other side. The room itself is an homage to fire. Befitting a fire dragon lord. Deep red carpets, orange and gold walls, redwood furniture and fire-red bed linens. The canopy of the bed has translucent red curtains and even the fireplace in the corner is built from red bricks.

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn,” Luna bows. How could she have ever used the word infinitesimally? This bedroom is out of this world splendid. The gold accents on the furniture round up everything nicely. Gold handles and ornaments are in contrast with the red. “Is that a silhouette of a dragon on the wall?”

“Yes. My dragon is a vain creature, he insisted,” Lothor nods.

“Do I get to meet the dragon? Does he have a name?” Luna wonders.

“You can meet him, if you go flying with him later,” Lothor smiles. “He doesn’t have a name of his own. We share a name. Only Vesna is different. Her dragon is an entity of great power. Istracsia is an ancient dragon locked inside of a goddess.”

“I felt something different about Vesna, but I didn’t dare ask. I’m not as powerful as I was and she seems to have gained power,” Luna tells him.

“Vesna draws that power from the mate bond. The dragon part makes her stronger, too. She doesn’t need to be worshipped, because her dragon gives her the power,” Lothor explains.

“It’s good for her, then. She deserves to be happy,” Luna smiles.

“What’s your verdict on flying, my goddess?” Lothor inquires.

“You don’t have to call me goddess,” she smiles again. “But I think I might need a coat or a blanket.”

“I can give you a coat,” he nods. Lothor takes her back down to the guest room. The wardrobe is full of dresses and coats that still have all the tags on. Who did he buy them for and where is she? Vesna briefly said that Ty’s mother walked out on Lothor, but she forgot to tell her when that was. Was this all for her and she never even saw the splendid dresses?

The coat is a white, soft hermeline. Floor-length for her, even in heels. A little too big, but it will do. The high collar will protect her from the wind: “It’s perfect.”

“I’m partial to real fur, but this one is fake, and even I missed that. Vesna has a friend that creates these gorgeous coats from fake fur. If you want to keep it, Vesna can shorten it for you,” Lothor tells her.

“But you bought it for someone else?” Luna makes it a question. She knows it’s intrusive and he doesn’t have to answer at all.

“She’s not coming back. I hate to just throw everything out, and she never wore any of these,” he shakes his head. “Let’s not talk about her. Do you still want to go flying?”

“Yes,” Luna nods. She has made up her mind. The dragon lord intrigues her. She wants to get to know him better. She wants to keep him for herself. If that other woman ever returns, she’ll turn her around and send her packing.