The Mark of Torin

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley.

That was what my mother had told me as I lay in her bed, a mere 7 years old. Our village was a tiny one, located right beneath the Valley, where the creatures decided to foster their home. As the story goes, a fallen star descended from the sky into the grassy hillside, giving life to the first of the dragons, Torin.

Soon after her came tens, hundreds of her gorgeous kin that filled our skies. Our lands and resources were barren before their arrival, but because of them, their magic, as the people proclaim— the rivers flowed with surges of water, our harvests bountiful, even to watch those tiny pairs of faraway wings pass by was a good omen.

The villagers called them a miracle bestowed upon us by the Gods. But what miracle would steal away the life of an innocent girl? What kind of Gods would consider death a wish? Wisteria and I were only 12 when she insisted we explore the Valley, a feat any in the village were terrified of. We happened upon the most majestic of the dragons. Obsidian scales that gleamed in the moonlight and beautiful indigo wings whose beauty was tucked at its sides as it slept.

As the dragon revealed its stormy grey eyes, clearly angry to be awoken, Wisteria’s fate was sealed. Only one of us returned that night. The village was outraged, some raided the Valley, though it was an effort in vain and resulted in more bloodshed. The rest, broken hearted by the death of my dear friend, or fearful of the wrathful Gods, did not dare come near them ever again.

That night, I vowed to myself to avenge Wisteria. I would train, every day, so that when the time came to face her murderer, I’d do it with ease.

5 years of the same anger burned in my heart. My mother and father brought my brother Fallon into the world sometime after that. Ironically, he was completely entranced by dragons since he was able to speak.

“Aya, why are you slashing up the barn?”

Perspiration slid down my neck as I cut into the wooden bolster.

“I’m training.” I huffed, pulling the blade out and reassuming my form.

“To kill the dragons?” He asked.

Ready. Lunge. Attack. I shot my sword straight into the wood, imagining the beast before me.

“Yes, Fallon.” I used the back of my hand to wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead.

“But they’re nice creatures! They haven’t done anything to us.” Fallon protested.

We never told Fallon about that night. Heeded him with caution, yes. But not a word about Wisteria’s lifeless, twisted body, laying on the rocks beneath the Valley.

I slammed the hilt of the sword harder against my target. “They’re animals, don’t you forget that. You saw that wild boar that chased Mrs. Pepperington into the town square, remember?”

He sighed. “Yes, but boars are wild! Dragons are not. They are miracles.”

I froze before making another strike.

“Take me to the Valley, Aya. Please!” He jutted out his bottom lip and looked at me innocently. “Mother doesn’t have to ever find out.”

I tried to push down the nerves eating away at me.

“Fallon, I will not. The Valley is dangerous, even mother told you that.” Thinking he got the hint, I continued sparring with my wooden opponent.

“Please, sister, take me! It’s almost sundown too, we can see them under the stars like the legend.”

“No, Fallon!” My voice came out way harsher than I anticipated. I immediately regretted it as I saw the tears well up in his eyes.

“I’m sorry I didn’t—”

He dashed out the barn before I could even get the words out of my mouth.

“Fallon!” I went after him, all the way until the village pathway was nothing but dirt and grass. I was under the Valley again, I realized as dread filled me.

“Fallon, stop!” I cried in fear. My brother was climbing up, ignoring my words.

I wanted to run to him and tear him away from the rocks, but I couldn’t. I was physically glued to the ground. No. No. No. I need to get him back. Please move. Move!

“Don’t go up there, please, Fallon, come back!” My voice came out as a strangled sob.

Noticing my change in tone, Fallon, who had reached the top, guiltily peered at me and began his descent. I was so overcome with relief as he climbed down, that I didn’t notice the large black claws reaching down and grabbing my brother.

“Aya?” Fallon let out a shriek. “Aya!” He began to cry. It was as if I was looking from someone else’s eyes. A large black dragon emerged, clutching my brother in its claws, slowly standing to its full height. As its grey eyes met mine, all my years of anger turned into fear.

“Help me!” He screamed, thrashing at the creature’s hand. Snapping me out of my trance, I didn’t allow myself a sliver of doubt and charged at the dragon with my full speed. Before I could even make contact with it, the dragon’s arm threw me into the muddy earth with great force. My sword went clattering in front of me.

Fallon’s cries for help rang in my ears. I got up immediately as the dragon began preparing for flight. I climbed up the rocks, my fingers being driven so hard into them that I was left with cuts.

“Save me!” He wailed, looking at me desperately. I’m going to save you, Fallon.

I calculated my next move — the dragon’s wings spread. If I could nail it down to the ground, I could buy enough time to get Fallon. Without hesitation, I launched myself and drove my sword into the beast’s wing. It screeched a horrible screech, veering its head to see its injured wing.

I took the chance and immediately went for him. “Fallon!” I ran for my brother’s outstretched hand, only for him to be snatched away. My sword came undone and was tossed carelessly aside. No, oh Gods, no.

The dragon was livid. Its feral eyes met mine, and its tail swung me down by the rocks below once more. Agony rippled through me as I felt the jagged surface scratch down my side. I couldn’t process my gratefulness that I hadn’t fallen to my death, as the animal roared above, lifting off the ground.

Fallon bawled as he and the dragon became sky bound.

“Fallon!” Tears found their way down my cheeks. Take me instead. Take me instead of him. I deserve it.

I uttered the words like a mantra, forcing myself up and beginning to run to the village. They could shoot it down. Yes. Then we could catch it and save Fallon.

I threw open our house door, screaming.

“What’s happened?” My mother and father ran to me within seconds.

“Fallon! He’s been taken by a dragon. I tried to save him, but—” My labored breaths and heaving trapped the words in my throat.

Immediately, my father gathered his torch and weapons, already rushing out into the night. I followed my mother as she gathered additional supplies, not able to stop my harsh breathing.

“You stay here.” She commanded, almost not leaving me any chance to deny her.

“No!” I cried as she ran out the door.

Mother grabbed my shoulder. “Do not follow us, Aya.”

“It’s my fault. I should be there to help. If it weren’t for me making him angry—” I wiped harshly at my cheeks, cursing the droplets that continuously formed in my eyes.

“We will bring your brother home.” She stated firmly, her face softening after a moment. “I need you to stay here and watch over our home. If Fallon escapes, you need to be here to protect him.”

Then, she left, the dark encasing me and the house whole as the door shut closed. Peering out the old front windows revealed nothing but the cold, never ending black abyss my parents ran into. Not one star in the sky illuminated the roads or neighboring houses.

I thought of Fallon. I thought of Fallon so much that I wanted to vomit. His screams still pierced my ears in the silence, his terrified face as he thrashed around the dragon’s arm. Worst of all, I had known it was all due to me. All those years spent training, the cultivated hatred, all for nothing than to be knocked down by one hit.

We should have warned him better. All those tales mother spoke to him as a child were nothing more than encouragement in Fallon’s ears. Stories of kind, miraculous creatures that were worshipped for years on end.

“They were said to share the same soul.” My mother peered down at me.

“Who?” I let out a yawn, the only thing keeping me awake was the curiosity gnawing at my mind. I was still a child, being curious was the best part of a child’s nature.

“Were you dozing off this whole time, Aya? Seems you like to fall asleep to my stories rather than listen to them.” She quirked an eyebrow at me, chuckling.

“Dragons enjoy living in groups or even alone. But every so often, every couple millennium, a dragon and a human are split from the same soul.” I gaped at her words.

“Then they are split from the same star, mother?”

“No, that was just Torin. Souls are split from the dusts of the heavens, Aya. Then they become us, born into the world, as you were.” She tickled at my chin, making me squeal.

“What if I was split from the same dusts as one of them? Would that make me half dragon?”

“I don’t quite see a tail or snout on you, now.” Mother grinned. “These are just legends, Aya. Pay no more mind to them than tales of adventure and wonder.”

“I wish I had a tail.” I pouted. “I want to be split with a dragon.”

She gave a small smile, “Well let’s see if you have the mark then.”

“What mark?”

“The mark of Torin. The two split souls each receive the same marking when they are brought into the world.” Mother’s eyes were full of devious excitement.

“Look then! Look!” I hastily sat up, pulling my tunic over my head.

“Let’s see here…” She pulled my black hair forward, tracing the skin on my back. “All I see here on your nape is a birthmark. Same as I have.”

I slumped in defeat. “No fair. It’s just some boring old birthmark.”

“You can always pretend, Aya. Take pride in yourself.”

I hadn’t realized how distracted I was until small lights appeared in the distance. I pressed myself closer to the window, my heart beating wildly. Was it Fallon? Had they found him?

As the lights approached and I received a better view of the outside, a flash of darkness flew past. My eyebrows drew closer to each other while I attempted to gather a visual of what was going on. I rubbed my eyes, holding onto one of the curtains to steady myself.

When I peeled my eyes open slowly, a pair of red ones were staring back at me through the glass. A horned demon, with wings so large, was sitting, watching me, almost tauntingly.

“A dragon.” I breathed out.

I ran to my room, searching for a sword I kept under the bed. I threw clothes, books, and furniture until I found the cool metal hilt. Then, swiftly but cautiously, I made my way to the door. It was now gone from the window. However, I could hear its huffing behind the wooden barrier that separated me from the outside.

When its wings stopped fluttering, and the air went deathly still, I kicked open the door and jabbed at the creature with a shrill scream. A figure ripped the sword from my hands, pushing me back into the house. I clawed at the hand covering my mouth, but I halted once noticing my own blade against my throat.

Villagers’ shouts filled my ears. I turned my head best I could to the window, watching my salvation slowly go by with torches. My focus returned to the intruder, whose red eyes were burning through my soul.

“Make a sound and I will kill you.” The figure’s voice hissed. I felt a tingling on the back of my neck, my stomach dropping with the realization of who¬—what stood before me.

I slowly loosened the grip on his hand, nodding my head to let him know I would follow directions. Releasing a sigh, the figure removed the sword, but still pointed it at me.

The light from the outside reflected on the blade, and shone part of his face. His ruby red eyes were even more eerie, complimented by wavy raven hair.

“You’re the dragon.” My voice came out as a whisper. “How?”

“I don’t need to answer to you, human.” He snarled, eyes full of disgust. I then took his momentary lapse of judgement: elbowing him in the side, and as he groaned in pain, stealing back my weapon.

Making sure there were no more mistakes this time, I turned it against his throat. His eyes flickered down to the blade idly, not seeming threatened in the slightest.

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t kill you right here.” I seethed, grabbing at his collar and digging the sword further against his skin.

“Seems you are in need of my help more than I yours.” He smirked.

“I don’t need you, dragon.” I balled my fist up in his shirt. “I’d be doing all of us justice by slaying you here.”

“What about your brother?” I frowned. “Or was that just some boy I heard the villagers quarrelling about? Poor, innocent human. All alone, in the hands of Zaheera herself.”

“You know where my brother is? Fallon?” I growled. He only smirked wider.

“You will take me to him.” I pressed the blade until blood drew at his throat. “Where is he?”

“Why should I help you? I didn’t hear any…incentives that would benefit me.” He purred.

I rolled my eyes. “What do you want?”

“Ah, negotiation, the best form of bribery.” His expression was coy. “Help me return home.”

“The Valley? You can walk there yourself.” I scoffed.

“Don’t be dim, dear human. Our home was destroyed today due to that mindless Zaheera.” He spat. “Take me up the mountain beyond the Valley. That is where my brothers and sisters are seeking refuge.”

“You’re sure Fallon will be there?” I could not tell if he was toying with me or not.

“I do not make promises.” His eyes slit as he removed the blade from his neck. I glared at him. “But I can tell you that your brother will be sacrificed in three days’ time if we fail to reach the summit before Zaheera.”

Only one thing was rubbing me wrong.

“Step into the light.” I cocked my head to the side.

“Why?” His voice was scarily calm.

I pushed further. “Do it.”

His figure shifted in the darkness, until he slowly stepped into the light cast by the now risen moon.

I stayed quiet as my eyes roamed his body. He was fairly tan, tall with long legs, and a muscular build. As my vision carried on upward, I took note of the odd markings trailing up his arms, all the way to his neck where a symbol rested.

His eyes followed mine, gleaming when he saw where my line of sight landed.

Before I could ask, he spoke. “I suppose I should know your name before we head out.”

“Aya.” My name felt foreign on my tongue. “What do they call you?”

“Cassius.”

That was the last time I heard his name.