Touch of Flame

Darcy could not sleep. She still suffered from extreme headaches at night that she didn't know the cause of yet. And there were also strange dreams that sometimes turned into nightmares. Dreams of a joyful childhood with parents, and nightmares, some of which she couldn't understand and others of all that she went through.

She woke up in cold sweat and sat alone in the dark cabin trying to calm down her erratic heartbeat. She needed to find out about her past as it kept haunting her. Something in the back of her mind was disturbing her rest and the fair-haired, blue-eyed man she had helped earlier made her feel a strange way.

She could swear she had seen him somewhere but her mind refused to remember. It throbbed and pained. Getting dressed she decided to take a walk.

The breeze of dawn was cool and calm and she walked along the beach when she saw him. The man with similar traits. He had told them his name was Ross. He sat at the beach, staring ahead at the ocean.

Darcy walked over, "you are awake early." She said

He turned her, eyes so melancholic it made her heart ache strangely. "Yes. I have trouble sleeping long." He replied.

She sat beside him.

"And you?" He asked.

"Me too."

She thought he looked even more sad when she said that.

"How did you become a trader?" He asked.

He seemed curious about her as well.

"I was escaping from slavery and found myself in a ship and the crew took me in." She said simply but that wasn't the truth.

The beginning of her life that she could remember was being sold by dragons to other dragons. After having worked as a slave, she was then sold to another who sold her further to her latest master who kept talking about fertility and breeding. She knew she had to escape from whatever she was being prepared for. The humiliating experience of being presented naked touched and poked as they examined her to see if she was suitable.

She decided she would rather die trying to escape and so she did. But she wouldn't have succeeded if it wasn't for him. The founder of their group, The Phantoms. They were among many other small groups he created, giving them each a task and allowing them to choose names.

Darcy was the one who suggested they should call themselves The Phantoms because that was what she called him. No one had ever seen his face. Not even her. He had come flying, snatching her up, making her believe she was caught while escaping but he had helped her escape instead.

A dragon.

Later she learned, he was a mixed breed. Half-dragon and human. She had only seen him in his dragon form, otherwise, she met him in dark. She had only heard his voice as he kept his identity hidden. He had saved many from slavery but only offered a few to join his group. He was very picky and careful.

A half-breed fighting for the humans. She got some hope back after being broken, but now she wasn't sure anymore. Things were getting worse again just like the Phantom predicted.

"It is sad that the village became destroyed just when you came to trade," he said.

"Indeed. But isn't it strange? Since the development of weapons in this kingdom, the dragons retreated. The attacks were mostly on other kingdoms and the least here, but now suddenly the attacks are happening here the most."

He nodded. "This is the capital for human protection. It makes sense to attack it if they want their power back."

"But why suddenly?" She wondered loudly.

He seemed thoughtful. "Perhaps they just got tired of hiding, but these attacks seem reckless. If they keep doing this, they will reveal their hiding place."

Darcy frowned. This man knew more than she thoughts.

"What makes you think so?"

"If more dragons show up, we will have more trails to lead back to where they came from."

We?

"And how will we do that?"

He smiled. "There are many ways. We just need to let one of them get back away and go back home."

"And who are you?"

He looked at her for a long moment. "I am King Russell."

Huh? She stared dumbstruck for a long moment then laughed. When he didn't flinch, she stopped ready to reach for her weapon.

"What is a king doing here?"

"I was looking for your group."

He knew? "What group?"

"You are the dragon slayers." He nodded toward the ship. "The ropes, obsidian, fireproof." He pointed at the details of how they built their ship.

Perceptive man.

"Will you take me to your leader?" He asked.

And straightforward. Also more and more familiar. She could just not let him go.

She stood up, pulling out her gun. She loaded it with a flick of her finger before pointing at him. "Stand up," she said.

She didn't think he would harm her but just to be careful. "You will speak to the captain first."

Sir Joseph didn't seem surprised when she presented him with King Russell. He was open about the weapons his brother made, telling them details only he could know so they could verify that he was indeed the King. He was also trying to gain their trust, she noted so they would allow him to meet their leader.

Working to protect his people, he wanted to work with more people like him. Darcy didn't think it was a bad thing. Strangely, she trusted him. She had heard many good things about him. She looked at Joseph, giving him a nod of approval from her side although she knew their leader was a very careful man.

"I'll let our leaders know you are interested in working with them. If they are willing to work with you, they shall contact you."

Joseph was not going to reveal anything else and asked Darcy to show the King his way out.

"Are you happy here?" He asked her as they arrived at the deck.

She was confused. "Why?"

He reached inside his pocket and gave her a heavy purse. Coins?

"You can't buy my silence." She told him.

"I am not. It is for you to use when needed."

"I don't need it," she said trying to give it back to him but he walked away.

***

Tears streamed down Richard's face as he walked away from his daughter. His health was failing him so even if he wanted to take her back to the castle he couldn't. As soon as he died, she would be in danger. She was safer here with her crew. But he had wanted to hold her even once. He had wanted to at least not fail her like he did Ravina. He wanted to at least let one of them know he was alive.

Once he got to a corner where he couldn't be seen he sat down on the ground. His heart began to hurt again. His time had come. God had mercy on him to at least let him see and know that his daughter was alive and safe. He prayed as he felt the life squeeze out of him that his daughters would not pay for his foolish mistakes. He hoped both of them to find peace and happiness wherever they were.

His heart was failing to beat, slowing down until his vision darkened.