Cursed Inheritance

There weren’t always dragons in the valley.

Before they’d arrived and taken over it had belonged to the humans, split up amongst the kingdoms and shared fairly. A prosperous land, it provided most of the farmlands and trees, and no matter the weather or situation it always produced beautiful fruits and vegetables. There was never famine. Never starving children or families who had to sleep at night with empty bellies and sorrow filled hearts.

Life had been peaceful. And the humans had lived in harmony.

That all ended the day the dragons had come, like a nightmare one never woke from again.

At first, no one in the kingdoms knew that a curse had descended upon them when the beasts had appeared as if by magic on the other side of the valley, fooled by their fake smiles and bright golden eyes with a beauty that surpassed any human ever born.

To the humans they were angels, who had been separated by a metal gate that sprang into existence and let them enter the mortal realm. Beings so magnificent they could only be gifts from God. But the dragons were nothing but ill-fated illusions, tricksters who easily morphed from monster to human with a grace-like air.

And by the time everyone had seen the truth it had been too late to see the end.

The kingdom of Valdona had suffered the worst of their powers. The once beautiful castle with ivy vines sloping over smooth slate stone walls now crumbled and burned.

Black ash and echoes of screams filtered the smoke filled air, and the dragons attacked from the sky and on the ground, leaving no one alive.

Underneath the castle a maze of water tunnels looped, and in the murky water the dragon prince Sinbad lurked, his red eyes narrowed and piercing as he searched for his next victim. Smoke billowed from his human nostrils, his body half shifted between human and dragon, onyx scales covering his skin.

His gaze landed on a small rocky walkway where a small pale hand rested in the water. Swimming over to it, he found a young girl no older than his seventeen years lying on her stomach, her head lolled to the side and dark brown hair sopping wet with the canal’s water and blood.

Foolish girl, chided Sinbad. He lifted himself out of the water and shifted, wincing as the scales pressed painfully back underneath the human skin. He distracted himself from the uncomfortable feeling by carefully turning the girl over onto her back, inspecting the damage done by one of his own.

Pushing damp strands of hair away from her face he found a deep jagged claw mark running from her left temple to her jaw, leading down a trail of singed skin and gashes that ran down the length of her body, her emerald green dress no better than a scrap of fabric covering her.

Sinbad pressed his fingers on her neck, inciting a moan of pain from the girl. Sin released a satisfied breath, smoke billowing from his mouth.

Looks like I made it after all,” he murmured. He leaned forward and his mouth pressed over hers. Taking in a deep breath he pushed white flames down her throat, tampering the screams that emanated as the burns and gashes healed, covered by a line of silver gold.

Heavy footsteps sounded against the wet stone before slamming to a halt.

“Your magnificent?”

Sinbad rescinded his flames and placed the trembling girl into his arms. She was still unconscious, but her teeth chattered, and he had a feeling she would come to any moment. “Bring me clothes and a cover for her,” he commanded, ignoring the question of his commander Saul and the looks the soldiers gave him.

The flames still coated his throat and made his voice slick with gravel, a hazard of morphing into the form he despised most. Although, Sinbad appreciated the beastly side of him as it was what had surely saved the girl from death-

And Sinbad had too many plans for her to let her die so easily. The princess of Valdona- the last surviving member- would pay for the crimes of her family. He would be certain of it.

A smile graced his lips, sharpening his chin. Saul barked the order for one of the lesser men to run back up the several flights of steps to secure what their prince had commanded, and the others went to search for other survivors—making sure none escaped.

When the others had left to complete their roles Saul returned to Sinbad, eyeing him and the girl with uncertainty. “What shall we do with her?”

“Do not worry yourself about the girl,” replied Sinbad curtly. “She is mine to deal with as I see fit.”

Saul raised his hazy gold eyes in question but didn’t argue. “As you command my prince.”

“Good. Now finish what you came here to do.”

At that moment a man’s quivering voice pleaded for mercy-his sob falling still after one of the soldiers swiped a claw and ripped out his throat.

Saul smirked. “Sounds like the mission has been accomplished.” He glanced back at the girl. “Well... almost.”

Smoke billowed from Sinbad’s nostrils and Saul collected himself, bowing low. “Forgive me. I am merely astonished you would show mercy to an enemy. It isn’t my place to judge.”

Sinbad smiled at his longtime friend. “You know me better than any, Saul...when have I ever been merciful?”

“Poor girl,” Saul muttered, rising slowly and meeting Sinbad’s dark red glare with a look of reassurance. “I’m sure you mean to make her suffer terribly.”

Sinbad didn’t get a chance to respond as the guard who scurried off returned, carrying bundles of both clothing and cloth. “I hope these are to your liking, my lord.” The soldier stuck out both bundles and trembled, lowering his eyes when Sinbad directed his gaze towards him.

Sinbad ignored him, and focused on the girl who was shivering violently. “You may go now.”

The soldier bowed again and scurried off. Sinbad worked at taking care of her first as Saul watched on, the clear disapproval of Sinbad’s choice easily displayed on his face.

“Are you sure you want her to live?”

Sinbad chuckled, feeling the ache in his throat from the flames.

“Living is not the word I would use for her fate, dear friend.”

The girl whimpered, and Sinbad stopped from removing her dress. She fell back into the unconscious void, limp in his arms. Sinbad tilted his head, watching her mouth part as she breathed shallowly, her body trembling from the wet clothes and attack she must have endured.

He ran a finger down her cheek and gave Saul a devious look.

“Our dear princess will suffer, do not worry. I will be sure of it.”