ASHALAN

Through pain hazed eyes Ashalan saw Seraphine enter the pen where she was being detained. As more of the insidious torture was inflicted, she tried to keep her eyes on the Sorceress to show that she was indeed strong and able to withstand anything that she did to her.

Ashalan lifted her chin in defiance.

“I will not be broken by evil, I will stand against you until the end of time if I have to.” She whispered under her breath as she stared at Seraphine, her hatred burning with fiery tendrils in her stomach.

But with each pull of the chains, Ashalan’s eyes closed and she felt her screams erupt from deep within her soul as her body was stretched outwards, tearing at her chest, igniting searing primal pain.

Gasping through the torment, she heard Seraphine call out to the General and Ashalan found herself breathing a sigh of relief as the chains were loosened while the guards holding them looked with interest in Seraphine’s direction.

The General ran over to the Sorceress, his neediness to please her exuding from him as his boots thudded against the dirt ground. Ashalan found his demeanour repulsive and her skin crawled as she watched him move across the pen.

She turned her attention to her restraints. Rubbing and biting into her skin, the shackles held her wrists and ankles making it impossible to stand fully upright, causing her to fall forward onto her knees, panting and weakened.

Inhaling deep breaths, she tried to summon some of her energy and as she did so she began to feel slightly calmer, giving her a chance to think more clearly. Looking around, she could see the two guards standing to either side of her, holding the chains that bound her to the earth. They were young and Ashalan noted that they looked about her age, recruited by Seraphine in their youth so that they would grow into compliant soldiers.

The night sky was beginning to change in colour and Ashalan looked up, surprised to see the sun was already rising. She smiled to herself, the shackles would be easily broken once her dragon strength flooded her veins and muscles. One of the only times she had felt joyful at the thought of turning into her dragon counterpart.

The Sorceress made her way over to Ashalan and stood smiling just out of reach.

“I know what you’re thinking, once you turn into a dragon you’ll be able to break free.” Seraphine said as she walked up to where Ashalan was positioned. She used her staff to nonchalantly pick up one of the chains. “But these are enchanted chains and are completely unbreakable by dragon or other.”

She laughed, dropping the chain again and moving to stand in front of Ashalan.

“I will break free from you. No chains will hold me for long.” Ashalan seethed and pulled against the restraints in frustration.

Seraphine laughed again, her piercing voice sent shivers down Ashalan’s spine.

“Why don’t you tell me who you gave the amulet to and I’ll make this less painful for you.” Seraphine said sternly.

“I will not tell you anything, do what you please, your reign of terror will soon be over.” Ashalan said through gritted teeth and strained at the chains, trying to launch herself at Seraphine.

Seraphine laughed once more and pushed Ashalan back with the end of her staff.

“No matter. Once you're a dragon I will drain some of your blood to give to the others. This will make them stronger also and turn them into their dragon selves for good. The magic will be irreversible, then I will no longer have to worry about prisoners escaping because they’ll be under my control forever.” Seraphine smirked wider. Ashalan winced as her legs strained against the confines.

“How will my blood change others?” Ashalan asked aggressively.

“Because they will be drinking human blood but from one of my most prized dragons, which as you know, once you drink human blood there is no return to your true self.” Seraphine replied, as she walked around Ashalan, examining her.

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“Won’t it be dragon blood?” Ashalan questioned.

“Even though you’re a dragon your blood remains human, just supercharged. But once you’re turned it changes to dragon blood and that’s why my dear Ashalan I need your blood to finish the creation of my army. The amulet is the last ingredient of course, but that will have to wait for now.” Seraphine smirked evilly.

Ashalan yelled out in frustration which slowly turned into a deep roar causing the ground beneath her to shake as the echo of her growl cracked the air like thunder.

The change had begun.

Ashalan felt the constraints start to press against her skin as her muscles started to grow and form into those of her dragon self. She tensed her arms in an effort to break the shackles. To her surprise, she couldn't.

“Enchanted chains, remember?” Seraphine sneered and motioned for the nearest guard to come to her. He bowed slightly then marched over to where she stood. She pointed at his sword and he nodded, unsheathing it then carefully handed it to Seraphine.

The Sorceress raised it into the air, examining the blade. She took the sword and placed the tip onto Ashalan’s thigh. Ashalan whimpered and struggled as Seraphine slowly pushed the sword into her body, just enough to send a cascade of bright red blood down her leg.

Taking a set of glass vials out of a canvas bag tucked behind her cloak, she uncorked them then began to fill them one by one with Ashalan’s blood.

Ashalan began to think about her friends and family and those that Seraphine had already taken from her. Her anger rose, she couldn’t let Seraphine use the vials on the other Cavers to keep them in their dragon form. Struggling, Ashalan fought against the chains and pulled as hard as she could.

“Save your energy, Ashalan. You'll need it for when we go to war against your beloved kingdom.” Seraphine said as she looked up from what she was doing.

Her tone gave Ashalan more fuel for her anger, she struggled harder, knocking Seraphine’s hand sending the vials smashing into the ground and causing Seraphine to jump backwards out of her way.

Ashalan struggled and fought but as she became more dragon than human her thoughts muddied and she felt Seraphine start to take control.

Seraphine raised her staff.

“Down!” Seraphine shouted and stamped her staff on the ground. A wave of energy burst out from where it connected with the earth, sending a vibration skimming across the surface of the dirt knocking Ashalan’s newly formed webbed feet from under her. She toppled over, growling, her large wings getting caught underneath her heavy body. She struggled to get up but her beast of a mind couldn't coordinate her limbs as well as she could when she was human.

Ropes were thrown over the top of her and then pinned to the ground, cutting into her flesh and scales. She could vaguely see Seraphine raising her staff over her head and bringing the jewelled end down into her stomach. She let out a high pitched guttural howl as it connected and pierced deeply into her skin.

Blood started oozing and dripping from the wound before searing darkness overtook Ashalan’s senses and she went still, long enough for the guards to think that they had control.

Two more guards came running up to her ready to throw another net over her head. But Ashalan regained consciousness, her eyes flicked and became that of her dragon self. She brought her long spiked tail around, sweeping the guards legs, sending them flying backwards onto their backs.

Feeling a surge of energy fill her entire body, Ashalan found calm within her heart and let it seep throughout her entire being. She felt like she was filled with a bright pulsing radiance and she gently used her newly acquired awareness and connection to her dragon self to control it’s body.

The conscious connection between her and her dragon self conjured the magic within her and enhanced it with a force so strong that she snapped the shackles that bound her, breaking Seraphine’s enchantment spell. Her dragon strength now dominated her muscles filling them with a power unlike anything she’d ever experienced before.

Seraphine stepped back with a look of surprise on her face. Usually when the transformation began the human form had no control over the dragon form and Ashalan enjoyed seeing Seraphine’s confusion.

The Sorceress raised her staff ready to send her magic towards Ashalan, but Ashalan quickly leapt onto her, her talons ripping at Seraphine’s cloak and body.

Managing to connect with Seraphine’s face, Ashalan dragged her talons down it, ripping at her skin and eye. Seraphine screamed out in pain and dropped her staff, causing the magic orb that it held to break, smashing onto the ground. The orb glowed then dimmed and Ashalan felt the enchantment leave the chains making the rest of them easier to break.

She ripped off the shackles and spread her huge wings, stretching them out and flapping them. Ashalan looked down at Seraphine who was holding her face and writhing in pain on the ground before her. With one crunch of her mighty dragon jaw she could defeat the Sorceress, but then she would be lost to her dragon self forever.

She felt it fighting already, wanting to take full control. Exhausted, she began to feel herself letting go and the dragon magic within her crept quickly into her mind and seized it, sending Ashalan’s consciousness back into the recesses once more.

As she flew into the sunrise, she looked down and saw Seraphine’s shocked face staring back up at her.