Guardian

Dragana POV

“You did it, Dragana!! You did it!!!”, Cybela was splashing in the ocean like a little puppy, roaring in happy laughter, amused with my training. It was quite hilarious watching this huge dragon use the ocean as her pool and have the exuberance of a little child or a little pup. “I told you – you can do it!!! I told you” she purred, splashing water everywhere in sheer happiness, and I stood there feeling incredible. I was able to control the elements!!! In my hands I rotated the water, air, sand, and fire like a juggling ball, in a gentle concert, neither element colliding, floating simply on my command.



“Well done child!! Well done!!” I heard Solomon clapping behind me, but I dared not take my eyes off my project. Ever since we came back from Alexandria, Cybele in tow, I have been training. Accepting Aisha and Vasilla was still a work in progress. I did not understand the Tribrid connection, nor what to do with it. Magic, however, came much easier, and my witch side was growing stronger by the moment. Even though I did not fully embrace my Lycanthrope side, they were both patient with me, especially Aisha. “Why did you not tell me?” was the first thing I ever asked her. I was confused as to why she did not tell me as to whom she was and felt a little bit betrayed. “You wanted to be free Dragana. It was not my place to force myself onto you. However, I could never really leave. I have been part of you forever and you of me”, she spoke gently. “But my dreams?? You were in my dreams and I …”



"Those were not always dreams, Dragana, you often sleep-walked and ended up taking my form. It was the only balance I could offer you after you wanted to denounce me, so you would not completely lose me”. I thought back to times when I woke up with dirt on my hands or leaves in my hair and in my heart, I knew she was right. “What about Vasilla, why I never saw her, why did I only see you???” “I may have something to do with that” Cybela chimed in. “Even though you are a Tribrid, you were enchanted and Vasilla could not come out. Only when you found me, was I able to break the enchantment”, she said, her warm breath nudging me gently.



All of this was too much for me, but oddly enough, even though some of the things did not add up and made little or no sense, somehow, in every inch of my being, I knew they rang true. Excited about my accomplishment and growing abilities, I did not notice a strange sensation, the air moving around me, and the sudden sense of imminent danger. Before I could react, I saw one of the attendants, a lady in a beautiful green outfit racing toward me, a sword in her hand. “Die, die, die!!!! You absolute filth DIE!!!!!! You all deserve to die!!!” she screamed, moving with the incredible speed of a warrior, swooshing the sword, which came inches away from my face. I tried to pull back, but before I could do anything, the woman slumped, a large pool of blood darkening her beautiful dress. A purple-tipped tail of my dragon protruded from her chest, Cybela’s eyes glowing with murder, her fangs bearing, ready to rip now the dead woman by my feet. The sand turned crimson.



Solomon was next to me in a matter of seconds. “Are you injured?? Has she hurt you???!!!?” I just stood there, shaking to my core, not understanding what just happened. Why would she want me dead? I vaguely recalled seeing her a few times, but I did nothing to her. The sense of dread overpowered me, and I simply slumped into my great grandfather’s arms, Cybela’s face now inspecting me with motherly care. “Nobody will ever hurt you while I am here”, she said, giving me a small nudge after she was satisfied. I had no injuries and went back into the ocean. I did not know what to do. Tears came over me and I was sobbing uncontrollably, the shock of the situation finally passing and the reality setting in. If Cybela were a second late, I would have been dead.



“Who was she??? Why??”, I whispered to Solomon, whose eyes were completely black now, his face stone cold. “Let’s go inside child”, he said, scooping me gently in his arms like a rag doll. I had no energy left in me, letting him carry me to the house. In the last few days, my life has changed drastically and not only did somebody try to kill me twice, but they also tried to abduct me. I had to flee for my life, I found out I was a Tribrid, I found I had a guardian dragon. And I was away from Roman, the person I realized I was in love with. All this was too much.



Solomon took me into the large living room. A fragrant tea was already setup, in addition to a bathtub which somehow appeared out of nowhere, a couple of attendants filling it with rose water. “I will leave you to get cleaned up Dragana and if you are willing, perhaps we can have a dinner together if you feel up to it. I need to further investigate what happened here, but I promise you are safe”, I heard his voice. I tried to nod, but I started shaking. Reaching for the teacup, my grip was not steady and the cup fell down, breaking into pieces. I tried to stand up, but my knees gave out and everything went black.