2. Hadeon

The dream was always the same. IfI dreamed of anything else, I don't remember it. But this one, I remember. It haunts me whether I'm awake or asleep.

Thatgreat dragon stared down at me, laughing at my weakness. His lips curled back in a snarl as his tongue lashed out to taste my fear and shame. His teeth descended like knives for my throat, and all I wished was that he would finally end me.

535 yearsago

Iheard the deep rumbling of the sky, like thunder but more deadly, and ran out of my parents' bed to hide in the cupboard—a child's foolishness. My parents hadn't even woken up.

Smokecurled in under the seam beneath the cupboard door, and the deep red light of the flames danced between the slats of wood that were shoddily nailed together. That great, terrible rumbling filled the sky, and my body shook uncontrollably.

"Mama? Papa?"

"Hadeon, where are you?!" The panic in my mother's voice was the only memory I had of her.

Ascream pierced the burning night air as the ceiling over my parents' room collapsed in a crash. I can't remember their faces. It was like the flames of that night had singed them from my memory, but I will always remember that scream. It was quiet except for the snapping of wood under the relentless attack of the fire.

"Mama!" I shoved my shoulder into the door, and it flew open. Flames consumed everything. The cupboard was the only part of the house still standing. Even at such a young age, I knew they were gone. ButI was stupid and tried to dig into the smoldering ruins as the skin on my hand sizzled away.

"Mama!" My call had been more of a wail than a cry, and I heard the sizzling of my tears dropping into the embers.

Anotherbeam snapped, and something hit me across the face so hard I blacked out. WhenI came to, I knew nothing but pain. I was stuck beneath flaming rubble, and I could feel every inch of my skin burning away.

Iscreamed and pushed to escape, every part of my soul longing to live, but my body would not respond. I thrashed and wailed, but it was useless. I was too small, too weak to help anyone, even myself.

Then, that great rumbling was just above me, and the flames flattened to the ground as a great burst of wind consumed what remained of my home.

Oneenormous, taloned claw cleared the rubble on top of me with a great snap. Deep ochre eyes set into iridescent maroon scales peered directly into my soul as the chilled night air whipped over my destroyed skin, creating a new level of pain.

Thedragon opened his massive jaw, and a long, forked tongue flicked out as if to taste the air. I saw his throat and heart glow a deep blood red as he summoned his dragonfire.

Mybody froze as his jaws moved to encompass me, his teeth scraping grooves into the flesh of my arms. I was beyond panic, beyond reason. I was dead and witnessing the end.

Thena soft screech broke the sky, and the dragon's head snapped up as a smaller dark shadow passed overhead.

Malechflapped his wings and took off, never giving me a second thought. My view of the sky was clear now, and the stars mocked me with their twinkling. How dare they look so peaceful as I lay there dying? My body lay scorched and frozen until I was nothing but pain and blackness.

5 daysago

Iawoke to the smell of burning fabric. My magic had lashed out in my sleep, singeing and almost destroying my room. It had reduced the bed to ash; long, creeping veins of burned wood had scorched the floor and walls.

Painlingered as my flesh knit itself back together. The irony was not lost on me that my magic mimicked the feeling of being burned alive.

Isighed and pulled myself from the wreckage of my bedchamber. The next room was undamaged, and I dressed myself. The slaves knew what to do. I had the tongues cut from their mouths so no one would know my nightly turbulence.

Ifinished dressing just as a soft knock resounded on my door. "Enter."

Pallasstepped inside, her eyes cast downward. She was clad in just a simple silk nightgown, but despite her plain attire, she was a vision as her long golden-brown hair caressed her breasts. I had her for centuries now, and I hated to admit how much she still affected me. I pulled her into my lap and saw her eyes widen in shock for just a moment.

"YourEminence?"

"So formal this morning, Pallas." I twirled the ends of her long hair around my fingers. The soft curls caressed my skin, and I pulled them aside to place a kiss on her neck. She let a small sigh escape as she pressed against me, running her fingers through my hair. I tugged my head back to capture her lips with my own and ran my fingers down her back, sinking them into every inch of her soft flesh. She pulled back with a smile.

Shewas certainly the most beautiful woman in all of Adimos, her hair lustrous, her lips soft and plump, and every inch of her body shaped to perfection. But her blue eyes were always dull, like the sky just about to be overtaken by a storm. She was a thousand leagues away even though she sat with me.

"You asked to know as soon as Abraxas and his pet were near; they should be in the city within the hour." She watched my face as she delivered the news, and she didn't flinch as a small amount of my power lashed out and swept through her.

Yes, Abraxas had requested a visit to my court. It had been decades since he had last been to my kingdom. I knew he was up to something, and I was racked with anticipation. I just returned from my trip to Xyr, so it was particularly suspect. Finally, a little fun. Part of me wanted to believe he wanted to simply show off that little princess he had tamed, to finally accept his place as an esteemed member of my court, but I knew better.

Istood, and Pallas slid off my legs elegantly. I gripped the back of her head, pulling her to my chest.

"Be wary of the princess, Hadeon. She is not as docile as she seems." The words were muffled as Pallas spoke against my flesh, and I gripped her tighter.

"I'm not concerned with the actions of a little girl like her. It's obvious now she's useless with no power of her own." It wasn't entirely true. She would serve her purpose. Abraxas had become far too attached to the pathetic thing; I would need to correct that.

"Hadeon…" Pallas' voice shook. "Jun still hasn't awoken. If we could just..."

Isnapped her head back so hard her neck audibly cracked, and the corners of her mouth flinched with pain. "I told you, if he can't bother to keep himself alive, he's of no use to me."

Herlips tightened. "But his gift of voice, we've just scratched the surface. There is so much more he could do for you."

Ipulled her hair tighter, and she didn't continue. Pallas had grown attached to Jun in the last few months. At first, I had allowed it in the hopes it would bring the boy more swiftly under my compliance. ButI still needed to collar him, and Pallas had been defying me more often, more than she had in centuries. She would need to be reminded of her place.

"If the boy's magic is strong enough to be of use, he will survive. Now, go prepare yourself for our esteemed guests." She bowed her head and nodded, not meeting my gaze. Just as she reached the door, I called out to her again. "Oh, Pallas, my love. LordPlagis won't be able to attend tonight's festivities. He has requested that you come and entertain him beforehand. Would you make sure he is well taken care of?"

Shehid it well, but a shudder ran through her body. Good.

"Of course, your Eminence." She bowed her head again and left.

Iwalked to my window, and in the distance, I could make out the dark shape of Abraxas and his soldiers approaching Koron.

"What fun are we going to have tonight, old friend?"