The Dragon's mate-2

She would pull through again

Aneglur Realm

Magister medicine was very competent and none could rival his knowledge of poisons. At one point in time, his crown as the undisputed king of poisons might have been in danger, but Anodyne's wife foolishly sacrificed her life when her husband gave up his. She was an attractive woman and could have been of use to the Aneglur Realm. Had she not been a sentimental fool, one who chose her lover over power, she could have conquered the world. Magister medicine indeed would have then played second fiddle. She and I had been a few years apart at school. Though an ordinary magical folk, she managed to capture attention wherever she went.

Flashback

School for Supernatural

"Look............came a voice followed by the sounds of footsteps, rushing down the corridor. A beautiful girl with hair a curious mix of gold and silver emerged, followed by another girl."

"This is a hideous creature..........its skin is said to be poisonous."

"No Avery......it is not. Moreover, even if it is, there are measures. See these leaves here...once you place them in your palm they wither immediately and become powder. As long as you rub it over yourself, no poison in the world can harm you."

"Here try..............."

"But Aliena, this is an ugly monster."

"You are ugly. Look at the eyes. They are so cute."

I was watching this exchange from behind a pillar. This was indeed a first. It was a 'Feroxos sepentum' that the girl held. Known to be ugly and fierce, the snake was poisonous. Even proximity to this snake could cause a supernatural person to die. However, the girl had tamed it. I recall reading 'Feroxos sepentum' as dangerous and would submit to the master of poisons in the Supernatural dimension. I chose to put my plan in action and befriend the girl. I was prepared to walk out and greet her. She could help me strengthen the Aneglur Realm, but the Anodyne arrived at that moment.

"Aliena stop fooling around......"

"But Azarius I want to........"

"Let it remain in the wild. You cannot domesticate Feroxos sepentum."

"It is not dangerous. "

"For you it isn't. For others who do not have any expertise in poisons...........trust me your beloved serpent could be their worst nightmare."

I saw the Anodyne I hated walk away with that girl. Avery, the girl's best friend, left as well. After that, I never had the chance to meet the girl. My search was futile and a few months later I passed out.

I saw her, once more, on the fateful night when I had gone to take away the child who, if taken away and brought up in the Aneglur Realm, could make me the most powerful. To my surprise, the child was a girl born to my enemy Anodyne and that girl who had once captured my interest. I made my offer. She need not have died. However, she refused. 'One day you will receive retribution' were her last words before she stopped breathing.

End

Sometimes I failed to understand why some men and women prized faithfulness in a relationship and were so attached to the child they had borne. The dragon queen was quite different. In my opinion, she favored her son as he was capable. Had he been inept or illegitimate she would have discarded him like she discarded her first born.

The dragon queen...............I knew her biggest secret.......and she thought that she had hidden her tracks well. However, I wondered where that abandoned child.......Ming's child was. It did not matter, but still........I liked how I could play with all beings. I had played well with Ming. His mate, the queen, was unaware that I and not the Solar Deity held Ming's fate in their hands.

Flashback

175years ago, The Inn

"Smoke followers failed once again. That Anodyne is very crafty."

"You may leave Magister medicinae. Continue refining your abilities. I do not blame you. Azarius is a very powerful supernatural. Had he been ordinary, he would not have held my interest."

Magister medicine had left and my target, Ming, followed the part-Aneglur nymph out of 'the bar'.

"Great King," she bowed before me, her outfit revealing all that even an ordinary supernatural might find it hard to resist.

"He has been hypnotized by me."

The nymph kneeled before me as I smiled at her and, with a wave of my hand, the two were transported to the Supernatural Dimension.

Under the nymph's spell, Ming accepted me as his sovereign.

"From now till the end I shall remain loyal to my holy king. I submit half my powers and lend my dragon blood to make my king stronger. May I perish if I ever fail."

End

Ming, having failed in his task of locating the girl child, watched helplessly as the nymph periodically withdrew his blood to feed the Smoke followers. Often, in a state of delirium due to the nymph, he would laugh and cry. When the dragon queen visited him, he was rude to her. The queen witnessed how disturbed he was and had blamed the Solar Deity ever since. I kept Ming alive as he was useful. Someday I might grant a reprieve but, for now, he must suffer. His suffering would only increase anger and hatred in the heart of dragon queen Keresa, who was a very useful pawn.

Flashback

Aneglur Realm

"Mother."

"Keresa....."

"Ming is...."

"Now.......Keresa....you can't cry. Anyone who goes against The Honorable Deity is bound to meet a terrible end."

"Honorable...you call her honorable....when what she did to my Ming shows how despicable she is. I hate that woman."

"Keresa, you can't let emotions ruin you. To avenge your lover, you must help the Great King."

"I will, mother."

"Go now. And, wipe your tears. No one should ever know that the dragon queen cried."

#####

"My daughter left, Great King."

"You did well, aunt."

End

The dragon queen had always hated The Solar Deity. The embers could continue to glow for a while longer. At the right moment, I would fan them and the consequent fire would destroy the Solar Realm. She was a useful pawn and could serve as the queen as long as she served me. The Solar Realm...........it was very powerful but without an heiress now. The smoke followers were working hard and I waited for good news...the news that they had successfully infiltrated the ranks of the Solar Realm.

The Honorable Deity, Solar Realm

Emily's progress was slow but steady. I could trust Lara, who had once been the leader of 'The Elite'. She and my daughter were different beings. She was strong and my daughter, carefree and loving to play the ordinary, could deceive so many with her simple attire. I never understood why she did so. There were moments when we parleyed inconclusively. However, gradually I realized that the new generation's ideas, though different from ours, need not be dismissed. The boy I disapproved of became my son-in-law later and I realized that I had been prejudiced against him. I admired how he catered to Aliena's silly demands and how he pampered her. For her sake, the two lived a simple life and were at the Inn of the Supernatural dimension the night they perished. Not many knew that this Inn was a joint property of theirs. It was time to transfer the property deeds to Emily. There were portions that could only be accessed by her as she shared their blood and maybe there she might find a way to break off the seals that prevented her from unleashing her full potential.

#####

These days of peace were gradually coming to a close. Ever since Emily returned, I could not help but recall the Ancient Fairy's words........ "But for the heiress of the Solar Relam, either she will die defending an cause, ideal and just or she will be blessed with immortality........rise and usher a new dawn in this dimension breaking fetters that have bound the supernaturals for a long time. I sat on my bed and saw how smoke and mist once more twirled in the crystal next to my bed. Sixteen years ago, when this happened, I lost my daughter within a few months. This time I could not lose my grandchild. Time was less and the Aneglur King was slowly regaining his powers. If I left Emily to her own devices, she might take at least five years to be at par with Silver. This could not do. I was willing to be the villain but, my ruthlessness today was the only way that she might have a shot at life when the time came to battle the Aneglur King. My actions would put her life at stake. But I chose to trust my instinct.

"Phoenix," I called the bird who had guarded Emily since she was a kid.

"You know what to do."

The phoenix shed a tear.

"I know that you are fond of her. But, for her sake, we have to be tough."

Phoenix blinked and I knew that my instructions would be carried through. On her journey to acquire Enses Phoenice, Emily had a difficult test awaiting her. She had survived once. I was sure that she would pull through again.