The Dragon's Bride

I have the power to walk right! The power to talk right! And the power to live right!

At fifteen after ten on a raw January night, Catori sat on a deep purple comforter just outside her house watching the clear night skies. All the stars were out as usual, and she got an unobstructed view of the Milky Way.

As Catori sat to watch for the meteor show, that was supposed to be happening for the next two hours, but the only thing brighter than the stars thus far was the moon. The light of the full moon beat down on Desolation, creating a vivid canvas on the snow and rocks.

Her mind drifted to her friend, wondering if she was having fun with everyone else as they watched the night sky as well.

Maybe if Catori wasn’t so socially awkward, she would have gone, but a group of over three people just wasn’t her thing. She was always over-analyzing the situation, overthinking what to say, and what people would say about her.

She decided to stay home by herself.

The fear of rejection was crippling.

All too sudden, darting green, red, and yellow sparks lit up the dark skies in the distance, just beyond the forbidden snowy mountains, with the occasional booming sounds like thunder.

With a bit of excitement, Catori watched the show. Unbeknown to her what was really happening.

The snow soon fell heavily, coating her emerald color nightgown, giving it a distinctive glow like the Southern Lights she was used to.

“Catori, get inside now!!” her mother yelled.

Catori turned her head ever so slightly, causing her mid-back silver-blonde hair to fall into her mismatched blue and golden eyes.

She pursed her full downturn pink lips as she ignored her mother’s words.

Catori glanced up as the lights got closer, thinking that it was just a passing storm, which would explain the thundering sounds and flashes of light.

Two shadows soon blocked out the moon, moving in a frenzy, circling each other as more and more sparks flew.

Catori could feel the electric charge on her skin, causing her hair to stand on end, and in an instant she felt dazed.

Her head span as she fought to keep her eyes open, blinking back black spot, all the while wondering what could have brought on the feeling.

Two Dragons appeared out of nowhere, fighting each other in midair.

Teeth and claws slashing and biting, while shooting green lightning and red fireballs.

Catori lay on the freezing ground, shivering, staring at the sky. She watched while the two beasts clashed.

Seeming to move impossibly fast, unaware of her down below, watching them.

They disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, forgetting that they weren’t to be seen out in the open with the potential of exposing themselves to humans.

Catori must have fainted, for when she woke from her deep slumber, she was in her bed, and the morning sun was already up.

She rushed to her window, thinking that by some chance she could get a glimpse of those beasts again.

She soon gave up her futile search and went out into the den.

“Was I the only one who saw those Dragons last night?” Catori inquired.

“Dragons? What on earth are you talking about?” Her mother frowned.

Catori explained what she saw the previous night.

Her father simply looked up. Sure enough, he had something to say, but held it in.

“I will not tolerate you and this tomfoolery. I have told you many a time to not listen to those falsified, tall tales. They will rot your brain.” Her mother ranted on.

“You are a big girl now, no longer a child. Your primary focus should be on marrying one of the chief’s sons.” Her mother added.

Catori groaned out at that, “not this again, mother.”

Ever since she became nineteen years old, that was all her mother talked about.

“You should set an example for your two siblings, instead of running wild and acting like a tomboy. You should also dress up more, use make-up, and comb your hair every day.” Her mother continued.

Catori made a face, causing her ever sweet heart-shaped face to contour into something meaner. Her golden eye burnt brighter, and a frown married between her naturally high arched brows.

“Why don’t you marry one of the Chief’s sons yourself, hell why didn’t you marry the Chief himself since you are so caught up in him and his family? I’m so damn annoyed by this bullshit every day. It’s my own damn life, so I’ll do as I please, and it’s not to marry any of those man whores.”

The room fell silent at that. Her mother opened her mouth, then closed it again.

“Lucian Murdoch! Reprimand your daughter.”

Lucian glanced over at his wife, then went back to eating his rice porridge.

Catori’s twin siblings only gave each other knowing looks but remained silent.

Catori and her mother have an intense stare-down, blue, and golden eyes gazing into warm chocolate brown eyes.

The corners of her mother’s thin lips turned down in disapproval. Her already long face seemed to lengthen. As the nostril of her broad nose flared, while her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, causing more crow’s feet to form at the corners.

Neither said anything, just continued their staring match.

Catori’s mother was the one to break first. “Just make sure you don’t live to regret your decision. Your father and I won’t be around for much longer.”

Catori shook her head. “The only thing I’ll regret is a forced marriage to some egoistic bastard who can’t even keep his dick in his pants.’’

Lucian got up at that. “Ok, that’s enough.” He stood between the two, his massive frame towered over them easily.

Standing at 7′2, Lucian looked between his wife and daughter. Even though he didn’t say a word, he didn’t have to.

His amber eyes seemed ablaze. As he bit his thick lips to not say the wrong words, his strong jawline twitched before he opened his mouth.

“Listen, Catori, you can’t say things like that, especially in front of the little ones, and have some more respect for your mother. And Farrah, can you stop with this whole Chief’s son already? I don’t want my daughter to be mingling with those kinds of people.”

Farrah rumbled on, while Lucian rubbed his clean-shaven chin, pretending to consider the words she was saying.

Lucian wrinkled his straight nose when Farrah mentions Catori having kids.

″This conversation is over.” Lucian told them, then strode out of the house to work.

“Well, I must take my leave as well,” Catori announced.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

“Certainly not to the Chief’s house.” she slammed the door behind her.