Chapter 3

3

ARIA

M y jaw dropped as we stepped into the Dragon Keep. The entrance hall was... well, calling it massive would be like calling the ocean "a bit damp." Soaring ceilings disappeared into shadows far above, supported by columns that looked like they'd been grown rather than built, twisting and branching like petrified trees. The walls shimmered with an iridescent glow, as if they'd been carved from the inside of a giant opal.

"Close your mouth, dear. You'll catch flies," a smooth voice said beside me.

I snapped my mouth shut, heat rising to my cheeks as I turned to face the speaker. It was a woman, tall and ethereal, with hair the color of lavender and eyes that seemed to shift between silver and blue. She wasn't Eirian – thank God for small mercies – but she had the same air of otherworldly beauty and superiority.

"I am Elowen," she said, her voice carrying easily over the murmurs of awe from my fellow... what had Eirian called us? Tainted ones? Great. Love that for us. "I'll be taking over your orientation from here. Eirian is needed to oversee the next wave of arrivals."

"Thank you, Elowen," Eirian said with a nod before glancing over our group with barely masked disdain. "Good luck with them."

I withheld comment at his distaste for us. Why did such a good-looking man have to be such an asshole? Maybe it was some weird dragon complex.

I inwardly smirked at the bizarre thought before focusing on what was going on.

I glanced around at my companions, curiosity piquing as I wondered where they'd all been plucked from. A busy street like me? Their homes? Work?

At least my interaction with the uppity Eirian had helped quell my nerves to some extent. I'd been grateful for the others around me, knowing they were just as stunned as I was. Answers were what we'd all want, but Eirian had been so unhelpfully vague.

I could only hope Elowen would be more informative.

Elowen paced in front of us, her movements graceful and deliberate. "You've been brought here because you carry within you the blood of the old Dracarian lines."

Great, so she was just spewing the same lines as Eirian. Delightful.

"You see," Elowen continued, "all of your kinds - vampires, werewolves, shifters, fae," she paused, her gaze landing directly on me, "and even some humans - they all originated from us. From the first beings, the dragons."

My brain short-circuited. Vampires? Werewolves? Fae? And the way Elowen had looked at me when she said 'humans'... Was I the only one here? I must have misheard. Or maybe this was all some elaborate hallucination. Yeah, that had to be it.

I glanced around at the group around me, at how they shifted uneasily and looked just as shocked and uneasy as I felt.

"Over time, as some Dracarians remained on Earth, they evolved, developing new traits and abilities, and completely losing others, if not all," Elowen explained as her gaze glossed over me once more. Ouch. "But the core of who you are, the source of your power, that comes from us."

I raised my hand, feeling ridiculous but needing answers. "Um, excuse me? Did you say vampires and werewolves? Like, for real? And am I... am I the only human here?" I'd hated public speaking as a child, to the point it nearly brought on panic attacks. But since studying psychology and getting my job, not to mention the years of therapy after my mother had passed, I'd gotten better at being more bold.

Besides, no one else was asking anything.

Elowen dismissed my question with a wave of her hand. "All will be explained in due time. For now, let's continue with your orientation. Follow me."

Wonderful. Dismissed just like that, way to make me feel like a damn teenager again at school. I bit my cheek, keeping from voicing my frustration as the group hesitantly moved after her.

As we followed Elowen down another winding corridor, a broad-shouldered man with shaggy brown hair fell into step beside me.

"Hey," he said quietly. "It's nice to see someone willing to ask questions. The rest of are probably too stunned by their power," he admitted.

"Their power?" I murmured with a frown.

"Right, humans aren't good at sensing those things. Anyway, I'm Christopher. And, uh, I'm a werewolf."

I nearly tripped over my own feet. "I'm sorry, what? But werewolves are supposed to be myths."

He chuckled softly. "So are dragons, and yet here we are."

"Touché," I muttered, then added with a wry smile, "I'm Aria. Apparently the token human of the group."

So werewolves were real. I'll be damned. So everything else Elowen had mentioned was real too then? Fantastic.

Christopher nodded. "Yeah, I figured. Out of this batch, you're the only full human."

"How can you tell?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious. "Do I smell different or something?" All the books and movies I'd seen and read had spoken of their great sense of smell.

"Actually, yeah," he said, then quickly added as he noticed my concerned expression, "Don't worry, it's not bad. My sense of smell is just really keen. Best of all shifters, actually. You just smell human, and slightly sweet, I'm assuming that's your perfume."

"Right…" I mumbled. My perfume and a drenching of anxiety induced sweat from the flight here. I couldn't help but give myself a sniff, causing Christopher to chuckle. I didn't smell too bad, nothing a shower wouldn't solve.

So much for this all being a dream. This was far too real, and it was daunting. At least I had one somewhat human person to talk with. How did his shifting work? Wait, he'd said of all shifters?

"Shifters?" I began to ask, but Elowen's voice cut through our conversation.

"This is your communal area," she announced as we entered a massive, comfortably furnished room.

I took a moment to absorb my surroundings. The space was circular, with a high, domed ceiling that seemed to shimmer with a soft, ambient light. Plush sofas and armchairs were arranged in cozy clusters around the room, interspersed with bookshelves filled with volumes I couldn't quite make out from here. A large fireplace dominated one wall, its flames dancing in hues of blue and purple.

What caught my attention most, though, were the hallways. Five corridors branched off from the main room, each marked with a symbol above its entrance. I squinted, trying to make out what they represented.

The first bore a simple silhouette of a human figure. Next to it, a wolf symbol that, as I watched, magically morphed into what looked like a large cat - maybe a tiger? The sight made me blink hard, wondering if I was imagining things. The third entrance was adorned with a whimsical, curling leaf, while the fourth showed a bat with outstretched wings.

My mind immediately jumped to vampires. Could they really turn into bats? I made a mental note to ask Christopher later, curiosity battling with the surreality of even considering such a question.

The fifth corridor, I noticed, was marked with an apple tree. As I pondered its significance, Elowen's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Your individual quarters branch off from here. Each species has its own designated hall," she explained, gesturing to the corridors. "Humans, Shifters and Werewolves, Fae, and Vampires." She paused, her eyes landing on me. "You may choose your own rooms within your designated halls. Each room has its own adjoining bathroom for your convenience."

I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how alone I was in this group. At least Christopher had approached me.

"Now, let me show you to the main dining hall," Elowen said, already moving towards the apple tree corridor.

As we walked, Elowen continued, "Meal times will be posted in your rooms, along with clocks. Your phones and other devices from Earth won't work here. Consider your lives back home... on hold for now."

A murmur of concern rippled through the group as my stomach dropped. On hold? What the fuck?

Sure, I was still shell-shocked about this whole new world, but saying my life was on hold back home? What the hell did she mean by that?

"But what about our families? Our jobs?" Someone spoke up over the growing unease in our group.

"Yeah," another voice added, "I have kids back home. They'll be worried sick!"

Elowen's expression remained impassive. "All will be revealed in time. A Dracarian representative has made sure to leave information in a suitable format for your people so that they can make a global broadcast. It will reassure everyone that those we've brought here are safe and well. Everything will be explained... eventually."

Her dismissive tone did little to quell the growing unease in the group. I frowned, studying Elowen's face. Her lack of empathy was troubling. Didn't she have family or friends she cared about? Or was it that she simply didn't see us as equals worthy of consideration?

"What, like a folder or video? You think they'll believe that shit?"

"Honestly, people would have seen dragons all over, it'll be a mess back home!"

"We need to go home to our families!"

The voices rose up, and I clenched my jaw, knowing this was to be expected. People didn't just conform willingly to being uprooted from their lives, especially with such a poor explanation.

We had some ancient blood? Why did that matter now?

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me – fear, wonder, and an overwhelming sense of loss. My world had been flipped upside down in a matter of hours. Dragons were real. Werewolves, vampires, and who knows what else existed. Part of me wanted to pinch myself, certain I'd wake up from this bizarre dream. Another part of me was secretly excited at the possibilities, the mysteries waiting to be unraveled. This whole new world and what it contained.

God, I wished I could talk to Dana right now. I could almost hear her voice, a mix of excitement and concern, peppering me with questions I couldn't begin to answer. The realization that I might never see her again, never share this incredible secret with my best friend, hit me hard, and I swallowed my spiraling thoughts and unease.

Elowen's voice cut through the voices with a tone that silenced all. "After dinner in the dining hall, we will provide more answers to your questions," she said, her tone not one to question. "Until then, you are not to attempt to leave the Keep."

A ripple of alarm went through the group. I glanced around, really taking in my fellow "tainted ones" for the first time. We were a diverse bunch, varying in age from what looked like early twenties to middle-aged, all wearing expressions that mirrored my own confusion and unease.

"What do you mean, we can't leave?" someone asked, their voice tight with anxiety.

Elowen's eyes narrowed slightly. "I mean exactly what I said. Magic will keep you within the confines of the Keep. This is for your own safety, as well as ours."

The implications of her words made my heart lurch. We were prisoners here, albeit in a very luxurious cage. Christopher tensed beside me, and when I glanced at him, the grim set of his jaw told me he'd reached the same conclusion.

At least I wasn't the only one thrust into this crazy new mess. There was some comfort in not being alone right now.

"Now," Elowen continued, either oblivious to or unconcerned by our growing discomfort, "let me show you to the dining hall. Remember, you will have your answers after dinner. Please refrain from outbursts or questions until then."

The unsteady murmurs and mutters rose again around me, but Elowen turned and began making her way up the hall. Despite the craziness of it all, I followed along, much like everyone else.

She'd made it clear that we'd get our answers. I hoped.

As I followed her, my mind raced. What exactly was going on here? And more importantly, how was I going to get out of it? Was I ever going to be able to go home? Hell, did I even want to? I was both excited and utterly terrified of this new world I was now in. She'd said we had to consider our lives on hold. For how long? What did this old bloodline even mean? My mind swirled, but when Elowen pushed through the heavy doors of the dining hall, all my concerns melted away for a moment.

The dining hall was... well, magical was the only word for it. It reminded me of the Great Hall from Harry Potter , but cranked up to eleven. The tables and chairs were made of some sort of polished white material that seemed to glow from within. But it was the ceiling that truly took my breath away.

Above us, a massive scene played out in shimmering, ever-shifting colors. Dragons - dozens of them - locked in an epic battle with what looked like shadows. As I watched, a ruby-red dragon much like Eirian's shifted state dove through a cloud, emerging to breathe a stream of fire at a shadowy opponent. The entire tableau moved fluidly, like a living painting.

"Whoa," Christopher breathed beside me, his eyes wide with wonder.

I nodded, momentarily speechless. For all the craziness of this situation, I couldn't deny the sheer beauty of what I was seeing.

Elowen, seemingly unimpressed by our awe, continued her tour. "This is where you will dine together and get to know your fellow companions. Come along now. Let's return to your living quarters."

We followed her back to the communal area we'd seen earlier, the unease still evident in the soft murmurs of our group.

"Well, as I said earlier, you can all choose your rooms in your set halls. Check the times for your meals, and we will speak with you again in the dining hall. For now, get settled in. This will be your home for a while," Elowen said as she turned to speak with our group.

"You can't just keep us here," someone muttered.

"Yes, we can. But we are not captors or anything of the like. Please, think of this as a wonderful new experience. You will be filled in on everything soon. Take a moment to adjust and find yourself a room in your respective halls," she said carefully, a smile plastered on her face before she turned away.

More people argued, but she ignored them as she headed the way we came, the door closing behind her and blocking off the original hall we'd come down.

I watched as two guys tried to pry it open with no luck.

"What the fuck is this bullshit?" Someone snarled. "They can't keep us prisoner!"

"She said we'd get answers soon, perhaps we should just do what we've been told and be patient. They're freaking dragons," someone else added.

"It's insane. This whole damn thing."

"They're not wrong, but I can feel the magic here. We should just wait," Christopher murmured beside me.

As some began to disperse, heading down their respective hallways, I stood rooted to the spot, watching the two same guys battle with the doors with a few watchers, although even they were becoming defeated since it was refusing to budge.

"Can't you feel the magic?" Christopher spoke up. "The power from these dragon shifters?"

"Yeah, and what do you propose we do? Sit on our thumbs and wait? I've got a newborn at home!" One of the guys, a blond, blue-eyed man, snapped.

"We've all got people at home, but we're in this together. We should explore the area, and I guess go to the dining hall when it's time to get more answers," he said carefully.

"Exactly what I'd expect of a damn mutt like you, listening like a good little pup," the man's companion shot back.

Amazingly, Christopher just sighed.

"Guys, again, we're in this together. But be my guest, keep fighting their magic. We'll see how far you get," he said with a shrug as he turned to me.

"Everyone's tense," I stated, and he nodded.

"You can't blame them. We all just got snatched up by dragons," he said as he glanced around at the few others milling in the area uneasily. A few had even wandered down to the dining hall, probably looking for another way out. I had a feeling the magic on this place was not going to let us leave our designated area.

Magic. To think I was using that term so freely. This was insane. Christopher must have noticed my unease because he gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze as we moved closer to the halls. "Hey, you okay?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just... processing, I guess. It's a lot to take in."

He nodded sympathetically. "I can't imagine how overwhelming this must be for you. Listen, why don't we meet back in the communal area in about half an hour? I can fill you in on the whole 'supe' thing, answer any questions you might have."

"Supe?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like tweedledee and tweedledum over there?"

Christopher chuckled. "Short for supernatural. It's kind of an umbrella term for all of us - werewolves, vampires, fae, witches, shifters - living amongst humankind. And yes, blondie there is another werewolf, his companion is a tiger shifter, hence the hostility. Big cat shifters tend not to mingle well with other sub-types," he explained, and I nodded like I understood.

"Wait, witches?" I blinked, surprised. "They're real too? But I don't see a hall for them."

"Good catch," Christopher said, looking impressed. "My guess is they'll probably be grouped with the humans. Witches are the most human-like of all supes, after all."

"Oh," I said, feeling a mix of relief and unease. "So I might have some company in the human hall after all?"

"Maybe," he agreed. "But either way, I figured you might want to talk through all of this. Plus, I'm guessing you don't want to be alone right now."

I nodded gratefully, touched by his kindness. "Thanks, Chris. I'd really appreciate that. It's... it's really sweet of you to offer."

He smiled warmly. "No problem at all, Aria. We're all in this strange situation together. I'll see you in half an hour, okay? I'm going to go pick a room. Might as well see what the rooms are like," he said with a shrug.

"Okay," I replied, managing a small but genuine smile in return. "See you then."

As Chris headed off to choose his own room, I took a deep breath and stepped into the human hall. It stretched before me, empty and uninviting.

The thought of being the only one here still made my stomach knot, but knowing I had someone to talk to later made it a little less daunting.

Besides, I also wanted to see what my room was like in this magical new place.

I chose a door near the middle of the hall, stepping into the quaint room. Nothing too flash, a bed with an armchair off to the side and desk. It was oddly modern, with lighter colors. For a magical fantasy world, it wasn't too different. A quick peek in the adjoined bathroom showed that even it looked similar to home, a toilet, shower, and basin. There were some towels, along with a welcome basket of soaps, washes, and a toothbrush. Fascinating. I'd half-expected a world with dragons to be medieval.

A cool breeze caught my attention, and I focused on the set of glass doors leading to the balcony, one of them open.

Time to get a good look around.

The view took my breath away.

I was high up, much higher than I'd realized. The balcony overlooked a vast courtyard, different from the one where Eirian had deposited me earlier. This one was lush with strange, colorful plants and dotted with fountains that sparkled in the sunlight.

But it was what lay beyond the courtyard that truly stunned me.

Stretching out as far as I could see was what looked like... a kingdom. Buildings of various sizes and architectural styles I couldn't begin to describe sprawled out from the base of the Dragon Keep. Some were tall and spindly, others squat and domed. All of them seemed to glow with a faint, inner light.

Between and around the buildings, I saw trees. Massive trees, their canopies creating a patchwork of green and gold that must have hidden this entire settlement from above. No wonder I hadn't seen any of this when Eirian was carrying me here.

I gripped the balcony railing, my knuckles turning white. The sheer scale of this place... it wasn't just a castle or a fortress. It was an entire world.

A world I was now trapped in.

The balcony was far too high to even consider jumping. Not that I would – where would I go? I was a stranger in a strange land, with no idea how to navigate this alien landscape or its inhabitants.

I reached out with one hand, gasping and jumping back as a strange magical forcefield stopped me from reaching too far out. It was warm to the touch, and sent tingles of pink ripples through the air before they dispersed. So, jumping would be impossible anyway. I was sure maybe some of my shifter companions or vampires would test out these barriers. What else had Elowen said? Fae?

I shook my head at the insaneness of it all.

As overwhelming as it all was, I couldn't deny the tiny spark of excitement burning in my chest. There was a whole new world to discover, secrets to uncover, and mysteries to solve. And damn it, I was going to figure it all out.

Starting with grilling Chris for every bit of information he had about this hidden supernatural world. I headed back into my room and glanced at the clock on the wall, watching the minutes tick by until our meeting. One thing was for sure – life was never going to be the same again. Not with all this information.

I had over twenty minutes until I was supposed to meet Chris, and a million questions swirling in my head.

As I sat down on the bed, the reality of my situation hit me all at once. I was in another world, surrounded by creatures I'd thought were myths, with no idea how or when I'd get home.

Whatever was going on here, whatever I was part of now, I was determined to understand it.

I didn't really have a choice.