With a deafening roar that cut through the night, everyone fell silent; it felt like the whole city itself fell silent. Bella, I had never seen this side to her. She's so amazing…
Staring daggers at everyone, she left her mouth slightly open, and her flames began to linger slowly. Everyone knows what is coming next: a dragon's breath is said to burn through all materials. No one will survive.
However, that was enough to send the white-clads fleeing. In unison, they turned on their heels and ran away. Thank you bella, I can't deal with those guys.
For the others, though, well, they stayed put. Yuna, the girl with brown hair, quivered, her knees buckling under the pressure.
The other two guys seemed happy to take on Bella.
"Watch my back, remen," Siri said, huffing and puffing as he prepares to draw his blade.
"No worries, man, I've got your back," Remen declared as he cracked his knuckles.
"What are you two doing?? Go grab her!" Yuna yells.
"Why us? What's stopping you? Throwing us in front of a dragon to die, what a leader you're"
Yuna stumps her feet in protests as she distances herself. "Aren't you already doing that yourself?"
As they bickered, the other guy, Siri, kept psyching himself up, "I will do it, I will–father watch me."
Weird lout. What are they doing?
Bella, ignoring them, leaned in towards me.
"WAA!" The sight made Maya scream and cling to me for dear life. As she did, a soft sensation pressed against me. She has it where it counts, that's for sure, jeez maya calm thyself. Is this what warmth feels like—opps, I'm getting carried away.
"It's okay," I muttered, "she's my everything."
I reached for Bella, stroking her chin. She leaned in and cuddled her face against mine. It will leave me bleeding, but this is our love.
She let out a small cry as we embraced, and I felt my heart ache at the sound.
"I'm so sorry, Bella. I left you hungry; I left you alone; I forgot you. I'm so sorry. I almost died multiple times, too, maybe I should have"
"MMMMGGG"
I moved Maya off me and stood up to completely embrace bella "You have been my only meaning for as long as I can remember. I cannot remember much, but that doesn't make you any less valuable. I'm sorry."
The fact that she came to save me honestly melts my heart. Where would I be without this girl?
"This-this can't be…" Maya muttered.
"Better believe it, she's my…my daughter. Be nice," daughter should be right…right? I don't know, to be honest. She's my everything, like family, but she could also be my best friend or my wife.
Imagine if Bella ends up being a beautiful princess, cursed to be a dragon. Well, some things are better off not thinking of.
"Huu, no way," with a gasp escaping her mouth maya looked at us with her hand to her mouth, "black and white spikes protruding from every part of the body–just like the book of old. An Elder.
How is it, you tamed an elder dragon?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Elder dragon?
"I'd like to know as well," Yuna asked cautiously, walking towards us, "but we have more pressing matters to address."
She glanced back at Remen and Siri and nodded to both of them as she continued.
"We are very grateful for your help in dealing with the white clads, but knowing them, they will be back. Time is of the essence, so if you'd be so kind, we will be taking the girl."
Yuna had a straight face, but it had its cracks; beads of sweat fell from it. Why is she nervous, and why is she asking me like that?
"I mean, I can't–" as I spoke, Bella raised her head, cutting me off. She spread out her wings, casting her shadow over me. She stared at them with menace.
I see, it's because of her. Bella isn't good with people. If I weren't holding maya she would've taken her out too.
"What is your name?" Yuna asked.
"Nero"
"I believe by now you should understand, Nero. We need to finish our job, and I need to make sure of it." She raised her hand to shake mine. "Happy to make your acquaintance, I am yuna"
I looked at my palm, and it all came together. "I see."
I began walking towards Yuna, with my hand out to greet hers. Maya held my shirt behind me, wary of Bella towering over us.
"Yuna, I honestly don't know why any of this happened. I was just trying to bed someone. And because of that, the most meaningful encounter I have ever had happened.
Thinking back, it didn't last long, but it made me feel and question so much."
Now out of Bella's shadow, I stood in front of Yuna.
"I suppose such experiences come unexpectedly."
"If they do, I'm not sure how much I welcome them, but I do welcome this one."
The two guys behind her were confused, to say the least, but it didn't matter.
Right now, I want to do this; hopefully, it works out, although I have no plans on what to do next. I can only take things one step at a time.
Tonight was an experience that has ignited something in my dull heart. I have made up my mind.
"Take maya but you'd have to take me with you guys."
"Huhh?"
I shook her hand, "It's either that or a fight with a…um–an elder dragon, yeah, sounds like we will all die," I said, flashing my best smile.
Maybe I should have asked nicely to go wherever they are going, but they might be bandits or mercenaries. They probably are mercenaries, but oh well, it's too late now.
Yuna, however, wasn't as speechless as I thought. She softened and smiled at me, "That is your way of requesting to join us, I suppose?"
"It is, how was it? Unexpected? Were you scared? Better yet, did it work?"
"Perhaps, but who's to say we aren't the villains?"
"If you're evil, then so be it. I've only got myself to blame." I have taken lives before, so who is to say I'm not the evil one here? I'm not sure where the lines blur, and I'm not about to start questioning it now.
"You didn't seem so evil when we met before."
"Oh?"
Yes, I remember now why her hair is so familiar, and now I hear her properly, her voice too. "We have met before, up in the maze of houses. You rode in the carriages that had the crest of Cestaf on them."
The guys behind her didn't look fazed, but Yuna's smile grew wider.
"You told the knights to let me be, that I wasn't a threat, but you were probably trying to avoid Bella back there."
"You were no threat, though."
"True, but still, you saved me regardless, thank you. You have probably been her guard for much longer than I know. I'd like to know everything, so accept me."
I gripped her hand with my other hand and looked fiercely into her eyes. She met my gaze, and her smile faded as she closed her eyes and pulled back.
"Very well."
"Yuna, explain yourself," Siri questioned.
"I have made my decision as the leader; now, all we have to do is let him decide."
"Me? I want to come," I said, pointing at my chest.
"Not you, horny freak." Laughing at my mistake, Remen cleared up my confusion.
"He will decide your fate," Yuna continued.
I see, he is the man behind their organization. I wonder what he is like.
"For now, we need to move. Please tell your dragon, Bella, to step down. We are not a threat anymore."
"Yeah, I will," I said, turning to Bella, then spinning back. "Anymore?"
Yuna looked away as if I wasn't there.
"We would have had to kill you if you didn't comply," Siri said. "So hurry, there is no time."
So they were going to kill me, now I feel like changing my mind. They're murderers. Is that why Bella was so aggressive? She was responding to their bloodlust. They hid it so well, too.
Too late to back down now; I love my life.
I spoke with Bella and gave her a few kisses to calm her down. I then brought each of them towards her for her to smell. Siri wasn't bothered, while Remen was rather happy to be inspected by her. Yuna shivered and struggled to keep her composure.
Bellas's breath almost raised Maya's skirt all the way over. Good girl, I could train her to do that.
In the midst of this, footsteps marched towards us from all over the estate. Officials have arrived, and a huge number too; it sounded like a whole army, and I'm sure it is because of Bella. Hurriedly i got everyone on her back and prepared to take off.
Maya covered her face like the others, but suddenly she jolted and turned towards Yuna and the others.
"Anna! What of Anna, my knight? Maya cried, having relaxed, she seemed to have remembered her knights.
"Dead," Remen said, "everyone had perished under the hands of the white clads."
Maya, who was sitting behind me, clung to my clothes tightly as she began to cry. Remens words made a pit in my stomach. So my carriage driver as well, I forgot about him. My selfish actions led him to his death. An early death.
No, I will not think about this. The guilt will kill me.
Everyone clung to Bella's spikes, and with one huge flap of her wings, she rose from the ground. The army that surrounded the estate panicked and retreated a little. I wonder, is Bella that intimidating?
Nonetheless, we took off into the night sky.