Dragon Born Series: Book 1: Mia

Chapter 20: Rayna and Marina

(Marina’s POV)

“Rayna!!!!!!” Why the f**k is this tub full of hair again? This girl is going to be the death of me. Mia needs to wake up already or I  might go insane with just Ciel and Rayna to talk to. 

“Yes, Marina. Did you need something?”

“Why is there red fur all over this tub? Didn’t I ask you to bathe in another tub or to at least clean up after yourself?”

“You did, but the other tub is outside and it never has warm water. Also, I don’t understand why it's fur. I didn’t think I was a magical creature, but according to the white mages, I am something they just don’t know what.”

“You’re probably a dog or some type of shapeshifter because this amount of hair is not normal.”

“I’ll clean it up and I’ll do my best to keep it under control.”

“Thank you. Have they given you any indication of how to undo the spells?”

“They said without Helyma or one of the evil sisters they couldn’t figure it out. Malise is not being very helpful and I haven’t seen Mora since she is always in her room.”

“Good, I’ll go talk with Mora while you clean this mess up.”

She nodded and started cleaning as I walked out of the room. The past 3 years had been tough knowing Mia is in some deep sleep and that we were all placed under some dark spells. The spells have weakened but can not be removed as of yet. I made my way to Mora’s room. She was kept in the upper floor of the East Tower and the rooms there are smaller and prison-like. 

Her room was on the 4th floor of the tower. The door was made of simple wood. I knocked and waited for a response. I heard some noise and then the door swung open. “What the f**k do you want now!?”, Mora’s voice was harsh and loud.

“This is my first time here, so I’m not sure who you’re talking to but I suggest you change your tone or I’ll have the Black Knight actually throw you in a prison cell.”

“Oh! Marina, I thought you were the pesky guard that keeps knocking on my door for no reason. What brings you here?”

“We need to talk. May I come in?”

She stepped aside and motioned for me to come in. Her room was plain. There was a wooden table with two chairs and a bed in the far right corner near the only window. It was small and the day's sun was the only light in the room. In the corner near the door was a small stand with a jug of water and a cup. She offered me some water and we sat at the table. She was a stunning young female. If she wasn’t a b***h, I might have actually tried to be with her. 

Mora’s features were simple yet elegant. She had long auburn fiery hair that rested limply down her back and stopped just above her small yet plump behind. Her pale skin shimmered in the sunlight and gave her an almost sweet complexion. Her breasts were small yet perky and if I wasn’t so turned off by her personality I’d want to touch her and even kiss her in all her female places. She was taller than me by a few inches and she had a tiny waist that led to her beautifully filled out hips. Damn, I need to stop thinking of her body before I do something stupid!

“So, Marina, what do you need to talk about?”, she said, drawing me back to her face. Her eyes were two endless black swirls that one could get sucked into and never leave. 

“Ummm. I came to…” f**k!!! Get it together Marina, she’s a dark witch with ties to your friend's problems. I shook my head and cleared it of all the s****l thoughts I was having. “I need your help in undoing these spells. Rayna and Mia and I would like to be released. Are you capable of doing that?”

“Well, that’s a tall order. What do I get out of this? I’m stuck in this room and this castle and I can’t even go to the garden and get some fresh air. Maybe even be allowed to go to the village.”

“I can’t guarantee anything for you but your continued life and maybe a lesser sentence when Mia awakens. I know it's not much, but I can talk to the prince and his parents to see if they would allow me to take you out to the gardens. I don’t have much pull with them, but being that you would be helping Mia, me, and Rayna, maybe Prince Ghari would let you have access to the gardens.”

“Fine. I need magical creatures who are masters of their magic. I need the highest-ranking white mage, the best dark witch that is not in Hell, and a witch that is at least 100 years old and capable of spells both white and dark.”

“Thank you, Mora.” I left quickly in search of these magical creatures and Prince Ghari because I wasn’t sure why she needed these creatures and I needed help finding them.

(Rayna’s POV)

As I walked into the room I share with Marina, she is yelling for me. It doesn’t sound like she’s in a good mood. I wonder what I did to make her angry at me yet again. I had spent the morning caring for Mia until Prince Ghari came to take over. I’m glad he cares so much for her. I wonder if he’s in love with her. I mean it’s not hard to see that he loves her. He doesn’t like being away from her for more than a few hours and he has been that way ever since we came to live with him and his family. The Eastern Kingdom really was vastly different from the Earth Kingdom. I didn’t feel at home here, but I did at least feel free and welcomed. 

“Rayna!!!!!!”

“Yes, Marina. Did you need something?”

“Why is there red fur-like hair all over this tub? Didn’t I ask you to bathe in another tub or to at least clean up after yourself?”

“You did, but the other tub is outside and it never has warm water, even if the air is warm. Also, I don’t understand why it's fur. I didn’t think I was a magical creature, but according to the white mages, I am something, they just don’t know what.”

“You’re probably a dog or some type of shapeshifter because this amount of hair is not normal.”

“I’ll clean it up and I’ll do my best to keep it under control.”

“Thank you. Have the magical advisors given you any indication of how to undo the spells?”

“They said without Helyma or one of the evil sisters they couldn’t figure it out. Malise is not being very helpful and I haven’t seen Mora in the time we’ve been in the castle, since she is always in her room.”

“Good, I’ll go talk with Mora while you clean this mess up.”

Marina left me to my mess and walked out of the room. I know she means well, but I always feel like she tolerates me but doesn’t actually like me. Oh well. I’ll just go find Ciel after this.

I didn’t mind taking a bath in the outside tub but I preferred to be indoors. Not sure too many creatures liked to bathe like animals. 

The reddish-orange fur-like hair was everywhere. I had noticed that it was worse during the full moon nights. I wonder if it's related to the moon cycle. I also feel stronger and my senses seem to be on high alert during the full moon. Whenever there are two full moons in the month, I feel like I could move mountains. I also feel very attuned to the earth whenever I’m outside. The forest behind the castle is my favorite place to be. Sometimes, when no one is around, I go for runs and I’ve even found a watering hole to swim in. I’ll have to show Mia and Ciel when Mia wakes up. I hope she wakes up soon. I miss her so much. I remember when Helyma brought her to us at the mansion's servant quarters. As soon as she was placed in my small arms I was in love with her, like she was my long-lost sister. I know Ciel felt the same way because, ever since then, he has always protected her and cared for her. Even now, he only allowed Prince Gahri to care for her because he knew that Ghari would not harm her. I don’t know how he knew, but he trusted Ghari, so I trusted him as well. 

I finished my task and went in search of Ciel. He had been helping me learn how to read and write and I wanted him to help me find more information about the type of magical creature I might be. I walked to the castle’s kitchen because Ciel loved to eat and I often found him sitting at the table with a plate of fruit in front of him and a book in his hands. 

As I approached the kitchen, I could hear voices. There was a male and female talking about something I couldn’t understand. I could tell the male voice belonged to Ciel but I didn’t recognize the female. When I walked in I heard the female giggle and I saw her put her ugly paws on Ciel’s chest. A loud growl resounded in the large space and both Ciel and the kitchen aide looked at me. The aide cowered behind Ciel and Ciel gave me a strange look.

I think I just growled at them. What the f**k was that? Why would I growl just because a female touched Ciel? I know I like Ciel but why would I react this way? I should turn and leave before I embarrass myself anymore.

Without a word, I turned on my heel and left the kitchen. I could hear Ciel calling my name but I didn’t want to face him after the way I just behaved and I picked up my step so he couldn’t catch up. 

Suddenly, my body was crashing into a strong chest and I was being held tightly. “Don’t run, Rayna. You did nothing wrong. Please stop running and talk to me.”

His voice was soothing and his scent of fresh rain mixed with smoked wood calmed me. He stroked my hair a bit, then pushed me back so he could look at my face. “Now that you’re calmer, tell me why did you come looking for me?”

I stared up at his stormy grey eyes and thought that if he kissed me in that very moment, I would forever be his. Why was I feeling this way? My insides were restless and something in the back of my mind was doing somersaults. 

“Is Mia okay? Is something wrong with Marina? Rayna, tell me what’s going on.”, Ciel spoke again, drawing me back into the present and I just couldn’t find the words I needed. He hugged me tightly again and then my tongue came undone.

“They are fine. I came looking for you to go to the study and find out what type of creature I might be. I’m sorry for growling at you and the maid. I don’t know where that came from or why.”

“I’m glad the girls are ok and don’t worry about growling. You may have frightened the servant girl but she’ll be ok. I would love to help you read through the books in the study. I think I have an idea of where to start.’

He hugged me tighter and a purr escaped my lips. He lowered his lips to my ear and whispered, “That’s a sweet sound.’

I could feel my cheeks burning up and I squirmed out of his embrace. I turned around so he couldn’t see my face and walked off towards the study. I could hear him chuckle, then he caught up to me and we walked side by side to the 2nd floor of the West Tower. This tower was dedicated to the history and stories of the entire continent. This was the only place outside of the Dragon’s Garden where you could find this much information about anything you wanted to learn about. The Dragon’s Garden was home to the Council and they ruled all four kingdoms with a representative from each kingdom and creature. I once heard that there was a large castle on the highest mountain that held nothing but books, tomes, scrolls, and tablets. The collection was larger than the one at this castle and it held everything from the moment the Heavens and the Underworld split to create this continent.

We reached the study. It took up the entire 2nd floor. The doors were gold-like and heavy. There were guards that stood silently on either side of the doors. When we reached the golden doors, the guards opened them for us. Prince Ghari and the majesties had given us free access to this place, in hopes it could help us in some way to undo the spells placed on all of us. 

The study was my favorite room in the whole castle. Although I still couldn’t read, I felt connected to history written in the leather binds, on the parchments and stone tablets. Ciel was teaching me and I was catching on slowly. He was a patient teacher and he didn’t think ill of me. I don’t know how he learned, but I was glad he knew how to read so he could help me find the information I so desperately sought. 

The main room consisted of shelves from floor to ceiling and covered the entire wall. The wall farthest from the entrance had a built-in fire pit. Above it were more shelves with large leather bond parchments and books. The fire was lit and in front was an area to relax. There were large pillows and a soft rug. In the center of the room was a large wooden table that was adorned with carvings depicting a story that Ciel refused to tell me about. One day I’ll ask Prince Ghari or King Erman about it. This is their castle, maybe they know what all the carvings mean. The chairs surrounding the table were large and made up of the same carvings as the table but each chair showed a different creature. There were even creatures I didn’t recognize, but again Ciel was very tight-lipped about it. 

Above us, the room was lit by thousands of candles set into a metal structure. It was so bright it felt like the two suns were inside the castle at all times. I once saw a servant climb a ladder just to relight some that had gone out. I thought it interesting that they didn’t just use magic for it but I kept that thought to myself.

“Well, Rayna my sweet, where do you want to start looking?”, Ciel whispered into my ear, startling me.

“AHHHHHH!!!!!!  Ciel!!!! Why would you sneak up on me?”, I yelled as I punched him in the arm.

“OUCH!!! Rayna, I’ve been standing right next to you this whole time. You looked so far away I just let you be.”, he said while rubbing his arm.

“Oh, I’m sorry Ciel. This place takes my breath away every time I come in. I have now been here more than a thousand times since given access to it and it never gets old how beautiful and connected I feel to this place.”

“So, where would you like to start?”

“First, could you share anything you know about me when I was first brought to Alincdor’s sideshow?”

“There’s not much to say. They brought you to stay with me and Marina when you were about 5  years old. Helyma was tired of all the crying you were doing in the main house. As soon as you saw me, you stopped crying and clung to me. I still remember how you followed me around everywhere I went. The only time you were not at my side was when Marina and you would play or do chores. One day when you were about 10 years old, Marina and Mia found you hiding and crying in the main house storage room. They won’t tell me why you were there, but ever since then you three have been inseparable. The rest you know.”

“Thanks, Ciel. You have always been a great friend to me and I have always felt connected to you. I hope once we get these spells broken maybe we can really get to know each other.” I smiled, then looked away quickly because I could feel my cheeks starting to burn. My heart started to pound against my chest and I was afraid he might see it. 

“I think I have an idea where to start. I have been giving some thoughts to what you told me earlier this week and I started to pull out some books.”

He walked over to the table and, for the first time, I noticed that there were already scrolls, books, and tomes laid out on it. How much research was he doing on my behalf? 

(Ciel’s POV)

I stood inside the study next to Rayna. Her beautiful reddish-orange hair was neatly knotted into two braids and fell all the way to the floor. How she didn’t trip over it always amazed me. Her bright forest green eyes were glowing at the site of the study as if it were the first time laying her eyes on it. I often found her in here sleeping by the fire like a puppy curled up at its master’s feet. 

Before she growled at me and the servant girl in the kitchen, I had been making the final preparations for her birth celebration. I didn’t know what day exactly it was but I knew the season and it was fast approaching. I was hoping we could celebrate it and I could confess my love to her. I have known she is my forever mate since I turned of age, but since she is under the dark spell, she doesn’t even know what kind of creature she is and she doesn’t know what forever mates are.

Earlier this week we discussed what kind of creature she might be and when she mentioned feeling connected to the earth and the moon, it got me thinking. I spent most of my time the last few days pulling out books and scrolls and hauling tomes. I have a good idea of what she is and I can’t wait to share it with her.

After startling her and watching her react to me beautifully, I led her to the table and pulled the largest tome towards us. I opened the heavy binding and went to the page with an illustration. 

“Rayna, I think this is the type of creature you might be. Come take a look.”

She was like a small child and bounded towards me with lots of excitement. “You know what I am?!”

“It is just a theory, but after you mentioned the changes you feel during the full moon cycle, I think this fits you.”

She stopped beside me, looked down at the page I had opened, gasped, and fell back into my arms. She was out cold, fainted. What in the world? Why would she faint from seeing an illustration of a werewolf?