Touch of Flame

Ravina was curious about these illnesses despite feeling exhausted. She just lay down on the bed in her room.

“I am sorry we tired you,” Georgia said.

“No. It is not you. I just didn’t sleep well.” She pushed herself up on an elbow. “Do you have this many sick people?”

“Unfortunately things are not like before.”

“Like before?”

“Well, hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years ago, dragons were much stronger, healed at an unbelievable speed, and were never sick. They also aged much slower, that is why you can find some dragons from four thousand years ago still looking young. And those dragons were stronger because they were closest to our ancestors. The Draghas. The ones that could not shift to humans.”

The Draghas.

“How did you come to shift to human form?” Ravina asked.

“It is said that one of the Draghas fell in love with a human female. He wanted to be with her so he learned how to harness the magic within him to his advantage.”

A dragon fell in love with a human? How interesting. So the whole reason dragons were like this was because of a human after all.

“Using that magic, for the first time a dragon transformed himself into a human. Many dragons found the idea appealing and began to do so. They enjoyed their new form which made it easier for them to go from being lonely creatures in caves to creating civilizations. Imitating the humans in their ways of living. We were of course not like them even if we appeared to be human. Our animalistic instinct still remained.”

Ravina listened curiously.

“Our human form naturally made us weaker but the Draghas were still much stronger than us. And with every new generation, our blood became less pure. Even Malachi and his brothers who are the purest bred males alive are much weaker than what the purest before them used to be.” Georgia continued.

So her suspicion was right? If every new generation aged faster and healed slower then…

“Before it was usually just small things like the healing slowing, children being smaller, reduction in strength but the past hundred years we are seeing a very slow increase in diseases. You made me think that we should advance our medical care since we are changing.”

Indeed. Her mind began to work.

“The children… the children are born in human form?”

“Yes. That is because we have been mating in human form for a very long time that we have reversed the process AND because the whole shifting started with the purpose of being with a human.”

“Then… can a child shift? When can they shift?”

“Once they start to harness the magic within. Usually around six or seven. Some sooner or later.”

“So children not being able to shift before that, could affect their healing?”

Georgia became thoughtful. “Yes. We are stronger and heal faster in dragon form. Sometimes when we want to heal faster, we shift.”

They both looked at each other with realization.

“And when you get older, does that affect the ability to shift.”

“Yes. It gets more difficult so the elderly people often chose to stay in one form. The dragons who want to die sooner stay in their human form and the others who want to find more healing and live longer stay in their dragon form.”

Ravina nodded. “Can you use your magic for other things?” She was curious.

“Oh, it is not the sorcerer type if you are thinking something like that and our magical abilities have also decreased with the new generations. It is said that the Draghas used magic in a completely different way. Almost like a sorcerer.”

“Do they exist? Sorcerers.”

Georgia looked at Kayla and then back at her with a smile. “Of course they do. You have never met one? There are fortune tellers as well. Shamans. Witches. There is a whole world of magic out there.”

Woah. That sounded like a lot.

“Maybe, we should go to the fortune teller?” Kayla told her sister. “Is there anything you would like to know about your future?”

Ravina sat up. “Do you believe them?” She asked.

“Well, they often speak in a strange language. You have to understand first.”

Ravina became curious. “I would like to meet one,” she said.

“We can arrange for that,” Kayla said. “It will be fun. Maybe I can ask them if I will get pregnant soon.”

“Don’t do that,” Georgia said with a frown. “It will only discourage you. The time will come when it comes.”

“I have waited enough. I have not missed any of my heat days or any other day.”

“Don’t make it a chore. Have mercy on poor Iwan.”

Kayla chuckled. “Well, Ravina. I am sure you won’t have to try much to get pregnant.”

“I don’t even want to,” she muttered before she could realize. Then she lifted her gaze looking at both women who watched her curiously.

“Of course. You need to want the man first,” Georgia smiled.

“Is he trying to seduce you?” Kayla asked.

Ravina’s face flushed. Seduce her? She remembered this morning, the way he held her leg speaking of making love.

“Of course he is. What is the tattoo for?”

The tattoo was seduction?

“Well, I can’t wait until you are in heat,” Kayla smirked devilishly.

“Why?” Ravina asked.

“To torture you both.”

“I won’t be tortured,” Ravina said.

“Oh, you will be. It is different to be in heat by yourself and when you have a man who can feel your heat around you and will do anything to get you into his bed. It is just… really, really difficult to resist. You will be slightly luckier than us, unable to smell the scent the males give off as well to attract us.”

“What scent?”

“Their own scent but stronger. It makes you feel a bit… heady. It comes off from them when they want you badly.”

Oh well. Hidden weapons. She was glad she wouldn’t be able to smell it and be heady.

“I have to go now,” Kayla said looking outside the window. It was getting dark.

“Stay for dinner,” Ravina said.

The woman looked at her in a way she couldn’t understand. “Malachi should be here soon and I have some things to take care of. Thank you for the lunch.” Then she turned to Georgia who remained seated.

“I will stay a little longer,” she smiled gently.

“Alright then. I will show my way out.”

They bid her goodbye.

“We took from you your whole day,” Georgia said. “It is already dark.”

“No. Not at all.” She said feeling happy the day was over while she was busy.

She came to sit on the bed with her. “Do you get some sleep?” She asked.

“Does it show?”

She smiled. Strangely the woman reminded her of her sister. The gentle smile, the softspokeness, the care in her eyes, it was very much like Corinna. It hit her hard, the longing to see her sister again.

“A little.”

She nodded awkwardly.

“It is important to sleep,” she told her. “Shouldn’t you give yourself some medication or advice?”

Ravina smiled. “I should but it is not difficult sleeping. It is just nightmares.”

She frowned. “That is terrible. Do you have them every night?”

“Almost.”

“Oh…” she said sadly with a tilted head.

“It is fine. I am used to it.”

“You shouldn’t be. It is not normal and not good for your health.”

She shrugged. “What can I do?”

Georgia crawled back into bed. “Come. Lie down here.” She said, tapping on her lap.

Ravina was confused but did as she was told. She down sideways carefully, facing the door ahead.

“My mother used to let me sleep in her lap when I used to have nightmares as a girl.” She said gently stroking her hair.

Ravina felt a large lump in her throat. “My mother too,” she croaked.

Georgia continued to stroke her hair and even her shoulder in a calming manner.

“Did she sing for you?”

“Yes. And she read us stories.”

“You and?”

“My sister.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes. Twin sister.”

Georgia was quiet for a while.

“What happened to her?”

Ravina told her briefly how she lost her sister and was trying to find her.

“I am sorry,” she said and Ravina could hear the sorrow in her voice.

She fought back the tears and closed her eyes remembering her mother. Her sweet voice as she sang them lullabies or told them stories. God, she missed her so much. She could not stop her lips from trembling in a silent cry.

“Having a sister is like having a second mother and a friend at the same time. It is beautiful. I am sure you will find her someday,” she said.

The tears fell across her nose and to the other side of her face. Then suddenly she thought of the fortune teller. Could she ask about her sister?