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This is something i found that i had written awhile ago, so i decided to try and post it. i got the idea from a story i read a while back (which still isn't finished) on a different website. Just so you guys know, i think i'm gonna start writting this one again... depending on your comments whether i should or not.

Book One- Mysterious End, Great Beginning

I Choose...to be... Free

Chapter I

It was a normal day, well normal for summer anyway. I left my room as usual knowing full well that my new roommate would be showing up later in the afternoon. Walking down the campus streets I received the normal stares that I had gotten everyday for my entire life. I didn't get to me though; I stopped acknowledging the stares since I turned ten. I hated this, being shunned from society. Everyday seemed to go slower and get more depressing as if even possible. I looked up at the sun as it reached high noon. It was very hot outside, about 101 actually, and yet I wore clothing that would be suited for the sixties.

I did have a reason for it though and a very good one at that. It was the thing I had been trying to hide from the world but yet it always seemed to get out. Sometimes it got so bad that people from the press hounded me to know about my 'condition' and I hated that the most. I haven't had a friend in my life, save for my brother and sister. Though my parents had forced them to act as though they hated me when they were around. That's another thing I hate, my parents; I hate them with a passion. They're not my real ones though; I was given up for adoption as soon as I was born.

I was told my dad was long dead and that my mother went insane and was put in a mental hospital. I was told, almost everyday, that it was my fault that things ended up like this on a daily basis from, well my father. Then again he never liked any of his kids and neither did my mother. We were all just tools to bring in votes for him; he didn't care about our well being just the damn press. We threatened to tell but we were stopped every time when he told us that we would loose our college money and be thrown out on the streets.

That always worked, since it was our only hope of escape. College I have been looking forward to it for most of my life. I was sure to study as hard as I could so I could get into any place I wanted and maybe, just maybe, get the two to leave me alone for a bit. Though that didn't work, I made the high honor role every year, the best student in the school in all areas. That didn't please them as they constantly reminded me that I was the scum of the Earth and a human abomination. The first few times I said it I cried for long periods of time, he was right I was an abomination, but still I had the right to live and they can't take that away.

It was never my choice to be made as I was, nor did I want to be this way, this miserable. I had attempted to commit suicide many times, but when the time came I got scared and cried in the corner for at least an hour. Soon my heart turned to stone and I never cried anymore, I promised myself that I wouldn't at least in front of my parents. Though I may be some freak of nature that I would ever show any emotion or weakness. That's what I did, I became a figure in time, holding no importance whatsoever to society. I was just there; a 'thing' that walked passed you everyday.

I didn't care about anything anymore; save for the only two people that cared about me. My brother and sister were not biologically related to me, I just called them that since I spent all of my horrible life with them. I was also worried about them, this was there second year without me and I feared that my father would only abuse them more due to my absence. I knew that they would never be physically hurt by him or my mother since it would provide evidence as child abuse. He would only hurt them mentally, which was much worse than physically.

I was afraid of how they would be next time I talk to them. There's only so much a child can take before he becomes suicidal and runs around killing random people before himself. I shuddered at the thought as I continued my path along the sidewalk. I still received stares from passers by, but I didn't mind. Personally I was glad, glad that they left me alone to my thoughts, my life, my nightmare. I was hopping to meet my new roommate, filled with a little hope of some kind that he wouldn't treat me like the rest.

So with this new found hope I decided to take a short cut down an alleyway along the medical building. I saw some people there, nothing unusual, just talking about random things. I changed my pace to a jog as I moved pass them. "Hey you." I heard one of them say as I ran past. I stopped and looked at who had addressed me. It was a kid around my age, well built, one of the kids on the football team if I remembered correctly. "Yea you." he said approaching me rather quickly. I saw some of the others move towards me, most of them looked just like this guy.

"Yeah, what do you want?" I asked him kindly, getting ready for what was inevitably going to happen soon.

"Why are you such a freak, huh?" he asked as he grabbed my arm. No one seemed to get it, no matter how many people tried to gang up on me it never usually worked. I gave the kid a blank stare as his grip tightened on my arm. "You know what I'm talking about, who would want to look like you You're a freak of nature and you shouldn't be here, you should be in some lab " I paid no attention to his comment. It wasn't the first one like it anyway, so I just ripped my arm free of his hand and began to walk away. "Why you little..." I heard him grunt as I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I ducked knowing he was going to try and hit me in the face and fell onto my knee. The idiot fell forward and landed on the ground, though he quickly got up and charged at me again. Now when I said I was the best in my school in all areas, I meant all areas. Boxing, martial arts, archery, running, jumping, and even dancing it didn't matter I was excellent at them all. Then again I really had nothing else better to do in my hellish home. So I just worked on all my skills whenever I found myself with nothing to do, which happened quite a lot.

So this guy, whom I've never even met, swung his fist at me. He wasn't a threat really as I just blocked his fist with my arm. He seemed shocked for some reason though I guess he was too stupid to figure it out as he just stood their with his jaw hanging. He soon got his nerve back and tried tackling me to the ground, since he was a football player he thought he could get me with such a cheap move. As he jumped into the air I literally tapped his head and he went into the ground face first. He didn't move for awhile, I gently pushed him over with my leg so he could breathe, though he grabbed it before I could touch him.

With just brute strength he lifted me up as I dangled in the air, upside down. He was in fury as the idiot swung me around and threw me into a wall. I say idiot because almost the entire university knew that I couldn't be hurt very easily. Though what he did manage to do was give me a headache and tear off the arm of my shirt exposing my 'skin'. He and his friends just starred at me as I got myself up. "Great now I need a new shirt...I think I'll take yours." I said to him as he finally got it together.

"Just try me you science project " his other buddies began to move closer holding an arrangement of chains in their hands. I sighed and realized it wasn't worth my time, also I was completely outnumbered and I didn't feel like taking a chance that one of them could actually know how to fight. So I walked away. "Where do you think your going I'm not done with you yet "

"Sorry but I don't have time for this right now, besides your not worth my time anyway."

"What are you going to do run? Ha, you must be kidding yourself if you can out run me "

"Who said I have to?"

"That's it come here " he charged me again, blood dripping from his face from the last time. He pulled a long steel chain from behind his back. Just as he was about to reach me I kicked up some loose dirt and began to run. I heard him cry out as the sand in the air went straight into his eyes; by the time the dirt settled I was long gone. I slowed my run to a walk as I got even more stares from the passersby, looking at my arm. I know it wasn't normal for anything to look as I did but most of these people saw this every day, you'd think they'd get used to it already.

I arrived at my dorm and walked in, the receptionist was out on a coffee break so there was no welcome at the door. I didn't really care; I didn't want to be noticed much anyway. The halls were thankfully empty and I quietly made my way up the stairs to the third floor. Walking along the halls of the building I reached my room and pulled out my key from my wallet. Well not only was this little thing a key, but it was also well a credit card. It was used for just about anything really library, stores, lunch, and of course a key. So I swiped it through and the light winked green.

I opened the door and preceded in, inside was my new roommate. He was busy reading something when I walked in and didn't seem to notice me. "I guess you're my new roommate?" I asked him. He put down the book and looked up. He was about to say something, but he looked shocked, and I couldn't blame him.

"Holy shit what the hell happened to you " he jumped back out of his chair. This was to be expected though and I really didn't care. "I thought they were kidding when they said you had scales "

"Yea well lots of people think so, but they're real." I said quietly as I walked over to my bed and sat down. My head in my hands as the guy took a good look at what he was going to be living with for the next three months. I didn't want to do this again; my last roommate wouldn't even let me go near him. This was very difficult since he didn't seem to get that we had to share the room together. I can see it now, this guy wanting to stay away from me just because of my scales. I knew I was different, but I really couldn't help but want acceptance from people once in a while. Though not out of pity, I hate it when I receive kindness like that, because some felt sorry for me.

"Hey... I'm... sorry I just... well... didn't know what to expect from something as this." I looked up at him as he walked over and sat down at my side. "I'm not going to judge you on something that you've had installed though it is a little weird."

"Installed?"

"Yeah those things on your arm and face. They're fake aren't they?"

"No."

"What?"

"No they're not fake, I was born with them, and the eye too."

"Yeah right... you can't"

"You wana see my birth certificate ?"

"Yea lets see some proof here."

"Fine, take a look." I said as I took out my wallet again and pulled out my certificate and handed it to him. He looked at it carefully and his eyes widened.

"You're not kidding are you?"

"The proof's right in front of you, what more do you need. I have a very rare genetic disorder that's why I have the scales and the reptile eye "

"Sorry"

"Please don't be, the last thing I need is pity right now in my life."

"No I'm sorry for not believing in what you said before..."

"Huh?"

"Maybe we should start over.... Hi I'm Mark, Mark Skye." he said extending out his hand.

"Umm okay... I'm Stelven Rogers" I took his hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you Stelven... So please, tell me about yourself." wow this was different. Not only did he seem to not mind that parts of my body was covered in dark blue scales, but he actually seemed to want to be my friend. So I reluctantly began to tell Mark about myself, though I did keep a lot about my past hidden. I mean I just met the guy and yet I'm talking about something that usually waits a while. I finished...well describing myself and fell back onto my bed. The foot long black hair on my head dropped on my face, hiding it from view. "Well... that was interesting."

I looked over to him, through my hair "Your turn."

"Right, sorry." Mark said as he then began ranting on about... well, himself. His description was rather odd to say the least, but he sounded sincere and I believed him. He basically described himself to be... well, a turbo nerd who loved philosophy. Kind of like those guys from earlier except he was very smart and well, philosophical. He was only a freshman and had already decided that his major was chemistry or something of the sort. I took a quick glance around the room to see how much it had changed.

To my surprise it didn't change much really, the guy was very well organized unlike me. I looked on his bed and noticed two guitar cases; one was a gig-bag and the other a hard plastic case in the shape of one. I really didn't pay much attention to what he was saying and I think he knew it. He looked at me and noticed I saw the two guitars on his bed. "Oh, yea did I mention I can play them?"

"I don't think you did." I answered turning my head to face him.

"Knew you weren't paying attention."

"Didn't want to."

"Why not?"

"Cause I'd find out eventually, besides I don't really care what you're like. You're the first person in this entire university that has ever looked at me and took me seriously, other than the teachers of course."

"You serious? How long have you been here then?"

"This is my second year at this place."

"You're kidding... right?"

"Nope, not once have I seen someone look at me and not think I'm just a freak."

"O come on, I'm sure someone has. You've just been to busy shutting out everything else to notice it."

"You really think so?"

"Yea I do... there's someone out in the world for everyone."

"What do you mean like a soul mate or something?"

"Well that and the fact that there are other people in the world who can accept you for who you are... but then again you are who you choose to be."

"I doubt it."

"O come on I mean I'm your friend right?"

"What?"

"I am your friend... right?"

"I guess so, but..."

"But what?"

"Nothing, its nothing."

"You're weird, you know that."

"You're just figuring that out now?" we starred at each other and for no reason, started laughing. I don't know why it felt so good either, to laugh for no reason with a friend. Then again I wouldn't know since my only 'friends' have been my brother and sister and I don't get to see them anymore. Maybe I wasn't such a freak after all. Maybe I could finally live the way I want to. And maybe just maybe I might be able to be... free. Free from my past, free from my father and mother. Free from these godforsaken blue, scales that were covering my body. Maybe I was just getting ahead of myself; this thought was way too good to be true for me anyway.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens then. Hopefully I can now finally pull myself out of this hole of dug myself into. I had something I really never had before... a friend in life. Even though I just met him I knew I could trust him. I was... happy at that point in time, something I've never been before. I loved it really, was this what happiness is, to sit around laughing with a friend. Though my laughter suddenly ceased when I came to the sudden realization that he could be targeted just for befriending me.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Mark asked, noticing that my mood had completely changed in an instant. I looked over at him and studied his physical condition and muscle strength. He seemed to be ok and not to strong which meant he could be more flexible.

"I'm going to have to teach you some things during the weekend." he looked at me with a look on his face that said 'what the hell are you talking about' I really didn't care. I just didn't want to see him get hurt because of me...

End of Chapter I

Chapter II

So that was it, I really didn't do much after that. We'll since I had the rest of that Friday off all I felt like doing was nothing. So I stayed in my room and talked with Mark about random subjects. It's been awhile since I had anyone to talk to like this. It felt kind of awkward to me; I mean I was spilling my guts to an almost complete stranger. It's not like he wasn't doing the same though, but I didn't pay to much attention and he didn't seem to mind. I wondered if other people were like him, which was a stupid question, of course there are, I just need to find them.

'Maybe things would work out in the end and he'll be living a successful life' I thought, but for that to come true I would have to be without me in it. Surly for him to live and be happy it would most likely be without me. I doubt any female would even think of talk to me... but then again I've been wrong before. I don't know really, but if he had to leave me behind to live, I would gladly do it. He has already showed me more kindness then anyone I've ever met up till this point. I promised myself I would do that if I needed to.

I needed to think this through though and I left the room for a quick walk around campus. Hopefully, this time I won't run into any trouble. I walked out of the southern dorm and out into the light. "Dam I forgot to change my shirt." I muttered to no one in particular. I shrugged and forgot about my attire, walking on the concrete side walks. Thinking about today and all the possible scenarios of what would happen to Mark. None of which turned out good in the end, "Maybe I shouldn't talk to him." I said to myself.

I mean, my friendship would only cause him trouble and I didn't want that. In my thoughts I didn't seem to notice anyone walking along behind, on the side, or in front of me. I was in my own little world of thought, nothing else; I didn't even notice where I was walking. Then again I didn't need to, I learned already that I can subconsciously walk around all of campus and get to my destination without realizing it. I felt someone push me hard on the back.

I came out of my thought on the ground as some of the people from before held me there. They were too heavy, all together the five of them probably weighed a ton and a half. Then I felt the lashing of chains, heavy, steel, rusted, chains. There were two of them lashing at my back and I cried out in pain. Onlookers did nothing but watch my savage beating. Why did they do anything, why didn't they help, why were they just watching? My cries of anguish, reached the edges of campus as the chains started to break the skin and tear into my back.

They then did something that I never wanted to show anyone, ever. As my body gave out they started laughing at me and shouting random curses. They then decided that it wasn't enough and there curiosity of the rumors that had been spreading about me had gotten hold of them. So wanting to confirm probably the most controversial one they pulled down my pants. I laid on the ground, face in the dirt, as they gasped at the four foot thing they saw. Luckily they hadn't pulled down my undergarments, but they shown the world something I didn't want anyone to see.

"What the fuck is that " I heard one of them shout. Onlookers gasping at what they saw. The five guys holding me down rolled off me due to the shock. This thing I wanted to hide was the one thing that proved without a doubt that I was anything but subhuman. I took this opportunity to pull my pants back up and stand up. They looked at me with anger in there eyes, angry that I was different from them. Tears were streaming down my face and I too was getting angry. Bad things happened when I got angry and someone always got hurt when I did. I didn't care though, I have had enough of these ignorant bastards and they were going to pay for it.

The one that was there leader I was going to save for last. I wanted him to pay the most out of all of them. There were six total, and the leader held the two rushed chains that ate away at my back. The crowd gasped as I took care of the first two without as so much as breaking a sweat. As they fell back I smashed there heads together, making sure that they wouldn't wake up for awhile. Another one rushed me and I didn't waste any time just kicking him in the groin. As he keeled over I grabbed his head and threw it against my knee.

Another two charged at me at the same time and I spun quickly. The two ended up on the ground as my four foot 'thing' as they called it that extended out of my tail bone, lashed them across the face. Only there leader was left now and he swung both chains at me from overhead. Before they touched I grabbed both of them with my hands. He was shocked at what I had just done. I yanked hard on the chains and the ripped out of his hands. He fell back on the ground shouting in pain as blood seeped out of his palms. He was in too much pain to even notice me stand next to him.

His cries of pain stopped as my blue scaled, four foot 'thing' wrapped around his neck. I slowly brought him up and held him in the air, hands down at my side. I looked into his eyes which at this point begged for mercy. "You want to know what this 'thing' is so badly... well I'll tell you." he struggled as his face started to turn purple. "It's my tail, idiot." I said fight in his face. I let him go as the tears continued to stream down my face, I didn't feel right inside anymore. Though these people deserve more than what I had given them it still didn't feel right.

I did however, had the right to defend myself from the assault from the wounds I had sustained. That was another thing, my back didn't hurt anymore. It was weird, one minute I was crying out in pain as the rusted chains dug into my back. Now it was fine, and I felt no pain when I moved it. Also only parts of my back hurt, the parts that had flesh on them anyway, but now I felt nothing. The guy on the ground pulled out a knife from somewhere and lunged to me. It stuck my right arm and the guy let out a smile.

I chuckled a bit as the guy attempted to pierce my scales, I've tried everything but bullets and have never been able to even scratch them. I finished off the scumbag with a knee to his face; he fell onto his back with a thud and didn't move. I turned my head over to the crowd that had circled our little brawl and wiped the dried tears from my face. They slowly began to back up, afraid of me for one reason or another. I was still angry at this point but still had enough control over myself to not rush them all. "So I have a tail, what's the big deal ?" I shouted back at the crowd and they slowly dispersed, back to their daily routines.

I ran as they did, I ran away, away from this mess that I've gotten myself into. I ran to the only place I thought I was safe from the eyes of these people. It was my little haven, other than my room. I didn't go there since I was bound to be questioned about the incident. My tail though, was still out in the open. Come to think of it, it was the only part of my body that was covered completely in scales. I found the place I was looking for and took a quick look around. No one was nearby which was unusual at this time of day.

My little haven is a large oak tree in the center of campus. It was thankfully animal free, and the leaves were heavy, shielding me from sight. It was around 300 feet tall and most of its branches were very thick. I climbed up into the tree and went to the near top of it. I was above most of the buildings so it was very hard to notice that I was even here. I sat there, at the top of the tree, just thinking. I wasn't thinking about anything particular my mind just floated around. Then I came to the thought about Mark, my friend Mark. What would he treat me like if he knew I had a tail? It was probably hard enough for him as it is to tolerate my eye and scales but a tail?

I sat there realizing that my friendship with him would only last about another day. I looked down, disappointed in myself that I let this happen. I notice that there was a girl leaning against the trunk of the tree. I knew her; she came here every day to do her homework. Why she choose this spot I'll never know, but for some reason I'm always up here when she comes. The wind began to pick up and some of her papers blew out into the wind. As she went to go get them I snaked down the trunk. She didn't even see me as she came back. I was still about fifty feet above her head though.

She looked nice around 6'2, my height, long blonde hair that blew in the wind, a long denim skirt, purple tank top, and brown hiking boots. She was also in my history class in medieval studies; I think her name is Rose. Well, Rose seemed to be getting frustrated at the essay we had to right about Joan of Arc and her battle against England. I was already done with it though, so helping her shouldn't be a problem. I lowered myself to about ten feet before looking at how far she had gotten.

Rose was now grunting and rubbing her head, expressing her frustration. I was now hanging upside down in front of her; she had her eyes closed trying to think. She slowly opened her eyes and jumped, kicking me in the head as a reaction. I fell to the ground in pain as she back up against the base of the tree. "Ah, my head" I said rolling over to my knees.

"Oh sorry, you..." Rose said a little sheepishly.

"Its okay I... wait what?"

"It's nothing Stel, what are you doing here anyway?" I gave her a blank stare, utterly shocked that she was acting like this. "What... what is it?"

"Are you completely oblivious to the fact that I'm covered in scales, or have a tail for that matter?"

"Yeah... about that... I um saw you, and what you did to the star QB. After he and his friends exposed your little secret."

"I'm sorry you had to witness that... I just." fear started to come over me and I felt the tears starting to come back. I pulled my legs in and hung down my head "I can't take it any more. I know I'm a freak, an outcast, I should be in some lab."

"So that's what this is all about. You think you're a freak?"

"Yea, of course Just look at me "

"You know... they say beauty is only skin deep."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean."

"Everything."

"What?"

"It has everything to do with you, at least." I heard Rose say as she let out a small laugh and walked behind me. "Come on, you hungry?" my tears stopped as I slowly raised my head. I saw her hand extended, towards me. She was offering her hand to me, to help me up at least. All I could do was nod dumbly at her offer as a crack in the stone wall that surrounded my heart appeared. I took her hand after I dried the tears off my face and she pulled me up.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I want to." she said as we walked to the cafeteria turning her head to show me a smile on her face.

"Do you pity me?" I asked lowering my head, hoping that she wouldn't say yes.

"No I don't... in fact I kinda admire you... it... must be hard going through life like that."

"Please, stop."

"Stop what?"

"Quite lying to me, you pity me don't you? "

"Why would I do that when I already said I didn't?"

"Yes you do, the way you speak, so friendly and yet I've known you for a year and a half and you haven't said so much as hi before now."

"That's not it I swear "

"Just stop, please just stop it, I don't care who put you up to this just please stop " I cried out as the tears once again came back. 'Dam it, why do I keep ending up like this. Why am I breaking down like this today, it's not like me' I thought. I briskly walked away, but she came after me. I turned to a small jog, but she still insisted on coming after me. She suddenly sprinted and grabbed my arm. "Just leave me alone " I shouted as the tears ran down my face.

"No I won't, not now, not anymore I don't pity you, the only reason I didn't say anything back then was that I was... afraid... I was afraid on how you would react. You always put yourself away from others, the first day I saw you I wanted to say something, but every time at the last second I..." was she lying, or was she telling the truth, I couldn't tell. I didn't know what to say, what to do, how to react. "But you broke that barrier that stopped me from speaking, by saying something to me first."

"I...I'm sorry" I don't know why I said that, or where that came from, but I said it and I couldn't take it back now.

"Me too... so are you still hungry?" Rose asked, the now familiar smile sweeping across her face. I nodded "okay then, lets go." I nodded in agreement and we walked down to the cafeteria. About halfway there we stopped at some store, Rose ran in real quick and came back with a birthday card in her hand. "My friend's birthday is tomorrow."

"Oh."

"You know you should stop hiding your tail. People will just make fun of you for it if you want to hide it now."

"Today wasn't the first time you saw my tail was it?"

"How'd you know?"

"Lucky guess."

"Really, well... I did see it on several occasions. The first time I thought I was just hallucinating or going crazy, but then other people saw it. That was how the rumor got started. I only saw it when you were getting up out of your seat. Mustn't be to comfortable sitting on it like that."

"Well after nine years of sitting like that, you kind of get used to it." I said as I pulled out my tail out from my back.

"I thought you had that for your entire life?"

"No, I got this on my tenth birthday, just appeared overnight. Though my lower back began to hurt two weeks prior to it."

"Strange..."

"If only you knew."

"Knew what?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Oh come on, you can't just say that and expect me to just drop it."

"Yes I can, and I did."

"Whatever, you'll have to tell me eventually."

"That I will."

"Then why not now?"

"To many people around, I don't exactly want everyone to know everything about me."

"Okay fine then." She folded her arms in disappointment and pouted. I couldn't help but laugh at her. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, it's just that it's kinda cute seeing you like that."

"O, knock it off." She said, giving me a playful punch in the arm. I then poked her in the side with my tail. She jumped high into the air; I guess she wasn't expecting that. "Hey no fair " she said pushing me onto the ground; well okay I let her push me on the ground. "Oh crap, did that hurt I'm sorry I forgot about what those guys did to you " she ran over quickly and helped me to my feet. "You okay?"

"Yea I'm fine."

"What do you mean your fine; I'm surprised you're not at the hospital right now. Those chains ripped apart your skin "

"I guess, but I haven't looked in a mirror lately, can you take a look?"

"Sure lift up your shirt." I did as Rose asked and she took a look. I heard her gasp at what she saw.

"Hey, is it that bad?"

"N...no...no its not... how can this be, I saw what happened."

"Rose, what's going on back there, what's happened?"

"N...n... nothing, you're fine... not a single scratch, no wound, there's nothing, not even a scar..."

End of chapter II

Chapter III

"What? What do you mean there's nothing there ?"

"I meant just what I said; there are no traces of what happened what so ever."

"How's that possible, I didn't even go get cleaned up or anything?"

"I...I don't know... do you?"

"No this... this is new to me."

"Let's just forget about it and move on okay."

"Yeah, I'll have to look into this later..." it was weird; I was beaten with chains to the point where it ripped through the skin. Yet about an hour later it's like in never happened and I just imagined the entire thing. I know I wasn't going crazy, because that even did happen and there were several witnesses.

"I'm sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything wrong."

"Yes I did... I... I didn't help you when you needed it."

"Don't worry about it; I just want to forget that ever happened."

"Yeah... sure..."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong." She was obviously remembering something so I didn't bother to pry at the subject. She'll tell me when she wants to, and I wouldn't bother her about the topic. So we walked into the cafeteria, undoubtedly people would want to see if I really did have a tail. It's not something I want to have but it sometimes comes in handy. As soon as we entered through the door I was confronted by the eyes of many college students. It was creepy to have this many eyes staring at you, though I paid no attention.

Most of them gasped when they saw it, then they quickly went back to there own conversations. So my secret was now out and by tomorrow every one on campus would know, if they don't already. I paid no attention to this as I walked up to the line for the slop this place dared to call food. Step by step I walked, ever one louder then the last, at least in my head it seemed this way. True my tail was probably the toughest part of by body, since it was the only part fully covered with the scales. But it still didn't feel right, at least not yet, to let it flow freely behind me. Normally I would wrap it around my right leg inside my pants. So craving for the bit of normalcy I had attained in my life I wrapped it around my right leg.

Normalcy, that's something I wanted dearly, to be normal. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was my dream one day to be normal. Or maybe perhaps find at least someone with this disease like me. They say hope is for the hopeless, so I guess that means I'm a lost cause. It didn't bother me though; I couldn't hurt to dream, could it? I didn't dream much; I didn't ask for much, all I really wanted in life was to be normal. Rose turned around to see me deep in my own thoughts "Hey, you okay?"

I looked up at here "Why are you doing this?"

She raised her brow in annoyance "Because I want to, didn't I make that clear already?"

I lowered my head at the ground "Yea I guess so..."

"So are you going to answer my question?"

"I'm fine"

"You sure, you don't look like it." I remained silent as we proceeded over to the line. It was almost empty. I didn't need to look up at what was on the menu, I already knew. I smelled it from the instant I walked in. It was the most horrible thing I've ever tasted and the side affects were even worse. My hands shook uncontrollably as my eyes laid upon the pink and brown paste they dared to call meatloaf. Without a doubt or regret I skipped that part of the meal and moved on. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich would have to do for today.

I met Rose just beyond the cash register and followed her to where she wanted to sit. She sat down at an empty table much to the dismay of what I think to be her friends. I sat down straight across from her and half of the building turned towards us. She looked at me then turned and glared at her friends sitting about twenty feet from us. She then looked back to me "So tell me about yourself. You hardly speak at all in class."

I saw there jaws drop since she didn't shoo me away almost immediately after I sat down. I heard whispering in the silence that now wreaked the walls of the building. I tried my best to ignore this and focus on her attempt to start a small conversation. "There's not much to me." was all I was able to get out. She actually seemed to be interested in listening, which was a first. She cocked her head to the left a bit, confused, but then got the point as she noticed half the cafeteria staring at us.

"Oh, same here." she said as we began to eat. Slowly the people watching turned back to there own conversations, but Rose's friends wouldn't let up, they just kept glaring at her. She ignored them somehow and continued to eat in silence. After a few minutes one of them finally had the nerve to walk over.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" the girl asked her.

Rose looked at the girl "Yea sure" she looked back at me and smiled "I'll be just a second." Rose got up and followed the other girl into the bathroom and I was just left there, at the table, alone. It wasn't even ten seconds though when Rose walked back out of the bathroom. The girl came out soon after, but had a big red mark on the right side of her face. I don't know what the girl said to Rose, but I'm pretty sure it was about me in some way. Rose just smiled back at me and sat down in her seat. The other girls looked at her with disgust and began chatting away.

"You didn't need to do that." I said looking down at my now empty tray.

"No I didn't, but I did. You need to learn how to stick up for yourself other than fighting." she said finishing off her own sandwich.

"But why did you do that?"

"She deserved it, plain and simple."

"What do you mean she deserved it?"

"She went on about you being some freak and how I shouldn't be seen with you, so I hit her across the face."

"But... she's right, I am a freak."

"No you're not, not to me anyway."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that beyond those scales of yours is something, something great and I'd like to see that thing come through."

"What is this thing you're talking about?" I said slightly offended that she sounded like she was using me or something.

"I'm not going to tell you, you'll have to figure that out for yourself." Rose giggled "common lets get out of here, this place is to weird." I nodded and got up. We headed out of the building, dropping our trays at the appropriate spot. "Hey do you have any other classes today?"

"Nope I'm free till Monday."

"Good, same here."

"That's good?"

"Yea, why would it be bad?"

"What about your friends?"

"If they don't like me enough so that I can talk to you then they're not my friends."

"What about everyone else?"

"I can't care less about what everyone else thinks; as long as I know the truth I know it's not true."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I want to If you ask me that question again I'm gonna have to punch you " Rose said jokingly.

"I'd like to see you try and." before I could finish she had me in a headlock. She was a strong one, could probably beat up most of the men hear by the way she moved. Her technique was simple, a standard headlock, but very effective. Though a basic one such as this is easy to counter as long as you remain coolheaded and don't panic. All I had to do was back up into her and lean forward. I did just that and she fell forward only to land back on her feet, arms still holding to my neck.

"You'll have to do better than that " she said "Better hurry you have about thirty seconds left before you pass out." I took her advice and worked quickly by trying to grab her legs, but she moved them away. "Twenty seconds " Rose called out. I felt my body weaken as I tried to grab a hold of something the might be able to help me. "Ten seconds " she called. Then, it hit me, all I had to do was lay down and she would be forced to let go. I quickly fell backwards and felt her release her grasp on my neck.

"Gottcha " I yelled as I grabbed her right leg. I was horribly mistaken as she swung around with her left foot and I painfully found that her boots had steel toe caps. I jumped to my feet as I flew back from the kick and she rushed at me and I jumped back. She was quick and caught me on my fall back down as she swung her right leg at me. I blocked that with my left arm and she swung with her left. I grabbed that one with my tail as she fell back to the ground, my own fist about an inch away from her face. Our little spar was over.

"See I can take care of myself."

"I never said you couldn't."

"True, but you thought I couldn't. I'm not just your average college girl ya know."

"I can see that." she bursted out laughing for some reason. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing... it's nothing" she said trying to breath. She suddenly stopped and picked herself up. We walked for awhile till we came to the large oak tree (my sanctuary) and sat down on the grass next to it. We just talked for hours on end on pointless topics like why the sky is blue, the meaning of life, etc... We received occasional stares from passers by, but that was about it. We just went on forever, it's not like I cared I had nothing planned for the rest of the day anyway. "Do you think dragons are real?" She asked me.

"Just in children's fantasies. Why do you ask?"

"I think they're real, or were real anyway."

"That's impossible, dragons are just some made up myth that has become very popular"

"Think about it for a second. Dragons all appeared around the world at about the same time right?"

"Yea, so what's your point?"

"How can a myth appear around the known world in a year or two when it would normally take a few decades to travel? Even if it had started in the exact center of culture how can it spread from China and Japan to every where in Western Europe in just a few years?"

"I... I guess I can't answer that... what brought this anyway?"

"You're scales remind me of a statue I bought a while back, I think they're the exact color and shape, if not it's a nice resemblance."

"Can I see it?"

"I'll show it to you tomorrow .Oh and by the my room is 586 ." we didn't say anything for awhile and the night was lit up by the half sleeping moon as it rose above the buildings on campus. By this time I noticed that Rose was now sitting right next to me. She was probably tired and wanted to go to sleep. I was about to suggest that we go our separate ways for the night. Before I could say anything she let out a rather loud yawn. She fell onto my shoulder and immediately fell asleep. 'Well this is just great' I thought to myself 'now I have to carry her back, hopefully no one will see me.

Finding her room was going to be the easy part, since all the dorms are modeled the same way. The hard part was not to be seen by anyone, I didn't want to think I did anything suspicious. Because it's me if people see me carrying her they'll immediately think I raped her or something stupid like that. Also, I didn't want anyone to think there was something between us or anything like that. It's not that I would mind dating Rose; she's one of the few people in this world that have shown me respect. It's just that I didn't want anymore rumors spreading around about stupid and pointless crap

I picked her up, bridal style, so not to wake her and walked briskly through the shadows of the night. I even positioned my tail so that it acted as sort of a pillow as I moved. I came up to the girls' dorm and looked around, thankfully no one was present. I walked in through the main doors and headed to the stairs thinking the elevator would probably have people in it. I climbed up the several flights to the top floor; thankfully there was no one in the room except a few girls to drunk to even know who I was. I walked out into the empty halls and down the doors till I found room 586.

I reached into Rose's back pocket, pulled out her wallet, and found the key card. I swiped the card through the reader and a green light blinked on. I put the card back in her wallet and put that back in her pocket. I pushed the door open slowly and crept in. My luck had run out as her roommate spotted me and ran for the nearest object. She grabbed a wooden pole and swung at my head and it connected. I almost fell over to the side from the blow but retained my footing. She swung again and hit my leg, now I was annoyed.

"Will you knock it off already." I said in a voice just above a whisper. "Look at what I'm holding, jeez." she took a look at my arms and lowered her weapon as she saw Rose. She pointed to a bed and I nodded. I walked over to the bed and gently placed Rose on it. I looked around her room and saw the handle of a blade resting on her night stand. It was trimmed with a dark silver and black. Two dragon like figures were etched into it one was tinted blue, the other red. There tails started at the base and intertwined around the blade. The bodies of the two dragons seemed to work as a handle, and there wings molded together to make the guard. The necks snaked on upward and the tilted to the side so that they could bite on the blade that was currently missing.

It was a marvelous piece of craftsmanship I've ever seen in my life. Every scale proportioned to be exact, every claw shaped to perfection, the wings were polished and shaped so that they looked like they were real ones. I looked back at Rose's roommate and she was just glaring at me. I pushed myself up from the bed and my hand landed nest to the handle. I felt a jolt of lightning in my right hand and jumped up. I immediately left the room and the building with haste. I practically sprinted back to my own room. My body felt strange and I felt a small burning sensation in my right arm. I never felt this strange though, this was a different feeling, but before I could figure what it was the sensation went away.

I walked into my room to find Mark on his laptop playing some game. He looked at me and then turned his head towards someone around the corner. I walked in and there was the principle of the college. He was a tall man, very muscular, and looked to be about thirty three. He dawned a black suit and tie and had a shaved face. His hair was a died jet black that covered his fore head and most of his right eye. He turned his head to me and starred, his voice hard as stone "We need to talk." all I did was stand there and nod as Mark quietly left the room, taking a glance at my tail.

End of Chapter III

Chapter IV

"Principal Owens, sir what brings you here?" I said as Mark quietly closed behind him. I already knew why he was hear, I was just wondering how much he knew.

"It's about the incident that happened this afternoon. I understand that you have, a um . . . tail." His voice was stern with a hint of nervousness. It was understandable, and I knew I wasn't going to be punished for what I had done. This wasn't the first time he had visited my room about things like this. He in fact looked forward to sometimes witnessing them. Strange for a principal I know, but I guess he figured that if broke it up then they would just attack me later. Also, they would learn their lesson eventually and apparently no amount of suspension or detention would make them stop.

He looked me in the eyes, which is something he often did, especially when speaking to me. I respected him for at least acknowledging my presence and granting me some respect. He then lowered his gaze toward my mid section and his eyes widened a bit when he saw my tail. I saw a small hint of surprise in his eye and that shocked me. It wasn't because he was surprised, it was the fact that he didn't seem to care. He then lowered his head onto his hand, his fingers began rubbing his temples. "Look, there's no rule saying you can't have a tail, but why do you have to wear it?"

"Sir my tail's real, there's nothing fake about it. Personally if a can remove the terrible thing I'd do it in a heart beat." He then raised his head, a small smile coming across his face. He was thinking of the damage I could do with it obviously and he frowned as the thoughts turned out bad.

"Just don't use it as a weapon, I know you don't want the press here and neither do I. If possible just put it away where you've been keeping it for all this time. It not then just don't use it much, people are already scared of you ya know."

"I know sir, I know all too well that people fear me for my abilities . . . though I still don't know why you like seeing my talents."He chuckled.

"Well lets just say that I see good things on the road ahead for you, Taioth."

"Who's Taioth?" he stopped laughing and began to walk out of the room.

"I'm sorry it's getting late, and I must be going." I lowered his head so not to meet my gaze and started out the door. Before he could reach the handle, Mark opened the door just in time to be run over by a large busy man. He grunted and I helped up Mark and watched Mr. Owens march quickly down the hallway.

"What was that about?" Mark asked as I helped him up.

"I... I don't know. We talked about another incident that happened this afternoon and then he said the name Taioth and then he just marched out the door."

'He knows more about you than yourself.'

"Who said that?"

"Who said what?" Mark looked at me, confused. "Who are you talking to?"

"Never mind" what was that just now. I heard a voice in my head and then nothing. I went back into my room and Mark closed the door. The burning sensation I had earlier now reappeared, but in two lines across my back. It also increased in pain, not enough to hurt me, but enough to annoy the hell out of me. I wanted to see if the wounds on my back were really gone. It's not that I doubted Rose's word it's just that I wanted to see for myself.

I went into the bathroom and took off my shirt, which takes awhile due to my scales being sharp and pointed. They were like an array of two inch triangles that curved along with my body. So I always had to be very careful when removing any type of clothing. One I had my shirt off I walked over to the mirror and put my back to it. I grabbed a much smaller hand held mirror and looked into it. Through the two mirrors I saw that Rose was indeed correct, no mark of when I was attacked. 'Of course there wasn't you're not one of them '

"Who said that?" I asked quietly not wanting to worry Mark.

'You already know what I am, but as for who I am I myself do not know. There is know need to speak I know your every thought.'

'How can you not know who you are and how are you communicating to me like this?'

'I have lost all memory but that of combat and learning. And I can talk to you like this because I've know you all your life.'

'How's that possible? How can you have known me for that long? Who are you?'

'Look into the mirror and you shall see who I am.' I looked into the mirror and saw nothing other than my reflection.

'Stop playing with me and tell me who you are dammit ' I waited for a several minuets, but there was know answer from this voice in my head. What ever that voice was it was gone, for now at least. I cringed in a sudden flash of pain as the burning sensation moved to my entire right arm and shoulder. I closed my eyes and grunted at the pain that now pulsated through my arm. I fell down on the white, tile floor with a loud thud. I grabbed my arm and rubbed it, vainly trying to stop the pain.

I opened my eyes and looked at what was going on. I saw my arm and it appeared fine but my scales were growing. They grew out of the other scales and continued down my arm. The spread out in a spiral formation and curved downward towards my hand. They then spread out and wrapped around each finger individually. They then circled around my palm until the covered it entirely. From my fingertips sprouted curved black objects. They extended to about six inches long each. The black cylindrical objects then cracked and began to fall apart. I blinked and then the cracked bits and pieces fell onto the tile. In there place were six inch claws that looked like they could cut through anything.

The pain in my arm subsided and I starred at my hand and began to cry. Why do these things keep happening to me? Why does my life have to be this way? Why must I suffer like this? 'Why do you weep young one'

'Why? Why ? Because I am a freak'

'Why do you regret having these gifts'

'Gifts you call these atrocities gifts?... You... you did this to me didn't you. Why did you do this to me? Is this some kind of sick joke to you? To ruin the life and childhood of a person? Who gave you the right to do such things '

'I know the suffering you have been going through, for I have been with you the entire way. Since your birth I have been with you, if your mother had raised you thing would be different. You would know about these gifts and what had just happened to your right arm and hand. Things would be different if.'

'If what? If my mother was still hear? Well she's not, she's in a mental hospital for believing that dragons existed Why do you torment me with this? Just go away and leave me alone '

'I cannot leave for I am unable to even if I wanted. So, you're stuck with me now calm down and listen to my words.'

'Why the hell should I? You're the one who did this to me, why should I let you do more?'

'I'm going to tell you how to retract your claws back into your body, so please just hear me out.'

'Ok fine, so how do I bring them back in?'

'First, you need to relax. Second, imagine the talons moving back into your hand. Finally, close up the holes and seal them in with your will to do so. This may seem simple, but it would probably take you around an hour to pull it off.' I nodded in agreement and tried to calm myself down. This took awhile and when I finally did it I tried imagining the claws coming back into my body. I felt them move, very slowly. I kept my hands straight as the retracted into my hands, and I felt my scales expand to compensate for the extra mass.

I got off the ground and looked into the mirror. Nothing had changed except that my right arm and hand were completely covered in scales that looked like they were spiraling downward. Also, my right hand looked a little bigger than usual, but not as big as I thought it would be due to the talons. 'Well you're a quick learner.' said the strange voice.

'What the hell is happening to me Tell me now ' I said staring at my right hand.

'You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. So, I won't. Instead I'll tell you that your friend might know some things about you that you yourself don't even know.'

'What the fuck is that supposed to mean ' I cried out to this strange voice, slamming my hands on the sink in front of me. I waited for a reply from the voice, but it was gone. Whoever this was knew things about me and I had to find out where the source was. I head someone banging on the door.

"Hey Stel what's going on in there? You okay?" he seemed worried and before I could even answer he opened the door. "What happened to you?" Mark said as his eyes found that my right arm and hand.

"I don't have the slightest clue. All I felt was that my arm started burning and then the scales started to grow and cover my entire arm."

"Oh so it was you making those grunts."

"Yeah who else could it be?"

"I thought it was the neighbors. They've been arguing since I got here and I thought that they finally beat the crap out of each other" Mark started to laugh, but quickly stopped since I wasn't feeling in the brightest of moods. "So what happened with you and Rose? I saw you two talking by the tree and decided best not to bother you."

"Nothing happened, we just talk and she went back to her room. Wait how do you know Rose anyway?"

"Well she's from my old school, we were friends and she's also in my chem. class."

"Hmm, what's she like I mean she's only started talking to me today. Says she has always wanted to though."

"Well Rose is a strange girl. She's not average to say the least, very smart, very strong, loves to spar, and loves talking even more. That about sums it up."

"Well I kinda knew that already, any idea why she wears steel-toe boots though?"

"Helps with fighting and running I guess? Why was she the one who attacked you?"

"No, not really, but I spared with her once before she left." a shocked expression came over his face.

"Wow, I'm surprised you're not in worse shape, no bruises or anything, not even a black eye. I take it she went easy on you?"

"I doubt it, her headlock was almost perfect, but easy to counter, so I beat her in that match." Mark seemed to look at me strangely, in disbelief of what I had just said.

"You mean you actually beat her ? No has ever been able to do that in a long time "

"You mean I wasn't the first?"I said, surprised that someone beat someone as strong as her.

"Yeah it was me, though it was completely on accident. She had me in her dreadful headlock that she has dubbed "Choker", but slipped on the wet ground. I took advantage and tackled her to the ground. That was when she started wearing the boots, and I've never been able to beat her since." Now I was in disbelief, Mark said he couldn't fight, but yet he said he beat Rose in a sparing match.

"So... when was this?"

"Oh I beat her when she was around seven and a half years old."

"Oh... anything else that you know?"

"Well she knows a lot about the mythic dragons. For some reason she takes great interest in them. Maybe that's why she talks to you so much, you kinda remind me of one."

"Yeah she said the same thing." After that there was an awkward silence and the Mark went back to his game. I laid down on my back and thought about the events of today. For some reason the name Taioth kept popping into my head and it seemed oddly familiar. I fell asleep in my bed around eleven at night without realizing it.

I found myself standing in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by a thick forest. I looked around and noticed that the trees were so close together that they formed a wall of wood. The sky was clear and I heard birds singing their songs off in the distance. I was standing on top of a hill and in front of my was a small, circular table. It had three legs that wove in between each other like a braid and seemed to go down into the ground. It was made out of a fine red oak and had Celtic designs all around the edges. In the middle of the table was the silver handle I saw in Rose's room.

I looked at it closely and it was the same detailed figures and designs. I leaned in to touch it but was pushed back by a jolt of black lightning that came from the bottom of the object. The lightning now crackled all around it forming a protective sphere to ward off enemies. Off in the distance I heard the flapping of large wings. I turned around to find where the sound could be coming from, but couldn't find the source. There was a loud crashing sound from behind me and I slowly turned to see what had caused it. I jumped as I saw a large pair of red eyes, the beast glared at me. I followed down the creatures long neck and saw that it was standing on all fours. Each foot had several large, black talons coming from them that dug into the ground. The thing growled and stretched out its wings that appeared to be twenty feet each This thing was a black dragon, a razor toothed, fire breathing black dragon

I lost my footing and fell next to the round table scarred out of my mind. "Grab your blade young one" there was the voice again, but this time it came from the wind not my head. I pulled myself up using the table as a balance and reach towards the handle. I pulled back as the black lightning struck my hand. I turned my head to see that the dragon was fast approaching, mouth wide open, and ready to devour me. Without a second thought a reached for the sword handle once more. I cried out in pain, but kept reaching in as the electricity lapped up and down my arms. I was finally able to reach it and as my hand grasped the handle everything went black.

I woke up in a panic, covered in a cold sweat and panting hard. I looked around the room and saw that it was four in the morning. I rested my legs at the edge of my bed and put my hands on them. I began to push myself up and yelped out as I felt something pierce my right leg. I turned on a nearby lamp and saw that my claws had come out during the middle of the night. More importantly I saw that they had pierced my scales, something I have not done until now. I was scarred, these things were obviously very dangerous and could probably cut through almost anything.

I had to calm myself down though, which took awhile, to pull the claws back in. I quickly changed my cloths and turned off the lamp before going back to sleep. Which was hard due to Mark's loud breathing that sounded more like snoring. So I laid there in the darkness, staring at nothing in particular. 'Hey you there, whoever you are?' I said in my mind, calling to the strange voice.

'Yes I am and will always be here. What so you want?'

'What's up with that blade handle... the one I saw in my dream?'

'Well it rightfully belongs to you seeing as you're the only one who can unlock its potential, though I doubt she'll hand it over to you willingly.'

'Why wouldn't she?'

'It's a heirloom of hers, and she treasures it well.'

'Wait how do you know about Rose anyway?'

'I met for one of her ancestors many life times ago, and she just happens to look just like her'

'How many years are we talking about here?'

'I don't know what year is it?'

'2006.'

'Then around a thousand years ago I met her.'

'Wow, so what have you been doing since then?'

'Waiting.'

'Waiting? Waiting for what?'

'Waiting for you.'

'Why me? Why not someone else.'

'Such is the way of fate. It's also thanks to your mother and a little magic I've done when I was still in a physical body. Now please let me rest.'

'Yeah...sure...' we spoke no further and a slowly closed my eyes and let sleep take hold of me.

End of Chapter IV

Chapter V

I awoke in my bed about three hours later and got out of bed. I took a look at my right arm and noticed that nothing had changed since the night before. I wanted to take another look at my claws and brought them back at. As I thought, it was just by reversing the process to put them in except you still had to be calm afterwards. They had blood on the tips of them, my blood, and I walked into the sink and cleaned them off. I guess I was starting to get used to the fact that I had claws already, since I could at least hide them. Though my body was still covered in sweat from earlier this morning.

I stripped my cloths off slowly so as not to tear them into shreds. I noticed that the wound I inflicted upon myself was gone as well. I still don't know how I was able to heal this fast, but I really didn't want to find out either. I turned on the shower and stepped in, having to curl my tail around so it would fit in with me. The water was cold, but began to warm up relaxing my body. 'So what are you going to do now?'

'I thought you said that you needed to rest?'

'Yes I did say that Taioth and I did rest a great deal.'

'Okay who the hell is Taioth? I've heard that name twice now and I still have no clue who or what it is '

'It is you, how could you not know your own name?'

'No, my name is Stelven Rogers. You must have me mistaken for someone else.'

'I do not make mistakes. Your name must've been changed when you were young.'

'No that's impossible, my birth certificate says that name and it cannot be changed.'

'No Taioth is your name, and I was there when it was decided by your mother and father.'

'You knew my parents Who are you, tell me the truth You said you have been dead for a thousand years '

'Yes I have and that's when your name was decided. Both your parents were there, your mother, a human, and your father, one of my kind.'

'How's it possible that my mother was alive a thousand years ago And what do you mean by one of my kind '

'You will found out soon enough.'

'No I've waited to long, I should already know things such as this, but I don't and yet you somehow do Tell me what the hell is going on now ' My voice screamed inside my head demanding to know more. Logic told me that whoever this was, was lying, but still I needed to know. Something told me that I wouldn't believe him if I believed in logic at this point so I disregarded it. I had my reasons, one being that my arm grew out scales and claws that came out of my finger tips. Also, above anything else, I wanted something to believe in, a glimmer of hope to maybe lead me to some answers about myself.

'Fine, I will tell you some not all, you will learn the rest when the time is right . . . Your father, though being one of the last of his kind cast a spell. This spell was basically a mating call, to all creatures in many different places, in many different time zones. The call, by some chance, reached your mother and she was pulled back a thousand years into the past. Much to your father's surprise he saw the human appear through the void which he had created. She laid her eyes upon him and needless to say was scarred. After a little explaining a mutual agreement was formed and they lived together. As time passed they gradually fell for one another and thus you were created. You would've been raised there in that time had not. Human slayers came. They attacked your father without mercy, but at his dying breath he cast your mother and yourself back through the void to her own time...'

'Is that all there is?'

'Yes... well all I'm going to tell you for now anyway. I'm surprised your taking this so well.'

'Well it's something to believe in, isn't it?'

'This is true.' The strange voice soon left and I was standing alone, in the shower. Why I even believed his story I don't know, but it was something at least. I turned off the water and dried myself off before getting dressed for today. I wasn't planning anything special for today anyway so I just dressed in my normal attire, dark blue shirt and jeans, nothing special. Though it still took me around an hour to get fully dressed. I walked out of the bathroom and noticed that Mark was still sleeping and walked out the door quietly and unnoticed.

I walked around campus and got the normal stares as I did any other day. I found the tall oak tree and climbed up it, not caring who saw. I noticed someone at the top of the tall branches as I climbed up. Whoever it was started to climb down as I continued to go up, jumping from branch to branch. The person looked at me, his/her face hidden in the shadows of the dark leaves. The person the jumped toward me and landed on the same branch I was on. I looked down to see Rose's smiling face as she grabbed my arm. "Thanks for bringing me back last night." Rose pulled me and gave me a short, but strong hug. She jumped back when she was cut on her right arm.

"Oh sorry about that, I forgot to tell you my scales have sharp ends " I said in a panic, hoping she wasn't going to reject me now.

"What, this little scratch? This is nothing, but I'll have to be a little more careful next time." She said, still smiling brightly. Her face then turned to one of worry "Hey, do you know what's up with the black clouds?"

"Black clouds?"

"You didn't see them? How can you not, just look up into the sky there are pitch black clouds circling campus?" She pointed towards the sky sounding more worried by the second. We climbed down the large tree and looked up into the sky. Sure enough, there were dark black clouds all around campus, as if trying to block out the sun completely and shroud the place in eternal darkness. "Any idea what's going to happen?"

"Well they don't look like storm clouds, rather ones made of smoke and ash."

"What, how can that be, there weren't any fires reported and there's no volcano for another three hundred thousand miles "

"I'm just tell you what I think."

'Mr. Owens might know the answer to your question.'

'Why would he know?'

'Well he does know your real name so he isn't your average human.'

'But still . . . '

'Look, just get to him before something bad happens, and bring the girl with you.'

'Fine, I'll go, but just explain to me what's going on here.'

'Something bad . . . something very bad.'

'Good enough for me.' I stopped gazing at the black clouds and turned my attention to Rose. "Do you know where Mr. Owens is right now?" She looked at me questioningly.

"Yea, he should be in his office, but why would you."

"Common we have to get there quick." I grabbed her arm and began to pull her along with me as we ran to the administration building. She began to trip at first, but then caught her footing.

"Hey . . . wait . . . what's going on?"

"All I know is that something bad is going to happen and Owens might know exactly what." She nodded in agreement and kept up with me. We ran through the doors of the building and down the halls, pushing aside all who tried to get in our way. We found his office at the end of a long hallway and pushed open the door. The tall man was standing by a window, looking toward the sky. He turned around and took a seat on his leather, office chair. He looked at us with a frown on his face, the voice was right something was about to happen the question is what. He folded his hands in front of his face as we took a seat on two chairs in front of his rather large desk, he knew we were coming.

"Ah so, you finally arrived. I've been waiting for you two to get here." He looked up and down my body looking for something and stared at my right arm. "Ah, I see you've changed since we last met. Good, we're going to need all the help we can get for what is about to happen."

"Excuse me sir, but what the hell is going on here?" He looked at me and said nothing. He pressed a small red button on his intercom and spoke into it.

"Miss Slaw please gets all students to the safe room, lock down procedure code 13629." He waited for a response from his own private secretary. A harsh female voice crackled through the com.

"Yes sir, lock down initiated, we'll have everyone at the safe room in twenty minutes." Suddenly the room went dark, and a red emergency light lit up the room, barley.

"Damn, we're too late, they're already here " Owens slammed his fist into the wooden desk.

"Sir who's here and what the hell is going on " I looked over to Rose who was just sitting there in shock as of what was taking place at the moment. He didn't reply, all he did was pull out a pistol of sorts and tossed it to Rose. He then reached down under his desk he pulled out a large glove with five long wooden sheaths coming out of the finger tips. He pulled off the sheaths to reveal five two foot long, black blades. He slipped on the glove and motioned us toward the door. We followed and he opened it, I saw a black figure jump at him and he slashed the blades at it. The thing fell were it stood and a green liquid poured out from underneath the body. The figure then dispersed into ash. I looked up at him, scarred out of my mind and watched as he walked outside.

I heard two sickening slashing sounds along with the screams from the strange creatures outside the door. Owens opened it fully and beckoned us to move with him. We did not move and he glared at us. "You can either come with me or join the rest of your friends outside." He said in a cold voice as he pointed toward the window. I ran over to it and saw the horrifying black creatures running rampant over the campus. There were hundreds of them all over the place slaughtering everything that moved. I almost fainted as I saw the star QB from yesterday get his head cut off by one of the creatures claws.

Some of the students were putting up some resistance with some guns and knives they had, but were quickly disemboweled by the black creatures. I turned over to Rose who was standing next to me and she shuddered at what was happening to her friends. I quickly closed the thick curtains and refused to let anyone else look through them. I tried to get her to move but she was in shock, scarred out of her mind at what was happening to everyone she knew. "Owens what the fuck is going on " I screamed, demanding an answer from him if not for me then for Rose, to help calm her down.

"There is no time to explain we must get out of here now before it is to late "

"To late To late for what Owens, what the hell are these things' after "

"You dammit They're after you We must not let them reach their goal or all is lost, now common we must get moving " What did he say, they're after me? All these people dying just so the creatures can get to me? Why . . . why . . . why do, they want me, what have I done. I have done nothing, I don't even know these creatures. What is going on here? Why do I have to be the reason behind so many deaths? It's true that I didn't like everyone here, but I never wished for them to die. "Common dammit we need to move now " His voice boomed and brought me back to reality, I took Rose's hand and followed Owens down the long hallways.

We stepped out into the hall only to hear the screams of death by the people down below as well as gun fire. Rose followed behind me to shocked to protest or retaliate for the moment, but she still held the weapon that she was given. Owens turned the corner and we heard several slashing sounds and saw the green ooze that was the creature's blood splash onto the wall. We went around the corner and saw several of the black figures on the ground, dead, as well as several of the faculty members. I felt Rose's hand shake uncontrollably, who could blame her, no one suspected this to happen, at least now here and now.

As we reached the door to the outside, I covered Rose's eyes before she could see what lay ahead of her. The once beautiful grass lands were now turned into fields of blood and death as the students bodies fell and were piled up against one another. "Listen to me and listen well. Ste, I mean Taioth go to the mens dorm and get everyone who's still alive out of there. I'll take Rose and we will head over toward the woman's dorm. Hopefully there are still some who made it in time. Use your claws to slay the beasts if you must, but try and avoid them, I doubt you're ready to face them yet."

I nodded to him and he took Rose and ran off toward the woman's dorm as I ran in the opposite direction. I ran past the bodies of humans and the occasional creature as I headed toward my destination. Surprisingly the creatures were no where insight, and I came to the realization that they must have found where everyone was hiding and moved toward them. I doubled my pace somehow and arrived at the dorm to find the doors ripped off their hinges and more bodies of the students on the steps. They were probably at the top so I wasted no time with the elevator and sprinted up the stairs. I found several of the football team huddled together at the bottom of the stairs, scared out of their mind. "Is there anyone else here?" I asked them as calmly as possible so not to scare them even more.

"Th . . . the . . . they're upstairs. Those in the dorm were able to make it up there and make a small barricade before these things attacked." There were only three of them huddled together and without a second though they followed me to the rest of the survivors. We passed the bodies of several students that hung on the railing and stairs. They paid no attention as we sprinted up the stairs. I opened the door as we reached the top level and closed it before the others could get through and see the creatures clawing away at the door to the top level showers. I unsheathed my claws and cut their heads off in one swipe, they didn't even notice me so it was very easy. The door opened and I retracted my claws before they could see.

The four of us proceeded toward the door and banged on it "Hey is anyone in there " I called to them to receive no answer. "Stand back I'm breaking the door down " I backed up and charged the door. It tore in half as I reached the inside of the bathroom. I was thankful at the moment, about thirty of the students made it here in time and they were relived a bit to see me. Among them was Mark, he was the person in front and looked the most calm at the moment. "Is this everyone who's left?" they all nodded, too scared to talk. "Common, we have to get out of here now." No one moved. "Lets go it's only a matter of time before they." I stopped upon hearing a scream of agony from outside.

Another one of the creatures charged in after killing one of the survivors that was standing outside. It paid no attention to me and jumped straight for the survivors. Before it could reach them, I split in half with my claws, the thing fell to the ground dead and everyone just looked at me. "Everyone who wants to live come with me or face these things by them selves "

End of Chapter V

Chapter VI

"So are you coming or not?" I asked them as the creature's blood dripped off the ends of my talons. Everyone stayed still for the moment and everything was quiet. Mark was the only one to walk forward. "Anyone else coming, or are you going to stay here? Might I remind you the door's broken." Slowly, one by one, the rest of the survivors walked forward. I nodded to them, happy that they decided to trust me for once. I walked out of the bathroom and headed toward the stairs, while the others gasped at the dozens of dead bodies that scattered the area.

We reached the end of the hall without any resistance and marched down the stairs fairly quickly. I looked around and noticed that the bodies were now gone, nothing left except trails of blood that went down the stairs. No one dared speak, afraid that the slightest sound will alert one of the creatures of our presence. I heard the sound of something being dragged and looked over the railing. Everyone did the same and no one spoke as we all saw the body of a slain student being dragged out of the door. This was our only way out of the building and luck has it that it was guarded by these creatures. 'They're wraiths.'

'They're what '

'They are wraiths, servants of the dark lord, they have no permanent physical form, they are just black essence with claws and a face. Their blood is a green color as you have already seen.'

'Okay, do these things have any weaknesses?'

'None other than slashing them to bits as you have already done.' I moved down to the bottom door and peaked out. Nothing was there other than trails of blood that led out toward the center of campus. I found one of the creatures before it caught site of me and decapitated it. 'Strange.'

'What is it?'

'The wraith's physical form seems to be more permanent now then last time I've come across these creatures.'

'And that means what exactly?'

'I don't know, but I'm going to have to guess that the summoner is fairly weak. You would not have been able to sneak up on it like that if these were strong ones.'

'So where is the being that brought these creatures?'

'I cannot say, though he is somewhere within the city.'

'Oh like that helps.'

'Maybe you should worry about that after you've secured the compound.' I took his advice and led the rest of the survivors toward the women's dorm, which is on the other side of campus to help prevent any thing happening between the different genders. We ran along the fields and I only saw piles of bodies that raised above ten feet high. There were no wraiths around though, it seemed as if suddenly they all just disappeared. I looked up as I ran and noticed that the entire sky was now black with bits of red light poking through.

I looked forward and saw the my destination off in the distance, surrounded by many of the creatures. The survivors, not wishing to part with me, picked up anything they could find to defend themselves. Though the distance between me and them grew larger as I neared the building. I looked into it for any signs of life and saw much movement in the top windows. I turned my attention back to the creatures on ground level who seemed to notice me and were heading in my direction. I stopped, claws ready, as they approached me, with their own claws ready to cut me to pieces.

As the first one reached, I slashed upwards and the creature split in two. Before its body turned to ash, I grabbed the two pieces and hurled them at the mob. Two wraiths went down and another four jumped over them in my direction. I leaned back and saw the claws of all four of them as they leaned it. I took my own claws and used them to amputate the arms from their bodies with one swing. I heard the screeches of pain as I grabbed the decapitated limps and used them as throwing knives against their owners. Two more charged at me and knocked me down on my feet, though I jumped back up to meet their claws.

I dodged one though the other struck the flesh on my left arm and I hissed at the pain. I felt my arm soon go numb though I still continued to hack the remaining creatures to bits. I was soon unable to move my arm, but I hardly noticed. I felt the presence of something in my arm as well, something fighting for control over my body. Though there was another thing fighting against it, I guessed that it was the voice. I pushed my thoughts aside and focused on the battle at hand, and noticed that my movements were getting slower. Whatever that cut had done to me was beginning to take its toll.

I jumped back, avoiding another slash from one of the creatures, but was too slow as the thing jumped into me. I flew back and crashed into one of the brick buildings behind me, indenting it. I felt extremely weak and almost passed out. I tried to move, but found myself unable to do so. I felt pins and needles all over my body before I was able to step out of it. The creatures charged at me and I readied my claws. Something was different as I charged them and I thrust my hand toward them. I saw my hand lunge forward and pass right through the creatures.

Nothing happened as I ran through it, I looked at my arm and noticed that my scales and claws were gone. I inspected my body quickly and noticed that my tail was gone as well. I was human, no scales, no claws, no nothing I looked normal. As much as I would love to stay like it I knew now was not the best time fo this to happen. How did the creature pass through me though, I wondered? I turned around quickly and saw that somehow my body was still inbeded in the brick. I looked at it closely and noticed that it started to move. 'I'm sorry Taioth, but you must survive.'

'What are you talking about, how did I end up out of my own body?'

'Just watch and rest. I will take care of this situation.' I turned my head toward the survivors and shouted toward them, hoping they could hear me. They didn't even so much as glance at me as ran right over. 'They cannot see or hear you Taioth. You are just a spirt floating around the world right now.' I turned my head back toward my body and noticed that it was already standing on the ground. For some reason it had forcefully removed my shirt and shoes from me. Something had taken control and was now using my body.

I ran up to it and noticed that I was able to travel vast distances almost instantly. I looked at my body and then it turned its head to meet my gaze. 'Just sit back and learn Taioth.'

'Learn? Learn what?' The voice did not respond and my body looked away from me. I looked at its eyes and noticed that my human one had changed into the reptilian look of my other eye. My body leaned forward and I saw red scales burst out of it, where there was flesh. They were sticking straight up but then lowered, covering my skin. The black cylinders appeared out of the left hand, which was now covered in the red scales, and my body jerked it. Pieces of it flew away as the claws were real, similar, but still different to the ones my body already had. These ones were curved in more, almost like a hook to rip out flesh and muscle.

I was shocked, but there was still more to come as my body took its new claws and the other ones and cut two vertical slices that cut through the blue and red scales. I looked, amazed and scarred at what my own body had done to itself without my will. My eyes lowered and noticed that my feet were much like my hands, covered in red scales and black sickle like claws coming from the ends. My body leaned forward and its tail swung back in forth rather quickly. Something started to come out of the two cuts in my bodies back wanting to be released. There was a sickening squishing sound as the things popped out.

These things looked demonic as they spread out from behind my body. They were covered in blood and pieces of flesh the casually fallen off. These "things" spread out and stretched and looked to be about ten feet each. They moved back and forth and shook off all the remaining blood and flesh, what remained explained it all. They were wings Huge, bat-like, wings I can't think of anything else to describe them other than the fact that they were covered in the red scales. They I noticed that my body was growing, slowly at first, but it picked up pace. My body's muscles expanded and grew, I could see the very outline of my legs through my pants as they started to tear a little bit around the knees.

My body looked very strong, enough so that it could probably put the body builders to shame. It didn't make my body look like it though, just enough muscle and size that it could probably lift a truck. I looked at what was supposedly me as I grew another foot or so. I noticed that my face was starting to get longer as well. My hair was then retracted into my skin and what came out made it look like that my entire face was in a mask. Though I knew it wasn't a mask, it was apart of my body. My teeth became fangs and I was now truly a monster. 'Do not be afraid of this Taioth for you must accept it one day. This is what you will become at some time in your life and you will not know when. You must embrace this fact for it is the one thing that sets you apart from the humans at this point. Taioth, you must fight the remainder of the battle, for I cannot fight it. Now come, embrace your self, rise, and fight as a dragon '

I blinked at the word, dragon. That's what I am, a dragon, but... how... and why? I saw my vision go completely dark and as soon as I could see nothing, but the darkness was soon washed away as my sight soon reappeared. I wasn't where I was a second ago, and I was standing where my body was, facing the wraiths. I looked at them, watched them as time seemed to slow down. The thing was literally about a foot away from me. I watched in slow motion as it lashed its claws at me. I casually grabbed it and lightly pushed him away. What I thought to be a small push turned out to be the creature flying into its companions and knocking all five of them about a hundred yards away. If that was just a light push then I was afraid of what a shove could do to them, or anyone else.

I glanced back at Mark who was in utter shock as well as everyone else that was with him, and heck some were even lying on the ground, passed out. I quickly ran over to the wraiths that were still in mid air from my "gentle push" and decapitated them all with great ease. I noticed more coming and walked in their direction. I walked over to them quickly and sighed just before I cut off the first one's head. Through it didn't feel like the normal sigh there was something different about it. I closed my eyes for a second as my claws neared the thing's head. I saw a bright flash of light and felt a strong heat wave and opened my eyes. I found the creature in flames and a jet of that flame escaping my mouth, which had elongated during this little transformation to a muzzle or whatever you call it.

The heat flash didn't affect me much, in fact a rather enjoyed the sudden increase in heat with the combination of the hot summer breeze. The creature however just disintegrated and blew with the wind, which also seemed to move very slow. Though my flames moved as it should at its normal speed. Everything just seemed to move so slow, it was rather annoying and I really hope that it didn't last long. Without thinking a let another breath of fire that consumed the rest of the wraiths within view. My fire was soon out as the wraiths ashes blew away into the wind. I looked around quickly and noticed that a human in a jet black robe was running toward me.

In his hand he held a long sword, the handle was silver, but the blade was black as his robe. I heard the sound of steel as the man ran toward me, ready to strike. When he got within a hundred feet of me, he jumped high into the air. Black shadows sprung out of the back of his robe and acted as wings and moved him toward me. I jumped back as the man ran straight into the ground, leaving a rather large ten foot crater. I saw the ground rise and form a wave of earth that came after me. I jumped into the air and I let my instincts take over to let my hover with my wings. I stayed there in the air, waiting for the dark man to show himself. He was obviously the person who summoned the wraiths here and my patience quickly grew thin.

I inhaled deeply and pushed out the air in a loud roar as fire jetted from my muzzle at the crater. The flames stayed inside it, melting the rock and various pipes beneath. The flames subsided and there was nothing left in the small crater, but molten rock and melting pieces of pipe. Nothing was left and hopefully the man was now dead. Something told me to move and I did. Not a second later that a bolt of lightning ran right passed me. I turned around to see the man hovering in the air using the black, morphic wings. He then charged at great speed, and pointed his sword in front of him aiming for my neck. I quickly moved left and tried to put some distance between me and the man, but he kept following. He caught up and tried to stab my leg, I changed direction avoiding the blow.

I landed on the ground and watched carefully as the man went for a slash. L leaned back and watched the dark blade pass over my head. I looked up and he was gone, but I felt the wind change and then I felt my right leg sting suddenly. I fell to the ground in pain as I realized the wound I had just sustained. I rolled over as the man pushed his blade into the ground where I just was. As he pulled out his sword, I cut his own leg with one of my foot talons. He made a sound that could only come from a demon as he stood up both in pain and angry.

I quickly got to my feet, cringing from the pain in my leg, though the man didn't seem too disturbed by it. He then held his sword to his chest, the blade up, and began chanting some words of an ancient language. I just stood there, waiting for what this guy was going to do next. He stopped chanting and placed his free hand on top of the blade's point. He then pushed the hand down and I saw a black mist come from under it. I was surprised that the blade just didn't go through his hand and cause him more injury. His hand reached the grip of the blade and stopped, he then took the handle and placed it somewhere inside his cloak.

He stuck out his hands and the black mist formed around them and condensed. They formed and condensed into claws that stuck out from his finger tips. They weren't as long as mine, but I could tell they were still lethal to me. I got his point and I readied myself for his attack. I starred, waiting for him to make the first move. One second he was there the next I felt a large sting on my shoulder. I already knew what happened and snarled as I spun to the left hoping to catch him. I saw him for a second, but then he disappeared and moved somewhere else. I felt another large sting on my other shoulder and spun around with my foot, only to see him for a second before he disappeared again.

I couldn't keep up with him, and an at this rate I'll be dead in no time. "Pathetic " I heard him say as he appeared in front of me. I couldn't react fast enough as he grabbed my arm and through me away like I was some rag doll. I flew back and was stopped by a rather large tree. I fell to the ground and looked at my surroundings. Before I could get back up, I was thrown against a building some distance away. I fell on the ground, gasping for the air that had been forced out of me and looked up. The dark man was walking rather slowly as he approached me. "You're the one they want dead? Why would the counsel fear you, the weakest of the all dragons I've ever slain "

I rose to my feet and stood, but barley, my legs were about to give up and I know if I couldn't do something now I would die and so would everyone else. No one would be spared and this man could probably destroy the entire country if he wanted to and who could stop him. I felt him get closer as my vision went blurry and it became hard to focus. "Now die " I heard him shout as he charged at me. I watched him and time began to slow down once more. I wasn't able to move any faster though. I tried to life up my arms, but they wouldn't move. I tried to dodge the attack, but I was moving way to slow. So I watched, I watched this man charge and thrust his right hand at me. I watched as that hand went straight through my right shoulder and my vision went black.

'What are you doing boy, get up and fight.'

'Leave me be, can't I die in piece?'

'No, you are not dying, not yet Now pull yourself together and kill the bastard '

'But I can't, he's too fast and I'm too slow.'

'So you're going too quite, and let the world see you as this?'

'Yeah, see me as someone who failed to do something right when it mattered.'

'Your mother and father are right, you are a waste of life...'

'What did you say?'

'I said your foster parents are right, you're a failure '

'I am not, I've been the best at everything I do.'

'And yet you do everything wrong when the time comes where it actually counts toward something ' I heard those words and it infuriated me, but he was right and it angered me to no end that he was right. This is something that actually matters and yet I fail where I should've succeeded.

' So I'm going to die as a failure huh? No... no I refuse to die Not now not yet, after this is over then I'll die, but not now, not when there's still something I could do to protect my two friends and everyone else. Pathetic, this strange man who doesn't even know me calls me pathetic I'll show him, I'll show mother and father, I'll show them all what I can do I won't die, not yet, it's too soon. I still have friends that need me the most right now and I'll protect them, I'll do it all by myself just like I've always been doing and I'll win '

I returned to consciousness and I still felt the man's hand in my arm "Remember this name as you die dragon. My name is Ashen Lamos, champion dragon slayer of the council." As he finished, I grabbed the arm that was still inside my shoulder and held it there. "What the."

"Well then Ashen, my name is Taioth, I've yet to learn if that is all of it, but it will do for now." Ashen struggled to pull his hand free from my grasp, but I held it in its place. "As for dying, well I don't plan on that just yet." I said in a low, but confident voice. I inhaled deeply and his struggles doubled. I let out a roar that seemed to shake half of the world and covered Ashen in flames. He screamed as the flames consumed him, and his arm went limp. As the flames died out, I saw him, his entire body burnt beyond recognition. I pulled out his arm and began to limp my way over to where everyone else was. They just starred at me, both in shock and amazement.

I looked to my right and saw Rose with Mr. Owens. Rose looked like she was about to pass out, but Owens seemed like he was expecting something like this to happen. I stood still, with my left arm covering my shoulder wound and just starred at her. I was successful at saving her and anyone else who survived the initial attack and I was happy about that, that I did something when it mattered. I looked at her face and felt a smile creep its way across mine. I felt a tear come out of my eye, I didn't want her to see me like this, especially not today, not after what had already happened. My legs finally gave out and I fell on my knees, then finally I just laid flat on the ground. My consciousness was fading and I was at peace, I was going to die then and there, and I knew it, but at least I did something...

'Rest young one, regain your strength for tomorrow. You have done well as a human and as a dragon, yet you are both at the same time. Tomorrow shall be a new day, and the sun will rise again, and you will be there to greet it.'

End of Chapter VI

Chapter VII

I awoke on a bed to what I thought to be several hours later. I looked around the room I was in to find myself alone. I was back in my own room, in the mens dorm, by myself. I heard some people outside my door shouting and asking questions like "What the hell is going on here " and "What were those things "So, I guess it wasn't a dream like I'd hopped it would be, nothing more than a dream. I remembered the events from last not, especially my shoulder and leg wounds. I moved my arm, wondering how bad the damage was, but nothing hurt as I thought it would, and the same went for my leg.

I lifted up my left arm to find that the red scales were gone and it was mostly flesh again. I looked at my right to find that my scales were still there and that my claws were ever so present. I turned my head toward the mirror nearby and found that I was back to normal, well normal before the fight anyway. I really couldn't figure out why exactly that Ashen or whoever attacked me. I mean had he not, my life would've continued on as if nothing had happened and I would still be known as a freak. I wonder what people will think of me now and what will happen next. I wondered if that the information had gotten to the press or the news yet, surly we weren't the only ones who've seen the black clouds.

I heard the door quickly open and shut and looked over to see who had entered. I turned my gaze to meet Mr. Owens, who was probably the only one that knew what was going on exactly. I still heard the rants and riots of people outside, but they slowly died down. Owens however, didn't seem to notice me yet, he was just looking up at the ceiling, probably thinking about how he's going to explain all this crap. As soon as he stopped hearing complaints from outside he let out a sigh and began to walk over to a chair by the desk. He didn't seem to notice I was awake yet. "Sir, what's going on here?" I asked him, he looked over to me, surprised for some reason.

"Well I see that you're awake, so soon too." His voice was calm, but he still looked shocked.

"Yeah, sure... how long was I out for?"

"To be honest it's only been a few hours. It's a remarkable recovery if I may say. I was thinking you'd be out for at least a week "

"So, what happened to Ashen?"

"Who?"

"The guy who attacked me, claimed to be a dragon hunter. Last time I saw him, he was on the ground covered in heavy burns."

"I don't remember anything about that and the name doesn't ring a bell, what did he look like?"

"I really couldn't see much, his face and body was hidden by a black robe, but he had a sword, the blade was black and it had a silver handle. It looked like the one Rose has in her room. Also, he did some chanting and pushed his left palm down on the blade. The blade dispersed into a black mist and rearranged itself along his finger tips. Within a few seconds it took shape and solidified, so he had black claws." Owens took in the information and thought about it. I stayed on my bed as my body began to ache, sore from the fight I had apparently just only hours before. He then stood up and began to walk toward the door.

"I'll have to check with my sources about this, in the meantime you get some rest and don't worry about anything I have it taken care of." He opened the door, but was pushed back as Rose charged in. She was alone and in a panic, as if she was waiting for hours for just a chance to get in. She took a look at me and froze, her eyes met mine and we just stared at each other, waiting for someone to say something. She had fear in her eyes yet she needed someone to talk to. She was scared of me, I could see it in her eyes yet I did not need to. She was visibly shaking and her face was pale. "One more thing before I go, where did the fire come from?"

I looked at him questioningly, and came to the conclusion that the fire I breathed could come from other places as well. Along that train of thought I also guessed that for me fire could be manipulated. "I breathed it." Was all I said to him, never for a moment looking away from Rose who only seemed more scared of me when I said that I breathed the fire. Mr. Owens nodded and left, closing the door behind him. I didn't move and neither did Rose, she just stood there probably scarred out of her mind and me, waiting for her just to scream that it was my fault that people died or something of the sort.

She took a step forward and then backed away from me. I was still waiting for those words of guilt to come pouring out of her mouth to ravage my soul. Though the silence was something, I couldn't bare. "Hey." Was all that came out when I opened my mouth. Hoping against hope that she would respond and in way. She froze in place and continued to look at me, her eyes felt like they burned their way into me. She gingerly took a step closer and did not back away. She continued this until she was at my bedside, looking down upon me.

"Hey." Was all she said as well, in a tone nothing more than a whisper. She sat down on my bed and we just looked at each other. Wanting one another to actually say something, but I could find no words to speak and neither could she. We stayed like that for what seemed like hours until something finally broke and Rose just started crying. I was shocked a little, but I knew that she was weeping for those who lost their lives not too long ago. Many of her friends were now probably dead, and she had probably seen a few of them die right in front of her. She cried into her hands first. Then, surprisingly, she fell onto my chest and held onto me like I was the only one who could help her.

The only thing I could do was let Rose cry on me and wrap my arm over her trying to console her. Maybe she was scarred of me, but then why come to her fears for help? Did she even care about what I am and what had happened to me in the course of a day? I know I didn't dream this, but it felt too real, too painful. To see Rose breakdown like this in front of me was too painful for me to handle. Soon after I let my tears loose as well. Though they were silent, they still had meaning. So we held each other, both of us looking for something to hold onto when all we had at the moment was each other. We couldn't do anything about what had happened, nor could we bring back the dead, but we could morn and that's what we did.

All of those faces and people who'll never get another chance at life, all of them are dead and nothing could bring them back. I had this feeling that ached my heart though, that they would not be the only ones' who will suffer. That they are not the only ones' who will die for something. Even though it seemed that this something was important, it still made me wonder, what if I was never born. Rose kept weeping long after I had stopped, still holding onto me as if I was the only one who could help her. I wanted to say something, something to ease her pain, but I couldn't think of anything. I couldn't think of anything that I could possibly say to her.

I couldn't even relate to what she was going through. Though I knew many of the people in the college, I was never given the chance to befriend them. The only two I have are Mark and Rose and maybe Owens. I didn't form any emotional attachment to anyone else. Therefore I couldn't miss them as much as Rose did, I couldn't feel her pain, her sorrow. Yet there was one thing that came to mind that might ease her pain just a little and that was to keep holding onto her. I did so and she seemed to calm down as time passed by, Rose eventually fell asleep on me. With the way we were laying you'd think we were a couple, but we weren't.

I looked at her and even as she slept Rose still held onto me and I did the same. 'Sleep now my friend. Your body is still weak from your ordeal. Tomorrow is when you will learn of many things about your heritage and about the artifact and its power.' I nodded to the voice and closed my eyes, trying to understand and ponder about what my heritage could possibly be. I was too tired and fatigued and my eyes were heavy. I slowly closed them, my last sight being Rose's smiling face as I felt her get even closer to me. I then fell asleep holding Rose in my arms and me in her's.

My dream of that night was rather strange, but it also felt real like this had happened before. I was in a colosseum, its internal structure reminded me of one of the many ancient Roman coliseums I had seen in textbook pictures, I looked around and saw a crowd of people cheering and shouting for the fight to begin. In the center was just me and my opponent, his face was hidden behind a bronze helm and he had many battle scars all across his body. He drew a sword from behind his back and waited for me to produce a weapon from the many along the wall.

I ran over to them scanning for a weapon for me to use, I glanced behind me and noticed that my opponent, along with the crowd, was becoming rather hostile at me taking my time. Though I quickly found what I had been looking for, among the many large battle axes and hammers. It looked just like the artifact that rose had and the one from my last dream. I reached for it and the crowd and my opponent burst into laughter as I grabbed the blade-less, silver handle. I held in my hands and swung it a couple of times to get a feel for it as the crowd laughed.

I swung the blade toward the ground and saw that it was scratched by something. I kicked up dirt with my foot and saw the blades form in the smoke. The blade's form looked demonic and sinister. In short it looked like a bunch of three sided, barbed arrow heads stacked together and glued in place. I let out a smile and beckoned for my opponent to attack. The crowd laughed hysterically, but my opponent casually jogged over toward me, his sword raised to cut off my head.

The onlookers grew silent, sure I was about to die. My attacker swung his weapon and there was a loud crashing sound of metal as my demonic blade, still invisible to everyone, caught his. The barbs caught his blade and didn't allow him to move it, though he was in utter shock. I smiled and spun around and cut the blade in half. I then lunged forward at my opponent and stabbed his right hand. I pulled back and the barbs ripped at his flesh. He screamed in pain and the crowd gasped as my blade became visible to them, due to the blood that covered it.

I looked around and found the Emperor's box. I couldn't see his face clearly but he said something to a man that stood next to him. He began waving a red flag and the crowd cheered and began shouting "Overkill" I didn't know what overkill was, but my question was soon answered when both of the large wooden gates swung open. Many men dressed in combat attire rushed out and charged at me. I looked at my blade and swung it toward the oncoming mob, at least twenty feet away. The individual arrow heads on my blade bursted forward, each connected by silver cords bundled together.

The lashed out and cut through the bodies of the first unfortunate few. I then pulled back and the men behind me shouted in terror as the deadly whip cut across them. Thirty men lay dead in the colosseum within a second. The crowd was speechless and the gladiators stopped their charge. I looked toward the man who had waved the red flag and smiled. My blood soaked whip contracted and returned to its original blade form. I pointed the blade toward his head and laughed as it shot forward. The man's eyes widened as it shot forth, he tried to move, but found himself unable to. I laughed hysterically as the point pierced his skull. I pull back and the body of the now dead soldier fell to the ground and I continued to laugh.

I woke up from my dream and quickly reminded myself that's all it was before the panic and fear could set in. I looked around the room quickly and noticed that it was night outside and that I was still holding onto Rose. I moved my right arm over and turned on the light, the sudden flash blinded me for a few seconds. My vison soon returned and a felt Rose starting to move. She slowly opened her eyes and fell back onto me like a child would hold its mother. "Hey, you okay?" I said to her in a whisper. She shook her head and looked up at me.

"I'm scared." Was all she said before lowering her head.

"Yeah... me too." She looked back up at me, questioningly "What is it?"

"Nothing... it's nothing."Rose laid back down on the bed and closed her eyes. I turned off the light and laid back as well. Never once did Rose take her arms away from me, which was a bit awkward and misleading. Had I not know what she had been through I'd say she was after something other then comfort if you catch my drift. Though, it was still strange that she came to me for comfort. 'Hmm...'

'What is it? What's wrong?'

'Nothing, my friend, nothing' I heard a faint laughter in my head as he spoke.

'What's so funny?'

'Nothing other than the fact that for a very smart kid you're so blind.'

'What the hell is that supposed to mean?'

'Oh you'll find out soon enough my friend, you'll find out' The voice then faded out, still with that hint of laughter in his voice. I shrugged off his words and closed my eyes hoping that I could sleep well this time...

"Well, well what do we have here?" I heard someone's voice and immediately stumbled out of my bed to whoever spoke.

"It's not like that " I said as I fell and hit the ground to whoever spoke.

"Well then what is it Stel?" I looked up and I saw Mark's gleaming face.

"Just call me Taioth from now on k? And she came in here looking for comfort for some reason so I gave it to her."

"By..." His smile grew bigger as I got more frustrated with the fact that he thought me and Rose did "something" together last night.

"No, we didn't do that you idiot " I said punching him hard in the head.

"Ow dude, I was kidding... I know you wouldn't take advantage of her like that."

"Well I... wait how would you know? You've only known me for a few days."

"I'm just good at guessing a persons personality and by the way you reacted, it was obvious you didn't do anything to Rose other than hold her."

"Yeah... sure."

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"It's just... why did she come to me? She saw what I had become, so... why...why me?"

"I... I can't answer that... why don't you ask her when she wakes up?"

"Yeah sure... hey wait... why aren't you scared of me like everyone else?"

"I can't answer that either... but, to be honest, I am a little scared, not of you, but of what you can do. I mean, with that kind of strength you could probably wipe out the entire country."

"Yeah... I know."

"Dude, why are you so down? You should be happy for this, people what mess with you anymore." I sat down on the bed and put my hands over my forehead.

"Yes, but it'll be out of fear, not respect, not acceptance, nor out of kindness or pity. They'll just leave me alone because they're scarred of me. I didn't want this, I just wanted to live a normal life, to do some good that actually matters..."

"What are you talking about? If it wasn't for you, we would all be dead, so don't think you haven't done any good. Everyone has a purpose in life and I have a feeling that you're about to discover yours soon." He smiled once again and pointed behind me then, he walked out of the room. I turned over and saw that Rose was beginning to stir.

"Hey you awake?" I asked her putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Uh huh." She replied in a weary voice while she rubbed her eyes. Rose then wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in close. "Thank you."

"Um... no problem. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find Owens, he's got some explaining to do."

"Yeah sure." Rose let go of me and I began to walk toward the door. I heard someone running on the other end and prepared myself for the worst as I unsheathed my claws. The door bursted open and Owens ran in.

"Taioth, we need to leave now " He said grabbing my arm in a hurry.

"Hey, wait what's going on ?"

"They're coming back and will be here shortly, we must escape now " He looked over to Rose, "Do you have it with you?" Rose nodded and we sprinted down the hallway toward the stairs. "Everyone's in the basement waiting for us and I have the portal ready to activate any second, we must make haste "

"Wait, what portal? Where does it go?" My questions went unanswered as we reached the stairs and paretically flew down them. We opened the door to the basement and before I had a chance to see anything Owens tossed a gem at a wooden ring that was about ten feet in diameter. The purple gem went into the center of the circle and a white light began to come from the sides of it till it filled the entire circle.

"Everyone go through it now I'll meet you on the other side"

"But, sir I." I heard a loud explosion from the floor above us and thousands or screathing voices.

"No time to explain just go " Owens said as he tossed me into the white light. I found myself falling through a multicolored tube with no way to see the outside of it. Rose fell next to me and grabbed my hand, she tried to speak but nothing came out of her mouth. So we fell in silence hoping against hope that both of us, along with everyone else, will make it through okay. We fell for what seemed like hours and my vision began fading away till all I saw was darkness...

End of Chapter VII

End of Book One

Well let me know what you guys think of this one. Oh, and for the Americans Happy forth of July... its the day im submitting this, when it gets posted idk yet. Cheers!