Chapter 2 Azira

ELYSIA'S POV

The flight was magnificent. Though it was only the second time I had ever in my life climbed into Azira's back to fly. The first was when I was young and I had flown with papa.

I did not know the way to the Vampire Kingdom, nor could I truly decipher the path from the rumpled map in my hands, which already sported small holes from excessive folding. I held the parchment tightly against the howling wind.

Valkeryth, the Vampire Kingdom, lay five mountains away. If I survived this ride against the chilly night wind in nothing but my loose-fitting gown, I would thank whatever Goddess looked down from above.

Against all odds, we reached it. From high up in the sky, we managed to cross the borders, looking down at a kingdom heavily shrouded in thick, low-hanging clouds. Lights still flickered throughout the lands even though it was nearly midnight; people were up and about, and I knew it was because they were vampires who did not function like normal humans who had already slept. Which gave the Daggers freewill to raid our land. I stopped myself from thinking about it.

Finally, the massive wide bridge and the enormous, magnificent stone castle loomed ahead. I ordered Azira to lower us down on the bridge. Immediately I stepped down, I begged her to be calm and raised but hands up in surrender. Through my clear gaze, I could see the guardsmen stationed at the very huge gates pulling their arrows taut, aiming directly at us.

"I mean no harm!" I yelled immediately. The last thing I wanted was to be shot dead on the spot without even getting to see the Vampire king. I knew they could hear me if they were vampires, and I prayed the Vampire King was proud and race-centered enough to only employ his own kind for security.

"Remain still and calm, Azira," I whispered under my breath, knowing she could see the arrows pointed at us too.

We moved forward slowly until we were barely ten feet away from them. Their hold tightened on their weapons, I watched as the guards' eyes widened momentarily at the sight of the dragon.

"I mean no harm," I repeated with trembling voice. "I am here to see the King."

Finally, they tore their gazes away from Azira and turned sharply toward me, taking in my disheveled appearance.

"There is not a reason why a little girl and a dragon should be in the Vampire lands," one of them demanded.

"If you read your histories right, you should be aware that dragons and vampires have nothing to do with the other," the second added.

I nodded immediately. "I know. I just want... I just want to speak to him. If you can allow me this act of kindness, I will be grateful." My voice was shaky, carrying through the wind.

The two guards exchanged a look. Then, the second one opened a small square hole in the massive gate and whispered something into it. I couldn't make out the words. A few fearsome minutes passed before he turned back to me with a response.

"The King has ordered for you to be brought inside the castle."

My heart stuttered in fear. The big gates began to grind open, and I knew it was only because of Azira.

"Behave," I whispered to her under my breath, hearing her response of "Yes, Master" before we walked towards, and stepped through the gates.

The compound was massive, huge enough for seven more castles to fit inside, but I had no time to process the grandeur of the castle's architecture. My mind kept drifting back to the dragon egg we had left behind in Murea, praying it was still safe, while simultaneously wondering how in the hell Azira had even laid an egg without anyone knowing.

Then as I looked up through the dark clouds above, I noticed a man—or rather, a vampire—standing on what looked like the highest balcony. He stood perfectly unmoving, his gaze. I had always had a great eyesight, one I was not fairly certain if other humans had as well. I knew it was not because of I was the daughter of dragon keepers. Mama and Papa didn't have such great eyesight. So I only termed it as a blessing.

"Bring the girl inside the castle," the King’s voice cracked through the night air, carrying an air of effortless authority. "Take the dragon away and have it secured."

"NO!" I screamed. The words leaving my lips before I could even process them.

I looked up, seeing the King gaze down at me from his perch. I could not make out his facial features properly from this distance, only the imposing shape of his silhouette.

"Azira will go berserk if I let her be with any on who is not me," I shouted, my voice shaking as I tried to desperately stand my ground.

Around me, the guards immediately went on high alert, drawing themselves to attention and waiting for the order to strike either me or the beast beside me. We were causing a ruckus, that I knew.

"I need to be aware of where she is brought so I can calm her," I insisted in a much calmer voice.

I watched the silhouette on the balcony. He stared down at me, and I stared right back, refusing to break the contact for a long moment. Finally, he raised his head slightly and gave a curt nod to his guardsmen.

Relief washed over me, though it was fleeting. I turned to Azira, placing my palm against her warm snout. "Be calm, Azira. They mean no harm."

I followed the guards as they led us through the sprawling compound. Azira's feet mildly shaking the grounds. The path kept going and going until the stone courtyard gave way to a rugged, mountainous area. I wondered if the mountain itself was considered part of the castle grounds.

Eventually, we reached a wide charcoal cave sealed with an iron lock. One of the men pushed it open, and I whispered for Azira to step inside. Once she was settled, I said to her; "I will return for you."

I stepped back and watched as the guardsmen locked the gate, doing their possible best to appear unaffected by the magnificent creature, though I could see the subtle tension in their shoulders. Once she was successfully locked inside, they turned to lead me back toward the front of the palace.

As we walked back through the stone path, my thoughts immediately raced back to Azira’s egg. I had locked it securely in our cave in Murea, and I could only desperately hope it remained safe from the Daggers until whenever I could collect it.