Chapter 4
Lily's POV
The black-scaled dragon loomed before me, and though it hadn’t immediately devoured me, I felt my legs shake under the weight of fear mixed with the biting cold of the night. A strong wind swept through the forest, chilling me to the bone. I sensed that, for now, I was safe, but when the dragon spoke of my father's death as a consequence of a broken promise, an unsettling feeling crept in.
What did it all mean? I struggled to grasp the events unfolding around me. My father's sudden, mysterious death, my desperate investigation leading me to this otherworldly realm, and now standing before a creature of myth—it was all too much. I inhaled deeply, reminding myself that I was still alive, but the questions loomed larger than ever. Would I be trapped in this strange dimension forever?
“Wh-why are you talking like that? What’s wrong with my father? What debts and promises are you speaking of?” I asked, my voice quivering as I struggled to maintain my composure in the dragon's intimidating presence.
The dragon let out a booming laugh. “You are my offering.”
“Offering? You still haven’t answered my question! Please explain what’s happening!”
Frustration bubbled within me. What did it mean to be an offering? Was my father somehow involved in a dark pact? I felt lost, tangled in a web of confusion and fear. I refused to surrender my will to this creature. The thought of being enslaved by a dragon was terrifying, but I knew I had to escape. Yet, where could I run? The darkness surrounded me, the wreckage of my father’s car still haunting the edge of the forest.
I glanced at the half-full moon above, illuminating the steep, deserted road. I had come here to uncover the truth behind my father's tragic accident. It couldn’t just be an ordinary mishap; something deeper must be at play. Had someone deliberately harmed him? The thought gnawed at me. Was it a dispute over property or a hidden vendetta?
The police investigation seemed to drag on, and I needed answers. If it was an accident, I could reconcile it. But if it was intentional, I would pursue justice, no matter how long it took.
Suddenly, the dragon’s growling voice broke through my thoughts. “Mae, you’re daydreaming. How would you feel about staying with me forever as my servant?”
“I don’t want that!” I spat, frustration boiling over.
“Damned,” it said, its eyes glowing with a fierce red light that made me feel dizzy. The heat radiated from its gaze, and I screamed as the intensity grew.
“Aaaaah!”
“Feel that! It will only get worse if you keep rejecting me. Hahaha…”
“Please stop!” I cried, panic rising within me.
“Please stop! Please stop! Please stop!” I repeated, hoping that my pleas would reach whatever shred of mercy this creature possessed.
In an unexpected twist, the dragon pulled back its energy, and I gasped for breath, relief washing over me as the heat receded. I felt sticky and gross, the remnants of its fiery energy lingering on my skin.
“Are you willing to comply now?” it asked, its tone almost mocking.
“I’ll answer, but only if you answer my questions first!” I shot back, trying to regain some control.
“You’re clever, Mae. I’ll answer, but only if you stay with me for three days.”
“What?” Confusion and frustration surged within me. Why was this so complicated?
What had transpired between my father and this dragon? Why had it appeared now, after my father's tragic end? Despite my fear, I realized that staying with Drakar might be the only way to uncover the truth behind my father’s mysterious death.
Though the idea of living with a dragon terrified me, it might also satisfy my relentless curiosity. I had to hope that this dragon didn’t have a taste for human flesh.