Seraphina sighed, stepping beside me. "You think I haven't wanted to let her out? I've come here every week since Draven brought her. I've stood in front of that wall, debated it a hundred times."
"Then why haven't you?" I asked gently.
"Because I trust him," she said, sharp now. "I trust that if he says Nyra is dangerous, then she is. I've seen what happens when we ignore his instincts."
"But this.... This doesn't feel like danger, it feels like abandonment" I said softly.
Silence
How could she possibly be dangerous.
She wasn't even the size of a mature dragon yet, she was still the size of a lion.
Nyra shifted again, raising her head slightly. Not towards seraphina but towards me.
Seraphina saw this.
"You don't understand the weight of what you are asking" she said quietly "people would kill to possess her powers, and you just want to..... Let her go"
I didn't know anything about powers but at this point all I could think about was setting her free. Because she deserved better than this.
"After healing her, yes. Because she doesn't belong to a cage, Draven once told me 'flames aren't meant to caged... Just watched' and she.... Is that flame" I said " and if she is as powerful and ancient as you say shouldn't she be able to protect herself "
I added.
Seraphina didn't respond to me immediately
She studied me with those storm grey eyes. As if weighing something she couldn't name.
"You are dangerous too.... You know" she smirked.
"What"
"You remind me of my mom. The way you speak, the way you make people listen. You make them questions they own rules" she shook her head amused "it's annoying " she chuckles.
She took out a ring of keys from her pocket.
"I'm going to regret this," she muttered, moving toward the control panel hidden in the wall. "But if I don't let you do this, you'll find another way. And at least this way.... I'm here to stop you from getting eaten."
"You are really doing it" I didn't hide the amusement in my voice.
"Don't thank me yet, if Draven finds out... It won't end well"
"You mean he'll... punish us" I hesitated
She smirked "no, I mean disappointed Draven is worse than furious Draven"
The runes on the glass flicked, the faded.
The Lock clicked.
The chamber filled with sudden silent tension __ like the whole mansion was holding it's breath.
I stepped inside _ slowly and cautiously.
Nyra stirred, lifting her head__ wounded her golden scales throat flexed as though breathing was painful.
She stared at me not seraphina, as she stood.
She blinked.
Then __ she took a step forward. Just one.
Seraphina tensed " step back..."
"Don't worry, she's just scared" I said
Seraphina stared at me "no, she is recognizing something "
Nyra took another step forward. Now close.
I stood my ground.
Nyra dipped her head ever so slightly toward me, then backed away and lay down again. Calm. Silent. Trusting.
Seraphina exhaled deeply. I could tell she held her breath for a long time.
"She has never done that before" seraphina said
"What did she mean"
"I don't know" she said, eyes narrowed. "But I know that we would be answering to Draven when he finds out"
She used my technique
"Well, at least we won't be answering to our conscience" I said.
She chuckled.
We are doing the right thing, I tried convincing myself.
"Come out, nyra" I stretched my hand.
Nyra looked at me. Not moving an inch.
"Come on girl, we are getting you out of here " i said to her.
But she just stared at me, before finally standing up.
She took a few steps forward, her movement was cautious, testing. She passed the boundary where a Laser field was.... And for the first time... She was free.
"She's walking out" i said in a form of whisper
"I can see that " she said tensed "let's just..... Don't do anything... Sudden "
But Nyra wasn't afraid. She was curious. She leaned closer to me, her neck bending, and pressed her scaled forehead gently against my palm.
I flinched __ then relaxed.
Her skin was warm __ and alive. Her wounds began to heal.
I guess this was the powers seraphina was talking about when she said people would kill to have it.
We let nyra roam freely. Deciding to take her out at night.
---
*At night*
we led nyra down the secret garden, which seraphina said was rarely watched.
We eventually left the estate and headed deeper into the forest. When suddenly__ a loud noise __it was the sound of a gun.
Nyra roared. She was hit.
Followed by the sound of bikes riding towards us.
"Oh no", I heard seraphina curse.
"Hurry up, this way". She pointed opposite the sound of the bike.
Nyra was hurt, I walked to her "don't worry we'll get you to a safe place.
We started running.
We didn't want to fly on nyra because that would only draw attention.
That was the last thing we needed right now.
We reached a cave
"Go in," seraphina ordered
We followed her order.
"Where are you going" I asked. I noticed she wasn't following behind us.
She smiled "Going to do what Thalzorin's do"
"No, you're coming with us" I held her hand and pulled her in with us.
I couldn't bare the consequences for losing his sister and his prisoner.
"But, how did they find us" I asked as we walked inside the cave.
Seraphina didn't know how to explain that __ nyra wasn't just a dragon and her scent can be tracked easily.
But this girl holding her hands right now Left her baffled.
"They are Mafia gang, they strike anytime, anywhere" she finally answered.
"Oh" I had already forgotten that..... Draven was a Mafia.
I wonder what he'll do to me when he doesn't see nyra.
I was scared.
Nyra fell down.
"Nyra, what's wrong" I sat next to her.
Her wound from the bullet hasn't healed yet. But why.
And I didn't bring my ointment because I knew she had healing powers.
But just as I was about to panic, she began to heal again.
That was really close.
My relief was cut short, when we heard sound of moving bikes rapidly entering the cave opening.
"Fuck" seraphina cursed.
We ran to the other opening but they we also riders waiting there.
"What do they want from us"
"They want nyra, they'll sedate her, they'll take her back...."
A burst of movement from the other side.
Figures in black, armed with tranquilizers, poured into the clearing like shadows. Nyra let out a growl _low and resonant __ and spread her wings in front of me__ a sign of protection _
"No" I shouted stepping in front of her, my arms spread out "Stop!"
But they didn't.
A dart of tranquilizer flew__ missed me and nyra.
Seraphina was on the other side fighting with the guys from that end, she was fast.
But I was powerless, I didn't know how to fight.
Heat fluid touched my cheeks__ I was crying__ feeling really helpless.
Then another one.
Really close. I used my back to shield it from hitting nyra.
What was I thinking?
My back isn't made of metal