DrixNar Saga - Dragon Kings Mate Book 1

2. Fateful Encounter

Giana

The blaring alarm pierces the silence, jolting me awake. The metallic taste of fear lingers as the urgency in the air signals an imminent threat. It's been two weeks since the mysterious disappearance of my mother, a haunting mystery that my brothers and I have been secretly unraveling.

The room is engulfed in an eerie stillness, shattered by another loud noise that reverberates through the walls. The ground quakes beneath me, the vibrations reaching through my bones. I rush to the window, compelled by a gut feeling that something terrible has befallen our homeland. Through the glass, the sight of destruction unfolds, a visual assault that sears into my consciousness.

The acrid scent of burning debris mingles with the air, a testament to the devastation outside. My fingers press against the cool window pane as I witness the chaos, the world beyond my room unraveling into chaos. In the midst of this turmoil, a surge of worry grips me, and I recall Michael, who had come to meet my family just before this cataclysmic event unfolded.

A sharp pain jolts through my chest, a visceral reaction to the unfolding tragedy. Ignoring the instinct to stay put, I stagger down the stairs, the creaking of the wooden steps beneath my feet, adding a dissonant harmony to the chaos. The scent of iron fills the air, and my heart pounds in my ears as I find Nicoli, one of my brothers, sprawled on the hardwood floor.

"Nicoli!" I scream, the taste of panic flooding my senses as I rush to his side. The metallic tang of blood intensifies, and I can feel the warmth beneath my fingertips. The urgency of the moment overwhelms me, each sensory detail contributing to the unfolding nightmare that has gripped our once peaceful home.

In the dimly lit room, Nicoli's pained expression tugs at my heartstrings. The stench of blood hangs heavy in the air as I assess the severity of his injuries. Panic rises like a bitter aftertaste, but I suppress it, focusing on the urgency of the moment.

"Nyara," Nicoli gasps, his voice strained. "It's Celeste. She's behind all this."

Dread clenches my stomach as his words sink in. Celeste, my mother's once-trusted friend, is now revealed as the orchestrator of chaos. The room seems to close in around me, the walls echoing with the distant sounds of destruction. I press my hands against Nicoli's wound, desperately trying to stem the bleeding.

"We need to find the others and get out of here," I say, my voice determined. The metallic taste of adrenaline coats my tongue as I help Nicoli to his feet. Together, we navigate through the shattered remnants of our once secure home.

As we reach the main hall, the scent of burning wood and the visual tableau of crumbling walls assault our senses. My other brothers emerge from the chaos, their expressions mirroring the shock and disbelief etched on my own face. In unspoken unity, we gather the palpable tension in the air bonding us as a family.

"We can't stay here," I declare, my gaze sweeping over my brothers. "Our home is no longer safe."

The taste of uncertainty lingers as we make our way through the desolation, guided by instinct and the hope of finding refuge. The distant roars of conflict echo through the night, a symphony of chaos that propels us forward.

In the outside world, the air is thick with the scent of burning embers and the acrid aftermath of destruction. The ground trembles beneath our feet as we navigate through the crumbling remnants of what was once a thriving kingdom.

The moonlight casts an ethereal glow over the landscape, revealing the path forward. With each step, the sounds of battle draw nearer, a constant reminder of the perilous journey that lies ahead. As we embark on this quest for answers and safety, the taste of determination lingers, a bittersweet reminder that the bonds of family will be tested in the crucible of adversity.

My father's arrival, adorned in his worn general uniform, sends a shiver down my spine. His eyes, usually filled with resilience, now carry the weight of an impending storm. The gravity of the situation hangs thick in the air, a palpable tension that tightens its grip as he addresses me.

"Giana, you must escape now," his voice, usually steady, wavers with a grave urgency. "Your brothers and I will hold off the crazy barbaric dragons."

My heart pounds in my chest as defiance wells up within me. "Father, this is my home too. I can't leave. I will help you fight!" The taste of rebellion is sharp on my tongue, a bitter counterpoint to the chaos unfolding around us.

He drags his hands over his face, weariness etched into the lines of his expression. The room feels like it's closing in on us, the air thick with the scent of desperation and the raw emotions swirling within. The next words he utters, however, shatter my resolve, leaving me stunned.

"They have your mother, and they want you. The king believes you are a dark omen and must be sacrificed to the fire God on Mt Inferno. You can't stay?" His torn words hang in the air, torn between saving his mate or his only daughter. The conflicting emotions in his eyes mirror the internal battle raging within him.

The room becomes a battleground of emotions – fear, determination, and a sense of impending loss. The metallic taste of panic intensifies as the weight of the situation settles over me. I lock eyes with my father, searching for a flicker of reassurance, but all I find is the harsh reality of our predicament.

In that moment, the atmosphere is charged with the electricity of an impending farewell, and the scent of burning resolve lingers as my father and brothers prepare for the daunting task ahead. The taste of sacrifice is bitter on my lips, but with a nod, I acknowledge the painful necessity of fleeing my home to face an uncertain fate.

Nicoli's embrace lingers, a bittersweet reassurance as he stands on his own, his strength returning. His whispered words echo in my ears, a promise that ignites a flicker of hope amid the chaos. "We will find you. And I know your mate will come looking for you. Find safety first."

As my father's laughter cuts through the somber air, a moment of levity pierces the heavy atmosphere. "Nicoli, now is not the time to hog your sister," he chuckles, and my brothers, a united front, surround me in a farewell embrace. This departure marks an unfamiliar ache – the first time I leave them behind.

Together, we reach the border of Aslos, a place etched with memories of safety and unity. The urge to turn back, to join my brothers in their perilous mission, tugs at my every step. They understand the gravity of the situation, the peril that awaits them within the kingdom's borders.

The air at the border seems charged with the scent of impending separation, a mix of determination and the underlying fear of the unknown. My brothers exchange glances, a silent understanding passing between us. The weight of their unspoken promise to rescue our mother hangs heavy in the air.

I force myself to keep walking, each step propelling me further from the only home I've ever known. The landscape unfolds around me, a visual metaphor for the distance growing between my past and an uncertain future. The taste of desperation lingers as I resist the impulse to turn back.

The further I venture from Aslos, the more the desire to run back intensifies. The scent of the wind carries a mix of determination and the underlying scent of rebellion against the injustice that has befallen our kingdom. The shadows of doubt cast by Celeste's manipulation of the king's mind nag at my thoughts.

How did Celeste, a mere dark witch, penetrate the supposed imperviousness of dragons to dark magic? The question hangs in the air, an unsettling mystery that propels me forward on this journey into the unknown. As I navigate the borderlands, the answers I seek remain elusive, concealed within the fabric of Aslos's troubled history.

***

Anna

Little London - Mundane Citadel

Excitement bubbled within me as I anticipated the upcoming sleepover with my three best friends. Then, in the morning, Giana would take us exploring in the mountains again. My parents were exchanging pleasantries with my friends. Mr. and Mrs. Kelson was heading out for the night. Diana, Lydia, and Jennifer bid them farewell, their eyes following my parents as they approached a sleek, high-end luxury vehicle.

"Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Kelson. Hope you enjoy the festivities," Diana called out with a smile, a curious gaze fixed on the departing couple.

Mr. Kelson turned towards us with a stern yet playful warning, "You girls, don't break my house down while we are gone, and no boys allowed." We all nodded in compliance, assuring him that his rules would be upheld.

"Understood, father," I replied, my eyes tracking my parents' departure. A peculiar vehicle had caught my attention earlier, slowing down near a neighbor's empty house. The abrupt stop had struck me as odd, but when it departed, I dismissed it from my thoughts.

Once our parents were gone, we eagerly retreated indoors, swiftly closing the doors behind us. Vicky, our family helper, had prepared delightful snack treats, and Lydia couldn't help but express her delight between bites of chocolate cheesecake.

"Oh, Vicky, this is scrumptious as always," Lydia moaned in culinary appreciation.

Vicky beamed at us, saying, "You girls always make my day when you try out my new creations. By the way, I'll be opening my new sweet treats pastry shop next week. I'd love it if you girls could be there to support."

"Anything for you, Vicky. You're like my second mother," I replied warmly, moving to hug her.

As the hours melted away, Vicky decided it was time to call it a night. "Girls, please don't stay up too late. If you need anything, just come to my room. I'll take out my hearing aid, so wake me up by touching, and I'll get what you need." Her words lingered in the air as the night unfolded with the promise of friendship and shared secrets.

In the stillness of the night, Anna's home lay shrouded in an eerie silence, unaware of the impending chaos that loomed. Two of her friends, peacefully slumbering under the comforting veil of Anna's hospitality, were abruptly torn from their dreams.

The room echoed with the muffled sounds of hurried footsteps as a clandestine group of men materialized, clad in shadows, and cloaked in secrecy. Swiftly, they swept through the quiet corridors, their purpose concealed beneath the cover of darkness.

In Anna's dimly lit bedroom, a sudden intrusion shattered the tranquility. The once serene atmosphere was now charged with an unsettling tension. With methodical precision, the mysterious abductors snatched Anna and her friends from their beds, their hands moving with an efficiency that betrayed a sinister familiarity.

Black bags descended over their heads, plunging them into an oppressive darkness. The world outside their concealed vision vanished as they were unceremoniously bundled into the back of a waiting vehicle. The metallic door slammed shut, sealing them within a cocoon of uncertainty.

As the engine roared to life, Anna's heart raced, fueled by fear and determination. In this moment of a*******n, a relentless resolve ignited within her. Little did she know that beyond the confines of the vehicle, a world awaited—a realm where myths and reality collided, and the veil between human and vampire was about to unravel.

***