Chapter 2 Stabbed

The Spirit Hall was built beneath the Dragon Palace.It was a place no dragon willingly entered.

Its walls were carved from black obsidian ink and the rule of the realm was written there. The air was freezing, yet sweat rolled down Ixora's face as the guards dragged her through the endless corridor.

Every step echoed like a death sentence.

The heavy iron doors opened and at the the center of the chamber stood a stone altar surrounded by eight elders wearing silver robes.

None of them looked at her with pity.

To them...She was nothing more than a criminal.

"Place the sinner on the altar," one elder commanded and the guards threw Ixora onto the cold stone.

Thick chains wrapped around her wrists, ankles, waist, and neck, locking her in place. She couldn't move if she wants.

One elder opened an ancient book and read out loud."Ixora, daughter of the Dragon King."He paused before correcting himself.

"No... Mixed-Scale Dragon pretending to be the White Dragon Princess. You stand accused of deceiving the royal bloodline, contaminating the Dragon Clan, and giving birth to an impure offspring."

"For these crimes, your dragon spirit shall be extracted."

Ixora slowly closed her eyes, shaking her head.She no longer cared what they called her.The only thing she could see was her baby's tiny body lying in a pool of blood.

"Begin."The elders raised their staffs in unison and began to chant words incoherent.

Blue light erupted from the runes beneath the altar. And sharp pain exploded through Ixora's chest.

"Arrrrhhhhhhhhhh" Ixora screamed on top of her voice.It felt as though invisible claws had reached inside her body, tearing at her very soul.

Her dragon core fought desperately to remain inside her,but it couldn't hold up anymore.

The force at which the core left her body the sound echoed through the chamber.

Blood spilled from her mouth, every heartbeat brought unbearable agony. Ixora kept fighting the pain but she's weak.

"Hold her down!" One of elders ordered the guards and they rushed to hold her down.

The chains rattled violently as her body convulsed Ixora black-and-silver scales began breaking apart one after another, each one falling onto the altar like shattered glass.

Outside the chamber, servants covered their ears,even the knights turned pale with the noise.

The screams coming from the Spirit Hall sounded less like a dragon...

And more like someone begging for death.

Hours passed Ixora had lost all sense of time.

Finally...

The blue light faded and the elders lowered their staffs shaking their head disgustingly ."It is done."

Ixora lay motionless with dried tears on her cheeks and blood coming from her mouth. Her once beautiful scales were dull and cracked,the scales in her body isn't up to ten.

Her breathing became shallow even blinking hurt she laid flat on the altar watching the elder that once loved her held hands to kill her .

One elder frowned looking back at Ixora "I didn't expect her to survive."

Another sighed. "Her will is stronger than most royal dragons."

The first elder looked away."Unfortunately... strength alone cannot change one's blood."

The guards unlocked the chains and her hands hit the the floor.

The doors opened once more and footsteps echoed through the chamber the to the spirit hall.

Draven entered and stopped a few feet away, looking down at Ixora broken body.

For a long moment, neither of them talked,Ixora forced herself to lift her head.

"...Why?"Her voice was barely a whisper."What... did I ever do to you?"

Draven's expression remained unreadable."You lied to me."

"I only lived the life I was given, I never asked to become the White Dragon Princess." Ixora cried even a drop couldn't fall from her eyes.

Draven jaw tightened, but his eyes remained cold."The moment your child was born, everything became clear."

Ixora laughed weakly."You never even held your son or looked into his eyes but you killed him before he could even cry."

"You should've prayed your child was never born."He turned to leave.

Ixora stared after him, hatred burning in the depth of her eyes."You'll regret this."

Draven stopped walking but he didn't turn around.

"You'll regret every drop of blood you made me shed and I'll make sure I kill you with my own hands and use your blood a s water for my pet"

Still, he remained silent and walked out. Not long after a familiar laugh echoed behind Ixora.

Annya entered with graceful steps, wearing a smile that made Ixora's stomach twist.

"My dear sister..."She crouched beside her."You look terrible."

Ixora glared at her."What do you want?"

Annya brushed a strand of hair away from Ixora's face and Ixora tried to bite her.

"I came to thank you,for giving me everything."She smiled sweetly."The title, palace and your husband Draven."

Ixora's eyes widened trying to sit up but she fell flat back

Annya chuckled. "Did you really think he loved you?.He only married you because Father ordered him to."She leaned close enough for only Ixora to hear.

"But me..He looks at me now.And soon, everyone will forget you ever existed."

Rage surged through Ixora,summoning the last of her strength, she slapped Annya across the face.

The sharp crack echoed through the chamber immediately Annya's smile disappeared.

"You bitch!"She stood and kicked Ixora hard in the ribs.Blood spilled from Ixora's lips.

She lowered her self and stab Ixora on her chest. Ixora's eyes widened in shock; she didn't expect that from her.

At that moment, the her father entered,seeing Annya clutching Ixora's cheek, he frowned.

"What happened?" He asked in confusion

Annya immediately dropped to her knees, tears filling her eyes.

"Father... I only came to see if Sister was alright but to my surprise I saw her dead , she stabbed herself.

The Dragon King didn't hesitate as he walked to Ixora's cold body removing her necklace ,he looked at the guards."Take the prisoner to the Frozen Sacrificial Grounds." He turned away without another glance.

"...Then the Dragon Clan will finally be cleansed." Annya said, wiping off her fake tears.

As the guards dragged Ixora's cold body toward the palace gates, snow

began to fall.

Each icy wind cut through her broken body and blue flowers grew round her ,and in the sky the moon turned red.