Touch of Flame

“Darcy,” his voice reached to her through the darkness with its mysterious timbre. It had a uniqueness that made her recognize him immediately even when she rarely spoke to him.

“My Lord,” she breathed following his voice. She could see his shadow. He was tall but she could not tell his form much.

“You have a had a tough day,” he spoke.

She moved closer carefully, afraid he would disappear.

“Well, I just found out he could possibly be my father,” tears burned her eyes again.

He was quiet for a moment. “Let’s feed you first,” he said and then walked away.

Darcy followed him in the darkness, wishing her eyes could see more of him. She had wanted to see him since the day he saved her, but he had dropped her off to the crew and flown away. She had seen him disappear into the horizon, not even knowing who he was until much later. Well, still she wasn’t sure exactly who he was. She knew very little about him but the few things she knew, she liked.

As a leader, he had the qualities of a good one. Whenever they had complaints he had taken them seriously and implemented the changes needed. He asked for their opinions, listen to their suggestions, and included them in decision-making. Her gratefulness had slowly grown into respect and admiration and now, she was simply curious. She wanted to know more about him. The few conversations she had with him had ignited something in her, his voice had drawn her in and she found herself thinking about him. Imagining what he would look like.

Darcy followed his shadow and the clicking sound of his boots as he walked. He led her into a hall where the light shone through a large window from one side. Beneath it was a long dining table, one end under the light and the other hiding in the shadows.

“Please sit,” he told her. She could see him motioning with his hand.

Darcy went to sit down under the light and he sat in the shadows. It was as if the placement was made specifically for such occasions. She looked ahead, trying to discern his figure in the shadows.

“Dinner will be here soon,” he spoke.

She felt as though he was watching her intensely, while she couldn’t only see shadows now and then.

“Thank you,” she said, still feeling his eyes on her. How could she know?

“You cut your hair even shorter,” he pointed.

“Ah… it was getting in the way and… I am not good at taking care of it. I know it looks bad, “she said suddenly conscious of the way she looked.

“It suits you,” he complimented, his voice reaching out like soft velvet on her skin.

Heat rose to her cheeks and she wasn’t sure why. “Well, I can’t see you to return the compliment.”

He was silent while her heart thumbed. Footsteps interrupted the silence and soon servants came with food. They served her grilled chicken, with potatoes and other vegetables.

“What would you like to drink, My Lady?” The servant asked.

My lady?

“Water will do,” she replied.

Darcy could already smell the delicious meat and couldn’t wait to eat it. She never said no to food. Once the servants left them, she just waited out of courtesy.

“Please eat,” he told her and she picked up her cutlery.

She sliced into the meat, feeling her stomach rumble with hunger, and then put it into her mouth. She couldn’t help but sigh at the taste.

“Do you like it?” He asked and she blushed embarrassed.

“Yes. It is delicious.”

“Eat as much as you like,” he told her.

“Thank you,” she smiled and continued to cut into her meat.

As she chewed, she kept glancing his way as if hoping that at some point when she lifted her gaze she would be able to see his face.

Once she finished her plate was refilled, filling her with joy because she truly enjoyed the meat and she was really hungry. While she ate, she remembered that he had asked for her.

“My Lord, you called me here?” She said looking up.

“Yes. I wanted to speak to you about something but it can wait now. You seem tired and distraught by what is happening already.”

She paused, thinking of Russell. Dread crept into her heart again.

“I will make sure we do the best that we can to help him but… the physician told me he had been experimenting with himself.”

“Experimenting?” She was confused.

“He seems to have changed his blood. He is somehow producing dragon blood now and his body is not receiving it well.”

Her heart clenched.

“Why? Why did he do that?” She heard the panic in her voice.

“I have heard of the experiment before. There is a group called Pythagoras that experiments with enhancing humans to fight dragons.”

“Does that even work?” Her voice almost turned into a cry. She did not like the sound of whatever she was hearing.

“It might work. It depends on compatibility. It won’t turn him into a dragon but it will give him certain characteristics like strength, healing, and speed. If it works.”

“What exactly do you mean with compatibility?”

“Some humans are compatible with dragons. Like breedmates. Breeders are also chosen specifically because they smell a certain way which makes it possible for them to breed with dragons. Some humans just have it in them. In their blood. It might be that they are descended from dragons or come from a family of breedmates.”

“So if I happen to be his daughter and was taken as a….” she hated the word or any word that had to do with it. “A breeder. Is there a chance for him? They said we smelled similar.”

“There might be a chance,” his voice almost became a whisper.

She looked down at her plate. She lost her appetite. “So… I was taken because of the way I smell?”

A silence followed and her head dropped even more. Her hold on the cutlery tightened and she tried to fight back the tears.

“You smell like earth. Healthy and strong and you have a personality to match. Never see it as a bad thing. What happened to you was not in any way your fault,” he told her.

She glanced up but was met by shadows again. She wanted to see his face.

The creaking sound of the chair gliding back told her he stood up. “Come with me,” he said.

She put away her cutlery and followed him. “Maybe you will regain your appetite with a walk,” he spoke, walking a few steps ahead.

Focused on seeing him clearer in the darkness, she stumbled on her feet and her desperate hand finding a way to save herself suddenly clutched a large one. Long fingers wrapped around her.

“Careful,” his voice was as warm as his hand. Heat crawled all the way up her arm and settled in her heart. It was so strange that for a moment she wanted to withdraw her hand but in fear of losing this feeling, she held him tighter. To her embarrassment, she refused to let go even when she straightened herself and his hold on her loosened.

She stared at his shadow, knowing he was watching her, and then his fingers became firm around her hand and he walked holding her.

Darcy walked beside him, she could see one side of his face a little more but he was much taller than her so it was not so easy. Her hand in his felt small and his skin felt smooth but different than humans. He was also very warm and the heat seemed to affect her in other ways she couldn’t explain.

“I didn’t know other half-dragons were working with you,” she said.

“I disclose information at the right time,” he replied.

“Are there many of you?”

“Not many enough.”

She nodded. “I thought your kind were rare.”

“We are not as rare as many think. It is just that we don’t belong anywhere. Not with humans or dragons.”

Darcy felt sad hearing it. Either way he went, his kind would be shunned.

“Your parents…” she began carefully knowing it could be a sensitive topic.

“They are both dead. They tried to unite their people but it didn’t work.”

“I am sorry.”

“Me too.”

They walked in silence again. She couldn’t see where they were going but she hoped the path was long so she could know him more and not let go of his hand.

“Darcy.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to keep doing this? Chasing dragons?”

“Yes, of course.”

A quiet pause followed. “I want you to know that you don’t have to. If you want to leave this life behind, I will arrange for you to live comfortably.”

“I don’t want that. My people are not living comfortably, how could I?”

“I am only letting you know that you have that option.”

“Why would you do that for me?” She asked.