Dragons Breath

Chapter five

I wake up the next morning before sunrise, causing the castle to be shrouded in eerie darkness. On the mountain, everyone is usually up before dawn to do the early morning patrols. It would seem that I am the only early riser here. Though that is probably best, I can be quite irritable in the morning.

I peel the cold crisp sheets from my body feeling the morning air surround me. I miss waking up in the mountain, surrounded by cool air and the smell of the woodsy outdoors. Here in this castle, the only thing I smell is the awful stench of the human's perfumes. Running a hand through my hair I sigh, I need to get out of here for a little while before I go insane.

Washing my face and brushing my hair I leave my room. I'm actually quite glad I was shown around this castle yesterday, I don't have to worry about getting lost.

I make my way to the roof of the castle where I first came when I got here. The morning air licks at my skin and I can't help but shiver with delight. I strip out of my clothes letting my dragon form take over.

Stretching my body out I push myself off the roof of the castle and take flight. I could spend all my days just flying it's so calm and relaxing. The freedom of flight it truly exhilarating, you stand above all that surrounds you and become one with the sky.

I fly out of the capital and into some nearby woods and head to where I saw a lake yesterday.

With the lake in sight, I make a swift dive into the water. I land in the lake sending water splashing all around. The feeling of the cold water against my scales is soothing, and I relish in it.

After spending some time swimming underwater I slowly rise up filling my burning lungs with some much-needed air. Swimming to the edge of the lake I slowing walkout, extending my wings, I forcefully shake expelling all the water from my body.

Suddenly I hear the crack of a stick, my head snaps to where the sound came from. Off in the distance, I see a large human male gathering what I assume to be firewood. I move as quietly as I can so as to get a closer look. Peeking over the treetops I get a full view and I find that this human is very appealing to the eyes.

His long shoulder-length curly black hair hangs loosely bouncing about his head as he reaches for some sticks. At this angle, I get a good view of his dark tanned skin and exposed back that has many tribal-like tattoos swirling across his toned chest and arms. His muscles flex with his every movement, showing the strength of a barbarian.

I must I am rather enjoying the sight.

Even though I've done well hiding in the morning shadows the human suddenly looks in my direction.

"I know you're there why don't you stop hiding and come out." His deep husky voice causes me to shudder. I emerge from the shadows the now rising sun glinting off my midnight scales as I proudly show myself.

I lower my head down to his until we are seeing eye to eye. Looking at him he entices my senses and calls to my soul. His scent fills my nose, and my primal instincts are telling me to take him away and never let him go. But I don't think the people in the castle would be to keen on me bringing back a stray human.

Normally when I'm this close to a human they show some form of fear, but not him he's rather calm, a little shocked, but still so abnormally calm.

Looking up at me with a fire blazing in his eyes he questions me fiercely, "Why were you following me?"

I snort and give him a big toothy grin, though in my dragon form it probably looks like I'm baring my teeth.

"Sorry to disappoint you little human but I am not following you, we're simply in the same place at the same time," I say talking to him through his mind. For a moment he seems startled but the look quickly changes to a scowl.

"If you weren't following me why did you try to hide rather than show yourself?"

I chuckle lowly, "Most humans are not like you, they would piss themselves at first sight of a beast like me. So you could say I was trying to save you the embarrassment."

There is something about this human that's making want to actually talk to him.

Laughing the man replies, "Thank you for trying to 'save me the embarrassment' but I do not find you terrifying in the least. Your presence was a shock at first, but I am certainly not scared." He sounds more relaxed than he did before.

"You are the strangest human I've ever met. Most of your kind are either scared or disgusted by me. But you, I have not seen an ounce of fear or disgust in you, why is that human?"

I'm genuinely curious there's something about him that just makes me want to know everything.

"This might come as a surprise to you dragon but you're not as terrifying as you think you are." He pauses for a moment staring into my eyes with an unreadable emotion covering his face, then continues, "You're actually quite intriguing."

The soft tone of his voice caressing my ears nearly makes my heart stop. He has to be joking no one has ever said that to me. My heart is flickering with unknown emotions from this humans words. I have never been so affected by a person before, I am not sure if I like it very much.

"Don't be ridiculous humans have only ever seen our dragons as monsters," I grumble.

Though I am quite pleased with his words I cannot bring myself to admit that to him.

Laughing the man sits down on a nearby rock, and I can't stop my eyes from tracing over the defined cures of his body, the way his broad shoulders sit in perfect proportion with his well-toned torso. He is so alluring that even I cannot help but admire his beauty.

"Are dragons usually this stubborn, I just complimented you and you were so quick to refuse."

I look at him thoughtfully.

"I guess you could say that I'm not used to your kind being so accepting."

His eyes gaze into mine a certain softness floating in them, "People are afraid of what they don't understand."

I chuckle, "I suppose you're right."

I look up and see that the once-rising sun now hangs full and bright in the sky, I've been gone too long it's time to head back.

Turning to the man I ask, "What is you name little human?"

He looks up at me the sun glinting off his deep brown eyes, "I'm Flavius, Flavius Black."

This is a name I will not soon forget, Flavius, I have a feeling we'll see each other again soon.

"Well Flavius it's truly been a pleasure but I must be off now. I do hope we have the chance to see each other again." I say this while extending my wings, pushing off the ground I send out a gust of wind and take off into the sky.

"Hey Wait you never told me your name," Flavius shouts at me. I briefly turn to look in his direction, but I do not reply. I find that messing with this human is quite fun, I hope to meet him again.

I leave for the castle at full speed. Hopefully, no one has noticed my absence. When I finally reach my destination I get dressed and head to the dining hall in hopes that breakfast will be ready.