Dalia the Dragon

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. That is; until Dalia became one.

It was a beautiful day. Dalia sat there enjoying the warmth of the sun. She smiled and waved at the neighbors as she always does on her afternoon walks. She rounded the corner to stop at her local and favorite coffee shop. She stopped cold in her tracks as she witnessed the shop being robbed. That is when the glass shattered, and two bullets struck her. One in the head and the other in the heart. She fell backwards. There is a flash of light, and the Sorceress appears.

The Sorceress chants a quick spell and extends her arms. The only words that were clear were “you are not meant to die”. Dalia blinks twice and stands up. She looks around at the onlookers who is standing there in disbelief. Most of what she was hearing was … “how is she is alive?” Dalia stood there looking at her blood-soaked clothing. She turned her head to look in the window of the dress store next door. She touches the window to ensure she is not dreaming. More so to be sure she is not dead.

The further along the sidewalk she walked, people made a clear path for her. Faithful and religious people saying prayers. Others doing a sign of the cross. Others nearly ready to worship her. She walked slowly back home. So many thoughts are running through her head. She attempted to process the fact that not only could she hear the whispers, but she also heard the silent thoughts as well. She remembers the hot bullets piercing her body. But she knows that she had to have died instantly. She arrives home and sits on the front steps. The neighbors scurry into their homes.

She stares at her hands once more and decides that it best to go inside. Mark, her husband, rushes to her. He grabs her and holds her at arm’s length. He stares at her as if this was not a real-life event. He is speaking and Dalia can see his lips moving, but she cannot hear him. Even though her clothes are full of blood, he pulls her in close and holds her tight. She slowly raises her arms to embrace him as well. That is when the light flashes start. It is so blinding that Dalia falls to the floor. She is screaming and writhing in pain. The children come barreling down the steps. Mark intercepts them and pushes them away.

Dalia musters the strength to pull herself up and run to the bathroom. She turned the shower on full blast with cold water only. She steps into the shower fully clothed. The blood begins to run down the drain as if it were water itself. Dalia shakes uncontrollably. She sheds her clothing to clean herself up. She leaves the wet clothing on the floor of the tub. She takes her hair out of the high ponytail and holds her head under the water. More blood follows. Finally, she is clean and steps out of the show she looks in the mirror. The Sorceress appears. Dalia gasps.

The Sorceress manifests herself to stand before Dalia’s naked body. She speaks. “You are quite the specimen. It is time to walk in your purpose”. She grabs Dalia’s hand and leads her through the mirror into an enchanted world where Dalia learns she will never be the same. Several demigods stood before Dalia. The room is spinning. Dalia is overwhelmed by the beautifully terrifying people in front of her. “Are they even people? Or are they spirits? What are they?” She is about to find out.