She could hear the small patter of her and her sister's feet as they raced through the hall.

She kept her hand tightly around Lilith's as they ran through the familiar corridors of the castle. Swiftly passing by the multitude of old portraits and tapestries they have seen all their lives. She could hear her breath as she ran harder, the blood rushing in her ears as the panic started to set in. She rounded a tight right corner watching the stone walls blur past her still keeping Lilith close to her. As they descended down stairs to the lower levels of the castle they kept their eyes up to watch for any soldiers, taking the steps two at a time and jumping the rest. She could hear Lilith's labored breathing as they continued running down the halls, trying to block out the cries and screams of others in the palace. Just yesterday Daelia was playing in the gardens with her elder sister Reina, learning the different herbs that could possibly save a life, now she was running for her own life in her home.

As Daelia and Lilith neared the end of the hall she could hear the crunch of steel against itself and the marching steps of soldiers. She skidded to a halt, Lilith almost slamming into the back of her. Daelia turned, finding the same stairs they had come down and back to the impending marches of human soldiers, before she found a small crooked part of stone in the wall. She quickly pressed against the edges and the wall fell through to reveal a small passage leading to another corridor across the way, from what she could tell.

Daelia turned back to her younger sister, barely 12 years old and grabbed her by the shoulders tightly "I need you to pass through, i'll be right behind you." Lilith's eyes were wide with terror as she comprehended what Daelia was asking, her thick dark hair was wild from just being woken, and her pale golden eyes were glossy with tears as she shook her head. Daelia pressed her small body into hers in an embrace, their nightgowns flowing together like curtains in a breeze. "I need you to run, I'll be there I promise." Lilith opened her mouth to object, but had no time as Daelia took her shoulders turning her toward the passage before pushing her in roughly. Lilith turned as Daelia quickly closed the wall shouting to her "Go!" as she slammed the door back into her place with her whole body.

Daelia turned just as the soldiers rounded the corner they all halted as they spotted her in the middle of the hallway. She had faced men before, had been trained in the art of killing since Lilith's age and Daelia knew she wasn't going to let these men anywhere near her sister. From what Daelia could tell there were maybe five of them, she could tell nothing from their expressions beneath their heavy helmets as they pulled their swords from their scabbards. Daelia backed away, pulling on the threads of power in her blood and it thrummed beneath her skin in response as the soldiers slowly moved forward, circling her like eager vultures. Some raised their swords to her as she turned waiting for a chance to pounce, the corners of her mouth pulled up slightly

"What? Scared of a little girl?" Her power was welling up beneath her, and as they moved toward her her hands lit ablaze. As the fire in her blood came alive in front of the soldiers their armor shone with bright reds and yellows. Daelia could smell their fear as they realized what she possessed, they had nowhere to run.

The hall was a massacre, and only Daelia was left standing, her power curling back into her, the fire slowly dying from her palms.

Daelia stepped over the bodies of the soldiers as their blood seeped into the pure white of her night gown. She quickly pressed on the wall and as soon as it caved in she sprinted through the passage, not bothering to even close the secret door. Her heavy breath was the only noise that filled her ears as she raced through. She had hoped Lilith had not been killed by the soldiers as she ran faster and faster, she hoped that her sister had waited for her.

As she came closer to the other side she could hear the clashing of steel, shouts, and roars of fury. Daelia pushed the door open a crack checking to see what was on the other side of the damp passage. She heard the crunch of bone and as she looked through bright white hair filled her vision. Her elder sister, Reina was standing over the corpse of a human soldier, his blood dripping from her fingers. As Daelia pushed open the door, she spotted Lilith almost immediately and relief washed over her and rushed to her two sisters.

"What happened?" she asked panting out of breath

Reina flicked her fingers, blood spraying "I was finishing off what soldiers there were, before Lilith came through the wall."

They all three turned their heads as more screams flooded the halls. Lilith huddled closer to Reina and Daelia clutching their nightgowns as a baby might to their mother.

Reina turned to Daelia, she met her gaze and saw the same panic Reina must've seen in Daelia's. They all turned and ran down the hall, swifty taking a sharp right and found themselves in front of a back door, the wood splintered and old from wear and use.

"You both need to go" Reina whispered, crouching and down brushing back Lilith's hair and kissing her brow.

"What about you? Where will you go?" Daelia questioned understanding that Reina was not coming with her and Lilith.

"I'm going to find father, I need to fight with him. It's my duty." She said somberly.

Daelia's identical golden eyes to Reina's widened "No, you need to come with us, please. Lilith needs you… I need you." her voice trailed off

Reina opened the wooden door and a cool breeze swept through the small hall, the night sky looming out behind her. Reina grabbed both Daelia's and Lilith's shoulders "I love you both very much" she murmured as small tears escaped her eyes. As she already knew, Reina would never see her sisters again. And Daelia knew that this last act of heroism was a permanent goodbye. Daelia could feel the anger boiling through her blood as she knew what the soldiers were taking from her, from them.

"Now go, before they catch you, please Daelia, go to the Dragon Den, take Luciole and find help." she pleaded before turning to walk past them.

Daelia straightened her shoulders as she felt the silent tears roll down her cheeks, she turned back to Reina.

"I love you. she said, almost choking on the words as she turned to the door, grabbing Lilith's hand once more and raced off into the night, heading off to where the dragons slept.

✧∽✧

Daelia felt the stones crunching beneath her feet as she and Lilith found the Dragon Den. The high peaks of the mountains surrounded the cavernous entrance that led to the multitude of smaller caves that housed the dragons of their kingdom. As Daelia and Lilith walked through they came to the back of the Den where the younger dragons were housed, where Daelia found her dragon, Luciole He was curled in himself in his small cave, he was barely bigger than two war horses, and had black and golden scales that reflected the sunlight as though he was highest price jewel ever to be seen. Daelia approached the entrance of his cave before turning to Lilith.

"Stay here." Daelia whispered as she turned back to Luciole still sleeping.

Lilith nodded as Daelia slowly stepped towards him, she knew he'd never hurt her, but didn't want to surprise him either from his slumber. Daelia inched towards him to where she could feel the heat in his breath. She pressed a hand to his nose, and she could sense the fire dwelling in his veins, the same as hers.

"Luciole" she whispered

Luciole slowly opened his eyes, his eyelid membrane sliding back first to reveal his fiery eyes and the slit of his pupil. A deep groan shuddered from his throat as he lifted his neck and head along with it. Daelia wasn't sure how she was going to be able to fit her and Lilith on to him. He supported her young body of fifteen years easily, but another would be a challenge. Daelia lifted her hand to his nose again to which he pressed against it before fully standing to his full height. His wings stretched out, unfurling from his body to almost fifty feet and his feet the size of dinner plates. He followed Daelia out of the cave as she returned back to Lilith who marveled at his beauty, three years from now she would've had her own dragon. Daelia ushered Lilith towards her urging her to climb up his back. Lilith did so without a thought and Daelia quickly followed her. Daelia could feel their weight pushing down on Luciole as he shoved upwards to keep them atop. Daelia quickly strapped the leather bindings across Lilith and herself as they positioned themselves into the saddle, Daelia counting the minutes til the soldiers realized their targets were no longer in the castle.

"Are you ready?" Daelia asked taking the reins around Lilith.

She nodded, settling against Daelia she hugged herself.

Daelia bent over and gently brushed Luciole's scales before commanding him "Vlymor, Luciole"

Luciole answered with a roar that shook the stone beneath him, as he pushed off with his legs, beating his wings against the wind to lift them with him into the sky. He struggled to gain air under his wings beneath their weight, but he managed the weight as he took into the sky. As Daelia and Lilith sat atop Luciole they could see the Den of Dragons slowly turn small beneath them as Luciole carried them over the dense forests and over their castle under siege. Daelia could picture her whole kingdom from here, their people sleeping soundly, fires dying out in their homes, as their own King's palace were being slaughtered. As the breeze took under Luciole's wings Daelia turned him away from the castle, towards the northern border, to Otalia where she might find help. As they passed overhead soldiers shouted and pointed in answer, passing the information to others. Some raced for their horses to follow as Daelia's panic set in once more and Lilith squirmed in fear.

"Shhh" she said trying to calm down her sister "Faster Luciole, faster!" she commanded slightly, jabbing his sides with the saddle. He hissed in response as his wings boomed harder against the wind rushing through the air. With Daelia's hearing she could hear the calls of men below as they mounted their horses in an attempt to follow them, yelling out commands for formations and grabbing their weapons as they prepared for pursuit. Daelia felt dread curling in her stomach as she grabbed the reins of the saddle knowing Luciole could not fly any higher than the just below the clouds due to their weight. As they flew farther and across the plains she could still hear the thunder of hooves on the ground as they raced after Luciole.

And then she felt it.

The soft pitter patter of rain, and the drops hitting her face.

Daelia pulled the reins slightly and angled Luciole lower than he already flew, the rain grew harder as they flew through the depths of the kingdom, the drops of water falling harder and faster. Daelia willed them to make it to the Blaze Woods that bordered the north, to lose the men in the fog and rain beneath the trees. As Luciole flew harder, the storm brewed quicker and sight of the forest grew less and less, and Luciole's wings teetered amongst the wind and rain. Daelia struggled to keep him among the wind, but Luciole screeched in fear of the storm and unbearable weight.

Daelia tried to straighten him out before the men could gain more ground on them, but as lightning cracked in the clouds above Luciole lost balance of wings and the wind was lost from beneath and now he was flying nose first towards the ground. Daelia pulled desperately on the reins as she fought for control as Lilith screamed in terror. She knew that death would come one day, immoral or not, she just didn't expect it at the age of fifteen. Was this the end of her kingdom? Her sister, her entire family? Slaughtered in their own home and plunging to the ground on the back of a creature her family had commanded for centuries. Daelia felt her fear rise in her throat as the ground slowly closed in as Luciole fought for air, to balance amongst the wind. As the ground was no more than twenty feet close she ripped the reins to her chest, and in response Luciole's wing flung out in balance long enough to avoid death. Luciole hit the ground with a boom and mud flew up as Daelia and Lilith flew from the saddle and into the mud with a thud. Daelia heard Luciole screech in pain from a distance, but as she tried to turn her head she lost sight of where her dragon was through the dense rain and ringing in her ears. Daelia turned on her back feeling the cool earth beneath her and fighting the dizziness of the fall. Daelia rose to her feet as quickly as she could and ignored the ache of the impact in her knees. Lilith and her were covered in mud and dirt.

"Daelia, The Blaze wood!" Lilith cried as she turned and pointed to her right. In response Daelia looked in the direction of her hand and through the downpour of rain she called to Lilith "Run!"

Both sisters took off through the forest and Daelia could feel the rain splash at her cheeks as she ran. Her dark hair pasted to her back and her front silver strands stuck to the sides of her neck as she dodged fallen trees and thickets amongst the woods. She could hear Lilith's footsteps nearby and the faint rumble of the men's horse as thorns tore at her nightgown and legs. As the thunder rolled on Daelia felt like she had been running for hours, how long had it been since they had left? Daelia didn't dare stop until she listened through the rain and could no longer hear the impending drum of hooves through mud til she had changed her run to a jog and then a complete stop. She slid down the side of a tree as her breaths came fast and heavy, she could hear her fire roll in her blood, trying to supply enough oxygen to her. Daelia closed her eyes and she called out beneath the roar of rain.

"I think they lost us Lilith." she panted against the tree

The silence only answered..

Daelia opened her eyes to the long quiet, she turned to the stretch of trees and drenched grass behind her. Through the rain all she could see was trees and bushes, dread coiled through her as she immediately stood.

"Lilith?" she called, turning to try and catch a small glimpse, a movement of her sister through the rain.

Nothing answered

"Lilith?" panic lacing her voice as ran back to where she had come.

"LILITH?" she screamed, turning in a circle only to find the rain and clouds answering back to her with thunder.

Daelia's knees hit the earth as more mud splattered across her already dirty nightgown. She felt her tears roll with the unending rain as she cried, she felt her heart beat rapidly from her panic and run, and Daelia bowed, brow pressed to the ground as she cried with sky.