Chapter 1 Daggers

ELYSIA'S POV

"You need to run now, Ely. You must go."

I shake my head fiercely as Mama steps away from the window and lays a trembling hand upon my shoulder.

"I cannot leave you and Papa. I will not let them take you both."

My tears fall all the harder. Through the blur of my weeping, I see Papa standing at the narrow window of our little cottage, his gaze fixed beyond the trees, watching for any sign that the Daggers have reached our side of the village. He steps away and runs to us.

Papa's face was etched with a grim look. He took my hands in his, grounding me, though I feared it did not work.

"We do not have any other choice, my little star." His voice cracked with emotion. "If we do not confess to being the Dragon Keepers, they will continue to slaughter the rest of Eliora, and no one will lift a finger to stop them. Not even the King."

He was right. I knew he was right. Yet it didn't lessen the ache between my chest. I could only wonder how our human kingdom had turned into such monsters overnight. How had it come to this? How a king could sleep soundly while the Daggers—his most ruthless hunters—hunted and burned and killed an entire village just to find one dragon?

"I cannot," I sobbed, the words tearing from my throat, the only words I could muster. "I cannot let them kill you Papa. Please mama, there must be another way."

Mama drew closer, her fingers weaving through my hair as she cups my face, her thumbs brushing away tears that refuse to stop coming. "You have to, my sweet girl. You have to do this for us, Ely."

I shook my head vehemently, "But you and Papa will die. I do not want to lose you both. I will not survive."

They exchanged a glance, and a devastatingly sad smile graced both their lips. It was the look of resignation. I continue to shake my head.

"We have been expecting this all our lives, Ely deary. When we were bestowed to be the Dragon Keepers, tasked to carry the dragon heart." She wiped my tears once again. "And if we must die serving and protecting Azira until the very end, then we would gladly do so."

My weeping turned into choked gasps. I knew they had made up their minds, and there was no stopping them now. Not that I even could.

Papa stiffened, his eyes darting toward the window, "I can see their torches, Amanda." His voice was filled with urgency. "I think they are nearing our home." He turned back to us. "We need to do it now. She needs to leave now."

Mama's breath shuttered. Her eyes shining with unshed tears, and she smiled. Papa did too, and before I knew what was happening, they both placed their hands atop my head. I stared at their underarms with fear and confusion warring inside me.

Then, with their voices rising in haunting unison, they spoke;

"By the power vested in us as the Last Dragon Keepers, we bestow upon you, Elysia Ashwynd of Murea, the dragon heart and key to unlock the dragon's voice."

Before I could understand what was happening, my body turned against me. My skin began to glow, and my eyes burned—I knew it was burning because of how it hurt. My hair flared out around me as though caught in a wind that touched nothing else in the room. Then, as swiftly as it came, it was gone.

"Run, Dragon Keeper," He smiled sadly. "Take Azira with you, and run far away from here. Far away from Murea" his hands landed on my shoulder, squeezing gently and pushing me towards the door while he moved away and started to prepare things.

So this was it? I thought. I should just let it be and allow them to die in the hands of their own kind?

Mama held my hand and walked me to the backyard door. "Fly, Ely. Fly to the Vampire kingdom, if you can. He may be heartless, but he will protect you better than any other." As she spoke I felt her slipping two things into my dress pocket, one I was sure was Azira's cave key. "Go now, my dear. Our spirit will always be with you."

I wanted to ask her how she knew such a thing, why she would say it, but there was no time left for questions. I didn't need any more than that. I turned and ran out of the house, sobs wracking my body, tears flowing freely, but I continued to run.

I ran from the cottage into the chilly winter air, and up toward the dark mountain, scrambling down the rocky paths until I reached the hidden entrance of Azira's locked cave. I shoved the key into the iron lock and didn't get the turn until after three trails. When I finally did, I took it out, threw open the door, and slipped inside. I found her awake and alert as though she had known what was happening.

Azira was beautiful. Her gleaming red-and-black scales catching in the dim light, magnificent even in stillness. Her gold eyes were flecked with black and red and hints of green, and they fixed upon me now, waiting for order, I presumed. I had seen her many times, with Mama and Papa. But this was the first time I had seen her as the Dragon Keeper.

I ran to her immediately and pressed my hand against her scaly snout, the key still clutched in my other palm.

We must leave now, Azira. There's no time. The Daggers are coming for us." I said as I began to hastily unchain her. "Stand, Azira"

She rose. Her great wings unfurled first, scraping against the stone walls of the cave, and then her body followed, coiling upward until she towered above me, her head nearly brushing the cave's ceiling before she lowered it back down to meet my gaze. Her mouth moved, and though no sound came from it that any ordinary ear could catch, I heard the words all the same, felt them settle into my mind like something thought about rather than something heard.

"Where, Master?"

'So this is the dragon's voice...' I thought. I had never heard it before, not once in all my years beside her, for I had not carried the heart of a Keeper until tonight. But there was no time to marvel at it now.

I moved to check her over, to be certain she had taken no wound and was safe to fly, and when I reached the base of her tail, I stopped dead. I gasped in horror, surprise and amazement.

Right there, tucked safely where Azira's tail curled, was a beautiful, large egg covered in shimmering scales. My mind went into panic as many questions flooded me. But I shook the thoughts away. There was no time to think about that now.

I returned back to her massive golden gaze, and gave the destination;

"The Vampire Kingdom."