A Dragon

Dragana POV
After the initial shock of seeing the dagger, I quickly realize I could not allow Lord Cazima know anything about it. “Forgive me, you startled me there”, I said quickly to him after we entered the Inner Sanctum. “I completely understand Princess, I have been told I can be intimidating at times”, he said winking at me. Cold shivers were going through me and I kept thinking of my mother’s death, and how she was taken from me so brutally. And here I am, making small talk and drinking tea with her possible killer. “Focus Dragana, you need to understand what is going on”, the soft voice said and she was right. Giving him a little smile, I walked behind him toward the large onyx pool in the center of the Sanctum. I saw no bookshelves, no books, nothing. The walls were high, and some of them looked like the gate we just passed through albeit smaller. “What re those???? Are they doors too?”, I asked my curiosity peaked. “Some are”, he shrugged as if this was completely normal. “Some are portals, and some are simply soul eaters. Do not get too close to either for now please”, he retorted. I did not dare ask what a soul eater is and did not want to go down that conversation with him. “I see no books here”, I said with a mild panic in my voice. Lord Cazima laughed as if I said something funny. “You need to call them, call the books and they will come to you”, he said looking at me as if I were a small child. My face blushed at my naivete. Of course, they will come to you, just call the book. Yeah, no big deal.
Fidgeting with my fingers, I was embarrassed, my head down looking at my feed. “Lord Cazima.. errr…. I don’t… I mean”. “Relax Dragana, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. It is your first time at the Library and at the Sanctum. I can see your magic, you are extremely powerful, but forgive me, you have lived a very sheltered life. I do not expect you to know how these things work. Father did not call me to keep you company simply because of my good looks”, he said chuckling.
With that, all the sudden out of nowhere a book flew into his hand. A large heavy book, with green leather binding and encrusted jewels. “See for example, I have been reading the Potions of Lore - this book”, he said showing it to me.” You see, it came by itself. Now your turn”.
“I do not know how to call, or the names of the books I want to read”, I heard my voice, barely a whisper. He chuckled again, whilst my cheeks burned red. “You do not need to know any such detail. Simply think of what you wish to learn and what you need – the books will present themselves to you” he instructed. “You speak of them with care. As if they are .. alive????”, I looked at him puzzled. “They are. They magic within them maybe ancient, but it is alive” he said looking at the book, caressing its covers gently as if it was a child.
Here goes nothing, I thought to myself. Thinking about Tribrids the thoughts in my head were scrambling: what are Tribrids, Tribrid mates, Magic and Tribrids, history of hybrids of any kind. Before I could formulate a singular question to ask, several books started flying towards me from various directions. They were neatly pilling themselves up in front of my feet, until there were seven of them. “Impressive, very impressive, dearest child”, I heard the voice of Solomon, coming from behind me. He was standing holding a parchment of some kind, his eyes blazing like sun. There was something downright mystical and scary about him and I could not help but shudder at that time. “Beyond impressive Father”, said Lord Cazima, his eyes drilling into mine as if he was trying to see into my soul. The fear started creeping within me, and I suddenly became very uncomfortable. “Great grandfather, could I take these and bring with me to read, please?”, I asked wanting to leave the library and the Sanctum. “Of course, child but you really do not need to bring anything. Simply ask them to go to the palace, they will wait for us when we are back”.
“Uh, oh, ok er..” I mumbled wanting to simply leave. “I was getting lightheaded for some reason too and I felt as if I needed to lay down and rest. “Could we go home please?”, I pleaded with Solomon. He extended his hand which I took in a hurry. “It was lovely to meet you Lord Cazima, and thank you for everything”, I said hurriedly bowing down slightly. He just stood there; his expression unreadable, yet his eyes were now dark as a night. “Pleasure is all mine Princess, please come back any time”, his voice was echoing in the Sanctum, as he was walking toward me.
As we left, I felt I can finally breathe. The smell of beautiful roses and other flowers hit me as soon as we were outside the gate. I could not shake the strange feeling which overcame me, feeling of being watched. As we were walking back to the first door where Imelda let us in, I heard a thunderous roar which shook the whole place. My eyes bugged out and I squeezed my great grandfather’s hand in fear. “Do not worry Princess, that is only Cybele”, came the voice of Lord Cazima. “Caybele????? What is that???”. “Not what, but rather who child. And she is a dragon”, said Solomon.