Born In Light I | Born In Light II

The creature was massive. I had never seen anything like it. Scales covered its enormous body, glistening gold, and magenta in the sunlight. Rows of different sized horns protruded from its reptilian head, and smoke billowed from its nostrils as it hovered above us. Its wings were nearly the length of a passenger plane with the tips of each arm curved with a claw-like appendage. 

I stood there for what seemed forever and stared. The creature eyed me right back. Finally, my limbs regained movement, and I did the only thing one could do when faced with such a ferocious beast. 

A scream ripped its way up my throat and echoed off the stone walls of the school. My fight or flight mode flipped to fly so fast and hard it broke the needle off the measure in my brain as I spun around and took off down the hallway. I didn’t know where to go, but I knew I needed to get away from there. 

Voices yelled after me trying to stop my mad dash of fear.   I careened around a corner and smashed into a wall of rock hard chiseled muscle. I screeched again as large hands gripped my arms and kept me upright. I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through my body at the contact, but my fear was so overwhelming I brushed it aside as soon as it happened. 

My body thrashed wildly in its attempt to dislodge myself as the footsteps of the Headmaster came thundering down the hall.

“Let go of me!” I screamed at the person holding me still.

“Whoa, there…calm down! What is going on?” The man’s voice was deep and felt like silk as it moved over me. I opened my eyes and took a look at just who was keeping me from fleeing. 

He was gorgeous, and I had to stop myself from gaping like a fish. His dark black hair was wavy and messy in that bad boy sort of way that made you want to run your hands through it. His skin was tan and stretched over clearly defined muscles that bulged with the effort of keeping me still. He wore a different uniform, black boots with black cargo pants that looked military in style, and a black t-shirt that was fitted perfectly. Finally, I looked up at his face, which was perfectly sculpted, and his deep aquamarine eyes burned with an intensity that I’d never seen before. 

He looked like he was going to eat me.

The pounding footsteps stopped behind me, and I heard the Headmaster sigh in relief. “Ah, Ethan, thank you so much for halting our little misses escape attempt.” So this man’s name was Ethan. 

“Of course…” He slowly put me down, eyes still following my every move. His voice was quiet, contemplative. I didn’t have time to think about it, however, since the Headmaster took my hand and began to lead me away. I took one more look back at the man that had caught me only to find him still watching us. 

Still watching me. 

After I lost sight of him as we rounded a corner heading back to the Headmasters office, I couldn’t help it. “Who was that?”

“That, my dear, was Ethan Hunter. He is the top Guardian in the Dragon Corp.”

“Dragon Corp?” I felt my voice shake as memories of the creature began to resurface.

“Yes…something I’d like to explain to you if you’d be so kind as to not bolt again.”

“But, that thing!’

“Dragon… it’s a Dragon. And you have nothing to fear from it.” He opened his door and walked me inside. My eyes widened when I saw Michael sitting on the couch.

“Michael, what are you doing here?” He stood then and grimaced. 

“Headmaster said I should wait here after you tore off in terror at the sight of me.” Everyone stood in silence as I took in that information.

“I’m sorry, what?” I tilted my head.

He smiled ruefully, “The Dragon, it was me.” I stood there for seemed forever as my mind worked overtime to reconcile the man before me and the beast I’d recently seen.

The Headmaster sighed and waved at Michael, “some of the students here are Dragons in human form. And others are Dragon Riders, which will be paired with a Dragon at the end of their schooling here.”

I whipped around and felt my mouth moving, but no sound was coming out.

The Headmaster nodded, “I was about to explain this to you when you took off like a madwoman.”

My eyes narrowed then and frowned, “can you blame me? I’ve never seen a Dragon in my life! I was terrified!”

Michael nodded, “Yes, completely understandable.” He winked at me then, “I’m trying not to take it personally.” I rolled my eyes and smacked him playfully on the shoulder. The Headmaster sighed and stood up then. 

“Michael, why don’t you escort her to the cafeteria, it’s lunchtime. I’m sure she’s had enough for one day.”

Michael nodded and motioned for me to follow him. I paused only for a moment before doing as he bade, and we both made our way out of the office. We were both quiet for a bit until I decided to voice the question that had started to chew at me. 

“Michael…when I ran away from you earlier…I was caught by a man named Ethan Hunter.”

He came to a halt and turned to me. “Stay away from him, Ellie… he’s dangerous.”

I narrowed my eyes, “but the Headmaster said he was the strongest Guardian in the Dragon Corp, whatever that is.”

Michael gripped my arms, “Please Ellie… you’ll learn about it later, but stay away from Ethan. He’s powerful and has yet to have a Rider that can control him. We’ve had others try, but…it didn’t end well.”

I nodded then, seeing how upset he was, “Ok… I’m sorry, Michael.”

He shook his head and let me go. “Don’t be. Just…promise me, you’ll stay away from him. He’s nothing but trouble.”

“Ok, I’ll stay away.” He seemed ok with that and started walking again. Try as I might, however, I couldn’t get the image of Ethan’s face out of my mind. How his eyes devoured me and made me burn within. 

I didn’t know if I could keep my promise.